Briefly In the News
Local to be honored with Seniors Legacy Award
The Laguna Beach Seniors Legacy Award for 2013 will be presented to local Sande St. John at its Legacy Ball on March 22.
The award honors a person who has made a “a lasting contribution to the quality of life in Laguna Beach,” according to a news release.
“Sande has personally touched more lives in Laguna Beach than anyone I know,” Laguna Beach Seniors President Emeritus Chris Quilter said in a statement.
St. John has worked throughout the community helping seniors, children, local businesses and the homeless, and has been involved in several causes including Laguna Club for Kids, Human Options, the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, plus many more.
“She gets more things done than any person I’ve ever met,” Marsha Bode said in a statement.
The seventh annual Legacy Ball is at 6:30 p.m. on March 22 at the Resort at Pelican Hill. Proceeds from the event benefit the Susi Q Senior Center. For more information, call Nadia Babayi at (949) 497-2441.
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City’s big food event starts Thursday
The Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau hosts the third annual Laguna Beach a la Carte – A Food and Wine Experience from Thursday through March 10.
Those who attend will sample “world-class cuisine, prix-fixe menus, food and wine pairings, daily events and special offers by local restaurateurs,” according to a news release.
The visitors bureau will host a signature event, Laguna Beach Uncorked! – An International Wine & Food Fest from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 9.
“Guests will enjoy tastings from 20 Laguna Beach restaurants and 30 wineries from around the world,” according to the news release. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit CHOC Children’s Hospital.
Tickets can be bought at lagunabeachuncorked.eventbrite.com. More information is at lagunabeachalacarte.com.
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Doctor opens office in town
Dr. Tracy Darling is hosting an open house for her new offices from 6 to 9 p.m. March 1 at 31639 S. Coast Hwy. Darling specializes in “nutritional medicine, bio-identical hormone therapy and a European-based weight reduction protocol,” according to a news release.
“I am very excited to return to my hometown and getting to know Laguna Beach again, and experience its many wonders,” Darling said in a statement. “I look forward to helping my fellow Lagunans achieve their optimal level of health.”
For more information on Darling’s practice, visit https://www.darlingmd.com.
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Seeds receives grant from community foundation
Seeds Arts and Education Inc. received a $4,500 grant from the Laguna Beach Community Foundation to help with the costs for its free series, “Growing Healthy Kids.”
The workshop series addresses preventing “childhood obesity by helping parents educate their children on the link between dietary habits and health through parent-child team learning,” according to a news release.
Registration is required for the workshop series and seating is limited. For times, dates and more information on the series, visit https://www.seedsed.org.
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Laguna Beach Legal opens local office
Laguna Beach Legal has a new office at 682 N. Coast Hwy. The company specializes in divorce mediation, family law, child and spousal support, pre-nuptial agreements, corporations, power of attorney and living trust and estate planning, according to a news release.
Ellie Tipton Ortiz, who lives in North Laguna, runs the business. She has another office in Laguna Hills.
“I made the decision to open an office in Laguna Beach, so I can be close to home,” she said in a statement. Ortiz is also the current president of the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach and a member of Soroptimist International of Laguna Beach.
For more information, go to lagunabeachlegal.com.
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Rotary Club taking applications for grants
The Rotary Club of Laguna Beach is accepting community grant applications from nonprofit groups through March 31, according to a news release.
Applications are at lagunabeachrotary.com. For more information, contact Jeffrey Redeker at (949) 371-7595.
— Alisha Gomez