South County : Boy Scouts to Give 2 Men ‘Spirit’ Award

The El Camino Real district of the Boy Scouts of America will honor two south county men who have been active in scouting at its third annual “Catch the Scouting Spirit” reception and dinner Friday.

Larry Buchheim, the first mayor of San Juan Capistrano, and Ernie Ellsworth, a lawyer from Laguna Hills, will be honored for their service in civic affairs, including their assistance to the El Camino Real district, which serves more than 1,600 Scouts from Laguna Beach to San Clemente.

The dinner is to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library, 31495 El Camino Real. Tickets are $18 per person and $35 per couple. Proceeds will be used for local youth camping and training scholarships, district Chairman Mike Eggers said.

Buchheim, 61, who helped found the City of San Juan Capistrano in 1961, has served on the advisory team for the past three scouting district chairmen. Last year he was host committee chairman for the El Camino Real district’s “Good Scouter” reception.

Ellsworth is a member of the Moulton Niguel Water District Board of Directors and a member of the Saddleback Regional Chamber of Commerce. He heads the chamber’s Cityhood Study Committee. In scouting, Ellsworth has served as Troop 729 Scoutmaster and as a member of the district’s adult leader training team.