Goodall visit is finally here

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Jane Goodall in Laguna for benefit Wednesday

Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the Festival of Arts Naturalist Jane

Goodall and premier wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen will be a

part of a benefit for the Cougar Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.

Mangelsen called Wednesday afternoon from Denali National Park and

expressed his enthusiasm about the benefit. Mangelsen is a friend of

Goodall and the co-founder of the Cougar Fund. He will be releasing

22 new images at the benefit and also donating some of his rare

prints to be auctioned.

As he spoke he was overlooking the McKinley River and Alaska

Range, watching the color of the leaves change while facing snow and

wind. It’s his third trip to Alaska this year where he’s been

photographing eagles, bears, caribou and moose.

Mangelsen is looking forward to coming back to Laguna Beach.

“I love Laguna Beach and I am looking for a replacement for my

gallery in the heart of Downtown,” Mangelsen said.

The Cougar Fund’s premise is to help educate people about the

cougar and for it to get better protection.

“To protect the shooting of female cougars and their cubs starving

to death -- to change that and stop trophy hunting,” Mangelsen said.

“We need to raise funds and educate -- people need to realize how

badly they are being treated and that they are being killed.

Mangelsen also looks forward to helping raise funds for the Jane

Goodall Institute and particularly helping to support her Roots and

Shoots program, which helps educate youth about environmental,

conservancy and other pertinent issues.

“There is no other person on earth that does as much for

conservation, wildlife and humans than Jane,” Mangelsen said. “Her

Roots and Shoots program has the greatest opportunity of change.”

The evening will include a presentation, silent auction and

wildlife art exhibit. There is also a VIP party. Tickets range in

cost from $50 to $300 depending on involvement.

The event will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with the party following.

For tickets go to the Festival Box office at 650 Laguna Canyon Road

or call 497-4514 or 1-800-225-2277 or online at www.tickets.com.

Last call for Treasure Island entries

Monday is the deadline for the artist’s entries for commissioned

pieces at Treasure Island. Call Sian Poeschl for specific information

at 497-0722.

Laguna Beach Film Festival

The Exchange Club of Laguna Beach has been putting on a film

festival for the past five years with proceeds going completely to

help abused children in the area. It has been an incredible event,

which is run and put together completely through the hard work of the

Exchange Club and volunteers. Most of the time the festival has been

in October but this year there has been a change.

This year they are working on a student film festival for this

winter. The student participation has been a part of the festival for

a few years.

Next year they hope to bring the festival to life in its entirety.

The festival takes many man hours and hard work. I wonder what we

can do to make the film festival a reality every year? It’s a great

asset to our community and should have the support of the community

to make it happen.

Music in the Park

Last weekend was the last summer concert at Bluebird Park.

However, the final concert of the season is on Sunday at Riddle Field

and will feature a steel drum band. The city’s arts commission along

with Music in the Park, Inc. puts on these concerts for free. Sian

Poeschl the arts coordinator said that they welcome bringing this to

the community and like to hold the concerts in different areas of

Laguna so that people will have easier access.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.