Advertisement

CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Dicterow joins Festival of Arts board

Share

The Festival of Arts board of directors recently appointed longtime Laguna Beach resident Steve Dicterow to an open board position.

Dicterow, a former mayor of Laguna Beach, fills a vacated board seat that will be up for re-election in November 2008.

“I’m very, very happy and excited,” Dicterow said. “This really is like a dream come true for me. I loved serving on the City Council; I didn’t want to just stop my community involvement.”

Advertisement

Dicterow is the longest-tenured member of the Laguna Beach City Council, which he served for 12 years until last year.

“I just love that organization,” he said of the festival and pageant. “My business takes me all over the world, and everywhere I go, they know about Laguna because of the festival and pageant. I’m hoping that my experience and skills can help the organization continue to be so great.

“I am walking into this saying, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I think they’re doing great. I’m the neophyte, so I’m there to learn.”

As a City Council member, he helped create the position of city art coordinator.

Completing the festival’s nine-member board, Dicterow joins president Anita Mangels, vice president Wayne Baglin, treasurer Fred Sattler, secretary Tom Lamb, and board members Bob Henry, John Hoover, Pat Kollenda and Ann Webster.

Board members are elected for three-year terms by the festival’s Orange County membership.

Broadway bus depot runs into trouble

An errant gas line has stalled construction of the Broadway bus depot parking bay, City Manager Ken Frank announced Feb. 23.

The contractor started on the project concurrently with the Caltrans resurfacing project with the intent of finishing the project before the resurfacing was done, Frank said.

When the contractor started digging, a gas line was found where it was not supposed to be that conflicts with the planned improvements.

The Gas Co. is working on a plan to relocate the gas line, Frank said.

The project has been stalled for three months and is not expected to resume until early April. If the work cannot be completed before the end of May, then it will be delayed until after the summer season.

Dilley Preserve reopens

The Dilley Preserve on Laguna Canyon Road, just north of the 73 toll road, has reopened after a lengthy closure due to construction.

The park is now open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset, and the parking lot is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parking charge is $3.

SLCA celebrates 60 years with gala at Eva’s

The South Laguna Civic Assn. held its annual meeting with a special event to mark its 60th year. Members gathered for a festive celebration at Eva’s, A Caribbean Kitchen, in South Laguna on Feb. 12.

The South Laguna Civic Assn. was incorporated in 1946, and is active in issues affecting the ambience, quality of life, and historic preservation in South Laguna.

At the meeting, association members discussed a variety of concerns for South Laguna, including land use and hillside preservation, Aliso Creek pollution and mansionization.

Garden Club presents speaker on butterflies

The Laguna Beach Garden Club will present Don Mitchell, Orange County spokesperson for the North American Butterfly Assn. at its March meeting.

Mitchell will talk on “Butterflies and Native Plants — How You Can Help” at the club’s monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 9.

The club’s social gathering starts at 9:30 a.m. along with the “Plant and Garden Boutique,” featuring garden-related items. The business meeting, followed by the program speaker, continues at 10 a.m.

The meeting will take place at Neighborhood Congregational Church, on the corner of St. Anne’s and Glenneyre Street. Free once for guests. For more information, visit www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org.

AAUW Foundation grants available

The American Assn. of University Women (AAUW), Laguna Beach Foundation invites Laguna Beach nonprofit organizations to submit an application for grants from $100 to $500 that address needs related to AAUW’s mission.

Funding requests must relate to the education and needs of women and girls or provide information to educate and benefit the public on these issues, promote lifelong education and positive societal change.

The deadline to apply is May 1. For an application form or more information, call (949) 497-5184 or go to www.aauw-lagunabeach.org.

New O.C. Forum board members elected

Laguna Beach residents Cathy Taylor and Liz Toomey have been elected to the Orange County Forum board of directors.

The Orange County Forum is a nonprofit, apolitical organization that provides monthly luncheon programs featuring prominent speakers.

Taylor is vice president and editorial/commentary director for the Orange County Register. Toomey is assistant vice chancellor for community and state government relations at UC Irvine.

For information, visit www.ocforum.org or call (949) 588-9884.

Advertisement