SURFING SOAPBOX: Celebrating two Laguna fixtures on the same day

Ah yes, spring fever is back and fluttering around under the sunny skies of Laguna Beach with the celebration of two of our community’s greatest fixtures today.

The first celebration will be the retirement of legendary lifeguard Mark Klosterman, which will be at the main lifeguard tower on Main Beach from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by a dinner at Tivoli Too. The cost is $35 per person, with music by the Blue Hawaiians.

Growing up on the beaches of Laguna, I always looked up to Klosterman, the one lifeguard that I can honestly say I never threw ice plant at — or worse, pee bombs. For me, that’s saying a lot because I used to bomb all the guards from my parents’ deck.

One of my favorite memories of Klosterman was a nighttime rescue of a small boat, in rough seas with a helicopter hovering above with its spotlight on and a full capacity crowd gawking at one of Klosterman’s finest moments — doing what he did best, being a lifeguard and saving lives.

Thanks, Mark, for all that you did for our town and for setting the bar of legendary status among lifeguards everywhere.

The other celebration today will be the 80th anniversary extravaganza at the La Casa del Camino hotel at 1289 S. Coast Hwy., at the corner of Cress Street. A donation of $25 is being asked, with food and drinks along with a great opportunity to see this historical hotel, which was the first to open here in 1929.

Two great celebrations today, too bad I won’t be here … I’ll be hosting a reception with actress/model Alexandra Leighton to benefit Heal the Bay, at 8 p.m. at the Hudson Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com