Carrie Pohlhammer and Vicky Wilson enjoying one of Brantlee Griffith’s two benches, which were installed in January.
Church member Brantlee Griffith, who built three courtyard benches for the Neighborhood Congregational Church for his Eagle Scout service project, will be honored Sunday, Aug. 17, at the 10 a.m. worship service.
“I wanted the benches to reflect the community. One uses skimboards for the back of the bench to recognize the surf culture, and another has a sunburst to show the beautiful sunsets we have in Laguna,” said Brantlee, a recent Dana Hills High School graduate whose team put in over 250 volunteer hours designing and building the benches.
Brantlee, who has canoed the Colorado River and twice climbed Mt. Whitney, in high school also ran cross country and track and led the viola section.
Crosscultural Council Marks its 15th Year
The South County Crosscultural Council will mark 15 years of operating the Laguna Day Worker Center with a special celebration open to the public Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Workers, staff, and guests will be treated to tacos and a birthday cake.
Wraps Come Off Canyon Road Study
A year-long assessment of potential Laguna Canyon Road improvements will be presented at next week’s City Council meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 19.
The report is a preliminary exploration of concepts to improve mobility for emergency vehicles, cars, bus riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians along the Canyon Road between El Toro Road and Canyon Acres Drive.
Caltrans and the Orange County Transportation Authority are working with the city to identify possible improvements. The report will be available for review in the city clerk’s office and on the city’s website Friday, Aug. 15.
LBPD Opens Citizen Academy
The police department is accepting applications through Aug. 28 for its Citizen Academy,which starts Thursday, Sept. 4, and will meet from 6- 9:30 p.m for 13 weeks.
The academy allows members of the community to learn about the department and fosters communication between police and citizens.
Instruction ranges from department history to accident and crime scene investigation. Participants will tour the station and the county jail and will be given the chance to shoot at the police firing range and participate in mock scenarios.
Info or applications: Ross Fallah, 949-497-070 or rfallah@lagunabeachcity.net.
Last Week of Junior Golf Camp to Start
Register today for the last junior golf camp of the summer at the Ranch. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday starting Aug 18, students aged 7-13 can learn fundamentals of the game from professional golf instructors.
Lunch is included every day in the price of $399.
Upon successful completion of this camp each participant will receive a certificate recognizing them as a golfer in good standing with Ben Brown’s Golf Course and The Ranch at Laguna Beach, as well as a certified golfer.
Sign up at 949 499-1919. For more information contact Nick Jankowski at: nick@ranchlb.com. Ben Brown’s Golf Course is located at 31106 Coast Highway.
Take a Break and Make a Life-Giving Gift
Plan to donate blood at the Red Cross blood drive between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21 at the Montage resort, 30801 S. Coast Highway. Valet parking will be complimentary for all donors.
Donors must bring photo identification. Fresh fruit and cookies prepared by hotel pastry chefs will served.
Participants will receive complimentary tickets to the Long Beach Laugh Factory and discounted tickets to a San Diego Padres game.
Sign up online at: RedCrossBlood.org, sponsor code MontageLB; email Laura Rudd at laura.rudd@redcross.org or call Hearts of Montage, 949715-6208.
Discussion on Traffic Safety Continues
The public is invited to see how preliminary ideas from an earlier workshop on improving mobility around Laguna Beach have been refined at follow-up session, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 at the Susi Q Center, 380 Third St.
A city-wide transportation network is envisioned that is pedestrian and bicycle friendly, reduces traffic congestion, and provides reliable transit service for residents and visitors.
For more info: contact Scott Drapkin, (949) 497-0362.
Ladies, Swing into Summer
Three weeks are left in the Evening Ladies Golf Clinic series at Ben Brown’s Golf Course at The Ranch in Laguna Beach, 31106 Coast Highway.
Clinics take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays, Aug. 18 through Sept. 11. Sessions geared toward beginning or advanced golfers are $25 each. For more information call 949-499-1919 or visit: instruction@ranchlb.com.
Teens Can Be Of Service
Members of last year’s Assisteens.
Applications for 2014/2015 Assisteens Auxiliary membership are now being accepted.
Assisteens is an auxiliary group of the Assistance League of Laguna Beach, a chapter of the National Assistance League that provide services to the community such as: bringing dinner to the Friendship Shelter, buying and wrapping Christmas gifts for Homefront America families, making Valentine’s Day boxes for the Boys and Girls Club and sponsoring senior bingo.
Interested parties may contact Susan Layman, at pbseev@aol.com.
Southwest Takes Off for Mexico
Southwest Airlines launched service to Mexico last week from John Wayne Airport with a departure for San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos.
Southwest Airlines began service from Orange County in May of 1994 with 15 flights to Oakland and San Jose. Now, Southwest is Orange County’s largest air carrier with more than 50 nonstop flights to 10 domestic cities and five near-international countries.
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