Michael Beck

Mission Hospital Laguna Beach will hold a series of neighbor forums from November to April. Michael Beck, vice president of operations, invites the community to learn more about current hospital happenings and ask questions from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the hospital auditorium. This forum is the first in a series of six monthly meetings to allow hospital officials to get to know the community better and understand what is important to Laguna Beach. The other five forums will also take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Other forums are scheduled for:  Dec.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce has elected a new board of directors. Elected by the membership, the Board of Directors is a multi-disciplinary group of critical thinkers with a wide knowledge base. The board is balanced with directors who represent all facets of the business community, who provide perspectives.  Some of these leaders also serve on the boards of other community organizations. They know the community, they know the issues, and they know the needs of our businesses.

New temporary signs are up at the former South Coast Medical Center, which became Mission Hospital Laguna Beach as of midnight Tuesday. The temporary banners will be up until Sept. 9, when hospital officials hope to have permanent signs installed. In accordance with California Department of Public Health regulations, the facility name is required to change with the transfer of ownership. Because the hospital is operating under Mission Hospital’s license, Mission Hospital had to be in the name and it had to be the first name listed, spokeswoman Kelsey Martinez said.

Operations were canceled Wednesday at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach due to a climate control system that was not up to code. A chiller, which hospital neighbors happily thought they had heard the last of when Mission took over from Adventist Health, was to be delivered Tuesday night, to be in use for no more than 90 days. A new central plant is to be installed. Mission spokeswoman Markie Cowley made the announcement at the City Council meeting Tuesday where she and hospital administrator Michael Beck received a warm welcome despite the chilling news.

Hotelier and restaurateur Chris Keller has been elected president of the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2010. Keller owns the Hotel la Casa del Camino, K’ya Bistro, the Roof Top and Laguna Beach Inn. “Elected by the membership, the board of directors is a multi-disciplinary group of critical thinkers with a wide knowledge base,” said Executive Director Rose Hancock. “The board is balanced with directors who represent all facets of the business community, who provide perspectives.

Peter Bastone, president and chief executive of Mission Hospital, has announced his resignation after more than a decade with the St. Joseph Health System. He will leave Mission Hospital, which has locations in Laguna Beach and Mission Viejo, on June 30 for other opportunities. "It is with mixed emotions that I announce my plan to resign," Bastone said in a statement. "With many of my personal and professional goals for Mission Hospital accomplished, I am excited about moving on to explore new challenges.

Some South Laguna residents left Mission Hospital’s first community forum with more questions than they had when they arrived. The forum, on the Laguna Beach campus Monday, was billed by the Laguna campus Chief of Operations Michael Beck as an opportunity to learn more about the hospital operations and an opportunity to ask some questions. But the answers did not satisfy some of the audience. “I wasn’t disappointed because my expectations weren’t very high,” South Laguna Civic Assn.

Betty Young stood on the street corner across from the employee's entrance to NBC Studios Tuesday eyes peeled for the classic car containing talk show host Jay Leno. Young, president of Northwest State Community College in Ohio, came 2,700 miles to enlist Leno's help in getting the message out about the importance of education and specifically what is offered at two-year community colleges such as hers. While not happy with how Leno has mocked the colleges and their students on his late night show, Young said she believes he also understands the importance of getting an education.

Woman's Club hosts holiday lunch, sale The Laguna Beach Woman's Club holiday lunch and Tarnished Treasures sale will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 4 at the club, 286 St. Ann's Drive. Event organizer Sande St. John said the silent auction will be full of presents for bidders to give or keep for themselves, including restaurant dinners, art work, jewelry and Pageant of the Masters tickets. The Tarnished Treasures sale will offer hundreds of useful and decorative items at great prices.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce has elected a new board of directors. Elected by the membership, the Board of Directors is a multi-disciplinary group of critical thinkers with a wide knowledge base. The board is balanced with directors who represent all facets of the business community, who provide perspectives.  Some of these leaders also serve on the boards of other community organizations. They know the community, they know the issues, and they know the needs of our businesses.

Mission Hospital Laguna Beach will hold a series of neighbor forums from November to April. Michael Beck, vice president of operations, invites the community to learn more about current hospital happenings and ask questions from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the hospital auditorium. This forum is the first in a series of six monthly meetings to allow hospital officials to get to know the community better and understand what is important to Laguna Beach. The other five forums will also take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Other forums are scheduled for:  Dec.

Operations were canceled Wednesday at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach due to a climate control system that was not up to code. A chiller, which hospital neighbors happily thought they had heard the last of when Mission took over from Adventist Health, was to be delivered Tuesday night, to be in use for no more than 90 days. A new central plant is to be installed. Mission spokeswoman Markie Cowley made the announcement at the City Council meeting Tuesday where she and hospital administrator Michael Beck received a warm welcome despite the chilling news.

New temporary signs are up at the former South Coast Medical Center, which became Mission Hospital Laguna Beach as of midnight Tuesday. The temporary banners will be up until Sept. 9, when hospital officials hope to have permanent signs installed. In accordance with California Department of Public Health regulations, the facility name is required to change with the transfer of ownership. Because the hospital is operating under Mission Hospital’s license, Mission Hospital had to be in the name and it had to be the first name listed, spokeswoman Kelsey Martinez said.