News Release

SILB member participates in Best Buddies ride Doris McQuaid, a member of Soroptimist International of Laguna Beach, or SILB, and her husband rode their bikes 100 miles from Carmel to Hearst Castle last month in support of Best Buddies, an organization founded by the Shriver family to help those with emotional and developmental disabilities fit into society, a press release stated. SILB designed a special pink polka-dot jersey, specifically for this event, for McQuaid to wear.

DeLap on board at LAM The Laguna Art Museum's board of trustees voted earlier this month to appoint artist and former UC Irvine art school instructor Tony DeLap as a fellow member, LAM officials announced in a news release. DeLap, a working artist who lives in Corona del Mar, taught at UC Irvine from 1964 to 1991, where he was first faculty member of UCI's studio art program, the release said. He has donated some of his works to the Laguna Art Museum for its annual benefit auction.

A 35-pound bobcat that is suspected of killing three or four cats in the Three Arch Bay area is still on the loose, according to a news release issued by the Laguna Beach Police Department. Animal Services officers responded to the area of #6 Vista Del Sol at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday after a report of another domestic cat being grabbed by the bobcat. They arrived to find the bobcat hiding underneath a car parked in the driveway, Lt. Jason Kravetz said. The bobcat, which showed no fear of humans, got away before it could be tranquilized, he said.

SchoolPower's Community Campaign raises $510,000 SchoolPower's annual Community Campaign phone-a-thon made more than $510,000, a record for the foundation, with 612 donors and 64 parent volunteers manning the phones, according to a news release. SchoolPower hosts the Community Campaign, its largest fundraiser, every fall and depends on parent volunteers to call upon every family in Laguna Beach schools for donations in support of public education. The fundraiser, led by campaign vice president Carol Normandin for the sixth time, saw an increase in the number of callers, donors and first-time contributors.

District has five new administrators Laguna Beach Unified School District announced its newest five administrators this week. Dean West is the new assistant superintendent of business services. He previously was the district's director of fiscal services. He also owns an accounting consulting business, according to a news release. Deni Christensen, assistant superintendent of instructional services, previously taught high school English and served as an assistant principal and a high school principal.

The Police Department is holding a community informational meeting Oct. 3 to discuss the proposed social host ordinance. The department, led by Chief Paul Workman, will give a presentation and then allow public input and discussion about the ordinance. The ordinance has been a topic of discussion at City Council and in neighboring cities. If it passes, it would penalize adults for hosting gatherings during which alcohol or drugs are served to minors. The council recommends excluding prescribed medication.