Briefly In The News
Resident tapped to serve on UCI advisory board
Laguna Beach resident Lester Savit will serve on Paul Merage School of Business’ Dean’s Advisory Board at UC Irvine. The board serves as the school’s primary advisory panel, providing perspective and counsel for academic and professional programs.
“I am pleased to be appointed to the Dean’s Advisory Board,” said Savit, an attorney. “The support of the university is crucial to the continued success of the Orange County business community and the development of tomorrow’s business leaders. I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this undertaking and welcome the challenges it may bring.”
Savit is a partner with the law firm Jones Day, where he heads up the Intellectual Property Practice in Irvine.
In addition to serving on the board, he serves as chairman of the Merage School Corporate Partners Program Executive Steering Committee and is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University School of Law. He is also an arbitrator/mediator for the American Arbitration Assn. and a member of the National Panel of Patent Arbitrators.
“Lester is a stellar example of the type of individual we seek to advise (us) on our MBA and executive programs and community outreach,” Dean Andy Policano said in a statement. “Powerfully intellectual, he enhances the critical thinking we need to graduate exceptionally qualified business persons.”
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Mayor helps Meals-on-Wheels
To celebrate Mayors for Meals 2011 on March 24, Mayor Toni Iseman joined Michael Beck, operations vice president at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, to make home deliveries on behalf of Meals-on-Wheels at Mission Hospital, according to a news release.
Mayor-for-Meals is a national observance of the Meals-on-Wheels Assn. of America and is part of the March-for-Meals annual national campaign to raise awareness of senior hunger and encourage action on a local level.
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Legion honors officers
The 25 American Legion Posts in Orange County lauded the Laguna Beach Police Department. Officer Jason Farris won first place for community service in District 29 and will compete in the legion’s state competition. Officers George Ramos, Rod MacDonald and Paul Bixby received commendations for valor. Citizens on Patrol Ramona Lock and Vic Opincar received commendations of merit for years of volunteering.
There was a large crowd. Former Supervisor Todd Spitzer served as the master of ceremonies. Laguna Legionnaire Dave Connell and Legion Auxiliary President Diane Connell hosted the police honorees and their guests. For more information, visit https://www.lagunalegion.org.
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Pump switch replaced
The city’s second largest wastewater pumping facility was upgraded March 23, according to City Manager John Pietig’s Friday Update. The station was fitted with a new automated transfer switch that automatically switches between Southern California Edison’s grid power and the station’s emergency generator.
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Mozambique zone packets mailed
Packets were sent to all legal dwelling units in the Mozambique zone, according to Pietig’s Update. The packets include a letter, map, two guest hang tags and 10 overnight temporary parking permits.
Thirty-nine letters were sent to property owners who do not live within the zone. Letters were sent to the owners explaining the program and distribution of guest and temporary overnight parking permits to tenants. These permits and letters should arrive prior to the implementation of the program on Friday. For more information, call (949) 464-6673.
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Columnist surfs for school
Coastline Pilot columnist James Pribram will participate in the third annual Surf-Out Surfathon on April 15 to raise money for Costa Verde International School in Sayulita, Mexico. CVIS is the only bilingual school and the only green school in Nayarit, Mexico, Pribram said in a statement.
“We have already seen the benefits of bringing academic excellence and the promise of building a sustainably community to the families of this small surfing community,” he said.
Pribram will be surfing from noon to 2:30 p.m. To sponsor him, visit https://www.colegiocostaverde.com/surfout2011/surfOut2011.php. The Surf-Out Surfathon hopes to raise $15,000.
For more information about CVIS, visit https://www.colegiocostaverde.com.
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Light it up Blue for Autism
Fourth-generation Lagunan Liza Interlandi Stewart reported at the March 22 City Council meeting that cities around the world will turn on blue light bulbs Friday and Saturday to raise awareness of autism.
“I am not sure Laguna has a building that can be lighted, but we can all wear blue,” Stewart said.
“My 8-year-old son has autism,” she said. “He can’t tell me if he is sick, hungry or in pain.
“To be here tonight, I needed to arrange for a babysitter. It has taken me three years and five different agencies to find a babysitter who can handle my son’s behavior. He is very aggressive. Families everywhere face these problems.”
Research is underfunded, Stewart said.
Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in 1 in 110 children in the United States, Stewart said.
The disorders have been called a national public health crisis by the Centers for Disease Control, according to Autism Speaks, sponsors of Light it up Blue.
The group is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, research and cure for autism.
For more information, visit website https://www.lightitupblue.org or call (212) 252-8568.