Chamber director leaves post

The Board of Directors of Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce has

announced that the position of executive director, previously filled

by Verlaine Crawford, has been vacated.

“We wish her well in her future endeavors,” said President Dennis

Junka.

Board member Rose Hancock, who operates the Manzanita Cottages,

has agreed to take the position of interim executive director.

The executive committee has begun an aggressive search for a new

executive director. Until the position is filled, the chamber will

continue to operate with the support of the assistant administrator,

Linda Luse.

The chamber is planning the following events:

* Sunset Networking Mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September

21, on the upper deck of the Inn at Laguna Beach, 211 N. Coast

Highway. Nonmembers welcome. $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers.

* Community Expo, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, at

Tivoli Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Rd. Free admission to this 11th annual

expo, featuring entertainment, live auction and prizes, where

businesses and organizations can showcase and sell their products and

services.

For more information, call the chamber at (949) 494-1018.

Donations sought to put city records online

The June 1 landslide forced city officials to put an indefinite

hold on plans to go online with city archives and current records.

Former City Clerk Verna Rollinger is calling on local businesses,

residents, community groups and business people to contribute funds

to purchase a new computer server outside the city that would get the

records posted now.

The purchase of a duplicate server is estimated to cost $21,000.

The money sought by Rollinger would be the final step in the creation

of a protected, accessible database, on which the city has already

spent $100,000.

Some two million pages of document have been put into the system

since 2003.

The council expected to allocate the funds to complete the system

in the 2005-06 fiscal year. The value of the database was proven in

the landslide that halted the completion of the project.

When the landslide occurred, city staff was able to provide the

public and the media with detailed information on the properties in

the affected area, including some 20,000 images on CD/DVD.

A fund has been established in the city treasurer’s office to

accept contributions. Checks should be made payable to City of Laguna

Beach, with a notation “Server Fund,” and mailed to City Treasurer

Laura Parisi, 505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, 92651. Funds will be returned if not used.

For more information, call (949) 494-9878.

Free financial planning workshops offered

Eight charitable organizations are again offering the “It’s Your

Money” workshop series in Laguna Beach. Focusing on a different topic

each week, the sessions will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on

Fridays, September 16 through November 4, at the Assistance League

Center, 547 Catalina St.

For reservations, call Guine at Laguna Canyon Foundation, (949)

497-8324.

Pets, chili to go on parade

The Laguna Board of Realtors & Affiliates presents the ninth

annual Laguna Beach Pet Parade & Chili Cook Off from noon to 3 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18 at Tivoli Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Rd.

The event features a pet contest and an award for best chili.

Admission is $4 per person, with children under 12 free.

Proceeds will benefit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Laguna

Beach Animal Shelter and the Blue Bell Cat Foundation.

For more information, call (949) 497-2474.