Chamber hosts Business Expo

Barbara Diamond

It wasn’t business as usual at the Farmers’ Mark on Saturday.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the 9th annual

Business and Community Expo where cars usually park next to the

market.

“The chamber really wants to thank market manager Jennifer

Griffiths and all of the vendors of the Laguna Farmers Market,” said

Anne Morris, chamber chief executive officer. “This event was really

to let locals know what is available in town.”

Sixty-three community groups and businesses set up tables or

displays at the Expo, Sheldon Pines was there to represent the

Transportation Corridor Agencies.

“People here love the toll road,” said the public affairs

specialist at about 10 a.m. “I haven’t had one negative comment.”

Laguna Canyon Conservancy President Carolyn Wood nor Mayor Toni

Iseman had yet to arrive at the Expo.

“My mission is to find people who had issues with the toll road

and solve them or at least give our side of the story,” Pine said. “A

lot of people don’t realize how environmentally sensitive the toll

roads are. The gnat catcher is doing better now than before the road.

And the toll roads are the only roads in the county that filter storm

water.”

Also at the expo was former Arts Commission Chair Leah Vasquez

exhibited photographs of some of her Fine Art Services projects,

commissioned for private homes and public areas. Vasquez created the

twinkling bench at the corner of Upland and South Coast Highway,

composed of bits of glass she picked up from the beach and pieces of

broken pottery donated by residents.

Allstate Insurance broker Patrick Freeman dispensed free advice to

help homeowners avoid losing their insurance.

“Keep brush cut down under two feet, limit to three eucalyptus

and-or pines within 100 feet of structures and keep them trimmed,”

Freeman said.

He warned that any wooden structures within 1,000 feet of the wild

land interface could be a problem for the homeowners.

“Get rid of the wood, remodel if you have to,” he said.

He warned again that the city should eliminate dead end streets

and not approve any more. At the very least, he said, fire roads

should connect the cul de sacs.

Coffee Pub owner Cameron Fraser dispensed free coffee. Fraser and

his wife, Tricia, bought the pub in 1998. It has been a going concern

in town since 1976.

Carnavale manque Jon Beau Lee, in full regalia, mingled with the

crowd at the Expo, a walking, talking, hand-kissing advertisement for

his “Carnavale Laguna Beach” film festival, costume workshops and a

masked ball, set to begin Saturday at the Irvine Bowl Park.

Among the nonprofit community groups was Sande St. John spent her

morning collecting information about upcoming events. She will try --

as she and many others had tried for about 20 years -- to create an

Events Calendar that would prevent conflicts, such two local film

societies holding events the same day.

“But it won’t be just art and cultural events; I want the

nonprofits, too,” said St. John “All they have to do is fill out the

information and make sure I get it.”

Police Officer Zack Martinez staffed the Drug Abuse Resistance

Education booth. He has been the D.A.R.E. officer since he joined the

department two years ago.

“This a very supportive community and the D.A.R.E. program is one

of the best in the country,” Martinez said.

Friends of the Laguna Beach Community Clinic founder Carolyn Bent

strolled among the booths before taking a turn at the clinic’s mobile

unit, where volunteers explained medical and dental programs

available for fees based on the patients’ ability to pay.

The Chamber of Commerce table featured gift certificates good at

300 participating businesses in town. The certificates come in $10,

$25 and $50 denominations. A list of participating businesses is

provided for the gift certificate recipient, taking the burden of

decision off of the giver’s shoulders.

Certificates are available at the chamber office, 357 Glenneyre

St., under the library; by calling 494-1018, Ext. 1 or 1

(800)-7704438, the 24-hour toll free number, faxing 376-8916 or on

line at www.LagunaBeachChamber.org.

Admission to the Expo was free. Maybe they should have charged a

peach or a tomato. Farmers Market manager Jennifer Griffiths said

business was off at the market, blaming it on the loss of parking,

taken up by the Expo.

“We won’t do it again,” she said.

Chamber officials said they were chagrined at Griffiths comments.

“I personally spoke to more than three-quarters of the vendors and

only one said his business was off -- by $25 to $50,” said chamber

CEO Morris.

An estimated 400 people visited the Expo, many with produce in

hand, according to Morris.

“We feel that the expo introduced many, many new customers to the

Farmers Market,” Morris said.