Winding down on the holiday event days

SUZIE HARRISON

The speedway of holiday events is finally winding down a bit in

Laguna so there’s a bit of time to catch your breath and reflect on

the experiences.

ARTIST HOLIDAY STUDIO SALE

Enjoy last minute holiday shopping at the studios of 10 Laguna

Beach artists along Laguna Canyon Road from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday.

Artists will open their studios offering artwork that includes

silk clothing, accessories, blown glass, glass jewelry, fused glass,

paintings, wood and sculpture.

Visitors can spend the afternoon with some of Laguna’s prominent

artists: Sian and Troy Poeschl, 1565 Arroyo Drive; John Barber, 21062

Laguna Canyon Road; Olivia Batchelder, 20321 Sun Valley Drive; Sue

Callaway, 20442 Sun Valley Drive; Gavin Heath, 21080 Laguna Canyon

Road; Jason and Nicole McQuaid, 2395 Laguna Canyon Road; Marsh Scott,

2795 Laguna Canyon Road No. C; and David Sullenger, 295-2558 Laguna

Canyon Road.

For information, call (949) 497-4942.

WOODY’S WREATH AUCTION RECAP

Woody’s at the Beach was packed Dec. 7, as usual, for its annual

wreath auction to benefit Shanti OC. More than 32 wreaths were

auctioned at the seventh annual event. It’s one of my favorite events

with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Shanti’s clients. This year the

auction brought in about $13,000, adding to the past years’ total of

$90,000.

Seaside garden at Laguna Drug donated two wreath. Premiere

Furniture also donated.

“The nicest part was the new people,” said Woody’s owner Joel

Herzer. “It keeps it fresh and exciting. And of course, people who

have been a part of it over the seven years like Jewelry by Ponce,

Flower’s Too! and Video Horizons. It’s great having people

participate and still see the value of contributing every year since

day one. They’re a vital part of the whole community.”

Jewelry by Ponce had a many-tiered generous offering. The highest

bid got a wreath and a half carat round diamond valued at $1,500, the

second bid received a one carat ruby valued at $1,000 and it went up

to six different bidders receiving everything from amethysts to

sapphires with a wreath.

“Black Iris got the highest bid for a traditional wreath with a

bid over $1,100,” Herzer said.

I enjoyed seeing Woody’s co-owner Alford Harrison. Herzer and

Harrison also own Wang’s in the Desert and sadly Alford spends most

of his time tending to this other popular restaurant.

Throughout the past five years, Woody’s has helped local charities

raise more than $500,000 in gifts and donations.

MERRIMENT AT THE MARINE MAMMA CENTER

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center held its fifth annual Holiday

Gathering to Benefit the Laguna Canyon Facility, Animal Care and

Education Programs on Friday evening.

It was my first time going and will become an annual favorite. It

made me feel like a kid again with all the fun arts and crafts.

In mid-June, I got to meet Tommy who was a 4-week-old California

sea lion pup who just got rescued. At the fundraiser fete, I got to

see him again. Though he’s changed a bit, he’s bigger and healthier,

he still has quite the personality. Tommy was outside thoroughly

enjoying himself hiding in the pool and then traveling on his tummy

to the fence and back. Watching a sea lion play is a one-of-a-kind

experience, especially knowing the center saved his life.

The whole evening was geared around marine life including the

games. Camp Pinniped and Kid’s Club member Devon Christensen, 8,

helped animal care supervisor Kirsten Sedlick in the game area.

She was having a blast. But like everyone else she had Tommy on

the brain.

“I brought Tommy a blue towel,” Devon said. “I couldn’t take it

anymore I was crying after I left [camp]. My Christmas wish for Tommy

is that he has fun at his new home.”

Director of Development/Marketing Emily Wing said they have three

new sea lion pups. One was rescued that evening.

For information about donating to the Pacific Marine Mammal

Center, call (949) 494-3050.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at (949) 494-4321 or

[email protected].