EDITORIAL:Spirit of Laguna shines

It was an evening of “firsts” on Saturday as the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce honored two individuals and two organizations with the newly conceived “Spirit of Laguna” awards.

Dr. Korey Jorgensen, a top HIV/AIDS physician who works with the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, was named “Harry Lawrence Person of the Year,” a fitting tribute to a model health professional and community activist.

Jorgensen has been with the Clinic for more than 30 years and is now medical director emeritus. He also advises the city on HIV/AIDS issues through the HIV Advisory Committee. In 2004, he was honored as California Physician of the Year.

The award recognizes the person who has displayed “unending dedication” to Laguna Beach — a fitting description of Jorgensen.

Laguna legend Harry Lawrence — at 92, fresh from a Friday night honor as the Seniors’ first male Legacy award winner — was beaming as he took home the Merchant of the Year award to add to his collection.

Lawrence is the person after which the Person of the Year award is modeled, and his list of contributions to Laguna Beach is truly “unending.”

South County Bank received the Small Business of the Year award; the small, personable bank has pitched in on many local causes in time of need — including assisting Bluebird Canyon landslide victims.

The Festival of Arts received the Premier Business of the Year Award — a remarkable accomplishment for a non-profit organization, but an honor worthy of an entity that is the bedrock of Laguna’s arts community and local economy.

A new Board of Directors was sworn in by new Supervisor Pat Bates — her first official visit to Laguna Beach since the election.

The Chamber is on a roll. Its membership is the highest ever and the annual installation dinner was the best-attended so far, as attested to by the crowded Tivoli, Too! dance floor as revelers got down to a Motown beat.

The evening truly exemplified the Spirit of Laguna.