BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Thurston fundraiser is ‘out on the town’

Thurston Middle School parents will go “Out on the Town” Wednesday.

As many as 150 guests will enjoy a progressive evening in downtown Laguna Beach, walking from venue to venue enjoying wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres “” and each other’s company. Guests will visit two designated stops in small groups before all joining together at Romeo Cucina for a light buffet supper, deejay and desserts from Zinc Café.

Guests are randomly assigned to two different stops, the first from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and the second from 6:55 to 7:40 p.m., where they will mingle with fellow parents and school staff members while nibbling on appetizers and enjoying a glass of wine or beer (cocktails will also be available for purchase at certain locations). All appetizers, wine and beer are donated by the participating venues: Anastasia’s, the Lumberyard, Nick’s Laguna, Nirvana Grille, Ocean Brewing Co. and Sundried Tomato.

Just before the event, guests will be mailed the names of their two assigned stops for the evening. At each stop, the guests will mix with a new group of people before everyone unites at the third and final venue of the evening.

To RSVP, send checks for $65 per person payable to T.M.S. PTA and include the names of the attendees. RSVPs maybe dropped off at the school office or mailed to: Kathleen Moore, 84 Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Donations and/or sponsors for staff members are greatly appreciated. For more information, call Moore at (949) 497-8455 or Melissa Cavanaugh, (949) 499-4893.

SchoolPower gives $15,830 to athletics

At Wednesday night’s Laguna Beach High School’s boys’ volleyball game against Corona del Mar, SchoolPower President and former school volleyball player and alum, Jeffrey Spurlock, presented a check for $15,830 to the high school’s athletics programs. Accepting the check was high school Athletic Director Mike Churchill.

Spurlock thanked the parents for their support of SchoolPower’s Community Campaign and golf tournament.

“We are glad that we can provide ways for the community to show its commitment to athletics and the importance of athletic programs in our school system, in addition to helping support academics, the arts and technology,” Spurlock said. “This is another inspiring example of the generosity of the families, community members, and volunteers that donate to SchoolPower.”

The Community Campaign designations to high school athletic programs totaled $5,720. This represents the allocations by Community Campaign donors who have the option of choosing a percentage of larger donations to the program or teacher of their choice. The golf proceeds in the amount of $10,110 represent 20% of the golf tournament proceeds that are earmarked annually for high school athletics.

“We are so fortunate to have SchoolPower devoting so much time and energy to making the high school experience second to none,” Churchill said. “At Laguna we pride ourselves in being able to provide the best resources available, and we could not say that if we did not have SchoolPower.”

SchoolPower is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise money to enrich the education of all children in the Laguna Beach School District. For details about advertising in the SchoolPower Directory, participating in the Laguna Locals Card as a business or cardholder or to volunteer, go to www.lbschoolpower.org or call (949) 494-6811.

LOCA presents preschool art at library

Creative works from Boys & Girls Club Even Start Preschool children are being displayed at the Laguna Beach Library during the month of March.

Laguna Outreach for Community Art (LOCA) provides the art program, with weekly art activities for more than 20 preschoolers. LOCA teachers include Pat W. Phillips, Gayle Foley, Sharon Risley, Carol Swanson, Lee Cohen and Noel Lashley. The children in the program are given the opportunity to experiment with a variety of art materials including painting, collage and clay.

“The children have really blossomed in their creativity and art expression,” said Terry Anne Barman, Even Start director. “It is a wonderful and unique opportunity for our little ones to exercise their creativity and have a chance so early on to be taught by such talented artists.”

The children and their families went to the library March 20 for a group reading led by librarian Rebecca Porter.

The Even Start Preschool Program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach is a free preschool program for 3- and 4-year-old children from qualifying low-income families.

Grapes for Grads event details ‘uncorked’

The fourth annual Grapes for Grads Wine Tasting and Scholarship event will be from noon to 4 p.m. April 26 at Tivoli Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Road.

Grapes for Grads raises funds for scholarships to continuing education students of Laguna Beach High School and Laguna College of Art and Design.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $30, or $35 at the event, and include unlimited wine tasting for guests older than 21.

This year’s event will showcase many local and regional wines from more than a dozen wineries and distributors.

Live musical entertainment will be provided by a trio of promising young composers. In addition to the wine tasting, students from Laguna College of Art and Design will be exhibiting their work and performing live demonstrations in painting and digital media during the event.

The Silent Auction and Opportunity Drawing will offer each attendee the chance to shop and win.

Each ticket purchased provides entry into the opportunity drawing. Food is available at an extra cost.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Laguna Beach jointly host this annual event.

This year they are proud to announce the formation of a new 501(c)(3) organization, the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce Foundation, whose sole purpose is to raise monies for local student scholarships to ensure that deserving and talented students have the opportunity to realize their artistic and academic goals.

For more information, advance ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities contact Jeffrey Redeker, Event Chair and Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, President, (949) 838-4118 or visit www.GrapesForGrads.com to purchase tickets online.