Laguna Beach Historical Society Program Monday Sept 29th

Laguna Beach Historical Society Program Monday Sept 29th
“Jack Norworth &Song ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’”

The next Laguna Beach Historical Society program will be Monday, September 29th “Jack Norworth & Song ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’” by Andy Strasberg, one of the co-authors of the new book "Baseball's Greatest Hit: the Story of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'. The book reveals Jack Norworth's contributions to the era and baseball canon, including mentioning his equally little known role in establishing a baseball legacy in Laguna Beach. The program will be held at the Laguna Beach City Hall which is at 505 Forest Avenue. The public is invited and there is no charge.

Jack Norworth lived in Laguna Beach from 1940 until his death in 1959; he was a founder of Laguna Beach Little League in 1952.. He wrote the lyrics of song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in 1908 which is now sung at most ballgames during the seventh inning stretch which includes:
"Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back”

Jack Norworth also wrote “Shine on Harvest Moon” along with many other songs. He and his fourth wife Dorothy moved to Los Angeles in the 1930s and then to Laguna Beach in 1940. Jack opened his store “It’s a Small World” in 1946, a novelty shop selling collectible miniatures at 1820-26 South Coast Highway where the Ristorante Rumari currently operates. Dorothy died in 1950 after 25 years of marriage, and he married fifth wife Amy in 1951.

The Murphy-Smith Bungalow located at 278 Ocean Avenue and which is opened to the public at no-charge every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., now has a binder of Susi Q articles. The Laguna Beach Historical Society thanks former Coastline News editor Stu Saffer, and the sons of Elizabeth H. Quilter (Charlie, Chris, Patrick, and Matthew) for permission to reproduce and disseminate these historical articles. The Susi Q articles will shortly be online at www.LagunaHistory.org where photos and additional information can be viewed.

Step back into 1920s Laguna by visiting the Laguna Beach Historical Society Murphy-Smith Bungalow. Volunteers are needed to greet visitors to the Murphy-Smith Bungalow and should call 939-7257.

Those interested in supporting and joining the Laguna Beach Historical Society should send $15 per individual, $25 per household or $50 per business/organization to 278 Ocean Avenue, Laguna Beach CA 92651. The Laguna Beach Historical Society is a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax ID #33-0519882.

While supplies last, those donating $100 to the Laguna Beach Historical Society will receive a copy of Joan Irvine Smith’s new book “A California Woman’s Story”.

Top of the World Neighborhood Picnic

Top of the World Neighborhood Picnic
Old Fashion Picnic at Alta Laguna Park

The Top of the World Neighborhood Association (TOWNA) will hold its annual Neighborhood Picnic Sunday, September 21st, at the Alta Laguna Park from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All are invited. You do not need to be a member of TOWNA to come and enjoy this meet your neighbor event, but if you bring ten bucks (the TOWNA annual household dues) you can join for the next year.

Neighbors will be bringing their favorite dish to participate in an old fashion pot luck dinner. The TOW neighborhood increasingly has toddlers and children and a major focus will be on fun and games for the kids.

According to TOWNA President Piero Wemyss, “We hope to see everyone there joining neighbors and friends for a relaxing afternoon at Alta Laguna Park! There will be games for kids and adults too. We will have a visit from the fire department with a chance for our children to take part in a demonstration. Please bring your favorite dish to share.”

The TOWNA Board is very concerned about the fire damage and inappropriate activity such as smoking in the Laguna Heights open space, and encourages anyone seeing such activity to report it to the Police non-emergency number at 497-0701.

Save San Onofre Park at Federal Meeting in Del Mar Monday Sept 22nd

Let’s take a day off work Monday, September 22th and carpool to another meeting in Del Mar to save San Onofre State Park and Trestles Beach. In February, the California Coastal Commission voted against the Foothill South toll road, and the TCA has appealed to the Secretary of Commerce. The Federal Consistency Appeal hearing will be from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. held at the O’Brien Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA 92014 (just off I-5 in Del Mar at Via de la Valle exit).

Volunteer to drive your car to Del Mar or get a ride by calling 939-7257 or emailing Gene@Felders.Net and we’ll organize carpools. We want to arrive before 10 a.m. and get labels and signs from Sierra Club table.

The Sierra Club and Surfriders are also arranging buses leaving from San Clemente; those interested should email robin.everett@sierraclub.org or call Robin Everett at 949-361-7534. A massive turnout may be key to ensuring the California Coastal Commission decision is upheld. No decision will be made at the meeting; the sole purpose of the hearing is to receive public views and input.

If you are opposed to a six lane toll roll go through the fifth most popular California State Park, San Onofre State Park, you should join us. According to the Los Angeles Times January 17, 2008 “In September, the [California Coastal] commission's staff recommended against approval, saying that building a six-lane toll road through San Onofre [State Park] would cause widespread violations of state environmental laws by threatening endangered species, marring natural resources and compromising recreational opportunities.”


Yours truly,

Gene Felder
Vice-President
Laguna Canyon Conservancy