Foot Patrol Beat Earns Honors
Officer Zach Martinez was honored at the Orange County Crime Survivors gala, which took place in Garden Grove last week.
Martinez was recognized for his community outreach efforts in the downtown business district. He is the assigned foot beat officer in the area and is responsible for interacting with the business owners, patrons, citizens and visitors to Laguna Beach.
Visit Laguna Exec Polishes Her Credentials
Ashley Johnson, a nine-year staff member of city promoter Visit Laguna Beach, was recognized for her certified destination management executive certification at a hotel marketing convention in Austin in July.
About 47 others also earned the designation. “Completing the rigorous educational training affords me the opportunity to further Visit Laguna Beach’s mission to promote our community regionally, nationally and globally,” she said in a statement.
Johnson manages marketing and public relations at Visit Laguna Beach and also oversees the administrative office and visitors center.
Veteran Doctor Joins Clinic Team
Dr. Monica Mehren joined the volunteer staff of Laguna Beach Community Clinic.
The local resident was inspired to go into medicine watching volunteer doctors in a clinic setting and has just retired from a 25-year career at Kaiser Permanente.
“Joining the team at LBCC has been wonderful for me… This makes me feel like I have come full circle,” Dr. Mehren said in a statement.
“With 60% of our patient population being women, she’s a great fit for our patients who prefer to see a woman provider,” said Dr. Jorge Rubal, medical director.
Unitarians Welcome a New Leader
The Unitarian Universalists welcome new minister Rev. Lee Sanchez to its Cypress Drive Fellowship Hall.
A potluck and art exhibit with music last week served to roll out the welcome mat for Sanchez while also serving as a send-off party for Rev. Don Cameron. He is leaving his position in Laguna for a new position in Mankato, Minn.
The congregation will continue to provide liberal religious education, cook dinner twice a month for the homeless, lobby for prison reform, visit women in detention centers, register voters and work at polling places, says Frances Heussenstamm, who leads a monthly Thursday night meditation. “It’s a social-action-minded and spiritually inquiring congregation.”
