Santina Davies is in the business of rehabilitation. Her own physical rehabilitation has been her full-time occupation for six years. Following a successful climb on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Davies slipped off Table Mountain in Capetown, South Africa, which she hiked only to take in the view. She fell 125 feet and had to be airlifted to [...]
Prominent residents will share their personal stories of challenge and change during a 7 p.m. speaker series beginning Thursday, May 2, at Corona del Mar’s Port Theatre, part of Friendship Shelter’s 25th anniversary celebration. The “Speaking of…” series will have a twist: the talks will be directed as advice for homeless people currently rebuilding their [...]
Laguna Beach resident and tireless philanthropist Jean Raun received more than the usual cards from well-wishers for her 90th birthday. The town she’s made home for half her life issued a proclamation honoring her 90th birthday for the years of dedicated service. “It is my privilege to honor you this evening,” said council member [...]
The Assistance League of Laguna Beach, which operates the Turnabout Thrift shop to help support their various programs, recently solidified a commitment to provide sartorial aid to the Friendship Shelter, for both their signature shelter for homeless citizens transitioning into the workforce and for the Alternate Sleeping Location for the homeless that they manage [...]
The Alternate Sleeping Location, which nightly houses about 45 homeless people in Laguna Canyon, will remain open during the daytime for a trial period of 10 weeks this summer thanks to a last-minute $30,000 allocation approved by the City Council earlier this month. After an audit revealed a general fund balance of $3.2 million more [...]
Friendship Shelter has been saving lives and helping homeless individuals for 25 years and today serves as operators of the only homeless shelter in south Orange County. To mark its anniversary, the shelter plans a series of events, including a drive for hosts for its signature event, “Friendship Shelter Dinners,” formerly known as “Dinners Across [...]
“Fly Me To The Moon,” Friendship Shelter’s annual gala on Friday, Nov. 9, set records for both attendance and funds raised. Gala chair and Laguna Beach resident Keiko Sakamoto and her committee presided over an exuberant and thriving evening that raised nearly $400,000 for Friendship Shelter’s work rebuilding the lives of homeless people in Orange [...]
Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties announced the appointment of Laguna Beach resident Jane Hanauer to its board. Hanauer, a former teacher and long-time advocate for children and women, is the owner of Laguna Beach Books and currently serves as a board member for the Laguna Art Museum and Friendship Shelter.
Editor, In (“Quest for Homeless Housing Takes Initial Steps,” June 1), it was noted that the city is being asked to consider plans for permanent housing for up to 40 disabled homeless people. As a resident I am sympathetic to the plight of the homeless, but I am not in favor of anything that makes our [...]
When they moved from the St. Regis hotel to the Old Pottery Place in Laguna Beach, owner and artistic director of Vogue Salon, Donato Bianchini, and his wife and manager, Antonietta, looked to establish local roots. After asking their clients, they settled on a partnership with Laguna’s Friendship Shelter, which has provided shelter and supportive [...]
Am I Crazy? The answer is a resounding “yes!” But that’s beside the point. I have been homeless three times. I also have a mental illness, which I believe to be the underlying cause of my homelessness. I recently started taking a medication that appears to be working, and one more time I am [...]
The Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course agreed to again host World Hunger Bowl on Nov. 3, a fundraiser sponsored by the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee that benefits the Laguna Canyon homeless shelter. Homeless advocate Faye Chapman, a member of the committee will chair the event. Since the shelter’s opening in November [...]
Top of the World school’s kindness initiative, “Rachel’s Challenge,” is at work again, this time collecting coats to benefit residents of the Friendship Shelter and Boys and Girls Club members. During the first two days the school had already collected 160 coats filling three huge bags. “The timing of this drive comes at [...]
Gifts that Keep on Giving ‘Tis the season of giving … you can feel it in the air. Storefronts are festooned with glittering lights and enticing goodies. Holiday parties vie for weekend rights. Front doors are decorated in pine-fragrant wreathes, and brightly wrapped gifts are stashed under ornament-laden trees. The scents of hot apple [...]
Police Use Taser to Subdue Assault Suspect
An assault involving three men escalated into a struggle with Laguna Beach police, who ultimately deployed a taser twice to subdue the younger combative suspect in the 300 block of Cozumel around 1:15 a.m. Friday, May 10, police said. Police ultimately arrested Laguna Beach resident Sergio Gabriel Borgognone, 51, for allegedly resisting arrest and his [...]
