Women’s Conference Inspires Thousands in Long Beach

Over 10,000 women (and a few men too) attended The Night at the Village event on Monday night at the Long Beach Convention center, which is part of the two day Women’s Conference held here at the Convention Center.  The Night at the Village is a complimentary event to the conference which sold out in just two hours this year.   For two full days, more than 100 newsmakers and world opinion leaders gather with more than 25,000 women from all walks of life to be educated, inspired and empowered to be Architects of Change in their own lives, within their communities and around the world.

More than 10,000 women were in attendance for the Night at the Village where they were able to  “meet, mix and mingle” with the nation’s best-selling authors, most inspirational speakers, top chefs, socially responsible companies and Architects of Change like themselves, all in a dynamic 160,000 square foot women’s village. The Village stays open for shopping, networking and book-signing throughout the conference and it is a popular gathering spot for speakers, authors and attendees to connect with each other and build a community.  Featured speakers such as Maria Shriver, Jillian Michaels (personal trainer on The Biggest Loser), Paula Deen (celebrity chef) and book signing opportunties which also included Caroline Kennedy, Mario Lopez and Kate Gosselin. 

The lineup of speakers and participants for today’s event includes former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright,
FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair, Martha Beck, Sir Richard Branson, Katie Couric, Stephen M. R. Covey, Geena Davis, Paula Deen, Elizabeth Edwards, Linda Ellerbee, Dr. Jane Goodall, David Gregory, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie B. Jarrett, Caroline Kennedy, Alicia Keys, Ashton Kutcher, Annie Leibovitz, Lisa Ling, Cindy Hensley McCain, Somaly Mam, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Danica Patrick, Robin Roberts, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Claire Shipman, First Lady Maria Shriver, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Paula Zahn.

The speakers at today’s event will be broadcast live at WomensConfrence.org.

Photos from Night at the Village below:

Construction Underway on the First Registered U.S. Green Building LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Homes on the California Coastline

Laguna Beach has long been a source of inspiration for artists (the Plein Air school of landscape painting), television producers (MTV’s Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County), and other innovators.

Now, this picturesque resort town is the setting for a major development in the eco-building movement, as Tresor Properties – a premier Laguna Beach-based real estate investment, construction and brokerage firm – builds the first U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes registered project on the California coastline.

With these two luxury oceanfront residences, Tresor Properties is pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest “green” building rating – a Platinum designation. According to the Certified Projects Database at USGBC.org, there are only 81 LEED for Homes-certified Platinum projects completed in the world as of October 2009.

Tresor Properties’ “Pursuit of Platinum” project is newsworthy not only for bringing a new level of eco-friendly homebuilding to the West Coast, but also for raising the bar for green living.

“With our Laguna Beach oceanfront residences we’re making a clear statement that you don’t have to sacrifice luxury and quality when you build green,” says Ken Fischbeck, Vice President of Construction and Founding Partner, Tresor Properties. “Not only are we building to the highest level of energy efficiency and environmental sensitivity, we’re also building with functionality, longevity, quality and beauty in mind.”

Other luxury home brands that are committed to sustainability have joined the “Pursuing Platinum” project, demonstrating their support of Tresor Properties ushering in a new era of luxury green homebuilding. These firms include renowned German kitchen manufacturer Poggenpohl and Italian door and window makers STR Infissi.

“Combining high-end design with state-of-the-art building technologies is our passion, and that is why we are partnering with Tresor,” says Ted Chappell, President of Poggenpohl U.S., Inc. “These homes will be among the greenest in the world and the design elements are stunning.”

Other “Pursuing Platinum” project sponsors include Coastal Concrete, Hillcrest Framing, and B and D Plumbing.

The two U.S. Green Building Council Platinum LEED registered homes-in-progress are located at 990 and 992 Ocean Front, in the heart of Laguna Beach’s sought-after “Village” district. Gracing two prime parcels of oceanfront land, the residences will feature views of the coastline, crashing whitewater and Catalina Island. Designed by prominent Laguna Beach architect Mark Singer – who is known for creating award-winning contemporary homes inspired by nature – the homes will encompass 3,650 square feet and 4,500 square feet, respectively, of casually elegant beachfront living. They also will feature expansive oceanfront terraces, private steps to the beach, pools, spas, elevators, three-car garages and state-of-the-art home automation technology. In addition to their anticipated receipt of the USGBC Platinum LEED designation, the homes also are planned to exceed California’s current strict Title 24 requirements for energy efficiency building by more than 58 percent.

“High-end homebuyers have been waiting for this product – a house that blends luxury living with a beachfront location and environmental design,” says real estate agent Marcus Skenderian of eco-brokerage Surterre Properties in Laguna Beach, who is part of a team representing the homes for sale. “We already have an impressive roster of interested clients and the buzz surrounding the properties is tremendous.”

Estimated completion for the homes is mid-2010. Both residences are offered for sale by Surterre Properties, a leading luxury real estate firm that also is a green company and the only eco broker in Orange County. For more information, interested parties may contact Marcus Skenderian of Surterre Properties at 949.295.5758 or visit his website at www.skenderianproperties.com

Be A Seal Beach Santa..Save a Life!

The Seal Beach Animal Care Center Presents a Christmas present that will be a “forever” present.

We want to find “forever” homes for 77 wonderful cats and kittens.

We are going to place 77 cats in 77 days!

We have streamlined our adoption process, with same day approvals available most days. We are offering rebates of adoption fees, and discounts for multiple adoptions and adoptions of senior and special needs cats, through December 31, 2009!

Come and meet Ducky, Frisky, Jitterbug, Brando & Emmie and other wonderful cats and kittens, and probably one will be your new best friend!

Make a difference in the life of a homeless cat or kitten and in your own heart as well as the new owner!

Trust me, these little guys know when you adopt them and their love is almost immediate.

Contact the Seal Beach Animal Care Center
1700 Adolfo Lopez Drive
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(562) 430-4993

www.sbacc.org

Seal Beach Mel’s Drive in Closes Doors

Mel’s Drive-In at the Shops at Rossmoor  closed their doors on Tuesday.    The family owned restaurant was opened by Steve Weiss in 2008.  Weiss is the son of the creator of the  Original Mel’s Drive-In in San Francisco,  which was made famous by it’s role in the movie American Graffiti.   

The Press Telegram reported that a large decline in customers and the refusal of the landlord to reduce rent led to the decision to close this location.  

To read the full story visit the PressTelegram.com.

Harvest Festival Begins in Long Beach this Weekend

The Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show®, the largest indoor arts and crafts show on the West Coast, returns to the Long Beach Convention Center October 2-4, 2009 with unique products, eclectic entertainers and a full day of fun.

For over 37 years, the Harvest Festival’s unique shopping and entertainment atmosphere has enamored shoppers. The show offers thousands of distinctive, handmade items, including jewelry, photographs, sculptures, pottery, accessories, clothing, specialty foods and more. The products offered are the highest quality, as each exhibitor is subject to a rigid jury process to be selected as a featured artisan.

The Long Beach Harvest Festival has once again partnered with the Los Angeles affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. The show will provide Susan G. Komen for the Cure® with half the proceeds collected from shopping bag sales and all the proceeds from the parcel check. To recognize the growing demand that food banks around the country are facing, the Long Beach Harvest Festival has also joined forces with the Good Provider Food Bank of Southern California and will hand out $2 off admission coupon to anyone who brings a non-perishable food donation to the show.

Besides offering products that you can’t find anywhere else, the Harvest Festival is also known for providing a very family-friendly environment and offers a number of entertainment acts that thrill audiences of all ages. Whether it is high energy dance numbers, a strolling Elvis on stilts, or spectacular puppeteers, customers can always count on an entertaining and fun shopping experience at the Long Beach Harvest Festival.
  What:     The Long Beach Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show(R)
  When:     October 2-4, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach CA
  Hours:    Friday: 10 am – 6pm, Saturday: 10 am – 6pm, Sunday: 10 am – 5pm
  Tickets:  Adults: $9, Seniors (62+): $7, Youth (13-17): $4, Group
            (10 or more): $5, Kids 12 and Under: Free
  Info:     For tickets and information, please call 415-447-3205 or
            visit www.harvestfestival.com

Audience Members Amaze at Oprah Season Premiere Party

The Black Eyed Peas helped Oprah kick off her 24th Season Party last week in Chicago. Oprah closed down Chicago streets to film her Season Premiere which both thrilled and annoyed many of the Chicago natives. The show was a star studded event with performances by the Black Eyed Peas, James Taylor and Jennifer Hudson among others. If caught the show or have seen the video floating around the web then you know that it was the Black Eyed Peas and the Flash Mob (a pre-arranged meeting where the group all practiced the dance ahead of time) audience members that stole the show.

Check out the video here:

Sonic Boom Rattles Southern California

Seal Beach and Southern California were rattled today around 5:50 thanks to a sonic boom from the Space Shuttle landing at Edwards Air Force Base.    One local resident said, “I thought a car ran into my house.  The whole house shook and there was a very loud boom.  I ran outside to see what it was and then my neighbor told me that the Space Shuttle was landing today.  I had no idea we would hear it all the way down here.”

The Space Shuttle landed in California after a 14 day mission to deliver supplies.  The Shuttle was forced to land at Edwards after weather on the East coasts was determined to be too unstable to land.

$25 Restaurant Gift Certificates for $1!!

Restaurant.com is running a n 90% off $25.00 gift certificate special through September 13th!    You can browse through hundreds of local restaurants including Seal Beach favorites The Abbey and Cafe Lafayette.   Most restaurants require a minimum purchase of $35 to get the $25 discount.   To get the discount you just need to add to your cart, purchase and print.   Some people have reported having to use a discount code if so it’s NINETY.   Check it out the offer expires soon!  Visit Restaurant.com

Brad Pitt Speaks Out in Support of Gay Marriage

Promoting his new movie, ‘Inglorious Bastards’, Bratt Pritt opened up to Parade magazine about his feelings on love, the right to marry and how he would feel if one of his children were gay.

Some have criticized Pitt and Jolie for not setting a better example for their children by getting married.  Pitt’s was not shy about sharing his feelings about marriage equality or the right for people to live their lives the way they wish to live them.

He’s found a “soul mate” in Jolie, Pitt said, but he insisted he meant what he has said in the past about not marrying her.

“When someone asked me why Angie and I don’t get married, I replied, ‘Maybe we’ll get married when it’s legal for everyone else,’ ” he said. “I stand by that, although I took a lot of flak for saying it, hate mail from religious groups. I believe everyone should have the same rights.”

Pitt told Parade he takes exception to anyone trying to dictate how someone should live and who they should love.

“Just the other night, I heard this TV reverend say that Angie and I were setting a bad example because we were living out of wedlock, and people should not be duped by us,” Pitt told the magazine. “It made me laugh.

“What damn right does anyone have to tell someone else how to live if they’re not hurting anyone? How many times do you think real love comes to someone in a lifetime? If you’re lucky, maybe two or three.”

People should be able to be happy, Pitt said, and that includes his children.

“Would it bother me if a child of mine turns out to be gay? No, not one bit,” he said. “Listen, I want my kids to live the lives they want to live. I want them to be fulfilled. I hope I teach my kids to be who they really are.”

To read the full article in Parade Magazine click here.

Orange County Fairgrounds Up for Sale?

Just as many are enjoying the last few days of the Orange County Fair, news has surfaced of a potential sale of the OC Fairgrounds due to the California Budget crisis.   A group has started a Save the OC Fair petition to try and stop the sale of the fairgrounds to an OC investor group.  The petition website states the following:

Due to the current budget crisis in the state of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed the idea of selling off a number of “under-utilized” fairgrounds, arenas, and parks owned by the state to generate immediate revenue.

While this plan has been under consideration for quite some time, a resolution signed by the Fair Board, during a secretive and impromptu meeting with inadequate notice to the public on July 15th , actually put the plan in motion by offering their support in selling the fairgrounds to a non-profit entity.

Ironically however, less than one week after the resolution was signed, a non-profit organization, “The Orange County Fair and Events Center Foundation”, was announced – Formed by members of the Fair Board themselves! These being the same members who fell under scrutiny last year for taking advantage of their positions by using up hundreds of concert tickets, partaking in extravagent lobster dinners behind the scenes of the fair, and so on.

The shady and left-handed tactics used in signing the resolution to sell the Fairgrounds, as well as establishing the non-profit company to subsequently purchase the land has, by design, kept the neighboring home owners, citizens of Orange County and the Business Owners who utilize the O.C. Fairgrounds in the dark regarding the plan – Until JUST NOW!!

Other sites considered for sale, where adequate notice was given, were able to stop the proceedings by gaining a large amount of local support and providing a substantial amount of proof that the site is not “under-utilized”.

The closed-door plan to sell the O.C. Fairgrounds has caught many un-suspecting residents of Orange County by surprise. Working with extremely limited time, we wish to stop the sale of the fairgrounds based on the heritage it brings to Orange County, the programs it houses to benefit our children, and the many small businesses that count on it for their survival. Following such a deceptive start, if the venue is sold there is no guarantee of what may take its place and/or how it will be run.

To sign the online petition click here.

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