The partnership between the Laguna Beach Garden Club and the Laguna Beach County Water District was on full display at the ribbon cutting for the new mural titled “The Good of the Hive®” by Matt Willey. The mission of the garden club to help save the pollinators and the Water District’s mission to save water created the perfect symbiotic relationship to showcase the connectedness that exists between all of us in our pursuit to find solutions to planetary health issues.
On Monday March 11, 2024, on a beautiful Laguna Beach afternoon, over 100 people came together to celebrate the mural coming to life in their community. The symbolism of the connectedness of the hive and caring for each other above individual concern was clearly on display. Members of the singing chorus Laguna Tunes showed up to sing their rendition of “Let it Bee” by the Beatles and “Buzzing Bees” sung to the melody of “Dancing Queen”. The Laguna Beach Police Department’s peer support comfort dog, Cooper, joined in the fun by dressing as a bee for the occasion. The group was delighted to have our very own mayor, Sue Kempf and Erin Slattery of the Chamber of Commerce, do the honors of the ribbon cutting. Mayor Kempf stated, “I’m so impressed with the work that The Laguna Beach Garden Club is doing; they are an incredible group!” Senator Dave Min’s office sent formal congratulations to the LBCWD, The Laguna Beach Garden Club and mural artist Matt Willey.
“Just like the intricate workings of a hive, our community thrives on interconnectedness and collaboration,“ stated Keith Van Der Maaten, General Manager of the Laguna Beach County Water District. “Our partnership with the Laguna Beach Garden Club to make this mural a reality epitomizes the deep-rooted bond between the District and the Laguna Beach community, a connection that has flourished since our inception 99 years ago.
“The Laguna Beach County Water District is the host venue for the Garden Club’s Annual Gate & Garden Tour that functions as our major fundraising event that helps the club to do all the great projects, like this mural in Laguna Beach,” stated Jane Leary, Garden Club President., “The Water District is an integral member of the garden club hive and we cannot thank them enough for their willingness to collaborate with us on so many worthwhile endeavors.”
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