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Karger happy with primary results

Fred Karger signs papers for the New Hampshire presidential primary in October. (Courtesy of Fred Karger)

Fred Karger came home to Laguna Beach this week after accomplishing his mission in the New Hampshire presidential primary — beating one of the major candidates who has campaigned against same-sex marriage rights.

Then it’s on to Michigan, after a week of rest and relaxation.

“My goal was to beat Rick Santorum or Michele Bachmann,” he said. When he checked with New Hampshire’s secretary of state Wednesday afternoon, he was 137 votes ahead of Bachmann, who dropped out of the race several days ago.

“I finished eighth with just a fraction of the money spent by the other candidates,” Karger said. “It was my first election, and the bar I set myself was to beat Santorum or Bachmann.”

His opponents have millions of dollars to spend and hundreds of staffers to help him. Karger’s staff of six work mostly out of their homes.

“I’m the little engine that could,” he said. “I want to stay in [the race] as long as possible.”

The next ballot Karger is on is Michigan, which will hold its primary at the end of February. He decided to “take a pass” on South Carolina, a very conservative state in which only registered Republicans can vote in the primary. There was also a hefty $35,000 fee to get on the ballot.

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Following his kids’ California dream

Dr. Randall Bondurant plays with one of his dogs in the new examination room of the Orange County Animal Medical Center in Laguna Canyon. (DON LEACH)

At a time when many people have left the Golden State for better economic opportunities, veterinarian Dr. Randall Bondurant has moved his family here and opened a business in Laguna Beach.

Economics had nothing to do with it — his kids’ fondness for the University of Southern California did. His oldest daughter graduated from USC in 2009; his second daughter is now at the university, and his two youngest children — another daughter and a son — want to follow suit.

His son, in fact, plays football and has a burning desire to be a Trojan and wear the red and gold.

“Our kids made us decide to relocate,” Bondurant said. “We couldn’t have ended up in a better place.”

The soft-spoken Alabama native says he had a successful three-doctor practice in Atlanta for 23 years before pulling up stakes and following his children to Southern California. After hunting around for a veterinary practice to acquire, he hit upon a small practice on Laguna Canyon Road that happened to have a state-of-the-art surgical suite, a perfect fit for a veterinarian who specializes in difficult surgeries.

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After 20 years, Sleepy Hollow still wide awake

Dr. William Anderson, Maria Lisek and medical assistant Nicole Boehmer celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sleepy Hollow Medical Group in Laguna Beach. (Don Leach)

It’s 10:15 a.m. on a Monday and people are already beating a path to Sleepy Hollow Medical Group, an urgent care facility in downtown Laguna Beach.

One man has a painful foot problem and is placed in a room for treatment. An older gentleman walks in, hails Dr. William Anderson, the facility’s founder, and, after some pleasantries, requests a referral to a dermatologist. Anderson writes down the name and phone number of a local dermatologist, from memory, and sends him on his way.

A third man comes in the door, holding up a bandaged finger. He thinks he might need a tetanus shot but is not sure. He has been bitten by a dog. The man is quickly shown to a room, seen by the doctor, and in short order a nurse is dispatched to administer the shot.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary at the location, Sleepy Hollow has an unassuming façade at 364 Ocean Ave., but inside the facility is bustling: It is open seven days a week, and appointments are not necessary.

“This is how it goes,” Anderson said. “Sometimes there’s nothing for an hour or so, and then everything happens at once.”

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And the winner is …

Royal Hawaiian chef James Harris currently holds the title of "Champion Chef of Orange County." (Don Leach)

Cookmeisters, beware: Royal Hawaiian chef James Harris is ready to defend his designation as “Champion Chef of Orange County.”

Harris took the title Aug. 21 from head chef Nicola Bellazzi, of San Clemente’s Enne Cucina Italia. The trophy now sits on the bar at the Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach — unless and until — another chef bests Harris in gastronomical combat.

Harris won the award in a battle of the chefs, called Sunday Night Chef Fights, a la TV’s reality shows that pit master chefs against each other. The “fights” take place in a Huntington Beach kitchen showroom, Standards of Excellence, where an audience of 40 pays $50 to $80 for the privilege of watching the chefs put together a dish in 30 minutes.

They then get to eat and vote on the results. Similar food fights take place in the Inland Empire, the Coachella Valley and San Diego.

Harris, who became executive chef at the iconic Royal Hawaiian in February, said he was ready to put himself to the test in the contest, especially when the secret ingredient — cinnamon — was announced.

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Czech musical translates well

Theatrical producer, writer and director Steve Josephson spent the last year shuttling between Prague and Laguna Beach, getting to know Czech movie- and theater-maker Mirjam Landa.

The two met at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, where Josephson had taken “2116,” a futuristic Ray Bradbury musical that Josephson developed into a full-length work.

Landa had staged a musical version of one of her movies at the annual theater festival. She took time out to see “2116″ and returned a second time with her entire cast, Josephson said.

The two began to talk and share ideas, and eventually Josephson decided to visit Landa’s home town and meet her husband, rocker and race car driver Daniel Landa.

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Baby shark turns up dead

A salmon shark that was beached at Emerald Bay about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The shark later washed up dead. (Courtesy Cyndy Hutchinson)

Emerald Bay residents were startled by the appearance of a 4-foot salmon shark, which apparently beached itself about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The shark was initially thought to be a great white, according to Cyndy Hutchinson, who came upon the baby shark while walking on the beach and took some photos of it.

The shark may have been injured or stranded in the area, according to Hutchinson.

“I saw a pink circle on its stomach, so maybe it got hit by a dolphin or was hurt on a rock,” she said.

The shark was pulled back into the ocean by a local man and appeared to swim away, but by Wednesday morning it had washed back ashore, dead. A local reportedly took the shark off the beach and placed it on ice, Hutchinson said.

“It was supposed to be headed to the Ocean Institute,” Hutchinson said.

Julianne Fteers, who manages the aquarium program at the Ocean Institute, said the institute was hoping to get the shark carcass and turn it over to “an appropriate agency” for study.

Laguna Beach parking permits expire July 31

It’s time to renew residential, senior and business parking permits, according to City Manager John Pietig’s weekly update of July 8.

The current permits expire July 31, but new ones may be purchased beginning Friday at the City Hall cashier counter. Applications are now available on the city’s website. Residents may print out and complete the applications before heading to City Hall.

For more information about the permits or other parking information, visit www.lagunabeachcity.net

Council Chamber banner competition open

The Arts Commission is accepting conceptual designs for banners to be hung in the City Council Chambers, according to Cultural Arts Manager Siân Poeschl. The competition is limited to Laguna Beach artists, who may submit designs depicting Laguna Beach scenes at a scale of 4.5 inches by 15 inches. The deadline is Friday.

The commission will select artists, who will be provided with banner material and an honorarium of $1,000 for the banners. For more information, contact Poeschl at (949) 497-0722.

Laguna college holds student art sale

Laguna College of Art & Design’s summer gallery, Gallery 793, will open Thursday at 793 Laguna Canyon Road. A reception for the artists will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.

The gallery will be open through Aug. 13 and showcase student artwork, including paintings, sculptures and works on paper. All work will be for sale and a portion of the proceeds will go toward programs at the college.

For more information, visit www.lagunacollege.edu.