On Saturday, August 9th Laguna Muse http://www.lagunamuse.com/ organized a very successful cleanup of the Garden of Peace and Love located on the bluff on the way down to the beach at the end of Mountain Avenue just below the Boom. Michele Martinay started this living memorial to those who have passed away from HIV AIDS, and he has taken care of this special garden for the last 18 years. Now Michele's own battle with the disease has made it no longer possible for him to maintain the garden.
So 20 volunteers organized by Laguna Muse founder, Glen Kasper showed up with tools, gloves and a desire to help restore the garden back to the way Michele has kept it for all these years.
Jon Madison, owner of Laguna's magnificent Madison Square donated tons of flowers, plants, bushes and trees and all pitched for hours to do Michele proud.
Now MUSE is raising money to hire a gardener to take care of this sacred
spot so that it will live on forever. Visit their web site to help out: http://www.lagunamuse.com/
Glen tells us that he will also be organizing other cleanups in the near future.
Special thanks go out to all the volunteers who gave up a Saturday and to Laguna Beach Mayor Jane Egly who came by to support the effort. It was quite an emotional and fulfilling day!
PHOTOS:
Jon Madison (right)of Madison Square flanked by other volunteers
Scott Allen, President of the Laguna Beach HIV AIDS Advisory Committee 
Steve clearing lots of the weeds and grass that had accumulated 
Laguna Muse Founder, Glen Kasper at the Cleanup 
It takes some water to make a Garden of Peace and Love 
Laguna Beach Mayor Jane Egly came by to thank all the volunteers. Here she is with Laguna resident and Muse writer Andrew Reynolds 
Looking Good!
