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UPFRONT PLACES | PERSPECTIVES | HAPPENINGS

Enter the Portal

Over the last year , local resident Mark Dawson has been working on creating a smartphone app called Laguna Beach Portal , offering a look inside our sister city of Menton , France , from right here on our downtown streets . The augmented reality app , which launched in early March , leads users on a walking path that visits 10 portals in roughly 40 minutes . Start on the boardwalk in front of the iconic Main Beach lifeguard tower before making your way to The Promenade on Forest , up to Laguna Presbyterian Church , over to City Hall and then back toward the sand along Ocean Avenue , “ visiting ” each portal along the way to experience 360-degree views of the French city and its annual Fête du Citron lemon festival . “ The South of France is amazing — not at all what I expected ,” says Dawson , who traveled to Menton with his wife , Mary , last year to gather footage for the project . “… I ’ ve always wanted to create applications with experiences that inspire younger people to do more and realize that everyone can make a contribution and push things forward .” Dawson already has plans to create another app : a walking tour through Heisler Park with a focus on the public art pieces found there , including interviews and insight from the artists who created them . ( apps . apple . com / us / app / laguna-beach-portal / id6478005997 ) — A . R .

SEA LION SUPPORT

When the Pacific Marine Mammal Center reopens in the fall after its expansion project , one part of the facility will bear the moniker of a famous animal lover . Thanks to a donation from the Bob Barker Foundation , the legacy of the former “ Price is Right ” host will long be remembered through an improved visitor courtyard to be dedicated in his name . After Barker died in 2023 , PMMC learned that he had included the center in his estate plans , leaving $ 1 million for enhancement of the visitor area . Barker was a longtime friend of the PMMC , even playing an integral role in helping the center rebuild after local flooding 14 years ago . His estate ’ s latest gift will help to enrich the experience both of the center ’ s pinniped patients and its visitors while reinforcing the organization ’ s commitment to marine mammal care and educational outreach . ( 949- 494-3050 ; pacificmmc . org ) — Sharon Stello
Local Mark Dawson created an app that allows you to tour Menton , France — a Laguna Beach sister city – through augmented reality .
The late Bob Barker ( third from left at a sea lion release in a past year ) left an estate gift to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center , which will name its visitor courtyard after Barker following an expansion project .
FROM TOP : ASHLEY RYAN ; COURTESY OF MARK DAWSON ; COURTESY OF PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
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