Police Files

No thanks, the lawn has already been watered

On Thursday, Jan 17, at 7:46 a.m., LBPD received a report about a suspicious vehicle, a retro burgundy VW bus, parked on Chico Arroyo. According to police records the reporting person said, “An old VW bus pulled up to the area. A male jumped out of the vehicle and urinated on [my] lawn, and smoked a cigarette.” 

The suspicious person was described as a male with a baseball cap and a hoodie pulled over his head. The odd occurrence lasted for about 30 minutes and then he reportedly went back in the bus.

The reporting person had to leave to take their children to school but wanted LBPD to check out the situation. LBPD went to the location, however, no one was in the bus and the suspect could not be found. Interestingly, the retro ride had a vanity plate.

Trees cause havoc after the heavy rains

Trees have been blowing into police reports since the heavy rains hit. Last week two more incidents were reported to LBPD. On Wednesday, Jan 16 at 8 p.m., at the 2400 block of Juanita Way, LBPD received a report in reference to two trees that had fallen in the street. 

The reporting person alerted LBPD after she heard the information from her neighbor. She did not see it herself, so the information was considered secondhand.

According to police records, “Two trees down in the street, one a large tree approximately 20 feet tall.” LBPD contacted Public Works who removed the trees clearing the roadway. A couple hours later the street was open.

Also on Friday, at 8:59 a.m. at the 600 block of Mystic View, LBPD received a report in reference to a tree “that fell on the uphill side, unrooted and partially blocking the street.” 

According to police records, the tree was blocking the street and the RP said he had to “drive through the tree.” Public Works went to the scene and said there was no road obstruction. The tree, which was noted to be a private tree, had been cut up and put on the side of the slope.

Animal Files

When Mother Nature calls, animals listen

On Wednesday, Jan 16, LBPD received a few “animal calls.” It seems that when Mother Nature howls, animals listen. At 10:18 a.m., at the 31100 block of S Coast Hwy, LBPD received a report regarding hummingbirds overstaying their welcome. According to police records, two hummingbirds were in the RP’s dining room. “They have been there for two hours,” reads the report. “The RP is requesting we help remove them.”

Barely two hours later, at the 31700 block of 5th Avenue, LBPD received a report of a rare sighting at the beach. According to police records, “A deer is on the beach. The deer is approximately 100 feet north of the creek. It doesn’t seem to be in distress.”

According to the report, the caller was just giving LBPD a heads up. “The RP just wanted us to be aware,” the report states.

Crowd celebrates commemorative statue unveiling at Forest & Ocean Gallery with Skipper Carrillo 

Photos by Mary Hurlbut

Click on photo for a larger image

Why is Skipper Carrillo having a particularly good “Home Run Day?”

Click on photo for a larger image

On Saturday afternoon, Forest & Ocean Gallery was filled to the brim with Skipper fans. Find out all the details of the statue unveiling in Barbara Diamond’s column in Friday’s edition.

During Discovery Hike, John Foley of LCF finally gets spectacular photograph of elusive bobcat 

Story by DIANNE RUSSELL

John Foley, a volunteer for Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF), has contributed many wonderful photographs to Stu News during the past year. Recently, Foley finally got the shot he’s been searching for – a spectacular bobcat. He’s been on the prowl for this photo opportunity for a long time.

Foley says, “I had gotten pictures of a profile of a bobcat streaking by hundreds of yards in front of me, and a couple of shots of a bobcat’s “back-end” (I’ll use the nice word) heading up a trail, but never the shot that I really wanted.” 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by John Foley, LCF

Bobcat appears to pose for the camera

 “Well, I was finally rewarded with the shot that I had spent over three years looking for on a Discovery Hike on Sept 26 of last year. This beautiful bobcat was very accommodating and came to within about 100 feet. (Paula Olson, Outreach Director at LCF, got a picture of him taking the picture of the bobcat.) 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Paula Olson, LCF

Paula Olson of LCF takes photo of John Foley

Foley continues, “You can see how close the bobcat was. She walked around a bit, sat down, scratched, let us take as many pictures as we wanted and finally sauntered off leaving us with a huge smile knowing that we just had a rare and incredible experience. This was a truly unique Discovery Hike that day, in that we got numerous pictures of deer and a big buck as well. Now, I am on to photographing other rare sightings in the park. I hear that there is an elusive and rarely seen grey fox out there that I ‘must’ get a picture of.”

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by John Foley, LCF

A deer also poses for Foley

Foley says, “They have had bobcat sighting reports several times in the area where I took this picture. A couple of my fellow docents even mentioned that they had seen a bobcat around here. My earlier bobcat picture on Alwut Trail (January 2018 –published last year in Stu News) was about one-half mile from this location. I actually got a video of a bobcat (much bigger male) about one-fourth mile from this location. 

“He was seen multiple times…there have also been numerous bobcat sightings down by the water treatment plant at the end of the Aliso Creek paved road. I have taken my camera and spent a lot of time at all of these locations, but the areas in the immediate vicinity of the corral along Wood Canyon Trail have been my only successful sightings. Bobcats can have a territory of five square miles and live 10 years, so I am certain that some of these sightings are the same cat.”

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by John Foley

Buck spotted on the same day as the bobcat – Sept 26, 2018

Other facts about bobcats

Male bobcats are slightly larger and heavier than females. Most adult males weigh 20 to 22 pounds, while females average 18 to 19 pounds. Male bobcats do not breed as a rule until they are nearly two years old. Juvenile females are capable of breeding in their first year of life. Litter sizes are usually one to four, with three being the average litter.

Breeding normally takes place during February or March. Some female bobcats will raise two litters in a single year, and late born young often stay with the mother throughout the winter. Breeding times can vary a great deal, and bobcats might be born in any month of the year. Male bobcats are driven away after breeding, and the males seek other females. Females raise litters alone, which require that they leave the young unattended to hunt.

Underground dens in rocky places are usually selected as first choices for natal dens. If these are not available, the female bobcat can choose a hollow tree, or the underground den of another species as bobcats do not dig their own dens.

Bobcats rely on rabbit population

Bobcats are dependent upon rabbits in all areas, and their population densities often follow the cyclic densities of these rodents. Significant mortalities occur when there are few rabbits for the young bobcats to prey upon.

A surprising fact: Bobcats do not fear the water as much as other cat species. Bobcats commonly wade and swim, and many bobcats do not hesitate to attack a beaver in shallow water. 

So, if you’re on a quest to see a deer or bobcat, spring is coming and the trails await. Join Foley in his quest for the grey fox. 

The LCF Discovery Hike is every other Wednesday. For more information, go to www.lagunacanyon.org/events/.

To view a video from Foley discussing the importance of the wildlife corridor for bobcats and other wildlife, go to https://youtu.be/w9xHEaUREPQ.

Where’s Maggi – the answers!

This land-lubbing vessel is docked at Avalon Street. Several readers chimed in with “Ahoy! I know that spot!”

First thing, Kathy Bienvenu messaged from Oregon. Janice Pope was onto its whereabouts, as was Tara Conley, Cathy Bosko, and Gary Boisen.

Thanks for figuring out where Maggi’s been, and for sending in your answers!

Click on photo for a larger image

Friday’s photo challenge featured this boat. It is anchored at Avalon Street. 

Rise and recede

Photos by Mary Hurlbut

Click on photo for a larger image

Rumbling surf pounds Woods Cove at sunset

Click on photo for a larger image

Sunset reflections create golden sand

State of the Aliso and Wood Canyon trails after the fire

Photos by John Foley, Laguna Canyon Foundation

John Foley, volunteer for Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF), has been documenting the recovery of Aliso and Wood Canyon after the devastating 175-acre fire on the afternoon of June 2, 2018.

Click on photo for a larger image

Right after the fire

Foley says, “The wilderness will still take a long time to heal and that habitat to recover, but it is wonderful to see that the process is starting to happen. Several Aliso and Wood Canyon trails are still closed, and will continue to be closed for quite some time, but the majority of the park is still open to explore.”

Click on photo for a larger image

Wood Canyon – July 18, 2018

“One of the trials we typically use for the Discovery Hike remains closed, so on our modified route, we have been taking the opportunity to talk a bit about fire ecology with the participants that join us on the hike.”

Click on photo for a larger image

Wood Canyon – January 2019 – coming back to life

Join Foley and fellow hikers on the LCF Discovery Hike every other Wednesday. 

For more information, go to www.lagunacanyon.org/events/.

Laguna Beach Books welcomes author Megan Griswold on Jan 27

On Sunday, Jan 27 at 5 p.m., Laguna Beach Books welcomes Megan Griswold to the store. Megan will be discussing her new book, The Book of Help: A Memoir in Remedies.

The Book of Help traces one woman’s lifelong quest for love, connection, and peace of mind. A heartbreakingly vulnerable and tragically funny memoir-in-remedies, Megan Griswold’s narrative spans four decades and six continents – from the glaciers of Patagonia and the psycho-tropics of Brazil, to academia, the Ivy League, and the study of Eastern medicine.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of megangriswold.com

Author Megan Griswold resides in a yurt in Wyoming

Megan was born into a family that enthusiastically embraced the offerings of New Age California culture. At seven she asked Santa for her first mantra and by twelve she was taking weekend workshops on personal growth. Later, when her newly-wedded husband calls in the middle of the night to say he’s landed in jail, Megan must accept that her many certificates, degrees, and licenses had not been the finish line she’d once imagined them to be, but instead the preliminary training for what would prove to be the wildest, most growth-insisting journey of her life.

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

The Book of Help by Megan Griswold

Megan Griswold went to Barnard College, received an MA from Yale, and went on to earn a licentiate degree from the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture. She has trained and received certifications as a doula, shiatsu practitioner, yoga instructor, personal trainer, and in wilderness medicine, among others. She has worked as a mountain instructor, a Classical Five Element acupuncturist, a freelance reporter, an NPR All Things Considered commentator, and an off-the grid interior designer. She resides (mostly) in a yurt in Kelly, Wyoming.

For more information, visit www.lagunabeachbooks.com. 

Laguna Beach Books is located at 1200 S Coast Hwy.

Bottlenose dolphin family spotted in South Laguna

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Rich German (Instagram @richgermanlb)

www.richgerman.com/bluelaguna 

A spectacular pod of dolphins was seen swimming off the coast of SoLag over the weekend

Guest Column

A day on the Louisiana Bayou

By Danielle Bauter

Internationally recognized for both its creative cuisine and distinct music, New Orleans has been on my bucket list of places to visit for as long as I can remember. So when I decided to cash in on some frequent flyer miles and take that long-desired trip, I invited my parents along for the ride. Accustomed to traveling solo, if given my choice of traveling partners it would easily be my parents. Which is most likely because from a very young age I was exposed to their wanderlust. 

Every two years we would embark on vacations around the world, venturing across the continents of Europe and Australia. Together we sweated through heat waves in Greece and guffawed at each other’s faux pas in France. And through it all we were able to maintain a sense of camaraderie, fueled by the excitement of new experiences. Longing for those carefree days, I was hoping that this trip to New Orleans would be like the trips we’d taken in the past. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

View of the river

Before we even boarded the plane, I tapped into my Facebook network of friends and family for their suggestions of things we absolutely shouldn’t miss. There was no shortage of replies as people raced to recommend classic New Orleans delicacies such as beignets at Cafe du Monde, jazz brunch at the Court of Two Sisters, a multi-course dinner at Antoine’s, a Sazerac at the Roosevelt Hotel or bananas foster at Brennan’s. One person even warned me that the quality of their food was a matter of civic pride. Could we fit at least a month’s worth of meals into a few short days? We vowed to try them all, or as much as our clothes would accommodate. 

Perhaps one of the best decisions we made was to hire a private guide to take us around the city. We were fortunate to find Marc of NOLA de Tours, a long-term resident of the Big Easy. For 24 years Marc and his parents owned Broussard’s, a restaurant in the French Quarter. He appears to know everyone and has been referred to as the Anthony Bourdain of New Orleans. We spent a couple of days with him, first getting a feel for the city, and then venturing out to other areas. One of my favorite days was spent along the bayou, where we visited the Destrehan Plantation, and then took a swamp tour. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Swamp Tour

Destrehan Plantation is located about 25 miles outside of New Orleans, and it is the oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley. According to Marc, it is also less commercialized than Oak Alley or Laura, which are the plantations where larger tour companies usually deliver their guests. I wasn’t sure what to expect but our guide made the tour so interesting that I found myself lingering afterwards to ask more questions, so intrigued I was by the people who had inhabited this plantation. He covered the French and Spanish colonial periods through the Civil War and into Reconstruction era, and it was a valuable history lesson. 

After our tour of Destrehan, Marc told us that it was absolutely necessary to try a po’ boy while we were there. We willingly obliged, and he took us to Bec’s at the Lake, a restaurant near where our tour would take place. We were utterly charmed by our server, a sweet woman who drawled out our orders while also addressing us with “babe” and “darlin’.” She entertained us with stories of the rougarou, a creature of Cajun folklore that sort of resembles a werewolf. When our po’ boys arrived we focused all of our attention on our food, savoring the way the roast beef practically melted onto the roll and admiring how they went so well with the crispy onion rings. You’d think it was our last meal, the way we devoured those sandwiches. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Swamp inhabitant

The swamp tour was presented by the aptly-titled Cajun Pride Swamp Tours in La Place, and we boarded the 40-person boat while Marc steered us to the choice seats to spot the alligators. As the guide started the boat, he announced that we had his guarantee that we’d see alligators along with other creatures or he’d refund everyone’s ticket. 

It didn’t take long before we did – many of them had burrowed lazily into the mud along the banks, while turtles clung together next to the alligators. Clusters of egrets sunbathed on branches, and we even spotted a bobcat beating a hasty retreat into the trees. But I was almost more distracted by the beauty of the sun shining onto the bayou waters, reflecting the trees and the clouds streaking the bluebird skies. I felt like I had left Louisiana and sailed off into another land. 

As our guide steered the boat slowly, he began to tell the legend of Julie Brown, the voodoo priestess who had been both feared and respected by everyone in the town. People would come to her to heal their ailments but otherwise stayed away out of fear. She would help them but also warned that when she died she was going to take the whole town with her. And she kept her word. 

That fateful day in 1915, a Category 4 hurricane swept through the town and killed almost everyone. All of the townspeople were buried in a mass grave, with Julia Brown’s grave a cautionary distance of a hundred yards away. As the guide concluded his story, we floated by the site of these graves, and I don’t think I imagined the chill that went down my spine as we passed it, especially when I learned that the swampland is believed to be haunted. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Holding an alligator

To my surprise our guide saved the best part for last. During the tour he had regaled us with stories of his life in the bayou, and how he kept alligators as pets. He then pulled a baby alligator out of what felt like thin air, presented him to us and offered the opportunity to hold him. That decision was a no-brainer. When was I going to be able to do something like this again? 

The guide demonstrated how to hold him and put a band around his jaws before passing him around. The alligator weighed less, and its skin was softer than I imagined, and also it was calmer than you would suspect one would be with dozens of hands touching it. The swamp tour was definitely an experience that I recommend, as we learned so much about Cajun history and culture. 

Our time in New Orleans was over too soon, and I am anxious to return and spend more time in all of the different neighborhoods as well as on the bayou. I had high expectations before visiting the Crescent City, and our experiences more than surpassed them. Especially with my parents by my side. Or as I like to say, “have parents, will travel.”

Danielle Bauter is a freelance writer, world traveler, nature lover, and book ambassador. To read more of her writing, go to https://linktr.ee/missbauterfly. To follow her on Instagram, go to www.instagram.com/missbauterfly.

Wet and wild yoga

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Mary Hurlbut

Ethereal pose by yoga instructor Katie Marshall

Jazz Wednesdays kicks off Jan 30 at [seven-degrees] with Grammy winner Peter Erskine

Jazz Wednesdays Winter Series, presented by Laguna Beach Live!, promises to deliver some of the hottest jazz musicians in the region in an intimate cabaret setting at [seven-degrees]. 

The Winter Series kicks off on January 30 with Grammy-winning drummer Peter Erskine Trio, featuring Alan Pasqua on piano and Darek Oles on bass.

Erskine has played the drums since he was four and is known for his versatility and love of working in different musical contexts. Fifty albums have been released under his own name, or as co-leader, and he appears on 700 albums and film scores. 

Erskine recorded five albums with the band Weather Report and won his first Grammy Award with their album ‘8.30’. His second was for the album Some Skunk Funk with The Brecker Brothers. Erskine has 8 other Grammy nominations under his belt plus an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee School of Music.

Currently Erskine produces jazz recordings for his record label, Fuzzy Music, is an active author with several books to his credit, and is authoring a series of iOS play-along apps suitable for all instruments.

Click on photo for a larger image 

Submitted photo

Jazz Wednesdays Winter Series 2019 kicks off on Jan 30 with Grammy Award winner Peter Erskine and his Trio at [seven-degrees]

Jazz Wednesdays concerts are every two weeks, January 30 - March 27, from 6 - 8 p.m., with doors and dinner starting at 5 p.m. 

The full concert schedule includes:

January 30 – Grammy-winning drummer Peter Erskine Trio featuring Alan Pasqua on piano and Darek Oles on bass (Trio Jazz)

February 13 – World-renowned saxophonist Rickey Woodard Quartet feat. a very special guest vocalist (Vocal Jazz)

February 27 – Acclaimed Guitarist Will Brahm and the World Music All-Stars (Latin/World Jazz)

March 13 – Critically acclaimed bassist/vocalist Kristin Korb Trio (Classic Jazz)

March 27 – All-Star Tribute to Chet Baker and Peggy Lee feat. world-renowned trumpeter Bijon Watson, a very special guest vocalist, and the Laguna Beach Live! All-Stars (Iconic Jazz)

Jazz Wednesdays Winter Series 2019 is located at the distinctive [seven-degrees] event facility, 891 Laguna Canyon Rd. Concerts are from 6 - 8 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. Full bar and buffet dinner menus are available for purchase starting at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door; season tickets are $125. Seating is assigned according to date of purchase, season ticket holders, and Laguna Beach Live! membership. Reservations are accepted until noon on day of concert or until sold out.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.lagunabeachlive.org or call (949) 715-9713.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of LB features Dawn Price of Friendship Shelter

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach invites the community on Social Justice Sunday, Jan 27, at 10:30 a.m., for a presentation by Dawn Price, Executive Director of Friendship Shelter. 

Her talk is titled “Homelessness in Laguna Beach and Orange County: New Challenges and Accomplishments,” an update on how the local community is helping homeless people at the Alternative Sleeping Location (ASL) and Friendship Shelter.

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Dawn Price, Executive Director of the Friendship Shelter

The UUFLB has been serving meals at the ASL for decades and is excited to have Price examine the current situation from her perspective. Friendship Shelter’s goal is to end homelessness in Southern Orange County, one person at a time. Toward that end, Friendship Shelter has recently added more than 80 units of Permanent Supportive Housing, with more units in development. 

Dawn Price has spent most of her 35-year career serving human services and educational organizations. In addition to serving as the Executive Director of Friendship Shelter, she also serves as Vice Chair of the Continuum of Care Board for the County of Orange. 

For additional information, contact Rachel Daniels at (310) 714-2699 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach is located at 429 Cypress Dr.

A slice of heaven

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Scott Brashier

Cloud maidens that float on forever/Dew-sprinkled, fleet bodies and fair/Let us rise from our Sire’s loud river/Great Ocean, and soar through the air…Aristophanes

Laguna Beach Chamber Singers is looking for singers to join the choir

If you love to sing great choral music in a fun and positive atmosphere, Laguna Beach Chamber Singers would love to meet you. Singers in all voice categories who read music are welcome.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of lbchambersingers.org

Laguna Beach Chamber Singers is a fun, positive group of inspiring performers

There is no audition required to join and no membership dues. Singers are invited to try it out for a couple of weeks before committing. Weekly Monday rehearsals begin on February 11, from 7 - 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 

The spring concert is on Sunday, June 2 at 7 p.m. and will include Stravinsky – Symphony of Psalms, Verdi – opera choruses, and Bernstein on Broadway. 

Learn more about the Laguna Beach Chamber Singers at www.lbchambersingers.org, or by contacting Jacoby Hickerson at (949) 735 8350 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is located at 428 Park Ave.

Laguna Playhouse presents Blues in the Night, opening on Feb 24

Laguna Playhouse is excited to present the smash hit Wallis Annenberg Theatre production of Blues in the Night, conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, with musical direction by Abdul Hamid Royal. Previews begin on February 20; the show opens on February 24 at 1 p.m. and runs through March 10. 

Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard comment, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to move the critically acclaimed Wallis Theatre production to the Laguna Playhouse. With Sheldon and Abdul leading our extraordinary cast and creative team, our subscribers and audiences should get ready to be knocked out by this roof-raising exciting new production!”

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

The highly anticipated “Blues in the Night” is coming to Laguna Playhouse

The soul of the blues wails out full and strong in Blues in the Night, the scorching, Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical. The 26 hot and torchy numbers – by icons Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, and more – tell of the sweet, sexy, and sorrowful experiences that three women have with the lying, cheating, snake of a man, who represents the men who do them wrong. 

Performances will be Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. There will be added performances on Thursday, Feb 21 at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb 26 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m.; and Thursday, March 7 at 2 p.m. 

Tickets range from $75 - $100 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling (949) 497-2787 ext. 229.  Prices are subject to change.

The box office is open Monday – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (open until show time on all performance days).

Founded in 1920, the historic Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is proud to be an active participant in the celebrated Laguna Beach arts community. From classic plays and musical comedies to the current off-Broadway smash, cutting edge and traditional music exhibitions, dance festivals, and stand-up comedy performances, Laguna Playhouse brings the magical experience of the performing arts direct to over 80,000 patrons each season.

For more information, visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. 

Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Dr.

Serenity of nature following the storm

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Louise Thornton

A clear and calm day along the Laguna coast following some intense rainstorms

Don’t miss saltfineart’s exciting ‘Landscapes of the Other’ exhibit, opening reception Feb 7

Saltfineart is opening an exciting exhibit, “Landscapes of the Other,” featuring world-renowned photographer, painter, and performer Cecilia Paredes, paired with the sensational French painter Helene Delmaire, with a reception on February 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit runs through March 28.

Peruvian performance, installation artist, and photographer Cecilia Paredes is known worldwide for her images of camouflaged bodies against lush textiled backgrounds. Born in 1950 in Lima, Peru, she studied art at the Catholic University of Lima and at the Cambridge Arts and Crafts School in England. 

Click on photo for a larger image 

Courtesy of saltfineart

Cecilia Paredes “The Secret”

Often using her own body as canvas, she paints herself into backgrounds of damask and chintz, forests and deserts, but she never completely blends – never becomes mere decoration. Paredes is a part of the permanent collection of the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Panama Modern Museum, Museo del Barrio New York, and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design Costa Rica among many other institutions.

Also featured are new works from Helene Delmaire. Working out of her studio in Lille, a city in Northern France on the border with Belgium, Delmaire is a painter focused on both traditional technics, having studied painting at the prestigious Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, and pushing boundaries in content and composition. Delmaire has shown throughout Europe including Russia, England, Italy, and France with a small number of exhibitions within the US.

Click on photo for a larger image 

Courtesy of saltfineart

Helene Delmaire “Untitled”

Since 2009, saltfineart + RAWsalt has been exhibiting contemporary works from around the world created by both world-renowned and emerging artists.

“At saltfineart, we specialize in museum caliber Latin American Contemporary art, where our roots run deep and whose talent and commitment we are passionate about sharing,” gallery owner Carla Tesak said. “RAWsalt is emerging global. Dedicated to finding the unprocessed, driven talent that can be the most exciting to experience. The work guides us north to west, south to east and everywhere in between.” 

Saltfineart is located at 346 N Coast Hwy. For more information, call (949) 715-5554 or visit www.saltfineart.net

LBHS student seeking 250 new or gently used shoes to help fight global poverty

One person’s unwanted shoes can help provide meaningful opportunities for someone else in need in a developing country, which is why LBHS sophomore Jessie Rose has launched a shoe drive to collect 250 pairs of new or gently used shoes.

The shoes that Jessie collects will be delivered to Soles4Souls – a nonprofit social enterprise that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. Founded in 2006, the organization has distributed more than 30 million pairs of new and used shoes in 127 countries. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Donate shoes to Jessie Rose’s fundraiser for Soles4Souls, the deadline is Feb 3

To schedule a pick-up in the Laguna area, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The deadline to schedule a pick-up is February 3.

Enchanted waterfall

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Kenny Lyons

Waterfall on Saturday, Jan 19 at Laurel Canyon Trail

City Council seeking applicants for Committee, Commission and Board positions, deadline today

The deadline to apply for open Committee, Commission and Boards positions, as appointed by Laguna Beach City Council, is today, January 22.

Five two-year terms on the Recreation Committee are open with terms beginning April 1, through March 31, 2021. The Recreation Committee is a seven-member body that directs their efforts in the area of providing for the recreation and park needs of the community. Meetings are generally held on the second Monday of the month. 

Three two-year terms on the Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board are open with terms beginning April 1, through March 31, 2021. The Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board is a five-member body appointed by the City Council for the purpose of considering requests for variances from the zoning code. The members also sit as the City’s Design Review Board. Board members serve a two-year term and are compensated in the amount of $392 per month. The Board meets bi-monthly generally on the second and fourth Thursday of the month.

A substantial time commitment of approximately 10 hours per week is necessary to be a Design Review Board member. In addition to the bi-monthly meetings, Board members are expected to visit the sites and review the plans of projects prior to the meeting. The Board acts on an average of 14 items per meeting. It is desirable to have or be able to acquire certain skills or aptitudes, such as the ability to understand and conceptualize architectural drawings, and to visualize building mass and volumes based upon on-site staking plans. Experience in the building trades, architecture, historic preservation, landscaping, planning, and/or real estate would be an asset.   

Four two-year terms on the Parking, Traffic & Circulation Committee are open with terms beginning April 1, through March 31, 2021. The Parking, Traffic & Circulation Committee is a seven-member body that acts in an advisory capacity on matters pertaining to parking, traffic, circulation, transit, the Parking Management Plan, and traffic complaints. Meetings are generally held on the fourth Thursday of the month.

Three two-year term on the Heritage Committee are open with terms beginning April 1, through March 31, 2021. The Heritage Committee is currently a five-member body that acts in an advisory capacity to the Design Review Board, Planning Commission, and City Council on matters pertaining to historic preservation such as the review of modifications to a historic structure, placement of a structure on the Historic Register, and creation of a special designation plaque program. Meetings are generally held on the third Monday of the month.

Four two-year terms on the Environmental Sustainability Committee are open with terms beginning April 1, through March 31, 2021. The Environmental Sustainability Committee is a seven-member advisory body to the City Council. The purpose for the Committee is researching, reviewing, and advising the Council on items related to protecting the environment and improving the community’s future sustainability. 

The Environmental Sustainability Committee receives its work assignments from the City Council. Committee members typically work in subcommittees to research issues and policies and prepare recommendations for approval by the Committee for submission to the City Council. A personal time commitment of 10-15 hours per month may be necessary to accomplish tasks. 

Regular meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Meetings may be two or more hours, and often require a great deal of preparation time.

Three two-year terms on the View Restoration Committee are open with terms beginning April 1, through March 31, 2021. Members of the View Restoration Committee adjudicate view claims submitted by property owners to restore pre-existing views that are alleged to be significantly impaired by vegetation. 

The five-member committee of local residents appointed by the City Council conducts public hearings to review claims, hear testimony, and determine significant view impairment. The Committee may approve a view restoration order and establish a maintenance schedule for the subject vegetation on the property. The View Restoration Committee generally meets on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. 

One two-year term on the Orange County Mosquito & Vector Control District (OCMVCD) is open with a term beginning immediately through December 31, 2020. The appointed resident will serve as a Trustee on the OCMVCD Board, which generally meets on the third Thursday of every Month at 3 p.m., at the OCMVCD headquarters in Garden Grove.

One three-year term on the Measure LL Audit Oversight Committee is open with a term beginning immediately through January 31, 2022. Members of this Committee review annually the expenditures of the Measure LL Fund and provide a subsequent public report to the City Council as to whether the Measure LL funds have been expended on items of the type described in Resolution No. 16.068 or the other items described in the Measure LL ballot measure. This is a seven-member committee.

Laguna Beach residents who are interested in serving on one of these committees should obtain an application from the City Clerk’s office or online at www.lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/council/committees/default.htm and file by today, Tuesday, Jan 22 at 5 p.m. The application on the City’s website is interactive and you are encouraged to fill in the application online. 

Interviews and appointments will be conducted on Tuesday, Feb 5 at 6 p.m., by the City Council in the City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Ave. 

Questions may be directed to the City Clerk’s office at (949) 497-0705. Applications will not be accepted after the January 22 deadline.

Start a new healthy habit in 2019 with Lori Kahn at Yoga Sapien on Feb 3

Want to start a new healthy habit this year? Learn how to unlock your meditative potential at a special meditation workshop led by longtime local Lori Kahn at Yoga Sapien on Sunday, Feb 3 from 3 - 5 p.m.

Lori’s workshop will explore the foundations of a mindfulness meditation practice and is suited for beginners as well as experienced meditators who want to reconnect with the roots of the practice. 

There will be a discussion, guidance, and practice. The workshop is age appropriate for teens and adults. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Mary Hurlbut

Lori Kahn meditating in her studio

Lori Kahn, founder of OM Laguna Beach and meditation teacher at Yoga Sapien, has 20 years of experience, is a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, and a Certified Integrative Coach.

Kahn opened OM Laguna Beach in 2012. Her vision was to create a space to “introduce people to all different kinds of meditation. Originally, I envisioned a ‘Yoga Works’ of meditation,” she explains. However, five years later, while her studio is certainly a hub of meditative practice, Kahn finds that her business of teaching and coaching has grown beyond its four walls.

Prices are $35 to drop in or $25 for Yoga Sapiens with an ongoing membership.

To purchase tickets for this event, download the Yoga Sapien mobile app or call the studio at (949) 416-3996.

 Yoga Sapien is located at 610 North Coast Hwy, Ste. 208 (above Pavilions).

The Circle Game

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Scott Brashier

And the seasons they go round and round…Circle Game by Joni Mitchell

Drepung Gomang monks of India return to Laguna as part of Sacred Tibetan Arts Tour on Jan 28 - Feb 5

After a three-year hiatus, the Drepung Gomang monks of India will return to Laguna Beach for the seventh time as part of their Sacred Tibetan Arts Tour. Eight monks will visit Laguna Beach on the cultural arts tour from Jan 28 - Feb 5, based at Healy House on the grounds of the Sawdust Art Festival. 

A volunteer committee of organizers led by musician Pam Wicks has arranged for hosting the monks in a private home, as well as their meals and transportation. Wicks commented, “We feel very fortunate to be on the itinerary of the Drepung Gomang Sacred Arts Tour, whose members, these eight cheerful monks, have been traveling from community to community across the United States since early 2018. Having them as our guests to share their art, culture and blessings is a marvelous opportunity for everyone in our community to learn about this struggling nation’s history, culture and Tibetan Buddhism.”

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Drepung Gomang monk works on sand mandala

The holy men, who are artists and scholars from Tibet’s oldest monastery, will construct a mandala, an intricate design made from fine, multi-colored sand, sing their unique trichord chanting at the beginning and end of each day, perform blessings to conjure positive energy at homes and businesses, and present pujas, stylized rituals that combine chanting, music, prayer, and visualizations using Tibetan instruments and multi-tonal singing. 

These geshes (monk scholars) are supported by donations from the host community. Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tashi Gomang Dharma Center in Louisville, Kentucky hosts the nationwide Drepung Gomang Sacred Arts Tours annually in the US as the monks visit dozens of communities to share compassion and joy. 

History of Drepung Gomang monks

Drepung Monastery was founded in 1416 near Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. In 1959, before the invasion of Communist China, Drepung monastery had more than 10,000 monks. Only about 100 monks managed to escape with His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he fled Tibet in 1959. The surviving Gomang monks were given 42 acres of land in Mundgod, south India. There they started to rebuild Drepung Gomang Monastic Dratsang in its present location. Today approximately 2,000 monks live on these few acres. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Onlookers from previous tour 

Mission of Drepung Gomang Monastery

Gomang Monastery interacts with the larger Tibetan community, teaching the three R’s in the school, assisting in the hospital, elder care facility, and providing training in Tibetan arts and crafts for the young people of the settlement while offering employment for the local Tibetan and Indian people. Also, the monks perform religious ceremonies for the Tibetans. All of these services are provided at no charge to the Tibetan community. 

The four-fold mission of the visitors from the Drepung Gomang Monastery is to: 

--Contribute to world healing and peace by sharing Tibetan Buddhist teachings, sacred religious performances, chanting, and Tibet’s unique identity and treasures of culture and authentic traditions. 

--Generate awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization and human rights abuses by the Communist Chinese since 1959, and to draw attention to an increasingly desperate situation due to massive displacement of Tibetans by Chinese citizens sent there by the Communist government. 

--Raise support for the refugee monk community in south India – food, healthcare, and hygiene needs, plus improvements to their educational facilities. 

--Offer prayers to heal human and environmental tragedies and promote stewardship of the earth. 

Schedule of tour

Visitors are invited to observe morning and evening chanting rituals and to watch the mandala creation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily on January 29, 30, 31, February 1 and 2. Final touches on the mandala will be completed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb 3. 

When the mandala is finished, the monks will conduct the dissolution ceremony, sweeping their creation into a pile of sand to illustrate the ephemeral nature of all endeavors. Guests will be offered a small bag of the sand to take home as a reminder of the fleeting quality of this life and the importance of good works and positive efforts while here. The dissolution ceremony includes a procession from the Sawdust grounds to Main Beach, where the monks will chant, play instruments, and cast away the handfuls of sand that had been a beautiful mandala that took days to complete. 

The Sawdust Festival has generously offered the use of its grounds for this event. All events are open to the public; donations are gratefully accepted and will be used to support the monks’ educational and spiritual efforts toward world peace. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Sand Mandala

Monday, Jan 28: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Opening ceremonies for the creation of the White Tara Mandala, 10 - 11 a.m.. Mandala creation, 4 - 5 p.m. Discussion of the meaning of the White Tara Mandala.

Tuesday, Jan 29: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mandala creation, 7 - 8 p.m. Chanting for World Peace and “Meet the Monks” followed by Q&A. Suggested donation is $10.

Wednesday, Jan 30: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mandala creation, 7 - 8 p.m. Tara and Guru Puja for good health, relief of suffering, and purifying obstacles. Suggested donation is $10.

Thursday, Jan 31: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mandala creation. 

Friday, Feb 1: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mandala creation, 7 - 9 p.m. Chod Puja, a combination of chanting, music, prayer, and visualizations accompanied by Tibetan instruments. Suggested donation is $10.

Saturday, Feb 2: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mandala creation, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Children’s workshops, artist’s booths and displays, meditation garden, labyrinth on the Sawdust grounds, 7 - 9 p.m. Cultural pageant featuring Mandala Prayer, the Good Luck dance, the Black Hat dance, the Snow Lion Dance, and more. Main Stage on the Sawdust grounds. Suggested donation is $10 single, $20 families, under 10 years free. 

Sunday, Feb 3: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mandala creation, 2 p.m. White Tara mandala dissolution ceremony and procession on foot to Main Beach,

Mandala Room Etiquette 

Visitors often ask the question: “How should I conduct myself properly in such a place?” The Mandala Room at Healy House is a sacred area that is to be entered and experienced with respect. The following are guidelines to help attendees feel at ease and enjoy their visit: Before entering, silence mobile phones. Photography is permitted without the use of a flash. 

House blessings by the monks at homes, offices, galleries, and churches are available from Jan 28 - Feb 5. Call organizer Pam Wicks at (949) 573-7104 for information and scheduling. 

The Sawdust is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Rd. Metered parking is available. 

For a complete schedule of the tour on Facebook, go to https://bit.ly/2PKHz0g.

Belmont Village Senior Living to open in Aliso Viejo with award-winning programs and design

Building a Belmont Village Senior Living community in Orange County, long at the top of the 22-year-old company’s wish list, has now become a reality. Belmont Village Senior Living will celebrate the opening of its 29th community – its 13th in California – at 300 Freedom Lane in Aliso Viejo on Saturday and Sunday, Feb 9 and 10, from noon to 4 p.m. both days. 

Entertainment and refreshments will be provided, and guests will be able to take tours of the area’s newest senior living community. Both events are open to the public but RSVPs are requested. Complimentary valet parking will be available.

The site, with breathtaking views of Saddleback Valley, was chosen not only for its views but its close proximity to Aliso Viejo Town Center and an array of other community facilities to make it easy for residents and their families to enjoy an active lifestyle. However, location is only one aspect of helping residents maintain their valuable connections with the surrounding community. Belmont Village staff members work to foster a “community-within-a-community” environment through a robust schedule of programs, activities, and service projects of interest to residents. Belmont communities often act as neighborhood hubs, hosting meetings for local organizations and educational and social events for the community.     

Click on photo for a larger image 

Submitted photo

Belmont Village Senior Living is opening in Aliso Viejo in February

“When we choose our Belmont Village sites, we give a lot of thought to our future residents and the neighborhood,” said Patricia Will, Belmont Village Founder and CEO. “Many of the people who will make their home with us chose this community and Orange County as their preferred place to live decades ago. We want to create a place that allows residents to maintain the local connections they’ve built over the years, keep daily contact with family members and lead purposeful lives. Our community and team provide added support and security, which gives peace of mind and a measure of independence.”

Belmont Village Aliso Viejo, a Mediterranean-style three-story building, is licensed as a Residential Care Facility that houses 149 private residences for Assisted Living and Memory Care. A leader in developing university-led, research-based programs, Belmont Village Aliso Viejo will offer residents a range of programs to support a Whole Brain Fitness lifestyle.

According to Will, “We can build a wonderful building with warm ambience and innovative programs, provide well-trained staff who are both supportive and encouraging, but ultimately, it’s our residents who shape our buildings and turn them into the communities they become.” 

Click on photo for a larger image 

Submitted photo

Grand Opening celebration for Belmont Village Senior Living is Feb 9 and 10

For residents who are experiencing some cognitive decline, Belmont Village has pioneered a comprehensive therapeutic program to specifically address the needs and abilities of residents with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early stage memory loss. Circle of Friends® provides 7-day-a-week, evidence-based group activities led by a dedicated, specially trained staff. The Circle of Friends® program was honored with the 2016 Best of the Best Memory Care Award at the 2016 Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference and a George Mason University Healthcare Quality Improvement Award in 2011. 

Belmont Village communities are renowned for their distinctive design, innovative programs, high standards for life safety, and reputation for quality. The design is by Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh Architects. The contractor is W.E. O’Neil who has completed several building projects for Belmont Village Senior Living. 

Residents of Belmont Village Aliso Viejo will enjoy beautiful views and expansive common spaces indoors and out, including a heated saltwater pool. Services include chef-prepared meals, housekeeping and transportation services, a professionally managed fitness center for wellness programs and therapy services, enrichment and social activities, and support from a well-trained staff, including a licensed nurse on-site 24/7. 

Apartment selections include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom plans with a monthly fee structure – there is no large buy-in or long-term commitment required for move-in. 

For more information or to RSVP for the grand opening, call (949) 643-1050 or visit www.belmontvillage.com.