LBFD knocks down house fire on Wilson Street
On Monday, Oct 21, at 12:20 a.m., multiple calls for smell of smoke came in from Laguna residents in the area of Cleo Street and Glenneyre Street.
LBFD responded to investigate, with firefighters trying to figure out where the smoke was coming from.
According to LBFD Engineer/Paramedic Pat Cary, “Engine 1 arrived on scene first in the 700 block of Wilson Street and saw what was a three-story single-family home with smoke and fire showing on the second floor.”
Cary said, “We made a quick offensive attack on the fire, extinguishing it in approximately 20-25 minutes. We had a total of 34 firefighters on scene, all Laguna Beach engines.”
The fire was encapsulated in the interior – on the second floor – with venting on the top of the roof.
Nearby residents reported to Stu News hearing chainsaws during the fire and they were correct.
“Yes, we used chainsaws on top of the roof, trying to create holes to allow the smoke and superheated gases to better ventilate and help us put the fire out,” Cary explained.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Steven Cassill
LBFD knocks down house fire on Wilson Street on Monday
“We did an interior fire attack – this is where we take hose lines inside and we find the scene of the fire, and that’s when we extinguish it. And then, in conjunction with that, we do primary and secondary searches to make sure the structure is clear from any people or pets because our priorities are life, property, the environment, and incident stabilization,” Cary said.
Cary was happy to report there were no injuries – civilian or firefighters. Nobody was home at the time and there were no pets inside either. No other structures were threatened.
LBFD also worked hard “salvaging” the homeowners’ special belongings.
“This is where we go and take pictures off the wall, cover up or remove memorabilia, personal belongings – so that we can try to minimize the damage from water and fire to these things,” Cary said.
Cary commended Orange County Fire Authority and Newport Beach Fire Department for their help as well.
“When we have fires like this, we rely on our surrounding agencies to help out. We had a strong support from our fellow agencies through our automatic aid agreements and our city was backfilled, so there was no lapses in 911 calls,” Cary said.
The cause of the fire is currently being investigated by Laguna Beach Fire Investigators. Due to the extent of the damage, the residence was deemed uninhabitable and red-tagged.
Main Beach renovation approved
By BARBARA DIAMOND
Sand and succulents won’t be replacing most of the turf at Main Beach Park.
The City Council voted at the October 15 meeting to keep most of the park green, despite the two million gallons of water and $20,000 a year it takes.
Councilman Peter Blake insisted on the vote instead of directions to staff because he wanted his opposition to the plan on the record.
“I think Main Beach is pathetic; it doesn’t do anything for me,” said Blake. “It’s for tourists and the homeless. I don’t see how anyone can champion grass. I don’t care about the $40,000 [sic]. I do care about the two million gallons of water.”
Still, Blake voted with the council majority to preserve most of the turf; look into a more drought-tolerant grass, a more efficient irrigation system, and small areas where grass could be replaced by drought tolerant plants that would not impede views to Laguna’s “Window to the Sea;” to match the finish of the benches to the boardwalk; and preserve the memorial plaques that folks bought in remembrance of their loved ones.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
City Council voted to keep most of the park’s grass
Staff was also directed to return to council with how to regulate use of the grass areas, as demanded by Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow, in return for his vote on Mayor Bob Whalen’s motion.
The project will be coordinated with the Laguna Beach Police Department to ensure it complies with the guidelines for the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design program.
Main Beach was last renovated in the 1970s. Since then piecemeal isolated projects were undertaken:
--Lifeguard Tower, renovated in 2002 and repainted in 2003
--Boardwalk, rebuilt in 2009 and replaced in 2011
--Playground equipment, replaced in 2013
--Marine Safety Headquarters, rebuilt in 2014
--Basketball courts, resurfaced in 2019
The south end restrooms are to be renovated next year.
The city has budgeted $6 million for the project, $500,000 of it for construction.
Myrna Heitel kept students, colleagues & friends on Top of the World
Story by MARRIE STONE
Photos by Mary Hurlbut
“I’ll tell you what,” Myrna Heitel would say to a crowd of 60 unruly choral students. “If you can sing this next line of music perfectly – and I mean perfectly – I’ll do a Bambi leap.” The students snapped to attention and concentrated. When they finally met her strict standard, the piano came alive, and Mrs. Heitel would begin her dance. She’d leap into the air, a la Bambi, and bounce around the room. The kids couldn’t get enough. They would work harder, applying themselves to the task, all in pursuit of five more leaps.
“Now this next line is tough,” Mrs. Heitel would tell them. “I mean really tough. Concentrate. It’s worth 10 leaps.” They would double-down on their efforts, and she would reward them. As Mrs. Heitel sprang into the air, the students counted in unison – “One!” they shouted, “Two!”
“That was the best thing I could have ever thought of doing,” Myrna says. “It gave everybody a break and gave me a break. The students became serious, and I was pretty darn good.” Once a student of both tap and ballet herself, Myrna had the dancing chops. Plus, she adds, her initial idea of bribing them with candy was a disaster.
Music is Myrna’s medium. It’s her way of connecting, creating, and relating not only to students, but to everyone she encounters. In the 35 years she spent teaching in the Laguna Beach Unified School District, she touched countless lives by uniting people through song.
Click on photo for a larger image
Myrna Heitel, retired LBUSC teacher
Though she’s been retired from teaching since 2006, her passion for music has never diminished and her longstanding legacy continues reverberating across our town.
A child who sings is a happy child. –Elder Enrique Falabella
Myrna grew up in a middle-class neighborhood in Huntington Park, a suburb of Los Angeles. She babysat for the kids on her block, and tutored them in any subject that proved a struggle. “That’s how I discovered I could teach,” she says.
At age 9, Myrna began taking piano lessons, as well as violin lessons, in her public school. When her talent became apparent, her parents paid for private lessons. All the while, she played in the school orchestra. A gifted and hardworking student, Myrna took every difficult course her high school offered –
physics, advanced mathematics, biology – all the courses that would be considered AP classes today. “If you didn’t care about a social life,” Myrna laughs, “then you took physics.”
The hard work paid off. Myrna earned admission to USC, an extraordinary honor for any woman in the 1960s. She opted to attend against her strict Baptist parents’ wishes, who urged her to enroll in a biblical institution. But once they saw her thrive – majoring in music, minoring in English, playing in USC’s symphony, singing for both the University’s choir and opera – they met her accomplishments with pride.
Nonetheless, Myrna paid her own way. “I taught my way through college,” she says. “I found students who needed piano lessons, violin lessons. Those parents would refer me to other parents. I’d drive quite a distance to teach.” It still took Myrna 10 years to pay off her student loans, but never did she feel deterred. “Everything I did at USC influenced who I became.”
If you cannot teach me to fly, teach me to sing.
–J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Myrna landed her job at the Laguna Beach Unified School District directly out of USC. It was the job that would become a lifelong career. For the next 35 years, she would teach music to students from kindergarten through 8th grade, as well as teaching in kindergarten and lower school classrooms. She taught at Top of the World, El Morro, and Aliso Elementary (until its closure in 1989), as well as Thurston Middle School, where she expanded her instruction to both social studies and the arts.
“Myrna was the musical heart of Top of the World,” says Sharon Maloney, former Principal and friend. “She would take popular songs and write new lyrics for different occasions. She used music for entertainment and humor and general bonding of staff and community.” Sharon recalls one staff party at a teacher’s home when Myrna led the group in singing Louis Armstrong’s “Wonderful World.” “She used music as a binding, loving thing to hold us together,” Sharon says. “Or if a class was rowdy or out of hand, she’d bring them back together with her beautiful voice. She was a master at it. Music was her medium.”
So passionate about both Top of the World Elementary and music, Myrna contacted the Carpenters to get their permission to use the popular song as the school’s official theme song. How could they resist? From then on “Top of the World” was their anthem. “Myrna would sing it for every assembly we had,” says Sharon. “What school has its own [Billboard hit] theme song? Thanks to the Carpenters and Myrna for doing that.”
Sharon Nilsen, former teacher at Top of the World, shares her own memories of those years. “When I envision Myrna, she’s standing (bouncing, really) in front of maybe 75 kids who are jostling each other atop rickety old risers in some dusty school auditorium,” she says. “Parents and audience behind her, arms akimbo as she engages first one group of singers, then another. Myrna is beaming and bopping to her music. In my vision, it’s ‘Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog,’ with even the most reluctant singer gloriously belting out the chorus.”
A good teacher, like a good entertainer, first must hold his audience’s attention, then he can teach his lesson.
–John Henrik Clarke
Myrna taught students their 50 states, alphabetically, through song (“Fifty Nifty United States”). Using catchy lyrics, hand motions, and repetition, children internalized knowledge. And it stuck. Years later, her students are still talking about Myrna and remembering the many things she taught them.
Zac Brewer, now age 25, had Mrs. Heitel for kindergarten and still remembers those days. “I was an anxious kid, but Mrs. Heitel was warm, welcoming, and a calming presence in my day. She was kind and patient with me.” Zac stayed in touch well after kindergarten. They recently had a reunion at the Susi Q Center. “It had been years since I had seen her, but I knew I had to say hello. When I saw her, I told Mrs. Heitel that I’m getting my Masters in school counseling from Concordia University in Irvine. I don’t think I’d be where I’m at if it wasn’t for Mrs. Heitel and the other great teachers and counselors in the District.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Myrna meets with former student Zac Brewer at the Susi Q Center in Laguna Beach
Marlise Chel and Jessica Niebuhr both had Myrna at Top of the World. “She was so musical and put her heart and soul into teaching,” they said. “She never forgot about us, and followed our progress throughout our lives. Her students were family to her.” Myrna’s passion paid lifelong dividends for generations of Laguna’s youth.
In 2006, the Daily Pilot recognized the unique and hands-on approach Myrna took to teaching. Her class of kindergarteners created an elaborate map of our town, complete with cutout bunnies, cars, trees, and wildlife. Students could all locate their homes. “Children learn best by doing,” Myrna told the Daily Pilot. “Their interest in painting helps them learn about the town.” By tapping into a child’s innate creativity and helping them use it to explore the world, Myrna solidified not only their knowledge, but their curiosity and desire to learn more. “When the kids are out around town they now point to things they never used to,” Myrna said in 2006. “This wouldn’t have happened two months ago.”
Though 13 years into retirement, Myrna’s legacy remains. A music scholarship is given in her name each year to several deserving high school students. The Myrna Heitel Music Scholarship is a well-known staple of funding for talented youth. She also continues her involvement as a member of the Retired Elementary School Teachers in Laguna Beach, attending monthly coffees when she can.
To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart. –Phyllis Theroux
What Myrna can’t communicate through song, she delivers through the written word and personal gestures. A longtime believer in the power of the pen, Myrna maintains correspondence with a number of people. “I write to people who are in need of encouragement, who are sick, who need a birthday card,” she says.
One of those people is a prisoner in the California State Penitentiary. A cousin’s nephew faced trouble last year, convicted of a crime she believes he didn’t commit. Myrna’s cousin called, knowing Myrna was the right person to help. “It’s Christmas,” the woman said, “Would you send him a card?’” From there, Myrna’s friendship with the man grew. “Whenever he receives my letter, he writes back the same day. It’s been 10 months and now we correspond all the time.”
Letter writing is something Myrna has done for years. “I just started one day. I sent a card to someone and figured it wasn’t enough to just sign my name. So I began writing, and it grew into a thing. Handwritten notes really mean something special to people.”
Myrna is also the first to reach out in person. Sharon Maloney remembers meeting Myrna at a Laguna Beach tennis class. “I was feeling so out of it, not knowing anybody and not having played tennis in years,” Sharon says. “Myrna is the essence of graciousness. She immediately included me, introducing me around and making me feel welcome. That was a gift. She has an enormous heart.”
My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary. –Martin Luther
Bambi leaps are no longer in Myrna’s repertoire. A series of health troubles and medical setbacks have challenged her for years. And yet her positive attitude and hopeful spirit never waver.
A blood transfusion in Myrna’s late teens resulted in an undiagnosed case of Hepatitis C, which didn’t present until the 1990s. She’d been an asymptomatic carrier for years before feelings of fatigue began.
After a series of experimental drug treatments at UCI, Myrna became a candidate for both a liver and kidney transplant. Understanding the odds were higher of finding a donor in the Midwest, she moved to Nebraska until organs became available. It took time, but Myrna waited while also battling breast cancer, and a separate cancer that appeared on her scalp.
None of these setbacks dampened Myrna’s attitude. “She’s a fun spirit, as you can tell,” says Sharon. “She’s gone through hell with her health, but you’d never know it. She’s always smiling and anxious to talk.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Zac stayed in touch with Myrna over the years
Carolyn Delino, also a former colleague and teacher, agrees. “I have long been greatly impressed with Myrna’s fighter demeanor. Through her long fight with Hepatitis C, she never gave up, tried every possible solution, and maintained a positive attitude.”
Today, both Myrna’s liver and kidney are operating at normal levels. “Fifteen years ago, I was told I had 10 years to live,” Myrna says. “I’ve far exceeded those predictions.” And she has the organs of a 19-year-old young woman.
Bambi leaps aside, Myrna still maintains that youthful springing spirit, and the ability to elevate everyone around her. “She always bounces back from continuous setbacks,” says Carolyn. “She’s still bouncy today.”
Laguna restaurants scaring up rumors at October’s close
Fishbone, Wild Taco hoping to open next week
While most Laguna-bound restaurants aim to open in early spring, a surprising number end up opening in the quieter months of fall. This makes Laguna locals extremely happy as it gives us a small window of time to get to know the restaurateurs, chefs, and cuisine before the summer mobs descend.
If all goes according to plan, two downtown restaurants plan to be opening next week (the last week of October).
Wild Taco
Restaurateur Thomas Carson’s Wild Taco concept hopes to open its doors in the old Johnny Rockets location early next week. The 56-seat, family-style restaurant will be offering up wild fish caught using his Bear Flag company’s fishing boat. (That’s one way to ensure fresh delivery.)
Carson opened his first Wild Taco in February 2015 at 31st Street on the Newport Peninsula. The casual eatery was met with rave reviews and continues to rank repeatedly for “best taco” accolades.
(By the way, Carson’s premier Bear Flag restaurant is still slated for development in the old Boom Boom Room but that’s going to take a bit longer.)
Fishbone
The fifth in the Fishbone Restaurants concept, Laguna’s new Fishbone is the family’s first to swim across the Canadian border. The restaurant is working through private soft opens this week and, if all goes well, plans to open to public next week.
Click on photo for a larger image
Fishbone’s new interior
In 2010, Pedro and Liliana Pereira first established Fishbone Bistro in Stouffville, Ontario, eventually expanding to Musselman’s Lake, Aurora, and Innisfil, Ontario.
Five years ago, the couple visited Laguna Beach and fell in love with the place. The couple began looking for a restaurant space at that time, only in recent months honing on the Tortilla Republic location.
The cooler, swankier decor follows the Fishbone established brand, and the menu will continue to reflect the restaurant’s popular dishes of fish, seafood, paella, steaks, and more.
Click on photo for a larger image
Fishbone’s new Executive Chef Abad Martinez holds a dish that will likely prove a favorite – Portuguese chorizo is ladled on top and brandy is poured into the pig’s “belly.” The brandy is then lit for Flaming Chorizo Sausage served tableside.
While General Manager Grant Sommerville has transplanted from Toronto to handle daily operations, the team chose nearby Orange County Chef Abad Martinez to head the kitchen.
Martinez, who most recently helmed the popular Mesa in Costa Mesa, is actually returning to Laguna Beach where he initially worked at the Montage Laguna Beach Loft and mentored with Studio’s Ben Martinek.
Central & White House – Wait for it
Co-owner Anna Driggs closed Central’s Forest location on October 1st. Still noting that “bigger things are in the works,” she says they’re working on negotiating space in Laguna Beach.
Meanwhile, the venerable White House closed its dining room last week for a remodel and caused a warbling outcry that you could probably hear at the other White House in D.C. No worries, folks: Owner Demetri Catsouras says the family still owns the restaurant and that they really are doing a remodel with the bar remaining open during the remodel. He says that they do have news coming shortly that will “please a lot of locals,” but isn’t ready to spill the beans quite yet. Meanwhile, wild rumors are flying. Stay close; we should have answers soon.
The best-selling author and blogger on The Best of Laguna Beach™, Diane Armitage is on an endless quest for the most imaginative adventures in Laguna’s restaurants, events, and lifestyle. Check out chef interviews, retail and restaurant news, and favorite events at www.TheBestofLagunaBeach.com and follow on Instagram @BestOfLagunaBeach (look for Diane’s smiling face).
Police Files
Local man arrested on suspicion of violently killing cat
On Saturday, Oct 19, at 1:14 a.m., LBPD officers responded to the 400 block of Hill Street in reference to a male subject reportedly in the middle of the street screaming and yelling.
LBPD Spokesperson PIO Sgt Jim Cota said, “The first officer on scene observed a male subject screaming and yelling holding a cat in his right hand raised in the air. The officer gave the subject verbal commands, which he did not comply with. He immediately started walking, yelling unintelligible words.
“The officer continued to give verbal commands prior to deploying his Taser, which had no effect on the subject. The male continued to walk toward the officer,” Sgt Cota said.
“A second officer arrived on scene and the male subject immediately started walking toward that officer with the cat in his hand. The male subject got to the hood of the second officers’ police vehicle and began hitting the cat on the hood of the vehicle.
“A second Taser deployment was administered, which had an effect on the subject as he fell to the ground. Additional officers arrived on scene and were able to take the subject into custody.”
The officers took the deceased cat away from the subject, Sgt Cota said.
“Officers were able to identify where the male subject lived and ultimately where he had been abusing the cat prior to the arrival of officers. We identified the male subject as Laguna Beach resident Joey Gabaldon.”
Gabaldon was transported to Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach for a medical clearance prior to being transported to OC Jail.
Sgt Cota said, “Joey L Gabaldon, 52, was arrested for [alleged] animal cruelty, resisting an executive officer, and resisting arrest.”
Bail was set at $25,000.
Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every suspect is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Suspicious couple in van reportedly harass students
On Wednesday, Oct 16, at 7:47 p.m., LBPD officers responded to the 600 block of Park Avenue after a caller reported that her teenage son and his friend were approached by two people in an old maroon Ford Econoline van.
Sgt Cota said, “The occupants in the van were described as a male and female in their 40s. The female passenger [reportedly] asked the boys how old they were and what they were going to dress up as for Halloween.”
According to the boys, they tried ignoring her.
Sgt Cota said, “The woman [reportedly] asked the boys why they were ignoring her as the driver continued following them down the street. Their odd behavior frightened the boys, who ended up running away from the van. The boys contacted their parents and told them what happened.”
Officers later found the van in the area. Information from the van was obtained for further investigation.
Former PIMCO CEO and local Douglas Hodge pleads guilty in college bribery scandal
On Monday, Oct 21, Douglas Hodge, 61, Laguna Beach resident and former PIMCO CEO, one of the world’s largest money management firms, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering in connection with the largest reported college bribery scandal in history.
Hodge, who was accused in March of paying $525,000 to have his son and daughter admitted as purported football and soccer recruits to USC and Georgetown, had previously maintained his innocence.
According to media reports, Hodge said in a statement that he took “full and complete responsibility” for his crimes and apologized to his family and “deserving college students who may have been adversely impacted by this process.”
“I acted out of love for my children,” Hodges said, “but I know that this explanation for my actions is not an excuse.”
Former Laguna Beach residents, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, 55, and his well-known actress wife Lori Loughlin, 54, of Los Angeles, were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. They still maintain their innocence.
More than 50 people were charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in the largest reported college admissions bribery scandal in U.S. history, dubbed “Varsity Blues” by the FBI.
-By Suzie Harrison
Rotary honored for efforts to eradicate polio
By BARBARA DIAMOND
Mayor Bob Whalen presented a proclamation at the October 15 meeting honoring Rotary International for its efforts to eradicate polio worldwide and designating October 24 to 31 as World Polio Week in Laguna Beach.
Laguna Beach Rotary President Karin Hedlund Imhoff accepted the proclamation on behalf of the 85 members of the local club.
The world stands on the threshold of reaching Rotary’s goal of eradicating polio, its goal since 1985, Whalen said.
Polio cases have dropped by 99.9 percent since Rotary launched Polio Plus and spearheaded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative which now includes the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and UNICEF, originally named United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
To date Rotary has contributed more than $1.7 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than two billion children – yes those are Bs – from the deadly disease.
Currently the clubs are working to raise an additional $150 million, which would be tripled by the Gates Foundation for a total of $450 million over the next three years.
These efforts are providing much needed financial support for operations, medical personnel, laboratory equipment, and educational materials for health workers and parents, according to the proclamation.
Laguna’s Rotary recently held its annual Classic Car Show to raise money for local club projects that include poverty, health, hunger, clean water, illiteracy, and the environment. The club also raises funds for graduating seniors from Laguna Beach High School with its Grapes For Grads event.
Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago, Ill. It was the first and one of the largest nonprofit organizations. There are more than 1.2 million members in more than 35,000 clubs in 200 countries and areas.
The club motto is “Service Above Self.”
Membership is by invitation only. If interested, Rotary will try to match potential members with the appropriate club, by inviting them to a club meeting, social event, or participation in a service project.
To learn more, visit This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Treasure Island Sunset
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Tom Joliet
Riches for all to behold
Guest Column
My first Laguna Beach visit
By Arnie Silverman
“It’s only a hop, skip, and a jump to my place at Arch Bay in South Laguna Beach. Just go south on the freeway to Canyon Road, follow Canyon Road all the way to PCH, go south on PCH to Arch Bay and the address I gave you. You, my wife, Judy, and I will have dinner at a place nearby.” Those were the words from my new boss, Warren Blossom.
After a successful turn as manager of the New York branch of the company I was then with, I was promoted to a national sales responsibility and ordered to report to headquarters in Tustin. I arrived in the morning, met my new cohorts, was briefed on what my new responsibilities were, and assigned an office. At 3 p.m., I decided to disappear and see what the surrounding areas offered. I chose to explore Laguna Beach. While I had never been there, I had heard much about the place and could not wait to see it.
I found the 5 freeway and headed south as instructed. After driving a few miles, I thought that this was the longest hop, skip, and jump I had ever taken. For me a hop, skip, and a jump was from Manhattan to Brooklyn. As a matter of fact, I started to believe I had driven too far when, alas, a sign indicated that I was approaching Canyon Road South to Laguna Beach. I turned on to Canyon Road and with anticipation viewed the surroundings. There was nothing there, just grassy hills.
I drove past the art school, a veterinarian, various car repair shops, a winery/liquor store, and various it seemed to me run-down dwellings, and must admit I was pretty unimpressed. It appeared to me as I approached the town that this was like most other shanty beach towns I had seen. It was not until I arrived, where the high, dark, almost black hills rise with the bright, just then setting sun illuminating the background and setting off those hills, that I was persuaded to pull over and just admire the scene.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Arnie Silverman
I drove on into downtown LB to PCH, where upon seeing what was called Main Beach, I reverted to my somewhat cynical view of the place. That damned beach is a postage stamp, I thought. What makes it so great? Early for my meeting with the Blossoms, I turned right on PCH up to Cliff Drive and turned left where again my opinion had to be revised. For driving that short street to Myrtle and stopping to view the glorious site of the majestic Pacific, the rugged rocks protruding from the shore and the bright landscaping and foliage of the hill dazzled me. The day was cloudlessly clear, and I joked to myself about possibly seeing Hawaii from that Heisler Park precipice. This is one hell of a site I thought.
I continued south on PCH to Three Arch Bay, found the Blossom residence and was greeted by Warren and Judy, a very successful real estate broker in Laguna. Their place was a large, three-level home perched on a hill overlooking PCH and the ocean. What a view of the ocean and what a delightful home they had. The three of us then drove to a Mexican restaurant at that time at the entrance to the Dana Point Marina. Now, you must understand that I had never been in a Mexican restaurant before and did not know what to expect. Warren ordered nachos and I have to confess that for me they were a taste thrill. Never had I tasted anything better. The sharp cheese, jalapenos, and salted chips were overwhelmingly delicious to me. How many milligrams of sodium I had with that I do not want to know. To top that off, I also had a chili burrito with the hottest sauce offered. Talk about heaven. That was it. Today, on a low-sodium diet, I would not touch those dishes. But it was sure fun that night.
Impressed now with the city, I settled into a place on PCH called Eilers’ Inn (named after the LB greeter, Eiler Larsen – it’s now called the Seven4One). In reality it was kind of a run-down place. While clean and recently painted, the furniture seemed worn and second hand and by modern inn standards, dated. What it had was a manager, Kathleen, who was gracious, charming, and genuinely welcoming. The place was owned by three local sisters including Kathleen. Though the bed springs creaked and the mattress was a little lumpy, I found the place charming if not quaint and the location right in the center of downtown was ideal. I stayed there, with several visits back home in Joisey, for three months, and finally sold my house and moved the family to California.
Pirate Tower
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Victoria Beach Pirate Tower seems to be getting a facelift: It was built in 1926 for California State Senator William Edward Brown and his family and used during summers and holidays as a retreat from their Beverly Hills home
Dennis’ Tidbits
By DENNIS McTIGHE
October 22, 2019
Weather on a winning streak!
Locally, the weather has been on a winning streak with ample sunshine, temps an ideal 72-75 degrees, and ocean temps still tolerable at 65-67. We’ve even had a nice little NW push in the water the last couple of days, and Thalia Reef loves this direction and shorter wave intervals with generally agreeable tides and mellow surface conditions for the most part.
Meanwhile up north, Rincon celebrated Opening Day over the weekend with real fun zone stuff at 3-5 feet. At one point on Saturday, there were about 125 people in the water waiting for their turn to dance with the Queen of the Coast, Rinconada del Mar.
Most places over the Pacific are off to a decent start as some North Pacific lows are flinging some pretty consistent fetches aiming at Hawaii, the west coast of Baja, and the first NW action in Southern California over the weekend. Once out of SoCal and heading northward, the swell increases with distance.
Up in the Northwest, the ocean is really moving around with 22-foot sets at Shorts Sand Beach in North Central Oregon. However, it’s very stormy with SW wind gusts up to 35 mph with moderate to heavy rain from Brookings, Oregon past the Olympic Peninsula and into British Columbia. That’s just what happens when the swell fetch has travelled pretty much in a straight line from west to east for thousands of miles. These well-travelled cyclones push a lot of surf and the window really fans out, so these longer intervals (between waves) indicate several days of approach to any land masses and into British Columbia.
Hawaii and the entire Pacific West Coast from Baja to Southern Alaska really benefit from these deep lows that keep forming off Japan and relentlessly march to the east. There can be as many as five deep lows stretching from the Sea of Japan to the West Coast with hundreds of thousands of square miles and gale force winds blowing over that huge of an expanse of water. When there’s a strong El Nino going on, you can count on near non-stop swells for months on end, roughly from October all the way through the following March in the better years.
The incredible El Nino event of 1982-83 produced arguably the most epic surf winter for everybody. Waimea went large that winter with an incredible run of 13 consecutive weekends when it broke at 20 feet plus! Here in California, same deal. The swells started in early October and kept coming all the way to early May when a late-season, huge, long period NW groundswell hooked up with a powerful Southern Hemi long period swell from the SSW at 195 degrees.
Main Beach here in town looked more like Puerto Escondido down in Oaxaca at 12 feet plus. It was Cinco de Mayo of 1983, and I’ve never seen it break like that, ever! Rincon was double overhead for weeks on end. One particular day it was topping 15 feet and World Champ Shaun Tomson was getting bombs from Outside Indicators and connecting on a couple monsters and making it all the way inside to the Inner Cove. He said it was like Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa where he’s from. The big El Nino winter of 1997-98 came pretty close to 1982-83 production, and then the El Nino winter of 2009-10 was the third best here in my opinion.
Just like the system of checks and balances, you also get the not so good winters in which the Pacific jet stream will wiggle and wobble by abruptly changing direction in its forward movement. As a result, there’s very little in the formation of any fetch activity that seems to coincide with strong La Nina events. When that happens, all the wave customers here on the Coast and Hawaii can expect a lackluster winter. Our last consistent winter was 2015-16, thanks to a mega El Nino, so it’s been a while. It’s just that system of checks and balances at work.
See y’all on Friday, ALOHA!
Be a part of biggest sports gear sale in town: 11th Annual Sports Swap at Thurston on Nov 2
Turn your old gear into cash. Thurston Middle School PTA asks residents to recycle outgrown or no longer used sports gear by donating to the 11th Annual Sports Swap at Thurston Middle School on Saturday, Nov 2. The Sports Swap will be held in the Thurston gym from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. (from 12 - 3 p.m., everything will be 50 percent off).
Sponsored by the Thurston PTA, proceeds from the Sports Swap go directly to the PTA at Thurston Middle School. Consign your items and receive 50 percent off the sale price.
In addition to the normal cool stuff, as an added bonus this year, the Sports Swap will feature two brand new surfboards donated by Catch Surf. Be the first to come and grab all of the merchandise without breaking the bank.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Thurston’s Brody Azadian, who will be a student volunteer at Sports Swap this year, with surfboards up for grabs
Spread the word about Sports Swap to your family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who wants to be a Sports Swap sponsor!
Ways to donate:
--Drop-off days are on Thursday, Oct 31 from 8 - 10 a.m. and Friday, Nov 1 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Bring your gear to Thurston’s parking lot or send a text message to (818) 645-9177, and someone will come by and pick up the donations (include LB address or maps link in the text).
Items on sale will include skimboards, snowboards, surfboards, wetsuits, paddleboards, skateboards, bikes, golf clubs, tennis racquets, baseball gear, snow gear, cleats, balls of all sorts, and more.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Young shoppers
The Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach will be the recipient of any unsold donated equipment at the end of the event.
Thurston is located at 2100 Park Ave.
For questions, donations, or to serve as a sponsor, contact Jimmy Azadian at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For more information, go to www.ThurstonMiddleSchoolPTA.org.
Tonight’s School Board meeting will include special study session at LBHS
The agenda for tonight’s (Tuesday, Oct 22) regular LBUD Board of Education meeting has been posted online here.
The Board will participate in a special study session at 5 p.m. at Laguna Beach High School, Room 65. The session will focus on the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards at LBHS and will include a hands-on lesson demonstration. The study session will not be recorded and posted.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Tonight’s meeting with include a special study session at LBHS
The regular open session will begin at 6 p.m. Staff will provide informational reports on the California Dashboard local indicators and a monthly budget update to include a special report of post-employment benefits. Action items include a resolution in support of dyslexia awareness month. The regular open session will be recorded and posted within 24 hours here.
Robert Englund (a.k.a. Freddy Krueger) hosts fundraiser for ECO-Warrior Foundation
On Saturday, Nov 9, from 6 - 10 p.m., The British Hair Company and the one and only Robert Englund (the devilish Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street) will co-host the Second Annual Fundraiser for the ECO-Warrior Foundation.
The event will be catered by Chronic Tacos. The evening will include live music, courtesy of Party Foul, dancing, martinis, raffles, and both a silent and live auction with 100 percent of the proceeds supporting the new ECO-Warrior Foundation campaign “Live Litter Free.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Councilwoman Toni Iseman and ECO-Warrior co-founder James Pribram
The ECO-Warrior Foundation is a California and Federal nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving our oceans and beaches through education, activation, and motivation. In October 2019 during Coastal Cleanup Day, 128 volunteers came together in Laguna Beach to remove 227 pounds of litter,
ECO-Warrior Foundation was co-founded by Laguna native James Pribram, an active environmental leader in the community who served on the Laguna Beach Water Quality and Environmental Committees.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Attendees mingle during last year’s event
Past fundraiser attendees know this will be a fun night with fantastic auction and raffle items too numerous to list.
The star auction item will be a British Hair Company-commissioned Ben Aipa sting surfboard, custom painted for the event by the one and only Steve Adam. Steve’s boards sell in his gallery for well over $5,500, so someone will be walking away very happy.
There Are Two Types of Entry:
--$30 – includes one martini and two raffle tickets
--$50 – includes two martinis and five raffle tickets (best value)
For tickets, go to www.ecowarrior.ticketleap.com/BHC or they can be purchased at the door with a $5 surcharge.
The British Hair Company is located at 750 S. Coast Hwy.
For more information about The British Hair Company, go to www.britishhc.com or call (949) 497-8345.
Where’s Maggi – the answers!
Maggi stopped for a drink here and then asked Stu News readers where she was…
Steve Hoffman knew. “When I’m thirsty in the park,” he said. Yes, it’s in Heisler Park. Also chiming in with correct answers were Darrylin Girvin, Judy Barry (“Among the wonderful work by husband and wife duo!”), Debi Hoyos (“I enjoy looking at it each time we walk by there.”), and Mark Porterfield, who added that it was part of the “Giggle Crack” project, for which he was a sponsor (“One of my favorites.”)
Look for the next photo challenge on Friday. Let’s keep Maggi on her toes!
Click on photo for a larger image
Handcrafted fountain, featured in Heisler Park
FOA ceramic artist Mike Tauber showcases exhibit at foaSOUTH through Jan 10
The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach is revving up for its latest off-site exhibit at the foaSOUTH Gallery, featuring classic car silhouettes and exquisite coastlines by 22-year exhibiting artist Mike Tauber.
Tauber’s display will showcase the beautiful landscape scenes of southern California coastlines including La Jolla, San Onofre, and Laguna Beach, as well as ceramic masterpieces of the classic cars that complement the coastline scenery.
The exhibit is open daily at the foaSOUTH Gallery located inside Active Culture and runs daily through January 10, 2020.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
FOA artist Mike Tauber holding a piece from his collection
“I call this collection: ‘California … By Car’,” shared Mike Tauber. “This collection of artwork features my painterly landscapes of our Golden State and the stylishly modern cars that take us there.”
Mike Tauber is recognized with numerous national and regional awards including the 2018 Laguna Beach Arts Alliance Artist of the Year award. His unique car silhouettes, hand-cut and painted in a trompe l’oeil style, have a three-dimensional look that create a strong presence in the exhibit space. His landscapes convey a distant perspective, rich surface texture, and luminous light source as seen in early California schools of painting.
A series of classic cars, evoking a mid-twentieth century “Tour California” theme, was added to his landscapes series this past year and was well received by guests at the Festival of Arts grounds this summer.
“Mike Tauber has been a Festival of Arts exhibitor since 1998 and we are elated to showcase his work at foaSOUTH through the end of the year,” said Sharbie Higuchi, Festival of Arts PR and Marketing Director. “We believe the public will truly appreciate Tauber’s collection, and are thrilled to display it for Laguna Beach residents and visitors to experience.
The foaSOUTH exhibit is part of an ongoing series of shows that the Festival of Arts is holding at the location year around. The building is open to the public Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Admission is free.
The Festival of Arts is a nonprofit organization whose proceeds support the arts in and about Laguna Beach.
For more information, call (949) 494-1145 or visit www.lagunafestivalofarts.org.
The foaSOUTH exhibit is located at 1006 South Coast Hwy.
Barber, Slowskys and Spencer-Devlin featured at LOCA brunch event on Sunday
LOCA Arts Education invites everyone to its Annual Meeting and champagne brunch on Sunday, Oct 27 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Healy House on the Sawdust Festival grounds.
Glass artists John Barber, Jane and Patty Slowsky, and Muffin Spencer-Devlin will present works, and explain differences between blowing, fusing, slumping, and other processes.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mike Tauber
John Barber is among artists to be featured at LOCA brunch on Sunday
Updates on LOCA’s community service programs, such as Arts in Schools and Waymakers Youth Shelter, will be presented. The exciting lineup of public workshops, including monthly Art Talks and Laguna Landscapes, will be introduced.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mike Tauber
John Barber’s amazing glass art
Prize drawings include certificates for a dining and stay package at La Casa del Camino Hotel and K’ya Bistro, dining at Reunion Kitchen and Salt Creek Grille, and a gift basket from Old Pottery Place. A sale of wood sculptures by Betty Haight and Claudia Olsen and more art will be offered.
The cost is $20 or free to LOCA members.
To register, visit www.locaarts.org or call (949) 363-4700.
The Sawdust Festival is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Lost Pier Café earns “Ocean Friendly Restaurant” certification by the Surfrider Foundation
The Ranch at Laguna Beach is proud to announce its Lost Pier Café has been registered as an “Ocean Friendly Restaurant” by the Surfrider Foundation. This certification makes Lost Pier Café the second “Ocean Friendly Restaurant” at The Ranch at Laguna Beach, following the designation received by the property’s Harvest Restaurant in 2017.
As an Ocean Friendly Restaurant, Lost Pier Café meets stringent requirements set by the Surfrider Foundation, including banning the use of all single-use plastics, switching to paper straws, using biodegradable food ware for on/off-site dining, and implementing proper recycling practices. Staff working at the restaurant also ensure that additional energy and water conservation efforts are being executed daily.
As the stewards of an incredible natural landscape spanning from Aliso Canyon to Aliso Beach, The Ranch at Laguna Beach regularly implements new practices to ensure it is on the cutting edge of sustainability. Most recently, the property hosted a public beach cleanup at the site of Lost Pier Café and will continue do host regular cleanups to strengthen its efforts and commitment to the preservation of Orange County’s iconic coastline.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Lost Pier Café is recognized by Surfrider Foundation
The Ranch at Laguna Beach’s Lost Pier Café is located on the sands of Aliso Beach in south Laguna Beach. The barefoot beach café is open Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday through Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The restaurant also hosts Locals’ Nights on the first Wednesday of every month, inviting the community to come together over live music, light bites, beer, wine, and s’mores roasted over portable fire pits.
The restaurant encourages guests to indulge in fresh, artistically curated bites from sunrise to sunset, with menus crafted by The Ranch at Laguna Beach’s Executive Chef Kyle St. John.
The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organization driven by a network of coastal defenders who are devoted to the protection of our ocean, waves, and beaches. What started as a group of surfers that came together to protect their local beaches from overdevelopment and pollution has grown over the past thirty years into one of the most powerful coastal protection groups in the world.
The Surfrider network has achieved more than 400 victories, representing coastal wins for beach access, coastal preservation, healthy beaches, ocean protection, and clean water. The volunteer-led Surfrider network, located in 35 states, works daily on more than 100 active campaigns to protect our nation’s ocean, waves, and beaches.
For more information on the Ocean Friendly Restaurant program through the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-restaurants.
For more information on at Lost Pier Café The Ranch at Laguna Beach, visit www.theranchlb.com/eat/harvest.
Wesley District presents free emergency readiness program on Nov 7
The Wesley District invites locals to attend a free program on emergency readiness on Thursday, Nov 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Both new and seasoned residents of this area between Nyes/PCH and Aliso Circle will benefit from an overview of what’s new in emergency alerts, warnings, and evacuation procedures for a part of town with few options for getting out quickly.
The program will offer news and updates on these topics from Laguna Beach Emergency Operations Coordinator Jordan Villwock, who will share updated procedures and what’s still in the works in our effort to make Laguna Beach the Most Prepared City in Orange County.
Submitted photo
Firefighters work behind Ruby’s Diner in Wesley District during a blaze in 2012
In addition, Civilian Services Officer Nikie Hernandez will provide an overview of current crime statistics for Wesley District and how neighbors can be proactive in preventing crime.
RSVPs are requested for purposes of adequate seating set-up for the meeting. RSVP to Sandi Cain at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call/text (949) 292-3279. Please include your name and number of people attending with you. Ample free parking available at the church (21632 Wesley Drive, just above Lang Park).
The Miskey Mountain Boys return to Laguna on Nov 13
The Miskey Mountain Boys gave a “one-of-a-kind show” last June at Laguna Beach Live!’s Bluegrass & BBQ concert for a large, appreciative audience at the Laguna College of Art & Design.
The band is coming back on Wendesday, Nov 13 to celebrate the launching of their new CD, Miskey, Straight Up. The public is invited to enjoy an entertaining and informative show featuring their new music plus stories about how traditional Americana (and their hybrid) music evolved. The concert is in the intimate Boma Room at Mozambique.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
The Miskey Mountain Boys performing at Bluegrass & BBQ in June
The band has been described by the Pasadena Weekly as “world-class Bluegrass featuring unique, exciting arrangements going beyond the confines of traditional Bluegrass, incorporating elements of jazz, classical and swing, fueled by awe-inspiring vocals and incredible slap bassing…a one-of-a-kind show.”
Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Reservations can be made at www.lagunabeachlive.org or by phone at (800) 595-4849. The information line is (949) 715-9713.
Mozambique is located at 1740 South Coast Hwy.
Mission Hospital celebrates the grand opening of the newly renovated Sue and Bill Gross ER
Mission Hospital is proud to announce that the transformation of the Sue and Bill Gross Emergency Department at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach is complete.
Thanks to the generosity of Sue Gross and Bill Gross, the enhanced, state-of-the-art Emergency Department offers:
--Cutting-edge imaging technology, including an open design MRI adjacent to the Emergency Department and new CT scanning and X-ray technology that delivers quicker and improved results
--Dedicated critical care and trauma rooms for adults and children
--Open design nursing and physician area that enables more efficient communication
--Spacious, private exam rooms that allow patients and loved ones to be together
--An expanded waiting room with a dedicated area for children and families
--A private patient check-in area
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
(L-R) Michael Beck (Chief Administration Officer for MHLB), Fr. Silva, Seth Teigen (Chief Executive), Sue Gross, Dr. Guisou Mahmoud (Medical Director for Emergency Services at MHLB), John Miller (Chief Philanthropy Officer)
“The need for significant upgrades to our Emergency Department, including advanced imaging technology is critical in caring for emergency medicine patients,” says Dr. Guisou Mahmoud, medical director of the Sue and Bill Gross Emergency Department. “The imaging enhancements and modifications we’ve made to the space enrich patient comfort and convenience, promoting optimal healing and augmenting the efficiency of treatment.”
During a tour of the new space, Sue Gross said, “It is special to be here today to cut the ribbon for the upgraded emergency room. The emergency room at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach will always have a special place in my heart since it’s where I took my son when he had a few tumbles as a kid. Any mom knows those are always stressful moments and the team here was always so kind to both me and Nick. I’m glad the hospital, the emergency room, and the doctors and staff are still here to serve the families in our community.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Dr. William Dodge (an emergency medicine physicians) giving current and past Foundation Board members a tour of the new Emergency Department; (L-R) Timothy Carlyle, Matt Gunderson, and Joe Hanauer
Mission Hospital acquired the Laguna Beach hospital ten years ago (known then as South Coast Medical Center) and greatly improved this vital community hospital. Serving more than 18,000 patients per year, the Laguna Beach Emergency Department is critical to the safety and well-being of Laguna Beach residents. With 24/7 access, it is the only Emergency Department in close proximity to provide services for the people who live, work and vacation in our coastal communities and surrounding areas.
In addition to technology upgrades, the Emergency Department was reconfigured to accommodate higher volumes of patients with varying degrees of illness and injury. Individual treatment areas were created to increase the functional space via protective walls that maintain patient privacy.
“Our top priorities are to provide the highest quality care, safety, patient experience and caregiver engagement,” says Mission Hospital’s new Chief Executive, Seth Teigen. “This significant enhancement project is helping us to achieve excellence in all four of these vital categories.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Laguna Beach resident Charles Barr, co-chair of Laguna Beach Patient and Family Advisory Council, and Jennifer Cord, Chief Nursing Officer
“Mission is blessed to have a highly skilled and experienced team of physicians and nurses at the Sue and Bill Gross Emergency Department,” said Mahmoud. “Our physicians are all board-certified and many are doubled-boarded, fellowship trained, a mark of distinction indicating completion of additional education and training following a full emergency medicine residency. Our nurses are highly trained as well, many with a masters or doctorate degree and certification in emergency medicine nursing.”
To support an outstanding patient experience at the Sue and Bill Goss Emergency Department, a special wait time calculator is available on the hospital website at: www.mission4health.com/lagunaER. The calculator provides an estimate of the wait time to see a physician. Since the calculator was implemented the average wait time has been 20-30 minutes. The wait time calculator also enables patients to alert the hospital of their condition/symptoms so caregivers can prepare for their arrival.
Mission Hospital is profoundly grateful to Sue Gross and Bill Gross for their generosity and helping to ensure that coastal communities have access to the finest emergency care. Their generosity is helping Mission to uphold the promise to “know, care for, and ease the way” for patients and caregivers.
To learn more about emergency services at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, visit www.mission4health.org.
Kontrapunktus returns to town with concert at Laguna Presbyterian Church on Nov 10
Neo-Baroque orchestra Kontrapunktus will be making its Laguna Beach return with a classical concert to be held, once again, at the exquisite Laguna Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Nov 10. The concert begins at 2 p.m. and admission and parking are free.
The musical offering is aptly named “Tellemann: A Musical Celebration” and commemorates the music of renowned Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Kontrapunktus performing at Laguna Presbyterian Church in spring of 2018
Kontrapunktus will also be performing new Baroque music from gifted Composer-in-Residence Mark Moya.
Kontrapunktus is an orchestra comprised of some of the finest young classical musicians in the world who hail from the prestigious Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles. The group is led by Artistic Director and renowned harpsichordist Ian Pritchard.
This performance is made possible through the kind hospitality of the Laguna Presbyterian Church staff and is proudly presented in conjunction with the support of the City of Laguna Beach and its Lodging Establishments.
To learn more about Kontrapunktus, visit www.kontrapunktus.com.
Laguna Presbyterian Church is located at 415 Forest Ave.
SchoolPower’s Dodgeball Tournament is a hit for Laguna Beach schools
More than 380 costumed players on 50 teams ducked, dived, and dodged balls at Laguna Beach High School on October 16 for SchoolPower’s 10th annual Dodgeball Tournament.
The popular event raised over $13,000 for SchoolPower, the parent volunteer-based, nonprofit education foundation that has raised money for Laguna Beach public schools since 1981.
“The kids bring so much excitement and joy to the tournament,” said Jeff Bhaedhayajibh, first-time coach of We Kick Balls. The popular event included students from all four local schools, teachers, PTA leaders and school staff, Laguna Beach firefighters, and local business supporters.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Kristin Karkoska, Blue Sky Studio
Maeve, of The Mighty NarBalls, team hurls a ball at the opposing team during SchoolPower’s Dodgeball Tournament
Adding to the energy were Dodgeball chair Kristine Flynn and her planning committee of SchoolPower trustees, plus hundreds of parent coaches, volunteer referees, and cheering spectators. Nick Alexander Imports served as the Terminator Sponsor with Bala Shala Yoga for Kids joining as a Court Sponsor.
Competition was fierce in all three divisions. Seventh grader Nico Bammer of the Dodgeball Devils was up for the challenge. “The tournament is exhilarating!” he said. Eighth grader Hannah Kaiser of the Crazy8’s acknowledged, “It’s fun even if you get beat up.”
Repeated throughout the afternoon was an appreciation for how the event brings people together. El Morro student Reagan Levine embraced the teamwork required. “We know what everyone’s strengths are,” she said of her team the Dodging Devils, “and we’ve learned to work really well together.” Motley Crew coach Jill Nugent highlighted that the event connects kids who don’t normally spend time together, saying, “It’s great for the kids to work with kids of the other gender in a fun way to raise money for our fabulous schools.”
In the high school/adult bracket, defending champions Prescribe Wellness pulled off a three-peat, with one of their two teams taking home the championship trophy once again.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Kristin Karkoska, Blue Sky Studio
Piper, of the Duck and Cover team, celebrates as the last player standing during SchoolPower’s Dodgeball Tournament
Class rivalries played out on the court when the seniors on team 2020 defeated the juniors of Last Kid Picked in a final game for a second-place finish. “It was so much fun to play one last time and to beat the juniors, showing them the Class of 2020 is the best!” said senior Grace Houlahan.
Beyond bragging rights, champions from each division won $500 in prize money to designate to a teacher or school program of their choice.
For more details about Dodgeball, visit www.lbschoolpower.org/dodgeball-tournament.
The following teams dodged their way to victory.
Division Winners:
--4th/5th - Ball Dogs
--6th-8th - VSCO
--HS/Adult - PrescribeWellness 2
Best Costume Winners:
--4th/5th - The Mighty NarBalls
--6th-8th - Balls of Cereal
--HS/Adult - RhythmRide
SchoolPower’s mission is to enhance the educational experience of the whole student as they grow from TK through 12th grade. In 2018-19, SchoolPower contributed over $736,000 to Laguna Beach school district to help support a wide range of programs, including music, visual and performing arts, STEM, digital literacy, field trips, athletics, social emotional support, service learning, and academic support.
SchoolPower’s Wave of Giving campaign is on now at: give.lbschoolpower.org.
Round Robin beach volleyball tournament results from Main Beach
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
QOB II 2019 Open Division: (L-R) Samantha Thomas, Amanda Vialpondo champs, Alicia Zamparelli, Aurora Santos
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
2019 KOB, Men’s Open Division: (L-R) Todor Dimitrov, Cameron Bordeau champs, Daniel Pop, Carl Bunge 2nd
The City of LB and LBUSD partner to offer residents free adult education classes
For the first time, the City of Laguna Beach has collaborated with the Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) to provide residents with adult education classes at no cost.
Senior Recreation Supervisor Alexis Braun of the Community Services Department for the City of Laguna Beach says, “We received a grant, and since we don’t have as many resources as the LBUSD, we decided to partner with them. In the future, we will be offering ESL classes and programs for local hotels and the day workers at the Laguna Day Workers Center.”
The following classes are scheduled for the fall:
Resume Writing & Interviewing Skills
Saturday, Oct 26, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
One of the most important – and intimidating – steps in the job search process is writing a solid resume that gets the attention you want and need.
Learn how to put together a resume that will help you stand out from the crowd.
Further, interviewing requires preparation, communication skills, and persuasion techniques that show why you are the best person for the position. This class will teach proven methods that will empower you to give yourself the competitive edge and highlight your talents that best fit the job requirements and will improve your success in interviewing.
Microsoft Excel 2016 – Introduction, Intermediate & Advanced
Saturday, Nov 16, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Whether it’s to learn or brush up on skills for home or the office, participants will learn tips and shortcuts they never knew existed. This course covers the essentials (and so much more!) needed to give you a solid, working knowledge of Excel in a comfortable setting.
Introduction To Computers
Saturday, Oct 19, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
This class introduces computer concepts, including fundamental functions and operations of the computer. Topics include identification of hardware components, basic computer operations, security issues, and use of software applications. Upon completion, attendees should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role and function of computers and use the computer to solve problems.
Intermediate Computer Skills
Saturday, Nov 2, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
During this intensive course in computer basics, participants will learn the various concepts of computing including general computing concepts, hardware and software, operations of information networks, and tasks. Participants will also receive training in using basic Windows applications including Paint, Internet Explorer and/or Chrome, WordPad, NotePad, task manager,
and calculator. This comprehensive course includes lessons in the use of the keyboard, mouse, and Windows.
All adult education classes will take place in the Community Room at the Community and Susi Q Center, located at 380 Third St.
There is free parking for participants in the street-level garage below the building.
To register for a class, click here.
For more information about the adult education program, contact Alexis Braun at (949) 497-0762 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The adult education classes are funded by a state grant in partnership with Laguna Beach Unified School District.
Join the Chamber for Energy and CALGreen Standards update on Nov 1
On Friday, Nov 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the City of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce invite locals to learn about the 2019 Energy and CALGreen Standards updates for newly constructed buildings as well as additions and alterations to existing buildings, in a special presentation at Mozambique.
For residential buildings, topics include new photovoltaic system requirements for newly constructed residential buildings, increased requirements for high performance attics and walls, increased indoor air quality requirements, new water heater options, and much more.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of Mozambique
The City and Chamber will host a special presentation on important building code updates
For nonresidential buildings, topics include increased ventilation and indoor air quality requirements, changes to indoor and outdoor lighting, envelope, space conditioning, factory exhaust systems, and much more. Review of standards and simplified verification and enforcement of the requirements for residential and nonresidential projects during the plan review and field inspection process will be presented.
Interwest Consulting Group will be presenting the code updates. Contractors, architects, engineers, design professionals, residents, property, and business owners are invited to attend.
To register, visit www.lagunabeachchamber.org under the Events tab, or contact Paula Hornbuckle-Arnold, Executive Director, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, at (949) 494-1018 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For information on the content of the workshop, contact Maria Ring, Sr. Permit Technician, Building Division, at (949) 497-0798 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
An optional pre-determined lunch is available for $12 at the door. Reservations are required for food service.
Mozambique is located at 1740 South Coast Hwy.
Tahirih Justice Center hosts successful 2nd Annual Gala
The Tahirih Justice Center, a nationally recognized leader in the fight to end violence against women and girls, hosted its 2nd annual Gala in Orange County on Saturday, Sept 28 at the Pelican Hill Resort.
The Gala celebrated Tahirih’s 22 successful years as an organization, answering more than 27,000 pleas for help from courageous immigrant women and girls. Together with over 225 guests, Tahirih honored clients who have overcome overwhelming adversity in their pursuit of justice and the champions who stand beside them, determined to create a world where all women and girls may live in safety and with dignity.
Advocates, champions, pro bono professionals, volunteers, staff, donors, and supporters joined together to honor Tahirih’s clients – raising over $445,000.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
(L-R) Eva LaRue, Sarah Vanderveen, Suzy Elghanayan, director Carey Eisenberg, Tijana Hamilton, and Christine Halen-Berg
Acting as Co-Masters of Ceremonies were actor and comedian Oscar Nuñez, best known for playing “Oscar Martinez” on NBC’s Emmy-winning show The Office, and actress, writer, and producer Ursula Whittaker, who has starred in shows such as Veep and Grey’s Anatomy. Oscar and Ursula are dedicated to ending violence against women and creating a world where women and men enjoy equality.
“Now, this is both of our first time at a Tahirih event and we couldn’t be more honored to walk with all of you on this journey to justice. This long, winding road of a journey with bumps and curves ready to catch us off guard. How wonderful is it to travel together? To know that we are surrounded by others who envision a world of equality and opportunity and are ready to stand up and fight for all women and girls to achieve their dreams of greatness.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Suzy & Jeff Elghanayan take a photo opportunity with the advocates of the Tahirih Justice Center on the screen
Three of the Gala Co-Chairs, Christine Hallen-Berg, Tijana Hamilton, and Sarah Vanderveen, also joined the stage, welcoming new and old friends and sharing the importance of Tahirih’s services across the nation. “I want you to ask yourselves – when is enough, enough? How does one who has suffered years, even decades of abuse, find the courage to say no more? What does it take to finally attain the dream of freedom and an enriched life? As a longtime supporter, I am repeatedly struck by the strength, resilience, and steadfast resolve of Tahirih’s extraordinary clients. Women who have been told implicitly, sometimes explicitly, sometimes their whole lives, that they are not deserving of safety and dignity.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
(L-R) Honoree Suzy Elghanayan, co-chair Christine Hallen-Berg, founder Layli Miller-Muro, actors Ursula & Oscar Nunez, co-chairs Tijana Hamilton, and Sarah Vanderveen
Tahirih was honored to welcome former client and survivor of forced marriage Neha Batool as the evening’s Courageous Voice Honoree. When she was just a teenager, Neha’s family told her she would be married to a man whom she did not choose as her life partner. With no hope of convincing her family otherwise, and with pain in her heart, she left home in the middle of the night, with a few suitcases and the family car. Over the next two years, she gained citizenship status and changed her name. She explored colleges, and scholarships and eventually received her Bachelor’s degree. She accepted internship placements with the Tahirih Justice Center and Second Story, which sparked her career interest in the field of mental health.
“Without the support of the Tahirih Justice Center and other extraordinary individuals and organizations in my life, I would not have discovered the sea of opportunities and resources available to women like me, searching for a better life. I would not have become the role model I am proud to be for my sisters and their daughters. I, who once tiptoed in a dark carpeted hallway escaping a forced marriage have now fostered new values and new identities, which inspire me to carve a path for others, in their fight for social justice.”
To learn more about the Tahirih Justice Center, contact Carey Eisenberg at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (571) 282-6172.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship welcomes guest speaker Rachel Otair on Sunday
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach (UUFLB) invites the public to join a special presentation on Sunday, Oct 27 at 10:30 a.m. Rachel Otair, Program Manager of Waste Not OC, will speak on “Ending Hunger.”
Formed in November 2012, Waste Not OC is a public/private coalition with the goal of helping reduce food waste and eliminate hunger by facilitating the donation of surplus edible food from permitted food facilities to local food pantries.
In 2018, Waste Not OC recovered more than 17,500,000 lbs. of food and redirected it to Orange County residents who were facing food insecurity. This local coalition among hospitals, food banks, municipalities, the food industry, and the waste hauling industry could serve as a model nationwide.
Rachel Otair graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a BA degree in Psychology. With years of experience in the food service industry and the knowledge that she gained working at the Anaheim Family YMCA, Otair began work as Program Manager at Waste Not OC in November 2016. She oversees each department from outreach to finance.
UUFLB encourages local residents to join together to hear about this phenomenal program that is helping to end the local hunger crisis.
For more information, contact Rachel Daniels at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (310) 714-2699.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach is located at 429 Cypress Dr.
Orange County approves $7.7 million for mental health services
Orange County is improving mental health services and expanding training for how law enforcement should handle psychiatric emergencies.
“Patients are facing barriers when they try to access mental health services,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, who has made improving the county’s mental health care one of his top priorities on the Board of Supervisors.
Last Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a $7.7 million dollar contract with Mind OC to promote extensive interagency collaboration across multiple sectors to restructure the way mental health care is provided to its residents. In this new approach, the county will work with state and local agencies, public and private health plans, and philanthropic and nonprofit organizations to connect these sectors and improve the quality and access to health services.
The Board also accepted two Mental Health Awareness Training state grants for local corrections staff, including Juvenile and Adult Corrections Officers, Probation Officers, as well as local police and sheriff staff. “Serving as the nation’s first responders, local law enforcement officers need to receive the proper training on how to safely interact with people experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis,” said Supervisor Do. “We need to equip our law enforcement to properly recognize mental health challenges among their peers and in their communities.”
This new approach comes just a week before the county’s groundbreaking celebration for the first-ever Be Well OC Campus, which will be the first visible sign of a system of change for mental health and wellness in the county. “There’s no doubt that our state’s lack of mental health treatment facilities has exacerbated our state’s homeless crisis,” said Supervisor Do. “This mental health facility is another important component in our effort to address homelessness.”
This new facility will support all county patients and families struggling with mental illnesses by getting them the care they need. There are plans for two additional Be Well OC campuses in other parts of the county that may vary in services based on the surrounding local community needs.
“For too long, Orange County has lacked the resources to treat mental health problems, psychiatric emergencies, and substance abuse disorders,” said Supervisor Do. “In order to develop optimal behavioral health in Orange County, we need to increase the quality of mental health services across all sectors. This new approach is a step in the right direction.”
Village Laguna to host meeting on Oct 28
On Monday, Oct 28, at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach, Village Laguna will be holding its next general membership meeting.
Bob Borthwick and Ruben Flores will lead the discussion about the historic digester building, a K-rated treasure, and possible new ways to utilize, rather than to demolish it, which the group supports.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Village Laguna to discuss digester building at Oct 28 meeting
The group will also have Jackie Gallagher, from Friends of the Canyon, update the current situation regarding the artist live/work project in the Canyon.
“All are welcome to attend our general membership meetings,” said President Johanna Felder.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach is located at 429 Cypress Drive. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call (949) 472-7503 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
New mobile app helps Laguna Beach residents and visitors request City services
The City of Laguna Beach is pleased to announce the launch of its new mobile app, “Ask Laguna,” as part of an ongoing effort to enhance communication and make City services more accessible to residents and visitors.
The Ask Laguna mobile app is a free smartphone application available for Apple and Android devices that allows users to submit service requests to the City for issues such as graffiti, broken parking meters, and potholes with just the touch of a button. The service request is then automatically sent to the respective City Department for review.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
“Ask Laguna” app to make City services more accessible to residents and visitors
“The Ask Laguna app is an easy-to-use enhancement of the existing website version of Ask Laguna, and is another way for the City to be responsive to citizens and make it easy for them to communicate issues to the City,” said City Manager John Pietig. “We are pleased to deliver this tool to the community.”
Ask Laguna users who create an account in the app are instantly notified when the City receives their submission and also when the issue has been resolved. Users also have the option to submit issues anonymously.
“The Ask Laguna app uses GPS technology to geolocate the problem, simplifying the reporting process for users while increasing the reliability of the report location for City crews,” said Gavin Curran, Director of Administrative Services.
Ask Laguna is available for free download on all iPhone and Android devices. Simply search Ask Laguna on the App Store or GooglePlay.
Residents can also report service requests through the Ask Laguna website at www.lagunabeachcity.net/asklaguna. The Ask Laguna app is not intended for use in reporting emergency situations or crimes in progress. If you have an emergency, always dial 9-1-1.
Art of Fitness to host breast cancer awareness fitness fundraiser to benefit The Laurus Project
Art of Fitness is partnering with The Laurus Project, a Laguna Beach 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a focus on breast cancer awareness and risk reduction, to offer a community fundraising event at the fitness club on Tuesday, Oct 29 from 5 - 7 p.m.
Collectively, Art of Fitness and The Laurus Project are excited to offer the Laguna Beach community and The Laurus Project Thrivers the opportunity to team up to raise funds for breast cancer research.
“Both Art of Fitness and The Laurus Project share the mission to empower people and help them thrive, which makes this a perfect partnership between us,” says Fernanda Rocha, co-owner of Art of Fitness. “We are thrilled to join forces with local Thrivers and the Laguna Beach community to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, progressive research, and risk reduction,” added Marian Keegan, co-owner of Art of Fitness.
The fitness fundraising event will be hosted at Art of Fitness Laguna located at 1080 S Coast Hwy. The event includes two donation-based classes: 5 - 5:50 Cycle and 6 - 6:50 p.m. Yoga. Participation in both classes is not required but encouraged.
Space is limited and guests are encouraged to sign up in advance by calling Art of Fitness at (949) 464-0202.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
(L-R) Charlie Owens, Megan Cauley, Marian Keegan, Chelsea Burch, Melissa Whitworth, Daphne Martino, and Fernanda Rocha
Each class will be voluntarily co-taught by multiple Art of Fitness instructors. The recommended minimum donation is $20 per person per class. 100 percent of the funds raised during the event will be directed towards The Laurus Project.
“We are thrilled to find a local organization to support in our community outreach efforts during Breast Cancer Awareness month.” says Fernanda Rocha. “We share the sentiments of The Laurus Project and believe in helping each person find a personal path to greater health and wellbeing.”
Noted by The Laurus Project, “the majority of women diagnosed with Breast Cancer suffer PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and a recent scientific research has shown that practicing mindfulness helps decrease the levels of stress response hormones in the body, lowers inflammation, and reduces feelings of sadness and apprehension.”
This breast cancer awareness fitness fundraising event is conceived with the intention to support participants on their way to greater health. Participants will be rallied to elevate their endorphins, the happy hormones, in cycle then guided to reduce their cortisol, or stress hormones, in yoga. “This is our way of giving what we can to a meaningful and impactful cause,” adds Marian Keegan. “Our goal is to pack the place and put out the thrive vibe.”
Art of Fitness offers an array of health and fitness modalities for members of all ages and fitness levels, including cardio equipment, circuit training, pilates equipment, personal training, aerial, barre, boot camp, cycle, HIIT, sculpt, and yoga classes.
Art of Fitness also has Art of Juicing within its walls, a full-service health station with made-to-order juices, smoothies, and shots made from local organic fresh ingredients, which is open daily.
With a focus on prevention in at-risk women, The Laurus Project partners with leading researchers and institutions to advance innovative medical research and delivers up-to-date breast cancer risk reduction education to women at risk, through The Laurus Project health education and outreach programs. The incidence of breast cancer in women remains high at one in eight diagnosed with breast cancer over their lifetime.
Women who are breast cancer survivors are at risk for recurrence of disease. It’s thought that the same factors that can increase risk might also promote cancer recurrence after treatment. The Laurus Project®, a Laguna Beach-based breast cancer nonprofit is taking action.
For more information on The Laurus Project, visit www.thelaurusproject.com.
For more information on Art of Fitness, visit www.artoffitnesslaguna.com or call (949) 464-0202.
Art of Fitness is located 1080 S Coast Hwy.
Third Street Writers host “Secrets & Sins” Halloween reading & open mic event Thursday
On Thursday, Oct 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the LCAD Gallery in downtown Laguna Beach, Third Street Writers will host “Secrets & Sins,” an eerie evening of original stories and poems.
This event is free and open to the public. Writers are encouraged to bring a creepy creation (an original written work to share from the genre of their choosing: fiction, nonfiction, or poetry). Pieces should not exceed three minutes.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Things are going to get spooky at “Secret & Sins” on Thursday
Bewitchingly light refreshments will be served, and costumes are welcomed.
Founded in 2015, Third Street Writers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering the growth of the writing community in Laguna Beach through weekly workshops, reading events, and publication of its annual Beach Reads anthology.
For more information, contact Amy Dechary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.thirdstreetwriters.org/events.
Laguna Beach Library presents Halloween event for all ages tomorrow
On Wednesday, Oct 23 at 5:30 p.m., the Laguna Beach Library invites the community to a special Halloween event featuring Kids Imagine Nation.
Created by pre-school music teachers and improv actors, Kids Imagine Nation is a musical, high energy, interactive show that encourages the use of imagination and friendship through songs and storytelling.
The Laguna Beach Library is located at 363 Glenneyre St.
Coast Film Festival begins screenings on November 7
Coast Film Festival (CFF) is excited to announce the current schedule of films, speakers, and ticket pricing for the local festival’s inaugural event.
“We created Coast Film Festival to inspire and entertain audiences who are excited to experience our natural world around us through film, art, and environmental activism,” says event Founder and Executive Director Ben Warner.
Tickets range from $10 - $250 for the all access pass, giving holders entry into every film, special event, and speaker forum, with special perks including a VIP meet-and-greet and gift bag. Tickets are sold online at www.coastfilmfestival.com, and also at the door subject to availability.
As a member of 1 percent for the Planet, CFF will donate one percent of the event proceeds to Surfrider Foundation and Protect Our Winters.
Festival Overview (subject to change):
Thursday, Nov 7
--Presentation by Big Wave Champion/Environmental Activist Greg Long
7 - 9 p.m. – Hobie Surf Shop, Laguna Beach
Sponsored by Patagonia
--Kick-off Party at the Marine Room Tavern, Laguna Beach
9 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Arenui Frapwell/Courtesy of Klean Kanteen
Environmental Activist Greg Long
Friday, Nov 8
--Youth Education Series – Meet the Filmmakers
El Morro Elementary School
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
8:15 - 8:45 a.m. (1st - 3rd grades)
9 - 9:30 a.m. (4th - 5th grades)
(additional schools TBD)
--Friday Filmmaker Showcase – Seven7Seven, Laguna Beach
7 - 11 p.m.
A night of two feature length ski and snowboard films with a Q&A after each film with directors and athletes.
If you love skiing and snowboarding it is a night you don’t want to miss!
--Screenings of Teton Gravity Research’s 2019 feature films
Winterland – 7 p.m.
Roadless – 9 p.m.
Featuring a post screening Q&A with filmmakers and athletes immediately following. Hosted by action sports journalist and broadcaster Pat Parnell.
Includes High West Whiskey tasting lounge, art gallery, and live music.
Tickets are $20 for General Admission, $45 for VIP Whiskey tasting.
Buy tickets at the link here or at the door if available.
Saturday, Nov 9
--Beach cleanup with Surfrider Foundation at Aliso Beach
7 - 9 a.m.
--Canyon nature hike with Laguna Canyon Foundation
8 - 10 a.m.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Laguna Canyon Foundation - nature hike
--Short Film Series – Four 1 1/2 hour screening blocks
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Forum Theater at the Festival of the Arts, Laguna Beach
Features post screening Q&A with filmmakers and cast immediately following. Hosted by action sports journalist and broadcaster Pat Parnell
10 - 11:30 a.m. – Healed by Nature – Discussion with Stacy Bare
12 - 1:30 p.m. – Public Lands – Discussion with Filmmaker Greg MacGillivray
2 - 3:30 p.m. – Our Oceans – Discussion with Surfrider Foundation CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen
4 - 5:30 p.m. – Get Outside! – films that inspire viewers to get outside – Discussion with professional athletes
Tickets are $15 for single screenings or $60 for an All Block Pass.
--Saturday Filmmaker Showcase – Seven7Seven, Laguna Beach
7 - 11 p.m.
Feature Film Will Be Announced on November 30.
Includes art exhibit, live music, food, and a cash bar.
General Admission is $25; VIP Admission is $75.
Coast Film Festival sponsors and partners include: Luxury Card, REI, Patagonia, Hobie Surf, Laguna Beach Company, Visit Laguna Beach, Sockguy, Pukka, One Eleven, Mammoth mountain, Kind Humans, RED digital, High West, 1% for the Planet, Surfrider Foundation, Laguna Canyon foundation, Zenith AV, Restore, Skeleton Key Agency, Firebrand Media, Stu News Laguna, Laguna Graphics, and KLine & Company.
Founded in 2019, the stories, people, cultures and places featured throughout the Coast Film Festival are presented to entertain and inspire audiences to fully experience and enjoy our natural playground, while amplifying ongoing conversations of conservation and environmental awareness within our communities and throughout the world.
For more information and tickets, go to www.coastfilmfestival.com.
Second sunset
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by David Dalrymple
Second Sunset is the burst of light that fills the sky and clouds with vibrant and warm colors after the sun sets below the horizon, typically starting around 15 minutes after sunset, sometimes sooner, sometimes a little longer
Author Elizabeth Strout makes guest appearance at the Woman’s Club for Laguna Beach Books
On Thursday, Oct 31 at 12 p.m., Laguna Beach Books is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Strout, author of Olive, Again. The event will take place at the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach. Elizabeth will be discussing and signing copies of her book.
Olive, Again will pick up where Olive Kitteridge left off, following the next decade of Olive’s life – through a second marriage, an evolving relationship with her son, and encounters with a cast of memorable characters in the seaside town of Crosby, Maine.
Click on photo for a larger image
Submitted photo
Elizabeth Strout will be discussing her book “Olive, Again”
The character of Olive Kitteridge has achieved an iconic place in the imaginations of millions of readers since the 2008 publication of Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Olive Kitteridge. In 2014, it was turned into an acclaimed
HBO series, which won 8 Emmys, including Best Actress to Frances McDormand
for her performance in the title role.
Elizabeth Strout is the #1 New York Times bestselling author, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, winner of The Story Prize, a national bestseller, winner of the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, and the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize. Elizabeth Strout lives in New York City.
This is a ticketed event; tickets are $26 plus tax and include a copy of the book. Tickets can be purchased at the store or online at oliveagain.brownpapertickets.com.
Laguna Beach Books is an independent bookstore in Laguna Beach. The store strives to create a community-enriching environment with a superb selection of books for adults and children, exciting author events and readings, and friendly, knowledgeable staff.
For more information, visit www.lagunabeachbooks.org.
The Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach is located at 286 St Ann’s Drive.
Laguna Beach Books hosts Halloween event
All ages are invited to wear their Halloween costume to Laguna Beach Books on Wednesday, Oct 30 and Thursday, Oct 31, during store hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Customers in costume will be entered into a random drawing to win a $20 Laguna Beach Books gift card and a box of chocolates from the Chocolate Soldier, and will receive 20 percent off Halloween books.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Stacia Stabler
Laguna Beach Books is located in the HIP District
The winner will be contacted via email. Customers will also be treated to free chocolate samples from Chocolate Soldier and a 10 percent off coupon.
Vote for your favorite costume on Laguna Beach Books’ Facebook, Instagram (@lagunabeachbooks), or Twitter (@lagunabeachbook) pages by 8 p.m. on Oct. 31; the costume that gets the most votes will get a $20 Laguna Beach Books gift card and box of chocolates from the Chocolate Soldier. The winner will be announced via social media on Nov 1ember.
Laguna Beach Books is located at 1200 South Coast Hwy.
Police Beat Primer
Compiled by Suzie Harrison
Police Beat derives from information in the daily police and arrest logs published on the City of Laguna Beach’s website and required under CA Government Code Section 6254 (f). Additional information is obtained through communication with the Laguna Beach Police Department’s Public Information Officer.
Information in the logs is deemed reliable and Stu News Laguna is not responsible for any mistakes made available as public record by the Laguna Beach Police Department.
Any person arrested is innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
Incident Reports
Saturday, Oct 19
Laguna Canyon Road | 20600 Block | Violating Parole
9:06 p.m. Jacob Andrew Beaman, 37, was arrested for violating parole. No bail was set.
S Coast Hwy | 30900 Block | Battery
3:40 p.m. Roberto Carlos Sierra, 47, was arrested for two counts of battery (bail was set at $500).
Cleo St | 200 Block | DUI
2:38 a.m. A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
Laguna Canyon Road | 2200 Block | DUI
1:38 a.m. A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
S Coast Hwy & Oak St | DUI
12:47 a.m. A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
Friday, Oct 18
S Coast Hwy | 30800 Block | Battery of Spouse/Ex-Spouse/Date
6:47 p.m. Gregg Bradford McElwee, 55, was arrested for battery of a spouse/ex-spouse/date. Bail was set at $10,000.
Solana Way | 2700 Block | Petty Theft
11:56 a.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a “laptop taken from an unlocked vehicle.” The approximate loss was reportedly $1,500.
Glenneyre St | 300 Block | Possession of a Controlled Substance
11:26 a.m. Christopher Ladd Burton, 53, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $500.
Unknown | Disorderly Conduct – Alcohol
A 24-year-old man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
Cliff Drive | 800 Block | Battery of Spouse/Ex-Spouse/Date
12:20 p.m. Richard Lyle German, 59, was arrested for battery of a spouse/ex-spouse/date. Bail was set at $10,000.
Thursday, Oct 17
Dunning Drive | 1400 Block | Animal Calls
2:29 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a “single juvie coyote below the home.”
S Coast Hwy & Circle Drive | Check on Condition
8:01 a.m. LBPD received a report regarding “traffic signals turned in the wrong direction.”
Unknown | DUI
A 34-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
Unknown | Warrant
Robert Ruiz Peralta, 38, was arrested on an unknown warrant. Bail was set at $2,500.
Unknown | DUI
A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
Unknown | DUI, Driving with a Blood Alcohol Content 0.08% or Higher
A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
Wednesday, Oct 16
Broadway St | 300 Block | Loitering
10:12 p.m. Kathryn Lorayne Doe, 43, was arrested for loitering. Bail was set at $2,500.
Forest Ave | 200 Block | Vandalism
6:50 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a “vehicle that was keyed.” The approximate loss was reportedly $3,000.
Unknown | Obstructing/Resisting a Peace Officer, Loitering
Marlon Edward Hardin, 31, was arrested for obstructing/resisting a peace officer (bail was set at $500) and loitering (bail was set at $500).
