Police Files

Vandalism “shooting spree” damages local stores, homes, and cars

On Friday, Feb 21, at approximately 7:52 p.m., LBPD Dispatch began receiving multiple calls regarding vandalisms to windows of businesses, homes, and vehicles between the areas of 1400 N Coast Hwy to 1500 S Coast Hwy.

According to LBPD Spokesperson PIO Sgt Jim Cota, “A pellet gun appeared to be used in the vandalisms. The suspect vehicle was described as a dark gray four-door sedan. Officers were unable to locate the suspects.” 

According to police records, the first incident took place at 7:56 p.m., at the 1300 block of S Coast Hwy. “The RP was stopped going southbound when someone threw something against the RP’s vehicle and hit the RP’s head. The window was shattered; there was a mark on the vehicle.” According to dispatch logs, the RP declined medical attention. 

Later at 8:05 p.m., at Anita Street and S Coast Hwy, LBPD received a call regarding a front windshield of a vehicle that “was hit and damaged.”

Thirteen minutes later, at 8:18 p.m., at the 1500 block of S Coast Hwy, an incident was reported in reference to a broken window at a resident’s home. 

Then at 8:57 p.m., at the 700 block of S Coast Hwy, a caller reported [an unspecified business] that a “front window was broken and glass was falling.”  According to dispatch logs, the “window was dropping large chunks of glass on the sidewalk, making it unsafe.” The RP said the weapon was “possibly a pellet gun and the window was still cracking.” The owner was contacted and advised by LBPD.

Later at 7:52 p.m., at Cottage Furnishings, at the 800 block of S Coast Hwy, LBPD received a report that “someone drove by and threw something at the window and the window was all cracked.” As Sgt Cota reported, the RP said the suspect was driving a “dark grey four-door sedan.”

Another incident that occurred on Friday was reported Saturday, Feb 23, at 11:40 a.m., at the 1300 block of S Coast Hwy. A store manager reported a “shattered display window that occurred sometime last night.”

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Courtesy of Vertigo Home Facebook 

Vertigo Home was hit during a vandalism “shooting spree” on Feb 22

And Vertigo Home, at 1550 S Coast Hwy, was also targeted on Friday. According to their Facebook page, a display window was shattered. The post on Saturday morning said, “Fortunately, no monkeys were injured during last night’s drive by shooting,” in reference to a Seletti brand monkey lamp in the front window.

Lastly, on Saturday, at 12:49 p.m., at S Coast Hwy and Nyes Place, LBPD received a report of a “black Mercedes driver side window that was hit by something, possibly rocks or a BB gun.”

Sgt Cota said, “The investigation is ongoing.”

LBPD helps NBPD with alleged stolen car arrest

On Monday, Feb 24, at 12:25 a.m., LBPD officers were alerted to an alleged stolen vehicle coming into Laguna Beach. The officers eventually located the vehicle near El Moro (Crystal Cove) travelling northbound into Newport Beach. 

According to Sgt Cota, “One officer was able to get assistance from NBPD and a high-risk car stop was conducted at Poppy Street and Coast Highway. The vehicle was reported stolen out of Newport Beach.”

Sgt Cota said, “The female driver was detained and after an investigation it was uncovered that the reported stolen may be part of an insurance fraud scam.”

According to Sgt Cota, NBPD agreed to assume responsibility of the case since it originated in their city, the vehicle was recovered in their city, and the suspects live in Newport Beach.

Local unlicensed teen allegedly takes parents’ car without permission, overturns it and is found injured

On Monday, Feb 24, at 12:42 a.m., LBPD officers responded to a traffic collision with injuries involving an overturned vehicle at El Toro Rd and Laguna Canyon Rd. 

According to Sgt Cota, “Officers were informed that the vehicle was on fire, but the driver was out of the vehicle. Officers arrived and discovered that the vehicle was on fire, but officers were able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher.”

Sgt Cota said, “The solo occupant and driver was found to be an unlicensed 17-year-old teenager, who had taken the vehicle without parental permission. Due to the nature of the accident and the fact that the driver was a juvenile, LBFD transported the female to Mission Hospital for a medical evaluation.”

The vehicle allegedly hit a metal no pedestrian crossing pole, which caused the vehicle to flip upside down. The vehicle was towed from the scene and a collision report was taken.

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.

  -By Suzie Harrison

Kempf recommends proposal for city to help fund repairs on seniors’ homes

By BARBARA DIAMOND

Low-income seniors who want to stay in their homes but can’t afford needed repairs may get financial assistance if the City Council approves at tonight’s meeting a program recommended by Councilwoman Sue Kempf. 

The City Council will review at tonight’s meeting a proposal by Kempf to appropriate $100,000 from the Housing in Lieu Fund to provide financial assistance to income-qualifying, over 60 seniors to make critical home repairs, including those related to health and safety issues. Kempf is recommending that the city join with the Lifelong Laguna Home Modification Assessment Program offered by Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. and Habitat for Humanity to create, administer, and fund a home repair program for seniors who meet income requirements.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow has often rephrased Mahatma Gandhi’s statement that a nation is judged by how it cares for its elderly and its young.     

The proposed city-funded Senior Home Repair Program could include health, safety, and accessibility improvements that would allow Laguna’s elders to “age in place” – in other words, not be forced to leave their homes due to the inability to make needed repairs or changes. 

Eligible improvements could include repairs of structural components; plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems; doors and door locks; accessible pathways; mold remediation; weatherization; and other improvements that meet the intent of the program. 

Details of the program still need to be developed, but Kempf provided an example: Laguna Beach Seniors would accept and review applications. Approval would be subject to eligibility requirements. Assessments would be forwarded to Habitat for Humanity to process. 

The next step in the example is a visit by a construction manager who would conduct a building inspection based on the assessment, followed by submission of a preliminary work order to the Seniors’ organization for review and approval. If approved, a contract would be finalized between the Seniors and Habitat for Humanity. 

Both organizations have notified the city by letters of their desire to form a collaboration to provide critical home repairs for Laguna’s low-income seniors. 

The letters included a paragraph outlining their proposed contributions. The Seniors would identify elderly property owners who need home repairs – from leaky roofs to access ramps and grab bars to prevent accidents. Habitat OC would bring construction and repair experience to ensure the homes would be safe and secure. 

City funding would make it all possible, according to Seniors Executive Director Nadia Babayi and Habitat Senior Vice President Chris Baiocchi. 

Funds would be issued to Habitat OC for the preparation of building plans, obtaining building permits, and construction.

Kempf is recommending the council direct the Senior Housing Task Force to work with the Seniors on program guidelines and appropriate $100,000 from the Housing in Lieu Fund for the program.

Laguna Beach – A Look Back

Courtesy of Laguna Beach Historical Society

For this week’s “A Look Back” photo, let’s do a little detective work...can you deduce the year this wonderful photo was taken?

On first peek, the novice’s eye would guess the 1920s with the roaring 20s type cars on Coast Highway, the “Let the Birds Feed You” sign on the White House, and the iconic Hotel Laguna sign atop the downtown hotel. The classic style street lights add to the 1920 ambience.

But let’s look closer. The skirt length on the younger woman walking the senior across a busy Coast Highway infers a Depression-era style over the shorter Roaring 20s fashion. Of interest is the crosswalk is not on the south side of Coast Highway at Park where it sits today, but on the north side at Forest. The storefronts and architecture are virtually unchanged from today. 

The Birds hung that sign from the rooftop from their purchase of the restaurant in 1918 – it came down around 1950. The Hotel Laguna sign went up on its grand opening of 1930, not to come down until a city ordinance required it in 1996. The Festival of Arts banner gives the biggest clue: the festival began in 1932, so this appears to narrow the window from 1932-1950. 

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Looking back at Laguna Beach

Now let your eyes roam to the right of the photo. The Shell logo where The Greeter’s Corner Restaurant is today was a new design, with the letters within the mollusk logo. That design debuted in the late 1930s. 

Next, you’ll need a high-resolution computer screen and a magnifying glass. The banner advertising the Festival of Arts indicates a nine-day run. From 1932 until 1939, the Festival ran no more than nine days. In 1940, it extended the run to 15 days.

But take a puff of your Sherlock Holmes pipe and pay attention to the auto parked smack in the front of the photo. Prior to 1939, headlights on cars were actual lamps attached to the chassis, as seen in the other autos in this photo. Recessed headlights as we know today were a novelty in 1939, and a good car buff can make an intelligent guess that is a 1939 Plymouth coupe. 

For the Smoking Gun, you’ll want to look up the history of California license plates. Until 1942, the state issued new plates every year, instead of the little tags we now place in the corner of the plate. The color and style also changed each year. In 1940, the plates had two numbers, a letter then three more numbers. But in 1938 and 1939, the plates had one number, one letter and then four numbers – in this case the coupe is 6X 88 67. But the 1939 plates were dark blue to commemorate the 1939 World’s Fair. The 1938 plates were yellow as this car has.

In the 1930s, the new model cars (such as the 1939 Plymouth coupe) were available starting in late spring the previous year, not fall as we do today. So a 1939 new coupe bought in 1938 would have the yellow plates as shown here. 

The heavy traffic, the lack of June gloom, the short sleeves on our crosswalk couple, the spanking new Plymouth coupe, and the Festival banner all point to this photo being taken in July 1938. 

We rest our case.

• • •

Laguna Beach Historical Society is located at 278 Ocean Ave. They are open Friday - Sunday from 1 - 4 p.m. For more information, call (949) 497-6834 or visit www.lagunabeachhistory.org.

Laguna Beach Girls Water Polo: CIF Division One Champions

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Photo by @lagunabernadoodle Instagram

Congrats to the Laguna Beach HS Girls Water Polo team for winning the CIF Division One Championship on Saturday! The girls rallied to defeat Foothill in a 7-6 victory. The team will now take on La Jolla at Segerstrom High School in the State CIF SoCal Regionals on Friday at 4:20 p.m. Go Beach!

Hair artist Marsha McHenry Carroll on legacy, psychology, and the art of hair wear

Story by MARRIE STONE

Photos by Mary Hurlbut

Styling hair requires a lot of intangible skills. Of course there’s the artistry of the craft itself. There’s also plenty of psychology involved. Good hairdressers listen. They keep our secrets. They boost our self-confidence. Sometimes they push us out of our comfort zones and encourage us to try something new. My own hairdresser, who I’ve seen for more than 20 years, told me many clients (often men) have cried in her chair. “I think it’s the intimacy of me touching them while not looking directly at each other,” she says. “It gives them permission to let their guard down.” Plus there’s something about a scalp massage that’s inherently maternal and comforting.

On top of all that, hair is deeply personal. So much of our identity is tied up in those strands on our heads. Hair represents health and beauty. It can signify wisdom and experience. It’s sensual. It’s cultural. There are over five-dozen references to it in the Bible. American men often associate their hair with virility, women with desirability. And, as a counterpoint, its loss or damage can evoke shame. Especially in Southern California, whose cultural currency often centers on appearances. 

Imagine all the artistry, psychology, and marketing that go into hairdressing, and then multiply those attributes onto the woman who works with wigs, and the clients who seek her services. Even the word “wig” evokes something visceral. In the 1960s, it may have been a flirty accessory. But today we often associate wigs with illness, aging, or disease. Whether due to alopecia, cancer treatments, medications, or normal aging, 35 million men and 21 million women suffer hair loss. 

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Marsha and shop manager Charlie

It takes a unique person, with a unique set of skills, to rewrite the narrative around wearing a wig. Meet the woman behind the hair you wear – Marsha McHenry Carroll, owner of Charles’ Wigs.

Entrusted with a legacy

Longtime Laguna locals will likely recognize Charles’ Wigs. Even if they haven’t availed themselves of its services, the 55-year old institution has made its mark on our town. Nestled in a historic spot south of Mozambique restaurant (on PCH and Pearl Street), the building has been around since Coast Highway was still a dirt road. 

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The iconic shop tucked inside the historic building on PCH and Pearl Street

The original owner, Charles Thompson, ran the business for 45 years, opening the shop in 1965 during the heyday of hairpiece fashion. At only 19, Charles began perfecting the intricate art of creating custom wigs for his clients. 

Personalized hairpieces, unlike strict hair styling, require a lot of consideration. Skin tone, eye color, bone structure, and facial shape are all considered when crafting the ideal look. And, of course, the client’s existing hair must blend into the mix to create a seamless and authentic appearance. Natural hair rarely has a uniform color. Roots differ from tips, the under layers aren’t like the outer coat. Gradations of color need to be woven in just the right ways. Charles was Orange County’s expert.

Royal hairdresser Richard Dalton joined Charles around 2004. Dalton spent eight years as Princess Diana’s personal stylist, becoming solely responsible for her tresses and traveling with the Royal Family after Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles. It was Dalton who gave both Prince William and Prince Harry their first haircuts. He also served as stylist for such notables as Sophia Loren and Katy Perry. 

When longtime hairstylist Marsha McHenry Carroll met Thompson and Dalton in 2010, she knew plenty about hair but nothing about wigs. Marsha had decades of experience as a professional hairdresser. Hair wear, though, was entirely new territory. 

But it was a business she believed in running. Marsha’s husband, John, laid down his savings to buy the shop. “He gave up his motorhome money,” Marsha says. “He bought it for me.”

Though it was a personal passion, it was also a scary step for Marsha. “I didn’t know anything about wigs,” she says. “To step into a 45-year-old business that was flourishing – I had no idea what I was getting into. My clients wanted me to succeed because they needed me. There aren’t that many people who really understand how to work with wigs and hair pieces.”

She started studying at the hands of the master. “Charles was a guru, and I’m honored to have learned at his feet, but I had to step into those shoes,” Marsha says. “My clients really taught me.” 

In addition to his skilled profession, Charles played the role of Jesus in the Pageant of the Masters’ finale The Last Supper for over 30 years. Marsha laughs about it now. “I’d often ask myself in those early years after Charles retired, ‘What would Jesus do?’”

After she purchased the business 10 years ago, and Charles retired to New Mexico, Richard remained as Marsha’s manager for another eight months. “[Richard] was so talented,” Marsha told the Los Angeles Times in 2010. “He’s just magic with the way he works, whether it’s hair on a head or a wig.”

But the notoriety Dalton received after Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton – when the AP ran a story about his professional relationship with the late Princess Di – made him a hot-ticket item. As his profile skyrocketed and demands for Dalton’s services grew, Marsha soon found herself in search of another assistant.

In the beginning 

Turns out, Marsha needn’t have worried. She definitely had the talent and temperament to fill those impossible shoes. Born and raised in the South, Marsha was the daughter of a Navy dad, which meant they moved a lot – Charleston, Savannah, Memphis. Shortly after graduating high school (and deciding college was standing in the way of making money), Marsha began training in hair salons. Her friend was a stylist and introduced Marsha to a school in Virginia Beach. 

Those were transformative times in the salon industry. Women went from getting their hair styled each week to seeing their stylist once every six weeks. “I began an apprenticeship with one of the most reputable schools,” Marsha says. “They ran 10 hair salons and two beauty schools. I was an assistant for a while, learning about business, how to build a clientele, and how to handle clients. You can spend a lifetime learning those skills.”

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Every style and hair color is customized to the client’s unique look

When she came to California, Marsha continued styling hair but went back to college in her 40s to earn her undergraduate degree. She aspired to be a journalist and was published in Orange Coast Magazine the week she graduated – a feature piece on Laguna Beach architect Fred Briggs. She began writing for various publications but, when the recession hit, Marsha returned to her original passion.

The passionate personality of an artist

Passionate is the right word to describe Marsha. It takes a vivacious and somewhat sensuous personality to imbue clients with confidence, and Marsha is full of fun. She’s the woman who, in 1973, turned Elvis Presley down. Her friend was living with Elvis’s half-brother, David Stanley, when Marsha met the King. This was later in his life, and Elvis had gained a few pounds. Marsha was only 19 and Elvis 42. “I call it ‘The Night I Said No to Elvis,’” she laughs. “One of my claims to fame.”

No wonder she caught Elvis’s eye. Marsha had just been selected as Miss Virginia USA’s State Finalist. “One didn’t need a talent like Miss America,” she says. “Whew!” 

She’s also the woman who bravely stepped off Florida’s shore and onto a 39-foot Shannon and sailed to Havana, Cuba with three acquaintances – an adventure not for the faint of heart. 

And little surprise that in the 1980s, Marsha ran The Wonderful Me Charm Academy for local teens living in group homes.

Marsha is also the woman who, in 2009, implored OC Register readers to support her campaign to become the next Real Housewife of Orange County. And who still, even after a knee replacement, can do the splits. 

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Marsha, sporting one of her creations, and Charlie both remain timeless 

“All these questions and you still haven’t asked how old I am,” Marsha says towards the end of our time together. She seems almost giddy to see my response. “I’m 66!” More accurately, Marsha is timeless. If age is a construct – a simple state of mind – Marsha still fully inhabits her 20s.

It’s probably why she doesn’t love the word “wig.” “It sounds old-fashioned,” Marsha says. “Like girdles as opposed to Spanx.” Spanx, she says, are fashionable and trendy. Girdles are for older women. She prefers the term “hair wear.”

The art and science of hair

There’s good reason Marsha refers to her shop as an “atelier” – the French term for a workshop or studio (especially one utilized by an artist or designer). Hair wear is both art and a little science. These aren’t your grandmother’s manmade wigs, though they’re still easy enough to apply in a hurry.

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More unique and stylish creations by Marsha

With some exceptions, hair sourced for the pieces is human (as opposed to synthetic). To my surprise, another common source is yak. 

Marsha is a stickler for quality products and sources. She requests several samples before purchase and carefully inspects the length, texture, and consistency. Blonde shades are more costly than brunettes. Soft texture, long and consistent strands, and a comfortable weight all play into the equation. The current crown jewel of Charles’ Wigs – the “Bentley of Wigs,” as Marsha calls it – runs $10,000. Even at that price, the piece must be serviced every six months to repopulate the strands and ensure the proper stitching.

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The “Bentley” of hair 

Top pieces for men run around $700 (and over half of Marsha’s clients are, indeed, men). People typically purchase a few pieces to ensure they have a spare when one piece is being serviced. Women’s wear can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. The “voila,” a unique piece that simply adds length to existing hair without the weight and damage of hair extensions, can be had for less than $1,000.

But considering how much Orange County women spend on their hair, it’s an investment that might pencil out in the end. An average cut can cost $60 to $100. Color treatments exceed $100 and require frequent upkeep. Balayage, Brazilian Blowouts, and Kerasilk treatments – all intended to achieve the looks afforded by Marsha’s pieces – cost hundreds and don’t last forever. One-time blowouts or single updos can run $75. And none of this accounts for the money spent on hair products. Or the time.

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Shorter styles and brunette pieces are significantly less expensive

“Imagine never having another bad hair day,” says Marsha. “Imagine getting ready in a few minutes instead of an hour. Grocery shopping, carpool pickup, a surprise guest. Everything gets easier.” I must admit – it’s compelling.

The hidden secrets of running a successful wig business

Because I’m inherently curious (or maybe just nosy), I ask about the weird bits of this business that the average client may never know. Marsha doesn’t disappoint. 

First, help isn’t easy to find in this industry. Ironically, those who have worked in the hair and beauty industry are the most difficult to train. “Hairstylists assume they know everything there is to know. One day, I watched a man walk out of the shop with his piece on backwards,” Marsha says, shaking her head. “Not everyone is teachable.”

Discretion, of course, is critical. Marsha ensures her clients’ privacy with secluded rooms and a back door with onsite parking for guests to exit. Tyler McCusker, general manager at KX FM, jokes that people go into Charles’ Wigs but they never come out. “I don’t know what’s going on over there,” he tells Marsha. 

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Discrete rooms and a private courtyard and back entrance ensure clients’ privacy

There can also be a bit of buyer’s remorse in the hair trade. One client, after investing thousands on an extremely customized piece for his ailing wife, lost her shortly afterward. “He tried to return the wig,” Marsha says. “I had to explain we don’t do returns.” 

Some are squeamish about the source of the hair. Someone else stole thousands of dollars of product. Then there are those who simply dump bags of used wigs on Marsha’s doorstep, as though doing her a favor. 

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Grass never grows long beneath Marsha’s feet, and though Charles’ Wigs will endure, its longtime location in Laguna Beach will close on April 1. Marsha and hubby John moved to Ventura, and she’ll take a little slice of Laguna with her to her new home. “The name will remain,” she says. “It will always be Charles’ Wigs.” She’ll also open a private salon in Laguna Hills and see her existing clientele there by appointment. Regardless of her location, Marsha will remain the artisan of luxury hair wear. 

To find Marsha and her business, follow her on Facebook (“Charles of Laguna, Charles Wigs”) or www.charleswigs.com.

City and Police Employees’ Association come to an understanding

By BARBARA DIAMOND

The City Council tonight is expected to ratify an agreement with the Laguna Beach Police Employees’ Association that includes raises and educational incentives.

Major changes from the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are salary increases for sworn officers of 2.25 percent, as of February 10 this year, and in January of each of the two subsequent years. Non-sworn officers will receive an increase of 1.67 percent for the same three years.

Sworn officers carry a firearm in the performance of their duties, have a badge, and the power to a arrest. Non-sworn officers perform such jobs as dispatching and contact with the public, such as Jim Beres, Civilian Services Administrator for Laguna Beach, or employees at the counter in the police department. 

Jailers and Beach Patrol Officers will receive a 6 percent increase, effective February 10, with no subsequent annual increases proposed in the MOU.

Educational incentives will be offered to dispatchers. Incumbents are eligible to receive an increase of 5 percent of their base salary if certified as an advanced dispatcher.

Under the terms of the agreement, detectives and school resource officers will receive a 2 percent increase. Field training officers will receive 10 percent assignment pay when training in the field. 

The MOU caps 120 hours for paid time off in each calendar year for jury duty. Removal of unnecessary or outdated language was included in the recommendation. 

If approved, the agreement will cost about $50,000 in fiscal year 2019-2020 and an additional $315,000 during the remainder of the agreement 

Staff recommends that City Manager John Pietig be authorized to modify the budget for the current fiscal year and fiscal year 2020-2021 to fund the MOU. The increases will be accounted for in the Mid-Year Budget Update, to be heard later in the meeting, 

The MOU is one of the 16 items on the meeting’s Consent Calendar, which are approved without discussion unless “pulled” by a member of the council or the public.

Brilliant eventide

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Photo by Scott Brashier

The sun sets behind Catalina in layers of yellow and orange

Levi, the pot-bellied pig, living high on the hog, says local business owner Andrew Glinski

By DIANNE RUSSELL

Readers may remember Levi, the wayward pot-bellied pig, whose claim to fame is that he got loose in South Laguna in September of 2016 and was recovered by Police Officer Mike Jeffries, but not without a struggle. Levi was hightailing it down Pedro Street after he disappeared from a local park. Andrew Glinski, his owner, had been desperately searching for him.

Elusive Levi wriggled out of a dog rope twice before Officer Jeffries finally corralled him.

As quoted in a news article, Officer Jeffries said, “Once I got him, I tried to set him on the floor in the prisoner’s seat, but the minute he felt himself going into the patrol car, the pig braced his legs to stay out. He was pretty smart.”

It’s not a surprise that Levi used clever methods to elude capture – pigs are the fourth smartest animal group on the planet, following only humans, apes and chimps, whales, and dolphins.

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Photo by Andrew Glinski

Levi during his piglet days

According to the OC Register, when Glinski picked Levi up at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, he said, “Words can’t describe how happy I am. I don’t think he [Officer Jeffries] really knows how much it meant to me. For me, it’s like he saved my kid.”

That was back in the days when Glinski brought his then eight-month-old, 80-pound pig to work with him (along with his Collie Winter). Levi is registered as an exotic pet per the City of Laguna Beach. Glinski says, “Everyone in town knew him.”

However, Levi currently tips the scales at 400 lbs, and Glinski admits, “He’s just too big to fit in my truck now.”

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Photo by Andrew Glinski

Levi now weighs in at 400 lbs

Granted, Glinski loves animals, but how did he end up with a pig? “I had a Slingshot three-wheel car that I rented out, and this one guy kept renting it. He had turtles. One day he just put a baby pig in my hands, and Levi never left my side for three years.”

Lest you think Levi now has a “boaring” life, don’t feel sorry for him.

Although he can’t come into work with his owner every day like he used to when he was a mere piglet, Levi lives with Glinski on a 10-acre ranch on the border of Ortega Hwy and Lake Elsinore. Levi has lots of company – horses, alpacas, donkeys, ponies, birds, and two turtles named Robin and Howard. In addition to Winter, Glinski now has Coco, a rescue dog from Bali.

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Photo by Andrew Glinski

Levi and Winter in Andrew’s truck

Glinski says, “I don’t have a wife or kids, and I love animals, so I have a lot of them.”

Although you could call what he has a mini-sanctuary, Glinski spent a year at a real animal sanctuary in Colorado. In 2018, he packed up, and with Winter in his truck, hit the road, ending up at the sanctuary. “They said I could live there if I worked three hours a day, but I became the main guy. In the year I was there, we rescued about 250 animals, going from 182 to nearly 500.” 

After that year, he decided to come back. “It was really hard work.”

Before opening up Relic Tint in February of 2019, Glinski ran a mobile detailing business. The shop housing Relic Tint had been vacant for a few years and needed some fixing up. “I taught myself to drywall,” he says.

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Photo by Mary Hurlbut

Andrew Glinski (on left) and Lucas Harral, co-owners of Relic Tint

Glinski says he doesn’t mind the 31-mile trip into work – and back. “It’s my quiet time. I work a lot, and what could be better? I live in a 100-year-old cabin in the country, and right now I’m looking at the ocean.”

When Glinski does go home, he has a menagerie of animals to greet him, including one well-known pig who made headlines in 2016 hoofing it up Pedro Street toward Brooks Street until, disgruntled, he was taken into custody. 

Although Levi no longer visits Relic Tint, drop in anyway. It is located at 1009 S Coast Hwy.

Locals Only Sunday Music Showcase brings magic to Marine Room

Photos by Scott Brashier

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Charles Sepulveda, Marine Room bar manager, explains the concept behind the Locals Only Sunday Music Showcase: “When I came into the Marine Room when I was in my 20s and 30s, they’d have music every Sunday. Then when I started working here, I missed the feeling of the locals being in one spot, enjoying music, and talking about the old times.”

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Some of Laguna’s greatest musicians came together to form the fabulously popular 133 band. Now the keepers of an EP, and stars of a soon-to-be-released documentary film, these musicians perform on rare occasions when their full-time bands don’t require their presence. Always a great, fun time for locals and visitors alike, the 133 band performance is a memorable one.

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Clay Berryhill, 133 band manager and member, says the band loved playing “just inside the window on Ocean Ave old-school style like the Missiles of October used to do. They [Marine Room] kicked off the series with the Missiles, and it was absolutely jam-packed with local music lovers, you couldn’t even move inside. This [was] their third in the series, which is ongoing.”

For more photos by Scott Brashier, see the slideshow below

Beach Club at Main Beach has reopened behind Hotel Laguna

By Diane Armitage

Hotel Laguna operators, Laguna Creative Ventures, have launched what it calls a “first stage” Beach Club, open Wednesday through Sunday and holidays (weather permitting) with limited beach service.

Anytime between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., you can walk down or park in the Hotel 

Laguna’s lot for $20 all-day parking. Amble down to the Hotel’s beachfront and you’ll find a beach attendant there who will rent you two chairs for $30 and/or a beach umbrella for $15. 

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Courtesy of Laguna Creative Ventures

Hotel Laguna’s former Beach Club is back in business – partially

At this time, there is no restroom facility or access inside the hotel itself, but pre-packaged foods and sodas from Kitchen in the Canyon are available for purchase at the Beach Club. There’s no specific menu, so offerings currently range from a couple options in salads and sandwiches. 

An “in-between solution”

“We’re clearly at an in-between stage with the Hotel Laguna,” said Laguna Creative Ventures Community Development Liaison Karyn Philippsen. “We want to be respectful of the traditions of this grand lady, though, one of which was the long-running Beach Club right on the sand. As the weather is changing, we thought it was a nice opportunity to invite the public to experience the summery sand from our unique Beach Club vantage point,” Philippsen noted.    

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Photo by Mike Altishin

When in operation, the popular Hotel Laguna Beach Club (pictured here in August 2016) offered a primarily members-only access to umbrellas, beach chairs, and designated waitstaff delivering food and beverage right to your chair

“The beach in front of Hotel Laguna is always available to the public, but our longtime goal is to be able to again offer Beach Club membership services, too, in the future,” she said. 

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).

Dennis’ Tidbits

By DENNIS McTIGHE 

February 25, 2020

Time marches on   

March is knocking at the door as time races on. It’s our last wet month with an average of about 2.52 inches. Average hi-lo temps for March in Laguna are 68-46. The hottest March day was March 28, 1988 with a Santana fueled high of 94. The coldest March reading was 33 in 1976. Historically, there have been two rainless March months and that would be 1972 and 1997. Warm Santana winds occasionally visit us in March. One such event occurred in late March of 1988, boosting the mercury up to a record-setting 94. The best part of March is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time on Sunday the 8th. Some of our chilliest water temps have occurred in March thanks to gusty WNW winds that really get the upwelling thing going. So goes – March winds, April showers bring forth May flowers.

March isn’t so kind to a lot of folks here in the U.S. like in the Northeast where it’s a ripe month for nor’easters. Tornado formation begins to ramp up a bit, mostly in the South and lower Great Plains. That trend really gets going in April as Tornado Alley comes to life. 

On this date in 1998, we got a real drenching here in town with exactly three inches of rain in just twelve hours, all part of the wettest February of all time. For the month, we ended up with 15.02 inches, on the way to the wettest season of all time with 37.27 inches. Out of the 28 days that month, there were 20 days with measurable precipitation.

On this date in 1980 and 1995, high temp records for Laguna were set with 86 degrees.

More terminology:

Katabatic Wind: Any wind blowing downslope.

Landspout: An informal but very common term among Great Plains storm observers and meteorologists for a non-super cell tornado over land.

Layer: In reference to sky cover, clouds, or other obscuring phenomena whose bases are approximately at the same level. The layer may be continuous or composed of detached elements. The term “layer” does not imply that a clear space exists between the layers or that the clouds or obscuring phenomena composing them are of the same type.

Lithometeor: The general term for dry particles suspended in the atmosphere such as dust, haze, smoke, or sand. 

Mare’s Tail: Also known as a cirriform cloud in the form of thin white featherlike clouds in patches or narrow bands that can trail downward and resemble mare’s tails or wisps.

Millibar: You often see me use this term as it’s an internationally used unit of pressure equal to 1,000 dynes per square centimeter. It is used for measuring atmospheric pressure. The normal atmospheric pressure at sea level worldwide is 1,014 millibars which translates to 29.92 inches of mercury on the aneroid barometer. The lower the millibar reading, the more likelihood that the weather will be inclement and the higher (usually 1,020 millibars or higher), the better the weather will be. The lowest millibar reading was 872 millibars from Category 5 Hurricane Patty in October of 2015 in Mainland Mexico, and the highest millibar count was recorded in Siberia at 1,052 millibars.

See y’all on Friday, ALOHA!

Slate clouds

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Photo by Mary Hurlbut

“The sky looked very low today/the slate clouds hardly parted…” –a.g.

Just a few tickets remain available for Black Market Reverie concert on Wednesday

Lyman Medeiros and Renee Myara will bring Speakeasy Jazz to Laguna Beach Live!’s Jazz Wednesdays this week, on February 26, with their group Black Market Reverie. 

Lyman Medeiros has toured the world playing bass with legendary artists including Michael Buble, Dianne Schuur, and Steve Tyrell. A musical chameleon, Renee Myara plays multiple instruments, and writes and sings in multiple languages.

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Black Market Reverie brings Speakeasy Jazz to Laguna on Wednesday 

Jazz Wednesdays Winter presents some of the hottest straight-ahead jazz musicians in the region at the distinctive [seven-degrees] event facility. Concerts are from 6 - 8 p.m.; doors open at 5 with a full bar and dinner, offered on a pre-sale basis.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door, and can be purchased at www.lagunabeachlive.org. 

For more information, call (949) 715-9713.

[seven-degrees] is located at 891 Laguna Canyon Rd.

Where’s Maggi – the answers!

Maggi made a wish at this well. She wished she’d win this week’s photo challenge…but no such luck! Several of our readers have noticed the well/fountain – at Selanne Steak Tavern.

Nancy Wade knew, as did Mark Porterfield, Bernadette Murphy, Chad Cooper, Robyn Sherain, Janis Smith, and Barbara Stirrat.

Thanks for sending in your answers and keeping Maggi on her toes.

Look for the next photo challenge coming up on Friday.    

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Wishing well fountain at Selanne Steak Tavern

Laguna Bluebelt 2020 Photo Contest opens on March 3

The Laguna Bluebelt Coalition will launch its 9th Annual Photo Contest event next week, accepting online entries from March 3 through March 31.

The popular Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest reveals the hidden majesty above and below the sea. You don’t have to be a professional to enter the contest. Judges will select winners from Professional and Amateur Categories followed by a fun online Public Vote of the “Best of the Rest.” Entries can feature beach scenes, wave action, water sports, and underwater mysteries.

Photo by Alex Cowdell 

2018 Photo Contest Winner, “Henry the Harbor Seal” by Alex Cowdell

This year’s celebrated photographers who will judge the contest include Tom Lamb, Patsee Ober, Mitch Ridder, and Cliff Wasserman.

“Over the years, Photo Contest Winners have shown us the many ways we enjoy and celebrate Laguna’s incredible marine life as it recovers from decades of over-fishing. The Contest captures the health of the ocean which is instrumental to a healthy eco-comy,” notes Jinger Wallace, a contest organizer.

Bluebelt Photo Entrants have successfully launched new careers after winning the popular contest publishing pictorial books and exhibiting at exciting major venues such as the Visitors’ Terminal at the Santa Ana Airport.

To submit and learn more, visit www.contest.lagunabluebelt.org.

Community Development Department announces customer service enhancements

In an effort to streamline and enhance customer service for the public at the Community Development counter at City Hall, the City of Laguna Beach has hired a Permit Services Supervisor to oversee counter customer service operations. This new service will be available to the public starting Monday, Feb 24.

“Our new Permit Services Supervisor will oversee the front counter in an effort to enhance customer service and help people navigate the development process from the moment they come into City Hall,” said Marc Wiener, Laguna Beach Director of Community Development. 

“We are continually looking for ways to make the development process less time consuming, easier to understand, and less tedious for property owners as they embark on development projects in the City.”

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Permit Services Supervisor Geri Ford 

Geri Ford has been hired as Permit Services Supervisor and began working in the position yesterday, February 20. Ford has over 12 years of experience working as a Permit Technician for the cities of Anaheim, Orange, and Mission Viejo. For the last two months, Ford has been working for the City as a contract Senior Permit Technician. 

Over the last year, numerous customer service enhancements have been made as part of the Community Development Department’s Action Plan. For example, the City has streamlined the plan review process by requiring that plan submittals be reviewed concurrently by all departments. 

Additionally, a newly formed Development Management Team meets every Thursday to review new commercial, residential, and other complicated projects at the very beginning of the process. 

By meeting with the property owner’s design team early, the Team provides direction up front, helping property owners steer clear of potential future delays that could happen later in the process. Over the next year, the City will be updating its department procedures, information handouts, website, and permitting software.

“With even more improvements on the way, this is just the beginning of how we aim to improve customer service and become a City that is as innovative as our residents,” Wiener said. “It’s the City’s goal to make it easier to understand the permitting process and to issue permits in a timely manner.”

For more information on the new customer service improvements, contact Marc Wiener, Director, City of Laguna Beach Community Development Department, at (949) 497-0361 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Laguna Ocean Foundation seeking Tidepool Docents, training session to be held on March 4

The Laguna Ocean Foundation is currently looking for volunteer Tidepool Docents to educate the public about the unique ecology in Laguna’s protected tidepools. 

The next class training will be held on Wednesday, March 4 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. Docents are required to be at least 18 years of age and volunteer at the tidepools at least one monthly three-hour shift at Crescent Bay, Shaws Cove, Woods Cove, or Goff Cove, all within the Laguna Beach Marine Protected Areas. 

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Explore Laguna’s breathtaking sea life while learning about our protected tidepools

Students will explore the opportunity to become a Tidepool Docent and experience the excitement of sharing the marine life in the tidepools with local residents and visitors. 

To sign up for the program or for further information, contact Claire Arre, Education and Outreach Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (424) 261-8282. 

Laguna Ocean Foundation is dedicated to sustainable ocean ecosystems protecting and preserving the intertidal zone, watersheds, and ocean waters of Laguna Beach. 

For more information regarding the Foundation, visit www.lagunaoceanfoundation.org. 

The Ocean Institute is located at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point.

Tickets on sale for Ocean Institute Fest Culinary-Music Festival

Tickets are on sale for the Ocean Institute Fest 2020 Culinary-Music Festival, previously known as the Jazz Festival. The two-day festival will take place on March 27 and 28 at Ocean Institute with Monarch Beach Resort as the title sponsor.

On Friday, March 27, guests will experience an all-inclusive Waterfront Food Festival featuring the best restaurants of Orange County. Executive chefs will present the crown jewels from their menus accompanied by a variety of unique craft cocktails, presented by Nolet’s/Kettle One and The Blind Rabbit. 

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On March 27, guests will enjoy an all-inclusive Waterfront Food Festival

Saturday’s festivities include a performance by Voices of Hope as seen on America’s Got Talent and food from the best coastal culinary talent. Each ticket includes a six-course dinner curated by Monarch Beach Resort’s Executive Chef Jason Adams, along with executive chefs Kyle St. John from The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Ron Fougeray from Surf and Sand resort, celebrity chef John Tesar from Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa, and Chef Rob Wilson formerly of the Montage and now Glasspar.

Both nights will feature live and silent auctions that will directly support the Ocean Institute’s Adopt-A-Class program that provides underserved students with hands-on STEM education. 

Dr. Wendy Marshall, President of Education and Operations, said, “Ocean Institute Fest is an exciting new twist to our long-standing annual celebration when the Ocean Institute’s community of friends comes together for a weekend of food, music, and fun all in support of our mission. The music and entertainment are sure to bring the audiences to their feet.

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Guests enjoy a fantastic night at last year’s event 

“Again, this year, proceeds benefit Adopt-A-Class, which provides real-world learning experiences for thousands of students, most of whom have never seen the ocean. These experiences do not simply change a day in a child’s life, but rather change their perceptions of what life has to offer and the many possibilities that are open to them.” 

LA-based LIVE 61 will be performing on Friday and Saturday. The auctioneer for each evening will be celebrity host Matt Rogers. Rogers has hosted many television shows, including Discovery Channel’s Gold Rush: The Dirt, Deadliest Catch: The Bait, and more. 

Tickets for Friday start at $175 per admission with couples’ tickets at $300 per couple. Saturday night tickets start at $325 per individual seat and a limited number of Sponsorship tables remain. 

For more event details and tickets, visit www.oifest.org or call (949) 496-2274.

February fog

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Photo by Scott Brashier

A little fog can’t ruin a day at the beach

Annual South Laguna Community Garage Sale will take place on Saturday

Local real estate agent Chris Tebbutt of Compass is proud to announce the annual South Laguna Community Garage Sale will take place this weekend, Saturday Feb 29, from 7 to 11 a.m.

“This annual event is always so fun and a natural extension of the community vibe in South Laguna. Shoppers love to browse the community garden and chat with others. South Laguna neighbors also love to come out and find treasures,” states Tebbutt.

“Signs will be posted along South Coast Highway between West Street and 10th Avenue. Each house will have maps of all participating homes.”

According to Tebbutt, least 15 homes will be participating: 32006 Coast Hwy, 31907 9th Ave, 31516 Monterey St, 31576 Scenic Dr, 31553 West Street, 31562 Santa Rosa Dr, 31602 Fairview, 31441 Holly Dr, 31632 Wildwood Road, 31365 Monterey St, 31544 Eagle Rock, 31706 Scenic Dr, 31261 Monterey st, 31684 Wildwood Rd, and 31352 Monterey Street.

Jill G. Hall will speak at AAUW Literary Luncheon at the Surf and Sand on March 28

Three women authors will share their thoughts and writing experiences at the AAUW Laguna Beach’s 33rd Annual Literary Luncheon to be held at the Surf and Sand resort on Saturday, March 28, from noon until 2:30 p.m. This year the speakers will be Jill G. Hall, Maggie Shipstead, and Rufi Thorpe.

San Diego author, educator, and artist Jill G. Hall has written two dual-timeline historical novels and a third will be released in October. All three books share the same contemporary character, Anne, a young San Francisco-based artist who loves vintage fashion. The historical stories revolve around the first owner of the clothing Anne treasures. The Black Velvet Coat, Hall’s first book, reveals a 1960s story, while The Silver Shoes takes the reader to the late 1920s and the beginning of the Great Depression. 

Hall’s upcoming book, The Green Lace Corset, will link Anne to a woman in 1885. Kidnapped by a bank robber, the heroine ends up in the Wild West of Arizona’s northern territory. To really get into the spirit, Jill, who loves shopping for vintage clothing, now owns a custom-made, 19th-century-style green satin corset trimmed with black lace.

Like many authors, Jill takes aspects of her own life and repurposes them into her fiction. For Hall this is especially true of the mosaic art she creates from found objects, a style and medium also used by Anne, the contemporary female protagonist of her novels. The juxtaposition of a contemporary story and a historical one allows Jill Hall to highlight the differences between women’s lives today and the experiences of women in the past.

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Jill G. Hall, a San Diego author of dual-timeline historical fiction, will speak at AAUW Literary Luncheon on March 28

Jill G. Hall, Maggie Shipstead, and Rufi Thorpe will make the AAUW Literary Luncheon on Saturday, March 28 well worth attending. Doors open at 11 a.m. for a no-host bar, a silent auction, opportunity drawings, book sales, and to meet the authors. The luncheon and program run from noon to 2:30. 

AAUW’s mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. Money raised at the luncheon supports scholarships to middle school girls attending summer science camp, Laguna Beach High School graduating seniors, and returning women students attending Saddleback College, Orange Coast College, Laguna College of Art + Design, or UCI. 

Paid reservations postmarked by March 20 are $95 ($110 afterwards if space is available). Checks should be made out to AAUW Laguna Beach Foundation (AAUWLBF) and mailed to: AAUWLBF, P.O. Box 189, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. $59 is tax deductible. 

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., go to www.lagunabeach-ca.aauw.net, or contact Audrey Locke at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (949) 291-4987.

The Surf and Sand is located at 1555 S Coast Hwy.

Bird stage

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Photo by Scott Brashier

Pigeons strut their stuff on a beach berm

Attorney Julie M. Hamilton to speak at LCC dinner event on March 2

The next Laguna Canyon Conservancy (LCC) dinner meeting will be held on Monday, March 2, and will feature Julie M. Hamilton, attorney for Friends of the Canyon. Recently, Friends of the Canyon filed an appeal of the California Coastal Commission’s approval of an artist live-work project in the canyon.

Hamilton will provide an update on the legal process as it relates to the proposed development project. She states, “We were concerned about the Laguna Creek and that it would set precedence for future development in the canyon.”

Hamilton will also delve into the cumulative effects of greenhouse emission caused by high-density housing.

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Attorney Julie Hamilton will speak at LCC’s monthly meeting on March 2

Hamilton grew up in Laguna Beach and still has family living in Laguna Canyon.

The LCC dinner meetings are held at Seven7Seven (formerly Tivoli Too!) at the Art-A-Fair at 777 Laguna Canyon Rd. A no-host bar starts at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30, and the program at 7:15.

The event is open to the public, and parking is available after 5:30 p.m. next to Seven7Seven at Laguna Beach City Lot 10.

To purchase tickets, visit www.lagunacanyonconservancy.org and click “Upcoming Events” and “Pay and Reserve”. A prepaid reservation allows you quick and easy admittance to the event via the express check-in and the best price for your dinner meal, $25 for members and $35 non-members. 

Pricing for payment at the event is $30 for members and $40 for non-members. If buying tickets online is not possible, email or phone Linda Mayer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (714) 812-6813. You can then make your payment upon arrival at the registration desk just prior to the start of the event. Please make checks out to Laguna Canyon Conservancy, not LCC. Membership dues are $20 per person per year and can also be paid online at www.LagunaCanyonConservancy.org.

Rev. Debbie Gara and Brooke Briggs join staff at LBUMC

Rev. Debbie Gara and Brooke Briggs have joined the staff at Laguna Beach United Methodist Church, Rev. Gara as Minister of Pastoral Care and Briggs as Family Ministries Director. 

Rev. Lynn Francis, senior minister at LBUMC, welcomes the new additions. “We are grateful for Debbie Gara, who brings to our congregation a great sensitivity for pastoral care needs, and what a blessing Brooke Briggs is – a bright light with a joyous and inspiring faith.” 

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Rev. Brooke Briggs joins staff at LBUMC 

Rev. Gara, a lifelong Methodist, is an ordained permanent Deacon, and served as associate minister of education and evangelism at Aldersgate UMC in Tustin between 1995 and 2003, and associate minister at First UMC of Pasadena between 2004 and 2012. She was minister of children and families at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church between 2014 and 2018.

She has a BA in sociology from Cal State Fullerton and a master’s degree in religious education from Claremont School of Theology. She has been active in leadership in the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church, as has her husband Dan. Both of them were involved in a project in Zimbabwe, Africa, that worked with HIV persons.

“I consider it an honor to join the staff of a church that focuses on ‘bringing love to life’ in very intentional ways and is fully inclusive and progressive in theology and practice,” she says. “I’m looking forward to connecting with the Laguna Beach community and its resources.” Regarding her position in pastoral care, she adds, “My personal experience with death and grief invites a deep engagement with those in the midst of painful loss.” Adds Pastor Francis, “Debbie knows what it is to feel a longing for God’s comfort and care.” 

Briggs, a graduate of Laguna Hills High School, has taught music throughout the Laguna Beach community for the past 10 years. She is the director of Magic Steps Music and leads weekly classes in Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel. She also is a children’s entertainer at The Ranch at Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Library. Her plan for LBUMC is “to provide a platform where children get to know Jesus better and how they can make a difference in our world and the lives of others.”

She has two children, Shay, 7, and Sydney, 13, and as a family they enjoy adventures in the outdoors with their two Labradors. In describing her position working with families at LBUMC, she says, “I’m so excited to be part of the church in this capacity.” Pastor Francis adds, “You can’t be around Brooke without feeling the love, welcome, and enthusiasm that naturally flows from her generous spirit. She also has a talent for perceiving what activities and events will meet the needs of children, youth, and families so that everyone can connect in fun and friendship.”

For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

LBUMC is located at 21632 Wesley Dr.

Laguna Art Museum presents Life Drawing studio sessions starting on March 4 

On Wednesday, March 4 at 2 p.m., Laguna Art Museum will host the first of six in a series of Life Drawing studio sessions, with individual guidance and a live model. The sessions are suitable for all skill levels. 

The drawing sessions will be facilitated by Bryce Darrow. Advance tickets are recommended.

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Life Drawing studio sessions start on March 4 at LAM 

Participants must bring their own supplies, which may include but are not limited to: graphite, charcoal, pastels (oil or chalk), pen, marker, ink, and paper. Please note that paint is not allowed.

Sessions will take place on the following Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m.:

--March 4

--March 18

--April 1 

--April 15 

--April 29 

--May 13

Individual sessions are $20, or $15 for museum members. Series tickets for all six sessions are $75. 

Advance tickets are recommended. 

To register, visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org or call (949) 494-8971 x203.

Assistance League invites volunteers to Prospective Member Coffee on March 16

The Assistance League of Laguna Beach is looking for individuals who care about the community and want to make a difference by volunteering in the Thrift Shop and serving on one of the Assistance League’s many Philanthropic Committees.

Those who are interested are invited to attend the nonprofit’s Prospective Member Coffee on Monday, March 16 at 10 a.m. at the ALLB Chapter House.

Assistance League of Laguna Beach is a volunteer organization whose members put caring and commitment into action through community-based philanthropic programs. They aspire to meet the needs of challenged individuals in Laguna Beach and underserved populations in surrounding communities with particular attention focused on schoolchildren and those who are developmentally delayed.

They do this in a variety of ways:

--Assistance League listens to the needs of the community and provides support, including the Early Intervention Programs, for special needs and developmentally delayed babies to children’s clothing, helping military families, and much more.

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Assistance League volunteers

--The Assisteens® is an auxiliary of Assistance League, a program for boys and girls in 7th grade through high school.

--Assistance League participates in the annual Action Week® to promote the Legacy of Literacy. Every year, ALLB participates in Chapters for Children event to help outfit school-age children for school.

To help fund their philanthropic projects, Assistance League, which is a 501(c)(3), operates a thrift shop with a wide selection of items.

 Assistance League of Laguna Beach volunteer members believe that their work in local philanthropic programs can help make the world a better place. They are a Gold Participant recognized by GuideStar.

For more information, contact Reann at (949) 494-6097.

The AALB Chapter House is located at 547 Catalina St.

Sunrays

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Photo by Mary Hurlbut

“Gray skies/Clouds billowing, pillowing/Bright rays break through/Slicing darkness/Enticing hope/To bloom” –D.H. Stewart

Hortense Miller Gardens hosts free Mindful Meditation retreat on Feb 29

On Saturday, Feb 29 from 9:45 a.m. - 1 p.m., Hortense Miller Gardens will host a free three-hour Mindfulness Meditation retreat.

The Hortense Miller Gardens are the perfect environment to practice Mindfulness Meditation, as the quiet beauty lends itself naturally to feeling calm and peaceful. There are over a dozen hillside trails and 2.5 acres of hundreds of varieties of plants and trees in the gardens.

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Hortense Miller Gardens presents free Mindfulness Meditation retreat on Feb 29

Mindfulness Meditation can deepen our experience and appreciation of the environment, manage the chatter of inner dialogue that can cause distractions and stress, and help us to develop a deeper connection with the natural sense of peace that exists both outside of our surroundings and within ourselves.

Mindfulness Meditation is developing awareness of breath and senses. Meditating with the senses includes, smell, taste, sight, sound, and body sensations. 

Participants must register in advance to participate; for more information or to RSVP, contact Diane Lennon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

No Square opens auditions for Matilda

No Square Theatre is now scheduling auditions for Roald Dahl’s Matilda, a delightful show to be presented May 29 - June 7. Matilda is an award-winning family musical that will bring out the child in everyone. 

The production will be directed by Ella Wyatt, with music to be directed by Roxanna Ward, and choreography by Sabrina Harper. Roles will be cast for both children and adults.

Roles to be cast include:

--Children: Matilda Wormwood, Bruce (Matilda’s classmate), Lavender (Matilda’s classmate and friend), Michael Wormwood, and the children’s ensemble (three girls and three boys)

--Adults: Miss Agatha Trunchbull (a male role), Miss Honey, Mr. Wormwood (Matilda’s father), Mrs. Wormwood (Matilda’s mother), Doctor, Mrs. Phelps, The Escapologist, The Acrobat, Rudolpho, Sergei, Entertainer, and an adult ensemble

If interested in auditioning, please prepare approximately 32 bars of an up-tempo musical theatre song that will show off your voice and be prepared for a ballad as well. Sheet music must be in the correct key, requiring no transposing. Sheet music must be two-sided (taped together is OK) and put in a three-ring binder.

Bring a photo and a resume. Prepare to list conflicts occurring during the rehearsal and performance period on a calendar.

Auditions are by appointment. For full information on how to prepare for an audition, check out the website at www.nosquare.org/casting where there is detailed information about auditions, required forms, and how to reserve an audition time. For the best  audition, make an appointment and arrive prepared.

Rehearsals begin on April 20 at No Square Theatre. General rehearsal schedule will be Monday - Friday from 4 - 10 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sundays from 12 - 8 p.m.

This schedule is an approximate framework only, and subject to change. Not everyone will be needed at every rehearsal. No Square does its best to be considerate of your time.

May performances will be on Friday, May 29 at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 30 at 2 p.m., and Sunday, May 31 at 6 p.m.

June performances will be on Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 6 at 2 p.m., and Sunday, June 7 at 6 p.m. 

Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please indicate a preferred time, although No Square cannot always accommodate requests.

Detailed information about each individual role is available on the No Square website at www.nosquare.org in a PDF document entitled “Audition Info.”

No Square Theatre is located in Historic Legion Hall, 384 Legion St, two blocks south of the high school.

Meet Pet of the Week Max

Max is currently taking over Pet of the Week. He is a 7-year-old neutered cat who is looking for a new home. Max is the friendliest and most affectionate cat out there. He is always up for an adventure and loves to explore. There is no doubt that when you are around Max, he will keep you entertained. He would do best in a home that has older children to look after him. Nancy Goodwin, shelter director, is hoping to have Max adopted as soon as possible. 

Max wants to join you on your next adventure

The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter adoption procedures are designed to make sure that both the potential family and the animal adopted are in the very best situation possible. Due to their approach to adoption, the shelter’s return rate is five percent as compared to the national return rate of 50 percent.

The LB Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd. For information on adoption procedures, call (949) 497-3552 or go to www.puplagunabeach.org/our-pets.php.

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.