9/11, 25 years later: We remember the devastation, honor those lost and promise never to forget
It’s hard to imagine that as we remember 9/11 this week, it’s now been 25 years. Gosh, time goes by so quickly. That day was one of only a handful of times when I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the news broke. It joins an unfortunate category that, for me, includes the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the verdict in the O.J. Simpson murder trial.
We don’t need to be reminded, but we do need to remember that 19 terrorists associated with al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners that morning, flying two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon. On the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, passengers and crew fought back before the hijacker pilot crashed the aircraft in a field near Shanksville, Penn.
The attacks killed 2,977 victims, injured thousands more and altered the lives of countless others forever. Among those killed were 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and 72 law enforcement officers who reminded us all that first responders run toward disasters, rather than away from them, as part of their service and heroism.
The attacks led to the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and reshaped American foreign and security policy for decades.
President George W. Bush said in an address to Americans that evening, “A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
“America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.”
He added, “This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.”
I understand the president’s message and its meaning, but I would also argue that our country since then seems to have taken its eye off that ball far too many times.
Today should be a day when everyone finds a moment to reflect on what’s important to each of us, from our country as a whole to this little town that we love.
Twenty-five years later, the importance of unity seems no less meaningful.
We need to do better!
There will be a ceremony from the Laguna Beach Fire Department and the community. More info to come.
• • •
You remember that wonderful Taste of Laguna you looked forward to each year from the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce at the Festival of Arts? This year it was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, with “was” being the applicable word here.
The Taste has been canceled following a statement from the Chamber last week: “It is with sincere regret that we must announce the cancellation of the 2026 Taste of Laguna Food & Music Festival, originally scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to move forward with this year’s event. We understand that many of you were looking forward to an evening of great food, music, and community, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment this cancellation may cause.”
The Taste in the past served as one of the Chamber’s signature events, with local restaurants, accompanying entertainment and a silent auction making for a wonderful networking opportunity for the community with old friends.
The Chamber has not publicly detailed the specific “unforeseen circumstances” that led to the cancellation.
The Chamber said the event is planned to return in 2027.
• • •
Woods Cove Inn invites locals and visitors alike to celebrate Laguna Beach’s vibrant creative community during a special Artist Meet & Greet featuring High Desert Studio and Lorraine Pennington on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 4-6 p.m.
Art is woven throughout the guest experience at Woods Cove Inn, which partnered with local artists High Desert Studio and Lorraine Pennington to capture the rugged shorelines, golden sunsets and laid-back coastal spirit that have long inspired Laguna Beach’s art scene.
Pennington’s works welcome guests in the hotel lobby, while the coastal-inspired pieces of High Desert Studio are featured in guestrooms throughout the property.
During the complimentary gathering, guests will have the opportunity to meet the artists, learn more about the inspiration behind their work and browse additional pieces available for purchase while enjoying a welcome beverage on the hotel’s terrace.
The event is free and open to all ages. On-site parking is reserved for overnight hotel guests, with limited paid street parking available in the surrounding area.
To learn more and to reserve a spot, go here.
Woods Cove Inn is located at 2020 S. Coast Highway.
• • •
The 27th Annual California Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest is underway, closing for submissions on September 30 at 5 p.m.
The contest is free and open to all amateur photographers. An amateur photographer is defined as someone who earns less than 50 percent of their income from photography.
Photographs in this contest feature the following subject arears:
–The scenic coast and the Pacific Ocean off California
–People and the California coast
–California ocean and coastal wildlife
Go to www.coastal.ca.gov/photo for entries, rules, categories and prizes. The contest is presented by the California Coastal Commission.
• • •
KXFM & the Neighborhood Congregational Church present a combined City Council and school board candidates forum tonight (Sept. 8) at the church. Join in for a 5:30 p.m. potluck, followed by the 6:30 p.m. forum.
Your cheat sheet should tell you the candidates are vying for three council seats and three school board seats.
On the council side – nine candidates, including three incumbents.
The school board – five candidates, one of which is an incumbent.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share; otherwise the event is free and open to the public. NCC is located at 340 St. Ann’s Drive.
A pretty solid rumor is that Stu News’ own Shaena Stabler will be not only in attendance, but on the dais asking the hard questions.
SCE officials detail Laguna Beach undergrounding projects, wildfire mitigation
By SARA HALL
The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee held their monthly meeting via Zoom last Thursday (Sept. 3) with Southern California Edison’s Senior Advisor in Local Public Affairs Ray Pok and Targeted Underground Project Manager Jeana Hurst as the featured speakers. More than 20 people attended online.
SCE is working to reduce wildfire risk by burying power lines in high-fire-risk areas. The targeted undergrounding (TUG) effort aims to make the electrical system more reliable during extreme weather conditions.
“We know wildfire mitigation is top of mind for a lot of our customers,” Pok said.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Southern California Edison is working on several targeted undergrounding projects
Hurst explained that SCE has five circuits in Laguna Beach targeted for undergrounding. Each project is either in the design or permitting phase, with construction anticipated to be completed in 2027 or 2028.
The Kewamee circuit extends 1.64 miles along North Coast Highway, from Emerald Bay to El Morro Elementary School and then follows the road up to a water district facility.
“This could get pushed out because the Kewamee and the Artist circuits are most constrained,” Hurst explained. “It has the most things we have to clear before we execute the project.”
Caltrans and coastal permits, for example, can be challenging to navigate, she commented.
The Acres circuit project covers 2.85 miles at Top of the World, Bluebird Canyon Drive, Alta Laguna Boulevard, Sommet De Monde and Canyon Acres Drive. Some rights of entry or easements in the customer area are still pending, Hurst noted.
The larger Rubin circuit project area includes 4.03 miles along El Toro Road and extends into Aliso Viejo.
The Artist circuit covers 1.27 miles total, including portions of North Coast Highway, from Emerald Bay to approximately Smithcliffs Road, as well as other segments near Emerald Bay Canyon Road and between the wilderness park and the communities at Emerald Terrace and Windsor Place.
The Agate circuit project is 1.44 miles mostly on The Ranch property along Country Club Drive and a portion of Coast Highway, with another smaller segment along Wesley Drive.
Communication and outreach for TUG projects include a “dear neighbor” letter mailed to customers and an SCE undergrounding website with fact sheets and a map.
Pok noted that in 2018, Senate Bill 901 required California’s investor-owned utilities to develop and submit wildfire mitigation plans.
“We’ve learned a lot over the years,” Pok said.
Since 2019, SCE has filed plans outlining the various programs they have implemented to mitigate fire risk, Pok said. Those include aerial inspection programs (utilizing drones), support for a quick reaction force and vegetation management. SCE’s wildfire mitigation efforts also involve grid hardening, which includes covered conductors and TUG, as well as public safety power shutoffs, another “part of the tool bag.”
SCE files a general rate case (GRC) to request funding from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for these efforts, Pok explained. A lot of the work from these programs is in the Laguna Beach area, he added.
“We’re in your community, we know it’s an impact and we want to make sure we address all your concerns,” Pok said.
Click open story button to continue reading…
Trending Recent Stories in Stu News Laguna
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By Clara Beard – Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Planning Commission puts Ocean Avenue streetscape project on hold, forms working group
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Forty-one-year-old man dies after being pulled from Crescent Bay surf
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Providence rules out acute care hospital, open to exploring a legislative path for standalone ER
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Firefighters flip for Labor Day Pancake Breakfast
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Photos by Mary Hurlbut
Hungry attendees gathered to grab some breakfast at Heisler Park
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It was a gorgeous morning for pancakes and community
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Firefighters were hard at work, and the pancakes were looking good
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The hurricane surf kept the shore misty from the breaking waves
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Mayor Mark Orgill enjoys a stack of pancakes
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Lots of volunteers helped our LB Firefighters
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Everyone wanted a photo with retired LB Firefighter Diz
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Sergeant Spratt was on the job
Laguna Beach – A Look Back: Paving Coast Highway
By Dr. Gregg DeNicola
This photo takes us back to 1932, showing the grading and paving of Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, although records show the paving was a two-year project from 1930-1932.
Courtesy of Dr. Gregg DeNicola from his personal collection
Grading and paving Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, circa 1932
This was a major milestone to connect Newport Beach to the Dana Point area. The original name was the Roosevelt Highway, and the coastal cities’ Chambers of Commerce succeeded in having the name officially changed to Pacific Coast Highway in 1941.
However, in Laguna, the highway is never referred to as PCH or Pacific Coast Highway. Everything north of Broadway is North Coast Highway, and everything south of Broadway is South Coast Highway.
The exact location of this photo is easy to see – off to the right, we notice the signage for the Coast Royal subdivision in South Laguna. This tract was laid out in 1906, with old inland detours being the main way to reach it. When the Roosevelt Highway was being graded in 1930-1932, engineers carved a stable road connecting the tract with the Roosevelt Highway.
The tract proudly placed promotional signs along the new highway, as we see in the photo. This location would lie just south of Aliso Beach as you drive south on South Coast Highway. Today, Coast Royal is an affluent enclave with multimillion-dollar homes and modern luxury residences, such as the Laguna Royale condos.
The sandy shore of Coast Royal Beach just below this neighborhood (also called West Street Beach) is a hidden paradise with clear turquoise waters and tidepools.
If you want to check it out, be prepared – it is accessible to the general public via a steep, somewhat hidden stairway just north of West Street.
Wrath of Hurricane Marie hits Laguna Beach
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Photos by Mary Hurlbut
A set of waves breaking first on second reef at Oak Street
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Oak Street view deck – mid-afternoon gathering for the best show in town
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Note the red flag on the lifeguard stand
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View deck with clouds hovering above from Hurricane Marie
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Black ball surf pole knocked down by rising tide
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The surfers faced turbulent back wash
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Locals gather to watch the massive waves
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Surfer waits for the lull to enter the water
Laguna Beach Community Land Trust welcomes Tom Lamb as resident director
The Laguna Beach Community Land Trust (LBCLT) has announced the appointment of Tom Lamb as a resident director to their board of directors. Lamb brings a deep connection to Laguna Beach and a strong commitment to preserving the community’s unique character while expanding opportunities for permanently affordable housing.
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Courtesy of LBCLT
Tom Lamb will offer a resident’s perspective to the board’s work
Lamb’s appointment comes at an important moment for Laguna Beach, where high housing costs and limited availability continue to make it difficult for artists, seniors, essential workers and other longtime community members to remain in the city. As the Land Trust strengthens their operations and builds the partnerships and resources needed to address this challenge, Lamb will bring a resident’s perspective to the board’s work.
“Tom’s appointment comes at a critical time for the Land Trust and for Laguna Beach,” said Kristine Thalman, president of the Laguna Beach Community Land Trust. “The need for affordable housing is urgent, and our ability to respond depends on strong community leadership, effective partnerships and a clear understanding of the people we are working to serve. Tom understands what makes Laguna Beach special and shares our commitment to ensuring that the people who contribute to this community can continue to call it home.”
As a resident director, Lamb will help advance the Land Trust’s current priorities, including building organizational capacity, developing partnerships with public and private stakeholders, securing financial resources, preserving existing affordable housing and identifying opportunities to create additional permanently affordable homes.
For more information, visit https://lagunabeachclt.org.
“I believe the future of Laguna Beach depends on our ability to preserve the character and diversity that have made this community extraordinary,” said Lamb. “At a time when so many local residents are struggling to remain here, the Community Land Trust offers a thoughtful, long-term approach to keeping artists, seniors, local workers and other members of the community part of Laguna Beach. I am honored to join the board and contribute to this important work.”
The community land trust model is designed to protect affordability over the long term. The Land Trust retains ownership of the land while providing affordable housing opportunities to qualified residents, helping ensure that homes remain affordable for future generations rather than being lost to rising market prices.
“Tom’s perspective as a resident will be especially valuable as we move from planning to implementation,” Thalman added. “The Land Trust is focused on building the foundation for lasting housing solutions, and community involvement is essential to making those solutions effective, responsive and sustainable.”
The Laguna Beach Community Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Laguna Beach’s unique community character by creating and protecting permanently affordable housing. Their work supports a diverse and vibrant community by helping artists, seniors, workforce members and other local residents remain connected to the city.
The Laguna Beach Community Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and creating permanently affordable housing in Laguna Beach. The Land Trust’s mission is to help ensure that artists, seniors, workforce members and other members of the community can continue to call Laguna Beach home while preserving the distinctive character and diversity of the community.
Fall 2026 Sports Update
Cross Country
The squads will be traveling to Hawaii for the Iolani Invitational on September 12. Follow the teams on their websites:
Girls XCC – www.lbxc.org
Boys XCC – www.lagunabeachcrosscountry.com
Boys Beach Volleyball (3–1, 0-1)
The remaining schedule:
Wednesday, Sept. 9 Newport Harbor
Thursday, Sept. 17 at Edison
Wednesday, Sept. 23 Dana Hills
Wednesday, Sept. 30 Aliso Niguel
Wednesday, Oct. 7 San Clemente
Newport four-man tournament is Thursday, Sept. 10.
Laguna’s tournament is Friday, Sept. 25.
(Follow the team on Instagram at @lbhsboysbeachvolleyball.)
Girls Golf (0-2)
Laguna faced El Toro High on September 3 in a non-league match at Oso Creek Golf Course (par 31) with El Toro winning the match 212-237. The low score for Laguna was turned in by Quincy Krizman at 44.
Flag Football (2–7, 0-1)
The recent league opener was a 7-6 loss at Irvine last Wednesday (Sept. 2) – Coach Ryan Kollock noted:
“Varsity was a defensive battle. Score was 0-0 halftime. We scored in the 3rd quarter and then Irvine scored in the 4th. We were able to move the ball down the field, but could not finish our drives. We were able to stop Irvine on every drive except for that one. Then we went into overtime and had six overtime attempts to score. It was a back-and-forth defensive battle from the three-yard line. Irvine came up with a completion in the end zone. We had one last attempt, got the completion and fell inches short.”
Next home game is September 14 with Rosary Academy.
Football (1–2)
Breakers Use Mustang Errors for a 21-7 Victory
Laguna took advantage of three interceptions and four key fumbles to defeat visiting Shadow Ridge from Las Vegas on Friday night (Sept. 4) at Guyer Field. The Mustangs are only the second Nevada team to play Laguna in football; the last time was in 1965 when the Artists defeated Bishop Gorman 26-6 at Guyer Field.
The Breakers had the first possession on Friday going deep to the Mustang 26-yard line before a sack forced a punt. Shadow Ridge only had four plays succeed before Brady Stringham picked off a pass on the Mustang 42-yard line returning it to the 22. Four plays later the Breakers were up 7-0.
The Mustangs got a great kickoff return, but their second possession ended on a fumble on the first play of the second period recovered by William Golden on the Mustang 48.
Six plays later, Jack Hurst found Brady Stringham for a sharp 27-yard pass play for the score.
Shadow Ridge didn’t quit and were able to drive 67 yards without a mistake to score their only touchdown.
The Breakers’ next drive stalled after five plays defended by a now-inspired visiting team. The success didn’t last long as Liam Nassour intercepted a Mustang pass on the Laguna 49 returning it to the Mustang 39.
It then only took one play for Hurst to find Stringham streaking down the sideline in double coverage and a perfect pass made it 21-7 in the final seconds of the first half.
Shadow Ridge got the ball to open the second half and started with a 23-yard kickoff return to gain good field position. Eight plays and two Laguna penalties brought the visitors inside the Laguna five-yard line before the fumbles returned. The first lost two yards and the final on a fourth down on the three-yard line lost 12 yards.
The remaining tries by the teams:
Laguna: Five plays – punt
Shadow Ridge: Three plays – punt
Laguna: Two plays then an interception
Shadow Ridge: Seven plays to the Laguna 10, turnover on downs
Laguna: 12 plays to the Shadow Ridge 34, turnover on downs
Shadow Ridge: First play pass intercepted by Liam Nassour, no return
Laguna: 1 play – Hurst took a knee to run out the clock.
Shadow Ridge: 0- 7-0-0 = 7
Laguna 7-14-0-0 = 21
First Quarter Summary:
L – Mousally 3 pass from Hurst (Stringham kick) 1:34
Second Quarter Summary:
L – Stringham 27 pass from Hurst (Stringham kick) 8:41
S – Holmstrom 10 pass from Keao ( Brimhall kick) 3:31
L – Stringham 39 pass from Hurst ( Stringham kick) 0:09
Team Stats
First Downs: L-14, SR-14
Rush; L-5, SR-171
Pass: L-227 , SR-41
Total Yards: L-232, SR-212
Plays: L-46,SR-48
Fumbles/lost: L-0/0, SR-4/1
Return yards: L-32, SR-0
Punts/Ave: L3-31, SR1-29
Penalties/Yards: L5-35, SR4-20
Individual Stats
Rush: Hurst 3-(-7), Christian 4-6, Gardner 13-11 Team 1-(-5)
Receiving: Stringham 10-182, Golden 2-9, Kimball 2-17, Gardner 1-10, Bogdan 1-6, Mousally 1-3
Passing: Hurst 25-17-1, 227 yards, 3 TDs
KOR: Golden 2-46, Stringham 1-33, Kimball 1-13
Interceptions: Stringham 1-20, Nassour 2-12
Punts: Smith 3 for 22, 29, 43 1 – inside 20
This Week
Thursday, Sept. 10 Laguna travels to Ventura County to take on #33 Westlake (3-0), the favored team to win the Channel League this season. The Warriors beat Newbury Park 32-26 and Agoura 38-7 to open the season and beat Chatsworth/LA-CIF 49-14 this past Friday.
Rankings
Laguna is ranked #61 this week in the official SS-CIF rankings.
The remaining games/rankings:
Westlake #33, San Pedro #130 (Equivalent), Troy #91, El Modena #82, Dana Hills #42, Western #139, Huntington Beach # 21
Past games:
Yorba Linda #22, Orange #43 Shadow Ridge #102 (Equivalent)
(Follow the team on Instagram at @lbhsbreakerfootball.)
Girls Tennis (1-1)
The Breakers are hosting Aliso Niguel today (Sept. 8), San Clemente on Sept. 10 and Palm Desert on Sept. 11.
Girls Volleyball (3-10)
The Breakers finally got on the winning track last Thursday (Sept. 3) with a 25-19, 26-28, 25-21, 22-25, 15-4 upset of Tesoro at the Titans’ Gym. Iris Rowe had 13 kills, Maia Miller 12, Finley Dorst 10 and Evie Rowe 10 kills in the attack.
Savanna Mair dished out 26 assists, 10 digs and five service aces. Natalia Calef returned to action after being off, due to an injury to provide 19 assists and four aces.
At the Mohs Orange County Tournament on Friday (Sept. 4), the Breakers lost to Temecula Valley 22-25, 20-25, then dropped a tough match to host Huntington Beach 25-19, 17-25, 6-15. In the final match of the day, the Breakers defeated Sage Hill 25-23, 25-15 with Iris Rowe and Maia Miller each recording 10 kills against the Lightning. The Breakers recorded 10 net blocks against Sage tying the team record for a two-set match.
On Saturday (Sept. 5), Laguna upset Yorba Linda 25-16, 25-21, as Savanna Mair tied the school two-set match record with nine service aces and the team tied the team match record with 17 aces. The individual record was originally set by Kyra Zaengle against Cajon in 2019, as was the team record.
The Breakers then dropped a tough match to Vacaville, the #9 team in the San Joaquin CIF Section 25-17, 25-20. In their final match they lost to Menlo School 25-22, 20-25, 10-15.
Up Next:
League play opens today, Sept. 8, at Woodbridge followed by a trip to Pacifica Christian on Friday (Sept. 11). The following week they have a pair of league contests hosting University on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and traveling to the Trojans’ gym on Thursday, Sept.17.
Boys Water Polo (6–2)
This week:
Major tournaments with playoff placement/ranking on the line are the Santa Barbara Tournament on September 10-12.
The following week is Newport’s South Coast Tournament on September 17-19, one of the oldest tournaments in So Cal Water Polo. Originally hosted by Anaheim. the event moved to Newport’s pool in the early 1970s and was eventually transferred to their administration in the mid ‘70s.
(Follow the team on Instagram at @laguna_boys_waterpolo.)
• • •
Have a note on LBHS sports? Email me at frank@twometer.net.
If you would like an updated PDF file of the Football, Baseball and Girls Water Polo record books – drop me an email request – all are currently being revised for 2026-27 season.
2026-27 High School Schedules? Check Laguna Beach High School on the MaxPreps website or the schedules tab on the Athletics website at https://lbhs.lbusd.org/athletics/schedules. To get scores on the school site – select the sport and level, click year and move to the “Show older events” toggle under the selected season. Scores are also posted on X @LagunaSports.
The Musical Reunion brings Baroque masterworks to Laguna Live! at the Museum on September 13
Laguna Beach Live! welcomes The Musical Reunion to their popular Laguna Live! at the Museum chamber music series on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Laguna Art Museum at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach.
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Photos courtesy of Laguna Live!
Violinist Ken Aiso
The acclaimed trio brings together baroque violinist Ken Aiso, viola da gamba player David Garrett and harpsichordist Sonia Lee for an elegant program of 17th- and 18th-century masterworks.
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Viola da gamba player David Garrett
Performed on period instruments, the program features music by Buxtehude, Handel, Bach and Rameau, showcasing the distinctive colors, rich textures and expressive detail of the baroque era. In the intimate setting of Laguna Art Museum, audiences will have the opportunity to experience the beauty and artistry of early chamber music up close.
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Harpsichordist Sonia Lee
Admission is free for Laguna Beach Live! and Laguna Art Museum members. Museum admission applies for non-members.
For more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org.
This concert is partially funded by the lodging establishments and the city of Laguna Beach.
Batten down the hatches
When Hurricane Marie’s name comes up, our weather and surf is directly affected. As you probably know by now the alphabetical list of named storms is repeated every six years so the names we are using here in 2026 were last used in 2020, 2014, 2008 and so on. Every time Marie’s name comes up, something happens! In 2002, we got a big swell from her. In 2008, Marie’s outer bands dropped almost an inch of rain here in Laguna. In 2014, Southern California saw one of the biggest hurricane swells hit from August 24-27.
In 2020, we got nearly an inch of rain from you guessed it, Hurricane Marie. Here in 2026, Marie’s name came up and of course Marie was the center of attention in Laguna and outlying areas. It’s getting to the point that she has become the atmosphere’s drama queen. I saw that coming as early as last week when she blew up into a Category 4 almost overnight when she entered our swell window as she moved to the NW. The show isn’t over yet, as new systems off Mexico’s west coast are getting their act together as we speak.
Hawaii is also in on the action with big waves and lots of rain from a (once) Category 5 hurricane that is moving to the north only a couple 100 miles to the west of the islands. There won’t be a direct hit from this system, but Kauai is getting nearly a foot of rain and giant swells on its south and west shores. It’s not over for the islands though, as Nele is located about 600 miles ESE of Hilo and presently plowing to the WNW with the Big Island which is a target at this point. The water temp in that area is running about six degrees above normal at 83 degrees, well above the 80-degree threshold to maintain a hurricane’s strength.
Now we have Norbert, Odile and Polo waiting in the wings and possibly setting their sights on areas around the Baja Peninsula on the Pacific West Coast at some point. Here on the 6th of September, we’re approaching the peak time for formation of Eastern Pacific tropical systems. Could this season be the year when we run through the entire alphabet? We did it once and that was 1992 when there was a moderate El Niño going on, but this one is a gorilla El Niño as the NOAA and National Hurricane Center fondly calls it.
We’re currently on pace to use all 25 names this time around. We’ve never had to resort to the point of employing the Greek alphabet, but the Atlantic has twice. They use only 21 letters from the alphabet and those occurred during a strong La Niña event. It’s the opposite of a La Niña when the Atlantic is on steroids – and the Pacific is just the opposite with minimal storm formation when the upper-level shear winds are much stronger than normal. They blow the tops off the development and maturation of clusters of thunderstorms. In addition, surface ocean temps are much cooler than normal from strong upwelling, thus stunting the growth of any tropical systems.
Bottom line here – we’re only halfway through this move so just in case to be on the safe side, batten down the hatches. All it takes is one. In 1850, a Category 2 hurricane made landfall near Point Loma in San Diego and on September 25, 1939, a high-end tropical storm moved ashore near Long Beach. Both events happened during a strong El Niño.
ALOHA to everyone!
British American Business Council of Orange County presents Cybersecurity for Everyone on October 7
On October 7, the British American Business Council of Orange County (BABCO) is bringing Cybersecurity for Everyone: Protecting Your Family, Your Business, and Your Community to the Rivian South Coast Theater in Laguna Beach.
Ant Antstead, a British celebrity and Laguna parent will open the event.
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Photos courtesy of BABCO
Laguna resident Ant Antstead will open the event
They wanted to create something quite different from a traditional technical cybersecurity conference. This is intended for the whole community – parents, families, seniors, small business owners and anyone who wants to better understand how to protect themselves from scams, fraud, identity theft and the rapidly changing risks we now face online.
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Speaker Jason James – Regents & Park, Inc., Cybersecurity executive and advisor with extensive experience in information security, risk, privacy and cybersecurity strategy
The British American Business Council of Orange County is bringing together cybersecurity professionals for a practical, understandable conversation, with the opportunity for the community to ask questions.
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Speaker Carl Steeves – Greenfield Partners, Cybersecurity executive with extensive senior information-security experience, including former VP of Information Security Operations at Fox Corporation
Rivian South Coast Theater is located at 162 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. Tickets are $15 and complimentary for BABCOC members. For tickets, click here.
Sunset Serenades return to Heisler Park on September 11
As the summer winds to an end, Sunset Serenades will come back to the Heisler Park Amphitheater on Cliff Drive on Fridays from September 11-October 2. The concerts start at 5:30 p.m. and conclude at sunset.
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Photo by David Rosen
Kelly Fitzgerald will perform on September 11
The public is invited to attend the free Sunset Serenades concerts, featuring:
September 11 – Kelly Fitzgerald (Singer/songwriter)
September 18 – Moonshine (Rockabilly, Surf-Twang)
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Courtesy of city of Laguna Beach
Moonshine takes the stage on September 18
September 25 – Pacific Symphony
October 2 – Uncanny Valley (Music you forgot you loved)
Low-back beach chairs are encouraged. Alcohol is permitted for guests 21 or older, but must be accompanied by a full meal. Solicitation of any kind is not permitted at city events.
For more information, click here.
This Arts Commission program is funded by the lodging establishments and city of Laguna Beach.
This is as close as we can come to actually singing to our readers on their birthdays!
We’d love to include yours – and/or your children’s birthdays here.
Just email to: editor@stunewslaguna.com
Celebrate and enjoy your birthday!
September 8: Corey Holland, Suzanne Simons, Tony Cox
September 9: Jennifer Griffiths, Jennifer O’Brien, Sally Duke,
Sean Melia, Serra Gokce, Zach Rollins
September 10: Kathy McKeown, Ken Fischbeck, Randy Marquette, Stacy Colledge
September 11: Candace Covington, Pamela London Franck, Polina Hryn, Richard Hall, Steve Rabago, Taylor Anderson
September 12: Allison Mattila, David Kizziar, Eric Thompson, Gail Allyn Landau, Jaime Garau, Laura Montagu, Maggie Amador, Michele McCormick, Oakley Frost, Shayne Monahan, Suzanne Wold
September 13: Carol Clark, Chuck Kinder, Deborah Carman, Jay Rousseau, Paul Meyer, Rick Shean
September 14: Denny Freidenrich, Jim Buc, Jim Marks, Kurt Knepper, Sharon Chabre Hardy
Celebrating Labor Day weekend at Victoria Beach
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Courtesy of the Aronoff Family
Volleyball is a Labor Day weekend tradition in Laguna with Emerald Bay’s Calcutta Tournament and the Victoria Beach Four-Man tournament among the time-honored events
LPAPA and Coast Film & Music Festival team up for a new Music & Art Weekend October 3-4
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) and Coast Film & Music Festival (CFMF) in conjunction with Coast Film Foundation (CFF) announce a new collaboration to present Music & Art Weekend, October 3-4, which launches Concerts in the Canyon – a new annual concert series celebrating music, storytelling, art and community at the historic Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach.
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Courtesy of LPAPA
The Music & Art Weekend will bring renowned plein air artists to the Festival grounds on October 3-4
“Laguna Beach has inspired creators for over a century, but merging live plein air painting with the magic of live music takes our Invitational opening weekend to a completely new level,” said Toni Kellenberg, president of LPAPA. “This collaboration bridges two vibrant creative communities right here in Laguna Beach. It’s an exciting opportunity to honor our historic artistic roots while captivating a whole new generation of art lovers.”
Timed to coincide with the 28th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, October 3-11, the Music & Art Weekend will transform the Irvine Bowl and Festival grounds into a celebration of creativity, bringing together acclaimed musicians, renowned plein air artists, artisan vendors, exceptional food and beverages and immersive cultural experiences inspired by the natural beauty and artistic heritage of Laguna Beach.
Before the two evening performances of the Invitational opening weekend, guests will enjoy a lively pre-concert experience featuring LPAPA Invitational Artists, live art demonstrations, local vendors, culinary offerings, wine, craft beer, cocktails and interactive activities throughout the grounds. Together, the visual arts and live music will create an unforgettable weekend celebrating one of America’s most iconic arts communities.
“We’re honored to partner with LPAPA to create a new signature cultural experience for Laguna Beach,” said Ben Warner, executive director and co-founder of the Coast Film and Music Festival and Coast Film Foundation. “Concerts in the Canyon reflects everything our organizations value: Bringing people together through exceptional art, celebrating our community’s beauty, and creating meaningful economic and cultural impact for Laguna Beach. We believe this will become an annual tradition that residents and visitors look forward to every fall.”
The collaboration is designed to strengthen Laguna Beach’s creative economy. Proceeds will benefit LPAPA, CFF, local businesses and community initiatives, sustaining arts education, supporting emerging artists and storytellers and preserving the cultural traditions that have made Laguna Beach an internationally recognized arts destination.
Celebrate National Public Lands Day with Laguna Canyon Foundation on September 26
Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF) celebrates National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 26 by dedicating a day to land stewardship in their shared public lands. National Public Lands Dayis the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands throughout the country.
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Courtesy of LCF
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation in a celebration of national public lands on September 26
Local events will be hosted at three locations throughout the day, including at OC Parks’ Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Volunteers of all experience levels are invited to lend a hand caring for these protected wildlands through activities focused on habitat restoration and native plant nursery efforts. Click on the links below for more information and to register for these National Public Lands Day events.
Advance registration is required for these free events:
–Land Tending with LCF – Berns Canyon Preserve, click here.
–Keep It Wild – Aliso & Wood Canyons, click here.
–Keep It Wild – Laguna Coast, click here.
Participants should wear sturdy closed-toed shoes, sun protection and bring a reusable water bottle. Carpooling is strongly encouraged due to limited space and to minimize disruption to the wildlands and wildlife.
Laguna Canyon Foundation respectfully acknowledges that these events are held on the traditional lands of the Acjachemen (Juaneño) and Tongva (Gabrielino) peoples, who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.
Laguna Canyon Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and ongoing protection of the South Coast Wilderness. They envision a thriving coastal ecosystem that serves as a source of inspiration, connection and refuge for all.
For more information about Laguna Canyon Foundation, visit https://lagunacanyon.org/.
Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org with any questions.
Rain on the pane
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Photo by David Powers
A quiet window view of Hurricane Marie’s unforgettable force
Laguna Beach Live! presents Music in Motion at the Rivian South Coast Theater on September 24
Laguna Beach Live! presents Music in Motion, a unique evening of live music, film and conversation, on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Rivian South Coast Theater.
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Photos courtesy of Laguna Beach Live!
(L-R) Greg MacGillivray and Steve Wood will offer insights into their long-time collaboration on film and music
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greg MacGillivray will be joined by musician and composer Steve Wood, who has curated the music for the evening. The acclaimed Zelter String Quartet will perform live, with specially selected music paired with clips from MacGillivray’s films.
MacGillivray and Wood’s creative collaboration dates back to the iconic surf film 5 Summer Stories. During the program, audiences will experience film with and without music, and hear how the two collaborators arrived at the final combination of image and sound.
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The Zelter String Quartet will perform live
The evening will also feature scenes from acclaimed IMAX films including Everest, featuring music by George Harrison; Dolphins and The Living Sea, featuring music by Sting, and To the Arctic, featuring music by Paul McCartney.
Presented as part of Laguna Beach Live!’s 25th anniversary celebration, tickets are just $25.
For tickets and further information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org.
Laguna Beach Garden Club hosts Speakers Series featuring Lanny Kaufer on September 11
Laguna Beach Garden Club (LBGC) announces their next speaker at the Speakers Series will be Lanny Kaufer on the topic of “Medicinal Herbal Walks.” The meeting date is Friday, Sept. 11 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
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Courtesy of LBGC
Lanny Kaufer will discuss Medicinal Herbal Walks on September 11
Kaufer of https://herbwalks.com is celebrating 50 years of leading herb walks, nature hikes and foraging workshops. His passion for edible and medicinal flora of California led to his founding the Ojai Herbal Retreat. He has written a book titled Medicinal Herbs of California: A Field Guide to Common Healing Plants and Consultation with the Chumash Garden at the Ojai Valley Museum. Kaufer will be signing copies of his book at the meeting following his talk.
Kaufer graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1974 with a degree in biology. While there, he did extensive independent studies in the field of neuropathic medicine and worked at the UCSC Arboretum. He also served as the outdoor education director for Happy Valley School and education director for C.R.E.W (Concerned Resource and Environmental Workers) and was co-founder of the Sunbow Ecology Center. The ecology center is focused on youth development, natural resource conservation and hands-on backcountry education.
Join LBGC on Friday, Sept. 11 from 9:30-10 a.m. for social time and refreshments, meeting begins promptly at 10 a.m. Meetings are held at Laguna Presbyterian Church in Tankersley Hall located at 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. Non-members are invited to attend for free on their first visit. For more information on the LBGC, go to www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org.
Laguna Food Pantry supports Chef Masters which returns September 27 for an evening benefiting Abound Food Care
Laguna Food Pantry is pleased to share an upcoming fundraiser from Abound Food Care, a valued and vital food-system partner. Abound helps provide nutritious groceries to the Pantry and other local nonprofits. The Pantry is grateful for Abound’s guidance through the years and support of their mission. They are happy to help spread the word about Chef Masters, an evening on the Festival of the Arts Pageant of the Masters ground benefiting Abound Food Care’s continued efforts to solve complex food system problems, strengthen food access, and reduce food waste for thousands of stakeholders and communities.
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Courtesy of Laguna Food Pantry
A box of Laguna Food Pantry groceries
Chef Masters returns this fall for an elegant culinary celebration benefiting Abound Food Care and their work to create healthier, food-secure communities. The event will bring together renowned chefs, exceptional wines, premium spirits and community supporters for an unforgettable evening in Laguna Beach.
The event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 5-10 p.m. at Festival of Arts Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. Guests will experience an evening of culinary artistry featuring some of the region’s finest chefs, complemented by award-winning wines and spirits. The evening will also feature live music by Flashback Heart Attack. Attire is resort casual.
Chef Masters supports Abound Food Care’s mission to optimize food systems to create healthy and food-secure communities. Abound Food Care works across the food system to increase community access to nutritious food by maximizing the impact of nonprofits.
As an experienced food-system insider, Abound brings together public, private and non-profit stakeholders and implements scalable solutions designed to strengthen regional food systems, expand food access and reduce food waste.
Individual tickets to Chef Masters are $350.
Sponsorship opportunities include:
Title Sponsor – $50,000
Platinum Sponsor – $25,000
Gold Sponsor – $10,000
Silver Sponsor – $5,000
To purchase tickets, reserve a table or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, go here. Sponsorship inquiries may also be directed to abower@aboundfoodcare.org.
Laguna Food Pantry is open Monday through Friday, 8-10:30 a.m., offering free, fresh, nutritious groceries via a drive-through system. Visit www.lagunafoodpantry.org to learn more, volunteer, or donate. The Pantry currently needs more volunteer drivers to help with grocery rescue. Your support is vital to their mission of ending food insecurity and hunger in our community. They believe no one should go hungry.
Pet of the Week 
Stu News Laguna is delighted to be working with the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter to help get the word out in search of loving homes for pets that deserve a warm, nurturing environment and a place to call “home.”
Meet Babe, a beautiful female Siamese cat, who is 3-8 years old and weighs under 11 lbs. Babe is independent, quiet, friendly, affectionate and a couch potato. Her backstory hasn’t been added to her profile, so for more information, contact the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter at 949.497.3552. Babe needs a home where she can flourish.
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Courtesy of Laguna Beach Animal Shelter
Stop by the shelter and check out Babe
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, their return rate is 5% as compared to the national return rate of 50%.
The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road. Call 949.497.3552 or go to the website for information on adoption procedures at www.puplagunabeach.org/our-pets.php.
Laguna Beach Community Calendars
The following are calendar links for regularly scheduled meetings and events in Laguna Beach:
City of Laguna Beach meetings & events calendar
Laguna Beach Public Library – everything at the library calendar
www.ocpl.org/libraries/laguna-beach
Laguna Beach Unified School District news & events calendar
Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce community events calendar
www.lagunabeachchamber.org/events/calendar
If you are an organization that would like your name and calendar of events link added here, please contact Shaena Stabler at shaena@stunewslaguna.com.
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.
