Pageant of the Masters To Host Open Casting Call This Weekend
Auditioners Eligible to Win Two Tickets to Disneyland
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
The Pageant of the Masters is once again hosting its annual open casting call in search of volunteers for next summer’s show, “À La Mode: The Art of Fashion.”
Audition dates are this weekend, Jan. 5 to 7.
The Pageant is looking for volunteers of all ages and sizes to be cast members and strike a pose in the world’s most famous presentation of tableaux vivants. No prior theater experience is necessary, and individuals ages five and up are welcome to try out.
The Pageant’s only requirement is “the ability to stand still and have fun.” As well as the onstage roles, volunteers are needed for many other positions backstage, including wardrobe, makeup, headdress, cast area coordinators and refreshment servers.
During the casting call, volunteers can
LAM Announces On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection
The New Exhibit Will be on Display from March 23 to Sept. 2
By LB Indy Staff
Laguna Art Museum has revealed its upcoming exhibit: On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection, which will be on view from March 23 through Sept. 2.
The exhibition tells the story of the Quinns’ vital role in documenting and contributing to Los Angeles art from the 1970s through the 1990s. The Quinn Family Collection explores the experimental approach to minimalism, new materials, and the diversification of practices. It illuminates a period of artmaking that became pivotal to understanding current practices and exudes the unique spirit of anti-conformity and the “California Cool” ethos, as stated by The Bakersfield Museum of Art, where
the exhibition was inaugurated in 2022.
On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection features more than 100 artworks from some of the 20th century’s most renowned contemporary artists, including Lita Albuquerque, Peter Alexander, Carlos Almaraz, Vija Celmins, Daniel LaRue Johnson, Charles Garabedian, John McCracken, Ed Ruscha and Andy Warhol.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Quinn family for their generosity in sharing their extensive art collection with Laguna Art Museum,” said Julie Perlin Lee, executive director of Laguna Art Museum. “The upcoming exhibition will serve as a celebration of Jack Quinn’s lasting legacy, Joan’s steadfast
commitment to the arts, and the museum’s overarching mission of showcasing art that brings the California experience to life.”
This collection’s heart is the enduring friendships that developed between the Quinn family and artists like Larry Bell, Lynda Benglis, Tony Berlant, Laddie John Dill, Frank Gehry, Kenny Price and many others. The Boston Globe said about their collection: “The sensibility on display here is idiosyncratic, unpredictable, lively, uncalculated, a lot more about color than line, a lot less about theory than practice, open to representation and abstraction both. Various styles abound, but there isn’t a sense of jumble. LAM, PAGE 3
Laguna Beach Spotlights Accomplishments in 2023, Part II
By LB Indy Staff
Laguna Beach recently released its end-of-theyear wrap-up of 2023 projects, initatives and services. Below is part two of the annual report. e city’s complete list of achievements can be found at www.lagunabeachindy.com.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Community development staffing: Filled several vacant positions, including assistant Director. The city says the Community Development Department is now fully staffed and prepared to provide a wide range of services to Laguna residents.
City awarded $200,000 grant: The City was awarded a $200,000 competitive grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) via its Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) to support the City’s Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) Update, which includes an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This project is identified in the City’s Housing Element and is a city council priority project.
City-owned parcels to be rezoned as OpenSpace: The City Council approved a change of land use designations of 26 City-owned parcels from Residential/Hillside Protection to Permanent Open Space. These City-owned parcels were purchased via Proposition 12 funding; the re-zone ensures that they will be maintained as undeveloped open space.
Outdoor dining program: In accordance with the recent passage of Assembly Bill 1217, city council extended the outdoor dining and parklet program to Jan. 1, 2026. Participating restaurants will have their temporary use permits extended by the Planning Commission
SPOTLIGHTS, PAGE 4
The Durham family wait for their photos to be taken during last year’s Pageant of the Masters audition. In 2023, the casting call saw more than 700 participants go through the 15 minute process. Clara Beard/LB Indy
40,000+ Pounds
expect to have their measurements and photos taken while enjoying refreshments and snacks. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the Pageant’s creative and technical staff and get a sneak peek at the artwork that will be re-created in this summer’s show.
Adding to the excitement of this year’s casting call, everyone who signs up to volunteer will be entered into a drawing for two tickets to Disneyland Park in Anaheim. To learn more, visit www.foapom.com/ volunteer.
The Open Casting Call will be held backstage at the Pageant of the Masters on the Festival of Arts grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, during the following dates and times: Friday, Jan. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m.
The 2024 Pageant of the Masters production À La Mode: The Art of Fashion will run nightly from July 6 through Aug. 30. Tickets start at $45 per person. To stay current on the Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts, follow the Festival on social media at @FestivalPageant and visit www.foapom.com.
1
Or it’s a jumble only to the extent that personality is a jumble.”
The Quinns have been avid collectors since their early years of marriage in the 1960s. Joe Goode once said the couple was a “primary support system for artists in LA” at a time when you could count the city’s art dealers on one hand.”
Chuck Arnoldi said, “Joan always has her finger on the pulse of artistic momentum, and it has been an honor to be her friend all these years.”
Joan, a society columnist for publications such as Hearst’s Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the West Coast editor for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine , ensured her favorite artists gained visibility in the columns of prestigious magazines and newspapers. Friendships developed in the late 1950s as Quinn’s longtime friend Billy Al Bengston, the consummate connector and social leader of the West Coast art scene, introduced the Quinns to the Ferus Gallery artists, including John Altoon, Edward Kienholz and Ed Moses. Meanwhile, Jack, an accomplished attorney, actively championed their circle by introducing them to the legal community and clientele through cocktail
parties and luncheons. Notably, Jack was the first to transform the walls of his 3-floor law firm into a captivating art space, akin to a museum dedicated to both his friends and the broader community of artists. Exclusively showcasing the works of California contemporary artists in his office, Jack aimed to foster a sense of community and promote their friends’ works.
Joan, called “one of the most painted (and sketched, and sculpted) women alive” by W Magazine, has been a subject and
inspiration for artists such as Steven Arnold, Don Bachardy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yolanda Gonzalez, George Herms, Marie Lalanne, Robert Mapplethorpe and Helmut Newton, among others. The exhibition includes over 25 portraits of Joan and the Quinn family, a poignant representation of friendship, appreciation, and respect.
For more information about On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection, visit lagunaartmuseum. org.
APC 580 Broadway, Suite 204 • Laguna Beach,
Jim McHugh, Portrait of Joan and Jack, 1983.
Laguna Canyon Conservancy to host Zoom meeting on Laguna’s trees
The public is welcome to join the Laguna Canyon Conservancy in a Zoom general meeting presenting four of Laguna Beach’s longtime residents who are local champions when it comes to the protection of Laguna Beach’s trees and its designation as a Tree City USA Community. They will each present information for about 15 minutes and questions will be welcomed. The Zoom meeting will be held on Monday, Jan 8 at 7 p.m.
Bob Borthwick, an award-winning landscape architect known for the Avalon waterfront design and other large public coastal projects. Bob has worked on numerous Laguna Beach city projects over the years, serves on several environmental non-profit Boards and is well-informed on the city’s changing landscape. Borthwick will discuss downtown Laguna’s iconic trees, Eucalyptus, Ficus, California Pepper, Sycamore, Magnolia and others; The Laguna Canyon Creek Channel rebuilding in the Arts District, the trees removed and new planting and The Laguna Canyon
Town Crier
IN AND AROUND LAGUNA BEACH
Road medians near the festivals.
The next speaker is Ann Christoph, an award-winning landscape architect specializing in historical projects and native plants, Christoph has also served Laguna Beach as a city council member, a past mayor, landscape projects manager, and frequently contributes at council meetings to items that involve the environment and trees.
Ann will discuss the Landscape Scenic Highway Resource Document as it pertains to Laguna; What trees are appropriate for Laguna Beach’s climate and recent neighborhood issues with city-maintained trees.
Ruben Flores is master landscape designer-builder for public and private clients, owner of Visionscape, Inc. and the Laguna Nursery. Ruben is often a public speaker for protecting Laguna’s trees and the environment. Flores will discuss what makes a tree well-groomed and an asset; How often and when to prune trees especially for fire safety concerns; How to improve our views, our gardens and the environment together.
Barbara Macgillivray is wellknown for her and her husband’s
film company MacGillivrayFreeman Films and their generous charitable support of the world’s oceans, Macgillivray is also a hard-working advocate for the trees of Laguna Beach.
Macgillivray will discuss the beginnings of Laguna Beach getting a Tree City USA Community title; Establishing an arborist position for the city; The start of Arbor Day and the Laguna Beach Urban Tree Fund.
The Zoom Meeting ID is 850 8026 0786 and the link is https://us06web. zoom.us/j/85080260786.
LOCA Expands to South Laguna, Offers extended learning classes
LOCA Arts Education has expanded its class offerings to the south end of town, at the new Laguna Beach Community and Recreation Center, overlooking Treasure Island Park. The location is easy to reach from town, but also from neighboring communities of Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, and San Clemente.
LOCA’s all new classes, open to the public, are offered in a series – rather than as single-events. The classes are taught over several weeks, in three to eight sessions.
“Our extended learning schedule allows students to get familiar with each instructor, and slowly build a “toolbox of skills” that will make them better artists,” said Sherry Bullard, LOCA Education Coordinator.
Beginners and all-levels are invited. Offerings include oil painting of nature scenes with Lisa Rainey, from Jan.12 to March 1. Adult students will learn composition, drawing, color mixing, and brushstrokes among other techniques. Lydia Delgado will teach watercolor painting over three sessions, with an emphasis on keeping colors fresh and lively. Sherry Bullard will teach clay building to after-school kids Jan. 17 through Feb. 28. Slab, pinching, coiling, and glazing will be taught and kiln firing is included. Nature lovers will love Art on the Wild Side, for kids and adults, taught by Allison Keefe and Elizabeth McGhee. Everyone will learn about native plants, animals, and tidepool life – and create drawings, paintings, and collages. The center offers panoramic ocean views and free on-site park -
PAGE 6
to coincide with the additional two years granted by the city council.
Promenade on Forest program extension: The Planning Commission approved a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) and a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) through Jan. 31, 2027, to extend the temporary closure of a portion of Forest Avenue and allow temporary use of a public street as a pedestrian plaza (“Promenade on Forest Program”). Meanwhile, staff will proceed with the design, entitlement, and permitting to convert the Promenade on Forest Program to a permanent pedestrian plaza.
Streamlining ordinance implementation: The Community Development Department implemented amendments to the Municipal Code to streamline the entitlement process by exempting certain projects from design review and expanding the scope of projects that can be considered at an administrative hearing. Staff is working on the next phase of streamlining.
SB 9 Ordinance/ADU Ordinance: The city council adopted separate ordinances in response to recent changes in state law, allowing for more local control over lot splits and the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Staff is preparing an update to the ADU Ordinance to comply with state law while also allowing for additional control over coastal development permits and potential impacts to public views.
Significant permits: Planning entitlements were approved for the new Laguna College of Art and Design student center. Building permits were issued for renovations of the Surf and Sand Hotel and Pacific Marine Mammal Center. The South Coast Theater (Rivian) is completed. Coast Liquor is near completion.
PUBLIC WORKS
Utility undergrounding projects included: Completed Diamond St Underground Utility Assessment District 2013-02. Conducted balloting to form the Woods Cove Underground Utility Assessment District 2014-02, which resulted in voter approval of the proposed district.
Construction of underground infrastructure for Park Avenue Underground Utility District 2021-02 began.
Improvement of city facilities and local infrastructure: Constructed a retaining wall and widened Bluebird Canyon Drive to improve evacuation access.
Constructed a consolidated trash enclosure to reduce bin clutter along Forest Alley.
Renovated the Police Department armory.
Renovated restrooms and front lobby at Fire Station 1 without affecting operations. Installed new fencing and landscaping for the dog play area at Moulton Meadows Park.
Renovated median landscaping along Laguna Canyon Road.
Installed a natural gas emergency generator in an underground vault to ensure continuous operation of the Irvine Cove
wastewater lift station to prevent potential spills on the beach, preserve ocean views, and provide environmental protection of ocean habitat.
Rehabilitated a pump at the Bluebird SOCWA wastewater lift station to improve pump output and reduce power usage as part of the ongoing lift station preventative maintenance program.
Cleaned and maintained over 100 miles of sewer pipelines to minimize service disruptions and address wastewater system deficiencies.
Transition of Water Quality Department to Public Works Department: To better align the City’s workforce infrastructure and resources, the Water Quality Department, which includes the Wastewater Division, was merged into a division within the Public Works Department. Wastewater Division position titles and descriptions were updated to better align the job responsibilities of the division and certification requirements. This accomplishment will improve the talent resources of future recruitments.
New solid waste collection franchise agreement: The City awarded the Franchise Agreement for Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Services to CR&R will commence on July 1, 2024, and continue for eight years. Transitional bi-weekly meetings with CR&R began on July 12, 2023.
Urban Forestry Grant: In September 2023, the Public Works and Utilities Department was awarded a $100,000 match free grant by the US Department of Agriculture. This grant will lead to the
upgrade of citywide digital urban forestry management tools, including Tree Canopy Analysis, Updated Tree Asset Inventory, and Tree Planting Site Analysis.
Arundo removal at Aliso Beach: In August 2023, the Public Works and Utilities Department began quarterly Arundo (Arundo donax) grass removal projects at Aliso Creek. To date, these ongoing efforts have resulted in the removal of nearly nine tons of the highly invasive species.
Public tree planting program: The city planted 42 trees and improved or repaired 33 tree wells.
Tree City USA recognition: The city was recognized as a Tree City USA Community for the fifth consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation. The city hosted a public Arbor Day celebration with a tree-planting ceremony at Moulton Meadows Park on March 9, 2023, which was proclaimed Arbor Day in Laguna Beach by the city council.
New beach cleaner: In May 2023, the city purchased a new beach-cleaning machine dedicated for use at Main Beach and Aliso Beach.
City fleet vehicles: In 2023, the Fleet Maintenance Division made 13 new city vehicles ready for service.
Street sweeping: In 2023, the Public Works and Utilities Department swept 14,500 curb miles throughout the city.
New slogan on city vehicles: The Fleet Maintenance Division installed decals of the city’s newly adopted PRIDE slogan on all city vehicles.
CRIER,
ing. Register now on the Art Escapes pages at LOCAarts.org. 30516 S. Coast Highway at Cardinal Drive. https://www.locaarts.org/events/ category/art-escapes/
Opera and Shakespeare buffs are going to love January at the Susi Q
Continuing the goal of supporting the arts in Laguna Beach, the Susi Q will present two programs in the new year that will delight lovers of Shakespeare and of opera.
On Tuesday, Jan 23, from 4 – 5:30 p.m., in partnership with Lyric Opera of Orange County, Susi Q will host a production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” following the success of Figaro in the same venue.
Lyric Opera OC’s operas are presented in a concert format, with minimal to no staging or costumes, but with piano accompaniment. English supertitles appear on Susi Q’s large flatscreen TVs to aid the audience in following the story behind the opera.
“[In this opera], a poet, a painter, a musician and a philosopher are living together in Paris when one freezing Christmas Eve their lives are changed forever,” explained Diana Farrell, Lyric Opera OC’s Artistic Director/President.
The audience will enjoy an intimate up-close, one-of-a-kind, operatic performance featuring guest conductor Jacob Sustaita of the Pacific Symphony, and starring a distinguished LOOC cast of eight. The performance is generously sponsored by Faye & Wayne Baglin & Joy Dittberner.
While the concert itself is free, there will be a registration fee of $5 to cover administrative costs. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. for light refreshments. Click here to register.
Parking will be limited. Please consider carpooling, ride sharing or City transportation.
Shakespeare Reading Circle
attracts would-be thespians
Julie Lupton’s “Shakespeare Reading Circle” is another Susi Q nod to the classics of the past. She’ll lead participants – you! – in reading from Shakespeare’s play “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” The play, focused on love and marriage, jealousy and revenge, features Falstaff – who appears in the Henry IV and V plays – as a man in love.
Lupton assigns parts scene by scene, breaking frequently for discussion. No background in Shakespeare or drama is required.
During the course of Lupton’s program, she’ll be reviewing clips from Verdi’s “Falstaff” which she calls “the play’s greatest adaptation and operatic masterpiece.”
And in a happy coincidence, Lyric Opera’s next presentation at the Susi Q following La Boheme will be “Falstaff,” on April 24.
Lupton, Ph.D., is the co-director of UCI’s New Swan Shakespeare Center and Distinguished Professor of English at UC Irvine.
Shakespeare Reading Circle: “The Merry Wives of Windsor” will take
theIndyPoll
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
What’s most on your mind as Laguna heads into 2024?
- Housing/Homelessness, 32%
- Public Safety, 28%
- Housing/Homelessness, 10%
- Wildfire Preparedness, 8%
- Other, 22%
TOTAL VOTES - 50
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION
Would you consider yourself knowledgable on California Environmental Quality Act?
- Yes - No
TO VOTE, VISIT THE POLL TAB AT LAGUNABEACHINDY.COM. SUBMIT POLL QUESTIONS TO CLARA@FIREBRANDMEDIAINC.COM. The LagunaBeachIndy.com poll is conducted using Crowd
address.
Jan. 9 - City Council Meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 10 - Administrative Design Review Meeting at 3 p.m.
lagunabeachcity.net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS, 5 PM
LOUIS WEIL: lweil@lagunabeachcity.net
KRISTINE THALMAN: kthalman@lagunabeachcity.net
DON SHERIDAN: dsheridan@lagunabeachcity.net
JESSICA GANNON: jgannon@lagunabeachcity.net
TOM GIBBS: tgibbs@lagunabeachcity.net
George Weiss Council member gweiss@lagunabeachcity.net
PLANNING COMMISSION
1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS, 6 PM
STEVEN KELLENBERG, steve@kellenbergstudio.com
KEN SADLER: 616-0517, ken.sadler@cox.net
JORG DUBIN: 497-2618, jdubinart@cox.net
STEVE GOLDMAN: 203-554-2290, steveg415@ymail.com
SUSAN McLINTOCK WHITIN: 838-6317, whitinsusan@gmail.com
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: REP. KATIE PORTER,, 1113 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. 202-225-2415 ASSEMBLYWOMAN DIANE DIXON, 19712 MacArthur Blvd. Ste. 150, Irvine, CA 92612. 949-251-0074 FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR KATRINA FOLEY, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-8343550, Lisa.Bartlett@ocgov.com
900 Glenneyre St., Suite B Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Tel: 949-715-4100; Fax: 949 715-4106 www.lbindy.com
A publication of
PUBLISHER
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Steve Zepezauer
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Tracy Powell
PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING
Scott Sanchez
OUR LETTER POLICY
E-mail letters to: Clara@firebrandmediainc.com
Letters strengthen community ties and provide a community forum open to all. Due to space constraints we ask letter writers to limit their topics to local concerns, make their submissions exclusive to the Indy alone and be of 400 words or less. Letters should be submitted by Tuesday, 5 p.m. They may be edited for clarity, length or appropriateness as needed. We decline to publish letters that we perceive as personal attacks, even of public figures. We strive for civil discourse over ideas and issues, not personalities. Letter writers must supply their name and contact information. Published letters will only use the writer’s name and city of residence. E-mail letters are preferred.
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Sue Kempf Mayor skempf@lagunabeachcity.net
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Alex Rounaghi Mayor pro tem arounaghi@
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk amckay@lagunabeachcity.net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer lparisi@ lagunabeachcity.net
CRIER, PAGE 11
Memberships at the Memberships at the YMCA of Orange County YMCA of Orange County
MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE:
Family-friendly Facilities
Cardio & Weight Rooms
100+ Group Exercise Classes
Spin Studio
Health & Fitness Challenges
Personal Training
Fitness App
Social Events
Volunteer Opportunities
A Supportive Community And So Much More!
FEE $ The Entire Month of January!
I found more than just my health at the Y - I found a sense of community, fulfillment, and my happy place.
By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy WINTER SPORTS UPDATE
BOYS BASKETBALL (11-7)
Laguna went 3-2 to close out 2023, dropping an 84-59 game at Dana Hills on Dec. 21 and 64-58 to San Clemente in the opening contest at the Coast Classic on Dec. 27 at Estancia.
Against the Dolphins, Laguna really never threatened in the game despite 19 points from Dylan McEachern and five three-point baskets from Mack Thompson. Third time was not the charm against San Clemente, as Laguna dropped their third meeting with the Tritons this season. Breakers played them close, pulling within two points, but could not take the advantage. Dylan McEachen led the team with 23 points.
Laguna closed out their play in the tournament with three straight wins, defeating Irvine 61-57 on Dec. 28, with Ryan Cheng scoring 19 to lead the way. Sam Burchi scored 10 and pulled down 13 rebounds. Laguna leads the all-time series with the Vaqueros 16-7.
McEachern scored 28 points the following day to lead Laguna past
Sports/Schools
SUBMISSIONS
WELCOME BY 5 PM TUESDAY
Ava Knepper, a USC-bound senior, leads the 2024 Laguna Beach Girls Water Polo squad. She is having a year to remember, scoring 44 goals in the first 11 games this season and has pulled off 23 steals and 18 drawn exclusions. Photo/Laguna Beach Girls Water Polo
Heritage/Menefee 80-68. In the Consolation finals on Saturday, Dec. 30, the Breakers held off Fountain Valley 67-62 to finish the year. Sam Burchi scored 20 points and pulled in 15 rebounds to lead the team, while Jack
Halvorson added 17, Ryan Cheng 13 and McEachen 12. Breakers lead the series with the Barons 9-8 and will host them on Jan. 19 at Dugger Gym. Next home game is Friday, Jan. 5, with Edison (16-2), 7 p.m. at Dugger Gym. League play opens on Wednesday, Jan. 10, with Marina (13-4), 7 p.m. at Dugger Gym.
GIRLS BASKETBALL (6-8)
Laguna completed play in the Ocean View tournament with a 5th place finish, defeating host Ocean View 57-52 on Dec. 22 and La Quinta/Westminster 25-19 on Dec. 23. Katie Cheng scored 13 against the Aztecs while Lily Alvarado led the team with 17 points and 11 rebounds against the host Sea Hawks. Sunset Wave League play begins at home on Tuesday, Jan. 9 against Huntington Beach (11-6).
BOYS SOCCER (3-6-1)
Breakers started their final Sunset Conference run when they faced Los Alamitos (5-8-0) on Jan. 3. Laguna will host Newport Harbor (6-1-1) on Jan. 5, 6 p.m. at Guyer Field and begin Wave League play on Jan. 10 at Huntington Beach (2-5-2).
GIRLS SOCCER (7-1)
Laguna was off until Jan. 4, when they visited Marina (2-6-2) for the beginning of the 10-match Sunset Conference play. Breakers are in the Wave League for their final Sunset season with Corona del Mar (8-1-1), Edison (4-3-1) and Fountain Valley (6-4-0). The Breakers will play single games with Marina, Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach and Newport Harbor. Next home contest is Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. with Newport (7-3-1).
GIRLS WATER POLO (6-5, 0-1)
Laguna 5th at Holiday Cup – Big Week Ahead
Laguna went 3-1 in the 27th Bill Barnett Holiday Cup with some stellar play opening on Friday, Dec. 29, defeating Newport’s JV team 215, with Ave Knepper scoring seven goals, and Kara Carver adding five. Emerson Hensley and Claire Turner had three scores each, Presley Jones and Siena Jumani each had four assists. In the quarterfinal match, Laguna lost to Mater Dei 9-8 despite a strong team effort in the game. Knepper scored three goals, while Hensley and Carver each scored twice.
Street Beat
EXCERPTS FROM POLICE LOGS
Tuesday, Dec. 28
DUI. A 40-year-old Sacramento man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held on $2,500 bail.
Possessing a controlled substance. Abigail Ilaan Johnson, 18, of Costa Mesa was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. She was held without bail.
Possessing a narcotic controlled substance. Vaughn Lawrence Lydick, 20, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a narcotic controlled substance. He was held without bail.
Wednesday, Dec. 29
DUI. Nicholas Sean Cortez, 29, of Los Alamitos was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over a BAC level of 0.08 percent. He was held on $5,000 bail.
Disorderly conduct. Daisy Quiroz, 32, of Garden Grove was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct. He was held at $500 bail.
DUI. Diyang Qiu, 35, of Lake Forest was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over a BAC level of 0.08 percent. He was held on $5,000 bail.
Bench warrant. Jady Jo Whittle, 38, of Lake Forest was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. She was held on $2,500 bail.
Exhibiting a deadly weapon (not a firearm), trespassing and burglary.
Justin Marc Kelley, 34, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, trespassing by occupying property without consent and felony burglary. He was held on $51,000 bail.
Thursday, Dec. 30
DUI. A 25-year-old Canoga Park woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. She was held on $2,500 bail.
Possessing alcohol as a minor, altering a driver’s license and obstructing a peace officer. Aidan Stone Delcol, 19, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of being a minor and possessing alcohol, altering a driver’s license and obstructing a peace officer. Bail information wasn’t immediately available.
Court order violation. Felipe Perez, 43, of Long Beach was arrested on suspicion of violating a court order to prevent domestic violence. Bail information was not immediately available.
Friday, Dec. 31
Bench warrant. Steven Michael McVicar, 59, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
DUI. A 44-year-old Irvine woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. She was held on $2,500 bail. Bench warrant. Saul Espinosa Ruiz, 46, of Tustin was arrested on suspicion of two outstanding bench warrants. He was held on $3,500 bail.
Saturday, Jan. 1
Disorderly conduct. Bruce Hung Than, 51, of Santa Ana was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct. He was held on $500 bail.
DUI. Elliott O’Neal Brown, 28, of Inglewood was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of
drugs and alcohol at the same time. He was held on $5,000 bail.
Disorderly conduct. Ralph Andrew Burt Iv, 43, of Mission Viejo, was arrested on suspicion of alcohol-related disorderly conduct. He was held on $500 bail.
Sunday, Jan. 2
No arrests made.
Monday, Jan. 3
Possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, bench warrant. Onofre Rodriguez, 58, of Lynwood was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and paraphernalia and an outstanding bench warrant. He was held on $4,500 bail. Lenny Marcos Gil, 32, of Westminster was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held on $2,500 bail.
GUEST OPINION:
Finding Meaning
Leland Hellewell
Robert “Skip” Leland Hellewell died December 23, 2023, just two days after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. When the doctor somberly informed him of his terminal diagnosis, Skip smiled and said, “It’s been a really great ride!” He wasn’t kidding.
The ride started October 7, 1941, in Sacramento, Calif., where Skip spent his early years with his loving parents, Robert and Nina Hellewell, and nine siblings. At a young age, his grandmother called him the “Skipper,” a nickname that stuck with him his entire life. Some of Skip’s fondest memories were of time spent at the family cabin in Baxter, Calif. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, receiving a degree in mechanical engineering. He later earned an MBA from Pepperdine University.
Skip met the love of his life, Clare Anne Huber, while she was a student at BYU. Skip and Clare were married in 1967 and moved to Southern California, where they raised their six children. This year was their 57th wedding anniversary.
Skip spent his career as a biomedical engineer, including a stint at a successful start-up medical device company. He retired at age 55 but never quite grasped the traditional concept of retirement, reinventing himself as a “by-the-sea” author. He
By Rob Hellewell
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Skip Hellewell. For the past six years, Skip has written the “Finding Meaning” column for the Indy. During that time, he authored nearly 300 articles covering a wide range of topics. Skip greatly enjoyed researching and writing his column. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of Laguna’s history and places, but most of all, he loved its people.
Though he loved the church he attended and was a lifelong member, he also greatly respected the other churches in Laguna and people of other faiths. Curious by nature, he enjoyed attending Friday night Shabbat services, loved the beautiful stained-glass window at Laguna Presbyterian, the reverence during the Eucharist at St. Catherine of Siena, and singing “How Great Thou Art” at Church by the Sea. There was more to Skip than meets the eye. He deeply loved his wife and
spent the next 25 years, in his own words, “entertaining grandchildren and writing on topics of interest.”
Writing projects included Loving Laguna, A Local’s Guide to Laguna Beach; Zion by the Sea, the history of the Laguna Beach congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and family histories Midway to Heaven, and I Love You Truly, e Lessons of Our Lives. He also authored a popular nutrition blog, www. wordofwisdomliving.squarespace. com. He loved Laguna Beach, its people and its quirkiness. At the time of his death, he was working on the 100-year history of his beloved Three Arch Bay community.
A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Skip served as a full-time missionary in Central America, where he remained lifelong friends with the people he taught and served. For many years, he served as scoutmaster, helping dozens of young men achieve the rank
of Eagle Scout. He served twice as a bishop and loved his work as a local church historian.
Skip struck many as quite serious, but a playful sense of humor lurked just beneath the surface. For the several hundred Boy Scouts at Camp Anza in 1983, who reported Bigfoot sightings, that was just Skip running around at night dressed in a full-length gorilla costume. He loved making fake cakes out of cardboard, elaborately decorating them with icing and delivering them to unsuspecting friends. Other practical jokes featured complicated mechanical contraptions, drawn from his engineering knowledge.
Frugality was a fundamental part of Skip’s nature. He washed out and reused plastic garbage and sandwich bags (“Look, good as new!”), refused to buy a gas- or electric-powered lawn mower (“This manual one works just fine!”) and never bought a new car (“Loses 20 percent of its value the
partner of 57 years, Clare (he never actually called her the “beautiful wife” except in his columns). He was a devoted father to six and a doting grandfather to 23. A substantial portion of his life was spent providing service to others.
His hope was that those reading his column would find the deep sense of purpose and meaning he discovered himself during his 82 years. As Skip would say, “There’s meaning in that.”
minute you drive off the lot!”). He lived a life of self-sufficiency, repairing his own vehicles, doing his own painting and plumbing, and was in the process of repairing his roof just before his diagnosis.
If Skip coveted anything, it was more knowledge. He was a voracious reader driven by an intense, lifelong curiosity. His greatest treasures were his family, church, and friends. He was a hard worker, loved researching and writing, and never met a historical site or marker he didn’t like. He maintained a large network of friends and acquaintances, loved striking up conversations with strangers, and making new friends. His wish was to pass down the values and lessons learned in his life to his family and the rising generation.
Funeral services for Skip will be held Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 10 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 682 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach.
Siena Jumani scored from the cage with a pool-length shot midway through the third quarter to tie the score at five. Breakers missed two uncontested shots down the stretch, which could have been the difference. Siena Jumani was exceptional in the cage, with many key stops.
On Saturday, Laguna easily defeated Corona del Mar 19-13 for their 22nd consecutive victory over the Sea Queens, dating back to January 2013. Ava Knepper scored nine goals,
the third-highest in program history, while Emerson Hensley added four. Breakers were able to play their full squad in the contest. In the 5th Place game, Laguna defeated Oaks Chrisitan 11-6 behind four goals from Knepper and two scores each from Kara Carver, Presley Jones, and Sophie Colliday. The squad had led 7-4 against the Lions back on Dec. 16 only to lose 11-10, but at a neutral site, Laguna went up 7-3 this time and stayed on course for the pay-
back victory. Orange Lutheran won the tournament with a 9-8 win over Foothill. Mater Dei defeated Newport 5-4 for third place.
This week: Laguna traveled to Foothill this past Thursday for a meeting with the #3 ranked Knights. This Saturday, Jan. 6, Laguna faces Mater Dei in an 11 a.m. rematch at the Monarch’s pool. Next week, Laguna travels to Corona del Mar for a league game at the Sea Queen’s pool on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Next Friday
and Saturday, Laguna is in the Santa Barbara TOC for another major showdown with the top 10 teams.
WRESTLING
(1-0)
Breakers travel to league favorite Marina for a match on Jan. 10. Have a note/question on Laguna sports/correction/update? E-mail Frank at frank@twometer.net. Looking for the 2023-24 High School schedules and scores? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website.
Above left, the Hellewell family. Above right, Skip Hellewell and his wife, Clare. Photos courtesy of the Hellewell family
place on consecutive Tuesdays between 4 and 5:30 p.m., beginning Jan 30 with the last session on Feb 27. This class is being offered only on Zoom. Click here to register. To RSVP by phone, call 949-7158105 or email christineb@thesusiq. org.
Tickets Available for LBHS Theater Boosters January fundraising gala Laguna Beach High School Theater Boosters are hosting a gala on Jan. 20 at the Woman’s Club called A Night at the Copacabana, featuring former Laguna locals and special guests, Mark Waters, Director of Mean Girls, along with his wife, renowned actress, Dina Waters and a plethora of high school talent. Mark will conduct a Q&A session with the audience about his experience directing Mean Girls. The play adaptation of the movie is this school year’s theater spring musical, which has just been cast and will premiere in March 2024. At the gala, dinner will be included, and a silent auction will be part of the festivities, along with some surprises. The gala promises to be a fun and memorable evening, with the feel of “A Night at the Copacabana” driving the decor and vibe. Please note that The Woman’s Club’s capacity is limited. Ticket information can be found at https:// lbpab.org/theatre.
The LBHS Theater Boosters is on a quest to raise funds for the theater program this year. Not since before COVID have they had any major fundraising efforts. They hope this year’s gala raises enough money to help supplement the costs of our theater director, Meghan Marshall’s wish for her students to attend three thespian festivals while bringing awareness of the program back to the community. As many may know, the high school theater program has a rich history of great entertainment and widespread community support. The Boosters are trying to
restore the program to its former glory.
Orange County to host Global Climate Generation Event: ‘The Climate Generation: Born into Crisis, Building Solutions’
Learn how young people confronted by climate issues around the globe are actively shaping change. A team of journalists from The Christian Science Monitor traveled for eight months to report on the work of young emerging leaders on several continents and will share their stories and photos next month at the Newport Beach Civic Center. The event is especially geared toward environmental groups, nature study groups, climate-oriented organizations, educators, universities, community colleges, high schools and middle schools.
The event is based on a Monitor series supported by the Pulitzer Center and will be held Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach. Reservations are required and can be made by email to csmonitorevent@gmail.com and leaving the name and contact information for each attendee. All are welcome.
Project editor, Clara Germani, shared how the project impacted her: “I was seeing positive connections across the world that give me hope. There was not a single place we traveled to where there wasn’t a sense of a solution focus. [Those interviewed] are taking the first steps of living amid global warming.”
For more information contact Christine Negley, Monitor Distribution Chair, csmonitorevent@gmail.com or chnegley@aol. com or 312-330-6855 to leave a voicemail. Event is locally sponsored by the Christian Science Reading Room at 2436 West Coast Hwy, Ste. 105, Newport Beach.
LAGUNA ART MUSEUM EVENTS
Resolution Mindfulness – Jan. 6 at 10 a.m.
Start your New Year resolution by bringing the whole family together for a day of mindfulness at Laguna Art Museum. This day of guided meditation and visualization, journaling activities, and creative expression will be led by Holistic Certified Professional Coach and Kids Yoga Instructor, Alyssa Linkletter. Participants will set New Year’s goals and decorate a collaborative Wishing Tree for the New Year.
Live! At the Museum: Cantilena Trio – Jan. 7 at 1 p.m.
Cantilena Trio featuring Susan Greenberg, flute; Jon Lee Keenan, tenor; and Kenton Youngstom, guitar is a consummate ensemble and a favorite among audiences. Live! at the Museum is presented in partnership with Laguna Beach Live!
Laguna Live! concerts are partially funded by the lodging establishments and City of Laguna Beach. Advance tickets recommended. Laguna Art Museum members and Laguna Beach Live! members are free. Non-members: $14 per person.
Self Help Graphics & Art: Special Event and Celebration –Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.
Join us for a panel discussion with artists and administrators who will discuss the past, present, and future of Self Help Graphics & Art (SHG) as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Self Help Graphics & Art at a special closing reception for the exhibition. Discussion will include SHG’s support of artists and its role in the evolution of Chicano practices. Speakers are: Cultural leader and former director of Self Help Graphics Tomas J. Benitez; artist Alex Donis whose work is included in the exhibition; SHG Director of Artistic Programs and Education Marvella Muro, and artist Patssi Valdez whose work is also included in the exhibition. The panel will be moderated by Rochelle Steiner, LAM Curatorial Fellow and Guest Curator of Marking an Era: Celebrating Self Help Graphics & Art at 50, which is on view at Laguna Art Museum.
More information about LAM events can be found at www.lagunaartmuseum.org/events.
GUEST OPINION:
How do AI systems “Learn” from the Intellectual Property of Others?
BY MICHAEL MORRIS
Many news stories in 2023 referred to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and systems such as ChatGPT learning from information taken from various sources. Authors, artists, and actors all claim that their intellectual property is being used by AI systems to “learn” and, furthermore, to generate new output that is often indistinguishable from human-generated sources. How is existing intellectual property used for AI learning? What makes the learning and generative processes so computationally and data-intensive? Do the creators of newspaper articles, music, art and other creative output have a legitimate claim to remuneration by these AI system operators?
First, a bit of background. Research in artificial intelligence has been pursued formally since the advent of the digital computer. Over the decades, the theories researchers used to help understand and mimic human intelligence have evolved as successive models succeeded or failed to allow computers to perform in a
Spotlights
Weed abatement project in downtown and city parks: In July 2023, the Public Works & Utilities Department was provided $50,000 to oversee a specialized crew to remove weeds in downtown and the city parks. Maintenance Supervisor Wayne Chintala oversaw the project.
Fountain Repair at the Susi Q Center: The city and the water district worked collaboratively to repair a non-functioning decorative fountain in the exterior seating area at the community and Susi Q Center.
Laguna Beach Community & Recreation Center: Facilitymaintenance team completed numerous projects to prepare the CRC for use by City departments. The work included installing new paint, flooring, HVAC repairs and elevator restoration.
Replacement of Lighting Fixtures at Hagen Place Parking Structure (Lot 14): In October 2023, the Public Works and Utilities Department replaced lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LED light fixtures at the Hagen Place Parking Structure (Lot 14). The work was overseen by maintenance supervisor Wayne Chintala.
human-like fashion. In the seventies, promising research theorized that humans created mental scripts, plans and goals to apply to all situations they encountered and that our brains expanded those to novel situations. Researchers attempted to create rudimentary scripts and plans in computer code to allow a computer program to behave anthropomorphically. These approaches reached their limits quickly due to the difficulty in coding a nearly infinite amount of scripts and goals and the slow speeds at which the computer could match a current situation to an existing script and make the appropriate plans.
As computing power became cheaper and readily available, a more ‘brute force’ approach started to show promise: the neural network. At its simplest, a neural network is a multi-dimensional data structure that is fed with data gleaned from real-world “things.” These “things” range from photographs, music, video, writings and beyond.
These “things” get digitized, categorized and fed into the network’s matrix. Grabbing items from the internet makes the work easy in that they are already digitized and can be inserted in large volumes into the neutral network. Imagine collecting hundreds of digital images of the concept “tree” and feeding them into the neural network with the label “tree.” Eventually, the matrix will be filled with many examples of “trees.” Mathematical formulas will arrive at an average “tree” that the neural network can then use in the future to determine whether new
Annual Nuisance Abatement
Program: During July 2023, the City requested 95 property owners trim their overgrown vegetation as part of the annual Sidewalk and Intersection Visibility Nuisance Abatement Program.
Chevron alignment signs on Laguna Canyon Road: The Street Maintenance Division and Engineering Division worked together to install new chevron alignment signs on Laguna Canyon Road. No traffic collisions have occurred along this portion of roadway since the signs were installed.
Service Requests: Completed approximately 1,600 service requests repairing public facilities in 2023.
Storm/Emergency Response: Prepared for and responded to five significant emergency events, including major storms, wind events and Public Safety Power Shutoffs.
Recycling Events: More than 400 residents safely disposed of approximately four tons of hazardous waste in the City’s annual Paint, E-Waste, and Universal Waste Drop-off event and approximately six tons of paper by participating in the City’s Annual Document Shredding Event. Approximately 300 residents also took home 25 tons of compost at two CompostGiveaway events. Four compost-
digital inputs fit the “tree” category. The neural network can then be said to “understand” the concept of a tree and use it in a generative way (see BrainState-In-A-Box model: A simple nonlinear auto-associative neural network by James A. Anderson). Let’s see what the data for a simple tree might look like and how it would be represented in a simple 2-dimensional matrix in our neural network:
Consider a 10 million by 10 million matrix, and the different trees the network can learn about become realistic and help the system extrapolate other possible tree-like things. This simple example can be expanded to infinite other categories of things, e.g. “music by Mozart”,” “and geographic characteristics of the Mississippi delta”,” in endless variety. The neural network’s matrix can have more than two dimensions; indeed, as many as are needed to completely capture the
ing workshops were offered this year.
Aliso Creek Berm maintenance: Submitted permit applications to regulatory agencies in September for the maintenance of the sand berm where Aliso Creek meets Aliso Beach to the City of Laguna Beach.
American Public Works Association (APWA) Awards: Awarded the APWA Drainage, Water, Wastewater Project of the Year for the Irvine Cove Emergency Backup Generator project.
Guard railing repairs: Repaired or installed guard railings along Cliff Drive, Agate Street, and Acacia Drive.
Traffic calming: Conducted speed surveys and installed traffic calming measures along Temple Hills Drive and Bluebird Canyon Drive to address neighborhood concerns about excessive motorists’ speed.
Sunset Avenue water line rupture: Coordinated restoration of the roadway, slope, and private property damaged because of flow from a ruptured water pipe on Sunset Avenue.
Grant to Improve Roadway Safety: Awarded $200,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety for the development of a comprehensive safety action plan.
unique characteristics of the digitized data being fed into it.
Given the large amount of digitized data a neural network requires to get a realistic representation of everyday concepts, it should come as no surprise that the computing and energy requirements of modern AI systems is huge. Back in the 1980s, using PDP-11 computers, it would require 100s of hours to train a system on one basic concept. It comes as no surprise that the people responsible for creating the examples of things that AI systems build their concepts upon are claiming theft of intellectual property. Enormous amounts of human-created information are fed into the neural network to help it build concepts and, from that, the ability to create new derivatives. But don’t humans do likewise? Doesn’t a novice artist view a lot of art to create concepts such as “Modern Art” or “Neoclassicism” and then build upon those concepts when creating something new? It’s unclear to me that neural networks are taking without remuneration any more than a human does when they view art, read poetry or listen to music and then rely upon that foundation to create something new.
Michael Morris is a Laguna Beach resident homeowner. He served as Laguna Beach’s trustee to the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District and served on the Orange County Grand Jury. Mr. Morris received his graduate degree in Cognitive Science from Brown University. He did AI work at Rockwell Int’l and joined several early AI Companies in the 1980s, including Intellicorp and AICorp.
Coast Highway street resurfacing: Coordinated the resurfacing of Coast Highway north of Ledroit Street and south of Seventh Avenue with Caltrans.
TRANSIT, PARKING, COMMUNITY SERVICES
On-demand transit service: Laguna Local on-demand microtransit service expanded in January 2023 to serve more neighborhoods in North and South Laguna. The service had 63,000 boardings, a 91% satisfaction rating and an average wait time of 8.4 minutes.
Trolley services: There were more than 612,000 boardings on the city’s free trolley services in 2023. Special event trolley services to the summer art festivals and Sawdust Winter Fantasy were expanded.
Senior transportation: The city provided more than $140,000 of city and grant funding to Sally’s Fund to support senior transportation services, including the purchase of new hybrid-electric vehicles.
Parking and Transportation Demand Management report: Completed a comprehensive report assessing the City’s parking needs and developed proposed short- and long-term solutions
to increase parking capacity, improve use of existing parking facilities and reduce neighborhood impacts.
Mobile parking transactions: There were 218,000 Frog mobile parking transactions in 2023, an increase of 56% over the prior year; improvements were made to the Laguna Beach Parking app and a new one-time payment option was introduced.
Parking technology improvements: Replaced single-space parking meters on Laguna Canyon Road and Frontage Road with new multi-space pay stations with “pay by plate” technology. Installed six new pay stations in Aliso Beach parking lots.
Recreation Programs: Provided recreation programs to more than 8,500 community members. Opened and expanded recreation programming at the new Laguna Beach Community and Recreation Center. Awarded $250,000 in Community Assistance Grants, and processed over $1.9 million of revenue transactions.
Special events: Hosted special events including Patriots’ Day Parade, City Youth Track Meet, Brooks St. Surf Contest, college, professional and local beach volleyball tournaments, an outdoor family movie night, July 4 fireworks show, World Kindness Day, LOVE Laguna, preschool Halloween event and Hospitality Night.
Facility updates: Three permanent pickleball courts were added at Alta Laguna Park, resulting in a total of six pickleball courts at that facility. The new Community and Recreation Center opened to the public with volleyball, basketball, futsal, and pickleball programs at the gymnasium weekly, as well as preschool classes, summer camps, and skateboard classes.
Fleet Electrification and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Master Plan: Completed a comprehensive plan that analyzed the feasibility and cost of transitioning the city’s municipal fleet to electric vehicles and installing additional public electric vehicle charging stations. An implementation plan is expected to be finalized this year.
FINANCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES
Financial:
Processed more than 15,600 vendor invoices, resulting in more than 14,500 vendor warrants and 1,100 vendor ACH payments.
Completed and submitted seven annual compliance reports to state and federal agencies and participated in 5 audits conducted by independent third-party auditors as a requirement for funding received by the city.
Prepared over 1,600 journal entries during the calendar year and as a component of the fiscal year-end close.
Processed more than 35,000 timesheets and issued over 10,600 paychecks to city employees.
Administered a city-wide budget of approximately $130 million and processed 40 budget amendments.
Upgraded the city’s network infrastructure, which included replacing 14 network switches at 7 locations and updating the central firewalls for the city hall.
Enhanced the city’s cybersecurity with the development of multi-factor authentication, continued cybersecurity training, and the creation of a City-wide Incident Response Plan established to detect, respond to, and limit the consequences of a malicious cyber-attack.
Deployed over 216 computer devices (laptops, tablets, and phones) city-wide, 23 mobile data computers for Safety vehicles, and 4 new CCTV cameras at the Montage, Marine Safety HQ, and the Surf and Sand Resort.
Implemented police department advanced security door access control system.
HUMAN RESOURCES & RISK MANAGEMENT
Employee Recruitment & Retention: Reviewed over 7,400 applications for open recruitments throughout the city and onboarded 166 part-time employees and 61 full-time employees.
Implemented Job Elephant as a strategic resource for recruiters, optimizing job advertisements by selecting platforms tailored to specific job types. This streamlined approach not only provides valuable data on job performance but also simplifies the process by automating postings across multiple advertising websites, accompanied by a consolidated invoicing system. Revamped the candidate background and onboarding process by integrating an online background platform via Sterling and implementing a paperless I-9 verification process through NeoGov Onboard.
Employee development and engagement: Expanded employee training opportunities to offer more than 25 different in-person, onsite sessions, including The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team for Management, Building a Culture of Collaboration, Leadership 101 (a 4-part series) for 30 frontline employees, customer service in the public sector, and writing letters, memos and emails along with a variety of virtual legal, compliance and skill development training offered through third-party vendors.
Hosted several employee engagement events, including an enhanced employee picnic at Aliso Beach, five summer events celebrating newly adopted City Values, and four Fun Friday theme days for employees. Provided upgraded citybranded giveaways to employees to reflect its commitment to building the Laguna Beach workplace brand and investing in our employees.
Employee Benefits and Wellness: Created and adopted citywide vision, mission and values.
Hosted the second annual Employee Benefits and Wellness Fair with more 24 vendors and enhanced experiences such as a golf simulator, 360 photo booth opportunity and 32 raffle prize opportunities.
Created and implemented the Human Resources & Risk Management SharePoint page, consolidating essen-
) 1/27 COMMON SENSE 1/28 THE FOUR FRESHMEN 2/2 ENGLISH BEAT 2/3 GLENN HUGHES D EEP P u RP l E S ET - 50th Anniversary of Burn
2/6 RICKIE LEE JONES
2/9 FAST TIMES (80
JOURNEY
2/14 OTTMAR LIEBERT
& LUNA NEGRA
2/15 KARLA BONOFF
2/16 PRINCE AGAIN (P R in CE T R ibu TE )
2/17 THE MOTELS
2/18 ALBERT CUMMINGS
2/22 SHAWN PHILLIPS
2/23 BEATLES VS STONES - A Musical Showdown
2/24 DADA
2/25 KEN GARCIA
2/29 FOOZ FIGHTERS / PEARL JAMMED
3/1 G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE
“2 E
ROBERT FRIPP & DAVID SINGLETON
3/3 WALTER TROUT R ECORD R E l E a SE P
3/7 THE BODEANS
3/9 SUPER DIAMOND ( n E il D iam O n D T R ibu TE )
3/13 REVEREND HORTON HEAT
3/14 COLIN JAMES
3/15 THE FENIANS S T . P aT ’
3/23 THE HIGHWAYMAN SHOW (C
3/28 HERMAN’S HERMITS starring Peter Noone
3/29 HERMAN’S HERMITS starring Peter Noone
3/31 LYNCH MOB – The Final Ride
4/4 THE KINGSTON TRIO
4/5 ULI JON ROTH - Interstellar Sky Guitar Tour
4/6 RONSTADT REVIVAL ( l in D a R O n STa
ibu TE ) 4/7 CINDERELLA’S TOM KEIFER 4/10 JOAN OSBORNE ACOUSTIC TRIO
4/11 JIMMIE VAUGHAN
4/12 ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS
4/13 TINSLEY ELLIS
4/14 THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS
4/18 SPONGE
4/19 RICHIE FURAY
4/20 GEOFF TATE
4/21 VONDA SHEPARD
) 5/17 JOHN CRUZ
5/24 DSB (J O u R n E y T R ibu TE ) 5/31 YACHTY BY NATURE
6/14 AMBROSIA
7/20 Y&T 50th Anniversary
GUEST OPINION: GREEN LIGHT
An Alpine Christmas with Our French Family
BY TOM OSBORNE
Our Laguna-born and bred younger son, Todd, lives in the quaint French village of Sallanches, located about a half-hour’s drive from the world-class skiing mecca of Chamonix. He’s now a French citizen, which is a likely outcome of marrying a French woman, Pauline, who wants their very young children to fully imbibe her homeland’s culture. Todd and Pauline live in a large chalet with her parents, Charly and Francoise Mottet. Charly Mottet is a French national bicycle-racing hero,
Spotlights
PAGE 13
tial resources such as policies, benefit information, employee event details, and supervisor resources. This centralized platform enhances accessibility, streamlining employee information retrieval and fostering citywide efficiency.
Established a partnership with FunEx, an employee benefits program offering exclusive access to a diverse range of discounted activities, providing savings on popular attractions such as amusement parks, water parks, movies, zoos and museums.
Introduced Pet Insurance and Legal Shield Insurance as new employee benefits. These additions not only contribute
having finished fourth in the Tour de France twice, come in second in the world championships in Colorado, and briefly in the 1980s, secured the number one world ranking in racing. A street in Sallanches bears his name.
Jet-lagged at the time of this writing and yawning repeatedly, I’ll do my best to relate coherently my top three takeaways from ten days of connecting and bonding with our French family and their spectacular physical environment overlooked by snow-crested Mont Blanc—seen from their living room’s sliding glass door.
First and foremost, family time. This was one of my wife’s and my best Christmases ever. Our older son, Brooks (also Laguna born and bred), flew in from the San Francisco Bay Area with his family, which includes his wife and their two children. With Todd’s two very young children, the chalet where we assembled for meals, chatting, and chess matches for some of us was abuzz with energy and, yes, sheer joie de vivre. Second, food. My wife and I are not foodies. Our fare at home in Laguna is simple and healthy, meaning basically vegetarian. But there is nothing simple about French cuisine. Our daughter-inlaw’s parents prepared highly involved,
to a more comprehensive benefits package but also strategically position the city to attract and retain top talent.
Risk Management: Reached an agreement with the Laguna Beach Firefighters’ Association Local 3684 (LBFA) on the terms of a workers’ compensation Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. An ADR program allows for workers’ compensation claims to be processed with greater expedience and equity, benefiting the employee’s return to work process and reducing the city’s overall workers’ compensation liability costs.
CULTURAL ARTS
Live Music and Events: Engaged thousands of attendees of 250 live music performances.
multi-course meals paired with wines and finished off with an array of cheeses and a dessert. A savory turnip-based soup was enjoyed by all, as was an exotic bacon-wrapped, mold-shaped and baked creation called farsement that took nearly half a day to prepare. Besides these home-cooked feasts, nearly all our excursions in and outside Sallanches included restaurants or other eateries where we bought lunches. On one occasion, our family of ten lunched at a so-called “refuge “in the Alps near Sallanches. The rustic and cozy old inn, with heavily beamed ceilings and a log fireplace aglow, was necklaced by snow. There, we enjoyed a vintage multicourse, country-style French repast served and consumed over a leisurely two-hour period.
Third, a vanishing glacier. A major takeaway for me was seeing France’s longest and largest glacier—Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice).
Poster-sized photos at a view site overlooking the glacier showed the rapid melting that has been occurring in recent decades. European climate scientists have written much on this of late. From the London Guardian, dated March 7, 2023: “Luc Moreau, a local glaciologist who has been study-
Presented special performances by Pacific Opera Company, Circus Bella, and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.
Engaged more than 500 artists to present live music, visual and performing arts events. Distributed “Artist Innovation Grants” to individual artists.
Public art: Installed five temporary sculptures outside ity Hahll and on Laguna Frontage Road. Installed a temporary mural at Alta Laguna Park. Installed one permanent mural on the bridge near the Sawdust Art Festival. Maintained and restored public art pieces in the city collection.
COMMUNICATIONS
City council meetings streamed via
ing Chamonix’s glaciers since 1987, [asserts] every glacier in the valley has melted significantly since the 1990s. His simulations suggest that by the end of the century, with the Alps heating at a rate above the global average, all the glaciers under 3,500 metres will have disappeared.” Some of these scientists project that, based on the current melt rate, by 2100, Mer de Glace will have vanished, only to be seen in historic photographs. The local winter sports economy is already being hit hard by planetary heating. That said, I feel odd saying that the beauty of the French Alps in winter is still enthralling, even knowing what is occurring.
Our French and Bay Area families will be visiting us in Laguna next winter. In the meantime, my wife and I will have to come up with some meal recipes that may rise to French standards. If readers have suggestions (and, better yet, recipes), please forward them to me. Merci, in advance.
Tom Osborne is writing a book-length history of California’s environmental leadership. With his wife, Ginger, he co-leads the Laguna chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. tomosborne@cox.net.
YouTube: Implemented a YouTube live stream option for city council meetings that began with the Nov. 7, 2023 meeting. The YouTube livestream option is one of city council’s priorities in the City’s Communications Plan.
City’s community newsletter: Produced content to publish 51 weekly community newsletters sent to Laguna Beach residents and businesses via Nixle alerts and email.
City Chats podcast: Produced 21 episodes of the Laguna Beach City Chats Podcast with 264 minutes of content.
City’s photo contest: Launched the City’s Photo Contest in October 2023 and received 122 submissions from 45 participants.
CLASSIFIED SECTION
Provide
Provide
Maintain
dures, and practices in compliance with California and federal labor laws and regulations. Provide complex administrative support to a department head and departmental staff.
Support the management of
(hard copies and e-files).
Manage a variety of correspondence from external partners including, DOT, DMV, EDD, NeoGov and others.
Oversee HRIS data integrity, data entry and person-
The City of Laguna Beach is seeking individuals to serve as Ambulance Operators within the Fire Department. The Position: Under the direct supervision of an Operational Fire Captain and the overall direction of the Ambulance Program Coordinator, the Ambulance Operator works to provide emergency ambulance transport services to the City. This position is hourly/ part-time and non-safety.
Application/Selection Process: Applications will be accepted starting Wednesday, January 3, 2024, through Sunday, January 7, 2024. Applications will be screened carefully, and selected candidates will be invited to a Department interview. Interviews will take place on Thursday, January 11, 2024, and Friday, January 12, 2024. The appointing hiring authority will further review the job-related qualifications of those deemed eligible for hire before making selection decisions. If you have applied for this position in the past, you must reapply.
