The Art of Being a New Mom
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
Moms at the Museum, a unique monthly meet-up designed to help guide new mothers of infants up to six months old through the complex world of postnatal care, has hit the ground running at the Laguna Art Museum.
Spearheaded by Laguna Beach resident and holistic postpartum doula Valerie Lynn, Moms at the Museum combines education and socialization with an artistic twist.
“I’m trying to customize the meet-up to how the moms want community and whatever that looks like for them,” said Lynn, who rebalanced herself naturally from postpartum anxiety after her son was born in 2007 by turning to traditional postnatal practices. “I’m trying to give new moms the chance to look at beautiful art and practical tips they can take away. Because new moms can feel isolated, I want them to be in a beautiful space to discuss issues important to them and say, ‘I feel alone’ or ‘I don’t feel good.’ I want to create a safe place for moms to let their hair down.”
The meet-up, which started last November, begins with coffee, tea, and mingling before a LAM Museum educator leads the group on a
Valentine’s Day Offers Loving Reminder to Get Your
Checked by Laguna’s Homegrown Nonprofit
Heart
Heartfelt
Council Grapples with Pickleball Noise at Lang Park
REDUCED HOURS, QUIET PADDLES AND ALTERNATE LOCATIONS AMONG POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
Reduced court hours, quiet paddles and studies into alternative locations are some solutions the Laguna Beach City Council will implement at Lang Park to fulfill the high demand for pickleball courts while addressing noise complaints from Vista Aliso residents, a retiree community located next door to the three pickleball courts at the public park in South Laguna. Originally a tennis court, the council approved its permanent conversion into three pickleball courts in November 2022 after a temporary trial run in 2017. Around the same time, the city began noise studies after residents began to complain, eventually installing an Acoustifence, designed to help muffle sound from pickleball and tennis courts.
“After the fencing was put up we did see a reduction in the decibel level between six and a half and eight and a half decibels,” said Laguna Beach Transit and Community Services Director Michael Litschi at the city council meeting on Jan. 23.
To help soften the effects on residents, city council will reduce the court’s hours by Barbara
McMurray,
Special to the Laguna Beach Independent Hearts are ubiquitous this month as lovebirds and others exchange heartshaped gifts for Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. But February is just another heart-centric month for Holly Morrell and her cardiologist colleague Dr. Dawn Atwal, who think every day not about chocolate hearts, but the essential organ pumping away in everyone’s chests.
The City of Laguna Beach will recognize the two women during American Heart Month for their extraordinary work saving
lives through the early detection of heart disorders that can kill without warning.
In 1999, Morrell founded Heartfelt, a nonprofit organization that offers quick, painless screenings using some of the most reliable detection tools: echocardiogram (ECHO – cardiac ultrasound ) and electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) to detect risks for sudden cardiac arrest, which often results in immediate death. Such tests typically cost at least $1,500 and are not usually covered by insurance.
A survivor of the hereditary heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or
HCM, and seven heart surgeries, Morrell is driven to rewrite the story for others.
HCM has claimed the lives of six of her relatives, including her father and his twin brother. Her life’s goal is to protect others – especially young people and athletes –from the tragedy of sudden cardiac death. One story successfully rewritten by Heartfelt was that of Ali Aga of Laguna Niguel. Aga had successful surgery for her life-threatening heart condition that was discovered at one of Heartfelt’s community
PAGE 7
“Kelly skillfully established a fiduciary relationship with the lender
pleasure.”
HEARTFELT,
PICKLEBALL, PAGE 15
New mothers and babies socialize at Moms at the Museum meet up at the Laguna Art Museum. Clara Beard/LB Indy MOMS AT THE MUSEUM, PAGE 3
PAVILIONS
REUNION KITCHEN
ASADA
JAN’S HEALTH BAR ISLAND DENTISTRY
GRAZIE GRAZIE PIZZERIA
ENDLESS QUEST ROASTERS
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BOAT CANYON WELLNESS COLLECTIVE
• LIVEMETTA YOGA + PILATES
• KENSHO FITNESS
• INSPIRING MOTION
• LAGUNA BEACH AESTHETICS
EMBODI WORKS
HEALING ARTS
SERENITY SKINCARE
THOMPSON THERAPY
MY HAPPY PLACE
SKINDRIP AESTHETICS
SKINCARE LOVE
LAGUNA’S GO-TO DESTINATION FOR GROCERIES, DINING, FITNESS, WELLNESS AND MORE + INDIVIDUAL WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS BOAT CANYON SHOPPING CENTER,
KC AESTHETICS (TWO SUITES AVAILABLE )
Moms at the Museum
1
tour of one of the exhibits.
Then, Lynn and other postnatal care experts like midwives, doulas, newborn care specialists, nutritionists, acupuncturists, and massage therapists share tips and tricks for mom’s self-care and newborn issues.
At December’s meeting, participants had the chance to hear from Lynn, acupuncturist Leilani Wong Navar and Suzi Schwartz, owner of OC Nanny Newborn.
“The turnout for our previous events has really given us a lot of hope for this program because it gives moms a place to come together, be social, find other people in the same place as them, and appreciate art - on top of the fact that they are moms,” LAM Museum Educator Katherine Morton said.
Melissa Nunez, a first-timer to the group, said she came to the meet-up because being a new mother can feel isolating. Connecting with other moms has become her priority.
“After you have a kid, something changes in the brain that programs moms to be more social. Just having a kid, historically, is not a single-parent action. In the past, there was more community,” said Nunez, holding her seven-month-old son Nolan. “Before having a kid, I was fine just being in my house with my partner, watching TV or something. But now, I’m seeking those social connections, so I’m making a bigger effort to come out and do that.”
We
&
We
15 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a yoga mat for their baby to lie on and a blanket for extra warmth, as it can get chilly in the museum.
The group is for babies zero (pregnant) to six months. New dads are also welcome. Snacks and drinks are provided. More information can be found at www. lagunaartmuseum.org/events/ new-moms-at-the-museum-4/
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The next New Moms at the Museum event will be held on Feb.
Valerie Lynn (standing at rear) hosts a monthly meet-up for new moms at the Laguna Art Museum. Clara Beard/LB Indy
St Mary’s Episcopal Church Reverends to Host Imposition of Ashes
On Feb. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m.,
The Reverend Lester Mackenzie AHC, rector of St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach and retired Reverend Deacon Andrea Paddock will provide the service of the Imposition of Ashes at the South Laguna Community Garden Park (31610 Coast Hwy.). This event is part of a national program called “Ashes to Go,” developed to “bring the church out into the community” and offer a convenient way for parishioners to stop by to receive ashes instead of attending the traditional service. Traditionally, on Ash Wednesday, which falls 40 days before Easter, ashes placed on the forehead are meant to remind Christians of their mortality and mark the beginning of Lent.
For many years, Reverend Andrea Paddock, a longtime South Laguna resident, has been coming annually to the Garden Park to provide this service to the community. The Reverends Mackenzie and Paddock are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new members of the community. Please direct ques-
Town Crier
IN AND AROUND LAGUNA BEACH
St Mary’s Episcopal Church Reverends Lester Mackenzie AHC and Andrea Paddock will provide the service of the Imposition of Ashes at the South Laguna Community Garden Park on Feb. 14 at the Community Garden Park. Submitted photo tions to St Mary’s 949-494-3542.
Dick Metz to Speak at the Susi Q
Dick Metz returns to speak for The Laguna Beach Historical Society about his adult years in Laguna Beach on Tuesday, Feb. 20, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Susi Q. Last winter, he gave an excellent presentation titled “Boyhood Adventures in Laguna Beach,” which can be viewed on
ships, world travel and surfing? Come join the historical society to hear Metz relay those areas of his amazing life. With a curious, sharp mind and a great sense of humor, Metz is a wonderful storyteller with a fascinating life who has been a big contributor in shaping business and surf industry culture in Laguna Beach and beyond. The event is free.
LBBC to host ‘Dirty John’ journalist, podcaster and novelist
the society’s YouTube channel, @ lagunabeachhistoricalsociety.
Metz was the original owner of Hobie Surf Shops and, at one time, owned 22 retail stores in California, Florida and Hawaii. Along with Hobie Surf Shop on Forest Avenue, he owned two other stores in Laguna Beach and Spigot Liquor. How does a busy person like this also make time for lifelong friend-
The Laguna Beach Business Club is proud to announce our February 22nd meeting speaker, award-winning journalist, podcaster and novelist, Christopher Goffard. The LBBC holds monthly breakfast meetings starting at 7:30 a.m., hosting speakers who discuss topics valuable to achieving success in your personal and professional lives.
Goffard will discuss the events leading to the creation of a hit podcast and Netflix series, Dirty John, his life’s work as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times and current projects.
At the Los Angeles Times, where
CRIER, PAGE 13
Letters
LETTERS CAN BE MAILED TO: EDITOR@LBINDY.COM
Bottlebrush Trees at Village Entrance are Missed Paul Merritt’s letter ‘Village Entrance aesthetic leaves much to be desired’ (Feb. 2 Indy) addressed what has been on my mind for some time now. I, too, wonder who decided to replace the mature, established, drought-tolerant bottlebrush trees with what he calls “weeds in a gravel patch.”
Having worked in the landscape industry as a nurseryman for many years, I understand how much money all that plant material and new drip irrigation must have cost. It would not be an insignificant sum.
The likely response from the decision-makers would probably be that the replaced plantings are natives, and therefore, it was a responsible decision. However, I believe it is a widespread misconception that native plantings are easy to care for. I know from experience that it takes regular maintenance to keep native plants looking healthy and lush and that those miles of drip tubes will be courting a new crop of weeds, calling for more hours maintenance crews will need to work to keep the median from looking unkempt.
I agree with Mr. Merritt’s assessment; the loss of those colorful specimen trees on the approach to our town has indeed degraded the Village Entrance aesthetic.
Donna Furey, Laguna Beach
Promenade Committee Should Include Residents, Business Owners
Is the City Council majority tonedeaf? Or do they just not care about what residents want?
Mayor Sue Kempf has promoted the promenade since 2020 without giving residents an opportunity to provide meaningful input. This was repeatedly pointed out at the Jan. 23 city council meeting when 20 residents and busi-
CITY HALL MEETINGS:
ness owners blasted councilmembers and railed against the two permanent city-defining promenade plans the council majority hoped to approve. Both plans called for removing virtually all existing Forest Avenue trees.
The promenade was imposed on residents, originally advanced without required public notification by Kempf and then-Assistant City Manager Shohreh Dupuis as a temporary fix for four restaurants during Covid.
Part of their justification was based on a survey they took of Forest Avenue businesses (no residents) – a survey never revealed. No mention of how many businesses were surveyed, whether interviewees were landlords, business owners or salespeople, or what questions were asked. In short, no data, proof or evidence – just their word.
Two public planning workshops were eventually conducted. The first consisted of condescending questions such as, “Which style of garbage cans do you prefer?” That workshop ended
LETTERS, PAGE 18
theIndyPoll
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
Is it a simple process to obtain a city-issued shopper, handicapped, residential, etc. parking permit?
- Yes,70.21% (33 votes)
- No, 29.79% (14 votes)
TOTAL VOTES - 47
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION
Should the city seek more input from residents when it comes to future Promenade plans on Forest Avenue?
- Yes - No
VOTE, VISIT THE POLL TAB AT LAGUNABEACHINDY.COM. SUBMIT POLL QUESTIONS TO CLARA@FIREBRANDMEDIAINC.COM. The LagunaBeachIndy.com poll is conducted using Crowd Signal
Feb. 12 - Recreation Committee at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 - City Council Meeting at 5 p.m.
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By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy WINTER SPORTS UPDATE
BOYS BASKETBALL (12-16, 1-5-
3rd Place – Tie Sunset Wave League)
The Breakers season of promise ended on another disappointing fade as the squad lost 73-72 in double overtime to Huntington Beach on Feb. 1 at Dugger Gym. Following a familiar script, the team had a lead late in the fourth period but lost the advantage, forcing the two extra periods. Five games this season were lost with single-digit deficits. The loss to Huntington snapped a nine-game winning streak against the Oilers, who had last beaten Laguna in 2017. In this contest, Dylan McEachern had 23 points, Sam Burchi 17 points and Jack Halvorson 16. For the season, McEachern ended with 590 points scored – sixth best in 90 basketball seasons. Dylan’s 21.1 season scoring average ranks eleventh alltime- just behind Clyde Cook (1953).
GIRLS BASKETBALL (7-21, 1-5 –3rd Place – Tie Sunset Wave League)
The season concluded on Jan. 31 with another close loss, this time to Marina 43-32, as the Breakers could
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not catch the Vikings (6-0, 19-8).
Individual game statistics were not available.
BOYS SOCCER (7-12-1, 4-2-0 –2nd Place Sunset Wave League)
Julian Reichel scored to lift Laguna to a 1-0 victory over Fountain Valley on Jan. 31 at the Baron’s field and send the Breakers to the playoffs for only the second time in the past
seven seasons. Laguna finished with their best league record in ten years and just missed out on a share of the conference title with Huntington (4-1-1).
Breakers opened their D-5 playoff run at Crean Lutheran (12-4-3) this past Wednesday, and a win would have them either hosting Fairmont Prep (13-1) or playing at Foothill Tech (6-6-3) on Friday, Feb. 9.
Based on common opponents, the Crean-Laguna match is a tossup. Coach Andy Thomas is 15-4-1 in the playoffs with three titles.
2024 Scoring Leaders: 10 – Julian Reichel, 7 – Max Garner, Jax Hutcheon, 3 – Dylan Petrie-Norris
GIRLS SOCCER (9-7-2, 2-3-1 –3rd Place Sunset Wave League)
Hayes Frith scored twice, and Sanae Mitsuka added a score as Laguna defeated Fountain Valley 3-0 on Jan. 31 at Laguna to conclude the 2024 season. Laguna’s CIF Division had 35 automatic qualifying teams, so no at-large slots were available this year. The team’s overall record under rookie coach Max Woodruff was the best in seven seasons and the squad also won their Best of the West tournament division. Final Season Scoring Leaders: 3 Goals: Sydney Ford, Hayes Frith, Sanae Mitsuka
GIRLS WATER POLO (16-11, 5-1 – Sunset Surf Co-Champions)
Breakers opened the top Open Division playoffs on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Monarch’s pool. If the Breakers win, the semifinals will be next
SPORTS, PAGE 17
Laguna Beach wrestlers 2024 CIF qualifiers and alternates (from left to right): Armen Azadozi, James Kramer, Barron Zepeda, Sasha Walshe, Jackson Lawsky, John Rivas, Dylan Delmaro and Caedman Welch. Photo courtesy of LBHS Wrestling
GUEST OPINION: GREEN LIGHT
The Ecology Center and Laguna’s Community Garden Park
By Tom osBorne
Sustainable growing and eating are receiving more public attention now than ever before in my octogenarian lifetime. Books, lectures, periodical articles, blogs and more inform us about healthy foods that are locally, organically, and sustainably grown. Over the past few decades, our family’s meals have shifted away from red meat and most animal sources toward plant-based foods. The same is true for many of our friends.
To better understand this shift, our Laguna chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) recently joined with
several other nearby chapters and toured The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. This 28-acre organic farm affords the people of Orange County an example of the thinking and foodways that are consonant with healthy, sustainable living. On a much smaller scale but with comparable excellence, Laguna Beach’s quarter-acre Community Garden Park, at the south end of town, organically grows a range of vegetables.
Founded in 2008, The Ecology Center started as a dream in the mind of founder/executive director Evan Marks. It now employs 75 workers who tend the crops, run the farm store (that honors SNAP, or food stamps) and school, provide ecologically themed films for the public, operate a restaurant on the property, and much more. The Center reports having between 500 and 800 volunteers. Among the most prominent supporters of the operation is Berkeley’s Alice Waters, the internationally known chef and restaurateur who owns her city’s famed French eatery, Chez Panisse. Waters inspired Michelle Obama to launch her nationwide campaign for organic school gardens.
Twenty-two CCLers in south
Orange County participated in our guided tour of The Ecology Center. Our guide, Jonathan, reminded us that we were standing on the ancestral land of the Acjachemen tribe (called the Juaneños by the Spanish and later Euro-Americans). They practiced organic, sustainable farming, providing a model for today’s Center. Jonathan noted that this property was about all that remained of agricultural Orange County. The goal of the Center was to recapture and adapt to our time that earlier way of indigenous farming. That means growing by four principles of Regenerative Organic Farming: non-pesticide cultivation, soil conservation using low or no tilling, animal welfare, and farmworker welfare, in this case, by paying a wage of $24 an hour. What farming methods or systems are used at the Center? The crops rotate on a four-year cycle to prevent soil exhaustion and maximize output. For example, space allotted to growing corn in one season of the cycle might be replanted with lettuces or tomatoes in another season. “Chop and drop” facilitates the rotation by leaving vegetative residues of an outgoing crop atop the soil to promote the growth of a different incoming
crop. A chicken-raising area provides natural fertilizer for the entire farm. The City of San Juan Capistrano provides the water, which the Center manages scrupulously by using drip irrigation, rainwater capture, and mulching to retain soil moisture.
The Community Garden Park in South Laguna offers on a cameo scale a highly innovative, much needed, and award-winning organic garden, founded in 2009. Our family and dozens of others were among those starting this community garden, planned and eternally championed by Ann Christoph. This public garden has won a slew of awards for design and environmental achievement. Its lore is known in the San Francisco Bay Area, where a teacher in Albany had students read Tom and Gayle Joliet’s book fable, Alani and the Giant Kelp Elf, set in the garden. This green space, moreover, has its own band and holds several festivals each year while providing workshops on how to prune and otherwise care for our plantings. Visiting Tibetan Buddhist monks on several occasions have blessed this little slice of Nirvana.
Beyond growing veggies, the Community Garden Park has grown
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Street Beat
EXCERPTS FROM POLICE LOGS
Monday, Jan. 29
Bench warrant. Jay Scott Jensen, 60, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of a felony bench warrant. He was held without bail.
DUI. Jose Manuel Trejo Perez, 30, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 blood alcohol level. He was held on $5,000 bail.
Tuesday, Jan. 30
DUI. A 34-year-old Fullerton man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held on $2,500 bail.
Wednesday, Jan. 31
Obstructing a police officer, failing to obey a peace officer, refusing to show driver’s license. Jose De Jesus Alvarado Jr, 20, of Santa Ana, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a police officer, failing to obey a peace officer and refusing to show driver’s license to an officer. He was given emergency bail.
Thursday, Feb. 1
Resisting an executive officer, threatening crime with intent to terrorize, exhibiting a deadly weapon. Samuel Nicholas Ostgaard, 31, of Silverado Canyon, was arrested on suspicion of resisting an executive officer, threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, and exhibiting a deadly weapon that’s not a firearm. He was held on $70,500 bail.
Friday, Feb. 2
Shoplifting. Valerii Cobzac, 35, of Las Vegas, was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting. She was held on $500 bail.
Green Light
10
friendships throughout south Laguna and our entire town. At the height of the COVID pandemic, the Community Garden Park was my refuge, my place of beauty and solace. Both The Ecology Center and our Community Garden Park are pointing a way forward amid the tumults of our time. Let’s visit and support these spaces. It’s in our enlightened self-interest to do so.
Tom Osborne is an environmental historian and co-leads with his wife, Ginger, the Laguna chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. tomosborne@cox.net.
Shoplifting. Liudmila Dopca, 37, of Las Vegas, was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting. She was held on $500 bail.
Saturday, Feb. 3
Possession of a controlled substance, DUI. Pierce Robert Glen, 22, of Lake Forest, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He was held on $3,000 bail.
Shoplifting, possession of a controlled substance. Kjell Cody Thoresen, 36, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, paraphernalia and shoplifting. He was held on $1,500 bail.
False imprisonment, causing harm to dependent adult, attempting to dissuade a witness, damaging a wireless communication device, threatening crime with intent to terrorize. Edward Siu Nam Cheng, 30, of Newport Coast, was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment with violence, causing harm to a dependent adult or elder, attempting to dissuade a witness, damaging or destroying a wireless communication device and threatening crime with intent to terrorize. He was held on $140,000 bail.
Sunday, Feb. 4
Attempted murder. Jack Edward Cox Jr, 56, of Mission Viejo, was arrested on suspicion of felony attempted murder. He was held on $500,000 bail.
DUI. Scott Michael Bakkum, 60, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He was held without bail.
Monday, Feb. 5
No arrests recorded.
Tuesday, Feb. 6
No arrests recorded.
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Suspended license. David Segura, 18, of Santa Ana, was arrested on suspicion of driving on a suspended license. He was held without bail.
Bench warrant. Garrett William Delvaux, 32, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. Bail information wasn’t immediately available.
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GUEST OPINION: RANDOM GUY NOTICES STUFF
Gardening in Aliso Canyon with Farmer Leo
By GAry sTeWArT
In 1871, the Thurstons arrived by wagon from Utah and picked a prime spot next to Aliso Creek, amongst the earliest Laguna homesteaders. Aliso Canyon was farmed and used to have “vineyards and orchards and animal paddocks.”
Cue Ryan Goldsmith, aka “Farmer Leo,” who operates a farm that is part of the complex of activities that constitute The Ranch at Laguna Beach.
Acknowledging the history, the farm entrance is from the Elizabeth Dolph Girl Scouts Camp, dating to
1935. Regular Scout activities continue, leapfrogging back over years of neglect.
I met Leo when he was on a panel of experts at a screening of the sustainable farming documentary “Common Ground.” This article resulted from an extended interview and tour of Leo’s creation.
Situated on the north side of Aliso Creek, next to a stand of eucalyptus that provides perches for hawks and owls watching for mice and gophers, visitors are welcomed by 50-foot standard beds of luscious veggies.
Multiple blue tubs of organic kitchen waste arrive daily from the kitchen, along with shredded paper (for aeration), from The Ranch offices. This is transformed over three to four months into the rich compost that is the garden’s sole fertilizer. The now rich, dark, soft soil is “no-till.”
“As a farmer, my real role is to improve the soil,” Farmer Leo says. These are primary features of regenerative farming, increasing the soil’s carbon content.
Leo rotates cover crops to replace lost nitrogen (peas and beans), break up clods (oats) and create “green manure” (hairy vetch), which
undergo “chop and drop,” to provide additional nutrients and mulch cover. His frugality shows in that the cover crops also serve as salad greens.
Leo coordinates regularly with the Harvest restaurant Executive Chef, Kyle St. John, who is game for “anything, anytime.” Leo provides around 100 pounds per month of seasonal, delicate, textured, colorful, and “lofty” varieties for salad mixes, where freshness is crucial. Leo also grows flowers (some edible, for soups, salads and cocktails) to supplement his use of the canyon’s natural flowering plants to grace the restaurant’s tables. He brings the waitstaff out to help them tell diners about it and learn from them what customers are asking.
I was tasting as we went along, of course, to verify the freshness.
Past a row of classic wood picnic tables for events is the coop of 25 chickens (these turn the garden into a farm). This is the source of the eggs used at Harvest for pasta dough.
Are the methods Leo uses practical for the average backyard gardener? “Yeah… it’s definitely applicable.”
Leo said that failures happen “every year… it’s a constant gamble.” Leo had to learn the hard way that freezing air overflows the creek into the low-lying section of the garden. He swears it is “the coldest spot in Laguna.”
Leo hosts the Laguna Beach High School environmental group FLOW (Fire, Land, Ocean, Water) for a two-day farming experience twice a year, the Mission Viejo Garden Club has an upcoming visit, and a marine biology group, as well. (Hint: Are you listening, Laguna Beach Garden Club?)
STEWART, PAGE 17
Past the compost line is the greenhouse, where seedlings are grown. Two seeds go into each cell of soil in the sprouting trays. When they have two sets of leaves and are about three inches tall, Leo keeps just one sprout per cell, transplants them into the garden, and covers the soil with a loose “pick-up sticks” layer of straw to suppress weeds and retain moisture provided by a drip irrigation system. Leo is so water-conscious that he recycles the rinse water from preparing the crops for the kitchen.
Find Jewelry that Makes Your Valentine's Heart Skip a Beat
GUEST OPINION:
The Day Everything Changed
By Denny FreIDenrICH
Former President Barack Obama was too young to remember the watershed event, but I’m sure if you ask Joe Biden, Donald Trump, George Bush, or Bill Clinton, they all could tell you where they were the night the Beatles first appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” 60 years ago.
That’s not to discount other historical events of the 1960s, such as the Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War, or the moon landing. But when John, Paul, George and Ringo first belted out their songs on American soil, I’ll bet you a dozen electoral college votes everything changed for all the future presidents that night, just as everything changed for me.
Sunday night, Feb. 9, 1964, an estimated 73 million of us — an astonishing 40 percent of the available
Town Crier
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Goffard has covered crime and courts extensively, he was part of the Pulitzer-winning team that exposed corruption in the city of Bell. He has also twice been a Pulitzer finalist for feature writing. His book, “Snitch Jacket” was a finalist for the Edger Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel in 2008, and his blockbuster podcast Dirty John was adapted for TV and ranked by Rolling Stone among the two greatest true-crime podcasts of all time. His serialized podcasts Detective Trapp and The Trials of Frank Carson are being developed for television. Goffard’s latest book, “Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders” is a collection of his newspaper stories.
Club meetings begin with a buffet breakfast and brief networking roundtable. Meetings are hosted at Nirvana Kitchen and Pantry, 303 Broadway St., # 101, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Non-members are welcome. The non-member guest fee is $30, payable by check
audience, equal to around 125 million in today’s viewership — watched four English lads pound musical history into our lives. The Beatles had arrived, and with them came a sense of joy — “Yeah, yeah, yeah” — and relief. Only ten weeks earlier, we had been mourning the murder of JFK.
Before the Beatles’ invasion, teenage boys sported closely cropped hair; our favorite bands included the Everly Brothers and the Beach Boys, and we were still getting used to Lyndon Johnson.
Suddenly, none of that mattered.
By Monday morning, change was in the air. Many of us headed off to school that day, having decided to let our hair grow longer. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was rocking the charts, and few paid attention to the new president. Sociologists said this phenomenon would pass in a few months. Wow, were they wrong.
Within a year, sideburns were bushy, Beatles paraphernalia had flooded the marketplace, and that war with few heroes quietly advanced. By the time I graduated from high school in 1966, I was a self-appointed Beatles know-it-all (“The real meaning behind the banned record cover is …”) and a troubled believer in Vietnam. With the release of “Eleanor Rigby,” social commentary played an ever-increasing role in their music.
Four years at USC proved challenging yet disillusioning. The Beatles introduced their magical mystery tour as the nightly news simultaneously
broadcasted the horrors of Indochina into our homes. Beards soon replaced sideburns and campus riots replaced sock-hops. Songs like “Give Peace a Chance” and “Hey Jude” weren’t simply mega-hits; they were America’s new national anthems. Like Bill C., George W., The Donald and Joe, I avoided fighting in Vietnam (despite being selected first in the 1969 draft lottery).
These were changes that, if you were twentysomething back then, you spent much of your time absorbing or avoiding. I don’t know which of these the current and former presidents embraced. All I know is the changes were real for me and my generation.
Initially, John, Paul, George and Ringo personified baby boomers’ brightest hopes. The Beatles bridged the gap between black and white and young and old. Through them, suburbia discovered drugs, and the Boston Pops discovered rock’ n’ roll. Toward the end of their run, the idyllic images turned to nightmares, much as “Michelle” gave way to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
Some music experts claim the Beatles were responsible for widening the intellectual boundaries of rock, thus making it a more flexible and acceptable art form. I am not smart enough to know whether this is true or not. But I know how music changed, and you can hear it in almost every song out today.
No one can turn back the clock, so trying to “get back to where you once
belonged” is futile.
As the late, great P.J. O’Rourke once wrote in Time Magazine, “The majority of Americans alive today hadn’t been born yet in the 1960s. But we of a certain age (the age that grips levers of power, pulls strings of purse and has the biggest mouth) can’t stop reliving each moment.
“Partly it’s the poignancy of the decade. It started so well. Handsome young couple in the White House, recovery from the 1960 recession, the Pill, upbeat message movies like ‘101 Dalmations’ and ‘Spartacus,’ Hugh Hefner’s illuminating ‘Playboy philosophy’ and the clean-cut Kingston Trio leading sing-alongs in short-sleeve shirts with big, wide, cheerful stripes.
“Then it went so wrong. Shooting and killing, and troops in combat gear, not only in Watts and Detroit but all the way over in Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. Feminists were suddenly angry for some, as far as men could tell, feminine reason. I had to maintain a C average to avoid the draft. Turns out you can’t fly after you take LSD. There was a war on poverty. We lost. And it rained at Woodstock.”
All true, P.J., but those changes in ourselves and in our world are what we have in common. They are what the Beatles symbolized for me, future presidents and for us all.
Longtime Laguna resident Denny Freidenrich was 15 years old when the Beatles arrived in America.
to the Laguna Beach Business Club or by cash the day of the meeting. Space is limited. Guests, be sure you receive RSVP confirmation. For more information about the LBBC or to register to attend the meeting, either visit the website at lagunabeachbusinessclub.com, or write at: Info@ LagunaBeachBusinessClub.com.
The Day of Love is here to celebrate with R Star
Instead of flowers and chocolates that soon wither or are consumed, why not give a Valentine’s gift that keeps on giving? This Valentine’s Day, consider supporting the R Star Foundation by gifting a goat to a woman and her family in need.
R Star Foundation is a tax-deductible nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of impoverished women in Nepal. Its mission is to provide education, healthcare, and sustainable community development projects to the people of Nepal. By choosing to gift a goat through
the R Star Foundation, you’ll be sharing love and compassion with those who need it most.
To learn more about the R Star Foundation, visit the website at www.rstarfoundation.org, email Rosalind@RStarFoundation.org or call 949-497-4911.
LOCA Art Talks features fascinating artists each month
LOCA Arts Education is collaborating with Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) in presenting Mentor Paint Togethers for a special opportunity to learn from notable LPAPA artists as they demonstrate their drawing and painting techniques in easy-to-follow step-by-step processes. Registration is now open for online and on-location classes.
The online series makes it easy to learn from anywhere. After registration, students will receive a list of needed paints and supplies, a live broadcast link, a question-and-answer opportunity, and a pause-and-
play recording for ongoing use. Subjects include Laguna Seascape with Jeff Sewell Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Coastal Atmosphere with Michael Obermeyer Mar. 12, and Laguna Scenery with Wendy Wirth on Apr. 16.
The on-location classes, taught outdoors from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Laguna Beach’s most iconic plein air painting sites, will be taught by watercolorist Eileen McCullough on Apr. 12, Carole Boller on May 4 and Rick Delanty on May 18.
For workshop reminders and registration updates, and to view a short video about the shorelines, plants, and landmarks the artists will be painting, email LOCA@ LOCAarts.org. Advanced registration is required. The cost is $50 for visitors and $30 for LOCA or LPAPA members. Visit the education pages at LPAPA.org or Art Escapes pages at LOCAarts.org.
by 30 percent starting March 1.
The Lang Park pickleball courts will be closed Mondays, open Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays - 8 a.m. to dusk, Thursdays - 8 a.m. to noon, Fridays - 8 a.m. to dusk, Saturdays - 8 a.m. to dusk and Sunday - 9 a.m. to dusk.
“Even though I’d like the park and the pickleball courts to remain open as they are now, I think this is a fair compromise,” resident and pickleball player Monica Simpson said at council meeting.”I’m okay with the reduced hours, but I think a lot of people will be upset about it. It is heavily used, and the need has increased since 2017.”
The city will also purchase 50 “OWL” paddles, a new quiet paddle technology released last November that USA Pickleball says “delivers a hertz level below 600 and a decibel level below 80.”
“For comparison, industry-standard pickleball paddles register 1,100 to 1,200 hertz and a near-harmful decibel range of 85 plus when striking a ball,” according to a release from pickleball’s national governing body.
The quiet paddles and balls, which the city will sell at cost to pickleball players, will be mandatory in all city-sponsored pickleball classes, and the city will promote their use at Lang Park.
The City Council has also requested
staff to explore other locations for pickleball courts, including Moulton Meadows Park at the far northeast end of the park bordering the County property, Alta Laguna Park on the grass area behind the existing pickleball courts, resulting in four tennis courts and nine pickleball courts, converting a third existing tennis court at Alta Laguna Park to three new pickleball courts, resulting in three tennis courts and nine pickleball courts, and the inland side of Aliso Beach Park.
Council approved $80,000 from the
General Fund to be used for the environmental analysis of these potential locations.
Finally, city staff will work with Vista Aliso’s property manager to see if multi-pane windows can be installed to help muffle the sound of pickleball play.
Susana Cruciana said she and her neighbors at Vista Aliso are grateful to the city council for digging deeper into the pickleball noise issue; however, despite the ongoing studies and mitigation efforts, the consistent and loud
“pop, pop” of a wooden paddle slapping a plastic wiffle ball is still plaguing some residents, many of whom are retired and live on a fixed income.
“For the past two years, I’ve been standing on my deck, on the sidewalk and the decks behind me, taking decibel readings. Pickleball has overwhelmed my life,” said Cruciana, whose small second-floor terrace overlooks the Lang Park court.
Cruciana asked council to convert the court back to tennis and move pickleball play away from residential homes.
“Even if the hours are shortened, our agony is only shortened by a few hours,” she said. “Pickleball doesn’t belong 25 feet from anyone’s residence.”
She added that the California Civil Code Section 3480 defines a public nuisance as “affecting an entire community, or any considerable number of persons or individuals.”
“I think the big issue for me is not just the pickleball and the noise, but the lack of respect,” said Patrick Cannon, who also lives at Vista Aliso.
“It’s a profound lack of respect for the people who live here. You won’t find a pickleball court in the United States that is just 25 feet away from residents. You never will.”
Pamela Grimes prepares to return a serve from Diane Russell at the Lang Park pickleball court. The Vista Aliso senior housing community sits just behind the green Acoustifence.
Clara Beard/LB Indy
GUEST OPINION: WISDOM WORKOUT
Your Capacity to Love
By sUsAn mCneAL VeLAsQUeZ
Since Valentine’s Day will be over by the time I write to you again, I thought I’d help get you prepared. After all, it’s the official day to express your love, or as the jewelry commercials promise: “There is true love here. In diamonds.”
Feeling a little intimidated? Are you finding it hard to muster up the exuberance to showcase your appreciation so that your significant other
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cardiac screening events. Aga has completely recovered and is now a healthy, active college student at Southern Methodist University. She volunteers to assist at Heartfelt screenings when she is home from school.
Cardiac arrest – the heart’s sudden cessation because of a disruption in its electrical current, usually resulting in sudden death – is entirely different from heart attack, often associated with lifestyle and diet. Athletes have a greater chance of sudden cardiac arrest because their hearts work harder.
There are several common causes of sudden cardiac death. The most prevalent is (HCM), a thickening of the heart muscle that can cause restricted blood flow. One person in about 400 has it. Heartfelt screenings can turn up congenital abnormalities (malformed heart structure at birth); myocarditis (resulting when a virus infects and weakens the heart); dilated cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart); Long QT syndrome (irregular heartbeat and fainting are common symptoms); Marfan syndrome (common in very tall individuals); WolffParkinson-White syndrome (an extra electrical pathway exists in the heart).
Dr. Atwal of Laguna Beach Cardiology, one of Morrell’s partners in her quest to save lives, is a sports fan whose dream was to screen young people and athletes for cardiac abnormalities.
She voluntarily supervises screen-
feels loved and cherished?
Or are you presently a party of one in a Noah’s Ark world?
No matter which description fits you, in honor of this upcoming Valentine’s Day, let’s take a quick trip into the past to excavate your hidden storehouse of love energy.
Begin to rewind your mind. Here is the task. You are looking for pivotal points, magical moments, take-yourbreath-away encounters, and sacred interventions. The good stuff of life.
What do I mean? If I asked you to evaluate your day-to-day reality, you would probably respond with mixed reviews. “It’s okay. Acceptable. Awful. So-so. I’d give it a five. It’s been better.”
There are also those moments, chance meetings, and serendipitous events with your name on them. It is those magical experiences that have the power to transform the quality of your life forever.
I want to pause here to give you time to recall three experiences from your past that opened and expanded your sense of yourself as loveable, capable, and in tune with your best
self.
Yes, three. There is no room for stinginess here.
Now, bring your mind into the present. Who is currently a part of your life that you can genuinely say: “I wouldn’t have missed the experience of you for the world.” What opportunities or tasks are you presently involved in that you can honestly say: “I wouldn’t have missed the experience of doing this for the world.”
If you can discover just one person, one task, or one experience that you accept wholeheartedly, you can recalibrate your attitude and increase your capacity to love yourself and your life. You can immediately repair your connection to your life’s basic goodness and rightness.
Simply admitting and embracing even one full, clear, yes moment can naturally and fully open you to the opportunity to own the following important, basic truths.
Every single event and experience you have had the fortune or misfortune to have had to happen exactly when, where, and how it did so that
you would be in the right place to meet that special person, land that ‘I was made for this’ job, live in your personal paradise, birth the baby, idea, business, or relationship that infuses your life with love.
When you find yourself impatient with life, numbed by the mundane, and longing for the magic of synergistic life events, take a deep breath and remember this: What you are seeking is also seeking you.
Secondly, if we are honest with ourselves, it is easy to get in the way of positive change because we become over-zealous in our quest to improve our lives.
To counteract demands that life do your bidding, adjust your ability to be open, accepting and receptive because a deeper truth is that life always makes the first move.
Happy Valentine’s Day 2024. Susan has produced and facilitated workshops in the Human Potential Field for over three decades and is the author of Beyond Intellect: Journey into the Wisdom of Your Intuitive Mind. www.susanvelasquez.com
ings, reads and interprets results, and frequently offers one-on-one consultations with families whose loved ones have been identified as having a heart condition. She even gave Morrell a key to her office to make weekend screenings in a medical setting possible. Those who prefer a more private environment can arrange for home Heartfelt screenings. Additionally, employers can offer a life-saving perk to employees by engaging Heartfelt for a company-wide cardiac screening event at their offices.
Atwal noted, “One to two percent of the individuals screened by Heartfelt have a serious heart issue. Through Holly’s efforts, nearly 60,000 people have been screened, saving thousands of lives over 25 years. I find this work very rewarding and will continue to do it until I can’t do it anymore.”
According to Morrell, screening for hidden heart abnormalities should be available to all, regardless of ZIP code or income. Community event screenings are $100 as a suggested donation, but scholarships are available.
“We offer this service at a fraction of the actual cost, even though this is becoming an increasingly tall order, given the expense and effort involved. But I am here today because of detection and awareness. I want to prevent needless tragedies. Heartfelt is filling a need and saving lives.”
To schedule a screening or donate, visit https://heartfeltscreening.org
Ali Aga (center), whose life-threatening heart condition was detected at a Heartfelt screening in 2018, is now a busy SMU student who volunteers at Heartfelt screenings when she’s home from college. When Aga was a 14-year-old on the Dana Hills High School tennis team, she thought her racing heart was normal. Dr. Dawn Atwal of Laguna Cardiology, left, and Holly Morrell, founder of Heartfelt, work to avoid preventable deaths from sudden cardiac arrest through Morrell’s nonprofit. Photo/Heartfelt
Wednesday, Feb. 14, against either Oaks Christian or Foothill, and the team will also qualify for the State Regionals on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Breakers are 59-17 in 24 years of section playoffs and 10-3 in the State Regionals. The squad has won seven section titles and two State regional titles in the program’s history.
WRESTLING (3-2- 2nd Place Sunset Wave League)
Four Wrestlers Advance to CIF Laguna had eight wrestlers score in the Sunset League Championships held at Edison on Feb. 3 with four individuals qualifying for the CIF individual meet.
2nd place - Senior - Jackson Lawsky 11lbs
3rd place - Senior - Barron Zepeda 120lbs
3rd place - Freshman - Sasha Walshe 120lbs
4th place - Senior - John Rivas 126lbs
CIF alternates: 5th place - Senior - Caedman Welch 144lbs, 5th placeJunior - James Kramer 165lbs
Two 6th place league placers were Senior Dylan Delmaro 190lbs, Freshman Armen Azadozi 175lbs
The three boys will advance to the Inland Division CIF Championships on Feb. 9 and 10 at Fountain Valley to compete against seven other leagues. The top finishers will then attend the Masters Meet in Palm Springs on Feb. 16.
Walshe will compete in the Girls Eastern Division meet at Marina High School on Feb. 17 as the top Sunset wrestlers will compete against 11 other leagues. The top finishers will advance to the Girls Master Meert on Feb. 17 at Palm Springs High School.
In last week’s CIF dual matches: Against Indio:
Caedman Welch, Senior, of the 150 pound weight class wins by pin
James Kramer, Junior, of the 157 pound weight class wins by pin
Coby Busick, Freshman, of the 165 pound weight class wins by pin
Armen Azadzoi, Freshman, of the 175 pound weight class wins by pin
William Hanke, Junior, of the 106 pound weight class wins by pin
Jackson Lawsky, Senior, of the 113 pound weight class wins by decision
Barron Zepeda, Senior, of the 120 pound weight class wins by pin
John Rivas Henrici, Senior, of the 126 pound weight class wins by technical fall
Maximus Barrow, Senior, of the 138 pound weight class wins by pin
Against Chino:
James Kramer, Junior, 157 pound weight class, was the only victor after winning his match via pin and earning 6 points for Laguna Beach.
SPRING SPORTS START NEXT WEEK
The Spring season is starting next week, and the Breakers will compete in eight varsity sports, including two co-ed teams.
Baseball: Newport Elks Tournament opens at Trabuco Hills on Feb. 13. First home game is Thursday, Feb. 15 against Esperanza.
Boys Golf: Squad opens at El Toro on Feb. 26.
Girls Lacrosse: Competition starts on Feb. 13 with Irvine and Feb. 15 at Tesoro.
Girls Beach Volleyball: The Breakers open at Crean Lutheran on Feb. 13 and will host Aliso Niguel on Main Beach Thursday, Feb. 15, in the afternoon.
Swimming & Diving: Dual meets start in March.
Boys Tennis: Season opens next week with Tesoro on Feb. 13 and Sage Hill on Thursday Feb. 15.
Track & Field: Competition begins in March with the annual Trophy meet set for March 15-16 on Hulst Oval.
Boys Volleyball: The season opens at the Portola Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Softball and Boys Lacrosse will not compete at the varsity level.
Have a note/question on Laguna sports/correction/update? E-mail Frank at fa1949@cox.net.
Looking for the 2023-24 High School schedules and scores? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website.
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Leo is acutely aware that his little oasis is not 100% “natural,” like the 30,000 acres of contiguous Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park his garden borders. “I’ve seen bobcats jump into the garden while I’m here,” and a location ping for a mountain lion was “right here.”
He recognizes that his garden is a major disruption to what would otherwise naturally be there, almost as much as putting a building would be. That increases the challenge to work with the site, not “control it.”
As Farmer Leo puts it, “It’s not a battle. It’s a dance.”
Dr. Stewart, a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, stopped in Nashville and St. Louis for education before arriving in Southern California in 1977. A happily married internal medicine physician with three accomplished children, he is equally enthusiastic about the arts (piano player, art collector, bachelor’s in English, widely read), the sciences (physician, climate activist with Citizens’ Climate Lobby) and fun.
C ert e xperien C e )
2/10 JOURNEY USA (J ourney t ribute )
2/14 OTTMAR LIEBERT
& LUNA NEGRA
2/15 KARLA BONOFF
2/16 PRINCE AGAIN ( p rin C e t ribute )
2/17 THE MOTELS
2/18 ALBERT CUMMINGS
2/22 SHAWN PHILLIPS
2/23 BEATLES VS STONES
2/24 DADA
2/25 KEN GARCIA
2/29 FOOZ FIGHTERS / PEARL JAMMED
3/1 G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE
3/2 “2 e nglishmen A bro A d ” A n e vening w / ROBERT FRIPP & DAVID SINGLETON
3/3 WALTER TROUT r e C ord r ele A se p A rty
3/7 THE BODEANS
3/8 THE TUBES
3/9 SUPER DIAMOND
3/10 DOUG STARKS Himself ( e vening of m usi C & C omedy )
3/13 REVEREND HORTON HEAT
3/14 COLIN JAMES
3/15 THE FENIANS s t p At ’ s d Ay C elebr Ation
3/16 ARMAGEDDON / MOTLEY 2
3/17 ROD The MOD ( r od s tewA rt t ribute ) / FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE ( p eter f r A mpton t ribute )
3/21 X 3/22 X
3/23 THE HIGHWAYMAN SHOW
3/24 NELSON
3/28 HERMAN’S HERMITS
3/29 HERMAN’S HERMITS
3/30 WAYNE NEWTON
3/31 LYNCH MOB – The Final Ride
4/4 THE KINGSTON TRIO
4/5 ULI JON ROTH
4/6 RONSTADT REVIVAL
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
4/25 ISRAEL VIBRATION & Roots Radics
4/26 FIVE FOR FIGHTING with s tring Q u A rtet
4/27 KIDS OF CHARLEMAGNE 4/28 BOB ANDERSON ( f r A nk s in Atr A t ribute )
5/5 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS
5/7 BLUES TRAVELER
5/8 JUDY COLLINS
5/9 CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO
5/15 MR BIG 5/17 JOHN CRUZ
5/18 VENICE
5/19 THE LETTERMEN
5/22 THE WAILERS
5/24 DSB (J ourney t ribute )
5/31 YACHTY BY NATURE
6/6 HOWIE DAY 6/14 AMBROSIA
PAGE
in infuriated chaos. In the second session, the consultants basically said, “Here are two plans – pick one.” This approach has resulted in wasting a quarter of a million dollars on two unacceptable plans rejected in part by the overpowering public rebuke at the council meeting. Please see those comments at the 3:15 point of the Jan. 23 meeting, which can be found on the City of Laguna Beach website. Despite having mismanaged the process, the council majority has appointed Kempf to head a new committee to review future promenade development with direction that’s supposed to include residents and promenade retail business owners. Yet Kempf is already espousing her plans and denying others when the idea of the committee is to solicit all possible solutions.
For instance, in the OC Register, Kempf stated, “We want the whole street designated for (liquor sales), where restaurants can serve alcohol without having to rope areas off.” Do residents truly want to turn the promenade into one big bar?
Councilman Weiss said, “The promenade has been in place for three years, yet we have no truly independent data on how many residents versus visitors use it, how long they stay, and what they do – much less its impact on sales.” (So much for datadriven councilmember talk.)
There is no way this “committee” should exist without independent residents and promenade retailers permanently serving on it – not just pro-business councilmembers and cherry-picked city staff designees. Contact all councilmembers at citycouncil@lagunabeachcity.net and tell them what you think. Silence only encourages them to ignore you.
Jerome Pudwill, Laguna Beach
Take Advantage of Sally’s Fund
Attention seniors and friends of seniors: Sally’s now has four vehicles
and friendly drivers to take you anywhere in South Orange County to do whatever you plan to do. When you are done, they will wait to take you home. Write down Sally’s booking number, 949-499-4100, now for future reference. I go to the Susi Q on Third St. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for bingo conversation and games at 10 a.m. and then lunch at 11:30 a.m. Remember, Susi Q has groups for everything from yoga to bridge and offers many services, including personal counseling. Call 949-7155462, 72 hours before the Monday, Wednesday or Friday you plan to have lunch and bring $5.50 as the suggested donation. I also go shopping, to the bank, to doctor’s offices, and to Laguna Hills with Sally’s. Sally’s operates weekdays only and offers complimentary group lunches for all riders at restaurants in south Orange County to provide a nice meal and conversation. Trips to Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and other stores are offered, too. A suggested donation is requested for all trips. Remember, it’s Sally’s you want when going someplace in town or south Orange County.
Roger Carter, Laguna Beach
Mancuso’s Bipartisan Stance on Utility Tax
Judie Mancuso campaigned as the Democratic candidate for the California State Assembly, District 72, two years ago, losing to Republican Diane Dixon. She is currently a candidate for Laguna Beach City Council for the third time.
In a column in last week’s Indy, she proclaimed her opposition to a new California law. She said, “The state legislature adopted a law” that imposes an income-based Utility Tax. But blaming “the state legislature” is vague and disingenuous. The Democratic Assembly members voted 60 to 0 in favor of the tax. The Republican members voted three in favor and 13 opposed (three were absent). The State Senate was similar:
Democrats 27 to 0 in favor of the tax, Republicans zero in favor, and 8 opposed.
California state government is completely dominated by the Democratic party, including super-majorities in both the Assembly and State Senate. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Controller, Insurance Commissioner, and Secretary of State are all Democrats. No Republican has been elected to any state office. Also, both Senators in Washington are Democrats.
California voters overwhelmingly prefer Democrats. Judie Mancuso, a certified Democrat as of two years ago, is running for City Council in Democrat-majority Laguna Beach but touting her “bipartisan” stance opposing a state law enacted by Democrats. It will be interesting to see how her latest campaign strategy plays out.
Joel Harrison, Laguna Beach
Building New Pickleball Courts at Alta Laguna an Affront
I hope City Council does not consider building a new pickleball court in the open picnic area at Alta Laguna Park. I was the landscape architect who designed this park, along with Ann Christoph and Fred Lang. This open grass area between the basketball court and the children’s play area was intentionally part of the park design to provide balance and visual relief from all the other programmed fields and sports courts in the park. This area has an important function in the park and is not simply “leftover space” with no purpose. Paving this picnic area with yet another court would be an affront to the park design and to all the other park users who appreciate this space.
Bob Borthwick, Laguna Beach
Cooperation Benefits Everyone Is it too much to expect our city and school district elected officials to work together in the best interests
of the tax-paying residents? A large share of our taxes support community and education needs. In too few cases, LBUSD and the city cooperate to leverage expenses to deliver needed services. They formally meet only once a year, and there is no specific assignment of either entity represented at the other’s meetings.
LBUSD recently approved spending $16 million to demolish the current pool facility and construct an Olympic competitive pool twice the size and without the current “wading” pool. There are less than 90 student aquatic athletes at the high school, and the board used unapproved city participation volumes to justify the need for a mega-sized new pool. The city council formed a subcommittee to explore options for a shared or dedicated community pool, with a report expected in March.
Rather than work in concert with the city, LBUSD redirected $10 million of tax-supported educational funds and launched the project to build a 50M pool. They know the city has a decision pending but appear unwilling to work in unison with the city to find a cost-effective solution that meets both groups’ needs and minimizes resident impact.
LBUSD and the city worked out a sound aquatic solution not so many years ago that left the current pool intact and met community, and school needs so it could be done. Enrollment and city population are down, and the city now owns additional property. There are viable options to consider.
The city council has stated that the pool subcommittee will not make a recommendation but will present “findings” to the full council, further stating that there is “no good answer.” There is a good answer, but it requires cooperation between the two groups, a willingness to compromise and respect for the community. We should insist they do so.
Gary Kasik, Laguna Beach
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Full-Time - $51,024.00 - $71,952.00
Annually Go to GovernmentJobs.com to apply and for more information.
The City of Laguna Beach is excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the position of Maintenance Worker I in our Public Works Department’s Building and Facilities Maintenance Division. This position reports to an assigned Lead Worker or Supervisor. Assists skilled and semi-skilled main-
tenance workers in their activities and performs related work as required. Ideal candidate will have strong HVAC technical skills. Schedule: This position may be required to be a part of the on-call schedule and receive calls for emergency service and may be required to respond during non-scheduled work hours, including evenings, holidays and weekends. Application/Selection Process: Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis with a first review on February 7, 2024. Applications will be screened carefully and selected applicants will be invited to participate in the Structured Panel Interview. The appointing hiring authority will further review the job-related
qualifications of those deemed eligible for hire before making selection decisions. The selection
The Position: Under general supervision, Ocean Lifeguards patrol beaches with the overall goal of providing protection to life, limb and property. Ocean Lifeguards guard an area of beach from an assigned station, patrol a section of the beach, participate in marine MAINTENANCE
and other related emergencies, and make rescues and prevent marine accidents. A qualified applicant must be at least 16 years of age as of June 10, 2024.
IMPORTANT TESTING INFORMATION: Candidates must successfully pass a mandatory swim test at the Main Beach Lifeguard Tower. Testing will occur on the following dates: Saturday, February 24, 2024 – Applications MUST be submitted by Thursday, February 22, at 5:00 P.M. (PST) to participate. Saturday, March 30, 2024 – Applications MUST be submitted by Thursday, March 28, at 5:00 P.M. (PST) to participate.
