Aquagrom Raises 11K and Counting for Local Beaches REMEMBERING
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
The second annual Aquagrom, spearheaded by 12-year-old Alia Marriner, raised more than $11,000 for ocean conservation last Saturday after 25 oceansavvy groms took to the water for an abbreviated version of the longstanding Aquathon - a locally-organized swim, climbing and walking event along Laguna’s coves and coastline from Crescent Bay to Aliso Creek.
After Marriner completed two Aquathons with her friend Cedar Reckas, she organized the first ever Aquagrom in 2023 - an inviteonly swim and walk from Crescent Bay to Victoria Beach, just for kids.
“These groms and I care so much about the ocean. We’ve grown up by the ocean, and we feel that it’s our duty to protect it. It pains us to see humans trashing it like it’s a landfill. This is why all the groms have gotten together to do a swim, raising money for the Surfrider Foundation,” Marriner said.
The group of 25 groms set out on Saturday, July 13, from Crescent Bay and arrived at Victoria Beach at around 12 p.m. “So far, we’ve raised $11,230 from over 125 donors, and we are still going,” Marriner
said. “All the groms did so well on the swim and raising money and everyone had a blast. So many kids did lemonade stands or came up with other creative ways of getting donations and raised a ton of money.”
AQUAGROM, PAGE 3
Biden Scheduled to Headline Private Fundraiser in Laguna Beach
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
Following in the footsteps of Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama in 2016, President Joe Biden is anticipated to arrive in Laguna Beach next Friday, July 26, for a private campaign fundraiser hosted by Getty Oil heir Anne Earhart, Janet Keller and Bernie Schneider, and former United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra James Costos.
According to a Biden Victory Fund event invitation, tickets for the private reception range from $1,000 to $250,000.
As of July 18, the fundraiser is going ahead as
planned, but the announcement comes when Biden, 81, faces mounting pressure from top Democrats to call off his presidential campaign because of health and competency concerns. On top of that, on Wednesday, July 17, the Biden administration revealed the president had tested positive for COVID-19.
Peggy Wolff, chair of the Laguna Beach Democratic Club, said it comes as no surprise Biden should want to campaign in Laguna Beach.
“Laguna Beach has always been a stronghold
BIDEN, PAGE 14
BROWN, A Visionary in Orange County Land Conservation
By LB Indy Staff
Elisabeth ‘Liz’ Brown, biologist and inspirational Orange County advocate for open space and wildlife habitat protection, died peacefully on July 6 at the age of 81. A beloved figure in the Southern California environmental community, she served as president of Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. from 1985 to 2019. During that time, she played invaluable roles in collaborative efforts and legal battles protecting wilderness around Laguna Beach, establishing organizations to manage those lands, and creating
Laguna Beach groms take part in the 2024 Aquagrom, the kids’ version of the popular local Aquathon.
Photo/Mitch Ridder
Hillary Clinton waves at onlookers as she leaves the Montage Laguna Beach in August 2016.
Photo/Mitch Ridder
Liz Brown. Photo/Laguna Greenbelt
programs for public access.
Brown was part of an Orange County environmental movement that created the South Coast Wilderness, 22,000 acres of contiguous open space within the cities of Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, and unincorporated Orange County. Her passion for protecting Southern California ecology and her ability to help craft complex conservation agreements led to remarkable achievements. When she was reminded of her accomplishments, she was quick to point out, “I didn’t do it alone.”
“Elisabeth embodied the environmental movement that we all wanted to be a part of where science was earned and understood, the political will align, the team making it happen knew what to do, and the funding was found,” said Melanie Schlotterbeck, the Southland head for Power in Nature. “Her wit, savvy, intuitive approach, and positive attitude were skills we all wanted to have so we could be as effective as she was. She was a beloved mentor.”
Brown was a key player in the historic fight to protect Laguna Canyon, representing the Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. in months of negotiations with The Irvine
Company. Public opposition, including the “Walk to Save Laguna Canyon” in 1989, led the Irvine Company to abandon plans for its Laguna Laurel development and sell the land to the city of Laguna Beach. A historic agreement was made to preserve the land which became the heart of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Brown remained involved throughout the years-long process of land purchase, fundraising, management planning and park creation.
During this exciting time, Brown worked with many others to craft agreements and establish organizations to protect and manage the coastal open space in the long term.
“The idea of bringing all the Laguna Greenbelt lands under common management has been my most important goal short of the preservation of the land itself,” Brown wrote.
A cooperative oversight body, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, was created to ensure that the acquired land would remain ‘wild.’ The Authority continues this oversight today, with members representing the park’s landowners, local environmental organizations, Laguna
Canyon homeowners, and cities adjacent to the parkland.
“Following Liz’s lead, I was inspired; she was my mentor, my friend and my source of knowledge about our unique coastal canyons,” said Mary Fegraus, founding executive director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation, and chair of the Coastal Greenbelt Authority. “Her commitment, wisdom and that special smile will always be remembered.”
Brown also worked to incorporate the coastal open space into an innovative regional conservation effort that was one of California’s first examples of a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Brown served on the board of the organization that formed around this Orange County agreement, now called the Natural Communities Coalition.
In the last two decades, Brown turned her focus to making the Irvine-Laguna Wildlife Corridor a reality. She became increasingly concerned about connecting the coastal open space to a larger wilderness area. Without a wildlife corridor, some species in the protected coastal ‘island’ are showing signs of inbreeding. The
Irvine-Laguna Wildlife Corridor will provide a pathway for animals to move between the 22,000 acres of south Orange County open space and the Cleveland National Forest. A key portion of the Corridor is under construction in Irvine, with an expected opening in 2025. With a sense of urgency that Brown helped to inspire, Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. is working to complete the corridor by addressing remaining challenges, including safe passage through the I-5/I-405 freeway complex.
“Liz was an excellent leader, a mixture of steadfast determination in achieving her goals mixed with a pragmatic understanding of what can be achieved,” Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. President Norm Grossman said. Brown was born in 1943 in New York City to a French immigrant mother, Marthe-Hermance Malartre, who was educated in journalism at the Sorbonne and loved the outdoors. Brown’s father, Karl Paley Cohen came from a family of Brooklyn Jews and earned a doctorate in chemistry. Cohen made important contributions to the Manhattan Project and became a nuclear energy pioneer. Brown earned a master’s degree in zoology
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After the event, a party was thrown for the groms to celebrate their accomplishment.
“All of the prizes we got from our sponsors Victoria Skimboards, Catch Surf, Hobie Surf Shop, Laguna Surf and Sport and Thalia Surf Shop were well used and greatly appreciated,” Marriner said. “Also I’d like to thank the Laguna Beach Lifeguards for following us with their boat and providing extra encouragement and protection. Overall, Aquagrom 2024 was a success. Stay tuned, because the Aquagroms will be back next year to continue the work of preserving our oceans.”
The Surfrider Foundation works nationally to protect ocean life. Its main goals are to find natural solutions to climate change, reduce plastic pollution and encourage sustainability among local businesses. Last year, Marriner and the Aquagroms raised $16,000 for the foundation.
“The second annual Aquagrom was a great success,” said Chad Nelsen, lifelong Laguna local and CEO of the Surfrider Foundation. “It’s a great way to orient local kids to our coastline, teach some good water and rock safety, and remind ourselves what a special place it is. Plus, they raised $10,000 for Surfrider to support local conservation.”
To help the Aquagroms raise money for ocean conservation, visit gofundme.com and search for Aquagrom 2024. The GoFundMe page will be live for another two weeks.
Above and below: Under the watchful eye of Laguna Beach Marine Safety lifeguards, 25 groms took part in the 2nd annual Aquagrom. Photos by Mitch Ridder
Volunteering Matters
By ReBecca Washington-Lindsey
We all know that those who work in government positions, own a business, educators, surfers, or work from 9 to 5 p.m. might quickly assert, “I don’t have time to volunteer in my community. My only free time is mine, and I’m not giving it away.”
We all have time, and what we choose to do with it can be fruitful or unfruitful.
I’d like to explain how giving a small portion of your time volunteering can go from being unfruitful to bearing fruit.
You’re in the doctor’s office, your pulse is taken, and the doctor says, “Wow, your pulse is high. What’s going on in your world?” At that point, you pour out your routine. “I don’t understand, doctor. Every morning, I have two healthy cups of latte and a hearty bagel egg sandwich, and then I settle back with my local newspaper and watch my favorite game show. Was that time fruitful? In my career as an administrator, my pulse was high too. From the time I entered the building to the end of my workday, I had challenges that needed attention, and you couldn’t offer me any incentives, not even a Starbucks gift card to be a volunteer. I had no time to volunteer. It was not on my agenda. But maybe it should have been. Sometime later, I found a solution to my high pulse: create a student-to-student volunteer program, including teachers. That move resulted in decreased student problems, improved student attendance, and a boost in teacher morale. Volunteering to help other students was rewarding, and teachers
Laguna College of Art + Design’s Gallery is presenting original photography from the Laguna Bluebelt’s 13th annual photo contest winners, celebrating Laguna’s Marine Protected Areas and their diversity. This exhibition is comprised of professional and amateur photos that capture the natural beauty of the Laguna Bluebelt’s beaches, marine life, and recreation from above and below while bringing attention to the importance of conserving and protecting this invaluable resource.
The opening reception will be held Aug. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the LCAD Gallery, 374 Ocean Avenue, Laguna Beach. Admission is free. The contest photos will be on exhibit from Aug. 1 to Aug. 18.
Tickets are going fast for Lyric Opera OC’s upcoming event at the Susi Q
Lyric Opera OC will offer another outstanding evening’s entertainment at the Susi Q on July 30 between 4 and 6 p.m., following the sold-out success of the previous series. A nominal administrative fee of $5 secures a seat at the popular event, which this time focuses on Opera in
America. Tickets are going fast.
Lyric Opera OC President and Artistic Director Diana Farrell explained that the performance will trace the evolution of opera in America from Puccini—several of whose operas premiered in the US—to the Great American Songbook, featuring compositions by Gershwin, Porter, and Rodgers & Hammerstein.
“The presentation will trace the classical voices of the mid-20th century, including composers like Bernstein and Menotti, and move on to Broadway crossovers like Stephen Sondheim,” Farrell said. “We’ll also offer an overview of opera in the 21st century. And we have wonderful news to share about our Carnegie Hall debut.”
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 large flatscreen TVs to aid the audience in following the story behind the opera.
“Susi Q has a long-standing reputation for community engagement with the arts, and their audiences are so receptive and supportive of our singers. They’ve proven they love our intimate
performances.” Farrell said.
The performance takes place at the Susi Q, 380 Third Street.
The Susi Q offers a wide range of educational and fun programs, classes, and clubs for older adults, although all ages are welcome. The Susi Q’s Care Management Department provides free consultation, education and practical resources for vulnerable seniors, enabling them to stay safe, informed, and independent. For more information on The Susi Q, the portal to access the best of Laguna’s community resources, visit thesusiq.org.
Laguna Community Concert Band to Celebrate FOA Grant with Special Concert
The Laguna Community Concert Band has received a $3,000 grant from the FOA Foundation. The band said the grant will significantly bolster the band’s ongoing efforts to bring the magic of live music to the Laguna Beach cultural arts scene.
The FOA Foundation, an independent nonprofit endowed by the Festival of Arts, awards art and educational programs in Laguna Beach and the surrounding area annually. On average, the foundation assists over twenty
CRIER, PAGE 7
“Sunset Lookout.” Photo/Craig Hatfield.
Thank you, Ketta Brown
Regarding the proposed plan for affordable housing on the Neighborhood Church property
I want to thank Ketta Brown for her Indy column (Be careful what you wish for) urging us all consider that the plan has yet to be formally submitted and that the city is required to build 394 low and moderate-income living units within the next five years.
Other readers have contested that the proposal will go through the “normal” design review process, as she stated. Whether the review process will be “normal” or not I feel certain there will be discussions between neighbors and the church. Hopefully, both sides will be willing to listen to each other.
I agree with Brown that if a plan presented by NCC and Related California is not approved, the property may sit vacant, which would surely impact neighboring property values.
I, for one, am willing to wait and see a formal proposal for this project, which our community desperately needs. Instead of the immediate negative response to “height and mass” issues, let’s give NCC the benefit of the doubt. I think they sincerely want to do the right thing.
Donna Furey, Laguna Beach
City Revenue Town Hall Meeting a Spirited Affair
CITY HALL MEETINGS:
The July 11 City town hall meeting to discuss methods for increasing city revenue was a respectful, full-house, spirited exchange between the public and city manager Dave Kiff, with councilmembers Mark Orgill and Bob Whalen in attendance.
Possible solutions are being sought for ballot initiatives for the next election. This was somewhat of a warm-up act for the upcoming July 23 City Council meeting, when funding solutions may be selected for this election’s ballot (your attendance is urged).
This event gave city officials a chance to hear the public’s feedback
again. The city’s presentation only wanted to focus on increasing the TOT/bed tax and increasing the business license fees (mostly for bars and restaurants which are paying the same as small retailers, yet reaping vastly greater profits) – surprising because, in previous public discussions, residents made it abundantly clear the primary goal is to make day-trippers pay for their own expenses.
And that’s where this public discussion immediately returned.
There was a near-universal decrying about far too many day
LETTERS, PAGE 11
theIndyPoll
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
Should Laguna Beach go back to fireworks or stick with the drone show for next year’s Fourth of July?
- Fireworks, 62.79% (27 votes)
- Drones, 37.21% (16 votes)
TOTAL VOTES: 43
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION
Due to air quality concerns, should the use of roofing tar kettles be banned in Laguna Beach??
- 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 Signal polling software.
around most blocking methods. For this reason, we can’t fully verify the accuracy of this poll. Language from Crowd Signal’s software settings: Voting in a poll is rate limited by
July 23 - Laguna Beach City Council Meeting at 5 p.m. July 24 - Administrative Design Review Meeting at 3 p.m.
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL
Sue Kempf Mayor skempf@lagunabeachcity.net
Alex Rounaghi Mayor Pro Tem arounaghi@ 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
Bob Whalen Council member bwhalen@lagunabeachcity.net
PLANNING COMMISSION
1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS, 6 PM
Mark Orgill Council member morgill@lagunabeachcity.net
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
OUR LETTER POLICY
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk amckay@lagunabeachcity.net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer lparisi@ lagunabeachcity.net
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: REP. KATIE PORTER,, 1113 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. 202-225-2415
FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR KATRINA FOLEY, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-8343550, Lisa.Bartlett@ocgov.com
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.
“We are grateful for the FOA Foundation’s continued support,” said director Mark Lowery. “This grant recognizes our dedication to the arts and energizes our mission to share high-quality live musical experiences with our community.”
In celebration of this support, the Laguna Community Concert Band will perform at the Festival of Arts on Sunday, July 21, at 1 p.m. on the main stage. The program will feature John Williams’ stirring march from the movie “1941” and a symphonic tribute to George Gershwin that includes excerpts from “Rhapsody in Blue” and “An American in Paris.”
Vocalist Lisa Morrice will join the band on selected numbers to perform crowd favorites, including Big Band hits and modern classics.
The LCCB-affiliated Laguna JaZz Band will perform on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Susi Q at 6:30 p.m.
This fall, the Laguna Community Concert Band will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a performance on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Laguna Playhouse.
Laguna Community Concert Band performances are always free, although donations are accepted. Festival of Arts admission is
complimentary for Laguna Beach residents, active military, Festival of Arts members, and children five or younger, and $15 for residents from surrounding areas.
Laguna Beach Fire Department
Headquarters Open House July 24
The community is invited to the Laguna Beach Fire Department Headquarters Open House on Wednesday, July 24 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Laguna Beach Community and Recreation Center, 30516 South Coast Highway. See the fire department’s new administrative headquarters, learn about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), home safety/fire prevention tips, emergency preparedness and more. Also, meet new Laguna Beach City Manager Dave Kiff at the event. Light refreshments will be served.
Laguna Beach Business Club
2024 Speaker Series: Bree Burgess Rosen
The Laguna Beach Business Club holds monthly breakfast meetings starting at 7:30 a.m., where speakers discuss topics valuable to achieving personal and professional success.
Bree Burgess Rosen, the creator of Lagunatics and founder of No Square Theatre, will speak at LBBC’s July 25 meeting.
Rosen will give a sneak peek into this year’s musical Roast of the Coast and share insights into three decades of silly social commentary.
Rosen has more than five decades of experience in the performing arts as a professional performer, writer, producer, director and educator. She is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She is a former member of the Laguna Playhouse Board of Directors, and the creator and writer of 30 years of Lagunatics, (Winner Arts Program of the Year 2022). Rosen serves as the Board President and Founding Artistic Director of No Square Theatre, Laguna’s only community theatre, now in its 25th year. From 2006 to 2019, Rosen worked as a writer, director, producer, and performer with Pacific Symphony’s “Class Act” and their Family Musical Mornings concert series. She has been honored as both the State of Nevada’s Humanitarian of the Year, and as a “Point of Light” by President George H. Bush for
her work as co-founder and past president of Golden Rainbow of Nevada, a nonprofit organization providing low-cost housing for persons with AIDS. For her ongoing work in Laguna Beach, Rosen has been recognized as Woman of the Year, Citizen of the Year, one of Laguna’s Most Influential People, and as Orange County’s 2013 Theater Woman of the Year. In 2021, Laguna Beach Arts Alliance celebrated her Lifetime Achievement for her many contributions to the arts community and city of Laguna Beach.
Club meetings begin with a buffet breakfast and brief networking roundtable. Meetings are hosted at Nirvana Grill, 303 Broadway St., #101, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Non-members are welcome. The non-member guest fee is $30, payable by Venmo or cash/ check, payable to the Laguna Beach Business Club on the day of the meeting. Space is limited. For more information about the LBBC or to register to attend the meeting, please either visit the website at lagunabeachbusinessclub. com or email Info@ LagunaBeachBusinessClub.com.
from UC Berkeley, where she was advised that women did not need higher degrees. She went on to earn a doctorate in biology from UC Irvine in 1976.
Brown settled in a home in Laguna Canyon in the 1970s with her husband Dr. Allen Brown where they raised their daughter, Mina. Brown became fascinated by the local wildlife and landscapes and soon joined the movement to assemble a ‘greenbelt’ of protected open space around Laguna Beach. She explained later that she got involved because she wanted to teach people about the ecology of Laguna Canyon—but realized that if she didn’t help to protect it, there would be nothing left to teach them about. Becoming board president of the Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. in 1985, she treated her position as a full-time job and seemed to have limitless energy for it.
Passionate about helping the public to appreciate and understand local ecology, Brown created trail and field guides, wrote a regular column for Laguna Beach newspapers and ran a naturalist training class that gave more than 600 people the knowledge to lead tours and educate others about local natural history. Brown’s “Back Pocket Field Guide” provided an overview of common landscapes, wildlife and plants in Orange County wilderness areas. In the 1980s, her husband and daughter spent one Saturday each month with Brown in the Jim Dilley Preserve, greeting visitors and handing out trail guides.
Brown never lost her drive to work on nature conservation and education, but her dual diagnoses of Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia made it impossible for her to continue. She enjoyed hearing about her former colleagues’ ongoing efforts and the keen interest that today’s youth show in protecting the environment.
“I met Elisabeth in 1991, when I got involved in protecting the California gnatcatcher and its coastal sage scrub habitat,” said Dan Silver, executive director of Endangered Habitats League. “I found that Elisabeth had already been doing this for years, with major successes in the Laguna Greenbelt. We
A City Hall Murder
The title of this sculpture is a playful nod to the unique and poetic collective nouns throughout the English language, such as a “pride of lions” or a “gaggle of geese.” A true “murder of crows” requires three or more birds.
Jack Champion is an artist and sculptor known for his large-scale installations, which often feature animal figures and are popular at Burning Man. His work is noted for its interplay with perspective and scale, creating a striking visual impact that transforms the observer’s experience.
subsequently had many partnerships, always benefiting from her scientific knowledge, her commitment to conservation, and her wisdom in negotiation. Elisabeth had a great wit and upbeat attitude, even in the worst of times. She lifted others’ spirits, and her friendly personality was always a bridge to those on the other side. She never shied from a battle and never ceased to develop new visionary projects, capturing the imagination and efforts of others.
Thank you, Elisabeth, for your friendship and choosing to save the natural world.”
A memorial for Dr. Brown is currently being planned. Her family encourages donations in her memory to Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. Please visit lagunagreenbelt.org for more information and to leave thoughts about her life and contributions.
Suspect arrested in Costa Mesa after evading
LBPD
By Clara Beard | LB Indy Laguna Beach detectives arrested a 33-year-old Newport Beach woman on July 10, charged with felony evasion after she fled from police officers during a routine traffic stop in Laguna Beach, authorities said.
On June 30, Laguna Beach officers stopped a green Mercedes on South Coast Highway at Bluebird Canyon Drive regarding a simple California vehicle code violation.
Police said that after talking to Melissa Haley at the driver’s side door, she was uncooperative. When officers asked her to exit the vehicle for further investigation, they said she fled in her Mercedes and
drove southbound on South Coast Highway into Dana Point, then onto Interstate 5 northbound.
LBPD officers handed over the pursuit to the California Highway Patrol when Haley reached Interstage 5, where she was driving recklessly and at an excessive speed, authorities said.
The Highway Patrol officers chased the vehicle into Los Angeles County before calling off the pursuit.
After investigating Haley’s whereabouts, Laguna Beach detectives said they found her near an auto repair shop in Costa Mesa. She was placed under arrest for suspicion of felony evading and later transported to Orange County Jail.
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The city of Laguna Beach unveiled the temporary sculpture installation “An Attempted Murder” by artist Jack Champion on Friday, July 12.
From left to right: Artist Jack Champion, Mayor Sue Kempf, Arts Commission Chair Donna Ballard. Photo courtesy of city of Laguna Beach
Street Beat
EXCERPTS FROM POLICE LOGS
Thursday, July 11
Disorderly conduct, obstructing public officers. Jerome Carl Davis Knight, 22, of Perris was arrested on suspicion of resisting public officers and alcohol-related disorderly conduct. He was held on $500 bail. Battery, violating a court order. David Danon, 47, of Northridge was arrested on suspicion of battery and violating a court order to prevent domestic violence. He was held without bail.
DUI. A 27-year-old San Juan Capistrano man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent blood alcohol level. He was held on $5,000 bail.
DUI. A 60-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held on $2,500 bail.
Friday, July 12
Receiving known stolen property of $950 value or more, petty theft and parole violation Joseph Artzer, 57, of Marina Del Ray was arrested on suspicion of receiving known stolen property of $950 value or more, petty theft and parole violation. He was held without bail. Bench warrant, assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm). David Scott Raines, 57, of Beaumont was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant and force with a deadly weapon that was not a firearm, likely causing bodily injury. He was held without bail.
Battery. Ulysses Navarroquintero, 20, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of battery on a spouse, ex-spouse, date, etc. He was held on a $10,000 bail.
Battery. Zoey Ortiz, 21, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of battery on a spouse, ex-spouse, date, etc. She was held on a $10,000 bail.
Saturday, July 13
DUI. Jose Pena-Campos, 33, of Orange was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant and drunk driving. He was held on a $25,000 bail.
DUI. A 23-year-old Lake Elsinore man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent blood alcohol level. He was held on $5,000 bail.
DUI. A 20-year-old Orange man was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and driving under the influence of drugs. He was held on a $2,500 bail.
Battery. Nikolas Fotis Kafetzopoulos, 30, of Santa Ana was arrested on suspicion of battery on a
person. He was held on a $500 bail.
Sunday, July 14
Bench warrant. Kyle Albert Winton, 44, of Laguna was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
Grand theft. Alan Dean Fabian, 69, of Laguna was arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft of a motorcycle. He was held on a $20,000 bail.
Monday, July 15
DUI. Linda Maria Silva Davila, 35, of Oceanside was arrested on
suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent blood alcohol level. She was held on $5,000 bail.
Tampering with vehicle. Devon Christian Charters, 32, of Laguna, was arrested on suspicion of tampering with a vehicle. He was held on $500 bail.
DUI. A 39-year-old Inglewood woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent blood alcohol level. She was held at $5,000 bail. Bench warrant, bringing a controlled substance into jail.
Edward Patrick Schillizzi, 68, of Laguna, was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant and bringing a controlled substance into jail. He was held without bail. Possession of a controlled substance. Roberto Aguilar, 22, of Orange, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. He was held without bail.
Tuesday, July 16
Disorderly conduct. Vanessa Raine Newberry, 39, of Laguna Beach was
STREET BEAT, PAGE 11
Sports/ Schools
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LAGUNA SPORTS UPDATE
By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy BREAKER SPORTS UPDATE
FOOTBALL SQUAD BACK FROM JAPAN
The 43 Laguna Beach High School football players returned home on July 14 and resumed their summer training program. In Japan, they had a few practices in this district/CIF unsanctioned break to the summer training program with visits to Tokyo and Kyoto. Summer practice ends Aug. 1, with the first day of practice for the regular season on Aug. 5. The season opens with the Frosh on Aug. 22 and Varsity on Aug. 23 against St. Margaret’s.
SUMMER SPORTS
Laguna Beach High School Athletics summer programs are underway. Check out the programs for all sports at lbhs.lbusd.org. Don’t miss out if you plan to play sports at Laguna Beach High School.
Indoor volleyball is having camps beginning July 22 with a session for six to eighth grade and girls indoor sessions for grades 6-9 and 10-12.
90 YEARS OF LAGUNA BEACH FOOTBALL
Six weeks until the start of the 2024 season
PART 3: ORANGE COUNTY URBANIZES 1957 TO 1987
Last week, we looked at the first 23 varsity seasons as Laguna went 11763-8 during the Guyer era, taking six league titles and closing out with the 8-1 season in 1956 led by star player Bill O’Brian.
Guyer retired from his football coach duties after the 1956 season. Orange County has been changing rapidly since the opening of Disneyland in July 1955. Laguna was not immune to the growth, with enrollment jumping from under 500 students to reaching 1,000 in 1969. Enrollment would not dip below 1,000 students until 1987. League affiliation was either based on school size (Orange, Crestview, Pacific Coast) or geography (Irvine, Sea View, South Coast).
Replacing Guyer was the first Laguna alumnus to be head coach, Vern “Tom” Dugger, who was the most valuable player in the great 1946 CIF championship undefeated team. After his graduation in 1947, Dugger attended St. Mary’s, then a big national football power, and returned to Laguna in 1955 to serve as Guyer’s assistant until replacing Red in 1957. Dugger resigned after the disastrous 1960 season but remained in the district, serving in
various administrative posts and finishing his career as the Laguna Beach High School assistant principal. He also served as head lifeguard for the city of Laguna Beach from 1959-72.
Dugger was followed by Washington State grad Harold “Hal” Akins, who was a part of Laguna football for thirty-plus years as a head coach, offensive coordinator (1979-81, 1993-94), and freshman co-head coach (1991). Akins served as tennis coach in 1962 and 1963, picking up two Orange League titles. Akins played professional ball with the Giants (1948) before becoming a teacher and coach. He came to Laguna from Fontana High School
and also coached and taught at Columbia Basin junior college. A very talented artist, Coach Akins was an exhibitor at The Festival of the Arts and at the Sawdust for many years.
Laguna took one league title under Dugger (1959) and one under Akins (1968). The 10-1 1968 team captured the community with overflow crowds at Guyer Field following the squad led by Steve Klosterman, Jim Kuhn, Brian Bagley, and Steve Wiezbowski.
Laguna’s next title came in 1980 under Walt Hamera’s coaching. MVP Lance Stewart, at quarterback, led the Artists to a 7-3 record and a South Coast League co-
championship with Mission Viejo. Laguna surprised the Diablos 12-10 at their stadium but lost to Corona del Mar in the opening playoff game.
Laguna’s final title in this era was the Danny Lane team of 1987, which went 10-2. Laguna’s run that year ended in an exciting playoff game before an overflowing, standingroom-only crowd at Guyer Field, which witnessed future NFL quarterback and coach Mark Brunell leading his St Joseph’s team to a 2013 comeback victory.
Overall, the team went 137-160-6 during this period, and Laguna was still in the positive with a 254-223-14 mark for the first 55 seasons of play.
LBHS Boys Basketball, Athletic Boosters to Host ‘Battle at the Beach’
By Clara Beard | LB Indy Laguna
Beach High School’s Boys Basketball Team and LBHS Athletic Boosters will host a summer tournament kicking off this Friday at 9 a.m. at Dugger Gym.
“This is the first boys basketball tournament hosted by Laguna Beach High School since any of us can remember,” said Jimmy Azadian, LBHS Boys Basketball head booster. “We expect a good turnout from the Laguna Beach community to support our student-athletes.”
The tournament, named “Battle at the Beach,” has secured high-profile visiting teams from various high schools in Southern California, including Sage Hill in Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, San Pedro, El Toro, San Juan Hills, Beckman High School in Tustin, Dana Hills, University High School in Irvine, and Edison High School in Huntington Beach.
Laguna Beach Boys Basketball varsity games will start Friday at 9 a.m. against San Pedro and 1 p.m. against San Juan Hills. On Saturday,
The 2023-2024 Laguna Beach High School Basketball Boys Varsity Team. Photo courtesy of LBHS Basketball
the Breakers will play Sage Hill at 10 a.m. and Edison High School at 7 p.m. Finally, the team will take on Corona Del Mar at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Laguna Beach will play five games in total, spanning the three-day tournament.
“There will be delicious breakfast burritos and lunch taco meals offered each day, along with homemade sweet treats baked up
by our team’s parents,” Azadian said. “There will also be a coaches’ commissary to host all teams’ coaches and assistant coaches.”
All games will be held in the Dugger Gym, and the daily entry fee is $10. A discounted 3-day pass is offered for $25. All proceeds from the tournament will support Laguna Beach High School’s Boys Basketball Team, led by head coach Rus Soobzokov.
The great 1968 Laguna Beach Football Team that went 10-1, and captured the heart of the Laguna Beach community. Photo courtesy of Laguna Athletics
visitors (over-tourism) who are not helping pay for the roughly $20 million that taxpayers are shelling out annually for visitor services. Here are the possible solutions discussed:
-Increase the tax on bar and restaurant bills. Escalate these increases over several years, roughly from 1 to 5%. This would be a passalong tax customers paid that cost bars and restaurants nothing.
-Increase business license fees on restaurants and bars. They’re paying the same now as small retailers, yet they’re making millions more.
-Terminate the $1.7 million annual payment to Visit Laguna. Cease all promotional efforts. We already have far too many visitors, and social media is critically compounding the problem.
-Curtail the purchase of Laguna Canyon Road for $150 million, the purchase of Coast Highway for $336 million, the building of a new parking structure estimated at $13 million (which would undoubtedly increase tourism), and do not pursue undergrounding Laguna Canyon. Instead, harden power poles against traffic crashes, without the huge expense and liability of ownership.
-Reallocate some of the millions of city dollars being grandfathered in to fund schools, as attendance has dropped 30% in the past five years.
-Cut select city staff personnel— way too many employees have been added over the last five years, yet our population has not grown.
-Put crimps on out-of-control pensions.
-Quit farming out so much city employee work to outside consultants.
-Push The California Coastal Commission for more paid parking (residents get a pass).
-Charge $1 to use city trolleys and Laguna Local taxi service.
-Charge commercial building owners a fee or tax for long-term vacancies, as they deplete sales taxes and diminish sales for adjoining businesses.
-Enforce and ticket for already established civic violations, including smoking, littering, beach pop-ups, unleashed dogs, loud vehicles, and parking (meter violations and parking in no parking areas).
Write to your councilmembers at citycouncil@lagunabeachcity.net and City Clerk amckay@lagunabeachcity. net. Attend the July 23 City Council meeting when the Council may select its funding choice(s) to put on the next election’s ballot.
Jerome Pudwill, Laguna Beach
Support Our City Treasurer
Calling all residents. In a little over a year, the City Council is set to significantly degrade the opportunity for the residents to attract a topquality treasurer to look out for their
How a Fireworks Show Brings New Perspective
By PaMeLa KnUdsen
When I read the news about the Fourth of July drone show, I burst into tears of joy. I know—a little overemotional, but the following backstory will give perspective. I’ve lived in Laguna Beach for 20 years. In June of 2018, I moved from the canyon to a cottage in the “tree streets” neighborhood of north Laguna. One benefit of living in this location that I eagerly anticipated was being able to see the Heisler Park fireworks show from my patio. However, at the time, I had two cats and was concerned about the noise. I’d heard from a neighbor that many people in the neighborhood, especially those with dogs or cats, dread the Fourth—the loudness level was hard to take. Despite the warning, I couldn’t fathom how loud the fireworks would be. Jarring is an understatement. I’d invited a
interests. Over the past year, the City Council has been working on a plan to downgrade the City’s Treasurer position. All without asking your opinion.
The elected treasurer ensures financial transparency and stewardship. Reducing this role weakens oversight and public trust. Instead, we should expand the treasurer’s responsibilities to strengthen oversight.
It started in early 2023 when the City Council reconstituted the Audit Committee to include both audit and investment responsibilities. It then proceeded to staff the committee entirely with members who had investment expertise. The committee did not include anyone with accounting or auditing expertise or experience.
Given their backgrounds, perhaps it should not be surprising that the committee prioritized investments. However, the facts tell a different story. From 2018 through today, the Finance Department has routinely
few friends over to enjoy the show, but upon witnessing the distress it caused in my cats, I struggled to find the joy. The following year was the same scenario. And by then, I wondered how a fireworks show within blocks of a residential neighborhood was permitted. Over the following couple of years, my cats passed away. In the spring of 2021, I fell for a kitty up for adoption at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. The Fourth of July holiday arrived, and I’d hoped my new feline pal, Samantha Jo, would get through the fireworks shows anxiety-free with calming spray, ambient music and me by her side. Samantha Jo, perceiving danger, was inconsolable as she paced and growled at the explosive sounds, which reverberated in the floor and made the windows rattle. The sensory overload was a strain on me. I could feel her pain. Not only are we close to Heisler Park, also Emerald Bay, just a mile away. The sensory bombardment from both shows went on for 50 minutes. And just as we both recovered, the afterparty started with people shooting off fireworks throughout the night. By 2022, I dreaded the Fourth. I was no longer enthused by watching colorful explosions in the sky. I gave Samantha prescription anti-anxiety meds, hoping that would get her through the explosive sounds with minimal stress, but the meds did nothing. She displayed the same level of distress as the previous year.
been graded by its outside auditors as having a Significant Deficiency (like getting a D on your report card) and, more recently, a Material Weakness (think F) in its ability to produce financial statements that are free of material error. During that same time frame, the treasurer, who manages the city’s investment activities, received a clean bill of health from its annual audit. Nevertheless, the Committee started with investments.
In its debate, the committee focused on how outsourcing the investment portfolio could improve returns. The committee did not spend nearly as much time weighing the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing and whether outsourcing made sense for the city. The committee then moved to select a partner. In reviewing bidders, the treasurer was excluded from the selection process.
Next up was preparing a transition plan. Again, the treasurer, who has
I realized then that I could no longer be home during the Fourth of July. This spring, in preparation of the dreaded holiday, I began thinking about where Samantha Jo and I could go to escape the stressful impacts of fireworks shows. Last year, we found respite visiting my mom and stepdad. Then I read the news of the drone show, and relief overwhelmed me. Problem solved—I could stay home and experience a peaceful drone show! I had no idea that drones could create images with such vibrancy and precision. I found the show mesmerizing. It was refreshing to see clear skies, unlike the smokefilled sky from the Emerald Bay fireworks, which disrupted the tranquility that the drone show offered. We experienced slight relief without the volatile noise overhead, but booming sounds a mile away were loud enough to rouse Samantha’s stress levels and raise my blood pressure.
My experience isn’t singular. I hear more tales of distressed pets and people over fireworks.
I hope someday, that fireworks show become a nostalgic memory and that we embrace new traditions to celebrate America’s freedom in a more peaceful and safe way.
Pamela is the author of the children’s book “Two Cats, a Mermaid and the Disappearing Moon.” She volunteers at Laguna’s cat sanctuary, e Blue Bell Foundation for Cats.
Street Beat
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arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct. She was held on a $500 bail.
Disorderly conduct. Michelle McClendon, 41, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct due to alcohol. She was held on a $500 bail.
Wednesday, July 17
Domestic violence. Natalie Lauren Kraenkel, 38, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence with minor injury. She was held on a $50,000 bail.
Possession of a controlled substance, vandalism. Zack Carrillo, 47, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and felony vandalism. He was held on a $22,500 bail.
Family Art Day Gets Wild at the Festival of Arts
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
The Festival of Arts Family Art Day took a walk on the wild side last Sunday, July 14. The event, tailored to entertain the entire family, featured an array of wildlife-themed art activities and encounters.
“Family Art Day is getting a wild makeover this year,” Festival of Arts Exhibits and Events Director Christine Georgantas said. “We’re thrilled to introduce this brand new animal theme and offer a wider range of art experiences for families of all ages. It’ll be a fantastic way to explore the wonders of the animal kingdom through creative expression.”
Last Sunday, families from all over Orange County descended on the Festival grounds to participate in many of the interactive art activities and meet some exotic creatures.
The OC Reptile Zoo, Raptor Events and Priceless Pets Rescue were on site to educate kids and parents about a variety of animal life, from exotic alligators to adoptable puppies.
The OC Beekeepers Association was in attendance to teach participants about the importance bees play in our ecosystem and Laguna Beach Police Department’s peer support K-9 Cooper also made an appearance.
In the Festival’s Art Center, families participated in hands-on, animal-inspired activities. Bowers Museum will host a special animal anime sculpting class in conjunction with its current exhibition, “Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form.”
Family Art Day was free with Festival admission. Children five and under receive free admission to the Festival of Arts all summer.
Clockwise from top: A performer with the Orange County Aerial Arts takes center stage at the Festival grounds; Kids stop by the OC Beekeepers Association booth to learn about how bees contribute to the ecosystem; Bowers Museum hosts a special animal anime sculpting class in conjunction with their current exhibition, ‘Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form”; Becca Walls with Priceless Pets, a Costa Mesa-based no kill animal shelter, holds an adoptable dog and Raptor Events animal trainer Ellie Mox shows off a spectacled owl during Family Art Day. Clara Beard/LB Indy
Laguna Art Museum Awarded Festival of Arts Foundation Grant in Support of the 2024 Art + Nature Family Festival
By LB Indy Staff
Laguna Art Museum has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the prestigious Festival of Arts (FOA) Foundation. The grant will support the museum’s twelfth annual Art + Nature Family Festival, a full-day event brimming with hands-on activities and educational stations designed for all ages.
“We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift from the Festival of Arts Foundation, which will significantly enhance our twelfth annual Art + Nature Family Festival,” said Julie Perlin Lee, executive director of Laguna Art Museum. “This crucial funding allows us to offer families an exceptional opportunity to delve into the profound connection between art and nature.”
The FOA Foundation has consistently supported the museum’s educational initiatives, including providing bus transportation for school field trips, covering teaching artist fees, supplying art materials for school visits and sponsoring programs like Art + Nature and LAM’s
Imagination Celebration. Both Laguna Art Museum and The FOA Foundation are dedicated to arts education, sharing a legacy of over 100 years of enriching the artistic community of Laguna Beach.
Kicking off this year’s twelfth annual Art + Nature, a precelebration family festival will be held the weekend of Nov. 3.
During the weekend of Nov. 9, art and nature enthusiasts of all ages are invited to Laguna Art Museum’s eagerly awaited Art + Nature Family Festival, held at the Main Beach Cobblestones and the museum. This dynamic event will feature an engaging docent-guided tour to the Main Beach Cobblestones, where attendees can experience this year’s exceptional outdoor exhibition before returning to the museum.
The festival also includes free access to LAM’s outstanding exhibitions, hands-on art activities, science and nature-based programs, docent-led tours and educational sessions that celebrate the artistic and natural beauty of Laguna Beach while emphasizing the intersection of art and the environment.
• ROOFING REPLACEMENTS/REPAIRS
• BALCONY DECK STRUCTURAL RECONSTRUCTION
• ROOFING WATERPROOFING
• EXTENSIVE DRY ROT/TERMITE REPAIRS
• SHEET METAL FOR HARSH COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
• IN DEPTH SPECIFICATION/STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
• INTERIOR DAMAGE REPAIRS
• BALCONY RAIL SYSTEM DESIGNS/GLASS/CABLE
• PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES
• DOOR & WINDOW REPLACEMENT
• STUCCO/PLASTER RECONSTRUCTION
• RAIN GUTTERS/CHIMNEY CAPS
• SKYLIGHTS/ATTIC VENTING SYSTEMS
Kids take part in last year’s Art + Nature Family Festival. Photo/Laguna Art Museum
for Democrats. In fact, ours was the first Democratic Club in Orange County, founded in 1945,” Wolff said. “I’m not sure about other Democratic presidential candidates coming through Laguna Beach other than Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but blue candidates wanting to make their mark in the sea of red that is Orange County know they will get a warm reception in Laguna.”
According to voter data from OCvote.gov, 7,626 of Laguna Beach’s 17,810 registered voters are Democrats, and 5,076 are Republicans.
“Laguna Beach prides itself on being a tight-knit community where neighbors take care of one another,” Wolff said. “That, and its history as a free-thinking enclave, can explain its consistently higher percentage of Democrats. We deeply appreciate the affluent Lagunans who are willing to put their money where their mouths are to protect the rights we had thought were enshrined but are now under threat.”
Wolff said she knew of a few Democrats who would be attending the private fundraiser. However, the price of entry is out of reach of most of the Democratic Club’s members.
“It’s not unusual to hold high-ticket events in a presidential election year,” she added.
Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association (LBSC) has picked the winners of the 2024 Young Artists & Authors Showcase (YAAS).
This year’s competition, themed “Climatescape: Resilient Cities For Tomorrow’s Climate,” brought together the creative talents of local youth, who explored innovative solutions for sustainable urban development through their artistic expressions.
The YAAS competition, held in collaboration with the Laguna Beach County Water District, invited young poets, musicians, and artists to submit works that envision ecoconscious and resilient cities. This initiative aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and aims to foster global awareness and dialogue on climate change and sustainable development among youth in Laguna Beach and its sister cities of Menton, France; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; and St Ives, England.
Second place: Estella Newton, “House on Glenneyre Street” – $250
Third place: Zoe Tran, “The World I Dare To See” – $100
MUSIC:
First place: Sam Sweeney, “Orphans of the Earth” – $500
Second place: Lola Sabol, “Echoes of Change – Think Tough City” – $250
Third place: Marlena Steinbach, “Break Through” – $100
ART:
First place: Izzie Tran, “EcoMetropolis: Sustainability and
Advancement” – $500
The winning entries from the local YAAS competition will now have the opportunity to compete at the Sister Cities International level, where they will showcase their talents on a global stage.
For more information about the Young Artists & Authors Showcase and to view the winning entries, visit LagunaBeachSisterCities.com.
The winners of the 2024 Young Artists & Authors Showcase in front of City Hall. Photo/ LB Sister Cities
Will There Be Double Whammy Impacts in Laguna Beach from SB-4 and SB-9?
By RogeR BUtoW
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” Portuguese proverb
While everyone reacts to the proposed Related California/ Neighborhood Congregational Church (RC/NCC) massive redevelopment project, the potential long-term effects of Senate bills SB-4 and SB-9 should be on our public square radar screen.
Both were written to codify a commitment to amplifying and expediting building and investment opportunities in a state trying to catch up regarding the affordable housing crisis. Perhaps too hastily certified, they include numerous fast-tracked permit processing “corner-cutters.”
Here in “Lifeboat Laguna,” the full implementation of both, compounding and exacerbating each other, threatens all that we hold precious.
SB-9 could trigger islands of intensification and invasive urbanization when enabled by City Hall passivity or support. Greedy exploiters just awakening to the potential “mini-development” possibilities will prevail.
Considering this Council’s prodevelopment stance, the city manager their instrument, administrative approvals embraced, political patronage/nepotistic Design Review Board and Planning Commissioners seated? City Hall’s already telegraphed their betrayal.
The consequences, whether foisted upon flatlanders or hill residents, the alarmed cries of outrage will become increasingly justified.
SB-9, the “California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act,” streamlines the process for a homeowner to create a duplex or subdivide an existing lot, up to four units (including ADUs and junior ADUs).
SB-9 avoids the California Subdivision Tract Map regulations, which require a robust, CEQA-
compliant assessment (Initial Study flow chart) if five or more units are proposed.
If in, or adjacent to, an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA) typically found in our greener, fire-prone neighborhoods, then that robust CEQA review process shouldn’t be optional or voluntary.
SB-9 is a pro-development workaround, knowingly increases intergenerational wealth for a select few, at the diminishment of historical neighborhood integrity: “Them that’s got shall get, them that’s not shall lose.”
OBITUARY
SB-4 declares a preemptive exemption; hence, there are more applications by capital venture corporations, many from out of state. They’ll jeopardize existing neighborhood characteristics because they need not concede or offer exactions (CEQA mitigations).
Applicants will tout the “upsides,” never the neighborhood degradation, the “downsides,” verbiage wrapped in quasi-altruistic, humanitarian, soothing damage control jargon.
Positioned as likely the first massive SB-4 religious institution redevelopment project in Orange County, we’re the crash test dummies
via the RC/NCC project.
Laguna has several safety-related issues surrounding both bills as written, due to our unique street’s constricted configurations and first responder limitations. SB-9 does obliquely carve out, addresses some preemptively, but test cases will set precedents.
Uber-wealthy property owners will hire legal counsel to find and exploit loopholes. Our leadership has always been averse to risk, spineless when threatened, and unwilling to defend
Dr. Carol Ummel Lindquist Olson
A Life
of Love, Learning, and Leadership
Dr. Carol Ummel Lindquist Olson passed away peacefully on July 13, 2024, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Born Carolyn Lockwood Ummel on Sept. 17, 1947, in Dayton, Ohio, to Clark and Carolyn Ummel, Carol was the eldest of four sisters, the matriarch of a sprawling family that has blossomed to over 35 members.
In Southern California, Carol found both professional fulfillment and the love of her life, Neil Olson, whom she married in 1983. Together, they built a life filled with love and shared adventures.
Carol’s legacy extends beyond her husband, Neil, to her loving sons, Clark Olson (Kimberly Kronk) and Alexander Olson (Jen Coleman), and her cherished grandchildren, Freya, Ronan, and Ryah. Her sisters, Allyn Ummel Kahle (Vermont), Gay Ummel (Colorado), and Larke Ummel Recchie (Ohio), were a constant source of strength and laughter, calling each other the “fristers” - friends who are sisters.
Her presence and wisdom blessed a vast network of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and cousins. She was, as her sisters described her, the north star of the extended family - the guide that encouraged each individual to be better versions of themselves.
Carol was a brilliant scholar, graduating from Farmersville High School, Ohio in 1965 and Miami University Oxford, Ohio, in 1969 with a bachelor of arts in psychology with honors. Her intellectual journey continued at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign, where she obtained a doctorate in clinical psychology.
A tenured professor at CSU Fullerton, a published author of “Happily Married with Kids,” and a respected clinical psychologist, Carol’s professional life was marked by brilliance and compassion. She touched countless people with her intuitive understanding and expertise, earning admiration and respect from students, clients, and colleagues alike.
After 22 fulfilling years at CSUF, Carol retired from teaching but continued her clinical practice in Laguna Beach up until 2021, generously sharing her wisdom and compassion with her clients. Her final professional act was ensuring the seamless transition of her patients to qualified colleagues, a reflection of her lifelong commitment to helping others.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Carol was an instrument-rated private pilot. She also dedicated herself to causes close to her heart, including domestic violence prevention, treating trauma victims and public education. A
beloved member of the Laguna Beach community, she was an outspoken voice for the successful undergrounding of cables in Lower Temple Hills, pedestrian safety and was actively involved in the local schools, including SchoolPower. Even as Parkinson’s challenged her physically, her spirit remained indomitable. Daily walks down to the beach with Neil were a cherished ritual, a testament to their enduring love for each other and Laguna Beach.
Carol was a woman defined by her extraordinary capacity for love. A devoted wife, a nurturing mother, and a doting grandmother affectionately known as “Bimo,” she was the heart of her family. A natural leader and the undisputed matriarch of the Ummel clan, Carol possessed a unique ability to make everyone feel cherished and included. Carol was a member of the beloved “Bad Girls,” a group of close-knit psychologist friends who shared laughter, adventures and unwavering support. These bonds exemplify the depth of her friendships and her ability to bring joy into the lives of those around her.
Her intelligence, independence, and quick wit were widely admired, and she approached every role –wife, mother, sister, friend, professor, psychologist – with unwavering determination and excellence.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation in memory of Carol.
GUEST OPINION: WISDOM WORKOUT
When Taken by Surprise
By sUsan McneaL VeLasQUeZ
Last weekend was one of those times when I was taken by surprise by the blaring news that Trump had been shot and others were either killed or injured. First, Biden was put under high-level scrutiny with farreaching opinions from every highranking Democrat and Republican, and now the rhetoric of reaction to this tragic event will fill the pundits of fallacious news into overdrive. Rather than making the mistake of thinking it is those Democrats or those Republicans who are lusting after blood, I want to introduce another point of view today.
Are you familiar with the term Machiavellianism? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is “the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or general conduct.” In psychology, it describes a person’s tendency to deceive and manipulate others for personal gain.
In the 1960s, Richard Christie and Florence Geis developed a test for measuring a person’s level of Machiavellianism. People scoring above 60 out of 100 on the MACH-IV are considered “high Machs” who endorse statements such as, “Never tell anyone the real reason you did something unless it is useful to you to do so” or “The best way to handle people is to tell them what they want to hear.”
People scoring below 60 out of 100 tend to believe that “There is no excuse for lying to someone” or that “Most people who get ahead in the world lead moral lives.”
High Machs support the statement,” The end justifies the means.” Therefore, the result of an action is considered valuable enough to overlook the method used to get that result.
Have you had the experience of being lied to, betrayed, or cheated out of something that was rightfully yours and then been told not to take it personally? “It’s just business.”
“Our actions were unfortunate
PAGE 4
felt more valued. Each got their minds off “self” and on to “being fruitful Samaritans.” Volunteerism yields big dividends. What financial advisor would not recommend that?
Volunteering improves your mental acuity, builds a stronger community, lifts others, builds confidence and brings about a notable change. By now, you might be saying, “But I am a political leader. There is no time for volunteering. I have late meetings, chamber challenges, disgruntled community members to respond to, and all I have time for is a quick hamburger and fries.
Hold on. Let’s see how City Manager Mr. Kiff exchanged his political shoes for volunteer shoes (sneakers).
Last Friday, Kiff became a part of the Laguna Food Pantry family. Pantry Board Member and Vice Volunteer Chair Lesli Henderson radiantly and sincerely smiled, offered him a friendly handshake and cheerfully remarked, “Welcome, we are so glad you’re here.” She was serious, as Lesli is often at her computer checking the volunteer schedule early in the morning. That morning, she explained what his assignment was. Kiff picked up his volunteer badge, put on a radiant smile and away he went to
serve. He left behind his political responsibilities and made a sound commitment to be fruitful in another way, reaching out to others who are not in his network and choosing to help those who are fooddeficient. Wow! That is empowering. Unknowingly, his political load was lightened for a while. I was moved with gladness upon meeting him.
Warren Buffett contends in “Wall Street 24/7” that “Volunteering your time, skills, or resources to a cause you believe in can provide a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment. This fulfillment extends beyond your work, too, which will end at your retirement. Volunteering for a charitable organization also helps you connect with a like-minded community, potentially allowing you to form new relationships.”
Volunteering recalibrates, heals, cures, builds bridges, improves, and extends life. I know your doctor would highly recommend volunteering. Now is your time to volunteer. Others depend on it. It’s not about what Mr. Kiff promised to do while in office, but, moreover, what we saw him doing outside of his office that matters.
Rebecca is a Laguna Beach resident and former adjunct professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Episcopal Church Women Give to Local Charities
The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) have announced the 2024 recipients of its annual grant program. The organizations in Laguna Beach that will receive the ECW grants are Creative Identity, Friendship Shelter, Laguna Beach Children’s Chorus, Laguna Beach Community Clinic, Laguna Beach Food Pantry, PUP (Protecting Unwanted Pets), Sally’s Fund and Waymakers.
ECW’s giving extends to other organizations, including CASA, Wells of Life, St. Michael’s Episcopal
OPINION: PET PEEVES
Leave It to Beaver 2, A Trilogy GUEST
By MaRK d. cRantZ
Top row, from left to right: Megan Tambio, Friendship Shelter: Michelle Danly, Wells of Life; Ronda Farrington, Sally’s Fund; Dr. Jorge Rubal, Laguna Beach Community Clinic; George Gilliam, Creative Identity; Chelsea Burch and Melissa Whitworth, Waymakers; Bottom row left to right: Anne Belyea, Laguna Beach Food Pantry; Marjorie Gorum, ECW President; Linda Mayer, ECW; Ann Hyde ECW; Katie Van Harten, PUP; Joslyn Aitken, ECW. Photo/Barbara MacMurray
Church Food Distribution, Native American Heritage Association, Wheelchair Mission and others regionally, nationally and globally. ECW’s main source of income for these grants is their summer concert series, and they thank the Laguna Beach Community for supporting these concerts. The next concert will feature Jason Feddy on Saturday, July 20, at 5:30 p.m., at St Mary’s Episcopal Church on its ocean-view terrace. Tickets are $25. Tickets are available at ecwstmaryslb.org.
Here’s a recap for readers who missed the first column concerning the Beaver family. The Beavers moved to Laguna Beach for a lucrative job offer in the lumber business. It was a difficult car journey from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Beavers were lousy map readers and would get frustrated and tear the maps to smithereens. They went through one hundred and twenty sets of maps. The consequential sawdust they created lent itself to naming the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival. It was a heroic start. But it did not last. The Beavers soon realized they didn’t fit in Southern California because it was the land of beautiful mammals. The Beavers came up short in the beauty contest. They were buck-toothed and had flat tails. In Michigan, they fit in because everybody looked the same. Mrs. Beaver was the first to notice the difference. She told her husband, “Dear, I got a ticket on the beach today.” Mr. Beaver was concentrating on the TV. “That’s nice.” Mrs. Beaver exclaimed, “What? No, it’s not nice. I was written up because I was off leash.” Mr. Beaver continued concentrating on the TV’s water polo match. Mrs. Beaver spoke out loud more to herself than her husband. “The officer asked where I lived. I said a dam. That got me another ticket for verbally assaulting an officer of the law.” Mr. Beaver attempted to catch the drift. “What was that?” Mrs. Beaver takes a breath. “I’m not done yet. I slapped the sand hard with my tail. The sound scared the officer. That got me a third ticket for noise pollution.” Mr. Beaver looks up at his wife. “Sounds like a good day.” No, it wasn’t a good day. But it wasn’t as bad a day as their
our known core values.
They toss in the white towel all too often, all too quickly, leaving thousands of residents disenfranchised, distressed and rightfully angry.
Initially pitched 2.5 years ago as a more reasonably modest 21-unit, lowincome apartment complex, basically “crickets” was the community response.
In subsequent press releases and online statements by RC/NCC, even personal testimony by the pastor before City Council?
Representatives have refused to deny that a nearly three-and-a-half times larger, 72-unit redevelopment proposal is imminent.
Six years ago, the NCC extolled, praised, and rejoiced in the legacy of the original main sanctuary (now Bridge Hall), as designed by famous architect Aubrey St. Clair, emphasizing its historical significance in Laguna.
Now, they hector and challenge concerned citizens to be patient when it’s obvious that they created chaos, dissonance, and confusion.
Uncertain numbers bode ill, feeding suspicions about “What’s next?” Demolition of the entire facility is contrary to honoring our community’s rich architectural heritage, isn’t it?
A “single load” access and egress driveway for vehicles, added to densely stacked units, will present challenges if a fire starts in the basement. Car fires happen, folks. Flames will go up and outboard as they seek oxygen.
Evacuation would be inhibited, burdensome and unsafe for our first responders.
If the NCC is successful, significant overflows will be obvious, and its intensification of use will impose yet more parking burdens on the surrounding neighborhood.
What about the maintenance personnel, the pick-ups and dropoffs, and the dweller’s moving vans? Where will they park? What happens during high visitor season?
What should be offered and paid for by the redevelopers is a vigorous traffic circulation and parking study, regardless of the final number of units. That’d be the “neighborly” thing to do, wouldn’t it?
Roger E. Bütow moved to Laguna Beach in 1972. A former general contractor, he’s currently a professional land use and regulatory compliance analyst who specializes in environmental and constructionrelated
running for two open City Council seats this November: Hallie Jones, an environmental expert and Judie Mancuso, a 25-year nonprofit leader who champions animal rights and social compassion.
The two incumbents, council members Bob Whalen and George Weiss, have yet to file their intention to run for reelection. The deadline to do so is Aug. 14.
“Our club is working hard by getting out the vote and canvassing, sending postcards to voters, doing everything we can to make sure people are registered and cast their ballots,” Wolff said.
Biden isn’t the first presidential candidate to make a stop in Laguna this year. Back in late April, Nikki Honarkar Bostwick and her husband, Eric Bostwick, hosted a private fundraiser for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an Independent. Tickets for the event started at $1,500.
After his stop in Laguna Beach, Biden is scheduled to attend a campaign fundraiser in Piedmont, Calif., outside of Oakland, hosted by Quinn Delaney and Wayne Jordan, and Buffy Wicks and Peter Ambler.
GUEST OPINION:
Haiku Corner
By cheRyL PRocaccini
shrill calls pierce the air red tail hawks soar, circle in elegant courtship
lemonade berries’ soft flesh nestled in wet leaves invite all to feast
pale grey morning mist suspended in air, shrouding hill tops, horizons
Cheryl is a resident of Laguna Beach and writes Haiku poems inspired by the local ora and fauna around her. She is also a certi ed EMDR psychotherapist and the creator of Birdsong and the EcoWonders, BirdsongTV.
8/27 TAB BENOIT & ANDERS OSBORNE with Special Guest JD SIMO 8/29 THE PETTY BREAKERS
8/30 GLENN HUGHES - Deep Purple Set
8/31 MICK ADAMS & THE STONES 9/1 MIDGE URE 9/7 SOUTHERN ROCK THROWDOWN (
GRAHAM BONNET
ZZ
9/13 RICHIE KOTZEN with Mark Daly 9/14 JOURNEY USA (J ourney T ribu T e ) 9/15 BENISE: Fiesta! 9/19 THE MAN IN BLACK (J ohnny C ash T ribu T e ) 9/20 WILD CHILD (T he D oors T
T
) 9/22 JANE MONHEIT 9/25 ANA POPOVIC 9/26 DEBBIE GIBSON Acoustic Youth 9/27 DAVE MASON 9/28 ORIANTHI
10/1 DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO 10/3 ZEBRA 10/4 DAVE MASON
10/5 KIMBERLY PERRY (of The Band Perry) 10/6 DAVE HAUSE 10/9 AL DiMEOLA The Electric Years 10/10 HENRY KAPONO 10/11 HENRY KAPONO 10/12 PABLO CRUISE 10/13 JIMMY WEBB 10/16 JIMMIE VAUGHAN 10/18 GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP 10/20 THE YOUNG DUBLINERS 10/25 MIRAGE ( f lee T woo D m a C T ribu T e )
10/30 THE MUSICAL BOX 10/31 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS UNTOUCHABLES 11/1 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS UNTOUCHABLES 11/2 VENICE 11/3 THE WINEHOUSE EXPERIENCE ( a my w inehouse T ribu T e ) 11/8 COMMON SENSE 11/9 TYRONE WELLS
11/13 JOHN HIATT
11/15 RONSTADT REVIVAL 11/16 JOSHUA RADIN & RON POPE 11/22 SPACE ODDITY (D avi D b owie T ribu T e ) 11/23 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
11/26 LEONID & FRIENDS (C hi C a G o T ribu T e )
11/27 BEATLES VS STONES
11/29 THE PLATTERS
11/30 LEE ROCKER of the Stray Cats
12/4 LIVINGSTON TAYLOR and LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
12/11 DAVID BENOIT
12/12 KY-MANI MARLEY 12/15 THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA 12/21 AMBROSIA Holiday show
12/29 L.A. GUNS
12/31 THE ENGLISH BEAT 1/10 TOMMY CASTRO & The Painkillers 1/24 GENE LOVES JEZEBEL / BOW WOW WOW 2/16 INCENDIO w / a r D eshir f arah ( of
) 3/6 ALTAN
Letters
PAGE 11
the relevant experience and expertise, was excluded from the process. At this point, it should not surprise you that the treasurer will not be playing a major role in overseeing the outsourcing contract or its related performance. Now, the city is considering a recommendation to reduce the pay for the treasurer position because they have reduced the required hours.
Was this the plan all along? You get what you pay for. If you want to keep your elected treasurer position as is, contact City Council.
The City Council must respect the treasurer’s role to foster a healthy democracy.
Mike Marriner, Laguna Beach
Let Laguna Beach Voters Decide
The City Council will have to decide on Tuesday night whether it trusts Laguna’s citizens on an important but somewhat complicated issue. Only a minority of two council members can prevent us from voting. Don’t let that happen.
What is the issue? Most Lagunans now understand many of the costs we bear from overtourism. One critical fiscal cost is that providing for all the visitors costs the city and tax-paying residents more than $20 million annually. That is, taking care of the visitors (public safety, public works, and much more) costs $20 million plus more than the visitors generate in revenue for our city government.
The city is considering ways to capture more revenue to reduce this huge subsidy. At a Town Hall on July 11, several sources of revenue were presented. It was clear from the hand vote that most of the more than 250 residents present supported a strategy that significantly increases Laguna’s Business License Fee, only for the category of bars and restaurants. It is a feasible and legal way to gain revenue, largely from visitors. This fee has not been increased for 28 years and is capped at a very low maximum. We have proposed a way to phase in the fee increase over five years, with a progressive rate as the bar or restaurant has higher gross revenue. We can’t get all the day-trippers with this approach, but visitors provide about 80% of the revenue to our bars and restaurants. Due to a law recently signed by Gov. Newsom, bars and restaurants can add this as a charge at the bottom of the bill, hence not affecting their menu prices.
There are other ways to garner more revenue from visitors, as we should, but these will take more time to implement and are more complicated (for example, installing pay parking for non-residents in all our impacted neighborhoods, while residents will have hang tags allowing them to continue to have no-charge,
unrestricted neighborhood parking).
But for now, the most feasible option to generate millions of dollars from visitors each year is revising the antiquated Business License Fee for bars and restaurants. Unfortunately, two council members are all it takes to prevent the citizens of Laguna from considering this on the November ballot. A 4-1 vote is required. Even if two council members disagree with this policy, they should let the people decide and put the measure on the ballot.
Insist that Laguna’s citizens have the right to make an informed decision about this, not two council members.
Velasquez
PAGE 16
Jim Danziger and John omas, Laguna Beach but necessary,” “It’s a dirty job, but someone had to do it.”
Often, distaste for politics or big business comes from being the recipient of underhanded tactics that are covered over by pat phrases that excuse dishonesty and sanction low integrity in the name of the bottom line.
Abusive behavior comes packaged in many forms. One of the trickiest situations to navigate is when your livelihood is at stake and, therefore, your safety and security become threatened. Do you fight or flee? Do you freeze, collapse, or do you rage? Do you blame yourself for being out of control? Do you threaten or beg for some kind of rational resolve?
Depending upon the seriousness of the situation, it is likely that you will do all of the above in the process of coming to terms with what is happening to you.
When unexpected outcomes surprise you, it is natural to take them personally. Your life is being impacted. Often, your first reaction will be defensiveness and outrage.
Your pain is compounded if you have no opportunity to express yourself. “So sorry, but the decision is out of my hands. It came from the higher-ups.” “I am afraid there is nothing that can be done.”
This is the kind of challenge that will test your values. When your ethics require you to uphold a high level of personal honesty and integrity, yet you are confronted by a situation where the people you are dealing with don’t share your beliefs about how business should be conducted, explosive and disruptive outcomes are often the result.
If you are suffering from a major loss, give yourself the gift of generous, extravagant patience. Come home to yourself. Coming
Crantz
PAGE 16
grandparents went through. During the fur trading era, many relatives ended up as beaver hats for the wealthy. The next morning, Mrs. Beaver asked Mr. Beaver what he was going to do about all the tickets. Mr. Beaver answered with a mouthful of oak meal. “I’ll go to work at the lumberyard and gnaw on it.” Mrs. Beaver huffed, “And what am I going to do while you’re busy making particle board at the lumberyard?” Mrs. Beaver was an inpatient beaver. She would never wait for anything. For instance, Mrs. Beaver watched home do-over shows and could never wait for the final design. She would fast forward close to the end. Then she guessed every remodel ending. “They did…Open design,” she’d yell triumphantly. Mr. Beaver gulped down the last of his breakfast and burped. “I’ll think about the tickets. Remember, dams aren’t built in a day.” At that, Mr. Beaver was shown the water door without a kiss. Just a kiss off. Mrs. Beaver wasn’t a beaver to wait around. She made an appointment to see a veterinarian specialist. The vet gave her a treat
home means revisiting what you have been doing with your life and how you can create more satisfaction as you make new choices.
If you have been using all of your energy to fight or flee the perils of demanding challenges, it may be time to choose a new path. Hold tight to your needs, your desires and your values. They represent your core, your essence. They are your most valuable soul treasures.
Susan started her career in the Human Potential Industry in the mid-70s in San Francisco and is the author of “Beyond Intellect: Journey into the Wisdom of Your Intuitive Mind.” susanvelasquez.com.
and a pat on the head. “What can I do for you today, Mrs. Beaver?” Mrs. Beaver asked, “How much do you charge to put down husbands?” Meanwhile, Mr. Beaver hadn’t thought a whit about Mrs. Beaver’s tickets. Mr. Beaver was too worried about the lumber crew he inherited when he took the job. They were sea otters who played around all day. They didn’t have a work bone in their bodies. Mr. Beaver had to pick up the slack. His teeth hurt from doing the job of five. At this pace, he’d be gumming the wood in a vain attempt to make particle board.
However, things were looking up for Mrs. Beaver. The vet explained, “A nip here, a tuck there and all your troubles will be left behind. And good to his “Hippo”-cratic oath, Mrs. Beaver became a changed beaver. Mrs. Beaver waited for no mammal and rebuilt a dam fine specimen in a day. Mrs. Beaver underwent a Brazilian butt lift, dental implants, nose job, breast augmentation, lip enhancement, full body hair removal, botox and added one white glove for good measure.
Months later, Mrs. Beaver talked the family into their own makeovers. The beaver kids got dental implants. With new megawatt smiles, they made new friends right away. However, Mr. Beaver refused any cosmetic surgery and insisted he was perfect as is. But as a compromise, he agreed to allow the vet to change his sea otter crew into beavers. After the makeover, production quotas were met at the lumberyard. It was a sigh of relief for Mr. Beaver.
Things were looking better. Laguna Beach was a dam nice place to move to, well, at least, for now… Crantz tells the Indy that no beavers were harmed in the writing of this column.
