Rivian Eying Future Vehicle Sales in Laguna Laguna Beach Businessman
By Jackie Connor
In a significant and unanimous decision, the Laguna Beach City Council voted to enter into an economic incentive agreement with Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer. The agreement will permit the company to sell vehicles directly from its downtown location at the South Coast Theater.
The decision is contingent on the city planning commission approving a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to sell Rivian vehicles. This would allow for financing, price discussions and test drives as part of the company’s expanded operations.
“Rivian has been very matter-of-fact. They have no intention of eliminating their public programs or nonprofit events as part of this request,” said Assistant City Manager
Jeremy Frimond at this week’s council meeting. “The public benefits are downtown improvements, which I have suggested storefront improvements to 224-226 Ocean (Avenue), which has been in disrepair for many years.”
The Planning Commission will review the CUP amendment, which could approve the full scope of Rivian’s plans by the end of the year. City Council emphasized the partnership with Rivian has the potential to be a new revenue resource that aligns with the city’s continued environmental and community development goals.
The agreement includes a 10-year taxsharing arrangement and is expected to generate $1.1 to $2.3 million in revenue over a decade.
In the first three years, 65% of the generated sales tax will go to Rivian, with the city receiving the remaining 35%, which will be allocated to the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund. After three years, sales tax would be split in half, with 50% allocated for Rivian and 50% for the city, to incentivize the company. These monies will be earmarked for projects promoting clean energy initiatives via tax credits, such as installing microgrid systems, charging infrastructure and transitioning vehicle fleets to electric vehicle technology.
“I’m glad you guys came to town. I’m glad you bought the theater,” Mayor Sue Kempf said to Rivian representatives at Tuesday’s
Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Almost
$6 Million
By Clara Beard
| LB Indy
A Laguna Beach businessman pleaded guilty Monday, Aug. 12, to embezzling almost $6 million from his clients over several years, authorities said.
David Robert McDonnell, 74, an executor of wealthy people’s estates, also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
According to his plea agreement, from 2018 to January 2024, McDonnell ran McDonnell Business Services, a Laguna Beach-based company located on 3rd Street. Through his company, high-networth individuals hired McDonnell to be the executor of their trusts.
As an executor, McDonnell managed the trusts’ assets and, when the individuals died, sold them to distribute the proceeds to the trusts’ beneficiaries. Instead, McDonnell pleaded guilty to liquidating the assets and diverting the money to his personal bank accounts.
The Laguna Beach Police Department launched an investigation when a beneficiary from one of the trusts contacted the
EMBEZZLEMENT, PAGE 14
Rivian hopes to sell its vehicles out of the South Coast Theater location by 2025. Photo/Mitch Ridder
RIVIAN, PAGE 3
• 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
City Severs Ties with Current Auditors, Moves Forward with Third-Party Performance Review
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
Laguna Beach City Council voted 4-1 to switch audit firms from Eide Bailly to Lance, Soll, and Lunghard (LSL) at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, one year before the current auditors’ contract expired.
Councilmember George Weiss voted against the move.
According to a staff report, Eide Bailly, the audit firm that has conducted the annual independent audit of the city’s financial statements for the past two years, failed to meet its Dec. 30 deadline. The firm’s tardiness prompted Assistant City Manager and Interim City Finance Officer Gavin Curran to terminate their contract.
“I did verbally communicate with Eide Bailly through a meeting, and I also followed up with an email indicating that we would no longer be proceeding with Eide Bailly going forward,” Curran told council. “I also let them know we would be issuing a request for proposals (RFP), which was a public RFP, and anyone could propose on that RFP.”
RFP’s were issued to new audit firms in mid-May. City staff then tasked the Citizen’s Audit Review and Investment Advisory Committee to conduct interviews, which it did Aug. 7, and make final recommendations to the City Council on Aug. 13.
The RFP documents state the city is “considering a change in
Rivian
meeting. “It’s been a game changer for our town and…I think it’s kind of awakened the town to what other things we could have going on here.”
As part of the expansion, Rivian plans to renovate the Laguna Beach Dry Cleaner building at 224-226 Ocean Ave. The company said the proposed renovations will mirror the successful refurbishment of the Rivian Theater, which the automaker purchased the historic South Coast Theater in 2020. Since its grand opening in December 2023, the revamped space has
the auditor because the city had concerns about the quality of service provided by the previous audit firm.”
The documents also note that the current auditor, Eide Bailly, wasn’t invited to bid on the RFP.
Weiss considered sticking with Eide Bailly to be a no-brainer.
“You don’t change horses if they’re running okay,” said Weiss, who suggested the city stay with the current auditor since he was told it was only a “verbal separation.”
“It was really the timing,” Curran said when asked why the city didn’t continue with Eide Bailly’s audit services. “They indicated that March was the soonest they could do it, and also the costs associated with that.
They are $30,000 more than the five audit firms that proposed, so they would be the highest bidder.”
In a staff report summary, Eide Bailly told the city it would be unable to make the December deadline “for various reasons.”
However, some residents suggested that the annual audit reports were delayed due to struggles within the city finance department, including submitting financial statements late, which in turn caused the audit committee to miss its deadline.
“I find it highly irregular that he (Gavin Curran) unilaterally decided to fire these auditors for no other reason than that they couldn’t deliver by the end of the year. Could it also be that the numbers weren’t given
to them until very late and it was impossible?” Resident Michele Monda said.
Mayor Sue Kempf, also the audit committee liaison, said that after talking to Eide Bailly representatives last Friday, they conveyed that recent turnover within the city’s finance department affected their ability to submit financial statements in a timely manner.
Councilmember Bob Whalen said if he could rewind it all, he’d leave Eide Bailly in place, but since the city has already gone through the RFP process, they should take the Audit Committee’s recommendation and go with LSL.
“I think we’re in a tough spot,” Councilmember Bob Whalen said.
“With all due respect to Gavin (Curran), we had a three-year contract (with Eide Bailly) that was awarded by council, and it shouldn’t have been terminated unilaterally by staff. That shouldn’t happen, but it did. Then, this process was unrolled and came back to the council for the first time tonight.
“I think we should recognize this wasn’t our finest moment,” Whalen continued. “This wasn’t a great process.”
Prior to being selected, the recommended audit firm, LSL informed city staff that it couldn’t complete the 2023-24 audit until March 2025 due to its current schedule and client obligations.
“It is presumed the December delivery date was included in the RFP,” said Robin Hall, Laguna Beach resident and practicing CPA for about 50 years. “Meeting a December delivery for a first-year audit of a city that has not met a December delivery date for the past six years and has had significant reported findings in its prior audit reports is exceedingly unlikely.”
But, despite other bidding audit firms saying they could meet the December deadline, the audit committee felt that LSL was the strongest candidate for the city based on a review of the proposals, the firm’s size, the location of audit staff, and their overall performance during the interviews, according to the staff report.
During public comment, resident Gene Felder read an email exchange between him and the assistant city manager, Gavin Curran, who also became the acting city financial officer in April 2024.
“I asked, ‘Is it true that for six years, the city finance department did not complete a year-end audit on time, and that in 2023, the completed audit was over a year late,’” Felder said. “Assistant city manager Gavin Curran emailed me and answered, ‘Yes, that’s true.’ In the letter, I also asked, ‘Is it true that in 2024, assistant city manager Gavin
AUDITORS, PAGE 13
FROM PAGE 1 PERSONALIZED
featured 142 community events and movie screenings, drawing in over 11,000 attendees and serving as a welcome center for interested car buyers.
In addition to the Rivian South Coast Theater being its flagship Southern California location, the automaker opened a Venice Beach location in 2021 featuring its vehicles alongside community events using the same business strategy. These unique spaces are part of the company’s larger move away from the conventional car
dealership feel toward providing experiences that exemplify the brand’s desire to be associated with adventure-centric, forward-thinking communities across the nation that value environmental stewardship, such as Laguna Beach. Other Rivian storefront locations include five in California, one in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, and one in British Columbia.
“It’s become a commonplace in our community, and I’m
really proud of what we’ve done,” said Nicola Freeman, the general manager of Rivian Theater. “The intent with any of these suggested changes is not to have any interruptions to those programmings—that will continue…it’s a big thing I’m committed to bringing to the city of Laguna.”
With the agreement in place, Rivian will meet with the Planning Commission and seek to finalize its expansion plans and begin vehicle sales by the end of the year.
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Town Crier
IN AND AROUND LAGUNA BEACH
HEARTFELT TO REACH
MILESTONE THIS SATURDAY
On Saturday, Aug. 17, Heartfelt, a Laguna Beach-based nonprofit organization, will achieve a remarkable milestone by screening its 60,000th heart at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (SMES) in San Juan Capistrano. This extraordinary achievement thoroughly illustrates Heartfelt’s unwavering commitment to early detection and prevention. Heartfelt has partnered with SMES for well over a decade, providing critical cardiac screenings that have saved numerous lives. “We are thrilled to reach this achievement while at St. Margaret’s,” said Holly Morrell, founder of Heartfelt. “Our joint efforts have made a real difference in the community, and this accomplishment is a testament to that impact.”
Earlier this year, Heartfelt received additional recognition when the City of Laguna Beach honored the organization with a proclamation, designating it as an Extraordinary Business for its significant contributions to public
health and safety.
Heartfelt’s screenings have led to numerous life-saving discoveries, including recent cases involving a 4-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, and a 55-year-old woman, all of whom had critical heart conditions detected early through the nonprofit’s efforts. These examples underscore the essential role Heartfelt plays in providing accessible, affordable cardiac screenings to the Orange County community.
ECW SUMMER SERIES FUNDRAISER CONCERT THIS SATURDAY
Episcopal Church Women will host its third Summer Series
California Design General Contractors
Fundraiser concert at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, on the oceanview terrace of St Mary’s Episcopal Church. Led by Reggie Christian, the concert will feature the band Showtime, as well as Lewis Cervante and Bill Schley. Christian has been a Laguna resident for nine years and has worked in the Public Works department in Laguna for 31 years. He started his music group as a hobby, but it became so popular that it evolved into something much greater than a leisurely pastime. Some of his venues include the Greeter’s Corner, the Marine Room, 227 Ocean Ave and locations in San Clemente and Dana Point. They play all types of music, from rock’n roll to country, from Latin jazz to reggae -
anything the crowd wants to hear. The concerts are the main source of funds raised by ECW for the grants they give to Laguna Beach charities each year, including The Food Pantry, Sally’s Fund, The Community Clinic, The Friendship Shelter, Waymakers, Creative Identity, PUP (Protecting Unwanted Pets) and others. Tickets for Saturday’s concert are $25 and are available at ecwstmaryslb.org.
GREATER LAGUNA BEACH GOP MEETING ON THE HORIZON
The GLBGOP’s Members’ Meeting is on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Mozambique in Laguna Beach. Our keynote speakers are Scott Baugh, Jennifer Adnams and Fred Whitaker. Scott Baugh is the Republican candidate for the CA Congress District 47, Jennifer Adnams is running for CUSD Trustee for Area 1, and Fred Whitaker is the Chairman of the OCGOP. Baugh will update attendees on his very competitive race. Baugh’s organization has developed a great outreach campaign. Adnams has 30-plus years as an educator and will share her insights into the current state of our schools and her vision. Fred Whitaker has led the OCGOP since 2015. He will discuss what the organization is doing to support GOP candidates and the
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Day Visitors to Laguna Beach don’t leave their CASH. They only leave their TRASH!!
Laguna Beach City Council, FORCE Caltrans to keep TWO lanes of traffic in each direction flowing.
DEMAND:
• ALL street parking places on PCH are clearly legal size marked spaces.
• ALL parking spots have parking meters.
• TRIPLE the prices of parking meters on weekends.
• LOWER the costs of residents’ city parking meters.
• INSTALL median barriers like the ones installed on PCH in Newport Coast to eliminate illegal turns.
• PROVIDE more marked crosswalks.
• PROVIDE a greater police presence in South Laguna to eliminate cars who stop traffic on PCH waiting for a possible parking place.
For the safety of all residents and visitors, traffic MUST FLOW on PCH!!
CRIER, PAGE 8
Heartfelt, a Laguna Beach-based nonprofit organization, will achieve a remarkable milestone by screening its 60,000th heart at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (SMES) in San Juan Capistrano. Photo courtesy of Heartfelt
LETTERS
TO: EDITOR@LBINDY.COM
IN SUPPORT OF NCC’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
I cannot support the Village Laguna petition against the Neighborhood Congregational Church affordable housing project. And here is why. No affordable housing has been approved in Laguna Beach for almost 25 years. The last affordable project was “Alice Court” on 450 Glenneyre. All the same fears of crime, congestion, parking, building mass were cited by opponents of that project. The project was approved and built, and none of those fears materialized. Related Companies (the same developer as the NCC site) built it and did a great job. It is well managed. The project provided 27 units of much-needed “workforce housing.” I know this to be true. I was the architect. I bet many of you didn’t even know it was “affordable housing?”
This NCC project is not “homeless housing” contrary to the fear-mongering currently being perpetuated by Village Laguna. It is “workforce housing.” Housing for the first responders, teachers, waiters, cashiers, store clerks and service workers in town. The people that wait on you at your restaurants. The bank teller you talk to when you go to the bank. The clerk at your local pharmacy. The new teacher just getting started at the local school. The local artist. We need these people to
CITY HALL MEETINGS:
live in our town. Providing workforce housing accomplishes this. They may not have six figure incomes, but they are still vital part of our community.
SB4 is a California state law that allows affordable housing to be built on church sites “by right.” That means without local governmental approval. It was a necessary law that prevented local jurisdictions from blocking much-needed affordable housing from being built on sites owned by charitable church organizations. Like it or not, Laguna Beach has no legal recourse here to stop this project from being built. It’s a fact. State law prohibits any local jurisdiction from blocking it.
If LB tries to stop it, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the State Attorney General will file a lawsuit against the city quickly,
and the city will surely lose. It will cost the city dearly.
Supporting this project is simply the “Right thing to do.” Before signing this petition, ask yourself these questions. Can my children afford to live in Laguna Beach without my financial assistance? Do I want local artists to actually live in Laguna Beach? Shouldn’t I welcome working-class people in Laguna Beach? What are the real socioeconomic ramifications if I exclude them from our town?
I am not the architect for this NCC project. I have no vested interest in this project other than my conscience to do the right thing and support it.
Eric Zuziak, Laguna Beach
BACKWARD THINKING
Dear voters, city hall is spending big
LETTERS, PAGE 14
theIndyPoll
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
Has there been a noticeable decrease in loud vehicle exhaust this summer?
- Yes: 27.27% (3 votes)
- No: 72.73% (8 votes) TOTAL VOTES: 11
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION
How concerned are you about the city replacing its current audit firm?
- Not concerned
- Very concerned
- Somewhat concerned
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. To minimize fraudulent
block duplicate votes by cookie and IP address. While we cannot control users who change locations and use separate devices on different networks, this
deter participants from voting multiple times. No polling software available online
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 IP, even when no blocking is enabled. This means that a large number of votes coming from a single Internet address will trigger a cooldown block to help prevent cheating. Sometimes this is tripped by many people at one location (for example in schools and offices) voting in a short period of time.
Aug. 19 - Heritage Committee at 6 p.m.
Aug. 19 - Environmental Sustainability Committee at 6 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
ASSEMBLYWOMAN DIANE DIXON, 19712 MacArthur Blvd. Ste. 150, Irvine, CA 92612. 949-251-0074
FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR KATRINA FOLEY, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-8343550, Lisa.Bartlett@ocgov.com
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.
PUBLISHER
Steve Strickbine
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Nadine Johnson
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR
Clara Beard
clara@firebrandmediainc.com
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SALES
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM
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tina@firebrandmediainc.com
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION:
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Tel: 949-715-4100; Fax: 949 715-4106 www.lbindy.com
A publication of
PUBLISHER
Steve Strickbine
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Tracy Powell
CALIFORNIA ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Nick Oliveri
FIREBRAND MEDIA LLC FOUNDER
Steve Zepezauer
Homes have character, and 1362 Morningside Drive is a house that quietly invites you in and welcomes you warmly.
This is a home in which creativity, conversation, and connection lives and breathes. This home doesn't boast. No need. It's not looking for attention or fleeting admiration. It encourages you to come as you are, to enjoy interesting company in the vaulted family room or relish time with a good book and a catnap in the garden.
Like the fine lines on your favorite vintage vinyl, this home is a record of a time when homes were designed and built to nourish a seamless connection to each other and to our shared environment
Ideal for those who value peace and serenity. This home will attract thinkers, creatives, and anyone seeking a haven to hone their craft, a private retreat to develop their latest business venture, or the perfect setting to enjoy an enriched day to day life with loved ones.
Meticulously maintained, impeccably clean and offered for sale for the first time since Raiders of the Lost Ark was playing in movie theaters, this opportunity is as special as the home itself. To the astute (and lucky) buyer who claims this rare jewel: Welcome Home.
barbarabalossi.com | 949-531-8531 | barbara.balossi@compass.com
VISIT LAGUNA BEACH’S BRAND NEW MUSIC VENUE!
8/16 @ 9:00 PM
- SHOW SCHEDULE
8/16 @ 9 PM ROCKET MEN ELTON JOHN TRIBUTE
8/17 @ 9 PM SON OF A GUN GUNS N' ROSES TRIBUTE
8/18 @ 12:30 PM TOM DANTE QUARTET JAZZ BRUNCH
8/18 @ 5:30 PM EINSTEIN BROWN REGGAE
8/18 @ 7:30 PM JAHGUN AND JUSTIFYAH REGGAE
8/22 @ 7:30 PM KOKO AND FRIENDS
8/23 @ 9 PM NICK I & A.D.D. BAND
8/24 @ 9 PM EARTH TO MARS BRUNO MARS TRIBUTE
8/25 @ 12:30 PM TOM DANTE QUARTET JAZZ BRUNCH
8/25 @ 5:30 PM EINSTEIN BROWN REGGAE
8/25 @ 7:30 PM ERROL BONNICK & THE LIONZ REGGAE
8/29 @ 7:30 PM KOKO AND FRIENDS
8/30 @ 9 PM DSB JOURNEY TRIBUTE
8/31 @ 9 PM RED CORVETTE PRINCE TRIBUTE
9/1 @ 12:30 PM THE SUNDAY GOSPEL BAND BRUNCH
9/1 @ 7:30 PM PATO BANTON REGGAE
9/2 @ 7:30 PM 133 BAND
HOUSE
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active ground game they have developed. The meeting will also discuss the group’s “Get Out the Vote” initiative. The event will start with a 5 p.m. Social Hour upstairs in the newly remodeled Ivan’z House and the meeting will start at 6 p.m. downstairs in the Parrot Room. Attendees can mingle with fellow conservatives and enjoy Mozambique’s wonderful food and beverages. Seating is limited. RSVPs are required at glbgop.com/ upcomingevents.
UPCOMING CATMOSPHERE LAGUNA FOUNDATION, LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL SHELTER FELINE ADOPTION EVENTS
On Saturday, Aug. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Catmosphere Laguna cats and kittens will be featured for adoption at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. The next adoption event will be Thursday, Aug. 22, at Laguna ArtA-Fair’s Tails at Twilight, located at 777 Laguna Canyon Road, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The next event is Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Aliso Viejo Furry Friends Pet Fair at Aliso Viejo Ranch Park, 100 Park Avenue, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Laguna Beach Animal Shelter and Catmosphere Laguna Adoption Event Dates 2024: Saturdays, Oct. 5 (Love Laguna Beach Day) and Oct. 26 (Halloween event). Year-end holiday events: Gelson’s Rancho Mission Viejo, located at 30731 Gateway Plaza, Rancho Mission Viejo and Catmosphere Laguna Adoption Event Dates 2024: Saturdays Sept. 21, Nov. 16 and year-end holiday events.
First Saturday of every month at Petsmart Lake Forest, 23602 El Toro Road, Lake Forest.
Catmosphere Laguna Rescue is a nonprofit feline rescue that serves Laguna Beach and the surrounding communities every day of the week. It is dedicated to finding forever homes for homeless, relinquished, abandoned and special-needs cats and kittens. Catmosphere adoption events are fun for the whole family, with snacks and giveaways for all. Volunteer opportunities are also available.
Contact Catmosphere Laguna Foundation at 949/619MEOW (6369) or teamfeline@ catmospherelaguna.com
WHAT’S NEW AT THE SUSI Q IN AUGUST
Several fascinating free programs will be offered at the Susi Q this August.
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, between 1
and 2:30 p.m., Megan Witbracht, an associate director of education at the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), will discuss the history and prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, how to implement healthy lifestyle practices to protect the brain as we age, reduce risk for memory problems later in life, and the importance of research participation.
To satisfy the wanderlust of the armchair adventurer, retired neuroscientist and long-time Laguna resident Ursula Staubli will present a lively video of her South African adventures on Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m. This edition of Susi Q’s Shared Adventures promises to be a scintillating example of how much fun active retirees can have.
Fearless Staubli hiked and biked the rugged shorelines of two oceans, ventured into rainforests, hung out with African penguins and ostriches and enjoyed meeting with a wide range of South Africans, immersing herself in its diverse cultures.
Susi Q September Events
Mark your calendars for September events and classes. On Sept. 5 at 2 p.m., enjoy Calling All Nature Lovers, a presentation by Laguna Canyon Foundation and Crystal Cove detailing the many events and volunteer opportunities that exist for nature lovers in our community.
On Sept. 12, the dynamic duo of podcaster, short story writer and columnist Marrie Stone and founder of Third Street Writers Rina Palumbo will offer an eight-week class on flash writing entitled Keep It Short: Telling Stories in Flash Format.
Flash is short form writing of no more than 1,200 words that packs the same punch as its much longer relatives. It’s a complex narrative in condensed form. Limited to eight participants, the series takes place on Thursdays for eight weeks. The fee is $160.
The Susi Q, located at 380 Third Street, offers a wide range of educational and fun programs, classes and clubs for older adults—however, all ages are welcome. The Susi Q’s Care Management Department provides free consultation, education and practical resources through its Lifelong Laguna (Aging-in-Place) program, enabling seniors 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.
2
Street Beat
EXCERPTS FROM POLICE LOGS
Thursday, Aug. 8
Possessing a controlled substance. Adam David Spicer, 54, of Laguna was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. He was held on a $2,500 bail. DUI, switchblade in vehicle, hit
and run, possessing a substance similar to toluene. Matthew Cerbellon, 18, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, having a switchblade knife in the vehicle, hit and run, causing property damage, and possessing a substance similar to toluene. He was held on a $4,000 bail.
Friday, Aug. 9
DUI while driving on a suspended license. Carlos Ocampo, 44, of La Puente was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving while on a suspended
license. He was held without bail.
DUI. A 24-year-old Laguna Hills woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. She was held on a $2,500 bail.
Saturday, Aug. 10
DUI. A 44-year-old Aliso Viejo was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. She was held on a $2,500 bail.
DUI. Andrew Michael Morales, 24, of Lakewood was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent BAC. He was held on a $5,000 bail.
DUI. A 26-year-old San Gabriel man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held on a $2,500 bail.
DUI. A 23-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the same time. She was held on a $5,000 bail.
Bench warrant. Nicolas McNeil Kelley, 28, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
DUI. A 39-year-old Buena Park woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent BAC. She was held on a $3,000 bail.
DUI. Jahasiel Rios, 27, of El Monte was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent BAC. He was held on a $5,000 bail.
Affair Affair
FESTIVAL OF ARTS & PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2024
Experience the glamour of a Met Gala-inspired evening at the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters!
This night features fine art, a concert with Matt Mauser and his Frank Sinatra Big Band Tribute, and a performance of the Pageant of the Masters’ “À La Mode: The Art of Fashion,” introduced by actress, writer and producer Kirsten Vangsness, best known for her role as “Penelope Garcia” on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. Expect a night full of exciting surprises, photo ops, and a raffle drawing for a 2025 Volvo XC60 PHEV Black Edition or $20,000 in cash
Loge Center Pageant ticket holders will be treated to a special one-hour early entrance, where they will be greeted with a complimentary glass of champagne from 4:30 to 5:30pm.
KIRSTEN VANGSNESS
Scan the QR code or visit foapom.com/gala
Tickets start at $75 (includes $10 per ticket fee). There is limited and open seating for Matt Mauser’s performance and assigned seating for the Pageant of the Masters. Tickets are required for this event. Festival of Arts grounds will be closed to the public.
Sunday, Aug. 11
DUI. Tina Rastegari, 30, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent BAC. She was held on a $5,000 bail.
Disorderly conduct. Matthew Joseph Calo, 26, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct due to alcohol and battery on a person. He was held on a $1,000 bail.
Petty theft. Caleb Tylor Ekes, 23, of Riverside was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting. He was held on a $500 bail.
Disorderly conduct. Edward Patrick Schillizzi, 68, of Laguna was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct due to alcohol. He was held on a $500 bail.
DUI. Jarrod Robert Mcintosh, 49, of Lakewood was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent BAC. He was held on a $12,500 bail. Annoying or molesting a child under 18. Arbi Murtazaev, 31, of Glendale was arrested on suspicion of annoying or molesting a child under 18 years old. He was held on a $1,000 bail.
Monday, Aug. 12
DUI. A 24-year-old Orange woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent BAC. She was held on a $5,000 bail.
DUI. A 23-year-old San Juan Capistrano man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held on a $2,500 bail.
Domestic violence. Kristian David Montgomery, 23, of Buena Park was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence with minor injury. He was held on $50,000 bail.
Vandalism, burglary. Briena Sheree Casares, 50, of Rosemead was arrested on suspicion of vandalism of $400 or more and burglary. She was held on $70,000 bail.
Possible willful cruelty to a
MATT MAUSER
GUEST OPINION:
If You Don’t Get Finances Right, Nothing Else Matters
BY MARY LOCATELLI
While Laguna Beach City Council faces many important and competing issues, none are more important than the health of the city’s finances. As Jackie Kennedy once said about raising children, “If you don’t get that right, nothing else matters.” The same is true of council stewardship of city resources.
There have been rumblings about city finances going back at least to 2016 when residents began to notice a number of recurring audit adjustments. Then, starting in 2018 and continuing through today, the
auditors have given the city a series of first Significant Deficiencies and, for the last two years, Material Weaknesses regarding financial reporting and closing procedures. My Bank Audit Committee would have considered that unacceptable.
What has been the city’s response to the red flags raised by the auditors? Surprisingly, the first action, apparently taken unilaterally by the City Finance Officer (CFO), who oversaw most of the areas criticized by the auditors, was to change auditors. Why? Because the existing auditors could not meet an accelerated timeline demanded by the CFO. Never mind the fact that the timeline was as much or more affected by the finance department’s inability to deliver auditable financial statements to the auditors on a timely basis.
As the process unfolded, the CFO conducted a flawed request for proposal process, with no approvals or authorization, no segregation of duties and no review or oversight until a final list of candidates was presented to the Audit Committee. The committee was given the list of finalists and asked to choose one. The committee did not question the process. In the end, they selected a firm that could not deliver
financial statements any earlier than the firm being replaced.
It’s worth remembering a bit of Audit Committee history here. The council created an Audit Committee in 2018 to assist in reviewing audit issues. But the committee has always had other responsibilities and never totally focused on audit. Although the council has appointed very knowledgeable and diligent people to the committee, it has never provided the committee with a single member who has accounting and auditing expertise.
What was the council’s reaction when asked to decide on the new audit firm? Most expressed some discomfort with the process. One said the CFO should not have done what he did, and this was not one of the city’s finer moments. Another, while expressing concern for how the city found itself in the position it was in, stated that he had to rely on the Audit Committee. Perhaps he had forgotten that the council had not provided the Audit Committee with the expertise that would have helped them in dealing with this situation. In the end, given the choice of staying with the existing firm or changing to the new firm, all but one councilmember voted to change. A bit like snatching defeat
from the jaws of victory.
On a positive note, City Manager Dave Kiff has made a commitment to addressing the weaknesses in the internal controls in the Finance Department. To that end, he obtained approval from the council to hire an outside consultant to provide assistance. While applauding the idea, there is a concern that the consultant was not selected through a competitive bidding process, and the selected firm’s website does not focus on internal controls as a core competency. It’s human nature to want to hire people you know and trust. But when dealing with other people’s money, it is imperative that organizations follow good internal control practices. And good internal controls start with the tone at the top.
Let’s end where we started. Nothing else matters if you don’t get the finances right.
Mary Locatelli was a partner at Ernst & Young, an executive vice president and director of audit and compliance at a regional bank, had her own internal controls consulting company, and was a deputy director in management and finance at an international organization headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
Orange County Student Artists Honored at Annual Junior Art Awards Ceremony at Festival of Arts
By LB Indy Staff
On Sunday, Aug. 11, the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach celebrated Orange County students’ talent and hard work at the annual Junior Art Awards Ceremony. The 2024 Junior Art Exhibit is sponsored in part by California First Leasing Corporation, Mark Porterfield of Laguna Beach, and a grant from the FOA Foundation.
Street Beat
FROM PAGE 10
child, DUI. Esvai Diazgomez, 31, of Garden Grove was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 percent BAC and possible willful cruelty to a child. He was held on a $20,000 bail.
Tuesday, Aug. 13
Possessing nitrous oxide. Marina Olivia Mandieta, 19, was arrested on suspicion of possessing nitrous oxide. She was held without bail. Communicating with a minor for sexual purposes. Michael Lawrence Prince, 50, was arrested on suspicion of attending an arranged meeting
The 2024 Junior Art Award winners were acknowledged, honored, and presented with gold, silver, and bronze medallions and certificates during the hour-long ceremony. A jury made up of Nancy Darnall from California First Leasing Corporation and Kirsten Whalen from the FOA Foundation selected the award winners. In addition to first, second, and third place awards,
with a minor for lewd acts, sending obscene messages to a minor and communicating with a minor for sexual purposes. He was held without bail.
Bench warrant. Darin Boyd McKeon, 38, of Ontario was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
Communicating with a minor for sexual purposes. Wesley Robert Hazlett, 36, of Laguna was arrested on suspicion of attending an arranged meeting with a minor for lewd acts, sending obscene messages to a minor and communicating with a minor for sexual purposes. He was held without bail.
DUI. A 27-year-old Yuba City
the Festival of Arts also awarded three Directors Awards, selected by Exhibits Director Christine Georgantas; and the Marketing Department awarded thirteen special awards to students whose artwork was selected to be on Junior Art Postcards sold in the Gift Shop.
“This year, we are showcasing nearly 300 pieces of artwork created by students from Orange County,
woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and driving drunk with a suspended license. She was held on $5,000 bail.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
Lewd and lascivious acts with a child. Jonathan Xavier Cabral, 24, of Fullerton was arrested on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd acts, sexual penetration with force, etc., sending obscene messages to a minor, oral copulation with a person under 18 years, possessing obscene matter relating to minors, communication with a minor for sexual purposes and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. He was held without bail.
ranging from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade,” shared Festival of Arts President David Perry during his welcome speech. “The artwork by Orange County students never ceases to inspire with its originality and emerging talents. Over the years, junior artists have gone on to become professional artists and even Festival of Arts exhibitors. We ART AWARDS, PAGE 15
Robbery, vandalism. David Edward Lente, 58, of Laguna was arrested on suspicion of felony robbery and vandalism causing property damage. He was held on a $50,500 bail.
Bench warrant, threatening crime with intent, obstruction. Dustin Michael Nalwalker, 36, of Mission Viejo was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant, threatening crime with intent to terrorize and obstructing a police officer. He was held without bail. Disorderly conduct. Peter Norman Walker, 59, of Woodland, Colo. was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct due to alcohol. He was held on a $500 bail.
Laughing Matters
BY CHRIS QUILTER
A while back, I became worried about my old friend Ted, not that he deserved it. We were back in touch after our last falling out but hadn’t come close to our next one. So when he didn’t reply to a couple of emails, I thought he might be dead, which is a perfectly reasonable example of octogenarian thinking. How typical of Ted to die without giving me a heads up, thus depriving me of the chance to pretend not to take some satisfaction in outliving him. But then Ted (“Ted” by the way) checked his inbox, and our 50-year friendship continued to muddle along.
Ted is one of those highmaintenance friends who gets under your skin, itches like mad, vanishes in a huff, and then returns unannounced as if nothing had happened or was your fault if it had. I always “took him back,” even when I wondered why. Is there a lower bar in friendship than in love? Maybe, even if there shouldn’t be. Still, I think the main answer to “why” was what Jessica Rabbit (“I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.”) said when asked what she saw in the supremely annoying Roger Rabbit: “He makes me laugh.”
Making me laugh meets my minimum acceptable “c**p-to-cash” ratio. (I’ve censored myself because this is a family newspaper, and if you can’t read between the asterisks, you’re not the demographic for this column.) Simply put: no friendship and nothing worth doing is ever free of asterisks. It’s all about the ratio, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Bree Burgess Rosen for introducing me to this life-altering metric some years ago.
The Early Intervention Program Celebrates Graduation Of Five Little Learners
By LB Indy Staff
The Early Intervention Program (EIP), a group-based program that provides weekly therapeutic support to developmentally delayed children under one year old, recently celebrated the graduation of five participants.
The program is a unique partnership between the Assistance League of Laguna Beach (ALLB) and the Intervention Center for Early Childhood (ICEC Kids) of Irvine.
ALLB is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that has supported EIP financially and through volunteer support for over 45 years. Over the past 12 months, 27 little learners graduated from EIP. There is no cost to participants, and the program’s $100,000 annual budget is met solely by ALLB.
Mary Williams, the ALLB/ EIP program coordinator, said that EIP benefits the participant’s development and provides guidance for the challenges faced by families and care providers.
Every Wednesday, the little learners and their caregivers meet at the Assistance League’s Chapter House with professional occupational and physical therapists and behavioral specialists to receive guidance for care and development. Focus is provided to each participant’s needs, and there is no set time frame to meet the program’s goals.
The ICEC staff, who have been involved with the program for over 20 years, provide insight and ideas gleaned from years of experience.
ALLB volunteers contributed 1,450 hours this year to support the program, including time spent rocking the infants. At the same time, a group session for caregivers provided licensed marriage and family counseling, resources, and emotional support.
Let’s Crow About It GUEST OPINION: PET PEEVES
BY MARK D. CRANTZ
Participants come from all over Southern California, including Orange County, Riverside County and Los Angeles County. One grandmother, who brings her granddaughter weekly, says that her 45-minute drive is well worth the effort and that attending each session is the family’s top priority.
The next step for graduates is to participate in the programming continued by ICEC in Irvine. “It’s amazing to hear how well our EIP graduates are doing as they continue to learn and grow after they’ve accomplished the milestones set forth by EIP,” Williams said.
Proceeds from sales at the ALLB Thrift Store, located at 526 Glennerye Street in Laguna Beach, support EIP and numerous other Assistance League’s philanthropic endeavors. Over the past 12 months, ALLB donated over $400,000 to local philanthropic organizations, setting a record for the nonprofit.
Pam Alexander, executive director at ICEC said, “There’s nothing quite like this partnership in the US. While there are early intervention programs, ICEC and ALLB’s collaboration stands out due to its comprehensive nature, individualized focus, and commitment to empowering families.”
She said the partnership is “not just building a foundation; they’re nurturing potential, one little learner at a time.”
EIP will take a brief hiatus in August and resume in early September. Information regarding the program can be found at assistanceleague.org.
The ALLB Thrift Shop is located at 526 Glenneyre Avenue and is typically open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The shop is currently closed for annual maintenance and will reopen on Aug. 27.
Calling all cats. There is a new art installation at city hall. It’s two huge crows. So, ‘Hello Kitties,’ try taking down these 10-foot birds, and you won’t have to hunt ever again. It’s a feline happy meal for a lifetime. Now there’s a value meal. Ronald McDonald should listen to his cat.
I’m not a cool cat when it comes to knowing good art from bad. So don’t leave it to me, readers, to tell you to like it or not. But I will tell you that I’m glad city workers put the crows on the city lawn. You wouldn’t want to hit these birds with your car. Of course, if you drive a Tesla, I’m sure the autonomous self-driving computer has software telling the car to avoid 10-foot crows. Otherwise, Elon would have to eat crow. A dish he’s never tried.
I’m not running for office. But for those city council members campaigning for re-election, please note that one solitary crow signifies bad luck. You may want to think about moving one of the crows to a challenger’s front lawn. Or, if you install one more crow at city hall, then the threesome signifies good luck. That’s how the folklore crow flies. Abide by the folklore, and you’ll win the election.
But whatever you do, as a politician, I suggest not looking at these monster crows in the eye. You’ll regret it. Crows have the largest brain-to-body size ratio of any animal. They remember faces and campaign promises. You don’t want to take a chance that a 10-foot crow holds a broken campaign promise against you.
Also, you never see a crow wearing a hat. They can’t find one big enough to cover its large brain. Crows are as smart as a seven-year-old child. Another mammal who seldom wears a hat. Crows are problem solvers and know how to use tools. So, city hall is advised to hire these crows to fix the city’s parking problem.
Of all the birds the city could have installed, I’ll tell you, while not looking
EIP Graduate Isabella and Family. Photo courtesy of EIP
Sports/ Schools
SUBMISSIONS WELCOME BY 5 PM TUESDAY
LAGUNA SPORTS UPDATE
By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy
FALL SPORTS ARE UNDERWAY
Summer is over for Laguna Beach High School and prep sports in Southern California.
CROSS COUNTRY
The squads start practice on Monday, Aug. 19. The first competition will be Aug. 30 at Trabuco Hills for the Saddleback Cup. Tommy Newton Neal returns for his third season at the helm of the boys, while Steve Lalim is back for his 17th season with the girls. The League Cluster meet is on Oct. 2, and the League Finals are on Nov. 6. The Breakers are in the Pacific Hills League. The boys’ league includes Laguna, Irvine, St Margaret’s and Sage Hill, and the girls’ league includes Laguna, St Margaret’s, Sage Hill and Rosary.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Ryan Olson is back as head coach. Season #2 begins on Monday, Aug. 19, with a home game with Estancia at 6:30 p.m. at Guyer Field. The Breakers will host Santiago/GG on Aug. 20, and Long Beach Wilson on Aug. 26. The Pacific Coast League requires each school to play each other twice and includes Laguna, Northwood, University, Woodbridge, Portola, Irvine, Rosary Academy and Sage Hill. St. Margaret’s has no team.
FOOTBALL
Practice is in progress, and the Breakers have a 41-player roster for the 90th season.
Unlike previous seasons – the new format puts the Breakers at a disadvantage, with no easy games to help regroup and nurse injuries during the season. The larger schools may have the same squad size, but the caliber of the reserves should be stronger than the Breaker’s bench.
Expected enrollments for “Fox Trot” League schools
Fountain Valley: 3,129
Aliso Niguel: 2,599
Northwood: 2,482
Dana Hills: 1,788
Orange: 1,754
Laguna Beach: 883
2024 Season Schedule: Kick-off time is at 7 p.m.
Aug. 23 at St. Margaret’s (1-4-0)
Aug. 30 at Santa Monica (first meeting)
Sep. 6 - Kennedy/La Palma (first meeting)
Auditors
PAGE 3
Curran terminated Edie Bailly, who had been our auditor for two years, without consulting the city audit committee or the city council?’ The answer was, ‘The decision was made not to renew the contract following an audit planning meeting in April... (It) needed to be done quickly to make sure a new audit committee could be placed in time to have the ability to meet the December timeline.’ So, to me that means the answer is ‘yes.’”
“The greater issue here is that financial controls need to be investigated so that this poor record is properly addressed,” Felder continued.
In the same agenda item, the city council unanimously approved up to $85,000 for audit firm Raftelis, partly coordinated by firm partner, local resident and former city manager Jan Perkins, to conduct a third-party performance review of its finance unit and related functions. The review is predicted to be finished in the next few months. Once complete, the recommendations will return to the City Council for further discussion.
Sep. 13 - Gig Harbor, Wash. (first meeting)
Sep. 20 - El Dorado (2-3-0)
Sep. 27 - Bye
Oct. 4 - Northwood at Irvine HS (6-8-0)
Oct. 11 - Fountain Valley (1-0-0) Homecoming game
Oct. 18 at Aliso Niguel (0-5-0)
Oct. 25 - Dana Hills (11-11-1)
Nov. 1 - Orange (5-12-0)
“Fox Trot” League games in italics Check the Cal Preps website for ratings, schedules and scores etc.
GIRLS GOLF
The golf team faced Estancia on Aug. 14 in a scrimmage and will open season play on Aug. 26 against Costa Mesa at the Mesa Linda Golf Club. League play begins in September with Laguna in the Pacific Hills League, which includes teams from Laguna, Irvine, Sage Hill and Rosary.
GIRLS TENNIS
The first match is Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Tesoro with league play beginning in September. The Breakers are in the competitive Pacific Coast League, which will be having only single-match play this season against Northwood, University, Woodbridge, Portola, Irvine, Rosary Academy, Sage Hill and St Margaret’s.
LAGUNA BEACH IS GOING PRO!
Laguna senior Kyra Zaengle will skip the high school sports seasons to train on the USA Volleyball U19 Beach Volleyball team. She will be attending the defending NCAA champs USC in 2025, a squad coached by Laguna’s Dane Blanton. Photos by Ryan Redira
money on a planning effort to relieve bumper-to-bumper congestion. Of course, this is backward thinking. Drunks don’t stop drinking through more drinks. This is why we have AA. Our society is addicted to cars. When was the last you saw a car commercial on TV? An addiction is when you want something, and after you get it, it does not help. Einstein tried to say this by writing quotes. For example, “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the universe.” “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” “A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it,” and “Science without
OBITUARY
religion is lame; religion without science is blind.”
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking. I’m trying to say that city hall thinks adding multiple storied parking structures around town will fix our car problems. This thinking is an example of backward thinking.
Michael Hoag, Laguna Beach
PARKING ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO IMPROVE
I have been reading about how concerned Laguna Beach City Council is about increasing revenue to cover costs, and yet parking enforcement only seems to be concerned about locals moving our vehicles on street cleaning days.
I have seen cars parked on Coast Highway for days without ever getting
Craig Scott Simon (1953-2024)
Craig Scott Simon, 71, passed away on Aug. 10, 2024. He died the same way he lived — fighting the good fight. His final days were full of strength and fortitude after a sudden onset illness. Craig’s larger-than-life spirit, humor, and generosity are impossible to capture on the page. He was a born entertainer and master storyteller with a penchant for riotous jokes and impersonations. His youthful vigor was unparalleled: he listened to loud rap music, drove fast, and pulled all-nighters. His motto was “work hard, play hard,” but Craig admittedly spent more time working than playing.
Craig was an alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles and Loyola Law School. He served as Managing Partner of Berger Kahn and was a litigator and attorney for over five decades. He had a Herculean work ethic and was regarded by industry experts as one of the top subrogation attorneys in the country. In 2021, Craig was awarded the prestigious California Lawyer of the Year Award for his work on the Woolsey Fire $2.2 billion settlement. In addition, the Daily Journal named Craig among
a citation. Parking enforcement only takes notice when alerted due to concerns.
Additionally, many meters were removed on Coast Highway when the sidewalks were worked on about a year and a half ago. They have not been replaced, thereby creating free parking and depriving Laguna Beach of revenue.
George Hayos, Laguna Beach
WHO’S PROTECTING THE COASTAL ZONE?
The California Coastal Commission has been much discussed recently. Its mission is to guarantee access for all and regulate the use and development of the coastal zone, but it does not include protecting the zone. Instead, this responsibility resides with the California Coastal Conservancy; a state agency established in 1976 to purchase, protect, restore, and enhance coastal resources and provide access to the shore along the length of California’s coast and around San Francisco Bay. Both are administered, on the federal side, by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, in partnership with the coastal states. (From NOAA’s website).
adequate) were definitively refuted by the 2023 report?
-That the erroneous assertions have never been corrected?
-That now four months after receiving the 2023 report from the outside auditors, neither the Audit Committee nor the Council have formally reviewed the statements or the report?
-That the solution, driven unilaterally by the Finance Department, is to change auditors, ostensibly so that we can get our audit report earlier?
-That the firm selected to replace the auditors can’t deliver the audit report any earlier than the auditors being replaced?
Do you wonder how changing auditors will help in addressing audit findings and eliminate the identified material weakness in financial reporting and closing procedures?
Do you wonder why the Council and Audit Committee voted to give its stamp of approval to this flawed process? Do you wonder whether there might be other problems lurking beneath the surface?
You’re not alone.
Mary Locatelli, Laguna Beach
the Top 100 Attorneys in California.
Craig was born to Harriet and Henry Simon on April 23, 1953. His mother, one of the first female real estate agents in Los Angeles, instilled in Craig a fierce devotion to family and an abundance mindset. Craig was deeply altruistic, spreading his wealth with an open heart and no expectation of anything in return. He worshiped his wife, Joan, took pride in his three children, and was always up for playing with his grandkids.
Craig was a thrill seeker (skiing, rafting, scuba diving, helicopter rides), loved parties, relished a good steak and enjoyed playing poker with his buddies. He loved the beauty of Laguna Beach, where he watched the sunset from his balcony and made friends with every passing beachgoer. A close colleague said of Craig that his passing is not just an absence, but a void. All who knew him would agree. His legacy will be enduring.
He is survived by his wife, Joan; their children and spouses—Rebecca and Jarrett, Hannah and Jeff, David and Anna—and three grandchildren. He leaves two brothers and their spouses: Steven and Esperanza, Daniel and Annie; sister-in-law and spouse Elaine and Jean-Loup; and his beloved mother-in-law Shirley (who, at 101 years old, is outliving us all).
Memorial services will be on Monday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m., at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks & Mortuaries, Hollywood Hills, Tanach Chapel. For those who can’t attend, there will be a livestream and another celebration of life in a few weeks. Contact the family for details. No gifts or flowers, please. If you’re compelled, a donation can be made to a charity you love in Craig’s honor.
I have not heard a peep from or about this protective side. It seems like right now would be a great time for that. The Coastal Commission has been dominating the limelight. It’s noble to give access to the coast, but how valuable is that access if it is trashed and degraded? I would encourage our city manager to begin a dialogue between these two groups and the city to protect the beaches from further degradation.
Families from Santa Ana to Minnesota are entitled, yes, entitled (the latest buzzword in the discussion) to a clean, safe and sustainable coastline for future generations.
Duane Allee, Laguna Beach
WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU…
-That despite the outside auditors sending the 2022 financial statements and audit report to the Councilmembers, council may not actually have received it until it was sent to them by the Finance Department two months later?
-That it then took the Audit Committee an additional seven months to complete its review of the statements and the report?
-That it would take another month for the committee to present its report to the council?
-That ten days before the scheduled presentation of the Audit Committee findings on the 2022 audit report to the council, the outside auditors sent the 2023 financial statements and audit report to councilmembers?
-That had anyone reviewed the available 2023 report, they would have known that assertions made to council in the presentation of the 2022 financial statements and audit report (specifically that 2022 audit findings had been satisfactorily addressed and that the city’s financial reporting processes and internal controls are
Embezzlement
FROM PAGE 1
LBPD Detective Bureau. The department reported the investigation discovered other inheritors of trusts who did not acquire disbursements.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said McDonnell admitted to misappropriating approximately $5.9 million from about four trusts in his plea agreement.
In August 2020, authorities said McDonnell wrote a check for $300,000 from the account of a victim trust located in Capistrano Beach to his own personal bank account. Bank of America processed these funds through computer servers in Texas.
Other victims, other than immediate family members of the deceased, included UC Irvine, earmarked for pancreatic cancer research, Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the USC’s Athletics Department, the police wrote in a report.
“I’m proud of Detective Joy Butterfield and the investigative team who brought justice to the families who were victimized,” said Chief Jeff Calvert.
United States District Judge James V. Selna scheduled a Dec. 9 sentencing hearing. McDonnell will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison at that hearing.
The FBI and the Laguna Beach Police Department continue to investigate this case.
The LBPD reported it asked for the FBI’s help due to the need for forensic accounting and the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Because of this joint effort, McDonnell faces up to 20 years.
Assistant United States Attorney
Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office is the prosecutor.
Susi Q, Laguna Canyon Foundation and Crystal Cove Get Wild with Volunteerism
By LB Indy Staff
Susi Q is offering the first in a series, open to all ages, that will highlight volunteer opportunities and events offered by local nonprofits. The Sept. 5 presentation will feature Laguna Canyon Foundation Volunteer Coordinator Emma van der Veen and Crystal Cove State Park Interpretive Naturalist Winter Bonnin.
Van der Veen and Bonnin will discuss their organizations’ mission and vision and describe the 22,000 acres of wilderness that surround us. They’ll also explain volunteer opportunities, from habitat restoration to ambassadors for open space to patrolling the wilderness to staffing the Nix Nature Center.
They’ll also mention the location of hiking and biking trails, as well as suggest gentle hikes that reveal the wonders of local wildlife, native plants and geology.
“If I can help someone get it, that ‘ah-ha’ moment, that they understand, love, appreciate and want to protect this place, that’s the best part of my day,” Bonnin said. “That’s what I want people to take away when they come here, instilling that little fire in people and stimulating them to keep learning.”
Both van der Veen and Bonnin emphasized that they love their volunteers.
“Volunteers make a huge impact on our community and ecosystems through their contributions,” said van der Veen.
“It’s extremely rewarding to see your work make an impact in the environment and people around you, especially in such beautiful wilderness,” she added.
Certainly, LCF volunteers return the love. Phil Sieger, who has volunteered for 15 years, said he discovered the joy of the Laguna Canyon Coast Wilderness after searching for ways to be healthier.
“In 2008, I left my high-stress
job and started looking for ways to improve my health. I discovered the Laguna Canyon Coast Wilderness. Their five trailheads are all close to my home, and within minutes of starting a hike, you are in nature,” Sieger said. “The hikes and the people I met were so enjoyable I decided to become a volunteer.”
Volunteer Kathy Panzl pointed out that hiking the trails is good for the body and the mind.
“Joining the hikes in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park has been a great way to learn more about plants and animals. I learn something new every hike. And the cyclical nature of the different wildflowers is a great way to build memory and keep the brain sharp,” she noted.
John Hambuch helps monitor the wildlife cameras in the park.
“Working on the Wildlife Camera
project can be especially fun and rewarding,” Hambuch said. “I am frequently surprised by how much these areas are shared with wildlife both at night and during the day –often within minutes of hikers on the same trail. Lately, we have been delighted to find pictures of deer in locations where we haven’t seen them in years.”
For more information, and to sign up for the presentation, visit thesusiq.org and click on classes and registration. Participants can also call Christine Brewer at 949715-8105 to register.
Arts Awards
FROM PAGE 11
celebrate the talents of these students as well as the teachers and parents who encourage them.”
Vice President of California
First Leasing Corporation Nancy Darnall, Mark Porterfield, and FOA Foundation Board Member Kirsten Whalen assisted in distributing the awards in front of the friends, family members, and art instructors who turned out to support and congratulate the recipients of the Junior Art Awards. Scott Fitzpatrick, Arts Coordinator from Orange County Department of Education, presented two awards to art teachers from Almond Elementary School and Westminster High School.
The imagery and creativity of Sunday’s award winners took varied and unique forms, representing twodimensional art, three-dimensional art, digital, graphic design, and
photography. Many junior artists showcased immense talent with work in the digital and animation medium. The Festival team encourages future guests to tour the Junior Art Exhibit to see the many talented up-and-coming artists in Orange County.
The success of the Junior Art Exhibit and Awards Celebration at the Festival of Arts emphasizes the significance of fostering young artistic talent and providing platforms for creative expression. The Festival of Arts remains dedicated to supporting and inspiring the next generation of artists. Such events serve as inspiration for young minds to pursue their passion and leave a lasting impact in the art world.
Since its inception in 1947, the Junior Art Exhibit has come to be regarded as one of the highlights of the summer show. Selected by art authorities from thousands of submissions representing schools throughout Orange County, works by over 300 students (PK-12) are on display in the Junior Art Gallery. Now in its 77th year, the exhibit has become not only a showcase for new generations of young Orange County student artists, but also a vivid testimonial to the value and importance of continuing arts education in our school systems.
The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show is open daily through Aug. 30. Weekday general admission tickets to the Festival’s Fine Art Show are $10 per person and $15 per person on the weekends. Senior and student discounts are available. To stay up to date on all things Festival of Arts, follow the Festival on social media at @FestivalPageant and visit www. foapom.com.
The Susi Q is gearing up to host the first in a series highlighting volunteer opportunities and events offered by local nonprofits. Photo courtesy of the Susi Q
GUEST OPINION: WISDOM WORKOUT
Can You Pivot Your Thinking?
BY SUSAN MCNEAL VELASQUEZ
The word pivot means to consciously change the direction of one’s thoughts; to deliberately choose a thought that is in harmony with one’s desires.
When you decide to take responsibility for the quality of your life, you take on the role of both creative director and chief editor of your daily reality. These two tasks, creating and editing, require different skills.
If you naturally lean towards
creativity, you can open your mind to the birthing of yet unformed thoughts. These feelings, stirrings, longings and new ideas begin to gather at the edge of your awareness until they can disclose themselves as a burst of light, directing your attention to what you will create next.
Creativity requires room to breathe. Creativity is the womb that enfolds infant desires until they are fully formed enough to be birthed into the harsh light of reality. Creativity is the dark space between the stars.
Creativity requires quiet time to hear the still, small voice of your intuitive guidance, which will only come to you when your internal climate of random, swirling thoughts and feelings is stilled. You can then turn your attention to the disciplined task of courting new directives housed within your own consciousness.
We are all blessed with the gift of ownership of our thoughts and feelings. It is our birthright. Few of us have been taught how to be successful stewards of this gift.
Most of us have never been directly informed by the proper authorities that we are the deliberate creators of our own experience. Many of us are using the power of our thoughts and feelings to wish and hope that someday soon, the Right One will come, the Supreme Being will appear, and the Ultimate Authority will give us permission. The Way, the Truth and the Light will surface, and the search for the one right answer and the one right decision will finally be discovered. When this happens, all the treasures of the universe will be bestowed on us. We will live happily ever after. We will finally be able to eat that one meal that will fill our emptiness once and for all.
Here comes the tricky part. It is our job to choose what we want our personal reality to be. When we abandon our creative power, which is housed within, in favor of looking outside ourselves for our answers, we are reduced to endlessly wielding our editing sword as our only defense against the outside reality that bombards us.
Every editor needs a creative. If we refuse to own and activate our ability
to create from within our storehouse of inner wisdom, our editing skills will be used solely to evaluate what the world presents to us. Our power to create and discern, to choose and select what we can and will invest our life energy in, is sadly and foolishly ignored.
Instead, we invest in the useless habit of judging, disliking, fighting against, whining and complaining that we don’t like what we are getting. We demand and command that the external world do our bidding. The external world yawns in our direction. We only have the power, the authority, and the responsibility to create our individual reality.
When we own the dual tasks of creating and editing our personal reality, we begin to live in the world by lovingly defining what we choose to create rather than using our creative energy to fight and react to what we are against.
Susan is a local author and has been thrilled to be a resident since 1986. More information at: susanvelasquez.com
Sally Fitzgibbons, Alan Cleland Make History at World Surf League’s US Open of Surfing
By LB Indy Staff
Clockwise from top left: Alan Cleland on his way to winning the Lexus World Surf League US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach last weekend. Cleland is the first Mexican to claim the event title; Sally Fitzgibbons surfs her way to the top step of the US Open of Surfing podium for the first time since 2011. Cleland and Fitzgibbons celebrate their wins during the award ceremony. The chase for championship tour qualification now leaves Surf City USA for Portugal at the EDP Ericeira Pro beginning Sept. 29 through Oct. 6. Photos by Jim Collins
Sports
PAGE 13
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
The 53rd season opens on Friday, Aug. 6, at the 30-team Tesoro Varsity Tournament, with Laguna facing San Juan Hills, Poway, and El Toro in pool play. The top seed in the event is Santa Margarita.
This past week, the team had a traditional scrimmage on Aug. 8 at Dana Hills and a more formal match format event on Aug. 9 at Aliso Niguel. Laguna was competitive with the Wolverines but lost the four sets 23-25, 19-25, 19-25, 22-25.
The squad will travel to San Clemente for a best-of-five set match on Tuesday, Aug. 20, and to JSerra on Thursday, Aug. 22. The Breakers lead the series with the Tritons 11-7, and the series with the Lions is tied 6-6.
Pacific Coast League play with Rosary, Irvine, St Margaret’s and Northwood begins on Sep. 12 with a home match against Rosary.
BOYS WATER POLO
The team is back in the pool prepping for their 61st season and pointing to make their 32nd consecutive trip to post-season play. Camron Hauer is back for his third season as coach and the team is favored in league play. The Pacific Coast League will be playing a single round with games against Northwood, Sage Hill, Woodbridge, Portola and Irvine. The Breakers open the regular season at home with Crean Lutheran on Thursday, Aug. 22, 3:30 p.m. start. There is no admission charge for boys water polo regular season contests.
KYRA ZAENGLE ON USA VOLLEYBALL JUNIOR NATIONAL U19 TEAM
Laguna senior Kyra Zaengle made USA Volleyball’s ninemember U19 beach volleyball team for the upcoming international season, and will skip the high school sports season. This past summer, she took a bronze medal at the U19 World Championship trials.
At Laguna, she played both indoor for three seasons and beach for two seasons, earning firstteam all-Sunset Wave League in indoor volleyball and capturing the Sunset League 2023 pair’s title with Dempsey Sadler. She finished her indoor career 10th all-time for Laguna in kills and points off kills, blocks and aces.
Have a note/question on Laguna sports/correction/update? E-mail Frank at Frank@twometer.net.
Looking for the 2023-24 high school schedules and scores? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website.
Quilter
FROM PAGE 12
Rather than bask in the afterglow of her recent Art Star Award from the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance for creating and being the driving farce behind Lagunatics, Bree has been busy doing it again for the 31st time. I was her happy helper for fifteen shows. Then my mojo got clobbered while I was dodging Covid, doomscrolling world events, pushing 80, fighting Measure Q on Nextdoor, and being a cog in the wheel of an up-to-now doomed movement to build some affordable housing in town. The asterisks had spoken.
Why then, did I ask Bree to admit me back into the town’s best adult sandbox to work on “Laughing Matters,” the latest Lagunatics? Because I needed it. Barring a personality transplant, a moody bugger like me needs a counterbalancing RDA of laughter, ideally of the helpless kind. So I scraped the barnacles off my sense of humor and rejoined Bree and her stable of unstable writers. We’ve written songs about taxes, surveys, fire pits, Rivian, the 133, evergreen staples like goats and parking, and, yes, even the viral vixen of Victoria Beach. And we’ve convinced ourselves that we have a show whose cash ratio handily exceeds the cost of a ticket.
“Laughing Matters” is also the definition of a play on words. Is there a better use for words than playing with them and then setting them to music? I mean, what if our species is the last of the carbon-based life forms? What if the Singularity doesn’t find its creators adequately amusing or doesn’t sound like Scarlett Johansson? What happens if we don’t live long enough to find out? I have no idea either, but don’t you feel a song coming on?
“Laughing Matters” runs from late September to mid-October at No Square Theatre in historic Legion Hall. See NoSquare.org for tickets and deets.
DETROIT ENSEMBLE 9/22 JANE MONHEIT 9/25 ANA POPOVIC 9/26 DEBBIE GIBSON Acoustic Youth 9/27 DAVE MASON 9/28 ORIANTHI 9/29 RICHARD STEKOL BENEFIT ft Honk/Missiles/133’s/Funky Kings 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 10/17 GROUNDATION 10/18 GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP 10/20 THE YOUNG DUBLINERS
10/25 MIRAGE (F L ee T wood M a C T ribu T e )
10/26 STRYPER 40th Anniversary Tour 10/27 FREDDY JONES BAND 10/30 THE MUSICAL BOX 10/31 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS 11/1 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS 11/2 VENICE
11/3 THE WINEHOUSE EXPERIENCE
11/7 MATTHEW SWEET Acoustic Trio 11/8 COMMON SENSE
11/9 TYRONE WELLS
11/13 JOHN HIATT
11/14 THE SWEET 11/15 RONSTADT REVIVAL
11/16 JOSHUA RADIN & RON POPE
11/22 SPACE ODDITY ( d avid b owie T ribu T e )
11/23 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
11/26 LEONID & FRIENDS (C hi C ago T ribu T e )
FROM PAGE 12
these crows in the eye, that I would have gone with Big Bird, Woodstock or Tweety Bird. These birds are lovable and much less scary. Their brainto-body ratio is more in line with mine. You know, just enough matter to matter. Then, residents would be happy to bring their children to city hall without fear that their kids would be eaten.
Remember Laguna Beach residents, Godzilla started out as an art installation, too. You know what happened to Tokyo, Japan.
Crantz tells the Indy three or more crows is called a Murder. So, add one more crow and file the installation as an unsolved murder. Then call Dateline to tell the on-air story.
11/27 LEONID & FRIENDS (C hi C ago T ribu T e )
11/29 THE PLATTERS
11/30 LEE ROCKER of the Stray Cats
12/4 LIVINGSTON TAYLOR and LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
12/6 WHICH ONE’S PINK? ( p ink F L oyd T ribu
12/7 WHICH ONE’S PINK? ( p ink F
12/8 SANDRA BERNHARD
12/11 DAVID BENOIT
12/12 KY-MANI MARLEY
12/13 ABBA Holly Jolly Christmas
12/15 THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
12/19 A VERY WHITNEY CHRISTMAS
12/21 AMBROSIA Holiday show
12/22 GARY HO-HO-HOEY
12/27 BEATLES VS STONES
12/29 L.A. GUNS
12/31 THE ENGLISH BEAT
1/10 TOMMY CASTRO & The Painkillers
1/11 AC/DC vs OZZY
1/12 BURTON CUMMINGS
1/17 Dada
1/24 GENE LOVES JEZEBEL / BOW WOW WOW
Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters Announce ‘Art & Fashion Affair’ for Final Saturday Night
Special Musical Performance By Matt Mauser, Pageant Of The Masters Introduction by Kirsten Vangsness
By LB Indy Staffy
Step into the world of art and fashion at the Art and Fashion Affair, a Met Gala-inspired evening presented by the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters. On Saturday, Aug. 24 experience an event like no other—blending fine art, live entertainment, and a touch of Hollywood glamor.
Headlining the evening, Matt Mauser and his Big Band will bring the magic of Frank Sinatra to life with a captivating tribute performance. Known for his role as the lead singer of Southern California’s Tijuana Dogs, Matt’s take on Sinatra is not to be missed. With his modern twist on Sinatra’s classics, Matt Mauser will have patrons swinging and swaying all night long. Early arrival is encouraged, as seating is first-come, first-served.
Adding to the star-studded evening, actress Kirsten Vangsness— beloved for her role as Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds—will introduce a special performance of the Pageant of the Masters and draw the winning ticket for a brand new 2025 Volvo XC60 PHEV Black Edition, or $20,000 in cash. This raffle has been the talk of the summer, and the final draw will take place right before the Pageant begins.
“The Art & Fashion Affair is more than just a glamorous evening; it’s a celebration of our community,” said Sharbie Higuchi, director of Mmarketing and public relations for the Festival of Arts. “By joining us, you’ll experience a night of style and entertainment while supporting the vital work of the Festival of Arts, a non-profit dedicated to the arts and
art education.”
The night kicks off with a red carpet entrance at 5:30 p.m., where guests are encouraged to dress to impress. Capture the moment at one of the photo booths and take home a stylish souvenir print of the photo, and explore the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show, showcasing the incredible work of over 100 local artists. For those with Loge Center Pageant tickets, the evening starts even earlier, with exclusive access to the gala at 4:30 pm, complete with a complimentary glass of champagne.
Following the concert, audiences will enjoy the 2024 Pageant of the Masters production, “Á La Mode: The Art of Fashion,” where art meets couture in a breathtaking live performance. Kirsten Vangsness will set the stage for this spectacular event, making the night even more memorable.
Kirsten Vangsness is best known
for her portrayal of the quirky and beloved FBI technical analyst Penelope Garcia on the longrunning CBS series “Criminal Minds.” Her exceptional comedic talent has earned her accolades such as the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Natalie Schafer Award for Best Emerging Comic Actress. Beyond television, Kirsten is a dedicated member of the theater community, serving as a longtime board member of Hollywood’s Theatre of Note. Order tickets at pageanttickets. com or call 1-800-487-3378.
GUEST OPINION:
BY CHERYL PROCACCINI
help wanted: hundreds of visitors to collect trash upon leaving clusters of buckwheat flowers - small, pink, whiteadorn the drying landscape
beachgoers line the shore. drawn by the pull of our salty origins.
late bloomers: tarweed’s small yellow flowers brighten dry summer trailsides
Cheryl is a resident of Laguna Beach and writes Haiku poems inspired by the local flora and fauna around her. She is also a certified EMDR psychotherapist and the creator of Birdsong and the EcoWonders, BirdsongTV.
Art & Fashion Affair Host Kirsten Vangsness. Photo/Joanna DeGeneres Photography
Performers from this summer’s production strike a pose for the Pageant’s tribute to the Met Gala. Photo/ Christopher Allwine.
