The 47-year drought is finally over as the Boys Water Polo squad took care of business, defeating Damien 11-9 in the Southern Section CIF Division III finals. The match was held last Saturday evening at the Woollett Center in Irvine in front of a vocal and enthusiastic crowd. The Breakers (27-6) had met the Spartans [...]
Colonial Days at El Morro Elementary School is much more than a lesson taught to children about the time of their forebears, it’s an institution, a tradition as much beloved by the parents and teachers as by the kids who look forward to it from the minute school starts each fall. “I don’t know what [...]
Eiler Larson, the Greeter, was known to do gardening at the top of Summit Way back in the 1950’s when Laguna was a small beach town. The White House had a sunset bar meeting time for the locals and Trotter’s Bakery was the place where city business was done at lunch. Eiler would garden from [...]
The recession not withstanding, the Festival of Art’s finances are sound. During last Thursday’s annual Membership Meeting, FoA President Fred Sattler reported that the festival had another successful year, largely due to the well-attended Pageant of the Masters which provides roughly 75 percent of the festival’s revenue. Sattler also credited its membership, strong art sales, [...]
There’s no longer a need to miss the Festival of Arts in the winter season. The Festival has opened a small satellite gallery in a historic building on 1006 Pacific Coast Highway. Occupying a room on the same premises as the newly opened yogurt shop Active Culture, FoA South currently features photographs by Stillman F. [...]
To encourage the development of the city’s first live-work complex for artists, the city council got creative; voting unanimously last week, the council decided to absorb half the fees on the project and postpone payment of the other half until building permits are issued. “I hope we’ve found a way to make artists’ live-work actually [...]
Mike Spindle described the magnetism of 49-year-old Laguna Beach resident Kelly Perkins, a 15-year heart transplant survivor. “She makes you appreciate life and appreciate every breath that you take. Here’s this little tiny woman, and she travels around the world climbing mountains.” Perkins’ 1992 diagnosis of viral cardiomyopathy led to congestive heart failure and, ultimately, [...]
To the Editor: I read the Nov. 19 letter from Samuel and Pamela Goldstein regarding the Mills Act for the Heisler Building, and I would like to correct some of the information given. Although I am a member of the Heritage Committee, I am writing as an individual. I think that perhaps the Goldsteins were [...]
Editor, With regard to the $1.6M street re-surfacing project on PCH and Laguna’s residential streets, and the on-going $10K change-order for striping and final adjustments, now would be a good time to recall the updated policy from Caltrans, California’s Department of Transportation. It says, “The Department views all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety, [...]
Editor, Regarding the Friday, Nov. 19, article, “FOA Facelift in the Works” by Rita Robinson in the Laguna Beach Independent, I hope new signage will include “Irvine Bowl Park.” The Festival of the Arts ground uses the City of Laguna Beach’s Irvine Bowl Park, and the park should be properly identified. While most people do [...]
(A version of this letter was also sent to the city council members and assistant city manager.) Editor, Our Council hypocritically voted unanimously at its Nov. 16 meeting to seek an exemption from the proposed prohibition of fireworks displays in Heisler Park by Cal/EPA. Heisler carries State Marine Reserve (SMR) protection status, as well as [...]
Dear Editor, While I appreciate Mr. Farley Brown’s position in his letter of 1Nov. 19, I would caution him against broad statements such as, “It just doesn’t resonate with these kids or their parents that there is a very serious potential for injury, paralysis or even worse. Perhaps the fact that not all motorists who [...]
Editor, Because of our hills, skateboarding is another part of the uniqueness of Laguna Beach. I skated hills using steel wheels here in the 1940s. Youngsters are going to skateboard our hills and streets. Some won’t always obey the rules. Try to remember being a kid. Did you ever break a rule? I certainly did, [...]
In response to Dr. Farley Brown’s letter “Speaking Out About a Reckless Skateboarder,” my encounter with this young man was quite the contrary. I pulled over one day to talk with him about speed skating and he was approachable, soft spoken, respectful, informative and articulate. I highly doubt he’s a perfect kid, perhaps Dr. Farley [...]
Editor, Well, I had another near miss today. First, three of them went by me when I was almost to the stop sign. The fourth one was a few seconds behind. As I started to proceed through the intersection, he came flying around the corner WITH HIS HAND UP as if to tell me to [...]
Police Use Taser to Subdue Assault Suspect
An assault involving three men escalated into a struggle with Laguna Beach police, who ultimately deployed a taser twice to subdue the younger combative suspect in the 300 block of Cozumel around 1:15 a.m. Friday, May 10, police said. Police ultimately arrested Laguna Beach resident Sergio Gabriel Borgognone, 51, for allegedly resisting arrest and his [...]
