“It Takes a Villager: Wit and Wisdom by Laguna’s Irreverent Observer,” a collection of newspaper columns written over a span of 50 years by Laguna Beach writer and activist Arnold Hano, was recently published by Laurel Press. In the words of Dan Duling, scriptwriter for the Pageant of the Masters, “These collected scenes personalize local [...]
By Mark D. Crantz Laguna Beach. Another perfect day in Paradise, but oh no, there are makeovers. These changes are for the most part good. The Main Beach lifeguard tower is getting a makeover, which includes a new roof, stucco repair and new paint. And the former Laguna Federal Savings and Loan Association on [...]
Editor: (This letter was also addressed to council members and the city manager.) I am writing to express my shock and dismay about your recent decisions regarding our downtown. I have lived in Laguna for a long time, and I have an abiding and deep love for this town, its people and its character. I [...]
Editor, Laguna is a paradox of sorts. A landslide strikes Bluebird Canyon and the city unifies to help. People open their homes, they voluntarily inflict a tax on themselves, and, in the end, numerous homes are rebuilt on an area prone to landslides. Everyone is a hero. On the other hand, the same citizenry plants [...]
Editor, Since the ‘80s I have had an interest in preserving ocean views. I attended meetings in the ‘90s on this subject and watched in dismay as Village Laguna, led by Ann Christoph, orchestrated tactics to waylay this effort. Fear tactics included no trees, no birds, even an 8-year-old sobbing that “he would never experience [...]
Editor, There are 22,000 people in Laguna. Most of us are not merchants, nor members of the boards of the Playhouse nor of the Festival. Yet if the current plan is put into effect, we, the residents of Laguna, will be the most affected. The expenditure of the astronomical sum of $35 million to $55 million [...]
Editor, The two-mile Laguna boardwalk: imagine the boardwalk on Main Beach that would stretch all the way to Anita Street. All the hotels would have a romantic, safe and quiet pedestrian friendly connection to the main part of town. Laguna would have one more attraction, an amazing promenade for pedestrians, rollerbladers, bicycles, joggers. My [...]
Editor, West Street Beach in South Laguna is probably the most well known beach in Laguna because it is listed in gay-lesbian guides around the world. Located north of the verdant West St. stairway and south of Aliso Beach and Camel’s Point, it can be reached by car, O.C.T.A. bus #1, a 46-mile route which connects [...]
Surprised and alarmed by the removal of 10 large trees last week in the downtown area, residents expressed their anguish at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Please stop the chainsaw massacre of the ficus trees in the downtown area,” said Pamela Goldstein, blunt in her entreaty. Ocean Avenue’s aesthetic appeal will take 50 years to recover, [...]
Ty Segall, John Heussenstamm expected to play at the benefit Gary Shapiro doesn’t shy away from center stage; in fact, he likes to be in every act “cuz it’s my show,” he says, delighted. Shapiro is the namesake, and mostly the main attraction, of the annual, one-night-only “Shap Show” at Laguna Beach High School. [...]
Editor, This year’s Earth Day & Kelp Fest event was another successful Laguna happening thanks to all of the teamwork among the community in Laguna and beyond. Transition Laguna skillfully organized music, food and helpful demonstrations of sustainable living while Kelp Fest participants at Main Beach decorated a giant kelp forest surrounded by displays from [...]
Editor, Re: “Easier Parking Tied to Quality Transit”, April 19 edition. Two critical points were not covered in this article. They were raised during the Q&A session following the presentation and made by RBF consultant Rick Wilson on March 20. These points are pivotal to the direction our planning process takes to relieve traffic congestion [...]
Editor, Some of the local papers have had important articles recently. There were reports on a planned new study about widening the horrible two-lane bottleneck in Laguna Canyon from Forest Avenue to El Toro road. With just two lanes, it only takes one slow driver, a looky lou, or accident to cause all these daily [...]
Merchants, shoppers, property owners and residents interested in the regulatory blueprint of Laguna’s downtown might do well to attend special Planning Commission workshops welcoming public ideas. The workshops aim to look at specific topics affecting the downtown from a “philosophical point of view” before making policy decisions, said Commission chairman Norm Grossman. What emerges will [...]
Residents craving a Brooklyn-style pizza will soon be able to save their airplane miles and instead head over to Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria and Bar, which plans a casual and affordable family-style restaurant on Ocean Avenue. First, though, the owners intend to restore the 68-year-old building to its Spanish Colonial Revival design. Laguna Beach’s City Council [...]
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 [...]
