Banquet Recognizes Outstanding Officers

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 James Michaud
James Michaud

Officer James Michaud and Community Services Officer Niki Hernandez were honored as the police department’s 2014 employees of the year at the annual Police Appreciation Breakfast hosted by the Laguna Beach Exchange Club this past Thursday, Jan. 22.

Niki Hernandez
Niki Hernandez

Police employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty while performing their jobs were recognized and several members were awarded medals for acts of heroism from significant events that occurred over the last few years Capt. Jason Kravetz said in a statement.

 

 

 

Hoops are On Again in Bluebird Park

Maintenance and resurfacing of the Bluebird Park basketball court has been completed and the court is now open, the city manager’s weekly report says.

 

New Hires Join the Force

Two new police officers were hired by the Laguna Beach Police Department last week.

Michele Maraj was a police officer in Fairfax, Va., for four years and holds a bachelor’s degree in social science.

Jordan Mirakian has worked as a police officer for 15 years with the San Diego Community College and San Diego State University.  He has an associate degree in administration of justice and most recently served as a supervisor.

They will both begin by undergoing field training, getting to know the community, the city manager’s report says.

 

Re-financing Reduces Tax Bills

Debt issued to pay for undergrounding utility poles in six neighborhood assessment districts has been refinanced into a single loan at an average interest rate of 2.5%, the city manager’s weekly update says.

The refinancing deal, approved by the City Council in December, affects 265 property owners, who will save an average of 16 percent to 40 percent on future assessment levies. The tax savings per individual parcel ranges from $217 to $644 annually compared to the initial rate.

Property owners in the Cerritos, Dunning, Terrace Way and Rim Rock district will enjoy the largest cumulative savings of $315,752, while those on Dyer Place and Smith Way will save $36,060 per year.

Discussion Begins On the Nation’s Big Issues

Members of the community are invited to join the Great Decisions discussions that begin Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Eight topics will be discussed, including, for example, privacy in the digital age, Syria’s refugee crisis, and human trafficking. A limited number of briefing books are available and others can be purchased from the Foreign Policy Association, which sponsors the discussion with the League of Women Voters and the social action committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach.

Sessions at 2 and 7 p.m. take place at the Unitarian fellowship, 429 Cypress Dr. After the introductory meeting on Jan. 27, meetings will be held weekly on Tuesdays through March.

For further information, contact Jean Raun at 949 494 2247.

Grants Available for Local Art Programs

Applications are now available from the Festival of Arts Foundation for nonprofit organizations that promote fine arts in town. The submission deadline is Feb. 13.

Foundation President Scott Moore anticipates a record number of applications for the $120,000 in funding available.

Grant applications are available online at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org or may be picked up at the Festival of Arts administration office, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

Questions? Contact Moore at (949) 494-9680.

 

Experience a New Year Transition Ritual

Living Your Gifts, a Laguna Beach health and wellness company that embraces traditional and indigenous healing methods, invites the public to experience a New Year transition ritual, an indigenous African Dagara tradition.

The ritual will take place from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at the Temple of Light, 11 Goddard, in Irvine. The cost is $20 for online pre-registration, or $25 at the door.

Register at: www.livingyourgifts.com/events. For more info, contact Susan Hough at (703) 505-5152.
Laguna Beach is Open for Business

The next Open for Business workshop, hosted by the city of Laguna Beach, takes place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 at the Laguna Beach Community Center, 380 Third St.

Workshop participants will include Planning Commissioners Norm Grossman and Linda Dietrich, representatives from the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Ann Larson, the city’s planning manager.

“Our goal is to be proactive in attracting new business to Laguna Beach and these workshops are designed to educate new business owners and help smooth the process for getting the doors open with the least amount of red tape and delay,” said Mayor Bob Whalen.

For more information contact Monica Tuchscher, at 949-497-0745, [email protected]

Registration for CERT Training Begins

Applications are now being taken by the Laguna Beach Police Department for the Community Emergency Response Team, trained volunteers ready to assist in case of a disaster.

Training will begin on Wednesday, March 25 and will meet weekly through May 9 from 6-9 p.m. followed by one Saturday morning exercise.

Participants must be 18, live or work in Laguna Beach, and be free of felony convictions. Mandatory attendance is required at all classes.

Applications are due by March 20. Register at www.lagunabeachcity.net and email it to [email protected] or drop by the Police Department, 505 Forest Ave.

 

Deadline for Potential Grand Jurors Extended

Orange county residents who are 18 or older can apply to serve a one-year term on the grand jury, which begins July 1. The grand jury performs civil oversight of local government by reviewing and evaluating county and city agencies.

The application, due Friday, Jan. 30, and more information are available online at www.ocgrandjury.org, by calling 657-622-6747.

 

 

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3 COMMENTS

  1. “Maintenance and resurfacing of the Bluebird Park basketball court has been completed and the court is now open, the city manager’s weekly report says.”

    When is our Unethical City Manager, who I call King Johnny, going to let his “subjects” know how his hunt for a Police Chief in his image is going? It has been over 5 months now since Paul Workman announced he was blessing Laguna Beach with his deserved Departure, and not a PEEP from Johnny! It took L.A., a REAL City, only 3 months to replace Chief Bratton with Chief Beck.

    What’s taking so long Johnny?
    As I have said many times previously, it is tough to judge the character of the candidates if the KING himself has NO character!

    King Johnny’s lack of character, plus NO
    announcements, show why this process for the successor to the EFFETE Paul Workman NEEDS to be transparent, so people can see what strings the King is trying to pull over the public’s eyes!

  2. “Two new police officers were hired by the Laguna Beach Police Department last week.”

    I am curious about how much research our EFFETE Police Chief, Paul Workman, did regarding these two new additions to our Unethical and Unprofessional Police Department.

    I know Workman’s predecessor, the INFAMOUS Michael Sellers of Fullerton SHAME, hired Rod MacDonald just after
    his previous employer paid a settelemant
    in a Federal Civil Rights trial regarding battery on a mother and her son while she was dropping the son off to school. Rod Macdonald also was a named defendant in at least TWO Federal Civil Rights complaints in his short, still destructive stay in Laguna Beach.including one where he turned a LIVE Defendant into a DEAD SUSPECT by shooting him 10 times; that’s what I call OVERKILL!
    Workman used MacDonald as a “Teaching Officer”, and Matt Gregg learned his lessons well, and is now proud of his Perversions of the law, and his QUEER ideas of telling the TRUTH, which I hope he learned from MacDonald, or should be catagorized as another failure to research the applicants for Workman’s corrupt Law Enforcement Operation.

    The outrageous and tragic hiring of officer Timothy Loehmann by the Cleveland police

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/09/1356660/-The-outrageous-tragic-hiring-of-Officer-Timothy-Loehmann-by-the-Cleveland-PD

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