“It’s getting better all the time…,” to appropriate a passage from a Beatles’ song that aptly applies to this year’s just concluded Laguna Dance Festival. Looking back on its 13th season, the festival’s founder Jodie Gates achieved a new pinnacle by presenting the modern dance...

By Cassandra Reinhart, Special to the Independent A state lawmaker from Santa Monica has told the city of Laguna Beach it is misinterpreting a new state law he authored, meant to encourage accessory dwelling units or “granny flats,” on residential properties in California. In a...

The concept, being called Park Plaza, is envisioned as an outdoor café-type setting, with tables, chairs, décor, plants and lighting.

By Amy Orr, Special to the Independent Athletes and fans will have more to cheer about this year as Laguna Beach High School adds two new sports to its athletic line-up. Wrestling squads will appear at LBHS this winter and lacrosse teams will play in the spring. The school board...

LBHS Students Among National Merit Contenders Students Charlotte Hoffs, Andrew Keyser, Joseph Ravenna and Ben Sharp have been named semifinalists for National Merit Scholarships. These seniors will compete among 7,500 of their peers for National Merit Scholarships worth more than...

Thurston Middle School attendance and student records specialist Gwen Myers received the 10th annual Spirit of LBUSD award at a welcome breakfast for staff last week. The award honors a staff member who exemplifies extraordinary service. Myers, a graduate of Laguna Beach High...

Monday, Sept. 11 Grand theft. 1500 block of S. Coast Hwy. 4 p.m. A building company fraudulently cashed a check of $4,000 that never arrived at its intended mailed destination. Tuesday, Sept. 12 Fraud. 2800 Zell Dr. 3:39 p.m. A caretaker is suspected in the theft of 23...

A state prison parolee and his girlfriend were arrested by Laguna Beach police last week, suspected in a recent break-in on Driftwood Drive and as many as three other burglaries in Orange, Villa Park and Laguna Niguel, police said. The homeowner’s detailed description of the...

A Driftwood Drive resident who arrived home at midday last Thursday, Aug. 31, interrupted a burglary in progress and confronted two thieves fleeing from his home, police said. The burglars fled in a car before officers arrived in the 30900 block of Driftwood, said Sgt. Jim Cota,...

Editor, I’m reading where the City of Laguna Beach is again talking parking studies. I have no idea how much money we have spent in my taxpayer dollars over the 30 years I have lived here on this issue. There is a simple solution to help in the parking woes. Quit allowing...

Editor, Individually and collectively we try to be careful stewards of our city’s natural and cultural treasures.  Top down federal or state government assistance to cities is always welcome, but we strongly prefer bottom up local control of our internal civic affairs. That...

Editor, Currently City Hall wants to make the old pepper tree in front of City Hall safer. The current debate is how to do it. I see a connection between our historic pepper tree at city hall and the Watts Towers. In 1959, Los Angeles City Hall wanted eliminate the Watts Towers...

An educational video featuring Laguna Beach’s Marine Protected Areas was released this week by the Laguna Bluebelt Coalition, five organizations whose mission aims to protect and restore marine life. Short, fun and informative, it features local personalities Patsee Ober, Mike...

Master Gardener Sows SEEDS City Council member Toni Iseman awarded junior master gardener certificates recently to Laguna Beach elementary school students Katelyn Kolberg, Keala Henry, and Olivia Markman. The girls completed a yearlong program taught by master gardener Sharael...

By Justin Swanson | LB Indy Laguna resident Holly Morrell was going under the knife again, the sixth procedure in nearly a decade. A defibrillator planted in her chest required repair. Two wires, or “leads,” were fractured, meant to connect to veins near her heart that monitor...