One person’s unwanted shoes can help provide meaningful opportunities that many in developing nations need, which is why Laguna Beach High School sophomore Jessie Rose has launched a shoe drive to collect 250 pair of new or gently used shoes. The shoes that Rose collects will be...

The World Affairs Council of Orange County (WACOC) invites the public to a dinner event and conversation with Chapman University professor and retired US Army Colonel Gregory A. Daddis. “Perpetual Wars: Lessons Learned from the 50th Anniversary of Nixon’s War in Vietnam,” will...

  The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce invites the community to the grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration for Julie Laughton Design Build on Thursday, Jan. 17. Laughton has been in business 27 years and has a new location at 247 A. Forest Avenue. A graduate of Iowa...

The proliferation of online social media platforms has understandably depressed the number of vacation photos submitted to the Independent in recent years. So has a lack of space in the publication. With apologies to the 2017 submissions that have gone unpublished until now....

By Allison Jarrell, Special to the Independent Hundreds of Laguna residents gathered on Brooks Street to celebrate the nation’s independence, honor local servicemen, and commemorate a neighbor who lost his life 10 years ago protecting their freedom. Brooks Street resident and...

The following is a list of winning entries in the 54th edition of the Patriots Day Parade, which took place despite showers and cool temperatures last Saturday, March 4. Grand Marshal’s Trophy: Beach Cities Auto Collision. President’s Trophy: Pageant of the Masters. Band...

William Bellamy Tallant III, 72, formerly of Laguna Beach, California, died Dec. 17, 2018. He was born April 11, 1946. William was a longtime resident of Laguna Beach before moving to Northern California in 2008. Arrangements by Gobles Fortuna Mortuary.

1952-2018 Due to sudden complications from Juvenile Diabetes, John passed away Nov. 24, 2018. A Laguna Beach native, “Johnny” graduated with the illustrious LBHS Class of ’70. Growing up, he worked at his dad’s Paint & Glass Store on Forest Avenue. After his dad’s retirement,...

Sept. 9, 1937 – Nov. 13, 2018 A 30-year resident of Laguna Beach, Fred passed away with his beloved wife Cathleen at his side. Born in Manila, Philippines, Fred at 12 years old moved to Texas with his family. He remained throughout his life a proud citizen of the U.S. After...

It’s Not Nice Does the concept that design review isn’t always nice strike anyone as odd? It shouldn’t. Design review wasn’t built to be nice. Design review exists to keep the essence of Laguna, as expressed in its buildings and landscape, intact. It’s also there to save your...

Spiritual Dimensions Finding meaning isn’t easy. To do it well, you need spiritual perspective. It’s a soulful thing. Problem is, the spiritual is often lost in life’s minutiae. Technical guys refer to this as the signal-to-noise problem. The noise of daily life can overwhelm...

Leaving California, Leaving Laguna There has been a lot of news about people leaving California for other states. The reasons usually specified are high housing and tax costs. Here are the facts: The net out-migration from California is about 100,000 people per year, mostly going...

Taming the Dragons and Demons of the Mind Many people are suffering from a malady that is widespread but seldom mentioned. It is particularly prevalent among successful, accomplished professionals, both men and women, whether single or married. This hidden problem is responsible...

3 x 3 I was excited after reading the Indy’s “Council Approves New Rules for Sidewalk Cart Vendors.” Carts can be no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet and must be movable. That’s generous regulations. Now I’ll have a place bigger than most Laguna homes. And there appears to be no...

Lasting Faith Religion is an important source of meaning, and always has been. I take exception when poll results are interpreted to infer that religion is fading away in our post-modern age. Like many, I just don’t believe it. In a recent annual Gallup poll, people were asked to...