Laguna Food Pantry volunteers Sharon and Roger McErlane will open their home to kick off a new series of dining events to benefit the food bank. The first Come to the Table will be on Sunday, Oct. 1 from 3-6 p.m. “We’re gathering around our table so that all families in south...

The Laguna Ocean Foundation is seeking volunteer tide pool docents with a willingness to educate the public about preserving the intertidal habitat and the coastline’s natural resources. The next class training will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Ocean...

The unofficial Take Back the Town Party starts early, with a 7-11 a.m. breakfast on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4, at Picnic Beach in Heisler Park. Expect local entertainment with Doug Miller on violin, firefighter Dave Lopez on bagpipes and Jessica de Stefano hand-delivering...

By Charlie Warner, Special to the Independent The Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association float featuring a roller-skating mime and dancers whirling in traditional Mexican costumes won the Grand Marshals Trophy in the 51st Laguna Beach Patriot’s Day Parade. “The Sister...

Slender and 10-feet tall, the four-sided posts shone in the sunlight, reflecting the moods of the ocean and hillsides and at evening dramatically mirrored cloud banks and at least one brilliant sunset. Come darkness, they mirrored staccato bursts of light coming from car...

Robert Francis Commagère, 73, left this world with the sunrise on Aug. 22, after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Known as “Robin” to his family and friends he died in his home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. The only child of Maridel...

Judy Katherine Friesen, 74, of Laguna Beach, beloved wife, mother, gramie, sister and friend died on Aug. 4, 2017. Friesen died after a courageous three-year fight with cancer. She was born July 25, 1943, in Long Beach to Billie and Donald Kelly. Friesen is survived by her...

Nov. 21, 1946 – July 20, 2017 Robert Graham, beloved brother and father, passed away July 20; he was 70 years old. Robert was raised in Laguna and lived here throughout his life. He is greatly missed by friends and family. He is survived by his sons Joshua and Levi; his...

The Hot Blond Returns  Oh hell, I thought. Here she comes again, but I did a double take. She didn’t look hot. She looked bedraggled and distracted. She was trying: tight jeans, heels, and a thin blouse with spaghetti straps. And it was at the same restaurant, The Lumberyard, the...

Now that City Council has approved a trial street closure and pedestrian plaza on the 100-foot sliver of Park Avenue for 40 days, it will only be a matter of months before we rid downtown of cars forever and turn the whole village into a pedestrian mall. Just kidding. This is...

Earth-shaking Experience Brings to Mind Disaster Flicks My room started shaking at about 11:20 p.m. Pacific Time on Sept. 18, waking me up from the fourth floor of the condominium unit in Los Angeles. An earthquake? Believe it or not — yes! And a fairly decent size one at that,...

Read the Personals     GOLDEN GIRL – My name is Lexie.  I am friendly, loving, obedient, faithful.  Long walks, riding in your car, playing catch. I will wait for you at the front door every night and eat out of your hand.  I am a 2-year-old golden retriever, free to a...

Pass the Mayo I nearly gagged while reading the letter to the editor’s “Back to School Food.” This letter said, “There are 31 million school children relying on school meals for their daily nutrition, which too often consists of highly processed food laden with saturated fats.” I...

Reading in on Climate Change Intervention Yikes, summer’s almost over, and I’ve read only one of the four books I intended to read cover to cover. I want to bring all four to the attention of readers by sharing a bit about each volume. The book I read front to back was one by...