Sign numbing

For a City with the strictest sign code, we sure do love electronic message boards! These PD signs are meant to warn drivers of dangers related to traffic, accidents, etc., yet the LBPD inexplicably has decided to use them constantly, at several locations in, out and around town, to display such helpful messages as “Have a nice day!” and “Happy Holidays!” Really? This is the “look” we want for our town? Now we are numb to the signs, so if they do display useful messages for their intended purpose, we won’t pay any attention! And as a bonus, they increase the danger to cyclists, by forcing them into traffic. Thanks LBPD! 

Ann Marie McKay

Laguna Beach

There are solutions to the short term lodging challenges

Thanks to the City staff, appointed and elected Laguna Beach officials, and all those involved for all the time and effort spent developing for Laguna a fair, balanced, and equitable approach to the issue of short term lodging.

After all that effort, is must be frustrating that late in the day at its hearing last Thursday, after hours of detailed deliberations over a few parking spaces in Malibu and old pipes at Playa Vista, the Coastal Commission announced that they only had the room until 7:00PM and that the hearing on Laguna’s adopted ordinance would be constrained by that time limit.

The result was short shrift given to all sides in a hurry-up hearing of Laguna’s request for certification of an amendment to its Local Coastal Plan incorporating the short-term lodging ordinance the City has adopted unanimously after many months of and thousands of hours of citizen and City debate.  (And not that many issues in Laguna result in unanimous opinions.)  Whether a more extensive hearing of an issue with widespread consequences for many communities throughout California would have led to a better decision is debatable, but what is not debatable is the appropriateness, or actually lack thereof, of the manner in which the hearing was held.

While most Californians understand the mission of the Coastal Act is to assure there are no gates or fences impeding physical coastal access, the current Coastal Commission seems to be embarking on its own social engineering mission, 1) aggressively broadening its scope by stretching definitions and 2) imposing unfunded mandates on local communities.

Its current efforts to reinterpret the word “access” as more than physical access to include a requirement that local communities provide unlimited affordable vacation accommodations to anyone who wants a day at any specific beach of the visitor’s choosing at any time of their choosing at a price the visitor can afford reflects both these issues.  The stretch of the definition is obvious. 

An unfunded mandate is a requirement by one level of government that another level of government perform certain actions with no funds provided to do so.  In this case, the state requires cities to do something costly and requires the city to absorb the cost.  That the Coastal Commission is doing this to local communities is less obvious, but no less consequential.

While visitors bring additional revenue to a community, visitors also bring additional cost. The problem is, in Laguna’s case, the additional cost far exceeds the additional revenue. Because Laguna graciously hosts so many visitors annually, compared to other cities in California with our population, the cost to run the government of the City of Laguna Beach is roughly three times the cost to run cities of similar size with little or no visitor impact. The shortage is made up by the residents with funds paid by local residents that should be used for local resident needs that are instead diverted to cover the extra costs due to visitors.

There are solutions - -two of which are:  The State of California Coastal Commission can rein back in its overreach and work for reasonable balance between visitors and residents. And the State of California can provide the funds to the local communities that will cover the additional costs resulting from the state’s requirements. By the way, that number – the shortage -- is about $25,000,000 per year or something like $2,000 per year per Laguna household.

John Thomas

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Steven P. Duncan

April 4, 1954 – December 15, 2017

Steven Paul Duncan passed away Friday, December 15, 2017, at the age of sixty three surrounded by his entire family. He is survived by his wife Anne, his four children, Madison, Riley, Jamie, and Liam, his very soon to be son-in-law Graham Harris, and his mischievous cattle dog, Marley.  

Born in London, England and raised back and forth between Geneva, Kentucky and California, Steve first moved to Laguna Beach in 1962 with his mother, Betty and his grandparents Emily and Will Cowie. The family later opened the Horseshoe Cafe in downtown Laguna Beach. A graduate of Laguna Beach High School and University of California Irvine, he earned his JD from the University of San Diego in 1986 and proceeded to run his own practice in Laguna Beach as a plaintiffs’ personal injury lawyer.  

Steve lived a life as full as his booming laugh. He was cultured, irreverent, and the sharpest of wits. He was an avid tennis player, surfer, and sailor in his younger years. Steve loved the time he spent ranching and co-owning a dairy calf business. He also loved playing—or as he would say, “trying to play”—the guitar and listening to opera, show tunes, and the Appalachian music his Kentucky grandmother used to sing.  

More than anything, he loved his family. Steve refused to let the harshness of his earlier years take his goodness, and worked hard every day to change the trajectory of that life for his children. With a heart even bigger than his personality, Steve welcomed any and all into the warm embrace of his family and modeled integrity through his words and actions. Of all of Steve’s accomplishments and adventures, nothing brought him greater pride than his wife and children, whose compassion, humanity, and humor will carry his legacy.

Obituary

Ben Rogers

January 27, 1994 – December 13, 2017

Ben Rogers passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of December 13.  

Ben was the light of all our lives, full of a deep kindness towards all, a generous spirit, and a light-hearted presence. Many have shared how Ben would encourage them, and how much he was looking forward to the future. He touched many.  

He and his sister Lily were born in Newtown Connecticut one frozen winter night, moved to Grosse Pointe Farms Michigan at age three, then to Laguna Beach when four.  Ben grew up a local boy, attending the Presbyterian preschool, TOW Elementary, Thurston and the High School. He was an Indian Guide, a Scout, played soccer, but most of all LOVED playing basketball at the Boys and Girls Club and anywhere, really.

His first job was delivering the Laguna Beach Indy in the Mystic Hills neighborhood. He studied Kempo Karate for eight years and also competed at the County level in Track and Field in the Hurdles. 

He attended the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad and was able to march in the National Memorial Day parade in Washington DC in 2011, playing the snare drum.

Ben attended the University of Arizona, and was planning to finish up at Cal State San Marcos in the fall.  

He is survived by his parents, Kate and Jim, his twin Lily, his brother Will, his step-sister Sara, and also his beloved dogs Gracie and Coco.

A memorial service is planned at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, December 30 at 10 a.m. All are welcome to come remember and celebrate Ben.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ben’s name to the ASPCA.

No soul in concrete stairs at Thalia

Why is it [that] each project taken on by the Corps of Engineers, when finished, looks like something built by the Corps of Engineers?  No soul!  Couldn’t they use river rock or flagstone or something that is not concrete?

Robert Story

Laguna Beach

Hotel Laguna is in desperate need of renovation

I have followed the continuing saga of the Hotel Laguna and have a few comments. First of all, a lawsuit seeking “financial restitution” truly seems without merit (no pun intended).

Regarding the hotel name, although Mrs. Andersen says it’s trademarked, photos from the 1930s show that the name has been in use since the beginning. I’m not an attorney, but isn’t there such a thing as public domain?

The Andersens operated the property for 30 years and never did a significant renovation. The entire place is run down and in desperate need of attention. Why would we think they’d choose to do so now? I understand that Andersen has a sentimental attachment to the hotel, but it’s time to move on. She has been operating two restaurants — both out of town — one of which has been open 18 months. Doesn’t that imply an “exit strategy”?

I worked with Joe Hanauer during his acquisition of The Pottery Shack and transformation into The Old Pottery Place. At the beginning there was opposition but, now, rightly beloved with resident serving businesses, including one of few remaining brick and mortar bookstores. There could not be a man more devoted to keeping the historic aspects of our community intact … but improved. And with Greg MacGillivray as a named partner… along with James Ray, I’d call them the dream team to take control of the run down hotel, and continue to be fine stewards of our village, as has been Mark Christy with The Ranch. 

Thank goodness The Montage sold Christy and partners the property, or we’d almost certainly have condos on the golf course by now.

Leslie Cunningham

30-year resident of Laguna Beach

Historic Preservation Task Force: Necessary?

After attending the special City Council meeting on Sat Dec.16 2017 I came away thinking do the residents & property owners of Laguna Beach really need “this”! Only one of eleven of my North Laguna neighbors who I meet as I took a morning walk, thinks it’s a good idea. The other ten gave it the thumbs down.

Just because the vocal minority and the City’s bureaucrats want it doesn’t mean that it’s best for the community! Before the City forms a Task Force lets put the idea on the ballot or at least a survey of all property owners who might be impacted. Give the silent majority a voice, it’s only fair!

Pat Galez

Laguna Beach

Time to impeach Trump

Fifty or so years ago, a young Donald Trump was determined ineligible to serve in Vietnam due to bone spurs in his feet. Despite having graduated from New York Military Academy, Trump was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch his high school classmates march off to war.  

Today, a 70-something Donald Trump serves as President of the United States. As New York Times columnist Charles Blow recently commented, “It is impossible to live your life under the microscope of the presidency and not have your true nature revealed.” That certainly was the case last week when Mr. Trump characterized the homeland of immigrants from Africa and Haiti as @#$%-holes.

That said, I believe it’s time Congress explore the notion of impeaching Mr. Trump. Not so much for what he said about immigrants, but because those testy old bone spurs clearly have gone to his head. As my wise father used to say, “Stay away from that guy. His elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top floor.”  

America deserves a president who is fully capable of executing the requirements of the job.  As a lifelong student of politics, I am shocked Trump’s @#$%-hole comment hasn’t been completely rebuked by the GOP leaders in the House and Senate. I am sorry, but Speaker Paul Ryan’s tepid reaction that Trump’s hateful outburst was “unfortunate” really doesn’t cut it.

It’s time to look in the mirror people.  What does your reflection reveal about you and our country now?  It’s not too late to change what you see.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Hotel Laguna should be kept as pristine as possible

I’ve been here since 1958 and one of the first things that our visitors notice when coming into the town is the Hotel Laguna.  It’s a famous landmark and one that the city should try to keep as pristine as possible.  

With that being said, I believe that it’s possible to remodel the hotel to current day standards and still retain the original look and feel.  Something like the La Valencia in La Jolla comes to mind. I hope that the new owners and city council will consider this.

Gary Zaremba

Laguna Beach

Tempest in a teapot over Agate: Response to James Pribram’s column on 1/16

As a retired builder, overlapping into my current profession as an enviro-consultant specializing in land use and regulatory compliance, this confrontation is a result of a poorly understood process.

Beachgoers have complained for years about this “Stairway To Nowhere,” as the previous one during certain periods ended well short of the sand: Hence people were stranded, either took a literal “leap of faith,” at risk of physical harm due to that gap distance, or were forced to use either Center or Bluebird.

[The current strategy] was signed off on, as the column notes.

First you must demolish, then create/secure a safe, resilient construction zone...Note these blocks are temporary, not permanent structures, too heavy to roll around willy-nilly, pell-mell.

We used a metaphor during construction activities, especially with demolition elements: Like an omelette, eggs must be broken, moreover at times adjustments are made during removal/installation.

Pribram’s parents live close nearby [and] were probably notified of hearings per CEQA et al, as the Project was also posted at the top of the stairs landing per local/state regulations. I saw and read it, went to the City’s website, and I was satisfied that it was basically a reasonable solution to a long-standing unsafe and unacceptable Coastal Access issue.

As critical as myself & my NGO, Clean Water Now, has been over our 20 year history, in this instance where the City finally responded (albeit we feel slowly, we have frustrated friends and family that demanded a remedy), the installation (after two site visits recently) is acceptable to industry and obviously CCC standards.

Personally, the Project’s not as invasive nor housekeeping as slovenly as alleged: Take photos, document complaints/violations using a GPS stamp that secures time/date/exact location of said evidence.

I think one important lesson is to read posted notifications.

Go online or downtown to the Community Development counter, educate yourself as to the Project, its purpose, its duration, the Best Management Practices proposed, etc.

The Marine environment is important, fragile, so yes, be more vigilant: But educate yourself.

The answers, the reasons for certain logistics that seem unacceptable/irregular might already be there.

Land Use is a boring topic, but it’s where the rubber meets the road regarding planning, where your City is going.

Roger E. Bütow

Founder & Executive Director, CLEAN WATER NOW

Laguna Beach

Questions for Coast Inn development supporters

I know that everyone in Laguna Beach would like to see the Coast Inn restored to its former glory. It is currently an eyesore in this town. But to the supporters of Chris Dornin’s proposed development, I have a few questions: Do you know the details of what is being proposed? 332 bar/restaurant seats (200 more than previously approved) plus 24 hotel rooms and not one single parking place, which means hundreds of cars will need to park in the surrounding neighborhood every day, and possibly more when multiple events are held at the various venues.  

Do you know that the Boom Boom Room is not even mentioned in the plans? The name of that space has been changed – and there is no dance floor. Have you considered the increased traffic and public safety issues that will result from this intensification of use? Does our town really need to attract more tourists (last year six million people visited Laguna) and should the goal of attracting tourists be put ahead of the residents’ quality of life?  

Did you know that the hotel will look nothing like the historic photos, but rather the design is based on an artist’s rendering? Did you know that Mr. Dornin, the owner/developer of the Coast Inn fought against the rooftop deck on Mozambique because he lived in the surrounding neighborhood and therefore, as a resident, would be adversely affected?  

In his statements to Planning Commission and City Council, Mr. Dornin raised the exact issues as those who currently oppose the intensification of use of his Coast Inn development: parking, traffic, noise, public safety, view, aesthetics, light trespass, and loss of property value in the surrounding neighborhood. (Video of his testimony at PC and CC can be viewed on the Laguna Beach City website.)  

Of course Mr. Dornin has the right to change his position on rooftop decks, but that does not change the impacts and issues of which he is well aware. Would you support the development of this “entertainment complex” if your home was in the neighborhood around the Coast Inn? Please know that I respect everyone’s opinion and their right to support or oppose this project. For the record, my opinion is that the Coast Inn should be restored to its previous use, but the design and the intensification of use should be denied at Tuesday’s City Council meeting on Jan 23.

Terry Meurer

Laguna Beach

What happened to being good stewards of the beach?

Being raised on Pearl/Agate Street Beach. I looked up to the older locals almost like brothers. They were a tough group of surfers – and they taught me to respect the beach and ocean. Which, in a nutshell, meant not only did you not litter, but heaven forbid you walked past a piece of litter without picking it up. These guys were willing to fight every day for the beach they loved. There was a pecking order to every set of locals on every beach. That was the culture I grew up in.

Part of being a local meant being a good steward of the beach. Caring for it. Respecting it. Loving the beach.

I would not consider the Agate Street Beach staircase renovation project being an example of good stewardship of the beach. This project was started nearly four months ago. On a good day, there are maybe two or three guys working on it for one or two days a week, and that’s being generous. There is a huge rusty ramp now descending down from the cliff and into the water at high tide. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by James Pribram

Agate Beach

Workers have dumped approximately 37 Lego cement blocks onto the beach, which have already toppled over twice. In their words, “[They] have been put there to keep the ocean out.” 

Haven’t we learned by now that it is simple impossible to keep the ocean out?!

With two major swells forecast for this week and tides nearly reaching into the six-foot range, we (the locals who know the power of the ocean and tides) are extremely worried that all of these construction tools will end up in the ocean and be lost out there for good. This project is a nightmare waiting to happen and quite honestly, it looks as if it has been abandoned. 

In case anyone doesn’t remember, Laguna Beach is a Marine Reserve. It is an absolute no-take zone. No fishing, no nada. You are not even supposed to remove dead seaweed from its natural habitat – the beach. How in the world is such a mismanaged project happening like this in Laguna Beach?

In a town that is supposed to be so environmentally conscious? 

It’s one thing to be picking up metal stakes out of the tide pools and nails with pink ribbons off of the beach. But who is going to pick up the concrete blocks, and the rusty ramp if it goes into the ocean?

What if someone is seriously injured or worse?

When I raised this issue, I wasn’t looking for a fight with the City or the Coastal Commission. In fact, the ECO-Warrior Foundation is a partner of the Coastal Commission and the Adopt-A-Beach program.

The first phone call I made was to the code enforcement officer at the Coastal Commission, who asked me to document everything and send it to him in an email

Which I did. He never replied back regarding the email and didn’t return subsequent phone calls.

The same day I sent a similar email to the mayor. No reply. Then I called her and left a voicemail. She never returned my call.

So then I called the city manager and left a voicemail. No returned call. However I did get a call from Henry Hovakkimian, Assistant Construction Manager, because of my call to the City Manager. 

The only City employee who actually took my call was the chief lifeguard.

I went through the proper channels. Yet no one bothered to get back to me to explain what was going on.

At least someone came and picked up the rusty drills that they left discarded there. 

But is this good stewardship of the beach? Not a chance.

James Pribram

Founder, ECO-Warriors

Laguna Beach

Agate Street stairs are similar to the Woods Cove disaster – but worse

Thank you, thank you to James Pribram for pointing out the total disaster at Agate Street steps.

This is similar to the Woods Cove stairs disaster but worse.  Does the City even interview the construction company on their experience with the ocean or just take the lowest bid, not considering what the consequences will be?

Obviously this company did not consider tides, surf and sand movement and without experience building on the ocean should not have been hired to do this job. The giant blocks and metal runway are a hazard and liability to the public.

My husband and I have been picking large metal rods out of the ocean there that have been left by the company when they first put up a ridiculous green cloth construction fence that lasted about two days.

The City should have learned its lesson from the Woods Cove steps, which had a similar problem – the company hired had no clue how to build on the oceanfront.

Julie Ross

Laguna Beach

50 years ago today – a watershed year

If you are at the older end of the baby boomer generation like I am, then you probably remember 1968 as a watershed year in American history. It was the pivotal year in which the public’s overall attitude quickly shifted from optimism to confusion. After struggling to make sense of the battle for Hue in Vietnam early in the year and listening to the Beatles’ “White Album” months later, the gap between my parents’ WWII generation and my own was widening by the day. Despite the fact that half a century has elapsed, we still seem to be struggling with many of the same issues today. For example:

Fifty years ago today, North Korea captured the Navy intelligence ship USS Pueblo. The ship was monitoring North Korea from the Tsushima Strait, an ocean channel dividing Korea and Japan. The Navy insisted its ship was operating in international waters, but North Korea said the Pueblo had entered its territory, and dispatched warships and aircraft to intercept it. 

Accounts differ on both sides as to what really happened. Eventually, there was an exchange of gunfire and one American was killed. The North Korean military boarded the Pueblo, captured its crew and brought the ship to port. The Pueblo’s 82 surviving crewmembers reported they were routinely tortured and starved while in captivity. It took 11 months to resolve the incident but set the stage for continued tensions between the two nations. Today, as it continues to develop its nuclear capabilities, the U.S. considers North Korea one of its most challenging problems.

Time marches on is a constant in our lives. Every so often, it pays to look back. I think the Pueblo incident is one of those times.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Supporters’ party is outrageous ploy

I just received a copy email of what the Dornins are planning at the Coast Inn to get letters of approval for the project. Party at the Boom Boom Room. Let us know you’re coming, sign up have some food, drinks? and music to put you in the mood for us to tell you what our plans are and support us.

This is an outrageous ploy by an applicant for a project coming before you this month. They should be held accountable at the CC meeting. I hope you look at this as subterfuge and that the support letters they say they’re hoping to get are from people that actually live in Laguna Beach. If they don’t they should be discounted entirely.

I am not against preserving the Coast Inn and bringing back its historic character, it needs some loving care. But, the plans as they exist now, will leave nothing but a shell of what the Coast Inn was and the neighborhoods surrounding it will be the sacrifice.

Darrylin and Tom Girvin

Laguna Beach

The Coast Inn should be a local gem, and it can be

As a small business owner and resident in the neighborhood of the Coast Inn, I am deeply frustrated by the opposition that this project has faced since it was announced.

I have carefully reviewed the documentation related to the project, and it is clear that the developer has longstanding entitlements to renovate the property as has been proposed.

The opposition that the project is facing is coming from a small but vocal group of people who are concerned about the impact the project will have on the surrounding neighborhood.  

The fact that the hotel and liquor store existed long before most people lived in the neighborhood doesn’t seem to register with the critics.

The argument that there’s not enough parking doesn’t hold up when one considers that ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft have forever changed parking requirements.

And finally, one only has to take a walk from Bluebird to downtown on Coast Highway to see the number of vacant storefronts to understand that our town is facing tremendous challenges as the economy is going through transformational change.

The Coast Inn should be a local gem, and we have a group willing and able to make it happen.

To be clear, a revitalized Coast Inn will be good for our business—more visitors, more foot traffic, more vibrancy in our neighborhood.

But the issue goes far beyond what it means for one business.

At the heart of this is whether or not the City of Laguna Beach will adopt a progressive and business friendly position, encourage sensible development, and acknowledge and embrace a rapidly changing marketplace in order to ensure the health and unique character of our special town.

If it is going to be business as usual, I fear that we will simply become a nice place to live for those who can afford it, and the Laguna Beach most of us know and love will be gone forever 

Don Meek

Co-Founder, The Soul Project

Laguna Beach

Coast Inn developer opposes rooftop decks

The owner/developer of the Coast Inn has been dismissive of the concerns of the many neighbors surrounding his development, yet he is well aware of the issues they face, should his project be approved.  

In September 2012 and January 2013, Chris Dornin addressed Planning Commission and City Council with statements in opposition to the rooftop deck at Mozambique. The issues that he presented five years ago are the exact issues that the neighbors around his proposed Coast Inn rooftop deck will be presenting to City Council at Tuesday’s hearing: parking in front of homes, traffic, noise, view, trash, privacy, etc.  

What follows are exact excerpts from his statements which demonstrate that he is well aware that his project will negatively impact the surrounding neighborhoods.  (Video of the full statements is available on the Laguna Beach City website.)

Chris Dornin Statement Sept 12, 2012, Planning Commission Meeting:

“…There’s literally no parking in front of our house during the evenings...”

“…They may have their noise studies but you need to remember this is well above where Coast Highway is and it flows right up hill and it flows right into our bedrooms...”

“…The idea that it’s not going to intensify the traffic is completely silly.  Why spend all this money if you are not going to increase business and increase traffic flow...” 

“…This is going to add significant money to the restaurant in revenue if they are able to do this and it’s going to have detrimental impact to the values in our neighborhood and views like myself.  It is a nightclub.  They charge.  We hear it.  It’s loud.  It’s a privacy, noise and view issue.”

Chris Dornin Statement Jan 15, 2013, Appeal to City Council: “Wear hats”

“…Umbrellas do not provide an ocean view, they are a convenience for the customers. The customers can wear hats. If it’s too sunny, wear hats. They don’t need umbrellas...” 

“…We shouldn’t all sacrifice and the owner make no compromises for any of us and all to the detriment of our home values.  It’s going to have a massive detrimental impact to our home...” 

Terry Meurer

Laguna Beach

Impact of the homeless on home values needs to be addressed by panel

Decades ago I was fortunate enough to be present at a City Council meeting in which representatives of the American Association of University Women made an impassioned presentation advocating the city become a sanctuary city.  The City Council succumbed and voila: Laguna Beach became a sanctuary city.

Thereupon a thin stream of indigents trickled in and took root. They became prominent fixtures at the entrance of the Library on Glenneyre. They leisurely occupied nooks along Ocean Avenue and promenaded along the beach.

Wanting to support these folks and their illegal brethren a hiring center was constructed and manned in the Canyon. Assorted shelters were made available.  The City gave out free bus passes (a continuing program) and constructed a shelter for these unfortunates. Food was made available.

I recall an evening in a Mexican restaurant in which a curiously dressed young lady was shown a table whereupon she ordered and consumed a full meal, stood up and left without paying. The owner simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled; they need help. The Mexican restaurant went out of business.

Now, with the removal of those now occupying the banks of the Santa Ana River, I suspect our village will rise to the task and welcome these poor, misunderstood minions.

Thus, drawn to the natural beauty of the Canyon, one might imagine a quaint hobo jungle developing from lack of space in our Friendship Shelter.

Being an intellectual community, we welcome discussions, and find ourselves invited to spend an enlightened moment with experts on homelessness (for $20). I wonder if the topics these folks cover include the impact on home values as grocery carts stacked high with dross and over stuffed back packs line our back alleys and signs suggesting ‘Work for Food’ become commonplace.

Just a thought, mind you.

John Kountz

Laguna Beach

Where’s Jason?

We miss Jason Feddy’s banter on his ‘Morning Scramble’ show on KX93.5. What he brings musically both with his talent and knowledge are unique and an asset to our local station. We especially enjoyed his quizzes and police blotter songs. We would like to urge Tyler Russell and the station’s board of directors to please bring him back, even if only on a limited basis! KX93.5 is not the same without him!

Ellen and Roger Kempler

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Paul Barnard

August 12, 1938 – November 27, 2017

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Paul inserts himself into the void at Le Corbusier’s Notre Dam du Haut in Ronchamp, France

Gentleman, surfer, brilliant architect, master of color – Paul Barnard was all of these, and now he’s gone, slipping away to Mexico and beyond. 

Born in Bailieboro, Ontario, Canada on August 12, 1938, Paul was creative from a young age, preferring the arts to labor on the family farm in Ontario. Attracted to the energy of Toronto, Paul attended the University of Toronto where he received a Bachelor of Architecture. After working and traveling throughout Europe, Paul moved to Boston and received his Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University in 1967. He married Susan Gleave in 1966 in England and settled in Toronto where their daughter Josey was born in 1968. At the ripe age (for an architect) of 30, Paul designed his parent’s cottage at Batchewana Bay, Ontario. After becoming a partner at WZMH Architects in the 1974, he oversaw the design of projects across the US and Asia. 

To escape the cold winters of the east coast, Paul moved from Canada to Laguna in 1980 to practice architecture in California. Here he married Susan Whitin and had his second child, Seth, in 1987. After a career working on large scale hotels and office buildings, Paul opened up his own studio in Laguna to focus on other building typologies. The Laguna Art Museum is one of his several creative renovations in town. 

An avid hiker and outdoorsman, he and family frequented wild locales across the globe to camp, hike and learn. He always believed one learned more traveling than in school. Fascinated by the ancient cities of South and Central America, he travelled to and studied the urban design practices of Incan, Mayan and Aztecan cultures. Paul’s passion for color drove him to scour Europe in search of obscure natural pigments unavailable in the US. Using color as a design tool, he adorned his designs with these unique pigments. He had an insatiable curiosity.

While growing up on the family farm in Ontario, Paul loved to ride horses. In Laguna, he fulfilled that passion with “Streetwise”, his retired racing horse stabled at Irvine Coast Stables -- on land that is now Crystal Cove. Around town, you could catch Paul on his way to surf San O with his buddies, in a heated conversation at Zinc cafe, or at the dog park with his trusty dogs. 

After living in Laguna for almost 40 years, Paul expatriated to his house in Sayulita, Mexico for a change of scenery and vibes. Shortly after moving to Sayulita, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to live in the colonial city of San Miguel de Allende. 

On November 27, 2017, Paul died peacefully in the cacti-peppered highlands of Central Mexico amongst a loving community of friends and caregivers. His creative, friendly and quirky spirit lives on through the family and friends that love him.

Paul's memorial will be held on Saturday, February 3 at the Laguna Art Museum from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Jon Madison will be missed

The news that Jon Madison has sold his business and moved out of Laguna was not a shock, but the swiftness came as a surprise.  Jon will be missed.  While I wish the new owners nothing but the best, it’s hard to imagine Madison Square without Jon, a little like Oz without the wizard. Jon’s café was a place where every person and every dog felt welcome and special.  To borrow from Fanny Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes, “It was never more than just a knock about place, but now that I look back on it, when that café closed the heart of the town just stopped beating. It’s funny how a little place like this brought so many people together.”

Jon Stordahl

Laguna Beach

Laguna is lightning in a bottle

I’m grateful! 

I was raised in Orange California. Money was tight, so during the summer, while other families went to theme parks, the movies or vacations, my family was on the beach in Laguna...a lot. During the 70’s the drive to Laguna started on a two-lane highway lined with eucalyptus trees. My mom packed sandwiches, and let my sisters and I explore Laguna unsupervised for hours. All she asked is we stay away from the hippies and come back before sundown. We explored every cave, cove, giggle crack and tide pool possible. I never dreamed I would live in Laguna 40 years later. 

In 2010 my husband Steve and I bought a house on Catalina Street by Oak. We are still pinching ourselves...how did we get so lucky to live in this paradise?

The drive through Laguna Canyon is like a portal to another dimension, unlike anywhere else in OC. 

Today [Sunday] was stunning, dazzling. The sun glistened on the water like diamonds, the warm breeze blew. Is this January?!  It›s insane.

Submitted photo

The sun glistened on the water like diamonds…

And I love Stu News. It keeps me up to date on dining, entertainment and community events.  Thank you. And my condolences on Stu. I’m sad I never met him, but I understand he was the coolest guy ever. You’ve done a good job maintaining his legacy (Stu News). 

I’m so grateful to live here! And grateful for all the wonderful friends I’ve made in this unique, fabulous community. 

Thank you thank you thank you.

Laura Lee

Laguna Beach

Editor’s Note: Thank you so much, Laura, for brightening our day with this affirmation of how fortunate we all are to live in Laguna Beach, and for your kind words about Stu News. We do feel that we have a remarkable team and we do love what we do! And we LOVE Laguna too!

U.S. Aircraft Carrier to Visit Vietnam

The irony of the following announcement hasn’t been lost on this long time Laguna resident and father of three. Last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis confirmed that a U.S. aircraft carrier will visit Vietnam soon. It will be first time since the war in Vietnam ended more than 40 years ago, that a ship of this size and magnitude will port in Danang. Many speculate that the presence of the aircraft carrier will be welcomed by several countries nervously eyeing China’s island-building activities in the South China Sea.

Because I was an undergrad at USC from 1966 to 1970, I remember that today marks the 50th anniversary of the bloody Tet Offensive in Vietnam. In many ways, Tet was the beginning of the end of U.S. involvement in the war. The coordinated attack by 85,000 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese targeted dozens of major cities and towns in South Vietnam. To say that it caught US-led forces by surprise is an understatement.  

Named after the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tet was a holiday the North and South had previously observed together. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces eventually regained control of the areas they lost during Tet; still, it became a wake-up call for Americans back home who, by now, were watching the horrific news about the war unfold before them daily on TV. After hearing famed CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite declare the war unwinnable, President Lyndon Johnson told his aides, “If I’ve lost Cronkite, then I’ve lost Middle America.”  

More than 58,000 U.S. troops died in the Vietnam War. No telling how many North and South Vietnamese were killed during the war. I often have wondered what life would have been like for the tens of thousands of young Americans who died there had they lived. Two who came home, John McCain and John Kerry, ended up running for president. My hope is, in an odd way, this impending visit by a U.S. aircraft carrier will help heal the many wounds of that terrible war.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Is no smoking law killing business?

With numerous stores closing and retail spaces for rent all over town, I heard one manager say they had the slowest day in history last week. Five dollars. Is the new no smoking rule partially killing business in Laguna?

Roger Carter

Laguna Beach

Disenchanted with quotes from Harley Rouda campaign about the pre-endorsement delegate meeting – I was one of the “83”

I was disenchanted and surprised to read the quotes by Michael McLaughlin, who released statements about the pre-endorsement delegates [in Tuesday’s edition of Stu News Laguna].

Yes, there is still a race to determine who will be the Democratic Congressman for the 48th. But Mr McLaughlin’s assessment is not accurate, since it is slanted, and intentionally tries to undermine the integrity and gravitas of the pre endorsement vote. Hans Keirstead won this vote by a margin of 67 percent. I am quite certain his views differ from Mr McLaughlin’s.

A “pre-endorsement meeting of about 83 people meeting in a gymnasium...”

This vote “has nothing to do with anything that happens at the convention...”

I was one of the pre-endorsement delegates. The language used by Mr McLaughlin demeans the significance of my role, and is dismissive at best, to other citizens who take on political responsibilities.

I was selected to be a pre-endorsement delegate by the LBDC. All general members were asked to participate.

I attended many forums to hear the candidates debate and sat through many presentations.

I know for a fact that every candidate running for the 48th was determined to win this pre-endorsement made by “about 83 people meeting in a gymnasium.” I personally received many emails, and phone calls, by many candidates, soliciting my vote. If my vote were of no consequence...why? Why was I asked to participate in something meaningless?

If in fact this vote “has nothing to do with anything that happens at the convention,” as articulated by Michael McLaughlin, why would Mr Rouda and other candidates be so anxious to win the pre-endorsement delegates’ votes?

“Falsely claiming Democratic Party recommendation,” as written by Mr. Rouda’s campaign, is equally circuitous.

What Mr Keirstead did win, undeniably, and truthfully...was 67 percent of the pre-endorsement votes. Democrats. Who DID recommend that Dr Keirstead be recommended by the Democratic Party.

Dr Keirstead won by two-thirds of the pre-endorsement votes...a clear majority. Mr McLaughlin’s attempt to demean and undermine Dr Keirstead’s character and campaign seem to be an early example of what all Democrats fear...splitting the vote and opening the door to the Republican party.

Jahn M. Levitt

Laguna Beach

Trees and charm in Laguna: We have to do something 

I grew up in Corona del Mar, but I began working at age seven for my Dad who was building single houses in Laguna Beach. Our family loved the artistic community—the old, European-style historic buildings that had been carefully protected over the years. We also loved the trees that had been planted by an artistic group led by Harry Lawrence, a man interested in preserving Laguna’s history as a place characterized by groves of trees—eucalyptus and others. 

Ten years later, in 1963, my family and I moved to the village we loved. And we’ve continued to love it just as much ever since.

Thankfully, about 25 years ago, a group of Planners, Architects, and Artists gathered together to create Laguna’s Downtown Specific Plan. They worked hard to describe the desired look, feel, and function of our Downtown area, a place where we locals wanted to protect forever Laguna’s charm. That plan called out for “an abundance of well-cared for flowers, trees, and shrubs.” It says, “In Laguna’s Downtown, large Eucalyptus, Date Palms, Pepper, and Sycamore trees combine artistically to make a pleasant pedestrian environment.” In fact, Peppertree Lane is singled out in that plan as “the example of Laguna Beach’s village character.”

The City Council has approved this plan ten times over the years—and it is a plan that shows trees placed every 30 to 40 feet on both sides of the downtown streets to provide a canopy of shade for all us locals to enjoy. I’m sad to say that about 25 percent of those trees are yet to be planted! None of these trees would block views of the ocean from hillside homes or downtown residences.

This approved plan has been our town’s guideline of beauty and charm. And now, a committee is updating the plan—but something has changed in Laguna in the past 25 years. Today, there is a war on trees and, to some degree, a war on charm. Part of this is driven by the fact that a lot of our artists have moved away, so there are fewer artistic types to say, “Hey, that looks ugly!” 

So, is there a way to save Laguna’s charm? Can we hire a “Commissioner of Charm” to work with John Pietig and his staff? What if our active group pays half the salary for ten years? Whatever the solution, we have to do something, as our town’s trees and charm are the reasons that my family and many others have settled here. 

Greg MacGillivray

Laguna Beach

Are we headed for a constitutional crisis?

As a bona fide member of the Baby Boomer generation, I witnessed two constitutional crises in my 20s. Both happened during my earliest days living in Laguna. 

The first, over the vehement objections of the Nixon administration, was the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Washington Post and New York Times to publish the Pentagon Papers in 1971. If you need a primer on this topic, then go see “The Post” in a nearby theatre. 

The second was the Watergate scandal beginning in 1972.  For those who have forgotten or never knew it, Richard Nixon tried to eviscerate the Constitution in order to remain in office. His efforts went down in flames and he was forced to resign the presidency in August of 1974.

Now, with the publication of what rapidly is becoming known as the House Intelligence Committee’s Nunes Memo, America appears to be on the precipice of another constitutional crisis. 

Don’t take my word for it. Here is how legendary reporter Carl Bernstein who, along with Bob Woodward, not only stuck with the initial story about the Watergate break-in, they steadfastly followed leads that eventually took readers straight into the Oval Office:

“A real slaughter by an obstructive, irresponsible, partisan gang in the House of Representatives has put the interests of their party and the president of the United States and his personal fortunes above the national interest,” he said.

Asked whether he thinks the U.S. is heading toward a constitutional crisis, Bernstein replied, “Yes, if the president continues down this road, and if his enablers in Congress continue down this road, it could become a constitutional crisis in the sense that the system may fail us.”

I’m not surprised how quickly people lined up for or against President Donald Trump’s decision to release the Nunes Memo. That was expected. What I didn’t expect was how contentious the relationship between the White House, the FBI and Department of Justice truly has become. 

So it’s a little like deja vu all over again. In Nixon’s day, he authorized the FBI to surreptitiously enter private offices, as well as allow the CIA to gather internal information about U.S. citizens here at home. Both were so politically toxic and obviously illegal, most of the president’s Republican supporters in Congress were left with little choice but to cut and run.

Which brings me full circle to Bernstein’s comment about our current situation. I wonder how Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would have reacted had they been in office during Watergate? It’s a question that no one can possibly answer with any authority, but certainly worth contemplating given today’s hyper-partisan landscape. 

Why? Because it only is the future of our democracy that is at stake. I hope I’m wrong but, based on their current level of support for President Trump, I am fearful the actions of the Speaker and the Majority Leader could lead to fewer freedoms for the next generation of Americans now coming of age.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Just add water?

I am not a trained firefighter but I am a skilled waterman. Strategically applied, water puts out fire.

Sometimes we can combine a few problems and synergistically develop a creative solution. What happens if we take the 1.6 million gallons of secondary sewage discharged by Laguna Beach into the ocean each day just over one mile offshore and upcycle this wasted wastewater to provide a citywide perimeter “new water” wildfire pipeline? Our biosolids and sludge in wastewater can be harvested as bio-coal to feed thermal oxidation of wastewater contaminates like pharmaceuticals, microbead plastics and similar guck that otherwise ends up in the ocean. Heat generated feeds a steam turbine to power wastewater filtration. Alternatively, fuel cells can operate from our natural biogas.

By combining the problem of expensive utility undergrounding to include a space in the trench for a new water line in Laguna Canyon, trenching costs can be supplemented with generous State recycle water grants. Laguna would have an independent source of “green” energy and new high purity water for wildfire prevention and suppression as long as we continue to flush our toilets daily.

The estimated cost of a new water system for Laguna is $30 million over the 30-year pipeline life cycle or $1 million per year. Less secondary sewage offshore, more new water for wildfire protection and State funds for Laguna Canyon utility undergrounding is possible when we combine multiple problems to create new, smart, sustainable solutions. 

When do we get started?

Mike Beanan

South Laguna

Sian Poeschl, thank you

I just had to write and say thank you for:

The heavenly rainbow consolation memorial art installation next to the artistically cut pepper tree remains.

The amazing movie last night at Friday Night Flicks at the Forum, “Loving Vincent,” amazing! 

Supporting the wonderful fallen concrete mural on the beach.  

You and your commission are such a gift to our town. More, please?

Jheri St. James

Laguna Beach

Mighty Telephone Pole

I was watching the movie To Catch a Thief a few days ago that was made back in 1955. As many of you know the film was made in Cannes and Nice, France along the French Riviera. The views of the countryside reminded me very much of our Laguna Beach. The climate there is very similar to the climate we so appreciate here. Flora of the hillsides looks very similar to our hillsides as well. 

Both of these French cities are destinations for millions of tourists, again very similar to Laguna Beach. When the camera filmed scenes of the countryside many telephone poles were noticed lining the winding roadways of the area. Some of these poles were located very close to these narrow roadways. What is seen reminded me a great deal of the many telephone poles that exist in our fine City. 

Yes, the film was done years ago and yet one could just bet those very same poles still exist today. Folks in that area of the world do the same as folks here in Laguna Beach, they have learned to live with their poles and we all have to until there comes a time when technology can eliminate the poles completely. The French are not attempting to underground their poles most likely because of the cost to do so and with no demands being made by the citizens or their government. 

Additionally, during my drives to various locations close by, that many of us have been to, such as Glen Oak, Arrowhead, Big Bear, Mammoth, Julian and other highly forested communities that are tourist destinations [which] would be considered high risks for fires as is Laguna Beach, I see that the poles are there. The transformers are there. The roadway through many of these communities is even way more dangerous then our Canyon Road. 

So, why the alarm in our town about the fire risks we face that are so similar to many other communities? Why this race to underground? How are similar communities dealing with their poles? One must admit however, do these poles add any beauty to our town? Absolutely not. Try getting a telephone pole included in your landscape planning. The pole in your garden covered with morning glory vine will not be allowed. Have any of you ever seen a pretty pole?

However, at this time, in our community, we must learn to live with our very own telephone poles just like hundreds of thousands if not millions of others must do the same for the decades yet to come. What has been expressed in the news media about causes of fires the telephone pole is ranked way down the list. Those businesses that are responsible for the maintenance of all poles in our town take extra caution to be sure the poles remain safe and good repair. If poles are neglected these companies will be held accountable. 

The fear that is being generated by those citizens in our city and those in our government who support this costly undergrounding is both unfounded and unnecessary as well as a poorly laid tactic. Many of us are waiting to be more and more informed about this costly project and how it dictates such a rapid decision. 

In the meantime...let’s continue to live with the poles as best we can. We have been doing so for many years. 

Jim Gothard

Laguna Beach resident and property owner

Undergrounding Survey necessary?

After attending the council meeting last night and watching the presentation regarding the results of the community survey, I’m convinced these surveys and committees are a waste of time and our tax dollars.  

This survey was directed entirely toward placing the blame of a catastrophe from fire, flood or earthquake on the utility poles. It blames the poles as the cause of our lack of safety when evacuating and congestion when there is an emergency. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t remember the poles being a problem during the evacuation in the 1993 fires.  

The property owners for the last 20 years have been undergrounding their neighborhoods on their own at their own expense to improve their views. The thought of creating a better “evacuation route” was not even considered.  There were neighborhoods currently going through the process when they heard about this bond issue and learned their street was designated an “evacuation route”. Of course they stopped the process with the expectation that the rest of us will now be paying for their properties. Several property owners last night urged the council to extend the evacuation route to include their neighborhood so they can also benefit on free undergrounding.

This survey should have had a fourth option. The property owners should be required to pay their own undergrounding regardless of any arbitrary “evacuation routes”.  Every street is an evacuation route in an emergency depending on which direction the threat is coming from. Those of us that have already paid for our neighborhood shouldn’t be required to pay for those that haven’t.

All the time and money going out for this survey could have been better spent to possibly help offset the costs for the neighborhoods and canyon where there are larger poles. FYI, this survey would have been free if they utilized Google Form or for a minimal charge with Survey Monkey. The council wasn’t happy with how the survey was conducted or the results and wants the panel to do another survey and report back in several months. 

 Of course, at an additional expense from our tax dollars.

Jill Cooper

Laguna Beach

Good news to share

I have some good news to share. 

The City Council is often bombarded by people expressing concern about the challenges faced by Laguna brick and mortar businesses and expressed in terms of the number of vacant storefronts. And the general message is that “The City needs to do something about it.”

There was an excellent example of that at midnight two weeks ago when a parade of speakers, some of whom even live here, explained to us how Laguna, with 6,000,000 annual visitors and well over $700,000,000 of annual retail and hotel room sales, is blighted and comatose and is on the road to ruin – like La Jolla -- if the City Council doesn’t take extreme measures to reinvigorate the economy through massive injections of alcohol into visitors.

In an era of fake news, it’s important to do some occasional fact checking into just how critical the patient is.

And what better source of information could there be than the Chamber of Commerce website which lists commercial vacancies?

Checking that site, I found there are currently 36 retail, office, and industrial properties available.  Some are vacant and some will become available in the future. 

I checked with commercial property brokers for a Laguna Beach commercial vacancy factor, but being a small market, the larger providers of commercial data do not break out numbers for Laguna.

So, I checked to see how many businesses there are in Laguna. There are nearly 3,900 business licenses in Laguna. 36 vacancies for 3,900 businesses didn’t sound so bad.

But since not all businesses occupy a commercial address, I checked with the post office for business addresses, and there are 1,447 business addresses in Laguna (not counting Post Office Boxes) so, 36 vacancies out of 1,447 physical addresses is about two and a half percent commercial vacancy.  That’s probably a good estimate of commercial vacancies.

For comparison, I then looked for vacancies in Orange County and nationally and found that while the national average for retail vacancy is 6.6 percent, Orange County does much better with only 3.6 percent.  But at two and a half percent, Laguna is far more healthy than either Orange County or the nation as a whole.

I also looked at new business formations and failures and found that nationally about eight percent of all businesses either start up new or fail in any year. 

And, in fact, only 50 percent of new businesses survive five years.

So, businesses turn over. For many reasons.  Sometimes success. Sometimes failure. Sometimes due to growth. Or sale of the business.  And turnover can cause vacancy, but turnover is normal. And that’s the point. And, in fact, Laguna is doing much better than most.

There is no question that this is a trying time for brick and mortar retail. And, while no one wants to see businesses falter, on the other hand, our City Council has no obligation to guarantee the profits of private businesses.

And if an investor pays too much, or promises his investors too much, the City has no duty to bail him out.

John Thomas

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Laura Dorothy Krill

February 17, 1920 – September 30, 2017

Dorothy died on September 30, 2017, at her home in Laguna Beach, CA.  She did it on her own time and with her usual flair, stubborn to the end. She is survived by sons John S. Krill, Laguna Beach, CA, C. David Krill, Atascadero, CA, and daughter Nancy M. Krill, Port Townsend, WA, 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Laura Dorothy Phillips was born February 17, 1920 in Hartford, CN and grew up in Queens, NY. She was the oldest of 5 children, and the last surviving sibling. Her father died when she was 7 years old and she always felt the need to look after her brothers and sister. The family was active in the Salvation Army and she liked to tell stories of playing the trumpet and alto horn during the holidays for the Army. Her mother was from Halifax, Nova Scotia and she had many fond memories of a visit to Halifax when she was 12 years old. Throughout her life she maintained close contact with her Canadian cousins.  In 1939, she earned a certificate in infant care from the Salvation Army’s Brooklyn Nursery and Infants’ Hospital.

She met her husband Charles (Chuck) Kennedy Krill, an electrical engineer, in Chicago and they were married in Brooklyn on November 26, 1942. They moved to Southern California in 1947 living in Burbank and Glendale in the 50’s and 60’s, where she became a member of the First Methodist Church and active in the choir. They had four children, John, David, Nancy and Brian.  Vacations in those early years were spent camping at Yosemite, Sequoia, Lake Tahoe, as well as many summers camping at Carpenteria Beach.  

In August 1964, Dorothy, Chuck, Nancy and Brian moved to Tokyo, Japan, where they lived for two years. Dorothy took up flower arranging, taught English, and took full advantage of being in Asia, traveling within Japan as well as Hong Kong and Cambodia.  In 1966 the family returned to California via the old USSR, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Britain. The travel bug had captured her sense of adventure.

In 1972 Dorothy started Krill Tours & Travel in Laguna Beach and soon thereafter her daughter Nancy joined her. Over the next 10 years Dorothy and Chuck traveled all over the world, taking several foreign trips a year. One of her favorite places was Hawaii which she first visited in 1950. They bought, along with three other couples, a condominium on Kaanapali Beach, Maui in the 70’s and, after Chuck’s death in 1982, she bought an apartment near Diamond Head in Waikiki. She continued to run the travel agency another 20 years. She loved to tell stories of all her many travels to the delight of all who listened.

Social activities were important to Dorothy and she loved to host groups in her home. She was a very active member of the Business and Professional Women, the Laguna Beach chapter of Soroptimist International, and the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, was involved in the Missions Committee and was a member of a Bible Study Group. Originally a Republican, she became a Democrat after the Barry Goldwater nomination, and remained a very active member in the Orange County and Laguna Beach Democratic clubs. Before elections she could often be found in front of the Laguna Beach Post Office registering voters.  

Music played an important part in Dorothy’s life. When she was a young girl, it was common for family friends to visit and sing hymns. She began singing in her church choir in the early 1950’s and continued to do so until her death, more than 60 years later. In the late 1950’s she was part of a singing trio called the 3 Clubs, performing at local community and church events. She was very proud of the fact that she had sung at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, and Carnegie Hall, NYC. Dorothy’s Bible Study Group has purchased a memorial plaque for her to be placed alongside the one for Chuck in the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church courtyard. The plaque will be dedicated on the 18th of February at 11:30 am. She was known for her loyalty to friends and will be missed by them and her family. Donations in Dorothy’s honor can be made to the LBUMC Missions Committee.

No military parade, Mr. President

I don’t want a military parade like President Trump does. I want an America where people celebrate our nation’s long-held values and principles daily. You know, like my Laguna friends who support the Food Pantry, SchoolPower and Friendship Shelter. They are the real patriots. No amount of tanks driving by or troops marching in formation can match what they do.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Time to close Liberty Island National Park?

In an effort to assist the Trump administration in its efforts to balance the budget to reflect its objectives, I propose the following cost-saving measure for Secretary of the Interior Zinke: close the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island National Park. 

What, do I hear knee-jerk wails of objection? Unamerican! Sacrilege!  Read the attached plaque on the base of the Statue.  No, really read it.  If that’s too tasking, read at least the most commonly recognized lines:

Bring me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to be free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

Written by Emma Lazarus in 1883, it was finally engraved on a plaque and mounted on the base of the statue in 1903.

For countless immigrants, those words have been, in their minds, emblematic of the United States and its understanding that our strength as a nation is grounded in its diversity and the contributions of each immigrant, both individuals and families that came to our country and made it theirs. Countless thousands, from Colonial times to the present, have contributed their strengths and determination, and in many cases their lives, in ways that have taken this country to its pre-eminent position in the world. 

Alas, that statue and its meaning seem true no longer.  The Trump administration seems determined to change the acceptable reasons for allowing immigration to this country.  In a mean-spirited turn of malice, the criteria seem to be now qualifying levels of education, financial worth, and not being from some backward, crudely-characterized nations.  A far cry from the “huddled masses yearning to be free”, it seems.  As a side note, I wonder how Mr. Trump’s paternal grandfather in 1885, and indeed his mother in 1930, would have fared had the current proposed criteria been in place when they immigrated. 

The New Colossus and its iconic poem are neither relevant nor representative of the Trump view of immigration.  So, let us actually be honest with ourselves and the world, and shut down Liberty Island until such time as national policy once again is in accord with the symbol in New York Harbor, and the United States of America can once again become a nation that the rest of the world sees as a shining beacon of what the best of mankind can strive for.

Bob Elster

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Doug Case

September 20, 1956 – January 30, 2018

Douglas Ward Case, 61, was born on September 20, 1956 in Laguna Beach and passed away on January 30, 2018. Doug is remembered by his children - Laura Ann and Charles Emerson, Daniel and Heather Case and grandson Oliver, Nicole and Jon Johnson; his parents Storm and Shirley Case; his siblings Linda Case, Scott and Laurie Case, and many nieces and nephews.

Doug grew up in Laguna Beach and was a descendent of the Thurston family. He attended the first preschool season at the Laguna Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed sports, scouting and backpacking in the Sierra mountains. Doug earned his Eagle Scout rank with Troop 35. He held the Orange County high jump record (6’ 10.25”) for several years. He graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1974 and attended Biola University. Doug followed his grandfather Alvin Krueger into the real estate appraisal field, opening his own office in Laguna before moving to Salt Lake City. Doug especially loved adventures with his dog Bonsai and filled his free time with books, fly fishing and camping in the mountains of Utah. 

Doug’s memorial will be held at the Laguna Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Laguna Presbyterian Church (415 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651) or the American Heart Association in Doug’s memory.

Time for a gun summit at Camp David

Two of my three children attended TOW, TMS and LBHS. Even though they are grown now, each of them has been affected by last week’s shooting in South Florida. Once again, innocent students were gunned down by a deranged teenager. So what’s the solution?

I call on Donald Trump to take a page out of Jimmy Carter’s playbook. For those who need reminding, in 1978 the former president invited the leaders of Egypt and Israel to Camp David. After more than 10 days of intense bargaining, they came up with a peace plan that still exists today. After what happened last week, I think it’s time for a similar meeting.

Mr. President, I urge you to invite the NRA, 2nd Amendment and gun safety advocates to Camp David for a week-long summit. If you have to, lock the doors so no one can leave until all three parties agree on ways to solve today’s senseless gun violence. I am a realist, so I know their process of finding common ground won’t come easy; still, I believe they owe it to the country to try.  

My three kids tell me our schools are becoming America’s killing fields. For their sake, and our nation’s future, I hope a Camp David gun summit will put an end to the unspeakable violence we keep witnessing coast to coast.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

MASS Attack on Guns

In 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was founded by Candace Lightner in direct response to the death of her 13-year old daughter by a drunk driver. This was not the first death from a DUI, but it was the last before the group took action.

As a result, today’s DUIs are heavily monitored and penalized, indicating fewer numbers of death by intoxicated drievers. There is at least one MADD office in every state, including one in each province of Canada.

In 2018, it is time to form MASS (Mothers Against Semi-automatic Slaughter) and address the senseless killing of our kids by savage assault weapons. Let no one tell you it can’t be done. It already has.

Britta Wilder Ross

Laguna Beach

LBUSD responds to the Parkland school shooting

Our hearts are with the victims and their families, as well as with the students, staff and community at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. We are deeply saddened that we must endure yet another senseless tragedy.

A natural response to this event in Florida is to wonder what plans are in place at our schools to provide a safe environment. The District takes our responsibility for school safety very seriously because we are entrusted with protecting the children of LBUSD when they are on our campuses. 

Our District Safety Committee members develop, revise, and update safety plans through a collaborative process to ensure procedures are effective and current.  The District also works closely with our local police and fire department officials to include current best practices into our plans.

Laguna Beach Unified School District schools are required to maintain and update an annual Comprehensive School Safety Plan, the most recent version of which was approved by the Board of Education at Tuesday’s Board meeting. These plans delineate how schools will respond to a variety of school-related emergencies and include:

Building disaster plans

Hazard assessments

Evacuation plans, routes and locations

Standardized emergency management plans

Shelter in place and lockdown procedures

Student/parent reunification plans

Emergency drill schedules

As always, our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our children. We realize trying to find words to help our children feel safe and resilient in a world that sometimes feels unpredictable and scary is difficult. In the aftermath of this traumatic event, the National Association of School Psychologists notes there are effective ways to talk with students: create a sense of safety by returning to normal, predictable routines as soon as possible; listen to their concerns and feelings; suggest they limit their use of media to lower their stress and to maintain balance and perspective; and realize that sleep difficulties are common and can lead to fatigue and poor participation.

Finally, staff on our campuses are trained to report any unusual and suspicious activity, and we encourage parents and students to do the same. Please reach out to your school site administrator if you have any questions about campus safety procedures.

Jason Viloria

LBUSD Superintendent of Schools

Laws won’t fix school shootings

The writer of the letter urging President Trump, NRA and others to meet at Camp David, is reminiscent to Dec 2012 when Obama formed a similar task force led by Joe Biden. 22 meetings and 229 recommendations later, and after multiple items signed by Obama as executive order,

School shootings continue. Laws won’t fix the problem.

William Kail

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Roberta (Robbie) Bennett

February 1, 2018

Roberta Mace Bennett passed peacefully, at the age of 95, in her room at The Covington assisted living in Aliso Viejo, California, on February 1, 2018.  She is survived by her daughter, Andrea Reynolds Bennett, and by her son, Duncan Griffin Bennett and his wife Suzanne Slyman.  She was preceded in death by her sisters, Katie Stalder of Riverside and Mary Stuart of Long Beach, by her husband, A. Norman Bennett (d. 1959), and by her parents, Arthur Mace and Margaret Reynolds Mace.

Robbie was raised in Pasadena and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and Pasadena Junior College. To the many friends of her youth, Robbie was faithful throughout her life. Summers were spent with them at Balboa Island, and with family at Big Bear Lake where her father built a cabin.   

She and Norm were married in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1945, where he was in Naval Supply School at Harvard before receiving orders to duty in the North Atlantic in WW II.  Following the war they made their home in Pasadena and raised their children. After Norm’s death of cancer in 1959, Robbie was a single mother until her children went to college. While  Andrea was in high school, Robbie re-entered the working world as a secretary in the insurance business. She was working for Pacific Mutual Life Insurance in 1972 when the company relocated to Newport Beach, and she took the opportunity to move to Laguna Beach, the arts-oriented community she had long appreciated. 

She enthusiastically began her new life, settling into her home at the Top of the World, building her garden with its view out into the open space canyons that she loved so much. She also loved her neighbors and the generations of kids she befriended in her 44 years there on Nestall Road. Her joy was enhanced by the dogs she had over the decades, especially her last one, Ringo.

Her love of nature and hiking made her an active participant in the Laguna Greenbelt movement and Sierra Club. However, her primary community in Laguna was St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where she made her closest friends. She was active in church outreach programs, the Evening Guild (ECW), and the Vestry. In her later years, she organized weekly meals for the homeless and volunteered at Friendship Shelter. 

As much as Robbie loved her friends and Laguna, she was constantly drawn to her world travels and hiking trips to the eastern Sierra Nevada. The international travel was a particular joy for her to plan and read for, whether it was England, China, hiking in the Pyrenees, or her beloved Tuscany – all beautifully documented by the albums of photos that she so loved to take.

A service and celebration of her very full life will be held on Saturday, March 10, at 1 p.m., at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 428 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach. In lieu of flowers, it was Robbie’s wish that contributions be given to Friendship Shelter, www.friendshipshelter.org.

Obituary

James Lynwood Wilder, Jr

October 7, 1934 – February 10, 2018

James Lynwood (“Lyn”) Wilder, Jr, the down-to-earth charismatic man whose honest, reliable and considerate service to others made him beloved by many, died on February 10, 2018 in Laguna Hills. 

Lyn was 83 years old. He is survived by his wife Daneen, his children Gayle, Allison and James III, his stepsons Brandon and Aron Rainone, his grandchildren Jefferson, Keaton, James IV and Constance, and his step-grandchildren Sophia, Hendrix and Zoey. 

In addition to his family, Lyn leaves behind an abundantly grateful community, who will forever be touched by his frank, honest and passionate support of their lives. He was tall, handsome and charming, always impeccably dressed and always there with love and wisdom when needed. His playfulness and humor would never fail to ease a troubled soul. His demeanor and presentation, both sophisticated and colorful, will continue to provide us with smiles and memories for years to come.

A recovering alcoholic himself, Lyn had a depth of understanding and empathy that translated seamlessly to those in need of help. His recovery became his greatest gift. For nearly 53 years, Lyn was a pillar of the Southern California recovery community. He shared his hope and strength locally, across the country and around the world. Lyn lived his life’s motto of “love and service” as he selflessly gave of his time. His family is grateful for all the memories and stories shared about the innumerable ways in which Lyn taught, challenged, and encouraged people, and the profound impact he had on their lives. 

Lyn was born on October 7, 1934 in Lexington, Kentucky. The friendships Lyn developed in Kentucky remained throughout his lifetime and returned him to his roots for many cherished visits.  A true Kentuckian, Lyn loved thoroughbred horses and the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team.

Lyn made his way to California in 1964. He met his wife Pam in sobriety and moved to Orange County, where they had their children, Allison and Jim. He participated whole-heartedly in the women’s recovery home of New Directions for Women, which was co-founded by Pam, who passed away in 1985.

Lyn’s career was diversified. He was independent and excelled at networking, which brought him business opportunities in real estate development, oil and gas production, restaurant ownership, the insurance industry, and telecommunications. He retired at the age of 80.

While working in the telecommunications industry in 1997, Lyn met the love of his life, his wife Daneen. They were married in 2001 and have enjoyed many years of family, love, laughter, friendship, travel, and fellowship, both in Orange County and in their second home in the California desert, where they have many dear friends. Lyn’s love, patience, and persistence with those he loved and cared for will be missed. We are forever blessed to have been part of Lyn’s extraordinary life and to have shared in part of his journey. We will carry his memory in our hearts.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Lyn on March 4 at 2 p.m. at Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to an organization important to Lyn and his family, New Directions for Women, Inc, 2607 Willow Lane, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

Camp David Gun Summit Part II

Hello Mr. Kail. Because I am the writer you referred to in your recent letter, who has urged President Trump to convene a summit on guns at Camp David, I thought I would introduce myself (“Laws won’t fix school shootings”).  

People’s feelings about the NRA and the Second Amendment currently are at a fever pitch. So much so, rational conversations are almost impossible to have in Congress or around our dinner tables. Are you aware that several of the teenage survivors of the shooting in South Florida, who currently are organizing student marches, have received death threats? I believe my call for a summit not only will help turn down the heat caused by mass shootings, but set the stage for productive talks. I’m sorry you disagree.

I have been told that when Jimmy Carter informed his White House staff in 1978 that he intended to bring old warriors Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel to Camp David, most of his aides, fearing failure, urged the president not to go forward with his plan. Despite all the fighting in the Middle East today, Egypt and Israel still are at peace. I firmly believe President Trump has a chance to accomplish a similar outcome with a summit on guns now.

Thanks, again, for mentioning me in your recent letter. Let me know if you want to get coffee and discuss our differences.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Hotel Laguna: Time for us all to move on

It is hard for me to understand why the Andersen family seems to be using the courts to obstruct the re-opening of the Hotel Laguna by the new operators.  Given that the Andersens have been supportive of our community for many years, why would they now want to keep the landmark of our town dark? Fortunately for Laguna Beach, the new operators also have a sterling history of good deeds to improve our town, so I have much reason to anticipate how the re-opened Hotel Laguna will enhance our community. It is time for all of us to move on.

Jerry Immel

Laguna Beach

Stop Taxing Our Property

A new coalition of concerned residents in town called S.T.O.P – Stop Taxing Our Property (www.stoptaxingourproperty.com), has formed to give residents all the facts about undergrounding, not just those the City and its consultants want to “educate” you about. 

The City had budget surpluses of $9.9 million in FY 2015, $9.8 million in FY 2016, and recently $4.8 million in 2017. If undergrounding is so safety essential, why haven’t those surpluses been saved for undergrounding, rather than placing the burden squarely on taxpayers’ backs? Shouldn’t we demand better planning and fiscal responsibility of our City’s leaders? Why doesn’t the City use Measure LL funds to support a revenue bond, repayable by the City, not the taxpayers? At $2.5-$3M year, those funds could support a $50-60M revenue bond debt. The City’s capital improvement plan allocates $15 million to a proposed community pool. Why is a pool prioritized over undergrounding? 

The City will spend over $240,000 on consultants to push undergrounding and biased surveys. Contrary to the article by Mr Gibbs of Underground Laguna Now, the surveys did not find that the majority of residents strongly supported paying for undergrounding. The surveys “found” what we already know, that we live in a fire threat area. But how does that equate to an imperative to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to underground utility poles?  44 percent of California is in a high fire threat area. Laguna is no different than hundreds of other cities. The ’93 fire was caused by arson, not utility poles, and the cause of the most recent fires in Sonoma and Santa Barbara have not been factually determined. There has never been a major fire in Laguna caused by utility poles.

The City estimates six 1/2 years and around $10 million before construction would even begin on undergrounding. Wireless power already exists, and is developing faster every day for mass scale use. Soon electricity transmission by wires will be obsolete. Why are we spending hundreds of millions to underground a soon to be obsolete method of delivering power?

Last December the CPUC ordered new stricter fire safety measures for electrical distribution systems in high-risk areas, and created a “Fire-Threat Map” where those measures are currently being implemented, including Laguna and Laguna Canyon Road. With these significant new fire prevention measures for utilities, including frequent monitoring and inspection of all utility poles, immediate correction of safety hazards in high fire threat areas, and major new rules for vegetation management, shouldn’t we wait and see if these safety measures work before asking taxpayers to foot the bill to underground utilities? If SC Edison doesn’t comply, wouldn’t there be substantial cause to force SC Edison to underground at its own cost?

Laguna’s urban areas(downtown and residential zones near PCH) are not high risk for widespread utility fires. California has not had an urban conflagration initiate within an urban core area in many decades. Why is the City insisting on undergrounding in these areas using the arbitrary “evacuation route” scare tactic?  No one can predict where a fire may break out, and lower urban routes (like Glenneyre and PCH) are not high risk. Fallen trees, light poles and parked cars obstruct as much as power lines. Ninety percet of all fires are human caused (cigarettes, campfires and arson), followed by lighting and lava.  Electrical transmission fires causing widespread damage are an extremely low percentage of all fires.

Many neighborhoods have already paid thousands to underground, some over $50,000. Why should these residents have to pay for others to do the same thing? Some of these neighborhoods were on so called “evacuation routes.” Many other residents would never use any of the “evacuation routes.” One council member lives on Glenneyre and her view would be greatly improved by undergrounding. Is it fair or equitable to force others to pay for that view?

The $240 median per parcel trumped out to support the undergrounding only applies if your property tax assessment is $600,000. That’s great if you bought your home many years ago, like the city council, whose average assessment is $462,000. Many other residents who bought more recently will pay thousands more. Is this equitable? Who else isn’t paying their “fair share?”

The City paid over $200,000 to put new carpet in City Hall, and has been on a hiring binge over the last three years increasing payroll and pension liabilities. City health insurance is expected to increase by 18 percent. $3 million of new vehicles were purchased in under 3 years, unnecessarily replacing vehicles with low mileage and much useful life. Millions have been spent purchasing real estate that may be desirable, but is not necessary. Shouldn’t we demand responsible spending first before taxpayers are asked to tax themselves and give the City even more? 

Ask questions, get informed.  It’s your money.

Jennifer Welsh Zeiter, local business, tax and estate planning attorney, former President of Laguna Beach Taxpayers Association, co-founder of S.T.O.P, and self-appointed fiscal watchdog.

No good deed goes unpunished

Nearly 2.5 years ago, the City agreed to begin a 10-year rehabilitation schedule for our Sanitary Sewer System (SSS), funding $3.5 million per year for 10 years = $35 million. 

That was codified, i.e., agreed to contractually in a federal court as a result of litigation initiated by California River Watch in October 2014. My NGO, Clean Water Now was the sole Laguna protectionist group to formally join the lawsuit.

Readers can peruse and confirm the details via online historical research, CWN joined because after 15 years on this issue, little rehabilitation or improvement had taken place.

For us it was unfinished business, our previous work around 2000 on the same topic was being ignored, the City not fulfilling its promises to both California and USEPA.

One of the burning issues was the City’s antiquated, increasingly failing SSS, the specter of larger overflows looming plus one of the major defect symptoms: The buildup of H2S (hydrogen sulfide gases, that obnoxious odor of human waste) in several key neighborhood zones.

It really hit home for myself and my neighbors here in Victoria Beach and just south along PCH near Ruby’s and Montage as proven in court. Letters had been written to the City over the course of nearly a decade, demanding redress and relief. 

The City acknowledged the more pungent, problematic and objectionably smelly, deficient lift stations during the proceedings.

We along PCH here to the south were assured that we’d be a high priority being chronically affected, the lift station near Nyes Place and the one on the stairs leading down to Victoria Beach prime candidates.

So it has been with great curiosity that we’ve tracked the subsequent budgets since that compact was mutually agreed upon by all parties.

The LB Taxpayers, local media columnists, letters in MSM and individuals petitioning the City at budget hearings seem to be unaware of that compact with the court system, plaintiffs and more importantly, those concerned about SSS spills: Unsafe, hazardous beach conditions triggering closures and decimating fragile marine eco-systems.

Viewing the upcoming budgets, I can’t find earmarked funds that confirm, that sustain the City’s promises: Nor am I reassured by the lack of specificity regarding prioritization.

Myself, CWN and my neighbors are justifiably wondering: Are we being punished for being whistleblowers, for exercising our rights to petition and acquire a redress of legitimate grievances?

Obviously, no good deed goes unpunished here.

Roger Butow

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Jack Morse

April 29, 1934 – March 10, 2018

Our incredible father, husband, grandfather and beloved friend, John Morse died peacefully at his home in Laguna Beach on March 10, 2018.

John, known to his friends as “Jack,” was born on April 29, 1934. He came to Laguna Beach at nine months old, and aside from his time away for college and his time in the Army while serving in Korea, he lived his entire life in Laguna until his passing at the age of 83. He was an extremely lucky man and he knew it!

Jack graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1952 and continued on to receive his Bachelor’s from the University of New Mexico.

He was a retired LA County probation officer of 30 years and Dean of Students at Santa Margarita High School, respected by his peers and loved by his students. Upon his retirement, Jack spent his time focusing on his passions of music and teaching. He was an accomplished ukulele player who continued to serve the local community teaching ukulele classes and building incredible friendships at the Susi Q Center in Laguna Beach.

Jack loved the ocean, playing and teaching the ukulele, weekly coffee gatherings with his friends, and watching his grandkids grow up, always encouraging them to do their best and reach for the stars. Nothing was more important to him than his family and friends.

Jack’s signature everyday look was a Reyn Spooner Hawaiian shirt with jeans and a ukulele. Jack loved his time as a Laguna Beach lifeguard in addition to surfing, fishing and diving. No one knew the beaches of Laguna better than he did. That is the simple life Jack loved. He was always there to greet you with a smile, offer sage advice, or provide a steady hand. Jack was one of the kindest people you could ever meet opening his heart to many.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Susan Morse, his four children (Gretchen, Peter, Megan and Tim), and the eight grandchildren he adored.  

Our incredible father, husband, grandfather and beloved friend will be missed.

A Funeral Service in memory of Jack will be held on Friday, March 23 at 12 p.m. at St. Catherine’s Church in Laguna Beach with a reception following at Fratello’s Italian Restaurant in Laguna Niguel from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Those who desire may make memorial donations in memory of Jack to The Susi Q Center (Laguna Beach Senior Center) 380 Third St., Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

Note: Fratellos is located at 31371 Niguel Rd, Laguna Niguel.

First amendment rights usurped?

My son is an eighth grade student at Thurston, like many of his fellow students he felt duped by the school administration. He felt that his 1st amendment rights were usurped by the school administration, which controlled the walk outs by turning it into an extended break, run by the school administration. The intended message, to honor the 17 dead students and seek change in gun laws that would make kids like him safer was muted.

Our children’s’ rights need to be respected and “their” voices heard.  

David Flores

Laguna Beach

Arboretum or city: that is the question

A local, well-known landscape architect has recently started a dialogue about plant life in our town. Sounds like this person was mostly about getting our City to look more like an arboretum and Roger’s Garden. I, too, am about the beauty and all that Nature has to provide that keeps us in awe. I am a gardener at heart and have had to learn that planning and planting must work hand in hand. 

However, when does the planting exceed the glory of plant life? Take trees for example, we are impressed by their beauty and often times [they offer] protection from many heated days from the sun on our homes. All of this is fine until tree roots invade another person’s property and raises their concrete driveway or even invades footings and foundations. Sidewalks, too, often times are raised and cause risks to those walking daily on our walkways.

Living in such close proximity to neighbors, trees and their roots systems can be a dangerous risk. Tree roots often are the major source of blocked sewer lines. Also, when trees are not planted with knowledge of their maximum height, views from other properties can be obstructed and Pandora’s Box is again wide open to create unrest among neighbors leading to confrontations and even lawsuits. 

Yes, I agree with this landscape architect but then again when planting trees the end result must be a major consideration for all concerned. Plant life, like all of Nature, is intended to expand as it grows. Oftentimes folks want an instant and mature looking garden by over planting and not allowing enough space in between plants to expand and develop into a well planned and beautiful garden. Plants need both food and water. They must be cared for like any living organism. Planting and caring can take on more responsibilities. So please plant wisely and keep the peace and the safety wherever and whenever we can. 

Jim Gothard

Laguna Beach

Going, Going, Gone: Fence ordinance needs changing

On December 20, my downhill next-door neighbor erected posts for a six foot fence. I had no notice that this was going to be built. I immediately ran to the City Of Laguna Beach to verify that this neighbor had a building permit, and indeed they had one. I made a complaint, which was dismissed by the City. The City fence ordinance gives homeowners the right to build fences such as this as long as it is on the fence owner’s property. 

We are always friendly with our neighbors, and have cooperated to build neighbor-friendly fences. My uphill neighbors and I built a fence together, it’s four feet tall, and protects my neighbor’s ocean views. The Driftwood Estates tract is a hidden treasure of mid-century single story small homes; all the lots are terraced. Historically, no fence has ever been constructed that would obstruct anyone’s ocean view. The views on this street, Ocean Vista, have always been respected by all neighbors; we communicate with each other when trees or hedges need a trim.

Note: The owners next door have never moved into the house to this date, it has remained vacant. 

When on December 20, I asked these neighbors to please come over and view the impact that this six foot fence was going to make on my view, they declined, stating that they had a permit, and they needed their privacy. The lot line where this fence is built is uphill from their house by about 12 feet, but is level with my front yard, so they would have to look up and away from the ocean to even see my house.

I have since contacted more people at the City, nobody could help me, but it was suggested that I write to this newspaper.  

What really needs to happen is a change needs to be made to the Fence Ordinance when it affects a neighbor’s ocean view, and Design Review should be involved. I am volunteering to help start a committee to change the fence ordinance, please contact me if you’re interested in helping. I would not wish this to happen to anybody else. It seems like it’s the end of friendly neighborhoods in my town, which is the saddest part.

Melinda Zoller

Laguna Beach

Marching is important, voting in the primary is more important

I have just returned home from the March for Our Lives in Santa Ana.  

It was an inspirational and emotional day. Hearing the personal stories of students, teachers and others who have been affected by gun violence made a huge impact on the thousands of us who were there in solidarity.

There were many statements and chants about the importance of voting, all of which was directed to the November election.

I think there was a missed opportunity in emphasizing the importance of the June 5 Primary election, particularly for Congressional districts. Due to the rules of the jungle primary, only the top two candidates from the June 5 election will go on to be placed on the ballot in November. With so many candidates running for each Congressional district, it is imperative that voters understand the importance of voting on June 5 so that the two candidates who win are the ones that we want to vote for in November. If we do not do our job June 5, the November election will once again be a missed opportunity for change.

Candidates: Get the June 5 message out. Voters: Do your homework and make your votes count on June 5.

Jada Robitaille

Laguna Beach

From Main Beach to Washington and beyond

File this under “There are no coincidences.” What if today’s teenagers from Stoneman Douglas High School are the “thoughts and prayers” Republican members of Congress have been talking about since Columbine?

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

We live in dynamic times

I went to the March For Our Lives event at Main Beach park on Saturday, March 24th and realized again that things in America are and will change and that we are living in unusual times.

I believe the Women’s March in Washington D.C., the day after the inauguration, really announced the beginning of the end of the so-called Make America Great election. America can’t be great again without fairness to citizens of all races, religions, incomes, and sexual persuasions.

A recent poll showed that most Lagunatics want a new city council. Paying some city employees millions after retirement and bus and trolley drivers nothing isn’t fair. I believe in pensions, but as Elizabeth Pearson said years ago, our city government pensions are out of whack and will eventually bankrupt the city.

We desperately need affordable housing for seniors and others and the possibility of rent control for residential and commercial buildings. We need to stop cars going 70 and 80 miles a hour on Coast Hwy. We need to help our young people who are LGBT and make Laguna a more friendly place for gays. We need to promote small business all over town with new ideas and sidewalks friendly to walkers with more benches. 

A permanent Park Plaza downtown offering a cool place for all on hot days and other times and easier crossing zones on Coast Hwy. at Broadway, Ocean, Forest and Laguna Avenues. These four intersections like others need much bigger handicap curb ramps and should be criss-cross zones for people to cross from all four corners. The Laguna Avenue signal needs longer walking times, a.s.a.p.

We are living in a dynamic time in America and come November, America will get greater.

Roger Carter

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Larie Tales

March 26, 2018

Click on photo for a larger image

On March 26, 2018, Larie Tales, founder of Jeeps R Us, located on Laguna Canyon Road, passed away. Larie was born in Toronto, Canada. He was 76 years young.

The legacy of Jeeps R Us began in 1989 (nearly 30 years ago) with a very determined and talented man by the name of Larie Tales, a professional drag racer and body shop owner. Larie built the first jeep for his lovely wife Vicki and a star was born, so to speak. Jeeps R Us continues to be a brand with global recognition. 

Larie is survived by his beautiful wife Vicki, daughter Laurie, son Robert, sister Linda and his brothers Dave and Ed.

Larie’s motto from day one has always been: “If you can dream it, we can build it.” Jeeps R Us will live on. An inventory of Larie’s custom Jeep creations is still available on the lot in Laguna Canyon. 

If you would like to share stories about how Larie Tales touched your life, family and friends are planning a date for a tribute, to be announced, which will be held at the Jeeps R Us location in Laguna Canyon, Laguna Beach. 

An update will be posted on www.jeepsrus.comor the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/jeepsruslaguna.

Location location location

[Park Plaza]. A solution in search of a problem.

Maybe the grain of positive idea initially but in a poorly thought out, hasty location: Making it a feel-good but irrelevant installation.

Stupid is as stupid does, here for 45 years it never ceases to amaze me how my City finds ways to blow big $$$ on what’s unimportant, minor tweaking while ignoring the larger good for residents: Commerce first, locals second.

(1) Most of the time those chairs/tables were empty. During the pilot/demo phase I went down there two to three times a week at different times of day/evening. Ditto. Many times no one there period, weekends a handful. So few go there on weekdays off-season, locals stayed away in droves, it’s success greatly exaggerated by proponents (many paid and/or on the Chamber/Visitor’s Bureau payroll). Special business interests want it.

(2) Two of the three NGO’s mentioned in support, Beautification Council and Transition Laguna (501c3 public benefit), have had their non-profit status suspended by the State Franchise Tax Board. Look them up. The Chamber is a special interest 501c4.

(3) As a land use/regulatory compliance advisor myself, I see no mention of CalTrans. Hey, City Council? Anything you do to PCH is in their domain, jurisdiction. That includes the obvious re-routing, re-circulation projections. The City paid a vendor to tell them what they wanted to hear/achieve, interesting that two-thirds of the letters were opposed, so they’re ignoring the will of the residents and blowing more of our $$$.

(4) Under CEQA, any potentially significant impacts must be considered, analyzed and mitigated. What LB is proposing will irrevocably, irreparably alter the downtown traffic circulation patterns, and there’s no proof as an improvement. It should have an independent, third-party enviro-analysis/review, not rubber-stamping. And that would include detailed feedback/input from Cal Trans expert engineers

(5) Losing those staging/parking spaces on PCH + parklet will put more stress on visitors trying to pick up/drop off or park family vehicles in proximity to the beach. That’s a Cal Coastal Commission issue because Beach Parking = Public Access. Also, the reduction of approximately 15+ spaces total must be balanced, made up somewhere else: Yet no such plan is included. It should go through the CCC to determine if the combo of parking space los + circulation alterations make Main Beach less attractive/usable/functional. Including amending not only the Downtown Specific Plan but amend our Local Coastal Plan.

(6) Downtown vendor trucks (food, Fed-Ex, OC Library, north side PCH merchants) will no longer have anywhere to park in the early a.m. hours as now. None is allowed in the alley behind The White House/Library, the meter cops chase them off or ticket them. So no staging plan in place or proposed. And look for beach visitors to fudge, use the Library lot, reducing OUR (locals) access to that facility.

(7) This is a poorly critiqued attempt that creates a cold breezeway that will not be utilized at least nine months out of the year while putting stress on other contiguous locations. During poor weather or off hours it eliminates a small yet highly valuable cut-through to assure/relieve circulation stress. And due to the wind pattern, Venturi Effect (air speeding up going through the compressed space), coupled with the car pollution, those who do sit there will be in the shadows bundled up, inhaling concentrated PCH generated particulates.

Our City Council listened to a very small yet vocal sample of residents, came up with something right out of Dumb & Dumber.

Must be an election year when fluff trumps substance.

Roger Butow

Laguna Beach

Predictions: Garbage-In Garbage-Out

“Uber car in autonomous mode kills first pedestrian.” In gripping headlines the media remind us of the moral imperative in accepting autonomous cars. Days later details of the crash emerge albeit reluctantly from network news in Tempe Arizona. What the hype-slingers didn’t mention was the accident occurred at 22:00 nighttime when 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, wearing dark clothing, was pushing her bicycle with no lights across a high-speed highway. A 48 second Youtube dash-cam video from Uber shows the impact. The Uber car was traveling 38 mph; at that speed her probability of impact survival was 47 percent. 

Back in Laguna, Agenda Bill 14 reads “Coast Highway intersection improvements feasibility study.” 

In 91 pages we are told the intersections at Broadway, Forest, Ocean Avenue and Laguna Avenue will be modified to improve traffic, pedestrian flow and reduce delays. Yet another consultant was retained to gather the traffic numbers and scramble them in a software model. Their winning recommendations propose removing the crosswalk at Ocean and adding two pedestrian scrambles at Forest Avenue and Laguna Avenue, makes you wanna join the City Cheerleaders! A crosswalk at Broadway will be left unchanged, something about scramble coupling with Forest Avenue and apparently too much of a good thing. The software model shows adding scrambles to intersections causes car traffic delays, so to compensate the consultants add car turn pockets at Legion and Broadway and remove parking and a pedestrian ramp at Main Beach. 

Software modeling is used to convince decision makers of accurate predictions. Our consultant uses plenty of it, SimTraffic, HCM and Synchro circa 1960 among them. A detailed look at the software shows what the color glossy does not. The consultant measures success with terms like Capacity Ratio, Queuing Penalty and Parking Occupancy – all are measures of counting cars not pedestrians, bicycles, buses, planes, trolleys, not even bullet trains…it’s cars.

The consultant does not conform to Caltrans’s own mandates for Complete Streets Policy. Residents and decision makers should remember the fundamental rule of software model predictions: if garbage-in then garbage-out. Relying on predictions from the right software model will improve traffic, the wrong fundamentals will ensure Laguna’s car gridlock.

Les Miklosy

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Michael J. Fickling

October 16, 1952 – March 17, 2018

A brilliant star was extinguished from life all too soon when precious son, brother, friend of many left to join our Lord & Savior in heaven.  

Michael J. Fickling was born October 16, 1952 in Newport Beach, California, grew up and was schooled in Laguna Beach, and graduated from Laguna Beach High School. On Dec 14, 1990, Michael successfully completed Prescribed Program of Electronics Engineering Technology and [was] awarded Associate of Applied Science Degree from ITT Technical Institute.  

Michael will be remembered as an extraordinary musician who excelled in drumming, entertaining with his very own group, Second Helping, the Peter Dobson Band, popular Laguna Beach Art Festivals, and magically styling rhythms to please audiences from Southern California Night Clubs, to River 47 Church in Orange.  

Michael was especially grateful to have entertained the world over with The Darryl Mansfield Christian Band, which took him to a multitude of foreign countries.  Let’s also recall a second happiness in Laguna Beach when Dog Grooming inspired his unusual concept of washing family dogs together rather than separately thus giving pets a fun time together rather than an upsetting experience, typical of his appreciation for creatures big and small. Michael would not even swat a fly, rather ushered insects carefully out the door.

God took Michael lovingly home following a very sudden cerebral hemorrhage on March 17, 2018. God bless this sensitive, loving son, brother, friend. May dear Michael remain forever in Heaven, the place to be for which he long prayed.

Obituary

Bo Brackett

December, 1940 - March, 2018

Click on photo for a larger image

Bo Brackett, former longtime resident of Laguna Beach, passed away in March 2018 in Encinitas, California. He was 77.

Bo was born in Richmond, Virginia in December 1940 and moved to Los Angeles in 1948 when his father, Deke, accepted an assistant position coaching football at UCLA. Bo earned a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a Master’s degree from USC.

While attending UCLA, Bo served as President of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He also proudly served in the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant for four years during the Vietnam War era. Bo met his wife Nancy when she was a student at UCLA and they married in 1967. Bo worked as a probation officer in LA County for 10 years.

The Bracketts moved to Laguna Beach in 1973 where Bo sold real estate with Lingo Real Estate, then partnered with Ken Kelly in their own company, Coast and Country, and later with Prudential. Bo and Nancy had their daughter Catherine in 1984. They remained in Laguna Beach until retiring to Palm Desert in 2006 and eventually moving to San Diego in 2016 to be near Catherine and her family.

Bo was a loving, devoted husband and father who will be remembered for his outgoing and unforgettable personality. He made friends with people from all walks of life and loved to give people nicknames. If you knew him you probably have one. He adored his daughter and was an enthusiastic participant in all her activities from weekly volunteering at Top of the World school to AYSO soccer, Indian Princesses, and “handicapping” dance competitions. 

People will remember his pie and ice cream breakfasts, how he loved playing volleyball at Main Beach, and the special friendship he had with his mother in-law, Helen, who survives him at age 95. Bo is survived by Nancy, his wife of 50 and a half years, his sister Sallye, his daughter Catherine, son-in-law Travis, and his three precious grandsons – Deacon Jay, Wyatt James, and Austin Bo. The family resides in Carmel Valley in San Diego. He will be missed every day by family, friends, and his rescue dog Wiley. 

A military service will take place on April 5, 2018 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. 

Remembering Dr. King

Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination in Memphis. I was a sophomore at USC at the time and remember it like it was yesterday.  

Because I wanted to be a teacher, I volunteered as a lunchtime aide at an elementary school a few blocks from campus. Hours before the news broke about Dr. King’s death, I had escorted a rowdy boy into the principal’s office. When I reported for work the next day, that same boy was in the office. When he saw me, he walked up and said, “We’re going to get you today, whitey.”  

I didn’t think much of his threat until I heard students at the nearby junior high school had been rioting earlier in the day. If that wasn’t enough, I was asked to patrol the playground even though all the students were being kept indoors for safety purposes.  

So there I was, a 19-year-old Trojan all alone on an empty playground. I must have walked the perimeter a dozen times that day. To say I was scared is an understatement. I don’t know what I would have done had there been trouble, but I did my job nonetheless. I stayed on as a noon duty aide until June, but I never saw that troubled boy again. I always wondered what I would have said to him if I had.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Important to shut down anti-immigration sentiment

Recently, behind closed doors, Orange County Board of Supervisors decided to join the federal government in a lawsuit against the state of California over its stance on immigration sanctuary. Now, there are neighbors on Nextdoor.com who seem to want the city of Laguna Beach to do the same. Although, I assume they are in the minority, they are determined and very loud.

This harkens back to 2006 when a small conservative advocacy group sued the city for allegedly breaking federal law by spending public funds on the day labor site in the canyon. Our city won that lawsuit, and I’m glad we did. Our council was a voice of reason back then, and I was proud of how hate speech and intimidation were shut down. After the lawsuit, things returned to normal. Laguna remained the accepting place that anyone who’s lived here for awhile can appreciate.

But here we are, all these years later, with a new group of people who seem to be emboldened by current politics. They are very vocal and are pressuring our city to join with other cities and Orange County to go against the state of California. 

The immigrants here in Laguna are part of our community. They are people our kids and grandkids play with, they go to our schools and churches, they serve in our military, they work with us and for us. It is important that we shut down this discriminant anti immigrant pressure, and just like in 2006, we again counter racism in our town, once and for all. 

Carey Strombotne

Laguna Beach