Letters to the Editor

Disagree on the concerns for SB9

With your permission, I’d like to suggest an edit to the editor. If I may, I have a correction to (Tuesday’s) publisher’s note (Fair Game): 

Instead of: “One of the items on the regular meeting portion is a proposed urgency ordinance to regulate potential Senate Bill 9 issues (where residential lots can be split). SB 9 could have major impacts on residential neighborhoods, traffic and more, if left unchecked.” 

Here, I’ll fix it for you: 

“SB9 will help alleviate California’s severe housing crunch by allowing homeowners to split their lots and build needed additional housing for new neighbors who will be Stu News Laguna readers and, no doubt, contributing members of our community. SB9 means that people of less-lofty income levels, such as teachers, retail workers, and first responders just might be able to live in the community where they work — and send their children to our well-resourced schools. Added housing stock means that kids who grew up in Laguna might even have a shot at getting an apartment here that doesn’t cost their entire first-job salaries. And, there will be new faces at Laguna block parties.”

You’re welcome! 

Barbara McMurray 

Laguna Beach

Remembering Arnold Hano

Last Saturday, the community came together to both celebrate the life of, and say goodbye to, a much beloved Arnold Hano. All the accolades aside, I believe Arnold (and his wife Bonnie) rank among Laguna’s finest, like early artists Anna Hills and William Wendt, Eiler Larsen (a.k.a. The Greeter) and Skipper (“Have a home run day”) Carrillo. Each, in his or her own way, appealed to people’s better angels. The same is true for both Arnold and Bonnie. As a lasting tribute to their commitment to Laguna, I hope a statue will be erected in their honor someday.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Marcia French

March 14, 1940 – February 23, 2022

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Curtis Lee

(L-R) Marcia French and Nancy Lee

Marcia French was born Marcia Yoko Iwasaki on March 14, 1940 in Los Angeles, California. Her early life was somewhat that of a vagabond. From her first home in Boyle Heights to a barracks in the Arizona desert as a result of Executive Order 9066 in 1942, Poston became “home” for 2-year-old Marcy, her parents Tetsuo and Michi, and thousands of other Japanese Americans. 

Marcy’s father, a Cal Tech graduate, picked sugar beets in Utah to get past the barbed wire perimeter, and ultimately to Denver and a possible job. Tets was able to get Michi and Marcy to Denver not long afterward. 

From a dry cleaning shop to production operations at Atlantic Refining Co., the Iwasakis moved to 59th Street in Philadelphia before moving to a wonderful row house in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Marcy started school there and began building lifelong friendships, notably one with Barbara Ann Boyer, who spoke to Marcy just a week before she passed away. 

From there, Marcy and family moved to Palmyra, NJ, where her high school years were filled with choir practice, baton twirling, cheerleading, and her dear friend Judy “Mac” McAlister. 

Marcy graduated high school in 1957 and moved west to Montebello, California. Driving her prized ’55 Chevy to Whittier College didn’t last long, because marriage brought her to Laguna Beach. Marcy learned to be a dental assistant and eventually became the dental office manager. 

Daughter Dawn was born in 1960 and son Jeffrey was born in 1963. They lived above Bluebird Park next door to Herb and Nancy Lee, and their three sons Rusty, Curtis and Robin, until 1975 when Marcy married the love of her life, Dr. Robert French. Bob and Marcy enjoyed an all-too-brief 38 years of marriage before Bob passed in 2013. 

Marcy lost Dawn to cancer in 2016, and Marcy’s dear friend Judy Mac passed shortly thereafter. Marcy found comfort and companionship among her many friends in Laguna and Blue Lagoon, spending her time playing Mahjongg and becoming a serial remodeler. The remodel projects satisfied the artist, architect, and engineer in her. Laguna and Blue Lagoon enriched her with her many close friends, Bob’s kids and grandkids, and the best of memories. 

Marcy made annual trips to visit Jeff, Stacey and Ellie in New Zealand in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but her plans to visit in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were stymied by the pandemic.

Marcia, Marcy, Mom, Gramma, Yoey, Spoild1. You left us so suddenly on February 23rd, just days before we could put 82 candles on your cupcake. So many hands of Mahjongg left unplayed with your Blue Lagoon Babes. So many of us grieving our loss, remembering the best of times shared with us. And the love that we’ve cherished and shall forever miss. 

There will a service at Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Forest Avenue and 2nd Street, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to a local charity of your choice.

Letters to the Editor

What to do about the high cost of gas

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Denny Freidenrich

During his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Newsom announced he is working on a plan to put money back in the pockets of Californians to address rising gas prices. Most people I have talked to in town assume this means reducing or eliminating the gas tax. 

Another way to take the sting out of the high price at the pump is for the state to immediately issue $250 checks to all 27 million licensed drivers in California. Given the Golden State’s $31 billion surplus, Sacramento easily could afford the $6.75 billion price tag. Closer to home, the cost would be $575 million for Orange County’s 2.3 million drivers. 

The impact of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and subsequent banning of Russian oil imports into the U.S. is clear: War never is cheap. I hope to see my $250 check soon.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Guest Letter

A message from Providence Mission Hospital Chief Executive, Seth R. Teigen

I have great news to share…Newsweek has once again recognized Providence Mission Hospital as the No. 1 hospital in all of Orange County.  This is the second consecutive time we’ve been honored with this esteemed No. 1 recognition. 

Across the state of California, we are ranked as the No. 14 hospital and included in the top 100 distinguished hospitals across the United States. Side note…there are approximately 340 hospitals in California and nearly 6,200 hospitals in the United States. 

Everyone likes receiving awards, but what does this mean to our patients? 

It means that Mission Hospital provides the safest, most exceptional high-quality care in the region and that our patients report their hospital experiences are outstanding. 

Newsweek uses three very important criteria to evaluate hospitals: patient satisfaction surveys, patient safety data and quality treatment measures. We believe that these standards – quality, safety and patient experience, along with engagement of our caregivers and physicians – are so important, that they serve as our guiding principles for everything we do.   

This prestigious recognition is a testament to the dedication of our caregivers, physicians and volunteers, and their commitment to provide the highest level of excellence and compassion to our community. It’s also a reflection of the unparalleled support we receive from our community.

Thank you for trusting Mission Hospital to be your No. 1 partner in health. 

Seth R. Teigen, FACHE, Chief Executive, Providence Mission Hospital

Letters to the Editor

Laguna Beach’s own army of Fairy Godparents could be looking for a garden near you

I wondered what our town would be like if we spent more time sharing our talents and grace with one another for the good of our community? It dawned on me, that’s precisely what the quiet, gentle and gracious members of the Laguna Beach Garden Club do each and every day! 

From building educational school gardens for the children of Laguna Beach from elementary school through middle school, to providing scholarships to many Laguna Beach High School students and Saddleback horticultural students to funding the new educational gardens at the Boys and Girls Club and funding trail maintenance at the Hortense Miller Garden and so much more. 

These busy folks also have an ongoing commitment to care for the downtown Pocket Park on Forest Street, the Sister Cities Garden in Laguna’s Heisler Park and a garden at Main Beach. Their environmental efforts include partnering with the Laguna Beach County Water District to fund a water filling station downtown to help us all fill our refillable containers while enjoying our time outdoors as well as funding and working on the city’s own pollinator garden.

The 160 plus member Club goes about all these acts of grace with quiet dignity, warmth and sheer joy. They have members from ages 30-95, from every socioeconomic level, with careers as diverse as neurologist to chief financial officer, teachers, nurses, aerospace executives and everything in between. 

They fund all these projects through their major fundraiser, the annual Gate & Garden Tour, which is a walking tour of several of the loveliest gardens that Laguna Beach residents have to offer. The tour has become an annual source of excitement for the town for the last 17 years. This tour makes all their Fairy Godparent work possible. They tirelessly canvas neighborhoods each year to find a grouping of homes that will make for a wonderful experience for tour guests. 

Susan South, one of last year’s homeowners stated, “Allowing my garden to be used was a sheer delight as we saw the joy and excitement of the guests that visited on tour day, I’m so happy that so many of my neighbors joined in and opened their homes as well. Our neighborhood buzzed with goodwill and esprit de corps. Knowing how much good they do for the community with the funds earned by this tour was just fantastic.”

This year the club is looking for homes in the North Laguna area specifically around the Crescent Bay area. If you find a letter in your mailbox requesting that your home be on the tour or happen to meet them on their scouting walks in your neighborhood, please take a moment to consider allowing your garden to be part of this great Laguna Beach tradition. 

In the words of Luther Burbank, “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.” 

Please join the club in bringing more joy, happiness and grace to our beautiful city.

Karen Nelson

Laguna Beach Garden Club

Laguna Beach

Group of locals gather as a sign of support for Ukraine

War brings out the best and worst in people. Thankfully, many of Laguna’s best turned out last Thursday for a community photo to honor and support the freedom-loving people of Ukraine. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Zoe Marie

Following a moment of silence, I had the opportunity to talk about the horrors of war, and what exactly Ukrainian families are facing now that Russian forces have invaded their country. 

“Women and children have been forced out of their homes and are living in underground shelters. They are waiting for trains and buses to take them to safety. Despite freezing weather, some have resorted to walking to the Polish border,” I reminded the crowd. 

“Imagine bombs being dropped on North Laguna, downtown, TOW, Woods Cove, Arch Beach Heights or South Laguna, and then tanks rolling up Forest Avenue. What would you do? The terror and panic would be overwhelming.”

As the saying goes, “One picture’s worth a thousand words.” I’m pleased Thursday’s community photo focused on these four words: “Laguna Stands With Ukraine.”

Among those pictured are City Clerk Ann Marie McKay, Diane and Cort Kloke, Lisa Mansour, Kirsten Whalen, Tom Davis, Patricia Twitty, Tom and Vickie Lamb, Faye Baglin, Kristin Thomas, Dr. William Anderson, Jessica deStefano, Pat Sparkuhl, Mary Dawe, Maggie Owens, Bob Mister, Gayle Waite, Kathleen Quinlivan, Barbara and Greg MacGillivray and many others.

For those wishing to donate to Ukrainian relief organizations, contact UNICEF or the European Food Banks Federation.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Looking back on this year’s parade recognizing those who make it special

Yes, it was quite a parade. Cancelled last year because of the pandemic, it was exciting if not nostalgic to view again this local icon of American pride and patriotism. 

Having been Patriot of the Year a few years ago, I can attest to the pride one feels being so honored. This year’s honored patriot, Bill Sandlin, was an outstanding choice. 

As I viewed the parade from the stands in front of City Hall, my thoughts turned to the reality of our times. There I was, along with my aged comrades-in-arms from the VFW and the American Legion, representing along with the Marines and other veterans groups participating in the military side of patriotism. 

But, in the cheering crowd and the marchers parading were others – health givers, police, fire fighters, charitable organizations, youth support groups, environmental protagonists, better schools proponents and just patriotic Americans – all contributing equally, if not heroically, to our community. 

My thoughts dwelled on the realization that we veterans are but proud relics of prior hostilities while the youth of our great nation could again face adversity against belligerent foes, i.e., today the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians or that nut case in North Korea; tomorrow who knows what?   

The unwarranted invasion of the Ukraine by all of those Russian troops and the seemingly insatiable obsession of Putin to control and manipulate former Russian satellites could result in another worldwide conflagration.            

And at this late stage of our respective lives, outside of encouraging and supporting active personnel and veterans in need as we do now, what could we elderly veterans really do; how could we contribute if worldwide hostilities broke out? The urge to serve still burns brightly but I sure as hell don’t want old guys like me carrying a rifle and we don’t want to see our younger people in combat again (been there and done that). 

Let us hope, then, that cooler heads will prevail and that peaceful, worldwide solutions will evolve even with bullies like Vladimir Putin and XI Jinping and that somehow in some way the various factions of our divided nation unite to practice the neglected arts of mutual respect, compromise and negotiation. 

Be assured, however, that if our great nation becomes imperiled by foreign or internal forces intent on destroying our democracy, Americans will unite as always. 

And, finally, let’s hope that next year’s parade will be as inspiring, joyful, peaceful and successful as this year’s was. Take care. Be vigilant. Protect our democracy.

Arnie Silverman

LB VFW Post 5868

Laguna Beach