Laguna Beach voters elected two challengers to the City Council and returned two incumbents to the school board, according to unofficial and nearly complete results from the county registrar. Robert Whalen and Steve Dicterow received more votes than incumbents Verna Rollinger and Jane Egly in the race for Laguna’s City Council. Jan Vickers and Bill [...]
Friendship, love, cliques and gangs, violence, drop-outs, haves and have nots, unintended pregnancy and booze keep fueling angst among teens and their parents regardless of the passage of time. These subjects set to rock ’n’ roll comprise the gist of the ‘70s era musical and movie “Grease,” performed for the first time by Laguna High [...]
Sheriff’s deputies arrested two active duty Marines for suspicion of felony vandalism early Sunday in Dana Point, suspects in a 30-minute spree that caused thousands of dollars in shattered windows along nearly nine miles of coastline. At least eight storefronts and windows of 17 vehicles in between Dana Point and Newport Coast were smashed by [...]
Jeff LaTendresse, a 15-year Laguna Beach fire department veteran who currently serves as the deputy fire chief, will head the city’s department, effective Oct. 29, the city manager announced Wednesday. LaTendresse succeeds Kris Head, who led the four-station department for two years and retired after 28 years of service. LaTendresse, who previously worked in departments [...]
With crowds of Laguna Beach skateboarders conspicuously absent, the City Council voted 4-1 this past Tuesday to finalize a local law that allows police to confiscate skateboards if any rider, regardless of age, isn’t wearing a helmet. The law will take effect on Dec. 13; the police department will report results from its enactment next [...]
A 60-year-old Laguna Niguel resident died of an apparent drowning while snorkeling in one of the coves below Laguna Beach’s Montage resort on Thursday, Laguna Beach police said Friday. Citizens who spotted Robert Mirett floating in the water about 4 p.m. brought him to shore and attempted CPR, Capt. Jason Kravetz said. Emergency crews pronounced [...]
Two key controversial issues, a backyard sweat lodge and tagged eucalyptus trees in Laguna Beach’s Bluebird Canyon neighborhood, were finally resolved by the City Council Tuesday. In a 4-1 vote, the council agreed with the staff’s recommendation over a year-long controversy about removing several of the towering gum trees due to disease, root instability, proximity [...]
By Tomas Rodriguez, Special to the Independent The young but talented Laguna Beach High School girls’ varsity cross country team scored a surprise win at the Stanford Invitational last weekend, taking first place in the Division 4 varsity girls race and beating 25 other teams. Janie Crawford led the team with a time of 19.55 [...]
Lee Childress, who with her husband John co-founded the coveted Music Arts Commendation for Youth Awards known as MACYs, died on Sept. 21 at Mission Hospital. She was an inspiration and role model for high school students, visiting at least three musical theater productions throughout Orange County per week. She dispensed encouragement, advice and plenty [...]
A freshly painted building façade greeted the 200 people attending Laguna Art Museum’s annual open house this past week. Aside from curb appeal, it’s the sprucing up of the museum’s operations, recapped in detail during the event, that promises to bring the institution founded in 1918 up to date and in step with its sophisticated [...]
Police investigators intend to seek illegal dumping charges against a 67-year-old Newport Coast resident who is suspected of flinging used adult diapers outside the gated Laguna Beach neighborhoods of Irvine Cove and Emerald Bay multiple times over the past six months, according to police. Police did not further identify the suspected dumper, who allegedly made [...]
Many Venues to Hear Candidates Firsthand Incumbent City Council members Elizabeth Pearson and Kelly Boyd this week endorsed fellow incumbent Jane Egly and challenger Robert Whalen in the election for Laguna’s City Council on Nov. 6. They host a meet and greet event at the Marine Room on Wednesday, Sept. 26. Laguna Beach Republicans invite [...]
St. Margaret’s has dominated the Southern Section’s northeast division for several years with a 77-8 record since 2006 and a run that included undefeated seasons and a state title. The high-flying Tartans brought their show to Guyer Field last Friday night. Even so, Laguna’s defense created opportunities for the home team to come away with [...]
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna, Special to the Independent With temperatures expected to rise drastically today, tomorrow and into the weekend, individuals and families should take the necessary precautions. Even coastal communities will feel the heat. The very young and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the heat, so it is important that families and [...]
About 60 people, including a significant contingent of Laguna Beach fire fighters and police officers, attended an hour-long ceremony today at Legion Hall marking the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Earlier, firefighters marked the exact time of the attack with a procession downtown. And motorists should expect [...]
Police Use Taser to Subdue Assault Suspect
An assault involving three men escalated into a struggle with Laguna Beach police, who ultimately deployed a taser twice to subdue the younger combative suspect in the 300 block of Cozumel around 1:15 a.m. Friday, May 10, police said. Police ultimately arrested Laguna Beach resident Sergio Gabriel Borgognone, 51, for allegedly resisting arrest and his [...]
