Category: Opinion

Shore Scene: Spotting a Winged Carnivore

Shore Scene: Spotting a Winged Carnivore

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

By Mia Davidson and Jan Sattler   Laguna Beach supports a large number of resident bird species and one of the more distinctive species sighted is the Brandt’s cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus).  Found only in North America, Brandt’s cormorants are marine birds that are mostly permanent residents of the Pacific coast and congregate in colonies on [...]

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Pet Peeves: Hold That CO2

Pet Peeves: Hold That CO2

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

By Mark D. Crantz   Laguna Beach.  Another perfect day in Paradise, but oh no, there’s CO2.  For those readers not familiar with these elements in the periodic table, I want to know where you were instead of chemistry class in high school.  Be careful with your answer because there’s no statute of limitation on [...]

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Another Unaddressed View Obstruction

Another Unaddressed View Obstruction

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor, I’ll believe the city wants to do the right thing on protecting our views when they bury our power poles first. What ever happened to the idea that trees are also beautiful?   Jon Chance, Laguna Beach

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Rejecting Rules Favoring Blue Views Over Green

Rejecting Rules Favoring Blue Views Over Green

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor, Not since the 36-foot height limit was challenged years ago has such a sweeping change to the nature of Laguna Beach been about to become law. Under the current draft of the tree ordinance on the city site as of May 21, anyone can ask for trees to be removed that block their ocean [...]

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Committee Sounds Off On Views

Committee Sounds Off On Views

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor: The Citizens for View Preservation and Restoration (CVPR) has reviewed the view ordinance issued by the View Equity Committee on May 10, 2013. More about CVPR can be found at www.lagunaviews.net We believe “Views are irreplaceable, where trees and vegetation can be managed to protect our views.” We value our trees, but recognize that [...]

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Beyond Beauty, Trees Serve as Nature’s Air Filter

Beyond Beauty, Trees Serve as Nature’s Air Filter

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor: Catherine Cooper’s column, “A Question of Sustainability, “ May 17 edition, on CO2 levels being close to surpassing the 400 ppm at the recording station on Mauna Loa, is a reminder of the horrendous damage we are doing to our environment whether it be Hawaii or Laguna Beach. I have been attending the View [...]

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Ficus Reconsidered

Ficus Reconsidered

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor: I thought that some background on the trees planted in our downtown area might be of some interest to you and your readers.  Not sure if anyone “alive” knows some of the background. Decades ago a major force in Los Angeles was a women named Mrs. Valley Knudsen. She was a supporter of planting [...]

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Skeptical About View Committee’s Make-up

Skeptical About View Committee’s Make-up

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor, Several years ago, Buena Park’s City Council decided to remove  a whole street of beautiful old jacranda trees because  their  roots  were  affecting  the sidewalk. I  remember  thinking,  “Thank  God  I  don’t  live  in  a  city  where  they  would  cut  down  old trees  to  maintain  flat  sidewalks.”  Little did  I  know  that  I  did  live  in  such  a  city. Now  we  have [...]

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Revisiting the Canyon for a Skatepark

Revisiting the Canyon for a Skatepark

| May 23, 2013 | 1 Comment

Editor: Last Thursday night, a meeting was held at Moulton Meadows Park to discuss the possibility of locating a skateboard park there (“Residents Object to Skateboard Park,” May 17 edition). Some personal observations: Kudos to Steve Dicterow and Kelly Boyd for calling this gathering.  A great example of democracy in action and the courage of [...]

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Gratitude for a Trio of Blessings

Gratitude for a Trio of Blessings

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor, 2013 has been an exciting year for the Laguna Food Pantry, and the month of May has produced much of that excitement. On May 10 at its Taste of Charity gala, the Laguna Board of Realtors honored our organization as one of this year’s recipients.  Our board and volunteers are so grateful to LBR [...]

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Questioning a Designer’s Judgment

Questioning a Designer’s Judgment

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

Editor, I write this is to comment on the story about the House of Design fundraiser for the Philharmonic Society and the designer of the master bedroom – Veldhuis (“Local Designers Add Their Mark to House of Design,” May 17 edition). The throw on the bed and the pillows were made of real fox fur, [...]

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Village Matters: Don’t Ask How Much

Village Matters: Don’t Ask How Much

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

My first remembrance of Arnold Hano is of standing in the kitchen of the Lamont Langworthy-designed house he and Bonnie had built in Bluebird Canyon.  It was the mid-1970s and Fred Lang was advising on the Hanos’ landscaping. I was tagging along, taking notes. I knew from Fred’s tone on the way up to the [...]

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Memorial Day ‘Toon

Memorial Day ‘Toon

| May 23, 2013 | 0 Comments

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Checking In: A Question of Sustainability

Checking In: A Question of Sustainability

| May 16, 2013 | 0 Comments

The news this week that the C02levels surpassed 400 parts per million (ppm) at the recording station on Mauna Loa, Hawaii, sent a ripple of distress through the scientific climate community. The monitoring later recanted, and said the measurement was really only 399.89 – while admitting that .11 ppm makes little difference. The last time there [...]

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Pet Peeves: Big Hair

Pet Peeves: Big Hair

| May 15, 2013 | 0 Comments

By Mark D. Crantz   Laguna Beach.  Another perfect day in Paradise, but oh no, there’s big hair.  According to friends (yes I have two and I pay them dearly to maintain that status), “Steel Magnolias” is a terrific show now playing at the Laguna Beach Playhouse.  I’m afraid I’ll have to take their word [...]

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