So I made the mistake of reading the beautiful features on Andy in this week’s edition while having lunch at Lumberyard (“A Tribute from Andy Hedden’s Family,” “A Hometown Comic and Scribe Exits the Stage.” I couldn’t stop laughing thru tears over my soup. Your hard work is helping us heal. Thank you, Andrea.

Greg Renoe, Laguna Playhouse

This letter responds to Richard Picheny’s personal attack on me in a recent newspaper article regarding the demolition of old structures.

Mr. Picheny indicated that I do nothing as a councilmember to protect old cottages.  His statement is simply untrue.  Here is one example:  several years ago, when I was involved with fundraising for our Community/Senior Center, the city had purchased parcels on Third Street where four old structures were located to be used for the center.  A couple of these structures had been made available by the city to the 2005 landslide victims to live in at no-cost while they were trying to re-build their lives and their homes, so I had been inside them visiting those folks.  While they were extremely run down, some had value, in my mind.

With the assistance of some very generous Lagunans, I helped to re-locate some of the victims in those structures to other housing; the Third Street structures became empty.  As progress was made on the Community/Senior Center, a decision had to be made as to whether to move and store the Third Street structures or demolish them.  I voted with others on council to move and store them, clearing the way for the center.

The structures were moved to Laguna Canyon Road at Big Bend.  I then approached another generous Lagunan that I knew owned a property zoned for multi-unit structures that could accommodate all four units to see if she would consider taking all of them – moving them and rehabilitating them at her cost, thereby restoring them to their original glory and keeping them in our community.  She agreed to take the project on and to make the financial commitment.  A generous architect designed, pro-bono, a concept plan that would work, which would have resulted in a quaint enclave of tiny cottages that would be high-quality and affordable.

To my great disappointment, some of Picheny’s friends fought this proposal and, therefore, it was dropped.   Later, one cottage was taken and moved by a Fullerton resident; the other three sat in the canyon for three years and disintegrated in front of our eyes (not to mention that they also became a scary fire hazard).  Ultimately, a majority of the City Council concluded that no one was going to invest in these dilapidated, unsafe structures and that it was time to have them demolished.  I, personally, was disgusted that some of those very same folks who accuse me of not saving cottages were the ones who prevented my trying to do just that with the structures that sat in the canyon and rotted.

As a concluding statement, I’d like to say this:  just because a structure is old does not mean it is historically significant or has value to investors.  If groups such as some of Picheny’s friends in Village Laguna and the South Laguna Civic Association feel that a structure should be “saved” (even though, in many cases, it either does not have a highly rated historic designation and/or has not been maintained in its original form), then I would suggest that those who want to save it raise the funds to (a)buy it from a property owner and restore it – and, if necessary, (b) pay to move it and (c) find another location for it.

Elizabeth Pearson, City Council member

A round of applause is due Liz Avila with the Public Works Department for organizing a successful compost giveaway last Saturday, May 10, in the ACT V parking lot.  Arriving at 8 a.m. with my gloves and shovel, I joined in with 20+ locals in scooping up rich, nutritious compost into my six sand bags and got a recyclable tote to boot. There was ample supply, as I told many neighbors who arrived even at noon towards the end of the event, yet were still welcomed to scoop and carry as long as the pile lasted.  The sponsors were helpful and enthusiastic; hundreds of Lagunans participated. My garden and I thank you for a wonderfully successful community sponsored event!

Laura Wellsfry, Laguna Beach

Re: proposed Emerald Bay signal

My suggestion is to move the entrance further into the complex, getting the cars off the street or letting the workers in earlier.

Warren Goff, Laguna Beach

(The letter was also addressed to top city administrators and elected officials.)

I write in support of installing the proposed traffic signal at Emerald Bay and Coast Highway. My opinion is informed by personal history. I lived in Three Arch Bay before there was a signal, and even before there was a guard gate on the east side of the highway. My brothers and sister and I carpooled every school day from 1967 to 1981 to Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar. I know intimately the commute through Laguna and past Emerald Bay.

The traffic signal at Three Arch Bay saved my life, literally, a number of times when I would otherwise have been creamed leaving the community or coming back from the beach. I know firsthand that the increase in safety more than outweighs the mild perceived inconvenience of having to stop for a minute to allow traffic in and out of the EBCA main gate.

I have personally seen the aftermath of multiple crashes at Emerald Bay. I have come close to hitting cars and motorcycles coming in and out, and have nearly been hit by cars leaving the community. It seems amazing to me that city has multiple “no left turn” intersections in the heart of town where traffic is usually slower, yet there is resistance to a controlled intersection at Emerald Bay.

My daily commute involves passing the stoplight at Monarch Bay Plaza. Again, I have personal knowledge that this signal is just about the only thing that makes it possible to access Monarch Bay Plaza from during busy traffic.

My experiences convince me of the necessity of a traffic light at Emerald Bay and PCH. There are other practical considerations why the traffic signal project should be approved:

1. City and EBCA Liability. It is a matter of public record there are published traffic studies stating this intersection is an unsafe condition and safety would be improved if a traffic light were put in. As I understand it, obtaining the city’s approval is the last hurdle before the project can proceed. If the city does not approve the signal, it likely would bear primary responsibility because it blocked the project. Please remember that our sister city of Dana Point was compelled into a record-breaking $50 million settlement of a case for injuries two women suffered when struck by a car when jogging on PCH (Neria v. City of Dana Point). A similar lawsuit could force the city of Laguna Beach into bankruptcy.

2. There is Negligible Cost to The City: The EBCA is picking up virtually the entire tab for the work. Caltrans would do the work if it had the money, but it doesn’t. This is a rare chance for the city to “get something for nothing.”

3. It’s the Right Thing To Do: The city and south county have matured to the point where this light is necessary. The perceived inconvenience to a few does not outweigh the horrendous damage across multiple lives that a severe accident would cause.

Carter Mudge, Laguna Beach

Emerald Bay does not need a traffic signal. It needs a “no left turn” signal. This will allow residents wishing to go south to use the existing safe exits. It is also much cheaper.

Henry W. Pribram, Laguna Beach

Last week I attended Mobility Planning Meeting and Visioning, an open workshop organized by the LB Planning Commission to familiarize attendees with the the Land Use and Circulation Elements and a new visioning for Complete Streets Policy.

Deja vu, where had I experienced this planning process before? Then I remembered meetings I attended previously. Each of these were workshops attended by Laguna residents and by members of city council to set goals and list actions. Each workshop produced a strategy document to guide execution of goals therein.

2001: The LB Vision Steering Committee: The 2030 Vision Plan (identifying a shared vision and seven themes for action)

2008: The Climate Change Working group: “The Climate Protection Action Plan” (Visioning and 6 categories for Action including transportation)

-rewind

2009: Transition Laguna Beach: Transition Guidelines (Vision plan mission statement and the mobility group)

-rewind

2009: Complete Streets Task Force: Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan (Vision plan, mission statement for non-motorized transport)

-rewind

2012: The New Complete Streets Task Force: Five Hour Potluck meeting, A Visioning Process

-rewind

7 May 2012: LB Planning Commission: Mobility Planning Meeting and Visioning (Land Use Element, Circulation Element, CS Policy )

-rewind

The Planning Commssion began their meeting with a 20-minute slide-show of traffic-calming art. Other than a slide or two of Forest Avenue, the presentation was of generic origin. Despite five years of informal discussions on traffic relief and three years of meetings with 86 residents, Planning Commission  and City Council in task force meetings, the Planning Commission was starting from scratch.

Last month the OCTA sponsored a day-long seminar on non-motorized transport for urban planners, designers and engineers to learn how cities integrate non-motorized transportation into their transport plans. The seminar was so packed by attendees from other Orange County planning districts that OCTA moved us to their largest conference room. Not surprising, nobody from Laguna Beach city staff attended.

This is why despite 25 years of city planning, consultants and staff salaries, Laguna Beach has not placed a flower pot at Forest and Broadway to begin construction of the city entrance. Remember that when you vote.

Les Miklosy, Laguna Beach

By Ann Christoph.

Those nuns were determined to see to it that everyone was paired up for the prom.  I had waited most of junior year for Alfredo to ask me out and he had finally done it. He’d even asked me what color my dress was so he could get a matching corsage.  But my dream of going out to the prom, with just the two of us in his turquoise ’55 Ford was not to be. Sister De Paul informed us that Dickie Reese and Kathy Thornell would be double dating with us. They weren’t girl friend and boy friend. I don’t think they were even interested in each other. We would have a nice audience in the back seat, a couple who would be awkwardly not holding hands or doing anything else distracting.

The instructions from sister headquarters were, “No strapless dresses!” Now here is that odd push-pull, temptation-guilt set-up that was so built into our education that I never questioned it. Better be sure you’re paired up and going to the prom, but a strapless dress might just be an invitation to take this pairing up concept one step too far.  There was a threat—the chaperones would be instructed to pin ribbon straps on any dress that did not have its own built-in supports.

My mom took this all very seriously and saw an ad in the classifieds for a used pink bridesmaid dress, $25.  This dress had no straps.  It didn’t need them.  It had a complete lace bodice with a high neckline and lace sleeves.  I didn’t care that I had no role in choosing the dress. It was special, poufy. I got new shoes. I was happy.

Little did I know that meantime Alfredo was working weekends chopping cotton to earn enough to buy the tickets, the corsage, the tux, the gas, the dinner afterwards….and graduation fees were coming up too. His parents with one wage earner and 11 other children were reliant on his $40 a month earnings as janitor in the school.  He would never have considered their contributing to this luxury prom outing.

That prom night was memorable: before, with the suspense of waiting to be asked, and the preparations, and during—we did have some romantic dances after all, and a kiss good-night. (We had managed to take Kathy and Dickie home first.) And many years to remember.  Fifty to be exact. I hauled out my scrapbook and the program says May 11, 1962. Here I am still with the same generous, reliable, romantic prom guy.

At Laguna Beach High School, prom night is May 19. We can only imagine the intrigues that are going on about who is going with who. And these kids have no nuns to do their match making. Their surely are dilemmas over clothing, but now it’s fancier. Probably going strapless doesn’t even deserve a mention. I don’t think the moms get to pick the dress any more.  Instead of a ‘55 Ford, there’s a limo.

But its essence is about the romance, the specialness. Careful with that choice, it might just last a long, long time.

Landscape architect Ann Christoph is a former council member.

LCAD’s 2012 graduates.

Seventy students in Laguna College of Art + Design’s 2012 class  participated in commencement ceremonies this week, receiving a sendoff from film producer Don Hahn, whose “Beauty and the Beast” was the first animated movie to receive a best-picture nomination.

“I had the privilege of watching the students grow and develop as distinctive artists and designers,” beamed the college’s president, Jonathan Burke. “I witnessed their passion to learn and the many hours they devoted to their art. I now expect that talent and passion to open doors to fulfilling and rewarding careers.”

Hahn is executive producer of Tim Burton’s upcoming animated film, “Frankenweenie,” due in theaters Oct. 5.

LCAD dignitaries, from left, Chairman Stevan Gromet, guest Iris Cantor, President Jonathan Burke, guest speaker Don Hahn and Laguna’s Mayor Jane Egly.

Philanthropist Iris Cantor, chair and president of Los Angeles’ Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, was granted an honorary arts degree.

The college offers bachelor of fine arts degrees in drawing & painting, graphic design, illustration, game art and animation, and master of fine arts degrees in painting and drawing.

By Christine Fugate.

I’m finding it difficult to whine about motherhood these days. Perhaps after 11 years, I’ve perfected a method to this parenting madness.

Granted my girls are older and out of the dirty-diaper-oops-I-pooped in my-panties phase. Also, public restrooms are no longer extremely fascinating there fore trips to the bathroom are minimal.

The battles over vegetables and fruit are also behind us. After a couple of the hide-the-veggie-in-the-pancake disasters, I donated the cookbooks to the library and used a new method called, ‘eat it now or there will never be another piece of candy in your life ever again.’ Amazing how well threats work.

Of course, I’m always one to use a small bribe here and there. Put a piece of fruit near my older daughter and she shrieks, “Get that away from me.” Alas, the fruit smoothie and a chocolate chip cookie seem to be the only way to prevent her from getting scurvy.

During the evenings, I’m in a state of bliss (or is that numbness?). Bedtime was 8 p.m. with a half hour for reading and lights out at 8:30 pm. But then the sun kept staying up and my sailors declared mutiny, “We can’t go to sleep when it’s light outside.”

“Children do it every night in Alaska,” I argued. “Now go to sleep.” That worked for about five minutes. Then, the excuse train began with endless trips to and from the bathroom. My stance began to weaken.

“Alright, girls. In bed at 8:30, lights out at 9.” The sailors agreed until I realized the ‘yes’ game was taking place.

‘Yes mom, we are heading to bed. Yes, yes and yes.’

It reminded me of the time I worked at Sony Pictures across the hall from Francis Ford Coppola. Sony insisted that Coppola edit “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” at the Culver City studio. He agreed, yet every day his office was empty. I know because I kept waiting to meet him. Months later, the movie was finished and he’d never showed.

I’m not sure how relevant that shameless name dropping story is, but I do know there’s a common thread, the popular parenting method #254: Denial. More than just a river in Egypt, denial can get us parents through many a tough spot.

Yes, I deny that my kids are wandering around the house at 10 p.m. or even later. I mentioned it to another parent recently and their eyes bugged. But then I find comfort in my girlfriend who lets her daughters, also 10 and 11, turn out the light whenever they want. Sometimes, I see her daughter on Instagram long after I know her mom is fast asleep.

As soon as “American Idol” is over, I scream, “Girls, you need to get to bed. Now.”

That’s when bribery and threats work well.

“No cell phone or play dates tomorrow.” A quick scuffle and lights are off.

After 10 minutes, I hear the toilet flushing and little mice playing in the bathroom. I either start screaming or start yelling. I’m saved by method #260: Apathy.

Yes, I’ve stopped caring about those small details like bedtime, fruits and vegetables. Ah, the freedom. I’m still busy though with patrolling the tweenage social media, my daughter’s short shorts and lice outbreaks.

I guess my ability to whine is still alive and kicking. I’m hard at work on perfecting Rule #261: Never whine alone.

Thanks for listening.

Christine can be reached at motheringheights@gmailcom.

Michael Gurian.

Bestselling author Michael Gurian, an advocate for applying brain research about gender differences to learning in homes, schools, the work place and public policy, speaks Wednesday, May 23, at 8:30 a.m. at Aliso Creek Inn, the final Coffee Break parent-education workshop of the school year.

A $10 donation is suggested at the door an the public is welcome.

Gurian’s books about the differing psychologies of the sexes have sparked national debate. Yale University’s psychology Prof. Edward Zigler said, “from the beginning of time, parents and sensitive teachers have observed differences in the behavior, learning styles, and focused interests of girls and boys.” Gurian draws on neuroscientific data to justify these perceptions and suggests creative ways to modify the learning environment to encourage broader achievement in both gender groups, Zigler said.

Those interested in participating in a free-of-charge seminar with Gurian afterwards should contact Cindy Newman-Jacobs at springyank2@cox.net or at (949) 280-4900.  Reservations are required.

Top, from left: Vivian Mendoza, Samantha Sullivan and Sylvi Lyster; bottom, Kennedy Gherardini, Shannon Adams and Zac Richner.

The Laguna Outreach for Community Arts Junior Curators installed their second juried exhibition, titled “botanicals”, on display Saturday, May 19, through June 7 at Laguna Nursery, 1370 S. Coast Highway.

The show features selected silk banners and shadowboxes created by Laguna Beach High School students. The curatorial team created the theme and presented it to the art students to inspire their work, guided by LBHS art teacher Bridget Porter and respected LOCA  silk artist Olivia Batchelder.

The display, in the lower levels of the nursery, bursts with color, complimenting and contrasting with the plant life surrounding each piece. The curators were challenged with displaying the art in ways that were functional, complimenting the beauty of the nursery, and allowing the individual art pieces to stand out.

A sample from the exhibit: Shadow Box, by Alexandra Lindsay.

The nursery is open daily.

TOW students select seeds for embedding in mother’s day gift pots.

Approximately 200 kids made flower pots to give their moms on Mother’s Day during TOW Elementary’s Earth Day.

Once the flower pots were shaped, dirt was added, and then the kids were given their choice of flower seeds from a collection of more than a score of flower varieties.

The seeds were provided by Jodi Levine of Earthroots Field School through a donation from San Juan Capistrano’s Plant Depot.

Local Girl Joins National Society

Greta Joy Martin, a freshman sociology major at UC Santa Cruz, has accepted membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the nation’s only interdisciplinary honors organization for first- and second-year college students.

Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing.

Martin is the daughter of Rich and Deena Martin

Coast Guard Mints a New Ensign

Angela Patricia Ingram, of Laguna Beach, graduated with a bachelor degree of marine and environmental science and a commission as an ensign this week in New London, Conn.

Open House for Eco Summer Camp

The Environmental Nature Center will host a summer nature camp open house on Saturday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., to showcase its eight-week summer camp beginning on July 2.

The ENC is located at 1601 E.16^th St., in Newport Beach.

Barker recognized this knowledge as an opportunity and introduced the iPod touch to personalize student learning.

“Students are already adept at using smart phone technology and they have a natural connection to small, hand-held devices,” said Principal Ron La Motte. “We are also seeing more and more applications being created for the iPods, which will assist with differentiation of instruction.”

Barker attended two training workshops on how to best implement the devices in the classroom. “Technology is transforming the way we approach everything, including how we teach,” said Barker, who uses the tool across the curriculum.

The iPods were made possible through a grant from the SchoolPower endowment.

Center, Melissa Cavanagh with Pacific Edge’s Bill Tremper and Anais Brocca. Photo by Gillian Crane

The Deck at the Pacific Edge Hotel played host to SchoolPower’s business appreciation party on May 3, giving the education foundation the opportunity to thank supporters and directory advertisers.

The guests included longtime supporters Greg and Barbara MacGillivray, Laurie Alter of Tuvalu, and Jack Jakosky of Boat Canyon Shopping Center. SchoolPower’s Business Alliance, whose members make significant annual financial contributions, was well represented by David and Kerry Rubel of Fredric H. Rubel Jewelers, Steve Baker of Steve Baker Productions, and Bill Tremper of Pacific Edge Hotel.

“We are so grateful for Pacific Edge’s generosity in helping us celebrate and thank the community of business supporters who play such an important role in our fundraising efforts for Laguna schools,” said directory chair Melissa Cavanaugh, who made a point of personally thanking each and every advertiser present.

From left, Schoolpower supporters Kristi Cancellieri, Laurie Alter and Samantha Washer.

The festivities culminated with the auctioning off of the directory’s back and inside cover ad spaces for a record $8,100, with Hobie/Tuvalu, Boat Canyon Shopping Center and Pacific Edge Hotel winning the spots.

The deadline for directory advertising has been extended to May 30. For more information, go to www.lbschoolpower.org or call 949-494-6811.