Flapjacks, Beach Crowds Predicted for Labor Day

Labor Day holiday marks the bittersweet last hurrah of summer, the green light for school, the death knell of languid sunset barbeques and for some a sense of satisfaction.

With the art festivals ended and summer crowds fading, locals start trickling back from their travels, get kids back in school and let fall's rhythm settle in.

"For retailers, the Labor Day weekend is a little bit like a large hand reaching for the economic light switch," said Mark Christy, co-owner of Hobie Surf Shop. "We know Laguna will be bursting with great energy, interesting people and that we'll see solid retail numbers. And despite the fact that this ain't our first rodeo, we're always a bit shocked come Tuesday when the daily sales fall off the edge of the cliff.

Even so, Christy admitted, "I like getting our little town back. Driving on PCH, eating at 7 p.m. at a downtown restaurant and being able to get through the canyon are all things to look forward to. So it's somewhat bittersweet for me."

Laguna Beach firefighters will be dishing up pancakes for breakfast from seven to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, next to the Lawn Bowling club in Heisler Park. The breakfast, sponsored by the Exchange Club, Las Brisas and the Whitehouse, has a $5 charge, which usually benefits child abuse prevention programs and youth organizations, from Orangewood Children's Foundation, to a hospital in Cambodia, to backpacks and scarves for low-income kids courtesy of Hurley. This year's breakfast funds will benefit the families of Capt. Tedmund Hall and Specialist Arnaldo Quinones, firefighters who died last Sunday in the Station fire in the San Gabriel Mountains. Two Laguna Beach fire engines and crews are currently assisting efforts there.

The Mauli Ola Foundation's concert benefit at the Laguna Beach Women's club kicks off at 3 p.m. on Saturday and is predicted to be a rager. The Stitches will play at 8:30 p.m. and proceeds will fund efforts to take children with Cystic Fibrosis surfing, an activity that can be therapeutic for the condition.

Lifeguards will have increased staff to deal with the holiday weekend crowd, but the surf is not predicted to be big. Marine Safety Officer Josh Bynum gives us the outlook for the final weekend of summer: "This is a weird Labor Day with it being so late in the month but we always expect lots of people. They're not forecasting much surf this weekend and we may even get some weather from that hurricane brewing in Cabo… We treat labor day like the fourth of July: We expect lots of crowds. We'll probably put four or five rovers on the beaches to help the tower guards. Labor Days we're always busy. Lots of rescues, medical aids, preventative contacts. It's pretty automatic."

The free summer trolleys ended with the last performance of the Pageant of the Masters on Monday night. "We're not doing anything special for Labor Day weekend. It's actually a good time for people to visit Laguna Beach - it's not as crowded as normal," said City Manager Ken Frank.

Lt. Jason Kravetz of Laguna Beach Police Department said, "We are all full staffing since it is the 'end of summer' weekend. With the festivals already closed, we expect more beach traffic."

The Kevorkian surf contest, a local tradition of costumes, drinks and surf contest craziness will not likely be held. As Jason Watson, manager of Laguna Surf & Sport said, "I think it's gotten a little out of hand…they'll chop it off for a few years and see if some of the original people come back to it."

Clarke Brogger, a pastor at Church by the Sea said, "Some of the older guys are kind of over it. There's a bunch of younger guys that want to do it. The last couple years, that's how it's gone. They say they're not going to do it but someone has a couple beers Sunthe day afternoon, and people get fired up and it happens. It got so well known, and started broadening out to people beyond the inner circle and sort of lost its coolness."

Brogger added, "Typically we just want to stay home, post up on the beach on Friday, Saturday and then go to the (Mauli Ola) benefit Saturday night. Pretty mellow weekend."

Mayor Kelly Boyd will be at his usual post at the Marin Room. When asked if it will be busy he says, "I have no clue. I'm hoping. The economy hasn't reflected it but we'll see."

Susi Q center will be closed, according to director Bea Field. "Our staff and seniors don't want to battle traffic. We won't be doing anything other than being at home with our families," she said.