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 [...]
By Mia Davidson and Jan Sattler Midnight grunion runs are part of California lore. Having a geographic range from the coastal waters of northern Baja California to most recently San Francisco, the California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) are found most commonly off the coast of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The name is [...]
Editor, Judging by the letters to the editor, public feedback to the city council and other community commentary, the decision to kill a dozen mature, healthy and beautiful trees may have been a mistake. If the ficus trees were buckling the sidewalks, the eucalyptus probably are too. Those could all come down also. Then change [...]
Two recuperated sea lion pups equipped with expensive satellite tags to monitor their progress were returned to the sea and are faring well and foraging afar, officials at Laguna Beach’s Pacific Marine Mammal Center said this week. The tags, which cost from $1,700 to $3,000 apiece, track how far the sea mammals travel, how long [...]
By Mia Davidson and Jan Sattler Colored a light sandy gray with an oval shaped body, Pacific mole crabs (Emerita analoga) also called Pacific sand crabs are found in great abundance in Laguna Beach. They are located in the exposed surf zone between the lowest and highest reach of the waves, buried in the shifting [...]
Editor, Laguna is a paradox of sorts. A landslide strikes Bluebird Canyon and the city unifies to help. People open their homes, they voluntarily inflict a tax on themselves, and, in the end, numerous homes are rebuilt on an area prone to landslides. Everyone is a hero. On the other hand, the same citizenry plants [...]
Editor, Since the ‘80s I have had an interest in preserving ocean views. I attended meetings in the ‘90s on this subject and watched in dismay as Village Laguna, led by Ann Christoph, orchestrated tactics to waylay this effort. Fear tactics included no trees, no birds, even an 8-year-old sobbing that “he would never experience [...]
Editor, People visit Laguna Beach for the art, yes, but mainly for the climate, the beach, and the waterfront hotels and restaurants that offer beautiful views. People choose to live in Laguna Beach for the climate, the quaint neighborhood feel and the eclectic styling, but especially for the views. You see, other ocean-hugging towns have [...]
Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club opens its doors to the public on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., inviting tennis, golf and outdoor recreation lovers to try their hand on the club’s greens perched on an ocean bluff in Heisler Park. The club at 455 Cliff Dr. invites newcomers for a free [...]
The Laguna Beach High School Alumni Association is inviting alumni from all classes to their annual all class picnic Saturday, May 4 at the ocean front picnic tables of Heisler Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Class of 1953 is kicking off their reunion weekend at the picnic. The alumni association’s missions are to [...]
By Mia Davidson and Jan Sattler Since January 2012, fishing in much of Laguna Beach is prohibited by law. Prior to that, one fish popular with anglers was the opaleye (Girella nigricans). The fish has dark olive-green backs and light undersides. Opaleye can be easily distinguished from other fish because they usually have two white [...]
By Rita Robinson | LB Indy To exacerbate the deluge of emaciated sea lion pups at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, adult sea lion females with chronic and often-fatal domoic acid poisoning are also being rescued along the local coastline. Last week, 21 starving young sea lions were shuttled by emergency animal services to [...]
The death of a 51-year-old diver, who was unresponsive when pulled from the ocean at a popular dive spot in Laguna Beach, remains under investigation, according to the county coroner. An autopsy was performed on the body of Mark Gibbs, of Tustin, but no ruling was made on the cause of death pending the outcome [...]
Mission Hospital made an informal inquiry of state Health Department regulators about seeking permission to change the sort of patients that could make use of its underused 10-bed intensive care unit at the Laguna Beach campus, officials confirmed on Friday. City officials who learned of the initiative initially feared that hospital administrators intended to close [...]
By Ellen Girardeau Kempler With “trees” and a canopy that shelters a colorful variety of species, Southern California’s version of a rainforest grows just off Laguna’s shore. Environmental groups like Nancy Caruso’s Get Inspired (and many others) have helped restore giant kelp forests and beds. From its holdfast (not a root) anchored to rocks [...]
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 [...]
