Five retiring Laguna Beach firefighters set the stage for promotions for six members of the staff and five new hires, who emerged from a field of a thousand applicants. The five new firefighters who made the cut were sworn in this past Monday, given their turnout gear and are half way through a two-week [...]
A group of young local skateboarders dominated their age divisions in the two biggest races in downhill skateboarding this year. Given Laguna Beach’s long history as a skateboarding haven, it’s no wonder the current up and comers are at the top of the sport, but none of them aspire to make a career of it. [...]
Looking for a summer evening diversion? At the Festival of Arts, you can catch the Pageant of the Masters, stroll the artists’ booths, sip wine, take in the handiwork of local creatives or maybe witness a couple or two popping the big question. The Festival of Arts served as the proposal spot of choice [...]
Animal control officers and Laguna Woods city officials are turning to professional hunters to trap and shoot coyotes that ever more boldly have seized pets and attacked residents in Laguna Woods in recent weeks. In an emergency meeting last Thursday, Laguna Woods’ City Council adopted an ordinance to allow the hiring of professional shooting teams [...]
Woman Rescued From Rollover The fire department extricated an unidentified Laguna Beach woman by rope from a vehicle that may have intentionally been driven off Bluebird Canyon Road on Sunday, July 31, police said. The 27-year-old driver was transported to Mission Hospital after suffering moderate injuries in the single-car accident about 1 p.m., police said. [...]
Ocean water sampling in Laguna Beach after the July 4 holiday, ordered as a result of regulations believed to be the first of their kind in the nation, showed no significant impact, city officials said this week. Laguna’s water officials expect to issue a report next week. The San Diego Regional Water Quality Board, which [...]
Michele Brislen, widow of free diver Andrew Brislen, wants to educate people about the danger of shallow water blackout, which led to her husband’s death near Laguna’s Picnic Beach on May 26. Although well understood by doctors, shallow water blackout is not well known by the public or even the free divers most likely [...]
A nonprofit group that has identified 10 sites to potentially establish artificial reefs off California’s coast received a preliminary go-ahead this week for the 655-foot USS Kawishiwi to be sunk near Dana Point Harbor, what could be a boon for tourism, local divers and marine researchers. The Navy ship commissioned in 1955, now based in [...]
The summer season that lures sun-seekers has seen multiple overhead south swells lighting up local beaches, and lifeguards making 220 rescues last weekend, far more than the 25 to 75 average. Lifeguard Chief Kevin Snow, describing “a very busy weekend,” said it was due in part to warmer ocean water luring beach goers from the [...]
The state Fish and Game Commission voted 4-1 this week to set Oct. 1 the effective date for increased marine protections in Southern California, which will ban fishing along most of Laguna Beach’s coastline the day before recreational lobster diving season begins. Reaction to the decision sparked a mix of action: conservationists are refocusing their [...]
Even as 70 state parks are expected to shut down due to state budget cuts, the Moro Campground, site of the former El Morro Village mobile home park in Crystal Cove State Park, opened Friday, July 1, with little fanfare. “We’ve been working toward this goal for 30 years and have had plans and funding [...]
Officials at John Wayne Airport and the local Federal Aviation Administration office are getting an earful of complaints from some Laguna Beach residents about increased airline traffic and noise, city officials confirmed. “With the exception of Santa Anas, we’ve never had huge jets over our house,” said Laguna Canyon resident Keri Barriga, who described being [...]
Local kelp beds, an indicator of marine ecosystem health, have bloomed this year due to a combination of favorable ocean conditions and likely the previous efforts of kelp restoration experts. Fish counts are up as well, according to informal counts by divers. “Everyone notices it in the dive community. Ask anyone, they will tell you [...]
A private Catholic service was held in memory of Jonas Bevacqua, founder of the fast-growing hip-hop apparel company L-R-G, Wednesday in his parents’ home in Monarch Beach, according to a family friend. Bevacqua, 34, was discovered dead at his Laguna Beach home Monday, May 30. The cause of death has yet to be determined since [...]
Aliso Creek Inn added a new suite to the resort property, sited in an exclusive area at the midpoint on its nine-hole golf course. In size and amenities though, the addition behind the maintenance shed comes up short of the typical guest room and measures just four square feet. It’s spacious if you’re a bee, [...]
Ill Prepared Hiker Rescued from Hillside
A sheriff’s helicopter was used to extract a hiker who suffered an anxiety attack and was unable to move from a steep trail in Laguna Beach’s open space about 6 p.m. Sunday, June 9, police said. Lifeguards in an all-terrain vehicle coordinated the extraction from thick brush and a steep slope between Alta Laguna Park [...]
