Laguna Beach Independent

Laguna Beach Independent www.LagunaBeachIndy.com The definitive resource for Laguna Beach news, sports, and event information. The Laguna Beach Independent is a locally owned news paper serving the residents of, and visitors to Laguna Beach.
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Operating as usual

City officials remind the public that all fireworks are illegal in Laguna Beach, including legally purchased “safe and s...
07/03/2021
Laguna Beach's July 4 Fireworks show will return, public safety agencies staff up for crowds - Laguna Beach Local News

City officials remind the public that all fireworks are illegal in Laguna Beach, including legally purchased “safe and sane” fireworks and sparklers. Those found with fireworks could be cited for a misdemeanor and fined $1,000 for violations.

Laguna Beach is working with Orange County Sheriff’s Department, OC Lifeguards, and OC Parks to ensure areas in and around the city are safe on July 4.

Laguna Beach city staffers are examining parking solutions that would create a temporary commercial loading zone on or n...
06/30/2021
Laguna Beach scrambles to keep parklets, create loading zone amid uproar over closed newsstand - Laguna Beach Local News

Laguna Beach city staffers are examining parking solutions that would create a temporary commercial loading zone on or near Ocean Avenue and South Coast Highway, following public uproar over the closure of World Newsstand after several parklets were installed for outdoor dining.

Laguna Beach is examining parking solutions that would create a temporary commercial loading zone on or near Ocean Avenue and South Coast Highway.

“Our community excels at helping each other when there’s a need,” said Sally’s Fund executive director Rachael Berger. “...
06/27/2021
Sally’s Fund asks for help, volunteer drivers jump in - Laguna Beach Local News

“Our community excels at helping each other when there’s a need,” said Sally’s Fund executive director Rachael Berger. “It was heartwarming to get so many calls once we put out the SOS for Wednesday meal deliveries.”

Sally’s Fund executive director Rachael Berger recently faced a dangerously low roster of helpers to deliver meals to Laguna Beach seniors.

06/26/2021
Poll - Laguna Beach Local News

Do you support Laguna Beach's new regulations for buskers and street performers?

To weigh in, click the link below.

After a 15-month hiatus due to COVID-19, Laguna Beach trolley service resumed Friday on the Canyon, Coastal, and Summer ...
06/25/2021
Laguna Beach trolleys are rolling again - Laguna Beach Local News

After a 15-month hiatus due to COVID-19, Laguna Beach trolley service resumed Friday on the Canyon, Coastal, and Summer Breeze Routes.

After a 15-month hiatus due to COVID-19, Laguna Beach trolley service will resume Friday on the Canyon, Coastal, and Summer Breeze Routes.

“We have really leaned into education and outreach and have conducted over 40 presentations on bicycle safety in the pas...
06/24/2021
As E-bikes become public safety hazards, Laguna Beach schools and city officials step in - Laguna Beach Local News

“We have really leaned into education and outreach and have conducted over 40 presentations on bicycle safety in the past six weeks,” Interim Police Chief Jeff Calvert said. “but frankly, parents of younger riders riding recklessly need to step in."

At the June 15 City Council meeting, Interim Police Chief Jeff Calvert explained that during the pandemic, there was a significant uptick of e-bike use.

On June 15, the Council approved on a 3-2 vote, councilmembers Toni Iseman and George Weiss opposed, spending $89,199 on...
06/23/2021
Laguna Beach City Council wades into new South Laguna land deal, new fire station on table - Laguna Beach Local News

On June 15, the Council approved on a 3-2 vote, councilmembers Toni Iseman and George Weiss opposed, spending $89,199 on an environmental analysis of 31727 Coast Hwy. The city is required by law to complete the study before the $2.7 million real estate purchase closes escrow.

A replacement for Fire Station 4 is a likely, but not only possible civic use, for the South Laguna property.

Laguna Beach is exploring whether conditions of a closed South Laguna restaurant and parking lot will allow for development of a public-serving building.

Laguna Beach arts-sector small businesses and nonprofits starting June 24 can apply for up to $20,000 taxpayer-funded gr...
06/21/2021
O.C. set to rollout COVID-19 relief grants for art nonprofits, small businesses - Laguna Beach Local News

Laguna Beach arts-sector small businesses and nonprofits starting June 24 can apply for up to $20,000 taxpayer-funded grants established by Sup. Lisa Bartlett to jump-start a section of the local economy that was devastated by COVID-19 restrictions.

Laguna Beach art small businesses and nonprofits starting June 24 can apply for up to $20,000 taxpayer-funded grants as relief amid a COVID-19 economy.

Among recent tweaks to the General Fund is an additional $600,000 for ambulance services reserved for a new ambulance se...
06/18/2021
Expecting rosier economy, Laguna Beach City Council adopts $122 million FY 2021-22 budget - Laguna Beach Local News

Among recent tweaks to the General Fund is an additional $600,000 for ambulance services reserved for a new ambulance service contract. While the City Council voted to extend the current contract with Doctor’s Ambulance Service until July 1, 2022, Fire Chief Mike Garcia is looking for alternative plans, as Doctor’s will no longer be servicing Orange County.

Laguna Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the 2021-22 budget totaling about $122 million, anticipating a recovering economy.

Although Gov. Gavin Newson this week lifted statewide pandemic restrictions such as physical distancing, capacity limits...
06/18/2021
With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Laguna Beach restaurants confront new challenges - Laguna Beach Local News

Although Gov. Gavin Newson this week lifted statewide pandemic restrictions such as physical distancing, capacity limits and the county tier system, the fallout from the current hiring crisis in the restaurant industry, coupled with over a year of layoffs, stimulus payments and unemployment relief, has created a new set of issues for restaurant owners.

While Laguna Beach restaurants are now allowed to serve at 100 percent capacity inside and out, many are struggling to find enough staff.

Three firefighting helicopters jointly leased by the Orange County Fire Authority and two other regional fire agencies h...
06/14/2021
Expanded helitanker fleet returns to confront O.C. wildfire threat - Laguna Beach Local News

Three firefighting helicopters jointly leased by the Orange County Fire Authority and two other regional fire agencies have arrived in Los Alamitos and are available to suppress wildfires in Laguna Beach and across Southern California.

Four firefighting helicopters jointly leased by the Orange County Fire Authority and two other regional fire agencies have arrived to suppress wildfires.

Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School are nixing the controversial “4 by 4” schedule change, for now. Inst...
06/11/2021
Laguna Beach USD tables schedule change for 1 Year - Laguna Beach Local News

Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School are nixing the controversial “4 by 4” schedule change, for now. Instead, similar to the initial 2019-20 academic year schedule, students will have six periods with the option of a zero period.

Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School are nixing the controversial “4 by 4” schedule change, for now.

K-9 Ranger, a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois, and his handler Cpl. Zachary Fillers were honored Wednesday with a salute...
06/11/2021
Laguna Beach police K-9 dies following cancer diagnosis, honored by O.C. agencies - Laguna Beach Local News

K-9 Ranger, a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois, and his handler Cpl. Zachary Fillers were honored Wednesday with a salute by law enforcement employees with Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Placentia, Irvine, Brea, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department during their last walk at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter.

A Laguna Beach police K-9 officer was humanely euthanized Wednesday following a months-long battle with cancer, according to a press release.

06/11/2021
Poll - Laguna Beach Local News

Should lawmakers take action to preserve beachfront hotel rooms affordable to low- and middle-income families?

Weigh-in for this week's poll. To vote, click the link below.

Hospitality workers and environmental advocates held a small protest Wednesday near the waterline at Surf & Sand Resort ...
06/10/2021
Hospitality workers rally, canvas residents amid remodel plans at Laguna Beach hotels - Laguna Beach Local News

Hospitality workers and environmental advocates held a small protest Wednesday near the waterline at Surf & Sand Resort to attract the public’s attention to construction underway or proposed at a group of Laguna Beach beachfront hotels.

Hospitality workers and environmental advocates held a small protest Wednesday near Surf & Sand Resort regarding Laguna Beach beachfront hotel remodels.

The family legacy began when Stoeckmann, a licensed optometrist and master optician in his native Germany, immigrated to...
06/05/2021
Visionary Laguna Beach retailer celebrates 47 Years - Laguna Beach Local News

The family legacy began when Stoeckmann, a licensed optometrist and master optician in his native Germany, immigrated to Milwaukee in 1958. He came west to escape the cold and found work in Los Angeles optical shops. On a visit to Laguna Beach, he fell in love with the sleepy beach town “full of hippies” and opened his business in 1974, becoming renowned as the shopkeeper who was a whiz when it came to repairing glasses.

European Optical, one of Laguna’s oldest family-run businesses, is marking its forty-seventh year as it shakes off pandemic-related malaise.

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580 Broadway Street, Suite 301
Laguna Beach, CA
92651

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Videos

The fireworks heard this morning on the Park Avenue section of the Patriot’s Day Parade were actually blanks fired by a pair of Wild West gunslingers. A Laguna Beach bike patrol officer kindly asked the duo to simmer down and they obliged. (Video by Daniel Langhorne | LB Indy)

The Laguna Community Concert Band performs "Sleigh Ride" during Hospitality Night.

The Laguna Beach High School Brass Quintet performs "Baby It's Cold Outside" during Hospitality Night.

Seen in #LagunaBeach: Wyland is currently recreating an original whaling wall mural adjacent to Wyland Studio Gallery and the Hotel Laguna.

Welcome to the Firebrand Media & Laguna Beach Indy City Council Forum & Town Hall

The Laguna Concert Band Quartet is performing now at the Laguna Art Museum.

We're live at the Laguna Art Museum's 100th birthday party for the Laguna Beach Art Association.

Laguna Fire chief Mike Valdez updates the attack.

Armed Woman Shot By Police in Laguna Beach
Armed Woman Shot By Police in Laguna Beach

#breaking #happeningnow *Right Now* Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston introduces the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters tonight in Laguna Beach at the annual Celebrity Night Fundraiser!! #breakingbad #trumbo #heisenberg #pageantofthemasters

Hear from "America First" protester Andrea Gameros, who says their message is more about keeping illegal immigrants out of the country- not about white supremecy:

Anti-"America First" Protesters describe why they showed up Sunday at Main Beach opposing the conservative group's protest:

Indy #LIVE interviews America First protest organizer Johnny Benitez on his group's message today in Laguna Beach...

#happeningnow #live Protests at Main Beach still going on, police estimate 2500 people now in the park ... lagunabeachindy.com for more...

#happeningnow #live Protests at Main Beach still going on, police estimate 2500 people now in the park ... lagunabeachindy.com for more

Main Beach #LIVE

#happeningnow over 750 protesters on two different sides of Main Beach, separated by Laguna Beach Police, OC Sheriff's Dept. officers, Irvine PD, Newport Beach PD, some offers mounted on horses. So far officers have only separated a few heated discussions but no violence. Stay tuned for more Indy #LIVE. . .

#happeningnow over 750 protesters on two different sides of Main Beach, separated by Laguna Beach Police, OC Sheriff's Dept. officers, Irvine PD, Newport Beach PD, some offers mounted on horses. So far officers have only separated a few heated discussions but no violence. Stay tuned for more Indy #LIVE. . .

Main Beach #LIVE

#live Main Beach

#happeningnow #live **INDY LIVE** Anti-"America First" protesters are already out at Main Beach, ahead of tonight's planned protest by the anti-immigration group. Police are on scene and have set up water barricades along Coast Highway. Stay tuned to this page for live reports and lagunabeachindy.com

#happeningnow Laguna Beach Police have placed water barricades along Coast Highway at Main Beach and Broadway ... in preps for Sunday's "America First" anti-immigration rally. The rally is expected to draw hundreds of protesters to the area, and police have called in reinforcements from Newport Beach, Irvine and Anaheim and the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Laguna Beach Police Sergeant Jim Cota stopped short of saying the department would call in the National Guard. “Only if the protest got to a point where violence and property destruction started to come into play,” Cota said. Stay tuned to lagunabeachindy.com for full coverage and a team report tomorrow night from the scene.

300 protesters led a peaceful demonstration at Main Beach Saturday morning, holding signs and rallying ahead of Sunday's planned protest by anti-immigration group "America First." This morning's protesters say their message today is one of peace, diversity, and inclusion. Stay tuned to lagunabeachindy.com for the latest..

The Indy was there this morning as Arash Sayadi led the cry of 300 protesters in a peaceful demonstration at Main Beach. The progressive group is protesting ahead of tomorrow's planned protest by anti-immigration group "America First." **Watch** the video of the protesters below and stay tuned to lagunabeachindy.com for the latest...

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Founded in 2003, and acquired by Firebrand Media LLC in January 2009, the Laguna Beach Independent is the weekly newspaper of Laguna Beach, Calif. We feature local news, politics, the arts and festivals, news features, and sports.

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I was considering writing a book about Fahrenheit 451 Book Shop and its importance in Laguna and Orange County collective memory. If you have any personal recollections about the bookstore, which operated from the early 1970s to 1990, please share them on the page I created (https://www.facebook.com/groups/231371672524) or send them to me at [email protected]. Thanks, Joshua Zimmerman LBHS Class of 1985
https://Shopveeca.com Jewish Woman Fashion Chag Pesach Sameach!
Do You Have Kids At Home Struggling In School? Whether its Algebra, Writing an Essay, or Preparing for a Test Here at Scholars4Scholars We Have A Wide Variety of Tutors for All Grades K-12 And For Students Who Learn in All Types of Ways! Book Your Session Today! Message Us or Comment Below! Tienes Niños En Casa Que Ocupen Ayuda En Clase? Ya Sea Trabajos de Matematicas, Preparandose para Un Examen, o Cualquier Materia De Escuela Aqui En Scholars4Scholars Tenemos Tutores Para Todas Las Materias Y Para Niños Que Apreden De Diferente Formas! Comenta Abajo o Mandanos Un Mensaje Para Reservar Tu Cita Con Un Tutor!
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EXPERIENCE ESCAPISM AT ITS MOST MUSICALLY SUBLIME! TONIGHT! 7 PM PST KONTRAPUNKTUS presents THE RED PRIEST: A Portrait of Antonio Vivaldi FREE TO WATCH! Just Click:
THE RED PRIEST: A Portrait of Antonio Vivaldi Saturday, January 9th 7 PM PST / 10 PM EST YOUTUBE LIVE Channel: Kontrapunktus Baroque Admission: FREE
THE RED PRIEST: A Portrait of Antonio Vivaldi Saturday, January 9th 7 PM PST / 10 PM EST YOUTUBE LIVE Channel: Kontrapunktus Baroque Admission: FREE
30 DAYS & COUNTING! Today we launched the trailer to our upcoming virtual classical concert, THE RED PRIEST: A Portrait of Antonio Vivaldi, which promises to be an indelible live streaming event for fans and classical novice, alike. Our presentation is made possible, in part, by the support of the City of Laguna Beach and its Cultural Arts Commission. Please visit our landing page to learn more and to register and/ or set you reminder for when the actual concert premieres on January 9, 2021, 10 PM EST/7 PM PST:
Laguna violinist putting on an event
-NEW FEATHERS HAVE JUST FLOWN IN- These feathers are one of a kind and handmade by Laguna Beach artist Jesse Miller. If you are interested you can DM me for purchase. FREE LOCAL DELIVERY- MOMEH
Its been a busy past 5 weeks getting our entire business online... We were only operating at 80% online and 20% was our retail location... (when things are going well why fix them) COVID 19 TAUGHT US EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE ONLINE AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME TO SURVIVE 100% LagunaART.com gallery and studios located next to the museum at 305 North Coast hwy is NOW operating 100% online with over 4000 local and national artists' art work available for purchase at LagunaART.com and iPhone app - due to Covid-19 changes need to be made with the retail structure. What do we do with out retail location??? Well, I'll tell you! We have decided to bring our non-profit foundation to the forefront of our retail location to help our surrounding communities by turning our 5000 SQ Ft Retail Art Center into a 100% donations center for household items, furniture, antiques, food, clothing and anything that will help families in Laguna Beach and surrounding communities affected by the current state of economy and unemployment. By making it simple for those who want to donate their unused items that can help many families through this crisis without doing much at all (but lifting a finger). In fact, all those wanting to donate need to do is text us and we will pick up your items for 100% tax write-off through our 501C3 non-profit foundation! WE PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS! With a quick call to the accountant we are now a NON-PROFIT 501c3 (which we have been running on the side for the past 10 years). Again, We have 5000 sq. ft. on North Coast Hwy next to the museum, and we are looking for Items to consign or donate to the needy. We have trucks running daily and we come to you to pick up. Call or text us today to schedule a curbside pick up. CONTACTLESS PICK UP! With the current unemployment rates soaring to over 25 million and the homelessness happening across the country due to COVID-19 financial shutdown, your items will bring much needed hope to hundreds if not thousands of families in need. If you don't want to donate we also do consignment and donate our share of the consignment to local food banks. And we also do runs to the Dump if you have trash that we cannot except we will still take it away for a small fee. (We do not charge for useable item donations) Looking forward to working with you! CALL OR TEXT TODAY TO SCHEDULE A PICK UP!! WE PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS FOR 100% TAX WRITEOFF TEXT NOW 714-972-2787
We're re so lucky to have such a great home town newspaper. Thanks, Daniel, for your great coverage of the Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest!