Aliso Viejo

St. Mary's School in Aliso Viejo is seeing record growth in its 2011-12 school year, according to a news release from the school. There are 171 new students in preschool through eighth grade, bringing the total number to 720 students, which is a 15% increase over last year. "The mood on campus is infectiously positive! In fact, after our Back to School Night presentations, we were overwhelmed with emails from parents who wrote to let us know how impressed they were with our teachers and how excited they feel about the year ahead," Headmaster John O'Brien said in a statement.

Hobby Lobby coming to Laguna Niguel Arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby is moving into Laguna Niguel. The chain's new location will be on Alicia Parkway between Pacific Park Drive and Avila Road in the Marketplace at Laguna Niguel shopping center, according to a news release from the store. The 77,800-square-foot space used to be home to Mervyn's. This location marks the eighth store in California for Hobby Lobby, which is based in Oklahoma City. It is expected to bring about 35 to 40 jobs to Laguna Niguel.

Many locals know the West Ridge Trail well for walking, jogging and biking. For the uninitiated, this is the dirt road between Alta Laguna Park and Aliso Viejo that runs parallel to Laguna Canyon Road with many access points into the Aliso-Wood Canyon Wilderness park.   The trail was becoming hazardous due to erosion from past rains and daily driving by the Laguna Beach County Water District to a water tank.  What the locals and other users don't know is that the Water District stepped up and repaired trail damage around their pipelines and took the initiate to get the County involved.

Two arrested after chase through Laguna Laguna Beach Police officers pursued two suspects Wednesday in a known stolen vehicle. The chase began in Club Laguna and ended at a condominium community in Aliso Viejo. Officer Manny Nunez spotted a BMW sedan that had been stolen out of Newport Beach at noon on Wednesday, Sgt. Darin Lenyi said. When they driver failed to stop, the chase was on. The suspect led Nunez and a second officer north on El Toro Road into Aliso Viejo.

Laguna Beach Little League has announced its all-star teams for the District 55 All-Star Tournament, which begins next week. The squads will compete against district teams from 10 other leagues for the right to move on to the Section Tournament. Other leagues in District 55 include Aliso Viejo, Central Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Northwood, Rancho Niguel, Saddleback and South Irvine. Last year, the Little League all-star team won two games in the all-star tournament for the first time since at least 2000.

Classes begin Sept. 7 at Laguna schools The 2006-07 school year begins for students on Thursday, Sept. 7, at all Laguna Beach Unified School District campuses. Bus schedules are available at the District Office, 550 Blumont St., or by calling (949) 497-7700. Registration days for upperclassmen at Laguna Beach High School have already occurred. Underclassmen dates are as follows:     9th Grade Orientation: Aug. 28 from 9 to 11 a.m.           10th Grade Confirmation: Aug. 29 from 8:30 to 11 a.m.           9th Grade Confirmation: Aug. 30 from 8:30 to 11 a.m.     Talent show at Boys & Girls Clubs Nearly 20 youngsters who participated in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach's summer programs sang, danced and played piano during its first talent show at the Main Clubhouse.

In our county van we cruised the Westridge trail on the ridgeline between Laguna and Wood Canyons. Also on the trail were mountain bicyclists, joggers, hikers, walkers, people pushing babies in strollers, and people walking dogs. Amazingly, the dogs were all on leashes, although some were off trail. The ridgetop trail between Alta Laguna Park and Aliso Viejo is a special-use area within the wilderness park; dogs on leashes are a grandfathered use, by action of a past Laguna City Council.

Mike Sciacca The Laguna Beach Little League Majors Division All-Star team begins its quest for the league's first-ever District 55 title when it takes on Viejo Saturday in the opening round of the Little League All-Star Tournament of Champions. Laguna Beach and Viejo will meet in game No. 4 of the double elimination tournament at 1 p.m. at Hicks Canyon Park in Irvine. Northwood Little League is this year's host for the Majors All-Star tournament.