Dog Park

When it's time to get out of the house, take the time to visit one of Laguna's many parks including: Alta Laguna Park Located at the north end of Alta Laguna Boulevard, this hilltop park has a baseball field, six unlighted tennis courts, a half-basketball court, walking trails, picnic tables and children's play equipment. Bluebird Park Located on Cress Street between Temple Terrace and Bluebird Canyon Drive, this park has a fenced playground, a half basketball court, barbecues and picnic tables.

Last week, a Ms. Harrison called us at the Laguna Food Pantry. It seems she had more oranges and lemons from her trees than she could possibly use. She asked if we would we like the rest. It occurred to me that others of you might also have Harrison's happy dilemma. If so, we'd be glad to distribute your extra fruits and vegetables to the hundreds of families who come to our pantry for free groceries. We normally provide them with meats, frozen foods, rice, beans, cereals, bread, and sometimes even dairy products, but fresh produce is often hard to come by. The Laguna Food Pantry is on Laguna Canyon Road between the dog park and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

Barbara Diamond After getting the runaround for years, South Coast YMCA is ready to roll out a plan for a skateboard park carved out of the Dog Park in Laguna Canyon. The plan proposes a 35,000-square-foot park -- absorbing about one-third of the pups' playground -- adjacent to the fenced-off Verizon property. It includes a half-pipe, two quarter-pipes, a snake run, a shallow pool, a free-style area, a 1,200 square-foot facility where youngsters can gather, public parking for at least 14 vehicles, and a bus stop.

The ongoing squabble between residents of El Morro Village and proponents of turning the trailer park into a state park will continue in court today at 9 a.m. Representatives of El Morro Village residents will reportedly claim that the environmental report was not completed accurately by state park officials. "The state park people think they did a fine and complete job on the EIR," said Fern Pirkle of the Friends of the Newport Coast. "This is just another stalling tactic by the people at El Morro.

The New Year seems an appropriate time to wonder "Whatever happened to — fill in the blank?" For instance: What ever happened to plans for a skateboard park in Laguna that would rival the YMCA's prototype Encinitas facility? After getting the run-around for years and spending considerable money, the YMCA will probably not even be involved in a downsized proposal that attorney Larry Nokes and architect Marshall Ininns are developing. In 2000, the YMCA offered to build, maintain and staff the skateboard park in Laguna — all the city had to do was provide the land and front some money for planning costs.

The South Coast YMCA has signed a conditional use permit to build the Laguna Beach Skate Park on 35,000-square-feet of the dog park on Laguna Canyon Road. The conditional use permit requires a signature by the city of Laguna Beach, the owner of the property to be improved. At the recommendation of the YMCA Skate Park Task Force, the YMCA prepared and submitted an application for a conditional use permit for the location. The YMCA has a signed an agreement with the city to build and manage a skate park at this location.

The other day Patti Jo tookBooker, our Welshie, and his adopted cousin Danny to the dog park, and as occasionally happens, there was one dog that attacked another dog while its owner stood by. Most pups play-fight, of course, but there's a sound a dog makes when it's out to make a puncture which goes beyond sport, and this one was making that sound, so in a friendly way, Patti Jo suggested to its owner that maybe he...

Contrary to news reports that George Clooney and Brad Pitt have purchased the Boom Boom Room, representatives of both actors say it's not the case. Clooney's publicist, Dan Rosenfield, said the rumor is "100% false." The office of Brad Pitt's publicist, Cindy Guagenti, also denied the report. Stories about the sale of the club to Hollywood royalty began circulating in August, sparking concerns in the gay community that Laguna could lose one of its prime nightspots. Dog Park backers plan meeting Friends of Laguna Beach Dog Park, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserve, protect and improve the Laguna Beach Dog Park, will hold a general membership meeting at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at Tivoli Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Road.

Dan Shapero The YMCA skate park task force is putting some finishing touches on a draft site plan that will be submitted to the city planning department for review. It is likely they will schedule a public hearing in the form of a concept review within the next couple of months. Based on the public feedback/issues/concerns, we will have a better idea of what type of restrictions will be placed on our development and what type of studies will be required to develop the skate park at the dog park location.

Local Vietnam veterans have reserved a position in the March 3 Patriots Day Parade and are seeking area veterans to join in the march. The group has participated in the parade since 1985. Veterans are encouraged to wear their old uniforms. The group will form near Laguna Beach High School, 625 Park Ave., between 9 and 10 a.m. on parade day. Participants should inquire at the check-in booth at the corner of Park Avenue and Short Street as to the specific location of the group.