Laguna Niguel

South Orange County has a new option when it comes to giving homes a much-needed sprucing up. Fresh Coat Painters of Laguna Niguel has expanded its California operations, and its new franchise will serve the communities of Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente and more. The business will be run by Jennifer Elliott, who said opening a painting business was "right up my alley," according to a news release. "… I dabbled in real estate and home staging," Elliot said in a statement.

Spike's Fish House, a "fast-casual" eatery, has opened in Laguna Niguel. The restaurant, at 27020 Alicia Parkway No. D, serves a variety of fresh fish, beer and wine, according to a news release. Also, Spike's puts its fish on display and customers can see their meal being grilled from the open display kitchen. Some of Spike's popular fish choices include wild salmon, snapper, yellowtail, swordfish and mahi-mahi. "Spike's is a very simple concept: a great selection of fish that's simply grilled for every order.

Angel Stadium of Anaheim welcomed local Boy Scouts on Sept. 23, including two from Laguna Niguel who served as part of the Color Guard for the night. Eagle Scout Ryan Pugh, 16, from Troop 772 and Venturer Elaine Haralson, 19, from Venture Crew 265 joined other Scouts from around Orange County who were chosen to serve as bat boy, throw out the first pitch and say the sacred words: "Play ball!" The Angels played the Oakland A's. —Kelly Parker

The city of Laguna Niguel has appointed a new finance director and city treasurer. Stephen Erlandson, accounting and licensing manager for Redondo Beach for the last five years, will now have the task of overseeing Laguna Niguel's $41-million budget and a department budget of $931,000. Erlandson has more than 10 years experience and a bachelor's degree and master's degree in business administration and accounting from Cal State Fullerton. Cheryl Das previously held the position, but left the city in June to work for the city of Mission Viejo as director of administrative services.

Laguna Niguel will soon be the location of Fresh & Easy Express, a new concept by the grocery store. Brendan Wonnacott, spokesperson for Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, said there is no time frame yet and he could not confirm an opening date. However, he said that Laguna Niguel will be one of the first cities to debut the new store. "We'd like to get it opened as quickly as possible," he said. The express store is a smaller concept that the company is trying at five Southern California locations, three in Los Angeles and another in Seal Beach.

LAGUNA NIGUEL — Orange County Sheriff's investigators have detained a man seen near the spot where a man's dead body was found inside a pickup truck parked in a Laguna Niguel neighborhood. Deputies responded to a report of the man found dead in the vehicle about 1:40 p.m. Monday in the 27000 block of Avenida Armijo. They found the man inside a white Dodge Ram pickup. Residents of the neighborhood said the 35-year-old man lived in a home across the street from the spot he was found dead.

Laguna Niguel resident Cheri McFarland is one of the 150-word life stories being considered for an upcoming issue of Reader's Digest magazine, according to a news release. She is currently a top 100 public vote contender. Her story, "Badge of Hope," focuses on battling cancer at a treatment center in Mexico. The project "Your Life...The Reader's Digest Version" celebrates the launch of the new book, "Life... The Reader's Digest Version," which is also the first of a new series.

The Beach Pit BBQ in Laguna Niguel has announced that it's closing its doors after more than year. "We are closing the Beach Pit BBQ Laguna Niguel because our concept didn't work up there," owner Tim DeCinces said in a statement. "We wanted to create more of an express type model in a smaller footprint that was just about the food. Unfortunately, when we first opened the food wasn't that great and we had a hard time getting the process right. " DeCinces said that the local arrival of Chipotle and Five Guys Burgers & Fries made it more difficult for the concept to be successful, and company has decided to leave the area.

Laguna Niguel residents are content with where they live, according to survey results. When asked about overall quality of life, 95% of residents responded that it was excellent or good. True North Research President Timothy McLarney presented his findings from the Resident Satisfaction Survey to the City Council at Tuesday's meeting and noted they were some of the best he had ever seen. The telephone poll lasted about 20 minutes and included 400 registered voters chosen at random.

Laguna Niguel is set to take the only remaining medical marijuana dispensary in the city to court early next year. City Manager Tim Casey said the city has filed a lawsuit against Suite A basically to request that the courts close the business because the city believes it violates city zoning code. Suite A, on the corner of Crown Valley Parkway and Niguel Road, has been fighting the city's demand to shut down since early May, when the City Council unanimously voted to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in Laguna Niguel.

A man suspected of raping a Laguna Beach woman turned himself in Friday after police sought the public's help in finding him. Babak Azadgilani, known as "Bobby," 26, of Laguna Niguel, turned himself in at 5:30 p.m. at the front counter of the Laguna Beach Police Department and was booked on a $100,000 warrant for rape, Capt. Jason Kravetz wrote in an email. Azadgilani is suspected of assaulting the woman in her home during the late afternoon of April 21, according to police. The victim contacted police after the assault and police believe Azadgilani fled on his BMW motorcycle before officers arrived at the scene.

Laguna Canyon Foundation and Orange County Parks will have hawks, owls and falcons on exhibit as part of their "Under the Sycamores - Amazing Raptors" event from 1 to 4 p.m. May 11 at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Two separate bird hikes will be held at 1 and 3 p.m., and participants are encouraged to bring binoculars. The Orange County Bird of Prey Center will host a 2 p.m. program with hawks, owls and falcons onsite. There is no charge for the event, but parking costs $3. Signups are required.

It's the little things that tend to make the difference. Just ask the Laguna Beach High boys' volleyball team which has turned its concentration to the minute areas of its game plan. Aware that they are moving toward a possible Orange Coast League championship, the Breakers took care of league business Tuesday by scoring a 25-15, 25-16, 25-19 sweep at Saddleback. The win over the Roadrunners (2-4 in league) started the second half of the league schedule for the Breakers, who upped their league mark to 6-0. Middle blocker Maxx McCarter had eight kills, outside hitter Weston Barnes had eight kills, libero Jake Hexberg had six kills and 14 digs, and setter Grifan Fair had 23 assists.

Man yells, spits at officer Laguna Beach Police charged a man with assault after he yelled obscenities and flipped off an officer at a traffic stop Saturday, Sgt. Louise Callus wrote in an email. Police arrested Laguna Beach resident Eli Grossman, 60, after responding to a call at 9:52 a.m. in the 1000 block of Glenneyre Street, Callus said. Grossman drove up to the officer and began yelling, according to the report. The officer reportedly turned to get away and Grossman followed him. The officer parked his car and Grossman came to the officer's door and continued yelling obscenities, Callus said.

An aging and decrepit pipe that carries solid waste through parkland from the coastal treatment plant to the regional treatment plant will be replaced, despite environmental concerns. The City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday for the project, which was recommended by the South Orange County Wastewater Authority as the most feasible in terms of funding, longevity and urgency to avoid a catastrophic spill from the deteriorating pipe along Aliso Creek. "Replacing the pipe is the right project," said Betty Burnett, assistant general manager and district counsel for the South Coast Water District, which is one of the four agencies including the city of Laguna that are participating in the project.

A man suspected of robbing a Laguna Niguel Starbucks at gunpoint while wearing a gas mask on Nov. 30 was arrested later that evening in Laguna Beach, police said. Kyle Kamal Starner, 20, was arrested at 7:25 p.m. after he was detained by a Laguna Beach Police officer at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, 280 S. Coast Hwy. The Laguna Niguel Starbucks was robbed around 11 a.m. and an unspecified amount of money was reportedly taken. Witnesses told police the man left the scene on a bike.

A Laguna Beach man is suspected of burglarizing Laguna Niguel homes early Thursday morning. Cameron Bilbrey, 18, allegedly slipped into four homes while the residents were inside, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Due to the high winds that morning, most of the occupants attributed strange noises to the weather, department spokesman Jim Amormino said. It wasn't until some went to check that they noticed signs of a break-in. The sheriff's department received its first call about 4 a.m. from a home in the 21200 block of Rue De Gauguin, Amormino said.

Area 1 Crescent Bay Drive: A neighbor reportedly cut down a resident's tree in the 100 block at 9:00 a.m. Monday. * Area 2 Laguna Canyon Road: A Laguna Niguel man was arrested on suspicion of DUI in the 20600 block at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday. Laguna Canyon Road: A woman claimed a man threw ice cream at her after she refused to go out with him in the 20600 block at 7:22 p.m. Oct. 12. * Area 3 South Coast Highway: A person reported that unknown suspects stole items from their wedding in the 700 block at 12:32 p.m. Tuesday.

Tyler Russell isn't your average 23-year-old. Most recent college graduates are scouring Monster.com for a job, working part time serving up lattes or applying to grad school - but he's starting his own radio station. Laguna's only FM station, KX 93.5, officially goes on air Oct. 1. The low-power station will reach five square miles from Crown Valley to Monarch Beach, covering Laguna and some of Laguna Niguel. Don't let the fresh face fool you. Russell, who grew up in Tucson, Ariz., isn't a newcomer to radio.

The Laguna Beach Little League Major Division All-Star team had its run in the District 55 Tournament halted July 6 when it dropped a wild 15-14 game to Laguna Niguel at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel. Laguna Beach finished the tournament with a 2-2 record. The a game was much different from when they first met at the tournament's opener June 30, a 10-0 win by Laguna Niguel. In the rematch, Laguna Niguel jumped on Laguna Beach early and it appeared another blowout was imminent.