Treasure Island

Bruce Christian, president and CEO of South Coast Medical Center, and Elizabeth Schneider, executive director of the South Coast Medical Center Auxiliary, invite women in Laguna Beach and surrounding areas to a "State of the Hospital" address. The discussion will be held Wednesday at 5 p.m. and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. After the program, the attendees are invited to take a tour of the hospital. The discussions and tours are free and will include refreshments. Call (949) 499-7229 or e-mail mullink@ah.

The following is from the Dec. 9 City Council meeting.   Model aircraft complaint Councilwoman Verna Rollinger said a Moulton Meadows Park neighbor complained about radio-controlled model aircraft, some of them 3-feet long, being flown in the park. City Manager Ken Frank said he also received a complaint, and would put the issue on the Recreation Committee agenda.   Projects funded The council approved the following appropriations:  $900,000 to the Bluebird lift station rehabilitation project and equipment not to exceed $350,000;  $619,920 contract awarded to RSB Group Inc. for Main Beach Boardwalk replacement, excluding the wood curb;  Easement agreement with Cliff Drive property owner for a wall to provide slope stability between the property and the Shaw’s Cove Lift Station, funded by the transfer of $110,000 from the Rockledge sewer improvement design and appropriation of $300,000 from the city sewer fund to the lift station account; and  $848,282 contract awarded to C.S. Legacy Construction for the South Laguna Streetscape Project.

The California Coastal Commission's 21st annual California Coastal Cleanup day will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17. Laguna Beach is expected to draw more than 700 volunteers. Laguna Beach organizer Roger von Butow said around two-thirds of the volunteers will come from inland areas, where a considerable amount of the trash originates. This year, the Corona-Norco Unified School District is expected to bring two busloads of students to walk the beaches and pick up trash.

Mike Swanson City officials hope the addition of 16 metered parking spots on Wesley Drive and 20 on South Coast Highway will alleviate mounting parking problems near the Montage Resort and Spa and Treasure Island Park. The council will vote on the addition of meters at their next meeting. The 409 striped parking spots on the Montage site were deemed sufficient to its permit, but city staff recommended that 145 overflow spots, used for valet parking, be studied during prime hours to ensure their best use. The City Council approved a motion to move the bus shelter from the ocean side to the inland side of the street.

A new children’s book aims to make environmental education enjoyable. “See into the Sea,” written by Laguna Beach resident and Ocean Foundation member Molly Peckels and illustrated by Australian artist Svett Strickland, is a 16-page coloring book designed to educate children about tide pool behavior, sea critter identification and environmental responsibility. Each page has an illustration of common shore and near-shore animals for coloring, information about the creatures and a “Wacky Wave” insert that reveals unusual and quirky characteristic about each animal.

Action needed on Canyon Road Another head on collision on Laguna Canyon Road. Can we blame the highway design? Sometimes yes, but usually the fault lies with the driver in the middle of the road. Laguna Canyon Road is a two-lane highway with a third passing lane which alternates between south and northbound traffic. Only a single yellow line separates oncoming traffic. A sign is posted saying "Slower Traffic Keep Right," yet every day you see careless drivers tooling along in the passing line without a care in the world.

Aliso alternatives need wider dissemination Thank you for providing our community with a report on Village Laguna’s letter to the City Council on the proposed development of Aliso Canyon (CP 8/16). I agree with most of what this civic organization envisions for the canyon and want to laud this volunteer group for taking time out to develop an alternative vision. It is a vision carefully crafted by long term residents who have a reputation for caring about our village atmosphere, our environment and our unique location Earlier this year the Athens Group unveiled its own proposed vision for the redevelopment of Aliso Creek Inn and Canyon.

Barbara Diamond The rest of the country has finally discovered what locals knew all along: Laguna's beaches are the best. "It has always been clear to us that we have the best beaches, but it is such a pleasure to see everyone enjoying themselves," said Mayor Toni Iseman. "Our beaches are the best place to people-watch." The Travel Network filmed the city's beaches recently for a program on "America's Best Beaches" and Parenting Magazine subscribers voted for Laguna's beaches among the best for children.

It’s astonishing to get to the end of a year and realize all that has happened since the last time we took stock of events. There weren’t any landslides or other local disasters in 2008 (knock on wood, since there are still a few days left) but the year didn’t lack for drama or crises. Of course, 2008 will be known as the year the bottom dropped out of the world economy and the ramifications of that are still unfolding. In Laguna Beach, however, property values have so far held up, and the city and school district both counted their blessings throughout the year with no decline (actually some increase)

Barbara Diamond Angry opponents of the approved Driftwood Estates development in South Laguna denounced the City Council on Tuesday. Audience members were upset after the council voted 4 to 1 to adopt a resolution to approve an 11-lot subdivision suitable for homes as large as 12,000 square feet on a parcel above a neighborhood of more modest homes. "It's unfortunate that this council has failed to represent and protect people that elected them," said Penny Elia, president of the Hobo and Aliso Canyon Neighborhood Assn.