6 S. Alta Mira LAGUNA BEACH | Three Arch Bay $10,000/month
Rotary’s 17th Annual Grapes for Grads Raises a Glass to Student Success
Clara Beard | LB Indy
from local restaurants, musical entertainment by the popular Lake Forest party band Typical Gypsys, art demonstrations by Laguna College of Art + Design and Laguna Beach High
School art students, a silent auction and, of course, plenty of wine tastings - all for a good cause.
The annual event generates scholarships for Laguna Beach High School’s graduating seniors planning to attend college and for Laguna College of Art + Design students. All the money raised from the event goes toward the scholarships.
Laguna Art Museum Branches Out with Jay DeFeo: Trees
The exhibition will be on view starting Sept. 21
By LB Indy Staff
Laguna Art Museum will present Jay DeFeo: Trees showcasing the works of California artist Jay DeFeo (1929-1989). Set to be on view from Sept. 21 through Jan. 12, 2025, this is the first exhibition dedicated to the artist’s fascination with trees and exploration of the natural world. Jay DeFeo: Trees encompasses two bodies
of work: drawings from the Tree series made in the 1950s, and photographs of trees created during the 1970s.
Curated by LAM Curatorial Fellow Rochelle Steiner, Jay DeFeo: Trees will offer a rare glimpse into the artist’s drawings produced between 1953 and 1954 in her Berkeley studio, following extensive travels in Europe and North Africa. These drawings,
infused with nature’s inspiration, demonstrate DeFeo’s unique blend of representation and abstraction, marking a pivotal period in her artistic journey. Among the nine extant works from the Tree series are two pieces from Laguna Art Museum’s collection.
Laguna Playhouse Production of ‘Tartuffe’ Keeps Comedy Rolling
By Eric Marchese | Special to the LB Indy
Great comedy is immortal, like “Tartuffe,” Molière’s masterpiece. Even more than 350 years since it was first staged, it still tickles the funny bone. It makes us laugh, but also provokes thought about issues like religious faith, materialism, and the many guises of hypocrisy. We relate to “Tartuffe.” It’s accessible – maybe because Molière understood human nature. So we’re laughing at human folly, at the kinds of peccadilloes and failings as commonplace in the 17th century as they are today.
Laguna Playhouse’s production, directed by Richard Baird, taps Richard Wilbur’s 1963 English verse translation, a stellar version which preserves the original’s use of Alexandrine verse in rhyming couplets. Wilbur translated 10 Molière plays in all, and his facility with the playwright’s style and language is evident in the fluidity of Laguna’s staging.
Career con artist Tartuffe (Bruce Turk) has hoodwinked wealthy yet gullible Orgon (Bo Foxworth) into believing he’s a humble, virtuous servant of the church.
With the backing of his mother,
By
The 17th annual Grapes for Grads, hosted by the Rotary Club of Laguna Beach this past Sunday, April 27, at the Festival of Arts grounds, was packed with food
JAY DEFEO, PAGE 20
Above left: Laguna Beach Rotarians Jeff Redeker (left) and Dave Cler (right) take a break from hosting the popular Grapes for Grads event at the Festival of Arts grounds last Sunday, April 27. Top right: LCAD students take part in artist demos. Bottom right: Local author Pamela Knudsen stands with the silent auction gift basket she donated to Grapes for Grads. Clara Beard/LB Indy
TARTUFFE, PAGE 22
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Laguna Beach Arts Alliance Reveals 2024 Artist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award at Annual Art Stars Awards
By Clara Beard | LB Indy
The Laguna Beach Arts Alliance awarded its famous “Louies” to a talented group of artists and artistic organizations at its 2024 Art Star Awards at the Festival of Arts grounds on Saturday, April 26.
Along with the awards ceremony, guests were treated to entertainment by Laguna JaZz Band, LBHS dancer Eliana Merritt, Laguna Playhouse Youth Group’s Sophia Hope and Marina Strombom and a Pageant of the Masters Living Picture by Mike Tauber.
Artist demonstrations were courtesy of LCAD artist Sofia Ketterer and LBHS senior Sydney Ford.
2024 Art Star Award Recipients
Best Arts Program: Lagunatics, accepted by Bree Burgess Rosen
Arts Patron of the Year: Laguna Beach Seniors, accepted by Judy Baker of Susi Q Gallery
Lifetime Achievement Award: G. Ray Kerciu
Artist of the Year: Casey Parlette
Outstanding Arts Collaboration: Pageant of the Monsters, accepted by Pageant of the Masters Director Diane Challis Davy
Special Award: Roxana Ward
Clockwise from top left: Lagunatics’ Bree Burgess Rosen accepts the Louie for Best Arts Program; Judy Baker and Bill Atkins receive the Art Patrons of the Year award for Gallery Q at the Susi Q; Casey Parlette wins Artist of the Year and G. Ray Kerciu takes home the
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Clara Beard/LB Indy
Susi Q is the place to be this May Enjoy the Bargain Bonanza and more
Susi Q’s popular annual Bargain Bonanza is set for Saturday, May 11, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Susi Q Center, 380 Third Street. As always, there will be an amazing array of deals.
Donations will be accepted daily, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, from April 29 to May 10. Items accepted include jewelry, tableware, kitchenware, household items, collectibles, purses, and holiday decorations. However, no apparel, furniture, stemware or oversized items will be accepted—and because of space limitations, some items may not be accepted.
It’s all for a good cause - proceeds from donated items go towards purchasing Bingo prizes and supporting the Laguna Beach High School Scholarship Fund. Email Susana at seashellsue@gmail.com for more information.
Another free musical morning
On Wednesday, May 15, at 10 a.m., the public is invited to enjoy a unique free musical morning with award-winning violinist Tessa Lark and virtuoso composer/Bassist Michael Thurber,
Town Crier
IN AND AROUND LAGUNA BEACH
who, together create a duo unlike any other. By fusing their classical and American music influences – from Bach bebop to bluegrass, they have created a wholly original sound. Lark and Thurber have collaborated with some of the world’s leading musicians in a wide variety of genres, including Mitsuko Uchida, Edgar Meyer, Itzhak Perlman and Mark
48th YEAR!
O’Connor (Lark), Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, Vulfpeck, Jon Batiste and Cee Lo Green (Thurber).
A Q&A session will follow the concert. Register online at thesusiq.org or call 949-715-8105.
Magical Machu Picchu Armchair travelers will enjoy Wanda Matjas’s presentation on Mystic
TOUR: In front of the Festival of the Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach Guided bus rides to each
all day across from Festival grounds
Enjoy an afternoon in Laguna. Experience a taste of the heritage of Laguna Beach as you tour houses in neighborhoods dating from the early
Cottage Furnishings
Tickets may be purchased: by sending a request and check to Village Laguna Charm House T Post Office Box 1309 Laguna Beach, CA 92652, or 2.from any of the outlets listed here, or 3. online at www.villagelaguna.org Tickets available at:
Machu Picchu, which will be held on Tuesday, May 21, between 1:30 and 3 p.m. in person and on Zoom.
“Machu Picchu is a trek into history,” Matjas said. “Shrouded by mist and surrounded by lush vegetation and steep escarpments, the sprawling Inca citadel lives up to every expectation.”
Visit thesusiq.org to review the many ongoing programs that Susi Q offers, from ukulele lessons to standing yoga to bridge and mahjong classes, not to mention support groups and clubs for special interest groups ranging from genealogy to current affairs to books and so much more. The Susi Q’s Care Management Department (now the Dorene Cares Office) provides free consultation, education and practical resources for vulnerable seniors, enabling them to stay safe, informed and independent.
Affordable Housing Bus Tour Next Friday
The Housing and Human Services Committee invites the public to tour two affordable housing sites, Granite Court in Irvine and the award-winning Legacy Square in Santa Ana, on
CRIER, PAGE 13
802 S. Coast Hwy. 497-3121
Fawn Memories 384 Forest Ave. 494-2071 Laguna Beach Books
S. Coast Hwy.494-4779 Laguna Nursery 481 N. Coast Hwy. 494-5200
We regret that the tour cannot accommodate children under 12. Uneven surfaces and steps may preclude participation by persons with
Last year’s bargain bonanza at the Susi Q. The popular annual Bargain Bonanza is set for Saturday, May 11, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Photo/Jo Ekblad
LETTERS CAN BE MAILED TO: EDITOR@LBINDY.COM
How Does a Bigger Pool Improve Grades?
It is a common assumption that school is where you go to get smarter. Maybe yes, maybe no. How would having a bigger swimming pool improve the chances of fulfilling this goal? Sports (once called “physical education”) was based on the Greek concept that a developed mind requires a developed body—a means to an end, not an end itself. Today, the school has become a farm team for professional teams or a scholarship source. It is the nerd that is ostracized while the athletes are celebrated.
Years ago, LBHS joined the Academic Decathlon, a competition among Southern California high schools over the state-required subjects. Our school lost to low-income communities every time. It was so embarrassing that it pulled out and never participated again. It still is a problem. The school doesn’t offer enough important courses and hires teachers who are not prepared to teach; for example, maybe coaches hired to teach a particular sport are assigned to teach an academic course that they would rather not and let their disappointment be known to the students. Grades have slipped. If there is enough tax money to extend an old pool and build a new pool, maybe we could use it better to teach our students. If a 25’ pool extension will make our swimmers smarter, let’s do it or have them swim a couple of extra laps. It would be a lot cheaper and less hassle.
Gene Cooper, retired art history professor and Laguna Beach resident
Kudos to City Council
Mahalo to the mayor and City Council for deciding to have a spectacular dancing, lighted drone show for this year’s 4th of July celebration in Laguna Beach! What a good deci-
Sue
sion to stop the noise, smoke, and the litter pollution of fireworks. As a combat Army medic, I also breathe a sigh of relief to know we will not hear rocket explosions in our town.
Tom “Tommy J” Joliet, Laguna Beach
Response to Gene Felder’s LTE
In response to Gene Felder’s letter in the April 26 edition of the Indy regarding Village Laguna’s Charm House Tour - bar none, this classic tour has focused on what makes Laguna so special. For 20 years, I was in charge of house selection and met some of the best folks in the world who were willing and generous enough to share their historic and contemporary homes with the public. It is an added achievement of this tour for the public, locals and outsiders, to go inside these beautiful homes and feel that intimate connection with our community. The tour is all-encompassing, from walking through the home and outside to the garden and passing many notable LETTERS, PAGE 20
theIndyPoll
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
Do you prefer to see a traditional fireworks display or a drone show this July 4?
- Drones: 59% (36 votes)
- Fireworks: 41% (25 votes)
TOTAL VOTES: 61
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION
Do you support undergrounding utility lines on Laguna Canyon Road?
- Yes - No
VOTE, VISIT THE POLL TAB AT LAGUNABEACHINDY.COM. SUBMIT POLL QUESTIONS TO CLARA@FIREBRANDMEDIAINC.COM. The LagunaBeachIndy.com poll is conducted using
May 6 - Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee at 6 p.m. May 9 - Design Review Board at 5 p.m.
Alex Rounaghi Mayor Pro Tem arounaghi@ lagunabeachcity.net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS, 5 PM
LOUIS WEIL: lweil@lagunabeachcity.net
KRISTINE THALMAN: kthalman@lagunabeachcity.net
DON SHERIDAN: dsheridan@lagunabeachcity.net
JESSICA GANNON: jgannon@lagunabeachcity.net
TOM GIBBS: tgibbs@lagunabeachcity.net
George Weiss Council member gweiss@lagunabeachcity.net
PLANNING COMMISSION
1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS, 6 PM
STEVEN KELLENBERG, steve@kellenbergstudio.com
KEN SADLER: 616-0517, ken.sadler@cox.net
JORG DUBIN: 497-2618, jdubinart@cox.net
STEVE GOLDMAN: 203-554-2290, steveg415@ymail.com
SUSAN McLINTOCK WHITIN: 838-6317, whitinsusan@gmail.com
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION: Tel: 949 715-4100; Fax: 949 715-4106
MAILING ADDRESS: 900 Glenneyre St., Suite B Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Tel: 949-715-4100; Fax: 949 715-4106 www.lbindy.com
lagunabeachcity.net
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: REP. KATIE PORTER, 1113 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. 202-225-2415
ASSEMBLYWOMAN DIANE DIXON, 19712 MacArthur Blvd. Ste. 150, Irvine, CA 92612. 949-251-0074
FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR KATRINA FOLEY 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-8343550, Lisa.Bartlett@ocgov.com
Kempf Mayor skempf@lagunabeachcity.net
Bob Whalen Council member bwhalen@lagunabeachcity.net
Mark Orgill Council member morgill@lagunabeachcity.net
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk amckay@lagunabeachcity.net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer lparisi@
Heidi Cleveland at Douglas Elliman
Meander up the pathway to this enchanting 1933 home, ideally situated on El Bosque in the heart of the Village of Laguna Beach. Beautifully restored by Andra Miller with exquisite attention to detail while retaining its original character, the floor plan encompasses a spacious, light-filled living room with open beam ceilings and numerous living areas on the expansive lot with mature landscaping for a peaceful retreat. Located just minutes from world-class beaches, restaurants, and galleries, 464 El Bosque embodies the best of the Laguna Beach lifestyle. Web# LG24077365
667 Glenneyre Street, Laguna Beach
$2,995,000 | 3 BR, 3 BA | Approx. 1,450sf
Open House, Sunday, 2-4pm
Nestled in the heart of Laguna Beach, this enchanting cottage embodies the quintessential coastal lifestyle, offering a harmonious blend of historic charm and modern convenience as the residence has been meticulously renovated, preserving its timeless allure. Conveniently located approx. two blocks from world-class beaches and the vibrant downtown area with its eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, and art galleries, this peaceful home epitomizes the coveted Laguna Beach lifestyle. Web# LG23147319
Heidi Cleveland
Realtor ® | DRE# 01956319 M 949.371.4333 | O 949.270.0440
heidi.cleveland@elliman.com
By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy
SPRING SPORTS UPDATE
BASEBALL (10-17, 3-9)
Laguna’s 86th varsity season concluded on Thursday, April 25, with a 5-1 loss against Newport Harbor at Skipper Carrillo Field. The game was the final league contest for the Breakers as members of the Sunset Conference, with Laguna returning next season to the Pacific Coast League, where they resided from 1987 to 2006. Against the Sunset, Breakers went 20-37 in seven seasons, while in 20 years of the Pac Coast, they were less successful at 93-201. In last Thursday’s game, Noah Neufeld’s lone run came in the first inning with a home run. Newport took control of the game with a 3-run fifth inning aided by a hit batter, a wild pitch and an error.
Final statistical leaders through 27 games:
Batting Average - .314 Noah Neufeld; Hits: 23 – Lucien Reed; Doubles: 5 – Reed; Home Runs: 2 –Neufeld, Runs scored: 12 – Becker Sybirski; RBI’s: 13 – Neufeld; Stolen Bases: 11 – Reed; Innings Pitch: 61.2 – Becker Sybirski; ERA: 1.47– Branson Wade (W3, L4); Strikeouts 63 –Becker Sybirski
Sports/Schools
SUBMISSIONS WELCOME BY 5 PM TUESDAY
BOYS GOLF (3-13, 0-6)
Laguna lost their final Sunset Wave League match with a 214-190 loss to Newport Harbor at Mesa Linda Golf Club in Costa Mesa last Wednesday, April 24. The match tri-medalists shot 37, including Joshua Bellisime, Laguna and Newport’s Zack Moreau and Aiden O’Shea. Additional scores for Laguna included Russell-Franconi-Krychman 43, Kiyan Arshadi 44, Chase Tyson 45, Evan Kretschmer 45, Luke Bo 45, and Hudson Mills 47.
Breaker JV squad (10-6, 5-1) under coach Tom Levinstein defeated Newport 191-199 to take a share of the Sunset Wave League title. Noah Kimball was the match medalist with a 34 score.
GIRLS LACROSSE (12-4, 0-4)
The Breakers were edged 10-8 by league champion Edison in the regular season’s final game. Laguna opened D3 SSCIF playoffs on May 2 at Chadwick (9-7). If the Breakers win, the next round is Saturday, May 4, possibly at Guyer Field against Cate or at Millikan in Long Beach.
FINAL SSCIF D3 Poll: 1 – San Marcos, 2 – Orange Lutheran, 3 –Temecula Valley, 4 – El Dorado, 5 –Glendale, 6 – Northwood, 7 – Laguna Beach, 8 – ML King, 9 – Murrieta
Valley, 10 – Cate.
SWIMMING
Ava Knepper smashed two school records, capturing the 50 and 100 freestyle at the Sunset Wave League meet at the Golden West College on April 25. Knepper set her marks in the preliminaries with 23.37 in the 50 and 51.61 in the 100. The old records were set in 2018 (50) and 2017 (100) by Kasey Karkoska. Knepper is seeded #4 for the 50 and 12th in the 100 at the D1 SSCIF Meet held this week. At the Wave meet, Edison won the team title for both boys and girls, while the Breakers were a distant fourth.
Chase Shipp, Sunset League and SSCIF D2 Champion, made the cut at the SSCIF Masters Dive Meet this past Tuesday and will compete in the State Dive meet next month, May 9, at Clovis High School.
BOYS TENNIS (3-3, 3-12) 2nd Place – SUNSET WAVE LEAGUE
Breakers opened the SSCIF D-3 playoffs on Wednesday, May 1, at Trabuco Hills (7-9), losing on games 67-72, with both teams taking nine sets. Luke Jolley won in singles 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, while doubles teams Sam Wong/Chris Herkins won 7-6, 6-3, 6-2, and Owen Britt/Lucas Silverman
also swept 6-4, 6-2, 5-0.
TRACK
& FIELD
Laguna finished a distant fourth at the Sunset Wave League meet held April 26 at Huntington Beach High School. Jackson Kollock was the lone event champion for the Breakers, capturing the Shot Put with a 49-10 toss. Boys Scores: Huntington 98, Newport 71, Marina 49, Laguna 15; Girls: Huntington 96, Newport 79, Marina 58, Laguna 13.
Alumni Note:
Princeton Women’s Water Polo (23-6) defeated Michigan 10-9 last week to capture the Collegiate Water Polo Association and a berth in the NCAA Championships this weekend at California. Six of the 2024 Princeston roster are from Laguna Beach: Charlotte Riches, Ava and Grace Houlahan, Rachael Carver and CiCi Stewart from Laguna Beach HS and Olivia Krotts, who prepped at Mater Dei. Ava scored three goals in the title game, with Riches, Grace, and Krotts adding a score.
Have a note/question on Laguna Beach sports/correction/update? E-mail Frank at fa1949@cox.net. Looking for the 2023-24 high school schedules and scores? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website.
April showers have brought May owers. We are ourishing with our amazing Sculptra treatment! Get 10% OFF Sculptra for the month of May!
Sculptra is an injectable, similar to dermal filler. Sculptra Aesthetic has been approved by the FDA to treat wrinkles and folds on the face to give a more youthful appearance. The main ingredient is poly-L-Lactic Acid and is classified as a collagen stimulator. It provides long lasting, natural looking results.
CALL LAGUNA BEACH AESTHETICS TODAY TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!
Dr. O’Connell performs all procedures and consultations herself.
DR. ADRIENNE O’CONNELL
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info@lagunabeachaesthetics.com www.lagunabeachaesthetics.com 949.415.4310
8th Annual South Laguna COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE
Saturday, May 4th • 7am - 11am
A neighborhood tradition, this fun annual event is a natural extension of the community atmosphere in South Laguna. Shoppers from all around come looking for great deals and love being welcomed by friendly South Laguna residents. Come out Saturday morning and enjoy finding treasures with your complimentary coffee and donuts! Email Chris or use QR Code for Map
By Lynette BrasfieLd
GUEST OPINION: DEAR SUSI Q
Feeling the Blues
One of my favorite books is “Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” by Jerome K. Jerome because of its wonderful humor. The story begins when the narrator finds a medical dictionary in the British Library.
The more he reads, the more convinced he becomes that he has every disease described in its pages, from a to z—except for housemaid’s knee, an exclusion which, hilariously, he finds
almost hurtful. He decides to visit his doctor. What a doctor wants, [he writes], is practice. He shall have me.
And that was in 1889, before Google.
I don’t know about you, but as I get older and witness others in my circle being diagnosed with a variety of ailments – or heaven forbid, dying – there are times when an ache, irregular skin blotch, or upset stomach
sends me into a mild panic (if panic can be mild) as I contemplate my imminent demise. Which sometimes has the positive effect of inducing me to tidy up in case first responders judge my character upon finding my dead body in a messy house.
Levity aside, health anxiety is real and serious. Dear Susi Q spoke to the wonderful Kathleen (Kay) Wenger, MA, LMFT, LPCC, Clinical Supervisor at the Susi Q Senior Center, for advice about dealing with these fears.
“To some extent, this is normal as we age,” Kay says. “Staying active and socializing, practicing meditation, getting enough sleep, and minimizing alcohol can be very helpful in reducing this kind of stress.”
She adds, “When your worries focus on possible future illnesses, think about it this way: you may – or may not – contract a disease or lose your ability to process thoughts. Focus on the fact that your anxiety is likely unfounded, and give that thought more power than your fear.”
It’s also important, of course, to keep up with doctor visits and regular check-ups and educate yourself appropriately about relevant health conditions.
But when worrying about your health becomes uncontrollable and dominates your thoughts, Kay strongly suggests talking to a therapist.
“There’s a condition called nosophobia when the patient becomes terribly fearful of contracting or strongly believes they have a serious illness,” she explains. “This is a form of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be very helpful in cases like these. Just talking to a therapist can make a world of difference as we address the underlying reasons for your anxiety.”
That’s where Susi Q’s Feeling the Blues program comes in. Founded almost ten years ago, it helps Laguna Beach seniors navigate anxiety, depression and other common mental health challenges. Kay is one of several qualified therapists who stand ready to help. The program is free, however donations are always appreciated.
“We’re here to help,” Kay says, adding wryly, “Remember, as we age, we see more death…but we can tell ourselves that we’re at least alive ourselves.”
For now…
As for Jerome K. Jerome, his doctor, upon examining him, prescribes the following: One pound of beefsteak; one pint of bitter beer every six hours; one ten-mile walk every morning; one bed at 11 sharp every night; and don’t stuff up your head with things you don’t understand.
Jim Ardery | Geoff Dunlevie Laguna and Coastal Experts
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A long time Laguna local, Sylvia, brings her communication & marketing expertise to the team. Realtor | DRE 02235589 949.500.2515 sylvia.powers@compass.com
Street Beat
EXCERPTS FROM POLICE LOGS
Thursday, April 25
Flash incarceration, possession of a controlled substance. Feinai Saipani Eli, 49, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and was put under flash incarceration for violation of probation or to be placed under mandatory supervision. He was held without bail.
DUI, driving on a suspended license, possessing nitrous oxide. Dylan Robert Owen-Pachito, 21, was arrested on suspicion of driving on a suspended license, possessing nitrous oxide and drunk driving. He was held on $13,000 bail.
Friday, April 26
No arrests recorded.
Saturday, April 27
DUI. A 28-year-old Corona woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 blood alcohol content. She was held on $5,000 bail.
Battery on person. Luis Enrique Yebra, 62, was arrested on suspicion of battery on person. He was held without bail.
DUI. A 32-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held on $2,500 bail.
Sunday, April 28
DUI. A 30-year-old Newport Beach woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. She was held on $2,500 bail.
DUI. A 19-year-old Riverside man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He was held on $2,500 bail.
Petty theft, disorderly conduct. Mark Krot, 41, of Garden Grove, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct due to alcohol and petty theft. He was held on $2,000 bail.
Possessing alcohol in public, resisting a peace officer. Marc Frank Zavala, 50, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of possessing alcohol in a public place and resisting a peace officer. He was held on $500 bail.
Disorderly conduct, resisting an executive officer. Jamaal Milton Poston, 46, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and resisting an executive officer. He was held on $21,500 bail.
Monday, April 29
Possible willful cruelty to child. Kristann Trapp, 41, of Laguna
GUEST OPINION:
A Summer in Laguna
By tatUMn MiKa
Someone once told me that the mountains are good for the mind, while the ocean is good for the soul. Growing up in Colorado amid the snow-capped Rockies, the ocean felt worlds away. Instead of palm trees and cabanas, we had cedar cabins and evergreens. Our waves were cascades of white, thundering down mountains and melting into the freshwater streams below, with Columbines growing wild along the sides. Colorado’s version of white
sand beaches was freshly groomed ski slopes and dry, frosty air.
As I got older, I grew curious about life beyond Colorado. The mountains that have forever been my safe haven suddenly seemed like they were closing in around me. There’s more out there, I knew, and it felt like it was waiting for me.
A little over a year and a half ago, my family suffered the unexpected loss of my younger brother, Cole. I have yet to find the words to describe the pain that fell upon us during this time. In fact, I am convinced there are none. The life I knew was suddenly swept out from underneath me, and I plummeted into the depths of utter heartbreak. I was desperate for solitude. For some breathing room. For space to just, be.
After a few blurred months, I found myself heading to the West Coast. With the “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” sign in my rearview mirror and a trunk full of suitcases, I was en route to someplace else; someplace new.
Here are a few things I’ll never forget about arriving in Laguna Beach.
The smell of jasmine floating through the open windows of my car as I drove through the winding canyon road and into the sleepy little
beach town. Rolling hills of green, peppered with morning glories and California poppies, on either side of me. I can still picture my dog, Goose, standing in the passenger seat: eyes closed, tongue out, and ears flying backward as the salty, coastal breeze ran through his fur.
Unlocking the front gate and stepping onto my patio for the first time. The flower bushes that hung along the sides of the fence, swaying in the gentle wind as if they were waving hello. The way the sun peeked through the branches of the lemon tree, casting lazy afternoon shadows across the navy-blue couch cushions. Sunshine spilling across the small one-bedroom
unit like golden honey.
Listening to the crashing waves that first night, wondering if my brother would be proud of me and this fleeting adventure I found myself on. The ocean, a true antithesis to the mountains, was confirmation that I had officially done it. That I had found myself in a place I had never before been.
That summer in Laguna was pure magic. Goose and I spent our days wandering the town and the neighborhoods scattered within it. With each house we passed, there was a garden that was more bright and
MIKA, PAGE 16
Friday, May 10.
The tour will depart via charter coach from the Neighborhood Congregational Church parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and return by 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m. at the latest. Parking is free.
Jamboree Housing (Granite Court) and National CORE (Legacy Square) personnel will lead the tour group through the units and answer questions at each site. The free tour includes a box lunch. Those who prefer to drive themselves to the tour may contact Barbara McMurray at bmcmurray@ lagunabeachcity.net for details.
Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling to Offer New Summer Camp for Local Youth
This summer, in June and July, the Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club is introducing a Summer Camp Program for the city’s youth in conjunction with the Laguna Beach Recreation Department.
The club will offer two sessions over four days (Tuesdays and Thursdays for two weeks), each from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 10 to 18 years. Following the summer program, the program will continue weekly after school through the fall and the spring.
Youth Rollers will develop their playing skills and game knowledge in each session through social play,
modified games, drills and support instruction.
The LBLBC Youth Rollers program will allow teens to learn and build their confidence in lawn bowling in a supportive, relaxed, fun environment. Youth Rollers is an excellent summer camp program where youth can participate and play with friends. It is also a fantastic opportunity for youth to join their peers in an exciting sport, relatively unknown here, with a pathway to representing the USA in under-18 and under-25 international lawn bowling events around the world.
Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club provides all bowling equipment. Participants should bring a water bottle and wear flat-soled shoes.
Interested youth bowlers can register at secure.rec1.com/CA/ city-of-laguna-beach/catalog.
More information can be found by emailing the Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club at youth@lagunabeachlawnbowlingclub.com.
Eighth Annual South Laguna Community Garage Sale
The South Laguna Community Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. A neighborhood tradition, this fun annual event is a natural extension of the community atmosphere in South Laguna. Come out Saturday morning
and enjoy finding treasures with complimentary coffee and donuts. Participating addresses include 31541 Summit Road, 31683 Wildwood Road, 31571 Jewel Avenue, 31706 Scenic Drive, 31751 Scenic Drive, 31666 Scenic Drive, 31532 Egan Road, 31547 Eagle Rock Way, 31616 Virginia Way, 32012 Virginia Way, 31644 2nd Avenue, 31691 Florence Avenue, 31641 3rd Avenue, 31914 9th Avenue, 31311 Ceanothus Drive, 31212 Pedro Street and 31262 Brooks Street.
May is Laguna’s Heritage Month: Schedule of Events
Trolley Tour: The Works of Local Architect Aubrey St. Clair: Saturday, May 11
Celebrate the works of Laguna Beach architect Aubrey St. Clair with a free guided trolley tour. The trolley loads at 306 Third Street (Laguna Beach Water District) at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and departs at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Email clark@collinsone. net or go to historiclaguna.com to sign-up. Space is limited, and confirmation is required.
Historic Project Forum: Thursday, May 16
Design, construction and real estate professionals share experiences with historic properties, including Mills Act calculations and a Q&A portion. Find out about the rewarding process
of historic preservation. The forum will be held at the City Chambers, 505 Forest Avenue.
Laguna Beach Living History featuring No Square Theatre: Saturday, May 18
Celebrate Heritage Month with the Laguna Beach Historical Society and a special performance by No Square Theatre from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Murphy Smith Bungalow on 278 Ocean Avenue.
Public Tours of the Hortense Miller Garden
Come visit and fall in love with Hortense Miller, her home and garden.
For more information or to schedule a docent-led tour visit hortensemillergarden.org/visit.
The public may call (949) 464-6645 to book a free tour most Saturdays and Thursdays from 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Crystal Cove Historic District – SelfGuided Walking Tour
This charming, quaint Historic District will take you back in time.
For more information, including park hours, activities and parking information, visit crystalcovestatepark.org
Contact Heritage Committee Staff Liaison Heather Steven at (949) 4970332 or hsteven@lagunabeachcity.net for more information.
In Loving Memory: Kirk Robert Sand
Kirk Robert Sand of Laguna Beach passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024 at the age of 71. His family is deeply saddened to share the news of his passing to those who knew and loved him.
Kirk Sand was born on March 13, 1953, in Springfield, Ill., to parents Donald Robert Sand and Martha Jane Stormont Sand, who predeceased his passing in 2007 and 2011, respectively.
Upon graduating from Springfield High School in 1971, Kirk left Springfield and headed West, relocating to Fullerton, California. An accomplished guitar player, Kirk began working at Fender Musical Instruments, kickstarting his 57-year successful career as a Luthier and builder of fine custom handmade guitars in Laguna Beach.
In 1974, Kirk purchased his first business, the Guitar Shoppe, in Laguna Beach with his partner of 48 years, Jim Matthews, who passed away in 2022. The Guitar Shoppe continues to enjoy its fabulous reputation internationally and locally as one of the finest guitar-based music stores. It is appealing and personable to worldclass guitarists and guitar players of all styles and skill levels, including new students.
Self-taught and extremely focused, Kirk craftsmanship evolved into his own brand of custom handmade Kirk Sand Guitars. His first “celebrity” guitar was made for Jose Feliciano. When
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Beach, was arrested on suspicion of possible willful cruelty to a child. She was held without bail.
Probation violation. Luis Enrique Yebra, 62, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of violating parole. He was held on $15,000 bail.
Tuesday, April 30
Possessing a controlled substance, and possessing a controlled substance for sale, receiving known stolen property. Marco Antonio Solis, 30, of Moreno, was arrested on
Kirk met the famed guitarist Chet Atkins in Nashville in the late 1980s, he began creating the innovative Chet Atkins Signature Model guitar. That changed everything!
Kirk made nearly 800 custom handmade guitars, including those played and endorsed by Chet Atkins, Jose Feliciano, Jerry Reed, John Knowles, Paul Yandell, Doyle Dykes, Earl Klugh, Lenny Breau, Richie Sambora, Lauren Hill, Steve Wariner, Tommy Emmanuel and Richard Smith.
In 1984, Kirk met talented musician Beth Haskins. They married and had two beautiful children, Natalie Sand King of Seattle, Wash. and Donny Sand of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Most of all, Kirk loved his adoring family. He was overjoyed at becoming a grandfather of seven young grandchildren. Natalie and her husband, Dowel King, have a newborn son, Ronan King. Donny Sand is married to Donna Sand with five daughters Kailee, Zoey, Quinn, Skylar, Robyn and a son, Luke Sand.
Kirk was always ready for fun and laughter with his many friends, who would often stop by the Guitar Shoppe, sometimes just to enjoy his good humor and generous spirit, which touched everyone who knew him.
It is certain that Kirk would wish for his family and friends to all gather together for an uplifting and rousing send-off to celebrate the accomplishments, joy and happiness that he had found in his life.
In remembrance, his children Donny and Natalie warmly invite family and friends of Kirk Sand to join in a memorial to a life well-lived and share in celebration at The Ranch at Laguna Beach on Friday, May 10, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., located at 31106 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Calif., 92651.
OBITUARY
Paul Robert Shelley
Paul Robert Shelley (born Harry Earl Shelley) died peacefully at his home in Laguna Beach on October 14, 2023. He was a loving husband, brother, uncle, musician, teacher and veteran whose gregarious personality lit up any room.
Paul was born in 1941 in Boston, Mass., the son of the late Jean Patricia Shelley and Albert Chester Clement. He leaves behind his husband and partner of 52 years, Theodore Mowery, as well as his sisters: Vickie Soffa of Huntington Beach, Calif., Pamela Osbrink of Scottsdale, Ariz., Patricia Beals of Amesbury, Mass., Jane McNeal of Newbury, Mass., and one brother, David Clement of Lakeville, Conn., as well as many nieces and nephews. Paul grew up in foster homes in Massachusetts and graduated from the Don Bosco High School in East Boston in 1958. During his youth, He enjoyed studying judo and karate at the Karate-Do Academy in Watertown, Mass. In 1959, Paul spent a year in seminary at the Sons of Mary Health of the Sick Mission in Framingham, Mass., but ultimately decided to pursue his passion for music and art. He attended the New England Conservatory studying voice from 1962 to 1965.
Paul then proudly served his country in the United States Air Force beginning in 1966. For his valiant service in Vietnam, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam
Service Medal and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. Following his honorable discharge in 1969, Paul moved to California, enrolling in Sacramento City College. He graduated in 1970 with an associate in arts degree with an emphasis in vocal performance, having also taken courses at Sacramento State University. During his studies in Sacramento, he met his future husband, Theodore Mowery, in 1971. He completed his education at California State University, Fullerton in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in music.
Paul went on to teach vocal performance at Our Lady of Assumption Grammar School from 1981 to 1983 in Claremont, Calif. He then spent a year as a music lecturer at Pomona College before moving to Laguna Beach in 1984.
In Laguna Beach, Paul had various teaching and musical engagements over the last decades of his life. He taught graphic arts at the Saddleback Community College, then performed as a singing waiter at the Ramada Inn’s Café Serenata in San Clemente. Paul loved his work at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point as their only tea butler from 1988 until 1995, when afternoon tea was discontinued. As a tea butler, Paul was featured in the View section of the Los Angeles Times on Jan. 19, 1994. Paul then served as a concierge at the Marriott until he retired in 2003. For outstanding customer service, Paul received a rare Tiefel Award Certificate from Bill Tiefel, President of the Marriott Lodging Group in 2001.
Paul married his longtime partner in 2008 in the Courthouse Annex of Laguna Hills. In 2010, with the aid of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Paul was finally able to find his biological family, which was one of the highlights of his life. Paul loved the artistic, open and closeknit community of Laguna Beach.
“My Life, My Love, My Best Friend, My Angel, My Miracle, My Godsend.”
suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, receiving known stolen property of at least $950 value.
Bench warrant, resisting a peace officer. Taylor Blaine Morgan, 29, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant and resisting a peace officer. He was held without bail.
Possessing nitrous oxide. Darren Scott Johnson, 18, of Montclair, was arrested on suspicion of possessing nitrous oxide. He was held on $500
bail.
DUI. A 44-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested on suspicion of alcohol-related disorderly conduct. He was held on $2,500 bail.
Disorderly conduct. Andrew James Sims, 36, of Shawnee, Okla., was arrested on suspicion of alcohol-related disorderly conduct. He was held on $500 bail.
Wednesday, May 1
Bench warrant. Christopher Ladd Burton, 57, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
Bench warrant. Eric William Moen, 54, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
Disorderly conduct. Matthew Paul Benusa, 37, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct due to alcohol. He was held on $500 bail.
PAID ANNOUNCEMENT
GUEST OPINION: PET PEEVES
Omit Obit
By MarK d. crantZ
Someone once said the two certainties in life are death and taxes. This is a depressing sentiment. It makes me want to get a job at the IRS and tax the guy who said this to death. That was my first thought this morning before my first cup of beer (scratch that) coffee.
It’s important to start the day on a positive note. So, I open up the Indy and then, there it is. Three more obituaries. People seem to be dying faster than I can remember. I’m a bit of an insomniac and find myself roaming around at night. It’s during
these nocturnal knockabouts that I see flashing red lights, multiple fire trucks and emergency vehicles out my window. Oh. Oh. I think. Another neighbor has bit the dust. Some come back. More and more do not.
It is the next day after these nocturnal visits that lift my spirits. The IRS guy shows up to make good on the overdue taxes. It is the expression on his face that gives me hope. It is an expression of both surprise and frustration that he has found himself a day late and a dollar short. You can almost hear his wheels turning about the forwarding address he has been left that no IRS agent in the world can run down.
I always feel better the next day. The good feeling never lasts, though. I run down to Ralph’s to pick up my daily bread…beer (don’t scratch that). That’s when I nearly bump into them, the fire truck guys in the deli, who took my neighbors away. I am never sure it’s the same guys. They all look alike to me, big, strong with a look that says we’ll live forever, you won’t. These guys scare me. So, I walk way around them, being sure not to make eye contact. There’s no reason to tempt getting on their work list for the coming nights.
Yes readers, I sound paranoid. But I
think it is a normal sign of aging. You always relate to your own peer group. The problem now is that more of my peer group are lying down for good. I can continue to say, “Get up. Get up, there’s still a lot more stories to make and talk about.” But there’s no getting up. It’s not the way it works.
I look around the block and notice there are a lot more youngsters than I remember. This group is hard to relate to. They seem to be into picking their noses and farting a lot. Well…I think I can relate to that. “Hey kids, pull my finger.”
Crantz tells the Indy that he read that 158,000 people die each day, while 401,000 people are born. He just asks that it not happen on his block only.
and radiant evenings, both equally enchanting in their own way.
Cole showed up in many different ways that summer. We talked through the words that fell into my journal while we drank Pacificos on the beach. We sang along to Ventura Highway as we drove along the coast and watched yellow butterflies dance and twirl in the wind. Cole was the kindness I found in random strangers and in the golden sunrises that took my breath away.
As summer came to a close, I looked at my little home away from home and studied the details. The lemon tree, the hole under the fence from Goose, the tulip bouquet I left sitting on the windowsill; a parting gift to the place that stole a piece of my heart. I drove away thinking that for as big as this world might be, I certainly found something special in a small part of it.
Editor’s note: This column has been redacted for space in the print edition. The full version is available online at lagunabeachindy.com. Mika
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dazzling than the last, with hot pink roses, blue hydrangeas, and lavender peonies creating explosions of color in front lawns. We took sunset walks on the beach, little paw prints trailing behind us in the wet sand. We’d stop occasionally to watch surfers brave the swells while dolphins jumped and splashed behind them. Gray, drizzly mornings were followed by flush
Tatumn, a Colorado native, currently lives and works as a marketing account manager in Denver. She is passionate about stories, both reading and writing them and is eager to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. tatumnfmika@gmail.com.
FREE COMPOSTING WORKSHOP FOR LAGUNA BEACH RESIDENTS
workshop instructor at (310) 874 -2499 or via email at lisarydermoore@gmail.com.
GUEST OPINION:
Concerning City Council
By MicheLe Monda
Just like Frank Sinatra sings, “I did it my way,” the City Council majority is singing it too. Despite residents and retailers asking to slow down the promenade planning process or start over, City Council voted 4-1 on April 23 to approve the Promenade Ad Hoc Planning Committee Work Plan.
Six retailers spoke, the majority stating that Forest Avenue’s closure and parking loss have hurt their business. Eighteen residents spoke, most asking to slow the process down to determine if a more flexible, less expensive hybrid plan could be found.
They also said that if the Promenade was to become permanent, it should be planned wisely. The council majority passed the work plan, dictating that it was to be permanent.
So much for listening to residents and retailers.
A brief history: Mayor Sue Kempf and former City Manager Shohreh Dupuis sponsored the rushed creation of the Promenade as an emergency measure to help restaurants survive during COVID, in conjunction with handing out $2 million to businesses.
A 2021 city-sponsored survey included a question about a downtown plaza. The survey had flaws, according to academic survey researchers, such as the use of a convenience sample (e.g., downtown businesses, Chamber, Visit Laguna), a timing issue (sent during the holidays), and an odd 5-point Likert scale layout with the “excellent” rating on the left and the “poor” on the right which is the opposite of the standard layout. The results of this unsound survey are the basis on which the council based its claim that residents overwhelmingly voted in support of a permanent Forest Avenue plaza.
The survey was sent to 2,307 businesses – 186 responded – a mere 8% of businesses. Of the 23,000 Laguna
residents, only 2,700 households were contacted (12% of households). Just 553 completed the survey. That’s only 2% of residents commenting. Costs to create or maintain the Promenade or loss of parking revenue were never included in the question, “Do you support converting Lower Forest to a permanent pedestrian plaza?” To date, the city has spent $896,798 on the Promenade, according to Chief Financial Officer Gavin Curran. The city has no idea how many more taxpayer dollars it will spend. Annually, the upkeep of the Promenade is $150,000. We lose $206,800 in parking fees, although we gain $100,000 in increased sales tax for an estimated net loss of $106,800. For what other needed infrastructure projects could that money be used?
Reading the staff report, residents were entirely left out of the initial promenade planning process. They would only be included in public workshops and a community survey that appeared to be scheduled after the city’s Project Team (Mayor Sue Kempf, Councilman Mark Orgill, the city project manager, consultants) and business owners, Chamber of Commerce, Visit Laguna and other self-interested groups had met in separate focus groups to make key decisions. There was no resident focus group.
Twenty-eight letters were received for public comment prior to the
meeting. Twenty-one (75% of letters) said resident input was needed. So, at the meeting, the staff report was suddenly amended to include residents in their own focus group. This is to include resident experts in fields pertaining to the Promenade’s design – architects, landscape architects and local experts in plaza design. Finally, our local expert voices will be heardbut not loud enough. This focus group can be easily ignored, as it’s apart from the city’s “insider” project team, which will carry far more weight. Residents need to be part of the decision-making in all of these focus groups, not just as one side group that only gets to give its opinion and ideas once. Mayor Kempf has seemed to refuse this higher level of resident participation, saying residents just need to be in a separate focus group –potentially nullifying resident input. If this Promenade is to be something wonderful and “make Laguna proud,” as supporters of it have said, it needs to be resident-driven. It must be for us, not for restaurants and tourists. Local expert residents must be a part of the decision-making process every step of the way. They must be included in all phases of development. Otherwise, we have two self-appointed council members with no design expertise left to dictate their own plans using flawed resident information from an outdated survey,
MONDA, PAGE 18
GUEST OPINION: VILLAGE MATTERS
Know Laguna, Love It More
By
We know Laguna, right? That’s what I thought. After living here for over 50 years, I should know all the neighborhoods and have seen all the houses, and its history should present no surprises. As house-finding chair for the Charm House Tour this year, I found myself adventurously going off the beaten path onto streets I knew only by signs from the main road. Views that seemed like those from a national park unfolded—where was I? Grand Canyon? Has this been there all along? And the varied lives of our residents! Each house different, revealing creativity, personal quirkiness, and evidence of the free spirits Laguna is known for.
Three upcoming tours have been carefully arranged so that you can easily share in the kinds of revelations I have had working behind the scenes. On two Saturdays and the following Sunday, Laguna organizations offer
tours that invite you to walk through Laguna’s gardens, learn about the work of a respected early architect, experience out of-the-way neighborhoods and visit the interiors of some of Laguna’s special homes.
On Saturday, May 4, the Laguna Beach Garden Club presents the Gate & Garden tour from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. This is the perfect time of year to be inspired by thriving and blooming plants and to see how local gardeners have enhanced their home settings in a personal way. Buses will take us to now unrevealed neighborhoods. We’ll take leisurely walks from the drop-off points to several gardens at each stop. The club has also added food, drink and a hat contest to the mix. Tickets are $60-80, depending on the time of purchase. Go to LagunaBeachGardenClub.org for tickets. The tour starts at the Laguna Beach Water District headquarters at 306 Third Street.
The city’s Heritage Committee is presenting a tour on Saturday, May 11 featuring the work of Aubrey St. Clair (1889-1968), the architect of that very Water District Building.
St. Clair family archives included a clipping celebrating the completion of this building in 1927.
“The Laguna Beach Water District is a thing of beauty and should be a joy forever to Lagunans who believed that the city by the sea is entitled to the best there is in artistic quality and excellence of workmanship...When Aubrey St. Clair was chosen to work out a plan he brought to his job the memory of days, when as a boy, he used to walk two miles out the Laguna Canyon Road with a bucket in each hand and bring back enough water for himself
and his brothers. . . So Aubrey St. Clair knew all the trials and tribulations of Lagunans over water. That is probably the reason for the exquisitely beautiful well fountain in the portico, where the water, the best in California, trickles each hour of the day, drop, drip, drip, symbolizing the undisturbed plenty of days to come.”
Aubrey St. Clair also designed the fire station, city hall, the Prisk residence now known as the Bette Davis house, the Christian Science church (now the Hare Krishna temple) and much more.
The bus tour is free, and because demand was high for last year’s tour about the homes of the early artists, the committee added a second tour. Already both tours are “sold out.” Even the waiting list is crowded! But for those who don’t make the tour, the narrators for the tour will be making a guide to St. Clair’s work available to the public. Be sure to check with the staff person for the Heritage Committee, Heather Steven at hsteven@lagunabeachcity.net to request that guide and to inquire about the Heritage Committee’s tour next year.
Lastly, on Sunday, May 19, Village Laguna invites us to the Charm House Tour, from noon to 5 p.m. A tradition that began in 1973! Generous homeowners share their living environments and creations. A cast of docents guides visitors and describes the interesting features. Over a hundred volunteers, each doing their part, expand our knowledge of our city as we view our town from the windows and insights of some of our most artistic neighbors. The bus tour leaves from the front of the Festival of Arts grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon
GUEST OPINION: MUSINGS ON THE COAST
with no costs ever outlined. These decisions will affect the very heart of Laguna forever. And residents get to pay for it.
Why are the mayor and council majority refusing to significantly include experts in the Promenade’s planning and forcing us to have it “their way?” Whose Promenade is this, anyway?
Please write to council members at Citycouncil@lagunabeachcity.net and tell them to include resident experts on their project team and in all focus groups.
Michèle is a 21-year Laguna resident and actively follows Laguna politics. She is the Treasurer of Laguna Beach Sister Cities and is involved with the local arts scene. She can be reached at Michelemonda3@gmail.com.
Road and will have several stops to tour individual homes and a surprise visit for refreshments. Tickets are $70 on presale and $80 on the day of the tour. Go to VillageLaguna.org for more information about the tour and Village Laguna.
How we appreciate our town when returning from a trip! These tours provide trips right here at home to see what has been here all along but not revealed to us until now. To know Laguna is to love it even more.
Since its founding in 1928, the Laguna Beach Garden Club has been a force behind beautifying Laguna Beach and stimulating interest and knowledge about gardens and landscaping. Visit lagunabeachgardenclub. org to learn more.
The city council appoints the Laguna Beach Heritage Committee to oversee the city’s historic preservation program. The committee is the force behind Heritage Month activities every May. For a complete list of Heritage Month activities, visit the Town Crier section of the Indy Village Laguna grew out of the movement to limit high-rise construction, which resulted in a successful initiative (1971) to limit building heights to 36’ city-wide. The organization has been working to preserve and enhance Laguna Beach’s unique village character ever since. See villagelaguna.org for more background. Ann Christoph is a landscape architect, a former council member and former mayor of Laguna Beach. She is a Laguna Beach Garden Club member, a narrator on the Heritage Committee trolley tour and part of the Village Laguna team that produces the Charm House Tour.
Targeted Cloud Seeding in Laguna
By MichaeL ray
You’ve all heard of cloud seeding, right? It is a weather modification technique that increases rainfall by introducing seeding materials into clouds, such as silver iodide, to increase ice crystals in local cloud systems and encourage, well, rain. The potential benefits to a place like Laguna Beach, which, like all Southern California, is a desert, are manifold. For example, it could be used to reduce water scarcity and reliance on imported water and increase local sustainability and ecosystem health.
First, as you also know, Laguna Beach enjoys one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines and thanks to the no-take (of marine life) zone off our shores, an incredibly diverse underwater life system, which begins with kelp, that sustainer
of tiny lifeforms that beget bigger lifeforms, then fish, then of course sharks to eat the tourists. (Sorry, there really are few, if any, local man-eating sharks, but I had to throw that in to discourage the tourists, who frantically watch “Shark Week” and assume they’ll be eaten if caught swimming locally. Instead, maybe they’ll go to Newport, where they belong---that place is full of sharks, mostly the horizontal variety, but also those that swim.)
In any case, more sustained rainfall reduces the risk of wildfires in Laguna. That is, while more rainfall will increase local vegetation, which increases the wildfire risk, more sustained rainfall will increase the moisture content of local vegetation
ann christoPh
Monda
Susi Q’s ‘Evening with an Author’ Series: Michelle Huneven
By LB Indy Staff
The Susi Q will continue its popular “Evening with an Author” series on Monday, June 3, this time featuring critically acclaimed award-winning author Michelle Huneven.
Huneven is the author of five novels, most recently “Search,” which the New York Times Book Review called “a wicked pleasure.” The book, also selected as an NPR Best Book of the Year, is described as a sharp and funny novel of a congregational search committee, told as a memoir with recipes.
During the program, which runs from 5:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Huneven will converse with podcaster and arts columnist Marrie Stone. The evening includes light appetizers, beverages and book signings. Attendees will also receive a copy of the book. The fee is $40. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
To register, visit thesusiq.org.
Susi Q recently chatted with moderator Stone about the upcoming event. Stone has conducted more than 700 author interviews over 17 years, hosting the “Writers on Writing” radio show-turned-podcast, including literary giants such as George Saunders and Elizabeth Strout. She’s also moderated many literary panels.
“It’s the best job,” Stone said. “And now I often record the podcast from home, in my closet [for sound quality reasons], often in my pajamas. But it’s also lovely to chat in person in front of a live audience of enthusiastic readers at the Susi Q.”
However, not, she added, in her pajamas.
Susi Q: Why is Michelle Huneven a good choice for the Evening with an Author series?
Marrie Stone: This season, we focused on bringing authors across genres and perspectives to represent as much diversity of subject matter as possible. We typically try to bring a bit of fun buoyancy to our summer event, and Michelle proved the perfect fit. She’s funny, she’s a little irreverent, and her writings about food will make people salivate. Even readers who come from an utterly secular background (as I do) will relate to these characters and enjoy Michelle’s humor.
SQ: Do you have a favorite among her novels?
MS: I first interviewed Michelle back in 2009 for her novel BLAME, a book that explored alcoholism and its consequences, as well as moral ambiguity (which I always love talking about).
SQ: Can you share a couple of topics you plan to raise in conversation with her?
MS: We haven’t yet explored the role of the church in modern America, and I think there’s some rich ground to cover in that conversation. Michelle will do that with an accessible, light, and humorous touch. What does faith mean these days? What role does the church play in our contemporary culture, and how does that role differ between generations? It will also be fun to talk about Michelle’s career as a food critic and how that informed so much of this book.
SQ: This is the fifth Evening with an Author at the Susi Q. They usually sell out. Why do you think they are so popular?
MS: I think people are hungry for live book events, hungry for the opportunity to hear authors in person, and hungry for community. We also make a special effort to bring authors to Laguna Beach that don’t often (or ever) appear here. They are big names for our small pond, and the Susi Q provides such an intimate and informal setting to commune with them.
SQ: Thanks so much, Marrie. See you at the Susi Q on June 3!
Huneven’s first two books, Round Rock (Knopf 1997) and Jamesland (Knopf 2003), were both New York Times notable books and also finalists for the LA Times Book Award. Her third, Blame, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and also a finalist for the LA Times Book Award. Her fourth novel, Off Course, was New York Times Editor’s Choice.
Huneven is presently teaching creative writing to undergraduates at UCLA, working on her next novel and writing the occasional article about food.
Susi Q
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Not bad advice, even 135 years later, except maybe the red meat bit. Feeling the Blues — Susi Q’s individual counseling program — offers free, confidential counseling with a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (donations are appreciated). In-person or by phone/Zoom, therapists help clients develop coping strategies that help them manage issues such as loneliness, a reduced sense of purpose, health issues, relationships with family and friends, and financial pressures.
If you would like to speak with one of Susi Q’s therapists, call Care Manager Martha Hernandez, LCSW, at 949715-8104 or email marthah@thesusiq. org for a referral.
Award-winning author Michelle Huneven will speak at the Susi Q on June 3. Submitted photo
1
GUEST OPINION: RANDOM GUY NOTICING STUFF
Earth Day: Global and Local
By Gary steWart
“Jay DeFeo: Trees provides us a view of an overlooked aspect of Jay DeFeo’s extraordinary body of work, inviting visitors into nature through her eyes,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. “Laguna Art Museum’s unique commitment to sharing the California experience through art allows us to spotlight works of wellknown artists in new and exciting ways.”
In addition to the drawings, the exhibition will feature a group of DeFeo’s remarkable black-and-white photographs of trees taken in the Bay Area during the early 1970s.
Although DeFeo’s photographs were not shown during her lifetime, she took this aspect of her practice with the utmost seriousness.
Accompanying these artworks will be a selection of archival materials highlighting the artist’s enduring fascination with trees and nature.
“It is a rare opportunity to bring together these nine drawings from the 1950s and present them in conjunction with artist’s photographs from the 1970s,” said Steiner.
“Throughout her life, DeFeo observed and depicted the natural world, and this exhibition offers an opportunity
Letters
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buildings along the guided route of the tour buses. It is a remarkable gift to Laguna, showcasing the heart and soul of our town. Long may it continue, and see you on the tour on Sunday, May 19. For information, go to VillageLaguna.org.
Charlotte Masarik, Laguna Beach
Not Interested in Drones
I’m writing about the upcoming July 4 “show.” If it’s a show of anything, it’s a show of how tone-deaf our city is.
Of course, I care about the environment, but I’m not interested in
to see some of her first-hand experiences and impressions of her surroundings.”
Jay DeFeo: Trees will be accompanied by an illustrated publication by Steiner, with a contribution by Elizabeth A. T. Smith. Steiner’s essay explores DeFeo’s drawings and photographs of trees in light of her unique artistic approach, while Smith contextualizes DeFeo’s work within the broader landscape of women artists during the mid-20th century.
Jay DeFeo: Trees is curated by Rochelle Steiner. The exhibition and publication have received generous support from The Jay DeFeo Foundation and The Segerstrom Foundation.
Coinciding with Laguna Art Museum’s annual Art + Nature initiative in fall 2024, Jay DeFeo: Trees will offer a multifaceted exploration of the artist’s work within the rich tapestry of the California environment. Through special public programs and educational engagements, the exhibition aims to engage diverse audiences and foster a deeper appreciation for DeFeo’s enduring legacy.
drones flying around to show the world just how relentlessly uptight Laguna is.
The city has already demonstrated that when it closed our beaches longer than our neighbors’ for both the virus, the oil spill, and the tsunami, which never materialized. Oh, and we’ve also been “water-wise” several years in a row.
Our infrastructure is rotting, potholes and cracks everywhere, overhead lines and overgrown trees mar our views, and your answer is drones for July 4. The one time we can take our mind off all the rot and decay and enjoy some noise, light, and smoke and be reminded that America is the place most of the
In 5,000 years of civilization, it has only been in the last century that scientists have come to understand the potential for humanity to overwhelm more than just local environmental systems. Our species can now alter global environmental phenomena, such as the chemical make-up of the atmosphere and temperature of the air and the oceans, just for starters. Recognition of this is the purpose of April 22 each year, Earth Day, now in its 54th year. Lacking formal governmental endorsement as a federal holiday, Earth Day events are largely organized by environmental NGOs, such as The World Wildlife Fund, and, of course, the true original, earthday. org. Earthday.org’s focus this year was “Planet vs. Plastics.” Coincidentally, as a physician and a member of Climate Health Now, I attended a presentation on the use of plastics in the healthcare industry earlier this week. The introduction provided a context for how surrounded we are now by nanoplastics (super-small plastic bits) – they have been found at the top of Mt. Everest and in breast milk. The health implications are ominous. A recent study of patients with blocked arteries found that 1) a large percentage of these
world wants to be and we are blessed enough to be here. It calls into question the city’s true motivation. Have they become obsessed with controlling the citizens who live in what was once a model of freedom and creativity? The government can’t tolerate people drawing outside the lines, can they? So, stop it. Just stop it.
Michael Rybah, Laguna Beach
Direct Billing for Waste Collection
Does anyone else have this question? Laguna Beach has informed us that our solid waste and recycling services, currently provided by Waste Management, will be billed directly
blockages have nanoplastics in them, and 2) patients with nanoplastics in their blockages were four and a half times more likely to have a heart attack, a stroke, or die, compared to patients who did not. This is a highly significant measure of serious health risk.
At earthday.org, a short video offered the following call to action: No more plastic in our food. No more plastic in our lives. We absorb it, eat it, and breathe it. Plastic is toxic. And now it’s personal. The plastics industry knows it. They’ve known for decades. Plastic may cause chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, adult-onset diabetes, impaired brain and neurological functions, cardiovascular system damage, obesity, cancer. Our goal is 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040. Take action. Three simple acts, endless impact. 1) Support the Global Plastics Treaty. 2) Reject Fast Fashion. 3) Join the Great Global Cleanup. #PlanetvsPlastics; Earthday.org/ social-2024.
That’s global. What about local folks? No worries. The Earth Day event at Rivian, organized by the Laguna Canyon Conservancy, was a string of organizations doing volunteer work to improve our community’s shared life.
Ginger and Tom Osborne of Citizens’ Climate Lobby kicked it off by describing and inviting participation in their group’s nonpartisan advocacy for carbon pricing, healthy forests, electrification and permit reform. Coastkeeper protects “swimmable, drinkable, fishable water” and promote regional watershed resilience, relying upon their five pillars of Education, Restoration, Enforcement, Advocacy and Research. They have a host of programs, including Kids Ocean Day, Cleanup OC, Berm Buddies and Environmental Policy. They are
STEWART, PAGE 21
to the residents of Laguna Beach by the new service provider (CR&R) as of July 1, 2024. For me, that begs the question: how is this service billed now? The answer is that it is paid for by a Laguna Beach assessment on property taxes. What has not been addressed by the city is whether or not that assessment will be terminated. If the current assessment, i.e., tax, is not terminated, then the residents of Laguna Beach will be paying twice for the same service. Clearly, the city should not be taxing us for a service it is not providing. We should expect the city to confirm this.
David S. Watkins, Laguna
Beach
Jay DeFeo, Untitled (Tree series), 1953. Tempera on paper, 11 3/4 x 17 inches (29.8 x 43.2 cm). Collection Laguna Art Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Merle S. Glick, Image courtesy of The Jay DeFeo Foundation/ Artists Rights Society
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also deeply involved in creating and monitoring the Marine Protected Areas, and it is making a measurable difference. The Laguna Bluebelt Coalition is equally involved with the MPAs and the carbon-capturing kelp forests they harbor and hosts their annual photo contest (a few years ago, I purchased one of the awesome award-winning shots).
Another local nonprofit, the Laguna Ocean Foundation, has the tidepool docent program and the ambitious Aliso Creek Estuary Restoration Program and renovation of Aliso Beach Park. They motivate “Citizen Science” – maybe you can be a researcher!
Assistant City Manager Jeremy Frimond spoke at length about what the city is doing to respond to climate change. He went through the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan: reduce greenhouse gases, reduce harms resulting from the climate crisis by identifying vulnerabilities (Hint: wildfire at the top of the list), and achieve sustainability. The multi-step process has just reached the “Develop Strategies” phase.
The presentation then turned to our local high school and LCAD students. High school students presented thoughtful and informative videos, and we heard about the LHS FLOW (Fire, Land, Ocean, Water) program. The college students reviewed repurpose design projects that were imaginative and inspiring.
Lastly, Gene Felder, founding board member of the Laguna Canyon Conservancy, reviewed the organization’s rather remarkable number of actions since 1987 that, in the aggregate, are a big part of what makes Laguna Beach so unique. Stopping development of Laguna Canyon by the Irvine Company, Proposition 12, train maintenance, education of school children, funds to various other local nonprofits, preservation of the Dana Point headlands, creation of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, the Banning Ranch Conservancy, the list was endless.
Underlying the entire evening was the refrain – Join Us! Keeping a habitable planet takes more than a village. It takes an Earth. Every day.
Dr. Stewart, a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, stopped in Nashville and St. Louis for education before arriving in Southern California in 1977. A happily married internal medicine physician with three accomplished children, he is equally enthusiastic about the arts (piano player, art collector, bachelor’s in English, widely read), the sciences (physician, climate activist with Citizens’ Climate Lobby) and fun.
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and create a more fire-resilient landscape. This is important because the local lobby opposed to cutting down any tree is as strong as Paul Bunyan, that mighty mythical American lumberjack. Example: the city arborist recently recommended cutting down a diseased eucalyptus tree that threatened to fall onto a nearby rooftop. It was a safety issue, but horrors(!), the local anti-cutting-down-any-tree lobby showed up so strongly at the relevant city council meeting that the council caved, hired an outside arborist (at great cost) to get a second opinion, and only then could that dangerous eucalyptus be eliminated. Parenthetically, if we wish to reduce the overall risk of wildfire risk, the city should eliminate all “eucs.” They brim with highly flammable oils and go up and off like gunshots, and their burning leaves are blown hundreds of yards, still exploding with flames where they engulf still more houses. But, oh boy, try getting the city council to pass that ordinance. I already can hear the local anti-cutting-down-any-tree lobby exploding in its own firestorm.
Then, perhaps most important of all, there is the growing water shortage. we in Southern California do not really perceive its worldwide effects, but soon will: historic allocations from the Colorado River, which have so favored California, soon will be modified, probably reducing all allocations as the Colorado River, itself, is facing a rainfall shortage. Then there is the aqueduct from the Sacramento basin, fed by snowfall, itself also declining---and don’t be fooled by this year’s heavy snow and rainfallsthose are anomalies.
To secure more water, desalination plants have been and are proposed along our coastline. The one near Dana Point was approved by the Coastal Commission but faces years of lawsuits, and what it will produce is puny anyway. The one off Huntington Beach was killed, and others face similar issues.
No, we need targeted cloud-seeding right here in Laguna Beach, open our cisterns, collect water, and don’t pass go as we watch other regions, so slow to match our own unmatched progress into the future, that our quick-twitch city council once again will lead us into that wonderful, unmatched march into the future.
Michael co-founded Orange County School of the Arts, The Discovery Cube, Sage Hill School, Art Spaces Irvine and several other area nonprofit organizations. He is a business partner with Sanderson-J. Ray Development and has lived in Laguna Beach since the early 1980s.
5/3 OZZY
ourney T ribu T e )
5/25 IN THE AIR TONIGHT (P hil C ollins & G enesis T ribu T e )
5/26 BLACKHAWK
5/31 YACHTY BY NATURE
6/1 STEELHEART
6/2 CELEBRATING WHITNEY
6/6 HOWIE DAY
6/7 ROBERT JON & The Wreck
6/8 THE ENGLISH BEAT
6/9 GARY HOEY
6/14 AMBROSIA
6/15 CHEST FEVER (T he b and T ribu T e )
6/16 ELVIN BISHOP - Big Fun Trio
6/21 DESPERADO ( e a G les T ribu T e )
6/22 DESPERADO ( e a G les T ribu T e )
6/23 JUSTIN HAYWARD
6/28 THE BACON BROTHERS
6/29 SKELETON CREW (G raT eful d ead T ribu T e )
7/3 IAN MOORE
7/5 WALTER MICHAELS BAND
7/6 SHINE ON (P ink f loyd T ribu T e )
7/12 YYNOT ( r ush T ribu T e )
7/13 FAST TIMES - T he u lT imaT e 80 s T ribu T e !
7/14 THE CREAM OF CLAPTON BAND
feat. Will Johns & Noah East
7/19 THE 5TH DIMENSION
7/20 Y&T
7/26 KEN GARCIA
7/27 BOB SCHNEIDER
7/28 BOBBY GRAY
8/1 CASH’D OUT (J ohnny C ash T ribu T e )
8/2 Beach Boy AL JARDINE
8/3 CUBENSIS (G raT eful d ead T ribu T e )
8/10 BEATLES VS STONES
8/17 PIANO MEN: GENERATIONS
8/23 SUPER DIAMOND
8/24 SUPER DIAMOND
8/27 TAB BENOIT & ANDERS OSBORNE with Special Guest JD SIMO
8/29 THE PETTY BREAKERS
8/30 GLENN HUGHES - Deep Purple Set
8/31 MICK ADAMS & THE STONES
9/1 MIDGE URE
9/7 SOUTHERN ROCK THROWDOWN
9/8 An Evening with JOHN LYDON
9/12 GRAHAM BONNET P erformin G r ainbow , ms G & a l C aT razz
9/14 JOURNEY USA (J ourney T ribu T e )
9/15 BENISE: Fiesta!
9/19 THE MAN IN BLACK (J ohnny C ash T ribu T e )
9/22 JANE MONHEIT
9/25 ANA POPOVIC
9/27 DAVE MASON
10/3 ZEBRA
10/5 KIMBERLY PERRY (of The Band Perry)
10/10 HENRY KAPONO
10/11 HENRY KAPONO
10/16 JIMMIE VAUGHAN
10/18 GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP
10/20 THE YOUNG DUBLINERS
11/8 COMMON SENSE
11/9 TYRONE WELLS
11/15 RONSTADT REVIVAL
11/16 JOSHUA RADIN & RON POPE
11/23 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
11/29 THE PLATTERS
11/30 LEE ROCKER of the Stray Cats
12/4 LIVINGSTON TAYLOR and LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
12/15 THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
12/29 L.A. GUNS
1/24 GENE LOVES JEZEBEL / BOW WOW WOW
Madame Pernelle (the magnificently imperious Rosina Reynolds), Orgon takes Tartuffe in as a permanent houseguest. Not only that: He has promised that daughter Mariane (Shanté DeLoach) will break off her engagement and instead marry Tartuffe.
Worse still, Orgon deeds all his wealth and possessions, including the family home, to Tartuffe – a move that will later come back to bite him.
Orgon’s hotheaded son Damis (Rogelio Douglas III) wants nothing better than to run Tartuffe through with his sword. For all his concerns for the family and alarm over the villain’s disruption of the family, he’s taken to task by Orgon, then disinherited.
Baird’s cast captures the outward decorum of Molieré’s characters. What’s more, they master and expertly deliver their dialogue, a tricky proposition at best.
Turk is slyly, hilariously overthe-top, and in delivering this brazen, unctuous rogue’s lofty pronouncements, the actor’s ringing oratorical style might remind you of Victor Buono in some of his hammier roles, with touches of the bombast and hypocrisy of many a W.C. Fields screen persona.
Thanks to Foxworth’s portrayal, it isn’t hard for us to see Orgon is more than naïvely trusting – he’s outright gullible, his Orgon a cheerfully petulant oaf who has gone overboard in his ferocious devotion to Tartuffe.
Foxworth adds yet another layer, his Orgon so strong-willed and determined to have his way as to be an unyielding martinet – and once he sees the light, Orgon roils with volcanic anger, his stubborn pride preventing him from admitting to having been duped.
Melanie Lora is absolutely delightful, her Elmire a winning combination of elegance and intelligence, projecting femininity while her sharp mind devises ways to manipulate the sticky scenario facing the family. She aims to expose Tartuffe’s true colors to
husband Orgon with a minimum of embarrassment to him.
Orgon, as we see, is merely the nominal head of the family. It’s actually a matriarchy under the commanding, outspoken Madame Pernelle. Reynolds wonderfully delivers the self-righteous piety of this grand dame, who’s even less inclined than Orgon to believe the depths of Tartuffe’s skullduggery.
The role of the sarcastic family servant is a grand tradition, and Katie Karel’s sharp-tongued Dorine is unafraid to mix it up with her rich employers, seeing right through Tartuffe, yet unable to open anyone’s eyes. What’s more, Karel dexterously uses her inflections to wring laughs from her cutting lines.
Christopher M. Williams has the rather thankless role of Elmire’s brother Cleante. Williams deftly portrays the sensible moderate who offers wise, if unheeded, counsel – one of the few to identify the family’s situation and dispense sound advice accordingly.
Jared Van Heel imbues Valere, Mariane’s betrothed, with a comically foppish, mannered demeanor that’s at first surprising but quickly proves an inspired choice. (Van Heel also arrives late in the play in the secondary role of Tartuffe’s loyal stooge, aptly named Loyal.)
In Mariane’s fervently earnest entreaties to Orgon to allow her to marry true love Valere, and not force marriage to Tartuffe, DeLoach tugs at our heartstrings in perhaps the story’s most thankless, pro forma role.
Baird’s direction and cast’s acting style are all of a piece. Here’s a “Tartuffe” that’s comically melodramatic, a purposeful choice that drives home the script and story’s humor. The use of couplets creates a singsong rhythm to Molieré’s dialogue, and his skillful writing can be justly compared with poetry.
We’re given the pleasure of Tartuffe’s (finally) getting his comeuppance in the eleventh-hour arrival of one of King Louis XIV’s officers (Kate Rose Reynolds) in a brilliantly comedic version of that ever-reliable theatrical trope, the deus ex machina.
Marty Burnett’s period set, Elisa
Benzoni’s costumes and Peter Herman’s hair and wig designs, all fixed firmly in Molieré’s time, and Matt Novotny’s lighting, make this a gorgeous-looking, brightly lit confection. Ian Scott’s sound work, which includes original music, adds the finishing touches.
Laguna’s production is rife with many delicious moments, and while the script contains a handful of lengthy speeches, Baird and company keep things moving, holding our interest for the duration.
This isn’t a knee-slapping, laugha-minute comedy – more like a light drama punctuated with comical dialogue and populated by characters
CLASSIFIED
whose personalities prompt us to laugh.
Your laughter arises from the developments of each scene and the interactions of the characters. You’ll laugh because you recognize the foibles of those characters – attired in such finery, polished and well-spoken, and given to the most blatant examples of human folly.
Moulton Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive, Laguna Beach. Through May 5. Running time (including intermission): Two hours, 25 minutes. Tickets: $45 to $84. Ticket purchase/information: 949-497-2787, lagunaplayhouse.org.
Rogelio Douglas III, Christopher M. Williams, Bo Foxworth, Bruce Turk and Kate Rose Reynolds star in Tartuffe, directed by Richard Baird and now playing at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. Submitted photo
Shanté Deloach, Katie Karel and Jared Van Heel star in Tartuffe, directed by Richard Baird and now playing at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. Submitted photo
