Laguna Beach middle school principal moves up to high school

Joanne Culverhouse will replace outgoing Laguna Beach High School Principal Don Austin, according to the school district.

Austin announced Thursday that he is taking a position with a Huntington Beach school district.

Culverhouse has served as principal at Thurston Middle School and El Morro Elementary School, according to a news release. She has 30 years of educational experience as a teacher, coach and administrator. She earned an undergraduate degree and two master’s degrees at the University of Nevada, Reno, and received a doctorate from UCLA.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as the principal of Laguna Beach High School,” Culverhouse said in the release. “The high school has received many distinguished awards and I look forward to continuing the tradition of academic success they have experienced over the years. I also look forward to immersing myself in the athletic and visual and performing arts programs. I am very excited to join Laguna Beach High School as the new principal.”

…Continue reading Laguna Beach middle school principal moves up to high school

Candle blamed for apartment fire

A lit candle left unattended in a Catalina Street apartment bathroom was blamed for a fire that caused $10,000 in damages Friday evening, according to a press statement from the Laguna Beach Fire Dept. No injuries were reported.

The fire department was summoned at 8:33 p.m. to the 2100 block of Catalina Street, where a lower unit in a 20-unit building was in flames. A smoke alarm alerted a neighbor to the blaze, who called 911, said Division Chief Dan Stefano in the press statement. The fire was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

The building was evacuated and the American Red Cross of Orange County provided assistance to the occupant of the damaged unit, Stefano stated. Four engines responded, including one Orange County Fire Authority truck.

“A working smoke alarm and an early activation of the 911 system definitely saved this structure from more substantial damage and significantly reduced the risk of casualties to the other tenants,” Stefano stated.

From Canyon To Cove: Facing the big ‘C’

Editor’s note: Cindy Frazier returned last week from a two-month medical leave. This is her story.

It all started with an itch.

It was mid-February. I was sitting in a staff meeting with our veteran reporter Barbara Diamond when suddenly I couldn’t stop scratching my arms, legs, head and feet.

I’m prone to skin allergies — poison oak is my bane — so it’s not unusual for me to experience unexplained itching.

But this was different.

“You’d better see a doctor about that,” Barbara advised, presciently as it turned out.

…Continue reading From Canyon To Cove: Facing the big ‘C’

From Canyon To Cove: Take your pick of gay-friendly cities

The Boom Boom Room may be history, along with the Little Shrimp and Woody’s, but Laguna Beach is not giving up on attracting and serving gay and lesbian visitors.

The Gay and Lesbian Travel Industry Directory 2011 has a two-page spread devoted to the city, extolling its beautiful beaches, secluded coves, absolutely fabulous restaurants, artists enclaves and hip nightspots.

The Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau placed the full-page ad and provided materials for an “editorial” page, a promotion that cost the bureau $3,000, according to Executive Director Judy Bijlani.

Laguna Beach is listed in the 123-page directory along with quite a few other “gay-friendly” cities that might not spring immediately to mind: Cleveland, Winnipeg, Canada, Milwaukee, Wis., Raleigh, N.C., and Halifax, Nova Scotia, to name a few.

…Continue reading From Canyon To Cove: Take your pick of gay-friendly cities

From Canyon to Cove: Handling the homeless issue in a caring way

The Alternative Sleeping Location wasn’t even on the radar in January 2008 when Laguna Beach Police Officer Jason Farris was tasked with the job of handling the city’s hardcore homeless population.

Farris was the first police officer to be given an exclusive “homeless beat,” and he had the luxury, and responsibility, of figuring out for himself how to go about the job. Was the job rousting street sleepers with a baton and moving them out of town, or helping them to get shelter and better lives?

…Continue reading From Canyon to Cove: Handling the homeless issue in a caring way

Two evacuated from burning home

Two people were evacuated from a Laguna Beach home early Friday after a deputy fire chief saw smoke billowing from the lower level of a multi-story home in the 500 block of Thalia Street, according to a news release.

Deputy Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse was on his way to work when he saw smoke billowing from the structure at 7:42 a.m. He alerted the occupants and helped them get out of the home, and called firefighters. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and quickly extinguished the fire, which was confined to the lower level storage areas, Stefano stated.

…Continue reading Two evacuated from burning home

Laguna opens emergency operations center after tsunami advisory

Beaches in Laguna Beach have been closed as a result of a tsunami advisory issued early Friday morning following a 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan last night, according to a news release from City Manager John Pietig. A series of waves about 2 feet high were expected to hit the coast for a three-hour period beginning at 8:39 a.m., according to Pietig.

The waves, although not expected to be large, could pack a punch because they travel at speeds as fast as 500 mph, according to John McDonald, spokesman for the Emergency Operations Center of Orange County.

“We’re not expecting serious property damage but it’s dangerous for people to be out in the water because the tidal wave could pull them in,” McDonald said.

…Continue reading Laguna opens emergency operations center after tsunami advisory

Home burgled while residents were present

A home in the 1200 block of Temple Terrace was reported burglarized while the residents were at home, possibly asleep, Callus stated. The residents reported at 7:29 a.m. Sunday that a suspect had entered the home using a ladder and kicking in a screen, according to police records.

Man arrested in alleged assault

A Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a 72-year-old man who was walking on Laguna Canyon Road in the Big Bend area  Thursday, Callus said.

Police were called to the Day Labor Hiring Site by the man’s son, who said his father was crossing a driveway when a man began to turn into the driveway and yelled at him to move out of the way, Callus said. The suspect then exited his vehicle and allegedly struck the victim, knocking him to the ground. The victim said he briefly lost consciousness and when he woke up, the suspect was standing over him. The victim was able to stand and leave the area.

Police identified the suspect as John Onsby Bennett, 46. He was arrested on suspicion of battery with injury and posted bail of $30,000.

Trophy winners named

The Pageant of the Masters took top honors in the Commercial Float category in the 45th annual Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade, held Saturday under sunny skies. Oaks Middle School in Ontario was honored with the Band Assn. Sweepstakes award, while the Laguna Beach Garden Club was deemed best in the Community/Service Float category. Numerous other entries were honored.

The parade drew throngs of cheering crowds to downtown Laguna Beach with floats, bands, equestrians, and military personnel, all celebrating the theme, “Welcome Home,” to the troops returning from the Middle East.

The winners are:

Grand Marshal’s Trophy: Laguna Beach Girl Scouts

…Continue reading Trophy winners named