Students plan to protest social host ordinance in Laguna

Laguna Beach High School students are challenging a proposed municipal law that would hold adults responsible if underage drinking takes place in their homes.

The proposed social host ordinance would fine adults whether or not they are present when teens drink.

LBHS students opposed to the proposal say they are not advocating for underage drinking — quite the contrary. They argue that the proposed city law does little to combat the root problems of underage drinking and that the community needs to provide more activities for minors.

The City Council, citing other cities adopting similar ordinances, directed staff to draft the ordinance May 1. The ordinance does not refer to parents, only to anyone 18 or older who controls the property where underage drinking occurs.

Groups such as the PTA, local principals and the city’s Community Coalition spoke in support. Out of the 17 speakers, 13 were in favor.

–Joanna Clay, @joannaclay, Coastline Pilot

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Laguna mayor kicks off reelection campaign

Mayor Jane Egly, with her husband, Paul, in 2007.

Laguna Beach has some issues that Mayor Jane Egly would like to have a hand in solving.

Egly, who is running for her third term on the City Council, kicked off her reelection campaign Sunday at Madison Square and Garden Café, dwelling on the practicalities of running a city.

Among her topics were upgrading aging infrastructure and safeguarding pedestrians by installing sidewalks; using the city’s water supply, all imported, more judiciously; and a balanced budget that still preserves Laguna’s quality of life.

“I shall continue to watch the dollars,” Egly said.

Egly is also passionate about making Laguna a “Complete Streets” city, with streets that reduce traffic congestion and are more inviting to all modes of transportation.

“This makes our city more livable and sustainable,” Egly said. “And it now the law.”

Married to retired Judge Paul Egly, an early advocate of open space preservation, the mayor has a vested interest in protecting the environment and increasing open space, particularly the buffer areas that protect homes and people.

–Barbara Diamond, Coastline Pilot

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Modifications proposed to artist live-work ordinance in Laguna

A moratorium on projects where artists live and work at the same site in Laguna Canyon could be lifted if the City Council gives final approval to a proposal by the Planning Commission.

The council gave preliminary approval at the May 1 meeting to modifications to the existing ordinance and recommended incentives aimed at providing affordable space for artists to live and work in the M1A and M1B zones in Laguna Canyon, the city’s only industrial zones.

“This is a serious effort to keep emerging artists in Laguna Beach and to maintain and renew the synergy of the traditional art community,” said Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson, who co-chaired the subcommittee with Commissioner Linda Dietrich.

The subcommittee held workshops with local artists, architects, contractors and art groups to craft changes to the existing, but moribund Artist Live/Work ordinance. Emphasis was placed on work space and ordinance name was flip-flopped to Work/Live to reflect the precedence over the ancillary residential component.

Recommended incentives to encourage construction of the units include reduced parking and greater density than otherwise permitted.

–Barbara Diamond, Coastline Pilot

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GOP presidential candidate Karger marches through Laguna

Fred Karger and supporters walked the streets of Laguna on May 5 to talk to voters and hand out Fred Frisbees. (Courtesy Fred Karger)

Fred Karger, the GOP presidential hopeful, held his precinct walk in Laguna Beach on May 5 with about a dozen volunteers and a bagpiper, according to a news release.

Karger and volunteers walked up and down the streets, talking to voters and handing out “Fred Frisbees.” They started in North Laguna, then headed to Heisler Park and Main Beach and down Forest Avenue to the Fire Station.

The bagpiper gave concerts along the route, and upon arriving at the fire station, a local firefighter grabbed his bagpipe and formed a duet, the press release said.

The event ended with a Cinco de Mayo lunch for all the volunteers at the White House.

“We interacted with several thousand voters from Laguna and Southern California about my message of bringing back the American Spirit and opening up the Republican Party,” Karger said in an email.

For more information on his campaign, visit www.fredkarger.com.

–Alisha Gomez, Coastline Pilot

Police: Father accused of striking son in Laguna

A Laguna Beach man was arrested Friday on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child after his son ran into the Pavilions market at 600 N. Coast Hwy. to hide from him, police said.

The 12-year-old boy said he ran into the supermarket because his father was hitting him, according to police.

Officers arrived around 9 p.m., around the same time the 46-year-old father got to the store.

The father and son had been at a baseball game at nearby Riddle Field earlier in the day.

According to Lt. Jason Kravetz, the father reported that the boy “acted out” and was disciplined when they arrived home. That’s when the boy fled the house and ran to Pavilions.

Kravetz said the father is accused of striking his son and leaving marks on his body.

— Joanna Clay, @joannaclay, Coastline Pilot

Zpizza granted extension to stay at original Laguna site

ZPizza founder Sid Fanarof pulls a pear and Gorgonzola cheese rustica pizza out of the oven at ZPizza in Laguna Beach. (File photo)

Zpizza may keep its doors open at its original site through summer, thanks to an extension it was granted.

The pizzeria had anticipated being booted from its location at 30902 Coast Hwy. on April 16, after being told in March it had 30 days to vacate the space due to a five-year lease option not being exercised.

The spot is the origin of the international, artisan-style pizza company, which now has restaurants across the U.S., Middle East and Asia. It all started 26 years ago at the Laguna Beach location with local founder Sid Fanarof and a pizza oven.

Zpizza Operations Manager Summer Tarango said they were planning to stay until they were kicked out.

She said on April 13 they received notice that they’d have through August, which was good news since summer is the pizzeria’s busiest season.

Fanarof is scouting other locations in South Laguna, not far from Zpizza’s first spot, according to Tarango. They are already in negotiations with two spaces, she said.

–Joanna Clay, @joannaclay, Coastline Pilot

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Keep an eye on Gentlemen’s Breakfast in Laguna

Van de la Plante sits next a line of his stylish vintage glass frames on display in the Gentlemen's Breakfast boutique in Laguna Beach. (DON LEACH)

Thirty-four-year-old Van de la Plante looks every bit the gentleman.

Sporting a beige linen resort suit, a green Cuban Guayabera cigar shirt and Huarache Cole Haan sandals, de la Plante fits in well as owner of Gentlemen’s Breakfast, a new boutique that sells antique eye glasses, sunglasses and accessories at 1968 S. Coast Hwy.

The small shop, splattered in bitter chocolate and beige tones, is decorated with manly finds and furnishings. Antique crystal decanters sit on an old desk, filled with scotch and ready for the pour.

A vintage bourbon flask is disguised as a “1909 candlestick phone.” It’s reserved for those who spend enough money, according to de la Plante, who declined to give an amount. A feather pen with ink jar caps off a rich, old-world look.

It’s the second such boutique for the entrepreneur and optician, who opened his first one in Echo Park in February 2010.

–Alisha Gomez, Coastline Pilot

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‘Drug Take Back Day’ in Laguna a success

The Laguna Beach Police Department held its third annual “Drug Take Back Day” on April 28, where people are able to turn in prescription drugs without question. Police said it was the most successful of all take back days.

Police collected five boxes of prescription and over-the-counter medications weighing in at more than 125 pounds.

The day encourages citizens to get rid of unwanted drugs so that they don’t get into the ecosystem or get in the hands of someone besides them.

It was held in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Day.

The Laguna Beach High School parking lot served as the drop-off area and several high school students, representing the Laguna Beach High School Drug Prevention Council, worked with police.

–Joanna Clay, @joannaclay, Coastline Pilot

Laguna Breakers breeze to another volleyball crown

Laguna Beach's Maxx McCarter hits past Costa Mesa's Noah Jeyarajah during a match at Costa Mesa High on Monday. (SCOTT SMELTZER)

The Laguna Beach High boys’ volleyball program pieced together another undefeated run through Orange Coast League play by rolling to three victories in the past week.

The Breakers completed their league and regular-season schedule Wednesday by sweeping visiting Saddleback, 25-21, 25-19, 25-18. Jack Winn had 12 kills, Maxx McCarter nine kills, Weston Barnes eight kills and eight digs, Austin Hilleman eight kills, Jake Hexberg 19 digs and Winn (15) and Grifan Fair (26) combined for 41 assists.

Laguna, ranked third in CIF Southern Section Division 2, improved to 20-8. The Breakers went 10-0 in league and have won 86 straight league games (dating to May, 2009), and its last 38 league matches (dating to April, 2008).

The Breakers also scored a 25-16, 25-16, 25-16 sweep Monday at Costa Mesa, and sewed up the OCL title April 26 following a 25-12, 25-11, 25-10 home sweep of Godinez.

“It is awesome to win league in my first year,” Laguna Coach Scott Panaro said. “I am proud of the guys for their hard work and dedication. I am fortunate to have several players who play year-round in club and at the beach. This additional experience goes a long way and gives us an edge in our league.”

–Mike Sciacca, @MikeSciacca, Coastline Pilot

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Rohrabacher to speak in Laguna Beach

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) will be back in Laguna Beach soon.

The longtime congressman, who attended Steven Dicterow’s kickoff for reelection in April, will be the guest speaker at the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn.’s annual dinner May 18.

Rohrabacher is a candidate for the newly redrawn 48th Congressional District, which will include Laguna Beach.

Host committee for the dinner includes Dicterow and his wife, Catrina, Judy and Don Josephson, Visitors & Conference Bureau President Karyn Philippsen, former Mayor Cheryl Kinsman and Chamber of Commerce President Michael Kinsman, Dee and Karl Koski, association President Martha Lydick, Realtor Bobbi Cox, Nanette and Dennis Myers, Ann McDonald, Frank Ricchiazzi and Borden Moller, Angie and Ed Petersen, Sandy and Ara Hovanesian, Michelle and Councilman Kelly Boyd, Festival of Arts board member Anita Mangels and Bill McKinney, and K’ya Bistro Bar owner Chris Keller.

Additional hosts may be added upon request.

The dinner will be held in a private home. First call goes to folks on the association’s invitation list. But a few seats may be available for $60 each, $10 less if joining the association.

Reservations must be made by May 11.

For more information and the location, contact shovanesian10@yahoo.com ormlydick1@verizon.net.

–Barbara Diamond, Coastline Pilot