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Coastal Gardener: How to Kill a Lawn

Ron Vanderhoff, Daily Pilot columnist

The lawn that just won’t die! Surprisingly perhaps, that’s exactly the fear that many people have when contemplating switching their lawn to something else.

We fuss and labor over our lawns. If we miss a watering, forget to fertilize or ignore our little green oasis, we quickly see the outcome: browning, dieback, weeds, disease and so on. So, when the time comes, you’d think it would be easy enough to murder them.

Not so. Grass lawns, especially those in California, can be tenaciously persistent, refusing to die, returning months later to haunt the executioner. Even the idea of removing a lawn leaves many stricken with fear.
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The college conversation: Her daughter is headed off to school

LISA McLAUGHLIN, Daily Pilot columnist

My 5-year-old heads off to kindergarten this week, and even though she’s been in preschool and pre-K for three years, I’m a mess.

This transition is the real deal, and I’m beside myself wondering if I’ll have enough tissues the first day.

She, on the other hand, is ecstatic. The thought of new friends. New clothes. What her new teacher will be like.

And, more than that, she can’t wait to get back to school and learn. The Montessori school that she attended for three years called the time when students were focusing on academics “work,” so she’s really excited for new “work.”
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Sustainability expert to speak in Laguna

A winner of three U.S. presidential awards, sustainability expert Bill McDonough will speak on progressive business practices and production methods at a Townhall Foundation event Sept. 8 in Laguna Beach.

McDonough will lead a conversation, “Celebrating Abundance: Designing for the Cradle to Cradle the Future,” based on ideas presented on a book he co-authored, “Cradle to Cradle.”

“I believe we can accomplish great and profitable things within a new conceptual framework — one that values our legacy, honors diversity, and feed ecosystems and societies … It is a time for designs that are creative, abundant, prosperous and intelligent to start,” says a statement from McDonough on his website, www.mcdonough.com.
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O.C. Bargainista: Pretty in pink, lipgloss that is

By Cadice Baker, Daily Pilot columnist

Freebie of the Week: A free lip gloss from Express stores! Better hurry if you want to cash in on this one — the offer only is active today, to receive a coupon to redeem Sept. 8 to 10. Go to www.facebook.com/expresshttp://www.facebook.com/express and select the “New Fans” tab, saying you want to be a fan, then fill out the form for your personalized coupon.

While the kids are away, Mommy can play

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12 surfers fall from ASP World Tour roster at Billabong Pro Tahiti

The news of the day at the Billabong Pro Tahiti isn’t so much who advanced to the next round, but who won’t be continuing on the ASP World Tour.

That’s because of a new format in place this year which will reduce the roster from 45 to 32 surfers after this event, No. 5 on the ASP World Tour.

Twelve of the 13 were decided Tuesday on clean 3- to 4-foot waves during the completion of Round 2 and the first 12 heats of Round 3 at Teahupoo.

Surfers missing the cut include two Southern Californians — San Clemente’s Nate Yeomans and Tanner Gudauskas. Gudauskas was ousted after a Round 2 defeat by Hawaii’s Andy Irons and Yeomans lost in Round 3 to Adrian Buchan of Australia.

“It was a tough heat,” Gudauskas said. “There’s not a lot coming in and when you get a guy like Andy, you have to be on your game. Today wasn’t my day. It [being on tour] has made us push as hard as we can. No easy days. We’ve gone as best we can and we’ll just keep trying to go.”

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CIF Southern Section football polls

Edison, Newport Harbor and Laguna Beach are the three local high school football programs from our coverage area in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa ranked in the CIF Southern Section preseason top-10 polls.

Corona del Mar, Estancia and Sage Hill School are teams to watch in their respective divisions. … Continue Reading

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Another helping of Greer’s O.C.

By Greer Wylder, Daily Pilot columnist
Rave review for Pizzeria Ortica

You know something tastes good, if not great, when the not-easily-wooed Los Angeles Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila lovingly gives it a green light — especially in Orange County.

Well, she was smitten with the dishes at Pizzeria Ortica in Costa Mesa. She even said, “For one thing, the menu includes pasta, some of the best in Southern California, plus a fine antipasti and salad menu, and a handful of well-conceived main courses.” Some of the best in SoCal — wow, that’s saying a lot.

You can dine and bring the whole family to David Myers’ fabulous Pizzeria Ortica for Family Style Mondays; $50 feeds three to four people. The special menu features choice of two salads, tricolore with treviso, arugula, endive, apples, Gorgonzola and candied walnuts, or L’Italo Americana with radicchio, romaine, endive, grilled zucchini, spicy salame, provolone, pickled peperoncini, red onion and cherry tomatoes. There is a choice of two fresh pastas: ravioli di burrata al pomodoro, a burrata-filled ravioli with fresh tomato and basil; or tagliatelle Bolognese, a hand-cut spinach pasta with traditional meat sauce and Parmigiano Reggiano.

There is also a choice of six handmade Napoli-style pizzas: marinara (crushed San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, Sicilian oregano); margherita (with crushed San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and basil); prosciutto di parma e rucola; margherita with parma ham and wild arugula and salame piccante e funghi; margherita with spicy salame, mixed mushrooms and alla norma, cherry tomatoes, basil, eggplant, smoked mozzarella and ricotta salata, salsiccia with house-made sausage, caramelized fennel, mascarpone, red onion and buffalo grana; and lastly, milanesa with Fontina, asparagus, Parmigiano Reggiano and fried egg. There’s also a choice of gelato for dessert, and you can splurge for $20 with select wines available, too. The restaurant is open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and open for dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Pizzeria Ortica is at 650 Anton Blvd. in Costa Mesa. Complimentary two-hour parking with validation is available in the Plaza Tower parking structure. For more information, call (714) 445-4900 or visit http://www.pizzeriaortica.com.

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The Crowd: A change in the social seasons

2:00 pm, Aug 25th, 2010 Written by Daily Pilot Laguna Beach Newport Beach News Regional Add a Comment

By B.W. Cook, Daily Pilot columnist
Summer is only just beginning, weather-wise that is, on the California Riviera. In spite of the sun’s seasonal delay, the summer social calendar will end Sept. 10 with the lavish Oceana benefit at the Cahill estate high above the Laguna surf. Following time-honored tradition, the winter social season officially commences the following evening, Sept. 11 with the South Coast Repertory Gala. Organizers are billing the evening as “The Play’s The Thing,” which it has been for decades in Orange County

Chairing this season’s extravaganza will be the incredible Sophie Cripe. Committee co-chairs are the amazing and beautiful duo of Olivia Johnson and Teri Kennady. The event promises to be the grand opener on the O.C. cultural calendar. Cripe, Johnson and Kennady will be joined by an all-star team of SCR devotes including Bette Aitken, Pam Muzzy, Elizabeth An, Betty Huang, Linda Hovee, Ashleigh Aitken, Beth Phelps and Laurie Smits Staude ensuring both financial success for SCR and a fabulous evening for the donors.

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Brush fire off Laguna Canyon Road knocked down quickly

3:15 pm, Aug 23rd, 2010 Written by Los Angeles Times Laguna Beach News Regional Add a Comment

(Photo by Mark Boster | Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority and Laguna Beach Fire make a swift attack on a one-acre brush fire off Laguna Canyon Road in Irvine near the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park on Monday. First responders initially requested air support, but the request was canceled because of the quick knockdown.

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Council approves buying cottage beams

3:00 pm, Aug 20th, 2010 Written by Barbara Diamond Laguna Beach News Regional Add a Comment

One of three cottages at the Big Bend (Photo by Don Leach | don.leach@latimes.com)

The City Council will continue to prop up three cottages moved from Third Street and stored in Laguna Canyon — and pay $8,400 to do it.

Younger Brothers House Moving, owners of the beams and cribbing that have supported the cottages since they were moved to the canyon site in 2007, asked to be paid for their property or have it returned. The purchase was approved Tuesday, without comment from the council or the public.

City staff recommended buying the beams and cribbing, using funds left over from the purchase of furniture and materials for the Community Center.

…Continue reading Council approves buying cottage beams

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TIMES COMMUNITY NEWS

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Drugs, drinking popular at park near Metrolink tracks where teens were killed, neighbor says

Written by Los Angeles Times on Sep 9th, 2010 at 11:49 am

A section of railroad tracks in south Orange County where two people were struck and killed by a Metrolink train Thursday is near a park that is frequented by teenagers and young adults drinking and taking drugs, a neighbor said.
“Kids are always drinking and partying down there. It’s been a problem,” said Keith Ball, [...]

PHOTOS: OCADA 22nd Annual Senior Games

Written by Scott Smeltzer on Sep 8th, 2010 at 3:58 pm

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Seniors participate in the Orange County Activity Directors’ Association’s 22nd Annual Senior Games at the Orange County Fairgrounds Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Former OCC student wins Food Network challenge

Written by Tom Ragan on Sep 4th, 2010 at 6:00 am

COSTA MESA — A graduate of Orange Coast College’s culinary arts program won first place this week in a contest in which four top chefs went up against one another to see who could create a chocolate vehicle that actually moved.
Award-winning Las Vegas pastry chef Chris Hanmer, a former resident of Costa Mesa, won $10,000 [...]

PHOTOS: Marina High School Football

Written by Scott Smeltzer on Sep 1st, 2010 at 2:37 pm

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Marina High School football players practice Tuesday, Aug. 31 in preparation for the upcoming season.

PHOTOS: Ocean View Football

Written by Scott Smeltzer on Sep 1st, 2010 at 2:30 pm

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Ocean View High School players practice Tuesday, Aug. 31 in preparation for the start of the season.

PHOTOS: Project Self Sufficiency Back-to-School Celebration

Written by Scott Smeltzer on Sep 1st, 2010 at 2:22 pm

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Project Self Sufficiency hosts a back-to-school celebration with free backpacks and school supplies at the Edison Community Center Monday, Aug. 30.

Man who killed Newport liquor store clerk gets 25 to life

Written by Mike Reicher on Aug 31st, 2010 at 12:55 pm

Weston Scott Kruger, a Newport Harbor High School graduate, was sentenced to 25 years to life Tuesday, and will be eligible for parole in 21 years because of credit for time already served.
The defense is planning an appeal based on certain jury instructions, including those to consider that a homicide occurred at the same time [...]

Newport tennis player Beblie improving

Written by Matt Szabo on Aug 27th, 2010 at 10:45 pm

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Newport Harbor High incoming senior Tracy Beblie won the 11th annual Safe Passage Summer Junior Open tennis tournament Thursday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, beating Jake Hoeger of Redondo Beach, 6-0, 6-4 in the final.
Beblie had knocked off No. 1-seeded Anthony Lee of Gardena in a semifinal, 6-0, 6-2.
Beblie, who played No. 1 [...]

PHOTOS: Oktoberfest at the Old World Village

Written by Scott Smeltzer on Aug 27th, 2010 at 4:33 pm

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Oktoberfest at the Old World Village in Huntington Beach will start on Sept. 5 and run through Oct. 31 on Wednesdays through Sundays.

Elvis in the Marketplace

Written by Daily Pilot on Aug 24th, 2010 at 10:45 am

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See the rest of the slide show here.