$ 5.00
OFF
Any Order of $ 25 or More
$
10.00 OFF
Any Order of $ 50 or More
Mention coupon when ordering . Not valid with any other offer . Expires 5.15.23 .
397 S . Coast Hwy . Laguna Beach , CA pizzabaroc . com
949-497-2277
“ Our Town , Our Paper ” lagunabeachindy . com MARCH 3 , 2023 | Volume XX , Issue 9
Pacific Marine Mammal Center Breaks Ground on ‘ The Next Wave ’ Expansion Project
By LB Indy Staff
Dignitaries from across Orange County gathered at Pacific Marine Mammal Center ( PMMC ) on March 1 to celebrate the beginning of a $ 14,000,000 project that hopes to revolutionize the facility ’ s ability to care for its seal and sea lion patients , as well as saving 15,000 gallons of water a day .
“ The groundbreaking ceremony culminated years of collaboration with city and county officials and meticulous planning to build a revamped center that can meet the growing needs of both our animal and human communities ,” PMMC CEO Glenn Gray said . “ By reclaiming an estimated 5.5 million gallons of water annually ,
Orange County and Laguna Beach dignitaries gather to break ground on the Pacific Marine Mammal PMMC will majorly contribute to Center ’ s newest project . From left to right : PMMC CEO Glenn Gray ; PMMC Governance Chair John Laguna Beach ’ s longstanding title as Kinney ; PMMC Board Secretary Diane Halvorson ; board members Scott Kratzer , Phil Shuluk , Ed Batlle and Jeff Brumett ; former OC Supervisor , 5th District Lisa Bartlett ; board member Tom Hale ;
PACIFIC MARINE 3
Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Sue Kempf and PMMC Board Chairman Jeff Meberg . Photo / PMMC
CITY OFFICIALLY TAKES CONTROL OF SOUTH LAGUNA BEACHES
By LB Indy Staff Laguna Beach has officially taken ownership of all south Laguna beaches and coastal properties from the County of Orange as of March 1 . As part of the transfer agreement , the county is giving the city a one-time sum of $ 22 million to counterbalance the added cost of providing services and beach maintenance . “ Assuming control of the South Laguna beaches culminates two years of work by the city and county to make this happen ,” Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said about the transfer . “ I want to thank the county for working in partnership with us and to commend
BEACHES , PAGE 14
From left to right : Laguna Beach Assistant City Manager Gavin Curran , Director of Public Works Mark McAvoy , Police Chief Jeff Calvert , Mayor Bob Whalen , City Manager Shohreh Dupuis , Marine Safety Chief Kevin Snow and Fire Chief Niko King . Photo / City of Laguna Beach
Assistance League Program Honors Infant Graduates
By Barbara McMurray Special to the Laguna Beach Independent
Like every graduation , this one included beaming parents and grandparents , mortarboards and Elgar ’ s “ Pomp and Circumstance .” The graduating class of six held it together without crying , each accepting , with help from a parent , a diploma and a stuffed plush gorilla named Matilda , the mascot for the program they completed . The Assistance League of Laguna Beach ’ s Early Intervention Program is a unique program for families with developmentally delayed infants .
In its 46th year of operation , the weekly program in Laguna Beach is the only one of its kind in the U . S . – and it is entirely free of charge for families . Babies may participate in the program until they are one year or slightly older if that is determined to be beneficial . Infants in the program have a variety of diagnoses , including genetic disorders , premature birth , and exposure in utero to harmful substances . The program has helped more than 1,300 families throughout southern California . They are drawn to the program for its lack of red tape to access the inclusive , family-centered program .
INSIDE
INFANT , PAGE 17
COASTAL REAL ESTATE GUIDE
The Ultimate Real Estate Guide for Homebuyers & Owners in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach