6 lagunabeachindy . com MAY 19 , 2023
Abalone will be the topic at 4 p . m . on May 30 at the Susi Q Community Center . Abalone has been a part of our history for over 10,000 years , first as food for indigenous Californians and later as a special treat for Laguna ’ s ocean community .
Ann Vileisis is an environmental historian and independent scholar . Her first book , “ Discovering the Unknown Landscape : a History of America ’ s Wetlands ,” won two national history awards from the American Historical Association and the American Society for Environmental History . Her second book , “ Kitchen Literacy : How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back ,” was recognized by Real Simple Magazine as one of “ 50 books that will change your life .”
And her new work , “ Abalone : The Remarkable History and Uncertain Future of California ’ s Iconic Shellfish ,” has been called by Dr . Callum Roberts “ a truly marvelous , unexpected joy of a book .”
Don ’ t miss out to learn more about
Laguna ’ s wonderful iconic abalone . Mike Beanan , Laguna Beach
Wake up , Laguna ! The LBUSD is proposing significant expansion and construction at the high school campus ; $ 88 million in construction costs plus unspecified “ soft costs ” are expected to total $ 150 million .
This construction expense includes two new pools – one of which is 50 meters – in place of the current tennis courts ($ 20 million ), resulting in the tennis courts being relocated to the roof of a new multi-level parking structure ($ 15 million ), district offices demo ’ d , moved and expanded with new ocean view office for the superintendent ($ 20 million ), high school admin building demo ’ d , expanded and replaced ($ 15 million ), plus other odds and ends , less than 10 % of the expense has anything to do with academic improvements for the students .
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In the meantime , high school enrollment will decline 22 % from 2017 to 2025 , according to the district ’ s own projections .
High school test scores are on the decline . No studies have been conducted on traffic , noise , congestion , views , lighting , or any other neighborhood impacts .
And no plan on how to finance all this – watch your wallets ! Big tax increase , anyone ?
Less than 10 % of high school students participate in swimming competitions or water polo . Having said that , many in the community also use the pool , which could stand to be replaced or improved . But we do not need an aquatics center on the same scale as surrounding communities with resident and school populations literally 10 times that of Laguna .
I hope that those at the school district will make this planning process more transparent , focused on the academic needs of the students , and responsible to the community and taxpayers . So far , it has been anything but . Richard Plavetich , Laguna Beach
LETTERS , PAGE 20
theIndyPoll
LAST WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Do you plan on attending the city ’ s public workshop on the Forest Promenade next Wednesday at the Susi Q ? - Yes , 35 % ( 7 votes ) - No , 65 % ( 13 votes )
TOTAL VOTES 20
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Will you be recreating at the new Laguna Beach Community and Recreation Center ?
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PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Zepezauer
CREATIVE DESIGN DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING Scott Sanchez
CITY HALL MEETINGS :
Wednesday , May 24 , Administrative Design Review Meeting at 3 p . m .
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL
Bob Whalen Mayor bwhalen @ lagunabeachcity . net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
Sue Kempf Mayor Pro Tem skempf @ lagunabeachcity . net
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 DEBORAH NEEV : dneev @ lagunabeachcity . net
Mark Orgill Councilmember morgill @ lagunabeachcity . net
Alex Rounaghi Council member arounaghi @ 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
George Weiss Councilmember gweiss @ lagunabeachcity . net
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk amckay @ lagunabeachcity . net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer lparisi @ 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 714-834- 3550 , Lisa . Bartlett @ ocgov . com
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