14 lagunabeachindy . com JUNE 21 , 2024
OBITUARY
John Christopher Schroeder
June 28 , 1967 - June 13 , 2024
John was a 35-year Laguna Beach resident who graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1985 . He was living in Florida at the time of his death . He died suddenly of a heart attack . He is survived by his father and his siblings , David Schroeder , David Schroeder Jr . and Kelly Schroeder .
PAID ANNOUNCEMENT
GUEST OPINION
Concerning City Council
By MiChele MondA
A responsible city should behave like a responsible household – expenses should be covered by available income . Laguna Beach ’ s projected income for the next fiscal year is $ 144 million with budgeted expenses taking $ 143 million . How does the over-eager City Council majority plan to pay for expensive projects it wants to do like taking over / undergrounding Laguna Canyon road ($ 150 million ), a new fire station ($ 8 million ), making the Promenade permanent ($ 3 million ), a municipal pool ($ 12 million ), overhauling St .
Catherine ’ s with state-of-the-art staff offices ($ 20 million ?), parking structure at the Village Entrance ($ 10 to $ 15 million ), Downtown Action Plan ($ 14 million )? Raise taxes , of course . Using the 2024 Community Survey as a guide , on June 11 , 2024 , the council discussed which form of increased taxes voters would support as a ballot measure in November : raising the sales tax , raising the Business License Tax , or raising the Transient Occupancy Tax ( TOT ) paid by hotel guests . A parcel tax on all real estate in Laguna was such a bad idea that it never made it into the survey .
A sales tax increase was dismissed even after residents were informed what the half-cent tax increase would fund — a split sample found 54 % and 56 % said no .
The Business License Tax ( BLT ) has not been revised in 28 years and is well below most other cities . While 53 % responded no to raising the BLT , 49 % agreed that the BLT needs to be modernized . It ’ s currently capped at $ 1,650 for all businesses , seemingly low for some of the larger businesses in town . Laguna restaurants , on average , enjoy annual gross revenue of $ 3 million with a relatively low turnover rate .
While , due to survey results , the council thought now is not the time to raise business taxes , all businesses wouldn ’ t necessarily receive substantial fee increases . If the BLT increase is targeted at restaurants and bars only , which collectively bring in over $ 400 million in annual revenue , and at least 50 % of customers are visitors , the survey responses might have been different . Couldn ’ t the council impose increased BLT fees by category at a council meeting ? They seem to be afraid to go that route and alienate their main constituents . But council felt if it could get the Chamber of Commerce on board with updating the tax , then this should be revisited .
The Transient Occupancy Tax ( paid by hotel guests ) is 14 % of the room cost . 12 % goes into the General Fund , the Capital Improvement Fund and the Measure LL fund . One percent goes to Visit Laguna for marketing , and 1 % goes to fund the arts in
MONDA , PAGE 17
OBITUARY
In Loving Memory of
Linda Ann Gehringer
January 31 , 1954 – May 17 , 2024
Linda Ann Gehringer , much-loved wife , stepmother , sister , aunt and acclaimed actress , died at her home in Laguna Beach , California , on May 17 , 2024 , at the age of 70 . Her passing created a void in the lives of those who loved her , but also leaves a spectacular legacy of joy , laughter , love , friendship , boundless energy , endless spirit , and tremendous accomplishment in the acting world , on-screen , but especially on stage , where Linda was truly at home .
Linda was born and raised in Detroit , Michigan , where she attended St . Mary ’ s of Redford , where she first found the stage in various high school productions . She received her BFA from Oakland University in Rochester , Michigan , where she frequently performed in productions at the Barn Theater there . Linda went on to receive her MFA from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and , upon graduation , was awarded the prestigious Bush Fellowship , which entitled her to spend a year performing at the Guthrie Theater , one of the top regional theaters in the country . She also met her first husband , Ken Bryant , a theater director and MFA recipient there and they were married in 1980 . Ken ’ s extended family are also Laguna Beach residents .
Linda and Ken spent several years in New York before moving to Dallas . Linda performed in many plays in Dallas , while Ken became the youngest artistic director in the country when he was named the artistic director of the Dallas Theater Center . Their idyllic lives were torn apart when Ken was accidentally killed in 1990 .
Shortly before that tragedy , Linda had been cast in a regular role on Evening Shade ¬¬, a sitcom that ran for four years from 1990 through 1994 . After Ken ’ s death , she made her home in Laurel Canyon . In 1993 , while visiting Ken ’ s parent ’ s home in Laguna Beach , Linda met Chris Farley , their next-door neighbor . Linda and Chris were married in 1998 . Linda took on her new roles as Chris ’ s spouse and stepmother to Chris ’ s two children , Margot and Brian , who were then teenagers , while remaining fully
engaged as a theater , film and television actor .
Linda achieved remarkable success and gained a stellar reputation as an actor , appearing on over forty television shows and several films . However , Linda ’ s true home and the place she most loved to perform was the live stage . She captivated audiences and had an enviable ability to fully embody a wide range of leading characters , from classic Shakespearean roles to the most modern , leaving no detail too trivial to execute to perfection . Beginning in 1997 , Linda became an integral player at South Coast Repertory Theater , eventually appearing in 23 plays . She also participated in developing new plays through readings and the annual Pacific Playwrights Festival and the Ojai Playwrights Conference . Linda also performed at major theater venues throughout the country , including New York , Chicago , Washington D . C ., Boston , Berkeley , Baltimore , Seattle and the Berkshires . More information about her roles in TV , movies and stage productions can be found on the memorial website and broadwayworld . com .
The COVID pandemic curtailed not only her career but all live theater . Her final play , The Outgoing Tide , was staged at the North Coast Repertory Theater in the Summer of 2022 .
Though her work was incredibly important to her and to the theater world , what Linda contributed most uniquely to all who knew her was her beautiful spirit . Linda not only always injected fun , warmth and laughter into every room she entered , but she also made every person feel they were the most important person in the room , and Linda would do anything to make their life easier , richer , better , or just more fun . She could be silly , goofy , or intensely emotional , but always was pure , unadulterated , and inimitable Linda , a truly extraordinary treasure .
Linda will be sorely missed by her audiences , her fellow professionals and her extended family . With her passing , the world lost a truly shining star .
Linda is survived by her husband , Chris Farley ; her stepchildren , Margot Farley Stuart ( Sean ) and Brian Farley ; her grandchildren , Baillie , Avery , and Weston Stuart , and Lia Farley ; her brother , Matt Gehringer ( Su Metzel ), and her sister , Carole Whitney ( Mike ), and her niece Ava ( Brennan Hutson ), nephews , Jackson Gehringer and Jake Whitney and grand-niece , Lucy Hutson . She was predeceased by her mother , Beata Maria Gehringer ( nee Karabees ), father , Charles K . Gehringer , Sr ., brother , Charles ( Charley ) Gehringer , Jr ., and sister-inlaw , Nancy Gehringer ( nee Richter ), and her first husband , Kenneth Bryant . There will be a Celebration of Life in Laguna Beach for friends , both personal and professional , and extended family . Details to come . In lieu of flowers , the family requests donations to be made in Linda ’ s memory to South Coast Repertory or another theater of your choice . To visit her tribute : Linda ’ s Tribute Page : mccormickandson . com / obituary / linda-gehringer .
PAID ANNOUNCEMENT