Subscribe | Advertise Laguna Beach owes a debt of gratitude to Drs Their decades of experience in education is apparent by their insightful comments and leadership skills They both bring a calm demeanor to many times chaotic board meetings Laguna Beach is very fortunate to have them both on our school board Rebuttal against Levine’s attack of Howard Hills After reading David Levine’s recent Letter to the Editor (LTE) rant about Howard Hills I would like to suggest that his tin foil hat might just need an adjustment His interpretations of Hills’ statements were very elementary and in themselves lack proof and obvious understanding Levine’s wild claim that Hills’ statement saying that the district had hired a “professional” firm to coordinate the superintendent search and that it will be a “breakthrough” to find a very qualified candidate is somehow misleading His opinion of “spin/half-truths,” while questioning the “professional” capabilities of the well-known and respected search firm at one point 49 candidates had requested applications I am surprised with Levine’s apparent “law acumen” that he would demand those names The process is fully confidential to protect the privacy of applicants There have been several instances when detractors have wrongly claimed no qualified candidates will apply (and yes there is proof in many board meeting videos) The rest of Levine’s rant is full of innuendo and baseless glaring imbalance and potential misinformation Perhaps he should produce his own proof to back up all that hyperbole The newly elected school board members’ only “crime” is that they won an election Levine is connected and has gained such “sweeping knowledge” of all these issues and events It seems he may not be aware of the actual coordinated attacks directed at board member Howard Hills Hills has been the focus of exaggerated claims has been attacked or maligned by other board members a PAC/parent group and on what’s believed to be a phony social media account – all using some of the same jargon and narratives observed and followed by a private investigator and his neighbors were asked by a former board member to share their security videos Shaena Stabler, President & CEO – Shaena@StuNewsLaguna.com Lana Johnson, Editor – Lana@StuNewsLaguna.com Tom Johnson, Publisher – Tom@StuNewsLaguna.com Michael Sterling is our Webmaster & Designer Mary Hurlbut and Scott Brashier are our photographers Suzie Harrison and Theresa Keegan are our writers and/or columnists In Memoriam – Stu Saffer and Barbara Diamond Email: Editor@StuNewsLaguna.com with news releases Email: Shaena@StuNewsLaguna.com for questions about advertising *The content and ads in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the publisher Men's and women's medalists pose for photos during the awarding ceremony at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Eylon Elazar of Israel competes during the men's final match between Lubos Nemec/Adrian Petruf of Slovakia and Eylon Elazar/Kevin Cuzmiciov of of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Lubos Nemec (R) of Slovakia competes during the men's final match between Lubos Nemec/Adrian Petruf of Slovakia and Eylon Elazar/Kevin Cuzmiciov of of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Kevin Cuzmiciov (R) of Israel competes during the men's final match between Lubos Nemec/Adrian Petruf of Slovakia and Eylon Elazar/Kevin Cuzmiciov of of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Gold medalists Lubos Nemec (R)/Adrian Petruf of Slovakia pose for photos during the men's awarding ceremony at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Eylon Elazar (R) of Israel competes against Adrian Petruf of Slovakia during the men's final match between Lubos Nemec/Adrian Petruf of Slovakia and Eylon Elazar/Kevin Cuzmiciov of of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Lubos Nemec (R)/Adrian Petruf of Slovakia celebrate winning the men's final match against Eylon Elazar/Kevin Cuzmiciov of of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Gold medalists Shaunna Marie Polley (L)/Olivia Macdonald of New Zealand pose for photos during the women's awarding ceremony at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province World Speed adds second entry for upcoming Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America round… World Speed Motorsports has announced the addition of drivers Cam Aliabadi and Dario Capitanio to its Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America lineup for next weekend’s third and fourth rounds of the season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 15 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 in the pair of 50-minute races Capitanio brings a wealth of experience to the team he secured a Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Pro-Am class victory at Watkins Glen His diverse racing background includes campaigns in the Huracan Super Trofeo and a Ferrari 488 GT3 in the GT Winter Series in Europe Capitanio’s recent successes in 2024 feature a podium finish in the GT3 Winter Series and a pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pirelli GT4 America round Aliabadi’s journey in motorsports began in 2016 with Mercedes-AMG driving schools he has amassed significant track experience through over a dozen classes across renowned circuits in the U.S Following his victory in the 2021 Lamborghini Pilota Program Aliabadi embarked on his rookie season in 2022 His debut year was marked by impressive results including four podium finishes and a notable win at Laguna Seca achieving a podium finish alongside Jaden Conwright The addition of the experienced pairing of Aliabadi and Capitanio strengthens the team’s lineup for the Laguna Seca event with Conwright and Scott Huffaker continuing to pilot the No photos and video features from the trusted Sportscar365 web staff RAFA Racing Team boss on organizations rapid expansion in North American sports car racing.. Lamborghini to use GT3 car as base for new Super Trofeo model that will.. Catch up on Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America action from Sebring International Raceway.. New 2025-spec Hankook Ventus tire to debut with Super Trofeo Europe season-opener next month.. The nation’s second-largest nursing home which just three years ago struggled to keep its doors open after a Medicaid and Medicare decertification has earned a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5-Star Quality rating.  San Francisco’s Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center had “a very successful annual survey,” a San Francisco Department of Public Health press release announced Tuesday said The new-found recognition is exhilarating and a total difference from the 2-star rating it had in 2022 CEO and nursing home administrator for Laguna Honda told McKnight’s Long-Term Care on Wednesday.  “There is a sense of satisfaction and a lot of joy,” Sidhu said “After almost facing a closure and facing a decertification Sidhu also attributed the achievement to the facility’s resilience and commitment to its long-term mission of improving resident care Laguna Honda represents what’s possible when dedication and devotion collide said California Association of Health Facilities Director of Public Affairs Corey Egel in comments to McKnight’s Wednesday.  “Laguna Honda’s journey from decertification to achieving a 5-star Quality rating is a testament to its commitment to excellence in patient care,” Egel said “In response to the revocation of its Medicare and Medicaid certifications The comprehensive overhaul addressed systemic challenges led to the reinstatement of its certification which ensured the hospital’s continued operation.” In April 2022, CMS quashed Laguna Honda’s ability to serve federal beneficiaries due to four substandard surveys that raised major questions about staff training and competency patient-centered care and infection control efforts.  And earlier this year, the 600-plus bed facility’s vacancy rate sat at more than 30%.  after gaining its recertification through the completion of a 960-step plan — with milestones that included new leadership expanding resident councils and improving infrastructure — none of the progress would be possible without a focused and engaged staff “The staff came in and rolled their sleeves up not even knowing what the future could hold,” he explained “This is a commitment and a result of their hard work the residents and their families had their trust in us.” The facility enacted several approaches to turn things around including partnering with regulatory experts for mock surveys and internal daily observations to identify potential challenges For operators looking to improve the quality of care they provide having a solid foundation and being transparent are essential “It’s really about recognizing what your issues and problems are then having a plan to address them head on,” Sidhu explained You’ve got to build their morale and educate them.” but rather a continuous effort to build adequate systems which is owned by the San Francisco Department of Health the department told McKnight’s in February bringing the census to 435 residents.  Occupancy levels have improved even further over the last few months “Our occupancy has taken a positive turn since [February],” Sidhu confirmed “Our admission rate has climbed exponentially compared to where we were at the top of the year Our goal is to be full by the end of the year and I think we are well on our way to achieving that.” though it could accommodate a 769-bed level before the pandemic That total was slashed by federal mandates that said there could be no more than three residents per room document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded' function () {const newsletterAsset = new HMIRegistration({ publicationId: 8 bootstrap: document.getElementById('newsletter-asset') formType : "user-initiated",pubType: "business"});newsletterAsset.mount();}); Please login or register first to view this content Only subscribers can update their account from this page Print Somewhere under the rain clouds the Laguna Art Museum was having its exterior transformed into a mishmash of color Museum representatives had drawn attention to plans for a community art wall in the weeks ahead Where a mockup of the plans showed the names of donors being painted onto designated spots of the façade what ultimately transpired last Saturday turned into playful spontaneity Carly Seelig and Barbara McMurray, from left, paint their names in creative ways on the community art wall at Laguna Art Museum. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Those who donated $250 or more to the museum’s “Every Single One” campaign were invited to paint their names on the outer from longtime museum members to small children Two girls paint happy faces on the community art wall at Laguna Art Museum (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Lea Abel-Stone watched her 5-year-old daughter who attends the Montessori School in Laguna Beach In addition to an array of paint colors and brushes organizers also provided stencils to help guide the community members-turned-muralists “She’s living her best life,” Abel-Stone said Ed and Carole Kim join Barbara McMurray as they paint their names in creative ways on the community art wall (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The campaign has raised $400,000 so far Plans for the money include auditory and accessibility improvements as well as a new paint job for the building and while donors are generally more excited about contributing to programs “We know that the building itself, when the building doesn’t look good, or it doesn’t have some of the accessibility needs inside, then we’re not putting our best foot forward, either. …What you’re seeing here today has raised money to get the building painted.” Perlin Lee added that through the fundraising effort the museum has been able to put new acoustic tiles in the galleries, “because sometimes it’s difficult to hear, especially talking when we have lectures. Music’s great in the museum, but talking is difficult, so we’ve upgraded the acoustics.” Various names and designs are painted on the community art wall at Laguna Art Museum on Saturday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) It would be a “nice fresh start,” Perlin said of the improvements, adding that there were plans to have added lighting around the building. Just a couple hours into the project Saturday, those walking by the building toward Heisler Park were stopping and taking notice. The community art wall is expected to remain in place for a month. “Some people have said, ‘Well, is this the very end of [the fundraising campaign],’ but the reality is this helps get our message out more than ever,” Perlin Lee said. “Now, people are thinking, ‘What’s going on at the museum?’” Andrew Turner is a sports reporter for the Daily Pilot. Before joining the Pilot in October 2016, he covered prep sports as a freelancer for the Orange County Register for four years. His work also has been used by the Associated Press and California Rubber Hockey Magazine. While attending Long Beach State, he wrote for the college newspaper, The Daily 49er. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and history. (714) 966-4611 News Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Weaver Racing Concepts is excited to return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this time with Brent Crews behind the wheel of the No 2 Weaver Concepts/Mobil 1 Dodge Challenger The team was last at Laguna Seca in 2021 with the master “We are looking for a great race weekend here in Monterey with Brent Crews,” said team owner Pancho Weaver “He is a very talented young man and we're looking forward to competing at the top level of the Trans Am series against all the front running teams Brent drove for me last year at Road America at age 16 and won the race in his first attempt at driving a monster Trans Am machine Crews wheeled the team’s bright yellow Dodge Challenger at Sonoma Raceway to a fourth-place finish after a right-front flat tire He soldiered back to his only finish this year and had a great drive to gain some valuable points in the 2025 TA season “The team worked hard all week to turn this car around and to prep this Weaver generation 3 racecar for battle at Laguna Seca,” continued Weaver “Mike Seymour/Seymour Enterprises of Fairfield California was kind enough to let us use his race prep shop all week and help with anything we needed He has been a huge help and a very close friend for many years Brent is ready and the car is ready for a top result In this very competitive arena called the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Many thanks go out to our partners and supporters for this effort it takes a whole group to make this program successful all my guys here and at home: Nathan Slusser Print Penelope Elena is a hair suspension artist and insists her practice is not a trick but you actually really hang all your weight from your hair.” Elena has been doing dance and gymnastics since she was 4 years old and at the age of 8 began specializing in contortion She went on to master aerial silks and hoops About seven years ago she began to develop her hair suspension discipline a hair suspension artist featured in the upcoming Cirque du Soleil “Echo” show in Laguna Hills (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Elena is among the talented performers featured in Cirque du Soleil’s “Echo,” coming to Laguna Hills from May 23 to June 29 when the world-renowned circus arts show raises the Big Top at the former site of the Laguna Hills Mall taking place under a large-scale circus tent rather than in a theater or stadium It tells the story of a young girl named Future and her best friend as they explore a fantastical world with a mysterious cube at its center The two friends discover how their actions shape the world while their story celebrates the bond between animals and nature Each Cirque du Soleil show is unique with its own narrative and style and for “Echo,” the creators aimed to build a new modern universe for a Big Top presentation “I think the aesthetics of ‘Echo’ is very different it has a very contemporary design,” Elena said “[The show] is really accessible for all ages,” said Henrik Veres a juggler featured in Cirque du Soleil’s “Echo.” “Every act has something that certain ages can relate to.” Veres began honing his talent at a young age Juggler Henrik Veres and hair suspension artist Penelope Elena are among the performers featured in the upcoming Cirque du Soleil “Echo” show in Laguna Hills (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “I was actually born in a circus family,” Veres said “I am the sixth generation of circus performers in my family.” Veres had focused on the discipline of juggling and was performing in front of a live audience by the time he was 14 He joined Cirque du Soleil in 2018 and has been on tour with “Echo” for two years Elena and Veres spent a recent afternoon visiting various Laguna area landmarks including the beach and the Sawdust Festival Village in full makeup and costume for photos to promote the upcoming show They are excited to bring the tour to Orange County and look forward to inspiring audiences with their very real talent and the “Echo” story Penelope Elena and Henrik Veres carry a surfboard-shaped sign promoting the upcoming Cirque du Soleil “Echo” show in Laguna Hills (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “Every Cirque show has a message and this one kind of has the message that every action causes a reaction,” Veres said “I hope when they watch something like this they get inspired enough to know that everybody matters and doing good deeds in life will bring some good back to you as well.” Most regular tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s “Echo” cost $78 per person, with some shows priced at $68 and the 1 p.m. June 1 show priced at $83. There are also special group rates and VIP packages. Visit cirquedusoleil.com/echo for details. Sarah Mosqueda covers Orange County food, art and culture for TimesOC. She most recently worked as a staff writer in Food for the Los Angeles Times. She also has several years of experience in the restaurant industry, including as a proprietor. Mosqueda earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. TimesOC Entry list for fourth round of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season released… A total of 36 cars are set for next weekend’s Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the return of the GTD Pro class to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship The field for the May 9-11 round features 11 GTP entries There are a few changes to the entry list since each category’s last respective rounds including Frederik Vesti in for the FIA World Endurance Championship-bound Earl Bamber in the No 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R As announced on Wednesday morning, Marvin Kirchhofer will sub for the still-injured Ben Barnicoat in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 in the GTD Pro ranks, while Darren Turner steps into the No 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo in place of Tom Gamble who will also be on WEC duty at Spa-Francorchamps next weekend Alec Udell will team up with Robert Wickens in the No 36 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R following Wickens’ GTD debut alongside Tommy Milner at Long Beach Milner is one of four full-season Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports drivers in GTD Pro meanwhile is set for its first GTD sprint start of the year with Onofrio Triarsi and Riccardo Agostini at the wheel May 10 and the two-hour and 40-minute contest set for Sun John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John Bobby Rahal on improvements to BMW Team RLL's execution after recent misses.. A look into the life of AWA tire specialist (and baking pro) Ashley Baily.. Porsche pegged back in latest revision of IMSA's Balance of Performance.. Alec Udell confirmed as Robert Wickens' co-driver in No Ben Barnicoat sidelined for second consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race… McLaren factory driver Marvin Kirchhofer will sub for Ben Barnicoat in the No 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 in next weekend’s Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca who won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the GTD class with Corvette customer squad AWA will join Aaron Telitz in the Vasser Sullivan’s GTD Pro entry for the first two-hour and 40-minute race of the season The 31-year-old German also took part in the full GTD Pro season last year in Pfaff Motorsports’ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo continues his recovery from injuries sustained in a mountain biking accident with no timeline for the Englishman’s return to the cockpit I want to wish a speedy recovery to Ben,” said Kirchhofer “I’ll try my best to be a good replacement in Laguna Seca and TRD for the opportunity to race with them in Laguna Seca I would also like to thank McLaren for letting me pursue this opportunity “I’m very excited to get behind the wheel of the Lexus RC F GT3 and I really hope that we can get a strong result in one of the toughest tracks the series competes at.” Lexus motorsports senior manager Jeff Bal added: “While we continue to wish Ben a speedy recovery we are fortunate to welcome Marvin to the team “He was able to join us for a test at Laguna Seca a few weeks ago and immediately fit right in with the team we know he is more than capable of helping Aaron and the 14 crew bring us another strong finish for Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing.” Toyota-contracted driver Jose Maria Lopez filled in for Barnicoat at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring but is unavailable next weekend due to his FIA World Endurance Championship commitments with Akkodis ASP Team in the LMGT3 ranks with the Lexus RC F GT3 John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John Stu News Laguna Photographer Mary Hurlbut saw an Instagram post by the Laguna Beach Fire Department about a recent fire station tour by a group of students She quickly sent a message asking if she could arrange a field trip for our local homeschool students parents and their children arrived at Fire Station 2 on Agate Street for their 10 a.m Jonah wore his own fire gear and was thrilled when Firefighter/Paramedic Moises Gonzalez showed him the hose stored in the front bumper of the fire engine Visitors got to see the fire station “living room” Firefighter Jeff Zaccaro showed them the “classroom” for the firemen Tatianna Hamm loved how friendly the firemen were and how attentive they were to the kids’ questions “Seeing the LBFD Station 2 was a very memorable experience for my children We all enjoyed sitting inside of the fire truck and we imagined racing through the winding Laguna Beach streets in it and answered my son’s many curious questions.” Firefighter Jeff Zaccaro and Jonah pose together inside the station Carolyn J was grateful for the chance to meet the firefighters I think it’s important to show our little ones who real life superheroes are – and we were given the opportunity to do just that up close and personal with our Laguna Beach Firefighters.” “I would say that the field trip for me was bittersweet I’m so grateful for the opportunity for Lana to tour the facilities and meet these brave and capable humans I was struck by their youth and the enormity of their sacrifices Their living spaces are small and cramped and every day they commit to risk their lives to save others,” said Molly Zurfluehtour “Once our daughter opened up and decided to stop being shy The chance to hangout in and explore both the ambulance and firetruck were a hit I believe it’s so good for the little ones to see how the firefighters (or first responders in general) live in order to cultivate their appreciation and understanding of the safety they provide the public It was fun for the parents as well to see all the smiles; the firefighters were very patient with all the kids,” said Casey Stearnsour Firefighter Jeff Zaccaro and Ambulance Operator Michael Robles gather after a fun and informative morning there was an opportunity for everyone to hold the fire hose We appreciate all that our first responders do for Laguna Beach Porsche pegged back in latest revision of IMSA’s Balance of Performance… The Porsche 963 and BMW M Hybrid V8 have both received Balance of Performance hits ahead of next weekend’s Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Confirmed in the latest Balance of Performance issued by IMSA on Wednesday which has been so far undefeated in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition this year has been given a hefty 11 kW (14.7 hp) reduction in first-stage power While it remains at the same 1049 kg minimum weight as run in Long Beach the second-stage power has been increased by 0.5 percent a 5 kW (6.7 hp) increase in first-stage power but a 2.7 percent decrease in top-end power Both the Acura ARX-06 AND Aston Martin Valkyries to the tune of 7 kW/9.38 hp (Acura) and 13 kw/17.4 hp (Aston) compared to the most recent round at Long Beach with its getting only a 3 kg increase in weight and a 1 kW (1.3 hp) boost in first-stage power The speed threshold between V1 (first stage) and V2 (second stage) power levels has been adjusted to 190 and 200 km/h from 230 to 240 km/h that was used in the first three WeatherTech Championship races The same revised thresholds have been implemented for GTD Pro and GTD competitors with seven of the nine GT3-spec cars undergoing minimum weight adjustments since Long Beach along with power adjustments for all cars except the Porsche 911 GT3 R at V2 levels John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John Entry list for fourth round of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season released.. He placed second in CIF Southern Section Division 1 as a freshman and sophomore, winning the Division 2 title last year as a junior. Make that back-to-back crowns for Shipp, who repeated as Division 2 boys’ diving champion on Wednesday at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex in Mission Viejo. He scored 565.80 points, edging out second-place Braeden Valenzuela of San Juan Hills (555.10). “The meet was really well run and I had some tough but fun competition,” said Shipp, a Harvard commit who also competes for Crown Valley Divers, in an email. “My friend and teammate Braeden set the bar really high and smoked every one of his dives. I can’t wait to see him take the top spot next year.” Newport Harbor girls’ divers Nikka Asgarian, Violet Carone and Corinna Ruffini each earned top 10 finishes at the CIF Southern Section Divison 1 diving finals on Thursday. (Courtesy of Fanak Asgarian) Newport Harbor also had some female divers who were up to the task at the Division 1 finals Thursday. Junior Corinna Ruffini finished in second place, followed by teammates Violet Carone in fifth and Nikka Asgarian in eighth. Ruffini, a University of Houston commit who was fifth in Division 1 last year, scored 526.40, just behind El Segundo freshman Reilly Stebbins (528.05). She also competes for Coast Divers. Edison sophomore Allison McNichols finished seventh in Division 1 on the girls’ side, while Chargers senior Ian Dieh placed third on the boys’ side. Each of the aforementioned local divers has qualified for the boys and girls state qualifier Tuesday at Mt. San Antonio College at 2 p.m. The top six at that meet will qualify for the CIF State Championship meet on May 17 at Clovis West High. Matt Szabo covers the city of Huntington Beach and sports for the Daily Pilot. A Southern California native and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, he has been working for L.A. Times Community News since 2006 and still loves talking to people about their hopes and dreams. Sports We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at Info@lagunabeachindy.com or call us at 949-715-4100 2025) – Practice and qualifying have concluded for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series National and Western Championships at the Mission Foods Laguna Seca SpeedTour at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro earned his first pole award of 2025 setting a new qualifying record with a best lap time of 1:26.330 2 Guthrie’s Garage Chevrolet Camaro) by a mere 32-thousandths of a second a lot of fun; the cars were really fast,” said Matos after qualifying “We're going about two seconds faster than last time we were here so I'm quite happy with the performance of the No the Silver Hare boys are doing a tremendous job prepping the car but definitely looking forward to getting a win here tomorrow.” Ford Lincoln Ford Mustang took the pole for the Western Championship Full TA2 qualifying results can be found here Full TA2 Practice results can be found here Aston Martin legend to join Casper Stevenson in Heart of Racing Vantage GT3 Evo at Laguna Seca… Darren Turner will sub for Tom Gamble in the No 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo in next weekend’s Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will team up with full season driver Casper Stevenson in the GTD class entry who will be on FIA World Endurance Championship duty with the team at Spa-Francorchamps that weekend who will be making his first WeatherTech Championship start since winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona in GTD with the team in 2023 is part of Heart of Racing’s GT World Challenge America powered by AWS program this year It will mark his first start at Laguna Seca since 2013 “It’s been a long time since I last raced at Laguna but it’s a super enjoyable circuit,” said Turner “My last IMSA race was Daytona 2023 with the Heart of Racing where we won the GTD class it’s super impressive and it will be my first time out with the GTP class “I’ll be teamed up with Casper for the first time he’s a super talented driver and it’s exciting to be teamed up with a youngster that’s already doing a great job in the championship.” Stevenson enters the weekend sitting third in the GTD standings following podium finishes at Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring The team has not yet confirmed Gamble’s replacement for the second clashing WeatherTech Championship/WEC weekend in July John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John Bobby Rahal on improvements to BMW Team RLL's execution after recent misses... A look into the life of AWA tire specialist (and baking pro) Ashley Baily... BMW, Porsche pegged back in latest revision of IMSA's Balance of Performance... Alec Udell confirmed as Robert Wickens' co-driver in No. 36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R... Copyright ©2025 John Dagys Media, LLC. All rights reserved. The element requested is either not valid or does not exist. The Laguna Beach City Council adopted the new ordinance in March in response to complaints from residents in a senior living facility dubbed Vista Aliso who say the sound of pickleball matches at nearby Lang Park cause them severe anxiety and stress. Pickleball players at Lang Park will have to pony up about $100 each to switch to quieter paddles. If they fail to do so, the ordinance says, players can face a citation. Pickleball is similar to tennis except the court is smaller, the ball is plastic and perforated and the paddles are not as big as tennis rackets. The adoption of the new ordinance did not please everyone on both sides of the pickleball feud. Travel & Experiences New padel centers are cropping up around the county: Padel Up at Westfield Century City, Pura Padel L.A. in Sherman Oaks and at the courts at L.A. Galaxy Park in Carson. The council has already reduced the hours that pickleball can be played in the park and has built a fence around the park to block noise. “While I am supportive of this quiet paddle ordinance as a compromise, I support expanding the hours at Lang Park,” Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi said in a statement to The Times. “Pickleball is a life-changing sport for so many that brings community together, and I’m committed to creating more recreational opportunities for our town.” Some seniors at Vista Aliso said the ordinance would not do enough to mitigate the noise issues, while members of the pickleball community said they are tired of the council giving the seniors so much favorable treatment. The law “will be ineffective,” said Susana Cruciana, a resident of Vista Aliso, who has argued the pickleball courts should be moved entirely. “They will continue to create a hostile environment,” she said. Pickleball players have yelled and insulted her for complaining about the noise, Cruciana said. “Allegations that I hate children, outdoor sports or laughter are ludicrous and false. Unlike general traffic noise or other park activities, the noise from pickleball is high-pitched and excessive,” she said. But pickleball players have volleyed back. “The pickleball players have acquiesced to losing days, spending 24k on new paddles. … I’m not quite sure what the gal behind me has acquiesced to,” said Hillary Caston, referring to one of the complaining Vista Aliso residents. Caston called on the council to bring back some of the play hours that pickleball players lost due to the complaints. The council closed the courts to pickleball on Mondays and reduced the hours on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. California A bluff collapsed in Laguna Beach on Friday morning sending private staircases crashing to the sand and prompting officials to cordon off a section of Thousand Steps Beach “I think we’ve come to the point where as pickleball players we’ve acquiesced enough … It’s time to recognize this is our community,” Caston said In the long term, City Councilmember Sue Kempf told the Orange County Register the council is considering moving the pickleball courts farther away from the senior living facility Battles over the noise from pickleball courts have raged from coast to coast as the game took off in popularity over the last decade. In 2020, 4.8 million people played the sport at least once, a 40% increase from just two years earlier. Lawsuits have been filed over the noise associated with the game all across the country. Researchers say that the sound of a solid pickleball being struck can be 25 decibels louder than the loudest tennis racket strike. “The medical effects of this are so profound and people don’t understand it, but it triggers a fight-or-flight response that triggers all kinds of stress hormones,” said Nalini Lasiewicz, who runs a nonprofit called Pickleball Noise Relief that has helped conduct studies on the harmful effects the sounds of pickleball can have on nearby residents. Lasiewicz testified last month at the City Council hearing about the quiet paddles, saying they did not do enough to address the harm to seniors. “Even when the players stop hitting, people who suffer from this syndrome continue to hear the noise even when it’s not happening,” she said. Noah Goldberg covers Los Angeles City Hall for the Los Angeles Times. He previously worked on its breaking news team and has also written an array of offbeat enterprise stories. Before joining The Times in 2022, Goldberg worked in New York City as the Brooklyn courts reporter for the New York Daily News and as the criminal justice reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle. He graduated from Vassar College. Hollywood Inc. The four petitioners named in a disqualification petition filed against Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and his wife Laguna 2nd District Representative Ruth Hernandez,  disowned the charges lodged against the Eleksyon 2025 candidates and Niño Greganda filed a motion to withdraw the petition through their representative saying their identities were used “illegally and unlawfully” in executing the disqualification and abuse of state resources (ASR) charges filed against the Hernandez couple last Friday it is most respectfully prayed for that the instant Petition against the respondents Ramil Laurel Hernandez and Ruth Mariano Hernandez be withdrawn for lack of factual basis and for being simulated and fictitious,” the motion reads and Ana De Castro filed with the Comelec disqualification and ASR charges against the Hernandez couple in behalf of the petitioners over alleged vote-buying activities in Calamba Rodovan said the petitioners alleged that buses with citizens holding province-issued health cards were transported from a terminal in Cabuyao to a warehouse in Calamba The candidates were allegedly present at the event and election paraphernalia bearing messages campaigning for them were mounted at the venue “Due to the execution of the aforesaid pinagsamang sinumpaang salaysay ng pagtanggi at pagtatatwa sa reklamong salaysay we move and pray for the immediate withdrawal of this petition filed using our names and identities as petitioners clearly without our knowledge and consent,” the petitioners said in their recent motion as the representative of the 2nd district of Laguna in Eleksyon 2025 is aiming to replace her husband as Laguna governor. — BM For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite {{gallery.imageDetails.images.0.description}} Print Laguna Beach waited longer than expected for its annual Arbor Day celebration but dozens took part in the educational activities available at Aliso Beach Park on Thursday afternoon It marked the eighth annual ceremony held by the city which has traditionally included a native tree planting a California sycamore was planted in the ground but everything’s prepped and then all the kids helped out with putting all the dirt in there,” said Matthew Barker Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach help plant a California sycamore as part of the city’s Arbor Day ceremony on Thursday (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The lessons shared along the way included tamping down the soil Community organizations were also there to share their knowledge of environmental matters Among the groups in attendance were Citizens’ Climate Education Pacific Marine Mammal Center and Village Laguna Public works personnel and West Coast Arborists as were the Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden and the Laguna Beach chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Volunteers with Citizens Climate Education work with a youngster packing soil at an Arbor Day celebration in Laguna Beach (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “It was a great turnout,” Barker said We partner with the Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club they’ll do environmental activities leading up to [Arbor Day] and then they come and enjoy all the activities and crafts and giveaways and prizes and games that all the exhibitors put on for the kids “I work with the Laguna Beach Unified School District where many of the Boys & Girls Club kids attend one of those schools and we do a youth art contest.” The prizes included a Lomi kitchen compost appliance for the first-place winner with bonsai juniper trees going to those that earned honorable mention Tiny succulents on display during an Arbor Day celebration at Aliso Beach Park in Laguna Beach on Thursday (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “The winner did a watercolor painting on canvas of a fantastical tree island — like a floating tree island,” Barker said and then a couple others did some really unique drawings so the work that they do is quite impressive for kids that age.” The event was held at Boat Canyon Park last year. Barker, who started in his position in February 2021, said he tries to move the tree planting ceremony around to account for trees that had to be removed. Last year, a non-native pine that died was replaced with a Torrey pine Laguna Beach had planned to host its Arbor Day event on March 6 It was rescheduled to align with the national Arbor Day date Two kids help move dirt for a California sycamore planting during an Arbor Day celebration at Aliso Beach Park. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) NewsLaguna Beach Andrew Turner Follow Us Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Before a crowd of his creative peers and other purveyors of the arts Neeley received the Artist of the Year award on Wednesday at the 17th annual Art Star Awards in his hometown I dreamt of coming to Laguna Beach and joining this amazing art colony I opened my first gallery on PCH in North Laguna gallery row “I joined the Festival of Arts and exhibited proudly for 12 years and felt like I’m becoming part of this amazing art community.’ … Last year I was very honored to be the first decorative art exhibition at the Laguna Art Museum I’ve met so many wonderful friends and patrons that have supported my art and a deep thank you for this and for this community to continue to focus [on] and support the arts.” Winners of the Art Star Awards gather for a group picture (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The other nominees were Piper Bangs and Andrew Myers who graduated from the Laguna College of Art and Design with a degree in drawing and painting in 2024 with another exhibiting engagement in Seoul Myers was nominated after showing “Life in Translation” in a Honarkar Foundation exhibit. The artwork displayed versatility across the mediums of painting, screw art He recently opened a gallery on Forest Avenue Art Star Awards emcee Chris Quilter makes remarks on Wednesday at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Chris Quilter, a longtime writer for local parody production Lagunatics held annually by the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance the show could not go on without some well-placed jokes including shots he took at his own artistic credentials “They’ve been limited to largely writing for Lagunatics — for 20 very odd years,” Quilter said. “Now, we don’t know a lot about art, but we know what we like to poke fun at. We accuse the Pageant [of the Masters] of standing still artistically Jean Stern was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement award Stern has served as the director emeritus of the Irvine Museum senior curator of UC Irvine’s Institute and Museum of California Art and as a curatorial fellow at Laguna Art Museum accepts the Best Arts Program award from presenter Sharbie Higuchi (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “I am deeply sorry that my wife as I am writing this from my hospital bed,” Stern said in remarks read by Victoria Gerard I am grateful and reassured by the LBAA’s dynamic and active organizations that Laguna Beach will continue its significant role in the arts of California.” The evening also featured live caricature drawings of guests, as well as a display of some of the handiwork worn on the runway during the Laguna Art Museum’s upcycled couture fashion show the Laguna Beach Community Jazz Band set the mood with its live performance from the stage receive the Arts Patron of the Year honor at the Art Star Awards (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Arts Patron of the Year went to Faye and Wayne Baglin both of whom have served on the board of numerous arts organizations in the community The Outstanding Arts Collaboration honor went to Laguna College of Art and Design which worked together to put on a speaker series called Creativity Flow The winners went home with a “Louie,” the name given to the sculpted works of local artist Louis Longi handed out as trophies. I read Howard Hills’ recent letter with concern While he says he ran for School Board to “support enhanced education capacities,” much of what he wrote reads more like someone who ran to fight the old board rather than focus on students He accuses the former board of “sabotage,” “bizarre” legal interpretations and a failure to act “for the kids.” He even describes the upcoming hiring of a new superintendent as a “breakthrough in restoration” – as if our schools have been broken for years That kind of language doesn’t sound student-focused Hills also claims that “critics predicted the former board’s erratic termination of the former superintendent…created so much controversy the best candidates would not apply,” and then simply says “those predictions proved false,” without offering any evidence He repeatedly said that concerns would be addressed in the board governance workshop I saw no meaningful resolution to the governance issues he often mentions the meeting reinforced the need for collaboration and professionalism the consultant from Leadership Associates clearly stated that board members should refrain from writing letters to the editor yet Hills has chosen to ignore that guidance just days later It raises questions about whether he’s truly interested in unity or just continuing division The role of a school board member should be about building trust Instead of focusing on how the “old board” handled things why not focus on how we can all support teachers Hills says his goals are to reverse delegation to the superintendent and restore governance protocols But what I don’t see in this letter is a clear plan for improving student outcomes Public education should not be used as a platform to fight political battles Newsom’s tariff lawsuit will be good for Laguna I support Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit against the administration Not because I am a native Californian or a lifelong Democrat; rather it’s based on my assessment that Donald Trump’s “tariffpalooza” will wreak havoc on the Golden State’s – and by extension – Laguna’s economy My hope is many business owners in town will end up agreeing with me Danieke Prins (L) and Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands celebrate after scoring a point during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Lindsey Calvin of the United States competes during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Danieke Prins (front) of the Netherlands competes during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Lindsey Calvin and Melissa Powell (L) of the United States celebrate after scoring a point during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Lindsey Calvin (front) of the United States competes against Danieke Prins of the Netherlands during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands competes during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Lindsey Calvin (L) of the United States competes against Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Lindsey Calvin (R) of the United States competes against Danieke Prins of the Netherlands during the women's pool A match between Melissa Powell/Lindsey Calvin of the United States and Danieke Prins/Annemieke Driessen of the Netherlands at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines dives for the ball during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Ronni Rivka Lavie of Israel competes during the women's pool B match between Ito Sakura/Sawame Mayu of Japan and Ronni Rivka Lavie/Anita Dave of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Anita Dave (L) of Israel competes against Ito Sakura of Japan during the women's pool B match between Ito Sakura/Sawame Mayu of Japan and Ronni Rivka Lavie/Anita Dave of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Bernadeth Pons (R) of the Philippines reacts during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Khylem Harl Progella of the Philippines competes during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Ito Sakura of Japan competes during the women's pool B match between Ito Sakura/Sawame Mayu of Japan and Ronni Rivka Lavie/Anita Dave of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Cherry Ann Rondina (R) of the Philippines competes against Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Ronni Rivka Lavie (L)/Anita Dave of Israel celebrate after scoring a point during the women's pool B match between Ito Sakura/Sawame Mayu of Japan and Ronni Rivka Lavie/Anita Dave of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Cherry Ann Rondina of the Philippines competes during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Ronni Rivka Lavie of Israel tries to save the ball during the women's pool B match between Ito Sakura/Sawame Mayu of Japan and Ronni Rivka Lavie/Anita Dave of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Bernadeth Pons (L) of the Philippines competes against Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Ito Sakura (L)/Sawame Mayu of Japan celebrate after scoring a point during the women's pool B match between Ito Sakura/Sawame Mayu of Japan and Ronni Rivka Lavie/Anita Dave of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Sawame Mayu of Japan competes against Anita Dave (R) of Israel during the women's pool B match between Ito Sakura/Sawame Mayu of Japan and Ronni Rivka Lavie/Anita Dave of Israel at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines competes during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Bernadeth Pons (R) of the Philippines competes against Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Sofiah Shanine Pagara (R) of the Philippines competes during the women's pool A match between Khylem Harl Progella/Sofiah Shanine Pagara of the Philippines and Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Rancel Varga (L) of the Philippines competes against Tamir Hershko of Israel during the men's pool D match between Tamir Hershko/River Day of Israel and James Buytrago/Rancel Varga of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Jude Garcia (R)/Jaron Requinton of the Philippines celebrate after scoring a point during the men's pool A match between Momme Lorenz/Tilo Rietschel of Germany and Jude Garcia/Jaron Requinton of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Jaron Requinton (L) of the Philippines competes against Momme Lorenz of Germany during the men's pool A match between Momme Lorenz/Tilo Rietschel of Germany and Jude Garcia/Jaron Requinton of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Gerda Grudzinskaite of Lithuania reacts during the women's pool B match between Ieva Dumbauskaite/Gerda Grudzinskaite of Lithuania and Kathrina Epa/Honey Grace Cordero of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Mees Sengers of the Netherlands competes during the men's pool D match between Jan-Joost van den Bogert/Mees Sengers of the Netherlands and Domonkos Doczi/Bence Attila Streli of Hungary at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Ieva Dumbauskaite of Lithuania competes during the women's pool B match between Ieva Dumbauskaite/Gerda Grudzinskaite of Lithuania and Kathrina Epa/Honey Grace Cordero of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Momme Lorenz (R)/Tilo Rietschel of Germany celebrate after scoring a point during the men's pool A match between Momme Lorenz/Tilo Rietschel of Germany and Jude Garcia/Jaron Requinton of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Ieva Dumbauskaite (R) of Lithuania competes against Kathrina Epa of the Philippines during the women's pool B match between Ieva Dumbauskaite/Gerda Grudzinskaite of Lithuania and Kathrina Epa/Honey Grace Cordero of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Mees Sengers of the Netherlands makes a save during the men's pool D match between Jan-Joost van den Bogert/Mees Sengers of the Netherlands and Domonkos Doczi/Bence Attila Streli of Hungary at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Mees Sengers (L) of the Netherlands defends Domonkos Doczi of Hungary during the men's pool D match between Jan-Joost van den Bogert/Mees Sengers of the Netherlands and Domonkos Doczi/Bence Attila Streli of Hungary at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Gerda Grudzinskaite (R) of Lithuania competes against Honey Grace Cordero of the Philippines during the women's pool B match between Ieva Dumbauskaite/Gerda Grudzinskaite of Lithuania and Kathrina Epa/Honey Grace Cordero of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province Jude Garcia (L) of the Philippines competes against Tilo Rietschel of Germany during the men's pool A match between Momme Lorenz/Tilo Rietschel of Germany and Jude Garcia/Jaron Requinton of the Philippines at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Laguna Province