Briefly In the News

Gas, electric leaf blower enforcement upped

The Laguna Beach Police Department is reminding the community that the use of electrical or gasoline-powered blowers for cleaning lawns, yards, driveways, gutters and other property is prohibited within the city under Municipal Code Section 7.25.070. Use of the blowers can result in a fine.

This ordinance was approved years ago due to complaints about excessive noise and dust created by their use.

Over the years, the department has made an effort to educate the users of leaf blowers about the existing municipal code prohibiting their use, according to Police Chief Paul Workman.

This has included a mailing to local gardening businesses making them aware of the law, while also issuing courtesy citations to people caught violating the law (which are written warnings).

Some situations have escalated to administrative and criminal citations.

Even with these efforts, the proliferation of leaf blower activity continues in the community, Workman said.

The department is increasing efforts to educate the community and gardeners that the use of leaf blowers is prohibited.

Citations will be issued if necessary to stop the use of leaf blowers in town, Workman stated.

For more information, contact Lt. Darin Lenyi at (949) 497-0375 or [email protected]

Marine mammals to benefit from tasting

Laguna Nursery will host a wine and cheese tasting event to benefit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 24.

Wine has been donated by Laguna Gourmet/Stephen Frank Table & Pantry and an assortment of cheeses has been donated by Laguna Culinary Arts.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. As an added bonus, anyone who purchases tickets in advance will receive a 10% discount at all sponsor locations now through the event date. Some restrictions apply, contact sponsor for details.

To make a reservation and buy tickets, call (949) 494-3050. All proceeds go toward the cost of food and medication for the marine mammal patients recovering at Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

Laguna Nursery is at 1370 S. Coast Hwy.

Spark of Love toy drive still going on

The Laguna Beach Fire Department is participating in the Spark of Love toy drive campaign, which runs through Thursday. All local fire stations in Laguna Beach, as well as Thurston Middle School, will serve as drop-off sites for the public to bring new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment. In addition, CVS Drug Stores will serve as toy collection points.

As in the past, the Orange County Spark of Love Toy Drive is combining its efforts with Toys for Tots.

Together, these campaigns will collectively gather toys to be disseminated to the various charitable organizations throughout Orange County through one central warehouse.

Pool improvements completed

The Laguna Beach High School and Community Pool got a refurbishment over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, City Manager Ken Frank stated in his Dec. 11 Friday Update to city staff.

The rusted metal doors leading from the locker rooms to the pool deck were replaced, the tile floors in the locker rooms were deep-cleaned and chipped tiles on the pool ramp were replaced in the joint project conducted by the city and the school district.