El Morro residents denied

A Superior Court judge on Aug. 15 rejected El Morro Mobile Home Park

residents’ claim that proponents of a state park replacing the homes

errantly conducted an environmental report, making residents’ fight

to keep their homes even more of an uphill battle.

Residents’ leases expire in December 2004. State park officials

will begin construction in early 2005 using plans that have been in

place since the 1980s, said Mike Tope, superintendent of state parks’

Orange Coast District.

“The mobile homes will be removed and the area will return to

being a natural beach,” Tope said. “They’ve had their time there, and

now it’s your turn and my turn to enjoy that land.”

Jeanette Miller, chairwoman of the El Morro Village Community

Assn., said she and residents will wait until their meeting next week

to determine what to do.

“Our attorneys said the court didn’t address all the issues

regarding the [environmental report], so we’ll probably talk some

about that when deciding if we’ll appeal their decision,” Miller

said. “Nothing will be certain until we all get together and talk

about it.”

Denny Freidenrich and Paul Freeman, consultants who were hired by

residents to try to get a 30-year extension on their lease, are no

longer working for El Morro.

“I didn’t even know they were going to court,” Freidenrich said

Aug. 14.

Freidenrich and Freeman’s plan included adding 50 affordable homes

and a vacation hotel to be run by the city. City officials declined.

“The reason they aren’t working for us is because the affordable

housing issue has gone away,” Miller said. “We’re still very friendly

with them and wouldn’t rule out hiring them again if necessary, but

it’s just not what we need right now.”

Tope said El Morro residents opted for a 20-year extension of

their lease in 1984 in lieu of relocation, and their time is simply

up.

“Every major environmental group in Orange County supports this,”

said Fern Pirkle, president of Friends of the Newport Coast.

-- Mike Swanson

High school to hold new freshman orientation

Laguna Beach High School is hosting its first Break Through Crew

Freshman orientation from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 28 in the North Gym

for all incoming freshmen.

Although the high school has held orientations before for

freshmen, this is a new program that the school has adopted. It is

geared to help make the transition from middle school to high school

smoother and build a sense of school spirit and connection from the

first day through to graduation. Junior and senior team leaders and

teachers will be trained by Pam McKay, Associated Student Body

director.

The focus of the half-day orientation will include team-building

activities designed to teach the students about the responsibilities,

choices and challenges of being in high school. Team leaders will

continue to work with freshmen in groups of 10 to 12 students during

their first year through a variety of academic and social activities.

For more information, call Pam McKay at (949) 497-7750, ext. 216.

Celebration marks opening of view park

The city will hold a celebration in honor of the opening of the

view park at Smithcliffs.

The ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. Sept. 2 at the entry gate

to the Smithcliffs view park on North Coast Highway, just north of

McKnight Drive.

The ceremony is open to everyone, but parking is limited, so

visitors are urged to walk or take a bus. Refreshments will be

served.

Public access to the park is available between 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

every day.

For more information, call Kathy Lottes at the department of

community development, (949) 497-0321.

Club programs will be at schools

Because of planned construction, the Laguna Beach Boys and Girls

Club will move its after-school programs to three Laguna school

sites.

After-school programs will run from the time school lets out until

7 p.m. at El Morro Elementary School, Top of the World and Thurston

Middle School.

Construction of the club is set to start in September. The

clubhouse will be revitalized and expanded to 7,000 square feet. The

work is expected to last about six to eight months.

For more information, call Joe or Susie at (949) 494-2535. Do not

call the schools about the Boys and Girls Club program.

Help sought to detect West Nile Virus

The Orange County Vector Control District is asking the public for

help in fighting West Nile virus.

The district is asking people to bring in dead birds for testing.

Dead birds, especially crows, ravens and birds of prey will be among

the first signs of the arrival of West Nile virus.

Those who find a dead bird are asked to bring it to Orange County

Vector Control District in Garden Grove or contact their local Orange

County Animal Care Services officer.

For more information, visit the district’s Web site at

www.ocvcd.org.

Gala will benefit youth shelter

The Community Services Program, which includes the Youth Shelter

in Laguna Beach, will benefit from the 20th annual Black Tie and

Blues gala.

The gala dinner, auction and dancing to “2000 Pounds of Blues”

will take place Nov. 22 at the St. Regis Resort and Spa in Dana

Point.

Established in 1972, CSP of Orange Country is a nonprofit agency

serving at-risk youth. The Youth Shelter, established in 1979, is the

only program in South Orange County that provides emergency shelter

and intensive counseling to youths who are at risk because of severe

family conflict, child abuse or abandonment.

Festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a silent auction in the

St. Regis ballroom. Dinner, dancing and a live auction round out the

evening.

Sponsorship opportunities are available in the Platinum ($20,000),

Gold ($10,000), Silver ($5,000) and Bronze ($3,500) categories.

Individual tickets are $175 per person.