War protest draws hundreds Hundreds gathered on...

War protest draws hundreds

Hundreds gathered on Main Beach Wednesday evening in a candlelight

vigil to support Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a U.S. soldier killed

in Iraq who is staging a lengthy vigil at the Texas ranch of

President Bush.

The protestors want U.S. soldiers out of Iraq and carried signs

and banners, in addition to lighted candles in memory of Sheehan’s

son, Army Specialist Casey Sheehan.

The protest, which drew honks of support from passing vehicles,

was part of a nationwide vigil that night supporting Sheehan

sponsored by MoveOn.org, an activist group opposed to Bush policies.

Event raises funds for slide families

The city of San Juan Capistrano’s recycling event July 30

collected about 25,000 pounds of electronic waste such as

televisions, computer monitors and other electronic parts.

The recycling processor, Envirocycle, says that a check for about

$2,000 from the event will be presented to the city of Laguna Beach

to benefit the families affected by the Bluebird Canyon landslide.

A similar electronic recycling event will be scheduled in Laguna

Beach in the fall and will be open to businesses and individuals,

according to city officials.

Two traffic requests rejected

Caltrans has rejected two traffic requests made by the city,

according to City Manager Kenneth Frank. The City asked the state

traffic department to look into the traffic signal timing at the

northbound 73 toll road off-ramp at Laguna Canyon Road and also

requested the installation of a street light at Broadway and Cliff

Drive.

On the toll road issue, Caltrans has stated the traffic signal

system and timing are currently operating at optimal levels and the

timing is in favor of Laguna Canyon Road, Frank reports.

The traffic agency also said that the installation of a street

light at Cliff and Broadway does not meet the established criterion

to justify funding it as a Caltrans project.

Citizen Academy applications open

The Laguna Beach Police Department is continuing to accept

applications for the Citizen Academy, a 12-week course designed to

educate the community on local law enforcement. The academy begins

Sept. 14 and is free to anyone who works or lives in Laguna Beach.

Throughout the course, citizens will learn about crime scene

investigation, narcotics enforcement, the police K9 program and more.

The class will also include a tour of the Orange County Jail and a

chance to shoot a weapon at the police firing range.

The course will meet from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday nights.

Applications can be obtained by calling the police department at

(949) 497-0701. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 5.