Laguna Beach Gets a New Fire Chief, New Firemen, and a New Fire Engine

Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig's weekly update:

Badge Pinning Ceremony - The Fire Department will be holding a Badge Pinning Ceremony on Monday, December 3, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. at the City Council Chambers.  The Department will be recognizing the promotions of the new fire chief, new fire captain, new fire engineer, and five new firefighters. 

New Fire Engine - On Tuesday, December 4, 2012, the Fire Department will put into service a new fire engine at Fire Station One (City Hall).  The engine was built by Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wisconsin at a cost of $532,000.  The engine replaces a 24-year-old fire engine that served as the City’s first paramedic engine.  The new engine also will be a paramedic engine and is equipped to respond to the unique emergency situations that occur in Laguna Beach.

2012 Children’s Holiday Palette Exhibition - At its meeting on Monday, November 26, 2012 the Arts Commission reviewed the 220 entries to the annual Children’s Holiday Palette Exhibition. The following artists were selected for display at City Hall: Kate Allen, GG Banducci, Bridget Biaser, Lucinda Becker, Shad Betar, Natessa Fratantaro, Reagan Hannus, Arianna Patterson, Ellie Scott, Grace Stewart, David Tax, and Estella Wenk. The palettes will be displayed December 3, 2012 through January 4, 2013 at City Hall.  This program is funded by the lodging establishments and City of Laguna Beach.

Winter 2013 Recreation Programs – Registration for Winter 2013 recreation activities begins Monday, December 3.  The Winter 2013 brochure was mailed citywide on November 27 and is now also available at the Community & Susi Q Center, Community Pool and Community Services Department, as well as on-line.  A wide variety of fun and instructional classes are offered for all ages and interests.  Register for activities on-line at the official Laguna Beach city website here, by mail or drop-off to the Community Services Department at 515 Forest Avenue.

Lifeguard Headquarters and Public Restroom - The drilling process for the shoring installation is taking longer than planned due to unknown underground conditions.  However, due to other time savings the project is still on schedule. So far, the shoring holes have been drilled through retaining wall footings, abandoned 8 inch steel pipes, and other brick and concrete debris which have significantly slowed the rate of production.  These obstructions are approximately 14 feet below the surface and were probably abandoned in the 1930s when the first sewer lift station was constructed to replace the 1920s sewer settlement basin. 

Hospitality Night 2012:  This year’s Hospitality Night event is scheduled for Friday, December 7, from approximately 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Hospitality Night is co-sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. The festivities will begin with entertainment at City Hall and the arrival of Santa Claus to light the Pepper Tree at 6:00 p.m.  From there, the activities move to lower Forest Avenue with entertainment and merchant open houses.  To accommodate pedestrian traffic in the downtown area, portions of Forest Avenue, Beach Street, Third Street and the Pepper Tree Parking Lot will be closed to vehicular traffic prior to and during the event.  Free public parking will be available at the City’s Forest/Laguna Canyon, Lumberyard, and Community and Susi Q Center parking lots. For more information, click here.