“ Our Town , Our Paper ” lagunabeachindy . com APRIL 21 , 2023 | Volume XX , Issue 16

By LB Indy Staff

State Sen . Dave Min has selected the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year . The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by state senators and assembly members for outstanding contributions to their communities .

Now in its eighth year , the Nonprofit of the Year initiative allows California state legislators to choose a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in the district . The program culminates with a celebratory luncheon on California Nonprofits Day , which this year is on June 7 .

“ Providing the youth of Laguna Beach , Lake Forest and Mission Viejo a safe , fun and healthy place to be and grow is our

CLUB , PAGE 13

By LB Indy Staff

On the morning of April 19 , Laguna Beach police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1600 block of Tahiti Avenue regarding a domestic violence incident .

Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School were placed on alert because of their proximity to the incident . However , authorities said there was no threat to student or staff safety .

LBPD officers arrived on the scene and contacted an adult female who had sustained significant injuries . Laguna Beach Fire Department paramedics also responded and treated the victim for her injuries . She was then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation .

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by state senators and assembly members for outstanding contributions to their communities . Photo / Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach

According to a release from the LBPD , a preliminary investigation has determined that the victim ’ s ex-boyfriend , Charles Thomas Kelley IV , committed a residential burglary the night before . Hours later , Kelley attacked the female , authorities said . He fled the scene before the police arrived .

Kelley is described as an adult white male in his early 30s with brown hair and blue eyes . He is 6 ’ 1 ” and weighs 200 pounds . Kelley was last seen wearing a dark blue jacket , grey t-shirt and black pants .

The police department asks anyone who encounters Kelley , or knows his whereabouts , to contact 911 or the Laguna Beach Police Department at ( 949 ) 497-0701 .

Police are seeking information on an attempted murder suspect Charles Thomas Kelley IV . Photo / LBPD

Anyone with additional information regarding Kelley is asked to contact Detective M . Lee with the Major Crimes and Intelligence Unit at ( 949 ) 497-0371 or MLee @ lagunabeachcity . net .

By Tasmin McGill , Guest Contributor

Laguna Beach City Council discussed the upcoming Laguna Canyon Road median landscape project during its regular meeting April 18 .

Initially approved by the city council in 2018 , the project was then submitted to the California Department of Transportation ( Caltrans ) for approval . However , the project was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic - and , at the end of 2020 , the Caltrans encroachment permit that was granted for the modifications had expired .

City councilmembers unanimously agreed to revive the project and resubmit the plan to Caltrans in 2022 , allocating $ 400,000 towards implementing the proposed changes .

Despite the city of Laguna Beach ’ s approval from Caltrans to carry out the median landscaping makeover , the choice of plants was met with ire by some residents , who were concerned about what species of plants would replace the current bottle brush trees .

The Caltrans landscape proposal recommended Catalina cherry and western redbud trees would replace the bottle brush . The two species are native to California , but not native to Laguna Beach , and some comments were raised about the suitability of the species of trees .

“ I see these trees as being a huge maintenance

INSIDE

CALTRANS , PAGE 12

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