CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:$5,000 reward in teen’s death

Joseph Caputo, whose 17-year-old son Max was struck and killed on Coast Highway in Laguna Beach in August, is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver in the hit-and-run incident.

The incident occurred at about 4 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, in the northbound lane of the 2400 block of South Coast Highway, north of Upland Drive.

Max Caputo would have entered his senior year at Laguna Beach High School in September. He was riding a bicycle in the northbound lane and was struck from behind.

Police suspect the vehicle is dark in color, possibly black, or that some portions of the car are black.

“The person who did this probably knows what happened,” Joseph Caputo said. “If so, this person must have family or friends who have noticed the damaged vehicle or a drastic behavior change in the guilty party. My son cannot be brought back, but it would give my wife, my daughter and myself some measure of comfort to see the driver of the vehicle brought to justice for the crime he or she committed.”

Information about the case should be provided to Laguna Beach Police Det. Ted Falencki at (949) 497-0370.

Design Board seeks three members

The City Council is accepting applications to the Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board. Appointments will be made to fill three regular terms to Feb. 1, 2009 and the term of the alternate to Feb. 1, 2008. Interviews will be held on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. by the City Council at their regular meeting in the Council chambers, 505 Forest Ave.

Council members request that applicants attend two current meetings of the Board prior to the interviews.

Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board members serve a two-year term and are compensated in the amount of $210 per month. The regular meetings of the board are the first four Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m.

The Board of Adjustment is a five-member body appointed by the City Council for the purpose of considering requests for variance from the zoning code and coastal development permits. They also sit as the city’s Design Review Board. The alternate member prepares for and attends all meetings, but sits as a member only when fewer than five members are present and participating.

A substantial time commitment of approximately 10 hours per week is necessary to be a board member. In addition to the weekly meetings, board members and the alternate are expected to visit the sites and review plans prior to the meeting.

The board acts on an average of 15 items per week. It is desirable to have or be able to acquire certain skills or aptitudes, such as the ability to understand and conceptualize architectural drawings and to visualize building mass and volumes based on-site staking plans. Experience in the building trades, architecture, historic preservation, landscaping, planning and/or real estate would be an asset.

Laguna Beach residents who are interested should obtain an application from the city clerk’s office or on-line at the city’s website and file it by 5 p.m. Nov. 28. Questions may be directed to the city clerk’s office, (949) 497-0705.

Laguna Canyon Conservancy to meet

Robert L. (“Bob”) Santos will speak on redevelopment plans for the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Base at the Laguna Canyon Conservancy’s Monday dinner meeting.

Santos heads up the team charged with redevelopment of the private-sector portion of the former Heritage Fields. Lennar is the managing entity, serving as master developer for the new 4,000-acre master planned community.

A video will show what is proposed for the new community, followed by a question-and-answer session. The centerpiece of the project will be a new 1,700-acre Orange County Great Park.

Conservancy meetings are open to the public. Dinner tickets are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers, and may be paid at the door with prior reservations. Membership is $10 per person, per calendar year. Reservations for the dinner are required.

The dinner takes place at Tivoli Terrace, on the Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. No-host bar opens at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:45 p.m. Program follows.

To reserve a ticket, call Ed or Kit at (949) 494-6465. Leave your name, phone number and number of reservations. The deadline to reserve is Saturday.

Chamber sponsors ‘Meet the Press’ lunch

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a “Meet the Press” networking luncheon Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Tivoli Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Road.

Presale tickets are $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers if purchased by 5 p.m. today. Tickets at the door are $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. For more information, call the chamber at (949) 494-1018.

Garden Club program on ‘Fairy Gardens’

The Laguna Beach Garden Club will present Gregg Davila, owner of Organic Art Plants & Design in Orange, at the club’s monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 10.

Davila helps his clients create herb nooks, flowered arches, winding pathways, “fairy gardens” and other garden elements. He will be speaking on the fundamentals of “fairy garden” design.

The meeting will take place at Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive. For more information, visit www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org.

Caregivers support group meets monthly

The Caregivers Support Group meets the first Tuesday of each month to give support to those caring for an older person.

The next meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the Parlor of Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave.

Elana Peters, a geriatrics professional, moderates the discussions. Peters is executive director of CareGiving Solutions, a nonprofit educational organization.

“Caregivers need support and networking in order to care well while also taking care of themselves,” she says.

Admission is free. For more information, contact Kathy Sizer at (949) 494-7555.

Turnabout holds Christmas boutique

The Assistance League is holding its annual Christmas sale of tree ornaments and holiday decorations. The week-long sale begins Saturday and runs through Saturday, Nov. 11, at 526 Glenneyre St. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the shop is open during the week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays.

The sale will take place in the garage behind the shop.