Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How will Laguna’s new $5 million housing fund be spent?

Also, don't miss Trabuco Hills High School Marching Unit Performing in the 2026 London News Years Day Parade on the Laguna Beach Patch…

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Morning Laguna Beach! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will Laguna’s new $5 million housing fund be spent?
  • Which Laguna Beach educators just earned 2025 Employee of the Year honors?
  • How did a tiny LBHS wrestling squad become a state threat?

Also on today's calendar: Trabuco Hills High School Marching Unit Performing in the 2026 London News Years Day Parade and 1 more event.

Find out what's happening in Laguna Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I’m trying to think of a new cloud joke. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Laguna Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 65 and low of 54 degrees.
  • Monday: Windy with plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 69, low: 56.
  • Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 66 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. City Awarded $2.5 M for Affordable Housing Development (lagunabeachindy.com) — Laguna Beach has secured a $2.5 million state grant, which the city will match, creating a $5 million fund for new affordable housing, including a proposed 100% affordable project at Neighborhood Congregational Church. City leaders plan to discuss how to allocate the money in early 2026 and will host a January town hall so residents can weigh in on the project’s design and community impacts.
   

2. Laguna Beach Unified Names Employees of the Year (lagunabeachindy.com) — Laguna Beach Unified has named French teacher Randi Beckley and special education aide Thasa Zuziak as its 2025 Employees of the Year, honoring their long service at Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School. Additional LBHS and district staff were recognized across key support roles, and all honorees will be celebrated at the Jan. 22 school board meeting in Laguna Beach.
   

3. ‘Thrown to the Wolves': Laguna Beach High School Wrestlers Reach New Program Heights (lagunabeachindy.com) — Laguna Beach High School’s wrestling program is surging, with its largest-ever roster and two state‑ranked athletes competing successfully against much bigger schools. Led by 19‑year‑old alumnus coach Barron Zepeda, wrestlers like juniors Alek Ramirez and Xavier Brooks are climbing state rankings and eyeing CIF Masters berths while helping grow a once‑tiny program into a serious contender.
   

4. Beautiful LCAD Gallery show depicts 122625 (stunewslaguna.com) — Laguna residents can explore a powerful feminist art retrospective, “Other Skies Tell Other Stories,” now showing at LCAD Gallery on Ocean Avenue through January 18, 2026. The exhibit by Iranian American artist Soody Sharifi blends historic Persian miniatures with contemporary photography to examine women’s inner and outer lives, cultural stereotypes, and ongoing debates over bodily autonomy in both Iran and the United States.
   

📸 Around Laguna Beach

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • If anyone sees this sickly coyote in the neighborhood he has been stalking Sunset Blvd.
    is full of mange, and very skinny and animal control needs to be called. I will walk later in hopes to report. It is not afraid of humans so… (Nextdoor South Laguna Village)
  • Montage Hotels posted a job opening for Pastry Sous Chef in Laguna Beach. Apply here.
  • Xperience Restaurant Group posted a job opening for Restaurant Manager - Las Brisas in Laguna Beach. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Laguna Beach here.

Ok Laguna Beach! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I haven’t the foggiest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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