A star-spangled Fourth of July celebrated

The Brooks Street Fourth of July Parade tradition began in the period after 9/11, circa 2004. Brooks Street resident Howard Hills enlisted Steve Cohn and David Vanderveen as co-organizers for the very spontaneous first parade, but the entire neighborhood, young and old, joined in, making it possible. It started with kids on bikes, in wagons, dogs accessorized in red, white and blue, also Brooks Street WWII veterans in antique convertibles, along with golf carts full of patriotic families, and later the LBHS band.

 

Isamu  played his rendition of the National Anthem on his electric guitar

Breaking Major Fire in Laguna Beach CA

Brush fire prompts evacuations in Laguna Beach; investigation ongoing

The fire began in the city of Laguna Beach at about 2:15 p.m. local time on July 7 and grew to four acres, threatening nearby homes, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, though an active investigation is underway.

Laguna Beach, a tony Southern California city known for its vibrant beach scene and art gallery district, is about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It has a population of more than 22,500 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Brooks Street resident Steve Cohn welcoming those gathered at Eric and Jo Jensen’s home for the 2025 4th of July Ceremony

Hills was inspired that first year by the neighborhood Independence Day parades in his Washington, D.C. neighborhood while serving as a Navy JAG treaty negotiator in the White House and State Department from 1982-1993. But no one could have imagined that the 2008 parade would also be the first memorial tribute to Mark Metherell, a Laguna Beach native who was a greatly admired and beloved member of the close-knit Brooks Street family.

 

Sarah Metherell Lake led the Pledge of Allegiance on Friday

 

Hon. Erick Larsh, Orange City Superior Court Judge, shared the story of local Mark Metherell – his life in Laguna and his service to our country

Metherell was a Navy Seal and Department of Defense military adviser killed in Iraqi in April of that year. Metherell was also David Vanderveen’s long-time best friend from college. Over the years, the parade has grown and evolved from a paddle out by Metherell’s local surfer compatriots to a flag-raising ceremony at the Brooks Street home of Eric Jensen, a retired Navy pilot and Vietnam combat veteran who raises the flag in front on his prominent flagpole every day.

LBPD Lt. Jesse Schmidt standing ready to raise the flag

And so for many years, July 4th on Brooks Street has included an ever-changing cast of parade participants and spectators, paddle outs to Second Reef, the Laguna Greeter and a potluck food with neighbors. You don’t get much more American than that.

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(L-R) Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Farris, Lt. Cornelius Aston, Chief Jeff Calvert and Capt. Michael Peters watching the proceedings

Bree Burgess Rosen led those gathered in singing the National Anthem

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Time for the parade – this year it was all golf carts except for the police cruiser and the Greeter’s car

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Michael Minutoli, our Laguna Greeter

“The red and white and starry blue is freedom’s shield and hope.” –John Philip Sousa

 

The boys of summer

 

“The United States is the only country with a known birthday.” –James G. Blaine

Amy Calvert takes the wheel as she celebrates the day

There’s no such thing as too much red, white and blue

(L-R) Steve Chadima and Mark Porterfield all decked out in the colors of the day

LBPD Detective Joy Butterfield is on the job