A look back on 2025 in Laguna Woods ...Middle East

What do coyotes, TV news shows, Ting, Village gates and a controversial speaker have in common?

They all brought some measure of frustration to Laguna Woods residents in 2025, resulting in heated meetings and town halls, even a protest, and a slew of letters to the editor in the Laguna Woods Globe from readers with all kinds of opinions.

But there were also unifying moments when residents of the retirement community came together for a cause – whether to celebrate the diversity in the Village or to help their neighbors in need.

Two groups marked milestones in 2025, and several women were honored for their contributions.

Here are some of the highlights and lowlights that had residents up in arms or arm in arm in the past year.

Wily coyotes

A hot topic in 2025 was undoubtedly coyotes. Letters came from readers angry and terrified about the possibility of being attacked by the creatures while walking their dogs.

“Coyotes are a daily threat near my home off Friendship Walk, Gate 1, and their presence at all hours has made simple walks terrifying,” wrote Docia Reed. “Several neighbors have faced aggressive encounters – one tragically fatal. How many residents have suffered strokes, heart attacks or injuries while trying to protect their pets? Those of us with high blood pressure, heart conditions or mobility aids like canes and walkers are especially vulnerable.”

Letter writer Leslie Levy pointed out that animal nature is at play.

“The naivete of dog walkers feeds into the inherent knowledge of the coyote that the Village is a proven hunting ground for a meal,” Levy wrote. “They are smart predators and are only doing what wild animals are prone to do – survive.”

Things came to a boil in July at a town hall hosted by United Mutual with City Council members and an animal control officer from Laguna Beach.

The message was that residents themselves needed to take steps to guard against coyote attacks: Make noise and carry a big stick, use pepper spray, don’t use long leashes, walk in groups, don’t walk at dawn or dusk.

Residents weren’t happy with that advice, giving the panel an earful of complaints and demands for more forcible action against the creatures.

But, the panel said, no other measures would work – not relocating the coyotes, not spaying or neutering them, not even killing them.

Residents weren’t buying it.

“Nobody is looking to solve the problem. They just keep kicking the can down the road,” said dog walker Bill Reinhardt, 87. “They put the onus on an 80-year-old woman who can barely walk.”

Code red

To automate the gates or not? That was the question that Golden Rain Foundation directors asked in August while pondering ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

A plan came up to explore the possibility of automating gate access in the Village. Residents would have unique access codes that they would give to visitors to punch into readers at the gates. That would reduce the need for gate guards, thereby saving money.

“Save our gate ambassadors” became a rallying cry. But chief among residents’ concerns was security.

“Live guards act as strong deterrents, respond immediately to emergencies, and verify visitors in real time, preventing unauthorized access more effectively than a code alone,” Cynthia Smith wrote in a letter to the editor.

The GRF board ultimately abandoned the gate automation idea due to overwhelming opposition and defunded a pilot program.

Politics and protests

Politics were at the forefront for many residents in 2025.

A decision by the Republican Club to host as a keynote speaker in March Jeffrey Scott Brown, who had been convicted for assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, drew weeks of debate in the Globe and a protest outside Clubhouse 5 on the day of the meeting.

Letter writer Jeanne Costello, a self-declared registered Republican, noted the divisiveness among friends and families in the Village and said, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to ‘throw gas on the fire’ by celebrating a man who tried to tear up our Constitution and, by extension, our country, with his actions?”

Letter writer Cathy Bausch invoked the constitutional right of free speech, saying, “Just because you might not approve of the speaker does not give anyone the right to obstruct my right to be there and listen.”

Republican Club President Pat Micone pointed out that Brown served his time and was pardoned by President Donald Trump and asked residents to “kindly have an open mind and please cease and desist the hateful rhetoric and character assassination.”

More than 200 people gathered in March to protest outside Clubhouse 5, where the meeting with Brown was being held. Sue Dearing, a former longtime president of the Democratic Club, said the club organized the protest because of the calls and emails it received from residents.

“We wanted to give them a chance to express their outrage and to stand up for what they believe in and to show that Democrats support the police and believe in law and order,” she said. “I think we accomplished that.”

Micone said the meeting was attended by more than 160 club members and guests.

“Despite the mean-spirited lies, assumptions and juvenile behavior displayed in signs and chants by Democrat protesters, they failed to alter or quell the elation felt by our members and guests when we finally heard truth and facts in our speaker’s firsthand accounts of J6,” she said.

Meanwhile, members of the Democratic Club came out in force in 2025 for rallies outside the Village, protesting the administration’s policies; celebrating Women’s History Month, women’s health care and bodily autonomy; decrying “taxation without representation” and other issues.

Perhaps the largest rally was in April in Laguna Hills, where Village residents joined hundreds of others taking part in the nationwide “Hands Off” protest. Signs calling for hands off Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, health care and more dotted the intersection of El Toro Road and Paseo de Valencia.

In other politics-related frustrations, GRF’s decision in 2024 to cut news channels from the TVs in the Community Center gym after arguments erupted among residents on opposite sides of the political spectrum still had folks angered.

“I feel like I’m in kindergarten where the news is censored and monitored so that no one is offended,” wrote Sandra Rosencrans.

Gary Saretsky, on the other hand, was pleased that “biased broadcasts full of misinformation and political attacks” had been discontinued, adding that he’ll listen to the news station of his choice through earbuds on his phone.

About that Ting

Ting, the new internet service in the Village, started rolling out its fiber-optic cable in the fall – not without a few hiccups, according to residents.

JC Wilson opened a Pandora’s box of Ting frustration with a letter to the editor in late October, unleashing a slew of similar letters. In the letter, Wilson complained about slow internet speeds: “Is this just a start-up problem, or were we sold a bill of goods?”

Others were upset with the placement of the router in their homes, non-compatibility with devices, the mandated fees added to monthly assessments and what they felt had been a lack of transparency. Some didn’t want Ting installed in their homes at all.

Others wrote letters saying they were happy with the new service and installation.

“We take every concern seriously and respond quickly to make things right,” a Ting representative wrote in a letter.

Spirit of solidarity

There were also moments last year when residents came together for a good cause.

The Unity Festival took place in the fall, the brainchild of the presidents of the three mutual boards and GRF. Hundreds of people enjoyed the lively celebration of the community’s breadth of diversity, talents and traditions through dance, music and food.

In March, the Community Bridge Builders once again brought together residents to sing a song of peace, hope and friendship. More than 150 singers and musicians gathered at the Performing Arts Center for the One Song Festival  to sing the anthem “We Can Shine.”

And in November, the Bridge Builders hosted the “World Through Dance” festival. A capacity crowd of 350 at Clubhouse 5 enjoyed a diverse group of 63 people performing ethnic dances from around the world, reflecting residents’ many nationalities.

When the federal government shut down in October, residents jumped in to help low-income neighbors who rely on nutrition programs. Through donations, the Foundation of Laguna Woods Village was able to purchase $5,000 worth of grocery store gift cards. Similarly, the Community Council for Giving collected $5,000 worth of food and gas gift cards for needy residents.

Girl power

Village women were in the spotlight in 2025.

Loretta Sheppard was honored at the fourth annual Women Making a Difference awards sponsored by Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley. Sheppard, 92, was recognized for her service to the community as a Meals on Wheels volunteer for more than 20 years and her donations of funds from her Funtastics Adventurers Club to help feed the hungry.

Rebeca Gilad was chosen by Assembly member Diane Dixon as a Woman of the Year for the 72nd Assembly District. Gilad, founder of the Community Bridge Builders, was selected for her efforts to bring the community together after the 2022 shooting at a local church that targeted a Taiwanese congregation.

Impresario Millie Brown was honored by residents as she hosted her final concert in her sellout Champagne Pops series at the Performing Arts Center. Brown hung up her hat after 17 years of bringing shows that appealed especially to residents 75 and older.

Annie McCary became Laguna Woods’ first Black mayor, chosen by the city’s all-female council, an honor she said she could not have imagined growing up in the Jim Crow South.

And the Foundation of Laguna Woods Village, led by Marcy Sheinwold, was chosen as a California Nonprofit of the Year by Dixon. For 28 years, the foundation has stepped in to provide temporary financial assistance to residents facing challenges.

Diamond jubilees

A couple of milestones were celebrated in 2025.

Village TV celebrated its 60th anniversary in October. The local station’s first live broadcast, on Oct. 11, 1965, was hosted by former big band singer Harry Babbitt.

The Aquadettes also celebrated 60 years in the Village. The artistic swim team traces its roots to 1965, when a group of women in Leisure World (as Laguna Woods was then known) started swimming for fun, exercise and camaraderie.

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