Briefly in the news

The California Department of Parks and Recreation has begun the

removal of lead-based paint from the 46 cottages in the historic district

of Crystal Cove State Beach.

The public will still be able to use the beach while workers remove

the paint from the houses, officials said.

In this first stage of rehabilitation of the cottages, workers will

scrape off paint, a known health hazard. It’s the first step of a

$1-million interim plan to mothball the vacant cottages.

The workers will wear protective clothing and respirators. Members of

the public will be kept 25 feet away from the cottages being worked on.