BIGGER LAGUNA: Two years ago today an...

BIGGER LAGUNA: Two years ago today an inferno swept through Laguna Beach, destroying 286 homes. Most of those residents will not only rebuild--but rebuild bigger. . . . Of 223 applications, says Community Development Director Kyle Butterwick, nearly 200 were for homes 10% larger than those that burned--several even 50% larger. . . . With 166 building permits issued and 79 homes now complete, officials say Laguna Beach is rebuilding faster than expected.

GOING, GOING: Bankrupt Orange County returns to the auction block again today and Saturday. The county will auction off at the Inn at the Park hotel in Anaheim more than 20 properties, mostly commercial. And after the first auction raised a disappointing $9 million, county officials are expected to be more willing to wheel and deal as they try to raise $20 million to offset a small portion of the bankruptcy losses. . . . “Let’s hope this time’s the charm,” says one county official.

BOSNIA DROP: When Darcy Lee learned that a ski group planned to airdrop goods to refugees in war-torn Bosnia, she jumped in. Lee, owner of Cold As Ice in Costa Mesa, a women’s snowboard clothing company, sent $11,000 worth of new gloves, hats, pants and backpacks. . . . Says Lee, 33, who recently lived in Europe: “These people haven’t had heat for a couple years. We don’t even think about that kind of stuff here. They have no say in this whole thing. They’re just getting bombed to pieces. It makes me crazy.”

NEW LINK: Javiet Maraga of La Habra was reading the sports pages aboard a commuter train to Los Angeles on Thursday when he was tapped on the shoulder and told he was Metrolink’s 10 millionth passenger. He got some monthly passes and an engineer’s hat. . . . But not all commuters are that happy. One Orange County Amtrak line shuts down today, and a second eliminates most of its stops--due to Metrolink growth. Some Amtrak regulars, who say it has better seats and more space than Metrolink, held farewell parties Thursday.