Around Town: American Legion Auxiliary creates stockings for overseas military personnel

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 222 in Laguna Beach partnered with San Clemente nonprofit group “Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise” to organize a holiday treat for Marines and sailors serving in Afghanistan and Okinawa as well as Navy SEALS overseas.

Diane Connell and Beth Johnsen of the Legion Auxiliary made 120 Christmas stockings that post member sponsorships helped fill with a variety of goodies, according to a news release.

The women, accompanied by Jean Law and Sandi Werthe, then helped stuff stockings for the Words of Comfort organization. The legion’s stockings were included with the shipment and sent overseas, the release said.

Top of the World Elementary School and Laguna resident Rosalind Russel from the R Star Foundation wrote cards and letters to be included in the stockings.

Connell and Johnsen will begin sewing for the 2016 project in January — donations of fabric are welcome.

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The Laguna Beach Rotary Club recently honored Natalie Shutts as its Student of the Month for December.

Natalie was recognized for her efforts at Laguna Beach high. She excels in language and is a National Merit Commended student and received PRIDE Awards in Spanish I, II and Award for Global Studies, International Baccalaureate, according to a news release.

Natalie debates for Model UN and participated in the Northern European Speech and Debate Assn. in Barcelona.

She plans to attend college and continue on to law school for a JD in public international law, according to the release.

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Operatic tenor Peter Foltz will perform a duet with Pastor Mandy Flemming Christmas Eve at Laguna Beach United Methodist’s 7:30 p.m. Carols and Candles service.

Foltz is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and Northwestern University School of Music and was a resident artist with the Los Angeles Opera and Pittsburgh Opera Center, according to a news release. Pastor Flemming trained vocally in sacred music at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J.

A variety of musicians will perform at Carols and Candles, which symbolizes “The Light Shines in the Darkness.”

The church’s Chancel Choir will sing choral works with instrumentalists, who will play flute, trumpet, violin, percussion, organ and piano. A quartet of accomplished high school choir students — Amber Smith, Claire Lisle, Davis Ferrero and Noah Epstein — will sing “He is Born.”

Noah Anderson-Clausen, will play piano and saxophone as people gather in the sanctuary. The church’s handbell choir will add their music to the service and the congregation will have an opportunity to sing Christmas carols.

At 11 p.m. the church’s contemporary singing group, Joyful Noise, will sing modern anthems and traditional carols during the church’s service of Communion and Candles. All are welcome to both services at the church, 21632 Wesley Drive. Childcare is available at the 7:30 p.m. service.

—From staff reports