Around Town: Laguna Beach marks National Preparedness month with special events

In recognition of September being National Preparedness Month, the city of Laguna Beach is putting on several preparedness events.

There will be a preparedness event on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Susi Q and Community Center. Laguna Beach Seniors and the Community Emergency Response Team will be partners in the event.

Additional events are scheduled for Sept. 14 at Laguna Beach Fire Station No. 3 and on Sept. 18 at the Farmers Market.

There will be two more preparedness events during the month on Sept. 25 at Laguna Beach Fire Station No. 4 and on Sept. 27 at the Susi Q Center.

The events will educate residents on their evacuation zones, defensible space guidelines, fire safety and more. Face coverings will be required to attend.

Monthlong ‘Festival of Children’ begins at South Coast Plaza

Starting this weekend and running each weekend throughout September, Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza will host a slate of performances and activities designed to entertain and educate visitors about how to get involved in more than 70 charities that work to improve the lives of children throughout Southern California.

Free and open to the public, the Festival of Children Foundation’s celebration of National Child Awareness Month in September begins on Saturday at noon with opening ceremonies featuring America’s Got Talent winner singer Kodi Lee singing with the band Hi-Tops.

Activities take place through 4 p.m. in South Coast Plaza’s Carousel Court, where participants can enjoy free face painting, learn about the O.C. Fair’s Centennial Farm, take a hip-hop dance lesson and learn more about karate, arts and ballet offerings in Orange County.

The event runs Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 26. For a full schedule of weekend activities, visit festivalofchildren.org. South Coast Plaza is located at 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. For more information, call (714) 438-3286.

Composting workshops coming to Huntington Beach

The Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach will be holding two composting workshops, on Sept. 18 and Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m. both dates.

Check-in starts at 9 a.m., and visitors should register and pay the $10 class fee via PayPal.

Backyard composting bins ($95) and Vermicomposting kits (from $80 to $150) will be available to purchase on the seminar days. Also, Huntington Beach residents who receive a seminar will receive a voucher redeemable with Enrecos for a $75 discount toward the purchase of a composting bin or Vermicomposting kit. Proof of residency may be required.

Seminars are outdoors.

For more information, visit shipleynature.org/the-magic-of-composting-2021.

Newport Beach Garden Tour raises more than $75K for children’s education

Members of the Volunteer Assn. of Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar raised $75,575 in support of children’s education programs in a 25th annual event featuring a virtual Summer Garden Party.

The Aug. 28 virtual tour included six residential gardens and provided a special look at a portion of the Thornton Estate in the San Gabriel Valley city of San Marino.

An annual favorite, the Garden Party Hat Contest drew 43 entries whose creativity and style was judged by representatives from Orange Coast Magazine, Recycled Rags and South Coast Plaza’s styling program. Contestant Debbie Stevens took the top prize for her stunning beehive-inspired headpiece.

To commemorate the fundraiser’s 25th year, Julia and George Argyros gave a donation of $25,000, which members, volunteers, local merchants and community members heartily supplemented with donations of their own.

To learn more about Sherman Library & Gardens, visit thesherman.org.

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