AROUND TOWN - May 14, 2009

Council seeks applicants for several committees

The Laguna Beach City Council is accepting applications for one two-year term on the Recreation Committee and one two-year term on the Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee. Both terms will run through Feb. 28, 2011.

The Housing and Human Services Committee also has one vacancy to fill. That term will expire Oct. 31.

Interviews will be conducted at 6 p.m. April 28 by the City Council at its regular meeting in the City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Ave. All applicants will be interviewed.

Applications should be obtained from the city clerk’s office and filed by 5 p.m. Tuesday. Questions may be directed to the city clerk’s office at (949) 497-0705. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Club’s Gate and Garden Tour set for May 1

The Laguna Beach Garden Club Gate and Garden Walking Tour will showcase 11 private gardens above Victoria Beach from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1.

“The self-guided walking tour will showcase gardens ranging in size from tiny pockets of creativity to acres of sprawling oceanfront majesty,” said Nancy Englund, chairwoman of the annual fundraiser for the Laguna Beach Garden Club.

Attendees should wear sturdy walking shoes as many of the gardens, due to their location on a cliff above the Pacific, are terraced and include steep, uneven steps.

Tickets will be sold in advance only. The $35 ticket price includes admittance to the gardens, a tour brochure with a map of the route and additional information about the area, round trip bus transportation, refreshments and one opportunity to win a door prize raffle. More raffle tickets may be purchased at registration.

Tickets are available at Laguna Drug, 239 Broadway, Laguna Beach or Dana Point Nursery, 34100 S. Coast Hwy., Dana Point; by mail at P.O. Box 362, Laguna Beach, CA 92652; and at www/lagunabeachgardenclub.org.

The tour is the major fundraiser for the Laguna Beach Garden Club. Proceeds provide financial support for the environmental, educational and civic beautification projects of the club such as horticultural scholarships, the water wise garden at the Historical Society house and the pocket park downtown. For more information, visit www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org.

Rotary Club hosts guest Oliver Winn May 1

Oliver Winn will address the Laguna Beach Rotary Club on May 1. The title of his speech will be ”Civilization Without Oil.”

“The speech will “provide experts and ordinary mortals with a reasoning understanding of worldwide energy, its relation to ‘civilization,’ and what logical paths should be taken to manage it as our fossil fuels dwindle,” according to the Rotary Club. The club meets at noon at the Hotel Laguna.

To attend, contact Sue White by e-mail at S.white57@cox.net

Bluebird area businesses holding open house

Businesses along South Coast Highway between Anita Street and Blue Bird Canyon Drive are opening their doors Saturday and Sunday, offering specials, gifts, artist appearances and demonstrations, and food tasting.

During the event, Sound Spectrum will be hosting Jupiter Rising, performing and autographing their new CD release.

Laguna Beach Books will host author William Lobdell. Laguna Nursery will host an afternoon exploration of raising fruit and citrus trees followed by an evening Garden Cabaret with Broadway performer Saif Bayati Eddin playing a grand piano inside the gardens.

The Vintage Poster will be having a free raffle of the first and original Laguna Beach poster, while nearby Upside Down Fashions will be offering a 50% discount on designer fashions.

There is even a grand opening of a new business — The Jewelry Den is in Suite F at 1276 S. Coast Hwy.