Briefly In The News

Patriots Parade Committee meets

The Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade Assn. will begin committee meetings at 7 p.m. Wednesday to plan the 45th Parade, which will take place March 5.

Volunteers are welcome to be a part of the committee or to help on parade day. For more information or to offer suggestions for the parade theme or honorees, e-mail Sandi Werthe at shworthy@juno.com or phone (949) 494-6016.

Estate planning series starts

The Laguna Beach Community Foundation, as part of its mission to promote philanthropy, is sponsoring a free workshop series, “It’s Your Estate” moderated by Peter Kote. The eight-week series will feature professionals in the estate planning field speaking on topics such as The Role of a Trustee and Executor, Estate Planning – Basic and Advanced, Advanced Health Care Directives, IRA, 401K, 403B and 457 plans, and Charitable Income and Tax Planning Issues.

“This is not your typical ‘free lunch’ talk,” Kote said. “No financial products will be sold or services promoted, nor will there be any follow-up phone calls. Charities will not solicit donations. The workshop series is exclusively sponsored by Laguna Beach and Orange County charities.”

The 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday series starts on Sept. 10, and concludes Oct. 29. The series will be held in the Community Room at the Laguna Beach Community Center, 380 Third St. To register call (949) 315-9261 or e-mail info@lagunabeachcf.org.

Ken Frank party planned

A “Thank you, Ken” party to honor retiring Laguna Beach City Manager Ken Frank will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 at [seven-degrees], 891 Laguna Canyon Road.

All are invited to the casual cocktail reception featuring appetizers and a no-host bar. The cost is $20 per person.

To attend send names of those attending and a check payable to Jane Egly, c/o 303 Broadway, Nos. 104 to 133, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. RSVPs are due by Nov. 29.

Betty DeGeneres to judge chili, pets

Betty DeGeneres, mother of TV star Ellen DeGeneres, will be a celebrity judge at the Laguna Board of Realtors’ 14th Annual Chili Cook-Off and Pet Parade from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. Pets and chili cooks will be vying for honors at Tivoli Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Road. Aspiring and professional chili chefs are invited to submit recipes and samples of their fiery concoctions for review at the event by a panel of local judges.

Pet owners of all ages can also compete for awards by entering their pets in six different categories: Most Handsome, Prettiest Female, Most Talented, Most Beautiful Rescue Pet, Best Costume and Most Gorgeous Senior (10 years and older). The day ends with all the pets strutting their stuff in a pet parade.

The annual event will raise funds for four animal charities: Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, The Bluebell Cat Foundation and The Pet Rescue Center.

Chili participants can reserve a booth for $50; vendor booths are $100. Pets can be entered for $10 per pet per category. Registration is 11:45 to 12:45 p.m. the day of the event. For more information and chili registration forms call Caroline Haines, (949) 499-9933, ext. 110 or (949) 510-6766.