Briefly In The News

Free reusable bags to be given out Saturday

The city of Laguna Beach will be providing a free, recycled, reusable grocery bag to each shopper entering a local supermarket Saturday, as part of the Laguna Beach City Council’s proclaimed Day Without a Bag. The bag giveaway will occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Day Without a Bag is an annual public outreach effort by local governments, organizations and local grocery retailers to encourage the public to use reusable bags for shopping. Local governments and organizations in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties participate.

The council agreed in July to purchase 2,000 recycled, reusable bags to distribute free to the public. The cost of the bags was paid by a recycling grant from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

Local volunteers from environmental groups, including Transition Laguna, Laguna Ocean Foundation, Zero Trash Laguna, and the El Morro Green Team will assist with distributing the free, reusable bags. Bags will be available, one per customer, at Albertsons, Pavilions, Ralphs and Whole Foods. For more information, contact Mike Phillips at (949) 497-0390.

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Charities invited to apply for grants

The Laguna Board of Realtors and Affiliates Charitable Assistance Fund will review written applications in January to determine which local community groups will receive donations from 2011 fundraising events.

The Realtors and Affiliates sponsors two big fundraising events and the proceeds are donated to local nonprofits that generally are smaller in size, serve local needs and do not already have large funding sources. Scholarships are also awarded to qualifying Laguna Beach High School students.

Thousands of dollars are raised and many nonprofits have benefited over the years. To qualify, groups must be a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit; a questionnaire will be supplied. Prior recipients are allowed to reapply.

The deadline for written applications is Jan. 15. Letters will be sent to all applicants in February notifying them of selection committee’s decisions.

To apply, contact Executive Vice President Vicky Kammeraad at (949) 497-2474 or by e-mail at vicky@lbrealtors.com.

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Families may still be adopted

Most of the families in the Laguna Beach holiday Adopt A Family program have been “adopted” but some are still waiting.

Volunteers will put together baskets of food and toys for the remaining families with donations of new unwrapped toys or other gifts for all ages and gift cards to local grocery stores.

All donations can be dropped off at the Santa house on Forest Avenue near Glenneyre Street. For more information, call Sande St. John at (949) 633-9429 or Marsha Bode at (949) 244-2010.

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Komen funds clinic breast program

The Laguna Beach Community Clinic Breast Care program has received two awards from the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, Orange County.

A $70,000 award helps provide continuation of medical services in the Women’s Health care program, such as education and early detection comprehensive breast care.

The second grant is a floating fund that supports additional medical procedures such as needle biopsies, diagnostic mammograms, and ultrasound exams for women requiring additional diagnostic services.