Briefly In The News

Free parking is available downtown

The city of Laguna Beach is offering free parking throughout the downtown area through Sunday to promote holiday shopping, City Manager John Pietig announced.

“To encourage visitors to come to the City, parking in the downtown area will be free through Jan. 2,” he said.

Visitors can travel to Laguna Beach via Coast Highway or by taking El Toro Road to Laguna Canyon Road. A small portion of Laguna Canyon Road from the 73 to El Toro will remain closed to inbound traffic through Monday, but vehicles can get around this by utilizing El Toro Road, he said.

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Pearson to be honored

The Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach will honor 2010 Mayor Elizabeth Pearson at a luncheon on Feb. 4 at the club.

The event will include lunch, entertainment and a “roast” of the outgoing mayor. The public is invited and tickets are $35 per person. Club members’ tickets are $30. The clubhouse doors will open at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon at 286 St. Ann’s Drive. For more information, call (949) 497-1200 or e-mail Woman’s Club Event Chairwoman Francine Scinto at fpscinto@gmail.com. Mail or deliver checks by Jan. 31 to confirm your seat to: The Woman’s Club / Mayor’s Lunch, 286 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

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Holiday tree recycling, trash collection

There will be no commercial trash collections Saturday, according to Waste Management. After the holidays, holiday trees may be recycled. Trees will be collected through Jan. 14. Residents who have curbside service may place their trees at the curb on their regular service day. Trees taller than four feet must be cut to less than four feet to be accepted at curbside. Remove all decorations, lights and stands from the tree. Flocked trees will be accepted but cannot be recycled. Last year, a total of 25 tons of trees were collected from the curbside program.

To recycle your tree after the three-week collection period by cutting it up and placing it in the green waste cart or by scheduling a bulky item pick up. Each residential customer is entitled to two free bulky item pick-ups per year. Contact Waste Management Customer Service at (949) 642-1191 to schedule bulky item pick-up or for more information about holiday tree recycling.

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Tidewater Docent program

The Laguna Ocean Foundation’s Tidewater Docent program is looking for new volunteers. To qualify as a docent, volunteers must attend one formal training session of approximately two hours and accompany a veteran docent for one on the job training at the tidepools.

Docents educate the general public with current information and regulations regarding the protection of the beaches. Docents spend time at Shaw’s Cove, Heisler Park, and Wood’s Cove teaching visitors about the organisms, ecology and regulations of the city’s marine protected areas (MPAs). The next formal docent training will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. For more information, contact Jake Bonus at jakebonus@gmail.com.