Around Town: ‘Rockin’ Fig’ paddle out set for Aug. 28 in Huntington Beach

A paddle out in honor of the late surfing icon Rick ‘Rockin’ Fig’ Fignetti will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28 in Huntington Beach.

The paddle out is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the north side of the pier, depending on surf conditions. It will be followed by a celebration from noon to 4 p.m. in Pier Plaza, featuring live music.

Fignetti, who owned Rockin’ Fig Surf Headquarters on Main Street and was a longtime surf announcer, died at the age of 64 on July 16 after suffering a heart attack.

Feedback session scheduled for O.C. Power Authority

A feedback session for the Orange County Power Authority will be held Thursday, Aug. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Huntington Beach City Council chambers. It will also be available on Zoom.

Huntington Beach is one of four county cities in the Power Authority, a community choice energy program designed to increase local use of energy and lower costs for residents. The other cities include Buena Park, Lake Forest and Irvine.

Those invited to Thursday’s meeting include businesses, residents and environmental groups interested in energy efficient programs.

For more information, email [email protected].

Planning Commission to review Laguna Beach Safety Element

An update to the safety element of Laguna Beach will be reviewed by the Planning Commission at a meeting to be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The safety element assists in the development of policies and programs that protect the city from a variety of risks, including seismic events, floods and wildfires.

The safety element was previously updated in 1995. That followed the loss of 441 homes and structures in the community due to wildfire in 1993.

How to cast your recall election vote in Laguna Beach

Several options are available to members of the public to submit their ballot within the city of Laguna Beach.

Ballots can be delivered in person to the Laguna Beach city clerk’s office at City Hall during business hours. There is also an official drop box located in front of the Laguna Beach Library.

In addition, voters can fill out their ballots and hand them in at voting centers or vote on site. The Susi Q and Community Center will be opened as a voting center beginning Sept. 11.

Laguna Beach FD pancake breakfast called off

A Laguna Beach fire department pancake breakfast previously scheduled for Labor Day has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Festival of Arts Celebrity Benefit Event

The Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters will host a red-carpet event in the form of the Celebrity Benefit Concert and Pageant on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

The event will be hosted by actor and comedian Dave Foley and producer and musician Tony Guerrero.

Celebrities expected to attend include Christopher Knight, Kate Linder, Gia and Joe Mantegna, Donna Mills and Caryn Richman.

The concert will feature a performance by Grammy-winning jazz musician Poncho Sanchez. There will also be an appearance made by photographer Matthew Rolston, who currently has an exhibit on display at the Laguna Art Museum, “Art People: The Pageant Portraits.”

The night will also include a raffle for a 2021 Volvo XC40.

Laguna Art Museum to host public interview with Matthew Rolston

As his work is being shown at the Laguna Art Museum, photographer Matthew Rolston will be on site on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. for a public interview with journalist Christina Binkley.

Rolston’s exhibit at the museum includes larger-than-life portraits of volunteers who participate in the living picture show at the Pageant of the Masters.

Rolston will discuss how the project was conceptualized, its connection to the community and his personal experiences that inspired the work.

Advance tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for seniors and students. The event is free for Laguna Art Museum members. An exhibition catalogue at the museum store will be available to be signed by the artist.

Laguna Beach Live! Concert

A Laguna Beach Live! concert will feature the Hot Club of Los Angeles on the grounds at the Festival of Arts on Wednesday, Aug. 25 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The concert will be held on the green without intermission. The show is free to Laguna Beach residents, while others wishing to attend and view the performance will be able to do so with admission to the festival.

Laguna Beach Live! is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Six local charities receive donations from Roberts estate

Longtime Laguna Beach resident Al Roberts passed away in February, but his impact is being felt by six local organizations this month.

Ken Jillson, who was Al’s partner for 50 years, announced that Roberts had left estate gifts in the amount of $105,000 each to some of his favorite local charities.

Those receiving the donations were the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, the Laguna Beach Seniors at the Susi Q, the Laguna Art Museum, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Men Alive — the Orange County gay men’s chorus, and the LGBTQ Center O.C.

“Human beings are the authors of their own acts, with responsibility for their honorable values,” Nadia Babayi, executive director of Laguna Beach Seniors at the Susi Q, said in a statement. “Having his heart in the community, Al Roberts through his philanthropic deeds gave aesthetic form to ideas and dreams conceived in this community in order to make this a better place for all of us. Laguna Beach Seniors is grateful to Al’s legacy gift, which will support our hybrid technology upgrades at the Susi Q.”

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