Woman’s Club set for annual party

Today marks the 10th year for the Woman’s Club’s annual Christmas

Party.

“We invite the whole town to bring items for our low-income

families,” organizer Sande St. John said. “People can drop stuff off

anytime from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12.”

In the past, they’ve received a wide variety of items, including

shoes, clothes, appliances, toys and food. At 5:30 p.m., the party

starts, and families can get their gifts.

“They get to shop and get anything they want,” St. John said.

“They get these giant bags and can take as much as they want --

anything and everything.”

All Laguna families with low income or with special needs are

invited to come with their children. Individuals are also welcome.

Santa is making an appearance, as is the good fairy and treats and

beverages will be provided.

Each party will be given a turkey to take home to have for its

holiday dinner. A raffle will be held for the children to win a

stereo system that has been donated.

The Woman’s Club organizes this event, but it is done for everyone

in the city. The group is still looking for donations and for toys

for Adopt-A-Family. The Women’s Club is at 286 St. Ann’s Drive. For

information or to make a donation, call St. John at (949) 499-9429.

New board president for school district

El Hathaway has been named president of the Laguna Beach Unified

School District board of education.

Jan Vickers is the clerk; K. Turner has served her year as

president and is now a trustee, as are Bob Whalen and Betsy Jenkins.

Court decides in favor of Laguna Beach

An Orange County Superior Court jury decided 12 to 0 in favor of

Laguna Beach that there was not a dangerous condition of public

property in Heisler Park in December 2001.

A lawsuit was brought by Haydee and Paul Grefe. The Grefes had

said that Haydee Grefe, 84 at the time, had tripped on a defect in a

path on a concrete area in Heisler Park. She claimed her leg was

severely injured.

The city’s defense was handled by Micheal Strickroth of Howard,

Loveder, Strickroth and Parker LLP.

‘Carol Medley Show’ set for Sunday

Laguna Beach United Methodist Church Sunday School will present

its annual Christmas pageant, “The Carol Medley Show.” The show will

be 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, 21632 Wesley Drive. For

information, call (949) 499-3088.

Choir to perform Christmas favorites

The Laguna Beach Choral and Orchestra will perform selections from

Handel’s “Messiah” and other seasonal favorites.

The performance will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Laguna

Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave.

Tickets are $15, $10 for students and seniors. For information,

call (949) 499-3894.

RUFF seeks volunteers

Rescuing Unwanted Furry Friends will team with PetSmart in Aliso

Viejo to do animal portraits with Santa Claus on Saturday and Dec.

20. RUFF and PetSmart will split the profits half and half.

RUFF is seeking volunteers to help with the event on Dec. 20.

Those interested can e-mail [email protected] or call (949) 497-5130.

Two seats opening on Design Review Board

Laguna Beach residents interested in applying for the Design

Review Board need to submit their applications to the city clerk’s

office by Dec. 30 at 5 p.m.

Appointments will be made by the City Council to fill two regular

terms to Feb. 1, 2006, and one alternate term to Feb. 1, 2005.

Interviews will be held at the council’s regular meeting on Jan. 6.

The council asks that applicants attend two Design Review Board

meetings before interviewing for the position.

Design Review Board members are given $175 per month for about 10

hours of work weekly, including meetings on the first four Thursdays

of every month in the council chambers at 6 p.m.

Applicants should understand and conceptualize architectural

drawings and visualize building mass and volumes based on a site’s

staking plans. Experience in the building trades, architecture,

historic preservation, landscaping, planning and real estate would

all be assets to the position.

For more information, call the city clerk’s office at (949)

497-0705.

Groups for Parkinson’s disease patients

South Coast Medical Center will host a support group for people

with Parkinson’s disease.

The group will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the third

Thursday of the month in Room 4 at South Coast Medical Center, 31872

S. Coast Highway.

The support is open to patients, family, friends and caregivers.

To register, or for more information, call (949) 499-7202 or

https://www.SouthCoastMedCenter.com.

BID seeks applications from cultural groups

The Laguna Beach Business Improvement District is accepting

applications for cultural arts funding. Applications will be accepted

from nonprofit groups that offer cultural events of benefit to Laguna

Beach residents and visitors.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Feb. 6. Awards will be

announced July 1.

For more information, call city arts coordinator, Sian Poeschl at

(949) 497-0722.

Downtown sewer improvements set

City officials plan to begin construction of the Downtown Sewer

Improvement project on Jan. 5. The project is expected to be

completed by March 1.

Work will be on Mermaid Street; the alley between 2nd and 3rd

streets; Ocean Avenue between the bus depot and Forest Avenue; and

Broadway.

For more information, call Water Quality Department Project

Manager Fred Shahidi at (949) 497-0345 or contractor Cody Engineering

Inc. at (562) 868-2252.