Around Town: Orange County libraries offer virtual services, curbside pickup

Orange County public libraries are offering contactless curbside pickup throughout the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 pm.

To participate in curbside pickup, readers may place items on hold online at catalog.ocpl.org. After receiving a notice via email or phone indicating the item is ready, customers may drive to the indicated location and call the number posted on the sign at the arrival area.

Staff members will place the items on an outside table, where readers may retrieve them. Items may be returned in library branch book drops, which reopened June 9.

Those without library cards may sign up online at ocpl.org/elib/ecard for a digital card that provides access to a variety of downloadable media available 24/7. A list of digital services is available at ocpl.org/elibrary.

In addition to curbside pickup, Orange County Libraries are offering virtual programs at ocpl.org/virtualprograms. There, people can listen to virtual story time, learn do-it-yourself craft projects and enjoy online demonstrations, teen gaming, activities and more.

Libraries are not accepting book donations at this time. Curbside pickup hours may differ at the Laguna Hills Technology library and Laguna Woods library.

Food Drive for Families in Need Scheduled in Fountain Valley

In an effort to fight against food insecurity in Orange County, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley will be helping families in need by giving away 1,000 boxes of groceries.

The drive-through food drive will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday at Fountain Valley Recreation Center and Sports Park. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley is partnering with Worldwide Produce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the city of Fountain Valley to provide this service.

Families can pull up to the distribution center and open the trunk of their car for contactless delivery of the grocery boxes by volunteers. The grocery boxes will include dairy products, produce and milk.

To get in line for the food drive, families should enter Fountain Valley Recreation Center and Sports Park off of Brookhurst Street at the Heil Avenue entrance.

Walk-ups are not permitted for this food drive.

For more information or to register, visit anti-cancerchallenge.org.

Comedy on the Beach slated Friday

“Comedy on the Beach” will make its return to SeaLegs at the Beach (17851 Pacific Coast Highway) on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m.

Back for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, this will be the eighth “Comedy on the Beach” event at the beachfront venue.

The show is being co-headlined by comedians Lachlan Patterson and Ian Bagg. Pre-show DJ music will kick off the festivities. A musical performance by artist Johnny Luv will follow.

John Johnson, the producer of the show, will come out for introductions and his own comedic bit before Patterson and Bagg take center stage.

“It should be a really great show, and I’m really glad that Lachlan and Ian came on board,” Johnson said. “They’re both top-notch premier comedians.”

The show is free, but attendees are encouraged to support the venue by purchasing food and drinks. Face coverings are required for the show, which is open to adults only. Blankets are allowed, but no chairs or coolers.

Stage times (all times are approximate):

Johnny Luv, 6:15 p.m.

John Johnson, 6:45 p.m.

Lachlan Patterson, 7 p.m.

Ian Bagg, 8 p.m.

For more information on this event, visit bit.ly/2WNxAO8.

Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach is online

The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach has gone virtual.

Art patrons can explore and purchase artwork from more than 120 exhibitors at foaVIRTUAL, a 3D immersive online gallery at foapom.com/foavirtual/.

Several “rooms” hold paintings, photography, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry, handcrafted wood and furniture, ceramics, glass and more. All the artwork is available for purchase from the artist, and 100% of each sale goes directly to the exhibitor. Perusing the gallery is free.

This year’s Festival of Arts Fine Art Show was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“All of us at the Festival of Arts felt that if we cannot, for the time being, bring our guests to the Fine Arts Show to see the incredible work of our artists, then we will find a way to bring our artists to our guests,” Sharbie Higuchi, director of marketing and public relations at Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, said in a statement.

UC Irvine offering virtual Anti-Cancer Challenge

UC Irvine’s Anti-Cancer Challenge, a movement to raise awareness and funds for cancer research, is going virtual for 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.

The reimagined Anti-Cancer Challenge now includes an eight-week virtual fundraising and wellness program. Participants can ride, run or walk virtually with friends and family.

The program begins Aug. 8 and concludes with a virtual community celebration on Challenge Day, Oct. 3.

Richard Van Etten, MD, PhD, the director of the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and founding director of the Anti-Cancer Challenge, said the community has supported 43 pilot projects and early-phase clinical trials over the last three years that have moved the dial on cancer research.

“We intend to sustain the positive momentum and fund more innovative investigations through a spectacular virtual event that offers new opportunities to be engaged and inspired,” Van Etten said in a release.

Teams and individuals can participate in weekly virtual fitness challenges, riding, running or walking to accumulate miles that earn them prizes. They can also attend weekly virtual wellness classes and educational webinars, featuring UCI Health faculty.

On Challenge Day, participants will run, ride or walk from wherever they are — or simply take the day to celebrate the people in their lives who have been touched by cancer.

There is no registration fee or fundraising commitment to participate in any Anti-Cancer Challenge activity. All participant proceeds raised will fund essential cancer research at UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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