Fire Department offers Chipper Day

The Laguna Beach Fire Department is asking neighborhood groups to

participate in local efforts to make the city more fire safe.

The department is reminding residents to trim trees and bushes,

and remove dead vegetation.

It is suggesting that neighborhood groups work together to cut and

collect the debris and deposit it on the roadside.

The Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council will pay for the

chipping and disposal of the material.

For more information on scheduling a Chipper Day, call Ray Lardie

of the Fire Department at (949) 497-0756.

Shopper permit renewal coming up

City shopping permits will expire on July 31 and applications for

new permits, valid from Aug. 1 to July 30, 2005, will be mailed to

permit holders.

Residents who do not receive an application by May 31 should call

(949) 497-0314 with their name and mailing address. Applications will

be processed by mail only and proof of residence within Laguna Beach

is required.

The cost of the two-year shopper parking permit is $80 each for

the first two and $150 each for the third and fourth permits. Each

residence is limited to four permits. Those applying for a third and

fourth permit must provide a copy of each of the four vehicles’

Department of Motor Vehicles registration.

This year the city will accept VISA or MasterCard payments.

For more information, call (949) 497-0314.

Irvine Valley College offers classes in Laguna

Irvine Valley College will offer courses during the summer to the

Laguna Beach community.

In coordination with the Laguna Beach Senior Center, the college

will offer classes including courses on exercise, sketching and

watercolor.

The classes will begin the week of July 5 and registration will be

required before the first day of class. For more information, call

Senior Center Coordinator Sharon Olney at (949) 464-9535.

Meals-on-Wheels needs drivers

The Meals-on-Wheels Program of South Coast Medical Center is

recruiting drivers to deliver meals to homebound residents in Laguna

Beach and in a small portion of Laguna Niguel.

Drivers will be encouraged to volunteer one day a month or if

possible between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday.

For more information, call South Coast Medical Center at (949)

499-7236.

Senior center offers seminar on home safety

The Laguna Beach Senior Center and Orange County Preventive Health

Care for the Aging will present a seminar called “Falls Are No

Accidents.” This seminar will focus on home safety and will feature

guest speaker Cheryl Lowes, a registered nurse with the Orange County

Health Care Agency.

The seminar will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on June 7, at

Veteran’s Memorial Community Center, 384 Legion St. Reservations are

requested by June 4. For more information, call (949) 464-9535.

Medical Center offers cancer support group

South Coast Medical Center will sponsor a free Women’s Cancer

Support Group. The group will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in the Chapel at South Coast

Medical Center, 31872 S. Coast Highway.

Registered nurse Angela Halpin will be the facilitator of the

group and women of all ages with any type of cancer are invited to

attend.

Call (949) 499-7183 for information and to register.

Surfrider looking for help testing for bacteria

The Laguna Beach chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is inviting

volunteers to test their favorite beach for bacteria this summer.

Test results will be posted in local businesses throughout the

community. Volunteers will not be required to live in Laguna Beach

and people of all ages may participate.

Throughout the past two summers participants included professors,

students and city officials. High school students will earn community

service hours for participating in the program.

Training will begin at 6:30 p.m. on June 24. Testing will require

about 30 minutes each week and will be conducted at 31973 S. Coast

Highway. Training will be at the same location. Testing will take

place every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. from July through Aug. 26.

For more information, call Margaux or Marshall Thomas at (949)

415-0417.