Music in park may still sing

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission is looking for public comment at its

meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 14 regarding a proposal to alter the

summer concert series “Music in the Park” to address neighborhood

complaints.

At the March 1 City Council meeting, approval for the upcoming

series was pulled off the consent calendar and the council asked the

Arts Commission to make modifications to the program for the first

time in 22 years, in response to complaints by neighbors of Bluebird

Park, where the series is held.

The Arts Commission is seeking input from Laguna Beach residents

at this meeting at Council chambers, 505 Forest Ave. For information,

call Cultural Arts Manager Sian Poeschl at (949) 497-0722.

Firefighters of year to be feted by Exchange Club

The Laguna Beach Chapter of the Exchange Club will honor

firefighter Dan Stefano and reserve firefighter Tim Jones at the

club’s annual luncheon, held this year on St. Patrick’s Day, at the

Hotel Laguna.

The honorees were selected by the Laguna Beach Fire Department.

Tickets for the lunch event are $22. Information, Sande St. John,

(949) 499-9429 or (949) 633-9429.

Low-interest loans for storm-damaged homes

Homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage from

the historic winter storms have eight months to apply for

low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration.

The SBA declared Orange County -- and many other Southern

California counties -- a federal disaster area in mid-February,

following several weeks of record rains.

Disaster loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to

repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and

renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged

or destroyed personal property.

Businesses may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace

damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory

and other business assets.

The deadline for applications to be returned is Nov. 18.

Information, (800) 488-5323.

Hospital seeks musical performers to aide

South Coast Medical Center is looking for a few good musicians and

vocalists to entertain hospital patients, employees and visitors.

The SMCM Auxiliary, a volunteer group that supports the hospital’s

activities and programs, believes that music has healing powers.

Betsy Young, coordinator of the Auxiliary’s music program, is

scheduling community and school groups, in addition to individual

musicians and singers, to “drop by” the hospital.

“We have a warm, welcoming environment here at South Coast, and

music already is part of that,” Young said. “A piano is available in

the main lobby to provide musical programs or just background tunes

to help foster the ambience here.”

Musical groups or individuals wishing to perform on a voluntary

basis at the hospital may contact Young at (949) 499-7177 or

Auxiliary Director, Kathy Mullins, at (949) 499-7175.