CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP: Coastal Cleanup day is near

California Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. It is the 22nd annual cleanup day.

The Clean Water Now! Coalition is administering the annual cleanup event for the sixth time. The event is held the third Saturday in September throughout California.

Volunteers are invited to help bag, separate and weigh recyclables and trash found on local beaches.

Numerous beaches in Laguna will be set up with facilities for the cleanup event. Main Beach is the headquarters for the event. Other cleanup sites are:

Participants will be given a placard allowing them to park vehicles for free all day. In addition, each station will have bags, gloves and other items.

Blue Water is administering the cleanup at Aliso Beach. Information and parking passes for the cleanup day at that location can be obtained from www.helpbluewater.com

For more information, call (949) 280-2225 or visit www.cleanwaternow.com.

Aliso Beach closed due to sewage spill

Just days after local and federal agencies agreed to clean up polluted Aliso Creek, a sewage spill has forced the closure of Aliso Beach for several days, Laguna Beach City Manager Ken Frank announced.

Some 400 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the creek, and the beach was closed to swimmers 150 feet north and south of Aliso Creek on Sept. 6.

For more information, visit www.ocbeachinfo.com.

Groups invited to trim holiday tree at Sawdust

The tradition of inviting community groups to decorate a holiday tree at the Sawdust Winter Fantasy continues this year. A total of 12 trees are available for decorating. The trees will be on display to the thousands of visitors at the Sawdust’s 16th annual Winter Fantasy, held for four weekends in November and December.

Any interested community group should call Rebecca Meekma, Sawdust community and media relations manager, at (949) 497-0517 no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept.18.

Groups are encouraged to create handmade decorations for the tree and while planning their decorating theme to take into account that the live, 6-feet tall trees will be outside for the four-week duration of the Winter Fantasy.

On opening day, Saturday, Nov. 18, local dignitaries will judge the trees, with modest cash awards going to the top vote-getters. The winners will be announced at the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony that evening at 5:30 p.m.

The ceremony kicks off the holiday season with school and other performing arts groups showing off their skills at the event.

Laguna Beach residents are invited to attend the opening day festivities for free, beginning at 2 p.m.

The 16th annual Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Art Festival runs for four weekends: Nov. 18 and 19, Nov. 24, 25 and 26; Dec. 2 and 3 and Dec. 9 and 10. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, except for opening day, when closing is 7 p.m.

The Winter Fantasy features 170 artists from Laguna Beach and beyond, exhibiting and displaying their handmade items in a festive holiday atmosphere. For more information, call (949) 494-3030 or visit www.SawdustArtFestival.org.

Roberts named to criminal justice council

Kelly Roberts, 47, of Laguna Beach, has been appointed to the California Council on Criminal Justice by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. She has served as senior vice president of the Entrepreneurial Corporate Group since 2005.

Roberts previously worked as political deputy at the Entrepreneurial Corporate Group from 1994 to 2005. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Roberts is a Republican.

Environmental Committee seats open

The City Council is accepting applications to serve on the city’s Environmental Committee and Housing and Human Services Committee.

The Environmental Committee consists of seven members who serve two-year terms. The terms of three of the members will expire on Oct. 31, 2006.

The Housing and Human Services Committee consists of five members who serve two-year terms. The terms of two members will expire on Oct. 31, 2006.

Residents of Laguna Beach who are interested in applying are required to submit an application that is available at the City Clerk’s office. The application must be filed with the City Clerk by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at their regular meeting, 6 p.m. on Oct. 3, in the City Council chambers at 505 Forest Ave.

Questions may be directed to City Clerk Martha Anderson at (949) 497-0705.