CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Neighborhood tips on wildfires

Top of the World Neighborhood Assn. President Piero Wenyss requested 500 “Wildland Fire Preparedness” checklists for distribution to association members.

Fire department officials delivered the handouts to the TOW association, and the crew of Fire Engine 3 attended an association open house this weekend.

The handouts were prepared last year for public meetings, arranged by the fire department in each neighborhood. The more than half-dozen meetings were poorly attended, which was a disappointment to the department.

For more information about the checklist, call (949) 497-0700. For information on fuel modification guidelines, visit the web sites www.lagunabeachcity.net or www.firesafecouncil.org for general information.

Osborne moderator at South Laguna forum

Ginger Osborne, former president of South Laguna Civic Assn. and Village Laguna and professor of psychology at Santa Ana College, will serve as moderator at a City Council Candidates Forum 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 5, at Fred Lang Park, Community Room, 21547 Wesley Dr.

The featured speaker at the meeting will be Laguna Beach High School senior Marshall Thomas, who has been leading Surfrider’s ocean water-testing program in Laguna for several years. Thomas will speak briefly on why this election is important from the standpoint of Laguna’s young people who depend on the wise handling of today’s challenges facing Laguna Beach.

The forum’s question and answer format will address city-wide issues as well as the concerns of South Lagunans.

The meeting is open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit www.southlaguna.org.

Community Clinic plans open house Oct. 8

The Laguna Beach Community Clinic will hold an open house to celebrate their “New Face for a Caring Place” renovation campaign on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Clinic, 362 Third Street. There is no admission charge.

The community is invited to tour the clinic building and receive information about the services the clinic offers.

The Clinic Board of Directors, led by Chairs Debbie Mulligan and Wayne Ybarra, will unveil a donor appreciation plaque in the lobby at 5 p.m.

There will be margaritas, munchies and wine courtesy of Peter and Jackie McDougall, with entertainment provided by Graeme Winder.

Laguna Beach Community Clinic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing affordable quality medical and dental care to our community.

Woman’s Club hosts membership lunch

The Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach is hosting a membership luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at the club, 286 St. Anne’s Dr.

The Woman’s Club is a philanthropic organization with nearly 100 members and is always looking for members with experience, talent, and enthusiasm.

Cost of the luncheon is $15 per person. To attend, call the Woman’s Club at (949) 497-1200 no later than Monday.

Questions due Wed. for Oct. 10 candidates forum

Advance questions for the Oct. 10 City Council candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters and other groups must be submitted by Oct. 4 to forumquestions@aol.com.

The forum will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 in the City Council chambers at 505 Forest Ave.

The forum is sponsored by four nonpartisan organizations: American Assn. of University Women, Laguna Beach Branch; Laguna Beach Seniors, Inc.; League of Women Voters of Orange Coast — Laguna Beach Unit; and the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach.

Kay Bruce, a resident of Anaheim Hills and member of the League of Women Voters, will moderate the event. The forum will be broadcast live on Channel 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, and re-broadcast on Oct. 18 and Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., also on Channel 30.

The public is encouraged to submit questions in advance and in confidence at forumquestions@aol.com.

Editors of the local newspapers have also been invited to submit two questions each in advance of the forum.

The candidates will respond to questions submitted in advance during the first hour of the forum.

The last half hour will be devoted to written questions taken from those attending the forum and screened by the sponsoring organizations.

Oktoberfest band festival set for Oct. 8

The Laguna Community Concert Band is holding its “Oktoberfest 2006” band festival from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, at Tivoli Too!, 777 Laguna Canyon Rd.

This special salute to “Oktoberfest” will feature the German American Brass Band of Southern California, which will play five times during the afternoon. There will be German musical favorites from Johann Strauss and von Suppé, as well as Rodgers and Hart, guest conductors, German food, beer, wine and dancing — including the “Chicken Dance.”

The Community Concert Band will include James Christensen — known around the musical world for his arrangements and work with the Disneyland Band — conducting his own arrangement of “Slidin’ Saints,” a spectacular trombone showpiece based on “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Other bands taking part are the Golden West Pops band; the Orange County Wind Ensemble; and the Huntington Beach Band.

General admission is $5; the German buffet is $10 and general admission plus buffet is a special all-inclusive price of $13.

For more information, call (949) 497-0986.

Club presents program on kitchen gardens

The Laguna Beach Garden Club will present Cristin Fusano, owner of Fusano’s Nursery, at the club’s monthly meeting, 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13. Fusano will discuss potage gardening — French kitchen gardens, with herbs, vegetables and flowers.

The meeting will be located at the Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Dr. For more information, visit www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org.