CITY ROUNDUP: Parade entry deadline nears

Entries to the 42nd annual Laguna Beach Patriot’s Day Parade are due Jan. 18. The parade through downtown Laguna Beach will begin at 11 a.m. March 1.

The parade theme is “Stars and Stripes Forever,” a reference to the famous marching song by John Philip Sousa.

The grand marshal is long-time civic activist Harry Lawrence, and Citizen of the Year is Claes Andersen of the Hotel Laguna. Honored Patriot for 2008 is Robert Meyerhof, a U.S. Army World War II veteran. Junior Citizens of the Year chosen by the high school staff are seniors Rebekah Farrar and Paul Hester.

The public is invited to join in saluting the 2008 honorees at the annual Fundraiser Brunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3, at Tivoli Terrace, on the Festival of Arts grounds. The cost to attend is $25 per person. For information and reservations, phone (949) 494-6016.

Parade entries are accepted in the following categories and trophies will be awarded in many of them:

School bands;

Non-school band, youth and adult;

Non-school units;

Equestrian (no judging);

Floats (only motorized entries are judged);

Novelty (walking groups only, no skateboards allowed); and

Automobile.

To enter, an application form must be filled out and signed. There is a $20 entry fee and only 100 entries will be accepted.

Applications may be obtained by calling Sandi Werthe, (949) 494-6016 or e-mailing shworthy@juno.com. For more parade information, visit www.lagunabeachparade.org

Pageant casting call this weekend for volunteers

The Pageant of the Masters is looking for men, women and children to volunteer for next summer’s show, “All the World’s a Stage.” People of all sizes and ages are needed to be cast members in the world’s most famous presentation of tableaux vivants (living pictures) which is staged nightly during the summer at the Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach.

Casting calls will be 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday; 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday; 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday; and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10. The location is backstage at the Irvine Bowl, 650 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Call (949) 494-3663 for additional information.

Prospective volunteers will be measured and photographed, enjoy refreshments and meet the behind-the-scenes Pageant staff. No theater experience is necessary.

In addition to needing volunteers to pose in the Pageant, volunteers are needed for positions in the wardrobe, make up and headdress departments, as well as cast area coordinators and refreshment servers.

By volunteering for the Pageant, students can earn credit toward community service requirements. The 2008 Pageant of the Masters, “All the World’s a Stage,” will be staged July 9 through August 30. The 10th annual gala benefit performance will be Aug. 23. Tickets are on sale now; call 1-800-487-3378.

Cancer Relay for Life planning starts

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is planned in Laguna Beach June 27 and 28 at El Morro Elementary School.

A Relay University will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 26 in Corona del Mar, teaching volunteers how to participate and plan Relay For Life events in their own cities.

Relay Road Trip, this year’s theme for Relay University, is for volunteers wanting to serve as committee members, team captains, cancer survivors and sponsors who have an interest in becoming more involved with the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life.

The Relay University will be at Oasis Senior Center, 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona del Mar. There is no cost to attend this training and free parking is available.

Register at events.cancer.org/ relayuorangecounty or call Elisa Roddy at (949) 567-0611, or e-mail Elisa.Roddy@cancer.org. The registration deadline is Jan. 13.

Seniors plan annual member meeting

Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. will hold its annual membership meeting at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Laguna Beach Senior Center, 384 Legion St., Laguna Beach.

The club will be voting on the slate of directors for the 2008 year and celebrating the holiday season by having a white elephant gift exchange, an opportunity to do a little re-gifting, but gifts should be valued at no more then $5.

For more information, call (949) 497-2441.

Club honors Iseman at community lunch

Former Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman will be honored by the community at a special luncheon event Feb. 1 at the Woman’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s Drive.

First elected to the Council in 1998, Iseman joins Bob Gentry, Neil Fitzpatrick and Steve Dicterow as one of only four Council members to serve three terms.

Iseman served as mayor in 2002 as well as 2007.

Laguna Beach mayors serve the city both officially and ceremonially. This annual event affords an opportunity for the community to honor its mayors and thank them for their service.

For reservations, mail checks made out to the Woman’s Club for $25 per person to the Woman’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach, CA., 92651. Reservations must be received by Jan. 25. The doors to the Woman’s Club will open at 11:30 a.m. Lunch and the program will begin at noon.