CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP: City needs award nominees

The city of Laguna Beach Environmental Committee is accepting nominations for its Environmental Recognition Award Program. The nomination deadline is 5 p.m. March 21.

The program is designed to recognize local efforts to preserve, conserve, protect and enhance the environment in and around Laguna Beach.

The activity must have been initiated within the last three years and successfully implemented as of the date of the nomination form.

The theme for this year is Environmental Conservation.

Any Laguna Beach resident, business or organization active in environmental preservation, conservation or educational activities may be nominated. A nominee may not be affiliated professionally with, or a family member of, a current Environmental Committee member.

Nominations may not be submitted by the nominee.

A maximum of five potential award recipients may be selected. The award or awards will be presented in April.

Nomination forms are available on the city’s water quality department website at www.clbwq.net or in the City Clerk’s office in City Hall, 505 Forest Ave. For more information, call (949) 497-0390.

Conservancy presents slide show, video

The Laguna Canyon Conservancy will host a program titled “We’re still saving the canyon,” at its dinner meeting Monday at Tivoli Terrace, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

During the meeting, Derek Ostensen will give a slide show on newly acquired open space in Laguna Canyon, and video excerpts and pictures will be presented from the recent 14-hour Coastal Commission hearing, with 4,000 people, where the commission voted to deny a permit for the Foothill-South Toll Road extension.

Dinner tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members and may be paid at the door with prior reservation. Reservations may be made by calling Ed at (949) 494-6465 by Saturday.

League marks ‘Sunshine Week’

The Laguna Beach Unit of the League of Women Voters will highlight Sunshine Week at its meeting at 9:15 a.m. March 8.

At a time of national concern about financial markets, the Laguna Beach Unit has chosen to provide some transparency on the relationship between our government and the commercial sector. Laguna Beach resident Amy Walzer will discuss “The Challenge of Increasing Government Regulations in the Banking Industry.”

Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. This is an effort to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger.

The meeting will be at the home of Sieglinde Johnson, 616 Mystic View, Laguna Beach. All are welcome. For more information, call (949) 494-2247.

Gate and Garden Tour tickets on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the Gate and Garden Walking Tour of North Laguna sponsored by the Laguna Beach Garden Club. The tour will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1.

“The tour will include an historic area of north Laguna Beach and will feature nine gardens, including a must see estate garden on High Drive,” said Nancy Englund, tour chairwoman.

Tickets are $35 each and will be sold in advance only. They are now available at Laguna Drug, 239 Broadway, Laguna Beach; Dana Point Nursery, 34100 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point; and online at www.lagunabeachgarden club.org.

The admission price includes a shuttle bus ride uphill to the first featured garden, a tour brochure, refreshments and one complimentary raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes.

Only 500 tickets are available, and the tour generally sells out several weeks in advance.

In addition to visiting the featured gardens, attendees will walk a mostly downhill route that passes several historical homes and fine gardens not on the tour but visible from the street.

City Council seeks committee applicants

The Laguna Beach City Council is accepting applications for six two-year terms on the Heritage Committee and two two-year terms on the TechComm Committee. Both committees generally meet once a month.

Interviews will be at 6 p.m. March 18 by the City Council at its regular meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. All applicants will be interviewed.

Laguna Beach residents interested in serving on either of these committees should file an application with the City Clerk by 5 p.m. March 11. Applications may be obtained from the clerk’s office or online at the city’s web site, www.lagunabeachcity.net. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

AAUW Foundation plans literary luncheon

The American Assn. of University Women, Laguna Beach Foundation is planning to hold its annual Festival of Women Authors Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 22. The event will be at the Surf and Sand Resort, 1555 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach.

The event helps to provide fellowships for study in research, selected professions, and grants for public-service projects, among other community programs for girls and women.

The cost is $65 per person until March 15. Price per guest after is $75. No reservations will be accepted after March 18. Checks may be made out to AAUW-LBF, and mailed to: Diane Reed, 439 Los Robles, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. For more information, contact Reed at (949) 497-3212, or visit www.aauw-lagunabeach.org.