AROUND TOWN - Jan. 2, 2009

Environmental group seeks nominees

The Laguna Beach Environmental Committee is accepting nominations for its Environmental Recognition Award Program. The program recognizes local efforts to preserve, conserve, protect and enhance the environment in and around the city.

All residents, businesses, community organizations and schools are eligible to receive recognition for their good work. The activity must have been initiated within the last three years and successfully implemented as of the date of the nomination form.

Any Laguna Beach resident, business or organization that is active in environmental preservation, conservation, restoration or educational activities may be nominated. Nominations may not be submitted by the nominee.

Nomination forms are available at Laguna Beach City Hall, 505 Forest Ave. For more information, call the City Water Quality Department at (949) 497-0390.

The nomination deadline is Jan. 30.

The Environmental Recognition Awards will be presented at the March 17 City Council meeting.

Curbside Christmas tree recycling offered

Waste Management customers with curbside service can recycle their Christmas trees by placing the trees at the curb or in their green waste carts on their scheduled pick-up day. Trees greater than six feet tall must be cut in half. Trees will be picked up for recycling during the two weeks following Christmas.

Remove all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and the tree stand. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but will be collected if they are placed at the curb.

Trees collected in the curbside program will be mulched for reuse as alternative daily cover, which is the cover material placed on the active face of a landfill at the end of each day to protect against fires, odors, blowing litter and scavenging.

For more information about recycling, visit www.wmorangecounty.com.

Register columnist will lead Patriots Day Parade

Honorees have been chosen for the 2009 Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade, to be March 7.

Grand Marshal is Frank Mickadeit, columnist for the Orange County Register. Honored Patriot is Don Segner, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean Conflict and a pioneer test pilot.

Citizens of the Year are Lisa and Ed Sauls of the Laguna Relief and Resource Center. Laguna Beach High School seniors Rachel Busic and Ryan Lawler are Junior Citizens of the Year.

The public is invited to attend the Honorees Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Tivoli Terrace, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. The cost is $25 per person. For information or reservations, call (949) 494-6016.

Entry and advertising deadlines are approaching for the parade. The program ad deadline is Jan. 12, and the entry deadline is Jan. 19.

For more information, call (949) 494-6016.

Garden Club hosts architect Borthwick

The Laguna Beach Garden Club will present local and landscape architect Bob Borthwick at its meeting Jan. 9. Borthwick will discuss unwanted plants and weed control/abatement.

Borthwick’s company Borthwick Guy Bettenhausen Inc. in Irvine, has done planning, urban design, and landscape architecture for Heisler and Main Beach parks, and has also worked on the Laguna Beach Village Entrance project, among many other local and international projects.

The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive.

The meeting is free one time for guests. For more information on the garden club, visit www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org.