Around Town: Grant helps buy specialized playground equipment
The R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility recently held a ceremony to celebrate the addition of specialized playground equipment funded in part by a $25,000 grant from the Assistance League of Laguna Beach.
The enhanced equipment will allow all students in the school to play and swing outside, according to a news release. The additions include a musical wall so students can play chimes and bells.
Principal Judy Dore and district special-education supervisors invited Assistance League members to view the students enjoying the new equipment.
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Parade contest winners named
The Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade committee has announced the winners of its essay and program-cover contests.
The winner of the essay contest is Colleen Turner, an eighth-grade student in Laura Silver’s English class at Thurston Middle School.
Laguna Beach High School freshman Max Casper won the cover-art contest. He is a student in Kerry Pellow’s graphic arts class.
The students will ride in the parade and receive a $100 award sponsored by Union Bank and the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade Assn., according to a news release.
The 49th Patriots Day Parade is set for March 7, starting at 11 a.m. at the high school and winding through downtown Laguna. For more information, contact (949) 494-6016 or shworthy@cox.net or visit lagunabeachparade.org.
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Festival of Arts Foundation grants available
The Festival of Arts has announced that applications are available for 2015 grants benefiting nonprofit organizations that have programs promoting fine arts in Laguna Beach.
Grant applications are available at lagunafestivalofarts.org and at the Festival of Arts administration office, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.
The foundation expects to give about $120,000 in grants this year, Festival of Arts Foundation President Scott Moore said in a news release.
The submission deadline is Feb. 13. For more information, call (949) 494-9680.
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Scholarships for studying the arts
The Festival of Arts scholarship program is accepting applications from graduating seniors who live in Laguna Beach or attend the city’s high school.
The four-year scholarship has been given out since 1957 to help students pursue college studies in the arts. Students may apply in any or all categories — film, performing arts, visual arts and writing — but will not be awarded more than one scholarship, according to a news release.
The applications are available at https://www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org and at the Festival of Arts office, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. The deadline is March 13.
Awards begin at $1,000 and can be renewed for a total of four one-year scholarships. Students must reapply each summer for a continuation of scholarship status. Last year, the Festival of Arts awarded $35,000 to graduating seniors.
For more information, call (949) 464-4201 or visit https://www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org.
— Alicia Lopez