CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP: Earth Day celebration planned

The third annual Earth Day Cleanup and Blue Water Beach Concert is planned for April 26 in Laguna Beach.

Participants are encouraged to pick up trash from 8 a.m. to noon and then gather at Aliso Beach from 1 p.m. to sunset for a potluck celebration, concert and poetry reading.

April is National Poetry Month and poet John Gardiner is expected to be present.

In addition, the Earth Day celebration will feature the world’s largest Earth Day hug, and a contest for the Best Sandcastle on earth.

For more information about the lineup of performers, visit www.HelpBlueWater.com.

Fundraiser planned for local fire victim

A community fundraiser will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Ocean Avenue Brewery to help raise money for 26-year Laguna Beach resident Nick Sheridan following a devastating apartment fire last week that destroyed almost everything he owned.

The event is open to the community and will include a silent auction and raffle prizes. Raffle tickets will be sold at the Brewery starting at 7:30 p.m, and prizes will include clothing and accessories donated by surf retailers Hurley, Electric and several other local businesses. There will also be several art pieces on display for a silent auction. The art auction and raffle will take place between 9 and 10 p.m.

Music will be provided by Nick Hernandez of Common Sense and DJ Slydawg.

The fundraiser is being organized by Bret Englander. Ocean Avenue Brewery is located at 237 Ocean Ave.

Parkland dedication ceremony Wednesday

Laguna Canyon Foundation, the Conservation Fund, California State Coastal Conservancy, the County of Orange and the city of Laguna Beach will hold a public ceremony to celebrate the acquisition of 158 new acres of open space at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The event will take place at one of the acquisition sites near Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach. Ceremony attendees can park at the end of Alta Laguna Boulevard or at Alta Laguna Park and follow signs to the dedication site. For more information, call Laguna Canyon Foundation at (949) 497-8324 or e-mail [email protected].

Attendees at the ceremony will include Coastal Conservancy board members, Laguna Beach City Council members and city staff, and Orange County representatives.

The new park addition is composed of five parcels — Jaysu, Stonefield, Decker, Haun and Chao — purchased in 2007. Laguna Canyon Foundation and the Conservation Fund negotiated the terms of the purchase and worked closely with the city of Laguna Beach and County of Orange to purchase these five properties and convey them to the city of Laguna Beach for permanent public protection.

The new parkland augments 70 acres in the adjacent Trinity and Wainwright properties dedicated in 2004 and 10 acres in the Rossmoor Partners parcel (adjacent to El Toro Road) dedicated in 2003. The 2007 acquisitions bring the total parkland acquired to 238 acres.

Soroptimists mark 60 years with dinner event

Soroptimist of Laguna Beach will celebrate 60 years of service with a dinner event at 6 p.m. Thursday at Tivoli, Too, 777 Laguna Canyon Road.

June Neptune, proprietor of the restaurant, is a past recipient of the club’s Women of Distinction honor. The cost is $75 for dinner and dancing.

For more information, call Nancy Lindsay, (949) 494-7340.

Recycle cellphones, ink cartridges

Old cellphones or ink cartridge may be donated toward scholarships to the Laguna Presbyterian Preschool and Youth Department. Items can be deposited in labeled boxes in the church or preschool offices, located on Second Street, between Forest Avenue and Mermaid Street. For more information, contact the church office at (949) 494-7555 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Fashion show planned for Assistance League

The Assistance League of Laguna Beach membership committee will host a fashion show featuring items from their Turnabout Thrift Shop from 10 a.m. to noon April 28 at the Chapter House, 547 Catalina St.

This is an opportunity to learn about the league, its numerous types of membership, and its many philanthropic programs. For more information, call Joan Schnitter at (949) 951-9001. Parking is available in the rear off Goff Alley off Park.

Hospital plans benefit fashion show, luncheon

The 13th annual South Coast Medical Center Fashion Show and Luncheon, “Steppin’ Into Spring!” will be at 11:30 a.m. April 25 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point.

This year’s show will feature doctors as models. Some of the hospital’s nurses and volunteers will also walk down the runway.

Also modeling will be Dana Point Councilwoman Diane Harkey, Orange County Treasurer Chriss Street and his wife, Victoria. Dana Point Mayor Joel Bishop will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

The event is presented by the hospital’s Women’s Advisory Council and Auxiliary.

Tickets are $100 per person. For questions or to buy tickets, call the hospital Foundation at (949) 499-7229 or e-mail Kate Mullins Buda at [email protected].