Around Town: Laguna Beach places ban on single-use plastics on beaches, parks and trails

As part of the city’s Neighborhood and Environmental Protection Plan, Laguna Beach has adopted an ordinance that addresses plastic pollution.

The ordinance, which took effect on Thursday, bans single-use plastic food ware items in the city’s beaches, parks and trails.

The sale, use or distribution of single-use, to-go plastics such as straws, drink stirrers, eating utensils and take-out bags made from such material is also prohibited.

The city urges local food and beverage vendors to use reusable materials when possible. Restaurants are asked not to provide non-plastic alternatives like paper straws unless a customer requests them.

A food vendor may receive a one-year exemption from the ban on plastic food service ware if it can show that the conditions of the ordinance would cause undue hardship.

In addition, the following took effect on Thursday as part of the environmental protection plan: the feeding of birds is prohibited in the city’s parks, large shade structures are not allowed on beaches to preserve public safety sightlines, bikes cannot be left alone at Main Beach or Heisler Park and community parks that aren’t located on the coast close at 10 p.m.

Music in the Park concert Sunday at Festival of Arts

A Music in the Park event will take place at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach on Sunday, featuring the band Upstream.

The concert will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and the show is free for Laguna Beach residents. Personal items for seating such as folding chairs and blankets are not allowed at the venue.

“The Arts Commission is very excited to partner with the Festival of Arts to present this year’s Music in the Park concert series on select Sundays between July 18 and Aug. 22,� Adam Schwerner, the chairman of the Arts Commission, said in a statement. “We have some great bands lined up.�

There will also be a Music in the Park concert at Bluebird Park on Aug. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Festival of Arts Introduces App

The Festival of Arts has debuted a free smartphone app, allowing attendees to plan their visit to the venue currently playing host to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters.

“The Festival of Arts has so much to offer visitors,� Festival of Arts board member Jeff Rovner said in a statement. “With more than 100 artists, the Pageant of the Masters production, dozens of live music events, art tours, special exhibits and more, the experience can seem overwhelming, but with our new mobile app, guests can plan their visits and navigate the grounds with confidence.�

The app provides access to the Fine Art Show exhibitors, their artwork and biographies, as well as a map of the exhibition stations. It also allows fans to search for artwork featured at the Festival of Arts by medium.

A daily schedule of events on the grounds is provided within the app, too.

Laguna Art Museum receives Festival of Arts grant

The Laguna Art Museum announced Tuesday that it was awarded a $3,000 grant by the Festival of Arts Foundation.

The funds will go toward art supplies, teaching fees for professional artists and other educational activities, such as virtual programming, art-making events, school field trips and more.

Huntington Beach Downtown Walking Tour set for Tuesday

Visit Huntington Beach will be hosting the newly relaunched Huntington Beach Historical Downtown Walking Tour on Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m.

The tour will be led by local historian and author Chris Epting and will feature a stroll through downtown, reliving events and stories from the past.

The walk will end at Longboard Restaurant with a beverage and question-and-answer with Epting.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

USA Water Polo youth national teams announced

Several locals were named to the youth national teams by USA Water Polo this week.

The men’s youth national team features Gage Verdegaal and Eli Liechty of Newport Beach Water Polo, Inc., as well as Grant Loth, Luke Redoutey, Logan McCarroll and Nikola Mirkovic of Huntington Beach-based Vanguard Aquatics.

On the women’s side, Morgan Netherton, Taylor Smith and Avery Montiel of Newport Beach Water Polo, Inc. all made the cut, as did Genoa Rossi of Vanguard Aquatics.

USA Water Polo also named its cadet and development national teams for 2021 after completing selection camps.

Arts & Learning Conservatory returns with ‘Once on This Island Jr.’ at Concordia University

Costa Mesa’s nonprofit Arts & Learning Conservatory is hosting “Once on This Island Jr,� its first in-person performance in more than 15 months beginning with performances this weekend and running through July 25 at Concordia University in Irvine.

Performed by a diverse group of youth and teens from throughout Southern California, the local production of the Tony Award-winning musical tells the tale of peasant girl Ti Moune, who embarks on a journey to reunite with true love, defying the forces of prejudice and hate that caused their separation.

“Once on This Island Jr.� runs Friday through Sunday at 8:30 p.m. and again next weekend, from July 23 through July 25 at 8:30 p.m. at Concordia University’s outdoor amphitheater, 1530 Concordia, in Irvine. Doors open at 8 p.m. each night.

Concessions and opportunity baskets will be available. Audiences are encouraged to bring padding and/or blankets for comfort. Tickets cost $18 for general admission, $25 for premier seating and can be purchased at artsandlearning.org.

— From staff reports

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