Businesses asked not to use Styrofoam Ocean...

Businesses asked not to use Styrofoam

Ocean Laguna Foundation, a nonprofit Laguna Beach organization,

and the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce are launching a program to

encourage Laguna restaurants and hotels to use “sea-safe” packaging

-- including cups and to-go containers to help promote ocean water

quality and marine habitat protection.

Restaurants and hotels are being asked to help keep the beaches

and coves clean and safe by not using containers and materials known

to be detrimental to the marine environment, especially Styrofoam and

plastics.

Shoppers are also being encouraged to ask for paper instead of

plastic bags at shops and markets.

Locals and visitors are asked to be aware that food takeout

containers should be changing from foam and plastic to paper.

Businesses participating in the voluntary program will receive a

“Sea-Safe Packaging” decal from organizers.

Consumers are also being asked to be “Sea-Safe” by properly

disposing of all plastic containers, caps, lids, straws, balloons,

plastic bags and especially Styrofoam and Mylar products.

For more information, call Walker Reed, Ocean Laguna Foundation,

(949) 223-0016; or Michelle Clark or Verlaine Crawford at the Chamber

of Commerce, (949) 494-1018, ext. 1.

Coast Highway parcel sells for $1.7M

Pearl Street Partners, LLC of Newport Beach has purchased a vacant

parcel at 1833 S. Coast Highway for $1.7 million from the owner,

Laguna Beach Properties, LLC of Hayward.

The 13,741-square-foot parcel -- which is on the ocean side of the

highway -- has entitlements for a two-story retail/office complex,

and Newport Beach-based development firm Bowers Perez Associates,

Inc. will build the project, according to Michelle Schierberl of

Grubb & Ellis, who represented the seller.

Landscape firm

wins 8 awards

Visionscape, Inc., a Laguna Beach landscaping firm, won eight

awards for excellence in landscape artistry during the 2004

California Landscape Contractors Assn. Trophy Awards, held recently

at the L.A. Convention Center.

The firm won in all categories of Design/Build, Landscape Lighting

and Medium Residential Landscape Maintenance and was honored for

Xeriscape.

For more information, call (949) 376-9711.