AROUND TOWN - Feb. 13, 2009

Vietnam veterans sought for Patriots Parade

Local Vietnam veterans have reserved a position in this year’s Patriot’s Day Parade scheduled for March 7. Organizers are seeking area veterans to participate in forming a group to walk in the parade. Veterans are encouraged to wear old uniforms. The group will form near Laguna Beach High School, 625 Park Avenue, between 9 and 10 a.m. Participants should ask the check-in booth at the corner of Park and Short Street where the group is forming. The parade will cover about six blocks and begin promptly at 11 a.m.

The traditional get-together at the Marine Room on Ocean Avenue in downtown Laguna will immediately follow. Family and friends are invited.

Interested veterans should contact Patrick Freeman at (949) 497-7473 or [email protected]

Miller Garden group holds annual meeting Tuesday

Bob Allen, an expert on local biology, will be the keynote speaker on the topic of local plants and bugs at the Hortense Miller Garden annual meeting, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Building, 260 Ocean Ave. A short business meeting will be followed by the presentation at 7 p.m.

Allen is an instructor and consulting biologist who developed an early interest in bugs. He is coauthoring a book titled, “A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Orange County.”

‘Dinners’ raise funds for Friendship Shelter

The 15th annual Dinners Across Laguna & Beyond welcomes hosts past and new to not only help fund the Friendship Shelter, but to help people understand the issues surrounding homelessness in Orange County, which is on the rise.

A highlight of all the events is a brief presentation by a resident of either Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach or Henderson House transitional living apartments.

Events include a wine tasting, backyard barbecue, Sunday supper and a party hosted by a renowned local caterer. For those who do not wish to host an event at home, guests are treated to dinner at a restaurant.

Guests are selected by hosts and contribute $125 per person to attend, or $250 to be a patron, and 100% of donations go directly to the Friendship Shelter.

For more information or to sign up as a host or guest, call Friendship Shelter’s Development office at (949) 494-6928 or e-mail event chairwoman Joy Dittberner at [email protected].

Middle East author to make appearance

Sandy Tolan, author of “The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew and the Heart of the Middle East,” will visit Laguna Beach Books at 3 p.m. Feb. 22.

“The Lemon Tree” is based on Tolan’s award-winning documentary for NPR’s Fresh Air about a Palestinian man and a Jewish woman whose families lived in the same house before and after the founding of Israel. The book won a Christopher award for “affirming the highest values of the human spirit” and was Booklist’s “Editor’s Choice” for best adult nonfiction book of 2006. It was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Laguna Beach Books is at the Old Pottery Place, 1200 S. Coast Hwy.

City Manager to give ‘State of City’ address

Ken Frank, Laguna Beach city manager, will talk to the Laguna Beach Rotary Club at noon Feb. 20 at the Hotel Laguna.

His talk will cover the “State of the City.”

Frank has been Laguna’s city manager since 1979. Prior to managing Laguna, he was assistant city manager in Berkeley from 1975 to 1979 and was staff assistant at the League of California Cities from 1971 to 1975. The cost of the buffet luncheon is $13. Interested parties should contact Gil Thibault at (949) 275-5900 or [email protected]