CITY ROUNDUP:BBQ marks anniversaries

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Hometown BBQ and Pageant of the Masters event on Thursday, July 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, 260 Ocean Ave.

It’s a big year for anniversaries, and the Chamber is planning a special celebration.

The Chamber is celebrating its 90th anniversary; the City of Laguna Beach is marking its 80th year; the Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters is turning 75; and it would be John Wayne’s 100th birthday.

Chamber members are working with the Wayne family to create a tribute to the actor at the event, and the Wayne Foundation will be raising money to fight cancer.

A special appearance by the Wells Fargo stagecoach is also in the offing.

Tickets for the BBQ and to the Pageant of the Masters are $75; tickets for the BBQ only are $25.

For more information, call the Chamber at (949) 494-1018 or visit www.lagunabeachchamber.org

Laguna Ocean to sponsor forum

Laguna Ocean Foundation will sponsor a forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Aliso Creek Inn to alert the community of news and issues of importance relating to the beaches, intertidal zone and watershed.

Laguna Beach Marine Protection Officer Calla Allison will be guest speaker. Allison will discuss issues relating to marine protection here in Laguna Beach drawing upon her first-hand experience over the past year.

Aliso Creek Inn is located at 311061 Coast Highway, South Laguna Beach.

‘Disbelief’ discussed in programs

Jonathan Miller will explore the origins of his lack of supernatural belief and the hidden story of atheism at a three-part program, “Atheism: A Rough History of Disbelief,” sponsored by Atheists United, Inc. of Los Angeles and hosted by Laguna Beach resident Niko Theris.

The first part of the BBC program will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Community Meeting room on the third floor of the Wells Fargo Bank building, 260 Ocean Ave. Subsequent programs will be presented the fourth Thursdays of July and August, at the same time and place.

In Part I, “Shadows of Doubt,” Miller visits the former spot of the Twin Towers in New York City to consider the religious implications of 9/11, where he meets Arthur Miller and the philosopher Colin McGinn. Miller then searches for evidence of the first “unbelievers” in Ancient Greece and examines some of the modern theories as to why people believe in mythology and magic. Interviews include Richard Dawkins, Gore Vidal, Pascal Boyer, and Daniel Dennett.

Part II “Noughts and Crosses,” presented July 26, will depict Christianity through the 6th to 18th centuries A.D. with the Reformation and movement from Rome through London to Paris.

Part III, “The Final Hour,” on August 23, will wind up the series with the effects that Thomas Paine, geology and Charles Darwin have had on theism.

Admission, refreshments and parking are all free.

Belly dance party Sunday

Jheri St. James is holding her annual Belly Dance Party from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, 384 Legion St.

The event features a free belly dance class from noon to 1 p.m., drumming, vendors of belly dance adornments, and performances by professionals and students of belly dancing.

Raffle tickets and valuable prizes throughout the day.

Tickets are $2 and a potluck disk to share, or $5 with no food. Proceeds go to the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Assn. Also, good used clothing will be accepted for distribution to the battered women’s shelter in San Clemente.

For more information, contact [email protected], or call (949) 494-5031.

Recycle cell phones, ink cartridges

Old cell phones or empty toner/ink cartridges can be recycled, and turned into scholarships to Laguna Presbyterian Church’s Preschool and Youth Department.

Items for donation may be dropped off at the church office, 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.

Volunteer options for summer

Laguna Presbyterian Church has some volunteer opportunities this summer — from singing in the choir to feeding the homeless.

Anyone who would like to sing in the church choir on Sundays should meet in Tankersley Hall at 8 a.m. Services follow at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. For information, call Linda White, choir director, at (714) 321-9860.

Tankersley Hall is on Second Street between Forest Avenue and Mermaid Street in downtown Laguna Beach.

To help make sandwiches for the homeless, participants may join the Lunch Bunch at 8:45 a.m. on Mondays in the church kitchen, located behind Tankersley Hall.

To volunteer to prepare or serve a dinner to homeless neighbors, contact Faye Armstrong at (949) 497-9982.