Plastic Bag Ban Begins, Other MB News

1. The city's plastic bag ban begins Saturday, Jan. 14, and means that restaurants, food vendors, grocery stores and pharmacies in Manhattan Beach will need to comply with the ordinance. Even though these businesses have until April 14 before the ordinance is enforced, shoppers will want to stock up on reusable bags for grocery shopping. Shorewood Realtors agent Ed Kaminsky is offering a free reusable bag along with a free copy of his South Bay Real Estate Guide. The offer is for South Bay residents on a first-come, first served basis. Call his office at 310-798-1277 for your free reusable shopping bag.       

2. If you'd like to attend tonight's community meeting about the construction progress and process at Mira Costa High School, you need to RSVP by emailing Linda Huber at lhuber@mbusd.org or calling 310-318-7345, ext. 5944. The meeting will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the board room of the district office at 325 S. Peck Ave., Manhattan Beach. Adults only are invited and coffee and light refreshments will be served. If you can't make the meeting and have a question, email it to measurebb@mbusd.org.

3. The Neptunian Woman's Club of Manhattan Beach is celebrating Manhattan Beach's centennial with a party this Saturday, Jan. 14 at its clubhouse from 6-9 p.m. The event will include food, drinks, dancing and live music. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased at in Manhattan Beach at Christie and Pages: A Bookstore, in Hermosa Beach at Maison Luxe and in Redondo Beach at Trax Hair Design or by calling 310-977-8360. The clubhouse is at 920 Highland Avenue, with plenty of parking available nearby at Metlox Plaza, accessible from Morningside Drive, near Manhattan Beach Boulevard. No tickets will be sold at the door.

4. The Manhattan Country Club's proposed renovation is on the agenda for tonight's Planning Commission meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Council Chambers, 1400 Highland Avenue. The staff report recommends that the commission conduct a public hearing and adopt a resolution that would allow the club to renovate and make a small addition so that it can increase its 1,200 membership limit to 1,400.

5. The Manhattan Beach Certified Emergency Response Team's Emergency Preparedness Training Class that begins this Saturday, Jan. 14 is full, according to George Butts, CERT president, who says anyone interested in taking a future class to email their request to info@mbcerta.org. The class, which takes place on three days from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., teaches participants how to fight small fires, conduct search and rescue, provide triage services, first aid and transport, communicate to receive help and survive until help arrives. The Manhattan Beach Fire Department leads the class and there is a fee to cover the cost of materials and expenses.