Around Hermosa Beach
A depiction of sunset at the beach made Toyota network engineer Randy Mayuga winner of the city’s second annual parking permit design contest. The city received 11 submissions for the 2012-2013 permit. For more see www.hermosabch.org.
Toy drive
The annual Beach Cities Toy Drive is on, with a bin at the firehouse on Pier Avenue near Valley Drive, for new, unwrapped toys. The drive provides as many as 5,000 toys a year to kids who otherwise might not get them.
Auld Lang Syne
The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce will bring Lou Giovannetti and His Big Band to thePierPlazafor the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration that will begin at 8:30.
Giovannetti and the 18-piece orchestra, inspired by artists such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, will sing and play American big band standards.
Festivities will include a countdown to the New Year with a video replay of the ball drop in Times Square, New York on a 9-by-12 foot video screen.
The chamber took over sponsorship of the event after the City Council determined its ongoing sponsorship was too expensive.
Admission is free.
For more see www.LouSings.com and www.hbcamber.net.
Bookworm Saturday
The Third Saturday of the Month Book Sale at the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library’s bookstore, 1309 Bard St., a half block west of the library, will be 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 17.
The “usual great bargain prices” are 25 cents for most paperbacks, 50 cents for most fiction and non-fiction hardcover books, and $1 for most recent books and DVDS.
“Visit and browse and let our group of friendly volunteers help you with your holiday shopping,” the Friends said in a prepared statement. “Buy that special someone their favorite book.”
For more call 310-379-8475 or see hbfol.org.
Little League
Registration for Hermosa Beach Little League baseball and ASA softball has been extended through Jan. 15. Online registration is available at hermosabaseball.org, and questions can be emailed to hbll_bod@yahoo.com.
Yuletide trees
The Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club Christmas tree lot is open for business at Pier Avenue and Pacific Coast Highwayfor the 24th straight year. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 to 9 weekends.
Visitors can choose from more than 2,000 premium Noble and Douglas firs, fragrant Rosemary and healthy live trees, colorful wreaths, garlands and door swags as Christmas carols and friendly Kiwanians add to the holiday spirit.
All proceeds support community causes such as PS I Love You, Sunshine Kids, Children’s Miracle Network, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Project Touch, Easter Seals Disabled Program, Red Cross Blood Drive, Hermosa Beach City School District, Beach Cities Toy Drive, city parks and recreation programs, emergency disaster relief, pediatric trauma and scholarships for kids.
All trees can be fireproofed and delivered. Master and Visa cards are accepted, and purchases are tax-deductible. For more call 310-466-0960.