Aliso Viejo

Hobby Lobby coming to Laguna Niguel Arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby is moving into Laguna Niguel. The chain's new location will be on Alicia Parkway between Pacific Park Drive and Avila Road in the Marketplace at Laguna Niguel shopping center, according to a news release from the store. The 77,800-square-foot space used to be home to Mervyn's. This location marks the eighth store in California for Hobby Lobby, which is based in Oklahoma City. It is expected to bring about 35 to 40 jobs to Laguna Niguel.

Printmaking class for beginners The Laguna Outreach for Community Arts on Saturday morning will put on a printmaking class for beginners at the Laguna Nursery. The 9:30 to 11 a.m. class will revolve around California natives and succulents, which will be introduced to the students by horticulturalist Ruben Flores. Instructor Sheryl Seltzer, a printmaking specialist, will teach the class, LOCA officials said in a news release. LOCA is a nonprofit coalition of artists, art educators and advocates that promotes arts education for people in the Laguna Beach area.

Beach Pit BBQ, which started with six Orange County locations, is down to three after its most recent closure in Aliso Viejo. Beach Pit BBQ closed its Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach restaurants in the fall. Owner Tim DeCinces cited high rent costs and the mall setting that made the three locations fail. "BBQ isn't a staple for Southern Californians like tacos, burgers or pizza. It is more of an experience or novelty dining choice," DeCinces said in an email. "Going into strip mall lost the character of visiting our original three stores.

The following is from Wednesday's Aliso Viejo City Council meeting. * First meeting with new mayor Mayor Donald Garcia honored Councilwoman Carmen Cave for her dedication to the city. Numerous city employees came up to congratulate and give words of praise to Cave, who was the first mayor of the city. City Manager Mark Pulone presented a gift to Cave and said, "Personally, I just want to thank you for the support you've given us. " Cave addressed the council and admitted that she never thought she'd be mayor but stumbled into it "by accident.

The Capistrano Unified School District board appointed new officers at its Dec. 12 meeting. Gary Pritchard was named president, John Alpay is vice president and Lynn Hatton is clerk of the board. "I am proud to have the confidence of my colleagues on the board," Pritchard said in a statement. "It is my hope that we can continue to work collaboratively as a board to find unique and innovative solutions to provide all of our students with an educational experience they not only need, but deserve, while we continue to responsibly manage the challenges of the current fiscal environment.

The Aliso Viejo Family Resource Center and Mission Viejo Animal Services Center are teaming up to host a low-cost pet and vet clinic Jan. 7 at the Iglesia Park Community Center. The cash-only clinic will offer vaccinations and microchipping at discounted rates along with dog licensing from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Vaccines for cats and dogs will range from $7 to $28. Dogs must be on leashes and cats in carriers. The Iglesia Park Community Center is at 24671 Via Iglesia, near Moulton Parkway and Calle Cortez.

An Aliso Viejo family is putting a little piece of its son, Tommy, into the Rose Parade. The Weiss family spent Dec. 17 decorating a floragraph of Tommy, who died after a car accident when he was 10 years old. The floral portrait will be one of many featured on Donate Life's float, which will honor organ donors during the Jan. 2 Rose Parade in Pasadena. The accident left Tommy in a coma, and his family made the tough decision to donate his heart. "My life changed in an instant, and I wasn't ready for the change, let alone the decision on whether to donate Tommy's heart," said Donna Telles, Tommy's mother.

The Habit Burger Grill is holding "pre-opening" events at its new Aliso Viejo location Sunday and Monday, with proceeds benefiting three charities: Savannah's Organic Ranch, the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and Share Our Strength. From noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, 100% of sales will go to Savannah's Organic Ranch. Known for its farm, the Aliso-Viejo based nonprofit also raises money for pediatric cancer research. Then, from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, dinner sales will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Assn., which spends 76 cents out of every dollar donated for research, services and education.