BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Nonprofits invited to apply for donations

The Laguna Board of Realtors and Affiliates Charitable Assistance Fund will be holding their annual interviews to determine which local community groups will receive donations from their 2007 fundraising events.

The groups sponsor three fundraising events: the Only In Laguna Fashion Show in March; A Taste For Charity and Silent Art Auction in May; and the Pet Parade and Chili Cook-off in September.

Proceeds are donated to local nonprofits; in one recent year those funds totaled $100,000.

Recipient groups must be registered 501c3 nonprofits, and a short questionnaire will be supplied to the group to prepare for an interview.

Appointments are required and will be made on a first-come basis on Wednesday, Nov. 8, or Thursday, Nov. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m. Prior recipients may re-apply.

For information, contact Executive Vice President Stephanie Lennon at (949) 497-2474.

Laguna hotelier expands to Anaheim

Laguna Beach-based Casa Resort Inc., owner of La Casa Del Camino Hotel and Roof Top Lounge, has acquired a hotel in Anaheim.

Hotel Ménage sits on five acres of land and features 255 guest rooms, a restaurant with capacity of more than 200, 2,500-square-foot of meeting and social event space, and more than an acre of pool deck/outdoor meeting space.

A multimillion-dollar renovation is currently underway and is slated to be completed by early 2007.

Located near Disneyland Resort, the hotel is part of the firm’s plans for a chain of boutique hotels.

“We’re very excited about this new addition to our company and look forward to bringing travelers and the community a great place to chill,” Casa Resort Inc. Partner Christopher Keller said.

For more information, visit www.casaresortanaheim.com and www.casacamino.com.

Identity theft topic at meeting

Coleen Walloch, a community services officer from the Laguna Beach Police Department, will be the featured speaker at a special meeting of CBX (Coastal Business Exchange) from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Hotel Laguna, 425 So. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

Officer Walloch will address the problem of identity theft. Current local business owners are invited to hear the presentation.

Walloch will define what identity theft is, how to detect it, how to deter it with safeguards that can help protect personal and business financial information, and what to do if a suspected identity theft has occurred.

Admission is free, but seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Members of the local business community are encouraged to attend. For more information or reservations, call (866) 374-4487, ext. 2 or visit www.coastalbusiness exchange.com/RSVP.

CBX (Coastal Business Exchange) was founded in 1994 by a group of local business professionals seeking a vibrant business network.

For membership information, visit www.coastalbusinessexchange.com.