CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP: Two candidates’ forums slated for October

City voters will have two opportunities in October to hear directly from candidates for Laguna Beach City Council. The election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The South Laguna Civic Assn. will hold a forum at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Lang Park Community Room, 21547 Wesley Dr. More details will be released in September about this forum. For more information, visit www.southlaguna.org.

On Oct. 10, the League of Women Voters will moderate a question-and-answer style forum from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the City Council chambers, City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

Questions for the Oct. 10 forum can be submitted through Oct. 4 for confidential consideration via e-mail to forumquestions@aol.com.

Questions will also be taken from the audience attending the forum.

The Oct. 10 forum is sponsored by the American Assn. of University Women Laguna Beach Branch, Laguna Beach Seniors, Inc, the League of Women Voters of Orange Coast — Laguna Beach Unit and the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach.

Groundbreaking set for city facility

Ground will be broken at the Act V remote parking lot for the new Corporation Yard facility at 4 p.m. Sept. 5 in a formal ceremony, City Manager Ken Frank announced Friday.

The $8.5-million project at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road includes city maintenance, transit and other facilities now located on Forest Ave. and Laguna Canyon Road downtown, near city hall.

A new, 267-space parking lot will be constructed in the current Corporation Yard area to serve visitors. That lot is expected to be in service by summer 2007.

The new Corporation Yard is expected to be completed by Jan. 2008.

Summer Shuttle ridership up again

For the second consecutive year, summer trolley service ridership is up, City Manager Ken Frank announced Friday.

After five weeks of running the free summer shuttle service, ridership is over 7% higher than last year at this time, Frank said.

So far, there have been 42,000 riders.

Last year’s ridership was 15% more than the previous year.

Church plans garage sale

Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive, will hold a Hundred Family Garage Sale beginning at 8 a.m. on August 26. Items include everything from clothing to furniture. Lunch and snacks available.

For more information, call, (949) 494-8061.

Parents Club holds family picnic

The Laguna Beach Parents Club is inviting families to a summer family evening in the park at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Bluebird Park.

Participants can socialize, eat hot dogs and snacks and learn more about the Laguna Beach Parents Club. The hot dogs will be provided, and participants are asked to bring drinks or a snack to share.

The Parents Club sponsors many activities each month to promote fun and community spirit among families.

For more information, visit www.lagunabeachparents.com.

Relay for Life postponed to spring date

The American Cancer Society and the Relay Planning Committee have decided to postpone the Relay For Life of Laguna Beach.

“Many members of the community have asked for a few more months to get geared up for the relay,” said Cassandra Tomes of the Cancer Society. “We are moving the relay from Sept. 22 and 23 to a spring 2007 date. We don’t have a specific date nailed down yet.”

Teams are still forming, and the Laguna Beach website remains up and running at www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/lagunabeach.

For questions, contact Tomes at (949) 567-0625 or cassandra.tomes@cancer.org.