AROUND TOWN - June 20, 2008

Community/Senior Center progressing

Construction is moving along according to schedule on the Community/Senior Center on Third Street, City Manager Ken Frank reported in his June 13 Friday Update to city staff.

About three-quarters of the rough plumbing and electrical components have been installed and in the coming week construction workers will start parking their vehicles in the underground garage, thereby opening up spaces for the Festival season in the Forest/Laguna lot.

The project is on its original schedule, which calls for completion of construction in January.

“We had hoped to finish a month early, but that is unlikely,” Frank wrote. “Therefore, the grand opening will probably be in early February after all of the furniture and supplies are moved in.”

Oak Street deck repaired, reopened to public

Repairs are completed on the Oak Street deck, which is now open to the public, Frank stated. The deck had been closed three months ago due to badly cracked support columns. The repairs began two weeks ago, at which time it was discovered that the major support beam was rotted through. The deck had to be removed and completely replaced, Frank stated.

HAMs field day goes solar

Laguna Beach amateur radio operators, HAMs, invite the public to join them as they set up, operate and explain and encourage public use of an entirely solar powered emergency radio station. Field Day, an annual two-day event, will take place June 28 and 29. The station will be located on the fire road between Top of the World and Moulton Meadows Park.

Featured will be voice and digital contracts between amateur radio operators throughout the United States and Canada. The public will be able to try their hand at trans-continental radio communications using solar power.

For more information contact John Kountz, chief radio operator, Laguna Beach RACES, (949) 494-8783.

Tidepool program educates, preserves

The city of Laguna Beach’s tidepool education program provided marine education docents for 1,221 students in May, City Manager Ken Frank reported in his Friday Update to city staff June 13.

School groups coming to the city’s tidepools must register with the Marine Safety Department’s marine protection officer and pay a fee which offsets the tidepool education program cost.

Prior to establishing the tidepool education program, bus loads of children would show up unannounced to the tidepools with no supervision, Frank stated. The program limits the number of schools coming to the tidepools.

Home, worth $1.2 million, to be raffled for Institute

The Ocean Institute is holding its 2008 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle. Participants will have the opportunity to win a beautiful Laguna Beach home with an estimated value of $1.2 million, or $1 million in cash. The home has a panoramic view and is an easy walk to the beach.

Tickets for the 2008 Home Raffle go on sale July 7. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Ocean Institute.

Tickets are $150 each. A maximum of 20,000 tickets will be sold; in addition to the grand prize, there will be more than 100 cash and merchandise prizes plus a bonus drawing for multiple ticket purchasers. Participants who enter by Aug. 20 will qualify for two Early Bird Drawings and an additional $67,000 in cash prizes. All tickets, including the Early Bird winning tickets, are automatically re-entered for the Final and Grand Prize Drawing on Nov. 8 at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.

To purchase a ticket call (949) 496-2274 or visit www.laguna beachhomeraffle.com.