AROUND TOWN - July 4, 2008

City expects property tax windfall from 6% increase

The Orange County Tax Assessor has told Laguna Beach city officials that property values in Laguna Beach are projected to increase by 6.88%, nearly a percentage point more than originally projected, City Manager Ken Frank reported in his June 27 update to city staff.

Since the recently adopted budget for the next fiscal year, 2008-09, projects a 6% increase in property taxes, the additional revenues represent a windfall to the city.

Of all the cities in the county, the Laguna Beach increase was the third highest, Frank said. A couple of Orange County cities have posted negative assessed value changes after the mortgage crisis of a few months ago.

Relay for Life teams forming for Aug. 22 event

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Laguna Beach will take place Aug. 22. Families, friends, co-workers and club members can get involved by joining or forming teams.

The Laguna Beach Relay for Life website, events.cancer.org/rfllaguna beachca, is set up to help form teams and take donations.

Relay is the Cancer Society’s signature event, with 24 hours of fellowship, remembrance, hope, raising awareness and funds to save lives, help those touched by cancer, and empower people to fight back against this disease.

For more information, contact Doug Reilly, online chairman of Relay For Life of Laguna Beach at reillyd@cox.net

Sawdust Art Festival holds ‘resident days’

Laguna Beach residents are invited to enjoy artwork created by more than 200 local artists and be the guest of the Sawdust Art Festival during “Resident Days.”

From 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to closing the First Fridays (July 4 and Aug. 1), Laguna Beach residents are admitted into the Festival free of charge with proof of residency.

Present photo ID at the Sawdust Box Office to receive a complimentary ticket.

This summer, Thursday evenings at the 2008 Sawdust Art Festival are also known “Date Night,” and after 6 p.m., two complimentary drinks will be awarded to the first couple to find the red “Date Night” Heart, which will be hidden on the grounds. For more information, visit www.sawdustartfestival.org

Turnabout shop holds summer sales

The Laguna Beach Assistance League Turnabout Shop is holding its summer sale in July.

Everything in the shop will be half-price the week of July 14. A garage sale will be July 18 and 19 behind the shop, off Goff Street.

Special “bag sales” will be July 22, 24, 25 and 26. The shop will close for the summer July 27, and will reopen Sept. 3.

The Turnabout shop is located at 526 Glenneyre St.

For more information, call (949) 494-5977.

Radio amateurs test emergency skills

Laguna Beach amateur radio operators set up several solar-powered radio transmitters and antennas the weekend of June 28 and 29 to test two-way communications on several different radio frequencies during a 24-hour exercise. The event was hosted by the Laguna Beach Emergency Communications Team, a volunteer group of radio amateurs.

About 10 HAM radio operators participated in the event by setting up the stations, learning to operate different radios on several different frequencies, and building an antenna on the site. The HAMS made contact with radio enthusiasts from other states. All contacts were made with 100 watts of power or less.

For information about joining the Laguna Beach Emergency Communications Team, contact John Kountz, chief radio officer, at KE6GFF@LagunaBeachRACES.org