AROUND TOWN - July 24, 2008

New library branch manager is appointed

Jennifer Gasset has been appointed as the new branch manager for the Laguna Beach Library, City Manager Ken Frank announced in his weekly update July 11. Gasset has worked for Orange County Public Libraries for almost 10 years. A graduate of Laguna Hills High School, she received a B.A. in Art History from UCI and a Master of Library and Information Science from UCLA.

Commission approves Streetscape grant

The California Transportation Commission has approved the design and funding of a $911,000 South Laguna Streetscape project, Frank said.

“This is a major milestone which comes after the Caltrans staff finally approved the design and details of the project,” Frank wrote. City staff must now finish the specifications and solicit bids for the construction.

Festivals get trolley grant from Bank of America

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has awarded a $30,000 grant to Laguna Beach’s three art festivals, to help fund the free trolley service for thousands of summer visitors.

The grant will allow the Festival of Arts, Sawdust Festival and Art-A-Fair to keep the $10,000 each has given to the city in an annual contribution to the trolley service.

During the 2007 season, the trolley service carried the greatest number of riders in the history of the summer festival service.

It was the 14th consecutive summer where ridership increased over the prior year, with 5,048 additional riders in 2007. This year an even greater number of riders is expected.

The fleet consists of 22 vehicles, a combination of open air trolleys and small buses. Eight of the 15 trolleys run on propane, as do six of the seven buses.

Shelter obtains storage space donation

Bruce McDonald and Bryan Bentrott, owners of Master Development Corporation Las Palmas, have arranged for the Friendship Shelter to utilize the warehouse portion of the marketing office for storage, shelter officials said.

The organization will now be able to accept donations of home furnishings and accessories for Henderson House residents and to provide graduates with more expensive essentials when they move on to permanent housing.

In addition, options are being explored to permit residents to store belongings, which often create a further financial burden. Due to space limitations at Friendship Shelter and Henderson House, only the bare minimum of possessions can be stored on the premises.

For more information go to www.friendshipshelter.org

Karger targets proposed marriage amendment

Fred Karger of Laguna Beach has joined the newly formed group Californians Against Hate, to fight the constitutional amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot that would define marriage as only between a man and woman.

The group is planning to publicize those who fund the amendment.

“We will wage a national campaign to disseminate the truth using new media to tell exactly who funded the qualification of the initiative and who is funding the campaign itself,” said Karger.

“If our opponents are steadfast in their desire to take away our freedom to marry, then we will fight back. We do not want to spend our money at any business owned by supporters of this hateful initiative constitutional amendment that would then be used against us.”