Briefly In the News

Bahama joins fireworks effort with grant

Tommy Bahama has made a challenge grant of $10,000 toward the effort to raise funds for the Fourth of July fireworks show, according to Michael Gosselin of the Laguna Board of Realtors. Gosselin is chairman of a Fourth of July picnic fundraiser planned for noon to 4 p.m. May 2 at Alta Laguna Park.

Admission includes lunch, games, music by the Blues Offenders, and a silent and live auction.

The top auction item is a one-week stay at the Marriott Beach Club on Kaanapali Beach in Maui with a two-bedroom unit that sleeps eight and has been reserved for spring break 2011. Also, Hobie Sports has donated a stand-up paddle board.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids and can be bought at the Laguna Board of Realtors, 939 Glenneyre St., or the day of the event. All the proceeds will be donated to the Save the Fireworks Fund. For more information, call Gosselin at (949) 874-9293.

One-way street construction in works

Construction for improvements in traffic and parking on Cliff Drive, Beach Street and Legion Street will begin Monday, and is to be completed by the end of May. Traffic interruptions, access restrictions, parking restrictions and lane closures are expected between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays during the construction period.

Cliff Drive will be modified to a one-way street westbound between Broadway and Beach Street. Curb parking on Cliff Drive between Broadway and Rosa Bonheur will be changed to angled parking, an increase of 15 spaces.

Beach Street will be modified to a one-way street in the southeasterly direction between Cliff Drive and Broadway. This will allow a second turn lane to be installed on Beach Street for traffic turning left onto Broadway.

Legion Street will be restriped at the intersection of South Coast Highway to provide separate right and left-hand turn lanes. Also, the crosswalk on South Coast Highway will be moved from the south side of the intersection with Legion Street to the north side of the intersection.

Maps of the improvements can be found at www.lagunabeachcity.net.

Shelter launches new initiative

Friendship Shelter’s Trustees have launched a new initiative to build financial support for the organization and its programs to help the homeless.

The trustees have collectively pledged $60,000 to encourage new and increased private gifts to Friendship Shelter, with a special emphasis on helping to establish a $10,000 giving club, called Friendship Shelter “Partners.”

Prospective Partners are invited to call Dawn Price, executive director at (949) 494-6928.

Friendship Shelter offers the only free residential shelter program in south county and operates the city’s overnight emergency shelter.

For more information, visit www.friendshipshelter.org.