Mayor’s column -- Guy Carrozzo

It is hard to believe Fountain Valley’s Summer Concerts in the Park

have been around for more than a decade, and yet, it seems perfectly

natural to think of them as part of our history.

You frequently hear the comment that Fountain Valley is “a nice place

to live,” and the summer concerts are one of the reasons we believe this

is such a special place to call home. Seeing families, neighbors and

friends sharing picnic suppers and enjoying the music on a beautiful

summer evening brings to mind images of Small Town, USA.

That is a feeling my generation appreciates. It is also a tradition we

are proud to pass on to younger generations. In fact, I have heard

families plan their vacations around these outdoor concerts. Some even

return to the same spot year after year to spread their blankets and put

up their lawn chairs. Children enjoy eating dinner at the park, playing

and maybe even dancing to the music. What a great way to spend Thursday

nights in July.

Steve Copeland & Raging Sun is a West Coast blues group that also

plays a lot of swing, jump and boogie. Today will mark this group’s first

performance in Fountain Valley’s summer concert series.

July 20 will be the third annual Summer City Showcase. This “community

fair” will begin at 5:30 p.m. with employees from the Community Services

Division, Public Works, Fire, Water, Planning, Building and Police

departments on hand to provide information and demonstrations of what

they do on a daily basis. At 6:30 p.m., The Hodads return to Fountain

Valley with their repertoire spanning seven decades and ranging from

classics to rock. This promises to be a really great family event that

will have something for everyone, and it’s free.

The final concert for 2000 will take place July 27, with Film At

Eleven With Late Breaking Horns performing classic rhythm and blues and

Motown hits from the 1960s and ‘70s.

Now, a word for our corporate sponsors.

Each of the concerts available for our enjoyment this month are

possible because of the Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical

Center, Fountain Valley Firemen’s Assn., Classic Limousine, Time Warner

Communication, Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters Inc., Care Ambulance

Services and Fountain Valley Police Officers Assn.

Due to the generosity of these sponsors, we have the opportunity to

present these concerts free to the public. I urge you to take time to

thank these generous, civic-minded sponsors. We look forward to seeing

you at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center, 16400 Brookhurst St., every

Thursday night in July. Don’t miss this 11th annual concert series.

* GUY CARROZZO is the mayor of Fountain Valley.