CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Park concerts to begin Sunday

It’s time again for music in the park.

The city’s annual free Summer Concerts series in local parks kicks off Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. with country musicians the Cody Bryant Show at Bluebird Park. The park is on Cress Street at Bluebird Canyon Drive.

The series continues every Sunday until Sept. 3 at Bluebird Park with reggae, rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm and blues, and more.

The closing concert will be held Sept. 10 at Riddle Field.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early with a low-backed chair and a picnic. No bicycles, scooters, dogs, smoking, tables, high chairs or umbrellas are allowed at the concerts.

Other acts during the summer include the all-female group Band She on July 30; ‘60s artists The Neat on Aug. 6; reggae and calypso performers Upstream on Aug. 13; rhythm and blues band Blowin’ Smoke on Aug. 20; Tina Turner tribute band Proud Mary on Aug. 27 and Latin jazz performers Chico on Sept. 3.

The series will close with a concert from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at Riddle Field, High Drive at Hillcrest Drive. Rock, roll and soul artists Soundbyte will perform.

The concerts are funded by the city and lodging establishments within city limits.

Information: (949) 497-0722 or e-mail [email protected].

Property taxes increase, funds benefit open space

Property assessments in Laguna Beach have risen by 9.96%, according to the Orange County Assessor’s 2006-07 property roll, released last week, City Manager Ken Frank announced Friday.

This is good news for Laguna Beach, because the city budget assumed an 8.5% increase. Any proceeds above that amount will be put into the Open Space fund, as per the adopted city budget.

City officials estimate the Open Space Fund will receive an infusion of approximately $250,000 before the end of the fiscal year.

Frank said he was surprised that the property value increase for Laguna Beach was below the average increase for cities in the county. Irvine topped the list at a 16% increase, but half the cities in the county were above 10%, Frank said.

Corporation Yard utilities to be put in place

The first step of construction of the city’s Corporation Yard complex at the Act V parking lot on Laguna Canyon Road will begin this week, City Manager Ken Frank said.

The first stage of the construction will be the installation of electricity and telephone poles, which is expected to be completed within two weeks.

One of the new poles will be located in the turnaround driveway for the city trolleys.

Frank said the trolleys will have enough room to navigate around the pole and will function normally throughout the summer tourist season.

Grading of the site will begin in September.

Turnabout Thrift Shop holds season-end sale

The Assistance League’s Turnabout Thrift Shop is holding its year end “drastic” sale Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The sale will continue Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, July 28. The shop will close for the season on Saturday, July 29, and reopen Tuesday, Sept. 5.

The shop is located at 526 Glenneyre St. Information: (949) 494-5977.

Shelter names Rhoads executive director

Friendship Shelter, an adult homeless rehabilitation program and emergency residence, has appointed Laguna Beach resident Carol Rhoads executive director. Rhoads brings both corporate executive and social welfare experience to her new role as the staff leader of the Laguna Beach- and San Clemente-based organization.

“Carol understands our vision and will provide the leadership that is critical to the growth of our organization and its programs. The board and staff wholeheartedly welcome her,” Joe Ziomek, Friendship Shelter’s president and chairman of the board, said.

Rhoads has served as president and CEO of Delos WomensHealth in Orange, Calif.; vice president of PacifiCare of California and PacifiCare Health Systems, and vice president of Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa.

She has also worked with local social service organizations, including serving on the board of directors of Families Forward and the Southern Area Foster Effort.

Rhoads received her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and an MBA from Columbia University in New York City. She is married to Keating Rhoads, a businessman and trustee of the Laguna Art Museum.

Information: (949) 494-6928 or www.friendshipshelter.org.