Briefly In The News

New trolleys ‘stimulate’ summer service

The first of four new, made-to-order trolleys has arrived, City Manager Ken Frank announced in his Oct. 22 Friday Update. The trolleys, funded entirely by grants and transit funds, will reduce the number of rented trolleys to three next summer.

The made-to-order trolleys are being manufactured in Maine, at a cost $963,000, 50% of which was funded by a Federal Stimulus grant, 15% by State Air Quality grants, and 35% by state transit funds that are passed through the Orange County Transportation Authority to the city, Frank wrote. The trolleys were bought one year ago.

Three more trolleys are expected to arrive before the end of the year.

“The four trolleys will supplant four of the seven trolleys that would otherwise be rented next summer to keep up with the growing popularity of the free summer trolley service,” Frank wrote.

Work suspends sewer odor control system

The Bluebird SOCWA sewer lift station odor control system’s oxygen generator is being replaced by a more energy-efficient system, Frank announced in the Update. The lift station was equipped with an odor control system in 2005. The system eliminates odors and highly corrosive gases that naturally build up in the wastewater system, he wrote.

The new technology requires less maintenance and the energy savings is projected to result in a payback period of about four years, Frank wrote.

The odor control system was taken offline last week and the new system is expected to be running by the end of next week, Frank wrote. “Until then, it is possible that an abrupt and foul reminder may be experienced; confirming how well the system works,” he added.

Marines to gather Nov. 10

Local Marines will gather for the traditional celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday on Nov. 10. Laguna Beach Marines, friends and loved ones are invited to gather at the Aliso Creek Inn Canyon Lodge for the Corps’ 235th birthday at 6:30 p.m. in their “best availables,” according to Charlie Quilter, Colonel U.S. Marines (Retired). For more information and reservations, call Krystal Neitske at (949) 499-9534.

Conservancy hosts Rollinger

The Laguna Canyon Conservancy will meet Nov. 1 for a presentation by City Councilwoman Verna Rollinger on the Village Entrance Park Project. She will answer questions about the latest proposal issued in a new environmental impact report. The project was first introduced in 1967 and has gone through many alterations.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Tivoli Terrace, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. To reserve a seat, call Ed Drollinger at (949) 494-6465.