Briefly In The News

Group making clothes to send to African kids

The Dressmakers of Laguna Presbyterian Church invite everyone to help make dresses and shorts to send to an African orphanage in October.

In May, the group sent off 147 dresses to Holt International Adoption Agency, who then delivered the dresses to young girls in Vietnam and Haiti.

Anyone who wants to help can join the group from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays at the church, 415 Forest Ave.

The clothes will be on display in the church’s Tankersley Hall at the Fall Kickoff Pancake Breakfast on Sept. 11. Tickets to the breakfast are $5 for adults; kids 10 and younger are free.

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Find treasures at discount prices at sale

The 61st annual Bargain Festival will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday at the Neighborhood Congregational Church.

New and used items have been donated to the sale, and visitors can shop for furniture, books, collectibles, toys, clothing, jewelry and more. Baked goods will also be for sale.

Proceeds from the event go to the church’s ministry, which helps provide food and services to the homeless of Laguna, among other things. The church will also donate 10% of the proceeds to other Laguna Beach charities.

For more information, call (949) 494-8061 or visit ncclaguna.org.

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Parking committee has vacant position

The City Council is seeking applicants to fill an open position on the Parking, Traffic & Circulation Committee.

The committee meets at 6 p.m. at the Community Center on the fourth Thursday of the month.

The council will conduct interviews during its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 in City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Ave. Everyone who applies will be interviewed.

Interested residents can get an application from the city clerk’s office or at https://www.lagunabeachcity.net. The deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 30.

For more information, call the city clerk’s office at (949) 497-0705.

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Grant to help sewage lift station

Laguna Beach was awarded a $450,000 grant to help replace the Rockledge sewage lift station and related sewer lines, the California Department of Water Resources announced last week.

The grant funds were provided by Proposition 84.

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September concerts to be held at Heisler

The Arts Commission is hosting September Sunset Serenades, a series of four concerts next month at the amphitheater at Rockpile in Heisler Park.

The concerts will begin at 5:30 p.m. and are free. Performances include: singer-songwriter John Troy (featuring Bob Hawkins) on Sept. 9; string trio El Re’al Chamber players on Sept. 16; jazz Kevin Kanner Trio on Sept. 23; and Roland and Adriane on Sept. 30.

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CityRace hunt to take over Laguna in October

Laguna Beach will be host to a CityRace Urban Adventure Hunt on Oct. 9.

CityRace hunts send out teams of two to four players who must solve clues and puzzles throughout the city while racing other teams to finish first and have the most correct answers.

In the Laguna hunt, players will be on a quest to uncover works of art and hidden secrets throughout the downtown area.

CityRace hunts are $35 a person. To register or for more information, visit https://www.racela.com.

—Kelly Parker

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Laguna Beach outrates U.S. — briefly

Laguna Beach had a higher credit rating than the United States — but only for a week.

Standard & Poor’s, one of the three rating agencies, downgraded the U.S. from AAA to AA-Plus on Aug. 8. For the next seven days, Laguna’s rating was still AAA.

“The city’s rating was higher because the city’s general obligation bond had AAA rating,” said city Treasurer Laura Parisi.

However, on Aug. 15, the 20-year general obligation bond, which provided the funds to buy parcels of land in Laguna Canyon, was paid off in full.

“The payoff left the city debt-free, but with nothing to rate,” Parisi said.

—Barbara Diamond