AROUND TOWN - June 13, 2008

Festival de Musique honors sister city in France

Laguna Beach’s sister city, Menton, France, will be honored with a series of special concerts from noon to 4 p.m. June 21.

The “first day of summer” event will feature many styles of American and French music at different locations on Forest Avenue, culminating with an organ concert at the Christian Science Church.

The Festival de Musique will start at noon with a ceremony featuring Didier Rousselièr, consulate general France, at the Presbyterian Church Rose Garden, 415 Forest Ave. The Laguna Community Concert Band will perform Claude Bolling’s “Jazz Suite.”

From 12:30 to 3 p.m., ensembles will play at the following locations on Forest Avenue: Fingerhut Gallery, Crystal Image, DeBilzan Gallery, Bushard’s Pharmacy, the Lumberyard Mall patio, Sundried Tomato Plaza, and at the Presbyterian garden and pocket park.

From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., a closing ceremony organ concert will take place at the Christian Science Church, 635 High St., Laguna Beach.

There is no charge. For more information, contact Carol Reynolds at (949) 497-0986 or via e-mail at [email protected]

Kiraly movie to be screened in Laguna

The movie “Diminished Capacity,” based on Coastline Pilot columnist Sherwood Kiraly’s novel of the same name, will be shown in a special preview screening Thursday at South Coast Cinemas in a benefit for the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library.

The movie, starring Matthew Broderick, Virginia Madsen and Alan Alda, will be released in a number of cities soon.

A private reception will be held after the screening at K’ya Restaurant.

Kiraly and special guests will be present.

Tickets are $100 for the screening and reception, or $35 just for the screening.

For reservations, call (949) 497-7053 or (949) 378-5135.

Water District unveils groundwater facility

South Coast Water District is holding a Community Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 21 at the new Groundwater Recovery Facility, 33750 Stonehill Drive, Dana Point.

The facility is producing the first drops of local water for the District’s service area, reducing the need for imported water.

The state-of-the-art facility produces about 10% of the District’s potable water from a local source, the San Juan Groundwater Basin.

The event is free of charge.

Residents are asked to RSVP to (949) 499-4555 ext. 3152 or [email protected].

Ham radio exams set for end of June

The Laguna Beach Emergency Communications Team will proctor ham radio examinations, as volunteers under the aegis of the American Radio Relay League for the three license classes of FCC amateur radio licenses: Technician, General and Extra.

Individuals wishing to take an exam may register by calling John Kountz, Chief Radio Officer, Laguna Beach Emergency Communications Team.

The exam session will be held from 2 to 2:30 p.m. June 22 at the Laguna Beach Resource and Relief Center, 3305 Laguna Canyon Road, at the intersection of Stan Oaks. The fee is $14, and a photo ID is required. For more information, call (949) 494-8783.