CLOSED FOR RENOVATION
NEW MUSIC : LOCAL BAND THE GREAT NORTH SPECIAL WAS AWARDED A $ 20,000 ARTISTIC INNOVATION GRANT BY THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH TO RECORD THE GROUP ’ S FIRST ALBUM OF ORIGINAL MUSIC , WHICH WILL BE PREMIERED AT THIS YEAR ’ S FIRST MUSIC IN THE PARK CONCERT ON JULY 7 AT BLUEBIRD PARK ; FUNDING COMES FROM THE CITY AND LOCAL LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS . THE SEVEN-PIECE JAM BAND , WHICH PLAYS A BLEND OF PSYCH-ROCK , COUNTRY-BLUES AND FUNK-SOUL ORIGINALS AND COVERS , FEATURES ANDREW CORRADINI AND RUSSELL LONG ON VOCALS AND GUITAR . ( THEGREATNORTHSPECIAL . COM )
CANDACE DARTEZ
CLOSED FOR RENOVATION
Although the Pacific Marine Mammal Center typically hosts student field trips and other public visits , it will be closed during major renovations and expansion ; the visitor yard closed last fall and is expected to reopen in fall 2024 . During this time , PMMC ’ s pinniped patients will be housed in a temporary facility nearby at the north end of Laguna Beach Dog Park . This structure — which was completed last November and is also closed to the public — includes a triage unit , field hospital and additional pools , allowing the center to continue caring for seals and sea lions that are sick or injured before releasing them back into the ocean once they ’ ve recovered .
Meanwhile , at the center ’ s permanent site , a new facility will be constructed with a state-of-the-art treatment room for surgeries , ultrasounds and other procedures . More patient units and pools will also be added to increase capacity as needed during busy periods and the center will also build a water reclamation system that is expected to cut its water usage by almost 90 %. Current classroom space will also be doubled to accommodate even more students ; distance learning capacity will be enhanced , too , in order to broaden the center ’ s reach outside of Orange County . During the temporary closure , PMMC will maintain its connection with the public via engaging educational content through webcams , virtual programs , social media and other online resources . ( pacificmmc . org ) — S . S .
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