Surf Sounds Kick Off Summer Series

Summer received a warm welcome Sunday evening in Agoura Hills. As Father's Day came to a close, the lush lawn at Chumash Park played host to surf tunes and frisbee throwing for the city's 2010 Concert in the Park series.

Papa Doo Run Run, known for its surf-style music, kicked off the free four-concert summer series. Celebrating its 45th year as a band, the  sextet holds the distinction of having an unprecedented 15-year run as Disneyland's "celebrity house band," along with garnering two gold records and a Grammy nomination to boot.  

"I don't know how they do it," said resident Tom Adelman of the Department of Community Services' efforts. "I think it's great that the city of Agoura is able to get such great bands to play here."

As the sun set, children kicked soccer balls around the field with their fathers while mothers set up alfresco dinners on picnic blankets. Robin Sercu was one of many laying out her family's meal for the evening. "It's a family tradition for my daughters and I to bring my husband here for Father's Day," she said.

Five savvy teenage cousins took advantage of the large crowd and community camaraderie, setting up a lemonade stand to raise money for a road trip to their grandparents' farm in Michigan this summer.

Friends and local residents Cathy Belsky and Erin Stein agreed that the series is a fantastic way to get their kids together and a fun way to see neighborhood families. "It's great to have the kids running around outside instead of being cooped up and running around the house," added Scott Stein, Erin's husband.

Dressed in bright blue shirts, 20 young members of the Volunteers Inspire Progress (VIP) program helped facilitate the "Matchbox Derby" race, in which children in the audience were invited to the front of the stage to race Matchbox cars by blowing on them with straws.  

A cool breeze swept through the crowd midway through the concert. Attendees wrapped sweaters over their T-shirts and blankets across their bare legs. Others kept warm by dancing to Beach Boys classics: "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Surfin' Safari" and "Help Me, Rhonda."

Agoura resident and Yerba Buena Elementary School teacher Laurie Milgrim has been coming to the Concerts in the Park series with her family for more than 12 years.  "It's such a great family event, and I love the community spirit," she said. "It's one of the many things that make Agoura such a great place to live."

Here's the rest of the lineup for this summer's concert series:  July 11 - "Sharkey & the Babes" with a fireworks show at 8:45 p.m.;  July 25 - "Captain Cardiac & the Coronaries;" and, Aug.  8 - "Rumours: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac." All concerts are free and begin at 6 p.m. at Chumash Park.