Monthly Online Newsletter - May 2005
The classic cars will roll out on June 5th
The 20th Annual Huntington Beach Concours d'Elegance, one of Southern California's best know auto events, will be rolling into town again this summer. The Concours d'Elegance will be held on Sunday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will showcase more than 500 vehicles. In addition to its marque autos, the HB Concours will present 53 different classes of automobiles for competition, more than any concours in the country. The event will be held in Huntington Beach Central Park (on Talbert Ave. and Golden West St.) next to the Huntington Beach Public Library and Cultural Resource Center.
Each year, select carmakers are featured. This year, the featured import will be "The Ultimate Driving Machine," BMW, who will be showcasing many models that have been made since the company was founded in 1928, as well as its Mini brand and motorcycles. "The car of presidents and kings," the Packard, will be the featured domestic marque for 2005.
The Concours d'Elegance began two decades ago, when car lover Bart McGrath decided that the children's section of the Huntington Beach Library at Central Park needed upgrading. McGrath embarked on a two-decade-long fund raising effort that combined his love of automobiles with the development of a consistent source of money for the library. Organizers have been able to raise more than $300,000 for the library over the years and draw some 4,000 spectators annually.
In addition to viewing the more than 40 classes of car, motorcycles and vintage bikes, there will be food booths, a jazz band and family entertainment. Back by popular demand, the Harry Potter Look-A-Like Contest returns this year. Children are asked to dress up as a character from the popular book and film series. Also, as a part of the exhibition, high school and college students can submit designs for a car of the future in the "Imagination Takes to the Road" competition. The designs will be put on display and judged by representatives from the automobile industry.
For more information on the event and registration, visit the Concours d'Elegance website at www.hbconcours.org or call the Concours D'Elegance information line at (714) 375-5023. The deadline for entries is May 27. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the library for $8, or for $10 at the event. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Huntington Beach Library. Judging of cars will start at 9 a.m. and the event will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Swing Band to perform at Pier on Mother's Day
Put on your dancing shoes and bring your mom down to Pier Plaza on Mother's Day, Sunday May 8. The Pier Plaza Presents Concert series kicks off with the sound of the Royal Crown Review, a seven piece swing band that combines jazz and jump in an elegant blend of everything from be-bop to gut-bucket blues.
This popular band signed with Warner Brothers Records in 1995, releasing their first album "Mugzy's Move", which formally established the band's "hard-boiled" style with songs of Hollywood street life and big-top tragedies.
Royal Crown Review has appeared at the Playboy Jazz Festival, performed live with Bette Midler at the Billboard Music Awards, and performed at an eclectic mix of events from major jazz festivals such as the Concord and Newport to the Warped Tour.
The Royal Crown Review will be at Pier Plaza on Sunday, May 8 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
The Pier Plaza Presents Concert series is sponsored by Farmers and Merchants Bank. It is presented on various Sundays from May through August. For a complete lineup of the 2005 series, contact the Community Services Department at 714-536-5486.
Community Forum to discuss Diversity and hate crimes to be held May 26
For the past ten years, the Orange County Register has named Huntington Beach the "Best City to Live In" and the City has also received accolades for its low crime rate and being a consistently safe city to live in. Safety has always been a priority in Huntington Beach, and the City and the Police Department are working hard to improve safety in our community and to enable residents to become more involved in this process.
A panel presentation discussing hate crimes and hate incidents, and the effect they have on our community will be held on Thursday, May 26. Police Chief Kenneth Small and the Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force will host this event. The panel will explore the impact that hate crimes and hate incidents have on our community, the motivation behind such acts, and what people are doing to combat the hate and celebrate the diversity of Huntington Beach.
The panel discussion will be from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at City Hall in the Council Chambers, located at 2000 Main Street. For more information, please contact the Huntington Beach Community Services Department at (714) 374-5307. Marines hold "Dining Out/In" event in Huntington Beach
While many Marines are in active duty far away from their home, their families can struggle during this difficult time and often require help and support from the community. In a recent City Council meeting, Council members formally adopted the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines of Camp Pendleton. Council Member Gil Coerper led the effort for Huntington Beach to become the sponsor of a Marine Battalion after being approached by Assemblyman Tom Harman to discuss this possibility.
By sponsoring a Marine Battalion, the City of Huntington Beach provides a way for the community to support our military and their families. Through this program, the City established an account to receive and disburse cash donations that are received on behalf of this program. In other cities where a Battalion is adopted, the city provides the accounting and banking functions for donations and works with a community group of representatives who oversee the needs of the Battalion.
The community has already benefited from this sponsorship. Last week, the Marines held their "Dining Out/In" event at the Hyatt Regency. The dinner was sponsored for the Marines through donations from businesses and individuals. The hundreds in the Battalion enjoyed a delicious dinner following a solemn ceremony and processional.
At the beginning of the program, Mayor Jill Hardy presented the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines with a proclamation from the City recognizing the adoption of the Battalion. It is anticipated that the Marine Battalion will be participating in this year's Fourth of July Parade.
Councilman Coerper has started working on this program and is looking for any interested members of the public to participate. While the City will be handling the accounting and banking functions for donations, a volunteer board is overseeing the expenditures for the needs of the Battalion. An already established group, the 3/1 Key Volunteer Network is working with the City's volunteer committee to coordinate community relations with the military families. Anyone interested in contributing to the support of this prestigious group of Marines can contact Council Member Gil Coerper at (714) 536-5553.
Police Department Open House May 21
The Huntington Beach Police Department will be holding an open house on Saturday, May 21. Both young and old alike will enjoy this inside look into the headquarters of the Police Department who is dedicated to serving and protecting our community.
Visitors will be able to take tours of the Police Department, which will be held throughout the day. There will be a variety of displays set up featuring the equipment and resources of the Police Department. The police helicopter and the department's old cars will be some of the equipment on display. The Special Weapons and Tactic Team (SWAT) and the K-9's will also be exhibited.
The event will be great for opportunity children. They will enjoy the tours of the police station and the various exhibits, and will also be able to have their picture taken on a police motorcycle. Children can also visit the puppies at Orange County Animal Control's Adopt-a-Puppy van that will be coming to the Police Department for the day.
A recruiting booth will be set up for those who may be interested in joining the Huntington Beach Police Department or simply want to know more about the opportunities that are available at the Police Department.
The Open House will be from 10 am to 2 pm at the Huntington Beach Police Department, located at 2000 Main St. For more information, please call Susie Wajda at (714) 536-5933. Passport Services available at City Hall
If your future travel plans call for a destination beyond the borders of the United States, then you either need a new passport or you may want to check your current passport to make sure it is up-to-date.
The City of Huntington Beach, through the City Clerk's Office, has been designated as a United States Acceptance Facility for people needing a passport for the first time, or for people who need to renew their existing passport.
The City Clerk's Office also provides information packets to help you expedite your application for a Passport. Located at the Huntington Beach City Hall, 2000 Main Street, on the 2nd floor, it is open Monday thru Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including lunchtime hours. For more information call 714-374-1600.
Passport Services available at City Hall
If your future travel plans call for a destination beyond the borders of the United States, then you either need a new passport or you may want to check your current passport to make sure it is up-to-date.
The City of Huntington Beach, through the City Clerk's Office, has been designated as a United States Acceptance Facility for people needing a passport for the first time, as well as for people needing to renew their existing passport.
The City Clerk's Office also provides information packets to help you expedite your application for a Passport. Located at the Huntington Beach City Hall, 2000 Main Street, on the 2nd floor, it is open Monday thru Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., including lunchtime hours. For more information call 714-374-1600.
Huntington Council on Aging to host Golf Tournament
On Friday, June 24th, 2005, tee up in a special Huntington Beach Senior Services Golf Tournament at Meadowlark Golf Course and help the Huntington Beach Council on Aging stay "ON COURSE" with support services for seniors in our city.
Register early! ON COURSE is limited to the first 144 golfers of all ages and is expected to sell out. Each golf package includes green fees, cart, lunch, and delectable buffet dinner all for $100. Players will have several chances to win fabulous prizes including two chances to win a new car. Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels that all offer great entitlements. Participation and donations will help support local seniors all year round!
The city's Michael E. Rodgers Seniors' Center is host to more than 6,000 active seniors each month. The Seniors' Outreach Center provides an array of services to the homebound, frail elderly that enable them to remain independent and safe in their homes.
There are several ways to help support these vital services for seniors through ON COURSE! One can enjoy a delightful day of golf, sponsor the event, and/or volunteer to help the ON COURSE Committee coordinate this year's tournament. For more information, call Rodgers Seniors' Center at (714) 536-9387. Seniors' Center to offer new computer classes
The Michael E. Rodgers Seniors' Center is proud to announce the opening of their new state-of-the-art computer lab and computer instructional courses made possible with funding from the Huntington Beach Council on Aging. The classes will focus on the following four topics:
Intro to Computer - If you are new to the computer, then this is the class for you. Learn how to turn on/off a computer and how to use a mouse.
Intro to Word - This class will teach you how to use Microsoft Word for use in writing letters and notes to be printed on paper. This course will also show you the basics of the keyboard and how to use the seven extra keys in the keyboard. Intro to e-mail - Learn how to write, send, read, print, reply, forward and delete.
e-mail. Note: if you already have an e-mail account at home, be sure to bring in your username and password.
Intro to the Web - Learn to look up someone's Web site and how to "surf the Web" to research information.
Classes will be held Tues.-Fri. from 1-3 p.m. and will be $5 for each class. You may sign up for as many classes as you wish, but must pay your fee in advance. Call 536-9387or stop by the front counter for a schedule of class and an enrollment form - 1706 Orange Ave Dog Beach to hold fundraiser
A sample of delicious California cuisine and a silent auction, all designed to raise money for a good cause, will be the focus of Huntington Dog Beach's Charity Event on Wednesday, May 25, 2005. The Huntington Dog Beach's fundraising dinner will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. at the beautiful Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort. This event will raise funds for a canine drinking water fountain at Dog Beach
A $50 donation will include a special tasting menu featuring the specialties of the new California Steakhouse and seafood prepared by Chef Jeff Littlefield served in The Palm Court Restaurant. The evening will include a silent auction of creative gifts worn by Paris Hilton's stylish dog Tinkerbell that are signed by the hotel heiress. Other creative and valuable items will also be auctioned throughout the evening.
To attend this evening of culinary delights in a beautiful setting and to help Huntington Dog Beach build a canine water fountain, please visit www.dogbeach.org. You will receive your entry receipt by instant email after making your donation. Please bring the receipt with you to gain entry. There are limited tickets available, and each invitation is $50 tax allowable donation. Call (714) 841-8644 for more information.
Newland Street closed for few weeks.
CBeginning Monday morning, April 25th, the City of Westminster will be closing Newland Street from Heil Avenue to Edinger Avenue. Detours will be set up to move the traffic around the closures to Beach Blvd or Magnolia Street, and electronic signs will be posted in advance to advise motorists of the closure and detour routes. The street is scheduled to be reopened to through traffic on or around May 16, 2005.
Due to strict grant deadlines, the City of Westminster needs to expedite this street rehabilitation project. Unfortunately, the project was delayed. Closing this portion of Newland is the only viable option to allow Westminster to complete the project within the necessary timeframe.
The City of Huntington Beach has made every effort possible to limit the inconvenience to the public. We will continue to monitor conditions and make adjustments as necessary throughout the project. If you have any questions, please contact City of Westminster Public Works staff member, Jake Ngo at (714) 898-3311, Ext. 217 or email jaken@ci.westminister.ca.us.
Interfaith Council to hold Prayer Breakfast May 5
The Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council (GHBIC) will be holding a Prayer Breakfast for the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 5. Enjoy a continental breakfast of egg and cheese burritos, fresh fruit, pastries and beverages and help celebrate the theme of the breakfast: Many faces, One family.
KOCE-TV news anchor, Ed Arnold, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the day, and Erin Runnion, the mother of Samantha Runnion, will be a special guest speaker. The 25-member St. Bonaventure Catholic Church's Children's Choir will be featured during the breakfast.
GHBIC will also be honoring the recipients of the Annual Peacekeeper Awards. Recipients for 2005 are: The Hon. Larry Crandall, Mayor of Fountain Valley; Ken Small, Chief of Police, City of Huntington Beach; Paul A. Sorrell, Chief of Police, City of Fountain Valley; R. Marshall Tanner, LDS Church, Life Time Achievement Award; and Rev. Peggy Price, President, GHBIC.
Reservations are required for this event, which begins promptly at 7:30 am at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church Parish Hall, located at the corner of Springdale and Heil. Tickets are $10 and table sponsorship is available for $125. For more information please call (714) 743-0050.
Central Library has much to offer
The Huntington Beach Central Library and Cultural Center, which is located on Talbert Avenue, not only serves Huntington Beach as the main branch of library system, but is also a cultural center that is a hub of activity for City residents and visitors.
The Library has several meeting rooms, a banquet facility and a 319-seat theater, which is home to the Huntington Beach Playhouse. Various cultural and business events are held at the Library that enrich and inform residents and guests. The theater and meeting rooms are all available for rent for any occasion. They feature state of the art technology and a full kitchen to make any event successful.
The Center has been used for a wide variety of events including financial and estate planning seminars, recent job fairs for Verizon and the new REI, and for training purposes and retreats for Coastline College, City of Cypress, and HB Hospital. The theater houses a variety of productions including plays, concerts, dance performances, product launches, state budget presentations, and Eagle Scout ceremonies and graduations. Authors and entertainers of renown have utilized the theater and meeting room including authors Dean Koontz and Elizabeth George and actor James Earl Jones.
Exercise and personal training classes are offered five days a week, with morning classes available. A summer session for these classes is being developed which will focus on flexible times and schedules. For more information on exercise classes at the library, please call Sue at (714) 593-8347. If you would like more information on any of the rates and availabilities of the various rooms, please call the Library's Facilities Coordinator at (714) 375-8425 or visit the website at www.hbpl.org
Watch out for burning candles
There has been a significant increase in the number of candle fires in the City of Huntington Beach. During the month of April, the Huntington Beach Fire Department responded to two major residential fires that were started by candles. Fortunately, the residents were able to escape with minor injuries. The National Fire Protection Association has provided the following safety tips. Remember that a candle is an open flame. It can easily ignite any combustible nearby.
Facts and figures
- Candle fires accounted for an estimated 5% of all reported home fires.
- 41% of the home candle fires started in the bedroom.
- 34% of candle fires occurred after candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled; 26% occurred when some form of combustible material was left or came too close to the candle; 6% were started by pe ople (usually children) playing with the candle.
- Eleven percent of home candle fires started after the candle user fell asleep.
Safety tips:
- Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing, books, paper, curtains, bedding.)
- Use candleholders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
- Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.
- Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
- Keep candlewicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and containers should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
- Keep candles, matches, and lighters up high out of reach of children.
- Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
- Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
West Nile Virus Update from the Orange County Vector Control District
April finds the Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) at nearly full seasonal staffing levels in response to the public health threat of West Nile virus (WNV). District surveillance efforts continue to find the virus both in the dead birds reported by the public, and WNV antibodies in the wild bird capture-release program.
To date Orange County has had eight dead birds test positive: two American crows and one Snowy egret from Orange: a crow and a house finch from Anaheim; Seal Beach, and Villa Park each have submitted a crow that was positive; and we also have a Black-crowned Night-heron from Dana Point. We have a total of 34 live birds that tested positive for WNV antibodies, mostly house finches. There were 11 each from Anaheim and Garden Grove, five from Fullerton, three each from Huntington Beach, and Irvine, and one from Seal Beach. To date for 2005 there has been only one positive mosquito pool in the state, that one from Santa Ana.
Even though the detection of WNV came at least two months earlier than last year, we have not seen wide-spread infection in the bird populations, and no human or equine cases. Nevertheless, staff is busy managing the tremendous number of new sources of standing water all over the County. We are finding standing water in some very unusual places like low spots in playing fields, freeway interchanges, and vacant lots.
Among the most troublesome situations are patios at the base of a slope. If the patio doesn't drain well and the slope is big enough there can be long-term seepage, which will leave the patio flooded for weeks to come. These flooded patios are mosquito breeding sites and need to be treated.
Keep in mind, standing water containers need to be checked weekly. If it doesn't rain, the automatic sprinklers come on, and refill everything. Wear a suitable mosquito repellent whenever going outdoors, there are several, but the ones containing DEET® are known to be effective.
The easiest precaution one can take is to make sure window screens are in good repair and properly installed. Once window screens have been examined and found in good order, they should not need to be looked at again until the next year. The District is once again asking the public to report dead birds directly to OCVCD at (714) 971-2421, or (949) 654-2421 Ext. 117. Students get firsthand look at City Hall
Students from Edison, Marina, Ocean View and Huntington Beach high schools came to City Hall on Thursday, April 25 for Huntington Beach's Annual Youth in Government Day. Mayor Jill Hardy, the City Council Members, and City staff were on hand to welcome the students and to give them the opportunity to learn more about the Huntington Beach City Council and City Hall.
City Administrator Penny Culbreth-Graft welcomed the students in the City Council Chambers and had the department heads give them an overview of all the City's departments using clever props and visual aids.
The students were then split up and assigned to tours of different departments. After their tours, students participated in a mock City Council meeting. On the agenda for the day was the Edinger Corridor project and the conversion of a Kmart building to a Home Depot. Students were selected to play the role of mayor and city council members and ran the City Council meeting as the other students watched and gave their input as members of the public.
A luncheon followed the City Council meeting. Mayor Jill Hardy welcomed the students and Jennifer Baca introduced the Youth Board members: Whitney Gaglio, Lauren Thomas, Ann Quan, Andrew Kreitz, Claire Muller, Nicolette Ulrich, Amelia Huss, and Sarah Graham.
During the luncheon, Dr. Van W. Riley, Superintendent of Schools, Huntington Beach Union High School District, gave words of inspiration to the students. The special guest speaker for the day was Cormac O'Modhrain, the General Manager for the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa and he spoke about the importance of choosing a career that you love.
Youth in Government Day would not have been possible without generous donations. This year, major donations were made by: The Huntington Beach Police Officers' Association & Foundation, Toyota of Huntington Beach, Rainbow Disposal Company Inc., Golden Arrow Camp, H.B. Water Polo Foundation, Huntington Center/ Bella Terra, Stemmer's Tree/ Landscaping/ Gardening Services, Inc., Huntington Beach H.S. PTSA, and Ocean View High School PTSA.
Laws change regarding recreational vehicles
Anyone who currently parks their RVs, boats, and trailers in the streets of Huntington Beach needs to pay attention to the new ordinance that City Council recently passed. The need for a change in this ordinance comes from the numerous calls that the Police Department receives daily from citizens regarding oversized vehicles, recreational vehicles, and detached trailers parked on city streets. The general issue is the length of time that these vehicles are parked in the same location on public streets. Many residents feel that these vehicles negatively impact the quality of life in their neighborhoods, create safety hazards, and are unsightly and clutter the streets. The current Municipal Code is difficult to enforce, vague in certain aspects, and time consuming for the Police Department.
April Television Schedule for Channel Three
| Community Bulletin Board | All Day, Everyday |
| City Council Live Broadcasts | May 2nd and 16th starting at 6 pm |
| City Council Re-Broadcasts | May 3rd at 10 am and May 4th at 7 pm For the April 4th meeting |
| April 19th at 10 am and April 20 at 7 pm For the April 18th meeting |
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| Planning Commission Broadcasts | May 10 and 24 at 7 pm |
| Planning Commission Re-Broadcasts | Thursday following the meeting at 7 pm |
Informational programming will be running on Channel 3 according to the following schedule:
Mondays from 9 am to noon
Wednesdays from 2 pm to 5 pm
Fridays from 6pm to 9pm
Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm
(Schedule subject to change)