COMMUNITY SERVICES
Youth Board - The Huntington Beach Youth Board, a nine member board appointed by the City Council, held a successful fundraiser on Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19. The Johnsonville Brats truck made its way to the Albertson's Shopping Center at Yorktown and Main Street. Youth Board members, along with parents and friends, volunteered their efforts on both days receiving donations from happy Thanksgiving shoppers at the Albertson's Shopping Center. John Oborny, General Store Manager of Albertsons, once again showed his community spirit by generously donating all the drinks, buns, condiments and chips for this fundraising event, which allowed the Youth Board to realize 100 percent of the profit. Mr. Oborny has become a staple in the community for his generosity and community participation. The Johnsonville folks supplied the delicious bratwurst and the facilities to make this one of the most spectacular fundraising events within Huntington Beach. The Youth Board wishes to thank Mr. Oborny and his staff at Albertsons for their continued support to the Youth Board and the community as a whole. The fundraising event made a profit of $3,200 for the Youth Board which will go towards Youth in Government Day to be held in April, 2007. This event has been well received by all four high schools of Huntington Beach, allowing approximately 170 youths to shadow city employees in their everyday work routines. Many leaders have had their start on the Youth Board, including successful lawyers, doctors, business persons, and government officials.
Art Center - We would like to take a moment this week to express our gratitude to the donors who have funded several special programs with grant support during the past year. A special thank you to Target for funding Family Arts Day and Artsy Sundays, to Arts Orange County for funding the Kurt Wold bicycle sound performance, and to Boeing for funding Live at the Center presenting jazz and blues performances. Thank you to the Fieldstone Foundation for providing an extensive Executive Leadership training program for arts organizations, a truly invaluable experience. We are especially grateful to the Huntington Beach Art Center Foundation for its ongoing efforts to raise funds for education programs and general operations. They have donated $65,000 during 2006 as well as provided funding for a video for marketing the Art Center. Lastly, we would like to thank the City of Huntington Beach for providing and maintaining such a stunning facility. We are so grateful!
Grief Doesn't take a Holiday - Coping with the holidays after a loss can be difficult. Michael E. Rodgers Seniors' Center is hosting a grief workshop facilitated by Heartland Home Care and Hospice on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for bereaved individuals to discuss their concerns and issues and obtain some practical support in adjusting to a loss.
It's Turkey Time - An anonymous donor delivered 25 frozen turkey breasts to Seniors' Outreach in time for the holidays. Social Workers will deliver them to their low-income clients who are still able to cook a Thanksgiving dinner. For those clients who are alone on the holiday and no longer able to cook, volunteers will deliver a turkey dinner from Norm's restaurant. The Holiday Meals program is sponsored by the Handy Crafters and the Huntington Beach Council on Aging.
Medicare Part D Annual Enrollment - Michael E. Rodgers Seniors' Center is hosting a Medicare Special Enrollment day on Friday, December 1, 2006. A team of HICAP (Health Insurance Advocacy Program) counselors will assist seniors in comparing Medicare Part D plans on the Medicare.gov website and will then assist them in enrolling in one of the plans. No computer experience is necessary. The counselors will help in every step of the process. Appointments are required. Call Rodgers Seniors' Center for more information, or to make at appointment, at 714-536-9387.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Suspicious Fires - A series of suspicious dumpster fires occurred in the early morning hours of November 10. The Fire Department responded to three separate incidents all within an hour. The three fires were very close to one another and located on Mora Kai Lane, Valley Circle and Beach Blvd. The fires are under investigation and the Police Department will be increasing patrol checks in the area during the early morning hours.
Beachwalk Condo Fire - On November 13, the Fire Department responded to a fire on Seashore Circle located in the Beachwalk condominium complex. The fire involved a four unit condo building resulting in the evacuation of five residents. Forty-three firefighters controlled the fire in 45-minutes with assistance from the Costa Mesa Fire Department. There was significant damage to three of the four units resulting in $1,000,000 in structural damage. Fortunately, there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
POD Drill Recap - On November 3, 2006, the Emergency Management & Homeland Security Office conducted a joint exercise with the Orange County Health Care Agency, Golden West College and the City. A Point of Dispensing (POD) was set up to simulate dispensing medications to the public. The exercise was made more realistic by the180 workers who provided 1400 flu shots in a 2.5 hour period. Workers included city employees and volunteers (CERT, RACES, RSVP); Golden West College employees and volunteers (nursing students and police academy students); Health Care Agency employees, Medical Reserve Corp, American Red Cross, and other agencies.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Officers Save Young Life - On Sunday, November 19, 2006 at approximately 2:30 pm, Huntington Beach Police Officers Shawn Randall and Jennifer Marlatt received a call of a child not breathing on Dairyview Circle. They responded with red lights and siren to the call, hoping to reach the child in time to administer medical aid. When the two officers arrived, they found a 5-year-old female lying on the grass in front of an apartment complex. The officers quickly assessed the child's condition and found that she had a rapid heart rate, her lips were turning blue and she was not breathing.
Officer Randall immediately began "mouth to mouth" rescue breathing on the child while Officer Marlatt monitored her pulse and chest movements. After a minute of rescue breathing, the child responded by beginning to breathe on her own. She was then transported to the hospital by the Huntington Beach Fire Paramedics and is expected to make a complete recovery.
The child was attending a birthday party and had been playing in a bounce house after just eating. The child's mother said she found her daughter face down in the bounce house and not breathing. She pulled the child out and was able to remove a small amount of noodles from her mouth; however she was still not breathing. She said prior to the officer's arrival, her daughter was not breathing, her lips were discolored and her skin was cold.
The child's mother told police that it was her opinion that Officers Randall and Marlatt saved her daughter's life. It is apparent that the quick actions of the two officers saved this 5-year-old girl's life.
PUBLIC WORKS
Beach/Taylor Landscape Enhancement Project Update The Beach/Taylor Landscape Enhancement Project is nearing completion. As the name suggests, the project consists of landscape enhancements, including a decorative block wall, on the frontage road at Beach Boulevard and Taylor Avenue (Beach, between Talbert and Ellis). Final work on the block wall and landscaping has begun and paving work will follow. It is estimated that the project will be completed within 2 to 3 weeks.
Weekly Report Archive 2006
