The Ocean View School District is close to a decision on a new superintendent after half a year without one.
"They're in final negotiations," district spokeswoman Holly Marvin said. "We'll probably have an announcement soon, maybe by the end of the week."
School board members met in closed session July 5 to discuss the Cosca Group's final recommendations to hire a replacement for 30-year district veteran Karen Colby, whose December dismissal left the district without an executive.
Interim superintendent Ed Sussman, who has run the district since that time, was not on the list for permanent superintendent. The retired superintendent from the Downey Unified School District has said he was not interested in the position.
Surf City Nights makes a splash
The Surf City Nights street fair returned to downtown Main Street bigger than ever this week, with city officials finally securing a third block for the popular festival. This time, booths and entertainment for the farmers' market and street fair stretched from Pacific Coast Highway to Orange Avenue.
City officials and business owners have repeatedly said the festival needs to cover more blocks in order to break even and no longer require subsidies. Currently it is jointly funded by the Downtown Business Improvement District and the city, but both groups hope to get the farmers' market profitable enough that it needs less money up front, and both say they are looking for sponsors to take up financial slack.
Surf City Nights took a one-week hiatus the week of Fourth of July, but it is funded through the summer by the Downtown Business Improvement District, and the City Council set aside money for it through the end of the fiscal year.
The weekly event takes place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays on Main Street, and it is expected to run at least through the summer. Two hours of parking are free in nearby lots.
City searches for official historian
The city of Huntington Beach is looking for a new official city historian to volunteer for the job. Applicants must have lived in Huntington Beach for at least five years and be able to serve a four-year term, which can be renewed by the City Council.
Those interested can find the application in the city clerk's office at City Hall, 2000 Main St., or at www.surfcity-hb.org/Elected Officials/CityClerk/City_ Historian. For more information, call Senior Deputy City Clerk Linda Suraci at (714) 536-5210.
Residents to read about climber
"Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and journalist David Oliver Relin is the book all of Huntington Beach will be talking about. After all, it is the official choice for the citywide Huntington Beach Reads One Book project, in which readers and students across the city read the same book at the same time.
The book, chosen by the Huntington Beach Human Relations Task force and the Huntington Beach Library Board of Trustees, tells the story of Mortenson, a mountain climber who was drawn to build schools in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. The City Council endorsed the bestseller in a meeting a month ago, and readers are now asked to read the book this fall.
Throughout the fall, there will be events and discussion groups in conjunction with the reading project, culminating with a visit by Mortenson in February.
Volunteers are still needed to plan and work at events; those interested can call Fred Provencher at (714) 960-1985.
