Advocacy

A local water-quality advocacy group, Orange County Coastkeeper, is suggesting two Huntington Beach waterways be added to a list of those that are considered polluted and in need of cleanup. After a two-year study, Coastkeeper recommended in February that water officials put the Bolsa Chica and Wintersberg channels, as well as two channels in Newport Beach and several others in Orange County, on a list of polluted waterways. The study looked for excessive amounts of nutrients that cause algae blooms and bacteria that could be a threat to people using the waterways.

Is it a good idea to study the Bible? Of course it is. It's a wealth of great literature and much of our society is based on the principles featured in it. How clueless would a student seem if they did not know the story of Noah's Ark, Adam and Eve, David defeating Goliath, or Jesus' resurrection? The Ten Commandments, Moses parting the Red Sea, the Tower of Babel, Cain's battle with his brother Abel, the scandal of Bathsheba, Sodom and Gomorrah — these are all familiar stories to most.

Torus Tammer Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) has announced that as of Wednesday, the new flood plain maps for the southern part of Fountain Valley releases all property owners from needing to have mandatory flood insurance. Rohrabacher acknowledged the involvement of the Fountain Valley City Council, as well as the Orange County Board of Supervisors in his 12-year advocacy of the Santa Ana River flood control project. "I am pleased that property owners in the area south of Slater Avenue and north of Garfield Avenue are no longer required to purchase mandatory flood insurance," Rohrabacher said, adding that the property owners would also be entitled to a refund of the balance of their flood insurance premiums.

The northbound Euclid Avenue offramp from the San Diego Freeway in Fountain Valley will be closed through June 29 so the California Department of Transportation can construct additional land. Other work planned during the closure will include adding new curbs and gutters as well as installing drainage and electrical lines. Motorists have the option of choosing two detour routes including the north San Diego Freeway exit at Harbor Boulevard and turning right and then left on MacArthur Boulevard to Euclid Avenue, or the Brookhurst Street exit off the highway and turning left on Talbert Avenue to Euclid Avenue.

GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Independent. If you'd like information about getting your organization listed, call (714) 965-7170. Access to Sailing Inc. offers sailing programs for disabled children and adults. Duncan Milne, (714) 722-5371. Adult Day Services offers therapeutic programs for memory-impaired adults. Volunteers are needed to assist with group activities, clerical and reception work, board committees and advocacy. (714)

Teen issue letter writing contest A letter writing contest on teen issues at Huntington Beach High School has been used to engage students in media advocacy. This year will be the second year of the contest and the topic is illicit drugs. English teacher Patricia Lane has involved 120 high school juniors in a letter-writing classroom exercise that is meant to involve the local press, city officials and community members. In preparation for the contest, students will attend a workshop featuring a panel of speakers.

As the Huntington Beach City School District gets ready to consider what to do with its four closed elementary school sites, opponents of selling the property are gearing up their campaign to keep the land district-owned. But district officials say an Oct. 30 meeting won’t even have a vote, let alone a final decision on the lands. The school district received 18 proposals to purchase, lease or otherwise use the properties by its deadline last Friday, Assistant Supt. Michael Curran said.

Health insurance companies approved to offer plans under Medicare's prescription drug benefit, which will take effect Jan. 1, can begin marketing them to Medicare beneficiaries today. As a result, people may feel overwhelmed and bombarded with the number of choices -- 19 companies in California will offer a variety of plans, including the standard Medicare prescription plan every company is required to offer. The good news, experts say, is that with a little patience and preparation, enrolling doesn't have to be a pain.