Bella Terra

What started as a birthday party for Ken and Teri Earwood's 5-year-old son turned into a night of pure, unmitigated terror. And the family loved it so much, they've done it every year since. The Huntington Beach residents celebrated their child's birthday seven years ago by converting their spacious home into a haunted house. Everyone had such a great time that the Earwoods decided to make it into an annual tradition — only now, they invite the entire community to stop by. Friday and Saturday night, the home at 5631 Serene Drive will turn into the eighth annual Earrywood Haunted House, with more than 25 monsters lurking about and elementary, middle and high school students working in the shadows.

About 100 Marines will wash cars from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave., during a fundraiser by the Huntington Beach 3/1 Marines Foundation to raise money for their annual ball. The car wash will be set up behind the old Montgomery Ward building. Balloons and banners will mark the site. All cars will be cleaned using eco-friendly products donated by Simple Green. A valet service will be on hand, so customers can drop their cars off while they shop.

The 3rd Battalion/1st Marines, which Huntington Beach adopted in April 2005, and the Huntington Beach 3/1 Marines Foundation will host another car wash from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 19 at Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave. Vehicles are advised to enter the mall parking lot closest to Gothard Street, behind the old Montgomery Ward?s building on the northwest side of the mall. The car wash will be marked with balloons and signage. Several military vehicles will also be on site. All cars will be cleaned using eco-friendly products donated by Simple Green.

The Cheesecake Factory at Bella Terra served more than 2,000 patrons in two days last week in a trial run before it opened for dinner on Monday. Hundreds of guests waited in a queue that snaked outside the restaurant, onto the sidewalk. The restaurant sits between the Huntington Surf & Sport store and Barnes & Noble bookstore off Edinger Avenue and Beach Boulevard. "It's an opportunity for our staff to fine-tune what they've learned by practicing on the guests," joked Alethea Rowe, director of restaurant marketing.

Three men robbed the Kohl’s at Bella Terra on Monday night while the store was open for business, Huntington Beach police said. The robbery occurred about 8:25 p.m. Monday. One suspect held the door open, while two others with a crowbar and hammer smashed glass display cases and stole jewelry. All three men wore jackets that concealed their faces. No employees or customers were injured during the quick smash-and-grab, police said. The men escaped in a dark green, older-style, small vehicle.

The Automobile Club of Southern California opened a second branch June 9 in Huntington Beach, making it the only city in the county to have two branches. The new office at 19810 Beach Blvd. is expected to serve 48,000 members in its 6,000-square-foot facility and employ 19 people. The branch provides insurance, travel and automotive services and sells discounted Regal Entertainment Group movie tickets. The office can also handle most Department of Motor Vehicles issues. There is already an office at 16160 Beach Blvd.

A tart wave has just crashed in Orange County. Its followers are ready, descending on the Bella Terra shopping center for the tangy dessert treat they call addictive. Frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry opened its first store in the county in Huntington Beach Monday. The chain has exploded in popularity in Los Angeles county, with lines out the door nearly any time of day at its dozens of stores, but now the cult-inspiring chain is eyeing markets farther down the 405. Not all the customers at the 6 p.m. opening were longtime fans; there seemed to be a few new converts.

What is the biggest issue facing the city? Regaining trust for elected officials. Considering such issues as the sports complex lawsuit and improperly converted condominiums, do you agree with criticism that the city has been mismanaged? How would you run the city better? Huntington Beach is a large city and should be run as such. I do not believe that the city is mismanaged, but I do believe that more could and should be done by the council to act as overseers of the daily operation of our city.

Name: Jim Katapodis Age: 54 Birth place: San Francisco How long have you lived in Huntington Beach? More than 20 years Occupation: police supervisor with the Los Angeles Police Department Education: associate's degree from Golden West College Previously elected or appointed positions: member of the Board of Directors, Westminster Community Theater; member of the Executive Board...