Christmas Eve

A Huntington Beach man accused of killing his cousin and injuring two others while allegedly speeding down East Coast Highway is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. Luicci Nader, 19, is expected to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Friday at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on felony vehicular manslaughter by unlawful manner of driving with gross negligence with a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury. He faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison if convicted on all charges.

Angelique Flores FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Margaret Truesdell dedicated the first part of her life to the sick and the last of it to her church -- and that was where her life ended Christmas Eve. Truesdell, 78, was fatally struck by a car while crossing Ward Street after attending a 4 p.m. Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Friday. "It was the children's Mass, and she wanted to be there with her class," said her son-in-law Sig Paczkowski. Resident Ngochuong Ngyen, 50, was heading north on Ward Street between Warner and Slater avenues.

A familiar shop on downtown Huntington Beach's Main Street is being evicted from its location because it can longer make the rent. Electric Chair, a store which sells punk-rock, rockabilly, alternative and pin-up girl attire and accessories, will close its doors at 410 Main St. for good Christmas Eve. The business was hit hard by the economic downturn in 2008, co-owner Mohammed "Moe" Memon said. "We're just scrambling and trying to figure things out," Memon said. "We have been pretty financially devastated from this whole thing.

An "Austin Powers" actor convicted of torturing a woman in Orange County is suspected of killing his cellmate in a Central Valley prison, authorities said Tuesday. Joseph Hyungmin Son, 40, allegedly killed his 50-year-old cellmate, who was found dead Monday afternoon at Wasco State Prison Reception Center in Kern County. Prison officials have named Son as the suspect, but officials said charges against him will await the completion of the investigation. He had arrived at the prison reception center Sept.

The Huntington Beach Public Library is having abbreviated hours at the Central Library and closing its branches over the holiday. On Christmas Eve, the Central Library and the Murphy branch will be open from 9 a.m. to noon. The Main Street and Oak View branches will be open from 10 a.m. to noon, and the Banning Branch will be closed. All locations will be closed Christmas through Dec. 27. The Central Library will reopen 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 28 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 29 and 30. Toddler Storytime is canceled Dec. 29. The Central Library will be open 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 31. All locations will be closed Jan. 1 to 3. — Britney Barnes

Danette Goulet When I was a child, holidays meant no school, my mother's stuffing, homemade pies, playing board games with my brother and four sisters and, at Christmas, the deep and superficial joys of giving and receiving tons of presents. Ah, the good old days. Where did that simple bliss go? These days, Thanksgiving usually means working although this year I'm off and will celebrate the day by cooking for a trio of otherwise helpless men. Christmas is an expensive, tense time of flying cross-country bogged down with countless bags filled with gifts for nieces and nephews, while still needing to make it to another store for that one more thing before the visit to family for a time that is always too short.

Angelique Flores HE IS Bringing cheer to good girls and boys HOLIDAY RUSH Santa and his elves have been busy all year making the Christmas gifts for the December distribution. And with Christmas Day fast approaching, Santa's workload has doubled. "This is the busiest time of the year for us," said Santa, a bit out of breath. Despite the hustle and bustle of making sure everyone's Christmas is a merry one, Santa Claus -- who bears a striking resemblance to Huntington Beach businessman Steve Daniels -- took time out to visit Surf City.

Michele Marr Today is the 10th day of Christmas. Still two days left in this season of Christmas. The other Christmas season starts sometime after Halloween. This year, judging by shopping mall decorations, it started well before Thanksgiving. It's the season when Christmas carols fill the mall's air long before anyone is really ready to for them. Newspapers arrive with more ads than news. Parking becomes a game of chicken. Shopping is a contact sport.

When Madeleine Barker's fellow cast members handed her the Oscar in the Claire Trevor Theatre, she felt excited for herself and a little sad for Judy Garland. Barker, who plays Garland in UC Irvine's upcoming musical "Tinseltown Christmas," had been busy in recent weeks studying her role, watching performances on DVD and reading about the often-turbulent life behind them. Then, during rehearsal one day, "Tinseltown" director Don Hill told the cast that he had a surprise. That turned out to be an Oscar - the one Eileen Heckart won in 1972 for Best Supporting Actress in "Butterflies Are Free.

"Without Christmas this would be a dreary world. No hearts would be gladdened by the cheerfulness it brings. The sick are cared for, the poor are fed, the children are made happy and all the world is happy, all on Christmas. Christmas brings a longing to do something to make someone happy. This spirit should be shown throughout the year, but it is always renewed at Christmas." Huntington High student Frances Chandler penned these words in Mrs. Hazelton's English class in December 1923.

A familiar shop on downtown Huntington Beach's Main Street is being evicted from its location because it can longer make the rent. Electric Chair, a store which sells punk-rock, rockabilly, alternative and pin-up girl attire and accessories, will close its doors at 410 Main St. for good Christmas Eve. The business was hit hard by the economic downturn in 2008, co-owner Mohammed "Moe" Memon said. "We're just scrambling and trying to figure things out," Memon said. "We have been pretty financially devastated from this whole thing.

When Madeleine Barker's fellow cast members handed her the Oscar in the Claire Trevor Theatre, she felt excited for herself and a little sad for Judy Garland. Barker, who plays Garland in UC Irvine's upcoming musical "Tinseltown Christmas," had been busy in recent weeks studying her role, watching performances on DVD and reading about the often-turbulent life behind them. Then, during rehearsal one day, "Tinseltown" director Don Hill told the cast that he had a surprise. That turned out to be an Oscar - the one Eileen Heckart won in 1972 for Best Supporting Actress in "Butterflies Are Free.

TILL FRIDAY Cruise of Lights The Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee presents the 49th annual Cruise of Lights, a 45-minute narrated boat tour through the harbor with lighted boats, decks, docks and homes. Cruises depart every day at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $17 for adults, $10 for children ages 2 through 12. For more information, call (714) 840-7542 or visit http://www.cruiseoflights.org. TILL JAN. 1 Holiday Ice Rink The Strand hosts its annual Holiday Ice Rink at 155 5th St., Huntington Beach.

An "Austin Powers" actor convicted of torturing a woman in Orange County is suspected of killing his cellmate in a Central Valley prison, authorities said Tuesday. Joseph Hyungmin Son, 40, allegedly killed his 50-year-old cellmate, who was found dead Monday afternoon at Wasco State Prison Reception Center in Kern County. Prison officials have named Son as the suspect, but officials said charges against him will await the completion of the investigation. He had arrived at the prison reception center Sept.

A Huntington Beach man accused of killing his cousin and injuring two others while allegedly speeding down East Coast Highway is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. Luicci Nader, 19, is expected to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Friday at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on felony vehicular manslaughter by unlawful manner of driving with gross negligence with a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury. He faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison if convicted on all charges.

Huntington Beach resident Ralph Abinader was killed Dec. 24 after the driver of the Ferrari he rode in crashed into a tow truck on East Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The driver, whose name has not been released, was going westbound on East Coast Highway, near Jamboree Road, in a Ferrari at an excessive rate of speed when he jumped the center divider and crashed head-on into the tow truck that was driving eastbound, said Newport Beach Sgt. Steve Burdette. The Ferrari split into two and caught fire.

The Huntington Beach Public Library is having abbreviated hours at the Central Library and closing its branches over the holiday. On Christmas Eve, the Central Library and the Murphy branch will be open from 9 a.m. to noon. The Main Street and Oak View branches will be open from 10 a.m. to noon, and the Banning Branch will be closed. All locations will be closed Christmas through Dec. 27. The Central Library will reopen 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 28 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 29 and 30. Toddler Storytime is canceled Dec. 29. The Central Library will be open 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 31. All locations will be closed Jan. 1 to 3. — Britney Barnes

I hope some of you had the opportunity to see the Light a Light of Love event at the pier Dec. 2, as the city kicked off this year's holiday celebrations. For me, it wasn't the lighting of the snowflakes that impressed me. It was the Christmas parade down Main Street. It reminded me of all those early Christmas parades we've had here in Huntington Beach and how important a part they've played in our community. This parade, like past parades, featured local celebrities.

"Without Christmas this would be a dreary world. No hearts would be gladdened by the cheerfulness it brings. The sick are cared for, the poor are fed, the children are made happy and all the world is happy, all on Christmas. Christmas brings a longing to do something to make someone happy. This spirit should be shown throughout the year, but it is always renewed at Christmas." Huntington High student Frances Chandler penned these words in Mrs. Hazelton's English class in December 1923.