Huntington Beach

This year's sixth annual Surf City Splash raised $100,000 for several charities, according to a news release from the Surf City Rotary Club of Huntington Beach. More than 230 guests attented the event at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, enjoying dinner, dancing and auctions. Half of the money raised will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley's Building Dreams campaign to build a "family campus" at Golden West College. The family campus would include a new preschool, gymnasium and Boys & Girls Club for school-age children.

The Fountain Valley High express keeps on churning. The Barons and Newport Harbor got a jump on the rest of their Sunset League baseball brethren by playing on Tuesday and on their home field, the Barons produced a 13-3 victory over the Sailors. Fountain Valley, which leads the Sunset race at 8-0, scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control and had 17 hits for the game. Daniel Patzlaff went two for four with a home run and four runs batted in, Brock Lundquist went three for four with a home run, and John Shattles, Justin Brand and Jordan Lucio all went two for four.

Aimee Cebulski recalled chatting with Simona, a sommelier in Brescia, Italy, a stone's throw from a church. The topic at hand? Why it is such a big deal to be a 40-year-old unmarried woman without children. "[We were] wondering if it was a sin or something - when right on cue, the large bell at the church next door began to toll loudly," Cebulski said. "We both cracked up and said someone must have been listening!" Italy was a pit stop for Cebulski on a two-year journey to complete her first book, " The Finding 40 Project . " Wanderlust led the 41-year-old San Diego resident to 10 countries, including Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, France, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates.

A switch in game venues couldn't stop a determined Marina High softball team from earning a big road victory. The Vikings improved to 3-0 in Sunset League action and are in first place following a 10-0 mercy-rule win at Edison. The teams were scheduled to play at Marina, but a water-pipe problem at the Vikings' home field forced the game to be moved to Edison. The Vikings had their offense in high gear. A 12-hit attack was led by Sydnee Cable, Desiree Hagberg and Samantha Agamaite each of whom hit a two-run home run, and Emili Olague, who went four for four with three runs batted in. Junior pitcher Tera Blanco also was on her game and threw a one-hitter with eight strikeouts.

Huntington Beach High went to 6-0 in Sunset League boys' volleyball action and won for the 22nd time in 24 matches Tuesday by turning back host Fountain Valley, 25-11, 25-22, 27-25. Sophomore outside hitter TJ DeFalco had 14 kills and three aces and junior middle blocker Drake Evans finished with seven kills and three blocks for the Oilers, ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division 1. "I thought we came out focused," Huntington Beach Coach Craig Pazanti said. "We played very efficient in the first set, but Fountain Valley did a good job of staying in the match, and pushed us to the finish in both the second and third sets.

For the past two decades there has been recognition of the need to gain adequate facilities for Huntington Beach's growing senior population. The trend, nationally and locally, is that the senior population is growing and growing. Perhaps the same few loud voices of opposition, like those writing disparaging words in the March 14 Independent, were even heard 20 years ago. People who are often afraid of change cause obstruction. Currently, with Michael E. Rodgers Senior Center's limited site capacity, waiting lists have grown and new classes often cannot be developed.

A family of three was displaced after a fire consumed the second floor of a two-story house in Huntington Beach on Monday morning, causing about $85,000 worth of damage, according to authorities. A total of 40 firefighters from Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Orange and Orange County fire departments doused the blaze, according to a news release. Firefighters arrived on scene at 12:50 a.m. and extinguished the fire in about 25 minutes, Huntington Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeff Lopez said.

Josiah Whitesinger had a look of determination on his face as he wiped his goggles clean before his paintball match. Whitesinger, who traveled from Chinle, Ariz., with his family, stood in the pit area focusing on preparing for his matches Saturday morning, ignoring the sounds of double triggers slapping the frames of guns and paintballs hitting inflatable barriers. Along with hundreds of other professional paintballers, the 12-year-old participated in the National Professional Paintball League Surf City Open, now in its 11th year.

HUNTINGTON BEACH - It's too bad the Sunset League baseball season series between Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach has come to an end. Two days removed from a thriller at Fountain Valley, the Barons and Oilers staged another barnburner Friday and the encore proved as scintillating as Wednesday's finish. As was the case in their previous encounter, the Barons jumped out to a huge lead, then had to fend of an outstanding comeback by the host Oilers, to hold on for a 9-8 victory.

A trip to Hawaii resulted in another tournament championship for the Huntington Beach High boys' volleyball team. A year ago, the Oilers captured the title of the Kamehameha Cup. During spring break last week, the Oilers returned to the tournament, and again claimed the crown. Huntington went 6-0 at the event and capped its run on Saturday with a 25-19, 25-14, victory over Kamehameha Kapalama. The Oilers, ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division 1, won by sweep in three of their six matches.