Paul Clinton

Paul Clinton Bopping around from an apple toss to a grapefruit shotput, children from a Surf City elementary school learned about the glory of fruits and vegetables at a field trip. More than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders from Isojiro Oka School traveled to Tanaka Farms in Irvine for the knowledge. Principal Joyce Buehler said the experience was a valuable way to learn about the nutritional value of those things sitting next to the pork chop on the dinner plate.

Paul Clinton Rep. Dana Rohrabacher kicked off what are sure to be closely watched subcommittee hearings last week as the chairman of the panel investigating the Columbia shuttle disaster. Rohrabacher, Surf City's 14-year congressman, holds the chairmanship of the House's Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. Before the commencement of the hearings on Feb. 12, Rohrabacher laid out his goals for them. He said there are still many unanswered questions about the Feb. 1 explosion of the Columbia and the loss of its seven crew members.

Paul Clinton A state panel is moving forward with plans to appraise the Bolsa Chica Mesa as the first step toward purchasing it for a public preserve, at the same time that city leaders are pushing for that purchase. Al Wright, executive director of the California Wildlife Conservation Board, said he plans to hire an appraiser next month. Wright obtained permission to appraise it from a lawyer representing Signal Landmark, which owns the property, and Hearthside Homes last week.

Paul Clinton Three bundles of joy have come into the home of Councilwoman Pam Julien Houchen and her husband Bryan. Last month, the councilwoman brought her new triplets home from the hospital. No question Julien Houchen now has her arms full. The two-term councilwoman, licensed Realtor and now mother to three said she'll have a tougher job managing a busy schedule, but is optimistic. "Today's woman can do it all," Julien Houchen said. "She can still have a career and have children and participate in politics."

Paul Clinton The Orange County District Attorney is prosecuting a Huntington Beach man for grand theft against an elder. A hearing date has been set for June 3 for 32-year-old Brett Porr, who was arrested on April 24 by Huntington Beach police. Porr allegedly defrauded his 95-year-old great aunt of more than $50,000. Porr may face up to six years. The penalty for grand theft becomes much more severe when the act is committed against an elder, said Deputy District attorney Doug Brannan.

Paul Clinton Usage of a central Downtown parking structure has doubled since last year, a sign of the popularity of the area, city officials said. Results of a survey, that counted the number of vehicles that used the Main Promenade parking structure over the weekend of May 11 to 13, showed that nearly twice as many cars used the lot this year as compared to last. "In general we're getting a lot more cars in there than we used to," said Steve Benson, the city's supervisor of parking and camping.

Paul Clinton California Coastal Commissioner Shirley Dettloff had planned her speech to the Orange Coast Assn. to be a relaxed reminiscence through five years on the statewide panel. But an appearance by Newport Beach environmentalist Rodolphe Streichenberger, a commission nemesis, sparked a confrontation over the legality of the agency at a June 5 speech. Standing up in the luncheon room of the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort after Dettloff delivered her speech, Streichenberger accused the commissioners of having too much power.

Paul Clinton Pumping their legs, while they huffed and puffed their way down the Huntington Beach bicycle path, about 100 charitable souls joined a walk to raise funds for arthritis. The fund-raiser, known as "Walk This Way," brought in about $25,000 for the Orange County-Long Beach branch of the Arthritis Foundation. Saturday's event was one of dozens like it that occurred across the nation as a kickoff for Arthritis Awareness Month. The event was fairly well attended, even though it was making its bow for the first time.

Paul Clinton The Planning Commission has denied congregants of the Praise Christian Center of Huntington Beach access to their chapel for another month. The commission, at an April 9 meeting, refused to allow the members to worship at the church until they secure a "conditional use permit" to do so. Church pastor Derek Anunciation has been battling the city to use the 2,500 square-foot section of the wood, A-frame building since late December.

Paul Clinton More than two years after losing a lawsuit to local oil drillers, city leaders agreed to hand over land they had long hoped to use as a public park. The City Council unanimously approved a settlement at its Monday meeting that would transfer 10 lots of land and $75,000 to Robert Brindle and John Thomas. The council voted unanimously to accept the settlement and roll back an ordinance that zoned the area for parkland. Mayor Debbie Cook recused herself from the vote, since she lives near the land, and recently-appointed Councilwoman Grace Winchell abstained.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has joined 103 of his House colleagues in calling for the immediate firing of a Columbia University professor who criticized U.S. forces in Iraq. Nicholas De Genova, an assistant professor of anthropology at the university, ripped U.S. forces at an antiwar rally, calling for an American defeat in Iraq. De Genova called for "a million Mogadishus," a reference to the 1993 ambush that resulted in the deaths of 18 American servicemen.

Paul Clinton Rep. Dana Rohrabacher kicked off what are sure to be closely watched subcommittee hearings last week as the chairman of the panel investigating the Columbia shuttle disaster. Rohrabacher, Surf City's 14-year congressman, holds the chairmanship of the House's Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. Before the commencement of the hearings on Feb. 12, Rohrabacher laid out his goals for them. He said there are still many unanswered questions about the Feb. 1 explosion of the Columbia and the loss of its seven crew members.

Paul Clinton Surf City Councilwoman Debbie Cook says she's not dismayed at being passed over for a seat on the California Coastal Commission as a replacement for departing member, and former Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff. The commission announced that Laguna Beach Mayor and environmental activist Toni Iseman had been chosen. "I'm happy Toni got it," Cook said. "I've got a full plate." Iseman beat out Cook and a handful of other officials for the post, including L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn, the sister of that city's mayor.

Paul Clinton Protesters touting an anti-war message showed up at Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's Surf City office at noontime Tuesday to urge the hawkish congressman to back off support for military force against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. "The main focus is wanting to put on the brakes [on military action against Hussein]," group spokesman Dayve Hind said Tuesday, shortly before the protest. "That's the central focus today." The group, known as MoveOn, staged similar protests at about 400 congressional offices across the country, Hind said.

Paul Clinton Surf City has hired away San Bernardino's information services director. The City Council on Tuesday appointed Janis M. Ingels as the city's new information services director to fill a job Fire Chief Michael Dolder had been handling. "Janis Ingels brings three decades of experience in information systems," City Administrator Ray Silver said. "With her guidance, we will be able to offer cutting-edge technology and services to run the city more efficiently and effectively for its citizens."

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK From oily lagoons to lagoon-style pools -- I've taken some interesting tours in this city with reporter Paul Clinton. When Clinton, who also works for our sister paper in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, was here covering Surf City about a year ago, he dug into the Ascon toxic dump story. The story drew him in like the quagmire it is. During his investigation, he got us a peak behind the looming fence that surrounds the wasteland.

Paul Clinton Twenty-five hearty souls threw their warm bodies into the chilly water near the Huntington Beach Pier on New Year's Day, as part of the annual Polar Pier Plunge. "In a word, it is exhilarating," organizer Michael Parks said. "It's a mental challenge. It's not exactly easy to throw yourself into 55-degree water." The group of friends, many of whom live in Surf City, have been plunging into the water on New Year's Day since 2001.

Paul Clinton A state panel is moving forward with plans to appraise the Bolsa Chica Mesa as the first step toward purchasing it for a public preserve, at the same time that city leaders are pushing for that purchase. Al Wright, executive director of the California Wildlife Conservation Board, said he plans to hire an appraiser next month. Wright obtained permission to appraise it from a lawyer representing Signal Landmark, which owns the property, and Hearthside Homes last week.

Paul Clinton Kaden Bruner and Natal Morrow have been best friends since they met in preschool when they were 2. With both children now celebrating their seventh birthdays, they're teaming up to participate in the spirit of holiday giving. It may have taken a little nudging from their parents, but the two friends and classmates at Tamura Elementary School will be handing over their birthday gifts to children spending the holiday season at City of Hope Medical Center, in Duarte, who are there getting treatment for various types of cancer.

Paul Clinton Rep. Dana Rohrabacher rode an easy wave to victory in his race to represent Surf City, Costa Mesa and sections of the Los Angeles County coastline. Rohrabacher, an avid surfer, said he began his day surfing at Blackie's at the Newport Beach Pier. He ended it riding out 61.6% of the vote and knocking off the latest Democratic challenger in his 14-year congressional run. "Last night, the election just topped off a day that started with some really great waves," Rohrabacher said Wednesday.