Paul Clinton

Paul Clinton A Huntington Beach man has been released on bail, after allegedly assaulting former mayor Dave Garofalo in a local Mexican restaurant. The Orange County district attorney is mulling over which charges to file against 48-year-old Gregory Middlesworth. At about 9:30 p.m. on May 10, Middlesworth approached Garofalo as he sat on a bar stool at Mario's Restaurant, police said. "Mr. Garofalo was involved in a verbal confrontation," Sgt. Gary Meza said.

Paul Clinton Loads of rubber ducks will swim for charity once they are dropped into the waters off Huntington Beach Pier Saturday as the centerpiece of the annual Duck-A-Thon. Organizers of the popular fund-raiser, that has pulled in upward of $70,000 in past years, expect to drop more than 3,000 of the rubber fowl into the drink. The event, in which spectators anxiously watch their duck "race" toward the shoreline, kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday with the "Mayors Race."

Paul Clinton Boeing Co. has given the Huntington Beach Community Clinic a $10,000 grant to provide medical services to low-income children. The aerospace company handed $10,000 to the clinic for a program that helps children who have demonstrated learning disabilities in the classroom. Funds will go to the clinic's Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder centers, a medical condition where children have trouble focusing on their school work. The clinic has set up "stop-in centers" at local elementary schools, where children can seek psychological counseling.

Paul Clinton A 75-year-old man has been arrested for firing a shot at his son-in-law at the younger man's Huntington Beach home. Curtis Heaton was arrested on April 15, shortly after shooting, and missing, 41-year-old David Ellis. The shot was fired inside Ellis' home in the 5500 block of Selkirk Street. After Ellis called police ay 7:35 p.m., Heaton fled in a white, Buick station wagon. Police pulled Heaton over near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard.

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 Community leaders putting on a popular fund-raiser are almost ready to throw their ducks into the soup for the annual Duck-A-Thon. The event, now in it's 10th year, has been scheduled for the weekend of May 18 and 19. Organizers carefully picked the day, so they would have an incoming tide, when the miniature rubber ducks are tossed off the Huntington Beach Pier. "We don't like picking them up in Catalina," said Pat Davis, the event's lead organizer.

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 City and community leaders joined hands to plant a tree in an Arbor Day ceremony. The group gathered at Perry Park on Arbor Day to plant a California Sycamore. The event, in its 20th year, was hosted by Women of Action, a civic group affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce. "It was a very big event for us," said Carole Ann Wall, the president of the group. "It's just really exciting to drive through the city and see the trees we have planted."

Paul Clinton A pool of challengers has begun lining up to unseat five-time burrito-eating champ Lori Roberts in OC Taco House's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration Sunday. The Huntington Beach taco restaurant hosts a burritto-eating contest every May 5. And since 1997, the 24-year-old Roberts has won the crown, chomping down a three-pound burrito in record time. Last year, Roberts set an all-time record for herself, finishing the burrito in an eye-popping 1 minute 30 seconds.

Paul Clinton Three 14-year-old boys who beat a Filipino shop manager with metal pipes have admitted to the crime. The boys, whose identities were not released since they are minors, pleaded guilty avoiding the trial set to begin on April 15. Two of they boys admitted guilt the day the trial was to start, the third followed suit a day later. On March 9, the three Huntington Beach teenagers assaulted 25-year-old Aris Gadduang behind the 99 Cent Only Store at Springdale Street and Edinger Avenue.