Sunset Beach

Torus Tammer The Orange County Sheriff's Department has stepped up to the plate and responded to the safety concerns of residents in Sunset Beach. The beach town has, in the past, rarely needed an intense police presence, but many residents changed their minds about that when a group of children found a small paper envelope containing what may have been methamphetamine while they were playing outside about six months ago. Robbie Faris took the role as spokesman for 20 households that united out of mutual concern for the community's safety.

A woman was fatally struck by a car while walking across Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach on Thursday night. According to dispatcher Beth Smith of the California Highway Patrol, the woman was in a crosswalk when the vehicle struck her at about 9:20 p.m. at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Coral Cay Lane. The incident is being investigated by the highway patrol and not the Huntington Beach Police Department, since the collision occurred in county-owned Sunset Beach just over the city line.

I want to express my gratitude for your article about the church I have attended for the past six years or so — Calvary Chapel of the Harbour (“Prayers for home,” Dec. 3). I was not “looking” for a new church, but as I live in the Harbour, I came across Pastor Joe Pedick’s small church. I have been blessed in so many ways by the family of God who meet there faithfully to honor God and support each other and the community at large. What a blessing to have them in the neighborhood!

As a 30-year resident of Sunset Beach, I attended the meeting Aug. 2 when Huntington Beach voted to annex Sunset ("Huntington votes to annex Sunset," Aug. 5). When you read all the reports — those paid for by Sunset Beach residents, and those paid for by Huntington Beach — it is clear that Huntington Beach made the correct decision. There was a very vocal minority of well-meaning but naive residents who want to become a city. The silent majority did not even bother to show up at the meeting.

Nestled next to Captain Jack's restaurant in Sunset Beach is Anderson Art Gallery, which houses the works of both well-known and up-and-coming painters and artists. It's fitting that the gallery -- owned and run by Bill and Ausma Anderson -- should be neighbors with the landmark restaurant, a family-run establishment for the past 34 years. "It's part of the charm and character of this city, as are a lot of these other restaurants and buildings you see here," Bill Anderson said of the venerable restaurant.

Emotions ran high as the Huntington Beach City Council voted late Monday to annex neighboring Sunset Beach over the cries of residents who tried to block the decision in hopes of keeping the funky, unincorporated beach town independent. The council voted 5 to 2 to direct city administrators to complete an application with the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to acquire Sunset Beach, the city's northern neighbor along Pacific Coast Highway. Mayor Cathy Green and Mayor Pro Tem Jill Hardy dissented.

Name: Landon Fichtner Age: 32 Birth place: Long Beach How long have you lived in Huntington Beach? five years Occupation: m eteorologist/weather producer for Ktla 5, and a science teacher with Los Angeles Unified School District Education: I have a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences from UCLA and an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Mt. San Antonio College. Previously elected or appointed positions: None Community organizations you belong to: None What do you think are the biggest issues facing Huntington Beach right now?

A Long Beach man has been extradited to Orange County from Nevada in relation to a fatal stabbing that took place in Sunset Beach more than two decades ago. Paul Gentile Smith, 49, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. Smith is accused of murdering Robert Haugen, 29, in Haugen?s Sunset Beach apartment on Oct. 24, 1988. According to the Orange County district attorney?

EDITOR’S NOTE: These people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. They are considered innocent until proved guilty.   Michael E. Risse, 35, Huntington Beach Yessenia Vicario, 32, Huntington Beach Alison A. Barstad, 27, Costa Mesa Han T. Nguyen, 30, Garden Grove Shelly M. Reason, 44, Huntington Beach Brian L. Piette, 43, Huntington Beach Eduard M. Ahumada, 25, Fountain Valley Dru D. Held, 52, Huntington Beach Jose L. Barajas, 37, Long Beach Aldo Martinez, 21, Westminster Ruben M. Zermeno, 37, Huntington Beach Jason A. Martinez, 30, Orange Daniel M. Yonemori, 32, Huntington Beach Alejandro R. Perez, 27, Fountain Valley Scott M. Stephenson, 55, Huntington Beach Jama A. Truax, 37, Sunset Beach Troy M. Duke, 32, Stanton Jessie A. Marley, 31, Huntington Beach Tracy L. Leon, 26, Norwalk Maryann Bonin, 49, Costa Mesa Angela L. Berardini, 29, Huntington Beach Brian Burkle, 29, Huntington Beach David W. King.

On July 6, my wife and I attended our first Huntington Beach City Council meeting, and it was truly an eye-opening experience. As members of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, we wanted to lend our voices to those opposing the proposed rezoning of five acres of parkland near our house, so that the bankrupt developer, Hearthside Homes, could build condominiums on it. As we waited for hours for this agenda item to come up, we were exposed to the incredibly...

Just as she has done for the last 50 years, Jean Hylton, 85, on Monday walked into the small, buttercup-yellow, one-story building on Pacific Coast Highway between 10th and 11th streets. The building wasn't always yellow — it recently underwent a much-needed spruce that is almost done. The only thing missing is the sign on the front that reads, "Sunset Beach Post Office. " In navy jersey pants, a matching nautical striped shirt and large black sunglasses with her blond, curly hair, Hylton just stopped in to pick up her mail after running to the store like she does any other day. But the simple task can't be done without running into someone she knows.

An arson investigator with the Hermosa Beach Fire Department was charged for pointing his gun at a woman in a Sunset Beach bar last month. Darryl Lee Powers, 49, was charged Aug. 19 with misdemeanor brandishing a firearm in a public place while out drinking in July. He faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail if convicted, according to the Orange County district attorney's office. Powers is accused of pulling out a knife and jamming it into the bar while out drinking with his cousin about 9:15 p.m. July 7 at Turc's Bar in Sunset Beach.

Calvary Chapel of the Harbour, Sunset Beach's only church, has received state approval to move to a new home in Huntington Beach, although it may need one additional permit before it can officially make the move. The California Coastal Commission ruled at its Aug. 11 to 13 meeting in favor of allowing religious assemblies in the district around Peter's Landing Marina. The city has already approved the church's conditional-use permit for the new location, but Planning and Building Director Scott Hess said the commission may also have to approve a coastal development permit, which is similar to a conditional-use permit but applies to developments by the shore.

The Huntington Beach City Council formed a committee Monday specifically tasked with dealing with the Sunset Beach community during the complicated annexation process. The council unanimously approved the formation of the Sunset Beach Area Council Committee. Mayor Pro-Tem Jill Hardy and Councilmen Joe Carchio and Devin Dwyer were appointed as council liaisons to the committee by Mayor Cathy Green. The council approved moving forward with the annexation of Sunset Beach on Aug. 2 after the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission put the small beach-side community under Huntington's sphere of influence a little more than a year ago. Councilman Keith Bohr recommended the first couple meetings be less structured and more like a town hall meeting to give everyone a chance to talk.

Name: Landon Fichtner Age: 32 Birth place: Long Beach How long have you lived in Huntington Beach? five years Occupation: m eteorologist/weather producer for Ktla 5, and a science teacher with Los Angeles Unified School District Education: I have a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences from UCLA and an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Mt. San Antonio College. Previously elected or appointed positions: None Community organizations you belong to: None What do you think are the biggest issues facing Huntington Beach right now?

Name: Bill Grunwald    Age: 50 Birth place: New York City How long have you lived in Huntington Beach? four years Occupation: business manager, attorney Education: bachelor's degree in business management, juris doctor Previously elected or appointed positions: None Community organizations you belong to: Huntington Beach Masonic Lodge, Orange County BAR Assn. – Pro Bono services What do you think are the biggest issues facing Huntington Beach right now?

As a 30-year resident of Sunset Beach, I attended the meeting Aug. 2 when Huntington Beach voted to annex Sunset ("Huntington votes to annex Sunset," Aug. 5). When you read all the reports — those paid for by Sunset Beach residents, and those paid for by Huntington Beach — it is clear that Huntington Beach made the correct decision. There was a very vocal minority of well-meaning but naive residents who want to become a city. The silent majority did not even bother to show up at the meeting.