Huntington Beach Happenings
by: Chris MacDonald
Posted: September 20, 2021
HUNTINGTON BEACH...Happy Wedding Anniversary to Kathleen and Pastor Joe Pedick of Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach Police Chief Julian Harvey's Executive Assistant Ingrid Ono Said: The Huntington Beach Police Department family would like to congratulate the following employees on their accomplishments: Graduating from Orange County Sheriff's Academy: Christian Catano, Brandon Mead, Promotions: Detective Tim Emanuel to Sergeant Sergeant Shawn Randell to Lieutenant, Lieutenant Ryan Reilly to Captain, CSO Deina Dailey to CSI, CSO Elizabeth Hanson to CSI, Cadet Leslie Loyola to Parking Control Officer, Cadet Justin Anderson to Parking Control Officer. Wishing everyone much success in their new positions!
From the desk of Huntington Beach Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Delgleize:
Well, in Huntington Beach, Summer is officially over now that Labor Day is behind us. Residents are enjoying the lightness at our beaches.
AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Carr to proclaim September as National Suicide Prevention Month and present proclamation to Be Well HB
Mayor Carr to honor Friends of the Library for their 50th Anniversary and appreciation for their long-standing support the organization has given throughout the years. Approve, accept and authorize execution of a Grant Agreement for the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety grant; and approve appropriation and expenditure of funds by the Chief of Police: Approve and accept the "Selective Traffic Enforcement Program " and "Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety" grant agreements between Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the City of Huntington Beach for $788,000.00 and $42,795.00; and Authorize the Chief of Police to execute the grant agreement with OTS; and Approve appropriations and estimated revenue source in the amount of $788,000.00 and $42,795.00; and Establish a separate business unit for this funding and authorize the Chief of Police to expend up to a total of $788,000.00 and $42,795.00 plus accrued interest on the "Selective Traffic Enforcement. Approve and authorize execution of a Professional Services Contract to provide Professional Engineering and Construction Phase Services for the Heil Avenue Stormwater Pump Station Project, CC-1293, with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. in the amount of $200,000.
Consider adopting Resolution No. 2021-55 supporting efforts to host surfing, skateboarding, BMX events for the LA 2028 Olympics Adopt Resolution No. 2021-55, "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Supporting the City's Efforts in Securing Future Sporting Events for the LA 2028 Olympics." Recommended Action:
City Council to Consider Directing Staff to Draft an Amendment to the Short Term Rental Ordinance and an Extension of the De-Listing Deadline.
Very exciting news for our beach community on, Tuesday, September 14th, some members of our City Council, Mayor Kim Carr, along with State Assembly Woman Cottie Petrie-Norris, Supervisor Katrina Foley & State Senator Janet Nyugen did a ground breaking to install our new fence on our beach walking and riding path. In many areas the path will be expanded and separated one for cycling and one for walking. Long overdue a very big thank you to Assembly Woman Cottie Petrie-Norris for procuring the $1.7 million dollars of state funds to upgraded the pathway.
On, Thursday, September 16th, our proud city unveiled our new Be Well OC Project Hope Van "HOPE Happens Here." Mayor Carr, held a news conference outside HBPD and along with numerous leaders from our county offices. District Attorney Todd Spitzer, Supervisor Katrina Foley and C.E.O. of Mind OC Marshall Moncrief. Since our soft opening last month they have assisted in over 300 local calls for services.
Alan Ray, Chairman of The Huntington Beach Planning Commission Said: On September 14, 2021 the Planning Commission held a study session to review a low-density development of single-family residences at the former Gisler/Brethren Christian site. A public hearing will be held in the future. The Planning Commission approved the conversion of an existing restaurant rooftop to a 1,936 sq. ft. dining area on the top of Killarney's in downtown. A condition of approval was that the rooftop would be closed after 10:00 pm. The vote was four in favor and one against, with one commissioner absent. A new Planning Commissioner has not yet been appointed by Councilmember Rhonda Bolton.
From Patrick Brenden, Bolsa Chica Conservancy CEO... COASTAL CLENAUP DAY...Perhaps you've already noticed that there were lots of volunteers working on Saturday, September 18th, cleaning our beaches, roadways, storm channels and the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. This annual tradition has become a favorite event for many families, youth groups, service organizations, and individuals of all ages. At the Bolsa Chica Conservancy this year, we will be deploying three groups of volunteers; one to pick up trash along PCH by the wetlands, one to pick up trash at the State beach near Tower 19 and one that will be clearing debris from our section of the Wintersburg Storm Channel. Every year, we collect all of the debris and report the weight of it to a central database where statistics for the entire state are compiled. Here is a list of the top ten items found each year:
#10 Construction Material
#9 Beverage Cans
#8 Plastic Beverage Bottles
#7 Glass Beverage Bottles
#6 Straws/Stirrers
#5 ToGo Cups/Plates/Utensils
#4 Paper and Plastic Bags
#3 Caps and Lids
#2 Food Wrappers/Containers and the
#1 most commonly found item??? CIGARETTE BUTTS (making up about 37% of all debris collected)
NEXT UP... NATIVE PLANT FESTIVAL
We are in the final stages of preparations for our first ever Native Plant Festival, to be held on Sunday, October 10th, from 11am-3pm at the Interpretive Center. This is a free event where you can learn all about native vegetation that you might find at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. And, you can take some of these great drought-tolerant plants home with you in exchange for a small donation.
The Conservancy has worked all year to bolster its plant propagation efforts and we are excited to share our work with you. We'll also be showing off some very unique, one-of-a-kind handmade pottery from local artisans and students. I hope you'll stop by to say hi. As always, we appreciate your support in whatever form that takes.
Find out how you can be part of our mission to Preserve, Protect, and Restore the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve at www.bolsachica.org.
Remembering When by Jerry Person, Huntington Beach City Historian
Accidents Do Happen
Have you noticed or is it just me that since restrictions as eased up that there is more traffic speeding in and out of lanes on our major street like PCH and Beach Blvd, and with more traffic comes traffic accidents, not just minor fender benders but the more serious kind and this week lets remember a few vehicle accidents that happened in the unincorporated areas around Huntington Beach over the years.
Our first traffic incident happened in the Sunset Beach area, then unincorporated, and involved a pre-war truck owned by the Reeves Rubber Company. It was in March of 1946 and the war was barely over when John Olsen was driving his heavily loaded truck along Pacific Coast Highway.
As his truck neared Ninth Street in Sunset Beach his front tire blew out. Remember there was a rubber shortage because of the war and people were still driving on their pre-war tires much longer then it was safe to do.
Olsen's truck shot across the roadway just missing two cars, a bus, telephone poles and guy wires. The accident sent the side of Olsen's truck into a telephone pole and scattering pieces of rubber across the highway.
Olsen's truck now resembled a wartime disaster as it rested against that pole. Maybe it was either the skill of Olsen's driving ability or just plain good fortune that kept Olsen from being hurt.
At about this same time in another part of the unincorporated county, a young 16 year old boy was riding in a car near Airplane Hill (Goldenwest Street and Ellis Avenue) when the driver lost control and overturned the car and seriously injuring the boy.
Airplane Hill had been the scene of numerous accidents over the years and our next accident took place there on April 1, 1938 and has been etched in the memories of those who witnessed it that night.
Many years ago Huntington Beach resident Anna Capocciama told me when she was in the 7th grade her family lived out near the Airplane Hill area. She remembers being awaken one night at 10:45 p.m. by a load noise. Getting dressed, Capocciama said she walked over to the source of the noise and saw a large truck and trailer on fire. She said neighbors and their friends were out watching the fire from both side of the hill.
What had occurred to wake up Capocciama at so late an hour was when Lester Luscomb was attempting to drive his truck and trailer down Airplane Hill's 30 percent grade. Luscomb was on Ellis Avenue heading his rig toward Goldenwest Street. The road was wet that evening and because of the steep incline of the road, gasoline began spilling out over Luscomb's trailer.
Luscomb, who lived in Huntington Park, was unfamiliar with the area when he picked up 6100 gallons of highly explosive gasoline from a storage tank nearby.
Friction sparks produced by the truck's dog chain dragging ignited the spilling gasoline.
By now more locals had come over to see the fire as people still do at today's fires.
One of the local farmers out there went over to the Bolsa Chica Tile factory at Gothard Street and Ellis Avenue to telephone the Orange County Fire Department as this area was still in the county and not part of Huntington Beach yet.
For 40 minutes people watched the flames leap skyward and then it happened! The main tank exploded in one massive blast sending flames high above Airplane Hill. The explosion sweep people to the ground as if they were matchsticks, while others ran for their very lives to escape the inferno of fire that lit the nighttime sky. The explosion blew the tanker 100 feet into the air and landing some 700 feet from where it had been
Standard Oil Company worker Ebert Nicholson had his very clothes ripped off his body by the explosion. Calls were made to Huntington Beach doctors to quickly come out and help treat these helpless onlookers who were suffering with second and third degree burns.
When Orange County firefighters arrived they began pouring water unto the nearby oil tanks and rigs in an effort to keep them from catching fire. They worked long and hard that night fighting that blaze until the last sparks were extinguished much as today our county firefighters are fighting fires up in Northern California.
Nearly 20 people that night received major burns, but luckily there was not one fatality suffered that faithful night in what may be one of Huntington Beach's worst tragedy that it had ever witnessed.