The 45th Annual Sunset Beach Mothers Day Art Festival was held recently along the greenbelt between North and South Pacific Avenues and also on 12th Street, where the new Sunset Beach Community Center is located. More than 10,000  people came to the event on Saturday and the same number on Sunday. A grand time was had by all–whether you were a buyer, browser, people-watcher or baby. There were 160 vendors, offering everything from jewelry, homemade placemats, scented candles, neat “dinosaur” fossil facsimiles, artwork, guitars, food, comfortable hats plus much more.

The popular, colorful event was run by Las Damas, a non-profit organization that raises funds for local charities, such as Casa Youth Shelter, NAMI OC and the Illumination Foundation for homeless families. HB, Seal Beach and Los Alamitos schools also receive a portion of the profits for their arts programs and local scholars. “It really makes a difference getting funds for art,” said Bill Anderson, owner of Anderson Art Gallery in Sunset Beach and a retired arts teacher. “It always gave a boost to our program.”

Longtime Sunset Beach Resident Bob Corton held a party in his garage for his friends and neighbors. Friendly Bob said he enjoys the “community of the Festival” and likes to share the fun of it with others. He allowed me to come on his rooftop deck to take special pictures of the delightful extravaganza.Michelle Bagstad was chairperson of this year’s event. If you haven’t been to the Art Festival, I recommend you check it out. It’s held every year at the same time and is a must see. The merchandise sold there is creative and good and you meet the nicest people. Sunset Beach Community Association President Mike Van Voorhis said the Festival is growing tremendously and he hopes that it is profitable for the wonderful vendors, enjoyable to the attendees, who will hopefully make it an annual tradition. (I’d also like to mention that I ate lunch at The Pocket, formerly Gyro Kabob, adjacent to the Sunset Beach Post Office. It’s run by Robin Kemper and her sons, Josh, a sensational cook, and Kyle. They have the best and tastiest Chicken Gyros on the planet and their date shake was honored as Best in the OC.) You can learn more about Sunset Beach at: http://www.sunsetbeachca.org .

Sunset Beach Community Association President Mike Van Voorhis and Sunset Beach Community Association Board Member Gretchen Hoad.

Thoughtsarizen wins an IMA award for Best Hip Hop 2011. Huntington Beach based artist Thoughtsarizen was named a Winner of The 11th Independent Music Awards, the influential awards program for independent bands and fans. Talent culled from 6 continents by Music Resource Group (MRG)  determined Winners of The 11th Annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential international awards program comprised of  more than 70 Song, Album, Music Video and Design categories. Artists and music industry pros including Keith Richards, Ozzy Osbourne, Joshua Redman, Shelby Lynne and many more selected the winners.

Thoughtsarizen (thoughtsone.com) won Best Hip Hop Song.  Thoughtsarizen has been touring and doing shows for over 7 years.  Congratulations!

The Seal Beach Lions Club recently held their 11th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Designated Driver Program, which assisted 180 people get home safely. Their club partnered with Straub Distributing/Budweiser to drive home people who had too much to drink at local bars. More than 50 volunteers manned the booth, where celebrators could ask for a ride home. Literature at the booth said the Seal Beach Police would not tow “your car if you leave it here.” The Lions did this as a community service, although they did accept donations. Lions President Mike Haley said he’s proud to serve the community and see that everybody gets home safely. If you would like to get involved in the enthusiastic club, that also has received national attention for eliminating graffiti, you can log on to their website sealbeachlions.com . You can also find them at the April Seal Beach Car Show in Eisenhower Park doing their famous Lions Pancake Breakfast and Barbecue. The Lions Club is a 501c3 non profit organization that has been around since 1939 in That Area.

Photo:
Some members of the Seal Beach Lions Club, who helped safely drive people home.

Main Street in Huntington Beach between Yorktown Avenue and Utica Street will undergo a major rehabilitation similar to Edwards Street. This street segment is located between the Huntington Beach High School and the Civic Center. Most of the work will take place during the spring break (April 9th – April 13th) and other school off hours. The project should take around 4 week to complete. Please E-Mail: echarlonne@surfcity-hb.org with any questions.

In 2011 citizens used the online crime reporting system over 900 times to file minor reports for offenses such as lost property, petty theft, harassing telephone calls and vandalism. For more information on how to use the system visit the police department web page at  hbpd.org and link to “Report a Crime Online”.

By Chris MacDonald, Writer/Photographer, HB Ambassador/The Local News Columnist

The 12th Annual Huntington Beachcruiser Meet recently drew thousands of excited spectators and 450 Classic Cars on Main Street as well as Pier Plaza. Car buffs loved inspecting the spectacular vehicles, inside and out, including cool VWs, sedans, woodies and travel trailers. “Seeing all those woodies on Pier Plaza and Main Street left no doubt in anyone’s mind that they were in Surf City USA,” said City of HB’s Special Events Coordinator Chris Cole. “We’re so proud of be able to host the annual Beachcruiser event.” Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Devin Dwyer presented the awards on Saturday and HB City Councilmember Keith Bohr helped with the awards on Sunday. . Thank you to the event sponsors for making this possible, including Jack’s Surfboards, Dukes, Hobie, Primo, Chris Messano Woodworks, Surfboards By The Greek and Hagerty. The car show happens every March. If you would like to get involved in the next one, please e-mail Tom Long at: hbcruisers@yahoo.com .

Photos:
1. Huntington Beach City Councilman Keith Bohr with his son, Duke, in the antique Bannister Insurance Fire Truck.
2. Huntington Beachcruiser Meet Event Organizer Tom Long with Award-Winning VW Owner Chris Young.
3. Huntington Beach City Councilman Keith Bohr discusses the show with Huntington Beachcruiser Event Organizer Tom Long and City of Huntington Beach Special Events Coordinator Chris Cole.

By Chris MacDonald, Writer/Photographer, HB Ambassador/The Local News Columnist

As I walked on the Huntington Beach Pier recently, I noticed that Hollywood had returned as big Television Production Trucks, Cameras, Lights, and a beach full of stars and extras waited for the director’s call to join in a CSI-type pilot production, called, “Graceland.” It was definitely magic at the beach, seeing scenes like a woman being confronted by a man with a gun. She wrestled the weapon out of his hands, whipped out her own “heat” and took control of the situation. This took place below the Kite Connection.Scenes were also shot below the Surf City Store and beneath the pier.

On the pier, alongside a generator truck and editing equipment, curious Spring Breakers gawked at the action below. The 20th Century Fox Television production brought much needed revenue to the city. During breaks, some of the actors and crew even went to the Surf City Store seeking necklaces and souvenirs. The pilot previously filmed in Malibu and was headed for Leo Carillo State Beach after HB. If you’d like to shoot a production here, contact the the Huntington Beach Film Commission, a combined effort of the HB Marketing and Visitors Bureau and the City of HB. The Film Commission helps attract and offers assistance to TV and movie producers interested in shooting here. Film, TV, Photography and Commercial Producers can contact Film Commissioner Briton Saxton, briton@surfcityusa.com and Barbara Gray at the City’s Film Permit Office, bgray@surfcity-hb.org. You can join the numerous shows that have been shot here, ranging from 90210 to Undercovers.