Photo: Residents of the Balboa Peninsula looking at the police standoff.

By Chris MacDonald, Writer/Photographer, The Local News

I was taking a leisurely walk near the Newport Pier, when I spotted a Huntington Beach Police Helicopter circling around and around over Balboa Boulevard, Feb. 1st. I wondered what was going on. Residents and tourists also wondered what was happening as other helicopters joined the drama, which lasted for more than 5 hours. Portions of the boulevard were closed due to a standoff between a wanted man inside a residence and police. Newport Beach Mayor Nancy Gardner said U.S. Marshals were attempting to serve an individual (later identified as Geoffrey Earl Patton) with a warrant, when he barricaded himself (at a residence in the 100 block of 25th Street).

The Newport Beach SWAT Team was called out and he eventually surrendered at 6:15pm. Authorities said the arrest warrant was for larceny involving a New York case. Around 1pm, several blocks in the area were cordoned off and residents were evacuated. Hundreds of spectators gathered beyond the barriers and on rooftops to catch a glimpse of the drama. TV choppers and/or news crews from ABC, Fox, KTLA and The Local News watched as the episode unfolded. “I’ve never seen anything like this happen,” said a 30-year Newport Beach resident. “Things like this just don’t happen here.” Fortunately, there was a peaceful outcome without anyone being injured.

Huntington Beach City Council meets tonight to officially close the city’s Redevelopment Agency.

Today is the last day to say goodbye to Huntington Beach’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA). Though the City was ahead of the curve in preparing for an eventual shutdown of its operations, Huntington Beach recently joined 6 other cities in a lawsuit to try to stop the State of California from ending RDAs. Last week a judge examined the city’s lawsuit which was one of several claims seeking to invalidate previous court rulings. But the judge sided with a legislative vote, and a California Supreme Court Dec. 29, 2011 decision  that determined it is legal to disband agencies in the same process that creates them. Over 400 RDAs in California are closing their doors permanently on Jan. 31, 2012 and though some of the bigger cities see only gloom ahead, the smaller to mid-size cities that used RDA funding in a more limited manner are already looking with optimism toward new funding mechanisms to fulfill projects.

The Huntington Beach City Council meets with the City Attorney (Jennifer McGrath) this evening in closed session to discuss the litigation effort. The council will then reconvene to formalize the RDA closure with assignment of new groups to take over operations during the shutting down process.

Like many other California cities with redevelopment agencies, Huntington Beach faces uncertainty as to how this will play out. There’s more to come in this story that is sure to take many twists and turns in upcoming months!

Brenda Zubieta stands in front of her Zubies Dry Dock Restaurant

By Chris MacDonald, HB Ambassador/The Local News Columnist

Known for it’s nautical atmosphere and great food, Zubies Dry Dock in Huntington Beach recently celebrated it’s 20th Anniversary. More than 1,000 people ate at the memorable event where prices were rolled back to what they were 20 years ago. Door Prizes, a Balloon Artist and the owner, herself, Brenda Zubieta, greeted guest diners, many who have eaten there since it opened in 1992 at the current location. Top-selling items on the menu include a huge pizza with all the toppings, delicious BBQ ribs, fish & chips, prime rib, fish tacos, seafood and fresh oysters from the Oyster Bar.

If you haven’t been to Zubies Dry Dock, it’s a must. You can get a good-portioned meal and enjoy looking at the coolest mural painted by Marv Brehm, a retired Edison High School teacher. The mural depicts Huntington Beach from the early 1930′s to 1970′s.

I would like to thank Brenda Zubieta for continuing a tradition her family started in restaurants in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach before coming to HB. She makes people happy by serving great food at reasonable prices in a relaxed, family-friendly place. The restaurant is located at 9059 Adams Avenue in Huntington Beach. Call: (714) 963-6362. You can also log on their website to get a complete menu, see a video of customer testimonial and learn more of its fabulous history at: www.zubiesdrydock.com .

Photo: Zubies Dry Dock General Manager Christian Eggerling with Zubies Dry Dock Owner Brenda Zubieta.

Pictured is a banner at Bolsa Landmark residential neighborhood in Huntington Beach.

If you’ve driven around Huntington Beach, Calif. lately and have begun looking for cell tower sites, it is alarming. The towers are in parks, next to the back yards of homes near Garfield and Magnolia in Langenbeck Park; Villa Pacific townhomes are right next to the cell towers in Gisler Park; and in downtown Huntington Beach on Pierside Pavilion building (home to Surfline.com, HSS, Fred’s Mexican Cafe and Black Bull Chophouse) are cell units just yards from Pier Colony where people live. The cell sites are everywhere and growing.

If you are concerned about the dangers of living near a cell tower based on the data gleaned from brain cancer clusters such as San Diego State University where a cell tower likely contributed to students & faculty dieing from a rare form of brain cancer (glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer,) then there are several fronts in which you must take action to attack the problem.  Read more!

By: Writer/Photographer: Chris MacDonald, The Local News Columnist

More than 700 people, including 36th District of California Congresswoman Janice Hahn, and Los Angeles Fourth District Council Member Tom LaBonge, ran into the 57 degree water at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro to celebrate the New Year. Hundreds of spectators cheered and waved at the annual event sponsored by The Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear Club, which just celebrated its 60th Anniversary. The club meets daily and runs into the ocean for an invigorating swim.

At the annual event, the new King & Queen, Domino and Miriam Santro from San Pedro, were crowned and will serve as ambassadors throughout the year. On hand to officiate was Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears President Kim M. White and representatives from Cabrillo Marine Aquarium who led the crowd in a “Grunion Dance” before entering the water. The yearly event draws people young to old from around the world. There was a 94 year old woman who ran into the water and a man from Germany who participated in the event. If you’d like to learn more, log onto: www.cabrillobeachpolarbears.com .

Photo:
1. Los Angeles Fourth District City Councilman Tom LaBonge, 36th District of California Congresswoman Janice Hahn and The Local News Columnist Chris MacDonald at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

Sean Collins, founder of Surfline (and surfline.com) passed away from a heart attack the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, 2011, while playing tennis in Newport Beach.  He’s shown in the photo speaking to the audience when he received his hand and footprints on the the HSS Surfers Hall of Fame around 2008. Collins was known around the globe for his surf wave predictions. Those who knew him spoke about his abilities to predict waves as nearly god-like, and many said he had an inside track that no one on else on Earth had. He will be missed in Huntington Beach where his offices in the Pierside Pavilion building are located, and in Seal Beach where his family resides and he was known by the community as a fun-loving  surfer and dedicated family man.  See larger photo and more information.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the Balboa Village Business Improvement District’s Second Annual Christmas Tree/Menorah Lighting recently. Also on hand at the event were new Newport Beach Mayor Nancy Gardner, Explore Ocean Newport Harbor Nautical Museum Executive Director Rita Stenlund and Balboa Bay Boat Rental Company Owner Ralph Rodheim. This was the first time a horse drawn carriage took more than 100 happy folks of all ages on a ride from the Village to the Beachfront Boardwalk up Main Street toward the lighted Balboa Pavillion, then left behind Bay Arcade to the parking lot. A memorable and wonderful time was had by all. Santa arrived and listened to many kids wishes. Thanks to Santa and the Carriage Occasion for providing so much joy. I’d also like to Thank Former Newport Beach Mayor Michael Henn for donating $500 to help purchase the Christmas tree. If you haven’t been to Balboa Village It’s a Must See. There is Patrick Moore’s fabulous Ferris Wheel, Two Arcades, Boat Rental Companies, Restaurants and The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.

Photo:  Balboa Village Christmas Tree being lit.

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

There’s a new mural on the side of the Post Office, showing the beauty of Sunset Beach, the first beach Artist Katy Brack went to when she arrived in California from England years ago. Katy was selected as the best applicant in a recent contest, sponsored by Las Damas Women’s Club and the United States Postal Service. Included on the judging panel was noted painter Bill Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Art Gallery in Sunset Beach.

This is an exciting amenity to have on the cute Sunset Beach Post Office. Katy was delighted her artwork was selected. Helping make the painting “lifesize” was Margie Zuliani, an artist, muralist, and Katy’s acrylics teacher at Orange County Fine Arts. Margie helped Katy work out what supplies were needed and she visited the site every day for support and assistance in making the painting a reality. Tom Wolf, a noted muralist, also helped in the project. Tom met Katy before she started working on the mural to give his advice on development and paint. Tom’s most recent mural is at Hollywood and Vine. While they were painting, Jim Mohoff rode by on his bike and offered his help.

“He is a professional house painter and his skill and great sense of humor kept us entertained while we worked on the mural,” Katy said. Her artist friend, Viola Chang, supplied a photograph of Catalina for background reference. Katy also would like to thank her husband, Andrew, and children, Arianna and Dominic, who also helped with the painting.

Thanks Katy and crew for making Sunset Beach a more beautiful and brighter place. You can learn more about Katy Brack at: www.katybrack.com . Her e-mail address is: artykaty@gmail.com .

Photo:
1. Dominic Brack, Katy Brack and Margie Zuliani posing in front of the completed mural of Sunset Beach.

By: Chris MacDonald, Local News Reporter

I was at Peter’s Landing Farmer’s Market on Saturday, November 26, when I heard a loud boom. A couple minutes later I saw the smoke rising into the sky and then people started running to the dock to see what was going on. We saw the fire, a Huntington Beach Police helicopter  and Harbor Patrol boats trying to put out the flames.

When we walked back toward PCH, we saw a number of fire engines responding to the emergency. The traffic on Pacific Coast Highway was blocked off at Don the Beachcomber and the engines were parked at Simple Green.

A retired patrol officer apparently was in a nearby boat when he saw the accident and he began throwing his lifejackets into the water to the people who had been thrown from the boat that exploded. He told the boat next to him to do the same, which they did. He then began rescuing people into his boat.

Reports say none of the nine people in the boat that exploded had lifejackets on. Victims blown from the boat were taken by ambulance to trauma centers, where they were treated for contusions, broken bones and burns. We salute the quick-thinking hero who was in the right place and helped save the lives of those blown from the boat. We wish them a speedy recovery.