INSIDE SCOOP

As volunteers in the city’s infrastructure committee spent hours last

week discussing the finer points of restoring block walls, Huntington

Beach City Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff admired their dedication to one

of the least glamorous causes. As a member of the Amigos de Bolsa Chica,

she could think of better ways to spend an evening.

“There are no Amigos de Sewers,” she said. “God bless them.”

BRINGING GOOD CHEER

The Edison Bell Choir gave the Huntington Beach Union High School

District Board of Education a holiday performance it won’t soon forget.

The 11-member crew rang their hearts out to such Christmas favorites as

“Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” bringing a festive

mood to the sometimes dull meeting.

And parents and district staff were tappin’ their toes.

In thanks, the board presented the choir with a plaque.

A PLEASURE -- ALMOST

During his farewell speech as mayor, Fountain Valley Councilman John

Collins said he “enjoyed working with almost all” of his City Hall

colleagues. Afterward, he clarified his statement, saying he said

“almost” not because he hadn’t worked with everyone, but because he had

butted heads with a few. He then looked around the room and jokingly

said: “Now I hope people aren’t going to come up after this and ask, ‘Was

it me you were talking about?”’

--Compiled by Eron Ben-Yehuda, Andrew Wainer and Angelique Flores