Briefly in the News

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is set to decide the fate of a

proposed work furlough facility on Fountain Valley’s border next month.

The supervisors will hold a public hearing that could result in either

denying or upholding the city’s appeal to keep the facility out of the

community.

The county’s Planning Commission approved plans in February to convert an

apartment complex at 12192 Edinger Ave. into a halfway house. The

facility would house 50 inmates convicted of lesser crimes such as drunk

driving, writing bad checks or failing to pay child support.

The city appealed the commission’s plans last month because of potential

zoning, safety and traffic problems that a halfway house would pose.

The meeting is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. May 2 in the Board of Supervisor’s

Hearing Room, Building 10, 10 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana.

Local activists protest at hearing

After Tuesday’s California Coastal Commission hearing at the Queen Mary

in Long Beach, environmentalists staged a protest against proposed

legislation that would change wetland development.

About 30 people, including some on boats with protest signs, tried to

raise awareness about the perils of state Assembly Bill 2310, which would

expand the types of projects allowed to be built on degraded wetlands and

other sensitive habitats, said Huntington Beach resident Eileen Murphy,

who joined the group.

“It must be stopped, really,” she said. “We’re not going to have any

wetlands left if this thing goes through.”

The bill is expected to be voted on by the Legislature no sooner than

June.

Time to join the parade

Organizers of the city’s 96th annual Fourth of July parade are accepting

applications for entries. Any business or association is eligible. This

year’s theme is “Parade 2000: Celebrating the Century.” About 250,000

spectators are expected to line city streets on the holiday.

The deadline for submitting entries is June 2. Forms are available at

City Hall, 2000 Main Street, or call 374-4800, Ext. 444.

MS Walk 2000 raises $404,000

More than 3,000 people walked in three locations to help raise money for

the National Multiple Sclerosis Society over the weekend. Walks were held

in Huntington Beach, Irvine and Laguna Niguel. Officials said the events

raised more than $404,000 and had the largest turnout in the event’s

18-year history. To help kick off the local walk, Huntington Beach City

Treasurer Sheri Freidenrich gave a motivational speech. Walkers had the

choice of doing either a 5K or a 15K.

Table Top Trade Show coming soon

The Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce will host its semiannual Table

Top Trade Show at the Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort on April 26. The

event features more than 50 vendor exhibits offering demonstrations,

information, raffle prizes and free sample dining from local restaurants.

Exhibitors can still sign up for the event, which is reserved on a

first-come basis, at a cost of $200, or $100 for chamber members and $70

for new members. Each exhibitor will be provided with a 6-foot table,

electricity, skirting and signs.

Admission to the event is free. The trade show is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

at the Pacific Courtyard of the Hilton, 21100 Pacific Coast Highway. For

more information, call 536-8888. Registration is also available via the

chamber’s Web site at https://www.hbchamber.com.

--Compiled by Eron Ben-Yehuda, Angelique Flores and Jennifer K Mahal