GAINS & LOSSES

GAINS

FURLOUGH FREE

Fountain Valley residents and city officials breathed a sigh of relief

last week when the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to overturn

the county Planning Commission’s decision to allow a work-furlough

program on the city’s unincorporated border. The program would have

served as a halfway house for individuals convicted of lesser crimes,

such as drunk driving, failure to pay child support and writing bad

checks. The city appealed the Planning Commission’s decision because of

potential zoning, safety and traffic issues.

TREES OF KNOWLEDGE

Students at Perry Elementary helped beautify their campus last week by

planting 44 trees at the school last week. To buy the trees, the

Huntington Beach Tree Society helped the school get a grant from the

state Department of Forestry. Now a forest of sycamore, liquidambar,

pistachio and jacaranda trees will keep the school green for years to

come.

LOSSES

METER HIKE

The Huntington Beach City Council raised the rates for metered parking

along Main Street to $1.50 an hour. While not as drastic as the proposed

$2 rate, it still means locals trying to enjoy restaurants and shopping

will be paying 75 cents for a half-hour of parking. The rate now matches

metered street parking for the beach. Better start saving those quarters,

folks.

DEATH OF A SEA LION

A sea lion was found shot at Bolsa Chica State Beach last week. The

500-pound adult male had seven bullet wounds in its head and had to be

put to sleep. Authorities don’t hold much hope of finding the gunman,

however a reward is offered for that person’s arrest.