LETTER OF THE WEEK

Growing up in Huntington Beach was great. My family and I lived on the

700 block of Alabama St. It is now apartments. My father worked for Bruce

Brothers on Talbert Avenue between Gothard Street and Goldenwest Street.

The company did everything from picking up the trash on Tin Can Beach to

building El Toro Road.

My two brothers worked at the Jack in the Box on Pacific Coast

Highway, and after work they would catch some waves. My sister worked as

a maid at the old Sheraton motel.

As a youth, I worked at Rex Market on the corner of Frankfort Avenue

and Alabama Street. As kids, my friends (Rick V., Bob V., Scott S., and

Bryan D.) and I had a great time riding our mini-bikes all over

Huntington Beach.

We used to like to ride up the train tracks to Talbert Avenue to watch

the guys race on the track. At the time, it was called “cycle park.” If

we weren’t riding our mini-bikes, my friends and I were building tree

forts on Lake Street, or fishing for catfish or swimming in Sully-Miller

Lake. Don’t tell our moms!

Trying to ride our skateboards Downtown was fun but we had to look out

for the electric carts -- they had the right-of-way -- on the sidewalks.

Bodysurfing and surfing has always been a part of our lives. To this day,

we still surf but not as often as we used to.

Fishing on the pier was great. Believe it or not, there were fish out

there! Also, you could catch a boat if you wanted to go out.

These are just a few things I recall enjoying while growing up in

Huntington Beach for 30-plus years.

My mom loves to tell the story of how in days past she and my dad rode

the Red Car from South Pasadena to Huntington Beach.

They were so charmed by the beach that they bought a house here. I

agree -- Huntington Beach is a great place to be.BRUCE WRIGHT

Huntington Beach