EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK -- MARY BETH P. ADOMAITIS

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

For 35 years, the Independent has given Huntington Beach readers news

that really is close to home. You’ve read about local politics,

education, sports and in general, just about life in the community.

Through it all, the Independent was there.

But when you picked up today’s edition, it was definitely different --

but at the same time, remotely familiar.

Sure, we changed the size and format of the paper, and regular

features such as Ron Davis’ “Through My Eyes” is now on the cover. But

when you look past the color photos in the “Day in the Life” photo

package, or past the City Hall tidbits on the Cityscape page, you will

see an Independent that really focuses on not just the city of Huntington

Beach, but also the community.

For starters, you will see the column, “Retail Roundup” by resident

Catherine Eberhard, a college student who will begin working toward her

master’s degree in print journalism this fall at USC. She will focus on

all the news in the business community.

Longtime Surf City resident Michele Marr is using her experience and

interest in religion to head up the paper’s faith page. Marr, a freelance

writer and graphic artist, will have a weekly column, “Soul Food” and

faith feature, “In the Spirit.”

One of the biggest changes to the Independent is the amount of arts

and entertainment news we give our readers. So, starting this week,

expect at least four pages of entertainment-related news.

We have Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti, a six-time West Coast surfing

champion, who has announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last seven years

and has been the KROQ-FM surfologist where he’s done morning surf reports

for the last 15 years.

We also have a theater critic, Tom Titus, who will review plays from

the Huntington Beach Playhouse, Golden West College and even the Academy

of the Performing Arts.

Several residents from the area will act as “Reel Critics” and review

the latest big-screen releases.

But don’t worry, we will still have all of your favorites -- Working

and Around Town, as well as Jerry Person’s A Look Back and Mary Furr’s

Dining Out columns.

So, while you may notice that the Independent looks different than it

has in year’s past, it really is your same old hometown newspaper.

Hope you enjoy it.

* MARY BETH P. ADOMAITIS is the city editor. She can be reached o7

marybeth.adomaitis@latimes.comf7