Roundup

-- Compiled by Danette Goulet and Bryce Alderton

They came from everywhere to sleep under the stars on Huntington State

Beach.

More than 700 children from all over California were invited to ignore

the 10 p.m. beach curfew and camp in a temporary compound set up for the

Fourth annual Beach Play Day sponsored by California State Parks and

Police Activities League.

“It’s essentially a reward for staying off drugs and alcohol, staying

in school and being responsible citizens,” said Jack Shu, of the State

Department of Parks and Recreation.

For two days children in Police Activities Leagues, which are

nonprofit organizations associated with police or Sheriffs offices, were

invited from as far as Richmond to come and enjoy a myriad of activities.

There were seven different stations set up on the beach where children

spent 50 minutes playing, Shu said.

There were two bodyboarding areas, volleyball, a slip ‘n’ slide and a

wave pool set up.

For children 13 years and older there were off-road bike and obstacle

courses, while those under 12 had swim time.

“Some of these kids that are maybe even in their teens, have never

been to the beach,” Shu said.

Even with all the cool games, events and activities, what children

seemed the most taken with was sleeping on the beach.

“It was exciting -- really fun,” said Renee Salas, 13, from Palm

Spring, where she plays on a Police Activities League basketball team.

“It was more than I expected. We spent the night on the beach and I could

hear the sound of the waves while I was sleeping.”

Equestrian event includes a few changes

The 12th annual Summer Classic equestrian event to benefit the

Huntington Beach Art Center will be held Aug. 8-12.

A few changes have taken place for this year’s event. Saturday’s

Family Fun Day will include equestrian competitions with no petting zoo

or pony rides. More than 500 equestrians will compete for more than

$100,000 in money and prizes, including a 2001 BMW SUV from McKenna

Motors.

The Music Derby and a performance by Medieval Times for the children

will also take place Saturday.

The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort and Kaiser Permanente Grand Prix

and the McKenna Motors and Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center High Jump

will be the main events on Sunday.

Admission is free Wednesday through Saturday. On Sunday, children

under 16 are $3 and adults are $10. Last year, about 10,000 people

attended.

Call (714) 536-5258 for reservations and information.

Fishing contest to bring out the Americana

Mark Twain would be proud.

One of the most acclaimed American novels is the focus of the annual

Huck Finn Fishing Derby sponsored by Let’s Go Fishing and Fish Talk

Radio. It will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sat., Aug. 11 at the

Huntington Beach Pier.

The free fishing extravaganza will involve kids in three age

divisions: 7 and younger, 8 through 11, and 12 through 16. They will

compete for the largest fish and best dressed Huck Finn and Becky

Thatcher. Sponsors will provide prizes such as fishing poles, bikes,

fishing passes and skateboards.

Free registration begins at 8 a.m. and kids must bring their own poles

and tackle.

City to spread news to residents

Huntington Beach residents interested in knowing more about city

services, issues and programs can begin receiving a free subscription to

a new monthly city newsletter distributed by fax or e-mail.

Interested residents can pick up the yellow cards at City Hall, 2000

Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.

Rainbow Disposal to stop emptying large cans

Rainbow Disposal is urging all residents to make sure that they comply

with a 1970s city ordinance that limits the size and weight of

residential trash cans.

Beginning the week of Aug. 13, individual trash containers for

single-family residencies that are larger than 32 gallons or weigh more

than 60 pounds when filled will no longer be picked up by Rainbow

Disposal.

Although the ordinance has been on the books for more than 20 years,

it has not been routinely enforced and Rainbow workers have continued to

empty trash from oversized containers.

Rainbow officials said that lifting the heavy and large containers has

become a health and safety problem for their workers.

A final warning will be issued with a “Final Notice” warning sticker

placed on all oversized trash cans during the week of Aug. 6.

For more information, call the Huntington Beach Public Works

Maintenance Refuse Services office at (714) 375-5010 or Rainbow Disposal

Company at (714) 847--3581.

City committee to discuss support of fund-raising effort

The Huntington Beach City Council’s Intergovernmental Relations

Committee will hold a special public meeting at 5 p.m. today to discuss

state land acquisition and discuss supporting a letter for the Bolsa

Chica Land Trust’s fund-raising campaign.

Councilwomen Shirley Dettloff said the committee must review all

legislation before any recommendation goes to the City Council.

Council members Ralph Bauer and Debbie Cook, along with Dettloff, are

set to attend.

The meeting will be held in Conference Room #1 on the fourth floor at

the Civic Center, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.