Briefly in the news

Seniors in Huntington Beach who rely on public transportation will

soon be able to go anywhere in the city, and it only requires one phone

call.

General Motors, in partnership with the South Coast Air Quality

Management District, recently donated an 11-passenger natural gas powered

van to the Huntington Beach Council on Aging. The council is a nonprofit

volunteer group appointed by the Huntington Beach City Council to address

seniors needs.

“Right now we have six drivers and we’re looking for 17 more,” said

council president Dick White. “We’ll go as soon as we get the first

call.”

In the new van, drivers will take any senior living in Huntington

Beach to places such as the bank, a hairdresser, or the store -- places

the city’s transportation system couldn’t take them before.

“The program helps any senior in Huntington Beach that has a need not

covered by the regular transportation system,” White said.

The city’s six vans currently serve seniors’ medical needs, taking

them to a hospital or doctor for therapy.

“We have a motto at the council that says, ‘One senior in need is one

senior too many,”’ White said.

White is concentrating his efforts on setting up a contract with area

post offices to obtain cleaner-burning fuel for the vans.

Seniors can call (714) 960-2478.