Briefly in the news

Snowflakes in Huntington Beach.

Well, not the real kind, but during the holiday season Surf City

residents and visitors will be able to enjoy snowflakes that will be lit

up along the pier and on Main Street courtesy of the Huntington Youth

Shelter’s fifth annual Light a Light of Love Pier Lighting.

The celebration that kicks off the holiday season will begin with a

parade at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, followed by the pier lighting at 6

p.m.

Youth Shelter volunteers and city workers will put up all 54

snowflakes Friday and Saturday along the light poles of Main Street and

the pier.

Any group or person that sponsors one of these 5-foot snowflakes will

have a sign posted next to the flake noting its donor, said event

chairwoman Mary Lou Shattuck.

Snowflakes cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000 for a gold sponsor and

all the proceeds benefit the youth shelter.

The parade kicks off the evening’s activities with Mr. and Mrs. Santa

Claus riding in a Huntington Beach Fire truck down Orange and Main

streets toward Pier Plaza.

They will be joined in the parade by members of the Huntington Beach

High School drill team, the Orange County Song and Dance Company, and

other youth groups.

“We’re really concentrating on things for the children,” Shattuck

said.

Children will be able to visit with Santa Claus following the parade

and pier lighting.

“Most people bring their kids and want a picture with Santa Claus,”

Shattuck said.

The night brings a special feel for Jeanne Robey, publicity director

for the youth shelter.

“Huntington Beach is so big, but this brings a little town feel to a

big city -- that’s what I love about it,” Robey said. “It gets bigger and

bigger each year. It gets the community out here every year.”

Nearly 300 people attended the pier lighting and parade last year,

Robey said.

The Huntington Youth Shelter is a 24-hour temporary shelter for

homeless, runaway and youths with behavioral problems, ages 11 to 17.

It’s at 7291 Talbert Ave. in Huntington Beach.