Coast’s Measure C committee adds 3 Three...

Coast’s Measure C committee adds 3

Three Huntington Beach residents have been appointed to the Coast

Community College District’s Measure C Citizen’s Oversight Committee.

The purpose of the committee is to make sure that the district’s

$370-million bond funds are spent as the public voted in November as

well as make sure that the district complies with all legal

requirements.

Tony Almaguer, an at-large representative and attorney, Heather

Arroyo, a student representative and Golden West College Student

Council Vice President, and David Quatman, a business representative

and business owner, were among the nine individuals appointed to the

committee. There first meeting is scheduled for the end of the month.

Measure C funds are expected to go toward alleviating overcrowding

through expansion as well as conducting upgrades and improvements to

the aging facilities. One of the first projects, funded by Measure C,

at Golden West College, will be to remodel the student center.

Girl Scouts make 150 blankets

Orange County Girl Scouts have been quilting, knitting and

crocheting blankets to be used by emergency and healthcare workers

who are helping children who are less fortunate.

As the blankets have been coming in the total number has reached

close to 1,400, said Gail Ellis-Olds, director of communications and

marketing for the Girl Scouts Council of Orange County. This has far

exceeded the target number of 1,000 for the project, which began in

October.

“Huntington Beach [Girl Scouts] made a big contribution,” she

said, with around 150 blankets, “and they are still coming.”

Lory Grothe, Huntington Beach troop leader, said her team of five

girls contributed 12 blankets. None of the girls had ever sown

before, she said.

“They learned about sewing and they learned about giving,” Grothe

said.

The girls were so proud of the finished products that they almost

wanted to keep them, until they remembered the children they were

helping, she said.

The blankets are donated to the Binky Patrol Comforting Covers for

Kids organization, a national volunteer group that delivers blankets

to children’s hospitals and comes to the rescue in the case of

natural disasters.

“That is one of my favorite things about the Girl Scouts, all the

community service,” Grothe said.

50 will be honored at youth awards

The Huntington Beach Children’s Needs Task Force, together with

the city of Huntington Beach, will honor 50 nominees during the third

annual Youth Character Awards ceremony Saturday.

The program was designed to recognize children whose lives and

achievements demonstrate a commitment to good character.

Applications to nominate children are sent out to schools, youth

groups and after-school programs. Children are honored for their

character, not necessarily their academic achievements, said Shirley

Carey vice-chair of the organization and school board member in the

Huntington Beach City School District.

“One of our goals was to honor children and indicate that they are

valued in the community,” she said. “These children are exceptional

in terms of being good to other people, putting others about

themselves and being honest.”

Sportsmanship, citizenship and character are some of the qualities

that make the children stand out, committee member Jolene Miller

said.

“It is not like they are winning a contest,” she said. “It is just

people who for no reason decide to be great people.”

Of the nominees, 17 exceptional children are made role models for

their generation by inducting them into the “Huntington Beach Youth

Hall of Fame.” During a June 2 Huntington Beach City Council meeting,

those children will be presented with a $100 savings bond and are

invited to ride in the Fourth of July parade.

“They are outstanding kids,” Miller said. “From fund-raising,

children’s needs, cancer awareness to helping their parents.”

Sowers concert band wins music festival

Isaac L. Sowers Middle School concert band and concert choir

students won first place at the Music in the Parks Festival on

Saturday.

The band also won Best All Around Middle School Band, for the

first time.

“The kids are ecstatic,” said parent Sharan Ochsner. “They were

screaming. They were shocked.”

The students competed against schools from across the country.

“They had after-school practice and before-school practice,” she

said. “They just work really hard.”