Walking to fight multiple sclerosis

Three Huntington Beach women are participating in a three-day,

50-mile walk in September to raise money and awareness to fight

multiple sclerosis.

Amy McClairy, Tanaaz Wheeler and Jeanne Woodard plan to

participate in the third annual Southern California MS Challenge, a

hike from Carlsbad to Downtown San Diego the weekend of Sept. 10

through 12, put on by the Orange County chapter of the National

Multiple Sclerosis Society. There are 400 others registered to race.

Most of the participants either have multiple sclerosis, or in

McClairy’s case, have a spouse with the disease.

“In a lot of ways, I feel like this is the only thing I can do,”

she said. “My husband is really touched by my involvement in this

race, and it gives him a glimmer of hope.”

Participants spend several months training and raising money for

the event, which benefits multiple sclerosis research and hopefully,

one day, a cure.

A minimum fundraising commitment of $2,500 is required to

participate. During the three-day event, there will be full-service

rest stops every three to four miles, and walkers will end each day

with accommodations at host hotels.

For more information or to register, visit

https://www.mymschallenge.com or call (800) 486-6762.

Officer honored for career of service

Senior Huntington Beach Police Officer Richard Wright has received

this year’s Distinguished Honorable Mention Award from the Orange

County Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security.

The 27-year law-enforcement veteran and has served with the

Huntington Beach Traffic Bureau for 21 years and is believed to be

one of the longest-serving motorcycle officers in Orange County.

Wright has received several awards from Mothers Against Drunk

Driving including his accomplishments in the identification and

apprehension of impaired drivers.

Surf City walk/run

announces winners

Olympic water polo silver medalist Julie Swail took home this

year’s first-place award in the open women’s division of the Surf

City 5K walk/run on the Fourth of July.

Swail was one of more than 3,300 who participated in this year’s

event. The Irvine resident plans to work as an NBC announcer at this

year’s Olympics in Athens, Greece.

“It was great running through the various neighborhoods and seeing

everyone come out of their home to cheer us on,” Swail said. “Some

people were wearing their Fourth of July uniforms and others still

had their pajamas on.”

Taking second place was Kathy Smith of Irvine, followed by Natalie

Perkins from Garden Grove. In the men’s open 5K, Ozy Pina of Long

Beach took first place, followed by Corona del Mar resident Josh

Yelsey and JD Krawczyk of Westminster.

In the men’s division for Huntington Beach residents, David

Schumacher took first place, followed by David Bartis and then Tony

Guadagnin. In the women’s division, R. Rogff-Bartiss grabbed first

place, followed by Christine Appell and then April Popjoy.

Gordon McDuff won the Stroller 5K, an event that requires parents

to push a child through the race. Longtime stroller veteran Thorston

Hegberg took second place, followed by Tim Hickok. For the women’s

Stroller 5K, Erin Petrossi rolled in first, followed by Kris Stilton

and Sandra Hill.

Several roads near you will be closing soon

Several Surf City streets will be closed from July 14 to 18 for

infrastructural improvements.

A private contractor overseeing the installation of the Orange

County Sanitation District Bushard Trunk Line plans to close the

intersection of Yorktown Avenue and Bushard Street to traffic on July

14 and 15.

Construction will occur on the north side of the intersection, and

Bushard will subsequently be closed between mid-Yorktown north to the

Bass Drive intersection and later shut down between Banning Avenue

and Drumbeat Drive through the first week of August.

Crews working on improvement to the Union Pacific Railroad

Crossing on Warner Avenue plan to close that road between Gothard

Street and Beach Boulevard between July 17 and 18 for improvements to

the Union Pacific Railroad Crossing. Motorists can take alternate

routes on Slater Avenue.