Christie Brady, 16, of Huntington Beach...

Christie Brady, 16, of Huntington Beach has been selected to

participate in the Gillette Company’s Economics for Leaders program

conducted at Tufts University in Boston, Mass. Christie is one of 30

students from around the country to be accepted into the program.

Economics for Leaders is conducted by the Foundation for Teaching

Economics, a California nonprofit foundation. She is slated to begin

the weeklong program on Aug. 1, and will study both leadership and

economics. ... Scarlett and Tristan Anderson celebrated their

birthdays together at Seacliff Country Club on July 18. The siblings and 75 guests came to the party dressed like “The Little Rascals,”

wearing 1930s-style knickers, beanies and bloomers. Scarlett and

Tristan respectively commemorated their fifth and first birthdays.

The children live in Huntington Beach with their parents, Mark and

Conni Anderson ... Air Force Reserve Major Terence J. Gibson was

given the Meritorious Service Medal, which is given to honor

outstanding achievement or meritorious service to the United States

in noncombat situations. Gibson, who has 17 years of military

service, is a chief pilot assigned to the 336th Air Refueling

Squadron at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside. He has 17 years of

military service. He is a 1982 graduate of Huntington Beach High

School and the son of Surf City residents Robert and Judith Gibson

... Navy Seaman Michael J. Bassart, a 1994 graduate of Huntington

Beach High School recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at

Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week

program, Bassart was taught skills, including firefighting, water

safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. At the end of

boot camp, Bassart participated in “Battle Stations,” a team exercise

where recruits are tested in the practical application of Navy skills

... Navy Seaman Anna I. Zakharova, stepdaughter of Huntington Beach

resident Edward N. and daughter of Inna P. Mudd recently completed

U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes,

Ill. The training regimen included lessons on several topics such as

first aid, naval customs and shipboard and aircraft safety, with an

emphasis on physical fitness. Zakharova also finished her training by

participating in the Battle Stations exercise.

* NEIGHBORS is news about Huntington Beach people achieving and

doing good in the community. To submit information to this feature,

please send it to the Independent, Attn.: Neighbors, 18682 Beach

Blvd., Suite 160, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; fax it to (714)

965-7174; or e-mail it to hbindy@latimes.com.