CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Harman wants sensible spending

Huntington Beach state Sen. Tom Harman called for a sensible approach to spending, even as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took the oath of office in Sacramento to be sworn in for his second term as governor. “One of the biggest mistakes involves our state spending more than it takes in,” Harman said in a news release.

“The growth in our state government is larger now than anytime in history and is growing faster than population and inflation combined,” he said. “That is why I am introducing legislation this year to provide a sensible approach to our state spending.”

Harman was hopeful that Orange County would get necessary funding for its transportation, water and emergency preparedness needs. The county requires the funds to ease traffic congestion, clean beaches for tourism and provide an infrastructure in the event of an emergency, he said.

“As a strong fiscal conservative, I have been calling for reform on these issues for years,” Harman said. The approach is a “much-needed fiscal accountability we so desperately need.” Harman represents the cities of Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Rossmoor, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and portions of Buena Park, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Westminster.

BJ’s Pizza posts 34% rise in revenues

Huntington Beach-based pizza company BJ’s Restaurants Inc. declared 34% higher revenues for the fourth quarter compared with the previous year, beating analysts’ expectations. BJ’s reported sales of $65.9 million vs. $49.2 million a year ago.

Sales at all its stores, an indicator of how well a restaurant is doing, increased by about 5.5% during the quarter, compared with a 5.3% increase for the same quarter last year. The 5.5% increase in sales beat forecasts of about 4.5% growth in BJ’s revenues.

The sales figure “marks our 41st straight quarter of positive comparisons,” BJ’s Chief Executive and President Jerry Deitchle said in a news release. One reason for the strong numbers was customers buying gift cards.

Gift card purchases were up by 8% for the fourth quarter in same-store sales, and companywide they went up by 60% compared to the same quarter last year. “These strong gift card purchases have the potential to begin benefiting our top-line results in early 2007, when post-holiday card redemptions start to occur,” Deitchle said.

Charting a safe boating course

After a Newport Beach sailor was rescued Friday off the west coast of Chile, it’s no wonder interest in learningboating safety is on the minds of many.

Huntington Beach resident Paul Busher is offering an eight-hour safe boating course for boat owners. Busher is an instructor with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 53, and will show boat owners the ropes of navigating waterways, reading charts and tides as well as operating a boat, legal aspects of boating and preparing for boating emergencies, including weather, radio and fire extinguishers.

Class sizes are limited, and there’s a $35 fee for taking the “American Boating Course,” which includes a text book, tide tables and other handouts.

“It’s a good beginner boating course,” Busher said. “It may make one eligible for insurance premium reductions.” Participants can get a certificate upon completion of the course.

Enrolling in the course will also help satisfy requirements for mandatory boating instruction required by judges, Busher said.

The class will start at 8.30 a.m., March 17, at Boater’s World at 5912 E. Edinger Ave. For more information and to pre-register, call Busher at (714) 840-0232.

Bolsa Chica conference set for March

A two-day conference on the Bolsa Chica wetlands is slated for March 24 at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach. The Western Alliance for Nature, the Amigos de Bolsa Chica and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust are pooling resources to host the conference, theproceeds from which will be used to kick off an endowment fundraising drive. The three agencies plan to use the funds to restore and maintain the Bolsa Chica ecosystem.

Work on restoring a portion of the wetlands has begun, but local environmentalists are planning on full restoration of the wetlands, including the mesas and maintaining the ecosystem that will come about thanks to restoration efforts. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, state Sen. Tom Harman, actor Beau Bridges, scientists and government agencies’ staff members are expected to attend.

The conference is sponsored by several environmental organizations, including the Los Angeles Audubon Society, Orange County Coastkeeper, Sea and Sage Audubon, Orange County Surfriders, and Los Angeles and Orange County Sierra Clubs. The all-day conference will cost $150 and will include meals, reception, entertainment and all lectures, panels and exhibits. Guided tours of the Bolsa Chica will be offered on the second day for another $25. For more information, call Amigos de Bolsa Chica at (714) 840-1575 or the Bolsa Chica Land Trust at (714) 846-1001.

Marina High plans free recycling event

If you have been waiting to get rid of that television or radio stashed away in the garage, Marina High School is offering an opportunity to do it the correct way. The high school is collaborating with Fresno-based Electronic Recyclers to help its students and families in Huntington Beach recycle unwanted electronics.

The free event will also help raise funds for the school’s cheer and song program. Electronic waste will be collected at the school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at 15871 Springdale St.

“We are very proud to be involved in this event and to be able to help Marina High School,” said John Shegerian, president and chief executive of Electronic Recyclers. “Electronic waste is a growing problem that affects the environment and human health. Events like these provide the community with a great, easy way to safely recycle their old electronics as well as raise much-needed funds.”

Residents can safely dump old computers, monitors, printers, television sets, VCRs, and other unusable or unwanted electronic items.

In California, throwing a television set or computer monitor in the trash is illegal. The toxic elements in electronic items can pollute the environment when dumped..

For more information, call Kristine Bonsall at (714) 893-6571, ext. 4129.