CITY ROUNDUP:

State Sen. Tom Harman recently picked former Newport Beach Mayor Evelyn Hart for the honor of Woman on the Year for the 35th Congressional District.

“The 35th is a pretty large district, so I was really surprised that he chose me,” Hart said. “There’s a lot of good women in that district.”

Hart and other women honored from congressional districts across the state were recognized on the floor of the state Senate last week and Harman took Hart and her family out for lunch after the ceremony.

Harman chose 77-year-old Hart for her work with several nonprofit organizations, notably her efforts as president of Friends of Oasis, a nonprofit group that provides volunteers and funding for Oasis Senior Center in Corona Del Mar. Hart’s pet project right now is raising funds for a new senior center.

“The center is very popular, and we have wonderful programs but we have just run out of room,” Hart said of the existing senior center.

Hart said her goal is to raise about $4.5 million more for the $20 million new Oasis center — $10 million for the project will come from city funding and another $5.6 million in funding will come from park fees the Irvine Co. had to pay the city for the North Newport Center Planned Community Project.

Officials will probably break ground on the project later this year, Hart said.

“Things are coming along fine, and I’m confident we’ll be able to accomplish our goal,” Hart said.

Give input on possible center near Bella Terra

The city is looking for public comments before drafting an environmental impact report for the Village at Bella Terra, a proposed mixed-use development just west of the original Bella Terra shopping center. The 15.85-acre site would require an increase in allowed density for development. Comments on what kinds of impact should be studied are being accepted through April 15 and can be sent to Senior Planner Jane James, jjames@surfcity-hb.org, (714) 536-5596.

A public meeting to seek comment was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Huntington Beach Central Library, but comments are also accepted by e-mail and phone.

Construction expected to be completed in June

Garfield Avenue is under construction right now at Delaware Street, according to city reports.

Workers are widening the intersection and adding center medians on Garfield, and the job is expected to be finished in June.

As part of the construction, workers will move power, cable and phone lines and upgrade the traffic signal.

Improvements to the storm drain system are also included, with a new catch basin and an advanced filtering system.

Club honors two

Two Huntington Beach residents were among the four honored this year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley as its Youths of the Year.

Jessica Childers, 14, choreographs dances and spends 20 hours a month teaching them to casts at the charity’s ClubHouse Academy, according to a news release.

Brett McDaniel, 12, has worked for the Huntington Beach branch of the clubs for 3 1/2 years. As president of the Torch Club, he has mentored kids and organized a recycling program.