Gains & Losses

GAINS

AUTHORS’ FESTIVAL

Youngsters had a rare chance to meet and talk with authors last week

through the 11th annual Authors’ Festival. About 50 writers from

California and Hawaii participated in the event, visiting elementary and

middle schools in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. “It was great,”

said second-grader Brandon Unger, who remembered last year’s event. “They

told us about their books and when they made them.”

BUS ROUTE BATTLE

Rogers Seniors’ Center patrons scored a victory, convincing the county’s

transportation authority to continue running a bus line that stops at the

corner of 17th Street and Orange Avenue. The county originally considered

altering two lines and eliminating that stop altogether. “If the bus

route moves to a point where people have to walk [far], that is going to

take their independence away,” said Nora Webb, senior center director.

JUST DUCKY

The annual Duck-A-Thon will have celebrity appeal this year. Britney

Spears, Gloria Estafan, Jack Lemmon and Mister Rogers are among the stars

who signed their names to a collection of little yellow rubber duckies

that will be auctioned off during this year’s event, scheduled for May 20

and May 21. Some celebrities also signed scripts and photographs for the

auction. The proceeds will benefit the Huntington Beach Community Clinic.

LOSSES

CAMPUS CRIME

While some schools reported decreases in property crimes, most local

campuses experienced more drug and alcohol offenses last year, according

to a Department of Education report released last week. Huntington Beach

High School, however, was one exception. Drug and alcohol offenses

dropped from 124 during the 1997-98 school year to 89 last year.

TEACHERS’ SALARIES

City school district and teachers union officials have failed to strike a

deal after five months of salary negotiations, so now it’s up to a state

fact-finding panel to come up with a fair compromise. “If there is no

raise, [the district is] going to start losing people,” said Annette

Symons, Huntington Beach Elementary Teachers Assn. president.