BRIEFS

The Friends of the Huntington Beach Library will host a membership

luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Central Library in Rooms C and D at

7111 Talbert Ave.

Authors Diane Leslie and Carolyn See will be on hand to discuss and

sign their latest books.

Information: (714) 842-4481, Ext. 7.

Pancake breakfast to benefit animal shelter

A Pancake Breakfast in the Park to benefit Save Our Strays of

Huntington Beach, which is working to establish a pro-humane animal

shelter, will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Lake Park in

Huntington Beach. $6, or $5 in advance.

Information: (714) 960-0093 or o7 [email protected]

Annual health fair geared toward seniors

The city of Huntington Beach and the Council on Aging will celebrate

with the senior community at the 12th annual Health Fair at the Pier

Plaza from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The fair will feature health

information, entertainment, food and beverage.

Information: (714) 536-9387.

YMCA to host family picnic Sunday

Surf City residents are invited to a parent-child picnic sponsored by

the West County Family YMCA on Sunday at Murdy Park.

The picnic will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the park, at 7000 Norma

Ave.

Activities will include games and prizes, face painting, and free hot

dogs and drinks for participants.

Indian guides, princesses, maidens and trailblazers will also be on

hand to discuss Native American Indian lore, YMCA officials said.

Participating parents and children will also be able to sign up for YMCA

programs during picnic.

Information: (714) 847-9622.

PTA sponsors free media literacy workshop

The Huntington Union Council PTA will sponsor a free workshop at 7

p.m. Wednesday on media literacy for Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley

parents and friends.

Bob McCannon, director of a media literacy program, will be the

keynote speaker and will address how advertisements, television and radio

programs influence thoughts, choices and lifestyles of teens; how

strongly a teen’s self-image is affected by everyday media exposure; and

how parents can recognize and guard against subliminal advertising.

The public is invited, which is appropriate for individuals as young

as middle school age. The school is at 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach.

Information: (714) 536-2514.

High school district part of free lunch program

Huntington Beach Union High School District is participating in the

National School Lunch Program. The program allows for free or

reduced-price meals for eligible students. Eligibility depends on

household size and income.

Applications will be mailed home and are also available at all

district school. Parents may submit an application at any time during the

school year.

New trees stem from $16,000 grant

Huntington Beach residents will see some new trees at nine city parks

over the next few weeks, thanks to a $16,000 grant from the Urban and

Community Forestry Program’s Trees for the Millennium. Officials with the

city’s Tree Society have already earmarked the money to add trees at

Franklin, Irby, College View, Cleg Stacy, Robinwood, Circle View, Murdy,

Glen View and Greer community parks.

Tree Society member Jean Nagy, who helped procure the grant, said the

society encourages the participation of children in the planting

projects.

Information: (714) 564-1316, and leave a contact number.

Surf City receives $2-million HUD grant

The city of Huntington Beach received a $2-million grant from the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the Brownfield

Economic Development Initiative.

City officials said the money will be used alongside a $6-million

federal loan for the completion of the Ocean Grand Resort.

The grant, they added, meets the department’s national objective to

help fund projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents while

creating jobs at the same time.

New members added to Search and Rescue Explorers

Five new members were added to the Huntington Beach Search and Rescue

Explorers last month after they participated in a weeklong course through

the city’s Law Enforcement Academy.

Police officials said they were proud of Explorers Heather Zabel,

Chris Steen, Stephen Perry, Jason Dyke and Ryan Legache, who graduated

from the academy Aug. 24. Zabel won first place in the academy’s Female

Physical Fitness competition, and placed third overall, they added.

Oak View library thankful for donations

Officials at the Oak View Branch Library expressed their gratitude and

appreciation to the residents last week after receiving substantial book

donations throughout the summer.

In July, the St. Peter by the Sea Presbyterian Church presented the

library with six boxes full of picture books, beginners’ readers and

religious titles meant for the Family Literacy Program. Last month,

resident and teacher Helen Neal-McCaffrey donated 350 Spanish children’s

books.

Information: (714) 375-5068.