Joe Rubin, owner of Pierside Gallery in...

Joe Rubin, owner of Pierside Gallery in Huntington Beach, donated

$595 to the Nourish the Children Initiative as part of a recent

fundraiser attended by internationally acclaimed artist, Susan Rios

Marine Corps Pfc. Markus A. Hartmann, son of Laurie and Rudolph

Hartmann of Huntington Beach, graduated from Aircrew Survival

Equipment School with Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 at

Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola, Fla. During the course,

Hartmann learned how to operate, inspect, maintain and repair the

survival systems and equipment installed on-board Navy and Marine

Corps aircraft. Hartmann also learned how to repair, rig and pack

parachutes and how to use and care for air-sea rescue equipment.

Hartmann is a 2003 graduate of Liberty Christian High School in

Huntington Beach. He joined the Marine Corps in Jan. 2004 ... Connie

Low, a painter from Huntington Beach, was chosen to have her

hand-painted ornament grace the Christmas tree in the Blue Room of

the White House this season. Low also attended a reception hosted by

Laura Bush at the White House on Dec. 1, along with other artists

whose ornaments had been chosen.

* 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, 1375 Sunflower

Ave., Costa Mesa, CA, 92626; fax it to (714) 966-4667; or e-mail it

to [email protected].