Surf City looks to adopt Battalion

The Huntington Beach City Council is considering adopting a Marine

Battalion before it begins its second tour of duty in Iraq.

Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman thought up the idea after

neighboring Newport Beach launched a similar program that raised

nearly $90,000 in private donations.

Councilman Gil Coerper is expected to introduce an ordinance in

the coming weeks, calling for the city to adopt Camp Pendleton’s 3rd

Battalion 1st Marines, or the “Thundering Third” as they’re known in

the Marine Corps.

Harman said the program won’t cost the city any money, but will

encourage community members to write letters and create a support

network for the families of Marines.

“We’re not taking a position on the war,” Harman said. “This is

about supporting the troops.”

The Thundering Third has been involved in nearly every major

American conflict since it was first activated at Guantanamo Bay on

March 1, 1941, according to military think tank GlobalSecurity.org.

It’s most recent action included a massive insurgent sweep through

Fallouja in August.

Cathy Green named Woman of the Year

Former Huntington Beach Mayor Cathy Green has been named the 35th

senate district’s Woman of the Year by Senator John Campbell, and

will be honored at a state capitol ceremony Monday.

Green earned the honor after securing a spot on the Orange County

Transportation Authority’s board of directors. For decades,

Huntington Beach was without representation on the board, despite

being the third largest city in the county.

After former Assemblyman Lou Correa passed a bill mandating that

the largest city in each transportation district be granted an

automatic seat, Green was able to drum up political support at the

Orange County Transportation Authority and gain a seat on the board

of directors.

First elected to the council in November 2002, Green also serves

on the League of California Cities Environmental Quality Policy

Committee, as well as the Orange County Harbors, Beaches & Parks

Commission and its Waste Management Commission.

Green is a founding member of Amigos de Bolsa Chica and a

recipient of Bolsa Chica Conservatory’s “Conservator of the Year”

award. She has served as president of the Therapeutic Riding Center,

which provides individuals with disabilities a safe, therapeutic

education program through horseback riding and equestrian activities.

Green also serves on the Exploring Advisory Team, which is a youth

program affiliated with Learning for Life. In 1998, she was named

Huntington Beach “Citizen of the Year” and in 1999 was honored as

Huntington Beach Soroptimist’s “Woman of Distinction.”

She is married to former Huntington Beach Mayor Peter Green. They

have two grown children, Teresa and Tom.

Rabid bat found at Huntington store

A bat found at the Home Depot on Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach

has tested positive for rabies. The bat was found March 1 at about

7:30 p.m. just inside the store from the outdoor garden area. Dr.

Hildy Meyers, public health epidemiology medical director, said store

employees did not touch the bat, which was picked up by animal care

officers. Rabies test results became available Friday morning.

Anyone who might have come in contact with the animal should call

the Orange County Health Care Agency at (714) 935-6106 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“Parents who brought their children with them to the store on the

evening of March 1 should specifically ask their children about

seeing or touching a bat,” Meyers said.

Human rabies cases are very rare, but can occur if a person is

bitten by a rabid animal. Medical assistance should be obtained as

soon as possible after an exposure so any wound can be cleaned and

preventive treatment can be started.

“Most bats do not have rabies, but to minimize the risk, it is

best never to handle any bat or wild animal,” Meyers said.

Huntington Beach seeking lifeguards

Huntington Beach is seeking responsible men and women to provide

first-line protection for the city’s beaches.

The Huntington Beach Marine Safety Division will hold tryouts for

new ocean lifeguards at 8 a.m. Sundayat Lifeguard Headquarters, 103

Pacific Coast Highway, one block south of the Huntington Beach Pier.

Starting pay ranges from $14.12 to $15.56 per hour and all applicants

must be 17 years old by June 1.

The tryouts consist of three physical events: a 1,000-yard ocean swim, a 500-yard ocean swim and a 1,500-yard run-swim-run. All events

are conducted in prevailing conditions around and through the

Huntington Beach Pier. Applicants must satisfactorily complete all

tryout events to be eligible for further consideration.

Upon successful completion of the tryouts, up to 36 qualifiers

will be allowed to register for the lifeguard candidate training

program. The training program will be held from March 26 to April 3

and on April 9 and 10.

Applications are available at Lifeguard Headquarters or online at

https://www.surf city-hb.org. Call (714) 374-1752 for further information.