CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Independent wins two awards

The Huntington Beach Independent was honored with two awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Assn. on Saturday.

In the largest weekly circulation category, the Independent won second place for front page among broadsheet papers. It also won second place for page layout and design.

“Presentation of the news so it is inviting and interesting to the readers is vital, and so winning these awards is terrific,” said Independent editor S.J. Cahn. “We are lucky to have talented designers on our staff who make great use of the stories and photos their colleagues provide them.”

The paper’s sister publication in Laguna Beach, the Coastline Pilot, won seven awards including a second place for general excellence.

A chance to count Huntington’s dolphins

The American Cetacean Society is looking for volunteers on July 29 for its Summer Bottlenose Dolphin Count. The event is held quarterly so scientists can keep track of the Orange County dolphin population.

The organization has 13 stations from Sunset Beach down to Dana Point, and Huntington Beach volunteers are needed for the stations along the Surf City coast.

There will be an orientation beginning at 7:30 p.m. July 27 at the Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Ave.

For more information, call (714) 534-5177 or visit www.acsonline.org.

Scooter Patrol now giving rides in Surf City

The Scooter Patrol, a volunteer service providing free rides to people who’ve had too much to drink, announced its service has extended to Huntington Beach and the Orange County area.

The nonprofit organization, initially just in the Long Beach area, is attempting to stave off the number of DUI incidents in the area.

A driver who has had too much to drink can call the service and a uniformed, licensed driver will come out to the location on a Go-Ped scooter. The volunteer can then stow the scooter in the potential drunk driver’s car and drive the person home safely in their own car.

The service is available 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations can be made in advance for additional times, and are required for rides Sundays through Thursdays.

For more information, visit www.scooterpatrol.org or call (714) 240-3534 to contact the Orange County chapter.

Chief Justice speaks at Hyatt on court matters

At a conference for the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa July 13, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said he did not want to allow cameras in the courtroom during Supreme Court hearings.

Federal district courts do not allow cameras.

Other issues discussed last week were sentencing guidelines, juror service and disaster planning.

The Ninth District includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands.

Body shop honored by Automobile Club

Huntington Beach’s Surf City Skill Craft Body Shop Inc. was honored with an outstanding performance award from the Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club of Southern California for the shop’s immediate repair program.

Skill Craft’s founder Ray Galvin and general manager Jim Hollerbach received the award at a June 28 ceremony.

Galvin, a Huntington resident, is celebrating the shop’s 30th anniversary of its opening.

“It was an honor to be recognized by, especially by, such a prestigious organization as the Auto Club,” Galvin said. “I was very pleased.”

Safer streets coming near Newland Elementary

Huntington Beach received a grant from the federal Safe Routes to School program, which would fund a project that will include the installation of a new traffic signal at Yorktown Avenue and Windward Lane.

The project targets the area around Newland Elementary School and seeks to improve the safety of walkers, bikers and motorists. School warning signs and speed feedback signs are also slated for an upgrade, and new curb ramps and sidewalk upgrades will be made.

The grant, administered by the California Transportation Department, will cover about 75% of the projected $296,000 cost.

Batting cages announce summer hours

Batting cages at the Central Park Sports Complex are now open from noon to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays for the summer.

The seven batting cages are centrally located in the complex, with four baseball, two slow-pitch softball and one fast-pitch softball speeds.

A $1 token is good for 18 pitches, or six tokens can be purchased for $5. The cages can be reserved for 30 minutes for $14. Information: (714) 375-3960.