get healthly, lose weight, and support local businesses

Did your New Year's Resolutions include getting healthier or dropping some wieght? If you are looking for a way to be a healthier person and eat right, not wanting just another weight loss product, then check out this week's FEATURED BUSINESS : Cleanse and Burn - www.cleanseandburn.com . Thomas Ventura is a Huntington Beach local promoting healty living, healthy bodies. The products he represents are quite good. I've talked to others who have used the cleansing products with happy results. I figured I should give them a try myself to be able to honestly say good things. Let me tell you, I've got lots of good things to say! I felt so good after the program. It was the kick start I needed to eating healthier. A nice added bonus has been the weight loss of nearly 15 lbs (some because of the product, the rest because I just want to eat better now - over the past couple months). Read more about the product on the website or call Thomas at 877-800-9900

So, you've decided you want to lose some weight and are committed to it.....well, it is not too late to join the Malibu Fish Grill Weight Loss Challange - Malibu Fish Grill of Huntington Beach, Santa Ans, & Redondo Beach will hold a eat and lose weight contest. The deadline to enter is January 31, and the contestant who loses the highest percentage of body weight by March 31 will win $1000. See RULES AND REGULATIONS for all the details.

Now for some fun! Have you ever gone go-karting? you've heard of those extreme karting places around Orange County? well we now have one closer by - right in Costa Mesa: OC Raceway Extreme Indoor Karting at 1670 Sunflower (south of Ellis near Hyland). This Wednesday they are having their Ribbon Cutting grand opening, January 30, 4:30 pm. Invite friends and come check them out, show them some support. It's a heck of a lot of fun. For more info: 714-444-1001 See what it's all about on their website: www.xindoorkarting.com

say NO to the closure of State Parks in California

In a move that has stunned nature-lovers across the state, Gov. Schwarzenegger's latest budget proposal would shut down 20 percent of the state's parks, as well as cut down on lifeguards at state beaches. Of course, we all know California needs to balance the budget. But we're talking about a step that would save $9 million -- less than 0.1 percent of the state budget. Meanwhile, the costs to our environment, our quality of life, and our confidence in state government would be incalculable.

Let's kill this idea before it gets any further. Please urge the governor to back off of this wrong-headed move. Here is the LINK for you to do your part and send in an electronic letter. Please help save our parks.

Huntington Beach couple win Amazing Race

If you have't heard, Huntington Beach locals Rachel Rosales and TK Erwin won CBS’ The Amazing Race 12 on January 20. The young couple is now one million dollars richer. After winning the race, a shocked Rosales sputtered out, “I can't even believe it ... I'm really speechless." Her boyfriend and winning partner, TK Erwin, told host Phil Keoghan, "None of this even seems real. It's kind of freaking me out." In her real life, Rachel, 23 years old, is a business owner and florist here in town. TK, 22, works as a substitute teacher. The two had been dating for less than a year before entering The Amazing Race 12. After crossing the finish line in Anchorage, AK and claiming the prize money, Erwin said, “This whole things was such a crazy roller coaster with so many ups and downs. To do it with Rachel, I think our relationship has only grown through this whole thing. And for that, that's more important than any of this for me." Congratulations of our locals!

Pay your Huntington Beach utilities on line

Did you know you can now pay your utilities on line?
The City Treasurer’s Department has recently instituted three new “paperless” ways to pay your Municipal Services Utility statement and an easy way to find information about them all on our city’s official website: www.surfcity-hb.org/payments. This webpage has generated quite a buzz, doubling traffic to the Surf City payments website from November to December! Come check out what all the buzz is about! Our online “ePay” service makes it easy to pay your utility bill by MasterCard or Visa online safely and securely. Link directly to “ePay” at www.surfcity-hb.org/payments. Our voice automated “PhonePay” system at 877-309-4915 also conveniently allows utility bill payments by MasterCard or Visa. If you have any problems with using this service, call our Official Payments customer services representatives at 888-357-8394, and they can assist you in making the payment. Find out more about “PhonePay” at www.surfcity-hb.org/payments. If you prefer to pay using your bank checking account, our “AutoPay” program is the way to go. We can securely deduct your amount due every month directly from your account automatically. Download at “AutoPay” application at www.surfcity-hb.org/payments. Find out more about these three options at www.surfcity-hb.org/payments, or visit us at 2000 Main Street on the 1st floor at our cashiering windows and receive a free “stress reliever” when you turn in your AutoPay application!

Local Surfrider Foundation opposes Governor's environmentally unfriendly plans

The below information is from a Press Release put out by the Surfrider Foundation. Shame Shame on our Governor!!
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GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER THROWS TRESTLES AND SAN ONOFRE UNDER THE BUS - Governor Announces Support For Environmentally Harmful Road

San Clemente, CA (January 16, 2008) – Yesterday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a letter in support of the proposed 241 toll road extension in South Orange County. The letter was issued just two weeks before a critical vote by the California Coastal Commission to determine if the proposed extension violates the California Coastal Act. A staff report prepared by the CCC concludes that it does.

“We are absolutely taken aback by this,” said Surfrider Foundation CEO Jim Moriarty. “For the Governor to take this unprecedented step of interfering with the workings of an independent and non-political commission, an entity which was established by California voters and whose sole responsibility is to decide the future of California’s coasts and beaches based on law and fact, is entirely inappropriate.”

The disappointing announcement comes just six days after the California Governor unveiled his plans to close forty-eight California State Parks, allow for the early release of prisoners from state correctional facilities, and raise Department of Motor Vehicle fees.

“We had hoped that Governor Schwarzenegger was insincere in his threat to close state parks and beaches,” says Moriarty. “It now appears that he is absolutely intent on sacrificing our state park system and natural resources for his political objectives.”

The California State Parks Department has maintained that they may be forced to abandon nearly sixty percent of San Onofre State Beach Park, including the popular San Mateo Creek Campground, should the proposed extension to the 241 toll road be completed,

Governor Schwarzenegger’s failure to support San Onofre State Beach Park by endorsing the 241 toll road extension is in direct contrast to the efforts of his Republican predecessors, President Richard M. Nixon and then-Governor Ronald Reagan, both of whom worked to establish San Onofre State Beach as a part of their legacy; hoping that it would exist as a resource to be used and enjoyed by future generations.

The Surfrider Foundation activists and other opponents to the planned toll road will be gathering in Oceanside, California on February 6th for a planned rally outside the California Coastal Commission hearing. All members of the public are invited to attend. Please go to www.savetrestles.org for more information.

About the Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, go to www.surfrider.org.

W Hotel to be part of the new Pacific City, Huntington Beach

Starwood Hotels & Resorts plans to plant its W Hotel flag at Newport Beach-based Makar Properties' 31-acre Pacific City development here. The mixed-use project, which is under way on Pacific Coast Highway at First Street, will now include a 250-room W Hotel, according to Makar and Starwood.

Scheduled to open in 2010, the W Huntington Beach and the Residences at W Huntington Beach will be owned by an affiliate of Makar. In addition to the 250 guest rooms, the property will include approximately 92 private residences, a signature restaurant, a bar and a destination spa. The opening of W Huntington Beach will mark the fifth California property for the W brand.
Paul Makarechian, president and CEO of Makar Properties, sees Orange County as "an untapped market" for the W Hotel brand. Makar's planning for Pacific City has included a hotel from the outset.

Scheduled for completion in early 2010, Makar's Pacific City will feature 424 luxury condominium units and 191,000 sf of retail and office space, including 48,900 sf of restaurant space. The Pacific City retail village portion of the project is scheduled to open in late 2009.
Pacific City overlooks an eight-mile stretch of beach, which attracts more than 11 million visitors each year. The city was once a sleepy haven for surfers, but it has developed into a resort-style vacation and entertainment district with local breweries, pubs, restaurants and shopping.
The Pacific City project will link the two existing luxury resorts in Huntington Beach, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, with the city pier and the existing downtown district. Hotel designers on the Pacific City project include KKE Architects and MBH Architects, with KTGY Group for retail/office and residential, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for the interior of the hotel and Lifescapes International for landscaping.

Thanks to GlobeSt.com for the info

Extreme Indoor Karting for Huntington Beach and all of Orange County

Finally something like this close to home!
Extreme Indoor Karting is new to the area, located at 1670 Sunflower Ave in Costa Mesa. Located just over the 'border' in Costa Mesa, they are Southern California’s premier indoor electric go karting raceway. Their European karts reach speeds up to 45 mph on their ¼ mile long track. Conveniently located off the 405 freeway and Harbor Blvd. Get down there and race your friends, family, and co-workers. You won't believe how much fun you'll have!
Contact them at 714-444-1001 for more info or their website at: www.xindoorkarting.com

Malibu Fish Grill "Eat & Win Weight Loss" Challange at Huntington Beach location

The Malibu Fish Grill of Huntington Beach as well as their Santa Ana & Redondo Beach locations will host a "Eat & Win Weight Loss Challange". Enter and weigh in before Janurary 31 and eat at a Malibu Fish Grill twice a week until March 31. The contestant with the highest percentage of body weight loss will win $1000. Read the PRESS RELEASE for more info and open the RULES AND REGULATIONS to get all the details.

Fresh & Easy to open next week in Huntington Beach

HUNTINGTON BEACH Fresh & Easy will open its doors in Huntington Beach at 10 a.m. Wednesday at 16672 Beach Blvd.
Everyone is invited to attend the kickoff event for the store's five-day grand opening celebration.
Fresh & Easy will present a donation to West County Family YMCA as part of the opening.
The company is opening stores throughout Southern California, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Other Fresh & Easy markets in Orange County are in Orange, Buena Park and Lake Forest.
The neighborhood markets are smaller than the typical supermarket and offer a selection of already prepared meals.

Huntington Beach local involved in CARP and the Mid-Atlantic Row of Life

RowofLife has hit the 1000 mile mark on Day 31 of the Atlantic Rowing Race. That just leaves about 1552 to go; No Problem! They are really turning it on now. They have increased their load to move along faster. They can't make a full side because they lack legs. Franck has an infected stump and is not able to wear his prosthesis. Angela's back is not exactly happy, but when is it ever. Atlantic Jack said in their blog "The next boat to catch is Angela & Frank(sic) in "Row of Life", this will be a tough one as although they only have one fully functional leg between the 2 of them, they are complete rowing animals. " Atlantic Jack is moving at an unbelievable pace. I just wish we could figure out what is coming out of their water maker, so we could have some too. Maybe if they catch us, they will share the secret to their speed.

Surfing is Angela's first love. On New Year's Day she is usually out surfing in Huntington Beach with all her surfing buddies. She would like to thank all her surfing buddies, the Huntington Beach Long Board Crew, and the Surf Museum in Huntington Beach, for the support they have given her. Well what would New Years be without surfing? Well apparently the powers that be also thought Angela should surf today. The wind was blowing the wrong way today. The water was choppy and not good for rowing. Then it happened….the wind created big waves, excellent for Ocean Rowing Boat Surfing. Angela and Franck guided themselves with their oars and were able to catch a dozen or so good waves. They did not get long rides, but it was fun. Franck caught on to the English surf logo. Soon after the first wave, he kept asking if the next wave was a good one for surfing. We are going to work on him saying, "Dude." Both Angela and Franck seemed exhilarated by their morning session of surfing the 2/3 meter waves. So, while the rowing completely sucked today….the surfing was EXCELLENT.

The weather has been very rough and the winds not good for rowing. They are hoping for the winds to start blowing back in the westerly direction so they can take advantage of the winds and the equatorial currents. It has been tough to make progress and Angela and Franck have been rowing together many hours a day. It has taken a physical toll, but their spirits remain high. I just found out at the beginning of the race Angela fell off her seat and bruised her back very badly on Franck's foot stretchers. She was unable to do anything but crawl out onto the deck. She was not able to row. That was one of the reasons for their slow start. Also Franck was very sea sick at first and not able to row. So compared to the start, they are doing well now, but it is still not a picnic. They are trying to make sure they take the time to get rest so they can heal and stay healthy. It is a long race and they are ready for the long haul.

Angela is the Founder and Director of the California Adaptive Rowing Program in Long Beach, CA www.carplb.net . It is a free program where differently-abled people learn row with the help of dedicated volunteers. It is part Long Beach Rowing Association and they row out of the Pete Archer Rowing Center.

Adaptive Rowing is rowing/sculling for the physically challenged. There are classifications of abilities in adaptive rowing similar to paralympic classifications with class 1 being the most challenged and 5 being the most able. There is fixed seat rowing for people who have limited or no functional use of their lower extremities (class 1-4) and sliding seat events are for all other rowers (class 5 and 5B for the visually impaired).