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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Being Eco-Friendly with These Gift Ideas

The Daily Green's gift guide features the season's best green gifts — including many unique items made by independent artisans that you can't find in any shopping mall. Even if you've only got a few dollars to spend, you'll find incredible green gifts for under $20 that you can be proud to give. And, because we know less is more, we've highlighted creative ways to give without giving stuff at all.

Check them all our here: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/green-gifts

Friday, December 09, 2011

Help the Children - Barnes & Noble Book Drive

CHILREN’S NEEDS TASK FORCE
BARNES & NOBLE HOLIDAY BOOK-DRIVE

Barnes & Noble stores across the Country invite customers to share the joy of reading
with the launch of the annual Holiday Book Drive, taking place November 1, 2011
through December 31, 2011. The Barnes & Noble holiday book drive provides an
opportunity for customers to donate books to children in need through locally
designated non-profit organizations.

The Barnes & Noble at Bella Terra Huntington Beach chose the Children’s Needs Task
Force to partner with local non-profits who will benefit from the Holiday Book Drive.
It is a great opportunity for stores and customers to provide new books for children
who really need them, through donations to local charities. Through the gift of these
books, the heroes at Barnes & Noble are giving children in need a treasure to warm
their holiday and a powerful tool to brighten their future.

The Children's Needs Task Force (CNTF) believes that the future of our city depends on
how we view our children. The community can provide an environment where children
grow and become healthy mature adults, who contribute and become a part of the
community.

December pre-holiday greetings

Can you believe we are well in to December? Where is the time going?

With the holiday season, there is plenty to do around town. You will find plenty of free concerts at Bella Terra on the weekends. At 7pm on these December weekends, you can also enjoy real snow. They have a 10 minute live Magic of Snow (check the calendar to double check the dates). Santa pops in during the day (usually 12-4pm) on Saturdays for photo ops.

Down at The Strand you can bring your pet this Saturday for photos with Santa (noon to 3). The Strand also brought back the skating rink for all to enjoy. Skate on real ice!

If you miss Santa at either of those locations, he is also showing up at Old World on Sunday (again noon, but til 7pm). You will find him at the Sandyle Kids & Baby Boutique. While there catch the Dachshund Races at the Festival Hall, always a fun time watching those dogs race that track!!

Some of the merchants in Old World (including Sandyle) can be found on the city's discount program: www.SurfCitySavings.com . Check out all the ways you can save around town. Keep your holiday shopping dollars local. One of the new merchants to sign up is Sparrow's Nest Consignment at 19642 Gothard. They are having their holiday open house this Saturday offering 20% off any one item. Stop in and check out all the great stuff they have.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Veterans Weekend in HB

So for this weekend we of course have the Veterans Day Celebration and following that, the next day (Saturday) is 2nd annual Surf City Cruise Car Show in honor of our veterans. Of course there is plenty of other events going on this weekend, including coffee with a councilman, several pet adoptions, farmers markets, beach cleanups and more! You know where you can find them right? yep, the calendar on TheLocalHB.com.

Coming up later this month, please mark your calendar for Wed, Nov 30. from 5:30-8:30pm there will be a wine tasting fundraiser at the Hitlon. It is $25 per person and benefits the new Waggin' Trails Transport. This transport is part of A Leg Up Rescue which puts on the Pups N Pinot, the main fundraiser for A Leg Up. If you don't know what they do exactly, the main thing is they are all about saving animals from euthanasia and providing them with forever homes. And Waggin" Trails is a transport that takes animals desperately looking for homes up to the Pacific Northwest & Canada where there are actually more people looking to adopt than there are available animals. Please consider coming out for some great wine and help keep this transport running!! you can find the flyer here: http://tinyurl.com/7jtqflb

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Halloween in Huntington Beach

Liking your self some BBQ??? How about heading over to Albertson's on Beach Blvd (at Adams) and enjoy some tasty vittles while doing some good for A Leg Up Rescue. A Leg Up now has a bus which was donated by the Boys & Girls Club and this bus will be used to transport rescue dogs (primarily dogs, but not exclusively) from our over crowded shelters up to the northwest areas of Oregon, Washington & Canada where there are plenty of people waiting to adopt. This is a wonderful service we are now able to offer and Albertsons is the first to step up and offer some help to start raising money to make this transport possible. By the way, the new transport is called Waggin' Trails so keep your eyes open for the new website, waggintrails.org where you'll be able to keep up to date with what is going on with the transport and related fundraisers. So if you love animals like I do, I hope you try to make it down either Saturday or Sunday anytime between 10:30am & 3pm.

On Halloween evening, get on down to Main Street for the annual family friendly street fest 4pm-8pm. There are all kinds of fun stuff going on and of course I will be wandering around in some kind of ghoulish attire!! But prior to that, you can enjoy some Halloween fun this Saturday (after the Albertson's BBQ of course) at Old World where they are hosting a "Howling Hund's Halloween Pawty", noon to 4pm. Here is the flyer with the details: www.wienerdogstore.com/paws_races.html

Enjoy a fun & safe Halloween

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

A couple of HB events

Want to make sure you all know about the great opportunity to meet and network with exhibitors and over 1,000 business professional attending Orange County's Major 2011 Business Expo . DO NOT MISS it this coming Thursday, October 6 from 5-8pm: . There will be 130 Companies exhibiting, 15 great Restaurants with complimentary food, AND LOTS OF NETWORKING! The location is the DoubleTree Hotel in Orange, 100 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92686 (At the Block of Orange). It is $20 at the door. includes parking, food & lots of networking. It is open to everyone - No RSVP is required to attend. For more information, Click on: http://rbninfo.com/expo/oc/tables2.asp.

And this Sunday the 9th, is the Second Annual Community Event: Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Please at the Newland House, 19822 Beach Blvd, from 2pm to 5pm. Enjoy wines and food samples from local vendors to benefit Project Self Sufficiency. More info and tickets can be found on their website: http://www.winecheeseandchocolateplease.com/.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Summer is coming to close, autumn is officially here and that means Halloween is right around the corner! New to the City of Huntington Beach's Surf City Savings Discount Program is Halloween Adventure , located in Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave, unit 120. They wanted to offer some savings to locals who will soon be getting ready for this fun time of year. $10 off any purchase of $80 or more, or 20% off any regular priced item. Their offers are good up to Halloween day and can be found in the retail section of participants on www.surfcitysavings.com. They have some pretty cool stuff in the store, worth a visit for sure. By supporting Halloween Adventure and the other over 150 merchants you are helping to keep our spending dollars local which in turn support our local city services. Check it out!!

So when you think of storage facilities, I'm sure you don't think on hot rod cars do you? Well right here in Huntington Beach we have a storage place that specializes in indoor hot rod storage - HB Storage at 15241 Transistor Lane (near Springdale & McFadden). They do, however, offer traditional storage for other vehicles as well as personal items. You can learn all about them this Sunday, October 2nd from 10am-3pm for their official grand opening celebration. There will be entertainment, food & drinks and vendor booths. Come on down and show them some local HB support.

But first, to start out your weekend, please come to the Surf City Lions Club Business Mixer to be held at Endless Food & Fun at 7227 Edinger Ave on this Friday the 30th from 5:30 to 7:30pm. There will be great door prizes, opportunity drawings, silent auction, a live surf band music, and more. Light appetizers & one drink ticket included for a $10 donation which benefits the charities the Lions Club supports. There will also be a 15% discount on games during the event. Feel free to bring the kids to play.
To donate door prizes or silent auction items, contact: Raymond Louison at 714-925-5361 or lionkingraymond@gmail.com . We hope to see you there.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Green Expo this weekend

Last weekend Huntington Beach was a hub-bub of activity. I'm sure most of you know it was the big celebration for the Ocean View Little League World Champions. It was great seeing all the local support with so many people there for the parade and the rally. If you missed it, I posted some photos: http://thelocalhb.shutterfly.com.

This weekend also has plenty in store,,, all listed on the calendar on TheLocalHB.com. One of the highlights, however, is the Green Expo at the Pier on Saturday. It runs 9am-5pm. There will be over 50 vendors showcasing all ways to be eco-friendly. From solar companies to artificial turf to water conversing landscaping and much more,,,,there will be all ways to learn, learn, learn. Thousands are expected to show up for this event. Don't miss out.

After you are done at the expo… why not venture up to north Huntington Beach and enjoy some time at Bella Terra. The Huntington Beach Concert Band will be playing in the amphitheater (6-9pm) - free concert for all. While there, how about a bite to eat??? Check out Pizzarito (established in 1984) if you want a quick slice or other menu favorites like their mouth watering meatball Parmesan sandwich to enjoy during the concert or any night before the movies or just dine on the patio while relaxing & enjoying the fall weather and people watching all while you munch on the authentic taste and feel of New York pizza with sauce and dough made fresh daily using, of course, only the finest ingredients. By the way, they offer FREE delivery! Currently they also have a great special going on for a limited time: Mon. thru Fri. 3-6pm, buy one slice and get the second FREE. They are located in Bella Terra - 7101 Edinger Ave. (714)374-7678

Get outside and enjoy these final days of summer!

Friday, September 02, 2011

Yippie, it's a long weekend! Do you already have your plans set up? Want to re-enact a little history? You know the big deal this weekend, right? Civil War Days at Central Park - this is quite a big deal as there are two days of Civil War life with camps, demonstrations, battles, and much more! Read all about it and see the schedule of events on: http://www.hbcivilwar.webs.com. Of course there are many other events going on this weekend, and for the full list, check out what the locals know: http://thelocalhb.com/HB_locals/Calendar.html.

Whether it is TV, radio, or the newspaper, it is obvious Labor Day weekend is a big one for car shopping! All the dealerships seem to be having specials going on. Deals for lease specials, financing specials, and rebates. My question is why go to the dealerships and deal with all the hassles when Fox Auto Consultants can offer all the same offers/specials as the dealers while offering you a pleasurable and easy shopping experience! Fox Auto does all the shopping, arranges the whole transaction and has it ready for you without having to spend hours at a dealership. AND you may even end up getting a better deal! Using an auto broker - Fox Auto - is the ONLY way to go whether you are looking for a new car, truck, SUV, hybrid or van. That is how we buy all our vehicles (the last 4 to be exact)…no more dealerships for us!! All their contact info can be found on their site: http://wcfox.com.

Now for some fun,,,,your labor day chores are done, time to go out and have a local good time. One of my fav places is Brix Wine, Brews & NY Deli at 16635 PCH (at Admiralty). I've enjoyed many a great wine there as well as some oh so tasty beers. He has quite a good assortment of craft beers on tap. They offer a darn good happy hour and some very enjoyable live music. This place is full of locals and always makes for a good time. Stop by and say hi to Rick (owner), show him some HB local love. See their specials, gig, etc at: http://brixsunsetbeach.com.

Enjoy a fun and safe long weekend everyone!

Friday, August 19, 2011

a great summer flying by....

Another week of summer gone… drat!
One of my favorite summer appetizers is stuffed peppers on the BBQ, and it just so happens that one of our local Ralphs is having an event dedicated to the roasting of peppers. YUM! Freida's Street Team will be there doing live roasting demonstrations. Buy chilies and have them roast them there on the spot to take home! All the details are on the calendar of TheLocalHB, but here is the main particulars: Ralphs this Saturday (20th) at 5241 Warner (near Bolsa Chica) from 10am-4pm (or until they run out!). Frieda's distributes Hatch Chiles (what they will be roasting) which have a limited season and are very popular amongst chile lovers. The chilies you take home would be perfect for making rellenos, enchidas, and more. They even have some chile recipes on their site: www.friedas.com.


Also this weekend you will find the numerous farmers markets around as well as the annual Huck Finn Fishing Derby at the Pier. If you have kids, this is a fun event to take them down to. There are prizes for the best Huck & Becky characters as well as prizes for largest & smallest fish!

As summer is quickly passing us by, have you thought to yourself you need a vacation? Haven't planned one yet? Here's a great solution - how about a retreat by the sea! Escape to the Sonoma Coast. Imagine, looking out of your window and being able to view the Russian River flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Nestled on top of a hill in Jenner, is this beautiful vacation home that allows you to relax, refresh, and simply enjoy.

The town of Jenner is set on the Pacific coastline and offers beautiful River and Ocean view dining, superb kayaking, hiking and beach walking. Tour world-renown wineries, visit beautiful Armstrong Redwoods with its ancient towering trees waiting to be admired. Jenner is a short drive from spectacular cliffs and accessible beaches including Goat Rock State Park

You can also make the short drive inland to explore the world famous Sonoma County wine region. Sonoma County is home to dozens of wineries that invite you to sample some of the world's best Chardonnay's, Merlot's, Pinot Noir's, Cabernet's and many other local varieties. The wineries of the Napa Valley are also only a short 45-minute drive away, making Jenner the perfect location for exploring all that Northern California has to offer.

It's so pretty up there….here is what the owner has to say about the house: "At the end of the day, relax on the expansive deck and watch pelicans, ospreys, and hawks soar over the estuary as the sky turns brilliant pastel colors and the sun slowly sinks into the Pacific. Enjoy a meal of locally caught crab or other fresh seafood prepared at home, or visit one of the area's excellent restaurants. As a nightcap, listen to the ocean waves crashing on the rocks with the glow of the moon on the river as you enjoy a relaxing soak in the bubbling hot tub." Take advantage of end of season prices by calling 714-328-8661 and check out the pictures on the website:. www.napasonomavacationrentals.com

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

from a local HB business

LEARN TO READ KIDS CLUB COMBO SET WINS DR. TOY’S BEST VACATION CHILDREN’S PRODUCT AWARD
Winning Reading Product from Creative Teaching Press Prevents "Summer Slide" for Children PreK-2nd Grade
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., July 13, 2011 —The Learn to Read Kids Club®, a beginning reading program by Creative Teaching Press™, has been named one of Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Products for 2011. This award, announced via Dr. Toy’s website, www.drtoy.com, is the Learn to Read Kids Club Combo set’s second award of educational excellence since hitting the market in 2009. An affordable at-home reading tool that is perfect for preventing the “summer slide” the Kids Club Combo set includes eight Learn to Read books, a reading rewards chart with coordinating stickers, a parent guide, two skill practice workbooks, and a compact storage box.

“The Best Vacation Products are a balanced selection from large and small, new and established, companies across the U.S.A., Canada, and around the world and will provide children with exciting new learning tools that will help them not only do better in school, but also will provide more constructive activities while traveling or at vacation destinations,” said Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy).

The Learn to Read Kids Club Combo set’s storybooks and workbooks are designed by teachers and literacy experts expressly for children ages 4-8 who are either just beginning their reading journey or struggling to gain literacy skills. Each Learn to Read Kids Club set provides useful parent guides with tips on how to maximize the young reader’s learning experience, making it easy for parents to get involved in their child’s reading success ensuring a strong educational foundation. By purchasing the award-winning combo set for $29.99, not only do educators and parents receive a 10% savings over purchasing the materials individually, they also provide young learners with enough reading practice and fun to last all summer long. For more information visit the program website at http://www.learntoreadkidsclub.com/.


About the Learn to Read Kids Club:
The Learn to Read Kids Club was launched in December 2009 by Creative Teaching Press as an extension of its popular and effective Learn to Read book series. Developed over 15 years ago by Creative Teaching Press founder Luella Connelly and author Rozanne Lanczak Williams, the Learn to Read book series stories were designed to provide maximum support to emergent readers through repetitive and predictable story lines that help reinforce reading and understanding the English language. Today the books are bundled with parent guides, charts and stickers, and read-along CDs, which enhance the reading experience for children ages 4-8. Educators and parents are encouraged to visit the Learn to Read Kids Club website at www.learntoreadkidsclub.com to find detailed product information, to read about the extensive research and skills behind the program, and to learn about ordering options and supplemental interactive activities.

About Creative Teaching Press:
Creative Teaching Press is a family-owned supplemental educational publisher of resources for grades PreK–8. A recognized leader in the industry, Creative Teaching Press offers a wide variety of learning décor and research-based products that deliver standards-driven content, including phonics, reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Creative Teaching Press celebrates more than four decades of providing parents and teachers with high-quality, content-rich solutions. Affiliated brands include The Learning Worksä and Youngheart Musicâ. For more information about Creative Teaching Press, visit http://www.creativeteaching.com/


Friday, August 05, 2011

End of US Surf Open in Huntington Beach is this weekend

Happy end of the week everyone. Did you make it downtown this week? If you did, pretty crazy busy wasn't it? The US Surf Open comes to a close this Sunday, so things will soon be back to normal summer craziness.

If any of you have a local event you'd like placed on the calendar, please let me know and I'd be happy to include it for you! Calendar found at www.TheLocalHB.com. And if you are in to saving money, visit www.SurfCitySavings.com for all kinds of discounts from local businesses! New businesses are being added all the time. This is something the city does to help keep our spending dollars local.

Now on to a personal favor for TheLocalHB. Many of you know about the annual Halloween party I throw every year. Well for the past few years it has been held in Long Beach because I have not found a place locally to accommodate it. I am now searching for a local place. I usually have between 250 & 300 people, I want to scale it down to a smaller size of 150-200, and mostly I want it moved because it is well overdue to bring it back to Huntington Beach!! This would also allow me to include more of you guys, all my local peeps! This is where I could use your help. Ideas for a location???? Old World has been suggested, but Oktoberfest runs til Nov 1 so that is not an option. Hotel ballrooms nor really an option - I do a lot of decorating and need more than one to day to put together, plus one big square room doesn't lend itself to atmosphere. The best places are closed down retail spots (large enough to hold approx 150+ people, live band, dancing, etc). I've used closed down restaurants before too, if they are big enough. Industrial businesses that have a lot of space that don't mind some decorations for a temporary time work too! I've always been able to find a place where there is a connection with the business owner who have let me use the space for either no or very low cost. I bring in a cleaning crew afterwards and they get the place back cleaner than when I "took it over". I have been doing the party for over 23 years and would hate to not do it this year (I just can't afford to do it in Long Beach anymore either)….so, again, any ideas??? I'm hoping one of my local friends will have some brilliant suggestion for me! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Finally, a bit of business: mark your calendars for next Tuesday the 9th for the monthly RBN networking lunch at SeaCliff County Club, 6501 Palm Ave. This event is always well attended and it gives you a chance to meet new businesses! The lunch runs from 11am to 1:30pm. They are expecting a great turnout - come early and stay late to make the most of the networking opportunities. And feel free to bring a guest! All inclusive admission is $25 for RBN members & $35 for non members, a great deal for getting exposure to nearly 100 fellow businesses folk. More info: www.rbninfo.com. I'll be there - will I see you there?

Have a great weekend

Friday, July 22, 2011

Feeling groovy at 70s surf contest

(from OC Beach Blog)
The Surfside Seventies event is more than just another contest – it’s a way to pay tribute to those who paved the way to where we are today.
The laid-back event was held for the thirteenth year, bringing together about 75 competitors of all generations to take some waves, catch up with old friends, and just hang out on the sand at Anderson Street in Surfside, a small stretch of beach between Bolsa and Seal Beach.

“I’m digging the vibe,” said Shane Jones, who was competing for his first year. “Everyone is super mellow, I dig it. If I was born again, I’d want to be born in the 70s.”
There was a lot of talk on the sand about the past, and what the era did for the sport.
Gary Sahagen, of Huntington Beach, recalls it being the underground period where surfers didn’t dig contests, having a more anti- establishment mindset against businesses making money off the culture. Oh, and everyone had really thick moustaches. “The 70s were gnarly,” he said. “We all wanted to be soul surfers.” Then, Peter “PT” Townend won the first world championship, and along with the “Bronzed Aussies” started marketing the sport and making a living from it – helping to change the entire industry into what it is today.

“The 70s was pretty experimental,” said Townend, who along with his son Jye was in the contest. “Everybody did a different stuff. I was known for the soul arch and the lay back cut back. It was much more freestyle, and that’s the spirit of doing this contest.”

Boardwise, the designs were much different back in the day. Instead of just seeing the same ol’ thrusters in the water, there were the twin fins, single fins, wings and more. That was what was seen on the sand in Surfside. Competitors pull a number from a bowl before their heat, and that number determines what pile of old boards they can chose from. There were more than 100 retro boards from the 70s, many from the personal collection of Tony Alvarado.

The contest started when organizer Benny Bigler was working at Bruce Jones in the late ’90s, when people starting bringing in retro boards. He thought it would be a good idea to get a couple of friends together for an event. Surfboard shaper Tim Stamps once again took the win – his fifth Surfside title through the years. Stamps has entered the contest about ten times out of the last 13. “It’s just fun, there’s old boards and a collection of good surfers – young, old and in between. It’s about having a good time,” he said. “It’s a good vibe, everyone is happy. Win, lose or draw.”
Don Bigelow, of Orange, says it’s a lesson he tries to teach his kids: to pay respects to the guys who were doing this way before they were. “The older guys, they were the grass roots behind the whole movement of surfing,” he said. “It’s really important we know where the fundamentals of the sport came from, and what it’s all about.”

Did you miss it? Townend is also putting on a 70s contest in Huntington Beach on Sept. 17. The city event will allow 48 surfers to come out and competes 70s style – but they must have a board from that era, and it must be from a Huntington brand. To name a few: Robert August, David Nuuhiwa, Hawk … and there’s no winner announced, after the event everyone goes back to the Hilton, takes back a few beers, and talks about who caught the best waves – just like the old expression sessions four decades ago.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Vote for Absolutely Fabulous online

By now I'm sure just about most of you know of the store Absolutely Fabulous (at Springdale & Warner), but did you know they have been winning awards for how good their store is? They are up for another one and you can help them win it by voting for them on line...... and here is where you do that: http://bit.ly/oA00K0. The shop has so much cool stuff, really worth a visit.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Happy 4th of July Huntington Beach

Happy 4th of July Huntington Beach

I would suppose I don't need to tell you about what is going on for the 4th in our city now do I?
Our parade is only toted as the largest 4th parade west of the Mississippi. And of course there is so much else to do with the rest of the festivities down at Pier Plaza and the fireworks that night. Of course I'll be down there starting off bright and early with the residents 5k, then riding my (obnoxiously decorated) bike around, then the parade,,,etc etc.

If a back yard gathering is on the agenda, it is not too late to get a party platter of sandwiches done up by our very own Tommy Pastrami . Who can resist that pastrami!!! They have other stuff as well to make your party a yummy success.
Oh wait, you need beverages to go with that don't you? So, you know who you need to call? Mr. Keg's ! They have everything you need for spirits for the day, even if it is only a big ol' keg of beer. Contact info for both of them can be found HERE .
And finally, don't forget about Huntington Beach Propane to fill up the propane tanks for those BBQ's or outdoor heaters. These guys are the best. They come to you! And you don't pay extra for this service, in fact when I've seen tanks at the usual places it costs more and you have to haul it in yourself. No brainer to me. Find out more HERE .

Keeping this email brief this week. Been playing a lot of catch up,,,, last Sunday was the Pups N Pinot wine tasting I helped with, so now I'm getting back caught up with work projects. The event, by the way, was a huge success! Raised over $27,000 for A Leg Up Rescue. Photos will be posted with in a day or two, so check out www.pupsnpinot.com to see them.

Happy 4th of July everyone. Have fun, be safe!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Free Shuttle to Down Town Huntington Beach

Well it's back, this past Tuesday (the 14th) marked the first night of the 2011 season for the Surf City Downtown Shuttle! The Shuttle will operate on Tuesdays during Surf City Nights from 5:30pm -10:00 pm, providing free rides from the Huntington Beach Civic Center to downtown. And on Saturdays and Sundays, and Labor Day the Shuttle will operate from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Look for the
"Free Shuttle Parking" signs at the Main Street and Yorktown entrances to the Civic Center, take advantage of the free parking, and hop on board for a fun ride to the downtown! The Civic Center shuttle stop is adjacent to the Police Station and City Hall. For more information, visit www.surfcity-hb.org , or call (714) 536-5542.

Coming up next week is a Business and Growth Seminar on June 22 from 8-9am with Gorden Gates, President and CEO of H&R Block Business Servies. The address is 18377 Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach. RSVP is a must (limited seating) at 714-374-2218 or 714-964-7996. As President and CEO of H&R Block Business Services, Gorden Gates is responsible for overseeing the operations and business functions of this privately owned franchise in Huntington Beach, including strategy and planning, account management, finance, HR and new business. Gordon also has taken care of putting together the living trust for my mother, and although it has nothing to do with business growth, I can tell you the professionalism of Gordon and how at ease he made my mom feel makes me more than happy to refer him to others and recommend any seminar he puts on. Gordon usually charges $150 an hour to consult on small business topics, so don't miss this opportunity to take advantage of a free seminar!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Dwyer Middle School - WHAT ARE THEY THINKING!

Submitted by: Honorable John Briscoe, Trustee
John@Crestwave.org / www.JohnBriscoe.com

Trustee John Briscoe has been hard-at-it again! CHILDREN ARE AT RISK IN HUNTINGTON BEACH!

The Huntington Beach City School District has confessed its true, real, and actual locker room usage at Dwyer Middle School. In Period Two Physical Education the HBCSD is cramming 121 boys into one locker room in one period. The Huntington Beach Fire Department has calculated the legal room occupancy to be only 23 persons including the teacher.

YES! HBDSD is stuffing 121 boys into a room that legally holds only 21 persons ! ! !
SHAME ON THEM!

This is unsanitary, it is certainly not private, and it is NOT SAFE. 121 boys in a locker room meant for only 23 is ILLGEAL. Citizens and Taxpayers of Huntington Beach must rise up and demand better for our children.

Call the Superintendent Kessler at 714.964.8888 extension 2010 and share YOUR thoughts!

Shipley Nature Center Supports Environmental Education

The Friends of Shipley Nature Center is a non-profit group of volunteers who maintain and program the 18 acre Nature Preserve located in Huntington Beach Central Park. The education program is a major focus of the group and depends upon support from the public. Groups of all ages, grandparents and children are welcome to participate in the various education programs found in the Center building and on the trails. Volunteers have created engaging challenges to teach about the animals, birds, water features and plants. Volunteer docents provide information and may be scheduled to provide tours.

Watch for your water bill for an opportunity to help maintain and grow these programs. Donations are welcome at all times of the year but the June water bill is a reminder of how important is your support and membership. You may also log onto www.shipleynature.org, click “donate” and make your contribution in this manner.

The Center just completed a successful Spring Festival, which featured face painting, basket weaving, animal care and up close encounters with turtles, snakes and many other critters. Music was provided by the Islanders – a community ukulele group that created a joyful atmosphere. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Mayor Joe Carchio spoke in support of this grass roots effort.
The group was founded in 2002 with the following mission statement:
The Friends of Shipley Nature Center is a non-profit organization formed to manage the nature center as an ecological sanctuary for California native plants and wildlife and to provide environmental education in an urban setting in partnership with the City of Huntington Beach, the local community, and with the wider world.

Please contact the Center at info@shipleynature.org or phone (714) 842-4772 for further information, or to schedule an interview with Kathryn Goddard, President.

Friday, June 10, 2011

updates for Huntington Beach

With summer right around the corner are you finding that you are having unexpected guests come to town to take advantage of our perfect weather? Most who have guests come to town either have to put them up in their home or are expected to assist in finding lodging, right? Did you know you can make your hotel reservations for places all around here in one easy stop on TheLocalHB ?? Well just in case you didn't, you can make easy, safe & secure reservations through your favorite local site :-)
The direct link to my hotel reservation page is: http://bit.ly/mtin9Q - please check it out, save some money on hotel reservations, pass the word on to others! I appreciate it! You can even call and get a live person to help you out. You are not just another number like so many of the online reservation systems are! They are even local here in Southern CA.

Have you been paying attention to all the work that is going on with the construction of our new Costco? My friend, local HB photographer Steve Alfano, has been documenting the progress. If you'd like to keep up with what is going on, here are 3 of his links to the photos: part 1 - http://smu.gs/kEkLDS ; part 2 - http://smu.gs/iJrb4G and part 3: http://smu.gs/loEcwc . He definitely has some great shots, lets you see what is going on behind that construction fence!

You all have heard me talk about the Pups-N-Pinot wine tasting event coming up on June 26... the site with all the info is: www.pupnpinot.com. Well, this plea is for you to put on your thinking caps. Who do you know (maybe it is actually you) that would like to get some extra exposure by being part of this great event? We are looking for food & beverage suppliers. Any kind of restaurant or food store; beverages, esp wine, but any will do; places that sell edible goodies..... all those work. If someone wants to be a vendor and will pass out "tastes", there will be no vendor fee. You get a 10x10 spot. You need enough to supply about 500 people... a modest size event. You can't beat the deal as most places charge to be part of an event like this. We are also still looking for a plate sponsor. We have real cool take home plates we'd like to be able to hand out, but without a sponsor, we won't be able to do them. Go to the site on the sponsors page to see the mock up sample. And lastly, we are also looking for silent & live auction items. Anyone donating to the event will have the item described on our prize page with a logo linking back to their website. And, let me give a big shout out to a couple of our vendors/sponsors who are really stepping it up to help us out: PK Real Estate, Celebrations Mobile DJ, Albertsons (at Beach & Adams) and Love N' Bloom. Please consider helping out this event. It is such a great cause....and did I mention a super fun event? Besides the wine & food, we will have live music, wiener dog races and dog contests!! All for only $30 (tickets also available on site). Please pass on the word, and feel free to like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/pupnpinot . THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Don't forget to check out TheLocalHB.com calendar section for all that is going on locally around Huntington Beach and mark your calendar for next Tuesday, June 14 from 11am to 1:30pm, for the once a month networking lunch by RBN: Meet and Network with 100+ Businesses in Expo Format, sit down luncheon, 20 second commercials, gifts & more! Held at the SeaCliff Country Club, 6501 Palm Ave here in Huntington Beach. CLICK HERE To RSVP. It's a great location, food & lots of networking! For address & directions, click here .

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

stuff for Huntington Beach

The big deal coming up this weekend is the ribbon cutting of our new HB Mercado Certified Farmer's Market . Their first day was May 21, but this weekend they are being officially welcomed to the city, 10am on Saturday the 4th. This is a Healthy Surf City Marketplace located on the campus of Ocean View High School (Gothard & Warner parking lot) and will be open every Saturday from 9am to 1pm, rain or shine. Join family, friends and neighbors in this weekly celebration of community, health and wellness that features farm fresh produce, hot and prepared foods, local artisans, live music, community services and resources as well as activities for the whole family!

And don't forget this Thursday, June 2 from 5pm to 8pm is Orange County’s Major Business Expo with 130 Companies Exhibiting, 15 Great Restaurants with Complimentary Food, Over 1,400 attending AND LOTS OF NETWORKING! Held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Orange (100 The City Drive South). Admission is $20 at the door. Includes everything. Open to Everyone - No RSVP is required to attend. For more information and directions go to www.RBNinfo.com

And right around the corner is the Pups N Pinot Wine Tasting at the Newland House, June 26 from 2 to 6pm. This is a great deal at $30/person (in advance) for lots of libations and food goodies. All to benefit A Leg Up Rescue. Go to their site, www.pupsnpinot.com (I did the website for them by the way) and check out all the vendors who will be participating (the list is still growing) and the awesome live & silent auction items available. You can buy tickets on the site now, and please visit us and like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/pupsnpinot. Thanks for all the support.

And since some of you have asked, yes I build websites for people. And yes, they are very affordable. Here's one, check out www.bajasonora.com - Baja Sonora Mexican restaurant with two locations.... those locations may be in Long Beach, but they have some great food, and they cater a lot of events, so here in HB is certainly not too far for their catering to show up. Keep them in mind if the need arises.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Happy Memorial Day

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend. Don't forget to fly your American flag tomorrow for Memorial Day! If you don't have a flag, make sure to get one before 4th of July - Pageantry World here in Huntington Beach is the one to help you with that. See all they have to offer on their website: www.pageantry-world.com. Actually, flying the flag daily is their goal for everyone. When you check their site, you will see they also offer all kind so flags and banners! There are also a couple of Memorial Day celebrations here in HB, read about them on TheLocalHB calendar .

In this coming week, we have another RBN Business Expo - Thursday, June 2. 5pm-8pm at the DoubleTree in Orange (100 The City Drive South). $20 at the door to attend includes parking, food & lots of networking. Attending will be Chambers of Commerce, business owners, other networking groups & associations, employers and job seekers. No rsvp needed, just show up. More info: RBN EXPO . This is a great networking event, not to be missed.

A lot of you know I chose to go the child free route, but for those of you who do have kids, a friend of mine, Keith O'Neil has developed a system to help your kids build healthy self-esteem. Keith, who is a ph.D, has written a book of the subject, 7 Simple Strategies to Raising an S-Team® Kid . Coach Keith has created a complete system that parents are saying is easy, fun and it works! His website is www.S-TeamKidw.com, where you can get more info on his program. To quote Keith, "I wish I could give every kid in the world healthy self-esteem, but I can't. So I've done the next best thing, given parents the tools to do the job right". Pass the word on to parents you know - good self esteem beats bullying every time!

Enjoy the long weekend

Friday, May 06, 2011

More Mother's Day stuff for HB

As the Mother's Day idea requests continue, especially for affordable ones, I thought why not point out the other hot ticket this weekend: The Huntington Beach Host Lions Club’s Annual Pre-Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast, Saturday morning from 7am-11am at Lake Park . This all you can eat breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. A very affordable way to show your mom how much you care at just $5 per person! Children under age 7 eat for free…. This is a fun outdoor picnic style breakfast with all proceeds benefiting Lions Charities!

And while I've got you here, if you'd like yet another way to support our local HB Relay for Life, you can do something as simple as eat lunch or dinner at the Rocking Baja restaurant at Bella Terra. Next week, May 11 during their business hours of 11:30am-9:30pm, if you bring in this FLYER and enjoy some food and drink, they will donate 15% of the proceeds back to the Relay. A yummy way to help the fight against cancer. Folks on The HB Locals team will be having dinner together that night. They have some great food, the surf & turf taco combo is my favorite.

Once again, Happy Mother's Day to the moms, and have a great weekend!

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Happy Mother's Day Huntington Beach

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

There is a lot of stuff going on this coming weekend. Most of the hotels will do their usual Mother's Day brunch, and you know you can always count on Old World German Restaurant to put on a great all you can eat feast. Most of the weekend activities do fall on Saturday, and to check out the whole list, visit the calendar page: TheLocalHB Calendar . And when on TheLocalHB, check out some of the featured businesses for your mother's day gift ideas including Absolutely Fabulous, Baja Sonora, Mr. Kegs, Centerfield Bar & Grill, HB Playhouse and many more for gift certificates or gifts. All their contact info is on the site.

One of the highlights here in town this weekend is the annual Derby Day at the Equestrian Center , 18381 Goldenwest St. This Saturday, the 7th, from 2-6pm enjoy a day of family fun and BBQ. Only $12 at the door. There will will be hitch & riding demonstrations by the world famous Clydesdales, as well as all kinds of fun activities which you can check out on their website: www.trchb.org. There will also be a silent auction with some incredible items, some of which include: A ride for 2 in the LA Goodyear Blimp; A ride for 2 in a biplane; A condo stay in Palm Springs; A men's 10 speed mountain bike; Dinner certificates to favorite HB locations; Club 33 reservation and Disney Park admissions for 8; Angel Tickets w/ preferred parking; A round of golf or golf lessons at Meadowlark CC. Pretty cool huh?

By now I'm sure you know the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Li fe is this month? Yep, right around the corner. If you are not familiar with the event, and cancer has touched your life, then you might just want to check it out and come to it. May 21-22 at Central Park. A 24 hour event where teams have someone walking on the track at all times. All kinds of stuff is going on during the event and all for such a good cause. See what it is all about at: www.relayforlife.org/huntingtonbeachca. On the site you will find a link for the event schedule (on the left). If you'd like to become involved you can join as a participant. If it is not something you can get involved in, you can consider a donation, help out a fellow local. Here is my link: Donate HERE . Everything is so appreciated (I personally have already lost too many in my life to cancer!). Thank you!!

Lastly, looking for deals around town? Surf City Savings , the city's discount program, continues to grow. See all the participating vendors, www.SurfCitySavings.com , and save some money. Some of the new ones recently added on are Prince Yacht Charters, Volleyball Market, Gem Mortgage, Huntington Beach Playhouse and Seashore Pest Control. What a great way to save some money and keep our spending dollars local. If you know of a HB business who would like to participate, please have them contact me. I help the city out by running the site for them. And don't forget to like them on facebook: www.facebook.com/surfcitysavings.

And speaking of Facebook liking, please pay a visit the TheLocalHB page: www.facebook.com/localhb. Thank you much.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Happy Easter Huntington Beach

Great food and great wine is right around the corner. Yes, that would be the Taste of Huntington Beach coming up May 1 at the Sports Complex at the Central Library. Tickets are still available at http://www.tastehb.com/, so get yours today! I'm going with a gang of friends....are you? And don't forget the day before is the Family Fun Day at the same location, a day of fun for all ages.

With spring right around the corner, are you looking your best? You are just in time to get it done and get "pretty",,, that goes for you men too! One place you can head over to is The Upstairs Salon at Old World (7561 Center Ave #45). They can take care of your custom color, weaves, designer cuts, nails, eyelash perming, permanent hair removal, permanent make-up, brow & lash tinting, waxing, facials, chemical peels, hot oil & paraffin dips, spa pedicures. Whew, that's a lot. They truly are a full service salon!

And for the rest of your body, also on Center Ave (7801) is The Spa at the Image Center. They are a complete day & med spa offering extraordinary spa treatments, medical skin therapies and image enhancement options, whether it be cosmetic or dental. Both on Center, all that you need to look fabulous!!

Can you believe Easter is this weekend? What better way to start celebrating early than hit the 21st Annual Easter Hunt in Central Park, adjacent to the Central Park picnic area off Edwards Avenue and Central Park Drive. The event is co-sponsored by the Community Services Dept and the Huntington Beach Kiwanis club. There will be an Easter hunt, game booths, entertainment, exhibits, and refreshments. Festivities will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon, with the first "hunts" being for the kiddies under 2 going on up in intervals to the last with the 8 year olds. Tons of families come out for this event, it's a great way to start Easter celebrations early.

Like always, more details about the events can be found on TheLocalHB calendar
Happy Easter to all

Monday, April 11, 2011

Tastes and Fun in Huntington Beach

Everyone knows you can get your tickets now for the Taste of Huntington Beach right? May 1. It's an event you don't want to miss! Get your tickets on their site: www.tastehb.com . I've already got mine. Now, did you know there is a great event the day before?? The Kiwanis Family Fun Day - With a $5 admission and affordable games/activities, it's the best deal for family fun in Orange County! The event will be held at the Sports Complex beside Huntington Beach Central Library (near Gothard and Talbert Streets.) Designed for adults and children of all ages, this annual event offers family fun, food and entertainment! See www.hbkiwanis.org for full details! Both these events support great causes. Please come out and show them some support.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

www.SurfCitySavings.com just had two next businesses join: Prince Charters Yachts & Volleyball Market. check the site for their discounts

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

HB upcoming events

It is finally here, tomorrow night (March 23), the OC Largest Mixer at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. The event is from 5pm to 9pm and will feature thousands of attendees - mix and mingle with business professionals from in and around Orange County. Don't forget to bring your business cards! There will be over 250 exhibitor booths from a variety of industries. You can enjoy the tastes of 20 delicious eateries and food trucks. They will have "official networking lounges" to grab a drink and network with potential clients. Many fantastic giveaways as well. Make sure to drop your business card at admissions! All this for only $20 (plus fee for parking). www.largestmixer.com/ocmixer for more info.

And coming up next week is the RBN Regional Evening Business Networking Mixer right here in our own back yard at Endless Food & Fun, 7227 Edinger Ave. It will be next Tues, March 29, 5pm - 7:30pm. $15 to attend includes enjoying their buffet!! If you are a business and would like to display with a table, it is only $45 for the table. Come enjoy the endless food, endless refreshments, endless fun, endless networking. http://www.rbninfo.com/ for all the details.

Additionally, it is of not too early to get your tickets to one of the wonderful fundraising wine tasting events coming up this spring. May 1 is the Taste of Huntington Beach benefiting the HB Children's Library - http://www.tasteofhb.com/. and on June 26 is the Pups N Pinot Wine Tasting benefiting A Leg Up Rescue - http://www.pupsnpinot.com/. Check the websites for both these events for information and to buy tickets.

If you are a parent, at some point you may have considered having your child attend a faith based school as an alternative,,,, well, here in HB we have Coastline Christian School , 2721 Delaware St. (http://www.coastlinechristianschoolofhb.com/). Their philosophy is clear in their motto: " We provide a positive approach in building a child's self-esteem. We will encourage acceptable social behavior, being kind, and learning to work together for the well being of the class." They have a discount coupon on enrollment on http://www.surfcitysavings.com/ discount program. Check it out.

And speaking of Surf City Savings , if you haven't been to the site lately, some of the newest participants who have joined are:
Mr. Keg's - discount on your purchase
Liberty Tax - 30% off your tax preparation
Salon Cache - buy one service, get one free
Pacifica Orthopedics - 20% off remaining balance of non-insured portion of treatment
Troadec Photography - 1 hour photo session half price
Please see the site for the details of these and other offers. And remember to shop local.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

REALLY Go Green for St. Patricks Day with Eco-Friendly Activities

(This Article Posted by Ian Andrew on Greener Ideal)
Although it's the first thing that often comes to mind, St Patrick's day isn't all about drinking green beer. To make your St. Patrick's Day even greener than it already is, we've come up with a few eco-friendly activities that are best suited for environmentalists living a green lifestyle on St. Patrick's Day.

1. Eat Green - Bright Green Dishes
It may be the easiest way to brighten your day with the color green, but try to find some green foods to eat. Look beyond a traditional salad, and think outside the box. Mint leaves on top of a bowl of organic ice cream could be a great St. Patrick's Day treat for the kids (and be much healthier than a Shamrock Shake)!

2. Get outside and plant something green
It may not be quite warm enough to get the shovels in the ground yet, but it's starting to look and feel a lot like spring here. It might be a good time to take stock of what you plan to do in your yard this year, and if it's too cold to get outside, look at some greenery online and choose what plants and trees you want to invest in this year.

3. If you're going somewhere, use green transportation
This tip goes double-true if you're partaking in any green beer festivities, but if the weather allows it you should leave the car keys at home and join the St. Patty's Day parade on foot. A second-best alternative for green transportation on St. Patrick's Day is public transportation. Whether you're riding the subway or the bus, fewer drivers on the road means fewer carbon emissions.

4. Wear green clothes made with organic cotton
Although most people don their favourite shade of green clothes for St. Patrick's Day, be even greener and one up them with some organic cotton duds. Many retailers are now offering organic lines of clothing to appeal to their green customers, so don't be shy to ask if you find yourself at the mall tomorrow.

5. Drink Green Organic Beer
Lastly, because it can't be avoided on St. Patrick's Day, drink some green beer. While most people will throw some food colouring in their beverages (although avoid the artificial stuff), take it a step further and order something organic.

Local to Toronto, we have a great green brewery, Steam Whistle, who pride themselves on brewing with natural ingredients and taking part in other great green initiatives like packaging made from recycled materials and biodegradable cups for events.

If you're going to indulge in the green beer today, find a local brewery near you that sources natural ingredients, and make this year's St. Patrick's Day green beer extra green.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Please visit www.facebook.com/pupsnpinot and "like" us. we want to get the word out on our 6-26 wine tasting event.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Weekly Update for Huntington Beach Locals

Wow, can you believe we are almost to mid March!?! And don't forget what that means.....this weekend is daylight savings where you "spring ahead" and hour. Make sure to change those clocks!

There is plenty of fun stuff to do around town this weekend, but a couple of highlights:

Saturday is the Annual 3/1 Run at Beach Blvd at PCH, starting at 8:30am. The run will benefit the Huntington Beach 3/1 Marines Foundation. Before the race, there will be breakfast by the Huntington Beach Firefighters and the 3rd Battalion/1st Marines will run cadence from the starting line to Pier Plaza. Information and registration at: www.hb4marines. org

From 11am-5pm on both Saturday & Sunday near the pier you will find the Annual Kite Festival. Some of the best professional kite fliers in the country come to Huntington Beach to show their skills, not to mention their colorful stunt kites, for this annual family-friendly festival. Kite fliers are by invitation only, but beach goers will have a front row seat for this fabulous event. Kites will be available for purchase and the public is invited to fly their kits outside the roped-off kite arenas on the beach. Definitely makes for a fun day at the Beach. Read about the rest of the events on the calendar section of www.TheLocalHB.com .

Often this time of year means it is time for some home improvement. We pick away at doing improvements to our own home, and one such improvement that made all the difference in the world was putting in crown molding! At the same time we also did all our base & case and it all really spruced up the place. The finish carpenter we used was a fellow local here in HB. Nedelec Construction ( 714.848.9273 / cell: 949.293.1343). The owner, Dave Nedelec, has been in the business since 1978. Back in the day he worked for a custom home builder and gained a real appreciation of the finish work on custom homes. Dave has done everything from small remodels to new custom 12,000 square foot homes. His creative eye along with your custom detail is sure to beautify your home and make it uniquely yours. I can't recommend him enough. If you or anyone you know is in need of his services, you won't be disappointed!

And now for our periodic educational piece (for daily life when you need a little help). I'm referring to needing a little extra cash. And if you need it fast, one of t he simplest way to get a loan in minutes is to head over to Title Loans Orange County for a loan on your pink slip. Title Loans on cars are quick, easy and fast. The best part about these auto title loans? You get to keep your car to drive! Customers love the service at Title Loans Orange County for their speedy process and their unique no prepayment penalty policy. You can get car title loans today and pay it off next month for no extra fees. Title Loans OC is an expert at making title loans on cars. And unlike other title loans companies, they make on the spot cash loans so there is no waiting for a check in the mail.
So, how do Auto Title Loans work?
Your paid off car holds equity so when you need emergency funds you have the option to borrow against your car title for quick cash based on the Kelly Blue Book value. Whether you have good or bad credit, getting a title loan in Orange County is almost instant and you can get $2,500 to $20,000 the same day! After you borrow the amount you desire, you can make small easy payments to your principle and pay it off at any time!
How to get started a Car Title Loan?
1. Call Title Loans Orange County at (949) 566-8170 to see immediately how much you can borrow.
2. Gather your pink slip, current registration, insurance card, proof of employment and ID.
3. Bring the required items into 15182 Goldenwest Street Suite 101, Westminster, CA 92683 and tell the loan specialist, "I'm here for my Title Loan!" There, you will find a fast, private and friendly staff fully equipped to handle your loan needs. With excellent customer reviews, and low interest rates, it has never been this simple to get a Title Loan in Orange County. For more information visit or call today and mention TheLocalHB for a free car appraisal. Tile Loans Orange County proudly serves all residents of Orange County!

Now get out there and enjoy the sun!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

upcoming events for Huntington Beach

Pull out those calendars to mark off a couple of dates. These are for events coming soon (but certainly farther out than this weekend!)

First up. Taste of Huntington Beach ,www.TasteOfHB.com. This event is May 1 at the Sports Complex at Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave. But did you know tickets are available now? And if you buy your tickets before end of this month, you get a savings. Yes that is correct. Right now, it is only $50 for this GREAT event. I've been to a lot of "Taste of (insert city here)"... over the years, and really, nothing compares to our very own. Go to the site and buy your tickets now!

Next up for your calendar. March 23, 5pm-9pm, you definitely want to head down to Costa Mesa for Orange County's Largest Mixer VIII . It is your chance to join Orange County Chambers of Commerce and business organizations for this HUGE event at the OC Fair & Event Center (88 Fair Dr. Costa Mesa). You will be able to mix & mingle with over 3,000 business people and check out over 300 exhibitor tables representing hundreds of industries and companies in and around OC. This is your chance to reach both small and large companies, meet new clients and learn how the different chambers and organizations can make your business grow. It is only $20 to attend (sorry no credit cards) and you can find all the info about the event (including vendor info) at www.ocmixer.com or call 949-338-8338.

Now, back to tastings.... on June 26, 2pm-6pm, at the Newland Barn (Beach & Adams), you can get your fill at the Pups N Pinot Wine (& food) Tasting . This one is to raise money for A Leg Up Dog Rescue. Not a huge tasting event like Taste of HB, but a smaller one (about 500 folks) and we include man's best friend (leashed dogs welcome). But although it may be a smaller event, believe me, last year I left VERY full of wine & yummies. There will be live entertainment, dog costume contest, wine & food vendors, silent & live auction & more. Because this is a newer event, they are actively looking for vendors. If you or someone you know has or has access to wine or food, we'd love to know about it (I'm on the planning committee this year so you can contact me). Wine or food vendors can simply donate and volunteers will pour/serve or better yet, donors, come out and pour/serve yourself to get the best representation of your business. Folks who donate will be represented on the website, www.pupsnpinot.com, as well as at the event. This event is only $30 to attend. Please check out the website!

Finally, with all this walking at events such as these, you could end up with some sore feet.... The best way to keep this from happening is to be prepared with some good footwear. A little bit north of us, you will find Foot Solutions , 1811 Ximeno Ave in Long Beach (only about 15 from here). Even though they are not located in HB, I can talk about them because we really don't have anything like this in town. It's too bad their store isn't here!! Anyhow, they are a foot health center offering shoes, inserts and other foot care products. They have shoes specially made to help your feet whether it is for work, dress or play. Check them out at www.footsolutions.com/longbeach or call to talk to Karen: 562-961-3200. And to learn even more about them, you can check out this press release: Click to View - It is filled with great info about them.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

another donation just got made to the HB Relay for Life - $2500. We're doing great. check it out at: www.relayforlifehb.com

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

We are all aware Valentine's is right around the corner....still looking for something for that special someone?
Heres a few local ideas: Mr. Kegs at 6914 Warner Ave can supply you with that perfect gift basket, or you can pick up that special bottle of wine from their large selection!

Right across the street is Absolutely Fabulous , 6024 Warner, where you will find SO many gift ideas. And by the way, this Saturday evening they are having a special reception highlighting Randy Cooper Shadow Art - amazing stuff. check out their site, http://www.absolutelyfabulous1.com/ for info .

Ladies, do you want to get all pretty for Valentines? Depending on what end of town you are, we've got Salon Ambiance at 5075 Warner, or the Upstairs Salon at 7561 Center Ave, #45. Both full service salons. Also off of Center you can find the Image Spa , 7081 Center Ave, for more intense make-overs - a full service day spa, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry & more! For the ladies whose men love their cars, why not give them a gift certificate to Francisco's Automotive (7662 Slater Ave) for some auto care - oil change, air conditioning service, etc.

By the way, you can find the detailed info for these local merchants as well as many others in the business listings on TheLocalHB.com . You can also find all kinds of deals on the site for the Surf City Savings Discount Program - check it out and save some money!!

Speaking of deals, here is one to check out - Pizzarito in Bella Terra, for a limited time, is offering an outrageous happy hour: from 3-6pm Monday through Friday, buy one slice and receive one slice free of equal value or less. How can you beat that?! They are the place to go for authentic New York Pizza by the slice (you can also get whole pizzas, and they deliver! They've been to my house numerous times).

Lastly, here is a a request to support a hometown friend to find his way to the North Pole. Some of you may already know Mark Chapman, through the HB Chamber of Commerce, or from his photography, or as co-host of the Miss HB Pageant, or from is involvement in leading the way for the Centennial Scavenger Hunt here in town. Well, here's the deal: Mark is trying hard to win a trip to the North Pole and in order to do this he needs another 1,500 to 2,000 votes to be among the top five contestants who will then be judged
on an essay he wrote explaining why he should be the official blogger of this trip. How exciting would that be?
This is truly a once in a lifetime experience and it would be great to have a local plant a flag at the top of the world!
Can you help him out? (I already have), Here's all you have to do:
1. Select the following link:

2. Under Mark's picture select Register
3. You can use your Facebook login or register a new login.
4. Follow the links to vote for Mark
5. Forward this e-mail to 10 friends and ask them to vote for Mark
How easy is that? He needs the votes by February 15th. So time is critical. If we can send Mark to the North Pole, he promises to bring us back snow! :-)
A very happy Valentine's Day to all......

Monday, January 31, 2011

Business Networking and Superbowl Fun in Huntington Beach

Tomorrow (Feb 1) is the night for the big RBN (Relationship Building Network) Expo and you don't want to miss it. It is their first big 2011 Kick-Off Business Expo of the year. To remind you once again, there will be 130 companies exhibiting, 17 great restaurants with complimentary food, and over 1400 attending for you to network with. 5:00pm - 8:00 pm at the Double Tree Hotel in Orange - 100 The City Drive South (at The Block of Orange). It is only $20 at the door which includes parking, food and lots of networking. It is open to everyone - no rsvp required. For more info visit: www.RBNinfo.com

Have you made your plans for Superbowl yet?? Here's a couple of good choices: Centerfield Sports Bar & Grill, 17296 Beach Blvd, always has a big sports "to-do" going on with over 45 TV's and plasma screens. You can just show up early to grab a seat, or make a reservation, ph: 714-848-0113, for $25 per person which includes a gift bags (a t-shirt included), choice of food item (have to ask them what they are) and 2 drinks a person.


There is also a Superbowl party going on at the Old World Bar , 7561 Center Ave. #49. A big screen & lots of TV's in the lounge and big screens on the patio. Appetizer menu, full cocktail bar, and of course a large beer selection. Bring the whole family! If you are bold, don't forget you can head to down town HB for the big Surf City USA Marathon. They are expecting record crowds! You can find info about the event on TheLocalHB calendar.

Pawn Shop Huntington Beach: Best place in OC to borrow instant cash on gold & jewelry items

Here is some more good info from one of our local HB businesses:
Do you need a fast and easy short-term cash loan? If you have no time to waste or have bad credit or even no credit, a pawn shop can be your best friend. They can loan you instant cash money using your personal items as collateral for the loan. A Pawnshop is run by a pawnbroker who will make loans using your personal property as collateral for the loan. And in California, all pawn shops are state regulated so the interest rates they charge are all set by the state of California. Most pawnbrokers will loan up to 65% of the actual cash value of the item. How do pawn shops work? For instant, to borrow money on a diamond ring that has a cash value of $5,000, you could borrow up to $3,000 in less than 15 minutes with no credit check and no approval. It’s fast, easy, and confidential.

So if you need cash, borrow instant cash on gold, jewelry, diamonds, silver, gold coins, art, Rolex watches, watches, chains, rings, estate jewelry, or anything of value and bring them down to your local pawn shop for a quick cash loan. There are several pawn shops stores or pawn shop locations in Orange County but only two in Huntington Beach. We recommend Pawn Shop Huntington Beach because they specialize in jewelry loans, or making loans on jewelry items so they are not your typical pawnshop with black and white TV’s hanging on the dusty shelf. There, you will find a friendly staff that will handle your transaction in a private and timely manner. You can find Pawn Shop Huntington Beach at 15182 Goldnwest Street Suite 102, Huntington Beach, CA 92683. Call them at 714-465-4950 or visit them at http://www.pawnshophuntingtonbeach.com/. Mention TheLocalHB for a free appraisal. They make loans on gold and jewelry from $2,000 up to $100,000 in minutes.

They gladly serve all residents of Orange County including Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Long Beach, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, Tustin, and Mission Viejo.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Get discounts (half price) for events from Goldstar!

Check out this site for Goldstar. They have half-price tickets and member reviews of concerts, sports, theater and more.
I'm already a member! It's free: https://www.goldstar.com/join?p=F715706RB

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Need a good Huntington Beach Orthopedic?

if you do, one place you can get real good care at is: Pacifica Orthopedics located at 18800 Delaware ST. Ste 1150 (their number: 714-841-5333)
Pacifica Orthopedics offers unique and comprehensive medical care specializing in general orthopedics, spine, hand & foot surgery, arthroscopy, chiropractic, neurology, physical therapy, psychology, pain management, rehabilitation medicine, and sports medicine.

Their digital imaging includes Ultrasound machine, Fluoroscopy, and Extremity MRI. All onsite. Doctors can see and explain results to you immediately, saving time and money. With on-site digital imaging there is no need to send you away for X-rays, only to have you bring back films. Digital X-ray, with instantaneous results provide a huge benefit for you and the doctor. Keep them in mind next time a need arrises!

Monday, January 24, 2011

another reminder that this Friday night, the 28th, is the kick off party for the Relay for Life (which is in May). 6-9pm is the time. Endless Food & Fun is the location. Endless is located at 7227 Edinger between GW College & Gothard. Come check out what the Relay is all about and feel free to come early and enjoy the very reasonably priced buffet. Or bring the kids and let them enjoy the arcade & laser tag.
Info on the Relay can be found at www.relayforlife.org/huntingtonbeachca

Networking Event next week

Are you in to networking for your business?? Most of us are, so you want to make sure your calendar is marked for February 1, 5pm-8pm, for the RBN Major 2011 Kick-Off Business Expo . There will be 130 businesses exhibiting, 20 great restaurants with complimentary food and over 1,400 attending to network with. The Expo will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Orange, 100 The City Drive (at the Block of Orange). The cost is $20 at the door, no rsvp necessary. Free parking. The event is open to everyone, so take advantage of this great opportunity. More info about RBN: www.rbninfo.com.

Friday, January 21, 2011

How and where to Sell Gold and Jewelry in Huntington Beach, Orange County, California

Looking for the best place to sell gold in Orange County?
While there might be a few options, your best bet is to call the premier gold buyers at Cash for Gold Huntington Beach. They buy anything that is real gold or silver and pay you cash on the spot. They even do free no-obligation appraisals. Visit them on the web at http://www.cashforgoldorangecounty.com/.
If you haven't been living under a rock this past year, you have probably heard of “cash for gold” gold buyers, seen a sell gold jewelry ad on TV, thought about selling your unwanted gold, or had someone you know throw a “gold party”. It’s only natural to be curious about what is really going on with gold in this economic climate, and whether or not you’re sitting on a potential gold mine.

With gold at an all time high it is one of the best “band wagons” to be on. Here are some facts about how and where to sell gold jewelry in Orange County:

1. Sell locally. There are numerous cash for gold locations in Huntington Beach and all over Orange County. Gather up anything gold, (even jewelry you might question) jewelry, rings, broken chains, dental gold, silver, platinum, gold bars, and old coins with an 1964 or older date. Remember, just because you bring it in doesn't mean you have to sell it, there isn’t any harm of seeing how much something is worth. Separate the items you gather into different piles or bags, for example have a bag for 14 karat, 18 karat or sterling silver. Find a local jewelry buyer (I like to support the local economy). I really like Cash for Gold Orange County, located at 15182 Goldenwest Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92683 at 714-901-8000 Visit them at www.cashforgoldorangecounty.com. A number of cas4gold locations also are pawn shops, so if you don’t want to sell gold, you can always loan your gold for any period of time. Once you get there, ask a lot of questions about selling silver and selling gold, negotiate a reasonable price, and get cash right away. Even a free gold appraisal.
2. You can sell it privately. With this option you can have a garage sale, post an ad on craigslist, or take your gold or silver to a swap meet. If you choose to sell gold on your own please be careful and know that you will have to haggle and negotiate with individuals while at the same time advertise and respond to potential buyers. Be careful if you choose this option.
3. Send in your gold by mail. This method is also more risky and not recommended when there is a reputable local buyer like Cash for Gold in Huntington Beach. If you do send in your gold to a place like Cash4Gold, there is no guarantee you will get the maximum cash value of current gold prices. Once you send off your gold, it’s gone and the company pays you what they pay you. There are typically no negotiations, and you then have to wait for a check in the mail. This is not the best option for most people.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

a couple of announcements

This week we have a couple of public service announcements for you.
First, the Miss Huntington Beach Scholarship Pageant is just around the corner and they are still looking for applicants from girls wishing to change their lives forever. It is for girls between 17-24 years-of-age, who either work or live in Huntington Beach. They can apply now at www.misshb.org . Applications must be turned in by January 25 by 7pm, inside the Old World Village Festival Hall, 7561 Center Ave. or via the website. Interested contestants can also call the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce: 714.536.8888. The contest for the crown is February 19th and will be held at the Historic Huntington Beach High School Auditorium. The new Miss Huntington Beach and her court receive scholarship money and annually the Queen competes in June for the title of Miss California. Please pass this info on to any gal who might be interested.

The Pageant is also sponsoring a Little Princess section in this year’s Pageant. The Lil’ Princess program is open to ages 5-12 and includes a crown, sash and a dance on the stage. The program participants will share in a tea party with Miss Huntington Beach herself. Additional questions can be answered by Pam Alagata, executive director, at 714. 654.9219.

Another announcement: Coming up on January 28, 6pm-9pm, will be the Kick Off Party for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life that is held here in Huntington Beach. Learn what the Relay is all about. Speakers, light appetizers, raffles, silent auction, fun! This event is to "kick-off" our Relay season and our fundraising efforts to help find a cure for cancer. www.relayforlife.org/huntingtonbeachca has more info. The kick off will be held at Endless Food and Fun on 7227 Edinger Ave. Here's an idea, plan to arrive early and enjoy dinner at their endless buffet - only $9.99. While you attend the kick off, you can let your kiddies (if you brought them) enjoy all the arcade games or lazer tag. I'm sure it would cost less than leaving them at home with a babysitter!! Keep up to date on the Relay at www.relayforlife.org/huntingtonbeachca .

And speaking of the Relay Kick Off, if you'd like to get your business a little extra recognition and do something good for this cause, please consider donating something for our raffle or silent auction. Every bit we raise that night goes toward our HB Relay. You will get recognition for your donation in our program and it would sure help us out. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like donate something. I thank you in advance for considering helping.

Don't forget tonight is the opening night of the Wednesday specials at the Huntington Beach Playhouse . The schedule of the shows can be found on their site (as well as my calendar section). www.hbph.com. I'll be there tonight for the first show! Maybe see you there.....

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Happy New Year Huntington Beach locals!

Happy New Year Huntington Beach locals. Here's to wishing you the very best for 2011. Hopefully it will be a great year for all of us.

So, let me ask you this, are you ready to break the New Year's resolution yet? I mean the one on cutting back food intake! Well, here is your chance. Tommy Pastrami is holding a pastrami eating contest! Here is the excerpt from their press release:

Tommy Pastrami New York Delicatessen is excited to announce the first promotion of its kind; a "Pastrami Eating" Competition.
The eight, fastest contestants at each store will "face-off" with one another on National Pastrami Day, January 14, 2011.
The top two finalist of each store will receive a Tommy Pastrami gift certificate; (Second Place $25.00 and First Place $50.00) and move forward to compete in the Tommy Pastrami Tri County Pastrami Competition. The event will be held in Huntington Beach, at Tommy Pastrami New York Delicatessen (18001 Beach Blvd) on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 1 pm.
The twelve final contestants will compete to devour Tommy Pastrami New York Delicatessen's "Biggest Pastrami Sandwich" within thirty minutes. The person who eats the entire sandwich in the fastest time period will receive $500.00 and the bragging rights for the entire 2011 year.
Come out and help us celebrate. We invite everyone to attend The First Official Tommy Pastrami New York Delicatessen "Pastrami Wars."
Are you up to the challenge? Contact your local store for the details.

How yummy is that? And tummy filling too! Call our local location for more info: (714) 848-4567.


Have you ever been to the Huntington Beach Playhouse for one of their many wonderful shows? Make sure to make 2011 be the year you get over to Central Library (7111 Talbert Ave) to see a show. For those of you who are regulars, did you know about their new Wednesday night specials? Check out their site, www.hbph.com , for the schedule. They have some great shows coming up, starting next week, including the Shenanigans comedy sketches & skits, Corporate Recess Players Improv, Meledramadness, and more. Dates and times are on their website, plus all the info about the rest of the plays coming up this season.
Again, all the best for a successful New Year