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

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

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/.

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.

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!

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!

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

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/

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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 .

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.

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

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!

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.