🌱 2,000 HB Marathon Runners + Hans Imports Celebrates 50 Years

Happy Tuesday, Huntington Beach, and happy National Kite Flying Day! Here's everything you need to know to start today off on an informed note, shall we?

The 26th Surf City USA Marathon had a good showing. Also, which business is celebrating its 50th anniversary? Finally, HB native Katie Lou Samuelson is now a Los Angeles Sparks player.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and warm. High: 75 Low: 54.

Here are the top five stories in Huntington Beach today:

1. How many participants ran in the Surf City USA Marathon? Estimates suggest that 2,000 runners geared up for the event’s 26th recurrence. The usual number of participants is 2,500. “Robert Mohr of New York won the men’s race with a time of 2:32:52.90.” “Heather LeFriec, a physical education teacher from Spokane” met her goal of running “50 marathons by her 50th birthday.” “Dorothy Strand, an 82-year-old retired nurse from Orange” ran the half-marathon and is the “only runner to finish a race in all 25 previous editions of the Surf City USA Marathon.” Overall, in all races, there were “More than 11,000 runners from 47 states and 14 countries.” (CBS, surfcityusa)
2. Hans Imports at 7552 Talbert will celebrate five decades in business this year. “Hans Imports continues to service VWs along with other imported and American vehicles.” Throughout these years, the business was family-owned and operated. (HB News)
3. HB native Katie Lou Samuelson is now a Los Angeles Sparks player. The franchise announced on Thursday that “she brings defensive versatility and length” to the game. Her stats during the last season as a Seattle Storm player averaged “7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game, while shooting 35.1% on 3-pointers.” (@LASparksPR)
4. A 32-year-old Pacoima resident was shot Saturday in Santa Ana. It happened “in the area of 300 W. 3rd Street just after 11:50 p.m.” Authorities ask that you contact SAPD Homicide Section Detectives at (714) 245-8390 with any information. (CBS)
5. Where are you watching the Super Bowl this Sunday? If you don’t have a friend’s house lined up, or are hosting a party yourself, there are several venues that are offering “timeout-worthy snacks and thirst-quenching beverages.” Among others, they are Killarney’s Irish Pub, the Biergarten at Old World HB, Dos Amigos Cantina, and Four Sons Brewing. (Surf City USA)

Today in Huntington Beach:

• Basic Machine Guide Class w/Suzi at Moore's Sewing & Vacuum (10 AM)
• Book Writing & Publishing Masterclass (online) (4 PM)
• Valentine's Movie Series at the Biergarten (5:30 PM)
• Comedy Night at Gallagher's Pub (7:30 PM)
• Pub Quiz at 2nd Floor – Huntington Beach (8 PM)

From my notebook:

• Remember that the County of Orange has closed a pedestrian bridge spanning across Talbert Channel to prepare for a steel sheet pile operation. The closure began January 31, 2022, and will remain closed until late 2023. (Instagram)
• A Huntington Harbour neighbor is looking for moving boxes. (Nextdoor)
• A Sowers Park neighbor wants to connect with neighbors who have a La Cuesta home or something similar, and who have replaced their original staircase or even just the railings/banister. (Nextdoor)
• Our Hopeview Track neighbor is looking for an architect to do a small project. (Nextdoor)

Loving the Huntington Beach Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at huntingtonbeach-ca@patch.com

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you soon.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.