🌱 Interim Housing On Beach Blvd + 5 Points Plaza Artisan Fair

Hey, Huntington Beach! Let's get you all caught up to start this Thursday, December 16 off on an informed note. These are the most important things happening today in town.

The Quality Inn on Beach Boulevard will become interim housing. Also, the Timeless Treasures Boutique announces its last holiday fair. Finally, city officials are finalizing a plan to deal with the trash.

Also, the cheapest gas you can buy is at Costco, 7562 Center Avenue, for $4.09 a gallon.

First, today's weather:

An afternoon shower in spots. High: 56 Low: 47.

Here are the top stories in Huntington Beach today:

1. The HB Oasis, which does business as the Quality Inn at 17251 Beach Boulevard, will become part of the Homekey Program. A supplemental agenda item staff report from Tuesday identifies the property as being slated to become “interim housing for a period of up to five years to serve chronically homeless and homeless individuals.” After that time, the property will turn into permanent supportive housing “for extremely low-income persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.” (Voice of OC)
2. Timeless Treasures Boutiques is the 5 Points Plaza go-to location for upcycled products, holiday decorations, jewelry, soaps, and fresh-baked goodies. However, operators warn that they will host their final artisan fair (with about 120 local vendors) for the year from Thursday to next Wednesday. Hours of operation will be 10 AM to 8 PM. (HB News)
3. The sanitation worker strike is in its second week. On Wednesday, city officials declared a local emergency. This declaration enables the City Manager and Fire Chief to implement temporary measures by this weekend. At this time, officials are finalizing their mitigation response plan. (Surf City Break)
4. On Tuesday, Teamsters Local 396 members were holding the line in front of Republic Service. On that day, both parties were planning to resume talks. Even so, there is no timeline in place to end the strike. The contract coordinator of the union explained that they “understand that it’s a hardship on everybody. And so we just ask for everybody’s understanding that everybody has to make a fair living and a fair wage.” The company released a statement noting that it is “committed to bargaining in good faith to resolve this work stoppage and reach a fair deal for all.” (@Local_396, OC Register)
5. On Sunday, a 51-year-old Garden Grove man entered an undisclosed HB liquor store and quarreled with the 71-year-old clerk. He then made “disparaging remarks about the clerk’s nationality before allegedly punching him in the face.” On Tuesday, the alleged aggressor was charged with “one felony count each of inflicting injury on an older adult, violation of civil rights causing violent injury and a hate crime enhancement.” (KTLA)

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Today in Huntington Beach:

• Timeless Treasures Boutiques Pop-Up Event in 5 Points Plaza (10 AM)
• Huntington Beach Historical Downtown Walking Tour at the Visit Huntington Beach Welcome Center (3 PM)
• Beachwood Brewing presents Francis Co. (5 PM)
• Old Crow Smokehouse Karaoke Thursday (8 PM)
• Omnom at The Circle OC (9 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Huntington Beach Public Library hosts a NASA Webb Telescope STEAM Fun Day on Saturday, December 18, from 1-3 pm. (Facebook)
• A neighbor in the Sher to Bella Terra area is looking for a local electrician. Do you have recommendations? (Nextdoor)
• Our Glenmar West neighbor wants to know how you feel about folks using traffic cones on the street every day to save spots for themselves. (Nextdoor)
• A South of Hamilton neighbor needs help with vet bills for their Siberian Husky puppy. They started a GoFundMe Campaign for her. (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

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. 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.