🌱 Recall Efforts Failed + HB Is One Of The Healthiest Cities!

Welcome back, Huntington Beach; today is National Empanada Day! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on in town today.

Duplicate signatures and those from ineligible individuals harmed the recall effort. Also, the City is one of the healthiest in the nation. Finally, the County had its biggest drug bust in 16 years!

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and very warm. High: 88 Low: 60.

Here are the top five stories in Huntington Beach today:

1. The Planning Commissioner announced Thursday that the “Huntington Beach recall against three current council members did not meet the threshold to move forward.” It will cost the City $143,707.80. In particular, the petition for Dan Kalmick received 14,015 signatures, the one for Mike Posey got 13,943, and the one for Kim Carr had 14,273. Duplicate signatures and signatories not registered to vote drew down the counts. (Oscar Rodriguez, The OCR/paywall)
2. Out of 182 cities ranked from healthiest to least healthy, HB came in at number 16. It ranked highest in green spaces and food. Among California cities, HB came in 4th place, being eclipsed only by San Francisco, San Diego, and Irvine. (Wallethub, Patch)
3. The Buena Park PD took “821 pounds of methamphetamine, 189.7 pounds of cocaine, and 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills” off the streets during a March 17 traffic stop. OC County authorities call this “the largest drug bust in the past 16 years.” On a more somber note, we learned on Wednesday that “the amount of the opioid that was seized could kill 4.7 million people, based on death resulting from a 2-milligram dose.” (ABC)
4. You might want to go to a different park on Friday morning. The “OC Mosquito and Vector Control District will be conducting targeted mosquito control efforts” at Harriett Wieder between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. A truck will apply Vectobac WDG. (@CityofHBPIO)
5. Have you eaten at the Rol Hand Roll Bar on Warner? If so, you are familiar with the visionaries of Kei Concepts that turned a struggling eatery around with a complete rebranding. Insiders consider Kei Concepts the OC’s “hottest restaurant group” that is a “cross-cultural strip mall sensation.” (L.A. Eater)

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Today in Huntington Beach:

• Bilingual English/Spanish Storytime & Playtime at the Oak View Branch Library (10 AM)
• Rock-N-Roll Storytime at the Huntington Beach Public Library (11 AM)
• The Shape Of Water at The Center at Founders Village (1 PM)
• Happy Hour at Pelican Isle Restaurant and Bar (3 PM to 6 PM)
• Friday Night Standup at The Amazing Comedy Theater (8 PM)

From my notebook:

• Have you signed up for the Wise Owl Tween Book Club for April yet? This month, there's an exciting author visit with Eden Royce planned to discuss her book ROOT MAGIC with all the middle grade readers! (Facebook)
• Ready for the upcoming Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce Gala!? Date and Location: April 29 @ The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel. (Facebook)
• Our Beachwalk neighbor is wondering if anyone knows of someone who does powder coating? They need outdoor furniture refinished. (Nextdoor)
• Hopeview Track neighbors are planning a star party Saturday at the Ralph Bauer Park, located at the corner of Newland and Lomond in HB. Weather looks good, so they will be setting up at sunset, 7pm. Bring a scope if you have one. (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— 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.