🌱Vaccine Mandate Protestors On Main Street + HB City Hall Closes

Happy Wednesday, Huntington Beach, and happy National Whipped Cream Day! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

Protestors are speaking out against vaccine mandates. Also, City Hall is following Newport Beach’s lead and closes temporarily. Finally, Sunset and Surfside beaches are open again!

First, today's weather:

Sunshine and patchy clouds. High: 63 Low: 47.

Here are the top five stories in Huntington Beach today:

1. Protestors assembled across the street from 101 Main Street on Monday afternoon. They spoke out against a “potential new stateside vaccine mandate.” HB residents were concerned that this could be happening as state legislators head back into session for the New Year. (@CorbinCarson)

2. The city announced Tuesday that it will temporarily close City Hall. This move came in response to “the substantial increase of COVID-19 cases in HB and the county.” As a result, passport services will be temporarily unavailable, and in-person permit applications are closed. Also, you cannot make in-person payments at this time. The PD will close its “front lobby and stations to the public.” (@CityofHBPIO)

3. Sunset and Surfside beaches are open again. The city announced Monday that water quality testing came back safe. Closures in Long Beach are still in effect. (@CityofHBPIO)

4. Assembly Member Janet Nguyen, who represents the 72nd District, has been named one of Orange County’s top influencers. She received the nomination because of “her success in representing the 72nd Assembly District and her instrumental work in helping thousands of constituents cut through the state’s red tape to resolve their issues with the Employment Development Department (EDD) system.” The OC Register makes this annual determination by selecting people “who quietly did things that made the lives of Orange County residents better, safer or more enjoyable.” (OC Breeze)

5. The Orange County Department of Education is looking for its own nominees. It wants to hand out the OCMAA awards to “local leaders who’ve gone above and beyond to provide excellence for students while promoting the growth of arts education across the county.” If you know someone who fits this description, you have until March 25 to submit your nomination. (OCDE)

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Today in Huntington Beach:

• Happy Hour at Off The Wall Social (4 PM to 7 PM)

• Podcasting 101 - Four-Week Intro To Podcasting Course at the Amazing Comedy Theater (6 PM)

• The Biergarten kicks off its 2022 Live Music Series (7 PM)

• Green Cheek Beer CO. presents Drink While Laughing (A Comedy Show!) (7 PM)

• BOTI Studios offers a Crystal Gridding Class (7 PM)

From my notebook:

• Huntington Beach is seeking to hire responsible men and women to provide first-line lifeguard protection. Ocean Lifeguards primarily perform ocean rescues, perform preventative actions and provide medical aid as needed. (Instagram)

• Our HB College View Park neighbor is wondering if anyone would like to exchange their ruby red grapefruits with another fruit? They would love to have some oranges, etc. (Nextdoor)

• A Westmont neighbor needs recommendations for someone who can repair or replace a dishwasher. (Nextdoor)

• A Cal Classics/ Prestige neighbor is looking for a couch for their elderly mother. They'd prefer vinyl or a washable type fabric. (Nextdoor)

• An eagle-eyed Pacific Sands neighbor found a passport for Patrick Skinner. It was in the middle of the street near the corner of Kingfisher and Catamaran in Pacific Sands. (Nextdoor)

• A kind Huntington Shorecliffs neighbor has kittens available for adoption. (Nextdoor)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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.

This article originally appeared on the Huntington Beach Patch