Hyatt opens gallery of local artists

More than 400 attended the grand opening of the art gallery at the

Hyatt Huntington Beach Resort & Spa Saturday.

Five artists were featured at the event, including Surf City

resident Corrine Hartley who unveiled her latest bronze sculpture of

children surfing.

With its marble floors, miniature palm trees and blend of

different dark woods, the gallery has a tropical decor, fitting to

its seaside location.

“I feel like I’m on vacation when I come to work,” said Antonia

Felix, the gallery’s director. “It’s very intricately designed. It’s

beautiful.”

Opened within the resort’s exclusive on-site retail plaza, the

gallery holds about 200 pieces of art, with a focus on the work of

local artists.

A seaside painting by Toreen West, another local artist, was also

unveiled. West’s work ranges from human and animal portraits to

landscapes and still lifes.

Artwork at the gallery includes original paintings, photography

and limited edition artwork. Custom framing is also offered.

“We put an emphasis on the local artists and the local scenes,”

Felix said.

Paintings of local scenes include pictures of nearby lifeguard

towers and Surf City’s farmer’s market.

The gallery opened to the public on March 9.

“We’ve had a lot of locals coming through,” Felix said. “It’s nice

to know that the local communities are coming through and checking it

out. People are still coming who haven’t even been to the hotel yet.”

The gallery is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and

Saturday.

Committee to recommend sale of Ocean View land

An advisory committee will recommend that the Ocean View School

District sell its property on the Bolsa Chica Mesa.

The school district began studying the possibility of declaring

the 15-acre plot, which has sat unused for nearly 40 years, as

surplus after state officials in February asked if they would

consider selling the land.

Ocean View’s property sits on the lower mesa, in the middle of 240

acres owned by Signal Landmark. It is east of Pacific Coast Highway

and south of Los Patos Avenue.

Wildlife Conservation Board representative Randy Nelson proposed

that the state buy the land with Proposition 50 funds.

Proposition 50, the Water Security, Clean Drinking Water and

Coastal and Beach Protection Act, includes a commitment by the state

to restore, purchase and protect wetlands areas. A portion of

Proposition 50 funds are earmarked to buy land in the Bolsa Chica.

After months of discussion, the committee decided at its meeting

last week to recommend to the school board on May 6 that the 15 acres

be declared surplus and sold at “fair market value.”

The board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the district

headquarters, 17200 Pinehurst Lane, off Springdale Avenue.

Servicemen and women invited to lead parade

Surf City’s military servicemen and women who served in the war in

Iraq have been invited to lead the 99th annual Fourth of July parade.

Huntington Beach boasts the largest Fourth of July parade west of

the Mississippi River.

“The board has been talking about what we can do to show

patriotism,” said Pat Stier, chair the city’s Fourth of July

Commission, adding that she doesn’t know yet what kind of response

the decision will have.

Stier compared it to last year’s parade, which featured 342

firefighters, one for every firefighter who died in New York on Sept.

11.

“It was so moving,” she said. “Everybody stood up and just

applauded. It was so nice.”

The board is also considering honoring the armed forces as this

year’s Military Grand Marshall. Every year, the parade has a Military

Grand Marshall, a Community Grand Marshall and a Celebrity Grand

Marshall.

The board predicts that more than 350 entries will be in the

parade this year, including film, TV and sports celebrities, state

and local politicians, floats, marching bands and service

organizations.

Brain Tumor Awareness Fair set

A fair to raise awareness for pediatric brain tumors, the most

deadly of all childhood cancers, will be held at Lake Park on Sunday.

The fair is being organized by Teresa Stockton, whose son,

Spencer, died of a brain tumor three years ago.

The event is also intended to raise awareness for a campaign,

spearheaded by Stockton, called Spencer’s Treasures, which

distributes toys to children in hospitals throughout Orange and Los

Angeles counties. Nearly 50 treasure chests and 35,000 toys have been

donated so far to help children through cancer treatment.

“When Spencer was going through his radiation therapies and blood

work, we would always go and get him something after his treatment,”

Stockton said.

The event, which corresponds with Brain Tumor Action Week, will be

held from 1 to 4 p.m. near 12th and Main streets in Downtown

Huntington Beach.

The Children’s Hospital of Orange County, the American Red Cross,

the Alex Center and the STAND organization will be there, along with

information booths and guest speakers.

Food and refreshments will be offered, as well as face painting

and a jump house for children.

For more information, call (714) 962-4188.