EDITORIAL:Dedication makes up H.B.

The community’s been treated to some smiles and well-earned applause lately. But we’ve seen a few tears, too.

First, the bad news: It was sad to see the Skate Zone ice and roller rink fade like a Zamboni into the sunset. For 15 years, our aspiring skaters practiced their double axels and slap shots, but apparently there weren’t enough customers to keep the rink open.

Rod Gunn, whose daughter Chanda you might remember was on last year’s thrilling bronze-medal Olympic hockey team, ran the rink the best he could over the last 10 years, but it wasn’t enough. Still, he has earned out heartfelt gratitude for running what he called “a family rink.”

Even Huntington Beach’s own Shea Farver practiced there and has gotten so good recently that she performed in the “Disney On Ice” show at the Honda Center in Anaheim. We sure do love those local-kid-makes-good stories.

“We ran it as a family, as a place where families could come and be safe and enjoy themselves,” Rod Gunn said. “We had a lot of involvement from community groups.”

We wish the Gunn family the best in their future endeavors, thank them for their hard work and we hope they stay involved in the community.

Speaking of community groups, now for the good news: The Amigos de Bolsa Chica conservation group has earned a major national award. The organization won the Costal Habitat Restoration Award for its work preserving the Bolsa Chica wetlands. It hasn’t been easy over the years for our local conservationists, but that’s why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service recognized them.

Good job, gang. Keep up the great work.