Author Archives: christianepting

It’s getting crazy – people get banned for mentioning the embattled, controversial OVSD Trustee President- but then when they display the announcement they are banned- THAT GETS BANNED TOO.

You can’t make this stuff up. In this writer’s opinion she either needs to address or step down from office.

After the Ocean View School District meeting on Tuesday, July 11, Trustee President Gina Tarvin, under increasing pressure to address the growing number of people being banned from social media for merely typing her name, again emerged from the meeting with a district-hired armed guard. As well this time, other board members appeared to form a phalanx around her to prevent her from having to speak to the public. A young woman approached Tarvin after she got in her Mercedes to finally address, and Tarvin slammed the door shut and drove away.

The superintendent refuses to answer questions about whether or not taxpayers are footing the cost for the armed guard, or why he is even at the meetings in the first place.

On the video, the guard is first scene walking in advance of Tarvin to her car.

The video:

And so it continues. Recently, a Facebook user named Bryan Swezea asked another user to explain how and why Gina Clayton Tarvin was “corrupt,” the user replied – and was summarily placed in Facebook jail.

A day earlier- another user was placed in “jail” for this:

The controversial, embattled Trustee President (who has now taken to armed escorts at meetings) refuses to comment on whether or not she is behind this purging of public opinion.

(Tarvin, center, is escorted to her car, despite no apparent danger)

JUNE 27: On a night at a school board meeting that literally saw virtually every single public comment tear into both she and the board, a grim-faced Gina Tarvin, Ocean View School District President, left the meeting with both a private armed security guard and a burly district grounds keeper.

At public comments, a number of residents, myself included, challenged Tarvin on the many social media “jail terms” being served for criticizing her. I mentioned at comments that I simply wanted to ask her on the record – yes or no – was she involved in the many online punishments being meted out. It seems the threat of that simple question may have caused her to actually ask for security detail to her car. I asked as she left if we might have a moment with her and she declined.

For once it was a relaxed scene outside the meeting; no police officers or bussed in radicals to speak on behalf of Tarvin. But as other board members, staff, parents, etc. milled about, chatting and laughing on this cool evening summer, a seemingly nervous and agitated-looking Tarvin was hustled out to her car by the pistol-toting guard and grounds keeper.

She was not threatened. She appeared to be in no danger. We simply wanted to know if she is involved in the dozens of Facebook “jailings” that have been mysteriously happening whenever her name is invoked by critics of the embattled, controversial district president.

Here is the video of Tarvin being escorted to her car by the security team.

The Facebook jail continues in Huntington Beach for seemingly ANYONE that dares comment about the Ocean View School Board president Gina Tarvin – and with a twist now. A comment today by a local woman that also included the name of the head of the Wintersburg Task force, Mary Urashima was taken down by Facebook after being reported by someone. Here is the comment and the punishment:

The person in question called these two women bullies because, in her view – they are. It’s her opinion based on the actions of the pair. As I have covered here now numerous times- nobody knows how this is being orchestrated. Tarvin refuses to answer questions. She is an elected official. This matters.

Carnegie libraries were built from monies donated by famed Scottish businessman and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Between 1883 and 1929, 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built around the world. Most of the beautiful buildings were created in a number of architectural styes, including Beaux-Arts, Baroque, Italian Renaissance and more. Outside every library was a lamppost or lantern to represent a symbol of enlightenment.

And we had one right here in Huntington Beach.

It was built in 1913, located at 8th and Walnut, and here is some background about its history from the Carnegie Foundation: Free library service in Huntington Beach was available in 1907, through the state’s traveling library program, which rotated 50 books to rural communities. In 1909 the city incorporated and that same year Mr. R. W. Blodget and Mrs. R. H. Lindgren brought the matter of a library to the Huntington Beach Board of Trade. The Women’s Club of Huntington Beach then called a public meeting and formed a Library Association. They refurbished an old building, acquired old furniture and books, and provided necessary heat and utilities. By the end of the year the city took over the library. Carnegie funding was sought and in late 1913 a $10,000 grant was offered. Architects Tuttle and Hopkins designed the Classical Revival building. The builder was W.D. Lambert of Long Beach. The building opened in 1914, serving the community as a library until a new building was completed in 1951, after which the Carnegie building was demolished.

Here is some additional information from the HB city page:

In February, 1913, councilmen received notification of the $10,000 grant and they notified the Library Board to begin discussing plans for the new library. In August, 1913, the Carnegie Corporation accepted the plans and W. D. Lambert of Long Beach received the contract. The cornerstone of the Carnegie Library was laid during a big ceremony. The history of the city, the library, names of all those who had served on the Library Board, city trustees, pastors of the churches, members of the Board of Trade, names of those who had served on the library staff, the name of each child in the schools and a small American flag were enclosed in the stone. In a little over four years the number of volumes in the library had risen from 328 volumes to 2800 volumes, 700 of which were donated by residents of the city. The main floor of the new Carnegie Library housed an adult reading room, a children’s department and the librarian’s office. The lecture room, a reference room and the furnace room were located downstairs. The Chamber of Commerce was located in the lecture room until 1921. In order to be more responsive to community needs the Library Board decided to establish a reading room at 205 Main Street. The reading room was open the same hours as the main library, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The reading room was used for a three-year period from 1928 until August, 1931.

In March, 1933, the Carnegie Library suffered considerable damage in the great earthquake which struck the area. The board authorized Catching Brothers Company to make the necessary repairs to the Carnegie building. 1934 saw the library lose its librarian of 23 years when Bertha Reynolds (formerly Proctor) resigned. She had seen the library grow from the small building at Walnut Avenue and 3rd Street to the Carnegie Building at Walnut Avenue and 8th Street, and now the library was outgrowing that facility. 

A preliminary set of plans was submitted to the Library Board by Architects McClelland, McDonald, and Markwith of Los Angeles, but the advent of World War II held up construction until 1949. Margaret Kemp served as temporary librarian until Floyd Jorgensen filled the job in 1937. When he left for the military, Lylyan Mossinger took over and served until 1959. On Friday, July 13, 1951, the Carnegie Library closed its doors after almost 40 years of service. When the doors closed, the library had a total of 42,000 volumes. On Sunday, September 30, 1951, the new library building at 525 Main Street was dedicated by Mayor Vernon Langenbeck. The library was built at a cost of $140,000. Members of the Library Board at the time of the dedication were Pearl M. Jones, president, Berta Tovatt, J. K. McDonald, Edith Vavra, and G. H. Hasson.

After shutting  down in 1951, The Carnegie Library sat dormant for almost 20 years, decaying as time went on. Teenagers used it as a hangout. Bums would crash there. Finally, in the late 1960s, it was demolished, in part by a controlled burn exercise by the Huntington Beach Fire Department.

Thankfully, HB resident Diane Valoff, who lived across the street at 125 8th St., thought to photograph event. She generously shared these images with me this week, and now thanks to her, the last moments of the Carnegie Library, (in color no less!), are preserved forever.

To Ms. Valoff I am quite grateful, as I imagine many people will be after seeing these rare and important images.