SURF CITY Comes Together! That’s the theme for a very special event.  Pastor/HB Lifeguard Chaplain Sumo Sato, beloved friend to HBand spiritual leader, is battling against colon and abdominal cancer. Sumo, aka the “Surfer’s Savior” Warrior for the homeless, has been a source of comfort and spiritual support for surfer’s in recovery, officiated marriages and memorial’s and baptized numerous follower’s and their families. Through his Ministry he supports orphan’s worldwide who depend on his monthly contribution for the most basic of necessities. Please help HB to “pay it forward” and share the love and spirit of Aloha. It’s called the “Luau of Love” and it will benefit for Pastor Sumo Sato and ALL cancer survivor’s.

Mark your calendar: Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12-5pm@ Don the Beachcomber 16278 PCH, HB Ca. 92649 Tickets are available now @ Rockin’ Fig’s Surf HDQ (714) 536-1058 or Huntington Surf & Sport. Check the event Facebook page for more information.

Tickets are a minimum donation of $20.00 and that includes: 3 No Host Bars, Beautiful hula tribute “Kanaka WaiWai” Floor show, LIVE auction, silent auction and the highly anticipated “Visual Blessings” devotional gallery with original submissions exclusively for this event.

Hope to see you there.

That is what my friend Lana Miller wondered after seeing this plaque at the Ocean View High School gym:

Here is the tragic story, pieces together through a variety of sources:

And here is Mesetschow’s photo in the yearbook the year she died:

RIP, Christina. And we’ll need to make sure that plaque is preserved.

UPDATE: This image was supplied by a Christina (and mine, as well), Daniel Sharp.

I saw this story posted in an HB Facebook forum and wanted to try and help it gain farther reach. A moving story – both literally and figuratively – and I hope we can all help. From Paige Godfrey:

This weekend, my family’s and my world fell apart a little with the sudden and horrible news that my mom has metastatic ovarian cancer. Because of this, I am making an emergency move back from OK to CA, and will be helping care and offering my support to my mom and family wherever possible.

It is my greatest pleasure to be able to do this.

Many of my friends and friends of the family have reached out to me, offering help with getting me back to CA to be with her.

We are overwhelmed and blessed by the amount of people showing us such love and support in this scary time. My mom is so tough, and such a fighter. I know God has his hands on her now. God has sent us so many friends to be with us, and we are so grateful.

The best way that I thought I could allow any and everyone who wants to help with my move was to set up this campaign. Any donations that anyone wishes to give will be used SOLELY for the purpose of covering my moving/preparation expenses and/or to the cover some of my expenses like bills, etc.  as I am having to suddenly be without a job, and am not sure when I will get another. 

Thank you all for every kindness that you have shown my family. If you are not able to donate, please know how much I appreciate your support in PRAYER. 

“Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41 10

Here is the link.

“I was diagnosed at 42 with Parkinson’s I’m now 50 years old I started painting as therapy for my tremors… I’ve never painted in my life… I just started doing this as therapy and I only started painting 3 years ago and I don’t know why I can paint I never could do any of that kind of thing before but maybe it’s something to do with Parkinson’s and it changing the way your brain works I’m not sure but at least I have an outlet and I can live vicariously…”

Those are parts of notes to me from a woman named Kristen Schonfelder, who grew up as a surfer girl in Huntington Beach. Eader Elementary, Edison High; you get the picture. She lives in San Jose today, but she’s back in HB frequently, to still try and get out a little bit on a board and to reconnect with the place that shaped her. She loves it here. And she needs out help.

The vibrant and creative art she began creating just after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, has evolved. Her canvas today? Surfboards. She paints exquisite designs on boards to sell, donate (she donates some of her proceeds from sales to the Michael J Fox Foundation For The Study of a Cure) and give to friends. It is her salvation. Despite the many bottles of pills on a kitchen counter adjacent to the quiet living room where we sat last week, it’s the painting that is obviously her medicine. Her salvation.

Her passion is, was and will always be surfing. She gets through the most difficult days today painting waves and ocean and surf on boards.

But she needs boards. Any boards. Scrap boards. Old boards. New boards. Anything will do. You can simply donate the old board to her. Or she will even paint one for you if you’d like. I’ve gotten to know Kristen over the last few months and her artistic hopes and dreams are  matched by her courage and will to fight the disease she has. She is remarkable. And she needs our help.

You can see more of her work here or contact her via email at kristengail44@gmail.com to arrange the pick up of any surf boards you might be willing to have picked up for Kristen.

Earlier this week I posted a story regarding a citizen’s complaint again planning commissioner Michael Hoskinson. The citizen, Kim Kramer, was called a “messianic jihadist” (whatever that is) by Hoskinson at a recent meeting, from the dais. Kramer’s comments outlined a pattern of ethics code offenses by Hoskinson. Additionally, in the same spirit of intolerant extremism, Hoskinson’s Facebook and Twitter feeds are clogged with hundreds of posts regarding “Agenda 21,” and a host of other intense, far right wing, governmental/political concerns, real or imagined.

As I wrote in my earlier piece, he is certainly entitled to his rights to expression. But everyone else is too, and so I’m voicing that I find his behavior, both from the dais and in his social media posts, to be highly inappropriate and offensive.

But then there is this.

The most extreme case in point, in my opinion, was this public post of his on Facebook from November 16, 20015.  The link that he shared was no less than a call to literally KILL EVERY MUSLIM. It is chilling. And it is fanatical.

This is the introduction, with several excerpts following:

END ARTICLE SAMPLE———

Where does one even begin? This is the single most hateful, intolerant, extremist manifesto I’ve ever read in my life. Shared by someone that occupies a very important slot in our city government.

Why is it ok to assume he stands by the post? Because he stated it himself. He’ll never share anything he does not support or believe in:

As to what he means by, that people are “not going to like the outcome” if they merely try holding him accountable for his own words, I’m not sure. But it certainly sounds unsettling; even threatening.

Was this person vetted at all?

If you’d like to email councilman Erik Peterson (who appointed Hoskinson) to express your concern over this appointee you may reach him here: erik.peterson@surfcity-hb.org. (I’ve already spoken with Mr. Peterson, a friend of mine, a number of times about Mr. Hoskinson’s behavior). Some, including Hoskinson himself, have suggested that I’m in some way trying to curb his freedom of speech. That is absurd. He is allowed to share and express whatever he likes. My point is, what about the bias his views create as a planning commissioner? What if a Muslim (or any other group he regularly insults) appears before the planning commission? How would that person ever feel they are getting an unbiased judgement from Hoskinson knowing he’s shared an article advocating their death? As a planning commissioner, I think he has compromised his ability to uphold the ethics standard he agreed to adhere to.

Mr. Hoskinson, in the face of my earlier article, was defiant, unapologetic and in my view, quite arrogant. I don’t expect much from him on this issue either. But I do think our elected officials need to do something about this. There is no way someone that shares this kind of hate speech, in my opinion, should be officially representing Huntington Beach in any capacity. It’s not just about the causes that officials fight for. It’s also how they comport and conduct themselves. They represent the city and, in turn , all of us.

libation

For the last several months I have been approached by OVSD staff, parents in the district and Huntington Beach citizens that happen to be following the Ocean View School District in the news. As far as the staff and parents, their collective attitude is that, when it comes to the questions they have, they are not comfortable presenting them directly to the school board. Each person conveyed to me that they were fearful of challenging this board, particularly Trustee President Gina Clayton Tarvin, in any way, shape or form. According to them, the president’s reputation was such that they feared retaliation should they be identified as “troublemakers” for voicing their opinions. Those are their words, not mine. The parents with children in the district were the most cautious of all. They have heard stories about teachers making a child’s life difficult in school in reciprocation to parents raising questions, and they didn’t want to endanger their children. (It should be noted, a number of seniors stressed to me that they have concerns about higher taxes given their fixed income status and so they are closely watching these issues within the district). 

Everyone I spoke to has requested anonymity, and I met with everyone personally just to ensure their identities and positions.
There are many questions that have come from these meetings and I will be presenting them in a series of pieces, starting today. These questions will also be sent to the board directly and presented at the next board meeting. I am hopeful that the board president will address these questions as they’re very important to these staff and parents. They’re also important to Huntington Beach residents that don’t have kids in the district because after all, we are all taxpayers and some of these matters involve many tax dollars. In short, many different kinds of people have a stake in the OVSD.

Here are the first questions, collectively, from the staff, parents and citizens:

1. We have  heard rumors that OVSD is going for a bond this election year. Is this true?

2.  If the answer is yes, where is the money coming from to do the bond campaign? Also if the answer is yes, why has there has been no transparency in the process?

3. We understand that the district is in major debt, we hear numbers of $30,000,000 and that the OVSD has been going to the state pleading hardship.  We have also heard that the long and short term leases have been all but spent to take out CoP’s (Certificates of Participation) to cover the debt. Is the plan to use the bond to wipe out that debt?

4. We have also heard the district got approximately 4 million dollars in extra revenue from the state. If that is accurate, what portion of that money was used to off set the district’s debt?

5. Were raises given last year despite the growing debt?

6. Are raises being given this year despite all of the debt?

7.  We also understand that there are less children attending OVSD this year, which of course equals less revenue. Yet it appears many new employees were hired this school year. So less students = more staff? Could you please explain?

8. In regards to the asbestos, the numbers we saw quoted in the papers were not the total cost to do the construction and asbestos abatement. Missing, in our opinion, were things like, transportation of the students while the schools were closed, costs to get the schools ready for children to attend schools in different districts, costs of trustee Tarvin providing lunches for the teachers and staff, paying teachers for their transportation costs, etc… How much did all of those additional things come to?

9. Was ALL the asbestos removed from the schools like trustee Tarvin promised? 

10. If not, why not?

We would appreciate your answers to these questions. In the spirit of transparency, openness and honesty, you are elected to answer questions such as these and we look forward to your replies.
Thank you.

I will admit I do not normally agree with local activist Kim Kramer but his recent public comments in regards to HB Planning Commissioner Michael Hoskinson, I found quite powerful. Apparently, Mr. Kramer had spoken last November 10 at a PC meeting. As he explains in the 3 minute video, after submitting letters regarding a late night operators permit, he and his fellow supporters were publicly vilified by  Hoskinson – actually referred to as “messianic jihadists, zealots and extremists,” simply for presenting an opposing point of view.

As Mr. Kramer effectively details, public officials must consider all sides without prejudice or bias and that their code of ethics includes that they “understand that the community expects them to serve with dignity and respect as well as be an agent of the democratic process- with patience, courtesy, civility and respect.” But Kramer really nails it down by talking about  the silencing of free speech  when government officials begin to attack and intimidate private citizens. Watch for yourself and decide – but also consider – this YouTube link was actually posted by Hoskinson himself with this caption: “Kim Kramer attempting to attack me personally at Planning Commission November 24th, 2015.”

Attack him personally? By holding him accountable for his own words and behavior?

Now, Mr. Hoskinson’s points of view are a matter of public record. A cursory glance at his personal Facebook reveals a lot. Here are just a few of the things he has recently posted:

Is a government official entitled to a public point of view? Of course. But are citizens also allowed to speak out and call for the replacement of someone that clearly espouses extremist views, attacks the public, and potentially embarrasses the city he works for?

Absolutely.

I’d recently contacted my friend Erik Peterson, the councilman that appointed Hoskinson, to make him aware of other concerns I have about his appointee in regards to online behavior toward myself (and my son). I find his behavior utterly irresponsible and unbecoming a Huntington Beach official representative. But for me, Mr. Kramer’s comments ring strongest of all in making a case against Hoskinson.

It was not that long ago that the OC Weekly called out the planning commissioner for this:

http://www.ocweekly.com/news/huntington-beach-planning-commisioner-michael-hoskinson-adds-kid-basher-to-his-hate-train-6480214

Additionally, Hoskinson’s public, self-generated mania regarding what he perceives as a subversive government plan called “Agenda 21” (here’s his own Agenda 21 video channel)  along with other conspiratorial theories, in my opinion, further speak to the need for this to be addressed by city council. Personally, based on his public behavior, I think he is terrible representation for the city and needs to be replaced.

Most recently, just several weeks ago, he posted this creepy manifesto; a one-hour long video featuring himself, with the following description:

UPDATE: Further embarrassing Erik Peterson, the councilman that appointed him, Planning Commissioner Hoskinson has posted a link to this blog (on a hate forum, more on that in an upcoming post) with a snarky line inferring that someone mentioned money he gets paid for spewing his hate. Nobody mentioned money – just fanaticism, extremism and racism. Note how none of those were addressed. Hopefully council will do the right thing and relieve this person of his duties so he can stop embarrassing the city (though no doubt he’ll continue to embarrass himself).

A few years ago, I wrote this in a column about the connection between Knott’s Berry Farm and HB:

Some of you may be aware that I host, along with Maria Hall-Brown, a segment on PBS SoCal called “Forgotten OC.” Each week, we travel the county in search of interesting historic landmarks and places where history took place.

As much as I can, I like to focus our attention on Huntington Beach because I live here, and also because to me, historically, it’s the most interesting city in Orange County. Going back to the Native Americans who lived along the Bolsa Chica Mesa, to the agriculture and industries in the early 1900s, the oil, the aerospace, the surfing — we live in a region that has experienced many dramatic chapters.

I was reminded of another one last week when Maria and I set off to tape some new episodes.

You’re probably aware that Warner Avenue, Talbert Avenue and a host of other streets were named for notable individuals. But do you know the story of Speer Avenue?

Located just off Beach Boulevard near Slater Avenue, Speer borders what used to be called the Liberty Park section of Huntington Beach. Maria and I (along with our cameraman John and my son, Charlie) walked the street in search of the building numbered 7862. We found it, and while it wasn’t the old structure I’d hoped to find, it was still the former site of a significant local landmark.

It was where a home was once owned by a man named Marion Speer. Born in Texas in 1885, he arrived in Huntington Beach in the 1920s. A western history buff, Speer traveled the country extensively with his wife, collecting artifacts. He even wrote a book, “Western Trails,” which was published in 1932.

In 1937, he built the house that had once stood at 7862, and it became a reliquary for his ever-growing collection. Soon, he had a museum on his hands, named appropriately enough the Marion Speer’s Western Trails Museum. By the mid-1940s, a third wing had been added to help house the arrowheads, railroad spikes, guns, flags and other artifacts.

Schoolchildren would visit regularly, as would tourists and locals. It was one of the most popular places to visit in Huntington Beach.

In 1956, Speer made a deal with his friend Walter Knott to have everything moved for display to Knott’s Berry Farm, provided Knott built a structure to house the collection, which Knott did. Speer was the curator at the museum at Knott’s until 1969, and he died in Fullerton in 1978. So when you visit the Western Museum at Knott’s today, perhaps pause to remember Speer, who made it all possible.

Maria and knocked on the door at the address the day we shot and a young woman who lives there now was completely unaware of the history there. But now she knows, as do you.
—-

This weekend – I spoke about the history and origins of Knotts Berry Farm on C-SPAN – cue up to 9:20 – a fascinating story if you’ve never heard it.

http://www.c-span.org/video/?405743-1/american-history-tv-anaheim-california