🌱 Procession Honors Officer Vella + Skandia Mobile Gets Help

Hello, people of Huntington Beach, and happy National Banana Bread Day! It's me again, Sylvia, your host of the Huntington Beach Daily.

The fallen officer’s body was moved from the coroner’s office in a procession. Also, the residents at the Skandia Mobile Country Club are getting help from others who’ve already tackled similar issues. Finally, gas as high as $5 a gallon might be right around the corner.

First, today's weather:

A couple of morning showers. High: 57 Low: 37.

Here are the top five stories today in Huntington Beach:

1. Huntington Beach police Officer Nicholas Vella’s body was transported on Tuesday from the Orange County coroner’s office to Community Funeral Service in La Habra. “Dozens of people, most without umbrellas, stood by in silence as the hearse carrying Vella’s body, which was accompanied by dozens of motorcycle officers and other law enforcement vehicles, passed by slowly.” We spoke yesterday of unauthorized GoFundMe accounts springing up. “The Huntington Beach Police Department and its officers’ association have since set up a page to support Vella’s family at porac.org.” (CBS)
2. Last October, we discussed the Skandia Mobile Country Club, which is a mobile home community. New owners were increasing the rent. We learned Tuesday that “Lupe Ramirez, who spearheaded the movement at the Rancho La Paz mobile home park” during a similar fight, connected with the residents of the Skandia Mobile Country Club “on how to tackle the issue.” (Patch, Voice of OC)
3. The average cost of gasoline in California is $4.74. We learned Tuesday that there’s a good chance that “prices for regular gas are expected to keep inching closer to the $5 per gallon mark as the international crisis disrupts oil markets.” The national average of $3.53 is 90 cents higher compared to last year, this time. There is a scheduled July gas tax increase that may be halted. (Patch)
4. The results from Operation Red Zone came in on Monday. This coordinated partnership of 11 law enforcement agencies, including Huntington Beach PD, ran from February 9 to 12. The targets were human traffickers. “Fifty-six suspects were arrested, and 16 victims were recovered, including two juveniles under the age of 16.” Victims were connected with Waymakers and received services. The suspects are facing charges including “human trafficking, pimping and pandering, solicitation for sex, and narcotics.” (HB News)
5. The Adventure Playground in Central Park is reopening, y’all! This is the place where kids can play in a mud pit, hammer nails into wooden boards, and do all the other things that get them really, really dirty. On Tuesday, we learned that the community services manager for Huntington Beach and their team have done some renovations to prepare for the playground’s June opening. (OCR/paywall)

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Today in Huntington Beach:

• NCAA Women's Water Polo at Sage Hill School (11 AM)
• HBHS Girl's Basketball Fundraiser at Mountain Mike's Pizza (11 AM to 9 PM)
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day at Pacific City (3 PM to 4 PM)
• The Old Ranch Country Club hosts the Old Ranch Wedding Show (5 PM to 8 PM)
• Birding 101 (Online) with the Huntington Beach Public Library (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Huntington Beach Art Center is back open for their regular gallery hours this week: Tuesday - Wednesday from 12-6pm Thursday from 12-8pm Friday - Saturday 12-5pm. (Instagram)
• Join the Huntington Beach Symphony Orchestra as they perform The Magic Flute of Mozart and Beethoven’s Symphony N8 at the HB Central Library Theater on Sunday, February 27th at 3:30 PM. (Facebook)
• An eagle-eyed Goldenwest Park neighbor found a credit card on the ground in front of Sports Clip in the Smart & Final shopping center on Edinger. The initials of the owner are M. A. M. (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you tomorrow morning for another 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.