🌱 Republic Services Off The Hook + Larry Budgen A Missing Person

Happy Saturday, people of Huntington Beach; today is National Plant a Flower Day! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

It appears that the letter-writing campaign may have been premature. Also, the HBPD issued a missing person alert. Finally, Father Bao Thai is the new rector at Christ Cathedral.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and nice. High: 72 Low: 49.

Here are the top five stories today in Huntington Beach:

1. Historic Wintersburg Update: On February 27, Preserve Orange County reported that “Republic Services needlessly demolished the 1910 church when it began removing the remains of the manse with a bulldozer” following a fire. A letter-writing campaign to the HB City Council ensued. On Friday, the organization corrected its statement. It now says “the 1910 mission which was thought to be deliberately destroyed by an excavator on instructions from the property owner actually caught fire soon after the 1910 manse caught fire.” (Preserve Orange County)
2. The HBPD issued a missing person alert Friday afternoon. They are looking for “Lawrence “Larry” Budgen, 62, was last seen walking in the area of Clay Avenue and Delaware Street on March 11 at 10:30 AM. He suffers from dementia and may be in need of medication.” Please call the non-emergency phone number, 714-960-8825 if you have any information. (Huntington Beach Police Department)
3. We learned Tuesday that Father Bao Thai “will become the new rector at Christ Cathedral.” Bishop Kevin Vann made the appointment. “Thai converted at age 15. Three years later, in 1988, he “received the calling” to become a priest when Pope John Paul II canonized 117 Vietnamese martyrs – people who had been persecuted for their beliefs.” (OC Register)
4. We learned Thursday that the EPA approved the release of one billion mosquitoes in “Stanislaus, Fresno, Tulare and San Bernardino counties.” However, these are “non-biting, genetically edited male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to help combat disease-transmitting mosquitoes of the same species.” They carry genes that kill female offspring, which only leaves the non-biting males. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are in the OC and were found to transmit heartworm disease in HB. (Patch, ABC)
5. Six dollar gasoline? Yes. “California could be heading for $5.50 per gallon with more stations charging $6 and beyond,” Gas Buddy alerts. The organization believes “Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time, with little good news foreseen.” (HB News)

Today in Huntington Beach:

• "Luck of the Irish" Pub Crawl Party at Baja Sharkeez (12 PM to 8 PM)
• Hamlet at Golden West College (7:30 PM)
• Nachturnal at The Circle OC (9 PM)
• The Apes rock Perqs (9 PM)
• Jeff Garcia at The Rec Room by Off The Wall (10 PM)

From my notebook:

• A Newland neighbor is looking for a good vet for reptiles in the area. (Nextdoor)
• Our Deane Garden Homes neighbor lost a VW key on the beach path Thursday morning before 9:45 am. - If found, please DM. (Nextdoor)
• A Hopeview Track neighbor is wondering if anyone can recommend a good dog walker in HB. (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.