Quik to sponsor school team

Huntington Beach’s second largest employer announced plans to sponsor

the Huntington Beach High School surf team Monday during an awards

dinner at the Elks Lodge in Huntington Beach.

Huntington Beach High Coach Andy Verdone made the announcement

alongside Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight.

“This is a great city with great people. We try to surround

ourselves with great people every day and this sponsorship is a way

to continue to connect with the youth,” McKnight said, later telling

the dozens of team members gathered at the forum to “stay in school,

keep learning, keep competing and keep active.”

Verdone called the partnership “the beginning of a new

relationship” and “a good thing for everyone involved.”

Quiksilver will provide the students with wetsuits, surf boards

and clothing, Marketing Director Greg Macias said. It also will work

on a travel documentary film with the team. Verdone has taken his

students on trips all over the world, including South Africa,

Indonesia and Panama.

Quiksilver also awarded two scholarships Monday night to senior

Alexandra Easton, who plans to attend Cal State Long Beach in the

fall, and Anthony Capriccio, who wants to attend UC Santa Cruz.

“I’ve never received anything like this before, so I’m kind of

stoked,” Capriccio said during his acceptance speech.

The three-hour dinner included individual tributes to the entire

Huntington High School and Dwyer Middle School surf and body board

teams. Verdone hosted the event, mixing humor with his message of

respect in the water and a focus on academics.

He warned the students not to drop their studies and try to become

professional surfers, arguing that superstars like Kelly Slater and

Rob Machado are few and far between.

“Go to college, there’s only one Kelly Slater out there,” he said.

“If you’re the next Kelly Slater, don’t worry, we’ll tell you.”

Adult Day Services gathering of friends

Adult Day Services of Orange County will hold its fifth annual

gala event, “A Gathering of Friends ... Getting to know Molly,” on

May 19, 2005 to honor the life of Molly Lawson, an Alzheimer’s

patient. More than 200 guests will gather at the Village Crean in

Newport Beach to honor Lawson, and experience some of her favorites

things -- her love of the ocean, classical music, flowers and the

tastes of coastal cuisine.

Adult Day Services of Orange County will center the evening on

Lawson, who in her 85 years has embodied the spirit of helping and

caring for others. From raising her daughter as a single mother and

caring for her second husband during his final battle with cancer,

Lawson has dedicated her life to serving others, day services leaders

said.

The evening will also honor Michael Stephens, chief executive

officer of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian “for his invaluable

advocacy and support for the center and its meaningful mission,” said

Adult Day Services Executive Director Cordula Dick-Muehlke. Event

Chair Eve Thompson and her committee hope to raise $135,000 at the

event.

Adult Day Services is located in Huntington Beach and specializes

in providing quality daytime care to older adults -- from the early

to most advanced stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Comprehensive

services include recreational and social programming,

intergenerational activities, nursing and personal care,

rehabilitative and maintenance exercises, supportive counseling, care

management, and nutritional guidance. For more information on the

center’s events and programs, please call (714) 593-9630.

Forum on water plan scheduled for tonight

The Municipal Water District of Orange County will hold a

community meeting in Huntington Beach tonight to discuss the updating

of the Regional Urban Water Management Plan.

This extensive effort is done every five years and includes

virtually all of Orange County’s cities. It is completed in

consultation with other water management agencies and the

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

The plan ensures coordination between land use and water planning

and helps to further ensure a reliable supply of water to meet Orange

County’s current and future demand.

The update of the fifth Regional Urban Water Management Plan is

beginning, and members of the public are encouraged to participate in

the planning process.

To provide an analysis of the plan, which includes a review and

assessment of potential supplies from Northern California and the

Colorado River, local groundwater, recycled water, water transfers,

seawater desalination and the water saved as a result of best

management practices and water use efficiency, the Municipal Water

District of Orange County will hold the community meeting tonight

from 6 to 8 p.m. at its headquarters at 10500 Ellis Avenue.

Surf City eatery

dives into lunch

A popular Huntington Beach eatery wants to be part of the lunch

crowd.

Hipster hangout the Red Pearl Kitchen introduced a lunch menu this

week as part of a plan to change the face of the small Walnut Avenue

side street it calls home. The move was proposed by owners Tim and

Liza Goodell in an attempt to expand the business of the Southeast

Asian-style eatery.

A throwback to 1940s Shanghai, the Red Pearl has become well-known

as a stop for fans of Asian cuisine from Huntington Beach residents

as well as surrounding communities. The dining room and bar will now

feature an abbreviated lunch menu serving Asian-inspired dishes.

Since opening its doors, Red Pearl Kitchen has focused on consistency

and commitment to its menu, atmosphere and service, which is why it

has become known as a meeting place for a casual cocktail, a romantic

meal, or even a business dinner,” Michael Tsue, director of

operations for the Domaine Restaurant Group and general manager of

Red Pearl Kitchen, said in a press release. “The addition of lunch

service will no doubt take the Red Pearl ‘experience’ to a whole new

level and raise the bar for all the lunch-serving restaurants in the

area, as well as offer local lunch patrons a new dining option in the

downtown Huntington Beach area.”

Named one of the country’s most talented husband-and-wife teams by

Gourmet magazine, restaurateurs Tim and Liza Goodell have made a name

for themselves in the fine dining community.

Red Pearl Kitchen now is open at 11:30 for lunch, which will be

served Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is located at 412

Walnut Ave., off Main Street in Huntington Beach. For information,

call (714) 969-0224 or log on to www.redpearlkitchen.com.