Around Town: Huntington Beach WWII veterans honored by hospice company

Reliable Hospice, an Anaheim-based company, honored two Huntington Beach residents on Sunday for their service in World War II.

Bernard Questel, an Army sergeant, and John Ippolito, a Marine Corps corporal, were recognized at a pinning ceremony at their caregiver service boardinghouse. They also received flags flown over the U.S. Capitol and special congressional certificates.

Veterans from the American Legion Post 133 were present, as was U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa).

Huntington Beach police help needy children

Huntington Beach Police Department staff assumed the role of Santa Claus for 42 needy children and their families Monday for Shop with a Cop.

The officers were paired with selected students from the Ocean View, Huntington Beach City and Westminster school districts. They got acquainted during breakfast at Woody’s Diner before heading to a nearby Target store to shop for presents on the kids’ Christmas wish lists.

Most of the children selected presents for their parents and siblings, as well, said officer Bobby Frahm.

“It’s an opportunity for us to help some of the kids who are in need in town and allows the kids to see that police officers are human too and there to help them,” Frahm said.

The shopping trip was funded by the Nobles Family Foundation and the Huntington Beach Police and Community Foundation.

Mesa Water passes 1,600 days with no lost-time incidents

The Mesa Water District this week wrapped up a streak of 1,603 consecutive days without an employee having to take time off due to a work-related injury.

Officials attributed the run to a work safety program the district launched in 2012 that included new accountability, education, reinforcement and rewards standards.

“With the dedicated efforts of our staff, management team and board members, Mesa Water has avoided accidents and injuries while accomplishing the highest safety performance standards,” Mesa Water President Jim Atkinson said in a statement.

Costa Mesa installs new bike ‘sharrows’

Costa Mesa city staff recently installed two bike “sharrows” — green-and-white markings signifying to motorists that bicyclists are allowed to ride in the roadway — on East 19th Street, between Fullerton and Irvine avenues.

The city plans to place sharrows on other local bike route corridors.

Costa Mesa Police Department receives traffic safety grant

The California Office of Traffic Safety recently awarded a $290,000 grant to the Costa Mesa Police Department to fund enforcement and public awareness efforts aimed at preventing traffic-related injuries and deaths.

According to a news release, the grant — which is effective between Oct. 1 of this year and Sept. 30, 2018 — will fund activities such as speed, red light, stop sign and distracted driving enforcement; DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols, officer training and additional enforcement at high-collision intersections.

“This grant emphasizes the two most effective ways to change behaviors — education and enforcement,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the Office of Traffic Safety, in a statement. “The Costa Mesa Police Department, with assistance from the Office of Traffic Safety, will use these tools to help keep the streets safe.”