Around Town: F.V. chamber presents barbecue Thursday at City Hall

The Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce will present a “Barbeque with the Mayor” during a City Hall open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. It is the first of several events planned for Chamber of Commerce Awareness Month in October.

The program aims to attract customers to local stores and introduce residents to services available at Fountain Valley City Hall.

Other events include activities, food, beverages and prizes at local shopping centers and a Mayor’s Social on Oct. 24 at Mile Square Golf Course.

For more information, visit fvchamber.com or contact the chamber at (714) 962-3822 or info@fvchamber.com.

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Huntington Beach storytellers compete

Locals will take the stage Thursday at the Huntington Beach Art Center in the fall round of a competition for the title of Huntington Beach’s Greatest Storyteller. The winners of the winter, summer and fall shows will advance to the finals Dec. 3. A $50 prize is awarded at each show.

“From 7 to 9 p.m., we hear true six-minute tales of ‘OMG,’ defining or hilarious moments in people’s lives,” producer Mariana Williams said in a statement. “Local songwriter James Grey will start off, then stories, intermission, voting and we are all out the door in two hours.”

The audience and a small panel of educators and writers will cast votes.

To submit a story idea, send about five lines to marianaStoryteller@gmail.com.

The Huntington Beach Art Center is at 358 Main St. Admission to the event is $6 at the door or at Brownpapertickets.com.

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U.S. Open of Stand Up Paddling wraps up this weekend

The U.S. Open of Stand Up Paddling concludes this week with racing Saturday and Sunday at the Huntington Beach Pier.

Saturday’s events will include a Na Kama Kai Youth Clinic at 8 a.m., open age-group 10K (6.2 miles) and 6K (3.75 miles) races at 11 a.m. and a 10K Stand Up World Series race at 1:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the Waterman Challenge (swim and SUP) will begin at 10 a.m., followed by open age-group sprints at 11 a.m., a surf exhibition at noon, kids’ races at 1 p.m., World Series sprints at 1:30 and an awards ceremony at 5.

Admission is free for spectators.

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H.B. library plans children’s activities

The children’s department of the Huntington Beach Public Library has scheduled a series of fall events:

• Free Scratch computer coding classes: Twice a month through December. Information: hbpl.org or Melissa Ronning at (714) 374-5330.

• Free math tutoring: Thirty-minute sessions every Tuesday and Thursday for students in grades 8 through 12. Register online or call Ronning at (714) 374-5330.

• Free Homework Club: Central, Banning and Oak View library branches. Register online or call Barbara Richardson at (714) 374-5338.

• In-N-Out Cover to Cover Reading Program: Beginning Saturday, children ages 4 to 12 can earn a certificate for a free hamburger for every five books they read. Register online or at any Huntington Beach branch library.

• Author’s Festival Writing Contest: Entries will be accepted through Dec. 19 for children up to eighth grade. This year’s theme is “Locked in the Library.” Applications are available at FOTCL.org or the Central Library.

• Halloween Magic Show: Johnny Ace Palmer will perform at 4 and 7 p.m. Oct. 27. A costume parade will follow. Tickets are available for $4 at the Central Library.

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Taco Bell shutters U.S. Taco restaurant

Taco Bell has closed U.S. Taco, its experimental fast-casual restaurant at 150 Fifth St. in Huntington Beach, after a year in business.

The chain said U.S. Taco’s foot traffic was lower than expected and that it encountered “hurdles securing alcohol permits.”

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Hope View Elementary gets donation of books, cash

City National Bank and Barnes & Noble recently donated nearly $30,000 in new books and cash to Hope View Elementary School in Huntington Beach.

The donation is intended to help the school stock its library and classrooms with books and other educational supplies, according to a City National news release.

Hope View reopened this school year after being closed almost a year due to asbestos found during a renovation project.