In the Pipeline: A year filled with tumult — and good memories

It was quite a year in Huntington Beach. I’m not sure I can remember one quite as tumultuous.

Yes, a lot of it had to do with local issues and 2014 being an election year.

Last spring, the notion of banning the plastic bag reached a fever pitch after it was suggested that the public be given the right to vote on the matter. That didn’t happen, and as a result, social media began to have a serious effect on the face of Huntington Beach politics. With the creation of the Huntington Beach Community Forum Facebook group, among others, things began to change quickly.

Thousands of residents, me included, began to find their voices and for the first time became community activists. City Council meetings were packed with people interested in more than just making public comments. They were starting petitions, filing lawsuits and, perhaps most important, engaging their neighbors to help generate awareness of the issues.

“Safe and sane” fireworks were voted back in as a result of this activism. And in the most sweeping change in the city’s history, four new council members and a new city attorney were ushered in after the Nov. 4 election, bringing with them new planning commissioners and other appointees.

It is a much different city government today than when the year started, and regardless of your politics, I think we should wish all the leaders well while reminding them how important the voice of the people is.

The year saw Police Chief Robert Handy make some remarkable strides in bringing more law and order to the downtown area while also protecting the rest of the city.

Also, ground was finally broken for the new senior center across from Central Park, and construction is slated to begin soon.

Huntington Beach was in the news for many things — not all of them good. For example, the Ocean View School District is dealing with an ongoing asbestos problem that has displaced students.

And many of us became aware of what ghost bikes are — the memorials that pop up, serving as haunting reminders after an automobile fatally strikes a cyclist. For me it felt like there were many more auto-related fatalities in the city this past year. Regardless, there were enough reminders to get off your cellphones, stop texting and don’t drink when you plan to operate a motor vehicle.

Some battles in the city will continue in the new year, including the debate over the Poseidon desalination project and the fight to save historic Wintersburg.

It was a pleasure through this column to bring you stories of people, from war heroes to rock stars to movie stars and more than a few local heroes. One of my favorites was Bodhy, the K-9 Belgian malinois who, with his partner, Marco, had a wildly successful year busting drug dealers and thieves.

I enjoyed being part of the plaque dedication for the Golden Bear. And, of course, I was proud and thrilled when my daughter was crowned Miss Huntington Beach.

But the most memorable event for me was the ceremony we had in October to honor Robin Samsoe, who was abducted from Huntington Beach in summer 1979 and murdered. She was 12. Her memory has always cast a long shadow in the city.

After I wrote about her this past summer, Councilman Dave Sullivan heeded my request that the city have a formal marker for the girl. In fact, he took it several steps further and insisted it be erected next to the pier.

The rest of the City Council joined the cause, and within just a couple of months, we had a beautiful ceremony that many of Robin’s family members attended. I’ve had the pleasure of observing and taking part in many events in Huntington Beach, but I can’t recall anything quite like that gathering. It brought everybody together in a very special way and made me extra proud of this city that I love.

If you haven’t yet seen the beautiful marker by the foot of the pier, I hope you get a chance to visit in the new year. It’s a sparkling reminder of what this place is all about.

Finally, I’m not normally one for New Year’s resolutions, but this year I’d like to change that and start a process that for me has long been a dream: the creation of a Huntington Beach History Museum. I really think it’s time to start presenting our city’s rich history in a meaningful way, not just for tourists but more for the kids who grow up here and those who have spent their lives here. Many of us bemoan the structures and artifacts that have been lost over the years. I think it’s time to do something about it.

Thank you, as always, for reading this column. I’d also like to thank my editors for allowing me the privilege of writing about our city each week. I’m truly thankful for the opportunity and look forward to another productive year of sharing stories with you each week.

Wishing all of you a most healthy and happy 2015.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 25 books, including “Huntington Beach Chronicles: The Heart of Surf City.” You can chat with him on Twitter @chrisepting or follow his column at facebook.com/hbindependent.