CITY ROUNDUP:

The city economic development and planning departments are holding a fourth community meeting on the revitalization of Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight in room C/D of Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

This workshop will focus on a future vision for the area; previous meetings covered principles of redevelopment and traffic issues.

Anyone who lives, works, or does business on or near the two streets is encouraged to come and contribute. For more information call Associate Planner Rosemary Medel at (714) 536-5271, or Project Manager Paul DaVeiga at (714) 536-5544.

Beach Boulevard lanes to be shut down starting Monday

A Caltrans resurfacing project will put Beach Boulevard under construction starting Monday, shutting down all but a single lane while work is going on. Work is scheduled to take place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. at night, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the day.

The project is expected to last through the end of November. For more information, call Caltrans Public Affairs at (714) 966-4618.

Senior Center draft EIR available for public comment

Residents interested in the proposed Senior Center in Central Park can now read a draft Environmental Impact Report on the project. A 45-day public comment period lasts through Oct. 31, and a public meeting on the report is scheduled for 6 p.m., Oct. 11, in room C/D of Huntington Beach Central Library.

To read the report, go to www.surfcity-hb.org/CityDepartments/ planning/major/senior_center.cfm.

Scholarships approved for students interested in science

Huntington Beach Rep. Dana Rohrabacher got his colleagues’ approval this week for a bill that offers scholarships to students interested in science careers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service. Under the program, students could earn scholarships for up to four years of school, and for each year covered by the scholarship students would commit to two years of working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Far too often capable students are opting out of science-related fields such as meteorology and climatology in lieu of other fields,” Rohrabacher wrote in a letter to fellow House members. “With the rising price of education, the NOAA scholarship program offers a major incentive to study in these difficult areas while providing sorely needed scientists.”

The measure passed Monday on a 360 to 16 vote.

Program to waive permit fees for evergy-saving systems

Residents planning to make their homes or businesses a little greener will get some help from the city starting Nov. 5. That’s the day a new program will begin to waive permit fees — plumbing, mechanical, electrical and solar — for the installation of systems that produce energy or save natural resources. Such systems qualify only if they beat state and federal standards “substantially.”

Some possible upgrades covered by the program include solar-power panels, solar water heaters, tankless water heaters, and high-efficiency air conditioning or furnaces. Such systems are also covered by a variety of state and federal programs for rebates and tax credits. For more information, call the city building and safety department at (714) 536-5241.

Interactive kiosk at library to help job seekers with search

Local job seekers have a new way to track down employment, now that the Huntington Beach Public Library has installed an interactive kiosk just for them.

One of 16 such kiosks in Southern California, the ATM-like station is part of a regional program called “OCJobFinder.com/monster.” Users can print, e-mail, or even text message local job listings, as well as apply to some on the spot. No résumé or registration is required.

Students learn about the U.S. and state constitutions

State Sen. Tom Harman announced Monday his office recently collected and distributed nearly 5,000 U.S. and state constitutions to local K-12 schools in honor of National U.S. Constitution Day, which was celebrated Monday.

Schools that receive federal dollars are mandated by the government to annually offer lessons about the U.S. Constitution during the week of Sept. 17.

Sept. 17 marks the day 220 years ago when 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia and signed the Constitution.

“It is my belief that we must not only educate our youth, but also re-educate ourselves in order to put into historical perspective the true, original intent of the founding principles of our Constitution,” Harman said.