Huntington Beach is home to some of the most interesting, unique and compelling stories and people in Orange County.

That makes picking the 10 best stories of the year for the community a little difficult.

So we here at the Wave tried to pick a mix of news that had the biggest impact on the community, features that were highly talked about and stories that drummed up controversy.

Free plastic surgery for a bullied youth, big plans for a major energy project and the biggest surf competition in the world losing its corporate sponsors were among the stories that made the cut.

Station to go green

The AES Huntington Beach Generating Station announced plans for a major revamp that would bring a greener, more energy efficient project to Surf City.

The Huntington Beach Energy Project will replace the Huntington Beach Generating Station, which has been running on Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street since 1958. Changes will include using air to cool generators instead of sea water and using new technology that will allow the proposed plant to power up and shut off quickly.

The iconic stacks that serve as a point for reference for surfers and sailors and a landmark for many residents will be torn down to make way for lower-profile buildings.

What’s next: The project is being reviewed by staff for the California Energy Commission and is expected to go before the board of commissioners in late 2013 or early 2014, AES officials said.

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Bullied boy gets free surgery

The story about the bullied boy who received free plastic surgery to correct his protruding ears drew dozens of comments and emails, making it one of the most compelling stories in Huntington Beach this year.

It might have been his positive attitude or sweet demeanor that made it easy to root for Kaleb Curtis-Stopnik, a seventh-grader at Dwyer Middle School.

Kaleb had been bullied since preschool for his ears, and the ridicule seemed to escalate with every passing year.

Newport Beach-based Dr. Michael Niccole learned of Kaleb’s story and picked him for a free procedure as part of his Magic Mirror Foundation.

Corrective plastic surgery for bullied children and teens remains a controversial subject, but Niccole said correcting something simple, like protruding ears, can mean giving a child confidence and putting an end to brutal bullying.

Now: Kaleb’s mom, Veronica Curtis, reports her son is doing well and the bullying has stopped.

“The kid who was really the biggest bully even apologized,” she said. “I always ask him if he likes his ears and how he feels about it. His answer is always that he would do it every day, every week, every month, every year for the rest of his life to keep his ears back.”

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Edison Chargers triumph with CIF title

For the first time in 27 years, Dave White and the Edison Chargers football team captured the CIF title, defeating Villa Park High School, 28-10, on Nov. 30.

The Chargers’ 2012 finish was all the more sweet for White considering Edison came up short in each of its three most recent trips – in 2001, 2006 and 2009.

Edison finished the season 13-2, with its only two losses occurring against Mater Dei on Sept. 21 and Junipero Serra in the state playoffs on Dec. 8.

If the Chargers could have knocked off Serra, they would have advanced to the CIF State Championships. After sporting a 10-7 lead at halftime, Edison was unable to score in the second half and Serra rallied to win, 27-10.

Despite the defeat in the state playoffs, Edison won its seventh Sunset League championship and made its fourth consecutive CIF playoff appearance.

– Brantley Watson

Fireworks burst back onto scene – for now

The return of fireworks to Huntington Beach made for big headlines this year and prompted a heated debate over restoring residents’ right to celebrate the Fourth of July in their neighborhoods and concerns about safety issues.

Former Mayor Don Hansen announced he would work to bring safe and sane fireworks back to Surf City the night he took over as the city’s leader.

The council adopted a two-year trial for safe and sane fireworks and, at one point, Hansen made a push to put fireworks on the city’s charter. But that failed to gain the support of the majority of the council.

What’s next: It is likely this year will be the last for fireworks in Huntington Beach – at least until there is a shift back to a pro-firework council.

Huntington Beach Mayor Connie Boardman said she won’t move to put an end to the firework trial this year, adding that it’s unlikely the current council will approve fireworks for subsequent years.

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Teen’s death draws attention to heroin use

The death of 18-year-old Tyler Macleod called a community to action and prompted city and school leaders to make procedural changes in their drug and alcohol awareness and prevention programs.

Macleod’s overdose on Sept. 24 brought to light what some say is an epidemic not only in Huntington Beach but across Orange County: teen heroin use.

As a community grieved, a dialogue was opened. Huntington Beach schools have since hosted town halls and set up information sessions for parents and students to talk about teen drug use.

Now: The #RedforTyler Foundation was formed, and various events have been held in recent months to raise money that will go to drug programs in Orange County. The foundation remains active in the community and runs a Facebook page to serve as a resource for teens and parents.

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Measure Z

The debate over whether to eliminate a public employees pension tax on residents’ property tax bills was the most divisive election issue this year.

Former Mayor Don Hansen led a push to put an end to the tax as a way to force pension reform in the city. But opponents said the move would have left the city with a multimillion budget gap and resulted in a loss of some city services and programs.

The tax, which brings in about $4.2 million a year, was approved by voters in 1966.

Measure Z was put to voters Nov. 6 and lost by a narrow margin: 823 votes.

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Pacific City moving ahead

Plans for what some residents have called the “gaping hole on Pacific Coast Highway” are finally moving forward.

The project has been a long time coming, and the land has changed ownership several times.

Crescent Heights received the go-ahead from City Council members in August to build a mixed-used project with 516 housing units, underground parking and 191,000 square feet of commercial space that will include retail space, offices and restaurants. An eight-story, 250-room hotel was also proposed for the site, along with about 2 acres for open space and park land.

The company sold the 11-acre project to DJM Capital Partners Inc. in November.

What’s next: DJM has not announced specifics but did say the development would mix entertainment, shopping and dining. The plans will need to be reviewed by the City Council.

Company officials project they will break ground by July and bring in tenants by January 2015.

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher and Lisa Liddane

Suit follows city’s ban

Huntington Beach was one of a handful of Orange County cities to adopt a city rule that would ban sex offenders from their parks. And the city is now being sued because of it.

When the ban came up in November last year, the council was divided on what type of rule would work best in Huntington Beach.

Some council members said the ban had too many gray areas and that violent offenders would not be deterred by the ordinance. Supporters of the ban said a blanket rule was needed to ensure children were protected in kid-friendly areas and that there should be no exceptions.

Huntington Beach, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa and Seal Beach were named in a lawsuit filed Oct. 1 that alleges the cities’ bans violate some sex offenders’ constitutional rights.

Lake Forest this month rescinded its ban.

What’s next: City officials say they expect the issue to come back to the City Council for possible tweaks and clarification.

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Sponsors exit U.S. Open of Surfing

Major corporate sponsors pulling out of the largest surf event in the world made headlines nationwide in September.

Nike, Hurley and Converse will no longer sponsor the major surf event, which draws hundreds of thousands of people to Surf City’s shores in the summer.

The companies have backed the event for a few years – Hurley since 2009 and Nike and Converse since 2010.

Before it was the Nike and Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing, it was the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill. Bank of the West sponsored the festival for a few years. At one time it was called the U.S. Open of Surfing, presented by Philips Electronics. In the mid-’90s, it was the G-Shock U.S. Open of Surfing, and then the Shockwave U.S. Open of Surfing.

City officials and surfing experts say sponsors come and go, but whoever steps up next will have big shoes to fill.

What’s next: There is no word yet on who might take over the event. Stayed tuned in 2013 for updates.

– Laylan Connelly and Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Plans for Vans skate park cruise forward

Each time the Wave has updated the public about plans for the Vans skate park, a flurry of emails and phone calls follows asking when the free world-class skatepark would open.

It became very clear – the skate community is eager for this park.

If things go as planned, skaters will only have to wait a few more months.

What’s next: Vans this month broke ground on its Off the Wall Skatepark, which is expected to open in the spring.

The park will cater to street and vert skaters as well as BMX riders.

The 30,000-square-foot skate park will include a 15,000-square-foot skate bowl and a 12,000-square-foot skate plaza featuring boxes, rails and other amenities.

Jack’s Surfboards is opening a 3,000-square-foot retail space and snack shop called Jack’s Garage. It will carry all things related to skateboarding and BMX.

– Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

Register reporters Brantley Watson, Lisa Liddane and Laylan Connelly contributed to this report.

