EDITORIAL:Human spirit shines through

As we conclude the holiday season and move into the new year, we realize how much we have to be thankful for. Huntington Beach is experiencing tremendous growth and prosperity and the residents here showed again this holiday season just how giving they are.

But amid the good cheer was a bit of unhappy news, as we learned that a woman hired to be a caregiver for an 80-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of forgery, grand theft and elder abuse.

Now, we are sure the majority of readers are just as appalled to learn of this story as we were.

The alleged victim, retired New York Transit Authority worker Salvatore Valenti, had his pension funds sacked and his mobile home sold right from under him.

The resident of the Sea Cliff Health Care Center in Huntington Beach was especially vulnerable, as his wife had died two years ago and his family was all back east.

Thankfully, through the help of Sea Cliff employees, the Huntington Beach Police Department was notified and justice is now taking its course.

There is a happy ending, though. While Valenti may never see all of his money returned, his story prompted members of the Huntington Beach Police Department’s bunco forgery unit to assist the senior citizen in his time of need.

The members of the unit pooled their money to give him some Italian food, gifts and even some cash to help him out. Even better, they took some time to celebrate the holidays with him.

Just when it seems that the world can’t get any colder, the human spirit comes through again to put a priority on what is truly important.

While this incident is a reminder to us all that the elderly are increasingly vulnerable to thieves and con artists, it also reminds us that there is still a lot of good in us all and reason to be hopeful that this will indeed be a Happy New Year in Huntington Beach.