Community News

Grand Prix on Straight Talk

Jim Michaelian, president/CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, will be the guest on the next edition of Straight Talk. He joins host Art Levine to discuss some of the exciting features of this year’s race, which runs Friday through Sunday, April 7-9. New this year is the Can-Am Challenge, where 1,000 horsepower engines rev up the action as these historic machines take to the streets of Long Beach for the first time. Showcasing the golden age of Can-Am racing, marques like McLaren, Lola, and Shadow will be part of this year’s festivities.

This Straight Talk show will air in Long Beach/Signal Hill on Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on LBTV Channel 3 and Frontier FiOS 21. It also airs Saturday and Sunday in Long Beach and 70 surrounding cities at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Charter Channel 188. It will be repeated the following weekend at the same times. Straight Talk is also viewable on demand at www.StraightTalkTV.com.

Youth Center Fundraiser

Experience a blast from the past at The Youth Center’s “The 70s Party,” a fundraiser of their 2017 Community Support Campaign to be held on March 21, 5-8:30 p.m. at The Studio at Alamitos Eye Care in Los Alamitos.

Deep Purple tribute band, “Perfect Strangers” will play 70s rock including such songs as Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, and Space Truckin’. Also performing will be the Architects of Jazz, a five piece jazz band from Los Alamitos High School group making the jazz circuit, and the Long Beach All-Stars headed by Shy but Fly, a Long Beach based Blues-oriented group. The Youth Center Orchestra led by Maestro Tom Mitter will also be performing.

Space is limited to the first 150 people. A $10 donation is encouraged and will go to The Youth Center. Attendees can wear “exploding colors” attire from the 70s to experience the full effect and experience of this event. For tickets or further information about donating to The Youth Center’s Community Support Campaign, please go online to theyouthcenter.org or call (562) 493-4043. The Studio at Alamitos Eye Care is located at 10951 Cherry St. in Los Alamitos.

Women Veteran Fundraiser

Pilates X Studio in conjunction with the American Legion Auxiliary Huntington Beach, is sponsoring a day to support homeless women veterans on Saturday, March 25, from 2-5 p.m.

The event will take place at the Pilates X Studio at 5555 E. Stearns St., #108. Promises Purses provides gently used purses filled with every day needs for homeless women veterans. Items like tissue packs, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, deodorant, individual sanitary items, gloves, travel sized toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soaps, toothpaste toothbrush and mouthwash) are some of the items that will fill the purses.

All of the purses will be donated to the Long Beach Veteran’s Medical Center. People are encouraged to donate purses and travel-sized toiletries. Cash donations will also be accepted.

In addition to the drop off point for Promises Purses, there will be a pop up boutique where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Legion Auxiliary and many of their women’s causes such as the Woman’s Medical Center at the Long Beach Veterans Medical Center, Women’s Mental Health Clinic, and the RENEW program at the Villages of Cabrillo and other programs for woman veterans.

Pilates X Studio is a neighborhood Pilates studio founded by Kim and Bob Marsh in 2009. The Pilates X team strives to bring awareness of the practice of Pilates to the local community through a wide variety of private and group classes and welcomes all levels of Pilates experience.

Spring into Summer Concert

Although spring is just beginning, Councilwoman Suzie Price is ready to kick this season off with her 3rd Annual Spring into Summer Concert. It will take place on Sunday, March 26 and will once again feature the band, The Dustbowl Revival.  This community concert is a free, family friendly event set to take place at Marine Stadium Park at 4:30 p.m., and will also include various sweet and savory food trucks, as well as attractions for kids.

“I am excited to again spend a fun evening with fantastic Long Beach residents as we enjoy the great weather, our beautiful parks, and new music from this amazing band, not to mention gourmet food trucks, and a bounce house for the kids.” Councilwoman Price said in a statement. “Don’t forget to bring your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the concert.”

Cambodia Culture Festival

Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews and Cambodia Town, Inc., will co-host the 9th Annual Cambodia Town Culture Festival on Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 2, at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St.

Join the Cambodian community as they celebrate the affluent traditions of Cambodia and ring in the Cambodian New Year, the “Year of the Monkey.”

The open air festival will have hands-on demonstrations of a variety of art forms from Cambodia’s rich and ancient culture. Local Cambodian artisans and culture bearers will share their expertise through interactive demonstrations. “This is one of my favorite events in the city of Long Beach,” said Councilman Dee Andrews. “It offers a window into the magnificent culture that makes the Cambodian community so vibrant and respected.”

Among the arts and cultural exhibits on display will be Cambodian classical dance and costuming, drawing, shadow puppets, music, musical instruments, textiles, dressmaking, weddings, gardening and cooking.

The cultural festival is co-sponsored by Long Beach Councilmember Dee Andrews, Cambodia Town, Inc., Edison International, Midtown Business Improvement District and Cambodian Coordinating Council, and supported in part by grants from the Arts Council for Long Beach, City of Long Beach and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information call (562) 570-6816 or visit www.longbeach.gov/district6.