Bits 'n' Pieces

Southwest Launches Flights to Nashville

Southwest Airlines announced that it will begin offering daily, nonstop flights from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Nashville International Airport (BNA), with service set to start on Nov. 6. Tickets are available now at Southwest.com.

Southwest’s flights to Nashville – utilizing the airline’s Boeing 737 fleet – will depart seven mornings per week. On weekdays, the aircraft will depart around 9 a.m. and then make an approximately 45-minute stop at BNA to drop off passengers visiting Nashville and the surrounding area, and then will continuing on to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia. According to the new schedule, weekday travelers can depart LGB and arrive at DCA in six and a half hours.

Southwest Airlines first began service from LGB in 2016 and has continued to increase its presence at the airport since then. Of the 53 daily flight slots available at Long Beach’s noise-controlled airport, Southwest currently holds a majority, with a total of 38.

Including Nashville, the Dallas-based airline will now fly nonstop to 15 U.S. cities from LGB.

In addition to Southwest’s flight slots, Delta Air Lines holds seven, American Airlines holds four, Hawaiian Airlines has two and Breeze Airways and UPS each have one.

Long Beach Airport will now offer nonstop service to 16 destinations across the nation, including Hawaii.

Virtual Talks with Bestselling Authors

The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) is launching a series of virtual talks in July featuring bestselling authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.

The free, virtual author talk series will take place two to four times a month and include interactive Q&A sessions. A complete list of events is available on LBPL’s virtual speaker series website at libraryc.org/lbpl. Upcoming author talks include:

The Henna Artist – Author Talk with Alka Joshi, New York Times Bestselling Author and Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick – July 7 at 6 p.m.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity – Author Talk with David Allen, NYT Bestselling Author and World’s Leading Expert on Stress-Free Productivity – July 14 at 9 a.m.

Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America – Author Talk with Dr. Marcia Chatelain, Historian and Pulitzer Prize Winner – August 3 at 11 a.m.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information or to register for the author talks, visit libraryc.org/lbpl or call (562) 570-7500.

Community Center in Memory of Thomas Clark

The community center at El Dorado Park West has been dedicated in honor of Dr. Thomas J. Clark, a three-time mayor of Long Beach who served on the City Council for 30 years – the longest of any person in city history.

The recommendation to rename the Fourth District’s El Dorado Park West Senior Center as Dr. Thomas J. Clark Community Center was brought forth by Councilman Daryl Supernaw and co-sponsored by Council members Cindy Allen and Al Austin. The recommendation was approved by the City Council on January 4, recognizing the legacy, contributions and service of the man, who died in 2020 at the age of 93.

Dr. Clark, an optometrist, was elected to represent the City Council’s Fourth District for an unprecedented eight terms, from 1965 to 1996, and was selected by his peers three times to serve as mayor from 1975 to 1984 – before mayors were elected by citywide voting. Prior to that, he served on the Parks and Recreation Commission in the early 1960s, leading the commission’s efforts to secure a bond for the purchase of land that is now El Dorado Park West.

“It’s safe to say that without Tom Clark’s efforts, the hundreds of acres of open space we enjoy at El Dorado Park today would likely have been developed for commercial purposes,” said Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw. “The man who handed out Clark Bars while he walked the district campaigning has left a sweet legacy in Long Beach.”

Born on July 13, 1926, in San Diego, Dr. Clark graduated from Long Beach’s Wilson High School and joined the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. He later attended Long Beach City College, where the 6-foot, 2-inch student was a track star (inducted into the LBCC Hall of Champions), before earning a doctorate in optometry from UC Berkeley.

Expanded Library Programming for Teens

The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) is expanding its programming for teens at several branch locations. The summer and after-school programs will add a variety of enrichment activities for youth ages 12 and older with a strong focus on wellbeing, creativity, STEAM learning and collaborative interaction.

Library branches that will feature expanded teen programming starting this summer include Billie Jean King Main Library, Burnett, Harte, Los Altos, Mark Twain and Michelle Obama. The new programs include the following:

Read Beyond the Beaten Path is the LBPL’s Summer Reading Program, with drop-in workshops for teens that include:

Shared Science: Critter Plushies – Sew a critter plushie and then add tech adaptations to help it survive in a changing biome at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 7, at Billie Jean King Main Library and 4 p.m. Thursday, August 4, at Michelle Obama.

Shared Science: Paper Marbling – Create marbled stationery with hydrophilic and hydrophobic ink techniques at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at Mark Twain.

Let’s Rock! – Walk the path of those who looked to crystals for healing. Learn about the most common types of crystals that nature has to offer and make your own crystal beaded bracelet at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at Mark Twain.

Pathways of the Stars – Explore the constellations, learn more about your inner cosmic being through astrology and create string art of your Zodiac sign at 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 3 at Mark Twain.

SEED: Growing a STEAM Community is a hands-on, experiential, arts-integrated STEAM summer camp program for incoming seventh and eighth graders. These free weekly camps run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 27 - August 5. Applications are now being accepted online or residents can visit any Long Beach Public Library branch to apply.

Teen Advisory Groups (TAG) is a program for teens interested in volunteer learning opportunities or leadership development. TAGs are a great way for teens to learn and practice crucial interpersonal skills such as teamwork, collaboration, communication, empathy and problem-solving, while having fun with friends. The LBPL is currently seeking members for its TAG program. Visit one of these locations to join or learn more about TAG: Billie Jean King Main Library, Burnett, Harte, Los Altos, Mark Twain and Michelle Obama.

For more information about Long Beach Public Library teen programming and other activities for youth, visit lbpl.org or call (562) 570-7500.

New Artistic Director

The Long Beach Chorale & Chamber Orchestra has appointed Matthew Martinez as its new artistic director.

Prior to joining LBCCO as guest conductor in 2016 and starting his tenure as interim artistic director in 2019 during Eliza Rubenstein’s sabbatical, Matthew Martinez earned his master’s degree from UC Irvine, studying voice and conducting. He was the music director at Mesa Verde United Methodist Church in Costa Mesa for 10 years and the choir director at Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot in Irvine.

A member of the American Choral Directors’ Association, Martinez is also a contributor for Bachtrack, writing reviews for classical music performances across Southern California. He wears multiple hats in his professional life with a career at UC Irvine as the IT director for the School of Biological Sciences.

Under their new leadership, the Long Beach Chorale’s 2022/2023 season begins with a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria in December. Auditions for the group take place in early August.

Grants to Support Summer Youth Programming

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is launching its first disbursements of Measure US funds via two rounds of community grant opportunities that will support youth development. A total of $225,000 will be available to provide summer programs for children and young adults between the ages of 8 and 24 in Long Beach.

In November 2020, Long Beach residents passed Measure US – an oil production tax – to provide funding for public health, climate change and youth development efforts.

The Nonprofit Partnership (TNP) will manage the distribution of the first two rounds of grants on behalf of the Health Department’s Office of Youth Development. The grants will be issued to qualified applicants, including nonprofit organizations, informal groups, student and parent associations, school clubs and neighborhood associations that can help youth who are most impacted by COVID-19, chronic health conditions, crime and poverty.

Additional Measure US grant opportunities to support youth in Long Beach will be made available later this summer.

Hospital Recognized for Asthma Excellence

MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach was recognized for the fourth consecutive time for excellence in pediatric asthma care. Miller Children’s & Women’s remains the only free-standing children’s hospital in California, and only one of 13 hospitals in the nation, to receive the Disease Specific Certification in Pediatric Asthma from The Joint Commission.

The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization offering unbiased assessment of quality achievement in patient care and safety. This re-certification denotes the highest honor for quality in patient care for children with asthma.

Since the last site review, the care team has focused on a couple of key initiatives. The first is a study designed to track and improve how patients are managing asthma after hospitalization. Improvements were seen through increased education and implementation of a standard asthma control test.

The second initiative was to create a strategy to care for asthma patients, especially those who are at higher risk of hospitalization, seen for follow-up care within two-weeks from hospitalization or diagnosis. The importance of seeing patients as soon as two-weeks after their visit helps ensure that they are receiving the most appropriate care and treatment, which will help the patient live a healthier life.

The team continues to work on closing the gaps in the transition between inpatient and outpatient care in order to give fully comprehensive care for their patients.

Long Beach Water Adopts 2022-2023 Budget

The Board of Water Commissioners has unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, focusing on enhancing access to affordable, reliable drinking water, continuing conservation efforts and investing in water and sewer infrastructure – all with no rate increase for customers.

The $156 million water budget and $23 million sewer budget for Fiscal Year 2023, covering October 2022 through September 2023, support Long Beach Water’s commitment to provide exceptional quality drinking water, reliable sewer service and excellent customer service.

“Under the most difficult circumstances, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners and Long Beach Water staff have produced a budget that has successfully confronted global cost increases and infrastructure needs, while facing the vagaries of a continuing drought,” Board President Bob Shannon said. “That all of this has been accomplished without burdening our customers with a rate increase makes us especially proud.”

Between the two budgets, Long Beach Water is set to invest more than $46 million in system investments, including $16 million dedicated to groundwater well rehabilitation and construction.

As California continues to face unprecedented drought, Long Beach Water is investing in a sustainable drinking water supply by enhancing access to groundwater, our most reliable and affordable source. The Capital Improvement Plan includes rehabilitation of up to 20 existing groundwater wells and construction of 12 new wells in the coming years.

The budget also includes rehabilitation of water storage tanks, improvements to the Groundwater Treatment Plant and maintenance of sewer and water pipelines, valves and meters throughout Long Beach. Long Beach Water also continues to invest in conservation, offering assistance and incentives for residents and businesses.

The 2023 budget accounts for global price increases in raw materials, chemicals and construction due to supply chain challenges, pandemic closures and inflation. No projects in the Capital Improvement Plan have been deferred due to cost increases. Long Beach Water’s budget team continues to monitor market trends and will bring updates and any adjustments to the Board as needed.

Reserves are used to cover some added costs and continue to keep rates low for customers. Future budget projections include plans to build back reserves for future use.

For more information on the budget, visit Lbwater.org/budget.

Students Recognized

Musical Theatre West (MTW) is pleased to recognize the outstanding musical theatre achievements of 14 high school students from Los Angeles County and Orange County with scholarships for the upcoming 2022-2023 year. On June 25, each student was recognized with a $1,000 scholarship and performed LIVE at the MTW Footlighters Luncheon in Long Beach.

Each year, the MTW Footlighters award scholarships to local high school students. Since the program’s inception in 2005, over $120,000 in scholarships have been awarded to deserving students. Many scholarship recipients go on to pursue careers in the performing arts, including 2010 scholarship winner Kyle Selig. Selig went on to win Best Actor in the National High School Scholarship aka the Jimmy Awards that same year in New York, and has since starred in The Book of Mormon and Mean Girls on Broadway.

This year, MTW awarded scholarships in Technical Theatre and Dance for the first time, as well as adding two new scholarships: the Stevi Meredith Scholarship and the Jane Netherton Scholarship. MTW also grew its Mentorship Program, which connects scholarship winners from previous years with the newest awardees, fostering a community of emerging theatre artists.

In order to be eligible to receive a scholarship, students must be nominated by their performing arts teachers, followed by an audition in front of executives from MTW and other musical theater professionals. After much deliberation upon seeing all the talented students nominated this season, MTW would like to congratulate the 2022 Scholarship winners listed below:

• Scarlet Bailey, Palos Verdes High School
• Nick Daniel, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
• Neela David, Palos Verdes High School
• Ruby Denmion, Wilson High School
• Caiden Falstrup-Finney, Palos Verdes High School
• Angelina Garcia, St. Anthony High School
• Naomi Groleau, Orange County School of the Arts
• Amanda Guevara-Blanco, Los Alamitos High School
• Haven Hanson, Orange County School of the Arts
• Brock Lichthardt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
• MJ Ordinario, Bellflower High School
• Jordan Spena, Orange County School for the Arts
• Natalia Vassilian, Tesoro High School
• Landon Wouters, Orange County School of the Arts

Re-opening of Recreation Park Playground

The City of Long Beach celebrated the grand re-opening of the redesigned Recreation Park Playground, located along the north side of 7th Street between Federation Drive and Park Avenue.

The newly renovated Recreation Park Playground will provide the community with updated playground facilities that create a safe space for hours of play and exploration. The playground renovations include two new separate age-appropriate playground structures for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12.

The two playground surfacing areas include rubberized surfacing that allows playground enthusiasts of all abilities to access each of the different types of play offered including, but not limited to, swinging, balancing, climbing, sliding and spinning. Playground panels include American Sign Language basics to interact with all playground users and interactive play areas include features such as a “Dino Excavation Zone” digging area, multiple dinosaur structures, a megaphone and color play. Xylophone and bongo drums offer playground users an auditory experience.

Enhanced outdoor recreational features include a skateboard park element, new picnic tables and seating, in addition to landscaping beatification such as new trees and turf.

Park amenities were designed with the forethought of improving accessibility infrastructure to promote inclusive play and recreation and to increase ADA accessibility.

The $1.9 million project was made possible through Measure A funds which has resulted in repairs and upgrades to many Long Beach parks and facilities.

Rocket Lab Successfully Launches CAPSTONE

Rocket Lab USA, based in Long Beach, successfully launched CAPSTONE, a microwave-oven-sized satellite designed to test a new orbit around the Moon for NASA. The mission is the first launch of NASA’s Artemis program.

CAPSTONE was launched on June 28 on an Electron rocket from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The mission was Rocket Lab’s 27th Electron launch.

“Today’s launch was an important step in humanity’s return to the Moon and a testament to the determination, resolve, and innovation of the hundreds of people behind CAPSTONE,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck.