Bits 'n' Pieces

Certified Blue Restaurant Program for Local Eateries

Long Beach Water announces its new Certified Blue Restaurant (CBR) Program for local eateries that meet specific water use efficiency standards. The first CBR is West Long Beach eatery Boba Tea House (1336 W. Willow St.). This program helps restaurants save water, energy and money on their monthly utilities and contributes to our community’s sustainable lifestyle.

“We take great pride in our quality of life here in Long Beach,” said Art Levine, president of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. “As part of that, we’re pleased to support and recognize our outstanding restaurants that achieve exceptional water efficiency in our community.

“We found there is a great water savings potential in restaurants. Local eateries can be tremendous partners in helping us create an even more water-wise community by participating in this program,” said Jenyffer Vasquez, CBR program manager at Long Beach Water. “Our staff works hard to provide restaurants support to ensure they meet the requirements to gain this esteemed certification.”

“Saving water is in all of our best interest. We want to show our neighbors that we’re doing our part to save both water and energy,” said Alex Taing, owner of Boba Tea House. “Every restaurant can benefit from this program; it’s good for our city!”

Interested restaurants can enroll at register.lbwater.org/restaurants to receive a no-cost, on-site efficiency survey, free water efficient devices (if eligible) and an assessment for other possible rebates. Once certified, restaurants receive a free branded “brag” kit to show off their pride in being water use efficient; the kit includes coasters, window clings, stickers and more. 

Restaurant goers can look out for the blue and green CBR stickers and coasters at Long Beach restaurants.

Routine Exam Saved Her Son’s Sight

You’ve heard of it: The Big “G” … glaucoma. Many of us think glaucoma affects only older people.

The truth is, while not everyone is at the same risk, this sight stealer also occurs in children, young adults and people of any age with diabetes. .If you’re Hispanic or African American, you are at greater risk.

It may be symptomless. The good news is it’s easy to diagnose. Says Kristine Kuhlmeier, an independent Doctor of Optometry. “I was examining a mom. Her 15-year-old son was with her and she asked me to check him, too. We caught his unsuspected glaucoma early and got him treated. Screenings are quick and painless.

Come see Dr. Kuhlmeier for a free eye pressure and acuity test, 9:30-6 Tues-Sat. For a full exam, most insurance is accepted.

Call, write or visit: (562) 790 2460. Kristinekuhlmeier@gmail.com, www.drkoptometry.com, 3705 E. South Street, (inside Walmart) Long Beach 90805.

$12M Gift for Camp Paivika

AbilityFirst announces a $12 million gift from the AS&F Foundation to create an endowment for Camp Paivika. The gift was announced in front of more than 300 attendees including campers, counselors and staff, alumni and supporters this past weekend at Camp Paivika’s 70th Anniversary event. AS&F Foundation trustees Carol and John Llewellyn were on hand to present the check to AbilityFirst CEO Lori Gangemi and camp director, Kelly Kunsek.

Lori Gangemi shares, “We are absolutely overjoyed with this gift from the AS&F Foundation. The endowment will help to provide a resource for sustainability for Camp Paivika so we can continue to help hundreds of individuals each year to make new friends, try new activities and become more independent, all while enjoying a traditional camp experience.”

For 70 years, Camp Paivika has been guided by the principle, “can” and not, “can’t” and the staff makes sure that no one is ever left out. Families and caregivers of campers also enjoy the opportunity to have respite from the rigors and challenges of providing around the clock care.

AS&F Foundation trustee Carol Llewellyn shares, “Camp Paivika is a special place – not just for campers but for all who are touched by their shared experiences here at camp. Magic happens at Camp Paivika and we believe this gift will help to ensure that magic continues for many years to come.”

The Camp Paivika Endowment will be used primarily for the upkeep, care, maintenance and replacement, including any capital projects and operations at Camp.

TLD Law Certified

TLD Law has announced national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the WBEC-West, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

“We are honored to have our firm officially certified as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise. TLD Law has long celebrated the diversity and special attributes our employees bring to the workplace and represent in their communities,” said Shannon Jenkins, partner at TLD Law. “This certification validates the pride we have to be a part of a firm that recognizes the achievements and contributions its female employees make on a daily basis, and which actively supports the growth of all its employees. This recognition sets us apart in the competitive legal field and we are grateful for the unique opportunities for participation, expansion and experience we are sure will come.”

WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the WBEC-West is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.

By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs.

To learn more about TLD Law, visit www.tldlaw.com.

Volleyball Anyone?

A new and upcoming girls’ volleyball club, ClubOC VB Academy, offers a unique blend of volleyball, goal setting and college recruiting package.

They have 15-18 year old tryouts in August and 10-14 year old tryouts in October at multiple locations in Garden Grove and Bellflower.

For information, check out www.clubocvolleyball.com or call (714) 585-9484.

Community Conversation Slated for September

We Love Long Beach, in partnership with the Long Beach Community Foundation (LBCF) and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, has launched a website, www.aroundthetablelb.com, to publicly announce Around the Table, an innovative initiative coming to Long Beach this fall. On Saturday, Sept. 23, this initiative invites Long Beach residents, non-profits, businesses, local government and the faith community together for the largest one-day, citywide community event in the history of the city.

Long Beach is one of 10 cities across the U.S. selected to replicate the On the Table initiative this year with

The goal of Around the Table is to connect individuals in the Long Beach Community and provide them with an opportunity to discuss what makes Long Beach great as well as what participants can do collectively to improve the city.

Twelve Long Beach Libraries, Rancho Los Cerritos, and The Attic are already registered to be SUPER hosts that can accommodate five or more tables of 50+ participants to join in conversation. All Long Beach Fire Stations will host tables and are expected to be registered in the next few days. Individuals are invited to host their own event with eight to 12 guests or join the super hosts and facilitate a larger group if they are able.

A table can take place anywhere…in front yards, in homes, at the beach, in the park, at schools, at a hospital, at coffee shops, on boats, or in restaurants -- just to name a few options. It can be over breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, potluck, happy hour or simply wine and cheese. The Around the Table goal is to have more than 1,000 tables and 10,000 participants throughout Long Beach all participating on September 23, 2017.