Bits 'n' Pieces

Multiple Sclerosis: What You Need to Know

March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about this chronic neurological disease that affects over 2.8 million people worldwide. As cases continue to rise, Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center (SMMC) encourages the public to recognize early symptoms and seek medical guidance, stressing that early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve long-term outcomes.

MS is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. Symptoms can vary in severity and progression, often leading to long-term disability if left untreated.

Common early warning signs include:

• Visual disturbances – Blurred or double vision, or partial loss of vision
• Numbness or tingling – Often in the face, arms, or legs
• Muscle weakness – Leading to coordination and balance difficulties
• Fatigue – A persistent sense of tiredness unrelated to activity levels
• Dizziness – Feelings of lightheadedness or vertigo
• Cognitive changes – Memory issues, attention deficits, or difficulty problem-solving

Since MS symptoms mimic other conditions, individuals experiencing persistent or unexplained neurological symptoms should consult a healthcare professional as early as possible.

Multiple Sclerosis presents unique challenges due to its unpredictable nature, but early detection and treatment are essential for effective management,” said Dr. Wally Wazni, a vascular neurologist and the Medical Director of the Stroke Program at St. Mary Medical Center. “With ongoing advancements in care, individuals diagnosed with MS today have more options than ever to maintain a high quality of life.

By increasing public knowledge and encouraging early screenings, we hope to help more individuals take control of their health and improve their long-term outcomes.

New Online Flight Planning Tool

Long Beach Airport (LGB) is now offering the FlyMyAirport search tool, an online feature that allows passengers to more easily search for and find nonstop and connecting flights to and from LGB.

Available on lgb.org and on the airline destination’s webpage, the FlyMyAirport search tool provides a seamless way to search flights, compare options, and even explore special travel packages, including hotel and rental car deals. The search tool is powered by KAYAK and is a product of Airport One, LLC.

This new tool will simplify the flight planning process by making it easier for travelers to explore LGB’s extensive travel options and more. Currently, LGB offers nonstop flights to 23 airports nationwide, including Hawaii, with one-stop service to nearly 400 cities around the world. For example, Delta Air Lines offers one-stop access to major European cities such as Amsterdam, London and Paris; Hawaiian Airlines provides convenient connecting flights to Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney; and with just one stop, Southwest Airlines travelers can reach Liberia (Costa Rica), Puerto Vallarta and Reykjavik.

By avoiding the stress and complexities of other major airports in the region – plus enjoying LGB’s relaxed atmosphere and quick curb-to-gate access – travelers may find it more convenient to depart from LGB, even when a connection is required.

“This new search function makes it easier than ever for travelers to efficiently plan their journeys from LGB to almost anywhere, not just to the nonstop destinations offered by our major air carriers,” said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “This tool reflects our commitment to enhancing the customer experience and making LGB the preferred gateway for Southern California travelers.”

Trade Rises at Port

Trade moving through the Port of Long Beach rose for a ninth consecutive month in February as retailers continued to move goods ahead of anticipated tariffs placed on some imported products and materials.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 765,385 twenty-foot equivalent units in February, up 13.4% from the same month last year. Imports rose 11.8% to 368,669 TEUs and exports increased 2.9% to 90,026 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port climbed 19.1% to 306,690 TEUs.

“No matter the situation, the port will remain competitive by delivering exceptional customer service and moving ahead with capital improvement projects that will allow us to grow well into the future,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We thank our industry partners for choosing to do business with us.”

“Our dockworkers, marine terminal operators and all of our industry partners are processing an extraordinary amount of cargo through this vital trans-Pacific gateway,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “We will continue to rely on our reputation of moving cargo quickly, reliably and sustainably while providing outstanding customer service.”

The port has moved 1,718,118 TEUs during the first two months of 2025, a 27.4% increase from the same period in 2024.

For complete cargo numbers, visit polb.com/statistics.

In 2025, the port is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Green Port Policy, which has led to aggressive, industry-leading programs to improve air and water quality, protect marine wildlife and implement sustainable practices. To learn more, visit www.polb.com/environment.

Fire Station 14 Re-Opens

City officials and community members recently celebrated the grand reopening of Fire Station 14 following a comprehensive renovation and upgrade project funded by Measure A. The community event marked the completion of a key milestone in the city’s commitment to enhancing public safety and modernizing critical infrastructure.

Throughout the event, tours of the newly renovated facility were provided, showcasing the improvements and innovations that are now part of the fire station. The updates will not only enhance operational efficiency but also improve overall emergency preparedness across Long Beach.

The $5.5 million renovation located at 5200 E. Elliot St., is part of the city’s Elevate ‘28 Infrastructure Investment Plan and was made possible by approximately $4.7 million in Measure A funds, a voter-approved funding initiative with a goal to improve local public safety facilities and services. The upgrades provide a modernized space that enhances both firefighter safety and operational efficiency, ensuring the department is equipped to respond to emergencies with the latest technology and resources.

The renovations include significant upgrades to modernize living and sleeping quarters for firefighters. Prior to the remodel, the station had one male restroom and one gender neutral restroom for fire personnel; now the station includes additional male, female and gender-neutral restrooms. The station also now includes expanded and improved storage areas for firefighting equipment, enhanced safety features such as upgraded systems and fire suppression capabilities and modernized administrative spaces. Additionally, the renovated station now includes the latest state-of-the-art technology and systems designed to optimize emergency response times and provide a safer work environment for LBFD personnel.

City Appoints New Human Resources Director

City Manager Tom Modica announced the appointment of Bryce M. Tyler as the director of the Human Resources Department. Tyler is a distinguished human resources executive who brings to the position over 20 years of experience in the public sector delivering strategic innovation and leadership. Following an extensive national recruitment, Tyler stood out as the best candidate to fill this critical leader leadership position. He will begin his role as director on March 24.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Tyler join our city family as our new Human Resources Director,” said City Manager Tom Modica. “Mr. Tyler is a seasoned HR leader with a proven track record for delivering efficient, effective and transformative HR solutions. We look forward to his leadership in further enhancing and uplifting our hiring and recruitment practices as well as all HR efforts in support of our incredible workforce.”

As director of human resources, Tyler will oversee a team of approximately 111 department staff and the human resource needs of over 6,100 city employees. He will play a critical role in shaping the city’s human capital strategies by overseeing the management of labor relations, employee relations, benefits, organizational development, talent recruitment and retention, salary and classification administration, among many other critical HR functions.

The city’s Human Resources Department has made significant strides in modernizing and centralizing its processes by streamlining workflows and enhancing service delivery across the organization. These reform efforts have transformed how the department supports the city’s workforce by creating a more efficient and effective operational framework. To further these ongoing efforts, as director, Tyler will also lead the implementation of Measure JB, the voter-approved charter amendment that will successfully merge the Civil Service and HR Departments into a unified hiring department, modernize recruitment processes, implement local hiring preferences and achieve a goal of hiring within 90 business days.

He will additionally oversee the 2025 negotiations process for police, fire and lifeguards, addressing critical recruitment and retention challenges and setting the tone for subsequent labor agreements and will collaborate with the city’s Technology and Innovation Department to drive the transition from paper-based to automated processes and enhance other HR systems.

Prior to joining the city, Tyler served as the interim director of Human Resources for the City of Huntington Park, where he oversaw all HR operations, including labor negotiations, risk management and the modernization of HR systems. Tyler also previously held key leadership positions with multiple departments for the County of Los Angeles, including serving as the director of human resources for both the Internal Services Department and the Public Defender’s Office.

Tyler holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach. He also completed Los Angeles County’s Executive Leadership Development Program from the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy and is a senior certified professional (IPMA-HR).

New LBPD Deputy Chief

Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish has announced the appointment of Commander Mike Solomita to the position of deputy chief. This promotion was effective Feb. 22.

Solomita began his career with the Long Beach Police Department as a police recruit in 1997. He was promoted to sergeant in 2013, to lieutenant in 2019 and to commander in 2022.

Solomita has worked many diverse assignments throughout his career with the LBPD, including patrol, investigations and police academy instructor. He considers his most meaningful and rewarding work to be in the Special Victims Section, where he investigated domestic violence and sexual assaults and supervised the Child and Elder Abuse Detail.

Prior to his promotion to deputy chief, he worked as an administrative lieutenant in the Patrol Bureau, as a lieutenant in Internal Affairs, and, as a commander, he most recently served as the chief of staff in the office of the chief of police.

Solomita holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Political Science from California State University, Fullerton. He has been an integral member of the LBPD’s Baker to Vegas team serving as president, treasurer, team captain and runner throughout his career.

Effective March 15, the department will rotate the following command staff positions:

• Deputy Chief Ty Burford – Support Bureau
• Deputy Chief Megan Zabel – Patrol Bureau
• Deputy Chief Ryan LeBaron – Investigations Bureau
• Deputy Chief Mike Solomita – Community Services Bureau.