Bits 'n' Pieces

Vital Records Requests Now Available Online

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has launched VitalDirector, a new online platform that makes the application process for ordering birth and death certificates easier. This platform empowers people to conveniently manage the processing, payment and issuance of vital records from anywhere.

The new cutting-edge platform is provided by Permitium, who were chosen for the project after a competitive selection process. VitalDirector improves processing times, enhances security measures, provides a seamless experience for applicants and follows all vital records legal requirements. Users will have the option to request records be mailed directly to them or picked up from the city’s Vital Records Office at the Main Health Facility (2525 Grand Ave). Users will be notified by email, phone call or text message when their requests are approved and ready for pick up or shipped for delivery.

“Implementing online applications reflects a proactive approach to meeting the evolving needs of the community, said Health Department Director Alison King.

Online birth and death certificates are available for people who were born or who died in Long Beach since 2019. Online requests can now be made visiting the VitalDirector website.

Vital record fees for birth certificates are $32 and $24 for death certificates. Additional service fees will be applied for the new VitalDirector online service. In addition to this online service the Vital Records Office continues to offer in-person services, including requesting birth and death certificates, registering out-of-hospital births and obtaining burial permits. 

For more information, visit longbeach.gov/vitalrecords.

LB City College Wins National Award

Long Beach City College (LBCC) was named the national winner of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Award of Excellence in the category of Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging. This distinguished honor was presented at the AACC’s annual national conference in Nashville and recognizes LBCC’s trailblazing efforts to embed equity, belonging and inclusion throughout its campus culture and operations.

“This distinguishing accolade is a testament to the incredible dedication of our entire LBCC campus community,” said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. “Our faculty, staff and administrators have been intentional in transforming our college into a space where every student and employee feels seen, heard and supported. LBCC is now recognized across the nation leader for what can be achieved when you center equity and belonging at the heart of everything you do.”

LBCC Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz accepted the award on behalf of the College on April 15 in Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are deeply honored to receive this national recognition from the AACC,” said Muñoz. “At Long Beach City College, equity is not just a commitment – it is a daily practice. This award affirms the extraordinary work of our employees and reflects the transformative change that happens when you build a culture where students know they matter and belong.”

Under Muñoz’s leadership, LBCC has experienced historic outcomes in student success and institutional culture, including:

• A 43-point increase in student-reported mattering and belonging, rising from 49% to 92% in just two years.
• Achieving the highest enrollment in the college’s nearly 100-year history.
• Increasing the three-year completion rate by 50%, helping more students earn degrees, certificates, or transfer.
• Closing racial equity gaps in first-year completion of transfer-level math and English, especially for Black and Latina/o/x students.
• Increasing basic needs access by expanding food, housing and mental health support, including California’s first Safe Parking program for housing-insecure students.

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution with significant Black/African American, Asian Pacific Islander Desi and LGBTQIA+ student populations, LBCC has also launched and strengthened several equity-centered initiatives, including:

• Establishing a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Public Art Advisory Group to ensure campus art reflects student identities and cultures.
• Expanding Cultural Heritage Month celebrations with film screenings, speaker series, career panels and arts activities across multiple communities.
• Reinvigorating employee resource groups such as the Black Faculty & Staff Association and COLEGAS, while launching new spaces for LGBTQIA+, Disabled and Asian Pacific Islander Desi employees.
• Creating an Equitable Teaching Community that trains faculty to implement inclusive practices that support diverse learners in the classroom.
• Partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach to offer an on-campus afterschool program that provides childcare support for student-parents while helping K-12 youth thrive.

“These results are not coincidental – they are the result of courageous, intentional leadership,” said Muñoz. “We believe that student success and racial equity must be intertwined and this award validates that belief.”

LBSFCU Credit Union Hosts Hygiene Drive

LBS Financial Credit Union (LBSFCU) delivered over 490 personal hygiene supplies and wish list items to Long Beach City College Viking Vault and Cerritos College Falcon’s Nest as part of their annual hygiene drive.

The credit union purchased thousands of dollars of items on each school’s wish list and also held a hygiene supply drive with employees of the credit union during the month of February. In March, the credit union delivered items like body wash, deodorant, hand sanitizer, lotion, shampoo, toothpaste and other necessities crucial for maintaining overall good health.

“LBS Financial’s commitment has allowed us to enhance our capacity of students served at the Falcon’s Nest,” said Falcon’s Nest Program Facilitator, Amber Dofner. “We are honored to collaborate with LBSFCU and look forward to continuing this impactful partnership and to continue to make a difference in the lives of students at Cerritos College.”

“We have an average of 2,400 weekly visits to our on-campus pantry called the Viking Vault. Hygiene are some of the most requested items that our students ask for because of the cost, and our hygiene supplies rely solely on the donations we receive so we do not always have them in stock,” said Director, Basic Needs and CASA Grant, Justin Mendez. “The large and generous hygiene donation from the LBS Financial Credit Union has helped close a gap by keeping our shelves stocked and helping us meet the needs of our students.”

This marks LBSFCU’s second year of contributing hygiene supplies to the Long Beach City College Viking Vault and third year of supporting the Cerritos College Falcon’s Nest with similar donations. LBCC’s Viking Vault and Cerritos’ College’s Falcon’s Nest are focused on providing students on campus who are in need with access to food and basic needs items.

Gondoliers to Honor Late Teammate Shadden

As the Gondola Getaway team prepares for its 40th appearance in the renowned Vogalonga Regatta in Venice, Italy, their journey takes on greater significance as they have dedicated it to the memory of Bill Shadden, beloved gondolier who tragically died in 1993 after returning from his first Vogalonga.

To honor Bill’s adventurous spirit and passion for Venetian rowing, the Shadden family is establishing the Bill Shadden Carpe Diem Award, an annual scholarship that will annually support one deserving team member, ensuring that Bill’s legacy continues to inspire future gondoliers.

The Vogalonga, now in its 49th year, is a historic 30-kilometer rowing regatta through the canals and lagoons of Venice, celebrating the region’s rich maritime traditions. The Gondola Getaway team, founded in Long Beach 42 years ago and the only American team to compete, has spent decades perfecting the art of rowing “like Venetians” and proudly representing Naples Island, Long Beach, California, and the United States internationally.

Gondola Getaway is inviting the Long Beach community to support the Bill Shadden Carpe Diem Award and the team’s journey to Venice through sponsorship.

“The Vogalonga is a once-in-a-lifetime experience requiring extensive training, travel, logistics, flights, accommodations, food, boat rentals and race entry fees,” says Michael O’Toole, Gondola Getaway founder and chief gondolier. “We invite businesses, organizations and individuals to join us on this incredible journey by becoming sponsors.”

Call (562) 881- 0567 to inquire about being a sponsor.

Sponsorship provides a unique marketing opportunity for brands looking to gain international and local exposure while supporting a one-of-a-kind American team. Sponsors will receive their logo on team uniforms, boats and promotional merchandise including shirts and hats, exposure through social media, traditional media and community partnerships; and association with a Long Beach icon – The Gondola Getaway, a beloved institution for over 40 years.

The Gondola Getaway team has long been a marketing ambassador for the City of Long Beach, collaborating with Visit Long Beach, the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and global travel writers to showcase our city’s unique charm.

“With over 2,000 boats and 6,000 rowers, the Vogalonga is a spectacle of tradition, endurance and cultural heritage – and we are proud to be the only American team in the race,” O’Toole says.

Roller Rink Rolls Back

After an eight-month closure, Pigeon’s Roller Rink, a beloved hub for the local roller skating community, will be reopening at 2nd & PCH on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m., marked by a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony.

Owned and operated by Shayna Meikle, Pigeon’s Roller Rink has become a cherished fixture for the community. Meikle is also the founder of Pigeon’s Roller Skate Shop, which was proudly recognized as part of the 2024 Level Up Long Beach program, an initiative championed by Mayor Rex Richardson to elevate small business leaders and innovators across the city.

As part of the celebration, the first 25 guests through the doors will receive free entry, and the first 100 guests will take home a free gift from Pigeon’s – a token of appreciation for the community’s continued support.

Following the ribbon cutting, the rink will resume regular hours seven days a week, offering families, friends and skaters of all levels a vibrant and inclusive space to roll and reconnect.

Passes and memberships are available now for purchase online, making it easy for families and skating enthusiasts to plan ahead and enjoy the season to the fullest.

With community at the heart of its mission and a now second thriving location in Mission Viejo, Pigeon’s Roller Rink continues to be a cornerstone of fun, fitness and positive connection for skaters across the region.

For more information and to purchase passes or memberships, visit: www.pigeonsrollerrink.com.