Bits 'N' Pieces

Amy Phan West Running for Congress in 47th District

Long-time Westminster resident Amy Phan West is running for Congress in the 47th District.

Unabashedly pro-life, committed to ending California’s shocking SeXXX Ed curriculum (officially known as “CA Healthy Youth Act”), a believer in legal immigration and fervently committed to keeping socialism away from America’s shores, West looks forward to meeting members of the community throughout the primary season to discuss issues that affect them.

Firmly believing in legal immigration West personally knows the hardships and sacrifices that asylum seekers go through to reach the United States. Fleeing communism after the Vietnam War, West and her family fled Vietnam in a dingy boat with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Their harrowing struggle to legally enter the United States includes waiting several long years in Thailand and Philippine refugee camps until they were granted asylum.

While Lowenthal supports open borders, illegal immigration, gun control, impeaching President Trump, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal, Medicare for All and late-term abortion, small business owner West focuses her goals on returning a conservative common-sense focus to the 47th district.

West will visit the Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated booth during the Saturday, July 27 Cypress Community Festival. The popular festival, with entertainment and activities planned throughout the day, takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Oak Knoll Park.

LBCC New Hires

The Long Beach Community College District has hired Dr. Alisia Kirkwood as its new dean of student affairs and Kristin Olson as associate vice president of human resources.

Under the direction of the vice president of student services, Kirkwood will be responsible for providing leadership for student government, student life, student health services, international students, student discipline, service learning/Viking Volunteers, Title IX student sexual harassment/violence, and the annual commencement ceremony.

Kirkwood has served as the interim dean of student affairs since December 2018. During her interim period, she chaired the largest commencement ceremony in LBCC’s 92 year-history.

Olson has served as the Long Beach City College’s executive director of classified human resources since October of 2017, and has worked as the interim vice president for the past year.

Under the supervision of the vice president of human resources, Olson will be responsible for the district’s human resources operations, including collective bargaining, employee/employer relations, academic recruitment and hiring processes, staff diversity, human resources information systems management, unlawful discrimination, and ADA accommodations.

Olson, a resident of Long Beach, previously worked for the Santa Clara County Office of Education in San Jose. She also served in various director roles in human resources for more than 10 years.

She has been involved in various professional organizations including: president of the board of directors for the Cooperative Organization for the Development of Employment Selection (CODESP); board member for the Personnel Commissioners’ Association of Southern California; and various roles in the Personnel Testing Council of Southern California, the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology, and the Western Region Intergovernmental Personnel Assessment Council.

New Oven Needed to Feed Needy Families

Christian Outreach in Action (COA), a nonprofit organization that serves families and individuals in need, has initiated a fund-raising campaign to replace a decade-old oven at its downtown Long Beach service property.

The nonprofit has established an online site for donations: https://www.gofundme.com/f/New-Stove-for-COA-Kitchen.

The oven helps COA cooks prepare and serve an estimated 130,000 hot meals annually to anyone who visits. Meals are served every morning; for dinner Monday to Friday; for lunch Saturdays; and lunch the last Sunday of the month.

COA is a nondenominational nonprofit organization but is affiliated with about 30 churches in the greater Long Beach area. The churches assist with the dinner and lunch services, and provide donated items to assist low-income and homeless families and individuals.

COA is located at 515 E. 3rd St. in downtown Long Beach. For more information call (562) 432-1440.

New Scholarships Available

Local students will have an affordable high-tech opportunity this summer, thanks to the Long Beach-Qingdao Association. The sister city group will sponsor scholarships for the Innovation & Robotics Summer Camp featuring LEGO robotics, with a “smart cities” theme, and a chance to collaborate with youth from China and other countries in the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) qualifier Aug. 3 at Cal State Long Beach.

 The LBQA is collaborating with Makersville, which offers several weeks of robotics-oriented training prior to the competition.

To prepare for the WRO competition, Makersville will present several week-long workshops in which students aged 8-18 will learn how to program robots, use artificial intelligence, and invent solutions to “smart cities” issues (such as remote driving, facial recognition, etc.). More information and registration can be found at www.makersville.net.

Patricia Tsoiasue of Makersville has spearheaded the local World Robot Olympiad qualifier for several years, and this will be the second year that youngsters from China have traveled to Long Beach for the event. Tsoiasue also expects participants from Trinidad.

 This WRO competition is positioned at the end of Makersville’s preparation course, though the prep course is optional. Competitors will include local students, some teamed up with others from China or elsewhere. Anyone up to age 21, however, with an interest in robotics and the “Smart Cites” theme is eligible to compete. To learn more and register for the competition itself, see https://www.wro-usa.org. Teams may advance to the National Championship at Juniper Aspiration Dome in the Bay Area. One of last year’s local teams advanced to the national finals.

To apply for the scholarships, look under “Robotics Competition Signups” at www.lbqa.org. While there is no deadline, scholarship funds are limited.

The Long Beach-Qingdao Association is an affiliate of Sister Cities International, and members act as “citizen ambassadors” to promote greater understanding of Chinese culture and people. The group, which has received national honors for its programs, will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2020.

Miller Foundation President Florie to Retire

Walter Florie has dedicated 28 years of outstanding leadership to the Miller Foundation in Long Beach with a commitment to serving Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller’s vision of “healthy children” in the Greater Long Beach community by actively supporting and generously funding local service organizations. During his tenure, the foundation has committed over $60 million to Long Beach organizations to grow and advance the health of the whole child in Long Beach.

From its beginning in 1967, the foundation has maintained its focus on serving children within the Greater Long Beach community. During the years since, the demographics of the community have changed dramatically, and the foundation, under Florie’s leadership, has strived to balance the growing needs of the community with the desires of the Millers.

Florie joined the foundation in 1991 as a trustee, 1993 as vice president, 1995 as president, and then in 2000 president/CEO. For more information about the Miller Foundation, visit: https://eandlmillerfdn.com/

Charity Golf Tournament for the Greater Good

Hundreds of lives will benefit from the proceeds raised at the Pathways 25th Anniversary Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 19.

Pathways, a community-based organization that provides compassionate care to families living with illness and loss has been responding to community needs for more than 34 years. Through volunteer caregiving for the frail-elderly and chronically ill, hospice care for those facing the end of life and bereavement counseling and support for children and families in grief, Pathways has become the trusted friend people turn to in their time of need.

The Pathways golf tournament is the agency’s biggest event of the year, and while it’s true that there are numerous golf tournaments put on each year by other non-profit organizations, Pathways seems to have found the formula that keeps golfers coming back year after year – plenty of food, a lot of fun, a great day of golf and raising money for a good cause.

The Pathways tournament begins with a shot-gun start at 12:30 and with a scramble format and best ball, even the most novice of golfers can have a good day. The $175 per player entry fee includes golf, cart, complimentary balls on the driving range, lunch, dinner and an array of complimentary food and beverages throughout the course. If you would like to know more about the Pathways, sign up for the golf tournament or learn how to become a Pathways Volunteer, contact Tina Hernandez at (562) 531-3031.

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