Bits 'n' Pieces

LGB Therapy Dogs

Long Beach Airport (LGB) is offering a new amenity aimed at reducing travel stress. The STARS (Simple Therapy And Real Smiles) program provides trained therapy dogs to comfort travelers making their way through the airport. After a successful pilot, the STARS program officially launched yesterday, Oct. 30, with nine therapy dogs.

To commemorate the occasion, the airport held a ceremony formally introducing the dogs and their handlers. The therapy dogs were outfitted with personalized vests, identifying their names and encouraging the public to stop and pet them. Each of the nine dogs also has its own trading card, which can be requested from the handler. The dog handlers are all official volunteers with the airport.

“The feedback from our travelers has been extremely positive,” said Cynthia Guidry, Long Beach Airport Director. “We love the pure delight that these dogs bring our passengers and how often we see travelers interacting and even taking selfies with our furry friends.”

The dogs vary in size and breed, from a chihuahua-terrier to a golden retriever to a labradoodle. The oldest participating dog, Coco, is a 12-year-old standard poodle and the youngest, Harmony, is a two-year-old lemon beagle. Travelers can encounter the dogs on the concourse, where they will be identified by their vests.

Travelers are encouraged to share their selfies with the dogs on social media and tag #AirportTherapyDogs and #FlyLGB.

Treats Only on Halloween

The Halloween spirit was alive throughout the halls of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach on Halloween morning. Miller Children’s & Women’s Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program partnered with the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) to deliver the ultimate trick-or-treating experience to kids too sick to leave the hospital for Halloween.

The joy and excitement could be felt all around as patients filled up their goodie bags dressed as super heroes, fairies and spooky clowns. There was even a patient dressed as a firefighter who got to meet his real-life heroes, including LBFD Fire Captain, Greg Curiel.

“Miller Children’s & Women’s is important to many of the firefighters who grew up around here,” says Curiel. “Many of us have had children born here or have even been treated here. It means a lot to be able to come and celebrate this holiday with these kids at a time where they miss out on the little things that make Halloween so special. We’re happy to help bring that Halloween spirit to them. It’s truly a special thing.”

LBFD members helped push patients in their wheelchairs or pulled them in wagons as they stopped at different departments in the hospital filling up their goodie bags with treats. Giovanni Olvera whose son Mason Olvera is a patient at Miller Children’s & Women’s shared that this special event made a real impact on his son. “It showed that they really do care about the kids here,” says Olvera. “Mason thought he was going to spend the day in his room, but instead he got to trick-or-treat and had a lot of fun doing it.”

That’s the goal of this special Halloween event, to make hospitalization seem less scary and make the experience a more positive one. Child Life Program Manager Rita Goshert explains, “It makes all the difference in the world. It brings a sense of normalcy during a time when our patients are missing out on normal childhood experiences. Parents are touched by it and it shows the families that we really do care. I always say it’s the best trick-or-treating spot in Long Beach!”

New St. Mary Hospital Nurse Executive Officer

St. Mary Medical Center (SMMC) announced the appointment of Gloria Gammage, RN, MSN, as chief nurse executive officer (CNEO), effective Oct. 31. In her role, she will be responsible for oversight of all nursing functions at SMMC.

Prior to joining SMMC, Gloria served as CNEO for Dignity Health – St. John’s Regional Medical Center in California’s Central Coast Division. As a nursing leader, she has been an integral member of the senior leadership team and worked closely with clinical staff at her hospitals on long-term strategic planning, quality improvement initiatives, and helping the hospitals significantly exceed patient experience targets. Gloria was also instrumental in establishing a nursing residency program and helped coordinate successful surveys from The Joint Commission focused on nursing provision of care and stroke.

“Gloria’s experience, leadership, and passion for delivering safe, high-quality health care made her the right person to lead our nursing staff at St. Mary,” says Carolyn Caldwell, SMMC Hospital President & CEO. “Her proven ability to work collaboratively and drive clinical excellence will help ensure a strong future for our hospital.”

Gloria holds a Master of Science degree in nursing (MSN) and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) from California State University Dominguez Hills. She is also a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) and has earned the Lean Practitioner Certification

Reading By 9

The Rotary Club of Long Beach held its annual “Reading by 9” fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Members and guests donated to the Long Beach Rotary Charitable Foundation to support early education and literacy to increase the number of Long Beach students reading at grade level by age 9. Now in its 21st year, this fast-paced and spirited event led by Rotary Past President and “Reading by 9” Chair Frank Newell resulted in $58,300 to provide books and e-books for Long Beach children.

Rotary Club of Long Beach President Mollie Beck said, “The donations raised this year will place thousands of new books into the hands of young readers, whether to read in their classrooms or take home to keep.”

The “Reading by 9” program was launched in 1999 by the Los Angeles Times, Scholastic Books, and local Rotary Clubs. The Rotary Club of Long Beach has continued the program and since its beginning has raised $735,000 providing over 265,000 books and e-books to Long Beach children directly as well as through their classrooms, libraries, schools, non-profit, and community literacy programs.

In remarks to Rotarians, Cindy Young, Director of Long Beach Unified District Child Development Centers, described the achievement gap between lower and higher income families and how reading can close that gap, “Every word and experience is important and creates opportunities for our children to achieve success – and that is why we appreciate our partnership with the Rotary Club of Long Beach.”

Racing Ahead Thanks to Race Track Donation

A partnership with the Los Alamitos Race Track that started over 60 years ago continues to be a crucial part of The Youth Center’s growth. “Not only did the Los Al Race Track help build the original facilities in the late 1950s, they still help us improve and fund more scholarships to this day,” says Lina Lumme, executive director of The Youth Center.

Now, thanks to a $5,000 donation from the Los Alamitos Race Track’s Racing to Help Kids Succeed program on October 30th, services at the Center will continue to expand.

This valuable funding will help expand the Center’s literacy program and provide additional tutoring services and scholarships for local families. It will also allow the Center’s after-school programs to build a much-anticipated computer center. The 200+ students that attend the Center’s programs daily will now have access to the internet for their online research and homework needs. “I am so excited! I don’t have to wait until I get home to get my online homework done,” shared Mario Cortez, a student at the Center.

“It is such an honor to continue supporting this great cause that helps develop youth into the future leaders,” says Orlando Gutierrez from the Los Alamitos Race Track.

The funds will be put to use immediately, as more scholarships will be offered and books will be ordered.

Since 1952, The Youth Center’s mission has been to transform the lives of one family at a time. For more information, visit www.theyouthcenter.org or call (562) 493-4043.

Gaylord Announces for LBCC Board of Trustees

Richard (Dick) Gaylord, chairman of the Personnel Commission at Long Beach City College (LBCC) has declared his candidacy for the City College Board of Trustees, Area 4. Dick is seeking the Area 4 Trustee seat being vacated by current member Doug Otto. The election is Nov. 3, 2020.

A long-time resident of Belmont Shore, Gaylord has devoted his life to community service. Among his many honors, he was the March of Dimes “Man of the Year” and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Beach Chapter of the NAACP in 2015.

A nationally recognized Realtor, Dick has served as President of both the California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. He was awarded “Realtor of the Year” by the National Association of Realtors.

In addition to 20 years on the LBCC Personnel Commission, which he now chairs, he has also served as chairman of both the City of Long Beach Civil Service Commission and the Planning Commission, as vice chair of the City’s Economic Development Commission and as president of Friends of Belmont Shore.

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