Bits 'n' Pieces

Local Information Resources for Covid-19

In an effort to provide community members with the most current information about COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the City of Long Beach has been updating the COVID-19 web page with facts and safety precautions to help prevent the transmission of the virus.

The city continues to encourage all residents to visit www.longbeach.gov/COVID19 for up-to-date facts on COVID-19, and to avoid misinformation. People can also follow updates, tips and notices on the city’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept and by following hashtag #COVID19LongBeach.

The community should continue to take general health precautions that prevent the spread of viruses:

Wash hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Stay home if you are sick.

The Long Beach Health Department continues to urge individuals to disclose any recent travel to affected areas to their health care providers if they develop symptoms such as fever or respiratory symptoms, and providers are urged to ask patients about their travel history and report any suspected cases of COVID-19 to the Health Department immediately. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should seek additional care by calling 911.

If individuals have additional questions, or do not have access to online resources, they should call the city’s COVID-19 Information Line at (562) 570-INFO (4636), between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Report Provides Options to Protect Marine Life

The Aquarium of the Pacific has released a report on decommissioning offshore oil rigs in California. The report summarizes the proceedings and findings of a forum held at the aquarium in January.

Forum participants included representatives from federal and state agencies responsible for the decommissioning process, industry experts, and academic scientists. They discussed the current status of oil rigs off California’s coast, existing regulations regarding decommissioning, and what actions are needed to create a path toward more sustainable options.

“California is faced with a singular opportunity as its twenty-seven offshore oil rigs reach the ends of their production lifetimes. We must decide soon what will be done with these massive, sophisticated structures that over the decades have become important habitats for marine life. Each is the equivalent of a small marine protected area,” said Jerry Schubel, aquarium president and CEO.

During the forum, consensus formed around the potential benefits of leaving the platforms in place. Scientists shared data showing that the underwater structures are among the world’s most productive hotspots for marine life. Representatives from industry and government agencies explained the costs, risks, and lack of infrastructure to support removal. Other ocean experts suggested that platforms could be repurposed to have second lives as bases for ocean research, monitoring, renewable energy, or aquaculture, while retaining their value as havens for marine life.

Representatives from government agencies including the California Coastal Commission reminded forum attendees that at present, to pursue any option other than full removal, it would be necessary for California to enact a law within the next five years to establish an Artificial Reef Program. “To preserve options, the Legislature needs to move expeditiously,” Schubel said.

The report detailing these findings is available in print and on the aquarium’s website.

Legislation Proposed to Prevent Voter Confusion

Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D – Long Beach) announced that he will introduce legislation to retire the use of the number 13 (Proposition 13) on future ballot measures.

“We need to retire this ballot number to ensure voters are not misled,” said O’Donnell, chair of the Assembly Education Committee.

In 2019, the legislature passed AB 48, which placed a $15 billion school facilities bond on the March 3, 2020 ballot. In accordance with existing law, the bond was assigned the next sequential proposition number, Proposition 13.

“Despite this number having no relation to the content of the school facilities bond, many voters mistakenly believed the ballot measure made changes to the “Proposition 13” originally passed in 1978 which dealt with property taxes,” said O’Donnell.

Trauma Intervention

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) has announced a partnership in collaboration with the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) to bring their much-needed services to the community.

TIP was founded in 1985 and has 15 affiliates serving over 250 cities across the nation. In each affiliate, local volunteers are trained to respond to traumatic incidents within the city at the request of police, fire and hospital personnel to provide emotional aid and practical support to victims of traumatic events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy.

TIP provides an intensive 55-hour training for volunteers with continual training and education. Volunteers respond to a wide range of emergencies, such as traffic accidents, witness to a crime, death of a family member, or a disoriented elder. They provide support including a comprehensive resource guide, bilingual service, teen peer support, or comfort dogs. This partnership is a benefit to LBPD, as it allows officers to focus on the emergency, while TIP addresses the emotional support and care.

The LBPD is seeking Long Beach community members who want to make a difference in their communities and partake as TIP volunteers. No experience is necessary to be become a volunteer, but attendance at during a training academy is required. Training dates of the Training Academy can be found at www.TIPofLongBeach.org.

For more information call (562) 270-1246 or email TIPINCCEO@aol.com.

Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Trial at Memorial MedCtr

The MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center is the only hospital in Southern California – and one of only four sites in all of California – participating in the Dual Epicardial and Endocardial Procedure clinical trial (DEEP). The trial is a prospective, multi-center, single-arm, investigational device exempt (IDE) study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the DEEP procedure in treating persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation, or AFib. The other three participating sites are based in Northern California.

The DEEP procedure utilizes the specialized skills of both the cardiovascular surgeon and electrophysiologist for more severe cases of AFib, which have historically been the most difficult patients to treat.

This DEEP trial can help confirm that the hybrid atrial fibrillation approach is ideal for someone who has persistent or long-standing AFib and should be considered as a treatment option. By incorporating an electrophysiology cardiologist’s input and expertise along with that of a cardiovascular surgeon, the patient benefits from the strength of a minimally invasive surgical approach and a catheter ablation.

Up to 220 patients will be enrolled at up to 30 hospitals. Currently, more than 65 patients have been treated in the trial.

LBCC Receives Grant for Unpaid Internships

The Long Beach City College (LBCC) Foundation and LBCC Workforce Development Department recently received a $650,000 grant and scholarship endowment for students to receive stipends while placed in unpaid internships.

More than 60 percent of LBCC students are working part-time between 10 and 30 hours a week to help pay for tuition, books, and materials. Additionally, many internships are not paid, which makes it financially infeasible for students. This situation makes it challenging for many LBCC students to commit to an internship and becomes an equity issue.

The John Apostle and Helen Apostle Foundation will provide funding for five years to provide student wages and stipends for internships as well as supporting students to become the most competitive.

Through the Apostle Foundation grant, LBCC students will also be provided with Workforce Development staff support to develop their resumes and improve their job interviewing skills.

Nonprofits and small businesses can contact LBCC’s Workforce Development at (562) 938-3248 or wfdev@LBCC.edu if they are interested in the Apostle Foundation grant to establish a paid internship for LBCC students.

The funding from the Apostle Foundation will begin this year and will provide $130,000 per year to LBCC for the next five years. The Apostle Foundation will also establish a $50,000 scholarship endowment to begin the LBCC Foundation’s upcoming capital campaign.

El Pollo Loco Now in Shore

El Pollo Loco has opened its newest restaurant at 5252 E. 2nd St. and marks the 67th location operated by franchisee partner, Roland Spongberg

“We are thrilled to open the newest El Pollo Loco restaurant in Long Beach and continue our expansion in Southern California,” said Spongberg. “With more than 30 years in this business, our company commitment has always been to create the best moments possible for our customers. We are proud to continue serving El Pollo Loco’s delicious, signature citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken and authentic Mexican-inspired offerings.”

The 2,834-square-foot, freestanding restaurant has seating for 51 customers, will employ approximately 40 team members and features the company’s authentic, Mexican-inspired atmosphere that reflects El Pollo Loco’s menu and brand identity. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Aquarium of Pacific Helping Sea Otter Pups

The Aquarium of the Pacific announced that it will become a partner facility for rehabilitating rescued sea otter pups, rearing them with the help of surrogate mothers, and coordinating their release back into the wild. The aquarium is also welcoming a new sea otter named Millie, who they hope will be a surrogate mother to the orphaned sea otter pups.

This project will make the aquarium a partner with Monterey Bay Aquarium in its sea otter surrogacy program. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has rescued, rehabilitated, and released stranded sea otter pups since the 1980s. This program has an established record of success releasing otters back to the wild and has been proven to help in the recovery of wild populations.

A 2019 study showed that pups released through this program, and their offspring, account for over half of the sea otter population growth in Elkhorn Slough, a critical estuary habitat in Monterey Bay, from 2002 to 2016. 

The new surrogacy area at the Aquarium of the Pacific will be built behind the scenes of its Molina Animal Care Center and will accommodate three to four rescued sea otter pups each year. In addition, the aquarium will develop interpretative material to educate the aquarium’s visitors on the surrogacy program and the significance of recovering southern sea otter populations. A lead grant from the California’s State Coastal Conservancy Sea Otter Recovery Grant Program will support the initial construction of the sea otter surrogacy facility.

The aquarium is also launching a public fundraising campaign to support the surrogacy program. Anyone interested in getting involved and providing support of this important conservation work can visit the aquarium’s website and make a gift online or call (562) 951-1701.

Swan Boat Rentals

Wheel Fun Rentals announced the opening of swan boat rentals in Downtown Long Beach at Rainbow Lagoon. Located at the corner of Shoreline Drive and Pine Avenue, adventurers will now have the opportunity to enjoy the lagoon by swan boat as of March 7.

Swan boats are a classic, iconic piece of American history dating back to 1877 when they were first established in the Boston Commons, and then later spread to neighborhood lakes around the U.S. by the early-to-mid 1900s. Swan boats are one of few experiences that have changed so little over time, visitors can practically replicate the beloved rides they took in their own childhoods. Sharing those memories with the young ones makes for an even more special voyage.

The new swan boats come in two sizes. The large swan boat seats up to five guests, while the small swan boat seats two adults and two children under 10 years old, making them perfect for any size family or group outing. All boats come equipped with a bimini top for sunshade. Guests are welcome to bring food and drinks aboard the swan boats (no alcohol or large coolers allowed), and life jackets are included with every rental to ensure guests have a safe, smooth ride. All ages are welcome to ride! Minors must be accompanied by an adult, 18 years of age or older, for the rental transaction; and, onboard the boat if the minor is under 15 years old.

Also premiering at Rainbow Lagoon are the popular Swan Boat Night Rides. Once the sun begins to set, the swans glow with LED lights that are mounted onto the sides and neck, creating an electrifying twilight experience that pairs perfectly with the Downtown Long Beach skyline and the glittering Pike Ferris Wheel. Night Rides are perfect for date nights and friends/family outings, as well as special occasions like birthday parties, bachelor or bachelorette weekends, and anniversary celebrations.

Swan boat rentals at Rainbow Lagoon are available 365 Days a Year (weather permitting) from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. LED-lit Night Rides run nightly beginning at Sunset, with the last rental going out one hour prior to closing. Prices are per-person, and are $11 an hour for adults, and $6 an hour for kids 17 years old and under. Bike rentals are also available across Shoreline Drive at Wheel Fun Rentals Shoreline Village, which offers specialty cycles, 2-wheeled bikes, electric bikes, and kids’ bikes!

For more information about Wheel Fun Rentals visit wheelfunrentals.com/Rainbow-Lagoon.