Bits 'n' Pieces

Laser Center Adds to Team

Laser Skin Care Center has made two new additions to its team of physicians and staff. Dr. Sara Hogan, a fellowship-trained medical and cosmetic dermatologist with extensive knowledge in minimally invasive cosmetic treatments, joined the practice on Oct. 8 and Olivia Knecht, cosmetic consultant, was brought on Aug. 31.

“We continue to grow our team, giving patients access to the best, most qualified physicians, which is a reflection of our commitment as a practice to providing leading-edge care when it comes to medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology,” said Dr. Bryna Kane, co-founder of LSCC.

Founding partners Dr. Bryna Kane and Dr. Edward Glassberg have provided high quality patient care to the Long Beach community and surrounding areas for more than 30 years and are pleased to welcome these two new professionals.

New Athletic Field Complex

St. Anthony High School announced that they will build a new 21st Century Athletic Field Complex in 2021 located on its current field location at Clark and Del Amo on the northern border of Long Beach. This long-awaited major renovation project is moving forward thanks to a generous $6 million gift from Shea Family Charities and gifts received from alumni, current school families and a broad base of community friends.

Architecture and building services are provided by two local firms well-versed in the development of high school athletic fields – Lloyd Sports & Engineering and Slater Builders. The project is estimated at $9 million and includes a new turf football/soccer playing field, six-lane regulation track, bleacher seating and facilities accommodating girls and boys athletic programming.

St. Anthony’s president, Gina Rushing Maguire, shared that, “Shea Family Charities has a high level of interest in seeing the field renovation project realized for the long-term benefit of students and the greater community. As St. Anthony celebrates its Centennial Year this school year, now is the perfect time to launch the building phase of this project and see it through to completion. We can’t wait to break ground in 2021.”

The 9.6-acre field property, located at 4800 Clark Ave. on the north border of Long Beach, was gifted to St. Anthony Parish in 1944 by The Montana Land Company. The acquisition was realized through the vision of St. Anthony Parish’s longest serving pastor, Msgr. Bernard J. Dolan and it was, from the start, designated as an athletic field for St. Anthony High School’s athletic programs and school activities.

Founded in 1920, St. Anthony High School is Long Beach’s only Catholic, college preparatory high school. This year, the high school celebrates its centennial, a milestone achieved by just a handful of institutions in the greater Long Beach area. More information about this project and St. Anthony High School is available on the school’s website, www.LongBeachSaints.org.

City Offers Nonprofit Grants

Applications are now available for two new city grants designed to support nonprofit organizations located in Long Beach. These grants will provide general operating support to nonprofits that have been financially burdened by COVID-19 and help nonprofit mental health agencies obtain a telehealth subscription.

The CARES Act Nonprofit Relief Grant will support existing Long Beach nonprofits experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Eligible nonprofits may apply for grants that provide working capital to maintain their operations and enable them to continue to provide services to the community.

A total of $200,000 is available to issue grants that cover eligible expenses related to COVID-19. Nonprofits with annual operating revenue greater than $500,000 will be eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant and nonprofits with annual operating revenue less than $500,000 will be eligible to apply for a $5,000 grant.

The CARES Act Telehealth License Grant is for Long Beach nonprofit mental health agencies to subscribe to a telehealth license to administer mental health services online. This will increase access to mental health services for Long Beach residents who are uninsured or underinsured, while adhering to Safer at Home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofits must currently lack a telehealth subscription. $30,000 in grants are available on a first-come, first served basis, with each organization eligible for $2,000.

The application period for both grants will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. Nonprofits are encouraged to visit the CARES Act Nonprofit Relief Grant and Telehealth License Grant webpage to learn more about these opportunities and complete their online application. The city’s business hotline, (562) 570-4BIZ (4249), is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays, for additional information or support in completing grant applications.

Chromebooks for Students

Long Beach City College (LBCC) distributed 100 Chromebooks and 50 hotspots to students on Friday, Oct. 9, thanks to a donation to the LBCC Foundation.

The Long Beach Community Foundation, human I-T and the LBCC Foundation partnered together to provide the technology, while LBCC’s Student Services area matched the recipients and arranged for the drive-up distribution at the Liberal Arts Campus.

In addition to the Long Beach Community Foundation and the human-I-T partnerships, the LBCC Foundation received an additional $25,000 from an anonymous donor.

“The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the massive digital divide that exists within our campus community when LBCC moved instruction online,” said Long Beach Community College District Interim Superintendent-President Lou Anne Bynum. “LBCC knows that access to fast and reliable technology continues to be a challenge for many of our students as we enter our seventh month teaching remotely. I am grateful that we have wonderful partners like the LBCC Foundation, Long Beach Community Fund and human-I-T to assist our students so they can stop worrying about their internet connection and focus on passing their next exam.”

Since the COVID-19 campus closures, multiple efforts have been made LBCC students with computers and access to the internet. LBCC distributed 100 Chromebooks in North Long Beach back in June 2020. LBCC has also loaned hundreds of additional laptops to students.

To become a community partner in seeking financial and technological assistance for LBCC students, contact Paul Kaminski pkaminski@lbcc.edu.

Conservation E-Learning Program to K-8 Students

Long Beach utility providers of gas, water and recycling services (Energy Resources Department, Long Beach Water Department and the Department of Public Works’ Environmental Services Bureau, respectively) have enlisted The National Theatre for Children (NTC) to educate and inspire students and their families about the environment in Long Beach and Signal Hill.

While Long Beach utility providers partnered with NTC in 2019-20 to bring in-person theatrical performances into schools, this year the program has been adapted into an all-digital alternative to safely bring environmental curriculum to students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

E-learning programs, which can be accessed remotely by teachers, students and their parents, are an effective way to deliver novel curriculum and foster student engagement during this time of distance learning. Long Beach utility providers’ two digital programs – The Conservation Caper for K-5 audiences and The LBC E-Team for middle school audiences – allow vital information on water conservation, natural gas safety and conservation, and waste reduction to be brought to schools and families.

Beginning in October, teachers, students and their families will have access to e-learning packages that include educational videos, games, hands-on lessons, e-books, follow-up quizzes, conservation pledges, assessments for teachers and more. The package is formatted to be consistent and supportive of Long Beach Unified School District’s e-learning platforms.

The digital programs are free for teachers to use and are consistent with the city’s climate change action and adaptation initiatives to create a more sustainable, resilient and climate-prepared community. The Conservation Caper and The LBC E-Team provide easy and accessible tips for students and families that will help them save water and energy and reduce waste. The curriculum is designed to support Long Beach students and their families through a variety of methods and is inclusive of a diversity of learning styles and lifestyles specific to Long Beach.

For more information on the digital education programs, contact Matt Levine at mlevine@ntccorporate.com.

Arts Council Relief Fund

The City of Long Beach has dedicated an additional $75,000 of COVID-19 Relief Funding for Long Beach artists and arts organizations impacted by the pandemic. These funds will be awarded through the Arts Council for Long Beach grant program as part of the $1.5 million in CARES funding already granted to arts organizations by the city council.

Since May of this year, the Arts Council dedicated over $50,000 to a relief fund and the city’s allocation continues this much needed for artists and organizations of all genres. Funding for the grant is provided by: Arts Council for Long Beach, Long Beach Community Foundation, Edison International, Supervisor Janice Hahn, Long Beach Post and Dark Arts Emporium. With the city’s contribution to the relief fund the Arts Council can provide $125,000 in relief to artists and organizations.

For more information visit artslb.org/covid19-grant/

Free Student Meals

To improve services and support the needs of families, the Long Beach Unified School District made changes to its meal distribution on Oct. 19.

Students and parents/guardians will pick up two days’ worth of meals on alternate days instead of making the daily trips:

• Monday’s pick-up includes meals for Monday and Tuesday.
• Wednesday’s pick up is for Wednesday and Thursday.
• Friday and Saturday’s meals are available for pick-up on Friday.

Please note these additional changes:

• All locations will offer the same pick-up period, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meal service locations remain the same. Find locations under Nutrition Services in the A-Z index at lbschools.net.
• Four meal types will be available each day: breakfast, lunch, snack and supper at all service locations. Each recipient will receive eight meals as a unit.
• Milk will be offered instead of automatically served. Recipients may decline milk or take only the quantity of milk that they want, to reduce waste.
• Parents/guardians picking up meals without children present or picking up additional meals for children who stay at home must present documentation for verification. LBUSD Nutrition Services employees are expected to ask for the acceptable documents daily even if the parents/guardians have been visiting the same location

For more information, go to Nutrition Services in the A-Z index at lbschools.net or call (562) 427-7923.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

More than 450 area residents raised over $90,000 in this year’s Long Beach Walk to End Alzheimer’s recently. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants walked as individuals and small groups on sidewalks, tracks and trails across the area. The event culminated in a drive-thru, “view-only” “Promise Flower Garden” near the Long Beach Convention Center.

 Funds raised at the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s support Alzheimer’s care, support, research and advocacy. Monies raised also fund the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline (800) 272-3900, available in over 200 languages to answer questions and provide support.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s 14-walk series began on September 26 in Hermosa Beach and will conclude Saturday, Nov. 7 as people walk throughout Los Angeles County. Additional walks will take place across the Inland Empire, as well as Bakersfield and the Coachella Valley. There is no fee to participate in a Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Register at alz.org/walk.