Bits & Pieces

Anitra Dempsey Appointed Interim Deputy City Mgr.

City Manager Patrick H. West  announced the appointment of Anitra Dempsey as interim deputy city manager, effective Jan. 7.

“Anitra has been an integral part of the city’s management team for 13 years,” said West. “She is dedicated to the community and has the professional and leadership experience that we need for the interim deputy city manager position.”

Dempsey has been with the City of Long Beach for 28 years and is currently the executive director of the Citizen Police Complaint Commission (CPCC), which investigates allegations of police misconduct and reviews the service provided by members of the Long Beach Police Department. Dempsey has also served as the city’s human dignity officer.

Dempsey’s appointment is temporary, while a national recruitment is conducted for a new deputy city manager.  Dempsey will return to her current position as executive director of the CPCC when a new deputy city manager is appointed.

Dempsey will be temporarily filling the position currently held by Arturo Sanchez. She is not a candidate for the permanent deputy city manager position, which is responsible for a variety of functions, including special projects, communications, government affairs and the CPCC, and serves as the city’s chief liaison to the Gateway Cities Council of Governments.

As was previously announced, Sanchez has submitted his resignation to accept a position as assistant city manager with the City of Sacramento. His last day with the City of Long Beach will be Friday, Jan. 6.

“Arturo has done a great job reaching out and collaborating with the community and other stakeholders to make Long Beach an even better place to live, work and play,” said West. “I want to thank him for his service here and congratulate him on his new position.”

City, LBPOA Reach Tentative Labor Agreement

The City of Long Beach has reached a tentative agreement with the Long Beach Police Officers Association (LBPOA) over a successor labor agreement. The POA represents over 800 Long Beach police officers.

“I’m grateful that we have reached a tentative agreement with our police officers that is fair, values their hard work for the city, and allows us to retain and attract the best recruits to Long Beach,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “I want to thank the POA leadership and the city negotiating team for their months of hard work, leading right up to Christmas Eve.”

The POA membership is set to vote on the tentative agreement in January. If approved, the agreement would go before the city council for final approval in February.

“I want to thank the mayor, city council, and city management for demonstrating their commitment to public safety,” said Steve James, POA president. “The agreement was reached through a collaborative process, with the intention of making sure we maintain the high quality police department the citizens of Long Beach expect and deserve. During this holiday season, this agreement is one more reason to be thankful.”

Vue Bar & Restaurant at Holiday Inn Now Open

YHB Hospitality announced the opening of Vue Bar & Restaurant, located at the Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport. The restaurant is part of a $30 million renovation of the hotel.

The upscale casual restaurant, located in the iconic hotel tower at the corner of Lakewood Boulevard and Willow Street, just south of Long Beach Airport, is open to the public and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. An extensive wine list and full bar are also available.

Chef Thomas Vertl designed a menu he dubs “comfort food with a twist” that includes craft burgers and sandwiches, hot appetizers and shareables, tacos, sliders, pizza, sausages, salads, pastas and heartier entrees.

Specialties include crispy mac and cheese bites ($9) served with creamy sriracha dip, bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers ($10) served with cilantro ranch dip, the 12-ounce sizzling NY steak ($32) flame grilled with root vegetable mash, garlic and herb butter, chipotle chicken tacos ($10) with tender braised chicken breast and thigh meat, corn and radish and the spicy lamb burger ($14) with harissa aioli, dill pickles, red cabbage, crispy onion on a rosemary roll.

The restaurant will also offer a build your own poke bowl option ($11/small, $14/large) featuring various protein, sauce and side selections.

“Along with being the preferred dining option of our hotel guests, we’re confident that Vue Bar & Restaurant will be a culinary destination for Long Beach locals as well,” said Vertl. “The renovated restaurant and eclectic menu are perfect for business lunches, happy hour with friends or a casual date night.”

Vue Bar & Restaurant seats 146 and includes an intimate private dining room and a quiet lounge. Live music will be introduced this month. The restaurant is open for breakfast (6-11 a.m.), lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), happy hour (4-6 p.m.) and dinner (4-11 p.m.), seven days a week.

Spruce Goose Hanger Sold

The Los Angeles Times reported in its Dec. 24 edition that Japanese investors have purchased the Playa Vista building where Howard Hughes built the famed Spruce Goose in the 1940s.

More than $300 million was paid for the property north of LAX, which includes the huge 7-story tall hanger and three smaller buildings that are currently leased by Google. Gone is the landing strip and the two dozen other buildings used by Hughes Aircraft Company on what was once a 260-acre site.

The “flying boat” with a 320-foot wingspan was actually manufactured using birch due to the shortage of aluminum during WW11. It flew just once – for one minute and one mile with Hughes at the controls – on Nov. 2, 1947 off Cabrillo Beach, to prove that it would actually fly.

The H4 Hercules aircraft was subsequently stored in Long Beach at Pier E, then in 1983 put on public display in an egg-like dome next to the Queen Mary. In the early 1990s it was relocated to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Ore., where it is currently on display.

Run Across America Completed in LB

Legendary global adventurer Rosie Swale-Pope MBE, spent Christmas in the South Bay as she advanced toward the Queen Mary in Long Beach for the Dec. 29 finish of her Run Across America for cancer awareness and to inspire people to live life to the fullest. Rosie traversed the country pulling her 300 lb. cart, “Ice Chick,” in a journey that began when she disembarked the Queen Mary 2 in New York in October 2014.

A native of Wales, Rosie is an ambassador of good will. She has covered approximately 10 miles per day on this adventure, with plenty of time to stop and visit with people she meets along the way. Rosie and her side-kick, Ice Chick, are an eye-catching duo. Ice Chick is a bright red, three-wheeled, carbon fiber cart made by the Amish, which carries Rosie’s “kit” and provides her shelter. Rosie, a 70-year old grandmother, is lively and blond, and her ebullient personality alongside Ice-Chick bedecked in her Christmas finest including tinsel, flashing lights and a miniature Christmas tree, make a joyous impression that is impossible to miss (or forget).

One of the world’s most courageous and gutsy women, Ms. Swale-Pope is the only human in history to complete an epic solo, self-supported run around the world – 21,000 miles, following a route that took her through multiple bitter Siberian and Alaskan winters. Considered one of the world’s top women ultra-marathoners, her adventure CV includes completing 27 marathons in 27 days, completing the Marathon des Sables twice, a speed trek to Everest Base Camp, a record-breaking solo transatlantic voyage in a 17-foot sailboat, and riding 3,000 miles on horseback through Patagonia. Rosie runs for humanitarian causes, and was awarded an MBE for her charity work by Queen Elizabeth II. A beloved advocate for all who could use a little inspiration, Rosie runs with love and compassion in her heart – making friends and sharing her joie de vivre with those whom she meets along her journeys.

Rosie completed her Run Across America at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, when she and Ice Chick ran into the sea at Alamitos Beach, 600 E. Shoreline Drive, where she was greeted by Bernadette Greene, deputy consul general of the British Consulate-General, along with friends and family.

Scooters Donated to Local Military Veterans

Mobül: the mobility store, announced a donation of 16 powered mobility scooters by one of its customers, Kenneth Bloom, president of Hawaiian Solar, Inc. the largest solar installation company in Hawaii, which operates under the brand name of “The Solar Dog.”

Bloom, a 39-year resident of Kailua, Kona, wanted to express his appreciation to our veterans and recognize a need among many veterans for portable mobility scooters. His brother, David Bloom, who lives in Long Beach, came to Mobül to discuss the donation with Wayne Slavitt, Mobül’s founder and CEO, and it soon became a reality.

Two local veteran-based non-profits were identified as recipients of 14 of the 16 scooters. The remaining two scooters will go to a veteran-based group in Hawaii. These organizations will provide the scooters to veteran-related individuals in need of mobility assistance. The two local organizations are Disabled American Veterans and American Gold Star Manor. The scooters are also outfitted with scooter safety flags and either baskets or oxygen holders.

“We were so pleased to facilitate this outstanding donation from Ken Bloom to our nation’s veterans. Ken’s generosity and kindness exemplifies the deep appreciation felt toward our veterans for their sacrifice and lasting impact on our country.” said Slavitt.

Joel Plante, Sr., field supervisor for Disabled American Veterans, commented, “On behalf our veterans and the DAV Department of California, I would like to thank Mr. Bloom for his very generous donation of ten electric scooters.”

Terry Geiling, president of American Gold Star Manor remarked, “We are so pleased to be a recipient of these great scooters from Bloom. They will be put to very good use.”

The scooters are manufactured by Mobül’s largest supplier, Golden Technologies, based in Old Forge, Penna. Golden was instrumental in making this donation come to fruition through product discounts and free merchandise in recognition of our nation’s veterans.

Mentor Programs Celebrate National Mentoring Month

Mentor programs throughout Long Beach and the country celebrate January as the National Mentoring Month with a variety of activities. With the campaign’s tagline, “Mentor in Real Life,” the goal of the month is to initiate a dialogue on the importance of mentoring and encourage involvement.

Nationally, a proclamation is issued by President Obama, while locally, Mayor Robert Garcia proclaims January as National Mentoring Month, to thank the hundreds of mentors in Long Beach. The Long Beach Mentor Connection also is using websites and media outlets to get the word out about the need for mentors.

“With a number of different mentoring programs here in Long Beach, there is a place for everyone who wants to give back,”explains Val Parker, Power 4 Youth executive director, “No special skills are required, and the time it takes is no more than what you spend watching your favorite TV show each week!”

Research show students with mentors are more likely to stay in school, be enrolled in college, and participate in extracurricular activities. Mentors empower youth to make smart choices that put them on a path to improved opportunities and connections, which has an impact in real life. They build on young people’s strength, expand their potential, and help them achieve success.

Despite these benefits, the gap between the number of mentors and the number of young people who need a mentor continues to grow.

To find out more about mentoring, call Power 4 Youth at (562)-386-2428, email info@power4youth.org, or visit nationalmentoringmonth.org.

LBCC Senior Studies Lifetime Learning Program

The Spring Semester of classes and day tours for the Senior Studies Program Lifetime Learning at Long Beach City College is now available. Registration for the classes and day tours is Jan. 17 & 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learning is lifework and the classes and tours are fun, interesting, engaging and inspiring.

Music Appreciation for Concert Goers & Musical Theatre Lovers is Mondays Jan. 23 to May 8, 1-3 p.m. with Lucy Daggett and Sidney Hopkins. World Affairs and Current Events with Mary Thoits starts on Wednesday, Jan. 25 to May 10, 1-3 p.m.

Computers, Internet and Social Media is an 8-week course on Fridays, Jan. 27 to March 25, 10 a.m. to noon.

Tai Chi for better balance is offered at the LBCC Foundation building starting Feb. 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

New this semester is “The Social World” seen through the eyes of an International Sociologist Dr. Shey on Tuesdays, Feb. 7 to May 9, 1-3 p.m.,” Writing your Memoirs” with Dr. Ginny Baxter on Mondays, March 6-27, 10 a.m. to noon and “German, Italian & Greek History for Travelers” with Dr. Saee is March 1 to April 26, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Day Tours include Meeting Mr. Wright, The Alley Cats, Nixon Presidential Library, Greek Odyssey, Jeopardy, Stems & Gems, Getty Villa and Architectural Los Angeles.

Long Beach Transit will be joining us on Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take photos and applications for the Senior Transportation TAP cards.

The Lifetime Learning Program is a non-profit organization and operates under the LBCC Foundation. For more information, call Theresa Brunella (562) 938-3047 or (562) 938-3048 or visit www.lbcc.edu/Senior Center.