Community News

Wetlands Nature Walks

After a year and a half hiatus, we are resuming nature walks out at Los Cerritos Wetlands on July 3.

For the walk, we will be following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines (CDC), which means vaccinated people can attend mask-free. However, the CDC recommends face coverings and physical distancing for unvaccinated attendees. Of course, anyone can wear a mask if they prefer.

The two-hour guided nature walk begins at 8 a.m. and wraps up by 10 a.m. We will look for wildlife sightings, learn about the rich ecosystems, reflect on the history of our local wetlands, and observe current restoration activities.

The walk begins with a brief orientation to Los Cerritos Wetlands. We will discuss their history and see an important portion of them, including the Pumpkin Patch property, as we walk along the San Gabriel River and across Westminster Blvd. to view the sea turtles. On our return, we will stop at Zedler Marsh, where there is a nursery for wetlands plants and where restoration is progressing. We will then walk on the levee back to our meeting place.

Bring binoculars, if you have them; besides the turtles, we will observe many different kinds of interesting wildlife.

For more information about the nature walk or to RSVP (which is required) email elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org

LB July 4 Holiday Schedule

In observance of the Fourth of July holiday on Sunday, July 4, the City of Long Beach facilities and services listed below will adhere to the following schedules on Monday, July 5.

Open on Monday, July 5, during regular business hours:

• Fire stations and lifeguard stations
• COVID-19 testing and vaccinations (mobile vaccinations, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; testing, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• All city parks and trails
• Long Beach Airport
• Animal Care Services (pick-up services for lost pets only; spcaLA* will be closed)
• El Dorado Regional Park (El Dorado Nature Center is closed)
• Marina offices (alamitos bay marina, shoreline marina)*
• Main police station front desk
• Refuse and recycling collection
• Gas services dispatch (562) 570-2140) open 24/7 for emergency calls
• Water/sewer dispatch (562) 570-2390) open 24/7 for emergency calls

• Joint Information Center (562) 570-NEWS, Community Hotline (562) 570-INFO, Resource Hotline (562) 570-INFO, option 5, Business hotline (562) 570-4BIZ
• COVID-19 evening vaccination clinic
• Billie Jean King Main Library, all branch libraries, including LBPL To-Go pick-up services and library offices (digital resources available 24/7)
• WorkPlace, Youth Opportunity Center and Pacific Gateway Administrative offices*
• City Hall*
• Citizen Police Complaint Commission
• Building and Safety Services, including inspections, plan reviews and Permit Center*
• Code enforcement services
• Energy resources offices
• Fire headquarters, support services, fire prevention & operations, including marine safety administration
• Health Department and health facilities*
• Housing authority*
• Long Beach Airport administration offices
• Neighborhood Resource Center*
• Park offices and community park facilities*
• Special events and filming
• Street sweeping
• Swimming pools
• Towing and lien sales
• Water Department offices
• Gas, water and refuse call centers

*Indicates city facilities and services currently operating under modified operations until further notice due to COVID-19 public health restrictions.

City Hall

City Hall remains closed to the public until further notice except for scheduled appointments for the permit center. Residents are encouraged to utilize online services during this time.

Street Sweeping

There will be no scheduled street sweeping or enforcement of street sweeping violations on Monday, July 5. Street sweeping will resume its regular schedule on Tuesday, July 6.

Following extended street sweeping citation relief for residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the city transitioned back to normal operations for citations beginning Wednesday, June 30.

Parking Enforcement

Read your parking meter: Parking meters will be enforced on Monday, July 5, unless the meter states “Exempt on Holidays.” The days and hours of enforcement are displayed inside the meters.

The city will transition back to normal operations for on-street parking, parking lots and parking garages associated with the temporary COVID-19 street parking relief programs beginning Wednesday, June 30.

Refuse/Recycling

Trash and Recycling will be collected as scheduled on Monday, July 5.

Towing and Lien Sales

The Towing Operations & Vehicle Storage Facility, located at 3111 E. Willow St. between Temple Avenue and Redondo Avenue, will be closed on Monday, July 5. Normal business hours are:

• Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Closed Sunday and holidays.

Vehicles and property are available for release outside of the hours listed above for an additional fee. More information can be found online.

Libraries

The Billie Jean King Main Library, Bay Shore, Bret Harte, Los Altos, Mark Twain and Michelle Obama Neighborhood Libraries have reopened to the public. LBPL To-Go services remain available at the El Dorado Neighborhood Library. Ruth Bach, Brewitt, Burnett and Dana Neighborhood Libraries will reopen to the public on Tuesday, July 6. Alamitos Neighborhood Library will remain closed to the public with no offered services at this time due to anticipated building maintenance.

In observance of the Fourth of July holiday, all library locations and services, including the library main phone line, will be closed on Saturday, July 3. Library patrons are encouraged to utilize the library’s vast collection of digital resources, including the library catalog, downloads, and databases, available 24/7.

Schubel to Speak

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s former president and CEO, Dr. Jerry R. Schubel, will return to the aquarium to present a free lecture on his new book on July 7, 7-8:30 p.m., as part of the institution’s First Wednesdays lecture series. He will also sign copies of the book, The Future of the Chesapeake, after the lecture.

For Dr. Schubel, the book is a return to a subject he is passionate about. Before serving as president of two of the nation’s largest aquariums, Dr. Schubel was associate director of Johns Hopkins University’s Chesapeake Bay Institute and wrote and illustrated The Living Chesapeake in 1981. His new book chronicles the past and present conditions in the bay, how climate change will affect its future, and how we can intervene to shape its future.

The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary. After slow deterioration for several centuries, the Chesapeake Bay Program was launched in 1983 to restore it. “After spending more than $24 billion, the results of the restoration program are disappointing. The Bay Program has arrested the bay’s decline, but it has failed to achieve its restoration goals – something that will become more challenging with climate change,” says Dr. Schubel. According to Dr. Schubel, while we cannot create the future Chesapeake Bay, we have many of the tools to shape it, tools that have never been used as a complement to existing efforts.

Reservations are required for in-person attendance. Info: (562) 590-3100 or visit aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/the_future_chesapeake_shaping_the_future.