Community News

PRM Spring Classes

Registration for new recreation classes offered by Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) began Feb. 7. More than 300 classes in art, music, nature, fitness, special interest subjects and adult sports leagues and aquatics programs will be offered starting in March. These programs provide opportunities for social interaction and learning, exercise and recreation and growth and relaxation for preschool-aged children to adults.

Also, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, a new issue of the Recreation Connection programs catalog will be available to residents digitally on LBParks.org and printed copies at Long Beach park community centers and Long Beach Public Library branches.

There are three easy ways community members can register beginning Feb. 7: 

• Visit LBParks.org and click on “Online Registration” under “LB RecConnect.”
• Call (562) 570-3111 to register over the phone.
• Visit the Registration Reservations Office inside the PRM Administration Building, located at 2760 Studebaker Rd., weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“I am so excited to be able to produce our Recreation Connection catalog after two years of hiatus from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Parks, Recreation and Marine Director Brent Dennis. “Look for the publication in your mailbox, local library or park community center, or find the digital version online. The issue is full of information about new classes, summer day camp registration, senior activities and much more.”

Recreation Connection provides information about many of PRM’s fee-based classes being offered this spring for various ages, including but not limited to:

Preschool: Preschool Cooking Thyme, Bamboleo Bebe, Bamboleo Amiguitos and Bamboleo Amigos (Spanish language immersion); Preschool Readiness, Little Music Makers, D-Up Tiny Ballers (Basketball) and Soccer.

Youth: Basic Cooking for Kids, Mexican Folklorico Dance, Reading and Math Development, Exploring Instruments, Group Piano, Keyboard Kids and Rockin Guitar; D-Up Ballers (Basketball) Martial Arts and Soccer.

Teens: Basic Cooking for Teens and Online Driver’s Education.

Adults: Ceramics, Drawing Fundamentals, Oil Painting, Quilting, Line Dancing, 2 Step & Swing, Almost Ballet, Argentine Tango, Belly Dance, Dog Training, 40-30-20 Interval Training, Total Body Fitness, Low Impact Aerobics, Pilates, Tai Chi Qigong, Yoga, Ukulele, Jujitsu and Karate.

Swimming Instruction for all ages

Recreation Connection also lists dozens of free and low-cost activities, including After-School Programs, Virtual Recreation Programs, Mobile Recess Program, Community Learning Hubs, youth sports leagues, teen centers and senior centers. A park directory with listings of amenities and activities at over 50 parks is also included in the issue.

More information about PRM programs and services is available on their website at LBParks.org.

Republican Women

With the focus on the upcoming midterm elections, Long Beach Republicans can learn the latest political news from Bryan Watkins who currently serves as chief operating officer and executive director for the California Republican Party. It takes place at the Long Beach Republican Women Federated breakfast meeting Saturday on Feb. 12.

Held at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow Street, the morning meeting includes information that benefits all members of the community. Registration starts at 9 a.m. with breakfast served at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members and there is free parking.

Prior to his current role, Watkins served as field & political director as well as deputy executive director for the organization. In addition to Watkin’s insight, the breakfast meeting offers like-minded women and men an opportunity to learn more about Republican Women Federated and how they can be part of America’s largest grassroots organization. For information and reservations: Email: LongBeachRWF@gmail.com or call: (562) 760-1556.

Gift Card Giveaway

Long Beach Towne Center invites the community to participate in a Valentine’s Day contest for a chance to win a $50 gift card to their favorite Long Beach Towne Center store or eatery. To enter, snap a photo in the shopping center’s human-sized heart located in the Regal Edwards Promenade, then post the photo on either Facebook or Instagram. Tag the photo with @lbtownecenter for a chance to win one of five gift cards on Facebook or five gift cards on Instagram.

The shopping center’s enter-to-win contest runs through Feb. 15. Must be 18 or older to enter. To learn more, visit https://lbtownecenter.com.

Mango Languages

Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) is highlighting Mango Languages for the month of February. Mango Languages is an online language learning tool that offers ad-free, unlimited access to learning modules for more than 70 languages, including English as a Second Language (ESL) learning for 15 different native languages.

Some of the diverse languages available in Mango are Swahili, Armenian, Indonesian, Spanish (Latin American and Castilian), French and Tagalog. Each lesson is conversational in style and builds on the basic grammar and vocabulary learned in previous lessons. Native speakers provide learners with correct pronunciation and cultural insights. Memory building exercises are included to help reinforce learning.

The Long Beach Public Library is committed to providing great resources for life-long learning. Learning another language has many benefits. More and more employers are looking for employees who are bilingual, so knowing more than one language can give job seekers an advantage. Language learning also helps keep the brain fit and it fosters cross-cultural understanding. The Digital Library has numerous resources that support independent learning for all ages.

Bluegrass Virtuosity

Bluegrass darlings the Salty Suites are no strangers to Long Beach audiences, having regularly thrilled crowds at the El Dorado Nature Center’s popular concert series. They are as delightfully funny as they are wickedly virtuosic, with beautiful vocal harmonies and brilliantly written songs.

They will be in concert on Sunday, Feb. 27, 3 p.m. at Music at the Point, 3955 N. Studebaker Road.

Chelsea Williams (guitar), Scott Gates (mandolin) and Chuck Hailes (bass, violin) have been thrilling audiences up and down the California coast for years. Hailing from Ventura County, they are regulars at the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, the Coffee Gallery in Altadena and acoustic venues far and wide. Scott’s blazing mandolin and soaring vocals are contrasted with Chelsea’s ballads and lilting voice, all cemented by Chuck’s rock solid playing and vocal harmonies.

They are currently releasing recordings online from their July 2020 virtual show at Carbonite Studios in Ojai,, to accompany the three studio CDs and one live CD they have released. Anyone who has experienced a Salty Suites show can testify that for a foot-stomping good time, this concert will not be matched!

For more information, contact Stan DeWitt at (562) 972-3324 or stan.gracefirst@gmail.com.