Community News

D-5 Candidate Forum

The Lakewood Village Neighborhood Association will be hosting a District 5 Candidate Forum on Tuesday, May 3, at the Bethany Lutheran Church Gym, 5100 Arbor Rd., 6-8 p.m.

Confirmed candidate attendees include Linda Valdez, Ian Patton, Megan Kerr and Jeannine Bedard.

District 5 residents are invited to attend to make an informed decision on their vote.

All questions will be selected in advance to provide a broad understanding of candidate philosophy and viewpoints, while also avoiding redundancy. Please submit questions for consideration by Saturday, April 30, to: lvnaforum@gmail.com.

CSULB Studio Theater

Adapted for the stage from the novel by the same name, the hit Broadway play, Peter and the Starcatcher, will open at the CSULB Studio Theater on Thursday May 5 at 7:30 p.m. Performances will continue through May 7.

From tustles with scurvy pirates and journeying across the treacherous open sea, to the emergence of some unlikely heroes, this exciting and brand-new adaptation conceived by director Ryan Patrick Lingle is a creative reimagining of the origin story of Peter Pan. Prepare to be taken on a journey of discovery, family and learning what belonging truly means through whimsical movement, music, adventure and of course, star stuff.

Visit https://www.csulb.edu/theatre-arts/box-office-information to purchase tickets and find out more information.

Take Out Tuesday

On Tuesday, May 3, come to Naples Rib Company for a delicious dinner or order for Take Out. Dining is 4-9 p.m. and take out starts at 10 a.m. Call (562) 439-7427 to place orders or to make reservations.

Be sure to mention to your server that you support St. Bartholomew’s Church. Naples Rib will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the Women’s Council at St. Bartholomew’s and this will go to local Long Beach Charities.

Heron Hike

Learn about the history of Los Cerritos Wetlands and look for birds during a nature walk on Saturday, May 7, 8-10 a.m. Bring binoculars, if you have them, to view wetlands wildlife. This walk is appropriate for ages 7 and up. Closed toes shoes are required. Park at the intersection of PCH and 1st St., just at the border of Long Beach and Seal Beach. For more information or to RSVP for the nature walk, contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org.

WWII Incarceration of Japanese Americans

Grace First Presbyterian Church of Long Beach will be hosting a symposium about the significance and impact of Executive Order 9066 on Japanese Americans. Signed by President Franklin Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, EO 9066 ordered the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

Although 2/3 of the Japanese Americans incarcerated were U.S. citizens, they were still imprisoned in 10 concentration camps throughout the United States. Uprooted and taken from their homes, Japanese Americans had significant loss of property, identity and family unity. No German Americans or Italian Americans were similarly incarcerated.

Eighty years later, church members who are survivors of the internment camps will share their experiences and recollections on Saturday, May 7, 1-3:00 p.m. at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 3933 Studebaker Road. The free event will also be live-streamed.

Two of the main panelists who will speak at the event are: Joyce Okazaki and Amy Tsubokawa. Joyce Okazaki, member of the Manzanar Committee, was a child in the Manzanar Camp when famous photographer, Ansel Adams visited the camp and photographed Joyce. Amy Tsubokawa, incarcerated with her family in the Poston, Arizona internment camp was featured in the documentary film, “For the Sake of the Children.”

Sponsored by the church’s Peace and Justice Ministry, this event will also feature displays and artifacts related to life in the internment camps.

Garden Party

The Long Beach Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) invites women interested in meeting other women seeking new associations, intellectual discourse and hearing interesting speakers on today’s relevant topics to attend its annual Garden Party on Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The two-hour event is designed to acquaint interested people with current members in a social gathering. There is no charge and the location is a private home.

This annual event is open to non-members (women and men) to allow them to discover how AAUW Long Beach Branch promotes gender equity for women and girls in its on-going projects in Long Beach and statewide. Branch meetings are held monthly, featuring speakers knowledgeable in relevant topics that affect women and girls, and to learn about issues affecting our community.

If interested in attending, please contact “Membership” at aauwlongbeach.membership@gmail.com.

Candidates’ Forum

Continuing a tradition that began in 2014, Leadership Long Beach (LLB) will host a Candidates’ Forum at 6 p.m. Monday, May 9, at the Aquarium of the Pacific in the Pacific Visions wing to provide Long Beach voters the opportunity to learn more about the future leaders of our community and their leadership skills as they seek office in the June 7 primary election.

The 2022 LLB Candidates’ Forum will feature candidates for Long Beach mayor, city attorney, city auditor, city prosecutor and the Long Beach Unified School District School Board.

Candidates will answer questions posed by LLB alumni moderators and screened questions from the audience. Answers will be timed so that all candidates will have an equal opportunity to share their opinions.

Reservations will be required as space will be limited. Reservations can be made at CandidatesForum@leadershiplb.org.

Lifetime Learning Center

Long Beach City College Lifetime Learning Center’s “Outstanding Senior of the Year” is at The Grand on Tuesday, May 17. Skip Keesal and Sylvia Manheim will be honored for a “Lifetime of Service.” Skip Keesal’s generosity and involvement in the community is legendary in Long Beach, where he always finds time to help others.

In 1991 the lawyers of Keesal, Young & Logan launched a charitable foundation that has donated nearly $7 million to charities focused on education, children, medicine and the arts. In addition to supporting worthwhile charities and non-profit organizations with monetary contributions, the lawyers of Keesal Young & Logan also donate their time.

Sylvia Manheim helped establish the CSULB program for older adults called the “Senior University”. Today you know it as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Sylvia is active in the National Council for Jewish Women and the ACLU. She has always been involved in programs and activities in peace, justice, equality and continuing education.

The Lifetime Learning is a non-profit organization that offers programs to engage older adults mentally, physically and socially. Individual tickets are available for $50 each and there are tables and sponsorship opportunities still available. Email tbrunella@lbcc.edu or call (562) 938-3047,

Cottonwood Luncheon

In 2012, the Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation created an annual event recognizing local leaders who understood Long Beach’s success and sense of community are rooted in its history and cultural resources. The event and the awards are named Cottonwood after the trees for which the Rancho is named. Along with recognizing excellence and vision, the Cottonwood Award Luncheon also offers business and community leaders the opportunity to gather and socialize at a historical site that was significant to the region’s growth and prosperity.

“Looking back over the past decade, it’s an inspiring group of leaders who’ve been recognized at Cottonwood,” said Executive Director Pamela Young Lee. “They included elected officials, the Port, historic preservation organizations, philanthropists, businesses and individuals whose community contributions are widely known throughout the Long Beach area. It seems fitting to celebrate this milestone anniversary by acknowledging our past honorees along with this year’s award recipients, Marlene Temple and the Don Temple Family Charitable Foundation and TABC/Toyota.”

Lee said she hopes past Cottonwood honorees know of the deep respect everyone at the Rancho holds for them. Rancho Los Alamitos is highlighting past honorees on its website. It will also recognize them during the Cottonwood Awards Luncheon and in a special section in the tribute book.

The Cottonwood Award tradition began with a singular award to recognize those who have shown significant leadership in enhancing, promoting and supporting the cultural communities of the Southern California region. Don Knabe, then a county supervisor, was the first Cottonwood Award recipient. In 2013, a Special Recognition award was added to recognize the achievements of those who have had a significant impact on the cultural development of Rancho Los Alamitos and the City of Long Beach. In 2013, the Cottonwood Award was presented to Beverly O’Neill and Special Recognition was awarded to Gary DeLong.

In addition to honoring businesses, organizations and individuals, two future leaders, CSULB students, are celebrated as Cottonwood Scholars. The award includes a paid internship. Previous Cottonwood Scholars have researched the history of water in the region and the lives of women who lived on the ranch. This year’s Scholars will work on research projects designed to deepen our understanding of the present and historical demographics of the Rancho. One intern will conduct internal and external audience research. The other will research early 20th-century Mexican ranch workers.

“Without the support of people like our Cottonwood honorees, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do as stewards of this historic site and deliver the educational experiences that are so important to so many,” said RLA Foundation Board Chairman J. Jeffrey Green. “Thousands of people visit each year – school kids, families, tourists, vets, seniors. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge for admission. Anyone can spend time here enjoying the grounds and learning about the community in which we live. It’s an honor to be part of this cultural treasure.”

The Cottonwood Awards Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 26, 2022, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Rancho Los Alamitos, 6400 E. Bixby Hill Road. To learn more about the Cottonwood Awards Luncheon or purchase tribute ads, tickets, or sponsorships, visit www.rancholosalamitos.org.

The submission deadline for tribute ads is April 29. Proceeds from this event benefit Rancho Los Alamitos’ educational mission.

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