Community News

Scholarship Gala

California Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, Ph.D., will be the keynote speaker at the third Annual Black Alumni Scholarship Gala honoring Cal State Long Beach’s Black Excellence Awardees on April 22 at 5 p.m. She will be joined with welcoming comments from Rex Richardson.

The BASG will take place at Ovation Square, 350 Pine Ave, Long Beach. This year’s Black Excellence Awardees are:

• Darick Simpson, president of the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation.
• Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. of Antioch Church of Long Beach.
• Doris Robinson, executive director of the CSULB-LBUSD Math Collaborative.
• Professor Kagba Suaray, California State University Long Beach.

The annual gala raises funds for CSULB’s Black Resource Center and scholarships for students supporting the advocacy of African Americans on campus. Funds raised have made it possible to fund 30 scholarships since 2021.

Tickets for the in-person event are limited but can be purchased for $250 at https://onecau.se/bac3rd. Participants may purchase tickets for the online event for a donation of $25 at https://onecau.se/bac3rd.

For additional information please contact Tracy Kelly at tracy.kelly@csulb.edu.

Spring Book Sale

To celebrate National Library Week, the Friends of Signal Hill Library invite you to shop for gently used books at their Spring Book Sale on Thursday, April 27, 1-6 p.m. The sale will be held on the front entrance patio of the Signal Hill Library at 1800 E. Hill St. Come fill a bag (we will provide the bag) for only $5. Cash only.

Over 2,000 books will be available in art, biography, classics, cookbooks, children’s, education, diet, fiction, fitness, health, history, hobbies, novels, self-help, spirituality, teen, textbooks & travel. Special & rare books will be priced separately. CD Audio books will be $2. Music CDs will be $1 and DVDs for only 50 cents. All proceeds benefit library programs. For more information, please call (562) 989-7323.

Heron Hike

Learn about the history of Los Cerritos Wetlands and look for migrating birds during a nature walk on Saturday, May 6, 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.

‘Under the Skin’

What does it mean to give a part of yourself to someone else? International City Theatre presents the West Coast premiere of “Under the Skin,” a surprising new comedy by Michael Hollinger (Opus). caryn desai [sic] directs the three-week run, April 28 through May 14, at ICT’s home in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. Two low-priced previews are set for April 26 and April 27.

Lou (Tony Abatemarco) needs a kidney. As in now. His daughter Raina (Allison Blaize) has one to spare, but she’s also got issues. Like, how come the sonofabitch had sex with so many women who weren’t her mother? And never went to any of her birthday parties when she was a kid? Or can even remember the name or sex of her daughter? Secrets get aired and truths revealed in this lively, unpredictable comedy that asks just how much parents and children really owe one another.

“Under the Skin” runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., April 28 through May 14. Two preview performances take place on Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, April 27 both at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (except April 28, opening night, for which tickets are $55 and include a post-show reception), and $52 at Sunday matinees. Low-priced tickets to previews are $37.

International City Theatre has formed a community partnership with the African American community in Long Beach in order to bring our diverse community together, bring students to the production, and raise funds for college scholarships. A Community Partnership Package, which includes a pre-performance Gala dinner in addition to the post-show reception on opening night, is $125; tables of ten are available for $1,200.

For more information and to purchase tickets, call (562) 436-4610 or go to www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.

Free Concert

On Saturday, April 29, Long Beach Symphony will present the world premiere of praCh’s KHMERASPORA as part of their Musical Bridges free concerts initiative. Due to amazing demand, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. concerts are being offered but the 7 p.m. concert is sold out. Both concerts will take place at the Long Beach Terrace Theater; reservations are required.

This program is part of Long Beach Symphony’s Musical Bridges initiative, which seeks to celebrate the many diverse communities in Long Beach through free, collaborative and multicultural performances. This is only made possible through the generous support of the California Arts Council, Bank of America, Port of Long Beach, the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Arts Council for Long Beach, Crown Castle and Long Beach Vice Mayor Cindy Allen.

Audiences may reserve tickets for the 5 p.m. concert at www.LongBeachSymphony.org.

Art Deco by the Sea

On Saturday afternoon, April 29, enjoy a glass of specially-priced wine at The Wine Crush (3131 E. Broadway) before boarding the big red bus and delight in a fun and educational Art Deco Tour of Downtown Long Beach with notable Art Deco historian John Thomas, co-author of Long Beach Art Deco.

Tour check-in is 1:30 p.m. at The Wine Crush, so don’t be late. Street parking is limited, so walk or bike to The Wine Crush.

A tour snack/refreshment bag will be given out to each paid participant and a complimentary copy of Thomas’ book, Long Beach Art Deco may also be included for each paid participant, pending availability.

Tickets cost $60 and must be reserved in advance because seating is limited. No tickets will be sold at the door. Purchase your non-refundable tickets at https://www.bluffheights.org/events-1/bhna-art-deco-by-the-sea-bus-tour.