Community News

Park Groundbreaking

Councilwoman Suzie Price, Mayor Robert Garcia, LB Parks, Recreation & Marine, and LB Public Works are hosting the groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 19 at 10 a.m. for the new Red Car Greenbelt portion of the Pacific Electric Right-of-Way, located at the entrance to the greenbelt at Fourth Street and Park Avenue.

This project represents a City of Long Beach partnership among many departments, as well as significant funding from the Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District Grant, the State of California, Land and Water State Conservation Fund, the Los Angeles County Supervisor’s Office, Measure A and the councilwoman’s office. This groundbreaking represents years of planning to create the newest passive park space in Long Beach. The park space will have a pedestrian and bicycle path, native plants and trees, benches, and lighting making it a great addition to the community.

Port Head On Straight Talk

Mario Cordero, the newly appointed executive director of the Port of Long Beach, will be the guest on the next edition of Straight Talk. He joins host Art Levine to discuss the challenges facing the port and his plans for the future.

Also appearing on the show is Lou Anne Bynum, President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. She discusses why the board selected Mario, and the focus on the Green Port philosophy and continued growth for the port. 

This Straight Talk show will air in Long Beach/Signal Hill on Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on LBTV Channel 3 and Frontier FiOS 21. It also airs Saturday and Sunday in Long Beach and 70 surrounding cities at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Charter Channel 188. The show will run the following weekend at the same times. Straight Talk is also viewable on demand at www.StraightTalkTV.com.

Avoiding Chaos

“Taking the Chaos out of Loss” is a free 5:30 p.m. presentation of the Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Alpert Jewish Community Center at 3801 E. Willow St. on August 22.

Susan Alpert, noted author and speaker, will share her journey as a new widow navigating the business and financial affairs of her marriage, addressing the importance of preparation and offering actionable advice.

The event is open to the public; please RSVP Sharon Kenigsberg at (562) 427-7601, Ext. 1008.

Walking Tour

The Willmore City walking tour on Saturday, Aug. 26, will include interior visits of the Bembridge House and, in contrast, a fully restored Queen Anne “workman’s” cottage. A few miscellaneous items to see will be a mysterious gold-domed temple and an original Catalina tile soda fountain.

Home to the impressive Victorian Queen Anne Bembridge House and numerous smaller examples of this style, Willmore City was the first residential development in Long Beach. Started in 1881 from a subdivision of the Rancho Los Cerritos, Willmore City contains Drake Park named for Colonel Charles Rivers Drake developer of the Pike amusement complex and the Knoll Park housing development.

This tour is designed as an educational introduction to a cross-section of early 20th century Long Beach residential architecture. There are numerous examples of variations on the Victorian style as well as turn-of-the-century transitional homes and the first modern architecture-the Craftsman.

The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. and lasts two hours or more. Cost is $15 per adult. Call (562) 493-7019 to RSVP or for more details.

Let Sunshine In

Forty-eight years ago this month thousands of flower children and hippies descended on a tiny town in upstate New York for “An Aquarian Exposition: Three Days of Peace & Music” better known as Woodstock.  Steel Magnolias is bringing back the Summer of Love with its annual Signature Event, Let the Sunshine In, taking place Sunday, Aug. 27, 2-6 p.m. at The Grand Long Beach. Tickets are $99 per person with nearly 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting the Stramski Children’s Developmental Center at Millers Children’s and Women’s Hospital.  To purchase a ticket, visit Eventbrite.com and search Steel Magnolias Long Beach.

Let the Sunshine In celebrates the 60s and features an array of food, signature cocktails and live music by Stone Soul. There will be various prize opportunities, including Lucky Draw where guests can purchase tickets to win a trip to Catalina and other fabulous prizes. There will also be a silent auction featuring a staycation on the Queen Mary, a Palm Springs getaway to the city’s only Four Diamond property – The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn – where Albert Einstein was a frequent guest, priceless experiences at homes on Naples Island including a progressive dinner and Duffy boat ride.

Steel Magnolias is an all-volunteer organization with no paid administrators or dedicated office space.  Nearly all monies raised for events, such as Let the Sunshine In, go directly to the cause.

For more information visit www.thesteelmagnolias.org or call (562) 331-8007.

School Starts Aug. 30

School starts Wednesday, Aug. 30 for most students in the Long Beach Unified School District. Most school offices reopen Aug. 22.

Watch individual school websites for additional back-to-school information. Access school websites by finding individual schools in the A-Z index at www.lbschools.net.

Works by David Ives

In September, the Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre presents All in the Timing by David Ives. This critically acclaimed, award-winning evening of comedic short plays combines wit, intellect, satire and just plain fun. Ives’ collection of six fast-paced glimpses into the eccentricities of life, love, communication, and dating will shine a light at the absurdity of life.

The characters portrayed are diverse, bizarre, complex and unerringly familiar. The audience is taken on a joy-ride through the human condition - a couple on their first date, a room of creative simians earnestly typing Hamlet, a tutor of an imagined language, and Philip Glass reimagined.

All in the Timing opens on September 2 and runs through the end of the month. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets ($14-$24) are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling (562) 494-1014, option 1. 

Republican Women

Marshall McClain, president of the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association, will be the speaker at the Long Beach Republican Women Federated meeting on Saturday, Sept. 9. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Long Beach Airport Marriott Hotel, 4700 Airport Plaza Dr.

RSVP is required to LongBeachRWF@gmail.com or call (562) 938-9180 and leave a message.  Cost is $27 for members and $32 for guests and includes breakfast. You may register online at www.longbeachrepublicanwomen.com.

Frogs at Aquarium

Enjoy the Aquarium of the Pacific for just $14.95 after 5 p.m. on select nights throughout summer. Guests are also invited to explore the entire aquarium (except Lorikeet Forest), including the latest exhibit, FROGS: Dazzling and Disappearing. The exhibit traces the history of amphibians, their life cycles, the different environments they live in from deserts to rainforests, the diversity of species, and their surprisingly uncertain future. Visit aquariumofpacific.org for dates and more information.