Community News

Free After School Programs

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is once again offering its free After School Program, which safely engages youth ages 5 to 12 with educational and engaging activities during the after-school hours. Registration for the After School Program began Aug. 28.

The After School Program is a free drop-in program where registered participants may come and go as they please. Participants will receive homework assistance and enjoy enrichment activities and games.

Pre-registration for the After School Program is required. To register, participants can visit the park of their choice during their designated hours now until all spots are filled.

Additional information about the After School Programs and other activities for youth is available at LBParks.org or by calling (562) 570-3150.

AAUW Program Announcement

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Long Beach Branch Saturday, Sept. 9 program will start with introduction of four scholarship recipients at LBCC and CSULB.

Featured will be the stories of three Afghan women who were students in a master’s program in agronomy before being evacuated for their safety and arriving in Long Beach supported in part by the Welcome Circle of NCJW Long Beach. Come hear their turbulent journey to attain their degrees while adjusting to a new culture.

Guests are welcome to attend this program that starts at 11 a.m. AAUW meeting order: 9:30 a.m. socialize, 10 a.m. branch business, 11 a.m. program. Meetings are at Long Beach City College, 4900 E. Conant St. (Clark & Conant). Follow signs to Building O2, Room 208 (2nd floor).

To attend RSVP at aauwlongbeach.reservations@gmail.com.

‘Thom Pain’ at Garage

Long Beach’s originative Garage Theatre continues its 2023 season with “Thom Pain (based on nothing),” Will Eno’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated one-man existential comedy, directed by Matthew Anderson and starring Paul Knox.

“Thom Pain (based on nothing)” is a droll, acerbic monologue filled with biting humor, desire and lost innocence. “Thom Pain (based on nothing)” will be presented Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, beginning Friday, Sept. 8, through Saturday, Oct. 7. The theater’s doors open at 7:30 p.m. and shows begin at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available online: http://www.thegaragetheatre.org/onstagenow or at the theater box office 30-minutes prior to each night’s performance.

Writers Club Meeting

Award-winning author Laurie Stevens discusses “Branching Beyond a Thriller Series” at the Sept. 9 meeting, 2:30-5 p.m. via Zoom. Send an email to info@calwriterslongbeach.org. Use the subject “Request Zoom Link.” You’ll receive the information beforehand.

At our free monthly local meetings, we have authors, panels, marketing specialists, professors, Pulitzer Prize winners, and more who help us fulfill our mission and observe our motto of “writers helping writers.” Several members have published traditionally with publishing houses. Others of us have self-published, and many are yet to be published. Our members and guests like writing for pleasure and being around other writers.

Info: https://calwriterslongbeach.org.

BSBA Car Show

Known as the largest car show on the west coast, the Belmont Shore Car Show returns on Sunday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

You can expect to find over 500 cars on display including hundreds of classic cars, and specialty cars like the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile, the car from 101 Dalmatians, a handful of nostalgic cars from the Lions Automobilia Museum, a dozen low rider GMC blazers, custom Mercedes sprinter camper vans. Plus, local car clubs; Surf City VWs, The Sultans, and Under Oath.

New this year, a beer garden at Roe Seafood, live music performed by Seatbelt, Freedom Machine and, the Fifth Story Tenants with a special Hendrix version of the national anthem performed by Wolf at 9 a.m. in front of Chase Bank. Robb Smith of Alley Cat Deliveries will be announcing exhibitor awards throughout the day. Opportunity drawings for a wide variety of gift baskets and bundles, the proceeds from the drawings will go to the Ronald McDonald House.

With a complete street closure of 14 blocks along 2nd street, you’ll discover places to dine and shop in our beachside community while viewing the beautiful automobiles lined up on 2nd street between Livingston Drive and Bayshore Ave in Belmont Shore. Vendors are also set up along 2nd Street for your enjoyment while you enjoy the ocean breezes.

This event is produced by Pierside Parts and the Belmont Shore Business Association.

East Second Street from Livingstone to Bayshore and intersecting side streets from Quincy Avenue to Claremont Avenue will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bayshore Avenue will be open to traffic.

We recommend visitors parking at the Ocean Ave beach lots and the Marine Stadium lot off Appian Way and use the free shuttle service provided by circuit visit ridecircuit.com for details.

Republican Women Meet

The new independent Greater Long Beach Republican Women club is eagerly looking forward to their Sept. 9 meeting as former Lincoln Club President and Attorney Paul Carter is the guest speaker. Carter has authored a very informative book on Richard Nixon which will be available for purchase that includes the author’s autograph. 

Held at The Grand, registration starts at 9 a.m. followed by an all-you-can-eat breakfast served at 9:30 a.m. The cost is just $30 for members and $35 for non-members and there is free covered parking.

For information and reservations: email vonderhorstm@aol.com or call (562) 760-1556.

First Responders Day

The Aquarium of the Pacific celebrates our nation’s first responders on Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), police officers and sheriff’s deputies with valid ID receive free admission.

Info/Tickets: (562) 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/first_responders_day/

QFilm Festival

The 30th anniversary of The Long Beach QFilm Festival will take place Sept. 16-17 at the historic Art Theatre located at 2025 East 4th St.

Individual tickets and passes to all screenings are on sale now and are available for purchase on the QFilm’s festival page at www.qfilmslongbeach.com.

QFilms is Long Beach’s longest-running film festival since 1993. The fest annually presents narrative features, documentaries and short films that embody the rich diversity and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities. More than 1,000 people attend each year to savor a mix of world, west coast, California and local premieres as well some of the most acclaimed features on the film festival circuit.

Charity Shopping

Join LATHER and Easterseals Southern California for a charity shopping event, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2-4 p.m. at LATHER Long Beach, 6440 Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 160, Long Beach (at 2nd).

20% of proceeds from the purchase of LATHER products during this time frame will be donated to Easterseals services in SoCal. Attendees may also sign up for Easterseals’ 23rd annual Strides for Disability on Oct. 21 at Marina Greek Park in Long Beach. Come run, walk, stroll or roll with us just steps from the beach!

Volunteers Needed for Cleanup Day

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is inviting the community to get involved and make a positive impact on the local environment by participating in the 39th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day taking place Saturday, Sept. 23.

Volunteers are invited to join in at any time from 9 a.m. to noon at any of the following locations:

• Junipero Beach (2100 E. Ocean Blvd.)
• Belmont Pier (3998 E. Allin St.)
• Peninsula (72nd Place and Ocean Boulevard
• Mother’s Beach (5839 Appian Way)
• Seal Beach Yacht Club (255 N. Marina Dr.)

Gloves and trash bags will be provided; however, participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable buckets and reusable gloves to limit waste. California Coastal Cleanup 2023 branded reusable buckets, provided by Long Beach Container Terminal, will be available to volunteers on first-come, first-serve basis while supplies lasts. Joining in this year’s effort as site captains are members of Aquarium of the Pacific, Los Angeles Waterkeeper, Algalita and Seal Beach Yacht Club.

Parking is free for the event. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information and to print the liability waivers, visit the El Dorado Nature Center volunteer opportunities webpage. New this year and courtesy of the California Coastal Commission, digital waivers are also available. Volunteers are encouraged to complete the waiver prior to the cleanup to save time, but copies will be available at the participating sites.

To register and for more information, contact Long Beach Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator Kaitlin Soto at (562) 570-1745.

Humanitarian Awards Celebration

The California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) will host its 59th Annual Humanitarian Awards Celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. Each year, CCEJ celebrates the contributions of community members who have dedicated their lives and careers to promoting equality and justice in Long Beach and Southern California.

This year, the Humanitarian Award will be presented to Dr. Keith Curry (president, Compton College) and Rabbi Howard Laibson, the Gene Lentzner Human Relations Award to Valerie Dickson, and the Building Bridges Award to LA vs. Hate, a community-centered program designed to support all residents of LA County in tracking and responding to hate incidents and hate crimes.

All funds raised at the event will support CCEJ’s programs to educate and empower youth and adults to lead change for equity and justice in our communities. For 60 years, CCEJ has been building a world where people live free of oppression and thrive.

Formerly known as NCCJ, CCEJ annually trains more than 3,000 youth and adults, leaders on inclusion, equity and Restorative Justice and provides diversion case management for 100 youth from across Los Angeles County.

Individual tickets ($200) must be purchased by Wednesday, Sept. 13. Visit www.cacej.org/humanitarian. For more information, phone: (562) 435-8184 or email Vanessa Rodriguez at vrodriguez@cacej.org.

Enchanting Evening

Experience an extraordinary evening of cultural celebration, excitement and philanthropy at Food Finders’ Fun, Fabulous Frida event on Sept. 23 at the Betty Reckas Cultural Center in Long Beach.

Prepare to be enchanted by Leslie Correa, our passionate Frida Kahlo enthusiast and impersonator, who will embody the essence of this remarkable artist. Adding to the enchantment, Mariachi Amigos de Los Angeles will provide our musical entertainment, setting the perfect mood for the evening.

Capture unforgettable memories throughout the event with a replica of Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul, which will serve as a backdrop for photo opportunities.

Amidst the festivities, you can explore an enticing array of auction items, and enter our Mysterio Box drawing. By participating, you not only delight in the excitement of the event but also contribute to Food Finders’ crucial mission of reducing hunger, food waste, and improving nutrition in food-insecure communities. Your involvement will have a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.