Community News

Celebrate Purim

Jewish Long Beach and Alpert Jewish Community Center are celebrating Purim on Sunday, March 24, beginning at noon.

Israel is home to the world’s biggest Purim celebrations, akin to Mardi Gras or Carnaval. To pay homage to the holiday’s origins, the Alpert JCC will transform into an immersive Israeli experience, with each area on the campus representing a city or region of Israel. There will be Israeli food from Falafa Foods (food truck), live klezmer and Israeli folk music from The Goldene Medina Klezmer Band, and Israeli dancing with Orly Star.

Fun for the whole family includes bounce houses, games, prizes, a tot zone, hamantaschen (pastry), falafel for purchase, and more.

Purim is a remembrance observed in festive, carnival-like traditions. As told in the book of Esther, brave Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai protected the Jews from Haman who wanted to execute all the Jews in the Persian Empire in the fourth century BC.

All the fun will take place at the Alpert Jewish Community Center on the Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus 3801 E. Willow St. Long Beach, CA 90815 and will move indoors if it rains.

Admission includes carnival games, prizes, bounce houses, crafts, and activities. Visit https://jewishlongbeach.ticketspice.com/israeli-style-purim to purchase tickets ahead of time. The price is $10 per child, $5 suggested donation per adult chaperone, and $15 for a drink wristband entitling the barer to wine tasting and up to three drinks. Children under two are free. Prices will go up at the door.

The Alpert JCC is located on the Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus and operated by Jewish Long Beach, providing programming for all ages and stages of life. Known as “Your Center for Life,” The Alpert JCC is a gathering space in which all are welcome to pursue early childhood education, after-school programs, fitness programs, aquatics activities, and summer camp, as well as to engage in Jewish life, culture, and education.

Free Spring Spectacular

Long Beach Towne Center invites children and their families to its Spring Spectacular event on Sunday, March 24, from noon to 2 p.m. During the event, which will be held in the Regal Promenade, attendees will enjoy free photos with the Easter Bunny, kids’ crafts, balloon twisting and face painting. This event is free and open to the public and no pre-registration is required. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/48bKcAk.

With 1 million square feet of retail space, Long Beach Towne Center offers a unique collection of over 54 name-brand and boutique shopping, entertainment and dining options all conveniently located off the 605 Freeway at Carson Boulevard.

The shopping center’s retailers include nationally recognized names like Ashley Furniture, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, PetSmart, Ross Dress For Less, and Walmart as well as a host of coveted specialty retailers like Bath & Body Works, Carter’s/OshKosh B’gosh, David’s Bridal, DXL Men’s Apparel and ULTA Beauty. Customer-favorite eateries include Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Original Roadhouse Grill, The Stand, and TGI Fridays. Entertainment options include an expansive Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26 movie theater, Dave & Buster’s, and body-honing services such as Massage Envy and Good Feet.

For more information, visit https://www.lbtownecenter.com.

Long Beach to Offer Free Youth Recreation Program in Local Parks During School Spring Break April 1-5

Pre-Registration begins at park sites on Monday, March 18

Spring Fun Days

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will offer its free youth recreation program, Spring Fun Days, at various parks throughout Long Beach during the upcoming school spring break.

Spring Fun Days engage children ages 5 to 12 in fun activities such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and special events. This is a free drop-in program where registered participants may come and go as they please.

The program will run Monday through Friday, April 1-5, from noon to 5 p.m. each day at parks throughout Long Beach. Pre-registration is required. Registration forms may be picked up at participating parks beginning Monday, March 18. Call or visit parks for registration times.

More information, including the complete list of participating locations, is available on the Spring Break Fun Days program webpage: https://www.longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/youth-programs/spring....

Marsh Stroll

Learn about restoration of the Los Cerritos Wetlands and the plant communities being cultivated for this restoration on April 6, 8-10 a.m.

Naturalists will highlight the importance of California native plants. Bring binoculars to view wildlife. 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.

Spring Book Sale

The Friends of Signal Hill Library invite everyone to their Spring Book Sale on Thursday, April 18 from noon to 4 p.m. Held on the Signal Hill Library Front Patio, 1800 E. Hill Street (off Cherry Ave.), the sale offers great treasures.

They will provide a large bag for you to fill up with books for only $5, cash only.

You will find gently used, quality books in many topics: adventure, biography, children’s, classics, cookbooks, diet, fiction, fitness, foreign language, health, history, hobbies, poetry, teen, textbooks and travel. Special and rare books will be priced separately.

DVDs are two for $1.

All proceeds will be returned into library enhancement programs. For more information, call (562) 989-7323.