Community News

Recreation Classes Available This Summer

Registration for new and existing recreation classes offered by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) begins Monday, May 5. PRM is offering more than 700 activities throughout the city and catering to all ages. From preschool to adults ages 50+, residents can enjoy classes in art, music, nature, fitness, special interest subjects, adult sports leagues, aquatics and more all summer long.

Preschool

• Challenger International Sports Skills Camp (ages 2 to 4 years).
• Preschool Cooking Thyme (ages 2 years, six months to 5 years).
• Hip Hop Tots Dance (ages 2 to 5 years).

Youth

• Hollywood Special Effects Camp (ages 7 to 13 years).
• Engineering Design Challenge Using Lego ® Materials (ages 7 to 12 years).
• Skyhawks Basketball (ages 7 to 10 years).

Teens

• Summer Music Academy: Band and Orchestra (ages 11-15 years).
• Drawing Fundamentals (ages 16 and up).
• Jujitsu: Japanese Self Defense (ages 13 and up).

Adults

• Oil Painting (ages 16 years and up).
• Latin Rhythms Dance (ages 18 years and up).
• Karate (ages 18 years and up).

Older Adults

• Round Dance Intermediate and Advanced (ages 50 years and up).
• Chair Based Yoga (ages 50 years and up).
• Zumba Gold Toning (ages 50 years and up).

Beginning May 5, residents can register for classes by visiting lbparks.org and clicking on “Online Registration” under “LB RecConnect,” by calling (562) 570-3111 or by visiting the Registration Reservations Office (2760 Studebaker Rd.), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Classes will start in June and extend through August. Check out all of this season’s activities in the latest issue of the Recreation Connection, PRM’s programs catalog, available at LBParks.org or at Long Beach park community centers and Long Beach Public Library branches beginning May 5.

Free Gun Storage Safes Offered

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in collaboration with Parks, Recreation and Marine, will distribute 200 gun safes to the public at six park locations across Long Beach and one DHHS location in North Long Beach. The gun safes will be free of charge and issued with no questions asked, with a goal of protecting children from potential gun-related accidents and safeguarding against theft.

Firearms are the leading cause of death among children in the United States, and it is critically important for parents and caregivers to follow gun safety guidelines by following the be SMART framework:

• Secure all guns in your home and vehicles.
• Model responsible behavior around guns.
• Ask about unsecured guns in other homes.
• Recognize the role of guns in suicide.
• Tell your peers to Be SMART.

The gun safes – which weigh 10 pounds and can fit two handguns – along with gun safety educational materials, will be available for free to Long Beach residents on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Monday, April 28, at the following locations:

• Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.), weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Cesar E. Chavez Park (401 Golden Ave.), weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Coolidge Park (352 E. Neece St.), weekdays 3 to 10 p.m.
• Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.), weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• MacArthur Park (1321 E. Anaheim St.), weekdays 3 to 6 p.m.
• Orizaba Park (1435 Orizaba Ave.) weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Ron Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.), Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People must not bring their firearms to the sites. All weapons are prohibited at city facilities, including firearms.

“Using a gun safe to store firearms reduces the risk of accidental injuries and fatalities, particularly among children,” said Dr. Anissa Davis, city health officer. “It also helps prevent unauthorized access, lowering the chances of firearm-related violence and suicide.”

Funding for this project comes from the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, approved by the City Council, in the amount of $35,478 as part of the DHHS’s violence prevention strategy in the city’s 2030 Strategic Vision.

Mental Health Awareness Walk & Health Fair

The Rotary Club of Long Beach, in collaboration with Rotary District 5320, invites the entire community to lace up their walking shoes for a meaningful cause – the second annual Mental Health Awareness Walk, taking place on Sunday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Granada Beach, 5100 E. Ocean Blvd.

This family-friendly event is more than just a walk – it’s a movement to break the silence around mental health. Participants can choose a 1K to 5K route, enjoy a community health fair with resources and support services, and honor lives affected by mental health struggles. “We walk to bring light to the importance of mental health and remind our neighbors that help and hope are available,” said Michele Dobson, past president of the Rotary Club in Long Beach. “This event connects our community with vital resources while showing everyone they are not alone.”

The walk was inspired by a personal and powerful story from the Rotary International president, who shared the devastating loss of his brother to suicide. His story serves as a call to action: we must talk openly, support one another, and create a culture of care.

Who should attend? Everyone! Bring your family, friends, and even your furry companions. Whether you’re walking to remember a loved one, support someone in need, or take care of your own mental wellness – your presence matters.

Register at https://bit.ly/SLAwellnessWalk. Proceeds will support local nonprofits providing mental health services across Long Beach and surrounding areas.

Post-Walk Brunch: Join us at Belmont Brewing Co. RSVP to Natalie Hale at nhale@mediapartnersww.com).

Cinco De Mayo Celebration

Catalina Museum for Art & History is set to bring the community together once again with the Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration.

The festivities kick off on Monday, May 5, running from 5 to 9 p.m. This year's celebration will feature live music by island favorites Mariachi Las Catrinas and cultural performances by Ballet Folklorico Quetzal and Avalon School grades TK-5. Attendees of all ages can enjoy face painting, an engaging art project for kids and Mexican dishes from local food vendors. Margaritas, wine, beer and other refreshments will be available for purchase. Cultural performances will begin at 5 p.m. and food will be served until supplies run out.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. For more information about the Catalina Museum for Art & History, visit CatalinaMuseum.org

Suffragists of Early Long Beach

The Long Beach American Association of University Women (AAUW) invites the public to ride along on its brief bus tour featuring several key locations in Long Beach where early suffragists lived and advocated for women’s rights. The tour will be held on Friday, May 9.

The bus, provided by LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, loads in the parking lot of Target at 2270 Bellflower Blvd. at 9:30 a.m. and takes participants to several places in Long Beach connected with the early suffrage movement.

Participants will have a chance to dine at 2nd and PCH before they return to the starting point.

Gerrie Schipske, author of several books on Long Beach history, is the guest narrator and tells the fascinating but little-known story of the women who fought for the vote from her book “Suffragists of Early Long Beach.” The tour includes: Tongva memorial, Bouton Creek, Willow Springs Park, 3rd and Locust tabernacle site, 1st and Pine suffragist society headquarters, suffragist Adelaide Tichenor’s home and the first WCTU march site.

The tour fee is $25. Copies of “Suffragists of Early Long Beach” are available on the tour for $20. A portion of book sales will be donated to AAUW’s Scholarship fund. Participants should download the presentation www.lbsuffragetour.com on their cellphones to view during the tour.

Youth Week May 15-17

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Youth Development has announced Youth Week 2025, a new three-day event dedicated to empowering young people ages 13-26. Taking place May 15-17 at various locations throughout Long Beach, Youth Week 2025 will feature engaging workshops, interactive activities and valuable resources designed to help youth grow, play and advocate for their future.

Each day of Youth Week will center around a unique theme:

• Thursday, May 15: Grow – Taking place from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Economic Development Department’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network Youth Career Services Center (508 W. Willow St.), this day will offer youth opportunities to participate in workforce and education workshops and hear from the Youth Advisory Council, as well as explore career and educational opportunities to inspire personal and professional growth.
• Friday, May 16: Play – Taking place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.), this day will focus on health and wellness and feature a resource fair, an art workshop and interactive wellness activities.
• Saturday, May 17: Advocate – Taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Long Beach City Hall (411 W. Ocean Blvd.), this theme will emphasize youth advocacy, with planned activities to include a Mayor’s Town Hall where young people can engage in civic discussions and share their voices on key issues affecting their communities.

Youth Week will connect young people to essential resources in their city, providing them with career exploration, skill-building, education and advocacy opportunities while ensuring a fun and engaging experience.

Registration is required to attend.

For more information about the Office of Youth Development, visit longbeach.gov/youth.

Rancho to Honor Local Leaders

Rancho Los Alamitos, a non-profit historic site, is set to honor two distinguished Long Beach community members for their exceptional leadership and contributions to the rancho. The recognition will take place at the 13th Annual Cottonwood Award Luncheon on May 22, at 11 a.m., an event that celebrates the dedication and hard work of individuals who have significantly impacted Rancho Los Alamitos and the wider community.

This year’s honorees have been instrumental in preserving the rich history and cultural heritage of the rancho, ensuring it remains a vital part of Long Beach’s identity.

Rancho Los Alamitos is thrilled to recognize these outstanding leaders,” said Rancho Board Chair Henry Taboada. “Their unwavering support and contributions have been invaluable in maintaining the rancho as a historic landmark and educational resource for our community.”

The Cottonwood Award for Leadership recipient is Geraldine Knatz, PhD. Her leadership spans decades of national and international leadership in developing environmentally clean, urban seaports. The author of numerous publications, she currently serves on the boards of Banning Residence Museum, the Immigrant Genealogical Society and the Catalina Island Conservancy.

The Gerald Miller Award for Service recipient is Roxanne Patmor. She is a Long Beach native. Since retiring from Southern California Edison, Patmor has spent nearly 20 years working with historians, actors, and non-profits as the driving force behind Long Beach’s Annual Cemetery Tour and Rancho Los Alamitos’ Rancho holiday events. She serves as president of the Long Beach Playhouse and is a member of the Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation Board of Directors.

The reception and luncheon bring together civic leaders, philanthropists and supporters of the Rancho Los Alamitos and promises an inspiring program, with remarks from community leaders, a presentation of awards, and a luncheon in the beautiful surroundings of rancho lawns.

The proceeds from the luncheon will directly support the rancho’s educational programs, conservation efforts, and public outreach initiatives. Event details and information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities at www.Rancholosalamitos.org.