Community News

Water Safety Day

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) and Long Beach Fire Department’s Marine Safety Division will host a Water Safety Day, a free event that will educate the community on how to stay safe in and around the water by learning essential water smart skills for the upcoming summer season. To increase access to these vital resources and education, this event will be held simultaneously at both Belmont Plaza Pool (4320 Olympic Plaza) and Silverado Park Pool (1540 W. 32nd St.) on Saturday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Water Safety Day event will include both dry and wet water safety stations at Belmont Plaza and Silverado Park Pools. Participants will have opportunities to learn survival floating, participate in a swim lesson evaluation and obtain swim lesson information and resources. Attendees will learn important skills, such as how to perform hands-only CPR, how to assist someone who needs help in the water and how to call 9-1-1 for help in an emergency situation.

Participants should plan to bring a swimsuit and towel. Registration is free and can be completed at LBParks.org. Those who attend are also invited to stay for a free recreation swim following the event from 1 to 3 p.m. at either location.

Both event locations will offer the same schedule of activities and resources. For additional information about the PRM Water Safety Day and other programming, visit LBParks.org or call (562) 570-3150.

Queen Mary Unveils New Art Gallery

With its newly restored art deco masterpiece, captivating exhibits and curated art gallery, the Queen Mary remains a cornerstone of Southern California’s cultural landscape. On Tuesday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the ship will host a Queen Mary Community Day, offering free admission for visitors to experience the Queen’s artistic and historical treasures up close.

“The Queen Mary has always stood as a marvel of design and engineering, but she’s also one of the most unique cultural and art destinations on the West Coast,” said Steve Caloca, managing director of the Queen Mary. “The Community Day on May 27 is an opportunity for our neighbors to step aboard and truly explore the ship as a living museum; to see the art, the preservation efforts and the exhibits that continue to tell her magnificent story.”

From bow to stern, the Queen Mary herself is an architectural time capsule. Her original decks, staterooms and grand salons are adorned with rare woods, etched glass and decorative metalwork that define the ship’s famed Art Deco style.

One of the most treasured pieces is the recently restored “Unicorns in Battle,” a breathtaking 16-foot mural located in the Queen’s Salon. Originally created by Alfred J. Oakley and Gilbert Bayes, the carved gesso panel is the second-largest artwork aboard the ship and once served as the dramatic focal point above the 1st Class Main Lounge fireplace. Thanks to restoration supported by QMI Restore, the mural’s gilded silver and gold leaf detailing has been returned to its original brilliance.

The ship also recently launched a restoration and preservation webpage, where the public can learn more about ongoing efforts to safeguard and showcase Queen Mary’s historic assets.

Daily, guests are invited to chart their own course through the ship’s many exhibits via 20+ “Experience Points, now available in five different languages. These immersive experiences reveal the inner workings of the ship, from the wheelhouse to the propeller box, with stops at the commodore’s office, the radio room, the engine room and more.

Using a mobile phone, guests can access experience points located throughout the ship to listen and learn more about key areas. A complimentary Experience Point postcard, featuring a map of all locations, is available at passenger information which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Larger onboard exhibits include “Their Finest Hours: Winston Churchill and The Queen Mary,” and “The Cunard Story,” which explores the legacy of the legendary company behind more than 150 ocean liners spanning 175 years.

New to the Queen Mary’s art offerings are three can’t-miss additions: newly installed museum placards, the Queen Mary Archives Museum and the onboard Queen Mary Art Gallery. The museum placards, located throughout the ship, provide historical context and fascinating insights into select artworks and iconic spaces, enhancing the self-guided experience for visitors.

For more information, upcoming events, programming and more visit www.queenmary.com/seasonal-events.htm and queenmary.com/whatsondeck.

Turkish Festival Returns

The Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California (ATASC) announced the return of the California Turkish Festival for its fourth consecutive year. Scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 1, the free festival promises a vibrant celebration of Turkish culture, cuisine and entertainment at Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach.

Building on the resounding success of previous editions, organizers are gearing up to welcome over 5,000 attendees from across Southern California for a day filled with culinary delights, live performances and family-friendly activities. Festival Chairperson Nilay Senel-Nylund extends a warm invitation to all, emphasizing the event’s focus on unity and diversity.

The festival will showcase a diverse array of Turkish cuisine, including beloved favorites such as doner, kebabs, baklava, vegetarian dishes, Turkish coffee and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to savor these delectable offerings and enjoying new addition the Beer Garden while immersing themselves in the lively atmosphere of traditional Turkish street foods.

Entertainment will be a highlight of the event, with a lineup of talented musicians and performers gracing the stage throughout the day. Musicians set to perform include Ali Tolga Band, Miles Apart, AKM Turkish Music Choir, San Diego Turkish Music Chorus. Additionally, attendees can look forward to captivating performances by belly dancer Laman Museyava, Turkish folk dance TUFOD and DJ Volkan Duygun.

As part of this year’s festivities, the festival will shine a spotlight on Ephesus, A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important cities of the ancient world, Ephesus invites you to discover its rich past, where grand architecture and deep-rooted culture meet in a truly unforgettable setting.

Festival-goers will have the opportunity to learn more about this magical region.

Admission to the festival is free and all are welcome to attend.

Nation’s Largest Consumer Scuba Expo

 The 2025 Scuba Show invites all adventurous spirits to discover the world beneath the waves when it returns to the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1.

Now in its 38th year, the Scuba Show connects divers of all experience levels with the magic and adventure of marine environments. An ideal event for anyone who has ever considered taking up this inspiring water sport, the Scuba Show is the perfect place to explore how to get started.

For experienced divers, Scuba Show 2025 will feature over 260 exhibitors – from dive gear companies and travel destinations from around the world, to ocean-inspired jewelry and art – providing scuba enthusiasts with the latest in equipment and knowledge, as well as the inspiration to seek out their next dive adventure.

For the estimated 8,000 attendees, there’s plenty to see and do. Throughout the weekend, attendees can expect product demonstrations, travel specials, over 70 seminars, activities for children, “real” mermaids and the opportunity to catch a magic act presented by the Scuba Magician.

Marine films are screened throughout the weekend in a 360˚ enclosed theater, immersing viewers in a “beneath the sea” experience. Both adults and kids are invited to help paint a colorful giant seascape mural. A regular draw for attendees, all ticket holders have a chance to take home a piece of over $50,000 in gifts and prizes.

For those new to diving, first-timers are invited to don full scuba gear and try their hand at diving in a heated 15,000-gallon pool on the exhibit hall floor, under the supervision of experienced instructors.

The show is truly a “deep dive” into the educational aspects of the sport and features dozens of seminars on various specialized topics such as marine environments, foreign destinations, history, underwater photography, diving physiology, ocean weather forecasting, marine conservation and more. A sampling of this year’s seminars includes The Strange Creatures of the Sand, Mistakes Divers Make, Secrets of the Coral Reef, Traveling Safely to Remote Destinations and A Fitness Formula for Divers, among many others.

The much-anticipated Saturday Night Party for attendees and vendors will take place at The Cove, an undersea-themed venue at the Convention Center. Starting right after the show closes, it will feature live sets by Woody and the Longboards, food trucks, a cash bar, a fundraising raffle and silent auction, and the California Scuba Service Award presentation. The Saturday Night Party is free to attend for all ticket holders and show participants.

“Southern California is home to one of the largest concentrations of divers in North America,” said Scuba Show Producer Mark Young. “It is always a pleasure to engage with both the local and broader Western diving community and to present them with opportunities to learn more about what is under the waves and the sport we are so passionate about. Whether you are an experienced diver or want to know more about the sport, the Scuba Show welcomes you to explore the thrilling world of scuba diving.”

The 2025 Scuba Show will take place on Saturday, May 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Single-day advance tickets range from $25 (single-day exhibit hall) to $40 (single-day exhibits plus seminars) and two-day passes are $75 (includes exhibit hall and seminars). Kids 13 and under are free.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.scubashow.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Event to Improve Bystander CPR Rates

According to data from the Emergency Medical Services Agency in 2023, only 33-34% of cardiac arrest victims in Los Angeles County received CPR from a bystander. At Long Beach Medical Center, 141 cases of cardiac arrest patients were treated between July 2023 and June 2024 – but only 40% received bystander CPR before arriving at the hospital.

MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center aims to increase the rate of bystander CPR in the Long Beach community by educating residents at its annual “Sidewalk CPR” event on June 6 at LBX from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“These figures are alarming, as prompt CPR can significantly improve the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims,” said Khiet Hoang, M.D., medical director, emergency cardiac services, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. “70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, so the person who will need CPR will very likely be someone you know. Our community is facing a critical challenge with these low rates of bystander CPR, which underscores the critical need for community engagement and training in CPR procedures.”

According to a 2018 study by the American Heart Association, 45% of men received bystander CPR compared with 39% of women. Men had 23% higher odds of survival than women.

“The discrepancy between men and women receiving life-saving CPR is distressing and causing us to lose more women to heart disease – this needs to change,” says Nissi Suppogu, M.D., medical director, Women’s Heart Center, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. “We want to increase awareness and training on cardiac events in women to decrease the fear of intervening and ensure CPR is given to women experiencing cardiac arrest.”

Hands-only CPR (compression-only) is an alternative option for those who do not have conventional CPR training or are worried about the risk of disease transmission from mouth-to-mouth contact. Hands-only CPR helps keep the heart beating until EMS providers arrive to take over.

“Using hands-only CPR has been proven to be just as effective as conventional CPR as long as the compression pace and strength of the compression is correct,” said Dr. Hoang. “An easy way to remember how to get enough compressions is to perform hands-only CPR to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” or any other song with a tempo of 100 to 120 beats per minute.”

“By providing accessible and practical hands-only CPR training, we are fostering a culture of preparedness and confidence,” says Joe Kim, M.D., chief medical officer, Long Beach Medical Center. “Our goal is to equip every resident with the ability to act swiftly in emergencies, which can significantly improve survival rates for cardiac arrest victims in Long Beach.”