Community News

Church Centennial

Bay Shore Community Congregational Church will be celebrating their Centennial Anniversary this Sunday, June 29, with a luncheon for church members and the community.

In 1924, a group of ministers representing 12 different religious bodies in Long Beach agreed that a congregational church should be built in the Belmont Shore area. In June 1925, a special service was held to celebrate the achievement of this goal.

Bay Shore Church is about providing the community with opportunities to experience the life-changing presence of God, connect with encouraging people and equipping you to make a difference in the world. We proudly say “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey you are welcome here.”

Bay Shore Church is an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ that welcomes and affirms the LGBTQ+ community. We are a people united in Christ. We are a people for all people. All means all.

We are for people who are like us and those who aren’t. All people includes the LGBTQ community and all people includes the next generation. We are a people building a better community.

Raptor Ramble

Attend this free, fun and interesting nature walk on July 5 to learn about the upcoming restoration of Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands and the important raptor habitat that will be enhanced. Hear about the native people who once lived on this unique land.

These special tours are led by knowledgeable ecologists who helped design the restoration project, which will break ground in Fall 2025. The walk is for ages seven and up. Meet at 8 a.m. at the corner of PCH and 1st Street in Seal Beach. Email elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org with questions or to RSVP.

Free Harbor Cruises

The Port of Long Beach will host free “Green Port Celebration Tours” on Saturday, July 12, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Green Port Policy by showing the public waterfront views of the nation’s largest seaport complex.

This special day of harbor tours will offer the community a chance to experience the sights and sounds of a working port while highlighting the Port of Long Beach’s environmental achievements over the last two decades.

During the event, the port will host five 90-minute, narrated tours beginning at 10 a.m. and departing from Dock 3 near the Aquarium of the Pacific every two hours through 6 p.m. Tours are free and will be limited to 200 attendees per departure on a first-come, first-served basis. Throughout the day, the port will also host booths, games, photo opportunities and more family activities.

“Harbor tours are one of the most popular outreach programs we have at the Port of Long Beach,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “This is a great opportunity for the public to get a closer look at our green achievements over the last 20 years and we’re thrilled to host them in the city’s port – their port.”

“We are immensely proud of the environmental progress we’ve made since the 2005 adoption of the Green Port Policy,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “I can’t think of a better way to highlight our successes, showcase our world-class facilities and discuss our future goals with the community than a full day of boat tours on the water, where goods are being moved.”

For more information on Green Port Celebration Tours, including parking information and directions, visit polb.com/porttours. The port’s annual free summer harbor tour series is also underway and will continue through September.

In 2005, the Harbor Commission enacted the Green Port Policy, which has led to aggressive, industry-leading programs to improve air and water quality, protect marine wildlife and implement sustainable practices while engaging in and educating the community. To learn more, visit www.polb.com/environment.

Blood Donors Needed

As the busy Fourth of July holiday week gets closer, the American Red Cross asks donors to celebrate by making a blood or platelet donation appointment to help power the blood supply through mid-summer. While all blood types are needed, donors with type O blood are most urgently needed.

Making and keeping donation appointments now is critical to ensuring blood products are available for all patients – including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions – in the weeks to come. Type O negative blood is often reached for in emergencies when there isn’t time to match a patient’s blood type. Type O positive is the most common blood type, so it’s important to keep type O blood and all blood types on hand at hospitals for people facing both chronic illness and sudden, life-threatening conditions.

Don’t wait – add a blood or platelet donation appointment to your summer calendar today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

The Red Cross and goodr are joining forces in July to remind donors they’re just the type patients can count on. All who come to give July 1-14, 2025, will get an exclusive pair of Red Cross x goodr sunglasses, while supplies last. Donors can personalize their one-of-a-kind shades with a blood type sticker! For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/goodr.

Or, those who make it in to give by June 30, 2025, will get a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, plus be automatically entered to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/June.

Summer Event Series

2ND & PCH invites the community to dive into a season of sunshine and celebration with its Beachside Beats Fest, Movies & Moonlight and PCH Explorer Kids Clubs, creating a lively lineup of free outdoor concerts, movie nights and kid-friendly activities perfect for the whole family.

Beachside Beats Fest – High-energy concert celebrating music and culture on the mainstage on Seaport Way:

● Thursday, July 17 – Manuel the Band

The center’s free outdoor movie series, Movies & Moonlight, returns with exciting family-friendly entertainment. Self-seating will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Guests are encouraged to bring their own low-profile lawn chairs and blankets and pets are welcome, but must remain leashed. From 6 to 10 p.m., guests can head to the following feature:

● Friday, July 11 – The Wild Robot

Designed for little ones and their families, the PCH Explorer Kids Club series returns with interactive entertainment and themed activities throughout the summer. Programming is free and open to the public, offering a fun and creative way to engage with the community. Events run from 10 a.m. to noon at the Grand Staircase, including:

● Tuesday, July 1 – Red, White and Blue Bash

● Tuesday, July 15 – Dino Discovery Day

2ND & PCH welcomes guests to enjoy various restaurants, retailers and specialty services within the center before, during, or after events. For more information on events and a complete list of tenants, visit 2ndandpch.com.

Open Space Survey

The City of Long Beach Community Development Department (CDD), in partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM), is seeking community input for an update to the Open Space and Recreation Element (OSR) of the Long Beach General Plan. This update will guide the future of park and recreation spaces in Long Beach to ensure they are equitable, accessible and sustainable.

The CDD is working closely with PRM, with its 2022-2032 Strategic Plan focusing on climate resilience, air pollution reduction and infrastructure protection while promoting community health and park equity. The OSR Element update will build upon recent planning efforts, address historic disinvestment in green spaces, particularly in low-income communities and foster a healthier, more sustainable future for all residents.

The survey is open now through Friday, Aug. 15 and is available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Those without internet access can complete the survey using public computers at any open Long Beach Public Library location. The survey is one step in robust citywide outreach and engagement efforts to inform the OSR update. Results of the survey will inform future community engagement events and activities, including workshops and focus groups, that will take place in fall 2025.

The OSR Element, last updated in 2002, serves as a framework for the planning, development and preservation of parks and open spaces and aligns with the city’s broader sustainability goals, including the Land Use Element and Housing Element and the Long Beach Climate Action Plan.

For more information about the Open Space and Recreation Element, visit longbeach.gov/osrupdate. To stay involved and receive updates about the progress of the OSR, fill out the form at bit.ly/osrupdate.