Community News

Give Blood or Platelets

As fall begins, the American Red Cross urges people to mark the new season with a lifesaving blood or platelet donation to help keep the blood supply strong. Donors of all blood types, especially those with types O positive and B negative blood, are needed now.

For many, daily routines shift as the seasons change, but blood and platelet donations must remain top of mind. Every single donation is key to making sure all patients relying on critical transfusions, including car accident victims, those living with sickle cell disease and those facing cancer, get the care they need.

Fall into donating blood or platelets. Make an appointment to give now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma Sept. 22-Oct. 19, will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Fall.

Nature Walk

On Oct. 4, from 8 to 10 a.m. Check out interesting wildlife, including egrets and herons, at Los Cerritos Wetlands. You will spend time at Marketplace Marsh, currently off-limits to the public. Learn about the innovations and restoration of these long-degraded wetland areas. The walk is for ages seven and up.

Meet at the corner of PCH and 1st Street in Seal Beach. Email elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org with questions or to RSVP.

Sowing the Seeds

Partners of Parks is thrilled to announce the return of its signature fundraising gala, the 2025 Sowing the Seeds Soirée, held at the beautiful El Dorado Nature Center on Oct. 4. This year, Partners of Parks celebrates its 40th year serving Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine.

This year’s soirée is an elevated experience in honor of Partners of Parks ruby anniversary, filled with craft beer and wine, delicious hors d’oeuvres, live music and entertainment, a live DJ and lots of red in honor of the celebratory stone. Attendees can also look forward to an exclusive auction featuring an original Bob Senske painting with all proceeds going directly into Partners of Parks long-standing youth scholarship program.

In addition to the evening’s festivities, Partners of Parks will proudly recognize our 2025 Sowing the Seeds sponsorship honorees for their outstanding contributions to the Long Beach Parks and Programs.

Honorees include: Trinka Rowsell, Partners of Parks Executive Director; Bob Livingstone, Parks and Recreation Commissioner; Azteca Landscaping, Rosa Garcia; Larry & Kurt Curtis of the Long Beach Municipal Band; The Jazz Angels, Barry Cogert; Meaghan O’Neill, director of the El Dorado Nature Center; and Signal Hill Petroleum, David Slater.

Tickets for the event are available via this link: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E343197&id=89

All proceeds benefit Partners of Parks and affiliate partners funding vital initiatives that provide outdoor education, recreation access and environmental programs for residents of all ages. Partners of Parks is currently led by Executive Director Ashley L. Jones.

MHALA Toque Gala

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) will host its 7th annual Under the Toque Gala: Beyond 100 – Launching the Next Century of Care, on Monday, Oct. 6, 5-9 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Downtown.

This signature event – MHALA’s primary fundraiser – offers guests an exclusive culinary experience with a five-course meal prepared by leading Southern California chefs, paired with fine wines. The evening will also feature both a silent and live auction led by emcee and auctioneer Zack Krone.

Building on progress that helped drive a 20% reduction in veteran homelessness in Long Beach last year, MHALA is preparing to open a new Veteran Resource Center in the city. The center will connect veterans to housing, healthcare, employment and benefits navigation, while fostering a strong sense of community.

Proceeds from this year’s gala will also fund a therapeutic garden at the center, created with chef and UC-certified master gardener Rod Dodd of Organic Harvest Gardens. Veterans will grow organic produce, learn to prepare it in hands-on cooking classes and share meals that nourish both body and mind. Chef Dodd will also prepare a bespoke five-course dinner for one of the gala’s tables.

MHALA will recognize MHALA Board Member Don Ford and Rennie Euwing for their longstanding commitment to mental health advocacy, community service and advancing access to care.

A limited number of tickets remain and underwriting opportunities are also available to support key elements of the gala. To learn more, visit mhala.org/utt or contact development@mhala.org.

Getting Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implants will be the topic of a two-part series by the Long Beach/Lakewood Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). On Oct. 9, Part One will explain what a cochlear implant is, its benefits and how to get a medical referral. Part Two, on Nov. 13, will cover the surgery and activation of implants. Both meetings will start with videos by internet audiologist Cliff Olsen, AuD, followed by discussion and questions.

Each meeting will run from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Weingart Center, 5200 Oliva Ave., Lakewood.

Meetings are captioned, free and open to the public and a friendly place to share questions, find solutions and learn about technology that makes living with hearing loss easier. For more information: text (213) 705-3629.

Republican Women

Greater Long Beach Republican Women will hold their monthly meeting Saturday, Oct. 11,2025 at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow St. Registration is at 9 a.m., buffet breakfast at 9:30 a.m.

Guest speaker is Brian Pedral, regional political director of Reform California. His Topic: No on Prop 50 and CA Voter ID. Cost is $30 for members, $35 for non-members. For a reservation, call Sandy Dubrowskij (562) 310-4283 or email glbrw2024@gmail.com.

READY Returns

On Sunday, Oct. 12, the Long Beach Fire Department, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, in partnership with other city departments, regional disaster response agencies and community partners, will host the READY Long Beach Community Preparedness Expo.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Long Beach City College, Veterans Memorial Stadium parking lot, 5000 E. Lew Davis St. Community members are invited to attend this free event and learn about how to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies.

Over a dozen city departments and various disaster response agencies will participate in READY Long Beach, which will feature information booths, emergency preparedness demonstrations, emergency food and supplies for purchase, a kids’ fun zone and emergency response vehicles. The expo is geared to provide residents with valuable information including:

• How to gather and store minimum supplies of food, water and other essential survival tools
• How to take action to increase preparedness
• How to build a family evacuation and response plan
• How to engage neighbors in disaster planning
• How to recognize and minimize hazards in the spaces where you live, learn, work and gather and
• Where to access training and volunteer opportunities.

This free citywide event is open to the public. A welcome ceremony featuring city and community leaders will take place on the main stage at 11 a.m. Complimentary parking will be available at the event.

READY Long Beach, now celebrating its eighth year, began in Long Beach in 2014. The event, which was previously held annually through 2023 with a three-year hiatus due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, will now take place biennially.

Earlier this month, the city commemorated National Preparedness Month with a month-long educational outreach and social media campaign, as well as the relaunch of the Ready Your Long Beach Neighborhood program, which connects neighbors and encourages disaster planning at the neighborhood level by offering trainings and resources to neighborhood group representatives to share with their neighborhoods.

READY Long Beach is one of several events set to take place during the month of October to help residents get prepared for natural disasters and other emergencies, including the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 16.

More information about CERT is available on the Fire Department’s webpage at longbeach.gov/fire. More information about the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications can be found at longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness.

Mermaid Festival

Catalina Island is diving into something brand new this fall: the inaugural Catalina Island Mermaid Festival, splashing into Avalon Oct. 25–26. The free, family-friendly celebration will transform Avalon’s waterfront into an under-the-sea playground of art, music, food and - of course - mermaids.

The festival kicks off Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. along Crescent Avenue with nearly 20 ocean-themed artist and craft booths, interactive activities, face painting, crown and costume making, and photo opportunities with mermaids.

Highlights include the Rubber Ducky Derby fundraiser at noon on South Beach, playtime with “Madison the Mermaid” and friends, a mermaid sandcastle contest and a bubbly family dance party with DJ Constance. A beer garden and live music from 4–7 p.m. will keep the celebration flowing into the evening, capped off with a community screening of “The Little Mermaid” on South Beach presented by the City of Avalon.

Sunday programming continues with more art, food and live entertainment, including Margaritas & Mermaids at IMMERSED in the Tour Plaza and a special Mermaid Paint & Sip in the Beer Garden from 2–4 p.m. Full details and schedules will be updated as activities are finalized.

The Catalina Island Mermaid Festival is free and open to the public. Some activities and crafts may include a small fee.

For updates and the latest schedule, visit lovecatalina.com or follow @CatalinaArtAssociation on social media.

Liwanag Literary Festival

The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) invites the community to the third biennial Liwanag Literary Festival, a celebration of Filipino American stories, voices and culture. The free festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave., in North Long Beach.

This year’s festival is presented in collaboration with Bel Canto Books, a beloved Filipina-owned independence bookstore, and will feature story times and craft activities for children, along with engaging panel discussions and readings from a diverse lineup of authors. Featured guests include Mae Respicio, author of Isabel in Bloom; Florante Ibanez, author of “Filipinos in Carson,” Randy Ribay, author of “Everything We Never Had,” and Shelby Rabara and Harry Shum Jr., co-authors of “Martee Dares to Dance.”

In addition to author talks, the festival will highlight Filipino food, art and culture through a variety of vendors and community partners. Guests can enjoy traditional baked goods from Gemmae Bakery, browse Filipino komiks from Hot Tropiks, explore language resources with Tayo Na Lending Library and shop handmade jewelry, art and accessories from Native Sol.

“Liwanag” means light in Tagalog, reflecting the festival’s mission to shine a light on the rich traditions and contributions of Filipino Americans – especially during Filipino American History Month every October.

For those looking to discover even more Filipino literature, the Bret Harte Neighborhood Library in West Long Beach is home to the newly established Filipino American Cultural Heritage Collection. This special collection features all the titles showcased at the festival, as well as many additional works that celebrate the Filipino American experience.

The library’s Liwanag Literary Festival is generously supported by Long Beach Public Library Foundation, Long Beach Friends of the Library and Intertrend Communications. The Liwanag Literary Festival, which began as an annual event in 2022, will now be held biennially. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the library at (562) 570-7500 or visit lbpl.org.