Community News

Sketch Show

Held2gether, Improv for Life is presenting its latest production, Grass-Fed, Free-Range Sketch Show, at the Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre March 1-3 at 8 p.m. It will be an evening of hilarious original sketches in a “Saturday Night Live” style. This will be the fifth year that the local, award-winning sketch and improv troupe has performed as a part of the Playhouse’s Studio Collaborative season.

Grass-Fed Free Range Sketch Show promises to be an equally entertaining evening of comedy. The topics range from political commentary on immigration to pure silliness of chicken wings conversing at a wedding.

Director Darren Held is thrilled to have another opportunity to take part in the Studio Collaborative season at the Long Beach Playhouse. “Our collaborative continues to strengthen each season,” says Playhouse Executive Director Madison Mooney. “And Held2gether is a huge part of our dedication to showcase Long Beach’s amazing local talent.”

Tickets for Grass-Fed, Free-Range Sketch Show are $15 and available through the box office of the Long Beach Playhouse (562) 494-1014 or at lbplayhouse.org.

Turtle Trek

Walk with ecologists, learn about the flora and fauna of Los Cerritos Wetlands and search for green sea turtles who have taken up residence in the San Gabriel River. This two-hour nature walk begins at 8 a.m. on March 3 and is appropriate for ages 7 and up. Closed toe shoes are required. Parking is available on the inland side of the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and 1st Street, at the border of Long Beach and Seal Beach. For more information or to RSVP contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org. Learn more about the wetlands at www.lcwlandtrust.org.

IFMA on Straight Talk

Tony Keane, President and CEO of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) will be the guest on the next edition of Straight Talk. Also on the Show is Bill O’Neill, Global Chairman of the Board of IFMA. They join host Art Levine to discuss the profession of facility management and the exciting opportunities available to those entering the field.

Facility Management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure the functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.

This Straight Talk Show will air in Long Beach/Signal Hill on Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on LBTV Channel 3 and Frontier Fios Channel 21. It also airs Saturday and Sunday in Long Beach and 70 surrounding cities at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Charter Channel 188. Straight Talk is also viewable on demand at www.straighttalktv.com.

New EALB Board

The Executives Association of Long Beach’s 2018 President’s Installation Dinner is planned for Monday, March 5, 6 p.m. at The Grand Event Center, 4101 E. Willow St.

Being installed is President Kris Gragson of GK Media, Vice President Jennifer Sawday of TLD Law and Secretary/Treasurer Jay Beeler of Beeler & Associates. Directors are Rusty Deeble, Digital Installers; Tom LeLeo, Alpine Mortgage; Vince Bunting, C.H. Topping Brakes; Kimberly Rodgers, Jungle Promotions and Corey Vane, A-Throne. Machelle Thompson of Keen Home Care is the past president.

The dinner cost is $15. RSVP to Kellie Sherrill, longbeachexecs@gmail.com or text (310) 780-1462.

Founded in 1922, EALB is an exclusive and highly selective association of businesses represented by the decision maker of each business. Info: www.longbeachexecs.com.

Women at Work

In honor of International Women’s Day, the American Association of University Women Long Beach Branch will feature Andrea Caban and four performers from Sparking Curiosity performing an excerpt from “Caution, Women at Work” on Thursday, March 8, meeting at 5:30 p.m. at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow St.

Check in and mingle: 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6 p.m., Program: 7 p.m., Meeting honoring past presidents: 8 p.m.; Adjourn: 8:30 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $36 of lemon rosemary chicken breast/lemon caper sauce, wild rice and green beans, garden salad, vanilla ice cream with cookie/chocolate sauce, coffee and tea. Vegetarian pasta primavera. RSVP to Lee Tsao at lee.tsao@hotmail.com. Reservation for meeting/program only is $5.

Pack of Lies

In 1983, Hugh Whitemore turned the true story of Russian espionage into a play entitled Pack of Lies, which is now playing at the Long Beach Playhouse through March 24. It tells the story of the Johnsons, a nice middle-aged English couple and their best friends, the Krogers, who live next door. When Scotland Yard asks if they can use their house to investigate a spy ring, the Jacksons agree never suspecting the spies are the Krogers.

 “It’s very hard to see this play without thinking about the situation we find ourselves in today,” said Sean Gray, artistic director for the Playhouse. “In the play we learn the forces that drew the Krogers to communism, among them the abject poverty Mr. Kroger witnessed during the Depression.”

Tickets ($14-24) are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling (562) 494-1014, option 1.

Art in a New Place

The Art Exchange (ARTX) and the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (ViCA) present Art in a New Place March 10 to May 5 at 356 E. 3rd St. This free exhibition features 39 works curated from the ViCA 2017 catalog by Ron Nelson, director of the Long Beach Museum of Art and Art Exchange board member.

The exhibit includes drawing, painting, photography and sculpture from internationally known artists. These artists have local roots – heralding from Long Beach, San Pedro and greater Southern California – and includes Peter Alexander, Sonja Schenk, Barbara Kolo, John Eden, Linda Sue Price and Ned Evans.

Info: www.artexchangelb.org

Beyond the Pale

This debut concert March 15-17 at 8 p.m. unveils creative work by second-year MFA students of the Department of Dance’s new two-year M.F.A. degree in Dance.

Beyond the Pale presents three new dance works by Nate Hodges, Francesca Jandasek and Courtney Ozovek inspired by themes connected to memory, the human condition and contemporary culture. Incorporating media, visual arts and theatrical spectacle with a fresh eye to the expressive power of contemporary dance, Beyond the Pale takes the audience on a journey of embodied introspection and visual exhilaration.

This concert is at the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater on the CSULB Campus (located near the Pyramid on Atherton). Tickets are $20 for general admission and $16 for seniors, students (with valid ID) and Dance Resource Center Members. For tickets and information please call (562) 985-7000 or purchase tickets directly online here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/27175/1519880400000

Aging Issues Presented

LBCC Senior Studies program is offering a series of free presentations from local aging experts. The series starts on Monday, March 12 with Officer Isadore Lopez from the Long Beach Senior Police Partners talking about senior scams, fraud and identify theft.

March 19, CAPTEL, phones for those having difficulty hearing on the phone

March 26, what you need to know about board and care, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities

April 9, DMV Senior Driver Ombudsman, Tressa Thompson offers resources for senior safe driving and transportation alternatives

April 16, presentation from the Alzheimer’s Association

April 23, hearing loss and solutions

April 30, what is hospice and what will it do for you.

All presentations are 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in QQ 122 at the LBCC Pacific Coast Campus off of Walnut Avenue and next to Horticulture. RSVP to Theresa Brunella at (562) 938-3047 or email tbrunella@lbcc.edu.

Queen Mary 5K

The Queen Mary’s inaugural Queensway 5K invites Long Beach to lace up their high-top sneakers and walk, run, or jog through the Queen Mary’s Events Park and Long Beach harbor on Thursday, March 22. The course takes participants across the Queensway Bridge for breathtaking views of the Long Beach city skyline, finishing at the Queen Mary Events Park for the post-race celebrations. The first-year festival is a new, family-friendly event, providing an opportunity to celebrate the Long Beach community, local businesses and organizations, all at the iconic Queen Mary.

The Queensway 5K kicks off at 3 p.m. with on-site registration, music and organized stretches. The 5K run will begin at 5:15 p.m. All participants are expected to be finished by 6:30 p.m. Along the 3.1-mile course, participants will see Queen Mary signature characters and icons as they walk, run, or jog through a year of events offered at the legendary Queen Mary.

A portion of the Queensway 5K proceeds will go to Long Beach Unified School District to help fund transportation for educational field trips for Long Beach schools. Registration for the Queensway 5K is now available online at runsignup.com/Race/CA/longbeach/TheQueensway5k.

Free Newspaper Ink

Beachcomber Publisher Jay Beeler will present “How to Get Free Media Publicity” on March 22 and March 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Beachcomber offices, 5199 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 608. Attendees will learn the dos and don’ts in preparing news releases for distribution to local media outlets.

Cost is $95 per student, payable by credit card. RSVP (562) 597-8000 or email publisher@beachcomber.news.