Community News

Gender-Based Harassment

Dr. Nina M. Flores, assistant professor with the Social & Cultural Analysis of Education graduate program at California State University, Long Beach will share her research on gender-based harassment at such a notable time in U.S. social and political discourse with the American Association of University Women Long Beach Branch on Saturday, April 7, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Avenue, Seal Beach.

From catcalls on the street to comments from anonymous internet trolls, gender-based harassment permeates both physical and online public space. What does this mean for the ways in which women experience and navigate these spaces? How are women resisting and organizing against harassment? Dr. Flores will explore these topics and more, and imagine a future in which harassment is no longer a daily lived experience.

Cost of the luncheon is $33. RSVP in advance to Lee Tsao at lee.tsao@hotmail.com. Reservation for meeting/program only is $5.

LAMC Educational Classes

Los Alamitos Medical Center offers a series of community education and support group events. Our cancer nurse navigator hosts monthly cancer support groups (one for women, one for men), we offer a stroke support group and a senior lecture series. Prepared childbirth, infant safety and breastfeeding classes are held monthly and tours of the perinatal unit are available as well.

Visit the hospital web site to get more information (www.losalamitosmedctr.com) on classes or to take one of our health risk assessments. The web site’s health library features interactive tools, nutrition information, drug, herb and supplement information, condition and treatment information and much more. If you need a free physician referral, visit the web site and click on our Find-A-Physician link to find a physician that matches your insurance, gender  and language preferences.

Peter and the Starcatcher

Peter and the Starcatcher at the Long Beach Playhouse, April 7 to May 5, is a play based on the 2004 novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The book was adapted for the stage in 2011 by Rick Elice and provides a backstory for the characters of Peter Pan, Mrs. Darling, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook. The story centers around a trunk filled with a mysterious substance known as “starstuff that has the ability to shape the destinies of all who encounter it”.

“It’s a very imaginative story,” said Executive Director Madison Mooney. “The orphan boy Peter encounters Molly the Starcatcher-in-Training and they join forces to thwart the fearsome pirate, Black Stache. The play is whimsical enough to be enjoyed by children for the antics and action and adults will enjoy the clever word play and the inspirational story that urges us all to be forever young.”

Ticket are $14 to $20 and available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1.

Helping Hands

We-U Craft Fair on Saturday, April 7, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 5730 South St. Lakewood from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds from the craft fair will go to the victims of the recent fires and floods here in California. Come help us help our neighbors.

Raptor Ramble

Spring is here and it’s a great time to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Join us and our partners, biologists and environmental educators from the environmental consulting firm Tidal Influence, on a wonderful hike at Los Cerritos Wetlands on Saturday, April 7.

The walk will begin with a brief orientation to our wetlands. We will stroll through heritage coastal sage scrub and historic dredge spoils, while looking for raptors (birds of prey) and a number of other species that nest in the area. As we pass the salt flats, we may see tiger beetles and coyote tracks before hiking up to the Heron Pointe Cultural trail to discuss how tidal circulation shapes our local wetlands.

We will complete our walk by heading back along the access to the parking. Bring binoculars, if you have them; we will observe many different kinds of interesting wildlife.

Meet at 8 a.m. in the driveway/parking area at the corner of 1st Street and PCH in Seal Beach.

Close-toed shoes required and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. RSVP by email to Elizabeth: ejlambe@verizon.net

Street Art Festival

Dramatic Results implements award-winning programs and professional development workshops that integrate the arts with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEAM) curricula to help solve educational challenges through art and collaborative learning environments.

Join the non-profit agency on Saturday, April 7 to support the non-profit’s upcoming Summer STEAM Institute. In collaboration with the US Sailing Center, The Growing Experience and the Long Beach Public Library, Dramatic Results will provide 5th and 6th grade GATE/excel students the opportunity to experience real-life applications of STEM subjects through design projects.

Support your local community while enjoying live music, local food and drinks, as well as pop-up interactive art installations and an outdoor pop-up gallery provided by Squeeze Art from 3-7 p.m. at 3310 Lime Avenue, Signal Hill. Admission: $25, includes two drink tickets

For more information contact Dramatic Results at (562) 595-4600 or visit http://www.dramaticresults.org.

Spring Luncheon, Awards

The Long Beach Section National Council of Negro Women is holding its 34th Annual Spring Luncheon and Awards Presentation – “Rising Strong in a New Age” – on April 14, at The Grand – Long Beach Event Center, 4101 E. Willow St.

Admission is $75 for adult and children 6-12, $25. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Carolyn Caldwell, CEO St. Mary Medical Center Long Beach will be the mistress of ceremonies to present the world’s next generation of funny, comedian Aaron Edwards Hall. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Alvin Hayes Trio.

For more information, contact Marsha Chapman at (562) 989-0353 or email ladymgc@verizon.net.

Robo-Tech Fest

On April 15, parents and children of all ages will once again descend on Long Beach City College, this year at the Pacific Coast Campus, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to play robot soccer, compete in robot sumo, learn and make at hands-on workshops  and explore their interests in robotics, science, technology, engineering, art and math, at the sixth annual Robo-Tech Fest.

Robo-Tech Fest, a one-day public science expo event, celebrates National Robotics Week, now in its ninth year. Shared Science, in collaboration with Long Beach City College, will showcase STE(A)M-related programs, projects  and products in one place. Some exhibitors include Aquarium of the Pacific, City of Long Beach Office of Sustainability, USS Iowa, Galileo Innovation Camps and Long Beach Public Library’s Mobile Studio, to name a few.

Workshops will focus on engaging kids in science and technology in a fun and creative manner. Most workshops require pre-registration through the Shared Science website: www.sharedsciencefun.org and are offered at a nominal fee. Some workshops are free. The campus is located at 1305 E Pacific Coast Hwy.

Try Before You Buy

Saturday, April 21 will see the HAT (Hearing Assistive Technology) Demonstration at the Weingart Center, 5220 Oliva Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90712. The free demonstration is from 10:30 a.m. to noon. A representative from captioned telephones will provide information about free captioned phones for those that qualify along with a hearing aid representative will be present to answer questions about hearing aids. The Demonstration is sponsored by the Long Beach/Lakewood Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). HAT does not sell hearing aids or Hearing Assistive Devices, but provides information on where to purchase items demonstrated.  The HAT Demo is the only free “hands-on” opportunity available in Southern California. For information, please call (562) 630-6141 or visit www.hlalongbeachlakewood.org .

Take Back Pharmacy Event

MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center is hosting a Take Back Pharmacy event in conjunction with the Long Beach Police Department and the L.A. County Drug Enforcement Administration. The free event on Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2801 Atlantic Avenue collects expired pharmaceutical drugs that can be abused by youth and can be harmful to waterways if not properly disposed. This is a drive-through drop off event.

Music at the Point

Music at the Point welcomes Georgia master guitarist and songwriter Brooks Williams to the Grace First Sanctuary on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Brooks Williams hails from Statesboro, Georgia, the town made famous by country-blues legend Blind Willie McTell. Ranked in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists, he’s a mean finger-picker and a stunning slide guitarist. Plus, “he has a beautiful voice,” says AmericanaUK, “that you just melt into.” Not one easy to pigeon-hole, Brooks’ music is the love-child of country-blues and soulful Americana.

The concert will be held in the sanctuary of Grace First Presbyterian Church, 3955 Studebaker Rd. This concert is a free-will donation concert, with a suggested donation of $10. For more information about the concerts, please contact Stan DeWitt, Minister of Music, at (562) 420-3393, or stan@gracefirst.org.