Community News

Park Re-Opening Ceremony

The public is invited to attend a grand re-opening celebration for the Stearns Champions Park Community Center, located at 4520 E. 23rd Street. The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 20.

The community center was closed for use after evidence of dry rot and termite damage was discovered in the roof of the 43-year-old, 5,667 square foot building. The repair project included installing a new roof support system with a waterproof membrane and insulation, asbestos abatement and measures to enhance ADA compliance and energy efficiency.

The $1,401,058 project was supported by a combination of funding sources, with the majority of funds coming from Measure A. Other funding came from a Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District Grant, General Capital Project Funds and from Fourth Council District one-time infrastructure funds.

“Stearns Champions Park is one of the busiest parks in the city,” said Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw, who represents the area. “The stability of this community center is vital for the youth programs and adaptive recreation classes held year-round, and for summer programs like Creative Arts Day Camp, Summer Fun Days and the Summer Food Service Program, which serve hundreds of youth each week.”

 For more information about the grand opening event, residents can call (562) 570-3150.

Free SharkLab Comic Book

Shark Week and SharkFest are right around the corner and the California State University, Long Beach SharkLab is working overtime to inform the public on one of the world’s oldest creatures of the sea – the shark.

After a year-long process, the SharkLab is ready to distribute a wave of uniquely designed marine life comic books to local kids. The comic books aim to teach youngsters how to identify marine animals they may encounter at the beach and how to safely share the ocean with them.

The comic books will not only be distributed to life guards and children at local beaches, but the public can also their hands on one (while supplies last) Saturday, July 20, at the campus’ College of Natural Sciences and Math building from 1 to 5 p.m.

The SharkLab will host its annual open house (Shark Day @ the Beach) where the public will get a firsthand experience of what it is like in a shark lab, participate in science experiments and take a hands-on tour of the mammal museum filled with birds, reptiles and bugs.

The event is free to the public.

‘Water by the Spoonful’

In this Pulitzer Prize winning drama July 20 to Aug. 17 at the Long Beach Playhouse, Quiara Alegrîa Hudes introduces us to Elliot, a veteran of the Iraq war. As he struggles to find his place in the world, we meet the members of an addiction chat room just trying to get through the day. Water by the Spoonful is a heartfelt meditation on lives on the brink of redemption. Boundaries of family and community stretch across continents and cyberspace.

“Forgiveness, of oneself and others, is at the heart of this play,” said Madison Mooney, the Playhouse’s Executive Director, “The death of Elliot’s mother brings forth emotions, stories and hard truths from the people in the chat room. The characters draw us in and we find ourselves caring about them. It’s a play that stays with the audience, in the best possible way. “

The script explores many facets of recovery. While addiction is at the center of the shared experiences of the characters, some are recovering from past decisions and past relationships. Human beings are complex and the story reflects the contradictions and truths that drive the characters.

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

Questing Heirs

Join the Questing Heirs Genealogical Society as they celebrate their 50th Anniversary. They will meet at 5918 Parkcrest St. on Sunday, July 31, at 1 p.m.. There will be a raffle and food will be served.

After School Program

The Youth Center and Rossmoor Community Services District (RCSD) are once again partnering to bring a new after school program location to Rush Park in Rossmoor beginning next school year. Enrollment is now open and the program will serve 30 children in 1st through 5th grades with “Walking Bus” offered from Hopkinson Elementary School.

For more information about the new Youth Center program at Rush Park, visit online at www.theyouthcenter.org or call their office at (562) 493-4043.

Tour North Pine

This popular quarterly tour explores North Pine Avenue between 4th and 8th Streets, highlighting successful adaptive reuse project in the area. Attendees on Saturday, August 3, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. will learn of the history of the buildings, their architectural significance and the process involved in the adaptive reuse of sites including the Kress Lofts, York Temple Lofts, Famous Department Store and Meeker-Baker Building.

More information and $10 tickets: https://www.lbheritage.org/event/north-pine-walking-tour/

Senior Summer Show

Long Beach Primetime Players is presenting its 2019 Summer Show, “Cities of the USA” on August 5 and 16, 1 p.m., at the Long Beach Senior Center, 1150 E. 4th St. and August 6, 12:30 p.m., at El Dorado Park West Senior Center, 2800 N. Studebaker Rd. Admission is free; donations are welcomed. For further information, contact Barbara Klein at (562) 433-1734 or byrdbud2@verizon.net.

Sports Camp

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is hosting the 24th Annual Land Meets Sea Sports Camp, August 13–15, at Marine Stadium and surrounding sites in Long Beach.

Part of Casa Colina’s Outdoor Adventures program, the Land Meets Sea Sports Camp is an inspiring three-day event that lets participants of all ages and abilities experience an array of adaptive outdoor recreation, including rock climbing, hand cycling, jet skiing, kayaking and sailing. The camp also organizes a number of competitive wheelchair sports, from quad rugby and hockey to basketball and tennis.

Participant registration costs $325 and includes three days of activities, lunches, a goodie bag and a T-shirt. Those interested in attending or sponsoring the event should call Casa Colina’s Outdoor Adventures staff at (909) 596-7733, ext. 4131, or visit www.casacolina.org/LMS.

China Business Opportunity

Southern California businesses are invited to visit China, with a red carpet reception, to find new business opportunities.

Qingdao is inviting local businesses to an Import-Export Expo Oct. 17-20, with VIP treatment, free demonstration opportunities, business matchmaking, and more. The Long Beach-Qingdao Association (LBQA) is organizing a local delegation to visit and show their wares to a new audience in Qingdao and the surrounding Shandong Province, population approximately 100 million.

Anyone interested is invited to inquire and to reserve a spot at the Aug. 20 free information session, to be held 5-7 p.m. RSVP at longbeachqingdao@gmail.com.

 There is demand for American-made products and American services among sophisticated Chinese citizens. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce research, there is high demand for U.S. medical devices, educational programs, environmental technology products, green building devices, high-end branded consumer products, and smart city systems (for transport, water, health care, etc.) and more.