Community News

Playhouse Presentation

Agatha Christie’s “The Unexpected Guest” is presented by the Long Beach Playhouse now through Feb. 8 and is directed by Jeff Brown.

Lost in the fog, a stranger seeks refuge in a nearby house, only to find a man shot dead and his wife standing over him with a smoking gun. But the woman’s dazed confession is anything but convincing, and the unexpected guest decides to help.

Remarkably, the police suspect a man who died two years previously; a tangled web of lies reveals family secrets and chilling motives, where the real murderer turns out to be the greatest mystery of all. Agatha Christie knocks it out of the park again with a murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Info: www.lbplayhouse.org or call (562) 494-1014, Ext. 1.

Leader or Laggard?

The League of Women Voters of the Long Beach area (LWVLBA) will present its 6th Annual Climate Change Symposium in partnership with the Aquarium of the Pacific on Sunday, Jan. 19. The symposium will take place 3-6 p.m. in the aquarium’s Ocean Theater.

The event is free and open to the public, but Ron Salk, LWV member and co-chair for the symposium emphasizes that advance reservations are required because of limited seating capacity. Reservations can be made by calling or texting (562) 548-4010 or by e-mailing lwvlongbeach@gmail.com.

The symposium will also be streamed live on the aquarium’s website at www.pacific.to/lwv and will be archived for future viewing on www.YouTube.com/AquariumofthePacific.

One of the keynote speakers and moderator for the symposium will be Dr. Jerry R. Schubel, president and CEO of the Aquarium of the Pacific and lead author of the aquarium’s Climate Resilience Assessment Report for the City of Long Beach. His presentation “California: Leader or Laggard?” will present an overview and evaluation of California’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to global climate change.

The other distinguished scientists and experts to present their findings are:

• Dr. Reinhard Flick, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (sea level rise)
• Mark Jackson, NOAA (extreme weather)
• Dr. Holly Buck, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA (carbon sequestration)

The last hour of the symposium will feature a panel discussion and Q&A, with audience participation on the social impacts of climate change. Panelists are:

• Seiji Steimetz, Ph.D., professor and chair of Economics, CSULB (Economic approaches to dealing with climate change)
• Lily House-Peters, Ph.D., assistant professor of Sustainability Science, Department of Geography CSULB (Climate Justice)
• Michael Bohn, principal, Studio One-Eleven (Urban planning to adapt/mitigate effects of climate change).

At the conclusion of the symposium, LWVLBA and the aquarium will announce the winner of a student competition celebrating the role of young people in building community climate resilience. This competition was part of the aquarium’s recent efforts to conduct collaborative climate resilience programs with local social and environmental justice organizations.

“These programs have focused on building resilience through connecting communities, and by influencing, shifting, and sharing power,” Aquarium Director of Education David Bader said. Members of the Khmer Girls in Action, one of the Aquarium’s community partners, created and shared poems they wrote about empowerment and community at a climate resilience event held in Long Beach last year.

LWVLBA and the Aquarium selected the composer of the winning poem to receive $1,000 celebrating their artistic contributions as we continue to build a more resilient Long Beach. Funds for the award were made possible by a community grant received from the Port of Long Beach.

Attendees are asked to check in before 3 p.m. at the Visitors Entrance. Names of attendees who made reservations will be at the front entrance of the aquarium. Check-in will begin at 2 p.m.

MLK Day

Leadership Long Beach, the Port of Long Beach, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and the City of Long Beach plus numerous community and city organizations invite the community to make the MLK, Jr. holiday a “Day On, not a Day Off” on Monday, Jan. 20. This year marks the 10^th year Leadership Long Beach and its alumni have collaborated with community partners to make the service day the largest in Los Angeles County. The day will start with a kickoff rally at 8 a.m. featuring city leaders speaking at Seaside Park near Downtown Long Beach. Volunteers will then disperse to participate in work service projects throughout the city.

With its largest number of projects (20) and expected 500+ volunteers, the 10^th edition of the Long Beach MLK Day of Service will be its largest in its history.

This year’s projects provide opportunities for people to provide service in different ways; most are family-friendly to allow volunteers of all ages to participate. Painting a mural, organizing a clothing resource facility for needy community college students, stone placement in alleyways to capture rainwater and reduce flooding, plus gardening and planting at community gardens are some of the service projects that volunteers can work during the morning’s activities.

 For more information on the projects listing and links to register to volunteer, go to http://leadershiplb.org/mlk.

LBCC Senior Studies

The 2020 Spring Semester for the Senior Studies Program, Lifetime Learning Center at Long Beach City College starts Monday, Jan. 27. Registration is on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 21 & 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room QQ-122. All classes are held at the Pacific Coast Campus in the Lifetime Learning Center Bldg. QQ next to Parking Lot 10.

The Lifetime Learning Center offers programs for older adults who want to expand their horizons and connect with others. It is a fun pressure-free atmosphere where there are no test or compulsory attendance.

Classes offered this semester are Tai Chi, That’s Entertainment Behind the Scenes, Drawing & Watercolor Workshop, World Affairs & Current Events, Writing Your Memoirs and Horticulture. Tours this semester include Take a Slice of Orange County, Relics and Rarities, Carlsbad Flower Fields, Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts, Comfort Food and Orient Express.

For more information, call Theresa Brunella at (562) 938-3047 or visit the website www.lbcc.edu/lifetime-learning-center.

Lip Reading Classes

Free lip-reading classes offered through the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Long Beach/Lakewood Chapter are held at the Weingart Center, 5220 Oliva Ave., Lakewood. Classes are held every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Upcoming classes are on Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26. No formal registration or sign-up required. All welcome.

HLAA is a volunteer, support group offering education on coping skills and resources for people with hearing loss to help survive in a hearing world. HLAA meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month. For more information, call (562) 438-0597 or visit www.hlaa-lb-lakewood.org.

Turtle Trek

Walk with ecologists, learn about the flora and fauna of Los Cerritos Wetlands and search for green sea turtles in the San Gabriel River. This two-hour nature walk on Feb. 1 begins at 8 a.m. and is appropriate for ages 7 and up. Closed toes 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.

Shore Chocolate Festival

Stroll 2nd Street in Belmont Shore to try an array of chocolate treats to satisfy the whole family on Saturday, Feb. 8, 1-3 p.m. at the Chocolate Festival.

 With over 20 restaurants participating, everyone will be able to find something to satisfy that sweet tooth!

There is no entry fee for the event, only the cost of tickets used to purchase the dessert items. Twelve tickets for $10 Tickets will be sold beginning at 11 a.m. on the day of the event in front of Chase Bank (5200 E. 2nd).

Starting Friday, Jan. 31, local merchants will sell tickets: Shore Business Center, The Beach on 2nd, Blue Windows, LaStrada, Polly’s Coffee & Salon Soma

Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest, noon to 1 p.m. – If you have a recipe for a chocolate dessert worthy of an award. A panel of judges will sample the desserts and choose winners in three categories: Chocolate Cakes & Pies, Chocolate Cookies & Brownies and Unique Chocolate Treats. The cost is $10 per dessert to enter. The contest tent will be located in the parking lot next to Chase Bank, 5200 E. 2nd St. (only judges may sample the desserts). The contest begins at noon and the awards will be awarded at 1 p.m.

Hof’s Hut Chocolate Pie Eating Contest, 3 p.m. – Those who would rather eat chocolate than make it are welcome to enter. Contestants will race each other to see who can eat an individual-size chocolate pie the fastest. Sign up the day of event on Corona Ave. (south of 2nd St.) Age groups: 6 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 to 14, 15 to 17 and adults.

Go to: belmontshore.org to sign up and get more information.