Bits 'n' Pieces

JetBlue to Relinquish 10 of Its 34 Airport Gate Slots

City Manager Patrick H. West announced on Tuesday “We were informed that JetBlue will be making 10 underutilized flight slots available to other carriers who will be able to fly them in accordance with the amended flight resolution. JetBlue will continue to fly 24 slots, providing great service out of the Long Beach Airport. We expect very strong demand from airlines currently operating at the Long Beach Airport for each of the 10 flight slots that were made available today and will immediately begin the process to allocate the available slots.”

The city anticipates the flight slots relinquished from JetBlue today will be permanently reallocated in accordance to the Airport’s established reallocation process to the carriers on the existing wait list. Each incumbent carrier on the waiting list will be offered one slot and the process will repeat in turn from top to bottom until all slots are allocated or until demand is satisfied.

Since 2015, passenger activity at Long Beach Airport has grown by over 57 percent. This growth is the result of increased air carrier competition with the introduction of Southwest and Hawaiian. 2018 was a record-high year for activity at the Airport with over 4.0 million passengers and over $47 million in revenue This activity is expected to be maintained at this level going forward.

Long Beach State Opens Voting for New Mascot

Now that the deadline has come and gone for submissions in the student-led search for Long Beach State’s new mascot, the process moves to its next stage as alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the campus vote for their favorites.

“Associated Students, Inc. accepted mascot ideas from all across the community. Whether it was from a student, alumni, staff or faculty member, or just a fan of Long Beach State, submissions were accepted from everyone,” ASI President Genesis Jara said. “We received hundreds of ideas, and to help process the submissions, we convened a mascot review committee made up of leaders from faculty, staff, alumni, coaches, athletes, the community at-large and student government. After convening and scoring the many ideas using the criteria initially outlined, the committee narrowed down the ideas to six categories.”

The online poll is at http://www.asicsulb.org/mascotsearch/. The six finalists: Kraken, Pelicans, Sharks, Stingrays, Giraffes and The Beach (essentially a no-mascot choice)

Beginning Monday, April 15, all interested parties (except students, who have their own voting period) can to vote online for their favorite during the two-week community polling period. After the completion of the community polling period and the official student vote (May 6-8), student government leaders will forward their final recommendations to President Jane Close Conoley, and a new mascot will be announced in June. At that point, the campus will begin to work with professionals in the field to bring the mascot concept to life.

Husak Hired As Interim Athletic Director at LBCC

The Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) Board of Trustees approved a one-year contract at its March 27 meeting for William (Bill) Husak, Ph.D. to serve as Interim Athletic Director for Long Beach City College.

Husak enjoyed a 20-year career as Athletic Director of Loyola Marymount University (LMU) where he administered an athletics program of 21 sports, 425 student-athletes and 70 staff before retiring in 2018. During his time at LMU, the Lions won 35 of its 45 conference championships and recorded 45 of its 67 NCAA postseason appearances. Husak also facilitated the renovations of the campus’ athletic facilities, and grew support staff for student athletes.

Husak joins LBCC at a momentous time for Viking Athletics as the construction for the new Kinesiology Labs and Aquatic Center will begin during his tenure.

‘Go Green Pledge’ for April – Earth Month

Mayor Robert Garcia officially marked the beginning of Earth Month activities by proclaiming April as Earth Month and April 22, 2019 as Earth Day in Long Beach. Community events highlighting sustainable actions are scheduled throughout the month. Community members will have opportunities to learn more about simple ways they can help protect the environment.

For each week throughout the month of April, the city will highlight a different aspect of environmental sustainability. The weekly highlights include saving water, waste reduction, urban nature and green transportation. Each topic corresponds to a pledge. Residents can choose to take one pledge or commit to all the pledges for the month. Prizes will be raffled to pledge participants each week and at the end of the month. Community members can take the pledge online at www.longbeach.gov/gogreenpledge and participate.

The Office of Sustainability created a calendar of events to promote opportunities for Long Beach residents and visitors to celebrate, volunteer and learn during Earth Month. Calendar posters have been distributed around the city, and the community can visit the Green Events Calendar at http://www.longbeach.gov/sustainability/about-us/events-calendar for the Earth Month events and more ways to get involved all year.

LBCC Completes $14.17M Renovated Science Building

The Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) has completed another renovation of an academic building under the Measure E Bond. Building D, which houses Science programs at the Liberal Arts Campus, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting today, April 4.

All construction was completed from within, with no changes to the outside of the building. Open throughout most of the duration of construction, new laboratories for Allied Health and the Sciences, including Anatomy, Radiology, Medical Assisting and Microbiology were created.

When the Mathematics department moved from Building D to the new Building V in 2015, an entire new floor was opened up to be renovated for the sciences.

As with all LBCC construction and renovation work, Building D access has now been improved and incorporates “green building practices” that reduces energy and water usage.

The total construction budget for the modernization of Building D, including design and construction, is nearly $14.17 million. The project was being funded through the Measure E Bond, which has provided millions of dollars for new construction, renovations and repairs at LBCC’s Liberal Arts and Pacific Coast Campuses.

PRM Summer Day Camp Registration Opens April 13

Registration for Summer Day Camps offered by Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) starts April 13. PRM offers a variety of camp experiences so that the interests of every child are met and working parents can have a solution for their child care needs over the summer.

This year, Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine invites kids to “Re-Discover Summertime,” at its summer day camp programs. Residents can register beginning at 8 a.m. on April 13 using a variety of methods: online at lbparks.org, by calling (562) 570-3111 or by visiting the Registration Reservations Office (2760 Studebaker Rd.) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Park Day Camps include sports, group games, arts and crafts and much more. Weekly field trips, workshops and specialized classes are available at an additional cost. The camps operate between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 17 through Aug. 23. Extended care is available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for an additional $35 per week for both morning and afternoon extended hours. Park Day Camps are offered at the following locations:

• El Dorado Park West Camp, ages 5 to 12, $115 per week
• Pan American Hi-Five Sports Camp, ages 5 to 12, $115 per week
• Silverado Park Camp, ages 5 to 12, $115 per week
• Stearns Champions Creative Arts Camp, ages 5 to 12, $115 per week
• Veterans Park Camp, ages 5 to 12, $115 per week
• Wardlow Park Pee Wee Camp, ages 5 to 8, $115 per week
• Whaley Park Music and Arts Camp, ages 5 to 12, $120 per week. Please note that online registration is strongly recommended for this camp.

Aquatics Day Camps strengthen water safety skills and build camaraderie through games, pool and ocean activities, and more. The camps operate between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 17 through Aug. 23, except where noted. Extended care is available at Belmont Junior Beach Camp and Bayshore Beach Camp from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for an additional $26 per week per session. Aquatics Camps are segmented by age, and each camp is unique. Sessions include:

• Belmont Junior Beach Camp, ages 5 to 7, $165 per week
• Bayshore Beach Camp, ages 8 to 12, $165 per week
• Bay Club Teen Camp, ages 13 to 15, June 17 through August 9, $123 per week
• Counselor-in-Training Camp, ages 13 to 17, June 24 through July 19, $320 for the 4-week session

Day camps will not be offered on July 4. Residents can call 562.570.3111 for more details about camps, including financial aid information. For more information about the many programs offered by Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine throughout the year, visit lbparks.org.