Long Beach Seen

Lakewood High's Dion Baily (USC), left, Jessie Scroggins (USC), Kevin Anderson (ASU), Justin Utupo (Notre Dame), and Keanu Kalolo (Northern Arizona) and Coach Thadd MAcNeal on February 3, 2010, in Lakewood, Calif., after signing letters of intent to play football. Also Kassidy Hause (CSULB) and Joseph Masumiya (CSU Bakersfield) signed letter of intent. See pictures>>

While taking pictures of the new Forever 21 flagship store at the Los Cerritos Center reporter Kelly Puente was absolutely giddy. I was roaming the store with my camera gear and she was wondering around with a reporter's notebook in one hand and a shopping bag in the other. As we traversed the giant clothing store that now sits in the building once occupied by Mervyn's she marveled at the amount of clothing options. I told her I just didn't get it - if it were filled with computer gear and gadgets then maybe I could get excited about it. See more photos>>

Bellflower, Calif. resident Ralph Bustrum has been a Boy Scout for 75 years. Last Saturday, he was given an award from the Boy Scouts of America and the city of Bellflower for his service to scouting. In his scout career, he's risen to the level of eagle scout and has received the distinguished Silver Beaver and Bronze Palm awards.

Surfers are back in the water to take advantage of the rare waves in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, Calif. on January 22, 2010. See 20 pictures of people surfing >>

During a break in the clouds a rainbow made a quick appearance over Downtown Long Beach, Calif. on January 22, 2010.

A surfer in the Pacific Ocean may not seem like a big deal - but if you know anything about Long Beach, and the breakwater, then you know rare it is for Dan Lingle to be able to ride a wave in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, Calif. near Claremont Place on January 21, 2010. See more pictures>>

Day three of cruising the city looking for people in the rain.

Nancie Carpenter and her daughter Cassandra Carpenter make their way across flood waters on Lakewood Blvd. at the entrance to Long Beach (Calif.) Airport on January 20, 2010. The pair are going to Seattle to visit their son and brother.See more pictures from the staff of the Press-Telegram>>

Jerry Bridges uses his canoe to check on his wife's car in the 900 blcok of Bennett Ave. in Long Beach, Calif. on January 19, 2010. Long Beach received 1.43 inches of rain during an afternoon storm. Click here to see pictures from the entire staff of the Press-Telegram>>

Olympic swimmer MIchael Phelps hangs out at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool on Friday morning, January 15, 2010, in Long Beach, Calif. Phelps answered questions from the media and did a half-hour light workout. He is preparing for USA Swimming's Southern California Grand Prix this weekend. See more photos>>

A surfer waits to go in the water near the pier in Seal Beach, Calif. on January 14, 2010. See more pictures>>

As the Earth rotates on its axis the Sun appears to set in the western sky in Long Beach, Calif. on January 12, 2010. This is composite made from seven images stitched together. See more pictures>>

A few items remain on the shelves at the Vons Grocery story in the 600 block of East Broadway in Long Beach, Calif. on January 12, 2010. The store is closing tomorrow for remodeling and is expected to reopen this fall. See more pictures>>

Volunteers clear non-native brush from the Los Cerritos Wetlands just south of Studebaker Road and Second Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Friday, January 8, 2010. The natural habit might not be the happiest place on Earth, but volunteers who spend a few hours as volunt"ears" will earn a free ticket to Disneyland. According to Lenny Arkinstall, Founder and Executive Director Los Cerritos Wetlands Stewards, the DIsney volunteer program has caused a large increase in volunteer interest in his program. On Friday Arkinstall had 12 volunteers, three of them were Wilson High students working on a class project and seven of them were working to earn a free trip to Disneyland. DIsney's Give a Day, Get a Day program works like this; You give a day of volunteer service to one of their approved groups and they'll give you a free ticket to one of their parks. See more photos>> | Disney's GIve a Day, Get a Day site

Police shut down the Long Beach County Building because of a bag left on the front steps. Homeless man Michael Paladino left his bag on the courthouse steps on January 7, 2010. He said he had business inside the court.

Workers have been completing about 50 feet a day of the Termino Ave. Drain Project in Long Beach, Calif. on January 5, 2010. Construction started in October 2009 and is expected to last two years. This project consists of construction of a new underground storm drain, installation of trash excluder screens and a filtration system at the catch basins, construction of a low-flow diversion system to improve the water quality of storm runoff, and the relocation of waterlines. The project will alleviate flooding from Marine Stadium to the Redondo Ave / Anaheim Street area. See more pictures>>

Jaime Nikoletich, Miss April, signs her month inside a pin-up calendar at La Strada Retaurant on Second Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Monday, January 4, 2010. La Strada owner Lisa Ramelow created the calenders to benefit pancreatic cancer but when she had over a thousand left over she decided to send them to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each calendar is signed by at least one of the girls featured in the calendar (they are also her employees) and a customer of the eatery. She has received hundreds of letters of thanks from American warriors including a flag that was carried in battle in Iraq. See more pictures>>
| La Strada's on Second

Truck driver Jorge Machuca waits as a container is loaded on his rig at Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) on Monday, January 4th, 2010, the first business day after January 1st ban ban of 8,000 older, more polluting trucks from harbor area roads. Beginning January 1, 2010, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles (Calif.) banned drayage trucks with engine model years of 1993 and older under its Clean Trucks Program. The new rigs have helped decrease air pollution almost two years ahead of schedule. See more pictures>>

Long Beach State Head Coach Dan Monson reacts as his team can't come up with enough points in overtime to beat UC Riverside during the Big West season opener in Riverside, Calif. on January 2, 2010. The 49ers lost to UCR 69-67. See more pictures>>

While kids from Maine to Florida are dealing with freezing temperature and Midwesterners are sledding down snow banks the lucky youngster in Long Beach are in their bathing suits. Above, Ryan Brunner joins his friends as they sled down a sand hill on the beach in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, Calif. on January 2, 2010. According to accuweather.com, the high in Belmont Shore was 78 degrees but should cool down to about 70 degrees over the next few days. See more pictures>>

Looking down from the lighthouse at Rainbow Harbor gives you a good idea of how many fans were waiting for Travis Pastrana to jump off the Pine Ave. Pier onto a barge in Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009. Pastrana set a new world record for the longest jump in a rally car. See more pictures from me and fellow P-T photographer Steven Georges>>

Chris Johnson and Erin Morgan share a kiss at midnight January 1, 2010, on Pine Avenue in Long Beach, Calif. See more pictures>>

The Moon rises above Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, Calif on December 31, 2009 . This was the second full Moon in December making it a blue Moon.
At right is the Lyons Lighthouse for Sight.

Warren's Damien Gomez wrestles Los Alamitos' Anthony Leonard during the Tournament of Champions wrestling meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. on December 30, 2009. See more pictures>>

Travis Pastrana, standing by his takeoff ramp, describes how he thinks he'll react as his car is flying through the air towards his landing ramp, in background, during a Red Bull media event on December 30, 2009. On New Year's eve Pastrana will jump his rally car off the Pine Ave. Pier onto a floating barge anchored in Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, Calif. HIs goal is to break the existing mark of 171 feet and establish a new world distance record. See more pictures>>

Recyclables piled up at Waste Managment in Carson, Calif. on December 29, 2009. According to Darrell Kato, director of operations, their intake goes up 25 percent during the holidays.See more pictures>>

In October I visited Todd Jackson at Santa Fe Nursing Home. Jackson, the 41-year-old mentally ill homeless man who was found beaten in Belmont Shore, had been transfered from St. Mary Medical Center to the facility to recover. On Saturday he went missing from the home. According to a nurse on duty, Jackson was in his room at the 1:30 a.m. bed check, but after a door alarm went off 15 minutes later, Jackson was missing from his room and not in the facility. See pictures>>

Mike Dittamo, Director of the School of Infantry at Camp Pendelton, during a USO show at the Laugh Factory in Long Beach, Calif. on December 22, 2009.
The show, hosted by K-EARTH 101's Gary Bryan, featured comedians Paul Rodriguez and Bob Sagget. Prior to the show, five members of the United States Armed Forces competed for the title of funniest service member. Two of those service men, Reggie Junior and Mike Dittamo, Director of the School of Infantry at Camp Pendelton. See more picutres>>

Gahr's Charles Nebo Jr. (23) grabs a rebound over the head of Valley Christian's David Russell (32) during their game at Cerritos (Calif.) High College on December 23, 2009. See more pictures>>

According to his website Wheely Willy, the tiny paraplegic dog, passed away in his sleep yesterday, December 22, 2009.

"This year had been a very difficult one for Willy and his mother and best friend, Deborah Turner. In early January on a rainy day, Deborah took a fall down a flight of stairs while holding Willy, injuring both herself and her tiny friend. After multiple surgeries and ongoing veterinary care, Willy succumbed to his injuries. While the aging dog was recuperating, Deborah and the attending doctors cared most about his comfort and well being. Willy passed peacefully in his sleep, as always, next to Deborah. He was in life and death, her constant companion." - www.wheelywilly.com

The Lakewood boys soccer team hoists the Milk Bottle trophy in the air after defeating Mayfair 1-0 in Bellflower, Calif. on December 18, 2009. See more pictures>>

Lakewood's Nick Dalton takes on Poly's Alex Oul in the 103 pound division during a Moore League meet in Lakewood, Calif. on December 17, 2009. See more pictures>>

George Loizides, of George's Greek Restaurant, greets Seyed Jalali in front of their Pine Ave. location on December 16, 2009. The Loizides, who are celebrating their 10th. anniversary tomorrow, have grown their eatery to three location since starting in Downtown Long Beach. Jalali has been a customer of George's since the restaurant opened. See more pictures>>

Sixth graders at Tincher Prepatory School in Long Beach, Calif . strut their stuff at their first dance. See more pictures>>

The rain didn't stop members of the Long Beach Junior Concert Band from marching in the Christmas Tree Lane Parade on Daisy Ave., in fact, they were the only band that showed up. About 2/3 of the participants in the annual parade decided not to attend because of the rain. Members of the band wore black arm bands to remember founder Marvin Marker who died last week. See more pictures>>

Assistant Fan Yu, right, hurries out of the rain with Aimee, a Bijan Frise, as fellow assistant, Remy Smith-Lewis, left, and Santiago Pinto, center, try to stay dry under a umbrella during the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship at the Long Beach (Calif.) Convention Center on December 12, 2009. See more pictures>>

Lakewood's Crystal Torres (2) tries to control the ball against St. Joesph's Melanie Vaughn (20) during their game in Lakewood, Calif. on December 10, 2009. See more pictures>>

Millikan's Lexi Braner (2) and Fountain Valley's Taylor Merickel (22) during their game in Long Beach, Calif on December 9, 2009. See more pictures>>

Armando Padilla (21) and Mayfair's Derrick Gonzalez (9) battle for control of the ball during their game in Lakewood, Calif. on December 8, 2009. See more pictures>>

Parade goers are showered in fake snow as the Long Beach Pride float passes by during the annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on Second Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, December 5, 2009. See more pictures>>

Long Beach State's Brittney Herzog (23) screams towards fellow senior Naomi Washington (8) during their 3-0 loss to UCLA at the NCAA Women's Volleyball first round game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Calif. on December 4, 2009. See more pictures>>

Long Beach State's Ashley Bookman (12) goes up for a shot against USC during their non-conference game at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif. on December 3, 2009. See more pictures>>

SIGNAL HILL, CALIF. -- Lights strung from a communications tower atop the hill in Signal HIll, Calif. serve as the city's holiday tree on December 2, 2009.

About 30 members of the media came to Pat Alviso in Long Beach, Calif. to watch 20 war protesters during U.S. President Barack Obama speech to commit 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. See more pictures>>

Veteran David Whittaker with his 50 foot by 80 foot flag at Marina Green Park near the corner of Shoreline Drive and Linden Ave in Long Beach, Calif. on November 28, 2009. Whittaker has been taking his giant flag around the country, traveling only by wheelchair, since May 2. See more pictures>>

Cerritos' Lisa Hom (11), Cherise Kam (3), Samantha Adams (6) and Jessica Wu (13) celebrate a point during their win over Valley Center of San Diego in Cerritos, Calif. on November 28, 2009. Cerritos won the CIF-SS playoff game 3-0. See more pictures>>

Art installer Steve Sherwood hangs artwork created by pediatric patients in the new 4-story, 124,000 square-foot inpatient pavilion at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. on November 24, 2009. The expansion is set to open late next month. The building sits next to the hospital's current building. The new inpatient pavilion will include a state-of-the-art pediatric imaging center and a pediatric surgery center. The facility also includes additional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds, a family resource center, playroom and a meditation area. See more pictures>>

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, left, wipes a tear from his eye after Dwight Radcliff, President of U.S. Vets, helps surprise him by naming their new kitchen and dining hall after him at the Villages at Cabrillo in Long Beach, Calif. on November 25, 2009. The building, at the site of former Navy housing, used to be the Navy Exchange. U.S. Vets and the Villages at Cabrillo, renovated the historic "Cabrillo/Savannah Housing Navy Exchange" store adding a new kitchen and dining hall will serve over 13,000 meals to veterans each month. The former Navy Base Exchange store's renovation was made possible through the efforts of the office of Supervisor Don Knabe (a Navy veteran), the City of Long Beach, Century Villages at Cabrillo, and U.S. Foodservice. See more pictures>>

LEFT: Pine Avenue looking north at Ocean Blvd. in the 1940s. The Security Bulding is in the center. A Pacific Electric Red Car is on Ocean Blvd.
RIGHT: Pine Avenue looking north at Ocean Blvd. on November 21, 2009. The Security Bulding in the center is partially obstructed by the Renaissance Hotel. This picture was taken from the second-floor fire escape in the Ocean Center Building.