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DLBA wins top honors for downtown app, retail visioning projects

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:04:49 -0800

The Downtown Long Beach Associates' Downtown App and Retail Visioning projects recently earned top honors by two leadership organizations.

The California Downtown Association honored the DLBA with the Crystal Eagle Achievement Award for its Downtown App for mobile devices.

International Downtown Association also praised the app at its annual conference in Forth Worth, Texas. The DLBA receieved the association's Merit Awards for the Downtown App and the Retail Visioning project.

"It's an incredible honor to have two of our recent projects recognized by industry leaders such as the International and California Downtown Associations," DLBA President and CEO Kraig Kojian said in a statement. "We constantly strive to help build connections between the Downtown business community and its consumers who are so important to their success. Both of these projects have accomplished this objective in very impactful ways."

Cerritos College's annual Job Fair on Oct. 19

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:06:22 -0800

Employers can meet a pool of potential employees at the Cerritos College's annual Job Fair on Oct. 19.

Employers must register by Oct. 5 if they are interested in taking part in an event that attracts more than 300 attendees. Registration is $60.

Employers can access registration information on www.cerritos.edu/job-placement.
The free fair on Oct. 19 allows attendees to talk to recruiters, learn about the companies, explore job opportunities, network with recruiters and receive suggestions from employers on resumes and interviewing skills. Attendees are encouraged to dress in business attire and bring copies of resumes.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to noon in the Library/Falcon Square Sidewalk, 11110 Alondra Blvd. in Norwalk. A campus map is available at www.cerritos.edu/guide. Parking for the event is free in lot C-10 in white stalls ONLY.

Contact Student Placement Specialist Christina The at the@cerritos.edu or 562-860-2451, Ext. 2367, or the Job Placement staff at Ext. 2366 for more.

Biz expert on debt will sign books in Long Beach

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:22:44 -0800

Harvey Z. Warren, the author of Drop Debt, Surviving Credit Card Hell Without Bankruptcy, will be signing his new book on Saturday, Sept. 25, at Borders bookstore in downtown Long Beach.

Warren will be there from 3 to 5 p.m. at 101 S. Pine Ave.

Click here for more.

Eat at George's and support the arts

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:05:03 -0800

Diners on Sept. 22 can support the arts by eating at George's Greek Café.

Ten percent of that day's sales benefit We Love Long Beach Arts, a new charity supporting music and art programs in Long Beach and local schools.

Present an Arts Council coupon when you dine, take out or order catering to make it count. Download a coupon at www.artslb.org.

"To keep music and art in our schools and community, we need everyone's support," said Craig Watson, executive director of the Arts Council for Long Beach. "We thank George's Greek Café for its immense generosity during this time of need."

Visit www.georgesgreekcafe.com to order online, make a reservation or get directions to any of George's three locations.

New fire chief will speak at chamber event

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:29:29 -0800

Long Beach Fire Chief Alan Patalano will be the guest speaker at the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's Good Afternoon Long Beach event on Sept. 7 at Buster's Beach House.

A department veteran of more than 20 years, Patalano was named fire chief in May, replacing former Fire Chief Dave Ellis, who retired last year.

Admission is $25 for non-members and $15 for members. RSVP is required. Payment at the door is accepted.

The event will be at 11:30 a.m. at 198 Marina Drive in Long Beach. For more information, contact Joel Perler at 562-590-9234 or JPerler@LBchamber.com.

Local biz to help LB family affected by near fatal motorcycle accident

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:22:30 -0800

Marri's Pizza on Monday, Aug. 23, will host Hugh's Bite Nite benefitting the family of Hugh Boyle, who was on his motorcycle June 21 traveling south on Palo Verde Avenue and making a left unto Stearns Street when he was broadsided by a pickup. The accident was not too far from the pizzeria.

The 50-year-old was rushed to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where he continues to recover from a series of injuries, including a dislocated shoulder, broken pelvis, contusions to his lungs, organs and kidneys and numerous broken ribs and bones. Luckily, Boyle did not suffer damage to his spine and brain, thanks to the full-face helmet he wore. Boyle remains in the hospital.

The event will be at 6436 Stearns St. Just tell the server you're there for Hugh's Big Bite or print out the flyer below. Call 562-596-5771. Keep up with Hugh's condition at www.sweetcherryvintagelingerie.blogspot.com.

Army Corps of Engineers digs L.B. company

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:51:04 -0800

Long Beach-based Walter Thomas & Associates has received a $2.1 million contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District to remove sediment from Carbon Canyon.

A fire in the Carbon Canyon a few years ago burned portions of the watershed and the effects of the heavy rainy season caused sediment in the basin to increase.

The project includes construction of a riprap and grouted stone channel to stabilize the creek along the park. Riprap consists of rock and other material used to armor the bank from erosion into the creek.

"The project will remove sediment from the Carbon Canyon Dam flood control basin to ensure safe operation of the dam's flood risk management project," said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Project Manager Tomas Beauchamp-Hernandez. "Sediment removal from the flood control basin is a routine operations and maintenance activity."

Walter Thomas & Associates have about six months to complete the work at Carbon Canyon Dam. The project is scheduled to begin next week, and completed within 180 days.

Stimulus contracts, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law Feb. 17, 2009, appropriated nearly $184 million for project construction, operations and maintenance activities, and completion of studies for Corps projects in Southern California, Arizona and portions of Nevada.

For additional information about the Corps' nationwide projects funded by the Recovery Act, visit http://www.usace.army.mil/recovery. For details, visit http://www.recovery.gov/.

Sidewalk sale at 4th Street's Retro Row

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:07:19 -0800

Shop 'til you drop at Retro Row's annual 4th Street Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, Aug. 14.

There's some bargain shopping to be done at the one-day sale, which stretches from Cherry to Junipero avenues.

The event's from noon to 6 p.m.

For a full listing of all the shops, services and restaurants along 4th Street, go to www.4thstreetlongbeach.com.

Party, discounts at Los Cerritos Center's Forever 21

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:32 -0800

Kress Market opens today

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:12:42 -0800

After months of construction, downtown's gourmet market has officially opened.

Kress Market owners Javier and Hilda Ortiz opened for business today, serving organic produce and products at 443 Pine Ave.

The market, which took over the 2,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Executive Fitness, will feature organic products, beer and wine, signature sandwiches and a smoothie bar.

A grand opening for the market is expected to take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 12.

Downtown venue V20 has closed

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:28:31 -0800

Long Beach's largest nightclub has thrown its final party.

V20: The Venue closed its doors last weekend after six years at The Pike at Rainbow Harbor.
The economy and V20's inability to negotiate an agreement with property manager DDR prompted owners Saturday night to announce that they were shutting down the downtown 30,000-square-foot venue at 81 Aquarium Way, said General Manager Brett Gallo.

"I pretty much knew it was coming, but I didn't get the official word until that night," Gallo said. "It was a long time coming."

After $10 million and four years of planning, V20 -- which stood for "venue on the water" -- opened to much fanfare in 2004 by club owner Michael Viscuso, who helped build the nightlife scene in downtown San Diego.

In a Press-Telegram article in 2004, Viscuso touted V20's hip, swanky trappings, which accommodated about 2,000 people and included a 50-foot bar centered in the main room, a restaurant that served a Pacific Rim menu, lounges, VIP room and latest technology in sound, lighting and entertainment.

According to Gallo, V20 owners and DDR could not come to a lease agreement after a year of negotiations.

DDR was unavailable for comment Monday.

The venue will not relocate. About 60 employees were affected by the closure and the venue's equipment will be divided among the owners' other venues in the San Diego area, Gallo said.
Meanwhile, no plans have been announced for the space.

S.B. gets $307,000 for boulevard upgrades

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:49:01 -0800

The Orange County Transportation Authority has approved $307,000 in Measure M grant funds for improvements to Seal Beach Boulevard.

Seal Beach officials had requested the grant for needed intersection and signal improvements on the boulevard at the San Diego (405) Freeway on/off ramps, according to city officials.

"The City appreciates being the recipient of inter-local funds for this important road project", said Mayor David Sloan. Currently, northbound Seal Beach Boulevard approaching I-405 freeway SB on/off ramp at Beverly Manor Road, has one left turn lane, two thru lanes and one right turn only lane.

The OCTA's pending West County Connector Project will add a carpool lane from the San Gabriel (605) Freeway transition to the 405 freeway. The project also will lengthen and widen the Seal Beach Boulevard bridge. The connector project is not set to improve the intersection at the boulevard and San Diego Freeway southbound on/off ramp at Beverly Manor Road, city officials added.

With the existing lane configuration, a bottleneck will be created, officials said. By removing the bottleneck, the project will increase the capacity and complete the full width plan contemplated in the OCTA Master Plan of Arterial Highways, they added.

The grant funds will be applied to match money Seal Beach was previously awarded as part of OCTA's 2008 Intersection Improvement Program.

Downtown restaurants start valet service after parking problems

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:03:51 -0800

Three downtown restaurants have started a valet service for $4 per vehicle in response to the recent parking problems around Pine Avenue. L'Opera, Alegria and Madison are providing valet service for $4 per vehicle, which is cheaper than the $5 to $12 price range for most downtown parking and valet services, according to Terry Antonelli, president and CEO of Del L'Opera Restaurant Group, which owns the three eateries.

Many restaurant owners say they are losing business since the downtown parking garages upped their rates this spring and stopped validating tickets for people who eat at restaurants. Read more about the issue here.

Hire a young worker, but don't worry about paychecks

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:19:54 -0800

Attention, Long Beach area employers: Hire a young worker, and don't worry about an impact on your payroll.

The Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network's Summer Youth Employment Training Program will provide salaries and workers' comp for 1,500 eligible youth living in the network's service areas of Lomita, Long Beach, Signal Hill and Torrance.

The entry-level workers -- between the ages of 14 and 24 -- can work about 180 hours during the summer in the program that's made possible through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

"Employers have an opportunity to participate in a meaningful summer employment program for our youth and our community," Bryan Rogers, Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Board executive director, said in a prepared statement "We invite employers to provide a work site for one or more youth - and to help spread the word to area nonprofits, and public and private sector employers."

To learn more about the program and request one or more workers, employers can visit www.YourNextHire.biz and complete the brief online form; or they can call 866.848.3321.

Last year, the Summer Youth Employment Training Program placed nearly 1,200 youth at 250 worksites, contributing more than $1.2 million to the local economy.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Public Social Services for provided $3.8 million recovery revenues to operate the Summer Employment Program.

Allegiant to offer services to and from Stockton and Long Beach

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:39:59 -0800

Bellingham, Wash., isn't the only destination Allegiant Travel Co. and its subsidiary airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, are connecting to and from Long Beach.

The Las Vegas-based company and one of Long Beach Airport's newest carriers today announced that it will be offering nonstop services between Stockton and Long Beach starting July 1.

The new flights will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays to and from Stockton Metropolitan Airport and Long Beach Airport with service.
Flights leaving Stockton at 11:05 a.m. will arrive in Long Beach at 12:20 p.m. Flights will leave Long Beach at 1 p.m. and arrive in Stockton at 2:15 p.m.

The company is offering limited introductory one-way fares for $29.99 if purchased by June 23 for travel completed by Jan. 31, 2011. Visit www.allegiant.com or call 702-505-8888 for more details on the offer.

"We're pleased to bring yet another affordable and convenient way for our customers to get away," Allegiant president Andrew C. Levy said in a statement.

"In 2006, we began serving San Joaquin Valley residents by offering nonstop flights to Las Vegas. We look forward to offering even more low-cost service to the community with our new flights to Long Beach."

Allegiant Air and Colorado-based Frontier Airlines -- which announced twice a week trips to Denver -- picked up the remaining daily commuter slots, topped at 41 because of a noise-ordinance program.

Last month, Allegiant announced new flights to and from Bellingham, which is just below the Canadian border and minutes away from Vancouver.

Flights operate three times a week with service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays will leave Long Beach at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in Bellingham at 8:30 p.m. Flights from Bellingham will leave at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Long Beach at 5:05 p.m.