The Seal Beach Recreation and Parks Commission has scheduled a special meeting Wednesday night.
The meeting -- to be held at the City Hall's council conference room -- is set for 6 p.m., and it will include a discussion of the Founders Day Celebration and an update of the Arbor Dog Park Master Plan. The meeting will be chaired by Carla Watson.
City Hall is located at 211 Eighth St.
Despite halted operations, the mayors of Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Cypress and Garden Grove have launched an effort to close down the controversial composting facllity at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces base.
The 5-year pilot composting operation program was halted earlier this year, but the mayors said they're concerned about the impacts on their communities if the operations are "resurrected."
Following heated protests by residents that the composting operation created noise and pollution from trucks, former base commander Gen. James Combs said in June that he would have his decision to halt the compost operation reviewed by federal attorneys to assure that it's not been selectively restricted by Seal Beach 's municipal codes, banning the use of trucks weighing more than 3 tons.
Combs' decision was on the heels of the Seal Beach council's unanimous vote June 8 to prohibit "gross weight vehicles over 3 tons" on Lampson Avenue, from Seal Beach Boulevard to the city's east limits.
Residents cited road hazards, road damage and pollution from heavy trucks.
The base intended to have 15 to 18 semi-truck daily deliveries on Lampson - or about one truck every 30 minutes in an eight-hour work day, according to Councilman Gary Miller.
"Regular truck traffic has never been allowed on Lampson as there is a weight limit," the councilman noted.
"Trucks are allowed only to make pickups and deliveries," but not regular daily trips, Miller added.
Following the June 8 meeting - drawing a standing-room-only crowd - Combs said he wasn't sure if the vote constituted selective enforcement.
However, until there's a legal review, the truck operations would be halted along Lampson, Combs assured Seal Beach. The general has since retired.
However, in their letter to the new base commander, Major General John S. Harrel, the mayors said the Secretary of the Army should end the operations.
"This license is granted for a term of five years, beginning March 19, and ending March 18, 2014, but revocable at will by the Secretary of the Army."
The mayors are Gordon Shanks of Seal Beach, Troy Edgar of Los Alamitos, Dennis Bailey of Cypress, and William Dalton of Garden Grove.
"In light of the very clear language of the license and given the undisputed adverse impacts of the composting activities on each of the communities, we call upon the Secretary of the Army to exercise his unfettered right and terminate this license agreement immediately.
"Revolking the license is the only meaningful way to mitigate the significant and adverse impacts from these composting activities.
"To do so would be an appropriate gesture to each of the communities, particulary given the lack of transparency in the awarding of the license, and the lack of meaningful environmental consideration of composting activities undertaken prior to awarding the license."
Harrel could not be reached for comment.
Several units will be availabe to walk through that have not been open to the public before. Also open will be the renovated Grand Salon and solarium, which offers picturesque views of the entire city. Refreshments will be served.
Tickets are $30, $25 for Heritage members.
There will be a happy hour between 4 and 6pm at Utopia, where ticket holders can mingle and meet Long Beach Heritage President John Thomas.
Information is available on-line at preservation@lbheritage.
Reservations may be made by sending a check to Long Beach Heritage, PO Box 92521, Long Beach CA 90809 or through PayPal at www.lbheritage.org.
Mike Wilson recently announced that he is stepping aside as president of the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association. After four years of taking the fight to City Hall in support of the neighborhood, Wilson said it was time to let some of the younger set pick up the cause. Still, he says he plans to stay on the board and be active in the neighborhood. The following is his outgoing comminique to the neighborhood as president:
Presidents Message
View from My Corner,
As this is my last message after four years as president of the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association, I hope our Dear Editor will indulge me in being a little longer winded than usual.
First let me say that it has been a privilege and an honor to have been involved with such a wonderful group of individuals who make up ABNA. To know that we have had a positive impact on our community and our city will be something I will always look back on with pride. We have indeed come a long way in these last years and there are so many people to thank. I am sure I will forget to mention someone here, but I will never forget them.
Suja Lowenthal and Broc Coward deserve a grade of A for the effort they have made to make ABNA a better and safer place to live. We have not always agreed, but I have always known that their hearts were in the right place and on our side. George Romo, together with his life partner Jim, have been a pillar of strength for me. George has always supported and encouraged me, even when I know he didn't always approve of my methods. Chris Hogan and Layne Johnson, (who finally tied the knot last year!), have long been a positive force in our neighborhood. Even while Layne was struggling with health issues he has always been ready to do what he could, and Chris has continued his long history of service to his neighbors as well. Richard Orozco, who through his outreach program for the needy has brought hope and comfort to our neighbors in distress, has still made time to participate in meetings and other ABNA activities. Don Wagner often drives fifty minutes in traffic after work to attend meetings because he cares about his neighbors. Ron Janus can always be seen at our monthly meetings greeting newcomers or asking salient questions from our guest speakers. Greg Mattson, together with his lovely wife Judy, was always my rock and my go-to guy for advice. Although he has passed, the improvements he stewarded in Alamitos Beach will live on. But it is to my long-suffering wife, Dionne, that I owe the greatest debt of gratitude. Dionne quietly suffered through the late night phone calls and endless meetings. She was the one to calm me down when I was upset, who had to witness me doing the "Donald Duck" in the living room over the latest outrage, who silently rolled her eyes while I wrote yet another Letter to the Editor.
Through it all I feel we in ABNA accomplished much for our neighborhood, in ways both big and small. We were able to serve notice that ABNA would not tolerate becoming a Mecca for predators of any kind. We stopped slum landlords from depreciating our quality of life. We made our neighborhood unsafe for drug dealers and gang members. We increased parking, added crosswalks and stop signs. We encouraged neighbors to make their voices heard at City Hall and to work through their government for change. Most importantly, in my humble opinion, we let it be known that ABNA would not be pushed without pushing back.
We have much left to do. Our Governor will soon be releasing thousands of prisoners into our neighborhoods. Drug houses, posing as medical clinics, seem to be the newest avenue to fast money for the unscrupulous. Noise pollution is increasing and our alleys are in a terrible state of disrepair. Thankfully ABNA has new members with new ideas and new energy. Lois Ledger brings a deep understanding of politics; Sara Michael, Christine Petit, Kim Spanzuto, Elisa McConnehea, Laura Greco, Peg Thompson and Kelly Gust have brought new perspectives and new and innovative ways of communicating with neighbors. And I can't forget Samuel Plambeck who has taken on the Herculean task of organizing and printing our Newsletter. Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association remains in good hands!
I remain so grateful for the learning opportunity this service has afforded me. I know I have made mistakes, and I ask forgiveness from anyone I have offended. I hope you know that I did my best.
Respectfully,
Mike Wilson
President
Alamitos Beach
The City of Hawaiian Gardens will play host to an annual Kids Fishing Derby Saturday, Oct. 24 at Cerritos Regional Park, 19700 S. Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos. Registration will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The Fishing Derby will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be followed by a raffle.
Youth ages 5 to 15 can participate catching fish, competing in casting contests and participating in demonstrations. Free loaner fishing rods and tackle to be provided. There will also be a Mobile Aquarium, provided by the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Information is available by calling 562-420-2641 Ext. 254.
Catholic Charities will play host to its annual "An Evening With Angels" dinner and awards program at the Reef Restaurant, 880 Harbor Scenic Dr., Friday, Oct.23. A silent auction will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Honorees will be Century Villages at Cabrillo, Century Housing, United States Veterans Initiative (US Vets), and Cantwell Anderson for their work to create Century Villages at Cabrillo, a 26-acre site, that began planning in 1995.
Currently the Villages provides either temporary or permanent housing for over 1,000 persons who were formerly homeless. Over 500 veterans are served by the Villages as well as 250 children.
Bishops Alexander Salazar, former Bishop for the Region, and Oscar Solis will present the awards.
"Century Villages is a pretty amazing site," Michael Roth, Chair of the region's advisory board in a prepared release. "I don't think there is anything like this in the world. It's a beautiful place with all sorts of help for families including a transitional school, child care center, and now an adult education center."
The transitional school is operated by LBUSD, the child care by the Comprehensive Child Development Center, and the adult education center by California State University Long Beach. Programs at the Villages are provided by 24 service providers.
Funds from this event will support Catholic Charities' homeless shelter for families, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Residence. This emergency shelter was the first program to be operated on-site at the Villages, moving from a former county hospital when the building was condemned in 1998.
Residents and interested community leaders are encouraged to attend a community forum sponsored by the Leadership Long Beach Connected Corridor group Thursday, Oct. 22 at the cafeteria at Burnett Elementary School, 565 E. Hill St. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Connected Corridor is an attempt to bring together neighbors and businesses along Atlantic Avenue from North Long Beach to downtown to find ways to improve the street and adjacent neighborhoods.
The group is currently beginning work on a third phase from Spring Street to Pacific Coast Highway and wants to listen to ideas from the local residents, small business owners, nonprofits, grassroots organizations and those who represent their neighborhoods.
Organizers in an e-mail said "We learned so much in previous community events , and we continue that mission to hear from the people working and living along the Atlantic Corridor in the Phase Three area."
An area map prepared by Rethinking Greater Long Beach can be seen at www.connectedcorridor.org.
Refreshments and a light dinner will be provided along with child care and translators.
RSVP or questions can be sent to the Leadership Long Beach Office 562-997-9194.
The November edition of the monthly Bixby Supper Club gathering, held on the first Monday of the month, was so popular that is has already sold out. So, on Tuesday, November 3 there will be ANOTHER meeting.
The event, limited to the first 50 who sign on, will be at Johnny Rebs', 4663 Long Beach Blvd. beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Those interested can RSVP to info@bixbyknollsinfo.com
The supper club gives residents a chance to get together, share a meal, network or just chat about the goings-on in the neighborhoods. It also supports local restaurants.
Indonesian dancer Sri Susilowati will present a live performance and video exhibition with discussion on traditional dance in the modern world Saturday at 7 p.m. at the monthly performance of the Khmer Arts Salon Series at the Khmer Arts Academy, 1364 Obispo Ave.
Susilowati is the founder and artistic director of the Dancing in the Margins festival and workshop series. This festival provides tradition-based choreographers the chance to produce and present new work in a professional setting.
Among the artists who have been presented in Dancing in the Margins is Ramaa Bharadvaj who gave her last U.S. performance at the Khmer Arts Salon Series before returning to India to help create a university arts program there.
Susilowati will demonstrate how she develops new works and interpretations from traditional Indonesian dance techniques to explore issues of concern to the community. The evening will include a lecture, movement demonstration, video presentation and a Q & A session.
Susilowati the the founder and director of Sri Dance Company, which creates and performs contemporary works on the subjects of community, gender, and ethnicity through dance and multi-media. As a dancer Susilowati has performed throughout the U.S. at venues as large as the Kennedy Center and has earned numerous awards and fellowships. Admission is free to all Khmer Arts Salon Series events.
RSVPs and questions can be sent to series curator Prumsodun Ok by e-mail at prum@khmerartsacademy.org Information is also available by phone by calling Serey Tep at 562-472-0090.
Joe Segura, a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, has covered Gotham City, er Long Beach, for 34 years. During his very, very long -- endless -- tenure, he's covered almost every beat, and he was the main writer for BeachWeek, which focused on life and lifestyles of the shoreline communities from downtown Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier.
He's also been keenly interested in environmental issues, long before green became fashionable, writing extensively about the battles to save Bolsa Chica (Huntington Beach), Hellman (Seal Beach) and Los Cerritos (Long Beach) wetlands.
E-mail Joe at joe.segura@presstelegram.com.
Greg Mellen is a neighborhoods and special projects reporter at the Press-Telegram. He has been covering Long Beach since 2003 when he was rescued from the sports copy desk. In previous lives he was a sports writer and editor at several papers and a faculty member at University of Missouri School of Journalism.
E-mail Greg at greg.mellen@presstelegram.com.
