Neighbors

Seventh District Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga will host on Sunday the grand opening of a new neighborhood Long Beach Sunday Market in California Heights.

 The Sunday Farmers Market will be held weekly from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the playground at Longfellow Elementary, at California Road at Bixby.

An assortment of local business and community groups will be there opening day.
 The market will have all the basics and some special amenities, including  farmers with a variety of fresh produce, food vendors with prepared food -- even a coffee cart.

Said the veteran councilwoman:

"This is a terrific opportunity for folks from all the surrounding neighborhoods to come out and play. Eat, shop, get to know and support each other.

"The market will feature the basics at first, and grow and grow from there. With community participation, this terrific event will be able to generate substantial support for our schools."

If you would like to be involved, would like to host or sponsor a class or demonstration, contact market manager Kelli Johnson at 562.528-6259 or email at Info@LongBeachSundayMarket.com.

 For more information, visit http://LongBeachSundayMarket.com.

 Four handsome homes in Rossmoor homes will welcome vistors Dec.6 to raise cash for charities.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., home buffs can visit 11795 Foster Road, redesigned by Eddie Kesky Construction; 12472 Foster Road: completely rebuilt by TKR Construction; 2661 St. Albans Drive: an original Plymouth Model; and 2681 St. Albans Drive, completely rebuilt with details by Master Carpenter Rosendo.

 Complimentary refreshments will be served at The Ayres Hotel at Lampson & Seal Beach Boulevard.

 For tickets or more information, call Shirley Bailey at 562.596-9898.

 Tickets are $20, and proceeds from last year's tour were used for Los Alamitos and Laurel high schools scholarships, Rossmoor Woman Club student art scholarships, handmade quilts for UCI Children's Ward, Alamitos West Rehab Center, Casa Youth Shelter, Hot Line of So. Calif., Los Alamitos Museum, Los Alamitos/Rossmoor Library, O.C. Deaf Advocacy, Pathways to Independence, Precious Life Shelter, senior meals/services and VA Long Beach, among others.

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) will host an Open House on Dec. 16 for its new Long Beach office.

 The Open House program, at 601 Pacific Ave.,is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.  
 RSVP for the event by calling 562. 304-2524 or  contacting bhuynh@lafla.org.

 Metered parking is available on the streets. Parking also is available in adjacent city parking structures. LAFLA will validate for City Place parking lots 3,4,5 & 6 for the first two hours, if you bring your parking stub.

The foundation has been serving poor and low-income families in Long Beach and the surrounding areas since 2001, when it merged with the Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach (LAFLB), founded in 1953.

 Attorneys and advocates provide a range of legal services in LAFLA's priority areas of housing/eviction defense, family law/domestic violence, government benefits, immigration and record expungement.

Domestic Violence Clinic and a Self Help Legal Access Center services are also available at the Long Beach Superior Court.

The Long Beach office has an active Client Advisory Council, with members who are involved in various outreach activities and provides critical feedback to our staff about the legal needs of the community.

The Council is chaired by Karen Adelseck of the Long Beach Senior Latino Club.

Mark Persico has been appointed as director of Development Services for the City of Seal Beach.

Persico has 18 years of experience as a public sector planner in four cities, serving as community development director West Hollywood and Calabasas, according to City Manager David Carmany.

The city's new Development Services director also has worked for the past six years as the principal of Persico Planning Partners in the private sector, focusing on senior project management and management audits.

Persico has a master's degree in planning from USC and a bachelor's in urban planning from Cal Poly Pomona. He is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

 The new staff member's starting date is Dec. 7.

Residents can receive nutrition and health information, healthy food samples, entertainment and free gifts Saturday during the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program Health Resource Fair.

The fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Long Beach Health Department's  headquarters, 2525 Grand Ave.

WIC provides nutrition and breastfeeding education, vouchers for purchasing healthy foods, referrals to other services for pregnant women, and women with children up to the age of 5 years.

"The WIC Program is one of the most important programs funded by the federal government," said Health Department Director Ron R. Arias.

 The WIC fair is part of a year-long celebration recognizing the expansion of the new WIC food package, adding fruits, vegetables, baby foods, whole grain products and tofu as healthy choices for WIC families.

 For more information, contact Mei Wang, WIC program public health nutritionist, at 562.570.4479.

The Long Beach Health Department will provide H1N1 flu vaccine for at-risk residents at a community clinic scheduled for Saturday at Millikan High School.

The clinic, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., has limited on-site parking, but spaces are available at St Joseph's School at 6220 E. Willow. Shuttle service will be provided.

Due to ongoing national supply challenges, the H1N1 flu vaccine will continue to be provided only if persons are in one of the following categories:

--All individuals between the age of 6 months and 24 years of age
--Caretakers of infants under 6 months of age
--Health care workers with direct patient care
--Pregnant women
--Adults from 25 to 64 year of age with a high-risk medical condition (such as lung disease, diabetes, etc).

Once the manufacturers are able to provide ample H1N1 flu vaccine supplies, the profile of individuals who may be able to receive the vaccine will be expanded.

Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews will host announce a 2nd Annual "Serving With A Thankful Heart" Thanksgiving luncheon and dinner on Monday, Nov. 23.

The feast at Ernest S. McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave, will be donated by community partners, including the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, and the Long Beach Yellow Cab Company.

 Over 100 volunteers will serve the meals.

 "Last years event fed over 750 people and due to the economic downfall we are expecting more this year", said Andrews.

 
Although this is a free function you must RSVP at Ernest S. McBride Park or contact the office of Councilman Andrews at (562) 570-6816. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

There's still time to catch this one ...

Another Melody Ross memorial is slated for tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 17) at the Art Theatre that will celebrate the slain teen's life through "Music & Memories."

A group of local artists and performers with backing from business and civic leaders is putting on the event at 7:30 p.m. at the Art Theater, 2025 E. 4th Street. A $10 donation is requested.

Here's the press release:

"Event Sponsored by Cambodia Town and the 4th Street Business Association To Benefit Ross Memorial Trust & Includes Performances by LB Musicians

Please join friends, family and the Long Beach community at large to celebrate the short life of student, Melody Ross

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
7:30 p.m. -- 10:30 p.m.
at the Art Theatre of Long Beach
2025 E. 4th Street
Long Beach, CA
(562) 438-5435 
or e-mail arttheatrelb@gmail.com

The 16-year-old Cambodian-American teen was killed by gunfire on Oct. 30, 2009 after a homecoming game at Wilson High School in Long Beach.  The benefit's biggest proponent is PraCh, an internationally celebrated Cambodian-American rapper from Long Beach -- who was Melody's favorite musical artist.  Other artists confirmed are Universal Speakers, DaddyScotty aka "Dub PassenJah" (of Chapter 11), Mike the Poet, JUMAKAE Yodraj and with more to be added.

Friends remembered Ross, 16, as a bright, friendly and cheerful student.  A junior, Ross was a high-achieving student who attended several Advanced Placement classes and was a pole-vaulter on the school's track team.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Melody Ross Memorial Trust: for more information: http://lbwilson.schoolloop.com/

About the Performers:

PraCh, a Cambodian-American musician from Long Beach, California.  His first CD, Dalama: The End'n' Is Just the Beginnin', features sampled sound bytes from old Khmer Rouge propaganda speeches to deliver a blistering history lesson about Cambodia's genocide. www.mujestic.com

Universal Speakers are a female trio hailing from Long Beach, who blend Reggae, hip-hop and R&B sounds in their music www.us562.com

DaddyScotty aka the "Dub PassenJah" is one of the founding members of Chapter 11, a local group known for its unique sound that blends hip-hop beats with Reggae instrumentation, rhythms and melodies. www.daddyscotty.com http://www.daddyscotty.com

Mike Sonksen, also known as Mike the Poet, is a poet, journalist, historian, tour guide, and teacher.  His book, I Am Alive in Los Angeles, has been added to the curriculum of several universities and has received rave reviews.
www.myspace.com/mikethepoet

JUMAKAE Yodraj is a poet, activist & songwriter www.myspace.com/siamesemeerkat

The Rossmoor Homeowners Association summary of information recently received from the Orange County Transit Authority points to   major impacts.

The WCC Project includes providing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/car pool lane connectors between the San Diego (I-405) Freewat and the Garden Grove (SR-22) Freeway and the San Gabriel River (1-605) Freeway, adding an HOV lane on the I-405 between the SR-22 and the I-605 to create a seamless HOV connection.

The WCC Project includes reconstruction of on and off ramps, widening of Seal Beach and Valley View boulevards, soundwalls and landscaping.

Closure and construction of Seventh Street link begins July 2010 end should be completed June 2011; the Seal Beach Boulevard overpass bridge west half is set to begin December 2011 with a completion possibly by October 2012; east half of the bridge would begin in November 2012 and be completed August 2013.

 Suggested alternative routes are provided on the WCC website at www.octa.net/westcounty.aspx.

The Cypress Church, 6143 Ball Road, will hold an early holiday-season  Rummage Sale on Saturday, Nov. 21 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Proceeds will support the New Orleans Mission Team and the Urbana Missions Conference Team.
 In December a team of Cypress High School and Cypress College students will travel to St. Louis, Mo., for the five-day Urbana Missions Conference to learn about the critical effects of global issues such as human trafficking, environmental degradation, poverty and divisions between peoples. They will also learn tangible ways to take action

In July 2009, 15 students and adults from Cypress Church travelled to New Orleans where they staffed youth summer programs and taught Bible lessons and sports for disadvantaged youth with Castle Rock Church. Cypress Church is planning to return in summer 2010.

Community residents can donate clothing, furniture, books, electronic equipment, jewelry, kitchen utensils and household items on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. until 9 p,m, and Friday, Nov. 20 from noon until 8 p.m.

Information is available from Susan Peterson at 562-867-5223 or by e-mail at susan@funplaces.com. You may also call the church office at 714-952-3001.