Neighbors

View Larger Map A free workshop to help residents create or spruce up their resume is being offered by the The Neighborhood Resource Center, 425 Atlantic  Ave. on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Presented by the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network, the workshop will help attendees learn about choosing the best formats to highlight skills and experience.
Information and RSVPs are available at 562-570-1010 or Sharron.Hinkey@longbeach.gov

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LONG BEACH - City Councilman and U.S. Congressional aspirant Gary
DeLong and Don Caldwell, development project manager for the Pacific
Gateway Workforce Investment Network, will be the featured speakers at
the monthly meeting of the East Anaheim Street Business Alliance
Meeting, Tuesday at noon at the Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim
Str.
There will also be updates from Councilman Patrick O'Donnell's office
and the Long Beach Police Department.
The event is free and open. A buffet is available for $12.
RSVPs for the meal are requested at  info@easba.com or 562-494-3800.
Information is available at  www.easba.com.

  Those who simply LOVE chocolate may be interested to know they share something with the ancient Mayans.
 In the second part of a free ongoing lecture series at Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway Dr., Saturday, May 20 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., a research professor will delve into the history of chocolate in Mayan Culture.
  Better yet, the co-sponsoring Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach will have a variety of Mexican chocolates from the Museum's store available for purchase.
 Khristaan D. Villela an art history and research professor in New Mexico, will give a presentation entitled, "Chocolate: The Ancient Maya Drink of the Gods.
The lecture will explore the history of chocolate as it is depicted in the visual arts, discussed in Maya hieroglyphic texts, and found in archaeological contexts. Chocolate's scientific name, "Theobroma cacao," meaning, "drink of the gods," closely matches how the Maya and other peoples of ancient Mesoamerica thought of this sacred foodstuff.
  Villela specializes in the art of Precolumbian Mesoamerica and the history of the field of Precolumbian studies.
According to a release from Hotel Maya:
"Today chocolate is one of the world's most valuable commodities, according to Dr. Villela, it is consumed as a beverage, as a candy, and it is an important ingredient in many recipes, from cakes and cookies to Mexican Mole sauces. More than two thousand years ago, long before the modern-day empires of Hershey and Cadbury, the ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America grew, traded, and consumed great quantities of "kakaw," as they called chocolate, usually as a beverage mixed with honey and chile peppers. In the "Popol Vuh," a collection of ancient Maya creation myths, the lightning god K'awiil split a primordial mountain revealing maize and chocolate, two of the most important foods of the Maya and other native peoples of Mesoamerica.
  "The Maya nobility prepared and drank chocolate using special spouted and cylindrical ceramic vessels, many of which have survived to the present day with chocolate residues still inside," concludes Dr. Villela."
Hotel Maya kicked-off its Mayan lecture series on March 31 with Gerardo Aldana's presentation on the Mayan calendar.
The lecturs are part of "The Year To Go Mayan" yearlong sweepstakes featuring monthly hotel weekend giveaways, guest lectures, themed movies, a Mayan dinner show, and food and beverage promotions. A grand prizewinner will also be awarded an 8-day, 7-night, all-expenses-paid vacation to the heart of the Mayan Nation in Yucatan, Mexico, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Merida - Yucatan.
Entries to the "The Year To Go Mayan" sweepstakes can be submitted on Hotel Maya's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/hotelmaya to include a picture featuring the guest living their life to the fullest with a placard or other object with the words "Hotel Maya" clearly visible.

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival debuts in Long Beach beginning Friday, May 18 and continuing through the weekend. Here is the schedule:

What: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
When: Friday to Sunday
Where: Art Theatre, 2025 E. 4th Street, Long Beach
Tickets: $12 general admission; $10 seniors, students.
Information: 213-680-4462 x59, online:www.vconline.org/festival

SCHEDULE
Friday, May 18
"Give Up Tomorrow" directed by Michael Collins; 5 p.m
"The Orator" directed by Tusi Tamasese; 7 p.m.
"Paradise Broken" directed by James Sereno; 9:30 p.m.

DATE: Saturday, May 19
"There Once was an Island" (Te Henua e Nnoho)and "Keao" directed by Briar March, noon
"Papa Mau: The Wayfinder" directed by Naalehu Anthony, 2 p.m.
"Two Shadows" (encore), directed by Greg Cahill, 4 p.m.
"In the Family" directed by Patrick Wang, 6 p.m.
"Yes, We're Open" and "Good Head" (encore), directed by Richard Wong, 9:30 p.m.

DATE: Sunday May 20
Award winner tba, noon
Award winner, tba, 2 p.m.
"Golden Slumbers" directed by David Chou, 4:30 p.m.
"Sione's 2: Unfinished Business" by Simon Bennett, 7 p.m.

Residents are invited to the popular semi-annual Sidewalk Sale on Fourth Street, Saturday, May 19 on 4th Street, from noon to 6 p.m.
Here's the info:


4th Street/Retro Row's Spring Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, May 19, NOON-6:00 pm
 
Join us on Saturday, May 19th for our semi-annual Spring Sidewalk Sale on 4th from NOON to 6 pm! This ONE DAY ONLY event--which coincides with the Long Beach Pride weekend festivities--offers bargains galore PLUS Art, Entertainment, Food & Drink along the "Retro Row"/4th Street corridor (between Cherry and Junipero avenues). Forty-plus shops will be offering extra special buys for everyone--including furnishings (vintage to contemporary), toys and togs for kids of all ages, vintage threads and accessories, surf gear, gifts and one-of-a-kind tchotskies, original artwork and handcrafted jewelry, books, vinyl and CDs and much, much more!
 
"The entire city is alive with energy and excitement during Long Beach Pride weekend," states Porter Gilberg, Administrative Director at The Center Long Beach. "The Center's storefront has been on Retro Row since 1986 and we are so excited for the Sidewalk Sale on May 19."
 
Make a day of it and grab lunch/dinner at any of the eateries along the street offering fare from organic upscale Vietnamese and authentic Mexican to handcrafted gourmet coffee and sandwiches to boutique wine 'n' gourmet snacks.
 
4th Street is accessible by car with ample parking available as well as via the Long Beach Transit's Passport B shuttle [www.lbtransit.com/services/passport.aspx]

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Bicycling season has arrived and here come the bike rodeos. Earlier this week, the Wrigley Association announced a bike and safety rodeo on Saturday at Veteran's Park. And now here's another one on the same day in Cambodia Town. Here is the info from the 6th City Council District Office:

"Young bicyclists are invited to learn riding and safety tips during a Bike Safety Rodeo at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St., on Saturday, May 12 from 12-3 pm.

"As one of the country's most bicycle-friendly cities, we need to ready our next generation of cyclists on how to be safe on our roads," Mayor Bob Foster said. "Bike Rodeos are a fun way for our young people to learn how to safely ride their bicycles, and gain a skill that they can enjoy for a lifetime."

Young bicyclists are welcome to come by with a bike and helmet to practice safe riding. Learn how to make quick stops, do quick turns, and keep an eye on traffic. The Bike Rodeo staff will assist riders with minor bike repairs and information on obtaining a bike license. Using games, children also learn about seat belts, as well as pedestrian and bike safety.

"As the weather warms and schools let out for summer, more and more of our children take to their bikes," said Councilmember Dee Andrews. "Bike Rodeos are very important tools to keep young people and our streets safe."

Even children without bikes can come and learn. A limited number of safety helmets are available to use at the rodeo.

Support of this program is provided by the Long Beach Public Library and a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

For more information on this event or other services available at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, please call 562.570.1046. For information on other Long Beach Public Library services and events, please visit www.lbpl.org or call 562.570.7500. '

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A free Health and Community Resources Fair will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mac Arthur Park, 1321 Anaheim St.
The event will feature free health screenings by the American Heart Association and St. Mary Medical Center.
Other groups with booths and information are:
L.A. Care Health Care, Miller Children's Hospital, Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, City of Long Beach, CAARE, Fair Housing Foundation, Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma, Two Coffee Guys, Housing Long Beach, Best Start Central LB, LB Community Action Partnership, Long Beach Public Library, Mark Twain Branch, Long Beach Alliance for Food and Fitness, Neighborhood Services Bureau, NCLR/CSULB The Center For Latino Communiyt, Cambodian Association of America, United Cambodian Community, and Latin American Community Center,
There will also be food, drawings and prizes.
Information is available by calling Raymond Chavarria, 562-206-5171 or Martha Cota 562-355-5429.

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The Wrigley Association is inviting all to join in a Bicycle and Pedestrian Rodeo, Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Veterans Park, 101 E. 28th St.
The free event is part of the Safe Routes to School Program and will offer tips on how to ride or walk safely to school and will have a a traffic safety obstacle course for children to try.
Refreshments will be served. Information is available online at wrigleyvillage@gmail.com or by phone at 562-676-7480.

The Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine announces it will being taking registration for summer camps, classes and events beginning Monday, May 7. Here's information from the city:
 
Long Beach Summer Recreation Connection Class Guide Available

Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine will accept registration for summer camps, classes and events beginning Monday, May 7.

The Summer 2012 Recreation Class Guide is available at your local community centers, parks, and libraries, and will be posted online Monday at www.LBParks.org. The season will be filled with fun for all ages, and new classes include everything from Little Picasso's Pre-School Art to Adult Ballroom/Latin Dance combo course. Be sure to check out the wide variety of summer camps available at El Dorado Nature Center, Belmont Shore Aquatics, Leeway Sailing Center, Rancho Los Cerritos, and more. Make your summer a memorable one with Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine.

There are five easy ways to register:

·        Touch-Tone: Call 562.570.3111 to get your password and be set up for this convenient registration service.
·        On-line - Rec-Connect: Call 562.570.3111 and get your password and be set up to register on line. It's fast and easy!
·        Mail-In: to City of Long Beach, 2760 Studebaker Rd, Long Beach, CA 90815.
·        Fax-In: to 562.570.3113.
·        Walk-In: Register at El Dorado Park Administration Building, 2760 Studebaker Road, Long Beach, CA 90815.  Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm. For more information, call 562.570.3111.

For information on other Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine programs, call 562.570.3100 or visit www.LBParks.org and sign up for E-notify.