Neighbors

The Art Exchange will stage its grand opening and unveil its new Visual Arts Center space today from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the ArtX building 354 E. Third Street.
The additions brings 4,000 square feet of exhibition space and will allow the Exchange to expand its presence to downtown from the Expo Building in Bixby Knolls.
The event coincides with the monthly 6 p.m. Second Saturday Art Walk.
The inaugural exhibition and competition will feature poster art entitled "The B-Word Project: Banned-Blacklisted-Boycotted." It will examine the social and political role of censorship in the lives of local high school and college students.
The poster exhibition runs until March 1. Gallery hours are Thurs -- Fri. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat. noon to 5 p.m.
Information is available on-line at artexchangelb.org.

The North Long Beach Community Action Group is playing host to candidates for the 8th District Long Beach City Council seat for a forum on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Expo, 4321 Atlantic Ave. from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Candidates Al Austin, Lillian Kawasak and Gustavo Riveria are expected to attend.
Laurie Angel, the former North Project Area Committee chair and a community advocate, will moderate. Candidates will give opening and closing remarks and field questions from a media panel and rebut other candidate answers.
Information is available by calling 562-428-7710

The North Long Beach Community Action Group is playing host to candidates for the 8th District Long Beach City Council seat for a forum on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Expo, 4321 Atlantic Ave. from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Candidates Al Austin, Lillian Kawasak and Gustavo Riveria are expected to attend.
Laurie Angel, the former North Project Area Committee chair and a community advocate, will moderate. Candidates will give opening and closing remarks and field questions from a media panel and rebut other candidate answers.
Information is available by calling 562-428-7710

The monthly 3rd District Neighborhood Association meeting was canceled for February due to scheduling conflicts.
According to district office "We were unable to find a Thursday in February that worked for both Councilmember DeLong and a guest speaker."
The meetings are expected to resume, Thursday, March 15, when Mayor Bob Foster is scheduled to speak.

 The former head of the notorious Tuol Sleng or S-21 detention and interrogation center will now spend life in prison after an war crimes tribunal appeals court in Phnom Penh Cambodia extended an earlier sentence to the maximum allowed under Cambodian law.
 It is decision that, although delayed by more than a year, should bring some sense of solace and justice to Cambodian refugees in Long Beach.
 When it was learned that Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, could spend as little as 19 years in prison after his 2010 conviction, many Cambodian elders were outraged.
  Under Duch's supervision, an estimated 12,000 to 16,000 were detained, tortured and executed at the S-21 detention center.
  During the 1975-1979 reign of the Khmer Rouge, upwards of 2 million Cambodians died of execution, starvation, disease and deprivation.
 Sarah Pol-Lim, director of the United Cambodian Community, shared the same reaction to the verdict as several elders in her group after the first sentence.
  "(The elders) feel 35 years is not good enough and I can't blame them," Pol-Lim said. "I just want an apology. Thirty-five years can't bring my father and three brothers back."
 After the initial trial and sentencing, both sides appealed and the earlier conviction was upheld and the existing jail term extended. It's the maximum sentence that can be handed out under Cambodian law.
 The prosecution had argued in its appeal that the earlier judgement gave "insufficient weight to the gravity of Duch's crimes and his role and his willing participation in those crimes." The court dismissed Mr. Kaing's own appeal in which he argued that the ECCC had no jurisdiction over him," according to Newsroom America.
 Although it has been more than 30 years since the Khmer Rouge were driven from power, Duch is the first member of the regime to be convicted. The verdict was handed down almost eight months after closing arguments and a 72-day trial.
  Four higher ranking members of the Khmer Rouge, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith are now standing trial.

Food Finders is getting into the Valentine's Day spirit with a different kind of fund-raising event that evokes some of the spirit of the holiday without the calories.

Here's the release:

February 1, 2012--Food Finders has launched its first Virtual Bake Sale fundraiser, just in time for the Valentine's Day holiday.

 

Visitors to www.foodfinders.org can choose from a variety of affordably priced baked goods, such as brownies and cheesecake, that can be purchased as a way to support the nonprofit's food rescue program. This Bakeless Bake Sale directly impacts hunger relief, and is an approach to fundraising that seems to be a sign of the online times.

 

"We're hoping people will find this a fun, easy way to donate, and the 'virtual' aspect lets them save themselves the calories! No actual baked goods change hands, but these donations will make a direct, positive impact on our community," said Patti Larson, Director.

 

Food Finders is a multiregional food bank and food rescue program headquartered in Signal Hill that serves the Los Angeles and Orange county area and serves more than 270 nonprofit agencies.

 

Our Mission, Vision, Values

Food Finders is a community-based food rescue organization that serves as a conduit for food, education, and awareness between donors, volunteers, agencies and people in need.

Our vision is to eliminate hunger and food waste, while improving nutrition in the communities we serve. We strive to serve them with integrity, resourcefulness, urgency and respect. We are grateful for all those involved in reducing food waste and for the miracles we see every day.

 Patti Larson

Executive Director

www.foodfinders.org

2301 E. 28th St., Suite 303  Signal Hill  90755

562-598-3003

 The El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., is hosting a pair of Valentine's Day events on Tuesday, Feb. 14 for old and young alike.
 Here's the new release:

Love Bug Day: Ages 2 to 5
This Valentine's Day workshop is for children ages 2 to 5 and their parents/guardians. We'll make our very own nature-inspired valentines for the love bugs in our lives, and a yummy Valentine's treat. Then, we'll continue the festivities out on the trails of the Nature Center with fun, themed games and stories. This class will take place on Tuesday, February 14, from 10 to 11:30 am at the Nature Center, with a cost of $10 per parent/child.

Valentine's Night Walk: Adults Only
Enjoy your Valentine's night in a unique and romantic way at the Nature Center. Bring your sweetie for an evening of fun while exploring the darkened trails. The night walk will take place on Tuesday, February 14, from 7 to 9 pm, just $5 per person.

Preregistration is required for both events.
To register for these events or find out more about El Dorado Nature Center, call 562.570.1745. 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.

For those want to get a jump on Valentine'd Day, and do it with a little historical flair, Rancho Los Cerritos is playing host today to an event called Crazy with Hearts.
As part of its Creation Station series, the Rancho, 4600 Virginia Rd., will be available for drop-in arts and crafts from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Here's the release:
"Stop in for an afternoon of good, old-fashioned fun at Rancho Los Cerritos on Saturday, February 4. Create unique seasonal crafts and participate in historically-themed activities during "Creation Station," a drop-in program between 1-5 p.m. for families with children ages 6-11.
"Crazy with Hearts" is themed in time for Valentines Day. Children will have an array of supplies available to make old-fashioned, 19th century Valentines and go on a Valentine's themed scavenger hunt in the historic adobe house.
Additional Creation Station programs will take place on the first Saturday of each month, March-May. Each will focus on a different theme and offer engaging, hands-on activities for youngsters, as follows:
March 3: Play with Clay
April 7: Surprise with Color
May 5: Fun with Nature

For further information contact Meighan Maguire at meighan.maguire@longbeach.gov, call 562-570-1755, or check our website at http://www.rancholoscerritos.org

City of Long Beach and LA County want to teach residents how they can conserve energy and save money at an energy fair. The event is on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Expo Art Gallery, 4321 Atlantic Ave.
Here's the press release:

Learn How to Make Home Energy Efficiency Improvements;
Receive up to $8,000 in Rebates at Energy Upgrade CA Kick-off on Jan. 26

The City of Long Beach and LA County invites all residents to attend the Energy Upgrade CA Kick-Off Event on Thursday, January 26, from 6-8 pm at the Expo Art Gallery, 4321 Atlantic Ave., in Long Beach.

The event will feature a resource fair of booths and displays, a chance to meet with green industry experts, and a special presentation on how to save money, increase energy and water efficiency, and earn up to $8,000 in rebates from Energy Upgrade CA.

"Energy efficiency improvements save energy and money in the long run," Mayor Bob Foster said. "Many residents have already taken steps to make their home greener.  I encourage the Long Beach community to join their neighbors and take advantage of this Energy Upgrade opportunity."

Energy Upgrade California, a statewide home energy efficiency program for California homeowners, is providing rebates and incentives for homeowners who make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Rebates are administered through the Long Beach Department of Gas & Oil and Southern California Edison.

Energy inefficiencies can stem from problems ranging from air leaks to outdated heating and cooling systems. An integrated, energy-efficient system can:
       
·        Save energy and lower utility bills
·        Improve home comfort
·        Provide a healthier living space
·        Conserve resources and reduce greenhouse gases
·        Increase home value

For more information, or to RSVP for the Kick-Off event (which features an opportunity drawing for prizes, visit www.sustainablelb.com. Information is also available by calling the Energy Upgrade California's toll-free hotline at 1.877.785.2237, or by stopping by Long Beach City Hall Lobby to see the new Environmental Information Center. 

Candidates for upcoming city elections will speak and be available Saturday, Jan. 21 at another of the candidate brunches that Dan Pressburg hosts on occasion in North Long Beach. Here's the information from Pressburg:

Event:                                 Candidate Brunch

Date:                                Saturday, 21 January 2012

                                                                                                          

                                             Featured Guests:

             

2^nd District      Hon Suja Lowenthal, Mike Kramer, Janet Ballantyne

4^th District       Hon. Patrick O'Donnell, Daryl Supernaw, John Watkins,

6th District       Hon Dee Andrews (unopposed)

8th District       Al Austin, Lillian Kawasaki,Gustavo Rivera

Media: LBReport.com, Long Beach Press Telegram, Long Beach Business Journal, Signal Tribune,

          Gazette Newspapers,  LA Times, Daily News, OC Register 

 

Time:                       09:30am to 1:00pm

 

Place:            The Historical Long Beach Dairy and Creamery

                        167 E. South ST. LB 90805

 

Food:         Quiche, Bacon, Sausage, Scones, Milk, Coffee

 

Sponsors :        Long Beach Dairy and Creamery, North Long Beach Neighborhood

                  Associations, South Street Community Watch

                      

 

 

RSVP:              562-428-7710  

 

As the primary election draws near we will be hosting a candidate breakfast for

all candidates running for city Council. This event is open to city advocates, the public and media. Please bring your information to share with others such your bio, platform, etc. For those of you who are new this is a casual event provided for candidates in a neutral setting with an opportunity to meet local media.

 

This event is also an opportunity to meet the candidates one on one and ask for their

Platform and plans for the city of Long Beach.

 

Come join us Saturday January 21^st for an interesting morning with candidates from across the city of Long Beach.

 

Call or Fax 562-428-7710  if you have any questions