February 2009 Archives

 Soksamnang Vy, a 1-year-old Cambodian boy recovering from open-heart surgery, will soon be heading back to his native country and a new life with a healthy heart.

 Before he leaves, however, "Hearts Without Boundaries," which helped broker a deal with a Las Vegas hospital to perform the life-altering procedure, will play host to a going away party for the boy and his mother.

 Lucky and his mother, Ratha Pang, are from a poor village outside of Phnom Penh. The boy was diagnosed with a dime-sized hole in his heart called a ventricular septal defect. He is the second child the fledgling nonprofit has brought to the U.S. The first, 9-year-old Davik Teng, is healthy and lives in Svay Chrom, a village outside of Battambang.

 Anyone interested in an overview of the Cambodian community's integration and growing presence in Long Beach is invited to attend a special panel discussion entitled "From the Killing Fields to Cambodia Town" hosted by the Historical Society of Long Beach, 4260 Atlantic Ave., Thursday, Feb. 26 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

  According to organizers community members will "share their stories of survival and how they used their struggles as motivation to rebuild lives in Long Beach."

  The panel is being offered in conjunction with a CSULB class, Historical Ethnography taught by Assistant Professor Karen Quintiliani.  It will offer the audience insight the history of Cambodians in Long Beach.

Billed by West Eastside Community Association vice president Dave Henseler as "that most glorious 4th Saturday," Feb. 28 will be the date for the monthly WESCA alley clean-up.

The group will meet at 8 a.m. at 3030 E. 17th Street. Gloves, food and water are provided and those who bring their own trucks are particularly appreciated.

  Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews' quarterly Youth Forum on Saturday, Feb. 21 will feature professional skateboarders Ron Chatman and Danny Montoya and discussion of a proposed skate park at McBride Park.

The event will start at noon at the social hall of McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

Andrews created the Youth Fourms to engage young residents in the sixth district and present ittems and issues that are important to them.

Long Beach Skate Park Program founder and former councilman Mike Donelon will also be on hand.

Celebrity appearance will be made by Chatman, a Poly High and Cal State Long Beach alumnus and the first African-American pro skateboarder from Long Beach, and Montoya, who will help design the park.

"It's going to be very exciting working with kids in my hometown.  This grass roots effort will allow the kids in the neighborhood to be a part of something that is truly giving back to the community."  Chatman said in a press release.

 Montoya said the idea is to replicate elements of the best skate spots in Long Beach.

People interested in temporary jobs working on the 2010 Census will have a chance to study and test for positions on Saturday, Feb. 28 at a testing session at Mount Carmel Cambodian Center, 1851 Cerritos Avenue starting at 3:30 p.m. The test is approximately 30 minutes and measures clerical, reading and number skills interpreting information and evaluuating alternatives and organizational skills.  Applicants  should bring social security card and drivers license as proof of identification.  Hiring is subject to a background check.   For additional information see www.2010censusjobs.gov. The Long Beach Central Area Association will also offer a study session before the test from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

The Sixth District City Council office wants local college students to know about an opportunity to work and study in Washington D.C. over the summer.

The Urban Institute is hosting an eight-week Summer Academy that will give college students of color who are interested in a career in public policy an impressive array of skills and contacts with which to move forward.

In addition, the free academy provides round-trip airfare, lodging at George Washington University and a sizable stipend. The application deadline is March 12.

According to the Urban Institute, the Summer Academy is uniquely designed to offer students the specialized knowledge and skills required to begin a dynamic career in the world of policy research - especially research on policies and programs that disproportionately affect minorities and distressed communities.

Councilman Dee Andrews is hosting a 6th District Town Hall meeting Feb. 24 at MacArthur Park's Social Hall.

The Tuesday meeting -- scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. -- will include topics the park's proposed enhancement project, public safety and infrastructure issues.

The park is located at 1321 E. Anaheim St.

The Town Hall gathering offers residents a chance to connect with city staff in order to communicate concerns.

Free parking is available and refreshments will be served. For more details, call Andrews' office at (562) 570-6816.

 It may go down as one of the quickest Central Project Area Committee meetings ever Thursday night. With a light agenda, rain coming down hard and Lakers vs. Celtics basketball game on television, it was a small but hearty group that met at the monthly meeting of the group that advises how the Redevelopment Agency spends tax increment money.

 In the early going there was even a bit of worry about whether enough representatives had showed up to make a quorum and there were jokes about calling for an adjournment and going to watch the game.

 There were enough of the faithful present and the meeting was gaveled to order at 6:12 p.m..

 The main presentation on the city's 2030 General Plan was scrapped due to a scheduling conflict, leaving a round-up of news from the Redevelopment Agency's Monday meeting by David White,  as the main event.

 The gloomy news from White concerned $1.39 million in RDA funds that have been pulled from CPAC as part of the $350 million that was taken statewide in the 2008-09 budget that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed in September.

 On Monday the RDA voted to borrow money against funds set aside for affordable housing to make up the shortfall.

 On a happier note, members were delighted with the mock-up memorial artwork scheduled to go up to honor the late Bob Lee, a long-time activist with both the West and Central project area committees. Both PACs decided to honor Lee with artwork at bus stops in their areas. CPAC decided with would mimic the artwork approved by West PAC. The selected design shows Lee in the foreground with oil derricks in the background and Lee's favored classic automobiles.The selected design show Lee in the foreground with oil derricks in the background and Lee's favored classic automobiles. The art will be installed at a bus stop at Long Beach Boulevard and Willow Street.

 The gavel came down less than an hour after the meeting began and Laker fans were able to get home in time to see their team win in overtime.

 The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at Cypress Church, 6143 Ball Road, Cypress, on Friday, Feb. 13, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

 Residents wishing to donate blood may make an appointment online at http://cypress.church.events.googlepages.com/redcrossblooddrive  or call (714) 952-3001 for information.

Nothing says love like a Dumpsterful of trash. OK, so it may not seem the classic way to celebrate Valentine's Day, but Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews and the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance (WANA) are celebrating the day by playing host to an alley and street clean-up Saturday, Feb. 14. from 9 a.m. until noon.

Participants can meet at the southeast corner of 20th Street and Pacific Ave. Refreshments, tools and supplies will be provided. The group will accept tires (no rims) and electronic waste (anything with a cord). High school community service hours are available. Information is available by calling Jill at 562-599-1822 or email:  wrigleyalliance@msn.com .