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.

The Rossmoor Homeowners Association on Monday announced that dues-paying in 2010 will be eligible to receive a $1,000 college scholarship for a graduating senior.

 The scholarship is based upon community and school service, grade point average and a short essay. Further details will be announced.

In addition, RHA members will be eligible to receive benefits from participating merchants in Rossmoor Village Square and The Shops at Rossmoor, by presenting their membership cards and a benefit coupon provided by the RHA. Details are pending.

Eric Christensen, Bill Gekler and Gary Stewart are heading up the RHA's Merchant Partnership Program. And they will be sending out membership materials in early January.

The Downtown Long Beach Association is seeking volunteers to assist an effort to plant 57 treets in the downtown area on Saturday, Nov. 21 between 9 a.m. and noon.

The wells for the trees between 10th Street and Ocean Boulevard, Los Alamitos Avenue and the Lost Angeles River will be ready for planting.

Volunteers can meet and sign up on the north side of The Promenade at 201 E. Broadway. Coffee, juice and a pastry will be available. You may want to drive depending on where your planting assignment is located. Two-hour validated parking is provided at 133 Promenade Walk.

Please wear appropriate attire along closed-toe shoes. Drinking water, shovels, brooms and gloves will be provided. Walking, light digging and lifting is required.

Information is available by calling Mary Coburn 562-436-4259, by e-mail at maryc@dlba.org .
 

Additional H1N1 vaccinations will be given Saturday at the Downey Civic Theatre.

The flu shots will be given throughut the day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 8435 Firestone Blvd., but the vaccine clinic could reach capacity before posted closing hours and forced to close early

Los Angeles County continues to offer free H1N1 vaccines at county clinics for residents who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care, and are in a priority group.

The demand for the vaccine in Los Angeles County is currently exceeding local and national supplies, which is impacting some clinics.

To ensure equitable availability of the limited vaccine supply, screening for priority groups will be intensified.

The Long Beach Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a robbery suspect wanted in a string of armed robberies to businesses during the past three weeks.

Several businesses in Long Beach and one in Lakewood have been robbed since Oct. 20, according to police spokeswoman Lisa Massacani.

In each of the incidents, one suspect entered the business and demanded cash while showing a handgun. Once he gets the cash, he flees in a vehicle.

However  police are not sure if the suspect is acting alone or with an accomplice, Massacani said.

 The suspect has been described as a male White in his late teens or early twenties, 5'7" to 5'11" with a thin build, blue eyes, blond hair and eyeglasses.

 The robberies have occurred at the following times and locations:

Oct. 20: Carson Street & Woodruff Avenue food establishment
Oct. 27: Stearns & Palo Verde Avenue book store
Oct. 27:Bellflower Blvd. & Carson food establishment
Nov. 6: Willow Street & Bellflower food establishment
Nov. 9: Bellflower & Carson food establishment
Nov. 9: Anaheim Road & Studebaker Road food establishment
Nov. 10: Willow & Bellflower food establishment

Anyone who may have any information regarding these crimes is strongly encouraged to contact Robbery Detective Fermin Gonzalez at (562) 570-7464.

In a report to be reviewed Thursday by the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvemnt Area Commission, the city staff suggests that they're dusting off the plans for the Park Avenue parking lot. The staff report is below:

SUBJECT: Receive and file report on 189 Park parking lot purchase schedule and process.

DISCUSSION
The Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission (BSPAC) in 2007 recommended the city investigate purchase of a parcel on Park Avenue south of Second Street for the purpose of providing public parking in the business district.

The subject property is zoned R2S but is paved and striped for 25 parking spaces with a privately operated payment kiosk. According to the Lidgard and Associates property appraisal dated June 2007, the two parcels occupy 5780 square feet and were valued at that time around $1,545,000.

According to Deputy City Attorney Heather Mahood, there is no conflict of interest resulting from the city's purchase of the lot from former City Councilman Frank Colona. Mr. Colona holds no position on the BSPAC, the advisory body recommending the purchase, though he is a commercial property owner and subject to the community facilities district assessment that will fund bond payments on purchase of the lot.

The BSPAC further recommended the city purchase the lot by restructuring the existing sidewalk improvement bond to provide funds for the purchase of the lot and to resurface the commercial alleys. Payments on the new bond would be made from parking meter revenue and community facilities district revenue.

City staff has completed the necessary steps of reforming the CFD and gaining City Council approval to issue bonds for the projects. After a delay due to poor bond market conditions, it is anticipated bond proceeds will be on deposit with the city in early December 2009.

Purchase of the lot, however, is dependent upon negotiation of price and terms acceptable to both the owner and the city.

Due to the time lapse since originally discussed, city staff will be initiating contact with the owners to explore continued interest in sale of the property and begin negotiations, as appropriate. Commissioners are reminded they are not empowered to represent or negotiate on behalf of the city. Staff will conduct all negotiations ...

The Long Beach City Council will review a proposed conversion of Henderson Avenue between 15th Street and Pacific Coast Highway from its current two-way operation to a one-way northbound operation .

Planners with Public Works and Community Development assert the  street improvement project seeks to reduce illegal parking, enhance aesthetics and improve safety by providing new sidewalks where none exist and add angular parking along the east side of the street.

An investigation conducted by the Traffic Engineering Division concluded that the conversion would achieve the above-mentioned goals.

 The oneway configuration would have "no significant adverse impacts" on traffic, according to a staff report.

The Traffic Engineering Division reportedly mailed notices.
 According to the staff report, the opinions expressed by residents responding to the mailer have been in support of the proposal .

More than 100 volunteers are being sought for the city's Metro Blue Line Bicycle and Pedestrian Audits on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.

Volunteers will go on guided bike and walk audits of the Metro Blue Line Stations the city.
Long Beach planners are working on a larger Metro Blue Line Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Plan, and these audits are the first step in their effort

The overall effort is focused on improving bicycling and walking connections to the Metro Blue Line Stations, organizers said.

Specific improvements are going to be identified within a half-mile radius around each station to encourage active and healthy lifestyles.

During the neighborhood audits, volunteers will have a chance to assess the existing conditions and identify the needs of a Metro Blue Line Station. Walk audits will include approximately 1.5 to 2 miles of walking. High school students are encouraged to participate. Water and refreshments will be provided.

Volunteer Times/Days & Locations:
Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 am - 12 pm
Del Amo Station, 20220 Santa Fe Ave.
Wardlow Station, 3420 N. Pacific Pl.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 pm - 4 pm
Willow Station, 2750 American Ave.
Pacific Coast Highway Station, 1798 N. Long Beach Blvd.
 Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 am - 12 pm
Anaheim Station, 1290 N. Long Beach Blvd.
Fifth Street Station, 598 N. Long Beach Blvd.
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 pm - 4 pm
Transit Mall Station (walk only), 128 W. First St.
Downtown Loop Bike Audit (bike only)

Contact Courtney Aguirre, Transportation Programs Planner, at courtney.Aguirre@longbeach.gov or 562.570.6667.

In your RSVP, provide your name, phone number or Email address, Metro station you're interested in auditing, how you would like to audit the station (Bicycling or walking), and if you will have any special needs (such as translation).

For more information, visit www.bikelongbeach.org.

Former Long Beach Police Department Lt. Kenneth Schack will discuss strategies to prevent thieves from robbing residences at the next meeting of the MacArthur/Whittier School Neighborhood Improvement Strategy Area and Anaheim Street Community Police Center.

 The event will be held Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the community room of the Mark Twain Branch Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St.

Translation will be provided in Khmer and Spanish. Information is available from Bryant Ben at 562-570-1691 or by e-mail at bryant.ben@longbeach.gov.

  The Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance ( WANA ) will hear presentations on the proposed Kroc Center community project and Metro Blue Line Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Plan at its monthly meeting Monday,Nov. 16 th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Veterans Park Community Center 101 East 28th Street . Information is available by calling Jill at 562-599-1822 or bt e-mail wrigleyalliance@msn.com.

In an open message to 3rd District Councilman Gary DeLong and East Division Police Cmdr. Cynthia Renaud, Belmont Shore Residents Association president Aileen Colon has launched a new effort to bring Rum Row on Second Street under control. The following is her  text:

Dear Gary and Cindy:

Find a string of e mails below from a frustrated Covina Shore resident. Note the apparent number of accidents that have occurred on his street.

Can you as City of Long Beach representatives perhaps meet with the BSBA - President do some thing to improve/maintain our quality of life.

Would you meet with the appropriate stake holders, to ask them to make every attempt to ensure their clients are not over served alcoholic beverages.

While it may be a difficult task for some employees to recognize when they need to stop service, a positive effort needs to continue. Appropriate training or retraining of the servers/bartenders appears to be needed. Other measures also should be taken not limited to this particular issue that iminate from the liquor/entertainment businesses should hold brain storming sessions to "solve past identified problems" is needed.

Can your offices please get together and determine what as responsible officials/business owners can come up with to solve and mitigate disturbances that occur regularly.

This message is a plea for you to do some thing positive to curb drunks and the incidents that occur from their condition. Please feel free to contact me.

Aileen
onemouse11@aol.com

A Streetcar Study Session has been scheduled for Tuesday at the City Council Chambers, prior to the regular council meeting.

The hour-long study session, at 333 W. Ocean Blvd., is set from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., to review a limited feasibility study.

 City Council members will receive a presentation and by Henningson, Durham & Richardson, Inc. (HDR), in partnership with the city's Public Works.

In May 2007, the council requesed a study to determine the estimated costs and funding sources for a streetcar service.

The system would have links from downtown to vital points of interest in Long Beach that may include Long Beach State, L.B.City College, East Village Arts District, Bixby Knolls, Belmont Shore, Long Beach Memorial, St. Mary's Medical Center and the city's small business corridors.

 The city planners were asked to examine ways the streetcars could complement other transportation options offered by Long Beach Transit; provide a green transportation alternative for moving people; review the financial viability of establishing streetcar lines; and reduce short inner-city auto trips, parking demand and traffic congestion.

The West Prioject Area Committee will stage its monthly meeting Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. at the West Division Substation located at 1835 Santa Fe Ave.

On the docket will be the election of WPAC members and alternates.  There will also be a vote requested for the 5-Year Implementation Plan and Westside Gateway Monument.  Updates on the Facade Program, Streetscape Program, and Bob Lee's Memorial Bench will be given, and there will be a continued discussion regarding the Storm Drain Project.

Long Beach Development Services planners will hold a Monday  meeting at Wilson Hiigh School for the proposed 2nd+PCH development.

 The meeting will be held at the school's Media Center, 4400 E. 10th St., at 5:30 p.m.
 Entry will be at the corner of Ximeno Avenue and 10th Street or on 10th Street.
There will be signs directing the public to the meeting site.

There is street parking and an adjacent parking area off of Park Avenue and 10th.

As proposed, 2nd+PCH would include 325 residential units, 191,000 square feet of retail, a 100-room hotel, 21,000 square feet of non-hotel restaurant space, a theater, and marine science learning center, 1,440 parking spaces.

Building heights would include a 12-story residential tower, as well as two - six story buildings.

The developer is requesting changes to the zoning for the site (SEADIP) in order to allow residential use, which is currently prohibited, and to allow buildings taller than the current height limit of 35 feet.

The project -- strongly opposed by environmentalists -- will need approvals from the Planning Commission, City Council and Coastal Commission.

 The project is highly controversial due to traffic impacts, height, density and precedent, according to city staff.

For more information, visit: www.lbds.info/civica/inc/displayblobpdf2.asp?BlobID=3204, or contact Jeff Winklepleck at (562) 570-6607 or Jeffrey.Winklepleck@longbeach.gov

 Long Beach is one of eight cities selected to receive the Award for Municipal Excellence at the National League of Cities' 2009 Congress of Cities & Exposition in San Antonio, Tex.

 As a Gold winner in the 150,001-500,000 population category, Long Beach is being honored for its Creating a Youth-Driven Career Center program, a reinvention of the Long Beach workforce development agency's youth service strategies.

The program focuses on providing opportunities to engage youth in the design and creation of physical spaces, outreach messages, collateral materials, actual products, key policy-making and critical community connections.

"The City of Long Beach is very proud to receive this award from the National League of Cities in recognition of our efforts and commitment to our youth," said Mayor Bob Foster.

 "With 40 percent of our population under the age of 25, the Youth Opportunity Center plays an important role in the city," he added.

Other award-winning cities include Slidell, La.; Savannah, Ga.; New York City; Estes Park, Colo.; Burnsville, Minn.; St. Louis, Mo. and Seattle, Wash.

 Donald J. Borut, NLC executive director, said the program has improved the quality of life for its citizens by developing a creative solution to a pressing local problem.

" It is a model program that can serve as a positive example for other cities."

Councilman Gary DeLong will be the featured speaker at the Belmont Shore Residents Association  on Thursday.

 In his first visit to the association since being elected, DeLong will address issues of interest and concern to his Third District residents. He also will respond to questions from the audience.

The association meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Bay Shore Library 195 Bay Shore Ave.

 Seniors and their family members are invited to attend a seminar and talk by author Paul Hogan on Balancing Careers and Aging Families - Care Options and Resources for Decision-Making on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alpert Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Willow St.

Hogan, co-author of "Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions," will be the keynote speaker. He will review topics such as financial planning for senior care, being a caregiver, insurance options and the state of senior care.

According to organizers, "A recent Home Instead Senior Care survey showed that planning for senior care is out of sight and out of mind for most adult children and seniors alike. In fact, half of all seniors ages 65 to 75 have not thought about their own future care needs, and nearly a quarter of 35- to 64-year-olds could not name a single senior care option available today.  Even more startling: both seniors and adult children have the misconception that Social Security and Medicare will pay for senior care, while many are unfamiliar with the costs of today's care options."

Hogan will have copies of his book available for purchase. Proceeds will benefit the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, which provides financial support of activities designed to improve the quality of life of seniors.

A woman rolled her SUV last Thursday night (Nov. 5) on Covina Avenue, just off Second Street, severely damaging seven cars.

Residents believe this accident was the third auto damaging event on Covina in the past three years.

Photos courtesy Bud Rhodes

 The Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance and Litter-Free Long Beach are playing host to an alley and street clean-up on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. until noon. Participants can meet at the corner of Spring Street and Del Mar Ave. next to the Blue Line between Pacific Ave. and Long Beach Blvd.
Tools and supplies will be provided. Tires and e-waste ( anything with a cord ) will be accepted for recycling. High School community service hours available. November is Litter-Free Long Beach month. Information is available by calling 562-599-1822 or via e-mail wrigleyalliance@msn.com .

Seal Beach police believe one man has robbed the Wachovia Bank twice in the past four weeks.

The second armed robbery at 13962 Seal Beach Blvd. in  Seal Beach, occurred Monday at about 2 p.m.

Witnesses s described the suspect as a white male who had presented a written note to the bank teller demanding money and stating he had a gun, police said, adding no weapon was seen.

 The suspect was last seen exiting the front doors of the bank. A search of the area was conducted and the suspect was not located.

 The suspect is described as a white male, 30-35 years of age, at about  5-foot-9. 180 pounds, unshaven, trimmed short brown hair wearing a tan baseball hat, blue long sleeve jacket, blue t-shirt, blue jeans and Band-Aids over the left earlobe.

The prior robbery occurred on Oct. 13

. Anyone having additional information are encouraged to contact Seal Beach Police Detective Gary Krogman at 562-799-4100 Ext. 1108.

 Seal Beach residents favor an "Option One"  transportation plan to signalize the intersection of College Park Drive at the Seventh Street-Studebaker Road off-ramp in Long Beach.

The majority of an estimated 90 residents from the College Park West area Saturday selected the plan, which is designed to improve the intersection safety.

"This project would improve traffic flow and safety conditions, and I'm all for it" said Mayor Pro Tem David Sloan.

City Engineer Michael Ho and City Manager David Carmany attending the forum at Edison Park.

Ho presented 4 different road plans and took comments and suggestions from the residents.

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.

Long Beach Heritage is taking reservations now for its upcoming Loft Walk tour of the historic Cooper Arms Building.

The event will be staged at the building at 455 E. Ocean Blvd. on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. The building is name after L.C. Cooper who built the structure in 1924 as an upscale building for businessmen moving to Long Beach.

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.org  or by calling Long Beach Heritage at 562-493-7019

 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.