May 2010 Archives

Mayor Bob Foster and 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews have presented a proclamation to the Asian Pacific Islander (community for their contributions to the America's mainstream.

Commissioners Thary Ung, Anthony Kim and Kim Chha Hout, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the community.

Ung said the proclamation marks a historic point for the community.

"We all should be proud of our accomplishments because the city now recognizes the significant contribution of the Cambodian Community", Ung added.

Hout encouraged young Cambodian professionals to get volunteer their skills and talnets in o community.

Kim said the community's contribution -- economically, culturally and politically -- has made it good citizen of this country.

"As a younger generation of our time, we also want to recognize and appreciate our elders in the community .... They have walked before us and paved the way for our generation to encourage for more active involvement and engagement in our local community, state and (nation).... I am honored to say, the proclamation is  proud achievement for all of us and every Cambodian and Cambodian-American in the United States of America, the land of opportunity. I am proud to be part of an Asian Pacific Islander community.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated in May to commemorate the contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution in 1978 to commemorate Asian American Heritage Week during the first week of May. This date was chosen because two important anniversaries occurred during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in America on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (by many Chinese laborers) on May 10, 1869. In 1990 Congress voted to expand it from a week to a month long celebration and in May 1992, the month of May was permanently designated as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.

The Seal Beach Police Department has scheduled  a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint for Friday night,

The checkpoint will be set for 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Pacific Coast Highway at First Street.

 In an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes, DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving, according to department spokesman Steve Bowles.

Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested, Bowles said.

Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Repairs are scheduled to begin Monday to renovate the swimming pool at McGaugh Elementary in Seal Beach.

The pool officially closed to the public May 17, to begin draining by public works staff.

The City Council approved a construction contract bid of $99,320 to Commercial Aquatic Services.

The pool was drained slowly to assure that the shell would not crack from surrounding pressure created by ground water, according to city staff. Due to high groundwater and leaks in the expansion joints, ground kept leaking into the pool even after it was emptied.

Tuesday, Commercial Aquatics had temporary fencing installed. That evening site security also began patrols.

Once drained, repairs on several different areas of the pool begin, including:

-- The module flow valve and automatic fill float wukk be replaced to better control the flow of water too and from the pump room.

-- The main drains in the deep end and the little pool are going to be replaced with new sumps set into place with the appropriate flow level to reduce the risk of entrapment. Commercial Aquatics Services is going to submit plans for approval to the county.

--  There is a small leak behind the skimmer drain in the small pool. The drain will be removed and the connecting piping is going to be replaced.

-- The existing filtration is going to be removed by Commercial Aquatics Services.

-- The expansion joint in the large pool is going to have all of the sealing substance that is past its lifespan scrapped out and the area cleaned. New Deck-O Seal product is going to be inserted into the joint.

-- Piping in the pump room is going to be reconfigured in a more streamline organization. All piping is going to be labeled with a flow and direction. The chemical eye wash sink is going to moved to be more accessible.

-- Three new fiber glass EPD filter tanks will be installed along with new backwash valves and digital automatic backwash controller.

 The city has set a "drop dead" date of June 18th to have the pool operational for summer programs beginning June 21.

Spring cleaning time arrives Saturday in the 6th District -- for early birds.

The 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews Neighborhood Cleanup is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., sprucing up  10th Street and Cherry Avenue, 10th and Alamitos Avenue, Pacific Coast Highway and Cherry.

The cleanup is a joint effort of the office of Councilman Dee Andrews, Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services' Weed & Seed Strategy, Neighborhood Services Bureau, Anaheim Street Community Police Center, along with community members and youth from the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Weed and Seed Strategy aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in Central Long Beach.

 Health and Human Services (Health Department)  spearheads the project through funding provided by the federal Justice Department.

For more details, 562.570-6816 or visit www.longbeach.gov/district 6.

Over 11,700 lost or abandoned animals visited the Long Beach shelter last year, prompting a need for Kuranda beds for dogs and cats.

"Clean beds and blankets make for healthier animals", says John Keisler, Animal Care Services manager.

The goal for 2010 is to put a bed in every dog kennel and cat cage at the shelter. So far, about half the cats and a quarter of the dogs have beds.

Donating is easy: Visit http://kuranda.com/donate/4266; Select "Donate Now"; Choose cats or dogs and enter your credit card information

Beds are delivered directly to the animal shelter within days and put into the cottages immediately.

For more details about how to volunteer or donate to the local shelter, visit www.longbeach.gov/acs.

Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., is open to the public Wednesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Village is closed on Monday, Tuesday and all holidays. Call 570-PETS (7387) for service.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and  Long Beach's Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) plans to host a "Healthy Mind, Healthy Body", community event on Saturday.

The free program -- in partnership with many community organizations -- is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Recreation Park, 4900 E. Seventh St.

The event will provide information on maintaining mental health and wellness, and will feature health-information booths, education, entertainment, resources, outreach, and interactive opportunities for the public.

Mental Health advocacy, support and anti-stigma information will also be available.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-54th District, Long Beach First Lady Nancy Foster and Health Department Director Ronald Arias will provide presentations.

In addition to staff and programs from the Health Department, community partners co-hosting this event include the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Veterans Administration and Medical Center of Long Beach, the Children's Clinic, the National Alliance for Mental Illness-Long Beach Chapter, Mental Health America-Village Integrated Service Agency, Community Hospital of Long Beach, the Center for Families and Youth, Total Family Support Clinic, the United States Veteran's Initiative.

For more details, contact Patti LaPlace, Mental Health Coordinator, at patti.laplace@longbeach.gov or at 562.216.1966.

The McGaugh pool in Seal Beach closed Monday for maintenance and repairs of a large leaking problems.

On April 12, the City Council authorized a contract with Commercial Aquatics Services, Inc., to make immediate repairs to the pool, 1698 Bolsa Ave., , to check the high rate of water leakage.

The work crews will also replace all main drain covers in the large pool and skimmer equalizer covers in the small pool to meet compliance requirements with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.

The city expects the repair project to be completed by June 21, allowing for the re-opening of the pool to the public for the summer aquatics programs.

Commercial Aquatics Services, Inc., is a licensed California contractor with over 50 years of experience in the commercial pool industry, according to Seal Beach City Manager David Carmany.

The McGaugh pool was built in 1964. It is 25 yards in length and has six lanes for lap swimming.

It's the neighborly thing to do.

Rossmoor resident Shirley Bailey, community activist, is more alarmed by the silence about the increase in the coyote population than about the invasion itself. Her comments, quoted below, need no editing:

" With the current increase in coyote activity in Rossmoor, I looked back in my archives and found ... (found), coyotes are not new to Rossmoor. Despite this, our residents have not been provided with any constructive recommendations from the RCSD or the RHA, our current authorities. I sincerely believe there should be an annual mailing from one of these organizations to every resident in Rossmoor giving us detailed information on what to expect and how to react. We have many new residents in our community who are totally unaware of this annual problem thus even less prepared. This is unacceptable. on cause/effect and what action they should take to protect themselves and their pets. This is a basic responsibility of our elected officials/RCSD as well as our volunteer RHA and supplemented by the county.

Burnett Neighborhood Library will be closed Wednesday and Thursday for a special inventory project to determine that all specialized technology is functioning properly.

 A standard inventory of all materials at the library, 560 E. Hill St., will also be completed at the same time. The project will ensure the best possible service to all library users, according to Glenda Williams, director of Library Services.

Library materials may still be returned to the library book drops and will be checked in that day, or they can be returned in person at any other open Long Beach branch.

 Libraries located near the Burnett Library include: Mark Twain Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St.; Bret Harte Library, 1595 W. Willow St.; Dana Library, 3680 Atlantic Ave.

Long Beach's federal housing funds Fiscal Year 11 Action Plan will be reviewed Tuesday with residents.

A 90-minute review -- beginning at 5 p.m. -- will be given at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library Community Room, 1401 E. Anaheim St.

Gilberto Contreras from the city's Neighborhood Services Bureau will give a presentation on the FY 11 Action Plan, detailing how federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) money is spent. The presentation is part of the Anaheim Street Community Police Center's monthly meeting.

Contreras also will explain how to review and comment on the FY11 draft Action Plan.

Free parking is available in the library parking lot. Translation will be provided in Khmer and Spanish. Please RSVP to the Anaheim Street Community Police Center at 562.570.1691 or e-mail bryant.ben@longbeach.gov

The Long Beach City Council has authorized May for late penalties on dog licenses.

 By law, all dogs over the age of (4) months old living in Long Beach must be licensed or made current within 60 days or face the $30 late penalty.

For details, visit http://www.longbeach.gov/acs/pet_license/default.asp

Pay the dog license by mail or in person at Animal Care Services by May 31,  and the one-time late penalty will be waived, according to John Keisler, manager of Animal Care Services.

License Inspectors will be going door-to-door to check license and rabies information. Animal owners in violation may be subject to a late penalty and citation which could add up quickly: $100 for no rabies vaccination and $50 for no current license.

Animal Care Services is open to the public Wednesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Village is closed on Monday, Tuesday and all holidays. For more details,  call 570-PETS (7387) or visit www.longbeach.gov/acs.

Know any people or groups who are making a difference in Long Beach and making it a better place for all? If so the James Irvine Foundation is interested in hearing from you. The group is looking for nominees for its 2011 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards"

According to the group: "The awards recognize innovative, effective leaders working to improve California's future.  The award includes $125,000 in organizational support, plus additional resources so that recipients can share their effective program models with policymakers and others in their field.

The foundation is seeking inclusive leaders working on significant state issues who are ready to share their successful approaches. Nominees can work in any field - such as education, health, housing, economic development or the environment - and in the public, private or nonprofit sector.

Four to six award recipients will be announced at a Sacramento awards luncheon in February 2011.  

To nominate a leader or learn about past award recipients, please visit http://irvine.org/leadership.

Completed nomination materials --  either online or mailed submissions -- must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 9, 2010.
If you have any questions about the awards program or nomination process, please contact:

Stephanie Lai
The James Irvine Foundation
575 Market St., Suite 3400
San Francisco, CA 94105
(866) 586-6465 (toll-free)
leadershipawards@irvine

.

Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell plans to discuss new online parking permit programs at Tuesday's upcoming Council meeting.

The online programs will allow residents to purchase preferential parking and garage sale permits through the Technology Services and the Department of Financial Management.

" Online permits will save our residents the hassle of a trip to City Hall, as well as make their daily tasks -- like parking or having a yard sale -- easier and faster", said O'Donnell in a prepared statement.

Residents will also be able to print temporary guest passes for parties or out-of-town guests.

The item, which is a request for a report from staff on the development of online permit programs, will be heard at the regular meeting of May 11, which begins at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers.