April 2011 Archives

The Collegio New City School is staging a fund-raising 5-kilometer run Saturday. Here are the details:

 Community members are invited to attend a Cycling Plan Community Meeting Monday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at the Jenny Oropeza Community Center at Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave.

"I'm looking forward to sharing all the great work the City's done on cycling, and talking about the next steps," said First Distric Coucilman Robert Garcia in a prepared statement. "This is a chance for the community to ask questions, share input, and get a lot of good information."  

Garcia will present pictures and statistics for infrastructure improvements in recent years and  information about current and future grants for cylcing. He will also have a slideshow of his recent trip to an international cycling conference Seville, Spain, which was paid for with a scholarship from nonprofit groups.

Sumire Gant, transportation programs officer, and Charles Gandy, the city's mobility coordinator will also be present along with members of neighborhood groups.

 

 Residents of the Central Area are invited to the monthly Sixth District Town Hall, hosted by Councilman Dee Andrews Tuesday, April 26, beginning a 6 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Community Center, 1950 Lemon Ave.

 The City of Long Beach Emergency Disaster Plan and a presentation on Building Healthy Communities will be the topics.

 This event is free and open to the public. Information is available by calling Andrews. office at 562-570-6816 or online.

 

 The Arts Council for Long Beach and Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership are staging a pair of  free arts grant workshops April 28 and May 4 for the 2011-2012 grant cycle.

 The first will be Thursday, April 28th, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave . The second will be Tuesday, May 3, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership, 4900 E. Conant St.

 According to a news release:

 "The workshops will cover application procedures/guidelines for four grant categories: Professional Artist Fellowship, Community Project Grant, Operating Grant I, and Operating Grant II. The workshops will also review the new monthly Micro-Grant Program, which has replaced the Neighborhood Project Grant. Through these grant categories, the Arts Council for Long Beach and the City of Long Beach strive to foster a vibrant arts community that serves the entire city, enlivens neighborhoods, stimulates the local economy, celebrates our diverse cultures and generates enjoyment and civic pride for residents."

 Recipients of the grants must attend one of the workshops. Applications are due May 30,

 Registration is required to molly.gardner@artslb.org

 A Long Beach nonprofit is inviting residents to attend a workshop and information session about the upcoming second case in the Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

 The free event will be held Saturday, from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St.

 The Applied Social Research Institute of Cambodia, which was founded by medical sociologist Leakhena Nou, is playing host to the event. Her group helped collect survivor testimony among Cambodian-American refugees that may be used in the tribunal.

 Four surviving Khmer Rouge leaders: Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, and Khieu Samphan will be on trial. An estimated 2 million Cambodians died during the Khmer Rouge reign between 1975 and 1979.  

 Attorneys representing survivors of the Killing Fields holocaust will be on hand There will be presentations about the tribunal as well as a discussion about reparations aimed at understanding what the Cambodian community in the United States hopes to learn and gain from the trial.

 Survivors are encouraged to bring mementos or photos and share their stories of survival. Community members can also ask questions and voice concerns about the upcoming trial with attorneys.

 

 

 On Friday, the Goodwill in Long Beach announced the graduation of the 2011 class from its Health Care Training Program at a ceremony at the organization's main facility in Long Beach.

 The class of 17 students, 13 women and four men, received their certificates of completion for the 18-week class for Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Home Health Aide (CNAHHA).
 
 The graduates were: Alicia Armstrong, Jack Artiga, Steven Ashe, Jameia Bens, Kevin Brown, La-Shay Fields, Tzintli Fuentes, Johanna Garcia, Cindy Herrera, Juan Hurtado, Jeanette Kulikowski, LaShan McLaughlin, Sherryll Mitchell, Melissa Moreno, Kejuanni Murphy, Lorena Roman and Rachal Underwood.
 
  Audley Brown, Goodwill Nurse Mentor and a graduate of Goodwill's Class of 2009, delivered the graduation address.

 The program provides classroom and clinical training and prepares students to qualify for the state of California Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Home Health Aide exams, and other healthcare related tests. Accredited units may be applied toward the LVN and RN programs at Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach. 
 
 To learn more about Goodwill, go to www.thinkgoodwill.org.

Hearts Without Boundaries, a Long Beach nonprofit that helps impoverished children receive life-saving heart surgeries, is staging a fund-raising banquet Saturday, April 23 at the Grand Paradise Restaurant, 1350 Anaheim St., beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35, $25 for students.

HWB is raising funds for its latest child, 3-year-old Bunlak Song, who suffers from a large heart defect.

Here's a flier:

The Long Beach Rescue Mission is seeking donations for is annual Easter Meal and Basket Giveaway on Sunday, April 24, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Mission, 1335 Pacific Ave.
Prior to the event, the Mission is seeking donations of food and Easter baskets.
Among the food items most needed are hams and other meat - can be fresh, frozen or canned. Also yams, mashed potato mix, stuffing mix, cookies, cupcakes, and pies and decorated hard boiled eggs.
The Mission is also collecting filled Easter baskets or items for the baskets to give to kids. These items can include storybooks, candy, plastic Easter eggs, sports balls, stuffed animals and other items.
The Mission requests they be dropped off by Friday at the Mission.
Information is available by online at lbrm.org/news/easterHoliday.asp or by calling Denise Carrillo, Volunteer Program Supervisor at dcarrillo@lbrm.org or 562-591-1292.

The West East Side Community Association has its monthly meeting and clean-up this week. Here are the particulars from David Henseler, vice president.

"THURSDAY, April 21st at 6:30pm is the next WESCA meeting.  It will be at Lee Elementary School (Temple Ave. and 17th St., enter on 17th St.)
 
On SATURDAY, April 23rd, we will have our monthly alley clean up.  This month we will meet at St. Vincent de Paul (17th and Pacific coast hwy).  We will start at 8am an have a BBQ at the end.  Water and gloves will be provided.  We especially need people with a truck to come out and help.
 
Please try to be there at 8am so we can make the most of the trash truck that will be there at 8am.

 

 

A workshop put on by Project TEAM addressing issues for young men of color will be staged Saturday, April 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cabrillo High School, 2001 Santa Fe Ave.

Here's the flier:

"Bhutto" the acclaimed documentary that tells the remarkable tale of Benazir Bhutto, the first woman elected to lead a Muslim country before she was assassinated, is this month's free Community Cinema Screening Tuesday, at 6 p.m. at the Main Branch of the Long Beach Public Library, 101 Pacific Ave.

 The life and death of Bhutto were the stuff of legend and tragedy. A member of Pakistan's leading family, Bhutto remains fascinating and complex to this day.

 Press material for the movie describes Bhutto and her legacy this way:

 "Beloved by the people of her native Pakistan, she was reviled by the nation's military establishment and male-dominated ruling class.  More than two years after her death from a suicide bomber, Benazir remains a divisive figure, a symbolic metaphor for the fight between terrorism and moderation.  That struggle continues today in Pakistan, the world's most strategically important country and the Muslim world's sole nuclear power." 
 After the screening, a panel discussion and audience Q&A will be staged with Simon George of Cal State Long Beach, Janeice McConnell of the League of Women Voters and Tim Lee, from Congresswoman Laura Richardson's staff.
 The movie is part of the Independent Lens Community Cinema film series presented monthly at the Long Beach Public Library. 

 Information is available by calling 562-570-1010 or on-line at www.musicuntold.com. Parking available at the Civic Center Parking Structure, $1.75 with a 2-hour library validation.

 

Mario Rodriguez, new director of the Long Beach Airport, will be the speaker at the regular Community Happy Hour hosted by the Bixby Knolls BIA, Thursday, April 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Long Beach Clothing Co., 4218 Atlantic Ave.

 In addition to learning what's up at the airport, attendees can meet, greet, mix, mingle, and network. Information is available by calling 562- 595-0081 or online at info@bixbyknollsinfo.com

Here's the flier:

 

 Residents of the downtown area and others are invited to the April meeting of the Downtown Residential Council, Monday, April 18 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Parker's Lighthouse, 435 Shoreline Village Dr.

The guest speakers for the event will be Kris Larson, vice president of the Downtown Long Beach Associates, Joen Garnica, DRC representative to the DLBA Marketing and Special Events Taskforce, and Michael Mosselli, President of the East Village Association.

 This is what the DRC says about itself and its first such meeting:

 "The Downtown Residential Council is comprised of resident leaders from the six Downtown neighborhood associations: Promenade Area Residents Association, Ocean Residents Community Association, North Pine Neighborhood Alliance, West End Community Association, Willmore City Heritage Association, and East Village Association.  
 "The DRC consists of residents from across the Downtown and represents a diverse set of interests and perspectives, but we all share a genuine and passionate desire to continuously enhance Downtown, and the experience of living here" said Michael Vanderbeek, DRC President.

  "We (the newly elected DRC Executive Committee) are very excited to hold our first Downtown Residential Council forum because we want to showcase some of the exciting things the Downtown community is doing" added Eric Gray, DRC Secretary.  

 Founded in 2009 by former President Neysa Colizzi, the DRC represents Downtown Long Beach residents living in the area loosely bound to the south by the ocean, to the north by Anaheim Street, to the west by the I-710 freeway, and to the east by Alamitos Avenue.  The DRC serves as a forum for neighborhood associations to join together to discuss common issues of concern and work together for the benefit of all Downtown residents by making Downtown Long Beach a better place to live, work and play.
 Information is available from Vanderbeek at michael@longbeachdrc.com.

 

 An eight-week Youth Empowerment workshop series kicks off Wednesday, April 20 at 4 p.m. at the social hall at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave.

 The workshops are part of the "Speak Out! Toastmasters Communication and Leadership Program"

 The free workshops focus helping youths 15 to 19 to develop communication skills and enhance self-confidence.

 "This is an extraordinary opportunity to positively impact the lives of our youth. We must allow them the chance to develop their leadership skills so that they can communicate their gifts to enrich our community", Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews said in a press release.

The release says: "The eight-week program, taught  by Speak Out! Toastmasters, Jack Roberts, Saba McKinley, and Carma Spence, is designed to improve communication and leadership skills. It will help youth to overcome the fear and nervousness associated with public speaking."

 The course runs on Wednesdays for eight consecutive weeks and concludes with a graduation ceremony, Space is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, please call the Office of Councilman Dee Andrews at 562-570-6816.

 The Neighborhood Resource Center is presenting another of its occassional grant writing workshops on Wednesday, April 20, from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the NRC offices at 425 Atlantic Ave.

 For those interested in starting nonprofits, this workshop will teach you how to start looking and applying for funding.

Here's what they say:

 

GRANT WRITING 101 - WINNING WORDS
Make Your Grant-Seeking and Fundraising Communications Come Alive! 
Presented by
Diane Wiley
Principal, Wiley+Associates

Make your grant-seeking and fundraising communications come alive and, ultimately, more successful as you learn to create compelling text that convinces and motivates donors and funders to support your cause!
§        Find the WIIFM (What's In It For Me?") -- Understanding What Makes Funders Tick
§        Telling the Story -- Taking Your Audience from Inert to Alert
§        Call to Action -- Asking for the Gift the Right Way

 

RSVP to the Neighborhood Resource Center at (562) 570-1010
or email Scottie Hinkey at Sharron.Hinkey@longbeach.gov

This FREE workshop is presented in English
with Spanish and Khmer translation available.

Free parking behind the building and on the street.

 The next two meetings of the Belmont Heights Community Association on Wednesday April 13 and Wednesday, May 11A reminder that our next two meetings, April 13 and May 11, will focus on spring home care improvements and feature workshops on the subject.

 The first of these meetings is this Wednesday, April 13, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Belmont Heights Methodist Church, 317 Termino Ave. The focus will be on the outside perimeter of the house, addressing improvements such as landscape, paving, hardscape, paint colors, windows and doors, etc. There will be a panel presentation from Tom Barnes, B&B Hardware (doors and window); Marky Morel, MKy Design (hardscape); Bob Crouch (design); Michelle Bridges (Architectural Color Consultant); and Barbara Paul (Landscape Design).

 The May 11 meeting at 7 p.m. will review interior renovations and design such as lighting, hardware, fixtures, wood care, wall finishes. John Douglas (tile, wall finishes); Sasha Witte (design); Jan Ward (wood work); and Tom Barnes (hardware) will provide ideas on spicing up interiors.

 As the BHCA website says "whether it's tulips or textiles, tile or trowel work, be sure to attend our spring meetings for a chance to ask some experts about sprucing up your home."

Those who want to attend are asked to log-in or register at the BHCA website.

Here's the flier:

The community is invited to join urban planning students from California State University San Luis Obispo on development of a Specific Plan for enhancement of E. Anaheim St. The event will be staged Friday, April 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St.

Here is a flier:

The following item comes to us from Dan Pressburg via the 9th District Council office:

Dan Pressburg

6:12am Apr 11

 

 The Green Team environmental clubs at Hughes Middle School and Longfellow Elementary are playing host to a free Community E-Waste and Document Shredding Drive Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at  Longfellow Elementary School, 3800 Olive Ave.

 According to the group:

 "The drive will feature two drive-through drop-off stations:  one for e-waste and one for documents (documents will be shredded immediately on-site).  The e-waste station will take broken or obsolete electronics including computers, printers, monitors, and TVs.  The document station will take old files, binders, brochures, sensitive materials including tax documents for immediate and secure shredding."

 The schools have set a goal of disposing of 12 tons of material at the event.

 Information is available by calling Green Team Parent Advisor Cathy Procopio at 562-989-0970 or by email at crmmcarty@earthlink.net.  

 

There will be a free food distribution day on Friday, April 15 at Ernest McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. beginning at 9 a.m. It will be first come, first served and continue until the food is gone. Here's the flyer:

 

The city's roving monthly low-cost pet clinic will visit Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave.,  Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. until noon. The city's Animal Care Services offers a variety of pet care and services ranging from vaccinations for rabies and other diseases to micro-chips and animal licenses.

A state licensed veterinarian will be on site as well as staff to help with registration paperwork. Among the clinic's offerings:

·        Dog Rabies: $7
·        Cat Rabies: $7 (or if preferred, "Purevax" Rabies @ $20)  
·        DHPP (DA2PP): $16 (dogs)  
·        Bordetella: $13 (dogs)
·        Lyme: $22 (dogs)
·        FVRCP: $16 (cats)
·        FELV: $18 (cats)
·        AVID Microchips: $28 (cats and dogs)
·        Altered Dog License: $20 (half-price for seniors)
·        Unaltered Dog License: $90
·        Altered Cat License: $10 (half-price for seniors). 

No reservation is necessary, Only cash accepted for vaccinations. Information is available by calling 562-570-7387 or online at http://www.longbeach.gov/acs/.

The clinics are scheduled the second Saturday of every month in Long Beach to provide residents with a one-stop shop for vaccination, microchipping and licensing services. 

 Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach  is open to the public Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 pm,, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Village is closed Monday, Tuesday and holidays.

 

The public is invited to attend the 6th annual Long Beach Motor Sports Walk of Fame:

Postponed after the deaths of Mark Bixby and other Long Beach residents in a plane crash, the groundbreaking for a housing complex for area seniors is back on schedule. Here are the particulars:

 High school girls  thinking about careers in politics or public service, or even those with active imaginations are encourage to enter the Race to the Capitol contest, which is open until April 15,

 Girls between 13 and 18 and attending a high school or equivalent can submit a 30-second video describing why they would want to be the first female President of the United States. Prizes are a spot in the week-long Young Women's Political Leadership Program or a chance to attend the fifth annual Women to Watch awards ceremony May 11 in Washington, D.C.

 Entry requirements and information are available online at www.racetothecapitol.com.

According to the website "Race to the Capitol is a new website for high school girls across America to connect with others who are interested in politics and learn about opportunities to get involved with the political process--internships, campaigning, scholarships, etc. This website is made in cooperation with Running Start, a Washington, D.C. based organization that encourages young women to run for political office and made possible by the Eugene M. Lang Opportunity Scholarship."

 On their video, girls imagining themselves as running for President can answer questions like "What difference do you want to make in people's lives?"
"What law do you want to change?"
"How will you inspire the American people with your vision?"

 A pool of 10 finalists will be chose and asked to write a 200-350 word essay about a female politician they admire--local, state, or national.

Admission to Running Start's Young Women's Political Leadership conference comes with up to $150 travel reimbursement and $350 to help Running Start defray program costs.

Attendance at the Women to Watch awards includes up to $300 travel reimbursement and $200 spending money.

 

The venerable Good Neighbors of North Long Beach community group will stage its monthly breakfast meeting Tuesday, April 12 at Spires Restaurant, 1935 E. Del Amo Blvd. from 7 a.m. until 8:15 a.m.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell will be the guest speaker and discuss his first year on the job in Long Beach. The group will also use the meeting to select its representative to sit on the North Project Area Committee. There will also be reports from area council offices prior to McDonnell's talk.

 

 You don't have to doff your glengarry or slurp your mulligatawny, but it wouldn't hurt. Spellers are being sought to compete in the sixth annual $1,000 National Adult Spelling Bee, Saturday, April 17 at 2 p.m. at Bay Shore Church, 5100 The Toledo.

 Entry forms are available online.  The fee is $30 in advance, $40 on the weekend of the event and low-income adults can enter for free.  The winner will receive $1,000 to split equally with a favorite nonprofit, charity, school or church.

 Rules are from the National Spelling Bee -- a contest for students through grade eight which is held annually in D.C.

The Adult Bee is expected to last two hours and has already attracted entrants from Alabama, Georgia, Arizona and California. Last year, 33 contestants competed in the two-hour competition. Anne Wright of Long Beach took first place in the 15th round, and she donated $500 to Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. She correctly spelled degauss and glengarry, defeating Janice Davis of Garden Grove, who misspelled mulligatawny. Third place went to Kinga Toth of Los Angeles.

Some misspelled words from previous Bees: abdominal, expendable, clavicle, jinx, cleanser, evacuate, abhorrence, Celsius, expertise, iota and coliseum.

Rudd also hosts a $1,000 National Elementary School Spelling Bee.

Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership will play host to a workshop on "How to Start a Nonprofit" Friday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the organization's offices at 4900 E. Conant St.  

The workshop will teach how to apply for nonprofit incorporation and tax exempt status and set up the proper structure before beginning operations. As such, the workshop will focus on organization. structure, planning and management, government oversight and incorporation and tax-exemption.

The workshop will be presented by Keith Fujiu, an attorney and public interest fellow in the Community Economic Development Unit of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. He works with Legal Aid on a fellowship from the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf.

Registration is $40 for members, $65 for nonmembers. Information is available at the LBNP website or by email to rbuckley@lbnp.org or by calling 562-290-0018

Long Beach-based Food Finders charity will play host to its first "Viva Las Vegas" Casino Night Friday, April 29 from 7 p,m. to 11 p.m. at the Biixby Knolls Expo Center 4321 Atlantic Ave. Casino games such as blackjack, craps and roulette, along with a Wheel of Fortune and opportunity drawings will be held. Individual Tickets are $40 apiece or $60 for a couple. Must be 21 or older to attend. There will also be appetizers, desserts and a no-host bar.

Proceeds benefit "Food Rescue Program" that helps local nonprofits that feed the needy.

Information is available by calling Lisa or Patti at 562-598-3003.  Tickets available online at Food Finders. ach ticket includes $100 in casino cash, provided at the door. Please RSVP by Friday, April 22, 5 p.m.
 
Businesses interested in donating food, sponsoring a gaming table or supporting the event in some other way, email Lisa at LisaH@FoodFinders.org. In order to receive the full event benefits as a sponsor, Please RSVP by Friday, April 15th 5 p.m.