CLEAN UP YOUR COMMUNITY
Friends of Bixby Park, devoted exclusively to the renovation and preservation of historical Bixby Park Long Beach, has partnered with Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine to launch a “Keep Our Parks Clean” campaign, debuting Saturday, Nov. 20, with a community park clean-up from 8am until noon. The event will be co-sponsored by Vans, which will provide a “Keep Our Park Clean” -themed banner for the skate park area and host a skate demo at the park. Bixby Park is located at 1st and Cherry streets. All volunteers for general clean-up are welcome, as are tree and plant maintenance volunteers. Clean-up and gardening materials will be provided as well as coffee and muffins. Call (562) 983-8139.
GOING GREEN
Wrigley is Going Green, a grassroots neighborhood environmental organization devoted to saving and planting trees in Long Beach, was awarded a Neighborhood Partners Program grant to plant 60 trees in the area immediately surrounding the Wrigley Garden, 1950 Henderson Ave., and to create a mural by local artist Lisa Wibroe to go in the thriving community garden. The public is invited to join Councilmember Dee Andrews of the 6th District, Saturday, Nov. 20 at 9am for the unveiling of the garden mural and the planting of 60 trees. All volunteers will be entered into a raffle to win four turkey dinners provided by the Wrigley Albertsons on Willow Street. Shovels and gloves will be provided. Students who volunteer will receive credit for community service hours. Visit wrigleygarden.org.
PANCAKES FOR EVERYONE
The Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance will offer the community a pancake breakfast and silent auction on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 9am to noon at Veterans Park Social Hall, 101 E. 28th St. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Contact Maria at (562) 427-5021 or email wrigleyalliance@msn.com.
HARVESTING ARTS & CRAFTS
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine will host a holiday workshop at Rancho Los Alamitos, 6400 East Bixby Hill Rd. on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10am to 12:30pm. This seasonal culinary demonstration and sample menu tasting will teach attendees how to brighten their table and spice up their holiday cooking as they welcome their families home for the holidays. The demonstration will be followed by a wreath-construction class. All materials will be provided. $55 per individual ($45 for RLA members).
CAWFEE TAWK
Eighth District Councilmember Rae Gabelich will host a discussion over coffee on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10am to noon at Avila’s El Ranchito, 5345 Long Beach Blvd. The public is invited to discuss their concerns and suggestions regarding the neighborhood. Call (562) 570-6685.
GONE FISHIN’
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine and the Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation will host a free Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 9am to noon at El Dorado Park, 7550 E. Spring St. Registration begins at 8am. Fishing poles and tackle to catch fish will be provided for free to children 15 years old and under. Anyone over 16 years old is required to have a California State Fishing License. Registration will begin at 8am, and the derby will continue from 9am to noon. A special raffle will be held at 1pm. There is a $7 gate fee for vehicles.
DRAWING IN NATURE
Join Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine at the El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St. to gain a new perspective of nature through art. Attendees will walk and journal on the Nature Center trails and then turn observations into colored-pencil drawings. Learn the basics of using colored pencils, including blending, burnishing and impressed line, while incorporating techniques of botanical drawing. This class is for adults only, and is $30 per student for each session. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10am to 3pm. Call (562) 570-1745.
PANEL DISCUSSION
The League of Women Voters, Long Beach Area will offer a panel discussion on affordable housing in Long Beach on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10am to noon at the Los Altos Library, 5614 E. Britton Dr. The event is free and open to the public, and ample street parking is available. Call (562) 423-1208.
GARDEN, GOURMET AND GALLERY
Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens (RLA) will bring together the pleasures of the garden, the essence of the palate, and the art of the landscape with its 2010 Garden Series on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10am to 2:30pm at 6400 E. Bixby Hill Rd. Cost is $55 (RLA Members $45). To reserve seating, receive information or directions to the Rancho, visit rancholosalamitos.com or call (562) 431-3541.
IT’S A BIRD! IT’S A PLANE! IT’S SUPERMAN!
The Long Beach Cinematheque is teaming up with Anderson’s Paint and Hardware and Venice Dreams Boutique on Nov. 20 to host a 7pm outdoor screening of Richard Donner’s 1978 classic Superman, in support of the dedicated work of Long Beach-based food bank Food Finders. Gates open at 6pm at 714 Pine Ave. with a DJ set by Long Beach’s Lili De La Mora and Sarajeva Vazquez. The screening is free to the public, and the girls of the Long Beach Roller Derby will be on hand to sell soda and concessions.
STORYTELLING CELEBRATION
The El Dorado Nature Center is pairing with Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine to celebrate the powerful art and wisdom of storytelling with Tellebration, featuring Long Beach Storytellers with stories for all ages. Early reservations can be made by calling (562) 570-1745. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 20, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Entrance is $5 per person.
GIVE THANKS
Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews will present his 3rd annual “Serving With A Thankful Heart” Thanksgiving luncheon and dinner on Monday, Nov. 22 at Ernest S. McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Lunch will be served from 11:30am to 2pm and dinner from 5pm to 7:30pm. Last year’s event fed more than 1,200 people. This is a free function, but reservations must be made before Friday, Nov. 19 at Ernest S. McBride Park, or by contacting the office of Councilman Andrews at (562) 570-6816.
DISABILITY WORKSHOP
Anyone receiving disability benefits who would like to return to work is welcome to attend a no-cost workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 24, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Career Transition Center, 3447 Atlantic Ave. Parents of individuals with disabilities and professionals who work with people with disabilities are welcome. The workshop will provide important information on how work incentives can help to achieve self-sufficiency, how the Social Security Administration computes trial work periods, and how meeting one-on-one with a benefits specialist can provide more individualized assistance. The workshop is open to all people, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual preference, or disability type. Call (562) 570-3738.
