by Neena Strichart, Publisher
Summer officially begins today at 11:06 a.m., P.D.T., according to the folks at the Griffith Observatory. A great way to start the season will be to attend the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association’s (BKBIA) Street Fair this Sunday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festivities take place on Atlantic Avenue between Bixby Road and Carson Street. There will be plenty of fun and entertainment, as well as lots of shopping opportunities.
Do plan to stop by the Signal Tribune’s booth on the sidewalk between Councilmember Rae Gabelich’s office (3837 Atlantic Avenue) and Abram’s & Clark Pharmacy. Our staff will be there to hand out some giveaways and answer questions. Also, while you’re there, don’t forget to enter our drawing for four free tickets to this season’s Long Beach Armada baseball games. (Their official name is now Long Beach Armada of Los Angeles of California of the United States of North America including Barrow, Alaska). We will be selecting a winner every hour on the hour between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.–for a total of 24 free tickets. Go, Armada!
Speaking of the Griffith Observatory, they have some special festivities planned to celebrate this year’s summer solstice. Starting today at 12:30 p.m., in the Gottlieb Transit Corridor, a special explanation of summer solstice will be performed by Dr. E.C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory. Those present will see the sun’s image transit across the meridian arc at local noon, which occurs at 12:55 p.m.
The summer solstice, which is on or around June 21 each year, occurs when the sun is farthest north and makes its highest appearance in the sky for observers in the northern hemisphere. The sun shines most directly on the northern half of the Earth at this time of year because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which makes this day the longest day of the year.
Opened in 1935, Griffith Observatory is one of the best known and most visited public observatories in the world. They had welcomed nearly 70 million visitors into the building prior to closing for renovation in January 2002. Construction on the remodeling and expansion project began in October 2002, and the facility was reopened to the public November 3, 2006. Griffith Observatory is located in the southern part of Griffith Park, just below the summit of Mt. Hollywood. Owned and operated by the city of Los Angeles’s Department of Recreation and Parks, the observatory is open to the public six days a week (closed Mondays), and admission is free. A reservation to visit is required; reservations can be made via the observatory’s Web site (www.GriffithObservatory.org).
