Cleaning Up the Bay Two Kayaks at a Time

Bluff Heights resident Michelle “Elle” Howard and her father kayak through Alamitos Bay, the Los Cerritos Channel, and the Los Cerritos Wetlands to pick up trash on a weekly basis. We asked Elle a few questions about their efforts.

How long have you been kayaking and what got you into kayaking?

I’ve been kayaking since I was a kid. My earliest memories of being on the water were with my family when I was four years old. We had a 16-foot canoe that fit our young family of five, and we’d paddle around in the Upper Newport Bay. At the time, my parents had gone back to school to study geology, so they would take my brothers and me out on the weekends to the ocean, mountains, and desert, teaching us what they’d learned from their classes. I believe those early experiences with my family seeded my lifelong fascination with nature and its conservation.

Art in the Heights

Did you know that we have an art gallery collective right in our neighborhood? The Long Beach Creative Group at Rod Briggs Gallery (2221 E. Broadway) is “an established consortium of experienced artists, teachers, and art enthusiasts engaged in creating exhibit spaces and opportunities for artists through curated exhibits, events, and overall unique experiences,” according to their website.

Summer Concerts in Long Beach

Now that the sun finally decided to join the party and it feels more like summer, here’s a sampling of live music events—and a few other events—throughout the city in July and August. Get outside and enjoy the summer breeze!

The Benefits of Living in a Close-Knit Neighborhood

How fortunate we are to live in an honest and thoughtful neighborhood! At the BHNA’s 4th of July Block Party last week, a neighbor named Madison lost her grandmother’s antique ring. All of us who have lost something irreplaceable know how awful that feeling is. Madison told her neighbor Christine that she had lost her precious ring; Christine put Madison in touch with me, and we found and returned the ring to her that day. Madison could not have been more grateful to the person who turned in her grandmother’s ring and said she will have it sized properly so she doesn’t lose it again. Thank you to our neighbor who turned in the ring, and please know that Madison is forever grateful. That is the Bluff Heights way!

Each month we will publish a photograph from our neighborhood. The photo above was captured during the Block Party by Rick Schank. Multiple generations are enjoying a fun neighborhood event on a beautiful day in Bluff Heights.

If you have photos that highlight the beauty and uniqueness of our neighborhood, please send them to info@bluffheights.org