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Welcome to March! Spring is in the air.
I wanted to focus my newsletter letter to you this month on the topic of homelessness. This issue is by far the most common issue I hear about as a local elected representative. I wanted to share some thoughts with you on what the City is doing and how we got those projects started. I always welcome your input because as you will see below your ideas do turn into realities.
The city is consistently focused on the issue of homelessness. We work on it every day, in every way we can as do most other cities in the state, and some would say in the nation. Recently, our Acting City Manager issued a memorandum on the various efforts that are currently underway in the city. The memo is included in this month's newsletter. Please take a moment to read it because several of the ideas and out-of-the-box pilot projects that I initiated are as a result of conversations I have had with some of you!
Some of the programs I have initiated and/or supported include:
- The Homeless Workforce Program (allowing homeless individuals to earn a living wage for a day of work, and more if they want),
- Safe Parking Program (to allow people who are choosing to sleep in their cars because they don't want to go to a shelter and be separated from their spouse/children/pets),
- Weekend Homeless Outreach Program (allows for the city to be able to conduct outreach and enforcement efforts on weekends in addition to weekdays),
- Homeless Services Call Taker Pilot Program (allows for outreach workers to be trained by the City's 911 dispatch team to be available to answer calls regarding encampments, debris, or individuals seeking resources on a non-emergency basis),
- Tidelands Outreach Pilot Program - (will allow us to set aside $150,000 of Tidelands funds, funds that can be used along the coastline/beach, to conduct beach outreach/service delivery to homeless and enforcement operations by police officers and lifeguards.), and
- Real Time app for shelter bed and rehab/mental health facility availability for homeless individuals.
The list above represents the programs I have directly spearheaded or led. The full list of projects and endeavors is included in the newsletter below. As you can see, we are already doing our best to offer services to those in need, to offer alternatives to transient lifestyles, and to make sure we are enforcing the law to protect quality of life issues for residents. I am always open to hearing more ideas and those suggestions that are both legal and feasible will be researched and vetted through the community to determine whether they should be brought to council as an official city program.
Finally, I hope you have all had a chance to stop by our newest local cafe, Ubuntu. It's located at 335 Nieto, across from my field office. You will see me there often on weekends because the atmosphere there is much better than my very traditional office across the way and so I have moved many of my weekend meetings there. Check them out and please, support your local businesses. It takes all of us to make sure they succeed.
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3RD DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS & NEWS
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Touch-A-Truck 2020
March 28th
Councilwoman Suzie Price, Justin Rudd's Community Action Team and the Port of Long Beach will partner once again to bring the 6th Annual Long Beach Touch-A-Truck event to Granada Beach on Saturday, March 28 at 9:30 AM - 1 PM. Touch-A-Truck is a FREE, family-friendly event that provides an opportunity to kids of all ages to come to the Granada Beach parking lot and explore the vehicles they've seen in movies, books, and just driving around town. Participants will also get to meet the people who drive these vehicles and serve the community. Children of all ages can touch, climb and explore different vehicles including dump trucks, big rigs, fire trucks, police cars, and city buses, as well as food trucks and private unique off road trucks. The over 100 vehicles are set in a safe and friendly environment with activities for all ages.
-Lisa West
3rd District, Director of Business Relations, Programs & Outreach
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Make a Difference Day 2020
Sunday, March 29 2020
Less than a month away, Make a Difference Day 2020 will be on SUNDAY, MARCH 29th, 11:15 - 3:30 pm.
Spots fill quickly, so go now to bhmadd.org and sign up for your favorite project.
There will be 21 fabulous projects for you to choose from! Come meet new people from your community and pick the sector you want to help. Whether its animals, the environment, our first responders, homeless kids, food banks, seniors, cooking for the hungry, single mom families, disabled neighbors or prepping prom clothes for young adults, we've got a project for you!
Almost all are kid-friendly, and it's a great way to give-back to the community! If you sign up before March 15th, you'll receive a free t-shirt. Registration ends on March 24, but many projects will fill in the 1st week!
This day is all about giving. Essentially if you can swing a hammer, paint, cook, sew, sing, drive, pull some weeds, and want to volunteer plan on participating in Make a Difference Day for 2020. We always benefit when we work together.
-Gabriela Yates
3rd District, Field Deputy
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Norwooz 2020
March 24th
Please join Councilwoman Suzie Price as she hosts, elected officials, City staff, and residents to celebrate the Persian New Year on Tuesday, March 24th
at 4 PM. The event will include a special reception and presentation at the Long Beach City Hall Lobby located at 411 W. Ocean Boulevard.
-Lisa West
Director of Programs & Outreach
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Reducing Homelessness Programs and Initiatives
Recently, the City manager produced a great memo going through the many ways Long Beach is working to address homelessness. This memo was not meant to be a comprehensive reporting of every way Long Beach is working to address homelessness, but does include a number of approaches that residents may find interesting. I will highlight a few points here, but I hope residents will read the whole memo linked below.
 Homelessness is a difficult and complex problem, but Long Beach is among the best Cities in the state in confronting the impacts it has on individuals suffering from homelessness and the community impacts homelessness has. Long Beach is unique as it has a Continuum of Care and the Multi-Service Center. Together these work to coordinate housing and services for homeless families and individuals. Our Multi-Service Center, which our office hosted a tour of recently, houses twelve organizations working together to promote self-sufficiency and rebuild the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
Included in this memo are also several initiatives that Councilwoman Price has led on including:
- The Homeless Workforce Program (allowing homeless individuals to earn a living wage for a day of work, and more if they want),
- Safe Parking Program (to allow people who are choosing to sleep in their cars because they don't want to go to a shelter and be separated from their spouse/children/pets),
- Weekend Homeless Outreach Program (allows for the city to be able to conduct outreach and enforcement efforts on weekends in addition to weekdays),
- Homeless Services Call Taker Pilot Program (allows for outreach workers to be trained by the City's 911 dispatch team to be available to answer calls regarding encampments, debris, or individuals seeking resources on a non-emergency basis),
- Tidelands Outreach Pilot Program - (will allow us to set aside $150,000 of Tidelands funds, funds that can be used along the coastline/beach, to conduct beach outreach/service delivery to homeless and enforcement operations by police officers and lifeguards.), and
- Real Time app for shelter bed and rehab/mental health facility availability for homeless individuals.
Click
here to read more about the programs and initiatives.
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Upcoming Shredding Event
March 7th
Long beach residents are invited to participate in a free document shredding event on Saturday March 7, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Veterans Memorial Stadium (5000 East Lew Davis Street) on the campus of Long Beach City College. A Mobile Shredding Truck will provide residents with the opportunity to securely dispose of confidential documents, white, or colored paper, manila folders and envelopers. There is a limit of three boxes per car.
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Corona Virus Update
As the Corona Virus continues to spread, please protect yourself and others by washing your hands regularly, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, avoid sick people, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, stay home if you are sick at all, clean frequently touched objects and surfaces
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Youth Strategic Plan
Community Forums
After three very successful forums, youths from every council district reported they would like more of their friends and classmates to participate in the Youth Strategic Plan Community forum on March 7. This Saturday will be a Community Forum hosted by the
Departments of Health and Human Services and Parks, Recreation and Marine. The forum will be held from 12:00 - 2:30 pm at the Long Beach City College, Pacific Coast Campus, Room EE 107 located at 1305 Pacific Coast Highway. This forum will provide an opportunity for youth, families and youth advocates to give input that will inform the City's first Youth Strategic Plan (YSP) for youth and emerging adults ages 11-24 with the goal of ensuring our youth have opportunities for a healthy and successful future.
The City's forum will be co-led by our Youth Ambassadors recruited from across the city. At these forums, community members will:
* learn more about the Youth Strategic Plan;
* participate in focus groups to inform the Plan; and
* obtain information on youth and family resources available in the community.
Please join us at one of the upcoming Youth Strategic Plan Community Forums.
-Phalla Chau
Executive Assistant to the Deputy City Managers
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1ST ANNUAL YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM
The Long Beach Public Library and the Arts Council for Long Beach present the Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate (LBYPL) program to serve Long Beach youth with year-round literary arts, civic engagement, and performance opportunities.
About the Program
The purpose of the LBYPL program is to not only to develop and cultivate the active voices of Long Beach youth, but to also develop platforms for them to be heard. To this end, a Laureate and a cohort of Poet Ambassadors will be selected to serve as representatives for literacy, arts and youth expression with ongoing opportunities for performances, mentorship and other projects. Additionally, the Laureate and Poet Ambassadors will each receive a scholarship to further their education. The LBYPL program is supported by Urban Word, a national nonprofit.
The Long Beach Public Library will be presenting four workshops throughout the city in February and March to assist young poets with developing their portfolios, including creating a CV, résumé and artist statement.
Press release available
here.
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Saturday Program Grand Opening for Fremont Elementary Playground
- Saturday Pilot Program
- Every Saturday from Feb. 29th-June 6th
- From 9am until 3pm
- Supervised recreation activities, games, art projects, and educational fun
- Parents/Guardians must sign their child in and provide an emergency contact
- No pets allowed
- No bikes, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, skates, etc.
Thank you for getting involved and engaging with the Council office to assist. Your community and collective efforts of scheduling meetings, posting yard signs, passing out flyers, and emailing your local elected officials spoke volumes.
The patience, positivity, and tenacity of this group truly is impressive. Congratulations to the many Fremont parents who wanted to go above and beyond. Your creative problem-solving, service and commitment is what makes our city great.
-Gabriela Yates
3rd District, Field Deputy
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Smart City Initiative and Survey
Increasingly, the city of Long Beach is using "smart" tools to approach and solve problems. For example, the Justice Lab takes a data-driven approach to identifying and deploying services to low-level offenders who cycle through the criminal justice system. A network of sensors gather data on air temperature and ozone throughout our neighborhoods. "Smart" gas and water meters transmit data over the internet, eliminating the need for technicians to physically visit homes and businesses. And beach parking lots now accept payment through the Passport Parking mobile app.
However, as Long Beach transitions to a Smart City, residents need to understand what data they are sharing with government officials and with third party vendors. They need to understand not only the benefits of sharing that data, but also the privacy and security costs.
The Long Beach Technology and Innovation Commission would like to know what living in a "smart" city means to you. We are disseminating a survey that explores how Long Beach residents interact with internet connected devices and infrastructures, and asks residents' about data privacy concerns. Please share your insights-the survey only takes about 5 minutes to complete and, of course, all responses are anonymous:
Smart Cities / Data Privacy Survey
Thank you for helping shape Long Beach's Smart City Initiative!
-
Gwen Shaffer, Ph.D.
-Gabriela Yates
3rd District, Field Deputy
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Trauma Intervention Program Volunteers Needed
Long Beach is a tight-knit and strong community. There has been so many instances where our community has united to come together for good times and unfortunate circumstances.
"When a crime occurs, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of victims has always been a priority for our department," LBPD Chief Robert Luna said. "Our partnership with TIP will provide additional counseling and peer support resources to our community members during their time of need." (LB Post)
No experience is necessary to be become a volunteer, but attendance at a training academy is required. The academy training dates can be found at
TIPofLongBeach.org.
-Gabriela Yates
3rd District, Field Deputy
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Best Practice and Safety Tips
We live in a great community and we need to look out for each other. This is an effort to do just that. It's not meant to cause alarm or signal any concerns. However this is an important topic and conversation to have openly with your families.
Here are some common best practices to remember, especially for children:
- Be aware of your surroundings. If it looks suspicious go the other way or into a public restaurant or facility. Wait until you feel safe or inform someone of your concern.
- If there is anything unusual or suspicious activity, do not hesitate to call the police and keep them on the line- if they are able to do so.
- Avoid wearing headphones while they are walking or biking throughout the neighborhood, and if you are wearing headphones go back to rule 1. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
- Try to keep cell phones in their pockets so it does not advertise their property or belongings to others but to have access if needed.
- I recommend that they save 911 as a "favorite" on their phone so that they call with "One Touch"
- Also, smartphone apps such as "Life360" are valuable tools for your family as they will keep track of your family members and their phones.
-Gabriela Yates
3rd District, Field Deputy
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Community Meeting
 This month we had our Community Meeting for the Belmont Pier Visioning Input Workshop on Thursday the 20
th
. The meeting was located at the Recreation Park Community Center and had a wonderful turnout of at least 70 people. The purpose of the meeting was to gather community input on what they want to see regarding the
future of the Belmont Pier. During the
meeting, we showcased images and layouts of different piers around the world and
invited the
 attendees to
highlight different aspects of each pier that they did or didn't like. The meeting
allowed us to have a constructive and collaborative conversation about the future of the
pier. We are excited for what the future has in store for the pier and look forward to receiving continued input and ideas from the community. Fear not, if you were unable to attend this meeting, this is only one of many public discussions that we are going to be having about the future of our beloved pier. We again thank everyone who came out and shared their ideas for the future of the Belmont Pier!
-Mike Axe
3rd District, Scheduler/Legislative Assistant
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Donald Tiscareno
Donald Tiscareno was born in Los Angeles and discovered his love of art at the early age of five and has been painting ever since. Donald moved to Long Beach when he was 17 and he received his Master's Degree in Art from California State University, Long Beach.
His resume boasts both an illustrious 40 year career as an interior designer, between 1970 and 2010, and many years of experience teaching art at high school, junior college and university levels.
As a painter, his focus has been on lush oil paintings of landscapes and flora indigenous to the Southwestern US with an emphasis on cacti and succulents, along with mixed media abstracts, which combine oils, acrylics and other techniques, including paper cutting and collage. In recent years, Donald's exhibition record has included multiple group exhibitions with more than five solo art shows.
As prolific as he is proficient, his ever-expanding body of work offers a dazzling and diverse exploration of color, form and texture. He
exhibits his paintings regularly at The Long Beach Playhouse and with Long Beach Creative Group. The Long Beach Creative Group's reception exhibition on Saturday, March 7 from 6 to 8 pm is called LIVING THINGS. The public is invited.
Donald Tiscareno's work can be found in many private collections.
RECENT EXHIBITION 2000-forward
-2018 Painting Long Beach Group Show LB.
Playhouse
-2017 "The Newly Moderne" The Center Long Beach
-2017 "5 LB painters" LBCG Portfolio Gallery
-2017 "Pure Nature" Long Beach Creative Group LB Playhouse
-2016 Long Beach Studio Tour, Long Beach, Ca.
-2016 " Properties of Imagination," Liberty Gallery, Long Beach, Ca.
-2016 " Trees" Group show, Greenly Art Space, Signal Hill, Ca.
-2015 " Blue" -- Group show, Greenly Art Space, Signal Hill, CA
-2015 "Encounters" -- Group show, Michael Stern Gallery, San Pedro, CA
-2014 " Birds" -- Group show, Greenly Art Space, Signal Hill, CA
-2014 " Allegory of Spirit in Nature" -- One woman show Long Beach, Playhouse,
-2014 - "3 Long Beach Artist's" -- Long Beach, Playhouse, Long Beach, CA
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Lissa Lebel, Realtor
Sotheby's International
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Lissa & Laura Shadden
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Councilwoman Suzie Price recently met with Sotheby's International Real Estate Agent and Belmont Heights resident Lissa Lebel. Introduced by their mutual friend Tom Shadden, Lissa is a Long Beach native who grew up in Belmont Heights. She attended St. Bartholomew's Elementary School, graduated from Wilson High School and later earned a BA in Art from CSULB. She is Long Beach through and through!
Prior to beginning her current career in real estate, Lissa had  an exciting career as an international film sales executive for global entertainment companies ITV and HBO residing in LA and London.
S
hifting into real estate, Lissa felt the pull of her hometown, yet she knew her business contacts were mainly in LA and so she made the decision to work with Sotheby's in Los Angeles.
Working in the Los Angeles market, she shares that many buyers are now looking outside of LA and Long Beach is an area that many LA buyers are buzzing about.
"There are some people who have an idea of Long Beach, but until you show them, they don't know. They've either never been or have only been to one particular area of the city. Long Beach is a smaller version of LA and there are many pockets to know and discover. I always offer to show people around and when I do, they are always amazed and impressed with Long Beach's history, architecture and cu
lture."
She goes on, "Long Beach has so much to offer; a slower pace of life, less traffic, good public schools, strong neighborhood communities and let's not forget about...the beach!"
"I grew up on 2nd Street, from the age of five at Brownie's toy store, to hanging out at Lynn Perry's Pizza as a teen. I think the street it's going through a transition right now, but it's still a desirable area that draws people and as a community we will figure out the next chapter for Belmont Shore."
Lissa's love for Southern California history, architecture and geography drives her passion in her real estate work
.
"I feel the Sotheby's brand is the best in real estate. I'm very lucky to have an excellent marketing team who go above and beyond with the procuring of press placements for my listings. The power of our SIR network is fierce; my Los Feliz office is one of nine Realogy corporately owned Sotheby's offices throughout the city. There are 975 SIR offices in 72 countries; I can always help my clients find a good agent no matter where they may be moving."
"I never thought I would love another career once I finished with the film business, but honestly I can say, I love real estate that much more. It's really exciting for me to bring my global marketing expertise, my LA connections and my Long Beach roots all together."
Sotheby's International Los Angeles
Realtor / DRE #02032063
US Mobile: +1 323 842 0003
-Lisa West
3rd District, Director of Business Relations, Programming, and Outreach
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CITY COUNCIL UPDATES
City Council Meetings are held every Tuesday evening, with the exception of the last Tuesday of the month when council is "dark." Meetings are held in City Hall - Council Chambers (411 W. Ocean Blvd.) at approximately 5pm. Times do change, so please check with our office or website for exact times. City Council meetings are open to the public and we encourage your attendance, especially if there is an important topic up for discussion.
Charter (channel 3) and FIOS Verizon (channel 21) subscribers can view the City Council Meetings on their televisions or you can live stream the video through LBTV.com,
View City Council Meeting.
Agenda items change on a weekly basis so please check the city website for the most current agenda. The City Clerk is required to post the City Council Agenda the Monday, a week prior, to the Tuesday of City Council Meeting.
View agenda items
-Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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DID YOU CATCH SUZIE IN FEBRUARY?
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3rd District Community Meeting
Hydraulic Pump Pilot
2nd Street Nutrition Grand Opening
City Council Meeting
BHCA Community Meeting
Constituency Meeting |
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Visit all the Upcoming Events in Long Beach this March
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3rd District Neighborhood and Association Meetings
Alamitos Heights Improvement Association - AHIA
Meetings calendared Quarterly. Please visit their website for more information.
Belmont Heights Community Association
2nd Wednesday of each month
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Belmont Heights United Methodist Church
Belmont Shore Residents Association
2nd Thursday of each month
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Bay Shore Library
Bluff Park Community Meeting
Bixby Park Recreation Center
Friends of Belmont Shore
First Thursday of each month, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Bay Shore Community Congregational Church - 5100 The Toledo
Friends of Bixby Park
Please check their website
Greenbelt Heights Neighborhood Association
All neighbors welcome
Regular meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 8pm - 9pm
917 Bennett Ave., LB
2nd Sunday neighborhood clean-up at 9am
NW Belmont Park Community Watch
Approximately every 3 months as determined
Third District Field Office
Peninsula Neighborhood Association
Stoneybrook Villas Association Meeting
3rd Wednesday of each month
7:00 PM - Clubhouse at 500 Bellflower Blvd
Do you have a community or
neighborhood meeting that you
would like to add to the 3rd
District calendar? Email:
District3@longbeach.gov
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Other Events in Long Beach
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Women's Symposium
March 6th
 The Women's Symposium of Southern California will be held Friday, March 6 from 11:30-2:30.
www.wssocal.org
at the Long Beach Airport Marriot. This conference is designed to educate and empower women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) industries. The focus will be on equality, diversity and financial independence. For more information reach out to Marah Fineberg-Kuck, Executive Director at (
womenssymposiumsocal@gmail.com
)
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18th Annual Long Beach Shaves for Kids
March 14th, 2020
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Empowering Middle School Girls
March 21st & 22nd
 Join the 10th Annual 4GIRLS Empowerment Workshop - FREE with guest speaker Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt
All middle school girls are invited -- 4GIRLS Workshop on March 21 & 22 @ Browning HS
Free, powerful two-day workshop brings together middle school girls for a weekend of inspiration giving them an opportunity to thrive. The workshop provides a safe place for girls to appreciate themselves for who they are and encourages them to develop self-reliance and discover or deepen their potential.
Author and activist, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt will attend to present her newest book, The Gift of Forgiveness
It provides inspiring topics and activities such as: leadership skills, anti-bullying, team building kindness practices, vision journaling, goal setting,
positive body image, NIA (a form of dance, yoga and martial arts), self-defense and more.
We have a limit of 150 girls, so sign up now.
To learn more about 4GIRLS, please visit us at:
About 4GIRLS Organization
: Founded in 2010, 4GIRLS (Getting Inspired 4 Real Life Success) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire and empower middle school girls to identify themselves as confident, authentic, and resilient preparing them for real life success. The organization, founded in 2010, has two chapters - Long Beach and Orange County.
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A Woman's Place in the Spotlight: Long Beach Stories
March 18th -- 6-8:30 pm
Keesal, Young & Logan 14th floor
Tickets will be $30 members, $35 not yet members, and $5 for students under
25
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Jr League of Long Beach LunaFest
March 22nd
This is a community supported fundraiser for the JLLB highlighting women in film. Nine films are shown offering a unique experience showcasing films by, for and about women. These films are dedicated to promoting awareness about women's issues, highlighting women filmmakers and bringing women together in their communities. You may also reach out to (
lunainlongbeach@gmail.com
) for m
ore information or go to:
https://www.jllb.org/support/lunafest
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Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
APRIL 17-19, 2020
Three-day, two evening festival, combining world-class racing with a wide variety of activities for the whole family, all taking place on the streets of downtown Long Beach.
https://gplb.com
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Thursday Nights at the Skating Rink
EVERY THURSDAY!
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Friends of Bixby Park - Monthly Cleanup
March 7th, 2020
Join Friends of Bixby Park for our monthly cleanup.
Event: Monthly Cleanup
When: March 7th, 2020
Time: 9:00A-11:00AM
Where: Bixby Park
Join us at the Bandshell in Bixby Park. Meet new friends and neighbors while making a difference at our local neighborhood park. A little bit of your time can make a big difference. Stick around afterward and enjoy the Farmers' Market!
Gloves, bags, pickups, will be provided.
Thank you for helping make Bixby Park a great place to visit!
See you then.
Visit us:
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Think about the purpose of your email: You want readers to respond in a certain way, so make sure to spell it out for them. Use specific calls-to-action such as
visit our website, shop the sale now, or
sign up for specials.
Call-to-Action Link
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