Packs of new socks wanted. Will you help collect by Jan. 31?
• Sock-It-To-‘Em sock drive for the homeless
Jan. 1-31, 2025; 23rd annual. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) hold an annual collection of new pairs of socks with a goal to collect 25,000 pairs for area homeless men, women, and youth. The socks are distributed to area agencies. Most requested are men’s black crew socks. Wish lists at JustinRudd.com/target and JustinRudd.com/amazon
JustinRudd.com/socks
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COMING: 12 contests for all breeds/mixes, featuring the Bulldog Beauty Contest.
• Bulldog Beauty Contest & Haute Dogs Contests
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, 9 a.m - noon, 20th annual, concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave., at Rosie's Dog Beach. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) host this event billed as one of the largest annual gatherings of English bulldogs in the world. Some of the other contests that day for all breeds/mixes include National Mutt Show, Best in Show, best large dog, and best small dog. The dogs will parade down the red carpet and get judged by real-life beauty queens, all to help raise money for CAT/Haute Dogs and animal welfare causes. $10/advance per dog; free to spectate. Register at
JustinRudd.com/hautedogs starting mid-January.
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Two national spelling bees March 9 in Long Beach, Calif. Register now.
• $1,000 National Kids Spelling Bee
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 2 p.m., 23rd annual, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd's Community Action Team hosts students in grades 3-5 from across North America as they try to spell correctly to win the $1,000 cash prize.
JustinRudd.com/bee
•$1,000 National Adult Spelling Bee
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 4:30 p.m., 19th annual, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd's Community Action Team hosts teens and adults from across North America as they try to spell correctly to win the $1,000 prize, and half of that will go to the speller's favorite charity.
JustinRudd.com/adultbee
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PET SUPPLY/FOOD DRIVE: We're collecting dog/cat food/treats, blankets and towels. Please bring to the 9:30 a.m. cleanup at Granada Ave. next Sat., Jan. 18. We'll accept items til 11 a.m. that day, or you can leave items at my front door anytime before then, 3040 E. 1st St. I'm also collecting pairs of new socks all month long and many, many pairs will go to help those affected by the fires as part of the Sock It To 'Em sock drive for the homeless |
BEACH CLEANUP THIS SATURDAY with Partners of Parks: 30-Minute Beach Cleanup (Arrive just before 9:30 (for super volunteers!) or 10 a.m. to start. We'll provide bags, gloves, beachfront parking (kiosk code is JUS118, and a soda/water (thanks Duthie Power Services and ice from Myco Depot/Andrew Palmer).)
Saturday, Jan. 18; 9:30 and 10 a.m. start times, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe.
JustinRudd.com/cleanup
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THESE JUSTIN RUDD/ COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM (CAT) EVENTS (and the ones listed above), please RSVP to Justin@JustinRudd.com if you can help out.
• 30-Minute Beach Cleanup
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, 9:30 and 10 a.m. start times, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. Rain or shine.
JustinRudd.com/cleanup
•30-Minute Beach Cleanup
Saturday, March 15, 2025, 10 a.m., or arrive at 9:30 to get a head start, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe.
JustinRudd.com/cleanup
• Operation Easter Basket
April 13, 2025, 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Bay Shore Church's youth center, 5100 E. The Toledo. 21st annual. Baskets include items like art supplies, school supplies, hygiene items, toys, and candy and should be valued about $20. Please bring items to donate. Sign up to volunteer at
JustinRudd.com/easter
• 30-Minute Beach Cleanup
Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe.
JustinRudd.com/cleanup
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23 YEARS OF ROSIE'S DOG BEACH
CELEBRATE June 24, 2024, was the 23-year anniversary of dogs being allowed to legally play off-leash on the beach in Long Beach.
HISTORY WAS MADE when, for the first time in more than 30 years, dogs were permitted to play on a Long Beach city beach on Sun., June 24, 2001, despite complaints from nearby residents that the pooches would leave a mess behind when the day was done. In order to both comply and defy existing ordinances banning unleashed dogs, the city allowed some K-9 freedom on the beach in what was called a "special event" to qualify for the one-time status. Local resident Justin Rudd and his bulldog Rosie organized and hosted that special event -- and the next 20 or so monthly, Sunday dog beach special events that continued successfully through the summer of 2003.
Then, after a 15-month Rudd-led pilot program, daily beach off-leash access began in August 2003 and ended Oct. 31, 2004, when the Long Beach City Council unanimously approved the permanent "Dog Beach Zone." This beach area was officially renamed "Rosie's Dog Beach" on Aug. 3, 2010, to honor the life of Rosie the Bulldog, the dog who inspired this canine wonderland. It remains the only off-leash dog beach in L.A. County (10 million inhabitants).
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11-year anniversary: Free books for kids and adults, daily. Book donations welcome. |
Riley's Red Wagon Book Swap is open daily from about 8 a.m. until just before dark at 3040 E. First Street in Bluff Park. First-time guests can have five free books, and can keep those forever or bring them back to exchange for five more. This project is hosted by Justin Rudd. Book donations are welcome.
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Justin Rudd's Community Action Team (CAT)
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