🌱 Accidental Shots On 69th St + 2 Fireworks Shows At The Waterfront

Hello and happy Saturday! Today, we celebrate Christmas Eve, when Santa Claus, Father Christmas, the Christkind, or Saint Nicholas leave for their annual gift-giving journeys! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through all the most important things happening locally. Today's issue includes:

• 🤝 A proactive approach by the Rescue Mission
• 🍃 Floating wind turbines
• 🚌 The return of Camp Hi Hill

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🌞 But first, today's weather:

Warmer with plenty of sun. High: 78 Low: 50.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Long Beach

• Sam’s Club at 7480 Carson St., $3.69
• Vons at 1818 Ximeno Ave., $3.79
• G&M at 805 E Ocean Blvd., $3.85

⏰ New Year’s Resolutions Poll! 🎶
According to Forbes, only 8% of people making New Year’s resolutions actually achieve them. Even so, the experts suggest making resolutions because they encourage intentionality, optimism, and a positive effect on others. So, what are your resolutions for 2023? So far, 19% intend to meet new people or interact more with current friends. Letting go of negativity is the goal for 14.3%, and 9.5% want to travel or experience something new. Another 33.3% want to live healthier, and the final 23.8% plan to embrace change.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. Reports of a negligent discharge of a firearm brought police officers to the 2900 block of 69th Street on Thursday. Right around 10:19 p.m., the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) was called to a hospital where a man "with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound" said he “was handling his firearm at his residence . . . when he unintentionally discharged it, shooting himself.” Officers went to the address and found “evidence, including casings.” (LBPD)
2. A new proactive approach of the Long Beach Rescue Mission is the "Search and Rescue" outreach van. We learned Thursday that staff members will be out in the community “searching for anyone needing a hot meal, toiletries, resources and prayer.” One of the goals of the outreach is to build relationships that benefit folk who aren’t ready to go to a shelter just yet. (CBS)
3. Can you envision “the largest floating offshore wind turbines in the country?” The Long Beach Port can. Wednesday’s report outlines that the facility is “in the process of completing a conceptual design of a facility that could support the staging and integration” of these turbines. Remember that the state is working toward 90% clean energy by 2035. (Transportation Today News)
4. The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) plans to bring back Camp Hi Hill 2.0 for the 2023-24 school year. Thursday’s report outlines that the outdoor school had to be shuttered in 2008 because of budget shortfalls and wildfires. The new location will be the “YMCA’s Camp Oakes, near Big Bear, off State Route 38.” Next year’s fifth-graders could be the first group to benefit. (Long Beach Post)
5. Downtown’s waterfront will host two fireworks shows this New Year’s Eve. The city will hold them at 9 p.m. and midnight, which is great for parents with younger children who celebrate the East Coast New Year’s Eve to get the youngsters to bed. (City of Long Beach)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Beer Yoga at Trademark Brewing (11 AM)
• Photo With Santa at The Pike Outlets (1 PM)
• Children's Theatre of Long Beach Carolers at the Los Cerritos Center (2 PM)
• Café Sevilla celebrates Christmas Eve in Spain (4 PM)
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at the Bay Shore Church (5 PM/7:30 PM/10 PM)

📓 From my notebook:

• "We’re less than 1️⃣ month away from the start of the Women’s Water Polo season 🤽‍♀️ We’ll see 🫵 all at the pool on January 21st!" (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)
• "Bixby continued his tour by visiting the Long Beach Emergency Communications and Operations Center! 🎄 ☃️ While there, he became friends with some awesome 9-1-1 dispatchers and even got a bit of phone dispatch training!" (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• "Read our official City of Long Beach statement regarding forthcoming City Council consideration of local emergency in response to homelessness crisis. ℹ️ https://bit.ly/3jnSukS" (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Our Long Beach Development Services Department is seeking to award up to $5 million to qualified housing developers for the production of affordable rental housing." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "♻️🎄 Recycle your tree this year! Our Long Beach Public Works Department will offer their annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program, known as Treecycling." (Long Beach City via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Long Beach Daily? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com