🌱 Catalytic Converter Thieves Shoot + 11 Centenarians Celebrate

Happy Thursday, neighbors! Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locally today.

A man was shot at by catalytic converter thieves. Also, 11 folks in their 100s are celebrating with the Mayor. Finally, a sex trafficker is in jail, but there may be more victims out there.

First, today's weather:

Sunny; pleasant in the p.m.. High: 71 Low: 48.

Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

1. Catalytic converter theft in LB is a frequent point of discussion on the NextDoor app. Most times, a resident notices the theft in the morning. On Monday, a resident sleeping in his car in the 5400 block of East Ocean Boulevard confronted catalytic converter thieves who were trying to take it from his car. They shot him and fled. (LB Post)
2. Eleven centenarians live at the Bixby Knolls Towers at 3737 Atlantic Avenue. On Wednesday, they had an afternoon birthday party with Mayor Robert Garcia in attendance. They remembered commuting “to Santa Monica before the 405 was built,” getting a “first hand-held calculator,” and the “1918 flu pandemic.” Happy Birthday! (Press Telegram)
3. Long Beach resident Jamelvin Moore is serving life in prison. He was convicted “of sexually assaulting and trafficking a 14-year-old girl” while “on parole for trafficking a different child, an 11-year-old from Long Beach.” On January 17, he was transferred to the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic. Now, the Human Trafficking Unit is reaching out to see if there are additional victims. If you have information, please contact them at 213-202-4390 or osbhttaskforce@lapd.online. (KTLA)
4. We learned Wednesday that the Miller Children’s Hospital is seeing “the highest number of pediatric patients with COVID and requiring hospitalization, which is unlike any other time in this pandemic.” According to L.A. County, only 18% of kids between 5 and 11 are fully vaccinated. “To date, 72.5% of children ages 5 to 11 and 27.3% of children ages 12 to 17 remain unvaccinated.” “COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective for adults and children five years and older,” a representative for the hospital stated. (LB Local News)
5. Did you know that the Red Cross collects 40% of the nation’s blood donations? During the pandemic, the number of donors went down 10%. Now, the Red Cross will sweeten the deal if you come and donate. If you give blood during January, you’ll be “entered to win two tickets to Super Bowl LVI.” If you donate in February, you’ll get a $10 Amazon.com gift card. The Long Beach Blood Donation Center is at 3150 East 29th Street. (Patch)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Alex Gardner’s ‘We All Exist Right Now’ displays at the Long Beach Museum of Art (11 AM to 5 PM)
• Country Thursday With Line Dancing at the Gaslamp Music+Bar+Kitchen (6 PM)
• Malainey’s Grill hosts Bike Night With Contests, Raffles, And Happy Hour (6 PM)
• Blackout, Deep Fields, Carinae, & Force Model Plus DJ Emperor Tomato Ketchup perform at Alex’s Bar (8 PM)
• LO-END, COLIN JAMES at Legends Restaurant & Sports Bar (10 PM)

From my notebook:

• A DeForest Park-South neighbor is looking for recommendations for someone who makes Mexican food for events. (Nextdoor)
• Our Los Altos-Britton Drive neighbor needs a referral for a mediator. (Nextdoor)
• A Los Altos-Los Altos Park neighbor lost their Jeep key (fob type) with a blue key attached to it. Has anybody seen one around? (Nextdoor)
• A Belmont Heights South neighbor saw a coyote on Vista and Mira Mar at 11 PM. It headed east and turned left at Roswell heading to 3rd. Keep your pets in at night for sure! (Nextdoor)
• Our Lakewood Village neighbor wants to know if anyone has seen the Long Beach budget? (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right! See you tomorrow for 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.