🌱 Channel Project Groundbreaking + Will LB Become Autism-Certified

Hi all; today, we participate in World Kindness Day! I'm back with your new edition of the Long Beach Daily. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what's happening around town. Today's briefing includes:

• 🧑‍⚖️ A not-guilty plea by a suspended Longfellow teacher
• 🏥 A child’s being discharged from Memorial after a long year
• 🚲 A $308,094 grant to benefit the ‘Walk and Roll’ program

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🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Areas of low clouds, then sun. High: 68 Low: 48.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in Long Beach

• American Oil at 6850 Long Beach Blvd., $4.69
• 76 at 6580 N Paramount Blvd., $4.94
• G&M at 805 E Ocean Blvd., $4.99

🦃 Thanksgiving Poll!
Thanksgiving is on November 24th. How do you celebrate? So far, 43.9% celebrate a big meal as a family tradition, while 30.3% don’t celebrate and treat it like any other day. In a smaller group, 1.5% don’t celebrate because they feel it glorifies the conquest of Native Americans; however, 24.2% choose to celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving out of gratitude.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1) On July 15th, we talked about a 55-year-old Longfellow Elementary School teacher who was arrested “on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.” On Thursday, the teacher, “who is now on unpaid suspension,” pleaded not guilty “to one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and-run resulting in death or serious injury.” The teacher remains free after posting $50,000 bail on July 19th. (Patch, Long Beach Post)

2) A child who had been hospitalized at the Long Beach MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital over a year ago was discharged on Thursday. The boy arrived in the United States in April 2021 and was subsequently diagnosed with “acute lymphoblastic leukemia.” Shortly afterward, he “contracted a life-threatening flesh-eating fungal infection that ate away at part of his sinuses and brain.” After numerous surgeries and treatments, he was finally able to go home. His chemotherapy will continue until 2024. (Long Beach Local News)

3) On Friday, the City celebrated the Colorado Lagoon Open Channel Project groundbreaking. Construction will begin later this month and aims to “reestablish a natural connection of water circulation between the Colorado Lagoon and Marine Stadium/Alamitos Bay.” The anticipated completion is in 2024. (City of Long Beach)

4) We learned on Friday that the City received a $308,094 grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. It intends to use the money to “continue and expand the Health and Human Services Department’s ‘Walk and Roll’ program.” This program looks to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety. In the past, this grant money had been used to “provide safety materials and tips to more than 7,000 residents at community events, pay for 265 bicycle helmets for residents, and train 32 youth in the city’s inaugural Safe Streets Champion program.” (Press-Telegram/paywall)

5) Will Long Beach become an Autism-Certified City (ACC)? We learned last week that Mesa, Arizona, has led the way by being the first city to receive this designation. However, there have already been efforts underway in Long Beach to do something similar. Champions behind this movement are the owner of Don Temple Storage, Councilwoman Suzie Price, the vice president of development at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. (Beachcomber)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Hi-Po Swap Meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium (6 AM)
• Sunday Social w/The Delirians at Alex's Bar (2 PM)
• Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center (2 PM)
• Festival Of Lights & UN Day Celebration at Webster Elementary School (3 PM)
• Shreya Ghoshal performs at the Terrace Theater (6 PM)

📓 From my notebook:

• "This past Tuesday was Law Enforcement Records and Support Personnel Day—and we’d be remiss to not acknowledge the unsung heroes of the LBPD. Their dedication and tireless work are crucial in continuing to keep our City safe." (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• "Our Honorary Board of Governors had a lovely gathering this morning!" (Leadership Long Beach via Facebook)
• "Our Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine in partnership with Long Beach Partners of Parks, the Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, will offer their annual 'Youth Fishing Derby' 🎣!" (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Long Beach State Men’s Basketball open their season Sunday, Nov 13 at 4pm against Montana State in The Walter Pyramid. $5 Bench or $10 chair back tickets plus FREE parking available!!" (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)
• "For the second consecutive year, the City of Long Beach has been recognized as the first place 🏆 Top Digital City in the Center for Digital Government Certification’s 2022 Digital Cities Survey. ℹ️ http://bit.ly/3TvFc2d" (Long Beach City via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (November 14)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (November 15)
• Comedy @ Clancy's (November 17)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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