🌱 Charlemagne Ave Wins Prize + North LB Street Takeover Thwarted

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

Who won the Beachcomber Christmas decoration contest? Also, a street takeover ends in citations and towed cars. Finally, Mayor Garcia is running for Congress.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine, but cool. High: 65 Low: 41.

Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. On Thursday, Beachcomber awarded its second annual Christmas decoration contest prizes to the winners. Residents at 4329 Charlemagne Avenue won the first prize; 3542 Josie Avenue came in second. An honorable mention went to 3343 Chatwin Avenue, which won the contest last year. Check out these homes if you need inspiration for taking your decorations to the next level! (Beachcomber)
2. Thursday night, there were rumblings of several street takeover events. North Division LBPD officers investigated and issued citations. They also towed some vehicles, one of which appears to still have a dealership’s new registration sticker in the windshield (according to a resident in the know). (Long Beach Police Department)
3. Mayor Robert Garcia is running for Congress. On Thursday, we learned that incumbent member of Congress, Alan Lowenthal, won’t seek reelection. On Friday, Garcia announced his candidacy. He received a lot of attention on the national stage for his successful implementation of vaccine rollouts. At the 2020 Democratic National Convention, he was introduced as a “rising star.” (Spectrum News 1)
4. There was a student protest earlier this week at Lakewood HS, which is part of the LBUSD. On Thursday, a video was released that shows school staff trying to end the demonstration. Of concern is “a school staff member physically restraining a student” and not stopping until “seemingly” realizing “the spectacle being created.” The student has been identified as being a female on the spectrum. (LBLN)
5. On Thursday, we learned that the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Programs awarded $4.6 million to LB for lead paint cleanup. Officials expect to use these funds for health hazard mitigation in 220 homes. Experts cite that there’s a “disproportionate prevalence of elevated lead blood levels in communities of color and under resourced neighborhoods.” (LB News)
   

Today in Long Beach:

• In-Person Bilingual Storytime at the Rancho Los Cerritos (10:00 AM)
• Holiday Party & Shop Small Event at SteelCraft (11:00 AM)
• 2021 Long Beach Parol Lantern Festival at the Historic Pine Avenue in Downtown LB, between 4th and 5th Streets (2:00 PM)
• Project Shepherd at the Lakewood Gardens Civic Association (5:00 PM)
• David Benoit Christmas Tribute to Charlie Brown at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A major construction project to improve the safety of the LB Airport airfield will begin the 1st week in January. (Instagram)
• Follow Santa and Mrs. Claus as they travel throughout Long Beach with members of the LBPD. (Facebook)
• The LBDHHS is seeking 250 community volunteers to help conduct the 2022 Point in Time Count, which is its street count of people experiencing homelessness. (Facebook)
• Starting Friday, December 17th, the LBDHHS will begin offering COVID-19 boosters for 16- and 17-year-olds. (Facebook)
• Our Upper Westside neighbor needs help with a sick kitten they found surrounded by kids and adults at the school by Silverado Park. (Nextdoor)
• Be on the lookout for a truck stolen from our DeForest Park-North neighbor. It's a White Ford F-250 with black rack off-road black wheels and license plate 19036E1. (Nextdoor)
• An Addams neighbor is missing their doggie on Sunset and Locust. (Nextdoor)
• If you're a local history buff, check out what this Willmore City-South neighbor found out about the mummified corpse of Oklahoma outlaw Elmer McCurdy (born in 1880) who was discovered back in 1976 inside a Long Beach fun house. (Nextdoor)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another 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.