🌱 Club Studio At Marina Pacifica + Best Coffee Shop: The Library

Hello all! It’s National Chocolate-Covered Nut Day, and we snack along. It's Sylvia, your host of the Long Beach Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now, including...

• 🏥 A stabbing on Gardenia Avenue
• 🧑‍🚒 A false alarm in the L.A. River
• 🥶 Hail in Long Beach

⛈️ But first, today's weather:

Cool with rain and a t-storm. High: 53 Low: 44.

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

• American Oil at 6850 Long Beach Blvd., $4.15
• ARCO at 3401 Long Beach Blvd., $4.23
• ARCO at 4385 Atlantic Ave., $4.25

🍰 Spring Dessert Poll! 🍓
The first day of spring is March 20! Among the things we look forward to in spring are refreshing desserts. Which is your favorite spring dessert? So far, …

• 23.8% voted to write in Key lime pie
• 23.7% chose peach cobbler
• 18.4% opted for lemon bars
• 15.8% selected ambrosia salad
• 10.5% liked fruit tarts
• 2.6% loved mixed berry buckle
• 2.6% picked strawberry icebox cake
• 2.6% wrote in ice cream or coconut cream pie

📰 Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. On Friday morning, around 1:30 a.m., the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) was called to the 700 block of Gardenia Avenue. Someone reported hearing screams. Officers found a man with several stab wounds, but alive. Reportedly, a number of men approached the victim, talked to him, beat him, and then stabbed him. (Patch)
2. On Friday, Los Angeles County firefighters headed to the 105 Freeway overpass along Compton Boulevard. The L.A. River turned from a dry riverbed into a raging flood. A caller reported in the morning that a sedan was floating down the river with someone inside it. Prepared for a swift water rescue, the fire department later “confirmed the report was unsubstantiated.” (Fox)
3. The white stuff you most likely saw falling from the sky on Thursday was hail. It soon traded places with rain. As of 10 a.m. that day, the Long Beach Airport reported .2 inches of rain. Remember that we have a blizzard warning in effect until 4 p.m. today, Saturday, for the L.A. County mountains. If you like seeing snow and driving to the mountains, be careful and dress for the occasion! (Long Beach Post)
4. Remember when LA Fitness said it’d take over the old Best Buy location at the Marina Pacifica Shopping Center? Well, we have a change of plans. We learned on Friday that the incoming gym will be Club Studio, described as a “boutique fitness” facility with “luxury amenities.” Envision cryotherapy, cold eucalyptus towels, and so on. While we don’t have an opening date yet, you can join a waitlist! (Marina Pacifica Shopping Center)
5. Which local coffeehouse is the best for writers and students? It would have to be budget-friendly and tolerant of your taking up a table for a while. An insider determined to find out, and tested six establishments. Only one received a 5 out of 5 rating from the tester: The Library at 3418 East Broadway. Open as early as 6 a.m., the lighting is right, you have elbow space, parking is in the alley, and you can have free water. (Beachcomber)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Visit the 21st African American Festival at the Aquarium Of The Pacific (9 AM)
• The Beverly O'Neill Theater hosts Free Saturday Family Theatre (11 AM)
• Experience the Futa Toro West African Dance Troupe and make upcycled African masks at the Billie Jean King Main Library (1 PM)
• Listen to the Long Beach Symphony as it brings the Music Of ABBA to the LB Arena (8 PM)
• Come to the Honey Whiskey Trio's 10-Year Anniversary Concert at the Grand Annex (8:30 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "🗣 Attention Long Beach business owners! Applications for the Visual Improvement Program (VIP) Grant are now open. The grant provides up to $1,500 in support to eligible businesses impacted by crime and vandalism on or after October 1." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "🏡 The Housing Authority is offering incentives to landlords who open their rentals to families in need through our Emergency Housing Voucher program. 💙 Help make a difference and secure a stable home for those in need." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Stearns/Palo Verde Plaza up and running - FYI-The business are all opened now, after Fish and Chips had a fire Support!-:)" (Nextdoor)
• "Residents in flood prone or low-lying areas of the city are encouraged to start their preparations early! Sand bags are available at the Lifeguard Station at 72nd Place & Ocean Blvd, as well as Fire Stations 7, 12, 13, and 14." (Long Beach Fire)
• "In this world, we need each other's encouragement and support. Let us build each other up and bring out the best in each other. Want to know more? Read Hebrews 10:23-25." (Parkcrest Church)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Long Beach?

• Median Listing Home Price $720K
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $603
• Median Sold Home Price $725K

Check out more Long Beach real estate information!

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Featured events:

• Torrance Antique Street Faire (February 26)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (February 28)
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Featured announcements:

• Attention AETNA and CIGNA plan members! (Details)
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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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com