🌱 Drug Arrest Near Rotary Centennial Park + CO Lagoon Playground

Happy Sunday, people of Long Beach; today is World Theater Day! Here's everything happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Low clouds may break. High: 67 Low: 58.

🏡 Are you a local real estate agent? Let us help you generate leads, build your brand in Long Beach and stand apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

1. On Thursday night, the LBPD stopped a car around PCH and Junipero Avenue over an expired car registration. A search of the car revealed that the driver “had been driving with a gun and large quantities of drugs and cash.” This warranted a search of the suspect’s home, where they found a second man who “was in possession of a loaded firearm and had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Two firearms and ammunition were also located inside the home.” (LB Post)
2. Mayor Robert Garcia will attend the grand opening of the new playground at Colorado Lagoon Park Tuesday. Located at 5059 East Colorado Street, it “will include a new children’s play area designed for those ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. The playground will include new slides, swings, bridges, and climbing walls. To foster imagination, the city said, there will also be a general store, ship mast, and telescope.” (Press-Telegram)
3. Leadership LB reminds you that “MLK Day can be any day!” In this spirit, the group will meet on April 23 at Willow Springs Park at 8 a.m. After a rally, at around 9 a.m., you can travel to one of the volunteer sites identified. Examples include a school project, painting the interior of the Expo Arts Center, and cleaning up with Care Closet. (Leadership LB)
4. We usually talk about restaurants that would be considered off the beaten path. However, with a nod to ‘Take a Walk in the Park Day’ on Wednesday coming up, let’s take a look at DeForest Park and Wetlands at 6255 DeForest Avenue. It used to be a “tangle of non-native plants and other overgrown vegetation.” However, a little-publicized cleanup has transformed the area into a “nearly-50-acre site . . . (with) bridges spanning freshwater wetlands with interpretive signage giving you a bit of an education of the flora and fauna along the route.” (The HiLo)
5. Today, the LBFD is participating in the Jordan High School Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. Taking place at 899 East Spring Street from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., tickets are $10. Support the kids and eat out! (Long Beach Fire Department)

Today in Long Beach:

• So-Cal/Long Beach Motorcycle Swap Meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium (7 AM to 1 PM)
• Farmers’ Market at 5000 East Spring Street (8 AM to 2 PM)
• Koffin Kats + Reckless Ones + Radarmen + Johnny Dahmer at Alex’s Bar (2 PM)
• LGBTQ Country Sunday Line Dancing and Couples Dancing at Executive Suite (4 PM to 8 PM)
• Indian Idol 12/Intense Tour at the Long Beach Terrace Theater (6 PM)

From my notebook:

• Long Beach Public Works, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative. (Facebook)
• Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine will offer in-person Summer Day Camps weekdays beginning June 20 through August 26, where youth ages 5 to 12 will enjoy games, crafts, physical fitness, enrichment activities, and more. (Facebook)
• Our Historic Zaferia Village-Cir neighbor says that there is misinformation spreading online regarding the Fog Horns. The fog horns were from ships at the port due to the dense fog from 11 pm to 6 am. (Nextdoor)
• Los Angeles County Second District Supervisor Holly Mitchell offers Free Dog & Cat Spay-Neuter Vouchers for eligible residents of unincorporated LA County. (Nextdoor)
• Attorney General Rob Bonta, California Department of Justice, announces that following an investigation by the California Department of Justice and our law enforcement and retail partners, nine individuals have been charged in connection to an organized retail theft ring. (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• GISTEK Networks, Inc. — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Torrance Antique Street Faire (March 27)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (March 28)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• CIGNA/Evernorth Behavioral Health Provider Accepting Appointments (Details)
• Add your announcement

Job listings:

• Physical therapist (Details)
• Add your job listing

Other classifieds:

• Wanted - VW Double Cab Transporter (Details)
• Add your classified

Loving the Long Beach Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can subscribe
• Get your local business featured in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Sunday off right! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning 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.