🌱 Historic Airport Terminal Closes Temporarily + Queen Mary Update

Hello, Long Beach! Today we remember to thank The Tiptree World Bread Awards for declaring the last Thursday in February National Toast Day. I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know that's going on around town, including news on:

• 🤔 A “he said, she said” on Pine Street
• ⬅️ New Bigbelly trash cans on 2nd Street
• 🆒 We’re number 31

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌧️ But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy, showers; cool. High: 55 Low: 48.

Business owners and marketers in Long Beach: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

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

• Sam’s Club at 7480 Carson St., $4.19
• ARCO at 4385 Atlantic Ave., $4.25
• VP Racing Fuels at 3605 E 7th St., $4.38

🍰 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, 25% choose peach cobbler, 16.7% each select ambrosia salad and lemon bars. 12.5% opt for fruit tarts and 4.2% for mixed berry buckle. The write-in candidate key lime pie is coming in at 24.9%.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. Reportedly, the co-owner of The Auld Dubliner on Pine Street got into a confrontation with the property of the Hibachi Queens Food Truck. Video shows Friday’s altercation right around 1 p.m. The food truck parked in front of the restaurant in a parking meter spot, and the individual is seen moving and then kicking (and breaking) the A-frame menu sign. He allegedly used a racial slur; the truck operator allegedly yelled obscenities in Spanish (we have no sound on the video). This is the truck’s first time setting up here; usually, you can find them in front of The Pike on Shoreline Drive. The restaurant owner has since said he would pay for the broken sign. (L.A. Taco)
2. The Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Commission decided Thursday to place 12 Bigbelly trash stations on 2nd Street. The installation will take place in March. At the cost of $33,229, the new cans replace the broken ones currently on the street. They have foot pedals to operate them, but don’t have some of the other features the old cans had. Even so, they will prevent “people from pulling anything out.” Critics, among them some members of the Belmont Shore Residents Association, consider them an unnecessary expense. They prefer “the old cement waste bins.” (Long Beach Post)
3. Queen Mary update: As of Tuesday, technicians are in the process of demolishing “out-of-commission boilers and heat exchangers.” When this work is completed in the next few weeks, they’ll install piping and mechanical equipment for the new boilers and heat exchangers. With these in place, hot water will once again be available, enabling Evolution Hospitality staff to work on reopening the hotel, bars, shops and eateries on board. So far, we don’t have a firm completion or opening date. (City of Long Beach)
4. The Long Beach Airport temporarily closed its historic terminal this week. Renovation, including seismic retrofitting, will take an estimated 12 months to complete. Take heart! The 1941 design elements that make this terminal so memorable will be returned to their "former glory." (Long Beach Airport)
5. We’re number 31! Researchers determined the most culturally diverse cities in the country. They looked for ethnic, language, racial and birthplace diversity markers. Number one on the list is Germantown, MD. Number 501, the last place, falls to Parkersburg, WV. (WalletHub)
   

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• The 2023 Women in Aviation Conference opens at the Convention Center (7 AM)
• The NAACP hosts the 2023 LACEDC Economic Forecast at the Sheraton Grand (8:30 AM)
• See "Brilliant Earth," the ceramic sculpture exhibit by Tony Marsh at the Long Beach Museum of Art (11 AM)
• Teens are invited to make DIY Affirmation Cards at the Billie Jean King Main Library (4 PM)
• Alex's Bar hosts The Sleeperz, Ripoff Copy, RØBBER, & Human Musik + DJ Joseph Karam (8 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "🚨SCHEDULE UPDATE🚨 Our added game against Utah Valley has been cancelled." (Long Beach State Dirtbags via Instagram)
• "Join us in congratulating LBPD Detective Denise Green for being the recipient of the Kiwanis International 'Heart of a Hero' Award! Det. Green has always put others first and has been a staple of our City by helping the most vulnerable members of our community." (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• "Don't put your winter clothes 🧣 away yet, because it's about to get really 🥶 cold." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Today, Kiwanis Long Beach, CA honored LBFD Captain Nektarios (Nick) Markouizos at their 2023 Heart of a Hero Luncheon. Captain Nektarios (Nick) Markouizos has a huge Heart of a Hero with a long history of serving others." (Long Beach Fire Department via Facebook)
• "Recently, South Division Sgt. McCourt met a friend who was very curious about her vehicle. Sgt. McCourt was happy to give her a tour of the patrol car, and she even got some cool parting gifts! Whenever you see our officers out in our beautiful City, stop by, and say 'Hi!'"(Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)

🏡 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!

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Wills vs. Trust (February 23)
• Torrance Antique Street Faire (February 26)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (February 28)
• Add your event

Featured announcements:

• Attention AETNA and CIGNA plan members! (Details)
• Add your announcement

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— 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