🌱Home Depot Flash Mob Robbery + Sushi Nikkei + 8.5% Unemployment

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

Another smash-and-grab after the Food-4-Less incident; this time at the Lakewood Home Depot. Also, a fusion between Peruvian and Japanese cuisines. Finally, LB unemployment is high.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and pleasant. High: 76 Low: 51.

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Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. We’ve had another flash mob robbery closer to home. This time, “a group of up to 20 males from 15 to 20 years old” targeted the Lakewood Home Depot at the Center Mall on Friday evening. With ten cars waiting for them, they “put on ski masks and began stealing sledgehammers and crowbars.” Four people who may have been involved were arrested in Beverly Hills after “driving with no license plates near Beverly Drive and Dayton Way.” You may remember that we reported about the Signal Hill Food-4-Less flash mob robbery in October. (LB Post, Patch)
2. We learned Saturday that the owners of La Casita Rivera on Atlantic Avenue and Bixby Road retired and closed the restaurant for good. However, the venue will not be shuttered for long. Sushi Nikkei is planning to take over and open the doors in late January 2022. The food will be -- wait for it -- “a unique taste of Japanese gastronomy, one that fuses the flavors of Peru with the culinary traditions of Japan.” (The HiLo)
3. A Saturday report notes that LB’s unemployment rate in October was 8.5%. In May 2020, it was 19%. However, before the pandemic began, it was only 4.8%. In comparison, L.A. County’s unemployment rate is 7.3%. (LB Business Journal)
4. The Belmont Heights Community Association has partnered with the Belmont Heights United Methodist Church to host a monthly food drive. Each month, the donations benefit a different local organization. For example, this Saturday, the donations go to the LBCC Food Pantry. Residents are always welcome to “volunteer or donate non-perishable foods, adult diapers, school supplies, and hygiene products. (LB Local News)
5. The Long Beach Playhouse and Held2gether, Improv for Life announced Friday that they would once again put on the “Miracle on Anaheim Street.” Taking place on December 4, the holiday variety improv show will benefit the WomenShelter of LB. The location will be the Long Beach Playhouse Theater at 5021 East Anaheim Street. (OC Breeze)

Today in Long Beach:

• Long Beach, Get your Sam's Club Membership and Donate 25% to Action Against Hunger! 7480 Carson Boulevard (9:00 AM)
• Bixby Park Arts + Crafts Fair - LIVE Performers - 40+ Vendors! 130 Cherry Avenue (10:00 AM)
• Cornerstone Church Sunday Worship at 1000 North Studebaker Road (11 AM)
• Soul Times at Alex's Bar, 2913 East Anaheim Street (2 PM)
• Grand Chanukah Extravaganza & Menorah Lighting 2021: 2ND & PCH, Long Beach (4:00 PM)

Long Beach Patch Notebook

• Long Beach City: Don't miss out on the City of Long Beach, El Dorado Nature Center and Regional Park California Native Plant Sale on November 28th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Facebook)
• Long Beach Police Department: The PD issued a News Release: Traffic Fatality - Northbound 405 Freeway and Lakewood Boulevard. (Facebook)
• Long Beach Public Library Foundation: You can support literacy and education as you shop online! Log in to Amazon at https://amzn.to/2XZLvCx to shop for holiday season deals, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of what you spend to the Library Foundation at no cost to you. (Facebook)

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Events:

• Torrance Antique Street Faire (November 28)
• Bixby Park Arts + Crafts Fair - LIVE Performers - 40+ Vendors! (November 28)
• Save 15% On All L.L.Bean Wicked Good Slippers — For A Limited Time (November 29)
• VistaMath Admissions Info Session - Virtual (December 2)
• Autopia 2099 - Presented by Nissan! (December 4)
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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon! If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? Reach out anytime to LongBeach-CA@Patch.com.