🌱 Los Cerritos Eucalyptus Topples + Southwest Will Fly To Kansas City

Hello, Long Beach! Today, we enthusiastically participate in National Cheese Lover’s Day. (Yum!) I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know that's going on in town, including news about:

• 🚲 $15.4 million for park upgrades
• 🎾 Parks Department job fair
• 🤝 For The Child volunteers needed

💗 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 sunny. High: 64 Low: 40.

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

• Food 4 Less at 6700 Cherry Ave., $3.95
• VP Racing Fuels at 3605 E 7th St., $3.98
• ARCO at 4385 Atlantic Ave., $3.99

💐 Valentine’s Day Poll! 🥂
Pink hearts, boxes of chocolates, and greeting cards – reminders that Valentine’s Day is coming are everywhere. But responses to the holiday are mixed. What are your feelings about the occasion? Do you celebrate? So far, 44.3% take a bah-humbug approach, while 47.1% plan on a Valentine’s Day with all the trimmings. 2.8% plan on celebrating Galentine’s Day, and 5.6% focus on Singles Awareness Day.

📰 Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. Trees don’t just fall down during a rainstorm; they can also drop in the days and weeks afterward. Case in point is the 60-foot eucalyptus that toppled in a Los Cerritos parkway. When it fell Tuesday evening, it “ripped down some of the overhang around the front” of a 1950s home and “crushed a neighbor’s car.” The city has around 2,800 eucalyptus trees, which appear “prone to toppling.” You may have seen the one that came down on North Virginia Road. That said, any tree can be at risk of falling if “a large species with broad, spreading roots may not be able to form an adequate support system in a 3-foot parkway, or city crews . . . prune the roots when they start lifting the sidewalk.” (Long Beach Post)
2. On Tuesday, the City Council voted to use $15.4 million from "California’s 2022 year-end budget surplus" for parks projects. Specifically, “Houghton Park will get a new signature playground with a $2 million allocation.” Another $1.6 million each will go to El Dorado Park West and Stearns Parks for sports field upgrades. The lion’s share, $10.2 million, “will fund various improvements at El Dorado East Regional Park” that could include “pedestrian and vehicle pathway upgrades.” (Press-Telegram/paywall)
3. Southwest Airlines is adding a new daily route on March 9. This one connects the Long Beach Airport and the Kansas City International Airport (KCI). “The route departs from KCI at 11:05 a.m. CT and arrives in Long Beach at 12:40 p.m. PT. The return flight leaves Long Beach at 1:20 p.m. PT and arrives back in Kansas City at 6:20 p.m. CT.” (KSHB)
4. If you’re looking for a job, the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) might just have the right position for you! Find out, and apply, at the job fairs the department will host on February 4 at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Avenue) and Feb. 25 at McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue). Positions may offer work with “Day Camps, Youth Sports, Older Adults, Teens, Mobile Recreation and Virtual Recreation.” (City of Long Beach)
5. For The Child is looking for volunteers to add to its CART (Child Abuse Response Team). If you have the time and will to help, you would be one of the “dedicated volunteers available to respond 24/7 to local hospitals in Long Beach, Torrance, and San Pedro when law enforcement believes a child or adolescent has been recently sexually assaulted. The advocate accompanies the victim of any age (from toddler to 21) at the hospital and provides companionship during their visit, even in the middle of the night.” Training classes begin January 24 and are online. (Patch)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Dog Teeth Cleaning at Bark! Bark! (9 AM)
• Long Beach Museum of Art Juried Photography Exhibition at 356 E 3rd St. (11 AM)
• Arts Film Series at The Miller Room (1 PM)
• The Unnamed Theatre Company presents Agnes of God at the Long Beach Playhouse (8 PM)
• The Long Beach Shakespeare Company presents an "Old Radio Play," Alice In Wonderland at 4250 Atlantic Ave. (8 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, and we're ringing in this Lunar New Year with crafts, storytimes, and fun for all-ages at LBPL! 🧧 For a line-up of our Lunar New Year programs, visit https://longbeach.gov/library/news/lunar-new-year/" (Long Beach Public Library via Facebook)
• "Have a say in shaping the future of Long Beach! Join one of the upcoming community budget meetings or take the Long Beach Budget Priority Survey to share your service priorities for the City's fiscal year 2024 budget." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "El Dorado Nature Center & Regional Park Update: 1 mile and 1/4 mile trails are open. 2-mile trail will remain closed due to flooding at the south lake. It’s anticipated the dog parks will open Friday. More drying is needed to protect the grass." (Daryl Supernaw)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Day After Day: The Life and Music of Doris Day (January 20)
• Torrance Antique Street Faire (January 22)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (January 24)
• Lemur Mom (January 27)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you tomorrow morning for 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Long Beach Daily? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com