🌱Ocean Blvd. Robbery Suspect Caught + June Closed To Grunion Catching

Good morning, everybody; today is Towel Day, which was created in 2001 by fans of author Douglas Adams! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Long Beach Daily. Keep reading for everything you need to know about what's happening around town.

The LBPD located a robbery suspect in a parking lot on Orange Avenue. Also, look but don’t touch at the upcoming grunion run. Finally, why are local politicians suddenly distancing themselves from Progressive Solutions Consulting?

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 73 Low: 60.

Poll: Who Should Be The Next Long Beach Mayor? 🤔
Please let me know your thoughts! (As of today, Suzie Price leads the pack with 42.6% of your votes, but Rex Richardson is second with 24.8%.)

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Where’s The Cheapest Gallon Of Regular Gasoline In Long Beach? ⛽

• Sam's Club at 7246 Carson Blvd., $5.49
• Arco at 4895 N Bellflower Blvd., $5.55
• G & M Food Mart at 701 Redondo Ave., $5.69
• Speedway at 907 E 7Th St., $5.75
• Arco at 1945 E Pacific Coast Hwy., $5.79

Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. There was a commercial robbery on Saturday afternoon in the 3900 block of East Ocean Boulevard. The cashier told LBPD officers that the suspect “brandished a firearm and fled the scene in a silver vehicle.” Officers found the car in a parking lot around the 200 block of Orange Avenue and arrested the 35-year-old driver. They found “two firearms, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.” (LBPD Blotter)
2. 🎣 The next grunion run will start Monday and likely go through Thursday. If you’re not familiar with this sight, it involves silvery fish with an on-beach mating habit. Because it usually happens around 10 p.m., it’s a special event to let the kids stay up late and watch. But don’t plan on bagging the fish, which now come with a 30 grunion per season limit. You can now only legally do so in March, July, and August. (Press-Telegram)
3. Is it a political scandal or a tempest in a teapot? Progressive Solutions Consulting’s Melahat Rafiei resigned Sunday from positions held with the Democratic Party. She said that “recent media coverage of her 2019 arrest and subsequent work as a cooperating witness for the FBI was proving too distracting.” In October 2019, she was “in FBI custody on suspicion of trying to bribe two Irvine City Council members.” Local fallout was swift. Suzie Price said she “terminated her contracts with Rafiei’s company.” Lena Gonzalez expressed disappointment and noted that she was a “former client.” (LB Post)
4. On Friday, the LGBTQ Center Long Beach will host its last “Do Say Gay” art workshop. If you have not had the opportunity to learn from local artist Lucas Gordon, register for this workshop that will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Classes are limited to 25 participants. (The Pride LA)
5. Another Friday event is the grand opening of the baby exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific. There, you can see “baby animals like fuzzy sea otters, tiny cuttlefish that change color, miniature sea jellies and baby sharks.” Be prepared to say ‘awwww’. (KTLA)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Long Beach Young Professionals Networking Breakfast at the Holiday Inn, Long Beach (7:30 a.m.)
• Keep The Pint Night with Riip Beer Co. at Bottlecraft Long Beach (4 p.m.)
• Weekly Crochet Club For Teens at the Billie Jean King Main Library (5 p.m.)
• LBGLCC Summer Mixer at the Grasshopper Bar (6 p.m.)
• Candlelight K-Pop: A Tribute To BTS at Ovation (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• 🚴 Do you want to participate in Bike Month, but are not sure if your bike is ready to ride? Bring your bike to a free Saturday Bike Check-Up event and have a bike mechanic take a look at it and perform any basic tune-ups. (Facebook)
• Our Los Altos-Abbeyfield neighbor is looking to buy a used 40-gallon terrarium if someone happens to have one taking up space. (Nextdoor)
• An AOC7 neighbor was greeted by a cat. They think it’s a girl. They are on Gaviota near 10th. Does she belong to anyone? (Nextdoor)
• A neighbor South of Conant wants to know if between $15,000 and $20,000 is the going rate to paint the exterior of a 1200-square-foot single story house + garage? Just seems like a lot. (Nextdoor)
• Another South of Conant neighbor is looking for an Orangetheory heart monitor. (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! 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 Daily? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com