🌱 Orchid Auction Returns + Tempers Flare At Silverado Park Meeting

Hello all! Today we observe the Golden Rule on National Set A Good Example Day. It's Sylvia, your host of the Long Beach Patch newsletter — here to tell you all the most important things happening in town these days. Today we have these stories and more...

• ⚠️ Gang detectives investigate shots on Cedar
• 💧 Rainfall totals
• 🧂 The 21st annual California ProStart Cup

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🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Cool with periods of sun. High: 58 Low: 50.

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

• ARCO at 3401 Long Beach Blvd., $4.23
• Vons at 1818 Ximeno Ave., $4.29
• Rocket Oil at 1701 W Anaheim St., $4.29

🍰 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, …

• 27.2% voted to write in Key lime pie
• 22.7% chose peach cobbler
• 18.2% opted for lemon bars
• 13.6% selected ambrosia salad
• 9.1% liked fruit tarts
• 2.3% loved mixed berry buckle
• 2.3% picked strawberry icebox cake
• 2.3% wrote in ice cream or coconut cream pie
• 2.3% wrote in cheesecake

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. Gang detectives are investigating a shooting in the 2100 block of Cedar Avenue. On Friday evening, the police received calls about shots. When officers arrived, they found no witnesses, victims or suspects. They did find plenty of evidence. Later on, officers were called to a local hospital that was treating a female gunshot victim. She’s alive. (Long Beach Police Department)
2. The temporary homeless winter shelter at Silverado Park is in limbo. Initially, the city made the decision, but residents then protested. As we previously discussed, a meeting was scheduled for last Thursday. It didn’t go well, and people expressed plenty of frustration on both sides. The long and short is that the city will reconsider its decision. “You wouldn’t want to be sleeping out in the wind and rain in these temperatures,” a representative from the city told protesters. “I’m out here because the city made a decision, and they did not inform the community,” a protester said. Neighbors are tired of having decisions foisted on them and want the city to consider other venues, such as Belmont Shore or El Dorado Park. (Patch, Long Beach Post)
3. Long Beach received 1.92 inches of rain this last week. How is this affecting water availability in the Southland? Well, consider that the official rain year began October 1 and as of Friday we got 11.63 inches, “which is 130% of normal for this time.” Experts predict that we will exceed our “average rainfall for the year of 12.02 inches” this weekend. (Long Beach Post)
4. The 21st annual California ProStart Cup is coming to the Long Beach Convention Center on March 7 and 8. This is a culinary arts competition that involves more than 250 students from 140 California high schools. They will test their mettle and compete for prizes such as scholarship money. In addition to bragging rights, the first-place team will compete at the National ProStart Student Invitational in Washington, D.C. and represent the state. (No pressure.) Best of all, the event is open to the public without the need to buy tickets! (Press-Telegram/paywall)
5. Do you love orchids? Then you don’t want to miss the Long Beach Amateur Orchid Club’s annual orchid auction on March 13. Halted for three years because of the pandemic, it's back at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church at 6201 East Willow Street. Rub elbows with fellow orchid aficionados, and bid on various orchids “cultivated by either club hobbyists or commercial growers.” (Signal Tribune)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Visit the Farmers Market at East Marina Drive, South of 2nd Street (9 AM)
• Fuego at Hotel Maya presents "Mayapalooza" with the Copali-Copili Dance Group (12 PM)
• The Roots & Rambles concert series presents Taiko Performances at the Grand Annex (2 PM)
• The LB NAACP hosts "United Against Hatred, Discrimination, And Violence" at the Temple Israel (3 PM)
• The Salty Suites perform Americana at Grace First Presbyterian Church (3 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Your LBFD Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan joined the kids at Los Altos Library as a guest reader. He read 'Brown Sugar Baby' by K. Lewis to celebrate Black History Month with our community." (Long Beach Fire Department via Facebook)
• "Sand and sandbags are available to Long Beach residents. Residents are required to bring their IDs to pick up a maximum of 10 bags. Residents are advised to bring their own shovel and/or tool when collecting sand." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Did you know that we have a YouTube channel? You can subscribe and watch new videos about Long Beach City Districts, Sharing the Origins of the EOP, oral history series with the Honorable Bonnie Lowenthal, Honorable Renee Simon, and more." (Historical Society of Long Beach via Facebook)
• "Join us in the Studio at the BJK Main on March 4 at 2PM, as the FeM Synth Lab teaches us all about synthesizers! We'll experiment with synths, learn how they work, and how to incorporate them into your own music-making!" (Long Beach Public Library via Facebook)
• "We want to know about your beliefs and habits surrounding routine 💉 vaccines, including COVID-19, to better understand and develop new tools and approaches to address health disparities. Take the survey ⬇️" (Long Beach City 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!

🐶 Check out new cats, dogs, and other pets available for adoption at Long Beach Area Shelters!

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Torrance Antique Street Faire (February 26)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (February 28)
• Urban Farm School (March 4)
• Add your event

Featured announcements:

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

That's it for today! See you Tuesday 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com