🌱 Overturned Big Rig On The 710 + First Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run

Hello, hello! Today, we appreciate our feathered friends on National Bird Day! I'm back in your inbox this morning with the most important things happening in Long Beach. Today you'll read about:

• ✂️ Alder & Sage’s opening
• 👮 Long Beach Police Department promotions
• ⏰ The application deadline for Long Beach Pledge participation

🌧️ But first, today's weather:

Rain, heavy at times. High: 61 Low: 51.

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

• VP Racing Fuels at 3605 E 7th St., $3.98
• Speedway Express at 3100 Los Coyotes Diagonal, $3.99
• Sinclair at 5588 Long Beach Blvd., $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, 41.2% take a bah-humbug approach, while 47.1% plan on a Valentine’s Day with all the trimmings. 5.9% each plan on celebrating Galentine’s Day or Singles Awareness Day.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. An overturned big rig closed the “connector ramp from the northbound 710 Freeway to the southbound 405 Freeway” on Tuesday. It’s unclear what led to the truck overturning on its side around 11:45 a.m. “No other vehicles appear to have been involved.” The driver only had minor injuries; however, the truck required specialty equipment to upright it. Besides that, cargo was strewn all around the ramp and needed to be cleaned up. By 4 p.m., the connector ramp was open again. (Long Beach Post)
2. It’s official: Alder & Sage at 366 Cherry Avenue opened on Tuesday! The latest addition to Retro Row’s business community, its vibe is a combination of the Portfolio Coffeehouse and the Berlin Bistro. “It’s a grownup version of Portfolio with comfortable seating,” the owner said. What gives this venue its own atmosphere is the full kitchen that serves “Jidori chicken lettuce wrap or the prismatic beets and burrata dish” and more. (Long Beach Business Journal/paywall)
3. Who are the latest members of the Long Beach Police Department to receive a promotion? Brian McPhail was promoted to commander as of December 3. With a January 14 effective date, new lieutenants are Rudy Garcia, Steven Costa and Gerrit DeJongh; new sergeants are Brian Elliott, Randy Lacsina, Daniel Arcese, Todd Neveling and Justin Rivett. Congratulations! (Press-Telegram/paywall)
4. Qualifying families in the 90813 ZIP code have until January 17 to apply for participation in Long Beach Pledge. This program awards 250 families $500 per month for a year. “Immigration status is NOT a factor!” (Long Beach Forward)
5. Stretch your hamstrings; the inaugural Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run is scheduled for February 18! Runners start at 9 a.m. at the Claremont Launch Ramp by Rosie’s Dog Beach. Run (or walk) with or without your dog, attend an adoption event by Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) at the finish line, wear a Valentine’s Day costume if you like, and bask in the knowledge that 70% of profits will go to LBACS. (Signal Hill Rotary)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Job Search Strategies Webinar with the Long Beach Public Library (11 AM)
• A Guide to Japanese Pop In The 80s Panel at the Animé Los Angeles (3 PM)
• Twain Teen Café at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (4 PM)
• Thursday Night Market at 300 N Promenade, between 3rd & 4th St (5 PM)
• Niall Cash performs at The Auld Dubliner (10 PM)

📓 From my notebook:

• "LB Alert ❗️ If you don't have to drive, don't drive. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED. Serious flooding will impact parts of Southern California." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "New year, new job! Apply to work for the City of Long Beach. Check out all our job postings here. 🔗 https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/longbeach" (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "🎄Recycle your live holiday tree for free! There are two ✌️🏽 convenient ways for residents to dispose of their trees properly. 1️⃣ Visit one of the 12 locations to drop off your tree until Friday, January 6. 2️⃣ Leave your live tree out for refuse to pick up this Saturday, January 7 at 7 am." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Join us on January 16th and 'Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off'. Click here to sign up for a service project! https://leadershiplb.org/mlk/ Thank you to this year's MLK Day sponsors!" (Leadership Long Beach via Facebook)

That's it for today! See you all tomorrow 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