Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Jeff Levine turned addiction and grief into hope for Long Beach

Also check out Christmas Car Wash on the Long Beach Patch calendar

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Monday December 22nd Patch AM
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Greetings Long Beach! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Jeff Levine turned addiction and grief into hope for Long Beach
  • How ICE raids at Long Beach car washes changed one family’s future
  • How LBCC is helping students forced to sleep in their cars

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Car Wash and 1 more event.

Find out what's happening in Long Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the windowsill say to the glass? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Long Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Monday: Low clouds and fog breaking, with a high of 66 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Tuesday: A couple of afternoon showers, temps: high: 65, low: 60.
  • Wednesday: Morning rain, heavy at times, with a high of 67 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• ‘A Shepard's Heart' — How Long Beach Rescue Mission CEO Jeff Levine found his calling (sigtrib.com) — Long Beach readers meet Jeff Levine, the longtime CEO of Long Beach Rescue Mission, who draws on his own past struggles with addiction and poverty to serve unhoused neighbors. The story traces his spiritual recovery, leadership style, expansion of shelter beds, and plans to grow Lydia House and Timothy House while continuing holiday outreach like Christmas meals and a toy drive.
   

• Stunted dreams: Wife of man detained by ICE says she's lost hope in the U.S. (sigtrib.com) — A Long Beach woman describes how her husband’s ICE arrest at a local car wash and impending deportation to Guatemala have upended their life after two decades in the city. She details his transfer to a detention facility nearly 100 miles away, support from immigrant-rights groups, and her own plans to leave the U.S., saying her hopes for the country have been shattered.
   

• There Are So Many Students Living In Their Cars That This College Designated A Parking Lot For Them To Sleep In At Night (yourtango.com) — Long Beach City College has created a Safe Parking Program so about 70 students living in their cars can safely sleep overnight in a campus lot, reflecting a growing homelessness crisis among college students. The story follows LBCC President Mike Muñoz’s own experience with homelessness and highlights how similar programs and emergency housing efforts are emerging at other schools nationwide.
   

📸 Around Long Beach

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Long Beach

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Monday December 22
  • Christmas Car Wash
    Carwood Car Wash & Detail Center, 2729 E Carson St, Lakewood
    5:00 pm
    • Tuesday December 23
  • Christmas Car Wash
    Carwood Car Wash & Detail Center, 2729 E Carson St, Lakewood
    5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Long Beach Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Long Beach PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • So finally, Sweet Louie has a forever home.
    He came into the shelter about 4 months ago, not in the best shape having been caught in a fence outdoors. I fell in love with him instantly, but it… (Nextdoor Historic Zaferia Village-Cir)
  • I want to say thank you to whomever left this on our porch tonight.
    You made my brothers year and now he’s planning more for next Christmas. Thank you! We have the best neighbors! Merry Christmas!! (Nextdoor South of Conant)
  • Smart & Final posted a job opening for Service Clerk - 434 Long Beach in Long Beach. Apply here.
  • Tillys Clothing Company posted a job opening for Assistant Manager (Part Time) in Long Beach. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Long Beach here.

🗞 Nearby News

Lakewood

  • Luka Doncic leaves Lakers' game against Clippers with leg injury (presstelegram.com)

Carson

  • 49ers' 5 keys to winning in Indianapolis on Monday night (chicoer.com)
  • Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children (kwxx.com)
  • Gotta' Run: Vests and training with adults (salisburypost.com)

Bellflower

Ok Long Beach! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel your pane.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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