🌱 PD QOL Team Expands + Philz Coffee Opens On March 22 + Drone Soccer

Hey, Long Beach! It’s National Panda Day; did you know that only an estimated 2,000 are left in the world? I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on everything you need to know that's going on around town. Today's issue includes...

• 🤝 McDowell’s Soul Food and BBQ helps kids
• ☕ Philz Coffee’s Bixby Knolls location is opening next week
• 👟 Student-athletes of note

❤️ Loving the Long Beach Daily? Tell a friend and send them this link, so they can subscribe!

🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Clouds breaking for some sun. High: 64 Low: 51.

Are you tired of blending in with all the other real estate agents in Long Beach? Stand out with a premium sponsorship in our newsletter. Gain valuable exposure for yourself to our highly engaged local readership. Click here to learn more about this exclusive opportunity.

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

• Sinclair at 5588 Long Beach Blvd., $4.19
• Sam’s Club at 7480 Carson St., $4.38
• ARCO at 1001 Redondo Ave., $4.49

😋 Fair Food Poll!
Fair food is the ultimate cheat meal. Although we all know it’s unhealthy, everyone has a guilty pleasure. Which is your favorite? So far, 34.1% love funnel cake, 20.5% look forward to candy apples, 13.3% munch on corndogs, and 6.7% reach for guacamole. 4.4% each either eat cotton candy, tri-tip sandwiches, or cheesecake. Finally, 2.2% each favor guacamole with cheese, fried cheese curds, turkey legs, a deep-fried bacon-wrapped pickle, or pork chop on a stick. The rest stay away from fair food.

📰 Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is expanding its Quality of Life (QOL) team to a total of eight officers. Its goal is to address homelessness at the community policing level. Tuesday’s press release shows that the QOL approach did have a positive impact in 2022. “Teams made over 9,100 contacts to offer services to people experiencing homelessness. This led to nearly 400 people receiving temporary housing and permanent housing for almost 40 people.” Besides working directly with unhoused neighbors, the team also participates in cleanups throughout the city. (City of Long Beach)
2. McDowell’s Soul Food and BBQ restaurant operates at 900 Long Beach Boulevard. The menu includes catfish and eggs, oxtails, plant-based burgers, and barbecue combo plates. Besides all this, we learned on Wednesday that McDowell’s participates in the Pacific Gateway mentoring program for at-risk youths between 14 and 18. Co-owner Ceasar McDowell teaches youngsters how to hold down a job and then go into business for themselves. (KTLA)
3. A Philz Coffee is taking over the space AndyLiz had at 3850 Atlantic Avenue. A building sign was installed last Thursday. If you’re wondering what this brand brings to the table, consider it “responsible for helping to champion the iced coffee and cold brew craze.” You can already check out its offerings at 4801 East 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. Philz Coffee's official Bixby Knolls opening day is March 22! (Newsbreak, Philz Coffee)
4. Drone soccer’s a thing, and the Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science at 1100 Iroquois Avenue is where it’s at. The high school assembled a complete drone soccer team and got good at it. On March 18, they’ll be in Palm Springs for a regional title. If they win, they’ll get to go to New York on April 16 for the national title. The esport comes to the U.S. courtesy of South Korea; however, it didn’t catch on until last year. We have “some middle schools in San Diego, Fresno and Sacramento that are starting teams,” but it’s not a big deal here — yet. (The HiLo)
5. A shoutout to four athletes who excelled this week! One is junior Ian Nolte, who plays volleyball at Wilson. He already committed to Ohio State. Freshman Janelle Morris plays softball for Poly.; they beat Wilson. Angelina Kim is a golfer on the Long Beach State team; she “was the individual champion at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Hawai’i.” The final athlete named is softball player Olivia Ramirez at Long Beach City College. She “was named the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Pitcher of the Week.” Congratulations! (The562.org)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Participate in Tai Chi For Beginners on the grass at 5608 East Los Santos Drive (11:45 AM)
• Visit Clifford Prince King's "Yesterday And Beyond" Exhibit at the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum (12 PM)
• Celebrate Teen Tech Week at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library with a Cupcake Decorating Competition (5 PM)
• Laugh along with the comics performing at Tiki Ha Ha at the Bamboo Club (7 PM)
• FUSE 18+ hosts a Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Alegria Nightclub (10 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Due to extreme flooding and tree failures, El Dorado Regional Park and Nature Center will remain closed. Grounds and Park staff will assess the conditions throughout the day and will notify when it is safe to reopen." (Daryl Supernaw)
• "At the Long Beach City Council meeting, Your LBFD Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan was officially sworn in as the 19th Fire Chief for Long Beach City. We are so excited for you! Congratulations Chief Buchanan!" (Long Beach Fire Department via Facebook)
• "In partnership with Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network, we are seeking a qualified Long Beach-based organization to facilitate outreach efforts with formerly incarcerated community members and their families through the Long Beach Reentry Achievement Program." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "📣 We need donations! This Saturday, 3/18, we will host a drive-thru 🚙 donation event from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Veterans Stadium to collect essential items for people experiencing homelessness." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "🌧 With the LB rain, help report any street flooding or downed 🌳 trees by calling ☎️ 562.570.2700 or submitting an online request here 📲 http://longbeach.gov/golongbeach" (Long Beach City via Facebook)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Long Beach?

• Median Listing Home Price $750K
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $610
• Median Sold Home Price $695K

Check out more Long Beach real estate information!

🐶 Check out cats, dogs, and other Pets Available For Adoption at Long Beach Area Shelters!

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Artful Rhythms: Silent Disco & Craft Fundraiser for MS Warriors & Friends (March 18)
• 2023 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival (April 1)
• Spring Break Tennis Camp - April 10-14 - Long Beach, CA (April 10)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday! 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com