🌱 RIP Patricia McCormick + Lazy Acres’ Community Celebration

Hi all! Do you know of a better way to celebrate today’s National Worship of Tools Day than by organizing the garage, shed or toolbox? I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new edition of the Long Beach Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally. Today's briefing includes news about...

• 🏳️‍🌈 A vandal targeting businesses with Pride flags
• 🚢 The completion of the Pier G wharf expansion
• 🚧 Detours for the 22 and 192

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌧️ But first, today's weather:

Showers, mainly early. High: 64 Low: 55.

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

• Vons at 1818 Ximeno Ave., $4.39
• Mobil at 127 W Pacific Coast Hwy., $4.44
• ARCO at 3401 Long Beach Blvd., $4.45

😋 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, 36.7% love funnel cake, and 20% look forward to candy apples. 10% each reach for guacamole or corndogs, while 6.7% each order cheesecake or tri-tip sandwiches. 3.3% each favor fried cheese curds, guacamole with cheese, or cotton candy.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. Long Beach has lost a diving legend. Patricia McCormick died Tuesday at the age of 92. Her love of swimming began in childhood and culminated in her sensational athletic successes. For example, she “is still the only female double-double gold medal diver in Olympic history.” She attended Wilson High School and Long Beach City College; her participation in the Olympics took place in 1952 and 1956. (Long Beach Post)
2. A vandal targeted three Long Beach businesses displaying Pride flags. We learned Thursday that a man smashed the windows at Wide Eyes Open Palms (416 Cherry Avenue), the Folklore Salon & Barber (226 Atlantic Avenue) and the Long Beach LGBTQ Center (2017 East 4th Street). While the police department is still working on the cases, the stylist at Folklore Salon & Barber said it best when opining, “it was definitely jarring once we put all the pieces together and realized it was more of a message than just a break-in.” (NBC)
3. On Thursday, the Port of Long Beach celebrated its finished Pier G wharf expansion. The added 240 feet come with a $55 million price tag, but enable the docking of ships “carrying up to 16,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units of cargo.” (Daily Breeze/paywall)
4. Construction on westbound South Street and northbound Downey Avenue will result in more Long Beach Transit headaches. Routes 22 and 192 posted detours that took effect Thursday and may last until the middle of April. Signage directs passengers, or you can download the Moovit app to chart your travel plans online. (Ride LBT)
5. Just in time for its 10th anniversary, Lazy Acres at 2080 Bellflower Boulevard finished its renovation and overhaul. On March 18, join the store staff for a community celebration and “great giveaways, sample some of our favorite drinks and treats, meet our new Envirotoken partners, and more.” (Lazy Acres)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Participate in the Knitting & Crocheting Circle at the El Dorado Neighborhood Library (10:30 AM)
• Shop the Fair Trade Market at The Parkview Village, 5423 E Village Rd (12 PM)
• Celebrate the Loiter Galleries Grand Opening at 425 The Promenade North (6 PM)
• The LB Symphony presents Orff’s "Carmina Burana" and Lara’s "Angeles de Llama y Hielo" at the Terrace Theater (8 PM)
• Missus Jones plays a Tribute To Amy Winehouse at Harvelle's (9 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "A weekend full of giveaways 🧤⚾️ Join us at Blair for Game 1 Saturday for foam baseball glove giveaway and Game 2 for Golden Boy Night at Blair. Then join us Sunday for Youth Day! Each kid in attendance will get Dirtbags Eye Black!" (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)
• "Thank you to the nonprofits and organizations who have donated their time and food to help people experiencing homelessness at our Multi-Service Center. 🤝" (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Are you up for a challenge? Join our 50 Book Challenge, which encourages you to read 50 books throughout 2023. This time around, we're doing things a little differently: you can earn a prize for every 10 books read." (Long Beach Public Library via Facebook)
• "🚎 Leave the driving to us! Download the 📲 Ride Circuit app and enjoy free, on-demand electric shuttle rides in the Downtown-Alamitos Beach and Alamitos Bay-Belmont Shore service areas. ADA-accessible shuttles also available." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "Hello Coolidge and Longwood Neighborhood Associations, we will be conducting a Quality of Life Enforcement and Cleanup on Wednesday, March 15th from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You all are welcome to join the Police Department North Division!" (LBPD North)

🏡 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!

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Featured events:

• 2023 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival (April 1)
• Spring Break Tennis Camp - April 10-14 - Long Beach, CA (April 10)
• Add your event

That's it for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with 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