🌱 Shots Near Cedar & Mountain + Shujaa Electric Bike Company Opened

Hello, Long Beach! Today, we continue our food trend with National Chocolate Covered Anything Day! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know that's going on in town, including news about:

• 👮 A 1978 cold case that’s getting renewed attention
• 🏥 A Community Hospital update
• 🏗️ Construction on downtown’s boutique Hotel Mai
  

💗 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:

Clouds giving way to sun. High: 70 Low: 42.

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

• Sinclair at 5588 Long Beach Blvd., $3.79
• VP Racing Fuels at 3605 E 7th St., $3.93
• Noil USA, Inc. at 1234 W Cowles St., $3.94
  

⏰ New Year’s Resolutions Poll! 🎶
According to Forbes, only 8% of people making New Year’s resolutions actually achieve them. Even so, the experts suggest making resolutions because they encourage intentionality, optimism, and a positive effect on others. So, what are your resolutions for 2023? So far, 50% intend to meet new people or interact more with current friends. Another 25% each plan to travel or experience something new, while the other group wants to embrace change.

📰 Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. Witnesses reported on Wednesday what sounded like shots in the area of Cedar Avenue and Mountain Street. The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) responded a little after 6 p.m. and found evidence of a shooting. Concurrently, an adult male checked into a hospital with a gunshot wound. The victim said he had a short altercation with an unknown suspect, was shot, called a family member, “and self-transported to a local hospital for his injuries.” (LBPD)
2. On Wednesday, the LBPD announced it's reopening a cold case from 1978 involving a murdered teen at “Division Street, east of Corona Avenue.” For 40 years, the case remained unsolved. Advances in technology now allowed the PD to identify the victim as a 15-year-old boy who was a runaway from La Puente. Knowing who the child is opens new avenues of investigation. "Justice delayed doesn't have to be justice denied in this case,” officials said. (City of Long Beach)
3. Community Hospital update: On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council approved the use of the facility as a temporary homeless winter shelter until March 31. The Community Heart Center building will have 81 beds. “The Heart Center is wedged between the historic, Spanish-style hospital building and the medical office on the northern end of the property. It is already fully enclosed by its own fence, which will help with security.” Later next year, construction will transform the old hospital unto a wellness campus. (Long Beach Post)
4. Four-year-long construction of boutique Hotel Mai at 1st Street and Long Beach Boulevard is entering its end spurt. Officials said that work on the 34-room venue “will likely wrap up sometime next year.” The planner pointed out that “the design is almost reminiscent of a style seen in Miami, particularly through tiles used along the base of the building and the orientation of the balconies.” (Long Beach Business Journal)
5. A big welcome to the Shujaa Electric Bike Company that opened at 5470 East 2nd Street! We learned on Thursday that Third District Councilmember-elect Kristina Duggan was on hand for the ribbon-cutting festivities at the Naples storefront. “The retail shop sells high-end Formula 1-style electric bikes.” (Press-Telegram/paywall)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• The Miller Room features Fiddler On The Roof (1971 movie) at the Billie Jean King Main Library (1:30 PM)
• Long Beach Ballet presents The Nutcracker at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center (7:30 PM)
• Musical Theatre West presents Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center (8 PM)
• The Winehouse Experience featuring Mia Karter at Harvelle's (8 PM)
• All Star Comedy at the Long Beach Laugh Factory (10 PM)

📓 From my notebook:

• "Santa got a helping hand today as the Long Beach Motor Patrol Association had their annual Christmas Holiday Toy Drive 🎅💙 With assistance from Long Beach Search & Rescue, Santa and LBPD officers delivered gifts at elementary schools." (Long Beach Police Department (CA) via Facebook)
• "🏆 Long Beach Airport is ranked the best airport for holiday travel nationwide by Forbes Advisor! Fly LGB to keep your holiday travel easy and stress-free. Forbes Advisor analyzed federal transportation data for the nation's 100 busiest airports." (Long Beach Airport via Instagram)
• "Your LBFD would like to give a special thanks to Costco (Signal Hill) for their generosity and support for our Spark of Love Toy Drive 🎄🤍🚒 On behalf of the Long Beach Fire Department, we would like to thank every employee." (Long Beach Fire Department via Facebook)
• "🚨 JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT! Your LBFD is still accepting applications for Fire Recruit!🔥 Don’t wait until the last minute to get yours in—and REMEMBER to sign up for the NTN test if you haven’t taken it already. 💻 ✍️ " (Long Beach Fire Department via Facebook)
• "All 👀 on this weekend as we host the Beach Classic. Make sure to come out Friday and Saturday at 3:30pm as we take on Dartmouth and Southern Miss!" (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Frosty's Winter Wonderland In Corona — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Holiday Pops with your Long Beach Symphony (December 17)
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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another 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