🌱 Shoutout To JuJu Smith-Schuster + How To Help Turkey With Donations

Hello, Long Beach! Today, Valentine’s Day encourages us to focus on love. I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you caught up on everything you need to know that's going on around town, including news on:

• ⚠️ Shots fired on the 91 Freeway
• 🚓 A couple of non-fatal stabbings
• 🪧 Protesters at Silverado Park

🌥️ But first, today's weather:

A shower; breezy in the p.m.. High: 62 Low: 41.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Long Beach who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

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

• Vons at 1818 Ximeno Ave., $4.09
• ARCO at 3401 Long Beach Blvd., $4.13
• ARCO at 4385 Atlantic Ave., $4.15

⏰ Daylight Saving Time Poll! 🤔
Daylight saving time begins on March 12. According to history, we can thank entomologist George Hudson for coming up with the idea in 1895. Implementation took place in 1918 to save resources and extend the work day during wartime. In 1966, daylight saving time became the law of the land, but states could opt out. So far, only Hawaii and Arizona have done so. Now, dueling studies point to the successes and failures of the practice. Where do you stand on the issue? So far, 66.1% don’t like daylight saving time, while 33.3% do. Only 0.6% don’t care one way or the other.

📰 Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. The eastbound lane on the 91 Freeway turned into the O.K. Corral on Friday, close to 10 p.m. In what can only be described as brazen, the rider of a black sedan leaned out the window and opened fire on a white SUV. Eyewitnesses report that shots were fired from both cars. And no, nobody was arrested. (ABC)
2. Two men were stabbed non-fatally within six hours. On Sunday evening around 11:50 p.m., one man got into it with another inside a business on the 300 block of West Anaheim Street. Violence replaced words. Then, on Monday morning, just before 5:30 a.m., calls urged the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) to send officers to the 2000 block of Cerritos Avenue, where a victim said that “an unknown male suspect approached him from behind, stabbed him, and fled.” (LBPD)
3. Around 70 protesters gathered at Silverado Park on Saturday, objecting to the use of the park’s gym as a secondary homeless winter shelter. You may remember that the city made this announcement last week. Critics of the plan say that children from nearby John Muir Elementary use the park for PE and recreational activities. The protesters don’t think that “the chain link fence that now surrounds the gym will be enough to ensure separation between unhoused people who will stay at the shelter and families who want to use the park.” (Long Beach Post, ABC)
4. The Long Beach Poly football program made history — once again. JuJu Smith-Schuster, who caught the attention of coaches when he was a sophomore starting on varsity, got his Super Bowl ring just 13 years later! Moreover, he got his ring on a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, what really makes him the athlete we love is the fact that he “made a large donation to the Long Beach YMCA to start an all-ages flag football program,” hosted an off-season camp at Poly, and “made a financial gift to the Poly football program’s efforts to renovate its aged weight room.” Congratulations! (The562.org)
5. Help Turkey with supplies! The Barsan Global Logistics warehouse at 2037 West 17th Street is a drop-off location for critical items, including “disaster tents, blankets, sleeping bags, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and baby clothes.” Please note that all items you bring have to be new and unopened. Head over between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on or before February 16. (Long Beach Post)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• Play Casual Chess with folks of all ages and the Zzyzx Chess Club at Recreational Coffee (2 PM)
• "Spill the Beans, Share the Love" ESL Recipe Writing Workshop at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (4 PM)
• Dine Your Heart Out this Valentine’s Day with warm goat cheese dip & Spanish charcuterie at Café Sevilla (4:30 PM)
• Sing your heart out at Alex's Bar Karaoke (8 PM)
• Open Mic w/Shy But Flyy featuring Music & Poetry at DiPiazza's (9 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "📢Here's our Mobile Access Center schedule for February, a new form of street outreach allowing our Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services (LBDHHS) staff to begin the intake process with people experiencing homelessness." (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• Long Beach City: "📢 We are hosting orientation sessions for our 🏠 'First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program' applicants! Residents are encouraged to complete self-screening prior to applying." (Long Beach City via Facebook)

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

• Median Listing Home Price $720K
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $603
• Median Sold Home Price $725K

Check out more Long Beach real estate information!

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured announcements:

• Attention AETNA and CIGNA plan members! (Details)
• Add your announcement

Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll be 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