🌱 Shoutout To Officer Marshall + SUV Fire At 405 Katella Offramp

Happy Wednesday, people of Long Beach; today is National Puppy Day! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

LBPD Officer Marshall shows he’s a Mensch. Also, there was a vehicle fire backing up traffic on the 405. Finally, what’s happening with the Drake-Chavez Master Plan?

First, today's weather:

Sunny and very warm. High: 83 Low: 58.

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Here are the top five stories in Long Beach today:

1. Earlier this month, we talked about the Dream Catcher of Los Angeles Therapeutic Riding Center that was robbed. On Monday, we learned that LBPD Officer Marshall made some personal calls and was able “to facilitate the donation of multiple bags of horse-riding equipment and a replacement horse saddle.” Thank you, Officer Marshall! (Patch, @LBPD)
2. What was that plume of black smoke you saw on Monday? It was a rush-hour vehicle fire on the 605 in Los Alamitos “between the Katella off-ramp and the 405 Freeway transition.” Traffic backed up quickly on the 405 in Long Beach. (Patch)
3. In 2009, the City Council approved the Drake-Chavez Master Plan that would connect the parks. We learned Monday that “it could take $10 million to fully implement the plan, and the city is preparing to lobby the state Legislature for that money.” Last year, the City unsuccessfully requested an $8.5 million grant. (LB Post)
4. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, members Al Austin, Suely Saro, and Roberto Uranga explored the feasibility of using Recovery Act funds to establish a Cultural Events Fund. Another noteworthy line item is the recommendation to amend the contract “for providing temporary lodging and emergency shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness” to show an increase of “$1,028,785, for a revised aggregate contract amount not to exceed $2,778,785.” (City of LB)
5. Vegan sushi? Yes! The Vegan Castle at 2400 Santa Fe Avenue offers the volcano roll, which combines replacements for shrimp and spicy tuna with “jalapeño, avocado, and cucumber. The nori is coated with panko, and the entire roll is quickly deep-fried to crisp it up.” Insiders in the know said earlier this week that the “Vegan Castle is amazing in that every texture is mimicked perfectly.” (The HiLo)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Veteran No Cost Training Info Session with Employed Security Service Center Inc. (10 AM)
• Virtual Healthcare Job Fair (11 AM to 2 PM)
• Improving Fertility Naturally - Free Online Workshop (11 AM)
• Book Writing & Publishing Masterclass Webinar (4 PM to 7 PM)
• NA Meeting at First Lutheran Church (7 PM)

From my notebook:

• Here's a sneak peek behind Long Beach Airport construction barricades of what will be the new Ticketing Lobby Plaza. The new, modern facility will streamline the passenger experience from curb to gate and complement the adjacent Historic Terminal. (Instagram)
• The Long Beach Public Library has new crafting programs coming to the Teen Lounge at BJK Main starting March 29! If you’re between the ages of 13 - 17, stop by the Teen Lounge on L2 every 4th Tuesday of the month between 5 - 6:30PM. (Facebook)
• The Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine will offer its after-school program for children ages 5 to 12 at various parks across the city through the end of the school year. (Facebook)
• The Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services (LBDHHS) has developed an 'Equity Investment Framework to Grants and Awards' and is hosting a meeting for community partners on March 24 to showcase the framework and present funding opportunities. (Facebook)
• LA County's Guaranteed Income Program will start accepting applications on Thursday, March 31 until Wednesday, April 13. 1,000 participants will be randomly selected. (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! See you tomorrow morning for 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.