🌱 Standoff On Pearce Ave + Willow Springs Park Milkweed Project

Happy Thursday, Long Beach; today is National Blueberry Popover Day! These are the most important things going on today in Long Beach.

Waving a rifle at Del Valle Park leads to a standoff. Also, help feed the Monarchs! Finally, affordable housing is coming to the 6th District.

First, today's weather:

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 67 Low: 46.

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Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

1. On Wednesday, at around 1 p.m., reports came in of a woman with a rifle at Del Valle Park. When the L.A. County Sheriff responded, she got into a blue SUV, drove off, and “pulled into a driveway in the 4700 block of Pearce Avenue.” A standoff with tense negotiations followed "Deputies used tear gas to end an hours-long standoff" around 5 p.m. (LB Post)
2. The Office of Sustainability has scheduled a Milkweed Day-of-Action event at Willow Springs Park. Located at 2745 Orange Avenue, this event takes place on March 19 between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Residents are invited to volunteer and help plant milkweed to benefit the Monarch butterfly population. (EventBrite)
3. “Mercy Housing’s four-story Long Beach Senior affordable housing development” broke ground on Wednesday morning. Located at 901-941 E. PCH, this building will have 68 units “for seniors ages 55 and up who either have limited incomes or are veterans who have struggled with homelessness.” Leasing will start next year in spring, and the first tenants move in during the fall of 2023. (LB Business Journal)
4. Mayor Robert Garcia announced Tuesday that the City presents a “budget with no service reductions. Anticipated deficits have been slashed.” He credits “a growing economic recovery and responsible budgeting.” (@LongBeachMayor)
5. If you’re making plans for St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll have a full dance card. As of Wednesday, an Almost St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl is scheduled for Saturday downtown and by the Bixby Knolls Business Association near 4321 Atlantic. On March 17, the party will start a 7 a.m. and go all the way until midnight. Pine Avenue is the place to be. (Press-Telegram)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Time Management For The Over Worked at BBSI Long Beach (8 AM)
• Tai Chi for Beginners at Marine Stadium Park (11:45 AM)
• Joint Thirsty Thursday Speed Networking Event with the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber (online) (4 PM)
• Western Pool and Spa Show at the LB Convention Center (6 PM)
• Music, Money, Madness… Jimi Hendrix in Maui at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (9 PM)

From my notebook:

• A weekday win for the LB Dirt Bags ! Bags defeat Pepperdine 2-1. Make sure to come out to Blair this weekend as Long Beach State Athletics hosts #15 Gonzaga. Get your tickets for just $5 for the weekend until Friday at noon. (Instagram)
• The Long Beach Public Library Foundation is hiring! Learn about the opening for a Finance and Operations Manager. (Facebook)
• Are you drowning in junk mail? Long Beach Recycles has the answer!

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new 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.