🌱 Swimming Beaches Still Closed + Beachwood Tasting Room On 2nd?

Welcome back, Long Beach, and happy National Whipped Cream Day! It's Wednesday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in town.

Swimming beaches in LB are still closed. Also, we might be getting a Beachwood BBQ & Brewing tasting room, y’all! Finally, the sewage spill cleanup continues with car washes and grass replacement.

First, today's weather:

Fog to sun. High: 65 Low: 47.

Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. Some beaches around L.A. County and Orange County are reopening. Swimming beaches in Long Beach are not among them. The L.A. Times reported Tuesday that the LB Health Department has not yet given the green light to have people return to the water. (@latimes)
2. The Long Beach Planning Commission is deciding on a Beachwood BBQ & Brewing tasting room. As noted on Monday, if approved, the venue would open at the shopping center on 2nd & PCH. The company intends to “operate a 170-square-foot shipping container positioned in the open promenade area of the shopping center, where it could serve beer to go and for on-site consumption.” (LB Post)
3. The L.A. County Sanitation District is trying to clean up the Carson sewage spill. According to residents, they gave out claim forms for those who had “severe property damages,” plan to “replace front yard grass tainted by the sewage” and offered free car washes to affected residents. A public information officer explained that the District intends to fix the collapsed sewer line with slip-lining on Monday, which means “placing a 42-inch pipe within the sewer to provide a new, corrosion-resistant pipe to carry the sewage.” Installation may take up to five days, keeping the 110 off-ramp closed until then. (Daily Breeze/paywall)
4. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Long Beach are going up. As of Friday, the City reported 1,809 new cases “in one of the highest two-day jumps since the start of the pandemic.” Some 178 people are hospitalized, which is a significant jump from the 52 patients that were there two weeks ago. County health officials urge residents not to visit “the emergency department solely to get a COVID test or for minor complaints that could be resolved through their primary care physician.” (LB Post)
5. OC-based real estate developer and investor Burnham Ward Properties has sold the Long Beach Exchange. The retail complex, which cost about $100 million to develop, sold for more than $160 million. PGIM Real Estate, the Exchange’s new owner, is “a real estate management affiliate of Prudential Financial Inc.” (BisNow)
   

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Today in Long Beach:

• Sell Your Camera Gear at Tuttle Cameras (free event) (10 AM to 5 PM)
• MOLAA features Gabriella Sanchez: Partial Pictures (11 AM to 5 PM)
• The Brea Improv presents Mike Cano’s Comedy Party (8 PM)
• Death Disco DJs at Alex’s Bar (9 PM)
• Karaoke Night at Boomer’s Cocktail Lounge (9 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Long Beach State Athletics Player of the Week is Maddi Utti! Utti scored 20 points against CSUB as the team started Big West play 2-0 and improved to 9-1 on the season! (Instagram)
• Leadership Long Beach has a MLK Day of Service first project spotlight: The Peace Garden Project. Volunteers will make the garden a more usable and safe space. (Facebook)
• A kind Los Altos-Abbeyfield neighbor found a dog at the back of their house. Looks like it’s been out for a while. (Nextdoor)
• Our Ridgewood Triangle neighbor would like to build their portfolio for pet portraits and senior portraits. They're offering my mini sessions at half off. (Nextdoor)
• A Hamilton neighbor needs a handyman who can insulate under the house. Most likely 16-inch centers. Raised foundation. They will supply all materials needed. (Nextdoor)
• Our Cal Heights neighbor found a rabbit on 37th N Falcon St. It is very friendly. (Nextdoor)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow 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.