By John Farrell
Celebrating the beginning of its 15thyear, Casa 010 openedClean Start, a new play by Casa founder Josefina Lopez and Kathy Fischer.
The play opened to an almost full house of celebrants who enjoyed the play’s comic look at the relations between a Mexican maid and her Beverly Hills employer. The celebrants also enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate theater in the reviving Boyle Heights district of East Los Angeles.
Jan. 29
LB Harbor Commission Meeting Reset
The regular meeting of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has been rescheduled — a special meeting will take place, at 6 p.m. Jan. 29, at the port’s Interim Administrative Offices in Long Beach.
Details: (562) 283-7070; www.polb.com/webcast
Venue: Port of Long Beach’s Interim Administrative Offices
Location: 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach
Feb. 3
Long Beach City Council Meeting
The Long Beach City Council will meet, at 5 p.m. Feb. 3, at Long Beach City Hall.
The city council will discuss a revised strategy for the Tidelands Capital Budget and the 5-year Capital Plan. The council also will request for the conversion of 6th Street and 7th Street, between Alamitos Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue from one-way streets to two-way streets, among other items on the agenda.
Details: (562) 570-6101; http://tinyurl.com/LBCC020315
Venue: Long Beach City Hall
Location: 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Feb. 4
Community Meeting on Civic Center
A meeting will be take place, at 6 p.m. Feb. 4, to discuss the proposed Downtown Civic Center Project. This is a great opportunity to learn about the proposal and share your thoughts.
Details:(562) 570-3800;www.LBCivicCenter.com
Venue: Los Altos Library
Location: 5614 E. Britton Drive, Long Beach
Hahn Helps Keep Defense Logistics Jobs in Pedro
Washington, D.C. – On Jan. 28, Rep. Janice Hahn announced that the Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas West office will remain operating in its San Pedro location. The Defense Logistics Agency had announced plans in September to close its San Pedro office and consolidate its operations at a facility in Houston, Texas.
Hahn intervened on behalf of the workers and advocated keeping their jobs in San Pedro, part of her congressional district. Following months of communication between Hahn and Defense Logistics Agency, the agency has decided not to leave San Pedro, and as a result, all employees at the Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas West office on Gaffey Street in San Pedro will be able to keep their jobs.
Post Office Burglar Gets Five Years in Prison
LOS ANGELES – The leader of a burglary ring that targeted post offices and stole boxes full of mail was sentenced Jan. 28 to five years in federal prison.
Jose Manual Guerra, also known as “Tricky,” 45, of Los Angeles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt.
Guerra pleaded guilty in September to postal burglary and admitted that he used a crowbar to forcibly break into the North Torrance Post Office on Crenshaw Boulevard on Oct. 24, 2013, with the intent to steal mail.
When he pleaded guilty, Guerra also admitted that he broke into at least two other post offices in the fall of 2013. Guerra may have been involved in five other burglaries, according to court documents.
Authorities believe that Guerra learned he was wanted by law enforcement in connection with the postal burglaries and that he fled California to avoid arrest. In December 2013, he was arrested by postal inspectors. A search of his then-residence in New Mexico resulted in the recovery of checks, credit cards, various forms of identification all issued in the names of others, credit card statements, bank statements and other items sent through the mail. Some of the checks recovered had been washed and altered.
Individual victims suffered losses of about $1,800 when their checks were altered and cashed by Guerra.
Hahn, Duncan Introduce Legislation to Repay Surviving WWII Merchant Mariners
Washington, D.C.—On Jan. 27, Reps. Janice Hahn (CA-44) and John Duncan Jr. (TN-2) introduced the “Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015.”
This legislation would provide surviving Merchant Marines who served during World War II with a modest benefit for their bravery and sacrifice.
During World War II, more than 200,000 Americans served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and aided our nation’s military efforts in both Europe and the Pacific. Thousands of our Merchant Mariners faced enemy attack and died at sea while hundreds more were captured and held as prisoners of war. Despite having the highest casualty rate of any U.S. service during the war, they were not eligible to receive veteran’s benefits
The legislation would provide a one-time lump sum of $25,000 to each of surviving World War II Merchant Marines. As many of these veterans are now well into their 90s, and fewer than 5,000 Merchant Mariners who served in World War II are alive, Hahn stressed the importance of passing this bill as quickly as possible.
By Davey D. Cook, Guest Columnist and Oakland-based Community Activist
A few thoughts on the movie Selma: First and foremost go see it. Again, I repeat, go see the movie.
It’s powerful; it’s moving; it’s inspiring; it opens the doors for deeper and more critical conversations. At a time when the rewriting textbooks in many states have completely erased movements, heroes and heroines, this movie takes on added importance.
At a time when states, such as Arizona, are going full tilt in banning and removing books from the classroom and are making it unlawful to have ethnic studies taught in the classroom, Selma is important.
By Ivan Adame, Editorial Intern
The Jan. 26 community forum on the Port of Los Angeles’ proposal to cap its annual mitigation spending to 10 percent of its operating income provoked a heated response from the community.
The forum, which took place at the Warner Grand Theatre, began with a presentation from POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka. Seroka said that there are numerous challenges in business. That, in combination with its current annual spending and the exhausted borrowing of $1.1 billion out of a possible $1.2 billion, makes it necessary to have a new 10-year budget that must limit the spending of projects along the waterfront to 10 percent of its annual income. This will decrease the funding from a relative $60 million to $20 million.
The new time frame given by the proposal, along with the decrease in funding, has provoked a unanimous disapproval amongst the community and its leaders.
“We are asking that they be prioritized and that they be funded through the Harbor Department this next budget year, and that items such as litigation and mitigation for previous environmental issues be struck from the draft policy plan,” said John Preston Allen, president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council. “We do this in cooperation with all the neighborhood councils and to some extent the San Pedro, Harbor City and Wilmington chambers of commerce.”
“This is 40 years in the making,” said James Dimon, president of Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. “We’ve had these meetings before. I think we’ve even met here, but the people of this community are asking that we get a working relationship that is continual so that our kids 40 years from now aren’t sitting in this room having the same conversation.”
More than 30 speakers from the community spoke that night with common concerns about the extended wait for a finished waterfront, the amount of money allocated for the projects, and the public image of the San Pedro and Wilmington waterfronts compared to ports in San Francisco, Long Beach and San Diego.
Seroka promised that these two meetings are the beginning of continued dialogue between themselves and the public.
“This is not meant to be one gathering, a snapshot in time,” Seroka said. “This is the beginning of what I consider an engagement for a relationship and partnership going into the future.”
Jan. 30
Murder on the Nile
Witness the Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, Jan. 30 through Feb. 14, at the Long Beach Playhouse. In this classic by the modern mistress of mystery, we travel through the Dark Continent along with master sleuth, Canon Pennefather, as he uncovers an audacious conspiracy and brings the criminals to justice. Passion, jealousy, infidelity and murder make this a honeymoon cruise you will not soon forget.
Details: (562) 494-1014; www.lbplayhouse.org
Venue: Long Beach Playhouse
Location: 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach
Jan. 30
Feral Child
Enjoy Feral Child, Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, at The Found Theatre in Long Beach. The performance centers around Greta, a distraught young woman, and her perspective of societal constructs. Tickets are $10.
Details: (562) 433-3363; foundtheatre.org
Venue: The Found Theatre
Location: 599 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach
Feb. 1
Pick of the Vine
A veritable bounty of short plays offered up by authors from all over the world. What happens when you don’t throw a pinch of dropped salt over your shoulder? Or to the trash you throw out? Or when a prank phone call turns into a conversation? Come find out the answers to these questions and more as this season’s “picks” serve you a delectable evening of entertainment in 5-10 minute bites. Runs Feb.1 at 2 p.m. and Feb. 5 and Feb. 12 at 8 p.m.
Details: (310) 512-6030
Venue: Little Fish Theatre
Location: 777 S. Centre St., San Pedro
Feb. 7
Wendy Whelan
Wendy Whelan performs, at 8 p.m. Feb. 7, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Restless Creature is a collaboration with choreographers Kyle Abraham, Joshua Beamish, Brian Brooks, and Alejandro Cerrudo to create a suite of elegant and thrilling duets.
Details: (562) 985-7000; CarpenterArts.org
Venue: Carpenter Performing Arts Center
Location: 6200 Atherton Street, Long Beach
Feb. 8
AKA Doc Pomus
Watch AKA Doc Pomus, starting at 8 p.m. Feb. 8, a the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.
Doc Pomus was the most unlikely of rock & roll icons. Paralyzed with polio as a child, Brooklyn-born Jerome Felder reinvented himself first as a blues singer, renaming himself Doc Pomus, then as a songwriter, creating some of the greatest hits of the early rock and roll era: “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “This Magic Moment,” “A Teenager in Love,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and a thousand others.
Details: (310) 833-4813
Venue: Warner Grand
Location: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro
Feb. 14
AACTFest 2015
The Playhouse is excited and honored to host American Association of Community Theatre’s Festival 2015, Feb. 14, at the Long Beach Playhouse.
Up to four competing theaters will compete with 60-minute performances to be performed, adjudicated and awarded the same day.The winning theatre will go onto regional competitions.
Details: (562) 494-1014; www.lbplayhouse.org
Venue: Long Beach Playhouse
Location: 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach
Feb. 18
End of the Rainbow
Peter Quilter’s savagely funny, tour de force musical drama about the final days of Judy Garland’s life takes place, Feb. 18 through March 15, at International City Theatre in Long Beach. The play features some of her most memorable songs including “The Man That Got Away,” “Come Rain Or Come Shine,” “The Trolley Song” and, of course, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Cost is $34 to $54.
Details: (562) 436-4610; www.InternationalCityTheatre.org
Venue: International City Theatre, Long Beach Performing Arts Center
Location: 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Feb. 6
Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Come out and participate in this three-day celebration of black history, from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 6, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 7 and 8, at the Expo Arts Center in Long Beach.
These events feature The Forgotten Images Collection, the Mamie Hansberry Art Collection, Civil Rights Era Long Beach women in Breaking Through, Lighting the Way, Duke Givens’ photo exhibit, Power of Choice, and music by Charles Julian Fearing and Sweet Baby J’ai.
Details: www.andystreetlb.org
Venue: Expo Arts Center
Location: 4321 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
Feb. 8
Gettin’ Off the Ground’s
The opening reception for Gettin’ Off the Ground’s is, from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 8, at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro. The exhibit explores the stories of veterans and military families.
Details: www.angelsgateart.org
Venue: Angels Gate Cultural Center
Location: 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro
Feb. 16
Artistic Adventure
Artistic Adventure, opens Feb. 16 and continues through March 29, at the Promenade Gallery in Rolling Hills Estates.
An opening reception is scheduled, from 3 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28. Artists Joyce Walsh, Beverly Holman and Don Cocker will be featured.
Details: (310) 265-2592; www.artists-studio-pvac.com
Venue: Artists’ Studio Gallery
Location: 5400 Crestridge Road, Rolling Hills Estates
March 8
The Purple Forrest
The Palos Verde Art Center presentsPaul Jean Martel: Post Impressionist, a comprehensive survey of the artist’s work from small studio sketches to fully realized paintings, through March 8. The exhibition explores the trajectory of the artist’s career both in Europe and the United States.
Details: http://pvartcenter.org
Venue: Palos Verdes Art Center
Location: 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes
Jan. 30
Farmers Market
San Pedro’s Farmers Market will have farm fresh produce and craft vendors, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 30, in San Pedro’s Historic Waterfront District.
Details: (562) 449-9299
Venue: San Pedro Waterfront District
Location: 443 W. 6th St., San Pedro
Jan. 31
Waterfront Market
The Waterfront Market will have all organic produce, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 31, at the San Pedro Downtown Harbor.
Venue: San Pedro Downtown Harbor
Location: Berth 84, foot of 6thSt. at Harbor Blvd., San Pedro
Jan. 31
Westmont College Invitational
The Mariner’s Men’s and Women’s Track teams will compete, starting at 11 a.m. Jan. 31, at the Westmont College Invitational.
Details: www.MarinerAthletics.com
Venue: Westmont College
Location: 955 La Paz Road, Santa Barbara
Feb. 6
The Golden Shore – California’s Love Affair with the Sea
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium invites you to meet David Helvarg, author and executive director of the Blue Frontier, at the Discovery Lecture Series, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 6. In recounting his discoveries researching The Golden Shore, his critically acclaimed book on how California is defined by the Pacific, Helvarg will share the amazing history, culture and changing nature of the California coast and ocean. Lecture is free. RSVP.
Details: (310) 548-7562; lecture@cmaqua.org
Venue: John M. Olguin Auditorium
Location: 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
Feb. 6
Marymount Alumni Happy Hour
Marymount alumni are invited to attend the Second Annual Alumni Happy Hour, starting at 5 p.m. Feb. 6, at the Ports O’Call Waterfront Restaurant. RSVP is required.
Details: (310) 303-7223
Venue: Ports O’Call Waterfront Dining
Location: 1200 Nagoya Way, San Pedro
Feb. 6
First Fridays Mardi Gras
Enjoy the Mardi Gras parade, the Black History Month celebration and all the usual art, music and more starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6.
Details: (562) 595-0081; www.FirstFridaysLongBeach.com
Venue: Bixby Knolls Neighborhood
Location: Atlantic Avenue between Bixby Road and San Antonio Drive
Feb. 7
Festival de Amigos/Friend Fest
Enjoy a day of live music, dancing, art and much more, starting at 1 p.m. Feb. 7, at Drake Park in Long Beach.
Details: (562) 270-4352
Venue: Drake Park
Location: 951 Maine Ave., Long Beach
Feb. 7
Marymount California University Family Day
All students and their families are invited to spend a day on campus and experience the spirit of Marymount California University, starting at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7.
Details: (310) 303-7627; www.MarymountCalifornia.edu
Venue: Oceanview Campus
Location: 30800 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rancho Palos Verdes
Feb. 8
South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society
Paul Klaassen, of Wiltshire, UK, will present “FOG” a program on fog deserts visited in Chile, Baja California, and Namibia, focusing on the spectacular and unusual succulent plants that grow there, starting at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 8, at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Details: southcoastcss.org
Venue: South Coast Botanic Garden
Location: 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula
Feb. 10
Greece: The Road Taken
Bruce Schwartz’s film will play, at 7 p.m. Feb. 10, at the Grand Annex in San Pedro. The film will be followed by a Q-and-A with the filmmaker and editor.
Details: (310) 833-4813; www.GreeceRoadTaken.com
Venue: The Grand Annex
Location: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro
Feb. 14
Tidepool Wonders
Bring family and friends to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s John M. Olguin Auditorium, starting at 11 a.m. Feb. 14 or 12 p.m. Feb. 15, for an informative slide show, followed by a walk led by the aquarium education staff to the nearby Point Fermin tide pools where you can explore some excellent low tides on the rocky shore.
Details: (310) 548-7562; www.CabrilloMarineAquarium.org
Venue: John M. Olguin Auditorium
Location: 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
Feb. 14
Salt Marsh Open House
Join Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators and Coastal Park Naturalists, from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 14, as they help uncover the world of mud and water that is our local wetland at Salinas de San Pedro Salt Marsh.
Details: (310) 548-7562; www.CabrilloMarineAquarium.org
Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Location: 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
Feb. 14
Sweetheart Sail
Enjoy a magical evening aboard Los Angeles’ Official Tall Ships as you sail the Los Angeles Harbor with your special someone, starting at 5 p.m. Feb. 14.
Details: (310) 833-6055
Venue: Ports O’Call Village
Location: Berth 78 in the Ports O’Call Village
Jan. 26
110 Freeways Construction to Close Figueroa Street Overnight
Figueroa Street closures will begin overnight from C Street to the John S. Gibson, Figueroa, Harry Bridges intersection from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Jan. 26 to Jan. 30, as part of a Port of Los Angeles interchange and roadway construction project in Wilmington. C Street on- and off-ramps on the 110 Freeway will remain open.
Details: (310) 732-3617; www.portoflosangeles.org
Location: C Street, John S. Gibson Boulevard, Figueroa Avenue, Harry Bridges Boulevard
Jan. 28
Volunteers needed for Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count
Join the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council in a homeless count starting on 8 p.m. on Jan. 28 in the Greater Los Angeles area. The count will help secure the funding needed to provide services to the homeless. Volunteers can choose their deployment center after registering at TheyCountWillYou.org
Details: (213) 683-3333; www.lahsa.org
Jan. 29
POLB Chief Executive Gives State of the Port
Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup will give his first annual State of the Port address, from 8 to 10 a.m. on Jan. 29, to offer a review of the 2014 and upcoming challenges this year. The address will begin live broadcasting at 8:15 a.m. in the Pacific Ballroom in the Long Beach Convention Center.
Details: www.polb.com/stateoftheport
Venue: Long Beach Convention Center
Location: 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Jan. 30
POLA to Host Environmental Summit
The Port of Los Angeles will host an Environmental Summit, from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 30, at Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington.
The summit will discuss ongoing environmental initiatives and priorities and any future programs and potential sustainability and growth of the port.
Details: www.porttechla.org
Venue: Banning’s Landing Community Center
Location: 100 E. Water St., Wilmington
Feb. 2
Youth Opportunity Center Schedule Changes
The Youth Opportunity Center announced changes in its operation hours to Monday through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Feb. 2. through Oct. 2. The changes will allow the center to serve students six days per week and during off-hours.
Details: (562) 570-9675; www.pacific-gateway.org/youth
Venue: Youth Opportunity Center
Location: 3447 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
Feb. 7
Join the Beach Cleanup and Native Garden Workday
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium encourages volunteers to participate in their monthly Beach Clean-Up and Native Garden Workday, from 8 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 7.
Details: (310) 548-7562; www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org
Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Location: 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
Feb. 11
Child Abuse Response Team
The Child Abuse Response Team wants volunteers who respond 24/7 to hospitals when a child may have been sexually assaulted in Long Beach, Torrance, or San Pedro. The next volunteer training begins in February, which includes requirements of attending monthly meetings on the second Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and more. The first will be on Feb. 11.
Details: (562) 422-8472; cgutierrez@forthechild.org
Location: 4565 California Ave., Long Beach
Feb. 11
AltaSea First Development Phase of Master Plan Campus Construction Meeting
A Special Preview of AltaSea will look at Phase 1 often the campus construction master plan, Feb. 11 from 4 to 6 p.m., at City Dock No. 1 at the Port of Los Angeles, Berth 58, at 22nd and Signal Street in San Pedro.
Free parking and shuttle will be available from the parking lot at 22nd Streetand Miner Street.
Details: (310) 770-1638; pmeans@altasea.org
Venue: City Dock No. 1
Location: Berth 58, 22nd near Signal Street, San Pedro
Feb. 15
Willow and Wardlow Blue Line Stations Continue Closures for Upgrades
The Willow and Wardlow Blue Line Stations are scheduled to close for upgrades in the upcoming weekends after 9 p.m. until Feb. 15.
A free bus shuttle will be offered during weekends from the Del Amo and Pacific Coast Highway stations.
Details: www.tinyurl.com/WillowWardlowClosures
Location: Willow and Wardlow Blue Line Stations
Feb. 17
Airport Noise Ordinance Study Session
The Long Beach City Council will discuss a requested study session regarding the history and structure of the Airport Noise Ordinance at 4 p.m. on Feb. 17 in the Council Chambers at Long Beach City Hall.
Details: www.longbeach.gov
Venue: Long Beach City Hall
Location: 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Feb. 26
8th District Youth Ambassador Council Hosts First Meeting
New 8th District Youth Ambassador Council will have the first meeting of the year at 5 p.m. on Feb. 26, at their field office in Long Beach.
Details:(562) 570-6685; www.tinyurl.com/8thDistrictMeeting
Location: 5641 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
President Barack Obama’s announcement that he was going to normalize relations with Cuba was met with surprise—a surprise that was welcomed in some quarters.
The mainstream press has by and large described the Cuban American response to the announcement as muted.
Real people. Real news. Random Lengths is the Los Angeles harbor area's remaining independently owned progressive news magazine. We cover news in Carson, Wilmington, Long Beach, Lomita, Torrance, Rancho Palos Verdes and San Pedro.
Contact us: letters@randomlengthsnews.com
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