LA City Council Approves SCIG
LOS ANGELES — On May 8, the Los Angeles City Council voted 11–2, Council members Jan Perry and Bernard Parks opposed, and Eric Garcetti absent, to approve the Southern California International Gateway project.
The vote, which was adopted May 10, accepted the Los Angeles Harbor Department determination and the proposed 50-year permit assessed in an environmental impact report that is in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act that the Harbor Commissioners certified March 10. The vote also approved the site preparation and access agreement with BNSF Railway Co. for the construction operation and maintenance of the SCIG facility.
“I am very pleased that the City Council overwhelmingly approved the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project in my district,” Councilman Buscaino wrote on his newsletter.
The $500 million project, which has been met with heavy opposition by community and environmental activists in Wilmington and Long Beach, is supposed to produce about 1,000 construction jobs, 1,500 direct jobs and 22,000 direct and indirect jobs, Buscaino wrote.
Harbor Currents: NEWS May 15, 2013
Harbor Currents: ENTERTAINMENT May 9, 2013
May 10
Kristen Korb
Kristen Korb will perform, at 8 p.m. May 10, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.
Joined by jazz powerhouses, drummer Jeff Hamilton and guitarist Bruce Forman, bassist and vocalist Kristin Korb returns to Southern California to celebrate her new release. Suggested donation is $30.
Details: (800) 403-3447
Venue: Alvas Showroom
Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Harbor Currents: ANNOUNCEMENTS May 8, 2013
May 11
LBPD Conducts DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
The Long Beach Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. May 11, in the department’s North Division area.
Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will also check drivers for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
By John Farrell, Curtain Call Writer
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forumhas become a perennial hit.
It was at Long Beach Playhouse a year or more ago, and there seems to be a version somewhere all the time. No matter. The show is full of great songs and requires a cast that has more respect for laughs than anything else. It always works. Even a performance that is slightly uneven, like that mounted at the Huntington Beach Playhouse, has more than enough in performance values to make a trip. Mind you, this isn’t an altogether great performance.
Teaching the Art of Compromise
By John Farrell
Embraceable Me, is a slight but effective comedy that brings together two people, Victor Holstein as the reluctant male Edward and Lynda Medeiros as Allison. It traces their struggles to make their lives complete after they have managed to each find the perfect mates: each other.
Allison starts the play by addressing the audience. She has found the perfect man and knows it. But for all his perfection he has a very different idea of the kind of life he wants. In the one-act, 80-minute long work, they come together. They first met as college students. Several years later they learned (at least something) about the art of compromise.
C. Ryanne Laratonda directed Victor Cahn’s effective play. She lets the two actors, with minimal costume changes, tell the story themselves (though it is sometimes hard to know when an aside is an aside, and not part of the dialogue).
Looking Will Keep You Laughing
By John Farrell, Curtain Call Writer
If you are looking for a great time, looking for a little — very little, actually —dating advice, or you’re just looking to see another very funny play by Norm Foster, all you’ve got to do is wander over to Little Fish Theatre and seeLooking, a brightly funny and very contemporary comedy that is guaranteed to charm you, right down to the malfunctioning cell phone.
On the new Little Fish stage (actually, the old stage but 8 feet wider now and there is a promise of air conditioning soon) a tennis club and a bar are minimally presented, but don’t worry. It’s the actors that count. Melissa Brandzel as Val, Kimberly Patterson as Nina, David Graham as Andy and Bert Pigg as Matt make Lookinga comedy delight.
Pancake Breakfast Benefits Boston Bombing Victims
Justice for Murdered Children hosted a Roundtable Pancake Breakfast, April 27, in memoriam of the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing.
Justice for Murdered Children recognized the connection of the bombings to the massacres that occurred in Newton, Conn., while applauding quick action of law enforcement in both disasters in assisting victims and their families.
Event attendees included Mayor Jim Dear and Mayor Pro-tem Santarina of Carson, Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Green, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Eddie Rivero, Justice For Homicide Victims, Project Cry No More, Parents of Murdered Children, as well as the families and friends of murdered victims.
Photo by Betty Guevara
Harbor Currents: ANNOUNCEMENTS May 7
May 11
AOC7 Literacy Fair
AOC7 needs volunteers for their first annual Literacy Fair, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11, at Macarthur Park in Long Beach.
There will be music, multicultural dances, literacy booths, storytelling and more. All children will receive a new or gently used book. Please make a difference in your community on this day by signing up to be a volunteer.
Details: (562) 758-5751
Location: 1321 E. Anaheim Blvd., Long Beach
May 11
Undocumented, Queer Talking Circles at The Center
Beginning May 11, The Center Long Beach will host an Undocumented and Queer Talking Circle, on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
The Center is partnering with the Long Beach Immigrants Rights Coalition to a space for undocumented LGBTQ folks to engage with peers in a safe and supportive environment. If you are undocumented and identify as LGBTQ, this space is for you.
Details: (714) 873-6898
May 14
LB City Council Votes on Project Spending
The Long Beach City Council will consider, May 14, whether to approve a contract increase the Job Order Contracting from by $9.86 million.
The Job Order Contracting contractors, New Creation Builders, Exbon Development, Bitech Construction, Allstate Engineering and Thomasville Construction would be authorized to increase from $15 million to more than $24.86 million, as authorized by the Board of Commissioners to the Port of Long Beach executive director for tenant and security improvements at the interim Port Headquarters Building at 4801 Airport Plaza Drive.
Feds May Issue Warning To Protect Children From Tanning Beds
Silver Spring, MD – The FDA issued a proposed order May 6, that, if finalized, would reclassify sunlamp products such as those used in tanning beds and require labeling to include a recommendation designed to warn young people not to use these devices.
On Jan. 1, 2012, California enacted the strictest ban in the country when it declared that anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited from using tanning beds.
There is no word on when the FDA’s proposal would go into effect, if it’s ultimately approved, but those interested in commenting can do so by calling 888-INFO-FDA.
Happy Birthday Devin!
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Mary Lou Martinez and Lorraine Shea celebrated what would have been Devin Hamilton’s 12th birthday, May 5, at Big Nick’s Pizza, with a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Devin died on Jan. 26, 2010, after fighting a battle with cancer.
Donations were accepted at the even in the name of Devin for a research grant to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Visit http://unitetofightbloodcancers.org.