2030 Plan for Long Beach

If any of you are interested in being part of the future of Long Beach please contact the planning department and ask to be added to this list. Your input is valued and requested. Let's work together to make LB even greater than it already is.


CITY OF LONG BEACH
DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
333 West Ocean Blvd., 4th Floor  Long Beach, CA 90802  Phone:  570.5237   Fax:  570.6205

April 20, 2011
 
Dear Neighborhood Association Members,
 
2010 was another successful year for Long Beach neighborhood associations, which helped advance Long Beach’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life within the city. We saw continued successes in neighborhood revitalization, citizen participation, and code enforcement. From your direct involvement in planning projects, your efforts have led to the beautification of our parks, neighborhoods, and street parkways, and enrichment of the overall fabric of our city.
 
Your successes are related to your many outstanding volunteer efforts and contributions toward the betterment of Long Beach. In 2010, the Willmore City Heritage Association (WHCA) won Neighborhood, USA’s “Neighborhood of the Year” first place award in the category of Physical Revitalization – Single Neighborhood, for restoring a 106-year-old house, saving it from demolition, and helping a local family purchase the home – removing two blighted vacant lots in the process. At one Craftsman Village Historic District’s monthly graffiti removal and neighborhood clean up alone, 200 volunteers removed nine tons of trash and debris from surrounding streets and alleys. This is just one of many similar efforts that took place throughout the city. Neighborhood associations have also contributed to greening efforts by planting trees throughout Long Beach. At the North Alamitos Beach Association’s Neighborhood Tree Planting last July, volunteers planted 35 new trees in the area. And the neighborhood associations also help build community, such as the West East-Side Community Association’s extremely successful annual Halloween Carnival at Orizaba Park where approximately 700 people attended the festivities.

In 2011, the Planning Commission will need your help with our planning processes for now and the future. We are working on our Long Beach 2030 plan, which includes evaluating zoning requirements within the city. Our successes in that effort count on community participation and support. We encourage you to recruit and involve as many of your neighbors as possible to participate in the process.
 
On behalf of all the members of the Planning Commission, we again thank you for your commitment to improving our neighborhoods.
 
Sincerely,    

Charles Durnin
Chair
Long Beach Planning Commission

Amy J. Bodek, AICP
Director
Long Beach Development Services

More Rain

More rain is coming tomorrow. We were having dreams of Big Bear Mountain but the road is closed. Typical.

Rain

I kick myself for not being ready with the rain barrels. Right now its sunny and raining, I feel like I'm Hawaii except that its kinda cold.

Another good one from Jose.

Its Raining

Thanks Jose for the pictures of your street here in Wrigley.

Cookie Contest and Shopping at the Farmers Market

Hello to all the bakers....I'll be there as a judge so make sure to bake in lots of love!

Please send a note out to your network about the upcoming December 20th
Farmers Market at Longfellow!

We have a great day planned, including a cookie baking contest and a Santa
photo op.

Please direct any bakers to the web site to enter the contest by simply
filling out the contact form! Categories include: kids, open division and
decorated...

Thanks for your support!!!

PS. This is the last market before Christmas and there are tons of great
gift ideas to choose from at the market!! Honey, bees wax candles, soaps,
plants, jewelry, felted stockings and needle felted Holiday figures and on
and on!!


--
Long Beach Sunday Market in California Heights
Certified Farmers Market
Sundays from 9am - 2pm
Located on the Longfellow Elementary School Playground
California Avenue at Bixby Road
Long Beach 90807

Market Manager - Kelli Johnson
Email - Info@LongBeachSundayMarket.com
Website - Http://LongBeachSundayMarket.com
562-528-6259

Made possible through a grant from the Connected Corridor Project

Wrigley Streetscape

Its about time...

Rose Park Restoration Fair

The Husband took some great pictures of the Rose Park Restoration Fair. B&B Hardware was there.
We maybe should have bought these roosters for our gate we are building. Maybe they didn't sell them and have them back at the store. B&B is a little expensive but do have some great things. Our neighbor kid worked there for a little while and said the owner was a total nightmare. But he is 16 and kinda pissed so who knows what the real story is.


KP Douglas was there, he had fantastic items. I might have to get in a little closer with this guy. Beautiful fixtures. There I am with my friend Candy, Hi Candy!Kathy Alford was also there. She is a new friend of mine. She is helping us with the Wrigley Garden. Kathy had a beautiful booth, super cute designs.


It was a great event. many more vendors were there. Painters and all the different historical districts were there. Perhaps Wrigley will be represented next year. Great job Rose Park.

I Heart Long Beach...Port

Today I would like to thank the port of Long Beach. They are trying to expand, they have donated parks and other things trying to bribe the public into thinking that they are not the monster. I mean what would my fellow Long Beach residents do with a long life? From what I hear good health and happy retirement are overrated anyway.

Amongst the smog parks and polluted beaches the port does have a trucks going green program. I suppose that something is better than nothing. The teamsters have a problem with it but ya know what. Time to get a new truck, screw it. They are talking about a better rail system instead of all the diesel trucks going up and down the 710 corridor but the opposition of that is they have to actually build it which will take too many years. They have the defense that they are creating jobs, we have the complaint that we are dying an early death. Its a long ass fight that nobody wins.

Here is the latest offer from The Port of Long Beach. This is taken from the Wrigley Area News & Events. They are simply reporting what's happening and I thank them for that.

Port Grants Meeting- Wed, June 17th 7pm Hudson Elementary School, 2335 Hudson St Also June 24 at Memorial Medical Center, 2801 Atlantic Avenue Air filters for schools, health education projects eligible Schools, daycare centers, convalescent homes, senior centers, medical facilities, shipping terminals and others are eligible for $15 million in Port of Long Beach grants to minimize the impact of Port operations on air quality and greenhouse gases. The grants program is part of a comprehensive strategy to offset the impacts of port-related operations in the community, primarily air pollution risks for vulnerable groups such as children and seniors. Examples of projects that may be eligible for grants include air filtration systems at schools, daycare centers, and senior health care centers. Port officials will discuss the grants and be available at the meetings to answer questions about grant eligibility and how the funds will be awarded. A citizen advisory committee will be formed to make recommendations to the Port’s Board of Harbor Commissioners. The $15 million in grants will be divided equally among three general areas: 1) Schools and related sites. 2) Healthcare and senior facilities. 3) Greenhouse gases project.

So I can't get a air filtration system because I'm not old or because I have not reproduced. Um...thanks.

Home Restoration Fair In Long Beach

Thanks to Candy for reminding me. This weekend, I expect everyone from Wrigley to attend. :) See you there!

2009 Restoration Trade Fair & Fundraiser

Brings Together Restoration Specialists, Artisans, City Experts &
Non-Profit Organizations

Sunday, June 28th 9am-4pm
Luther Burbank School, 4th & Junipero, Long Beach

The event is Free to RPNA members and all children under 18; $5 for all
others. Parking is free.

This is a one-day, one-stop event to help homeowners in Historic Districts
restore and refurbish their homes. This year’s theme is “Do it Yourself/Do
it With Help”, which means: workshops, workshops, workshops! Also, this
year, we’ll feature onsite food and more entertainment.

We will have fifty (50) specialty vendors, experts knowledgeable in The
City of Long Beach’s historic guidelines, guest speakers, classes, and
exhibits throughout the day.

The event is a fundraiser for the Rose Park Neighborhood Association (RPNA,
a 501c non-profit organization), with sponsorship by American Bungalow
magazine, Barbara Paul Landscape Design, Benjamin Moore Paints, Cottages &
Bungalows magazine, Realtors: Jeff Anderson, Maureen Wharton, Shannon
Jones, as well as UPS (7th/Redondo).

Again, this year, we’ll be featuring an “Opportunity Drawing” with Grand
Prizes that include an entire landscape design for your home from Barbara
Paul, Landscape Design (restrictions apply), a whole house-worth of
Benjamin Moore’s Very Best (limitations apply), and gift certificates and
baskets from local vendors.

Shop Local and Save! After the event, check out the shops along 4th
Street’s “Retro Row” for all your interior furnishing and personal fashion
needs. Participating merchants offer a 10% discount for Trade Fair
attendees! (www.4thstreetlongbeach.com).


The Trade Fair opens to the public at 9am and the event goes until 4pm.
Parking is available off Dawson (1 block west of Junipero). For cyclists
and pedestrians, come in the Junipero entrance and be greeted by restored
work trucks and their owners.
For more information, and a complete schedule-in-progress, go to:
www.rpna-tradefair.org sign up to receive updates as we get closer to the
event, email us at info@rpna-tradefair.org or call (562) 219-3526.

Wrigley Garden- Oh Yeah!

I'm a little embarrassed to admit I have 2 blogs. This one is about the house and a little bit about our city, Long Beach. I originally started this blog so our friends and family all over the world could see what we were up to. It has definitely evolved, its really great to look back at all the progress. Its amazing we have come this far in such a short amount of time. Its a beautiful house.

The 2nd blog is something I started as a forum to share homegrown crops, food trader if you will. We call this blog the Chalkboard. My thought was that the 'menu' will forever be changing and it can be posted on the 'chalkboard' once its gone we wipe it clean and start over. Forever new and exciting.

So speaking of new and exciting. Today's posting on the Chalkboard is really something special. We have been approved to start our community garden. Its a huge step for not only the street that it sits on but the neighborhood as a whole. Henderson Ave where the garden will be is a sad state. Its about a block from our house but such a world away.

Please check the Chalkboard if you are interested in following the Wrigley Garden story or if you would like a plot please email me and I'll put you on la lista.

Thanks for all the support. Yay for veggies grown in the LBC.

chalkboardcoop@mac.com

Long Beach Unified- Boo!

My good friend Can'tStayJose took this picture this morning.

Here is his message:
this is why we have money problems in this state. I was walking the dogs this morning and saw this under a bridge on anaheim street in long beach. Im not mad but sad people suffer because of this. PLEASE PASS THIS AROUND
Consider is passed.

Agenda From Last Night

City Council Meeting- Take 2

The first city council meeting I attended went so well (not) I thought I would go for it again. This time we the poeple got what we wanted. I posted the Press Telegram article on my co-op blog so I will skip that part of the story.

This version goes something like this, short version. The president of our neighborhood association approached me over a year ago to help her start a community garden. There is a parcel of vacant property attached to the back of her property that was once a crack house. They had the building demolished (before our time but no small feat i'm sure) and now stands a vacant lot.

Since I work ridiculous hours I enlisted another neighbor to help me with the project. We found a separate piece of land on our 'main street' and decided to pursue that land instead of the Henderson property. We liked it for the profile and thought it would really help out with the 2030 Long Beach General Plan.

Anyway, that land owner was very interested but she wanted some sort of tax incentive, I do not blame her one bit. The board we approached to be the umbrella for this garden was not interested in her proposal. And that is where the garden died, or so I thought.

Since I am currently in between shows I thought it would be the perfect time to start up the garden project again. Plus something warm and fuzzy about spring it really makes me want to 'get my stuff done'.

Well I guess someone else had the garden torch going all along because at about noon today I was told that the original property was on the agenda for the LB city council.

Long story a little shorter. It passed and now we are on the road to corn!

Thank goodness someone is paying attention.

4.7 Quake Hit The LB

Last night The Husband invited a few of our friends over for the season opener. We BBQ'd some ribs, had salad from the garden, drank cold beer and lived through my first major earthquake.

What?

We were sitting outside talking up a storm and next thing you know the ground was going through a shaking motion and then it felt more like an up and down chopping feeling. It felt like it was right under our feet. Pretty wild.

We had a few things break and the roses on the table lost most of their leaves.

Happy Sunday, happy Long Beach.

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-quake19-2009may19,0,5541589.story

Long Beach Gap And Stuff

Yesterday we went on a walk at the Dominguez Gap. If you have never been there you should really go and enjoy it. Its a pretty neat little habitat where the LA River and the Compton Creek have some sort of little side venture. Its been restored and has a really nice walking trail. There are tons of natives planted along the edges, I missed out I should have visited about a month ago when everything was in full bloom. Next year I will have to remember when my poppies are blooming I need to get out and look around.

I found this article to help explain where it is. The trail looks a little different now but its totally worth checking out. Dogs on leashes are welcome and our monsters LOVE going there.

http://longbeachnaturalareas.blogspot.com/2008/05/dominguez-gap-wetlands.html

What started that information was because I looked on Fresh Dirt this morning and I saw that the gardens @ Rancho Los Alamitos are open. I have never been there, perhaps I'll drag The Husband there for the opening event.

See ya'll at the gardens.

Saturday, June 6, 11:30 am to 5:00 pm with an event it is calling In the Nature of the Place: Native Plants and Mediterranean Gardens.

Breaking News

I have come to the conclusion that growing a flower garden from seed takes a long ass time.

Thank you-

You Must Be The BIG Winner!

Dear House on Red Hill,

I specially enjoyed your view on your neighborhood Lions and forgotten holidays. Check this one out...

The Husband gets to walk the dogs every morning, I'm already at work so on the weekend I adventure with them. I prefer to ride my bike and cruise around. A few weeks ago I was riding my bike with the pack and we came across this house.

Looks like any other mid century military housing. Little 50's box, they are everywhere in Long Beach and all over California. Upon closer inspection we saw this in the front yard.

and then all of these...



There were more trophy's and more pictures but you get this point. I guess if you are that much of a super start than you have no choice but to display it for the neighborhood. Or perhaps there are so many in the house that they just spill out onto the yard? And around the corner?

Not sure.

More Plant Sale Pictures

They have chicken roaming around the gardens. I am guessing that's why they have
enclosed the greens in these boxes.

Long Beach Plant Sale

Friday was a well needed day off from work, Union holiday bro. So I went to the Long Beach Community College plant sale. It was pretty late in the day so there were not that many people there, not much plants either. Next year I am going on the first day, bright and early. I heard there was a line out the door of people trying to get in to get the goods.

I picked up 5 1 gallon flowering garlic plants. While I was checking out there was a teacher there writing up my ticket. He was speaking to one of the kids and showing him that those were the plants that he had worked on. The student had separated and replanted all the plants I was purchasing. He seemed very proud of his work. I told him that I had a beautiful garden and his plants would have a nice home. The look in that emo kids eyes were unforgettable. He then gave me a ride to my truck in one of the flat bed golf carts. He was a cool kid, I wish him the best.

All-in-all a great sale. And yes I bought more tomato plants and no I do not need them. Its a problem.




Not sure what kind of palm this is but there are 100's growing in little pots all over the green house. Maybe they will be for sale next time.




Bananas growing on the border of the vegetable garden, beautiful fruit and flowers on these trees.



These artichoke plants were as tall as me but had no flowers. Not sure why. Maybe not enough sun? It did not look like they had been cut already. Beautiful plants though.