Long Beach Utilities Billing System Restored

The City of Long Beach has restored billing and payment processing services for City utility accounts, which were taken offline on Nov. 15, 2023, out of an abundance of caution after the City learned of a network security incident. City-serviced utility customers can now pay their bill online, over the phone, in person or by mail. View the press release here.

El Dorado Duck Pond to Open Spring 2024

We are happy to report that construction on the El Dorado Duck Pond is back in full swing. There were project delays due to the heavy rains last winter and unprecedented rain this past summer. Construction began in September 2022 and is estimated to be completed, barring further weather or other unforeseen delays, by Spring 2024. You can review the entire project estimated schedule on the website at this link. For any questions or concerns, please call the El Dorado Duck Pond hotline at (562) 570-6591 or e-mail [email protected]

Great News: LBFD Staffing Now Over 100%

Long Beach Fire Department staffing has been a challenge for a long time, so it was great to hear the issue has been resolved. Chief Buchanan informed us on Wednesday that we now have full staffing. In his memo, the Chief stated, “The 39 new Probationary Firefighters will fill the Department’s current 19 Fire sworn vacancies as well as anticipated retirements to be filed in December. With the Department being temporarily overstaffed by 20 Probationary Firefighter personnel, this will greatly relieve the 303 mandatory Firefighter callbacks and 225 mandatory callbacks for Paramedic shifts.” You can read the entire memo at this link.

39th Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade

Huge crowds welcomed back this year's 39th Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on Saturday night. Nearly 115 entrants marched and drove the parade route for the event. Watch the full parade video at this link. Watch at 2:40:35 to see the CD4 parade entrance. A special thanks to LBUSD Board President Diana Craighead and her husband Kevin for carrying our banner.

Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

As of November 20th | Order here: https://special.usps.com/testkits

As of November 20, households in the U.S. can order another round of four rapid COVID-19 tests for free. Now is a good time to stock up on tests. To order your free tests and to have them delivered by mail, click here. Also, before throwing out "expired" tests, check the FDA's website to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended. 

LBFD Spark of Love Toy Drive

Now thru Dec. 24th

The Long Beach Fire Department holiday toy drive is underway. Please help LBFD spread some holiday cheer this year! Monetary and toy donations are being accepted now through December 24th. Unwrapped toy donations may be dropped off outside all LBFD fire stations.

• Fire Station 5 - 7575 Wardlow Rd.
• Fire Station 17 - 2247 Argonne Ave.
• Fire Station 22 - 6340 Atherton St.

Winter Wonderland at the El Dorado Frontier

Sat-Sun 11 am - 4 pm or Fri-Sun 5-9 pm | Eldo Park East

The El Dorado Frontier is hosting its Winter Wonderland event. The park will be open for daytime and special nighttime events. The event will feature decorations, food for purchase and falling snow! Children under 12 months old enter The Frontier for FREE. FREE parking is available with a nighttime reservation. Ticket purchases also include a private meet and greet with Santa! Find more information here and purchase your tickets at this link.

Nature Center December Art Exhibit

Now through December 31st | 7550 E Spring St.

The Nature Center's newest art exhibit is now on display for visitors to experience. The art, created by Cypress resident Kathy Wallace-Phelps, will be on display until December 31st. The Visitors Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 am to 4 pm. For more information, please call (562) 570-1745.

FREE Household Hazardous Waste Event

December 9th | 9 am - 2 pm | 2755 California Ave.

Household cleaning products, pesticides, paint, e-waste including batteries🔋, medications💊, and many other products are considered hazardous waste and should not go in your trash or recycling carts. The next collection event is tomorrow, Saturday, December 9th. Learn more at this link.

Hmong New Year Festival Celebration at Eldo

December 9th & 10th | 8 am - 5 pm | 7550 E. Spring St.

The Hmong New Year Festival will take place this weekend from 8 am to 5 pm on December 9th and 10th at El Dorado Park. The event will feature traditional performances, traditional foods, ball tossing and more. Everyone is welcome to attend. The Opening Ceremony will begin at 10 am. For more information, view the event flyer at this link.

Saturday Study at the EBM Japanese Garden

December 9th | 11 am - 12 pm | 1250 Bellflower Blvd. near lot G4

Reduce your carbon footprint and recycle your waste by composting your organic waste at home. Professor Bonnie Gasior is teaching this workshop that focuses on backyard composting of yard trimmings and food scraps. The cost is $10 for EBM Japanese Garden Members and $20 for non-members. Register for the event at this link.

Chanukah Celebration with Shul by the Shore

December 10th | 4 - 6 pm | 6400 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Join Shul by the Shore and Jewish Long Beach to celebrate Chanukah with an exciting lineup of entertainment! Enjoy the beats of a live three-piece band, witness the dazzling performance of an LED Robot, and participate in Chanukah crafts. Indulge in light pre-packaged refreshments and savor the sweetness of chocolate gelt. Reserve your spot at this link. For any questions, please call (562) 621-9828.

Pee Wee Tennis Classes at Eldo Tennis Center

Tuesdays 4 - 6 pm or Saturdays 8:30 - 9:30 am | Registration link

Beginning in December, Southern California Tennis Academy will be hosting monthly Pee Wee Tennis programs for children ages 4-7. Pee Wee Tennis is a fun, game-based program with experienced coaches. Students who start the Pee Wee program may be new to tennis or building on previous tennis instruction. The program cost is $80 per month. The program will be held Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings at El Dorado Park Tennis Center. Find more information here, and register for the program at this link.

LBFD Training Center: Live Burn Schedule

December 11, 12, 14, 15 & 16 | 7 am - 10 am | 2249 Argonne Ave.

The Long Beach Fire Training Center will be conducting live fire trainings on these dates/times that are subject to change:

• Monday (12/11) between 7:00 am - 10:00 am
• Tuesday (12/12) between 7:00 am - 10:00 am
• Thursday (12/14) between 7:00 am - 10:00 am
• Friday (12/15) between 7:00 am - 10:00 am
• Saturday (12/16) (Graduation) between 7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Live fire training is essential in the development of firefighters and teaches skills needed to perform lifesaving and property-saving operations in the City of Long Beach. Thank you for your continued support of the Long Beach Fire Department!

Long Beach Towne Center Blood Drive

December 11th | 11:30 am - 6 pm | 7411 Carson Blvd.

Be a part of a life-changing cause and donate at Long Beach Towne Center's Blood Drive on Monday, December 11. The bloodmobile will be located in the parking lot near Lucille's and Original Roadhouse. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter Sponsor Code: LBTowneCenter to schedule an appointment. For updated donation safety protocols, please visit this link. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCross.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment. Make an appointment and receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card to your email by visiting this link: rcblood.org/Amazon

Next on the Council Agenda

December 12th | 5:00 pm | 411 W. Ocean Blvd.

The City Council meeting will start at 5:00 pm in the Civic Chambers on the ground floor of City Hall, located at 411 W. Ocean Blvd. City council meetings are broadcast live online at: LBTV3.com and on Channel 3 for Charter cable subscribers and Channel 21 for FIOS subscribers. Comments can be submitted by email to: [email protected]. Items on Tuesday's meeting agenda include:



• C-1: Recommendation to suspend Council rule contained in Municipal Code Section 2.03.020 (B) relating to the meeting schedule of the City Council in order to cancel the City Council meeting on January 2nd.
• C-13: Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any subsequent amendments with the City of West Covina for the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory to provide laboratory testing services for human infectious disease, for a period of two years through September 30, 2025. (Citywide)
• R-26: Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Operations of General Aviation at the Long Beach Airport. (Citywide)

The entire agenda can be found here. To see the schedule and agenda for all upcoming city meetings, click here.

Towne Center Holiday Celebration

December 17th | 12 pm - 2 pm | 7501 E Carson St.

Long Beach Towne Center invites the community to its Holiday Celebration on Sunday, December 17th, from 12 pm to 2 pm in the Regal Promenade. During this fun-filled family event, there will be photo opportunities with Santa, crafts, face painters, balloon twisters, stilt walkers and more! Find more info here.

Weinermobile at the Christmas Parade

It was fun to see the famous “Weinermobile” in the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade. It brought to mind a time when Little Oscar would visit local grocery stores to hand out Oscar Mayer Weiner Whistles. The attached black & white photo was taken circa 1956 in front of Thriftymart in the Los Altos Shopping Center. The grocery store stood at the SE corner of Bellflower and Stearns at the current site of CVS Pharmacy. The view is facing east, and in the background are the Woolworth and J.C. Penny stores. We think the year was 1956 because the newest car in the parking lot is a ‘56 Chevy above Little Oscar’s head.