Passing of LBGP's Jim Michaelian

The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO, Jim Michaelian, one of the founding staff members of the annual AGPLB race, died Saturday, March 21. He was 83. Under his leadership, the Acura Grand Prix event has grown into one of the premier street races in the world. A graduate of UCLA with a B.S. in physics and an MBA, Jim Michaelian was also a competitive sports car racer who for more than 25 years competed in endurance racing at tracks such as Le Mans, Daytona, Nürburgring, Spa, Watkins Glen, Dubai and Sebring, which further deepened his lifelong connection to racing. Last September, Jim attended the grand opening of Porsche Long Beach where I took the attached photo of him with Fletcher Jones. Talk about two great leaders in their respective automotive fields. You can read Rich Archbold’s wonderful article about Jim at this link.

Nathan Bonsteel's 25th Birthday Celebration

Four years ago, we introduced our newsletter readers to Nathan Bonsteel who was celebrating his 21st birthday. Nathan has Down Syndrome and loves getting mail with his name on it. Nathan was flooded with birthday cards in 2022, and we would love to keep the tradition going for his 25th. His actual birthday was last Sunday, but Nathan’s mom, Cindy Bonsteel, says he will love getting belated birthday wishes. Please use the address below to mail your cards and help Nathan have another momentous birthday!

Nathan Bonsteel

6938 E Fairbrook Street

Long Beach, CA 90815-3601

Purple to Blue Recycling Cart Exchange

If you have received your blue cart but have not had your purple cart collected, please leave your purple cart out for the recovery team. Please make sure that your purple cart is empty or it will not be collected. Delivery areas will be checked within the same 24-hour delivery period and again the following week on your service day for any purple carts not collected. If your purple cart is still not collected after two weeks of the new cart arrival, please call (562) 570-2876 or fill out the form online at this link to make a report.    

Eldo Park Little Changes, Big Difference

The El Dorado Park Sports Fields Improvement project is finally complete with the addition of new bleachers at fields 3 and 4 and shade structures at field 5. Learn more about these and other El Dorado Park improvements at this link.

CA Energy Initiative Solicitation

If you received the attached post card, it is not from SCE, and the California Energy Initiative is not a government entity. Here is SCE's official position on the topic: SCE supports a customer’s right to self-generation. Installing self-generation is a major financial commitment. If customers decide to pursue self-generation, we recommend customers solicit three or more quotes from qualified, licensed contractors. Visit this link for more information and resources.

LBACS March Adoption Special

Thru March 31st | LBACS hours listed below | 7700 E Spring St. 

LBACS is hosting the Luck of the Paws Adoption Special now through Tuesday, March 31st! Adoption fees are for long-stay animals (30+ days in the shelter) that are still waiting for their forever homes. Cats are $7, and dogs are $17. Your luck could change their life. Visit LBACS and meet your match! LBACS is open Wednesday through Friday, 10 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday/ Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm and closed Mondays/Tuesdays.

The Red Cross Preparedness Essentials

The City of Long Beach is part of the American Red Cross Greater Long Beach and South Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross, which serves nearly 2 million people across 25 cities. The local chapter of the Red Cross offers 24/7 emergency disaster relief, CPR/First Aid training, blood drives, support for military families, and other safety programs. Find a preparedness essentials checklist using this link and the 21 weeks to prepare list here. More information on how to prepare for emergencies is available here. If you are interested in learning more about the Red Cross in your community, visit this link.

CSULB FREE VITA Tax Prep Program

Thru April 8th | Various times | Computer Lab, Room 243 COB 

The CSULB VITA site is available to qualifying taxpayers with an income level of $67,000 or less. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing for federal and state tax returns. They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. Don’t put off your taxes! CSULB VITA refunded over 1 million in taxpayer dollars last tax season. Services are in-person, Mon-Thurs 10 am to 8 pm and Fri 9 am to 3 pm. Closed for Spring Break from March 30th to April 5th. Find more details at this link.

PRM Spring Fun Days Enrollment

Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine will offer its free youth recreation program, Spring Fun Days, at various parks throughout the city during the upcoming school spring break. Spring Fun Days engage children ages 5 to 12 in fun activities such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and special events. This is a free drop-in program where registered participants may come and go as they please. The program will run Monday thru Friday, April 6th to 10th from noon to 5 pm each day. Pre-registration is required. Applications are now available for pick up at participating parks. CD4 parks include Stearns Champions Park and Whaley Park. Read the full press release at this link.

Aikan Sushi in the R.O. Gould Showroom

Daily 11:30 am - 10 pm, Fri-Sat until 10:30 pm | 4201 E. Willow St.

If the building at Lakewood and Willow looks familiar, it’s the former R.O. Gould showroom that we are featuring in today’s And Finally. Aikan Sushi is a fun and family friendly premium all you can eat dining experience. Aikan offers a vast variety of appetizers, traditional rolls, specialty rolls, nigiri, and sashimi to excite any palate! Whether you have been eating sushi your entire life or a first timer feeling a little adventurous, Aikan can feed your needs. Check out their website here.

Sports Basement Ride Group

March 28th | 7:30 am | 2100 N Bellflower Blvd.



Every second and fourth Saturday of the month, the Sports Basement Long Beach Ride Group meets in front of the store. Tomorrow, March 28th, is the fourth Saturday of the month, so be there at 7:30 am for the meetup, route details and to sign a waiver. Wheels roll at 8 am! 

BARK at Los Altos Library

March 28th | 11:30 am | 5614 E Britton Dr.

Come practice reading out-loud with calming, friendly, and nonjudgmental dogs! This program is geared for school-aged children. No registration required. For more info or questions, please call (562) 570-1045.

Easter Celebration at El Dorado Frontier

March 28th, 29th & April 4th | 11 am | 7550 E Spring St.



Hop on over to El Dorado Frontier for a day of springtime fun with train rides, an exciting egg hunt and a visit from someBUNNY special! It's the perfect way to celebrate Easter with great company and exciting activities. Don't miss out on this awesome family-friendly event in Long Beach! Ticket prices vary. Find more info and purchase tickets here.

Easter Egg Hunt at Los Altos YMCA

March 28th | Hours vary by session | 1720 N Bellflower Blvd.



Dive in for an egg-stra special Easter Egg Hunt - in the pool! Swim, splash and collect eggs with family and friends at Los Altos YMCA. Members free, non-member fee is $5. There are three egg hunt sessions available by age. Find more info and register online using this link.

CSULB Spring Recess Begins 3/30

March 30th - April 3rd



CSULB Spring Break is from March 30th to April 3rd. Classes are not in session, but staff and faculty will be on campus Tuesday through Friday. Employee (E) lots will follow regular hours, with student permits allowed after 5:30 pm. Please follow standard parking policies.

LBFD Training Center Live Burns

March 30th | 8 am - 6 pm | 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 (3/30) between 8:00 am – 6:00 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!

LBACS Low Cost Vaccine Clinics

March 30 & 31st | 10 am - 2:30 pm | 7700 E Spring St.



Long Beach Animal Care Services and Camp Clinics are hosting low-cost vaccine clinics on Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st from 10 am to 2:30 pm. No appointment is necessary, but only the first 60 pets will be accepted. For a vaccine price list and important tips to expedite your visit, use this link. Click here for future vaccine clinics at LBACS.

2026 ELDO Race Series Starts Tuesday

Series begins March 31st | 7550 E Spring St.



The ELDO Race Series returns to El Dorado Park on Tuesday, March 31st! The event will feature criteriums, time trials, and new, specialized race categories. The series focuses on grassroots racing, with early season events listed in March and April, featuring Women’s Nights, junior races, and masters state championships. You can register online to join the event by Monday, March 30th using this link.

CD4 March Community Meeting

March 31st | 5:30 - 6:45 pm | 5614 E Britton Dr.

We are hosting our monthly Council District 4 community meeting at the Los Altos Library on Tuesday, March 31st, from 5:30 to 6:45 pm. Our guest speaker will be Communications Center Officer, Gabriela Jilek, from Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Communications. All CD4 residents are invited to attend. Please join us for an informative meeting on the latest happenings in our district.

Sports Basement Monthly Run

April 2nd | 6:15 pm | 2100 N Bellflower Blvd.

Lace up your kicks and join Sports Basement Long Beach for an evening of running and fun-ning. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just looking to enjoy a leisurely jog, the fun runs are perfect for all levels. Come out and meet fellow runners from the community, enjoy the fresh air for a 3 mile run featuring local run clubs, shoe brands, your favorite local gyms, and fitness studios! Meet at 6:15 pm in the front of the store, launch at 6:30pm.

CD4 Egg Hunt at Good Neighbor Park

April 4th | 11 am - 1 pm | Good Neighbor Park, 2800 N Studebaker

Our office is proud to sponsor the Spring Egg Hunt event, hosted by Partners of Parks, at Good Neighbor Park in El Dorado Park on Saturday, April 4th! Good Neighbor Park is the grassy area with the white gazebo in front of the Tom Clark Community Center. There will be construction on Studebaker, but parking is available between the library and the community center. Participants will enjoy an egg hunt, candy, and arts & crafts. There will be an adaptive-friendly egg hunt around 12 pm and sensory friendly activities. Bring your own basket! For more information or any questions, please email info@poplb.org.

Bridge the Gap FREE Tennis Play Day

April 4th | 12 - 2 pm | 2800 N Studebaker Rd.

Bridge the Gap Tennis is hosting another FREE Tennis Play Day at the El Dorado Park tennis courts on Saturday, April 4th. Enjoy free tennis play, food and facepainting. Kids ages 4 to 15 are welcome! Rackets provided. Reserve a spot here.

El Dorado Park Open on Easter Sunday

Press release here

With 388-acres of open space, picnicking areas, playgrounds, bicycle trails and many other amenities, Easter Sunday is the busiest day of the year at El Dorado East Regional Park. It will open from 7 am to 8 pm on April 5th, but the Nature Center will be closed. The holiday parking rate is $9 per car and only cashless payment options will be accepted. Please check the press release for more information at this link.

PRM Youth Summer Day Camps

Registration starts April 11th | Registration link

This summer, the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will once again offer Summer Day Camps, Aquatics Camps and Kids Discovery Camps for local youth. Camps will run weekdays beginning June 15th through August 21st. Registration for all camps begins Saturday, April 11th at 9 am at this link. Summer Day Camps are offered for youth ages 5 to 12 and will run Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register early as enrollment space is limited. Find more information in the full press release here.

R.O. Gould Auto Dealer at Lakewood & Willow

A lot of mid-century modern architecture has been lost to the wrecking ball, but there is one shining example still standing at 4201 E. Willow Street. In fact, the former Ray Vines, R.O. Gould and Cal Worthington building won a preservation award from Long Beach Heritage in 2016. With its complex “flying V” roofline, the former auto dealer showroom is unquestionably eye-catching. The unique design inspired a very skilled artisan to create the 1/64 scale model in the attached photo. We’re happy to report the model will soon be displayed in our CD4 office. The repurposed Googie-style building is now home to Aikan Sushi that we featured in today’s CD4 Business Spotlight above. Give the restaurant a try, and you’ll be dining in a showroom space that first opened on Valentine’s Day 1964.