LBLL & Pony Baseball Opening Weekend

We had perfect weather this weekend for the Long Beach Little League opening day on Saturday at Stearns Champions Park. The same was true for Long Beach Pony Baseball at Whaley Park on Sunday. It is such a great honor to be asked to participate in these wonderful events each year. Special thanks to LBLL for hanging a banner for me on the first base dugout. Also thanks to LBPB for extending me the honor of throwing out the first pitch. Play ball!

CD4 Community Meeting Recap

Our February community meeting on Tuesday had a great audience for our three guest speakers. Thank you to everyone who attended, and special thanks to our new East Division Commander, Danielle Quiñones, Anthony Montalvo from the Community Crisis Response (CCR) team and the Public Works project team for their presentations. Our next community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st.  

Three Public Safety Events in One Week

It was a very special week being able to attend Police and Fire recognition events on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It started with the Richard A. Rose Career Achievement Award and the Police Excellence Award held at The Grand in CD4. Congratulations to award recipients Commander Justin Krueger and Officer Daniel Martinez. On Tuesday, our Chief of Staff, Isabel Martinez, and I attended the Chamber’s “The State of Public Safety” luncheon. Special thanks to Cambrian Homecare's Rhiannon Acree for the invitation. On Wednesday, I attended a special Red Cross recognition ceremony for three LBPD officers. Read the story in the “And Finally” feature below.

Camp Enterprise Scholarship Opportunity

Application deadline is March 6th at noon

Camp Enterprise is a FREE 3-day entrepreneurship retreat in the San Bernardino Mountains where Long Beach high school students learn several valuable skills. This retreat is FREE to attend for students who receive a scholarship from the Rotary Club of Long Beach. Camp dates are April 9th through April 11th at Camp Oakes. Transportation provided. Find more information and apply for the scholarship at this link.

Assistance League Long Beach Scholarship

Applications open until March 16th

Assistance League of Long Beach encourages students to apply for the Patricia Delaney Horton Scholarship by Monday, March 16th. The Patricia Delaney Horton Scholarship is awarded annually by Assistance League of Long Beach to one or more outstanding college students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership and financial need. Find more details and apply at this link.

Survey on Council Meeting Participation

Survey at this link

The City of Long Beach is inviting residents, community-based organizations and local business owners to share feedback on how to increase participation in Long Beach City Council meetings and make meetings more accessible to the whole community. The City is seeking input to better understand how people currently participate in City Council meetings and identify barriers that may prevent community members from engaging. The survey is available here.

Mooney's Pizza Tavern Opens Today!

Open daily 4 - 10 pm, closed Tuesdays | 8105 E Wardlow Rd.

The wait is over! Mooney’s Pizza Tavern officially opens TODAY at 4 pm. Located in the former Huff's Restaurant location at 8105 E Wardlow Rd., Mooney’s has a diverse menu including various pizza options, appetizers, salads, beer, wine and custard. Beyond the savory menu, owners Hal and Cindy Mooney have created an enjoyable experience for all patrons with beautiful custom seating, arcade games and even a photo booth. Reservations are recommended. Reserve a spot to try what Mooney's has to offer and find the menu using this link. Read the great article by Brian Addison of Longbeachize on the first look of Mooney’s here. Photo credit: Brian Addison

Jazz at Los Altos Library TONIGHT

February 27th | 5:30 - 8 pm | 5614 E Britton Dr.



The month-long BHM celebration will conclude with a special after-hours event, Jazz in the Library, at the Los Altos Library. This intimate closing night will transform the library space into a cultural lounge featuring live jazz and poetry, offering the community a soulful evening that blends music, spoken word and artistic reflection. No registration is required.

Sports Basement Ride Group

February 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, February 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!

FREE HHW & E-Waste Event

February 28th | 9 am - 2 pm | 2755 California Ave.



The City of Long Beach hosts FREE Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) & Electronic Waste Collection Events every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month at EDCO Recycling & Transfer Center in Signal Hill. The next collection event is tomorrow Saturday, February 28th. Drop off your hazardous household items, old electronics, and used tires safely. Learn more here. Reserve a spot for the event at this link.

BARK at Los Altos Library

February 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.

FREE Tennis Play Day

February 28th | 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, February 28th. Enjoy free tennis play, music, fun and free food! There will also be face painting and a balloon artist. Kids ages 4 to 15 are welcome! Reserve a spot at this link. 

Be Pawsitive at El Dorado Library

February 28th | 1 - 2 pm | 2900 N Studebaker Rd.



Need a break to reset and recharge? Spend a relaxing afternoon with therapy dogs! This program is open to teens and adults and offers a chance to de-stress, connect with animals, and enjoy the calming benefits of pet therapy. While you wait your turn to meet the pups, get creative with the Book Bling craft station! Bring your own journal or favorite book and decorate it with fun materials provided by the library.

Yoga Classes at El Dorado Regional Park

Sundays, March 1st - May 24th



Join the new Outdoor Yoga Classes at El Dorado Park on Sundays! There will be two class schedules. Class #69465 will begin Sunday, March 1st through Sunday, April 12th. Class #69777 will begin Sunday, April 19th through Sunday, May 24th. Drop-ins will also be accepted. Find more info and register using this link.

Troop 74 Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser

March 1st | 8 am - 1 pm | 5950 E Willow St.

Troop 74 is hosting a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Sunday, March 1st at the Los Altos Methodist Church Heritage Hall from 8 am to 1 pm. This fundraiser will help the Troop raise funds for an Alaska summer camp! Plates will be $10. Find more info here.

Girl's Day at the Japanese Garden

March 1st | 1 - 3 pm | FREE Parking available in lot G4 only

Attend the EBM Japanese Garden Girl's Day event on Sunday, March 1st! This event is one of Japan's holidays "Hinamatsuri" where they celebrate young girls and their femininity. It is also a day to pray for these girls and their future happiness. This will be a fun event for the whole family with crafts and activities. Parking will be free for this event in Lot G4 only. Tickets are $10 for a group of up to 6 people or $5 for members. Register for the event at this link. 

National Pancake Day at IHop

March 3rd | 2050 N Bellflower Blvd.

To celebrate National Pancake Day on Tuesday, March 3rd, IHop is offering a FREE short stack of pancakes. This offer is available for dine-in only, from 7 am to 8 pm. CD4 has one IHop location at the Los Altos Shopping Center. Find more info at this link.

Next on the City Council Agenda

March 3rd | 5 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: CityClerk@longbeach.gov. Items on Tuesday's meeting agenda include:

• C-17: Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP PR-25-512 and award a contract to Bridge Enterprises, Inc., of Long Beach, CA, for the operation of El Dorado and Billie Jean King Tennis and Pickleball Centers, for a period of three years, with the option to renew for three additional three-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Districts 3, 4)
• R-35: Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 35926 with West Coast Arborists, Inc., of Anaheim, CA, for providing tree trimming and related services, to increase the annual contract authority by $2,600,000, for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $18,850,000, and to extend the term of the contract to April 20, 2027. (Citywide)
• O-38: Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Title 10 of the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending and restating Chapter 10.82 relating to prohibiting spectators at street races, sideshows, and reckless driving exhibitions, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for a final reading. (Citywide)

The entire agenda can be found here under Meeting Title, City Council, February 17th, 2026. 

LBACS First Friday Adoption Event

March 6th | 10 am - 8 pm | 7700 E Spring St.



On the first Friday of the month, LBACS waives all adoption fees for adoptable animals. All cats, dogs and bunnies are spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.

FREE Upcoming City Shred Event

March 7th | 8 - 10 am | 4901 E Conant St.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Services invites Long Beach residents to participate in the upcoming shred event offering no-cost, secure disposal of sensitive documents. Shredded paper is not recyclable in curbside recycling carts. The shred event will be on Saturday, March 7th at the Vets Memorial Stadium. Take advantage of this opportunity to securely shred documents and ensure the paper is recycled right! Find more info here.

Assistance League Long Beach Open House

March 12th | 11 am - 1 pm OR 5 - 7 pm | 6220 E Spring St.

Assistance League Long Beach is hosting an Open House event on Thursday, March 12th. Attendees will learn how to make a meaningful impact in the community, meet members, and explore the 11 philanthropic programs supporting underserved families. Join the morning session from 11 am to 1 pm or evening session from 5 to 7 pm. To RSVP, please email RSVP@ALLB.org or call (562) 627-6550.

Cars and Clippers 2026

March 14th | 9 am - 12 pm | POA Park, 7390 Carson Blvd.

The Long Beach Fire Department is pleased to welcome any and all to attend the Cars and Clippers Event on Saturday, March 14th! The event supports childhood cancer research and has raised over 1 million dollars over the past 24 years! Everyone is welcome to look at cars, enjoy music and if desired, shave your head to support childhood cancer research! Shaving is not required to attend. The event will be held from 9 am to 12 pm at the Long Beach Police Officer Association Park at 7390 Carson Blvd.

The History of the Nature Center

March 14th | 10 am - 12 pm | 7550 E Spring St.

How did this 100-acre piece of land remain in such a “natural” state while the city built up around it? Come learn how the Nature Center's many transformations have shaped it into the vital habitat you see now. Sign up using Class #69773 at this link. For more information, please call (562) 570-1745.

Red Cross Recognizes Three LBPD Officers

Back in August, we featured an article about LBPD’s Cops & Bobbers fishing derby that took place at El Dorado Regional Park. For one family attending a different event next to the fishing derby, having officers present turned out to be incredibly fortunate. I was at the event that day and witnessed officers being alerted to an unresponsive man who was experiencing a cardiac arrest. They quickly performed life-saving measures including CPR and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) until being relieved by LBFD paramedics. After the 71-year-old man was transported to a local hospital, medical professionals asserted that it was the officers’ prompt CPR efforts that saved his life.

Their story truly exemplified heroism, and they were presented with national level awards on Wednesday, February 25th, at the American Red Cross Long Beach & South Bay Chapter Board meeting. LBPD Chief Wally Hebeish and LBFD Chief Dennis Buchanan were on hand to help present the awards. A detailed account of the heroic actions was presented at the ceremony, and you can read the account at this link. Special thanks to Amy Papageorges, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Long Beach & South Bay Chapter, for hosting the event and for inviting me to participate in the awards ceremony. Photo credits: Stephen Carr and Jordan McGinley

Photo l to r: LBPD Administrator Gladys Hansen-Guerra, LBPD Commander Shaleana Benson, Officer Darrell Lambert, Chief Wally Hebeish, Officer Michael Couty and Sergeant Lisa McCourt.