Beachcomber 'Best of Long Beach' Awards

If you have not seen today’s April 3rd edition of the Beachcomber Newspaper, the results are in on their annual Best of Long Beach awards. Today’s awards cover the medical and service categories. We’re very proud to share that twenty Council District businesses, schools and individuals earned gold awards, and three received silver awards. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you for everything you provide to our council district. A special thank you to Beachcomber readers is included in our “And Finally” feature below. You can view the online version of today's Beachcomber at this link.

MEDICAL CATEGORIES

Best Attorney-Family: Jennifer N. Sawday (Gold)

Best Attorney-Wills & Estates: Jennifer N. Sawday (Gold)

Best Dentist-Orthodontics: Heather Desh, DDS (Gold); Mark Garlington, DDS (Gold)

Best Dentist-Pediatric: William Worden, DDS (Gold)

Best Doctor-Ophthalmology: Leif Hertzog, MD (Gold)

Best Home Care Agency: Home Instead Senior Care (Gold)

Best Medical Group: MemorialCare Los Altos (Gold); Best Medical Group: Optum Care (Silver)

Best Urgent Care Center: MemorialCare Los Altos (Gold)



SERVICE CATEGORIES

Best Auto Repairs: Gretchen's Automotive (Gold); Ghassem's Tire and Auto (Silver)

Best Bank-Independent: Farmers & Merchants Bank (Gold)

Best Car Wash: Los Altos Car Wash (Gold)

Best College: CSU Long Beach (Gold)

Best Golf Course: El Dorado Park Golf Course (Gold)

Best Hairdresser-Women: Supercuts (Silver)

Best High School: Millikan High School (Gold)

Best Local Elected Official: Daryl Supernaw (Gold)

Best Massage: Rivini Massage (Gold)

Best Nail Salon: QT Nails (Gold)

Best Pet Groomer: Wags to Whiskers (Gold)

Best Wedding Venue: The Grand (Gold)

CD4 Community Meeting Recap

Thank you to all who attended our monthly Council District 4 community meeting at the Los Altos Library on Tuesday. Thanks, also, to our special guest speaker, Communications Center Officer, Gabriela Jilek, from Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Communications. In addition to her PowerPoint presentation, Gabby took audience questions and explained everything you need to know about calling 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line: (562) 435-6711. Our next community meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 28th at the Los Altos Library. All CD4 residents are invited to attend. Please join us for an informative meeting on the latest happenings in our district.

Veterans Banner Program Nominations Open

Nominations due by April 15th

The Department of Health and Human Services is accepting nominations for the second year of the Long Beach Veterans Banner Program. This year, up to 65 veteran nominees will be selected for the program. The Office of Veterans Support, in collaboration with the Long Beach Veterans Commission, will oversee the selection of banners to be displayed at various locations in Long Beach for one year, beginning summer 2026. Any veteran, living or deceased, can be nominated for the program through Wednesday, April 15th at this link. For more info and to view the nominee criteria, please click here.  

LADWP Haynes Station Pipeline Project

April 2nd - 10th | M-F 7:30 am - 4 pm | 800 - 1300 Studebaker Rd.



The Long Beach Utilities Department will be conducting several utility infrastructure improvements involving the Los Angeles Department Water and Power Haynes Generating Station (south of the 22 Freeway, east of the San Gabriel River). Potholing activities in preparation for pipeline installation are underway on Studebaker Rd from E Mantova St to the SR-22 onramp. Work is anticipated to end Friday, April 10th. Construction hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4 pm. Schedule is subject to delay due to inclement weather or other unforeseen complications. There will be no interruptions to water and sewer services during this work. Find the notice here. Please contact the Project Hotline at (562) 888-4236 or at Hello@haynespipeline.com with any questions.

CSULB Weekly Farmers Market

Thru May 7th | M-Th 10 am - 2 pm | Friendship Walk & Central Quad



The ASI Farmers Market is open on campus Monday thru Thursday, 10 am to 2 pm, each week until May 7th. It offers fresh and natural food items as well as drinks and crafts from independent vendors and farmers. The goal is to help students make healthy food choices while supporting local businesses and farmers. The market is open to the entire CSULB community including surrounding neighbors. Don't forget to bring your reusable shopping bag, and a parking permit is required for all on-campus parking.

Meccha Matcha Grand Opening

Open daily 10 am - 8 pm | 2310 N Bellflower Blvd Suite 103

CD4 will officially welcome Meccha Matcha on Saturday, April 11th at their Grand Opening celebration! They are located at the northeast corner of the F&M Bank parking lot at Bellflower Blvd and 23rd Street or the opposite end of the strip mall from Einstein Bros. Bagels. Meccha Matcha is the go-to shop for all things matcha. From classic lattes to creamy frozen treats and of course, a variety of matcha drinks, you'll enjoy quality in every taste. View their spring menu and find more info using this link. Check out the LB Post article here.

Easter Celebration at El Dorado Frontier

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.

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 tomorrow, 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 a FREE Tennis Play Day at the El Dorado Park tennis courts tomorrow, 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.

Easter Egg Hunt at Sports Basement LB

April 5th | 10 am - 6 pm | 2100 N Bellflower Blvd.



This Easter, drop by Sports Basement and find some bunnies! If you can write down (or snap a pic of) the locations of all 5 bunnies hiding in your local store, you'll get 5 easter eggs filled with candy... or in some cases, with Sports Basement gift cards! Candy or gear, it's all good fun. Hop on by!

LBUSD Spring Break

April 6th - 10th

Today, Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) closed for Admissions Day. All LBUSD schools will remain closed for Spring Break from Monday, April 6th to Friday, April 10th. 

Next on the Council Agenda

April 7th | 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:

• CEREMONIALS AND PRESENTATIONS: Community Development Week
• C-10: Recommendation to adopt resolution designating the ballot listing of the candidates which have been duly nominated for the City’s Primary Nominating Election on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Clerk
• R-21: Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. R-7261 and award a contract to All American Asphalt, of Corona, CA, for as-needed local street improvements, in amount not to exceed $60,000,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into contracts, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide) Office or Department: Public Works
• O-22: Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Section 5.92.030, Section 8.68.160, Section 8.68.170 and adding Division XIII to Chapter 5.92 (Adult Use Cannabis Business and Activities); all relating to the regulation of cannabis special events, read and adopted as read. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Manager; City Attorney



The entire agenda can be found here under Meeting Title, City Council, April 7th, 2026. 

Craftin' Kids at Los Altos Library

April 8th | 3:30 - 4:30 pm | 5614 E Britton Dr.



Join Los Altos Library for this hands-on hour of creativity as you experiment with all kinds of materials to unleash your inner artists! For April, participants will be digging out your beading creativity. Join other beading lovers and make a bracelet, a necklace, or a keychain--or maybe all three. All materials provided. No registration required. This event is intended for kids ages 6 to 12 years old.

Filming in the Fourth - El Dorado Frontier

April 9th & 10th | 7 am - 7 pm | El Dorado Frontier, 7550 E Spring St.



Filming will take place on Thursday, April 9th and Friday, April 10th at El Dorado Frontier. Production will have a 20-member crew on 4/9 and a 30-member crew on 4/10. Production has been advised to not interfere with/impede park programming, construction zones, permits to gather, and/or Maintenance operations at any time.

LA County Property Taxes Due 4/10

10% late fee added after Friday, April 10th

Just a friendly reminder that the second installment of the Los Angeles Annual Secured Property Tax Bills is due on or before Friday, April 10th. Payments must be received or postmarked by the close of business on the due date to avoid a 10% late fee. You can also pay by eCheck, but you will need your Assessor’s Identification Number (AIN) and Personal Identification Number (PIN), which can be found on your Secured Property Tax Bill. Each eCheck transaction must be less than one million dollars. Visit this link for FAQs and more information.

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.

Second Saturday Community Day at CSULB

April 11th | 10 am - 2 pm | 1250 N Bellflower Blvd.



Join the CSULB Kleefeld museum docents for a day of museum tours and art making activities for all ages and skill levels on select second Saturdays of the month. The next Community Day will be on Saturday, April 11th. This event is free and open to the public, no RSVP required. Find more information using this link.

Earth Month New Use Recycling Drive

April 11th | 10 am - 2 pm | 7550 E Spring St.



In honor of Earth month, join the PRM and the Retail Marketing Services recycling program drive at the Nature Center to bring new use to old recyclable items. Community members are encouraged to collect eligible California Redemption Value (CRV) items such as bottles, cans, boxes and pouches and donate them to the recycling drive. Proceeds generated from the drive will be donated to Food Finders Inc. to help support food distribution sites in Long Beach. Find more information on the drive at this link.  

Composting Workshop at Whaley Park

April 14th | 6 - 7 pm | 5620 E. Atherton St.



Join your neighbors and learn to compost! LB Recycles is excited to announce a 3-part composting series hosted at no cost by CD4’s Dr. Bonnie Gasior, a graduate of the City's Compost & Recycling Ambassador Program, on Tuesday, April 14th from 6 - 7 pm at the Whaley Park Social Hall (5620 E. Atherton St.). Session #1: What is Compost? The next sessions will be hosted on May 12th (session #2) and June 9th (session #3). Register at this link.

Earth Day Crafternoon at El Dorado Library

April 15th | 3:30 - 4:30 pm | 2900 N Studebaker Rd.

Join El Dorado Library on Wednesday, April 15th for an Earth Day themed storytime and craft! This event is suitable for ages 6 and up. Please call (562) 570-3136 for more info.

Art Days at the EBM Japanese Garden

April 16th | 4 pm | Parking available in Lot G4

Join the Japanese Garden for a self-led art evening every third Thursday of the month. Various themes each month are designed to foster individual creativity and art creation in the Garden's living museum. This month, attendees will be working with pastels and crayons. Attendees are encouraged to bring your own canvas or paper. Tickets are $2. Short term parking is $6 for one hour, or $15 all day. Find more information and purchase tickets at this link.

Community Night at the Museum at CSULB

April 16th | 4 - 7 pm | 1250 N Bellflower Blvd.

For Earth Month, the Kleefeld Museum is doing collages using a blank map of Earth and cutouts from recycled materials. Make a collage map of our home planet! Enjoy the Museum after hours and create art inspired by the current exhibitions in our Education Lab. Every Thursday, attendees are offered a free unguided art activity from 4 to 7 pm, and LOUD HOUR from 4 to 5 pm. Tambourines, kazoos, and earplugs are provided to help you get loud in the galleries. This event is free and open to the public, no RSVP required. Find more info here.

Thank You Beachcomber Readers Tenfold!

As mentioned in first item in today’s newsletter, the results are in for the Beachcomber Newspaper’s annual Best of Long Beach awards. One part of the Beachcomber survey includes Service Categories. For the tenth year in a row, Beachcomber

readers have named Councilman Daryl Supernaw the Best

Local Elected Official (Gold). To show our appreciation, we are running an ad (not at taxpayer expense) in today’s Beachcomber thanking readers for their ongoing support. We’d also like to thank Beachcomber Publisher (and CD4 resident), Jay Beeler, for featuring the contest for so many years. You can view today's Beachcomber here.