SIGNAL
“The Aristocrat” watercolor on paper by Lori LaMont See page 9
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SERVING BIXBY KNOLLS, CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS, LOS CERRITOS, WRIGLEY AND THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
Vol. 35 No. 41
March 14, 2014
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
Long beach prepares to roll out new e-cigarette ordinance
CJ Dablo/Signal Tribune
From his seat at the counter at E-Cig City in downtown Long Beach, customer Bradley Lincoln (right) puffs on his vaping device while Andre Burbridge (left), general manager for the store, reaches into a glass case for supplies. Lincoln, a 31year-old Stanton resident, tried a sample of “2 Berries 1 Bottle” before he ultimately settled on another flavor. In less than a month, a new city ordinance will restrict the use of the e-cigarettes in stores and other public areas, including bars and restaurants. Using a vaping device to sample a flavor in the store will be prohibited. CJ Dablo Staff Writer
The Long Beach City Council unanimously passed an ordinance last week, on March 4, that will regulate e-cigarettes in the same manner as tobacco cigarettes. Signed by Mayor Bob Foster this week, the ordinance will take effect in about one month. The ordinance will make a number of changes to the way e-cigarettes will be regulated. One of the noticeable modifications to the rules will prohibit smoking e-cigarettes or “vaping” in the same areas already off-limits to tobacco-cigarette use. Long Beach’s list of prohibited areas to smokers includes city beaches, parks, movie theaters, bars, night clubs, restaurants and retail establishments. Dr. Mitchell Kushner serves as the city health officer for Long Beach’s Department of Health and Human Services. He said that the Environmental Health Division will be contacting the owners of e-cigarette shops to educate them and explain the new regulations. Kushner said there may be further visits, warnings or fines for those store owners who don't comply with the new rules. Owners of local e-cigarette shops still hope that city officials will consider amending the ordinance to allow customers to use their vaping devices in their stores. Shop owners like Alan Schroeder of Vapin USA say that the ability for customers to sample their products is essential to their business because there are scores of possible flavors for sale and different manufacturers offering their own proprietary blends. Michael Shaknovich, owner of ECig City, agrees with Schroeder. Shaknovich has appeared before the Council during their meetings to advocate for change. At the E-Cig City store in downtown “Our fears are that…our sales are Long Beach, Maya Cornelius, 44, going to go down,” Shaknovich said shows off her vaping device. The Long in a telephone interview on Monday Beach resident credits the device for see E-CIGARETTES page 6 helping her quit tobacco cigarettes.
Weekly Weather Forecast Friday
71°
Saturday
Sunday
81°
88°
Monday
March 14 through March 18, 2014 Tuesday
74°
Clouds breaking for sun
A full day of sun
Plenty of sunshine
Sunny and very warm
Partly sunny & not as warm
Lo 54°
Lo 55°
Lo 53°
Lo 54°
Lo 53°
86°
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Sean Belk/Signal Tribune
A 1974 issue of the then Signal Hill Tribune newspaper (left) along with various City artifacts and memorabilia have been collected by city officials in celebration of Signal Hill’s 90th anniversary this year.
Signal hill readies to celebrate 90th anniversary with events, programs and historical display
Sean Belk Staff Writer
Signal Hill turns the big 90 next month, and the City will commemorate its milestone with festivities throughout the year. The public is invited to a birthday celebration and open house at the Signal Hill Park Community Center on April 22, the day Signal Hill was officially incorporated as a city nine decades prior. “This is a reason to celebrate, create community and get to know our neighbors more,” said Signal Hill Councilmember Lori Woods, who is part of an ad-hoc committee, along with Parks and Recreation Commission members Carmen Brooks and Ken Davis, to develop and organize the activities. During a community meeting near City Hall on Wednesday, March 5, Woods said people can still volunteer to help see SIGNAL HILL page 13
Lb Chapter of american red Cross records most veteran interviews in nation Sean Belk Staff Writer
David Lester has military in his blood. As the great-great-grandson of Davy Crockett– the legendary 19th-Century frontiersman, soldier and politician– Lester joined the military as a young man. As part of the 30th Infantry of the “Old Hickory Division,” he fought in World War II after working as an airplane mechanic on B-24 Bombers in San Diego. Today, at the age of 94, Lester remembers the day when he became a leader. It was during the Battle of the Bulge, an offensive campaign from 1944 to 1945 in which United States armed forces launched a surprise attack on the Germans and their allies in the Ardennes region in an effort to free Belgium, Sean Belk/Signal Tribune France and parts of Germany. The crusade is David Lester, 94, shows a photocopy of a medal he was given for known as the deadliest battle in terms of U.S. serving in World War II at his Costa Mesa home. Lester is one of casualties. many veterans who have been able to tell their stories through the In combat, Lester conducted reconnaissance Veterans History Project, a program created by Congress in 2000 to record and preserve the stories of war veterans. see RED CROSS page 13