Project1_Layout 1 4/13/15 12:51 PM Page 1
“Generous Land,” oil on canvas by Ramón Rodriguez See page 9
Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and the City of Signal Hill
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
VOL. 37 NO. 20
October 16, 2015
Olympic hopeful
Long Beach in talks with LA to host some 2024 events
Denny Cristales/Signal Tribune
Sixth District Long Beach Councilmember Dee Andrews has proposed the development of an Office on Aging, a “one-stop shop” of information for all seniors in the community. The office’s location will most likely be at the Long Beach Health Department, located at 2525 Grand Ave., according to Andrews.
LB councilmembers exploring possibility of Office on Aging
Denny Cristales Editorial Assistant CJ Dablo/Signal Tribune
The Long Beach Arena was the venue for the volleyball events during the 1984 games. Now Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is hoping that his city will again participate in the games, if Los Angeles is picked to be the host for the 2024 Olympics. CJ Dablo Staff Writer
Mel Leach remembers the Olympic Games of 1984 very well…she was a part of them. While she didn’t quite make the archery team, she decided to do the next best thing– volunteer at the sport she loved. The professor emerita at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) remembers those days in the summer when she served as an official scorekeeper for the South Korean women’s team for archery. That team happened to win the gold at the LA games that year. In a phone interview with the Signal Tribune, Leach described how El Dorado Park in Long Beach was transformed into a place filled with pageantry, flags, athletes focused on being at the top of the game and even the royalty who took up a VIP section near the center of the archery range. Until she was contacted for this story, Leach wasn’t aware that Long Beach officials hope their city will be a part of the 2024 Olympics, if LA wins the bid for the summer
games, but she seemed excited at the prospect to be so close to the events again. “It was just a real thrill to…be watching those awesome competitors during the games,” Leach said. The official media release of the Olympic bid made no mention of Long Beach as a possible venue when LA submitted its bid to the International Olympic Committee, but as far as Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is concerned, that bid is a “template.” Long Beach has been in talks with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office and the LA Olympic Committee even before LA submitted its proposal. Garcia said they are all continuing to discuss Long Beach’s possible role in hosting some of the events. “It’s not a final plan,” Garcia said in a phone interview late last month when asked about LA 2024’s report on the venue breakdown. Garcia pointed to his city’s track record at the past Olympic games. “Long Beach has had a history of hosting certain types of events,” he said, noting that sailing, diving,
archery, beach volleyball and rowing were among the events that he would like to see Long Beach host again. “I think there is opportunity there for us to be involved in them.” In 1984, El Dorado was the place for archery, and the Long Beach Arena had been the venue for volleyball. Spectators at the Long Beach Convention Center cheered on fencers. Sailors launched from the Long Beach Shoreline Marina. All of those events have been slated to be hosted in another part of LA County for 2024, according to the LA 2024’s media release. Garcia acknowledged that LA and the LA Olympic Committee have to go through a series of steps in the next few months, but there won’t be any finalization of a plan for the next six months. He acknowledged that LA still has to be confirmed to be the host city. Other international destinations are in the running to host the 2024 games. LA still has to be picked over Paris, Rome, Budapest and Ham-
Long Beach may soon be home to an office that serves as a “one-stop shop” of information for all seniors in the community. Sixth District Councilmember Dee Andrews, during the Oct. 6 Long Beach City Council meeting, brought forward an item that will explore the feasibility of implementing an Office on Aging. The idea is to have all services from organizations in the city, county and state in one place for Long Beach’s older citizens. The agenda item is co-authored by Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, 4th District Councilmember Daryl Supernaw and 7th District Councilmember Roberto Uranga. Andrews also proposed updating the Long Beach Strategic Plan for Older Adults, which strives to improve the lives of Long Beach’s seniors with better services. He said it is “extremely important” to provide these resources to seniors in the community. “The foundation for an office like this– it is extremely important, and this is why I included the request to update the Long Beach Strategic Plan for Older Adults,” Andrews said. “The plan outlines the needs of our aging community members.” Cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco have realized the necessity and adopted an Office on Aging, according to Andrews’s office. As for Long Beach, a response from the health department will determine the possibility of creating the office. The office’s location will most likely be at the Long Beach Health Department, located at 2525 Grand Ave., according to Andrews. With potential grant funds covering the cost, the project is expected to be up and running in six months. The city council will address the Office on Aging item in one of its future meetings to determine the details, along with the possible updates for the Long Beach Strategic Plan for Older Adults. The strategic plan itself requires a call to action, Andrews said. The purpose was to address the needs of the elderly, including safety, transportation, housing, health and improving quality of life, but only a few of those issues have been addressed thus far, according to Andrews’s office. see AGING page 15
see OLYMPICS page 15
Donate your tax-deductible clothing, furniture, appliances and vehicles to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and provide for the needy. Receive a tax deduction due to our 501 (c)(3)
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores www.svdpla.org For FREE pick up call (800) 974-3571
The Historical Society of Long Beach presents
The 20th Anniversary
Historical
Long Beach Municipal and Sunnyside Cemeteries
Cemetery Tour
presented by
Historical Society of Long Beach
www.HSLB.org
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 1095 E. Willow Street Additional parking available at Willow Springs Park
Online Tickets Available Now
(562) 424-2220