SIGNAL TRIBUNE Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill
VOL. XLII NO. 49
LOCAL BUSINESS
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
www.signaltribune.com
COMMUNITY
November 27, 2020
COVID-19
City of Long Beach issues modified Safer at Home health order as COVID-19 cases increase Staff Report Signal Tribune
Due to an “alarming” rise in cases and hospitalizations, the Department of Health and Human Services has issued an updated Health Order that prohibits on-site dining. The changes are effective at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, according to an official press release from the City. The new Health Order prohibits on-site dining, including outdoor din-
Derrick’s on Atlantic | Instagram @derricksonatlantic
Derrick’s on Atlantic Still smokin’ after nearly a year Anita W. Harris Senior Writer
Pandemic restrictions have taken a toll on local restaurants and Derrick’s on Atlantic is no exception. Derrick’s opened on Feb. 24 of this year, at 3502 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, just before COVID-19 closures hit in mid-March. But after nine months, this TexasBBQ-themed restaurant is still alive, kicking, and slowly smoking– all its meats, that is. Most customers these days order Derrick’s to be picked up or delivered, but as of Wednesday, Nov. 25, all will have to do so until LA County lifts its temporary ban on outdoor dining. Health officials announced Sunday, Nov. 21 that the ban would begin Wednesday night and hold for at least three weeks, making Dec. 17 the earliest reopening date for restaurants like Derrick’s with an outdoor-dining option. Once things get back to “pandemic normal,” socially-distant diners can enjoy Derrick’s ventilated covered patio with tables spaced six feet apart. Patrons can comfortably enjoy lunch or dinner with beer or wine, or nosh on wings and fries while watching football on either of its two large-screen TVs. Aaron Blackburn, one of the three co-owners of Derrick’s, told the Signal Tribune that the patio turned out to be a fortuitous upgrade they made after taking over the lease following the closure of Hortencia’s Mexican & Seafood in 2019. “Lucky for us, we had this patio made,” he said about indoor dining being shuttered in March. see DERRICK’S page 2
see PANDEMIC page 5 Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune
Pozole and Menudo bowls being distributed by volunteers at the 5th annual Diamonds and Turkeys event by the Local Hearts Foundation on Saturday, Nov. 21.
COMMUNITY
‘BRINGING THE HOOD TOGETHER’ Local Hearts Foundation distribute over 1,000 turkeys to those in need Lissette Mendoza
W
Managing Editor
ith a line of anxious residents wrapping around the block, Local Hearts Foundation, along with the assistance of almost 100 volunteers and multiple sponsors, distributed over 1,000 turkeys to families in need during their 5th annual Diamonds and Turkeys distribution event. Local residents lined up as early as 6:30 a.m., such as Nancy Maradiaga. She was one of the first in line, accompanied by four out of her eight children. Maradiaga who attended the same event last year mentioned how her family had fallen on hard times because of the pandemic, with her currently being unemployed and her husband currently being the family’s only source of income. While the initial goal was to distribute 1,000 turkeys, with additional donations from fellow community members and organizations, a total of around 1,260 turkeys were gathered. Aside from turkeys, attendees
were also given other goods such as Diamond Supply Clothing Co. bags with some of the brand’s apparel merchandise; hygiene supplies, dry goods such as rice and cereal; and canned goods. The connections and friendships that Tito Rodriguez, President of the Local Hearts Foundation, also known as the Hood Santa, has cultivated throughout the years have genuinely benefited the
Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune
Co-founder of the Local Hearts Foundation HJ Chong with volunteers distributing bottled waters at around 10:30 a.m. to attendees who had been waiting in line as early as 6:30 a.m.
Come checkout our expanded outdoor dining and carhop service! * Dining Room Closed
community. “It’s the community stepping up, regular people getting involved and wanting to do good. That’s the beauty of this community because it really takes us to save us,” Rodriguez said. Martin and Manuel Luzanilla from Mexihana’s Hibachi Grill, a local, rising business in Long Beach, also arrived to donate an additional 50 turkeys. The Luzanilla’s grew up in the 6th District, where the distribution was taking place, and Martin has actually been friends with Rodriguez for over 20 years. “We’re from 6th District, this is our community, so for us to give back, it’s everything,” Martin said. “If we got it, we can give it.” Matthew Nguyen, a graduate of Poly High School, grew up in Long Beach. He and his IT solutions integrator company, Trace3, made a monetary contribution to the Local Hearts Foundation for the purpose of their turkey distribution and has previously raised over $9,000 for the Local Hearts Foundation.
When Jill Sassoon was about five years old, she beamed as she passed out the Christmas cookies she helped her mom make to family and friends. A red hot candy topped cookie shaped like Rudolph’s nose. Sassoon had her own rolling pin, provided by her mother, and she’d cut out the shapes of the cookies and sneak in cookie dough scraps for herself. They made enough to fill a big Tupperware container full of cookies for the holidays that Sassoon indulged in until they were gone.
see LOCAL HEARTS page 4
see GREATEST BAKER page 5
Jill Sassoon | Instagram @ jillmsassoon
Long Beach baker Jill Sassoon is competing virtually in Greatest Baker 2020.
Long Beach baker competes in worldwide virtual baking contestGreatest Baker 2020 Karla M. Enriquez Online Editor
CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AS SOON AS WE’RE ABLE TO REOPEN.