December 25, 2020 | Vol. XLII No. 53

Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill

VOL. XLII NO. 53

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

www.signaltribune.com

HOLIDAYS

December 25, 2020

COMMUNITY

Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Tito “Hood Santa” Rodriguez, president of the Local Hearts Foundation, poses with two children who received free gifts at the 10th Annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway.

Local Hearts Foundation and For The Children distribute almost $35,000 worth of toys during 10th Annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway

REMEMBERING LONG BEACH’S SANTA CLAUS: THOMAS ‘SKI’ DEMSKI

Lissette Mendoza Managing Editor

Courtesy of Patricia Hay Alexander

Thomas “Ski” Demski, a Long Beach legend, hangs out with one of his many pet birds on his famous bumper sticker truck in 1998.

While “Ski” has since passed away in 2002, his legacy still lives on in his former residence in downtown Long Beach and his record-setting Superflag company.

A character in his own right, Thomas “Ski” Demski was a world record-setter, a local Long Beach icon, ran for mayor, and was known as Santa Claus to a generation of kids who grew up in Long Beach.

Lissette Mendoza

T

Managing Editor

homas Demski, or “Ski” as he was most well known, once held the Guinness World Record for the largest flag. His “Superflag,” as it was known, was commissioned by Ski on June 14, 1992 and measured 225 feet by 505 feet and weighed 3,000 pounds.

Each star measures 16 feet point-to-point, takes 500 people to unfurl it and is nearly three football fields in size.

While he was internationally known for his massive flags, which have notably been unfurled at Super Bowls, the Hoover Dam, Charlotte Speedway and even a presidential inauguration, he was locally known to many in Long Beach as Santa Claus.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ski moved to Long Beach in 1958.

For years on Christmas, Ski, with his perfectly fitting snow-white beard and big belly, would put on his red suit and give out candy canes and flags at local elementary schools, hospitals and his neighborhood church, St. Anthony’s, located at 540 Olive Ave. Ski would go as far as showing up in a sleigh perfectly fitting for his grand personality–– the sleigh being a big, red fire engine.

“He had music installed on it and he would drive it all around when he was being Santa Claus because that was his sleigh,” Patricia Hay-Alexander, current owner of Ski’s flag-manufacturing company, said.

Alexander took over the Superflag business after her husband Jim passed away in 2016. Jim Alexander, a

* Dining Room Closed

see HOOD SANTA page 3

COMMUNITY

retired commander in the U.S. Coast Guard and Ski’s best friend and business associate, was appointed as the trustee for all of Ski’s belongings and businesses after he passed in 2002.

“They [Jim and Ski] both have a huge adoration for the American flag,” Alexander continued, “My husband was retired from the military, as far as he was concerned, what Ski was doing was absolutely wonderful; and so I support it,” she said.

The Alexander’s had known Ski since the 1980’s when Jim offered Ski his sidewalk cleaning services for the gatherings he would have by the giant 132-foot pole outside his house on Lime Avenue.

Alexander recalled, “He had this big podium that he would put out there, chairs–– the cops were very reasonable. They would block off the street in front of his house, so that all the neighbors and anybody else who wanted to come could come and sit down.”

This would be a constant affair throughout the year for days such as Flag Day and Veteran’s Day or whenever Ski simply wanted to.

He was particularly fond of World War I veteran Fred Hummer, who after his passing was buried at the pole in front of Ski’s house in 1997. Previously he had also buried his friend, veteran Colonel Clem Maloney during a public ceremony on St. Patrick’s Day in 1990 underneath where the pole stands today.

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On Saturday, Dec. 19, the Local Hearts Foundation in partnership with the organization For The Children distributed around $35,000 worth of toys during its 10th Annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway at MacArthur Park.

The event was both drive-thru and a walk-up area was open for those who didn’t have a vehicle, with something available for kids of all ages from sensory toys for toddlers,

see LB SANTA page 7

Karla Enriquez | Signal Tribune

Emily Cruz worked on a star ornament, one of the activities that took place at Adventures to Dreams’ Dec. 19 event.

Adventures to Dreams brings Christmas cheer to local children Karla M. Enriquez Digital Editor

With a colorful mural as a backdrop and plants bathing in the sunny weather engulfing the youth garden at Drake Chavez Greenbelt Park, Adventures to Dreams Enrichment hosted a Christmas experience for children on Saturday, Dec. 19.

Adventures to Dreams Enrichment is an organization serving youth living in at-risk neighborhoods and seeks to empower them through hands-on enrichment and mentorship. see ADVENTURES TO DREAMS page 2

CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AS SOON AS WE’RE ABLE TO REOPEN.

2

COMMUNITY

Signal Tribune

December 25, 2020

Adventures to Dreams continued from page 1

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Adventures to Dreams volunteer Karen Haney took some of the children on a small educational tour of the garden, where Haney taught the children about each plant at their event on Saturday, Dec. 19.

It was founded in 2015 by educator Sheila Grantham and teaches children ages 4-14 years, gardening, STEM, art, and cooking skills.

The event included a brunch with hot chicken and waffles prepared by parent Iesha Foster and Grantham, respectively, and featured an ornament decorating session, gardening activities and a toy giveaway.

The toys provided to the children were gathered by Urban Reset who partnered with artist lounge, Art Is My Drug, as part of their first toy drive. Urban Reset is a new organization that specializes in providing support, services and mentorship to inner-city youth and community. “I reached out to Long Beach Resources and they partnered me with Ms. Sheila,� Bruce McCall Jr., founder of Urban Reset said. “I met with different organizations and she had the limit of kids that I knew I could meet the goal for, she’s doing an amazing job, so me and my partners wanted to just meet up and try to make it a good event for the kids, it turned out great.�

Additionally, Adventures to Dreams applied for a donation through Kroger and received a $5,000 check, with which Grantham bought gift cards for the families.

She also gifted the children with pajamas.

For the families, having this socially distanced Christmas experience at a time when COVID-19 restrictions might prevent them from having their usual holiday traditions, was meaningful. “Right now since our family is not getting together, unfortunately, at least I feel like this is giving them the holiday spirit,� parent Vanessa Cruz said. “It’s good for them that they know Christmas is still here, it’s just a little different this year, so I just want them to get that experience, this is replacing some of it.�

Cruz’s children were part of the three families that made up the morning shift of the event. These families have been part of the program since 2017. The afternoon saw four families from the neighborhood, who are new to the program.

Volunteers for the event laughed and played with the children at their socially distanced tables as they waited for activities to start and food to be served, their comfort with one another readily apparent.

The atmosphere was festive with a Christmas tree donated by Ricardo’s Nursery overlooking the festivities and red poinsettia pots adorning each family’s table.

Karen Haney, a program volunteer with a background in horticultural therapy, took some of the children through a small educational tour of the garden where they explored different plants. “This is a safe space and a comfortable place for the kids to come and explore and keep their minds active and positive socializing with other kids,� Haney said. “Just the act of being in the area and interacting, the kids are getting so many benefits,

“

It’s good for them that they know Christmas is still here, it’s just a little different this year, so I just want them to get that experience.

-Vanessa Cruz, parent of child at Adventures to Dreams

�

and so it means a lot to me to get to be a part of that.�

She continued, “It’s therapeutic for me to be able to talk to people about plants and to be out with the plants.�

The plants, the gardening, art and science activities that take place two Saturdays a month and the Christmas joy emanating from the event for the children and their families wouldn’t have been possible without Grantham’s passion for giving chil-

dren positive experiences that they normally wouldn’t be exposed to.

While Grantham was working in Watts as an educator for the Los Angeles Unified School District, she asked her students what they did on the weekends, and one of the answers she received set in motion what is now Adventures to Dreams. “One day this little boy stood up and he said ‘well we don’t go outside on the weekends, because it’s dangerous,â€? Grantham remembered. [‌] “And then all the kids started talking about the dead bodies they’ve seen and I was just like oh, my god.â€?

Grantham called her daughter and announced she was starting a program on Saturdays so children would be able to go out.

She enlisted the help of some friends and with parental permission and attendance of some, started taking the children to museums in Los Angeles.

In 2016, Grantham thought it would be great to teach children how to garden according to the program’s online bio, and reached out to Joe Corso, Garden Director at Long Beach Organic to get garden plots to start her gardening activities.

In February 2020, Grantham signed a lease with Long Beach Parks and Rec for 10,000 square feet of land where the current garden resides. Over the summer about 20 volunteers visited the site to build eight garden beds.

Grantham’s vision has been executed using mainly her own funding, with some funding coming from other resources after COVID-19 hit.

Adventures to Dream’s bio states that with the help of donations, the organization has been able to carry on and grow. It was their own fundraising efforts for land development that helped them raise $12,000 in donations, which went toward necessities including ž of fence installation. “It would be great to get more help from the City,� Grantham said.

With the success of the Christmas event now behind them, Grantham and her team will carry on next year, and continue to inspire Long Beach youth to “dream big.�

Adventures to Dreams Enrichment’s youth garden is located at Drake Chavez Greenbelt Park 903 Fairbanks Ave. in Long Beach.

COMMUNITY

December 25, 2020

Hood Santa

Signal Tribune

3

continued from page 1 Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

A family (top left) who were recipients of multiple gifts at the 10th Annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway.

Comedian Antonio “Negro Guapo” Parker and Vicky Vicious from the local heavy metal band Heavenly Trip To Hell (top right) were some of the volunteers distributing gifts at the 10th Annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway.

Tito “Hood Santa” Rodriguez (bottom right), president of the Local Hearts Foundation, gives a scooter to a child at the 10th Annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway.

The car line (bottom left) for the 10th Annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway had wrapped around the entire block and extended onto Cherry Avenue.

to trucks and dolls for children, and headphones for teens.

A major partner for this year’s toy drive was the organization For The Children and SOS Booking who contributed over $35,000 worth of toys to the giveaway. If the name sounds familiar it’s because it’s also the namesake of the For The Children punk and hardcore music festival that SOS Booking has organized for the last 9 years prior to COVID-19.

During the festivals, proceeds from admission would go towards buying toys and necessities for kids.

“Typically, that’s where we raise all the toys from, as it’s part of the admission to get in, you got to bring a toy each day,” said Andrew Doyle, organizer of both For The Children and SOS Booking in conjunction with his partner Nate Rebolledo from hardcore band Xibalba.

Although this year’s in-person music festival was canceled due to the pandemic they still managed to raise thousands in funds by manufacturing limited T-Shirts featuring exclusive designs donated from several bands that would be on sale for only 72-hours, of which 100% of the proceeds went towards their For The Children Toy Drive.

“Obviously this year it’s different because we can’t do a festival. So

what we did was we contacted all of the bands we’ve worked with over the years and friends of ours to donate shirt designs, and we’ve been printing the shirts and selling them for all the proceeds to go to charity,” Doyle said. “All the profits from all the shirts raised $35,000 and we were able to buy all these toys out of that.”

Doyle and Tito “Hood Santa” Rodriguez from the Local Hearts Foundation began working together about two years ago, after a mutual friend of theirs suggested they link up when Doyle needed a Santa for a distribution event he was doing with the organization Help Me Help You. “I wanted a bilingual Santa too so that worked out great, he rolled out to my event and played Santa for all the kids,” Doyle said.

Rodriguez then asked For The Children if they had any extra toys to possibly help the Local Heart Foundation with their own toy giveaway event and that commenced their partnership.

“Ever since then we’ve just been doing it together and that’s the last few years now,” Doyle said. “We just combined our events, we were basically doing the same thing in two separate lanes and instead we just merged forces to make it bigger and

as big as we could.”

Now Rodriguez was finally back in the costume that bestowed upon him the “Hood Santa” name, simultaneously greeting families and posing with kids who ran up to hug him while also dealing with City officials and the Long Beach Police Department.

The giveaway lasted for over three hours, with the car line having wrapped around the entire block and extended onto Cherry Avenue.

New sponsors this year included McDonald’s and Richard Montañez, the creator of Hot Cheetos, who is joining the supportive lineup including SOS Booking, Diamond Supply Clothing Co. Brand, Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, Antiviral Station, Mr. Nice Guy, The Pacquiao Foundation, Grizzly Grip Tape, Foos Gone Wild, Trace3 and Grandeza Hot Sauce.

Previously the Local Hearts Foundation has also held its 5th Annual Diamonds and Turkeys Distribution and their Back to School Drive where they’ve also been met with massive demand, and every single item being claimed.

This time, however, they still had toys left over, which they were going to continue distributing at other toy giveaways throughout Southern Cal-

ifornia. They also had scheduled to donate 8 pallet’s worth of facemasks to local fire and police stations.

The Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway started 9 years ago with just HJ Chong, Tito “Hood Santa” Rodriguez, his wife Patrina Rodriguez, and Chong’s friend Adrian Herrera.

“I was broke, oh my goodness, I was so broke and struggling,” Chong said as he recalled being only 19-years-old when they organized the event.

Even though this year they have about 10 times as many people helping them out now, Chong and Rodriguez are still as involved.

“You see this?” Chong said as he pointed at himself, still composed after orchestrating the event for weeks now, “But you don’t know that I haven’t slept since yesterday,” he said with a collected smile.

He was up late at night still preparing for the event and woke up at 5 am, to heat-press shirts for the volunteers that would be joining them that day. The heat-press machine ended up giving out at about 1 am before he had to switch to iron the rest of the 60 shirts by hand. Initially, the job had been assigned to someone else however the individual had gotten diagnosed with COVID so

the Foundation was unable to accept around 80 shirts.

The LBPD made their presence known as they surrounded the park, overseeing that the appropriate COVID precautions were being implemented as well as assisting in the traffic control of the event.

Before entering the gift area, all attendees were made to wear masks and sanitize their hands with one of the hand sanitizer stations donated

by Antiviral Station. Volunteers also put in their best efforts to make sure they and the attendees were social distancing at six feet apart.

“I think they’re doing their job,” acknowledged Chong. “We want security, we want them to handle traffic for us.”

Overall, Chong, co-founder of the Local Hearts Foundation, felt the event was a success, “The community stepped up.”

“This is like my Christmas,” Chong said, “I’m just overwhelmed with joy, we’re just regular people honestly, putting an idea out there and people are stepping up to the plate.”

“I’m just overwhelmed with the continuous support we get.”

To stay up-to-date on events held by the Local Hearts Foundation, follow them on Instagram at @local-

CORRECTION FROM FRIDAY, DEC. 18 ISSUE: In “With Alley Cat Deliveries, founder Robb Smith is at the LB community’s service” printed in the Friday, Dec. 18 issue, the writer stated gratuity is optional for Smith’s courier service, however, gratuity is not optional and is how Smith and his family make a living.

MANAGING EDITOR

Lissette Mendoza

DIGITAL EDITOR

Karla M. Enriquez

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Emma DiMaggio

LEGALS COORDINATOR

Katherine Green

SENIOR WRITER

Anita W. Harris

STAFF WRITER

Kristen Farrah Naeem

COLUMNIST

Claudine Burnett

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The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit ­letters for grammar, language and space requirements. Letters must be 500 words or fewer. The Signal Tribune will publish no more than one “pro” letter and one “con” letter on a particular topic in a single issue. The Signal ­Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other ­publications or otherwise presented in a public forum. Letters to the editor and commentaries are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff. Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct ­information when possible, letters to the editor and commentaries are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter-writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter. We do not run letters to the editor submitted by individuals who have declared their candidacies for public office in upcoming races. This policy was put in place because, to be fair, if we publish one, we would have to publish all letters submitted by all candidates. The volume would no doubt eliminate space for letters submitted by other readers. Instead, we agree to interview candidates and print stories about political races in an objective manner and offer very reasonable advertising rates for those candidates who wish to purchase ads. The Signal Tribune is published each Friday with a circulation of 30,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $50.

1399 E. 28th St., Signal Hill, CA 90755 (562) 595-7900 www.signaltribune.com newspaper@signaltribune.com

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NEWS

Signal Tribune

December 25, 2020 LOCAL BUSINESS

Emma DiMaggio | Signal Tribune

Ten Mile Brewery’s taproom was remodeled by owners Dan and Jesse Sundstrom. The room features warm bulb lights and an industrial-style open layout.

Ten Mile Brewing Company to add kitchen to tasting room Anita W. Harris Senior Writer

If you wanted a burger with your beer at Ten Mile Brewing Company in Signal Hill, you’d have to hope the food truck outside that day would make you one.

Soon that will no longer be an issue because the three-year-old Ten Mile– located at 1136 E. Willow St.will have its own full-service kitchen to complement its beer-tasting room.

After a two-month approval process, the Signal Hill City Council agreed on Dec. 8 to amend Ten Mile’s conditional-use permit, allowing it to serve its own food inside.

The council also agreed to change Signal Hill zoning laws so all alcohol makers with tasting rooms in the city can have a kitchen. Ten Mile is currently the only such business.

When it opened in 2017, Ten Mile’s permit allowed it to operate as a brewery with indoor and outdoor tasting rooms and a food truck to serve food in its parking lot, Community Development Director Colleen Doan said.

In 2019, the City expanded the brewery’s permit to allow longer hours, indoor live music and outdoor events in its 22-space parking lot.

But when COVID-19 hit this past spring, the Los Angeles County Health Department closed breweries and bars without a kitchen and Ten Mile could only sell its beer to-go.

The department eased those restrictions briefly in October to allow onsite beverage consumption, only to shut it down again in November when countywide virus cases and deaths surged.

“With the continued uncertainty about Health Department regulations and rollbacks due to the rises in COVID-19 cases, […] the most certain business model for Ten Mile will be to install a full-service kitchen,” Doan said.

Owner Dan Sundstrom said Ten Mile needed to serve food to stay open when restrictions briefly eased, but if a scheduled food truck didn’t

from all of us at the

show up, the brewery had to close.

“We’ve had to depend on this food-truck model for the past three years,” Sundstrom said. “There’s a lot of unreliability. Many times, trucks break down or they just don’t show up and we’re just left hanging.”

The planned full-service kitchen will be built at the back of the brewery, replacing a storage area and office, which will be moved offsite.

Ten Mile will not expand its floor space or parking lot.

The council conducted a public hearing before approving the amended permit but heard no objection.

The City had already solicited approval from Ten Mile’s neighbors in its commercial-industrial zone, including a medical office and generator-rental company, as well as the location’s property owner.

Ten Mile still has to secure permits from the LA County Health Department before it can build the kitchen and start preparing and serving food.​ In the meantime, Ten Mile delivers or customers can come to the brewery to select beer or order online at its website, TenMileBrewing.com, to pick up.

It serves its beer in three sizes– a standard 16-oz. can, 32-oz. aluminum “crowler” or 64-oz. glass “growler.”

Ten Mile also cans any of its beers in packs of four or six that can be mixed or matched. Its beers range from lagers to IPAs to stouts.

“If you guys want to buy Christmas gifts for someone who’s a beer lover, we have a full apparel line,” Sundstrom said. “We have glasses and mugs and hoodies and all kinds of logoed gear.”

Ten Mile will “keep it simple” with its food once its kitchen is up and running, Sundstrom said.

“Happy cooking,” Mayor Edward Wilson said after the council’s approval.

Ten Mile Brewing is located at 1136 E. Willow Ave. Their phone number is (562) 612-1255.

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ARTS

December 25, 2020

5

Signal Tribune

ARTS

New mural coming to West Long Beach, honoring faith and student success Emma DiMaggio Production Manager

By January, West Long Beach will receive its newest mural, courtesy of local artist Jose Loza in collaboration with the nonprofit Centro CHA. On the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 19, Loza was hard at work on the piece. The skin of his hands peeked through fragments of dry paint that enveloped his palms.

It’s a familiar look for Loza, whose murals speck Long Beach and Los Angeles County. He’s become known for his focus on immigrant narratives, a theme that rings true in “Sacred As the Sun.” “It runs parallel to what I do. I’m just very curious in trying new things every time I do a new project,” Loza said. “For me, just doing something new, especially like this mural, always finding a challenge and bringing in these community aspects.”

The mural is currently in progress, coming to fruition one stroke at a time with an expected completion of Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021.

Loza drew inspiration from the community, who were consulted in the design process of the mural.

“The main focus is the image of the Virgin Mary,” he said. “The reason that’s up there is because it has religious and cultural significance.”

The mural is located at 2000 Santa Fe Ave. in the heart of a community with high populations of Latino and Filipino residents, both of whom practice Catholicism.

The visage of the Virgin Mary is framed by images of two graduates, alluding to “aspirations for the future, for goals,” he said, “especially for a lot of the youth.”

“It has to do with, not [specifically] just graduating high school, but also going further if one wants to,” he said.

The mural is adjacent to Cabrillo High School and is less than a block away from the Mary Molina Community Garden.

“The cool thing about these projects is that we also work with the community,” Loza said. “It’s also about, not just me painting it and getting out of here, it’s about how we involve people with the project.”

Though Loza is heading the mural, the piece is a collaboration with the community. He and Centro CHA organized times for kids to help paint the mural, three at a time to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

On Saturday, Alfredo Gomez, who Loza jokingly referred to as the “Mayor of West Long Beach,” came to help him paint. Armed with a canopy to fight off the sun and woven brimmed hats, the pair paced back and forth between the shaded paint table and their 12-foot canvas.

As the smell of asphalt and gravel wafted through the air, the two laid down oranges, purples and greens to the once-barren wall.

“It’s the neighborhood where I lived all my life,” Gomez said. “It’s something that I can drive by and show my kids that I was a part of, and that’s a big win for me.”

This is Loza’s first mural in about two years and he’s thankful for the opportunity to reconnect with the community after months of self-quarantine.

“While you’re taking breaks, people come in. We had Alfredo’s mom bring us tacos right now,” he said.

“People walk up, they start talking to you, they tell you their stories.

It frames the whole experience and makes it really unique.”

To keep up with the mural’s progress, readers can follow Jose Loza on Instagram at @jmloza_art.

Emma DiMaggio | Signal Tribune

The mural design for “Sacred As the Sun” (above) was a collaborative effort between artist Jose Loza, the nonprofit Centro CHA and community members.

Jose Loza (left) lays down layers of orange paint to the mural (below) on Saturday, Dec. 19. The completed mural is expected to be unveiled on January 9, 2020.

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Signal Tribune

PUBLIC NOTICES/NEWS

EYE ON CRIME CRIMES REPORTED BY THE SIGNAL HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT Thursday, December 17 8:26 a.m., Critical missing, 3200 block E. PCH 9:17 a.m., Intoxicated person, 700 block E. Spring St. Friday, December 18 None.

Saturday, December 19 6:52 a.m., Auto burglary, 2000 block Orizaba Ave. 11:41 a.m., Burglary, 2900 block E. PCH 11:43 a.m., DUI; resisting/obstructing Police Officer; hit & run/property damage, Lewis Ave./SE Willow St. (citation issued) 12:36 a.m., Burglary, 900 block E. 27th St. 2:04 p.m., Battery, 2500 block Cherry Ave. 3:55 p.m., Petty theft, 900 block E. 33rd St. (citation issued) Sunday, December 20 4:24 p.m., Auto burglary, 2000 block Orizaba Ave. 5:57 p.m., Auto burglary, 3300 block Falcon Ave. 6:55 p.m., Robbery, 3500 block E. PCH Monday, December 21 5:09 a.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 2800 block Cherry Ave. 5:50 p.m., Battery, 2200 block Cherry Ave. LBPD reporting area is too extensive to report here.

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TST6347 / 2020 192015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: UNIVERSAL TOUCH, 4000 Long Beach Blvd., Ste. 252, Long Beach, CA 90807.

Registrant: LESLEY ALMER, 4142 Elm Ave. #413, Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Lesley Almer.

The registrant has not begun to use this fictitious business name. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on November 18, 2020. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.

A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: December 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020.

TST6348 / 2020 199228 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: ON A WING AND A PRAYER ANIMAL RESCUE, 3559 Rutgers Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808. Registrant: LOIS K. PAIRE, 3559 Rutgers Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Lois K. Paire. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in August, 2020. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on November 25, 2020. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: December 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020.

TST6353 Notice of Public Lien Sale Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the California Self-Storage Facility Act Code, Section #21700, the undersigned will be sold by public auction at: Storco Self Storage, 3050 Orange Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807, County of Los Angeles, and State of California. Auction date of: January 05th , 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Terms of sale: Cash sale, all sales are final and purchased at buyers own risk. No guarantees or warranty of any sale are promised by seller. Storco Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid or cancel auction. Facility owner or its representatives has the right to bid on any and all units or stop sale at any time. Name of auctioneer: KE Auction Services. The following units are scheduled for sale: Unit # & Customer Name: Unit #C024/Bryan Salerno-Unit # C029/Atticus Daus-Unit#E097/Katheryn Steinbrecher-Unit #E111 & B229/Managers Unit(s) contents may include but are not limited to: Electronics, furniture, appliances, garage items, toys, clothing, sporting goods, tools, automotive and miscellaneous household goods, unless otherwise stated.

Publish Dates: 12/18/2020 & 12/25/2020 TST6354 / 2020 210042 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: CANNARY DISTRIBUTION, 2901 Gardena Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: 4033002, 2901 Gardena Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Stephen Jesson, Manager. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in October, 2020. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on December 8, 2020.

NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.

A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: December 18, 25, 2020 & January 1, 8, 2021 TST6355 / 2020 212655 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: BIGGER HAMMER PRODUCTION SERVICES, 2910 Seaboard LN., Long Beach, CA 90805. Registrant: B.H.P.S. CORP., 2910 Seaboard LN., Long Beach, CA 90805. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Jahn Hardison, President. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using

this fictitious business name in December, 1996. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on December 10, 2020. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: December 18, 25, 2020 & January 1, 8, 2021 Public Notice I, DAVIS EL, whose address is 417 South Mayo Avenue, Compton, California. 90221, proclaim my Free National Name as MOORISH SCIENCE TEMPLE OF AMERICA according to the rules and usages of such MOORISH SCIENCE TEMPLE OF AMERICA. The Moorish Science Temple deriving its power and authority from the Great Koran of Mohammed to propagate the faith and extend the learning and truth of the Great Prophet Ali in America, To anoint, appoint, and consecrate missionaries of the prophet, and to establish the faith of Mohammed in America. Published in Signal Tribune, 12/18, 25, 2020 & 1/1, 1/8, 2021 TST6356/Order No: 9022 Auto Lien Sale On 1/5/2021 at 6821 CRENSHAW BLVD LOS ANGELES,CA a Lien Sale will be held on a 2020 TOYOTA VIN: 5YFEPRAE4LP124735 STATE: CA LIC: 8RDX169 at 10 AM TST6357/Order No: 9062 Auto Lien Sale On 1/8/2021 at 1612 BURLINGTON AVE LOS ANGELES,CA a Lien Sale will be held on a 2020 TOYOTA VIN: JTDEBRBE4LJ007240 STATE: CA LIC: 8KLG667 at 10 AM TST6358/Order No: 8950 Auto Lien Sale On 1/8/2021 at 4901 S BROADWAY LOS ANGELES,CA a Lien Sale will be held on a 2017 NISSAN VIN: 1N4AA6AP6HC361622 STATE: CA LIC: L658L0 at 10 AM

Pet of the week:

Domino

It’s nearly Christmas, with New Year’s Eve following close behind, and here’s Domino, all dressed in his proper tuxedo and white silk cravat. He’s all dressed up with nowhere to go.

You can fix that—this handsome guy’s holiday wish is to find his furever home. Domino’s only 2 years old, and he’s easygoing, gentle and loving—just what you need to warm up your holiday. Because the shelter is closed to the public, adoption appointments are conducted through email, so contact PetAdopt@longbeach.gov to meet Domino. Ask for ID#A652285.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

December 25, 2020 HOLIDAYS

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Where can I drop off my Christmas tree for recycling? The City of LB has you covered Staff Report Signal Tribune

The City’s Long Beach Public Works Department announced its annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program, Treecycling, on Tuesday, Dec. 22 in a press release from the City.

The program gives residents convenient drop-off locations to dispose of their live holiday trees, for free.

There will be a total of 12 drop-off locations available throughout the city starting on Saturday, Dec. 26Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.

“The Treecycling program collects holiday trees and sends them to a chipping facility where they are turned into landscaping mulch or to a biomass conversion facility for energy generation,” the press release said. “Annually, the City collects approximately 200 tons of holiday trees, which is equal to 10,000 to 15,000 trees. Proper disposal of holiday trees through the Treecycling program prevents fire hazards and blight by reducing illegally dumped trees in alleys and public right-ofways.”

Long Beach residents will be able to drop off their holiday trees at drop-off locations and must wear a face covering over the nose and mouth to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Drop-off locations will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The locations are as follows: • Houghton Park (Myrtle Avenue at Harding Street) • North Police Substation (4891 N. Atlantic Ave.; at Del Amo Boulevard, enter on 46th Street) • Veterans Park (28th Street at Pine Avenue) • Wardlow Park (Monlaco Road at Rutgers Avenue) • El Dorado Park (2760 N. Studebaker Rd.; South parking lot, behind Administration Building) • Hudson Park (Hill Street at Webster Avenue) • Long Beach Environmental Services Bureau Offices (2929 E. Willow St.) • Stearns Park (23rd Street at Roycroft Avenue) • Orizaba Park (Orizaba Avenue at 14th Street) • Cesar E. Chavez Park (Golden Shore Street at 4th Street) • Bixby Park (1st Street at Cherry Avenue) • Fire Station 14 (5200 E. Eliot St.) To ensure a speedy process, residents should make sure all tree decorations and stands are removed from the trees. Any trees over 12 feet tall should be cut in half. Additionally, no artificial trees or trees generated from businesses will be allowed at the drop-off locations.

For residents who count with City refuse collection service and who are unable to drop off their tree, the Treecycling pick-up day will take place on Saturday, Jan. 9 all across the city. Trees may be placed in the same location where recycling is usually collected by 7 a.m.

More information on the Treecycling Program can be found at longbeach.gov/lbrecycles.

December 25, 2020

NEWS/COMMUNITY

Signal Tribune

COVID-19

7

Los Angeles County hospitals remain swamped as COVID cases soar City News Service Southern California Local News

Los Angeles County hospital space continued dwindling Monday, Dec. 21 as the surge of COVID-19 cases pressured emergency rooms and intensive care units, leaving health officials to decry residents who flocked to shopping centers over the weekend and ate on restaurant patios in defiance of infection-control regulations.

“If you’re still out there shopping for your loved ones for this holiday season or you’re planning a holiday get-together, then you are missing the gravity of the situation that is affecting hospitals across Los Angeles County and California and this nation,” county Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly said.

“People are very sick in the hospitals. They are dying there, and our hospitals may not have the equipment or the capacity or the resources to take care of you in the way that you need or expect,” she said.

“Though they may seem benign, these actions are extremely high risk, and we ask that everyone do everything they can to avoid spreading the virus to avoid prolonging the surge and avoid increasing the number of deaths that families across our county will experience in the days and weeks to come.”

Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer also expressed frustration at continued violations of protocols by restaurants that allow customers to purchase take-out food, then sit on their patios to eat, despite a ban on

LB Santa

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels

outdoor dining.

“I’m troubled that this is still the conversation because our numbers are so horrific in the county,” Ferrer said. “Please by all means, frequent our restaurants, pick up the food, take it out and take it home so that you can eat it with your immediate household members. That’s what we’re asking for.”

The frustration and urgency expressed by health officials came days ahead of the Christmas holiday, which has authorities fearing yet another post-holiday spike in virus infections — a surge on top of a surge — that could officially leave hospitals overrun.

According to the county Department of Health Services, as of Monday a total of 776 hospital beds were staffed and available in the county, including just 30 adult ICU beds. The county reported anoth-

er record-setting level of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 on Monday, with the number reaching 5,709, with 21% of those people, or nearly 1,200, in intensive care. The county has an overall licensed ICU capacity of about 2,500 beds.

According to the county DHS, the 70 “911-receiving” hospitals that have emergency departments surged their capacity to operate a daily average of 2,660 ICU beds last week. On average, those beds were occupied by 996 confirmed or suspected COVID cases on a daily basis, or about 37% of the 2,660 staffed beds.

The hospitals last week averaged 55 open and staffed ICU beds on a daily basis last week.

Those 70 hospitals operated a daily average of about 10,000 nonICU beds last week, with 36% of them on any given day occupied by confirmed or suspected COVID-19

patients, and only about 300 beds staffed and available each day.

On Monday, the county reported another 56 coronavirus-related deaths, lifting the cumulative total to 8,931.

Another 11,271 COVID-19 cases were also reported by the county, while Long Beach health officials reported 1,232 more and Pasadena added 109, lifting the cumulative number from throughout the pandemic to 636,190. Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15, the average daily number of new cases in the county has increased by 862%, while nearly tripling in the last three weeks alone.

The number of hospitalizations jumped by 481% between Nov. 9 and Dec. 17, along with a 369% increase in average daily deaths during that same time period.

Help is on the way in the form of vaccines, with thousands more doses

on their way to the county this week, although it will still be several weeks until the shots become available to the general public.

Ferrer said the county received 82,873 doses of the Pfizer vaccine last week, and another 48,750 doses are expected to arrive later this week.

The county also expects to receive 116,600 doses of the newly approved Moderna vaccine this week.

Ferrer said about 23,000 health care workers in the county have already been vaccinated with the initial allotment of Pfizer vaccine from last week. She said about 506,000 frontline health care workers are in line to be vaccinated.

Once those groups have been vaccinated, priority will move to intermediate care and home health care workers, community health workers, public health field staff and workers at primary care, correctional facility and urgent care clinics. Lab technicians, dental workers and pharmacy staff will be up next.

After that, priority will move to people aged 75 and older, along with essential workers, including first responders, teachers, school staff, day care workers, manufacturing workers, correctional staff, postal workers, public transit, food and agriculture workers and grocery store workers.

Next up will be people aged 65 and older, along with people 16 and older who have significant underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness.

Read the full story online at www.signaltribune.com.

continued from page 1 of Ski’s was commissioning 2,000 corned beef sandwiches from Joe Jost’s in Long Beach and handing them out to the homeless, complete with green Kool-Aid drinks.

Ski was keen on giving back to his community, making major donations to St. Anthony’s Church and the Long Beach Symphony, which he was even given the opportunity to conduct.

He also quietly helped a mother with financial struggles, pay for her son’s funeral after he was hit by a car.

Not everyone was fond of him however, his neighbor sued him over his flag being too “noisy”.

“It was the case of the flapping flag,” Alexander said.

Ski eventually had to resize the flag.

Although beloved by many in the city, Ski, a reformed alcoholic, was estranged from his family.

“The immediate family wanted nothing to do with him because apparently he was not a nice drunk,” Alexander said.

Ski also ran for Long Beach mayor multiple times. “[He ran] over and over and over again every year, every time that Ernie Kell was mayor [1984-1994],” Alexander recalled.

Apart from making flags, Ski also ran a bumper-sticker business, where he printed many patriotic and positive phrases since he himself was a reformed alcoholic at the time. Aside from his big red firetruck, Ski was also notable for his large van with every inch covered with the same bumper stickers that he made in his garage and sold.

Interestingly, two years prior to his death, Ski had held his own mock funeral in his garage. Laying shirtless in a plexiglass coffin, Ski was able to show off the array of

Courtesy of Patricia Hay-Alexander

Thomas “Ski” Demski dressed up as Santa Claus attop his “sleigh” — a big red fire truck that would play music as he rode around Long Beach. For a generation of kids, he was widely known as the “real” Santa Claus.

American flags, eagles and Santa Claus themed tattoos he had all over his chest and back. With the help of a hypnotist, he laid still as his friends came and ate corned beef sandwiches while watching over him.

“Hey, he was an old guy, and he was a real character,” said Alexander.

Ski was found dead on Jan. 19, 2002 at the age of 72.

He was laid to rest in an in-state manor at home in his own garage in the same plexiglass coffin from his mock funeral, shirtless and all. Over 2,000 people, including a cardinal priest from Los Angeles, came to his funeral and signed his book.

“He [the cardinal] had told Jim that Ski has done lots of things for the church, he was a good Catholic boy,” Alexander noted.

No one from his family attended.

“I called the number I had for the sister. It was a working number but nobody ever answered,” Alexander

said. “I left a message and nobody ever called me back.”

The Los Angeles Times and The LB Report reported that the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office ruled his death as a suicide.

“Toxicological tests found a level of Tramadol [Ultran], a painkiller, in his system beyond therapeutic levels,” the LB Report article stated.

“Jim told me he was in an amount of pain, he was ill,” Alexander said.

“I think he just didn’t want to carry on anymore, life was getting too hard.”

His ashes were interred in the metallic eagle that sits atop of the 132-foot pole, which is still in front of his former home at 402 Lime Ave. There is no flag flying on it anymore.

The Superflag business is still around. Many of the flags, including the Superflag, are currently in storage but continue to be rented out.

The bumper-sticker business was given to William “Wild Bill”

Landham, a business associate and friend of Ski. “I thought they’d be interested in keeping that going but they just let it go,” Alexander said.

Ski and Alexander had acquired the friendship of a much younger Landham who would travel around the country with them, helping to transport the flags.

Landham also continues to assist Alexander in transporting flags throughout the country.

“I don’t think I can do this without him,” Alexander noted.

Visitors today can also still see a statue of Ski with his beloved pet parrot, Peppy, in front of his former home next to the pole. On the other side of the house, is his original “The Pole” sign with a painting of a bald eagle with its wings spread, both reminders of Ski’s patriotism and love of Christmas.

“I’ll keep it going as long as I’m alive,” Alexander said regarding the legacy and business of Superflag.

“I have it set up that if anything happens to me that Bill will take it, but now Bill is 60 years old, I mean, he may not make it, which is another reason why I would like to get maybe one of the Ski’s nephews involved.”

Alexander hopes that the City of Long Beach will preserve some of Ski’s memorabilia “for anybody who wants to find out about Ski,” she says. What’s not saved in the garage is currently put away in storage for the time being.

“He was Long Beach’s most unforgettable character,” Alexander said as she looked back at dozens of laid out photos of Ski. “Anyone who lived in Long Beach knew who Ski Demski was.”

This story was originally published Dec. 5, 2019.

LIVES LIVED

Dennis Sanders 72 Kurt Holmes 62 Daniel Clayton 89 Larry Cumblidge 63 Elizabeth Clark71 Brenda Acosta 53 Carol McKinley 71 Reydesel Quesada Jr 34 Everado Gonzalez Palma 60 Roland Alfred Sr 82 Constance Leuck 63 Kiwanil Williams 63 Arthur Pangan 61 Maria Gonzalez 91 Maria Aguirre 94

The families were assisted

by McKenzie Mortuary.

For more details on service dates and times, contact (562) 961-9301.

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Signal Tribune

December 25, 2020

End the year with a smile under there.

Happy Holidays from the Long Beach Transit family to yours.