CHP Pursues Bank Robbers -- 405 closed --Millikan and Cubberly on Lockdown

Earlier today - Thursday, May 13 -- a bank robbery occurred in South Orange County. California Highway Patrol (CHP) ended up pursuing what they believe to be the suspect vehicles. The suspect vehicle exited the 405 at Woodruff Avenue where the CHP was involved in an Officer Involved shooting. The 405 was immediately closed. Millikan High school and Cubberly Elementary school were placed on lock down. Reverse 9-1-1- calls were made by the LBPD to surrounding residents.

CHP believes the suspect fled in the general area. The Long Beach Police Department was called to assist and is currently providing multiple resources including SWAT.

If anyone has information, please call 9-1-1. The LBPD is working with the CHP and the FBI on this case.

The 405 has been re-opened as of 2:00 pm, however, the suspect is still at large.

Community Baby Shower -- Get a Chance to Win Tickets to See New BABIES Documentary

It's that time again for the Community Baby Shower. My annual effort to get basic going home newborn kits for low income mothers to use after they give birth in our local hospitals.
The newborn kits are used also as incentives by our Public Health Nurses to encourage moms to complete education classes.

The community is asked to donate the following new items which will be placed into bags so that the Public Health Nurses can use them in their classes:

• Diapers, baby wipes, bibs, onesies and blankets. No bottles as nurses want to encourage breastfeeding.

Drop off your donated items Monday - Friday, 9am - 5 pm by Wednesday, May 19th at the Fifth District Neighborhood Office: 2760 Studebaker Road, Long Beach; or make a contribution (tax deductible) to Long Beach Cares, 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815.

If you bring new items to the "baby shower" on May 20th where we stuff the items in the bags and enjoy baby shower cake, you will receive a chance for tickets to see the wonderful new documentary: "BABIES" which is playing at UA Marketplace on Second and PCH. (You can check out the movie trailer in the prior posting.)

The Baby Shower will be at the City of Long Beach Health and Human Services Department, 2525 Grand Avenue (off Willow).

For further information: 562 570-6932.

The Baby Shower

A Must See -- Babies -- A Documentary

Schipske Calls on LBPOST To Remove City Employee Names

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today called upon the LBPOST blog to remove the names of individual City employees which they have posted on-line with the employees' job titles and salaries. She has also asked the City Manager to explain how this information was released and why the City Council nor the employees associations representing employees were notified that this information would be placed on-line.

Schipske believes the same "purpose" of the postings could have been accomplished by listing the job titles and the salaries.

"I am a strong proponent of transparency in government but it is not necessary to expose the names of city employees when disclosing what each job is paid. The job titles and salaries would have been sufficient," says Schipske. "Additionally, I understand that many of the salaries posted are not even correct nor were the furloughs (loss of pay) reflected in the postings."

Arts and Services for the Disabled Opens Exhibit May 21st

Arts & Services for the Disabled announce the opening of the Touch group exhibit --a multi-sensory sculture, painting and interactive work by artists with disabilities --on Friday May 21 at 6-8pm.

The exhibit continues through August 19th. Gallery hours are: M-F 9 am - 3 pm. The Deneff Gallery is located at 3962 Studebaker Road, #206, Long Beach in the 5th Council District.

Frontier Airlines -- Service Launch at Long Beach Airport; City Implements Sound Insulation Improvements

Frontier Airlines Starts Services:

The Long Beach Airport is pleased ot announce the launch of service by Frontier Airlines. Frontier will be operating two daily non-stop flights to Denver, Colorado, with the inaugural flight scheduled to arrive at 10 am on Friday, May 14. The first departure is slated for 11 am the same day.

QuieterHome Program:

The City Council just approved the construction and inspection of the Pilot Phase of the Long Beach Airport Quieter Home Program. This program will provide sound mitigation elements that possess the acoustic performance properties required to achieve the minimum 5dB Noise Level Reduction goal and an interior Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) goal for homes within the 65 CNEL. There are 27 identified interested homeowners eligible for the program. The funds were obtained from the Passenger Facility Charges -- airport funds.

El Dorado Nature Center Offers Trail Stewards Training for Volunteers

May 15 and 22
Is walking in nature your passion? Do you love the outdoors and want to lend a hand while hiking at the Nature Center? Then consider joining the Trail Stewards volunteer program at El Dorado Nature Center. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is offering you an opportunity to share with visitors information about the wonderful history and wildlife that make El Dorado Nature Center a treasure in Long Beach. The Nature Center offers a two-session training program to help you become a Trail Steward.

The training classes meet on Saturday, May 15 and 22 from 9 am until noon at the Nature Center, located at 7550 E. Spring. Call 562 570-4885 for further information.

City Manager News

See the posting on the side. It's the latest weekly newsletter from City Manager Pat West. Check it out and find information on:

• California Redevelopment Association (CRA) Lawsuit -- the State is stealing our redevelopment money ($36 million dollars) and we are suing.
• KROC Center -- Salvation Army is pulling out of its commitment to Long Beach for this community center.
• Bike Fest -- in the continuing effort to make Long Beach a very Bike Friendly City -- last week was Bike Fest.
• Belmont Pier Work -- building a new bus stop for the Belmont Pier.
• LBGO Customers -- natural gas customers of the City have now experienced 12 consecutive months of gas bills lower than similarly sized residential customers anywhere else in So. Cal.
• LBPD Commander Gary Morrison -- going off to become Chief of Police for Carlsbad.

President Obama Recognizes Families Come in All Forms

Happy Mother's Day.

Posted to the right is President Obama's Mother's Day Proclamation. Please note that for the first time in history, a President is acknowledging that "nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by two parents, a single mother, two mothers, a step-mom, a grandmother, or a guardian."

As one of two moms who raised 3 wonderful children, it's nice to be acknowledged by the President of the United States.