🌱 Herons Not Haters In El Dorado Park + Queen Mary Repairs Start

Sylvia Cochran
Updated ·4 min read

Up and at 'em, Long Beach, and happy National Puzzle Day! Let's get you all caught up to start this Saturday, January 29 off on an informed note. Here's everything worth knowing today in town.

An Old Navy commercial shoot is ruffling feathers. Also, there’s a chance that the public will be able to visit the Queen Mary again later this year. Finally, the PD believes it has arrested a sexual batterer.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 69 Low: 45.

Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

  1. Old Navy chose El Dorado Park to film its latest commercial. However, bird lovers noticed that the activities were taking place “precariously close to Great Blue Heron nesting sites.” As a result, Wednesday morning saw a dedicated group of “environmental picketers to protest the disturbance of the long-established nesting rookery” with signs reading “Herons Not Haters.” It’s interesting to note that the individual on location from the City’s event office “refused to comment or provide a copy of the permit.” (Beachcomber)

  2. City leaders have weighed their options and decided to begin critical repairs on the Queen Mary in February. In Thursday’s announcement, we learned that construction zone fencing is already up to allow for “the first phase of critical repairs.” “It is our responsibility to preserve the Queen Mary and ensure this historic landmark is properly cared for,” the Mayor explained. Next, Exbon Development, Inc. will remove deteriorated lifeboats; then, there’ll be new permanent bilge pumps put in. “Additional improvements to the bulkhead, emergency generator, and to the water intrusion warning system are forthcoming.” The goal is to reopen the Queen Mary to the public “later this year.” (City of LB)

  3. The PD arrested a 33-year-old man Thursday. He is a suspect in “in sexual batteries that occurred between May 30 and Sept. 24, 2021.” We discussed the locations of these incidents in September. Now, the LBPD is trying to find out if there are more victims. Please call sex crimes Detective William Neal at 562- 570-7368 with information. (Patch, KTLA)

  4. Early on Friday morning, a 23-year-old young man from Compton lost his life in a single-vehicle traffic collision. It happened “at the 710 Freeway on-ramp, north of Ocean Boulevard” when the driver of a 2013 Honda Civic “failed to turn with the curved on-ramp and collided with a metal guard rail.” Investigators say “speed is believed to have been a factor in the collision. Drugs or alcohol were not believed to be a factor in the collision.” (LBPD)

  5. Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail week is coming back, y’all! The seventh run of this popular event kicks off on February 18. During its 10-day run, 45 plus participating restaurants will offer guests special promotions such as “prix fixe menus, meals for two, chef’s tasting menus or multi-course options for breakfast, lunch or dinner — often highlighting some of their best offerings at a discount or new meals entirely. Others offer small plates, wine, beer and cocktail pairings.” (The HiLo)

Today in Long Beach:

  • Festival Of Human Abilities at the Aquarium of the Pacific (9 AM to Sunday, 5 PM)

  • Free Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic serving Long Beach held at Washington Middle School. (10 AM to 1 PM)

  • Fresh Education Makerspace Grand Opening at 2325 East 3rd Street. (10 AM to 12 PM)

  • House of Intuition hosts a Book Signing of YOUR INTUITION LED YOU HERE. (11 AM to 1 PM)

  • The Winehouse Experience Featuring Mia Karter at the Gaslamp. (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • The Long Beach Police Department invites residents to join them next Tuesday for the virtual swearing in ceremony for new Police Chief Wally Hebeish! This event will take place during the regularly scheduled Long Beach City Council meeting. Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (Facebook)

  • The Long Beach Public Library Foundation reminds residents to fill out the City's budget priorities survey at https://bit.ly/3FXflcG, where you can rank the libraries as "Extremely Important" to you! Long Beach leaders want to know what you feel should be prioritized in the 2023 budget. (Facebook)

  • Our Grant neighbor is looking for a house for rent. They need a 3 bedroom 2-bathroom house no more than $2,600-$2,700 a month. (Nextdoor)

  • A Sleepy Hollow neighbor is looking for a puppy. Small breed only, mixed is fine. Reasonably priced. (Nextdoor)

  • A kind Alamitos Beach neighbor found a male dog on Artesia and Atlantic by Jordan High School in Long Beach. Is it yours? If not, can you foster it? (Nextdoor)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

This article originally appeared on the Long Beach Patch