Archive / People
“Working with the City of Long Beach is a different world for me because I am learning every day the many challenges of what it takes to help homeless people,” says Somatra Sean, a Cambodian homeless activist. Sean and team are currently working on a citywide project that invites local churches to come together with the purpose of collecting furniture to help house the homeless. “My hope is that the local churches would stay committed to the project, to the point that the city finds them faithful and useful for the overall common good of Long Beach,” says Sean.
Sean’s parents arrived in Long Beach in 1981, shortly after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. She attended Poly High School, where she played volleyball and basketball. During Sean’s sophomore year, she was waiting to be picked up at the Long Beach Main Library when a homeless man assaulted her. “After that experience, I thought that most homeless people were animals, and I never wanted to be around them again,” she recalls. But by Sean’s senior year she was working with homeless people at her church. “At first I was so hesitant, but I knew that I wanted to make myself available to homeless women. It just clicked with me. I felt that I could relate to some of the shame and pain that was talked about,” she says.
A few months ago, one of Sean’s longtime homeless friends committed suicide. “It was at that moment when I realized that I wanted to play a larger role in the problem of homelessness in our city,” says Sean. For Sean, trying to make a difference with this issue has been difficult, yet worthwhile. She can’t recall a time when churches were so willing to work together and with the city. “I am excited about meeting like-minded, passionate people who desire to come together and to do something to fix this injustice. We can’t wait to witness lives all around us being transformed.” SCOTT JONES
After the storm, tornado warnings and floods met Long Beach, a few surfers went to work. Here is a video of the surf in Long Beach on January 19th 2010. Not even the mighty break water could calm this swell at Bayshore Ave. Surfs up Long Beach!!! Enjoy! We Love Long Beach!!!
Hey Wrigley, We Love Long Beach is excited to be coming your way! We want to give you the opportunity, in a safe and friendly environment, to get to know your neighbors better. (There will be free pancakes, sausage, eggs, fruit, vegan delights, orange juice, and coffee.) Also face painting for kids and a live DJ to set the mood. Remember LB, community is the home that WE build together, valuing our differences and the common good, to make Long Beach a great place to live. Please spread the word and invite your neighbors. We can’t wait!
“No matter how fantastic a woman you are, your life partner is not going to magically show up at your door. You have to get yourself ready and then go out and find him,” says Bobbi Palmer, owner of Date Like a Grown Up. Created to help successful women over 40 understand themselves and men better, Date Like a Grown Up offers dating and relationship advice to clients via telephone. “The reason why I call it Date Like a Grown Up is because it is really about becoming a more confident, authentic and educated woman who can enjoy life’s journey,” Palmer says.
For a time, Palmer defined success along tangible lines—a big office that overlooked the city, for example. “My life was good: I had nice things, lots of great friends, I traveled and then I turned 40,” she recalls. This middle-aged milestone made her rethink everything she once believed about men, relationships and her own desires. “I think that I realized that it was all a sham. I had been living my life with a fear of depending on someone and being hurt.”
After working though some of her deep-seated fears and insecurities through psychiatrists, seminars and lots of first dates, Palmer found the confidence and courage to accept love into her life. At 47 she met her husband Larry, who, she says, “rocked my world.” But it did not stop there. “When I got married I felt that I had a lot to share with other women, and that is why I became a dating coach,” she says. Today, Palmer has a Web site, a dating resource blog and in January she will host a dating teleseminar for older women. “Clearly, by focusing on making some changes and learning some new things, I was able to find the ultimate happiness of my life. I see it working for my clients, as well, time and time again.” SCOTT JONES
For more information:
Website: http://www.datelikeagrownup.com/
“It is very difficult to find pants that fit when you are this tall—which puts great pressure on my favorite dwindling corduroys,” says Jon Mansen, a 6’11” recent transplant from Seattle. Mansen visited Long Beach in March to see his brother and quickly fell in love with the people. “I had a deep desire in my heart to move to Long Beach and to be a part of the community, and so I did, much to my former landlord’s dismay,” he says.
But the transition to Long Beach has not been entirely easy: “My first prospective employment position was a self-serve dog-wash center on Ocean Blvd., but that didn’t pan out like I had hoped.” Instead, Mansen has made use of his free time by getting to know the city better—and practicing piano. “My finger reach is around an octave-and-a-half on the common forte,” he laughs.
And about his size: “The advantage is that I can see a lot of bald spots, and the disadvantage is that people tend to discriminate against me at concerts, yelling, ‘Down in front, Goliath.’” But at least his height is an icebreaker: “I look forward to the many new relationships that I will [form in Long Beach]. It’s not hard to begin a conversation when you’re nearly seven feet tall.” SCOTT JONES
“There are definitely some difficult times when you’re a store owner, but sometimes I stand in my store alone, and I can’t believe it is mine,” says Heather Duncan, owner of Second St. boutique Blue Windows. “My desire from the start was to make Blue Windows into a lifestyle store, where someone can find something for just about anybody.” And from cookbooks to women’s clothing, custom-made jewelry and cute baby gifts, Duncan’s store truly covers it all.
Having grown up near El Dorado Park, Duncan attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied classical singing. But her secret joy was frequenting the city’s small shops. “I guess you can say I was always a buyer. I had a hope chest, even as a teen, that was full of things for my future,” she recalls. In 2004, after working for the store’s previous owner for a few years, Duncan seized the opportunity to own Blue Windows, recently mentioned in Sunset Magazine’s Belmont Shore Holiday Shopping Guide.
“A huge part of the success of the store has been my loyal customers and my great staff,” Duncan says. She looks forward to new ways of being creative and to making a difference in Long Beach. “I have recently come up with the idea of dedicating our store window display each month to a different charity. A portion of the store’s profits will be donated. I’m excited to see how this new challenge effects me personally, and my customers, too.” SCOTT JONES
“As an outdoor personal trainer, I need to be so much more innovative and creative with my surroundings,” says Jed Miller, owner of Level 9 Personal Training. “We don’t go heavy out there. I have learned from my experience that it is much safer to use your own body weight, rather than bulky gym weights, and yet still produce the results that my clients want.”
Upon graduating high school, Miller joined the army—an experience, he says, that helped his understanding of how people can accomplish great feats as a team. “When people share common goals and realize they don’t have to do it alone, they work harder and stay focused,” explains Miller, who has taken his military lessons and has applied them to his fitness training. “My clients naturally push and feed off one another and celebrate their accomplishments together.”
Having moved to Long Beach just this past year, Miller says he’s quickly fallen in love with the city. “The people in Long Beach have been very warm and welcoming to me. I feel like I was absorbed into this city like a sponge,” he says. His desire is to begin expanding into more areas in the city: “I am looking forward to 2010. I feel the responsibility to bring health and fitness to people that might not typically have the opportunity to be educated and experience fitness at little to no cost.” SCOTT JONES
Here is the Jed’s website: http://www.level9personaltraining.com
Patchwork is a unique event showcasing emerging crafters, delicious food, and local music. Some items include home goods, clothing for men, women & children, paper goods, accessories, affordable artworks of all kind. We Love Long Beach is proud to co-sponsor with Patchwork at this event, and hopes that you can tell others. Please come out and support over 60 local vendors. Thank you! Let us celebrate our city!
Hey LONG BEACH check out this “yummy” FREE Breakfast joy!!!
We want to come to your neighborhood too!
So let us know!!!
Our Email: info@welovelb.org , so please hit us up! Read the rest of this entry »
:::Long Beach agencies have reported a 60 percent increase in needy families waiting for food assistance. We Love Long Beach and Food Finders have teamed up for a pre-Thanksgiving food drive aimed at engaging the residents of Long Beach and encouraging them to give back to their neighbors in need:::
List of Food Drive Drop Off Locations:
Business Partners In Belmont Shore (On 2nd Street)
-Thank you Belmont Shore Business Association
- 2nd Street Optical: 4810 2nd Street
- Eden Boutique: 4900 2nd Street
- Gazette Newspapers: 5225 2nd Street
- Jenny G: 4804 2nd Street
- La Strada 4716 2nd Street
- Olives Gourmet Grocery: 5000 2nd Street
- Shlemmer Investments: 201 Covina, #1
- Paul Sahlin Tiffanys: 5235 2nd Street
- Sign, Seal & Deliver: 203 Argonne Ave, Ste B
- SkinFit Spa: 203 Glendora (Upstairs)
- Subway: 5353, Ste A (Buy One Six Inch, Get One Free)
Across from The Market Place:
- Whole Foods Market: 6550 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Participating Businesses on 4th Street (Between Junipero & Cherry)
- 4th and Vine Wine Shop- 2142 E. 4th St.
- Assistance League of Long Beach- 2100 E. 4th St.
- Atlantic Studio- 2310 E. 4th St.
- Lil Devils Boutique- 2218 E. 4th St.
- Meow- 2210 E. 4th St.
- North Alamitos Beach Association (drop box at Portfolio) 2300 E. 4th St.
- Open Book Store-2226 E. 4th St.
- Portfolio Coffeehouse-2300 E. 4th St.
- Scuda- 2001 E 4th St
- The Vintage Collective- 2122 E. 4th St.
- World Evolution- 2038 E 4th St.
East Village
- Catalyst Community- 430 E 1st St
- Cheta- 126 Linden Ave
- Long Beach Fixed Gear- 435 E 1st St
- Sipology- 448 E. Broadway
- Village Grind- 443 E 1st St
- Zephyr- 340 E 4th St
On Broadway
- JW Goodsons Salon- 2205 E. Broadway
- The Pizza Place & Garden Cafe- 1431 E Broadway
Downtown/The Pike
- Long Beach Clothing Company-130 Bay St
- Long Beach Magazine: 100 West Broadway, Suite 620 (Bring in a can, get 50% off the cover price of our latest issue. (1 issue per donation)
- Visualade- 405 Pine Ave
Bixby Knolls
- Averyboo Arts: 3908 Atlantic Ave
- Baja Sonora- 3502 Atlantic Ave
Los Altos
- Toorak Coffee- 5555 Stearns St. #103 (Bring in a can good and get a free coffee w/ any purchase.)
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