Read the rest of Health Department Receives $1 Million Kaiser Permanente Grant to Improve Health in North Long Beach

Pedaler Society uses a cargo bike to help cyclists bring groceries home safely.

Beginning January 28, 2012, and at no additional cost to the shopper, Pedaler Society will offer a grocery delivery service for residents residing within a one- mile radius of Trader Joe’s in Bixby Knolls. This service has been made possible by the Bike-Friendly Business District (BFBD) program in partnership with the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association. The BFBD program is made possible by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the City of Long Beach.

The couriers (or “Flyers” as they are called within Pedaler Society) will provide a courteous and efficient method to get your groceries home after riding your bike to Trader Joe’s. Customers will benefit from a healthy bike ride to and from Trader Joe’s and a great conversation with your “Flyer” on the way home! 

Read the rest of Ride a Bike to Trader Joe’s for Free Home Delivery in Bixby Knolls

Photo by notanartist

NO MORE COLD FEET! Will you help us reach the goal to collect and distribute 1,000 PAIRS of NEW socks for homeless men, women and youth in Long Beach by this Tues., Jan. 31? The 10-day campaign headed by Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) is called “Sock-it-to-’em!”

Read the rest of 1,000 Pairs in 10 Days; CAT’S Goal to Collect & Distribute New Socks to Long Beach’s Homeless

Read the rest of Beach Advisory Issued Following Heavy Rains

Family, friends, donors and hospital staff watch as pediatric cancer patients break down the “walls of cancer” with boxing gloves to open their new playroom.

More than a year in the making, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach held a grand opening event for the new hematology/oncology unit. Pediatric cancer patients from the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC) donned boxing gloves to break down a “wall” of cancer. The temporary blockade had different forms of cancer and serious blood disorders printed on them, symbolizing the children triumphing over their illnesses.

Read the rest of Hundreds of Guests Watch Pediatric Patients at Miller Children’s “Break Down the Walls of Cancer”

It is the first-ever LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, designation given to a building at the university.

Read the rest of CSULB Student Recreation and Wellness Center Awarded University’s First-Ever LEED Designation

Photo by Jaysin Trevino

The community is invited to a free “Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention” workshop at the MacArthur Park/Whittier School Neighborhood monthly meeting today, Tuesday, January 17, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library Community Room at 1401 E. Anaheim St. Free parking is available at the library parking lot. Translation will be provided in Khmer and Spanish.

Read the rest of Community Invited to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Workshop, Tonight

(Left to right, standing) Wendy Puzarne, Jewish Family & Children’s Services; Mary Walton, Interval House; Bill Cruikshank, Meals on Wheels of Long Beach; Thyda Duong, Interval House; Alan Terway, Westside Neighborhood Clinic; Jeff Antonoff, Alpert Jewish Community Center; and Denise Dahlhausen, For the Child.(Left to right, seated) Barbara Lieberman-Jones, Children’s Dental Health Clinic; Felton Williams, Chair, St. Mary Community Grants Committee; and TuLynn Smylie, WomenShelter of Long Beach. (Not shown) Linda Gutierrez, Behavioral Health Services Inc. at FlossieLewisCenter.

On January 10, 2012, St. Mary Medical Center awarded $102,748 in grant funds to assist eight gratefulLong Beach non-profit agencies at a luncheon held in their honor at the John Parr Health Enhancement Center on the campus of St. Mary Medical Center. This is over $6,000 more than last year’s awards. 

Read the rest of St. Mary Foundation Awards Over $100,000 in Grants to Local Non-Profits

Councilman Dee Andrews

Councilmember Dee Andrews, 6th District, The Long Beach Housing Development Company (LBHDC) and Jamboree Housing Corporation (Jamboree) are proud to announce the start of the rehabilitation of Pinecrest Apartments located at 1893 – 1911 Pine Avenue. Three severely blighted buildings will be rehabilitated to provide affordable housing for local families. The public is invited to a “Wallbreaking” Ceremony at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 5, at 1893 Pine Ave.

Read the rest of Councilmember Andrews And Others Announce the Start of Pinecrest Apartments Rehabilitation

Natalie Whitlock

Natalie Whitlock, a graduate student at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), has become the first CSULB student to receive the Southern California Kaiser Fellowship.

“I am very excited about this opportunity and am honored that I was one of six who were chosen out of over 100 applicants. Kaiser is very excited to have someone represent Cal State Long Beach.  I am looking forward to completing my master’s in health care administration and beginning my career with Kaiser,” said Whitlock.  “The knowledge and skills I have learned through my work experience as well as the master’s program here at CSULB aided me in obtaining this fellowship.  I am proud to be able to represent CSULB in the fellowship program.”

Read the rest of Natalie Whitlock First CSULB Student to Receive the Southern California Kaiser Fellowship

Kim Kabar of Hungry For Less leads a unique program for losing weight.

Were you able to eat guilt-free during holiday season? One way to ease the guilt over holiday (over) eating, is to have a concrete weight loss plan for the New Year. Start your weight loss plan for the New Year by attending a free introductory class to Hungry for Less this Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m.

Hungry for Less in Long Beach is the nation’s first low-cost weight loss program that addresses the #1 reason why women overeat.

“If you’re eating when you aren’t hungry then more than likely you’re heading to the refrigerator or snack cabinet because of some emotion,” said Kim Kabar, founder of Hungry for Less and a long-time resident of Long Beach.

Read the rest of Drop the Guilt and Jumpstart Your Resolution to Lose Weight

Photo by amigos805

The City of Long Beach and Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews, Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine and the Residents of Long Beach are pleased to announce that the 24th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace & Unity Parade Celebration will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the City of Long Beach. This year’s theme is “Peace! Passion! Purpose!”

This year, more than any other, there is reason to celebrate and reason to reaffirm hope for the future. The 2012 celebration theme is in Dr. King’s own actions, “Peace! Passion! Purpose!”. The theme was taken from Dr. King’s teachings that “everyone can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love”. Everyone is a leader because everyone has the power to influence and develop others – whether at your work, home, church, or school. All it takes is Peace in your heart and actions, the Passion to generate enthusiasm and excitement about your actions, and the Purpose, something to stand or aim for.

“As we reflect on this years’ parade theme, let us remember the purpose of this special City of Long Beach event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and moves us towards Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community”, said Councilman Dee Andrews.

On Saturday morning, January 14th, the parade will begin on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue intersecting Anaheim Street, and is followed by a multi-cultural celebration at King Park located at 1950 Lemon Avenue. The celebration will be filled with music and dance performances; a children and teen area filled with free carnival rides and give-a-ways. There will be lots of food, general merchandise vending booths, and community services information, as well as a Health Pavilion that will provide a number of free health test and flu shots.

Last year, the celebration attracted over 20,000 people that participated in the parade and visited the park. This year, the weeklong celebration will attract cultures from all over Long Beach to continue the legacy and teachings of a great leader, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For more information call (562) 570-6816.

Photo Credit

By: Cindy Peters, RN, MSN, ACNP, Center for Women’s Cardiac Heath and Research and Angie West, RN, CCRN, CNRN, Neuro/Stroke Program Director, Long Beach Memorial

The holiday seasons are coming to a close and it’s that time when New Year’s resolutions begin. As you prepare your resolutions to ring in 2012, Long Beach Memorial encourages you to focus on health.

Most people create a mental list of things they’d like to accomplish, like losing weight, getting ready for beach season, eating healthier, being more patient and spending more time with their families. How about changing it up this year? Make a resolution to be more heart and stroke conscious in 2012 and there are serious reasons why.

Read the rest of Make a Resolution to Stay Heart & Stroke Conscious in the New Year

Coupons for free shoes will be distributed to selected members of the Club (based on financial need). 100 children will get to redeem their coupons at the Payless Shoes Store # 521 at a private shopping event.

Read the rest of Payless Shoe Source Teams With The Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach to Provide Free Shoes to Kids

By: Danny Luna, injury prevention coordinator, Family Safety Coalition at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

Once Thanksgiving is over, everyone is excited to see the holiday lights go up around the neighborhood. But with all the shopping, dining and parties – everyone is busy during this time. Unfortunately, this includes the emergency department. Learn to protect your family from common dangers with these safety tips from Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, so you can enjoy a holiday season that’s healthy and happy.

Read the rest of Holiday Season Safety Tips From Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

Read the rest of City Health Officer Issues Health Advisory After Heavy Rainfall

SammaDitthi is a non-profit grassroots Buddhist organization, whose aim is to deliver the benefits of health and well-being to local residents and businesses.

“We see stress everywhere we look” says Director Todd Cornell.  “But you don’t have to be a Buddhist monk to experience the health benefits of meditation. Even brief courses in meditative techniques make a difference. And the benefits are realized immediately.” 

Read the rest of Open House Introduces SammaDitthi Meditation Studio

Bats looking for protection from the cold are increasingly active throughout Southern California.

A dead bat which tested positive for rabies was found recently in the downtown area of Long Beach and the Health Department is warning everyone not to handle bats and other wildlife. Bats have displayed increased activity lately in an attempt to find refuge from the cold weather.

It is critical that no one attempt to pick up or capture a bat (or any other wild animal), regardless of whether it is dead or alive. If a bat is found, Animal Care Services (ACS) officials should be called immediately to remove it and to prevent exposure to disease. 

Read the rest of Health Dept. Warns About Rabid Bat Found in Long Beach

Photo by Jeremy Wilburn

For the second year in a row, friends, families and community members will come together for the Palliative Care Program Pursuit Walk. The walk is being held to raise awareness of palliative care, a specialized area of care offering physical and emotional support and comfort to pediatric patients with chronic or serious illnesses, as well as to raise funds to expand the supportive/palliative care program at Miller Children’s. The palliative care program improves “quality of life” for children with life-threatening illness and to better address the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of pediatric patients and families.

Read the rest of Palliative Care Program Pursuit Walk Supports Pediatric Palliative Care Program

Read the rest of Beach Warnings Issued by City Health Official

Read the rest of Pet Post USA, Providing Connections Throughout the Pet Community

Britt Rios-Ellis

Britt Rios-Ellis, a health science professor at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), has begun her work as a member of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Treatment.  The acronym for the committee is CHAC.

In addition, Rios-Ellis has been elected to the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) CHAC Disclosure Work Group.

Read the rest of CSULB Health Science Professor Begins Work With National Advisory Committee on HIV, STD Prevention, and Treatment

Read the rest of Join The Community Bike Ride To the Third Annual Cambodian Arts & Culture Exhibition

Read the rest of The Legal Aid Foundation and The Children’s Clinic Partner to Help Low Income Families

“Increasing the number of smoke-free areas outdoors provides more healthful environments for families to enjoy in our City,” said Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, who represents the 2nd District. “Smoke-free outdoor dining will make Long Beach a destination for those individuals who want to live healthy lives and enjoy outdoor dining while avoiding the health effects from tobacco products.”

Read the rest of Fresh Air Dining LB; New LB Health Department Program to Provide Smoke-Free Outdoor Dining Options