Aquarium honors Chivas with Heritage Award. Sergio Arias, Chivas USA player; Luis Felipe Rivera, director of community outreach & business development, Chivas USA; John C. Molina, vice chairman, Board of Directors, Aquarium of the Pacific; and Tristan Bowen, Chivas USA player.

Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles-based Deportivo Chivas USA was presented the Heritage Award at the Aquarium’s annual Noches de Estrellas event. The organization promotes children’s literacy campaigns and soccer sessions for underserved youth and children with disabilities. 

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Read the rest of SoCal Challenge Sports Festival Brings Four Competitive Sports To The Beach

The group gets ready to throw out/kick the ceremonial footballs and soccer balls. (Left to right) Councilmember Johnson, Parks and Recreation Commission President Brett Waterfield, Councilmember Andrews, Mayor Foster, former NFL player Willie McGinest, and Connie Sziebel (Supervisor Knabe's office).

The City of Long Beach announced a creative partnership Friday that will propel forward two major park projects to enhance recreational activities in dense neighborhoods that lack park space.

• The 19-acre Chittick Field site near Pacific Coast Highway and Walnut Avenue will be revitalized with the construction of a new sports park with soccer fields, a football field and an all-weather track.
• In addition, a parking lot, trail head, trail and overlook will be the first phase of parkspace built on the California Gardens site, on Orange Avenue between Spring and Willow streets.

“This is a major win-win for the City of Long Beach,” Mayor Bob Foster said. “These two park projects will not only increase recreational opportunities that are needed in Central Long Beach, but will appeal to all environmentalists and sports enthusiasts no matter where you live in Long Beach.” 

Read the rest of Funding Restores Hope for Two Parks in Long Beach

Read the rest of Getting to Know The Parks and Recreation Programs of The 9th District

Read the rest of Leadership Long Beach Names Karissa Selvester its 1000th Graduate

As Grand Marshal, Ramsay’s duties will include giving the famous “Drivers, start your engines!”€ command at the start of the IZOD IndyCar Series race on Sunday, April 17 at approximately 1:15 p.m.

Scottish by birth, Ramsay was brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. After an injury prematurely ended  a promising soccer career, Ramsay’€™s first years in the kitchen were spent training under culinary luminaries in London and France. 

Read the rest of Gordon Ramsay Turns Up the Heat on the Grand Prix

Photo by crol373

Kids can plan on a summer of fun-filled activities, while parents relax knowing their youngsters are in a safe, supervised environment in summer day camp programs provided by Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine. Registration is going on now for park day camps including a Hi-Five Sports Camp, Music and Arts Camp, and Pee Wee Camp.

Park Day Camps

Youth ages 5 to 12 years old will keep busy with games, arts and crafts, field trips (extra fee), beach visits, and a variety of other activities. Cost for the day camps is $90-$100 per week.

Read the rest of A Summer Day Camp for Every Kid – Registrations Now Open

Birthplace of former Mayor Beverly O’Neill to be Dedicated!

The offices of Mayor Bob Foster, 1st District Long Beach City Councilmember Robert Garcia, the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine invite the public to attend a ceremony for opening of the new Seaside Park on Saturday, February 12 at 11 am. Seaside Park is located at 14th Street and Chestnut Avenue in Long Beach, the site of the former Seaside Hospital.

Read the rest of Former Site of Seaside Hospital Becomes Seaside Park

Once an empty lot, Seaside Park will open on Saturday. The new green space will be dedicated with a plaque for former Mayor Beverly O'Neill.

The offices of Mayor Bob Foster, 1st District Long Beach City Councilmember Robert Garcia, the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine invite the public to attend a ceremony for opening of the new Seaside Park on Saturday, February 12 at 11 am. Seaside Park is located at 14th Street and Chestnut Avenue in Long Beach, the site of the former Seaside Hospital.

The event will also feature a special tree planting and dedication ceremony in honor of former Mayor Beverly O’Neill who was born at Seaside Hospital.  Everybody who was born at Seaside Hospital is encouraged to attend the Grand Opening and be recognized for their place in Long Beach history.

“Seaside Park’s namesake has a proud history of service to the Long Beach community. This new park builds on that legacy by providing much needed open space and a place for the community to enjoy throughout the year,” said Mayor Bob Foster.

Read the rest of Park Opens at Site of Former Seaside Hospital

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske’s Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands Taskforce will meet on Thursday, February 3, 2011.

The public is invited to the meeting to hear information the City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine tree trimming and lake management policies, in addition to updates on fishing tackle recycling, the proposed dog park, soccer fields at El Dorado Park and the El Dorado duck pond.

The 5th Council District Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands Taskforce works together to improve the quality of Long Beach lakes, ponds and wetlands for plants, animals, and humans. Participants provide feedback and make recommendations to Councilwoman Schipske regarding Long Beach’s natural bodies of water.

Read the rest of Councilwoman Schipske to Hold Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands Task Force Meeting

Councilmember Robert Garcia

Residents invited to paint life size MLK, Bobby Kennedy, Mother Teresa and others; Garcia to offer remarks

Councilmember Robert Garcia, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency will host a “Community Paint Day” on Saturday, January 29th, from 10am-2pm, to complete the new “Peacemakers Mural,” at the City’s newest park, which Garcia has proposed naming “Seaside Park” after the hospital that long stood on the site, at Magnolia and 14th Street.

A short program with Councilmember Garcia, the Artist and community children will begin at 10:00am.

Read the rest of Community Invited to Paint “Peacemakers Mural” at City’s Newest Park

Lindsay Bullock and Bo Rael celebrate as the 49ers defeated CSUN, 2-1, on Senior Day.

Seniors Bo Rael and Lindsay Bullock made their last regular season home game one to remember as they lifted the Long Beach State women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Cal State Northridge Sunday afternoon at George Allen Field.

The 49ers moved into a tie for second with CSUN and Pacific in the Big West standings as they improved to 11-4-2 overall and 4-1-1 in conference action.

Rael put The Beach on the board with her first goal of the year, while Bullock netted her sixth goal of the season. Juniors Nicole Sweetman and Marysol Rosas both tallied an assist and Emily Kingsborough compiled three saves in the win.

Read the rest of W. Soccer. Rael, Bullock lift Long Beach State to 2-1 victory over CS Northridge on Senior Day

The 49ers are set to play host to Utah State and Sacramento State this weekend.

The Long Beach State women’s soccer team (3-1-0) is looking to extend its three-game winning streak this weekend as it plays host to Utah State and Sacramento State. The 49ers are set to take on the Aggies at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, before returning to George Allen Field for a 1 p.m. showdown against the Hornets on Sunday (Sept. 5).

Link Earns National Honors
Sophomore Nadia Link was named the CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Performer of the Week the website announced Tuesday. Link earned the national honor after playing a key role in the 49ers’ three wins from Aug. 23-29. She delivered the game-winner in the 89th minute of a 1-0 victory at Fresno State and then scored the first goal in an eventual 2-1 triumph over No. 21 Washington State. Link saved her best performance for last, finding the back of the net twice as The Beach knocked off 16th-ranked Virginia Tech, 2-1. Link was also selected to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women’s College Team of the Week.

49ers in the Rankings
Long Beach State was ranked 21st in the CollegeSoccer360.com poll and 24th in the Soccer America poll after defeating then No. 21 Washington State and No. 16 Virginia Tech last weekend.

Read the rest of 49ers Women’s Soccer Team on a 3-Game Winning Streak

The event will feature tournament play in five beach sports: beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach touch football, beach tennis and beach dodge ball. Sports Challenge teams are open to anyone interested in competing. The weekend includes live music, artist showcase, street fair, beer, wine & food garden and a kid’s zone.

Read the rest of So Cal Sports & Entertainment Festival Set For Aug. 28-29

Long Beach State and BYU are tied in the all-time series, 2-2-0. The 49ers evened the playing field with a 3-0 win in the most recent meeting on Sept. 11, 2008, in Long Beach. This will mark just the second time the two teams will face off at George Allen Field.

Read the rest of Long Beach State women’s soccer team opens season on Friday

It’s not all about education, though. Anyone that joins the “Donate Movement” this summer will also get free tickets to see an L.A. Galaxy soccer game.

During during July and August a partnership between LA Goodwill and LA Galaxy Soccer will provide a voucher for two tickets to one of the following Galaxy games: July 22 vs. San Jose Earthquakes; Aug. 1 vs. Chicago Fire; Aug. 28 vs. Kansas City Wizards; Sept. 11 vs. Columbus Crew; Sept. 18 vs. DC United; Sept. 24 vs. New York Red Bulls.

Read the rest of Goodwill donors get free Galaxy tickets this summer

Sports camps — baseball, soccer, football, swimming, tennis and more— are a popular choice for many kids. The team-based camps are also a favorite of parents. Sports camps teach more than fancy-footwork and dribbling, they are a fun and supportive environment where kids can learn discipline, sportsmanship and experience the pride of achieving new skills.

There are many sports camps taking place in Long Beach this summer. Here is an overview.

Read the rest of Summer Sports Camps: Kids team up for good times

A variety of Day Camps will be available this Summer at Fairfield, Lakewood, Los Altos, and Los Cerritos YMCA’s.

Character development, leadership, social development, adventure and fun! Specialty camps, Aquatic camps and Sports camps are planned at select YMCA locations in the Long Beach area with age-appropriate activities for children in grades kindergarten through Eighth.

Trained leaders will lead kids in a series wonderful summer activities including field trips, swimming, amusement parks, beaches, museum visits, roller-skating, and a tremendous amount of fun and laughter. Session dates vary according to YMCA branch. The links below offer additional details about each camp.

Early registration is encouraged because space in the summer day camps is limited.

Read the rest of YMCA Camps: Kids can stay local or sleep-away at Y-Camps

Read the rest of Beach Soccer Championships attract international players

Brent Freeman prepares to pedal cross-country in Pi Kappa Phi Journey of Hope.

Pushing himself to the limit of his physical abilities while generating funds and awareness to help those with disabilities, Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) student Brent Freeman will participate in Journey of Hope, a 4,000-mile bicycle ride across the U.S. that is ridden by Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers.

Freeman, who founded the Pi Kappa Phi charter at CSULB, will be the only rider from the university and a Southern California campus riding in Journey of Hope.

He will ride roughly 75 miles a day over a 67-day period. At the end of each day, he and the other riders will stop to interact with people with disabilities.

“My Journey of Hope adventure will not be possible without my teammates and donations from my family, friends and others. Founding my chapter of Pi Kappa Phi taught me many things, including the advantages of teamwork,” said Freeman, a senior studying business management at CSULB. “A major aspect of Pi Kappa Phi, and a huge reason why I joined, is Push America. I wouldn’t have been able to establish my chapter without the help of my fellow founding fathers.”

Hosted by Push America, Journey of Hope is the largest fraternal fundraising and awareness event of its kind. It was founded in 1977 by Pi Kappa Phi with the purpose of instilling lifelong service in its members and enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Journey of Hope begins in San Francisco and Seattle with all the riders ending their trips together in Washington, D.C. Since the first ride in 1988, which featured 21 riders raising $20,000, the event has grown to cover 32 states with riders cycling over 12,000 miles combined to raise more than $500,000 annually. To date, more than 900 undergraduates have participated in the event to help bring to the forefront the abilities of people with disabilities.

According to Push America, Journey of Hope is designed to urge participants to challenge the norm, service the community and “help them find out more about themselves than they ever imagined.”

“I’m just your normal college student that has decided to do something extraordinary,” said Freeman, who also plays soccer for several teams and referees the sport for youth and adult teams in Southern California. “The money raised for this event goes straight to people who need it. Push America uses the funds to build disability accessible structures and provide grants to our local partners who help people with disabilities.”

Freeman is currently seeking donations for his ride to reach his goal of more than $5,000. Donations above $25 are tax deductible. On May 23, he will host a fundraiser for his ride at BJ’s Restaurant in Cerritos located at 11101 183rd Street.

For more information, please call Brent Freeman at 562/715-8415 or e-mail him at BrentFFreeman@gmail.com.

Camps are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., between June 21 and August 27.  Weekly fees for the programs run $90 to $130 (aquatics camps run $105-$145 per week). To help working parents, extended day care hours are available, 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., for an extra $25 per week for the a.m. or p.m. session.

Read the rest of Summer Day Camps at Long Beach Parks Offer Kids a Safe Fun Environment

How long have you been in business? 7 years.

Describe Club Z!:

We offer, quality, one-on-one, in-home tutoring for students of all ages and in all subjects, in the comfort and safety of their home.  Our tutors are either credentialed teachers, or they have degrees in the subjects that they teach.

We work with the schools to help students to do better in their own classes and to gain confidence through the school’s curriculum.

Why did you start Club Z! In-Home Tutoring?

Both Area Directors, Amy and Shelly are credentialed teachers.  When they had their children, it was a no-brainer to start tutoring.  The business grew to include around 30 area teachers as a part of their Club Z! Team.

It was a way for them to still help students, be involved in education and to be able to work from home.

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Children everywhere share a natural joy in running and kicking. Soccer builds on these skills and adds in techniques to control the ball and work as a team. Soccer is also a fast game that keeps players moving—in AYSO there’s no spending the game on the bench.

AYSO’s philosophies are what separate it from other sports organizations.

Read the rest of Youth soccer registration for AYSO fall 2010

Visitors enjoyed dozens of activity booths while participating in jalapeño eating contests and winning free prizes. The Long Beach Fire Association Local #372 partnered with New Generations NG served free hot dogs at the event. For the younger children a free photo shoot was set up and free books were given away.

Read the rest of New Generations Celebrates Second Annual “Gift”

Long Beach Youth Soccer Organization (LBYSO) offers recreation, intermediate and advanced levels of soccer. The advance-level program (Club) is looking for new players for the 2010 spring season, boys and girls Under 8-13 teams.

Read the rest of Youth U8-13 invited to Club Soccer tryouts for 2010 Spring season