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The anticipated Long Beach Short Play Festival is back for its second annual edition, set to captivate audiences with 12 thrilling new plays on May 4 and 5.

Under the visionary artistic direction of actor and director John Torres and produced by actor and singer Abbie Golding, this year’s festival promises another true theatrical experience.

Community members now have a tantalizing alternative to off-Broadway shows as the Long Beach Short Play Festival brings top-notch performances right off the boardwalk. Supported in part by a grant awarded to Artists in Partnership, Inc., this festival will unfold at the intimate 150-seat theater in Temple Emanu-El, 455 Neptune Blvd., just a stone’s throw away from the heart of town and the boardwalk.

This grant is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Re-grant Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Huntington Arts Council.

Featuring a selection of 12 plays from acclaimed playwrights spanning from Boston to Seattle, as well as three talented homegrown Long Island residents, audiences can expect a diverse range of narratives that will stir their emotions and provoke thought. Each day will showcase six plays at 3 and 7 p.m., offering a dynamic lineup that promises to evoke laughter, tears, and everything in between.

From tales of love and intimate relationships to explorations of poignant memories and unexpected revelations, these plays delve into the depths of the human experience. Audiences will be taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from heart-wrenching moments to comedic escapades. In one play crafted by a Lido Beach psychotherapist, secrets unravel in a riveting fashion, reminiscent of a Taylor Swift music video.

Audience members can choose to attend either the A or B program, or indulge in both, to witness stories that will leave them spellbound and moved. The plays, crafted to pack a punch in twenty minutes or less, delve into complex themes such as mental illness, relationships, and societal issues, offering a thought-provoking and immersive experience.

Tickets for this event are now available at affordable prices, leaving enough room to enjoy a delightful meal or a refreshing drink at the array of eateries, pubs, and pizzerias along Park Avenue.

Don’t miss out on the Long Beach Short Play Festival 2024 — where captivating storytelling meets exceptional talent in a setting like no other. For a weekend of theatrical magic that will linger in your hearts long after the curtain falls, see the plays for yourself.

For ticket information and show details, visit AIP4Arts.org.

The City of Long Beach is calling on its residents to chime in on the future of local tech. A new community survey, plus a series of workshops, aim to gather public input for TID 26, the city's upcoming short-term IT strategic plan, as part of an initiative to enhance public access to technology and ensure city services are informed by data and technology.

City officials are pushing for broad participation, stating, "Everyone deserves access to high-quality technology public services, and we want to hear from our residents and businesses so we can offer efficient, quality services that meet the needs of our community," Mayor Rex Richardson said, according to the City of Long Beach. He facilitates the involvement of the local community by urging them to take part in the upcoming workshops designed for both residents and local businesses.

The plan, dubbed TID 26, is set to align with Long Beach's 2030 Strategic Vision, focusing on improving equitable tech access and bolstering citizen engagement with city services. Available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog, the community survey will remain open until May 17, offering a platform for feedback on technological needs and areas of improvement. Long Beach's Technology and Innovation Department (TID) Director Lea Eriksen highlighted the importance of community involvement, "I look forward to engaging with the Long Beach Community during our upcoming TID 26 workshops," she told the city's communication channels.

Not just listening, the TID also plans to put words into action. Workshops scheduled for May 13 and 14 for residents and businesses, respectively, promise interactive sessions where attendees can expect to discuss and contribute to the city's tech future, as per the City of Long Beach. Those wishing to participate can register online, and, those in need, can request language interpretation or other accessibility services during the registration process. Mistakes, after all, can be valuable – provided that they're caught in time.

Upon aggregation of community feedback through surveys and workshops, TID 26 will be refined for presentation to the City Council in summer 2024. The strategic plan is not a solo flight; it builds on Long Beach's existing stratagems like the Smart City Initiative and the Digital Inclusion Roadmap. Moreover, with an eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, it's a part of broader preparation movements.

LONG BEACH, Calif. – 2004 National Player of the Year and multiple time MLB All-Star Jered Weaver will be the first Long Beach State baseball player to have their number retired, as the team celebrates his accomplishments on May 10 prior to the Black and Blue Rivalry against UC Irvine.

Weaver dominating college competition at Blair Field is one of the enduring memories for most Dirtbags fans. During the 2004 season that saw Long Beach State advance to the NCAA Super Regionals, Weaver on two occasions struck out the first 10 batters he faced, and his 213 strikeouts that season still rank sixth in NCAA history for the most in one year. He started that season 14-0 and struck out 17 batters against Pacific, another Long Beach State record that still stands.

At the conclusion of that spectacular campaign, Weaver was named the Golden Spikes Award winner as the National Player of the Year, and won two other major awards, the 2004 Dick Howser Award and the 2004 Roger Clemens Award. Weaver was named the National Player of the Year in 2004 by the ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, and the NCBWA.

The "Friday Knight" was more than just a one-year wonder. Weaver concluded his three-year Long Beach State career with eight first-team All-American selections, and his 55 games started, 37 games won, 370 innings pitched, and 431 strikeouts are all still Long Beach State career records. He averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings and closed his career with a 2.43 ERA.

Drafted 12th overall by his hometown team in 2004, Weaver quickly rose through the minor league ranks to become just as well-known and beloved as a professional. Primarily playing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over the course of 12 pro seasons, Weaver won 150 games and was a three-time All-Star, leading Major League Baseball in strikeouts in 2010 and throwing a no-hitter in 2012 against the Minnesota Twins.

Throughout it all, Weaver has continued to support his roots and the program, giving back in support of the Jered Weaver Bullpen at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field as well as other projects throughout the years in support of current Dirtbags.

Weaver joins only former head coaches in jersey retirements for the program. Previously, the team has celebrated John McConnell (#2, 1954-59), John Gonsalves (#25, 1970-88), Dave Snow (#18, 1989-2001), and Mike Weathers (#21, 2002-10).

A limited number of shirts honoring Weaver's number 36 will be given out before the game. Dirtbags season ticket holders will have early entry to Bohl Diamond at Blair Field beginning at 4:30 p.m. while the public will enter when gates open at 5 p.m.

Season tickets for the remaining 11 games on the 2024 schedule will be available for purchase for $70 and purchased today.

Purchase End of Year Season Ticket Plan https://longbeachstate.evenue.net/events/DB

Purchase Tickets For May 10 https://longbeachstate.evenue.net/

~#skoBags~

A new $115 million project recently broke ground at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) that will add housing for 424 students at below-market rates. The 108,000 sf La Playa Residence Hall, funded by the State of California’s Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program, will consist of three five-story structures connected by bridges.

Each building will be surrounded by outdoor amenities, including patios, dining areas, a welcome plaza, and a central lawn. The buildings will feature a mix of single- and double-occupancy student rooms, with lounges, study areas, and maintenance facilities located on every floor. Each building will have a kitchen on the ground floor, three apartments for staff or faculty, a 2,000 sf multipurpose room, and music practice rooms. Additionally, two dedicated offices will expand the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services program to provide support for students in need.

“La Playa Residence Hall will add 424 residents to CSULB’s Hillside Housing village, improving access to affordable on-campus housing at The Beach,” says Yan Krymsky, principal and design director at Perkins&Will’s Los Angeles studio. “We expanded on the village feel of the surrounding Hillside Housing community by dividing the project into three structures connected by bridges. This gives the project a more approachable scale and preserves open space on campus.”

The second largest institution in the California State University system, CSULB (CSU) has an enrollment of around 38,000 undergraduate students and 5,562 graduate students. The campus is situated on a 322-acre campus.

Owner and/or developer: California State University, Long BeachArchitect: Perkins&WillMEP Engineer: GlumacStructural Engineer: KPFFGeneral contractor/construction manager: Swinerton

Designing energy-efficient cold storage facilities that keep food safe and look beautiful takes special knowledge.

Hotel Facilities

Will the surge in hotel construction carry resorts with it?

The resort corner of the hospitality sector has been a bit slower to expand than the whole for the past few years. But don’t tell that to Bill Wilhelm, President of R.D. Olson Construction.

Healthcare Facilities

Mexico’s ‘premier private academic health center’ under design

The design and construction contract for what is envisioned to be “the premier private academic health center in Mexico and Latin America” was recently awarded to The Beck Group. The TecSalud Health Sciences Campus will be located at Tec De Monterrey’s flagship healthcare facility, Zambrano Hellion Hospital, in Monterrey, Mexico.

Long Beach has upgraded its zoning to allow Linc Housing to build 72 affordable apartments and other developers to build homes in “high resource” neighborhoods.

The City Council approved the zone change to allow the locally based affordable housing developer to build four- and three-story complexes at 4151 Fountain Street and 4220 Wehrle Court, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported.

The council also declared a two-thirds acre lot with a defunct grocery store owned by the city in California Heights to be surplus property. It’s where West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation has proposed building a 100-unit affordable housing complex.

Both projects are in “high resource” or “high opportunity” neighborhoods, a designation by the State Tax Credit Allocation Committee. It’s based on the presence of schools, parks, access to employment, retail and other factors, according to one city official.

Last summer, Linc Housing filed plans to build the 73-unit complex at 4151 East Fountain Street and 4220 Wehrle Court, to replace a troubled group home for disabled teens, Urbanize Los Angeles reported.

The City Council unanimously approved the zone change, general plan map amendment and a sustainable communities project exemption to make the project possible.

Plans for the complex, dubbed the Fountain Street Apartments, call for a manager’s unit and 72 one-, two- and three-bedroom affordable apartments for households that earn between 30 and 60 percent of area median income.

The complex will include 18 homes for people with disabilities, plus a playground, community room, green space and parking for an unspecified number of cars.

The $58.7 million project was awarded $23.1 million by the California Department of Housing and Community Development this week as part of $523.8 million in “Super NOFA” grants for affordable housing, according to Urbanize.

Neighbors expressed concerns about extra traffic, public safety and access impacts at a nearby elementary school.

Councilwoman Kristina Duggan, who represents the Third District, said residents’ concerns were her concerns.

She said city staff are looking to change street sweeping and work with the school district to improve before- and after-school traffic.

“I’m happy that this is in the Third District and we’re part of the solution and we’re providing 72 families homes,” Duggan told the council and constituents. “Now, I also want to acknowledge the neighbors who have come out and worked with me and talked with me about this project.

“It’s rooted in real concerns about the impact to the neighborhood and the quality of life for the people who will be living in the new development.”

Long Beach must plan for 26,502 homes, more than half of them affordable to low- and moderate-income residents, by 2030, according to its state-mandated housing blueprint.

— Dana Bartholomew