oPinion
4 SignaL TRiBune
JuLy 8, 2011
Thoughts
PuBLiSHeR/eDiToR-in-CHieF
from the
NEENA R. STRICHART
Publisher
aSSoCiaTe PuBLiSHeR
STEPHEN M. STRICHART Managing eDiToR
by Neena Strichart
CORY BILICKO DeSign eDiToR/weBSiTe ManageR
LEIGHANNA NIERLE aDveRTiSing ConSuLTanT
BARBIE ELLISEN STaFF wRiTeRS
CJ DABLO RACHAEL RIFKIN STEVEN PIPER STEPHANIE RAYGOZA CoLuMniSTS
CAROL BERG SLOAN, RD JENNIFER E. BEAVER CuLTuRe wRiTeR
VICKI PARIS GOODMAN eDiToRiaL inTeRn
BRETT HAWKINS aDMiniSTRaTive aSSiSTanT
TANYA PAZ
This hot weather sure gives us reasons to go outside in the evenings for some fresh air. Although this Saturday’s free Bixby Knolls Dragster Expo and Car Show starts at 3pm– sure to be summer weather out there– those wanting some breezes should keep in mind that the event will go into the night, at least until 9pm. Taking place on Atlantic Avenue between Roosevelt Road and San Antonio Drive, the annual neighborhood venue will sport fun and frolic for sure. Steve and I are thrilled to be asked to be car judges again this year. I may not know much about the mechanical makeup of cars, but I sure know what I think looks like a cool ride. See you there! Thanks to Friends of Signal Hill Cultural Arts (FOSHCA), we can find some free entertainment this summer on Wednesday evenings while we’re outside cooling off. FOSHCA kicked off its 2011 Summer
Concerts Series in Signal Hill Park this past Wednesday with a performance by members of Stone Soul, who entertained the crowd with their covers of soul and Motown classics by legendary artists. FOSHCA president Denise Damrow offered the following as a message to our readers: The free summer concert series will continue for five more weeks, on Wednesdays, starting at 6:30pm, in Signal Hill Park at 2175 Cherry Avenue. On July 13 the 11 members of Pretzel Logic will bring the spirit of Steely Dan alive with their jazzy horn lines, smooth vocals, rock guitar licks and funky grooves, putting on a powerful show that will leave the crowd buzzing. The Darryl Walker Project, featuring vocalist/saxophonist Darryl Walker and friends, will be riffing out some smooth jazz, R&B, blues and pop music on July 20. A
high-energy ‘50s & ‘60s musical revue will be featured on July 27 with an authentic girl group, The Wonderelles, delivering plenty of nostalgia and toe-tapping excitement. On August 3, the park will be jumping to the ‘80s and ‘90s with INXSIVE, capturing the new wave, ska, pop and rock sounds of Michael Hutchence and INXS. Ending the season, on August 10, will be the hottest KISS tribute band in the land, the Gods of Thunder. FOSHCA’s board of directors invites everyone to come on out and join in for a great season of fantastic music. Enjoy the balmy breezes of the summer evenings while savoring the sounds and a delicious dinner, which may be purchased at the park (or bring your own picnic basket). Come relax, sing along, and dance your cares away. For more information, leave a message at (562) 989-7370 or email foscha@verizon.net.
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The Signal Tribune
COMMENTARY
adheres to the following policies
In unstable economy, Signal Hill’s ‘little’ library provides an invaluable resource for many
The Signal Tribune welcomes LeTTeRS To THe eDiToR. Letters should be signed, dated and include a phone number in order to verify authenticity.
By Pilar Alcivar-McCoy Community Services Director City of Signal Hill
The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, language and space requirements. The Signal Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other publications. LeTTeRS To THe eDiToR & CoMMenTaRieS are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff. Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct information when possible, please remember that LeTTeRS To THe eDiToR & CoMMenTaRieS are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter. The Signal Tribune is published each Friday with a circulation of 25,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $45.
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The Little Library That Could. The Little Library on the Hill. These are just a few of the nicknames that have been bestowed upon the only library in Signal Hill, the beloved Signal Hill Public Library. This small but well-cared-for library serves the city of Signal Hill and its 11,000 residents as it has for more than 75 years. Since it opened, the library has been housed in a variety of locations, including the top floor and basement of City Hall, and, since 1978, the 4,234-square-foot library has been sharing what used to be the site of the local firehouse with the Signal Hill Police Department at 1770 E. Hill St. Through the years, there have been a few distinguished librarians overseeing operations, including Carole Malloy, who retired in 2009 after 29 years with the City, and the current librarian, Gail Ashbrooke. Though it is small in size, it is big on service, which is why the patronage consists not only of Signal Hill residents but of folks from Long Beach, Lakewood, Cerritos and many other cities in the area. People come to the Signal Hill Library because they receive personal and friendly service. Staff know patrons by name and often go out of their way to help them find what they are looking for, whether it is a book, a website or an answer to a reference question. Because of this level of service, the library has become a cornerstone in the community. Children grow up in the library. Starting with the Baby Storytime, there are programs and services for people of all ages. Kids can come and learn about recycling, bullying and healthy living. They can get help with their homework or just lounge in the newly redesigned children’s area where they can find books, magazines, puzzles and quiet games. Teens drop in for Wii tournaments and to read to younger children. Parents can find books about parenting and child development, and get books for children that address sensitive topics such
as the death of a pet or how to handle puberty. Adults get together on the first Friday of every month for a lively discussion on books and can participate in free computer workshops offered throughout the month. Seniors can enjoy quiet reading, computers, workshops and social time on the second Thursday of the month before the library opens to the public. Families come for special programs such as game nights scheduled throughout the year. This library truly has something for everyone who walks through its doors. And that is why we are looking forward to growing! In March 2011, the City of Signal Hill secured funding to begin the process of designing and building a new library facility. The possibility of a newer, larger library with up-to-date technologies has been a dream for many in this community for close to a decade. Residents consistently rate a new library as a top priority in needs assessments and master planning meetings. With the economy struggling and unemployment rates soaring, the library has become a necessity for so many families in the community. Patronage is at an all-time high, and staff are inundated with requests for more computers, more access to information on job hunting and workshops to teach members of the older generations how to navigate the tech world. With all of this activity, the library is literally bursting at the seams. Thankfully, with the secured funding for a new facility, we are on our way to realizing a dream come true. Tina Hansen, vice mayor of Signal Hill, is now forming a Library Design Committee to provide input on the new facility and its key components. The Library Design Committee, made up of Signal Hill residents and community leaders, will meet several times between July and October to develop a design plan for the library which is slated to be completed by 2014.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reading assessment
Drawn out
I want to thank you for having several copies of the Signal Tribune newspaper delivered to the Los Angeles County Assessor’s South District Office on the corner of Willow Street and Gundry Avenue. I look forward to seeing it in our elevator lobby on Friday. I always try to grab the first copy, and then I bring the other copies up and leave them on each of our three work floors for others to take, as well. I was introduced to your newspaper by your culture writer. She worked with me in this office before she was transferred downtown. We are still very good friends and see each other quite often. I sometimes get to even accompany her to a play, when her husband can’t go with her. I have used the newspaper to keep abreast of what is going on in the area around our office. I once found a flying school for my husband through an ad in the newspaper. In this week’s edition, I opened the first page and found the half-page announcement of the upcoming Bixby Knolls Dragster Expo and Car Show. I try to attend this event every year. I love the sound of the dragsters when they are fired up. Again, thank you so much for having your wonderful newspaper, The Signal Tribune, delivered to our office weekly.
Following the Long Beach City Council majority’s appalling conduct on Tuesday, July 5, I have been contacted by many 8th district residents expressing disappointment and outrage at being denied the opportunity to vote for me as their next 8th district council representative. I intend to take all necessary steps to ensure that the current council majority doesn’t deprive 8th district residents of the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. I plan to take all necessary steps to ensure that I am a legally qualified 8th council district candidate. I have been an 8th district resident for years and will not let a council majority exclude me by drawing their district line less than half a block from my current residence. We cannot let our neighborhoods and businesses be subject to political shenanigans. We must have a principled and unified council if we care about the future of our city.
Cheryl williams Bellflower
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Mike Kowal Long Beach