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JANUARY 18, 2013
Strollers
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front and then taken the train back up to Bixby Knolls,” Cohn said. “We have: toured Forest Lawn Cemetery and seen the Foucault pendulum; gone to Willow Springs Park and walked to the Municipal and Sunnyside cemeteries; walked through businesses such as Roy Robbins Gifts, Bella Cosa, Elise’s Tea Room, Alsace Lorraine Bakery, Reptiles Unlimited [and] FreeSpirit Yoga; walked through the back yards of houses in the Virginia Country Club neighborhood; toured the gardens and grounds of Rancho Los Cerritos; [and] walked by all of the Boy Scout landscape projects.” And this walking group is a “rain or shine” type of meet-up. Though many will forego a walk in the rain to remain in the warm comforts of home, a hardcore few will indeed battle the elements. “On a rainy Saturday, a group of hearty souls came out, and the minute we stepped off the curb there was a huge thunder and lightning blast,” Cohn said. “Most folks kept going, but by the end only four of
NEWS
started the group five years ago, we decided to walk once to give him moral support,” Gordon said. “We have walked every Saturday morning since, except on those few occasions when we have been out of the country.” Cohn’s parents are some of the walkers who have gained friends as well as health rewards from the strolls. “Apart from the beneficial aspects of walking, we have met people from all over the city, and even neighboring cities, who have chosen to join us,” Gordon said. “Now many people linger after the walk and chat. We have been to dinner parties and weddings of Strollers and their families and have developed some fine friendships.” Cohn sees a number of benefits associated with the Bixby Knolls Strollers– first and foremost, he says, are the connections that have been forged between the BKBIA and residents and between residents and the corridors along Atlantic Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard. “I believe people are now much more familiar with the businesses on the street and the landscape of the whole neighborhood,” he said. “There is a greater appreciation of the beauty of this [area] after walking it so often. Friendships have evolved from this group, and folks of all types walk and talk together each week. It’s a mini melting pot. Friendships have been created beyond just the strolls where people get together socially on their own, go to meals together, etc. On the heath tip, some folks who had a problem making the distance in the beginning can easily do 5K and have moved on to half marathons, marathons, and bike riding. It’s fun to hear about the accomplishments from some folks that weren’t very active at first who are now athletes.”
us made it the whole soaking way without turning around.” When you ask some of the regular “Strollers” if they would be up and exercising that early on Saturday mornings, you get various responses. Bixby Knolls resident Bernie Stearns expressed the unlikeliness that he would be engaging in such physical activity at that hour. “No, I probably wouldn’t be out enjoying the fresh air and having a good walk with my friends,” he said. Marc Rothenberg, who lives near the airport by Bellflower Boulevard and Spring Street, had a similar sentiment. “If not for the Strollers, I would probably sleep in on Saturdays,” he said. However, Cohn’s father, Gordon Cohn, is not fazed by the early start time. “Yes, I would exercise Saturdays in any event,” he said. “I work out four times a week beginning at 6:15, either at the gym or with four-mile walks. I am 80 years old.” Gordon said that he and his wife initially joined their son on the walks to encourage him but the activity became a weekly habit. “When he
Courtesy BKBIA
The Bixby Strollers walking group during a recent visit to Sunnyside Cemetery in Signal Hill
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SIGNAL TRIBUNE
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Courtesy BKBIA
Routes for the Bixby Strollers are created based on a theme, a holiday, the weather, or a particular destination, such as Rancho Los Cerritos, Dominguez Gap, Forest Lawn Cemetery, or the Metro Line.
Cohn anticipates that the group will continue on for some time, and he said he himself benefits from listening to the conversations during the walks. “It’s a wonderful group of people, and I look forward to seeing them every Saturday,” he said. “I am always very satisfied when I hear ‘Oh, I didn’t know that was here’ or ‘Oh, I need to come to this place for sure.’ You get a different perspective when you walk your own neighborhood and can discover things on each street. I enjoy lis-
tening to conversations between the people, and it’s a good gauge of the morale and spirit of the group. Everyone seems good-natured for the most part and enjoys being a part of this tradition. Let’s shoot for a whole decade of Bixby Knolls Strollers!”
The group is open to the public, is free to join at-will with no obligation, meets every Saturday at 7:15am at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 4105 Atlantic Ave., and steps off promptly at 7:30am. For more information, visit bixbyknollsinfo.com . ß
Open Saturday noon-9pm, Sunday noon-8pm Tues.-Fri. Lunch 11am-3pm, Dinner 4:30pm-9pm; Closed Mon.
EYE ON CRIME Thursday, Jan. 10 Auto burglary 8pm– 3800 block Weston Pl.
Crimes reported by LBPD • Council Districts 6, 7 & 8
Residential burglary 1:23pm– 800 W. 21st St.
Robbery of person 2pm– Atlantic Ave. & E. Bixby Rd.
Commercial burglary 4:12pm– 2100 block Pacific Ave.
Thursday, Jan. 10 Commercial burglary 8:35am– 900 block E. 33rd St. Suspect in custody.
Grand theft 12:10pm– 2700 block Cherry Ave.
Residential burglary 6:51pm– 2300 block Lewis Ave.
Garage/residential burglary 9:50pm– 1000 block E. 32nd St.
DUI 11:25pm– E. Pacific Coast Hwy./Termino Ave.
Commercial burglary 1:30pm– 2700 block Raymond Ave.
Friday, Jan. 11 Commercial burglary 4:44pm– 2700 block Cherry Ave.
Petty theft 9:58pm– 900 block E. 33rd St. Suspect in custody.
Robbery of person 8:30pm– Long Beach Blvd. & E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Friday, Jan. 11 Grand theft of property 12:05pm– 600 W. Willow St.
Auto burglary 10pm– 4500 block California Ave.
Sunday, Jan. 13 Auto burglary 8pm– 3800 block Lime Ave.
Crimes reported by SHPD • Citywide Saturday, Jan. 12 Stolen vehicle 1:18am– 2300 block Lewis Ave.
Non-injury hit-and-run 11:16am– 900 block E. 33rd St.
Non-injury hit-and-run 12:53pm– 1800 block E. Willow St.
Sunday, Jan. 13 Non-injury hit-and-run 2:04am- 2500 block Palm Dr.
Residential burglary 11:30am– 2300 block Cerritos Ave.
Rape report 11:49am– 1700 block E. Hill St.
Residential burglary 2:30pm– 900 block Nevada St.
Monday, Jan. 14 Forgery 11:46am– 2400 block Cherry Ave.
Non-injury hit-and-run 1:42pm– Cherry Ave./E. Willow St.
Auto burglary 8:30pm– 2200 block Pine Ave.
Monday, Jan. 14 Commercial burglary, shoplifting 8am– 100 block E. Willow St.
Grand theft of person 5:18pm– Atlantic Ave. and E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Auto burglary 2:04pm– 700 block E. Spring St.
Threatening phone calls 10:09pm- 2500 block E. Willow St.
Tuesday, Jan. 15 DUI 2:12am- 1900 block Dawson Ave. Suspect in custody.
Wednesday, Jan. 16 Residential burglary 9:10am– 3300 block Cerritos Ave.
Assault without firearm 1:23pm– 3000 block California Ave. Suspect in custody.
Non-injury hit-and-run 6:06pm– 1800 block E. Willow St.
Stolen and recovered vehicle 7:48pm– 700 block E. Spring St.
Trespassing, occupying property without consent 11pm– 2200 block Walnut Ave. Two suspects in custody.