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HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
$2M for water treatment plant
Schools propose $151M budget
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Vol. 33 No. 19
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MAY 5 - 11, 2022
Long Beach Cinema set to reopen Friday sures. Lewis has been the manager for nearly 20 years, since the theIn another sign of the city’s ater opened on May 15, 2002. revival, the Long Beach Cinema Everyone who worked on the 4 will reopen Friday after a two- re o p e n i n g , s h e s a i d , w a s year shutdown because of the “thrilled to be back,” and coronavirus pandemic. labored nonstop for the past two A movie theater’s months to make it marquee is usually happen. “It’s imporall about the big featant to the staff and ture. But at Cinema the patrons,” Lewis 4, the big feature is said. “We’re looking that the bar rier forward to seeing island’s only movie everyone.” house will be showRe s i d e n t s s ay ing films again. In they’re happy to recent days, the Park hear that their local Avenue theater’s PAulA lEWIS cinema will reopen. marquee said simAlex Honan, 22, Theater manager ply, “We are happy to of Long Beach, said be back.” that he was away at Re s i d e n t s c a n college, but would be expect to see a nearreturning soon. “It ly identical version of their became harder to see the movies hometown theater, but there will I wanted outside of Long be some changes. There will be Beach,” he said. “The movie thePlexiglas dividers in some areas ater is a landmark in the city.” to continue to protect against Another resident, Joe Ponte, Covid-19. The theaters have been said that the reopening represanitized from top to bottom, and sented the city putting its “best freshly painted. foot forward.” And when people “It’s the same as it was return to the movies, he said, before,” Paula Lewis, the the- they’ll also visit nearby restauater’s manager, said of its layout. rants, which will “help the city.” “But we wanted to make it “It’s been a long time coming, right,” she added, referring to for sure,” said Chamber of Comthe cleaning and safety meaContinued on page 10
By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
W
e’re looking forward to seeing everyone.
Courtesy Beach Catholic
A BASEBAll BAT outside St. Ignatius Martyr Church honored 10-year-old Lazar LaPenna, who collapsed and died during a Little League game.
Father says, ‘He was the best’
10-year-old L.B. Little Leaguer dies on the field League, said earlier this week. Lazar’s older brother, Jerry, was coaching at first base and was Lazar LaPenna celebrated his cheering Lazar on, along with the 10th birthday April 27. Two days rest of the crowd. later, he ripped a base hit and The cheers went silent when stood at first base wearing his Lazar collapsed, the result of what trademark smile. was believed to be a seizure. An He was doing what he loved ambulance was called, but he died most — playing Little League basea short time later. ball. His father, Gregg LaPenna, said lazar laPenna Lazar, who has been on the diathat Lazar had been diagnosed mond since he was 5, had just with epilepsy at a young age, but smacked a single last Friday and scooted to the disorder never stopped him from playing first base, “a big grin on his face,” Andy Hayes, the game he loved. president of the Long Beach/Lido Little Continued on page 7
By JAMES BERNSTEIN jbernstein@liherald.com