Caregiver Holiday event

Hope and Joy event 

this Sunday at 

Our Lady of Refuge 

Fourth District resident Rich Gardner has become the Long Beach go-to person for rallying the community to understand Alzheimer Disease.  Gardner's wife passed away from the disease at the age of 59.

Gardner has organized local support groups for those with Alzheimer and their caregivers.  However, his experience with his wife led him to want to create more positive support experiences that included resources that are available for caregivers.

This Sunday, December 10th from 2- 5 pm at the Our Lady of Refuge Social Hall, in conjunction with the Purple Angels Alzheimer's awareness organization, will be the Hope and Joy event.  

The holiday event will be part outreach and part support with "fun, music and entertainment". Support organizations Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles, Home Instead, Pathways and Meals on Wheels will be at the event to answer questions about services available.

Gardner is looking for neighbors to contribute cookies for the event.

For more information about the event or contributing cookies please contact Rich at

richgardner1960@yahoo.com

Los Altos Center Rite Aid closing

Los Altos Center Rite Aid closing

The Los Altos Center North Rite Aid will be closing in January 2018.  Employees had begun to tell long-time customers in November.  This month pharmacy customers have been notified that their prescriptions will be transferred to other Rite Aids.

The Circle Center Rite Aid recently moved to a brand-new larger building with a drive-thru pharmacy lane at the corner of  PCH and Ximeno.  The new store is now open,

The new Traffic Circle Rite Aid comes after CVS opened a brand new store with a drive-thru at the Traffic Circle and Lakewood. Blvd.

In September Walgreens reached a deal to purchase most of the Rite Aid stores (those that would not hurt competition) to better compete with CVS.  Walgreens expects to close some of those Rite Aid stores.

Because the August 2017 Land Use Element (LUE) maps had the Los Altos Center North (Target/Trader Joes) new zoning "PlaceType" as 5 story multi-use with high-density apartments- rumors that the LUE was responsible for the closure have been wide-spread.  However, the updated LUE maps released last month eliminated the mixed-use high density at the Target/Trader Joes Center. That portion of the Los Altos Center will remain commercial retail. 

The Sears/Lazy Acres/LA Fitness portion of the Los Altos Center was not changed back to commercial retail on the new LUE Maps.  The Los Altos Center South continues to be designated on the new LUE maps as mixed-use high-density residential. That designation to allow residential at the Los Altos Center South remains despite almost 1000 residents showing up at the Whaley Park Community Meeting demanding that the Los Altos Center retail not be changed into high-density residential. (click on New LUE Maps)

Under new state laws, commercial property like the Los Altos Center could qualify for even higher density than is on the current LUE Maps and not have to provide residential parking for the high-density developments.  Under new state law "streamlining" process- no public hearings for qualifying projects will be needed (for more information click on  League of California Cities).

The Planning Commission will be meeting on December 11 to vote on the new LUE Maps.  All Los Altos residents are urged to show up to the Planning Commission Meeting and to call and email Mayor Garcia and tell him NO MIXED USE in East Long Beach retail centers: 562-570-6801  and Mayor@longbeach.gov.