By Gina Valencia Photos by Izzy Juarez In need of a special gift for your Valentine? Ready to spruce up your living area with something unique? Resale and vintage shops remain an overlooked option for gifts and home decor. Crowded malls drain energy and money. Online shopping saves time but lacks the thrill of discovery. For shoppers who want meaning, surprise, and personality in their finds, second hand stores offer a better path. Long Beach, with its layered past and creat

Written By Jeff Levine Jeff Levine As we step into a new year, I find myself reflecting on the idea of “New Year’s resolutions.” They represent our best intentions—hopes for growth, healing, and change. January invites us to pause, to look honestly at where we have been and where we long to go. And yet, we all know how easily good intentions can fall short. Beneath that reality is a deeper truth we all share: while the desire for renewal is real, lasting change requires fidel

By John Grossi For Isaac Salgado, family isn’t just who RUNS the business, it’s the reason he’s dedicated his life to becoming an expert in this niche industry. Isaac spent the early part of his adult life climbing the height of the culinary industry from opening restaurants to being an Executive Chef. “I had dream jobs in the culinary field but none provided time for raising a family,” says Isaac who never had a weekend, holiday or any other night off. Mariela and Isaac Salg

By Brittany Hart Scholten The Darren Rockett Youth Cadet Program (AKA Rockett Academy), named in honor of firefighter Darren Rockett, has become a unique program for young people in Long Beach and surrounding cities. It gives teens unprecedented hands-on experience and shows them that careers in emergency services are within reach, even for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Photo of Rockett Academy submitted by LBFD “The biggest goal for me is just that they gain confiden

By Kathleen Mest Photo by California Task Force 5 Wade and Dallas I have the privilege of being friends with the Haller family and discovered that Long Beach Fire Department’s Live Victim Search dog is their pet, Dallas. What?! I guess I thought “fire-dogs” lived at the fire station?? So I met up with Wade Haller (Dallas’ handler) to find out more. LB908: How long have you worked with the Fire Department? Wade: I’ve worked for LBFD for 25 years as Firefighter, Firefighter/Par

By Brittany Hart Scholten Captain Christopher Duffy Last January, the Long Beach Fire Department deployed two “strike teams” to assist with the Palisades and Eaton Fires. A strike team consists of five fire engines, each staffed with four firefighters, along with a strike team leader and additional support personnel. In total, Long Beach sent approximately 50 fire personnel to assist in battling the two major fires. For Captain Duffy, responding beyond city limits is part of

By Brittany Hart Scholten Information provided by Images of America, Long Beach Fire Dept. Paul and Jim Meiers | Courtesy of Thomas Cordova & The Long Beach Post The Meiers Family Paul grew up immersed in the fire department. Backyard BBQs, station Christmas potlucks, camping trips, and helping fellow firefighters with home projects were part of life. “I’ve known I wanted to be a firefighter since I was seven, when my dad became a Long Beach firefighter,” he said. His father,

By Brittany Hart Scholten Information provided by Images of America, Long Beach Fire Dept. Ever wondered how firefighters raced into danger before flashing lights, sirens, and high-tech engines? The Long Beach Firefighters Museum at the historic Station 10 on Peterson Avenue in Cambodia Town has preserved the department’s past, from its perseverance to success. There, you can find everything from an antique 1907 steam engine to a revolutionary 1914 gas mask to old photographs

By Monique Garcia Photos by Craig Van Sickle “This is our neighborhood. This is your neighborhood… join us,” invites Cascia Lutz, volunteer lead with Clean Streets United, a volunteer-led community group. We love to think of Long Beach as a big city with small-town vibes, and in many ways, that’s true. But with all its charm and energy, Long Beach is still a big city and sometimes needs a helping hand keeping it clean. That’s where our amazing volunteer neighborhood and beach

By Kathleen Mest Photos by Monique Kuhlman Last year’s *LB908 March Madness: Sweet Tooth Edition brought a sweet victory to Simone’s Donuts. A favorite of ours for many years and obviously for many others in the community. How many of us have brought a box of donuts to work, grabbed a ham & cheese croissant or a midnight treat? Raise your hand! But to find out what the most popular sweet treats are, I asked each of our LB908 March Madness “Sweet Sixteen” top finalists, “What’

By Gina Valencia Photo by Monique Kuhlman About Dr. Roizenblatt Dr. Roberto Roizenblatt’s journey to Long Beach began far from the California coast. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, he completed medical school at the University of São Paulo’s School of Medicine in 1997. During his second ophthalmology residency at UC Irvine (completed in 2011), Dr. Roizenblatt’s specialized training at the Doheny Eye Institute exposed him to the exce

By John Grossi Photo by Monique Kuhlman Oh *$%! Our party’s next week! What do we do? If you live in Long Beach and need last-minute tables, chairs, linens—or maybe even an entire party planned with food, music, location-design and coordination—you call TEAM THOMPSON RENTALS! Run by long-time locals Nick and Lexi Thompson, Team Thompson Rentals is here to make planning your party as easy as possible. They pride themselves on being available 24/7 and SPECIALIZING in last-minut