Employment Attorney in Long Beach, CA

"Soleil the Sea Lion Explores the Green Port" is a new children's book highlighting the Port of Long Beach's environmental achievements.

LONG BEACH, CA — “Soleil the Sea Lion Explores the Green Port,” a new children’s book highlighting environmental issues, was released in early March by the Port of Long Beach.

The book, which was written by Port Media Relations Manager Art Marroquin and illustrated by Long Beach artist Michelle Dinh, highlights the port’s environmental achievements and its ongoing commitment to sustainable operations.

“Through the eyes of Soleil the Sea Lion, young readers can learn how far we’ve come in fulfilling our Green Port promise of a cleaner harbor through air, water and habitat restoration programs,” Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba explained in a statement upon the book's March 3 release.

Coinciding with Read Across America Week, the book was introduced to students during an assembly at Birney Elementary School in Long Beach. Copies are also available in elementary and K-8 school libraries across the Long Beach Unified School District, according to port officials.

The story is aimed at third-graders and follows a fictional sea lion named Soleil who wants to meet friends also living in the ocean.

When the port enacts several measures to enhance water and air quality, Soleil develops friendships with marine mammals, birds and other sea creatures gradually returning to the harbor.

“This book is a fun and effective way to share our environmental success story with our younger residents and their families," Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Frank Colonna said.

The return of sea life represented in the book is based on biological studies measuring the harbor’s health. A recent San Pedro Bay ports complex-wide study identified 1,000 species of fish, birds, invertebrates and marine mammals, a 60% increase since 2000.

The port produced an initial 2,500 copies of the book for local schools and community events. Additional copies are expected to be printed in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog, and plans are underway to create online and audio versions, the port said.

Distribution of the book is currently limited to port events and LBUSD libraries, but the port has said that additional opportunities for obtaining copies would be announced "soon."

A 3-year-old Long Beach girl was recently part of a unique playdate that brought together kids and dogs alike with holes in their hearts.

LONG BEACH, CA — A 3-year-old Long Beach girl was recently part of a unique playdate in Los Angeles that brought together kids and dogs who had holes in their hearts successfully treated.

When Aria was just eight months old, her pediatrician heard a murmur in her heart that was caused by a common congenital heart defect known as a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

A PDA is a hole in the heart that fails to close as it should following birth, and can be life-threatening.

After she turned 2, because the hole didn't close on its own, Aria was treated with a minimally invasive device that spared her from open-heart surgery.

The device is made by Abbott, a global healthcare company that helps people live more fully at all stages of life.

Aria is now a healthy, active child, her mother told Patch.

"She's a very headstrong, resilient little girl," Aria's mom, Rocio Arroyo, said during an exclusive interview. "She's been pretty tough about every situation she's been through. She kind of brushes it off, like nothing wrong's actually happening."

At the playdate, Aria played with a pup and met another little girl, with all of them having in common the fact that they're now thriving after having the hole in their hearts repaired via non-surgical means.

They played fetch, jumped on a trampoline, and engaged in other fun activities.

"It was really, really cute," Arroyo said of the playdate.

Arroyo, who attended the event with both her daughter and husband, Andrew, said that the playdate came together when Children's Hospital Los Angeles reached out to the family to float the idea of getting the kids, their families, and pets together for an afternoon.

"It was just a small get-together of a handful of people, a backyard at someone's home. It was a beautiful day," she said. "It turned out to be something really nice and special."

"It was just a sweet interaction," she added. "It was just a nice time together. The Abbott team was so nice and so caring, and also just watchful. They were really helpful with assisting."

"What's funny is that she's actually a little fearful of small dogs," Rocio said of Aria, "but by the end of the day, she was so excited to be able to play with the dog that was there, the dog was super, super sweet and super calm. And she was so comfortable around the dog."

"For us, it was nice to see other people that have gone through a similar thing, to see another baby that's gone through the same thing and surprisingly as well, another dog."

"Overall, I had a very positive experience," Arroyo said. "The support that we got from the hospital was a great experience."

LONG BEACH, CA — The City of Long Beach is inviting residents to participate in its upcoming free Fixit Clinics, which offer residents a chance to fix broken household items and learn repair skills.

Fixit Clinics are a nationwide effort to reduce household waste by encouraging residents to repair and reuse items rather than dispose of them.

Fixing household items, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is an effective way to divert waste from landfills, conserve natural resources, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many items, especially electronics, require special handling, and repair is often a safer and more sustainable choice than disposal.

The City hosts its first Fixit Clinic of 2026 on April 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave.

During the event, residents can work with volunteer Fixit coaches who share their time, expertise and knowledge to help assess, troubleshoot and attempt repairs on everyday items.

The clinics emphasize hands-on learning. Residents may bring one item to repair. Additional items may be added to a waitlist if the event hasn't reached capacity.

Commonly repaired items include electronics, bicycles, small appliances, clothing, toys, and jewelry. Items not accepted include smart TVs, cellphones, tablets, printers, electronic screens, computer software, Mac or Apple products, and large appliances.

The Fixit Clinic is open to all ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. The event is offered at no cost to attend, but it is not a drop-off repair service. Residents get to take part by assisting Fixit coaches. Attendees should bring any needed parts.

To date, the clinics have kept 3,170 pounds of household items out of local landfills. In 2025, the Fixit Clinics brought in 301 residents who helped repair 223 items.

To volunteer as a Fixit coach, preregister for a clinic or learn more and share suggestions about upcoming Fixit Clinics, visit lbcity.info/fixitclinics.