Green Jobs Tour

Last Thursday, I cruised around the city on the Green Jobs Tour with a small but mighty band of eco-activists visiting some of the innovative people who are incorporating green practices into their businesses. The variety of businesses surprised me--not only a solar panel installer, but also a bakery, a gift shop, and a fast food restaurant. The enthusiasm and ingenuity of these progressive-minded people dramatically demonstrated the broad-based grassroots interest in going green. The next four posts give a brief description of the ways businesses can save money and resources and take a step towards saving the world.

Rossmoor Pastries Serves Things Up Sweet and Green

Charles Feder, owner and operator of Rossmoor Pastries, didn’t start out to be a front runner in the green business movement. He bought his first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered delivery van at a great price at a government auction. When he compared then-soaring gas prices to the price of natural gas (less than $1 a gallon), he convinced his partner to convert to a fleet of 9 CNG vans and to set up their own fueling station next to the bakery. The savings in fuel costs paid for the initial investment within a year with the added bonus that his vans can cruise the carpool lanes on the freeways. Feder smiles with pride, noting, “I’m saving a ton of money, I’m green, and I feel good about what I’m doing.”

Feder has found other ways to save money and avoid waste. His bakery and retail outlet are located in the same facility and his large warehouse allows him to order in large quantities. Rather than order non-recyclable drums for oil, he uses a 100-gallon vat that the supplier cleans and reuses, saving delivery and materials costs. Feder even has a deal with a local cabinet maker to supply him with Formica cake plates from his carpentry scraps.

As much as he would like to add solar power to the bakery, Feder has not been able to find any solar panel design that would begin to make back the cost of installation within 15 years. “Take a look at this gray head,” Feder says, “I want to live to see fruit of my efforts.” He has approached California legislators with a plan to mandate solar power on all government facilities as a way to promote the growth of the solar power industry and lower the cost of solar installation for consumers. “I remember how we pulled together during World War II and made things happen against all odds,” he says, “and I believe we can win this energy war too.”

Rossmoor Pastries
2325 Redondo Avenue
Signal Hill, CA
(562) 498-2253
Monday through Saturday 7 am to 6 pm

Solar Source Powers Up Local Resources

Many companies have burst on the scene offering cost saving through solar panels. Solar Source combines youthful ingenuity, solid contracting credentials and a strong Long Beach connection to provide customized design and personal service to each of its solar system installations.

Before beginning any project, an energy analysis of the historical energy use of the home or business is conducted. State and federal rebates are factored in to provide the lowest cash outlay possible. Often the decision to cut energy use the first or second tier of payment through a smaller array of panels rather than “going off the grid” makes more financial sense for homeowners.

In designing the arrangement of panels, Solar Source not only considers the optimal solar positioning but also aesthetic placement as well as any local zoning restrictions that apply. Jarrod Osborn, president, uses his past contracting experience to create a sturdy framework for the solar panels that offer a 20-year warranty.

The company employs designers and installers from California State University Long Beach and has installed panels on homes and businesses throughout the city. One current project involves creating a new city park powered completely with panels installed by Solar Source. Their motto, “Together we can turn Southern California green one roof at a time,” reflects the enthusiasm and dedication of this young company.

Solar Source
(562) 852-5626

Green Grows Fern's Garden

Fern Solomon is quick to credit Dr. Frank Blair, the man who owns the Belmont Shore property where her shop Fern’s Garden is located, for installing the solar panels that cut electricity bills to a fifth of their former cost. Her enthusiasm for providing her customers with unique gift items handcrafted by American artisans and Fair Trade products from overseas generates as much energy and even more good vibes than those panels on the roof.

Fern’s experience in the gift industry began 25 years ago when she and her brother Jacob Sokoloff began selling Jacob’s Musical Chime from their garage. The musically tuned wind chimes attracted a large following and were sold in small outlets across the country,
Over the years, many of these small stores have been forced out of business by large chains like Walmart and the unique, high-quality items they sold replaced by flimsy knock-offs produced by low-paid laborers outside the U.S.

After scaling back the production of wind chimes, Fern decided to set up her gift shop to make a start in re-establishing a market for the beautiful art and craft made by American artisans and fair-trade groups abroad. Her selection of products features eco-friendly soaps and candles and many art pieces incorporating recycled items. With an infectious smile, she leaned across the counter and confided, “These things come in waves, and I feel a shift coming. I have customers that return again and again, and they feel good about buying things that keep America strong and make them feel good too.”

Fern’s Garden
5308 E 2nd Street
(562) 434-6425
Monday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm
Sunday ll am to 8 pm

Get Some Green Fries with That at Cisco Burger

From the street Cisco Burger looks like any other fast food joint—an all-purpose box with plate glass on three sides surrounded by a swath of asphalt—but the difference hits you the minute you walk in the door. The people in here are smiling and happy to serve you, just like in the TV ads, and the selection includes salads, soups and a few other vegetarian options mixed in with the grilled meat. There are definitely more tattoos and body piercings on display and a more muscle machines in the parking lot than your average burger franchise.

The surface differences only hint at the eco-friendly philosophy underlying Cisco Burger’s operations. Real plates and silverware are used for customers who dine the sunny dining area which cuts electricity costs with its large skylight and gets the majority of its power from the solar collectors on the roof. Take-out customers use biodegradable paper products and cartons, and deliveries are made in an eye-catching Prius decorated with an oversized image of Cisco, the happy bulldog who is the company’s namesake. When renovations were being made on the building, the owners did away with the drive-up window to cut down on exhaust fumes from idling cars.

Cisco takes pride in being a responsible neighbor and closes early to cut down on noise and congestion in the evenings. There’s an inviting patch of lawn with umbrella tables for outside dining. Bing, the manager, said their wallet-friendly prices kept customers coming back, especially for breakfast. Plans are in the works to expand the outside dining area and even open up another restaurant.

Cisco Burger
620 W. Anaheim St
(562) 590-5470
Monday-Friday 7 am to 4 pm
Saturday 8 am to 4 pm
Sunday 8 am to 2 pm

Do Gooders Unite

Helping people in need and the world in general as well as meeting like-minded and helpful people has become so easy with volunteering websites. I just learned about L. A. Works, which focuses on volunteer opportunities in Southern California. It has a calendar to check out one-time events and a search tool to narrow down jobs by location or category.

I've known about VolunteerMatch for a while. This website lists volunteer opportunities all over the country, but it's easy to hone in on local jobs. Virtual volunteer opportunies are also listed where you can help with projects from your home using the Internet. That's so 21st century!

Dutch Treat

How did I miss this one? Just about now, things must be winding down at the 20th Annual Holland Festival in Gemmrig Park. For $8, lucky visitors get to sample all the best of Dutch culture—arts and crafts and beer, beer, beer--but that's just my take on it. Interestingly, Indonesian cuisine is also featured, as well as music and other live performances. It’s on my calendar already for next year, which gives me plenty of time to polish up my blue suede clogs.

Talk Murder to Me

Local author Claudine Burnett will talk about her latest look into Long Beach’s mysterious and macabre past at Dana Neighborhood Library this Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 pm. In Murderous Intent? Long Beach, California, 1880s-1920s, Burnett uncovers fascinating true stories from our city’s grisly past, including Long Beach’s first execution, infanticides, kidnapping and tortures.

After four books, she has perfected a light touch in depicting these grim tales, so expect to be entertained as well as informed by this delightful writer.

Battles Twice Daily and a Chat with Honest Abe

Cannons will blast right here in our sleepy little burg next weekend on May 30 and 31 in El Dorado Regional Park East from 10 am to 5 pm. at a Civil War encampment.

The event, developed by Gold Coast Festivals and Visions In Time Foundation will bring together Civil War reenactment groups from all over California. This will be the largest reenactment ever held in this area. Visitors will have a first hand look at the sights and sounds of battle as well as a chance at involvement in living history presentations in the camps. President Abraham Lincoln and impersonators of other historical figures will be on hand to discuss how life was lived at that time.

Visitors can expect to see real live cannon fire, period costumes, historical figures, authentic battles, meet with the soldiers in their camps, attend demonstrations and more during the two-day festival.

Battles will be held twice daily at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. both days. Civil War living history tours will be held throughout the weekend and include demonstrations as well as displays.

Come to the Garden!

June makes me think of gardens, and gardens make me think of that hidden treasure of the CSULB campus – the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden. In less than a square block, the park combines a koi pond, a tea house and a zen garden with restful, graceful simplicity. A couple of June events there caught my eye. On June 7, Arts Day runs from 10 am to 4 pm with Japanese dance and music plus art projects like paper marbling and flower painting. Admission is $7, and there is free parking in Lot 16.

Then, on June 26, there’ll be a fundraiser for the garden. Concert pianist Sonya Kumiko Lee will perform classical favorites under the stars. Tickets go for $60 with hors d’oeuvres at 6:30 pm and the concert at 7 pm.

Which Way to Gilligan's Island?

Long Beach Harbor offers free 90-minuted narrated cruises from May through September, but you have to be on your toes to snag a seat. Upcoming tours are posted two months in advance, on the first work day of each month at 8 a.m. According to my razor sharp calculations, cruises for August should be fed to freebie sharks like me starting Monday June 1.

Tours are scheduled on various Saturdays and Tuesdays of each month. The boat cruises by the huge gantry cranes and cargo ships as well as some of the wildlife habitats still existing amidst the industrial encroachment, so there’s something for everyone. The tours begin and end at Shoreline Village and validation for a reduced parking rate is available on board the boat.

Avast, Maties! The Sea Festival!

I’m happy to hear the Long Beach Sea Festival has toned down its emphasis on hotties in bikinis romping around volleyball nets this year. Don’t worry, there’ll still be plenty of girl-on-sand action, but most events focus more on free or low-cost family entertainment.

The schedule runs from June 25 to September 13. Alas, I will be out of town on the weekend of August 15, when hopeless dreamers like me build concoct their wildest fantasies on foundations of sand during the Great Sand Castle Contest. I will be on hand for the Dragon Boat Races at the Marine Stadium on August 1 and 2. With any luck, I’ll also be able to make The Taste of the Coast on August 2 and the Capture the Wind Kite Festival on August 7 as well as a few of the movies on the beach.

The official site is still under construction, but Alfredo’s Beach Club has a snappy display with information on all the big events.

Ready for Long Beach Idol?

Alas, I didn’t make it to the We Love Long Beach BBQ due to a major clog in my kitchen drain. Just once, I’d like to experience a minor clog in my kitchen drain, but that just ain’t gonna happen, is it? While I was waiting for the plumber to come, I did sign up for their email alerts, so hopefully I’ll be able to make it their next breakfast meeting.

While I was surfing the web, I discovered a great fix for all you “American Idol” junkies out there. The winner of the High School Unity Start Search will be named this Saturday at the Long Beach Unity Festival, scheduled for May 30 at Rainbow Lagoon Park from 10 am to 7 pm. And it’s free!

Over the last few months, students all over Long Beach have been competing in elimination rounds, and 21 finalists will give it their all this Saturday for celebrity judges like Kelvin Anderson, owner of VIP Records, and Paula Moffett of Capitol Records. Other singers and dancers are scheduled too, like Mumtaz Morris, Stevie Wonder’s son, and Ruben Cannon, and guest MCs Nautica de la Cruz, Donaldo Reed, and Aaron Cash will keep the crowd stoked.

The theme for the event this year is “Running for Hungry Families.” A Unity 5K run/walk will be held from 7:30 am to 10 am to raise funds for charity and everyone is welcome to contribute canned goods. Sounds like a great way to enjoy some music, dance, food and fun in that little gem of a park with ocean breezes and a great view of the Queen Mary and the downtown skyline.

Red and Yellow and Aqua All Over

Yes! Aqua season starts tomorrow! The Aqua Bus – Long Beach Transit’s red, yellow, and purple 68-foot catamaran begins daily cruises from Alamitos Bay Landing to the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village from 11 am to 6 on weekdays and as late as 10:40 pm on weekends now through September 12th.

The sporty little craft holds as many as 75 people and the trip costs $5. A bit steep, I admit, but it’s such a great way to beat the heat on a hot summer day, and you’d have to pay more than that for parking at most downtown parking lots. It’s an adventure I used to love to share with my sons, and a great romantic date. I’ve heard rumors that someday it will stop at Veteran’s Pier, conveniently located near Belmont Brewing Company, my favorite place to quaff a few of a summer’s evening.

Love-In--Long Beach Style

I’ve been coming across references to We Love Long Beach all over the place and tomorrow at last I’ll get up close and personal with this funky, spunky little group of individuals at its Spring 2009 BBQ cosponsored with 3rd District Council Member Gary DeLong. From 1 to 5 pm at Marine Stadium Park (just down the hill from my humble abode), the local firefighters and women’s roller derby (!) will be flipping free hamburgers, and if that’s not enough, there’ll be music, art, activities for the kids and a huge raffle.

WLLB’s stated purpose is to know and serve the people, the neighborhoods, and the city of Long Beach. What better way to warm the body and soul than by sharing a burger on a sunny day? The group was founded in 2008 by a brother and sister, Scott and Robin Jones, fourth generation Long Beachers. They’ve sponsored monthly breakfasts and a couple of picnics to promote neighborly sharing, caring, and community building from the ground up. With any luck, I’ll have more to report tomorrow on this pragmatic approach to idealism.

Clean Jobs, Green Jobs

Sorry for the dry spell. I've been doing research for my novel, brainstorming about new ways to bring in an income, and doing a lot of work around the house and the garden. I only made it to March last year, and I definitely hit a wall last week. I’m jazzed about all the events coming up, though, so hopefully that will pull me out of my slump.

I just signed up for an event next week sponsored by a local MoveOn.Org group called Green Energy Jobs Day. It’s a tour of four businesses in Long Beach that have incorporated eco-friendly practices into their daily routines. The fun begins this Thursday, May 28, starting at Rossmoor Pastries at 8 am, which is a wee bit early for my metabolism, but with any luck there’ll be coffee and sweet, flaky morsels there to make it worth hauling myself out of bed that early.

After an hour and half where employees there will talk about what they are doing to help the environment, we’ll move on to three other businesses, Solar Source, Fern’s Garden, and Cisco Burgers. There’ll be opportunities to buy the businesses’ products—sweet rolls and fries, yum! And, with any luck, maybe there’ll actually be job offerings. In this economic draught, that would not only be green, it would be golden.

Can't Believe I Missed It Again

The Lawn Bowling Green at Recreation Park held an open house on Saturday and I missed it! The Long Beach Lawn Bowling Club was established in 1929--that's 90 years, history lovers--and I've always been curious about this seemingly genteel pastime. The players wear whites on Sundays for pete's sake. The LBLBC website seems very welcoming and offers free lessons as well as a schedule of matches. I'll just have to mosey over and watch a game one day.

Bike Commute Week Starts Tomorrow

This is the week to grease those axles and tighten the brake cables. Plan a route without too many hills or too much traffic and give yourself ample time to get there as well as locating a convenient, safe place to keep your bike during work hours. Then, do yourself and the planet a favor and ride your bike to work at least one day if not all week. You'll be surprised at the things you've driven by week after week and never noticed, not to mention the calmer attitude you'll bring with you to your desk after a session of moderate exercise. It's like being a kid again, letting your mind drift from daydreams to fantasies to breakthrough, all to the rhythm of your beating heart.

If you can plot your route to pass one of the "energizing stations" set up around the city to encourage bicyclist with free coffee and snacks. The pit stops will be located at Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, City Hall, and Maxson Plaza on the CSULB campus. I plan to check out the Belmont Pier station even though it's not on my regular route. I want to let those valiant volunteers their work is appreciated.

Hurry, It's not too Late to Get Green!

Today’s the day of the 1st annual Green Long Beach! Festival in the East Village! They’ll be celebrating all things green in the fair city of Long Beach until 10 p.m. There are lots of workshops scheduled as well as booths for local eco-centric businesses and organizations. Plus, there are no less than 3 performances stages—Earth, Wind, and Sea. It’s too late for the farmer’s market but just about now the Green Parade led by Green Power Girl is underway. So march on down and do something green.

It Takes a Village to Raise a -- Garden??

As I mentioned in the last blog, I’ve been surfing around looking for online support for my newfound gardening mania. Long Beach Organic has a juicy little site that I hope will sprout more pages. They offer classes in spring and fall and have three community gardens—1st and Elm, 6th and Pacific and a 16 city block area on Signal Hill. A new garden funded by Wild Oats is under development on the old Pacific Electric property between Loma and Grand. The group also has a blog here at Blogspot for their flagship garden at 1st and Elm. There’s also a PDF about starting a community garden too. Hmm, now who’s got a sunny sideyard to contribute to the cause?

Digging a little deeper into the gardening scene, I found SoCal Guerrilla Gardening—an interesting group that plants native and drought resistant plants in medians and other neglected parts of the city. The lovely succulent garden in the median strip on Loynes is a SoCal Guerrilla Gardening project. Who knew? From the website, it appears that guerrilla gardening season has ended this year, but I’ll definitely have to check back next winter once the rainy season starts again. There’s another similar group Los AngelesGuerrilla Gardening, but that group seems to concentrate more on the Hollywood area.

The Beans are Beings and the Peppers Have Peepers

My “pots o’plenty” patio garden has taken root and is beginning to bloom. I have four large pots with self-watering inserts—2 with tomatoes and peppers and 2 with bush beans. I had lots of potting soil with compost mix left over, so I scrounged all the empty pots I could find—6, I think—and planted basil seeds in them. Nothing’s happened with the basil so far, but I haven’t given up hope, plus I still have lots more seeds to plant if those don’t take.

In keeping with my organic theme, I trimmed the hedges in the front yard and (much to my husband’s chagrin) I’m going to use the longest branches for stakes for my tomatoes. The Early Girl is very bushy with 8 sprigs of blossoms and the Big Beef is tall and lanky. I’m afraid they may completely overpower the red pepper plant, but just yesterday, I did notice a few little “peeper” buds, so we may get a few peppers out of them. I planted the beans from, well, beans, so I was so excited to see the little seeds pop up from the soil. Out of 10 beans, I’ve got 8 seedlings—pretty good return.

I’m gotten so deep into this gardening thing, that now I’m surfing gardening sites. My favorite is Gardeners Supply—lots of self-watering pots and accessories. My next purchase will be a self-watering window box or a couple of self-watering hanging baskets. I took a “Grow What You Eat” pledge to grow 10 pounds with them. They hope to have a million people sign up, but they only have 18,000 so far. So all those backyard farmers out there, put down your trowels, wipe the dirt off your knees, and sign up.