Community Corner

5 Things to Know: NBC Comes to Long Beach, Pot and New Film About a Pimp Named Iceberg

Here are five things to know this Tuesday if you live, work or hang out in Long Beach. 

1. NBC announced Monday that it will cover from Long Beach the Asics World Series of Beach Volleyball starting Wednesday and going through Saturday, July 25-28. NBCNBC Sports Network, and Universal Sports Network will carry more than 24 hours of coverage from the sands. Read more about NBC Announces Coverage of WORLD SERIES OF VOLLEYBALL, Beg. 7/25 - BWWTVWorld by tv.broadwayworld.com

2. For the first time since 2009, the City of Long Beach announced Monday it will hire new officers once they complete a new 2014 police academy. Budget cuts prompted the Long Beach City Council to freeze plans for a police (training) academy. The Long Beach Civil Service Department will be accepting applications for Police Recruits from Monday, July 22, 2013 until September 13. Find more information at www.longbeach.gov/civilservice.

 3. Did you see where the owner of pot dispensaries in Long Beach and Orange County got about 22 years in federal prison for running illegal marijuana shops, tax evasion and other charges to which he pleaded guilty? John Melvin Walker was nicknamed "Pops" but the judge said he was a family man who was an "extensive drug trafficker." The Belmont Shore Natural Care across the street fro Bay Shore Library was among the pot shops owned by Walker. Do you agree with this sentence?

4. Budding business owners or long-timers can get a streamlined power session for help in "Doing Business in Long Beach" Wednesday morning. City Council member Patrick O’Donnell and the East Anaheim Street Business Alliance (EASBA) will host the second “Doing Business in Long Beach” workshop July 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Red Leprechaun Restaurant, 4000 E. Anaheim Street. Attendees are promised a one-shot session with all one needs to know on the subject. It's only open for breakfast on weekends, when we are returning for "New Celtic Food." 

5. Here's an early idea for Friday night: A documentary about a legendary pimp named Iceberg Slim at the Art Theatre. Produced by Ice-T and Chris Rock, the film introduces us to Chicago's "Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp," and covers how he transformed himself into what the L.A. Times reviewer called "one of black literature's most venerated chroniclers of street life and crime, the author of popular autobiographical books. Slim, Rock, Henry Rollins, Ice-T, Snoop Dogg, and Quincy Jones all weigh in, plus Slim's wives and family. Showtimes are at 11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Sunday. 

Have we missed anything? Tell us in comments.


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