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Health & Fitness

Lemonade Day 32: At the SBDC with Senator Lowenthal & Starling Diner

When life gives you lemons, make Community Lemonade in Long Beach with me. Day 32 - I made Lemonade with some new and existing small biz owners!

. I'm taking the opportunity of this unplanned time off to connect with the many artists and creators in this wonderful city that I love. Come with me on my 100-day odyssey of art and creativity in Long Beach. I call it .

August 2nd was Day 32.  I got an invitation to Senator Alan Lowenthal's SBDC meeting.  Starling Diner was there!

I met a Senator, SBDC Director, LB Chamber of Commerce Membership chair and a lot of small business owners today. I was thrilled to find that the owner and chef of Starling Diner was there!  You know, the little bistro on 3rd Street that is tucked away in the Belmont Heights neighborhood?  A bistro that has the most amazing Mac and Cheese?

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If you want to start a small business, what do you do?  You might want to schedule a meeting with your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC).  They are there to nudge you along in your efforts to get your business started, to give you strategies and techniques that will draw out the core of your business.  I got a taste of the SBDC Lemonade today.

The meeting was held at the SBDC satellite office at 309 Pine Street.  The office is an easy walk from the parking structure at City Place (enter on 3rd Street).  The satellite office location in downtown Long Beach makes the SBDC meeting very accessible to downtown business owners.

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We were received by Senator Lowenthal who described the committees that support the SBDC activities and how they translate into legislation.  SBDC Director Mike Daniel followed with a discussion on Marketing strategies and Ed von Leffern presented the topic Financing for Small Business.

There were many things presented that were interesting, but I'd like to focus on some of the people who were there.  The various people who were looking for ways to connect - to help or to be helped.

Alan Lowenthal, CA Senator 27th District - The 27th district area covers the cities of Artesia, Avalon, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Florence-Graham, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Paramount, Signal Hill, South Gate, Willowbrook.

Mike Daniel,Director - SBDC - The SBDC assists small business owners wishing to get started or grow their small business.  The SBDC is a part of the national Small Business Association (SBA) and is hosted by Long Beach City College.

Ed von Leffern, Advisor - SBDC - Credit Management, Finance, Business Loan Education.

Joel Perler, Membership Development, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce - From the site: "The Chamber is the platform for business to provide leadership, education and advocacy so that the Long Beach area thrives in the 21st century."

Joan Samson, Owner and Chef - Starling Diner - One of Belmont Height's treasured secrets.  It feels right to walk to the Starling.  It's a business nestled in a residential neighborhood. A business with a feeling of community.  A restaurant with an amazing menu.  I mention the Mac and Cheese - not because it's all about Mac and Cheese, but it was a truly incredible experience!

Kiva Hewett, Artistic Diretor and Owner - Velvet Circus - Offers Polynesian & exotic dance classes.

Jim Mills-Winkler, Waddell & Reed - Financial Services for your business.

Sara Frechette, Client Servies Representative, Holmes & Associates -Small business taxes and accounting.

Saundra Christmas, Owner - Mabel's Gourmet Pralines - Every day, Saundra makes all natural, New Orleans style pralines from her grandmother, Mabel's recipes.  Local Long Beach customers can also order delicious, all-natural Banana Puddin'.  You may also find Mabel's at various farmers' markets around town: Thursday in Bixby Knolls, Friday at the CityPlace Promenade market and Sunday at the Marina Pacifica.

Suzanne Mills-Winkler, Dynamic Designworks - Just outside the hunt range, in the neighboring city of Signal Hill, Toy designer and social media marketing services.

Tidbits, Things, Trails

  • Senator Alan Lowenthal is inviting you to a Community Coffee. Get updated on pending legislation, Q&A on state issues.  Coffee and conversation.  Saturday,August 4, 9:30 - 11 am.  Bagelry & Bistro 5514 Britton Drive.  (In the Los Altos center near Bristol Farms).
  • Need to add Starling Diner to the visit list.
  • And try some of Saundra's Mabel's Pralines!
  • I received a donation of a $25.00 gift certificate from SparkFun.  SparkFun is one of the well known online maker stores.  I used certificate to purchase 100 bright yellow LEDs, 25 bright red LEDs, a 4 digit kelly green display.  Note: After placing the order, I thought about the purchase, which included just over $4.00 in shipping.  The 4 digit display is not part of the hunt and will not be used to make Lemonade.

Want more lemonade?     

Next up: 

Need to contact me?  info@handmadepenguin.com

Trish Tsoiasue writes as herself about creative and maker topics for and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin Blog.

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