Category: News

  • Boredom Strikes: What to do when class is over?

    This school year has already been different from anything students have ever experienced. Most students start school at 7:50 am. We wake up to open our computer sometimes not even getting ready for the day. For the first time in its history, the Long Beach Unified School District is forced into homeschooling across the entire district.  For seniors this school year is new to them in many ways with the responsibility of applying to colleges, scholarships or finding a job. With school being online and ending a bit earlier for most seniors, the remainder of the day goes to homework. Even after doing homework and some studying there is still time in the day that can be filled by doing many activities. Have you been active? Have you been eating because you’re bored? Have you been sleeping your days away? Here are a few safe ways to fill your days during the pandemic:

     

    • After classes go on a walk or run

    A 30 minutes walk or run through your neighborhood or the closest park(with a mask) may be just enough activity you desire. 30 minutes of activity is just the start of creating healthy habits. If you wish to start working out there are many free personal trainer videos on YouTube and websites that can help you begin your journey at home and at your own pace.

     

    • Make breakfast/ learn how to cook your favorite meal?

    There are many YouTube videos as well as cooking shows that can be streamed to help you discover new meals to cook. You can also find blogs giving detailed steps on the food you are trying to create.

     

    • Bake desserts

    On Netflix there are a number of baking series available giving insight on different desserts and how to make them. If you don’t have access to cooking shows there are always YouTube videos you can watch as well. You can also be creative and create your own sweet treat using your favorite ingredients and prior skills.

     

    • Try different hairstyles

    Although many people will not get to see your hairstyle getting up and trying a different look builds confidence and may change your mood. YouTube and Pinterest have some of the best ideas for new hairstyles.

     

    • Paint or draw 

    Painting and drawing always helps me express myself. If you feel as if you’re not artistic whatsoever then this isn’t the activity for you. Painting and drawing can be time consuming and expensive if you are dedicated. Supplies can be found at a local drug store, 99 cent store and art and crafts stores such as Michaels. Getting your emotions down on paper can be a therapeutic experience called art therapy, different colors, styles and texture can inflict certain types of emotions and even relief. In art there are no mistakes, anything you make is beautiful. 

     

    • Discover different diets 

    There are many ways you can start healthy eating habits. Blogs and YouTube can be essential tools to your new journey. Here’s a helpful link to a blog I used when I began my Keto diet: 

    https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/essential-guide-to-healthy-eating/

     

    • Discover new movies or shows 

    There are many ways to watch movies or series either way it can be streamed through various apps. If you sign up for subscriptions for at least $9 a month each you can have access to Netflix, Hulu, HBO, STARZ and for a few dollars more you can subscribe to Disney Plus. All of these streaming apps include  original shows and  movies and a variety of popular movies and series from various networks. There are also movies that are and able to rent that can be streamed through YouTube. My personal favorite shows at the moment are Hannibal, One on One, Sister Sister, Moesha and Grand Army, which can be found on Netflix.

     

  • 2020 in pictures

    2020 in pictures

     

    2020 has been a crazy year! Covid-19 basically took over the whole year. With the whole pandemic going on, rules were put into places like wearing masks when you go out. In the picture I had took my nephew to the barber shop, and since the pandemic was going on, they had some rules of their own. Everyone in the shop HAD to wear a mask (although they were not every strict on it as you can see in the photo his mask isn’t on properly) unless you were in the chair to get your cut, and if we were early for our appointment they asked us to wait in the car. They also took our temperature before we walked in.

    picture taken on 6/25/20

     

  • 2020 In Pictures

    2020 In Pictures

    With the new mandate for hair and nail salons should be outside. This nail salon has begun operations outdoors, the community may not be completely in favor of it.
    Outdoor Eating
    Many food establishments have decided to place more outdoor seating. This applies to the fact that there is a limited number of people allowed in a business operation at a time. The outdoor seating allows for more customers. However, there may be some repercussions.
    August 28th is the day that the well-renowned actor that furthered the black community, Chadwick Boseman, passed away. In 2016 Boseman was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. During this time he shot countless films, including “Black Panther”. In his honor, there was a playing of Black Panther at a drive-in a movie theater.
  • 2020 in Pictures

    2020 in Pictures

    Stores in Downtown Long Beach are ripped bare after looters derived out of protest  in result of the death of  a police brutality victim, George Floyd, 
    Businesses put up signs informing customers to stay six feet apart from each other and to wear masks at all times.

     

    In Downtown Long Beach restaurants are open for out door seating, blocking off a section of Pine Avenue.
    Poly High School student, Zion Wilkins, attends a 7:50 am Zoom meeting.
    Murals are painted on boards that establishments in Downtown Long Beach put up due to recent protest resulting from the murder of a black man, George Floyd, by police officers. In this painting 3 black people who have died due to police brutality are painted surrounded the names of many other victims.
  • 2020 In Pictures

    2020 In Pictures

    A liminal space of a bedroom changed into a home office out of the necessity of the stay-home order due to Covid-19 [Taken: September 10] (Xandria Hines)
    Liquor Store sits closed and streets remain empty on September 3rd (Xandria Hines)
    Restrictions of mask requirements remain on most continually populated and shopped at stores [Photo was taken September 3rd] (Xandria Hines)
    Picture of full a street full of cars taken through the blinds of a home in Long Beach on September 11 (Xandria Hines)
    A wall in a Ralphs store completely sectioned off just for hand sanitizer on September 6. (Xandria Hines)
  • Volunteers Clean-up Downtown Long Beach After Riots

    Volunteers Clean-up Downtown Long Beach After Riots

    On the night of May 31, citizens of Long Beach watched as rioters looted and destroyed countless stores in Downtown Long Beach and other areas of the city. The looting came after thousands of peaceful protesters marched down Broadway making their voice heard and joining the millions across the country protesting the death of George Floyd. 

    These protests have been notorious for turning violent and some people are taking advantage of the large crowds to break store windows and loot both small and corporate businesses. Organizers of the protests in Long Beach wanted to make it clear that the looting seen in Los Angeles and other cities would not be tolerated at the protest. That tactic kept the protests peaceful but only for a short time. Around 5 O’clock the city of Long Beach declared a curfew which would be in effect from 6pm to 6am. This curfew was the push that sent many of the peaceful protesters home.

    At the same time, the march took a turn to the Pike where stores like Nike, Forever 21, and H&M were looted. The chaos carried up to Long Beach Boulevard and Pine Avenue. Multiple news outlets were broadcasting the anarchy in the city throughout the night and some people decided to make a plan to take action and clean up the mess that was made.

    The next day volunteers met at Jean Machine at 7am where they hit the streets and cleaned up what they could. Sam, the owner of Jean Machine was speechless and was in disbelief as he stood in his store surrounded by piles of his merchandise strewn on the floor. “I just want to go home and sleep,” he told volunteers inside the store. One of the volunteers directed me over to a cash register that had been smashed on the floor and told me how the register “served the community for countless years and provided clothing for hundreds of residents” and “provided clothing for anyone no matter their status.” 

    There were hundreds of people walking up and down the streets with brooms, dustpans, and garbage bags all sweeping up glass and picking up trash from the streets. Many of them with the same purpose, to help protect and rebuild the small businesses in the city. There were also clean-up crews in other parts of the city.

    Curfews were set in the Long Beach for the second day in a row with the business district closing at 1pm and the rest of the city at 4pm in an effort to curb any plans for looting again.

  • How Covid-19 Affects Youth’s Mental Health

    How Covid-19 Affects Youth’s Mental Health

    Mental health, though often stigmatized, has been an issue since before Covid 19 shifted our everyday lives. Now, as stay at home orders displace us from our work and school environments and our everyday routine, mental health continues to be a top issue, especially among young people. 

     

    According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 10–20% of adolescents globally experience mental health conditions, yet these remain undiagnosed and untreated. 

     

    At least one in five youth aged 9–17 years currently has a diagnosable mental health disorder that causes some degree of impairment; one in 10 has a disorder that causes significant impairment. 

     

    Regardless of whether youth have a diagnosed or undiagnosed disorder, factors such as isolation, fear, and a lack of engagement with friends and peers can negatively affect a young person’s mental health and lead to stress and anxiety.

     

    As social distancing, isolation, and online learning become the norm, how has this taken a toll on students’ mental well-being?  Four Poly students were asked how the Covid 19 pandemic has affected their mental health personally. Here’s what they said:

     

    Lizette Karina Ramon, Pace Senior

    “It’s been so hard because I’ve had a lack of motivation for doing things. This whole situation is depressing, and the way our country is handling this pandemic is frustrating. My mental health has not been the best because I try my best to be optimistic but the way things are going, I don’t think they are going to get better soon. I’m just very tired mentally.”

     

     

     

     

    Luis Cuahtli Sanchez, Justice Junior

    “You lose a lot of motivation for doing school work just for passing, it’s like they’re simply giving us things to do and not giving things for us to learn. 

     

    But I’ve forced myself to get used to this because this pandemic will last a long while so it’s better to make it easier for me rather than harder. 

     

    But still….just knowing this virus is out there and there’s no vaccine just scares me, it can infect anyone, my friends, my family and even me. But there’s no point in being scared all day, there are still things that have to be done and we can only hope for the best outcome for everyone in the future and hope this ends soon. This has affected me quite a lot and it takes time to get used to it.”

     

    Maya Morales, CIC Freshman

    “The first few weeks were easy mentally. I was being lazy but I was happy. After about a month or so, I started to feel depressed. It went on for a few days and the whole time I didn’t leave my house at all. I didn’t want to go anywhere and for some reason, I would just listen to sad music and make myself even more sad and cry. So dramatic!

     I think just being inside all the time and feeling a little lonely because my sister, my mom and my dad would work for so long, it messed with me a little. But I learned you just need to be a little more active and not simply do homework and stay in the house all day. Working-out or any physical exercise like a walk helps boost your mental health and makes you a little more productive.”

     

    Lance Manago, Meds Senior

     

    “I’m doing pretty good honestly. Online school is okay, but I just miss everything about waking up early and driving to school and seeing all my friends and teachers.

    I would say it didn’t affect my mental health but rather affected my physical health. I’m an outside person, I love being outside and try to be active every day. 

    I was also looking forward to graduation and prom and grad night, it truly sucks what class of 2020 has to go through”

     

  • $1 Million Raised for Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund

    $1 Million Raised for Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund

    In the wake of many businesses being shut down and many workers finding themselves without work, the City of Long Beach in partnership with the Long Beach Community Foundation started a Coronavirus Relief Fund. The money raised is going to assist low income workers, small businesses, and those immediately in need. 

    The Coronavirus fund began accepting donations on March 18, 2020 and since then the fund has raised over 1 million dollars as announced by City officials on Monday morning, April 13. “We are seeing unprecedented levels of compassion during this crisis and I am so proud of the work that is being done through the non-profits to support our community,” Mayer Robert Garcia said in a Monday morning announcement. 

    According to a statement from City Officials, about half of the money donated ($475,000) has been dished out to 31 non-profit organizations, many of those organizations serve to feed and house those in need during this crisis. 

    The City of Long Beach said nonprofits with a valid 501(c)3 are able to request a grant for up to $20,000. Eligible organizations include those who:

    • Aid low-income individuals affected by the COVID-19 crisis pay for critical expenses 
    • Provide microloans and / or funds to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis
    • Provide emergency funds for workers laid off
    • Assist individuals experiencing homelessness for sheltering, food, sanitization supplies to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community 
    • Provide food and critical supplies to those who are home-bound
    • Assist community hospitals in gathering medical supplies and regulating patient flow. 
    • Support existing mental health and domestic violence services 

    Larger grants may be given to nonprofits who serve an exceptional amount of individuals.

    While there are many other funds setup at both the federal and state level, this fund puts the people of Long Beach first in the list for receiving much needed aid. 

    There are many ways to donate:

    Text: Text “SupportLB” to 501-55 and follow instructions to donate

    PayPal: Use PayPal online or on a mobile device and donate to @SupportLB

    Credit Card: Visit https://longbeachcf.org/ and fill out a secure online form

    Check: Mail a check donation to the Long Beach Community Foundation, 400 Oceangate, Suite 800, Long beach, CA 90802. Be sure to add Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund in the memo section of your check

     

  • Things are Changing in Long Beach

    Things are Changing in Long Beach

    How the City is Staying Ahead

     

    The date was March 4. Robert Garcia made the decision to place Long Beach in a state of emergency. At that time there were no known cases of coronavirus in the city. The declaration of a state of emergency was made to allow for the coordination of agencies across the city, streamline staffing, accelerate emergency planning, allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments and most importantly, allow for the means to help educate the public in proper hygiene and how to act in case that COVID-19 popped up in the community.

    In an outbreak, things can change in a matter of weeks, days, even hours. Staying ahead and preparing for the inevitable is the only way to properly manage such a situation. “We need to be ready and continue to increase preparedness throughout the city,” City Health Officer Anissa Davis said in the city’s press release that day. “The global crisis continues to evolve on a daily basis.” 

    Since that announcement, the whole situation has changed. Streets once swarming with life now remain desolate. Businesses deemed by the city as nonessential have been forced to close, restaurants have closed all dine in operations and workers wear face masks per the order placed by mayor Garcia ordering all essential workers to wear masks that cover their faces. An order that does not only apply to workers but also customers. 

    Restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies can now deny you service if you are not wearing a face mask or cloth facial covering.

    All public schools have been closed for the remainder of the school year and many schools (including Poly) have since moved to online learning opportunities, “virtual enrichment” as they call it. AP exams will take place in your own home and the thought of graduation and walking the stage is an uncertainty for the whole class of 2020. 

    These are all things that on March 4 would’ve sounded absurd to anyone living in Long Beach. And now, a little over one month later, we find ourselves in this new reality. 

    As of now, the only purpose of the National Guard in Long Beach is to help provide humanitarian aid to two of the shelters set up to help homeless citizens during this crisis. 50 members of the National Guard 325th Company arrived on April 10. While they are dressed in their camouflage uniform, they remain unarmed while in Long Beach.

    After the city’s emergency declaration on March 4, local National Guard officials offered assistance and support services. The city sent out a formal request on April 2 to them. 

    As well as offering services to the homeless shelters, National Guard personnel will also be assisting  medical staff at the RAC (photographed above), monitoring the physical distancing of crowds as well as logistical support for local officials. 

  • Long Beach Hospitals prepare for rush of patients among COVID-19 outbreak

    Long Beach Hospitals prepare for rush of patients among COVID-19 outbreak

    As of April 8, Long Beach has a total of 256 confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus, a number which Mayor Garcia says is expected to rise exponentially in the coming weeks. All businesses deemed non-essential are closed down and those that are still open, such as grocery stores, restaurants or banks are putting tight restrictions on human interaction such as placing markers at entrances and checkout lines at six foot intervals to promote social distancing. 

    Hospitals and healthcare facilities are rushing to prepare for an unavoidable rush of patients. Friday, April 3, Mayor Robert Garcia sent out an email to city residents explaining the steps these hospitals are taking in preparation. The convention center has already been converted into a 100 bed hospital and there is speculation of even using the Queen Mary as a medical facility. 

    “We are doing everything we can to prepare for the patient surge in our hospitals in the weeks ahead,” Garcia said. 

    Even with all the measures in place, cases of the virus are still surging in the United States. Recently, the US passed both Italy and China in confirmed cases topping at a staggering 300,000 people testing positive. California has seen 14,000 of the 375,000 cases in the States, even though Governor Gavin Newsom has been strict on enforcing a new “safer at home” initiative and encouraging citizens to remain inside their houses only allowing leave for work and essential shopping.  

    Due to prior limitations to testing, the number of COVID positive patients was a mystery but as a new drive through testing site opens at the Pacific LBCC campus, the number of confirmed cases are likely to rise. 

    But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it.

    Mayor Garcia offers this advice: “If you want to help us stop the emergency that could face our hospitals in the weeks ahead, we need you to stay home if possible and social distance.” 

  • AP and Elective Classes Recruit New Students at Annual Faire

    AP and Elective Classes Recruit New Students at Annual Faire

  • School Food? It’s Alright…

    School lunch has a reputation of being okay to being questionable, at least for me. When School lunch has a “real” meal in the menu, nine times out ten it looks either like a microwave dinner or barf. But, there are some good lunch items out there, although none of them are better than a Mcdonald’s burger.
    Let’s first talk about the spicy chicken sandwich. At first glance, it looks fine, and it is. Though it is spicy, it’s an understatement. It’s less spicier than hot Cheetos. But the taste is okay, but doesn’t come with lettuce. So if there is no lettuce in your lunch line, you have to eat it with no lettuce.
    I would include the PB&J sandwich, but it’s a Smuckers Uncrustable, so that would be cheating.
    So I’m going to talk about the french fries. The french fries are pretty good, but they serve so little fries, that it’s hard to enjoy them. There would be 3-5 fries in one tray, and they serve the fries on a big tray. Which is disappointing.
    Finally, the chicken tenders are the last thing I tried on the school lunch menu. They are served with 3 tenders and a piece of bread. The bread is just bread. Nothing surprising. The chicken, on the other hand, tastes alright. They’re your average chicken tenders that you could get at a store. Overall, nothing great, yet nothing bad either. Just average, bland school food.