Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
VOLUME 1, NO. 21
Safer roads for bicyclists in California West Nile thanks to mandatory 3-feet buffer zone Virus by Jennifer schlueter continues to affect residents
life and overall influence on maritime commerce. “Celebrating 80 years of global prominence is reason enough to invite the community to share in this special moment, but there is more news,” said Queen Mary General Manager, John Jenkins. “I will make an important announcement during the ceremony; an announcement that goes to the very heart of why
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services reminds residents that West Nile Virus continues to be a problem in Southern California. As of Monday, September 15, 2014, there have been 17 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in Long Beach, including one death. This is a significant increase from 2013, in which there were seven cases reported the entire year. These numbers are consistent with the rest of California, as so far this year 238 human cases have been reported in 26 different counties across the state. The California Department of Public Health is calling this the highest level of infected mosquitoes ever detected. More cases are expected, as this is the time of year when the risk of infection is at its highest. The Health Department’s Vector Control Program takes measures to protect the public from illnesses that are transmitted to humans. Eliminating mosquito breeding sources plays an important role in reducing the risk of mosquitoborne disease. Vector Control staff are monitoring potential breeding sites such as ditches, canals, ponds, and neighborhood gutters for mosquito activity and treating those sources. The City works closely with the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District and the Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District to limit mosquito breeding in and around the Long Beach area.
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-Photo by Terry Miller
Until last week, drivers were required to keep a “safe,” but unspecified, distance to bicyclists. However, this law didn’t protect bicyclists enough, because, for example, in 2012, data from the Califor-
nia Highway Patrol found that “more than 150 cyclists were killed in car collisions in California”, according to the Los Angeles Times. Additionally, “in Los Angeles County, nearly 5,000 cyclists were killed or
hurt in traffic that year” and the number of bicycle collisions has increased 25% since 2011. Becky Garrow from the Sacramento Bicycle Advocates Group told Please see page 4
Celebrate the Queen Mary’s 80th anniversary Everyone is Invited to join the Sept. 26 celebration The world’s most beloved ocean liner turns 80 on September 26 and the public is invited to join a ship-wide celebration. The Queen Mary will open her gangways and ballrooms, decks and salons, attractions and eateries to a daylong celebration highlighted by a very special event. There will be no charge for admission to the ship (10:00 AM - 7:00 PM), discounted parking and discounted ship tours and attractions. The general public — especially Long
Beach residents and families — are encouraged to join the festivities. Commemorations will include the reading of letters by King George V at the ship’s launch on Sept. 26, 1934, and a recent congratulatory message from Queen Elizabeth II on the ship’s 80th anniversary. The Queen Mary will use the anniversary event to announce a groundbreaking initiative, a forward-looking plan inspired by the ship’s eight-decades of public