________________ LONG BEACH _______________
Graduation Keepsake
Edition
June 25, 2026
HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
GRADUATES
Meet the
2026
Vol. 37 No. 26
yankees honor l.B. wrestler
local businesses at boardwalk fair
Page 2
Page 10
JuNE 25 - July 1, 2026
$1.00
MLK Center hosts Juneteenth celebration By CHRIS ColuCCI ccolucci @liherald.com
Chris Colucci/Herald
Devin Parker, third from right, was recently appointed to be the Civil Service Employees Association City of Long Beach unit president, becoming the first Black man to hold the position.
The Juneteenth celebration at the MLK Community Center alternated between highlighting its older community members and some of its youngest. The shifting perspectives emphasized the center’s theme of the day, “honoring the past, inspiring the future.” “It’s important for me to bridge that gap between the senior citizens and the kids,” said Sheena Curry, board chair of the MLK Community Center, during last Friday’s event. “These kids are in their own world. If we can get more kids engaging with seniors, we can get that respect back.” The day included a “Sassy Senior Catwalk Fashion Showcase,” with five ladies from the center’s senior program walked down the gymnasium’s center aisle in some of their finest attire. Children from the enrichment program also made presentations, were quizzed on their knowledge about the Juneteenth holiday and ContinuED on PAgE 13
City Council votes to invest $600,000 in road safety By CHRIS ColuCCI ccolucci @liherald.com
The next phase of the city’s ongoing roadway safety action plan is coming into effect, with the installation of multiple new crosswalks, a re-established sidewalk and general pedestrian-focused improvements. City Council members unanimously voted in favor of an agreement authorizing the latest improvements at the June 2 meeting. The work will be centered around the high-traffic area near the Long Island Rail Road train station, its neighboring taxi stand, City Hall and Long Beach Police head-
quarters. City Manager Daniel Creighton explained that, while the total cost of the project will reach just over $601,000, nearly $500,000 of the expense will be reimbursed by community block development grant funds which the city previously received from the state. The grants are specifically intended to be used for infrastructurerelated improvements and development. Ken Arnold, the commissioner of the city’s Department of Public Works discussed some of the upcoming improvements, noting that crosswalks will be added at the intersec-
tion of National Boulevard and West Chester Avenue, as well as at National Boulevard and Azalea Court. The locations will also incorporate bump-outs, enhancing the sidewalk’s effective distance, for added safety. “Both of these locations have high pedestrian crossing rates,” Arnold said. “There’s a school bus stop at one of the locations.” Azalea Court will also push back existing fencing to receive a re-established and renovated sidewalk, offering a wider and more secure alternative to walking in the exposed road. At the taxi stand beside the Long Beach train station,
improvements will accommodate foot traffic around the highly active driveway where taxis continually drive in and out of the area. The installation of curb cuts and a more distinct entrance/exit zone will limit vehicles to a dedicated section of the path. A final aspect of prioritizing pedestrians in the area will
improve the sidewalk quality near the city’s police headquarters and parking lot. Utilizing curb cuts — creating soft ramps along the sidewalk — will create better access for people with disabilities, as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant improvements. Arnold anticipates the compreContinuED on PAgE 15