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LBCC Women’s Volleyball Sweeps El Camino In Three

jorge hernandez
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LBCC Women’s Volleyball Sweeps El Camino In Three

Janieva Tauanuu lead Long Beach City College women’s volleyball with 11 points and 9 kills defeat El Camino College 25-12, 25-14, 25-22 on the road on Nov. 10.

The Vikings were able to pull out a 25-12 win in the first set with big kills from middle blocker, Kennedy Freeman, and opposite hitter, Janieva Tauanuu. The Vikings totaled 12 kills in the first set as a team.

Setter Pearlnaiah Tuliau had three serving aces for the Vikings, helping to give the girls a lead in the second set. 

A couple decent rallys between the teams occurred, but with great defense and persistent attacks, the Vikings pulled through with a 25-14 win, and 15 kills for the second set.

The final set was close, with the Warriors trailing the Vikings by only a few points throughout the set. 

The Vikings won the final set with a close 25-22 score and 10 kills for the third set with some big hits from middle blocker Abeni Williams-Lowery, and outside hitter, Caleyse Saunders.

“I’m extremely proud of them, they’ve been through a lot…every week it’s been a battle for them, and to come out and win in an away game and in three says a lot about them,” said Head Coach Tyler Jackson.

Coach Jackson said the athletes just need to work on staying calm and mature towards the end of the sets and not rushing the win, but overall feels like they played very strong.

Janieva Tauanuu led the team in kills with a total of nine on her own. Tauanuu was injured just before Conference play started, but made it back to the court recently and just in time for some of their final games of Conference.

 “I feel like I definitely gave it my all, this was a really important match for us so I felt like I just had to go out there and do what I had to do,” said Tauanuu.

The LBCC women’s volleyball team competed in the SCC Tournaments this past weekend and is awaiting their next match on November 20, for the SoCal Regional Playoffs.

LBCC football ends season with a pick six touchdown

jorge hernandez
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LBCC football ends season with a pick six touchdown

Drew Wilson helped finish the LBCC football season with a pick six touchdown win against Allan Hancock College with a score of 31-17 during their homecoming game on Nov. 20.

LBCC hosted the last game of the 2021 season against Allan Hancock College at Veterans Stadium two weeks after the originally scheduled game was canceled due to three positive  COVID cases.

The first quarter started with a touchdown by LBCC’s Trenell Ridgley, a nine yard pass from quarterback Derrach West and a three point field goal kick from Ryder Padilla with five minutes remaining.

Allan Hancock player Dior Kennedy’s nine yard run gave the team their first touchdown. Soon after, Issac Yanez’s 20 yard catch from Mike McCoy gave the team another seven for a total of 14 in the second quarter. 

While it appeared as though Allan Hancock College would keep the lead going into halftime, LBCC’s Zack Leet caught a two yard pass which gave the team a touchdown in the last one second remaining. The second quarter ended with a total of 17-14. 

The third quarter was back and forth for both teams until LBCC’s defense forced a two point safety during the last three minutes of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, LBCC put in backup quarterback Blaze McKibbin who successfully threw an 11-yard pass to wide receiver Jaylon Morgan, which gave LBCC an additional six points. Padilla made an attempt for one more point but failed on the field goal kick.

Allan Hancock College’ kicker Colton Theaker completed a 50-yard field goal but failed to overtake LBCC’s lead.  

The homecoming game concluded with a spark when LBCC’s Drew Wilson intercepted the ball and scored a touchdown at the one second mark, ending the game 31-17 and ending the football season 4-6.

LBCC head coach Brett Peabody was proud of the team and staff this season, and rejoiced at the final second touchdown of the game.

“We stuck together after the end of the first half and we had time to show our resiliency of what our team is about and in the second half we finished them properly,” Peabody said.

Although West was happy about the win, he was sentimental at the end of the game. 


“It’s been a bittersweet moment since this morning, knowing that this is my last game at Long Beach City. …  We had our ups and downs and I am proud of my guys for the play we did tonight,” West said.

Interim Athletic Director Kaladon Stewart attended the homecoming game to celebrate the end of the season and is excited about what 2022 will bring for the athletic department. 

“It’s really a special game, the football team has persevered through a lot of challenges this season and it’s great to be able to have the president, executive vice president, Board of Trustees, student trustee and ASB president to have a fun family feel,” Stewart said. 

The LBCC football team will return with new and returning athletes for the fall 2022 season.

Treat yourself Thursday: The Crooked Duck serves up flavorful American cuisine

Marlon Villa
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Treat yourself Thursday: The Crooked Duck serves up flavorful American cuisine

This weekend, treat yourself to a meal from The Crooked Duck, a restaurant that serves up unique American dishes like gooey bacon wrapped mac n’ cheese bites and loaded Fritos chili cheddar burgers. 

Owner Joseph Rooney opened The Crooked Duck in 2011, after searching for a spot in Long Beach for two years. 

“I thought it would be a great location for breakfast and lunch. … It was residential, just like all these houses here. Then it turned into a beauty salon, sandwich shop, and Thai restaurant that I took over,” Rooney said. 

The inspiration for the name of the restaurant came from a story Rooney’s uncle told him at their family lake house. In the story, a man accidently hit a duck on a lake and everyone was certain that it had died. The duck then began to move, but it’s neck was crooked. 

“I thought it would just be fitting to have a restaurant called the Crooked Duck. … Every summer I fly back and forth to this lakehouse. A lot of fond memories there, and of course the duck. Legend has it, it got to live a long life,” Rooney said. 

The Crooked Duck currently serves up breakfast and lunch. Their lunch menu has a large selection of entrees, from sandwiches, burgers, pastas and salads. 

The duck chili is a Crooked Duck original dish that is made with a steaming blend of black beans, duck bacon and five-spice duck. Crispy wonton chips are placed on top, giving the dish a satisfying crunch. 

The duck meat is deliciously tender and melts in your mouth. This chili is hearty, comforting and perfect for cold days. 

The bacon wrapped fried mac n’ pepper jack cheese bites are absolutely incredible. The dish is served with a side of spicy ranch dipping sauce and coleslaw. Upon first bite of the crispy outside layer, you’ll be met with a loaded center of creamy and gooey mac n’ cheese. 

This whimsical and delicious starter plate is specially dedicated to Rooney’s children. Under the dish’s name on the menu reads, “This one’s for Madi & Max.”

The coyote chicken pasta with fettuccini noodles is a tangy and deliciously cheesy entree that can be ordered mild, medium or spicy. The al dente noodles are drenched in a tequila cream sauce and mixed in with mushrooms, chipotle, sun dried tomatoes and peppers. 

The spicy version of this dish has a strong kick of flavor that is balanced out by the two pieces of crispy garlic toast on the side. 

The monte cristo is a popular dish that has been highlighted by food blogs, including Long Beach Food Coma. 

The entree is a sandwich with ham, turkey and cheddar that is then battered and deep fried until golden. Raspberry preserves and maple syrup are served on the side as dipping options. 

The batter creates a thick and crispy outside layer that provides a satisfying bite each time. Despite having ingredients that aren’t traditionally supposed to pair well together, the monte cristo is a pleasant surprise that combines savory and sweet flavors. 

The Fritos chili cheddar burger is loaded with Texas chili, caramelized onions and Fritos chips. This dish has a great mix of textures and no flavor overpowers the other. 

Customer Hector Beltran first tried The Crooked Duck a month ago, and has already become a regular at the restaurant. 

“The ortega burger is absolutely amazing. I had it a couple weeks back and now I have to have it at least once a week when I’m in the area,” said Beltran. 

Beltran said that his favorite aspect of The Crooked Duck is the freshness of their ingredients. 

“You can really tell that they put a lot of effort in the quality of their ingredients. That’s something that really brings me back. It was immediately apparent that they go above and beyond,” Beltran said. 

Some other customer favorites include the chicken fried steak and the corn beef hash, according to Rooney. 

The beverage menu has a selection of coffees, teas, freshly squeezed juices, sodas, and beers. 

“Our cappuccinos are probably the best in town. People like it because it’s an Italian espresso, and I always draw a little duck on there,” Rooney said. 

The seasonal chocolate peppermint latte will be added to the menu soon for the winter months. 

The Crooked Duck was one of the many small businesses to struggle amidst the height of the pandemic last year. The restaurant had to shut down twice due to Los Angeles County health regulations. 

“2020 sucked. I lost 18 (staff) members, including my chef. I just couldn’t afford it. … I’m down to about 18 or 19 employees now,” Rooney said. 

After their second closure, Rooney decided to stop serving dinner and only offer breakfast and lunch.

“L.A. County has been tough on all hospitality, especially small businesses,” Rooney said. “You got big box corporations opening, but then they shut down the small guys. Something’s not right there.”

During the pandemic, The Crooked Duck added an outside dining option for customers. Rooney would like to make this a permanent addition to the restaurant. 

“I like the parking lot. All my guests like the parking lot. … It (the permit) is until June 2022. I’m hoping that I can extend that,” Rooney said.

According to Rooney, The Crooked Duck has seen an increase in sales during the week because of the addition of outside dining. 

Business at the restaurant has not just returned to pre-pandemic levels, but increased. 

“My overhead and my net profit is probably better than it was in 2019,” said Rooney, adding, “It’s been great that we’ve had such a great popularity over the past 10 years, especially the fact that we’ve been shut down twice. When we reopened, (our customers) came right back.”

The Crooked Duck is located at 5096 E Pacific Coast Highway and is open daily from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
For more videos and photos of the dining experience at The Crooked Duck, go to our Instagram.

LBCC staff and trustee members discuss the upcoming spring semester

Veronica Towers
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LBCC staff and trustee members discuss the upcoming spring semester

“It doesn’t mean everything’s going to go back to normal,” said C.C. Sadler, President of LBCC’s Classified Senate, regarding the upcoming spring semester during Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

Last month, LBCC trustee members unanimously voted in support of a vaccine mandate for all students planning to take in-person classes this spring. 

Interim Executive Vice President of student services, Dr. Nohel C. Corral spoke on how this mandate will go into effect. 

“For our students, we are looking at January 3rd as being the deadline to submit proof of vaccination or request for exemption. After January 24th, if students have signed up for in-person classes and not provided the appropriate documentation, they would be dropped,” said Corral.

Online classes at LBCC will still be available this spring for students to enroll in, regardless of vaccination status.

In addition to classes, LBCC hopes to bring some of its activities back on campus.

“We do plan for on-campus activities, student extra curricular events, other cultural heritage events, as well as employee meetings,” said Corral. “We do anticipate needing proof of vaccination or approved exemption as well for in person access.”  

Another item that was addressed at Wednesday’s meeting was LBCC’s redistricting. Redistricting happens every 10 years following the federal census in order to adjust each of the school’s district areas based on population.

Several draft maps were presented during the meeting, showing some of the potential adjustments that could be made. 

One of the possible adjustments shown was moving Catalina Island from area four to area three. Herlina Chico, trustee member of area four, voiced her concern regarding the adjustment.

“I don’t want to see Catalina Island in the third district, I want to keep it in the fourth district,” said Chico. “Unless you have a strong understanding of the unique dynamics that take place on the island, it’s difficult to get the services there.”

Also brought to light at the meeting was the annual faculty and staff ethnic diversity update.

Kristen Olson and Jennifer Ramos, from the human resources department, presented demographics regarding the racial diversity of this year’s faculty and staff recruitments at LBCC.

Ramos briefly discussed the progress that has been made in the school’s recruitment efforts this year in terms of its ethnic diversity.

“What we’re most excited about is the conversion numbers from those recruitment efforts. The ethnic diversity of classified staff actually hired increased from 75% to 94% from the previous year when we look at the total number of permanent placements,” said Ramos.

LBCC is scheduled to hire 40 new faculty members next year and hopes to continue to improve its ethnic diversity in the future.

LBCC winter enrollment steadily rose despite the pandemic

Veronica Towers
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LBCC winter enrollment steadily rose despite the pandemic

Despite reports that California community colleges are seeing vast declines in enrollment, winter enrollment at LBCC has not only stayed strong, but has risen during the pandemic.

Winter enrollment at LBCC has steadily grown since the winter session was first introduced in 2014, according to data provided by the college.

In the “pandemic era” alone, the total number of winter enrollment went from 9,864 in 2019 to 10,451 in 2021, and projected enrollment for winter 2022 is similar to that of 2021, at around 10,000.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment at California community colleges has fallen by as much as 12%  statewide since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As of this March, it has fallen by 56% at colleges in more rural areas.

In an interview with the LA Times, California Community Colleges Chancellor, Eloy Ortiz Oakley, suggested that drops in enrollment may be related to students becoming frustrated with the technical difficulties of online learning or choosing to focus on jobs that will help them weather the economic difficulties of the pandemic.

This statement falls in line with an impact survey from California Community Colleges that found that 19% of students had reduced work hours as a result of the pandemic, 22% lost their jobs entirely and around 57% face basic needs insecurity.

Even so, LBCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, Lee Douglas, explained that winter enrollment at LBCC is consistently high, with spring and fall enrollment numbers falling closely behind. Proportionally, LBCC is the 12th largest community college in California according to the Community College Review. 

Douglas also suggested that winter enrollment has stayed strong because of the types of courses offered.

“It (winter session) was really intended to allow students to complete their degrees in an expedited manner,” he said. “So what you’ll typically find during our winter session is a lot of general education courses. A number of math courses, English courses … so that students can speed up their time to degree completion.”

Essentially, Douglas found that it is likely that because winter session provides students the unique opportunity to make up or get ahead of classes, students are more likely to enroll. 

Douglas also believes that the pandemic has actually had a positive impact on enrollment, in that through outreach, the curriculum is now being shaped directly by student needs. 

“We are offering classes in a lot of different modalities now, whereas in the past it was primarily face to face, now we are offering face to face, hybrid, online. We’re actually doing a better job because … now we’re meeting the needs of a larger segment of our student population,” Douglas said.

Navajo scholar discusses Indigenous challenges, assimilating into Western culture

Marlon Villa
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Navajo scholar discusses Indigenous challenges, assimilating into Western culture

Navajo scholar Dewey Manus spoke about the challenges of being Indigenous, assimilating into Western culture, and the importance of traditional practices during a Zoom event on Wednesday.

Manus obtained a master’s degree in counseling and currently serves as the residential manager of  ShipRock Associated Schools. 

Manus grew up on a reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico and was raised by his mother and stepfather. During his childhood, Manus balanced school, his passion for sports, and regularly attended spiritual ceremonies, such as powwows. 

“We really travelled all over the place with our powwows,” said Manus. “There were times where I would literally be at a football game and after the game, just covered in sweat…we would head to the center drum in a local town.” 

During Powwows, members of Indigenous communities participate in a large social gathering to honor their culture through dance, song, and celebration. 


“Growing up in powwows taught me alot about the sacredness and beauty of people coming together and celebrating life,” said Manus. 

Manus’ parents played a large role in developing his spirituality and helping him understand traditional Indigeonous practices. Alongside powwows, Manus also attended sweat lodges with his family. 

“A sweat lodge is a ceremony mainly for meditation and prayers. It can be done just about at any time. … My parents would have us partake in sweat lodges…It was almost a weekly ritual, like going to church,” said Manus. 

Manus said that participating in these rituals helped him navigate his way through the Western education system. He believes there are parallels between a traditional ceremony and a typical day at school. 

“In a ceremony… there’s a certain etiquette and a certain respect that goes along with everybody that’s involved. There’s an appropriate time to speak. There’s an appropriate time when to listen,” said Manus. 

Manus continued, “When we’re showing that respect in our ceremonies and letting people have the space that they need to speak their mind, to talk… that can also be related to how we relate to one another on the playground and in the hallways.”

Manus believes that many Indigenous people still carry trauma from the past, including the events that transpired at Native boarding schools. Manus said that these schools used violent practices, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Indigenious students and their  forced assimilation into Western culture. 

“Our entire being had to be changed,” said Manus. “The way we talk, we couldn’t speak our language anymore. The way we dress, we weren’t allowed to dress in our traditional regalia. The way we looked at the world was changed by the education. The way that we communicated with each other had to be in a proper, English form.”

Along with events from the past, Manus said that ongoing issues faced by Indigenous people can bring collective trauma. He highlighted the controversy surrounding the use of Native American mascots for sports teams and schools .  

“There’s some people who feel that we’re a little too sensitive. When we look at the mascots, it’s a dehumanization process,” said Manus. 

Manus continued, “We are compared to extinct people, such as the buccaneers, the raiders, and the vikings. We are compared to figments of European imagination, such as dragons and celtics. We’re compared to animals. Very rarely are we compared to people that exist to this day.”

Manus recited a traditional Navajo prayer titled “There is beauty again” to close out his presentation. The prayer called for prosperity in all areas of life, such as education and relationships.

Dean of Student Equity Sonia De La Torre acknowledged Long Beach as the original land of the Gabrielino-Tongva tribe, and highlighted the recent resolution passed by the Board of Trustees to acknowledge November as Native American History Month. 

“Through dance, family traditions, music and stories, the diversity and long history of Indigenous people across the United States has been kept alive and vibrant,” said De La Torre. 
LBCC will continue to observe Native American Heritage Month this month through a lineup of virtual events. The next event will be on Nov. 17 with Pawnee Psychologist Jacob Price, to discuss Indigenous mental health issues.

Homecoming rescheduled due to three COVID cases from LBCC team

jorge hernandez
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Homecoming rescheduled due to three COVID cases from LBCC team

The homecoming game against Allan Hancock was rescheduled to Nov. 20 due to three positive COVID-19 tests on the LBCC football team. 

The announcement of rescheduling was made in an email addressed to the campus community on Nov. 5, a day before the game’s initial date. The email states that the decision was based on the safety of the entire student body. 

The names and positions of the players who tested positive were not given. Interim Athletics Director, Kaladon Stewart, cited HIPAA as the reason for not disclosing the information. 

According to Interim Dean of Athletics Randy Totorp, the football team is currently following Long Beach Health Department protocols and quarantining. 

“There will be ongoing evaluation and steps that need to be met before a return to campus for practice,” said Totorp. 

The game against College of the Canyons that was scheduled to be on Nov. 13 was also cancelled due to the positive cases. The homecoming game’s rescheduled date is also subject to change. 

“There will be more information that’ll be forthcoming. … We test (unvaccinated athletes) every Monday and we’ll have to get the results back in order to know how we’re moving forward,” said Stewart. 

Totorp said all COVID protocols have been in place at practices and games to provide the safest approach possible and mitigate exposure. 

“Masks are only required for indoor settings, and that’s only when student athletes, coaches and staff are not participating in strenuous physical activity. When they’re practicing or competing, there is no requirement for masks,” said Stewart. 

Prior to November, the athletics department had a less than 1% positivity rate across the population of more than 500 student athletes, coaches and staff. During the month of October, there were four positive cases in the department.

“Compared to all community colleges, they (athletics department) believe they’ve done really well with providing safe opportunities for the student athletes and staff to compete with minimal COVID related impacts,” said Totorp. 

According to Stewart, only three games have needed to be rescheduled this semester due to positive COVID tests. 

Opinion: Vaccinated people should be able to travel safely without judgment

Katherene Quiteno
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Opinion: Vaccinated people should be able to travel safely without judgment

If an individual has been vaccinated and has no COVID symptoms, they should be able to travel. As long as they are willing to abide by COVID rules and regulations, there should be no stopping people from seeing family or just traveling for leisure. 

The COVID pandemic has been going on for well over a year now. Many have worked from home, not seeing anyone aside from those they live with in constant fear of contracting the virus.

Almost two years later, things are quickly changing due to a vast majority of people getting vaccinated. Businesses have reopened and life is somewhat “normal” again. We are able to go to bars, restaurants and other places and sit inside. Concerts and sporting events are happening again, so what is the stigma behind travel?

According to the CDC website, if someone is fully vaccinated, it is safe for them to travel. The site states that “people who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine or a vaccine authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization can travel safely within the United States”.

If the CDC, the source many have been looking to and trusting to steer us in the correct direction, states that travel is safe then we should believe that. 

The CDC also states that if someone is not fully vaccinated, then they should not travel internationally. The CDC, however, recommends checking the safety regulations to the place in which you are traveling. 

Knowing this, it is clear that being vaccinated is the responsible and most convenient way to ensure travel is safe.

Similarly, rules from The National Law Review are as follows: starting Nov. 8, all adult foreign national (i.e. non-immigrant, non-citizen) travelers are required to prove that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as well as provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of flying to the US. 

The National Law Review also shared, “U.S citizens and permanent residents who are not fully vaccinated, or who cannot provide proof of full vaccination, will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 1 day of boarding a flight to the United States”. This is important to stop the rise of infections from lack of enforcing vaccination or testing policies. 

The CDC and The National Law Review are claiming travel is safe when done in a safe manner. Many people believe that travel is selfish at this time or irresponsible considering all of the loss many have experienced from COVID. An understandable point, but now with more people getting vaccinated and more safety precautions in play, travel is safer. 

If a person is responsible enough to get fully vaccinated, wear their mask and follow all other regulations, then traveling should not be something people receive judgement for. 

According to a safety guide from the New York Times, experts explain that airplanes are well ventilated and not a major source of outbreaks. Even taking off your mask on the airplane to eat or drink is safe if you are fully vaccinated.

Currently, proof of vaccination is not required to fly out of Long Beach Airport, although a negative test is required and a mask mandate is currently active. 

Long Beach Airport’s Hawaiian Airlines “offers two drive-thru COVID-19 testing options so that travelers may bypass the State of Hawaii’s quarantine … as of July 8, travelers may also bypass the quarantine by providing proof of vaccination.”

With all of these credible sources sharing that travel is safe for the fully vaccinated, society should begin to trust that life can not be on hold forever. With the holidays fast approaching people should be aware that travel is indeed, safe.

Treat yourself Thursday: Pietris Bakery brings a taste of Greece to Long Beach

Illyanna Hendricks
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Treat yourself Thursday: Pietris Bakery brings a taste of Greece to Long Beach

This weekend, treat yourself to a meal from Pietris Bakery, a Greek establishment that serves up mouthwatering brunch, pastries and desserts in the heart of Long Beach. 

Pietris began as a family-owned bakery shop in Greece, where they gained popularity and won the hearts of locals with their homemade treats. The company expanded throughout the country, with the St. Theodoros location becoming a landmark bakery for the entire Mediterranean area.  

In 2017, Pietris opened their first location outside of Greece in Long Beach, providing a selection of pastries, desserts, breakfast and lunch entrees, and cocktails. 

The bakery has a casual, comforting ambience that allows customers to seat themselves and order from their tables. By scanning a QR code, customers can browse the large menu and pay through their phone. 

Employee Kosta Michas said that during the pandemic, the bakery was redecorated; furniture was shifted, couches were added and the walls were painted a vibrant shade of blue. The menu has also expanded during the pandemic. 

“We’ve changed our bakery and added more recipes and Greek desserts. We’ve had free time to work on new dishes and see how people like it,” said Michas. 

The menu takes influence from not only Greek cuisine, but American and other European dishes. The entrees ranged from $15-$20, with vegetarian and vegan options also available. 

Pietris uses locally sourced produce, dairy, seafood, and meats. According to Michas, some ingredients are specially imported from Greece. 

“Our suppliers are mostly Greek and provide us with olive oil, oregano, and feta cheese. 

The flavor is more authentic this way… there is a higher quality,” said Michas. 

Our meal began with a warm Greek coffee, made with a finely ground coffee blend that is boiled in a briki (tall narrow pot). 

The Greek coffee is one of the many beverages offered on Pietris Bakery’s menu. A fine blend of coffee is boiled inside of a briki, a traditional long-handled pot. Customers can enjoy their drink with a delicious orange cookie that is served on the side. (Photo by Veronica Towers)

The drink had a strong, bitter flavor that paired perfectly with a sweet orange cookie served on the side. Some customers may opt to add sugar or milk to cut the intense flavor. Although the serving is small, it is enough to satisfy your caffeine cravings and give you a nice boost of energy. 

Customers turned their heads and stared in amazement as the titan style baklava pancakes were brought to our table. This jaw-dropping dish has six pancakes dripping in Nutella and maple syrup, placed under a piece of flaky, homemade baklava. The baklava had layers of thin pastry and sweetened, chopped nuts.

Giant titan style pancakes are served up at Pietris Bakery, a Long Beach eatery that serves authentic Greek cuisine. The pancakes are slathered with Nutella and maple syrup, and topped with an entire piece of baklava. (Photo by Veronica Towers)

Despite the praise about the dish from popular outlets like Food Network and Off the Menu, we couldn’t take more than a few bites. The pancakes were a bit too sweet and the baklava’s mixture of chopped nuts had an overwhelmingly strong cinnamon flavor. 

Beyond being aesthetically pleasing, these pancakes failed to live up to the hype and were not worth the $20 price in our opinion. Only order the dish if you have a major sweet tooth, or are sharing with a large group. 

The Greek brunch burger is the true star on the menu, and every last bite was a taste of heaven. Served on a soft house-made bun, the burger has layers of beef and lamb patty, monterey jack and feta cheese, onions, arugula, cherry tomatoes, pesto mayo and egg.

One bite, and you’ll be hooked. There is no doubt that this brunch burger is the dish that will keep us coming back to Pietris for more. 

The Greek brunch burger is the star of the menu at Pietris Bakery. It is layered with beef and lamb patty, two types of cheese, and served with a large side of fries. (Photo by Veronica Towers)

For a final threat, we tried blueberry and chocolate macarons from the dessert case. Although both were delicious, the blueberry macaron was simply the perfect way to end our meal. It had a creamy filling with a great balance of sweet and tart flavors. Even if you’re not a fan of blueberries, you will not regret trying this. 

Blueberry and chocolate macarons that are served at Pietris Bakery in Long Beach. (Photo by Veronica Towers)

The overall service was great; the staff was more than willing to offer their recommendations from the menu and assist us at any time during our meal. Our food and drinks were brought to us quickly.

Akira Starks, a frequent customer at Pietris, said that her favorite aspect of the Bakery is the amount of different baked goods they offer.

“Before coming here I’d never heard of half the things on the menu. But the more (food) I try, the more I’m surprised at how good everything is,” Starks said.

She noted that her favorite dessert was the rolled baklava, but that the tiramisu was a close second.

Pietris is a great place to catch up with friends over a delicious meal or lounge on the couch with a warm cup of coffee. The menu has a wide selection of entrees, pastries, and desserts that are bound to satisfy every customer. 

A sample of some of the sweet desserts Pietris Bakery in Long Beach has to offer. (Photos by Veronica Towers)

Pietris offers local delivery service and event catering for weddings, birthdays and any other special occasions. Customers can work hand-in-hand with chefs to create a custom dessert appetizer, and entree lineup for their event.

Pietris Bakery is located at 5000 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803. 

Visit our Instagram for more videos and photos of our experience dining at Pietris Bakery. 

LBCC to unveil a new aquatic center

jorge hernandez
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LBCC to unveil a new aquatic center

LBCC will unveil its new aquatic center this spring semester, making it one of only two olympic-sized swimming pools in the city of Long Beach. 

The 30,000 square feet aquatics facility contains an Olympic-sized pool in the center, new student locker rooms, new team rooms, new coach offices, support rooms, and multi-purpose rooms. The multi-purpose rooms include brand new gym equipment and ice bath machines. 

Along with the pool, a spectator watch stand is also being constructed. According to the field engineer, the stand is estimated to hold up to 300 people.

The aquatics center will prioritize its usage for the aquatics team and the kinesiology department. 

“The new aquatic center will serve the LBCC athletics teams and the kinesiology department in a very well and safe manner,” said Marlene Drinkwine, the VP of Business Services at LBCC.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees and the athletics department are still exploring options for non-athletic LBCC students and the general public to use the facility.

“We do look at opportunities to have community recreations to allow our facility to be used by the general public [which is] acquired under the civic center act,” Drinkwine said. “We are revisiting those policies to make sure they are appropriate for this new facility and the cost of maintenance.”

Drinkwine said they are anticipating fully developing a new plan for community access within the next few months.

The old swimming pool, located in Building R, is scheduled to be renovated in the next 7 to 10 years. 

According to the Interim Athletic Director, Kal Stewart, the college is considering bringing back the “movie by the pool” program, where the pool was used to host movies to the general public.

However, the final fate of the old swimming pool is still in discussion. 

“The old pool is facing major maintenance issues, and whether to refurbish it or eliminate it is still in discussion,” said Drinkwine.

$15.6 million dollars was the estimated cost of the aquatics center construction. It broke ground in fall 2019 and aimed to finish in fall 2021.

Unlike other things COVID-19 had impacted, the construction process was not affected. 

“It had helped the construction, strangely, ” said Drinkwine. 

Far fewer students came on campus during the pandemic, so the construction crews weren’t impacted by the education process.The biggest problem was the disruption of the global supply chain. 

“We are affected by our ability to get raw materials, or labor… Those economic impacts affected the project,” said Drinkwine.

Chris Oeding, the then assistant coach for the gold medal-winning United States women’s water polo team during the Tokyo Olympics and the current LBCC aquatics coach, is very excited and hopeful for the future of LBCC aquatics teams.

“It will allow us to train in a space that meets and exceeds the technical requirements for water polo and swimming and enable us to host post-conference events,” Oeding said.

LBCC’s aquatics team never had the chance to play home games during playoffs due to the limitations of their facility.

Since the closure of the old swimming pool, the men and women’s water polo, swimming and diving teams have been training at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

“The team cannot wait for the new aquatic center,” Oeding said, “It is a phenomenal facility that everyone is looking forward to jumping into as soon as it becomes available.”

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