(May 24, 2003) -- The North Long Beach Community Action Group (NLBCAG), which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary at the "Top of the Town," blasted into its second decade with a May 19 "Dine Out" at Cafe Bixby in Bixby Knolls.

NLBCAG holds monthly "Dine Outs" to support community restraurants. (Connie Hodges, Jr., left in photo, husband of NLBCAG VP LaRose Hodges, alongside 9th district Council office aide Dan Pressburg, flash "V" for victory.) We thank Ms. LaRose Hodges for her digital photos and emailed info.

Dignitaries celebrated the group's accomplishments at a 10th anniversary meeting on May 4th. Those attending included 9th district Councilman Val Lerch (pictured at May 19 Dine Out alongside wife Janet), 8th district Council office aide Jerry Caligiuri and City Hall Community Planner Scott Mangum.

Captured digitally, Chuck Fowler, husband of Laurie Angel. Ms. Angel is a member of Mayor O'Neill's Budget Advisory Committee.

NLBCAG's most recent project was "Rebuilding Together" (formerly "Christmas in April") in which NLBCAG members joined volunteers from Boeing to paint the interior and eaves of an elderly woman's home in NLB.

Their next project will be painting the historic American Legion Hall (59th St. @ Orange Ave.), originally planned for June 7 but rescheduled due to an emergency. Check LBReport.com's Neighborhood Groups/Meetings link (left side of page) for updates.

NLBCAG's meetings are open to interested LB residents...with those living between Del Amo Blvd. and South St., and Cherry Ave. to the L.A. River especially welcome. NLBCAG meets on the 1st Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m. at the YMCA (Atlantic Ave. @ Del Amo Blvd.)

"Bring your excellent ideas with you," NLBCAG VP LaRose Hodges says.

NLBCAG's next meeting is June 1. (July's meeting will be on July 13 due to the holiday weekend.) "We’re committed to making our community a better place in which to live and work," Ms. Hodges says.