This summer, Long Beach Playhouse will offer its 2011 Summer Theatre Conservatory, a two-week performing-arts education program with two sessions to choose from: July 11 to July 23, or July 25 to August 6. Both sessions will run from 9am to 5pm. The program is open to incoming 3rd graders through graduating high school students. The main focus is age-appropriate training in the basic skills of theatre, and a portion of the day is dedicated to preparing a performance for the end of the session. Families who sign up before June 1 pay $360. Thereafter, tuition is $400 per session. Family discounts are available. For enrollment information, call (562) 494-1014. 

Encore Hair Studio, 2172 E.Willow St., will host a cut-a-thon from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, April 23 to raise money for the Animal Match Rescue Team. The salon will offer $20 haircuts, (tax deductible, since The AMRT is a registered nonprofit organization) that day, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the rescue organization. It will be a day filled music and refreshments, and even a few dogs, who will be available for adoption. For more information, call Encore at (562) 595-4309.

Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 East Anaheim St., is now offering “Pay What You Can Night” for final dress rehearsals for all future productions in both its Mainstage and the Studio theatres. The Playhouse is also accepting non-perishable human or pet food donations as well in exchange for admission. “Pay What You Can” tickets can be purchased at 7pm that evening at the box office window. These tickets will be available for purchase on a first-come basis, cash and exact change only. Find out more at lbplayhouse.org or by calling (562) 494-1014.

• The Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd Thursdays Mixer will be hosted by Coastline Environmental Solutions, Inc., in celebration of the company’s 25th anniversary, at their expanded offices located at 2480 Brayton Ave., in Signal Hill, on Thursday, April 14, from 5pm to 8pm. Members of the Signal Hill, Long Beach and Seal Beach chambers of commerce, and Signal Hill and Long Beach Rotaries, are invited attend the event for a fun evening of gourmet food prepared by Thank Goodness It’s Sophia, spirits, music by John Merola Entertainment, and networking. RSVP by calling (562) 981-2636 or e-mailing ana@coastlineclean.com. 

• The Long Beach Playhouse sponsored a “Search for the Greatest Storyteller in the 562” on Sunday, April 3. With Managing Director Lauren Morris scurrying around for the last folding chair, as late-comers perched on table tops in the back of the Playhouse Gallery, they began at 7pm. The stories were as varied as the people that told them. Mariana Williams, the producer/hostess of the event, pre-selected five stories that were submitted on the website then allowed three more “on the fly” from the audience. It was one of those stories that won the $100 prize. Joey Lowe told the story “My Hero,” which was a tear-jerking saga of a special Marine that he defended in a court of law and the surprising outcome. Then, when accepting his cash he surprised the whole audience with a gesture befitting an officer and a gentleman.  Lowe said, “My wife told me if I win, I didn’t deserve it because I went over the allotted time of five minutes. So, I’m giving this money to the person I voted for, Autum Brown, the second-place winner.” The audience roared their approval and local poet, Autum Brown, beamed with surprise and delight. For more information go to lbplayhouse.org/storyteller.

To support the American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami last week, Liberty Tax Lakewood will waive tax-preparation fees for first-time customers who contribute a minimum of $50 to the American Red Cross on Saturday, March 19. This day of free tax preparation will take place at 5908 Del Amo Blvd., and participating locations throughout the area from 9am to 5pm. Call 866-871-1040 to be directly connected with the nearest Liberty Tax location.

The First Church of Christ will sponsor a lecture entitled “Why You Should Know About Christian Science Healing” on Friday, March 11 at 7pm at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow St. Ron Ballard, an international speaker and teacher of Christian science healing, will present the lecture, which will cover what constitutes healing and the benefits of moving beyond physical care to spiritual restoration.

The UPS Store, at its new 3553 Atlantic Avenue location, will host its grand re-opening celebration on Monday, March 7 from 3pm to 7pm. Among the activities planned for the day are a ribbon-cutting with Seventh District Councilmember James Johnson, The Grace Christian School Band and local musician Michelle Mangione. “As a one-stop shop for shipping, postal and business services, we look forward to continuing our committed service to the city of Long Beach,” said The UPS Store owner Anthony Wingfield. “Prior to securing the current location, The UPS Store was smaller, limiting our self-serve/assisted copy and printing services. The new location is large enough for us to accommodate our customers’ needs more efficiently.” The UPS Store can be reached at (562) 981-6245. Hours are 8am to 7pm Mondays through Fridays and 8:30am to 6pm Saturdays.

FreeSpirit Yoga, 3910 Atlantic Ave., will conduct its annual blood drive on Monday, Dec. 6 in its back parking lot, where the Red Cross Blood Mobile will be parked from 2pm to 8pm. Make an appointment either online at redcrossblood.org and type in sponsor code “yoga,” or by calling the studio at (562) 989-9959. FreeSpirit is offering a free yoga class to blood donors, along with a chance to win a quarterly unlimited series. 

Boulevard Buick GMC would like to remind all of its customers that it has relocated Boulevard Collision Center to 2800 Cherry Ave. in Signal Hill, next door to the main dealership. Boulevard Buick GMC is currently undergoing a remodel of the facility and is eagerly anticipating the completion of the state-of-the-art facility, which can handle vehicles as large as semi trucks. For more information visit Boulevard4u.com or call (562) 492-1000.

The local Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, 2475 Cherry Ave., in Signal Hill, will host fundraising “Shopping Nights” to benefit local schools between now and the end of the year, allowing schools to receive five percent of a store’s total sales from 4pm to 8pm on designated evenings. The dates and benefiting schools are: Nov. 3, Hudson School; Nov. 4, Burroughs Elementary; Nov. 10, Robert E. Lee Elementary; Nov. 15, Roosevelt Elementary; and Nov. 17, New City Public Schools. More information is available at freshandeasy.com/shopforschools.

Everyday Zen Relaxation Studio, 3740 Atlantic Ave. #201, will host holistic health practitioner Eilanie “Jannah” Szeibert, who will guide participants on a journey through the chakra system and explore a variety of techniques that assist in transformation, self-discovery, and self-healing. The free workshop will be Thursday, July 29 from 5:30pm to 7pm, and those interested may reserve a space at
keicher@everydayzenrelaxationstudio.com. More info is available at EverydayZenRelaxationstudio.com.

Arashi restaurant, 3550 N. Long Beach Blvd., will be the host for the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association’s next Supper Club night on Monday, July 12 at 6:30pm. A special menu has been created, with lots of options and combinations of all items: beef steak, chicken teriyaki, salmon teriyaki, grilled salmon, Japanese mackerel, hamburger steak, beef teriyaki, shrimp & scallop with chili, eel bowl, tempura combinations, plenty of sushi options and vegetarian options. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing info@bixbyknollsinfo.com. Arashi can be reached at (562) 595-1959.

Orozco’s Auto Service, 3619 Atlantic Ave., has been approved by AAA and will now be open on Sundays from 8am to 2pm. To find out more, call (562) 427-4256 or visit orozcosautoservice.com.