What Would JUSTIN Do?

While others have been out campaigning

JUSTIN HAS BEEN DOING GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY

Operation Easter Basket - bringing joy and hope to children in desperate situations by providing them with gift-filled Easter Baskets. More than 850 baskets are being delivered.

Operation Santa Paws - a toy/treat collection drive for more than 4,000 shelter dogs/cats at Christmas;

Southern California Spelling Bee Championship - every elementary school in Southern Calif. is invited to send their best speller, $1,000 to the winner.

30-minute beach clean-ups every month;

Haute Dog Easter and Howl’oween Parades - 600+ dogs dressed in outfits - fundraiser for local charities;

He raises money for breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and the Long Beach public libraries; by organizing popular events. And most recently worked with the city raising money and awareness for the plight inner city children.

Give a needy child an Easter basket

Shirley Wild, Staff columnist

Operation Easter Basket is back. This year the goal of Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team is to bring more than 850 baskets to children in need.

The baskets contain items like small toys, school supplies, hygiene items and packaged Easter candy. Rudd suggests that each person make one basket. The value of most baskets ranged from $15 to $30 last year.

For each basket, decide if it will be for a boy or girl and for what age range. Attach a note on the basket indicating that information. Baskets should be dropped off by April 14 at Holly's Hallmark on Second Street or at Bungalow Bay in the Marketplace.

www.doonenicething.com

Check out the website www.doonenicething.com "We honor Justin Rudd"
March 23, 2006

"Justin Rudd is a dynamo! Ever since he founded his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) in Long Beach, California, he's worked nonstop to raise funds for kids, the environment and animal organizations. He's like the Energizer Bunny, but more hyper, and with a heart of gold."

COME OUT AND SUPPORT JUSTIN AT THE CHALK ART

Be on time with your rhyme try online
By Tom Hennessy, Columnist

Whatever your poem, whatever your rhyme, Make certain that you sign up on time.
The seventh edition of the annual Long Beach Poetry Festival is upon us.

The schedule: This year's festival runs from April 2 to 8 with events ranging from sidewalk art to cowboy poetry. The schedule is as follows.
Sunday, April 2, two events.

1. Sidewalk Chalk Art/Poetry Contest, Second Street, Belmont Shore, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artists and poets under the supervision of host Justin Rudd compete for a "best in show" prize of $200. It goes to the person whose combination of art and poetry is judged the best.

Rudd has received an official Festival reprimand by having the temerity to say the chalk art competition will "draw" a crowd.

He also says, "We are encouraging artists to include poetry with their art work, but we realize not all artists will do this." In addition to the "best in show" prize, first-, second-and third-place winners will be named in the art competition.

Artists can sign up in front of Jamba Juice/Coffee Bean, 4925 E. Second St., between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Entry is free, as are all Festival events. Supplies are provided.

Saturday, April 8
1. Haute Dog Poetry, 2 p.m. Justin Rudd returns to host this event in which prizes will be awarded for readings of original and favorite dog-themed poetry. Location: The Dog Beach Zone, Ocean Blvd., east of Belmont Pier and between Roycroft and Argonne Aves., close to the water.

For specific directions: www.dogzone.org.

HENNESSY says he is not in a "Secret Society to elect Justin Rudd"

25 fun facts of Irish history
Tom Hennessy
Staff columnist

Let me say it again: I am not involved in any secret effort to elect Justin Rudd.

CAST YOUR VOTE!

Justin Rudd has accomplished more than most of us contribute to our comunity in a lifetime. Please consider his selfless devotion to Long Beach, when you place your vote.

Is he or isn't he?

On Jan.19, Justin Rudd withdrew as a candidate in the 3rd District race for City Council.

A day or two later, he learned it was too late for him to withdraw, and that his name would remain on the ballot even if he is not a candidate. But last week, the story took another turn when a 5x7 envelope arrived at a store in Belmont Shore. Inside were four campaign buttons.

Also in the envelope were reproductions of a profile I wrote when Rudd first entered the race, and an item by reporter Jenny Marder saying Rudd's entry "could drastically change the landscape of the race."

A message urged people to vote for Rudd, although neither the envelope nor its contents bore a return address or signature. So, is he running? He says he is not.

"I heard something about that mailing, but I'm not campaigning. A group of folks did meet and wanted to try to get me back in the race, but my heart is not there. I think the mailing was sent out before a second meeting in which they apparently realized I'm really not going to run."

But with his name on the ballot, what if, by a bizarre twist, he were elected. He said again what he said when I raised that question weeks ago:

"If elected, I will serve."

LETS SUPPORT JUSTIN!

What's next? Upcoming events organized by Justin Rudd's Community Action Team include monthly 30-minute beach cleanups; the Haute Dog Easter Parade; two animal adoption fairs; distribution of beds and cribs to underserved Long Beach infants; bag lunches served to a Tijuana orphanage and distribution of more than 700 Easter baskets filled with toiletries, art supplies, socks, underwear and gifts.