Gazette Newspapers has grown to become the foremost source of community news and information in the affluent southeast corridor of Long Beach, Calif.
Gazette Newspapers was born in 1978 as a small weekly for the Belmont Shore neighborhood called the Grunion Gazette. Fran and John Blowitz bought the paper in 1981 and built it into the dominant information source for east Long Beach. In 1988, they started the companion Downtown Gazette.
In January 2004, the Blowitzes sold the Gazettes to MediaNews, the national newspaper powerhouse that also owns the Los Angeles Daily News, the Denver Post and more than 200 other publications. Owner Dean Singleton told the staff that the papers would remain independent, and they have.
With a circulation of 44,500, this paper reaches households with an average annual income of almost $100,000. Our readers are educated and most hold a college degree. They travel, dine out and use professional services more than any other demographic group of its size in Southern California.
The papers are delivered free to residences, city libraries, tourist destinations, businesses and outdoor venues where the community shops, meets and greets. A Southern California lifestyle requires information, and we're where readers find it.
The Downtown Gazette is a 11,500 urban weekly newspaper. The downtown workforce and its new residents look first to the Gazette for information about the wide range of activities in the area. The Downtown carries editorial features that appeal to a wide range of readers, with coverage of the development and redevelopment scene, entertainment, corporate activities, government, the arts and Long Beach's many meaningful charities.
The Uptown Gazette is an edition of the Downtown launched in October 2008. The paper covers the connected corridors of Atlantic Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard, from the 405 Freeway to Artesia Street. 18,000 copies are delivered free to homes and businesses in Bixby Knolls, California Heights, North Long Beach and the Virginia Country Club neighborhoods. It offers the same great news coverage of the Grunion and Downtown Gazettes, with a focus on the top half of town.
Simon is our long-time marketing manager, has been publisher for just more than one year. A British import, Simon worked as an account manager for a London advertising agency before heading for the California sun.
Shirley was born and raised in Long Beach and worked in fundraising at Memorial Medical Center for more than 16 years. She is married and has four sons, one grandson and a granddaughter. Shirley enjoys hanging out with family and friends, camping in their 30-foot trailer and playing with her two dogs and three cats.
Harry Saltzgaver hsalt@gazettes.com
Associate Publisher and Executive Editor
Harry has been in the newspaper business for more than 30 years. He has led the Gazettes since 1992, constantly seeking to improve and expand coverage of the diverse Long Beach scene. His column, A Pinch Of Salt, has become a fixture in the Gazettes. He is past chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission and is on the board of Goodwill Long Beach, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Foundation and other community organizations.
Kurt has been with the Gazettes since 1994 after a stint at the Inland Empire Business Journal. His business background is expressed in the weekly Business Beat column and his love of sports shows up in Sports Rap. He is an executive board member with the Greater Long Beach American Red Cross.
Kelly brings writing and editing skills to Gazette Newspapers after working for the American Red Cross National Headquarters, the Orange County Register and several other publications. Kelly lives with her husband and two cats and enjoys the arts, partaking in community service and exploring the local nightlife. She also oversees the content and development of gazettes.com.
Shereen graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in journalism. After interning at Movieline's Hollywood Life and the Los Angeles Times Magazine, she now writes for the Gazettes, where she covers education and oversees the Web site. She lives in Belmont Heights with her husband Paul. When she's not here, Shereen likes to frequent farmers' markets, cook the food procured at such markets, watch matinees, listen to music and sleep.
Kurt comes to the Gazettes with 30 years experience in broadcasting and journalism. He has produced and/or directed hundreds of television programs, including news, sports, entertainment, election coverage, town meetings and telethons. He has a B.A. in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He writes the From The Grape Vine column, and handles the obituaries for In Memory.
An accomplished sailor in his own right, Chris is a past commodore at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, and keeps the boating community informed about all the action on the water in the Grunion.
Hill On Food by Larry Hill.
Larry, a computer geek in real life, has been visiting restaurants for years, and writing about them for many years in the Gazettes. His palate is rivaled only by his wit.
Musical Notes by Jim Ruggerillo.
A parks and recreation professional by day, Ruggerillo is a classical music aficionado by night. He has directed classical choirs and festivals and has written reviews of the Long Beach Symphony performances for four years.
On Broadway by James Scarborough.
Rather than attempt to describe our theater reviewer we'll let him do it: Discreet but eager, well-placed if not well-heeled, awash with syntax but void of irony, he attends to Matters Esthetica that abound in the House of Culture.
Looking In by Vicich Jerry Vicich
Cartoonist Jerry Vicichas been gracing the Gazette commentary page since 1993 with his artistic and insightful cartoons, drawn specifically for the Gazette. He has a Master of Fine Artsdegree from California State University, Long Beach, and teaches art and illustration.
And those are just the regular contributors. The Gazettes features experts in the arts, health, fitness, beauty, interior design, automobiles, real estate, as well. Top-notch Long Beach photographers Kevin Oules, Geronimo Quitoriano, William Johnson and Thomas Wasper provide many of the pictures.
Craig is an accomplished Graphic Designer with nearly 20 years experience in the creative industry. Craig's capabilities include a wide spectrum of skills from print design, photography, production management, multimedia, web design, and technical illustrations. Craig has his hands full with his 4 wonderful kids, but still manages to get out surfing once or twice a week.
Jose received his Associates' Degree from Westwood College in Los Angeles. An artist at heart, Jose has worked on various movie and animated/stop-motion projects at Eyelumination Studios. His passions are art, his Mexican heritage and his lovely wife Jessica.
Damian also is a fine artist and has eight years of experience working in digital interface design in the motion picture, music and healthcare industries as well as three years of experience in creating commercial works of fine art for the food service industry. His passions include his wife, Jannah, his daughter, Milan, and his art work.
Another Gazette long-timer, Bob has been helping people rent homes and sell property for 18 years. His rental section is acknowledged as the best place in Long Beach to find a place to live.
Gina brings both administrative and customer service skills to the varied position of classified and directory sales. A matchmakerat heart, her prioritiesare matching employers and employees, and service professionals with those who need those services.
This British import has been with the Gazettes since 1988. An expert in retail marketing, Jonathan has turned helping storeowners in east Long Beach, Seal Beach and Los Altos into an art.
Maureen has spent the last 17 years establishing herself as the region's foremost expert in Long Beach restaurants. Extremely active in the community, she helps restaurateurs position themselves in the dining out scene as well as getting their message to the Gazette readership.
Lorraine has been with the Gazettes since 2001 and her background includes positions at advertising agencies in Los Angeles and sales experience in all categories at community and daily newspapers. She is proud to call Gazette Newspapers home.
A veteran in newspaper advertising, Dick comes to the Gazettes from the San Gabriel Valley. His passion is businesses in downtown Long Beach and Bixby Knolls.
Sue has been selling advertising for more than 28 years for both daily and weekly publications. She joined the Gazette team in 2006 and brought her business expertise and award-winning style with her. Sue spends her time networking in the community and serving the areas outside of Long Beach.
Michelle comes to us from Brooks College of Fashion and Design here in Long Beach. She has 10+ years of experience as an office manager. She is a native Californian, born and raised in Redondo Beach. She moved to Long Beach 20 years ago. Michelle found her current position - where else? - in the Gazette.
Julie Martin legals@gazettes.com
Administrative Assistant/Legal Advertising Specialist
Julie has returned to CSULB after a six-year break to work on her psychology degree. She is mother to a beautiful 5-year old boy. Julie is passionate about music, movies, good food and being among the best of company.
Kristen Flury legals@gazettes.com
Administrative Assistant/Legal Advertising Specialist
Kristen grew up in Bakersfield, but came to her senses a year ago and moved to Long Beach. When not at the Gazette, Kristen works for the family business, Waterway Solutions, LLC. Her family and friends mean the world to Kristen.
Before moving to Long Beach , Pamela worked for and lived in the city of Victorville, performing a number of jobs before landing a position as junior account clerk. She spends her free time with her 1-year-old daughter, Harmony. She also likes camping, hiking and traveling to visit family.
