Established during the 2024-25 school year, in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), The562 is proud to offer its annual Student Photo Competition for Long Beach’s students.
As a local non-profit news outlet, The562 is committed to expanding the scope of journalism in Long Beach, while providing experience and exposure to aspiring young journalists and photojournalists in our community.
Our annual photo competition highlights the best young photographers in Long Beach, and awards prizes to winners in four categories, as voted on by our panel of professional photographers, journalists, and student interns. Winners were awarded gift cards to Tuttle Cameras in Long Beach, who are supporters of The562’s photo competition.
Entries for the 2025-26 edition will be accepted soon! Check back for updates on entry deadlines and submission instructions.
2024-25 Winners
Best Overall Photo & Best Sports/Action Photo: Diego Perez, Cabrillo High School
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Best Feature Photo: Payton Miller, Millikan High School
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Best Artistic/Landscape Photo: Max Tennis, Millikan High School
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Best On-Campus News Photo: Nevaeh Guadamuz, Long Beach Poly High School
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club will build a new indoor facility on county-owned property on Hollister Avenue following Board of Supervisors approval
The project addresses a documented shortage of indoor youth sports space in Santa Barbara County
Facility will be funded through grants and private donations, with no taxpayer funding mentioned
Club plans to expand programming capacity and open the gym to other youth sports organizations beyond volleyball
Project moves to planning review and permitting phase with county collaboration
Filling a Gap in Indoor Sports Infrastructure
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club announced plans to construct a dedicated indoor facility on Hollister Avenue, following lease approval from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors earlier this week. The development targets a shortage of indoor space that has limited youth sports programming in the region.
Executive Director Matt Riley described the project as “a major investment in the future of youth sports in Santa Barbara.” With a dedicated facility, the club will no longer need to rely on borrowed gym space and can increase its programming schedule while accommodating other local sports leagues.
The county-owned property sits adjacent to a 34-unit affordable housing development that broke ground last week, creating a cluster of community-focused projects on the same corridor.
Shared-Use Model and Community Access
The facility will operate on a shared-use model, with Santa Barbara Volleyball Club maintaining primary programming while opening the gym to other youth sports organizations. This approach addresses capacity constraints that force many local programs to compete for limited indoor court time at schools and municipal facilities.
“Our goal is to create a safe, high-quality environment where young athletes can develop not only as volleyball players, but as teammates, leaders, and community members,” Riley said.
County Supervisor Laura Capps noted the project demonstrates how local government can partner with community organizations to expand youth programming. “By investing in youth sports and creating spaces where kids can learn teamwork, confidence, and resilience, we’re strengthening the fabric of our community for years to come,” Capps said.
Funding Structure and Next Steps
The project will be funded entirely through grants and private donations, according to Riley. The club will publish additional details on funding progress and construction timelines on its website at santabarbaravolleyballclub.com.
The facility now enters the planning review and permitting phase, with county staff working alongside club leadership to move the project through regulatory approvals. No construction timeline was announced.
Strategic Implications for Santa Barbara Youth Sports
The Hollister Avenue facility represents a growing trend of purpose-built youth sports infrastructure replacing the traditional model of renting time in shared municipal or school facilities. By securing long-term access to dedicated space, Santa Barbara Volleyball Club gains operational control that allows for expanded programming hours, consistent scheduling, and the ability to generate revenue through facility rentals to other organizations.
YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.
About Youth Sports Business Report
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Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?
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By Leslie Castillo leslie.castillo@waylandpost.org
More than 175 police officers from Wayland and surrounding communities showed up at the Framingham Walmart on Dec. 16 for the 9th annual Shop with a Cop event. Wayland’s Police Chief Ed Burman was one of its original founders. Students, who had previously signed up for Shop with a Cop and were selected by their principals, used their allotted $50 to shop for themselves and their families. After a quick check-in that included a greeting from Santa, candy, and hot chocolate, the youngsters, caregivers and officers hit the aisles in search of their favorite things. Some popular items chosen included basketballs, Barbies, and Bratz dolls. One young man insisted, “For me, it’s all about the Legos.”
Members of Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland gather outside the synagogue on the first day of Hanukkah. (Courtesy photo)
While the selections varied, one common theme resounded – happiness. Both the officers and children shared easy banter and conversations about their favorite shows, sports, and classes. Young and old were beaming as they meandered around the store and seemed equally ecstatic about participating. “For me, tonight is all about the kids,” said Wayland Officer Shane Bowles. “To see them happy and to share this time with them (makes it worthwhile).” The students could spend their money on anything they wanted, except gift cards. Well, almost anything. Bowles, the School Resource Officer, showed patience and kindness when one hopeful student asked if she could purchase Wayland’s friendly, familiar, comfort dog, Archie. ”Not tonight. Maybe when you are older,” he explained. Chief Burman brought genuine enthusiasm and a contagious energy to the event. “All of the officers here tonight are volunteering their time,” said Burman. ”This is a program that is made possible from generous donations from community businesses, and from the police, fire, school and other unions.” Officers and students had a chance to bond and spend quality time together during the shopping expedition. After checking out, students and their families shared an in-store meal of Chik-Fil-A before departing.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday the White House will host the “Patriot Games,” a competition with young athletes from across the country, as part of the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary next year.“In the fall, we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said.Democrats have mocked the athletic competition online, comparing it to “The Hunger Games,” a dystopian young adult novel and popular movie franchise in which children are forced to fight to the death in televised arenas.The president revealed the plans for the Patriot Games in a video announcement from Freedom 250, which was launched Thursday. It is a “a national, non-partisan organization leading the Administration’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday,” according to a news release.Trump previously previewed the competition in July, saying at the time it would be televised and led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.During the video, Trump also highlighted his plans to begin construction soon on a new arch monument in the nation’s capital.“We are the only major place without a triumphal arc. A beautiful triumphal arc, one like in Paris, where they have the great, a beautiful arc. They call it the Arc de Triomphe, and we’re going to have one in Washington, D.C., very soon,” Trump said.A UFC fight on the South Lawn is another of Trump’s ideas for the 250th celebration and will take place on his birthday, June 14.“On Flag Day, we will have a one-of-a-kind UFC event here at the White House. It’ll be the greatest champion fighters in the world, all fighting that same night. The great Dana White is hosting, and it’s going to be something special,” Trump said.Trump has long touted his desire to shape the nation’s 250th celebrations. In the past year, the Trump administration has moved quickly to align federal funding with the president’s anniversary priorities, and agencies have followed suit.The Department of Agriculture, for instance, has embraced the president’s Great American State Fair initiative. The idea was first floated by Trump on the campaign trail in 2023, and it asks states to compete to have their fair chosen by Trump as the “most patriotic.”Meanwhile, the White House is conducting a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution and has demanded the 250th content at the nation’s largest museum complex renews national pride.
WASHINGTON —
President Donald Trump announced Thursday the White House will host the “Patriot Games,” a competition with young athletes from across the country, as part of the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary next year.
“In the fall, we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said.
Democrats have mocked the athletic competition online, comparing it to “The Hunger Games,” a dystopian young adult novel and popular movie franchise in which children are forced to fight to the death in televised arenas.
The president revealed the plans for the Patriot Games in a video announcement from Freedom 250, which was launched Thursday. It is a “a national, non-partisan organization leading the Administration’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday,” according to a news release.
Trump previously previewed the competition in July, saying at the time it would be televised and led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
During the video, Trump also highlighted his plans to begin construction soon on a new arch monument in the nation’s capital.
“We are the only major place without a triumphal arc. A beautiful triumphal arc, one like in Paris, where they have the great, a beautiful arc. They call it the Arc de Triomphe, and we’re going to have one in Washington, D.C., very soon,” Trump said.
A UFC fight on the South Lawn is another of Trump’s ideas for the 250th celebration and will take place on his birthday, June 14.
“On Flag Day, we will have a one-of-a-kind UFC event here at the White House. It’ll be the greatest champion fighters in the world, all fighting that same night. The great Dana White is hosting, and it’s going to be something special,” Trump said.
Trump has long touted his desire to shape the nation’s 250th celebrations. In the past year, the Trump administration has moved quickly to align federal funding with the president’s anniversary priorities, and agencies have followed suit.
The Department of Agriculture, for instance, has embraced the president’s Great American State Fair initiative. The idea was first floated by Trump on the campaign trail in 2023, and it asks states to compete to have their fair chosen by Trump as the “most patriotic.”
Meanwhile, the White House is conducting a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution and has demanded the 250th content at the nation’s largest museum complex renews national pride.
The Luka Doncic Foundation, which was established by the Los Angeles Lakers star in 2024 to empower and inspire young athletes worldwide, is celebrating World Basketball Day and a year of important progress with the launch of several new initiatives aimed at reshaping the youth sports landscape.
According to the press release, the Foundation has been guided by the mission that sports should be something kids love and want to keep coming back to and is working to protect that belief in a few different ways: developing new approaches to coaching in youth basketball; taking a hard look at how the youth basketball system actually works and where it breaks down; and, building a global athlete support program to help kids across all sports keep playing when barriers get in the way.
“Each of these partnerships was carefully developed to move the Luka Doncic Foundation forward in pursuit of its mission to ensure youth sports are a joyful, enriching force in the lives of kids around the world,” noted Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager. “These initiatives are helping us lay the groundwork for a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive through sports – regardless of their background or circumstance.”
“I’m so proud of all of the work we’ve accomplished in the year since we’ve launched, and I can’t wait to see what else we can do together,” said Doncic. “If we can continue providing opportunities to young athletes, and making sports more accessible and fun, I’ll know we did something right.”
Included in these new initiatives is the development of the Total Hoops Curriculum, which is working to develop a pilot curriculum and implementation toolkit that develops and supports a system of coaching that allows kids to play freely, embrace mistakes, and rediscover their love of the game.
To showcase and test this new curriculum, the Foundation will partner with the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to host a pilot clinic during NBA All-Star 2026. Newly trained Total Hoops Approach coaches will work with 100 youth athletes ages 9-15 from across Los Angeles to test new techniques aimed at reminding kids what sports can give them – friendship, confidence, and joy – and helping coaches make the court a place they want to return to.
Additionally, this coming spring, the Foundation will open applications to athletes ages 12-15 from all sports in U.S.A., U.K., China (PRC), France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia providing grants to help overcome barriers to participation.
Per the Luka Doncic Foundation, World Basketball Day is about more than just basketball. It’s a day to celebrate everything the sport brings to its young athletes – joy, connection, and a sense of belonging. Protecting that mission is at the core of the foundation, and each of these initiatives and partnerships are meant to further that ideal.
Luka Doncic buys E-bikes for teammates and Lakers staff
Luka Doncic has constantly displayed his generosity through the work of his foundation, but he also recently extended that to his teammates and Lakers staff members by buying them all E-bikes to celebrate the holiday season.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
The Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in Community Impact Grants to 40 nonprofits working to strengthen communities, fight hunger and homelessness, and expand access to mental health care, education, and job training in the region.
The $1,309,614 in grants is funded by individuals, families, companies, and foundations, including Johnson & Johnson and the Burke Foundation.
“Our Community Impact Grants program allows us to support a wide range of nonprofits doing incredible work in our region,” said Mathieu Nelessen, president and CEO of the foundation. foundation. “Providing books to toddlers in daycare, tutoring for students, nutritious meals and emergency rental assistance to families, job training for young people, and case management support for seniors are just some of the ways these nonprofits are making a difference for our neighbors, and we are thrilled to help support these programs.”
Three of the grants were made in memory of longtime Community Foundation trustees: Dr. William Burks, Allen Porter, and John “Jack” Wallace, who all died earlier this year.
“Bill, Allen, and Jack dedicated years of their lives to volunteer service with our organization, as well as other nonprofits in the community,” Nelessen said. “We are thankful that we are able to honor their memories with these grants, supporting causes that were important to each of them.”
Grants by focus area
Community and capacity building
BookSmiles — $5,000 for delivering books to local daycares.
Center for Modern Aging – Princeton — $45,500 for free social services and benefits help for older adults.
Hamilton Area YMCA — $60,000 for the Community Sports for All youth sports access program.
Hearts and Homes Ministries Inc. — $10,000 for distributing essential household items to households in poverty.
People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos — $8,100 for literacy programs in underserved communities.
Food security
America’s Grow-a-Row — $10,000 for the Fresh Produce Initiative serving hunger relief partners.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton — $12,500 for a greenhouse partnership with Snipes Farm to supply fresh produce.
Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County — $50,000 for brick-and-mortar and mobile food pantries. (Grant in memory of former trustee and board treasurer Allen Porter.)
Meals on Wheels of Mercer County — $25,000 for home-delivered, medically tailored meals for seniors.
Mount Carmel Guild — $33,500 for the Community Support Program providing food and emergency financial aid.
Send Hunger Packing Princeton — $25,000 for weekly produce distribution to families of schoolchildren.
Share My Meals — $12,500 for expanding the Meal Recovery Program in Trenton.
Snipes Farm and Education Center — $25,264 for Healthy Food Access for Trenton Families produce shares.
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) — $50,000 for expanding meal sites and food truck stops in Trenton’s food desert communities. (Grant in memory of founding board member and trustee emeritus John D. “Jack” Wallace.)
Homelessness and housing stability
Anchor House — $50,000 for services for youth and young adults facing homelessness and housing insecurity.
Arm In Arm — $50,000 for the One Family at a Time eviction prevention and housing stability program. (Grant in memory of trustee emeritus Dr. William P. Burks.)
CASA for Children of Mercer & Burlington — $20,000 for advocacy for children in foster care.
HomeFront — $50,000 for expanding shelter and support for families in crisis.
Rescue Mission of Trenton — $30,000 for 24/7 emergency shelter services.
Mental health and youth support
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County — $30,000 for one-to-one mentoring programs.
PEI Kids — $26,000 for counseling for child and youth victims of sexual abuse and community violence.
Education and workforce development
Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County — $6,250 for VR Teen Workforce Training.
Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) — $12,500 for replacing a bus used for after-school and summer programs.
The Children’s Home Society of NJ — $100,000 for school-based social-emotional learning programs.
Dress For Success Central New Jersey — $25,000 for the Business Academy at Trenton Central High School.
Every Child Valued — $47,000 for breakfast and after-school programs for students from low-income households.
The Father Center of New Jersey — $50,000 for the Bridges2Success workforce and life skills initiative.
HISPA — $60,000 for role model and college programs for low-income students in Mercer County.
Isles — $32,500 for the Youth Institute education and workforce development program.
James R Halsey Foundation of the Arts — $12,500 for the Let’s Film trauma-informed, arts-based program.
Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) — $50,000 for adult education, advocacy and youth mentoring programs.
Millhill Child & Family Development — $40,000 for the Creating Access to Limitless Possibilities youth programs.
Princeton Ballet Society — $12,000 for the DANCE POWER in-school residency in Trenton.
Princeton-Blairstown Center — $15,000 for Venture Out, a free STEM experiential program for Trenton middle school students.
Princeton YMCA — $50,000 for after-school and ACE programs supporting K-12 students.
Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra — $30,000 for scholarships, teacher training and instrument support for Trinity Strings.
UrbanPromise Trenton — $100,000 for tutoring, leadership development and college support, including the StreetLeaders program.
We Make: Autism At Work — $7,500 for the Campus Community vocational training program for people with autism and other disabilities.
The WorkWell Partnership — $7,500 for financial empowerment and job-readiness services for returning citizens.
YWCA of Princeton — $23,500 for expanding the Art Start early childhood arts program.
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club (SBVC) has announced plans to construct a new indoor youth volleyball facility at 4550 Hollister Avenue in Goleta after Santa Barbara County approved a ground lease.
The facility would be developed on county-owned land through a long-term ground lease approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. With the lease approved, the project will enter the planning and permitting phase next.
The property is located next to Santa Barbara County Fire Station 13 and the Page Youth Center.
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club is a youth and junior volleyball organization serving both girls and boys. While formally established in 2010, the club has been part of the local volleyball community since 1994.
In spring 2025, SBVC entered a new phase through a leadership partnership with the Los Angeles Volleyball Academy to strengthen its coaching structure and competitive programs.
Expand Sports Opportunities for Youth
The new facility is expected to expand youth sports opportunities in Santa Barbara County, where limited access to indoor court space has long made training and competition challenging for local programs, SBVC said in a statement.
A dedicated facility is expected to reduce those challenges by providing a consistent, year-round space for volleyball training and competition.
Matt Riley, executive director of SBVC, described the facility as a long-term investment in Santa Barbara’s youth, citing its potential to create positive experiences and build confidence.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion anticipated in 2027.
What the Indoor Facility Entails
The indoor, year-round gym will host practices, training sessions, and organized league play. While volleyball will be the primary focus, the space may also be used for other youth sports programs.
Santa Barbara has long faced a shortage of indoor sports facilities, particularly for youth programs. The new gym would allow SBVC to reduce its reliance on shared school facilities and expand learning opportunities for athletes.
“By investing in youth sports and creating spaces where kids can learn teamwork, confidence, and resilience, we’re strengthening the fabric of our community for years to come,” Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps said in the statement.
SBVC officials said additional details on design, programming, and community engagement opportunities will be released as the project moves forward.
Project Funding
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The project will be funded primarily through philanthropic donations and grants, with the county continuing to collaborate with the club on permits and entitlements.
SBVC officials said the partnership with the county reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to youth-focused recreational spaces while making productive use of public property.
