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• The only community newspaper serving the city of Artesia, delivered to 3,000 homes per month • www.loscerritosnews.net • December 2010 • Vol.1, No. 2
Artesia Chamber President's message
Linda Sanchez guest at Artesia Chamber Luncheon
By James Kang Fellow chamber members,
O
ur chamber is growing strong thanks to you! I would like to thank all those who attended the evening mixer at the OneWest Bank on November 18, 2010. It was a successful event with a special 15 minute presentation by Hogle-Ireland Inc., an urban James Kang, Presi- planning firm, dent, Artesia Cham- who described the current ber of Commerce. plans for the east-west corridor of Artesia Blvd. (primarily between Pioneer Blvd. and Gridley Rd.) and received feedback from you, the business owner. This month, on December 15, 2010, County Supervisor Don Knabe will be the program speaker. He will talk about the current state of the county and what we all have to look forward to for the 2011 new year. We are very excited to have the event take place at the beautiful, brand new Artesia Portuguese D.E.S hall. If you have never stepped inside, you're in for a treat! The new Artesia Chamber website will be rolling out at the end of the year. If you have not already done so, why not become a chamber member, so that you can be included in the business directory on the website? An official Artesia business directory will be published in March 2011.
By Jerry Bernstein
Enjoying the Artesia Chamber Luncheon Oct. 28 at the Great Seafood Harbor Restaurant were (l-r) Artesia Mayor Tony Lima, Chamber members, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and Chamber President James Kang.
By Larry Caballero “The economic recovery has been painful and slow,” said keynote speaker Congresswoman Linda Sanchez at the Artesia Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon Oct. 28 at the Great Seafood Harbor Restaurant in Artesia. Sanchez discussed the state of the
nation’s economy and how the United States Congress is pushing forward legislation to help small businesses. “We in Congress know that small businesses are hurting, and that’s why we returned to Washington in August from summer break to pass legislation to get help for small businesses.” Two out of three jobs in the private [See SANCHEZ Page 4]
Chamber networking mixer at One West Bank
[See WELCOME Page 4]
Save the Date!
December 15 Artesia Chamber Lunch Supervisor Don Knabe on the State of the County Artesia DES 11903 Ashworth Street, Artesia, CA For information call: (562) 882-7734
Artesia Council approves restaurant expansion in Little India on Pioneer
The Artesia Chamber held its first evening mixer this past November 18 hosted by OneWest Bank. There was a short presentation by Hogle-Ireland, which informed the attendees of future developments on the east-west corridor of Artesia Blvd. between Pioneer Blvd. and Gridley Rd. Attending the event was [l-r] Jennifer Ho, Mayor Tony Lima, Hogle-Ireland rep Sarah Walker, Chamber President James Kang, OneWest Bank manager El;izabeth Makabali, Chamber Vice President Manu Patel, and the Miss Artesias Domique Torres and Kristinicole Elms.
The Artesia City Council approved a conditional use permit to add a bar with a dance floor at an existing restaurant located in Little India at 18738, 40, 42, 70 and 18772 Pioneer Boulevard. Applying for the permit was Venkatesh Koka who said the restaurant would be opened between the hours of 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The bar and dance floor will be located within, and as part of, an existing bona fide restaurant that has a full service menu and under the conditional use permit will not be the predominant operation or use of the restaurant. Stipulations approved by the Council include no person under 21 shall sell or deliver alcoholic beverages, all window(s) and glass doors shall be of clear glass and shall not be tinted, neon signs on the windows promoting beverages are prohibited and valet parking will be provided from 6 p.m. to closing on each night the restaurant is open, a noise study shall be conducted before and after opening of the restaurant expansion and a minimum of one study shall be undertaken after the operation has commenced and shall be done on a random night between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight. In addition, the owner shall pay for the City to hire the services of an independent Sound Engineer to inspect the premises and recommend physical improvements. Other conditions prohibit loitering being prohibited on or around the premises, security/surveillance cameras shall be installed inside and outside of the restaurant at strategic locations subject to the Planning Staff and Sheriff’s Department approval as well as adequate lighting in the parking lot where a valet will be on duty. A public hearing was set for Nov. 14 on a request from 7-Eleven, Inc. in Brea for a variance permitting the sale of Alcoholic beverages within 600 ft from a church, school, playground or park and a request for a conditional use permit to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages for the property located at [See PIONEER Page 4]
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2 ARTESIA COMMUNITY NEWS/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • DECEMBER 2010
Ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurates Niemes Farm Stand in Artesia
Niemes Elementary School held a ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurating its Farm Stand Nov. 19. Superintendent Dr. Gary Smuts cut the ribbon. He congratulated the students on their school’s garden, which will provide produce for the stand in season. He said eating fresh vegetables and fruit was much healthier for them than snacking on candy and fast food. Participating in the ceremony were [l-r] Bissie Tseng, Swift Produce Representative Lauri Lollis, Farrah Northcott, with Network for a Healthy California, ABC School Board President Celia Spitzer, Artesia Mayor Tony Lima, Dr. Smuts, Principal Meg Jimenez, and representing the PTA Melissa Gutierrez. The standing will be open one Friday a month from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and will be manned by students and Gutierrez.
Welcome New Members Lou Juaneza CA Prudential Realty Jennifer Ho Real Estate Specialists Roger Patel Cerritos Auto Body Shop Mukesh Kumar New York Life Insurance Vik Vasun Terry's Liquor Southern CA Gas Company
Happy Holidays!
From My Family To Yours, Have A Safe, Happy & Healthy Holiday Season Tony Lima Mayor of Artesia
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DES Hall renovation highlighted by service and volunteerism
The newly renovated Artesia D.E.S. only took ten months to complete.
In July, Artesia's world famous Portuguese DES Hall finished a major and much-needed renovation. Most of this renovation was completed by the power of volunteerism and service. Paul Barcelos is the current president of the DES Hall, and commented on the construction. "Various contractors did the construction work - but former Mayor John Martins and Tony DeFreitas of DeFreitas Electrical were the Project Managers. Their work was 100 percent free of charge. Their role was to keep the project moving, sourcing and selecting contractors and coordinating their work." The Hall was completely replaced by a new building (you can see the demolition of the old one on Youtube), with a new
"state-of-the-art" kitchen, a new banquet room, a built-in A/V system, a portable stage and dance floor. "It is perfect for business events, seminars, meetings, class reunions, and memorial services as well as weddings, quinceaneras, and our own DES events," said Barcelos. The decision to renovate was built upon the changes in the community since the Hall was first built in 1983. Barcelos said the kitchen, sound and design of the building made it more difficult to play host to the diverse needs of the local Portuguese community. The renovation of the Hall took about 10 months.
The Artesia Chamber of Commerce wishes its' members & the residents of Artesia a very Happy Holiday Season!
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ARTESIA COMMUNITY NEWS/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • DECEMBER 2010
3
MEMBER NEWS OLF students pick up the pace in Jog-a-Thon By Christine M. Oliveira Our Lady of Fatima school held its annual Jog-A-Thon on November 5th. Kindergarten through 8th grade students participated in the school's main fundraiser, competitively running laps in their class colors and proudly donning their class mascots, which were characters of DisneyPixar'sToy Story. Students had ambitiously collected donations from friends, family and community members since the start of the school year. Pledges were handed in weekly, the winning class receiving a prize. Then, students hit the ground running on this final
day with their pal Juan Nagteachers, principal ore, who was and family cheerdressed as ing from the sideBuzz Lightyear lines. to the delight of This year's many. FinalJog-A-Thon startly, music teached with a parade er Joel Aguifrom the classnaldo filled the rooms to the field. air with fast Students chanted paced tunes their class masfrom the DJ cots: Buzz Lightbooth. With no years! Slinky chance of runDogs! Sheriff Parents cheer on students of Our Lady of Fatima ning on empWoodys! Teach- school during 2010 Jog-a-thon. t y , O L F ers pumped their s t u d e n t s students up, parsprinted, raced ents snapped pictures of their athletes, and jogged for one hour. and spectators secured their spots on the During the hour, there were hydracourse. A prayer was then led by Princi- tion breaks, anxious tallies of laps com-
Artesia observes Veterans Day
Jesse Cheng, representing Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Major Nathan C. Range, Mayor Pro Tem Victor Manalo, Lt. Colonel Timothy O’Reilly, Mayor Tony Lima, Councilmembers John Lyons, Michelle Diaz, and Sally Flowers place Memorial Wreath at the base of flagpole in memory of the nation’s veterans.
LABOR LAW CORNER Question: Is a black shirt with a company logo a uniform that must be provided by the employer? Yes. If an employer requires employees to wear any specific clothing of a distinctive design or color, it is considered a uniform pursuant to the Industrial Welfare Commission orders, Section 9(A) or Section 8(A) in Order 16: “When uniforms are required by the employer to be worn by the employee as a condition of employment, such uniforms shall be provided and maintained by the employer. The term ‘uniform’ includes wearing apparel and accessories of distinctive
10 Tips for Improving Your Cash Flow Cash flow is a key factor in the success or failure of a small business— now, more than ever before. Here are 10 tips you can use to ensure your cash keeps flowing: 1. Find good accounting software. If you’re not already using accounting software, check out packages tailored to small business such as QuickBooks or Peachtree. Automating your ac-
pleted and holding hands while pacing with "buddies." When asked if she was having fun, kindergartener Reese Veron responded: "I like running with my buddy [Jacob Tucay, 7th grade]! It's fun!" Students triumphantly concluded the Jog-A-Thon fundraiser and achieved generating money for their 2010-2011 and future wishlists. Our Lady of Fatima school would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this year's Jog-A-Thon a success and most importantly, for "assisting our students in developing cooperation and leadership skills and a positive selfimage" (OLF Goals 3). Our Lady of Fatima school is located in Artesia at 18626 Clarkdale Avenue. For further information, please call us at (562) 865-1621 or visit us at www.fatimachargers.com.
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design or color.” ‘Usual/Generally Usable’ The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) has historically allowed some leeway with regard to clothing that is usual and generally usable in a particular occupation. The Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) explained this concept in its Statement as to the Basis: “The definition and [DLSE] enforcement policy is sufficiently flexible to allow the employer to specify basic wardrobe items which are usual and generally usable in the occupation, such as white shirts, dark pants and black shoes and belts, all of unspecified design, without requiring the employer to furnish such items. If a required black or white uniform or accessory does not meet the test of being generally usable in the occupation the employee may not be required to pay for it.” Although a black shirt or blouse of
any design might not be considered a “uniform,” depending on the circumstances, once an advertising insignia or logo is part of the shirt’s design, it becomes a uniform subject to the IWC order and the employer must pay for it. Not only is it a distinct design, but the employee certainly would not be able to use the shirt while working at his or her “occupation” with another employer. Specific Designs Are you required to pay for the uniform, or image, you want portrayed in your business? Besides logos, other specific designs that are tied to advertising raise the question. It is not always as clear cut as employers would like it to be, but the DLSE has provided guidance. In one instance where an employer wanted a specific image, the DLSE took the position that tropical shirts and rugby pants must be provided by the employer.
At issue in DIR v. UI video (1997) 55 Cal App 4th 1084 was a required blue shirt and tan or khaki pants that DLSE considered to be a uniform subject to the IWC regulation. Before requiring specific clothing, review the IWC requirements, DLSE opinion letters as well as the DLSE Manual. Take into consideration that historically the IWC did not want employees to bear the expense of work clothing that is not standard in the occupation. The Labor Law Helpline is a service to California Chamber of Commerce preferred and executive members. For expert explanations of labor laws and Cal/OSHA regulations, not legal counsel for specific situations, call (800) 348-2262 or submit your questions at www.hrcalifornia.com.
counting makes it easier to see what’s going in and what’s going out. 2. Generate monthly financial statements. (In today’s economy, some companies are reviewing their financial statements weekly.)Accounting software lets you easily generate an income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement. Use these tools to stay on top of your financial picture and pinpoint potential problems early. 3. Send invoices promptly. Customers can’t pay you if they haven’t been billed. Send invoices along with the shipped product, or as soon as a project is completed. For even faster results, send invoices by e-mail, or look into e-billing.
4. Create effective invoices. If your invoices are confusing, or get sent to the wrong department or person, precious time will be lost while the customer tries to figure out what they owe and to whom. Make sure key information, such as where to send payment, amount due and date due, is clear and easy to read. Contact the customer to verify the address, department and person the invoice should be sent to so there’s no chance for error. 5.Penalize late payers. State on your invoices that customers will be charged a late fee for every month that the payment is past due. 6. Incentivize early payments. Offer discounts if your customers pay
sooner than net 30 days (such as 5 percent off if they pay within 10 days). Depending on your industry, offering a discount for paying in cash could also help your cash flow. 7. Stay on top of your accounts receivable. If a payment is not received on time, follow up immediately. Often, you’ll find the late payment is due to a miscommunication (such as in Tip 4 above). If this isn’t the case, be polite, but firm, when dealing with late-paying customers. 8. Work with late payers. Something is better than nothing, so if a customer is in trouble and can’t pay the full [See CASH FLOW Page 4]
4 ARTESIA COMMUNITY NEWS/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • DECEMBER 2010
CASH FLOW
Continued from page 3 amount, work out a payment plan. If you choose to deal with these customers again going forward, protect your business by requiring at least partial payment upfront before any work is done or product shipped. 9. Watch your spending. When it comes to maximizing your cash, what goes out is just as important as what’s coming in. Where can you cut costs without harming your product or service? Typically, overhead expenses such as utilities and office products are easy to trim, as are business travel and entertainment. Go over your monthly expenses and look for places to cut back. 10. Maximize cash in the bank. Deposit checks as soon as you get them, and pay your own bills as late as you can (unless you can benefit from an early payment discount). If you use online bill paying, you can pay bills the day they are due. This keeps the money in your own account working for you. Use business credit cards to pay smaller expenses; this way, you don’t have to expend any cash until the credit card payment is due.
WELCOME
Continued from page 1 You can also sign up free of charge to our email list in order to receive news on upcoming events of the Artesia Chamber. Please sign up by requesting via email to artesiacommerce@gmail. com. As a business owner, what kind of events would you like to see? What kind of program speakers/topics would you like to listen to? The new Artesia Chamber is listening. We are steadily growing and we need your help. Yes, it's a busy time for all of us as the holiday season is here. Come stop by the next chamber luncheon on Wednesday December 15, 2010 12pm at the Artesia D.E.S. and take a quick break from the holiday rush. Come
SANCHEZ
Continued from page 1 sector are created by small businesses. “We know that if we cut taxes of small businesses, they will reinvest their savings back into their businesses and that means more jobs for our residents.” Sanchez named small businesses “the cornerstone of our communities.” She also reminded the 70 business owners and elected officials in atten-
dance that “this country has endured the worst recession since the Great Depression and it’s going to take time for us to fully recover.” Sanchez attributed part of the problem to lending institutions that are reluctant to give loans and are being overly cautious with their money. “And so long as consumers are being cautious, consumer spending will remain low.” Chamber President James Kang thanked the Congresswoman for coming and said, “In this time of economic difficulty, it is meaningful that we can hear from Congresswoman Linda Sanchez on how does Congress support small business in the City of Artesia, and is there hope for business people in today’s economic climate. These are the most critical questions for us.”
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Continued from page 1 11940 South St. Residents living across from the proposed 7-Eleven store objected to the proposed sale of alcoholic beverages across from a park where their children play, complaining it would bring derelicts to the area that could influence their children. The Planning Commission has recommended the variance and conditional use permit be denied. The Council approved a fee increase for applications for fireworks stand permits and deposits for fireworks stand cleanup. Currently the city has a license application fee of $10 and a fireworks stand license and a fireworks stand cleanup deposit of $50. The new permit fee will increase this to $150, which will cover the cost for processing the permit application. The council noted the increase was necessary in order for the city to recover reasonable costs incurred when processing the applications. Councilman John Lyons cast the single no vote, saying the fee increase was a step in the right direction but he is against the selling of fireworks in Artesia. The council scheduled a public hearing for its Dec. 14 meeting on a Planning Commission recommendation granting a conditional use permit allowing a State Farm Insurance and financial office at 18175 S. Pioneer Blvd. in the Commercial General [CG] zone. A request to landscape a portion of the MTA Right of Way at Gridley Road and 183rd Street and Flora Vista and Norwalk Boulevard was referred back to the Beautification and Maintenance Commission for further review. City Manager Maria Dadian said Commissioner Miguel Navarro made the request. However no conceptual plan to beautify the areas were submitted. Councilman Lyons said he had discussed the proposal with the commissioner and said he would be glad to help him in drawing up a conceptual plan but was unavailable until after the New Year. Navarro noted the sites were at the entrance to Artesia from the south and should be upgraded..
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see what's in store for 2011. I wish you and your family a happy holiday season and a new year! Best wishes, James Kang, President
These charities are telling their members to sign up at Your City to get 40-90% off on great local deals WHY? When members purchase a coupon the charity will receive 10% of the coupon’s value! Churches and Religious Organizations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
1st Evangelical Church-Cerritos American Indian Bible Church Anaheim Buddhist Center Archdiocese of Los Angeles Artesia-Cerritos United Methodist Church-Artesia Calvary Chapel of Cypress Cerritos Baptist Church Christian Missionary Pilots Community Baptist Church-Norwalk Concordia Lutheran Church-Cerritos Cornerstone Community Church Faith in Christ Ministries Glory Christian Fellowship International Holy Cross Lutheran Holy Family Catholic Church-Artesia Lakewood Church Lakewood First United Methodist Church Loyola Institute for Sprituality-Orange, Ca
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New Life Community Church Norwalk First Baptist Church Numa Church Our Lady Help of Christians Revolution Church RockHarbor Santa Verena St. Emydius-Lynwood St. Irenaeus Catholic Church-Cypress St. John’s Lutheran School-Orange St. John of God St. Joseph’s Church-Santa Ana St. Jude St. Linus Church-Norwalk St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church St. Pius V V2R Foundation
Service Organizations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Service Organizations Animal Rescue Site Cerritos/Artesia Rotary Club Cerritos 1st CEB Adoption Committee Cerritos Optimists Community Family Guidance Center-Cerritos COPD Foundation Family Care International Habitat for Humanity Kiwanis, La Palma Goodwill Green Peace Glendale Healthy Kids Harvest Knights Of Columbus
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
AIDS Life Cycle AMVETS American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Relay for Life-Huntington Beach American Red Cross ARC Breast Cancer Society Beckstrand Cancer Foundation Cerritos/Artesia Relay for Life CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County Desert Tortoise Preservation Girl Scout Council of Orange County Hope for Children ICAN Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect
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LA Copt LA Food Bank La Palma Cerritos AAUW-La Palma Long Beach Community Television Make A Wish Meals on Wheels Norwalk Coordinating Council Operation Dream Public Citizen Foundation Pathways Volunteer Hospice-Lakewood Salvation Army Soroptimists International of Cerritos/Artesia Su Casa Ending Domestic Violence-Long Beach We Care-Los Alamitos Woman’s Club of Artesia Cerrios
Humanitarian, Health, Domestic Relief Organizations 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
Lakewood First United Methodist Church Broken Loaf Food Pantry Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Make-A-Wish National Alliance to End Homelessness National M.S. Society Operation Smile Red Cross SPCA Stop It Now.com-Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital Tzu Chi YMCA World Vision
Schools/Educational Organizations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Cerritos High School Cottonwood Christian School Friends of Arts/Education at the CCPA Leal Elementary Leal PTA Norwalk High School Our Lady of Fatima School-Artesia
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