News
Lakewood Community 30,000 delivered to Lakewood and portions of Long Beach
Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
www.lakewoodnews.org
Volume 30 Number 4
Happy 60th Birthday Lakewood!
Lakewood’s 60th birthday cake gets cut by the city council at the anniversary gala on March 21st. A celebration of Lakewood’s history and ongoing traditions drew hundreds to the Lakewood Civic Center on Friday, March 21. Every room in the The Centre at Sycamore Plaza featured parts of a historic photo and video collection depicting 60 years of community life. Special slide
programs depicted the city through resident eyes. Residentdonated images honored local veterans and declared “What Lakewood Means to Me.” Jazz music and a choreographed “Dancing through the Decades” show by the Brockus:RED dance troupe played to a packed
Every 15 minutes someone dies from a drunk driver
This is a scene from the re-enactment...no one was hurt during this event.
Mayfair High School Juniors and seniors recently participated Lakewood Community News #24 Lakewood Center Mall Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 531-9733
in an assembly presenting the consequences of poor decision PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Santa Fe Spgs, CA PERMIT NO. 29
Weingart Ballroom. They then handed the microphone to Lakewood’s City Council who paid homage to residents in a five-part, slide-accompanied speech with each council member highlighting long-held Lakewood values: civic engagement, (Cont’d. on pg. 6)
making by drunk drivers and how it impacts not only the victim, but also the entire family unit. The Lakewood Rotary Club put on an entire two-day program that included a professional quality video showing the consequences for a young 17-year-old girl that decided to drive while drunk. The video started with a party. Then told the story of the accident, the jail cell, the hospital, the morgue, where two young people died. Lastly, to the courtroom sentence of 20 years plus $10,000 restitution for each family. There were two speakers. One was a young man who was paralyzed from the chest down. He was the drunk driver that killed his best friend. The second was an older man - a drunk driver who killed his younger brother. The program demonstrated very succinctly how one wrong decision to drink and drive can completely change the definition of a normal life – for the rest of your life! Congratulations to the Lakewood Rotary Club for taking the lead on this very valuable and impactful project. Remember, when you’re drinking alcohol, don’t drive. Period. It’s not worth risking ALL OUR LIVES!
April 2014
Lakewood teen participates in Youth Ambassador Training The National Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. (TSA) recently hosted its seventh annual Tourette Syndrome (TS) Youth Ambassador Training in Washington D.C. for teens (with and without Tourette Syndrome) ages 13 to 17. After completing an application and submitting an essay regarding his intent and motivation to become a TSA Youth Ambassador, Benjamin Fisch, a 17-year-old junior at Millikan high school, from Lakewood, was selected to complete this elite training. Benjamin has returned to Lakewood, and is educating his peers and younger kids with accurate information, by going into classrooms, schools and clubs to teach understanding, sensitivity and tolerance of TS and its symptoms, while displacing the myths and stereotypes that are often attributed to and associated with this misunderstood and misdiagnosed disorder. Benjamin states,“ I applied to be a Youth Ambassador because I wanted to take something that has been affecting me my whole life and use it to help others.” TSA conducted a Youth Ambassador training for the first time in April 2008 and this training has become such a success that TSA makes it an annual program. Since the first training, this collective group of nearly 200 dedicated teens have completed over 750 activities including presentations, print and
Benjamin Fisch
TV media interviews, and training other Youth Ambassadors and have reached over 5 million people through their combined efforts. In addition to the comprehensive training, the newly trained Youth Ambassadors participated in a “Trip to the Hill” during which they met with their local elected officials on Capitol Hill, to inform them about how TS affects those living in their communities. Marked by involuntary vocal sounds and physical movements called tics, Tourette Syndrome is an inherited neurological condition frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed. The TSA has a threepronged mission to identify the cause of, control the effects of, and to find a cure for Tourette Syndrome through education, research and service.
Through the years, spring means Pan American Fiesta
Lakewood postcard from the 1950’s features Pan American Fiesta. This year a commemorative pin has been made for the event. Lakewood’s fiesta is the nation’s only community-wide celebration of Pan American culture outside of Washington, D.C.--and it’s coming back in May! It’s a great way for Lakewood residents to take part in one of the city’s longest-running traditions. The Pan American Fiesta begins its three-day, family-friendly celebration at Mayfair Park on Friday, May 9 at 5pm. The familyfriendly festival continues on Saturday and wraps up on Sunday. In honor of Lakewood’s 60th birthday, a special Pan Am Fiesta collector’s pin will be sold for $1. It’s part of a seven-pin collection that is being unveiled throughout
Lakewood’s anniversary year. More than 60 arts and crafts dealers will bring their wares to the fiesta. There will also be a demonstration by the Lakewood Artist Guild. In the Children’s Cultural Booth, kids can have a free, hands-on cultural experience featuring activities, arts and crafts from across the Americas. Organized activities will run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. For a complete schedule of fiesta events call 562-866-9771, extension 2408. Free shuttle and additional parking at Civic Center