Lakewood
News
Community 30,000 delivered to Lakewood and portions of Long Beach
Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
www.lakewoodnews.org / www.lakewoodchamber.com
Volume 30 Number 2
Get ready, Get set...Run for Charity! Registration is underway at www.lakewoodrun.com for the Lakewood Sheriff’s 5K/10K Community Run returning on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Sheriff’s deputies, competitive runners, recreational runners, families and kids will gather at the starting line in front of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station to run the event’s 5K/10K course for time, or do the 1K “Fun Run,” or a 5K walk. Chip timing and registration will be provided by RaceWire.com. Go to www. lakewoodrun.com/registration to sign up. Lakewood’s tree-lined residential streets provide the backdrop. The flat, “runner friendly” course is “fast” for practiced runners and comfortable for fitness fans and family members. The course is wheelchair accessible. For participants and spectators, the day includes a fitness expo and displays of public safety equipment and programs. There is also live entertainment and special giveaways from Lakewood-area businesses. All participants will be supporting Soroptimist International of Lakewood/Long Beach and Lakewood Sheriff’s
Over 1,000 runners attended last year’s run.
Come celebrate Lakewood’s 60th birthday in style! Lakewood’s city council is inviting residents to come out and celebrate their city’s 60th birthday at a community-wide Open House on March 21 at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza. The Open House will include food, drinks, live entertainment, street performers, a live dance presentation, huge birthday cake, galleries of historic photos from Lakewood residents and city archives, along with a historic video theater. Photo galleries will include images of “what Lakewood means to me” from the personal collections of city residents, including those in military service over the decades, and portraits of original 1954 homeowners still living in Lakewood. Advance ticket purchase is required for this special event. Celebrating the city’s Lakewood Community News #24 Lakewood Center Mall Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 531-9733
Station charity efforts while they pursue their personal best in the 5K/10K for time, or run or walk for fun in this family-friendly event. To discuss group entries and group rates, please e-mail info@ lakewoodrun.com. Packet pick-up and late registration will happen on Friday, March 7th, from 5pm to 8pm at the Community Safety Center in Lakewood Center Mall (located in the Target wing). Race day registration begins at 6:30am. The 5K and 10K runs start at 8am, with the “Fun Run” beginning at 9:30am.
SAVE THE DATE! Lakewood Chamber’s
Economic Forecast Luncheon
Wednesday, Mar. 26th 12Noon - 1:30pm (Registration - 11:30am) The Centre at Sycamore Plaza Call or email for more information: 562.531.9733 info@lakewoodchamber.com
February 2014
Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast coming to the Centre Lakewood’s 37th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will take place on Thursday, February 13, at 7:30am. Registration is underway. The theme of this year’s program is “The Chaplain’s Challenges in Today’s Military” and will recognize their service to the armed forces and the families of service members. The public is invited to join with Lakewood Mayor Steve Croft and the Lakewood City Council, as well as a diverse gathering of religious leaders, members of local churches and synagogues, civic and business leaders, representatives from community organizations, as well as local school officials as they come together in a celebration of faith, unity and community spirit. The morning program will include inspirational music from the Lakewood High School Madrigal Singers. The event will be held in the Weingart Ballroom of The Centre at Sycamore Plaza, 5000 Clark Avenue, in Lakewood. Tickets are $20 per person and tables of nine are available for $180. Advance reservations are required by Thursday, January 30, 2014. Reservations can also be made by mail. Send the name of the attendee(s), as well as organization/title (if appropriate), address, phone and e-mail, along with a check made payable to the City of Lakewood. Mail your reservation to the Community Relations Office, City of Lakewood, 5050 Clark Avenue, Lakewood.
Huge remodel of Forever 21 getting underway
Square dancers at Mayfair Park in the early 1950’s. incorporation date of 1954, tickets are two for $19.54 and children under 12 are $5.40. Single ticket price is $10. Pay online at www.lakewoodcity. org/60th or call Lakewood city staff at 562-866-9771, extension PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Santa Fe Spgs, CA PERMIT NO. 29
3123. The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, March 10. Residents can come to the Open House any time between 5pm and 9pm at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza at 5000 Clark Avenue. Lakewood’s 60th Anniversary Open House is generously cosponsored by H&H Nursery, Lakewood Dental Arts, Piazza Family McDonald’s Restaurants, and Advanced Pain Specialists of Southern California. Other Lakewood events throughout 2014 will have a fun 60th Anniversary theme. So stay tuned!
Artist rendering of $1.85 million revamp of Lakewood Center’s Forever 21 store.
Forever 21 is pumping nearly $2 million into their Lakewood Center store to give it a complete facelift. The 84,775-square-foot facility was double the size of the chain’s typical location when it opened here in March of 2009. The company is a fashion source for trend-conscious shoppers looking for style at value prices. The remodel includes a revamp of the store’s outdoor facade and complete rework/redecoration of the interior. Shoppers can expect improvements including new carpet, refreshed store
layout and look. The location will remain open during the project that is expected to begin in February. The work will be done in phases with plans to be completed prior to the fall back-to-school season. The company expanded significantly in 2009-2010 and the Lakewood Center location took over the former Mervyns building. The store can be reached at 562-531-9100 and their web address is www. forever21.com.
LakewoodToday
Page 2
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Staying true to Lakewood’s roots C i t y Spotlight By Mayor Steve Croft
As I write to you, I’m working on the speech I’ll give at the State of the City luncheon on January 29 at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza. In that speech, I’ll remind residents that Lakewood’s 60th anniversary as a city is coming up. It’s an opportunity for all of us in Lakewood to reflect on the values that made people here in 1954 decide to take the bold step to become a city. I believe those values are still alive today and are still good guides for what Lakewood should be and should strive to accomplish. In 1954, 17,500 homes had just been built in Lakewood over a frenzied three-year period. Lakewood all of a sudden went from being farmland with just a few thousand people to a bustling community of nearly 100,000, with tens of thousands of young children. The new families valued public safety and supervised recreational opportunities and parks for their children. They wanted more nearby shopping, and they wanted
to be their own city—not part of a much larger Long Beach or an unincorporated area of the county. In March 1954 a vote was held on whether to form a city. Cityhood won, overwhelmingly. Over the next few years, the new city council and city government worked with residents to bring their key values to life. The Lakewood Youth Sports program was born, creatively staffed by an army of volunteer coaches. Parks were built—three in just the year of 1957—on the road to a total of 12. Public safety was put on a good track through a contract with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and continued service from the L.A. County Fire Department. Lakewood Center mall— already the first super-regional shopping mall in America— continued to expand, along with neighborhood shopping plazas. And Lakewood became famous for charting new territory in local self-government, with the development of what became known as the “Lakewood Plan” for efficiently contracting for municipal services. For us today, along with enjoying the benefits of those good past decisions comes the responsibility to maintain those assets and that legacy--and to make improvements in a fiscally sound way. We did that as a city this past year, with upgrades to Bloomfield Park, Mayfair Park and Mayfair Pool. In 2014, we’ll maintain our commitment to good parks, with upgrades to Bolivar Park, Palms Park and the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail.
Lakewood continues to be a community that businesses want to locate and expand in. To encourage that, the city prides itself on the prompt, professional turnaround of permitting and development requests. Last year saw the addition of HomeGoods, Pieology, Round One Bowling & Entertainment and a host of other new businesses. Forever 21 has just announced that in 2014 it will invest $1.8 million to completely renovate their 84,000 square-foot store at Lakewood Center. Construction permits were up in 2013, a sign of continuing economic recovery. And Lakewood continues to be a model of good local government, receiving awards last year such as Playful City USA and Tree City USA. Customer service to residents has always been a top priority, and we’ll continue that in 2014 with the development of a new city website with a fresh, modern look. Information will be made even easier to find. And we’ll enable you to conduct more city business from the website, with more forms that can be submitted online. As you can see, there is much that ties us through history to our founding residents. Certainly, times have changed, and some values have changed in America and the world since 1954. But the core values that brought people together to form a city in Lakewood in 1954 have stayed the same. They got a city started on a good path then, and I am pleased to join with my fellow residents in working hard to keep Lakewood on a good path into the future.
“Welcome to Lakewood” Mailing
$100
Flyers Due:
Wed., February 12th
for 300 of your flyers mailed to all new residents of Lakewood ! Call for more info: 562.531.9733
Youth Center Super Bowl Party for teens! Come to the Lakewood Youth Center on Sunday, February 2 from 2pm to 8pm and root for your favorite Super Bowl team. There will be great snacks, contests and prizes at this free event intended for middle and high school students. Call 562-8669771, extension 2408 for more information. The Youth Center is located at 4658 Woodruff Avenue. Spring recreation classes begin The City of Lakewood’s spring recreation classes begin in February. If you have not received your copy of the popular catalog, pick one up at any Lakewood park, community center, library or city hall or call 562-866-9771, extension 2408 to request one by mail. The new spring catalog lists over 600 classes and activities offered for area residents as well as many new programs. Customers can register online using eCatalog at www. lakewoodcity.org/eCatalog. The eCatalog is easy to use. Log on and browse the site to check out all the programs and activities. You can also search for classes by park and find out what classes take place at the park closest to your home. Fun-Tastic Family Nights continue at The Centre Attend this fun, affordable evening out with your family at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza on Friday, February 7. The first event of 2014 is our Parrot Extravaganza! This awesome exhibition of various parrots is sure to amaze as you watch parrots of all kinds perform fantastic tricks and feats. The show is from 6:30pm to 8pm and the
February 2014 fee is $8 per person ($5 for children 3 and under*) and includes sloppy joes, corn on the cob, lemonade and dessert. Pre-registration is required. Call 562-866-9771, extension 2408 or register online at www.lakewoodcity. org/eCatalog. The Centre is located at 5000 Clark Avenue. *Children under 1 free! ‘Ginormous Game Night’ Come to the Lakewood Youth Center, 4658 Woodruff Avenue, and join in on the gaming in a HUGE way as we play your favorite video games on a giant screen! Taking place on Saturday, February 8 from 7pm to 10pm the featured game will be Just Dance. TFN Valentine’s Day Dance Lakewood teens can celebrate Valentine’s Day in style by hanging out with friends at the Lakewood Youth Center! The program features music and snacks. There is a $5 entry fee and school I.D. is required. The dance will be held on Friday, February 14 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Lakewood Youth Center, at 4658 Woodruff Avenue. Reagan Library Trip On Saturday, February 15 Lakewood’s travel program will visit the Reagan Library, a memorial site dedicated to the 40th President of the United States. The facility is home to memorabilia spanning the President’s life, historic moments and a life-size replica of the Oval Office. The library also features Air Force One Tail Number 27000, the actual aircraft that flew President Reagan across the globe during his terms in office. This trip is sure to fill, so make sure to register using course #34543. The cost of the trip is $32* at www. lakewoodcity.org/eCatalog. *Cost includes transportation to the event location from Burns Community Center, located at 5510 Clark Avenue.
February 2014
Your
Minding
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Business Page 3
&
Business Financial Page 4
Singing Valentine Phone Calls $5.00 (Minimum Donation) Friday, February 14th 8:00am-4:00pm We will call anyone in the USA! Please make checks payable to MAYFAIR MUSIC Send to: GINA HOLCOMB
Mayfair High School, 6000 N. Woodruff Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90713
PHONE ORDERS & PAYMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 12TH !
To: Phone: From: Best Time to Call: This Valentine is for a ... (check box) Friend
Sweetheart
Child
Grandparent
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February 2014
How to spot a bad moving company By Jason Alderman
Moving is already traumatic and expensive enough; the last thing you want to worry about is getting ripped off by your mover. Yet each year, the Better Business Bureau receives thousands of complaints against moving companies, mostly alleging lost or damaged property, not showing up on time, overcharging – or, in extreme cases, stealing or holding customers’ possessions hostage while demanding more money than originally agreed upon. Before you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars and entrust your valuables with strangers, here are a few tips for ensuring a positive moving experience, as well as scams to avoid: Screen potential movers. All companies that do interstate moves must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (www. protectyourmove.gov). You can use its search engine to screen for complaints, safety
information and company contact information by company name or by the state where its primary business office is located. Get written estimates. No reputable mover would ever give a firm estimate by phone or Internet, sight-unseen. Always insist on in-home inspections of your household goods and detailed, written estimates from at least three to five moving
companies so you can get a sense of true market rates. Movers need to know how much stuff you have, whether particularly heavy, valuable or awkward pieces need to be moved, if stairs are involved, and many other details that will affect their costs. Beware if an estimate is significantly less: This is a common ruse by unscrupulous companies to bind you to their service, then later hit you up for hidden fees – perhaps even refusing to unload your furnishings until you pay up. By law, movers must assume liability for the value of property they transport. Ask for proof your mover has insurance and make sure you understand what’s covered. Base-line coverage they should provide is called “released-value protection.” It’s free, but if something is lost or broken, they only have to pay you 60 cents per pound. For an additional fee you can purchase “full-value protection,” where the mover must repair, replace or provide cash settlement for damaged items. Also consider third-party moving insurance. Be suspicious if the mover asks for a large cash deposit or full payment in advance. Also, don’t make the final payment until you’re sure everything was delivered undamaged. Be wary if the company’s website has no local address or license and insurance information, they refuse to put everything in writing or they use an unmarked truck rather than a company-owned vehicle. Interstate movers are required by law to give you a copy of the FMCSA’s booklet, “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.” Even if your move is only local, be sure to read it for valuable tips.
Tell us what you would like to read in the Lakewood Community News. Email your ideas to news@lakewoodchamber.com or send it by mail to: P.O. Box 160,
Lakewood, CA 90714
News
Community February 2014
www.lakewoodnews.org
Lock or lose it!
Even the most amateur “auto burglar” can stroll through a residential neighborhood or parking lot trying doors and looking in windows as they check for unlocked cars. Often they find easy targets with seats sporting smartphones, tablets, purses or backpacks--all will catch a thief’s eye. Motorists can protect their cars by taking some very simple steps. “Thieves rummaging through cars occurs in neighborhoods nationwide. But, it is a crime drivers can put the brakes on by regularly locking their cars, storing possessions out of sight and parking in well-lighted areas,” said Lakewood Deputy City Manager
Tickets available now for Youth Hall of Fame
The Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame will celebrate its 33rd annual awards banquet on Monday, February 24 at 6:30pm at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza. John Paul “J.P.” Crawford will be honored as the 2013 Athlete of the Year. Performer of the Year awards will be presented for more than a dozen sports, and Special Achievement awards will be presented for academics and other significant contributions to youth sports in Lakewood. Crawford is a Lakewood High School baseball player and had a stellar year as shortstop. He was named the Moore League MVP, batting .452, with 17 stolen bases and 14 runs knocked in. After being named an All-American by numerous publications, including Baseball America and Collegiate America, the Philadelphia Phillies organization took him as the 16th overall pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. After just 39 games in rookie ball, where he led the league in batting average and on-base percentage, he was called up to the Phillies Class A club. The callup was a testament to J.P.’s prospects, as rookie callups are a relative anomaly. Tickets for the Hall of Fame are on sale now. If purchased by February 11, discount student tickets are $18; adult tickets are $28. Tickets may be purchased after these dates for a higher price. For more information, call 562-866-9771, extension 2408.
Carol Jacoby. Lakewood’s law enforcement leaders stress residents are their own best, first line of defense. Don’t make it easy for crooks. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Josh Stahl notes these sorts of thefts can
happen quickly, “If your car is unattended, lock it--even in the short time it takes to dash into a building to run an errand.” Deputies warn car windows should be all the way up. Even small openings can be enough for a thief to unlock your car. One of the most valuable tools the Sheriff’s Department has to keep Lakewood safe is the eyes and ears of Lakewood residents looking out for their neighborhood. If you see unusual activity in your neighborhood, call the Sheriff’s Station. Their business line, which is perfect for reporting unusual activity, is staffed 24 hours a day at 562-623-3500. And, if it’s a crime in progress, always call 9-1-1.
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Be aware of teen dating violence During the month of February, Soroptimist International of Lakewood/Long Beach members will be distributing bookmarks about teen dating rights and healthy relationships to students through local high schools and libraries. Why? Even as you read this, teen girls are being hit, slapped, belittled, and sexually abused by a dating partner. It’s called teen dating violence. And the sad truth is, it may be happening to a teen girl you love: your daughter; your sister; your friend. Soroptimist, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, wants you to become aware of this hidden epidemic. We would like you to be aware of the alarming facts. Today in the United States, one in three girls will have an abusive dating experience by the time she graduates from high school. More than eight million girls per year will suffer at the hands of a violent boyfriend before she reaches the age of 18. The consequences are often dire. Teens who are abused in a dating relationship often engage in drug and alcohol use, may suffer eating disorders or depression, and even commit suicide. In some cases, boyfriends murder their dating partners. To learn more, visit the Soroptimist website at www.soroptimist. org and read the paper on teen dating violence. The more you know, the more you can begin to help countless teen girls—and even tweens as young as 11—who are suffering in silence, afraid, alone and confused. To connect with Soroptimist International of Lakewood/Long Beach, email them at silakewood.longbeach@soroptimist.net.
ChamberNews Page 6
www.lakewoodnews.org
February 2014
Use “tax diversification” to help manage retirement income Submitted by Carol Otters, Edward Jones Financial-Lakewood You need to save and invest as much as possible to pay for the retirement lifestyle you’ve envisioned. But your retirement income also depends, to a certain degree, on how your retirement funds are taxed. And that’s why you may be interested in tax diversification. To understand the concept of tax diversification, you’ll need to be familiar with how two of the most important retirementsavings vehicles — an IRA and a 401(k) — are taxed. Essentially, these accounts can be classified as either “traditional” or “Roth.” When you invest in a traditional IRA or 401(k), your contributions may be tax-deductible and your earnings can grow tax deferred. With a Roth IRA or 401(k), your contributions are not deductible, but your distributions can potentially be tax-free, provided you meet certain conditions. (Keep in mind, though, that to contribute to a Roth IRA, you can’t exceed designated income limits. Also, not all employers offer the Roth option for 401(k) plans.) Of course, “tax free” sounds better than “tax deferred,” so you might think that a Roth option is always going to be preferable. But that’s not necessarily the case. If you think your tax bracket will be lower in retirement than when you were working, a traditional IRA or 401(k) might be a better choice, due to the cumulative tax deductions you took at a higher tax rate. But if your tax bracket will be the same, or higher, during retirement, then the value of tax-free distributions from a Roth IRA or 401(k) may outweigh the benefits of the tax
deductions you’d get from a traditional IRA or 401(k). So making the choice between “traditional” and “Roth” could be tricky. But here’s the good news: You don’t necessarily have to choose, at least not with your IRA. That’s because you may be able to contribute to both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, assuming you meet the Roth’s income guidelines. This allows you to benefit from both the tax deductions of the traditional IRA and the potential tax-free distributions of the Roth IRA. And once you retire, this “tax diversification” can be especially valuable. Why? Because when you have money in different types of accounts, you gain flexibility in how you structure your withdrawals — and this flexibility can help you potentially increase the amount of your after-tax disposable income. If you have a variety of accounts, with different tax treatments, you could decide to first make your required withdrawals (from a traditional IRA and 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan), followed, in order, by withdrawals from your taxable investment accounts, your taxdeferred accounts and, finally, your tax-free accounts. reduce taxes and avoid moving into a different tax bracket. Clearly, tax diversification can be beneficial. So after consulting with your tax and financial advisors, consider ways of allocating your retirement plan contributions to provide the flexibility you need to maximize your income during your retirement years.
Lakewood Chamber’s
Women in Business Council “2014...The Year of the Creative Businss Woman” Wed., February 12th 11:30AM-1:00PM Location: TBD (Call if interested in attending) Email to RSVP: purplesagecypress@yahoo.com Or CALL for more information Marjean Clements (714) 737-8750
2013-2014 Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Officers and Board of Directors
John Kelsall President/CEO Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce 24 Lakewood Center Mall Lakewood, CA 90712 562-531-9733 Fax 562-531-9737 John@lakewoodchamber.com www.lakewoodchamber.com www.lakewoodnews.org
Mark Perumean ~ Chairman EDCO Waste & Recycling Services P.O. Box 398 Buena Park, CA 90621 714-522-3577 mperumean@edcodisposal.com
Patrick Houston Lakewood Regional Medical Center P.O. Box 6070 Lakewood, CA 90712 562-531-2550 Patrick.Houston@tenethealth.com
Doug Roscoe Lakewood Center 500 Lakewood Center Lakewood, CA 90712 562-633-0437 Fax 562-633-1452 Doug.Roscoe@macerich.com
Mike Segura Farmers Insurance 2725 Candlewood Street Lakewood, CA 90712 562-531-4980 msegura@farmersagent.com
Joy Janes Behavior Safety Associates 5710 Harvey Way Lakewood, CA 90713 562-531-9733 Fax 562-531-9737 Joyjanes@yahoo.com
Glen Patrick #24 Lakewood Center Mall Lakewood, CA 90712 562-531-9733 glenpatrick17@gmail.com
Larry Kirk F&M Bank 5101 Lakewood Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90712 562-602-8378 Fax 562-633-3012 larry.kirk@fmb.com
Green
www.lakewoodnews.org
February 2014
Earth Walk returns to Monte Verde Park
Kids meet a large friend at the conservation-minded Earth Walk. Lakewood’s free Earth Walk event returns this spring with an interactive experience for kids and adults on Saturday, March
15, from 10am to 1pm. The event will be held at rustic Monte Verde Park, which is the trailhead to over three miles of landscaped
walking trails and the San Gabriel River Parkway. Activities will move into the park’s S. Mark Taper Lodge or under canopies if there’s rain. Monte Verde Park is located at 4626 N. Shadeway Road. Participants will learn what they can do to help keep the earth beautiful and protected. Adults and children are invited to take a nature walk, plant seeds, create nature-themed crafts, make s’mores and learn about recycling. The park features many California native plants. “Woody the Tree,” Lakewood’s “Tree City, U.S.A.” mascot, will be in attendance. He will help teach visitors about Lakewood’s “urban forest.” Participants can visit the stations along the trail and get their passport stamped with specialty Earth Walk stamps. With a completed passport, participants will receive a special Earth Walk gift. This free event is a fun and educational day for family members of all ages. For more information, call 562-866-9771, extension 2408, or go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ GreenLivin.
Happy Hour Weekdays
4-7:00PM $2 Domestic Bottles and $2 Well Drinks!
Full Bar Pool & Darts Internet Juke Free Wi-Fi
OPEN DAILY 8AM - 2AM 4103 Candlewood St. Lakewood, 90712
facebook.com/seahawkcocktails
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Emergency preparedness for families
Lakewood’s “Survive for 7” program returns with a one-evening “jump start” for family emergency preparedness efforts. The workshop educates residents about actions they can take to protect their family and teaches skills needed to survive in the first week following a catastrophe. Learn more at www. lakewoodcity.org/7days. The free program is scheduled for Monday, February 3 from 6pm to 7pm at the Lakewood Youth Center at Del Valle Park (Woodruff Avenue and Arbor Road). The workshop returns on Monday, May 5. Register using the eCatalog at www.lakewoodcity. org/eCatalog. The February program is course #34196, “Survive for 7 Disaster Planning Program.” The session will be held at Lakewood Youth Center at 4658 Woodruff Avenue. Call Nancy Hitt at 562-866-9771, extension 2404 for additional information.
Services we currently provide are: • Patrol on Premises • Security/Staffing of Premises • Security Consulting Services • Security Training • Client-directed Investigations Part-Time, Full-Time, On-Call & Rovers • Unarmed Personal Protection Services Candidates licensed & registered in CA. Interested parties should forward a copy of a cover let- • Security Surveys/Risk Assessments ter, resume and their guard registration card & license to:info@ozonevoprotection.com or mail a copy to: • Event Security Planning 11441 E. 216th St., #23, Lakewood, CA 90715 • Fire Watch Services Tel: (562) 340-6386 • Security & Enforcement of Private www.ozonevoprotection.com / PPO Lic#: 17572 Parking Lots/Structures
NOW HIRING!
Seahawk Cocktail Lounge
Living
Corner
Cuddly Page 8
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Tell us about your pet...
The Lakewood Community News wants to hear your pet stories. As any pet owner will attest, everyday with your furry friend is an adventure. Maybe you don’t own a pet but you’ve had some funny experiences with animals. Feel free to share any cute, silly, or just plain outrageous pet stories. Also email a photo of your pet to news@lakewoodchamber.com and it may appear on the “Cuddly Corner” page of the newspaper.
The Cuddly Corner
Clay
Hi I’m Clay! I’m 6 yrs. old and I love to play w/ my tennis ball! I’m shy at first, but will soon be cuddling on your lap. I have a cute freckled paw that separates me from the rest. I would love to find a family w/ older kids who will love to play with me!
Plea se adop t me!!
I’m Estelle & my soul purpose is to knock your socks off! I enjoy being spoiled w/ fluffy beds, pink blankets & fancy meals! I’m a diva! I am a little lady that prefers to be the only one in the house. If you’re looking for some fun, I’m the one for you!
Estelle
If you’re interested in adopting CLAY or ESTELLE, please contact Phillip Robb, Store Manager of Adopt & Shop at (562) 531-2871.
Dr. Jose E. Arambulo, DVM
Dr. Jeanne Rickey, DVM
FULL SERVICE VETERINARY HOSPITAL EcoFriendly
• Quality, Reliable & Affordable Vet Care for Over 25 Years • Comprehensive Dental • Vaccinations/Spay/Neuter • Digital X-Rays • Pet Grooming • Laser Therapy
Since September, 2011, we have donated over 2,000 lbs. of pet food to the Lakewood Meals on Wheels for the “Pets of the Homeless,” a non-profit group that helps with vet care & pet food for their furry friends. Any help would be appreciated. We accept both dry & canned food for cats & dogs. Thank You!
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-1:00pm 3:00pm-5:30pm Saturday 8:00am-2:30pm
Please Call for an Appointment:
(562) 402-9717
Bring in this ad for a
FREE EXAM! New clients only Expires 2/28/14
20927 Norwalk Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90715 www.bloomfieldvet.com
February 2014
Welcome buzzing bees into your backyard
Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, bats and beetles play an important role in producing healthy plants and food for people and wildlife. Without pollinators feeding on nectar and moving pollen from one flower to the next, most plants would not produce fruit or seeds. You can attract pollinators to your lawn and garden by following these steps to create a pollinatorfriendly backyard habitat. • Grow a diverse assortment of trees, shrubs and flowers. Place water sources throughout your lawn and garden to draw a variety of pollinators to your yard, while providing them with food and sheltered nesting areas. • Add color to your backyard. Each
Advertise your “Pet-related” business or services on the new “Cuddly Corner” page in the Lakewood Community News. Call or email for special pricing: 562.531.9733 / news@ lakewoodchamber.com
pollinator is drawn to specific plants based on its size, shape, color and scent. Bees are attracted to yellow and blue flowers, as well as fruit and nut trees with strong fragrances. Hummingbirds prefer large red or orange tubular flowers with no odor. • Select flowering plants that bloom at different times to provide nectar sources throughout the growing season. Place plants in clumps to supply large areas of color and coverage that attracts pollinators. • Pay attention to how you apply lawn and garden products. Carefully read and follow label directions to protect pollinators. Pollinators are as essential as sunlight and water in the production of flowering plants, many of which are important food sources. Support your backyard ecosystem while attracting pollinator populations and surrounding your home with colorful arrays of native plants.
Lakewood Volunteer Day is looking for project sites Do you have an elderly or disabled neighbor whose home could use a little TLC? Maybe some light yard work or painting would revive the look of their home? If only there were a team of helpers that could appear and complete some much-needed work for a worthy individual. Well, look no further! The 18th Annual Lakewood Volunteer Day will be held on Saturday, April 26 and the planning team is looking for project sites. Qualifying sites are Lakewood homes that need help with outside clean-up jobs such as weeding, painting, yard work or trimming. The work sites should be private homes in Lakewood that are owned by someone who is unable to complete the work themselves (due to age or a disability) or unable to afford to hire someone to do it. This is a free city program for residents who qualify. Please call the Burns Community Center at 562-9257512 for more information and an application. Please be prepared to have the resident’s name and address so that a form can be mailed to the home. Individuals may also nominate their own homes.
www.lakewoodnews.org
February 2014
Guard your heart...know the warning signs
Each year, about 600,000 Americans – one in four deaths in the United States are from heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Of the 715,000 people who have a heart attack each year, about 525,000 are first-timers, says the CDC, and those individuals may not know what’s happening. Sadly, many people do not get to the hospital on time. If someone suspects they’re having a heart attack, they should get to the hospital right away upon the initial onset of symptoms. Below are some warning signs that its time to get medical help immediately: Symptoms for a heart attack: Men and women frequently report different symptoms. Men tend to have the “classic” signs, such as pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that goes away and comes back; pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms; chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath. For women, symptoms tend to be back or jaw pain; difficulty breathing; nausea or dizziness; unexplainable anxiety or fatigue; mild flu-like symptoms; palpitations, cold sweats or dizziness. Triggers tend to be different between the sexes, too. In women, it’s often stress; in men, it’s physical exertion. Symptoms for a stroke: There are clear, telltale characteristics of a stroke, including sagging on one side of the face, an arm that’s drifting down and garbled speech. But there are also more subtle signs from the onset, such as sudden numbness of one side of the body, including an arm, leg and part of the face; sudden confusion, trouble speaking and understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden loss of balance; sudden headache
for no apparent reason. Risk factors include diabetes, tobacco use, hypertension, heart disease, a previous stroke, irregular heartbeat, obesity, high cholesterol and heavy alcohol use. Symptoms for heart failure: This is not the same as a heart attack, which occurs when a vessel
supplying the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients becomes completely blocked. Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart can’t pump properly, which may be due to fluid in the lungs. Warning signs include shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen ankles, chest congestion and an overall limitation on activities. Just one of these symptoms may not be cause for alarm; but more than one certainly is. Risk factors include various heart problems, serious viral infections, drug or alcohol abuse, severe lung disease and chemotherapy. No one should ever feel discouraged from seeking immediate medical attention. If you feel it’s an emergency and you need to call 911, call 911!”
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Lakewood Dental Arts gives back
Lakewood Dental Arts Orthodontics recently held a fundraiser to support the Memorial Medical Center Foundation for the second year in a row. Dr. Fowell’s patients wore “pink” o-rings on their braces, for every patient that participated a $1 donation was made. Dr. Fowell and her team presented the check to April Barnes of the Memorial Medical Center Foundation. The team toured the facility while it was being built last year. The facility is now open and April has invited them to visit the state-of-the-art facility. Lakewood Dental Arts Orthodontics plans to make this an annual fundraising event. $4.00 off X-Large $3.00 off Large $2.00 off Medium $1.00 off Small
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Pathways presents...Death Trap A play within a play. Death Trap is an alluring story about Sydney Bruhl, a morally ambiguous, yet talented Broadway writer. Discouraged by a series of script flops, he believes his fortune may change when he comes across a potentially successful script. The play is filled with plenty of plot twists and turns, cleverness, humor and suspense! Pathways Volunteer Hospice invites the community for a special night out with family and friends at the Long Beach Playhouse on February 13th.
Enjoy a private performance of the play adaptation of this unique story, Death Trap. Relish in complimentary beverages before the show. During intermission, Pathways board members and volunteers will be on hand to serve complimentary coffee, wine and dessert. The doors open at 7pm and curtain call is 7:30pm. Ticket prices are only $25 dollars and all proceeds go to benefit the many programs and services offered by Pathways at no charge to the local community. For nearly 29 years Pathways
February 2014
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has been a trusted resource in the Long Beach and surrounding communities providing volunteer caregiving for the frail-elderly, hospice services for the terminally ill and bereavement counseling and support for children and families. For more information, tickets and reservations, please call Pathways at (562) 531-3031 or visit our website at www. pathwayshospice.org Event Location: Long Beach Playhouse 5021 E. Anaheim Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 494-1014.
Lakewood Regional Medical Center appoints new chief executive officer As an experienced healthcare executive and 24-year industry veteran, Mr. Ron Galonsky previously served as chief operations and integration officer at Mission Hospital, a 552-bed acute care hospital in Mission Viejo, CA. His prior experience includes chief operating officer (COO) and interim chief executive officer of O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, chief executive officer of Watsonville Community Hospital, and chief
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operating officer with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). “I am excited about joining the leadership team at Lakewood Regional Medical Center. During the interview process, I met many competent and very caring professionals. I have been impressed with the physicians, governing board members and hospital staff and feel confident that the organization can prosper and grow” shared Mr. Galonsky in a statement. Mr. Galonsky received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Duke University. Following his military service as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, Mr. Galonsky earned a Master’s in Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is board certified in healthcare management and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), a Mentor with the ACHE Leadership Mentoring Network, and a member of the Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee.
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February 2014
State of the City television coverage is sure to make you smile!
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The crew of CityTV channel 31 puts a humorous spin on the State of the City in Lakewood. Lakewood’s State of the City is once again brought to life in an entertaining and informative way by the city’s award-winning CityTV team. Coverage includes the remarks by Mayor Steve Croft and Lakewood Station’s Captain Merrill Ladenheim. It also features an “Annual Report” that employs some non-traditional storytelling to tell the story of the city’s accomplishments in 2013 and the challenges and opportunities coming in 2014. The program uses a “photo-
booth time machine” that weaves visions of Lakewood’s past in with a present-day look at the city’s economic and public safety climate. It reviews milestones in public works, facilities and parks. It also introduces Lakewood’s upcoming 60th Anniversary festivities. Re-broadcasts of the annual report video and the addresses by Croft and Ladenheim will run on CityTV Channel 31 from February 9 to March 1 (on Sundays and Thursdays at 12am,
12pm, 7:30am and 7:30pm). CityTV can be seen on channel 31 on Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS and on the city’s website at www.lakewoodcity. org/citytv.
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Local music faculty member nominated for a 2014 Grammy A music faculty member at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), Lecturer Tom Peters, has been nominated for a 2014 Grammy® in the “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance” category for the recording “Cage: The 10,000 Things.” Peters is nominated with his fellow performers Vicki Ray, William Winant, and Aron Kallay. Peters teaches double bass at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB. A bassist, he is an active composer and a performer, performing with Southwest
Chamber Music since 1998 and the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra since 1993. He has performed as a soloist with Ensemble OhTon, People Inside Electronics, MicroFest, and the Schindler House and many others, and has been featured on Nordwest Radio in Hamburg, Germany. “In a high-profile faculty with numerous international achievements, Tom Peters’ Grammy nomination for The Ten Thousand Things stands out as one of the most impressive. Tom has been nominated twice before as
a member of Southwest Chamber Music,” said Carolyn Bremer, director of the Cole Conservatory. “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance” is a tough category to crack. It isn’t an inconsequential classical category. This is the big time, and he is nominated along with, for example, the recording of last year’s Pulitzer Prize winning work. “This is especially fabulous to me, personally: I am a composer and former bass player. Tom’s exceptional work in new music is a boon to all of us composers, and I am thrilled that we have a bass player of his caliber here at the Cole Conservatory,” she concluded.
Lakewood First United Methodist Church Sunday School at 9am Youth Group at 9am & 4pm Children’s Church 10:15am Infant care provided Sunday Worship Service 10:15 am Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:30pm Thursday Devotional Study 10am Broken Loaf Food Pantry Saturday 9am - 11am
Rev. Dr. Lui Tran Senior Pastor
4300 Bellflower Blvd, Lakewood, CA 90713 www.lakewoodfirstumchurch.com (562) 425-1219
A Tidbit of
Valentine’s
Trivia
• The most fantastic gift of love is the Taj Mahal in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife. • In the 1800s doctors commonly advised their heartbroken patients to eat chocolate, claiming it would sooth their pain. • 220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day each year. • Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day in the U.S. • Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800’s. • Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone on 14th February i.e. Valentine’s Day, in 1876. • It is alleged that on February 14th, St. Valentine was put to death. Before dying, he wrote a note for his love - the jailer’s daughter, signed “From Your Valentine”. • In the Middle Ages, men and women used to draw names from a bowl to see who their valentine would be. • Sweden is the only country that does not celebrate Valentine’s Day. • Around 15% of U.S. women are thought to send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day. • It was only in the 1980s that the diamond industry began to promote Valentine’s Day as occasion for gifting diamond jewelry.
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February 2014
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Medicare is the best care if Togo’s reopens you’re 65 or older in Lakewood
By Essie Landry Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in West Los Angeles
If you are age 65 or older and haven’t signed up for Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), now is the time to consider doing so. The general enrollment period for Medicare Part B runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. Before you make a decision about general enrollment, we want to share some important information. Remember: Most people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B when they become eligible. If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B when you first become eligible, you may have to wait until the general enrollment period, which is January 1 through March 31 of each year. At that time, you may have to pay a higher Medicare Part B premium. What is Medicare? Medicare is health insurance for people receiving Social Security who are age 65 or older or those who have received Social Security disability benefits for more than two years. Some people are covered only by one of the four parts of Medicare; others opt to pay extra for more coverage. Understanding Medicare can save you money; here are the facts. The four parts of Medicare are parts A, B, C, and D. • Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice
care, and home health care. Most people get Medicare Part A premium-free since it was earned by working and paying Social Security taxes. • Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover services from doctors and other outpatient health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services. Most people pay a premium for Part B. • Part C (Medicare Advantage) allows you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organization. These plans include all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B, usually includes Medicare prescription drug coverage as part of the plan, and may include extra benefits and services for an extra cost. You must have Part A and Part B to enroll in Part C. Monthly
premiums vary depending on your state, private insurer, and whether you select a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider organization. • Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage) helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. Many people pay a premium for Part D. However, people with low income and resources may qualify for extra help from Social Security to pay the premium and deductible. Most people first become eligible for Medicare at age 65, and there is a monthly premium for Medicare Part B. In 2014, the premium for most people is $104.90, the same as it was in 2013. Some highincome individuals pay more than the standard premium. Your Medicare Part B premium also can be higher if you do not enroll when you are first eligible, also known as your initial enrollment period. There also is a Medicare Part B deductible of $147 in 2014. It’s important to note that people who have Medicare coverage are not affected by the Affordable Care Act. Medicare is not a part of the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, your Medicare benefits are not changing. You do not need to replace your Medicare coverage with Marketplace coverage. For more information about the Marketplace, visit www. healthcare.gov.
Tel: 562.452.6555/562.531.9733 EM: rohit@roamvoyages.onmicrosoft.com
Togo’s Eateries, Inc., a “West Coast Original” since 1971, announced its former 5175 Lakewood Blvd. restaurant has relocated to 4629 Candlewood Street in Lakewood. “We’re excited to officially reopen Togo’s in Lakewood,” said Togo’s franchisee Michael Hoang. “We already have a loyal base of raving fans in the community, as well as a reputation for serving up the biggest and freshest sandwiches you can find in town. We look forward to continue serving residents at our new location.”
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Around
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Around Open your heart to Town in healthy friendships February Lakewood • The Lakewood Garden Club will have their meeting discussing orchids and tropicals presented by Norm & Candy Nakanishe on Thursday, February 27 at 11am at Del Valle Park. Light lunch followed by the program. For more information call Gwen at (562) 867-0516. • Volunteers will be available this spring at Weingart Senior Center to help low-income families, individuals and seniors prepare their basic tax returns. Appointments are for Mondays and Thursdays beginning February 6 through April 10, and a reservation is required. To make an appointment, please call 562-630-6141. The Weingart Senior Center is located at 5220 Oliva Avenue.
Long Beach • Los Altos Methodist Church is extending an invitation to the community to attend some programs being offered. Family Ministry is hosting a four-part series: Evenings of Information and Encouragement for parents of teens and pre-teens. The series will be held at 5950 E. Willow St. on the first Thursday of February, March, April and May from 7pm to 8:30pm. For more information visit www. losaltosumc.org.
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Most people would agree that strong, trusting friendships are crucial to our sense of peace, happiness and well-being. In short, friendships are vital to the human spirit. It’s interesting, according to a recent study, 75 percent of people are not satisfied with their friendships; 63 percent lack confidence in even their closest friends; and almost half would choose to have deeper friendships rather than more friends. Women in particular, build so many walls around their hearts to protect themselves from hurt, fear, rejection, and other painful emotions. This is the reason women may allow some people in, but not too close. Being in a vulnerable position can cause people to keep others at an arms length away which prevents them from experiencing the honest, real relationships that that our true heart desires. If you are among those desperately seeking true friendships below are some steps to help change unhealthy habits: Identify the walls you’ve built. Building walls can be a response to many things – real and perceived threats, fears, and rejection. Many
people put up walls to hide certain weaknesses. Making a list of your walls and understanding why they’re there is a good place to start breaking them down. Identify the steps necessary to dismantle the walls. Some walls are built to prevent people from seeing the “real” you. That may take the form of pushing people away, those that might demand too much of your time and energy, or those that may judge your life to closely. Whatever the reason, they are self-perceived, and may not be true. As the New Year is in full swing, we are in the process of inward reflection; breaking down barriers to creating deeper friendships should be at the top of the resolution list. Let yourself be open to developing the lasting relationships that come from trust and sharing.
Looking for Talent! The Producers for the television show America’s Got Talent are holding Open Auditions for Season 9 in LA on February 8 and 9. They are looking for the latest and greatest acts, of all ages and group size. Those interested in auditioning should register on www. americasgottalent. com/losangeles/.
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Let’s play Sudoku! Now THREE chances to win...! - Souplantation - Foggia’s Italian Market & Deli - Fuddrucker’s (new!)
Congratulations to Freda Knepper and Marta Gonda! They are the lucky winners of the January Sudoku contest. To be eligible, print your name, address and phone number on a letter size (8½ x 11) piece of paper, cut the finished puzzle from the newspaper and tape onto the paper. Mail entries to: Lakewood Community News P.O. Box 160, Lakewood, CA 90714. Or drop it by the Chamber office at #24 Lakewood Center Mall (right next to See’s Candies). The winners are drawn by random. One entry per household; the answers must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, February 19, 2014. The winners will be drawn on Thursday, February 20th, and the call to the winners will be made the same day. If a message is left, the prize must
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be claimed by return phone call within 48 hours (two business days) or a new winner will be chosen. The name of the winners will be published in the March issue, along with a new Sudoku Puzzle.
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Hey, job seekers...It may not be the economy, it may be you! People looking for work are growing increasingly pessimistic about their ability to find a job. However, despite their negative perceptions of the job market, the unemployed remain strangely, almost irrationally, confident that they know how to present their skills and experience to an interviewer. In order to gain a little insight as to what’s really going on in the interview process, CareerBuilder recently released their annual report on job interview oops moments, based on an online survey of 2,201 hiring managers and human resource professionals conducted by Harris Interactive in November and December. Nearly half of the managers say they know within five minutes if a candidate will fit the position and 87 percent know within the first 15 minutes. Lesson here? First impressions count. Below are 2013’s most memorable blunders, based on the interviews: •Applicant warned the interviewer that she “took too much Valium” and didn’t think her interview was indicative of her personality •Applicant acted out a Star Trek role •Applicant acted like he was answering a phone call for an interview with a competitor •Applicant arrived in a jogging suit because he was going running after the interview •Applicant asked for a hug •Applicant attempted to secretly record the interview •Applicant brought personal photo albums • Applicant called himself his own personal hero •Applicant checked Facebook during the interview •Applicant crashed her car into the building •Applicant popped out his teeth when discussing dental benefits •Applicant kept his iPod headphones on during the interview •Applicant set fire to the interviewer¹s newspaper while reading it when the interviewer said, “impress me.” •Applicant said that he questioned his daughter¹s paternity •Applicant wanted to know the number of the receptionist because he really liked her
Find out about extraordinary volunteer opportunities at Rancho Los Cerritos and learn about the Rancho’s many exciting public and behind-the-scenes programs at their Volunteer Open House on Wednesday, February 12, from 5:30-7pm. Interested individuals will be able to discover – or rediscover – this National and State Historic Landmark museum, fondly known as the Roots of Long Beach! RSVP at (562) 570-1755.
Here are common mistakes: •Appearing disinterested - 55 percent •Dressing inappropriately - 53 percent •Appearing arrogant - 53 percent •Talking negatively about current or previous employers - 50 percent •Answering a cell phone or texting during the interview - 49 percent •Appearing uninformed about the company or role - 39 percent •Not providing specific examples - 33 percent •Providing too much personal information - 20 percent •Asking the hiring manager personal questions - 17 percent And the grand finale is a list of body language no no’s noted by the hiring managers: •Failure to make eye contact - 70 percent
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•Failure to smile - 44 percent •Bad posture - 35 percent •Fidgeting too much in one¹s seat - 35 percent •Playing with something on the table - 29 percent •Handshake that is too weak - 27 percent •Crossing their arms over one¹s chest - 24 percent •Playing with hair or touching one¹s face - 24 percent •Using too many hand gestures 10 percent •Handshake that is too strong - 5 percent
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February 2014