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Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
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Volume 28 Number 3
Lakewood teens participate in celebrating Girl Scouts milestone
Haley De Boom helps with Rose Parade float.
Haley De Boom, age 17 and Jennifer Reilly, age 17 2012 is a milestone year for the Girl Scouts of the USA, as they are celebrating 100 years of instilling courage, confidence, and character in young ladies all over the US, and the proof is right here in Lakewood. Haley De Boom age 17, and Jennifer Reilly age 17 of Lakewood were both given the honor to help with the Girl Scout 100th Anniversary Rose Parade Float. This year’s theme,
“What Will You Do Today?” The question is answered throughout the float by a representation of the vast opportunities for girls. The Girl Scouts of today are about much more than selling cookies and making campfires. They are about instilling values, and character, that will build a foundation for lifelong success. Both Haley and Jennifer have been members of Girl Scout Troop #303 for the past 12 years.
They started as Daisy Scouts in Kindergarten and are now working as an Ambassador Girl Scout, on their Gold Award, which is the equivalent to the Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. Haley is a junior at Long Beach Poly High School and is in the PACE (program for additional curricular experiences.) The program is offered through the Long Beach Unified School District for those students with very high grades and test scores. Jennifer attends Lakewood High School where she is a Lakewood Cross Country and Track Field Varsity Runner. Initially, Haley and Jennifer were both selected to walk beside the parade float by way of application and interview process. They had to meet with various officers in the Girl Scout organization and were selected for the honor. Haley ended up as a rider on the float, as she was chosen to represent an Ambassador Girl Scout riding on the float, and Jennifer carried the banner in front of the float. Haley’s mom, Amy De Boom says, “The girls worked hard and were very dedicated in the Rose Parade process, months of preparation and planning went into this event.” “They are outstanding students and leaders among their peers.” Both girls have participated in Lakewood Volunteer Day and helped by volunteering at the Lakewood Block Party. Congratulations to both Haley and Jennifer for all their community efforts!
Student athletes honored at Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame
Stacey Tan, Lakewood’s Athlete of the Year for 2011. Lakewood Community News #24 Lakewood Center Mall Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 531-9733
Stacey Tan was named Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year for 2011. Tan and dozens of other athletes and coaches were honored at the recent 31st Annual Hall of Fame banquet at the Centre at Sycamore Plaza. Tan was selected by the Board of Electors for her achievements on the Stanford University tennis team. In her
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sophomore season, Stacey advanced to the championship match of the NCAA individual tournament and earned All America honors. She was one of the key players taking Stanford to a runner-up finish in the team championship, compiling a season record of 32-10. The Lakewood awards recognize athletic and academic achievements. They were presented for achievements from the sports seasons that ended in calendar year 2011. The athletes must be from Lakewood or attend school in Lakewood.
See page 6 for complete Youth Hall of Fame list
March 2012
Major Lakewood water transmission lines upgraded
As part of the city’s ongoing water infrastructure improvement efforts, large water valves from the 1960s were upgraded over the past month at ten locations underneath Del Amo Boulevard and Palo Verde Avenue.
Lakewood ‘online bill pay’ hits the web
Lakewood residents have been making service requests, signing up for recreation classes and getting parking permits online for years. Now, they also have the convenience of paying their city trash and water utility bills online if they want. The new City of Lakewood optional online bill payment service is free to customers and covers bi-monthly refuse pickup and water charges. Residents can self-enroll now for the secure service at www.lakewoodcity.org/ onlinebillpay and begin paying
with either a debit or credit card or checking account. The environmentally-friendly system let’s customers set up automatic payments, “go paperless,” save postage, and save on trips to city hall. “This is part of our continual effort to enhance customer service, which is a core Lakewood value,” said City Manager Howard Chambers. “Even with the expansion of online services, residents can still call their city staff at 562-8669771, extension 2140, or come in to get one-on-one personalized help. And, if they wish, residents can continue to receive and pay their utility bills through the mail or in person.” The new system follows the adoption of other technological solutions like electronic water meter reading and precedes new parking-related online services expected later this year. “We’re excited to be going live,” said Lakewood’s Administrative Services Director Diane Perkin. “We’ve been eager to roll this out as we know lots of Lakewood (Cont’d. on Page 5)
Save the Date! Lakewood Chamber’s
SPRING After Hours Mixer
Thursday, April 19th 5:30 - 7:00 PM Location TBD
LakewoodToday
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An event that honors an enduring Lakewood value By Mayor Larry Van Nostran
At some point in time, we all start to think about our legacy and the positive changes we hope we’ve made through our lives. Thirty-one years ago, I sat down with Ron Piazza, owner of the McDonald’s Restaurants in Lakewood, to find a way to honor the many young men and women who excel in sports and scholastics in our town. Lakewood was producing lots of top-notch, hardworking youth athletes, but often their accomplishments were not being recognized by the broader community, and their awards were just going into closets or garages, never to be seen or appreciated by the public. From that meeting, Ron and I moved forward on creating the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame. We didn’t know how well it would work out. Well, we tapped into something that lots of people feel strongly about. I’ve been amazed with the
support the program has received over these 31 years from local businesses, community groups and residents. We’ve honored over 1,000 Lakewood youth since the program began, including many Olympic athletes and professional stars who got their start in our city. We also created an event where the enduring values of youth athletics and scholastics in Lakewood can be highlighted. Sports are one key way that youth get introduced to challenges and overcoming obstacles. They learn the principles of good sportsmanship and abiding by rules. They discover how to work well with a team. And they learn physical and mental fitness principles that benefit them throughout their lives. My 31 years of involvement with the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame program have been sheer bliss for me. I still get a thrill every year learning about the accomplishments and dedication of our youth. I’ve seen how youngsters get motivated to strive for our award, which I think has helped keep many youth on a positive path. I’ve also been amazed to run into winning athletes from 20 or 30 years ago and find out that they are now parents of current honorees. But, after all these years chairing the Board of Electors of the Hall of Fame, I think it’s time
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to hand off the leadership reins. This year I am turning over the chairmanship to City Council Member Jeff Wood. Jeff has a long and varied history in youth sports as a parent of athletes, a 13-year member of the city’s Recreation and Community Services Commission, and a volunteer swim official with Southern California Swimming. Thanks to the community leaders on the Board of Electors, I have every confidence that the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame is in good hands for the future. I intend to stay involved and stay supportive. I look forward to seeing the tributes and displays about this year’s awardees in the near future at the McDonald’s on Woodruff Avenue just south of Del Amo Boulevard. If you haven’t been there recently, you should. The Piazza family has done a spectacular job making that McDonald’s a site that honors one of Lakewood’s timeless values.
C i t y Spotlight Families are invited to The Centre at Sycamore Plaza for an affordable dinner and evening of family entertainment when FunTastic Family Night features “Around the World through
Percussion” on Friday, March 9, at 6:30pm. Percussionist Robin Torrance will lead the audience on a musical journey around the globe. Learn about sounds and rhythms and get a chance to play along! A light meal of pasta, meatballs, garlic bread, dessert and lemonade will be served prior to the show. Seating is on a first come basis and the doors open at 5:45pm. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children 3 and younger. Registration is limited and must be received by March 6. To register, call 562-866-9771, extension 2408, or go to www. lakewoodcity.org/eCatalog. Mother/Son Mayhem at Monte Verde Park Mothers, grandmothers and aunts can invite their son or special young men, ages 5 and older, to a fun night of mayhem at Monte Verde Park on Saturday, March 31 from 6pm to 9pm. Participants will receive novelties including a keepsake mother/son photo. Registration is $15 per person and must be received by March 23. To register, call 562-866-9771, extension 2408, or go to www. lakewoodcity.org/eCatalog. Lakewood Volunteer Day is looking for project sites Volunteers will complete landscape renovation projects and basic outdoor home repairs at sites throughout Lakewood on Saturday, April 21. If you know of any home sites to be
considered or if you need some work accomplished at your home, please call and request an application. Project sites are chosen based on select criteria for residents who cannot afford to complete the work themselves or who are not physically able to do yard work and upkeep. To volunteer or for project applications, contact the Burns Community Center at 562-925-7512. Register now for the Lakewood Community Run The Lakewood Sheriff’s 5K/10K Community Run returns Saturday, March 10, when sheriff’s deputies, 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 1-mile “Family Fun Run” or a 5K walk. Signups can be completed at www.lakewoodrun.com. All participants will be directly supporting Soroptimist International of Lakewood/ Long Beach and Lakewood Sheriff’s Station charity efforts. Race day registration begins at 6:30am. The 5K and 10K runs start at 8am, with the “Family Fun Run” beginning at 9:30am. Online registration is ongoing. Group rates are available. To discuss group entries, please call 562-623-3699, or e-mail info@lakewoodrun.com. ‘Relay for Life’ teams organizing now The 24-hour Relay for Life (Cont’d. on pg. 11)
March 2012
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Give Your Portfolio a “Spring Cleaning” Springtime is almost here. If you’re like many people, the arrival of spring means it’s time to spruce up your home. But why stop there? This year, consider applying some of those same spring-cleaning techniques to your investment portfolio. Here are some ideas you may want to put to work: • Get rid of clutter. You probably don’t have to look too far around your home to find things that are broken or simply no longer useful to you. If you poke around your portfolio, you might make similar discoveries: an investment that has chronically underperformed, duplicates another investment or met your needs in the past but is less relevant to your current situation and goals. Once you identify these types of investments, you may decide to sell them and use the proceeds to take advantage of opportunities that may prove more valuable to you. • Consolidate. Over the years, you may have accumulated multiple versions of common household items — brooms, mops, hammers — which pop up mysteriously in various parts of your home. You might find it more efficient, and even less expensive, if you consolidated all these things in one centralized
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Publication Manager/Graphics Designer Jodee Kilroy Editor-in-Chief Robin Vanderwerff Sales Ruby Cure Published by the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce #24 Lakewood Center Lakewood, CA 90712 P: (562) 531-9733 * F: (562) 531-9737 advertise@lakewoodchamber.com news@lakewoodchamber.com This publication is delivered to homes & businesses in Lakewood, and portions of Long Beach, with a circulation of 30,000. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $20/yr in Orange & L.A. Counties; $25/yr in all other counties. Payable in advance. Contents of the Lakewood Community News (“LCN”) may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise, edit, reject or suspend publication of any content germane to any addition without prior notice. The LCN is not responsible nor liable for any claims offering for product availability that may be advertised. SUBMISSION POLICY: The LCN encourages submission of letters to the Editor. Letters must be no more than 200 words, typed and double spaced, or sent electronically. Letters must be signed by the author and must include the author’s address and telephone number. Opinions expressed in the letter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, members, staff or the LCN. The LCN reserves the right to refuse or edit editorial content, without notice, for the reasons of, but not limited to, length, grammar, clarity or for the potentially libelous statements. SPACE RESERVATIONS & AD DEADLINES: The 15th of every preceding month for ads to be designed or current ads requiring changes. The 20th of every preceding month for camera-ready art furnished by advertiser. EDITORIAL DEADLINES: The 10th of every preceding month. (There is no guarantee for insertion.) PHOTOGRAPHS: There is no guarantee of return of photographs. © 2012 Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced or transmitted - by any means - without the publisher’s written permission
location. As an investor, you also might find that consolidation can offer you some benefits. Do you have one Individual Retirement Account (IRA) with one financial services provider and a second IRA with another? Do you have a couple of old 401(k) accounts with former employers? And have you scattered investments here, there and everywhere? By consolidating all these accounts in one place, you can cut down on paperwork, reduce fees and, most importantly, unite your investment dollars so that it’s easier for you to see what you have and then follow a single, coherent investment strategy. • Get professional help. You may find that you can’t do all your spring cleaning by yourself.
For example, if your carpets and rugs are heavily soiled, you may need to call in a professional cleaner. Or if your tree branches have grown out of control, you might need to bring in a tree trimmer. Similarly, when you decide to “tidy up” your portfolio, you’ll need some assistance from a financial professional — someone who can study your current mix of investments and recommend changes, as needed, to help ensure your holdings are suitable for your risk tolerance, time horizon and short- and longterm goals.
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Job fair success - making the opportunity work for you By Brent O’Bryan, SPHR Whether you have a job and are looking to make a change or are currently unemployed, job fairs can be a great way to meet with recruiters. But, they can also be quite intimidating to the uninitiated. With some job fairs attracting thousands of applicants, it’s important to arm yourself with a plan of action before you arrive. Think of attending a job fair as analogous to a visit to Disney World®. Do you want to spend valuable
time waiting in a line to get on a random ride you may or may not like, or do you want to do some advance research, get a “FASTPASS,” and spend time enjoying the park? You will get the most out of a job fair when you put in the time to make it work for you. As a veteran human resources professional who has been on point at many job fairs, I have witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly in job fair behavior. By reviewing the following tips and techniques for job fair
navigation, you’ll be prepared for a successful experience before, during and after a job fair. The Good • Knowledge is Power - Smart candidates take the time to thoroughly research the job fairs they attend. They find out what companies will be on the premises and decide which companies are of interest to them. They then read as much as they can about their favorite companies. When they arrive at the job fair, they have a short list of companies they want to make a personal connection with. A recruiter who is meeting with dozens of people in one day is much more likely to remember the applicant who took the time to read the book from that company’s CEO, for example, or who had carefully reviewed the company’s job postings and website to see where they could offer the most value. • Presentation Counts – If you
March 2012 are going to a job fair, you want to stand out from the crowd in a positive, professional manner. What does that mean? Even if you are applying for a position that will likely require a uniform or carpenter pants, wear a freshly pressed suit and comfortable yet professional shoes, and make sure that hair and nails are freshly groomed. Savvy recruiters look for long term potential. Can this maintenance worker become a supervisor? Can this receptionist become an account coordinator? Dress for the position you would ultimately like to have. • Manners Matter – Successful job fair applicants are generally conservative when interacting with hiring personnel. Never assume that Mr. Fred Johnson wants to be called Fred. Reference him as “Mr. Johnson” until he says otherwise • Link Up for Best Results – Not all social media is created equal, but LinkedIn, which was created for the business community, is an ideal online network for job hunters. Many companies are using LinkedIn to research and find candidates. LinkedIn helps companies leverage the networks of their employees as
well. Many successful job fair applicants connect with their recruiters on LinkedIn after their initial meeting. • Traditional Paper Resume Still Rules – Sure, flash drives are cool and can hold a lot of information, but most recruiters are still pretty old-fashioned and would prefer an old fashioned paper resume that they can read on the spot. Successful job fair applicants should bring plenty of one-page, concise and informative resumes with them in a neat briefcase or portfolio. The Bad • How Much Does this Job Pay? – Asking about salary and benefit immediately is a turn-off to recruiters. Think of a job fair as a way to market yourself to employers to get an interview. Few recruiters will want to move forward with an applicant whose initial questions revolve around salary, benefits and vacation and personal day allotment. • Twittering Away to Irrelevance – Job hunters who are social media aficionados run the risk of information overload. While a professional, updated LinkedIn profile is always a plus to human resource professionals, a Facebook page “gone wild” with postings about raucous nights at the casino or a Twitter account detailing compromising personal information, can be a liability. The Ugly • Gum Chewing – While it seems incredulous than anyone would chew gum and talk to a recruiter simultaneously, it happens more than I’d like to admit. Sometimes, the gum-chewing applicant is a cigarette smoker who is trying to cover their tracks. Whatever the reason, there is no place for gum chewing on the job search circuit! Likewise, munching on chips or engaging in any other manner of food consumption in front of a recruiter is strictly offlimits. • Hygiene Matters – Meeting with recruiters is not the time to forget to brush your teeth, take a shower, or groom your nails. Being remembered due to body odor or bad breath is not a ticket to employment satisfaction. • Employment Stalker – At every job fair, there are applicants who fail to recognize the social cues that their interview is over. They linger at the booth, or return to the recruiter again and again during the fair. Or they send daily emails to the recruiter asking for progress reports. While appropriate follow up is important, harassment will not land you your dream job. Be sure to judiciously follow up with the recruiters you’ve made a good connection with at the job fair. Recruiters appreciate receiving a follow up thank you email which signals your interest in contributing to the organization. Just as recruiters have to keep track of multiple applicants, applicants need to develop their own system for logging information on all potential job leads.
March 2012
Huge road repaving project to begin soon One of Lakewood’s largest road projects of 2012 is scheduled to begin in March, starting with concrete and curb repair and then progressing to repaving in mid-March. Called the “Seven Segments” project, the work will cover seven segments of major roadways in Lakewood, totaling over five miles of repaving. The $2.8 million project will use $1.6 million in federal funds, with the remainder coming from Lakewood’s share of county sales tax dollars dedicated to transportation. The project is expected to be completed in early April. As a convenience to residents, efforts will be made to always keep the roads open to two-way traffic throughout the project and to avoid work during heavy commute hours. Signs will be posted in areas where upcoming work would require parked cars to be moved. For questions on the project, call city staff at 562-8669771, extension 2500. Lakewood has contracted with Coronabased All American Asphalt Co. to construct the project. The seven segments to be repaved include portions of the following roadways: Arbor Road, Ashworth Street, Carson Street, Del Amo Boulevard, Downey Avenue, Palo Verde Avenue and South Street. These segments were chosen based on the age and deterioration of their pavement. Roadways will be resurfaced using rubberized asphalt, which is more durable than traditional asphalt. It also requires only onehalf the thickness of conventional asphalt, so the time and expense of grinding off existing pavement to maintain an acceptable “crown” in the middle of the road is avoided. Rubberized asphalt also reduces skidding and maintains its coloring better over time, which keeps road markings visible longer. Particularly nice for residential areas, rubberized asphalt provides a quieter ride for motorists and residents along the way. Last but not least, rubberized asphalt is environmentally friendly by reusing thousands of old tires and preventing them from being sent to landfills. By keeping its streets in good condition, Lakewood avoids a rash of potholes when rains come. Potholes can form when water seeps into cracks in roadways and undermines the street from below. In recent years, the news media has reported that Lakewood has some of the best roads and fewest potholes in our region.
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(Cont’d. from pg. 1) residents would like to use this service. The system streamlines our internal operations too and should save the city thousands of dollars annually in mailing costs.” Along with being able to look up past bills and check water consumption, special work has been done so the online system keeps residents informed about community news. “Wired” residents will stay in touch with Lakewood’s traditional charity programs like Project Shepherd, Meals on Wheels, Volunteer Day and the Lakewood Education Foundation. And, they’ll still be able to nominate homes for Lakewood Beautiful awards. “These are important community efforts and a regular feature in the paper bill mailings. We’ve customized our online bill pay system to also be a gateway to Lakewood news. That includes links to these special programs, Lakewood Briefs seasonal flyers and our weekly eMagazine,” says Public Information Officer Bill
Ants * Fleas * Bees Rats * Termites * Bed Bugs ...and more!
Grady. “People can save time by paying online and still keep connected with their Lakewood community.” The new service is similar to others that consumers regularly use, with features for paying by ACH debit card, Visa and MasterCard or by checking account. New users just need to follow instructions at www. lakewoodcity.org/onlinebillpay to register an account and start making payments. Once registered, they will receive e-mail notifications of bills created (with attached .pdf files of their bill) as well as due-date information. Questions, comments or concerns can be made online, or by calling city staff at 562-8669771, extension 2630. Normal business hours are Monday through Thursday, from 7:30am to 5:30pm, and 7:30am to 5:00pm on alternate Fridays, excluding holidays. City hall is closed on alternate Fridays. Messages left will be answered by city staff on the next business day.
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Lakewood Regional celebrates the opening of newly expanded Medical/Surgical Unit
Lakewood Regional Medical Center celebrated the grand opening of their $1.2 million newly expanded Medical/Surgical Unit with Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Lakewood city officials, Governing Board Members, past and current medical staff members and hospital employees with a reception and ribbon cutting ceremonies.
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February 2012
Lakewood Chamber’s Valentine Mixer was full of friendship and smiles!
Lakewood Chamber of Commerce recently held their 2nd Annual Valentine’s Day Mixer at Outback Steakhouse in Lakewood. It was a great time of making new business contacts and saying hello to friends. Lakewood City Council members Diane DuBois and Jeff Wood joined in the festivities. Mark your calendar for the Chamber’s Spring Mixer on April 19th. You won’t want to miss it!
Chairman’s
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City of Lakewood Lakewood Center Lakewood Regional Medical Center Piazza McDonald’s Willow Urgent Care/Memorial Healthcare IPA
gold
Save the Date! Lakewood Chamber’s
15th Annual Summer Stampede Car Show
Gateway Business Bank
Sunday, August 19th.
silver
This year is a special theme of
Candlewood Smiles Dentistry First City Credit Union Lakewood Dental Arts Lakewood Self Storage
bronze A+ Hearing Aid Center The Boeing Company EDCO Waste & Recycling George Chevrolet Hawaiian Gardens Casino HealthCare Partners
K.E.Y. Design Nguyen Dental NuVision Federal Credit Union Outback Steakhouse Rotary Club of Lakewood Southern California Edison
Mission Statement: The Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce creates a healthy business environment for the community.
“A Salute to Veterans, Show Your Colors.”
This is a show you won’t want to miss! Interested Vendors can call us at (562) 531-9733
What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four-leaf clover?
A rash of good luck!
Welcome New Members! Mimi’s Cafe Lakewood Wienerschnitzel 4404 Candlewood St. 4111 Woodruff Ave. Lakewood, CA 90712 Lakewood, CA 90713 (562) 529-8748 (714) 544-5749 First Investors Corp. 1333 N. Altadena Dr., #420 Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 237-0829, ext. 319
Member Renewals
With their renewal, the following businesses have celebrated another year as members of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. Lakewood Meals on Wheels 57 Years 11Years BZ Disposal Services Edward Jones 33 Years Long Beach Marriott Bellflower Unified School First Bank District 7 Years 26 Years Lakewood Women’s Club Pathways Volunteer Hospice 5 Years 14 Years Your Lucky Pet Sitter Honeybaked Ham Company 4 Years Coldwell Banker Star Realty Nguyen Dental Pete’s Plumbing 3 Years 13 Years Golden State Water Co. Life Center Church 1 Year Downey Plumbing T.G.I.S. Catering R.F. Dickson Co. 12 Years
Thank You! Advertise in the award winning Lakewood Community News Call Jodee at (562) 5319733 or email: advertise@lakewoodc hamber.com
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March 2012
Earth Walk and ‘Woody the Tree’ return to Lakewood
“Woody the Tree” and a cast of characters tell the story of Arbor Day to Lakewood children each spring. Lakewood’s Earth Walk, an interactive experience for kids and adults, returns to Monte Verde Park on Saturday, March 17. From 10am to 1pm the park’s winding walkways will feature Earth-friendly educational activities of interest to all ages.
On arrival, visitors should pick up a “nature passport” to use when touring display stations and getting their “passport” stamped with specialty Earth Walk stamps. This will help them qualify to receive a special gift. Amidst a venue lined with
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native California trees and foliage, visitors can see hybrid vehicles, plant a seed, visit with reptiles, get an opportunity to adopt a pet, learn about recycling, hear nature stories and do some bird watching. “Woody the Tree”- Lakewood’s Tree City U.S.A. mascot -- will be on hand to shake hands and pose for photographs. Monte Verde Park is located at 4626 North Shadeway Road. The rustic facility is also the trailhead to over three miles of landscaped walking trails and the San Gabriel River Parkway. For more information call 562-8669771, extension 2408. ‘Woody the Talking Tree’ to visit schools All during the week of Earth Walk, Lakewood’s Arbor Day mascot and a cast of characters including Batman, Robin, the Cat Woman and Bat Girl will visit 16 Lakewood elementary schools telling the story of trees as a valuable resource. Along with educational lessons about Arbor Day, students in kindergarten through third grades will participate in a poster or mural contest.
Hazardous/e-waste collection event coming to Vet’s Stadium
This month Lakewood residents can take their hazardous household waste and e-waste to a collection event very close to home. Long Beach Veterans Stadium, at Clark Avenue and Conant Street, will host an event Saturday, March 24 from 9am to 3pm. (Enter from Conant Street only.) The convenient drive-through event should take only a few minutes, and often participants don’t even have to leave their car. Technicians will empty the car trunks and truck beds of materials such as motor oil, paint, pesticides, or old TV’s, cell phones, printers and computers. The program is an environmentally and legally safe way to get rid of many common household products that pose a hazard if disposed of improperly. Electronic waste is sent to a facility within California that certifies it is 100 percent de-manufactured and recycled in a stringent and environmentally-acceptable manner. None of the electronic waste collected at these events is sent overseas. It’s easy to participate. Leave the products in their original container (if you still have them) or place them in a cardboard box,
and drive to the collection site. No explosive or radioactive materials, tires or waste from businesses will be accepted. Please do not mix products together. For a full schedule go to http:// dpw.lacounty.gov and look for the green “Household Hazardous Waste” button or go to http:// www.lacsd.org. PMG_springSTROKEAD_8X5:Layout 1 2/22/12 3:45 PM Page 1
SPRING
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ENTER TO WIN HEART Wednesday, March HEALTHY GIFT BASKET 10:00 am REFRESHMENTS SERVED Pioneer Medical Group
14th Dr. Joseph Lombardo Family Practice Physician
Long Beach office 2220 Clark Avenue • Long Beach, CA 90815 Located at Clark & Los Coyotes Diagonal
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ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Pioneer Medical Group accepts most health insurance plans and cash payment. Open to the public. Call for more information (877) 552-5752.
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March 2012
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Move in minutes: smart tips to minimize sitting MD Anderson experts encourage adults to reduce sedentary behavior
Sitting for extended periods can raise the chances of developing cancer, even for people who exercise regularly, says recent research. In response to these findings, fitness experts
at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center share advice on how to get moving in minutes. “Taking just one- to twominute breaks from sitting may help lower your cancer risk,” said Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Behavioral Science at MD
Anderson. “That’s because even short spurts of movement can help minimize inflammation, insulin resistance, and long-term weight gain — all factors that make it harder for the body to fight off cancer.” Basen-Engquist, who uses a pedometer and tries to get at least 500 steps an hour, offers these
tips to get moving — even when there’s little time to spare. Have just 1-2 minutes? Take the stairs. Skip the elevator or escalator, and take the stairs at work and when doing errands. “Taking the stairs gets your heart pumping, builds muscle, strengthens bones and burns
calories,” said Basen-Engquist, who conducts studies on how to help cancer survivors adopt more physically active lifestyles. “And, the more often you take the stairs, the bigger the payoff.” Have 5 minutes? Stretch. Men and women can take breaks from sitting at work or home by standing up and stretching their backs, forearms, wrists, legs and hamstrings. Basen-Engquist stretches throughout the day by using an exercise ball at her desk. Among the benefits: more energy, better circulation and less muscle tension and stress. Have 10-15 minutes? Take a brisk walk. “Lace up your tennis shoes for a short walk during your lunchhour, walking meetings with coworkers or a quick trip around the neighborhood,” Basen-Engquist said. “I also walk to the coffee shop in the next building when I want a cup of coffee.” Walking helps maintain a healthier blood pressure, boost metabolism, curb stress, and possibly reduce breast and colorectal cancer risk. Just keep in mind that brisk walking yields more benefits than a casual stroll. Have 20-30 minutes? Tidy the house. Tidying up does more than limit couch time. It can also qualify as aerobic activity. “Just make sure you’re getting your heart rate up at a consistent level,” Basen-Engquist said. To do that, focus on repetitive activities that use large muscle groups, like the legs and back. This includes vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing, gardening and even taking multiple trips upstairs to put away laundry. “Remember, it’s important to get creative and find ways to stay active outside of your normal exercise routine,” Basen-Engquist said. “Just be sure that you’re also getting 30 minutes of actual exercise each day to help lower your chances for cancer.” For additional exercise tips, visit www.mdanderson.org/focused.
Tell us what you would like to read in the Lakewood Community News. Email your ideas to: news@lakewoodchamber.com, or mail to P.O. Box 160, Lakewood, CA 90714.
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March 2012
Lakewood’s first BARK FOR LIFE event 7-Eleven opens at South Lakewood’s Relay For Life, on Saturday, March 31 at Gompers a Celebration Ceremony! benefitting the American Cancer Elementary School, 5206 Registration is $15 for one dog and Bellflower Society, is adding another first Briercrest Avenue, in Lakewood. with an adult (18 and over), $5 for – BARK FOR LIFE – a canine event to fight cancer! BARK FOR LIFE is being held
Dogs and their favorite adult will gather at 10am, with the walk starting at 11am, concluding with
a second dog. There is a maximum two dogs per adult. All dogs must be 6-months or older with their full compliment of vaccines. Registration is available now at Your Elegant Pet, 4332 South Street, Lakewood 90712, (562) 529-8414, open daily from 10am to 7pm. Spectators coming out to cheer on their human and dog are free. Some rules for adults and dogs to keep in mind: • Dogs must be on leash at all times, maximum 6 feet long. • Only dogs and adults, no other pets allowed. • Owners must clean up after their dogs. • No dogs in heat allowed.
Pictured: Vice Mayor Diane DuBois center with scissors; Council Member Steve Croft, right; Kevin Brar, (Proprieter) left. 7-Eleven located at Bellflower Blvd. and South St. recently celebrated their grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony. Owner, Kevin Brar, who was raised in Lakewood and recently graduated from CSULB has opened Lakewood’s newest business.
Lakewood Beautiful is accepting nominations
The Lakewood Beautiful Home Awards program kicks off its 31st year by asking Lakewood residents to nominate their neighbors for accomplishments in landscaping and maintenance. These homes reflect a special “pride of ownership” through property upkeep, landscaping and overall general appearance. Lavish landscaping or architecture isn’t required to receive a Lakewood Beautiful home award. Rather, judges pay tribute to homeowners with an eye for detail, a sense of overall style and a dedication to enhancing the value of properties in their neighborhood. Award winning homes come from every area of the city. This will be the second year featuring a “Water-Wise” award category honoring homeowners who have made a concerted effort to reduce water usage through updated irrigation devices and water-wise landscaping. Nominations can be made by calling the Community Relations Office at City Hall at 562-866-9771, extension 2160, or by using the online form at www.lakewoodcity. org/beautifulhome. The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 29th.
Women in Business Council
Wednesday, Mar. 14th 11:30am-1:00pm SELACO WIB
10900 E. 183rd St., 3rd Fl Cerritos, 90703 Call Marjean for more info: (562) 402-9336 x1252
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March 2012
Lakewood teen will receive a service dog donation
Rachel Guske (left) is pictured with Albertsons and Milk Bone® representatives as she accepts her Canine Assistant donation at Albertsons in Lakewood.
Rachel Guske of Lakewood is an 18-year-old teenager diagnosed with Epilepsy. Like any other teen girl, Rachel longs for her independence. Unfortunately, Rachel’s family must be on constant watch in case she has a seizure. The Milk-Bone® brand and Albertons have partnered to make a service dog donation to Rachel. Canine Assistants is a non-profit organization that provides service dogs to people with various disabilities, at no cost to the recipient. It takes up to two years to train each dog, with the cost and care of these specially trained dogs exceeding $20,000.
Some “Bunny” will be arriving soon
Flowers are beginning to bloom, temperatures might be warming and although Easter is still weeks away, children can celebrate early at Lakewood Center. The Easter Bunny is hopping its way over to center court and will continue to be on site from March 17 through April 7. Families can take home this memory by purchasing a special photo of their child with the Easter Bunny. While supplies last, children also will receive a complimentary gift when they visit.
When asked how Rachel feels about the opportunity to have her own service dog her response was simply “happy.” Rachel’s mom Julie Guske says, “The dog will be a big relief, it will bark and alert the family if Rachel is going to have a seizure. This will help build Rachel’s confidence and independence in social situations.” Rachel and her new best friend will go home together after they have both attended a two-week training camp at the Canine Assistants location in Alpharetta, GA. Julie says, “Rachel hates to fly, but she’s ready to go right away!”
City Spotlight (Cont’d. from Pg. 2)
is returning to Lakewood on Saturday, May 19, at 9am, at the Artesia High School track. Teams of friends, neighbors, families, co-workers, school and church groups will keep at least one member walking the course during the relay “because cancer never sleeps.” Lakewood teams and volunteers are gathering now. Get involved by attending one of the local organizing meetings held at the Lakewood Village Community Church, 4919 Centralia Avenue (at Sunfield Avenue), on the third Monday of each month. Team captains meet at 6:30pm, and the organizing committee meets at 7:30pm. The local event chairperson, Joy Janes, can be reached at 562-221-4464, o r at relay@joyjanes.org. American Cancer Society staffer Sara Clickenger can be reached at 562-4370792, extension 230, or sara. clickenger@cancer.org.
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March 2012
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Begin your journey by volunteering Lourdes Mendoza has been living in Lakewood for five years. She is originally from the Philippines. She is 78 years old, an unemployed woman who is extremely inquisitive, gracious, youthful and giving. She currently lives a ten-minute walk from St Pancratius Elementary School, where she has been volunteering since September, four days a week for the first grade class. With all of the budget cuts this year, volunteers are needed now more than ever in our schools. Ms. Mendoza sits in the back of the classroom on a chair built for a small child, smiling like a queen. Enjoying every minute of her time
spent in the classroom. I know the first grade teacher whom Ms. Mendoza volunteers for. That teacher, Ms. Garner, is a better teacher because of this relationship. Ms. Garner is the lucky one; many teachers don’t have a Ms. Mendoza Because of Lourdes, a child who is struggling with a subject is able to have one on one attention from the teacher, and is able to keep up with their classmates. Also, because of Lourdes, single parents who are exhausted after working all day and don’t have any energy left to help their children, will succeed. By volunteering, Lourdes makes sure that they don’t fall
through the cracks. Ms. Garner’s lessons can now flow without interruption. Ms. Garner knows the importance of Lourdes’s role in her classroom. Lourdes has her back, so to speak. She is someone who shows up 4 days a week and helps the teacher, without pay. If you were to talk to Lourdes, it would seem like the 1st graders are the ones who are the teachers! She expressed to me how sweet the children are and how much she loves them. She told me that she learns so many things from the children and Ms. Garner. They give her life more meaning. She also told me she thinks there is always an opportunity to learn
Pictured is the 1st grade class at St. Pancratius School, along with teacher Ms. Garner, and volunteer Lourdes Mendoza. “even from small children.” She expressed to me that volunteering drives her curiosity and keeps her young and filled
with laughter. Also, she said if she weren’t volunteering, she would probably be home “sitting in a room watching TV.” When she lived in the Philippines she was a CPA. She moved to California to be near her children. In fact, every summer, when school is out, she spends her time in San Francisco watching her grandchildren while their parents’ go to work. Anytime, especially during these hard economic times, there are so many ways to reach out and give back to our community. Lourdes expressed that a lot of her friends didn’t even know where to begin looking. Volunteering is not just for seniors. There are many opportunities right here in Lakewood. If you were to take a minute and think about what you are passionate about, no matter what your age, you will discover an endless number of opportunities. Maybe your passion is working with animals at an animal shelter. Maybe it’s helping children, or working in a library, you might even want to start an after-school program. There are volunteer opportunities at Lakewood’s Meals on Wheels, maybe your passion is in art, music, or helping with blood drives. There are opportunities to get involved with Lakewood’s Project Shepherd to help feed the less fortunate, volunteer in a local hospital, help Su Casa by advocating for abused women and children, or even jumping rope; an opportunity is waiting to be discovered. I am sure you too will realize that through serving your community, you will receive an abundance back. Begin your journey by contacting the places listed below: www.lakewoodcity.org/, www. volunteermatch.org, Burns Community Center: 562-9257512 or any place that you feel passionate about. I doubt you will be turned away!
Spring Forward!
MARCH 11th
March 2012
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Inclusive playground opens at Mayfair Park
Cutting the ribbon to open the new Tread Town Playground at Mayfair Park on February 22 are (from left to right) Council Members Steve Croft and Todd Rogers; Erin Stibal, Field Deputy to L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe; Ron Sinclair, Vice President of Tire Pros; Tom Bennett of Tom’s Tires; Mayor Larry Van Nostran, Vice Mayor Diane DuBois and Council Member Jeff Wood.
As a Playful City USA, Lakewood is home to many great play areas. Now Lakewood is also home to one of the nation’s newest inclusive playgrounds that has play equipment creatively designed so that children of all physical abilities can access it and fully enjoy it. The new Tread Town playground came to Mayfair Park courtesy of two major grants – one a $50,000 donation from the Tire Pros national network of tire retailers, and the other a $150,000 park and open space grant secured by L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe. The nonprofit organization, Boundless Playgrounds, developed the playground. The park’s surface utilizes over 400 recycled tires, creating a super-soft foundation that allows children and caregivers with and without disabilities to navigate the playground freely and safely. That’s one reason the park is
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called Tread Town. The other is the creative and modern use of old-fashioned tire swings. To be inclusive to children of all physical abilities, the playground promotes unstructured play with ramped wheelchair access to the highest platforms, and features state-of-the art solid harness swings for children who need additional back support, and a multitude of other cutting-edge fitness and educational-based activities. “Children with and without disabilities will have a great time on this Tread Town playground,” said Mayor Larry Van Nostran. “I got a kick seeing it on opening day, knowing that it will bring lots of smiles to lots of kids over the years. We are very
grateful to Tire Pros, Boundless Playgrounds and Supervisor Knabe for the generous funding for this wonderful new addition to Lakewood’s park system.” “I’m thrilled that we are able to bring a special playground like this to Lakewood -- one of only a few hundred across the nation,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. “I know the families of Lakewood and surrounding communities will enjoy this Tread Town playground for years to come.” Tread Town playgrounds provide safe, positive places for all children to play, learn and thrive,” said Dan Brown, President of Tire Pros. “We opened our first Tread Town in Huntersville, N.C. where our parent company is based, and are proud to open our newest Tread Town in California, where we have a number of Tire Pros auto service and tire dealerships,
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including Tom’s Tire Pros in the Lakewood area.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are nearly seven million children nationwide that have a disability. This prohibits them from enjoying the full experience of a traditional community playground. The new Boundless Playground will positively impact children and adults with and without disabilities for years to come. The Tread Town playground is located on the east side of Mayfair Park, near the intersection of Fidler Avenue and Bigelow Street.
Around
Town
with Robin Vanderwerff
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Around Town in March Book sale to Long Beach Lakewood benefit local libraries • The community is invited to visit the local chapter of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly.) The first meeting is free. This is a non-profit weight loss organization and the dues are very low. The group meets at Mae Boyer Park, the weigh in time is 6pm every Thursday night and the meeting is over at 7:30pm. For more information contact Margaret at (562) 788-7919. • America Association of University Women’s monthly meeting will be held on Saturday, March 10, 11am at The Center at Sycamore Plaza. Andrea Riggs will be the guest speaker exploring false ideas and misperceptions about women. For luncheon reservations call Deloris Mayuga at (562) 596-8902.
• Long Beach Boy Scout Troop 212 will be having a Huge Parking Lot Rummage Sale & E-Waste Drive on Saturday March 24, 8am-3pm at Grace First Presbyterian Church. For more information call (562) 799-4009. • Long Beach Day Nursery will have their 100 th Anniversary Golf Tournament on Monday, March 19 at Palos Verdes Golf Club. For more information call (562) 5910509. • Goodwill’s Shred-4Good will be held Tuesday March 13 from 8am to 10am and March 27 from 8am to 10am T 800 W. Pacific Coast Highway. Shred-4-Good meets the needs and satisfies government requirements for information security. For more information call Marcos Colome, (562) 843-0042.
Victoria Kendall (562) 924-2299 www.youravon.com/vkendall avonfromvictoria@yahoo.com
Surprisingly low-priced used books are available at the Friends of the Lakewood Libraries sale on Saturday, March 31, from 9am to 2pm, at the Angelo M. Iacoboni Library at 4990 Clark Avenue in the Lakewood Civic Center. Proceeds from sales support Lakewood’s two local libraries. “Members Only” sales are scheduled for Thursday, March 29 from 5pm to 6:30pm, and Friday, March 30, from 10am to 5:30pm. These are also open to all disabled patrons. Friends of the Lakewood Libraries memberships may be purchased at the door for non-member shoppers interested in attending. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own shopping bags.
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Offerings include hardback books for $1 and up and other items as marked. Great bargains are also available for paperback books, textbooks, encyclopedias, children’s books, a ‘Teacher’s Table’ and unusual books, and cassettes. For questions, call 562-866-1777.
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Thanks to our FEBRUARY Sudoku Sponsors Outback Steakhouse Foggia’s Italian Market & Deli Souplantation
Congratulations to Henry Lange, Gloria Cardenas, and Vicky Moons! They are the lucky winners of the February Sudoku. Out of the 94 correct entries, they won a meal. Henry Lange, will enjoy Outback Steakhouse, Gloria Cardenas, Foggia Italian Market and Deli and Vicky Moons will enjoy The Souplantation. What are you waiting for? Pick up your pencil and put your brain to work! To be eligible, print your name, address and phone number on a letter size (8 ½ x 11) piece of paper, tape the puzzle cut out from the newspaper with all the answer boxes completed 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 Sees Candies) The winners are drawn by random, so if you’ve been a previous winner, continue to play, you just might win again. One entry per household; the answers must be postmarked no later than Monday, March 19, 2012. The winners will be drawn Tuesday the 20th; the call to the winners will be made the same day. If a message is left, the prize must be claimed by return phone call within 48 hours (business days) or a new winner will be chosen. The name of the winners will be published in the April issue, along with a new Sudoku Puzzle.
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Community March 2012
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We are tickled pink and have no fear.. Our baby girl is finally here
Candidate Kahn supports educational vouchers Educational competition is the only thing that will force the public educational system to reform itself. Using an educational voucher, parents should be able to choose where to send their kids to school--
Jordyn Marie
born on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 9:58 a.m. 7 lbs., 9 ozs.
~ Brian & Brittany Eidsness ~
Eating raw cookie dough is a no-no! By Dr. Larry Omo
We all do it. Just before you put the cookies in the oven, you take a little sample. Most mothers tell their children to keep their hands out of the cookie dough because it will give them a tummy ache. Scientists now warn that raw cookie dough can carry food-borne pathogens like E. Coli. The Journal of Clinical Infectious Disease recently published a study that reported an outbreak of E. Coli in 30 states with 77 illnesses. Of these 77 people, nearly 35 were so sick they had to be hospitalized and 30 died. According to Industry Leaders Magazine: The lead author of the study, Dr. Karen Neil, a medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, “What our report shows is that you shouldn’t eat cookie dough raw, no matter where it comes from. It’s supposed to be baked.” Many think the E. Coli came from the eggs in the cookie dough. But, as it turns out, it wasn’t the eggs or sugar but the raw flour that contained the E. Coli. That means, even if you are making your cookies from scratch, it is still possible to be exposed to E. Coli by eating raw cookie dough. Even though the chances are small that you’ll come into contact with E.Coli, you should still avoid eating raw dough. E. Coli does not just cause a simple stomachache, it is serious and people die. Dr. Larry Omo, D.C. is a doctor of chiropractic specializing in neck and back pain relief care for 30 years in Lakewood. His office is located at 5220 Clark Ave. #210 and he can be reached at 562-867-0993.
Sanford Kahn, candidate for Congress in the new 47 District, came out in favor of educational vouchers. We have been throwing more and more money at education and look where it has gotten us. There hardly has been any improvement in the education monolith. Education doesn’t need more money; it needs more competition.
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whether it be public, private or parochial. Parents pay for the educational voucher with their taxes so they should spend it as they see fit. The parents know best.
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March 2012