News
Lakewood Community 30,000 delivered to Lakewood and portions of Long Beach
Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
www.lakewoodchamber.com
Volume 27 Number 5
The thrill of the ride is waiting for you at Lakewood’s Pan Am Fiesta!
May 2011
Join F&M Bank in donating food items to Project Shepherd Family fun is the hallmark of Lakewood’s oldest community event.
Lakewood’s oldest community event, the Pan American Festival, begins its three-day weekend run at Mayfair Park on Friday evening, May 6 at 5pm. The family-friendly fiesta continues on Saturday and wraps up Sunday evening. The fiesta features carnival amusement rides throughout the weekend, and an atmosphere in tune with a fiesta spirit.
The fiesta’s traditional pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Pan American Association, will be offered on Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 10:30am for $4.00. Sunday is Mother’s Day and breakfast and a gift are free for all moms, along with live entertainment and fun shopping at numerous craft booths. Rides, music, dancing, food and art
Opening night includes an evening of carnival rides on Friday, May 6 from 5pm to 10pm, and continues on Saturday from 11am to 10pm, and on Sunday from 11am to 9pm. Free entertainment begins Saturday at 11am with Mayfair High School youth bands and choral groups. The fiesta’s opening ceremonies are scheduled for noon. Cont’d page 3
Me-n-Ed’s makes music memories for the past 25 years By Robin Vanderwerff
Big Al enjoys playing piano for the customers at Me-n-Ed’s Pizza Parlor in Lakewood. Lakewood Community News #24 Lakewood Center Mall Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 531-9733
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Many Lakewood residents have had the privilege of stopping by Me-n-Ed’s Pizza on a Friday night, and have listened to Big Al’s wide array of musical periods and styles. Al recalls his father urging him to play piano when he was just a child. His father told him the skill would be an asset to have. The piano did not come naturally to Al, he had to practice long and hard. He took classical piano lessons, and would listen to all the big band music and great singers of the early 1950s. He was very impressed with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Rodger Williams, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Patty Page, Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck. After a 20-year career at Boeing as a Senior Buyer on the C-17 program, Al retired. Playing piano became his career of choice. He also plays piano in retirement homes; his special charity is Long Beach Veterans Hospital. Al has Cont’d. page 10
Local kids help out with organizing donations for Project Shepherd.
Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M) Lakewood office will hold a special food drive in the month of May to help support local families in need. F&M will be collecting food/household items starting May 1st to donate to Project Shepherd, a non-profit organization that is the combined effort of the Rotary Club of Lakewood and the City of Lakewood. Providing emergency assistance to families in desperate need all year long, Project Shepherd receives tremendous support from the community during the holiday season but supplies run low during the summer months. Needed items include: tuna or other canned meats, peanut butter, rice, pasta, and cereal, and personal care items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and dish soap. Farmers & Merchants Bank invites you to be a part of its community effort to support those who are struggling to survive amidst the economic uncertainty. Project Shepherd has helped 348 families (1,159 people) this past year. F&M encourages community members to continue to look for and create opportunities to give year-round. To participate, bring all donations to the F&M Lakewood office at 5101 Lakewood Blvd. anytime between 9am and 5pm. The food drive will culminate with a special BBQ hosted by F&M on June 4th from 12 3pm. For more details, please contact Larry Kirk at (562) 602-8378.
2011 Business expo
Saturday, May 21, 2011 10am-3pm
Showcase Your Goods or Services and reach an audience of thousands!
To Register: 562-531-9733 See page13 for further details.
Deadline to Register MAY 19TH