Lakewood
News
Community 30,000 delivered to Lakewood and portions of Long Beach
Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
Volume 29 Number 11
www.lakewoodnews.org / www.lakewoodchamber.com
Tick Tock it’s twelve o’clock... it’s time to shop until you drop!
Stuffing and pumpkin pie take a back seat to early-bird deals at Lakewood Center when it opens its doors for “Midnight Madness” holiday shopping at 12:01am Friday morning, November 29. “Black Friday is ‘Day 1 of the
holiday season’ for us and we want shoppers to come out,” said Lakewood Center spokesperson Annette Norwood. “Special drawings and holiday deals will help our customers complete their holiday shopping list early.”
On November 29 there will be a DJ in the center court along with coffee and pastries from Panera Bread. All mall stores are expected to be open, including the Community Safety Center. Lakewood Center, L.A. County’s
Lakewood takes care of its own through Project Shepherd
Project Shepherd volunteers get food together for families in need. Project Shepherd are swinging into gathering donations Lakewood families
volunteers high gear to assist in need.
Lakewood Community News #24 Lakewood Center Mall Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 531-9733
They are continuing a 41-year commitment of helping residents in need during the holiday season. Last year 517 families were PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Santa Fe Spgs, CA PERMIT NO. 29
served. They’re asking for community support to do it again this year. Monetary help is needed, as are simple food staples like canned meat and fish, canned fruit, pasta, rice and cereal, peanut butter and canned soup. Basics like toilet paper, laundry detergent and toothpaste are also welcome. The Lakewood community’s tradition of neighbors-helpingneighbors makes a huge difference during Project Shepherd’s seasonal push. It’s also a key to sustaining the program’s everyday mission of a year-round emergency food pantry providing emergency assistance to Lakewood families in tough circumstances. Efforts in 2012 helped 1,980 individuals living in Lakewood, many of them children. They were able to enjoy the holidays when they otherwise lacked the food, gifts and toys that many of us take for granted. Please help families this year by making donations of food and toys, including participation in the Project Shepherd Teddy Bear Tree program, or volunteer by calling the Burns Community (Cont’d. on Pg. 10)
second largest mall complex, is also offering “no fees” on gift card purchases from midnight to 3am. There will be hourly gift card giveaways with the WAVE radio station from midnight to 4am. Along with Black Friday deals from national chain stores, dozens of Lakewood Center merchants are offering deals like free gifts and discounts of 15% to 50% off. Deals will be on hand from traditional department stores like Macy’s and J.C. Penney to discount outlets like Best Buy, Nordstrom Rack and Forever 21, to family shopping destinations like Target, Sports Authority and Costco. The center’s 100-plus smaller retailers will be vying for local “Shop Lakewood” business too. Check the mall’s website for news on deals and event information at www. shoplakewoodcenter.com. It features a special page of specials and sales that includes both retail establishments and restaurants along “Restaurant Row.”
November 2013
Holiday events at Lakewood Center Santa’s Arrival
Saturday, November 9th, 9am at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Restaurant Have breakfast with Santa and support Lakewood Project Shepherd. Red Robin and Lakewood Center have teamed up to support our local food bank. Your $5 donation, along with a canned good donation, goes to support Lakewood families in need. Your donation entitles you to a Red Robin goodie bag and one free photo with the big guy from the North Pole! Purchase tickets while they last at Guest Services located near Macy’s. For more information call 562-633-0290.
More photo opportunities with Santa From
November 9th to December 24th The mall’s Center Court features a chance to visit Santa and create a lasting memory with a photo with Santa! (Cont’d. on Pg. 11)
Lakewood youth beats odds and looks forward to college
Sheriff Leroy Baca and Lakewood Resident Stephany Ruiz at the recent Sheriff’s Youth Foundation’s 28th Annual Gala.
Stephany Ruiz was determined to rise above the label of “at-risk youth,” creating a positive life for herself, thanks to her involvement with the Lakewood Youth Activities League (YAL). Because of that determination, Ruiz has earned the inaugural Sheriff Leroy D. Baca Youth Scholarship Award, receiving $1,000 to help pay for post-high school education. Before her participation in YAL activities, Ruiz led a chaotic life and suffered both emotionally and mentally when her father came back into her life. Since then, Ruiz says the YAL has given her a sense of relief and the strength to work through these difficult times. She now looks forward to attending college and hopes to thank all those that helped her through the struggles of her teenage years. Ruiz was one of 15 honorees to be awarded scholarships at the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation’s 28th annual “Salute to Youth” Gala.