Business Focus - December 2017

Business Focus Chamber Board President Laurie Perschbacher celebrates Core Evolution’s anniversary with owners Michael and Helen Villareal

DECEMBER 2017

Connecting the business and residential communities.

The Hernandez family including Konner, Kevin, Patty, Keith and Angel celebrate their new real estate office

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE WHITTIER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

VOL. 23 NO. 12

Annual Christmas Parade celebrates community enjoy some delicious fresh popped kettle corn, fresh hot mini donuts, hot chocolate and champurado and other treats. Bring your gift list and stop by participating businesses and shop local.

With many award winning restaurants, don’t forget to make reservations at your favorite eatery. View the list online at whittieruptown.org/directory-category/ restaurant/ and call in advance.

The following week on Saturday, December 9 th , the Whittier Uptown Association and Friends of Uptown are proud to present The 64th Annual Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and is expected to end at 12 noon. “This is the biggest annual event in the City of Whittier and we are excited to host it again this year,” explained Whittier Uptown Association President Rose Dreislein. The theme this year is “Candy Lane Parade,” an inspiration taken from childhood board game Candy Land.

Each year, thousands of spectators line up to enjoy their school marching bands, equestrian riders, vintage cars, dancers, cheer teams, dignitaries and other fun and exciting entries.

The parade begins at Hadley St., travels south on Greenleaf Ave. to Mar Vista St. and ends at Washington Ave. The parade will also be filmed for broadcasting on local Channel 3 TV through the end of December.

This year, the Grand Marshal selection

pays respect to our fallen Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer. Officer Boyer’s parents, Nancy and Don Clark, who are residents of the City of Whittier, will be the Community Grand Marshal. The Celebrity Grand Marshal is CBS anchorman Juan Fernandez who has been with the local station for over 20 years. A special appearance will be made by the Los Angeles Laker Girls. More special guests are still to be confirmed with the grand finale bringing someone extra special from the North Pole.

Come hungry as many restaurants will be open early. The best viewing areas at this free community event fill up quickly. Bring your chair and blanket

to keep warm. Stick around after the parade and have lunch and do some holiday shopping in the Historic Uptown business district.

Don’t forget to save your receipts to be entered into the Whittier Chamber’s Shop Home for the Holidays drawing to win one of the 25 Days of Giveaways prizes or the grand prize drawing of $1,000!

For more information on the Shop Home for the Holidays campaign, please visit www.whittierchamber.com.

For more information on these events and how you can participate, volunteer, or sponsor, please contact Olivia Rios at the WUA at (562) 696-2662 or info@WhittierUptown.org.

New Employment Laws for 2018 ACRO

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It wouldn’t be the holidays in Whittier without 2 signature events – the Holiday Sonata and the Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade.

The 25th Annual Holiday Sonata, Uptown Whittier’s kick-off to the Christmas season, will be held on Saturday, December 2 nd from 4-9 p.m. Bring your family and friends to an evening filled with holiday charm. Enjoy an enchanting evening with four beautifully decorated horse-drawn carriages, a vintage double-decker bus ride, live musical performances by Whittier school choirs, plus exciting dance performances.

Kids and adults alike will have a delightful time at Santa’s Village where photos can be taken with Old St. Nick and his elves. A professional photographer will be onsite to capture the memories. While you’re waiting,

Let’s talk new California employment laws for 2018.

As anticipated, the 2017 legislative session produced new laws that will affect California employers’ day-to-day operations and policies in 2018 and beyond. Of all the bills presented to him, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed 859 and vetoed 118.

Some of the new laws , such as a small business paren tal leave law and new hiring restrictions, make significant changes to California’s legal landscape.

Other new laws make small changes to different parts of existing law or may affect only employers in specific industries.

Unless specified, al l new legislation goes into effect on January 1, 2018.

Although several new employment laws were passed, CalChamber successfully worked to stop a number of harmful laborrelated proposals.

Leaves of Absence and Benefits An important new law requires small

employers to provide new parents with up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave.

Other laws affect state wage replacement benefits.

Parental Leave for Small Employers SB 63, the New Parent Leave Act, requires small businesses with 20 or more employees to provide eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave to bond with a new child within one year of the child’s birth, adoption or foster care placement. SB 63 only requires employers to provide parental leave; it does not require employers to provide leave for other reasons, such as a family member’s medical issue. The Act covers all employers with 20 or more employees.

To be eligible for the new parent leave, an employee must: • Have worked for the employer more than 12 months; • Have worked at least 1,250 hours during the prior 12-month period; and • Work at a worksite where there are at

Join us as we ring in 2018 Sunday, December 31, 2017

at 7 p.m.

Parnell Park • 15390 Lambert Rd, Whiƫer, CA 90604 $55 per person • $40 for Founda on Members | Tickets can be purchased at Parnell Park

least 20 employees within a 75-mile radius.

This new law will have the greatest impact on employers with 20 to 49 employees who are not currently required to provide baby bonding leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act or the state California Family Rights Act. If an employee takes this leave, an employer must maintain and pay for coverage under a group health plan at the same level and conditions that coverage would have been provided if the employee had continued working.

Before the leave starts, an employer must provide the employee with a guarantee of reinstatement to the same or comparable position. Failure to provide the guarantee will be deemed a violation of the law, as if the employer refused to provide leave.

Under SB 63, an employer can be sued if an employee alleges that the Continued on page 3

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DECEMBER 2017

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2017-2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Laurie Perschbacher MAP Property Management & Property Services Immediate Past President Chris Hardeman, DialMed Home Care President-elect & Vice President, Networking & Marketing Gary Lee Martinez, The Traveling Traveler Vice President, Special Events Trese Childs, DoubleTree by Hilton Vice President, Business Information Debra Legan, PIH Health Vice President, Administration Elizabeth Martinez, Republic Services Vice President, Membership LaDonna Munier, Friendly Hills Bank

December is upon us in full holiday grandeur! This is my favorite holiday season where giving is better than receiving. Our family does give to many local charity events during the year but this time of year is especially important for us to give back to our community.

The Whittier Chamber’s Shop Home for the Holidays campaign has started with great success! All businesses in Whittier will benefit this year along with all Chamber members. If you shop in Whittier and turn in your receipt valued at $20 or more, you will receive one ticket for the drawings. If that business is a Chamber member, you will receive two tickets. The grand prize is $1,000! The winning ticket will be drawn on Friday, December 22 at 2 p.m. Along with a chance to win $1,000, you will also be entered to win one prize every business day between November 20 and December 22 in the “25 Days of Giveaways.” These gifts, generously donated by our Chamber members, are valued at $25 or more. To accommodate those who work during

Vice President, Finance Bryan Tabizon, Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary

Richard Scrivanich

DIRECTORS Leighton Anderson, Bewley, Lassleben & Miller Cheryl Estep, State Farm Insurance Sandra Hahn, Crepes & Grapes Café Oscar Hernandez, Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of Whittier John Hsu, STC Management Krista Lesa, The Quad at Whittier Greg Nicodemus, Credit Union of Southern California Bonnie Watje, ACRO Printing, Inc.

STAFF Executive Director Carol Crosby Associate Executive Director Lyn Carty Director of Membership Luis Regalado Member Relations Coordinator Jessica Reyes Bookkeeper Amber Lawrence Special Events Coordinator Courtney French Whittier Chamber Business Focus Official monthly publication of the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce This publication is mailed monthly to all licensed businesses in the city of Whittier, all Whittier Chamber members and 4,500 Whittier residents in selected areas.

Papers are also distributed via various community locations such as Whittier Library, Community Center, Senior Center, City Hall, etc.

Total monthly readership is 20,000.

We welcome comments, press releases and community interest stories. All submissions are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

The Whittier Chamber reserves the right to approve and edit submitted material.

The Business Focus is also an excellent vehicle within which to advertise! For current advertising rates or to submit an article, email info@whittierchamber.com or call (562) 698-9554.

Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce 8158 Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602 (562) 698-9554 • (562) 693-2700 FAX www.whittierchamber.com info@whittierchamber.com

the day, the Chamber office will remain open until 7:00 pm one day a week so you are able to drop off your receipts.

The dates are listed on the Chamber’s website. Remember, this promotion is open to everyone to participate – you, your employees, family and friends. It’s also a great way to market your business this holiday season and gain some additional exposure.

If you are like me and have already started your holiday shopping, please consider shopping local. Whittier has some amazing places to visit for unique gift giving ideas like Oasis Jewelry in the Whittier Marketplace (corner of Hadley and Whittier Blvd). They have something in your price range so go check them out and ask for Manuel or Elisa and tell them Laurie sent you! Don’t forget about the new stores in the Friendly Hills Marketplace such as The Pizza Press, Nekter Juice Bar, Orchard Supply Hardware, Home Goods and Ulta. Take the time to spend with family and friends during this wonderful holiday

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Vice President, Community Affairs Tom Rios, Brookdale Uptown Whittier

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & PROPERTY SERVICES

Laurie Perschbacher, President season. While shopping online is easy, small business owners are the foundation of our community and need our constant support to keep their doors open. We just celebrated Small Business Saturday and I want to encourage everyone to continue shopping small businesses throughout the year.

The New Year is right around the corner and we at the Whittier Chamber have new events for you to attend in January. Please join us on Wednesday January 17th for our first Wake Up Whittier of 2018 at Rio Hondo College! It will be a fabulous time on this great campus. Our first major event is our Business Expo where you can be part of Whittier’s Wild West on January 24th. Be sure to contact Courtney so you can learn how this can get your business name out to the community.

Have a wonderful holiday season and I will see everyone at the Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade on December 9th.

TAX TIPS

Tax breaks to those who do volunteer work for charity

If you are a volunteer worker for a • If you use your car while performing rather than directly to a charity. One way services for a charitable organization around this is for the charity to pay for the charity, you should be aware that your y o u m a y d e d u c t y o u r a c t u a l expenses, itself, and then be reimbursed generosity may entitle you to some unreimbursed expenses directly by you (or you can make the donation tax breaks. attributable to the services, such as before the expense is incurred). If this Although no tax deduction is allowed gas and oil costs. Alternatively, you isn’t possible, you can safeguard your for the value of services you perform for a may deduct a flat 14¢ per mile for deductions as follows: charitable organization, some deductions charitable use of your car. In either • Get written documentation from the are permitted for out-of-pocket costs you charity about the nature of your event, you may also deduct parking incur while performing the services (subject volunteering activity and the need fees and tolls. to the deduction limit that generally applies for related expenses to be paid. For to charitable contributions). This includes • You can deduct the cost of a uniform example, if you travel out of town as a you wear when you do volunteer work items such as: volunteer, get a letter from the charity for the charity, as long as the uniform • Away-from-home travel expenses while explaining why you’re needed at the has no general utility (e.g., a volunteer performing services for a charity (outout-of-town location. ambulance worker’s jumpsuit). You of-pocket round-trip travel cost, taxi can also deduct the cost of cleaning • I f y o u a r e o u t - o f - p o c k e t f o r fares and other costs of transportation substantial amounts, you should the uniform. between the airport or station and hotel, submit a statement of expenses and, No charitable deduction is allowed for plus lodging and meals). However, preferably, a copy of the receipts, to these expenses aren’t deductible a contribution of $250 or more unless you the charity, and arrange for the charity if there’s a significant element of substantiate the contribution by a written to acknowledge in writing the amount personal pleasure associated with the acknowledgment from the charitable of the contribution. travel, or if your services for a charity organization. The acknowledgment generally must include the amount of • You should maintain detailed records involve lobbying activities. of your out-of-pocket expenses— • The cost of entertaining others on cash, a description of any property receipts plus a written record of the behalf of a charity, such as wining and contributed, and whether you got time, place, amount, and charitable dining a potential large contributor (but anything in return for your contribution. purpose of the expense. the cost of your own entertainment or This presents a problem where you as a volunteer make a contribution on behalf of meal is not deductible).

If you have any questions regarding the above discussed topic or any other tax matter, please feel free to give me a call at (562) 698-9891.

INDEX

President’s Message................ 2 Tax Tips.................................... 2 Mayor’s Message...................... 4 10-4 Tips from the WPD ........... 5 Community Celebrations........... 5 Wake Up Whittier ...................... 7 What’s Cool In Your School .... 11 Member Marketplace .............. 14 Restaurant Row ...................... 15 Calendar ................................. 15 Around Town ........................... 16 Tasty Tuesday ......................... 17 Renewing Members ................ 19 Networking Quote ................... 19 Milestone Members................. 19

DECEMBER 2017

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Employment Laws continued from front page employer: • Did not provide the 12 weeks of protected leave; • Failed to return the employee to the same or a comparable position; • Failed to maintain benefits while the employee was out on leave; or • Took any adverse employment action against the employee for taking the leave.

Paid Family Leave and SDI Benefits Keep in mind that a bill from 2016 affects Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefits starting on January 1, 2018. This bill, AB 908, increases the amount of PFL or SDI benefits an employee can receive to either 60 percent or 70 percent of earnings, depending on the employee’s income.

There will still be a maximum weekly benefit limit on the amount received.

AB 908 also removes the current seven-day waiting period that exists before an employee is eligible to receive PFL benefits (it is not removed from SDI).

Employees who are eligible for leave under the New Parent Leave Act will be able to apply for PFL wage replacement benefits.

Unemployment Insurance Under AB 1695, domestic service employers will no longer be allowed to file wage reports by telephone.

Also remember that a law from 2015 requires employers to electronically submit all employment tax returns, wage reports and payroll tax deposits t o the Employment Development Department (EDD). The requirement became effective on January 1, 2017, for employers with 10 or more employees. Beginning January 1, 2018, all employers will be required to electronically file and pay.

Hiring Practices and Enforcement Employers will see significant changes to their hiring practices in 2018, including applicant selection processes and compliance with Form I-9 and immigration laws.

Ban-the-Box Law AB 1008 is “ban-the-box” legislation that prohibits employers with five or more employees from asking about criminal history information on job applications and from inquiring about or considering criminal history at any time before a conditional offer of employment has been made. There are limited exemptions for certain positions, such as those where a criminal background check is required by federal, state or local law.

Once an employer has made a conditional offer of employment, it may seek certain criminal history information; however, some criminal history information, such as sealed or expunged convictions and juvenile crimes, is still off limits.

Continued on page 7

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DECEMBER 2017

City Of Whittier

UPDATE MAYOR

MAYOR’S MESSAGE I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and joyful Thanksgiving break with your family and friends. The holidays are officially upon us and 2018 is within our sight. We’ve been fortunate to watch new development take shape within our city and big names join our retail ranks over the past year, and yet we still hold on to the small town charm that continues to make us “Ye Friendly Towne.” All of the former auto dealerships and many other opportunity sites in Whittier have been redeveloped and repurposed making way for new housing communities and stores like Orchard Supply Hardware, Home Goods, and BevMo. Expect to see economic development efforts persist and more new businesses open their doors in the coming year.

In addition to the changes we’ve seen along Whittier Boulevard, there’s a lot happening in Uptown. Sweet Tooth Yogurt & Boba, Turnbull’s Tavern and Vaka Burger are all serving hungry guests, and local favorite Seta will be undergoing a major renovation and welcoming a new chef in the coming weeks. 2017 also marks the formation of a new Community Benefit District in Uptown, and we look forward to

working with a new board of property owners on revitalizing and maintaining our historic downtown area. Combined with proposed streetscape beautification and the construction of a new multi-deck parking structure, Uptown is sure to be attracting new shoppers, diners and visitors for years to come!

‘Tis the season for shopping! Last month the City Council presented a proclamation to the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce announcing our participation as an official Small Business Saturday partner. Thank you to all of you who supported the campaign during the Thanksgiving weekend by purchasing gifts from fellow local business owners – a little bit goes a long way. We are also proud to support the Chamber’s annual Shop Home for the Holidays program running now through Christmas. Turn in your receipts from local businesses to the Chamber office for your chance to win prizes each week and the grand prize of $1,000. This is a neat way to support each other and boost local sales tax dollars during the busiest shopping season of the year.

As a reminder, shopping in the City of Whittier has many benefits. Not only

Joe Vinatieri

do you save time and gas by shopping locally rather than driving outside the city to places like Brea or Pasadena, but who doesn’t enjoy more personalized service from one of your fellow chamber members and local merchants? Most importantly, a portion of the sales tax helps fund police, parks and other community programs that make Whittier a great place to live. This also goes for dining and purchasing gift cards at some of our great local restaurants. A thriving local economy depends on our collective participation – remember to SHOP WHITTIER this holiday season and give the gift that keeps on giving!

Don’t miss the Holiday Sonata taking place on Saturday, December 2, 2017.

This annual event will take you back in time with old-fashioned hospitality, carolers and horse drawn carriage rides throughout Uptown from 5 to 9 p.m.

You can also enjoy bringing the kids for a special visit and photo with Santa Claus. Join your family and neighbors for the 64th Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Get in the spirit and show your support for the many local organizations and students that

participate in this annual community event. For more information on other holiday happenings in Uptown, call the Whittier Uptown Association at (562) 696-2662.

Thank you to each of you for making Whittier such a great place to live, work, shop, and play.

Season’s greetings and cheers to a prosperous 2018!

Celebrate

Parnell Park 15390 Lambert Rd, Whiƫer, CA 90604 $55 per person • $40 for Founda on Members Tickets can be purchased at Parnell Park Checks made to: Whiƫer Community FoundaƟon Mailed to: Whiƫer Community FoundaƟon, c/o City of Whiƫer 13230 Penn Street, Whiƫer, CA 90602

For more informaƟon please call 562-945-9638

Family Oriented • Dancing • Casino Games • Raffle Prizes • Dinner • ...And More!

DECEMBER 2017

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WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

City Of Whittier

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ps from i t th 4

Captain Michael Davis Laptop computers and handheld mobile computing smart phones such as Iphones, Ipads and Samsung devices have become popular necessities for both business and personal use.

Unfortunately, laptops and smart phones are a hot commodity for thieves. When identifying items that are desirable for criminals, we use the acronym “CRAVED”, which stands for Concealable, Removable, Available, Valuable, Enjoyable, and Disposable.

You can pretty much check off all of the above for mobile computing devices.

The theft of a mobile computing device presents a two dimensional problem. First, the theft creates a monetary loss as laptops and smart phones are expensive items. The second problem, and perhaps the more devastating one, is the personal, critical, and business sensitive data that ends up in the hands of a criminal.

Smart phones carry a host of personal information ranging from email account access to mobile banking and social networking sites. For sake of convenience, many smart phone users allow the device to remember their passwords, which allows instant access to the applications. At the hands of a criminal, such unsecure access is dangerous and in most likelihood will result in identity theft. Laptop computers usually contain sensitive business data, financial information, contracts, and at times, instant unrestricted access to banking, company and personal websites, where the password has been set to be “remembered” by the computer.

Productivity is another victim of a stolen laptop or smart phone. Should an employee lose his or her laptop, that employee’s ability to work will become immediately compromised, often for days. A Department of Justice report on theft noted a case where eight laptops used by key employees were stolen, including those in the firm’s finance and engineering departments. It took three days for replacement units and back-up data discs to be found before

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UPDATE

Mobile Computing Security the business could resume operations.

Credent Technologies Research found that, in 50% of organizations participating in a this survey, employees who had lost laptops were unproductive for two weeks before they were able to resume regular activities.

When customers learn of a data breach, their faith in the company incurring the loss can be shaken. They may shift their business to competitors. According to a Ponemon survey, data breaches exposing customer data can cost a company hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in lost business. In a similar study, researchers found data breaches seriously affected corporate reputation, corporate brand, and customer retention. When notified of a breach, almost 20% of customers terminated their relationship with the company. Another 40% considered termination.

Companies and individuals need to take proactive steps to prevent theft of mobile computing devices and put in place practices that will prevent access to sensitive information if the device is lost or stolen. Smart phones should always employ an automatic key-lock function that requires a password or fingerprint to access the phone. Any data access applications or access to password protected websites should not be set to automatic log on, but rather require the password or a fingerprint for every access instance.

Laptop computers should never be left visible inside of a vehicle or placed in a trunk while in a public location.

Thieves regularly look for individuals who place items in trunks upon parking.

Whenever possible, laptops should not be carried in obvious laptop bags and not be left unattended. Inventory of laptops and mobile computing devices should be conducted on a regular basis.

There are many manufacturers of both physical security devices and virtual security software available online for an added layer of protection. Finally, backing up important data to another device or using a secure online remote backup service will assist with the timely recovery of important data.

Michael Davis is a Captain with the Whittier Police Department and oversees the Department’s Patrol Division. He can be reached at (562) 567-9253 or via email at mdavis@cityofwhittier.org

COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS

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Core Evvoolutionn ow wnner e s He Hele l n an a d Mi Mich chae ch ael Villarrea eall annd thei e r st staf afff cu cutt thee rirbb bbon o to on cele leebr braat ate th t ei eirr 2n 2 d yearr in bu b si s ne n ss

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DECEMBER 2017

DECEMBER 2017

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Employment Laws continued from page 3 If an employer intends not to hire the applicant because of a prior conviction, the employer must first conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether the conviction has a direct and adverse relationship with specific job duties that justifies denying employment.

The employer must consider specified factors in making this assessment.

Any preliminary decision not to hire because of a conviction history requires written notice to the applicant, who must be given the opportunity to respond. A specific timeline and process must be followed. The employer must consider any information provided by the applicant before making a final decision.

If the employer makes a final decision to deny employment in whole or in part because of the criminal conviction, written notice to the applicant is again required. Specific information must be included in the final determination notice.

Take note that the Department of Fair Employment and Housing passed criminal history regulations earlier this year. To the extent that this new law conflicts with those earlier regulations, the new law takes precedence.

In addition to AB 1008, Governor Brown signed a number of criminal justice reform laws, including SB 393, which authorizes record sealing and removes barriers to employment for those arrested but never convicted of a crime.

No More Salary History Questions AB 168 bans employers from asking about a job applicant’s salary history, including information on compensation and benefits. Employers also are banned from seeking the information through an agent, such as a third-party recruiter.

This new law also prohibits employers from relying on salary history information as a factor in determining whether to hire the applicant or how much to pay

the applicant. However, an employer may consider salary information that is voluntarily disclosed by the applicant without any prompting.

AB 168 further requires an employer to provide a job applicant, upon reasonable request, with the pay scale for the position.

Worksite Immigration Enforcement and Protections The Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450) — part of a package of bills the governor signed to create a “sanctuary state” — provides workers with protection from immigration enforcement while on the job.

AB 450 prohibits employers from: • Providing federal immigration enforcement agents access to nonpublic areas of a business without a judicial warrant; and • Providing agents access to employee records without a subpoena or judicial warrant. This prohibition does not apply to Form I-9 or other documents for which a Notice of Inspection was provided to the employer.

However, employers must follow specific requirements related to Form I-9 inspections.

• An employer that provides access in violation of AB 450 can be fined anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 for a first violation and $5,000 to $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

• Regarding Form I-9 inspections, AB 450 requires employers to: • Post a notice to all current employees informing them of any federal immigration agency’s inspections of Forms I-9 or other employment records within 72 hours of receiving Notice of Inspection. AB 450 requires that the notice contain specific information about the inspection and that it be posted in the language normally used to communicate employment-related information.

Employers must comply with this Continued on page 8

WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

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WAKE UP WHITTIER

The Chamber welcomed new members at Wake Up Whittier including Sal Carlos from SD Carlos and Associates, Brenda Velasquez from Whittier Place, Michael Goff from So Cal Office Technologies, Mario Navarro from New York Life, Nina Marroquin and Barbara Glennon from America’s Choice Signs and Ambassador Chair Tom Guerrero

Gabby from Interfaith Food Center receives a raffle prize from Ambassador Judy Bradt from A Special Event

Ambassador of the Year Ross Gile from DigiCal delivers a raffle prize to Teri Bazen from Norwalk-La Mirada Plumbing

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The Whittier Community Foundation revealed the Dancing with the Whittier Stars line up for 2018 including David Gonzalez, Elizabeth Martinez, Gina Di Pierro, Susan Ayala and Dr. Manuel Urteaga. Other dancers not pictured include Cheryl Estep, Tiffany Purunjian, Officer Angie Balzano, Joey Duran, Don Mrla, Marc Patterson and Battalion Chief Brent Hayward

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Introducing our Business Expo theme, Whittier’s Wild West, were committee members Vanessa Monzon from State Farm Insurance - Cheryl Estep Agency, Trese Childs from DoubleTree Hotel Whittier, Realtor Rob Marin, and Expo chairs Susan Ayala from Athens Services and Theresa Oliver from ARCPoint Labs

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WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

Employment Laws continued from page 7 posting requirement beginning January 1, 2018, even though the Labor Commissioner has until July 1, 2018, to create a model posting template. The notice must also be given to the collective bargaining representative, if any.

• Provide a copy of the federal Notice of Inspection to an affected employee upon reasonable request.

• Give each affected employee and the employee’s collective bargaining representative a copy of the inspection results and a written notice of the employer’s and employee’s obligations arising from the inspection. This must be done within 72 hours of receiving the results and specific information must be included. An “affected employee” is one identified by the inspection results as potentially lacking work authorization or having document deficiencies.

An employer that fails to follow these notice requirements can be fined between $2,000 to $5,000 for a first violation and $5,000 to $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

This bill also makes it unlawful for employers to reverify the employment eligibility of current employees in a time or manner not allowed by federal employment eligibility verification laws. Federal law already prohibits unlawful reverification practices, such as reverification of unexpired documentation.

However, this bill adds an additional state civil penalty of up to $10,000.

Alcohol Servers AB 1221 requires bartenders and other alcohol servers to receive mandatory training on alcohol responsibility and to obtain an alcohol server certification.

Businesses with a license to serve alcohol must ensure that each alcohol server they hire or employ has the certification. The training will include such topics as how alcohol impacts the body, drunk driving laws and how to prevent service to intoxicated patrons. These requirements go into effect in 2021, after the course is developed by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Protections Several new laws expand employee protections for 2018. Many of these laws focus on gender equality and gender identity/gender expression protections.

Harassment Prevention Training: Gender Identity/Gender Expression, Sexual Orientation California employers with 50 or more employees must provide supervisors with two hours of sexual harassment prevention training every two years.

Under SB 396, covered employers will have to make sure that any mandatory training course they use also discusses harassment based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

WWW.WHITTIERCHAMBER.COM The training content must include practical examples intended to address these types of harassment.

SB 396 also requires employers to display a poster on transgender rights that the Department of Fair Employment and Housing will develop.

Gender identification: Female, Male or Nonbinary With the signing of SB 179, California became the first state in the nation to allow residents to choose from three equally recognized gender options — female, male or nonbinary — on state-issued identification cards, birth certificates and driver’s licenses.

For changes to birth certificates, the law is effective on September 1, 2018.

For changes to driver’s licenses, the law is effective January 1, 2019.

The bill also makes it easier for individuals to change their gender on legal documents. Individuals will no longer have to show that they have undergone “clinically appropriate treatment.” Instead, an individual can make the legal gender change by attesting, under penalty of perjury, that the request is to conform the person’s legal gender to the person’s gender identity and not for a fraudulent purpose. This portion of the bill is effective September 1, 2018.

Employment Discrimination: Gender Neutral Language AB 1556 revises California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) by deleting gender-specific personal pronouns in California’s anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, pregnancy disability and family/medical leave laws by changing “he” or “she,” for example, to “the person” or “the employee.”

Also remember that FEHA transgender regulations from earlier this year require employers to honor an employee’s request to be identified by a preferred gender, name or pronoun, including gender-neutral pronouns.

Fair Pay Act Expansion AB 46 extends California’s Fair Pay Act — which prohibits wage discrimination on the basis of gender, race and ethnicity — to cover public employers; existing law only covers private employers. While public employers will now be covered, the Labor Code provision that makes willful violation of the Fair Pay Act a misdemeanor only applies to a private employer, not a public employer.

Data Collection: Sexual Orientation AB 677 requires various state departments — including the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Department of Industrial Relations, EDD, and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency — to collect voluntary, self-identified information pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity in the regular course of collecting other types of demographic data. These labor agencies must comply as early as possible, but no later than July 1, 2019. State entities may also collect the information from a third-party, including a

private employer, that already provides aggregated data to a state department.

LGBT Rights for Long-Term Care Facility Residents SB 219 enacts the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Long-Term Care Facility Resident’s Bill of Rights, strengthening anti-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals living in long-term care facilities. Under the bill, it is unlawful for a facility or facility staff to take certain actions because of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status, such as: • Willfully and repeatedly fail to use a resident’s preferred name or pronoun; • Deny admission to a long-term care facility; • Transfer or refuse to transfer a resident within a facility or to another facility; • Evict or discharge a resident from a facility; • Prohibit residents from wearing clothes that are allowed for any other resident; and • Restrict the right to associate with other residents.

Facilities are required to post a notice about the protections (the exact language of the notice is specified in the bill).

SB 219 also imposes recordkeeping requirements on facilities.

Human Trafficking Certain California businesses are required by law to post a notice containing information about human trafficking and slavery. AB ۲٦۰ extends the list of covered businesses that must post the notice to include hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns, as defined.

And SB 225 requires that the human trafficking notice include not only the number individuals can call for services and support, but also the new number for those who wish to send text messages.

SB 225 makes other revisions to the model notice, which the California Department of Justice will complete.

DECEMBER 2017 Businesses will not be required to post the updated model notice until on or after January 1, 2019. Monetary penalties for not complying with the notice requirement range from $500 for the first offense to $1,000 for each subsequent offense.

Anti-Discrimination Protections for Veterans AB 1710 expands the current protections for members of the armed services by prohibiting discrimination in all “terms, conditions, or privileges” of employment. This legislation conforms state law to the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by protecting servicemembers from hostile work environments in their civilian jobs.

Health Facilities: Whistleblower Protections Existing law makes it illegal to discriminate or retaliate against an employee who raises a concern about conditions at a health facility. AB 1102 increases the maximum fine for a willful violation of these provisions from $20,000 to $75,000.

Wage and Hour A few new California laws affect employers’ wage-and-hour laws obligations in 2018, some of which are related to enforcement.

Keep in mind that on January 1, 2018, the state minimum wage increases to $10.50 per hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees and to $11 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees.

This is not a new law — SB 3 was signed in 2016, and this is the next mandatory increase.

Labor Law Enforcement, Retaliation SB 306 expands the Labor Commissioner’s authority to enforce wage and hour laws. The Labor Commissioner can: • Investigate an employer — even without a complaint from an employee Continued on next page

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DECEMBER 2017 Employment Laws continued from previous page — when the Labor Commissioner suspects retaliation or discrimination against a worker during a wage claim or other investigation.

• Obtain a court order prohibiting an employer from firing or disciplining an employee even before completing its investigation or determining retaliation has occurred. The court order can be obtained upon a showing of “reasonable cause,” which is a much lower burden of proof than is currently required. An employer may still discipline or fire an employee for conduct unrelated to the retaliation claim.

• Penalize an employer up to $100 per day (maximum of $20,000) for: • Willful refusal to comply with an order to reinstate or otherwise restore an employee or former employee; or • Refusal to comply with an order to post a notice to employees or stop the alleged conduct.

The bill also creates a new citation process for alleged violations.

Increased Liability for Construction Contractors For certain private construction contracts entered into after January 1, 2018, AB 1701 imposes liability onto the general contractor for any unpaid wages, benefits or contributions that a subcontractor owes to a laborer who performed work under the contract. The bill authorizes the general contractor to request payroll records from subcontractors to confirm that wages and other benefits or contributions are being made.

Barbering and Cosmetology Two new laws affect barbering and cosmetology employers and licensees.

SB 490 clarifies that workers licensed under the Barbering and Cosmetology Act (BCA) can agree to a percentage or

WWW.WHITTIERCHAMBER.COM flat-sum commission in addition to a base hourly rate if certain conditions are met: • The employee is licensed under the BCA and is providing services for which a license is required; • The employee is paid a regular base hourly rate of at least two times the state minimum wage for all hours worked in addition to commissions paid; • The commission wages are paid at least twice each calendar month on a day designated in advance by the employer as the regular payday; and • Rest and recovery periods are paid at no less than the regular base hourly rate.

AB 326 requivres additional licensee training.

Existing law requires Board of Barbering and Cosmetology schools to include information on basic labor laws as part of the health and safety curriculum for licensees. AB 326 requires that, beginning July 1, 2019, the course includes information on physical and sexual assault awareness to ensure licensees are aware of abuse their clients may be experiencing (such as domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and elder abuse).

Workplace Safety and Workers’ Compensation S B 258 establishes the Cleaning P roduct Right to Know Act. It requires m anufacturers of designated cleaning p roducts to disclose the chemicals i n those products and create product safety data sheets. Designated cleaning products include general cleaning, air care, automotive, or polish or floor maintenance p roducts used primarily for janitorial, industrial or domestic cleaning purposes.

S B 258 affects employers that h ave these designated cleaning p roducts in their workplaces. Under t he existing Hazard Communications P rogram standard, employers are r equired to maintain and make readily

accessible safety data sheets providing information about hazardous substances.

S B 258 will require employers to also o btain information from manufacturers a bout the cleaning products covered under this Act and make those safety data sheets available.

As for workers’ compensation, several bills were signed into law in 2018: AB 44 requires employers to provide a nurse case manager to employees injured during the course of employment by an a ct of domestic terrorism. Employerappointed nurse case managers will act as advocates to help injured workers obtain medically necessary medical treatments.

This bill will also require an employer to provide a notice to claimants that will be d eveloped by the Division of Workers’ C ompensation. These provisions are applicable only if the governor declares a state of emergency in connection with an act of domestic terrorism.

The Division of Workers’ Compensation will adopt regulations to implement this n ew law, including regulations on the s cope and timing of the employer’s o bligation to provide a nurse case manager and the contents of the notice that employers must provide to claimants.

S B 189, which is effective July 1, 2 018, clarifies when owners, officers o f businesses, members of boards o f directors, general partners in a partnership and managing members of L LCs may be excluded from workers’ compensation laws. This bill revisits AB 2883 from 2016, the structure of which w as challenging to stakeholders. SB 1 89 also includes provisions allowing the ability to grandfather in prior waivers.

AB 1422 extends the automatic stay on liens filed by medical providers who are charged with criminal fraud. AB 1422 cleans up issues that resulted from the enactment of SB 1160 in 2016.

S B 489 extends the billing deadline f or providers of emergency treatment services from 30 days to 180 days.

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WHAT’S COOL IN YOUR SCHOOL Whittier Union alumni continue legacy as teachers to next generation of students W hittier Union High School District’s c ulture of collaboration, support and i nclusiveness has inspired dozens of alumni to return as teachers and provide n ew generations of students with the s ame great experience they received during their journeys through high school.

Over the past three years, 21 percent o f the District’s certificated hires, or 1 4 of 65 teachers, have been Whittier Union graduates, adding to the legacy of dedicated educators who contribute to the success and academic achievements of every student.

“We are extremely proud of our alumni teachers and the work they do to make our District a better place in which to work and learn,” Superintendent Martin Plourde s aid. “It is through their dedication, encouragement and motivation that our former students continue to be successful i n their ventures, and in many cases, return home to inspire a new generation of community leaders.”

O ne of the District’s newest alumni teachers is Matthew Lozano, a 2007 Santa Fe High graduate who was hired in 2015 a s a Guided Studies teacher at Whittier H igh School. Lozano offers students homework help, guidance on developing e ssential study skills, and motivation to be successful in high school and college.

Lozano – who after graduating began coaching football at Santa Fe and Whittier high schools while pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Cal State L.A. and a master’s

at the University of Phoenix – said the D istrict’s “Whatever It Takes” motto inspired him to go into teaching.

“I remember all of my teachers being so generous with their time – they enjoyed b eing around the students whether it was just having conversations, watching athletic events or leaving their door open during lunch,” Lozano said.

W hile Lozano represents the wave o f new alumni teachers, Whittier Union a lso has a number of graduates who h ave dedicated years – and in some cases decades – to the District, including C alifornia High School alumna Wendy Brandt.

Over her 29-year education career at Whittier Union, Brandt has taught physical education and biology at Santa Fe High S chool and served as a reading and Guided Studies teacher. For the last 20 years, she has also worked as a mentor t eacher, consulting teacher and New Teacher Program specialist, providing development training to new hires.

Considered a teacher’s teacher by her colleagues, Brandt was selected Whittier Union’s 2012-13 Teacher of the Year. “ It’s not easy being on the teacher’s side of the desk, but these alumni are a testament to the power of our District’s u nity and belief that every student d eserves a quality education from teachers and staff who care about their success,” Plourde said. “I am heartened to see that the support has yet to waver.”

W hittier Union High School District’s award-winning visual and performing arts (VAPA) program continues to set the bar for creativity and excellence after several Whittier Union students won awards and accolades at the eighth annual Harmony C enter Fine Art and Craft Fair’s High School Art Contest on October 22.

La Serna High senior Elizabeth Islas, S anta Fe High senior Kristine Khan Nguyen, Pioneer High sophomore Ismael Mora and La Serna senior Jennifer Peña took home top prizes in four of the five c ategories, which varied from 3-D to photography. Honorable mentions went t o Santa Fe’s Griselda Rodriguez and Pioneer students Berenice Alvarez and Jazmine Alize Ferrer.

Taking home the People’s Choice Award for her painting was Frontier High School’s Meiling Clavesilla.

S tudents from the Whittier area s ubmitted nearly 100 art pieces to c ompete in the annual event, which s erves as a fundraising event for the I nterfaith Food Center and highlights the work of local artisans and crafters, student artists and musicians. “ We are very proud of our students f or earning top-place awards in this contest and for pursuing art as a means o f expression,” said Pioneer High c eramics teacher Jennifer Sanchez, w ho is beginning her second year as t he District’s VAPA coordinator, a new

p ost aimed at fostering quality arts instruction. “ Our teachers are so supportive of o ur students and always encourage them to enter their works in competitions y ear-round to share their talents with t he community,” said Sanchez, who notifies schools about upcoming events, contests and performances – ensuring that students and their talents are given the opportunity to shine.

A s part of fostering a well-rounded VAPA program, Whittier Union offers an array of courses in areas that range f rom 3D art and design, theater arts and video production, to drill team, choir a nd jazz. Students have performed i n such venues as Carnegie Hall and t he Walt Disney Concert Hall and h ave participated in the Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Parade. Students also participate in local and national arts competitions.

“We strongly support enhancing and strengthening the arts in Whittier Union, k eeping it alive through a variety of c lasses and providing our students a m ultitude of options to explore their artistic talents,” Superintendent Martin Plourde said. “Our visual and performing arts program has continued to flourish d ue to the dedication of our talented t eachers and staff, who have created a n environment in which our students can blossom.”

Operation School Bell provides clothes for South Whittier School District families

2018

Giddy up and connect with hundreds at Whittier’s Wild West Business Expo R ustle up your boots, cowboy hats and rope so you can lasso up some leads at Whittier’s Wild West B usiness Expo on January 24, 2 018 from 4-7 pm at the Whittier Community Center. “ The annual business expo is a great way to bring together members o f the Chamber and give them the chance to let the Whittier community k now just what they have to offer,” said Theresa Oliver, Expo co-chair, f rom ARCpoint Labs. “The Wild West theme makes it easy for people to showcase their business in a fun and entertaining way,” added co-chair Susan Ayala from Athens Services.

H aving a booth or table at Whittier’s Wild West Business Expo provides a chance to introduce a new product to the marketplace, expand y our customer base and generate n ew leads, exchange information and ideas, learn about new products a nd services, and network with fellow exhibitors. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to be part of t he best that the Whittier area has to offer!

T he Wild West Business Expo will feature a variety of food vendors r epresenting some of Whittier’s finest restaurants, caterers and eateries. Free samples from each vendor’s menu will be showcased.

Whittier Union student artists’ work earn accolades at Harmony Center Art Competition

Any restaurant or caterer interested in participating as a Chuckwagon sponsor should call the Chamber office for details regarding a complimentary table at the Business Expo.

“The Whittier Chamber’s Business Expo is one of the best business development tools around. We expect it to be a sold out event once again,” said Laurie Perschbacher, Chamber Board President. Sponsorship opportunities which include great marketing are available.Table prices range from $180 – $280, 10’ x 10’ booth prices are $395 and 8’ x 8’ booths are $345. Other marketing opportunities at the Business Expo for those who cannot participate or want additional exposure include the Strike It Rich! marketing wall ($100) where you will receive high visibility exposure before, during and after the event, and the Prospecting map ($50) where you can draw people directly to your table or booth.

C’mon y’all…dust off your boots, blaze your own trail and get serious about growing your business in the new year. Pony up and don’t miss out on the chance to sign up early for your favorite spot! Contact Courtney at (562) 698-9554 or visit our website at www.whittierchamber.com for more information.

South Whittier School District families in need were able to participate in Operation School Bell in November which provided vouchers to shop for school clothes and supplies at Target in Santa Fe Springs.

S elected recipients that are a part of South Whittier School District were able t o line up and receive vouchers to u se t owards clothing and undergarments.

The voucher also deducted sales tax in order to assure families that they would receive the full value of the vouchers. The p rogram that provides these voucher s i s coordinated and operated by the Assistance League of Whittier.

League member and first time Operation School Bell volunteer, Patty, said, “We try to help the families who really need it.”

The event had a sizable turnout and the program was able to assist roughly 200 families through this single event.

“ It’s unfortunate that we have so many families in need, but this is a great p rogram that helps them out.” said Dr. G onzales, superintendent of South Whittier School District.

T he Assistance League of Whittier is a non-profit organization that is made up entirely of volunteers. “To work as a team assisting Greater Whittier Area residents to become healthier and better educated through our philanthropic and fundraising activities,” is the vision of the Assistance League.

T heir main source of funding is their thrift shop located 6339 Greenleaf Ave., W hittier. They also receive funding t hrough individual donations, corporate a nd private foundation grants, and an a nnual Community Support Letter that requests donations that are dedicated to the Operation School Bell program.

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End-of-the-year checklist for small businesses The end of the year is a busy time for a whole host of reasons. Holidays, travel plans and family visits keep us all running around in the month of December alone. But as a small business owner, there’s even more you have to handle at the end of the year.

Right now is the time of year when your business really needs your attention, especially in regard to accounting, IT and end-of-year administrative tasks.

Doing so not only helps you close out the current year on a high note, but it also sets you up for starting off the next year on the right foot.

Here’s what you need to do for your small business before the end of the year.

Accounting This is where you spend the bulk of your time at year’s end to get your business in order. Managing your financial records is critical throughout the year, but even more so in December.

By maintaining excellent records and keeping them in order, you’ll help yourself and your accountant (if you have one) when tax time rolls around.

1. Run a few standard reports Take this time of year to assess where you stand financially and how that compares to previous years. Using your accounting software or looking through spreadsheets or other records you keep, you want to generate a complete financial report, which typically consists of a profit and loss statement, a balance sheet and your cash flow statement.

Your profit and loss report is key.

This is the best way to tell where your business stands financially and what

your outlook is like for next year. You also want to look at your profits for the year. Is it larger than expected? If so, it might be a good time to make some larger purchases for which you can record future depreciation or make some donations to local nonprofits.

2. Analyze your cash flow statements Cash flow is the best way to tell how your money was spent throughout the year. You’ll want to take a look at three specific aspects of your business’ cash flow: • Cash flow from operating activities (i.e. revenue and expenses) • Cash flow from investing activities (i.e. assets purchased and assets sold) • Cash flow from financial activities (i.e. loans and repayments) 3. Verify your vendor information Take a look at all of your vendors in your system, and verify that the contact information, including phone number, email address and contact name are still correct. Also, purge the system of any inactive vendors or inaccurate information. Or if time permits, evaluate whether or not they’re worth reconnecting with, and act accordingly.

4. Reconcile accounts receivable You should have a running list of what invoices are still unpaid or which clients still owe you money for work already completed. If possible, chase these outstanding bills and try to collect before the end of the year. This will help with cash flow and give you a clean start for the new year.

5. Double-check your payroll

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Whittier, CA - Imagine forty years ago if you were told that lasers would replace scalpels in surgery or that robotic instruments would build cars; you may not have believed it. By the same token, would you believe that chiropractic treatments could be performed using a special hand-held instrument developed by NASA scientists; all while you were sitting in an upright position without any turning or twisting movements?

According to Dr. Yani Feliciano, “This new form of computerized treatment is so gentle and effective, that it truly amazes even the most skeptical patients. It’s called the Ultralign and it’s the newest version of the Proadjuster which is the latest, stateof-the-art technology in existence today, and the only one in Whittier.”

This technology can safely and gently analyze and treat the spine and other joints to remove the nerve impingement that is often the cause of pains in the low back, neck, shoulders and elsewhere in the body. It also works on a variety of muscular conditions to loosen tight muscles with ease and comfort. Many patients say that it’s like getting a mini-massage. Even patients with knee, hip and foot problems such as Dr. Yani uses the ProAdjuster to analyze a patient’s spine and pin-point plantar fascitis are being helped. It is also covered by most insurance areas of nerve impingement syndrome companies including Medicare. causing malfunction and pain.

Dr. Yani says that “The secret to this technology lies in its ability to deliver an extremely precise and gentle adjustment.” She says that, “Even though traditional forms of adjusting also work, people are drawn to this new technique because of how gentle it is and does not involve any twisting, especially in the neck.

Many people like getting adjusted with traditional manual techniques, all of which are safe and effective. But there are a large number of people who never get to experience the amazing benefits of chiropractic because they are scared to have their spines adjusted in that way,” says Dr. Yani. Now, there is no longer a reason to be wary.

This technology is perfect for anyone who has been thinking about going to a chiropractor, but hasn’t yet made that decision. Dr. Yani wants everyone to be able to experience these same benefits and if you have nerve interference causing any of the following conditions, the Ultralign may be the answer you’ve been looking for...

• Neck & Shoulder pain • Poor Circulation • Low back pain • Sciatic pain • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Arthritis • High Cholesterol • Headaches • TMJ Problems • Fibromyalgia • High Blood Pressure • Scoliosis • Sports Injuries • Diabetes • Planter Fascitis • Knee or hip pain Computer guided treatment is consistent, measurable and extremely gentle. Call Isabel at our office today and mention this article to receive a FREE analysis to pin-point your problem areas and to see how we can help. In honor of our 30 year anniversary you will also receive an examination that can show the areas of your stress and how it’s affecting your body for only $75 (reg. $250). If you are not completely delighted with the services, you pay nothing! This technological marvel can help you return to a healthier lifestyle. You may no longer have to live with a persistent, painful condition. Call (562) 698-1275 today!

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and benefits It’s better to stay on top of any issues or corrections that need to be made to your payroll before year’s end. Ensure that taxable fringe benefits, such as third-party sick pay or a company car are accounted for. Other benefits that are easy to forget include educational reimbursement, health and life insurance, and transportation subsidies.

Information Technology (IT) 1. Back up your data Make sure that all of your files, including accounting, client files, and emails are backed up and secure.

You also want to do the same for your employees. Provide them with external hard drives or access to a cloud-based system so that you can ensure your data is safe.

2. Back up your contacts Whether you do most of your

business over the phone or via email, make sure to back up all of your contacts (even if that means writing them down in an old-fashioned Rolodex!)

3. Download any files or reports If you’ve kept some documents or reports only on a cloud-based system like Dropbox, or if you’ve only saved generated reports within the system that created them (i.e. QuickBooks), take a moment to download copies of all of these and back them up with everything else. The golden rule for data backup is 2:1. That is, create two separate digital copies, stored in two separate locations, plus one offline copy (preferably stored somewhere else).

Human Resources 1. Determine if you will offer a bonus or other end-of-year incentive It makes a difference whether Continued on page 17

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Call Two Paws Up Pet Sitting Service for your in-home pet care and dog walking needs

(562) 902-5717 www.twopawsuppetsitting.com

Contractors License #521350 B, C-6

ONE STOP AUTO CARE Complete Auto Repair

To advertise in the MEMBER MARKETPLACE contact the Whittier Chamber at (562) 698-9554

Jerry Perisho

®

Specializing in Kitchen and Bathroom remodels

“If You Can Dream It, We Can Build It”

Bus 562.693.7788 Fax 562.394.0304

Perisho & Associates

• • • • •

Oil & Filter Change Tune-Up Brakes Front End-Rear End Engine-Transmission-Clutch

13132 Whittier Blvd. • Whittier, CA 90602

(562) 945-9575

www.onestopautocarewhittier.net

Services Ser

So Who Does Your Taxes?

Individual & Business Income Tax Filing Representation before IRS and FTB for all Matters and Entities Bookkeeping & Payroll

562-209-6218

www.ArdentBiz.com

ROB MARIN

Realtor Rob@RobMarinRealty.com Mobile 562.688.1873 s FIRST TIME BUYER CERTIFICATION s SENIORS REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION s RENOVATION LOANS CERTIFICATION BRE# 01999671 Each office is independently owned and operated

DECEMBER 2017

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WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

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December 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Certified Farmers Market @ Uptown Whittier (Philadelphia St. and Bright Ave.) 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Purchase farm-fresh produce from local vendors. Free admission. For more information call (562) 696-2662 Live Jazz @ Crepes & Grapes Café (6560 Greenleaf Ave.) 7 to 9 p.m. Live music featuring Edmund Velasco and Mark Massey. No cover charge. For more information call (562) 696-3255

DEC 9

64th Annual Whittier Christmas Parade @ Uptown Whittier (13100 Philadelphia St.) 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Join Uptown Whittier for their Candy Lane Christmas Parade. Free. For more information call the Whittier Uptown Association at (562) 696-2662

Feliz Navidad con Chorale Bel Canto @ East Whittier Methodist Church Kids Winter Camp @ YMCA Camp Arbolado (Angelus Oaks, CA) Camp of (10005 S. Cole Rd.) 4 and 7:30 p.m. the Wild! Give your kids the ultimate gift of an Arbolado winter adventure. For performances. Chorale Bel Canto will more information, contact Sam Lilico at slilico@ymcawhittier.org perform songs of the season and sing along carols. $25 adults; $20 seniors; Kenny Cetera’s Chicago Experience $10 students. For more information call (888) 460-9222 38th Annual YMCA Christmas Prayer @ Whittier Center Theatre (7630 Washington Ave.) 7 p.m.

Enjoy the Breakfast @ DoubleTree Hotel Whittier (7320 Greenleaf Ave.) 7 a.m. Enjoy ultimate Chicago experience. Limited breakfast and an inspirational message. premium seating: $25, general seating: H o l i d a y L u n c h t i m e M i x e r @ $40 per person. RSVP to (562) 907-2727 $22. Call (562) 567-9430 for more Candlewood Country Club (14000 information Telegraph Rd.) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Annual Grand Illumination Tree Lighting Open to all local business owners Event @ Rick’s Drive In & Out (7254 for pre-holiday networking, food and Greenleaf Ave.) 5 to 9 p.m. Lighting at 7 Christmas Celebration @ DoubleTree fun! $15 for pre-registered Chamber p.m. Join Ricks’ Drive In & Out for their Hotel Whittier (7320 Greenleaf Ave.) 7 to members; $20 at the door; $25 for annual tree lighting event. Free. For 10 p.m. Join Sharpstone Realty for their prospective members. Please bring a more information call (562) 698-4464 4th Annual Christmas Celebration. RSVP $10 gift card to be entered to win a gift card tree. RSVP at whittierchamber. to Gil Rodriguez at (562) 217-7646 com

December 28 through January 1

DEC 1

DEC 13

DEC 6

DEC 2

Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Roundup @ Liberty Community Plaza (14181 Telegraph Rd.) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dispose of household hazardous waste and e-waste including cell phones, motor oil and pesticides. Learn more at www.cleanla.com or call (800) 238-0172 25th Annual Holiday Sonata @ Uptown Whittier (Greenleaf Ave. & Philadelphia St.) 4 to 9 p.m. Kick off the holiday season with an evening of shopping, hot chocolate and more. Free admission. For more information call (562) 696-2662

DEC 7

“It’s a Wonderful Life” @ Ruth B. Shannon Center (6760 Painter Ave.) 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a live radio play by Joe Landry. General admission: $25, seniors/children: $20. Purchase tickets at www.shannoncenter.org Maunalua @ Ruth B. Shannon Center (6760 Painter Ave.) 2 and 7:30 p.m. performances. Enjoy a Hawaiian musical performance. Tickets: $47. Purchase tickets at www.shannoncenter.org

DEC 14

Live music @ Crepes & Grapes Café (6560 Greenleaf Ave.) 6 to 8 p.m. Live music featuring Marcus Gerakos. No cover charge. For more information call (562) 696-3255

DEC 16

Navidad en Whittier @ Shannon Center for Performing Arts (6760 Painter Ave.) 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the traditional dances of a Mexican Christmas. General admission: $25, seniors/children: $20.

Visit www.shannoncenter.org

DEC 22 Shop Home for the Holidays Grand Prize Drawing @ The Whittier Chamber Office (8158 Painter Ave.) All receipts must be turned in by 12 p.m. to qualify for grand prize drawing of $1,000. Drawing will take place at 2 p.m. For more information call (562) 698-9554

DEC 28

Live music @ Crepes & Grapes Café (6560 Greenleaf Ave.) 6 to 8 p.m. Live music featuring Marcus Gerakos. No cover charge. For more information call (562) 696-3255

DEC 25 – JAN 2 CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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DECEMBER 2017

AROUND TOWN Stater Bros. begins “Harvesting Hope” holiday campaign to help local families fight hunger Throughout the months of November and December, Stater Bros. in conjunction with its charitable arm Stater Bros. Charities will be “Harvesting Hope” in the valued communities Stater Bros. serves. All 171 Stater Bros. supermarket locations will provide four convenient ways for customers and employees to help their friends and neighbors in need this holiday season.

• “Bag of Hope” Donation Cards - “Bag of Hope” donation cards are available for purchase at each check stand. Funds collected through the “Bag of Hope” donation cards will provide fresh and healthy food and funding to Stater Bros.’ food bank partners and holiday campaign beneficiaries.

• Nonperishable Food Donations - Food donation barrels are also available at all store locations for those customers who’d like to donate nonperishable food items.

Most needed items include canned tuna, peanut butter, canned vegetables, canned fruit (in water or light syrup), and whole grain cereal.

• Coin Canisters - Monies collected through the coin canisters at each check stand during November and December, will support low income seniors, veterans, families and children in need. Stater Bros. Charities will present these funds to qualified food banks and feeding programs in the seven Southern California counties served by Stater Bros. Supermarkets.

• Salvation Army Red Kettles - The traditional Salvation Army Red Kettles will be in front of all Stater Bros. supermarkets from November 13th through December 24th collecting nickels, dimes and quarters to help those who are most vulnerable in the community where the donations are made.

“Stater Bros. has always believed in not just doing business in the community but being part of the community and we are proud to partner with area food banks and local non-profit agencies to serve the needs of our local communities,” said Pete Van Helden, President and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets.

Annual food drive partners and holiday campaign beneficiaries include Community Action Partnership – Kern County, Desert Manna, Feeding America Serving Riverside l San Bernardino Counties, FIND Food Bank, Inland Empire Desert Communities United Way, Inland Harvest Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and The Salvation Army. For more information, visit staterbros.com

South Whittier School District offering free adult ESL classes South Whittier School District is now offering free adult ESL classes every Monday and Wednesday morning at Carmela Elementary.

According to the California Department of Education, 45% of students that are currently enrolled in the South Whittier School District for the 2016-2017 school year, come from households that primarily speak Spanish. With the district’s mission to provide “success for every student”, the district has received input from parents on how they can further assist families in creating student success.

“Our new parent ESL classes were born out of input we received from SWSD parents,” superintendent, Dr. Gonzales, stated. “Our parents want to be better prepared to support their children with their school work and live in a multilingual environment.”

Multilingual environments have the potential to thrust student success forward.

The NAE, or the New American Economy, recently released a report stating that the need for multilingual talent has more than doubled in the past five years within the U.S., further supporting that adult ESL classes can have substantial positive effects on student outcome.

The district’s mission aspires to challenge students to reach their full potential and develop their curiosity and thirst for discovery while celebrating families’ diverse traditions, cultures, and languages as foundations for learning.

The ESL classes take place from 8:30 to 11:30 am and requires registration through the district.

Christmas with Chorale Bel Canto

Sing in the season with the singers and players of Chorale Bel Canto. The group will present two performances on Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Both performances will take place at East Whittier United Methodist Church, 1005 S. Cole Rd., Whittier. The annual Christmas performances will feature Saint-Saens: Christmas Oratorio with a string orchestra and harp. Enjoy songs of the season and sing along carols. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for students and can be purchased online at www.choralebelcanto.org. For more information call (888) 460-9222.

From Maddi’s Closet sheds light on “normalcy” Donna Holmes, President and Founder of From Maddi’s Closet, shares that “normalcy” seems to be the catchword of the day as both Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Children’s Hospital Orange County strive to achieve significantly improved outcomes in the battle against pediatric cancer. Holmes stated that studies are confirming there is more to healing children than medication and treatment.

This trend in care has opened a window of opportunity for From Maddi’s Closet to serve these children and their families. While their focus remains defined by patient support, they are looking at an expanded and changing list of needs. Again, they are confronted with how they can best serve those needs.

Some hospital stays are brief, but sadly for the more serious procedures, a hospital stay can mean weeks or even months of confinement. From Maddi’s Closet focuses on visiting each of the hospitals numerous times in hopes of giving both patients and families a few moments of distraction – a break in the monotony or apprehension of an upcoming treatment. Many of the parents of the patients are unable to take time away from work to sit day in and day out without the stress of losing their job. The adult volunteer team and the Junior Advisory Board of high school age students are trained to reach out to these patients with a smile and offer encouragement. Two of the most requested visits are the School Daze Craze event which provides much needed backpacks and school supplies and the Holiday Toy Event where they deliver between 2,000 to 3,000 new toys.

Both hospitals have reached out asking for added support to the adolescent and young adult program by sponsoring other special events. Whether it was a ‘getting to know you’ breakfast gathering or a night of ‘normalcy’ for teens that may have had to skip their high school proms due to a hospital stay or weakened immune system, From Maddi’s Closet responded with “Yes! We’re in!”

At this time of year, the organization experiences a deep ‘inhale’, a long slow ‘exhale’ followed by another deep inhale! While they busily collect and deliver holiday surprises and make final hospital visits, they also review the current year’s patient support programs and set their budget for next year.

Looking ahead, Holmes indicated there are opportunities available for individuals, businesses and organizations to support and assist throughout the year. If anyone is looking for a meaningful place to volunteer, consider working to help children fight cancer. For more information contact volunteer opportunities coordinator, Donna Holmes at donna@frommaddiscloset.com or (562) 640-1004.

Buon Natale (Merry Christmas) from Sons of Italy Sons of Italy is a national organization of men and women who represent the estimated 26 million Americans of Italian heritage. They are dedicated to promoting the legacy of their ancestors, customs, and contributions to the United States of America. If you have never visited them before, you’re invited to be their guest.

The December meeting will be held on Monday, December 11 at 6 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 7604 Greenleaf Ave. Sons of Italy will be having their annual Christmas party which will include good food, a catered pasta dinner, Christmas music, a visit from Babbo Natale (Father Christmas), children’s craft table and fun for all. La Befana may even buzz the party! They will also be conducting their regular 50/50 raffle. The cost to attend is $5 for all members and guests. Children under 12 are free.

The Hacienda Lodge is a fraternal non-profit organization. Proceeds from all fundraisers go toward their annual donations to various charities and a scholarship fund for local high school students. Please RSVP to Guy Battaglia at (909) 851-4108 or skydiveguy@aol.com

Annual Small Works show to be featured through January The Whittier Art Association and Gallery will present the Annual Miniatures and Small Works show from now until Saturday, January 5, 2018. This is the Whittier Gallery’s annual, very popular, exhibition of miniature artwork. Founded by the late Linda Hall, the show has two parts. The Small Works features pieces which are no larger than 10’ and the art within The Miniature Show is smaller than ٦”! Both shows include paintings, sculptures, ceramics and photographs. Miniatures present a special challenge for the participating artists and have long fascinated art lovers.

They are fun to see and always amazing. Some of the area’s finest artists are represented in the show and the judge for the two events is renowned collage artist Kelly Bracamontes. The reception will be held on Saturday, December 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. There is no admission charge and the public is enthusiastically invited!

The Gallery is located at 8035 Painter Ave., Whittier. Call (562) 698-8710 to learn more.

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DECEMBER 2017

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End-of-the-Year Checklist Continued from page 12 you disburse bonuses or other rewards before the end of the year or in January, especially for your taxes, as it directly impacts the profits you report.

2. Examine your staffing needs for the coming year Take an inventory of your current staff, and determine if you’ll need to hire more employees for the next year. You’ll want to be sure you’ve budgeted for any additional personnel.

3. Collect a list of your business’ accomplishments for the previous year, and share it Your employees will appreciate hearing all of the things that your company has accomplished over the past 12 months. This is also a great time of year to recognize any outstanding performers and to thank your employees for contributing to your success.

General Business 1. Conduct an inventory count If you keep product or materials in a warehouse or on-site, conduct an inventory count before the year’s end, and make any corrections to your current records. If you notice significant discrepancies, it might be a good idea to investigate. You want to be sure that not only are you keeping accurate records, but that you’re not experiencing any internal loss.

2. Examine your goals, and make new ones Using your financial statements, customer feedback and input from your team, assess your goals for the previous year and determine how well you did.

WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

Thank you to

Did you achieve what you set out to do? Or did you find yourself taking an unexpected path to a different kind of success?

With the learnings from the previous year in mind, set goals for the coming year. Financial goals should be top on your priority list, but make room to evaluate professional and client goals too. Don’t forget goals for your staff, too.

3. Check your website Whether it’s Cyber Monday or Casual Friday, go through your website and click on every link. Try sending yourself an email or message from the “contact us” form. Call the 800-number (if you have one) and make sure it works. These may seem like mundane tasks, but things break all the time, including websites. As your digital calling card and often the first place people get an impression of your business, it’s an important commodity to keep in fine working order. Also, if it’s looking a little outdated, make plans to upgrade your website for a fresh, new look.

Closing out the end of the year is a daunting task, but it is manageable if you keep and follow a checklist. If you have an accountant that you work with, make an appointment with him or her as early as possible. And as always, the more you can plan for these tasks throughout the year, the easier your end of year will be.

Contact the Whittier Chamber if you need referrals for accountants, bookkeeepers, IT/computer experts, web designers, HR experts and more who can help you make your year end smooth and give you a fresh, clean start to 2018!

La Pescadora

for hosting a great networking event!

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DECEMBER 2017

TE A D

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Whittier Resident • Drains & Sewers Cleaned • Copper Repiping

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Whittier Host Lions Sight forKids, Etc.

The 22nd Annual

Whittier Host Lions

Sight for Kids, Etc. Saturday, March 24, 2018 DOORS OPEN @ 5:30PM

Hosted By: WHITTIER HOST LIONS CLUB At: WHITTIER COMMUNITY CENTER (7630 Washington Ave.) Last Year’s Participants Auntie’s Bakery & Cafe • Azabu Restaurant • Brickhouse Pizza • Café n’ Stuff Catering California Grill • Ciao Italia Ristorante • Cilantros Tacos • Hermosa Catering Lift Coffee Roasters • New Canton Restaurant • Phlight Restaurant & Wine Bar Ravello Bar & Grill • Rocky Cola Café • Sage Restaurant & Lounge • Simply Irresistible Spin Lounge • Steve’s BBQ • Tepeyac Restaurant & Tequila Sports Bar • The Bottle Room The Chicken Koop • The 6740

WINE DONATED BY

J Lohr • Fess Parker • Dark Horse • Morgan • Pedroncelli • Kendall Jackson San Antonio • Casa Barranca Winery

Contact the following Lions for tickets: Al Campano - (562) 556-1967 Doug Keeling - (562) 947-2231 Leon Lesa - (562) 714-3518

HIGH END ITEMS FOR LIVE AUCTION & SILENT AUCTION Donation: $50.00/ea.

DECEMBER 2017

WWW.WHITTIERCHAMBER.COM

RENEWING MEMBERS

Earthquake preparedness continued from page 13

Thanks to the following members for renewing their Chamber membership and for supporting our efforts to build a strong local economy

WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

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JOIN ME IN BECOMING A CHAMBER MEMBER TESTIMONIAL

East Whittier Lions Club #2502 (562) 945-6034 Ezaki, Ramsey A., D.D.S., Inc. (562) 340-4331 Healthfirst Medical Group (562) 949-9328 Hernandez, Ernie Civic member Hill, Frank Civic member Knoll, Ted Civic member Moegling, Gregory J., D.D.S. (562) 698-9903 Molina’s Automotive (562) 698-8713 Rob Marin Realty (562) 688-1873 US Bank (562) 698-2521 Vinatieri, Joseph Civic member

The best gift you can give your business this holiday season is a

Whittier Chamber membership!

We are so excited to be a part of the Whittier Chamber. We have met so many friendly people who have made us feel welcome. We just had our ribbon cutting and it was a blast. We also participated in the Chamber’s summer business expo, Shop Local. We hope to continue to grow our business in Whittier and we look forward to connecting with more businesses through the Chamber.

Helen Villareal, Core Evolution

Congratulations to our Milestone Members this month!

Thanks to the following businesses that have been partners with the Whittier Chamber in helping to create a thriving economy.

10 years:

8158 Painter Avenue • Whittier, CA 90602

(562) 698-9554

Magic Smile Family Dentistry (562) 692-5311

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DECEMBER 2017

Big 5 • Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza • Boost Mobile • Burlington • Chili’s • China Wok Dollar Tree • Don Roberto’s Jewelers • Famous Footwear • Fantastic Sam’s • Fashion Q GameStop • GNC • G-Stage • H&R Block • Hawaiian Island BBQ • HeaRx • Hi Top Nails Maki Yaki Japanese Grill • Marshalls • Maya Threading and Beauty • Michaels • N2 (Gelato) Petco • Quad Dental • Rite Aid • Ross Dress for Less • Rubi’s Frosty Freeze Sally Beauty Supply • Sprint • Staples • Subway • T-Mobile • The Avenue • The Olive Garden The Quad Cleaners • The UPS Store • TJ Maxx • Vallarta Supermarkets Weight Watchers • Yogurtland

Whittier Boulevard & Painter Avenue • Whittier