Pulse Beat August 2013 by City of Paramount

PULSE BEAT PULSE BEAT

August 2013

Paramount Chamber Elects New President and Installs New Board

Newly elected president Brenda Olmos joins her fellow board members in taking the oath of ofﬁce at the Paramount Chamber Installation & Awards Luncheon. The event sponsored by Weber Metals was attended by more than 130 business and community leaders. Olmos, a Paramount resident for more than 40 years is the Director of Network and Business Development for AppleCare Medical Management. She was elected to the Chamber Board in 2005 and has served as a Director, Vice President, and Senior Vice President during that time. Her goal as President is to increase membership by bringing awareness to the business community about the importance of community involvement and the Chamber’s role in promoting economic growth.

Also leading the Chamber: Senior Vice President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar), Vice President Dr. Max Martinez (Dentist), Treasurer Paul Dennis (Weber Metals), and Past President Leonard Crespo (Total-Western, Inc.). Newly elected Directors, Bill Kalpakoff (CalMet Services), Kevin Lindsay (Lindsay Lumber), and Larry Valeriano (California Screw Products). Renewing their oath to Chamber are Ben Berg (Trans -

Paramount Chamber of Commerce

Pulse beaT

15357 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA 90723

com Telecommunications), Dr. Tom Hansen (Chiropractor), Gary Johnson (Ace Clearwater Enterprises), Garo Kazarian (Alondra Hot Wings), Darren Kurkowski (Bianchi Theatres), and Bill Winters (Paramount Petroleum).

The event also served as an opportunity for the Chamber to thank sponsors whose support is crucial to the Chamber’s success; Platinum Sponsors: Carlton Forge, Modern Development, and Paramount Petroleum. Gold Sponsors: AppleCare Medical Group, Bodycote, Chapel of Change Christian Fellowship, and Weber Metals. Silver

What’s inside

Sponsors: CalMet Services, Fenico Precision Castings, Supervisor Don Knabe. Bronze Sponsors: City National Bank, Gus’s Deli, BBQ & Grill, Southern California Edison, The Gas Company, and Transcom Telecommunications. Awards were also presented to Emmanuel Reformed Church for their participation and support of the Welcome to Paramount program. Karen Sonnenberg (TotalWestern, Inc) who received the Ambassador of the Year award. Alondra Hot Wings took home the Award of Excellence for their successful restaurant chain and

community involvement. Paul Dennis (Weber Metals) received the Mayor’s Award of his service on the PEP (Paramount Education Partnership) Board, and his company’s commitment to education. Presentations to Outgoing Chamber President Leonard Crespo (Total-Western) marked the end of the program. Leonard was recognized by the Chamber, City of Paramount, Supervisor Knabe, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Senator Lara, and Assemblyman Rendon, for his leadership as the Chamber President since 2011.

Paramount Chamber Ofﬁcers and Directors take the oath of ofﬁce.

Paramount Chamber President Brenda Olmos.

Keep Purchasing It . . . In Paramount

Do you know there are about 900 commercial/retail businesses in Paramount that understand the wants and needs of our residents and have every consumer product imaginable?

The City is again rolling out the “Purchase It … In Paramount” campaign by distributing posters to businesses throughout town.

When you shop locally, part of your sales tax stays here to help pay for vital services like law enforcement, parks, street maintenance, and more.

Why Buy in Paramount?

• You support the people who live and work here.

• You save time.

• You save gas (and money).

• You help create local jobs.

• Paramount businesses help maintain our stable and thriving community.

Local businesses are investing in our city’s future. They support our churches, our schools, our organizations, and our quality of life.

Purchase It … In Paramount. Do your shopping and dining in town. Spend your money at home and make it count. Pump up our economy and support the services that make Paramount a great place to live.

If you are searching for a certain type of business or service in Paramount, or looking for a speciﬁc product, feel free to contact the Chamber of Commerce at (562) 634-3980.

Balanced Budget

The City of Paramount has always been very responsible and conservative when it comes to ﬁscal and ﬁnancial matters. Over the last few years of economic distress in the state, with various impacts on the City’s revenue streams, we have worked

hard to keep things on an even keel, keeping a watch on expenditures and making cuts wherever possible without affecting public services.

For the ﬁscal year 2013-2014, I’m happy to report that we have once more achieved a balanced budget, with a small general fund surplus.

Included in our new budget – along with the services and programs we provide for our residents – there are a number of civic improvement projects that will undertaken over the coming year.

These include the addition of outdoor gym equipment and barbecue islands at Paramount Park; more utility box public art murals around town; upgrades to the municipal water system; and doing further street and sidewalk renovations throughout the city, including continuing the resurfacing of Alondra Blvd., one of our most heavily traveled arterials.

Salud Park Honored

In addition to being welcomed enthusiastically by residents, our new fitness park has also garnered some high regard from other sources in the wake of its recent opening.

The City has won the John Sanford Todd Memorial Award for the Economical Use of Public Resources for the park, which is given by the California Contract Cities Association.

The award honors individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors that have demonstrated excellence, creativity, and innovation in the economical and efﬁcient use of public resources. In gaining this award, the City of Paramount was recognized for providing a valuable service to improve the quality of life for members of our community.

Salud Park has also been acknowledged by City Fabrick, a nonproﬁt urban design studio in Long Beach that focuses on creative approaches to expanding open space. According to its Executive Director Brian Ulaszewski, the park is a great example of the kinds of projects the ﬁrm has been promoting. Ulaszewski has written a complimentary blog posting about the park on the company’s website. The article can be found at www.cityfabrick.org/lines-aboveand-parks-below-paramounts-success/.

Free Fair Housing Workshop for Landlords

The Fair Housing Foundation will be holding a Landlord Workshop in town at

Progress Park Plaza East, 15500 Downey Ave., on Wednesday, August 7th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

Attendees will learn how to seek prospective tenants and gain information about the rental process and credit checks. They will also be educated about fair housing laws and their rights and responsibilities as a landlord or property management professional.

The Fair Housing Foundation services the residents of Paramount. They educate the public about fair housing rights and responsibilities through workshops, trainings, and community events. FHF also provides mediation and counseling services through its housing assistance hotline at 1-800-446-FAIR and with walk-in clinics, and investigates issues of discrimination related to housing.

For more information, or to RSVP for the Landlord Workshop, call 1-800-446FAIR.

West Nile Virus Found in Local Mosquitoes

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) has recently confirmed positive test results for West Nile virus in 25 mosquito samples and five dead birds collected throughout its jurisdiction. This includes positive mosquito samples in Paramount (1), South Gate (1), Bellflower

(1), Downey (1), and Lakewood (2).

GLACVCD continues to urge residents to take precautions against mosquito bites and report mosquito breeding sources to the district.

You can be vigilant by following these simple steps to prevent mosquito breeding and guard against mosquito bites:

• Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week.

• Change the water in pet dishes and birdbaths weekly.

• Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained and report neglected pools in your neighborhood.

• Request free mosquito ﬁsh from your local vector control district for placement in out-of-order swimming pools, spas, and ponds.

• Wear insect repellent containing active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535 when outdoors where mosquitoes are present.

The public is encouraged to report dead birds to help with West Nile virus surveillance and control efforts. To reach the California Department of Public Health, call their toll-free hotline at 1-877-WNV BIRD or visit them on-line at www.westnile.ca.gov.

For more information, please contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at (562) 944-9656 or visit www. glacvcd.org.

“Your life is your message to the world. Make it inspiring.” – Unknown

Mayor, Gene Daniels

Paramount Promotes National Night Out

National Night Out (NNO) – a crime/ drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch – is reaching a milestone this year, its 30th anniversary. NNO will be celebrated in Paramount on Monday, August 5th, when the City will hold a special dinner acknowledging the commitment and dedication of our Neighborhood Watch participants and Volunteers on Patrol.

NNO is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness. It generates support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs and strengthens neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. The event sends a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and ﬁghting back. Millions of people in communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide participate.

Paramount residents who want to show their support for National Night Out are encouraged to leave their porch lights on throughout Tuesday night, August 6th.

For information about becoming a part of Neighborhood Watch, please call (562) 220-2002.

July 4th Violations Cited

Paramount Sheriff’s deputies and CSOs were very busy over the 4th of July holiday. In addition to the patrol cars that normally answer routine calls for service, a dedicated ﬁreworks suppression team was on the streets from July 1st through July 4th implementing Paramount’s zero-tolerance

policy on dangerous, illegal ﬁreworks. The team worked from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on July 1st through July 3rd and from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on the 4th.

A total of 54 citations were issued to individuals for using illegal ﬁreworks in town. The ﬁnes range from $250 to $1,000, and the total came to $52,500.

Even though it was busy, there were, thankfully, no injuries as a result of ﬁreworks.

Don’t Leave Valuable Paperwork in Your Car

Help avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Never leave Social Security cards, passports, birth certiﬁcates, vehicle pink slips, income tax records, checkbooks, or payroll stubs in your unattended car, even in the glove compartment. Thieves breaking into vehicles are often looking for these types of documents. Keep them at home in a safe location.

Public Outreach

As part of ongoing efforts to maintain communication with the community, Paramount Public Safety personnel and Sheriff’s Department deputies recently conducted two presentations for the Adelanto Preschool in town at the request of a teacher from the school. Safety information and goodie bags were given to 64 3-to5-year-old children, who also got a chance to sit in a patrol car and ask questions. The kids enjoyed the day very much.

CALIFORNIA OUTREACH ORGANIZATION ALEXANDER HAST (310) 926-7699, 15929 GARFIELD AVE, PARAMOUNT WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP US WITH HANDLING AND GIVING OUT THE FOOD & FOR DONORS WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP US WITH FOOD OR MONEY CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. PLEASE CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION (310) 909-9019.

Now hiring, AUTO MECHANIC, BODY AND PAINT TECH., AND OUTSIDE SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER. Email Heraldsgarage@gmail.com or visit Herald’s Garage 8124 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount. Wild West Boots, Paramount, CA 90723 - Seeking a SECRETARY that is bilingual in English and Spanish. For more information call (562) 630-4613 ask to speak to Magaly

www.jazzangel.org

P ARAMOUNT C HAMBER

N ETWORKING B REAKFAST

Mexican Restaurant

Chamber President Brenda Olmos and Ambassador Chair Karen Sonnenberg present Harald Niehenke of California Outreach with a $25 cash prize (donated by AppleCare Medical Group) for Best Table Top Display.

President Olmos presents Leesa Crippen (Paramount Laminates) with a $25 cash door prize donated by AppleCare Medical Group.

Chamber President Brenda Olmos presents Deborah Jameson (Lifegate Foursquare Church) with a door prize donated by Orozo’s Auto Center.

Chamber President Brenda Olmos presents door prize to Richard Tunchez (Popular Community Bank) donated by Miss B’s Rumballs.

Homework Help Volunteers Needed

The Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) is looking for volunteers who are willing to put in 2-12 hours a week as homework tutors for elementary school children at the Paramount Petroleum Learning Center at Spane Park.

The Homework Help program is designed to aid students with their academic skills through on-site assistance and computer-based enrichment. It is available at the Learning Center Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Training is provided and a background check is required.

Attendance at the Center is growing as more students take advantage of this great opportunity. Consequently, PEP is searching for dedicated individuals to volunteer as homework tutors in math and reading.

Interested candidates must have excellent communication skills, enthusiasm and the ability to work with youngsters in the stated age groups.

Some of the duties and responsibilities of a volunteer will involve:

• Helping students understand and complete homework assignments and projects.

• Talking and listening to students.

• Modeling a positive attitude toward learning.

• Supervising students, handling behavior issues, and ensuring that students are safe when they are in the Center.

For more information on becoming a Homework Help volunteer, please call (562) 220-2132 or e-mail Suleyma Rosales at srosales@paramountcity.com. Or you can stop by the Community Services and Recreation Department at 15300 Downey Ave. to pick up an application.

You can really make a difference in somebody’s life when you volunteer your time and expertise. Remember: “Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.”

P ARAMOUNT C HAMBER

I NSTALLATION & A WARDS L UNCHEON

Metals

Outgoing President Leonard Crespo presents Platinum Sponsor Awards to representatives of Carlton Forge, Modern Development, and Paramount Petroleum.

Outgoing President Leonard Crespo presents Gold Sponsor Awards to representatives of Weber Metals, AppleCare Medical Group, and Chapel of Change Christian Fellowship. Not available for picture Bodycote.

Outgoing Chamber President Leonard Crespo with outgoing Ambassador Chair Tim Hickok (Penta Paciﬁc Properties), and incoming Ambassador Chair Karen Sonnenberg (Total-Western).

Representing the Installation and Awards sponsor Weber Metals are President Rick Creed (standing), and Manager Woody Till.

Outgoing President Leonard Crespo presents Silver Sponsor Awards to representatives of Supervisor Don Knabe, and Cal Met Services. Not available for picture Fenico Precision Castings.

Outgoing President Leonard Crespo presents Bronze Sponsor Award to representative for Transcom Telecommunications. Not available for picture: City National Bank, Gus’s Deli & BBQ Grill, and Southern California Edison.

Alondra Hot Wings owners Garo, Danny, and Joey Kazarian accept the Paramount Chamber Award of Excellence. The award was given to Alondra Hot Wings for their outstanding success and their commitment to the community. From left: Kimberlee Tachiki-Chin representing Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Knabe, Outgoing Chamber President Leonard Crespo, Garo/Danny/Joey Kazarian, Jose Ugarte representing Assemblyman Rendon, and Julia Juarez representing Senator Lara.

P ARAMOUNT C HAMBER

I NSTALLATION & A WARDS L UNCHEON

Ken Korver accepts a Special Recognition Award for Emmanuel Reformed Church. The award was given for the churches participation in the Chamber’s Welcome to Paramount program. From left: Outgoing Chamber President Leonard Crespo, Jose Ugarte representing Assemblyman Rendon, Julia Juarez representing Senator Lara, and Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Knabe.

Weber Metals employee Paul Dennis was presented with the Mayor’s Award for his service to the community. The Mayor expressed the City’s sincere appreciation to Paul for his leadership role as a member of the Paramount Education Partnership Committee, and to Weber Metals for their support of the program. From left: Mayor Gene Daniels, Jose Ugarte representing Assemblyman Rendon, Julia Juarez representing Senator Lara, Paul Dennis (Weber Metals), Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Knabe, and Kimberlee Tachiki-Chin representing Congresswoman Roybal-Allard.

Incoming Chamber President Brenda Olmos with her family, friends, and co-workers.

Ambassador Karen Sonnenberg (Total-Western, Inc.) receives the Ambassador of the Year Award. From left: Outgoing Chamber President Leonard Crespo, Jose Ugarte representing Assemblyman Rendon, Julia Juarez representing Senator Lara, Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Knabe, and Kimberlee Tachiki-Chin representing Congresswoman Roybal-Allard.

Pastor

Write a Will

By Maria F. Galli State Farm Insurance

562-817-5620

You’ve worked hard to accumulate valuable assets over the years. How do you plan to distribute this property after your death?

It’s important to have a will, regardless of the value of your possessions. This written document instructs how you want assets that pass via your will (money, property and other assets) to be distributed after your death. If you die without a will, your probate assets will be divided according to state law. Here are some tips for preparing a will:

• Have an attorney draft your will. If you draft your own will, make sure it complies with state law or it could be

in the News

invalid.

• Name an executor, whose role is to handle all administrative aspects of the will, including collecting assets, paying all debts and taxes and distributing your estate, according to your wishes.

• List personal property such as artwork, collectibles, jewelry and other personal property that you want to go to speciﬁc individuals. Be clear about how you want your assets distributed.

• Do not include funeral preferences in your will because it may not be read until several weeks after your death.

• Review your will every few years and have your attorney make changes as appropriate.

With a little advance preparation, your local insurance or ﬁnancial service professional will help ensure that your ﬁnal wishes are handled the way you planned them to be.

Paramount Elk Lou Apodaca Chosen to Lead District of Elks - USA

As members of the Elks-USA from across the nation gathered in Reno, Nevada Paramount Elks member Lou Apodaca was installed as District Deputy to the Elks National President for the lodges in the South Central District of the Cali-

fornia-Hawaii Elks Association. Apodaca was installed at the Order’s 149th Elks National Convention where more than 7,000 members and guests were in attendance. Lou will serve a oneyear term.

Is FHA still the right loan for you?

Rene

Ramos International City Mortgage, Inc 310-386-1693

It is no secret that obtaining a home loan in today’s market is not as easy as it used to be.

The requirements for qualifying for a loan are extensive, and the most important step in the process is selecting the appropriate loan program for your ﬁnancial situation.

Due to low rates, low down payment requirements and ﬂexible guidelines, 30yr ﬁxed rate FHA-insured mortgages have been highly sought out by home buyers. Once, this might have been your best option. However, after all the FHA mortgage insurance increases throughout the years, is FHA still the right loan for you?

As the popularity of FHA loans has grown, so has the cost of FHA mortgage insurance. Buyers seeking FHA-insured home loans today will have to pay more than double the monthly mortgage insurance premium than those who bought prior to 2010, which was the ﬁrst year FHA substantially increased their mortgage premiums.

On April 1st, 2013 the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) increased the FHA annual insurance factor to 1.35%; the factor was 0.55% prior to the yearly increases that began in 2010. (The annual mortgage insurance premium is collected on a

monthly basis as part of the mortgage payment.) In addition to increasing the FHA mortgage insurance premiums this year, on June 3rd HUD made the premiums permanent, due monthly for the lifetime of the loan.

While FHA mortgage insurance increased, conventional loans became more economical. A 30-yr ﬁxed rate FHA mortgage payment is now comparable to a 30-yr ﬁxed rate conventional mortgage payment with private mortgage insurance. The payment may now be comparable, but what about down payment requirements and guidelines?

Conventional financing has generally carried a stigma of having stricter guidelines and higher down payments; however, this may be an inaccurate generalization. Although there are instances in which limiting credit factors or other criteria would necessitate choosing an FHA-insured mortgage, a low-down-payment 30-yr fixed rate conventional mortgage is often a viable option. As a prospective buyer, it is important to compare home financing options. The array of FHA and conventional loan products available is extensive, so it has become more important than ever to be an “educated consumer.” As a previous, new, or even seasoned buyer, really take the time to understand how and why a loan officer selects a certain product for you. Are your future plans being considered, and is this the best option for you?

Members

10 Tips to Boost Your Business With Tablets

Could tablet computers make you and your team more productive—and your business more proﬁtable? According to the 2013 AT&T Small Business Technology Poll, nearly seven in 10 business owners use tablets; in the CDW Tablets@Work poll, 84 percent of employees who use tablets for work say the devices help them get more done. Try these tips for using tablets in your business.

1. Do your homework. Think about how you plan to use tablets and what types of applications (apps) you’ll want to run on them. Research options and talk to other business owners. Keep in mind that tablets aren’t appropriate for all businesses, so be mindful of your brand image and whether a tablet will truly provide utility.

2. Integrate with existing technology. To create a seamless work experience and lessen the learning curve, you’ll want apps that work with the tools you already use on your desktops, laptops and smartphones. This may also affect the brand of tablet you choose.

3. Shop around. To save money, con-

sider buying an older tablet right before the new model comes out. If you’re buying multiple tablets, see if you can negotiate a bulk discount. Take data plans into account—they can get costly. You may get better rates by using the carrier for your existing cell phone plan.

4. Get creative. Think about ways you could use a tablet to shorten wait times, provide better service, get instant feedback or eliminate paper. For instance, use them to take customer surveys on-site after providing a service; to sign restaurant customers in for a table or take orders; to set appointments for services or ﬁll out intake forms, such as in an automotive repair shop; to check out retail shoppers from anywhere in the store or to provide product details and information so shoppers can browse.

5. Show off samples. If visuals are important in your business—for instance, you own a graphic design, interior decorating or event planning ﬁrm-the high-resolution display tablets offer makes them ideal for showing prospects photos or videos of your work. Buy a tablet with enough storage and speed so

Chapel of Change Christian Fellowship Grand Opening

Pastor Brian Warth and his wife Laura were presented with certiﬁcates of congratulations at the grand opening of their new church Chapel of Change Christian Fellowship. The church can be found at 6701 Alondra Blvd., in Paramount. For more information call 562. 900.6430 Pictured from left: Anna Figueroa representing Congresswoman Lucille RoybalAllard, Chamber President Brenda Olmos, Julia Juarez representing Senator Richard Lara, Pastor Brian Warth and his wife Laura, and Paramount City Councilman Tom Hansen.

that videos and photos load quickly.

6. Make sales presentations. No need to lug a laptop when you can just whip out your tablet to do a presentation on the ﬂy. Use apps such as Keynote, SlideShark or Haiku Deck to share existing presentations or create new ones.

7. Accept payments. A mobile payment solution such as Intuit GoPayment, Pay Anywhere or Square makes it simple to accept payment anywhere and get funds into your accounts immediately.

8. Manage your ﬁnances. Whether you just want to create estimates and generate invoices on the go, or whether you need to delve deep into your bookkeeping, apps such as FreshBooks, QuickBooks Mobile and Xero make it simple by integrating with your existing accounting data.

9. Seal the deal. Landing that big client is tough enough—don’t give him a chance to change his mind before he signs on the dotted line. Apps like EasySign, EchoSign and SignEasy let you pull up the contract right on your tablet and get a signature instantly.

Pregunte al Experto

10. Hold meetings. Confer with salespeople, customer service reps or other employees in the ﬁeld anytime. With a headset or earbuds, plus apps such as Skype, Google Voice, GoToMeeting or WebEx, they can participate in conference calls or videoconference right from their tablets.

Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Before launching her business, she was Editorial Director of Entrepreneur Magazine. Rieva Lesonsky also works with the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network. The SBDC is a group of successful small business owners helping fellow entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their business through low-cost workshops and free one-on-one consulting in business planning, ﬁnance, marketing, and various other specialty areas (Spanish speaking consultants available). To make an appointment call: (562) 938-5100, or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu

COMO IDENTIFICAR SI TU HIJO/A ESTA CONSUMIENDO DROGAS PLAN DE ACCION DE SEIS PASOS

DK Counseling (323) 251-7511

David y Klaudette

Hola queridos lectores, aquí de nuevo con ustedes trayéndoles más información acerca de cómo identiﬁcar si tu hijo/a esta consumiendo drogas o alcohol.

Primeramente recordemos algo muy importante que planteamos la edición pasada:

La salud, la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros hijos debe de ser la prioridad número uno como padres. ¿Sabía usted que día a día surgen nuevas ideas y formas de adquirir drogas a un bajo costo?

Algunos jóvenes se las ingenian para adquirir drogas de una forma o de otra.

¿Como, y en donde?, en nuestra propia casa.

Tales cosas como: Pintura para uñas, acetona, perfumes, pegamento, medicinas para la tos, desinfectante para manos, spray para el cabello, corrector “liquid paper”, gasolina, algunos limpiadores para el hogar, etc.; etc. Con estas simples cosas ellos pueden drogarse fácilmente.

Por todo esto, es de suma importancia la información, las estrategias, la intervención y el plan de acción. Ahora si, entremos al primer paso:

Paso #1. Comuníquele a su hijo cuanto lo Ama. El expresarle amor

hará que se sienta seguro, aceptado y comprendido. El amor es una necesidad primaria para poder funcionar eficazmente como seres humanos. Antes de imponer reglas y limites en casa, debemos imponernos como padres el amar por encima de cualquier circunstancia. El amor no es un sentimiento que viene y va, que aparece y desaparece, es un requisito y el ingrediente más indispensable que no se puede sustituir con nada. Este no debe faltar en nuestro hogar principalmente. El amor no se condiciona, se da. Recuerde que antes de ser amigo de su hijo(a) es su padre/madre primeramente. Comprendemos que el sistema educativo por sí solo no detendrá el flujo de consumo de drogas, pero si los padres nos involucramos activa y responsablemente podremos prevenir más eficazmente que nuestros hijos consuman drogas. Los padres debemos mantener una actitud de tolerancia cero ante todas las conductas destructivas de nuestros adolescentes, como son: Alcohol, drogas y sexo entre otras.

No nos olvidemos entonces de de este primordial ingrediente: Ame a sus adolescentes no solo con palabras sino con acciones” En la próxima edición seguiremos con el paso número dos. Hasta pronto!

Pastor Warth and his wife Laura are joined by family, friends, parishioners, city and chamber officials at the opening of their new church Chapel of Change Christian Fellowship.

KDS DOES IT AGAIN

Kimberly’s Dance Studio wins the Grand National Championship for their tap routine two years in a row. This talented group of young dancers deﬁed all odds by beating out all the competition. Under the direction of Kimberly Gonzalez, the Sparkle Stars walked away as Back-to-Back National Grand Champion with their tap routine to “Heaven Hop”. The Sparkle Stars include: Aidaly Ledezma, Alyson Gutierrez, Andrea Perez, Ariel Raygoza, Emily Licea, Giselle Ruiz, and Lina Garcia. Last year this same group won with their performance to “Gotta Boogie”