Issuu

pulse Beat pulse Beat

Paramount Chamber Goes “All Out”

So Players Can Go “All In”

Tournament winners with Chamber President Jon Tanklage from left; first place John Berg (Transcom Telecommunications), President Tanklage, third place Peter Covert (Weber Metals), and second place Matt Neely (Transcom Telecommunications).

The Paramount Chamber of Commerce recently held its 1st Annual Poker Tournament attracting more than 100 players and several spectators. The event was a fund-raiser sponsored by Marukan Vinegar USA and will provide operating funds for the Chamber.

The evening began with wine courtesy of Bianchi Winery and a light dinner donated by Rosewood Restaurant. In addition to poker guest

were invited to take advantage of free neck and shoulder massages provided by Nicole Romero, or have some fun at the photo booth donated by One Night Stand Photography. While waiting to see who would make the final table players could also play Putt for Poker, a putting contest for which the winner received a foursome gift certificate donated by Friendly Hills Country Club.

It was an exciting evening with

three lucky winners taking home the following prizes; first place John Berg (Transcom Telecommunications) a two day stay at the Bianchi Winery house, donated by Bianchi Winery, second place Matt Neely (Transcom Telecommunications) four Justin Timberlake concert tickets, donated by Ace Clearwater Enterprises, and third place Peter Covert (Weber Metals) a 47” television, donated by California Screw Products.

Paramount Chamber President and Marukan Vinegar President Jon Tanklage said, “I want to thank everyone who helped make the event a success. Marukan Vinegar was happy they could sponsor the event and help the Chamber raise some money. Special thanks to Ace Clearwater who provided all of the decorations and the staff to put them up, and to all of the companies that demonstrated their support for the tournament”

Computer Technology “Predicts” Crime

Martinez Marchers. Come out and join us. It only takes an hour and a minimum donation of $10. For more information, please call (562) 743-3555.

Resident Rates and Season Passes for Summer Swimming

The ongoing decline in crime in Paramount over the years has been due, in part, to the partnership between the City and the Sheriff’s Department and a shared attention to preventing crime by using cutting-edge programs and approaches to law enforcement.

City Sees Big Drops in Crime Through

July 4th Fireworks Activity

families. A special registration event will be held at Progress Plaza East (15500 Downey Ave.) on May 19 only from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Remember to bring proof of residency (photo ID and current utility bill) or proof of PUSD enrollment (current-year school ID), with you, along with proof of age.

The City will present “Smarts, Arts & Healthy Hearts” this summer, a celebration of academic achievers, local artists, and the City’s focus on ﬁtness.

“Smarts, Arts & Healthy Hearts” will take place on Saturday, June 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Paramount Park.

The City’s Public Safety Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department measure the number of Part 1 crimes throughout the year to compare with the previous year’s activity. During the first half of 2014, Paramount has seen doubledigit decreases for property crime (22.6%) and a healthy drop in violent crime (9.8%).

Overall, this combines for a total of 20.9% less crime in Paramount so far this year compared to the first six months of 2013.

If you are an artist living or going to school in Paramount and would like to show your work at the event, please contact the Paramount Recreation Department at (562) 220-2121.

For instance, this year there have been half as many robberies in town as opposed to last year (38 vs. 76). Homicides have dropped from two to one. Burglaries, theft, and auto theft are all down (by 19.3%, 25.8%, and 18.1%, respectfully).

Art can be in a variety of media – painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, multi-media, and more. It can simply be exhibited or offered for sale.

We will provide a booth, a table, and chairs. Artists are responsible for arranging and displaying their artwork and need to be present during the length of the event. They are also responsible for the breakdown of the display.

These figures represent a dramatic and continuing decline over the last two decades. In fact, violent crime in Paramount is at levels not seen since the late 1960s. The number of property crimes in Paramount is the lowest since the late 1970s.

Walk With Me at Relay For Life

The American Cancer Society’s annual Relay For Life offers an opportunity to honor cancer survivors, promote how individuals can reduce their cancer risk, and raise money to help end cancer. This year’s Paramount Relay for Life is scheduled for Saturday morning, May 3, at 9:00 a.m. at Paramount Park and goes for 24 hours.

With summer just around the corner, swim season is near for our City pools. Paramount residents and PUSD families can receive special rates for recreational swimming at the Paramount Park pool – $1 per entry for youth (ages 17 and under) and $2 per entry for adults. In order to qualify for these resident rates you will need an identification band, which can be purchased for $1 and is good for the entire summer. Be sure and bring it with you every time you visit the pool this year. (Per-visit rates for non-residents or those without an ID band are $3 for youth and $4 for adults.)

The latest example of this is a new “predictive policing” technology called PredPol. Paramount is the first city in Los Angeles County that contracts with the Sheriff’s Department to employ the software, which is a computer-based analysis focusing on property crimes.

The program started out as a research project between professors at UCLA and the Los Angeles Police Department. By constantly processing real-time crime data that includes date, time, and location of a theft, PredPol can make predictions about where crime might most likely occur over the following ten hours. Officers can use these predictions on a shift-by-shift basis and direct their free patrol time to the indicated areas.

You can buy the ID bands beginning on May 19 at the Community Services and Recreation Ofﬁce at 15300 Downey Ave. They can also be purchased at Paramount Park Pool beginning June 14. Proof of residency (photo ID and current utility bill) or proof of PUSD enrollment (current-year school ID) are required to obtain an ID band.

Also on the Public Safety front, Paramount Sheriff’s Station deputies and CSOs were busy over the 4th of July holiday. The City has a zero-tolerance policy on the use of illegal fireworks, which are not only dangerous but can also be very irritating to residents and pets. 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.

Starting on May 20, you can register in person at the Community Services and Recreation Ofﬁ ce (15300 Downey Ave., Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) and Paramount Park Community Center (14400 Paramount Blvd., Monday - Thursday, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.).

As a result, a total of 43 citations were issued to individuals for using illegal fireworks in Paramount. The citation fines range from $250 to $1,000. Even though it was busy, there were, thankfully, no injuries or fires as a result of fireworks.

You can register online (www.paramountcity.com on the Parks & Recreation page) starting May 20. If you don’t have an online account already, you will need to create one at the Recreation Department ofﬁce at 15300 Downey Ave. Again, bring proof of residency or PUSD enrollment and proof of age.

California Approves Water-Saving Measures

All registration for non-residents begins June 2.

For more information, please call (562) 220-2121.

Sign Up for Summer Day Camp

In light of the ongoing drought conditions throughout California, the State has adopted mandatory water conservation measures that direct cities to implement their own local Urban Water Management Plans. Paramount is in the process of finalizing the details of our plan that will encourage local users to save water.

June 16 through August 8. The cost is $75 per week, per child, and the program operates from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for July 4.

The e-waste collection is a free service and available to homes, apartments, and mobile home parks in Paramount. To schedule a pick-up, call CalMet at (562) 259-1239 at least one day before your normal trash day. Then place the e-waste at your curbside on trash day.

In addition to being a safe and fun place to spend the summer, the camp also provides a healthy breakfast and lunch, as well as swim lessons.

For more information, please call (562) 220-2121.

Keep Purchasing It . . . In Paramount

Temporary Parking Permits For RVs

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?

Also with summer in mind, and the possibility of friends or relatives coming for a visit, here’s a brief review of the City’s Recreational Vehicle (RV) parking ordinance.

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.

RVs registered to Paramount addresses cannot be parked on public streets within the City. But the City allows for the temporary on-street parking of RVs that are not registered to a Paramount address.

Why Buy in Paramount?

The permit must be obtained by a resident and the vehicle must be parked in front of their address.

• You support the people who live and work here.

• You save time.

• You save gas (and money).

• You help create local jobs.

Also available to residents and PUSD families this summer are season passes for use at both Paramount Park and Orange pools.

When LAPD patrol deputies used this information during their “down” time, patrolling around several precincts, crime fell considerably. PredPol methods have been tested in a strict, controlled study, and have been shown to be twice as effective in predicting crime locations as a human analyst.

PredPol has a limited and focused application, but it promises to help in allocating precious law enforcement resources. It is currently being deployed in Los Angeles, Alhambra, and some cities in England. And now in Paramount, as well.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandi

These passes ($20 Youth/$30 Adult) will provide you with admission to the pools all summer without having to pay the entrance fee each time you go. In addition, they will give you priority entry during recreational swim hours. If you buy a pass, you do not need to purchase or wear the aforementioned ID bands. But you do need to show the same proof of residency or PUSD enrollment as mentioned above.

Please call (562) 220-2121 with any questions.

Swim Lesson Registration

Also on May 19, residents can register either online or at the Recreation Ofﬁce (15300 Downey Ave.) for the City’s Summer Day Camp.

The guidelines will then be publicized for residents through a variety of avenues. Stay tuned.

Children ages 5 to 12 are eligible to participate in the camp, which runs from

Free Curbside E-Waste Pick Up

CalMet Services, the City’s trash hauler, offers curbside pick-up of electronic waste.

All unwanted electronic waste must be recycled by law and cannot be thrown away in the trash. This is stuff like computers, televisions, microwaves, cell phones, telephones, stereos, typewriters, fax machines, and more.

For out of town visitors, permits may be issued for a maximum of 31 days per household per calendar year. Permits will be issued for a maximum of 14 consecutive days per permit with a 72-hour timeframe between permits.

• Paramount businesses help maintain our stable and thriving community.

The vehicle will be moved for street sweeping.

For more information, please call (562) 220-2002.

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.

“Until we’re educating every kid in a fantastic way, until every inner city is cleaned up, there is no shortage of things to do.”

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.

– Bill Gates

Talking or Texting on Cell Phones

National Night Out in Paramount

National Night Out (NNO) – a crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch – will be celebrated in Paramount on Monday, August 4th, when the City will hold a special dinner acknowledging the commitment and dedication of our Neighborhood Watch participants and Volunteers on Patrol.

There are plenty of facts, figures, and details about distracted driving, but the California Office of Traffic Safety wants you to know the plain and simple ones:

• 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.

• If something falls to the ﬂoor, pull over before trying to reach it.

NNO is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness by supporting local anti-crime programs and strengthening neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Communities from all 50 states participate.

Project LEAD Sending Positive Message to Paramount Fifth Graders

This year’s theme is “Looking Forward.” The Paramount dinner will highlight the various law enforcement programs the City has introduced over the last year. It will also introduce the new Captain of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station, Keith Swensson, who serves as the police “chief” of Paramount, and the Paramount Station’s new leader, Lieutenant David Auner.

• Up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.

• Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of driver distractions.

Then, the next night, Tuesday, August 5th, residents can show their support for NNO by leaving their porch lights on until the morning.

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

Ticketing Trucks Using Illegal Routes

Paramount has its own dedicated District Attorney – Kelly Tatman – who works out of the Sheriff’s Station. Her duties include making sure that criminal investigations and prosecutions in town receive full attention and don’t fall through the cracks at the larger County D.A.’s Ofﬁce.

Certain major streets in Paramount are not “posted truck routes,” which means that large commercial vehicles of a certain weight or size are not allowed to drive on those streets. These heavy trucks cause damage to the surface of the boulevard as well as to parkway trees. They can also be a nuisance for residents who are driving by, compromising sightlines and other issues.

• Texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of ﬁve seconds, long enough to travel the length of a football ﬁeld at 55 mph. Most crashes happen with less than three seconds reaction time.

So periodically a Sheriff’s deputy is assigned to enforce the commercial vehicle law that is designed to keep trucks off of routes where they are not allowed. In June, for instance, enforcement was conducted for five days along Paramount Blvd. between Somerset and Jackson. There were 35 truck drivers given tickets for not staying on the routes that are specified for their use.

These efforts will continue to encourage traffic safety in town.

Vacation Home Checks

• The act of talking on a cell phone, even hands free, can give you “inattention blindness,” where your brain isn’t seeing what’s right in front of you. You aren’t even aware that you are driving impaired. If you think you can handle both driving and talking on a cell phone or texting, you are kidding yourself and putting us all at risk.

Tatman has been visiting a class of 36 students at Jefferson School as part of Project LEAD. The program, which goes into the classroom once a week for 20 weeks during the school year, uses volunteers like Tatman from the D.A.’s Ofﬁce to teach ﬁfth-graders about the law and help them recognize the social and legal consequences of criminal behavior.

Sadly, too many young people ﬁrst become acquainted with the justice system as delinquents. Project LEAD is designed to avoid that scenario.

For those of you taking a late-summer vacation, remember that Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on your home or property. Call (562) 220-2002 to ask about vacation checks if you’re planning to go out of town.

Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road or your hands off the steering wheel – especially texting and cell phone use, whether hands-free or handheld. Who’s doing it? Most of us. It has been estimated that, at any one time, more than 10 percent of drivers are using a mobile device.

A ticket for $159 for texting or talking on a cell phone is a major distraction to your wallet.

What can you do? Most important, obey the law. It’s there for a reason. Also, do your best to eliminate distractions:

• Never text and drive.

• Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel.

• Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving.

• Make a pact with your family, spouse, and caregivers never to use the phone with kids in the car.

• No eating or drinking while driving.

• Don’t program your GPS, MP3 player, or other devices while driving.

• Pull over and stop to read maps.

• No grooming.

The class from Jefferson recently went on a ﬁeld trip to the Museum of Tolerance. (They will also go to a local courthouse). In addition, Project LEAD’s curriculum includes speakers connected to the criminal justice system and a mock trial involving either drug selling or gun possession on campus. Students are assigned roles and argue a criminal case to a jury consisting of other students. Teachers and parents attend, too.

At the end of the program, the kids will participate in a graduation ceremony and receive a certiﬁcate of completion from the D.A.’s Ofﬁce at a meeting of the Paramount

• No reading.

• No watching videos.

• Try not to get too involved with passengers.

Chamber President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar) presents Dave Porter (Cartridge World of los Alamitos & lakewood) with $25 as winner of the door prize drawing sponsored by AppleCare Medical Group.

Christian ramirez (los Angeles Print & Design) plays the Spin to Win game.

Deborah Jameson (lifegate Foursquare Church)

award from Ambassador Chair Grace Padilla (Marukan Vinegar)

Chamber President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar).

County of Los Angeles’s Recognizes Older Americans

The City of Paramount chose Maria Bazafkan as their honoree for the County of Los Angeles’s Older Americans Recognition Day. Maria has been a City of Paramount volunteer for the past year three years. She has worked at the Senior Center as a hostess; serving trays, and bringing cheer with her special greetings. She comes in early every morning with a smile and warm embrace for all those that attend the center.

Pathways Celebrates 20 Years of Golfing

Pathways will host its 20th annual fundraising golf tournament Monday, August 18th to raise money for the much needed bereavement, caregiving and hospice services that Pathways provides. What better way to start off the week than with a fantastic game of golf with friends and family, all for a great cause!

The event will be held at Recreation Park Golf Course in Long Beach. It will include a lunch, raffle prizes and silent auction items, and an awards ceremony. Registration begins at 11 a.m., and tee-off is at 12:30 p.m.

Organized by the Pathways Board,

staff and volunteers, the golf tournament is part of the annual campaign to raise funds to promote and support all programs; to provide the best in compassionate care.

Already sponsoring this event are: Outbeak Steakhouse, Stone Brewery, Yougurtland, and t he c rooked Duck, CH2M Hill, Inc., L.A. Fire Fighters Local 1014, and Optimal Hospice, to name a few.

For more information on the golf tournament, or for more information about Pathways’ services call the main office at 562-531-3031 or visit pathwayshospice.org.

(310)

Now hiring, auto mechanic, boDY anD Paint tech., anD outSIDE

ACCOUNT MANAGER Email Heraldsgarage@gmail.com or visit Herald’s Garage 8124 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount.

Wanted: DRIVING SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR, must be over 25 years or older, a high school diploma and a clean driving record. Please call (562) 425-7665

BILINGUAL SALES in English & Spanish with basic computer skills. Also looking for warehouse emPloYee with inventory, order-picking, and/or UPS experience. Please call 562-408-1984 and ask for Ivette or send an email to mimi.kim@ptminconline.com for Mimi.

Paramount resident Emilia DeFour receives a certificate of recognition from Mayor Diane Martinez for her 100th birthday. Happy birthday Emilia!

Tips for College Students

With the new school year just around the corner, here are some ideas to ponder from Psychology Today.

If you are not a morning person, don’t schedule classes for 7 am. You will not go. Get involved on campus. All work and no “productive” socializing is boring.

Too much socializing equals bad grades. Everything in moderation.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, are having problems sleeping, or have gone through a breakup, visit your college’s counseling center. If you are feeling suicidal at any point, call your college’s crisis center number or call 911 immediately.

There are a lot of free activities on campus. Take advantage of them.

Many colleges have free tutoring centers on campus. Take advantage of them.

Sit near the front of class – Attend the whole class. Even if you feel like you will just die if you sit there any longer. Even if you feel your brain start to ooze out the side of your ear. Because professors sometimes give really important info at the end of class.

Recopy your notes after class. Or if you’ve typed them (which is recommended), do a quick read-through after class.

Remember that although you are 18, your college may have the right to contact your parents if you are caught drinking underage.

Don’t do anything stupid (read: illegal). It will go down on your permanent record. Seriously. At every college you apply to after this one.

Register for classes as early as possible. Early bird catches the worm and all that. Use virus protection and firewalls on your laptop.

The student bookstore (online and in real life) can have great student discounts on hardware/software.

Reconsider bringing a car to campus your first semester. It can be a pain to park. Introduce yourself to your professors and go to their office hours. This is so im-

portant. They really like it when someone is interested in their classes.

Use the college’s career resource center – not just when you are going to graduate, but when you are figuring out what you want to do with your life. It’s a free service. Use the free services.

Get your flu shots, yearly – You may feel like your parents are hovering too much. Look at it this way: they’ve been taking care of you since you were a baby. That doesn’t just stop. Cut them some slack. The more independent and wise decisions you make on your own, the more they will have confidence in your abilities as an adult.

Practice safety. Don’t walk home alone in the dark. Walk with someone. Many campuses have services where you can call and someone will walk back to your dorm with you.

Use flashcards to quiz yourself when studying. And get someone else to quiz you with them. If you always quiz yourself with your own flashcards, you may skip over some that you don’t know the answer to.

You may not know what you want to do for a major. It’s okay. There are people much older than you that still aren’t sure what they want to do with their lives. See your academic adviser for help. Pay attention to which classes you really look forward to – that can be a clue as to what you might want to major in.

Study groups can be helpful – but keep it to between three and five members (including you). More than that, and it turns into a social event.

If you have ADHD or a learning disability, apply for accommodations as soon as possible – even right after you find out you’ve been accepted to school. sleep. Get it. Get enough. You may be laughing at this, being a college student and all ... but you need to get enough sleep.

Enjoy your college experience – it’s one most rewarding experiences of your life, academically and socially.

Teen Drivers

By maria F. galli State Farm Insurance

562-817-5620

So, your teenage son or daughter wants to drive! Suddenly, driving has become one of the most important things in your child’s life. Scary, isn’t it?

Naturally, you may dread the increase in your auto insurance premiums. However, there is a lot more at stake than higher premiums. As parents, we all share the fear of our children becoming involved in an automobile accident. These concerns are all too often confirmed by the reality of teen crash statistics.

Although premiums are derived from the monetary cost of auto accidents, lives are priceless. No amount of premium can ever bring back a life or reverse disabilities.

Let’s look at how to reduce accidents:

* Drive defensively. Watch out for the other person.

* Obey the speed limit. Speed increases the likelihood of an accident. And adjust your speed according to the road conditions. Drive more slowly on wet or icy pavement.

* As important as your driving skill, or aptitude, is your attitude. Always act responsibly behind the wheel.

There’s no doubt your age has a lot to do with your chance of being in an accident. A study by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, for example, found that although teen-agers drive only half as many miles as adults, their accident rate per mile is four times the adult rate.

We’d all like to pay less for auto insurance. Here are a couple ways that your child can help:

1. Many insurance companies offer lower rates to young, single drivers who are better-than-average students in high school or college. They do that because statistics show good students have considerably fewer accidents than students whose grades are average or below average.

2. obey all traffic laws. You can’t always avoid an accident, but you can avoid traffic tickets, which can cause your insurance premiums to go up.

Contact your local insurance agent for more information on how to protect your teen driver and save at the time with great personalized coverage.

Start Making Videos for Your Business Today

Have you ever noticed you spend more time on a website when there’s a video to click? In that amount of time, your customers are getting to know you better, which improves your credibility, trust, and familiarity. Video helps increase engagement on your website by 5x. So how can you make a plan to help you start creating your own videos for your business? This simple business video production plan can help grow your business with a low cost marketing strategy that yields a high and measurable return.

1. Decide if you are comfortable making your own videos or if you prefer to hire help. The benefit of making your own business videos is that you will control the creative, branding, look, feel, and overall direction of the video content with an affordable budget and consistent schedule. The risk of making your own business videos is that you will probably need to invest a small amount of time and money in training yourself how to do it or take the time to train someone on your team, along with getting some basic equipment. If you’re not sure how you feel about being on camera try Vsnap to record video and send it to yourself for free. (Recommended time: 5 minutes)

2. Set goals for your videos. The fancy term for this step is creating a video content strategy. Do you want your business videos to build brand exposure, educate your customers, recruit employees, or drive sales? All of these goals would lead you to create

a very specific kind of video content strategy. To start out, create videos that provide an added layer of value for your potential customers so that they get to know, like, and trust you. Treat videos as an opportunity to win over the hearts of your customers. (5 minutes)

3. Research your competition. Do you know what kinds of business videos are already out there in your industry? Which ones are working and why? Take the time to research your competitors’ videos and choose the elements that you like or don’t like. What qualities will you choose to emulate, and which qualities will you aim to avoid? List those elements out and use them as your guideline. (5 minutes)

4. Identify the kind of videos you will be making. Since you’ve already chosen the goals for these videos, you have a good idea of the kind of video you want to make. In general, a business video that is educational or provides thought leadership will do a great job of building up your brand and adding value, whereas if you’re looking to promote an event or drive sales, you’ll want to create a video that has a more specific structure and call to action. (5 minutes)

5. Create a schedule to make and release your videos. It is advisable to create a video release schedule and set aside a few hours to shoot multiple short videos on a single day. That way, you don’t have to shoot all the time, and you can save up your videos to share

C ity S ervi C e S

with the world on an ongoing basis. (5 minutes)

6. Get the right equipment. You’ll need a basic DSLR camera to obtain high image quality, and a lavaliere microphone or external microphone to either plug directly into the camera or into an external recording device. You can also use a webcam or cell phone, however with a higher end camera you will be investing in a higher production quality video that will lend you and your business valuable credibility. For lighting, find a great window or purchase a small light kit. Grab a tripod, and make sure you have batteries and SD cards to hold your footage. Finally, store your final footage on an external drive and edit on editing software. General price breakdowns for equipment:

• Dslr camera ($350 - $750)

• lavaliere microphone ($25 - $150)

• external microphone ($50 - $100)

• lights ($150 - $300)

• tripod ($50 - $100)

• external Drive ($100)

• computer for editing ($500 - $1000)

• editing software ( free to $25/m) try: WeVideo, Adobe Premiere Elements, iMovie

• external recording Device ($230) –Optional

7. Setup a shoot day. Pick the day you’re going to shoot your video. That will create a deadline to assure you write material so you stick to your plan and finish the videos. (5 minutes)

8. write the scripts. You are the authority on your business; you already know what to say! Start small and simple. Bullet the points you want to make assure you cover to keep yourself on track. (60 minutes)

9. Shoot your videos. Since you picked the day to shoot, setup your lights, setup your sound, and wear clothing you are comfortable in — assure it fits your business. Have a friend or colleague help you focus and hit record. (60 minutes)

10. Edit and post your videos. Once you are happy with the take or takes that you shot, connect the parts you liked, pick music if desired, and add in a branded logo or animation sequence that you can import or have simply designed for you. After editing, you’ll upload the video to your preferred video hosting service, and post it on your site by copying and pasting the embed code and voilà! You’ve just completed your first business video! (15 minutes)

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 to help with your marketing for 2014 or just for a business tune-up call: (562) 9385100 or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu

Marukan Vinegar USA Open House

Mayor Diane Martinez at the Marukan Vinegar uSA open house. Martinez samples fresh dishes prepared by Chefs Austin and ruben during a cooking demonstration at the event.