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Annual Thanksgiving Celebration Salutes Local Seniors

to say, you caught me off guard.”

The City of Paramount recently held its Annual Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner at the Paramount Park gym to honor the elders of our community.

The day featured great food served up by an assembly line of Paramount Rotary Club members and City staff, and delivered by the terriﬁc kids of the Paramount High School Corsairs service club.

Entertainment included the jazzy sounds of the Joe Vento Band and Bill Pellegrino of the Rotary Club leading the room in a nostalgic sing-a-long.

A special thank you goes out to all of the local businesses who contributed to this year’s event. Their cash support and rafﬂe prize donations helped make it a memorable success. The City appreciates their generosity.

Donations

$500

Clinica Medica Hispana, Gamberg Metal, Weber Metals.

$300

Aramark, CalMet Services.

$250

Alondra Hot Wings; AltAir Paramount LLC; Caremore Health; Paramount Petroleum.

$200

FENICO Precision Castings; Knights of Columbus; Standard Catering.

Under $200

Demaria Electric Motor Services; Fobi Pharmacy; Mid-Cities Honda.

Non-Monetary Donations

ACE Clearwater ($500); Big Ben Car Wash ($210); Casa Adelita Restaurant ($160); Casa Gamino Restaurant ($40); Elephant Bar Restaurant ($20); Enrique’s Restaurant ($40); Gus’s Deli ($80); Popular Bank ($110); Rosewood Restaurant ($120); Shakey’s Pizza ($20); The Water Store ($100).

Part of the tradition of the luncheon is acknowledging those in the crowd who are age 90 and above. A few of them this year share some thoughts on longevity with the Pulse Beat.

Paramount Mayor Gene Daniels, on stage with his fellow councilmembers and the Rotary Club president, welcomes everyone to the 33rd Annual Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner.

Alice McCain, 99, Paramount “Don’t drink. Try to be happy all of your life.”

Betty Harkema, 90, Paramount “I’ve lived in Paramount for 67 years. Just live each day like you have a crowd around you. Take advantage of everything and be happy.”

Gloria Carson, 94, Downey “Be happy.”

Refugio Gomez, 97, Paramount “Think positive, do the right thing, don’t smoke or drink, be friends with everybody. And I eat everything I want.”

Rosanna Messer, 91, formerly of Paramount, now of Norco “I came to the City’s ﬁrst Thanksgiving dinner. Be sure to walk a lot. I don’t know what else

Mary Lois Walker, 90, Paramount “Don’t sit down and watch television all day long. Be on the move.”

Dancing, dining, and door prizes made for another fun Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner at the Paramount Park Gym.

During the Holidays, Purchase It . . . In Paramount

The holidays are upon us, which means getting together with friends and family over special meals, at festive parties, and during the gift exchanges that go along with this time of year.

Keep in mind that your every need during this season can be conveniently met by the 900 businesses located in Paramount.

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

When you purchase it in Paramount …

* You support the people who live and work here.

* You save time and gas (and, hence, money).

* You help create local jobs.

* You sustain the businesses that are investing in our city’s future, and that support our churches, our schools, our organizations, and our quality of life.

Paramount businesses know what you want and help maintain our stable and thriv-

ing community.

Purchase It … In Paramount. Do your holiday 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 looking for a certain type of business in town, or for a speciﬁc product, feel free to contact the Chamber of Commerce at (562) 634-3980.

Christmas Train To Run December 9-12

Mr. Claus will visit every neighborhood in town again this year on The Santa Express Christmas Train from Monday, December 9th through Thursday, December 12th. The journey begins each day at 3:00 p.m.

A list of all the stops is in the Around Town newsletter that each household in the City received in the mail. You can also view the schedule at the City’s website, www. paramountcity.com. For more information, call (562) 220-2121.

Breakfast With Santa on Dec. 14

If you haven’t bought a breakfast ticket for Snow Day with Santa on Saturday, December 14th at Paramount Park, you can still take advantage of the pre-sale through December 13th. The event itself is free, but you need to buy a ticket for the meal.

Presale breakfast tickets are $5 per person, which also gives you access to the fast-pass lane. (The price of a ticket at the door on the day of the event is $5 per person, ﬁrst come, ﬁrst served, but with no fast-pass access.)

Remember, though, that the event itself if free, from 8 a.m. till noon. (Breakfast, how-

Best Advice I Ever Got!

“You only live once. Live - don’t just exist. You only have one body – take care of it.”

JOAN SHARP, – Madame Pompador

Paramount Recognized for Business Friendly Ways

ever, will not be served after 11:00 a.m.)

Besides the meal, there will be holiday craft-making, giveaways, and entertainment. Also, plenty of snow for sledding will be in the park, and you can take photos with Santa (a professional photographer will also have packages available for purchase).

To find out where you can purchase a breakfast ticket, please call (562) 2202121.

Recycle Your Christmas Trees

After the holidays, residents of Paramount who have Christmas trees can place them out at curbside for pickup. The trees will then be recycled into mulch.

CalMet, the City’s refuse hauler, will pick up trees at no charge after Christmas from 12/26/13 through 1/16/14 for singlefamily residential accounts. Be sure to remove the stand and all the decorations, lights and tinsel, and do not wrap the tree or enclose it in a plastic bag. If the tree is four-feet-tall or less, you can put it in your green waste recycling barrel. For anything larger, set it curbside on your normal garbage collection day by 6:00 a.m. (Flocked trees will also be picked up.)

After 1/16/14, your tree can still be taken away by scheduling a bulky item pickup.

For apartments or condominiums, trees on the curb by 6:00 a.m. during the stated dates will be taken away for free on regular pickup days. If it’s necessary to drive onto the property there will be a $5.00 charge per

tree. In these latter cases, the service must be ordered 24 hours before the regular pickup day by the manager or owner who must have the account number for veriﬁcation.

Also, commercial customers must call CalMet before placing a tree out for collection so a green waste truck can visit their location.

If you have any questions, please call (562) 259-1239.

Holiday Trash and Street Sweeping

Christmas and New Year’s Day will slightly alter garbage collection schedules this season. CalMet Services will have no trash pickup on those holidays.

Christmas will fall on Wednesday, Dec. 25th, so regular Wednesday routes will run on Thursday, Dec. 26th. Then the Thursday and Friday routes will both run on Friday.

New Year’s Day will be on Wednesday, Jan. 1st, 2014. Service will be one business day later through the rest of each week, just like during Christmas week. Wednesday’s trash will be picked up on Thursday, Jan. 2nd, and Thursday and Fridays routes will run on Friday, Jan. 3rd.

If you have any questions, please call (562) 634-5420.

In addition, there will be no street sweeping on Tuesday, December 24th and Wednesday, December 25th, and no makeup. Likewise, there will be no street sweeping on Wednesday, January 1st, and no makeup.

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

– Jim Rohn

Mayor, Gene Daniels

Barbara Levine of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) presents a plaque to Mayor Gene Daniels at the November 5 Paramount City Council meeting. Levine was recognizing the City for being nominated as a ﬁnalist in the “Most Business-Friendly City” award competition.

Peaceful Holiday Parties

The holidays are often ﬁlled with friendly parties and get-togethers. As we all know, though, parties can sometimes get out of hand and bother neighbors.

Paramount has a patrol to respond to complaints about loud parties. If a call for disturbing the peace comes into the Sheriff’s Station, there will be a visit to the location and a first-warning notice will be issued. If a return visit is made, the property owner will be liable for fines. For instance, a second visit within 30 days will produce a fine of $250. The third, fourth and fifth visits within 30 days of the first call will entail fines of $500, $750 and $1,000, respectively. In addition, the cost of extra resources involved (multiple deputies, helicopter, and so on) can be passed on. These fines, if not paid, can go to a collections agency.

If such disturbances come from the same location over an extended period of time, deputies will focus on solving the problem with those who are causing it.

If you’re planning a party, be sure to take your neighbors into consideration and refrain from playing loud music and making other intrusive noises into the early morning hours.

Keep in mind, also, that deputies do not divulge the identity of any residents making complaint calls.

For more information, call the Paramount Sheriff’s Station at (562) 220-2002.

Safe Shopping Tips For the Season

With the holiday season here, and people doing their shopping, keep these easy safetyrelated tips in mind when out and about.

• Always be alert and aware of your surroundings.

• If possible, try to shop in pairs. Robbers often focus on, and target, solo shoppers.

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

• Always park in a well-lighted area.

• Never leave packages, bags, cell phones, purses, or other valuable items in plain sight in your vehicle. Place these items in your trunk, where they cannot be seen from outside your car.

• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

• Carry small amounts of cash. Your front pocket is ideal for carrying cash.

• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, bus stops, and on buses and other rapid transit.

• Never leave children in the car unattended.

• Never buy items from someone who approaches you in a parking lot. These are often stolen goods.

• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused.

• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.

Vacation Home Checks

Here’s another reminder that if you are a Paramount resident and have plans to be out of town during any part of the holidays, you can contact the Sheriff’s Station for a vacation home check. The City’s Public Safety Ofﬁcers will periodically take a look around your home or property while you’re gone. (This service is available throughout the year, not just during the holidays.)

Call (562) 220-2002 for more information.

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.

ZLS Beauty Salon, hiring LICENSE COSMETOLOGIST & A HAIR STYLIST must have 2 years of experience, ﬂexible schedule & great customer service skills if interested call. Ruby 323 377 5508 .

BILINGUAL SECRETARY in English & Spanish with computer skills in word and excel, also for WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEE with inventory control experience Spanish speaking. for information please call 562-633-8044 and ask for Maribel.

James and Sally Watson receive a certiﬁcate of congratulations from Chamber

President Brenda Olmos.

Ofﬁcials from the Paramount Chamber and City of Paramount join Komputers for Kids ribbon cutting.

PJAA provides youth sports program in Paramount

PJAA (Paramount Junior Athletic Association) is a non-proﬁt youth baseball league working with the City of Paramount to provide a youth sports program. Since 1958 the league has been run by volunteers at Paramount Park and is run under the PONY umbrella (Protecting Our Nation’s Youth). The league serves ages 3-4years (Ragball or T-Ball), 5-6years (Shetland), 7-8years (Pinto), 9-10years (Mustang), 1112 years (Bronco) and 13-14years (Pony) divisions. The PJAA goal is to provide youth in The City Paramount and surrounding communities with the opportunity to learn baseball, sportsmanship, and teamwork, coupled with a strong emphasis on homework and good grades. The league is a “recreational league” meaning; everyone who signs up can play. League fees are kept to a minimum with funding help from the City of Paramount as long as 75% of the participants are Paramount residents. Registration and uniform fees include; a cap, jersey, pants, belt, socks, trophy, yearbook, and an opportunity to represent the Allstar team which is selected by the coaches and

Clubs & Organizations

board to play in tournaments throughout the summer. The spring season generally runs February – June with signups primarily in the month of January. Fall Ball (or winter ball) is October -November signups are in September. The league organizes opening and closing day ceremonies with entertainment, guest speakers, and City Council support. For the upcoming Spring 2014 Season, signups start on December 7, 2013 10:00 am-1:00 pm (all Saturdays in the month of December) in the Paramount Park Baseball Office (small building near the baseball fields). The office is closed from December 14 - January 7, 2014 for the holidays, it will re-open on Wednesday January 8, 2014, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. Signups will continue through February on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, and Saturdays 10:00 am-1:00 pm, until February 15th. For more information call (562) 220-2165. You can also visit PJAA on Facebook or visit their website www.pjaabaseball.net. Information will be distributed at Paramount Unified schools in November and early January.

American Red Cross Accepting Nominations For Annual Hometown Heroes Ceremony

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 Hometown Heroes Awards Luncheon. The Greater Long Beach/Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross is asking the local community to take action and nominate everyday heroes. Hometown Heroes Awards celebrate the selﬂess acts of courage and humanitarian service by real people in our communities. These individuals’ extraordinary acts exemplify the American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering.

The heroic act must have occurred outside of the normal course and scope of the Hero’s usual and customary work.

The heroic event must be a single incident and not part of a disaster or catastrophic event response and the event must have occurred between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Some examples of heroic acts include, using CPR or assisting a choking person, providing ﬁrst aid for an accident victim, rescuing someone from drowning/water rescue, providing outstanding humanitarian services to the Armed Forces or Veterans, and helping make our community ready and prepared for disasters.

If you know someone who performed an extraordinary act and would like to nominate them visit www.redcrosslb.org.

Tis the Season for Giving

Every Monday California Outreach Organization feeds more than 400 working poor and homeless in need. The 501 (c) 3 Nonproﬁt Corporation began their weekly food give outs a year ago at their headquarters in Paramount.

Actor Jonathan Joss, the voice of John Redcorn of King of the Hill, and Ken Hotate of Parks and Recreation, was so impressed with California Outreach that he offered to become spokesman for the organization and

is now actively working to expand the charity.

The Paramount Chamber of Commerce will serve as a collection site for the Paramount organization until December 23rd. Stop by the Chamber to drop off your non-perishable food items and feel the joy of giving.

Paramount Chamber of Commerce, 15357 Paramount Blvd., Paramount. For more information call 562.634.3980 or visit www.CaliforniaOutreach.ORG.

Pathways Volunteer Hospice is coordinating a ‘Teen Volunteer’ program at Lakewood Regional Medical Center. If you are 16 years old or older and enjoy being around people, this may be the perfect opportunity for you. If you are interested, please call our ofﬁce at 562-531-3031. All applicants must be interviewed prior to being accepted into program.

College Scholarships Applications Available January 2 Grants Awarded to Local Students

of $1,000 and $3,000

The Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) Scholarship Program awards scholarships each year with the goal of making education beyond high school ﬁnancially accessible.

The latest applications will be available as of January 2, 2014. Hard copies can be picked up at Paramount City Hall, the Paramount City Yard and locations throughout the School District. Copies can also be downloaded on the City of Paramount website at www.paramountcity.com and on the Paramount Uniﬁed School District website at www. paramount.k12.ca.us/.

Scholarships of $1,000 are awarded to students attending a community college and $3,000 to students attending an accredited four-year institution within the U.S, including vocational/ trade/ technical schools. Scholarship monies may only be used to pay tuition, fees, books and supplies for the 2013-2014 school year.

Applicants will be reviewed based on their completed application, academic record, ﬁnancial need, extracurricular activities, work or volunteer experience and future goals. Plagiarism or false information will permanently disqualify an applicant. Please be aware that ﬁrst-time applicants will receive priority over past recipients.

The following are the mandatory requirements:

You must be a City of Paramount resident or Paramount Uniﬁed School District student.

Have a high school diploma or GED.

Be enrolled in an accredited program to obtain an Associates of Arts or Bachelor’s degree and/or vocational certiﬁcation. (Students must be able to provide proof of enrollment in an institution to be eligible.)

Provide one letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor (who cannot be a relative).

Possess a cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or better.

Submit forms that demonstrate ﬁnancial need as determined by FAFSA (and include a copy of Student Aid Report).

For information regarding the PEP Scholarship Program, please contact Suleyma Rosales at (562) 220-2132.

Remember to Fill Out Your FAFSA

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Anyone who wants financial aid for college needs to fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA is managed by the Office of Federal Student Aid, part of the Department of Higher Education. It is found at www. fafsa.ed.gov.

All federal grant and loan awards are determined by the FAFSA, and nearly all colleges use the FAFSA as the basis for their own ﬁnancial aid awards.

The FAFSA is available for completion every year on the first day of the calendar year (January 1). Filing your FAFSA as early as possible will help to ensure you receive all of the federal financial aid you are eligible for, and will leave you with the most options for federal aid. FAFSA is used for an entire academic school year, so you will only need to file once per academic school year. For example, the 2014-2015 FAFSA is used for fall 2014, spring 2015, and summer 2015.

For the 2014/2015 academic year, the deadline for initial awards in California is March 2, 2014.

The FAFSA application should take about one hour to ﬁll out, but this is only if you have all the necessary documents at hand before you begin. Some applicants get frustrated with the application process because they do not have ready access to all necessary tax forms and bank statements, so be sure to plan ahead before you sit down to complete your FAFSA.

The FAFSA requires information in ﬁve categories:

• Information about the student.

• Information about the student’s dependency status.

• Information about the student’s parents.

• Information about the student’s ﬁnances.

• A list of the schools that should receive the results of the FAFSA.

Students applying online can save their work and return to an application at a later date. Again, any ﬁnancial aid award begins with the FAFSA, so be sure to complete the form before the deadlines for the schools to which you’ve applied.

Mexican Restaurant

Since 1970 when the first Casa Gamino was opened founder Cipriano Gamino has strived to give all his customers good Mexican Food with excellent service and good prices. In all our locations we continue to do the same for our customers. No gimmicks, just delicious food.

8330 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount 562-630-9100 562-634-6225 Open: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Fri. - Sat. 11:00 am - 11:00 pm Music Duet – Friday & Saturday Nights 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Marketing Strategies for Your Business

Tuesday, December 17, 2013 @ 10am to 11:15pm

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Workshops will be held at: Paramount Chamber of Commerce 15357 Paramount Blvd, Paramount, CA 90723

*Free Business Counseling Also Available

*$25.00 refundable deposit required Call the Chamber for more information

“Light Up A Life” This Holiday Season

Compton Community College District is Accepting Applications For its Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Clubs & Organizations

The holiday season is upon us once again—a joyous time of the year for most. For some, however, it can be a particularly difficult time of year when they find themselves spending the holidays without one of their loved ones who has passed on. Keeping that in mind, Pathways Volunteer Hospice offers a meaningful way to celebrate the holidays.

“Light Up A Life” is a signature program traditionally promoted by hospices across the United States, and is a beautiful and sentimental ceremony that allows people a special opportunity to remember and honor their loved ones.

A gift of $20 provides a shining light on the “Light Up a Life” holiday tree. Additionally, the name of the person being honored or memorialized is listed on “Light up a Life” scrolls displayed by several trees during the month of December at libraries in Paramount, Lakewood, Cerritos, and Long Beach.

“Pathways is a haven and a help for so many people and this is never more evident than their annual ‘Light Up A Life’ event,” said Patrick O’Donnell, Fourth District Councilman for the City of Long Beach.

O’Donnell also added, “The ﬁrst time

I had the honor of attending one of these events, I was struck by the caring staff, the inclusiveness of the environment, and the simultaneous reverence and celebration of the event.”

On Monday, December 9th from 7 – 8 p.m. a momentous tree lighting ceremony will take place at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza. This moving ceremony provides a heartfelt way to honor and remember those we love and those who have passed on. It’s open to anyone who would like to attend, free of charge and no reservation is required.

Grief is one of those things in life that can catch us off guard and make us reevaluate our entire lives. We can oftentimes feel alone and isolated but the silver lining is that we don’t have to face grief alone.

One of the many services that Pathways Volunteer Hospice provides is compassionate support to grieving families and individuals. All of their services are free. For more information on their services, or how you can participate in the “Light Up a Life” program, call 562-531-3031 or contact Vickie Kaefer at Vickie@pathwayshospice.org or visit the Pathways website at www.pathwayshospice.org

Pulse Beat Online

The Compton Community College District (CCCD) is currently accepting applications for consideration in serving on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. The application deadline is December 13, 2013 by 4:30 p.m. Applications are available at www.district. compton.edu or by calling 310-900-1600, Ext. 2000. Upon selection, Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee members serve a term of two years and do not receive any compensation or beneﬁts for their service. The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee meets on a quarterly basis.

There will be an information session for individuals who are interested in serving on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee on Tuesday, December 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the CCCD Board Room.

Qualiﬁcations for Membership

The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee consists of seven members, including at least one representative from each of the following categories:

1. A member active in a business organization representing the business community located within the district;

2. A member who is a resident of the district and active in a senior citizen’s organization;

3. A member who is a resident of the district and active in a bona ﬁde taxpayer’s organization;

4. A member enrolled as a student at the El Camino College Compton Educational Center and active in a campus group; and

5. A member active in an organization supporting the District such as the foundation.

To qualify for appointment, a member must meet the criteria listed in one of the above categories. A member cannot be an employee, official, contractor, consultant, or vendor of the Compton Community College District. Elected officials are also disqualified from service on the committee.

As outlined in Education Code Section 15278, the District Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee informs the public concerning the District’s expenditure of revenues received from the sale of bonds authorized by the voters. More information on the role of the committee, as well as an application, can be found by visiting: http://district.compton. edu/measure_cc_bond/apply-for-bond-oversight-committee.asp

Applications should be submitted to Keith Curry, CEO of the Compton Community College District, at 1111 E. Artesia Boulevard, Compton, CA 90221. For more information, call 310-900-1600, Ext. 2000.

What is an Individual(k) plan?

By Maria F. Galli State Farm Insurance

562-817-5620

Do you have plans for retirement? Do they include a retirement plan? If you are a small business owner, you may feel you need to continue working during your golden years. Many business owners may not realize there are plans available to build a retirement account.

One such plan is the Individual(k) for business owners who have no employees other than a spouse. While the plan itself may not be very well known, it can be an appropriate way to provide income during retirement.

An Individual(k) is similar to the more

popular 401(k), with contributions limits well above those of Individual Retirement Accounts. There is even a $5,500 catch-up provision for persons age 50 and older.

The deadline for establishing an Individual(k) is the last day of your company’s tax year. If your company follows the calendar year, the deadline would be December 31 of the current year. If not, the deadline would be the last day of your current ﬁscal year.

Your retirement plans should always include retiring. Make an appointment with your local qualiﬁed insurance and ﬁnancial professional to discuss whether an Individual(k) is appropriate for your business.

Help Protect Paramount Citrus Trees From Deadly Citrus Disease

By Victoria Hornbaker Program Manager, Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

A deadly citrus disease, called Huanglongbing (HLB), was detected last year in a Los Angeles-area backyard citrus tree and agriculture ofﬁcials believe HLB could soon spread throughout Southern California. Residents should be on high alert.

While not harmful to humans or animals, HLB – which can be transmitted by an insect called the Asian citrus psyllid as it feeds on citrus leaves – causes a citrus tree to produce bitter, hard, inedible fruit and eventually kills the tree. There is no cure for citrus trees infected with HLB. Infected trees must be removed as soon as possible to prevent the Asian citrus psyllid from feeding on the infected tree and spreading the disease to healthy citrus trees.

Everyone in Paramount is being asked to do their part to protect community citrus. The Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program offers the following tips:

• Inspect your trees. Inspect citrus trees regularly for HLB. Visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org to see photos that can help you identify the symptoms of HLB. Report suspicious symptoms by calling (800) 4911899.

• Cooperate with agricultural ofﬁcials. Agricultural ofﬁcials may ask to access your property. Allow them to look for symptoms of the disease and cooperate with efforts to eradicate diseased trees. Doing so will help

protect the community’s citrus.

• Obey quarantine laws and don’t move citrus. Los Angeles County is under quarantine, meaning citrus fruit and plants must not be removed from the area. Avoid bringing citrus into Los Angeles County from other counties.

• Buy local. Only purchase citrus trees from reputable, licensed nurseries in the area, which sell trees known to be free of the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB. Look for a tag indicating the tree has been inspected so you know you’re planting a healthy tree.

• Graft with care. Use only registered budwood with source documentation when grafting trees. This will ensure the plant material is healthy and free of the deadly HLB disease.

• Be mindful of clippings. Dry out or double bag plant clippings prior to disposal to avoid moving HLB-infected plant materials and Asian citrus psyllids.

• Protect against the psyllid. While there is no cure for HLB, we can stop the Asian citrus psyllid. Visit your local nursery or garden center to ask about products that can help treat for the pest and protect your trees.

If you think your tree is infected with HLB contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture hotline at (800) 4911899. The Asian citrus psyllid and HLB are a death sentence for California citrus – but by working together we can all save our citrus trees business.

Pregunte al Experto

COMO IDENTIFICAR SI TU HIJO/A ESTA CONSUMIENDO DROGAS PLAN

DE ACCION DE SEIS

DK Counseling (323) 251-7511

David y Klaudette

Hola amigos, es un gusto saludarlos nuevamente a través de su periódico local PULSE.

Esperamos hayan tenido un lindo mes, en compañía de su familia y amigos.

Ahora, recordemos un poquito del paso #4 que fue la edición pasada.

Hablamos de las consecuencias que enfrentan los adolescentes que rompen las reglas en el hogar, como por ejemplo: el uso de alcohol, drogas, sexo y faltas a la escuela, los cuales debemos tener tolerancia cero, como lo hemos explicado en ediciones anteriores. Como hemos dicho, los padres deben mantener las restricciones leves, de dos días a una semana, según la edad y el temperamento del chico.

Las consecuencias negativas por el consumo de alcohol, drogas, sexo y faltas a la escuela, siempre deben incluir eliminar el tiempo libre y restringir las actividades que les gustan.

Nota: Es mejor quitar todo lo que les guste a los chicos, como: T.V. celular, computadora, video juegos, amigos, etc., durante un periodo corto de tiempo, en lugar de una sola cosa durante mucho tiempo. La mayoría de los adolescentes aprenden auto-disciplina después de que los padres los hacen responsables de sus acciones, y cuando les prohíben el acceso a sus privilegios, hasta que hayan cumplido con todas sus obligaciones.

Ahora sí, pasemos al paso #5 que es de suma importancia llevarlo a cabo. No debemos pasar por alto este paso que es: Consistencia/Seguimiento.

Ser Consistente es la clave, recuerde que sus adolescentes probaran su resistencia y consistencia, es por esto que usted como padre debe de ser ﬁrme y constante en la implementación de las reglas establecidas en el hogar. Si usted no es consistente, sus hijos verán su falta de ﬁrmeza, y el proceso llevado a cabo se vendrá abajo. Su constancia será una demostración de amor hacia ellos, aunque ellos no lo comprendan por ahora.

Si los padres fallan en la consistencia, aunque sea una sola vez en aplicar con-

PASOS

secuencias negativas, ellos no lo tomaran en serio y por ende lo tomaran como un juego.

Si el castigo original se estableció para una semana, los padres no deben rendirse ante los chicos al acortar el castigo y permitir que el joven desobedezca.

Ahora veamos el Seguimiento. Los padres debemos hacer un seguimiento y aplicar consecuencias negativas, siempre que los chicos consuman alcohol, otras drogas, sexo y faltas a la escuela, en esto siempre debe haber tolerancia cero.

Cuando los padres ﬁjan reglas y no hacen un seguimiento para supervisar el resultado, les enseñan a sus hijos que no es necesario obedecer reglas, y esta mala conducta les afectara en todas las áreas de su vida tales como: obedecer a las autoridades, respetar límites en la escuela, el trabajo y su futura familia. Po esta razón, los padres no solo deben comunicar reglas claras y razonables para la conducta de sus hijos, sino también evaluar la reacción de ellos.

El amor, la buena comunicación, el respeto, la honestidad, los comentarios positivos, las consecuencias negativas y positivas de sus acciones y sobre todo la unidad familiar, son las raíces para formarles un carácter sólido, para que tomen decisiones basadas en buenos principios y valores morales. Los chicos como los adultos, necesitan ser escuchados y comprendidos, y nosotros como padres debemos aprender a escucharlos con todo nuestra atención. Cambiar una conducta destructiva no es una tarea fácil.

No existen soluciones sencillas ni rápidas para la educación de nuestros hijos, así que, seamos consistentes y demos seguimiento hasta lograrlo.

Bueno amigos, recuerde que el aprender y memorizar estas verdades no es suﬁciente, sino hasta que las llevemos a la práctica. Nos vemos en la próxima edición con el último paso.

Nuestros mejores deseos en esta Navidad y que el Año Nuevo sea muchísimo mejor!

Con Mucho Cariño: David y Klaudette

10 Things to Know About the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or Obamacare, ofﬁcially rolled out October 1 with the launch of the Health Insurance Marketplace nationwide. As you navigate the new rules of health insurance, here are 10 things to know.

1. If you’re self-employed with no employees, under the ACA you are considered an individual rather than an employer. Effective January 1, 2014 you must either buy health insurance that meets the minimum essential coverage standards, qualify for an exemption, or pay a fee called the individual shared responsibility payment. For 2014, that fee is 1 percent of your yearly income or $95 per person per year, whichever is higher. Learn more here.

2. If you’re self-employed and have individual insurance, you can either keep your current plan or shop for lower rates through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Small business owners who pay high rates or can’t get insurance due to pre-existing conditions will be happy to know that under the ACA, they can’t be denied or charged more for coverage. Visit Healthcare.gov to learn more and compare plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

3. Self-employed people may be eligible for tax credit subsidies to help offset the cost of buying health insurance. Learn more about subsidies at the Kaiser Family Foundation website.

4. If your business has fewer than 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees, you are not required to of-

fer your employees insurance. (What’s a full-time equivalent? Essentially, two half-time employees equal one full-time worker, so 100 employees who work 20 hours a week would be considered 50 full-time equivalents.) According to the U.S. Census Bureau, some 96 percent of small businesses in the U.S. have fewer than 50 employees and aren’t required to offer health insurance.

5. If you have fewer than 25 fulltime equivalent employees and offer them health insurance, you may qualify for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit if your employees earn an average of $50,000 a year or less and you pay at least 50 percent of their premium costs. Find out more here.

6. If you have 50 or more full-time equivalent employees, under the ACA you are considered a large business. Starting January 1, 2015, you will be required to offer health insurance or pay a penalty. You may also have to pay a penalty if the insurance you offer doesn’t meet minimum standards. Learn more about the Employer Shared Responsibility payment.

7. If your company is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), you must provide written notice to all employees (both full-time and parttime), and to all new hires going forward, informing them about the Health Insurance Marketplace. To see if your business is covered by the FLSA and get sample notification documents, visit Healthcare.gov.

8. If you have at least one employee

besides yourself and your spouse, you can shop for insurance for your employees in The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace rather than the individual marketplace. Currently, The SHOP is open to employers with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees; by January 1, 2016, The SHOP will be open to employers with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. Learn more about The SHOP here.

9. Starting in 2014, small business health insurance tax credits will be available only through The SHOP. If you currently get or want to receive the tax credit, this is something to consider when choosing your business’s insurance plan.

10. The ACA has many ramiﬁcations for small businesses. Get help by talking with a licensed insurance agent or broker, consulting your accountant, visiting Healthcare.gov and talking to the experts at your nearest Small Business Development Center.

The SBDC is a group of successful small business owners helping fellow entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain 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.