Pulse Beat February 2016 by City of Paramount

pulse Beat pulse Beat

February 2016

Clearwater Crossing Coming This Summer With Delectable Dining Delights

On Tuesday, February 2, Paramount City officials broke ground on a project that the community has been anticipating for a long time.

Clearwater Crossing, at the corner of Alondra Blvd. and Paramount Blvd., will be a restaurant plaza with both sit-down and “fast casual” options including Applebee’s, The Habit, Waba Grill, and Chipotle.

As Mayor Tom Hansen said during the event: “This marks the culmination of a journey that stretches back for decades. Many different City Councils and quite a few City staff members have worked awfully hard to attract national chain restaurants to our town.”

The Mayor told how staff members had recently come across a memo from former City Manager Bill Holt relating the news that developers had expressed interest about building a sit-down restaurant very soon … the memo was written in 1984!

In welcoming the new businesses to town, Mayor Hansen made it clear that they were joining a family that has served Paramount very well over time.

“As we celebrate the arrival of these new dining establishments, in no way do we slight the other restaurants in Paramount,” he said. “There are a lot of wonderful places where you can have a great meal in town. We love those businesses, we patronize them on a regular basis. And we thank them for providing our community with quality service and a wonderful variety of cuisines and flavors.

“We are simply expanding that range of choices.”

The name of Clearwater Crossing derives from local history. Prior to the existence of Paramount, the community was made up of two small villages, Clearwater and Hynes. Hynes was the southern village, founded in 1898 when a train depot was set up at Jackson near Vermont and named after S. B. Hynes, the manager of the Los Angeles Terminal Railroad.

Clearwater, to the north, established in 1886, was named for the artesian wells that flowed

Members of the Paramount City Council are joined by developers and investors for groundbreaking ceremony. From left; James Rodriguez (Colliers International), Damasio Alvarez (Applebee’s), James Beus (Chipotle), Peggy Lemons (Councilmember), Daryl Hofmeyer (Vice Mayor), Tom Hansen (Mayor), Gene Daniels (Councilmember), Diane Martinez (Councilmember), Javier Martinez (Waba Grill), Nichole McCarthy (Applebee’s), and Steve Boss (Arroyo Seco Development Group).

on a dairy belonging to the wellknown Bixby family located on today’s Somerset Blvd.

The boundary line between the two little hamlets was Alondra Blvd., or Center St. as it was known then. Clearwater Crossing stands on that line.

An interesting side note to the project – it is the final commercial development in Paramount using funds from the old Redevelopment Agency.

The State of California, in a

Paramount Chamber of Commerce pulse beat

15357 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA 90723

search for funds during the great recession, eliminated Redevelopment Agencies five years ago. The RDA was an economic development engine that the City created in the early 1970s to provide financing incentives to rebuild blighted, worn out areas like the old downtown. The very first project done was the Paramount Village condominiums between 70th and Harrison near Paramount Blvd. It was followed by the Orange Ave. Industrial Park off Rosecrans.

Redevelopment also led to building Town Centers East and West. It is safe to say that the RDA remade Paramount into the attractive, stable, thriving City that it is today, improving residential, industrial, and commercial properties alike.

Clearwater Crossing represents the end of that legacy.

The restaurant development will serve as the northern crown of the big changes happening downtown. Town Center West

has undergone a transformation with new outdoor patios, reconfigured business suites, and other enhancements. The City will be redesigning Paramount Blvd. from Jackson to Alondra with new landscaping and signage, widened sidewalks, and other pedestrianfriendly and beautification efforts. All of these projects are scheduled to be complete by mid-summer.

It is a very exciting time for Paramount.

Heavy equipment removes the last remnants of the long standing Rosewood Restaurant to make room for new Clearwater Crossing restaurants Applebee’s, Chipotle, Waba Grill, and the Habit.

Recipient of Senator Ricardo Lara 2015 Excellence in Business Award

College Bound Shuttle Offers LowCost, Convenient Travel

Here’s a reminder that the College Bound shuttle bus offers transportation for Paramount residents to Long Beach City College (Liberal Arts Campus) and Cerritos College, and it has begun service for the spring semester. The Cerritos route resumed in January and the LBCC shuttle will start on February 8.

Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and then again from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

There are four pick-up and drop-off spots located throughout town – Orange and Somerset, Century and Orange, Paramount Park and Progress Park. Each roundtrip –from individual bus stop, to the campus, and back again – takes about an hour.

The bus stop location at Long Beach City College is on Clark Ave., just north of Carson St. The bus stop at Cerritos College is on Studebaker Rd., about a block south of Alondra Blvd.

Each trip costs $1, but you can purchase a semester pass for $25.

For more information, or to purchase a pass, please call the Recreation Department at (562) 220-2121.

More Transportation Options

Paramount offers a number of ways to help people get where they’re going. The Easy Rider Shuttle is a convenient, quick way to move around town. For $1 per trip, the shuttle takes you along a fixed route, hitting all of the prominent spots like WalMart, Paramount High School, City parks, and the downtown district. There is a route map and schedule on the City’s website, www.paramountcity.com, under Services, Transportation.

Hours for the Easy Rider are MondayFriday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Children under six ride for free. Call (562) 633-2904 for more information.

If you need to go to a specific location in Paramount that is not along a bus route, Dial-A-Ride is available for seniors age 55 and older, disabled residents, and anyone living ¾-of-a-mile outside a regular City transportation bus stop.

Hours are Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m.6:00 p.m., $1 per ride, kids under six free. Call First Transit 48 hours in advance for door-to-door pick-up and drop-off service, or for any questions, at (562) 633-2904.

The City offers a Medical Taxi Program designed to help seniors 55 years or older and disabled residents make their medical and dental appointments to medical centers within an approximate five-mile radius.

Hours are Monday - Sunday, 6:00 a.m.

9:00 p.m., $2 per ride, with a limit of 20 trips per month. Call (877) 933-3396 to schedule a pick-up or for any questions.

And if you live in Paramount and are interested in joining our Senior Center but are not able to drive yourself, the free ENP Shuttle can get you there.

Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off service is available Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m.1:00 p.m. Call the Paramount Park Senior Center at (562) 220-2090.

Trash Accounts Online / Bin Placement During El Niño

The City’s contracted waste hauler, CalMet Services, Inc., now offers online services to help manage your trash and recycling bill. On their website, you can view and print invoices, sign up for automatic bill pay, or have invoices automatically e-mailed to you after each billing. You can also request temporary bins or bulky item pick-ups (such as mattresses, desks, TVs) online. To sign up, visit www.calmetservices.com or call (562) 259-1239, extension 8.

CalMet would also like its customers to know that, in the event of the heavy rains expected to come with El Niño, street gutters may become flooded and potentially wash away trash and recycling carts. When taking a cart out for collection on a rainy day, please remember to place them one-to-two-feet off of the curb and out of the gutter.

Preparing for El Niño

More on El Niño – the City wants to remind residents that sand bags are available free of charge at the City Yard, 15300 Downey Ave.

You can get bags and the sand to fill them Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You need proof of Paramount residency (utility bill, California driver’s license, etc.). There are ten bags per address on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call (562) 220-2020.

The Paramount Fire Station also provides sand bags, but no sand. The Station is located at 7521 E. Somerset Blvd., (562) 634-6559.

Los Angeles County has a website with information about weather-related issues potentially caused by El Niño. The site – www.lacounty.gov/elnino – can be translated into 83 languages. The county is also using the hashtag #LArain to communicate with residents on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Local residents can also sign up for Paramount Alert, a system that will enable them to receive important messages from the City on cell phones or by email. Go to www. cityofparamount.bbcportal.com to connect.

You can also find tips for preparing for El Niño on the City’s website homepage at www.paramountcity.com.

New Water Well on Garfield

In case you’ve been wondering what’s going on at the corner of Garfield and Jackson, the Paramount Water Department is drilling a new well and treatment plant – the City’s fourth. This will give us access to more groundwater, which will allow us to cut back further on purchasing imported water, which costs twice as much as our own groundwater. Groundwater is also a much more reliable source than imported water.

Altogether, it helps the City keep water rates as low as possible and keeps our system strong and safe for the future.

Mayor, Tom Hansen

Talking or Texting on Cell Phones

While Driving – Not Worth It

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.

There has been an increase in thefts from vehicles throughout the region. These thefts are often due to valuables being left in plain sight or doors and windows being left unlocked. Commonly stolen items include money, wallets, credit cards, tools and power tools, computers, mobile phones, cameras, GPS and other electronic devices, handbags, jewelry, and sunglasses.

Project LEAD Sending Positive Message to Paramount Fifth Graders

Thefts can occur at any time, so it is important not to present an easy opportunity to thieves. In order to steal, thieves will smash a car window or break locks and the cost of repairs may even exceed the value of the stolen items.

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

Follow these simple steps to help reduce the risk of thefts:

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

remove all Valuables

• Do not leave any valuables in your vehicle. Take them with you if possible.

• If you must leave valuables in your car, place them in your trunk without being seen.

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.

• Remove GPS units and wipe the suction mark off of the window.

• 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.

• Do not leave house keys or garage door openers in your car – they may be stolen and used in home burglaries.

Lock Up

• Close all windows – including sunroof.

• 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.

• Lock your car – always physically check it is locked, even when parking at home or just leaving your car for a moment.

• Contractors – be sure to lock external tool boxes and equipment if they can’t be removed.

Secure Your Car

• Park in a locked garage if possible.

• Park off the street in your driveway if you don’t have a garage.

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

• Install a car alarm.

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.

• Park in a well-lit area – thieves do not want to be caught breaking into cars, so you can increase the risk that others will detect them.

And remember that if your valuables have been stolen from your car, report the theft to the Sheriff’s Department.

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

Personal Paperwork Can Lead to Identity Theft

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

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.

Here’s a tip to help you avoid being the victim of identity theft, as well. 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.

• Never text and drive.

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

Get Your Free Car Anti-Theft Device

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

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 Public Safety Commission.

The Prevent Auto Theft (PAT) program can help deter auto theft for Paramount residents who own certain car models.

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

PAT provides free anti-theft, steering wheel lock devices for owners of specific cars.

• No eating or drinking while driving.

Summer Vacation Home Checks

Based on the latest analysis of regional auto theft trends, these are: 1990 to 2000 Honda Civics, Honda Accords, and Nissan Sentras; 1998 to 2012 Ford Econoline Vans; and 2000 to 2007 Chevy Tahoes. (Other vehicles may qualify, as well. Check by calling the Paramount Station.)

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

With summertime approaching, remember that if you’re going out of town for an extended period of time, you can schedule a home check.

• Pull over and stop to read maps.

• No grooming.

Residents will receive one device per vehicle. They must provide a photo ID, proof of Paramount residency (such as a utility bill), and proof of vehicle ownership.

• No reading.

• No watching videos.

Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on your home or property while you’re gone.

To participate, stop by the Paramount Sheriff’s Station at 15001 Paramount Blvd. or call (562) 220-2002 for more information.

Fighting Speeding Vehicles

• Try not to get too involved with passengers.

Call (562) 220-2002 to ask about vacation checks.

The City has recently purchased a speed radar trailer to deploy around town as a means to deter speeding. The trailer is being used in areas where residents, deputies, and Public Safety personnel have expressed concern with motorists driving too fast.

In addition to displaying the speed of a vehicle, the speed radar trailers store the speed of each passing vehicle and the number of vehicles that drive by. This data will be analyzed to determine the average speed of the vehicles traveling by the trailers. The information will be used to coordinate specific traffic enforcement operations.

Friday, May 16, 2014 - 10am to 12pm

Rep. Roybal-Allard Visits Paramount Senior Center

Congresswoman Lucille RoybalAllard (CA-40), joined by staff from her offices in the City of Commerce and Washington, D.C., visited the Paramount Senior Center in January where she spoke to local seniors about the constituent services provided by her office. If anybody

living in the 40th Congressional District is looking for information about the ways in which the congresswoman’s office can assist them in dealing with federal agencies, you can visit www.roybal-allard. house.gov/constituentservices/casework/ to learn more.

Paramount Rotary Student Art Contest

tary

held on March 5th at Loyola Marymount university.

Promote Your Business

While Supporting Education

Remember to support education in Paramount this year while promoting your business by sponsoring or making a donation to the Paramount Education Partnership’s 13th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser.

It will be held on Friday, April 22, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Progress Park Plaza, 15500 Downey Avenue. All donations are made to the PEP 501c3 non-profit entity, and are tax deductible.

The generosity of the Paramount business community has helped make dreams of college become a reality for many local students. Over the years, 226 scholarships worth $641,000 have gone to Paramount kids attending a university, community college, or trade school.

For some of these students, it has made the difference in whether or not they could continue their education. For all recipients, it has been important assistance.

This April will provide a fresh opportunity to boost another group of individuals who are working to improve their education and forge a bright future.

Donor businesses will receive publicity in a variety of venues for taking part. The fundraiser features great food and fun casino-type games, all for a very good cause. Your donation is an important investment in our community.

If interested in sponsorships or other contributions, please contact Suleyma Rosales at (562) 220-2121 or srosales@paramountcity.com.

Students – Apply for a PEP Scholarship

Current college students and non-Paramount unified School District applicants can get an application for the PEP college scholarship in the following places:

Hard copies are at Paramount City Hall, the Paramount City Yard/Recreation Office, the Chamber of Commerce, the Paramount Library, and the Paramount Petroleum Community Learning Center at Spane Park. Copies can also be downloaded on the City of Paramount website (www.paramountcity.com) and on the Paramount unified School District website (www.paramount.k12.ca.us).

These finished applications need to be turned into Paramount City Hall by the end of the day on March 25, 2016.

Graduating seniors attending Paramount High School will complete the Common Scholarship Application that allows them to apply to seven other local scholarships, in addition to PEP, with just the one application. These are available through their academic counselors.

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. This jumps to $4,000 if attending a university of California campus.

Homework Help Volunteers Wanted

Looking for a way to give back to the community?

Volunteers are needed for the Homework Help program. Individuals must be willing to put in 2-12 hours a week as tutors at the Paramount Petroleum Learning Center at Spane Park. 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.

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, 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.

Giving Hearts for Helping Hands

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” It is with that same morale that Pathways Volunteer Hospice has been the leader in giving much needed support with great love to our community. Casa Gamino restaurant has adopted that same spirit.

Casa Gamino customers can make a small donation at the checkout counter to “Have a Heart.” They will sign a paper heart and post it on the restaurant’s wall. These hearts will adorn the walls, shelves and doors of the restaurant as a gesture of displaying love and compassion to children and families living with illness and loss.

This fundraising event will help support the much needed services provided to the community through Pathways. As a non-profit organization, Pathways offers services in the areas of hospice care, care management and volunteer companions for the frail, elderly and chronically ill and grief support and counseling for children and families. Pathways also extends a helping hand to local schools by providing crisis response when traumatic incidents arise.

Join Pathway’s this February by enjoying great food, and helping us continue to help those in our community! Casa Gamino is located at 8330 Alondra Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723. For more information on Pathways programs and services, please visit www.pathwayshospice.org or call 562531-3031.

TAG ART SHOW

Progress Park Plaza West all eVents are free

Student Show

Paramount Students (Paramount Unified & Our Lady of the Rosary)

Saturday, February 27, 2016 - 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday, February 28, 2016 - 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Combined Student & Adult Show

Paramount Students & Southern California Artists

Saturday, March 5, 2016 - 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Demonstration & Adult Awards

Sunday, March 6, 2016 - 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

From left; Councilmember Peggy Lemons, Casa Gamino owner Gloria Gamino, Councilmember Gene Daniels, and Councilmember Diane Martinez.

Paramount Chamber Welcomes New Ambassadors

Name: Matt Wagner

Company: GM Properties

Company Address: 13305 Penn St., Ste. 200 – Whittier Office Phone: 562.762.3140

Major Product or Service: Commercial Real Estate Brokerage & Management

How Long in Business? 12 Years

Why Did You Join the Chamber? Business Networking Where Were You Born? Frankfurt Germany Education/Training: BA in Finance From Cal State Fullerton

What is Your Favorite Saying? It is, what it is Latest Accomplishment: Work – 100% on Brokerage Philosophy: Treat People as I would Like to be Treated If You Were Granted 3 Wished What Would They Be? The Ability to Speak in Every Language, That Government Would Stop Lying to us, and That My Two Girls are Successful in Life

Name: Linda J. Timmons, PhD

Company: Advocates for Family unity

Company Address: PO Box 393, Paramount Phone: 562.252.0881

Major Product or Service: Counseling and Visitation Monitoring Services Through the Local Courts

How Long in Business? Working With Families and Children for 30 Years – In Business 5 Years

Why Did You Join the Chamber? To Meet and Network With People Who Have Similar Interests and Because the Chamber Works to Promote Education and Awareness About Personal Business Growth Education/Training: PhD in Counseling From Loyola Liberty Christian university/university of Phoenix, Clinical Pastoral Education/College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy, Ecclesiastical Endorsement – St. John Missionary Baptist, Chaplain – LB Memorial / Loma Linda Hospitals

Civic Affiliations: American Red Cross, LB Dept. of Health/Human Services, FEMA Board, State of California Real Estate, National Notary Association, and State of California Dept. of Social Services

What is Your Favorite Saying? Everything Will Be Better in the End – And If It Is Not Better – It Is Not The End

Latest Accomplishment: I recently reconnected a Family of Six Going Through Troubling Times and Separation.

Philosophy: Each and Every Day is a New Opportunity to Help Someone. We Are All God’s Children and We Are All One. We Need Each Other to Survive.

If You Were Granted 3 Wished What Would They Be? I Wish Hunger and Homelessness Were Abolished in All Countries, I Wish All Children Living in Foster Care Would Fin A Loving Permanent Home, and For World Peace

P aramount C hamber J anuary

n etworking b reakfast

Which is Better? Fee Simple Ownership Vs. Condominium Ownership

Matt Wagner GM Properties, Inc. (562) 696-0200

There is a common perception of condos as being apartment style buildings, of townhouses as two-story row homes with adjoining walls, and of garden homes as free standing houses on small lots.

unfortunately, this perception creates some confusion about real estate ownership. Apartment, townhouse and garden home describe the construction layout and design of certain homes.

The word, condominium, should not be used in this context. Condominium does not refer to a type of building or construction design. It refers to a form of ownership of real estate. Condos cannot be recognized by observing the building style. In a condominium, the owner has individual title to the inside space of his unit. Sometimes the space is described as beginning with the paint on the walls. The unit owners also have an undivided interest in the physical components of the buildings and land.

The legal definition of condominium is: The absolute ownership of a unit based on a legal description of the airspace the unit actually occupies, plus an undivided interest in the ownership of the common elements, which are owned jointly with the other condominium unit owners.

If you are considering purchasing a condo, it is very important to read the condo documents carefully. The rules of each condominium are specific to the development, so no assumptions should be made about their requirements.

The condo documents specify what maintenance is covered by the common budget. In one case, the association may handle all exterior components, decks, pools, sidewalks, driveways, etc. In another, the documents may require that the individual owners be responsible for complete maintenance of their units, including foundations, roofs and exterior walls.

After reading your condo documents carefully, you may have questions about the division of work between the individual owners and common budget administered by the condo association.

Your best option is to present your question to the condo board itself. The board can clarify how the issue has been handled in the past, or give you their interpretation of the rules.

Another course of action is to ask a real estate attorney to review the documents for you. Other homeowners, Realtors or maintenance workers are not reliable or appropriate sources for the interpretation of condo documents.

In contrast to the condominium ownership, you may own real estate by fee simple. Fee (from the old word, feifdom) refers to legal rights in land, and simple means unconstrained. Fee simple ownership is the absolute and unqualified legal title to real property, including both buildings and land. This is the most commonly used type of ownership.

Whether you are buying into a condominium regime or purchasing a fee simple property, you should have a clear understanding of the type of ownership you will have in your property.

If you are buying a condominium, you should read the condo documents carefully to understand how maintenance is divided between individual owners and the common budget. If you are buying a fee simple property, with individual ownership of the land, you should read the deed restrictions (if any) to understand the rules that apply to your property. In fee simple ownership, there may be mandatory dues to pay for common area maintenance, or, in some cases, the dues may pay for partial maintenance of the individual properties.

The bottom line here is that condominium ownership is constrained to the rules (CC&R’s) of the Association whereas fees simple ownership is only going to be governed by your local planning office.

Choose to Love

Hope for Healing Counseling, Inc.

Alma San Miguel, LMFT (562) 445-8177

February is the month in which couples celebrate Valentines’ Day and romance. However, we can take this opportunity to celebrate the love we have for other significant people in our life. We can focus on loved ones, spouses, children, grandchildren, special friends, other family members, as well as coworkers. It’s a great day to tell loved ones how much we care about them and how much they mean to us.

Daily challenges, routines and work demands can turn our focus away from those who are most important in our lives. Everyday life leaves very little energy, both physically and emotionally, to truly be present with our loved ones. Remember, we generally accomplish the goals we set each day; so make a plan to take the time and let your loved ones and special friends know how you feel about them, and how much they are appreciated.

February is the shortest month of the year so let’s challenge ourselves to CHOOSE to focus on loving those who mean the most to us. Let’s be proactive and PLAN on expressing our love, and our appreciation for the joy and meaning they bring to our lives.

Some simple ideas to consider in choosing to love:

- Write a card to a loved one expressing what they mean to you

- Surprise them with a special treat they enjoy

- Send a text communicating a characteristic you appreciate about them

- Share a picture or memory you treasure and what makes it special to you

- Plan a dinner, outing, or event where the goal is to enjoy your time together

- Surprise them with a short love note left where they will find it

Make a PLAN and enjoy Valentines’ Day!

What makes consumers open their emails?

Isn’t that the million-dollar question every digital marketer wants to know the answer to?

Because your customers probably get an influx of email in their inbox daily, it’s important to keep up on the trends and analytical tools at your disposal to improve your click-through rates. A recent study by The Radicati Group suggests that in 2015, the average person received 88 email messages per day – 11 of which were spam. If you consider that 88

emails received is for the AVERAGE person – this number could be much higher for many of your customers. Here are some new trends to help set you apart.

According to Search Engine Journal, the top email trends for 2016 include: Lightboxes. You know those pop-ups that appear in the middle of the website you’re trying to see, advertising their e-newsletter or asking visitors to sign up for email marketing promotions? Well, they

actually work. The Conversion Lightbox from AddThis can be customized to suit your site’s design and messaging, and is responsive on all mobile devices.

Mobile. According to the recent u .S. Consumer Device Preference Report from Movable Ink, 66 percent of all email in the u .S. is now read on smartphones.

Campaign Monitor specializes in optimizing emails across all devices and gives you the option of choosing a mobile-friendly tem -

plate as a design.

Personalization. It’s still about making it personal in 2016. Intercom tracks live customer data to help you create behaviorbased emails and messages so you can reach out to your customers instantly.

Although some of these trends may seem too “high tech” or cumbersome, it is essential to jump on board so that your customers will actually read the emails that you are sending their way.