Pulse Beat January 2015 by City of Paramount

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January 2015

A Look Back at Last Year in Paramount

Now that 2014 has left the building, and before 2015 starts whooshing by, let’s take a moment, and take a look, at some of the key events and issues that marked last year.

Smarts, Arts & Healthy Hearts

Education Month was moved from September to June and relaunched with the first “Smarts, Arts & Healthy Hearts” fair in Paramount Park, a celebration of the City’s academic achievers, local arts community, and focus on fitness. PUSD students with the highest GPAs in the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades were recognized by the City Council, School Board, and PUSD officials. There were musical and dance performers along with artists displaying their work in a variety of media. The fair also featured a 5K race and 1K fun run.

Statewide Drought Brings Water Conservation

In light of the ongoing drought conditions throughout California, Sacramento directed cities to implement mandatory water conservation measures. Paramount encouraged local consumers to save water in a variety of ways, mostly aimed at outdoor use. For example, lawns can only be watered using sprinklers on Monday and Thursday from November through March. To see more of the recommended water-saving tips, go to the City’s website at www.paramountcity.com.

Predicting Crime With Computers

Crime has been on the decline in Paramount for many years. Part of the reason is the use of cutting-edge law enforcement tools.

This past year, for example, Paramount became the first city in Los Angeles County that contracts with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to employ a new “predictive policing” technology called PredPol. It’s a software program that provides computer-based analysis focusing on property crimes.

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.

Two-Decades of Crime Reduction

Speaking of property crimes … through October 2014 (the latest figures available at press time), every one of the four property crime categories had dropped compared to the previous year, according to statistics compiled by the City’s Public Safety Department and the Sheriff’s Department. Burglaries were down 14.9%, theft 12.2%, auto theft 25%, and arson 28.6%.

Overall, Part I violent crimes fell 14.7% through October compared to the same period in 2013. This means that crime has continued to fall consistently for two decades in town. The numbers of crimes committed in Paramount are about the same as they were in the 1960s and 1970s.

New City Apps – Tracking the Christmas Train/Paramount Works

The Santa Train – which has been running since 1969 – got all “techie” this past December to help residents get an idea of when it would be near their neighborhood. By downloading a free phone app called Glympse or going to the City’s homepage you could view a real-time map to pinpoint the train’s location as it traveled throughout town. On Monday, the first day of the journey, there were so many thousands of visits to the website that the map froze, such is the popularity of the train. (The website was quickly adjusted and the mapping app worked just fine the rest of the week.)

Another free app is now letting residents use their smart

PEP Scholars

Crime Stats Fair

phones to help keep Paramount clean and tidy.

Paramount Works is available for downloading from iTunes or Android. It’s an easy way to report maintenance issues so City staff can take care of them ASAP. For a detailed look at how it “works” turn to this issue’s CityScape on the back inside cover.

City on YouTube and PEP on Facebook

Paramount’s video productions – from the city, not the movie studio – were made available for viewing on the video-streaming website

YouTube. Shows include public presentations at City Council meetings, the State of the City address, special community events, information about PEP scholarships, an oral history of the City, and more. They can be found at youtube.com/cityofparamount.

The Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) – a collaboration between the City, the Paramount Unified School District, and the Paramount Chamber of Commerce – created its own Facebook page. You can “like” PEP at Facebook.com/ParamountPEP and find informational postings, photos, and various announcements.

Latest PEP Scholarships

One of PEP’s major undertakings is its college scholarship program. At the annual fundraiser last year, more than $100,000 was donated to help Paramount college students pay for school. In addition, 2014 saw over $70,000 in funds awarded for 24 scholarships, bringing the total to $600,000 given out over the last 11 years.

The 2014 class of PEP Scholarship winners with the City Council and representatives from Paramount Unified and the PEP Foundation.

The partnership between the City and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has brought crime levels in Paramount to historic lows.

Smarts, Arts, and Healthy Hearts, held in June, featured a 5k run in Paramount Park.

On behalf of my fellow City Council members and all of our Paramount City employees, I wish you a wonderful 2015 on the heels of what, I hope, was a fine 2014.

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

As this new year begins, it’s important to express the City’s sincere appreciation of the positive outlook and great sense of commitment to a bright future that holds forth in our community. All these factors combine to make Paramount an exceptional place to live, work, and play.

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

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.

Taking Down Your Holiday Lights

Here’s a friendly reminder that the City has an ordinance relating to the display of exterior winter holiday lights for residential properties. The law states that such lights must be removed by January 15.

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.

“Holiday lights” are defined as a string of lights commonly associated with the holiday season that contains multiple- or single-colored or clear light bulbs that are attached to a structure. Only residential properties are affected.

Walk With Me at Relay For Life

The ordinance was passed a few years ago in response to concerns voiced by residents about keeping our neighborhoods attractive. The City appreciates everyone’s cooperation.

Salud Park Selected As “Case Study” For State Recreation Plan

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.

I will be taking part with the Mayor

The construction of Salud Park, which opened last year, was funded primarily with grant money from the State of California.

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.

the Legislature, the National Parks Service, other states, and hundreds of local agencies and will look at the positive role that park bonds have played in the development of recreation resources.

Resident Rates and Season Passes for Summer Swimming

The Plan will focus on eight case studies statewide, and we are proud to say that Paramount’s Salud Park will be one of those highlighted projects.

and controlled substances.

Members of the State Office of Grants and Local Services came to town in November and were very impressed with what they encountered at Salud, especially the outdoor gym equipment. They took photographs of folks using the facility and conducted interviews about why the park matters to the community. The State officials also invited City staff to participate in developing the report.

Household Hazardous Waste Roundups

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 County of Los Angeles holds household hazardous waste (and e-waste) collection events in various cities on a regular basis. Two will be held locally in January, including one in town.

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

These roundups accept brake fluid, paint, paint thinner, cleaners with acid or lye, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries and car batteries, pool chemicals, motor oil, oil filters, expired pharmaceuticals, anti-freeze, fluorescent light bulbs, computer monitors, televisions, computer CPUs, keyboards, printers, cell phones and more.

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.

Items should be brought in a sturdy box, preferably with the original labels on any containers. Do not mix items together. There is a limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per trip. Be prepared to leave your containers and boxes, and remove all other items from your car’s trunk.

The first roundup will on Saturday, January 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Paramount Swap Meet, 7900 All America Way, off Paramount Blvd. across from Paramount Park.

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

Swim Lesson Registration

Registration for summer swim lessons begins on May 19 for residents and PUSD

The second will on Saturday, January 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the John Anson Ford Park swimming pool parking lot, the 7800 block of Scout Ave. in Bell Gardens.

Things you cannot bring include hazardous waste and e-waste from businesses, explosives, ammunition and radioactive materials, trash and tires, white goods such as refrigerators, stoves and washing machines,

For more information, including upcoming events throughout the year, call 1-888-CLEANLA or visit www.888CleanLA.com.

Volunteers Needed for Homeless Count

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.

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.

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.

The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, organized by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, is taking place in Paramount on Thursday, January 29th at 6:00 p.m. Volunteers in each community will perform the count, and it is open to anyone.

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.).

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

The goal of the bi-annual Homeless Count is to track the size and scope of homelessness throughout Los Angeles County in order to better allocate funding. The data gathered from the Count will directly impact the amount of County, State and Federal resources given to our community to address the causes of homeless.

Temporary Parking Permits For RVs

All volunteers will be fully trained and provided with equipment and materials. All you need to do is show up at the Paramount Park Community Center, 14400 Paramount Blvd., on January 29th at 6:00 p.m. To find out more, visit www.TheyCountWillYou. org or contact Jason Jacobsen at (562) 220-2054.

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.

Remember to Recycle Your Christmas Tree

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.

All registration for non-residents begins June 2.

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.

If you still have your Christmas tree, remember to place it out for pickup by CalMet, the City’s refuse hauler. The tree will then be recycled into mulch.

CalMet will pick up trees at no charge through January 16 for single-family 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.)

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

Sign Up for Summer Day Camp

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

After January 16 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. until the 16th 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 on May 19, residents can register either online or at the Recreation Ofﬁce (15300 Downey Ave.) for the City’s Summer Day Camp.

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.

The vehicle will be moved for street sweeping.

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

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

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

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

Never be ashamed to admit you were wrong. You’re only saying that you’re smarter today than you were yesterday.

“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.”

– Bill Gates

– Dave Gilpin, author

Talking or Texting on Cell Phones

Paramount Sheriff’s Station Offers Variety of Services

While Driving – Not Worth It

The Paramount Public Safety Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have a strong partnership that brings the finest law enforcement services to the residents of Paramount. The Paramount Sheriff’s Station, located at 15001 Paramount Blvd., is a prime example of this relationship.

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.

Project LEAD Sending Positive Message to Paramount Fifth Graders

The facility offers a number of services for the public. Among those are: filing crime reports; reporting suspicious activities and talking to deputies; paying parking violations and vehicle impound release fees; and responding to, or reporting, code enforcement complaints. Deputies are also available at the Station to interview victims and criminal suspects.

• 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.

• 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.

The phone number for the Station is (562) 220-2002.

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.

The Paramount Sheriff’s Station hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 7 days a week, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on holidays.

Former FBI Futurist Shares His Tips For Protecting Your Identity Online

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics’ latest report, 16.6 million Americans had their identities stolen online in 2012.

• 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.

Marc Goodman, the FBI’s former resident futurist, says 85% of these incidents could have been avoided had the victims been more careful online. Here are some of his simple, highly effective web-browsing habits that everyone should practice.

Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road or your hands off the steering wheel – especially texting and 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.

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

1. Don’t click links or open attachments from unknown sources. Most people like to think they’re smart enough to avoid falling for an email scam or sketchy website, but the actual numbers prove otherwise. The most sophisticated hackers are good at blending in with the crowd. If you get an email from a source with an identity you can’t trace, you’re best off just not clicking.

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:

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.

2. Make sure your software is always up to date. You may be wary of any new software update for your smartphone or computer because you’re afraid the update will slow down your operating system or you don’t like the new design. But besides any aesthetic changes that come with a software update, there are often key security updates included. What the more minor software updates often mean is: “Our software has been riddled with security holes for the past six months ... and we’re now finally fixing them.”

• 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.

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.

Summer Vacation Home Checks

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

• Pull over and stop to read maps.

• No grooming.

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

3. Save your passwords in a secure password manager. Don’t make the careless mistake of using the same username and password for all of your online accounts. Large-scale corporate hacks are more common than ever, and those hackers routinely try retail logins for individuals’ bank accounts. Of course, you probably have too many accounts to remember a variety of crazy logins, so you’re best off using a secure password manager like 1Password, LastPass, or KeePass. These managers generate strong passwords for all of your accounts and give you a master password for all of them. It may take a while to set up, but from that point forward, you log into your manager when you begin browsing and then let it automatically fill in your login info for any of the sites you registered.

• No reading.

• No watching videos.

• Try not to get too involved with passengers.

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.

As a bonus tip, you can take advantage of any two-step verification available. Google, for example, protects Gmail access from a computer it doesn’t recognize by sending a password to your smartphone.

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

4. Use a virtual private network (VPN) when browsing the web in a public place. If you regularly use WiFi at your local coffee shop, you should invest in a VPN subscription from a service like Private Internet Access or TorGuard. A VPN extends a private network across a public network, meaning that through encryption your data will be inaccessible to anyone who may be up to no good. All it takes is a simple browser plug-in like Firesheep for a hacker to nab unencrypted cookies, data that contains your login info for sites like Facebook and Twitter, over a public network.

Dance Studio & Paramount Dance Company Give Back to the Community

Youth dancers make a huge impact during the holidays

During the holidays, giving gifts and smiles can make a huge impact on young children. In December dancers from Paramount Dance Company, in Paramount and Spotlight Dance Studio, in Cudahy teamed up to donate toys for the annual Paramount and Lakewood Sheriff’s Stations toy drive.

Paramount Dance Company and Spotlight Dance Studio teach children about the difference they can make in the lives of other children by simply donating a toy. Studio Director Danaly Perez said, “It’s great to be part of making a difference, our dancers always give back to the community by dancing at events and through community involvement like performing for; “Fe y Esperanza” a program for young adults and children

Community News

with disabilities. Lt. David Auner of the Paramount Sheriff’s Station said, “Thanks to Paramount Dance Company and Spotlight Dance Studio lots of kids will have a merry Christmas.”

The dancers practice every day perfecting their talents and preparing to perform at various community events. Students have placed 1st in international and local competitions, and whether it is for a competition or local performance studio directors and students make sure the audience has something to remember.

For additional information contact, (323) 553-9143 or sdsdancestudio1@ gmail.com. To learn more about Paramount Dance Company go to www. paramountdancecompany.com

Get Training for Careers in Aerospace Fastener Manufacturing at El Camino College Compton Center

The Career and Technical Education Division (CTE) at El Camino College Compton Center is offering students and working adults the chance to receive industrial job training through its Aerospace Fastener Manufacturing program. ECC Compton Center partnered with industry experts to design the courses and ensure that essential topics are covered to speed up career advancement.

This is the perfect time to think about upgrading job skills or training for a completely new career in an industry with excellent employment prospects. The spring 2015 semester at ECC Compton Center begins January 17. Apply and register today at www.compton.edu. View the 2015 Spring class schedule and registration information at www.compton.edu/studentservices/ admissionandrecords/ClassSchedule. aspx. Look for available classes under the “Machine Tool Technology” section. Through this program and associated job fairs, students are able to secure internships and employment in aerospace fastener manufacturing. Entry-level salaries start at $12 per hour and may quickly accelerate to $35 per hour when work experience and certifications are combined. Many ECC Compton Center students who have completed this program have secured employment with top firms in the industry, including Alcoa Fastening Systems, California Screw Products, LISI Aerospace, Northrup Grumman, P.B. Fasteners, and SpaceX, to name a few.

ECC Compton Center, located in the heart of the aerospace industry in southern California, offers the only community college Aerospace Fastener Manufacturing program in the western United States. The program was developed in partnership with the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI). Training is provided to students and working adults looking for a new career in a high-demand industry, as well as helps upgrade skills for those already working in this field. Students gain practical knowledge and the skills needed for good paying jobs, and learn to use specialized tools and manufacturing equipment to produce and inspect aerospace fasteners. Students also have the opportunity to test for the National Association of Metal Working Skills (NIMS) certification.

Jobs in the aerospace fastener manufacturing industry give workers the opportunity to make fasteners used to attach airplane wings to the fuselage; produce the rivets that hold communication satellites together; use strong lightweight metals to create fasteners for race cars; fabricate fasteners sent into space on rovers and space stations; and manufacture fasteners used to affix components in commercial jets.

For more information about the Aerospace Fastener Manufacturing program and Career Advancement Academy at El Camino College Compton Center, please contact, CTE Coordinator Alicia Zambrano at 310-900-1600, Ext. 2779 or azambrano@elcamino.edu.

Apply for a PEP College Scholarship

Applications for the Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) scholarships are available as of January 5, 2015.

Hard copies can be picked up at Paramount City Hall, the Paramount City Yard, Paramount Chamber of Commerce 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.

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. (This is for college students, not high school students, who will need to consult their school counselor about showing financial need. Regardless, all students who apply for other financial aid should fill out the FAFSA – see below.)

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

Fill Out FAFSA By March 2

The FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application 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 2015-2016 FAFSA is used for fall 2015, spring 2016, and summer 2016.

For the 2015/2016 academic year, the deadline for initial awards in California is March 2, 2015.

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 the 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.

Cyber Contest

The Paramount Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following businesses for their donations to the Paramount Chamber Holiday Mixer which was sponsored by Southern California Edison. Without their support this annual event would not be possible.

Leon’s Flower Shop

One Night Stand Photography

Alondra Hot Wings

Antojitos Mexicanos Restaurant

Café Corleone

Casa Adelita Mexican Restaurant

Casa Gamino restaurant

Domino’s pizza

El Compa Restaurant

Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant

Gus’s Deli, BBQ & Grill

Mariscos El Perihuete

Mariscos Mi Lindo Sinaloa

McDonald’s Restaurant

rosewood restaurant

Subway (Rosecrans)

Taqueria 2 Amigos

Patrick Gomez, a Paramount 5th grader at Leona Jackson Middle School, was recognized at the Paramount City Council’s Dec. 2 meeting for winning a contest held by the Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s and the Sheriff’s youth Foundation to raise awareness about cybercrime. Gomez’s drawing of a “Dream Cybercop Car” came in first place out of 10,000 entries from across the County in the 1st - 6th grade category. Back row, from left, Capt. keith Swensson, Councilmember Peggy Lemons, Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Vice Mayor Tom Hansen, Lt. Mark Stevens, Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer. Front row, from left: PUSD School Board President Sonya Cuellar, Jackson Middle School Assistant Principal Hilda Verdugo, Gomez, Councilmember Gene Daniels, PUSD Superintendent Herman Mendez, Jackson Middle School Principal Dr. Gregoire Francois, and Lt. David Auner.

CAFR

The City of Paramount’s Comprehensive Annual Financial report, which is produced as part of the budgetary process by the Finance Department, was given an award for quality by the Government Finance Officers Association. The award was presented to the City Council at its Dec. 2 meeting. From left: Councilmember Gene Daniels, Councilmember Peggy Lemons, Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Phil White (representing GFOA), City Finance Director karina Liu, Assistant Finance Director Terry Cahoon, City Senior Accountant Clyde Alexander, Vice Mayor Tom Hansen, and Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer.

Maria... Come on Down!

E. Baby Mart Ribbon Cutting

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.

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.

Chamber members, City officials, and representatives of elected officials join the owners of E. Baby Mart for the grand opening/ribbon cutting of their new store which can be found at 15731 Downey Ave. in Paramount.

kimberlee Tachiki-Chin representing the office of Congresswoman Lucille roybalAllard presents E. Baby owners ravi and Laxmi ranabhat with a certificate of recognition from the Congresswoman. From left ravi ranabhat, kimberlee TachikiChin, Laxmi ranabhat, and Chamber President Jon Tanklage.

Give Your Grand Children the Gift of Life

By Maria F. Galli State Farm Insurance 562-817-5620

When you are trying to choose just the right gift for your grandchildren, you can have a tough time sifting through the newest trends and fads. Last week it was this pop star, next week it may be a new cartoon character. On top of that, you don’t want to get something that won’t last 10 minutes out of the package.

One gift that will last for many years is a life insurance policy. There are many reasons why it can be an excellent gift for your grandchild.

• Affordability – The younger the child’s age, the lower the premiums.

• Protection – Illness or injury may affect a child’s ability to purchase life insurance coverage later in life. Coverage purchased now will continue to provide protection, even if a child’s health changes, provided premiums are paid as required by the policy.

• Financial Security – Life insurance can be the foundation for a strong financial plan. The child may be able to borrow against the accumulated cash value (with interest charged) to pay for future expenses. While loans decrease death benefits and cash surrender values, the proceeds can be used for important expenses such as a college education or the purchase of a home Giving a gift of life insurance to your grandchild can be one of the most significant things you do during your lifetime. He or she may not understand at the time how important the gift is, but should grow to appreciate it in the future. Take the guesswork out of your gift shopping. Life insurance is a gift that will last a lifetime, talk to your local insurance agent for more information.

thursday - february 12, 2015

10 Tips from SBDC Entrepreneurs

As the year comes to a close, we included some of the best tips SBDC entrepreneurs shared with us on their business lessons learned. We invite you to read the tips below and check out their sites for more information on their products and services.

1. Start on the Right Foot. The SBDC helped these partners select a legal structure, explained the benefits of each type, why and how to file a DBA, get a seller’s permit and obtain business licenses. “The SBDC saved us so much money compared to what we would have had to pay a law firm.”

Stacie Schmitz and Tim Varnell, It’s a Deal Casino rentals, Redondo Beach

2. Be Realistic with your Projections: “When you’re doing projections, it’s important to be realistic. The SBDC helped me do more in-depth analysis on the closest business model, look into the growth potential of the solar industry,

Positively

Paramount Civic Center

and [estimate] what market share we could realistically expect to gain in the near future.” This client was the first funding cycle winner of $100k from Innovation Fund So Cal. Max Aram, PickMySolar.com, Los Angeles

3. Financing Takes Planning: The SBDC helped this first-time tech startup founder develop a compelling pitch deck, create realistic four year financial projections, assess a firstround financing and plan for future rounds. “My SBDC advisor at the Bixel Exchange had a very good idea of what angels expect to see in your business plan, your projections, and how it ties in to your overall story. Our advisor helped us convey our knowledge of the market as well as articulate our understanding of the competition. Our advisor has given us a long term view, both for ourselves and for the investors we’ll approach at a later date.” Six weeks into work-

paramount places!

Paramount’s Civic Center Plaza is a beautiful botanical oasis, a one-acre garden-like public space with walking paths, benches and dynamic fountains. It links City Hall, Suburban Medical Center and the County Library as a cohesive whole while opening up a larger downtown corridor tying the Pond and the Iceland skating rink together. A special feature is a small park area around the historic “Hay Tree,” which dates back to Paramount’s days as the leading dairy producer in the state. City Hall, 16400 Colorado Ave. Bianchi Paramount Theatres

Eleven state-of-the-art luxury theatres. Featuring stadium seating, digital sound system, and a meeting/ banquet/party room 7770 Rosecrans Avenue at Paramount Blvd.

Paramount Iceland

Home of the world famous Zamboni Ice Machine. Featuring one of the largest indoor ice skating arenas in existence. An historical landmark, with a rich tradition as an Olympic training facility 8041 Jackson St. Paramount Pond

A decorative, restful public plaza, featuring a bronze sculpture garden with nearby coffee house and eateries Corner of Paramount Blvd. & Jackson St.

Paramount’s Outdoor Art Museum

9 By 9 By 9 .................................................................................................Spane Park, 14400 Gundry Ave.

Boxes ...............................................................................................Corner of Downey Ave. & Jefferson St.

Conversation ...............................................................................................City Hall, 16400 Colorado Ave.

Come on Dad .............................................. Paramount Pond, corner of Jackson St. and Paramount Blvd.

Crack the Whip ........................................... Paramount Pond, corner of Jackson St. and Paramount Blvd.

Defiance .............................................................Southwest corner of Paramount Blvd. and Rosecrans Ave.

Delineation ................................................................................................. City Hall, 16400 Colorado Ave.

family ..........................................................................Century Place Apartments, 13810 Paramount Blvd.

fluid ............................................................................... Paramount County Library, 16254 Colorado Ave.

Going for the Goal ...................................... Paramount Pond, corner of Jackson St. and Paramount Blvd.

hole In one ...............................................................................Lyons Industrial Park, 14528 Garfield Ave.

Kai Koo VII ..............................................................................................Alondra Blvd./West of Hunsaker

Modified Box ........................................................Paramount Community Center, 14400 Paramount Blvd.

Origami Pony ...................................................................................... Progress Park, 15500 Downey Ave.

Passage ........................................................................Trammel Crow Industrial Park, 14350 Garfield Ave.

poetry in motion ..........................................................................................................14429 Downey Ave.

Polished Performance ................................. Paramount Pond, corner of Jackson St. and Paramount Blvd. save the Whales .......................................................................Paramount Petroleum, 14700 Downey Ave. solar sails .........................................................................................................Alondra Blvd. & L.A. River

sonatina ......................................................................................................City Hall, 16400 Colorado Ave.

Speedskater ................................................. Paramount Pond, corner of Jackson St. and Paramount Blvd. stand by me ..................................................................Progress Community Center, 15500 Downey Ave. suffer the little Children .............................................Northwest corner of Paramount Blvd./Jackson St.

Sustenance ....................................................................................................................15125 Garfield Ave. the Die is Cast ..........................................................................Lyons Industrial Park, 14528 Garfield Ave. tribute to henry moore .........................................................Paramount Petroleum, 14700 Downey Ave.

Unfolding Star ........................................................................... Progress Park Plaza, 15500 Downey Ave. untitled .......................................................................................................City Yard, 15300 Downey Ave. Upholding .................................................................................................. City Hall, 16400 Colorado Ave. Vestige ..................................................Garfield Park, Northwest corner of Garfield Avenue and Petrol St. Zamboni Machine Replica ......................... Paramount Pond, corner of Jackson St. and Paramount Blvd.

ing with the Bixel Exchange, Frenzy raised $60k in financing.

James Chang, Frenzy, Los Angeles

4. Use the Right Tools: The SBDC encouraged this client to transition from books on ledgers to QuickBooks, “This helped us tremendously with controlling costs and analyzing the business. Our SBDC advisor also showed us the cost ratios we should be looking at, how to control the cost of goods and what was realistic in terms of pricing.”

Gene Holman, Cappy’s Dry Rub, Woodland hills

5. There’s Hiring Help: The SBDC connected this client with the Foothill Workforce Investment Board (FWIB), a program that matches employers with employees who are seeking to learn new job skills and overcome disadvantages. “The fact that FWIB pays a portion of a new employee’s wages during their initial four months was a bonus. That has been a tremendous help because when a new employee has to learn 300 cheeses and the meats and wines that pair with them, a lot of labor is lost to training.”

Leah Park Fierro, MilkfarmLA, Los Angeles

6. Understand and Monitor Your Cash Flow: This SBDC client began to receive requests from out-of-state customers. As interstate retail involves calculating different rates of sales tax this client said, “ although it’s complicated, my advisor spent hours with me teaching me not only how to put in every single entry in QuickBooks, but also the big picture of being able to analyze your business’ profit and loss. My advisor showed me that without a tool like QuickBooks, you won’t really understand the nitty-gritty of your business. If I had hired someone to do the accounting, I never would have learned that.” This client generated more than $150k during the first four months of opening; 15% of sales came from her website.

Dayna Mance, Prism Boutique, Long Beach

7. Improve Your Ops: One of the SBDC’s advisors, a Six Sigma process improvement expert, worked with this client to design a new workflow plan that would: increase the company’s manufacturing capacity, improve efficiencies, reduce costs in research and development and the prototype-build department. The SBDC connected this client with a business student who put all the company’s work procedures in writing. “In the auto industry, you need documentation. Now we’ve moved our processes out of being ‘tribal knowledge’ to being much more documented and structured.” This client received more than $32M in investments in 2013. Wolfgang Bullmer, Transonic Combustion, Camarillo

8. Engage with Customers: This client developed a client base through offering facials as a hobby; the SBDC encouraged her to build on that clientele by adding email marketing and social media to her marketing. “I learned how to do email marketing with Constant Contact – now I send out monthly specials. The social media marketing program helped put us on the map and build awareness of our services in just a few months.” Further, this client is working on developing reciprocal relationships with medical practitioners interested in integrated wellness treatment options for patients. Six months after launching, Y. Belleza Wellness met its financial projections and was on track to double sales.

Mayra Cortes, Y.Belleza Wellness, alhambra

9. Know your Niche: This client sought help after acquiring a Vietnamese market; the SBDC helped this client advertise effectively and expand his product line to include different ethnic foods. “The SBDC advised me how to reach customers from these different ethnic groups.” Now, this client advertises in local magazines, newspapers and on Peruvian TV. The SBDC also advised this client on how to import food from Peru, which gave this client the freedom to sell his food under his own label, and collect a higher margin.

Celfio Goni, Inca Gourmet and Saigon Market, Lawndale

10. Price your Products to Compete in Markets Abroad without Sacrificing Profit: The international team in the LA SBDC Network helped this client reassess her international pricing strategy to keep more of her profits, develop a plan for international expansion, find international distributors and vet international contracts. During a session, this client assessed her cost of goods and realized the product price was too low. “That was a tremendous eye-opener, the CITD helped us a lot with pricing – they came to our office and worked with us so that our pricing and branding adequately reflected a luxury good- which helped the company boost profits.” The CITD helped Laguna Candles secure a three year international order with one of South Korea’s largest candle retailers.

Sharie Hendricks, Laguna Candles, Laguna Beach

The SBDC is a group of successful small business owners helping fellow entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their business through low-cost workshops and free one-on-one consulting in business planning, finance, marketing, and various other specialty areas (Spanish speaking consultants available). To make an appointment call: (562) 9385100, or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu