Pulse Beat July 2013 by City of Paramount

PULSE BEAT PULSE BEAT

July

2013

The City and the Chamber Help Small Businesses

Succeed with Free Business Advising From the SBDC

For the past 7 years, the City of Paramount, Paramount Chamber of Commerce and the Long Beach City College Small Business Development Center have collaborated to bring expert business advice to Paramount businesses. The City of Paramount helps to fund the SBDC services at the Chamber of Commerce in order to help spur economic growth for the city. In return, the SBDC delivers conﬁdential one-on-one business advice to current and soon-to-be business owners throughout the city free of charge. The SBDC also delivers seminars and trainings on various business topics once a month in the chamber offices and is open to anyone interested in learning more about operating a small business.

Charlie Lowe is a member of the SBDC team of experienced current business owners who provide oneon-one advising services to fellow business owners at no cost. The goal of the SBDC is to partner with clients and teach them the technical skills necessary to succeed in their business. For example, the SBDC helps business owners build custom websites (at no cost) and teaches them how to maintain and update the site on their own. Another example of how the SBDC helps clients is by packaging loans and then shopping that loan for the client (again, at no cost). The SBDC provides advising in the following areas: business planning, finance, legal, marketing,

international trade, operations, social media, website build/design, government procurement/certification and more. The Long Beach SBDC also hosts regular workshops at a low cost on all of the above topics. When a client comes to visit the SBDC they get a business advisor who is a current business owner and can help in every facet of the business. SBDC advisors take on the role of becoming a partner in your business; they like to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. The advice that business owners receive is practical and can help enhance your business right away.

Charlie, as his clients re-

Paramount Chamber of Commerce Pulse beaT

15357 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA 90723

fer to him is the lead business advisor at the Paramount Chamber of Commerce and he is available for free oneon-one consultations every Wednesday by appointment only. Mr. Lowe has been an integral figure in the partnership between the SBDC, City of Paramount, and the Paramount Chamber of Commerce. Charlie’s expertise is helping identify strategic growth patterns for businesses in the community and then helping the business implement their plan to increase revenue and create jobs. Mr. Lowe also has expertise in helping people start their business and over the past 3 years has helped more than 25 businesses

What’s inside

launch in the City of Paramount alone.

The Small Business Development Center at Long Beach City College recently received the “Excellence and Innovation Award” during a Small Business Awards luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles District Ofﬁce of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes the success of the Long Beach SBDC in helping small business owners grow their businesses to a level they never thought possible.

To schedule an appointment at the Paramount Chamber of Commerce please call (562) 634-3980.

For a complete listing of all upcoming seminars and workshops please visit either the SBDC website at www.longbeachsbdc.org or the Paramount Chamber of Commerce website at www. paramountchamber.com

Paramount Chamber SBDC Counselor Charlie Lowe with clients Rosie Perez, Ozzie Carranza, and Francisco Gutierrez.

Mike Daniel, director of SBDC at LBCC receives Excellence and Innovation Award from Gary Toebben, president/CEO of the L.A. Chamber.

New Biking/Walking Corridor Open for Use

The new biking/walking pathway along the Metropolitan Transit Authority right-ofway that runs through Paramount is now open from Lakewood Blvd. to Somerset Blvd.

What was once a weed-strewn wasteland has been turned into an attractive, safe, and clean place for a stroll, power walk, or bike ride. It connects with the path that runs east through Bellﬂ ower to the San Gabriel River, which will take you all the way to the ocean at Seal Beach, if you want to make that trip.

Check out this latest addition to Paramount’s Healthy Living Initiative.

Second Chance for Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations

The City will have its second summer “Vaccine-A-Thon” on Wednesday, July 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The program offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats in the community and takes place at Paramount Park, 14410 Paramount Blvd.

Rabies vaccinations (required for all dogs under California law) will be priced at $5 each (plus a $2 medical waste disposal fee). This is a $10-$15 savings over

traditional prices. A complete selection of other pet vaccinations will be available at discounted prices, with special combination “packs” to allow pet owners even greater savings when they purchase multiple vaccinations. You can also get general health exams and services at discounted prices. (A list of these services, and their costs, can be found at www.mobilepetcare.com.)

Flea control product Comfortis may be purchased at special prices. You can also have a microchip registration done for identiﬁcation purposes (if your pet is ever lost) for only $45. Plus, there will be nail trimming available for $12-$15.

Pet licensing can be done on site, and free educational materials and general health care tips for dogs and cats will be distributed. Checks and cash only will be accepted for licensing. Checks, cash and credit cards will be accepted for the veterinarian services.

Please remember – dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers.

All services are provided by licensed veterinarians from Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. in conjunction with South East Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA). For more information, please call (562) 220-2018.

Reminder About Free Meals and Activities for Paramount Kids

The Summer Nutrition and Activity Program called Summer Fun Café, hosted by the Paramount Uniﬁed School District and the City Parks and Recreation Department, is in full swing.

The federally funded program offers free meals and activities for children 18 and younger and is at all elementary and middle schools in the District (except for Jackson) through August 9.

Monday through Friday, a free, nutritious breakfast is served from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Then, from 10 a.m. -12 p.m., kids are

led by staff members in sports, arts and crafts, and physical ﬁtness. A free lunch ﬁnishes the day from 12 p.m. -1 p.m.

Summer Fun Café is a walk-in program; no registration is necessary. Children are welcome to participate any time during operating hours.

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

Summer Reading Programs at Paramount Library

The Paramount branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library is offering some special reading programs this summer.

The Teen Summer Reading Program began in June and runs through August. Teens can keep track of their summer reading online or using a sleek Summer Reading Program log available at the library. And thanks to sponsor Clear Channel Communications, all teens that read at least ﬁve books by the end of the summer will be entered to win a Kindle Fire.

Younger children can join the summer program called “Reading is So Delicious!” that also goes through August. Participants can track their progress by recording the minutes and the books they read or have read to them. They can also earn free books by using a take-home reading game card or by registering for the online reading game and tracking their progress. Plus, they can enjoy many other fun and exciting activities.

Reading is a great way to use free time and our local library is ready to help your child make the most of their vacation. Art activities, puzzles, special programs, as well as books, eBooks, magazines, CDs, and DVDs are available to provide hours of enjoyment. And did you know that the more a child reads, the better head-start they have when school begins again?

For more information, go to the Paramount Library page at www.colapublib. org or visit the branch at 16254 Colorado Avenue; 562-630-3171.

Read the City’s Water Quality Report

Every year, the City’s Water Department produces a Consumer Conﬁdence Report (CCR) that provides information about the sources of our drinking water and its chemical and mineral content.

In the past, this report has been mailed to all customers. Now, due to a change in State law, the CCR can be posted on the internet, as long as customers are notiﬁed in the mail of its availability online and the water company agrees to mail hard copies to any customer who requests one. These notiﬁcations have been distributed to Paramount Water Company customers in their bills. By using this online approach, the City will save thousands of dollars in printing costs.

You can view Paramount’s CCR, in English and Spanish, on the City website at www.paramountcity.com/ccr.

“Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you’re alive, it isn’t.”

– Richard Bach

Mayor, Gene Daniels

Paramount’s Innovative Public Safety Efforts

Over the years, the City of Paramount has taken a wide and varied approach to combating crime. It has forged a strong, special relationship with its law enforcement provider, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and employed many innovative programs to ensure public safety personnel would be a vital presence and partner in the community.

One tactic has been to bring in specialized personnel to work out of the Public Safety Department and the Paramount Sheriff’s Station. One such position is the City Crime Analyst, whose job is to study all incoming criminal statistics and look for patterns. By focusing on patterns, the Analyst can connect the dots and inform patrol deputies or detectives about emerging trends.

Here is an illustration of how these efforts can produce results.

The Case of the Crime Analyst and the Catalytic Converter

Throughout our region over the last few months there has been a spike in the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles. The devices are often removed with a saw or pipe cutter. Targeted vehicles tend to be Toyota SUVs and pick-up trucks.

Recently, one of Paramount’s Beat Deputies arrested a male during a trafﬁc stop for being in possession of narcotics. Later, the Crime Analyst, while reviewing arrest reports, noticed that the vehicle of the arrested suspect matched the description of a vehicle that a witness had connected to a catalytic converter theft.

The Analyst conferred with the Deputy, who remembered seeing a pipe cutter in the vehicle at the time of the arrest. With this new information, the Deputy was able to get a search warrant for the suspect’s home, for his girlfriend’s home in a nearby city, and for the vehicle, which was still at the tow yard.

While conducting the court-approved search, the City’s Special Assignment Team found more tools and items in the suspect’s vehicle that could have been used for catalytic converter thefts. The suspect’s

girlfriend was also arrested as a result of the search warrant.

The investigation found that the woman had been driving her boyfriend and another male all over Los Angeles County to steal catalytic converters, which they then sold for about $60 apiece. The trio may have been responsible for a very large number of these thefts throughout the region.

Dedicated to the Community

The City also has its own dedicated District Attorney who works out of the Paramount Station and makes sure that criminal investigations and prosecutions in town receive full attention and don’t fall through the cracks at the larger County DA’s ofﬁce.

Paramount’s dedicated DA, in addition to performing court-related duties, also spends time doing some educational public outreach. A case in point was the recently completed Project L.E.A.D. at a ﬁfth-grade Jefferson School class.

For an hour each Friday since October 2012, the DA taught 35 students about the criminal justice system and the importance of making the right choices in life. The class included a mock trial.

The students, their parents, their teacher, and Jefferson’s principal were invited to the City’s Public Safety Commission meeting in May, where each student received a Certiﬁcate of Completion. (They also got gift cards to Baskin Robbins from the City.) Our DA hopes to teach Project L.E.A.D. in another school next year.

These stories highlight the importance of creatively using specialized personnel to both ﬁght crime in Paramount and be proactive with the community.

Summer Vacation Home Checks

Now that summer is here, if you are planning to take a vacation remember that 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.

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

P ARAMOUNT

A WARDS N IGHT

Earth Day Artists

The winners of Paramount’s 5th annual Earth Day art contest were recognized at the June 4th City Council meeting. The theme was “Recycle for a Green Planet.” The winners received cash prizes from CalMet Services, the City’s contracted trash hauler. Back row, from left: Councilmember Tom Hansen, Mayor Gene Daniels, Bill Kalpikoff from CalMet, Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Councilmember Peggy Lemons, and Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer. Front row: Gabriel Reyes (5th grade, Wirtz), Diana Flores (4th grade, Wirtz), Andrea Rios (2nd grade, Mokler), Christopher Kaing (2nd grade, Collins), and Jason Juniel (2nd grade, Tanner).

The Paramount Traditional Artists Guild sponsors a contest for Paramount students in kindergarten through high school. The winners of the 15th annual competition were recognized at the June 4th Paramount City Council meeting.

Paramount Pride

The annual Paramount Pride program honors attractive, well-maintained homes in town. Those winners who could attend were honored at the June 4th Council meeting

Betty Harkema

Longtime resident Betty Harkema was given an Older Americans Recognition Award by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and the L.A. Commission for Older Americans this year. The honor is for outstanding seniors who volunteer in their communities The City Council recognized Harkema at its June 4th meeting. From left: Councilmember Peggy Lemons, Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Harkema, Mayor Gene Daniels, Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer, and Councilmember Tom Hansen.

Brenda Olmos

Each year, the California Legislature pays tribute to Women of Distinction, individuals who have shown leadership skills in their communities. Senator Ricardo Lara named lifelong Paramount resident Brenda Olmos one such Woman of Distinction for 2013 in the 33rd District. She was honored by the City Council at its June 4th meeting. From left: Councilmember Peggy Lemons, Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Olmos, Mayor Gene Daniels, Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer, and Councilmember Tom Hansen.

American Red Cross Names Local Heroes at Annual Hometown Heroes Ceremony

The Greater Long Beach/Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross honors thirteen local heroes who performed an extraordinary act of courage at its 6th annual Hometown Heroes Award Luncheon.

“We are very proud of the life-saving efforts of these local heroes and appreciate their willingness to share their extraordinary stories,” said Margaret ArbiniMadonna, CEO of the Rancho Region. “Their heroic acts truly exemplify the American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering.”

This year’s honorees included: John Lugan, Hector Godoy, Freddie Gonzalez, Raul Silva, Jennifer Garcia, Clayton Duran, Jesse Cabadas, Susan Herrera, Elizabeth Ruiz, Henry Hernandez, Julia Pacheco, Gus James and Jenna UnderwoodNuñez. All heroes reside, or work in the chapter’s jurisdiction of Bell Gardens, Downey, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier.

SELECTED HEROES STORIES

Hector Godoy, Freddie Gonzalez, John Lugan and Raul Silva, Bell Gardens

On February 19, 2013, John Lugan, Freddie Gonzalez, Hector Godoy and Raul Silva had just ﬁnished lunch and were returning to work at Bell Gardens Veterans Park when a man on a bicycle approached them. Hector heard him shout in Spanish, “My friend is stuck under a truck!” All four men ran to help and pulled the man from under the car

Jennifer Garcia, Clayton Duran, Jesse Cabadas, Whittier

On May 11, 2012, the recruits of the Sheriff’s Training Academy and Regional Services (STARS) Center in Whittier, California were on an early 3-mile morning run. Safety instructor, Deputy Jesse Cabadas, was driving the safety vehicle behind approximately 80 recruits. It was his job to watch for any runners showing signs of distress. He noticed one recruit was struggling, and about half way through the run he ordered him in the vehicle. Almost immediately afterward, Deputy Cabadas heard a strange noise coming from the back seat which prompted him to look back and he saw the recruit convulsing. Deputy Cabadas called for assistance and Clayton Duran and Jennifer Garcia responded. They immediately began to perform CPR.

Susan Herrera and Elizabeth Ruiz

Earlier this year Susan Herrera and Elizabeth Ruiz were at the end of their shift at Human Services Association which provides meal service to seniors. Something told them one of our clients did not look good earlier in the day and they returned to check on him. Upon arrival they noticed he wasn’t well. They called 9-1-1 and paramedics took him to the hospital. They later received a call informing them that the man had a punctured kidney and was in intensive care and if left untreated, the doctors said he could have died from complications.

Henry Hernandez, Whittier

On the morning of January 12, 2012, Henry Hernandez was driving to a bus stop at Whittier and Garﬁeld in Whittier, California, where he intended to catch the bus to his job. He saw two cars racing down the street when suddenly the sedan lost control and crashed into a tree and caught on ﬁre. He ran to assist and successfully pulled the driver from the burning car.

Julia Pacheco, Pico Rivera

Julia Pacheco is recognized for implementing a Neighborhood Watch program in in the City of Pico Rivera and improving the overall safety in her community, after she witnessed one of her elderly neighbors, who suffered from dementia, wandering the streets. This concerned her since cars sped through her neighborhood frequently. She started a neighborhood program in her neighborhood and within a short period of time, she started seeing marked improvement in the neighborhood in which she grew up. Since the program was implemented, the trafﬁc slowed down.

Gus James

On May 22, 2013, Gus James had just ﬁnished treating a multi-unit housing complex for cockroaches. When he heard a scream coming from a man who was holding a lifeless baby draped over his arm. The baby had somehow fallen into a bucket of water while the father was washing his car. He cleared the baby’s air passage and gave her rescue breaths. Almost immediately he heard gurgles, then the baby coughed, and a little later she cried. Paramedics took the baby to the hospital for treatment.

Jenna Underwood-Nuñez

On April 27, 2013, Deputy Jenna Underwood-Nuñez was camping with her family at Lake Silverwood in San Bernardino County. While eating dinner out by the lake, she noticed two people on the water. One was clearly yelling, “Help!” The other person made no sound, but she could see arms ﬂailing, a classic sign of distress. Jenna, six months pregnant at the time, swam out 200 yards and dove down 15 feet where she found the victim staring up at her. She pulled the person from the bottom of the lake and saved his life.

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.

Music Duet – Friday & Saturday Nights 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

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

Chamber of Commerce

you to attend an Open House / Ribbon Cutting Chapel of Change Christian Fellowship Thursday, July 11th

6701 Alondra Blvd. Beginning at 11:30 am – Lunch Served RSVP: (562) 634-3980

Find and Apply for as Many Scholarships as You Can

Scholarships are gifts. They don’t need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonproﬁts, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.

What kinds of scholarships are available?

Some scholarships for college are merit-based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship-giver. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest. Other scholarships are based on ﬁnancial need.

Many scholarships are geared toward particular groups of people; for instance, there are scholarships for women or high school seniors. And some are available because of where you or your parent work, or because you come from a certain background (for instance, there are scholarships for military families).

A scholarship might cover the entire cost of your tuition, or it might be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. Either way, it’s worth applying for, because it’ll help reduce the cost of your education.

How do I ﬁnd scholarships?

You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate; and remember that you don’t have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. Check out information on how to avoid scams at www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Try these free sources of information about scholarships:

* The ﬁnancial aid ofﬁce at a college or career school.

* A high school counselor.

* The U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool.

* Your state grant agency.

* Your library’s reference section.

* Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups.

* Organizations (including professional associations) related to your ﬁeld of interest.

* Ethnicity-based organizations.

* Your employer or your parents’ employers.

When do I apply for scholarships?

That depends on each scholarship’s deadline. Some deadlines are as early as a year before college starts, so if you’re in high school now, you should be researching and applying for scholarships during the summer between your junior and senior years. But if you’ve missed that window, don’t give up! Look at scholarship information to see which ones you can still apply for now.

How do I apply for scholarships?

Each scholarship has its own requirements. The scholarship’s website should give you an idea of who qualiﬁes for the scholarship and how to apply. Make sure you read the application carefully, ﬁll it out completely, and meet the application deadline.

How do I get my scholarship money?

That depends on the scholarship. The money might go directly to your college, where it will be applied to any tuition, fees, or other amounts you owe, and then any leftover funds given to you. Or it might be sent directly to you in a check. The scholarship provider should tell you what to expect when it informs you that you’ve been awarded the scholarship. If not, make sure to ask.

How does a scholarship affect my other student aid?

A scholarship will affect your other student aid because all your student aid added together can’t be more than your cost of attendance at your college or career school. So, you’ll need to let your school know if you’ve been awarded a scholarship so that the financial aid office can subtract that amount from your cost of attendance (and from certain other aid, such as loans, that you might have been offered). Then, any amount left can be covered by other financial aid for which you’re eligible. Questions? Ask your financial aid office.

Community News

Carreer Workshops

Begin July 15

Do you know a current high school student who is considering a career in healthcare? Would he or she like to ﬁnd out more about the types of health-related career opportunities that are available to him or her? If so, then he or she should attend this four-day health careers exploration workshop.

The four-day workshop is open to all current high school students. To enroll in this free workshop or for more information, please contact the Project HOPE ofﬁce at (562) 860-2451, extension 7847. Enrollment for this free workshop will be ﬁlled

on a first-come first-served basis, so be sure to enroll as soon as possible! For more information about Project HOPE, please visit the Project HOPE website at www. cerritos.edu/hope.

Session 1: Monday, July 15th - Thursday, July 18th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Cerritos College - CB 102 (Classroom Building, room 102)

Session 2: Monday, July 29th - Thursday, August 1st, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Cerritos College - CB 102 (Classroom Building, room 102).

COMO IDENTIFICAR

SI TU HIJO/A ESTA CONSUMIENDO DROGAS

Hoy en día estamos viviendo aceleradamente, el trabajo, los quehaceres del hogar, las deudas, y otras ocupaciones que nos están robando las prioridades que ameritan de toda nuestra atención.

Muchos de nosotros como padres, nos preocupamos por proveer alimento, ropa, escuela y techo a nuestros hijos, pero esto aun no es suficiente para mantenerlos fuera de la tentación de las drogas. Sabe usted si su hijo está consumiendo drogas? Sabe usted que no necesitamos tener una capacitación formal ni profesional para aprender a reconocer el consumo de alcohol y drogas en nuestros hijos?

Muchos padres consideramos que el consumo de drogas es el tema más difícil acerca del cual podemos hablar con nuestros hijos, y tememos hacerlo. Porque amamos tanto a nuestros hijos no queremos creer que podrían consumir alcohol u otras drogas. Esta negación normal de nosotros como padres, por lo general permite que el consumo de drogas en nuestros hijos permanezca oculto ante nuestros ojos.

Sabe usted que el alcohol es la primera elección de drogas entre los adolescentes, y sigue siendo la primera causa de muerte? Y la marihuana, es la segunda elegida de nuestros hijos en cuanto a drogas.

Los padres debemos enfrentar el

SHOP PARAMOUNT!

hecho de que cuando nuestros hijos consumen drogas, lo arriesgan todo: desde su saludad hasta su propia vida y la de los demás.

La salud, la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros hijos debe ser nuestra prioridad como padres.

Técnicas de Identiﬁcación, Prevención e Intervención

Para los padres, los primeros pasos para lograr tanto prevención como intervención eﬁcaces con respecto al consumo de drogas son:

• La supervisión activa y las revisiones espontaneas.

• Aprender a cerca de drogas y sus síntomas. Los primeros pasos en la identiﬁcación, por parte de los padres, es colocarse en una posición desde donde puedan observar a su hijo. Los padres que no están en casa o que están dormidos cuando llegan sus hijos no podrán observarlos. Los chicos bien supervisados lo piensan dos veces antes de consumir drogas.

*Iniciaremos un plan de acción de 6 pasos en la siguiente edición.

Para asesoramiento sobre estos temas y más:

DK Counseling (323) 251-7511

Spanish/English David y Klaudette

FREE BUSINESS COUNSELING

CALIFORNIA OUTREACH ORGANIZATION

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

Now hiring, AUTO MECHANIC, BODY AND PAINT TECH., AND OUTSIDE SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER. Email Heraldsgarage@gmail.com or visit Herald’s Garage 8124 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount.

Wild West Boots, Paramount, CA 90723 - Seeking a SECRETARY that is bilingual in English and Spanish. For more information call (562) 630-4613 ask to speak to Magaly

To place a HELP WANTED ad please call Maria at (562) 634-3980

Y... PARA MAS INFORMACION Para saber si caliﬁca Ilame por teléfono ahora mismo. ESTAMOS FRENTE A LA IGLESIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO (562)

Teen Drivers

By Maria F. Galli State Farm Insurance

562-817-5620

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

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

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

Let’s look at how to reduce accidents:

* Drive defensively. Watch out for the other person.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Promoting Your Business is Our Business

Amalgams Fillings vs Composite Fillings –What’s the Difference

One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive from patients is regarding the differences between amalgams and composite fillings. The most obvious difference between the two fillings is that amalgams are silver colored and composites are made to match the shade of the tooth it will be filling. In general silver fillings will be covered under insurance with a small co-pay, composites will not generally be covered by insurance and the patient has to pay the difference in price for the upgrade. The insurance companies, however, are not heartless and will cover the cost of composite fillings in the front teeth. Composite fillings are generally considered to be more aesthetically appealing and are therefore preferred by most patients, which is not to say that most people will be able to afford composite fillings. Patients in general are annoyed when they find out that their insurance will not cover certain fillings.

Contrary to what some may believe, amalgam fillings do not

pose any danger to people. The hoax that the mercury in amalgam fillings is dangerous is nothing more than a blatant misdirection perpetrated by some in the dental field. That is not to say all is well with amalgam, my main objection to using amalgam is that in order to properly place the filling I must create retention in the tooth so that the filling stays in place. Many times in order to create this retention I must drill through more than just the areas that have been affected by cavities, so I am forced to destroy healthy enamel and dentine. I almost always prefer composite fillings because I only need to drill out the areas affected by the cavity and when the filling is set it is chemically bonded to the tooth and I would argue that it reinforces the tooth. There are more differences between composites and amalgams but for the sake of this article I will cut this comparison short.

Dr. Victor Eduardo Zapata (562) 272-8500

10 TIPS FOR SMARTER NETWORKING

In the era of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, does in-person networking still matter? You’d better believe it. In fact, a study by the Referral Institute found that on average, businesspeople who spent six to nine hours per week networking generated 50 percent of their business through networking-related referrals. Improve your networking skills by following these 10 tips.

1. Break the ice. Make small talk easier by wearing something that inspires conversation, like an unusual brooch or scarf, colorful socks or a funny necktie. Not only do these props serve as icebreakers, but they also make you memorable.

2. Be able to describe your business in one sentence. Avoid buzzwords and jargon; instead, imagine you’re telling your mom or a third-grader what your company does. Focus on explaining how your business beneﬁts customers.

3. Listen more than you talk. Good news for the shy networker: Listening can open doors. Ask questions about other people’s businesses and they’ll be happy to answer, while you gain insight into what they need and how you might be able to work together.

4. Focus on quality, not quantity. Networking is not about collecting 1,000 business cards, but about making real connections with people. Focus on

what you can give the other person, not what you can get from them, and you’ll ﬁnd that others are eager to help you.

5. Keep mingling. So that you don’t spend all your time talking to one person, develop a tactful way of ending conversations. Say something like “It’s been great to meet you. I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to talk to a few other people before the event is over. Here’s my card; let’s stay in touch.”

6. Take a leading role. Don’t be a passive attendee; be an active participant. Volunteer to set up before the event, participate in committees or chair panels. You’ll increase your visibility and get to know people faster.

7. Streamline contact gathering. Apps like CardMunch, Evernote Hello or Shoeboxed make it simple to scan business cards, take notes from your conversations, and integrate the information into your contact management system and social media accounts.

8. Develop a follow-up plan. Create a system for following up with people you meet at networking events. For example, you could begin by following up on any plans made at the event, then reach out to your new contacts on social media, and eventually suggest meeting for coffee or lunch.

9. Build relationships. Schedule time each week to stay in touch with your new contacts by commenting on their social media status; sending them articles or information that might be

useful to their business; sending them holiday, birthday and anniversary cards; or getting together.

10. Don’t give up. Many businesspeople give up on networking without ever investing enough time to make it pay off. Keeping the six-to-nine-hourper-week figure in mind, give each networking group at least six months of effort before deciding it’s not for you.

Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Before launch-

ing her business, she was Editorial Director of Entrepreneur Magazine. Rieva Lesonsky also works with the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network. The SBDC is a group of successful small business owners helping fellow entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their business through low-cost workshops and free one-on-one consulting in business planning, ﬁnance, marketing, and various other specialty areas (Spanish speaking consultants available). To make an appointment call: (562) 9385100, or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu