Enjoying the Summer Outside in Paramount
Southern California’s summer warmth makes spending time outdoors a pleasure. This summer in Paramount there will be a number of new venues to enjoy the climate, day or night.
Farmers Market
First up, the City welcomes an outdoor Farmers Market to town. Starting on Saturday, June 13th, you will be able to browse up to 30 vendors offering a variety of locally grown organic and conventional fresh fruits and vegetables every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The location will be in the Paramount Swap Meet parking lot at 14409 Paramount Boulevard.
Other purveyors will feature arts and crafts merchandise, prepared food, and pre-packaged goods such as dried fruits, bakery items, peanuts, and honey.
The market will be a great new resource for the community and one more way that the City is promoting healthy lifestyle choices.
Smarts, Arts, and Healthy Hearts
Speaking of artistic wares, enjoyable sounds, and wholesome eating, this June will mark the City’s 2nd annual Smarts, Arts & Healthy Hearts Fair, a celebration of academic achievers, local artists, local musicians, and the City’s focus on fitness.
If you are an artist living or going to school in Paramount, there is still space available to show your work. That work can be in a variety of media – painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, multi-media, and more. It can be exhibited only or offered for sale. Contact the Paramount Recreation Department at (562) 220-2121.
Prior to the Fair, showcasing the fitness side of things, a 1k fun run/ walk will start at 9:00 a.m., followed by a 5k run (sponsored by Weber Metals) at 9:30. Registration for the runs will be from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
The Fair itself will begin at 9:00 a.m. and go until 1:00 p.m. As a major component of Education Month in Paramount, the Fair will also recognize the finest students from Paramount High School.
Smarts, Arts & Healthy Hearts takes place on Saturday, June 13th, same day as the Farmers Market’s opening and right across the street at Paramount Park. So make it an outing for the whole family – start the morning with a run, then stroll the park while checking out the booths and music, grab a bite at one of the Fair’s food trucks, and finally mosey over to the market for some nutritious shopping.
Orange Avenue Splash Zone
A new amenity for residents is taking shape this summer on Orange Ave. at the site of the Recreation Department’s former swimming pool. That facility had aged a bit and usage by members of the public had dwindled dramatically over the years.
In its place will be a sparkling new zero-depth “splash zone,” providing an interactive water experience and, since there is no standing water, a safe environment for young children in the community. With a variety of fun, colorful water toys, shade shelters, and other features, the rebuilt resource will delight Paramount’s kids and their families for a long time to come.
Town Center West
Heading back over to the center of town, you will soon be see-
A redesigned downtown will create a pedestrian-friendly “Boulevard of Gardens” along Paramount Blvd.
Towne Center West will be undergoing a revitalization that will include outdoor patio seating for dining.
Local Student Artists Celebrated In TAG Contest
The Paramount Traditional Artists Guild held its 17th annual contest for Paramount’s kindergarten through high school students this year. The winners were honored, and received their cash prizes from the Guild, at the City Council meeting on June 2nd.
There were 1,275 entries from 11 Paramount K-8 schools, four middle schools, Paramount High, Paramount High West Campus, Buena Vista High, the Alternative Education Center, the Community Day School, and Our Lady of the Rosary.
Congratulations are due to all of the following:
First-place Winners
Kindergarten – Jaylen Lomeli (Jefferson)
1st Grade – Melanie Rodriquez (Gaines)
2nd Grade – Christian Bahena (Lincoln)
3rd Grade – George Biramontes (Hollydale)
4th Grade – Destiny Mancillas (Lincoln)
5th Grade – Ariana Jerez (Lincoln)
6th Grade – Luis Gutierrez (Paramount Park)
7th Grade – Ameren Martinez (Alondra)
8th Grade – Jonathan Napoles (Paramount Park)
9th Grade – Natly Campos (PHS West)
10th Grade – Nahum Flores (PHS)
11th Grade – Mylan Thomas (PHS) 12th Grade – Monica Gonzalez (PHS)
Special Award Winners
Best Use of Color – Sydney Thaxton (8th – Hollydale)
Best Composition – Raul Plascencia (8th – Zamboni)
Chamber of Commerce Award – Ailany Meza (4th – Mokler)
Superintendent’s Award – Mesai Lorenzo (12th – PHS)
Chairman’s Award – Angelica Torres (7th – Zamboni)
Commissioner’s Award – Athena Rea (3rd – Roosevelt)
Mayor’s Award – Haven Jovel (8th – Paramount Park)
And More Art … Earth Day poster Winners
The City held its 7th annual art contest for Earth Day for all students in the STAR afterschool program. The theme was “Water Recycling and Conservation,” a very timely topic. Out of the hundreds of submissions, six winners were named, and they were also recognized at the June 2nd City Council meeting. CalMet Services, the City’s contracted trash hauler, provided cash prizes.
Congratulations to:
Melissa Villareal, kindergarten, Gaines ($20)
David Gonzalez, 1st grade, Los Cerritos ($30)
Melissa Soriano, 2nd grade, Jefferson ($30)
Alexandra Aguayo, 3rd grade, Lincoln ($30) 4th and 5th Grades:
Sasha Nuno, 1st place, 5th grade, Hollydale ($50)
Cristina Estrada, 2nd place, 4th grade, Hollydale ($40)
Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations
The City is providing its annual low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats in the community at two special “Vaccine-A-Thons” this summer. The first will be Wednesday, June 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; the second will be held Wednesday, July 15, also from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. They will take 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 for discounted prices. (A list of these services and their costs can be found online at www.vetcarevaccinations. com or on flyers available at City Hall.)
Flea control products Comfortis and Trifexis may be purchased at special prices. You can also have a microchip registration done for identification purposes (if your pet is ever lost) for $30 and nail trimming for $15.
Pet licensing is available 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 veteri-
narian 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.
Vector Control Urges Residents to Help Thwart Mosquitoes
For the fourth year in a row, Los Angeles County vector control districts are tackling potentially dangerous, invasive mosquitoes. The public health agencies are asking residents for help.
Three recent mosquito introductions now impact Los Angeles County residents – the Asian tiger mosquito, yellow fever mosquito, and Australian backyard mosquito. The Asian tiger mosquito currently poses a larger threat compared to the other two since it is the most pervasive in L.A. County. Discovered in 2011, there are now 15 communities experiencing Asian tiger mosquito infestations – up from three communities since the beginning of 2014.
Much of the fight against these sixlegged invaders occurs in the backyard. They are able to lay eggs on the walls of small containers, including buckets, plant saucers, and even in recyclables that can hold standing water. Their ability to adapt to urban environments makes these mosquitoes
extremely difficult to control.
Their presence increases the risk of residents being exposed to tropical diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. These viruses are currently not transmitting locally.
“It’s not a matter of if, but when,” says Susanne Kluh of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD). “It takes just one traveler infected with chikungunya or dengue fever to be bitten by the invasive mosquitoes in L.A. County to start local transmission.”
Vector control is calling upon all residents to do their part by following these steps:
• Report any sightings of small, blackand-white mosquitoes, or if you are being bitten by mosquitoes during the day. Residents can contact GLACVCD at (562) 944-9656 or online at www.ReportMosquitoes.org.
• Dump and drain all water around your home. Eliminate plant saucers and other unnecessary containers and thoroughly scrub outdoor pet water dishes weekly to remove eggs.
• Do not transport or share plant stems rooted in water. Do not keep outdoor buckets full of water.
• Use insect repellent containing CDCapproved active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to avoid bites.
For more information please visit www. glacvcd.org.
“The key to success is self-confidence, and the key to self-confidence is preparation.”
Mayor, Tom Hansen
– Jane Garton
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:
• If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it.
There are eight service clubs operating stands selling legal fireworks this year in Paramount. As always, illegal fireworks are banned within the City. (The regulations are laid out below.)
• 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.
Project LEAD Sending Positive Message to Paramount Fifth Graders
Last year, Sheriff’s deputies issued 58 citations totaling $58,000 in fines to persons caught lighting illegal fireworks. The collected money helps pay for providing law enforcement services leading up to, and including, the July 4th holiday.
• Up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.
Here is a reminder of what’s legal and illegal in Paramount when it comes to those fireworks…
Fireworks Alert
• 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.
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 City of Paramount would like to remind you that we have a “zero tolerance” illegal-fireworks ordinance with the following restrictions:
• Only Safe and Sane fireworks can be set off anywhere in the City on July 3rd and July 4th only. Setting them off on any other date can result in a $250 fine.
• You must be 16 years or older to buy Safe and Sane fireworks.
Only Safe and Sane fireworks are allowed in Paramount. All others – like bottle rockets, firecrackers and M80s – are illegal.
Violation of the above restrictions, and use of illegal fireworks, can result in a fine up to $1,000.
Please clean up after the fun so the streets of Paramount aren’t left a mess. For more information please call (562) 220-2002.
Alerta Fuegos Artificiales
• The act of talking on a cell phone, even hands free, can give you “inattention blindness,” where your brain isn’t seeing what’s right in front of you. You aren’t even aware that you are driving impaired. If you think you can handle both driving and talking on a cell phone or texting, you are kidding yourself and putting us all at risk.
Tatman has been visiting a class of 36 students at Jefferson School as part of Project LEAD. The program, which goes into the classroom once a week for 20 weeks during the school year, uses volunteers like Tatman from the D.A.’s Office to teach fifth-graders about the law and help them recognize the social and legal consequences of criminal behavior.
Sadly, too many young people first become acquainted with the justice system as delinquents. Project LEAD is designed to avoid that scenario.
A la Ciudad de Paramount le gustaría recordarles que tenemos un reglamento de “Cero Tolerancia” sobre el uso de fuegos artificiales ilegales con las siguientes restricciones:
• Los fuegos artficiales “Safe and Sane” solo pueden ser encendidos los días 3 y 4 Julio. El encenderlos cualquier otro día puede resultar en una multa de $250.
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.
• Deberá tener 16 años de edad o más para poder comprar fuegos artificiales “Safe and Sane.”
Solo los fuegos artificiales “Safe and Sane” son permitidos en Paramount. Todos los otros – como cohetes que vuelan al aire, o cohetes tronadores y M80s – son ilegales.
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:
Para más información, favor de llamar al (562) 220-2002.
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.
La violación de cualquiera restricción, o el uso de los cohetes ilegales, puede resultar en una multa de $1,000.
Keeping It Clean
• Never text and drive.
• Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel.
Let’s also not forget to remove all the July 4th residue from our streets and driveways after the fireworks fun is over.
• 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.
During the celebration of our nation’s independence, we can have a good time while staying safe and showing respect for those around us.
• Make a pact with your family, spouse, and caregivers never to use the phone with kids in the car.
Rules for Business Banners in Paramount
Summer Vacation Home Checks
• No eating or drinking while driving.
• 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.
Each year, On Patrol provides a review of the City’s ordinance that allows the use of hanging banners as a tool to help businesses with advertising.
Each business is permitted one banner, except for businesses located in corner suites (which can have two banners) and businesses occupying single-unit buildings (which can use four banners). One banner is permitted per building side.
• Pull over and stop to read maps.
• No grooming.
• 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.
• Try not to get too involved with passengers.
Call (562) 220-2002 to ask about vacation checks.
All banners must be professionally manufactured, and they need to be installed flat against the wall or facade and anchored at all four corners – they can’t hang in midair, be suspended only by the top edge, or be strung between buildings or trees. Businesses utilizing banners need to get a no-fee permit from the City, and renew it on a yearly basis. (It’s a simple, one-page form.)
This type of marketing can be of great benefit. There can, though, be a downside – if not maintained, banners will wear out and create a bad visual image. Paramount and its businesses have focused on creating an attractive cityscape, something a tattered, untended banner can compromise.
Simple Strategies for Better Event Marketing
The banner ordinance in Paramount is meant to provide an effective advertising tool for local merchants. If these signs become damaged, or if they hang badly, it’s in everyone’s best interests to set them straight and make repairs.
Friday, May 16, 2014 - 10am to 12pm
Summer Vacation Home Checks
Now that summer is here, if you are taking 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.
Attend this presentation and learn how to use the power of event marketing to get potential and existing customers to take four key actions: • Sign up • Speak up • Show up • Follow up Good marketing is about eliciting a physical and measurable response. In this practical and engaging seminar, you will learn how to find, convert, and keep new and existing customers through effective event marketing. You will also learn best practices related to the who, when, where, and what that makes an event a memorable experience. Learn how events can engage customers. Take your events to the next
Stater Bros. Markets recently donated 47,040 pounds of fresh apples to local food banks to promote healthy eating habits in the communities it serves. This donation was divided between Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County and Feeding America riverside San Bernardino Counties and signaled Stater Bros. Markets participation in the Take A Bite Out of Hunger™ Program sponsored by FirstFruits Marketing of Washington.
Social Media - What Works, and What
The Paramount Chamber Networking Breakfast to be held on July 23, 2015 will feature speaker Sé Reed on the topic “Social Media - What Works, and What Doesn’t.” Sé opened her first business, an eclectic used bookstore, in Long Beach, CA in 2003 and has been a passionate small business advocate and educator ever since. As an advisor with the Small Business Development Center at Long Beach City College and through her web consulting company, Reed
helps small business owners create and implement strategies to develop their business’ online branding and visibility, focusing on the fundamentals of a successful web presence such as website development, social media, and SEO. She regularly speaks locally, regionally, and nationally to small business owners and consultants about all aspects of the Internet and small business, and appears weekly on a webcast about WordPress with more than 4 million views.
Paramount’s local Dance Group, Paramount Dance Company donates their talent by participating in the relay for life event held at Paramount Park. Pictured from left; Emma Persi, Samantha rivera, Juan Pablo Bautista, Gabriela Gonzalez, and Penelope Jimenez.
Special Thanks to the Scholarship Selection Committee
The Paramount Education Partnership, Inc. announced the recipients of its 12th annual college scholarships at the recent Paramount High School Awards Ceremony. You can find the list – along with the donors from this year’s fundraiser – in this issue’s CityScape on the inside back cover. They can also be found on the City of Paramount’s website at www.paramountcity.com.
A dedicated committee of local volunteers spent many hours reviewing and rating the 249 applications submitted to PEP this year.
Applicants were graded in a number of categories, including academic achievement, an essay, academic recommendations, extracurricular activities, and financial need. A total of 24 Paramount students attending a university, community college, or trade school received scholarships this year.
Given the number of worthy applicants, the PEP Scholarship Committee had quite a job selecting the final honorees. Our deepest thanks go out to the members of that Committee for all their hard work:
• Paula Coony of Paramount Iceland/Zamboni Merchandising
• Flo Haynes of Weber Metals
• Dr. Myrna Morales of Paramount Unified
• Grace Padilla of Marukan Vinegar (USA), Inc.
• Pamela Rice of Office Depot
• Dr. Manuel San Miguel of Paramount Unified
• Dr. Deborah Stark of Paramount Unified
• Co-Superintendent Delores Stephens of Paramount Unified
• Mandy Stevens, Paramount Resident
• Lourdes Talamantes of Paramount Unified
Pizza for PEP
The classrooms that gave the most money out of the entire Paramount unified School District during the annual Pennies for PEP fundraiser were given pizza parties for their generous donations. At left, Ms. Orozco’s 3rd graders at lincoln Elementary and, at right, Ms. Mireles’ 8th graders at Paramount Park Middle School deserve a big thank you for adding their two-cents-worth to the PEP scholarship fund.
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP
Introduction to Market Research
Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - 10:00am - 12:00pm
Finding the right information is critical for your small business. Without good marketing research, you can’t make the best decisions. Small businesses are often faced with too much information, so finding what works is difficult. learn what works and how to turn data and trends into revenue. in this seminar you will learn how to: go deeper than a mere internet search, find the best information to make decisions, save time when looking for information, and create an effective survey.
Course Level: Beginner --- Fee: $20
Sign Up: All individuals wishing to attend must pre-register & pre-pay at: http://lbcc.augusoft.net
*Please note new registration system. In order to register you will need to: For more information: Contact Janice Grass at 562-938-5100 or sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu
RED Day at Pathways
RED Day (Renew, Energize and Donate) is an initiative dedicated to celebrating Keller Williams Realty’s year-round commitment to improving their local communities. Each year, on the second Thursday in May, tens of thousands of associates from across the United States and Canada participate in a wide range of projects, devoting their time to renewing and energizing aspects of the neighborhoods in which they serve. RED Day initiatives run the gamut: From rebuilding homes, refurbishing local parks, giving to local food shelters, hosting blood drives, beautifying beaches and more.
This year, Keller Williams, Pacific Estates Cerritos office chose to refresh and give a make-over to the Grief Garden at Pathways, a non-profit organization whose services span the communities in which their associates serve. Rolling up to Pathway at 8:30 on May 14th, cars and trucks began unloading plants, paint, tarps, fertilizer, bark and an array of garden tools and accessories. Working side by side with representatives from Orchard Hardware, who donated all the materials, KW associates painted planter boxes, benches and trellises. They dug up grass, put down pavers and colored bark
Article from FRONT Page
and made a “Pathway” to a tented gazebo. Each year, this event displays the extraordinary effect a company can have when individuals come together to work as a team for the greater good of everyone. “RED Day isn’t just about cleaning up a park, says Mark Ozman, a KW associate, it is a one-day expression of what happens 24/7 in the Keller Williams culture. It is seeing a need, discovering who can meet that need and then getting it done.”
The volunteers and staff at Pathways embrace and exemplify this very sentiment. They provide “compassionate care to families living with illness and loss” through caregiving for the frail/elderly, hospice care for the terminally ill, and bereavement counseling and support groups for children and families in grief. Each and every day they endeavor to meet the ever changing needs of the communities they serve. In addition, all of Pathways services are free of charge. For more information on Pathways programs and services in your community, how to donate to the organization or how to become a volunteer, please call Vickie Kaefer, Pathways’ Operations Mgr. at 562531-3031.
Enjoying the Summer Outside in Paramount
ing an extensive renovation of Town Center West, which is anchored by Northgate Market. Work will begin on tear-downs and facelifts involving all four of the buildings and will lead to some expanded retail space while other sections will be removed to make way for restaurant suites and outdoor dining patios. New tenants include Yogurtland and AutoZone.
Landscaping in the shopping center will be redesigned throughout. There will also be site improvements such as covered trellis work, decorative walkways replacing existing concrete sidewalks, and more.
A New Downtown Paramount
The changes at Town Center West are a kind of precursor to a larger transformation as the City re-envisions Paramount Boulevard between Jackson Street and Alondra Boulevard. By reinvigorating that stretch, the plan is to inspire a fresh, thriving, and exciting “Downtown Paramount” identity, better connect Town Centers West and East, and provide further linkage to the new restaurant development coming soon to the northeast corner of Paramount Boulevard and Alondra Boulevard.
The revamp – scheduled for construction in the coming months – will beautify the streetscape by expanding the lush environment around City Hall to create a “Boulevard of Gardens” along with newly designed retail and outdoor dining plazas, as is happening with Town Center West. Environmental sustainability will be encouraged through the use of drought-tolerant plants and storm water retention systems.
Another goal of the “new downtown” is to craft an interesting and inviting environment for pedestrians, to encourage walking, while developing spaces or “paseos” along Paramount for folks to gather and sit and eat and shop.
Down the line, the area will be a perfect setting for art walks, car shows, or food festivals.
It’s a great time to be in Paramount, to enjoy the environment of Paramount, and to experience the new features coming to town.
Scholars’ Honors Program Celebrates Graduates
The Cerritos College Scholars’ Honors Program recognized 31 graduates during its 18th annual graduation ceremony.
All graduating Scholars’ Honors Program students have been accepted to some of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities.
Graduates received medallions for maintaining a minimum 3.0 grade point average in transferable courses.
To honor Juntilla’s tireless dedication to education and his commitment to student success, several students from Scholars’ Honors Club presented him with a special recognition on behalf of the SHP students.
The winners of the College’s an -
nual Carole Cole Memorial Honors Scholarship and ninth annual Juntilla Scholars’ Honors Program Scholarship. Arturo Gasca and Mariana Gallardo received $200 each through the Carole Cole Memorial Honors Scholarship. Bianca Lee and Josephine Diaz received $500 each from the Juntilla Scholars’ Honors Program Scholarship.
“These are some of the brightest students at Cerritos College and, on behalf of the faculty who worked with these students over the years, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations and best wishes for their future,” said Timothy Juntilla, director, Scholars’ Honors Program.
Scholars’ Honors Program Transfer Class of 2015
WAnted
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.
Paramount Rotary Sponsors
Students For Life Changing Event
Pictured seated l-r) Nathalia Mendoza, Jennifer Solorzano, Beatriz Salazar, Sheyla Burgos, Genesis Quezada, leonela Gurrola, Giselle ruiz and Gabriela Haro (Standing l-r) Jorge roque, Jesus robledo, Joshua Felix, Brian ramirez and Mr. Andy yonaki.
Students sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of District 5280 came together for a life changing event when they attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) recently held in Blue Jay, California. Thanks to the efforts of President John Boogaard, Paramount Rotary sent twelve students; the largest group at the event. Leonela Gurrola had her doubts about attending the event but is now thrilled she went; Leonela thought it was cool to meet students from all over the world, and she now wants to be more involved in her community and school. Jesus Robledo said his experience was one of the best in his life; in the beginning Jesus was shy but began to participate when he realized no one knew
who he was and he could just be himself. Brian Rodriquez said his experience was not only fun but filled with a variety of activities which gave him the opportunity to improve his leadership skills. Jennifer Solorzano left feeling connected to all the people she got to know; everyone was so busy being themselves they weren’t worried about being an outcast.
Students returned with a new found confidence and could be heard saying; we are princesses, who cares what other people think, be who you want to be, trust others, it’s okay to step back and work with others, I’m a better listener, and one girl who had always wanted to lighten her hair found the courage to do so.
SMART Marketing Goals
By Brishette Mendoza, Founder Empresa Marketing Solutions (424) 543-4777
When people discover that I run a marketing firm, it is common for them to immediately inquire about specific marketing products and services. However, a marketing goal they have not fully articulated, even for themselves is common. If this describes your situation, then I say, “That’s okay--this is where most people I encounter begin.” What’s next, you ask?
It’s simple, if you want to be successful in your marketing and advertising endeavors, then get very clear and up front, about what your marketing goals are--developing smart marketing goals is a highly effective way to do that. A smart goal is one that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. A goal that is specific should address questions such as what, why and how. A measurable goal will employ indicators, generally at least two, that will enable you to measure whether or not your goal has been reached. A measurable goal is usually quantifiable, and can answer questions like how much or how many. A goal that is achievable will stretch and challenge you but is still attainable. With an achievable goal, you can answer yes to the question, is this goal realistic? With a goal that is relevant, you can answer yes to questions such as: Is this goal aligned with our core mission, values and needs overall? Is this worthwhile? Is this applicable in the current environment? Is this the right time? Lastly, a time-bound goal has a sense of urgency, and a target date of completion. Aim for marketing success from the start. Make sure that you have at least one smart marketing goal.
10 Tips for Avoiding Burnout
Whether your company is in its fledgling stages or beyond, running a business is stressful. Many entrepreneurs suffer burnout—becoming so exhausted, they lose their entrepreneurial passion. Here are 10 tips to help you avoid burnout.
1. Keep a time log. For two weeks, write down how you spend your time. Which tasks take longer than they should? What are you wasting time on? What’s consistently getting pushed to the bottom of your “to-do” list?
2. Prioritize. There’s a saying that 80 percent of your results come from 20 percent of your efforts. Focus on those clients, projects and
actions that give you the best return on investment.
3. Delegate. Many entrepreneurs burn out because they refuse to let go of any aspect of the business. As your company grows, you must bring on people to ease your burden. If you can’t afford full-time employees, try outsourcing.
4. Set boundaries. Entrepreneurs don’t work 9 to 5, but you must set limits so you’re not focused on business 24 hours a day. For instance, you might set aside 90 minutes for dinner and family time every weeknight.
5. Take regular breaks. Powering through the workday without a break may
seem efficient, but research shows that after 60 to 90 minutes of focus, your productivity peaks. Take a quick break to do something relaxing.
6. Take care of yourself. Proper diet, adequate sleep and regular exercise are essential to functioning at your peak. Making time for these things is an investment in your business.
7. Don’t be afraid to say “no.” It’s hard to turn down work, but before you take on a new project, do a quick calculation of your return on investment. If the new job will cause total overload, it may be better to turn it down.
8. Hold weekly meetings. When you’re swamped,
meeting every week may seem like a waste of time. But that’s exactly when you need to meet so you can assess, reprioritize and stay on track.
9. Make for yourself. Whether it’s a long weekend, an afternoon off or an actual vacation, take time to rest and rejuvenate. Put time off on your calendar and treat it as you would any other appointment. You’ll come back re-energized.
10. Get support. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely. You bear great responsibility, but often, there’s no one to share your worries with. Bottled-up emotions accelerate burnout. Find someone you can talk to about your
feelings, whether it’s
or
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) 938-5100, or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu
Make A Difference • Join A Service Club
