Pulse Beat March 2012 by City of Paramount

PULSE BEAT PULSE BEAT

State of the City - Paramount’s Tradition of Working Together Will Continue

Despite revenue losses and a tough economy the future of Paramount looks bright. That was the overall message from speakers at the Paramount Chamber State of the City Address sponsored by Paramount Petroleum.

Paramount Chamber President Leonard Crespo began the event with a Chamber activity report that included: Co-sponsoring more than 30 events including ribbon cuttings and business workshops. Promoting the economy with; networking events, welcome packets, and publication of a new business directory as well as the Pulse Beat. Crespo also talked about special events put on by the Chamber including a Job Fair, Fiesta, and annual Awards Luncheon. He went on to say that working together with the City of Paramount on programs such as PEP (Paramount Education Partnership) and the recent Purchase it in Paramount program are all part of the synergy that is Paramount.

Following president Crespo was Lifegate Foursquare Church Pastor Larry Jameson. Jameson spoke on behalf of the churches in Paramount and their efforts to serve the community. He said the churches offer a variety of programs including: Food banks, basketball min-

istries, tutoring programs, and fall festivals. In addition the churches work hand-in-hand with the City providing hundreds of volunteers each year for Pitch in Paramount, a clean-up program that helps seniors and deserving families with property maintenance issues.

Next was Superintendent Dr. David Verdugo. Verdugo reported that the district is dealing with budget cuts and having to make tough decisions. However, there was also a lot of good news; test scores continue to rise in Mathematics and English Language Arts. This year there were more student award winners in MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Association) than in the history of the program. Jenny Herrera was awarded a scholarship to Julliard Dance Academy. Paramount High Men’s Soccer team were back to back CIF Champions. Paramount High students won numerous awards in graphic design at both local and national competitions, and Paramount High has a new Medical Career/Science building, Field House, Library, and Stadium.

Closing the program was Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer and City Manager Linda Benedetti-Leal. Hofmeyer said the loss of redevelopment funds will have an impact

on Paramount but solid financial planning over the years will allow the City to move forward.

City Manager Benedetti-Leal said “There is a Paramount tradition of working together across all sectors – our residents, government, the schools, business community and faith based groups...that is our core strength.” She went on to report that crime continues to drop, the STAR and PEP education programs are running at full

capacity, a grant for $4.5 milling from the state will build a new fitness park, construction of a new water well has been completed. Sales tax revenue is up thanks to the addition of new retail stores, and the Paramount Pond received a facelift.

The consensus was Paramount will continue its tradition of working together and those partnerships will ensure a positive future for Paramount.

Paramount Chamber President Leonard Crespo

Pastor Larry Jameson

PUSD Superintendent Dr. David Verdugo

Paramount Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer

City Manger Linda Benedetti-Leal

thanks to VMB Ice Sculptures for their donation of two beautiful ice sculptures for the State of the City Address event.

Mayor, Daryl Hofmeyer

“Paramount Today” Report For Residents On March 14

The City Council will host “Paramount Today: A Report to the Community” on Wednesday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m. at Prog-

ress Park Plaza. All residents are invited to come hear City Manager Linda BenedettiLeal give a talk on the “state of the city,” including a review of past and current accomplishments in Paramount, as well as future plans for our town.

The event is free. Light refreshments will be served. Progress Park Plaza is located at 15500 Downey Ave. For more information, please call (562) 220-2121.

Easter Faire Heads Up

The City’s annual Easter Faire will be held on Saturday, April 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Paramount Park. This fun outing for the whole family will again feature game booths, a petting zoo and many more activities. There will be egg hunts at different times for the various age groups, starting with the youngest kids at 10:15 a.m. Of course, the Eas-

ter Bunny will also be attending. The festivities are free, but vendors will be offering food for sale.

Paramount Park is located at 14400 Paramount Blvd. Please call (562) 220-2121 for more information.

Paramount Park Playground Improvement

The back playground at Paramount Park is being renovated and improved, with the work scheduled to be ﬁnished by the end of March. The sand is being replaced by rubberized wood chips, and a new shade structure and rock-and-rope course will create a fun and athletic play experience for kids.

The project is being funded through a grant from L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe.

More “Pitching In”

Special thanks go out to the latest group of volunteers who took part in the Pitch In, Paramount clean ups in late January. Students from Paramount High School and members of Emmanuel Reformed Church, with help from the City’s Public Works Department, removed debris, trimmed trees and shrubs and did some painting at two local homes of residents-in-need. Then they continued on to a railroad

right of way north of Rosecrans for some painting and weed removal (and were joined by some of the folks they had helped out).

The City spearheads this opportunity to “give back” to the community every couple of months.

E-Waste and Large-Item Pick-Ups

Spring cleaning is in the air, so keep in mind that CalMet Services, the City’s trash hauler, provides free curbside pick-up service for all unwanted electronic waste that, by law, must be recycled (computers, televisions, microwaves, cell phones, telephones, stereos, typewriters, fax machines, PDAs and more).

This service is available to homes, apartments and mobile home parks. To schedule a pick-up or ask about the program, call CalMet at (562) 259-1239 at least one day before your normal trash day. Then place the E-waste at your curbside on trash day for it to be taken away.

CalMet also picks up large, oversized items like furniture or appliances that won’t ﬁt in a regular trash container. (Dumping these things in alleys, streets, sidewalks or any public right-of-way is illegal, and property owners adjacent to where the dumping occurs could be ﬁned.)

Call (562) 259-1239, extension 244, to schedule a pick up. Cost: free for residences; $15 for commercial accounts.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sheriff’s Station Offers Variety of Services

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. and recently expanded and remodeled, is a prime example of the relationship.

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 making code enforcement complaints. Deputies are also available at the Station to interview victims and criminal suspects.

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

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

Stay Alert While Walking

Street robbers watch for people who are distracted and otherwise not paying attention. They can approach from behind, snatch jewelry, cell phones, music players or purses and then ﬂee on foot or bicycle.

It’s important for any pedestrian to remember to stay alert as to their surroundings to guard against the possibility of becoming a street robbery victim.

Everyone is encouraged to practice the following safety tips:

• If you wear necklaces during everyday activities, keep them concealed under clothing, especially those with medallions, charms or nameplates.

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and walk with other people when possible.

• If you feel you are being targeted, try to move to a well-populated area.

• If you are the victim of a robbery, call 911 immediately and try to give a good description of the suspect.

If you have been the victim of a robbery or an attempted robbery and have not reported it, please call 562-220-2002 and do so.

Fraud and Identity Theft Prevention

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigates a wide range of complex ﬁnancial crimes including fraud, identity theft, and high-tech computer crimes. If you believe you are the victim of a fraud or identity theft crime, contact the Paramount Sheriff’s Station at (562) 220-2002 to report it.

Keep the following hints in mind to avoid becoming a victim of these crimes.

1. Sign the back of all your credit cards. Optionally, also write “Please Verify Photo ID.”

2. When you are writing checks to pay your credit card accounts, do not put the complete account number on the “For” line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.

3. Never have your Social Security number pre-printed on your checks. You can add it as necessary. But if you have it pre-printed anyone can get it.

4. Do not have your first name pre-printed on your checks; instead, have only your first initial printed. This makes it more difficult for thieves to forge your name and steal your personal information.

5. Make a photocopy of all the important personal information in your wallet or purse. Copy both sides of each license and credit card. This way, if your wallet or purse is ever lost or stolen you will know exactly what you had and will be able to contact the issuing agencies to report the loss. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Do not carry it with you.

6. Have the phone numbers of the banks that issued your credit cards handy. If you suspect fraud, call and cancel your credit cards immediately.

7. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc. were stolen. This proves to your credit providers you were diligent, and this is a ﬁrst step toward an investigation.

8. Call the three national credit reporting agencies immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your personal information has been stolen, and they must contact you to authorize any new credit. Doing this usually will stop the thieves dead in their tracks.

Equifax, (800) 525-6285; Experian, (888) 397-3742; Transunion, (800) 680-7289; Social Security Fraud Line, (800) 269-0271.

Tengo Talento

KDS Supports Paramount High School

Doors

Dancing

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Departing at 9 am

Sign-up: Waiting list

Mexican Restaurant

Since 1970 when the first Casa Gamiño was opened, founder Cipriano Gamiño strived to give his customers good Mexican food and excellent service at a good price at all Casa Gamino locations. No gimmicks, just delicious food.

11:00 pm

Scholarship Fundraiser Helps Paramount Students Go To College

The City of Paramount will be holding its 9th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser for the Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) on April 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The theme of the event will be “Vintage Hollywood” and it will take place at Progress Park Plaza, 15500 Downey Avenue.

The fundraiser will feature great food and lots of fun with a variety of casino-type games for a very good cause – raising money to fund college scholarships for Paramount students-in-need.

There are many opportunities for businesses and individuals to sponsor and donate to the event. All donations will be made to the PEP 501c3 non-profit entity, and will be tax deductible.

Over the years, nearly $400,000 has been given to local students who are attending community college, a trade school or university to help defray their costs.

If interested in sponsorships or other contributions, please contact

Suleyma Rosales at (562) 220-2132 or srosales@paramountcity.com.

Your donation will be an important investment in the community, as it helps students and families reach better education opportunities and a brighter future.

Classes at Spane Park

PEP offers a number of classroomtype programs at the Paramount Petroleum Computer Learning Resource Center, which is located at Spane Park, 14400 Gundry Ave.

These include Homework Help for K-12 students and Literacy & Math Enrichment that uses computerized training as well as hands-on activities for students K-8. There is also a class for adults to improve their English language skills and an adult aerobics ﬁtness class.

For more information about these learning opportunities, please call 562220-2145 or 220-2250.

PARAMOUNT LIONS RECOGNIZE BRANDON DESIQUEIRA WINNER OF THE 75TH ANNUAL STUDENT SPEAKER CONTEST

The Lion’s Student Speaker Contest was very competitive this year. Three students from Paramount High School: Brandon DeSigueira, Angie Peralta, and Marleen Ruiz and three from Dominguez High School: Joana Granados, Eli Guzman (2011 winner), and Cristina Lopez.

“This was probably the closest competition we have had in years,” said Club President Gene Daniels. “These students clearly worked very hard to put together a well-thought out speech and had practiced their delivery.”

The topic for this year’s 75th competition was, “What Could the America of Yesterday Teach the America of Tomorrow?”

Brandon DeSigueira, a junior at Paramount High School, was the winner and received a $75 cash prize. Brandon is the youngest Battalion Commander of Paramount High’s Junior ROTC program, is active in Student Government, serves as treasurer for the Future Homemakers of America, and helps coach the JROTC basketball team. He aspires to attend Annapolis and plans to join the US Navy’s medical corps upon graduation from college.

Brandon will go on to compete at the Zone Level on March 4, where the winner will receive $100; the winner will then proceed to the Region Level on March 24 ($150 cash award), the District Level in April ($4,500 scholarship), the Area Level on May 12 ($6,500 scholarship) and the ﬁnals on June 2 ($10,000 scholarship).

Each of the ﬁve ﬁnalists received a $25 cash award for their participation.

Lion Dick Hall, Chairperson of

the event, expressed appreciation for the support, time, and guidance given by Dominguez High’s Peter Sunnarborg and Paramount High’s Autumn Bignami, who recruit and encourage participation by their students. “These two dedicated professionals have added time to their busy schedules to give their students an opportunity to experience the power of public speaking and the chance to compete for scholarships that can total more than $21,000. We thank and applaud them for their efforts; we couldn’t do it without them.”

At the end of the program, Lion Dick Hall was honored with a special presentation and gift as a token of the Club’s appreciation for his 30 years of dedicated service as Chairman of the Student Speaker Contest.

“We thank Lion Dick for all his hard work and passion over these past three decades to promote and produce the Student Speaker Contest for the beneﬁt of our students. His name is, and always will be, synonymous with the contest,” said Paramount Lions Club President Gene Daniels.

Calling all Youth Cheer/ Dance Coaches!

The Paramount Jr. Pirates Football and Cheer Program is looking for Cheer and Dance Coaches and Training Staff for its competitive Youth Cheer squads.

Experience working with cheerleaders ages 5-14 preferred. Qualiﬁed candidates must be Team Players, able to work well with others and willing to work with all team levels. Season begins July 2012 and runs through March 2013. With high expectations of becoming National Champions next year, we hope you will bring energy and excitement to a fast growing program. All entries will be considered, we make no guarantee of team placement. Qualiﬁed Applicants should e-mail a Letter of Interest with their experience and achievements to paramountjrpiratescheer@gmail.com

Attn: Melissa Mendez, Paramount Jr. Pirates Cheer Coordinator.

HELP WANTED

Help Wanted @ P Dogs: CASHIER’S & COOKS Late evenings early mornings please walk in for application. 13610 Garﬁeld Ave. South Gate, 90280

INSURANCE SALES – Growing company seeking dynamic self-starters, hardworking, energetic, bilingual (Spanish/English), and sales oriented individuals with a strong interest in educating the community about Insurance and Financial Products. A positive attitude and commitment to providing exceptional customer service are required. Insurance experience is a bonus but not a necessity. More importantly, we are looking for ambitious quick learners who are excited about determining their own salary and want to be an integral part of a growing company. Email resume to maria@galliagency.com or fax resume to 562-817-5621.

Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program

Tom Shea

Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

californiacitrusthreat.org

tshea@ucdavis.edu

951-683-6491, ext. 224

We want to make sure that your citrus trees are protected from the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) and the deadly “Huanglongbing” (HLB) aka Citrus Greening Disease. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has been finding more Asian Citrus Psyllids throughout Southern California, it is very important that you inspect your citrus often. If you are not sure what to look for, the Paramount Chamber office has bookmarks and flyers with color photographs of the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Also, you can go to the website californiacitrusthreat.org to get updated information. If you believe you have seen the Asian Citrus Psyllid on a citrus tree, contact your local nursery or garden center for advice or call/email, Tom Shea, for advice on how to handle the Asian Citrus Psyllid.

Citrus Tips

The only way to really tell if your citrus fruit is ripe/ready is to actually cut it open and taste it. A mature citrus tree may have as many as 200,000 blossoms of which only about 300 to 400 fruit will actually set fruit – sometimes less due to various conditions, like wind, drought, freeze, intense heat, etc. Fruit split is mainly avoided by making sure the tree gets water on a regular basis – mulch helps. “Sports” or mutations are not un -

common, particularly, on navel oranges, hence, the Cara Cara navel orange. So keep a good eye on your trees! Better to remove fruits when the tree is small and young, allow it to get more size and structure. It’s good to know where the fruit you eat has come from “your yard” if after 2 or 3 years, the tree is not growing well – yank it out aka “shovel prune” it, and plant a new one in a new place.

Varieties of citrus to consider planting

Make sure that you are buying a grafted tree from a reputable retail plant nursery licensed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Mandarins – Tangerines: I want to mention these mandarins/tangerines because they are not very well known but just terrific and a great addition to any homeowner yard. You may have to special order them from your local retail nursery.

Seedless Kishu: A golf ball sized fruit that is sweet, without seeds and peels extremely easily. “Kids of all ages” love them (Oct. to Jan.).

Gold Nugget: Is another wonderful fruit that is seedless and an easy peeler. It starts to bear in March and holds well on the tree until August - up to six months. Its flavor is rich and sweet.

Tango: A seedless W. Murcott Afourer, from the University of California-Riverside. Fruit is high quality, an easy peeler, seedless, juicy, sweet rich flavored - very attractive shiny deep orange skin color (late Jan. – April).

Preventing Car Theft

by: Luis Acosta State Farm, 562.531.1900

About 1.2 million cars are stolen every year in the U.S. That’s one every 26 seconds! And thieves are always on the lookout for an easy target. So, what are some simple things you can do to help prevent your car from becoming another statistic?

The Basics

Always lock the doors.

Never leave your vehicle while the engine is running. It doesn’t save you much time, and it’s an open invitation for thieves to steal your car.

Take your keys with you. Even a spare key hidden out of sight is a bad idea. The bad guys know all the hiding places.

Roll up your windows all the way. It’s amazing what an experienced car thief can do with a sliver of an opening.

Secure your garage. If you park in a garage at home, make sure it’s locked down. And never leave your keys in the car.

Hide valuables. Keep your personal belongings out of sight, preferably in the trunk.

Security Systems

Install an anti-theft device. If you don’t already have one, a simple alarm can make a difference.

Consider a vehicle recovery system. If your car is stolen, it can be tracked and recovered using GPS, transmitter or similar technology.

Get the VIN etched onto doors or windows. Professional thieves know

they’d have to remove the etchings to resell the vehicle.

Parking

Park in populated areas. You’ll be safer getting in and out, and thieves are less likely to disturb cars parked on busy, well-lit streets.

Park smart. When parking on the street, turn the wheels to the curb and set the emergency brake. When parking a front-wheel drive vehicle in the driveway or parking lot, pull in forward and set the emergency brake. If rear-wheel drive, back in and set the emergency brake.

When Buying A New Vehicle

Consider which vehicles are at higher risk of being stolen:

10 Most-Stolen Newer Cars

Honda S2000 Convertible

Dodge Durango

Hummer H2

Dodge Magnum

Hummer H2 SUT

Ford F-350 Super Crew Cab

Dodge Charger

Cadillac Escalade

Ford F-250 Super Crew Cab

Cadillac Escalade ESV

Consider paying a little more for an alarm. It costs more up-front, but it might save you money on car insurance and could make the difference whether your car is stolen or not.

Research other anti-theft devices. Smart keys, electronic tracking devices, hood locks, visible steering wheel lock – there are plenty of options, some cheap and some more expensive.

BY RIEVA LESONSKY

Do you have Millennial employees at your business? If not, you could be missing out. Millennial employees (born between 1982 and 2000, give or take a few years) bring many beneﬁts to your business. They’re energetic and enthusiastic, are ﬂuent in technology and have lower salary expectations than more experienced workers. How can you attract Millennial employees to your workplace and integrate them into your team? Try these 10 tips.

1. Understand their expectations. Know what Millennial employees hope to gain from working for you. Chances are, Millennials will make that clear during the job interview— but if they don’t, ask them.

2. Challenge them. Millennials want to make a difference in their jobs from the get-go. Encourage that enthusiasm by assigning them challenging projects from the start, and adding more responsibility as they learn.

3. Deﬁne tasks and goals. It may seem contradictory, but while Millen-

10 Tips for Managing Multiple Generations in the Work Paramount Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic

Tasting Tees Courtesy

Brioche Bakery Café Corleone Eastern Meats & Deli Marukan Vinegar McDonald’s P Dogs Taco Luv

nials enjoy independence, they also grew up with “helicopter parents,” teachers and coaches micromanaging their lives. Be crystal clear when assigning tasks. Set incremental deadlines and check in regularly to review progress.

4. Provide ongoing feedback. An annual performance review isn’t enough for Millennials, who want to hear how they’re doing—both good and bad—on an ongoing basis. This may be a more hands-on approach than you’re used to with older employees, but it’s essential for Millennials to thrive.

5. Offer flexibility. Millennials expect work-life balance, and view working remotely and ﬂexible hours as essentials, not extras. Bonus: Offering these options not only attracts and retains Millennials, but pleases older employees, too.

6. Provide continuing education. Millennials want to improve at their jobs. Sign them up for webinars or seminars in their areas of interest; send them to conferences and events to learn from more experienced peers;

or simply provide on-the-job training and education.

7. Match them with a mentor. Millennials welcome mentorships, and pairing a Millennial employee with an older, more experienced worker beneﬁts both of them. It also cements bonds, which can help eliminate generational misunderstandings at work.

8. Tailor benefits and rewards to their interests. Millennials may be less interested in benefits like dental insurance and more interested in perks like continuing education. In a 2011 PriceWaterhouse Coopers survey, the majority of Millennials said they would like to customize their benefits.

9. Let them BYOD. (That means “bring your own device.”) Tech-savvy Millennials often prefer to use their own laptops, cellphones or tablets for work instead of a company-issued device. This can save you money; just make sure devices are secure and sensitive information isn’t compromised.

10. Use their social skills. In the 2011 Cisco Connected World Technol-

ogy Report, 56 percent of Millennials said they wouldn’t work for a company that banned social media in the workplace—or they’d sneak around the policy. Instead of shutting down Facebook or Twitter on the job, enlist Millennials’ social media expertise to enhance your company’s online presence.

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

Friendly Hills Country Club

8500 S. Villaverde Drive Whittier, CA 90605-1342 (562) 698 -0331

Paramount Chamber of Commerce

15357 Paramount Blvd. • Paramount, CA 90723 562-634-3980 • Fax 562-634-0891 www.paramountchamber.com

Tournament Sponsor Carlton Forge Works Major Rafﬂe Prize: Complete Set of Golf Clubs, Bag & Covers

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