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PULSE BEAT

Paramount Chamber of Commerce (paramountchamber.com) • Serving the community since 1947 • March 2021

State of the City 2021 presentations emphasize Paramount’s resilience during many challenges caused by the pandemic

recurring theme mentioned by all our speakers at the annual State of City event, hosted by the Paramount Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 10, was the admirable resilience and adapability shown by the Paramount community during the ongoing pandemic. Only a year ago, we welcomed the largest crowd ever for our annual State of the City luncheon. In stark contrast, this year’s event was held virtually via Zoom and Facebook Live since public gatherings are still prohibited. Mayor Peggy Lemons commented: “This is our first virtual State of the City meeting—and hopefully our last.” Nonetheless, we had good community participation online, and feedback was very positive concerning the speakers’ uplifting messages and important information they provided. (The entire event is available on Facebook.) World Energy Paramount, which produces sustainable aviation fuel and other renewable fuels at its Paramount facility (see the ad on page 3), was once again the presenting sponsor for the event. In an encouraging video presentation, Gene Gebolys, founder and chief executive, said: “We’re really embedded in the Paramount community, and the community is embedded in our operation.” He looked forward to expansion of the Paramount facility. Paramount Chamber of Commerce President Alicia Valadez (of Northgate Gonzalez Markets) served as moderator for the event. She recounted how the Chamber board and staff responded to the coronavirus crisis “without skipping a beat,” using virtual events and webinars to keep serving Chamber members. The Chamber also trained local businesses and clubs to operate in a virtual environment and helped more than 50 companies (to date) apply for emergency loans. Our group of Chamber ambassadors found innovative ways to help the community, reaching out to both businesses and individuals in need. Alicia noted that although some businesses did not survive the severe economic downturn, it was noteworthy that a number of new businesses started up in the past year, complete with Chamber virtual ribboncutting ceremonies. The Chamber is now focusing on ways to facilitate economic recovery in Paramount, she said. Mayor Peggy Lemons praised the hope and perseverance of the Paramount community, then added: “While we will share some positives today, we in no way want to trivialize the suffering that the people of Paramount have endured.” She thanked city employees, who have “operated under the most difficult of circumstances” to maintain city services, programs and facilities. “And they’ve done it with grace and ingenuity,” she said. After presenting an overview of the city’s pandemic response and other accomplishments in the past year (for details, please see “From the Mayor’s Desk” on page 3 of the February 2021 Pulse Beat), she reported that the city ended the year “financially strong” with a balanced budget and a surplus. “I sincerely believe that our city has pulled together during this difficult time,” she said. “The generosity and optimism of our city could be seen each time we asked for help or we offered help.” She

Paramount Chamber of Commerce presents Presented by the Paramount Chamber of Commerce

State of the City 2021 Presentations by: Event sponsor: SPEAKERS for the EVENT

Alicia Valadez, President of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce

Peggy Lemons, Mayor of the City of Paramount

ended by saying: “Stay safe, stay healthy—because We Are Paramount!” City Manager John Moreno echoed the mayor’s praise for the community and city staff and added his own appreciation for “a stable, balanced City Council, for which the whole community should be proud.” He then shared a video highlighting specific data and photos concerning the city’s achievements related not only to the pandemic, but also public safety, infrastructure, water services and programs aimed at improving the quality of life for residents. He noted the signs of recovery that are bringing hope to the business community and pledged the city’s ongoing support for rebuilding efforts. Dr. Ruth Perez, Superintendent of Paramount Unified School District for the past five years, said that the current state of our schools “is like none other in the history of Paramount USD—but we continue to thrive because of the support that we continuously receive from you” in the “strong partnership” among the city, the Chamber of Commerce and schools. She said that although teachers, students and administrators “have been stretched in ways that we never thought possible,” the

PULSE BEAT Paramount Chamber of Commerce 15357 Paramount Boulevard Paramount, California 90723 Telephone: 562-634-3980 paramountchamber.com

A L S O

John Moreno, City Manager of the City of Paramount

Dr. Ruth Perez, Superintendent, Paramount Unified School District

speed with which schools pivoted to “a distance-learning modality” was truly praiseworthy. A major factor in the transition was that when schools shut down last spring, fully 80% of Paramount students were already equipped with laptop devices and ready for online learning. By the fall of 2020, 100% of students were so equipped, and the district had added over 1,000 wi-fi hot spots for student use. Dr. Perez expressed pride in the district’s highly successful free breakfast and lunch programs, as well as family food grants exceeding $300,000 and specialized “emotional and support programs.” She then gave an overview of thorough health and safety protocols that will be in place when students physically return to classrooms. After thanking the Board of Education for their support, she announced that she would be leaving Paramount USD to take up a new position in Riverside. We are grateful to our supporting sponsors for the State of the City event: Enagic, Farmers Insurance–Sam Kotob Agency, WaveFront Technology, Marukan Vinegar USA, Penta Pacific Properties, WCA, GM Properties, Transcom Telecommunications and Dr. Max Martinez (DDS, FAGD, FACD)—all Paramount Chamber of Commerce members.

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From the Mayor’s Desk.....................................................................................................................................................................................3 Latest food-distribution event in Paramount.........................................................................................................................................4 Public Safety: Banners and feather flags...................................................................................................................................................4 In Memoriam: Deputy Thomas Albanese.................................................................................................................................................4 Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination................................................................................................................5 Chamber Member-to-Member Discounts................................................................................................................................................6 Business Card Directory...................................................................................................................................................................................7 Chamber membership renewals..................................................................................................................................................................8 Business Corner: Five social media trenmds for 2021........................................................................................................................9 Local restaurants serving you during the pandemic..........................................................................................................................10 CityScape: Report illegal dumping!..........................................................................................................................................................11

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

March 2021

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Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com From the

Mayor’s Desk

March 2021

Private property • The maximum time a vendor can be at one location on private property is five hours. • One table and one chair may be provided and designated for individuals with disabilities. No other tables, chairs or foodpreparation equipment may be used outside of a vending vehicle. • The city’s approval of permits will take into consideration the number of mobile food vending vehicles on a property or neighboring properties and surrounding uses, such as homes and businesses.

Disposing of large items If you have large items that you want to get rid of but can’t fit in a regular trash container, call CalMet Services at 562-259-1239, extension 244, on the day before your normal trash pick-up. Then place the items Regulations for food trucks on the curb with your trash. It’s free for single-family residences and multi-family properties with ate last year, the Paramount City Council adopted regulations for trash barrels, not bins. For residential properties with trash bins and mobile food and ice cream vending vehicles on public and private property. These new regulations were designed to create a safe and for commercial accounts, there is a separate item charge. Lumber, healthy environment while also protecting brick and mortar businesses concrete, auto parts and toxins (such as paint and used motor oil) cannot be removed in this way. in town. Here are some specifics: M AY O R P E G G Y L E M O N S

L Jazella (Pixabay)

Public roadways • Mobile food vendors are only permitted on a public roadway within commercial and industrial zones and not in residentially-zoned areas. • The maximum time a vendor can be at one location on a public roadway is four hours. • No person is allowed to stop or park a vending vehicle on a public roadway within 250 feet of licensed restaurants, schools, public park concession stands or approved city-sponsored special events. • No shaved ice, iced snow cone or ice cream trucks can stop or park on a public roadway for a period of time exceeding 90 minutes.

Free e-waste pick up E-waste cannot be thrown in the trash—it must be recycled. To schedule a free pickup of computers, televisions, microwaves, cellphones, stereos, etc., call CalMet Services at 562-259-1239 at least one day before your normal trash day, then place the e-waste at your curbside on trash day.

Report graffiti Did you know that the City of Paramount has a 24-hour Graffiti Removal Hotline? Paramount is always on the lookout to eradicate graffiti from all public locations and from private properties that are visible from the street. The goal is removal within 72 hours. The hotline is 562-220-2233. You can also report the vandalism on the Paramount Works app, which you can download for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Youth Hall of Fame Last year at this time, the city’s first members of the Youth Hall of Fame were announced, recognizing Paramount student athletes who excel at high school sports. A display featuring the honorees is located at Horchateria Rio Luna on Paramount Blvd. just south of Alondra Blvd., where you can also pick up an order to go. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a 2020 class of athletes will not be awarded, but we hope to return with 2021.

COVID-19 after one year: tips for coping

World Energy Paramount PIONEERING THE TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE FUELS

Generating green jobs in the heart of Paramount Investing in our community First sustainable aviation fuel facility in the U.S. Providing California & the world simple clean energy solutions

A proud member of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce 14700 Downey Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723 (562) 531-2060 | worldenergy.net

This past year has been turbulent and filled with new challenges. Many of us have gone through a variety of emotions like fear, anger, confusion and disbelief, all of which are normal feelings in this type of situation. The American Red Cross has a few tips for coping. • Stay informed through trusted resources like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). • Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Maintain social connections through phone calls or video chats to feel less isolated. • Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. • Eat healthy, drink plenty of water and get enough rest.

• Be patient with yourself and others. It’s common to have any number of temporary stress reactions such as fear, anger, frustration and anxiety. • Encourage children to express their feelings and thoughts. Reassure them about their safety. • Relax your body often by doing things that work for you—take deep breaths, stretch, meditate or pray, or engage in activities that you enjoy. • Pace yourself between stressful activities and do something fun after a hard task. The Red Cross has developed its Virtual Family Assistance Center (VFAC), a support hub for those struggling with loss and grief due to the pandemic. Visit redcross.org/virtual-family-assistance-center.

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

March 2021

Food-distribution event serves 2,152 T he third and latest City of Paramount food-distribution event on February 11 served 2,152 local households. It was held at the Bianchi Theatres parking lot. The mayor and city council sent their thanks to all those involved for helping to get important nutritional resources to local families: Los Angeles County County Supervisor (Fourth District) Janice Hahn, the Los Angeles County Regional Food Bank, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, the Los Angeles County Library, the Paramount Entertainment Center and the Paramount city staff. The City of Paramount donated $2,500 to the Food Bank. Shown (at right) presenting the check are (from left) Joyce Gibson of Los Angeles County, Paramount Councilmember Isabel Aguayo, Vice Mayor Brenda Olmos, Lila Ramirez of the Food Bank, Mayor Peggy Lemons and Councilmember Vilma Cuellar Stallings.

Public Safety Using banners and feather flags for businesses in Paramount

anners and feather flags can be of great benefit to a business and its marketing. If not maintained, however, they can wear out and become an eyesore or even a code-enforcement issue. Paramount and its businesses focus on creating an attractive cityscape, something a tattered, untended banner or feather flag can compromise. To use banners and feather signs, a business must submit a no-fee application—a simple, one-page form—to the City of Paramount and renew it on a yearly basis. Here is a review of the regulations.

BANNERS Banners are allowed to be posted on a continuous basis. The maximum-allowed banner width is four feet. Each business is permitted one banner, except for those in corner suites, which can have two banners, one on each building side, or in single-unit buildings, which are allowed four banners, one per building side. All banners must be professionally manufactured and maintained in good condition; they will be inspected regularly by the city. They need to be installed flat against a 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. Banners cannot replace permanent signage. If an owner refuses to replace or remove a deteriorated banner, $500 must be paid to renew any future banner permits.

FEATHER FLAGS Feather flags are temporary signs installed along street frontages. They are allowed a maximum of 50 days in a calendar year, must be professionally manufactured and maintained in good condition,

cannot replace permanent signage and will be inspected regularly by the city. Each business is allowed one feather flag, except for corner suites and single-pad buildings, which are allowed a second feather flag on a separate side of the building or suite from the first flag. The two flags must be at least five feet apart. Feather flags for separate businesses or on separate properties must be at least 10 feet apart. If an owner refuses to replace or remove a deteriorated feather flag, $500 must be paid to renew any future feather flag permits. To find out more, please call 562-220-2036.

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M E M O R I A M

Sheriff ’s Deputy Thomas Albanese

os Angeles County Sheriff ’s Deputy Thomas Albanese, 41, was killed on the morning of February 25 when the Sheriff ’s motorcycle he was riding collided with an automobile on Paramount Boulevard near the intersection with Del Amo Boulevard in Lakewood. The deputy was pursuing another vehicle when the collision occurred. Assigned to the Lakewood Station for several years, Deputy Albanese was well known to the Paramount community, and he had recently received special recognition from the Paramount City Council for his numeorus successes in citing reckless drivers in the city. He joined the Sheriff ’s Department in July 2013 and became a motorcycle deputy in March 2020, when he was assigned to the Pico Rivera Station. A highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he served from 2001 to 2010, including four tours of duty in Iraq. About three hours after the crash, a procession escorted his flagdraped body to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, and residents of Lakewood came out to salute as the procession passed. Deputy Albanese is survived by his wife and two sons, ages 7 and 11. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise money for his family. To participate, please visit gofundme.com and type in “Albanese.”

March 2021

Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination V

accines made by Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have all been shown to be safe and very effective against COVID-19 in large studies that involved a diverse mix of people. While a vaccine can stop you from getting sick, it is not yet clear if it stops you from spreading coronaviruses that cause COVID-19 to other people. It is also not yet known how long your vaccine-induced immunity will last—which is why it is absolutely necessary that everyone keep wearing masks or other face coverings, avoiding gatherings, maintaining six-foot distancing, washing hands often and using hand sanitizers, as well as disinfecting surfaces. COVID-19 vaccines are being administered free for everyone and are now being offered to different groups in phases. Vaccines are likely to be available for all adults by May 2021. Please talk to your doctor or sign up for email updates to find out when vaccine will be available to you. (See “My Turn” below and visit publichealth.lacounty.gov to learn more about vaccination appointments.) As often happens during a crisis, misinformation is circulating about vaccines, and scammers are busy trying to cheat people out of their money—so make sure that you get your information only from trustworthy sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Los Angeles County Public Health. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines currently available:

Why is vaccination important? Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent disease, and various kinds of vaccines save millions of lives each year. When you get vaccinated, you aren’t just protecting yourself, but also your family and others around you.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Los Angeles County Public Health

How do COVID-19 vaccines work? In general, vaccines prepare your body’s immune system to recognize and fight off germs and viruses. They reduce your risk of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection in the form of antibodies that recognize, remember and kill an invading virus or germ before it can make you sick. In the case of COVID-19, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines teach your body to make harmless pieces of proteins that look like parts of an invading coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Your immune system knows these protein pieces aren’t normal parts of your system, and it creates antibodies to get rid of them. So when actual coronaviruses try to invade your body, your immune system already has antibodies ready that can quickly attack and destroy the invaders. Technically, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines make use of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) to create protein pieces and antibodies. This is brand new technology—the first time that mRNA vaccines have been approved for use. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) instead of RNA, and it’s a type of viral vector technology similar to that already widely used in flu vaccines. A viral vector is a virus that has been altered so that it doesn’t cause illness but still prompts your immune system to build up specific defensive antibodies that destroy targeted viruses—a different approach, but the same result as the other two COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that all three vaccines are “really quite good” during a recent interview on NBC’s Meet the Press. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots to reach full effectiveness, whereas the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one shot. Dr. Fauci has advised people to get whichever vaccine is readily available. “I think people need to get vaccinated as quickly and as expeditiously as possible,” he said. The most important thing to remember about all three vaccines is that instead of treating COVID-19 after you catch it, these vaccines can prevent you from getting sick in the first place.

Can you get COVID-19 from these vaccines? No. The three available vaccines will not give you COVID-19. Sometimes people experience brief side effects, but these are normal and show that your body is building immunity (see the next question for details).

Image: Gerd Altmann (Pixabay)

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

It may take a few weeks for your body to build full immunity after vaccination. If you got infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after you were vaccinated, you could still get COVID-19. This is because the vaccine has not had sufficient time to build enough antibodies to provide protection.

What are common side-effects of COVID-19 vaccines? You may get short-term side-effects similar to those with a flu shot. These may include pain at the injection site, joint pain, fatigue, chills, headache, fever or aches. Such side-effects are normal and show that the vaccine is working and your body is building up immunity. You should feel better within a day or two. With the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it is very important to get the second dose even if you experience side effects after the first dose.

Will a vaccine cause me to test positive for COVID-19? No. You won’t test positive on widely-administered PCR or antigen viral tests (e.g., swab tests) that check for current COVID-19 infection. However, you might test positive on some less-frequently-used antibody (blood) tests—which is a good thing since it would show that your vaccine is working and teaching your body to make antibodies. (Visit ph.lacounty.gov/covidtests to learn more about testing.)

If I already had COVID-19, do I still need to get vaccinated? Yes. We don’t yet know how long you will be protected after you have had COVID-19, so it is important to get vaccinated to strengthen your immunity. While it is safe to receive a vaccine after having COVID-19, you should wait until after your isolation period is over so that you won’t infect healthcare workers and others when you go to get vaccinated. If you have had monoclonal antibody treatment, you should wait for 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Can people with weak immune systems get vaccinated? If your immune system is weak, talk to your doctor about whether you should be vaccinated. Studies of current COVID-19 vaccines did not include people with weak immune systems, so we don’t yet know how well a vaccine will work in such people. We do know that people with weak immune systems are at higher risk of getting COVID-19 if they are exposed to it—and if they get COVID-19, they are more likely to become seriously ill. Studies did include people with stable HIV and people with active cancer and showed that vaccines were as safe and effective for these groups as they were for other people in the studies.

Can I stop wearing a mask once I’ve been vaccinated? No! It is important to continue to take precautions—including wearing masks, washing hands and using hand sanitizer, practicing physical distancing and disinfecting surfces—even after you have had all necessary vaccine doses. Even though all three vaccines are highly effective, there is still a chance that you could get sick with COVID-19. We don’t know how well the vaccine stops the actual virus from being spread. Getting the vaccine stops the disease from making you feel sick, but you might still be able to spread it to others. Remember, it takes up to two weeks after your last dose to get the best protection. Moreover, if you get COVID-19 after you have been vaccinated, you’ll still need to isolate yourself.

Will I be asked about my immigration status? No. COVID-19 vaccine is being given to Los Angeles County residents at no cost regardless of immigration status. You should not be asked about your immigration status when you get a COVID vaccine. Your medical information is private. Your doctor is not allowed to share it with immigration officials.

Vaccine comparison

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

March 2021

Paramount Chamber of Commerce

member-to-member discounts As a Paramount Chamber of Commerce member, these discounts are extended to you by your fellow members. Visit the following businesses to receive the discounts listed below. But remember, these offers are available only to Paramount Chamber members! Attorney & Legal Services

Funeral Services

Lerma Law Office (562-272-4353): 15% discount on initial retainer fee or flat-rate service.

Palacios Funeral Home (562-972-5429): 5% off services.

Automotive

Embassy Suites Hotel (562-861-1900): 15% off best available room rate (subject to availability). Ask for “Chamber rate.”

Herald’s Garage (562-633-2136): 15% discount on labor and a free engine light reset. Beauty Family Cutz (562-408-2733): $3 off regular haircut, 10% off color service. Marali Beauty Salon (562-964-1126): Free haircut & treatment with purchase of any chemicals. Communications Transcom Telecommunications (562-630-1200, ext. 221): 10% off equipment (business phone services). Contractors H1 Floor Covering (424/785-5551): 15% off first visit. Jones Scaffold Co. (800-266-3864): 10% off net rental of scaffold equipment. Data Base Services NEXTSTEP (877-305-6932): Free needs analysis and special Chamber member discount rate. Dental Paramount Dental Care (800-266-3864): Free whitening. Free exam. Free cancer screening. Financial Services SG Tax Services (562-630-4004): $25 off tax preparation for Chamber members and their employees. Vicky Professional Services (562-634-1178): 20% off bookkeeping and accounting service. Flowers Diana’s Flowers (562-529-5045): Free local delivery and free balloons. Case de las Flores (562-469-8776): 25% off any arrangement.

The R.M. Cool Company (562-630-6000): Ask about preferred pricing for Chamber members.

Hotels & Motels

Insurance

Restaurants Café Corleone (562-408-6100): 10% discount on all food purchases. Casa Adelita (562-408-2360): 10% off (may not be combined with other specials).

2000 Insurance Service (562-602-0001): 25% off new business.

Casa Gamino (562-634-6225): 10% discount on food purchases.

Medical

Delfin Seafood & Market (562-630-1928): 10% off any order.

Clínica Médica Hispana (562-630-1991): 25% discount. Lakha Medical Clinic (562-602-8877): Alena Skin Care–Free consultation. Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center (562-865-9600)–10% off any laser or cosmetic surgery procedure. Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center (562-865-9600): 10% off any laser or cosmetic surgery procedure. Plumbing & Heating Downey Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning (562-861-1234): 10% off HydroJet service and/or 10% off material. Production (Events) YSL Production (323-490-6315): 20% any event services: Sound, lighting, stage, LED video, wall & truss equipment. Source Graphics, Inc. (562-408-2734): 10% discount on all printing.

Mariscos Alas (562-633-1348): 10% Chamber member discount. 15% discount for law enforcement & City employees. Mariscos El Perihuete (562-408-1661): 10% off on food purchases over $10. Mariscos Mi Lindo Sinaloa #1 (562-529-5110): 10% discount on all food purchases. Pika Tortas Ahogadas (562-529-5787): 10% discount on all regular-priced food items (excludes combo deals).

El Sinaloense Restaurant (562-363-3011): 10% off on food purchases.

Real Estate Century 21 Allstars–Mark Sourial (562-745-8171): Free market evaluation of your property. GM Properties (562-696-0200): 5% of gross commissions on closed deals will be sent to the charity of our choice in your name. Ask for Matt. Penta Pacific Properties (562-699-1922): Free market value opinions on commercial and industrial properties. Real Estate Homes & Investments (562-200-1164): 20% discount. Ask about preferred pricing for Chamber members.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce has decided to suspend hard-copy printing and distribution of the Paramount Pulse Beat until further notice. However, the full text of each new Pulse Beat will be available online each month on the Paramount Chamber of Commerce website at paramountchamber.com. If you would like to have a printed copy of the Pulse Beat, contact us and we can mail it to you, or you can pick it up at the Chamber office. If you have questions, please call the Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980. We at the Chamber thank you for your continued support and understanding during these difficult times for our community, and we will keep you informed about our future plans for the publication.

Gus’s Deli, BBQ & Grill (562-630-2802): 10% off all food purchases.

The Hummus Factory, Downey (562-622-2300): 20% off any order.

Printers

Pulse Beat available only online until further notice

El Compa Restaurant (562-630-1068): 10% discount on all food purchases.

Wellness & Health Spiritual Quest (877-535-2267): 50% off salt lamps only. Enagic (562-833-3823): Free ionized alkaline water. Wholesalers & Distributors Rayvern Lighting Supply, Inc. (562-634-7020): 5% off fixtures and ballast orders (commercial distributor of lighting and fixtures). To add your business, call the Chamber for information: 562-634-3980.

PULSE BEAT A monthly publication of the

Paramount Chamber of Commerce 15357 Paramount Boulevard Paramount, CA 90273 562-634-3980 • paramountchamber.com

Executive Director: Barbara Crowson Executive Assistant: Dora Sanchez Distributed and read by more than 20,000 residents and business owners in Paramount. Layout & design: Danmark Associates Printing: Reed Printing Delivery: Great Western Distributors Copyright2020 2021by byParamount ParamountChamber ChamberofofCommerce. Commerce.All Allrights rightsreserved. reserved.Reproduction Reproductionininwhole wholeororininpart partwithout withoutpermission permissionisisprohibited. prohibited.Pulse Pulse Beat Paramount Copyright Beat andand Paramount Chamber that may bebe advertised. ChamberofofCommerce Commerceare arenot notresponsible responsibleororliable liableforforany anyclaims claimsororofferings offeringsmade madeherein hereinororresponsible responsibleforforproduct productavailability availability that may advertised.

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Run your card for as little as $31 per month. Call the Chamber at 562-634-3980.

March 2021

B U S I N E S S

C A R D

DIRECTORY

ERALD’S GARAGE

General Dentistry General Dentistry R

Hablamos Español Hablamos Español

Max B. Martinez, DDS, FAGD, FACD Max B.un Martinez Chia-l tsao, DDS

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DDS, FAGD, FACD

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vflores@calhomesrealty.com Se habla español

Complete Automotive Repair Collision Center & Body Shop 95 Plus Certificate & ETF

16299 Paramount Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723Foreign & Domestic • Autos & Trucks • Complete Engine DDS Check Engine Light • A/C • Electronic • Transmission Rebuilding Phone: 562-531-4740 • drmaxmartinez.com

16299 Paramount Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723

562-531-4740 • drmaxmartinez.com

cmh

Suspension • Brake Service • Specializing in Fleet Service

Fernando Kim: likeautobody@gmail.com 8124 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723

562-633-2136

CA Lic. #731172

City directory - Proof Form Paramount Chamber of Commerce City directory - Proof Form Paramount Chamber of Commerce

Joseph Keays Vice President

Clínica Médica Hispana 866-204-4068 • 562-861-1234 11829 Downey Ave., Downey, Ca 90241 • joe@downeyplumbing.com

FENICO

WARD PROPERTIES

Cell: 714-932-9656

562-634-5000 • 800-634-5000

Fax: 562-691-9113

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Rose C. Towe

skotob@farmersagent.com • 562-691-9100

7805 Madison St., Paramount, CA 90723-4220

Sammy T Kotob Insurance Agency 147 S Beach Blvd La Habra, CA 90631

PRECISION CASTINGS

CA License 0L68077

Sanchez Professional Services

Income Tax, Real Estate & Immigration Services

Peticiones Familiares • Residencia Cuidadania • Permisos de Trabajo Veronica Sanchez

7300 Alondra Blvd., Suite 201A Paramount, California 90723 562-372-1382 • 562-633-6588

16311 Garfield Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

562.633.2300 • Fax: 562.633.2345 wardprop.com • Rose@wardprop.com

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All Breeds and SizesPick-Up and Trusted Local Delivery janitorial services (562) 408-6145 All Breeds and Sizes All Breeds & Sizes (562) 408-6145 (562) 408-6145 for nearly 60 years www.madamepompador.com

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CLEANTIME

Building Maintenance Co.

Paramount American Legion

Serving the community since 1946, the Paramount Lions have been actively participating in and providing donations to sup3450 E. Spring St., Ste.101 • Long Beach, CA 90806 port local programs such as PEP (Paramount Education Partnership), Relay for Life, City of cleantimejanitorialservices.com Post #134 Hope, youthcarefully, sports, food banks, eye fax care to 562-634-0891 Please check off the below listed items signandand for families in need. O Serving our veterans since 1923 O

562-421-2010

Please check off the below listed items carefully, sign and fax to 562-634-0891 ❏ Company Name ❏ Phone ❏ Approved Business meeting every ❏ second Tuesday our dedicated A special note about service Company Name Come ❏ join Phone ❏ members Approved of the month at 6 p.m. ❏ Approved with Changes and ❏ Logo ❏as Faxwe build friendships organization lunch programs ❏ Approved with Changes ❏ Logo ❏ Fax ❏ aSecond Proof Required partnerships with common goal with Changes ❏ Second Proof Required with Changes and other public activities of❏giving the community. ❏ Address Spelling back toSignature Required __________________________ ❏ Address ❏ Spelling Signature Required __________________________ egularly scheduled service club JoinLiSted us for lunch: & 4th Thursdays By CheCkiNg the ABove itemS, 2nd heLPS uS to eNSuRe No eRRoRS ARe mAde. By CheCkiNg the ABove LiSted heLPS uS to eNSuRe No eRRoRSand AReother mAde. luncheons organizational 12:30itemS, -1:30 p.m. 7550 Somerset Blvd., Paramount, CA “Canteena” open daily at 1 p.m. Hall for rent—call for a quote at:

562 -788 -7352

Clearwater Building 16401 Paramount Blvd. Paramount Lions Club LionsParamount@gmail.com

activities (especially those conducted indoors) are contingent upon current Los Angeles County restrictions related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please consult organizations for updates.

Picjumbo (Pixabay)

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

Membership RENEWALS We’re very grateful that the businesses below have renewed their Paramount Chamber of Commerce memberships, making our valuable services possible.

YMCA Greater Long Beach-Los Cerritos.....................53 years 15530 S. Woodruff Ave., Bellflower, CA 907063

J & K Manufacturing, Inc...........................................38 years 14701 Garfield Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

S.T.&I., Inc..................................................................38 years

March 2021

Music & Lights Every Friday & Saturday night: 7- 9 pm $11 admission * $4 skate rental Every Tuesday night: 7- 8:30 pm $10 admission * Free skate rental * Live music

Iceland

8041 Jackson Street Paramount, CA 90723 www.paramounticeland.com

7517 Jefferson St., Paramount, CA 90723

Jones Scaffold Co.......................................................35 years 16439 Illinois Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

Fenico Precision Castings, Inc...................................30 years 7805 Madison St., Paramount, CA 90723

Rayvern Lighting Supply Co......................................28 years 7617 Somerset Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723

Clearwater Christian Center......................................27 years 16215 Orizaba Ave., Paramount, Ca 907233

New Commandment Baptist Church.........................18 years 15548 Paramount Blvd, Paramount, CA 90723

Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship.............................17 years 8024 Somerset Blvd. Paramount, CA 90723

Pathways Volunteer Hospice.......................................17 years 4645 Woodruff Ave., Lakewood, CA 90713

Casa Adelita Mexican Restaurant..................................15 years 8063 Alondra Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723

LBCC Small Business Development Center................15 years 4900 Conant St., Bldg 0-2, Suite 108, Long Beach, CA 90808

Big Ben Car Wash......................................................14 years 16482 Paramount Blvd., Paramount, Ca 90723

RMI International.....................................................14 years 8125 Somerset Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723

M.B. Herzog Electric, Inc...........................................13 years 15709 Illinois Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

Royal Image..............................................................10 years 8116 Rosecrans Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

Dyechem Supply..........................................................3 years 14733 Garfield Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

Personalized Staffing Solutions...................................2 years 15134 Paramount Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723

A & A Grocery Wholesale............................................2 years 15134 Downey Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PHARMACY TECHNICIAN—Full-time. Experience helpful, but willing to consider an excellent new graduate who can learn quickly. Call Martha at Fobi Pharmacy: 562-630-5700. BARTENDER—Part-time, including evenings and weekends. Call Leroy: 562-634-9001. SKILLED LABOR OPPORTUNITIES—SkillsetGroup currently has these positions available for first, second and third shifts: Machine operator, sanitation, loading & unloading, forklift drivers, production line, and order pulling. Come in and apply today! SkillsetGroup actualmente tiene aperturas para puestos disponibles para Primer, Segundo y Tercer turno. ¡Ven y aplica hoy! Call us at 866-375-3094 or use Instagram (@ skillsetgroup) or Facebook for weekly updates. 7300 Alondra Blvd., Suite 202, Paramount, California 90723. STATE FARM AGENT—State Farm Agents help their customers protect what’s important to them, all the while making time to give back to their neighborhoods. Improve your career! Call David Maciel: 562-305-2111. FULL-TIME SEAMSTRESS—5-Star Interior Services, Inc., needs a full-time seamstress with drapery-making experience. Contact Leroy at 818-845-4518. CREW WORKER—Specialty construction. Will train. Installation of epoxy coatings, including preparation of concrete floors and other structures using various equipment. Long-term, 30+ hours, including some weekends. Report in person to TECHCOAT, 15720 Garfield Ave., Paramount, California 90723; M-Th 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

West Coast Equipment..................................................1 year 7743 Maddison Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

CLEANING SERVICE JOB (Persona para limpiesa)— A&R Cleaning Multiservices. Please contact Yolanda Monday-Friday at 562-500-2284.

D & T Recycling............................................................1 year

To place an ad, call the Chamber at 562-634-3980.

14113 Garfield Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

March 2021

BUSINESS CORNER

Five social media trends for 2021

By Brad Pollak, Director, Long Beach Small Business Development Center (SBDC) (longbeachsbdc.org); Email: bpollak@lbcc.edu

3. FACEBOOK ADS (THEY DO WORK)—If your target market is 40+, it can make very good sense to advertise on Facebook. It used to be incredibly complicated to advertise on Facebook, but the social media platform has now made advertising much, much easier. To learn more about it, Facebook offers incredibly helpful free training resources at facebook.com/blueprint.

ne of the many areas we cover as business advisors at the SBDC includes helping our clients with marketing strategies, and this includes how best to use social media. From my vantage point, it’s almost impossible to keep up with all that is happening in the world of social media, so I had a conversation with our SBDC social media advisor, Deborah Deras, to ask for her input about some important social media trends in 2021.

Deborah is an expert in all-things-social media, including podcasting, but it’s a full-time commitment on her part to keep up with understanding the best possible ways small businesses can use social media to establish credibility in the marketplace, to land new clients and to super-serve their existing clients. In other words, Deborah is a fountain of knowledge in this area, and in our recent conversation we focused on five social media trends for 2021. As you read what is written below and are unsure of how to implement some of the suggested tactics, don’t worry. That’s where Deborah Deras and our SBDC marketing advisor, David Mitroff, can assist you. They will help you navigate those waters, so please contact them.

Pixabay images by (clockwise from top left): Gerd Altmann, Mohamed Hassan, Coffee Bean, Mohamed Hassan.

OK, so here is what Deborah and I discussed briefly during our most recent conversation: 1. VIDEO (IN GENERAL)—Video content will dominate social media in 2021 and the foreseeable future. One could argue that if you’re not using video in some form, you and your business could get lost in the shuffle. Deborah recognizes that many small business owners don’t like being on camera, so she recommends that business owners take a different approach and focus on service instead of on themselves. Focus on delivering content that demonstrates which problems your products and/or services can solve. That will be of great interest to your clients.

It’s now much easier to advertise on Facebook—check out the free training they offer.

4. HUMANIZE YOUR BRAND—Products and services don’t sell themselves. It’s people who sell. It’s your personality that sells. Your clients and prospective clients want to connect with you and your brand, so this is incredibly important to understand as part of your marketing efforts. An example of this would be a business who hires a highly popular social influencer (who might have hundreds of thousands or millions of followers), to help spread the word about your products or services. This is just one way of humanizing your brand.

5. USER-GENERATED CONTENT (UGC)—Ask your customers to share their successes as a result of using your products or services. Ask them to write some testimonials or, even better, to film themselves talking about or using your products or services. For example, as the owner of a gym, you could post (on your website or your social media platforms) footage of customers showing how they’re getting into better shape, or losing weight and improving their quality of life—as a result of having you as a trainer or from simply working out at your gym.

For any further discussions about the above or any other marketing and social media topics, you are welcome to contact 2. MICRO-VIDEOS—You might not yet have heard of the term “micro-content,” but in the online world, it refers to :15 to us at the SBDC. All our advising is no cost to you, and I know :30 second (“short form”) videos that are being used to promote that Deborah Deras, David Mitroff and all of our advisors will be happy to assist you in any that they can. products and services of all types. Right now, you can upload these :15 or :30 second videos to platforms like TikTok and Please feel free to call us at 562-938-5100 or visit us online Instagram Reels. at longbeachsbdc.org/callme.

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

March 2021

LOCAL RE STAUR ANTS Still serving you during the pandemic. . .

Aji Verde Peruvian Restaurant • 310-554-4493 • Takeout, DoorDash, Postmates Alondra’s Restaurant • 562-531-4200 • Takeout, local delivery Antojitos Mexican Restaurant • 562-712-5992 • Takeout, DoorDash, Postmates Café Arte (Cerritos) • 562-866-2824 • DoorDash, GrubHub, Seamless Café Corleone Italian • 562-408-6100 • Takeout, local delivery, DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats Casa Adelita Mexican Restaurant • 562-408-2360 • Drive-thru, takeout, DoorDash, UberEats Casa Gamino Mexican Restaurant • 562-634-6225 • Takeout, DoorDash, Postmates Delfin Seafood Market & Restaurant • 562-630-1928 • Takeout Domino’s Pizza • 562-408-1531 • Takeout, local delivery Doublz • 562-531-0222 • Drive-thru, takeout, DoorDash, Postmates El Compa Mexican Restaurant • 562-630-1068 • Takeout El Peri Sushi • 562-408-0459 • Takeout, DoorDash El Sinaloense Restaurant • 562-297-4461 • Takeout, DoorDash, UberEats Fu Plus Chinese Kitchen • 562-297-4461 • Takeout, Local delivery, GrubHub, Postmates Gus’s Deli, BBQ, Grill & Meat Market • 562-630-2802 • Takeout Horchateria Rio Luna • 562-663-9043 • Takeout, DoorDash IHOP • 310-933-8513 • Takeout, DoorDash, Postmates, UberEats La Espiga • 562-349-4521 • Takeout, Local delivery Mariscos Alas Restaurant • 562-633-1348 • Takeout, GrubHub Mariscos El Perihuete • 562-408-1661 • Takeout, DoorDash Mariscos Mi Lindo Sinaloa • 562-5531-4282 • Takeout McDonald’s • 562-630-1444 • Drive-thru, takeout, DoorDash, Postmates, UberEats Rosewood Family Restaurant • 562-925-6120 • Takeout Parrain’s Soul Food • 562-634-6050 • Takeout, GrubHub, Postmates, UberEats Shakey’s Pizza Parlor • 562-630-6090 • Takeout, local delivery Stinkin Crawfish • 562-297-4018 • Takeout Subway • 562-531-4947 • Takeout, DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates, UberEats Tam’s Burgers #22 • 562-630-8267 • Drive-thru The Hummus Factory (Downey) • 562-322-2300 • Takeout, DoorDash, GrubHub, Seamless Tropical Paradise • 562-531-1846 • Takeout

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

March 2021

Paramount Pulse Beat • paramountchamber.com

March 2021

Families grow healthy with WIC! Familias crecen sanas con WIC! WIC is a nutrition program for women, infants and children. WIC es un programa de nutricion para mujeres, bebes y niños. South Los Angeles Health Projects WIC Program

You may qualify if you:

WIC provides:

• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or just had a baby • Have a child under age 5 • Have a low to medium income* • Receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) or CalFresh (Food Stamps) benefits • Live in California

• Nutrition education and health information • Breastfeeding support • Food benefits • Referrals to medical providers and community services

Usted puede calificar si:

• Educación sobre nutrición e información de salud • Apoyo con la lactancia • Beneficios de comida • Referencias a proveedores de servicios medicos y servicios

• Está embarazada, está dando pecho o acaba de tener un bebe • Tiene un niño menor de 5 años • Tiene un ingreso bajo a mediano • Recibe beneficios de Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) o CalFresh (Estampillas de Comida) • Vive en California

WIC proporciona:

*Income levels change annually. Niveles de ingreso cambian anualmente. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Está institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

310-661-3080

Call WIC today to see if you qualify. Llama a WIC hoy para ver si calificas.

@WICSouthLosAngeles • wicforyou.org