A spooky good time!
the City of Paramount and City Council presented two Halloween events this year, both of which were wellattended. First was the Halloween Hootenanny dance party at the Paramount Park Gym on October 22, followed by the Halloween Festival at Paramount Park (shown above) on the evening of October 31, featuring a haunted house, costumes, trick-or-treat candy and plenty of family fun. See additional photos and details on page 6.
Luncheon honors Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Paramount Chamber of Commerce held a special, well-attended Leaders Luncheon on November 9 to honor Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, who is retiring after serving the 40th District in the U.S. House of Representatives for three decades. The event was sponsored by World Energy. The City looks forward to welcoming its new congresswoman, Nanette Barragán, who serves the 44th District, which now includes Paramount due to redistricting. Paramount Chamber President Chris Rich (WaveFront Technology) was master of ceremonies for the event. He noted that Congresswoman Roybal-Allard followed in the footsteps of her father, Congressman Edward Roybal, by becoming an elected official and initially representing Paramount in the California Assembly (from 1987 through 1992.) “In 1993, she became a member of the United States House of Representatives from California’s 40th District—and all of us have benefited from her commitment and hard work ever since,” he said. (Continued on page 8.)
PULSE BEAT
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (left) addresses her Paramount constituents and (right) poses with the Paramount City Council (from left): Peggy Lemons, Annette C. Delgadillo, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo and Brenda Olmos.
Vicky Uisprapassorn
Mayor’s Desk
MAYOR VILMA CUELLAR STALLINGS
Clínica Médica Hispania receives this month’s Mayor’s Award
At the October 4 Paramount City Council meeting, I presented the latest Mayor’s Award of Excellence to Clínica Médica Hispana, which has been providing quality medical care to our community since 1979 and offers a range of free services for moderate-to-low-income residents.
For instance, women 40 and over can get free mammograms. Also available at no cost to qualifying individuals is treatment for breast and cervical cancer, pregnancy tests, prenatal care, and child birth, in addition to exams and vaccines for children up to age 19.
The clinic was extremely helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic, working with the City and the County Department of Public Health to hold a vaccination campaign at Paramount Park. This gave thousands of people protection against the worst of COVID-19.
October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so this recognition aligned with their free mammogram program.
Their commitment to our community in the form of life-affirming and live-saving health care is truly wonderful.
Holiday November schedules
There will be no street sweeping on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, or Friday, November 25, and no make-up day.
Thanksgiving will also alter the garbage collection schedule slightly. There will be no pick-up on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24. If that is your normal collection day, your trash will be picked up on Friday, November 25, along with Friday’s normal service. If your Friday trash does not get picked up, it will be collected on Saturday.
If you have any questions about trash collection, please call Athens Services at (562) 634-5420.
24th Annual Tree Lighting with free Milanés Brothers concert
The City is excited to announce our 24th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony to kick off the season at the intersection of Paramount Blvd. and Jackson St. on Wednesday, November 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Immediately afterwards there will be a free concert by Milanés Brothers Latin Band (shown above) from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The event will start with the annual lineup of entertainment featuring local dancers and musicians.
There will also be Santa’s special visit and plenty of cookies and hot chocolate available for the crowd.
Buy meal tickets for Santa’s Snowfest
The City’s Breakfast with Santa event has been upgraded to “Santa’s Snowfest,” held at Paramount Park on Saturday, December 10, from noon to 3 p.m.
There will be sled runs, a snow-play area, photo opps, Santa’s Craft Village, a Farmers Market, stage activities, raffles, the kiddie train and more. If you can’t get enough of the snow sledding during the day, head back to Paramount Park and enjoy an additional two hours under the stars from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The event is free. A spaghetti and meatball lunch will cost $6 per person, pre-sale only. Meal tickets will be sold until December 1 at the Community Services office, 15300 Downey Ave., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Paramount Park Community Center, 14400 Paramount Blvd., Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and all STAR Afterschool sites between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Santa Train dates
This year the Santa Train Paramount’s unique Christmas tradition will run from Monday, December 7, through Thursday, December 10, starting at 3 p.m. each day. For a full schedule of stops, turn to CityScape in this issue.
PEP Talk
PEP thanks Marukan Vinegar (USA) for generous $10,000 donation
Marukan Vinegar (USA) has been a generous donor to the Paramount Education Partnership’s college scholarship program over the years.
At the October 18 Paramount City Council meeting, the company continued its tradition of giving, presenting PEP with a much-appreciated $10,000 donation.
This brings the total amount that Marukan has given to PEP to a remarkable $245,000.
In addition, Jon Tanklage, President and General Manager of Marukan Vinegar (USA), is a longtime member of the PEP Foundation board of directors, and he has provided valuable advice and guidance to the organization. Jon is shown above (third from the left) with the City Council.
“On behalf of the entire city, I cannot thank your company enough,” said Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings. “This will help so many of our students pursue their college dreams.”
Donations from local businesses and individuals make it all possible
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses like Marukan Vinegar (USA), 497 scholarships worth nearly $1.5 million have been awarded to local students through the PEP program since 2004.
For some of these students, these donations have made the difference in whether or not they could continue their education. For all recipients, it has been important assistance. Donating to the PEP fund also offers ways to promote businesses to the community.
PEP also receives much-appreciated donations from individual community members.
Visit ParamountEducation.org to find a link to PayPal. All donations are made to the PEP 501c3 non-profit entity and are tax deductible.
If you have questions or need additional information, please call (562) 220-2121.
LParamount’s legal crackdown on street racing having strong impact
after two years
Paramount was among first cities to adopt strong measures
ike many cities, Paramount has been tormented by the menace of street racing and sideshow intersection takeovers. Frightened residents and enraged motorists have called the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in droves to report these dangerous illegal activities.
By mid-2020, the community was fed up and City officials were determined to develop new tools to fight back. The Paramount City Council created an ordinance with severe consequences for street racers and the spectators who urge them on. The objective was clear, the strategy aggressive, the penalties formidable.
Most existing state laws treated these crimes as misdemeanor offenses. Bureaucracy and red tape made it virtually impossible for law enforcement to prosecute through local courts. The City’s new law, however, provided greater enforcement powers to City Hall. The creation and application of the ordinance was, and remains, an intensive collaboration between Paramount Public Safety staff, the City Attorney, the City’s dedicated Deputy District Attorney and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
In a 2020 press conference at events held that year by California Contract Cities Association (CCCA), Paramount officials urged other cities to contact them for details about the tough new ordinance. “Paramount was one of the first cities in our organization to tackle the issue of illegal street racing and intersection takeovers,” said CCCA Executive Director Marcel Rodarte. “Many of our member cities used their ordinance as a template to address the issue in their respective communities.”
The ordinance has been effective. From January 2021 through August 2022, these are the numbers: 137 arrests; 272 Notice to Appear (in court) citations for speeding, modified exhausts or illegal vehicle modifications; 78 Notice to Appear citations for spectators; 145 tickets for spectators; 117 vehicles impounded or stored and 25 vehicles confiscated. Fines and vehicle impound costs can reach thousands of dollars for drivers. Spectators can be fined $2,000 per offense and also have their cars impounded. In addition, felony vandalism charges can be filed against drivers, making them liable for full reimbursement of up to $6,000 to repair a damaged intersection. The City can even confiscate a driver’s vehicle through the legal process of forfeiture.
Seizing someone’s vehicle permanently is a difficult process that does not happen frequently, noted Lt. Joe Zagorski, Operations and Administrative Manager of the California Highway Patrol Southern Division Street Racing Enforcement Unit. Paramount’s ordinance, though, is written to make forfeiture in these cases much easier. “They took an innovative approach, and it has been successful in helping the City seize problem vehicles for good,” he said.
When attacking these crimes, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Paramount’s preemptive moves have paid dividends, and the City has been only too happy to share its application with others.
From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo; Councilmember Annette C. Delgadillo; Jon Tanklage, President and General Manager of Marukan Vinegar (USA); Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings; Esther Hawksley, Marukan Vinegar (USA) Vice President of Sales; Councilmember Brenda Olmos; and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.
City Council
Eagle Scout Dustyn Schellenberg honored
Dustyn Schellenberg, who led the Pledge of Allegiance at the October 4 Paramount City Council meeting, was also recognized for becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest honor in the Boy Scouts of America. “It takes years of hard work to gain this status, plus determination, intelligence, and leadership skills,” said Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings. “Dustyn’s Eagle Scout project was done at Emmanuel Reformed Church and will help the volunteer program there. This showed his devotion to our community. He is a fine young man and we’re happy that he’s a resident of our beautiful City.”
From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Annette C. Delgadillo, Schellenberg, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Councilmember Brenda Olmos, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.
Mayor’s Award to Clínica Médica Hispana
At the October 4 Paramount City Council meeting, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings presented the latest Mayor’s Award of Excellence to Clínica Médica Hispana, which has been providing health care to the local community since 1979. To learn more, please see “From the Mayor’s Desk” in this issue. Back row, from left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Annette C. Delgadillo, Mayor Cuellar Stallings, Councilmember Brenda Olmos, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons. Front row: Manuel Alberty, Dr. Maribel Khoury, Mrs. Khoury, and Dr. Nabil Khoury.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Twenty people per minute are physically abused by a partner in the United States, more than 10 million women and men a year. One in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of this physical violence and millions of children are exposed to domestic violence. This affects people of all ages, income levels, races, religions, and nationalities, and the effects can cross generations and last lifetimes. The Paramount City Council proclaimed October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month at its October 4 meeting and highlighted the work that Su Casa, Ending Domestic Violence has done helping Paramount residents with shelter and counseling services since 1979. Its 24-hour hotline is (562) 402-4888. Maria Mendez, Community Outreach Manager for Su Casa, received the City’s proclamation. From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Annette C. Delgadillo, Mayor Cuellar Stallings, Mendez, Councilmember Brenda Olmos, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.
National Physical Therapy Month
October was proclaimed as National Physical Therapy Month by the City Council at its October 4 meeting. This highlights the work done by physical therapists to inspire changes that improve and save lives. California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness Center, Inc., better known as Pools of Hope, was highlighted. They serve many members of the Paramount community with their indoor warmwater pools for rehabilitation and wellness work. Accepting the proclamation was Carlos Urbina, Board President of Pools of Hope and also a physical therapist. From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Annette C. Delgadillo, Urbina, Mayor Cuellar Stallings, Councilmember Brenda Olmos, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.
National Red Ribbon Week
October 23 through 31 was declared as National Red Ribbon Week by the City Council at its October 4 meeting. This supports a drug-free environment and lifestyle. Honored were the Paramount Unified PTA, which helps with messaging for our students, and the Young Marines, who encourage good citizenship and healthy living in our youth. Accepting the proclamation were Daisy Macedo, president of the Paramount Council of PTAs, and members of the Southeast County Young Marines.
National Crime Prevention Month
Members of the Paramount law enforcement team helped the City Council proclaim October as National Crime Prevention Month at the October 4 meeting. Thanks to the City’s strong relationship with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, and the dedicated efforts of folks like Neighborhood Watch members, Volunteers on Patrol, and City Community Service Officers and Code Enforcement Officers, Paramount has seen a large decline in serious crime for decades. Special guest was McGruff the Stop Crime Dog.
National Community Planning Month
Community Planning Month was recognized by the City Council at its October 4 meeting. This spotlights the contributions that
A spooky good time!
Halloween events in Paramount this year were especially successful thanks to the following local businesses and organizations that really helped: MUSA, Paramount Women’s Club, Lions Club, World Energy, Volunteers of America, Candy 4 Less, Paramount Youth Soccer Organization, Paramount Junior Athletic Association, LA Kings/ Iceland, Suitable Solutions, World Financial Group, Manta Paint, UniAmerica Insurance, Kindred Hospital, and 1660 Paramount High Intensity Group. Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings commented: “Our local business community has shown once again that it is wonderfully supportive of the entire community. So many businesses came out to our Halloween Festival to operate the game booths where kids won tons of candy. We had such a large turnout for the event that there was a constant stream of people. These volunteers ran everything so smoothly throughout the night, and we can’t thank them enough. It’s times like this that highlight what a very special place Paramount is.”
Saluting all our Paramount VETERANS
The City of Paramount went all-out this year to honor local veterans, including establishing a Wall of Honor to display photos of veterans (lower left) and holding a Veterans Livings History Celebration at Paramount Park on Nov. 12, which included live music, military displays and Civil War and World War II re-enactors. The event was sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Veterans Peer Access Network and the Battleship Iowa Veterans West.
“It’s very meaningful for us as a City to recognize these brave people who have done so much for our country. To our veterans and those currently serving, we are grateful for your sacrifice and indebted to you for your dedication and bravery. This event is just a small way to say thank you and bless you.”
Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings
Continued from page 1:
Luncheon honors Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard is the first Democratic Mexican-American woman to serve in Congress, the first Latina to serve on the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) and to chair a HAC subcommittee. She is also the first woman to chair the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; the first woman to chair the California Democratic congressional delegation; and the founder of the Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform.
Her Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act has been instrumental in reducing underage drinking and its awful consequences. From her position on the House Appropriations Committee, she has spearheaded many federal projects that have created jobs and improved her constituents’ lives, including the new federal courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles, the Metro Gold Line Lightrail Eastside Extension, the deepening of the Port of Los Angeles and the ongoing revitalization of the Los Angeles River.
She also chaired the California Democratic congressional delegation in 1998–1999, and she has been very active in the Congressional Children’s Caucus and on the Democratic Homeland Security and the Livable Communities task forces.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has made numerous visits to Paramount during her more than three decades of public service. A slide show documenting some of those visits was shown at the Chamber luncheon held in her honor. Many local officials, business people and community leaders attended and personally thanked the congresswoman while offering best wishes for her retirement. The Congresswoman, in turn, expressed her heartfelt thanks to those in attendance.
We thank Southern California Gas Company for providing beautiful flower arrangements for the luncheon tables.
RECEIPTS FOR REWARDS
• Customers can keep their receipts to enter drawings for cash and prizes.
• Customers can upload receipts to ExploreParamount.com or drop them off at the Chamber of Commerce office (15357 Paramount Boulevard).
• $50 or more in receipts per each entry.
• Enter as many times as you want. Call 562-634-3980 for more information.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard (left) and Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings. LA County Assessor Jeff Prang presented a certificate of appreciation.
With members of MUSA (Mujers Unidas Sirviendo Activamente /Women United Serving Actively).
Ribbon-cutting Ceremonies
Members of the Paramount business community gathered at the Paramount Chamber of Commerce office on October 26 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and lunch to welcome Trent William Turner (wielding the big scissors below) of Edward Jones Financial Advisors to the chamber. To commeorate the occasion, Trent received certifcates of recognition (photo, below left) from (left to right) past Chamber President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar USA), Chamber President Chris Rich (WaveFront Technology), Chamber Ambassador Chairperson Tony Warfield (Syncis), Trent, Jayro Sandoval representing Calfornia Senator Lena Gonzalez and Anthony Martinez representing the City of Paramount.
Please join us at our next ribbon-cutting ceremony for My Comunidad Foundation on December1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 15950 Paramount Blvd. (inside Horchateria Rio Luna). Lunch will be served. Please RSVP at 562-634-3980 or paramountchamber.com.
Paramount Chamber of Commerce member in the news:
Café Corleone again wins culinary honors
Back in August 2021, the Los Angeles Times selected Café Corleone in Paramount as “One of the Best Italian Restaurants of the Southland.” In July 2022, the Times once again honored the local eatery, naming Café Corleone a finalist for the “Best Italian Restaurants in the Region.”
In addition, the Eater LA Dining Guide in Los Angeles honored them in their exclusive list of “Top 18 Old School Red Sauce Italian Restaurants in Los Angeles”.
Sincere congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Agostino Costa for putting their restaurant and the City of Paramount on the map of outstanding dining destinations.
Max
562-634-5000 • 800-634-5000 fenicocastings.com • stran@fenicoinc.com 7805 Madison St., Paramount, CA 90723-4220
NBUSINESS CORNER
Recession-proof your small business
By Belle Wong This
o one knows for certain whether we’ll enter a recession in the next year, but if you’re concerned about your small business, you’re not alone. About 93% of small business owners are worried about the possibility of a recession, according to a June 2022 survey by Goldman Sachs. Regardless of what the future holds, now is a good time to prepare your business. This nine-part framework will guide you through steps to recession-proof your business. With some preparation, you can meet a potential downturn on your own terms.
We’ll walk through tips across three categories: Your finances, your business relationships, and innovation. The first step in recession-proofing your business is to implement strategies that bolster your bottom line.
1. Focus on cash flow—Cash flow is the lifeblood of any small business. It can also be a significant source of anxiety. Here are ways you can take control of your cash flow today.
• Evaluate your expenses. There are often ways to cut back on even the most necessary expenses. Ask yourself:
Do your vendors have other pricing options that work better for your cash flow?
Are other vendors offering the same goods or services at a better price?
Can a lower tier of services meet your needs just as well?
Can you manage debt more effectively by consolidating your debt load?
• Give your budget a tune-up. According to a recent survey, 65% of small businesses that have a budget actually stick to their budget—so get more strategic with your budget:
Account for your time. Time is money, too. For example, you might save money by cutting back your virtual assistant’s hours. But when you factor in the time it takes you to do their tasks, the cutback might actually cost you.
Check in with your budget regularly. Schedule time to work on your budget. Use check-ins to adapt your budget to your business’s changing needs, whether you’re responding to a seasonal trend or experiencing an unexpected dip in revenue.
Overestimate your expenses. This gives you some breathing room to counteract unexpected costs that might surface from month to month.
• Tighten your receivables process. Your receivables can have a big impact on your access to funds. Consider streamlining your receivables process by:
Sending invoices when you finish a project or at specific milestones of completion, rather than sending out all invoices one day a month.
Monitoring outstanding invoices and sending reminder notices sooner.
Offering early payment discounts to incentivize quicker customer payments.
2. Establish an emergency fund An emergency fund offers peace of mind. But cash flow issues often prevent business owners from saving as much as they’d like. So how can you build an emergency fund now, when business is stable?
• Obtain a line of credit. The best time to obtain a low-fee, low-interest line of credit is when your business is doing well. This can also allow you to absorb the low fee without racking up additional debt.
• Collect on late receivables. Late payments are the bane of most business owners. Now could be the time to implement a more assertive collection policy and charge a fee on late payments. This can be a tricky line to walk: You don’t want to lose existing customers by being too aggressive, but at the same time, you deserve to be paid on time.
• Increase your revenue. It may seem easier said than done, but there are some easy ways to increase your revenue, including:
Renegotiating your contracts with vendors and customers to obtain better terms.
Offering different pricing options, such as subscriptions, to attract new customers.
Leveraging the 80/20 rule: Concentrate most of your efforts on nurturing relationships with your best customers.
3. Keep marketing Marketing is vital to your small business’s financial success. Here are some ways you can keep up marketing efforts without a big budget:
• Tie your marketing spend to your revenues. Keep your marketing budget flexible by setting it as a percentage of your projected revenue.
• Explore low-cost digital marketing methods. Establishing a strong online presence through your website and social media channels helps keep your business top-of-mind.
• Track your marketing return on investment (ROI). Tracking the return on your marketing spend lets you focus on the marketing efforts that get you the best results.
4. Invest in your relationships and nurture your customers Relationships are important to any small business’s success. In unstable economic times, relationships can become vital to your business’s survival. Your customers are likely as worried about a potential economic downturn as you are. Here’s how to maintain customer relationships so your product or service won’t be a part of their budget cuts:
• Create a customer loyalty program. It’s one way to reward your best customers and keep them coming back. Your program doesn’t have to be extravagant: Minor discounts and points-based rewards can add value in your customers’ eyes.
• Focus on customer service. A 2020 survey found that 94% of customers would be likely to recommend and purchase more from businesses they had a “very good” customer experience with. Consider creating a customer service policy so both you and your employees have guidelines for providing a consistent, quality experience.
• Leverage the power of after-purchase service. Post-purchase customer follow-ups provide a way to connect with customers in an authentic, helpful way. These interactions let allow you to nip dissatisfaction in the bud by addressing problems before they arise.
Follow these steps to prepare for a recession and even if we don’t have one, your business will be stronger and more resilient for whatever comes next. . .
5. Don’t forget about your employees When it comes to running a small business, good employees are invaluable. Of course, if you feel you have too many people on staff, cut-backs may be necessary. But it’s vital to remember that quality customer service is important during economic downturns, and your employees play an important role in maintaining that quality. Here are some tips you can follow:
• Prioritize employee retention. Training and onboarding new employees can be costly. By focusing on your current employees, you can build a loyal team that functions as the backbone of your business.
• Invest in employee cross-training. Building your employees’ skills can go a long way during recessionary times when you may not have funds to hire additional staff to meet unexpected needs.
6. Form strategic alliances Forging strategic alliances with vendors, suppliers and businesses that provide complementary goods or services can help stabilize your business during rocky economic times. There are benefits to having a network of allies to lean on:
• It’s easier to make the hard ask. Having a strong relationship with vendors and suppliers establishes trust which is precious if you need to make a difficult ask, whether you need a few more days to make a payment or you’re renegotiating for better terms.
• You can expand your marketing reach. Aligning your business with complementary businesses can be a win-win for everyone’s marketing efforts. Something as simple as promoting each other’s discounts could double your business’s reach.
7. Focus on innovation and diversify your products and services When you think of innovation in business, you might imagine tech startups. But innovation plays a significant role in the success of small businesses, too. Diversifying your products and services can be an excellent recession-proofing tactic: If the market for one product or service dries up, you’ll still have others to fall back on. Here’s how to start diversifying:
• Broaden your market. Brainstorm ways to expand your target market by offering new lines of products or services. For example, the owner of a miniatures and collectibles hobby store knows that some of their customers use collectibles in games. The owner might consider adding tabletop board games to their inventory and running gaming tournaments on weekends.
• Consider niching down. You don’t always have to broaden your offerings to diversify. Offering new products by niching down can help you cultivate a loyal customer following. For example, if you run a bakery, expanding into specialty goods such as gluten-free or keto-friendly items could attract a dedicated group of new customers.
8. Expand your revenue streams By adding additional income streams, your business will be better positioned to absorb a decline in any one area. Here are a few ways to consider expanding into new income streams:
• Create a digital product. If you sell physical products or provide local services, consider branching out into the digital arena. For example, a plumbing store could create and sell a video-based DIY guide to common residential plumbing issues.
• Generate ad income from your digital assets. Websites, blogs and email newsletters can become vehicles for regular monthly income through ad placements and sponsorships. For example, if you send out a weekly email to your clients, try approaching complementary businesses about sponsoring your newsletter.
9. Power up your systems using tech Making a small investment in new technology can have a major impact on your bottom line by saving you time or money—or both.
• Automate to save time. According to the Zapier 2021 State of Business Automation report, 34% of small businesses said that automation reduced time spent on admin work. How can automation help save you time? For starters, look to accounting software. Many accounting tools notify you when outstanding invoices are overdue and even send automatic reminder emails to your clients.
• Take advantage of the tech you’re already using. Most business software these days is full of features you may not even know about. For example, some payroll softwares do more than manage payments. Many programs also offer features like tax filing services and regulatory compliance management.
Even with the possibility of a recession on the horizon, you can take steps now to prepare and ensure your small business survives whatever lies ahead.
member-to-member discounts Paramount Chamber of Commerce
As a Paramount Chamber of Commerce member, these discounts are extended to you by your fellow members.
Attorney & Legal Services
Lerma Law Office (562-272-4353): 15% discount on initial retainer fee or flat-rate service.
Automotive
Herald’s Garage (562-633-2136): 15% discount on labor and a free engine light reset.
Communications
Transcom Telecommunications (562-630-1200, ext. 221): 10% off equipment (business phone services).
Contractors
Jones Scaffold Co. (800-266-3864): 10% off net rental of scaffold equipment.
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.
Funeral Services
Palacios Funeral Home (562-972-5429): 5% off services.
Hotels & Motels
Embassy Suites Hotel (562-861-1900): 15% off best available room rate (subject to availability). Ask for “Chamber rate.”
Janitorial Services
Miranda General Cleaning (562-644-5411): 10% discount.
Medical
Clínica Médica Hispana (562-630-1991): 25% discount.
Plumbing & Heating
Downey Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning (562-861-1234): 10% off HydroJet service and/or 10% off material.
Printers
Source Graphics, Inc. (562-408-2734): 10% discount on all printing.
Real Estate
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.
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).
Casa Gamino (562-634-6225): 10% discount on food purchases.
Delfin Seafood & Market (562-630-1928): 10% off any order.
El Compa Restaurant (562-630-1068): 10% discount on all food purchases.
El Sinaloense Restaurant (562-363-3011): 10% off on food purchases.
El Peri Sushi Restaurant (562-408-0459): 10% off on food purchases over $10.
Gus’s Deli, BBQ & Grill (562-630-2802): 10% off all food purchases.
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 Sol y Mar Restaurant (562-633-1348) 10% off on food purchases.
Pika Tortas Ahogadas (562-529-5787): 10% discount on all regular-priced food items (excludes combo deals).
Smoke & Fire Social Eatery (562-363-3109): 10% discount on food items.
Tacos El Guero Gil: Free agua fresca & rice with a minimum purchase of 4 tacos.
Wellness & Health
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 to this section, please call the Paramount Chamber of Commerce for information:
Membership RENEWALS
Romberg Milling Inc................................54 years 16433 Illinois Ave., Paramount, CA 90723
McDonald’s Restaurant............................46 years 16208 Lakewood Blvd., Bellflower CA 90706
Rotary Club of Paramount..........................33 years P.O. Box 1988, Paramount CA 90723
ACE Clearwater Inc.................................21 years 7322 Quimby Ave., Paramount CA 90723
P.T.M. Inc................................................21 years 7801 Sommerset Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Kimberly’s Dance Studio..........................18 years
8527 Alondra Blvd., Unit 145, Paramount, CA 90723
Café Corleone Italian Restaurant..............15 years 15337 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Water Replenishment District..................15 years 4040 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712
Madame Pompador Dog & Cat Grooming.....13 years 13516 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Mariscos Mi Lindo Sinaloa.......................13 years 7610 Rosecrans Ave., Paramount CA 90723
Medical Waste Services.............................12 years 7321 Quimby St., Paramount CA 90723
Farmers & Merchants Bank........................8 years 9001 Firestone Blvd., Downey CA 90241
Wolff Insurance Agency..............................4 years 6737 Bright Ave. Suite 107, Whittier CA 09601
Enagic Water Products...............................3 years
Call for an appointment: 562-833-3823
Farmers Insurance–Kotob Agency..............3 years 147 S. Beach Blvd., La Habra CA 90631
Aji Verde Peruvian Restaurant...................2 years 8527 Alondra Blvd., Suite 150, Paramount CA 90723
Por Amor A La Humanidad........................2 years 7625 Rosecrans Ave., Suite L, Paramount CA 90723
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EPOXY COATING LABORER —Long-term, full-time (40+ hours per week). Will train. Install various flooring systems for commercial and industrial projects. Perform tasks involving physical labor; must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for long periods. Operate equipment (as instructed). Techcoat Contractors, 15720 Garfield Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723. Contact: Brenda or Jessica at 562-529-5700. Apply Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
WAREHOUSE MAINTENANCE WORKER —Longterm, part-time (20 to 25 hours per week). Will train. Staging equipment and materials for daily projects. Receive and process warehouse stock products. Maintain inventory. Operate and maintain warehouse vehicles and equipment. Run errands (as needed). Techcoat Contractors, 15720 Garfield Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723. Contact: Brenda or Jessica at 562-529-5700. Apply Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
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.
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 epoxycoatings, 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.
CLEANING SERVICE JOB (Persona para limpiesa)— A&R Cleaning Multiservices. Please contact Yolanda Monday-Friday at 562-500-2284.
Santa Train Schedule
Monday, December 5
Starting at 3 p.m.
1. 8750 Paseo St.
2. 15623 Kervin Ave.
3. 15727 Passage Ave.
4. 15500 Downey Ave. (Progress Park)
5. 15351 California Ave.
6. 16433 California Ave.
7. 15308 Georgia Ave.
8. 15723 Virginia Ave.
9. 16209 Virginia Ave.
10. 16440 Indiana Ave.
11. 15324 Wiemer Ave.
Tuesday, December 6 Starting at 3 p.m.
1. 14425 Perilla Ave.
2. 8310 Elburg St.
3. 8209 Howe St.
4. 8041 Rose St.
5. 14040 Arthur Ave.
6. 13841 McClure Ave.
7. 13808 Ruther Ave.
8. 8167 Alhambra St.
9. 8330 Florence St.
10. 8614 Rancho Vista St.
11. 8635 Somerset Blvd.
Wednesday, December 7 Starting at 3 p.m.
1. 8439 Adams St.
2. 8310 Second St.
3. 7609 Happy St. 4 13716 Florine Ave.
5. 13563 Orange Ave.
6. 7406 Walnut Ave.
7. 7355 Lionel St.
8. 14724 Texaco Ave. (Salud Park)
9. 7552 Adams St.
10. 15547 Colorado Ave.
11. 7216 Marcelle St.
12. 16707 Garfield Ave.
13. 16200 Vermont Ave. 14. 16611 Lake Ave.
Thursday, December 8 Starting at 3 p.m.
1. 14810 San Marino Ave.
2. 6825 San Rafael St.
3. 14817 San Jose St.
4. 6630 Mark Keppel St.
5. 7047 Myrrh St.
6. 7110 Madison St.
7. 15623 Delcombre Ave.
8. 6708 Motz St.
9. 16660 Orange Ave.
Come out for Paramount’s Great Holiday Tradition
Be ready!
To register, call: (562) 220-2002
As the shopping season comes upon us, remember that if you are selling or buying items through an online site or phone app, you can meet at the Safe Internet Purchase Exchange Zone at the Paramount Sheriff’s Station to conduct these transactions.
There is a designated parking space in the public parking lot open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on holidays.
Although Public Safety personnel will not validate transactions, the space is directly in front of the station and located in a well-lit area with surveillance cameras in place, making these exchanges safer for residents. The Station is located at 15001 Paramount Blvd. Call (562) 220-2002 for information. Exchange online sales safely at Paramount Sheriff’s Station
Christy decided to vaccinate her children because she trusted the science and knew that vaccinations have been around for a long time. Childhood vaccines and boosters against COVID-19 are now available. Updated “bivalent” boosters have been approved for children five years old and older. Children can receive a booster two months after any previous booster or primary vaccination. The Pfizer bivalent booster is for children ages 5-11, and the Moderna bivalent booster is for children ages 6-17. The updated boosters provide broader protection against newer BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants of COVID-19.
For help with your appointments, visit vaccinatelacounty.com online or call 833-540-0473 between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. 7 days a week.