Chamber Fiesta and Safe & Smart Fair – Something for Everyone
The Paramount Chamber of Commerce Fiesta sponsored by Clinica Medica Hispana and Modern Development, and the Safe & Smart Fair hosted by the City of Paramount had something for everyone. Visitors to the Safe & Smart Fair had the opportunity to learn about public safety services and what’s new in Paramount Schools. Each school within the district setup a booth to share information about programs and services available at individual school sites. The City of Paramount setup booths to share information about public safety and parks and recreation programs. Service clubs and youth sports teams sold refreshments while Paramount students walked on stage to be recognized by city and school district officials for their academic achievements.
When the Safe & Smart Fair came to an end visitors crossed the street to the Paramount Entertainment Center where there was more fun to be had, the three day long Paramount Fiesta was open for business. Once inside the Fiesta visitors treated themselves to carnival rides and of course traditional carnival foods including popcorn and cotton candy. The event also included vendor booths featuring local businesses who offered food, information, raffle drawings, and giveaways.
Both events are held each year in September to celebrate Education Month and provide a fun venue for the community. Next year the Fiesta will take place September 21 – 23, and the Safe & Smart Fair will be held on September 22nd.
Continued on Page 10
What’s inside
Safe & Smart Fair visitors learn about school site projects and public safety programs.
Paramount Fiesta sponsor Clinica Medica Hispana handed out clinic information and gave away lots of raffle prizes.
Don’t Miss the City’s Halloween Carnival!
Paramount’s annual Halloween Carnival will once again provide a free, fun, safe and spooky good time at Paramount Park on Monday, October 31, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Come on out and join your neighbors for a supervised environment full of activities and goodies.
There will be costume contests by age category, music, jumpers an assortment of games, food booths and more. Plus, the City will give away lots and lots of candy.
Paramount Park is located at 14400 Paramount Blvd. For more information, call (562) 220-2121.a
The City’s annual Halloween Carnival will once again provide a fun, safe and spooky good time at Paramount Park on Sunday, October 31, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For almost 40 years, this free fright-night of fun has offered parents and youngsters a supervised environment full of activities and goodies. We usually get more than 5,000 residents – mostly kids – turning out for the ghoulish gathering.
Successful Education Month
I want to send a special note of thanks to everyone in the City and the School District who made our annual Education Month celebration such a positive experience. The turnout was fantastic for the Safe and Smart Fair in Paramount Park, and it was great to honor so many of the kids of Paramount.
Among those so noted were the winners of the City’s Earth Day t-shirt contest. Hundreds of great submissions came in this year from the 1st through the 8th grade for the logo to adorn the shirts that we’ll give out next April. The judging was very difficult. In the end, one winner was picked from each grade. There was also one overall winner whose artwork will be reproduced on the shirt.
Congratulations to these winners:
Kindergarten, Jesse Ayala, Gaines
1st-Grade, Denise Huerta, Gaines
2nd-Grade, Alexis Huerta, Los Cerritos
3rd-Grade, Geneva Allende, Roosevelt
4th-Grade, Jerardo Valle, Mokler
5th-Grade, Kayla Hood, Mokler
6th-Grade, Mia Estrada, Alondra
7th-Grade, Stella Ibarra, Alondra
8th-Grade, Krystal Rivera, Paramount Middle
And the overall winner, whose logo will go on the t-shirts, was 4th grader Jerardo Valle.
We also recognized our top students who had the highest grade point averages in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades last year. Those fine scholars were: 9th Grade
Annajoy Floresca
Korena McLaurin
Daniela Sanchez
Samantha Bejarano
Lizette Martinez
Stephanie Morales
Patricia Sais
Leonardo Silva
Maria Rivera
Kenneth Teeples
Mareeya Tongkul
10th Grade
Anthony Meza
Lucio Lopez
Jasmine Esparza
Ilene Calderon
Isabela Cardenas
Yessenia Reveles
Faviola Zuniga
Crystal Gonzalez
Crystal Estrada
Osbeli Salazar
11th Grade
Daniela Rivera Leon
Yvonne Vasquez
Mariana Castro
Cyntia Melero
Paola Ruiz
Karen Quintero
Janet Salazar
Jacqueline Martinez
Jennifer Bautista
Estevan Cervantes
Overall there were 51 booths, with all the PUSD campuses participating as well as regional community colleges and Long Beach State. On the safety side, personnel from the City’s Public Safety Department and the Sheriff’s Department were on hand. We will have CSOs on hand to assist Recreation where needed. Among the resources featured were: Neighborhood Watch, the Bomb squad, K-9 unit, Kidprint (Explorers)
and the Aero Bureau (Helicopter). It was a great day, a great month, and we all look forward to doing it again next September.
Household Hazardous Waste, EWaste Collection in Bellflower
For toxic materials that can’t be thrown away in the trash, Los Angeles County holds collection events at various locations and has fi ve permanent collection sites. Products include motor oil, anti-freeze, paint, turpentine, pesticides and herbicides, household and car batteries, acid-based cleansers, expired pharmaceuticals, fluorescent light bulbs and more. You can also bring e-waste such as cell phones, computer monitors, TVs, printers and others. This service is free. Also, home-generated sharps like hypodermic needles, syringes, lancets and intravenous needles can be disposed of here.
Locally, there will be a “Roundup” collection on Saturday, November 5 at Sims Park in Bellflower from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The park is located at Clark Ave. and Oak St. Bring the items in a sturdy box, preferably in their original labeled containers.
There is a limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per trip. Be prepared to leave the containers and boxes. Remove all other items from your trunk before loading the waste.
To fi nd a full list of what is acceptable, and what is not, and where the other locations are, call 1 (888) CLEAN-LA (1888-253-2652) or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lacsd.org” www.lacsd.org or HYPERLINK “http://www.888CleanLA. com” www.CleanLA.com.
Get Your Tickets For The Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner
Just an early reminder to mark Thursday, November 17 on your calendar for the annual Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Paramount Park gym.
The event is free for those attending, but you do need a ticket for the meal. Tickets will be available at the Paramount Park Community Center starting October 25 for Paramount residents and beginning November 1 for non-residents.
For more information, call (562) 2202090.
Ingredients:
3 cups farfalle (bow-tie pasta), uncooked
1 lb. fresh asparagus spears, cut into 2 inch lengths
1 cup Italian Dressing
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 lb. cooked cleaned large shrimp
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 pkg. (8oz) 2% Mild Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese crumbles
Directions:
served: 12 pm
San Manuel Indian Casino Tuesday October 18, 2011 Departing at 11 am Returning at 6:30 pm $2 per person Wait list
Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt and adding asparagus to the cooking water for the last 3 min.; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Mix dressing, oregano and zest. Place pasta mixture in large bowl. Add dressing mixture, shrimp, tomatoes and cheese; mix lightly. Halloween Party Date: Thursday, October 27 Price $2 per person Doors open: 9:30 am
Farmers Market Friday, October 21 Departing 9 am and returning 2pm Free
Mayor, Daryl Hofmeyer
Free Workshop For Rental Property Owners/Manager on October 15
The next Good Neighbor Program – a free seminar for Paramount rental property owners/managers – will be held Saturday, October 15. The workshop will take place at the Clearwater Building in the Civic Center from 10:00 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
Attendees need to make a reservation by calling (562) 220-2002.
Those taking part will receive the program’s certification and seal of approval that can help attract quality tenants.
The classes are offered in conjunction with the Apartment Association of Southern Cities, the Sheriff’s Department and attorneys specializing in landlord/tenant law. Topics cover such areas as tenant screening, evicting problem tenants, developing effective rental agreements and recognizing criminal activity, all in an effort to keep a property crime free.
The program aims to enhance the quality of life for residents, create higher tenant satisfaction rates and remove unlawful tenants. The effort also increases a property’s long-term profitability for the owner, lowers maintenance costs and establishes close contact between the owner/manager, the City and the Sheriff’s Department.
Property owners who successfully complete the program may receive a one-year free membership in the Apartment Association of Southern Cities and a one-year waiver of their City business license fees.
Again, to RSVP, please call (562) 2202002.
Sheriff’s Station Great Resource For Community
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.
Thanks to innovative policies and programs, over the last 15 years crime in Paramount has decreased by 49%; violent crime levels are currently the lowest they’ve been since 1975.
The Paramount Sheriff’s Station, located at 15001 Paramount Blvd., is a perfect example of the relationship. The recent expansion and remodeling of the facility has only made it a better public service tool. Many residents who have had the occasion to visit the Station have expressed their approval of the upgrades. Soon, a new parking area on the corner of Somerset and Paramount will make usage even more convenient.
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 houses 73 employees – 40 sworn (Sheriff’s personnel) and 33 non-sworn (City Public Safety Dept.) 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.
Public safety is the number-one priority for the Paramount City Council. Great strides have been made over time, and will continue to be realized. The Sheriff’s Department has been a true advocate and partner in this long, fruitful effort.
The phone number for the Station is (562) 220-2002.
Compton Community College District Track and Football Field Reopen
The community is already enjoying the recently reopened Compton Community College District track and football field. The track was temporarily closed last month to allow staff to make much needed improvements and upgrades to ready the football field for the Tartar football season. Work completed includes turf maintenance and leveling, watering, irrigation system repair, outdoor lighting replacement and refurbishment near the restrooms.
STATER BROS. PROMOTES
DAN MEYER TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT RETAIL OPERATIONS
Jack H. Brown, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Stater Bros. Markets, has announced the promotion of Dan Meyer to the position of Senior Vice President Retail Operations of Stater Bros. Markets. A new position in the company, Meyer will be responsible for the retail operations of all 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Corporate Training Center.
Meyer is a 41-year member of the Stater Bros. “Family”. He first joined Stater Bros. in 1971 as a Courtesy Clerk at the Company’s La Sierra Supermarket in Riverside and progressed through a range of retail store and district supervision positions.
In 2005, he was promoted to Regional Vice President, and in 2009, he was promoted to his most recent position of Senior Regional Vice President.
He currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Stater Bros. Charities and the California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corporation. Meyer has also been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the California Grocers Association effective
December 1, 2011.
In his new position, Meyer will report to George Frahm, Executive Vice President Retail Operations and Administration.
“Dan is a well-respected and valuable member of our senior management team,” stated Brown. “This promotion is a result of his leadership skills and the contributions that he has made towards the success of the company’s retail operations department.”
Dan Meyer
P ARAMOUNT C ITY C
A WARDS N IGHT
At its September 6th meeting, the Paramount City Council kicked off Education Month in town and recognized many community members. Joining the Council for a number of the presentations were officials from the Paramount Unified School District and members of the Paramount Education Partnership Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Deborah Stark with Paramount Unified and Paramount resident Mandy Stevens. (Flo Haynes of Weber Metals and Lourdes Talamantes of Paramount Unified were unable to attend.)
The leading classrooms in the School District who gave the most in the Pennies for PEP fundraiser were congratulated. The leading campuses were Roosevelt Elementary and Hollydale Middle School. Front row, third, fourth and fifth from left: Kevin Longworth (Hollydale principal), Ms. Diaz (Roosevelt teacher) and Michelle Dutton (formerly Roosevelt principal and currently Mokler principal).
Every school in the District honors their own Teacher of the Year, and those in attendance were honored at the Council meeting as part of Education Month.
schools from
Paramount residents Carmen and Allen Gomez were congratulated on their special achievement of both graduating from USC this year, the first mother and son pair to get their diplomas together from the School of Policy, Planning and Development. (Carmen is a member of Paramountʼs Public Safety Commission.) From left: Councilmember Diane J. Martinez, Councilmember Gene Daniels, Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Carmen Gomez, Allen Gomez, Councilmember Tom Hansen and Vice Mayor Peggy Lemons.
The personnel from Paramountʼs Fire Station 31 were commended for saving the life of a nine-year-old local boy who was having a
Brenda Olmos, representing the Paramount Chamber of Commerce, presented a check to the PEP scholarship fund. From left: Superintendent Dr. David Verdugo, School Boardmember Vivian Hansen, School Boardmember Sonya Cuellar, Councilmember Diane J. Martinez, Councilmember Gene Daniels, Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Olmos, Vice Mayor Peggy Lemons, Councilmember Tom Hansen, School Board President Tony Pena, School Board Vice President Linda Garcia, PEP Boardmember Ed Juno (Paramount Petroleum) and PEP Boardmember Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar USA).
The latest recipients of the Paramount Achievement Student Scholarships, awarded by PEP, were recognized. (Many of the 24 students were away at college and could not attend.)
The Scholarship Selection Committee, community volunteers who reviewed the PEP scholarship applications, was also recognized. Front row, second, third and fourth from left: Paula Coony of Paramount Iceland/Zamboni Merchandising,
Paramount High Schoolʼs Valedictorian for the Class of 2011, Andrew Juhasz, was recognized. (Class Salutatorian Ismael Mireles was unable to attend the meeting.)
The Class of 2011ʼs Jennifer Ramirez, who was awarded a prestigious Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Millennium Scholarship, was congratulated. Ramirez, front row, fourth from the left, was joined by her family members.
Winning
the Cityʼs Annual Track Meet were saluted. Front row, third, fourth and fifth from left: Principal Topekia Jones from Paramount Park, and from Roosevelt last yearʼs principal Michelle Dutton and current teacher Hector Lujan.
seizure at his home.
The Council proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month to promote readiness for emergencies. Brian Jackson from the Greater Long Beach Chapter of the Red Cross accepted the Cityʼs proclamation. From left: Councilmember Diane J. Martinez, Councilmember Gene Daniels, Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Jackson, Councilmember Tom Hansen and Vice Mayor Peggy Lemons.
Paramount Education Partnership After School Programs at No Cost
PEP Also Seeking Volunteers
The Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) offers a number of free programs for local students at the Paramount Petroleum Community Learning Center in Spane Park, 14400 Gundry Ave.; phone, (562) 220-2132.
The purpose of the Tutoring/Homework Help Program, for instance, is to assist students with enhancing and enriching their academic skills. The program provides tutoring in a wide range of general education courses Monday through Thursday from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Seating is limited.
The Literacy & Math Enrichment Program provides computerized training and hands-on activities in reading, writing and mathematics to students in grades K-8th
with the use of educational websites and the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs. Please call to get the weekly schedule based on a student’s grade. Students must be referred by a teacher. Classes are offered Monday through Thursday from 3:00 – 7:00 pm. Seating is limited.
PEP is also looking for volunteers who are willing to put in 2-12 hours a week as homework tutors working with elementary school children for the after-school program at the Learning Center. Training is provided and a background check is required. For more information, call (562) 220-2132 or e-mail Suleyma Rosales at HYPERLINK “mailto:srosales@paramountcity.com” srosales@paramountcity.com.
The Paramount Education Partnership is a collaboration between the City, the Paramount Unified School District and the Paramount Chamber of Commerce.
Mexican Restaurant
Since 1970 when the first Casa Gamiño was opened, founder Cipriano Gamiño has strived to give all his customers good Mexican food with excellent service and good prices. In all our locations we continue to do the same for our customers. No gimmicks, just delicious food.
Music Duet – Friday & Saturday nights 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
8330 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount 562-630-9100 562-634-6225
Open: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Fri. - Sat. 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Henry Harkema, Former Councilmember and Mayor, Passes Away at 100
Nearly one month after celebrating his 100th birthday, longtime Paramount leader Henry Harkema passed away on August 31. Born in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on August 7, 1911, Henry came west with his family in 1935, eventually settling in Hynes-Clearwater, which would become Paramount. The family grew to include a total of five brothers.
With the outbreak of World War II, Henry was drafted and served for 5-1/2 years. He went to officer’s school, attained the rank of Second Lieutenant, and fought in the European theater. He landed on the beach at Normandy three days after the Allied invasion and would go through a number of major and bloody campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was one of the lucky ones, never wounded, never harmed.
When the fighting finally ended, Henry spent time in England, perusing the great libraries of London, before returning to Southern California, where he married his wife, Betty, in 1946, and soon started a family.
Back home, he hired on with the local appliance store that was owned by Ernest McCracken, who would become Paramount’s first mayor in 1957. Soon enough, duty called again, and Henry served in the reserves during the Korean Conflict. Afterwards he began a career with the County Water District, and eventually entered public service, taking a seat on the Paramount Water Commission. He later served on the City’s Public Works and Planning commissions, and was elected to the Paramount City Council in 1986, spending 17 years with that body.
During his tenure on the Council, which included two terms as mayor and two as vice mayor, Henry worked hard and successfully with his colleagues to build Paramount into an attractive, thriving community. The Council gained a widespread reputation as a cohesive, smoothly operating team focused on getting things done. Henry’s genial personality certainly helped achieve that status. It was an era when Paramount
turned itself around from troubled suburb to All American City.
Henry was a vibrant player in the political life of Southeast Los Angeles County. In addition to his Council duties, he also chaired the Paramount Redevelopment Agency. He served on the boards of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (and not too long ago stepped down as the City’s representative there), the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority, the Tri-City Housing Financing Agency, the Consolidated Youth Services Network, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts #1 and #2, the Southeast Water Coalition and the Central Basin Water Association.
When he retired from the Council in 2003, Henry was 91 years old; he holds the record for being the oldest City Councilmember in the state of California. He continued serving Paramount as a member of the Senior Services Commission until his death.
Henry Harkema is survived by his wife of 65-1/2 years, Betty; daughters Christine (Rick) Cormany, Julia (Michael) Verrengia and Sylvia (Rudy) Tatarin; grandchildren Chrystal, Jennifer (Jeff), Joshua, Cindy, Jeffrey and Jenna; great-grandsons Bryson and Bennett; brother Roy; sister-in-law Betty; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Columbia Specialty Company to Open New Facility
Southern California pipe fabricator and distributor opens new 44,000 square foot facility in Long Beach, California
Columbia Specialty Company, a distributor of carbon, stainless, and alloy piping materials, has opened a new 44,000 square foot facility in Long Beach. The new site, located at 5875 North Obispo Avenue, is triple the size of the former building in Paramount, California and will allow the company to significantly grow their inventory and fabrication capabilities. According to John Fitzgerald, CEO of Columbia Specialty Company, “The new facility is in the right location with the right size enabling us to grow and serve both the local distribution channel and our national customers”
Having outgrown their old facility, the new location will allow for the company to be consolidated under one roof further enabling a larger on-hand inventory and more cost-effective products to its customer base. The new facility will permit the company to enhance their fabrica-
tion division and will lead to expedited services for refineries, food processing, and both power and chemical plants. Columbia Specialty Company’s fabrication capabilities include machining, welding, and bending. Mike Taylor, President of Columbia Specialty Company, says “We are proud of our reputation for providing best in class customer service and for our ability to solve our customer’s special fabrication needs. If you can’t find it, we’ll make it for you, and at an affordable price.”
Columbia Specialty Company is an industrial piping distributor and fabricator dedicated to superior service, knowledge and support of its customers’ needs. Columbia Specialty Company has a Northern California branch located in Sacramento and two subsidiaries in California, Azusa Pipe & Tube Bending located in Azusa, and Plumbing World, also located in Long Beach. The company has recently been recognized as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the United States and was recognized in 2010 as one of the top 150 piping wholesalers nationwide.
BUSINESS WORKSHOP
FACEBOOK, MY SPACE, TWITTER-USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Do you still feel like Social Media is just for social networking? Have you ever thought of using Social Media as a business tool to enhance sales and increase profitability? Many successful small businesses are connecting with customers as we speak. Social Media is a new way of putting yourself in front of your customers.
Learn how to successfully promote your business and increase awareness about your service or product. Create buzz for your business with new cost effective marketing channels.
You will learn:
• how to create and maintain a Facebook Group Page
• how to join “Groups” on LinkedIn and remain connected with business professionals throughout the world
• why 140 characters on Twitter are significant in helping increase brand visibility and strengthen customer service
• how YouTube can be used to enhance sales and promote your business website
Fee: $25
SHOULD I INCORPORATE?
Monday, November 14, 2011 * 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Incorporating your business can have huge tax savings for some small businesses. It can also limit your perosnl liability. Come to this informational session, to learn about Sole Proprietors, Partnerships LLCʼs , S-Corps and C-Corps.
Fee: $20
Henry Harkema
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.
Life Is...
By Luis Acosta State Farm® agent 562-531-1900
Life is....spending time with family and friends. Watching a ball game. Lying in a hammock on a Saturday afternoon.
Life can be all of these things and more. Life is happy and sad and all things in between. It’s about living.
But life is also about protecting your family from the unexpected. Life is making sure your family can continue without financial hardship if you are no longer around to help them. One way to do that is to have adequate life insurance coverage on you and your spouse. Life is....being protected with life insurance.
Whether you are the main breadwinner or not, the American Life Insurance Council states you should have five to seven years worth of your salary in coverage. Others increase it to 10 years.
According to LIMRA, 68 million adult Americans have no life insurance. With so many Americans leaving their loved ones financially vulnerable, the
Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) designated September as Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM), a time for the public to take stock of their life insurance needs.
The best way to determine your needs is to begin with calculating what long-term expenses you have that your loved ones would be responsible for if you were not around. Those expenses could include a mortgage, college tuition and everyday items such as food and clothing.
The type of policy you choose is an important decision. Term coverage can be very affordable initially, but premiums may increase over the life of the policy. Permanent policies usually have higher premiums but tend to stay level. How long you need the policy is also important to consider.
A qualified life insurance professional can assist you in your calculations and show you policies that may fit your needs. Life is ever changing. Protecting your family from financial struggles after you are gone is what life insurance is all about.
More Fiesta Photos!
From Page 1
Triage Partners CA., LLC
FOCUSING ON HIGH STANDARDS, along with strong commitment to quality, excellence and accountability, Partricia Dominguez, President and CEO of Triage Partners CA, LLC has but a technology-enabled company that provides services which offer performance-based project outsourcing solutions to telecom, broadband and cable clients. Ms. Dominguez has developed systems and processes designed to provide value: exceeding customer expectations by driving efficiencies, reducing client operational costs and supporting better client decision making. Triage Partners CA, LLC is unique among businesses its size for holding both ISO 9001:2008 and TL 9000 quality certifications. For more info. please call
Working the Clinica Medica booth at the fiesta are: Denise Medina, Nabila Alberty, Elva Preciado, and Guille Smith.
Costco employees Genny Clark and her associate where successful in signing up several new Costco members.
Isabel Aguayo from LGH Ceramics helped fiesta visitors pick and paint a ceramic figure for free.
10 Tips for Going Green — Vand Saving
BY RIEVA LESONSKY
Being green is not only a competitive advantage for your business in the marketplace, but can also save you money. Here are 10 eco-friendly tips for cutting your costs.
• Change your light bulbs. Replace all your light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, and you’ll see immediate savings. SBDC Business Advisor Rola Halawanji says small business owners who make this switch have reported their electricity bills drop by 40 to 60 percent.
• Power down. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates cutting energy use by just 30 percent annually would save U.S. businesses over $32 billion. “One quick way to cut costs is to invest in power strips that you can turn on and off,” says Halawanji. “Plug all your electrical appliances into power strips so at the end of the day, you can turn them all off while not in use.”
• Buy green equipment. Look for the Energy Star symbol when you buy computers, monitors, phones or audio/video equipment. You can find a list of green equipment at www.EnergyStar.gov.
• Digitize. Do you really need a hard copy of every document? Use an online backup service to store your data in the cloud. This not only saves paper and toner, but also keeps your crucial data safe from disasters and easily accessible.
• Limit printing. A typical office discards almost 350 pounds of paper per employee per year, says Halawanji. If you must print, save ink, paper and money by using software such as Greenprint, FinePrint and HP Smart Web Printing to eliminate waste.
• Repurpose paper. Save even more by using the blank sides of discarded documents for scrap paper. Use a shredder to shred non-critical documents and use them for packing.
• Get help from the government. “Almost every state, county and large municipality has at least one program to help small companies reduce energy, waste or water use, and thus cut costs,” says Halawanji. For a state-by-state directory of incentives, visit www.dsireusa.org. In L.A. County, programs like Energy Upgrade California (https://energyupgradeca.org) offer rebates, incentives and tax breaks for energy-efficient upgrades.
• Get audited. Need more help coming up with energy-saving ideas? Most utility companies will provide a free energy audit. Typically, an auditor tours your business and suggests ways to reduce energy costs.
• Look for a green building. Ready to move or expand? Halawanji explains that green building methods, including increased ventilation, reduced air recirculation, improved filtration and reduced occupant density, can significantly decrease
work-related illnesses and absences, saving your business money.
• Enlist employees. “A positive and proactive green position builds loyalty not only among customers, but also within your own work force,” says Halawanji. To get employee buy-in, she suggests establishing a staff committee to implement small steps, and incentivizing good ideas and solutions.
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) 938-5100, or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu.
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Business Card Directory
Tel:
562/634-5000
