The City of Paramount proclaims September of each year as Education Month to emphasize the importance and value of education for the entire community.
The celebration will be highlighted at the September 4th City Council meeting. There, the Council and members of the Paramount Unified School District Board of Education will honor the 2012-13 Teachers of the Year from each District school. The following educators have received this special recognition:
Charlene Landry – Early Childhood Ed.
Kersen Veith – Alondra
Rhonda Knox – Collins
Ann Juarez – Gaines
Ane Miller – Hollydale
Heather Downs – Jackson
Judy Boxx – Jefferson
Amie Grommet – Keppel
Graciela Torres – Lincoln
Elsa Medina – Los Cerritos
Missy Bergman – Mokler
Jose Gomez – Paramount Park
Craig Lane – Roosevelt
Stacy Willard – Tanner
Vienna Garcia – Wirtz
Robin Herbelin-McPherson – Zamboni
Robert Ashabraner – Buena Vista
Lorena Chaidez – Paramount High, West
Lori Louzy – Paramount High
Bibi Angola – Adult Education Center
Also to be acknowledged at the
meeting are last year’s Paramount High School Valedictorian Daniela Rivera, Valedictorian #2 Paola Ruiz, Salutatorian Mariana Castro and Salutatorian #2 Yvonne Vasquez.
The commitment of these dedicated professionals to the education and advancement of our children, and the hard work done by these remarkable students, is commendable. Congratulations to all!
Education and Safety Fair Coming September 22
A highlight of Education Month is the City’s annual Education and Safety (or Safe and Smart) Community Fair to be held in Paramount Park, 14400 Paramount Blvd., on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Fair will feature public safety agencies such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. In addition, representatives from Paramount Unified School District schools and other education organizations will be in attendance.
Entertainment will be provided by local performance groups. There will be raffle prizes and a book sale. Plus, the City Council and Board of Education will recognize the top students from each grade from each school in the District.
For more information, call (562) 220-2121.
Track Meet Winners
The City’s Annual Track Meet was held in June at the Paramount High School Stadium. Hundreds of students from all kindergarten through 8th-grade schools took part in a variety of track and field events.
For K-5 schools, a trophy was given to the campus with the most attendance, which went to Roosevelt. With middle schools, trophies were awarded for attendance and points, and both were won by Alondra. Staff and students from each
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school will be saluted at the September 4th City Council meeting.
Special thanks go to Paramount High School Varsity Track Coach Chris Barboza and her track team who oversaw the event.
Thank You, Lions
Special thanks go to the Paramount Lions Club who continued their tradition this year of providing free Angels tickets to kids in the City’s summer day camp. The Lions made it possible for about 100 day-campers to attend a game in July. The club is dedicated to helping the youth of Paramount, and their efforts are very much appreciated.
Major Projects Completed and Begun
As you may have noticed, some major street improvements were recently undertaken in town, timed to be finished before the school year started. Downey Avenue between Rosecrans and Somerset, and Paramount Boulevard between Alondra and Somerset, were refurbished in both directions. The work included removing and replacing old asphalt, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, along with re-striping and repainting.
Since these are two of our most heavily traveled streets, the road work will provide a smooth ride for quite some time.
Construction of the Paramount Fitness Park officially began on August 20. The park – funded primarily with state grant money – will be on ten acres of Edison right-of-way property along
Texaco St. across from the Post Office. It will feature walking/running/jogging paths and a track, a synthetic turf area for sports, outdoor exercise equipment, a “plaza” for classes and a sand volleyball court.
The work is scheduled to be completed shortly after the beginning of 2013, with the park opening to the public soon thereafter.
Used Oil Recycling Going Strong In Town
The latest figures are in and Paramount residents have reason to be proud. Over the past year, more than 5,580 gallons of used motor oil were recycled in town. This very substantial figure is an increase of about 2,000 gallons compared to the year before.
The City uses grant money from Sacramento to publicize the fact that residents can take their used oil and filters to three local certified collection centers (O’Reilly Auto Parts, Zippy Lube and Texaco Xpress Lube). The grant funds also pay for the “care packages” available for free at the centers that are equipped with a collection container, a funnel and a shop towel. In addition, the City offers curbside collection for residents from their homes. Appointments can be made online or by phone.
A big thank you goes out to all our residents who are doing the right thing for the environment and properly disposing of their motor oil. For more information about this recycling program, please call (562) 220-2000.
Mayor, Peggy Lemons
Back to School – Truancy Enforcement Increases
With the beginning of the school year, here’s a review of the daytime truancy laws in Paramount. The Sheriff’s Department increases truancy sweeps when the school year commences.
Daytime enforcement focuses on curtailing the activities of minors who are not on campus during regular school hours. According to Paramount’s Municipal Code, regular school hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Patrol deputies issue citations to minors violating the truancy laws. This sends a message to juveniles and assists in proactive efforts to curtail crime.
It is very important for parents and guardians to know about the potential legal consequences for any minor who is found to be truant from school.
Minors who are cited for truancy violation may face the following:
* A fine of up to $495.
* Community service hours.
* Suspension from school.
In addition to these penalties, the parents/guardians of the cited minor may be required to accompany the minor to court and may be required to successfully complete parenting classes.
For more information, please call (562) 220-2002.
Get Involved With Neighborhood Watch – It Makes a Difference
In Paramount, there are many active Neighborhood Watch teams operating in the City to provide extra eyes and ears for the Sheriff’s Department. Neighborhood Watch is a partnership in crime prevention. Residents come to know their neighbors, look out for each other’s welfare and property, and report suspicious activities. It’s productive, too – on average, areas with active Neighborhood Watch participation have much less crime than those without it.
At NW meetings, residents work with City and Sheriff’s Department personnel, expressing ideas and concerns about issues in their neighborhood. Any number of things can be discussed at Neighborhood Watch meetings. Apart from potential criminal behavior, these can include parking problems, street racing, street vendors, code enforcement issues – anything and everything that affects the quality of life for residents in Paramount.
Residents are also informed of the many services and programs available to them, such as GRIP (anti gang), STAR (afterschool opportunities), PEP (educational help), PAT (preventing auto theft), CERT (emergency training), SASSFA (employment help), CPR/1st Aid and more.
Keep in mind, also, that any resident who reports criminal activity through Neighborhood Watch can remain totally anonymous if they so choose.
The Sheriff’s Department appreciates everyone’s help in protecting our community, because a deputy cannot be present everywhere, at all times. Since neighbors know better than anybody what happens on their street, this is a good way to do your part for public safety.
Neighborhood Watch groups can also help residents prepare for natural disasters and set up plans for checking on neighbors after disasters hit.
To become a part of Paramount’s Neighborhood Watch program, please call the Public Safety Department at (562) 220-2002 and ask for Carlos Mendoza.
Cocina de Catalina Grand Opening
Elks’ BBQ & Car Show
The Paramount Elks Lodge will be hosting its 56th annual BBQ and newly added car show September 8, 2012, Paramount Elks Lodge, 8108 Alondra Blvd., Paramount, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Attendance is free and open to the public. Amazing cars and great food available for purchase: burgers, hot dogs, tacos, nachos, grilled corn and more. The event also includes music and prizes.
The BBQ is a major fundraiser for the Elkʼs charitable endeavors which support local youth, active military, veterans and other community programs. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to this day of fun.
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Fee: $25
Understanding Your Business Website
Thursday, November 15, 2012 * 10:00 am-12:00 pm
If you always wanted to build a website but thought it was too hard, then this is the class for you. We will teach you how to build a basic website no matter your level of proficiency. We will show you the tools that it will take to make a functional website that will attract customers.
Fee: $20
Mayor Peggy Lemons presents Cocina de Catalina owners Gabriela Ramirez, and Stephanie Cholico with a certificate of congratulations from the City of Paramount.
Chamber President Leonard Crespo congratulates restaurant owners Gabriela Ramirez, Stephanie Cholico, and Maria Cholico at the grand opening of Cocina de Catalina.
CIT and YMCA at Camp Oakes
Over 200 campers, CITs (Counselors In Training) and volunteer counselors from the Los Cerritos YMCA, Los Altos Family YMCA, and WeingartLakewood Family YMCA had a blast at the YMCA Camp Oakes in Big Bear. All campers were able to participate in archery, horseback riding, canoeing, high and low ropes courses as well as academic enrichment. Everyday started with Chapel and ended with a campfire.
Louis Apodaca Chosen to Lead District of Elks - USA
Recently members of the Elks-USA from across the nation gathered in Austin, Texas where Louis Apodaca was installed as District Deputy, to the Elks National President for the Lodges in the South Central District of the California-Hawaii Elks Association.
Apodaca was installed at the Order’s 148th Elks National Convention in Austin, Texas which was attended by more than 9,000 members and guests; Louis will serve a one-year term.
There are 177 Elks Lodges in California-Hawaii, with more than 87,290 members. Nationally, the Elks give more than $8,500,000 in college scholarships, $8,800,000 to youth programs and $4,350,000 in veterans support yearly. The Paramount Elks Lodge helps fulfill the Elk’s longstanding commitment to provide help for the disadvantaged, and programs for veterans and youth.
College Bound Bus to Community Colleges Running for New Semester
The City offers transportation for Paramount residents who are attending Long Beach City College (Liberal Arts Campus) or Cerritos College. The buses recently began running for the fall semester. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and then again from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
There are four pick-up and drop-off spots located throughout town – Orange and Somerset, Century and Orange, Paramount Park and Progress Park. Each roundtrip – from individual bus stop, to the campus, and back again – takes about an hour
The bus stop location at Long Beach City College is on Clark Ave., just north of Carson St. The bus stop at Cerritos College is on Studebaker Rd., about a block south of Alondra Blvd.
Bus service will be free through September 24. After that, each use is $1, or you can purchase a semester pass for $25 starting September 10.
For more information, or to purchase a pass, please call the Recreation Department at (562) 220-2121.
Want to Help With Homework?
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 srosales@paramountcity. com.
Effective Study Habits for Students
You can prepare yourself to succeed in your studies by developing and appreciating the following habits (as suggested by www.studygs.net):
• Take responsibility for yourself. Recognize that in order to succeed you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time and your resources.
• Center yourself around your values and principles. Don’t let friends and acquaintances dictate what you consider important.
• Put first things first. Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don’t let others, or other interests, distract you from your goals.
• Discover your key productivity periods and places. Morning, afternoon or evening? Find spaces where you can be the most focused and productive. Prioritize these for your most difficult study challenges.
• Consider yourself in a win-win situation. When you contribute your best to a class, you, your fellow students, and even your teacher will benefit. Your grade can then be one additional check on your performance.
• First understand others, then attempt to be understood. When you have an issue with an instructor (a questionable grade, an assignment deadline, etc.) put yourself in the instructor’s place. Now ask yourself how you can best make your argument given his/her situation.
• Look for better solutions to problems For example, if you don’t understand the course material, don’t just re-read it. Try something else! Consult with the professor, a tutor, an academic advisor, a classmate, a study group, or your school’s study skills center.
• Look to continually challenge yourself.
Chapel of Change Volunteers
Members in the News
El Camino College Compton Center Honors
Two Women as 2012 Presidential Scholars
El Camino College Compton Center students LaTasia Floyd and Rebeca Miranda were recently honored at the Annual Academic Awards Tea as the 2012 Presidential Scholars. Floyd also served as the 2012 student commencement speaker during the ceremony on June 7. In addition to having the Presidential Scholar Award in common, these two women also possess similar character traits. Both of their stories demonstrate their ability to persevere through adversity in order to achieve their educational and career goals. Here are their student success stories:
LaTasia Floyd
LaTasia Floyd graduated in June with a cumulative GPA of 3.8, and was accepted to California State University, Long Beach this fall to continue her studies in psychology. At an early age, she decided to become a psychologist so she could help put individuals on a path toward contentment and accomplishment.
She describes herself as a “straight A” student who regularly volunteered for leadership positions in her youth. She has a passion for dance and giving back to at-risk youth, which has led her to work as a recreational leader for the City of Lynwood and a dance coach for the city’s free Theatre in the Community program.
After graduating from Lynwood High School with honors, Floyd was unable to attend a four-year university due to financial instability and no family support system to guide her. She enrolled at El Camino College Compton Center in fall 2010 and received financial aid with the help of counselors and the Financial Aid Office staff. Floyd connected with her professors here and credits them as being great motivators as well as providing the academic skills necessary to achieve her educational goals. They encouraged her to set high expectations for herself and she graduated from ECC Compton Center with the confidence to not only meet those expectations, but exceed them.
Rebeca Miranda
Rebeca Miranda has always believed in the American dream. Now, with the help of El Camino College Compton Center and its student support services, she is on her way to making that dream a reality. She recently graduated with an associate degree in nursing and plans to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree to become a registered nurse.
Miranda came to the United States from Mexico with the dream of one day enrolling in college, but that goal was continuously put on hold as a result of challenges in her personal life. She is a single mother, with no support system in this country, who has survived domestic mistreatment and a language barrier. She worked three jobs in order to pay her bills and provide for her two children.
Despite all of these hardships, Miranda never lost sight of her dream of enrolling at El Camino College Compton Center. That day finally came, and with the support of an English-speaking friend, Miranda enrolled in her classes. She says El Camino College Compton Center’s Extended Opportunity Program & Services (EOP&S) program played a significant role in assisting her.
EOP&S helps low-income and educationally-disadvantaged students achieve their educational goals. The program encourages the enrollment, retention, and transfer of students who are challenged by language, social, economic, and educational disadvantages. As a supplement component of EOP&S, Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) students receive special counseling and advisement, orientation, personal development, support services, workshops of interest to single parents, assistance with purchasing books and supplies, child care referrals and information, and campus- and community-based referrals.
Miranda’s two children have also seen how college has changed their mother’s life and now dream of following in her footsteps. “My kids want to study at ECC Compton Center because they say they want to be like me, says Miranda. “And, that makes me very proud.”
FREE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
Mexican Restaurant
Since 1970 when the first Casa Gamiño was opened, founder Cipriano Gamiño strived to give his customers good Mexican food and excellent service at a good price at all Casa Gamino locations. No gimmicks, just delicious food.
Parishioners from Chapel of Change Christian Fellowship; a new church in the City of Paramount volunteer to help paint one of Paramountʼs bridges.
From left: Pastor Brian and his wife Laura Warth, Raymond and Irene Ramirez, Raymond Ramirez Jr., Jennifer Odell, and Roxanne Odell.
HELP WANTED
INSURANCE SALES – Growing company seeking dynamic selfstarters, 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.
Now hiring, AUTO MECHANIC, BODY AND PAINT TECH., AND OUTSIDE SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER. Email Heraldsgarage@gmail.com or visit Herald’s Garage 8124 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount.
Aquarium of the Pacific Thursday, September 6, 2012
Residents: $2
Non-Residents: $4
Sign ups:
Residents August 6, 2012
Non-Residents August 13, 2012 Deadline: August 27, 2012
Los Angeles Farmers Market Friday, September 21, 2012
Residents: $2
Non-Residents: $4
Sign ups:
Residents August 9, 2012
Non-Residents August 16, 2012
Deadline: September 4, 2012
California’s Designing Women Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Residents: $5
Non-Residents: $7
Sign ups:
Interest list taking place
Mexican Indendance Day Celebration
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Residents: $2
Non-Residents: $3
Sign ups:
Residents August 8, 2012
Non-Residents August 22, 2012
Deadline: September 3, 2012
Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program
Tom Shea
Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program
californiacitrusthreat.org
tshea@ucdavis.edu
951-683-6491, ext. 224
Since the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) continues to be found in increasing numbers in Southern California, it is important to know how to recognize this insect pest. It is the ACP insect that is the carrier of the deadly Huanglongbing (HLB) disease that will kill a citrus tree in 3 to 5 years.
The adult Asian citrus psyllid is a small, brownish, winged insect about the size of an aphid. Its body is about a 1/8 inch long with a pointed front end, red eyes and short antennae. The wings are mottled brown around the outer edge except where a clear stripe breaks up the pattern. The adult psyllid feeds with its head down, almost touching the leaf, and the rest of its body raised from the sur¬face at about a 45-degree angle with its tail end in the air. No other insect pest of citrus positions its body this way while feeding. When it feeds on the green stem of a plant, it looks like a tiny dead leaf or a brown thorn. Due to the small size of the ACP, it is hard to see a solitary ACP insect but you might see a grouping of them on the underside of a leaf.
Females lay very tiny yellow-orange almond-shaped eggs in the folds of the tiny, newly develop¬ing feather flush leaves of citrus. The eggs hatch into nymphs that are
flattened, yellow or orange to brown¬ish, and extremely small. The nymphs can feed only on soft, young leaf tissue and are found on immature leaves and stems of flush growth on citrus. The nymphs remove sap from plant tissue when they feed and excrete a large quantity of sugary liquid called “honey¬dew”. Each nymph also produces a waxy tubule that resembles spaghetti, to help clear the sugary waste product away from its body. The tubule’s shape—a curly tube with a bulb at the end—is unique to the Asian citrus psyl¬lid.
Although ACP causes damage to the plant, the real concern is the HLB bacterial disease that it carries and transmits because HLB is lethal to any and all varieties of citrus trees.
So please look for the ACP insect whenever you see a citrus tree. To further help you identify the ACP insect on a citrus tree, the Paramount Chamber office has bookmarks and flyers with color photographs of the Asian Citrus Psyllid.
Homeowners can also talk to their local nursery or home and garden centers for help in identifying products to protect their citrus trees against the Asian Citrus Psyllid.
For more information and to get the latest updates on ACP & HLB in California, go to www.californiacitrusthreat.org. If you think you have found the Asian Citrus Psyllid or HLB disease, act now! Call the California Department of Food & Agriculture hotline: 1-800-491-1899. Or your local county Agricultural Commissioner.
Seniors: Filling Medicare’s Gaps to Protect Assets
By Maria F. Galli State Farm Insurance 562-817-5620
Whether you’re approaching your golden years or are experiencing them, it’s important to be aware of how your healthcare options change at age 65.
Many believe that Medicare will pay for all of their medical expenses.
Unfortunately, it won’t. There are several ways to help protect your assets. You may want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy (sometimes referred to as a “Medigap” policy) to help lower your out-of-pocket expenses. It’s a policy specifically designed to fill some of the gaps in your Medicare coverage.
Because Medicare Supplement Insurance is strictly regulated by both federal and state governments, only 10 standardized plans are offered, and not all plans are offered in every state. These plans pay most, if not all, Medicare coinsurance amounts.
Medicare supplement policies are labeled with the letters “A” through “J.” Plan “A” gives you a basic benefit plan. Plan “B” provides additional benefits, and so on. Additional benefits may include: co-insurance for skilled nursing care, preventive care, and emergency
treatment while traveling in a foreign country, doctor’s charges over the approved Medicare amount, prescription medicine, or at-home recovery charges. Insurers choose which plans they will market (unless a state dictates otherwise). A complete statement of coverage can be found in the policy itself. You will need to choose which plan best suits your needs and budget.
While the plan coverage offered by insurance companies is identical, no two insurance companies are alike. So, it’s important to take a close look at the company’s financial stability and level of customer service when making your decision. Once you’ve purchased a policy, you’ll be pleased to know that as long as you use a Medicare-approved physician, you may not need to submit any additional paperwork to Medicare or your supplemental insurance carrier. Be aware that neither Medicare nor a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy will cover all costs associated with long term care assistance if you’re no longer able to care for yourself. So, it’s best to consult an insurance professional to discuss all your insurance needs and in most areas, you may contact your local insurance agent for more information on your financial needs as well.
What can a strong corporate culture do for your small business? A better question might be, what can’t it do? A study by Harvard Business School Professor Emeritus James L. Heskett found that up to half of the difference in operating profit between companies is due to their corporate cultures. A strong corporate culture also leads to lower turnover, which means lower hiring and training costs, higher productivity, better customer relationships, greater customer loyalty, lower marketing costs and enhanced sales.
How can your small business create a strong corporate culture? Here are 10 tips
BY RIEVA LESONSKY
1. Take responsibility. Every business has a corporate culture—a collection of shared values, traditions and goals that make it unique. The difference is, strong corporate cultures arise consciously, shaped by the business owner, while weak ones arise accidentally from neglect.
2. Create a mission statement. Your company’s mission statement, which clearly conveys your business’s goals, philosophy and unique differentiators in a sentence or two, will be a reference point for developing and maintaining your corporate culture.
3. Keep it authentic. Corporate culture should be a natural outgrowth of your business’s mission, your industry, your customers and even your personality. Don’t try to “force” a corporate culture that’s not authentic. IBM has one corporate culture; Zappos has a very different one. Each is authentic to the business involved.
4. Involve your team. Although you are a key driver of your business’s corporate culture, that doesn’t mean you can impose it from the top down. Involve your employees in fine-tuning your mission statement and determining what kind of culture they want to create.
5. Create rituals. Rituals, stories and rites of passage help create and sustain corporate culture. Whether it’s a weekly Friday pizza lunch, a celebration for employees who reach certain milestones or just the stories you tell when you welcome new employees to the team, create rituals that convey your corporate culture.
6. Hire for fit. Look for job candidates whose personalities and attitudes mesh with your culture. Fit is more important than skill. A job candidate might have years of experience, but if he or she is uptight and rigid while your culture is loose and fun, the new hire won’t be happy— and neither will you.
7. Express your corporate culture in everything you do. Everything from the design of your office or stores, to the appearance and tone of your marketing materials, to the way your employees interact with customers should clearly convey your corporate culture to the outside world.
8. Don’t confuse “culture” with “crazy.” Wacky corporate cultures get a lot of attention these days, but being zany on the outside doesn’t mean slacking off. Build rigor, ethics and responsibility into your corporate culture to create a firm foundation for growth.
9. Check in periodically. Three out
of four executives in an MWW Group survey say their corporate culture is the major driver of their business’s reputation, but just 5 percent felt their company’s culture was strong enough to prevent a reputational crisis. Assess your corporate culture periodically to make sure it’s still working for your business.
10. Be ready to change. Nothing stays static in business today, and the corporate culture that works when your company is in the early stages may need to evolve as your business grows. If your corporate culture needs a tune-up, don’t be afraid to make changes.
Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of Grow-
Biz 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-onone 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.
