Paramount Chamber Promotes
Local Business With Publication of 2010 Business Directory
Promoting the community and helping businesses thrive is what the Paramount Chamber is all about. One of the many tools used by the Chamber to promote local businesses is a community directory and guide which is produced bi-annually. The directory contains a list of member businesses as well as contact information for City Services, the School District and other important agencies. The directory also contains a location list for Paramount’s Outdoor Art Museum and other Paramount attractions. Copies of the “2010 Directory” will be delivered throughout the City of Paramount in February. Paramount residents may also stop by the Chamber to pick up a free copy.
The Paramount Chamber would like to thank the following directory advertisers for their support:
AFLAC
Alert Cleaners
Apollo Metal Spinning
Apple Care Medical
Avila Flooring
February 2010
Bianchi/Swap Meet
Café Corleone
Cal Met Services
Carlton Forge Works
Casa Adelita
Catalysta Interactive
Cerritos College
Charles G. Hardy
Cleantime Maintenance
Clinica Medica Hispana
DeMaria Electric
Direct Way Personnel
Domino’s Pizza
Doris Flowers
Downey Plumbing
Dr. Thomas Hansen
Dusk to Dawn
Enrique’s Restaurant
E-Recycling of California
Fenico Precision Castings
Frize Corp.
Gateway Business Bank
Gazebo Flowers
GM Properties
Greg’s Collision
Heath Machine, Inc.
Herald’s Garage
Hunt Industrial
Hunter Security
Industrial Risk Management
J & W Construction
Kids Dental Kare
Kimberly’s Dance Studio
La Amapola Market
Lifegate Foursquare Church
Lindsay Lumber
Lions Club
Madame Pompador
Mariscos El Perihuete
Mariscos Mi Lindo Sinaloa
Marukan Vinegar
Max Martinez, DDS
Mission Stucco
Mmmm Lemon Pie & More
Ms. Jeans Child Care
National Homes & Investment
New Commandment Church
Para Latino Medical Center
Paramount Collision Ctr.
Paramount Furniture
Paramount Iceland
Paramount Petroleum
Paramount Resource Recycling
Power Electronics
Press Forge
Rhino Linings
RoadRash Motorsports
Roberts & Roberts Chiropractic
Rosewood Restaurant
Rotary Club of Paramount
SCE Federal Credit Union
SG Professional Services
State Farm/Luis
Storage Solutions
The Jankovich Co.
The UPS Store
Tip Top Towing
Total Western
Transcom Telecommunications
Vernon Security
Vicky Professional Services
W.H. Plumbing
Ward Properties
Weber Metals
So. Cal. Immediate Med. Ctr.
Acosta
CPR Training For Adults Coming In March
The Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross will be offering Adult CPR training at a reduced price in Paramount at Progress Park Plaza.
This CPR training teaches participants how to respond to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Participants gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, recognize and provide basic care for cardiac episodes in emergency situations until advanced medical personnel arrive. The Red Cross CPR
certification is valid for one year.
The training will take place Saturday, March 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The fee is $10. Progress Park Plaza is located at 15500 Downey Ave., Paramount.
You need to register for the training at the Paramount Sheriff’s Station. For more information please call (562) 220-2170. Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 9.
City Has Embraced Recycling Programs
Paramount instituted a residential recycling program in November, 2007. The goal was to meet the State’s directive to divert at least 50% of each city’s waste stream away from landfills. We also worked toward this target with a commercial waste program and household hazardous waste collections.
Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of our residents and businesses, we have exceeded the required numbers by far.
In 2006, 44% of Paramount’s trash was being recycled, which prompted the rollout of the blue and green receptacles for recyclable materials and greenwaste. By the following year, we jumped to a 56% diversion rate. In 2008, an impressive 63% of everything thrown away in town was
VOLUNTEER
going somewhere besides a landfill, and the figures continued their climb through the end of last year.
In pure tonnage figures, for January through November of 2009, there were 2,595 tons of greenwaste (your green can) and 1,272 tons of recyclables (your blue can) taken out of Paramount’s waste stream.
Thank you to everyone in town who has embraced this mission to help our environment.
Transportation in Paramount
There are a number of options for residents of Paramount to get around town through our public transportation offerings. Here’s a rundown of each.
Easy Rider Shuttle. This is a quick, simple way to travel around the City. For only 50 cents, the purple shuttle will transport residents along a fixed route, hitting all of the prominent spots like Wal-Mart, Paramount High School and parks. Call (562) 633-2904 for more information.
Dial-A-Ride. For those who need as¬sistance going to a specific location not along any particular bus route, Dial-A-Ride is the ticket. Call First Transit 48 hours in advance of an appointment for door-to-door pickup and drop-off service. Call (562) 6332904 for more information.
Taxi Card. Paramount’s Medical Taxi Card program is designed to help seniors and disabled residents make medical appointments at out-of-town facilities (within an approximate five-mile radius). The
program recently transitioned from a paper voucher to a new credit card voucher. Paramount residents can enroll in the program at the fol¬lowing locations: Community Services and Recreation Department, City Hall or Paramount Community Center. MTA. The Metropolitan Trans¬portation Authority (MTA) runs buses on Alondra Blvd., Rosecrans Ave., Paramount Blvd., and Lakewood Blvd. Visit www.mta.net to view these bus schedules and stop locations in Paramount.
Crime Statistics Continue Their Long-Term Drop
The City’s crime numbers are in from last year, and the levels keep going in the right direction – down.
As compared to 2008, overall crime in Paramount declined by an impressive 13%. This included hefty dips of 18% in burglary, 15% in theft and 14% in auto theft. With that last stat, not only did auto thefts occur less frequently, but our License Plate Recognition technology resulted in 38% of the vehicles stolen being recovered.
Another nice confirmation that we do things right in our town was that the Gang Resistance Is Paramount (GRIP) program was replicated in the city of Springfield, MA, last year.
As always, we will continue our proactive policies into 2010, working with the Sheriff’s Department in a truly strong and productive partnership.
Winston Churchill
Mayor, Diane Martinez
Graffiti Reward Program
In the ongoing regional battle against graffiti, most cities have reward programs to prompt residents who witness this type of vandalism to come forward. Paramount is no different.
Our Graffiti Reward Program offers $200 to anyone who provides information or identification that leads to the apprehension of a suspect. If the witness appears in court – or the suspect pleads guilty even without a court appearance – an additional $300 is awarded.
For more information about the Graffiti Reward Program, please call (562) 2202002.
The City stays on top of graffiti outbreaks, wiping them clean within 48 hours (and usually much quicker). On a routine basis, the Public Works Graffiti Removal Team examines parks, alleys, large walls and other potential areas that would attract taggers, and removes all graffiti in public view. Anyone in the community who sees graffiti can call the City’s Hotline at (562) 220-2233 and report the location so our crew can go and clean it up.
Since 2006, the City has contracted with Graffiti Tracker, a private company that provides equipment to photograph, store,
and analyze all forms of graffiti in the city. A special assignment deputy uses this information to track graffiti and graffiti vandals. Since beginning this service, arrests in Paramount for graffiti activity have risen steadily, and the Tracker was responsible for 33% of those arrests made in 2009.
Keeping Track of Vacant Houses
The Paramount Public Safety Department conducts a canvass every so often to note the location of vacant homes throughout the City. The idea is to keep tabs on these properties to ensure that they’re tightly secured and don’t become attractions for nuisance activity.
The list is provided to patrol deputies and special assignment officers, who then check on the properties to make sure they are not being used as flop houses or being vandalized.
If any resident knows of a vacant home in their neighborhood, they can contact the Public Safety Department at (562) 220-2002 and ask for Code Enforcement. The City will then send a Code Enforcement Officer to the site to conduct an inspection.
Valentine’s Day Special
Luis Acosta’s State Farm Insurance: Friendly, Personal, and Strong
“Like a good neighbor ... .” Of course, you know the rest. That slogan for State Farm Insurance has been rooted in the public’s mind for decades. Now Paramount has a new neighbor to knowledgeably assist residents and businesses with their insurance and financial services needs.
Luis Acosta is the new State Farm agent in town, open since last October. He brings ten years of experience in the insurance industry, and knows the value of an established insurer like State Farm. “In these times, you want to be with a financially stable company,” he said. “State Farm, a Fortune 500 company with a net worth over $58 billion, is the #1 insurer of homes and autos in the nation. We pride ourselves on being a full-service, competitively priced insurer who provides prompt and efficient policy and claims servicing. If you have a claim, you can count on us to do our part well.”
Another advantage is individualized service. “With a local agent, you get personal attention,” Acosta said. “You’re not calling an 800 number, talking to a stranger somewhere in the world, then being transferred and repeating all your information. With us, you build a relationship with a real person, face to face. You can stop in, make a payment, have a cup of coffee, or we’ll come to your home or business if that’s more convenient for you.”
Acosta believes in developing kinship with clients. “We’re family run. My wife and brother work with me and other team members, and we extend that family feel to our customers. With over 40 years of insurance experience, our team has the expertise to help customers not only
save money, but get personalized coverage.”
A sense of community is something he appreciates in the city overall. “Paramount is very organized, with great leadership. I joined the Chamber of Commerce, one of the best-run our team has seen, immediately. I have been welcomed by the mayor, councilmembers, the city manager, and many residents and businesses. Everyone has been supportive.”
Acosta provides across-theboard insurance including auto, homeowners, condo owners, renters, life, health, and business products (business owners, workers’ comp, and excess umbrella liability). He has found that many people don’t realize State Farm has a full array of banking products: checking, savings, CDs, credit cards, and auto and home loans. He also offers financial planning for mutual funds, retirement accounts and more. There are numerous discounts available for policyholders, as well.
Being crystal clear with clients is key. “Sometimes people don’t understand their policies,” he said. “We sit down and make sure everybody understands what they need and what they are getting.”
Business has been thriving in these four months, and Acosta is set for a long run. “I chose to open my business and invest in Paramount because it is an economically healthy, culturally diverse, and growing community, one I plan to actively participate in, by giving back and by becoming a part of the business base for years to come.”
Luis Acosta’s State Farm office is located at 16297 Paramount Blvd. Phone: (562) 5311900.
State Farm agent Luis Acosta is joined by his wife Cindy and elected officials from the City and Chamber to celebrate the grand opening of their new office.
State Farm team member Cindy Acosta presents chamber member Marty Phillips of Water Express with a $25 gift certificate as winner of the door prize drawing.
Jesse Cheng representing Congresswoman Linda Sanchez presents Luis Acosta with a certificate of recognition at his grand opening.
Chamber Vice President Dr. Max Martinez welcomed State Farm Acosta Agency to Paramount and expressed the Chamber’s desire to help their business succeed.
PEP Begins Series of Adult Education Workshops
The Paramount Education Partnership, Inc. (PEP) continues to shine by offering community members a wide variety of selfimprovement opportunities. As promised, starting this year PEP will host several adult workshops that are geared at increasing awareness and, more importantly, at educating parents about very important issues such as: parenting, self-esteem, communication techniques, nutrition, domestic violence, tobacco and alcohol and drug prevention.
The first workshop, given by the Department of Behavioral Health Services in collaboration with Los Angeles Care Health Plan, will be on nutrition, and take place Friday, Feb. 12, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Paramount Petroleum Community Learning Resource Center at Spane Park. Some of the topics under this workshop include portion consumption, sugars and a
Members in the News
guide for well-balanced meals. We encourage everyone who is interested to contact us at (562) 220-2250. Dates and times of future workshops will be publicized upon confirmation of scheduling.
Everyone is welcome to call or stop by to get information on how PEP can assist you. We are here to serve you! We encourage everyone to take part in the many programs PEP offers at no cost.
You can get in shape Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Adult Aerobics Class. You can sharpen your English reading and writing skills, Monday - Thursday from 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can help your son or daughter improve their literacy and math skills, or simply provide them with a safe, quiet and professional place where they can get help with their homework.
The choice is yours! Again, call (562) 220-2250 for more information.
El Camino College Compton Center Women’s Soccer Receives Coach of the Year and Other Honors in First Year of Competition
El Camino College Compton Center is proud to announce the head coach of its new Women’s Soccer team, Mandy Clemens, has been named Coach of the Year by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), South Coast Conference (SCC). Freshman Waynita Glenn made the All-SCC First Team, freshman O’Tina McKinstry made the All-SCC Second Team, and Evelin Lainez received an honorable mention.
Women’s Soccer was added to El Camino College Compton Center’s Athletics Program in the 2009 academic year, and Clemens is the first head coach for the Tartar Women’s Soccer team.
A San Diego, California, native, Clemens had a record-setting, award-winning college career at Santa Clara University from 1996 to 1999, before turning pro and becoming one of the first-ever
members of the Women’s United Soccer Association. She played for the Philadelphia Charge and the San Jose CyberRays, and was in the women’s USA National Team Player Pool for six years, helping USA to win the Australia Cup in 2000.
Prior to joining Women’s Soccer at El Camino College Compton Center, Clemens coached as an instructor at the David Beckham Academy for young children and teens from 2006 to 2007, and as a graduate assistant for Loyola Marymount University’s women’s team from 2004 to 2006. She led the La Jolla High School boys’ varsity team to Division III CIF quarterfinals in 2005.
El Camino College Compton Center is pleased to offer Women’s Soccer as a proud member of the CCCAA. In addition to Women’s Soccer, the Athletics Program fields nine other
Chamber Breakfast Provides Opportunity for Networking
Participants at the Paramount Chamber Networking Breakfast made business contacts, set up table top displays and won prizes while playing Chamber Trivia. The quarterly breakfast sponsored by Herald’s Garage was attended by more than 60 people and provided a great opportunity to meet new clients. During the event Karen Sonnenberg was recognized as Ambassador of the Quarter and Judy Roldan received a $25 cash prize for the best table top display.
Santa Anita Race Track Check for dates February 2010
Tax Assistance for Seniors Wednesdays at Senior Center By Appt only
Cruise to Alaska Months of Sailing May through July 2010
Deposit: $350 per person Cost of trip will depend on sailing date. Sound like fun? Visit front desk to sign interest list.
Catalina Island
If interested in taking an excursion to Catalina Island, please visit the front desk or call (562) 220-2090 to begin an interest list.
Exercise class every Monday
11 am to 12 pm
Fee: 1$ per class
Held at Paramount Park
Bingo Tuesdays 11 am to 12:30 pm
Donation $1 for 3 Cards Cash Prizes!
Held at Paramount Park
Oil Painting Class Every Thursday 9 am in Rooms 1 & 2
Sign up at the class $3 per lesson
HELP WANTED
OUTSIDE SALES AND BODY & PAINT TECHNICIAN WITH TOOL EXPERIENCE. Trouble-shooting. Apply at Herald’s Garage, 8124 E. Alondra Blvd, Paramount. 562-633-2136, Ask for Joe.
AMFED SALES, a toner and office product company in Paramount CA, is currently seeking an inside sales representative. Applicants must have at least two years sales experience, strong phone skills, and computer skills. This position is commission based and work hours are from 9am to 5 pm Mon-Fri. Please send resume to frank@amfedsales. com or fax to 562/272-0186 Attn: Frank Vasquez”
Ambassador Chair Debbie Jameson joins Chamber President Martin Johnson in presenting a certificate of recognition to Karen Sonnenberg of Total-Western, Inc., who was named Ambassador of the Quarter.
Judy Roldan of Catalysta Interactive was awarded $25 for “Best Table Top” display at the January breakfast.
After the Recession: Threats and Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
Unfortunately few operating businesses are immune to the effects of the recent credit crunch. As the threat of inflation continues and prices rise, oftentimes available credit doesn’t. Small business owners are left to restock inventories with less liquidity. This effect can quickly snowball and cause serious liquidity and credit problems. Keeping lines of credit open and maintaining an additional cash buffer may ease the pressure a bit. Business owners can also look for loans from less traditional sources. A permanent life insurance policy, for example, provides death benefit protection, but can build equity in the form of cash value you can borrow against should you need to.
Opportunity: Retirement Contribution Tax Deductions
Many business owners are so certain they will be able to fund their retirement through the sale of their business that they don’t bother to make any other retirement plans. The reality is, a sale might not be easy and there are attractive opportunities for current tax deductions through qualified retirement plans.
Traditional plans remain popular and include IRA’s, 401(k)s, SEP’s, and SIMPLEs. They allow employers to take a tax deduction on contributions. Other IRS-approved plans are increasing in
popularity such as the 412(e)(3) plan. This plan may allow certain small business owners to make potentially higher initial tax deductible contributions. You should consult your tax or legal advisor prior to establishing a qualified retirement plan.
Opportunity: Increased Unemployment Results in Larger Employee Pool
For employers looking to bring on new employees, the down economy may actually benefit their business. Increased unemployment has flooded the employee pool with more highly qualified candidates than ever before. Employers shouldn’t overlook potential candidates because of the stigma of having been laid off. The job market presents the opportunity for small business owners to attract and retain big business talent at small business costs. It may also be wise to hire commission-based employees, often known as “pay for performance.” Employers will find an increasing number of qualified individuals that may have never considered commission-based compensation before, willing to give it a try.
This educational third-party article is being provided as a courtesy by: Agent, Christopher T. Hicks, CA Ins. Lic # 0664003, New York Life Insurance Company.
10 Tips to Make You More Productive
Do you feel like there are never enough hours in the day to do all you need to do? Maybe the problem isn’t time, but how you’re using it. Try these 10 tips to power up your personal productivity.
Streamline. Are you juggling two paper calendars, an organizer and a Blackberry? Get control by paring down to one master organizing system. Whether that’s an organizer binder, a PDA or a computerized system doesn’t matter, as long as it works for you.
Go step by step. When big tasks seem overwhelming, you’ll be tempted to procrastinate. Break big tasks into small steps. For instance, if you’re looking for new office space, the first small step might be “Look up commercial real estate brokers in my area.” Take one step a day, and you’ll make steady progress.
Don’t over-schedule. Be realistic when setting deadlines and goals. Figure out how long a task should take, then build in a “cushion” of time in case something goes wrong. Leave at least two hours each work day unscheduled so you’ll have time to deal with the unexpected.
Harness your natural rhythms. Observe yourself for a week or so to figure out what times of day you’re most (and least) productive. Schedule tasks that require complex thinking, creativity or interaction for your energetic hours. Fill your natural down times with easier tasks like handling paperwork or organizing your office.
Pinpoint time-wasters. Are you constantly interrupted by the phone ringing or employees dropping by to chat? Figure out how to eliminate time-wasters. If you need uninterrupted time, set your phone to go to voice mail a few hours a day. Visitors lingering on your comfy couch? Pile it with books so it won’t be inviting.
Prioritize. Before the week begins, write down your key goals and tasks for that week. Try to predict problems that might arise and how you will handle them. Every night, jot down a to-do list for tomorrow with three key goals.
Delegate. Entrepreneurs often hang onto tasks that employees could easily handle. Learn to delegate, and free up time to focus on growing your business. (Plus, employees appreciate the chance to gain new skills and experience.)
Fit in fitness. A little activity each day makes a big difference in your productivity. Whether it’s getting up extra early to squeeze in a gym workout, walking instead of driving to a client meeting, or a brisk 10-minute walk at noon, find ways to fit in fitness.
Get rest. I know it’s hard, but you must make every effort to get the sleep you need for peak performance. Keep laptops, cell phones and other business tools out of the bedroom. Give yourself time to wind down at the end of each day.
Think long-term. It’s easy to get caught up in checking off your to-do lists and putting out fires. Also make time for long-term thinking and strategic planning. Whether you spend one day on this, or every Friday morning, set
aside a regular block of time to focus on your business’s future. Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their
businesses. Before
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