WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2023 SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1973
IS IT SAFE FOR CHILDREN TO
‘TRICK OR TREAT’ THIS HALLOWEEN?
Dr. Jereme Patricia Butler Now that COVID-19 is less of a threat due to a majority of Californians being vaccinated, we’re likely to see more ghosts, goblins and witches walking down neighborhood streets this Halloween, as trick-or-treating is expected to be a common sight in communities across Southern California.
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scary health hazards parents should be familiar with to ensure families have a safe and happy Halloween this year. Food allergies When it comes to candy, peanuts and other foods, it’s always important to read labels and avoid treats without labels. For parents whose children have severe allergic reactions to
OR parents, keeping children safe during this festive holiday will be a main priority. Dr. Jereme Patricia Butler, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente South Bay, notes that although parents may feel more at ease having their children trick-or-treat this Halloween, there are important safety precautions they need to follow to avoid injury and illness. She stressed the importance of children being up-to-date with their COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Additionally, she described seven
certain foods, it’s important to carry an epinephrine auto-injector if prescribed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies account for 35% to 50% of all cases of severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions that can occur up to two hours of ingestion of food, such as peanuts. Hand injury Pumpkin carving is a cherished Halloween tradition that many families enjoy each year. However, pumpkin-related carving knife injuries can lead to nerve, tendon and artery injuries, – and they are preventable, notes Dr. Butler. Understanding the risks and being careful can save you and your child a costly and traumatic visit to the emergency room. To avoid injuries, Dr. Butler encourages children to draw the pattern on the pumpkin, clean out the inside pulp and seeds with a spoon, but leave the knife work to mom and dad. n Trick or Treat, see page 9
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Organized Retail Theft Task Force to tackle smash-and-grabs
NEW TASK FORCE HAS MADE 89 ARRESTS, RECOVERED $370K IN STOLEN MERCHANDISE Commerce, CA-- Los Angeles County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, and Commerce Mayor Hugo Argumedo held a press conference recently at the Citadel Outlets in the City of Commerce to provide an update on the efforts of the Organized Retail Theft Task Force including arrests made and merchandise recovered. “The goal of this task force is to urgently respond to the smash-and-grab robberies that we had seen at malls and stores across the county. These were not petty thefts - these were organized violent operations that cannot and will not be allowed to continue,” said Supervisor Hahn. “Today, just five weeks after the Organized n Smash, see page 9
Lynwood Unified’s Top Leader Named Los Angeles County Superintendent of the Year LYNWOOD, CA – Lynwood Unified School District Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Ph.D., has been honored as the 2023 Los Angeles County Superintendent of the Year by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), a recognition that reflects his unwavering commitment to student success and outstanding leadership.
Crosthwaite recei ved the surprise recognition from Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo, Ed.D., during the District’s annual State of the District on Oct. 20. The announcement was met with enthusiastic cheers from District students, the Board of Education, staff and community members. n LUSD Soy, see page 8
Lynwood Unified staff celebrate Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite’s selection as the 2023 Los Angeles County Superintendent of the Year on Oct. 20.