Lakewood Community News - March 2023

Lakewood hosts its State of the City

Nearly 200 Lakewood residents and community leaders gathered at The Centre on Feb. 22 for Mayor Steve Croft’s State of the City remarks and to hear additional details on public safety and new businesses coming to Lakewood from the city’s Public Safety Director Joshua Yordt and Community Development Director Abel Avalos.

The annual event is hosted by the city, the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Lakewood.

Attendees also saw the premiere of Lakewood CityTV's always informative and uplifting Annual Report video, which can be seen at www.lakewoodcity.org/SOTC

Many of the new restaurants and other businesses coming to Lakewood are described by Mayor Croft in his “Lakewood Today” column on page 2 of this Lakewood Community News.

In terms of public safety, Mayor Croft and Public Safety Director Yordt described how property crime across the nation decreased significantly during the pandemic, with people home more, but started to increase back to pre-COVID levels in 2022.

Despite that national trend, Lakewood’s overall Part 1 crime rate remained 19% lower in 2022 compared to five years earlier. However, auto thefts

(Cont'd. on Pg. 19)

Businesses join Chamber, City and Sheriff's to discuss crime prevention

The Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce joined the City of Lakewood’s Public Safety Department, and the Lakewood Sheriff’s Department, to host their first Crime Prevention Meeting for businesses in Lakewood.

The meeting was led by Sgt. Theo Gekas and focused on Crime Prevention statistics, crime hot spots and crime prevention methods. With several business owners in attendance, Kaitlin Osborn, Public Safety Manager for the City of Lakewood, encouraged business owners to please speak up.

Lakewood Beautiful encourages residents to Spring into action!

Aswe round the corner of winter and begin to see the early bloom of spring take hold with blooming flowers and plant growth, it is a perfect time to recognize your house or a neighbor’s house.

The Lakewood Beautiful program honors Lakewood residents who take extra care to keep their homes and yards (and local neighborhoods) looking great.

Studies show that home upkeep and beautification by caring, committed residents keeps crime rates low and property values healthy, thereby benefiting the whole community.

You can help honor those

Lakewood residents who go “above and beyond” to keep their home and yards looking beautiful by submitting a nomination form by March 29, 2023.

There are four ways to honor your home or a neighbor’s

home in the Lakewood Beautiful program:

• Beautiful Home Award. This is the city’s most traditional award, which has honored hundreds of Lakewood homes over three decades. This award rec-

(Cont'd. on Pg. 16)

“We appreciate everyone for joining us today, but we need you as business owners to let us know what you’re dealing with, please do not hold back,” she said, encouraging business owners to take advantage of this opportunity to speak directly to the City and the Sheriff’s Station. Eventually, said Osborn, these Crime Prevention Meetings will be held at businesses. “We eventually want to take these meetings to you, out there in the community, this was just a first one, but it’s important for us to take these out into the business community.”

The City’s new Public

Safety Department started in 2018 to help city leaders form strong working relationships between the department and the community, maintain those strong relationships in a positive manner and connect community members with resources offered by the City and by the Sheriff’s Department.

Co-sponsored by the GLCC, Chair David Arellano, opened the meeting by giving a brief description of the Chamber of Commerce, its benefits and its services. “More importantly,” he said, “the Greater Lakewood

(Cont'd. on Pg. 15)

New LCN Special Section to promote business community

Lakewood Community News readers this month will be surprised when they open their newspaper and find a new Quarterly Advertising Special Edition inside of their regular paper.

The Quarterly Advertising Special Edition is a new 8-page special advertising promotional section within the newspaper created by the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce to put a spotlight on businesses in Lakewood and surrounding cities. Businesses in Lakewood were invited to advertise in this Special Edition by email in January and early February. This Special Edition was designed to sell only ½ page ads and 5x6 ads, which would be accompanied by an advertorial, or a feature story and photo(s), about the business. While written by a GLCC staff writer, every feature story is part of the advertising package for the Special Edition.

The Lakewood Community News is a publication of the GLCC and has often featured stories provided by the City of Lakewood. The LCN in February started also featuring stories about the GLCC, its members and about the local business community. With this new Quarterly Advertising Special Edition, the GLCC aims to highlight the business community it serves, along with giving readers a little glimpse into the business community and the people who own them.

Lakewood Mayor Steve Croft joined City staff members in presenting the 2023 State of the City address to a room filled with stakeholders from across the City, including residents, business owners, non profits and local leaders.

The Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, partnered with the City of Lakewood's Public Safety Department, and the Lakewood Sheriff's Department, to host a workshop on Crime Prevention for the Business Community.

New businesses coming to Lakewood

City governments of course can’t demand that a particular private business locate in their community.

But one of my top priorities and that of my colleagues on the Lakewood City Council is doing all we can to create and support a healthy business climate in Lakewood so that interesting and attractive businesses will choose to locate here. Equally important, we want to do everything possible so that our existing businesses can thrive and even expand.

The past few years have been challenging for businesses all across the country, and businesses in Lakewood have not been immune to those challenges, including those posed by the pandemic and the growth of Internet commerce. Several local restaurants and other businesses have closed…although other Lakewood businesses have thrived.

We are fortunate that our economy is not based on tourism, like some in Southern California, but instead on local consumer spending, which didn’t decrease as projected during the pandemic, and in some instances actually increased, such as for home im-

provement projects.

Amidst all the churn in the national and local economy in 2022, Lakewood still saw substantial commercial growth and improvements this past year, which is good news.

Farmers & Merchants Bank continued with their major investment at Lakewood and Del Amo, which included a $10 million-plus renovation of their building. Their continued renovations will include a multi-million-dollar array of solar-charging shade covers for their parking lot.

Over 200 new businesses opened in Lakewood in 2022, including many independent restaurants, like Str8Up Tacos at Pioneer and Centralia, which has been getting so many good reviews that they are in Yelp’s Top 50 taco spots

in the nation. Nostalgia Gorditas also just opened at Bellflower and South and is owned by Lakewood residents using their family’s traditional recipes from the Coahuila region of northeastern Mexico.

Over 4,300 construction permits were issued for commercial and residential work in 2022, which is the highest yearly total in the past 15 years. Building and remodeling activity, especially on the commercial side, declined sharply after COVID began, but clearly it has now rebounded strongly in Lakewood.

And more commercial development and new businesses will be coming to Lakewood in 2023…more in fact than in recent memory.

A creative, new quick-serve restaurant will be coming to the space on Candlewood St. formerly occupied by Souplantation. Demolition of the old building should start in April…and in its place will be Hart House—a restaurant founded by comedian Kevin Hart—that will feature all plant-based foods, including plant-based burgers, sandwiches and nuggets…along with salads, fries, tots and milkshakes.

Another interesting new business will be the Sender One wall climbing experience. The former Office Max on Lakewood Blvd. will get a $2.4 million renovation and be expanded with a second story to create this new facility for climbing enthusiasts and families. There will be a section devoted to children with state-ofthe-art tethers to allow them to safely climb 20-30 feet in the air. Construction should start this summer.

We’ll also see a large, new development come to the empty parcel on Carson St.

east of Walmart. It will include four buildings, totaling 75,000 square-feet—called The Drive—and its 13 tenants will include retail, medical, industrial and commercial businesses.

And Harbor Chevrolet & Hyundai on the Lakewood portion of Cherry Ave. has a new owner, and they will be making a major investment there, with entirely new showrooms.

Clearly, Lakewood is doing something right to be an attractive location for so many entrepreneurs to invest their time and money.

Timmons Subaru, which located here in 2021 and built a large new facility, complimented the City of Lakewood for being prompt, professional and helpful in the city’s review of plans and in generally facilitating Timmons’ opening in Lakewood.

I think that our city’s reputation for safety, well-maintained streets and other infrastructure, and our generally attractive and warm community atmosphere also play a role in making business owners feel like Lakewood is a good place to locate.

We, of course, would like to see even more businesses or some favorites that each of us might have come here. But, like I said, we can’t force these businesses to locate here…and they have each their own business formulas for what sites will work for them, including whether they have an existing location nearby.

This past year, my colleagues and I on the City Council approved our contract hiring of an economic consulting team that can provide us with expert analysis and advice on how we can deal with the economic challenges in Lakewood and maximize the opportunities we have for economic growth. Business attraction and economic development will be very high priorities for all of us on the City Council this year.

It looks like 2023 and 2024 will see a significant number of new and interesting businesses open up in Lakewood. And stay tuned for even more news as the economy continues to evolve and we in community leadership positions in Lakewood do all that we can to make sure that it evolves in a good way for our city. ♦

Mayor Steve Croft

New Mexican restaurant, Nostalgia Gorditas' owners Javier and Arlae Chio are longtime Lakewood residents. Nostalgia Gorditas is located at the corner of South Street and Bellflower Boulevard.

Attendees of the Mayor's State of the City Address were treated to an annual report on business growth in the City. In 2022, over 200 new businesses opened in Lakewood. The Hart House is a new business that will be replacing the site formerly occupied by Souplantation.

Lakewood City Council appoints new city commissioners

The Lakewood City Council recently added four residents to serve on the city commissions. Commissioners meet monthly and study issues related to their commission’s focus. Meet the newest members of each commission:

Community Safety Commission

• Brad Crihfield graduated from Lakewood High School, obtained his bachelor's degree in Political Science at California State University, Long Beach and is an employee of Long Beach City College. Since opening his own Lakewood small business in 2011, he has been active in the business community through his work with the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce which he recently served as chairman. Brad previously was a member of Lakewood’s Measure L Citizens Oversight Committee.

Recreation & Community Services Commission

• Anitza Valles has lived in Lakewood for over 10 years. She’s the senior manager for web and social media at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach where she has worked for almost 20 years.

She’s also been an active member of the executive board of the Parent Teachers Association at her children’s school and a communications volunteer for the Lakewood Little League.

“I believe in the power of community and connection,” says Anitza, “and I do my best to connect with my communities,

Meet your neighbors

Get to know more of your neighbors on a family-friendly walk around your local park on Saturday, April 1 from 9 to 10 a.m. Walk and talk while enjoying Lakewood's beautiful parks on a two-mile route. Meet at the park office for light refreshments, water and a map of the walking route. Pre-registration is required. Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog and search for “Community Walk,” then select your local park and register.

For more information about the Community Walk, call the Recreation and Community Services Department at 562866-9771 ext. 2408. ♦

be they in my neighborhood, school, work or someplace else. I think that Lakewood offers an extraordinary amount of recreation programming for all interests and ages, and I am excited for the future as Lakewood continues to diversify and explore new possibilities.”

Planning & Environment Commission

• Vicki L. Stuckey has been a resident of Lakewood for 30 years. She previously served 15 years on the Planning and Environment Commission, including four terms as chair, prior to her appointment by the Lakewood City Council in September 2020 to fill the remaining two years of the seat left vacant by the retirement of Council Member Diane DuBois. Vicki has been active in several

Lakewood community organizations, including the Pan American Association, Rotary Club, and the board of directors of the Lakewood Regional Medical Center. She is happy to return to serving Lakewood as a commissioner. “I love living in Lakewood. I love the parks, the neighborhoods, and our wonderful residents, community groups and events.”

• Terry Cole and his wife Charity chose to purchase their first home in Lakewood in 2019 because Lakewood is a thriving, safe and centrally located community, ideal for raising a family. Terry is a civil litigator with a law firm in Los Angeles, and is very experienced in analyzing complex problems and coming up with pragmatic solutions. “I’m excited to invest

my time and energy to help the city deal with some of its planning, environmental and land use challenges. As an attorney, I plan to use my skill set to confront those challenges and make a positive contribution to Lakewood’s development.”

For more information about each commission go to www.lakewoodcity.org/commissions

New City Commissioners, from left are: Brad Crihfield, Anitza Valles, Vicki L. Stuckey and Terry Cole.

City Spotlight

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

City Volunteer Day program seeks project sites

One of Lakewood’s enduring traditions is Volunteer Day, where residents help their neighbors in need and make their community a better place.

March is Women’s History Month

Women have made significant contributions to society long before any formal recognition. However, Women’s History Month offers an opportunity to highlight the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

The City of Lakewood joins the federal government, state government and hundreds of public and private organizations in paying tribute to this important annual commemoration and celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society, including women’s struggles for the right to vote and equality under the law.

On behalf of the Lakewood City Council, Mayor Steve Croft has issued a proclamation in recogni-

tion of Women’s History Month, which can be viewed at www. lakewoodcity.org/Women

The two Los Angeles County Libraries in Lakewood will be creating book displays in celebration of women in March and offer take-home activity kits (recommended for children ages 5-12).

Visit lacountylibrary.org to see the commemorative month’s specific resources, which will include a booklist and a special “Great Women in History” tribute to four women you may have never heard of, but have made huge impacts on our local community and the world.

Take note, the Smithsonian Institution is currently building the American Women’s History Museum in our nation’s capital. The museum will recognize women’s

accomplishments, the history they made, and the communities they represent.

In addition, a major new online research guide highlights hundreds of sources that tell the stories of women through a wide variety of perspectives and media in the Library of Congress collections. The guide's comprehensive coverage includes historic and contemporary audio and video files, posters, photographs, magazines, sheet music, maps, manuscripts and rare books, as well as government documents and legislation. The topical essays highlight such themes as the Equal Rights Amendment, Patriotism and Suffrage. Delve into the treasure trove at https://guides.loc. gov/american-women. ♦

The Volunteer Day program is looking for project sites for its Saturday, April 15 cleanup and fix-up event. More than 500 volunteers will fan out that day to locations throughout Lakewood to donate a morning’s work to help their neighbors in need. Teams of volunteer workers from scout troops, schools, clubs, businesses, organizations and religious congregations will assist residents who are unable to maintain their properties themselves.

Recipients of Volunteer Day aid can be seniors or persons of any age who, because of a disability or limited means, need some neighborly help to make their Lakewood yard or home exterior a little nicer. Work can include gardening, yard cleanup or minor painting.

The proposed project sites are reviewed by city staff for eligibility and suitability. If you, or someone you know, can benefit from a Volunteer Day cleanup project and meet the selection criteria, please go to www.lakewoodcity.org/volunteerdaysite to submit an application online, or call the Burns Community Center at 562-925-7512.

FAMILY FUN

Family Game Night

Meet your neighbors at a night of family fun on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. at your neighborhood park! Kids versus parents, family versus family, trivia, charades and more, are sure to make this an action-packed evening of fun! Light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required. Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog and search for “Family Game Night,” then select your local park and register.

MOMS & SONS

Mother/Son Mayhem

Mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other special ladies invite your son(s) or other special young men, ages five and older, to Mother/Son Mayhem at Monte Verde Park, 4626 N. Shadeway Rd. on Saturday, March 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. Go on a galactic adventure with your son(s) at an event filled with dinner and activities under the stars. This exciting, action-packed event will feature a delicious dinner, inflatable attractions, and plenty of prizes. The mother/son duo with the most creative attire will also receive an award. Guests will receive a keepsake mother/son photo and frame. Dinner will be served. Registration

is $25 per Lakewood resident and $30 per non-resident. Each mother and son must be individually registered. Visit www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog to register in advance using activity #24628.

DADS & DAUGHTERS

Daddy/Daughter Date Night

The annual Daddy/Daughter Date Night is Friday, March 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Centre, 5000 Clark Ave. This year’s theme is “Interstellar Gala.” Dads and daughters, ages five and above, will enjoy a delicious dinner followed by dancing to a popular DJ. Each couple can dress in their best “out of this world” outfit and there will be exciting contests throughout the evening, including the crowning of the king and princess. All guests will receive a keepsake daddy/ daughter photo. Registration is $45 per Lakewood resident and $55 per non-resident and it fills quickly. Each daddy and daughter should register individually. For more information, or to sign up for this event, call 562-866-9771, ext. 2408 or sign up at www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog using activity #24629.

MOVIE NIGHT

Play at Palms Movie Night Under the Stars featuring Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG)

Bring the entire family out to Palms Park, 12305 207th St., and enjoy an evening of free family fun and movie entertainment featuring “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (Rated PG) on Friday, March 10. Check-in begins at 6 p.m. with the feature beginning at 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chair and blanket. Free popcorn and hot chocolate will be available while supplies last. Pre-registration is not required. More information can be found at www.lakewoodcity. org/playatpalms or by calling 562866-9771, ext. 2408. Sorry, no pets or alcohol allowed at the park.

WE LOVE BASKETBALL

St. Patty’s Day 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for teens

Middle and High Schoolers bring your friends out to Bloomfield Park, 21420 Pioneer Blvd., on Saturday, March 18 from 2-6 p.m. and challenge other teens in a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. For preregistration or for more information call Bloomfield Park at 562-8651717. ♦

Equestrian Center welcomes Barnyard Buddies riding lessons

Watch for runners and spectators supporting the Lakewood Run.

Lakewood Run is March 4; please avoid traffic delays

Rain or shine, the Lakewood Run returns the morning of Saturday, March 4 when Sheriff’s deputies, recreational runners, families and kids gather at the starting line in front of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station to run the event’s 5K/10K course for time, or do the 5K walk or ruck.

Participants and spectators can also enjoy a fitness expo, displays of public safety equipment and programs, live entertainment and special giveaways from Lakewood-area businesses.

Major sponsors include Lakewood Center, TLD Law, Kenny’s Auto Service, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Kidz Town Indoor Playground and the City of Lakewood.

You can still register through March 3 for $50 for the 5K Run/Walk or $55 for the 5K Ruck or 10K Run. On race day, registration fees are $55 and $60. Register online now at www.lakewoodrun. com/registration

Your support of the Lakewood Run provides funding for many local organizations, including Soroptimist International of Lakewood/Long Beach, Su Casa~Ending Domestic Violence, Friends of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station Fund, and 9-9-9 for Kids (a program benefitting foster children in L.A. County).

Race day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. The 10K Run starts at 8 a.m., 5K Run at 8:10 a.m. and 5K Walk/ Ruck at 8:15 a.m.

You may encounter traffic delays when traveling certain streets on March 4 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

The Lakewood Run begins on Clark Avenue in front of the Sheriff's Station and proceeds toward South Street. The race will also use:

• South Street (from Clark Avenue to Palo Verde Avenue)

• Palo Verde Avenue (from South Street to Harvey Way, crossing Del Amo Boulevard)

• Harvey Way (from Palo Verde to Woodruff Avenue)

• Woodruff Avenue (from Harvey Way to Del Amo Boulevard)

• Del Amo Boulevard (from Woodruff to Clark Avenue) Briercrest Avenue will be used for the 5K run between South Street and Del Amo Boulevard.

Hundreds of runners, walkers and wheelchair participants will be in attendance, and Sheriff's deputies and volunteers will be assigned to traffic control and safety that morning.

To review the course, and for parking information, visit the Lakewood Run website at www.lakewoodrun.com. ♦

Located at 11369 East Carson St. (near the San Gabriel River), the Lakewood Equestrian Center is a 19-acre horse boarding and training facility that also offers fun activities for families and youth, including:

• Birthday party packages

• Summer camps and field trips

• Pony rides and trail rides

• Riding lessons

• Equine education

While boarding and training horses are the primary focus of the Center, the grounds also include Barnyard Buddies, which offers riding lessons for ages 3-7, trail rides for kids, and an animal interaction space with a variety of farm animals.

Barnyard Buddies also offers summer camps, birthday party packages and field

trips for families and is open Wednesday through Sunday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Trail rides and lessons

gmail.com.

Riding lessons in both English and Western styles are available for adults and children ages 7 and older.

For more information about Western lessons, call Michele Bloomquist at 562480-3875, and for English and Western lessons, call Sandie Mercer at 562-4251905. Both trainers also offer summer camps and scout badge programs.

Shoestring City Ranch is a nonprofit 100% volunteer-run equine education program to help abandoned horses.

Youth can learn the technical and interpersonal skills needed to care for an animal.

for children are available by appointment. For questions and pricing or to make an appointment, contact Barnyard Buddies at 562-405-1010 or lakewoodbarnyardbuddies@

For schedule and details, call 562-818-7930 or visit Shoestring City Ranch’s Facebook page @shoestringcityranchforkids or www.shoestringcityranch.org. ♦

New Superintendent takes helm at Bellflower Unified

“What they were looking for, matched my skillset.”

That’s what Dr. Ben Drati, new superintendent for the Bellflower Unified School District said, when asked what he thought after hearing discussions about the job opening among his peers.

Dr. Drati was hired by the BUSD Board of Directors late last year, leaving behind a sixyear career as Superintendent for the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District. Sharing that he needed a new challenge, Dr. Drati said that he was hearing that BUSD was looking to reshape its education community.

“In reading the job description, of what BUSD was looking for, it really spoke to me,” said Dr. Drati. “In short, the district believed it could be doing better in terms of academic engagement and student achievement. Bellflower Unified School District has a lot of potential, and I believe we can make big gains here. I am a unifier and I know how to make the system work for the students”

Dr. Drati, an alumnus of Los

Angeles High School, arrived in the U.S. as a refugee of war from Uganda when he was 9 years old with his family. He lives in the Inglewood area but is looking forward to getting to know the families and students he’s been hired to serve in BUSD. In his research, Dr. Drati said he is aware of the concerns and issues that surround the school district and is working on addressing them. He said that he is also aware of the state audit report and the mistrust that exists due to the audit.

He also is aware of the effects of Covid and how much the Pandemic affected school districts and academic achievement across the county.

“We have come to a point in this post-Pandemic era, where it is crucial that families and the district work together, side by side, not against each other,” Dr. Drati said. “We can get through this, and move our district forward to where it needs to be, if we work together. Together, we can do better for our students.”

For starters, Dr. Drati said that he wants to open the dis-

trict to families, and make it more transparent.

“It’s hard to understand, but Covid took us all by surprise, we all got hit the same way,” said Dr. Drati, referring to school districts in L.A. County and across the state. “The stimulus funding for schools then came at us like the ‘Fast and the Furious,’ and we had to close schools, and figure out how to keep teaching our kids virtually, we were all dissatisfied with everything but we had to keep pushing forward for the sake of our kids. Needless to say there were a lot of costs incurred, but the stimulus funds kept coming,

which is a good thing, but all of that, created large reserves for districts.” Not only did Covid uncover all of the inequities among the student population across the state, but it also uncovered how much our system pre-Covid was failing our students both inside of our schools and outside of our schools in life.

“That’s when all of us found ourselves pivoting,” Dr. Drati said, referring to the education community across the state. “Covid set a lot of districts back, but the blame for our decline in academic achievement goes way beyond Covid.”

As new Superintendent of

BUSD, Dr. Drati is going to get BUSD back on course. “This is our opportunity to do better by our students,” he said. “Covid showed us that education in school needs to be more than just science and math for our students. This is an opportunity to transform how we teach. This is our opportunity to better prepare our students for a world that is ever-changing and challenging at the same time. We can and should to better to prepare our students, not just for careers, but for life.”

Bellflower Unified School District serves about 9,000 students from the City of Bellflower and from the City of Lakewood.

In the last couple months, he has toured all 15 schools in BUSD and has been meeting all of the teachers and school personnel. While he loves meeting families, he loves meeting students most of all.

“I’m looking forward to creating a system that is going to enhance the educational system in this school district,” he said. “We have to look forward (Cont'd. on Pg. 17)

Dr. Ben Drati, is the new Superintendent of Bellflower Unified School District

O’Connor’s: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

After being married for nine years, Tamara Manavi and her husband are getting ready to celebrate a new anniversary – their three-month anniversary of being the new owners of Lakewood staple, O’Connor’s Irish Pub. This is an exciting time for the Manavi’s, who have both raised their kids and are new empty nesters and felt ready to start a new adventure together.

“I have been waiting patiently for years to find the perfect spot for us,” said Tamara, adding that she’s always wanted to own her own bar/restaurant. “O’Connor’s has everything that I've always imagined in owning my own business. I'm excited for what we're doing here, and thankful for the support we've received."

Tamara says she's always wanted her own bar and always wondered what she would call it, but after realizing how much the community loved O'Connor's, she wouldn't possibly try to change its name.

“O’Connor’s Irish Pub has been in Lakewood for a long time and people love it here,” she said. “It’s a part of Lakewood and places like these, they’re a part of people’s lives. We’re not here to change it, or its history, we’re here to continue its history.”

Working in the hospitality industry for the last 20 years, Tamara has learned what people like and don’t like about a bar, but she also has learned what she likes and doesn’t like about a bar. “O'Connor's has a community feel to it, and that’s what I love the most; it’s family friendly, it isn’t stuffy and it has a kitchen,” Tamara said. “I have always

wanted to run a business that has that ‘Cheers’ feel to it, where everybody knows your name, and O’Connor’s has that vibe. I want people to feel at home, to want to come to hang out with their friends, to eat good food and feel safe.”

While Tamara was born in L.A., she was raised in this area. “I’m so in love with this community, and especially how people just look out for each other,” she said. “There’s this small-town feel to Lakewood that I’ve never experienced before.” Truly, she said, she really wants to thank the community.

“I know it has only been three months, but I have met so many new people and it feels like we've been friends forever."

O’Connor’s has been a full-service bar and restaurant in Lakewood since 1959. Tamara has fully remodeled

O’Connor’s and set up a game room for kids, new pool tables, and a VIP area called The Emerald Room. Part of the remodel is also a new 40-foot bar and a brand new draft beer system.

While O’Connor’s has been around for years, this ultramodern O’Connor’s is one of Lakewood’s newest hot spots for good drinks, good food, great appetizers and good fun.

Tamara said she is excited to introduce the reinvented O'Connor's to the community and invites everyone to visit and experience it for themselves.

The new owner said that she wants O’Connor’s to be more than just a bar that serves good food and good drinks. “We really want it to be an experience. Everybody who comes to O’Connor’s is a VIP. O’Connor’s is my home away

from home and I want other people to feel that way too,” she said, adding that she’s not going to to be a handsoff owner. “This is my baby, I want people to be happy when they come to O’Connor’s, and I expect people to be treated how I want to be treated when I am a customer.”

The last three months have been among Tamara's greatest accomplishments. In counting her blessings, Tamara said she’s always strived to live by grace – instilled in her by her mother, Stephanie. She was a single mother raising three daughters in the L.A. area and despite financial hardships, Tamara said, her mother always made sure to provide everything she could for her daughters.

“She made me strong. She gave us everything she could, even though it wasn’t a lot, she always made sure we had everything we needed.”

In honor of Women’s History Month, Tamara said that it’s her mom’s resiliency that she credits for her own strength and love for life. “Connecting with people is my biggest strength,” she added. “I’m a people person, and I love connecting with the community."

More often than not, customers will find Tamara at O'Connor's.

“I love Lakewood, I love O'Connor's and I love seeing how the community supports each other and how businesses support each other Even though Lakewood is a big City, it has a smallcity feel to it with a big heart,” Tamara said. “O’Connor’s has a big heart, too, and and I’m going to make sure that it doesn’t lose that.” ♦

Tamara Manavi is the new owner of Lakewood staple, O’Connor’s Irish Pub, which is located at 4130 Paramount Blvd., in Lakewood. For more information, call (562) 541-1105.

Lakewood Car Wash:

Building Community One Clean Car at a Time

Shakouri and his family have a long history in the construction business, but the best thing they’ve built, says Shakouri who owns the Lakewood Car Wash, is a relationship with the community of Lakewood. The car wash itself has been around since the 1950s, but it has gone through its share of owners.

Alex

Twelve years ago, Shakouri and his family decided to invest in a car wash – and immediately fell in love with the history and legacy behind the Lakewood Car Wash, which used to be known as the Lakewood Car Wash South. Fast forward to today, the Shakouri’s have rebranded the car wash as the Lakewood Car Wash & Detail Center. Every month, more than 6,000 vehicles go through the Lakewood Car Wash – and sometimes sees more, and sometimes sees less, depending on the California weather, Shakouri says.

The Lakewood Car Wash, however, isn’t your typical car wash. Shakouri says that he and his family never knew how amazing it could feel to be a part of a community, the way they feel about being in the City of Lakewood. “I don’t know who wouldn’t want to grow as a business, be supported by your community and not want to give back,” said Shakouri. “This community, and people from surrounding communities, have supported us from day one, so it was a given for us to give back.”

In their first year, the Lakewood Car Wash in 2011 sponsored a fundraiser

for the Weingart YMCA and offered to pay the foundation $1 for every car they washed in one day. Cars were washed for free and in one day, the Lakewood Car Wash, washed 1,052 cars. The rest has been history, says Shakouri, adding that since then, the Lakewood Car Wash on a monthly basis, sponsors and or fundraises for different community organizations and youth groups. “My family and I believe that what goes around, comes around, so as a small business, you should always look for ways to support the community that surrounds you,” he said.

While Shakouri is also a brand new dad, giving back to children’s and youth organizations also now means a little bit more. “I’ve always loved giving back to groups or events that benefit children, like Project Lakewood, or the Lakewood Village Little League and the YMCA,” he says, adding that as of late, he can’t get enough of his brand new baby girl. “My family and I have been very fortunate, so giving back makes us all happy.”

The Lakewood Car Wash has also been a long-time member of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. “As a small business, it has always been important to my family to be connected to the City on all levels,” Shakouri says.

The Lakewood Car Wash & Detail Center is a full-service car wash, but also offers an Express Wash for drivers who don’t have time for a full-service.

Shakouri has also added an Unlimited Wash Program on his menu of services – which he believes the community loves.

Shakouri credits his involvement with the community to being able to offer services that are 100 percent based on the community’s needs. “When you talk to people, and get to know them, and get to know their car washing needs, you’re not just looking for ways to grow your business, but you’re also

building relationships with the community – letting them know that you’re looking for ways to better serve them, too.” As a family-owned business, Shakouri says that he would also like to let people know that as a car wash in SoCal, he and his family have also taken measures to reduce water use and to lower their carbon footprint.”

The City of Lakewood is a second home for him and his family. He said they love the small-town feel that Lakewood has. Whenever he meets new visitors to Lakewood, Shakouri of course encourages them to wash their car at the Lakewood Car Wash, but also, to not leave without visiting the Lakewood Center Mall.

“We pride ourselves in being a family-run business, with an emphasis on the word family because it feels like we are part of the Lakewood family, too. Being involved has always been important to me and my family, and honestly, I don’t see that changing, not as long I am around.”

The best advice Shakouri says he could give anyone looking to open up a business is to find a small city that cares about its businesses and to look for ways to build partnerships with the City that supports you. “Always give that support back when you can,” he adds. “Always remember that what you give will come back to you in a thousand ways, but most importantly, in the form of being a part of something great, like a second family.”

The Lakewood Car Wash is located at 5730 Lakewood Blvd., Lakewood. It is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Serving up Nostalgia with homemade Gorditas

Ifyou’re familiar with the smell and taste and feeling that come with growing up eating homemade flour gorditas from Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, then expect to be swept up by a wave of nostalgia as soon as you step into a new Mexican restaurant in Lakewood named after its signature recipe, Nostalgia Gorditas.

Located at the corner of South Street and Bellflower Boulevard, Nostalgia Gorditas opened last month, replacing the longtime and beloved Don Ruben’s Mexican Grille by longtime Lakewood residents Arlae and Javier Chio. Married for 24 years, Arlae and Javier have raised their four kids in Lakewood. He’s a soccer coach in the parks and Arlae is a PTA mom. Both have led successful working careers, but three years ago, they started catering birthday parties and special events with recipes that Javier’s grandmother and mother passed down to Arlae. Their catering business grew exponentially during the pandemic, where they turned to offering their gorditas at trendy, local pop-ups. Sure they always talked about opening up their own restaurant, but they didn’t know their famous gorditas would lead them to opening up a restaurant. It has been an incredible journey to get here, said Arlae.

Nostalgia Gorditas isn’t your typical Mexican restaurant, though. There

is no carne asada, and that surprises a lot of people, Javier said. “People are used to eating tacos, and tamales and sopes, and we love eating all of that, but gorditas de harina, [gorditas made of flour] are signature to Torreon, Coahuila. People in the States are familiar with gorditas that are fried and are made with corn flour called masa, the kind of corn flour that is used in tamales and sopes, but that’s not how gorditas from Torreon are made,” he added.

“Our gorditas are made with only flour. People from different states in Mexico make food differently and often, use different ingredients. You won’t find gorditas like ours anywhere else.”

Along with the gorditas, Nostalgia Gorditas also serves up family recipes for guisos, or stews, which go inside of the gorditas – very similar to flour tortillas but smaller in size and a bit thicker. According to the Chio’s, in one month the community has spoken and according to their biggest seller, their Chicharron en Salsa Verde, [pork belly in green salsa], is Lakewood’s favorite. Their second biggest seller is their Rajas con Queso, which is a stew made out of poblano peppers, cheeses, corn and a secret cream sauce.

“For years, we knew we had something special with my family’s recipes,” said Javier. “Having the opportu-

nity to share my grandmother’s recipes with the community I call home, is surreal, because for us, this is the food we make for dinner, this is us opening up our family dinner table to our community. When you come to eat at Nostalgia Gorditas, it is an extension of dinner with my family.”

Nostalgia Gorditas is family owned and family operated. As parents, the Chio’s have raised their kids with the same values that have been passed down from generations to generations. “We are a united family that does everything together, so to see my eldest sons cooking their great grandmother’s recipes and enjoy doing it, fills me with great pride,” said Arlae.

Torreon, Coahuila is a place in Mexico that doesn’t get enough credit, said Javier. People are familiar with gorditas from Mexico, but not the way they’re made in Torreon.

Among the guisos [stews] on the menu are a Chicken Tinga, similar to a braised, shredded chicken stew with a little spice. Also on the menu is a Guiso de Calabaza, a zucchini and corn stew. Nostalgia Gorditas is currently offering a soft opening menu, which is specific to gorditas stuffed with guisos.

“I love seeing people enjoying our food, and staying a while," Javier said. Nostalgia Gorditas is a place where you can eat good food in a family environment, because we’re a family here.”

Nostalgia Gorditas pays homage to Javier’s late grandmother and mother. “There’s nothing better than eating good food that inspires nostalgia from our childhoods,” said Javier. “That’s where the name for the restaurant came from; eating gorditas reminds me of my childhood, growing up in Torreon, where the food was good, and family was everything.” ♦

Nostalgia Gorditas, is located at 5835 Bellflower Blvd., in Lakewood and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Call (562) 202-9638 to place your orders. At left, the Chio's and their family.

Sandra Diaz Explains: Why Matters of Aging Matter the Most

In honor of Women’s History Month, Sandra Diaz, head of the Law Offices of Sandra Diaz in the City of Lakewood, without a doubt wants to dedicate herstory of women’s empowerment to her mom, Rosa who is seven years cancer free this year.

Diaz said that she’s always looked up to her mom, and always believe her mom was the strongest woman she knew, but when cancer snuck in seven years ago, she realized that she didn’t know how strong her mom truly was until she saw her beat cancer.

“You never know how strong a person is, until they have to go through something like that,” said Diaz. “My mom’s resilience was never stronger and even as an adult, I realized that if she can be that strong and beat cancer, then I can overcome anything."

After high school, Diaz served six years in the United States Marine Corps and got a job in Lakewood private investigator. She fell into law when she found herself having to explain the law to actual lawyers and wondered why she wasn’t a lawyer herself. Soon after, she enrolled in law school.

After interning for several months with the Legal Aid Foundation, and waiting to hear back her Bar Exam results, Diaz said she fell in love with helping families protect their aging loved ones’ rights.

As head of the Law Offices of Sandra Diaz, Associate Attorney Diaz leads a team of specialists in elder law

issues that help senior citizens achieve clear goals to gain the best possible care, qualify for benefits, protect their finances, maintain their assets, provide for future generations and live their golden years without many of the worries that can come from aging.

This is when specific matters of aging matter the most, said Diaz about having found her purpose of working for and with senior citizens. Her parents are senior citizens and learning how so many don’t know how to protect themselves or learning how families don’t know how to protect their loved ones, without a doubt, Diaz said, helping people understand matters of aging, has been her calling.

Not only does her law office assist people with estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, elder law and medical planning, but Diaz and her team also aid families in finding the governmental resources that could help families qualify for nursing homes or pay for nursing homes.

Diaz said she has been blessed to work in a field that she loves. Even among her circle of friends, she says, she knows many who invite her to move to a different field where she could easily make more money, but she said, she wouldn’t trade her work for anything in the world. “Lawyers don’t always get to go home and feel a sense of hope,” said Diaz, adding that she knows that being a lawyer isn’t always considered noble work. “I am blessed

every single day to work in a field that I love. If life has taught me anything, is that if you have the ability to help others, then you should.”

The daughter of immigrant parents, Diaz can’t thank her parents enough for instilling in her to love and appreciate what life sets before her. Neither of her parents finished high school in Mexico – yet all four of their children have successful careers.“My parents always empowered us to be self-sufficient and responsible, they never told us [their 3 daughters] that we couldn’t do something because we were girls. There’s nothing that I’ve wanted to do that I didn’t do,” said Diaz, adding that she raised her daughter the same way.

Diaz and her husband recently moved to Long Beach, but lived in Lakewood for eight years. “My very first job was right here in Lakewood, I built my firm here in Lakewood, Lakewood is and always will be my home,” she said. “I’m so used to living in a community where everybody knows each other.”

Diaz said she’s a huge fan of the community events in Lakewood, especially of Concerts in the Parks.

The Law Offices of Sandra Diaz are what she calls, a “very busy, small practice,” with a staff of four.

Diaz said she knows that “matters

of aging” aren’t discussions families like to talk about, but they need to be addressed in the most respectful manner possible. “It isn’t easy to talk about matters of aging with our parents, I know from experience,” she said." "When I talk to clients I want them to know that when I look at them, I see my parents and the same way I would help my parents, I want to help them."

In her elevator pitch to individuals or families, Diaz said that she and her team are committed to helping individuals and families meet their needs in a timely manner.

“One thing is guaranteed,” Diaz emphasized. “Every person signs with me personally. Matters of aging are critical. When people sign with us, I want them to know who I am and trust that they came to the right place.”

The Law Offices of Sandra Diaz PC is ready to help. Schedule a free consultation, call (562) 210-5790. ♦

Raising Cane's: One Love, Won Community

WhenRaising Cane’s Chicken Fingers decided to open up a restaurant in the City of Lakewood five years ago, little did they know that it would, in five years, be the company’s second busiest in the region.

Not only was it built to be a Certified Training Restaurant for Raising Cane’s Corp., but what people might not know about this flagship restaurant, is that it has also served as a beacon of encouragement, family values and hope for young adults from all across the country and from right here in the region.

A fast-food restaurant chain from Louisiana that boasts fresh, never frozen chicken fingers, Texas toast, a secret Cane’s sauce, fresh coleslaw and their famous crinkle-cut fries, Raising Cane’s in Lakewood has trained employees from New York, Miami, Philadelphia and as close as Culver City, Lynwood and Lakewood – looking to excel in the restaurant industry.

Glenn Curo, Cane’s Restaurant Partner who operates the Lakewood location, can’t believe that it’s been five years since the restaurant opened.

“To be able to say that we’re celebrating five years this month, despite going through a world-wide pandemic, and then being named the company’s Second Top Selling location, is incredible,” Curo said. “Covid hit the restaurant industry really hard, we all felt it, but having the drive-thru helped us stay open and we were able to keep people working, when so many people were losing their jobs.”

Curo said that Cane’s was also able to compensate its employees during Covid. In fact, said Curo, Cane’s in

Lakewood was its busiest during Covid – and was one of the few locations across the country that didn’t close its doors. Curo got his start with Cane’s in 2015 when it opened a restaurant in Costa Mesa. He then was promoted to Aliso Viejo, then to Orange, and five years ago, he left the popular Downey location upon being promoted to a Lakewood's Restaurant Partner.

While Curo has trained dozens of Cane’s crew members to eventually run their own locations across the country like him, Curo doesn’t see himself leaving the Lakewood restaurant anytime soon, and calls the Lakewood location his pride and joy. “We aren’t just a restaurant with a drive-thru, we are part of the Lakewood family, and the City is a part of us, too,” said Curo. “Lakewood is a beautiful City with hundreds of families who have made Cane’s a part of their fam-

ily, not just as part of their dinner tables, but an honest to goodness family that supports each other.”

Curo is also proud to say that his current team, still includes people who started working with Cane’s five years ago.

“We will be celebrating our 5th year anniversary of being open in the community, but for us, my team and I will be celebrating five years of working together,” he said. “And that’s the best feeling ever.”

Alejandro Marquez Soto, is one of Cane’s shift managers and is looking to be promoted to Operations Manager soon.

“You don’t find a boss who cares about his employees like Glenn; he helps you develop as a team member and sets you on a pathway to success,” Marquez Soto said. “People don’t want to promote up because it might

mean leaving to another restaurant. That’s going to be me, too.”

Shaina Freeman-Gonzalez, Area Leader of Marketing for Cane’s, said she often visits the Lakewood location and will find Curo making the Texas Toast in the kitchen, or as Cane’s calls it, in the back of the house.

“Glenn is not above stepping into the kitchen and cooking the Texas Toast,” Freeman-Gonzalez said. “Here at Cane’s, there’s a cascade of leadership opportunities but everybody starts in the kitchen, no matter what your title is."

Freeman-Gonzalez said she loves that about Cane’s. “Everybody has to start in the kitchen This way, none of us lose sight of working as a team.”

As Area Leader of Marketing for Cane’s, Freeman-Gonzalez’s job is to make every Cane’s restaurant a reflection of the community it serves.

“We’re not here just to be a business in the community, we’re here to be a part of the community,” she said.

Curo, who raised his family in the area, was recently appointed to the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

In celebrating their 5th year anniversary, Curo credits working alongside a great team. “It’s humbling, I am blessed to be here,” he said. “But I didn’t do it alone, I had an amazing team behind me. I couldn’t do it without my team. You don’t celebrate five years, and record-breaking numbers, without everybody – and that includes the community, too. We couldn’t have made it this far without the community – from day one, the community had our back.”

Glenn Curo and his awesome Raising Cane's Team will be celebrating their 5th year anniversary this March.

From Their House, to Yours Vida

y Alma: House of Beauty

There is no better way to nurture a 17-year-friendship between two women in love with a beauty industry that’s never felt inclusive, than to start their own business and watch it bloom.

Long-time friends Erika Parada and Roxana Pasillas-Luevano got tired of waiting around to find a boutique that met all of their beauty, wellness and spiritual needs in one place, and one day, four years ago, decided to open up their own business.

The two friends opened Vida y Alma: House of Beauty four years ago as a boutique that specializes in aura esthetics, lash extensions, eye brow shaping, spiritual healing, and therapeutic massages all under one roof. In what could be an elevator speech, aside from the services, Vida y Alma, which translates to Life & Soul, the two friends-turned-soulsisters would like to emphasize that their boutique is not “your average beauty house.”

“Beauty houses don’t always make women like us feel comfortable,” said Parada, adding that when she says women like us, she means women of color and women who have just never

felt like they fit in. “Over the years, we always talked about opening up a space where women feel comfortable, not judged. Vida Y Alma is a new type of boutique that specializes in being inclusive of all people.

“We’re not you’re average beauty shop, we’re about wellness, self-love and self-appropriation. When you leave our shop, we want you to leave feeling amazing about yourself.

Pasillas-Luevano said that she looks up to Parada like a big sister.

“She’s my person,” said PasillasLuevano. “Erika keeps me grounded and she knows when I need help even without me asking.”

The feeling is mutual for Parada, and said that she admires PasillasLuevano’s work ethic. “Roxy inspires me and keeps me motivated,” she said. “She is driven and focused and oftentimes, I find myself convincing her to make times for herself.”

The same way they take care of each other, is how they take care of their clientele, Parada added. “When people walk into Vida y Alma, we want them to feel seen, we want them to feel like they’ve known us their whole lives.” ♦

Coco’s Lip-Smacking Cupcakes

If Lip-Smacking was a flavor, it would definitely be one of the ingredients Coco would use in baking her cupcakes.

At a minimum, Nicole Green, who goes by the name of Coco, owner of Coco’s Lip-Smacking Cupcakes in Lakewood, bakes 800 cupcakes every week. She sells them at her shop on Paramount Boulevard, at Candlewood Avenue, and distributes them throughout the entire region, thanks to large custom orders.

Coco taught herself how to bake cupcakes from scratch back in 2013. Her micro-business took off and in 2018, she invested in a small food truck. Her cupcakes were still a big hit when the 2019 pop-up trend blew up and the rest has been history. It took her a whole year to open up her brick and mortar, but in October 2021, her dream came true and with the help and support of her friends and family, she opened the doors to her own bakery right here in Lakewood.

“I’m proof that you can go from a home-business, to a pop-up, to a food truck to a brick and mortar, all we need is an opportunity,” Coco said. “Baking from scratch is a tedious process, but the responses that I get from people about my cupcakes, makes it all worth it. I think people can taste how much time and effort goes into baking every cupcake,” she added. “I hope people can taste the quality ingredients and the love that goes into every cupcake.”

Cupcake flavors include: Snickers, German Chocolate, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Vanilla Oreo, Chocolate Oreo, Red Velvet, Vanilla, Fruity Pebbles, Carrot Cake, Double Chocolate, Salt-

ed Caramel, Chocolate PB Pretzel, Lemon, Chocolate Pecan, Reese’s, Strawberry Lemonade, Sock-It To Me, Pumpkin, Peach Cobbler, S’More’s Special, Eggnog, Watermelon and a Breakfast Specialty Cupcake, which includes bacon.

Coco said that she loves to be able to offer customers with a variety of flavors. Her favorite is the Double Chocolate Cupcake, but her biggest seller is her Red Velvet Cupcake. “That’s been everybody’s favorite since 2013,” she said. “I have all these other fun flavors and everybody always goes back to the red velvet. Still, I can’t thank my customers enough - they’re the reason why I’m here.”

What sets Coco’s cupcakes apart from other baker’s cupcakes? “Their taste lives up to their name,” said Coco. “Each one is lip-smacking and rich in flavor. Everything I bake is made from scratch. When you bake from scratch, it tastes so much better than eating a cupcake made from a box. You can taste the difference, and most importantly, all of my frostings are made from scratch, too, so they’re not overly sweet. People love that and honestly, I love seeing how happy my cupcakes make them.” ♦

'They taste like their name'

Erika Parada and Roxana Pasillas-Luevano

Businesses Discuss Crime Prevention

(Cont'd. from Pg. 1)

Chamber of Commerce provides connectivity to other businesses. We are here to help and support you in the good times and the bad times.”

Held in the Maple Room at The Centre, the meeting was also attended by City Manager Thaddeus McCormack, by Mayor Steve Croft and by City Councilman Ariel Pe.

“By joining this crime prevention program, Lakewood business owners and managers [received] tips and education on immediate strategies to safeguard their businesses and enjoy networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs,” said McCormack.

Specific topics discussed in the meeting by businesses in attendance dealt with homeless issues, and uptake in crime sprees, vandalism and the need for more patrol checks.

Businesses were advised to please ask for a Letter of Agency that would not only allow a business to put up a No Trespassing Sign, but it will also allow the Sheriff’s Department to remove any type of trespassers from a property, said Sgt. Gekas. “Crime in the City is up, but not significantly,” he said. There are some hot spots out there, but mostly on the outskirts of the City, he added.

Sgt. Gekas also encourages all business to call the Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency number at (562) 623-3500 day or night when they feel something isn’t right. “When something or someone is making you feel uncomfortable, or they’re suspicious, call us and tell us,” he said. “You can call and say, I need patrol checks and these times. We want the business community that you

can call and make these requests, that’s what we’re here for.”

Joe Ung, owner of Cassidy’s Corner, has had several break-ins over the last eight years, including a few weeks ago. Ung said he would like the Sheriff’s and the City to implement a See Something, Say Something Program. “It happened three months ago, and again a few weeks ago,” Ung said. “The thing is that they go in and out in less than a minute. They’re not looking for material things, they’re looking for cash, and it looks like the same group of kids.

The Sheriff’s response has always been great, I have no complaints about that, but as a business owner, we would appreciate some type of program that would help us cover the costs of recovery efforts.” Crime prevention options discussed included leaving the lights on at night and metal gates. While neither is appealing, they could serve as deterrents, said Sgt. Gekas. “Especially the leaving the lights on at night,” he said. “A lot of these criminals prefer to move around in the cover of darkness. Could it be effective, yes, or they could think that

someone is inside working, which could deter them.”

Josh Yordt, Director of Public Safety, encourages all business owners and residents to download the Lakewood Connect Application so that they can easily make reports directly to the Sheriff’s and to the City. On the app, people can report graffiti, vandalism, homeless activity, illegal street vendor activity, and much more.

Mayor Croft said that he’s looking forward to furthering the conversations between

Lakewood businesses and the City. “In Southern California, there are always evolving challenges to public safety,” he said. “But in Lakewood we continually look for ways to meet those challenges and remain one of the safest communities in our region.”

Themed the “Top 5 Things You Need to Know to Keep Your Biz Safe,” the next Crime Prevention Meeting will take place on March 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Maple Room at the Centre.

Beautiful Lakewood Program inspires residents, homeowners

(Cont'd. from Pg. 1)

ognizes the front facing exterior and landscaping of a home, displaying exceptional care and pride of ownership.

Free homework assistance offered at the Lakewood Youth Center

Middle school and high school students can get free homework help on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 6:15 p.m. at the Lakewood Youth Center starting Feb. 9.

The West Angeles Education and Enrichment Program provides experienced well-qualified tutors to assist students in grades 6-12 with school projects and all levels of math, chemistry and language arts.

These free classes are offered to students on Thursdays from 4 to 6:15 p.m. from February through June.

Pre-registration is required. Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog and search “homework” for class sessions.

The Lakewood Youth Center is located at 4658 Woodruff Ave.

For more information call 562-429-7472. ♦

• Jackie Rynerson “Transformation Award.” This honors homeowners who have remodeled the front-facing exterior and landscaping of their property within the past three years. The rejuvenation need not have been expensive or elaborate, but something that improves or enhances the overall property. The bulk of the improvements must have been done or overseen by the current homeowner, not a prior homeowner. Nominations must include “before” and “after” photos to demonstrate the transformation (digital photos may be uploaded to the online nomination form). Homes being marketed for sale are not eligible. Jackie Rynerson was an original Lakewood resident and city council mem-

ber from 1978 to 1990, and she created the original Lakewood Beautiful to inspire and honor Lakewood homeowners.

• Neat and Tidy Award. This newest category was added to recognize homeowners who are consistent with maintaining their landscaping and a clean home exterior.

• Water-Wise Award. This honors beautiful homes nominated in one of the first three categories that deserve extra recognition for landscaping that utilizes water-conserving irrigation devices and plantings

Past Lakewood Beautiful winning homes were distinguished not just by attractive style, but for displaying exceptional care and pride of ownership, such as:

• Neat, clean and well-maintained exteriors.

• Landscaping design of front

yard and parkway in harmony and balance with the home.

• Overall consistent care of property and landscaping.

You can nominate your property or that of a neighbor by going to www.lakewoodcity.org/ LakewoodBeautiful

The nomination deadline is March 29, 2023. After the nomination deadline, photos are taken by a professional photographer of the street-facing portion of each home and yard. A panel of judges then reviews the photos and determines if the home will be recognized. ♦

Good Friday Breakfast

The YMCA's 55th Annual Good Friday Breakfast will take place in person at the Long Beach Convention Center's Grand Ballroom on Good Friday, April 7 from 7:15 to 9 a.m. featuring Keynote Speaker Noemi Chavez who with her husband Joshua, planted Revive Church in Long Beach and a second one in El Monte.

This organization invites God's people to reach out with a messaage of empowerment to the most vulnerable girls on probation and in the foster care system and bridges relationships in an effort to prevent human trafficking.

Registration to the breakfast can be made at LBymca.org or email GFB@LBymca.org

In honor of Women's History Month 2023, tell us about a Woman who INSPIRES you?

Bellflower Unified Superintendent

(Cont'd. from Pg. 6)

with positivity and believe that in post-Covid reality, there is now a greater sense of purpose for all of us.”

My older sister. She has inspired me ever since we were little girls. There were 12 of us and she was the oldest and I watched her help my mom take care of all of us. She was my mom’s right hand in raising us and she never complained. To this day, my sister has never stopped helping everyone around her. She never gets tired of loving her family, and on top of everything else, my sister is one-week cancer free today. Everything that God gave her, she gives back. I wish I could describe how much love she radiates. All I know is that I love and admire her and I’m proud to call her my sister. She’s my inspiration.

Frida Kahlo. All my life

I’ve loved Frida Kahlo. She was a warrior and a strong woman and an inspiration to women all over the world, including me. I have lost a son and a brother, so I think I’m a warrior, too. It isn’t easy for a mother to lose a child. Everything I’ve been through, I think makes me a warrior. Women go through these things every day – we are all warriors – because no matter what, we have to keep going. Frida taught us to love life, but also to love ourselves and to be strong.

I am happy that women are speaking up for themselves now. Women need to speak up for themselves and for each other. Everyday, we need to inspire each other.

My mom, Meher Zakaria. She passed away in 2003, but she was such a beautiful woman and I miss her greatly. She taught me to see the good things in life and to stay positive and be patient and to help everyone that I could. She always taught us that if people needed help, and we could help, then we needed to help them. If I had one request, I would ask to meet her again, to see her again. I miss those moments in life with her. If I could see her again I would tell her how much I appreciate everything she taught me – because of her I am who I am. I would thank her for all her teachings and her blessings.

My mother, Maria Sanchez. She died 25 years ago, but I still miss her every day. Thinking back, I wish I could have helped my mother more, but I was a kid. There were 8 of us, and she struggled. Life wasn’t easy for women in Mexico when I was growing up. Women weren’t supposed to work. It was believed that women were meant to stay home and raise the children. My dad never even let my mom go to a doctor. Women back then, were the only ones raising the children. When we realized that she had cancer, it was too late. If I had one more chance, I would thank her for teaching me the importance of family and honesty.

Dr. Drati has also been getting to know the City of Bellflower, and nearby Cities, and all of its elected officials. “I love how everybody knows each other,” he said. “I especially love hearing that a lot of our elected officials are products of Bellflower schools, or Lakewood schools, and they grew up and are serving their communities. That says a lot about our communities and their leaders – it shows how much they care about the families served by our schools, because they were once students here, too.”

Dr. Drati said that while he is just getting started, he plans to be here for the long haul. “This school district has so much potential,” he said. “We’re going to turn this school district into the best school district in the region. We’re in a good place fiscally, our parents are ready to roll up their sleeves and district-wide, our educators and staff are excited about getting Bellflower Unified School District back to the place where it should be. “We’re not too far off, so I see us getting there soon.”

Vice President of the Board of Education, Brad Crihfield is also a parent in the school district. “We’ve needed someone who was going to come in and fix what wasn’t working. I appreciate Dr. Drati's vision and I’m here not just as a school board member, but I’m also here as a parent.” ♦

Maria Rodriguez Lakewood

Frank Sanchez Inglewood

Zak Zakaria Rancho Cucamonga

Joyce Calderon-Larson Lakewood

Project Shepherd offers year-round help to families

Lakewood Project Shepherd is more than just a holiday program; it also has an extension program to help Lakewood residents on an emergency basis year-round. If you are a Lakewood resident facing tough economic times, your neighbors can help.

Families in need may apply any time of year for help with the emergency food pantry or for one-time utility bill payment assistance, and scholarships for recreation programs.

Eligibility requirements:

Project Shepherd applicants must be Lakewood residents (determined by current Lakewood mailing address and utility billing).

Families are served by either the Burns Community Center or Palms Park Com-

munity Center, depending on the zip code of their residence. To apply for assistance, please call the community center that serves the zip code of your residence:

• 90712 or 90713: Call Burns Community Center at 562-925-7512

• 90715: Call Palms Park at 562-865-6414

Facility hours:

• Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave.: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Palms Park Community Center, 12305 E. 207th St.: Monday through Friday, 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m.

Visit www.lakewoodcity.org/ProjectShepherdGetHelp. ♦

Earth Walk at Monte Verde Park

Lakewood's free Earth Walk event returns this spring with an interactive experience for children and adults on Saturday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event will be held at rustic Monte Verde Park, which is the trailhead to over three miles of landscaped walking trails and the San Gabriel River Parkway. Monte Verde Park is located at 4626 N. Shadeway Rd.

Participants will learn what they can do to help keep the earth beautiful and protected. Adults and children are invited to take a nature walk, create naturethemed crafts, visit the petting

zoo, and learn about recycling. “Woody the Tree,” Lakewood’s "Tree City, U.S.A." mascot, will be in attendance to help teach visitors about Lakewood’s “urban forest.”

Earth Walk stamps.

With a completed passport, participants will receive a special Earth Walk gift, while supplies last. This free event is a fun and educational day for family members of all ages.

For more information, call 562-866-9771, ext. 2408, or go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ EarthWalk

In the event of rain, a decision regarding event cancellation will be made by 7 a.m.

Participants can visit the stations along the trail and get their passport stamped with specialty

The event may continue in a scaled down fashion if weather permits. Weather related updates can be obtained by calling Monte Verde Park at (562) 4290598 on Saturday, March 11. ♦

State of the City Address

(Cont'd. from Pg. 1)

and related crimes like the theft of catalytic converters remained higher in 2022 than five years ago across the nation, including in Lakewood.

The city worked hard in 2022 to keep crime as low as possible, said Yordt, with a special focus to combat auto-related thefts, with the City Council implementing a $400,000 Neighborhood Safety Enhancement Plan that included increased hours of Deputy Sheriff patrol time, highly-visible overnight patrols by Security Guards contracted by the city, and rebates to residents who install home security video systems or anti-theft devices for catalytic converters.

Yordt described how the city will add to those efforts in 2023 with a new program to provide Sheriff’s Department tips to businesses for crime reduction, and increased outreach to local homeless people to encourage them to accept services for help but also coordination with the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station to prevent illegal encampments or behavior by homeless people.

Lakewood will also maintain the extra public safety services it provides that many cities its size do not, such as the Sky Knight helicopter patrol and a team of Community Safety Officers who handle non-injury car accidents and provide crime scene fingerprinting and other services that allow Deputy Sheriffs to spend more time on patrol and responding to calls for service. The extra CSOs are one reason why Deputy Sheriff response time in Lakewood is consistently faster than the average in L.A. County.

See the full remarks by city officials at www.lakewoodcity. org/SOTC. ♦

Scholarship opportunity for local high school students

The Lakewood Pan American Association is pleased to provide scholarships in various amounts between $500 and $1,500 to deserving high school seniors who reside in the city of Lakewood.

The program is targeted to Lakewood resident students of high caliber in character, who have exhibited community responsibility by assisting in some way in making their community a better place to live while receiving their high school diploma and have a sincere desire to complete post high school education. The theme for

your 2023 essay is “How have you positively influenced your community with your voice?”

Completed applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2023. The link to fill out the application on Google Forms is available in late January on the Lakewood Pan American Association website, www. LakewoodPanAm.org.

Last year, the Pan American Association chose to honor eight high school seniors (pictured) from Lakewood whose character is of high caliber. They each have: Demonstrated good citizenship and respect for human val-

ues; Volunteered in their community and school; A sincere desire to complete a post highschool education; and Excelled academically.

Scholarship winners served as Pan American Ambassadors during Lakewood’s week-long celebration of Pan American friendship in early May.

The Lakewood Pan American Association is a longstanding civic organization that provides diverse cultural and educational opportunities for residents of Lakewood. Since its creation, the scholarship program has awarded over $225,000 to recipients to help with their higher education costs.

Lakewood Mayor Steve Croft joined City staff members in presenting the 2023 State of the City address to a room filled with stakeholders from across the City, including residents, business owners, non profits