Lakewood Community News - August 2019

News

Lakewood Community

Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce | 30,000 Circulation - Delivered to every home in Lakewood www.lakewoodchamber.com

Volume 36 Number 8

It’s time to rev up those engines and head over to the 22nd Annual Summer Stampede Car Show

Summer is slowly drawing to a close but the fun doesn’t have to end! Bring your friends and family to the 22nd Annual Summer Stampede Car Show, presented by the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, for a day filled with fun, food and fantastic classic cars.

It’s the perfect way to finish off the

summer!

This year’s event is right around the corner on Sunday, August 25th from 9am to 2pm at Mayfair Park, 5720 Clark Ave in Lakewood.

This family-friendly event features food trucks, contests and live entertainment, along with dozens of classic and custom cars to feast

your eyes on.

Sponsorships and vendor booths are still available, and we are also accepting donations for raffle prizes and driver goody bags.

For more information, please call the Lakewood Chamber office at (562) 531-9733 or email events@ lakewoodchamber.com. ♦

August 2019

New commander of Lakewood Sheriff Station is a familiar face David Sprengel, a 29-year member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, with several tours of duty at the Lakewood Station, has been promoted to captain and named the new commander of the station. Sprengel is commanding over 200 uniformed and civilian personnel at the station who serve Lakewood and the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Hawaiian Gardens and Paramount.

Sprengel is familiar to many residents and community leaders in Lakewood. He served at the station as a sergeant, lieutenant, and most recently as the acting commander of the station for several months. During his previous years at the Lakewood Station he helped to create the volunteer clergy team which assists station personnel and serves in the community.

In his free time, Sprengel enjoys running, hiking and golf, and he has previously coached Little League and Pony League baseball and youth soccer. He’s married

Captain David Sprengel is the new commander of Lakewood Station.

with four adult children.

“Lakewood is a great community,” said Sprengel, “and Lakewood Station is home to some of the best deputies, civilian personnel and volunteers in the county. I look forward to working in partnership with local residents and our station personnel to keep crime low and provide the best possible service to the community.”

“I’m very pleased that Captain Sprengel will be leading our Sheriff’s Station,” said Mayor Todd Rogers, “and if Lakewood residents see him at a public event, I hope they will take a moment to wish him the very best.” ♦

Concerts in the Park wrapping up in August

Summer is a great time for Lakewood’s nature trails

West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail is perfect for a summer walk.

Longer days and warm evenings make summer the perfect time to enjoy Lakewood’s beautiful nature trails. Walking trails, bike trails and facilities border virtually all of the San Gabriel River as it runs through Lakewood south from Candlewood Street to Carson Street.

Scenic routes are available on either side of the river. At Rynerson Park there is a 1-mile walking trail and cycling trailhead for the San Gabriel River Bike Trail. Across the river is the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail where a round trip from Candlewood Street to Car-

son Street is a 2.5-mile trek.

Native flora and fauna were reintroduced on the nature trail to give residents the chance to see what the Lakewood region used to look like.

“Our Nature Trail is enjoyed regularly by hundreds of Lakewood residents who relax--walking or jogging--through its native habitat,” said Mayor Rogers. “As I hope you’ll experience as you walk the trail, getting into a natural setting like this can be very relaxing and inspiring—and it’s wonderful to have close by in your own community.”

Visitors to the Nature Trail should

keep these trail rules in mind: • Stay on the designated trail for your safety • Leave the trail as you find it; dispose of litter properly and don’t disturb the wildlife • Dogs must be on leashes 6 feet or less; please pick up after your dog • Observe the trail hours: from dawn to dusk, year round • No parking from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Walk the trail from one of four entry points: • Enter at Carson Street on the south end • Enter on Del Amo Boulevard at the north end • Park at Monte Verde Park, 4626 N. Shadeway Rd. and enter at this trailhead • Park and enter off Candlewood Street at Knoxville Avenue See the Nature Trail brochure, featuring a map and parking information, at www.lakewoodcity.org/ naturetrail.

Lakewood’s neighborhood parks also offer fitness trails for exercising close to home.

You can see the measured mileage for each park and fitness trail route at www.lakewoodcity.org/fitnesstrails. ♦

Boys of Summer will play Eagles hits and more at Concerts in the Park.

Lakewood’s popular summer concert series runs every Thursday evening through August 8 at Del Valle Park from 6:30. to 8 p.m.

The final concerts will feature Eagles tribute band Boys of Summer on August 1, and ‘80s band Knyght Ryder on August 8.

Visiting gourmet food trucks offer different foodie-fun each evening including gourmet hot dogs, specialty tacos, burgers, sandwiches, BBQ and sweet desserts. A percentage of the proceeds benefit local community groups.

Bring your picnic blanket and lowback chairs to dine with your friends and neighbors while listening to great sounds.

Please remember that dogs, alcohol and barbeques are not allowed at Lakewood parks.

Concerts in the Park are solely supported by generous area businesses and concert patrons, including: Platinum sponsors: LBS Financial Credit Union, Kenny’s Auto Body

and Towing, Coldwell Banker Coastal Alliance- Rus”sell” Johnson, VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital, DunRite Pest Control, Cerritos College Trustee Marisa Perez, Pan American Association, Assembly Member Anthony Rendon, and Long Beach City College.

Gold sponsors: WaterSafe Swim School, The Rinks Lakewood ICE, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, Allen Tire Company, Rotary Club of Lakewood, AT&T, Keller Williams Realty- Phillip Nunez, and the Law Offices of Sandra Diaz.

Silver sponsor: Piazza McDonald’s Family Restaurants Bronze sponsors: In Memory of Linda G. Plooster, Wing Stop, Swan Nails, and TGIS Catering For more information and to find a list of the tasty food trucks and food concessionaires for each concert, call 562-866-9771, extension 2408 or go to www.lakewoodcity.org/concerts. ♦

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Lakewood

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Lakewood budget update - join the conversation!

By Mayor Todd Rogers

Like most of you reading this today, I enjoy calling Lakewood home because of its wonderful quality of life, well-maintained streets, quality parks and recreational programs, and safe and clean neighborhoods and public spaces that make our community a great place to live, do business, and raise a family. We are proud of Lakewood.

Unfortunately, our great community and quality of life here in Lakewood are in the midst of a serious financial threat.

In 2011, the state government was facing a massive budget deficit. To solve their budget problems, Sacramento decided to redirect billions in local property tax dollars away from local communities and send them to the state government and their priorities. It sure helped Sacramento. They are now running a budget surplus.

But cities across the state are now facing very difficult financial times from the loss of those local funds.

The federal government didn’t help matters either. They’ve reduced revenue sharing with cities significantly

in recent years.

In Lakewood, we’ve lost over $30 million to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. over the past eight years.

That’s money that we should have been able to invest in infrastructure and community services here in Lakewood. And we’re losing over $2 million a year on an ongoing basis to Sacramento, with no end in sight.

Because of a long history of good fiscal management, Lakewood started this process out in much better financial shape than most cities, and the city prudently absorbed cuts without impacting your quality of life or property values. But the continued loss of funds is starting to impact the Lakewood services you rely on.

To keep our budget balanced, we have instituted a partial hiring freeze, scaled back or even canceled some community events, delayed maintenance and repair to our aging park facilities, and made initial cuts to our budget for public safety.

Unfortunately, these current cuts and deferments are not enough to address the city’s budget needs long term.

There is nothing more important to our community than public safety—in our neighborhoods and public spaces. Unfortunately, additional local funds or reductions in other valued services may be necessary soon in order to prevent cuts to deputy sheriffs who are dedicated to investigating and stopping crime.

While we have now delayed maintenance on many of our public spaces in order to make ends meet, that too is not sustainable. Many of

August 2019

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our Lakewood facilities, such as community centers and park buildings, are over 60 years old and in desperate need of repairs, with leaking roofs, aging electrical systems, and deteriorating park bathrooms, and many are not accessible to the disabled. Continuing to delay needed repairs to these facilities is not a viable long-term solution, as they will just get worse, pose a greater safety hazard, and cost more to fix in the future.

The key issue is our overall budget problem that will affect everything in Lakewood if we don’t address it. If our city starts to decay, so will our local property values, and none of us wants to see that.

As residents on the City Council, we are committed to reflecting your priorities so that our local quality of life is maintained. We’ve started the process towards finding a solution. And it involves hearing from you!

Please “Join the Conversation” TODAY and share what is important to you by joining us online at www.lakewoodcity.org/JoinTheConversation and completing the community survey.

I hope you’ll do it. It’ll take just a few minutes to fill out the survey.

On the Lakewood City Council, we want to stick to the core values of our community, be good stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars, and make sure they are spent in the best interests of keeping our community safe, well maintained and a great place to call home.

Thank you for your commitment to our community. ♦

City Spotlight Kids have no reason to be bored this summer Exciting youth and family opportunities are happening this summer in Lakewood. For daily activities, check out the Summer Recreation Catalog at www. lakewoodcity.org/Catalog or call Lakewood’s Recreation and Community Services Department at 562-866-9771, extension 2408.

Here are just a few examples: • McCormick Pool, in Bolivar Park at 3300 Del Amo Blvd. and Mayfair Pool, at 5720 Clark Ave., feature themed swim nights each Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for a cost of $3 per Lakewood resident and $5 per non-resident. Adult ID with proof of residency required.

• Bring the entire family out to enjoy an evening of free family fun and movie entertainment with Movie Night Under the Stars featuring “Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse” at Monte Verde Park on August 2 and “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” at the Lakewood Center Mall on August 23. Pre-movie festivities begin at 7 p.m. with the feature beginning at 8:15 p.m. Guests can bring chairs and a picnic dinner. To help us plan a memorable experience, preregister at www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog. Sorry, no pets or alcohol allowed at the park.

• On August 9, parents get a much-needed break with Parents Night Out, Kids Night In. Bring the kids to the Lakewood Youth Center from 6 to 10 p.m. and the highly qualified Youth Center staff will supervise your children while parents enjoy a night off. Kids will enjoy pizza, snacks, games and more! Pre-registration is required and the cost is $5 per child. For ages 3 and older (children must be potty trained). Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog to register using class #14207.

Play at Palms: National Night Out and Community BBQ Bring the entire family out to Palms Park, 12305 207th St., for the free National Night Out and Community BBQ, on Friday, August 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. National Night Out is an annual community building campaign that promotes public safety, community partnerships, and neighborhood camaraderie. Participants can meet members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Fire Departments, challenge a deputy in a sack race, play tug of war with firefighters, view emergency vehicles and more! Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and sno cones will be provided while supplies last. For more information call the Recreation and Community Services Department at 562-866-9771, extension 2408.

Super Saturday Night- Lip Sync Battle Teens, come to Bloomfield Park, 21420 Pioneer Blvd., on Saturday, August 10 from 6-9 p.m. for Lip Sync Battle! Choose your favorite songs and wow the judges! The best performer will be announced at the end of the night.

This is a free event for middle and high school age participants.

Coaches needed for youth sports programs Adult volunteers are needed to coach Lakewood Youth Sports Flag Football, Volleyball and Volleytennis teams this season. Teams will practice and play league games on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings from September 16 through December 14.

Coaches volunteer an average of 3-4 hours per week. There are 1-2 practices and 1-2 games per week.

No experience is needed. Coaches will receive training. Coaches are required to go through a mandatory background screening using Live Scan fingerprinting.

Check with your local park for details on how to get involved, or call 562-866-9771, extension 2408.

Tot Lot registration coming up Tot Lot is a parent cooperative program for 2-5 year olds and takes place during the school year.

Registration for the Del Valle and Mayfair programs will be held on Friday, August 2 and again on Friday, August 16, between 9 a.m. and noon. Tot Lots meet Monday - Friday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the fenced, preschool play area of the two parks. Parents are responsible for each Tot Lot’s operation and members select activities and excursions.

Up-to-date immunization cards, including TB tests (for adults) and proof of age, are required at the time of registration. The registration fee is $55 for residents and $65 for non-residents. Members may register an additional child for $35. Insurance is $5 per person and is required for each participating child and volunteer worker.

For more information, call 562866-9771, extension 2408.

FUN-Tastic Family Night Join us on Friday, August 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Centre, 5000 Clark Ave., when Pacific Animal Productions presents “Survivor Animal Show.” Learn about each animal’s way of surviving, while trying to survive some challenges yourself! Volunteers will be chosen to compete in certain challenges….against the animals! Speed, bravery and strength are just a few that will keep everybody cheering. The fee is $9 per person ($6 for children ages 1-3, children under 1 are free) and includes a light dinner of bean and cheese burritos, Spanish rice, lemonade and dessert prior to the show. Pre-registration is required. Call 562-8669771, extension 2408 or register online at www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog using class #13995.

Canned Drive for a Dive-in Movie Featuring “Aquaman” Join your friends and neighbors on Saturday, August 17, to swim, see the dive-in movie “Aquaman”, and support Project Shepherd. Simply bring one canned food item per person to receive admission to Mayfair Pool, 5720 Clark Ave. Swim lesson participants who have taken any swim lesson during the summer will re(Cont’d. on Pg. 3)

Your

Minding August 2019

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Be careful with door-to-door solicitors

check on the solicitor.

If you do contribute to someone at your door, do not give cash. Make a check out to the name of the charitable organization, and make sure you get a receipt with the charity name on it.

Or make an online donation to the charity. Unless you specifically entered a contest, always ignore solicitations saying that you’ve won money or a prize. These are almost always fraudulent. ♦

Solicitors should always show identification and a valid permit.

Solicitors must have a permit from the City of Lakewood to go door to door. They should have the permit with them at all times, and upon request, present the information to potential customers. The city requires such solicitors to go through a fingerprint background check first. A permit from Los Angeles County or another jurisdiction is not valid in Lakewood.

Bogus charities and “almost too good to be true” deals can happen in door-to-door solicitations. Scam artists create fake charity or business names that are similar to legitimate ones,

which allow you to think that the solicitation is valid.

If a solicitor comes to your door, look to see who is on the other side before opening your door. If you are unsure if the organization is legitimate, ask to see their identification along with their Lakewood solicitor’s permit. You can even double check if their permit is legitimate at www.lakewoodcity.org/solicitors or by calling Lakewood City Hall at 562-866-9771, extension 2622.

If someone comes to your door without a Lakewood permit, you can call the Sheriff’s Department

business line at 562-623-3500.

They will send a deputy out to

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City Spotlight (Cont’d from Pg. 2)

ceive free admission if they bring their swim lesson card. The pool opens at 7:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 8 p.m.

Fall/Winter Recreation Registration Begins Watch for the new Fall/Winter catalog of recreation and community services that will be arriving Labor Day weekend at Lakewood homes. The new catalog is packed full of fun programs and activities to make life better for all ages.

Residents can register for classes and programs online starting August 31 at www.lakewoodcity. org/ecatalog, or by calling city hall at 562-866-9771, extension 2408.

Over 500 classes will be offered, with many old favorites and lots of new classes. Fall recreation programs will begin on Monday, September 23 and run through January 2020.

Outdoor Movie Night at the Lakewood Youth Center Teens, bring your friends for a “movie under the stars” on Friday, August 30, from 6 to 10 p.m., at the Lakewood Youth Center, 4658 Woodruff Ave. Participants will also enjoy a hot dog BBQ and s’mores! Call 562-429-7472 for more information. ♦

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Summer is almost over, follow these back-to-school safety tips

Lakewood’s crossing guards help keep kids safe.

Drivers and students need to take care as Lakewood’s school districts open their doors again for the new school year in August.

Helping get the community’s 15,000 students back to school

safely each fall is a big job that the City of Lakewood has assisted with since the 1950s.

Suggested Route to School maps are at www.lakewoodcity. org/backtoschool. The maps show

the location of traffic signals, stop signs and crossing guards.

Parents should spend time going over the route with their children.

Even better, parents should walk the route with their children.

Safety tips for children: • Always stop, look all four ways and listen before crossing the street.

• Always wait for a crossing guard to control traffic before starting to cross the street.

• Cross the street only at corners and crosswalks, not between parked cars.

• Walk/ride with a group; there is safety in numbers.

• When walking on sidewalks, look out for cars pulling out of driveways.

• Bicycles must be ridden on the right side of the road, in the direc-

tion of traffic. Bicyclists must also follow the same rules of the road as motorists.

• Wear a secure-fitting, safety-approved helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard, scooter or skates.

It’s for your safety…and it’s the law for children under 18!

Safety tips for drivers: • Do not let your children exit a car on the traffic side of your vehicle. Be aware that drivers can be cited for unsafely loading or unloading children near schools.

• Double parking for a quick drop-off is very hazardous for small children, who are invisible behind an SUV or van until they dart in front of oncoming traffic.

• The only safe way to drop off your youngsters is to pull up to the curb in front of the school or at a safe location where youngsters

August 2019

2019 school start dates Paramount USD

Wednesday, August 21

ABC USD

Monday, August 26

(Friday, August 23 for Carmenita, Fedde, Haskell, Ross and Tetzlaff MS, 7th grade students only)

Bellflower USD Thursday, August 15

Long Beach USD Wednesday, August 28

can walk to the end of the block and cross to school through an intersection controlled by a stop sign, signal or crossing guard.

• Reduce vehicle speed to 25 mph or slower when driving in school zone.

• Watch for crossing guards at crosswalks within school zones.

Come to a complete stop while the crossing guard has their stop sign displayed and until all pedestrians have safely exited the crosswalk.

• Pass a bicyclist as you would a slow-moving vehicle. Pass with caution, and only when safe. Do not squeeze the bicyclist off the road. By law, you must allow clearance of at least three feet when passing a bicyclist. If less is available, drivers must slow down before passing.

• Look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic.

• Do not overtake a bicyclist just before making a turn. Merge first, then turn. ♦

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You can still beat the heat...Summer swimming continues at Lakewood pools the week of July 29. Shallow Water Aerobics class will be held 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays/Thursdays and Saturdays at Mayfair Pool, with the August sessions beginning August 10 (Saturday) and August 13 (Tuesday/Thursday). Get details and sign up at www.lakewoodc-

Kids can beat the heat locally.

Daily open recreational swimming at Mayfair Pool and McCormick Pool (located in Bo-

livar Park) takes place through August 25, with sessions from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 2:45 to 4:15

p.m. Resident fees are $1 for ages 17 and under, $1.50 for adults (age 18+). Non-resident fees are $3 for adults, $2 for ages 17 and under.

Lessons are also available at both pools. Private lessons are offered through the month of September at Mayfair Pool. For details go to www.lakewoodcity.org/swim or call Mayfair Pool at 562-804-4256 or McCormick Pool at 562-421-3343. Register online at www.lakewoodcity. org/ecatalog.

Aqua Zumba classes take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at McCormick Pool on Mondays or Wednesdays. The last summer session for August begins

August 2019 ity.org/ecatalog.

The Mayfair Park wading pool for ages 3 to 7 is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through August 25. The wading pool at Palms Park is ADA accessible and is also open daily.

For complete information, including the wading pool schedule at other Lakewood parks, please call 562-866-9771, extension 2408 or view the complete Aquatics section of the catalog at www.lakewoodcity.org/aquaticsprograms. ♌

Green August 2019

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Protect your family from mosquitoes

Living

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• Thin or Thick Crust • Salads & Sandwiches • Live Music - Bluegrass every Sat & Big Al on the piano every Fri. • Free Banquet Room (20-100 people)

Me -n - Ed’s Pizza Parlor

4115 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood

Phone: 562-421-8908

Small Aedes mosquito, which can carry the Zika virus.

Mosquitoes can quickly breed in water left standing just a few days. Serious illness and even death can result from mosquitoborne diseases like West Nile virus and the new threat of the Zika virus.

Zika is transmitted by the small Aedes mosquito and has serious repercussions for pregnant women. Aedes mosquitoes can live indoors or outdoors. Eggs are laid along the waterline of any waterholding container such as vases, plant saucers, buckets, used tires, and even plants that hold water, like bamboo or bromeliads. Eggs can remain alive for years, and hatch into larvae when conditions are right.

Look for: • small, black mosquitoes with white stripes • mosquitoes active and biting during the day--even indoors!

• immature mosquitoes (larvae and pupae) swimming in stagnant water.

Mosquitoes do not fly far, so if you are getting bites, the water is likely in your yard. If you are unable to find and remove the source yourself, contact the Greater L.A. County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656 or www.ReportMosquitoes.org. This FREE service includes inspection and treatment.

Remember the “3 Ds” of mosquito protection: • DEET: Use insect repellant containing DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus to keep mosquitoes away. Prevent mosquitoes

from invading your home by ensuring window screens are intact.

• Dawn & Dusk: Dawn and dusk are the most active time for most mosquitoes. If you must be outdoors at those times, wear longsleeve shirts and pants and insect repellant. Note: The Aedes mosquito is active during the day.

• Drain: Clear your yard of any standing water, including water pooling at the bottom of plant saucers. Check toys or other small items left standing in water and wash them thoroughly if kept.

Mosquito eggs laid in cracks are hard to detect and can live for up to a year. Remove or drill holes in the bottom of all plant pots, saucers, barrels, bins and old tires.

For more information on Aedes and other mosquitoes, visit www. glacvcd.org.

Untreated swimming pools can be reported to Lakewood City Hall by calling 562-866-9771, extension 2140, or emailing ser-

vice1@lakewoodcity.org.

Residents finding any dead birds or squirrels (which could be a sign of West Nile virus) can report them by calling the West Nile Virus Dead Bird Hotline at 877968-2473. ♦

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SH P LAKEWOOD

August 2019

Shop Lakewood…and help Project Shepherd get kids back to school

Donating school supplies helps local kids in need.

Lakewood Project Shepherd is collecting “Back to School” backpacks and school supplies for low-income families with schoolage children in Lakewood through August 8. The start of school is only weeks away and many kids in the community could use some help.

New backpacks and school supplies appropriate for all ages will be accepted at Lakewood City Hall during regular business hours or at the Burns Community Center at 5510 Clark Avenue from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on week-

...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL

days and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information, call 562-925-7512 or see the flyer at www.lakewoodcity.org/PSbackpack.

As you help Project Shepherd, consider that Lakewood has some of the nation’s most popular and value-oriented back-to-school retailers… including Costco, Marshalls, Home Goods, Target, Office Max, Dollar Tree, 99¢ Only Stores, Walmart, Kohl’s, Forever 21, JCPenney, Macy’s and Big 5.

Did you know that as a Lakewood resident you benefit each time you make a purchase at a Lakewood store, restaurant or gas station? A portion of your sales tax dollar stays right here in Lakewood. That pays for parks, roads, law enforcement and all the features that make for a good quality of life here in our community.

This back-to-school season, keep your hometown in mind, and Shop Lakewood…

Stay Lakewood Loyal. And check out Shop Lakewood’s home on Facebook for coupons and updates at www. shoplakewood.org.

(You don’t have to be signed up on Facebook to use the site.) ♦

SH P LAKEWOOD www.lakewoodchamber.com

August 2019

SH P LAKEWOOD

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It’s “Hot Adoption Days” Lakewood welcomes Collaborative at SEAACA in August Coffee Bar to the neighborhood

Adopt in summer when there’s more free time to help a new pet feel at home.

SEAACA is making it more affordable than ever to give a pet in need a forever home, and summer is a great time to adopt.

From now through August 10, you can adopt a cat or rabbit (eight weeks and older) for only $5 or a dog (one year and older) for 50% off the regular fees.

These low rates include: • Spay/neuter (some pets may require a refundable deposit) • Micro-chip ID • First set of vaccines • Flea treatment

This offer cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion and excludes Boutique Buddies.

View the flyer at www.lakewoodcity.org/SEAACAsummer.

You can view the pets available for adoption online at www.seaaca.org or visit SEAACA, 9777 Seaaca Street in Downey, Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call SEAACA at 562-803-3301 for more information. ♦

Lakewood’s newest small business, Collaborative Coffee Bar, celebrated opening its doors with a Grand Opening ceremony on July 20th. The brand new coffee shop offers a simple menu of various coffee drinks and teas, as well as fresh baked pastries and vegan dessert options, all in a relaxed and contemporary atmosphere.

Lakewood Mayor Todd Rogers attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and presented business owner and manager Robert Lopez with a certificate on behalf of the Lakewood City Council and Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Rogers was optimistic about the future of the family-owned business, saying “one day there might be “Collaborative Coffee Bar” franchised locations all over the nation, but we’ll always remember that the first one started right here in Lakewood.”

Collaborative Coffee Bar is located at 4836 Paramount Blvd, on the southeast corner of Del Amo Blvd. and Paramount Blvd. ♦

loomfield Animal Hospital Dr. Jose E. Arambulo, DVM FULL SERVICE VETERINARY HOSPITAL EcoFriendly

• Quality, Reliable & Affordable Vet Care for Over 25 Years • Comprehensive Dental • Vaccinations/Spay/Neuter • Digital X-Rays • Pet Grooming • Laser Therapy

Since September, 2011, we have donated over 2,000 lbs. of pet food to the Lakewood Meals on Wheels for the “Pets of the Homeless,” a non-profit group that helps with vet care & pet food for their furry friends.

Any help would be appreciated. We accept both dry & canned food for cats & dogs.

Thank You!

Office Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8:30am-1:00pm 3:00pm-5:30pm Saturday 8:00am-2:30pm

Please Call for an Appointment:

(562) 402-9717

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FREE EXAM! New clients only Expires 8/31/19

20927 Norwalk Blvd.

Lakewood, CA 90715 www.bloomfieldvet.com

...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL

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Community Connect event to assist low-income households

City of Lakewood staff, Southern California Edison and So-

CalGas invite you to learn ways to save energy and money at the

www.lakewoodchamber.com free Community Connect event on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave. Learn ways to lower your monthly bill through a variety of programs. Income-qualified households can sign up on the spot to receive monthly discounts on gas and electric bills. Please bring a copy of your utility bill to the event. SoCalGas will also be giving away gas-saving kits to residents with their gas bill on hand.

Other organizations in attendance providing information include Lakewood Meals on Wheels, WIC, 211 Los Angeles County, and the City of Lakewood Recreation and Community Services department.

See the flyer with all the details (in English and Spanish) at www. lakewoodcity.org/connect. ♦

August 2019

City partners with Ring for discounts on video doorbells

Law enforcement experts are promoting video doorbells and related home security devices as effective tools in reducing burglaries and residential property crimes. Video doorbells can also help in the capture and prosecution of property criminals.

To encourage more Lakewood residents to purchase video doorbells and home security devices, the City of Lakewood is partnering with the company Ring on a program that provides a $100 discount on many Ring products. For example, the discount reduces the cost of Ring’s popular “Video Doorbell 2” by 50% from its normal $199 retail price.

Ring’s community subsidy program provides a total of $20,000 in discounts to the first 200 purchasers in a community (or $100 per purchaser) if the local government provides half of that $20,000 discount. Only one discount will be available per household.

“While Lakewood is definitely in a very tight budget climate right now, we felt that $10,000 from the city was a small but smart investment in getting this crime prevention technology out to more Lakewood residents,” said City Manager Thaddeus McCormack.

“People may wonder why we are partnering just with Ring, but they are the only video doorbell company that offers this kind of community discount partnership,” said McCormack.

The discounted Ring products will be available at a oneday event on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave. For details on the community discount program, go to www. lakewoodcity.org/RING or email LakewoodRing@lakewoodcity.org. ♦

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Sign up for Lakewood Youth Sports programs at all city parks

Embark on the trip of a lifetime!

The Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is offering a once-in-a-lifetime scenic sail up the gorgeous Rhine River during an exclusive 10-day cruise.

Experience the Rhine’s most romantic and legendary sights while aboard the 5-star Amadeus Silver III, departing October 7, 2019. Over the next 10 days, travelers can experience first-hand the fascinating history and captivat-

Flag Football is offered in three divisions this year.

The award-winning Lakewood Youth Sports (LYS) program is offering Flag Football and Girls Volleyball and Volleytennis this fall.

Online registration will take place August 31 to September 14 at www.lakewoodcity.

Adult sports kicking off: Softball and volleytennis

Sign-ups for Lakewood’s adult softball and volleytennis fall leagues will take place between August 5 and 16.

• Softball leagues play on various weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

• Volleytennis plays on Monday evenings.

All ability levels are encouraged. Signups are taken at City Hall. Registration packets are available now at www.lakewoodcity.org/sports or by calling 562-866-9771, extension 2408. ♦

org/ecatalog. Simply click on the “activities” tab, then follow the link for “sports league.”

Players must bring a birth certificate and signed registration form prior to their first practice. There is no fee for Lakewood residents with proof of residency. All nonresident registrations will take place online and include a $20 registration fee.

The Flag Football program will offer three divisions: • The Competitive Division is for youth ages 8-15.

• The Rookie Division, for ages 4-5, offers boys and girls a fun introduction to flag football fundamentals using a Nerf football and modified rules for fun with minimal competition.

• The Smurf Division, for ages 6-7, offers boys and girls a non-competitive league

that will help transition from Smurf to competitive play.

The Girls Volleytennis program is a fast-moving game played like volleyball with a modified format, and will be offered for girls ages 8-9.

Girls Volleyball will be offered for participants ages 10-17. Players will be assigned to park teams for league play and city championships.

Teams in the Flag Football and Volleytennis programs practice and play on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. Volleyball teams will practice and play games on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Hoover Middle School gymnasium.

Season dates run from September 16 to December 7. Playoffs will conclude by December 14. ♦

Page 13

ing charm of the cities lining the Rhine’s banks during guided tours and free time for exploring.

“This is an incredible opportunity to see and experience the true beauty of the Rhine River,” Jose Solache, President & CEO said. “and we have secured 5-star accommodations at a significant discount!”

Space is limited, so act fast.

Don’t miss your chance to visit the Rhine’s awe-inspiring riversides and create new memories that will last a lifetime.

For more information about this amazing trip, contact the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce at (562) 531-9733, or at info@lakewoodchamber.com. ♦

Town

Around Page 14

August 2019

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You can help with the Red Cross blood drive

S udoku

1 5

8 1 3 7 6 2 9 4 3 5 6 1 3 3 9

1

5 7 6 8

9 3 5 7

Pick up your pencil and put your brain to work The American Red Cross, in cooperation with the City of Lakewood, has a blood drive set for Thursday, August 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Maple Room at The Centre, 5000 Clark Avenue.

Donations take about an hour.

Participants are encouraged to drink plenty of water, eat a nutritious meal ahead of time and bring a photo ID. Make an appointment online at http://www.redcrossblood.org with sponsor code CityofLakewood. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting www.

RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading for information.

Residents unable to make the scheduled event can quickly find other blood drives using easy search tools at the Red Cross website.

Additional information on donations and volunteer opportunities are at www.redcrossblood.org/volunteer.

General donation requirements: • Donations accepted every 56 days • 17 years of age - 110 pounds, 16 years of age with Red Cross

permission slip • Good health the day of donation • Individuals who receive a tattoo by a licensed body art establishment and technician in California are eligible to donate blood.

• Must have been in the U.S. for 3 years • You can donate if you have high cholesterol • You can donate if your diabetes or blood pressure is under control • For travel restrictions, call 866-236-3276. ♦

Congratulations to the winner of the July Sudoku puzzle, Nadia Caffrey! To be eligible, print your name, address and phone number on a letter size (8½ x 11) piece of paper, and then tape the puzzle onto the paper. Mail entries to: Lakewood Community News, P.O. Box 160, Lakewood, CA 90714. Or drop it by the Chamber office at 24 Lakewood Center Mall in Lakewood (next to See’s Candies). The winners are drawn

Thank You to our Sudoku Sponsor!

by random.

One entry per household.

The winner will be drawn on Wednesday August 21, 2019, and the call to the winner will be made the same day. If a message is left, the prize must be claimed by return phone call within 48 hours (two business days) or a new winner will be chosen. The name of the winner will be published in the September issue, along with a new Sudoku Puzzle. u

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Community August 2019

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How to find the best back-toschool deals

(StatePoint) With households nationwide spending $27.6 billion on items like clothes, accessories and supplies, backto-school is now the second biggest shopping season of the year, according to Deloitte research.

Americans may be parting with a lot of their money, but not necessarily happily. A recent survey from online retailer Zulily finds that 71 percent of Americans think that shoppers spend too much on back-to-school shopping. It’s no surprise then that over half of respondents marked budget as the most important factor in making purchases for that first day of school, over convenience and being on-trend.

But experts say you don’t have to sacrifice convenience or style to stay on-budget. To help keep your wallet intact while you seek out all the coolest back-to-school gear, merchandising director at Zulily, Carmela Matthews, a retail veteran, offers these shopping tips: • Plan in advance: Avoid stressful, pricey last-minute shopping. Get started early in the summer so you can be finished before all the good seasonal deals are gone.

• Get organized: Put together a checklist so you don’t forget any of the necessities.

“Take stock of what you have and what you need by cleaning out closets prior to shopping,” says Matthews. “Stay organized by sorting items into piles for donations, consignment and hand-me-downs.”

• Create a budget: While summer sales can help you save, it’s still important to set a realistic spending limit, as well as to look for the best deals available to stay within budget.

• Shop mobile: Apps like Zulily offer parents a wide variety of back-to-school essentials for

kids, whether they’re pre-k or college age, at amazing prices.

Essentials include apparel, shoes, accessories, school supplies, toys and dorm décor.

Savings multiply when shoppers buy two items or more, but the great deals typically only last 72 hours.

With 77 percent of Americans saying that they think school supplies are more expensive today than during the 1990s (according to the Zulily survey) this year, the online retailer is taking a different spin on its time-limited sales and will be launching a special retro collection by debuting a sixweek blast-from-the-past sale featuring iconic school season essentials from the 90s -- at 90s prices. Each #ThrowbackThursday from July 18 to Aug. 22, 2019, shoppers will have

the opportunity to shop new, curated and charmingly retroinspired goods for the whole family with prices to match the era of Tetris and Lisa Frank.

• Stockpile favorites: When you find something your child loves and needs each year for school at a great price, be sure to buy a few extra so you can take advantage of the great deal for years to come. Purchasing for kids for several years (with the expectation that they will grow) can provide wallet relief.

When you buy multiples of the same item in larger sizes, place them in labeled bins that you can pull out upon closet cleanout the following year to avoid buying duplicates.

With some smart strategizing, you can prepare for a successful, stylish and affordable school year. ♦

Page 15

How Short is Your Fuse?

Or perhaps the fuse of someone you know? Everywhere you turn, there is anger brewing. The slightest little thing could set it off—getting cut off on the freeway, losing a parking space, a long line at the supermarket, etc. It’s always bubbling just below the surface.

There could be many reasons for the anger: unresolved past issues, unhappiness in a relationship, feeling like a failure, etc. Any sudden trigger can set off an alarm bell that, once it starts, is too hard to turn off.

Here are some tips to calm the beast within: 1) Pause before you REACT. Take time to RESPOND, instead.

2) Take a break. Go for a walk.

You’ll begin to calm down immediately.

3) Identify the real reason for your anger. It’s not necessarily what you think it is.

4) Focus on the solution, not

Expires 8-31-19

the problem.

5) Try to see the situation from a different perspective.

Ask yourself these questions: How important is it for you to be right? How important will losing a parking space be in a week? Is the anger worth it?

Use your energy being loving—the most powerful force there is! It’s your choice.

Submitted by Rossana Snee, MFT, author of The Healing Alphabet, 26 Empowering Ways to Enrich Your Life. Follow her on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcigu_joKqgIelc6jhvecsw, Twitter, Instagram (@ therapyXpress). Visit her at www. rossanasnee.com. She is available in a therapeutic capacity, and also for speaking engagements.♦

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August 2019