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Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce | 30,000 Circulation - Delivered to every home in Lakewood www.lakewoodchamber.com
Volume 41 Number 12
Don't miss the annual tree lighting event on Friday, Dec. 3
Join the community to watch the tree light up at the Civic Center.
Lakewood residents are cordially invited to join in the city’s 8th annual tree lighting ceremony and community gathering on Friday, Dec. 3 outside The Centre at 5000 Clark Ave., next to City Hall. Carnival games and food trucks will be on the scene starting at 4:30 p.m. Santa will be ready to hear your children’s holiday
wishes and take photos (with your own device) from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. The official tree lighting program starts at 6:30 p.m. Festivities wrap up at 8 p.m. Fun features include: • Lots of falling snow • Mayfair High School choral group
• Plenty of food trucks located in the parking lot behind City Hall where there is more room to spread out and relax. • Wonderful and free family holiday photo opportunities. Costumed characters will help with several holiday photo scenes, including one with Santa and two large sleighs. Parking will be available behind The Centre and in the large, gravel parking lot at the corner of Del Amo Boulevard and Clark Avenue. The parking lots immediately in front of and behind City Hall will be closed for use in the event. There will be plenty of other opportunities to enjoy good cheer around the Lakewood tree if you can’t make the tree lighting on Dec. 3. From Dec. 4 through Dec. 31, the tree will be on display in the plaza, providing an animated light show that changes colors to music continuously from 5 to 10 p.m. each night. Stop by and enjoy the splendor of the winter holidays! If it is raining the late afternoon of Dec. 3, the event will be cancelled, but the tree will still be lit for the first time at 6:30 p.m. that evening. If the rain stops by 1 p.m., the event will go on, although some activities may be limited. For more information, including weather-related updates on Dec. 3, visit www.lakewoodcity. org/treelighting or call city staff at 562-866-9771, extension 2408. ♦
Multicultural music & food festival is a big hit
One of the multicultural performances at Fest-Of-All.
Over 10,000 Lakewood residents and guests attended over the course of Lakewood’s premier Fest-Of-All, a day-long event held in beautiful weather on Saturday, Oct. 9 outside Lakewood Center mall.
Fest-Of-All featured a children’s cultural booth…food court and food trucks with a wide variety of cuisines…and live music and dance such as a Selena tribute band, Motown/ R&B, Classic Americana mu-
sic, Filipino Tinikling Dance, Break Dancing, and Country Line Dancing. For highlights, watch the CityTV video at www.lakewoodcity.org/FOAvideo. Lakewood is one of L.A. County’s most diverse communities, with people from all over the country and world, representing a wide variety of cultures. The Fest-Of-All was recommended by residents and organized by the City of Lakewood as a way to celebrate that diversity and bring the Lakewood community together for a fun day of music, dance, food and getting to know our neighbors. ♦
December 2021
‘Tis the season for Project Shepherd
Teddy Bear Trees help fulfill a child’s wish.
As the holiday season quickly approaches, we are reminded of those who are less fortunate. Over 1,600 individuals living in Lakewood, many of them children and seniors, will not able to enjoy the holidays without the food, gifts and toys that many of us have come to take for granted. With your help, Project Shepherd will ensure there’s enough joy for everyone in Lakewood during the holiday season. Here are five ways you can contribute to the program: 1. Make a donation by check Mail a check to Lakewood Project Shepherd, c/o Lakewood City Hall, 5050 Clark Ave., Lakewood, CA 90712. Or, put the check in an envelope addressed to Project Shepherd and drop it off in the utility payment box outside City Hall. 2. Fulfill a child’s wish on a Teddy Bear Tree displayed in the Recreation and Community Services Dept. at City Hall as well as the Burns Community Center. Here’s how the program works: • You select an ornament with a child's name, age and wish (for a reasonably priced toy) and then shop for the gift that will fulfill that wish. • Bring the unwrapped gift with the matching “ornament” to the donation box at the City Hall or the Burns Community Center during business hours prior to Monday, Dec. 6. • All of the unwrapped gifts go
to children registered through Project Shepherd, which is Lakewood’s homegrown charity to assist local families in need. 3. Visit Project Shepherd’s gift registry on Amazon to purchase a gift to fulfill a child’s wish and have it sent directly to the program. Visit the link to Project Shepherd’s gift wish list on Amazon at www.lakewoodcity.org/PSAmazon. 4. Support the Virtual Canned Food and Toy Drive Sponsor 1 to 35 canned goods for holiday meal baskets or donate to provide a toy for a child in need – or do both! It’s easy using the secure online form at www. lakewoodcity.org/PSholiday. 5. Donate $10 Grocery Gift Cards Next time you’re at the market, pick up a $10 grocery gift card or two to donate. Drop off gift cards to the Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave., Lakewood before Dec. 6. Project Shepherd is operated by the Rotary Club of Lakewood and the City of Lakewood. For more information about Project Shepherd, call 562-925-7512, or visit www.lakewoodcity.org/ProjectShepherd. Project Shepherd would like to thank our Platinum Sponsors H&H Nursery, Lakewood Regional Medical Center, Life Center Church, and Macy’s for their generous support this holiday season. ♦
If you miss the Dec. 3 Tree Lighting event outside The Centre, you can still enjoy the holiday scene at the Lakewood Civic Center through Dec. 31. Every night from Dec. 4 to Dec. 31, the 24-foot-tall tree will light up with accompanying holiday music between 5 and 10 p.m. in the plaza between City Hall and The Centre along Clark Avenue. Many people find the tree a wonderful backdrop for holiday photos.
Today
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Take the time to be thankful By Mayor Jeff Wood
While we should all take some time every day to reflect on what we’re grateful for, I’m glad that there’s also a day and a season when we’re especially reminded to do that. And that’s one of the best parts of the month and season we’re about to enter. A recent community event was a clear reminder of why there’s so much to be grateful for here in Lakewood. About 200 Lakewood residents and guests recently gathered safely in a large tent outside City Hall for the Award of Valor luncheon. This traditional, annual event is where Lakewood community leaders recognize our Sheriff and Fire personnel and community members who have made major contributions to public safety in our city. Among the many honorees, we recognized two deputy sheriffs who saved the life of a 105-year-old World War II veteran who was bleeding badly from large lacerations to his leg after being hit by a car. We honored a team of firefighters who responded to a horrific three-car accident where multiple people were trapped inside damaged vehicles. Two people died in the collision, but the firefighters’
quick action allowed three others to be saved. We recognized Lakewood residents for achievements in volunteer work at the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station and on their own block as part of Neighborhood Watch. We also presented the new Bridge Builder Award to some of the community members who helped inspire and organize a new event in Lakewood—the Fest-Of-All—that brought together over 10,000 Lakewood residents and guests for a day and evening of music, food and fun to celebrate our city’s wonderful diversity. I think everyone left the Award of Valor luncheon feeling inspired about our community and the people who work hard professionally and as volunteers to keep us safe and keep us working together to be the best community possible. You can share in that good feeling when the CityTV video coverage of the Award of Valor luncheon becomes available on Dec. 8 at www.lakewoodcity. org/AOVvideo. There’s plenty more to be grateful for in Lakewood as we enter the holiday season. We’re a city that’s blessed with many volunteer non-profit groups and a variety of congregations that focus on maintaining and improving the quality of life in our community. One of my priorities in my year as mayor is to work with my City Council colleagues to shine a light on the many ways that residents can volunteer in Lakewood. We have a new video series called “Connect with a Caring Community” that focuses on different Lakewood volunteer
causes and efforts. See these short, informative videos in our weekly Lakewood Connect eMagazine, which you can subscribe to at www.lakewoodcity. org/subscribe, or see the full collection at www.lakewoodcity.org/connectvideos. Or call city staff at 562-866-9771, ext. 2408. Lakewood got its start in the early 1950s from the thousands of military veterans and their families who settled here. We continue to be a city that is deeply thankful for the service and sacrifices of our military personnel. You can say “thank you” to an American military servicemember stationed far from home this holiday season by writing out a short note or card as part of Lakewood’s “Thank A Servicemember” campaign. We’ll take the steps necessary to get it to a servicemember overseas. It’s a nice way to bring a smile to a soldier, sailor, airman or marine this holiday season. You can pick up a Thank A Servicemember card at City Hall or at participating Lakewood businesses. Go to www. lakewoodcity.org/TAS or call 562-866-9771, extension 3123 for information. Another way to express your gratitude this holiday season is to shop here in your hometown of Lakewood as much as you can. Your patronage keeps jobs and businesses going here, and brings valuable sales tax dollars to our community that pay for our many city services. As we enter the holidays, on behalf of my fellow Lakewood City Council Members, I want to wish you and your family a very happy, meaningful and thankful season ahead. ♦
December 2021
City Spotlight
LYS Basketball Registration Sign-ups for Lakewood Youth Sports Basketball will be available online Dec. 4-18. Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog and click on the “Sports” tab at the top of the page. Co-ed Rookie and Smurf Divisions, ages 4 to 5 and 6 to 7, emphasize instruction using a smaller ball and modified rules to promote fun and minimize competition. Competitive Divisions are for ages 8 to 17. Boys and Girls 15-17 divisions will play a 3-on-3 format, focused on providing a fun, social atmosphere. There is no registration fee for Lakewood residents. Non-resident registration is $20 and can be paid online any time. Players will be instructed to present a birth certificate to verify age classifications prior to first practices. Effective Sept. 1, 2021, the L.A. County Department of Public Health provided updated protocols for Youth Sports. Participants in LYS who are 11 years old and younger will not be required to test weekly for COVID-19, and only participants 12 and older and volunteers and staff who are not fully vaccinated will be required to test on a weekly basis. Teams practice weekday evenings and Saturday mornings, beginning Dec. 27. League play begins Jan. 22 and concludes March 12. Playoffs will conclude by March 19. For more information, call Lakewood’s Recreation and Community Services Department at 562-8669771, extension 2408. Lakewood Youth Sports volunteer coaches needed Volunteer coaches are needed for basketball teams for the upcoming season at Lakewood parks. Although parents of players make great coaches, it’s not required to have a child playing to be a volunteer. Volunteering to coach is a rewarding experience, and anyone that wants to be involved is welcome. No coaching experience is necessary. City staff will provide the appropriate training. Inquire at any
Lakewood park for complete details or call 562-866-9771, extension 2408. Winter vacation programs—Dec. 20 - 31 Holiday activities at Lakewood parks will be featured throughout the two weeks of school vacation from Monday, Dec. 20 through Friday, Dec. 31. Special activity flyers are available at Lakewood City Hall and Lakewood parks. Parks are closed on December 24 and 25. Santa will make an early appearance on Saturday, Dec. 18 at each of the parks, followed by a candy cane hunt. Park activities during the vacation period will include winter holiday craft projects, indoor and outdoor games, and fun with food. For more information, call 562866-9771, extension 2408. Drive-in Movies at Lakewood Center The City of Lakewood will offer two nights of Drive-in Movies at Lakewood Center, in the northwest parking lot near El Torito restaurant, on Friday, Dec. 10 featuring The Grinch and Friday, Dec. 17 featuring A Christmas Story. The movies will begin at 7 p.m. with car staging beginning at 6 p.m. Residents will be charged $10 per car and non-residents will be charged $15 per car. Pre-registration is required and is open to 100 cars. Participants can register at www. lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog. Registration for The Grinch begins Dec. 4 for residents and Dec. 6 for non-residents. Registration for A Christmas Story begins Dec. 11 for residents and Dec. 13 for nonresidents. Spring Recreation and Community Services Catalog available online The new Recreation and Community Services Spring Catalog will be posted online Friday, Jan. 14 at www.lakewoodcity.org/Catalog. A limited number of hard copies of the catalog will be available for pick up at your local park, community center, and Lakewood City Hall. The new catalog features activities for participants of all ages. As always, many classes are free or low cost. Residents can register for classes and programs online starting Jan. 14. Non-residents can register beginning Jan. 24 at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog, or by calling City Hall at 562-866-9771, extension 2408. Lakewood Hall of Fame seeks nominations The Lakewood Youth Sports Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for the 40th annual sports awards program. The 2021 Athlete of the Year, Performers of the Year and Special Achievement awards will be selected based on data supplied in nominations. Nominations are due to the Recreation and Community Services Department at City Hall by Dec. 2. Athletes must live or attend school in Lakewood to be eligible. The awards banquet will take place on Feb. 28, 2022. Call 562-866-9771, extension 2408 for details. ♦
Your
Minding
December 2021
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Lakewood Meals on Wheels joins Timmons Subaru in Sharing the Love this Holiday Season The 14th annual Subaru Share the Love® Event will help deliver nutritious meals and compassion to Lakewood’s seniors
Lakewood Meals on Wheels is proud to announce that it will be participating in the 2021 Subaru Share the Love Event as a member of Meals on Wheels America – one of four national Share the Love charitable partners supported through the campaign. Going on now through January 3, 2022, Subaru of America will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased to the customer's choice of participating charities. It’s easy; you can help your local community when you purchase your new vehicle and select Meals on Wheels as your charity of choice. “The support we have re-
ceived from Subaru through the Share the Love program has been extremely valuable” says Lakewood Meals on Wheels Executive Director, Debra Larson. “Now that Timmons Subaru has located to Lakewood, we are so happy to be partnering again with them in this effort to support Lakewood’s seniors through our home delivered meal program.” Lakewood Meals on Wheels will receive a share of the donation raised by Subaru in California by partnering with local retailer, Timmons Subaru to raise awareness for the popular year-end sales and giving event.
“We’re enormously grateful to Subaru and its retailers for their long-standing commitment to Meals on Wheels and the millions of seniors who depend on it for nourishment and companionship.” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. Over the last 13 years, Subaru of America and its participating retailers have donated more than $200 million to its charity partners. By purchasing or leasing a new Subaru during the Subaru Share the Love Event going on now through January 3, 2022 and selecting Meals on Wheels as your charity of choice, you can help deliver nutritious meals and other important services to seniors right here in Lakewood. If you’d like more information about the Lakewood Meals on Wheels program, or the Subaru Share the Love program, please call 562-9258747. ♦
Business Page 3
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& Financial
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December 2021
December 2021
News
Community
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Remind holiday visitors of street-sweeping days Family and friends visiting Lakewood over the holidays may be unfamiliar with Lakewood’s parking and street-sweeping schedules and regulations that help keep neighborhoods clean and safe for everyone. Help your visitors enjoy a joyful celebration by sharing these tips: • Share the street-sweeping schedule in advance. Street sweeping will be as usual on Dec. 20-23 and Dec. 27-30. There will be no street sweeping on Dec. 24 or Dec. 31, and no makeup sweeps. • There will be no street-sweeping related parking enforcement at all from Dec. 20-31. How-
ever, parking enforcement will continue for non-street-sweeping related violations, such as parking in red zones or blocking sidewalks. If possible, please ask visitors to park vehicles off the street to allow for a clean sweep of the street. • On your street-sweeping day only, parking is allowed on the front and side lawns. • Any day, parking is allowed on the apron, which is the sloped area between the street and the sidewalk leading up to your driveway, as long as the vehicle does not overhang the sidewalk. • Don’t obstruct or overhang onto
December 2021
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the sidewalk. When parking in your driveway or on the apron any day of the week, including street-sweeping day, it is important to NOT obstruct or overhang the sidewalk. That creates a dangerous obstruction for pedestrians and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state parking laws. Street-sweeping is cancelled when city staff determines it is raining enough that water is pooling or flowing in gutters throughout a neighborhood, which prevents effective sweeping. (Sweeping still occurs during a light sprinkle.) ♦
Thank a Servicemember campaign ends Dec. 3
Kids enjoy creating their own cards for the campaign.
Lakewood’s 2021 Thank a Servicemember campaign ends on Friday, Dec. 3. It’s easy to help…simply write a message on a free Lakewood commemorative postcard available at City Hall, or create your own holiday greeting card or letter of thanks to U.S. troops deployed overseas. You can also help in contactless ways. Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/TAS and download a copy of the postcard to write your own message, download coloring pages for young artists to use, or simply participate in the online writing campaign through Operation Gratitude. You may drop off your postcard, card, letter or drawing (please, no envelopes and no
glitter) to the Public Information Office at City Hall or at any of our partner locations listed at www.lakewoodcity.org/TASpartners. The city will send all submissions collected to U.S. servicemembers overseas through the military support group, Operation Gratitude. “It’s time to remember that there are those who are away from their families working hard to protect us and our freedoms," said Lakewood Mayor Jeff Wood. "Let them know you appreciate the sacrifices and the risks that they endure.” “Please take the time to fill out a card or write a message of thanks and cheer before Dec. 3.” ♦
Green December 2021
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Living
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Christmas tree recycling Flushing of fire hydrant water lines and special holiday trash
Place trees next to the curb near trash carts.
Starting Dec. 27, Lakewood residents can recycle their Christmas trees and get extra holiday trash hauled away with assistance from the city’s waste hauler, EDCO Waste Disposal Co. Christmas tree disposal. For two weeks after Christmas (from Dec. 27 through Jan. 7), EDCO will pick up discarded Christmas trees on your trash collection day. Flocked trees are OK, but ornaments, tinsel, and metal or plastic stands must be removed. Wooden tree stands can be left on the tree. The tree must not be in a bag. Trees over six feet tall must be cut in half. Place your tree near your carts on your parkway or next to the curb. Holiday-related extra trash ser-
vice. For the week immediately following Christmas, from Dec. 27-31, EDCO will pick up the extra holiday trash on your trash pickup day. You should continue to use your existing carts as much as possible, but you can also leave up to 10 standard-size trash bags about two feet from your cart for pick-up. Holiday and appliance boxes may be left there as well. There is no charge for this extra service and no need to call EDCO in advance. No bulky item pickup service from Dec. 27 to Jan. 9. The service starts again on Monday, Jan. 10. To use it, call EDCO at 562-531-3054 by 3:30 p.m. at least one day before your normal trash day. ♦
Over the coming months, the City of Lakewood Department of Water Resources will carry out its annual maintenance step of flushing water mains through open fire hydrants, which is a preventative program to test fire hydrants and water main valves and to flush water mains of rusty sediment. Flushing through open fire hydrants helps ensure that hydrants are functioning properly and is an important component of fire safety. Flushing is also a key step in maintaining water quality. Over time, distribution mains can accumulate sediment. Periodic flushing of the mains cleans and scours their interior by sending a rapid flow of water through the system. This process may result in temporary discolored water caused by small particles dislodged during flushing. City of Lakewood water staff will hang tags on door knobs to give residents advance notice of the date and time window of flushing in their neighborhood. In the event that you encounter discolored water in your home after flushing, please be cautious and do not immediately use your water for washing or consumption. It is ok for toilet use. Once flushing in your area is complete, allow the water from your outside water spigot to run for a few minutes
at full velocity until the discoloration dissipates. The next step is to check the kitchen faucet or bathtub spout inside your home by running the cold water until any remaining discoloration dissipates. As a courtesy, the City of Lakewood flushes water mains in the late evening to minimize inconvenience to residents. ♦
Coming soon: fire hydrant safety/water quality flushing.
Construction - Single Story Room Additions from Concept to Completion - 75% of work done in-house
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Pine trees that are high, Give light at night, They shine so bright, It’s Christmas time. Stop the fight, Make everything right, Give love tonight It’s Christmas time. A greeting you’ll like, In a card that you’ll find, Just always smile, For it’s Christmas time.
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SH P LAKEWOOD
December 2021
Holiday trash pickup and city services Lakewood Run coming in
Lakewood City Hall will be closed Dec. 24 and the week of Dec. 27-31. Here are trash and other city service details for the two holiday weeks of Dec. 20 and Dec. 27: • Trash service pickup for the two holiday weeks of Dec. 20 and Dec. 27 will continue as usual, including on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.
• Street sweeping in residential areas will occur as normal from Dec. 2023 and Dec. 27-30. There will be no street sweeping on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, and no makeup sweeps for those two days. • There will be NO street sweeping-related parking enforcement at all from Dec. 20 through Dec. 31. However, if you can, please move your vehicles off the street during street-sweeping hours to help your street get the cleanest possible sweep. Street sweeping and enforcement will resume on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. • Parking enforcement will continue for non-street-sweeping related violations, such as parking in red zones
or blocking sidewalks. • DASH Transit service will not be available on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. When City Hall is closed, here is how you can report a non-emergency issue: • Call and leave a message for the customer service staff at 562-8669771, extension 2140 or send an email to service1@lakewoodcity. org. They will answer messages on the next business day. • Submit a non-emergency service request online at www.lakewoodcity.org/service. • Use the Lakewood Connect app for your smartphone to report an issue, ask a question or give input to the City of Lakewood. The app is available for free from both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. For emergency city service requests, like downed tree limbs or water main leaks, please phone 562866-9771 and follow the recorded instructions to page a 24-hour city emergency staff worker. For questions or requests regarding trash and disposal services, contact EDCO Disposal at 562-531-3054. ♦
March 2022
Avid runners, fitness athletes, families and kids are welcome.
The 31st annual Lakewood Run celebrates real life superheroes as it returns to its traditional format on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Deputy sheriffs, recreational runners, families and kids will gather at the starting line in front of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station to walk, roll or run the event’s 5K Run/Walk or the 10K Run course for time. Lakewood’s tree-lined residential streets offer a flat, “runner friendly” course that is fast for practiced run-
ners and comfortable for fitness fans and family members. Check out the Lakewood Run website and register online now at www.lakewoodrun.com/registration. All participants will be supporting Soroptimist International of Lakewood/Long Beach and Lakewood Sheriff’s Station charity efforts while they pursue their personal best in the 5K/10K event for time or just for fun in this family-friendly event. Early bird registration fees are in effect through Jan. 31. The fee is $40 for the 5K Run/Walk or $45 for the 10K Run. Professional timing will be used. Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each category of the 5K and 10K running events. All finishers for the 5K/10K will receive finisher medals. For participants and spectators, the day includes a fitness expo and displays of public safety equipment and programs. There is also live entertainment and special giveaways from Lakewood-area businesses. To inquire about group rate entries or to get more event information, email info@lakewoodrun.com. ♦
Advertise in the award winning Lakewood Community News! Call or email us at (562) 531-9733 or advertise@ lakewoodchamber.com.
...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL
SH P LAKEWOOD December 2021
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SH P LAKEWOOD
Entertain for less this holiday season
(StatePoint) The holiday season brings an abundance of feelings that may include joy, comfort, gratitude, and unfortunately, stress. Don’t let the task of entertaining friends and family break the bank or your back. Instead, create memorable gatherings with loved ones while saving time and money in the process using these hosting tips from the experts at Dollar General: Delicate Décor Creating the right ambiance in your space is key to holiday decorating success. Begin by decluttering the areas of your home where you plan to entertain. Fill the extra spaces with seasonal decorations. Remember, elaborate, expensive items aren’t always needed to make a home look amazing. Decorations like small figurines, bowls filled with holiday candy or simple wreaths and garlands can do the trick of transforming your home into a winter wonderland! Fruitful Food
With more guests comes more food, but it doesn’t have to mean spending more money. Shopping at discount retailers for essentials such as milk, eggs, bread and cheese can help stretch your budget. You can also make the switch to private brand items and save even more when buying foods for overnight guests, such as granola bars, cereal and snacks. Consider purchasing these household basics from a local Dollar General store,
which also provides digital coupons to help you save even more. Supplies Stock-Up Of course, to entertain, you will need supplies. Stocking up on cleaning essentials, everyday cooking ingredients and entertaining basics early in the season is a great way to have everything needed before the party begins. Consider adding items such as trash bags, cutlery, paper products, other decorations and even small gifts. By using smart shopping strategies, you can entertain during the holidays with ease instead of stress. ♦
Photos with Santa at Lakewood Center
Lakewood Center offers the magic of the holiday season with a visit to Santa’s winter wonderland for Photos with Santa through Dec. 24. What to know for your visit with Santa: • You can choose whether to sit with Santa or be socially distant in your photo.
Lakewood Women’s Club
The members of the Lakewood Women's Club are looking forward to our Tuesday, December 21st monthly meeting. To add to the usual fun, we are having a ornament exchange along with a catered lunch. It can be a great opportunity to see what the club is all about! We meet at the Monte Verde Clubhouse 4626 Shadeway Rd. Lakewood at 11am. If you would like to join us, please contact Sandy Richardson at 562-866-8410. The club is very exited about welcoming 5 new members last month! Along with forming great friendships, the club supports many local charities. Our very first booth at the Lollipop Lane Craft Fair was very successful and we were happy to donate the proceeds to Project Shepherd. The Lakewood Women's Club was also featured in an email sent out by the city of Lakewood in the "Caring Community" section. In a short but very informative interview, our club's president - Rose Nelson, shared some details of all the club does for the city. The video included several of the fun functions we enjoy. For additional information please visit our webpage at lakewoodcawomensclub.org or email: lakewoodcawomensclub@gmail.com We wish a very happy holiday season to all!
...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL
• Santa is vaccinated! • Guests may remove their masks for the photo if they wish (subject to change per local mandates). • The set is deep cleaned and hand sanitizer is available upon entering and exiting. To save time and get more details, make an online reservation for a photo with Santa at www. lakewoodcity.org/SantaPhoto. Learn about all the holiday activities at Lakewood Center by visiting www.shoplakewoodcenter.com/holiday. ♦
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December 2021
Town
Around December 2021
Council district election map finalized On Nov. 16, the Lakewood City Council made a final decision on a map and election sequence for the five council districts that will take effect in two stages over the course of the 2022 and 2024 Lakewood municipal elections. The change is being made under the requirements of a state law, the California Voting Rights Act, which is leading to hundreds of small and mid-sized cities and school districts having to make this same transition to district elections. In the past, the district system was used primarily in large cities. Lakewood’s final map and election sequence can be found at www.lakewoodcity.org/DistrictElections. Lakewood’s conversion from the traditional system, where all five council members are elected at-large by the whole city, to a new district system, where each council member is elected by the residents of one of five districts in the city, will see the election of council members from three of the newly created districts (including a district in the eastern portion of the city) in June 2022, with the remaining two districts going before the voters in 2024. Existing council members will continue to serve out their existing terms as at-large members until either 2022 or 2024, and they can run for the new districtbased seats when elections for those seats take place. Some people have misconceptions about what converting to a district election system means. First, while Lakewood City Council Members will start to be elected by residents of a particular area or district of the city, they will continue to represent the entire city. Indeed, at the Nov. 16 meeting, council members stressed that point, and emphasized that they will govern in a way that considers the needs of the entire community and continues to maintain Lakewood’s reputation for being a well-run city with a high standard of service for all residents. Second, in general, council members represent people and not geography. To the extent that
needs and concerns of residents transcend district boundaries, concerns can be brought to the attention of any council member, including the council member representing the district where the resident resides or the council member representing the district where the concern arises. Third, transitioning to district elections does not mean that Lakewood’s budget, tax revenues and expenditures will be divided up in five ways to match the number of districts in the city. There will continue to be one unified budget for the city that addresses the needs of the community irrespective of districts. Revenue generated within any particular district will still be general revenue to be used as needed throughout the city (e.g., revenue generated from Lakewood Center mall will not be limited to use within the district where the mall is located). An extensive public hearing and public notification process was used in the creation of the district map and election sequence. Public notification was made repeatedly in the Lakewood Community News, Lakewood Living newsletter, and the city’s eNewsletter and social media feeds. It was also made bilingually in Spanish to community groups and Spanish language media. Two public hearings were held via Zoom videoconference in April 2021 to solicit initial public input. After U.S. Census data was finalized and received in September, draft maps for Lakewood were then created and posted online on Oct. 19. Three more public hearings were held in person on Oct. 26, Nov. 9 and Nov. 16 to receive public input on the maps. About 20-30 residents consistently attended the various hearings or submitted comments via email, and some submitted draft maps of their own. A third-party professional demographic company, with extensive experience in drafting election maps for California cities and following all legal guidelines, organized and led the effort for Lakewood. ♦
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“Use of Force Policy” of Sheriff’s Department
As part of the City of Lakewood’s ongoing Community Dialogue on race, equity, diversity and inclusion, the city has been conducting a review of the Use of Force Policy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is the law enforcement agency for the City of Lakewood. Cities around the nation have been conducting such a community review as part of a bestpractice recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice’s 21st Century Policing Task Force. The Use of Force Policy is utilized countywide by the Sheriff’s Department in all of its service areas. It is not a policy of the City of Lakewood. The City of Lakewood posted the Sheriff’s Department Use of Force Policy and asked for resident input late last year. Comments were provided by 60 residents. A committee of the Lakewood City Council carefully reviewed the comments, studied the Use of Force policy, and requested additional information from the Sheriff's Department. Based on its analysis and review, the Lakewood City Council is considering draft findings and recommendations that it plans to communicate to the Sheriff’s Department. You can see the draft findings and recommendations (and the LASD Use of Force Policy) at www.lakewoodcity.org/CommunityReview. The City Council is seeking feedback from residents on its draft findings and recommendations by Dec. 8, 2021. Residents can provide their feedback in three ways: 1. Online at www.lakewoodcity.org/ CommunityReview 2. By emailing CommunityDialogue@lakewoodcity.org 3. By mail to: Community Relations Office, Lakewood City Hall, 5050 Clark Ave., Lakewood, CA 90712. ♦
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Measure L improvements start at San Martin Park
Groundbreaking by City Council Members for the new San Martin Park picnic shelters.
Lakewood voters approved Measure L in 2020 to provide locally controlled funding that would be used to make repairs and renovations to Lakewood facilities and to keep city services, infrastructure and finances in good shape for the future. Project plans have now been approved by the Lakewood City Council, and the first renovation efforts are starting to break ground. One of the first is at San Martin Park, where 60-year-old picnic shelters were in poor condition. Two new picnic shelters are now being installed, along with a new tot lot playground with fun, contemporary play features and a rubberized surface for accessibility and inclusion. The project was jointly funded by Measure L and a state parks grant secured by Lakewood’s State Assembly Member Anthony Rendon.
Expires 12-31-21
Another current project funded by Measure L involves renovations to the restrooms at Rynerson Park. Coming soon will be renovations to the HVAC, roofing and electrical systems at the community buildings at many Lakewood parks, along with renovations to Weingart Senior Center. A Measure L Citizens Oversight Committee reviews revenues and expenditures related to the measure, providing an extra level of transparency. The committee is composed of seven people representing different sectors of the Lakewood community (such as youth sports, seniors, and Neighborhood Watch members). See a CityTV video about the Measure L renovations at San Martin and Rynerson parks at www.lakewoodcity.org/MeasureLvideo. ♦
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www.lakewoodchamber.com
December 2021