Lakewood Community News - December 2022

Lakewood CommunityNews

Tree lighting event on Friday, Dec. 2

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.

If it is raining the late afternoon of Dec. 2, 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.

Tree lighting sponsors:

• Principal Sponsor: Lakewood Center

• Reindeer Sponsors: VCA Animal Hospital, H & H Nursery, Lakewood Family YMCA, UNAC/UHCP

• North Pole Sponsors: Rotary Club of Lakewood, West Coast Arborists, In-N-Out, Law Offices of Sandra Diaz

‘Tis the season for Project Shepherd

Join the community to watch the tree light up at the Civic Center.

Lakewood residents are cordially invited to join in the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony and community gathering on Friday, Dec. 2 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 to 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!

• Holiday musical entertainment from Artesia High School & Golden Sands choral groups.

• 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

• Candy Cane Sponsors: Water Replenishment District Director John Allen, Golden State Water Co., Lakewood Jaycees, Costco Wholesale Lakewood

• Community Sponsors: TGIS, Golden Sands Chorus, Pan American Association/ Friends of the Lakewood Libraries

For more information, including the list of participating food trucks as well as weather-related updates on Dec. 2, visit www.lakewoodcity.org/ treelighting or call city staff at 562-866-9771, ext. 2408. ♦

Teddy Bear Trees are one way to fulfill a child’s holiday wish.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, we are reminded of those who are less fortunate. Over 1,500 people 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

• See the Teddy BearTrees displaying paper ornaments through Friday, Dec. 2 at the Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave. and at Lakewood City Hall, 5050 Clark Ave. in the Recreation and Community Services Dept.

• Select a paper teddy bear ornament with a specific holiday wish for a child in

need, purchase that gift, and return the ornament with the item to City Hall or Burns by Dec. 5.

3. Visit Project Shepherd’s gift registry on Amazon to purchase a gift and have it sent directly to the program. Go to 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. Please drop off gift cards at the Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave. before Dec. 5.

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 Macy’s and Lakewood Jaycees for their generous support this holiday season. ♦

What are you thankful for in Lakewood?

By Mayor Steve Croft

someone might be considering suicide, go to the website of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention…call or text the national hotline at 988…or call 911 if you sense that an incident could be imminent.

On Nov. 15, at Lakewood’s annual Award of Valor luncheon, I was honored to join about 400 fellow residents and community leaders in saying thanks to the personnel of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department who work hard to keep us safe in Lakewood every day. We also said thanks to the many public safety volunteers and good neighbors who contribute as well to keeping Lakewood one of the safest communities in our region.

We honored 42 public safety personnel and community members for especially meritorious acts or for years of dedicated service. You can see videos about their stories starting Dec. 15 at www.lakewoodcity.org/ AOV

A couple of themes stood out at this year’s Award of Valor.

One was suicide prevention.

Suicide is a tragedy on multiple levels, starting most obviously and most glaringly with the very sad ending of someone’s life. But there’s also the pain and suffering experienced by the family and friends of the victim…a suffering that often never truly ends. Many of us know that…either from within our own family or our own network of friends.

For more information and what you can do if you fear

Another theme was the cooperation and support shown by Lakewood residents and community members in the cause of public safety. We heard a number of stories where civilians were not afraid to step forward to help.

That cooperation and support for public safety does not happen by accident in Lakewood.

It’s been a core value of our community since our founding in 1954. And the Award of Valor event…now in its 44th year…is part of the City of Lakewood’s continuing work to maintain and build on that cooperation and support between our residents and our public safety professionals.

It’s a two-way street.

Our city government…in partnership with our public safety professionals…works hard to create opportunities for engagement with the public to build the trust that is so vital for a good public safety environment.

That can range from invitations to our residents to come to public safety expos with Fire and Sheriff’s personnel…to Coffee with a Deputy, Ice Cream with a Deputy, or even Donut with a Deputy, which we introduced this year. And we’re working on a “Fire Department Cook Out” with the public for next year.

We want our residents to become familiar with our public safety professionals…to ask any questions they have or bring up any subjects…and to always make sure that we maintain good lines of communication

and trust.

I’m also thankful to be living in a community that is engaging in a conscious effort to ensure that our city is the most welcoming and safe place it can be, for everyone.

Our efforts started in 2020 with our Community Dialogue on race, equity, diversity and inclusion. I appreciate the over 300 residents who contributed comments, ideas and recommendations. That led to a 10-point Action Plan adopted by the Lakewood City Council in 2021, with new programs such as our Fest-Of-All multicultural food and music festival. Over 7,000 Lakewood residents and guests attended our second annual Fest-Of-All on October 8. Learn more about Lakewood’s diversity and inclusion efforts at www.lakewoodcity.org/REDI, including learning about a prestigious award Lakewood recently won for its efforts from the League of California Cities.

I’m also thankful to live in a city that remembers the past and honors the people and organizations who have contributed over many years to the quality of life in our community. This September, we unveiled a new Pillars of Community inside The Centre where we honor 43 people, organizations and programs who have been named “Legends of Lakewood” for their important role in Lakewood’s development.

Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ Legends to learn more.

As we wrap up Thanksgiving and continue into the holiday season, I want to wish you and your family the very best from my Lakewood City Council colleagues and myself. I know that we are all thankful for our wonderful Lakewood neighbors and friends! ♦

Lakewood Hall of Fame nominations due Dec. 2

The Lakewood Youth Sports Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for the 41st annual sports awards program. The 2022 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. 27, 2023. Call 562-866-9771, ext. 2408 for details.

LYS Basketball Registration

Sign-ups for Lakewood Youth Sports Basketball will be available online Dec. 3-17. Go to www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog and click on the “Sports” tab at the top of the page. The co-ed Rookie and Smurf Divisions, for ages 4 to 5 and 6 to 7, emphasizes instruction using a smaller ball and modified rules to promote fun and minimize competition. The Competitive Divisions are for ages 8 to 17. Boys and Girls 15-17 year old age 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.

On Saturday, Jan. 7, birth certificate verifications will be held at each site allowing parents to drop in and verify age.

Teams practice weekday evenings and Saturday mornings, beginning Dec. 26. League play

begins Jan. 21 and concludes March 11. Playoffs will conclude by March 18. For more information, call Lakewood’s Recreation and Community Services Department at 562866-9771, ext. 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 562866-9771, ext. 2408.

Winter vacation programs

Holiday activities at Lakewood parks will be featured throughout the two weeks of school vacation from Monday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Jan. 6. Special activity flyers are available at Lakewood City Hall and Lakewood parks. Parks are closed on Dec. 24 and 25.

Santa will make an early appearance on Saturday, Dec. 17 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 562-866-9771, ext. 2408.

Drive-in Movie at Lakewood Center

The City of Lakewood will offer a Drive-in Movie at Lakewood Center, in the northwest parking lot near El Torito restaurant, on Saturday, Dec. 9 featuring Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The movie 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. Preregistration is required and is open to 100 cars. Participants can register at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog using activity #23710 beginning Dec. 3 for residents and Dec. 5 for nonresidents.

Spring Recreation and Community Services Catalog available online

The new Recreation and Community Services Spring Catalog will be posted online Friday, Jan. 13 at www.lakewoodcity.org/catalog. A limited number of hard copies of the catalog will be available for pick

One-Day home projects to complete before the New Year

mats, soap dispensers and toothbrush holders. These swaps may seem minor to make, but they can make a big difference in the look and feel of the room.

Organize Cabinets, Drawers and Shelves

Rearrange a Bedroom

(StatePoint) As the new year approaches, many people will begin considering their resolutions. Some will choose to focus on setting health and fitness goals, while others may identify DIY projects to improve and organize their homes. But why make DIY projects part of your New Year’s resolution when you could easily complete them before the year’s end? Check out five home projects that can be completed in one day before the new year arrives.

Refresh the Wall Paint

If there’s one area in desperate need of a refresh, painting is a great place to start. With the right planning (and an early start), you can easily paint a room in a day. Purchase the materials you need, including primer, the paint color of your choice, brushes and rollers, and a high-quality painter’s tape like FrogTape Multi-Surface painter’s tape. Made with PaintBlock Technology, FrogTape ensures crisp and professional paint lines, so there will be no time wasted on touch-ups. Once you have your supplies, tape the walls, apply primer and paint away. In just one day, a fresh coat of paint will have the room feeling brand new.

Enhance the Entryway

Your entryway should give your guests a warm welcome. A few simple solutions for sprucing up this area are organizing shoes, hanging up coats and adding a pop of color by laying a rug at the door. If you have the space, time and budget, you could consider larger improvements such as adding a bench, shoe storage or a coat rack. Complete the look by adding decorative pillows to the bench or adding frames to the wall.

Replace Bathroom Accessories

One way to make a space look more contemporary is to update the hardware and fixtures. This works particularly well in bathrooms where showerheads, faucets, towel bars and cabinet handles can be swapped out for matching, on-trend matte black or gold finishes. Other small, easily replaced items include shower curtains, towels, bath-

Once the hardware has been replaced on cabinets and drawers, open them up and get things in order. Start by going through what you have and deciding what can be eliminated. Clearing out clutter is particularly important for open shelves that are visible in the room. Once you’ve decided on what to keep, replace items in an organized manner so they’re easy to find going forward. Sorting out these small spaces can help keep things running smoothly into the new year.

Sometimes you just need to look at what you already have with a fresh perspective. Rearranging the furniture in a room can make it feel brand new. It can be as easy as switching which side of the bed the nightstand is on or moving the dresser to another spot on the wall. Best of all, this approach doesn’t require spending money on new items or supplies – all you need is your creativity and imagination!

For more DIY inspiration, visit frogtape.com

With so many DIY projects that can be done in just one day, there’s no need to wait until 2023 to give your home the refresh it deserves. ♦

NEW: Lakewood Leadership Academy

tive communication skills, build great teams, and value the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

• Encourage attendees to serve the community in leadership roles.

City Spotlight

(Cont'd. from Pg. 2)

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.

The program is open to anyone 21+ who lives or works in Lakewood.

The newly created Lakewood Leadership Academy’s class of 2023 application period is open through Jan. 18, 2023. Sponsored by the City of Lakewood and the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, with funding from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, the Lakewood Leadership Academy is designed to educate and develop effective community leaders to play an active role in the Lakewood community in the years ahead.

The program is designed to:

• Educate attendees about the depth and breadth of the public agencies and community-based organizations that serve Lakewood.

• Teach attendees how to balance work and personal life demands, develop effec -

• Expand and enhance networking and relationships.

Participants meet monthly for nine Wednesday half-day sessions (5 - 9 p.m.) covering different topics each session. Dinner will be provided.

The format includes a combination of lectures, panel discussions and hands-on activities relevant to that session’s topic. Experts on the topics addressed will share their insights and views.

The Academy is open to people at least 21 years old who live or work in Lakewood. Upon acceptance, there is a nominal program fee of $100.

The City of Lakewood is accepting applications now until Jan. 18, 2023, with the first session of the program slated to start on Jan. 25, 2023.

For more information, visit www.lakewoodcity.org/LLA ♦

Residents can register for classes and programs online starting Jan. 13 and non-residents can register beginning Jan. 23 at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog, or by calling City Hall at 562-8669771, ext. 2408. ♦

Holiday cheer at Civic Center through Dec. 31

If you miss the Dec. 2 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. 3 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. ♦

Multicultural music & food festival is a big hit

Dragon Dance Team, Aztec Dancers, Dembrebrah Drum and Dance, and CA All Star Cloggers.

For highlights, watch the CityTV video at www.lakewoodcity.org/FOAvideo

Lakewood Run returns in March

New Christmas tree pickup rules

Over 7,000 Lakewood residents and guests attended Lakewood’s second annual Fest-Of-All, held in beautiful weather on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 2 to 8 p.m. outside Lakewood Center mall.

Fest-Of-All featured a children’s cultural booth, family fun zone, food court and food trucks with a wide variety of cuisines, and two entertainment stages. Live music and dance performances included Motown/R&B/Funk/Soul, ‘80s songs with an IrishCeltic twist, Ballet Folklorico, SoCal Youth Lion and

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 for the first time in 2021 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. ♦

The 32nd annual Lakewood Run, “Warriors Building Healthier Communities,” returns on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Deputy Sheriffs, recreational runners, families and kids will gather at the starting line in front of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station to walk, roll, ruck or run the event’s 5K Run/Walk/Ruck or the 10K Run course for time.

New this year, participants can do a 5K Ruck. Rucking is the action of walking with a weighted rucksack (backpack) on your back. Rucking is a lowimpact exercise based on military training workouts. 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.

To inquire about group rate entries or to get more event information, email info@lakewoodrun.com. ♦

Lakewood residents can easily recycle their Christmas trees and get extra holiday trash hauled away with help from the city’s waste hauler, EDCO Waste Disposal Co., for the week of Dec. 26-30.

Christmas tree disposal. New this year, for only one week after Christmas (from Dec. 26-30), EDCO will pick up discarded Christmas trees left on your parkway or next to the curb on your trash collection day. Flocked trees are OK, but decorations, 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. For trees not picked up Dec. 26-30, you can still have your tree removed at a later date but place it in the following appropriate cart, cut up so it fits with lid closed:

• Unflocked trees: Green waste cart.

• Flocked trees: Regular trash cart (flocked trees cannot be recycled).

Extra trash service. For the week immediately following Christmas, from Dec. 26-30, EDCO will pick up 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 pickup. 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. 26 to Jan. 6. The service starts again on Monday, Jan. 9. To use it, call EDCO at 562-531-3054 by 3:30 p.m. at least one day before your normal trash day. ♦

Place trees next to the curb near trash carts.

One of the multicultural performances at Fest-Of-All.

Trash pickup and city services for Dec.

26-Jan. 6

Remind holiday visitors of streetsweeping 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. 19-23 and Dec. 27-30, but there will be no street sweeping on Dec. 26 or Jan. 2, and no makeup sweeps.

Lakewood City Hall will be closed the week of Dec. 26-30.

• Trash service pickup for the holiday weeks of Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 will continue as usual. Lakewood customers will receive their trash pickup on their regular weekdays since Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Sundays.

• Street sweeping in residential areas will occur as normal from Dec. 27-30 and Jan. 3-6. But there will be no street sweeping on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, and no makeup sweeps for those two days.

• There will be NO streetsweeping-related parking enforcement on Dec. 23 and during the weeks of Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. However, if you can, please move your vehicles off the street during streetsweeping hours to help your street get the cleanest possible sweep.

• Parking enforcement will continue for non-street-sweeping related violations, such as parking in red zones or blocking sidewalks.

• DASH Transit Service, available during weekdays, will continue as usual as the Christmas and New Year’s holidays fall on a weekend.

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 562-866-9771, 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 562-866-9771

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. ♦

• There will be no streetsweeping related parking enforcement from Dec. 23 through Jan. 6. Please ask visitors to park vehicles off the street, if possible, to allow for a clean sweep of the street. Sweeping and enforcement will resume on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. Parking enforcement will continue during the holiday period for non-streetsweeping related violations, such as parking in red zones or blocking sidewalks.

• 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 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.)

In the case of a rain cancellation, sweeping in that neighborhood is postponed until the regular sweeping day the following week. For example, the cancellation of a Friday sweep means the next sweep in that neighborhood is the following Friday. No sweeping-related parking citations are issued on rain cancellation days. Call or email customer service to verify if sweeping has been cancelled due to rain.

If you have any questions, please contact Lakewood customer service staff at 562-8669771, extension 2140 or at service1@lakewoodcity.org. ♦

SH P LAKEWOOD

Have ‘Cocoa with a Deputy’ and support Project Shepherd’s toy drive

chants Bank, featuring:

• Free hot cocoa and more!

• A special meet-and-greet with Santa in front of the decorated F & M Bank tree.

• Free DIY holiday crafts and kits from Home Depot.

Meet Deputy Sheriffs from Lakewood’s Special Assignment Team and Lakewood’s Public Safety Team, who will answer resident questions about public safety, offer crime prevention tips, or just say "hello" and “happy holidays.”

For those who are able to, please bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to Lakewood Project Shepherd for local Lakewood children enrolled in the holiday program.

Farmers & Merchant Bank is located at 4909 Lakewood Blvd. at the Del Amo Blvd. intersection. ♦

Photos with Santa at Lakewood Center

Photos with Santa are safe, fun and easy.

Lakewood Center offers the magic of the holiday season with a visit to Santa’s winter wonderland for “Photos with Santa” through Dec. 24. Santa will be located in Center Court, near Macy’s.

To save time and get more details, make an online reservation for a photo with Santa at www.lakewoodcity.org/SantaPhoto

Santa’s photo schedule:

Nov. 18 – Dec. 23 (closed Nov. 24):

• Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (break at 2-3 p.m. and 5-5:30 p.m.)

• Sunday: 12 to 6 p.m. (break at 2:30-3 p.m.)

Dec. 24: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (break at 1-2 p.m.)

Pet photos with Santa

Capture Santa photos with your pets on Monday evenings, Nov. 21, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Santa Cares

On Sunday, Dec. 4 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., children and families with special needs can visit in a sensory-friendly environment. Reservations are required for this private photo experience.

Learn about all the holiday activities at Lakewood Center by visiting shoplakewoodcenter.com/holiday. ♦

a Deputy and Project Shepherd Toy Drive on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at Farmers & Mer-

SH P LAKEWOOD

...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL

Thank a Servicemember campaign ends Dec. 2

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 by Friday, Dec. 2.

The city will send all submissions collected to U.S. servicemembers overseas through the military support group, Operation Gratitude.

Meeting about Palms Park building renovations

Kids enjoy creating their own cards for the campaign.

Lakewood’s 2022 Thank a Servicemember campaign ends on Friday, Dec. 2. 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.

“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 Steve Croft. "Let them know you appreciate the sacrifices and the risks that they endure.”

Not sure what to write? Here are some tips:

• Start your letter with a salutation, such as "Dear Hero" or "Dear Brave One"

• Express your thanks for their selfless service

• Avoid politics completely and religion in excess, however saying you pray for them is wonderful

• Share a little about yourself, your hobbies and life back home

• Adults: Include your contact information so the servicemember may reply

• Children: First names only and no addresses

• Handmade cards with drawings are welcome – but do not use glitter.

• No larger than standard letter size 8.5” x 11”

• Please, no envelopes! Cards and letters only. ♦

Lakewood residents are invited to a public meeting to hear and offer their thoughts about major repairs and renovations planned for the Palms Park community building. The meeting will bring together residents, community stakeholders, and the project team to ensure that the proposed facility improvements and design concepts meet the needs and expectations of the community.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Palms Park activity room, located at 12305 207th St. Attendees are requested to RSVP in advance so that adequate seating and refreshments can be provided. RSVP at www.lakewoodcity.org/PalmsParkMeeting or call 562-866-9771 ext. 2401.

The 43-year-old building is in need of significant repairs to its exterior siding and facade, electrical system, air conditioning and heating, and roof. The planned renovations include those items plus a 1,200

square-foot expansion of the building for a new teen room, disabled-access restroom and storage. Planned renovations also include flooring improvements, new restroom fixtures, and new doors, windows, ceilings, paint, finishes and trim throughout the building.

The City of Lakewood has secured funding for the project from a variety of sources including Lakewood Measure L, American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds, and state funds secured by Assembly Member Anthony Rendon.

Final design plans are expected to be completed in early 2024 with construction expected to start later in 2024 and be completed in 2025. The timeline is approximate now and will become more firm as plans are finalized. The public meeting on Dec. 14 will greatly assist the project team in completing the final design plans and contribute to the timely delivery of a fully renovated park building for the betterment of the Palms Park community. ♦