Lakewood Community News - February 2022

Lakewood CommunityNews History of Lakewood’s city motto

and widely recognized and appreciated, including:

• Well-maintained streets, trees and public infrastructure.

• Beautiful neighborhood parks.

• Recreation for all.

• Volunteerism by residents and businesses.

• Public safety.

Lakewood Run offers healthy fun for a good cause

This article originally appeared in the City of Lakewood’s eMagazine “Lakewood Connect.”

Times Change. Values

Don’t. The Lakewood motto adorns dozens of monument signs at the entrances to the city. Although some think that this motto dates back to the city’s incorporation in the 1950s, the motto actually was coined in 2003 when Lakewood was approaching its 50th anniversary. At that time, city leaders wanted to update the city’s original slogan of “Tomorrow’s City Today.”

That moniker dated back to the 1950s when Lakewood was America’s largest planned community—with a design that truly embodied the future

of America’s suburban cities. But 50 years later, in 2003, “Tomorrow’s City Today” seemed antiquated.

So Lakewood city officials set about crafting a new motto or values statement. City staff worked with communications consultants and generated the phrase “Times Change. Values Don’t.,” which was presented to and approved by the Lakewood City Council. The motto was unveiled to Lakewood residents and broadly welcomed during the 50th anniversary year in 2004 as a reflection of the community’s civic pride and unity.

At the time, the description of the motto spoke of timeless community values that were central to Lakewood’s identity

Importantly, and with great relevance today, diversity and tolerance were also listed as essential Lakewood community values in 2004. They were included because Lakewood was becoming one of the most diverse cities in California, and city leaders wanted to acknowledge, embrace and celebrate that, as continues to be the case today.

Students of history may raise their eyebrows a bit at the inclusion of “diversity and tolerance,” because when Lakewood homes were first built and sold in the early 1950s, racial and ethnic diversity and tolerance were not embraced or celebrated in most of America’s suburban communities, including in the area that would later become the City of Lakewood.

(Cont'd on Pg. 3)

Project sites needed for Volunteer Day

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

Work at suggested sites can include gardening, yard cleanup or minor painting.

Avid runners, fitness athletes, families and kids are all welcome.

Rain or shine, the 2022 Lakewood Run returns the morning of Saturday, March 5, 2022 when deputy sheriffs, recreational runners, families and kids gather at the starting line in front of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station to run the event’s 5K/10K course for time or do the 5K walk.

Check out the Lakewood Run website at www.lakewoodrun.com and register online now at www.lakewoodrun. com/registration

Your support of the Lakewood Run funds the Soroptimist International of Lakewood/Long Beach Live Your Dream program to assist women who provide the primary financial support for their families by giving them resources to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. Proceeds also benefit high school girls through the Dream It, Be It program that provides access to professional role models and career education.

In addition, Run proceeds help local organizations such as Lakewood Meals on Wheels, Su Casa~Ending Domestic Violence, Friends of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station Fund, and 9-9-9 for Kids (a program

benefitting foster children in L.A. County).

Early registration will be $40 for the 5K Run/Walk or $45 for the 10K Run through Jan. 31.

From Feb. 1 through March 4, the 5K Run/Walk fee is $45, and the 10K Run is $50. On race day, registration fees are $50 and $55.

On the day of the event, registration begins at 6:30 a.m. The 5K and 10K runs start at 8 a.m. Pre-registered runners can also pick up their race packet on Friday, March 4 from 5-8 p.m. at Lakewood Center mall at Center Court near Macy’s.

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. ♦

Volunteers helping to clean up a neighbor’s yard.

One of Lakewood’s enduring traditions is Volunteer Day, when residents of all ages come together to help their neighbors in need.

This year’s Volunteer Day commemorates 25 years of helping make our community a better place.

The Volunteer Day program is looking for project sites for its Saturday, April 9 clean-up and fix-up event. More than 500 volunteers will fan out that day to locations throughout Lakewood to donate a morning’s work to help their neighbors in need.

If you, or someone you know, may qualify for consideration as a project site, please submit your suggestion online at www.lakewoodcity. org/volunteerdaysite or call the Burns Community Center at 562-925-7512.

Project sites must be located in Lakewood.

The proposed project sites are reviewed by city staff for eligibility and suitability. ♦

What’s ahead in Lakewood for 2022?

By Mayor Jeff Wood

will be different this year is the level of repair and renovation activity that residents will see at our parks and community facilities.

I hope 2022 is off to a good start for you and your family.

Let’s hope this year we finally turn the corner from a dangerous virus to something much less threatening. As of now, it’s too early to tell. But until then, we need to remain vigilant and follow the advice and guidance of our scientific experts and medical and public health professionals.

Please know that the City of Lakewood will remain vigilant too, doing everything as a local government to help our residents and businesses.

The City of Lakewood will continue with our expanded hours and safety protocols with our DASH transit service to help seniors and the disabled get to medical appointments and other services. We will also continue to adapt quickly and creatively to public health rules and provide as many community events and services as possible, even during the pandemic.

We’ll do as many events in person as we can, but we will be ready to “go virtual” when needed for safety reasons.

One upcoming example is the Lakewood Youth Sports Hall of Fame, which we weren’t able to hold last year, but we’ve found a safe and creative way to hold this year…and to do so in person, outdoors. Details coming soon on that.

We’ll try to keep community life as normal as possible during this abnormal time. One area of community life that

Thanks to Lakewood residents passing Measure L in 2020, our city is back in good financial shape and is able to make repairs and renovations that had been put off for several years because of state funding takeaways from Lakewood and other cities. With Measure L, Lakewood now has locally controlled funding to make needed repairs and keep our city looking good and working well.

Our local dollars are getting stretched even further by funds we’re receiving from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Examples of Measure L/ ARPA projects in Lakewood to be completed or started this year include:

• New tot-lot and school-aged playground at Boyar Park.

• Renovations of the Palms Park community building and Weingart Senior Center.

• Renovations to the restrooms at Rynerson Park.

• New picnic shelters and totlot playground at San Martin Park. State Assembly Member Anthony Rendon assisted this project with state grant funds.

• HVAC, electrical, and roofing improvements in the community buildings of several parks.

• Landscaping in a droughttolerant design at over a dozen street medians across the city to beautify those roadways.

• Pedestrian safety study of 28 crosswalks to determine if enhancements such as flashing pedestrian signs, stop signs or traffic signals are warranted to increase safety.

Our city water system will continue investing in its infrastructure too, completing work on a new well to provide even more reliability to our service.

Lakewood now has one of the most technologically advanced

water systems in the region, with smart meters for residents and advanced computerized monitoring for our professional staff that lets them identify and solve many problems before they make an impact on service to customers.

New in June 2022, will be Lakewood’s first-ever districtbased city council elections. Traditionally, council members in Lakewood, as in most smaller cities, were elected by the entire city.

Now, because of state law, each council member will be elected by residents of a particular area (or district) of the city. Lakewood will have five districts, with three of the districts electing council members this coming June. The other two districts will hold their elections in 2024. Existing council members will continue to serve until their current term is up, and they can then run in the district where they reside if they wish. While a change for Lakewood, I am confident that council members will look out for the interests of the entire city along with their local district…and keep Lakewood in great shape for the future.

The year ahead will see many new businesses opening up or expanding in Lakewood. While only 6% of Lakewood’s land is devoted to commerce, our city remains an attractive place for many business owners and entrepreneurs to locate and invest their time, money, hard work and talent.

Last year saw major investments from companies such as Timmons Subaru on Cherry Ave., Farmers & Merchants Bank at the corner of Lakewood and Del Amo, and Dave’s Hot Chicken at Candlewood and Clark, to name just a few.

In 2022, look for the construction and opening of a large-scale Walmart fuel station at their superstore on Carson St. Also look for an inter-

esting concept at Lakewood Center, with the Galactic Challenge interactive space wars experience (kids of all ages may enjoy that). And, I was happy to join in early January at the grand opening of Coco’s Lip Smacking Cupcakes at Candlewood and Paramount, just one example of a creative entrepreneur starting a busi-

ness in our community.

As you can see, Lakewood has a lot to look forward to in 2022, as I am sure you and your family do as well. On behalf of my Lakewood City Council colleagues, I wish you the very best in the year ahead! Happy New Year everyone! Happy New Year Lakewood! ♦

City Spotlight

Survive for 7

A free, one-evening “Survive for 7” family preparedness workshop is set for Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 6-8 p.m. at the Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave. The workshop teaches the basics of preparing for emergency situations, including the skills families need to survive in the first week following a catastrophe. Register at www.lakewoodcity.org/eCatalog , using activity #21941.

Play at Palms: Movie Night

Under the Stars featuring “Scoob”

Bring the entire family and enjoy an evening of FREE family fun and movie entertainment under the stars at Palms Park, 12305 207th St. on Friday, Feb. 11. Guests can bring chairs and a picnic and enjoy a fun evening with their families. Check in begins at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Sorry, no pets or alcohol allowed at the park. For information call Lakewood’s Recreation and Community Services Department at 562-866-9771, extension 2408 or visit www. lakewoodcity.org/playatpalms

Travel trip to GRAMMY Museum

Join us on Saturday, Feb. 26

as we visit GRAMMY Museum, an immersive, cutting-edge experience complete with interactive exhibits, films and artifacts. Enjoy a 60-minute tour to learn how the GRAMMY Museum fulfills its mission of making music a valued and indelible part of our society. After the tour, individuals can to continue to explore the museum or enjoy one of the many restaurants at L.A. LIVE (on your own).

Please arrive at Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark Ave. at 9:30 a.m. for check-in. The bus will leave promptly at 10 a.m. The cost of this trip is $38 per person. An adult must accompany children of all ages. Last day to register is Monday, Feb. 14 or until filled. Use activity #22234 to register at www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog

The GRAMMY Museum currently requires patrons to wear a mask AND/OR provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of performance or visit. As the world continues to progress during the pandemic, these rules are subject to changes at-will. ♦

History of Lakewood

(Cont'd. from Pg. 1)

Racial discrimination in housing policies and realtor practices in the decades leading up to the 1950s was prevalent throughout society at large and prevented people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds from buying homes in hundreds of suburbs throughout the nation and Southern California, including Long Beach, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and, sadly, Lakewood too.

Discrimination also existed in employment, transportation, dining, hotels and other aspects of life in those years. This is not to suggest that it pervaded every aspect of society and everyone everywhere, but it is certainly a sorrowful part of America’s history. Thankfully though, through the struggle of countless Americans, laws were passed to combat that discrimination and bring about more racial equality in our nation. It doesn’t mean that discrimination no longer exists or that it never rears its head, but fortunately there are laws and enforcement agencies in place now to help prevent it and punish those who engage in it. These changes to the law have had a profound positive effect

in Lakewood over time. Census data show a growing racial diversification in the city over the decades.

Data from 2018 show that Lakewood’s ethnic diversity now closely mirrors the diversity of Los Angeles County as a whole, which is one of the most diverse counties in the nation. For example, Lakewood now has the same percentage of African-American residents (7%) as the county as a whole, and a similar level of diversity with Asian-American residents (17% of Lakewood, 13% in L.A. County as a whole), Hispanic residents (33% of Lakewood, 48% in L.A. County) and White non-Hispanic residents (36% of Lakewood, 26% in L.A. County). A leading California research organization has called Lakewood one of California’s most broadly diversi-

fying communities. For quite some time now, racial diversity has been part of the strength and beauty of Lakewood as a community.

All of that said, the killing of George Floyd in 2020 was a shocking reminder that more needs to be done to address racial equity issues throughout our nation. In response and because of the pride that Lakewood takes in its notable diversity, the Lakewood City Council created a Community Dialogue in 2010 for residents to discuss and act on issues related to race, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Based on the feedback from residents, the City Council in 2021 approved a 10-point Action Plan to build on all the good that exists in Lakewood and to make the city the safest and most welcoming place it

can be, for everyone.

Actions already carried out include the creation of Lakewood’s first-ever multicultural food and music festival (the Fest-Of-All) that 10,000 residents and guests attended in October 2021. Calendar days and months are now commemorated to celebrate the diversity of Lakewood’s residents.

Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month are among the commemorations that Lakewood honored this past year and will continue to recognize in the future. More programs and actions inspired by the Community Dialogue will be carried out in the year ahead. See the plan at www. lakewoodcity.org/CommunityDialogue

So, the next time you see the city motto “Times Changes.

Value’s Don’t.” you’ll know the positive community values that Lakewood had in mind on the city’s 50th anniversary in 2004…and the values that Lakewood still treasures today. Lakewood is an exceptional community, which in many ways is defined both by its diversity but also a common set of core values that are widely recognized and appreciated, at the center of which is the endeavor to make it the best community it can be for all its residents, no matter their background. ♦

Black History Month: Read, Learn, and Share

Each February, Black History Month presents an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the African-American experience throughout our nation’s history. The City of Lakewood joins the federal government, state government and hundreds of public and private organizations in paying tribute to this important commemoration.

A key element of Lake-

wood's Community Dialogue on Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is celebrating the diversity of cultures in our community. On behalf of the Lakewood City Council, Mayor Jeff Wood has issued a proclamation in recognition of Black History Month, which can be viewed at www.lakewoodcity.

org

Black History Month grew out of the work of Harvard-

trained historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African-Americans in the 1910s. Their organization, known today as the Association for the Study of AfricanAmerican Life and History (or ASALH), is dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. The commemorative week that they initially authors and thought leaders at www.lacountylibrary.org/ booklist-details/381/

created inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local festivities, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures that has since morphed into a month-long celebration. While many in-person events in celebration of Black History Month are on hold due to the pandemic, the Los Angeles County Library has created a booklist sharing a range of voices that continue to tell the stories of African American struggle, history, art and love. From selected essays, speeches and meditations from Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison; to the story behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speech; to an exploration of Black feminism and many more worthy reads, take a moment to reflect and be inspired by this diverse collection of

Another fascinating resource worth checking out is a free national program from the ASALH in collaboration with Archival Alchemy®, The Black Family: United by History, Restored by Storytelling. Centered on the legacy of Black family reunions while encouraging families of all backgrounds to build and renew their own traditions and stories, this free self-guided certificate program includes pre-recorded workshops and resources that aim to demonstrate how oral storytelling, genealogy, and familial archiving can serve as a return and a way forward. Visit www.asalh.org/family-history to learn more. ♦

Food waste recycling starting

trucks in Lakewood.

California is requiring cities across the state to implement the new food waste recycling program as part of its Zero Waste goals.

Recycling organics will be easy and convenient for Lakewood residents with EDCO’s commingled Organics Recycling Program.

Food waste can now join garden waste in your green-colored cart

Beginning in January 2022 in Lakewood, EDCO is kicking off their new Organics Recycling Program to collect food scraps in residential customers’ green waste carts. The food scraps can be mixed together with landscape waste in customers’ existing green-colored carts. No new carts will be required.

Food waste accounts for 40% of trash going to landfills. Food and organic waste placed in a landfill releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which produce a wide range of negative environmental and health impacts. Recycling organic waste produces valuable compost and renewable fuel for vehicles, such as clean-burning fuel for EDCO’s

Learn how to do it at www. lakewoodcity.org/OrganicsRecycling where you can watch a quick video, learn useful tips and order a free kitchen caddy for storing food scraps. Or call EDCO at (562) 531-3054 with questions. Watch your mail too

for handy guides and information. Commercial customers and multi-family residential sites of five units or more will also need to comply with organics recycling, and they should be on the lookout for educational materials that EDCO will send. EDCO will also provide on-site inspections to determine the specific needs for each customer to comply with state rules. Commercial and multi-family customers can also request training and an EDCO waste audit to determine their service needs at the phone number above. ♦

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Exer Urgent Care celebrates a grand opening and ribbon cutting in Lakewood

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce board members helped welcome Exer Urgent Care to the city of Lakewood with a grand opening / ribbon cutting event on January 4.

With 25 Southern California locations, Exer Urgent Care is designed to get you better. With

the peace of mind that comes from easy access to highlytrained ER doctors, Exer services a whole range of minorto-major healthcare needs in a convenient, high-quality and affordable environment. With on-site pharmacy, in-house PRC lab featuring next day

COVID-19 testing results, xray and more, Exer can treat 80 percent of the cases seen in an ER for a fraction of the cost. VirtualCare by Exer provides patients real-time access to an Exer provider with no appointment necessary via video chat with a smartphone, tablet, or computer.Exer believes healthier people make for healthier communities. Exer is here to make healthcare work better, feel better—and deliver better results—for everyone. Now let’s get you better. For more information on Exer Urgent Care, visit www.ExerUrgentCare.com

Chamber board members present for this event were President/CEO Jose Solache, Vice Chair David J. Arellano, Mark Dameron and Joanie Dixson. ♦

Mayfair Park fully reopens

and our region. But being innovative and complex created the potential for the project to run longer than expected, and it did.

How to report a streetlight outage

Howard Chambers’ daughter, Samantha Chambers, joined City Council Members at a ribbon-cutting for the renovated tennis courts.

Mayfair Park is now fully reopen after the park’s tennis courts and ballfields were closed for a lengthy time so that an environmentally-friendly stormwater capture project and underground reservoir could be installed.

The fully renovated tennis courts were named by the Lakewood City Council in honor of the late Howard L. Chambers, who was Lakewood’s city manager for 41 years, a record for a single city in the state of California. Chambers was one of the original “Lakewood kids,” having been raised in the city during its early years of tremendous growth in the 1950s and 60s. He worked for Lakewood for a total of 50 years. Chambers retired in 2017 and had battled cancer for the past few years. He passed away in June of 2021 at the age of 76.

How to use the tennis courts and ballfields?

The tennis courts and ballfields are open to the public for use on a drop-in basis with preference of use provided to scheduled contract classes and permitted use for organized youth and adult sports programs. Users can always check with facility staff to confirm availability of the tennis courts and ballfields for drop-in use by calling the Recreation Department at 562-8669771 ext. 2408.

How does the stormwater capture project work?

A large underground reservoir has been installed underneath Mayfair Park’s ballfields. It will store water that is pumped in from the flood control channel adjacent to the park. That water will be filtered and cleaned so it can safely be used to irrigate the park’s fields and landscap-

ing. This innovative stormwater capture system will prevent trash and other contaminants that flow from local streets into the flood control channel from continuing downstream to pollute Alamitos Bay in Long Beach and the ocean beyond. The new system also means that Lakewood does not have to purchase as much outside water to irrigate Mayfair Park as before, saving the city money.

What other improvements were made at Mayfair Park with this project?

In addition to renovating the tennis courts, new turf and irrigation systems were installed in all parts of the park disturbed by the reservoir construction. This includes the complete renovation of ballfield #3, the diamond area of ballfield #2, and the outfield of Lisa Fernandez Field.

Who paid for all the construction?

The City of Lakewood successfully secured full funding for the project from the State of California since it was an innovative stormwater capture project that helped the state meet its stormwater capture goals. The state funding also paid for renovating the areas of the park disturbed by the construction, including paying for the renovation of the tennis courts, ballfields and irrigation systems. In the future, cities throughout Southern California will be required to use their own funding for such projects, so by being willing to be an “early adopter” here, Lakewood saved Lakewood taxpayer money down the road.

Why did the project take so long?

This project will have great long-term benefits for Lakewood

COVID also caused delays in the work, with supply chain problems causing backlogs in parts deliveries and with construction workers sometimes contracting COVID, which necessitated their absence and the absence of other workers with whom they were in close contact. That happened several times over the course of this project, as it did in many workplaces around the nation.

The City of Lakewood has apologized to Mayfair Park neighbors and visitors for any aggravation that the lengthy project caused. The city hopes that in the months and years ahead park users and the city as a whole will benefit from all the work and trouble along the way.

The city is eager to see the return to Mayfair Park of community events, like the Pan Am Fiesta, that could not be held there during construction. ♦

Streetlight pole number quickly identifies the location.

City Light & Power maintains most of the streetlights in Lakewood, with Southern California Edison maintaining the rest, including those in alleys. Each has a different type of pole number for identification.

If you notice a streetlight in your neighborhood is out, here’s what to do:

• Note the street address closest to the streetlight.

• Take a photo of the streetlight’s pole number if possible.

• Report the outage and address

to Lakewood City Hall. You can report the address (and submit the photo) by:

• Phone: Call Lakewood’s customer service staff at 562-8669771, extension 2140.

• Email: Send an email to service1@lakewoodcity.org.

• Website: Go to the city website at www.lakewoodcity.org/ service

• Mobile: Use the free Lakewood Connect app (available from Google Play Store and Apple App Store). ♦

FUN-Tastic Family Night featuring Paramount Reptiles

and interact with a variety of snakes, lizards, insects, amphibians and tortoises, while learning interesting facts about each animal from the experts themselves.

BBQ chicken fingers, mashed potatoes, lemonade and dessert will be served prior to the show.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cost is $10 per person, $7 for children 1-3, and children under 1 are free.

Feb. 18

Lakewood Women’s Club

The Lakewood Women's Club is off and running with a busy schedule as we begin the New Year! In January we met to create beautiful Valentine cards.They will be delivered to our Veterans at the VA Hospital and 2 nursing homes in Lakewood.We also support many local charities to help improve the lives of others in our area.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 15th, at Monte Verde Park Clubhouse - 4626 Shadeway Rd., Lakewood, Ca.

90713.Join us for the social time at 10:30 am, and enjoy our meeting that starts at 11:00 am..Sandy Richardson at 562-866-8410 will gladly answer any questions you might have about the club and possibly joining.

At our monthly meetings we always have a program and this month we are thrilled to have a spokesperson from the Patriots and Paws Organization. This non-profit organization supports Veterans, Reservists, and Active Duty Military. For more information about the Lakewood Women's Club please check out our Webpage: www. lakewoodwomensclub.org or our Email: lakewoodwomensclub@ gmail.com Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Visit www.lakewoodcity. org/ecatalog and use activity #21898 to register. ♦