Lakewood Community News - July 2020

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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 40 Number 07

Three spectacular fireworks shows in Lakewood

Three professional aerial fireworks shows will be presented on July 3.

With the passage of Measure L, the City of Lakewood was financially prepared to bring back the Civic Center Block Party this year. However, coronavirus precautions against large public gatherings now prevent the Block Party from happening in 2020.

“The city has worked hard to find some kind of alternative to help Lakewood residents safely enjoy the start of summer and the spirit of the Civic Center Block Party,” said City Manager Thaddeus McCormack.

Here’s what the city has crafted.The City of Lakewood is arranging for an extravaganza of three aerial fireworks shows to be displayed in different parts of the city at the same time so that as many residents as possible can viewa top-notch professional and safe fireworks show from their front yard or nearby. The shows will occur at the same time throughout Lakewood, starting at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, July 3.

The locations will be at: • Holmes Elementary School in

western Lakewood • Lakewood High School in central Lakewood • Artesia High School in eastern Lakewood Please do not congregate at those locations in order to prevent an unsafe coronavirus transmission situation. Instead, please try to see the aerial fireworks from your yard or neighborhood or a location a safe distance from a launch site. And remember to maintain social distancing from those outside your household whenever you locate.

For residents unable to view the fireworks, CityTV will broadcast live coverage of the fireworks shows as seen from high on the roof of The Centre. Coverage will include patriotic music in the background. To see and hear that elevated coverage of the fireworks shows, tune in the night of July 3, starting at 8:30 p.m. to CityTV on channel 31 of Spectrum or Frontier cable, Channel 99 on AT&T cable, or streaming live on your computer at www. lakewoodcity.org/CityTV. ♦

July 2020

Illegal fireworks cause injuries, fires…and fines!

Over 5,000 Americans are injured every year from the use of skyrockets, firecrackers and other fireworks that are illegal in Lakewood and most communities.

Homes have burned in Lakewood because of skyrockets raining down on the roofs of innocent neighbors.

The Lakewood Sheriff’s Station reminds residents to celebrate the Fourth of July safely by not using illegal fireworks--and not tolerating those who do.

If you think someone is planning to sell or use illegal fireworks, or know of a location that regularly uses illegal fireworks, call Lakewood's Illegal Fireworks Tipline at 562-866-9771, extension 7233 or email Service1@ lakewoodcity.org before July 4th.

Please include: • exact address of the residence suspected of possessing and/or discharging illegal fireworks.

• as much information as possible about the person selling illegal fireworks, their location and the violation.

Your name will remain confi-

dential and the sooner you report this information, the better. If Deputy Sheriffs know of illegal fireworks parties in advance, that provides the best opportunity to prevent the fireworks from being used and keeping everyone in the neighborhood safe.

If you observe the sale or use of illegal fireworks, including on July 4th, call the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station at 562-623-3500 immediately!

The only fireworks that are legal in Lakewood are those that are rated “Safe and Sane.” Safe and Sane fireworks do not explode or launch into the air. They can be purchased from any authorized firework stand in California, including those in Lakewood.

Legal fireworks may be only discharged in Lakewood on July 4th between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Fireworks bought in other states, over the Internet, or from any other source are illegal.

The City of Lakewood has enhanced its traditional fine of $1,000 for illegal fireworks with other charges that now double the penalty to $2,000 or more.

The city pays for extra Deputy Sheriffs to patrol on July 4th to shut down illegal fireworks displays and issue citations to those responsible, including property owners. In the past two years, Deputy Sheriffs have issued 94 citations for illegal fireworks use in Lakewood.

Do your part as a good neighbor to celebrate July 4th responsibly and discourage the use of dangerous illegal fireworks in Lakewood. ♦

Street sweeping ticketing resumes in July Ariell Romero, Lakewood High School 2020 Southern Utah University September 2020

Ryan W. Schroyer Lakewood High School 2020

Joseph R. Reames, Class of 2020 Mayfair High School Street sweeping parking enforcement will resume in Lakewood beginning the week of July 6.

Starting June 22 and continuing for two weeks, residents parking on the street on sweeping days will receive a courtesy notice on their windshield. Citations will resume on Monday, July 6.

Street sweeping is mandated by the State of California to avoid polluting the ocean by picking up trash from the gutter, and it is a general public health

and quality of life service. Now that stay-at-home restrictions imposed during the COVID pandemic are gradually lifting, the City of Lakewood needs to resume full street sweeping again, which means having vehicles off the streets during sweeping hours to allow for a clean sweep of the street.

The city is observing the 4th of July holiday on Saturday, July 4, and regular street sweeping will occur on Monday, July 6.

Even prior to the week of July 6, to help keep our streets as clean as possible, it would be greatly appreciated if you would park your car off the street or on your lawn on streetsweeping day. ♦

Today

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How Lakewood is moving forward on racial justice issues

By Mayor Todd Rogers

I want to address something that has profoundly affected us all throughout the nation, including here in Lakewood.

I’m of course talking about the death of George Floyd in police custody on May 25 in Minneapolis, MN. His killing shocked our collective consciousness as human beings…and once again exposed racial disparities and injustices in our nation and communities.

It’s been said before, but now must be that turning point in the history of our nation where things actually improve.

At the Lakewood City Council meeting on June 9, about 40 residents came, and many spoke about this issue. Many were AfricanAmerican residents who all spoke

highly of Lakewood as a community…they all said they love living here…but they also recounted personal stories of experiencing racial discrimination.

One longtime resident was a retired Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who served at the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station for many years. He described times when he was stopped by Sheriff’s personnel while walking in Lakewood in civilian clothes, apparently because someone called in about a “suspicious black man walking in the neighborhood.” Another resident described her pain at having to tell her son never to walk to shopping areas with a group of other AfricanAmerican boys because of her experience that they would be looked upon suspiciously and stopped by law enforcement.

The feeling I got from these residents was not that Lakewood is a bad place. Again, these residents love living here and at least one shared that she and her husband had dreamed of moving to Lakewood for years. But they were talking about a bigger problem and challenge in our society, and, of course, no community is immune, including Lakewood. And the residents who spoke at the council meeting just want to see their community of Lakewood

rise to the challenge and do our part to make society better.

I agree, and I’m sure we all do.

My Lakewood City Council colleagues joined me at the June 9 council meeting in saying that they were eager to start our city’s new Community Dialogue so that every resident can have the opportunity to be heard on ways to make life in Lakewood better for everyone, with an initial emphasis on racial equity and community-law enforcement relations.

An interfaith council of religious leaders is being formed to facilitate the Community Dialogue, although I want to emphasize that the dialogue will be open to anyone, whether they are religious or not.

As another way to help Lakewood be part of our nationwide improvements, I shared with my council colleagues and the audience that I would be proposing that Lakewood become one of the first cities in our region to support a mayor’s pledge that is circulating around the country on reviewing local police use of force policies. The pledge is based on the recommendations of the 21st Century Policing Task Force, which was headed up by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2014-15 and was based on broad input from law enforcement, civil rights organizations and other sectors of society.

I’m very familiar with the work of that task force, and as a career law enforcement professional and true believer in community-based policing, I think their recommendations are very reasonable.

History is watching and will ultimately judge us. I think the verdict will be rendered on how we come together to recognize the issues that have been laid bare by recent events…and how we respond to them and move forward to make society a better place for all. And, certainly for us in Lakewood, it means coming together, listening to one another, and moving forward to make our community a better place.

So, stay tuned. Through the Lakewood Community News and elsewhere we’ll let you know how you can participate in the Community Dialogue in the near future.

And everyone, please have a great Independence Day. We have so much that we are fortunate for in our nation, including the freedom to continually work to make our communities and our nation better. Enjoy yourself safely on July 4th and take a moment to be thankful. ♦

July 2020

City Spotlight Mayfair Pool aquatics program opens July 13 The 2020 Lakewood summer aquatics program will open at Mayfair Pool only on Monday, July 13, offering only programming which fits within guidelines provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The types of programming offered include: • Lap Swim for participants age 16 and older • Water Aerobics and Aqua Zumba classes • Swim Lessons for children ages 6 months and older All classes will maintain proper social distancing and capacity limits for the facility. Before entering the facility, participants must complete a health screening, including a temperature check, and will be required to wear a facemask to and from pool activities. The mask will not be required while in the water.

All activities will require preregistration. Registration information will be announced via the city’s emagazine Lakewood Connect (sign up at www.lakewoodcity.org/emag) and social media, or call 562-866-9771, extension 2408.

Adult softball and volleytennis Signups for Lakewood’s adult softball and volleytennis fall leagues will take place between August 3 and 14.

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

• Volleytennis plays on Monday evenings.

All ability levels are encouraged. Signups are taken at City Hall. Registration packets are available now at www.lakewoodcity.org/sports or by calling 562866-9771, extension 2408.

Shop Lakewood…and help get kids back to school Lakewood Project Shepherd is collecting “Back to School” backpacks and school supplies

through July 31 for low-income families with school-age children in Lakewood. Many kids in the community could use some help.

New backpacks and school supplies appropriate for all ages will be accepted at the Burns Community Center at 5510 Clark Ave. from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. In order to ensure social distancing, please call Burns at 562-925-7512 to schedule a drop off time for donations. For more information, see the flyer at www.lakewoodcity.org/PSbackpack.

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

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

This back-to-school season, keep your hometown in mind, and Shop Lakewood…Stay Lakewood Loyal. And check out Shop Lakewood’s home on Facebook for coupons and updates at www.shoplakewood.org. (You don’t have to be signed up on Facebook to use the site.)

Lollipop Lane applications available in July Craft vendors interested in selling at the 28th annual Lollipop Lane Craft Boutique on October 17 can print an application and instructions at www.lakewoodcity.org/LollipopLane starting in July. For more information or to have an application mailed to you, call 562-866-9771, extension 2408. ♦

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Nationwide protests affect Lakewood In the wake of the killing of George Floyd on May 25, cities across America faced public protests, incidents of criminal looting in the early days of the protests, and passionate calls for societal and law enforcement reforms. Lakewood experienced all three phenomena as well.

On Sunday, May 31, protests filled the streets of Los Angeles,

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Santa Monica and Long Beach.

Unfortunately, while police were focused on the protesters, criminal looters preyed on businesses a few blocks away. Santa Monica and Long Beach were hit particularly hard, and as night fell, groups of looters descended upon Lakewood’s commercial areas too.

Criminals looted or attempted

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were planned and announced in advance to local authorities. One on June 5 was organized by students at Long Beach City College.

Another on June 6 was organized by students from Mayfair High School. Both were peaceful with several hundred participants.

A third protest, late in the afternoon on June 5, was not announced in advance. Protestors occupied Clark Avenue, a car began doing donut circles in the street, and the Sheriff ’s Department issued an official “dispersal order” after declaring the protest and street occupation an illegal gathering. The Sheriff ’s Department reported that it eventually deployed “pepper balls” and inert smoke at the protestors to get them to disperse. No injuries were reported. Lakewood city officials have asked the Sheriff ’s Department command staff for a review of the incident to provide a comprehensive analysis of what occurred.

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to loot, about 20 Lakewood businesses on May 31, according to Mayor Todd Rogers.

“Fortunately, we prepared through a series of pre-emptive actions, which limited the damage,” said Rogers. “My compliments to our Deputy Sheriffs, city public safety department, two Sky Knight crews, and city maintenance staff. This amazing team worked through the night, arresting scores of looters, scaring off many more, and securing vulnerable businesses.”

“I’d like to add a special shoutout to the Lakewood residents who, first thing on the next day, volunteered to clean up some of the small businesses that had been looted and vandalized.

Many thanks to the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce for organizing that effort,” said Rogers.

In the first week of June, at least three protests were held in Lakewood.

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July 2020 Council meeting, Mayor Rogers said that the killing of George Floyd “shocked our collective consciousness as human beings. Mr. Floyd’s death has once again exposed racial disparities and injustices in our nation and communities. We have said this before, but now must be that turning point in the history of our nation where things actually improve.”

Rogers called for the creation of a Community Dialogue where Lakewood residents could have the opportunity to be heard on ways to make life in Lakewood better for all, with an initial emphasis on racial equity and community-law enforcement relations. City Council Members unanimously spoke in favor of the Community Dialogue. An interfaith council of religious leaders would first be formed to facilitate the Community Dialogue, although council members emphasized that the Community Dialogue would be open to anyone, whether they were religious or not.

More details on actions the City of Lakewood is taking related to racial equity can be found in the Lakewood Today column

by Mayor Rogers on page 3 of this newspaper.

The City of Lakewood will notify the public of ways to participate in the Community Dialogue in future editions of this newspaper and the Lakewood Connect eMagazine, which residents can subscribe to at www.lakewoodcity.org/subscribe. ♦

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City Hall re-opened to serve you in person…with some changes Lakewood City Hall re-opened to the public on Monday, June 15.

The city is adhering to L.A. County Public Health requirements to ensure the safety of visitors and employees, and a beloved Lakewood figure is doing his part to help everyone follow safety protocols.

Woody the Tree is a familiar figure in Lakewood as the star of annual Arbor Day school presentations and the mascot for the city’s 65th anniversary events last year.

Now Woody is switching hats and donning a face mask for his latest role: “spokes-tree” for the safe reopening of Lakewood city facilities.

You’ll see Woody’s image on the large sign at the check-in table to enter City Hall and on floor signs that not only serve as the sixfoot social distancing markers, but have helpful reminders to “branch out” and leave space around you, as well as washing/sanitizing your hands and keeping your face mask on at all times.

If you just want to drop off a water or trash payment, you can use the box located outside the Clark Avenue entrance, which is checked throughout the day by city staff. And most city services can still be carried out very effectively over the phone or online, which the city still encourages you to do as the coronavirus pandemic is still with us.

But for those who wish to come into City Hall for in-person assistance, here is the city’s temporary check-in process: ENTER/EXIT: Visitors should park in the lot off Civic Center Way and use the northeast doors to enter and exit the building. The doors facing the Clark Avenue parking lot and doors near the recreation department are closed to visitors.

CHECK-IN PROCESS: Staff will ask for your name, cell number or email address, and the nature of your visit. This information will be entered into a new online reservation system that will alert the appropriate department that you are in line. You’ll be asked to wait in the designated waiting area, or you can return to your car to wait.

When the department is ready to serve you, you will receive a text message or email. If you do not have a phone or device that receives text messages or emails, staff will call for you by name in the waiting area.

HEALTH SCREENING: Once you are notified that you can be served, before you can enter City Hall you must pass a brief health screening process, which includes: Health assessment questions, temperature check, use of a face covering and hand sanitizer.

When you pass the health screening, you’ll proceed to the appropriate counter for help, observing the social distancing markings on the floor featuring Woody the Tree.

If you do not pass the health screening, you will not be allowed to enter City Hall for your safety and the safety of others, but you

will be offered a flyer of city services you can conduct over the phone or online. See the flyer at www. lakewoodcity.org/ServiceGuide.

The city is not allowing people inside City Hall just to use the restroom. Screened visitors who have business with the city may use the restroom. For families, only one person per group can come inside, unless there is a childcare issue. In that case, children may accompany their parent or guardian.

As a reminder, for city assistance, go to www.lakewoodcity.org or call 562-866-9771. ♦

Living

Woody and friends demonstrate safe social distancing outside City Hall.

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Day camp at Mayfair and Palms parks

Lakewood summer day camp opens June 29.

The City of Lakewood is offering “Camp Circle,” a summer day camp program for children ages 6-12, at Mayfair and Palms parks for eight weeks beginning June 29 and ending August 21. The program will provide supervised activities Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a 1:12 staff-to-camper ratio.

See the flyer at www.lakewoodcity.org/CampCircle.

Programmed activities will be

centered on a different weekly theme and include a variety of arts and crafts, outdoor sports, indoor games and specialized activities congruent with the week’s theme.

To ensure the health and safety of all campers and staff, the protocols for operating summer camps as prescribed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will be followed.

This includes the requirement of staff and campers to wear face coverings, exercise physical distancing and confirm good health before and during participation.

Fees for Camp Circle are: • Lakewood residents: $100 per week • Non-residents: $115 per week There is also a one-time materials fee of $15 per camper for a personal supply kit of basic arts and crafts materials.

To register, visit www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog and enter the keyword “camp.” Space may fill quickly. ♦

July 2020

Drive-through Bow Wow & Meow event Lakewood’s pet-friendly summer tradition, Bow Wow and Meow Day, returns in a new drive-through format on Friday, July 24 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Lakewood Civic Center parking lot.

Products and services offered include: • individual vaccines and discounted vaccination packs • micro-chipping • nail trimming • physical exams • flea control products Information regarding low-cost spaying/neutering and health care for dogs and cats will be available.

Please note this event is drivethrough only; walk-ups cannot be served due to public health restrictions.

Here’s how the drive-through event will proceed, with attendants directing cars to multiple stations for each segment to keep the line moving.

• PREPARE by wearing a cloth face mask and limiting the number of people in your car. Be sure dogs are on a leash and cats in a carrier.

• ENTER the line from Civic Center Way or off Clark Avenue, south of the library. You’ll receive a clipboard to fill out the paperwork indicating what services you need.

Dogs should be on leashes and cats in carriers.

• PROCEED to the check-in station and then to the cashier to pay for your services. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.

• CONTINUE to a vaccination station. For examinations, your pet will be removed by the technician and taken to the examination table while you remain in your car.

• EXIT when services are complete.

This event will be a contactless experience. Safety protocols, including use of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and alcohol spray bottles, as well as sanitizing communal items and maintaining a six-foot minimum distance, will be followed.

If you need information about licensing a new pet or renewing a license, visit the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA) at www.seaaca.org. ♦

Safe transit options in Lakewood during COVID-19

Every summer, the City of Lakewood produces a Transit Guide to give residents updated information on bus, metro rail, bike and other options for commuting without driving. The guide also includes information about Lakewood’s free DASH transit bus for seniors and disabled residents.

In the Transit Guide, you’ll also read about everything Metro and Long Beach Transit are doing to ensure the safety of passengers and operators during COVID-19.

Wearing cloth face masks and practicing social distancing are required to board.

This year’s new Lakewood Transit Guide is available at www.lakewoodcity.org/Transit or by calling city staff at 562-866-9771, extension 2140. ♦

...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL

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Concerts in the Park...virtually SoCalGas assistance fund for those in need 2020 Virtual Summer Concert program

• The applicant must not apply for more than the maximum GAF allowance for the current program year.

• The applicant must meet the income guidelines.

To see the income guidelines and

June 18: Knyght Ryder – ‘80s Tribute June 25: The Boys of Summer – Eagles Tribute As large public gatherings are still prohibited due to COVID-19, the City of Lakewood has reimagined the popular Concerts in the Park series as a Virtual Summer Concert lineup, releasing a new video performance each Thursday at 5:30 p.m. from June 18 through August 6 (no concert on July 2).

You can view the concerts at www. lakewoodcity.org/Concerts. A new concert will be available at 5:30 p.m. on the concert date when you click on the photo of the band. Past concerts will remain available so you can enjoy them again.

Set up your laptop on the patio, gather the family, and fire up the barbeque for a summer evening of food, fun and fantastic music safely at home. ♦

July 9: Hard Days Nights – Beatles Tribute July 16: Billy & the Bandits -Country July 23: Stone Soul – Motown Tribute July 30: The Answer – Classic Rock Tribute August 6: Best of Summer Concerts Finale

If you have been financially affected by COVID-19 and need help paying your natural gas bill, SoCalGas is extending its Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) program, which usually closes in April, into the fall months.

The GAF, a joint effort of United Way of Greater Los Angeles and SoCalGas, has also doubled its onetime grant awards from $100 to $200.

To qualify for GAF, you must meet the following requirements: • The natural gas bill must be in the name of the applicant requesting assistance.

• The bill address must be the applicant’s primary residence.

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apply, visit www.socalgas.com/GAF. As a reminder, SoCalGas has suspended service disconnections until further notice. This means no residential or small business customer will have their natural gas service turned off due to non-payment. ♦

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Free grab-and-go lunch for kids and teens Starting June 16, children and teens age 18 and younger may pick up a free lunch at participating libraries, including the Angelo M. Iacoboni Library on Clark Avenue in Lakewood.

From June 16 through August 7, the free grab-and-go nutritious meals are available for pickup Tuesday through Friday* from 12 to 1 p.m. while supplies last. *No lunch is available on Friday, July 3.

“Lunch at the Library” is a partnership with the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation, and is supported by the California Summer Meal Coalition and California Library Association. The program is funded by a California State Library Grant.

For more information, please visit https://lacountylibrary.org/ summerlunch/. ♦

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Be the One Who Does Right A while back I was in the car with my son who was driving excessively fast. I asked him to slow down, and he told me he was going with the flow of traffic. “Everyone else is going the same speed!”

I often hear, “Everyone else is doing it, so it must be okay.” Maybe it isn’t.

Just because a group of people is doing something, doesn’t make it right, and vice versa. Right is right, even if only one person is doing it. We have to stop being overly influenced by our neighbors, our society, and start relying on our own instincts.

In times of upheaval, herd mentality often takes over. Someone, usually feeling angry or self-righteous, starts an emotional fire; recruiting an army of followers who don’t stop to reflect on whether it’s right or wrong.

We must maintain our sense of what is right; remember our core values, even in the midst of a roaring crowd. We need to disregard the quantity of people doing something, and assess what it is they are selling.

Be the ONE who does right.

Even if you’re the only one.

Submitted by Rossana Snee, MFT, author of The Healing Alphabet, 26 Empowering Ways to Enrich Your Life. Follow her on https://www. youtube.com/channel/UCcigu_joKqgIelc6jhvecsw, Twitter, Instagram (@therapyXpress).

Visit her at www.rossanasnee.com. ♦

July 2020

Two-year city budget is adopted At their June 9 meeting, Lakewood City Council Members adopted a two-year balanced budget for Fiscal Years 2020-22, which starts on July 1. The budget maintains full funding for Lakewood city services across all program areas.

Council Members and staff thanked residents for the trust they provided to the city with the passage of Measure L that allows Lakewood to retain full services for residents in spite of the current economic downturn. Council and staff also said that without Measure L, significant cuts in service would now be under discussion.

Jose Gomez, the city’s Director of Finance and Administrative Services, said that Lakewood’s budget “continues to be balanced in its focus and priorities, with almost equal spending on recreation and commu-

nity services, public works and public safety.” Each category constitutes about 25% of the budget, which has been the tradition in Lakewood.

In many cities, spending on public safety is 30-40% of the budget, with much smaller percentages on areas like recreation, community services, and public works.

One area of increased spending in the coming fiscal year in Lakewood will be the hiring of one full-time and two part-time civilian public safety staff who will expand outreach to residents, with more community meetings, Neighborhood Watch involvement, and support services that free up Deputy Sheriffs to spend more time on patrol and answering calls for service.

See Lakewood’s full budget at www.lakewoodcity.org/budget. ♦

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Helping our kids: Lakewood Education Foundation

Riley Elementary School teachers who won grants, with LEF President Todd Rogers, far right, and Vice President Steve Croft, far left.

Thanks to generous donations from Lakewood residents and businesses, the Lakewood Education Foundation (LEF) has been able to give grants for hundreds of classroom improvement projects in Lakewood schools since 2003.

This shows the importance that Lakewood residents and businesses place on our local schools‌and the trust they place in LEF to select worthy projects.

In 2019, 117 Lakewood school projects received grants totaling $55,615.

Despite the wonderful generosity in Lakewood, many classroom requests could not be fulfilled because of a shortage of funds. You can help for this coming school year by making a donation. Any size is appreciated and put to good use.

LEF is a non-profit agency run

by Lakewood residents. An annual fireworks stand, October golf tournament, and lots of individual donations raise the annual support funding. After very modest expenses, 100% of donations reach kids in Lakewood classrooms.

The number one request this past year for classroom grants, which average about $500, was for the Raz-kids reading software program and educational field trips to aquariums, museums, the opera and the UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.

Donating is easy. Just go to www. lakewoodcity.org/donateLEF. See a video and learn more about LEF at www.lakewoodcity. org/LEFvideo. ♌

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July 2020