Lakewood Community News - May 2019

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Lakewood Community

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

Volume 36 Number 5

Pan Am Fiesta offers fun for the whole family

The Pan American Fiesta returns to Mayfair Park on Thursday, May 9 through Sunday, May 12.

The Fiesta offers a family-friendly mix of amusement rides, live music with dancing, crafts for sale, food trucks and food booths, combined with Lakewood traditions, on Mother’s Day weekend.

Lakewood community groups will host food booths and trucks Friday evening and all day Saturday that include pizza, tri-tip skewers, hot dogs, meatball sandwiches, tacos and more.

Specialty snacks such as kettle corn and ice cream will also be offered.

More than 50 arts and crafts dealers will bring their wares to the Pan Am Fiesta on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In the Children’s Cultural Booth, kids can have a free, hands-on cultural experience featuring activities and arts and crafts from across the Americas.

Organized activities will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Discount tickets on sale at Lakewood City Hall beginning April 29 and at Mayfair Park beginning May 6 through Friday, May 10 at 5 p.m. (until 4 p.m. at City Hall).

• 10 tickets for $25 (one ticket good for one ride on Friday, Saturday or Sunday) • Promotional Wristband for $30 – unlimited rides on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Event Day Prices • Thursday - $1 rides • Fri/Sat/Sun – Tickets are $1.25 each, $20 for 20 tickets, or $40 for 50 tickets (With these tickets, the number of tickets required for each ride will vary.)

• Promotional Wristband for $35 – unlimited rides on Sunday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

On Sunday, carnival rides and games are the single focus of the day. Consider treating the family to the popular Mother’s Day Brunch at

The Centre before heading over to the Fiesta. Brunch reservations are required as this popular event sells out.

For more information, please contact TGIS Catering at 562-866-9771 extension 2907 or email events@lakewoodcity.org.

Summary of festival hours May 9-12 at Mayfair Park, 5720 Clark Ave • Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m. – Discounted $1 carnival rides, plus games & concessions • Friday, 5 to 10 p.m. – Food trucks, food booths, entertainment, rides, games & concessions • Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Food trucks, food booths, entertainment, rides, games & concessions • Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Rides, games & concessions For a complete schedule of fiesta events call 562-866-9771, extension 2408 or visit www.lakewoodcity.org/ Fiesta. ♦

A big THANK YOU for Volunteer Day

Volunteers of all ages, along with 65th Anniversary mascot Woody the Tree, pitched in to help on Volunteer Day. “On behalf of the City Council and residents of Lakewood, I want to thank everyone who helped out on this year’s Volunteer Day on April 13,” said Mayor Todd Rogers. “The volunteer spirit in Lake-

wood is a big part of what makes us a strong, caring community.”

Those helped by the volunteers included disabled, senior and other Lakewood neighbors who because of physical or economic hardship

were unable to take care of the difficult circumstances their property faced.

Volunteers ranged in age from six to 66. Helping out were an estimated 450 people, including members from community organizations, churches, school teams, scouts, business people, and volunteer city crews.

See photos from Volunteer Day at www.lakewoodcity.org/VolDayGallery.

The 26 volunteer groups contributed time and energy to improving 26 private homes, four city sites, and the gardens at Pathways Volunteer Hospice.

Mayor Rogers and other council members toured various sites throughout the morning, thanking individuals and groups. The city sponsored a picnic at the end of the morning for all the volunteers. ♦

May 2019

Honoring the men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom

The Lakewood High School Naval JROTC present the American flag at the annual Memorial Day ceremony.

Lakewood residents are invited to join in the city’s annual tribute to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the United States armed forces, as well as to honor the members of local veterans organizations who have died during the past year.

The Memorial Day ceremony will take place on Monday, May 27 at 11 a.m. at the Lakewood Veterans Memorial Plaza at Del Valle Park. The memorial and Douglas jet fighter, both renovated in 2015, are located on Woodruff Avenue, between Henrilee Street and Arbor Road.

The keynote speaker will be Captain Michael Ray, commodore of Coastal Riverine Group One, based in Imperial Beach, CA. Captain Ray’s command includes Coastal Riverine Squadron 11, based at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach.

The reading of the poem “The Boys of Del Valle Park” will be done

by Michele (Shelley) Owen-Neher, sister of Steven C. Owen, who was killed serving in the Vietnam War and is listed on the Lakewood Veterans Memorial.

The Golden Sands Chorus will provide a musical tribute to those who have served in the armed forces, and a stirring performance of “Taps” will be performed. The nationally recognized Lakewood High School Naval JROTC will present our nation’s flag.

The event is sponsored by the City of Lakewood in conjunction with American Legion Post 496, Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 8615, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 19 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 756.

Parking will NOT be available this year at MacArthur Elementary School but will be amply available around the park, with disabled parking on the Woodruff Avenue service road immediately adjacent to the memorial. Neighboring residents are encouraged to walk to the park.

In addition to a large tent with chairs, there is ample space for guests to bring their own lawn chairs.

This event is free and open to the public. ♦

Today

Lakewood

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Proud to be Lakewood’s mayor again

By Mayor Todd Rogers

Hello, I’m Todd Rogers, and I’m honored to be starting a one-year term serving my fellow Lakewood residents as mayor.

City Council Members in Lakewood alternate as mayor annually, starting at the end of every March. I’m very grateful to have been nominated and approved by my council colleagues to serve in this role until March 2020.

As I like to remind people, we on the City Council are Lakewood residents too. We pay the same water rates and trash rates as everyone else….and if we’re not careful…the same parking tickets too.

And so, when we make decisions that might sting a little bit financially, we feel it too, and we only do it because we’re convinced it’s really necessary and it’s really in the best interests of

our city and all of us as residents.

As I think many people have heard by now, we’re starting to face a budget deficit in Lakewood.

We’re not alone in facing this kind of structural budget deficit.

Cities across our region and California are facing the same sort of situation.

Sacramento is taking over $2 million a year in local funding from our city.

If we are forced to continue cutting our budget to make up for the state’s money grab, Lakewood risks losing its traditional level of city services, including good law enforcement protection, beautiful parks and street trees, and well-maintained public infrastructure.

We can’t let this happen to our community.

You’ll be hearing more on this from the City Council and me in the months ahead. We want to hear from you about your priorities for Lakewood and the services you value, to keep Lakewood the safe community with a small-town feel where people desire to live and raise families.

There’s one other challenge that I want to emphasize during my year as mayor…and that’s public safety.

Being in a safe city and working together to maintain public

May 2019

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safety is one of those community values that most, if not all, Lakewood residents cherish. I like to think that it’s one of the core values most people think of when they see our city monument signs, proclaiming “Times Change, Values Don’t.”

As you may know, I spent a 32-year professional career in law enforcement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. So I know a few things about the challenges we face with public safety in our state, region and city.

For the past two years, I’ve served on our council’s Public Safety Committee. I’ve been honored to work with my fellow City Council Members, our city staff and our Sheriff’s Department staff to zero in on some of our public safety challenges in Lakewood and to look for ways to make improvements.

I want to build on that work and make Lakewood neighborhood security and safety a top priority during my year as mayor.

It will be a team effort…with my council colleagues…our Sheriff’s Department partners… our staff…and our residents. We won’t be able to solve all of California’s public safety challenges that affect us here, but we can… and should…do everything in our own corner of the world to keep Lakewood just as safe as we possibly can.

In closing, I look forward to working with my City Council colleagues, our city staff and our great residents in the year ahead to meet the challenges we face and to keep Lakewood the wonderful community that got started 65 years ago and that should have many, many great years ahead of it. ♦

“Times Change, Values Don’t”

City Spotlight Family Camp

Parents and their children ages 3-11 can enjoy an outdoor experience together and spend a night out under the stars at Monte Verde Park on May 18-19.

Activities include games, crafts, nature walks, roasting marshmallows and singing around the campfire. Camp guides will assist with camp set up, meals and snacks, so parents can sit back, relax and enjoy nature. The cost of this fun family outing is $10 each. A $10 per person materials fee for meals is due to the instructor at camp. Camp begins on Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m. and ends at noon on Sunday, May 19. A “what to bring” list will be e-mailed to each family before camp. Pets, BBQ grills, cooking apparatuses and alcohol are not permitted. Register at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog using activity #13046 or call 562-866-9771 extension 2408 for more information.

Mayfair Pool offers presummer swim opportunities

Swim Lessons: Mayfair Pool pre-summer swim lessons will take place Tuesday, May 28 to Friday, June 7. Online swim lesson priority registration for residents begins May 18 at 7 p.m. Non-residents may register online beginning May 21 at 7 p.m. Walk-in registration will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 25. Participants may sign up at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog.

Recreation Swim: Pre-summer recreation swim will take place at Mayfair Pool on Memorial Weekend only, May 25-27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. Daily summer recreation swim begins June 15 at Mayfair Pool and McCormick Pool.

Resident fees are $1 for children and $1.50 for adults (age 18+).

Non-resident fees are $2 for children and $3 for adults (age 18+).

Water Aerobics: Shallow Water

Aerobics classes will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. beginning May 28-June 13 at Mayfair Pool. Register at www.lakewoodcity.org/eCatalog using activity #13445. Mayfair Pool is located at 5720 Clark Ave. For complete information, please call 562-866-9771, extension 2408.

Summer recreation catalog coming

The new Summer Recreation Catalog will arrive in Lakewood homes later in May. It offers many fun, family friendly and active opportunities along with information on special events and programs such as Concerts in the Park, FUN-Tastic Family Nights and the aquatics program.

Priority mail-in registration and online registration for Lakewood residents begins as soon as residents receive the summer catalog. Online registration is fast, easy and convenient.

Over 650 programs, camps and classes are available. Most classes and activities begin the week of June 17. For more information call 562-866-9771, extension 2408. Register online at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog.

FUN-Tastic Family Night features Animal Magic

It’s animals…it’s magic…it’s two shows in one at The Centre, 5000 Clark Ave., on Friday, June 7. Come enjoy John Abrams’ wild and wacky Animal Magic show! Exotic animals, amazing magic, comedy and audience participation all combined into one show. Kids and parents alike are sure to have a fantastic time!

The cost is $8 per person, $5 for children ages one to three (children under one are free) and includes a meal of chicken fingers, mashed potatoes, lem(Cont’d. on Pg. 3)

Lakewood Garden Club

The Lakewood Garden Club is meeting on Thursday, May 23rd at 11am at Del Valle Park in Lakewood. The program will begin at 12:30pm and will be on how to beautify your yard with natural items such as rocks, bricks and pottery. This will be the last meeting until September. Happy Summer! ♦

Your

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City Spotlight (Cont’d from Pg. 2)

onade and a dessert. Doors open at 6 p.m. and seating is on a first-come basis.

Go to www.lakewoodcity. org/ecatalog to register and use class #13056. The last day to register is June 3 or until filled.

Call 562-866-9771, extension 2408 for more information.

Adult Softball and Volleytennis signups

Registration for Lakewood’s Adult Softball and Volleytennis summer league will take place April 29-May 10. Softball leagues play on various evenings (M-F) and Sunday afternoons. Volleytennis plays Monday evenings. All ability levels are encouraged. Team registration is available online at www. lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog, under activities-sports league.

Registration packets including fees and further information are available now at www.lake-

woodcity.org/sports or by calling 562-866-9771, extension 2408.

LYS baseball/softball/Tball signups

Signups for Lakewood Youth Sports baseball, softball and T-ball teams will take place between April 27 and May 11.

T-ball teams are for boys and girls ages 6-7, and baseball and softball teams are for boys ages 8-15 and girls ages 8-17.

Registration is available online at www.lakewoodcity.org/ ecatalog, under activities-sports league. There are no registration fees for Lakewood residents.

Proof of residency is required.

The non-resident registration fee is $20. Birth certificates must be presented to the office of the park you register to play for by May 25. For more information, call 562-866-9771, extension 2408. ♦

To register, use the activity number provided in the event description and call 562-866-9771, extension 2408, or online at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog.

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Be a beginner!

Do you want to start something new? A class, a hobby, a career— something about which you know little or nothing. If you haven’t, perhaps a little seed of fear is holding you back. “What if I’m not good enough? What if I make a mistake? What if it takes too long?”

At one point, we’re all beginners, right?

Before Frank Lloyd Wright became a creative genius of American architecture, he was just a stu-

dent taking engineering courses to supplement his family income.

Before Freddie Mercury became one of the biggest music sensations and lead singer of Queen, he attended an English-style boarding school in India from the age of eight. At the age of 7 he started taking piano lessons. No, he wasn’t born knowing how to play!

You cannot start in the middle or the end. You must be a beginner!

So be a beginner. Take that first step. Don’t fear making a mistake, or it taking too long; that is part of the learning process.

“You should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.”

- Stephen King Submitted by Rossana Snee, MFT, author of The Healing Alphabet, 26 Empowering Ways to Enrich Your Life. Follow her on Twitter, Periscope, and www.rossanasnee.com. She is available in a therapeutic capacity, and also for speaking engagements. ♦

May 2019

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Todd Rogers named mayor for one-year term

The Lakewood City Council completed its annual reorganization on March 26, selecting Todd Rogers to serve as Lakewood’s mayor from March 26, 2019 to March 24, 2020, and naming Jeff Wood as vice mayor for the same time period.

The tradition in Lakewood and many cities of its size is for mayoral duties to rotate annually among the five members of the city council. The mayor has the same vote as any other council member in meetings, but chairs the meetings and serves as the city’s main spokesperson at public events.

This will be the fourth term as mayor for Todd Rogers, who was originally elected to the city council in 2001. He is serving his fifth term as a council member, after being re-elected in March 2017.

The council’s annual reorganization night started with a “Lakewood Celebrates” community gathering where expressions of thanks and appreciation were made to Steve Croft for his 2018-2019 mayoral term. Croft will continue to serve as a council member for the rest of his term, which runs through March 2022.

After being selected as the new mayor, Rogers presented remarks to about 150 people gathered in the city council

Woody the Tree, Lakewood’s 65th Anniversary mascot, congratulates Todd Rogers on being selected mayor on March 26th outside the City Council Chambers.

chambers.

Mayor Rogers talked about the fiscal challenges Lakewood is facing, as the city works to resolve a budget deficit attributed to a state takeaway of local funds and flattening sales tax revenues as more shoppers go online instead of to Lakewood merchants.

Rogers noted that cities across California are facing the same sort of budget difficulty, and that while the causes for the deficit may not lie with Lakewood, the responsibility for solving it in Lakewood falls here locally.

“This is not the first time that Lakewood has faced financially

challenging times,” said Rogers. “And just like City Councils and city residents before us made tough decisions and met those challenges, so will we. I have no doubt about it.”

On a celebratory note, Rogers discussed the city’s 65th anniversary occurring in 2019.

Details on celebratory events can be found elsewhere in this edition of the Lakewood Community News.

“I look forward,” said Rogers, “to working with my City Council colleagues, our city staff and all our great residents in the year ahead to meet the challenges we face and to keep Lakewood the wonderful community that got started 65 years ago and that has many many great years ahead of it.” ♦

Spring Car Show Series continues at Palms Park

The Spring Car Show series continues at Palms Park, 12305 207th St., on Friday, May 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. A variety of cars will be displayed along with a selection of food trucks, vendors and a kids’ zone.

All cars are welcomed and no entry fee is required. This is a free event to the public.

The series kicked off in April, with the last show set for Friday, June 14, from 6 to 9 p.m.

For more information or to register a vehicle, contact Kristin Preciado at kpreciado@lakewoodcity.org or call Lakewood’s Recreation and Community Services Department at 562-866-9771 extension 2408. ♦

Green May 2019

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Avoid identity theft by safely disposing of documents

Identity theft is a continuing problem, and the City of Lakewood and EDCO Waste Services

are teaming up again to help with the biannual Lakewood Shreds event.

On Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot behind the Iacoboni Library, Lakewood residents can take advantage of easy drive-through shredding and recycling services, as well as pick up some freebies (while they last).

Residents will enter the parking lot behind Iacoboni Library off of Civic Center Way and drive through to access these services: • Shredding: Bring up to three bankers-style boxes (or large trash bags) of sensitive documents such as bank statements and tax records for free shredding on site. No CDs, DVDs, diskettes or other media.

• Battery disposal: Bring used household batteries (no car batteries).

• E-waste disposal: Bring TVs, monitors, computer CPUs, keyboards, printers and cell phones for environmentally safe disposal.

• Mulch: Bring bags or containers to get up to two 30-lb bags of free mulch. As a courtesy, Lakewood employees will shovel the mulch.

• Freebies: Giveaways include a kitchen recycle basket, motor oil recycling kit, and one free Shop Lakewood…Stay Lakewood Loyal bag per car.

Please do NOT bring these items to the event, as they are hazardous waste: • No lightbulbs of any sort • No household toxics like paint, insecticides, chemicals • No expired medications or sharps Hazardous waste and e-waste are accepted on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at EDCO’s large transfer facility located at 2755 California Avenue in Signal Hill.

This event is for Lakewood residents only. The line will close promptly at noon. Be prepared to show proof of residency, with either a driver’s license or utility bill.

For more information, please call 562-866-9771, extension 2140. ♦

Happy Mother’s Day!

Living

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May 2019

Don’t let tragedy The Lakewood Beautiful program happen around a pool promotes well-kept homes and yards

Be sure a designated adult is always watching children at a pool.

As summer approaches, it’s important to keep in mind that unsupervised water play can lead to tragedy. A child can drown in a matter of seconds without making a sound. Whether at a public pool or at home, here are some tips to keep children safe: • Learn to swim! Both you and your child should register for swim classes if you don’t know how. Mayfair Pool pre-summer swim lessons will take place Tuesday, May 28 to Friday, June 7. Online priority registration for

residents begins May 18 at 7 p.m.

Non-residents may register online beginning May 21 at 7 p.m. Walkin registration will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.

You can sign up at www.lakewoodcity.org/ecatalog.

• Teach children what to do in a water emergency, such as yell for help, throw life-saving equipment in the pool, call 9-1-1, etc.

• Weak or non-swimmers should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

• Never leave a child unsupervised around water. Assign an adult or responsible teen to serve as “water watcher” to maintain constant line of sight and supervision around any water environment, including a pool, tub, toilet or even a bucket of water.

Visit www.lakewoodcity.org/ watersafety for more tips and resources. ♦

Lakewood Beautiful deadline on May 10th.

Nominate your house! Nomi- Lakewood residents who take extra care to keep their homes and nate a neighbor’s house!

The Lakewood Beautiful pro- yards (and local neighborhoods) gram is accepting nominations looking great!

Studies show that home upthrough May 10 to recognize keep and beautification by caring, committed residents keeps crime rates low and property values healthy, thereby benefitting the whole community.

You can help honor those Lakewood residents who go “above and beyond” to keep their home and yards looking beautiful.

There are three ways to honor your home or a neighbor’s home in the Lakewood Beautiful program: • Beautiful Home Award. This is the city’s most traditional award, which has honored hundreds of Lakewood homes over three decades. This award recognizes the front facing exterior and landscaping of a home, displaying exceptional care and pride of

ownership.

• Jackie Rynerson “Transformation Award.” This will honor homeowners who have remodeled the front-facing exterior and landscaping of their property over the past 3 years. The rejuvenation need not have been expensive or elaborate, but something that improves or enhances the overall property. To be eligible, the bulk of the improvements must have been done or overseen by the current homeowner, not a prior homeowner. Nominations must include both “before” and “after” photos to demonstrate the transformation (digital photos may be uploaded to the online nomination form). Homes being marketed for sale are not eligible.

Jackie Rynerson was an original Lakewood resident who helped organize her fellow citizens to form the City of Lakewood in 1954. Jackie served as a city council member from 1978 to 1990, and she created the original Lakewood Beautiful to inspire and honor Lakewood homeowners.

• Water-Wise Award. This honors beautiful homes nominated in one of the first two categories that deserve extra recognition for landscaping utilizing waterconserving irrigation devices and plantings.

You can nominate your property or that of a neighbor by going to www.lakewoodcity.org/LakewoodBeautiful or calling City Hall at 562-866-9771, extension 3123.

The nomination deadline is Friday, May 10, 2019.

After the nomination deadline, photos are taken by a professional photographer of the streetfacing portion of each home and yard. A panel of judges then reviews the photos and determines if the home will be recognized.

Winners will be honored at a Lakewood Celebrates reception in the fall. ♦

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May 2019

Fun was had by all at the celebration of Lakewood’s 65th anniversary

SAVE THE DATE!!!

SUMMER STAMPEDE CAR SHOW

rk air Pa f y a M

Original Lakewood residents Dwight and Billie Foster celebrate Lakewood’s 65th anniversary at Weingart Senior Center with Mayor Todd Rogers and Woody the Tree.

Residents of all ages came out to Del Valle Park’s airplane playground on Saturday, April 13 for a city-wide celebration of Lakewood’s 65th year of incorporation. Hula hoop contests, ‘50s era classic cars and music, and the city’s anniversary mascot Woody the Tree joined in for the special day.

In a “blast from the past,” Mayor Todd Rogers, City Council Members and Woody the Tree arrived at Del Valle Park in a parade of 1950’s classic cars—all owned and driven by longtime Lakewood residents.

As the crowd awaited, the 1954 #1 single “Sh-Boom Sh-Boom” played loudly, evoking a sense of nostalgia and joy.

“When the early residents of Lakewood set out to incorporate the city, they wanted many of the same things we still hold dear today: a safe community to live and raise a family in; schools, parks and recreation to enrich us; quality city services; and neighbors who care for and take pride in their homes as you do today,” Mayor Rogers said. “And that’s why our motto is still so fitting, ‘Times change, values don’t.’”

On April 16, the exact day of incorporation in 1954, Mayor Rogers, Woody the Tree and council members joined a large turnout of seniors for lunch and dancing at a special celebration at Weingart Senior Center. Two 65th themed cakes were cut and served to all to mark the occasion.

Many guests held their hands high when asked how many had lived in Lakewood since the early days as a city, and four were original residents.

Attendees at both events enjoyed posing for photos against a large photo backdrop featuring historic images of Lakewood.

You can view the photo gallery from both events at (Cont’d. on Pg. 13)

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Call or email the Lakewood Chamber to register your vehicle or sign up for a vendor booth. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and/or showcase your business by donating a raffle prize.

(562) 531-9733 / info@lakewoodchamber.com

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May 2019

Share the road...safely

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

Bicyclists must: • ride in the same direction as traffic • stop at stop signs and signals • have reflectors and lighting equipment if used at night and be visible at all times • wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or skates (it’s the law for children under 18).

National Bike Month’s Bike-toWork Week is from May 13-19, and Bike-to-Work Day is on Friday, May 17. If you live within cycling distance to work, this would be a great way to get some exercise, have fun, and be active in the community! ♦

Kids under 18 must wear a helmet when riding bikes.

May is Bicycle Safety Month, which reminds us that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers and must obey the same rules of the road.

Motorists must: • allow at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist--it’s the law.

• only drive in the bike lane when preparing to make a turn within 200 feet from an intersection

Lakewood Women’s Club

The Lakewood Women’s Club’s next monthly meeting will be held Tuesday, May 21st at Sycamore Centre, 5000 Clark Ave. in Lakewood. Meeting will be at 11:00 am, lunch at 12:00 pm, and the program begins at 1:00 pm. This month’s program will be the installation of our new officers.

For lunch reservations, call Arlene Roos at 562-863-4933.

The Lakewood Women’s Club is a philanthropic group that concentrates on civic projects to help improve the lives of those in the area, and we welcome other women to join us. We also hold evening meetings to accommodate those whose schedules don’t allow for meetings during the day. Evening meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the American Legion, 5938 Parkcrest St. in Long Beach.

For more information, call Sandra Reprogle Richardson at 562866-8401. ♦

...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL

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Lakewood welcomes DNA Salon celebrates first anniversary new mathematics learning center

Lakewood students now have a new place to learn the fundamentals of mathematics with the opening of Mathnasium, the Math Learning Center. Located across from the Lakewood Center Mall, the “math-only” tutoring center recently held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on April 7th. Members from City Council and the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce were in atten-

dance to help welcome this new business to the neighborhood.

Experienced math tutors use “The Mathnasium Method” to teach students from elementary through the high school level with customized learning plans designed to address each student’s individual needs, in order to teach them in a way that makes sense to them and to develop a better understanding of the subject. ♦

Advertise in the Lakewood Community News, call (562) 531-9733, or email advertise@lakewoodchamber.com.

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DNA Salon hosted a celebration on March 30th to commemorate the first anniversary of the location, with members of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and Lakewood City Council in attendance.

The milestone event featured a ribbon cutting ceremony, with remarks given by newly-elected

Mayor Todd Rogers and Chamber Vice Chair Brad Crihfield.

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Alisa Macias not only provide high-quality salon services to their clientele, but give back to the local community as well.

Their salon participates in “retail reciprocity”, where they encourage their customers to bring in travel-sized toiletries to be donated to the less fortunate in exchange for 10% off a product purchase.

Twice a year, DNA Salon also hosts a “Cut-A-Thon” fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting their ongoing causes. The most recent fundraiser took place on April 28th and all funds donated went to “Su Casa - Ending Domestic Violence.” ♦

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...STAY LAKEWOOD LOYAL

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May 2019

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Spring is a great time Help preserve your sewer line by having it periodically inspected to adopt a pet

Shelters fill with animals in the spring, making it a great time to consider pet adoption. Over 25,000 animals per year go through the animal care center of the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA) in Downey, which provides animal care and control services to Lakewood and other cities in our region.

The spring and summer months offer more daylight hours and better weather for you and your new pet to get to know one another.

At www.seaaca.org, you can view

photos of pets available for adoption.

In addition, Lakewood’s CityTV runs a monthly feature highlighting SEAACA pets for adoption at www.youtube/CityTVLakewoodCa. You can adopt animals at SEAACA headquarters at 9777 Seaaca Street in Downey.

If you’re unable to adopt a pet but would like to help shelter animals, you can volunteer with or donate to SEAACA by calling 562-803-3301, extension 264 or visiting www.seaaca.org. ♦

A collapse of your sewer or water line could cost you up to $5,000 to $10,000 or more to repair.

Most Lakewood homes from the 1950s were built with underground clay sewer pipes and metal water service pipes that can shift, crack and leak over time. Tree roots can’t cause the cracks, but they love the water from leaks and will grow into those cracks. The roots will expand there and can create clogs, which if not cleared can ultimately cause the pipe to collapse and become unusable.

That’s when you have a big, expensive problem on your hands.

In most cities, including Lakewood, homeowners are responsible for repairs to the sewer line from their home to the main sewer line, which in Lakewood is usually located under the street in front of the home or along the rear property line. Homeowners are also responsible for the water service line from their home to the point it

connects with the meter.

Most home insurance policies don’t cover repairs to external sewer or water lines. That’s why some home warranty companies have begun offering specialized policies for that work.

These companies also handle the hiring and oversight of the specialized contractors. Policies generally cost about $5-25 a month depending on the extent of coverage. Some also include coverage

for plumbing repairs inside your house.

The City of Lakewood doesn’t endorse a particular home warranty company, but does suggest that residents consider such polices and also consider regular maintenance of their sewer line to prevent small problems from becoming big.

Major sewer and water line problems aren’t widespread in Lakewood. Each year, fewer than 20 permits for major sewer repairs are issued in our city of 25,000 homes. But with the age of our homes, one can expect the number of such repairs to increase in the years ahead. And if you are one of the unfortunate homeowners to experience a major sewer line problem, you may wish you had an insurance policy in place to protect you from a big, unforeseen financial hit.

You can ask your homeowner’s insurance carrier if they offer such policies or search for sewer and water line insurance policies online.

You can help preserve your sewer line by having it periodically video-inspected and, if needed, professionally cleaned out. A professional clean-out is recommended because a “do-it-yourself” clean-out of a 65-year-old clay sewer pipe can create more serious problems than it solves. ♦

News

Community May 2019

www.lakewoodchamber.com

Civic Center construction work and redesign of Pillars of Community

The “urban stream” in front of The Centre was recently removed to provide a safe flat space for city events.

The concrete fountain and blocks that comprise the “urban stream” in front of The Centre at Lakewood’s Civic Center Plaza were removed in mid-April.

That water-theme area had not been used in several years for water conservation reasons and had become a safety hazard that needed to be cordoned off when the city holds events in front of The Centre, such as the now annual Tree Lighting event. The area will be returned to a flat concrete surface that will create more usable space for public events in the plaza.

Construction in April also included the first phase of the redesign and relocation of the Pillars of Community that honor the Legends of Lakewood.

In 2004, to help commemorate Lakewood’s 50th Anniversary, the city installed three large glass pillars in the Civic Center Plaza in front of The Centre. The Pillars of Com-

munity used a creative artistic design that displayed photos and descriptions of the people and institutions that have been named as Legends of Lakewood. The Pillars light up glowingly at night and are quite visible to drivers along Clark Avenue.

Unfortunately, the Pillars were also quite subject to the ravages of sunlight and the elements and, over the past 15 years, the photos and images on the Pillars had faded noticeably. Some glass panels were also showing cracks and signs of stress, creating a safety problem.

The city will be transforming the photos and information on the Pillars into a new creative art piece that will be housed more safely and lastingly inside The Centre. There are several advantages to being located in the lobby inside The Centre. First, the new art piece

won’t degrade from the outside elements. Second, many more residents will be able to see and enjoy the art piece inside The Centre. Third, the new artistic format will include video screens that will create additional, flexible ways to tell the story of the Legends of Lakewood and the Lakewood community in the years ahead.

The first step in the installation of the new Legends of Lakewood artistic display was to remove the existing deteriorating Pillars, which was done as part of the construction work in mid-April. ♦

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Lakewood’s 65th anniversary (Cont’d. from Pg. 9)

www.lakewoodcity.org/65gallery.

“We thank the generosity of our sponsors who helped us celebrate another milestone of our cityhood,” said Mayor Rogers.

Special thanks go to Water Replenishment District board president John Allen and Willdan for financial sponsorships, and to Cassidy’s Corner Café, Golden State Water Co., Labwerkz Printshop, Lakewood Center and R.F. Dickson.

If you missed the celebrations, you can still share in the commem-

oration. Woody the Tree is featured in a series of eight collectible cards that pays homage to each decade since the city’s incorporation. A limited number of cards are available free at City Hall at the main receptionist counter. ♦

Town

Around Page 14

CityTV...it’s local, it’s Lakewood

Long Beach City College announces 2019 commencement speaker

CityTV’s Eileen McIlrath interviews Olympic Figure Skater Nathan Chen at The Rinks in Låkewood where he trained for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Lakewood’s CityTV has been creating interesting, informative and entertaining programming for the local community for over 35 years and it has been recognized with over 100 awards, including four Los Angeles Emmy nominations.

CityTV presents programs about the history of Lakewood, city services, public safety tips and Lakewood City Council meetings. The magazine program “Community Digest” focuses on local events, stories, residents and businesses. Documentary programs like “When it Rains” offer insight into Lakewood’s innovative stormwater projects and the challenges we will face in the future. Other regular shows include: “Walking Lakewood,” “Featured Pets,” “Shop Lakewood Spotlight” and “LYS Championships.”

Watch Lakewood CityTV streaming live at www.lakewoodcity.org/cityTV or on channel 31

on FiOS TV and Spectrum Cable and channel 99 on AT&T. You can also see CityTV program links in many Lakewood Connect eMagazines or at the video library on the webpage above. There, you can find dozens of Lakewood programs presenting historic videos and interviews with longtime residents recounting the days when Lakewood sprung up in the 1950s as America’s largest planned community.

In May, CityTV joins in the celebration of Lakewood’s 65th anniversary with programs on the city’s rich history. CityTV also presents “Suburbia Month,” including CityTV’s award-winning documentaries “How the Suburbs Happened” and “Ribbons of Concrete.”

Visit www.facebook.com/ CityTVLakewoodCA and “LIKE” the page to keep up with the latest CityTV productions. ♦

The Long Beach Community College District is proud to announce the selection of broadcast journalist Veronica Miracle as the 2019 Commencement Speaker for the Long Beach City College graduation ceremony scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Miracle is a general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News, and serves as a fill-in anchor and is often the lead news reporter for the evening news broadcasts. She joined ABC7 Eyewitness News in August of 2017 after spending three years at ABC30 in Fresno as a weekend anchor and reporter.

The LBCC Class of 2019 Commencement Ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. No tickets are necessary and the public is invited to attend.

For more information, go to www.

LBCC.edu/Commencement. ♦

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

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

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

Thank You!

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

Please Call for an Appointment:

(562) 402-9717

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

Thank You to our Sudoku Sponsor!

loomfield Animal Hospital Dr. Jose E. Arambulo, DVM EcoFriendly

May 2019

www.lakewoodchamber.com

Bring in this ad for a

FREE EXAM! New clients only Expires 5/31/19

20927 Norwalk Blvd.

Lakewood, CA 90715 www.bloomfieldvet.com

One entry per household; the answers must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 20, 2019. The winner will be drawn on Thursday, May 23, 2019, and the call to the winner will be made the same day. If a message is left, the prize must be claimed by return phone call within 48 hours (two business days) or a new winner will be chosen.

The name of the winner will be published in the June issue, along with a new Sudoku Puzzle. u

News

Community May 2019

www.lakewoodchamber.com

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www.lakewoodchamber.com

May 2019