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Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce | 30,000 Circulation - Delivered to every home in Lakewood www.lakewoodchamber.com
Volume 41 Number 5
Vets, pets & illegal fireworks regrets
Lakewood, like many communities in California, allows the use of “safe-and-sane” fireworks approved by the State Fire Marshal on the day of July 4th only. These are fireworks that do not explode or go into the air. Their sound does not travel far. And families can enjoy them responsibly as part of a fun…and safe…July 4th celebration. Their use also benefits Lakewood community groups that sell them at stands throughout the city between July 1-4. However, some people make the fateful decision each year to purchase and use fireworks that are illegal in California for personal use. These include skyrockets and explosives…all of which are illegal in California and dangerous to use…especially in highly populated residential neighborhoods like Lakewood.
If you’re thinking of using illegal fireworks, did you know the following? 1. Some combat veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be traumatized by illegal fireworks. The U.S. Marine Corps urges Americans to be considerate of the veterans living among us when it comes to illegal fireworks use. A Marine veteran of two tours in Iraq said he can prepare for events like the annual fireworks display that his hometown puts on at a certain time. But the sudden rat-a-tat of firecrackers set off by his neighbors throughout the night transports him back to Baghdad and sets him on edge. Lakewood is a community that deeply respects military veterans for their service, so the City of Lakewood urges residents to be considerate of veterans…and
think twice before using illegal fireworks in Lakewood. 2. Pets can also be traumatized by loud fireworks…and more pets run away from home and are lost on July 4th than on any other day. Like veterans, most pet owners can prepare their animals for a short, one-time event like a planned fireworks show or the use of safe-and-sane fireworks whose sound does not travel far. But there’s no preparing for the loud and unexpected sounds of illegal skyrockets, firecrackers and other explosives, including those happening late at night. “Lakewood residents can have a lot of fun with safe-and-sane fireworks,” said Lakewood City Manager Thaddeus McCormack, “and you won’t risk harming veterans, pets and neighbors in the process.” “The problem of illegal fireworks use has grown in recent years throughout California and the nation, and it doesn’t matter whether a community allows or disallows the use of safe-and-sane fireworks,” said McCormack. “The problem of illegal fireworks is the same in both types of communities. Lakewood is known throughout Southern California as a city that is doing everything it can to deter the use of illegal fireworks. Please do your part to help, so our community can have a safer and more peaceful July 4th holiday.” ♦
May 2021
Jeff Wood named mayor for coming year
Mayor Jeff Wood The Lakewood City Council undertook its traditional reorganization at its April 13 meeting, selecting Jeff Wood to serve as Lakewood’s mayor for the coming year, and naming Steve Croft as vice mayor. The custom in Lakewood and many cities of its size is for mayoral duties to rotate 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 second time as mayor for Jeff Wood, who was originally elected to the council in 2011. He ran unopposed for the council in 2015, and was reelected in 2020 to a third term on the council that will run through March 2024. He served as mayor previously in 2015-16. The council’s reorganization night started with expressions of
thanks and appreciation to outgoing Mayor Todd Rogers for his service. Rogers will continue to serve as a council member for the rest of his term, which runs through March 2022. “On behalf of the whole council and really our whole community,” said newly selected Mayor Wood, “I would like to thank you Todd for your extraordinary service as mayor. This most definitely was an extraordinary time for our nation and our community…with many extra demands made of you as mayor…and you rose to the occasion in a big way for Lakewood. “Normally,” said Wood, “on the night that a mayor finishes up their term, we would hold a Lakewood Celebrates reception where the community, the council and legislators from our area can come together to honor your service. Obviously with COVID restrictions, we need to put off such a gathering right now. But we are hopeful that with the way our state and county are opening back up, we can do something like that, or at least similar to that, very soon. So please stay tuned everyone. We’re not yet done honoring Todd Rogers for his time as mayor.” Mayor Wood talks about some of his plans for his mayoral term in his “Lakewood Today” column on page two of this edition of the Lakewood Community News. ♦