Business Focus - May 2017

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Business Focus Past President Chris Hardeman and new President of the Board Laurie Perschbacher show their Whittier Chamber pride at new Chamber member LivVOIP's ribbon cutting

MAY 2017

Connecting the business and residential communities.

City Councilmember Josué Alvarado, city staff, WUHSD Superintendent Martin Plourde and Michael Burkhardt from Ravello Bar & Grill enjoyed the Whittier Chamber’s 103rd Annual Meeting & Installation

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE WHITTIER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

10 New 2017 Laws Affecting California Small Businesses

#SmallBusinessWeek

National Small Business Week

By: Gail Cecchettini Whaley, J.D.; CalChamber Employment Law Counsel/Content

April 30 - May 6, 2017 Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. The Whittier Chamber joins the U.S. Small Business Administration in highlighting the impact outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others who work every day to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness. We Salute Our Small Businesses!

VOL. 23 NO. 5

If you are a small business in California, you should be aware of new mandates for 2017 that could affect your personnel practices. For larger employers, the HR department will absorb the extra work created by the new requirements. But small employers in California often don’t have the luxury of a dedicated HR department. For these employers,

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several new mandates will create additional administrative burdens. Employers need to be aware of significant changes in key areas, such as the state minimum wage. Other new laws make small changes to different parts of existing law or may relate only to specific industries. Unless specified, all new legislation went into effect on January 1, 2017.

This year, many bills feature delayed or phased-in implementation. This white paper will discuss some of the significant new laws, and what they mean for small businesses. For a full discussion of the new 2017 employment laws, download An Overview of New 2017 Employment Laws Affecting California Employers from HRCalifornia.

New State Minimum Wage Depends on Employer Size

California’s minimum wage rate has changed due to legislation signed by the governor last year. SB 3 increases the minimum wage over the next several years to $15 an hour. For the first time, the state minimum wage rate now depends on the size of the employer. Effective January 1, 2017, businesses with 26 or more employees must pay a minimum wage of $10.50 per hour. These businesses will reach $15 per hour in 2022. Small businesses with 25 or fewer employees are required to pay $10 per hour the same as the 2016 rate. The scheduled increase for small businesses does not begin until 2018, and small businesses will have until 2023 to reach the $15 per hour rate. The minimum wage increase requires all employers, regardless of size, to post a new Minimum Wage Order (MW-2017). The minimum wage increase also has an effect on other pay practices, such as the overtime rate. Dates Employers With 26 or More Employees Employers With 25 or Fewer Employees 1/1/17 $10.50/hr $10.00/hr 1/1/18 $11/hr $10.50/hr 1/1/19 $12/hr $11/hr 1/1/20 $13/hr $12/hr 1/1/21 $14/hr $13/hr 1/1/22 $15/hr $14/hr 1/1/23 $15/hr* $15/hr* *Once the minimum wage reaches $15 per hour for all businesses, wages could then be increased each year up to 3.5 percent (rounded to the nearest 10 cents) for inflation as measured by the national Consumer Price Index.

8158 Painter Avenue Whittier, CA 90602

PAID

Permit #288 Anaheim, CA

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

Businesses also need to pay close attention to rapidly multiplying local ordinances which impose minimum wage rates separate from, and higher than, the state rate. Eligibility rules vary from city to city. Moreover, the minimum wage rates in these cities may change at any time; employers should closely monitor them. Check with your local city government as to whether any local minimum wage ordinance might apply to your workforce. Continued on page 10

Orange you glad you’re a Whittier Chamber member?!

Increase your networking power at the 6 Chamber Kaleidoscope Mixer On Wednesday, May 11 from 4 to 7 p.m., 6 local chambers of commerce will join together at the DoubleTree by Hilton Norwalk for the 15th annual CAPC, Inc. fundraiser. Called “Kaleidoscope,” this colorful blend of cities will offer chamber and community members six times the networking opportunities, not to mention a ballroom full of fabulous shopping opportunities and tasty samples from local restaurants and caterers. The DoubleTree by Hilton Norwalk Hotel is located at 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650. Represented at the mixer will be members from Cerritos, La Habra, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier chambers of commerce.

KALEIDOSCOPE

Each chamber has been assigned a color and Whittier’s color is ORANGE (hence our tagline…Orange you glad to be a member of the Whittier Chamber?!). City residents, business professionals and chamber members are encouraged to show their city pride by wearing clothing or accessories that correspond with the color of their chamber. Each chamber will host a table providing information on membership and upcoming events. In addition to great chamber networking, the event also features hundreds of silent auction items to bid on and the opportunity to sample delicious food from many local eateries. There will also be chances to win great raffle prizes

just for attending! Businesses and community members can support this event in different ways. Items can be donated to the silent auction, businesses can serve as a Corporate/Family/ Friend Sponsor for $100 and receive signage at the event and in the printed program, or everyone is encouraged to come with coworkers, family or friends to network and shop on May 11! All the proceeds from the silent auction, raffle and sponsorships will go directly to support the services provided by CAPC, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that empowers individuals with disabilities to maximize the quality of their lives in their home communities.

WEAR ORANGE Thursday, May 11 4-7 p.m. DoubleTree by Hilton Norwalk


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WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

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MAY 2017

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2017-2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Laurie Perschbacher MAP Property Management & Property Services Immediate Past President Chris Hardeman, DialMed Home Care President-elect & Vice Chair, Networking & Marketing Gary Lee Martinez, The Traveling Traveler Vice President, Special Events Trese Childs, DoubleTree by Hilton Vice President, Business Information Debra Legan, PIH Health Vice President, Administration Elizabeth Martinez, Republic Services

Here are a few highlights of my speech given at the 103rd Installation Dinner. “For generations, my family has thrived in and given back to this truly diverse and prosperous city. As for me, my Dad and I started our property management business in 1989 and joined the Chamber in 1995. When we joined the Chamber, it was initially out of a vague sense of obligation, as many of our members do. But over the past 22 years as I’ve had the privilege to participate in our fundraisers, committees, and social eve nts, I’ve learned that even a native Whittierite can discover new things about her community… and new ways to be successful within it. All of which has led me to this new and ultimate level of involvement. President of the Board. It means so much to me to get this right, to give back to the Chamber at least as much as I’ve gotten. I want you to know that I’m excited to take up the challenge.

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Vice President, Membership LaDonna Munier, Friendly Hills Bank Vice President, Finance Bryan Tabizon, Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary

Richard Scrivanich

DIRECTORS Leighton Anderson, Bewley, Lassleben & Miller Cheryl Estep, State Farm Insurance Sandra Hahn, Crepes & Grapes Café Oscar Hernandez, Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Whittier John Hsu, STC Management Krista Lesa, The Quad at Whittier Greg Nicodemus, Credit Union of Southern California Scott Radcliffe, Rad Custom Signs

STAFF Executive Directors Carol Crosby & Lyn Carty Director of Membership Luis Regalado Member Relations Coordinator Jessica Reyes Bookkeeper Amber Lawrence Special Events Coordinator Courtney French Whittier Chamber Business Focus Official monthly publication of the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce This publication is mailed monthly to all licensed businesses in the city of Whittier, all Whittier Chamber members and 4,500 Whittier residents in selected areas. Papers are also distributed via various community locations such as Whittier Library, Community Center, Senior Center, City Hall, etc. Total monthly readership is 20,000. We welcome comments, press releases and community interest stories. All submissions are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. The Whittier Chamber reserves the right to approve and edit submitted material. The Business Focus is also an excellent vehicle within which to advertise! For current advertising rates or to submit an article, email info@whittierchamber.com or call (562) 698-9554.

Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce 8158 Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602 (562) 698-9554 • (562) 693-2700 FAX www.whittierchamber.com info@whittierchamber.com

Laurie Perschbacher, President business success. To that end, we will be launching a new social media-style directory of Chamber businesses later in the year. It will be a great resource for members looking to network; to improve their visibility, their growth, their credibility. And we are here as advocates for their businesses when needed. To those of you out there, like me, who joined primarily out of civic duty, do yourself a favor and email me? I want you to join just one committee. We’ll find something that works for you. You’ll be amazed at how it can improve your connections and your business’s bottom line. Let’s all set our intentions this year to try to do ‘well’ by doing ‘good.’

TAX TIPS

Converting a Home into Rental Property

Vice President, Community Affairs Tom Rios, Brookdale Uptown Whittier

Dr. Ramsey Ezaki, Ezaki Dentistry

It’s a sign of a healthy community, when local businesses take up local causes and find their business improving as a result. Just ask The Original Roadhouse Grill, The Chicken Koop and Endeavor Real Estate and how their contributions have increased their businesses. In Whittier, we pride ourselves on lifting each other up. It’s why no one ever leaves this town! Or if they do, they come right back. Because this community supports its own. I’d like these small-town values – our personal commitment to each other – to be the guiding principal of my time in office. I want to make member outreach our biggest priority. In February, I led my first Chamber Planning Conference with the Board to develop an agenda for the coming year. Our mandate this year will be about helping members Open Doors in 2017. We want to be the KEY to your

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & PROPERTY SERVICES

You have decided to move to another residence, but find it difficult to sell your present home. One way to weather a soft residential selling market is to rent out your present home until the market improves. If you are thinking of taking this step, you no doubt are fully aware of the economic risks and rewards. However, you also should be aware that renting out your personal residence carries potential tax benefits and pitfalls. You generally are treated like a regular real estate landlord once you begin renting your home to others. That means you must report rental income on your return, but also are entitled to offsetting landlord-type deductions for the money you spend on utilities, operating expenses, and incidental repairs and maintenance (e.g., fixing a leak in the roof). Additionally, you can claim depreciation deductions for your home. You can fully offset your rental income with otherwise allowable landlord-type deductions. However, under the tax law passive activity loss (PAL) rules, you may not be able to currently deduct the rent-related deductions that exceed your rental

INDEX

Message from the Chair........... 2 Tax Tips.................................... 2 Mayor’s Message...................... 4 10-4 Tips from the WPD ........... 5 Community Celebrations........... 5 Wake Up Whittier ...................... 6 Labor Law ................................. 7 B.A.S.H. Mixer .......................... 8 Restaurant Row ...................... 14 Member Marketplace .............. 15 Calendar ................................. 15 Around Town ........................... 16 Renewing Members ................ 18 Milestone Members................. 18 New Members ......................... 19 Networking Quote ................... 19

income unless an exception applies. Under the most widely applicable exception, the PAL rules won’t affect your converted property for a tax year in which your adjusted gross income doesn’t exceed $100,000, you actively participate in running the home-rental business, and your losses from all rental real estate activities in which you actively participate don’t exceed $25,000. You should also be aware that potential tax pitfalls may arise from the rental of your residence. Unless your rentals are strictly temporary and are made necessary by adverse market conditions, you could forfeit an important tax break for home-sellers if you finally sell the home at a profit. In general, you can escape taxation on up to $250,000 ($500,000 for certain married couples filing joint returns) of gain on the sale of your home. However, this tax-free treatment is conditioned on your having used the residence as your principal residence for at least two of the five years preceding the sale. So renting your home out for an extended time could jeopardize a big tax break. Even if you don’t rent out your home so long as to jeopardize your principal residence exclusion, the tax break you would have gotten on the sale (i.e., exclusion of gain up to the $250,000/$500,000 limits) will not apply to the extent of any depreciation allowable with respect to the rental or business use of the home for periods after May 6, 1997, or to any gain allocable to a period of

nonqualified use (i.e., any period during which the property is not used as the principal residence of the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse or a former spouse, such as a rental) after December 31, 2008. A maximum tax rate of 25% applies to this gain (attributable to depreciation deductions). Some homeowners who bought at the height of a market may ultimately sell at a loss. In such situations, the loss is available for tax purposes only if the owner can establish that the home was in fact converted permanently into income-producing property, and isn’t merely renting it temporarily until he can sell. Here, a longer lease period helps an owner. However, if you are in this situation, you should be aware that you probably won’t wind up with much of a loss for tax purposes. That’s because basis (cost for tax purposes) is equal to the lesser of actual cost or the property’s fair market value when it’s converted to rental property. So if a home was bought for $300,000, converted to rental property when it’s worth $250,000, and ultimately sold for $225,000, the loss would be only $25,000. Since the question of whether to turn a principal residence into rental property isn’t easy to resolve, you should consider getting counsel from your tax adviser before consummating such a conversion. If you have any questions regarding the above discussed topic or any other tax matter, please feel free to give me a call at (562) 698-9891.


MAY 2017

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Chamber Honors Outstanding Volunteers at 103rd Installation The Ambassador of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Business of the Year were announced for the 2016-2017 year at the Whittier Chamber’s recent Annual Meeting and Installation event which took place at Friendly Hills Country Club. The awardees’ names were announced by past recipients of the respective awards and presented with certificates of appreciation for their contributions to the Chamber by outgoing President Chris Hardeman.

Volunteer of the Year The Volunteer of the Year honor was given to John Peel from Concept 7. John has been a Chamber advocate for over a decade. He is a current member of the Chamber’s Ambassador Team and a past Chamber Board Member. At one point, John had 5 different memberships under his name… that is how strongly he believes in the value of the Whittier Chamber. For the past year, John has generously given his time and talent to interviewing our members for live streams and testimonial videos at both of our Business Expos, participated in our monthly Chamber Chats, and has served as the Chamber’s lead reporter at other events.

Ambassador of the Year Our Ambassador of the Year award is a peer driven award that is voted on by the members of the Ambassador Team. Ross Gile, this year’s winner

from DigiCal, is a staple at Chamber activities and is always willing to reach out to new members and lend support to committees and events. In addition to his Ambassador duties, Ross has gone above and beyond in other areas of Chamber volunteerism…especially his support of our monthly Chamber Chat video while Chris Hardeman was Board President.

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Opening p n ng 2017 Doors

Business of the Year This year’s Business of the Year was presented to Michael Seril Fitness. A business is selected for this award because of the impact they have on the Chamber and, in this case, the greater Whittier community. For the past 10 years, the clients at MSF, and its owner, Mike Seril, have supported numerous Chamber programs and given back to the Whittier community in many ways. A multi-year supporter of Chamber programs like the Hathaway Golf Classic, the Business Expo and Shop Local Showcase, Mike has believed in the value the Whittier Chamber offers and the opportunities the Chamber provides to make connections to the community. Mike is also a huge believer in giving back to the community that supports him and his fitness studio has donated money, food items, sports equipment and more to local organizations like Interfaith Food Center and the Boys’ & Girls’ 2016-2017 Award winners included Ross Gile from DigiCal for Ambassador of the Year, John Peel from Club of Whittier as well as Whittier Concept 7 for Volunteer of the Year and Adina Cozma and Mike Seril from Michael Seril Fitness for elementary schools. Business of the Year

Playing an important role in introducing our new President of the Board were Tom Guerrero, Say Cheese Photography, Jessica Magdosku, Friendly Hills Bank Payroll, Judy Bradt, A Special Event, Chief Jeff Piper, Whittier Police Department, and Mike Seril, Michael Seril Fitness

Mayor Joe Vinatieri thanks outgoing Board President Chris Hardeman for an outstanding year of leading the Chamber

Retiring Board members Rudy Hernandez, Carolyn Reggio and Greg Gunter were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for their years of service and dedication to the Whittier Chamber

The Whittier Chamber 2017-2018 Board of Directors

Our newest board members include Sandra Hahn from Crepes & Grapes, Scott Radcliffe, RAD Custom Signs and Trese Childs, DoubleTree by Hilton Whittier Los Angeles

Chamber board member John Hsu from STC Management brought employee and Nixon Plaza property manager Audrey Gee to the installation

New President of the Board Laurie Perschbacher outlines the Chamber’s goals and objectives for the year


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MAY 2017

City Of Whittier

UPDATE MAYOR'S MESSAGE Joe Vinatieri

Congratulations again to Laurie Perschbacher of MAP Property Management on her new role as Whittier Chamber Board President. Laurie is a long time Whittierite and someone who truly values the Chamber’s role in our community, so I know she will lead the Chamber in a positive direction over the next year. We look forward to working together in the coming months to promote shopping locally and serving our local businesses. I want to remind all of you to save the date for the Police Open House & Kiddie Fun Run on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. We will be unveiling Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer’s name on the Police Memorial statue at 11 a.m. and invite you to join us for a special ceremony with his family and friends. Our community suffered a great loss back in February when Officer Boyer was killed in the line of duty and we will continue to show that we are WHITTIER STRONG as we remember the sacrifice he made and continue supporting the brave men

and women of our department. We are seeing a lot of development action throughout town and are looking forward to some new folks coming to Whittier soon. Below are a few updates on what’s to come this summer and into next year: • Orchards Supply Hardware, Home Goods and now Ulta Beauty are officially open at the new Friendly Hills Marketplace, with Rubio’s, Skechers, Pizza Press, Neckter Juice Bar and Super Clips not far behind • The former Saturn site has Jersey Mike’s and Starbucks on the way, with what looks to be at least one other major restaurant set to open. Prospective tenants have not yet been named but are in negotiations with the developer • Chick-fil-A is slated to open in their brand new building at Whittwood come August • New residential townhome projects are currently under construction at the former Masonic Lodge on Beverly Boulevard, the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Catalina Avenue, the former Toyota used car lot, the former ICC site off of Workman Mill Road, and at the corner of Hadley Street and Magnolia Avenue • Future plans: Brookfield’s development at the Fred C.

Nelles site has been approved for residential units, as well as retail and open space There’s also a lot happening in Uptown Whittier and I am looking forward to seeing our historic city center improve and grow. In partnership with property owners, the City has proposed a Community Benefi t District to establish a longterm vision for Uptown, in conjunction with a Streetscape Beautification Plan and millions of dollars in redevelopment funds, to fund infrastructure improvements including maintenance, sewer and water line upgrades, and a parking structure. Staff is facilitating the official petition process among local property owners and the City Council will further review the proposal this month. Whittier is unique because of our nonprofits, schools, faith institutions, public safety personnel and veterans. The Chamber will host its annual “Salute to Service” program during Wake Up Whittier on May 17 and it’s always a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with our many local organizations and learn more about the countless services they offer our community. Join us at Whittier Hospital for breakfast and networking. I hope you all have gotten a chance to take advantage of the nice weather we’re having. May is National Bike

State of the City

Month so it’s time to dust those wheels off and get moving. For those of you who can, why not take your bike to the store next time or choose two wheels instead of four once a week? Not only is it good for your health but it’s great for the environment, too. The City’s Bike to Work Day event will take place on Thursday, May 18, with an early kickoff at the Palm Park Trailhead at the Greenway Trail. It’s a great time to ride with your family, friends or co-workers and get those endorphins pumping! Call Community Services for more information at (562) 567-9430. Lastly, don’t miss the Whittier Community Foundation’s Dancing with the Whittier Stars on May 24 and 25 at the Community Center. Come show your support for our local dancers and you see some familiar faces up on stage! I am proud to be a contestant this year and to help raise additional funds for our local youth and recreation activities. Want to know more about what’s happening in town? Save the date for the Chamber’s annual State of the City Address on Thursday, June 15, at the Doubletree by Hilton Whittier Los Angeles, and hear from City Manager Jeff Collier who will give us details on current development projects and future opportunities for our community.

See you there!

D a n ci

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FUNDRAISING EVENTS May 4, 2017 • 6 PM Support dancer Joe Vinatieri Mayor, City of Whittier

Mayor Joe Vinatieri’s Magical Evening The Whittier Depot • 7333 Greenleaf Ave. $30 per person

MAY 11, 2017• 5 PM The Ugly Nelson Band concert in support of dancer Ben Greer Sage Restaurant & Lounge $45 per person • Music at 6 PM

Ben Greer GM Properties, Inc.

Shop now through May 14 at Stella & Dot to

Support dancer Vanessa Ivie Thank you sponsors:

Vanessa Ivie PIH Health

http://www.stelladot.com/ts/vrnq6?guest=

MAY 17, 2017 • 5 - 9 PM Support dancer Tim Traeger

with Blues & BBQ Steve’s BBQ • 7007 Greenleaf Ave. $50 per person

Tim Traeger Whittier Museum

May 25, 2017 Support dancer Cynthia Nickell Rio Hondo College Foundation & Soroptimist Int’l of Whittier

Cynthia Nickell Buy game squares for a chance to win 4-tickets to Disneyland & California Adventure


MAY 2017

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WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

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City Of Whittier

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UPDATE

Captain Michael Davis

Providing a Detailed Description Whittier Police Officers respond to thousands of calls for service every year in Whittier. These calls vary from traffic accidents, crime reports and suspicious persons, to serious crimes in progress such as robberies, burglaries, shootings, and assaults. Criminals flee the scene of their crimes in a hurry to avoid being captured by the police, however in many cases, it is the victims and witnesses who observed the suspect, that are able to make the escape only a temporary one. A key to capturing criminal offenders in these highly mobile times, is the prompt and accurate reporting of important suspect information to the Whittier Police Department. If you observe a crime in progress or suspicious activity, it is important to call 911 immediately. Calling 911 will automatically display your address and phone number to the dispatcher, which will allow you to proceed directly to the crime information.

If you saw a suspect or a suspicious person, the first questions you will hear from the dispatcher are: “What did the person look like? Can you describe him/ her to me?” For some reason, this simple question causes many callers to freeze, as they try to organize their thoughts, memories, and visual pictures into a sentence that is both helpful and timely. The description of a suspect is very important for responding officers, as they scan streets in the immediate area on their way to the crime scene. A simple method for observing and remembering the complete description of a suspect or a suspicious person is “head-to-toe”. Start at the head and observe hair color, hair style or a hat being worn. Move down to the face and neck area and note the facial complexion, any facial hair, tattoos, scars, markings, or jewelry. If you heard the person speak, describe any accent or distinguishing speech patterns. Continue to the upper torso with a detailed clothing description. Observe

the type and color of the shirt, and any distinct print or pattern. Examine the arms and hands for tattoos, markings, or jewelry. Move to the lower torso with a detailed clothing description including belt color, pant color, condition, and any distinct design or print. End with the shoes and note color, condition and any distinct design or print. Organizing the information from observation to reporting will allow officers to receive a complete and timely suspect description and hopefully facilitate a quick capture. Practice makes perfect so have a good time describing your coworkers to one another after a short observation period. Michael Davis is a Captain with the Whittier Police Department and oversees the Department’s Patrol Division. He can be reached at (562) 567-9253 or via email at mdavis@cityofwhittier.org.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS

Movies Under the

Stars June 3 Sing

July 1

Mimi’s Café, located at Whittwood Town Center, recently celebrated their complete interior remodel with a ribbon cutting

Rogue One:

A Star Wars Story

August 5 Moana

September 2 Finding Dory Movies will begin at dusk. For more information contact Parnell Park at (562) 567-9450.

Business Phone Service provider, LivVOIP, celebrated the opening of their new business with family, friends and Whittier Chamber officials

The Mimi’s Café team invites the community to come in for a delicious meal from their new menu


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MAY 2017

v

WAKE UP WHITTIER

The Whittier Chamber presented Chief Jeff Piper with canvas artwork that was signed by members of the business community in honor of the Whittier Police Department’s centennial year

New members from La Pescadora, Alzheimer’s Association and Bank of the West were introduced at the Chamber’s networking breakfast

We couldn’t do all that we do without our wonderful Whittier Chamber Ambassadors

Shane Cadman from the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College, new Chamber member Kurt Wolff from Farmer’s Insurance and Gil Rodriguez from Sharpstone Realty trade business cards at Wake Up Whittier

Whittier Chamber members Scott Radcliffe, Trese Childs, Carolyn Reggio and Ross Gile dressed up to promote CAPC’s 6-Chamber Kaleidoscope Mixer which will be held on May 11 from 4-7 p.m. at the DoubleTree Norwalk

Thanks to California Grill owner Nick Kiouftis and his staff for providing a delicious breakfast at the Chamber’s recent event

Mayor Joe Vinatieri is thanked by new Chamber President Laurie Perschbacher from MAP Property Management for hosting the April Wake Up Whittier

Chamber board members Dr. Ramsey Ezaki, Greg Nicodemus and Bryan Tabizon network at Wake Up Whittier

Evelyn Briano from Whittier Hospital chats with Rudy Hernandez from RMH Dance & Productions about providing DJ services for the May Wake Up Whittier at the hospital

Theresa Oliver from ARCpoint Labs celebrated Earth Day by giving away flower gifts to members at Wake Up Whittier including Teri Bazen from Norwalk-La Mirada Plumbing

TOYOTA OF WHITTIER BUY LOCAL SUPPORT WHITTIER

BIG SAVINGS *NO HAGGLE • NO HASSLE*

CALL ME

RICHARD MARROQUIN Fleet Manager 14577 E. Whittier Blvd. • Whittier, California, 90605

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(562) 698-2591 Ext. 229 • CELL (562) 882-3076

rmarroquin@toyotaofwhittier.com

toyotaofwhittier.com


MAY 2017

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L A B O R L AW Paid Family Leave Optional for Employers with Fewer Than 50 Workers By Dana Leisinger My employee has come to me and asked to take Paid Family Leave to be with his new baby. He says he’s entitled to the leave, but we have only 26 employees. Do we have to honor this request? Paid Family Leave (PFL) is an unfortunately named law, and frequently misunderstood. It is not a leave; it is a wage replacement program. In the scenario above, yes—the employee is entitled to apply for PFL, but there is no job protection because he doesn’t qualify to take the protected leave. The protected leave is authorized by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and California Family Rights Act (CFRA), which require that the employer have 50 or more employees. Fewer Than 50 Employees If an employer has fewer than 50 employees, it is an internal call whether to grant time off. If time off is granted, the employee can apply for PFL. It is processed as payment through the Employment Development Department (EDD) for up to six weeks, and is a partial wage replacement.

Eligible workers can receive up to 55% of their previous weekly earnings. Employees can apply for PFL for other reasons also: to care for a seriously ill family member (child, parent, parentin-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or registered domestic partner) or to bond with a new child as above (including newly fostered and adopted children). Setting Precedent Employers need to be aware that if they do grant time off when the employee is not entitled to it by law, the action can set a precedent. Often employers grant the time off due to it being a slow time of the year for the business, or other conditions. If these factors can be proven objectively, the danger of precedent might not be a problem. If, however, employers grant the time off simply because they like the employee and want to help him out, the next time someone asks to “take” PFL, it might be required. And if the leave is denied, that employee could claim discrimination.

U.S. U S B Bank k iinvests t iin Whitti Whittier llocation, ti makes improvements in 2017 U.S. Bank customers will see a fresh new look to the U.S. Bank location in Whittier in 2017 as the company plans to remodel and update the branch for better service to its customers. The branch will temporarily relocate during the renovation in order to remain open and not disrupt customers during the construction. The temporary location will provide full service, and will be located directly behind the branch. Whittier is undergoing several beautification projects, with efforts in the works throughout the city. U.S. Bank is pleased to do its part to keep the community fresh and vibrant.

The new U.S. Bank branch will have state of the art equipment, with ATMs inside and outside of the branch for convenient service any time of day. The new office will have the same staff and branch manager, Celia Alvarez, who has been with U.S. Bank for 14 years and in banking 32 years. Celia M. Alvarez is a member of Circle of Excellence for PIH Health and helps with their fundraisers. She is also a member of the Whittier Chamber of Commerce and with time she plans to become more involved. She has been part of the Whittier community for the past eight months.


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B.A.S.H. MIXER

MAY 2017

Revisit your goals to reach success It’s nearly mid-year, which is a great time to checkin on your progress toward reaching those goals you set at the beginning of the year. 92% of goals set at the beginning of the year are not met - primarily because we do not give enough focus to them, do not write them down, and/or do not have a plan on how we will achieve them. Here are some ways to get back on track if you are not exactly where you want to be.

And….the baldies have it! Sporting a clean pate are Scott Radcliffe, RAD Custom Signs, David Perschbacher, MAP Property Management, Don Rood, State Farm Insurance and Bryan Tabizon, Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary Lydia Espinoza, Whittier Museum, Pete Rodriguez, Farmer’s Insurance and Sarah Salazar, Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Whittier enjoy the first-ever B.A.S.H. held at Ravello Bar & Grill

Thank you to Ravello Bar & Grill owner Michael Burkhardt and his wonderful staff for hosting our first ever, smashing success, B.A.S.H. (Business Associates’ Social Hour) Chamber Board members Dr. Ramsey Ezaki and Laurie Perschbacher catch up with Past Chamber President Dean Harako at B.A.S.H.

1. Get back in touch with what it is you want to achieve. A lot may have changed over the last 5 months, determine whether you need to make any adjustments to your goals. Once you have re-evaluated and know what you are working toward, write it down and be sure to use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Time-bound). 2. Don’t dwell on the past. Every experience whether positive or constructive comes with a lesson. Embrace the lessons and be sure to incorporate them going forward. 3. If you’ve had trouble dedicating time to achieving your goal, evaluate how important it is to you. Where focus goes, energy flows! 4. Break down your goal into manageable steps - really break it down (even if it seems oversimplified). Sometimes, all we need to do is start taking small steps to build momentum. 5. Identify your blocks to achieving your goals and be specific about how you will overcome those challenges. 6. Assign deadlines to each of the steps. Put it in your calendar and dedicate time every day/weekly to achieving your goal. If you go any longer than a week, you may forget or lose momentum. 7. Tell someone who will be positive and ask them to help hold you accountable. Every moment of every day is an opportunity to choose differently. Whether you are starting from scratch or re-dedicating yourself, YOU GOT THIS! Jennifer Naranjo of Strength is Within, is a Certified Life & Spiritual Coach. For more info, visit her website at www.strengthiswithin.com


MAY 2017

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10 New 2017 Laws Continued from front page

2.

Important Payroll Change

Small businesses already know about the laundry list of required employee forms and these requirements keep increasing. AB 1847, a new law effective January 1, 2017, requires employers who must notify employees of their eligibility for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to now also notify these employees that they may be eligible for the California EITC. The specific language for the required notice regarding the federal and California EITC is contained in the statute. The notice must be provided one week before or after, or at the same time, the employer provides an annual wage summary, including but not limited to a Form W-2 or a Form 1099 (Revenue and Taxation Code sec.19853).

3.

New Form I-9 and Immigration-Related Protections

Federal law requires employers to verify an employee’s eligibility to work using the Form I-9 process. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently published a revised version of the Form I-9 (rev. 11/14/2016 N). Employers are required to use only the version dated 11/14/2016 N. Several changes were made to the Form I-9 to help reduce technical errors and also to make it easier for the user to download and complete on a computer. In addition, the instructions for completing the Form I-9 are now separate from the form itself and contain instructions for completing eachfield. In addition, a new state law (SB 1001) strengthens immigration-related protections. Under federal law, it’s unlawful for employers to ask for more or different documentation than is required by the Form I-9, refuse to accept documents that appear genuine on their face or engage in other types of document abuse. SB 1001 makes this type of conduct unlawful under state law as well. Violators may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000.

4.

All-Gender Restrooms and Signage Requirement

If your business has single-user toilet facilities, you need to be aware of a new law that became effective March 1, 2017. AB 1732 requires all single-user toilet facilities in any business establishment, place of public accommodation or government agency to be identified as “all- gender” toilet facilities. A “single-user toilet facility” is defined as “a toilet facility with no more than one water closet and one urinal with a locking mechanism controlled by the user.” Businesses will need to check their signs for compliance and make sure that the signs comply with Building Code Standards relating to all-gender or unisex signs. Be careful; many online retailers sell signs that might not comply with the law. In addition, some pictograms can be considered offensive.

5.

Fair Pay for Employees

California’s Fair Pay Act applies to all employers, regardless of size, and provides protections against wage discrimination. Significant amendments (effective in 2016) were made to California’s equal pay laws to address gender wage inequality and also to address “pay secrecy.” For 2017, two new bills expand California’s Fair Pay Act. SB 1063 prohibits an employer from paying any of its employees at wage rates that are less than the rates paid to employees of another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work. AB 1676 specifies that, under the Fair Pay Act, prior salary cannot, by itself, justify any disparity in compensation. The law is intended to “help ensure that both employers and workers are able to negotiate and set salaries based on the requirements, expectations, and qualifications of the person and the job in question, rather than on an individual’s prior earnings, which may reflect widespread, long-standing, gender-based wage disparities in the labor market.” This new law doesn’t specifically prohibit an employer from asking about prior salary, but does prohibit the use of that information as a sole factor to determine compensation. Accordingly, when determining starting pay for a new hire, prior salary history should not be the sole determining factor.

6. New Smoking Rules California generally bans smoking in the workplace, and a package of bills effective last year expanded already-existing smoke-free workplace protections. In part, the new legislation: • Expands the workplace smoking ban to include owner-operated businesses and to eliminate any small business exception. Prior law exempted employers with five or fewer employees. • Treats the use of e-cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery devices, such as vaporizers, as “smoking” — thus extending existing smoking bans to cover such products. • Expands smoke-free workplace protections by getting rid of most of the existing exemptions that permitted smoking in certain work environments, such as bars, hotel lobbies and warehousefacilities. • Eliminates the ability to have employer-designated smoking breakrooms.

7.

MAY 2017

Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

In November 2016, California joined several other states in legalizing recreational use of marijuana by adults. Proposition 64, also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, legalized the recreational use of marijuana for adults 21 years old and over. Proposition 64 maintains the status quo for employers seeking to maintain a drug- and alcohol-free workplace. In other words, employer policies related to drug possession, use and impairment as well as testing are not compromised with the legalization of marijuana use under Proposition 64. Proposition 64 explicitly states that it is intended to “allow public and private employers to enact and enforce workplace policies pertaining to marijuana.” Therefore, even with the passage of Proposition 64, employers may continue to prohibit use, possession and impairment at work and may continue to test for use when appropriate. Proposition 64 is not intended to interfere with these workplace policies or practices.

8.

Use of Juvenile Criminal History Information

Employers conducting criminal background checks in California are limited in terms of the information that can be obtained and how it can be used. A new law, AB 1843, further restricts the type of information that can be obtained. AB 1843 prohibits employers from inquiring into an applicant’s juvenile criminal history information or using such information as a factor in determining any condition of employment. Also, please be aware of local ordinances that may ban employers from asking applicants about any criminal convictions on the employment application. Both Los Angeles and San Francisco have such ordinances.

9.

Notice of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Protections

Adding to growing employee paperwork requirements, AB 2337 requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide employees with written notice about the rights of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to take protected time off for medical treatment or legal proceedings. A required form must be given to all new employees when hired and to current employees upon request. The Labor Commissioner is required to develop the form on or before July 1, 2017. Employers are not required to comply with this notice requirement until the Labor Commissioner posts the new form on its website.

10. Paid Family Leave Benefit Changes in 2018 Effective January 1, 2018, AB 908 increases the amount of paid family leave (PFL) benefits an employee can receive from 55 percent of earnings to either 60 percent or 70 percent of earnings, depending on the employee’s income. There still will be a maximum weekly benefit on the amount received. The new law also will remove the current seven-day waiting period that exists before an employee is eligible to receive PFL benefits. Remember that PFL is a partial wage replacement program. PFL does not create the right to a leave of absence or guarantee reinstatement rights unless already mandated by another law.

Compliance Tips for Small Businesses in California •

• •

• • • •

Make sure you are using the correct minimum wage rate. Also examine how the minimum wage rate affects other practices. CalChamber’s free white paper, California’s Minimum Wage HikeBrings Many Changes, canhelp. Provide required notices and stay on top of change, such as the new EITC notice that must contain language regarding the credit under both federal and state law. HRCalifornia can help you stayup-to-date. Review your company’s practices on criminal background checks to make certain that they comply with legal requirements, including a review of your job application forms. Review all policies and practices to make sure they arecurrent. Notify employees of any policy changes by sending out a new or revised policy or by sending out an entirely new employee handbook, when warranted. For instance, review your smoking and drug and alcohol policies. If you have single-user toilet facilities, comply with the new signage requirement and make certain that these restrooms can be used for all genders. Check with your local city/county government to see if any local ordinances apply to your practices. Don’t just revise policies; put them into practice and apply them consistently. Visit HRCaliforniafor more details regarding these newlaws. If you have any questions regarding compliance, consult employment law counsel.


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Douglas M. Rowan, CFP®, CMFC, AIF® rowand@ceteranetworks.com

Have you been approached with unrealistic rates of return? Don’t believe the unbelievable!

With today’s diverse marketplace serving up scores of investment opportunities, you may be tempted to set aside long-term goals in favor of short-term profits. But having a successful financial future takes more than speculation - it takes careful planning and long-term perspective.

New Shelter Brings Hope to Homeless Families in Whittier Homelessness is one of the greatest crises facing our country, and in the Whittier area, each day, more than 30 families are in need of emergency housing. Recently, the Salvation Army, in partnership with The Whole Child, Imagine Whittier and the Whittier Consortium, held an official grand opening for the new Hospitality House, a women and children emergency shelter, located at 7926 Pickering Ave., that features up to nine rooms with designated family sleeping rooms, and common areas like kitchens and dining rooms. The Whittier Homeless Coalition, a group of government, business, social service, and faith-based leaders, met regularly over several months to discuss the issue of homelessness in Whittier and the surrounding community. Their focus was to actively find a safe place for homeless families while they work towards obtaining permanent housing. The perfect location was found at The Salvation Army Whittier Hospitality House. This project couples the resources

and expertise of The Salvation Army, a leader in providing emergency housing to families, and The Whole Child, a leader in providing wrap around social services to children and families. The Whole Child will provide family placement and supportive services and The Salvation Army will augment its program with resources from its Whittier Transitional Living program and from its Corps staff and personnel. Now that Hospitality House has been established, families who would otherwise be living in their car or out on the streets, will begin to settle into a safe, clean and nurturing environment where they can get back on their feet. “As a city, we are not able to singlehandedly solve the many challenges that we as a community face,” said Whittier Mayor Joe Vinateri. “But with the help and support of The Salvation Army, The Whole Child and Whittier Consortium, I know together we are making an impact on our community.” For more information, please contact The Whole Child at (562) 692-0383 or (562) 204-0640.

Call Douglas M. Rowan, CFP®, CMFC, AIF® for help in investigating your many investing options. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC is one of the largest full service brokerage firms in the nation. We offer array of investments and services. We can provide the assistance you need, no matter where you are in life’s journey.

We can provide solutions to help meet a variety of objectives: Retirement Planning Investment Management Estate Planning Tax-Advantage Strategies

Long Term Care Planning College Planning Financial Planning Small Business Planning

We can also provide the following investments and services to assist you in achieving your goals: Mutual Funds • CDs • Stock and Bonds Fixed and Variable Annuities Traditional, Roth and Education IRA’s, 529 Plans Business Retirement Plans Insurance

Call Doug today at (562) 945-7787 for a complimentary consultation

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC

Doing insurance business in CA as CFGAN Insurance Agency Member FINRA/SIPC 15141 E. Whittier Blvd., Suite 550, Whittier, CA 90603 (562) 945-7787 • (800) 441-0136 FAX: (562) 696-5487 For additional information on the services offered by Douglas M. Rowan, CFP®, CMFC, AIF® and Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, please visit our website at: www.rowanassetmanagement.com or email rowand@ceteranetworks.com CA Insurance License # 0714417

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The Whittier Chamber’s Business Focus is Whittier’s premier community publication providing information on Whittier Chamber networking events, helpful tips for local business owners, important legislative information and special interest stories on local organizations other great things happening in our city.

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YOUR STORY on our FRONT PAGE? Contact Luis for more information on a business spotlight article and other marketing opportunities to grow your business!

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MAY 2017

Chamber Awards Five Scholarships to Local High School Students Tickets Now On Sale!

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Members of the Whittier Chamber board, Education Chair Melanie Bickley (right) and Student Chamber advisor Lori Eshilian (center) congratulate the Randy Basurto Scholarship winners (L to R) Beto Luna, Nicole Ramirez, Jackie Soto and Fernando Juaregui (not pictured is Diego Alatorre)

For nearly 20 years the Whittier Chamber has given scholarships to deserving local high school students through the Randy Basurto Scholarship program. The scholarship program is funded through a few different sources, including Chamber members’ generosity every time they purchase a 50/50 ticket at Wake Up Whittier, through the Chamber’s Hathaway Golf Classic at which golfers contributed over $1500 in

the Whittier Brokers’ Heart and Home Hole, and the donation of $1,000 from Credit Union of Southern California. The Whittier Chamber is very fortunate to have extraordinary volunteer leadership who support the Student Chamber and the Randy Basurto Scholarship. This year, scholarship applications were reviewed by business leaders including Education Chair Melanie Bickley from Whittier Brokers, Dr. Ramsey Ezaki from Ezaki Dentistry, Rose Drieslein of

Americana Tax Planning, Peter Rodriguez of Farmer’s Insurance, Jennifer Naranjo from Strength is Within, and La Donna Munier of Friendly Hills Bank. All senior members of the Student Chamber were invited to apply and the Chamber received multiple applicants from each of our local high schools. After a rigorous selection process, the Whittier Chamber is proud to award $500 scholarships to each of the following high school seniors:

(562) 907-4203

Congratulations to all of our Student Chamber seniors and our 5 scholarship winners this year.

Go to our website to join our e-mail list. Be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for early announcements and special offers.

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Diego Alatorre

Fernando Jauregui

Beto Luna

Nicole Ramirez

Jacqueline Soto

Diego is a senior at La Serna High School. He has been accepted to Biola University and plans to pursue a degree in medicine and hopes to become a neurosurgeon. In his essay, Diego shared the following…. “To be a neurosurgeon you not only need the education, but you also must know how to interact with patients, interview and network. These are all skills I have acquired by being a member of the Student Chamber.”

Fernando is a Whittier High School senior and has been accepted to Whittier College, Brown University and his first choice, USC. Fernando has a 4.41 high school GPA and plans to pursue a degree in Business Administration or Computer Science. Ms. Bailey, the Cardinal Computer Advisor shared this about Fernando… “He has a high level of intellectual curiosity and is an extremely teachable student in the top 1% in my twenty years of teaching, highly intelligent, strong sense of self and endearing sense of humor.”

Beto is the current Student Chamber President and is a senior at California High School. He will be attending Santa Monica Community College and plans to pursue a degree in business and follow his dream of transferring to USC with the hope to later own his own business in the fashion industry. Beto’s Business Academy teacher shared this…. “Beto brings enthusiasm, cooperative spirit and teamwork to any situation. His zest and vigor for life and learning is contagious to those around him.”

Whittier High School senior Nicole Ramirez has been accepted to Pace University in New York and has plans to become a nurse anesthesiologist Nicole shared in her essay…. “I relate to Mr. Basurto because he was in both the medical field and also helped people as a member of the business c o m m u n i t y. I j o i n e d t h e Student Chamber because I thought making connections with different businesses in Whittier would benefit my future and inspire and expand my career horizons.”

Jackie, a California High School senior, has been accepted to Hult International Business School and plans to pursue a degree in business administration and marketing. She wants to eventually study other cultures and economies to help companies modify their products to sell effectively in specific countries. Jacqueline shared in her essay…. “It was an amazing opportunity to be part of the Student Chamber. Every Wake Up Whittier, Student Chamber meeting and the Business Expo brought new learning experiences that influenced my perception of business.”

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Whittier resident selected as Edison scholar As high school students prepare for college, Edison International is helping to make some of their dreams come true by providing $40,000 scholarships to 30 deserving students. In mid-April, some of those students learned they had been selected as Edison Scholars with surprise visits at their schools. Others received a personal video announcement mailed to them at their schools. In total, these 30 students from throughout Southern California Edison’s service territory were chosen for their academic success and demonstrated financial need. All are pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering or math). From Hanford to Rancho Santa Margarita, these high school seniors are determined to succeed

and make this world a better place for everyone. Since 2006, Edison International has awarded nearly $7.7 million in scholarships to 580 Edison Scholars. Alfred Molina, Whittier resident and St. John Bosco High School student, is one of the 30 recipients to receive a scholarship. When he’s not playing soccer, Alfred cleans and serves customers at the StubHub Center to cover his sporting expenses. He’s excited to explore career opportunities in physics and engineering and wants to develop products that improve people’s lives. For more information, visit www.insideedison.com/introducing-our2017-edison-scholars.

Youth Summer Activities The Boys & Girls Club of Whittier The Boys & Girls Clubs of Whittier will be offering two summer programs, one for children grades 1st-7th at the Main Clubhouse and one for teens grades 8th-12th at the Teen Center. The 9 week summer program runs from June 12 through August 11. Main Clubhouse hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a cost of $100 per child. An optional sunrise program is offered between the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for an additional fee for $270 per child. The Main Clubhouse will offer stem lab activities, art, the music

Whittier Area Community Church

makers program, Whittier College’s 5 th D i m e n s i o n program, gym and outdoor rec, and field trips. Teen Center hours are 12 to 6 p.m. with a cost of $20 per teen. The Teen Center will be running Leaders in Training, a program that gives teens the opportunity to volunteer and earn community service hours, along with the “College Bound” program where they will have opportunity to visit Colleges and begin the college preparation process. For more information, visit bgcw.org or call (562) 698-8630.

The Broadoaks School of Whittier College The Broadoaks Summer Program features several academies for children from preschool through 9th grades. All students will participate in the academies offered at their grade level each day. The academies will integrate reading, writing and math into the curriculum. All academies are designed to promote

academic and social development, provide opportunities for joy-filled and playful learning, foster creativity and problem solving, and build summer-time memories that will last a lifetime! Learn more about their pirate themed summer programs and enrollment dates and fees at broadoaksschool.org or (562) 907-4250.

Carden Whittier Private School Join the Carden School of Whittier for a time of fun, friends, and learning. Their summer program is a way to keep academics strong and enjoy a more casual approach to learning. Students will continue developing strong character qualities in an atmosphere of kindness and security. Full or half days are also available for students with a more condensed summer schedule. Please contact the school office for further details on dates and enrollment fees at (562) 694-1879.

St. Mark’s Lutheran School The St. Mark’s Summer Day Camp program begins May 30 and concludes A u g u s t 11 . T h e y offer two types of programs. Their fulltime program includes academics, excellent day care and field trips from Monday through Friday; from 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Their academics only program is held on Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Session one runs from May 30 – July 7. Session two runs from July 10 – August 11. Week 1 of session one is their “Health and Fitness” week including a soccer camp (no academics or field trips in week 1). Their academic program focuses on math and language arts skills. The full-time program includes

the academic session, and a wellrounded program of physical activities, day care, and field trips. During both fulltime sessions, they offer a wide variety of field trips including Knott’s Berry Farm, laser tag, bowling, and movie theater days. Full-time students must bring their own lunches daily. They provide a summer school t-shirt to be worn on field trips. St. Mark’s also offers two sports camps for incoming 5th-8th grade students. Summer volleyball camp runs from May 30 - June 9 and the Basketball camp runs from June 12 - June 23. Both camps are held from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Please call them regarding the enrollment fee, program costs, and discounts for siblings. Make this the summer that your child remembers! (626) 968-0428.

The Whittier Area Community Church (WACC) invites 5th and 6th graders to attend the Adventure Mountain Summer Camp at Forest Home. This program will take place June 18-23 and will be filled with 5 nights and 6 days filled with fresh air, friends, fun and faith. Forms are available at wacc.net or you may contact Betsy Kent at (562)-945-4500 ext. 172. Along with this summer camp, there is a camp directed towards junior high school students. Sugar Pine in Oakhurst, CA will be from July 9-14. Students will enjoy events such as kayaking, paddle boarding, disc golf, paintball, zip line, swimming pool, roller skating and much more. For more information about Hume Lake, contact Bri Lopez at blopez@wacc.net.

Whittier College Whittier College will be hosting their 44th annual Summer Sports Camp for boys and girls ranging from the ages 6-12. This summer camp will consist of four sessions throughout the summer: June 5-9, 12-23, June 26-July 7, and July 10-21. Morning camps will last from 8:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. and all day camps will begin at 8:45 a.m. and end at 5:15 p.m. The campers will participate in sports such as tennis and swimming and will have activities to participate in throughout the morning. Each camp that is available for these children is focused on different themes. The sports specialty camps are available for boys and girls from the ages 7-16 and will give them the opportunity to go to basketball, soccer, volleyball and baseball camps – all ranging from different

times and days. The summer swim club will take place at the Slade Aquatics Center and will allow participants to have family style free-swim from 2-7 p.m. on weekdays and 12-6 p.m. on weekends. Certified lifeguards will instruct thirtyminute group swim and tennis lessons for the duration of two weeks. Whittier tennis staff will also be instructing semi-private 60 minute morning sessions beginning on June 5. The last available activity for children this summer -- and a more engaging option for the whole family -- is the dive in movie nights that will allow children to float in the water and watch a movie with friends and family. Dive in movie nights will take place on June 16, 30 and July 21. Movies start at 7:30 p.m. and they are $5 per person. For detailed prices, dates and applications, go online to gopoets.com or call (562) 907-4271.

Whittier Community Services The youth services division in the City of Whittier is responsible for providing quality development and recreational programs for the youth of Whittier. This summer, the City of Whittier will be providing children with many summer camps; ranging from aquatics, theatre, and the WYN club. Teens between the ages 14 to 16 who are looking to make a difference in their community this summer while gaining valuable experience are given the opportunity to participate in the Summer Volunteen program. Participants will have the opportunity to volunteer at WYN Club sites, day camps, the Senior Center and

community events. To sign up, visit the City of Whittier’s website. The WYN club is a drop-in recreation program for ages 7-12 in the summer. Members can participate in recreational activities, special interest classes, personal development activities, and field trips. Monthly activity calendars are available at each site. The registration fee, date, location and hours can be found online, along with the registration packet. To look further into what the City of Whittier has to offer and for registration details, visit cityofwhittier.org.

Whittier Public Library Reading activities for all ages will begin on June 12 and end on July 29 at the Whittier Public Central and Branch Libraries. The summer reading club will allow kids to expand their reading and knowledge while doing so competitively. The Summer Reading Program is open to pre-readers through 8th graders and readers who meet their goal will be rewarded with age appropriate prizes. These children are also eligible to attend the Summer Reading Club party that will take place after the program is over. For information about exact hours and dates, call (5632) 567-9900.

YMCA Get unplugged this summer and participate in one of Whittier YMCA’s summer camps that focus on strengthening the community as a whole while creating enriched environments for all ages to enjoy. One of the summer camps that the YMCA offers for children is Camp Arbolado. The camp is located 25 minutes away from Big Bear and includes activities such as archery, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, high and low ropes challenge courses, swimming, arts and crafts, hiking trails, Native American survival program, gold panning, outdoor science, and more. The YMCA also offers aquatics, gymnastics, sports and martial arts summer camps. For more information about Whittier’s YMCA summer camps, contact Sam Lilico at slilico@ymcawhittier.org or visit ymcawhittier.org


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MAY 2017

RESTAURANT ROW

FIRST CLASS ADVERTISING RESTAURANT ROW FOR MORE INFO. CONTACT LUIS AT

(562) 698-9554

RESERVE A SPACE FOR ONLY $100!

Wake Up Whittier • May 17 at 7:30 a.m. Whittier Hospital (9080 Colima Rd.) Free for Chamber members; $20 for prospective members

Melanie Bickley JOIN US FOR A FUN-FILLED DAY Whether you’re a golfer or not, join us for an event filled with networking opportunities, high value raffle prices, delicious dinner, drinks, and a Helicopter Ball Drop! All proceeds from the 20th Annual REACH Golf Tournament will go towards the ‘Wilson-Miller Legacy Fund’ to strengthen access to programs for people with disabilities. Consider making a difference in our community and in the lives of individuals who will be forever grateful for your support!

Save The Date

THE ANNUAL ‘NO-NAME GOLF TOURNAMENT’ NOW HAS A NAME!

PLEASE JOIN US:

THURSDAY, MAY 18TH, 2017 COYOTE HILLS GOLF COURSE, FULLERTON, CA 20TH ANNUAL REACH GOLF TOURNAMENT TO SUPPORT THE 'WILSON-MILLER LEGACY FUND' ...TO STRENGTHEN ACCESS TO PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE FUTURE... Heart & Home

Whittier’s REALTOR WHITTIER BROKERS 562 693-3757 x 124

Here’s how you can get involved: • Participate as a golfer = $150 (all tickets include dinner; Dinner only = $50) • Donate one or more raffle prizes (worth $250 or more) • Tee sign = $250 • Corporate Sponsorship (contact us for more details) REACH (formally known as WAPADH) @REACHServices | 562-946-0467 | WWW.REACH.SERVICES


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MAY May 6 to May 7 Relay for Life @ Hillview Middle School (10931 Stamy Rd.) Saturday, 9 a.m. to Sunday, 9 a.m. American Cancer Society hosts their annual event to raise funds to fight cancer. Free to participate. For more information call (213) 700-7485

May 19 through 21 Saint Bruno Carnival @ Saint Bruno Parish & School (15740 Citrustree Rd.) Fri: 6 to 11 p.m., Sat: 1 to 11 p.m., Sun: 1 to 9 p.m. Annual carnival with rides, games and food. Free admission. For more information call (562) 947-5637

MAY 1

8022 Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602-2507

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Santa Barbara Location 2805 Verde Vista • Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Bus 562.693.7788 Fax 562.394.0304

Phone 562-547-6569 • Fax 562-945-2564 jerryperisho@gmail.com • www.calljerry4info.com

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Cinco de Mayo free social luncheon @ Guadalajara Xpress (12504 Philadelphia St.) 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Support the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier, network and enjoy lunch. Free to attend. For more information call Peter at (714) 396-5120

MAY 6 Founder’s Day @ Central Park (Uptown Whittier) 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment, kid’s activities, food and more. Free to attend. For more information call (562) 945-3871

MAY 9 SCORE Consultations @ The Whittier Chamber Office (8158 Painter Ave.) 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. SCORE mentors will help you and your business open new markets, reach new customers, and achieve new goals. By appointment only. FREE. To make an appointment call (626) 593-1120

MAY 5

Certified Farmers Market @ Uptown Whittier (Philadelphia St. and Bright Ave.) 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Purchase farm-fresh produce from local vendors. Free admission. For more information call (562) 696-2662

Whittier Location 7771 Bacon Road • Whittier, CA 90602

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Southern California Club Professional Invitational @ Friendly Hills Country Club (8500 Villaverde Dr.) 8:30 a.m. A Pro Am benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier. Dinner & silent auction to follow tournament. Prices vary. For more information contact Michaela Davis Senior Lecture Series @ Conference at (562) 945-3787. Center Whittier (13127 Philadelphia St.) 1:45 p.m. Brain health, hearing loss and MAY 2 cognition with Dr. Gary Dorf. Hosted by Senior Lecture Series @ Conference Whittier Hearing Center. Free. RSVP to Center Whittier (13127 Philadelphia (562) 445-4247 St.) 1:45 p.m. Medicare 101 with Jerry Perisho. Hosted by Whittier Hearing Center. Free. RSVP to (562) 445-4247 MAY 11 Kaleidoscope 6 Chamber Mixer & Silent Auction @ DoubleTree MAY 4 Hotel (13111 Sycamore Dr. Norwalk) Ribbon Cutting @ Asian Rehabilitation 4 to 7 p.m. Enjoy six times the Service (7009 Washington Ave.) networking, hors d’oeuvres, a no host 4 p.m. Join us for a ribbon cutting bar, entertainment by RMH Dance and networking. Free & open to the & Productions, and bid on items public. For more information call to support CAPC, Inc. FREE. For (562) 698-9554 more information contact CAPC at (562) 693-8826 Golf Tournament @ Candlewood Country Club (14000 Telegraph Rd.) 6 a.m. The Skills Organization is holding their 27th Annual Golf Tournament. Golfer: $225. Sponsorships available. For more information call (562) 325-5620

CA License # 0I04403

Medicare Health Insurance Plans... and more

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MAY 12 Certified Farmers Market @ Uptown Whittier (Philadelphia St. and Bright Ave.) 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Purchase farm-fresh produce from local vendors. Free admission. For more information call (562) 696-2662 Santa Fe Springs Art Festival @ Clarke Estate (10211 Pioneer Blvd. SFS) 3 to 11 p.m. Enjoy art, dance, music, workshops and food. Free. For more information visit sfsartfest.org

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Paint & wine session #1 @ Clarke Estate (10211 Pioneer Blvd. SFS) 4 to 6 p.m. Sip wine and paint with instructor Lisa Ruiz. $40. For more information visit uptowncrawlers.com

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MAY 21 California Sunshine @ First Friends Church (13205 Philadelphia St.) 3 p.m. New Century Singers will hold their last concert of the 2016-2017 season. Free. For more information call (562) 698-1851

Paint & wine session #2 @ Clarke Estate (10211 Pioneer Blvd. SFS) 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sip wine and paint with MAY 23 instructor Lisa Ruiz. $40. For more SCORE Consultations @ The Whittier Chamber Office (8158 Painter Ave.) information visit uptowncrawlers.com 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. SCORE mentors will help you and your business open new MAY 13 markets, reach new customers, and Community Health Faire and Police achieve new goals. By appointment Open House @ Whittier City Hall only. FREE. To make an appointment (13230 Penn St.) 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The call (626) 593-1120 event will include a kiddie-k fun run, police station tours, fitness and nutrition information, and more. Free. For more MAY 25 information contact Parnell Park at Senior Lecture Series @ Conference Center Whittier (13127 Philadelphia (562) 567-9450 St.) 9:15 a.m. I hear you talk but I don’t From the American Songbook @ Trinity understand the words! with Dr. Mary Ann Lutheran Church (11716 Floral Dr.) Gilbert and Dr. Kim Ortega. Hosted by 4 p.m. Choral Bel Canto presents From Whittier Hearing Center. Free. RSVP to the American Songbook. Free. For more (562) 445-4247 information call (888) 460-9222

MAY 26 MAY 17

Certified Farmers Market @ Uptown Whittier (Philadelphia St. and Bright Ave.) 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Purchase farm-fresh produce from local vendors. Free admission. For more information call (562) 696-2662

Wa k e U p W h i t t i e r @ W h i t t i e r Hospital (9080 Colima Rd.) 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Network with local business professionals and enjoy your first meal of the day! Featuring Salute to Service. FREE for chamber members; $20 for non-members. For MAY 29 more information call Courtney at W H I T T I E R C H A M B E R O F F I C E (562) 698-9554 C L O S E D I N O B S E RVA N C E O F MEMORIAL DAY

MAY 18 Golf Tournament @ Coyote Hills Golf Course (1440 E. Bastanchury Rd. Fullerton) 11:30 a.m. REACH Services is holding their 20th annual golf tournament. Golfer: $150. Sponsorships available. For more information call (562) 946-0467 ext. 426

MAY 19 Certified Farmers Market @ Uptown Whittier (Philadelphia St. and Bright Ave.) 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Purchase farm-fresh produce from local vendors. Free admission. For more information call (562) 696-2662

MAY 20 Cazimero! @ Ruth B. Shannon Center for Performing Arts (6760 Painter Ave.) 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. showtimes. Enjoy a Hawaiian performance. $47. Visit shannoncenter.org for more information.

97th Annual Memorial Day Observance @ Rose Hills Memorial Park (3888 Workman Mill Rd.) 11 a.m. Featuring historic military vehicle displays, a vintage place fly over and more. Free. For more information call (323) 887-4837 Whittier Memorial Day Observance @ Whittier City Hall (13230 Penn St.) 9 a.m. Residents are invited to join the Whittier City Council in remembering our fallen soldiers. Free. For more information call at (562) 567-9400

MAY 30 Tasty Tuesday @ Off the Hook Fish Grill (12824 Hadley St., Suite 110) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy business networking and great food! $10 pre-registration; $15 at the door; $20 for non-members. Call (562) 698-9554 for more information or visit www.whittierchamber.com


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MAY 2017

AROUND TOWN 5th Annual Santa Fe Springs Art Festival to be held May 13 The City of Santa Fe Springs will hold their 5th Annual Art Festival on Friday, May 13 from 3 to 11 p.m. at Clarke Estate, 10211 Pioneer Blvd., SFS. Featured artists include Pola Lopez, Roberto Chavez, David Botello and Wayne Healy. There will be live performances, artist exhibits and silent auctions. The Festival is free and open to the community. Two paint and wine sessions will be led by artist instructor Lisa Ruiz. The first session will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. and the second session from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The $40 paint and wine fee will cover all art supplies and two wine tastings. Limited tickets are available at Crepes & Grapes Café, Whittier Art Gallery, King Richard’s and the Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce. For more information call (562) 692-0261 or visit www.uptowncrawlers.com.

Walk around the clock at Relay for Life Join the Whittier community in the fight against cancer at the 2017 Relay for Life on May 6. The American Cancer Society’s annual fundraiser will take place at Hillview Middle School, 1039 Stamy Rd. Whittier. The 24-hour walk will kick off with the opening ceremony at 9 a.m. and a survivor breakfast at 10 a.m. Live entertainment, food sales, a watermelon eating contest and more will take place throughout the day. The luminaria ceremony in honor of those who lost their battle with cancer will take place at 9 p.m. The walk will continue through the night and close with a ceremony from 8:30 to 9 a.m. on May 7. Find a team to walk with and more information at www.relayforlife.org/whittierca.

REACH to hold 20th annual golf tournament REACH is once again calling on all golfers, friends of golfers and anyone who has ever seen a golf ball, to participate in the 20th Annual REACH Golf Tournament, benefiting people of all ages with disabilities. The tournament will be held at Coyote Hills Golf Club in Fullerton on Thursday, May 18, 2017. The individual player ticket costs $150 and includes green fees, dinner and one ‘Helicopter Drop Ball.’ All money raised with this fundraiser helps fund the ‘Wilson-Miller Legacy Fund’ to strengthen access to programs

for people with disabilities into the future. The fund was established to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of Harry Wilson and Tom Miller, two of REACH’s biggest advocates. For more than 20 years, Harry and Tom have shown selfless volunteerism in not only making this tournament possible, but also in raising funds to support their programs. Get involved by golfing, buying a tee sign, donating a grand prize item, or becoming a sponsor. For more information call (562) 946-0467 ext. 404 or visit www.reach.services.

Two great artists to be featured at Whittier Art Gallery The Whittier Art Association and Gallery presents two exciting shows for the month of May. The first show, A Surrealistic Expression of Life by Blanca, will run Wednesday, May 3 to Saturday, May 13 (closed May 6 for private event.) Blanca has brought together not only her own exquisite and thought provoking work, but that of celebrated artists Michael Miranda, Jose Portida, Psy-O and Galileo Gonzalez. The work is exciting and bursting with life. Prepare to be dazzled. These artists introduce the viewer to some world views which are completely unexpected. They ask the audience to experience a new way of thinking about things that may have seemed commonplace, but are revealed as astonishing! The second exciting show will feature artist Jessica Jang from Wednesday, May 17 to Saturday, May 27. The Gallery is

pleased to have the noted Korean artist and scholar, Jessica Jang, back at the Gallery for the third time. Jessica’s first appearance at the Gallery was as the featured artist of the Korean Professional Artists’ Show which was followed by an all-inclusive show of 40 artists of all ethnicities and backgrounds. This show promises to be as unique and exciting as the first two and there has been much excitement among her many admirers who have repeatedly asked, “When will you have her again?” Contact the Gallery for the date and time of the reception. The public is invited to attend and there is no admission charge. For further information, stop by the Whittier Art Association and Gallery located at 8035 Painter Avenue or call (562) 698-8710. The Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.

New Century Singers hold last concert of the season New Century Singers Whittier will hold their last concert of the 2016-2017 season on Sunday, May 21 at First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St. Whittier. The concert titled, “California Sunshine” will begin at 3 p.m. New Century Singers Whittier will also award the 2017 scholarship recipients Xavier Montalbo, Morgan Semrav, Kristen Leon and Michael Segura. The concert is open to the public and there will be a freewill offering. For more information call (562) 698-1851.

Free Memorial Day observance at Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary will hold their 97th Annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. LTC Marc Breslow will be the keynote speaker and the 40th Infantry Division Band, CA Army National Guard will perform. The free community event will feature a vintage plane flyover, military vehicle and essay contest display and remembrance trees. Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary is located at 3888 Workman Mill Rd. Whittier. For more information about the event, call (323) 887-4837.

Helpline Youth Counseling announces its 12th annual golf tournament fundraiser Helpline Youth Counseling (HYC), headquartered in Unincorporated South Whittier, will be hosting its 12th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, May 22 at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, CA. Proceeds support HYC’s wide array of prevention and intervention programs including individual and group counseling, domestic violence recovery programs, substance abuse treatment services, life skills training, gang prevention programs, community organizing, parenting education and youth enrichment activities. HYC is focused on preventing and alleviating child abuse and neglect, family and domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, gang affiliation and substance abuse. Individual tickets for the golf tournament are $150 and include one round of golf with cart rental, on-course contests, a gift package, dinner and access to the silent

auction. Prizes include theme park and sports tickets, restaurant gift cards, and golf foursomes. Golfers will have the chance to play on Black Gold Golf Club’s expansive and picturesque course. HYC also offers dinner-only tickets for individuals who may not choose to golf but are interested in attending the fundraiser and supporting our cause. Last year, HYC raised more than $25,000 in net proceeds and is hoping to exceed that amount this year. To realize this goal, HYC has created sponsorship and advertising opportunities for supporters who would like to potentially reach new customers for their business while helping at-risk youth and families. Sponsorships range from $250 to $10,000. Please contact Angela Bolton, HYC Director of Development at abolton@ hycinc.org or (562) 273-0737 to register or learn more about advertising opportunities.


MAY 2017

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WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS

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New leadership installed for the Whittier Uptown Association

Whittier Hospital Celebrates 60 Years of Healthcare Service to the Community Through the years Whittier Hospital has helped generation after generation of Whittier families reach better health. Their organization has been striving to serve the needs of our region since they were first established in 1957 as a proprietary hospital by Dr. Lester Morrison and a group of his associates who saw the need for a hospital in the burgeoning community of East Whittier. Orange trees were being bulldozed at an alarming rate in those days and it was hard to keep up with the new homes and schools, but only a small and fairly old Murphy Memorial Hospital served the health care needs of the people of Whittier. Whittier Hospital opened its doors for patients during National Hospital Week, May, 1957, with 52 beds for acute care patients, a 3-room surgery suite and a 10-bed nursery to compliment the obstetrics department. Approximately 125 physicians from Whittier and the surrounding areas joined the active and courtesy staff of the new hospital. In 1962, the hospital became a notfor-profit facility, which it remained until its sale to Summit Health Ltd. Within a very short time, the need for more rooms was apparent, and in 1965, the hospital expanded to 99 beds, which included an Intensive Care Unit, Recovery

Room, pediatrics area, a patient patio, complete basement storage under the new section and a small emergency room. The next major expansion took place in 1972 when the hospital opened the new three-story tower building, which brought the bed total to 197. After the purchase by Summit Health Ltd. in November, 1981, the Hospital’s name was changed to Whittier Hospital Medical Center. At that time, plans were made to enlarge certain areas including the emergency department, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy and critical care units. In April 1994, Whittier Hospital Medical Center became part of Ornda HealthCorp and three years later it was acquired by Tenet Healthcare Corporation. On November 1, 2004, the Hospital was purchased by AHMC Healthcare Inc. and it is now a 178-bed acute care hospital, accredited by Joint Commission (JC), with a medical staff of approximately 500 physicians representing over 40 specialties. The Emergency Department serves close to 32,000 patients a year and most recently has reduced waiting times by 20% through the ER Fast Track. In 2016, the Hospital’s 22-bed

pediatric sub-acute care unit received national accolades in the eighth annual Best Nursing Homes ratings by U.S. News & World Report. Whittier Hospital Medical Center is ranked among the top nursing facilities in all of California. This is the fifth year in a row the Hospital has earned this recognition. The Hospital’s pediatric sub-acute care unit serves longterm care patients who need 24-hour medical care. Whittier Hospital operates numerous women’s centers, offering free pregnancy testing, education and counseling to mostly low income pregnant women in the surrounding cities of La Puente, Uptown Whittier, La Mirada, Pico Rivera, Rowland Heights, La Habra and Norwalk. Through the Golden Years Senior Club, Whittier Hospital Medical Center reaches out to seniors providing opportunities for learning about healthy life styles through exercise classes, seminars, work-shops and health screening all free of charge. Through all the transitions, expansions and owners, “being part of the community has been an important goal throughout the years,” stated CEO Rick Castro. Today, Whittier Hospital “aims to continue to provide health services that our community can depend on.”

A new Executive Committee and five new Directors At-Large will be installed on the Whittier Uptown Association’s Board of Directors on Monday, May 8 at the Association’s annual Installation Ceremony. The WUA Board has grown over the past several years to represent a wide variety of business owners and professionals who are bringing fresh ideas and energy into the vision for the future of Uptown. The annual Installation Ceremony will take place at Ciao Italia Ristorante on Monday, May 8 following the regular monthly board meeting. All WUA members and the greater Whittier community are welcome to attend this mixer that will include light appetizers and a no-host bar from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. The Installation Ceremony will begin at 7:45 pm. Visit www.WhittierUptown. org or call the Whittier Uptown office at (562) 696-2662 for details and how to RSVP.

New Executive Committee President Rose Drieslein - Americana Tax Planning Vice-President Jessie Carrillo - J2 Architects Treasurer Steven Caringella - California’s Best Kettle Korn Governance Melinda Piña - Piña Reading Academy

Continuing Board Members Jesse Bosque - Professional Solutions Cesar James - Get Elected Frank Medina - RE/MAX Dynasty Realty Tom Rios - Brookdale Uptown Whittier Remoun Said - ReNew Realty Ex-Officio Member Rick Gonzales - Spin Lounge

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New Board Members Adrian Borrego - Roman Apparel Group, Inc. Michael Burkhardt - Ravello Bar & Grill April Gallegos - La Pescadora Restaurant Claudia Prado - Shop the Runway Marisa Sotomayor - Cielo Beauty Bar

Vintage and classic cars to be featured at Uptown Whittier Car Show

FIX AUTO WHITTIER 12130 Washington Blvd. Whittier, CA 90606 (562) 698-8227 fixautowhittier.com

The 17th Annual Uptown Whittier Car Show will take place on June 3 and will feature an estimated 400+ vintage and classic cars displayed along 10-12 blocks of city streets in Uptown. The event is FREE & open to the public, attracting thousands of visitors to this street festival in Historic Uptown Whittier. In addition to the beautiful cars, visitors can plan to view the incredible Military Vehicle Display with over 20 vintage jeeps and other specialty vehicles, listen to live bands all day on four stages, watch the Memories Swing Team dancers, visit vendors, find festival snacks, and enjoy the Kid’s Zone with car rides, slides, and activities. We’ll also be hosting contests for Calendar Girl, Little Miss Vintage, and Young Gents. Register your car or truck online at www.WhittierUptown.org for just $35 including a collectible T-shirt. If you would like to become a sponsor and have your business name, logo, and message in front of thousands of Car Show visitors, please contact the Whittier Uptown Association at (562) 696-2662 or email info@whittieruptown.org. Sponsor opportunities starting at just $100!


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RENEWING MEMBERS Thanks to the following members for renewing their Chamber membership and for supporting our efforts to build a strong local economy Ad infin Item (415) 459-1146

Let’s Face It! (562) 693-2996

Arden Escrow Services, Inc. (562) 945-9541

Macy & Thomas Veterinary Hospital (562) 698-7985

Baker’s Lock & Key (562) 698-8051

Martplan Insurance Agency (562) 691-9414

Bob Downey & Sons’ West Whittier Paint Co. (562) 692-7214

SoCal Post-Acute Care (562) 698-0451 Southern California Edison (626) 302-3418

Brickhouse Pizza (562) 693-9523 CAPC, Inc. (562) 693-8826

State Farm Insurance – Clayton Agency (562) 947-4795

Cosmic Express Corp. (562) 236-1868

Steven Burns Photography (562) 696-2065

East Whittier Arts Education Foundation (562) 665-6963

UPS Store #1578, The (562) 907-3800

Congratulations to our Milestone Members this month! Thanks to the following businesses that have been partners with the Whittier Chamber in helping to create a thriving economy.

20 years:

10 years:

E.C. Air Conditioning (562) 698-1616

The Orchard Post Acute Care (562) 693-7701

5 years: Oromill Lumber & Hardware (562) 698-9453

Tepeyac & Tequila Sports Bar (562) 695-2277

Liquor Mart (562) 693-7731

Global IT (562) 698-2500

Novak, Brian, D.M.D., Inc. (562) 947-7811

South Coast, Inc. (562) 695-9595

Looking for Office Space?

White-Emerson Mortuary (562) 698-0304

Friendly Hills Inn (562) 698-6731

Ben Greer

562.762.3104 13305 Penn St., Suite 200 Whi er, CA 90602 ben@gmproper esinc.com

Whittier Brokers (562) 693-3757

Friends of Uptown (562) 464-3636

Whittier Elks Lodge #1258 (562) 696-7117

Golden Optometric Group (562) 692-1208 Guerra Gutierrez Mortuary (562) 698-9935

Whittier Republican Women Federated (562) 691-2419

Haas Business Service (562) 698-9538

Whittier Village Stadium Cinemas (562) 945-5271

Breakthrough Treatment Now Available In Whittier

Whittier, CA - Imagine forty years ago if you were told that lasers would replace scalpels in surgery or that robotic instruments would build cars; you may not have believed it. By the same token, would you believe that chiropractic treatments could be performed using a special hand-held instrument developed by NASA scientists; all while you were sitting in an upright position without any turning or twisting movements? According to Dr. Yani Feliciano, “This new form of computerized treatment is so gentle and effective, that it truly amazes even the most skeptical patients. It’s called the Ultralign and it’s the newest version of the Proadjuster which is the latest, stateof-the-art technology in existence today, and the only one in Whittier.” This technology can safely and gently analyze and treat the spine and other joints to remove the nerve impingement that is often the cause of pains in the low back, neck, shoulders and elsewhere in the body. It also works on a variety of muscular conditions to loosen tight muscles with ease and comfort. Many patients say that it’s like getting a mini-massage. Even patients with knee, hip and foot problems such as plantar fascitis are being helped. It is also covered by most insurance companies including Medicare. Dr. Yani says that “The secret to this technology lies in its ability to deliver an extremely precise and gentle adjustment.” She says that, “Even though traditional forms of adjusting also work, Dr. Yani uses the ProAdjuster to people are drawn to this new technique because of how gentle it is analyze a patient’s spine and pin-point and does not involve any twisting, especially in the neck. areas of nerve impingement syndrome causing malfunction and pain. Many people like getting adjusted with traditional manual techniques, all of which are safe and effective. But there are a large number of people who never get to experience the amazing benefits of chiropractic because they are scared to have their spines adjusted in that way,” says Dr. Yani. Now, there is no longer a reason to be wary. This technology is perfect for anyone who has been thinking about going to a chiropractor, but hasn’t yet made that decision. Dr. Yani wants everyone to be able to experience these same benefits and if you have nerve interference causing any of the following conditions, the Ultralign may be the answer you’ve been looking for... • Neck & Shoulder pain • Poor Circulation • Low back pain • Sciatic pain • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Arthritis • Headaches • High Cholesterol • TMJ Problems • Fibromyalgia • Scoliosis • High Blood Pressure • Sports Injuries • Planter Fascitis • Knee or hip pain • Diabetes Computer guided treatment is consistent, measurable and extremely gentle. Call Isabel at our office today and mention this article to receive a FREE analysis to pin-point your problem areas and to see how we can help. Be one of the first five callers and you will also receive an examination that can show the areas of your stress and how it’s affecting your body for only $89 (reg. $250). If you are not completely delighted with the services, you pay nothing! This technological marvel can help you return to a healthier lifestyle. You may no longer have to live with a persistent, painful condition. Call (562) 698-1275 today! “Dr. Yani completely corrected a major nerve damage injury that could have left me disabled for life after I had seen 8 previous doctors who did nothing to help me for 3 months. I was told surgery was my only option. I noticed feeling in my arm for the first time since my injury immediately after treatment with the ProAdjuster. After the first few weeks of treatments I could not believe the miraculous and drastic improvements I had made in my rapid road to recovery. Dr. Yani is the best of the best. I feel better than I did prior to my injury and have a new lease on life!” ~ Tawni Camargo

For more information, please contact Dr. Yani Feliciano at:

Friends Chiropractic 6736 Friends Avenue Whittier, CA 90601 Tel (562) 698-1275

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www.proadjusterchiropractic.net

VOTED BEST CHIROPRACTOR BY BEST OF LA TV VIEWERS IN 2011

MAY 2017

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WINNER OF THE 2014-2016 BEST OF THE BEST - CHIROPRACTOR

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Call Ben Greer


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JOIN ME IN BECOMING A CHAMBER MEMBER

NEW MEMBERS

TESTIMONIAL

MORTGAGE LENDING Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Charles Vides 16163 Whittier Blvd. Whittier, CA 90603 Phone: (562) 902-5119 Email: charles.vides@wellsfargo.com Website: www.wfhm.com/loans/charles-vides Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy their customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. In 2015, Wells Fargo donated $281.3 million to 16,300 nonprofits, ranking No. 3 on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s rankings of the top corporate cash philanthropists. Wells Fargo team members volunteered 1.86 million hours in 2015, serving more than 40,000 nonprofits. Wells Fargo’s corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on three priorities: economic empowerment in underserved communities, environmental sustainability, and advancing diversity and social inclusion.

NON-PROFIT UNION Sprinkler Fitters U.A. Local 709 Todd Golden 12140 Rivera Rd. Whittier, CA 90606 Phone: (562) 698-9909 x114 Email: toddg@sprinlerfitters709.org Website: www.sprinklerfitters709.org

Who ya gonna call when you need help? Yes, Ghostbusters, on some occasions; but, for your more common business concerns, the Whittier Chamber shows their creative, energetic, passionate commitment to your business all the time. Even before you ask for help the chamber is thinking of who your business could serve and making connections for you. Need a way to get your brand visible? The Chamber offers every conceivable opportunity. When the staff says, “We mean business!,” they mean YOUR business. Thanks to all the staff for all you do! Terry Cleary and Kate Marcotte, Send Out Cards

Sprinkler Fitters U.A. Local 709 is an organization of 1000+ Union journeypersons, apprentices, and retirees, who work in the specialized field of fire suppression. They pride themselves in providing not only the best-trained, but the best-qualified sprinkler fitters in all aspects of fire protection. Their members install, repair, maintain, inspect, and service all types of fire suppression systems in commercial, residential, and industrial sites. They educate their members through not only a well-rounded 5 year apprenticeship program, but with continued journeyperson update classes to keep them abreast of any new technological advances in fire suppression. Local 709 was chartered in Los Angeles in December of 1919, since then they have been training the very best in the industry. They have been in their current location in Whittier since 1989 where they continue to train thousands of the area’s residents.

RESTAURANTS La Pescadora April Gallegos 7039 Greenleaf Ave. Whittier, CA 90602 Phone: (562) 698-4144 Email: lapescadora562@gmail.com Website: www.lapescadora.com

DID YOU KNOW... Whittier Chamber membership averages less than $1 a day?

La Pescadora is a Mexican restaurant and tequila house. Although the restaurant has been around for a long time, the new owners took over in September of 2014. They not only offer Mexican food, but Mariscos (Mexican Seafood) and an array of tequilas and mezcals. Their goal is to offer great service, delicious food and tasty cocktails. Mariachis play every Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.! They also have 10 televisions showing different sporting events throughout the year. La Pescadora has a perfect room for private parties, graduations, birthdays, funerals and much more. They are excited to be more active in the community.

Call (562) 698-9554 to find out how the Whittier Chamber can help you build a better business!

Use paper and print. Because your computer is NOT biodegradable.

GO PRIN T

13303 Philadelphia Street • Whittier, CA 90601• (562) 945-9638


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MAY 2017

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866.287.6225 | CUSoCal.org

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The interest rates, and APR listed above are effective 4/6/2017, are based on a FICO above 720 and an LTV below 60% for a No-Cash Out Refinance or Purchase, and are examples of loan pricing offered for a specific product. Loan pricing that you may qualify for can be different based on your credit history, loan-to-value (LTV), occupancy, property type, loan amount, loan purpose, and income/financial obligations. Estimated payment is $4.14 per $1,000 borrowed for 60 months for a 30-year term. Current Index Value is 1.71% for the Five-Year Constant Maturity Treasury Rate. Payment example does not include cost of property taxes or insurance, so the actual payment obligation may be greater. Membership is subject to eligibility. All new accounts will be verified through ChexSystems®. Rates and programs are subject to change without notice. Rate is subject to increase. Current CU SoCal First Trust Deed mortgages are ineligible for the 3.00% rate. Start rate for an internal refinance is 3.10%.

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