Over 200 Lakewood residents and community leaders gathered at noon today at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza to hear Mayor Larry Van Nostran and Lakewood Sheriff’s Station Captain Merrill Ladenheim discuss the state of the city, including what happened in Lakewood in 2011 and what’s ahead for the city in 2012.
The city’s always informative and entertaining annual report video was also shown for the first time.Rebroadcasts of the annual report video and the addresses by Mayor Van Nostran and Captain Ladenheim will run on CityTV Channel 31 from February 5 to February 23 (on Sundays and Thursdays at 12:00 a.m. and p.m. and 7:30 a.m. and p.m.).
In his State of the City remarks, Mayor Van Nostran said, “Lakewood, like the rest of our nation and indeed much of the world, is still feeling the effects of the deep recession. But we’re starting to rebound. We’re seeing business growth and development, and we’re seeing sales tax revenues pick up from more consumer activity.”
Volunteer income tax assistance
Volunteers will be available this spring at Weingart Senior Center to help low-income families, individuals and seniors prepare their basic tax returns. Appointments are for Mondays and Thursdays beginning February 2, and a reservation is required.
Reservations will be taken for appointments beginning Monday, January 16. To make an appointment, please call 562-630-6141. The Weingart Senior Center is located at 5220 Oliva Avenue in Lakewood.
More...
Mayor's Prayer Breakfast tickets available now
“Choose Happiness” is the theme for the 2012 Lakewood Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, set for Wednesday, February 8, at 7:30 a.m. The event will be held in the Weingart Ballroom of The Centre at Sycamore Plaza, 5000 Clark Avenue, in Lakewood. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Susan Mathieu, Senior Adult Program Coordinator at the Alpert Jewish Community Center in Long Beach and the Program Director for Active Adult Community Connection.
The public is invited to join with Lakewood Mayor Larry Van Nostran and the Lakewood City Council, as well as a diverse gathering of religious leaders and members of local churches and synagogues as they come together in a celebration of faith, unity and community spirit.
Tickets are $20 per person and tables of nine may be purchased for $180. Advance reservations are required by Wednesday, February 1 and may be made online at www.lakewoodcity.org/mpb. For more information, please call Elizabeth Ruiz at 562-866-9771, extension 3123, or e-mail her at eruiz@lakewoodcity.org.
More...
Pan Am Fiesta planning underway; booth registrations Preparations for this year’s Pan Am Fiesta are underway and The Pan Am Fiesta Committee is requesting applications for event booths. The fiesta weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Some festivities begin Friday, May 11.
Attention SUV owners: Watch out for your seats!
The Lakewood Sheriff's Station wants SUV owners to be aware of a new theft trend. It specifically targets vehicles with "third row seats." The surge in these thefts has deputies and block captains on 'high alert' to get the word out about the thefts and ways to make it harder on thieves.
Easily removable third row seats help make SUVs convenient chauffeuring the family or cargo. The very ease of removing the third row seats has helped thieves who are “shopping” for SUVs of all sizes. Cable locks and cabled bike locks looped around the seat frame and through floor mounts are a suggested deterrent. They are inexpensive and can be found at most bicycle and motorcycle shops.
More...
LA County Public Works and Edison urge precautions during high winds
The Los Angeles County Public Works Department and Southern California Edison are urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves during violent winds that occassionally batter the area. They also urge care with power-outage related issues.
More...
Heroism, devotion to duty and volunteer service honored at Award of Valor
The annual Lakewood Award of Valor Luncheon on November 3 at The Centre at Sycamore Plaza brought together over 400 residents and civic leaders, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Fire Chief Daryl Osby, Mayor Larry Van Nostran and the Lakewood City Council, as 28 deputies, firefighters and civilians were recognized for heroism, devotion to duty and volunteer service. Click for the full event program.
More...
Don't be housebound: Use senior transit options The city's DASH transit service is free to Lakewood residents 60 years of age or older without their own transportation and to disabled residents of any age. DASH is a reservation-only service that travels in and around Lakewood. For help in becoming a DASH rider, call 562-920-9701.
More...
Sports Authority opens at Lakewood Center Sports Authority opened a 42,263 square foot superstore at Lakewood Center early on Saturday, August 13 to the roll of drums, crash of cymbals and shouts of cheerleaders from the Mayfair High School marching band and the Lakewood High cheer squad.
Highlighting the ribbon cutting event was a Sports Authority donation of $5,000 to the Lakewood Youth Sports (LYS) program. Vice Mayor Diane DuBois and Council Member Jeff Wood accepted the donation on behalf of the Lakewood Youth Sports (LYS) program.
More...
'Adopt & Shop' in Lakewood Center
Lakewood residents are invited to try "Adopt & Shop," an innovative pet adoption store at Lakewood Center. The over 1,000 square-foot store showcases shelter animals in a bright and fun, one-stop-shop for potential pet owners. Click for CityTV video on the store's grand opening
Lakewood hosts the non-profit Found Animals' first-ever retail pet adoption center. The store features cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals available for adoption, along with basic pet supplies and specialty items. More...
Sprouts Farmers Market opens in Lakewood
July 20, 2011 - The long-anticipated grand opening this morning of Lakewood’s newest grocery store, Sprouts Farmers Market, brought out hundreds of eager shoppers. It also capped a long effort by the developer of the Carwood shopping center and Lakewood officials to bring the high-end grocery chain to the city. Click for photos
The 27,000 square-foot Sprouts Farmers Market will anchor the shopping center at Woodruff Avenue and Carson Street near Harvey Way and will feature natural foods and beverages that shoppers have been eagerly awaiting.
More...
Sports Authority opened a 42,263 square foot superstore at Lakewood Center early on Saturday, August 13 to the roll of drums, crash of cymbals and shouts of cheerleaders from the Mayfair High School marching band and the Lakewood High cheer squad. 
