What better way to celebrate the spring than turning some dirt? The Whittier City Council, in partnership with the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission and Senior Advisory Committee, celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony to officially mark the start of construction at the Whittier Senior Center. The facility, built originally in 1984, will be renovated to offer upgraded ADA accessibility, larger restrooms, an updated kitchen, new flooring and roofing, expanded gathering space, designated program rooms and more. We look forward to celebrating the much-anticipated re-opening with a ribbon cutting slated for this fall and hope you will join us.

Speaking of things to celebrate, there are new programs and activities to look forward to in April. Read below for details on everything from REEL Club and National Library Week to Kids' Sports Night Out, a Water Assistance Program, volunteer opportunities, and more. As always, please follow @WhittierCityGov on social media to stay connected and enjoy your spring break fun!

During its regular meeting on March 28, the City Council approved a recommendation to award $275,000 to social service agencies currently assisting the Whittier community including Bridge of Faith, Whittier Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Club of Whittier, and SPIRITT Family Services among many others. Additional Council actions taken in recent weeks include an award of contract for park improvements at Kennedy, Guirado, and Michigan Parks; approval of a professional services agreement for a city-wide branding initiative that will help to enhance local areas of interest with new gateway signage and placemaking; and an award of contract for engineering and design of the Palm Avenue improvement project from Beverly Boulevard to Whittier Boulevard. As a reminder, the Whittier City Council meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and participation is encouraged either in person or via Zoom. For inquiries regarding City Council meetings or to review the meeting agenda, please contact the City Clerk department at (562) 567-9850 or email clerk@cityofwhittier.org. 

The Whittier Well-Being Initiative is expanding, thanks to a partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, to offer local trainings for adults, youth affiliates, teachers, and community members on a variety of pertinent topics related to substance abuse awareness and mental health. Attend a workshop on select Wednesdays in April and May at the Palm Park or Parnell Park Community Center to learn more about talking to loved ones about drugs, who could be at risk for substance abuse, and how to access mental health support. Additionally, residents can now visit www.cityofwhittier.org/whittierwellbeing to access:

If you or someone you know needs help with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse Services Hotline at (844) 804-7500 to be connected with a treatment program and download the RecoverLA mobile-friendly app for personalized assistance. For anyone looking for mental health support, please call the LA County Mental Health Hotline available 24/7 at (800) 854-7771.

The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity has extended its Phase 1 application period for the new Economic Opportunity Grant program, which will award $54M+ across 6,800 grants to LA County's microbusinesses, small size businesses, and non-profit agencies adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential grantees may be awarded between $2,500 and $25,000, with Phase 1 initially targeting microbusinesses with less than $50,000 in annual gross revenue (extended to May 5) and grants for small businesses and non-profit agencies now available through Phase 2 (closes May 20). Interested applicants should visit grants.lacounty.gov for more details and to access live webinars, how-to videos, demos, one-on-one application support, and more. Click here to review eligibility and apply today!

Save the date for Whittier's Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at First Friends Church (13205 Philadelphia St.). The event is co-sponsored by the United Nations Whittier Chapter, the Whittier Area Environmental Coalition, and the Whittier Uptown Association and will feature speakers from local non-profits, learning activities, demonstrations, sustainability resources, and electric vehicles on display. Contact a representative of the United Nations Whittier Chapter at (562) 485-1881 or by email to una.whittier@gmail.com for more information and join them for earth-friendly exhibits and local advocacy.

Are you a Whittier resident interested in playing an active role in building and improving our community? Your opportunity is here! The City Clerk Department is now accepting applications for vacancies and openings on various City of Whittier boards and commissions. Board and commission members help advise the City Council on policy matters and represent community interests on important local projects. Applications are available on the City’s website or in-person at the City Clerk counter. An applicant must be a registered voter of the City of Whittier and separate applications are required for each board or commission for which you are applying. Submissions are due no later than Thursday, April 27. Contact the City Clerk Department at (562) 567-9850 or via email at ccd@cityofwhittier.org with questions. We thank you for your interest in serving the greater Whittier community!

CalRecycle, in partnership with the County of Los Angeles Public Works department and the City of Whittier, will host a filter exchange event for Whittier residents only at Auto Zone (14153 Whittier Blvd.) on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bring a used filter and receive a new one for free, or recycle up to 5 gallons of used motor oil responsibly and help keep California beaches clean. Call (888) HEY-SLICK or visit www.FreeFilterLA.com to learn more.

The California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) is encouraging Whittier residents to learn more about the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), which provides financial assistance to low-income Californians to help manage their residential water utility costs. This federally funded program offers qualified households a one-time payment to help pay bills for residential water or wastewater services and can provide assistance if you are past due on your water bill or current payments. Both the City of Whittier and Suburban Water are participating in the program. To learn more about the LIHWAP and inquire about eligibility, please contact the City's Public Works staff at (562) 567-9500.

Local high school seniors living in the 38th Congressional District (Whittier) are invited to submit their artwork for the 21st Annual Congressional Art Competition sponsored by Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. The winner will receive a $500 scholarship and their work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Applications and artwork for consideration must be submitted to the District Office (15111 Whittier Blvd. Ste. 220) no later than Wednesday, April 12 before 5:00 p.m. For questions please call (562) 860-5050 or email CA38Art@gmail.com.

In partnership with the California State Library, State Parks is providing free vehicle day-use passes to over 200 participating state park units operated by State Parks to library cardholders. Cards are free and easy to get from the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) or Whittwood Branch (10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.). Learn more about the program here or call ahead to inquire at (562) 567-9900 or (562) 567-9950 (Whittwood).

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services team will host a special Kids' Sports Night Out on Friday, April 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Whittier Community Center (7630 Washington Ave.). The event is for youth ages 5 to 10 and will include sporting activities of all kinds, as well as dinner and a movie. The cost is $10 per child and you can register at www.WhittierRec.com. Questions? Call (562) 567-9430.

National Library Week is April 23-29 and the Whittier Public Library is ready to celebrate with you and your family. National Library Week is a time to celebrate our nation's libraries, library workers' contributions, and promote library use and support. The theme for National Library Week 2023 is "There's More to the Story," illustrating that in addition to the book collections available in a variety of formats, libraries offer so much more! Join Whittier Public Library staff at both Library locations for special activities all week long and scroll down for more upcoming Library events happening in April.

Mark your calendar for Children’s Day/Dia de Los Ninos at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) with special guest Baila Baila on Friday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. Kids ages 2 to 5 are invited to join Library staff and celebrate with music, singing, and fun. Call (562) 567-9900 or visit www.whittierlibrary.org for more information.

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services team is offering its free Students Run Whittier training program for local youth in grades 4 through 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Michigan Park (8228 Michigan Ave.) now through May 25, 2023. The event takes place every Thursday evening and helps coach young runners on methods for training and competing in 5K races. Scan the image below or visit www.WhittierRec.com to register. Questions? Call (562) 567-9430.

The Whittier Public Library will offer its popular LEGO Club every Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.). Youth ages 5 to 12 are invited to enjoy a fun weekly building challenge with plenty of bricks to go around! Call (562) 567-9900 with questions.

Also at the Central Library, don't miss REEL Club on April 17 at 6:00 p.m. featuring "City of Gold," a documentary portrait that takes you into famed food critic Jonathan Gold's universe, to tell the story of a revolution inspired by the pen but driven by the palette. To learn more about both events call (562) 567-9900.

The Parks, Recreation & Community Services department will host a multi-week summer camp for kids ages 5 to 13 years of age at Palm Park and the Whittier Community Center beginning on Monday, June 12, through Friday, August 11. Camp will be offered daily at both Palm Park and the Whittier Community Center from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for $125 per week and includes weekly field trips, enrichment activities, crafts, sports, and more. Financial assistance and payment plans are available. Online registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on April 24 via www.WhittierRec.com and space is limited. Please call PRCS staff for more information at (562) 567-9430.

The City will also host Summer WYN Club, a half-day, drop-in outdoor recreation program for youth ages 7 to 13 at local park locations including Anaconda, Michigan, Palm, and Parnell. The cost is $75 per child for the entire summer and hours are 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 12 through August 11, 2023. Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on May 1 and those interested can call (562) 567-9430 with inquiries.

Finally, teens looking for a great way to earn their volunteer service hours are encouraged to apply for the City of Whittier’s summer VolunTEEN program. The mentorship program offers participants ages 14 to 17 who are looking to serve their community an opportunity to make new friends and gain valuable experience in a positive environment. Click here to download and complete the application or email staff at comserv@cityofwhittier.org for assistance. Submissions are due no later than May 19, 2023. 

Back by popular demand, the Whittier Public Library will host its "Introduction to Ukulele" workshop for teens and adults at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) on Saturday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m. The course will be presented by The Lee Sisters and ukuleles will be provided to participants thanks to the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Registration is limited; please sign up at the Adult Reference Desk at either Library location or call (562) 567-9900 for details.

Did you know that Whittier residents are entitled to up to four free bulky item trash pick-ups per year, and up to three items per pick-up? That totals 12 large items each year! Bulky item pick-up is provided to all residents in the City of Whittier, in partnership with Athens Services and Republic Services, and includes single-family households and apartments. Contact your trash hauler to schedule the pick-up for your regular collection day. Common bulky items include mattresses, couches, refrigerators, and even some electronic waste like televisions and microwaves. Some items not included in this free service are car parts, construction debris, tires, or anything else too large and/or heavy to be handled by two workers. Athens and Republic Services also provide bulky item pick-up to business customers for a nominal fee. As a reminder, please do not place large items outside of your home until your collection day. Let’s all do our part to keep Whittier prettier in 2023 – schedule your next pick-up by calling Athens Services at (888) 336-6100 or Republic Services at (800) 299-4898.

Did you know that you can recycle more than 75% of your used mattress? The steel, foam, fibers, and wood are turned into everyday products like carpet padding, industrial filters, construction rebar, and garden mulch. The Bye Bye Mattress (BBM) program offers California residents a no-cost mattress recycling program that helps combat illegal dumping and diverts mattresses from landfills, something to consider ahead of this year's Earth Day observance.

Learn more about the program at www.ByeByeMattress.com and help keep Whittier prettier by recycling your used mattress this year.