There are plenty of things to LOVE about Whittier this month and it appears that pickleball is one of them. Thanks to a partnership with Whittier College, the new class filled up quickly and adults of all ages are enjoying some active time on the court. Watch for registration to open for our spring session and get your RSVP in early because this course is hot! Remember to visit www.WhittierRec.com for other great classes now available including fitness, music, art, and more.

Included below are details on recent City Council actions, the Whittier Well-Being Initiative, upcoming events for youth and seniors, the 2022 Volunteer of the Year, the 2023 Visual Arts Program, and more happening in February.

Finally, in recognition of Black History Month, the Whittier Public Library has curated an exclusive list of acclaimed literary works by Black authors including The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and many others. Visit the Central Library Reference Desk to check out something great and catch up on your reading.

Well, Whittier, like the dust pan says to the broom... you really sweep us off our feet.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Whittier City Council was busy in recent weeks focused on a variety of projects currently underway and in the pipeline. Since the start of 2023, the following items have been approved or scheduled for further review as part of the City Council's 2023 Work Plan:

Strategic goals and objectives were outlined and adopted by the City Council in 2020, which include enhancing quality of life, providing for public safety, ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability, promoting a strong economic base, and continuing to promote open government and transparency. The Whittier City Council meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month in the City Hall Council Chambers (13230 Penn St.) beginning at 6:00 p.m. Watch for regular updates on City Council actions via newsletter and social media, and view past or future meeting agendas and/or minutes here. Whittier's at work in 2023!

The City of Whittier officially launched its Whittier Well-Being Initiative last month, a mental health collective and online platform designed to assist parents with navigating concerns regarding fentanyl in our community, and more specifically, counterfeit pills. Through partnerships with local schools, non-profits, social service and public health providers, youth affiliates and others, the aim will be drawing awareness to the dangers of fentanyl, encouraging greater communication within families about substance abuse, and connecting residents to available mental health resources including training on administering the potentially life-saving drug Naxolone in the event of an accidental overdose. You can now visit www.cityofwhittier.org/whittierwellbeing for useful tools including fact sheets, videos, and links to local agencies offering substance abuse prevention and mental health services. Please visit www.dea.gov/onepill for nationwide updates concerning fentanyl and watch for announcements from the City of Whittier regarding upcoming parent workshops, Q&A sessions, trainings, and town hall events taking place this year. Thank you for doing your part to champion the importance of mental health and well-being in Whittier!

The City of Whittier's decennial redistricting process, which evaluates the population balance amongst the City's four voting districts, will include a fourth public hearing on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in the Whittier City Hall Council Chambers (13230 Penn St.) at approximately 7:30 p.m. (Council meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.). Residents are invited to provide feedback on two agendized maps for consideration:

The first map highlights the existing City Council Districts and maintains current voting boundaries. These boundaries were evaluated by the City's consultant, National Demographics Corporation, and determined to be compliant with state law.

The second map, referred to as "Public Map 2," alters the boundaries of Districts 1, 3, and 4 and conforms to population deviation requirements (current boundaries are boldfaced for reference).

Both maps are available for review at www.cityofwhittier.org/census and each household in Whittier will be mailed an invitation to attend the public meeting and provide comments. Invitations are expected to be mailed late February to early March and those interested are asked to refer to the March 14, 2023 City Council agenda online at www.cityofwhittier.org for details on how to participate and provide comments. For inquiries, please contact the City Clerk Department at (562) 567-9850 or email ccd@cityofwhittier.org.

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services department is seeking nominations for the City of Whittier's 2022 Volunteer Recognition Awards. Do you know a local volunteer who gave it their all this year? Let us know who you think should be our Volunteer of the Year! The City's Volunteer Recognition Awards are presented annually to outstanding individuals who have offered their time and talents to serve the Whittier community throughout the year. Applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 for consideration. Please click here to apply online or contact a member of the PRCS staff for assistance at (562) 567-9400.

The Whittier Cultural Arts Commission invites you to submit your art portfolio for consideration as part of the City's 2023 Visual Arts program. Artists selected will have their pieces displayed at either Whittier City Hall or the Parnell Park Community Center for the public to enjoy. Interested artists should submit 5-7 photographs of your work, details on past exhibits, a brief biography inclusive of professional and personal highlights, and contact information to Stacey Arismendez at sarismendez@cityofwhittier.org by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10 or call (562) 567-9430. Please note that 3D artwork will not be considered due to hanging exhibit limitations.

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services department will host a Spring Day Camp for local youth ages 5 to 13 from March 27 through March 31 at the Whittier Community Center (7630 Washington Ave.). The cost is $125 per child and campers will rotate through a variety of sports, crafts, enrichment activities, and other interactive games between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Drop off your camper with lunch and a water bottle and City staff will take care of the rest! Space is limited - register online or call (562) 567-9430.

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services team invites you to a night of music and fun on Friday, February 10 at the Beach Boulevard Club Dueling Piano Bar & Show in Buena Park. The cost is $22 per person and you must be age 21 or older to attend. Bus pick-up and drop-off will be available from the Parnell Park Community Center (15390 Lambert Rd.) and the event will run from 6:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sing along to your favorite hits and remember cash to tip the performers! Register online at www.whittierrec.com or call (562) 567-9470 for further details.

The Whittier Adult Softball League is back! Registration is officially open for co-ed and men's softball at $400 per team. League begins on March 5, 2023. Scan the flyer for details, visit www.whittierrec.com to register, or call (562) 567-9430 with questions.

Love the Library? We do too! The “Blind Date with a Book” campaign kicks off this month with a long list of new titles to fall in love with. Check out a wrapped book for a fun surprise, then be sure to “rate your date” by dropping your reviews off at the Library for your chance to win a gift card. Remember, never judge a book by its cover!

Adults are also invited to Knitting 101 on Saturday, February 11 at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) beginning at 1:00 p.m. Supplies will be provided but space is limited. Sign-up at the Adult Reference Desk or call (562) 567-9900.

The Whittier Public Library will offer two hands-on events in February for local youth including MegaMakers on Monday, February 13 at 4:30 p.m. and LEGO Club Central on Monday, February 27 at 3:30 p.m., both at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.). MegaMakers is open to 5th-8th grade students and will feature basics of 3D printing. Attendees will learn the ins and outs of creating design objects from 3D printers which will be provided. Youth ages 5 to 12 are also encouraged to participate at LEGO Club Central and enjoy a fun building challenge with plenty of bricks to go around. To learn more about both events or register, call (562) 567-9900 or speak to a Central Library staff member.

The City's Senior Services team invites movie goers and football enthusiasts to view a matinee showing of "80 for Brady" at the Starlight Whittier Village Cinemas (7038 Greenleaf Ave.) on Wednesday, February 22 at 11:00 a.m. The cost is $12 and includes one ticket, popcorn, and drink. Register in person at the Parnell Park Senior Center or by phone at (562) 567-9470.

Did you know that you can recycle your used mattress for free? The Bye Bye Mattress (BBM) program offers California residents a no-cost mattress recycling program that helps combat illegal dumping and diverts divert valuable materials like steel, foam, fiber and wood from landfills.

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

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.