Happy New Year, Whittier!

I hope you had the chance to enjoy some of the many holiday festivities hosted throughout town last month. A heartfelt thank you to the Whittier Uptown Association, our dedicated City staff, and all the participants who made the Whittier Christmas Parade a memorable event once again. Your efforts keep this beloved tradition thriving and bring our community closer together each year.

As we kick off 2025, January promises to be a month full of opportunities to connect, explore, and celebrate Whittier. Look out for events tailored for all ages and be sure to read below for tips on recycling your Christmas tree, resources designed to support local small businesses, Library events and more.

As a reminder, City Council meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, streamed live on cable channel 3 and online for your convenience. These meetings are a great way to stay informed about the initiatives shaping Whittier in 2025.

On behalf of the City Council and staff, we are honored to serve you and look forward to making 2025 another great year in our community!

Brian Saeki, City Manager

Both Athens Services and Republic Services will offer Christmas tree collection through January 18, 2025, at no extra charge. Please remember to remove your stand, all ornaments, lights, garland, and tinsel prior to disposal as disposed trees will be chipped and composted. Trees taller than 6 feet should also be cut in half. Place your tree next to your trash container on your regular collection day. For specific disposal inquiries, please contact Athens Services at (888) 336-6100 or Republic Services at (800) 299-4898.

Starting January 1, 2025, updated water and sewer rates will take effect for Whittier residents. These adjustments are part of the City’s efforts to ensure reliable and sustainable water services for our community. Impacted customers will receive a note on their water bill indicating the changes. To learn more, visit www.cityofwhittier.org/rates.

While we know these changes are new, we’re making it easier than ever to manage your payments with our upgraded Water Bill Payment Portal.

The upgraded payment portal now allows you to:

✅ Schedule payments

✅ Set up auto-pay

✅ Track your water usage

Visit cityofwhittier.paycp.com/home to set up your account today or contact the Whittier Public Works staff at (562) 567-9500.

Do you know someone extraordinary whose dedication deserves recognition? The Whittier Social Services Commission is requesting nominations for standout volunteers that went above and beyond to serve the Whittier community during 2024. Applications are due by Friday, January 31 at 5:00 p.m. Please visit www.whitttierprcs.org to submit your nomination or call (562) 567-9400 with questions.

Are you looking to start your own business in the New Year? The Small Business Development Center of Long Beach (SBDC), one of the City's leading economic development partners, offers free webinars for small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the year. January courses will feature popular topics including "Business Finance Literacy" and "Creating a Social Media Content Calendar" to "Digital Marketing Strategies for Measurable Results" and "Trademark & Copyright Explained."

For those not yet familiar with the Long Beach Small Business Development Center (SBDC), business owners in need of assistance are able to receive no-cost business advising and consulting offered by paid experts in their respective fields. Contact the Long Beach SBDC at (562) 938-5100 or set up an appointment online by visiting www.longbeachsbdc.org/callme. For additional assistance with starting your business in Whittier, make an appointment with the City's Economic Development staff at (562) 567-9320.

The Whittier Public Library invites you to manifest your year with a personalized vision board! Adults are invited to attend a workshop at 4:00 p.m. on January 7 at the Whittwood Branch (10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.) to map out your short and long term goals with a fun visual aid. Teens ages 13 and older are welcome to visit the Central Library's MakerSpace (7344 Washington Ave.) all month long to take part in this featured craft activity and make a board of their own while supplies last. Please call Central at (562) 567-9900 or the Whittwood Branch at (562) 567-9950 to learn more.

Apply for permits online with ease! The City's Online Permit Portal has a fresh new look, making it easier than ever to apply for permits from anywhere. Need help navigating the process? We've got you covered! Visit www.cityofwhittier.org to explore updates and review our step-by-step how-to-apply guide.

The winter session of Storytimes at the Library will run from January 14 through January 30 for children ages 0-5. Caregivers and little ones, join us for a special time filled with delightful stories, songs, and interactive fun! At the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave), enjoy Little Listeners on January 14, 21, and 28 at 10:30 a.m., followed by Play & Learn at 11:00 a.m. At the Whittwood Branch (10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.), don’t miss Bounce and Rhyme Storytime + P.A.L. Time on January 16, 23, and 30 at 10:30 a.m. Start the year off right with engaging storytime sessions! For more details, call the Central Library at (562) 567-9900 or Whittwood Branch at (562) 567-9950.

Build confidence and improve reading skills in a supportive setting! The Whittier Public Library will host its popular "Read to a Dog" series from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning January 14 at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) and once a month at the Whittwood Branch starting Monday, January 27. Children are invited to practice their reading skills by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs in a fun, relaxed environment. Times are subject to change; please call the Central Library at (562) 567-9900 or Whittwood Branch at (562) 567-9950 to know before you go.

Calling all teen bookworms! Join the Whittier Public Library's monthly Teen Book Club for a fun and relaxed evening—no assigned readings and no registration required. Share your latest reads, discover new favorites, and enjoy book-themed activities and crafts. Plus, we’ve got boba! This event will be held on Tuesday, January 14, at the Whittwood Branch Library (10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave) at 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to connect with fellow readers.

Do you know a student in 3rd through 5th grade interested in computer science? The Whittier Public Library will host a 7-week Coding Camp at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) just for them in the MakerSpace! Learn how to code and create fun projects like animations or games. All skill levels are welcome to attend but space is limited. Register today at the Children's Reference Desk or call (562) 567-9900.

Teens are invited to help plan programs, develop new services, and advise on Whittier Public Library materials by joining the Teen Advisory Board! Attend the next meeting on Wednesday, January 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Whittwood Branch Library (10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.) and remember to submit a TAB application prior to the meeting, which can be found online or in person at both Library locations. TAB is open to all high school students who can earn volunteer hours while making a difference in their community. For more information, call the Central Library at (562) 567-9900 or the Whittwood Branch at (562) 567-9950. We hope to see you there!

Registration is now open for Family Sports Night Out: Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars on February 7, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Gather your family and join us for a fun and hassle-free evening cheering on the LA Kings at Crypto.com Arena! Your registration includes round-trip transportation and a ticket to the hockey game. On the bus, enjoy raffles, games, and snacks to keep the fun going. Purchases made at the stadium are the responsibility of participants.

Register now at WhittierRec.com to secure your spot! For more information, call (562) 567-9430.

Applications are being sought for the 2024-25 fiscal year California Competes Tax Credit. The program, sponsored by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), is an income tax credit available to businesses who want to come, stay, or grow in California. The application period began January 6, 2025, and closes on January 27, 2025. Visit the website for regulations and FAQs or apply online here. Webinars providing detailed instruction on how to apply for the tax credit will take place on January 8 (register here) and January 16 (register here) with webinar recordings made available for those who cannot attend a live workshop. Visit the California Business Portal for additional information on other tax incentives and to help you get your business up and running in the New Year.

Did you promise yourself a clean garage for the New Year? Whittier and Los Angeles County residents can safely dispose of their household hazardous and electronic waste on Saturday, February 3 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Dibble Adult School (1600 Pontenova Ave.) in Hacienda Heights. Participants are reminded to carefully secure items for drop-off in their trunk or truck bed and preferably in boxes that are easy to remove from vehicles. No explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials, controlled substances, or large appliances will be accepted and sharps disposal (including needles or medical equipment) will require exiting your vehicle to deposit into a specified biohazard waste bin. The event is co-sponsored by the LA Sanitation Districts and the County of Los Angeles Public Works Department. To inquire about accepted materials, please call (800) 238-0173 or visit www.CleanLA.com for more details.

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services department invites you to sign up for its popular Spring Day Camp scheduled to take place March 24 through March 28 at the Whittier Community Center (7630 Washington Ave.). The cost is $125 per child and will cover snacks and activities throughout the duration of the camp.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and opens at www.whittierrec.com beginning at 9:00 a.m. on February 3. Please contact PRCS at (562) 567-9400 with inquiries.

Parents, take a well-deserved night off while your kids enjoy an evening packed with fun activities! Kids' Sports Night Out features a variety of sports activities, dinner and drinks, a movie screening, and more for youth ages 5 to 12. Register now for $15 per child at WhittierRec.com or call (562) 567-9430 for more information.

Did you know that the City of Whittier offers assistance for qualifying homeowners on housing rehabilitation and repairs? Whittier's Housing Rehabilitation program is intended to assist with maintenance, improvement, and rehabilitation and/or preservation of low and moderate income housing. The City's financing assistance to homeowners is for improvements such as roofing, plumbing, electrical, windows, stucco, painting, flooring, and other repairs to eliminate code violations, incipient code violations, and slum/blight conditions.

The Housing Rehabilitation program is funded by Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) and HOME Funds. To learn more about how to apply for assistance and eligibility, please call (562) 567-9320 or click here for more details.