Thank you to those of you who attended the City's annual Memorial Day ceremony. It was a special morning of coming together to honor our fallen heroes and pay tribute to all those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Now that we're officially into June, we're switching into full summer mode, Whittier! There are plenty of activities and events to participate in like movies and concerts in the park, recreational swimming, and other fun classes available via www.WhittierRec.com.

Remember to save the date for the City's July 4th Flag Raising & Freedom Walk, as well as our annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular at York Field. We hope to see you and your family out and about in Whittier all summer long!

Brian Saeki, City Manager

Council Corner: Attend Greenleaf Promenade Study Session June 18

The Whittier Public Library will offer its annual Summer Reading Club program beginning June 10 through July 27 for kids, teens, and adults. This year's theme is "Adventure Begins at Your Library" and aims to encourage residents of all ages to read books of their choosing, complete activities, write reviews, and track their reading in person or online. Participants will be eligible to collect badges for the number of books read by age group and entered into drawings for prizes. The Summer Reading Club is sponsored by the Friends of the Whittier Public Library, the Assistance League of Whittier, and the Whittier Public Library Foundation. To learn more and register call (562) 567-9900 or (562) 567-9950, and click here to download the Beanstack App to start tracking your pages today.

Summer has arrived and Whittier's splash pads are ready for action! As of Memorial Day weekend, splash pads and fountains are now operating at Lee & Erica Owens Park, Palm Park, Parnell Park, and Michigan Park between the hours of 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily through September 2nd, 2024. Please call PRCS for details at (562) 567-9450 and stay cool all summer long!

The Los Angeles Commission for Older Adults, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department, is encouraging communities to educate themselves on how to recognize various types of abuse and report it to the appropriate Adult Protective Services Agency as part of Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month in June. As part of the City's Whittier Well-Being Initiative, we're asking you to participate in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 by wearing purple and visiting the website for helpful information and resources. Together, we can build strong support for elders in our community!

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services staff will host Movies in the Park once a month on select Saturdays through October. Kick off the series with "Lilo & Stitch" at Palm Park (5703 Palm Ave.) on June 15 starting at 6:00 p.m. Kids can enjoy free crafting, games, and play activities and $1 concessions will be available for purchase. Don't miss a great night out with the family at a different local park each month and remember your lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner from local sandwich shop, Uptown Provisions. All screenings begin at dusk. For more information call (562) 567-9450 or click here for more details on park events this summer.

The City of Whittier's Parks, Recreation & Community Services team will host their popular Concerts in the Park series on Mondays at Central Park (6532 Friends Ave.) and Thursdays at Parnell Park (15390 Lambert Rd.) beginning June 17 at 7:00 p.m. Remember to bring a picnic dinner from your favorite Whittier restaurant or visit one of our participating food truck vendors. Grab your dancing shoes and join us!

The Whittier Public Library will bring back its popular Summer Storytimes program this month beginning on Tuesday, June 18. The event is geared toward youth ages 0-5 and their caregivers and features stories, songs, and play. The Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) will offer Little Listeners on Tuesdays, June 18 and 25 at 10:30 a.m. The Whittwood Branch (10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.) will offer Summer Adventures on Thursdays, June 20 and 27 at 10:30 a.m. Storytime is free and open to all those interested in learning with their little one! Contact the Library to learn more at (562) 567-9900 or (562) 567-9950 (Whittwood).

The Whittier Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) will offer its free summer "Lunch Buddies" program for youth ages 18 and under from June 10 through July 18. The grab-and-go meals are sponsored by the Whittier Union High School District through the USDA Summer Food Service Program and supported by the California State Library and California Library Association. Lunches will be provided on a first come, first served basis and children must be present. Registration is not required. Contact the Library to learn more at (562) 567-9900.

Drop-In: 2nd Annual Skate Sesh June 21

Whittwood Town Center Hosts Fiesta June 22

Don't Miss Book Clubs for Teens & Adults on June 11 & June 26

Whittier Celebrates Independence Day with Flag Raising & Freedom Walk July 4

Star-Spangled Spectacular: 4th of July Fireworks

The City of Whittier invites you to celebrate the 4th of July with family, friends, and fireworks! Don't miss the annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on Thursday, July 4, at York Field (9110 Santa Fe Springs Rd.) featuring youth activities, inflatable attractions, food trucks, and live music from Legacy. Wristbands are $5 each; residents age 17 and military veterans can attend for free. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m. All other use of fireworks within the City of Whittier remains illegal and homeowners, property owners, tenants, or other responsible persons that Whittier Police officers observe lighting fireworks at any public or private location may be fined $5,000. We appreciate you celebrating safely and responsibly: please be a good neighbor!

The recreation swim program at Palm Park (5703 Palm Ave.) opens on Monday, June 10. Swimmers of all ages are welcome to enjoy the pool for $3 each session. Closure dates are Wednesday, June 19; Thursday, July 4; and Thursday, July 11. Please call (562) 567-9495 with inquiries and stay cool with us this summer!

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services team will host the ultimate summer night out at Dodgers Stadium on Tuesday, July 23. Watch the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against their golden state rivals, the San Francisco Giants, starting at 7:10 p.m. Buses will depart from the Whittier Community Center at 5:00 p.m. and return at 11:00 p.m. Registration at $40 per person is now open for all ages at www.WhittierRec.com. This event will fill up fast - register online today or call (562) 567-9430 with questions.

The warm weather is fast approaching and so are the mosquitoes! The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District and the City of Whittier encourage residents to protect against mosquito breeding grounds and limit the number of potential sources in and around your home. Tipping and tossing stagnant water collected in vases, planters, and other areas where standing water can occur helps discourage the laying of eggs and transmission of mosquito-oriented diseases like West Nile Virus in our community. Resources are available, including a home checklist for residents and information on Neighborhood Mosquito Watch programs, via the Vector Control website at www.glamosquito.org.