November is a time of gratitude in Whittier and we have plenty to be thankful for this year.

To show our collective thanks, join the City in honoring local servicemembers for their courage and sacrifice at the annual Veterans Day ceremony and family picnic on Saturday, November 11 at Central Park in Uptown.

Also included in this month's newsletter are notices regarding an upcoming election meeting, news from the Washington Blvd. Light Rail Transit Coalition, and details on activities for all ages like Kids' Sports Night Out, the always popular Senior Harvest Feast, the annual Chalktastic art contest and more.

Lastly, scroll down for details on all your favorite holiday events in Whittier including the Whittwood Town Center's Jolly Holidays, the Whittier Tree-Lighting & Holiday Sonata, and the Whittier Christmas Parade. Don't forget to shop local on Small Business Saturday November 25!

On behalf of the Whittier City Council and City staff, we appreciate the opportunity to serve you each day and wish you a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving!

Brian Saeki, City Manager

The Whittier Public Library will host two cool zine-making workshops on Tuesday, November 7 and 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.). Teens are invited to come learn about zine culture and make their own unique zines during the workshops hosted in partnership with Rio Hondo College Library's Zine Outreach Project. Space is limited; register at the Central Library Adult Reference desk or call (562) 567-9900.

The City of Whittier, in partnership with the Housing Rights Center, will host a virtual workshop for local tenants on Thursday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m. Topics for discussion include remaining state and local COVID-19 eviction protections, rent increases, and fair housing laws for families, immigrants, voucher holders, people with disabilities, and other protected groups. The Housing Rights Center works with the City of Whittier to provide free services to residents, including housing rights counseling, discrimination investigation and advocacy, and public outreach and education. Register at www.housingrightscenter.org/workshops for Zoom credentials or call (213) 387-8400 ext. 1018 with questions.

The Whittier Public Library Foundation invites you to its "What's Playing at the Library" series featuring a performance by Jazz Trio & Debbi Ebert on Thursday, November 9 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.). Space is limited; please sign up in advance and call (562) 567-9900 with inquiries.

The City of Whittier invites you to salute our veteran community with a special Veterans Day recognition on Saturday, November 11 at Central Park in Uptown Whittier (6532 Friends Ave.). A ceremony and family picnic will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and feature patriotic music and remarks from the City Council. Representatives from the Whittier Public Library will also be present to share information on the Veterans Resource Center now located inside the Central Library. Click here for more information on services for veterans in Whittier or call the Community Services department with questions at (562) 567-9470.

California State Senate Bill 1383 requires the reduction of organic waste disposed of in landfills. Organic waste is a renewable natural resource that can be turned into compost and mulch. It mainly comes from yard and kitchen waste from homes, and food waste and scraps from industrial and commercial operations. Here are just a few examples of what can now be placed in your green waste bin:

• Food scraps: fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, non-liquid dairy, egg shells
• Food-soiled paper: Napkins, pizza boxes, paper plates, cardboard egg cartons
• Yard waste: Plants, leaves, branches, grass

Food scraps can be placed in the green container loosely or in a paper bag (no plastic bags). Kitchen countertop food waste collection containers are available free of charge to Whittier residents and can be picked up from the Whittier Public Works counter at City Hall during regular business hours. Please contact your trash hauler directly with inquiries at Athens Services (888) 336-6100 or Republic Services (800) 29-4898.

The Whittwood Town Center will bring the holiday spirit to Whittier on Saturday, November 11 with its annual Jolly Holidays Tree Lighting event from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Center Courtyard (near Old Navy and Kohl's). Celebrate the season with a special message and countdown from Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri, as well as musical performances by local school bands, holiday characters, face painting and portraits, yummy treats, and Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Can't make it? The Whittwood Town Center will host "Santa Saturdays" and a community toy drive on December 9 & 16 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. for local families to enjoy. Celebrate the start of the season on November 11!

The City of Whittier has launched the Washington Boulevard Light Rail Transit Coalition’s new website and social media pages to better serve the region with timely updates and progress highlights. The Coalition is an alliance of local communities, volunteers, and grass roots organizations that have come together to support Metro’s Eastside Transit Corridor Project along Washington Boulevard. Representing the cities of Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier, the coalition is focused on ensuring the new extension equitably serves all residents and expands economic opportunities for the entire region. The Eastside Transit Corridor Project will be a new light rail that will follow Atlantic Boulevard to the Citadel Outlets, ending at Lambert Road in Whittier. Visit washingtonblvdcoalition.com for more information on safety, funding, current project status, and links to the coalition’s social media pages. 

The Whittier Public Library will host multiple events for local teens in November:

• Teen Movie Night featuring "Detective Pikachu" on Tuesday, November 15 @ Whittwood Branch (10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.) at 5:30 p.m.
• Teen Book Club on Tuesday, November 21 @ Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) at 5:30 p.m.
• Teen Advisory Board Meeting on Wednesday, November 29 @ Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) at 5:30 p.m.

To learn more about how to get involved with the Whittier Public Library, visit their website or call the Central Library at (562) 567-9900 to learn more about teen programs.

Whittier City Clerk staff will host a community election meeting on Thursday, November 16 beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Whittier Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.). The General Municipal Election will take place on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. All voters in the City of Whittier will receive a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot automatically 29 days prior to Election Day. In-person voting begins on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Mark your calendar and view election details and frequently asked questions here.

Whittier's Senior Services Division will host its annual Harvest Feast at Parnell Park (15390 Lambert Rd.) on Thursday, November 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Attendees will enjoy music, raffles, a photo booth, and fellowship. Register at Parnell Park for $12 per person or call (562) 567-9470 for more information.

The Parks, Recreation & Community Services department will host a night of fun just for kids at the Whittier Community Center and Joe Miller Field (7630 Washington Ave.) on Friday, November 17 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Local youth ages 5 to 10 are invited to kick off the weekend with a variety of sports activities, games, dinner, a movie, and more. Parents, get your last minute shopping done kid-free! Registration is now open at www.WhittierRec.com for $15 per child. For more information please call (562) 567-9430.

The Parks, Recreation & Community Services department and the Whittier Cultural Arts Commission present Chalktastic, an all-ages art contest at Whittier City Hall taking place Saturday, November 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. View professional chalk art demonstrations, create your own masterpiece, and enjoy crafts, games, music, prizes, and the Whittier Public Library pop-up. Free registration is available at WhittierRec.com and includes a 16-color chalk kit and kneeling pad. For more information please call (562) 567-9450.

As a reminder, Whittier City Hall, the Whittier Public Library, and all City facilities will be closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday and will resume normal business hours on Monday, November 27. Please remember that trash service and collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week, meaning service normally provided on Thursday will take place on Friday, and the final collection day will be Saturday. Additionally, street sweeping will not be performed on November 23 or November 24. Please contact your trash hauler directly with inquiries at (888) 336-6100 (Athens Services) or (800) 299-4898 (Republic Services). We wish you and yours a safe and relaxing holiday break!

Join the City of Whittier on Saturday, November 25 for Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for our community. In partnership with the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce and Whittier Uptown Association, we encourage you to shop small ahead of the holidays and make a big difference for our small business friends and neighbors. Learn more at www.sba.gov and help share the Small Business Saturday message locally by using the hashtag #shopwhittier on social media. We appreciate your support of Whittier's one-of-a-kind, unique small businesses!

The City of Whittier will kick off the holiday season with a community tree lighting event in front of City Hall on Saturday, December 2 at 5:00 p.m. featuring family-friendly festivities, treats, crafts, carolers, and more. Join us for the flipping of the switch on our 26' foot tree and then make your way to Uptown for the annual Holiday Sonata happening along Greenleaf Avenue and throughout Uptown from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy your favorite holiday characters, music and dance performances, dining, kids' activities, and photos with Santa. We look forward to celebrating the season with you!

Mark your calendar for the 69th Annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9 at 10:00 a.m. in Uptown Whittier. Don't miss your favorite floats, fun performances by local schools and organizations, appearances from local dignitaries, and other holiday festivities along Greenleaf Avenue. Come early and stay to shop! For more parade information or to register as a participant no later than November 15, please contact the Whittier Uptown Association at (562) 696-2662 or email info@whittieruptown.org.