Waiting by the mailbox for a social security check is now a thing of the past. Since March, the federal government is requiring all social security recipients to have their monthly funds directly deposited into a checking or saving account. These electronic payments include veteran’s benefits, federal employee retirement checks along with both social security disability and retirement income.

Changing over from paper checks that are mailed out each month is estimated to save our government over one billion dollars over the next ten years. Treasury spokesman Walt Henderson said, “It costs us a little over a dollar to issue a paper check. It costs us 10 cents for an electronic payment.” If a person doesn’t have an account where these funds can be deposited, a debit card will be issued and monies loaded electronically onto the card each month.

In addition to the cost savings factor, the government believes monthly direct deposits will cut down on theft and fraud. Paper checks can easily be taken from a mailbox or cash stolen from an individual after the check is cashed. Direct deposit eliminates both of those concerns while still giving quick access to monthly funds.

Finally, electronic payments might just make monthly budgeting a bit easier. Bills can be paid on time since waiting on that check to be delivered is no longer a factor. And we all know how easy it is to spend a pocketful of cash vs having to write a check or swipe a debit card.

Photo: Money at CNN

Weather for San Pedro and surrounding L.A. area

Today	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Partly Cloudy 73/57	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Clear 70/59	Partly Cloudy 68/57

Keep on Truckin Retail and Food Festival

WHEN: June 14, 12Noon – 3:30PM
WHERE: Crafted at the Port of L.A.
110 East 22nd St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
WHAT: Enjoy local food truck favorite Lobos along with a wagon train of other great eating establishments on wheels. It’s free to park and no admission fees. Come to where the great food is and enjoy a Friday afternoon in San pedro.
COST: Free

USA Rugby vs. Tonga

WHEN: June 14 @ 7:30PM
WHERE: StubHub Center (formerly The Home Depot Center)
18400 South Avalon Boulevard
Carson, CA 90746
WHAT: A USA Rugby double header as the USA Men’s Eagles take on Tonga and the USA Women’s Eagles face off against France. Both international matches will feature hard hitting action from the best in USA fifteens rugby.
COST: $65 / $45 / $25 / $15 / $12 – one ticket grants admission to both matches

Street Food Cinema

WHEN: June 15, Doors open @ 5:30PM
WHERE: Exposition Park
700 Exposition Park Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90037
WHAT: Movies, bands, food and competitions…got you interested right!?! Enjoy a movie under the stars while eating gourmet food and enjoying the fun from a competition that pits A Capella singers against one another for a HUGE prize.
COST: $10 parking AND $10/$15 for admission

Shakespeare by the Sea – King John

WHEN: June 15 @ 8PM
WHERE: Point Fermin Park
807 Paseo del Mar
San Pedro, CA 90731
WHAT: Enjoy a little bit of culture and see one of Will’s greatest works. Before Game of Thrones was Shakespeare’s King John — a challenge for ultimate power where nothing is sacred and everything is negotiable.
COST: Free

Father’s Day BBQ at Aquarium of the Pacific

WHEN: June 16, 11:30AM – 1:30PM
WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach 90802
WHAT: Celebrate Father’s Day with the entire family at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s annual picnic. Savor lunch, enjoy picturesque views of Rainbow Harbor, and delight in the underwater sea life of the Aquarium. Pet sharks and rays with your dad, and discover cool ocean dads like seahorses and sea dragons.
COST: $42 Adults, $32 kids

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Comment below and let us know if these are the kinds of events that you like doing. Also, feel free to make suggestions for other weekend events that are coming down the pipe. Most importantly, have a great weekend and enjoy your time away from work!

Housing market recovering

 
Lately there has been quite a bit of buzz on the improving economy, the housing market recovering and what that means to the current housing market.

Housing prices have been on the increase for the past four months in more than 15 major cities all across the United States. In part this is due to a shortage of new home construction over the past five years along with homeowners being reluctant to list their current homes for fear of not being able to sell them.

While home mortgage interest rates have increased slightly during the past few months, rates are still very low and homeowners who have wanted to sell for quite some time now are in many cases highly motivated when a reasonable offer is presented.

Ready to become a homeowner? Here are a couple easy tips to get you started. 

• Check your credit. Make sure everything is correct and up-to-date before even filling out the application.
• Go to your local credit union and get a pre-approval letter. This shows everyone involved you are serious and just not “window shopping.” 
• During your home search process keep your spending in check. Your financial institution will probably check your credit more than once during the lending process and lots of new debt will raise red flags.
• If you are a first time homebuyer don’t forget to ask about first time homeowner tax credits.
• Get professional help by using a licensed realtor and accredited lending institution.

Photo: Listability

Weather for San Pedro and surrounding L.A. area

Today	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Partly Cloudy 73/57	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Clear 70/59	Partly Cloudy 68/57

National Doughnut Day at Krispy Kreme

WHEN: June 7 (All day)
WHERE: All over Los Angeles
WHAT: It’s National Doughnut Day and Krispy Kreme is helping you celebrate in style. No coupons, no vouchers, no work from you…just swing by KK and get your free doughnut.
COST: FREE, it just takes a little effort

Ninja-con Anime Convention

WHEN: June 8, Opens 8am
WHERE: Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 505
Los Angeles, CA 90013
WHAT: Ninja-con is here to bring together a network of those who appreciate Asian culture, from various topics ranging from anime, cosplay, video games, and fashion. Sharing our devotion for Asian culture while contributing to charity and providing a fun and unique experience is the goal at Ninja-con.
COST: $20 – $35

Pie Bake a’la Beverly Hills & Piesta

WHEN: June 9, 9am – 1pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Civic Center
Civic Center Drive & Third Street
Beverly Hills, Ca 90210
WHAT: This is the pie bake off of the century! Come out for a HUGE variety of pies, talk to the pastry chefs that create them and enjoy an old school pie eating contest. Make a day of pastry and enjoying crust lined goodness.
COST: FREE to attend

San Pedro Arts Association All Grades Student Art Competition

WHEN: June 9, 2pm – 5pm
WHERE: Crafted at the Port of L.A.
110 East 22nd St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
WHAT: Cash prizes will be awarded to the students in the high school, middle school and grade school categories for First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention. All participating students will be awarded a student membership certificate for one year in the San Pedro Art Association as well as a drawing set and additional exhibition recognition.
COST: FREE to attend

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Comment below and let us know if these are the kinds of events that you like doing. Also, feel free to make suggestions for other weekend events that are coming down the pipe. Most importantly, have a great weekend and enjoy your time away from work!

Debit card fraud can be a nightmare to deal with, but is preventable. While it’s great to have the convenience of being able to just swipe a card to pay for things it’s more important than ever to know how to keep your debit card and your money safe.

• Always check the machine before you swipe your card. These days criminals have devices that attach to the ATM machine and capture all your banking information contained on the magnetic strip.
• Make sure to cover the keypad while entering your PIN, even if there isn’t anyone around . A camera could be recording your personal information.
• Copy and keep somewhere easily accesible all the customer service phone numbers listed on the back of all your cards and keep them in a secure place in case the cards are stolen.
• Keep your contact information up to date with your credit union or bank. This way they can get in touch with you in case any suspicious charges do occur.
• Sign up for on-line banking and then check your account on a regular basis. This allows you to catch and stop fraudulent charges quickly.
• Don’t use machines that are dirty or in disrepair. They may be fake units set up just to steal your banking information.
• It’s rare but occasionally ATM cards do get stuck in the machine slot. If this happens to you, call the customer service number listed on the machine and don’t accept assistance from a nearby stranger. It could be a scam.

Photo: news.com.au

Weather for San Pedro and surrounding L.A. area

Today	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Partly Cloudy 73/57	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Clear 70/59	Partly Cloudy 68/57

POLAHS Green Festival 2013

WHEN: May 31 @ 12PM Noon
WHERE: Port of Los Angeles High School
250 W. 5th Street
San Pedro, CA  90731
WHAT: Come see what the Youth can do when they are engaged to teach and share with others! Support an environmental consciousness in the Harbor Area. There will be Fair Trade booths, healthy food booths, DIY booths, craft booths and many children’s activities.
COST: Admission is FREE

The Little Mermaid

WHEN: June 1 @ 2:00PM
WHERE: Canyon Theater Guild
24242 Main Street (formerly San Fernando Road)
Old Town Newhall, CA 91321
WHAT: The Little Mermaid is a timeless classic. The basic story remains unchanged but some new twists and turns make this an experience for all ages. It is fun and funny for the entire family.
COST: $15 adults, $12 for everyone else

San Pedro’s Past… in Glass

WHEN: June 2, 1PM – 4PM
WHERE: Muller House Museum
1542 South Beacon Street
San Pedro CA 90731
WHAT: “San Pedro’s Past… in Glass” is the topic of the First Sunday Series at the Muller House Museum. David Garcia will present San Pedro’s history by discussing his vintage bottle collection. Come out and listen to the history of the wonderful community that we are a part of here in San Pedro.
COST: FREE, but donations are welcome

Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off

WHEN: June 2 @ 11AM – 5:30PM
WHERE: Downtown Tustin
El Camino Real and Main Street
Tustin CA 92780
WHAT: This is the 29th annual chili cook-off on Tustin. Come out and enjoy homemade food that will surely leave you feeling full and pleasantly cleaned out.
COST: Admission is FREE

Sesame Street Live: Can’t Stop Singing

WHEN: Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 2
WHERE: Nokia Theatre @ L.A. Live
777 Chick Hearn Ct.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
WHAT: Bring the kids and entire family out to enjoy the classic goodness of Sesame Street. Come early and have the kiddies play with Big Bird, Elmo and other characters from the famous television show. Then sit back and be entertained by characters that we got to know as kids and learned to enjoy over the years.
COST: $15 – $100

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Comment below and let us know if these are the kinds of events that you like doing. Also, feel free to make suggestions for other weekend events that are coming down the pipe. Most importantly, have a great weekend and enjoy your time away from work!

Every day you are bombarded with television and radio ads, billboards, newspapers and online promotions all trying to sell you everything from cars to clothes, televisions to new appliances. But just because it’s on sale, is it really a bargain?

• Never impulse buy. Do your homework before shopping for any large purchase. Make sure you are getting the most for your money.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount if you are paying with cash.
• If you belong to a warehouse shopping club make sure you can and will use everything you buy. The price doesn’t matter if you end up throwing the majority of that gigantic box of cereal away because it’s now stale.
• Don’t buy something just because of the price. If you don’t need it, no matter how good a deal it is, don’t buy it.
• If you are at the “just looking” stage, leave your money and credit cards at home so you won’t be tempted.
• Read the fine print. Make sure you understand things like contract dates and exactly what that warranty covers. 
• When grocery shopping plan your weekly meals then make a list and stick to it. Also consider store and generic brands. Many times the quality is just as good as name brand products. 

Do you already consider yourself a smart shopper? We’d love to read your tips for saving money in the comments section below.

Photo: Professional Woman Magazine

Weather for San Pedro and surrounding L.A. area

Today	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Partly Cloudy 73/57	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Partly Cloudy 70/59	Clear 70/59	Partly Cloudy 68/57

Sects, Cults and Mind Control Mix Night

WHEN: May 24 @ 7:30PM
WHERE: The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre
611 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
WHAT: Do you like cult stuff or things regarding the super freaky? If the answer is YES, then this might be something for you. Get creeped out, laugh and perhaps feel strangely inspired by some of the craziness that will be featured at this show.
COST: $12 (Ticket information)

WAR / Cheech & Chong / Tower of Power

WHEN: May 25 @ 7PM
WHERE: Greek Theater
2700 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
WHAT: Three legendary musical/comedy acts together at one great venue. Who could ask for more? This is a family reunion. Lots of jamming together and surprises in store. This will be an evening that you will not forget.
COST: $30 – $100 (Ticket information)

The Party

WHEN: May 25 @ 7PM
WHERE: Cinespia @ Hollywood Forever
6000 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90038
WHAT: An entertaining film with the famous Peter Sellers. Always clumsy but very lovable Peter Sellers gets invited to an “Industry” party. That is where the antics begin and get wild. Sellers turns the night into an epic 1960′s event.
COST: $12 (Ticket information)

JazzReggae Festival

WHEN: May 26 – 27
WHERE: UCLA Intramural Field
405 Hilgard Ave.
Westwood, CA
WHAT: Kick off the summer with live music, food, and live art. Headliners of the 27th annual festival include Santigold, Common, Ziggy Marley and many more.
COST: $30-65

40th Annual Valley Greek Festival 

WHEN: May 25, 26, & 27 – (1PM – 9PM)
WHERE: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
9501 Balboa Boulevard
Northridge, CA 91325
WHAT: A cultural experience for the entire family with live music, dancing, gourmet food, homemade pastries, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, a Greek market, and a variety of shopping boutiques. Boasting a three-day average of 50,000 guests, the admission-free fundraiser is the largest festival of its kind in the area.
COST: FREE to enter (Food, crafts, etc can be purchased)

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Comment below and let us know if these are the kinds of events that you like doing. Also, feel free to make suggestions for other weekend events that are coming down the pipe. Most importantly, have a great weekend and enjoy your time away from work!

From left to right: Randy Marzan-Business Development Director, Jerry Martinez-Local 13 Day Dispatcher, Luke Hollingsworth-Local 13 Business Agent, and Tui Taliulu-Local 13 Executive Board member

Last year’s event, the That’s Right, Safety First Steve Saggiani Memorial Golf Tournament was held on April 27^th, 2012 and was a huge success, raising money for numerous charities along with bringing all of Steve’s family, friends and co-workers together for this wonderful cause.

This year’s four man scramble was held at the Mile Square Golf Course and the turnout was amazing! Joining the ILWU longshoremen, local sponsors and businesses, were our very own duffers, Randy Marzan, Business Development Director and Stephen Harvey, Social Media Specialist. They were joined by Tui Taliulu, Local 13 Executive Board member and Jerry Martinez, Local 13 Day Dispatcher. And while they didn’t win, they did ILWUCU proud and helped raise a lot of money for some important local charities like the Miller’s Children’s Hospital, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and ILWU families who have suffered a loss.