Inglewood Business Magazine July-Sept

Inglewood Business Magazine July - September 2015 

i

From The Editor.... 

Welcome to our first issue of Inglewood Business Magazine. I am 

proud to bring a periodical that caters to the hard working 

businesses, companies and entreprenuers that powers this great city. 

We also wanted to provide residents with a window to the small 

business owner that may be "around the corner". 

On the cover and center, we captured the new Inglewood Unified 

School District. Also in this issue, we look inside the classic 

restaurant on Centenela, The Serving Spoon. We look at how 

owners Angela and JC Johnson keep that atmosphere fresh without 

damaging the Serving Spoon brand. We also talked to Billy 

Campbell, owner of The Campbell Agency. A premier AllState 

insurnance agent that has been in business for over 40 years and is 

a on various boards in the Inglewood community. 

We did not forget about the Inglewood residents either. We offer tips 

and strategy to save money on energy. What you should do when 

planning a funeral? No one wants to discuss it, but it needs to be 

addressed in every family. 

With a bright future on the horizon for Inglewood, we will take 

measures to bring you the 411 on all the new businesses, products, 

services and opportunities that will be moving to our Great City! 

Sincerly, 

Norman I. Boseman Jr., President 

ii 

Inglewood Business Magazine July - September 2015

INGLEWOOD 

BUSINESS MAGAZINE 

© 201 5 INGLEWOOD BUSINESS MAGAZINE - All Rights Reserved 

Publisher / Editor: ETNB Communicatons Inc / Norman Boseman Jr 

No part of this publication maybe reproduced or duplicated without the written 

permission of the ETNB COMMUNICATIONS, INC or NORMAN BOSEMAN JR 


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E 

TNB Communications provides 

technical services and support to 

small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) 

in Los Angeles County. We cover 

business phones, computer repair, 

networking, web design, consultation and 

now desktop publishing. 

We are differentiated by our technical 

knowledge, customer focus, and 

competitive pricing. Customers are 

ETNB’s top priority. We strive to help you 

succeed. We understand that now more 

than ever, you need to maximize 

employee productivity and business 

efficiency to reduce wasted time and 

expenses. You need to find new 

customers and deliver superior customer 

service while running lean. This means it 

is critical for you to improve 

communications, and reduce IT-related 

incidents that can disrupt your focus and 

increase your expenses. 

ETNB Communications was founded by 

Norman Boseman Jr. in 2009. Mr. 

Boseman has been in the technical 

industry for over 25 years with 1 8 being in 

Telecommunications. He has worked for a 

wide variety of companies and held many 

upper management positions. Mr. 

Boseman has seen many companies not 

put the customer first or provide top 

customer service. When starting ETNB, 

he did not want that to be an issue. 

Therefore, Customer Service is a high 

priority of this company and our 

customers prove it by staying with us. 

ETNB Communications is the "preferred" 

technical provider for the Inglewood 

Airport Area Chamber of Commerce. We 

manage all their technical needs and 

provide consultation for chamber 

members when requested. 

If you would like a consultation with ETNB 

Communications, you can us through the 

Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of 

Commerce at (31 0) 677-11 21 or 

www.inglewoodchamber.org. IBM 


7

TECHNOLOGY 

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INGLEWOOD 


The telephone is an 

essential part of the 

communications toolkit in 

any business; it’s been 

used for over a century for 

good reason. But in today’s 

business world, the costs of 

traditional phone systems 

can drag down your company. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was 

an alternative? Well, there is. If 

you haven’t heard of VoIP, it’s time 

to learn about the next step in the 

evolution of the phone. And there 

are a number of advantages that 

make it essential for many 

businesses in today’s modern 

world. Here’s how VoIP can help 

your business. 

What is VoIP? 

To truly understand how VoIP can 

help your business, you must first 

know what it is. VoIP stands for 

Voice over Internet Protocol. All 

that means is that you’re 

essentially able to talk with others 

over an Internet connection 

instead of a traditional phone line. 

Yes, you can still use your actual 

phone handset, as well as your 

tablet or computer. The major 

difference is in the way the call is 

transmitted. 

VoIP lowers costs 

The biggest advantage of VoIP is 

that your business will save a 

bundle on costs. VoIP takes 

efficiency to a whole new level. 

Since you’ll be receiving phone 

calls over the Internet, you’ll cut 

out the expense of a phone line 

altogether and instead consolidate 

both your Internet and voice 

communication costs. To do 

this however, you’ll need to 

upgrade to a high-speed Internet 

connection (if you don’t have one 

already), which will of course cost 

extra money. But knocking out the 

expense of your phone line will 

likely be much more cost-effective 

for your business overall. 

If your business makes 

international calls regularly, VoIP 

is even more of a no brainer. With 

VoIP, international calling costs 

are significantly reduced and in 

some cases even free. Skype, 

which is similar to VoIP, is a 

perfect example of the latter. 

Statistically speaking, VoIP 

services have helped many 

businesses lower costs 

dramatically. For some, up to 40% 

savings telecommuncations costs. 

More features than traditional 

phones 

In addition to reduced costs, VoIP 

also offers a wide array of 

innovative features that surpass 

those of a traditional phone line. 

While listing them all would take 

several pages, there are 

three notable ones that 

stand out. 

• Virtual numbers – A 

virtual number allows you 

to easily have a local 

number anywhere in the 

world. That means if you 

have a large market of clients 

in London, you can actually get a 

local London number with the 

area code of your choice. When 

someone in the UK dials this 

number, it will transfer to your 

phone – whether your business is 

actually in Seattle or Toronto. This 

makes it easy for your customers 

to contact you and will likely 

garner more business, since we 

all know customers like things to 

made as easy as possible for 

them. 

• Call Routing – If you’ve ever 

worried about missing an 

important phone call, call routing 

will have you breathing a long sigh 

of relief. With this feature, an 

incoming call will be transferred to 

multiple devices of your choice. 

So if your office desk phone rings 

when you’re not there, that same 

call will then ring on your mobile, 

home phone, iPad and other 

devices before going to voicemail. 

• Better conference calls – 

With VoIP and a high speed 

Internet connection, you can 

include an unlimited number of 

people on conference calls. And 

even better, you can also use 

video conferencing so you can 

see your colleagues or clients in 

person. IBM 


9

INSURANCE 

INGLEWOOD 


When it’s all said 

and done, there are 

two types of 

customers in the 

world of auto 

insurance – those 

who pay a little for 

necessary 

insurance and 

those who pay a lot. Guess which one 

the insurance companies prefer? 

If you’re simply dying to give the auto 

insurance companies more of your 

money, go ahead. Get a single quote 

from a single company, trust it’s the best 

you can do and sign up. Just like that 

you’re paying more than you need to for 

the same amount of insurance. 

Of course insurance companies are great 

at making you think that you are saving 

1 5 percent or more or that you’re getting 

the lowest price based on their own price 

comparison software. But these are 

marketing tactics designed to make you 

buy their insurance – how likely is it that 

they would ever find less expensive 

insurance for you and send you on your 

way to a competitor? 

No, the responsibility for saving money 

on your auto insurance is your own. 

Fortunately, this is one area where 

shouldering a bit of responsibility can pay 

off in a big way. 

Take some time to do your own research, 

by using a broker you can save you a lot 

of time and money. By doing so, you’ll 

quickly discover that companies will offer 

you quotes that differ by hundreds, 

perhaps thousands of dollars. The beauty 

of using a broker is that they have no 

allegiance to 

any one 

company, and 

want to place 

you-the client 

with the best 

company and 

price available. 

It begs the question – why would you pay 

more for the same level of coverage? 

The quick answer is convenience. If you 

are pressed for time, you may not want to 

call up a broker to shop around. You 

simply pick a company that spends the 

most money advertising. 

But you’re wasting potentially thousands 

of dollars. And you don’t have to waste 

hours doing research. 

A competent insurance broker or 

company should do all the leg work for 

you. Give them a call and they will 

quickly scan the quotes for best prices in 

your area. 

When you find a policy you like, you don’t 

have to pay any extra fees or deal with 

headaches transferring your policy. Car 

insurance isn’t a locked contract, so you 

can make a switch any time you want. 

And when you see the incredible price 

differences between what you’re paying 

NOW and what you could be paying 

NOW, you’ll see why switching NOW just 

makes sense. IBM 

Author: Tomas Johnson, Owner, S& R. 

tjohnson@srinsurancegroup.com 

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BUSINESS LEADER 

A Top AllState Insurance Agent & 

One of Inglewood's Beloved 

Community Leaders 

B 

illy Campbell is an accomplished 

individual both personally and 

professionally. His achievements and 

accomplishments over the years have 

made him a distinguished entrepreneur in 

the insurance industry. He is a member of 

Black Business Association and the Life 

Underwriter Training Counsel. He's won 

the Honor Ring winner (1 8 times), 

National Conference winner (1 0 times), 

Line Leader (2 times), and Quality Agent 

Award (2 times). 

Mr. Campbell was also selected to be a 

member of the California Allstate Regional 

Advisory Board and the Allstate National 

Advisory Board. His personal 

accomplishments are equally impressive, 

winning Father of the Year in 2003, for the 

Los Angeles Area-Allstate Insurance 

Company. He was also named Volunteer 

of the Year by Inglewood Neighborhood 

Housing. 

Mr. Campbell has been an Allstate 

Exclusive Agent since 1 977. His agency 

was one of the first to open its doors in 

the inner city. The agency remains open 

greatly in part to great customers. If you 

are in the area, please stop by and pay us 

a visit! 

We have 4 wonderful staff members that 

can answer any question you may have 

or cater to any of your insurance needs. 

Our office in Inglewood provides 

outstanding service to the more than 3500 

households. 

Mr. Campbell truly enjoys helping the 

community while growing his business. 

He gives back to the community 

whenever I can. He sits on the Board of 

Directors for the Inglewood Airport Area 

Chamber of Commerce, a member of the 

Inglewood Rotary Club, First Vice 

President of the Inglewood Lions Club, 

former President of the Board of Directors 

for Inglewood Neighborhood Housing, 

and I am an active member at Trinity 

Baptist Church. 

“I am blessed to be in business for over 

40 years now and proud to have my 

business in the city of Inglewood.” 

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INGLEWOOD 


The Campbell Agency 

(TCA) is proud to work 

with ALLSTATE whos 

been serving satisfied 

customers for over 80 

years. Customers count on outstanding 

financial strength and superior claims 

service to help protect what they value 

most. When you leave our office, you'll feel 

confident, informed, assured and satisfied 

in your choices. The way you should feel. 

TCA understand the importance of building 

solid foundations for the future and 

developing long-lasting customer 

relationships. Here is our list of services 

that we can assist you with: 

Life Insurance (Term or Permanent) 

Simply put, life insurance gives your loved 

ones financial security after you’re gone. 

You pay a monthly premium, and if the 

unexpected happens, your loved ones get 

a death benefit they can use for things 

such as medical bills, funeral expenses, 

outstanding mortgage, college tuition and 

even living expenses. 

Auto Insurance 

When you’re buying car insurance, you’re 

looking for just the right mix of price and 

protection. If you go with bare-bones 

minimum coverage and find out you need 

more after you’ve had an accident – you’ll 

probably end up spending way more than 

you ever saved. 

Homeowners Insurance 

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or 

designing your dream home, buying a 

house is one of the most important 

decisions you’ll ever make. Once you sign 

the papers and move in, you may be 

settling down, but your insurance needs are 

always in transit. 

Commercial Business Insurance 

Your business is one-of-a-kind, so you may 

need flexible business and commercial 

vehicles insurance plans as unique as your 

company to help protect everything you’ve 

worked so hard to build. IBM 

You can feel confident today knowing your 

family will be secure with the life insurance 

policy that you choose if they ever have to 

make it on their own. 

Long-Term Care 

No one likes thinking about it, but as 

people age or become ill, they might need 

help doing daily tasks like getting dressed, 

bathing, and more. Long-term care (LTC) 

provides people with those services. 

Unfortunately, long-term care is really 

expensive. Most health and disability 

insurance won't cover it but long-term care 

insurance will. 


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1 5

ENERGY 

Agood way to cut down on your spending is to gradually target 

different expenditures. Lowering your energy bill is a nice 

option — not only is it a monthly expenditure, but you can also do 

some good for the environment while saving money. Here are 

some suggestions for reducing your electricity usage and costs: 

1. Unplug when not in use. Even when they're not in use, your 

electronics can still eat up electricity as long as they're plugged in — yes, 

even chargers that aren't connected to anything. There are many items we 

don't think about unplugging, including microwaves, digital picture frames, 

and more. Even though the power lost by these "vampire" electronics may 

not be much, everything adds up. 

2. Use a power strip. Get a power strip and try to plug as many electronics as you can 

into it. That way, it won't be as arduous to individually shut off or unplug each appliance. 

You can turn them all off with one flick of the switch or unplug the power strip from its 

outlet to completely stonewall the "vampire" electronics. 

3. Energy audit. An energy audit may be helpful in figuring out the problem areas in 

your home that you may be unaware of. The auditor will help advise you on how you can 

reduce energy consumption and how to ramp up efficiency when heating and cooling 

houses.\ 

4. Replace your bulbs. Replace your lightbulbs with energy-efficient ones to save 

energy and money. An energy-efficient bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a 

traditional incandescent bulb and lasts six times longer. 

5. Seal your leaks. Your home may not be properly insulated, which means you might 

be losing a lot of energy through the leaks. Cool air from outside can be sneaking into 

your home, causing you to turn up the heat. 

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INGLEWOOD 


6. Wash clothes smartly. Opt for the cold-water setting when doing laundry to 

save money and energy. Ninety percent of the energy used in the washer goes 

to heat up the water, so by skipping the hot water, you'll be saving a lot of 

energy. Remember not to overload it or put in too much detergent — it can 

make your machine work harder than it needs to. 

7. Dry your clothes the right way. Hang your clothes to dry whenever you can, instead of 

throwing them in the dryer. When you do use your dryer, run full loads and use the 

moisture-sensing setting. Also, make sure you always clean the lint filter after use so the 

machine runs efficiently. Every six months, take the trap out and wash it with soap and 

water. While your clothes are drying, the lint in the trap hampers the flow of air in the 

heated dryer. This makes your dryer work harder and expend more energy than it needs 

to. 

8. Load your dishwasher. Only run your 

dishwasher when it is fully loaded, and 

instead of drying your plates in the machine 

cycle, consider turning it off and air-drying 

the dishes instead. But just like with your 

washing and drying machines, make sure 

you're not overloading it or you'll be 

overworking it. 

9. Clean your machines. Clean your 

refrigerator coils to keep it running 

efficiently. You should do it twice a year, 

and doing so can cut six percent of your 

energy bill. All you need to do is vacuum 

the coils, but read these instructions before 

proceeding. Clean or replace the filter in your air conditioner because a dirty one can take 

up five to 1 5 percent more electricity than a clean one. 

10. Get a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat is a good investment 

because you're able to save energy by programming it to control the heating and cooling 

when you're away from home or asleep. There are programmable thermostats for about 

$35. IBM 


1 7

BUSINESS ADVICE 

Customers need to know that there is a 

difference between "Speaking Up" 

and "Speaking Out" and knowing 

which one to do and when can be a 

difficult road to maneuver. Businesses 

also need to know the difference between 

the two and must work hard to keep their 

customers "speaking up" rather than 

"speaking out". 

If you "SPEAK 

UP", you (as a 

customer) are 

sharing with a responsible party your 

concerns on an issue/situation of 

importance to you, in order for said party 

to be able to correct the issue/situation, 

before it gets out of hand or a becomes a 

larger problem than it may already be. We 

see businesses with 1 -800 numbers, 

email addresses, or web links asking 

customers to "speak up". Some offer 

incentives like chances to win $$ or 

get a free item with your next purchase. 

The customer "speaks up" believing that 

the comments they share, positive or 

negative, will somehow impact that 

business for the better and that someone 

higher up is listening. The customer may 

also "speak up" at that moment, asking 

for a manager/supervisor, in order to 

remedy the situation more immediately. 

But if a customer 

chooses to 

"SPEAK OUT", 

you (as a 

customer) are 

saying that the concern you are raising 

goes beyond a typical (even reasonable) 

response from said party and that you feel 

the need to go outside the normal realm to 

voice your concern. The customer may 

still have contacted a manager/supervisor 

to address the issue right away but, for 

whatever reason, feels that they must 

"speak out" even more. Here is where the 

possibilities for the customer to be heard 

get endless. Not only can the customer 

use the 1 -800 number, emails, web links 

to share their concern, but can also use 

other avenues to support one of the most 

basic principles of consumerism..."hit 

them where it counts...in the 

pocketbook (or profits)". 

The customer has untold options to 

pursue when they make the decision to 

"SPEAK OUT" and this is what each 

business should fear and work hard to 

avoid. A business should never let a 

situation get out of hand and go 

beyond the "speaking up" level. 

Customers have the power to make or 

break (surely to bend) the will of a 

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INGLEWOOD 


business. We have seen businesses 

"bend/break/retreat" when they try to 

insert their religious or political beliefs in 

their dealings with the consumer...we 

have also seen businesses completely 

"disappear" when they felt they were not 

at risk, or did not have to listen, or change 

with the consumer. 

THREE THINGS BUSINESSES SHOULD 

ALWAYS REMEMBER: 

1 ) if you take "good customer service" out 

of the equation...you will lose a 

"consistent" customer; 

2) if you take "corporate 

response/responsibility" out of the 

equation and force a customer to "speak 

up"...you will lose a "loyal" customer; and 

Quite simply...a business will not fail if it 

has a consistent, loyal, and growing 

customer base. But will fail if one or more 

of these begin to dwindle. Businesses 

need to decide if they are going to work 

with a customer or against a customer 

when a concern/issue is raised. Making 

the right choice will decide that 

businesses future. 

CUSTOMERS who choose to SPEAK 

OUT have the power to influence the 

future of a business. If you choose to 

SPEAK OUT, be sure to have the 

following on your side...TRUTH, FACTS, 

PROOF. You must be willing to continue 

the fight, but also have a willingness to 

compromise if the opportunity arises. IBM 

3) forcing the customer to "speak out" due 

to the actions/in-actions of the 

business...your customer base will "stop 

growing". 


1 9

REAL ESTATE 

REFINANCING 

CHECKLIST 

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INGLEWOOD 


After mortgage rates stayed surprisingly low in 2014, who knows how they will 

shake out in the new year? Either way, borrowers who want to refinance or buy a 

home have the best chance to get the lowest rate by knowing more, not less, about the 

mortgage game. These 10 tips can help you navigate the mortgage process in 2015. 

1 . Don’t buy a home beyond your 

budget. A home should be a source of 

investment not a financial heart ache, 

especial for first-time buyers. 

Borrowing from family members 

and living from pay check to pay check 

makes for larger mortgage payments 

and bigger risks in the future. 

2. Always be on the lookout for 

competitive rates, points and fees. 

Compare different bids. 

3. Obtain an immediate 

confirmation of your locked in interest 

rate terms, point and fees. 

4. Never agree to prepayment 

penalties. If there is no mention of 

prepayment penalties, make sure you 

have an addendum attached to the 

mortgage that specifically states that 

no other penalty fees will be added. 

5. Know all that you can about your 

loan! Ask thorough questions and 

seek advice from professionals that 

you trust. 

6. Pick the right kind of loan. Rates 

are higher on 30 year loans than on 

comparable 1 5 year loans. Lenders 

hate holding loans at below market 

rates. Try considering “hybrid” loans 

–those with a fixed rate for the first five 

or seven years of their 30 year 

duration. If you’re going to be in your 

home for a shorter period consider an 

adjustable rate mortgage. 

7. If you are buying rather than 

refinancing, consider getting preapproved 

mortgage or contingent loan 

approval letter. Pre–approval can 

strengthen your negotiating position 

with the seller, however it can add 

pressure on you to close a deal before 

the loan commitment expires. A 

contingent approval is a letter from the 

lender that states that the largest loan 

that you would qualify for. It will also 

give you additional negotiating 

leverage without binding you to the 

lender or the lender binded to you. 

8. Save all of your documents! 


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REAL ESTATE CONTINUED 

INGLEWOOD 


Keep copies of everything the lender 

sends you. 

9. Take advantage of the mortgage 

interest deduction. This deduction is 

one of the few remaining tax deductible 

interest payments and also the 

cheapest form of long-term financing. 

Never use your financing/refinancing 

funds to finance your summer vacation 

or other short term pleasures. 

Author: Tomas Johnson, Mortgage 

Broker, with WLM Financial. Mr. 

Johnson has over 10 years of 

experience in the Real Estate Industry. 

Tomas@wlmfinancial.com. BRE 

License# 01963773.RE License# 

01967693.WLM Financial is a 

California Finance Lender. To learn 

more about WLM Financial contact 

(310) 905-7421 or (877) 502-2930. 

www.wlmfinancial.com. 

1 0. Interview and select a lender that 

you trust your biggest purchase with. 

Study! Read the real estate section of 

your local papers and books on the 

subject. IBM 

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www.iusd.net 

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Join the new IUSD! 

_ a place to learn, 

succeed and thrive! 

From small kindergarten classes, a dual immersion elementary language 

academy to top-notch extra-curricular and college prep programs for 

middle and high school students, Inglewood Unified School District 

puts children on the path to success from day one in kinder, throughout middle 

and on to high school and beyond. 

Our graduates, including Gates Millennium scholars, move on each year to 

some of the best colleges in the country. Our rigorous learning programs and 

comprehensive integration of technology in classrooms offer countless 

opportunities for children to achieve, compete and succeed in the 21 st century. 

Our schools continue to embrace and integrate cutting-edge academic 

programs. Our teachers and schools continue to earn accolades and awards 

for their commitment to students and improved test scores. Let our schools 

and programs meet and exceed your needs and expectations. 


25

EDUCATION 

J 

une's council meeting focused 

primarily on the decision to 

approve financing of a new 

facility for the Children of 

Promise Preparatory Academy. 

Before voting to authorize the 

issuance of tax-exempt revenue 

bonds by the California Statewide 

Communities Development Authority, 

Inglewood council members heard 

from the public as well as the charter 

school’s founder and CEO, Dr. Carlton 

Lincoln and principal, Trina 

Thompson. 

About a dozen 5th graders from the 

Children of Promise Preparatory 

Academy showed up to represent the 

school, as the 

public discussed pros and cons of 

charter schools vs. public schools. 

One resident said Inglewood used to 

have good public schools and that 

charter schools are “nothing more 

than businesses.” 

Long time resident Willie Agee said, “If 

these children are the product of 

charter schools, I want to see more of 

it. I don’t’ care what kind of school 

you call it. It could be Willie Agee 

School, that’s fine with me. Let’s get 

whoever can educate these kids in the 

City of Inglewood and forget about 

what the naysayers say.” 

"Children of Promise Schools were founded to help address many of the problems we see in our 

urban youth. With a quality education, many children excel and succeed in spite of the difficulties they 

face in their community. COP Schools develop the whole child by integrating character based 

curriculum with the rigorous academic environment where teachers challenge their students to 

surpass the basic standards. I encourage you to partner with us as a parent, a donor or a volunteer to 

change the lives of children and develop them into tomorrow’s leaders." 

Thank you, 

Dr. Carleton Lincoln, Ed.D. 

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INGLEWOOD 


Thompson remarked that the 

school’s purpose was to 

educate, not operate as a 

business. “We are 

already approved by 

Inglewood Unified. 

Parents are the taxpaying 

parents in 

the community. 

We were just 

renewed for 

another 5 years,” 

she said. 

“I want to assuage any fears that the 

people of Inglewood would have. 

This 5th grade class just returned 

from a 1 0-day study class in 

Washington D.C. and Virginia 

representing this great city of 

Inglewood. When they asked who 

we are, we say we are representing 

Inglewood,” Lincoln said. 

Aldene Sligh said, “Charter schools 

can live together with public schools, 

but public schools have been 

negated. Our city has to do much 

more to elevate public schools so 

that all children can be elevated.” 

“We have got to fix things. We have 

two choices—to educate them to get 

good jobs and careers or they are 

going to be the mob busting us 

upside our heads and taking what 

little we don’t have,” Ray Davis said. 

Councilman Eloy Morales told the 

public, “We just act as a conduit for 

the bond issue. We’re not on the 

hook for anything, (so) I am 

supportive of parents having the 

choice of doing the best they can for 

their children. Whatever we can do 

to improve any facilities, that’s what 

we should do.” 

“I think it would be unconscionable 

for the council not to approve this,” 

Mayor James Butts said. IBM 


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EATERIES 

" at 

first bite" 

The Serving Spoon on Centinela 

Avenue in Inglewood is part restaurant, part 

neighborhood gathering spot, part cultural 

phenomenon and part inspirational message. 

Or perhaps I should say “messages,” for 

upbeat affirmations are all over the restaurant. 

One says: “Take Your Place/Make Your 

Mark/Live Your Life.” Another reads: 

“Faith/Dream/Believe.” Then there’s “Life Is 

Art/Paint Your Dreams.” There’s also “Family 

and Friends Gather.” And what may be my 

favorite: “Thank You for Honoring Our 

Business.” 

It’s a business that comes with a story — 

inspirational, of course. It starts in 1 982, when 

Harold E. Sparks leaves General Motors to 

fulfill his dream of opening a soul food 

restaurant. 

And today the dream continues. In 2004, his 

daughter Angela and Son-In-Law JC Johnson, 

purchased The Serving Spoon outright. They 

have since renvoted the location and have 

expanded the brand. 

“The idea of providing excellent food that is 

not only ‘Love At First Bite,’ but a place where 

customers feel like family, quickly caught on,” 

the story continues. “ ‘The Spoon,’ as often 

called by many, has served customers ranging 

from entertainers to politicians to the neighbor 

next door. All in the spirit of making you feel at 

home, with food that’s good for the soul ...” 

And let me tell you, the neighborhood is 

definitely there. On a Sunday morning, there’s 

a crowd waiting outside to get in. Heck, 

there’s even a wait for the counter, which is a 

good place to sit for the day’s game on the 

TVs overhead. But no matter where those 

lucky enough to land a seat are sitting, in front 

of them are oversized plates of food that 

smells good and tastes as good as it smells. 

Show up for breakfast, and the choices are so 

many. I guess the choice of choice is one of 

the breakfast combinations that involve two 

eggs (any style, of course), a choice of meats, 

and a choice of grits, rice, potatoes or sliced 

tomatoes. Oh, and a choice of toast: an 

English muffin, cornbread or a biscuit. Sounds 

simple enough, right? Except there are 20 

meats to choose from. Everything from spicy 

beef sausage to catfish and a rib-eye to 

salmon croquettes and either beef or chicken 

liver. Even the choice between the cornbread 

and the biscuit is tough. (Luckily, you can get 

them a la carte as well.) 

30 


INGLEWOOD 


Add on to that some nine omelets, and some 

two dozen pancake, waffle and French toast 

combos and you’ve got a massive breakfast 

menu. There’s even a “Healthier Choice” 

section to the menu as well, with even more 

combos and more omelets. 

To wash it all down, there are mimosas as well 

as a Champagne cocktail made with 

pineapple called “Stevie’s Favorite 

Champagne Wonder.” No wonder people 

linger so long at their seats; this isn’t food, or 

drink, to rush through. 

There’s a choice of classic burgers, topped 

variously with bacon, chili and cheese. The 

sandwiches include the Brenda Club, a tripledecker 

with ham, turkey and bacon. The 

grilled chicken breasts are simple, pleasant, 

satisfying, served with sides like very good 

collard greens, candied yams, black-eyed 

peas and red beans and rice. 

Come Fridays, there’s clam chowder. Nothing 

here is too fancy; even the salad dressings 

run to classics like Thousand Island, blue 

cheese, ranch, Italian and balsamic. 

The soul food options seem to be mostly on 

the Daily Specials list, like smothered turkey 

wings on Tuesdays, smothered oxtails 

Wednesdays, smothered short ribs 

Thursdays, and chitlins Fridays, Saturdays 

and Sundays. But if I’m looking for memories 

(I grew up in the South Bronx, not the Deep 

South), I get the salmon croquettes, a dish my 

daddy used to make on special occasions. I 

remember his being heavy on the breading, 

light on the (expensive) salmon. This one is 

the opposite — there’s lots of salmon here. It’s 

a good taste, a nostalgic taste. It’s a taste for 

when, as the wall tells us, “Friends and Family 

Gather.” IBM 


31

EATERIES CONTINUED 

Customer 

INGLEWOOD 


Reviews By: 

Ev A, Downey, Ca. Great 

place to eat! Came out here to visit a client 

who canceled last minute so we figure let's 

get some gub and found this place on yelp!!! 

Awesome top. 

Scott C, Olathe, KS. Great 

food and very fast service, Friendly servers 

this is a most try place. Don't judge this place 

from the outside. 

love the way they make the waffles thin. 

My girlfriend enjoyed the fried chicken as 

well. Will come back again! 

Tessa B, Topanga, Ca. First 

time here and it was easier 

than I thought! Good customer service and 

everything done fast! Best part is the price! 

Definitely a thumbs up! 

B.L, LA, Ca. We had our 

food delivered just today and all I can 

say is "IT WAS SO GOOD". The 

omelet was good. Will definitely 

come back. 

Sharjeel A, Port 

Hueneme, Ca. Hard to find 

parking but great spot for some 

good southern food. Definitely 

recommend the cornbread with some 

honey! 

Sh 

alyn T, LA, Ca. I have 

eaten a LOT of chicken 

and waffles in my life....and these 

were amazing! I got "The Cookie", 

aka delicious cinnamon waffles & 

fried chicken. The chicken was 

super juicy and crispy, and the 

waffles were golden and buttery 

and melt in your mouth perfect. I 

want to eat here every day. I just 

might. So say hello when you go- 

I'll be the curly haired girl stuffing 

her face in the corner! 

AgentAngelX, Arlington, Va. 

The wait completely sucked but the food 

made it worth it! waited around 45 minutes for 

a table and it took another 1 5 min for our 

waiter to even come to the table. once we 

ordered, the food came out fast. the best was 

the chicken and waffles. the hugo breakfast 

was great too 

Eugene S, LA, Ca. First off the 

place is a throwback to my days in Chicago. 

Great place for some southern style food. I 

Andres C, LA, Ca. Excellent 

Service!!!! Food was 

delicious!!! If u have to wait, then WAIT, the 

food is worth it! 

Mark G, Las Vegas, NV. This 

place is the real deal. Worth the drive no 

matter where you are. Awesome! People are 

VERY friendly. I'm a big stickler in cleanliness 

& this place is over the top!! Of course the 

complimentary mimosa didn't hurt!! 

32 



33

34 



35

PLANNING AHEAD 

36 


INGLEWOOD 


any people have done everything they can to protect their 

family’s future: invested wisely, opened savings accounts 

and acquired insurance on their life and home, but they 

haven’t taken care of their own funeral arrangements – leaving 

one of the most difficult tasks to their loved ones to figure out 

at a time of sadness and loss. That’s why it’s so important to 

give serious thought to your personal wishes and to prearrange 

your services in advance. 

M 

1. Be Informed About the Choices 

Available 

How would you like to be remembered? 

Your funeral or cremation service should 

be personalized to reflect your wishes 

and should bring comfort to your family 

and friends. Today no two services are 

alike. Videos, photographs, music, special 

readings and the involvement of family 

and friends are all appropriate and 

encouraged. 

Prearranging gives you the opportunity 

to become informed about your options 

in an unpressured environment, when 

you have the time to think things 

through. You’re in full control and you 

can select and specify the services that 

truly have meaning to you and your 

family. 

2. Your Wishes Need to be 

Documented 

A will simply leaves instructions for the 

handling of an individual’s financial 

affairs, while a living will usually clarifies 

certain general wishes regarding medical 

treatment. The funeral or cremation 

service still remains to be planned and 

paid for. 

You should make sure that your wishes 

are recorded in writing and shared with 

family members and your attorney. You 

should also keep a copy with your 

important papers in a place that is easily 

accessible to your family members. 

3. Talk About it with Your Family and 

Incorporate Their Wishes 

A funeral or memorial service is an 

important part of the grieving process. 

For family members and loved ones alike, 

the service provides an opportunity to 

express their grief, to share memories 

and to celebrate a life lived. 

Many people think they have taken care 

of everything by writing a will, 

establishing a living will or even 

purchasing their cemetery plot. But that’s 

not all. 

When planning your funeral or memorial 

service, the opinions and wishes or your 

family should be considered. 

Prearranging is an excellent time for 


37

PLANNING AHEAD continued 

families to discuss and make objective 

decisions calmly and rationally 

together, away from the pressures 

and stress that often occur at a time 

of sadness and loss. More 

importantly, knowing your wishes and 

carrying them out can bring great 

comfort to surviving family members 

and friends. 

4. Decide the Final Disposition 

Whether you choose traditional 

burial, mausoleum entombment or 

inurnment in a cremation garden, 

determining your final disposition is a 

very personal decision, influenced by 

your faith and beliefs. 

Your wishes should be specified in 

your prearrangement document as 

well as clearly discussed with family 

members and loved ones ahead of 

time. 

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask About 

Prices 

The cost to arrange a funeral or 

cremation service can vary 

considerably from place to place. Be 

careful to choose a funeral home that 

presents its prices clearly and simply. 

Prearranging also gives you the 

opportunity to become informed 

about your options and their various 

costs in an unpressured environment. 

You’re in full control and you can 

make objective decisions regarding 

affordability. You may decide to 

spend less or more, but the decision 

remains yours. 

6. Consider Planning and 

Prepaying for Your Arrangements 

Planning your funeral or cremation 

service in advance can take care of 

the details. But only prearranging 

(prepaying for your services) can take 

care of the actual expense of the 

funeral or cremation service ahead of 

time, easing the future financial 

burden on your surviving loved ones. 

Prepaying for your funeral or 

cremation services makes good 

financial sense. When you prearrange, 

you benefit from purchasing at 

today’s prices for an event that may 

not happen for many years. The cost 

of the products and services you 

select may never be lower. 

7. Why Insurance May Not Be 

Enough 

Usually, life insurance, as well as final 

expense insurance, provides a onetime 

lump sum benefit after a death 

has occurred. However, there is no 

guarantee that the funds will not be 

consumed by a long illness or serious 

accident. 

Insurance cannot make the many 

decisions that are required at the time 

of need. Even with insurance in place, 

the actual funeral or cremation 

service still needs to be planned and 

paid for, and this can be complicated 

task at a time of grief and loss. 

In addition, insurance policies are not 

protected against inflation. Prices of 

products and services will continue to 

rise while the amount of your policy 

38 


INGLEWOOD 


coverage remains the same. Your 

survivors may not have enough left 

from the insurance proceeds to cover 

the higher cost of your funeral 

expenses. 

8. A Prearranged Funeral or 

Cremation Service and Medicaid 

Assistance 

If you plan to apply for Medicaid 

assistance for yourself or a loved one, a 

prearranged funeral agreement can be 

extremely beneficial in meeting your 

needs. 

In many states, a prearranged funeral or 

cremation service funded by life 

insurance may be treated as an exempt 

asset for Medicaid qualification 

purposes. This allows you to prearrange 

the service you desire while maintaining 

your assistance eligibility. Please 

consult with your attorney before 

applying for Medicaid assistance to 

learn more about your state’s 

requirements. 

9. Find Out Ahead of Time What 

Government Benefits You Are 

Eligible to Receive 

Unfortunately, most funeral and burial 

benefits provided by the Social Security 

Administration as well as the Veterans 

Administration (VA) are limited. Most 

families find that additional funding is 

necessary in order to provide the type 

of funeral or cremation service they find 

appropriate for their loved one. 

Under certain conditions, Social Security 

provides a one-time death benefit to 

the spouse of an eligible recipient. And, 

for non-service related deaths, the VA 

will pay up to $300 for burial and 

funeral expenses and a plot interment 

allowance up to $300, in lieu of burial in 

a National Cemetery. 

To find out exactly what benefits you 

are eligible to receive, contact the Social 

Security Administration at 1-800-722- 

1213 or visit their website at 

www.ssa.gov. 

For veteran’s assistance, contact the 

Veterans Administration office at 1-800- 

827-1000 or go to www.cem.va.gov. 

10. Speak with Your Local Memorial 

Provider 

Arranging a funeral or cremation service 

can seem overwhelming and 

complicated, but there’s always a 

Memorial provider close by that can 

help you. IBM 


39

Our magazine reaches thousands in the in 

Inglewood area. Let Inglewood Business 

Magazine help your customers find your 

business. 

40 

CALL OR EMAIL US AT: 

(213) 9157014 

INFO@INGLEWOODBUSINESSMAG.COM 


ADVERTISERS INDEX 

C 

The Campbell Agency................Page 1 0 

D 

DaVco Accountants....................Page 1 5 

E 

ETNB Communications Inc........Page 06 

F 

Forest LawnPage........................Page 35 

I 

Inglewood Business Magazine....Page 40 

Inglewood Unified School Dist.....Page 24 

O 

Orleans & York Deli...................Page 33 

S 

The Serving Spoon....................Page 29 

The Special Olympics................Page 23 

Spencer4hire Security...........Back Cover 

Q 

Quality Rents...............................Page1 4 

RESOURCES: ETNB Communications, The Daily Breeze, IAACC, Trina Lawson/Children 

of Promise Prepatory Academy, imsorrytohear.com, DaVco & WLM Financial. 

Inglewood Business Magazine July- - September 2015 

41

THE CHAMBER 

42 


INGLEWOOD 


Roland J.. Talton 

Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of 

Commerce President steps down in 

June 2015 

A 

s a decorated military veteran, 

Roland J. Talton entered the 

workforce and served over 30 

years in law enforcement. His 

career included three years as a 

police officer for the city of 

Torrance, California. 27 years as a 

Criminal Investigator/Special Agent 

for the United States Department of 

Justice and Drug Enforcement 

Administration. Retired, and Is 

currently the Owner/Operator of 

Star I Investigations and is a 

member of the California 

Association of Licensed 

Investigators. 

As a 50 year resident of Inglewood, 

Roland has taken a leadership role 

in the community since his 

retirement from the DEA. For 

approximately 9 years Roland has 

been president of the 

Inglewood/Airport Area Chamber of 

Commerce and an active member 

since 2000. 

Roland also is a life time member 

of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 

21 22 and American Legion Post 

633. As well as affiliated with 

International Kenpo Karate 

Association. 

Roland’s past affiliations have been 

serving on the Board of Directors 

for: Los Angeles Alliance for Drug 

Abuse Prevention, Orange County 

Substance Abuse Prevention 

Partnership, California Department 

of Education Drug and Alcohol 

Advisory Board, California 

Governor’s Office of Criminal 

Justice Planning, California Alcohol 

and Drug Abuse Advisory Board, 

National Organization of Black Law 

Enforcement Executives, and The 

Inglewood Coalition for Drug and 

Violence Prevention. IBM 

Thank you Mr. Talton for your integrity, honesty and service. 



43

Inglewood Business Magazine July-Sept

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