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New Year's Eve is the perfect time to party, and there's no better place than the El Monte area. You'll find everything from casual bar crawls to elaborate and elegant parties where you can put on your best ball gowns and tuxedos and look right at home. We've rounded up a wide selection of choices so you can find the right New Year's Eve option for your style. Here are our top suggestions. more Los Angeles New Year's Eve Party 2023 — Gatsby's Penthouse spray candle in a bottle by Myriam Zilles is licensed with Unsplash License Ring in the new year with a lively party themed to the roaring 20s. This chic event at Capture Studios Penthouse 59th floor in the U.S. Bank Building will transport you to a world of glitz and glamour. Party the night away in Los Angeles's tallest skyscraper and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding city. This upscale event includes a four-hour premium bar, two outstanding DJs, live casino games, and three areas where you can mix and mingle. Every attendee will receive complimentary party favors and access to the open bar. The casino games, including blackjack, roulette, and poker, will offer a variety of prizes. The top prize winner will get a pair of tickets to attend the party next year for New Year's Eve 2024. Upgrade to a VIP ticket, and you'll enjoy access to a separate VIP area with upgraded beverages, including Grey Goose vodka. Dress to impress in your best 20s attire. Plan to don your zoot suits, flapper dresses, and other themed apparel for the occasion. Location: 633 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles Time: 9 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022, to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, 2023 New Year's Eve 2023 @ SLS Hotel Beverly Hills If you're looking for an elegant New Year's Eve event, this sophisticated party at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills is just the thing. Formal suits and extravagant gowns are highly recommended, and at minimum, cocktail attire is encouraged. Tickets get you access to two expansive party spaces. Inside, you'll enjoy electronic dance, house, and techno music. On the covered, heated terrace, you'll find open-format Top-40 music with hits ranging from hip-hop to pop. With more than six DJs, an open bar, dancers, and little extra surprises, this promises to be an event to remember. At midnight, you'll get to participate in a live countdown, complimentary champagne toast, and balloon drop. Hotel rooms in the SLS Beverly Hotel are available, so you don't have to drive home at the end of the night. Contact the hotel to book your room separately. Location: 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles Time: 9 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022, to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, 2023 THE COUNTDOWN 2023 Lit LA Nightclub will host a thrilling New Year's Eve party to ring in 2023. This newly remodeled Montebello venue offers two levels of entertainment. The enhanced lighting, laser light system, and 22 plasma TVs create a stunning party space that takes your evening to another level. You can party the night away on two dance floors and step outside as needed on the spacious smoking patio. The nightclub creates a chic, trendy environment that's everything you want for a New Year's Eve party. RSVP on Eventbrite for affordable $20 admission until 10 p.m. Location: 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello Time: 8 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022, to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, 2023 Singles New Year's Eve Party If you don't have a partner to celebrate New Year's Eve with, head to the biggest singles event in Los Angeles for the evening. The Songbird Cafe will host a memorable night of mingling that includes a live DJ spinning hip-hop and rhythm and blues music all night. This gorgeous and groovy environment features elegant lighting, cozy seating, and a spacious bar perfect for making new friends as you ring in the new year. The Songbird Cafe focuses on craft cocktails that offer a delightful sipping experience. You'll find all your favorites, including the whiskey highball, old fashioned, Manhattan, screwdriver, and more. Modelo, 805, St. Archer, and White Claw are also on the menu. Reserve your spot for this free event on Eventbrite. Location: 900 N. Broadway, #1050, Los Angeles Time: 10 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022, to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, 2023 Los Angeles New Year's Eve Bar Crawl If you just can't settle on a single party for New Year's Eve, why not hit them all? This Los Angeles bar crawl includes more than 10 different parties at locations around the city. Sign up for the bar crawl, and you'll get a map of all the participating bars in the area. As a participant in the event, you'll enjoy exclusive drink specials everywhere you go. Select locations even offer welcome shots on arrival. The 2023 lineup is still in the works, but you can likely expect to see some repeat participants. The 2022 bar crawl included Broadway Bar, Beelman's Pub, Pattern Bar, Golden Gopher, The Reserve, and Los Angles Biergarten. You can check in anytime between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The bar crawls continue as long as the bars are open. Location: 830 S. Broadway, Los Angeles Time: 8 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022 New Year's Eve at El Encuentro Party the evening away in vibrant style with El Encuentro at The Tango Room. The venue will transport you to an elegant space reminiscent of the 1940s, where you can dance the night away in your best attire. Dine on light bites from a buffet of desserts, cheeses, and fruits. Enjoy wine and champagne as you groove to the tunes of Latin Grammy-winner Matias Piegari. You'll have plenty of opportunities to practice your dance moves throughout this stunning event. Location: 4346 Woodman Ave., Sherman Oaks Time: 8 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022 Do you know of other New Year's Eve events happening in the El Monte area? Contact our team at Longo Toyota and let us know so we can update our listing. We want to make sure we always have the best local recommendations for our customers.

If there's one thing El Monte, California, has, it's a wide range of options when it comes to diners, restaurants, and pubs. Here at Longo Toyota, we've curated a list of great places to eat in our city, so you don't have to. Please note that it's almost impossible to list all the places serving delicious and mouth-watering dishes, so we encourage you to keep trying new places. more Annia's Kitchen Image by ray_explores is licensed with CC BY 2.0 For many, Annia's Kitchen is the go-to Mexican restaurant in the city. It serves both authentic Mexican and American food in an open space where customers can see planes come and go. Once there, you'll realize that despite seeming like a hidden gem, Annia's Kitchen is loved among its customers, and the place is never empty. Customer service is excellent, as the restaurant takes pride in serving great food and giving customers an overall positive experience. The menu is quite varied; for appetizers, there are onion rings, cheese quesadillas, mozzarella cheese sticks, chicken tenders, and chili cheese fries. The salad options include the famous chicken Caesar, fiesta salad, taco salad, California cod, and the chef's salad. For dinner specialties, it offers liver and onions, mushroom steak, chuckwagon, meatloaf dinner, peppered steak, and sirloin steak and shrimp. Traditional Mexican specialties include carne asada a la tampiquena, carnitas dinner, chile verde dinner, fish filet, and shrimp. Lastly, some of the dessert options offered include ice cream, apple pie, cheesecake, and pudding. The Derby Perfect for special occasions, The Derby is an award-winning upscale dining establishment that has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest and leading steakhouses in the area. It all started when athlete George Woolf purchased The Derby to have a place where he could reflect on his fruitful career and create a gathering space for jockeys and race fans. As you can conclude, the restaurant was a total success, and after all these years, it has maintained its reputation and status. Regarding menus, the restaurant features three different ones: dinner, lounge, and happy hour menus. The dinner one includes the starting gate (crab cakes, ahi wontons, crispy Brussel sprouts, filet-wrapped asparagus, bacon-wrapped dates, and Cajun shrimp), soup and salad options (French onion soup, soup du jour, Debby iceberg wedge, and Caesar, Cobb, and House salads), pasta dishes, over five different types of steaks, fish, and side dishes. The lounge menu features more standard options, such as bacon cheeseburgers, steak sandwiches, tacos, and prime-loaded potatoes. The happy hour menu, as its name explains, are appetizers that mix well with alcoholic drinks, with some available happy hour appetizers including calamari, shrimp cocktail, and Cajun shrimp. NORMS What initially was a coffee shop is now the perfect place to take your family and enjoy delicious American dishes in a friendly and inviting environment. NORMS provides customers with a casual yet excellent dining experience, which makes it perfect for a Sunday out. What's more, this diner is open 24/7 and has a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu available all day long. Breakfast options include three different types of omelets (melting pot, the classic, and the veggie omelet) served with fresh fruit or golden hash browns, your choice of toast, and either an English muffin, biscuit and gravy, or two buttermilk hotcakes. NORMS doesn't charge for its sugar-free syrup or egg whites on egg dishes, and you can get fresh avocado and jalapeno servings for a small fee. For lunch, dinner, and entrees, it offers five different types of steak and eggs, special breakfast (like the Gobble Gobble Bigger Better Breakfast and the Sirloin Steak Bigger Better Breakfast), burritos, sandwiches, chicken tenders, fries, mozzarella cheese sticks, six types of burgers, seafood, pasta, and meatloaf. NORMS also offers a wide range of desserts, including chocolate fudge cake and classic cheesecake. Pollo Mania Pollo Mania is a family-owned and operated restaurant that offers Peruvian-style chicken and cuisine. It has been operating for over 20 years, and its story began when the Peruvian-native owners wanted to give the world a taste of their cuisine, so they opened the restaurant. Something worth mentioning is that despite its name implying that it's a chicken-only restaurant, it has a varied menu. For beef lovers, Pollo Mania has lomo saltado in different presentations (served with rice, in a burrito, or tallarines), and for those looking to try all the Peruvian dishes, it has soups (chicken soup and aguadito de pollo), beans, and salads. Additionally, you can enjoy the woodfire rotisserie chicken or chicken sandwiches, anticuchos, burritos, and rice bowls. The drink and dessert options are cuernitos, lucuma ice cream, mini alfajor, pionono, chicha, inca kola, and maracuya. Havana Club Restaurant & Bar Opened in 1998, the Havana Club Restaurant & Bar has been the go-to place for people who love Cuban cuisine. The founder, Chef Ruben Valenzuela, learned the art of making authentic Cuban dishes from the number one Cuban restaurant in downtown Los Angeles — El Colmao. After that, he passed on the knowledge to the other chefs, so the restaurant could become what it is now. Some menu options are stuffed beef potato, beef pie, plantain chips, Cuban-style tamal, fried pork skin with cassava, different types of sandwiches, shrimp and chicken salads, soups, top sirloin steak, breaded chicken steak, chicken in cherry wine sauce, seafood, and fries. Some drinks and desserts available are tropical shakes (mango, guanabana, banana, and mamey), papaya chunks in syrup with cheese, guava shells and cheese, and homemade flan. There you have it, our list of recommended places to eat in El Monte, California — we hope we made justice to these amazing places. If you've already been to any of these restaurants, please tell us how it went. We'd like to remind you that at Longo Toyota, we're committed to improving our community, so if you ever need a trusted dealership, nothing will make us happier than having you as a customer. For more information, please get in touch with a member of our team.

A certification from Toyota itself can be a big selling point when buying a used Toyota. Toyota puts its certified stamp of approval on used vehicles that meet certain age, mileage, and inspection requirements. Whether you're looking for a late-model used Toyota or a certified pre-owned Toyota, Longo Toyota has the selection and the pricing to fit your needs. A certification helps you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your vehicle has been through a rigorous inspection process and comes with an extended warranty. more How a Car Gets Toyota Certified 2023 Toyota 4Runner To become Toyota certified, there are a few guidelines that a car must meet. These include: Newer Than Six Model Years Old A car older than six model years isn't eligible for certification because it's more likely to have outdated safety features, worn-out parts, and outdated technology. This ensures that a car is relatively new and may not require as many repairs later. It also helps protect the resale value of the vehicle. A car with the latest safety features, original parts, and technology can offer you many years of trouble-free driving and retain its value better. A Clear CARFAX Vehicle History Report CARFAX is a national vehicle history reporting service. It keeps track of a vehicle's maintenance, accidents, and other important information. This report is one of the first things our team looks at when considering a car for certification, as it gives us a complete picture of the car's history. To be certified, a car must have a clean CARFAX report. This means that the vehicle has never been in a major accident, has never had significant bodywork or paintwork, has never undergone reconstruction, and has no outstanding recalls. An Odometer Reading of Less Than 85,000 Miles Odometer readings are another vital factor our team looks at when certifying a car. It shows how much wear and tear the car has undergone over its lifetime and helps us gauge its overall condition. An odometer reading of 85,000 miles or less is ideal for certification because it means the previous owner didn't drive the car too much. It provides you with peace of mind knowing your vehicle isn't too old and its parts are less likely to fail and need replacing. Pass a Rigorous 160-Point Quality Assurance Inspection Our team of expert technicians then conducts a thorough 160-point quality assurance inspection. This comprehensive inspection covers everything from the car's engine and drivetrain to its interior and exterior condition. A car must pass this inspection completely to get certified. This means the vehicle is in good working order, and no cosmetic damage may affect the car's value or safety. Benefits of Toyota Certification A Toyota certification can result in many benefits with your purchase. These benefits include: Extended Warranty You automatically get an extended warranty when you buy a Toyota-certified car. This bumper-to-bumper warranty covers your vehicle for up to 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. This warranty covers the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and several other aspects. If you experience any issues during the warranty period, you can bring your car to Longo Toyota for repairs at no cost to you. Powertrain Coverage for up to Seven Years or 100,000 Miles Toyota-certified cars also have powertrain coverage besides the bumper-to-bumper warranty. This warranty covers the car's engine, transmission, and drivetrain for up to seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Longo Toyota can make the repairs for free and with no deductible if anything goes wrong with your car's powertrain during the warranty period. One Year of Roadside Assistance In the event of a flat tire, the need for a jumpstart, or if you run out of gas, Toyota can help. As a Toyota-certified customer, you get one year of complimentary roadside assistance. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is valid for one year from your purchase and covers you nationwide. Reviewed CARFAX Vehicle History Report When you purchase a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle, Longo Toyota provides you with a free CARFAX vehicle history report, which includes the car's maintenance history, accidents, and damage. The report is valuable in determining whether a car is right for you by providing complete transparency. 160-Point Inspection All Toyota Certified Used Vehicles come with a 160-point quality assurance inspection. It's beneficial to know that a certified car has undergone a thorough inspection by our team of expert technicians and passed the test. This way, you can feel confident that your vehicle is in good condition and can last many years. Standard New Car Financing Rates Toyota-certified cars come with standard new car financing rates that are among the lowest in the industry. These low rates can help you finance your vehicle and keep your monthly payments down. It also allows you to take advantage of any current incentives that may be available. Warranty Honored at Toyota Dealerships Nationwide If you're ever traveling and have a problem with your car, you can take it to over 1,400 Toyota dealerships across the U.S. and Canada. These dealerships honor your car's warranty, so you can get the repairs you need without worry and get back on the road. You'll receive the right parts, the right service, and the security that comes with knowing your car is covered. Trouble-Free Handling When you purchase a car, there's much paperwork involved. We simplify the process by taking care of all the paperwork. This includes the transfer of your car's title and registration. We'll also take care of any outstanding recalls or service bulletins. Trade-Ins Accepted You can trade in a Toyota-certified car at any Toyota dealership. We'll even help you find the right dealership if you're unsure where to go. This process ensures you get the best value for your car and can put that value towards purchasing your new car and saving you money. Explore Toyota-Certified Vehicles A Toyota-certified car is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality, reliable, and affordable car. With a comprehensive warranty, roadside assistance, and a CARFAX vehicle history report, you can be confident that your car will be there for you when you need it. If you're in the market for a used car, Longo Toyota's selection of Toyota Certified Used Vehicles is the place to start your search. With our large inventory and competitive prices, we're sure to have the perfect car for you. So, contact us today for more information.

Christmas is a time of celebrating and gathering with family and friends to enjoy the simple things in life and share in the joy of connection. Whether you want to have some fun shopping while creating memories with your family or are excited about partying the night away with friends, El Monte has numerous festivities for you to attend. Read on to learn about Longo Toyota's suggestions for the top local Christmas events in El Monte, California. more Hitch Cocktails Image by alans 1948 is licensed with CC BY 2.0 If you're looking for some cerebral entertainment or enjoy getting a little scared, consider Hitch Cocktails. This improvised thriller and drinking game event is a phenomenal way to get to know your newest love interest or spend the evening sharing laughs with a group of your thriller-loving friends. The full-length live event channels the likes of Alfred Hitchcock to harness your attention and have you at the edge of your seat. A fully-stocked on-stage bar makes it even more exciting, as actors must take a drink any time they are offered one and finish it before the end of the scene. Watching the night unfold is full of impromptu entertainment. A Day in LA Tours No matter what time of year you visit, you can have a great time taking a tour of El Monte, California. However, the Christmas season lends a unique charm to this city that's hard to find during other seasons. A Day in LA Tours invites participants on an informative and impressive tour of some of the gorgeous Hollywood homes. The narrated tour, directed by a well-informed and experienced guide, takes you to the famed homes of some of the biggest stars, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, and Elvis Presley. You'll also see some great landmarks, including the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive, Griffith Park, and the Sunset Strip. With its storied history and the fun facts provided by your tour guide, this experience is one to remember. You'll find Hollywood Value Tours at 7038 Hollywood Boulevard. To learn about tour prices and special group discounts, call 323-219-9560. The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a phenomenal location to visit any time of year. However, during the winter months, you'll find a wide selection of events sure to keep you and your loved ones entertained. If you're interested in yoga or consider yourself a yoga master, take advantage of the available weekly yoga classes. You can select from Yoga in the Morning, typically held on Saturdays, or Yoga in the Garden, a relaxing experience often held during the evening hours on a weekday. If you need to unwind after the busy holiday, consider participating in the Winter Nature Camp. You can take part in this fun family activity during the last week of December or the first week of January. The Nature Camp invites you to bring your children to join in inspiring winter-themed projects and garden adventures. These activities are geared toward children, as they focus on science, art, and culinary knowledge. Using the season as inspiration, your children will love learning about vegetation that thrives in cooler climates. Each week features a different topic, so be sure to check the schedule to find which one is better for your family. The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is at 301 North Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. For questions and information about the Winter Nature Camp, or to register, call Brooke Applegate at 626-821-5897 or email brooke.applegate@arboretum.org. For general information about the arboretum, call 626-821-3222. Domingo Social-Christmas Luncheon Consider the Domingo Social Christmas Luncheon on December 4 at the Club Cubano Del Valle San Gabriel for a little spice in your Christmas festivities. The club's purpose is to keep families together and preserve Cuban culture. Regularly hosting potlucks, picnics, and barbecues with members and non-members alike, the club is an important aspect of the community. The annual Christmas celebration features fun and bright holiday decor, wonderful red table linens, and delicious food. You don't need to worry about planning a menu or doing the dishes because it's prepared and catered just for the event. It's a great family event where you can sit together at a table, enjoy meaningful conversation, and share a meal. The Club Cubano Del Valle San Gabriel is at 10960 Lower Azusa Road in El Monte. While club membership prices begin at $12.50 per month for an individual or $15 a month for a family, you can call for more information about annual or event discounts. To learn more about the Christmas Luncheon, email cubanclubsgv@gmail.com. Santa Claus Is Coming to Los Alamitos On November 19, welcome Santa to Los Alamitos. This fun family event is a great opportunity to take some festive family photos. Bring the kids for an interactive time with Santa and get a package of five digital photos to share on social media or print out and adorn your walls. Use the opportunity to do some good for the community and participate in Toys for Tots, hosted by the United States Marine Corps. Other guests include EverDream Events Corp., Sparkle and Shine Nails, and more. Tickets for this event and meet and greet with Santa start at $155. The event will be held at the American Legion Hall Post 716 at 3252 Florista Avenue in Los Alamitos from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 714-785-0727 or visit the website www.ocstudiosbylizette.com. So, there you have it. We here at Longo Toyota have enjoyed sharing our list of the top local Christmas events you don't want to miss in El Monte. Whether you're looking for a fun family evening or want an exciting and different date night idea, we hope you'll consider one of these options. What did you think of our list? Did we miss your favorite annual Christmas event? If so, please leave us a message sharing your thoughts, and we'll be happy to check out your ideas. You might find your suggestion featured on our list in the future.

As the weather cools down and the holiday season approaches, Longo Toyota in El Monte, California, loves to work with various organizations in our area. Our goal through these partnerships is to highlight the unsung heroes of our community. One of our partners is Hope House. This wonderful organization works with community members who have autism, intellectual disabilities, and mental health concerns. It supports its clients and their families through various programs and services. For its clients, Hope House offers targeted behavior training, life skills training, and person-centered planning, among other services. The person-centered planning allows clients to create a personal picture of current and future goals. It also takes clients on life-skills training and other trips into the community to get them comfortable. The organization provides support for adults and children. Medical treatment is addressed as needed, and to ensure this support, residents receive annual exams, lab work, and dental work. These services are provided within 45 days of a new resident moving in. They are also provided within 45 days of a resident’s annual due date. Proper COVID-19 protocols are followed by all staff members to ensure the health and safety of the residents. An equal amount of attention and resources is provided to the family members of clients. Hope House offers therapy and respite care services, so loved ones can spend time on themselves. It can also help with writing individualized education program goals and working with families to make sure there is an equal amount of participation with their loved ones. Image by Viscious-Speed is licensed with Pixabay license Advocating for someone with special needs plays a vital role for family members, caregivers, and friends. There are opportunities to support at the local level through the school system. You can also advocate for the disabled community as a whole by keeping an eye on various bills and providing writing support for them. The holidays can be challenging for people with special needs and their caregivers. However, with some planning, families can enjoy the season. For instance, if there are concerns about reactions to specific gifts, you might send out recommendations for gifts the recipient would enjoy. You could also let people know about conversation topics to engage in and those to avoid. Thinking of ways to include the disabled in the preparations for the celebrations is also important. Perhaps they can sing a favorite song or add unique decorations to the area. Schedules are important during a busy event. A clear timeline allows party-goers of all abilities to know about and prepare for specific events. Disabled family members might be given a specific job, such as being a photographer or greeter, to get them comfortable around the event. Depending on individual needs, particular areas might be designated to allow for quiet time for people to recharge. Ensuring the room is equipped with activities and other calming influences can help in case anyone is overwhelmed during the event. Another excellent opportunity to involve everyone is using technology to the fullest. For instance, if reading a book isn’t comfortable for someone, but reading electronically makes them happy, eBooks might be used. That would allow them to participate in the festivities without feeling overwhelmed or uncomfortable. Along with providing several different tips to help the season run smoothly, the organization runs an annual toy drive. The goal is to ensure that all of their clients, especially those living in their different homes, have gifts to open during the holidays. The organization has six homes for children under the age of 18. Each property is home to children with a variety of special needs. The Hope House accommodates the largest group (15) with a variety of developmental disabilities as well as mental health and behavioral challenges. The Redstone and Halifax properties house four people each for those with autism and mental health concerns. The Holiday House and Park House are home to three people with developmental and mental health concerns. The MaryJo House is home to four children who lack hazard awareness. In addition to the properties for children, they have six properties for adults with mental health concerns and developmental disabilities. They also provide care for people living with seizures and physical disabilities. While the homes provide for the basic needs of their residents, the organization relies on the toy drive to brighten their clients’ holiday spirit. Typically, the properties need twin bedding, board games, pillows, blankets, and towels. Ideas for presents and the name and age of the person receiving them can be found on the Winter Holiday page of their website. If you want to donate a physical gift, you can take it to the Hope House office at 4215 N. Peck Road in El Monte. You can also drop off donations for the homes. If you have questions about where or when to drop off your contributions, you can call 626-747-9320. Another option for donating to the toy drive and other programs throughout the year is doing so online through the Hope House website. You can choose a general gift or specify one for a specific program. The program also accepts vehicle donations and home items, toys, and other donations. It doesn’t cost to donate your vehicle. All you need to do is set up an appointment by calling 877-999-8322. The vehicles are used to transport individuals for group and solo trips into the community or to medical appointments. Working with organizations in our community is a favorite pastime of many members of the Longo staff. We enjoy interacting with our community and greeting our neighbors. It is our pleasure to partner with the Hope House organization to ensure their residents and family members continue receiving the care they need. We also want to ensure they have an enjoyable place to call home. The staff of Longo Toyota looks forward to creating a bright holiday season for all our community members. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

The holiday season is a time to celebrate and make cherished memories with family and friends. It's also an excellent time of year to support the local community. Several events will take place through the end of the year, covering various interests and groups. Browse through our list below if you're someone who is looking to help organizations in the El Monte area. An Evening With Our Blue Heroes Image by Ian Schneider is licensed with Unsplash License The Arcadia Police Foundation works with the men and women of the police force to ensure they have the training and equipment they need to perform their jobs safely. The foundation also works to bridge the gap between the police force and community members. At An Evening With Our Blue Heroes, you can enjoy a gala in support of the Arcadia Police Foundation. This elegant event will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022, in Arcadia at the Le Meridien Hotel at 130 West Huntington Avenue. If you're planning to attend the event, tickets are $150 for each person. You can also become an event sponsor, which reserves a table for ten in your name. Four sponsorship levels range from Bronze, with a $1,500 donation, to Diamond, with a $10,000 donation. It's important to note that there will be no ticket sales at the door because Le Meridien Hotel needs a head count before the event starts. The gala will be in the hotel's ballroom, so you can dance and mingle while raising money. The dress code for the evening is formal. Heartful Hands 19th Annual Toy Drive Many children look forward to receiving a gift under the tree. You can help make their wishes come true by being part of the Heartful Hands 19th Annual Toy Drive. This festive event works to benefit the Jonathan Jacques Children's Cancer Institute's Adopt-A-Family program. This program pairs community members with families of children receiving care. The outdoor toy drive will be in Long Beach on Friday, November 18, 2022, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Vista Del Mar Hotel Maya at 700 Queensway Drive. If you want to attend, you must bring at least one gift. The focus is mainly on teenagers, but you can bring gifts for any age. Gift cards are an excellent option if you're unsure what to get. If you choose to bring any other type of gift, please don't wrap it. As you plan your outfit, keep the festive side of the season in mind. The night will include fun and socializing with a champagne bar, hors d'oeuvres, and entertainment. You can buy tickets for the toy drive or donate online. 5K Turkey Dash and 1K Trot Raise money for the South El Monte Parks and Recreation Division while you lace up your shoes and go for a run. The 2022 Turkey Dash and Trot will be on Saturday, November 19. The trot will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Turkey Dash at 9:30 a.m. Both races will start in front of South El Monte City Hall at 1415 Santa Anita Avenue. If you want to participate, you can register online for the event or fill out the paperwork in person at the South El Monte Community Center. The fee for the event is $5 for residents with proof of residency. Racers from outside South El Monte will pay $10. Clay Shoot Benefiting Special Olympics Southern California As the calendar flips to December, you can head to Sylmar and support Special Olympics Southern California. Special Olympics is an international organization that allows athletes of all ages to compete with their peers, regardless of their disability. The organization relies heavily on volunteers and fundraisers throughout the year to support the athletes in their chosen sport. The Knights of Columbus and Law Enforcement Torch Run are teaming up to host a Clay Shoot. This exciting event will allow participants to raise money while sharpening their vision. The shoot will be in Sylmar at Moore N Moore Sporting Clays Inc. at 12651 Little Tujunga Canyon Road. The event will start at 8 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2022, and end at 2 p.m. The day will start with breakfast before the shooting begins. Each participant will receive 100 shells and have the chance to shoot 100 clay targets. A hearty lunch is on the menu to close the event. If you're looking for a unique holiday picture, a tactical Santa will be on hand to take pictures with kids and family members. A few of the many Special Olympics California athletes the event supports will also be on hand. Spirits of the Holidays Another opportunity for lending a hand in the community during the holidays is the Spirits of the Holidays benefiting the Real Way Foundation. These folks work with job seekers to improve their resumes and interview skills. They can also provide financial services and education for members of the community. The festive fundraiser will be held in Newhall at the Hart Hall Museum at 24151 Newhall Avenue on December 3, 2022. This jam-packed evening of entertainment, fun, and fundraising will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The party will include food and live entertainment. Along with dinner and music, you can purchase additional beer and wine sales tickets throughout the evening. An auction and raffle will also boost the contribution for the night. If you want to become a VIP for the evening, you can enter the celebration starting at 6 p.m. If you choose this option, you'll enjoy entertainment from a private entertainer. There will also be an unlimited wine selection and craft beers to enjoy and pair with various foods before the party starts. Whether you're passionate about raising money for athletes or job seekers, there are plenty of opportunities to spend time with friends and family while supporting your favorite causes. As you fill in your social calendar for the end of the year, consider attending one of the charity events around El Monte this holiday season. Each event is unique and will let you leave knowing you've done your part to help your community.

Every year, about 15 million new vehicles and 40 million used vehicles are sold throughout the U.S. If you're thinking about buying one soon, you'll need to figure out what to do with your current car, truck, or SUV first. You can attempt to sell your existing vehicle on your own if you would like. You can also call on a company that specializes in buying vehicles for cash and see if they would like to make you an offer. But trading your vehicle into Longo Toyota in El Monte, California, might be your best option of all. Check out some of the biggest benefits of taking this approach below. Trade-In Your Vehicle Helps You Get Rid of a Car You Don't Want 2023 Toyota GR Corolla As we just touched on, there are a variety of ways in which you can get rid of your current car to make space in your driveway for a new one. You're more than welcome to try to sell a car on your own if you want to do it. But it can be difficult trying to unload a car yourself. You will need to: Clean your car from bumper to bumper and make any necessary repairs to it. Take photos of every aspect of your car. Put together a write-up for your car. List your car for sale in the appropriate places. Meet with potential buyers and allow them to test drive your car. It can take days, weeks, and sometimes even months to sell a car in this way. It would be so much easier to go through the process of trading your vehicle into a dealership. You can do it within just hours with next to no effort on your part. Prevents You From Having to Fix Up an Older Car If you're going to try to sell a car on your own before buying a new one, you will often have to invest some money into it first. You'll need to pay for cleaning supplies or pay to have it detailed by someone else. You'll also need to pay for any necessary repairs unless you plan on disclosing them to buyers and possibly scaring them off. The money that you'll need to spend to get your car into tip-top shape so that you can sell it might not be worth it. In the end, you may lose money on a deal when selling a car yourself versus trading it in. It's another reason why you should think about trading your vehicle into Longo Toyota. Brings Down the Price of a Car You're Buying When trading your vehicle into a dealership, it will make it easier for you to afford the new car you'll be buying. A dealership will give you money for your trade-in that you can apply directly to the price of the car you'll be buying. The price tags on both new and used cars have increased slightly in recent months. You can bring them back down to earth by trading your vehicle into a dealership and getting what you can for it. Lets You Take Advantage of Tax Incentives If you go through the trouble of selling a car yourself rather than trading it in, you'll have to pay taxes on the sale price. Those taxes are going to cut into your profits and leave you with less money for your car than you were anticipating. But when you trade your vehicle into a dealership, the opposite will be true. Trading a car in can bring the price of a new or used car down and lead to you paying lower taxes on it overall. You might be surprised to see just how much money you can save when you trade your car in after you take tax incentives into account. Makes It Easy to Pay Off a Car Loan Do you happen to still owe money on the car that you would like to get rid of at this point? This can make selling a car during a private sale more trouble than it's worth. Before you can officially toss the keys to your car to a buyer, you'll need to have them pay you so that you can pay off the loan that you have on your vehicle. This can delay your ability to sell a car in many instances. When you trade your vehicle into a dealership, they can handle helping you to pay off the loan that you have on it. You won't have to worry about doing a thing to get this loan taken care of once and for all. Allows You to Avoid Scams Unfortunately, not everyone who shows an interest in purchasing your car during a private sale is going to have your best interests at heart. There are lots of scammers out there who will show an interest in buying a car from you in an attempt to scam you out of money. As long as you're extra careful when selling a car, you might be able to avoid these scammers. But why risk it when you can just go through the process of trading your car into a dealership instead? It'll be so much easier and will help you steer clear of scammers altogether. Consider Trading Your Vehicle into Longo Toyota Buying a car can be a stressful experience for some people. It can be especially stressful when they have to be concerned about selling their current cars before they can buy new ones. If you don't want to have to worry about this aspect of things, trading your vehicle into a dealership like Longo Toyota in El Monte, California, will be your best bet. We will gladly take your trade-in from you and help you pick out a new or used car that you'll love. Are you ready to get started? Come visit Longo Toyota today to get the trade-in process underway or contact us for more information on the vehicles that we have in our inventory at this time. Trade-In Your Vehicle

When summer road trips and pool days wind down, school is just around the corner. Whether you're sending your child off to kindergarten or their freshman year of high school, there are some things your family can do to prepare for going back to school. Here are eight helpful tips for students and parents to ensure a successful start to the school year. Acclimate to the School Schedule Image by MChee Lee is licensed with Unsplash License Summer activities can mean staying up late and sleeping through the morning. Casual mealtimes and relaxed schedules are a fun way to spend the summer, but many kids do better with some consistency once school starts. In the weeks before the first day of school, consider implementing some healthy habits, such as consistent wake-up times and bedtimes. Gather the school and work schedules for each family member, and create a calendar or noticeboard with start and end times along with regular activities. A visual reminder in the days leading up to school can help eliminate a panicked first morning. Try On School Clothes You can start getting your kids' school wardrobe together by reviewing the school’s dress code policies. Once you have an idea of what kind of clothes your kids need, you can pull out the pants, shirts, and shoes for school. You may find your younger children outgrow their clothes in just a few months. You can donate clothes that no longer fit them to make drawer space for a shopping trip, or get ahead and buy clothes when you see a great sale. For some kids, the ritual of shopping and buying a few new school clothes helps the transition from summer to the school year. A favorite shirt or new backpack they helped pick out can build their confidence and ease any nerves on the first day of school. Acknowledge Anxiety or Excitement Kids may not offer up their feelings about the upcoming school year voluntarily. It can help if parents ask questions in a one-on-one conversation when you’re in an environment without distractions. Maybe your child would enjoy a special meal or treat at their favorite restaurant. Kids may open up if parents share their own feelings first, such as, "I remember my first day of seventh grade. I was really nervous about starting a new school. Are you?" Let them share anxiety so you can come up with coping mechanisms together. In addition, encourage them to think about the things they're excited about or look for things that will be different but possibly better. Connect With School Friends Once your kids know their class assignments, it might be helpful and fun to arrange a get-together with classmates or other school friends. Help your kids get excited about seeing their friends every day, especially if they've been missing them over the summer. If they're starting at a new school, and school rules allow it, meet friends at the school and walk around to see where the different buildings are. The kids can plan where to meet their buddies on the first day to help ease those new-semester nerves. Plan Lunchbox Menus If your children take packed lunches to school, the last few weeks of summer are a great time to get back into lunch planning and packing mode. You could go on a dedicated trip to the grocery store together and pick out some special lunch snacks or talk about new meal ideas to try while browsing the aisles. Back at home, you can get out the lunch boxes or bags for a good cleaning. Make a plan together for preparing lunches, whether that's sharing the duties together, packing lunches the night before, or making a list of everyone’s favorite items to post in the family information center. Fill Out Forms in Advance Schools require forms for sports activities, field trips, parking passes, and various other things. The last thing you want is to scramble around the first morning of school searching for pieces of paper handed out at orientation nights or hunting through your emails for links to online forms. If you are given the option in advance, the best time to gather and sort out what you need is when you have time to sit quietly and read the forms carefully. Set Family Goals for the Year Many families choose to come together for a special meal or family meeting time before school starts. Some families find that setting an intention, choosing a family theme, or planning goals for the school year can help everyone focus on important family values as they get busy with schoolwork and activities. These intentions can be centered around a religious text, a code of ethics, a favorite song lyric, or a beloved family book. Your family may identify a habit everyone wants to improve, such as gathering for dinner each night or spending part of the weekend all together without distractions. Setting goals together can be a unifying and bonding experience for family members of all ages. Prepare a Homework Station Some families like to set up a dedicated communal space with desks for laptops, stationery for homework, shelves for organizing, hooks for backpacks and coats, and bulletin boards for important information. For young kids especially, having their school items contained in one spot can help with tidiness, and if it’s within earshot of your main grown-up space, parents can offer homework help when needed. Older kids may want a more private desk space in their bedrooms. However you choose to organize your home, creating a dedicated study spot can help separate areas for homework, sleeping, and family living. You might take a trip to the store and gather some fun new school supplies to make the area feel fresh and ready for the first day. The end of summer fun and family adventures can be hard, but we hope these eight suggestions help your family prepare to get back into school routines. Are there any tips we missed? We'd love to hear about them. Feel free to contact us, and let us know what helps your family get ready for the first day back at school.

California is one of those states where getting around is difficult without a car. In turn, teens and adults must go through driver's education to pass their written and driving tests at the DMV. At Longo Toyota, we're invested in seeing people get a quality driving education so they can become safe and confident drivers on the roads in and around El Monte. The following is a look at the best driving schools near El Monte, CA. All of them offer driving school packages designed to meet the needs of you or your teenager to qualify to get your driver's license. Read on to learn about the driving schools that offer straightforward services to ones who can pick up a student from start to finish at the DMV. Student First Driving School Image by Joe Goldberg is licensed with CC BY 2.0 Student 1st Driving School helps teen drivers earn their minimum requirements for taking their driving test at the DMV. The school also offers driving education to adult drivers, although adults aren't required to have a minimum number of hours to take the test. Lesson packages for drivers of all ages include working on driving skills and preparing for the written portion of the driving test, with each package meeting the driver's specific needs. The school offers a single lesson package intended for a student who already has some driving experience and has completed some hours with another driving instructor. Most students, teens, or adults can get a more comprehensive driving experience and education with the three or five-lesson package. The multi-lesson packages include driving in challenging conditions to help the student learn how to become a confident driver in all types of driving situations. America's Driving School Walnut America's Driving School Walnut is one of those unusual driving schools in that it doesn't have a website, and it's located in a carwash facility. The reason why it's listed is that it has great reviews for professionalism, and its staff does an excellent job of helping students learn how to drive and understand the rules of the road. The school takes students of all ages and experience levels, and lesson packages are affordable. You can get picked up by the driver, provided you live within a certain radius of the school, although you have to call and find out what that radius is. During the lesson, the teacher takes time to walk the student around the car and then has them sit in the driver's seat for a further lesson on the controls of the car. Parents of teenagers are invited to observe the teacher while they show the student how to operate the car. The biggest takeaway from reviewers is the fact that the teachers are pleasant and thorough, and they make it a point to help students relax behind the wheel. Students at America's Driving School frequently ace their driving tests at the DMV after finishing their driving lessons with one of the quality instructors from the school. Advan Driving School Advan Driving School is a family-owned and operated driving school located in Alhambra, CA. It's a full-service school that offers in-person driving lessons to teens and adults and online education for the written portion of the exam. Class options include basic driving lessons that enable a student to qualify for and take their driving test. There are classes available for students who need a more comprehensive driving experience that they may not otherwise receive. The goal of the school is to teach students how to become safe and confident drivers capable of passing the driving test. Students can get picked up at their home for a fee, provided they live in Arcadia, Montebello, Pasadena, or Pico Rivera. Advan Driving School is a California DMV-Certified Driving School. Viva Driving School Viva Driving School offers driver's education both online and behind the wheel for teens and adults. Students can take lessons one hour at a time or in multiple sessions to meet California's six-hour drive time minimum for taking the road test. The school also offers online and in-person driver training that emphasizes safe driving habits as well as learning about the rules of the road. Students who are seeking their permit and are at least 15½ years of age can apply through the school. After the student receives their permit, they can take classes at Viva Driving School and work their way towards earning their regular driver's license. Viva Driving School also offers driver's education to international students seeking to learn how to drive on California roadways. It also offers testing services in the form of scheduling the driving test at the DMV for a student as well as providing student pick-up and letting the student use the school's car for the driving portion of the test. Yolanda's Driving School Yolanda's Driving School is a highly rated school that offers basic and intermediate driving courses for teens and adults. Teachers emphasize safe driving techniques, are patient with their students, and make sure that all students receive a complete education in the classroom and on the road. Students learn how to drive properly in an environment that's low-pressure and encourages students to relax. The school emphasizes teaching the road portion of the lessons in a non-judgmental fashion while focusing on the importance of safe driving. The school offers driving packages to help students meet their minimum driving hours and classroom education requirements. Online driver's education is available, and students can study at their own pace. Yolanda's Driving School also provides assistance to drivers who need a car to take their test but don't have access to one. This wraps up our list of the best driving schools near El Monte, CA. All these schools offer driver's education services that meet a variety of needs for beginning drivers, whether they're a teen or an adult. You or your teen can feel confident that you'll be able to pass your driver's test at the DMV after receiving a quality education from one of these schools.

Going on a road trip can be a fun way to explore a new place with your family or friends. Whether you're making a short trip for a weekend away or getting ready for multiple weeks on the road, it's important to prepare yourself and your vehicle properly for your journey. Our team at Longo Toyota created this guide to help you best prepare for your next road trip in the El Monte, California, area. Share Your Plans Image by kaluci is licensed with Unsplash License Let someone know about your plans for your road trip. If possible, create an itinerary that details your plans, such as routes you plan to take, cities where you plan to stop, hotels or campsites where you plan to stay, and dates you expect to be gone. It may also be helpful to consider enabling location sharing through your smartphone so they know where you are. Check Your Vehicle Complete a comprehensive check of your vehicle before departing for your trip. Start by checking all the fluids, such as brake fluids, coolant, oil, and windshield fluid. If you're not sure how long it's been since your last oil change or you think you may be due for one while on your trip, consider scheduling an oil change before hitting the road. This helps ensure your car performs optimally and prevents you from sacrificing time on your trip to deal with repairs. It's also important to check your tires before your road trip. Check the tread on your tires to ensure you don't need to replace them and the pressure to confirm they're filled appropriately. Don't forget to check your spare tire when completing these checks to avoid further issues if you get a flat on the road. If you have questions about your tires, it may be helpful to get a professional opinion. Don't forget to address small things you might not otherwise think about in your vehicle. For example, confirm the bulbs in all your headlights, taillights, and turn signals illuminate properly. Check your brakes, especially your brake pads and rotors, to confirm everything is in good condition. If you have any warning lights on, such as your check engine light, seek professional maintenance assistance and resolve the issues before your trip. It may also be worthwhile to check your battery before leaving. Experiencing a dead battery may delay your trip significantly, and it may happen without a battery warning light illuminating first. Look for signs of a weakening battery, such as your engine struggling to turn on or dim headlights even after replacing the bulbs. Come visit us so we can check your battery and advise you about potential replacement options. Create a Roadside Emergency Kit Emergencies may happen during your road trip, but preparing for them can help ensure they have minimal effect on your trip. Build and pack a kit of supplies you can use to help you handle small emergencies or maintenance concerns that may happen on the road. Some important things that may be helpful to have include: Bungee cords or straps. Emergency triangle or flares. Extra fluids, such as oil, coolant, and wiper fluid. Flashlights. Full-sized spare tire. Portable gas container. Jumper cables. Road atlas. Supplies for changing a tire, like a car jack, lug wrench, and wheel lock key. Tire chains. Tire pressure gauge. Tire repair supplies, like an inflator, plug kit, and sealant. Toolkit with items like an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, a socket wrench set, tow rope, work gloves, WD-40, and zip ties. Umbrella. Consider researching your routes before leaving for the trip. For example, this may help you know when to anticipate driving through highly rural areas and fill up in advance. Learning more about the terrain and environment and factoring in the time of year may also help with packing appropriate supplies for the weather. For example, it may be helpful to have an ice scraper if you're driving to Utah in the winter, but you can likely leave it at home if you're trekking through Arizona in July. It may also be helpful to create a general emergency kit. Include items like a first aid kit, basic cleaning supplies, drinking water, nonperishable food items, blankets, baby wipes, and trash bags. When packing, consider ensuring everyone has extra clothing and personal care items in case of trip delays. Bring Important Documents Make sure to pack all your important travel documents. Confirm you have the essential paperwork for driving your car, including your license, insurance, and registration. Don't forget to pack any membership cards for roadside assistance companies and confirm you know how to contact them. It may also be helpful to keep printed copies of your routes, plans, or reservations and invest in a paper atlas as an extra resource. Consider bringing cash and coins with you, too. Some routes may include toll roads, requiring you to pay a fee to drive on them. Toll routes often vary by state, but some accept coin and cash payments, while others may use a toll-by-plate system or only accept toll passes. Resources like TollSmart and TollGuru make it easy to research and plan for toll roads you may encounter. Don't Forget the Fun Don't let the stress of planning a road trip make you forget about having fun. Create playlists in advance to enjoy during your journey, and let people take turns playing DJ. Bring activities for the kids to do, such as card games or coloring. Think about making printouts of license plates from every state to play license plate bingo during the trip, or consider researching fun roadside attractions or landmarks to stop at throughout your drive. We've reached the end of our guide about preparing for a road trip. At Longo Toyota, we're proud to serve you and be the name you trust for everything Toyota in the El Monte area, and we hope you learned something new with our guide. Think we left something important off of our checklist? Drop us a line to share your suggestion. We may even update our guide to share your road trip preparation tips with our readers.

Fall is the perfect time to get out and about with the family in El Monte, with average daily highs ranging from the mid-80s to the mid-70s, depending on the month. This Californian city and its neighbors have several great, fun, family-friendly events that can help you make the most of the weather. Here are some of our favorites. Community Bike Ride Discover El Monte on two wheels at the city's community bike ride. While the ride has no age limits, the city recommends them for children aged 10+. The ride is an 8-mile course, so consider your children's stamina when deciding if the ride is right for your clan. Bring your bikes and helmets to join in the fun. Location: South El Monte Community Center, 1530 Central Ave., South El Monte. Date: Sept. 10, 2022. Time: Meet at 8:30 a.m. for a 9 a.m. departure. Price: Free. Music on Main Concerts Music on Main is predominantly a summer concert series, but it continues until the first month of fall with shows from Ellas, playing a blend of modern and mariachi music and No Duh, a No Doubt tribute act. The early start time makes these events perfect for music-loving families. Bring your chairs and dancing shoes, as there's plenty of space in front of the painted band shell to bust a move. Nearby eateries and onsite food vendors ensure there are dinner options for even the fussiest eaters. Location: Tony Arceo Park (on the corner of Tyler and Mildred), El Monte. Date: Sept. 15 and Sept. 29, 2022. Time: Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Price: Free. Movies at Victory Park Image by PublicDomainImages is licensed with CC BY 2.0 Travel 12 miles to Pasadena's Victory Park for family-friendly movies under the stars. See "Moana" in September or "Edward Scissorhands" in October. Arrive early to secure a prime viewing position and enjoy music from live bands and MCs. Bring a picnic or enjoy delicious dishes from the onsite food trucks. As the park is dog-friendly, the whole family can enjoy a movie date out. Location: Victory Park, 2575 Paloma St., Pasadena. Date: Sept. 24 and Oct. 8, 2022. Time: Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; the movie starts at 8:30 p.m. Price: $10 to $30 depending on the tickets; free for children under five. Secure discounted advance tickets via the Street Food Cinema website. Los Angeles Chocolate Salon After a three-year hiatus, Pasadena welcomes the LA Chocolate Salon, Southern California's original gourmet chocolate event, this fall. Now in its 14th year, this fun event features special chef appearances, live demonstrations, and plenty of opportunities to taste the sweet stuff. The admission price includes tastings and samples, so you don't have to feel guilty about indulging your sweet tooth. Just don't blame us if your kids experience a serious sugar rush. Location: The Pasadena Center, Conference Building, 300 Green St., Pasadena. Date: Sept. 25, 2022. Time: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Price: $22.75 advance price for adults ($25 at the door); $10 for children ages six to 12; free for children under six (up to two small children per adult). Carved La Canada Flintridge is a 25-minute drive from El Monte, but it's worth the drive to enjoy the fall fun of Carved, the annual harvest festival at Descanso Gardens. Your kids will love admiring the thousands of carved pumpkins lined up for a mile through Camelia Forest and Oak Grove. They will learn how to create their own spooky squash at home with pumpkin-carving demonstrations. They can also test their navigation skills in the hay maze and step inside the awesome pumpkin house made of real pumpkins. Holiday-themed foods and beverages add to the fun. Location: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. Date: October 7-31, 2022. Time: Entry times are every half hour from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Price: $20 to $26 for Descanso Gardens members; $32 to $38 for non-members. Thunderfest Car Show and Music Festival Take the 10-mile drive to Covina for the 25th year of Thunderfest, the largest car show in Southern California. Admire the hundreds of hot rods and classic cars that line the downtown streets. If autos aren't your thing, don't worry. A variety of bands entertain the crowds from two outdoor stages. It's also a great place to shop up a storm, with many local stores offering special Thunderfest deals. Location: Citrus Avenue, Covina. Date: Oct. 8, 2022. Time: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Price: Free. Los Angeles Fall Fair This year marks the 41st annual LA Fall Festival. It's the largest fall festival in Los Angeles County, with 12 acres of carnival rides and games, concert stages, a food court, and market stalls. Unlimited carnival rides keep the price low for families. You'll find all your favorites here, including a merry-go-round, a giant Ferris wheel, and the thrills of the Krazy Train, Star Tower, and Zipper. Location: La Prada Event Plaza, Whittier Narrows Park, 1600 Rosemead Blvd., South El Monte. Date: Nov. 4-Nov. 6, 2022. Time: Friday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Price: $5 for adults and children 12+; free for younger children and seniors 65+; free parking. Annual Fall Festival South El Monte isn't the only local city with a fall festival. For more fall fun, travel 20 miles northwest to Glendale for its annual fall festival. Your family can enjoy all their favorite fall activities here, including picking pumpkins and getting creative with arts and crafts. Carnival games, face painting, and a bouncy house provide little ones with plenty of fun. People of all ages love the Glendale Rocks climbing wall, live music, and tasty food options. Location: Pacific Community Center and Park, 501 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale. Date: Oct. 22, 2022. Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Price: Free. The team at Longo Toyota knows what they'll be doing this fall, but what about you? Are there any great local family events happening in the fall that we missed? We'd love to know how you'll be enjoying our local area as a family this season.

Several places offer high-quality after-school programs if you need a safe place for your child to go after school in the El Monte area. Whether you're looking for somewhere to help your child with homework, provide a safe environment, or learn a new language, you have options. Our Longo Toyota team would like to share a few places where you can take your kids after school in El Monte, California. iKids Learning Center Papá, terminé los deberes... by Enrique Dans with license CC BY 2.0 The after-school program at iKids Learning Center provides your child with a comfortable and safe environment where qualified teachers can help them complete their homework. iKids employs patient, passionate, and caring teachers who can lend a supportive hand to students that need assistance. Your child will get a nutritional snack at the iKids Learning Center after-school tutoring program. The staff will challenge your child as they learn and grow in trust and confidence. iKids Learning Center is located at 3301 N. San Gabriel Boulevard in Rosemead. They provide care for your child until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. iKids has been serving the area since 2006, and its goal is to ensure its students are successful academically. Data for Children Another excellent after-school tutoring program is available at Data for Children. Your child will benefit from the caring and dedicated teachers who will provide homework help and tutoring based on your child's academic needs. Teachers base lessons on your child's current academic level to challenge them and help them grow as successful learners. Data for Children offers a constructive and safe environment where your child will make friends and have fun while learning. A Summer Enrichment program is also available through Data for Children. This program runs June through August from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours available. The curriculum includes next-grade level common core and extracurricular activities such as edible and hands-on art projects, crafts, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), coding, and more. Data for Children is located at 253-255 S. San Gabriel Boulevard in San Gabriel. Neo Learning Center Neo Learning Center has served the Arcadia area since 1989 and offers after-school programming for kindergarten through grade nine students. Their program strives to develop your child's social and academic skills through various activities and programs. Your child will work with experienced teachers who work to develop their most significant potential for life and career services. Neo is located at 19 Live Oak Ave. in Arcadia. A standard day schedule consists of homework time, a break, plus vocabulary, math, reading comprehension, and school test preparation time. Neo also offers weekly speech, writing and language arts, math, and art classes for students. Optional programs include Spanish, Chinese, and piano and music theory for an additional fee. You can also pay to have your child picked up at school and delivered to Neo Learning Center. The pick-up time is between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m., with late pick-up available until 7 p.m. Neo Learning Center offers your child a full-day summer school program, starting at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. The summer program schedule includes writing, penmanship, reading, phonics, spelling, and language arts instruction in the morning. Afternoons offer common core math, coloring, thinking skill puzzles, board games, and field trips. Once a week, classes include phonics review, speech class, language arts review test, math review test, listening training, and art. Included special programs are fun science and team drama-play activities. During their summer program, Neo also offers Spanish, Chinese, and piano and music theory. Little Harvard Academy - Harvard Education Center Little Harvard Academy - Harvard Education Center is located at 62 Las Tunas Drive in Arcadia and offers an after-school and summer program to help your child close learning gaps and acquire advanced skills. Little Harvard's programming is designed for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This educational program is available either in-person or online. Your child will receive homework support, targeted instruction, adaptive assessments, personalized learning, and enrichment activities. The Little Harvard Academy summer program runs from June to August for students in first through eighth grades. The morning program runs from 9 a.m. to noon and includes critical reading, a writing workshop, mathematics, and test practice. In the afternoon, students will work on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), public speaking and debate, Chinese and Spanish, and fun activities from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. New Light Learning Center New Light Learning Center offers several programs for kindergarten through grade 12 students, including homework tutoring, test preparation, college entrance preparation, and private music lessons. New Light Learning Center can also help your child improve their critical thinking and study skills. A Saturday enrichment program is also available for grade and middle school students. The after-school program at New Light is offered Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 9032 Mission Drive, Suite #210 in Rosemead. Your child can also attend summer day camp at New Light Learning Center from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The summer program includes common core English language arts and math in the morning on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. After a lunch break, they continue with elective classes, world language club, informational text reading, problem-solving, reading comprehension, and number fluency. Wednesdays start with a common core review, and then everyone goes on field trips to places such as Castle Park, John's Incredible Pizza, Splash Zone Waterpark, AMC Movie Theater, and bowling. A high-quality after-school program can provide your child with the academic support needed to be successful in school. It can also give you peace of mind, knowing that your child is in a nurturing and safe environment with caring teachers and staff. Our Longo Toyota team hopes this list of available after-school and summer programming for your child is helpful. If you'd like us to help you find a new vehicle to haul the children back and forth to these programs, stop in and see us at 3534 N. Peck Road in El Monte.