COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT: A Three Day Celebration to Honor Murdered Children; San Pedro High Student Writes Letter Asking for The Air Force to Stop Destroying a Hillside behind Cabrillo Aquarium; LAUSD Nominates Harbor Teacher's Prep Academy in Wilmington for the 2008 National Blue Ribbon Award

Three Day Weekend Celebration to Honor the Lives of Murdered Children; Please Attend and Support the End of Killing the Innocents -- and even the Not-so-Innocents

Their mother's will be there.

Their photos will be there.

Even their shoes will be there.

But they will not.

In another attempt to stop the violence, Justice for Murdered Children will launch a three day weekend celebration in San Pedro to honor victims of homicides starting this Friday (Oct. 24) with a candlelight vigil walk starting near the Vincent Thomas Bridge that will end with a ceremony at Ports O' Call Village.

This is an opportunity for the entire community to support those who have lost their children to homicides and another effort to increase awareness that killings are ongoing.

"This killing must stop," said LaWanda Hawkins, who founded Justice for Murdered Children in San Pedro after her 19-year-old son, Reginald Reese, was shot down on a Sunday, Dec. 6 in 1995. He was killed from multiple gun shots. Los Angeles police have never found the killer(s).

The three day celebration, which will include Friday night's walk, will begin at 5 p.m. starting under the Vincent Thomas Bridge near the Los Angeles Port's new fountain, corners of Harbor Boulevard and Swinson Street. A ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. with the reading of the victim's names, guest speakers and music.

Saturday will host a large concert at Port's O' Call -- complete with a carnival, Hip Hop, Gospel and Rock music, from noon to 9 p.m. The entry fee will be $10 and balloon's will be released honoring the victims. Anyone who has lost a loved one to violence is encouraged to bring photographs.

On Sunday, also at Ports O'Call, the Warren Chapel Church will give a sermon, starting at 11, and and a car and motorcycle show will begin at noon, accompanied with more music. At 2 p.m., a free food-giveaway will be launched.

Ironically, while LaWanda Hawkins said she was part of some of the planning, she was surprised when the official planners for the organization -- who didn't know where her son was killed. The location, which she called coincidental, seemed symbolic since her son was killed in a vacant lot across the street.

"This whole program is to make people aware of these homicides and to ask them not to stereotype," she said. "I just want to remind them that this can happen to anyone. We have to cherish our kids everyday. We have to learn that they are gifts."

SP High Student Writes Letter Contending that the Air Force is Destroying Hillside Behind San Pedro's Gem, the Cabrillo Aquarium

By Christian Sthelik, San Pedro High School student

Fort MacArthur Air Force housing has been destroying the cliffs near Cabrillo Beach for the past year or two in order to "stabilize" the cliffs.

They are now planning on "stabilizing" the cliff behind Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the same cliff that is a part of the Cabrillo Native Plant Garden.

There have been supposed sightings of the Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly in the garden, the same butterfly that was believed to be extinct. also, there are several feral cats which call the garden their home.

The Air Force is moving fast. If we the people are to stop this immoral crime against nature and the citizens of the United States, then we must move even faster. We, the people, must exercise our right to question an establishment which we believe is doing wrong.

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES 2008 BLUE RIBBON NOMINEE

Submitted by the LAUSD Communications Staff

Los Angeles – Los Angeles Unified School District officials announced today that Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy in Wilmington is a nominee for the prestigious 2008 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy is one of only 35 public schools in the state nominated for this award. Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy is also a 2007 California Distinguished School winner.

The NCLB Blue Ribbon is a recognition program of the U.S Department of Education and honors schools that are academically superior, demonstrate gains in student test scores and show advances in closing achievement gaps.

“Harbor Teacher Preparation academy has a record of excellence and this honor is an example of a collective effort that not only benefits our students, but brings a sense of pride to our teachers and greater community,” said Board member Dr. Richard Vladovic, who represents schools in Local District 8.

“This is great news and I applaud the hard work of all the teachers and administrators at Harbor Teacher Preparatory Academy,” said Superintendent of Schools David L. Brewer III. “The nomination means that our students are receiving the quality education they deserve.”

Nominated schools will now submit an application to the U.S. Department of Education in February 2008. Each school will need to meet 2008 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Academic Performance Index (API) schoolwide and subgroup growth targets next fall. Those that meet these final targets will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2008.#

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