Despite Coping With Noonan Syndrome, This Boy Can Whip Up A Satisfactory Tale in Fifteen Minutes That’s Organized and Structured As Long As He’s Given Room to Create Safely – Like Most of Us

Meet Casey Mezin, an Exceptional 12-year-old, Who Shaped a Story Called Yellow Bird from a Sticker; Don’t Miss This Marvelo0us Piece Where he Prods Adults to Take Notice of the Beautiful Blooms in Their Lives

By Diana L. Chapman

I can’t resist when I meet a kid like Casey Mezin, who tackles more difficulties than most of us will in our lifetimes.

The 12-year-old San Pedro boy has a genetic disorder, Noonan syndrome, which prevents him from developing normally.

For his age, his heart is enlarged (which is much bigger and thoughtful than most people I know). His frame is thinner and much tinier for most children his age – especially for a boy. He has big, buggy eyes (that I consider beautiful), a curly mop of hair and yes, difficulties putting together his thoughts – which sometimes make it seems like he stutters.

Those who don’t know him, probably don’t stop and think about it much.

Or they might not understand that in his life time, he will likely face having a heart transplant and that his condition won’t ever allow him to grow physically the way most children flourish. Sometimes, it makes other kids not want to play with him, but that’s because they don’t know what they are missing.

He seems full of weird wisdom, such as when his mother, Kim Kromas, and his sister, Keli, 9, have spats.

“He says sometimes: ‘Mom, Keli is very young and she doesn’t mean what she says,” explained his mother, Kim Kromas, a San Pedro chiropractor. “"I want you to visualize something else when you’re mad, something beautiful.”"

Now when the two have a fight, Casey will wander by his mom’s room and with his fingers fluttering up and down, he’ll say: “Mom, remember: the flower garden. ..the flower garden. Think of the flower garden.”

That makes his mom laugh. It seems like we all need Casey’s in our lives as a daily reminder that life is beautiful and spending time being angry isn’t worth it.

My relationship with Casey, and his sister, Keli, 9, started after Kim asked me if I’d work with her children on their writing at the Corner Store on 37^th Street, a great neighborhood hangout. I suggested that we get a handful more children, which Kim did, because kids work better at helping each other in a safe and nurturing environment.

Keli, of course, a natural writer, quickly reduced her run on lines and shortened up her work in neat packages with a bow on them.

I really wasn’t sure how Casey would do. But somewhere along the line, Casey had some darn good teachers, because I was dumbfounded by his ability to write with such an organized structure and rhythm.

When I gave the students all stickers one afternoon and asked them to write about it, Casey wound up with a yellow bird. And this is the tale he spun:

Yellow Bird

By Casey Mezin

My character’s name is Yellow Bird. I name it that because she is yellow and it is a bird.

She carries her crayon to keep herself healthy and rubs it all over her body. She does it every week. But if she loses her crayon, she will get sick in a week. If weeks pass, then she wouldn’t be able to fly. And when months pass, she better find her crayon…and fast!

She is kind and loyal to people. When she sings to people, they completely forget why they were sad, scared, hurt or angry.

At Yellow Bird's first day of school, she was excited because

she knew that she would make new friends.

She had at least thirteen kids in her class. Some of their names were: Key Train, Beef Neck, Chris Cross, Bacon Head, Sausage Teeth, Egg Eyes, Face Change and Night Hair.

Yellow Bird couldn't believe how many kids there were. Their teacher's

name was Ms. Dawn.

What they did the first day was learn their ABC's, build clay, make dolls, learn addition and subtraction and sing songs. They did a lot of stuff.

The teacher asked Yellow Bird to sing for them and she was surprised when even Beef Neck loved her voice. What a first day of school.

Once, Yellow Bird and her class had a week of camp. She couldn’t wait

to go. She packed all her clothes: PJ's, food, and all sorts of other things.

It took two hours to get to the camp.

First, they learned how to fly faster, and better in case cats tried to eat you.

Next, they learned how to turn, and hover. Yellow Bird wasn't the best or the worst at hovering.

Everyone has trouble hovering on their first try.

Then, they learned how to glide in for worms when they are trying to

escape. Finally, they tried to practice their signaling in case they ever got

lost or trapped.

One of the kids got scared and started to cry, but Yellow Bird sang to him to make feel better, so he stopped crying. His name was Egg Eyes and after he stopped crying, he told everybody why he was scared.

He was homesick, but Yellow Bird’s singing made him happy again.

And so, Yellow Bird and her class went home on the last day of

Camp.

She slept soundly knowing she made new friends, who loved her voice and gave her thirteen more good reasons not to lose her yellow crayon.

A SAN PEDRO RESIDENT, WHO CURRENTLY PRESIDES OVER A LARGE LOS ANGELES INNER CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IS NO STRANGER TO CONTROVERSY, OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED THE POST TO HEAD SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL THIS WEEK – THE FOURTH PRINCIPAL TO AGREE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE AILING SCHOOL;

SCHOOL OFFICIALS PROMISE THIS TIME THE HARBOR AREA CAMPUS WON’T BE USED AS A PATHWAY TO RETIREMENT SINCE IT'S LOST THREE PRINCIPALS THAT WAY IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS

By Diana L. Chapman

Delighted school officials announced Tuesday that a San Pedro woman – who headed the helm of two giant middle schools in Los Angeles’ inner city sanctum and was embroiled in controversy in June, will return from vacation and take the reins of ailing San Pedro High School at the end of the month.

Calling her a collaborator, school officials seemed unconcerned with the controversy that flared at John Liechty Middle School’s graduation ceremony where Jeanette Stevens – as the top administrator – refused to give 15 protesting students their diplomas on graduation day.

During the ceremony, apparently 15 students stood and turned their backs on guest speaker, Los Angeles Unified School Board president, Monica Garcia, to show their anger regarding upcoming layoffs and increased class sizes at their school, which had just marked the tender age of two and was considered a progressive campus.

As those students crossed the stage, Stevens refused to hand them their diplomas, because she considered their behavior during the ceremony disrespectful. Parents and students were infuriated by Steven’s decision and demanded an apology – which she did not give. The students did receive their diplomas later.

A release sent out by LAUSD school administrators afterward showed support for Steven's decision. She had earlier lamented the layoffs herself in a National Public Radio broadcast.

The radio piece earlier this year discussed how Stevens had built a team of fresh-budded teachers at the school – only two years old- to work together to enhance student curriculum and to make it more enticing to students.

During that NPR interview, Stevens called the layoffs devastating and said “I have to be hopeful, because I can’t imagine the school beyond Sept. 9.”

When the announcement of cuts came, Stevens still demanded respect from her students at the graduation ceremony – even though she herself called the layoffs “devastating.”

Stevens, who lives in town and whose children attend an undisclosed Los Angeles Unified district elementary school in San Pedro, will be the fourth principal who agreed to step into the position -- a post embroiled with issues that three other principals walked away from.
Stevens was out of town this week and could not be reached for comment, but administrators lauded her pick with enthusiasm.

David Kooper, the chief of staff for Los Angeles Unified School Board Member Richard Vladovic, said that his office applauds the hiring of Stevens, who was sought after for the job because she’s a “team builder.”

“We’re very excited to have someone of her caliber,” he explained. “Jeanette Stevens, we believe, has all the tools for this job. We picked somebody not too close to retirement, who can see through change and bridge the gaps.
“She’s motivated and can get people to do things without arguing.”

Linda Del Cueto, who heads this area’s schools for LAUSD and was responsible for Steven's hiring,, said in a released statement: “I am confident that her collaborative style will be an asset to the community.”

An Open House featuring the new principal will be held in August, but the time and location had not been selected.

Earlier this week, officials decided not to announce Steven’s hiring until it was considered “official,” Kooper said, after residents were excited by the hiring of Linda Kay, 57, who decided later to not take the job.

Kay headed Narbonne High School and cleaned up problems with that campus, such as accountability issues and the running of a two-tiered school. But shortly after she accepted the San Pedro job, the former principal and director of several intermediate schools decided to retire instead.

Therefore, Stevens will replace former principal Bob DiPietro, who remained for two years at San Pedro when family crises led to his decision to resign. He took over for Diana Gelb, who quit and went into retirement after one year.

San Pedro High has been plagued with a series of problems from teacher and administrative entrenchment, intense overcrowding, a 50 percent dropout rate – and worse, a score in accreditation that rates at comparable or less than that of several of the district’s inner city schools.

The campus received a two rating out of ten which some educators consider similar to a D grade. Stevens also headed Berendo Middle School prior to taking her new job at Liechty.

A LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT BACK PACKS AND KIDS: HERE ARE TIPS ON HOW TO STOP YOUR CHILD FROM GETTING "BACK PACK SYNDROME" WHICH CAN HURT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

BackPack Syndrome

Kim Kromas, DC, PhD

I remember the end of every summer when I was a kid. I was so excited to pick out my new backpack for school. I picked out a pattern that was really cute or cool at the time. Who cared how sturdy it was or how much weight it had to hold? I had a locker to keep my books in and I only took home what I needed. This started in 7^th grade.

Time continues to alter the necessities of life. Our kids now need backpacks that hold sometimes as much as 40% their own weight. This starts in 1^st grade.

Complaints and concerns about the weight of student’s backpacks comes from parents and students. This situation is common for me, a Chiropractor for the past 22 years.

Does the weight that a child or teenager needs to carry in their backpack affect their growing spine? Absolutely. As the spine is growing, specific curves in the spine need to be maintained. The weight of books and accordion folders forces the shoulders to hunch forward and downward, putting more pressure on the necks and middle back of our children. This eventually affects their lower backs. Symptoms of “backpack overload” are headaches, neck pain, midback pain and low back pain.

I interviewed four girls going into the 3^rd and 4^th graders about their experiences with backpacks:

1. Leilani – The weight of the “normal” backpack with two straps makes her lean forward. This causes her back pain.

2. Jackie - She carries her backpack on one shoulder and she feels pressure on her right shoulder and left hip.

3. Keli –Her over-the-shoulder backpack puts pressure on her neck, hip and shoulders.

4. Lily – Her rolling backpack really works for her. She does have to leave it at the bottom of the stairs if her class in on the second floor.

What to look for in a backpack:

1. Thicker shoulder straps

2. Be sure the top of the backpack is as high as possible (close to the shoulders)

3. The smallest backpack with the most pockets inside the shell (not outside)

What is the best backpack?

Airpack backpacks are the best alternative to traditional backpacks I have found. They have a pouch that is filled up with air located at the lower back. This pouch redistributes the weight of the books and takes the weight off of the shoulders. Air backpacks have thicker shoulder straps and decrease the weight on your spine by up to 50%.

What is the cost of an Airpack?

Look on-line at Amazon or E-bay for an Airpack. We have not been able to find a reduced price for Air-packs, but if we do, we will let you know. The cost is anywhere between $35.00 and $70.00, depending on what you need it for.

-- Kim Kromas has 22 years of chiropractic experience. You can reach her at:

Chiropractic and Nutrition Center

302 W. 5th Street, #101

San Pedro, CA 90731

(310) 832-5818

www.kromaschiropractic.com

kimkromasdc@cox.net

TWO SAD INCIDENTS IN SAN PEDRO RECENTLY MAKES ONE WONDER WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT PIT BULLS AND OTHER DANGEROUS DOGS? SHOULD THEY BE CONSIDERED LETHAL WEAPONS THAT OWNERS MUST REGISTER?

By Diana L. Chapman

It was just another tragedy unfolding last week. The sun was shining. The boys played Wiffle ball happily outside as the June gloom of San Pedro days began to fold away to hazy summer afternoons.

The family cat, Oreo, hung out lazily on the porch seeming to watch the boys smugly. A sense of happiness clung in the air because the last day of school was around the corner and vacation was running after her heels.

And so, unfortunately, were two pit bulls – and what happened next is why I want the city of Los Angeles to consider forcing owners to register pit bulls -- and other dangerous canines known for aggressive and violent behavior – to be registered with animal control as potential, lethal weapons. I know what you’re thinking: She’s barking mad.

It’s not that I don’t like pit bulls or other dogs with aggressive tendencies. To me, they are beautiful creatures.

But it’s the only way I can see our laws being given more bite, because right now they don’t have more than a “woof.”

Think about these people:

· Diana Whipple of San Francisco, ripped to shreds and killed in February 2006 by her neighbor’s 120 pound presa canaria, dogs the neighbors knew were vicious and aggressive.

· A 12-year-old boy, Nicholas Faibish, was attacked in Northern California and killed by two family pit bulls in his own home. The mother blamed the boy.

· More recently, two pet pit bulls lived with the man they killed -- a 60-year-old Rubidoux resident, who lived with a couple and their three children, two, seven and 12.

All the dogs involved were put down, and crimes were charged against the owners in the first two cases, but why do we have to wait to get to that? Why do we have to wait for people to die, children to be maimed for life – and never mind the mounds of unreported pets that have been killed in vicious attacks all across the nation because we can’t determine the best way to control the situation.

To me, this is a much better solution than doing outright bans on the animals, which some cities have done, or trying to prevent future breeding. Ruling dangerous dogs as potential weapons tooled correctly could bring all sorts of potential actions that could give police and animal control the ability to confiscate such animals and cite owners for neglect.

I am quite sure gang members and other idiots, who use these animals in dog fights, will not register their animals, giving authorities another tactic to swoop on their crimes…where as good pet owners will.

Of course, there’s probably a million and one doggy reasons not to do this, but as I listened to my son and his friend recount their terrifying experience trying to save Oreo, in the back of my mind, all I could think about is what if, what if....they had attacked the boys?

“I was just stunned, just frozen” said one of the teens, whose family did not want to be named. “It was just too much to watch,” as the dogs played tug of war with Oreo hanging from their mouths.

His older brother acted more instinctively, punching one of the pit bulls repeatedly until it let go. And my son jabbed at the other dog with a plastic bat. When it finally let go, Oreo tumbled down, walked a few steps, stumbled, somersaulted and collapsed.

While the teenagers did everything they could to save Oreo, it was in vain. By the time the cat arrived at the veterinarian’s office, both of the feline’s shoulders were pulverized with little chance of recovery.

So I ask, just as Mary Lou Martinez did when her cat, Sylvester, sunning in her San Pedro yard, was grabbed by a neighbor’s wandering pit bull: What’s it going to take? Mary Lou worked desperately to rescue her cat – until the dog turned on her. Another neighbor raced out to help her and when the dog went after him, the neighbor shot the dog to death and is still haunted by it.

As for Sylvester, he also had to be put down.

Perhaps this plan would protect not just the public, but the animals from being used in dog fights – and force irresponsible owners to become more responsible or face charges for allowing their animals to escape.

I’m sure that many pets have been brutally killed by pits that go unrecorded – and it’s hard for some people to understand the pain it causes.

“I am still very upset and that nobody can understand the significance of the loss of the little furry part of our household,” Mary Lou complained in frustration, thanking God her grandchildren hadn’t arrived home from school yet. “My puppy still looks for Sylvester, and the stray cat that (hangs out on the porch) still cries for him at my back door. They slept by each other every night.

“I want Sylvester to have justice.”

To make matters worse, the owner was not cited and yelled: “You shot my dog!” to the neighbor who rescued Mary Lou from possible injuries.

A lot of all of this just comes down to common sense, which apparently many people don’t have. In Oreo’s story, a petite woman walking the two large canines, rounded the corner. When they sensed the cat, they dragged the woman -- whose job it was to walk the dogs -- up over the sidewalk, across the grass and straight toward the feline. The woman then dropped the leash.

In mere seconds, the two pit bulls had each end of Oreo in their mouths. My own 35-pound mutt can drag me – he’s that strong, so why would this walker have taken this job with well-known muscular beasts when she apparently didn't have enough training to handle them??

I have friends who own pit bulls, who are sweet as sugar and the owners are excellent. But still one never knows. Even responsible owners get caught off guard.

One day, as I strolled with Ryan when he was 2 years old, a young couple with a large pit bull told us their dog was friendly and that we could easily walk by. As we started to pass, the dog spotted Ryan’s toddling legs and lunged for him.

The owners were stunned, shock spreading across their faces. Even these owners – good owners -- didn’t understand what a weapon they had on their hands.

Even Before Stepping onto the Campus, Newly-Named San Pedro High School Principal Linda Kay Changes Her Mind and Submits Retirement Papers Instead;
The Beleaguered Harbor-Area School Has Lost Two Principals in Three Years and Remains Once Again Without a Leader

By Diana L. Chapman 

With excitement brewing about a new principal coming aboard San Pedro High 

School, Linda Kay “had a change of heart,” and not only removed herself from the 

post she accepted – but retired from the district mid-week.

Kay, 57, who helped clean Narbonne High in a two year period before leaving
in 2008 and whose career spanned more than three decades with the Los Angeles
Unified School District , appeared to be set for to take the reins of
San Pedro’s campus.

She surprised school officials with her decision, who have had difficulties
keeping the continuity of leadership running at the school. San Pedro High
also faces a myriad of troubles, from hanging by a thread to keep its
accreditation, overcrowding issues and test scores that are comparable
or below that of inner city schools.

Kay was supposed to replace retiring principal Bob DiPietro, who stayed
only two years before personal issues forced him to retire.

DiPietro replaced Diana Gelb, who served only for one year
before retiring.

“She had a change of heart and submitted retirement papers yesterday
(Wednesday),” said Linda Del Cueto, who heads the region in which San Pedro
and Narbonne both reside.  “I don't have a replacement yet as HR
(human resources) placed a hold on all secondary principalships. 

“I know the decision was hard for Linda to make as she a is a dedicated educator 

who cares about improving education for all students. Her mother is ill and 

retiring by June 30, 2009 gave her the opportunity to take advantage of the 

retirement incentive being offered by the district.” 

Reached later via email, Kay who came with a wealth of experience and held
jobs such as counselor, teacher, principal, and director of a group of
intermediate schools, wrote the decision was extremely difficult.  

“I am sorry it turned out this way,” Kay explained, saying the reduction of the work
force (the district’s conducting layoffs) and continuous problems with the
trouble-plagued district's new pay roll system were both part of the reasons
she cited about her departure.

“Please know my decision to retire was difficult and I wavered until the very end.
I am sorry that I could not keep my commitment to San Pedro,” Kay wrote.

Although she’s officially retired, she will return to the district to work with her
supervisor, Del Cueto,on an as needed basis as an interim administrator where
her pool of talent can be used in “a broad and comprehensive way.”

“I value the education of students. This should be our nation’s number one priority,”
Kay added.

Del Cueto said at this time, she does not have a replacement, but will continue to
search for a new leader to head the school.