KIDAZZLE ART STUDIOS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES -- OH MY -- TEACH CHILDREN TO CREATE ART THE WAY KIDS THINK BEST

By Diana L. Chapman

Coloring circles madly, tiny fingers flicked across white pages -- oil pastels happily in hand. “Show me your artist fingers,” the teacher encouraged her students.

The kids, first through fifth graders, proudly shot up their stubby fingertips slathered in blue pastels.

“I guess I was just born an artist,” exclaimed a perky Jennifer, 9, at KiDazzle Art Studio’s after school program.

“That’s what I like to hear,” replied teacher, Michel Solorzano, a woman with extraordinary patience.

Her style caught the eye of May and Mike Schlie when they opened KiDazzle – after many ugly bumps through Los Angeles treacherous bureaucracy; they finally unlocked their doors on North Gaffey Street in January 2008. The couple hired Michel after they saw the fine art major at Seventh Street Elementary School where she still works as a kindergarten aide.

They liked her for the exact reasons I liked her; it embraces their philosophy laced throughout their operations, whether its summer camp, single classes or after school care: kids must have a chance to create without criticism.

Here at KiDazzle, I witnessed kids express their creative souls in a safe haven, but not without structure.

When kids arrive, they start with a snack and juice and do homework or read for one hour. Afterward, they learn art techniques, this time with pastels to build a scene of a giant moon with black building silhouettes.

“It’s so fun,” said bright-eyed, Isabella, 7, who worked furiously and was thrilled with the results. So was I, frankly.

KiDazzle couldn’t come at a better time for parents. Los Angeles Unified stripped away most of its after school programs due to cuts. The Schlies keep prices affordable and currently pick up at three schools: Taper Avenue, Seventh Street and Park Western Avenue elementary schools.

Once, running an art studio was far from their minds. Then, May, who worked as a special education teacher, was severely injured by a student which required several back surgeries.

At that point, May, raised in San Pedro and whose Estrada family dates back three generations – realized she might not go back to work. She also worried that her daughter, Samantha, now six, an only child, had few avenues to make friends. And more, she thought San Pedro did little about art – which had been cut from most schools.

She found herself driving to Torrance, Lomita and Palos Verdes to introduce Samantha to that world.

“It just seemed almost obsolete,” May fumed. “It’s all academics now. This is an extremely important activity, the creativity. Art really helps them with their fine motor skills. Kids need to develop their creative skills. You can’t go wrong with art. It’s their creation. It’s their masterpiece. We provide suggestions, but the kids put it together.”

“See it’s eating,” interrupted 5-year-Elliott to show May his dinosaur mosaic he glued colorful tiles on. “I’m kind of tired of doing this.”

And that’s when the kids play or watch a movie, this time the cartoon Tom and Jerry.

The plans don’t end there for KiDazzle. In a month, they expect to open a pre-kindergarten class and to expand after school activities for older youth. The couples’ energy excites me – especially because it all came about accidentally – and seems to work so well for the 50 plus students currently there.

“The focus is being open to the community and getting ideas about what they want,” May explained.

While last year, they had only about a dozen kids enrolled, they now having a waiting list.

The studio also helped Samantha, who made many friends and scored dozens of party invites.

I’ve been around many schools and other organizations working with kids, but withthe swash of my colorful paintbrush, I give these guys an A plus for their understanding of what kids really need young or old. And that’s freedom to create in peace – without red pen corrections.

KiDazzle location:

1931 N. Gaffey Street Suite 'G'
San Pedro, CA. 90731
Contact Us:
Phone: (310) 832-2777
Fax: (310) 832-2929
Email: Kidazzle@att.net

A LOCAL BICYCLIST STRUCK IN A HIT AND RUN ON PASEO DEL MAR FRIDAY; TWO, YOUNG SAN PEDRO WOMEN UPSET BY THE ACTION COULDN’T BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAW

By Diana L. Chapman

Coming around the corner of the southern tip of Point Fermin park listening to a symphony, I rounded a bend and smiled happily at two young women as I absorbed the stunning autumn day.

With musical buds deep in my ears and catching glimpses of wild dolphins playing in white caps, it took me a few seconds to realize the women were trying to talk to me.

Pulling my ear buds out, one repeated what she asked: “Did you see that? Did you see that bicyclist get hit by the car? It was awful.”

Of course, I couldn’t see a thing, partly because I was confused – as a bicyclist was whizzing by me. I assumed they were talking about that bike rider. When they explained they were talking about another rider, minutes had passed. I asked: “Where is he now? The rider? Was he hurt?”

“I don’t know, but it was awful,” the young woman said, adding that his bike seat had broken off. “This guy hit him and got out of a car and then got back in and left. The bike rider was yelling: ‘What are you doing? Where are you going?

“That could have happened to anyone,” she continued. “It wasn’t right. It’s just not right.”

I could find no signs of the biker. It was about 2 p.m. Friday afternoon, but the older woman – all of about 20 years-old and probably younger – said the bicyclist was wearing a powder blue T-shirt and khaki colored pants. The driver also was a man in a small, white car. That was all they could recall specifically as they were still somewhat dazed.

Having them look for someone to help appealed to my senses. Both were concerned while they were exercising (they had no cell phones to call anyone) so they talked to me. I just happened to be there. One of the woman gave me a way to get touch with her in case I found the biker, who might need witnesses.

After hearing what happened in the gang rape in Northern California’s Richmond High School – where ten others watched for more than two hours and did nothing -- I found these young women refreshing – especially that they cared enough to try to find someone to tell. They were both born and raised here.

It also gave me the chance to put this out on the internet to tell the bicyclist that, hey, someone who saw what happened – unlike the imbecile driver -- actually did care.

It also restored my faith—especially after the gang rape -- that there are many kids and young adults who do want to do what’s right. When I watched a televised media cast of students facing off with school board members, several of the high school girls – who were friends of the victim – told the board they had asked for at least thirteen security guards for the dance.

The students said they knew trouble was brewing and they weren’t safe.

“You laughed at us,” one of the students told the board.

No one is laughing now. Truly that’s the sign: We older adults need to take our ear buds out and listen to our youth and young adults. After all, they are the ones living in the trenches and know more than we’ll ever know what’s truly going on.

If anyone knows the bicyclist, please email me at hartchap@cox.net. And pass this story on.

HELP A SAN PEDRO 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL BATTLE LEUKEMIA; ATTEND A BLOOD/BONE MARROW DRIVE AND FUNDRAISING BARBECUE THIS SATURDAY; READ ANOTHER SAN PEDRO CHILD’S HALLOWEEN TALE AND MAKE SURE YOU READ THE EARLIER POST ON TIPS FROM A LOCAL CHRIOPRACTOR TO AVOID DIABETES IN YOUR CHILD

BLOOD/BONE MARROW DRIVE FOR 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL & BARBECUE

A 9-year-old student, Devin Taylor Hamilton, who goes to Crestwood Elementary School, needs your help to survive leukemia. To do so, consider attending an American Red Cross blood/bone marrow drive and a family-style barbecue this Saturday.

The $10-per-plate barbecue, which includes a free jumper for children, will help with the family’s mounting medical expenses.

Devin, a lifetime resident of San Pedro, was diagnosed with leukemia in August and doctors believe she has the chance to survive with more treatments. Donations will also be accepted.

The American Red Cross will handle the blood and bone marrow drive while the family’s relatives and friends will hold the barbecue at the same location .The drive will be held at Top Value Market, at the corner of 1^st and Bandini streets, from 9 to 3 p.m.

CHECK OUT THIS FUN MONSTER TALE

THE SEVEN MONSTERS OF HALLOWEEN

By Casey Mezin, 13, written at the Corner Store fall of 2009

The seven witches were the seven monsters of Halloween.

They were known as Raven, Worm, Moldy, Cackle, Prickly, Crept and Misty.

There were seven kids who were going trick-or-treating one Halloween night. As they roamed from house to house asking for treats, they heard a cackling sound. Then they spotted a misty fog floating toward them. Beneath their feet, prickly worms sprouted up from the sewer. Their candy began to mold.

Scared now, they crept quietly to the next person’s house, which had a sign that said: “Raven.” Something flew by on a broomstick with a horrible laugh.

Suddenly, coming out of nowhere was a person with purple eyes, muscular arms and a hairy body. Another figure started to move in black armor with a deadly sword, mace, axe and a protective shield. And then two more creatures appeared; one looked like it was made from tar and mud and the other was formed from mist that turned into a strange cloud of dust. A walking crocodile and a giant worm popped out of the sewer drain and slid toward the kids.

Meanwhile, hours later, the parents waited and worried, because the kids didn’t come home. They didn’t know the seven witches had abducted the trick-or-treaters! Just as the parents prepared for a search, the kids came home. But they were different.

They came home with bright green eyes and they had a strange way of walking. The children didn’t tell their parents where they were and wouldn’t answer their questions. The parents were becoming more suspicious that something bad had happened, but could get no answers.

Finally, the kids decided to go out one night and the parents followed. Then the seven witches appeared and leaped on the parents, trying to give them green eyes and a funny walk. This is how they controlled people so they could eventually eat them!

The parents, however, fought back, breaking the magic spell – and all the children melted back to their normal selves. They saw the witches trying to tie up their parents with chains, so the children battled too.

Together, they won and shouted: “VICTORY!” They later threw a party for their victory with pizza, hot dogs, sodas, chips, cookie, cakes, puddings, cupcakes topped off with delicious tasting witch meat pie.

On Halloween, children can now trick-or-treat in safety – since the seven kids got rid of the seven witches for everyone.

LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR GIVES TIPS IN REGARDS TO CHILDHOOD DIABETES

Dear Readers: Kim Kromas has been a long time chiropractor in San Pedro, who has helped me in many ways over the years. She is a chiropractor I trust, so I asked if she’d be willing to help parents by giving them tips on taking care of their children. This time, she explores childhood diabetes, now becoming a common illness among our youth.

By Kim Kromas, DC, Phd

Childhood diabetes is on the rise. This is not the type of Diabetes that you are born with, but the kind that arise from imbalances in our blood-sugar system.

It is the type of Diabetes that requires insulin only if it is not kept under control and until recently was most common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders as well as the aged population. To mange this, it requires proper foods and daily exercise.

Type 2 Diabetes is on the rise in our American Children. The cause is obesity. Let’s bravely admit the main reason for this obesity and avoid embarrassing excuses that have no merit. Obesity begins in the home and continues into social interactions as kids get older. Yes, there are the few that have an organic reason for the inability to lose weight, but this is a very low percentage of the population.

Our children are obese because we allow them to become obese and stay obese. This is a disgrace to our society. Where has our parental intervention gone? Aren’t we supposed to provide our children with the best tools for their future? Their health is their future. We are living in a time of intense scrutiny about our gluttonous country and a collapse of our health system. We live in an illness-driven society where monetary gain is made not only from diagnosing conditions such as diabetes, but from treating this illness on a long-term basis without a prognosis of cure.

What exactly happens in Type 2 Diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. This is known as being insulin resistant. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy.

When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin is released from the pancreas and takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause these problems:

• Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
• A state of hyperglycemia can occur, causing heart palpitations and even unconsciousness
• Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

Remember, your child’s health is a great gift. Let’s focus on feeding them Brain Foods vs. Brain Weakening Foods. Here are some suggestions to guide you:
GetRidOfFoods -------Soda, sugared cereals, boxed and canned foods, cookies, pastries, potato chips, herbal teas
AnyTimeFoods--------Fresh fruits, raw or steamed vegetables, beans, rice, Kashi cereal, nuts, olives, yogurt, turkey and chicken slices, diluted juices

OccassionalFoods----------Red Meat, whole grain crackers, whole grain chips
MinimalFoods-----------butter, mayonnaise, real ice-cream, low sugar sweet

1. Drink lots of water each day.
2. Only eat 1/2 of a sandwich at a time. Eat the other half later that day.
3. Eat every 2-3 hours in small amounts.
4. Eat only what could fit in the palm of your hand.

EXERCISE

Type 2 diabetes requires exercise. Buy your child a jump rope. It is inexpensive and really fun to use. They can start by jumping 10 minutes 2x/day. Your local parks will have resources for swimming lessons, soccer teams and other sports activities that will help maintain a blood-sugar level that will benefit your child.

And remember, it is common for Type 2 Diabetes to create high blood pressure, high cholesterol, digestive problems and lack of concentration. You are the teacher and the model for your child. Teach them to eat right, exercise and to cherish the only body they will be given.

To reach Kim Kromas for further information, call 310-832-5818. Her office is at
302 W. 5th St. #101 San Pedro , CA.

KIDS WRITING THEIR OWN VERSION OF HALLOWEEN STORIES! HERE'S THE FIRST PEEK AT ONE!

Dear Readers: It was exciting to have this story come about from a writing class at the Corner Store where one student proposed writing from the point of view of a witch. That got Keli Mezin thinking....She decided to write from a pumpkin's point of view. Enjoy & Happy Halloween

Pumpkin’s Point of View

By Keli Mezin, 9, photo above

Humph…..Why is everybody carving things out of me? How would you like it if someone just picked you up and started to carve you up? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

I think I am handsome until you guys pick me up and carve me. It’s like you take a knife and shove it in. But since we pumpkins don’t want to scare you, we don’t talk which is miserable for us. Try not talking 24-7. It’s hard. I know we are good to eat and stuff, but still, think about if it happened to you.

Just think about it.

-----------------------------------------HappyHalloween!!!--------------------------------