Don't Miss This Lifetime Experience to Hear Directly from Two of the Lost Boys From Sudan and the Author Who Helped Them Write Their Story In the Unforgettable Book: They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky

The Free Event, Open to the Public, Will be Held At San Pedro High

(Story to Come)

2,000,000 dead. 5,000,000 displaced and at risk.

The Lost Boys from Sudan were 20,000 boys who walked barefoot without food or water over 1,000 miles, eating mud to stave off thirst and starvation. The year was 1983.

Please come

to hear and meet the authors of the

powerful autobiography of three

Lost Boys from Sudan

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky

By

Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, Benjamin Ajak

with Judy Bernstein

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

San Pedro High School Auditorium

11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.

Or

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

BOTH SESSIONS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

No reservations required

Devin and friends, who helped at Bone Marrow and Blood Drive after she was diagnosed with leukemia. Another event is planned this weekend.

ANOTHER BONE MARROW BLOOD DRIVE WILL BE HELD FOR 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL WITH LEUKEMIA THIS SUNDAY; SAN PEDRO RESIDENTS ASKED TO STEP UP TO HELP DEVIN:

A MOM AND DAUGHTER HELP SOUTH SHORES ELEMENTARY STUDENT RAISE $5,000 PLUS FOR NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT; TAPER AVENUE ELEMENTARY PARENTS UP IN ARMS OVER CELL TOWER NEAR SCHOOL/MEETING SCHEDULED

…AND TREMENDOUS EVENTS COMING UP AT YOUR LOCAL CORNER STORE

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BONE MARROW DRIVE

Another Bone Marrow Drive on Sunday (November 8, 2009 (Bone Marrow only)) to help Devin Taylor Hamilton, 9, a San Pedro resident and Crestwood Street Elementary student who was diagnosed with leukemia.

To help Devin, head to Warren Chapel CME Church at 1039 Elberon Avenue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pastor Byron Smith and his wife, Jill Smith, are offering the church to host this second bone marrow drive. Devin needs a compatible bone donor to fight the disease.

Mary Lou Martinez, the grandmother, said the first bone marrow /and blood marrow drive was extremely successful, but more donors are needed to ensure finding an exact match.

FUNDRAISER FOR SOUTH SHORES ELEMENTARY GARNERS $5,000 Plus

South Shores Elementary Principal Paul Suzuki gratefully accepted a $5,100 donation this week to aid the school to buy new playground equipment -- $100 of which came from a third grade student who raided her piggy bank.

The principal said he was grateful for the donation, which will help replace the school’s aging monkey bars at the campus that overlooks the sea. With the donations, Suzuki plans to obtain state-of-the art equipment that includes slides, ladders and balance beams.

A mother, Michelle Aragon, asked two Long Beach companies she works with, to come together and donate funds. Suzuki was surprised too when Michelle’s daughter, Ava, a third grader, added an additional $100, taken from her piggy bank.

“I told Michelle that makes me feel bad, but Michelle said she wanted her daughter to learn to give,” Suzuki explained, whose school has 504 students and is a performing arts magnet. “I like when the community comes together on something like this.”

The donations – which came from Port Medical, which gave $2,000 and DCS Medical Management, Inc. that added $3,000 – came from many of their employees who live in San Pedro.

It all started when the mother approached the principal asking how she and the companies could help the school. Suzuki explained the need for new equipment and also is looking for ways to expand the auditorium, which only seats 100 people, and acts partly as a cafeteria on rainy days.

Since the school is a performing arts magnet, Suzuki said, due to the limited seating, his students will have to give six performances in a day when they put on a program. Michelle opted to work on the playground equipment first, he said, but added that she still wanted to help with the auditorium in the future.

“I am very impressed and I feel blessed to have her and all the families that came together on this,” Suzuki added.

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CELL PHONE TOWER UPSET AT TAPER ELMENTARY(submitted by parents):

There will be a meeting this Monday 11-9-09 at 9 am in the Taper Avenue Elementary School Auditorium to discuss the T- Mobile cell tower that was installed recently.

Dr. Vladovic and LAUSD representatives will be there for the discussion.

If you have concerns about the tower please attend and let your voice be heard. We are trying to get the local papers to come , so a big turnout will make a huge statement. There are many questions about the safety of cell towers and their long-term effects.

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FUN TIMES AT THE CORNER STORE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY:

Nov 7th & 8th - Handcrafted aprons of all sorts and sizes, bags, and much more

by Granny's Aprons. 10 am - 5 pm both days.

Nov 14th &15th - Jewelry by Silver Fox. Beautiful handcrafted necklaces,

bracelets, rings, and earrings made from beautiful stones, beads and sea glass.

Nov 21st & 22nd - Jewelry by Masako. Handcrafted with the most amazing forms

using precious metals and stones. Masako's style is new and exciting!

Dec 4,5 & 6th - two shows in one. Ceramics and purses by Delora. Beautiful

creations including pots, plates, pitchers, platters, bowls, bird feeders and

more. Purses made from the most beautiful textiles. 10 am - 5 pm

Honey Tasting - Taste local honey from San Pedro Palisades and learn about the

beekeeper and his techniques.

Sat, Nov 5th & 6th from 10 am - 5 pm

Dec. 12 & 13 - Jewelry by It's a Lu-Lu our Corner Store jeweler. Beads, bangles,

earrings and more. 10 am - 5 pm

Dec, 18th - Miracle on 37th Street - A Winter Wonderland - 3rd annual event.

Details to follow.

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.