Dear Readers: On occasion, I get the chance to read works of students in San Pedro. When I read Amy Epperhart's "Moth," I enjoyed it so much that I asked her if I could post it on my blog. She said: "Sure." Amy attends the Port of Los Angeles High School and has future plans to become an archaeologist and participate at dig sites either in England's Stonehenge or near the Egyptian pyramids. Here is her poem:

The Moth

I am a moth

Plain and hardly visible

Working hard each day

Flitting around in a frenzied whirl

Trying to learn all I can learn

Trying to accomplish all I possibly can

But I forget, I'm only one small moth

In the grand scheme of life

So I close my eyes

And fold my wings

To climb one leafy branch at a time

Each day, I grow and learn

My wings grow a little larger

A little more colorful

A little more unique

I am a moth

Ever smiling. I spread my vivid wings

And let the fluid currents of life

Take me to my dreams

Child Abduction -- Preventing a Parent's Worst Nightmare; Senior Lead Officers Gives Parents Tips after that Near-Abduction at 14th and Cabrillo streets during 5 p.m. Rush Hour
By Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino
Los Angeles Police Department's Harbor Area

As a child, I vividly remember watching the "Adam Walsh Story" on television about the 6-year-old disappearing at a Sears Roebuck Store in Hollywood, Florida. Only five to ten minutes after his mother left Adam in the toy department she returned.

Adam was nowhere to be found.

Adams's mother's frantic search for her son that hot July afternoon has grown into a 25-year search for answers: Who took her son? Why did they kill him?

On July 27th 1981, John and Reve Walsh launched what is still considered today the largest manhunt for a missing child in the state of Florida. But two weeks later when Adam's severed head was discovered in an irrigation canal by two fisherman, one hundred miles away in Vero Beach, the harsh reality set in. Adam will never return home.

As a father of two children, losing a child through abduction has to be a parent's worst nightmare. We have seen and read stories about child abductions. Some of the stories resulted in positive outcomes, others, like Adam Walsh, have not.

Most recently in our own San Pedro, we had a close call when two Latino males, ages 20-30, driving in a two door, dark (shiny) blue Dodge pick-up truck, approached a San Pedro High female student and a tried to pull the her into the truck. Thankfully, it was through the help of a Good Samaritan that fended the suspects off the victim. We as a community should be outraged that such an act took place in our own town.

I was asked by Diana to tell parents what they need to do as a precaution for their kids. Upon Diana's request, a website came to mind that has been a resource for parents, teachers and police officers called amberwatchfoundation.org.

AmberWatch Foundation is dedicated to the prevention of child abduction and molestation. This website allows you to download and print a coloring book for your child. Here are
some helpful tips taken from the coloring book that should be reviewed with your child(ren):

1. Know Your Phone Numbers. Knows what emergency numbers to call
if you're alone and you need help.

2. Staying Safe on the Internet. Don't give out your name, age,
address or phone number on the Internet.

3. Checking with your Parents. Never go anywhere without checking
with your parents first, and make sure they know when you'll get back.

4. Don't get close to any car that slows down or stops near you.
If the car stops near you, run away and go tell a trusted adult.

5. My Buddies. Always use the buddy system. Take a buddy with you
whenever you go out to play or walk to school.

6. Attention-Be Safe Kid. Say "No" and run away if someone
tries to touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or scared and go tell your parents or a trusted adult.

7. Yell, Fight, Run! If someone tries to hurt you, yell for help,
fight as hard as you can and run away.

8. Know your house. Keep windows and doors locked and secured when
you're home alone. Don't open the door and don't let anyone in without your parent*s permission.

9. Lost? Look for Name Tag. Stay with your parents or a trusted adult when you are at the mall, amusement park or other public areas. If you lose them, go to the nearest security officer or store clerk with a nametag and tell them you're lost.

10. My Path. Never take short cuts. Always walk along well-traveled streets and follow the route that your parents planned our for you to go to school or other activities.
11. Taking a Message. Don't tell anyone on the phone that your
parents are not at home. Just say: "They can't come to the phone right now," and take a message.
12. No Secrets! Always check first with your parents before youaccept anything from anyone, even from someone you know. If someone gives you something, or does somethin, and tells you to keep it a secret, tell your parents.

As a society, we should not have to worry about taking these precautions, but the reality is that we have to! As a police officer, a father and your neighbor, I hope and pray that you will never have to experience this nightmare.

WARNING FOR ALL PARENTS ACROSS SAN PEDRO: IF IT WASN’T FOR ONE VALIANT HERO, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THIS GIRL? THINK ABOUT IT; PLEASE WATCH FOR ALL KIDS, AS THIS PERSON DID, AND DO THE RIGHT THING

By Diana L. Chapman

My friend’s daughter – who is in my carpool-- called and warned me right away Wednesday that school officials were keeping the kid’s inside the campus after school. The reason: a potential abduction nearly occurred in broad daylight near two of our most populated schools – Dana Middle School and San Pedro High.

“Look for me inside the campus,” the 11-year-old spouted, not realizing that the story would send chills up and down my spine. It’s always been one of my biggest fears that a child I know could get kidnapped, including my own son.

Once I picked up my friend’s daughter, I asked if the middle school sent a warning home. She immediately pulled out a folded letter from the school. I’m pleased to say they did write a warning – a little late, but thank God they did it. I’m assuming it took time for them to sort out the story, because a letter was sent home yesterday, on Oct. 13.

According to the letter, last Wednesday (Oct. 8), “two Latino males, ages 20-30, driving in a two door, dark (shiny) blue Dodge pick-up truck, approached” a San Pedro High female student, making “inappropriate remarks,” which I’m sure were of a sexual nature, and then the male passenger jumped out and tried to pull the student into the truck.

The suspects were both described as bald.

All I could think of was how terrified this girl must have been when those men tried to grab and drag her at the not-so-quiet 14th and Cabrillo streets about 5 p.m. which just shows how belligerent, brazen and fearless these guys are. At 5 p.m. at 14th and Cabrillo, there are still often dozens of kids around – between the Boys and Girls Club and the schools – games at Daniel’s Field, officials leaving the school and adults coming to pick up their children.

That doesn’t even mention 5 o’clock traffic, people coming home, residents shopping at Von's and running errands.

And here were these guys fearlessly trying to snatch a younghigh school girl into their vehicle.

This is why – while so many people complain about parents driving their kids to school instead of allowing them to walk -- I completely understand why we all do it. What if this was your kid? Would you ever forgive yourself?

Fortunately for this girl, an adult intervened to help her “fend him off” and I applaud whoever this person was. I’d like to thank him or her myself – because this is the kind of person we need to help protect our kids. And thank God, again, that someone was brave and had the courage to not sit and wait until the police arrived.

But if this adult had waited, I shudder to think what might have happened.

A report has been filed with the Los Angeles Police Department – and if you have any information regarding this matter, please call the school at (310) 241-1106 or the police department’s Harbor Division at (310) 548-7605.

While the Dana letter encouraged parents not to alarm their children, it does express an important point we need to make to all of our kids no matter what age they are.

“We do not want your children to be alarmed,” wrote Mary Argandona, an assistant principal at Dana Middle School, “yet, as always, we ask that you stress with your children the need for them to be aware and alert of their surroundings at all times. All students walking home should do so in a group.”

Plus, I’m sad to say with the closure of the Daily Breeze supplement, More San Pedro, and it seems – less coverage in the Daily Breeze of San Pedro crime – we will have to rely on each other for this information.

Lately, I’ve been shocked to read in the small Daily Breeze crime blog about people being shot in the back repeatedly and other horrific shooting incidents that are no longer making as big news it in the big newspaper where we all look for our information.

Therefore, I recommend to parents, students and officials that e-mail blasts on stories like this are imperative to keep our residents -- and our children -- safe. Please pass this story on – especially if you have friends whose children walk to school.

And that doesn't matter if it's Torrance, Wilmington or Palos Verdes. Everywhere potential incidents like this can happen.

This just gives me one more reason to tell my son – who just can’t understand it – why I make him call the minute he arrives somewhere and the minute he leaves. Over cautious? Absolutely. But then I don’t want to find out the hard way if I’m not.

And even then, there are no guarantees.

Forward this story -------------------------------PLEASE!

A Vision That Just Makes Logical Sense: the Port of Los Angeles Is Responsible for the High Numbers of Children with Asthma in and Around the Watery Domain; Should Not The Ports Give Back By Caring for Children? Why Was A Proposed Youth Aquatics Center Scratched from the Port’s Future Plans?
By Diana L. Chapman

It seemed an ocean-dunk away from making enormous tidal waves of good sense.

Reports, after endless reports, say children living around ports, especially the Los Angeles Harbor, suffer a much larger number of asthma cases than in other regional locations across the nation.

Port activities, diesel trucks unloading their wares, making thousands of trips here weekly, and many of the ship’s emissions alone, contribute to the environmental pollutions that hurt the health of our kids.

So when I met Bill Schopp, who is both the director of the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club and co-founder of the non-profit Cabrillo Beach Youth Sailing Club--and he explained to me his dream -- I was on board – immediately -- as we all should be.

He wants to build a Youth Aquatic Complex in San Pedro– which would house the many possibilities for children in the port from sailing to kayaking to fishing and possibly even Chinese Dragon boat rowing – to teach youth about their chances of ocean prowess – both physically,
educationally and perhaps even – vocationally.

The idea launches the concept of a wave of activities for youths and streams them under the umbrella of one organization, such as the sailing club’s non-profit – and other groups would be allowed to use non-profit status if they too were involved in educational marine activities at the site.

I also worry, because I don’t want another non-profit in town that eats another location that the rest of the public can’t get to, such as the Cabrillo Youth Camp, run by Boy Scouts – which has been a sore spot in this community for years.

And I was dismayed when I took my son up to Bogdanovich Park on a pupil free day with his two soccer playing friends. They wanted to play a pick-up game, but they were ousted from the field because only the AYSO can use it, park officials told me. What a waste! An entire
day of kids out of school and one empty field just doesn’t make sense. Why do we have a "public park" then?

So I asked Bill how are you going to prevent that from happening?

"The beauty of this concept is that each group will be responsible for their own program," Bill explained. "I think of this complex more like a shopping mall of youth activities under one roof. The way to keep the doors open to all kids would be to have each group sign a contract to insure an open door policy and fund raising requirements for each group to insure scholarship potential for underprivileged kids.

It all made a perfect paradise of sense. It could be tied to the local schools where elementary students to high school students could have a shot at sailing or studying marine life in the proposed labs at the facility. In short conversations with educators, I can immediately tell they like it – already – and would be thrilled to have such an opportunity.

The idea was so powerful– that I set sail with the concept, taking it to Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn when I had a meeting with her about another subject. Immediately, Janice told me she endorsed the idea and would take it to Los Angeles Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz to see if she could garner her favor.

Soon after, I heard from city staff that both believed it was an excellent choice for the community and that the port should fund it. What happened next dismayed me.

Bill’s proposal had – initially suggested for a vacant lot – fringed by 22nd Street to the north and bounded by Miner to the east, was dropped from the port’s master plan last month. It had been in the port master plan for several years, but was scratched by the Port Commission despite the angst and pleas of the Cabrillo Beach Youth Sailing Club board members who have been promoting young kids to sail for the past seven years.

What happened? I called the city staff asking. They are checking and planning to get back to me.

What a bitter scurvy to taste after years of work, first in filing a non-profit to teach youth sailing – and then of course, losing the opportunity. By now, the USC Rowing Team, the 65 foot long fishing vessel, the Sea Angler, Sea Scouts – and possibly the Chinese dragon rowing boats, have showed interest in joining such a complex. In addition, kayaks and other sea related activities would be included.

I get aggravated because this makes so much logical sense to pursue, it’s ridiculous that the commission dumped it. So many ports all over the nation already do such things – and even though Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in the United States – not to mention one of the biggest ports in the world -- it seems to be one of the least progressive in terms of helping the community. I find this same scenario over and over again with the city of Los Angeles.

"Every major port in the world has one except LA," Bill said, "specifically, San Diego, Newport, Long Beach, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Baltimore and Chicago."

In Los Angeles, it seems you need someone like a Bill Schopp to pull teeth through city politics and fight for things we should already have. Not only should this be a perfect fit, it’s a natural fit. It's something city officials should have already accomplished -- actually long ago. There are kids here who might just want to work the many occupations that exist at the port, then perhaps the port can help itself out and introduce them to it.

That being said, Bill, of course, thank God, has not given up. He tends to be a quieter, more humble guy, working behind the scenes – but also a man who knows what sailing for him did as a kid. He wasn’t good at many sports, and as he sadly explains, he crossed so many off his list, he was beginning to wonder what to do. But at the time, as a kid hanging out at the docks near the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, members there encouraged him to join as a junior member and start sailing.

That’s when he found his sport and it lead him to, let’s just say not such a shabby career today from Cal Maritime graduate to terminal operations management and the director of a yacht club. He’s driven to help other youth like himself who were shopping around trying to determine where they fit in the big scheme of things.

Because that original avenue was shut off, he has filed for mitigation funds from the China Shipping settlement asking for $4.7 at the initial location to $5.7 million elsewhere to build the aquatic complex. The cost depends on the location.

If his first choice fails again, his second choice would be the remodeling of a part of 22nd Street Landing, at a cost of $5.2 million, but asking for $4.4 million from the mitigation funds. A large area of the building is vacant – and has been vacant for several years – where the area could be converted for a laboratory and an outdoor section as a 3,000 square foot boat house which could exist for kayaks and potentially the USC rowing equipment -- and possibly the Chinese Dragon boats.

His last resort would be the Scout Camp that the Boy Scouts have had a lease on for years along Cabrillo Beach – much to the chagrin of many residents – as it has not ever been opened up to the public for year round usage. While that would cost about $5.25 million to convert, he fears that is not a particularly good area for beginning sailors as it’s midway in Hurricane Gulch, where burly, gusting winds challenge the best of sailors.

Having sailed the gulch many a times on a 24 footer – and not a eight foot long Optimist which the youngsters would be on – I am inclined to agree. There were times I was just terrified in the gulch.

It’s unfortunate that Bill even had to go after mitigation funds. The port should have clearly done this years ago already – and there are so many good groups out there going for that money such as the Maritime Museum and the plan to overhaul and clean up Cabrillo Beach – with a small boat houses to encourage residents to come back and use the beach.

No matter what – if Bill gets his way which I hope he does –the facility would include a 3,000 square foot boat house, docks for all the boats that are participating in the center, an umbrella for all the different organizations to work under, restrooms, showers, and areas for classes to undertake lab studies.

I urge our councilwoman and our port director to make this so. It should be a perfect wave for the community – and not only that – in the end – it will help the Port of Los Angeles recruit knowledgeable students to work their facilities.

Because I’m sad to say, everyday I find more and more students who live in San Pedro, who have never been on the ocean, sat in a boat or seen a sea lion up close. Now that’s a tragedy.

Father Steps Up to Protect His Son's Former School, Point Fermin Elementary, and Wants the Public to Understand What Has Happened; In the Meantime, Students Keep Suffering from the Heat Over Another Adult Dispute


Dear Readers: This posting is from a knowledgeable father who sat on the Site Council for Point Fermin Elementary School for two terms and spent the second term as a chairperson. He's lived in San Pedro all his life and works as a lead operator for the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant. His son now attends Dana Middle School, but when he heard this issue arise about the troubles at his son's former elmentary school, he wanted to set the record straight with the public. Diana



By Russell Jeans

In 2005, construction began on an air conditioning system at Point Fermin Elementary School with funding provided from the Proposition BB Bond, approved by the voters in 1997. The power demand, as a result, for the school would increase. New 4800 volts cables had to be brought in to the school by replacing existing utility poles with higher poles to meet the safety regulations for the higher voltage. The new utility poles were installed in December, 2005.

A neighbor, who lives almost a block away from the school, filed a complaint that his harbor view was now being obstructed by the higher poles. The school received a copy of his email noting his concern for his view in March, 2006. Up until a few days ago, the neighbor made no direct contact with the school.

Interestingly, there are other utility poles in the four directions from his property in the neighborhood that are as high, or higher, than those new poles - and they all obstruct somebody's view of the harbor. The school district followed all relevant laws and codes for the installation with inspections from building and safety to guarantee compliance, as is standard and proper practice in any construction. Bringing the power up to the school was performed by the DWP. Consequently, as a result of the complaint, connecting the new air conditioning system was stopped.

The school district prudently didn't want to spend additional funds needlessly if the outcome of the complaint was going to require additional changes. For nearly three years, the air conditioning system has remained inoperative while this neighbor, with support from others, continues his quest. The neighbor took his complaint to Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

With intervention by the councilwoman in support of the neighbor, the DWP reduced the height of the new utility poles by literally cutting 5 feet off to the bare minimum height to help placate the neighbor and his supporters. They didn't object to doing that, other than to say it wasn't low enough. They prefer the power be routed underground, the most expensive option. Again, in trying to placate the neighbor, the DWP offered to modify the power line installation with free labor.

However, the school district's portion of these changes would require spending an estimated $200,000. The school district's portion of the project would be done by outside labor through open bid, like what was done in the original installation. The school district has refused to spend the money for several reasons.

First, the city has no code restrictions regarding views. Second, the original installation meets all the safety and building code issues. Third, there is no discretionary money currently available for such a project. Lastly, it would be a "gift of public funds" to spend that money when there is no legal mandate forcing the changes.

Essentially, that means the school district would spend public money for the aesthetic issues of one, or a few, individual(s), while putting into question their fiduciary responsibilities due to dispersing public funds in such a cavalier manner.

Meanwhile, the neighbor attacked on several fronts. Although claiming to be new at this kind of thing, he strategically acted in a way only a politically savvy person would. An active member of the Coastal Neighborhood Council, he brought his issue to them and gained their support. A motion passed by their board had no input from anyone representing the school. He also went to NOISE (an ad hoc group politically opposed to the proposed Angel's Gate high school) and successfully requested their support. He looked through the records to see if there were any inconsistencies or irregularities that might derail the project in its current form. That strategy is not a guarantee. But in bureaucracies as big and old as the two government agencies involved, the likelihood of finding something is great.

He hit paid dirt. The power brought into the school goes to a transformer on the school site. The transformer, he found out, sits on city right-of-way that the school district has been using since a revocable permit was issued in 1931. No one can find a copy of the permit, according the city's engineering office. But, it is known that the permit was issued and that the school district initially used the city's right of way to plant vegetation. Thirty years later, the school district fenced in the school in 1961, including the city's property in the permit.

Both agencies simply assumed, while doing the current project, that the right-of-way was actually school district property. According to the councilwoman, the permit has expired - but nobody knows when. So, the neighbor finds his pot of gold.

Several improvements sit on the right-of-way. The biggest one is the lunch awning installed in 2000. It offers outdoor seating to the students to eat lunch and snacks rather than cramping them into the old cafeteria inside. The councilwoman says she doesn't want to see the lunch awning moved. However, the motion passed by the neighborhood council, while not only recommending denying any new permit, recommends removing all existing structures, specifically including the lunch awning, the fence, the transformer and associated air conditioning equipment that is on the city's right-of-way.

The council did not hear from any school district representative before passing the motion. An issue associated with the right of way is a sidewalk. On part of the east side of Carolina Street, where the right-of-way exists, there in no sidewalk. The neighbor and his friends think this is unsafe. They feel if the right of way is taken back by the city, the city can construct a proper sidewalk so children and adults can safely use that side of the street.

In the article in the Daily Breeze that appeared Sunday, October 5th, a photo was provided showing the area of concern. In the photo is a walk way well off of the street (safer than a sidewalk) to provide access to the school through a gate at the end of the walk way. That gate is open at the beginning and the end of the school day for a brief period for school employees' convenience. The children are to enter at the front of the school on Kerckhoff Avenue or an entrance on 32nd Street.

Access from Carolina Street, to avoid walking on the part of the street without a sidewalk, is by walking from where the sidewalk does exist on Carolina to the sidewalk on 34th Street (the south perimeter of the school) to get to the front of the school. For other pedestrian traffic, there is an uninterrupted sidewalk on the west side of Carolina. The city has said they have no plans to provide a sidewalk.

Besides, it would not be economically feasible. The Board of Public Works would issue the new permit. There is a staff report available to them that recommends issuance of a new permit. Their investigation verified there are no safety or engineering issues of a negative nature. They also confirm the sidewalk issue is a non-issue. There is no reason not to issue the permit; therefore, their recommendation.

Currently, it is projected the board will take up the issue of the permit at its next meeting on October 22nd. Make no mistake about this situation. With the permit, there is no issue forcing the school district to spend approximately $200,000 or more, to placate a neighbor and his friends so he doesn't "suffer" the same "burden" many of his other neighbors also experience.

He is not asking for all the utility poles in the area that obstruct harbor views be removed or modified, just those affecting him. Unfortunately, this same person, as I pointed out above, is actually very politically savvy - or is getting advise from someone who is. If he doesn't get his way with the view, quoting him in the Daily Breeze, he has threatened to take this to the school district's Office of Inspector General or California's attorney general, Jerry Brown. That kind of statement is made to apply pressure on the local political representative to act - in part, to avoid the additional political costs and burden of having other entities involved, to which the councilwoman (as well as the school district) would have to devote more time and energy.

The councilwoman has objected to using city funds to help subsidize the school district's financial burden. She points out, rightly, that the economy in the city is not that strong right now and the city budget is very tight. Of course, the school district that serves the same economy and the same population has the same problem, if not more severe than the city.

There is no compelling reason for either of these agencies to spend more money and time on this project. The Board of Public Works should issue the permit. The result would be both agencies involved here having acted responsibly.

(Tim Bower, left, with Debra Hetrick, who sought grants for the proposal. Both work for the Beyond the Bell branch of the LAUSD.)

Thousands of Students Will Benefit By One Woman’s Endless Spirit to Build an Outdoor Education Center at Angel’s Gate; This December, the Dream Becomes a Reality;
Whatever Happens, Officials Say the Center Can Collaborate with a Proposed Satellite High School at the Site – In fact, Center Officials Would Welcome Such a Campus

By Diana L. Chapman

Imagine this: Being a kid and pitching a tent at Point Fermin Park perched atop towering cliff sides overlooking the Pacific. Despite crisp, burly ocean breezes, misting fogs clinging to the bluffs and a damp chill in the summer air, students kept on coming and coming.

For years, they came in droves each summer to study the surrounding nature and environment – in the biggest classroom the world can offer – the Great Outdoors.

The rustic beginnings of the Los Angeles School District outdoor educationqprogram, which began in 1948, kept on running even after it was moved away from Point Fermin to district property at Angel’s Gate – which also sports a continuous, wide-angle view of the Pacific Ocean.

When Debra Hetrick arrived in 1985, the joke from the program director at Angel’s Gate center was that he “laid in a weedy field with a phone to run the program,” she quipped. But that will change this December – due to Debra’s steadfast attempts to garner money for the construction of the new Point Fermin Outdoor Education Center.

After arriving, Debra, who coordinates outdoor programming for the district, concluded the Point Fermin center did so much for students that it deserved more than a vacant field, a trailer and tents.

Having helped pitch tents for hundreds of fifth grade students from a wide swath of Los Angeles, she proposed the program should have a kitchen and cafeteria where students could eat indoors instead of being taught to eat, holding down a plate, so both food and plate didn’t blow away in the brisk winds.

And with the perils of rain and cold storms, Debra figured converting two old military warehouses into dormitories complete with bunk beds would be more appropriate over tents. Furthermore, since the entire program was built on protecting the environment, she suggested the use of some beautiful natural gardens to encourage wild foxes and raptors to remain in the park-style land known as Angel's Gate, part of which is owned by the Los Angeles Unified School district; the other part owned by the city of Los Angeles.

Wildlife can be a great teacher, she explained.

This December, after years of going after grants, Debra’s dream will come true at last. Her spirited drive to obtain about $7 million lobbying for funds from agencies such as the Wild Lands Conservancy – which donated $2.5. million – and with LAUSD board members agreeing to match that using bond funds, the project she’s dreamed of for more than two decades will become a reality.

“I’ve wanted it for years,” Debra explained to me after we tromped through the brush and fields overlooking the location. “It’s just amazing because the project has been delayed so many times. And now the dream has come true. When we started, all we had was a field.”

What once was a scrap of vacant land where counselors and naturalists -- with names like Mr. Nemo, Mr. Squid, Crabby and Sea Star – would pitch tents outside, the new facility can operate year-round where warm, indoor bunks will fill up with hundreds of chattering students all week long. About 160 fifth graders will visit during the week; on the weekends, about 120 middle and high schools students will have use of the site.

Located in the north westerly portion of Angel’s Gate, by December 2009, two former cylinder-style military warehouses will be converted and filled with bunk beds, a third building will hold a cavernous cafeteria and a kitchen. A smaller building will house staff who will be full time at the site.

If all goes well, the center should be up and running officially by July 2010 – if not sooner.
Then, Monday through Friday, fifth graders will be shuttled there to stay for one week – virtually free – to study assorted creatures in the tide pools, visit the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, spend time at the Marine Mammal Care and the International Bird Rescue centers and to make visits to the historic Fort MacArthur Museum where they will walk through underground tunnels left behind from World War II.

The extensive upgrade allows Beyond the Bell, which runs after school and outdoor programs for the Los Angeles school district, to host nearly 12,000 students yearly, nearly doubling the original numbers from 7,000 at the site.

With both of the district’s outdoor education facilities, which includes Clear Creek in the Los Angeles National Forest, about 21,000 district students will run through the outdoor programs.
At the new Point Fermin Center –which has been on hold for several summers since the conversion was taking place-- students will hike, study marine life and habitat, and learn concepts about the environment and how to protect it.

They will get glimpses into the field of astronomy by studying the stars, sit at campfires telling stories, learn to clean up after themselves in the kitchen – and most importantly – learn to become a team.

Teachers, Debra explained, have revealed many times that the two outdoor education programs have rounded out those students both socially and academically and increased their self esteem.
In addition, those who attend often see an increase in test scores.

Debra glorifies in those moments when teachers call and reveal the attributes that outdoor education has brought to their students and says the reason for this is simple. When they learn hands-on, outside – using games like predator and prey tag where students play one or the other – the lessons tend to stick and give students a broader picture of nature and its environment.

The program brushes students through quick courses in geology, science and even history.

Former elementary school teacher, Tim Bower, now a Beyond the Bell official, said his experience in bringing four different classes to the Clear Creek program was discovering that “without exception, the students I took…were closer knit, supported each other, and had fewer discipline issues for the balance of the school year,” he explained.

“There are many district teachers and staff that I have talked to that had a Clear Creek or Point Fermin experience either as a teacher or student,” Tim said. “The experience was a memory that lasted a lifetime. I run into people all the time that consider the experience of going to Clear Creek and Point Fermin as a privilege they were fortunate to have.”

While the Los Angeles school district also continues to pursue building a 500-seat campus at Angel’s Gate as well – the property was once owned by the military who dedicated it to the school district in the 1970s -- community opponents have used the Outdoor Education Center as a reason not to build a school.

The campus, opponents said, would hamper the center’s abilities to run its programs. Up for discussion is the district’s proposal to take San Pedro High School’s marine and police magnet to the site – as a satellite to the high school – despite intense and sharp opposition from some community members who believe it will destroy the serenity of the area. District officials, however, contend that they must reduce overcrowding at the high school, which currently houses about 3,500 students.

Both Debra and Tim said the center would embrace a high school campus, because in many was the programs could collaborate. For instance, Debra said, if labs are built for a marine magnet, the center’s students could use the facility for their experiments. In addition, the older students could help the younger students to learn.

“We don’t think a high school would interfere with us at all,” Debra revealed. “We will co-exist with that high school beautifully.”

Dave Kooper, the chief officer for Los Angeles School Board Member Richard Vladovic who has lobbied for the school at Angel's Gate, echoed those sentiments.

"It is going to be a wonderful partnership.," Dave explained. "They will have access to our facilities after hours and will benefit from the the shared educational opportunities."

By the time the center is completely finished, it will include three circular gardens for teaching – with natural brush such as coastal sage – to encourage current wildlife from red-tailed hawks and kestrels to red foxes to remain as part of ecosystem.

Some of the most special nights at the center in the past, Debra recalled, was to watch the excited reaction of the kids when a family of foxes trooped by.

At the end of the summer in the past were some of Debra’s saddest days – especially when she heard the winds whipping through the “collapsing tents,” signaling the end of that summer program.
That sad, lonely sound she will no longer have to hear – once the new center is up and running. Instead, she will be listen to students chatter into the darkness of the night.

Community Round Up: Central Neighborhood Council Supplies $3,500 for Dana Middle School's After School Programming; Another Tip a Cop You Shouldn't Miss -- Have an Officer Serve You Dinner in an Effort to Help Kids; Nutcracker Auditions Begin -- and lastly, If You are Having a Bad Day, Make Sure To Click on What One Wheelchair-bound Kid Started That Will Brighten Your Soul

Central Neighborhood Council:
--------------------------------
In an ongoing effort to support after school programs at middle schools, San Pedro's Central Neighborhood Council pledged $3,500 this year to continue the clubs at Dana Middle School that began there three years ago -- from art to cooking.
Two local Neighborhood Councils have supported efforts to run after school clubs and supplied funds for Spanish, art, cooking, basketball, swimming and the many other programs that continue to evolve at the school site. Volunteer parents run many of the programs. This year, one parent plans to launch an even more unique club in the area of forensics.
After School clubs started at the campus in 2005 to keep scores of students from milling outside the campus after school where fights broke out and to give students a chance to explore other interests. Several of the clubs were tied to academics, such as doing homework first in the Homework Club before attending swimming at Peck Park Pool.
Basketball Club turned out as one of the most successful programs. Students were allowed to come in with poor grades -- but had to show Coach Derrick Smith that they were improving on a consistent basis. All of his eighth graders last year were able to graduate across the stage, reflecting that they all made a C average or above.
The first Neighborhood Council -- Coastal -- showed its endorsement of the program and provided $5,000 to the efforts last fall.

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TIP A COP

Los Angeles Police Officers have once again embarked on an unusual campaign to help youth. Instead of handing out tickets this Monday (Sept. 15th) evening, they will hand out burgers and buns.
Police officers will be waiters and waitresses at the San Pedro Brewing Company on from 5 to 9 p.m. to provide thousands of dollars to its programs involving youth, including the extremely disciplined boot camp that targets juvenile delinquents to help them turn their lives around.
Most officers are fully uniformed as they wait on tables. As few have ever served in the restaurant profession, some meals might show up a tad slow -- but tips are likely to overflow at the event. Last year, officers were receiving tips higher than $20.
San Pedro Brewing Co. is located at 331 W. Sixth Street.
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Nutcracker Auditions: Don't Forget to Tell Your Friends with Kids:

WHO: San Pedro City Ballet
WHAT: 15th Anniversary of “The Nutcracker” cast auditions
WHERE: San Pedro Ballet School 1231 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro
WHEN: Sunday, September 14th
Boys and Girls ages 4 and 5 at 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Boys and Girls ages 6-8 at 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Boys and Girls ages 9-11 at 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Boys and Girls ages 12 and up at 12:30 PM – 12:45 PM
Adults at 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM
All participants must enroll in classes at San Pedro Ballet School.
A $115.00 (non-refundable) rehearsal and costume fee is required to participate in the “The Nutcracker,” $99.00 rehearsal fee for second child. Payment is due September 14, 2008 at the audition.
Information (310) 732-1861
-------------------------------------------------------

Having a Bad Day? Feeling Sorry for Yourself? Don't Miss This Then to Brighten Your Spirits; Look at What One Wheelchair-bound Kid Succeeded in Doing With His Life; It's One of the Most Popular Videos on You Tube:

Click on:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z43PXkvVC5c
--Submitted by Peggy Lindquist

A San Pedro Woman Embarks on a Cupcake Adventure Due to Her Childhood Memories and Her Italian Grandmother

“There’s a kid in each of us when it comes to cupcakes,” – Cupcake-maker Rose Cigliano.

Diana L. Chapman

It had been 15 years since I talked to my friend and former neighbor Rose Cigliano. Life just caught up to both of us and the strands of time floated away silently in a quiet wind. When we found each other again via the speedier ways of life, the internet, we had a lot to catch up on. The first question – not surprisingly being – what have you embarked upon over the last decade and more?

“What have you been doing?” I asked Rose, who I last saw tucked away in a tiny condominium nest next to our tiny condominium nest before she moved away from Elberon Street in San Pedro.

“I’m making cup cakes,” she said soundly, with a small bite of pride in her voice. Sounding odd at first, the more she talked the more butter creamy scrumptious it became – since she is now in the cupcake-making business. And not just any cupcake-making business, but one that stemmed from the love and teachings of her Italian Grandmother Nonna Mammie. She named it: Cuppacakes.

As a nurse, who was recently laid off, Rose remembered those rich and warm loving days where she and her sisters, Filomena and Flora, excitedly raced to Nonna’s house because another holiday was right around the bend. Under her tutelage, Nonna – as she always did – helped them bake hundreds and hundreds of cupcakes and scores of other goodies year after year for their classes at school – for every holiday.

Rose recalled all three of them lined up along the counter top, with Nonna showing the girls how to make everything from scratch, measuring cups of flour and sugar and whipping up batches and batches of sweets.

Missing her grandmother greatly, Rose about two years ago started making cupcakes for her co-workers, just as a hobby to remind her of those happy days. The reaction she got from comrades was this: they begged for more -- more of the sweet flavors that now include, pumpkin, carrot, red velvet, Italian lemon pound cake, Italian anisette ,and of course, the more traditional chocolate and vanilla cupcakes.

Then she’d douse them with frosting – whipped to achieve the ultimate creaminess – such as chocolate, peanut butter, brown butter and cream cheese.

“We were just like waiting in line,” said her former co-worker Nancy Sprauge, who called Rose’s treats a “gastronomical delight” and added that everybody frothed at the mouth when she brought them in. “She’d bring them into the office and they would be there for like a minute. I would actually take like three or four and I’d hide them for later. Why do you think I had to go on Jenny Craig?’

With that reaction, her co-workers would ask Rose repeatedly when she planned to open her own store or go into business on line with her daring, dare devil treats. Rose believes, as do her customers, that her cupcakes are competitive to famously popular Sprinkles which now has seven locations. She created each recipe and made her co-workers "guinea pigs." All are made from scratch. There are no boxed mixes involved. Ironically, she didn’t even know that cupcakes had become such a huge fad – and that people would line up at the Sprinkles in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach.

If she's successful with her on-line business in San Pedro, she too hopes to expand all over the country.

Kids are some of Rose’s biggest clients – and parents have ordered the tasty treats for birthday parties that look like ladybugs, baseballs or with pirate and princess themes. She’s made football field cakes with cupcakes to represent the players, wedding cakes that are towers of cupcakes and even done first communions – not to mention holidays.

“I am so driven to do this and it’s crazy,” said Rose, who currently is working with the San Pedro Chamber to take her from one-time hobby to a thriving business. “I’d work all day in Garden Grove and I would come home and make dinner for my son and bake cupcakes all night. I really feel like I’m driven by my Italian grandmother.”

Whatever she’s doing, she’s receiving great accolades from customers.

Having ordered scores of cupcakes for their clients, Stellesa Petorella, an escrow officer at Harbor Lights Escrow, called them “amazing!”

“They are gourmet cupcakes and they are gorgeous!” Stellesa exclaimed with robust enthusiasm. “We sent them to our customers and people called and asked: “Oh, my God, who made those?”

Another customer, Leonard Russo, currently a graphic artist with Warner Brother’s Studios, said he brought Rose’s cupcakes to the set when working with Disney on the movie: Race to Witch Mountain. “They loved them,” Leonard said. “Even though there’s food galore on the sets, they ordered three of four more boxes. I had some Sprinkles and they didn’t even come close to Rose’s.”

Her customers can’t seem to agree on which is their favorite cupcake. For Stellesa, the red velvet tops her list. For Nancy, it’s the Italian anisette. For Leonard it’s the coconut.

But they all do agree one thing – Rose pours her personable nature into her cupcakes and adds a dash of love of and snippet of caring to each. And somewhere behind her, stands Nonna looking over her shoulder and cheering her on.

As far as our renewed friendship goes, I am just sure Rose and I will no longer be more than a cupcake away.
To order or learn more, visit http://www.italiancuppacakes.com

Tell All Your Friends with Kids; Auditions for the San Pedro Ballet's Nutcracker Coming mid-September for Kids Ages 4 to 12;
WHO: San Pedro City Ballet
WHAT: 15th Anniversary of “The Nutcracker” cast auditions
WHERE: San Pedro Ballet School 1231 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro
WHEN: Sunday, September 14th
Boys and Girls ages 4 and 5 at 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Boys and Girls ages 6-8 at 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Boys and Girls ages 9-11 at 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Boys and Girls ages 12 and up at 12:30 PM – 12:45 PM
Adults at 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM
All participants must enroll in classes at San Pedro Ballet School.
A $115.00 (non-refundable) rehearsal and costume fee is required to participate in the “The Nutcracker”, $99.00 rehearsal fee for second child. Payment is due September 14, 2008 at the audition.
Information (310) 732-1861

Beautiful Moments at a Middle School; A Gesture So Simple that It Really Worked
By Diana L. Chapman

The day my son graduated from Dana Middle School, I witnessed a simple gesture that was inexpensive, thoughtful and imbued students with broad smiles. The gesture seemed proof that--- yes -- someone believed in the students and their futures ahead blinked bright.

As students filtered down the stage after their name was called, strolled up the aisle in small groups (parents all still remaining seated in the audience), the auditorium doors swung open releasing the students to the lobby where they were greeted with a sudden, loud burst of applause and smiles.

This wasn’t from family. It wasn’t from friends. They were still in the auditorium. The hooting of congratulations and explosive claps came from a semi-circle of teachers, aides and various other school staffers who took the students by surprise with this demonstrative type of congratulations.

The look that appeared across nearly every student’s face was first the look of shock – and then, when they realized what was happening – their faces cracked into glowing smiles that grew and grew and grew.

I just happened to be standing in the lobby as this occurred and couldn’t help but join in the enthusiasm and good cheer because of the happiness that was defined on the student’s faces. Plus, I knew (as did the staff who spent the last three years with these kids knew) that not all of students would have someone there to witness their graduation – for one reason or another.

So there I was clapping as enthusiastically and as happily as the staff when my own son came out the door – and shook his head with surprise until he lit into a giant grin. Later I asked him what he thought of the staff's gesture. “It was the best,” he told me

My words exactly.

Teenager Reveals Life as

an Undocumented

Student and Her

Struggles to Attend

University;

Despite an Acceptance to UCLA and Four Other Universities,

Karina Dorado Worries About Her Future as the Financial Well

Remains Dry for Students Like Her

--------------------------------------------

Dear Readers: This is a student who you may just want to help. Her story is one of many children whose parents bring them to America, but don’t necessarily understand that education is a number one choice to move forward – and haven’t made their children U.S. citizens yet. According to Karina, she is working toward becoming a legal American citizen, but that won’t happen until the age of 21.

Meanwhile, she wants to become a healthy, educated member of society. Her dedication, grades, test scores, work ethic and university acceptances reveal how worthy of a candidate she is. Money alone stands in the way.

I will post more of her stories in the future. -- Diana

By Karina Dorado

Being undocumented has been great challenge.

I have more challenges and obstacles to surpass in order to pursue my goals. Coming from a foreign country and not knowing the language was extremely difficult. Not only did I have to learn to adapt to a new culture, a new world and a new way of life, I was also expected to read and produce this complex English language.

Throughout my academic years, I was placed in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Some people still put me down because of my accent and my continuous struggle to pronounce bigger words. There is a refrain that speaks about illegal immigrates coming to this country to over populate, work at local fast food restaurants or as a gardener maybe even a housemaid for the rest of his or her life. This, however, does not apply to me; I am a determined individual who will strive to reach my goal which is to pursue a career in psychology.

I want to be able to help people with his or her problems and I want to create a safe and amicable environment. School has taught me perseverance, determination and has given me the confidence to succeed in my educational career. I realized that I am capable and can do this on my own. My mother’s increasing absences from parent conference or open house due to work, made me stronger as an individual.

I did not need to rely on anyone to join me on the way to success. I wanted to show my mom there was nothing holding me back. I definitely did not want to use her lack of involvement in my education as an excuse like other individuals would have done. I made it a goal and plan to not only graduate from high school, but to graduate as a “gold division” student with the pursuit of achieving a college degree.

Because of my outstanding performance in my academics studies, I am ranked as one of the top students in my high school class, achieved the gold status and recently was accepted to UCLA.

Although I am not yet at UCLA, I am currently taking community college courses and did so while in high school. I choose to make use of my life as an educated, productive person and of course an undocumented student or should I say “Illegal Alien” as Americans like to call us?

I know that having a chance to go to university will be something I will appreciate for the rest of my life.

Sometimes people are offered opportunities and take them for granted. Some people ignore the advantages given to him or her and do not appreciate them; such as applying for financial aid, free waiver or even attending college. While other students I know can get those advantages – and even though I am following the “American Dream” as most people call it – I cannot because my mother did not help me to get citizenship yet, which for the most part disqualifies me from receiving grants and scholarships.

However, that will not stop me from reaching for this goal. I want to prove that undocumented people can achieve their goals, and that we can acquire success from few resources. I know it will be challenging and I have received help from the Boys and Girls Club – where I attended their College Bound program. Because of the lack of financial help, the club believed in me and did a fundraiser solely to help me pay for UCLA.

My native friends as well as my own mother did not believe I would get accepted because I am not a legal resident nor a U.S. citizen. However, as I reflect on their comments I realize they provided me with the drive to pursue my educational goals. Being accepted to a university is the first step, in achieving my goals, now I must work diligently to make it happen.

I have realized that I am capable of succeeding in pursuing my dream of obtaining a college degree and profession. My diligence and work is paying off. I recently was accepted to UCLA, UCSD, UCSB and the California State universities of Long Beach and Poly Pomona.
I took the time to only apply to three CSU's and three UC's for the reason that I did have to pay for the applications myself, out of my own pocket. I spent around $300 all together. Mom was not even aware of what I was doing with my money. However, she did ask me "where was I misspending ALL of my money?!

I will start at UCLA in the fall quarter of 2008. Everybody has obstacles that we face daily, however, with persistence, we can reach success. Michael Jordan has said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, but by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

This best describes my desire to constantly overcome any barrier I may face in my path of progress – in this case it’s a financial struggle, but I am dedicated, tenacious, independent and driven to succeed at whatever I do. This is who I am, and I am going to make it!

Donations can be made out to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor/Karina Fund. Checks can be mailed to: 1200 S. Cabrillo Avenue, San Pedro, California. The club, through fundraisers, has garnered about $11,000 and expects Karina’s schooling to cost about $12,000 per year.

Diego (top photo) says he's devastated to go back to school. Isabela (above) is excited and scared. The two are twins. Photos were not yet available for the other two writers.

Four Kids Write About Going Back to School This Fall;

WHETHER THEY START Sept. 2 or Sept. 3, ARE HEADED FOR MIDDLE
SCHOOL OR ELEMENTARY, THESE KIDS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY:

Thoughts Attending Middle School for the First time
By Isabela Van Antwerp, 11
I'm going into my first year of middle school. I'm thrilled but still frightened I won't like it because:
1) you have to wake up early
2) I have five more classes than elementary
3) I can't do dance because if I do I would have to give up one of my honors classes, so now I'm in drama.

But the good side to this is I know a lot of people. The people from my old school and a lot of people from my soccer team are going to Dana. Someone I know had a party and invited a few she knew that are going there.
In my new school, every hour we have to walk from class to class. I recently went to summer school and they gave us a tour. So now I know where to go. I'm still scared to death but anxious at the same time.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Going back to school
By Diego Van Antwerp, 11,

School will be coming soon.
I am devastated. Now, I have to see, and not to mention, smell chalk and it's dust. Chalk screeches loudly against the board. Also, when I have to do a math problem, I have to touch that awful dusty chalk. Yuck! Chalk really bugs me. But on the bright side, you can say "hi" to all of your good friends. But on the not so bright side, some of the teachers always use the: "TEACHER SCREAM," not angry, but more of an impatient yell. It creeps me out. And some times the food there is yucky, but you have to eat there or else you will be so hungry you feel like almost puking.
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SCHOOL: Oh No!
By Angel Chavez, 11

School oh no! Please don’t let me go.

I wish I didn’t have to go to school. The reason I don’t like school is because of the learning. My head will burst from all the work. I feel a headache coming on already. The only reason I want to go to school is because I can’t wait to meet new friends. If you don’t have friends at your new school, you will feel left out. It will be so sad not to talk to anyone and walk all alone on such a big campus. I hope this year will be a good year because I am full of friends!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I Am Ready to Go Back to School

By Sarena Chavez, 8,

I am really glad to go back to school because I will be able to learn new things. I enjoy reading and doing math problems. My goal in school is to get good grades so I can graduate like my big sister and receive lots of awards. I want to be President of our school and be leader. I am only 8 but I will do my best. I can’t wait to start school again. Here I come 3rd grade.

ONE SON, ONE MOM, ONE BIG LESSON PERHAPS FOR ALL ADULTS
By Diana L. Chapman

I missed my son’s friend, who quit coming over several months ago. I missed seeing his crooked smile and his zany ways.

At first I thought the kid was out of town, but then his disappearance rolled on and on -- all through the summer, past the heart of those lazy July days and still kept swimming through the month of August. Soon, we’ll be entering the sharp winds of September and school will start without a sign from the friend.

Finally, I began lamenting to Ryan about how sad it was and what happened and when did all of this go down and what was “the why of it all?”

“I don’t know,” Ryan grunted, looking bored with the discussion. “I probably did something that bothered him. I don’t know what it was.”

“But doesn’t it bother you?” I queried. “Don’t you want to know what happened?”

“Sure it bugged me for a couple of days,” Ryan revealed of the friend who he constantly hung out with a cadre of other boys. “But I’m over it.”

My surprise must have been etched on my face, because when I lose a friend like this, it rolls over in my mind again and again and I worry until the wee hours of the night.

The worries march across my brain: What did I do to cause this fragmentation? It’s like a puzzle and next to impossible to pick up the proper pieces and drop them into place to determine where and when the problem began, where it ends and where was the middle.

Adults tend to sever relationships, because the truth is this -- it’s easier. It’s easier than having a heart-to-heart discussion where the pain began – because usually these types of splits start with a shard of pain that was thrust into a heart, and left untreated, continue to swell and fester.

It’s a pattern I’ve seen in many adults – men and women – and that includes me.

My 14-year-old could tell I was bothered by abrupt break off. He looked at me, seriousness brushed across his face and gave me this poignant piece of advice: “You know, Mom, just because he dropped the friendship, doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. You understand that, right?”

I was taken off guard and needed a few seconds to step back and ponder those words. It was not only TRUE; it made me realize that Ryan was acting like more of an adult than most adults.

It was a revelation for me to realize that not all lost friends are truly lost. They are probably there at a time for a good reason – and when they moved on – they moved on because that door has closed. Of course, another will open as they always seem to do.

As we lug ourselves out to send our children back to school, still drunk from the warmth of honey-sweet summer days, I made myself a bet.

Sometime, Ryan and his friend will meet and become friends all over again, all hurts forgotten.

Because one other thing kids can be much better at than adults is offering up the buds of forgiveness.

FAMILY LITERACY: ONE SURE FIRE WAY TO GET KIDS AND PARENTS TO READ TOGETHER AND LEARN AT THE SAME TIME!!!!

By Diana L. Chapman

The four-year-old, Adan Hernandez, at first, was delighted to see me. His face beamed as I talked and took their photos. But as the minutes ticked by, he became increasingly fidgety and tugged at his mom’s arm to steer her away while we were talking.

“It’s my time,” Adan kept saying. “It’s my time.”

“I’m sorry,” the mother pressed. “This is our time.”

Mayre (pronounced Marie) Hernandez grabbed her little guy’s hand and scrambled out the preschool’s door to play hula hoops – but not before she had read her son several children’s stories while he was tucked tightly in the warm curve of her lap.

“This is our time,” repeated slowly through my head again and again.

The Family Literacy program – the one I was just witnessing and the same program that San Pedro resident Annette Ciketic had prodded me repeatedly to write about for years – brims with success stories and does something that many of us already know – young kids, from babies on up, need someone to read to them early on -- preferably their parents -- who are their first teachers.

This can be a hard calling for parents with several children, more than one job to survive or a single mom or dad raising children on their own – many of whom do not know how to read well themselves or have achieved a high school degree. Family literacy – taught at 15th Street Elementary School in San Pedro and Meyler Adult and Family Learning Center in the Harbor Gateway – focuses on a family learning: together.

Learning English, raising your kids, improving math skills and conquering first an 8th grade diploma and later a GED (general education diploma) sounds like a monster of mountains to overcome – especially for those coming from another culture. And it's been difficult to promote the program.

My true confession: The words Family Literacy made me fall asleep until
15th Street Elementary School coordinator Connie McCosker opened the doors widely and allowed me to peer inside. What I witnessed made me immediately regret that I had not reported on this program sooner

It was nearly as impressive as a blue butterfly spreading its wings before your eyes – because that’s exactly what’s happening to these families.

Once the doors of the program were open – in one room, I spotted parents studying English while their young kids, from infants to toddlers, played in a nearby area where another adult watched over them.

In another room, parents were studying math as a small two-year-old wandered behind her mom.

And in my favorite room, the preschool, a myriad of mothers – and even one father! – had their children climbing on their laps as their parents read to them either in Spanish or English.

“The problem is always what to do with the children,” explained Connie who said the expense of child care was one of the biggest obstacles to immigrant parents learning English and trying to achieve a higher education. “So we teach the parents and the kids. When the parents enroll their kids, they’ll know the school and they’ll have more confidence.”

Where else can you find a brochure that says: Adult Education: “Babies Welcome in Class!” Parents can study English, math and earn an eighth grade diploma and all the while learn to work with their children in the preschool.

Parents who enroll their children must participate in the preschool program where a chunk of time is devoted to the learning to read and play with their child.

The students must commit 20 hours a week to enroll, Connie explained.

One fascinating appeal to parents is so many rarely had a chance to enjoy their childhood and often were already working at a young age that they are actually having a shot at reliving their childhood with their own kid. At the same time, they are learning parenting techniques.

“One young mother didn’t even know how to do a puzzle,” said Maria Young, who runs the preschool program. “She had never done a puzzle in her life. She learned with her child.

“We teach the parents here to make encouraging and positive remarks about their children’s work.”

Besides teaching the preschool kids art, music, colors and numbers, Maria also trains parents how to control to their child’s temper tantrums and the best nutrition for kids.

For mother Maria Espinoza, who attends with her son Jason, 4, the program was a godsend.

When she arrived at 15th Street Elementary, she spoke no English. Since then, she had all of her boys attend the program (the other two are now five and seven and attend 15th Street Elementary) and later was hired by the school to help supervise on the yard. Meanwhile, she pursues studies to obtain her high school equivalency

“The goal was for me to learn English,” the mother explained, but so impressed was the Maria with the program that she ushered each of her children through. “My sons learned English here. They learned to share here. They know and understand the rules. At home, I wouldn’t even show them how to cut with scissors. I always thought it was too dangerous. At home we didn’t play a lot.”

That changed, she said, “and I am so grateful for the program.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Adan’s mother who said her biggest regret was she didn’t know the program existed and didn’t have the chance to do it with her other three sons, 6, 8 and 10-years-old. However, it turned out to work perfectly for Adan who now gets his own time with his mother – where at home he’s always competing with attention with the other boys.

Once Mayre decided to pursue a higher education after not going to school for 12 years – and is working to get her GED – she immediately hit her first obstacle. How would she take care of Adan when child care was so expensive and go to school? Then, she saw a sign on the school fence about Family Literacy and jumped in, starting this year.

“I just love this program,” Mayre gushed with appreciation.. “I’m right next door to where my son is. We’ve gone on field trips. We play together. And I’m getting to where I need to be.”

Now I regret not listening to Anette who coordinates the program at Meyler. The brainchild of educator, Camilla Townsend, who now is the executive director of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, Family Literacy has the chance to expand across the South Bay since it began six years ago.
“These past two years Connie and I have been working very closely to act as a "united front" under the umbrella of Harbor Community Adult School,” Annette explained.. “My goal is that we expand to other areas and serve as models and mentors to other developing family literacy programs in the whole South Bay.”
My hope is that we don’t wait too long to promote and explore this program and that our Neighborhood Councils will help sponsor it financially. It can only do one thing for all of us: propel healthier, educated families to become a part of our community – where we will witness children spread their wings as beautiful as a blue butterfly.
The program resumes Sept. 2. Starting that date, Connie of 15th Street can be reached at : 310-995-3125 and Annette can be reached at (310) 320-2419 in regards to the Meyler site. Further information can also be provided at Harbor Community Adult School: main campus 310-547-4425.

AUTISTIC CHILDREN ARE MISDIAGNOSED EVERYDAY OR TOO LATE TO CHANGE THEIR WORLD; HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Dear Readers:

Please take the time out of your busy schedule to ponder this video. My sister’s adopted son, now 18, was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, and a myriad of other things, but it’s always bothered me greatly that the possibility of autism was virtually ignored. Years after he suffered – we all have suffered -- my sister discovered in the reports that one of his social workers believed him to be autistic.

When my sister adopted him at age 3, we did not have this information. His chance now of ever being able to live normally in society has slipped away – as he has slipped away from all of us. If a child is autistic, there is a chance to help them, but it must be caught early.

Please see this video and see what you can do to help for the future of all autistic children, many of whom are misdiagnosed everyday.

Visit: http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214

TARGET HIRING/ INTERVIEWING AT HARBOR COLLEGE FRIDAY
& SATURDAY

Please pass along to your networks/those looking for local work.

Target is doing a mass hire at Los Angeles Harbor College today, August 7th and tomorrow, August 8th from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. They will also be here on Saturday, August 9th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. They will be filling all hourly positions for the new San Pedro store.
These positions include cashier, sales, backroom, and overnight.
I would imagine that interested parties should bring a resume and valid ID, but this is an educated guess. (Strongly recommended!)
Happy summer!! -- Submitted by Rori Roje

San Pedro Woman Wants to Help Build Self-Esteem in Croatian Children Using a Book Called "I Am;" Sue Murat is on a Mission and She Needs Your Help to Provide 25,000 Tomes To Kids


Croatia & Bosnia-Hercegovina Book Gifting Mission

Prijevod na hrvaski možete procitati ako kliknete ovdje

TO WATCH THE VIDEO:
2008 Croatia Book Gifting Mission
The I AM Foundation and book gifting ambassador, Sue Murat, will be traveling to Croatia and Bosnia to gift the children "The I AM! Affirmation Book: Discovering The Value of Who You Are" written in both English and Croatian.
Join us in our efforts to support literacy and self-esteem in the children of Croatia & Bosnia-Hercegovina

Sue Murat leads the Croatia & Bosnia-Hercegovina Book Gifting Mission in 2008. We will be visiting countries such as Bosnia-Hercegovina, and Croatia. Our goal is to gift 25,000 I AM! Affirmation Books to children over a series of missions. The book that has been given away to children all over the world is coming to Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina! Some of the intended destinations are Vukovar, Split and Mostar.

Click here to view a sample page of the English/Croatian Edition of The I AM! Affirmation Book.

The time is right for our children to discover their value and learn a new and positive way of looking at their world. How wonderful for our young leaders of the future to know that they are brilliant, strong, brave, honest and proud! Please join us in meeting, and possibly exceeding, our goal. We invite your support in helping us make an impact in this area of the world. Click here to make a contribution. All donations are tax-deductible. Any person or organization that makes a $5000 or more donation will be acknowledged in the English-Croatian Edition of The I AM! Affirmation Book: Discovering The Value of Who You Are.

Our Croatian & Bosnia-Hercegovina Book Gifting Mission Wish List:

Printing
Ground Transportation including a van or truck to transport the books and our team of 4-6 people
Hotels or places to stay
Volunteers on location
For more information on this mission or to help with items on the wish list, email Sue Murat.

CHECK OUT THIS REMARKABLE LOCAL SECOND GRADER: ARTIST, DANCER, WRITER -- AND HULA HOOPER THAT DOESN'T QUIT -- AVIANA! SHE'S ALL OF SEVEN-YEARS- OLD; Just how much talent can get packed into one pipsqueak?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yb6VMYjSrc
Send your videos/photos or artwork by your kids to hartchap@cox.net

San Pedro’s Marine Magnet Likely to Become the New Angel’s Gate High School – a Move That Ensures a School No Larger Than 800 Seats and Reduces Traffic Through Busing; LAUSD School Board Expected to Approve Measure Tuesday & School Officials Add a Major Bit of Enticement – the Possibility of Reopening Gaffey Street Pool
By Diana L. Chapman

In a move that might dull sharp and sometimes brutal protests against building a larger campus at Angel’s Gate, Los Angeles school officials have opted to propose an expansion of San Pedro High School’s Marine Magnet at the seaside site instead.
The proposal reduces the site from the initial 1,200 class seats to no more than 800 seats and the expansion in the early stages would not exceed 500 seats.
According to school officials, San Pedro residents would have first rights to use the school.
Such a move will likely decrease some of the hostile and often ugly protest tactics that have ranged from calling the bid “a land grab,” despite the district owning the property for decades, to shoring up a plethora of reasons not to have a school there – including it causing more noise at the tranquil site and the potential damage to fox habitats.
Should the school board approve the reduction from 1,200 seats to 800 at its meeting Tuesday, any changes to school size later would require additional amendments and another run through a chain of procedures.
School officials lined up several enticements for the new proposal – promising a drop in potential traffic woes and the consideration of reopening of a public pool.
The most promising proposal that may send residents gushing toward accepting the marine magnet expansion was the announcement that Los Angeles School Board Member Richard Vladovic and his staff have hammered out a proposed, but tentative agreement to partner with the city to reopen the beloved Gaffey Street Pool -- although funding has not yet been secured.
For years, residents have desired the pool –now considered a historic landmark—to reopen despite the millions it’s expected to cost. City officials have stated in the past that the geology of the hillside has been questionable and the pool has slowly slipped slightly down the hillside and into disrepair.
"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is on board," regarding the partnership, said
said David Kooper, Vladovic’s chief of staff, whose proposal is likely to hook scores of residents. Many have grown increasingly nostalgic over the pool embedded in a hillside at Angel's Gate, surrounded by trees and swirling ocean mists that despite the closure-- clings to many local's memories.
Besides seeking funding for such a project, the school officials need to study the site to see if its even feasible and another partner to actually run the pool, Kooper said.
If the magnet approval passes, then school and city officials would likely build a competitive sized pool at the site that could be used by the public -- and finally give the San Pedro High School swim team its first chance to compete at home.
San Pedro High currently has no pool forcing its swim team often to workout at other locations and to compete in other jurisdictions.
Should the Gaffey Street Pool not work out, school officials would search for another pool site, Kooper said.
Another issue expected to entice residents stems from transportation. A magnet allows for students outside a two mile radius of a school to be shuttled to and from the site via school buses. That would eliminate a large percentage of traffic, once predicted to drench the area with honking cars and traffic jams.
Under the marine magnet expansion, the campus would then become a satellite or “annex” to San Pedro High School and that school’s principal, Bob DiPietro, would oversee both sites, said Linda Del Cueto, the superintendent who heads District Eight, the region that includes San Pedro.l
Many questions remain about the exact substance of classes the school will offer, but clearly the primary goal of school officials remains building four labs and 30 classrooms at the site to help reduce overcrowding at San Pedro High School.
The high school has about 3,400 students on a campus designed for about 2,000. Marine magnet students, which currently comprises about 379 students, still would use the main campus to take the necessary classes for college and to be included in any sports teams. The use of the magnet program also ensures that students outside the two mile radius can be shuttled via buses to the site.
Such a school would not be built until 2012. As for the additional seats, the district might consider at a later date placing a smaller learning community there, such as a maratime studies school. But nothing has been determined yet.
While much remains to hash out, it’s possible the offer will quell some of the intense opposition the district has faced in the past. The plan more than likely will scuttle attempts to pull those residents sitting on the fence into the opposition. Many, who see the school as a viable possibility, have said they are afraid to speak out due to the intense criticism the district has received over its initial proposal to build a stand-alone 9-12th grade campus not connected to the high school.
Even frequent critics of building at the site saw potential with what came out of Tuesday’s meeting, pulled together by Del Cueto.
June Burlingame Smith, president of the Coastal Neighborhood Council, which voted to oppose the building of a larger campus at the site, believed the offer was a “win-win” with the pool. She did warn, however, that school officials should cap the school at 500 seats and be realistic about parking. Offering only 2.5 spaces per classroom just isn’t enough, she argued.
However, the coastal president did seem eager to look at compromises, because in her history of living here it was always known that the district wanted to build a high school at the site.
Doug Epperhart, also on the council, and Aaron Bruhnke, a San Pedro High school teacher and UTLA representative, both raised the concern that such a school could become an “elitist” campus.
“That’s what it will be,” said Epperhart, who also wants to reach some type of compromise with the district, but could not make the meeting.
Surrounding neighbors of the middle to upper class enclave will do everything necessary to make sure their children attend that school, he said, and that likely will lock out students from the economically-disadvantaged areas of the community.
Bruhnke also seemed concerned with the same issue and recommended that students allowed to enjoy the marine magnet sign a contract so if they are not taking the opportunity seriously that other students be allowed to step into the slot.