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LA Harbor International Film Festival Takes Center Stage in March

Next weekend, March 3-6, San Pedro will once again provide a number of grand showings when it hosts the 13th annual LA Harbor International Film Festival (LAHIFF) at the historic Warner Grand Theatre.

“The LAHIFF showcases film and video that reflects the harbor and all that it embraces – shipping and commerce, fishing, sailing, water sports, sea life and the area’s rich ethnic and cultural influences – to create a cinematic bridge between the people of the region and the people of the world,” said Stephanie Mardesich, director and founder of LAHIFF. “It really is a fabulous event that celebrates the art of film, in tradition of old Hollywood, with an eye to the current cinema.”

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The festival is open to the public with a sampling below of the different films and events:

Thursday, March 3

Festivities begin on Thursday with the free education outreach program “Read the book, See the Movie” (RBSM) Culmination Program. Thousands of books have been distributed to students and community members since 2004. This year’s selection is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. After reading the book, students gather at the Warner Grand Theatre to watch the film version of the book.

Friday, March 4, 8 p.m.

In association with The Big Read L.A. (TBRLA) selection Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the film version Fahrenheit 451 (Universal, 1966, 112 min; directed by Francois Truffaut) will be shown in 35mm at 8 p.m. Preceding the movie, readers are invited to participate in a discussion of the book in the lobby of the Warner Grand at 7 p.m. Admission to the screening is free for those who have read, are reading or will read the book.

Saturday, March 5, 1 p.m.

New Filmmakers LA (NFMLA) “On Location Program” Showcase of Short Films (19 films, one to five minutes in length) will kick off Saturday, highlighting neighborhoods of LA County. Founded in 2007, NFMLA has established itself as a significant gathering advocate for independent cinema with over 20,000 constituents in the Los Angeles community, screening over 750 films from over 48 countries. In addition to fostering the advancement of new filmmakers and its members, NFMLA’s objective is to promote the economic, educational, social, and cultural advancement of filmmaking, arts and culture in the community. 

Saturday, March 5, 7 p.m.

The evening of March 5, the Hollywood Nostalgia Tribute (HNT) features CAN-CAN (20tth Century Fox, 1960, 131 min.; directed by Walter Lang). The Academy Award, Golden Globe, DGA and WGA -nominated film adaptation of the  acclaimed Broadway musical stars Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra, Louis Jourdan, and Maurice Chevalier; and introduced famed dancer Juliet Prowse. General admission for the film program is $10; no discounts.

Sunday, March 6, 1 p.m.

“DocSunday” is presented by new Associate Sponsor the Tensor Foundation. Devoted to the documentary genre, the films are all POLA premieres beginning with filmmakers and others participating in “conversation and Q&A” after the screenings. The opening program at 1 p.m. is  Marsha Hunt’s Sweet Adversity, the story of  actress/activist  Marsha Hunt (now 98 years old) who was living the “American Dream” when her career was eclipsed, along with many industry professionals, and unfairly “blacklisted” during the Communist “Red” Scare. She ultimately triumphed over adversity, continuing to work on stage and television, becoming one of Hollywood’s first celebrity activists. 

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“This culturally rich event will encourage residents of Los Angeles County and beyond to discover and appreciate everything San Pedro has to offer,” said LA County Supervisor Don Knabe. “I am happy to continue supporting such a valued and creative endeavor that will inspire the audience to appreciate the art of cinema and also encourage local filmmakers.”

General admission for the festival programs is $10; $8 with discount for affiliations (with LAMM, GVF, SPAA and Hollywood Heritage) seniors and students. Opening night tickets are $10; no discounts for the Hollywood Nostalgia Tribute. Free Admission for U.S. Veterans and those currently serving in military forces will be available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Film program tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com, or (800) 838-3006; and at the box office (cash only) during the festival dates one hour before program times.  

February Declared “LeadersUp Month” in L.A. County

In celebration of innovative solutions to help break the cycle of poverty that can lead to homelessness and lifelong economic disparities for young adults, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe declared the month of February 2016 as “LeadersUp Month.”

Established by Starbucks and some of its leading US suppliers, LeadersUp is committed to closing the opportunity-divide that separates over 200,000 Angelenos ages 16-24 from viable career opportunities. To help make a scalable impact on the youth employment challenge, LeadersUp is joining Starbucks and the coalition of employers and community based organizations supporting the launch of the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Fair and Forum in Los Angeles County.

“Creating on ramps to career opportunities for our young adults is essential to alleviating the barriers to economic mobility that keep many families in poverty,” shared LeadersUp President, Jeffery Wallace. “It is an honor for February to be recognized as LeadersUp month and to work in solidarity with the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative and the countless organizations and businesses committed to solving this challenge.”

Supervisor Knabe presented scrolls to Blair Taylor, Chief Community Officer at Starbucks and President of the Starbucks Foundation, and Jeffrey Wallace, President of LeadersUp and his team.

“An opportunity is all these kids need—a chance to show their skills and to work hard,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Los Angeles County is proud to continue investing in our youth, because we know the positive impact they will make in their community and the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Thank you to all businesses and organizations across the region for giving our kids a chance to prove themselves and start their paths to a successful career.”

The 100,000 Opportunities Youth Job Fair and Forum will take place on Thursday, February 11 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To learn more about the initiative, please visit 100Kopportunities.org.

Taking the Initiative on Homelessness

Homelessness.  It’s an issue that is big in the news right now as jurisdictions across the country wrestle with the horrible problem of people living in the streets.  It is especially sad when you realize the numbers of veterans and children.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is making its second big push on homelessness within the last 10 years.  I think we learned a great deal in the past decade and we accomplished a great deal.  Our County safety net has assisted millions of people and their families, keeping many of them out of homelessness.  We have also housed thousands of people through expansion of service models that have been proven to work, such as permanent supportive housing, coordinated case management, consistent, sustained street outreach, and targeted programs and services for veterans.  I am particularly proud that we established strong working relationships with cities on this issue, and I am hopeful that the new, more coordinated strategies before the Board will truly enhance what we have built.

Unfortunately, the increased numbers of homeless we are seeing are not a reflection of the intense efforts going on every day and night to identify, assist and house people on the streets.  The last homeless count clearly illustrated this frustrating conundrum; despite housing more than 4000 homeless veterans in a historic effort, nearly the exact same numbers of homeless veterans were found on the streets of Los Angeles County. 

Homelessness challenges our systems of care and our safety net to the absolute limit.  It is forcing us to rethink all of our notions of how we create, fund and deliver services to those most in need.   And to me, that’s a good thing, because many of these strategies demand collaboration and integration across all of our County departments.  These strategies are also requiring us to look at how we release individuals from our jails and our hospitals, and how we can better calibrate our discharge policies towards housing and services.

Another strategy that I am particularly interested in is providing new training for law enforcement and first responders on how to approach homeless individuals and assist them.  For many years, I brought together law enforcement and mental health professionals to talk about how best to engage the mentally ill and how to avoid a tragic outcome.  This is as timely a subject as it gets.

Another aspect to all of this is the funding.  Currently, we spend $965 million per year on services related to homelessness.  A recent study by LAHSA states that we will have to identify another $1 billion over the next five years to house and serve all of the homeless that are on the streets currently. 

The numbers are breathtaking, no doubt.  But we are looking at ways to approach it.  Frankly, we don’t have a choice.  Half of the $100 million that will be appropriated this week is one-time funds.  The other half is coming from County departments.  Our staff estimates that implementation of these strategies will result in approximately 3,500 persons exiting homelessness and 2,000 persons prevented from becoming homeless by June 2017.  For a smaller jurisdiction, that may be great, but not for the largest County in America.  So, a long-term solution will be needed.  A real possibility is to better leverage federal housing vouchers to house more homeless: more people than we have ever housed before.  We will also be looking at the potential of new State funding to construct more housing for the homeless, to coincide with all of the new services we are rolling out.

Ten years ago, the County very publicly took on this challenge.  We have been grappling with it ever since, but I believe that with these new strategies and this renewed commitment, we will see much better results a decade from now, if not sooner. 

New Incentive Program Designed to Get Homeless Veterans Off the Streets and Reward County Landlords

With 4,000-plus homeless Veterans in Los Angeles County, the challenge to find them housing and a stable place to live has been ongoing for years.

While various initiatives have been implemented, barriers have prevented the kind of success civic and community leaders have desired.

“We’ve seen federal dollars dedicated to health and rental assistance since 2009 with the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program and it was a great start,” said Margarita Lares, Director of the Assisted Housing Division for the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles. “But we soon discovered the many barriers related to housing homeless Veterans. We’re hoping we now have a solution with our all-new Landlord Veteran Incentive Program.”

With the help of County funding, the Landlord Veteran Incentive Program, referred to as “Landlord VIP,” officially launched in January 2016, and is designed to incentivize local Los Angeles County landlords by providing one month’s rental payment to hold vacant units and an expedited process to get vetted Veterans into an apartment or house who have secured a VASH voucher through the Housing Authority.

While the VASH Program has existed for several years, Lares noted that there was still a concerning gap for Veterans in their quest to secure housing.

“Homeless Veterans are left to locate housing on their own in addition to coming up with money to complete a rental application and pay for a security deposit,” said Lares. “The VASH program does not assist with the up-front costs associated with securing a rental unit, and that has been a huge barrier for Veterans.

“We needed another pocket of money to bridge the gap and help these individuals with move-in costs, such as, deposit and utility startup costs that are needed just to get their feet in the door,” said Lares.

On top of that, the number of available units is less than three percent in Los Angeles, placing homeless Veterans at an even greater disadvantage since they are often competing with non-subsidized renters that don’t have some of the issues faced by homeless Veterans.

“We need to entice landlords to rent to a Veteran and we believe that the Landlord VIP is the solution” said Lares. “We understand the risks, but we’re hoping this incentive will encourage them to give it a try.”

Additionally, Lares stated that the Housing Authority will intervene on behalf of the landlord if any issues or concerns arise after a Veteran is housed.

Over 400 Veterans currently have Los Angeles County VASH vouchers in hand, however they are struggling to find units and secure housing. This is a reoccurring issue for the Housing Authority as they have witnessed an alarming 643 VASH Vouchers expire since the inception of their VASH program. This is proof that there is a gap of services for Veterans in their quest to secure housing.

“Helping our Veterans secure housing is a fundamental step in improving their quality of life,” said LA County Supervisor Don Knabe. “It can be a start to going back to school, landing a stable job and giving them a chance at a brighter future.

“These men and women have sacrificed so much for us and our country – we must find a way to provide homes for our heroes.”

Interested Veterans are encouraged to contact the Greater Los Angeles VAMC at 310-478-3711. If you are a landlord wanting to learn more about this program and the opportunity to help local Veterans, please e-mail the Housing Authority at LandlordVIP@hacola.org , or call (626)586-1572. You can also visit the website at www.hacola.org.

Knabe Statement on Successful Anti-Child Sex Trafficking Operation

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe released the following statement regarding Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, which resulted in the arrest of nearly 200 people and the rescue of 12 juvenile victims of child sex trafficking:

“I want to congratulate the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and our federal partners on the tremendous success of Operation Reclaim and Rebuild. Thanks to the work of our law enforcement heroes, 12 children who were brutally forced into a life of exploitation and abuse are now on the path to a better life, and nearly 200 suspects and pimps are off the streets. There’s no such thing as a child prostitute. They are victims—manipulated emotionally and physically into a hellish life. Now free from the clutches of evil, these children will be connected with the lifesaving programs and services they need to escape their nightmare and get on the road to recovery.”

Bellflower Symphony Takes Pride in Promoting Young California Musicians

The Bellflower Symphony Orchestra, formed in 1965, has gifted the local community with music for decades, but when Joseph R. Taylor took the conductor’s stand in 1991, the Los Angeles native revitalized the organization’s emphasis on youth.

Taylor, who has taught instrumental music, language arts and math in middle schools with the Compton and Los Angeles Unified School Districts for 30 years, elected to found the Bellflower Young Artist Concerto Competition in 1990, just before being named the conductor. The program has since flourished, and will soon see new talent this spring.

Tryouts for this year’s Young Artists’ Night will be held on Feb. 20. Applications, available on the website, are being accepted now. Up to 60 youth musicians will be invited to compete for a coveted spot to perform on April 23 with the Bellflower Symphony.

“We receive applications from students from Santa Barbara to San Diego to Los Angeles,” said Dorothy Westrup, president of the Bellflower Symphony. “There are few competitions like this in Southern California, so we draw a lot of interest.”

The competition is divided into three age categories: juniors (13 and under), intermediates (14 through 17) and seniors (18 through 22). First- and second-place winners from each category will be invited to perform solos, supported by the larger adult symphony, at the April concert held at the 340-seat William & Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium.

“Playing with a real orchestra is a big deal for these young musicians,” said Westrup. “It’s an amazing experience that is both difficult and different – not at all like their typical performances with smaller groups.”

All musicians are welcome, and Westrup notes they have had students play everything from violins to guitars to piano and horns.

“It is a special evening,” said Westrup. “Our community really enjoys this event and takes pride in promoting our young artists.”

In addition to the anticipated “Young Artists’ Night,” the 2016 season features a concert every season.

On Jan. 30, audience members will enjoy a “Night at the Opera.” In the summer, the Bellflower Symphony will perform a “Concert in the Park” at Caruthers Park. Finally, in November, a final performance will be held on Nov. 19, once again at the William & Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium.

Admission is free for Bellflower residents. Individual concert tickets are $12 for adults, and $10 for students and seniors. For more ticket information, call 562-867-4871 or visit http://www.bellflowersymphony.org/concerts.html.

Entrepreneurs Encouraged to Attend ‘Small Business Saturdays’ at County Libraries

Aspiring small business owners throughout Los Angeles County are encouraged to attend upcoming “Small Business Saturdays” workshops being held monthly at various County Public Libraries during the year.

“Small Business Saturdays were designed specifically to ensure that local entrepreneurs were aware of all resources available to them,” said Yolanda De Ramus, Acting County Librarian and Chief Deputy.  “Attendees will get guidance on the basics – from obtaining a business license and financing a business to the latest information about business taxes as well as the many resources entrepreneurs can access through the County Public Library.”

Space is limited, so entrepreneurs interested in attending a workshop should RSVP to concierge@dcba.lacounty.gov<mailto:concierge@dcba.lacounty.gov>.

All Small Business Saturdays workshops are held from 10 a.m. to Noon. The schedule is as follows:

Sat., Jan. 23, 2016
Rowland Heights Library
1850 Nogales St.
Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Sat., July 23, 2016
Clifton M. Brakensiek Library
9945 E. Flower St.
Bellflower, CA 90706

Small Business Saturdays workshops are made possible through a partnership involving the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs and the Public Library – with funding supplied by the Board of Supervisors.

San Pedro’s Grand Vision Foundation Kicks Off Celebratory Year

While award season kicks off this time of year with the Golden Globes, Academy Awards and red-carpet glamour, it’s only fitting the city of San Pedro will soon celebrate several of its own milestone moments in entertainment history.

The Grand Vision Foundation (GVF), a nonprofit committed to bringing the arts, film and theatre to the Los Angeles Harbor and South Bay communities, is hosting a special 85th birthday event for the Warner Grand Theatre on Jan. 20, and will enjoy its own 20th anniversary festivities in April.

GVF was founded in 1996 to save the Warner Grand Theatre, a 1500-seat movie palace, and has since contributed over $4 million to support the Theatre. Owned by the City of Los Angeles, the Warner Grand hosts numerous cultural events annually that are promoted by GVF.

“Grand Vision started its quest 20 years ago to rebuild and restore the Warner Grand Theatre so it could return to the center of community life,” said Liz Johnson, executive director of GVF. “That first decade of focus was to make the Theatre work, but we’ve since been able to create a venue where quality presenters can put on shows, the community can enjoy the arts, and our youth can learn and be inspired by local musicians, actors and artists.

“We’ve made downtown San Pedro a place where people can go for the performing arts,” says Johnson. “And we recognize the power local arts can have to bridge cultural boundaries and unite our community.”

To commemorate the 85th birthday of the Theatre, the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and GVF will show “The Brothers Warner,” a film delving into the story of the four Warner Bros. who rose from nothing to create one of the top studios in America. The public is welcome to attend and purchase tickets online.

Later, in April, GVF will again pay tribute to the Theatre, as well as celebrate its vibrant volunteers and the community who have shaped the past 20 years of GVF’s existence at its annual gala. Guests are invited to come dressed as their favorite movie stars from the 1920s to the 1980s and walk the red carpet.

“It’s a special year for us,” said Johnson. “But we are always looking toward the future, and over the past few years, we’ve been very committed to education, ensuring our youth are introduced to music and the arts.”

In addition to the many shows GVF supports at both the Warner Grand Theatre and its smaller venue, the Grand Annex, it has taught more than 9,000 local children through the help of standards-based instruction and participatory live music experiences.

In 2009, GVF created its Meet the Music (MTM) education program for upper-elementary school youth. Today, local San Pedro and Wilmington fourth-grade students enjoy the semester-long Roots of Music Program (RoMP), attending instructional field trips, learning music fundamentals, how to play the recorder and how to perform together in an ensemble.

“We are looking forward to our annual LA Opera performance on Jan. 27,” said Joselyn Wilkinson, director of education for Grand Vision. “The Warner Grand fills with an electric energy as 1,500 students and teachers enjoy the spectacular artistry and humor of LA Opera performers, many of them for the first time.”

This year’s performance will be “The Prospector,” based on Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West.”

“One of the best parts is the Q &A, when students interact directly with performers who describe being inspired to begin their own musical journeys by programs and events very similar to the ones we present,” said Wilkinson.

To learn more about GVF, upcoming events at the Theatre and more, visit http://www.grandvision.org/.

L.A. County Launches “Homes for Heroes”

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to allocate $5 million to launch the “Homes for Heroes” program, to better connect homeless veterans with housing.  On a motion from Supervisor Don Knabe and Board Chair Hilda L. Solis, the Board approved funding and an 18-month plan to serve at least 1,000 homeless veterans.

Late last year, the Board allocated $5 million and requested a specific implementation plan for housing veterans.  Today, the Board approved a program with seven specific strategies, including Bridge Housing Strategy, which will work with existing housing providers to serve an estimated 80 vets at any given time with shelter beds while they secure permanent housing; the “Rent to a Veteran” Landlord Incentive Program, which provides landlords with incentives to commit to renting units to homeless vets; and the Move-In Cost Grant Program, which will provide approximately 500 veterans with grants to cover move-in costs, such as security deposits, utility turn-on fees and moving costs.

“One of the challenges in housing our homeless vets has been identifying housing for them, even when they had a voucher in hand,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “It was taking vets 90 days or longer to find an apartment.  With these new programs, I am hoping that we can shorten that timeframe and get those who deserve our help the most into a safe place to get their lives back on track.”

“Our veterans, both men and women, have sacrificed so much for our country. They put their lives on the line to protect our country and our freedom that we all cherish so much,” Chair Hilda L. Solis said. “Now, it’s our turn to help them by ensuring they receive the attention they deserve so that they do not end up homeless and forgotten. I am proud to co-author this motion. In addition to funding an advocacy program, we will be helping support veterans who struggle to pay rent or who need assistance with moving, move-in costs or paying for utilities.”

With the implementation of these programs, about $1.2 million of the $5 million earmarked for veterans will remain and will be a part of the package of recommended strategies from the Homeless Initiative to be submitted for Board consideration in February 2016.

Children’s Dental Health Clinic Strives to Give Local Kids Healthy Smiles

The costs of shelter, food and clothing can quickly suck up a budget, especially for economically-challenged families in Southern California where the cost of living is high.

Trips to the dentist for regular cleanings simply don’t make the cut – until a toothache hits, or a painful oral infection.

“Try to sit in a classroom and concentrate with a toothache, and it’s impossible,” says Dr. John Blake, executive director and dental director for the Children’s Dental Health Clinic (CDHC) in Long Beach. “By the time some of these kids reach us, we see chronic infection, abscesses and numerous cavities. It’s our job to get them back to a healthy place.”

The CDHC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been serving economically disadvantaged and special-needs children and young adults, ages 0-21, in the Greater Long Beach and South Bay areas since 1932.

On average, it treats more than 10,000 children and young adults a year through 33,000 visits. The main clinic is hospital-based on the campus of the Miller Children’s Hospital at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. The CDHC additionally has a school-based satellite clinic on Santa Catalina Island and a mobile dental clinic that travels throughout the community to offer preventive services, general treatment and oral health education.

Blake says 75 percent of the cases they handle are for general health cleanings and care, but 25 percent are much more complex, and these complex cases seem to be growing.  “We are witnessing an overwhelming increase in the need for specialized services, and the list of children waiting for care continues to rise,” said Blake. “There are not enough providers to manage the complex patients – those who are wheelchair-bound, born with cleft palates, cerebral palsy and childhood cancers. Often times these kids need sedation, or to be cleared by a dental team to make sure they do not have infections in the mouth before surgeries and other medical treatments are performed.”

The CDHC then plays the critical role of safety-net resource and dental home for all-inclusive, multi-specialty dental services that can meet all of a child’s treatment needs “under one roof.”

As dental director, Blake has been with the CDHC team for more than 20 years. He started as a volunteer in high school, which inspired him to go to dental school. After college, he opened a private practice, but continued to give at least a day a week to the organization.

In 2003, he joined CDHC full-time and in 2005 he became executive director. Now, he generally spends two days a week doing direct patient care, with the majority of his time devoted to the more complex hospital cases. He is joined by 17 independent dentist contractors who work several days a week for the CDHC, and a total of 35 full-time staff members.

As the case load increases, Blake says the organization will continue to build and leverage partnerships with local health agencies, as well as dental schools in the area, like the University of Southern California, to ensure dentists are prepared to treat complex cases and serve the community.

“We’re close to capacity,” said Blake. “If we had the funding we could easily add three or four more providers, so we’re always working hard to access more grants, corporate giving and individual donations. The goal is really to serve as many kids as we can, giving them the smiles they deserve and a healthy future.”

To learn more about CDHC, visit www.cdhc.org or call 562-933-3141. The CDHC accepts Denti-Cal (Medi-Cal), My Health LA, as well as some PPO insurances. It also welcomes cash patients using a sliding-scale fee payment plan based on income.

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