For the majority of the 18 years that Rudy and Tessa have been a couple, they have lived and loved in Carson, CA, recently purchasing their first home here. A self-proclaimed “Carson Girl,” Tessa, along with Rudy, have been a dedicated team providing encouragement and support to the children at Scott Park- where their children, Isaiah, Elia, and Rudi, participate in activities.

Believing that commitment does not need an audience, and that the legal bond of marriage pales in comparison to the eternal bond of unconditional love, they never felt that a ceremony was necessary. Only when it became the most practical decision, did they finally tie the knot at Norwalk Courthouse.

Disappointed by not being there to celebrate the occasion,  Leiga Samuelu, Rudy’s cousin, hatched an elaborate scheme. He decided to pretend that  he and his girlfriend, Kimberly, were engaged and planning a wedding, but in actuality the event would be a surprise wedding for Rudy and Tessa. How was this accomplished? The answer is with a lot of love, and even more luck. Leiga and Kim asked Rudy and Tessa to serve as best man and maid of honor, respectively, while friends and family joined in the ruse by making sure the happy couple did not suspect anything.

On August 14th, 2010, after much hard work on behalf of the people who love them most, Mr. and Mrs. Mageo were celebrated in an unforgettable ceremony that was a  testament to the impact they have had on the lives of others.’

It is not often that one stands in the presence of love and recognizes it by name. However, to know Rudy and Tessa is to be one of those of fortunate people. Their love is a quiet one, made even more special by its lack of ostentation and grandiosity. It is dependable, strong, and one knows that when all else fades away, it will still be standing- made stronger simply by the very fact that it continues to exist.

Lovers Rock: by Sade, has long been a song that epitomizes their relationship, and it- along with the genuine expression of love in their eyes when they renewed their vows- inspired my husband Savali to write the poem below in their honor.

Through my husband, I have been one of those blessed enough to call Rudy and Tessa “friend.”  They have inspired us as individuals- as well as a couple, and no words can fully express how much we appreciate and admire them.

Rudy and Tessa:  We love you, and wish you a forever of happiness as your love, strong and unbreakable, continues to be the Lovers Rock.

Lovers Rock Epitomized

i
looked
into his
eyes
fighting
back
tears
held in
for
18
years…
frustration
elation
fear
strength
disappointment
happiness
every
emotion
love
conjures
up…
searching
for
the
best way
to say
all she
meant
to him
the
perfect
sentiment
to
describe
their
commitment
to
each other…
i
wasn’t
surprised
to hear
him say
“just action,
it’s all it is, just action…”
cause the fact is
love does,
it moves
it changes
like sand
the past
and present
form a
rock
for the lovers’ future…
i looked into her eyes
and she
can’t hide
her cries
the ride
even
surprised
her
The Queen
describes her
King
as “everything that’s good”
strives to be
all she could
because love
commands
nothing
less
than
it gives
and it
lives
in
her…
in her
heart
in her
smile
in her
words
i heard it
felt it
every ounce
of the this
lover
clings to her
rock…
as they
walked
hand
in
hand
i
looked
into
their eyes
and saw
what
a
Lovers Rock
epitomized.

-Savali Savali III

Kirsten West Savali

This training will be held at the Carson Community Center (801 East Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745).

There are two sessions being offered:

Session 1: Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers

*PLEASE NOTE: All BLS Attendees MUST be healthcare providers and have an active license that is entered on the Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (DHV) System (https://www.healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov/)* Saturday, June 26, 2010 8:00am – 12:30pm

Session 2: Basic CPR/First Aid (including child and infant) Saturday, June 26, 2010 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Lunch will be served from 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM as an opportunity to network with MRC members from other units within LA County. Attendees from both sessions are encouraged to have lunch and network.

Please RSVP for ONLY ONE session.  Email Pam at psaelieb@vcla.net by Thursday, June 24, with the following:
(1) YOUR FULL NAME (as it should appear on your Certification Card)
(2) YOUR MRC UNIT
(3) WHICH SESSION YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.

We ask that you RSVP only if you are certain that you will be able to attend this event. RSVPs will be collected on a first come first serve basis, and a confirmation email will be sent to you.

For questions or assistance accessing the Disaster Healthcare Volunteers System (https://www.healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov/) please contact Pam at psaelieb@vcla.net.

The re-route is scheduled to begin on the week of June 27 and will impact approximately 6,000 homes in four geographic locations in the city.  It is the first re-route to take place in 20 years, despite the growth of Carson ’s infrastructure and population.

The locations that will be impacted include homes inside the perimeter of Avalon Boulevard, University Drive, Wilmington Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard; neighborhoods inside the perimeter of Carson Street, Avalon Boulevard, 223^rd Street and Main Street; neighborhoods bordered by Avalon Boulevard, 213^th Street, Carson Street, Orrick Avenue, Javelin Street and Grace Avenue; and neighborhoods bordered by Avalon Boulevard, 213^th Street, Wilmington Avenue and 223^rd Street.  Residents in the affected areas are currently being notified by Waste Management of the new schedule through door hangers.

By adjusting its routes, Waste Management anticipates an increase in efficiency, a decrease in traffic on local streets and an improved quality of services to its Carson customers.

For further information on the new schedule, please contact the City of Carson Public Works Division at (310) 847-3520.

After receiving his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of California at Davis, Attorney Donoghue decided to pursue his Juris Doctorate degree at Golden Gate School of Law in San Francisco, CA. While there, he was awarded the National Computers in Law Fellowship- which is only awarded nationally to one deserving student per year- for excelling in both his legal studies and computer sciences.

As a result of receiving this prestigious award, Attorney Donoghue’s graduate education was financially secured. He returned to the East Coast to receive his Master of Laws ( LL.M), and upon graduation, he immediately began working for the United States Department of Justice. During his employment there he passed the District of Columbia Bar Exam, and his official legal career began in the summer of 1971.

Returning to California in 1973, Attorney Donoghue’s next career move was with the California Judiciary Council. Eventually, he began a long and rewarding career with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office where he put himself on the frontlines of justice for 25 years. His primary focus was removing criminals from the streets of Los Angeles who were a danger to society, and for four years he served as a Child Sexual Abuse Specialist.  During this time the only emotion that matched the heartache of looking into the eyes of traumatized children was the satisfaction of ensuring that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes spent significant time behind bars.

Simultaneously, from 1980 to 1990, he became one of five founding professors at the Simon Greenleaf Law School—currently Trinity Law School.  Professor Donoghue was honored by his peers, chosen to be the first President of the Faculty Senate, and also by his students when the law school student body selected him to be the first recipient of the Professor of the Year. For his distinguished and devoted service as professor of law, he was recognized by the Simon Greenleaf Alumni Association on May 7, 1993.

When asked about his most memorable case, Attorney Donoghue immediately began to recall the case of Ricardo Pulido of Carson, CA.  In the city of Carson, political intrigue runs rampant. With two former mayors sentenced to jail terms on charges ranging from extortion to money laundering- and a huge corruption scandal that rocked the city in 2002 culminating with several council members being charged with extortion, the inter-fighting straining the already tenuous bonds that held the city council together had long provided sensationalistic media fodder for certain publications in the Southbay.

When Pulido, an upstanding, civic-minded citizen who has served on several city committees and commissions, was charged with criminal extortion stemming from an incident involving local restaurant owners that occurred between November 14^th, 2008-November 19^th, 2008, the Vegas- style score keepers that watch over Carson like vultures over prey weakening in the sun, came out in full force in preparation of another proverbial nail being hammered into the battle worn city’s weathered reputation.

Enter, Attorney Laurence Donoghue.

Retired from the LA DA’s office in 1998, Donoghue was retained by Mr. Pulido on November 21^st, 2008. Joined by Mike Norris and Matthew Kesler- attorneys for the other two defendants, he set into motion a sophisticated, pro-active, intelligent defense that included waiving their right to a jury trial in favor of the case being decided by Judge Eleanor Hunter.  Attorney Donoghue contended that the charges brought forth against Mr. Pulido were without merit, and even viewing the case through the lens of a former prosecutor, it was clear that Mr. Pulido was not guilty. With that serving as his guiding force, he put forth all his considerable legal experience to work proving it.

After a nail-biting period of time- during which the Carson watchers waited with baited breaths to trumpet the judge’s decision to the world, the Court finally reached its verdict.  On March 5^th, 2010, Ricardo Pulido and his co-defendants were acquitted of all charges.

This verdict was due in no small part to the tenacity and skill of Mr. Donoghue.

Regarding the law and life, he holds a simple yet profound philosophy: Pro Bono Publico. This Latin phrase translates to ‘For The Public Good.’  As a prosecutor, he strived to be fair, non-prejudicial, and non-abusive of the system, and above all else, to put the victims of crime first. Though he “switched sides”, his philosophy remains the same: To serve the public good, primarily the underprivileged and deprived, by assisting them with navigating through the legal system he knows so well and respects so thoroughly.

A member of a local Carson Lions Club in Lions Clubs International, he has served in several leadership positions, and was recently honored as a Melvin Jones Fellow for Dedicated Humanitarian Services. In the words of Lion’s Club International founder, Chicago businessman Melvin Jones: “What if these men who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?”

Attorney Donoghue has spent his career being the manifestation of the answer to that question, and for that, he should be recognized.

-Kirsten West Savali

************************

Contact Information for Attorney Laurence Donoghue:

28924 South Western Avenue
Suite 205
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Phone: (310) 548-4826
Fax: (310) 548-0759 Website: http://www.atty.ca/admin.ldonoghue.lawoffice.com/index.html

Ironically, the Union states were allowed to maintain their slaves because President Lincoln did not want to risk friction among them. Subsequently, freedmen fled to the North to join the Union Army, and slavery became the pivotal focus of the Civil War. The initial conflict began over various other reasons regarding states’ individual rights- such as taxation, the South demanding control over their own political and socio-economic infrastructure, as well as states’ resources.

With slavery perceived as the central issue, the Emancipation Proclamation has been lauded as a giant step for man-kind, when in fact; it was a strategic political move at best.  At the time, William Seward, Lincoln’s Secretary of State, was quoted as sarcastically stating, “We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where we can set them free.”

Even though the Proclamation was made in 1863, it was not until June 19^th, 1865, that word of freedom reached the majority of southern states. General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to force slave-owners to comply with the new law- only to find that the slaves had no idea they were free.

Word spread like wild-fire, and the slaves, whether intimidated or elated by the thought of freedom, rejoiced, and the Juneteenth Celebration was born.

So why are we still not free?

Black Africans were physically and psychologically maimed by the institution of Slavery, and the same holds true today. We continue to be marginalized by institutionalized racism, and adversely, are enslaved by shackles of our own making.  I am not speaking of the very real dis-proportionate percentage of African-American males in prison, or the alarming statistics that show African-Americans, specifically women, are paid a lesser salary for the same job as our white counterparts. These truths are unequivocal. I am speaking of the Willie Lynch mentality that forces us to direct our anger and frustration at our so-called “oppressors”, as well as destroying -rather than uplifting- our communities.

The airwaves are flooded with modern day minstrel shows that we decided to define as music and cloak and defend as self-expression. Yet, we become enraged at the perceived lack of respect shown to our culture by mainstream society. We sing hymns in protest at the slightest show of violence towards African-Americans in this country perpetuated by other ethnic groups. Yet, when it is one of our own, we allow the furor to quietly calm itself, as we attempt to heal our community away from the glare of those who might stereotype us. The suicide rate for African-Americans suffering from mental illnesses has increased 233% since 1980, yet we stigmatize each other for seeking the help that we need, so our brothers and sisters suffer in silence, choosing to minimize or mis-categorize the often life debilitating issues they face.

Are these not forms of slavery?

Yes, we have to work that much harder; we have to be that much smarter. Yes, we have to face unfair disadvantages in this country, but should we allow that to also hinder our evolution? With the physical chains broken, why must we now enslave our chances of prosperity and longevity with a stubborn resistance to honest accountability?

It is heartbreaking to see those descended from the Kings and Queens of Africa- and the architects of the Pyramids of Giza- reduced to dwelling in the projects, settling for mediocrity. People of African descent comprise the majority of the global population, yet vast numbers of us still have the mind-set of a minority. While we can march, riot, and boycott our way to superficial equality, only once we realize that we have never been “less than”, will we as a people equal more than the sum of our parts.

As Simone de Beauvoir said, “It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for acting”.

We must brave the deep waters of self-actualization and emerge enlightened so that we are able to powerfully embrace the knowledge that we have always been-and will continue to be- the captains of our own course, in complete control of our independence and freedom.

This Juneteenth we must pledge to respect and recognize the nuances of our past, and incorporate these realizations into our collective understanding as we move forward.  We must not only rejoice in the acknowledgment of our physical freedom on that glorious day in 1865, but repudiate the slavery of the mind and spirit that we have continually reinforced upon ourselves. Only then will we have a true reason to celebrate.

Kirsten West Savali

Just when I think the GOP members can sink no further, Rep. Joe Barton, (R-TX), proves me wrong. He decided to apologize to British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward- on Capitol Hill today to explain BP’s role in this crisis-  with this shameful statement: “I apologize,” Barton told Hayward. “I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure that is — again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown. So I apologize.“

Seriously Rep. Barton? He further seals his political fate with the following idiocy: “I think it’s a tragedy in the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown — in this case a $20 billion shakedown — with the attorney general of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the American people, participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that’s unprecedented in our nation’s history, which has no legal standing, which I think sets a terrible precedent for our nation’s future.”

Unbelievable. President Obama has proven once again that we elected the right man for the job. I, too, grew frustrated by his lack of emotion, but he has done more than posture, and pose, and spit venom at BP, then shake their hands in a dark room as GOP Representatives such as Michele Bachman and Barton have continued to do.

He has put his money where his mouth is. He has forced this mammoth corporation to pay for their mistake by the only measurable means available…money. Would the GOP rather the tax payers foot the bill again? Because that’s what would have had to happen. Is it then acceptable for citizens to bail out BP, but not to improve an ailing healthcare system? 20 billion will not break BP’s bank, but it does ward off the inevitable boycotts, and it also provides positive PR. Do not think for even a second that this corporation did not carefully decide on a number that would seem exorbitant to the average citizen, yet not send them into bankruptcy. This was a carefully crafted business deal, and it took our “calm and collected” President to negotiate it successfully. Rep Barton’s apology reeks of entitlement and ignorance, and shows how woefully out of touch he is with the citizens of this country.

I have one question for the GOP: Where is the outrage for the citizens of the Gulf? I have heard more anger on behalf of BP than for any bird covered in crude oil, more “passionate” cries of wrongdoing directed at this administration than any emotional response to the plight of the fishermen and small business owners who have lost their livelihoods.

There are members of the Republican Party who in a pathetic attempt to show themselves “business friendly”, have forgotten to show themselves “citizen friendly.”

There are some people in the Republican Party who would oppose Obama if he said the sky were blue, and not only proclaim that it was purple, but that Obama was a socialist for saying otherwise. By siding with BP on this issue, and basically stating that no punishment or repercussions are necessary, they are the ones guilty of lack of emotion and insight.  Being pro-business should not make one anti-common sense.

It is time to put childishness aside. This President has accomplished a great feat. He has held BP accountable for their actions, and we should all be applauding him. To suggest that BP should not be required to assist in the Gulf financially is absolute foolishness, and Rep. Barton should issue an apology immediately to the American people for his glaring lack of empathy and understanding.

– Kirsten West Savali

1.) The Deepwater Horizon Crisis is not President Obama’s Hurricane Katrina.

People were starving in the streets, children were going for weeks in dirty pampers, elderly people were cut off from life-saving treatments, the NOPD turned into vigilantes and wreaked havoc on an already tumultuous situation. With all the aforementioned things occurring, then President George Bush simply flew in a helicopter overhead, and paused long enough for the “poignant” image of him surveying the damage to be captured as people fought for their lives on the rooftops of the 9th Ward.

Not that President Obama has earned a fan in me by the way he has been handling the situation. This is when we need to see some fire, some passion, some anger. This is when that populist rhetoric he used to rally the masses should be on full display. The people of the Gulf need to see that he feels them on a visceral level, not an academic one, and saying “so I know whose ass to kick” does not have me convinced that he’s as angry as he would like us to believe. Obviously, he is aware that anger is the right emotion to display, but his comes off a bit contrived. Nevertheless, whether he feels the citizens of the Gulf Coast pain, or not, his actions have spoken 100% louder than the Bush Administration’s response to Katrina, and that needs to be acknowledged.

2.) Republican, Democrat, or whatever your party affiliation may be, as citizens, we need to also acknowledge the hypocrisy of our own anger. We are the ones who buy these gas guzzling vehicles that endanger the environment. We are the ones who refuse to walk more than a few feet, and usually it’s only to the refrigerator, to get the remote control, or to the car. We are the ones who place our public officials in the tenuous position of placating our excessive oil dependency, and subsequently keeping the citizens who are employed by these behemoth corporations, well, employed. Let us not be so quick to speak on pure emotion, and realize that we are as much a part of the problem as BP.

We need to focus on creating and utilizing diverse means of energy, and push our administration to do the same. Note, I said “do” the same, not “speak” the same. Supply and Demand is Business 101. If there were no demand, there would be no need for the supply, and BP would not have been able to allow their greed and ignorance to cause the worst natural ecological disaster to ever originate in this country. We have all been part of a problem that exploded in our faces in the Gulf of Mexico…now is the time for us all to be part of the solution.

3.) Energy dependency clearly shapes our foreign policy and that should frighten more citizens than it does.

Hypothetical situation: You borrow money from an online payday loan source. You’re frantic with no where else to turn. Though they charge you an arm and a leg, you’re nice to them, and you don’t rock the boat. You do whatever is necessary because they have something you need…money.

Real situation: We buy oil to keep this country running from such countries as Saudi Arabia and Iraq. And while Saudi Arabia is an ambivalent ally at best to the US- 15 of the 19 alleged 9-11 hijackers were from there- Iraq has clearly been an enemy. Yet, we are as dependent on them to help maintain our oil dependency, as a drug addict is to their supplier. Simply put: How can we honestly put all our efforts into thwarting our foreign adversaries if we need them?

If we are dependent on their oil, we are dependent on them, and that leads to an unfair advantage that the Middle East will continue to have over us as long as we are too lazy as a country to get it together and find alternative means of fuel and use it on a mass scale.

We must not allow this situation to continue to focus on the political. This is an issue that is affecting people’s livelihoods on various levels, and altering the citizens of the Gulf very way of being. We need to stay cognizant of that fact and direct our energy and resources towards not only handling this crisis, but ensuring that this can never, ever happen again.

We saw the real estate bubble burst, we witnessed the banks collapse, now we are virtually trapped as we watch poison leak into our waters with no end in sight.

At a pivotal point in our history, we as US citizens can, and should, minimize our oil dependency. We can shape the country that our children and grandchildren will inhabit. And we can do that not by pointing fingers, playing political chess, and pondering how it will affect future elections; but by realizing that to change the world, we must first change ourselves.

-Kirsten West Savali

The business awards is held each year to recognize overall outstanding businesses in the community and honor local companies that have made remarkable contributions to the city’s economic vitality.

The theme for this year’s event is “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs”  and awardees include Carl’s Jr., Ducommun Incorporated, Hair Architects, IKEA, and Prime Wheel.

Breakfast and registration is scheduled for 7:30 a.m., with actual program set to start at 8 a.m.  The event is free but advance reservation is required.  To reserve your seat, please contact the Economic Development Division at 310-233-4884 or send an e-mail to lbutler@carson.ca.us

“We are proud to bring back the Battle of the High School Marching Bands to our community later this year, at a time when funding for important educational programs like the music and the arts is more critical than ever,” said Tamala Lewis, director of The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and Community Affairs.  “We are grateful for the support of our sponsors, and especially to JetBlue, who made the ‘comeback’ of this entertaining and worthwhile event possible.”

Joining the 2006 and 2008 champion Inglewood High School Marching Band from Inglewood, Calif. will be three other high schools from the Los Angeles area; Compton High School (Compton, Calif.), Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Dominguez High School (Compton, Calif.), plus four schools from out of state; Lithonia High School (Lithonia, Georgia), James S. Rickards High School (Tallahassee, Florida), Stephen F. Austin High School (Houston, Texas) and Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School (Beaumont, Texas), who placed second in 2008.

Event sponsor JetBlue is providing 10 roundtrip tickets on the award-winning carrier for each out-of-state school. The schools can use the tickets as a fundraiser or for travel to and from the event so they can enjoy the award-winning JetBlue Experience and even more choices, including all-leather seats, spacious legroom, unlimited free snacks, 36 channels of free, live television and radio at every seatback and most importantly, genuine, friendly service.

”JetBlue is committed to supporting the people, places and events that matter most to the communities we serve,” said Icema Gibbs, director of corporate social responsibility for JetBlue Airways. “We are proud to be part of this important partnership with The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, encouraging and supporting the advancement of music education for our youth.”

Radio sponsor 102.3 KJLH, owned by Stevie Wonder, is the exclusive radio partner for the show, and will broadcast live from the 2010 Battle of the High School Marching Bands on Sat., Nov. 20, when the eight finalists will battle it out “Southern Show Style” in the 27,000-seat soccer stadium at The Home Depot Center in front of thousands of fans, and a panel of collegiate band directors and VIP celebrity guests for the grand prize of $10,000 to purchase new instruments or uniforms.

The 2010 event marks the sixth Battle of the High School Marching Bands in seven years, which has attracted artists and students from all over the U.S. since 2005, plus several celebrity guests and performers, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Jr. (2005), Keke Palmer (2006), Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire and the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band (2007) and Solange (2008).  Celebrities participating in this year’s event will be announced this Fall.

More than 100 high school marching bands applied to compete in the 2010 Battle of the High School Marching Bands, which in 2008 raised more than $100,000 for The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.