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Belmont Beacon

MONDAY, AUGUST 11 2014 - AUGUST 17, 2014

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Audiojack: A breakthrough in education which takes our imagination to another level by jennifer schlueter When my friend invited me to an event at the Sonos Studio in LA to experience a sound movie, I didn’t know what to expect. After some welcoming drinks and snacks, we, approximately 40(?) guests, chose our seats in a semi-circle around Audiojack creator and founder David Tobin. Each chair was equipped with a blindfold, a pen, and a notepad. David then gave us a short introduction of what was about to happen, asked us to turn our phones off, relax, put the blindfolds on, and focus on our imagination Audiojack event at Sonos Studio, Los Angeles. -Courtesy Photo so we could create a story along refine our stories. I had thought he has his own stories in mind, with the sound movie. As soon as the room got about a girl in 19th century but always keeps them comquiet, I listened to my first France watching a guy running pletely secret, even from his Audiojack - an “audio-based away from someone. Secretly, parents. Thus, there is no right movie with no words, no mu- she followed him into a cave, or wrong answer, people are sic, no video, only sounds,” as where an unknown creature eager to share, and surprised the website describes it. I heard tried to harm the intruders; how their creativity just flows. This method has proven esperain, doors squeaking, foot- however, they got away. “Is anyone willing to share cially valuable for students and steps, horses trotting over cobble stones, someone running their story?” David wanted to the blind community. They are through grass, etc. - at least, know. Several people raised not afraid anymore to share these were images my mind their hands. All of the sharers their thoughts, and happily enproduced according to these stories differed, but some simi- gage in class. Before Audiojack had sounds. After a second play of lar aspects could be found. The variety of people’s ac- become popular, its creator the Audiojack, we were asked to write down the story our counts is the exact point of an wanted to make sure it would imagination had sparked, and Audiojack, according to David. Please see page 2 after the third, we had time to Designing the sound movies,

been two WNV-related deaths this year in northern California. WNV is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Signs and symptoms of WNV may include fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and headache. Most people infected have no symptoms; approximately one in 150 may develop more serious disease, such as brain in-

Kids’ dance contest emcee pleads guilty to federal child pornography charge

flammation or paralysis. Persons with these symptoms should seek immediate care. Summer weather and drought conditions create an ideal environment for mosquito breeding. Dr. Mitchell Kushner, City Health Officer, encourages all residents to protect them-

A Long Beach man who emceed children’s dance contests nationwide is facing a minimum five-year prison term after pleading guilty in federal court Tuesday to receiving child pornography. Paul Michael Barbour, 33, who previously worked for Cypress-based Kids Artistic Review (KAR), is scheduled to be sentenced October 20, 2014. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The Long Beach man initially fell under suspicion in June after a digital video camera belonging to the defendant was discovered in a dressing room used by young girls taking part in a dance contest at Cypress College. Barbour was originally taken into custody June 1 by detectives with the Cypress Police Department on state charges filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office accusing him of possession of child pornography and possession of a controlled substance. On June 26, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Barbour charging him with a federal child pornography violation. The Orange County District Attorney agreed to dismiss the existing state charges to facilitate the federal prosecution and Barbour was remanded to federal custody. “The mandatory mini-

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Public urged to take precautions against West Nile Virus; First human case in Long Beach announced The first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) this year in Long Beach has been confirmed. The 61-year-old East Long Beach resident has no known underlying health issues and is currently recovering well. As of August 6, 2014, 35 human cases have been reported in 10 California counties, including Los Angeles (1) and Orange (6). There have

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What’s new at the Long Beach Public Library Yoga for Kids: Join the Dana Neighborhood Library in promoting health and well-being to kids. Yoli Ramazzina, a Certified Yoga Instructor trained in teaching Children and Teens, is offering free classes for kids ages 6-9 years old. Make sure to bring a mat or large towel. The only remaining class is on August 16 from 11:00AM -12:00noon. Contact the librarian for more information at 562-570-1042. Mysterious California: Participate in a film and book discussion program at the Ruth Bach Neighborhood Library on August 15 from 5:00PM - 6:00PM. California Center for the Book presents a 40 minute documentary "Mysterious California: Four Authors." The event features interviews with the authors and provides a rich visual journey through the distinctive California landscapes of four crime novels. After this initial film viewing, participants may read one or more of the following books: Southland by Nina Revoyr, Shell Games by Kirk Russell, Sharpshooter by Nadia Gordon, and The Art of Detection by Laurie R. King. The book discussion will be scheduled at a later date.

Music Technology Workshop Part I: Rhafee Zahkee conducts a performance and seminar about music technology on August 16 from 1:30PM 2:30PM at the Main Library, Meeting Room 1. Bring your iPad/Device and headphones for the best experience. All ages are welcome. Contact david.hedden@lbpl.org or call 562-570-6220 for more information. 82nd Annual Great Sand Sculpture Contest Benefitting the Foundation: On August 16 and 17 from 10:00AM - 4:00PM join families, residents and artists in celebrating summer and the success of the library's summer reading program with the theme: Fizz, Boom, READ presented by Rotaract Long Beach. Live music, food, vendor booths and activities will be available in the Kid Zone. The event will take place at 1 Granada Avenue in Long Beach. If you are interested in leading or joining a team for Sunday's amateur contest, please call Laura Nelson at 562-628-2441 or email info@ lbplfoundation.org. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Long Beach Public Library Foundation.

Pacific Gateway holding truck driver hiring event Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network is holding a hiring event to immediately fill current openings for Class A Driver positions with CRST. The event will take place on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 10:00 am at the Harbor WorkSource Center, 1851 N. Gaffey St., Suite F, San Pedro, CA 90731. "Pacific Gateway is doing tremendous work to keep our economy growing, and this is a great opportunity for our local workforce," Mayor Robert Garcia said. CRST, a large, successful haul and freight company, is seeking long-haul drivers over 21 who can pass a physical and drug screen. Positions are full-time with immediate medical coverage. Salary will be based on experience. All interested applicants must ar-

rive at 10:00 am with a State issued ID or Driver's license and Social Security Card, as well as their resume. Individuals can receive assistance in developing their resume as well as utilize other resources at no cost through Pacific Gateway. For more information on this opportunity, call 1.800.292.7200. Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network is a public workforce agency, dedicated to helping job seekers connect to employment as quickly as possible, as well as helping businesses through worker training programs, hiring incentives, and other resources. Pacific Gateway serves the cities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lomita, Torrance, and Los Angeles communities in the Harbor Gateway area.

Education breakthrough Audiojack Continued from page 1

have a lasting impact, and not just be something fun. Inspired by his mother, a teacher, education has always been of utmost importance for David. Audiojack lesson plans for different markets and countries were developed, and thoroughly tested for years. When this confirmed a huge success, David brought his company to the large scale where it is today: The website www.audiojack.com has been translated into 30 languages, and is also usable for the blind. Audiojack lessons adhere to Common Core Standards and are used in k-12 education. Because the sound movies have no language barrier, the whole world can access, use, and profit from them. Individuals, schools, and other organizations can subscribe to the program on the website. For the near future, David plans on launching a program with which people are able to create their own Audiojacks. It still stuns David that he created something that improves people’s quality of life,

stimulates their creativity and develops their critical thinking skills. He goes to schools and education conferences to introduce Audiojack and the positive feedback he is getting is incredible: “A blind girl told me that through Audiojack she felt as if she was able to see for the first time,” he recalled. On another occasion, at the renowned Perkins School of the Blind in Massachusetts, an official told David that he had cracked the code for the blind, that they had been waiting for something like Audiojack. David described this moment as “sobering,” because it charged him with even more responsibility. These events make him work harder and are his drive to continue his mission to give back to people. Audiojack is more than just a job to David; it’s his passion. For more information, i.e. on how you, your school, or your organization can subscribe and profit from Audiojacks, contact Audiojack on www.audiojack.com

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hlr media EDITORIAL editor@belmontbeacon.com Editor Jennifer Schlueter Publisher HLR Media Advertising advertising@hlrmedia.com Submissions:

Please send all press releases to: editor@belmontbeacon.com HLR Media, LLC .All contents herein are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily that of the management and staff at HLR Media, LLC 525 E Seaside Way, Suite 101B Long Beach 90802

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ER closures increase risk of death at surrounding areas Washington, DC—Patients who were admitted to hospitals in the vicinity of a hospital that had closed its emergency department had 5 percent greater odds of inpatient mortality than patients admitted to unaffected hospitals. The risk of death was more pronounced for non-elderly patients and patients with time-sensitive conditions such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI or heart attack), stroke and sepsis. The results of the California study are published today in the August issue of Health Affairs (“California Emergency Department Closures Are Associated with Increased Inpatient Mortality at Nearby Hospitals”) http://content.healthaffairs. org/content/33/8/1323.abstract. “The shrinking number of emergency departments combined with a growth in emergency patients is having a demonstrably dangerous effect on the people of California,” said senior study author Renee Hsia, MD, FACEP of the University of California San Francisco in Calif. “Furthermore, emergency departments and trauma centers – which often experience greater financial pressures than their parents hospitals overall – are more likely to close at hospital with negative profit margins. Therefore, ER closures may widen disparities by further reducing access to care in communities that are already characterized by having vulnerable patients and underpaid hospitals.” Between 1999 and 2010, 48 emergency departments closed in California. During that time, 16,246.892 patients were admitted to California hospitals from the emergency department, onequarter of them near a recently closed ER. Patients admitted to the hospital in the geographic vicinity of other emergency department closures had 5 percent higher odds of inpatient mortality than patients who were admitted in areas where no emergency department had closed. Odds of morality increased by 10 percent for non-elderly adults, by 15 percent for patients

with AMI, by 10 percent for patients with stroke and by 8 percent for patients with sepsis. Researchers speculate that the closure of emergency departments increases pressure on surrounding emergency departments as well as on patients who depend on them. The increased mortality may be attributed to increased travel time to farther emergency departments as well as increased wait times or crowding in ERs with bigger populations dependent on them. “Emergency department closures have ripple effects on patient outcomes that should be considered when health systems and policy makers decide how to regulate ER closures,” said

Dr. Hsia. “As it stands now, the people who are most put at risk are those who are most vulnerable – the poor, the underinsured and the very sick.” ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

Long Beach Office 3780 Kilroy Airport Way Suite 360 Long Beach, CA 90806 Ph. (562) 472-0071 Fx. (562) 689-0071 Los Angeles Office 5701 South Eastern Avenue Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Ph. (323) 727-1144 Fx. (323) 727-9198 www.heger-industrial.com Lic. #00814086

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Emcee pleads guilty Continued from page 1

mum sentences in these cases are significant and with good reason,” said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “Every time a sexually explicit image of a child is downloaded and viewed, that victim is violated yet again.” The charges against Barbour are the result of a probe by the Cypress Police Department and members of the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF), including HSI. As part of the investigation, authorities executed a search warrant at Barbour’s Long Beach residence, seizing a desktop computer. A forensic analysis of that computer resulted in the recovery of well over a thousand images and 10 videos containing children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Investigators emphasize there is no evidence indicating the defendant produced any of the material. However, if mem-

bers of the public have information relevant to the case, they are urged to call the Cypress Police Department at 714-229-3391 or contact the task force at occetf@ ice.dhs.gov. This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST. For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

Automotive business compliance check The Long Beach Police Department’s Detective Division along with other officials conducted a two day compliance check of businesses that are involved in the selling, storing or repairing of motor vehicles in the Long Beach area. On July 28 and August 1, 2014, detectives inspected nine locations and over 400 vehicles and vehicle components. The purpose of the operation was to locate stolen vehicles and vehicle parts; ensure businesses were in compliance with State and local laws and regulations, as well as operating in a safe manner. During the course of the operation, nine citations were issued for violations that included employee compensation, child labor laws, fire codes, unpermitted construction, operating outside the permitted license, and failure to abide by California State overtime regulations. In addition to the citations, over 18 notices of violations were issued, which require follow-

up compliance checks over the next several weeks. Payroll audits will be conducted and there will be a massive clean-up effort for unlicensed businesses. The community should be aware that properly licensed businesses that operate within the City of Long Beach will have the appropriate licenses and permits posted in public view at their location. Anyone wishing to report unlawful business practices involving automotive-related businesses should contact the LBPD Auto Theft Detail at (562)5707362. Unlawful practices may include any business dealings with stolen vehicles or parts, unfair labor practices, operating outside the scope of their permits or operating without licenses in an area not zoned for such use. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers. org.

First human with West Nile Virus announced in Long Beach Continued from page 1

selves from WNV by taking the following precautions: -Avoid mosquito-infested areas, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. -Mosquitoes can breed in standing water. Eliminate stand-

ing water on your property by dumping or draining water in neglected ponds, birdbaths, fountains, buckets, old tires or anything that can hold water. Dumping or draining water will interrupt the mosquito life cycle.

-Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. -Use mosquito repellant containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Residents should follow repellant instructions on the label. Consult with your child’s pediatrician for appropriate concentrations of DEET to be used on children under the age of two. -Keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes and check to make sure your window screens are in good condition. -Maintain all swimming pools in a clean and sanitary manner, with all circulation and filtration equipment operational and chemical levels within recommended guidelines; drain water from pool covers.

-Limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants to twice a week to avoid run off to gutters and around sprinklers. Do not over water plants or lawns to avoid creating pools of standing water. -Report dead birds and dead tree squirrels to the California Department of Public Health by calling 1-877-WNV-BIRD or online at www.westnile.ca.gov. For further information, contact the City of Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services, Vector Control Program at 562.570.4132 or online at www.longbeach.gov/health. Further information about the WNV may be obtained at the State of California Department of Health Services website at www. westnile.ca.gov, or at the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc. gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile.