Page 6 October 18, 2018 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Community Comes Together For
Drake at Cornhole Tournament
By Gregg McMullin
The community of El Segundo is pretty
special. Yes, our town is unique and maybe
our city’s official nickname of “Mayberry
by the Sea” is accurate. We know everyone
and everyone knows us. We are there for
each cause to help and support our neighbor
whether or not we know him or her…
because in this community, we are all part
of one big family.
Writing for Herald Publications I have
covered various sporting events including
baseball, football, basketball, softball, soccer,
water polo, horseshoe tournament, surfing,
lifeguard beach events, 10Ks, cross country
and track and field. My latest is a Cornhole
tournament. Yes, you read that right: a Cornhole
Tournament.
If you aren’t familiar what Cornhole is,
well, it was started by Midwest farmers or
Native Americans or in the back hills of
Kentucky. The origin is, dare I say, disputed.
It is a game in which players on two different
teams toss bags with corn or resin pellets
towards a slanted board with a hole in it for
the bags to drop into for a score. The game
has gained immense popularity, especially for
family gatherings and organized tournaments.
Drake Walker is an El Segundo hometown
hero, an athlete and a very special 7-yearold
boy with a warm and embracing smile
he offers with his eyes. He is not only my
hero, but a hero to all of us for his brave
outlook. You see, Drake has been diagnosed
with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma -- a
highly aggressive, inoperable brain tumor.
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)
is a tumor found in a part of the brain stem
called the pons. The pons controls essential
bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing,
swallowing, eye movement, eyesight and balance.
DIPG is rare and affects some 200-250
children between the ages of 4-11 yearly.
What Drake goes through on a daily basis
is heartbreaking, but if you meet him in
person you’ll find a very special boy. He
looks you in the eye and smiles and says
hi while he firmly shakes your hand. Drake
loves baseball and played El Segundo Little
League this past season for the Single-A
Raptors. Drake is an avid Dodger fan and
has had the opportunity to meet his favorite
player, Cody Bellinger.
Since Drake’s diagnosis his family has
faced many challenges that his mother Leslie,
father Jim and brothers and sisters Taryn,
James and Gigi have met head on. Besides
the emotional and physical challenges, the
family also faces financial uphill battles as
well to help comfort Drake.
The El Segundo Girls Softball League
hosted a successful Cornhole Tournament
fundraiser in December of last year to help
raise money for their organization. So El
Segundo Girls Softball (ESGS) President Matt
McMillon coordinated with the El Segundo
Little League and came up with the brilliant
idea to host the Cornhole Tournament, with
all proceeds benefiting the Walker family.
Chevron Park was the obvious venue to host
the tournament since that’s where the ESGS
had held its tournament last December. Lily
Craig of Chevron graciously gave permission
for the event to happen and Kimberly Crossett
organized the day. Crossett organized
getting 70 volunteers that included Karen
McAndrews, Jennifer McCullough, Melissa
McCaverty, Jennie Tyler, Ted Lappe and
Matt McMillon who were all instrumental
in making the event a total success.
Crossett, who represents a number of
professional athletes, arranged getting signed
memorabilia from such superstars as Albert
Drake and his father Jim share a precious moment.
Wiseburn Board Hears Pleas for
Mandarin Immersion Program
By Duane Plank
At last Thursday evening’s meeting of the
Wiseburn School Board, the assembled members
heard the pleas of residents who continue to
champion a district-wide program of Mandarin
Immersion. The Board also approved the
promotion of administrator Dr. Aileen Harbeck
and witnessed two special presentations.
Seven members of the public approached
the presentation podium during the “from the
public” portion of the meeting to express their
views, with six of the speakers beseeching
Wiseburn Unifies School District to implement
a Mandarin Immersion after-school program.
Each speaker was to be limited to three minutes,
with some continuing a little longer and
others limiting their comments.
Board meeting rules to do not allow member
discussion after the public comments. Said
Board President JoAnne Kaneda prior to the
public comments: “Just so you know, it is not
the Board’s intent or obligation to respond to
public comment. We are willing to listen and
take notes.’
In an email sent after the meeting, Wiseburn
Superintendent Dr. Blake Silvers responded,
“We truly understand the value of learning
languages for students at a young age. Because
the number of students interested in Mandarin
as an after-school program was low for this
year, we must allocate our expenses in other
programs. We will revisit an after-school option
next school year and will communicate
with our families to ensure that they have the
time to make the decision. We are very happy
to announce that an enrichment program for
Spanish Language is being held at Cabrillo
Elementary School and facilitated by Cultural
Bytes. There are currently 48 students enrolled
and we are expecting the number to increase.”
During the action-item, personnel section of
the 75-minute meeting, the Board passed the
promotion of Dr. Harbeck, retroactive to July
1, to the position of Assistant Superintendent,
Educational Services. Harbeck, a long-time
District employee who has served in multiple
positions in the school system, was recently
touted by Silvers as “very, very smart. Brilliant
probably, is how I would describe her. She
is committed to curriculum and instruction,
but she might be mad if I said that. Her focus
is teaching and learning. The value that
she provides at the organizational level is
very systemic in her thought processes -- a
relationship-builder who is able to see the big
picture and methodically plan the steps that
you need to get to that big picture.” Silvers
added that Harbeck’s promotion will be “huge”
for the District because she “brings a wealth
of knowledge and willingness to learn. Her
commitment to building teams is what sets her
apart.” When the Board members announced
they had approved Harbeck’s new position,
both they and those in the audience gave a
hearty round of applause for the promotion.
Wiseburn Education Foundation (WEF)
Executive Director Carolyn Niman announced
funding for 30 District Innovation grants awarded
to educators, totaling $34,000. The funds will
go towards classroom enhancements, including
flexible seating, mobile whiteboards, rugs and
classroom storage. Of the total, 4,000 will be
utilized for teacher professional development,
with $20,000 on the books for “innovative delivery
of curriculum.” She noted that the WEF
has bestowed more than $93,000 to Wiseburn
educators since the group’s inception in 2015.
Maria Garcia from Dana Middle School
helmed a presentation in concert in with what
she termed the “STEM Sistas:” Educators
Summer Graves (Peter Burnett Elementary),
Trisha Maano (Burnett), Emma Rennick (Anza
Elementary) and Jordan McKenna (Anza).
Silvers was impressed by the cadre of teachers
tackling the STEM Initiative, noting, “We have
five amazing teachers that have taken over this
challenge. The goal is to keep evolving STEM,
capturing all the schools.”
The educators spoke about Wiseburn’s
2018/19 STEM Initiative. Garcia and her copresenters
quickly detailed the roll-out of the
program and targets, and talked of the “big
deliverables.” Those include a Hack-a-Challenge,
Project Lead the Way teacher training, a Girls
Who Code Club, a Girls Who Code Mother/
Daughter Event, and a MathCounts Video
competition.
During the truncated Board member reports,
Dr. Neil Goldman thanked the Mandarin Im-
Calendar of Events from page 3
TUESDAY, OCT. 23
• Teen Program: Knitting a Scarf, 3:30 PM –
4:30 PM., free – supplies provided, teens from
6th – 12th grade, El Segundo Public Library,
111 W. Mariposa Ave., Call: 310-524-2726.
• Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM.,
District Administrative Offices –Board
Room 641 Sheldon Street.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24
• Library Club: Monsters Don’t Scare Me,
3:00 PM. – 4:00 PM., for ages 5-10, El
Segundo Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa
Ave., Call: 310-524-2726.
• Book Discussion Group: Florida, 6:30 PM.,
free to all, El Segundo Public Library, 111
W. Mariposa Ave., Call: 310-524-2728.
• Bowling, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 50 Plus, Senior
Club of El Segundo, Gable House Bowl,
22501 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, Cost: $8.25
for 3 games, Call Joyce at: 310-322-7621.
THURSDAY, OCT. 25
• El Segundo Certified Farmer’s Market, 3:00
PM. – 7:00 PM., located on Main Street,
Downtown El Segundo.
FRIDAY, OCT. 26
• Richmond Street School Fall Festival, 4:00
PM. – 8:00 PM., Come on out to Richmond
Street School for fun and games, lots of
food and fun, 615 Richmond St., Call:
310-606-6831.
SATURDAY, OCT. 27
• Tree Musketeers: The Next Generation,
10:00 AM. – 12:00 PM, we will be working
in the park on Memory Row, clearing
trees. We would love your help!
• Pumpkin Pool-Ooza, 1:30 PM. – 3:30 PM.,
The Plunge, El Segundo.
• Saturday Night Dance, 7:00 PM. – 9:45
PM., Cost: $3.00 Per Person, Adults of all
Ages Welcome, Senior Club of El Segundo,
339 Sheldon St., Call: 310-524-2705.
SUNDAY, OCT. 28
• SKECHERS Pier to Pier Friendship Walk,
For more info: skechersfrienshipwalk.com.
• Bridge & Pinochle Groups, 11:30 AM. –
3:45 PM, Senior Club of El Segundo, 339
Sheldon St., Call Pam at: 310-318-2856.
MONDAY, OCT. 29
• ESHS Orchestra Halloween Concert, 11:50
AM. – 1:30 PM., Richmond Street School,
615 Richmond Street, Call: 310-606-6831.
• Genealogy Club, 11:00 AM. – 12:00 PM.,
El Segundo Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa
Ave., Call: 310-524-2728.
TUESDAY, OCT. 30
• Teen Program: Halloween Cookie Decorating,
3:30 PM. – 4:30 PM., grades 6-12,
free- supplies included, El Segundo Public
Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave., Call: 310-
524-2726.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31
• HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
• HALLOWEEN FROLIC, 4:00 PM. – 7:00
PM., Main Street, El Segundo, Wristbands
$10, Costume Contests, Pumpkin Contest,
Live Entertainment!!!
• Library Club: Happy Halloween, 3:00 PM.
– 4:00 PM., ages 5-10, free, El Segundo
Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave.,
Call: 310-524-2726.
• Bowling, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 50 Plus, Senior
Club of El Segundo, Gable House Bowl,
22501 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, Cost: $8.25
for 3 games, Call Joyce at: 310-322-7621. •
Kelsey Robinson gets off a toss in the championship match.
See Wiseburn, page 10
See Sports, page 15