LAPD Harbor Area Unveiled Little Free Library
SAN PEDRO — On Nov. 19, the Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Area Division hosted Harry Bridges Kindergarten students for an unveiling of their Little Free Library
LAPD Harbor Area, in conjunction with The Literacy Group, partnered to establish a Little Free Library inside the Harbor Area Station lobby.
In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a freestanding bookcase where anyone may stop by and pick up a book and bring back another book to share. Harbor Area’s Little Free Library is registered in a National Registry where community members can locate the library online.
The Harbor Area Community Police Advisory Board along with the Harbor Cadets will serve as stewards of the library teaching them important life skills, ownership of a project, and the importance of community. Additionally, police officers will be involved in providing book reading programs at the station with local schools.
POLGCelebrates Women Working in International Trade
Event spotlights career paths to maritime industry jobs
LONG BEACH — A heavy equipment operator, port construction manager, shoe company executive and maritime university student encouraged Long Beach young women to explore careers in shipping industry at this week’s fifth annual Celebrating Women in Trade luncheon, Nov. 17, at the Long Beach Convention Center.
More than 300 people attended the event, including 160 local female high school students. The educational outreach event was first created during the Port of Long Beach’s 100th anniversary.
During the event, officials awarded the second annual Advancing Women in International Trade Award to Carolyn Martin, a goods movement industry legend. She retired in 2014 following a 42-year career with International Transportation Service, which operates the oldest container terminal at the Port of Long Beach.
Martin rose from an executive secretary to ITS’ assistant vice president of customer service. She was a pioneer in terminal operations design, including entry and exit gates, worked with programmers to computerize import operations and helped set up ITS’ facilities in Oakland, New Jersey and Tacoma.
In a panel discussion during the event, women who work in the industry talked about their inspiration, education, and career paths and described their job duties and typical workdays. Participants in the panel were Elena Armas, a cargo-handling heavy equipment operator and member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU); Port of Long Beach Director of Construction Management Suzanne Plezia; Karla Strasser, Vice President of Import Allocation and Planning at Skechers; and Halley Hogan, a Cal State Maritime Academy student. Students and teachers from all Long Beach Unified School District high schools and St. Anthony High School also participated in table discussions facilitated by industry professionals.
Knabe Endorses Trustee Irma Archuleta
LONG BEACH – On Nov. 19, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced his endorsement of Irma Archuleta’s campaign for a full term on the Long Beach Community College District Board.
Archuleta, whose career in post-secondary education has spanned more than 30 years, was appointed to the board this past year to fill the unexpired term of former trustee and current Long Beach City Councilman Roberto Uranga.
“I’m supporting Trustee Irma Archuleta because she knows how to bring diverse groups of people together to get things done for Long Beach City College,” Knabe said. “During her time on the Board, she has worked hard to improve job-training programs, increase transfer rates, and responsibly manage the district’s budget.”
Knabe, whose district includes Long Beach, joins Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis in endorsing Archuleta.
Archuleta’s campaign previously announced a list of early endorsements, including:
State Sen. Isadore Hall
State Sen. Ricardo Lara
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia
Long Beach Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez
Former Long Beach Councilman Steve Neal
Former Long Beach Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga
Long Beach Councilman Roberto Uranga
Long Beach Community College District Trustee Jeff Kellogg
Long Beach Community College District Trustee Patricia Lofland (Ret.)
Long Beach Community College District Trustee Doug Otto
Long Beach Unified School District Board member Megan Kerr
Long Beach Unified School District Board member Bobbie Smith (Ret.)
Cerritos Community College District Trustee Ruth Banda-Ralph (Ret.)
Mt San Antonio Community College District Trustee Manuel Baca
Rancho Santiago Community College Trustee Lawrence Labrado
Long Beach Port Commissioner Carmen Perez (Ret.)
Long Beach Planning Commissioner Erick Verduszco
Long Beach City College Academic Senate President Phyllis Arias (Ret.)
Long Beach Community Leader Sharon Wiseman
*organization names listed for identification purposes only
Irma Archuleta was appointed to the Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees in September 2014 by a unanimous vote.
Throughout her career, she has served in various administrative roles within both the California Community College and California State University systems. She has worked at Compton College, El Camino College, Cal State Long Beach, and Evergreen Valley College. In addition to serving as an administrator, Archuleta has taught courses in both Political Science and Ethnic Studies.
Archuleta has a bachelor’s degree in human studies with an emphasis in bilingual education, and she has a master’s degree in public administration.