SERVING CATALINA & ITs MAINLAND FRIENDS
every week — since 1914
’I‘DG
CH'I‘HLIDH
Museum virtua
Exhibit includes
1826 letter sent
from West Coast
to East Coast
COURTESY 0F CATALINA ISLAND
MUSEUM
The Catalina Island Museum
continues to stay connected to
its community through virtu-
al events. This month’s event
explores the island’s mail carrier
history and its connection to a
significant part of communica-
tion by mail. The virtual event,
“You’ve Got Mail: Catalina
Island’s Mail Carrier History”
takes place Saturday, Jan. 23,
2021 at 11 a.m. (PST) on Zoom.
The museum will present a
virtual program highlighting a
rare letter in its permanent col-
lection from 1826. Written on
the island and mailed to Ipswich,
Massachusetts, this was the first
known letter carried from the
West Coast to the East Coast via
Cape Horn.
The museum’s Director of
Exhibitions Johnny Sampson
will explore the significance
of this letter, how it relates to
United States and Mexican his-
tory, and a brief history about
the use of carrier pigeons on the
island. Local resident Francisco
Bravo will share information
about training pigeons and
Margarita Jackson, the Post
Mistress of Avalon’s Post Office,
will share how even today the
island is unique in the way its
mail delivery is handled.
Francisco Bravo and Alistair Lee attach messages to a carrier pigeon.
Catalina used carrier pigeons to send mail in the late 18005.
Photo courtesy of Catalina Island Museum
“We are so thrilled that virtual
events like this can help bring
attention to items our perma-
nent collection,” said Julie Perlin
Lee, executive director of the
Museum.
“This letter in particular has
a significant connection to the
history of our region when it
was still a territory of Mexico,”
said Perlin.
“In addition, we are excited to
explore the island’s use of carrier
pigeons in the late 1800s and
recently made history by send-
ing messages over to the main-
land using that same method of
communication,” said Perlin.
Mail, Page
Pictured above is an 1826 letter in the Catalina Island’s Museum's
collection.
Fluuv Jan.
VOLUME 107 Issue 4
wwaIIEcIuALmAIunnumcou
Council
considers
the year
ahead*
Though optimistic.
members See
challenges to
‘ buSiness, and the
city's financial future
BY CHARLES M. KELLY
p Avalon City Council members
expressed cautious optimism about
the year ahead, even as acknowl-,
edged the challenges caused by
the ongoing COVID-l9 pandemic
in response to an informal survey.
The Islander recently emailed
each council member to ask:
“What do you see as the oppor-
tunities and challenges facing
Avalon in the year ahead?”
Four of them answered. The fol-
lowing are the replies the Islander
received by editorial deadline.
. Councilmember '
Yesenia De La Rosa:
“It is difficult to imagine
I what the world, or our small
community, will look like after
what we experienced in the year
2020. We’ve faced traumatic and
extreme conditions that will never
be forgotten. Through these expe-
riences we’ve grown together,
we’ve learned to adapt and evolve
with COVID-l9, and will continue
to do so. Committed actions from .
' our community is the reason we
will move forward and find the
beSt adjustment to this crisis.
“Avalon shares the extensive
LBUSD preparing for return to classrooms
District employees
eligible for vaccine
as early as Jan. 25
BY TED APODACA
Long Beach Unified School
District released a statement regard-
ing the move to return to in-class
instruction. The district is again
reaching out to families in the dis-
trict with a survey on preferences
to how they would like to have their
children transition back to the class-
rooms.
District Superintendent Dr. Jill
Baker addressed the recent devel-
opments with a video message, in
which she referenced Governor
Gavin Newsom’s recent “California’s
Safe Schools for All P‘l‘afi”, hich
was presented on Dec. 30. Prior to
the release of the plan outline, Baker
noted that the district had already
been working on some of the guide-
lines.
“We’ve already addressed a num-
ber of the components for the plan,”
Baker said.
One of the main priorities of
Newsom’s plan included the vac-
cine. According to the districts
release, starting as early as Jan. 25,
LBUSD employees and educators
will be eligible to receive the first
dose of the Moderna vaccine. The
district has been working with the
City of Long Beach and the city’s
Health Department in planning for
the first round of vaccinations for
district employees. The collabora-
tion between the organizations is
expected to help activate the process
as quickly as possible.
“While vaccinating enough peo-
ple will take time, the effort is a cru-
cial step toward reopening schools
for'in-person learning as soon as
possible,” the district release stated.
' Baker also noted that the district
has been working with the teacher’s
association to develop viable plans
for returning to in-class instruc-
tion. She said the cooperative work
between the district and teacher’s
groups have been instrumental in
preparing the transition, after a long,
trying delay.
“I am highly aware of the exhaus-
tion that has set in for our staf ,”
Baker said.
Baker also noted that support
from the community, as well as dis-
trict families has helped shape the
plans for returning. In the summer,
a family survey was sent out that
helped the district understand where
families stand on transitioning back
to in—class. However, understanding
that people’s views and concerns
may have changed, the district is
currently sending out a new survey
and are encouraging families to pro-
vide updated feedback.
“This survey data will allow
schools to plan for the days ahead
and specifically for how many ele-
mentary students might return to
in-person instruction this year,” the
release States.
LBUSD stated in the release that
in addition to supporting distance
learning, they are also preparing
for social emotional support for stu-
dents, as well as academic services
that may be needed to help students
LBUSD, Page
a1 impact that the entire world is
experiencing. COVID has disrupt-
ed our day to day, yet has allowed
us to reflect, and reconsider. Our
community is held together by
strong families that formulate our
workforce. They’ve pushed for
innovations that will continue on
to this new year. Being grateful for
their willingness to continue their
hard work through these threaten-
ing times, is a crucial opportunity
for this year.
“Our priority is, and will be,
our children’s mental and social
health. COVID has casted restric-
tions on them but it has also direct-
ed them towards an understanding
of technology, and an opportunity
to develop a new set of life skills,
such as cooking, gardening and-
Year Ahead, Page
r...
- «—
mat.
