2-SALINAS CALIFORNIAN Friday, May 2, 1980 8-mm camera and a little film help them grow By ROBERTO ROBLEDO Californian Staff Writer A year-long film project at Monterey Park School in Salinas has ended in academy awards and much more for nine students with severe speech handicaps. The awards are only classroom constructed facsimiles of 'Oscar', The real gold is in the experience gained by the students in their achievement: producing their own 30-minute movie. And rewards don't stop there. Through the project, students im proved their egos speaking ability and social relations. film was a real maturing situation for them that has spilled into the classroom.
Their attention span zoomed. They got sophisticated." says a jubiliant Diane Richards, a special education teacher for the county. The entire process acting, editing, creating has lifted these students, Richards says. Pride, self-worth and recognition are the box office receipts. Filming of the movie, "The Circle Game," began last September.
when teacher assistant Robert La Drigue, a Super-8 filmmaker, introduced the idea to Richards and the class. first the kids were uncertain about doing a film and didn't like the idea," recalls La Drigue. "But after we started (filming) they got more comfortable with it and really enjoyed it." was sort of nervous." says student Sylvia Montalvo. Obituaries Thomas J. Vaughn Castroville resident Thomas J.
Vaughn died at a Salinas convalescent hospital Thursday, on his 54th wedding anniversary. Vaughn, 71, succumbed following a lengthy illness. A retired farmer, Vaughn was a native of Hector, Ark. He was a 15-year resident of Castroville. Vaughn, a Pentecostal Evangelist.
was a member of the Apostolic-Pentecostal Church in Jesus Name. He is survived by his widow. Weymer Vaughn, of the 10441 Merritt St. a family home: two daughters, Louise Thompson of Phoenix, Ariz. and Wanda Harris of Salinas: two sons.
Leon and Larry Vaughn, both of Salinas: three sisters, Willie Ferguson, Exie Chamberlin and Ruby Aoron, all of Earlmart; 24 grandchildren and 2 3 great-grandchildren. Funral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Healey Mortuary chapel. CARD OF THANKS THE FAMILY OF HARRY MACKEN. ZIE would like our friends to know that without your help, caring and thoughtfulness, our loss would have been unbearable.
The months ahead will be a little easier knowingyour prayers and thoughts are helping us. Thank you so much. LUCY MACKENZIE AND FAMILY was happy. I got excited," beamed nine-year-old Erie Simmons from the back row. Nine children starred in the film, all with oral handicaps.
Filming was done in the afternoon on location the school playground and Main Street Salinas. would, get parts of the film done, bring it back into class and. then discuss it," La Drigue explains. "The kids evaluated what we had done up to that point and really began to get serious about the The project." is fable-like with a moral ending to the story, In its unto others' theme, a boy who is feigns handicap, gains the sympathy of kids on the school playground and becomes the center of attention. When it is finally discovered that he is not handicapped, the kids retaliate and display their angerand hurt feelings by riding up in wheelchairs, to the embarrassment of the boy.
The movie theme was La Drigue's idea, but he says many scenes in the movie were totally spontaneous: They were created by the emotional involvement of the students in a particular scene. giving the film more impact. Films, whether to entertain or inform, have been used in the classroom for decades. But the use of film production as an educational tool is unique, according to La Drigue. like this has ever The Rev.
J. Reuben Davis, pastor of the First Assembly of God in Castroville, will officiate. Burial will be in the Castroville District Cemetery in Moss Landing. Mae L. Barker Mae L.
Barker, 80, of 350 Iris Drive, died Tuesday at Natividad Medical Center following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Barker, a 22-year resident of Salinas, was a native of Indiana. She is survived by a daughter, Lelia Ostnes of Alaska; a son, Robert Barker of Oregon: and four grandchildren. Graveside services were held Friday afternoon in Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
The Rev. Joe Walton, associate pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiated. Arrangements were handled by the Struve and Laporte funeral chapel. Young driver hurt as car hits pole A 15-year-old Salinas girl was treated and released from Natividad Medical Center after she lost control of her car and struck a power pole on Williams Road. Injured following the 6:10 p.m.
accident was Rosie Maldonado, 15, of 1256 Caoba Way. A passenger in the car, Linda Maldonado, 16, of the same address, declined treatment for minor injuries. Commission to hear N. County sewer plans Proposed new sewer projects in Moss Landing. and areas east of Castroville will be discussed Monday at a hearing in Santa Cruz scheduled by the Central Regional Coastal Commission.
The commission will meet at 9 a.m. in the Santa Cruz County Government Center, 701 Ocean Santa Cruz. Both projects would be built in conjunction with a regional sewage treatment plant near Marina. The plant will be built by the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control District. Completion is expected in 1983.
Moss Landing sewage is treated in septic tanks. Sewage from the area would be moved by pipeline to Castroville, which has a sewage treatment plant. Weather- Forecasts Salinas Valley: Mostly fair and day. Patchy night and morning the upper 60s and the 70s. Lows winds to 15 mph.
Salinas 69 51 New sewers would be added in Castroville to link North Monterey County High School and the Monte del Lago Mobile Home Park to the treatment plant. No decision has been made about including the nearby Oak Hills area, which has a private sewage treatment plant. Neither of the projects would function until the Marina plant is completed because the Castroville treatment plant is functioning near capacity. The plant treats an average 385,000 gallons per day, about 15,000 gallons less than its capacity. Sewer hook-ups to new houses have been limited in Castroville because the plant is operating San Francisco Bay area: Mostly fair through Saturday except for low clouds and fog near the ocean extending inland night and morning hours.
Highs in themid 60s near the beaches and the 70s to low 80s inland. Lows mostly in the low 50s. Small craft advisory for westerly winds 15 to 25 mph afternoons and evenings. San Francisco 63 52 Oakland Airport 67 52 Redwood City 74 59. Sierra Nevada: Mostly fair and mild through Saturday.
Lake Tahoe 60 37 64 Yosemite 72 40 73. San Joaquin Valley: Fair and warmer through Saturday. Highs in the mid 70s to mid 80s. Lows in the mid 40s to mid 50s. Light winds.
Santa Maria San Luis Obispo area: Mostly fair and little warmer through Saturday. Patchy low clouds and fog developing Saturday, night. Variable Highs in winds the to mid 15 60s mph. to mid 70s. Lows in the 40s Monterey Bay area: Night and morning coastal fog and low clouds otherwise mostly fair through Saturday.
Highs in the 60s to mid 70s. Lows in the 40s and low 50s. Variable winds to 15 mph. Monterey 65 51. Santa Clara Valley: Mostly fair ly in the 70s.
Lows in the 40s and mph except northerly to 20mph Hollister 72 46 74. TWO TAKE 1 Silvia Montalvo and Ray Sanchez, both 9, review the 30-minute movie their class created. phete) been done before, not in this county, anyway," he says. "For the kids it was something different an achievement they can call their own. "They really worked hard.
It's been a long process that they enjoyed for the most part. but they got tired of it once in awhile too. They really learned to discipline, themselves adds. La Drigue says that he has worked on two similar film projects, but this is his best effort. "It (movie) has got character.
emotion, sentiment and it's spontaneous. Very few people really know what goes into those 30 mi- Correction A bell choir concert day at the First Church of Salinas is A caption under a ran in Tuesday's set for SunPresbyterian Two men charged in slaying Two men have been charged with murder in the slaying of a North Monterey County man last week. Charged are Irineo Morales Lopez, 28, and Ochoa Lopez Ezequiel, 32, both of Watsonville. Lopez is lodged in Monterey County Jail. The other defendent is not in custody, according to Monterey County Assistant District Attorney Dean Flippo.
nutes (of a movie)," he says. had to stand up a lot." admits Eric, when asked about the hardest part. of movie-making. got tired of pushing the wheelchair." adds little Alicia Serena. Only about four hours per week were tied in the movie ing.
The rest of the time was spent on typical in-class instruction like reading, writing and math. don't want to let people think that all we did was go out and have fun," says Richards. movie was only a small They are accused in the slaying of Antonio Ortiz Fernandez, whose age is believed to be somewhere in the 40s. Cause of death was injuries to the head. Flippo said.
The man also was stabbed with a pitchfork. Lopez led Montery County Sheriff's deputies last week to Fernandez's body, buried in a shallow grave about 75 yards Law Enforcement Log- part of the week. And they worked at that too." Economics is perhaps the only thing preventing future use of film production in Richard's class. The $600 project came out of La Drigue's billfold. It was not a county or district project, but an in class production.
children special education students and that is a well known fact at school, comments Richards. "But everyone grew (from the film). Not just our kids, everyone on campus. It was good for all we all grew," she adds. One movie critic agrees.
Martin Dean, Special Education director for the Monterey County Office of Education. praises the film project for its success as movie and teacher. was an extremely creative, professional job. It had a great educational and therapeutic use for the youngsters as well as their families." Dean says. who attended the awards ceremony and film premiere, observed the families' reaction to the year-long project.
"The families saw another side of the youngsters that recalls Dean. could see that they were proud. free. photo that Californian indicated tickets were required. The concert will be at 3 p.m.
in the church sanctuary, 830 Padre Drive. He lacked I.D., so city driver jailed briefly A Salinas man has been arrested for running a red light and not having a driver's license in his possession. The man, Jose Erasto Lopez, 27, of 671 Los Coches bailed out of Monterey County Jail a half-hour after he was booked. Bail was $30. According to Salinas police reports, Lopez was driving westbound on Alisal Street around 7 p.m.
Wednesday. He failed to stop for a red traffic light when he turned right onto Main Street. Salinas police stopped Lopez in the 200 block of Main Street. Lopez told the officer, identified in police reports as C. Clark, that he didn't have his driver's license or identification.
Lopez said he was on his way to a store when he was stopped. The officer arrested Lopez for having no identification, no driver's license and for failing to stop at a stop light. Sgt. Larry Myers, of the Salinas Police Department, said under the California Vehicle Code, people driving a car who have no identification with them can be held up to three hours. Purpose of the law, he said, is to give law enforcement agencies a chance to verify the person's identity.
Without identification, "you could say you're Jimmy Carter and give a date of birth," Myers said. But that could get someone else in trouble with the law. Arresting people for not having identification usually occurs with transients, he said. "Out of the number of citations we write, no, we don't do it that often," he said. 3000 DOSTON MINNEAPOLIS YORK SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES LOWEST ORLEANS 50 50 LEGEND SNOW SHOWERS FLOW UP WEATHER FOTOCAST1 Point St George 1 to Point Arena out 20 miles: Wind northerly 10 to 20 knots seas 2 to 4 feet through Saturday.
Swell northwest 4 to 7 feet. Low clouds and patchy fog. Los Angeles: Fair through Saturday, but some patchy cloudiness today. Warmer trend. High today about 70.
and Saturday in mid 70s. Low tonight in mid 50s. Extended outlook SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) California extended forecasts for Sunday through Tuesday: Northern California Fair and mild Sunday and Monday with a chance of showers Tuesday. Low clouds along the coast from a labor camp at 15257 Betty Lane. Lopez also is charged with assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly attacking Miguel M.
Valdez, 44, of the Betty Lane labor camp, with a pitchfork. Capt. Bill Davis, with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. said deputies have been unable to locate Ezequiel. "Apparently he's left the area." Davis said.
Teens terrorize 8-year-old Kolofer told police he arrived at the house around 9:25 a.m. He said he noticed a car parked in front of Salinas police are looking for two teenage boys the house. He went around back and found a who threatened an eight-year-old boy with a knife bedroom window opened about six inches and found and a hypodermic needle at Los Padres School the back door unlocked. Kolofer's father, Edward Kolofer, was not at Thursday. The boy told Salinas police that he was riding on home at the time and it was unusual for the doors the school grounds around 5 p.m.
when he was and windows to be unlocked, the younger Kolofer acosted by the two youths. One pulled out a knife, pointed it at the boy and said "let's kill him" while told police. the other youth held the boy. After checking part of the house and the garage, The juvenile with the knife then put it away and Kolofer said, he heard a noise in one of the back pulled out a hypodermic needle and syringe. While bedrooms.
He discovered the partially opened winthe second youth held the boy's hand, the first put dow now fully opened. He ran out to the front of the the needle to the palm of the boy's hand and pushed house and saw the car that had been parked in front the syringe. The needle didn't penetrate the boy's speed away. skin, and the liquid in the syringe squirted on the boy's hand, police reports said. Kolofer said a handgun, jewelry and money valThe youngster with the needle then raised it to the ued at $703 were taken from the house.
But the thief crook of the boy's elbow as if to inject the needle, left a sack containing some other household the boy told police. But the two teenagers left when goods. an adult saw them and yelled. Burglar makes a hasty exit Stereo gear stolen Charles Kolofer found a burglary in Someone stole stereo equipment valued at $1,150 when he stopped by his father's 303 La Mesa progress Drive from the Nissen Road home of Cindy Weather house to borrow some tools Thursday morning. Thursday.
The burglar fled out a bedroom window and burglary, at 75 Nissen Rd. Apt. 2, occurred The escaped. Salinas police have a suspect, but no one sometime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Salinas police been arrested as of this morning.
reports said. had N. County high exec gets new post Gary Gerhardt, vice principal He also has been the high Russell Campbell, a music teachof North Monterey County High school athletic director. er at the high school. School, was hired today as the Gerhardt has been indirectly Parents principal of Napa School.
involved have protested CampHigh in two faculty bell's pending dismissal and Gerhardt, 42, is scheduled to controversies. Campbell demanded assume his new duties in July. In 1978, Ron Veres, head coach a hearing trustees an- of the varsity football team, was dismissal. to overturn the designed Napa public school nounced Gerhardt's hiring short- suspended on charges he tried to ly after midnight. He was select- falsify a player's academic rec- In his new job, Gerhardt will be ed from a field of six ord.
An assistant coach also was paid a minimum $27,843 a year. candidates. suspended. The maximum salary is $32,700. "I'm very excited about it," Parents and students protested Gerhardt obtained a one-year Gerhardt said of the school the suspensions, made by Princi- contract in Napa.
board's decision. pal Walt Holmes and upheld by Napa High School has 1,355 stuGerhardt has been vice the district school board. dents. Enrollment there has deprincipal at North Monterey In March, Gerhardt provided clined in recent years. County High School since it evidence to the district for its The outgoing principal held the opened in 1978.
complaint of dismissal against job for two years. extending inland nights and mornings. Highs in the low 60s along the coast to the 70s interior valleys. Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. Central California Fair and mild Sunday and Monday.
Partly cloudy Tuesday. Low clouds along the coast extending inland nights and mornings. Highs in the upper 60s along the coast to the 80s interior valleys. Lows in the 50s at low elevations. Southern California desert areas Fair.
High temperatures in the 70s on Owens Valley, 76 to 84 high deserts and 83 to 93 in the lower desert valleys. Overnight lows mostly in the 40s Owens Valley, 45 to 55 high deserts and 50s to low 60s lower desert valleys. Southern California coastal and mountain areas Fair except for night and early morniny low cloudiness coastal areas. High temperatures in the coastal sections ranging from the high 60s at the beaches to near 80 inland valleys. Overnight lows 48 10 55.
Highs in the mountains mostly in the 60s with lows 38 to 45. Summary Upper level low pressure continues over the southern third of the state with a few showers and thundershowers. High pressure at the surface and aloft is over Northern California and skies are clear. Coastal low clouds are patchy. High temperatures Thursday ranged from the upper 50s on the north coast to 60s in the south.
Inland maximums were in the 70s and 80s. shower activity in the south was expected to end this morning. Fair weather will continue elsewhere except for night and morning low clouds on the coast. Across the nation a little warmer through Saturlow clouds north end. Highs in the 40s and low 50s.
Variable 71 Paso Robles 75 48 78. through Saturday. Highs mostlow 50s. Variable winds north end. San Jose 77 48 79 Temperature and precipitation table for the 24-hour period ending at 4 a.m.
Pacific time, as prepared by the National Weather Service in San Francisco: Hi Lo Pcp Albany 70 54 .06 Albuquerque 67 40 Atlanta 75 51 Bakersfield 72 60 Bismarck 82 43 Boise 75 Boston 47 Brownsville 91 70 Buffalo 64 46 Charlotte 72 Chicago 62 Cincinnati 67 Cleveland 59 39 Dallas 81 56 07 Denver 55 48 Des Moines 73 51 Detroit 63 43 Duluth 75 35 Eureka 58 Fairbanks 58 Fresno 78 59 Hartford 65 52 Helena 74 Honolulu 83 73 Indianapolis 66 50 Kansas City 70 44 Las Vegas 73 53 Los Angeles 67 55 Louisville 69 45 Memphis 74 62 Miami 82 72 Milwaukee 64 40 Minneapolis 80 48 New Orleans 83 68 New York 69 56 North Platte 73 Oakland 68 51 Oklahoma City 76 59 40 Omaha 75 52 Palm Springs 82 54 Paso Robles 69 Philadelphia 68 Phoenix 78 61 Pittsburgh 65 Portland. Me. 56 42 .07 Portland, Ore. 78 52 Rapid City 70 Red Bluff 86 55 Reno 72 Richmond 70 54 .10 Sacramento 80 50 St. Louis 70 50 Salt Lake 65 46 San Diego 68 59 .59 San Francisco 63 51 Seattle 75 49 Spokane 76 53 Thermal 81 59 .01 Washington 74 58 .03.
