Compton High to Host  1973 Class Reunion

The Compton High School Class of 1973 will present a 55th birthday celebration Aug. 20 for the members and friends of its graduating class.

The event will take place at The Reef on the Water restaurant, 880 Harbor Scenic Drive, Long Beach, (562) 435-8013. There will be dancing and dinner.

Tickets: $55 in advance; $65 at the doors.

Information and tickets: (310) 386-7486, (310) 422-3725.

UNCF to Present Black College Gathering

The UNCF Inter-Alumni will host its 10th annual Black College Gathering Aug. 7, noon to 4 p.m., at Ladera Park, 6027 Ladera Park Ave., Los Angeles.

Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities are invited, but they must bring an ID card or letter verifying their acceptance to the college or university they plan to attend.

RSVP by Aug. 2.

More information: Almeta Washington, (310) 922-7761, (310) 649-5990.

Free Youth Empowerment Academy to Take Place

Manifest Your Destiny Foundation’s free youth academy will take place at West Los Angeles College in Culver City, from Aug. 2 to 6.

In addition to having mentors, attendees will have the opportunity to go on field trips and learn about being a leader.

Information and application to register: www.manifestyourdestiny.org, (323) 318-9090.

Preschool Enrollment Taking Place

(LAUP) — Preschool is available in your neighborhood now.

By placing your child in preschool, you could be giving him or her the tools needed to be successful in kindergarten and beyond.

Your child can be enrolled in a free or low-cost preschool program through Los Angeles Universal Preschool.

Information: (866) 581-5287, www.laup.net.

‘How To Be A Girl’ Conference Launches in Los Angeles

(“How To Be A Girl” project) — Author and talk show host Gilda Carle will join community activist and radio personality Josefa Salinas to aim to change the lives of 50 girls from Los Angeles this summer at the “How to Be a Girl” conference.

The free, five-day conference — from Aug. 23 to 27 at the Dockwieler Youth Center in Los Angeles — will include information about college preparation, life skills (such as balancing a checkbook), and improving self-image through living a nutritious and healthy lifestyle. 

Girls in grades 7 through 12 are eligible to become a part of the conference. To be accepted, candidates must submit an essay no more than 300 words explaining why they want to change their lives and participate. They have until Aug. 6 to send in their entries via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Information: www.htbg.org.

NJ Town Owes Family $550K in Discrimination Suit

SEA ISLE CITY, N.J. (AP) — A black family who sued a New Jersey shore town for racial discrimination has settled part of the lawsuit for more than $500,000.

The $550,000 settlement against Sea Isle City and its police department was entered July 21 in federal court in Camden. The portion of the suit against the school board and individual teachers is pending.

Doretha Waters-Rice, her son and granddaughter sued Sea Isle City, its police department and school board in 2004. They alleged both children were subjected to racial slurs by teachers and that the girl was excluded from a Christmas play because of her race. Waters-Rice was the legal guardian of her granddaughter.

The suit also claimed police officers responded to Waters-Rice’s complaints by filing false criminal charges against her and harassing her.

The family left Sea Isle City several years ago and didn’t want to comment on the case, their attorney, Steven Coren, said.

“It’s been a very emotional and difficult experience, and obviously unpleasant,” Coren said. “They’re pleased they went to court and achieved a meaningful settlement for this part of the case, and they’re hopeful the rest will be resolved soon through trial or settlement.”

An attorney representing the city and police department could not be reached for comment. Peter Spaeth, an attorney representing the school board and individual teachers, declined to discuss the case.

Protesters Disrupt NC School Board Meeting

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A group of protesters was arrested for disrupting a meeting of a North Carolina school board which voted to eliminate a busing policy focused on diversity.

The protesters held hands, locked arms and chanted against resegregation, refusing to leave the podium in the meeting room. More than a dozen officers intervened and took the protesters to a Division of Prisons inmate transfer bus.

During the incident, school board member Keith Sutton was briefly caught in a scuffle between protesters and police before authorities realized who he was.

Earlier in the afternoon, the head of North Carolina’s NAACP chapter was one of three people arrested at the Wake County Schools building before the meeting started. The Rev. William Barber prayed with supporters before police stopped him from approaching the building.