COMMuNiTY S T 7 LBPD announces passing of fire engineer
NOvEMBER 11, 2011
igNAL
The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) on Thursday announced the death of active-duty fire engineer Darren Rockett, a 14year veteran of the department who succumbed to an injury at Los Alamitos Medical Center on Nov. 6, 2011. Rockett was born on Nov. 10, 1963. He graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1981 and attended Santa Ana College, where he studied fire technology. He married his wife Jeanne on July 27, 1989, and together they have been raising their family in Long Beach since 1992. Rockett was appointed to the
department on September 22, 1997. He served as a firefighter at Stations 10 and 11, promoted to fire engineer on June 6, 2002, and then served at fire stations 11-C and 18-C. At the time of his death, Rockett was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau, where his chief responsibility was as life-safety inspector for all high-rise buildings in the city of Long Beach. During his career at the LBFD, Rockett was recognized for his leadership of the LBFD Rescue youth Program, where he had a positive influence on the lives of dozens of at-risk teenagers. Rockett was awarded nine
LBFD commendations, two LBFD unit citations, two Los Angeles County Unit Citations, and one Los Angeles County Meritorious Award. He was named LBFD Firefighter of the year in 2005. Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. appointed Rockett as a deacon at the Antioch Church of Long Beach. “Engineer Rockett was only recently assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau, where he quickly established himself as a competent and professional inspector,” said Deputy Chief Jeff Reeb, fire marshal for the City of Long Beach. “His years of experience in fire operations made him uniquely
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qualified to evaluate the life-safety requirements of high-rise buildings. He exhibited an admirable work ethic, and his enduring approach to his coworkers made him very popular. He will be deeply missed.” His mother, Sydney Harston, preceded him in death. His wife, Jeanne; daughters Tiffany, Alyse, Sydney and Daryn; and his father, Victor Rockett, survive him. “Darren Rockett was loved and admired by his fellow firefighters, family, and friends,” said Jeanne. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18, with a location to be determined.
Local family literacy program receives $500 mini-grant from educational website The Long Beach Family Literacy Program has received a $500 mini-grant from the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) and Better World Books. It is one of only 20 winners nationwide to receive the award, which will promote creative ideas for using Wonderopolis with families. Wonderopolis.org was created by NCFL in 2010 to provide free, family-friendly content that is practical, easy to use and designed to engage children’s natural curiosity and transform it into a lifelong love of learning. It was one of only five family websites that Time Magazine named the 50 best websites in 2011. “Parent Education is a key component in family literacy programs,” said Roberta Lanterman, program facilitator. “Being able to integrate online learning opportunities like those available on Wonderopolis.org not only teaches parents about resources available to them outside of the classroom, but also provides them with a resource to use to help their child’s language and literacy skills grow.” The funding will be used to bridge technology gaps that exist within families, as well as provide parents with an online, valuable resource to obtain information, engage with their children, and create ways to continue to solidify family bonds. “Wonderopolis is a free resource for families and schools,
so hundreds of educators across the country already are using it to generate excitement for learning in schools, libraries and homes across the country,” said Emily Kirkpatrick, vice president of NCFL. “But these mini-grants will help the Long Beach Family Literacy Program magnify the reach and impact of this 21st Century online learning tool. Other programs and communities also will learn from the Long Beach Family Literacy Program on how they can maximize the use of Wonderopolis.” The Long Beach Family Literacy Program serves 100 students ages 1 to 8 and their families by providing a four-component program that includes adult education, parent education, early-childhood or school-age education, and parent and child together time. The Long Beach Family Literacy Program serves low-income families who reside in the highest-poverty, highest-crime areas of Long Beach. Most parents are engaged in English-as-a-Second Language or Adult Basic Education courses at the Long Beach School for Adults or local elementary school campus while their children are in another classroom learning age and developmentally appropriate skills. “Educators in schools, libraries, community centers, yMCAs and other community-based organizations are facing budget cuts and other challenges in reaching families,” said John Ujda, vice presi-
Courtesy LB Family Literacy
The Long Beach Family Literacy Program serves 100 students ages 1 to 8 and their families by providing a four-component program that includes adult education, parent education, early-childhood or school-age education, and parent and child together time.
dent of marketing for Better World Books. “Wonderopolis helps bridge that gap, and these minigrants will help the Long Beach Family Literacy Program and others continue to foster creativity in learning by helping personalize Wonderopolis for families in their programs and communities.” This is the latest partnership effort between NCFL and Better World Books, which began in 2005.
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