PLAYING IT FORWARD
Believing in the power of music to bring people together , Laguna Beach resident Craig McKessar sent a note to neighbors in Bluebird Canyon telling them to step outside May 16 to listen to a jazz performance by professional saxophone player Henry Alexander , who was invited by McKessar and his wife to play in their backyard for all to hear . With more than 20 years of experience , Alexander shared his talents , playing both traditional and modern jazz that echoed through the canyon as residents sat on decks sipping wine and hooting and howling .
Due to the overwhelming support for the event , McKessar formed a Bluebird Music in the Canyon Team and sent a message to neighbors informing them that on May 30 , canyon residents Steve and TuRae Fazio would host musicians at their home for another event — this one dedicated to the Laguna Beach High School graduates of 2020 . From 5-7 p . m ., performers from The Trip and 90s Rockshow bands serenaded the canyon .
“ With this generous offer , Bluebird Canyon neighbors can continue experiencing live music in the canyon ,” McKessar says . “ The goal is to ‘ play it forward ’ to support professional musicians during these challenging times .”
A private Facebook page , Bluebird Music in the Canyon , was created to post pictures , share ideas and view a calendar for others wishing to donate live music .
MASKS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED
While face masks have become the new normal and there is no shortage of style choices , one community that has had a difficult time finding face coverings that serve their needs are the hearing impaired , who rely on lip reading to communicate . At least until April , when four Newport Beach teenagers , Hannah Dastgheib , 16 , and her sister Isabelle , 15 , who were home
on spring break from Phillips Academy in Andover , Mass ., and Mater Dei student Maggie
From left : Hannah and Isabelle Dastgheib and Maggie and Kate Dietrik created Read My Lips masks .
Dietrik , 16 , and her sister Kate , 14 , who is starting Orange Lutheran in the fall , came up with a solution for lip readers and healthcare workers on the frontlines whose smiles would help brighten someone ’ s day . The girls developed Read My Lips Masks , which have a see-through , eco friendly plastic window so the hearing impaired can read lips and stay safe while still being able to communicate .
The idea was sparked when Hannah was wearing a mask and Facetiming with her best friend Maggie . “ She could not understand me through the mask . She and her sister Kate are congenitally deaf and rely on reading lips to communicate ,” says Hannah .
While others across the country have created masks for the deaf and hard of hearing — a senior at Eastern Kentucky University studying deaf and hard of hearing education created an innovative mask that uses a clear panel that lets the deaf read lips and facial cues and there are products like ClearMask and a surgical mask called The Communicator from Safe ‘ N ’ Clear , among others — the girls put their heads together to create their own mask designs . “ It ’ s not just for the hearing impaired , it is about breaking down the normalized dehumanization in hospitals because sometimes all we need to see is a smile ,” Hannah says .
One of the recipients of the masks is the John Tracy Center in Los Angeles , one of the world ’ s leading audiology centers and the place where Maggie , who was born deaf , had a Cochlear implant . “ I went there every day and wanted to give back to them and help other little kids ,” Maggie says .
While the initial goal was to distribute them to the deaf and hard of hearing , the masks also went to frontline workers so patients could see their faces . Other recipients of the masks have been the USC Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communication , Blind Children ’ s Learning Center in Santa Ana , Goodwill , CHOC and the Harbor Day School . Says Hannah , “ Different hospitals are using them to spread smiles . Isabelle and I are hearing people , but we like to wear the masks because they show more expression .”
The Dietrick and Dastgheib sisters created a GoFundMe account linked with a @ Readmylipsmasks Instagram account and raised $ 10,146 in a few weeks , well over their $ 4,500 goal . The GoFundMe campaign is still open , says Hannah . “ We surpassed out first goal in a few days which was shocking to us and then surpassed the second in a few weeks and now we realize this is a really important cause because the hearing-impaired community has been overlooked during this time .”
Says Maggie , “ We just want to help as many people as we can and we will continue to make them as long as there is a need .” ( gofundme . com / f / read-my-lips-masks )
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