researcher from Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) the highest concentration of microplastics in Catalonia This black spot on the Catalan coast was already well known to the Tecnatox research group at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) which for years has been studying the presence of microplastics in the environment and their effects on health they have analysed the 580 kilometres of the Catalan coast from Cap de Creus to Vinaròs and the data are clear: this beach has up to 2,000 microplastics per kilogram of sand a figure that almost doubles that of the second beach on the list "What surprised us was to see that the beaches of Barcelona have a lower concentration of microplastics than other points further south such as between Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltrú or a large part of the coast of Tarragona," said Joaquim Rovira a researcher at the URV's Department of Basic Medical Sciences The study is the most exhaustive one to be carried out on the coast of Catalonia and analysed seventy samples from around fifty beaches which provided a very accurate picture of the state of microplastics contamination along the coastline and identified the most affected areas The samples were collected from the intertidal fringe which is the area of wet sand between the highest point reached by the waves and the water level The microplastics found were classified according to their size and chemical composition; that is those microplastics identifiable to the naked eye (up to 5 millimetres) were mainly polyethylene and polypropylene and were either industrial pellets or the result of the degradation of everyday objects such as plastic bottles came from textile fibres made from polyester and polyamide which are released into the environment through the process of washing clothing Much of the pollution on the beach at La Pineda which took first place in the classification but the most alarming figure (more than 60%) represented the quantity of textile fibres found These owe their presence to the fact that they are not retained by washing machine filters and therefore reach the sea through wastewater but the location of the underwater wastewater outlets between the Port of Tarragona and the cape of Salou prevents this from happening" A significant concentration of microplastics was also found washed down the river at the mouth of the River Ebre The Miracle and Arrabassada beaches in Tarragona also registered a high number of pollutants (more than 700 and more than 600 "We attribute this figure to the microplastics that reach the sea via the River Llobregat and which are carried along by the currents to the southern beaches" explained the researcher The research has also shown how microplastics are distributed according to the characteristics of the sand "On the beaches of the Costa Brava we found lower levels of microplastics We attribute this to the fact that the sand is coarser and that it does not retain as many microplastics as fine sand beaches" a researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering The research team pointed out that the results were to some extent to be expected due to the large volume of plastic production and because plastic does not easily biodegrade the poor management of waste and uncontrolled dumping forming the micro and nanoplastics that we find everywhere" We can confidently say that plastics are probably the most abundant xenobiotic pollutants on Earth," they warn One benefit to have come from study by the Tecnatox team is that they have demonstrated the viability of a technique that until now had never been used to collect microplastic samples The technique was found to be reliable and cheaper and uses fluorescence microscopy to detect the microplastics The technique irradiates the filters with a specific wavelength that causes the small plastic fragments to glow thus making it faster and easier to detect them one subset was analysed using this new method and the other using the traditional system based on spectroscopy it was found that using fluorescence microscopy is a good initial method for identifying the most contaminated areas 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117761 Detection of microplastic hotspots in beach sand for national surveys using fluorescence microscopy and infrared spectroscopy: Case study on the Catalan coast are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) “Here are my wishes as I pick up the pieces of what just happened,” Pineda began in a carousel post on Instagram, Deadline reported. “Eighty Black families were displaced. I don’t want the rebuild to kick out this historical community.” She continued in another post, “One of the reasons I wanted to make Altadena my home is that it’s a diverse suburb. So my wish is…KEEP ALTADENA BLACK.” Pineda praised the “beautiful, historic” neighborhood and emphasized how important it is to preserve its character. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daniella Pineda (@notdaniellapineda) “If you had a craftsman like me, honor it. A friend said he was afraid of the rebuild looking cheesy and tacky. He’s right. F**k that. Let’s make it more beautiful than it was,” she wrote. She also urged people to support those affected by the fires. “Please foster someone’s animal. Please, please. Or donate to Pasadena Humane Society,” she asked. The 37-year-old also reflected on political division, referencing former President Donald Trump’s potential return to office. “The neighbor who banged on my door to save my life, I know, did not vote my party. I know who he voted for,” she wrote. “That man still saved my life. Divisive politics seems pretty f**king stupid when it’s life or death. Bless that man.” Pineda added, “Lastly, in all the free moments you have left on this earth, if you can, put that life force toward fighting climate change. Were you about to post some troll-ass comment about someone? Do something for climate change instead. Are you spending time doing fantasy football? Maybe take that 20 minutes toward something climate-oriented.” “The earth is on fire. This isn’t some conspiracy. No one is exempt from this anymore,” she emphasized. Pineda concluded her message with a heartfelt note to her community. Last week, Pineda shared an emotional post about losing her home. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daniella Pineda (@notdaniellapineda) “The fire broke out so fast all I could grab was my dog and my laptop and that was it “I have one pair of shoes to my name Pineda is among many celebrities who lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires As Blavity previously reported one of Los Angeles’ historically Black neighborhoods has faced significant damage since the fires began on Jan and cultural institutions in Altadena have been destroyed many major insurance providers do not offer fire insurance in the area forcing residents to rely on California’s basic insurance plan This limited coverage makes it difficult for locals to rebuild their homes and their neighborhood Get relevant content delivered to you once a week Ready to dive in Select your preferences and get ready for an experience tailored just for you *by clicking Subscribe you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy The Pineda beach in Vila-seca (Tarragona) has by far the highest number of microplastics in Catalonia, according to a study led by experts from the University of Barcelona and the Universitat Rovira i Virgili published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin The team has analysed the 580 kilometres of Catalan coastline — from Cap de Creus to Vinaròs — and the data are clear: this beach accumulates up to 2,000 microplastics per kilogram of sand a figure that is almost double that of the second on the list what strikes the most is that “the beaches of Barcelona have lower concentrations of microplastics than other points further south between Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltrú or a large part of the coast of Tarragona” a researcher at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences and the TecnATox research group at Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) samples were collected from the intertidal fringe — more than one sample was taken at the longest beaches — which is the area of wet sand between the point where the highest wave reaches the water level The size and chemical composition of the microplastics found were also analysed according to their dimensions: large microplastics were mainly polyethylene and polypropylene derived especially from the degradation of everyday objects such as plastic bottles or well-known industrial pellets are mainly found in textile fibres such as polyester and polyamide from laundry since plastics are the most versatile and most abundantly manufactured materials after some building materials (cement It should also be added that most plastics are persistent and not easily biodegradable and when they are spread in the environment (through use forming micro- and nanoplastics that are found everywhere” explain experts Esther Marí and Jordi Sierra from the UB’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences Other studies have revealed that they are even present in lung tissue some organs and even in the brain and human placentas We dare say that plastics are probably the most abundant xenobiotic pollutants on Earth” an accumulation of plastic pellets — mainly from the petrochemical industry — was found but the most alarming volume (more than 60%) is textile fibres which are not retained by the washing machine filters and reach the sea through the sewage “At this point they should be dispersed in the water but the location of the submarine outfalls between the port of Tarragona and the cape of Salou prevents their dispersion” A significant concentration of microplastics was also found at the mouth of the Ebro River also recorded a high number of pollutants (more than 700 and more than 600 “We attribute this to the microplastics that reach the sea via the Llobregat River and travel to the southern beaches carried by the currents” The study also shows how microplastics are distributed according to the characteristics of the sand “On the Costa Brava beaches we detected less accumulation We attribute this to the fact that the sand is coarser and it does not retain as many microplastics as fine sand beaches” a researcher in the URV’s Department of Chemical Engineering The study has also served to implement a technique that has not been used for sample collection until now but which has proven to be reliable and more economical: the detection of microplastics by fluorescence This system allows filters to be irradiated with a specific wavelength that makes the small plastic fragments glow which facilitates faster and more visual detection Expósito, Nora; Sierra, Jordi; Martí, Esther; Folch, Jaume; Ratola, Nuno; Schuhmacher, Marta; Rovira, Joaquim. “Detection of microplastic hotspots in beach sand for national surveys using fluorescence microscopy and infrared spectroscopy: Case study on the Catalan coast”.  Marine Pollution Bulletin « Back Rohde Nielsen has successfully completed this year’s campaign at La Pineda Beach, located west of Tarragona Port in Spain. The project was part of a 4-year beach nourishment contract awarded to Rohde Nielsen by the client AP TARRAGONA. According to RN, the trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Freja R carried out the work – dredging a total of 110,000 m3 of sand – which was subsequently transported to the beach through a sinker line spanning 400 meters in length. The project started in the first week of May and was completed within a month. Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox Wind gusts of 30+ mph along with afternoon and evening blowing dust, could reduce visibility. Weather MapsRadarInfamous gang leader 'La Chely' arrested in El Paso in international sting operationby Erika Esquivel Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A woman wanted by both federal American and Mexican authorities was arrested on Thursday The woman identified asMichelle Angelica Pineda aka “La Chely” was arrested by a motel in El Paso She was arrested by agents from the FBI El Paso’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the U.S was wanted by the Government of Mexico for her involvement in five homicides and suspected in multiple other homicides in Cuidad de Juarez agents learned through an active investigation that Pineda had entered the U.S illegally and was operating a drug trafficking ring on behalf of the “Artistas Assessino” gang located in Mexico Pineda was known for her extreme brutality such as dismembering bodies and placing the hearts in front of “Santa Muerte” altars and statutes and methamphetamine in the hotel room she was found in Pineda was escorted to a port of entry and transferred to Mexican custody RECOMMENDED:New Mexico man arrested in Las Cruces on multiple counts following tip from Carlsbad PD Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox WORTHINGTON — Worthington's newest grocery store 23 with a wide variety of items catering to the Latin American culture and has welcomed up to 100 customers a day since its opening said opening their own store has been a dream that has been in the works since the two arrived in southwest Minnesota 12 years ago hence the desire to be able to help (serve the whole public),” Kelman shared “We have worked hard for a long time to be able to provide a service to the entire community and the general public that need a little piece of our roots.” Sharing a building with ProfessioNail & Spa he said the location was perfect for them and their business “It was a spectacular location,” Pineda said “Our customers have ample parking and (ProfessioNail) needed another store on this side since they don’t have one.” Pineda said he takes pride in the quality of goods Supermercado la Herradura offers to customers Though both he and his wife hail from Guatemala they plan to also stocking their shelves with goods from all across Central America Honduras and Costa Rica as just some of the countries the two hope to do business with “We have products of the best quality with the best prices and offer the best service (our customers) deserve,” he said “We distinguish ourselves by having everything the customers need we do our best to have it for the next few days We have also planned on and are actively working on sending money to all (Latin America) countries and we will be working in the future with the exchange of checks and anything else that our clients request.” Kelman said he and Norma welcome both returning and new customers “My clients have been spectacular,” he said “We want to thank our customers who have joined our project and also invite the new ones who do not yet know our establishment to come and see it.” Border Patrol task force recently arrested a Juárez woman in a raid at an El Paso motel in a border case featuring a dark brew of drug trafficking Michelle Angelica Pineda, aka “La Chely," was wanted in Mexico for allegedly leading an ultra-violent gang crew that cut out the hearts from the dismembered bodies of its victims as offerings to La Santa Muerte The 22-year-old woman is accused of taking part in five homicides in Mexico and is suspected in several others as part of a bloodthirsty cell of the Artistas Asesinos street gang in Juárez "Pineda was known for her extreme brutality such as dismembering bodies and placing the hearts in front of 'Santa Muerte' altars and statutes," the FBI said in a news statement depicted as a cloaked skeletal grim reaper who has exploded in popularity among the marginalized and within narco culture even while condemned by the Catholic church Catholic church leaders have rebuked worship of Santa Muerte (meaning "Saint Death or "Holy Death") as "spiritually dangerous" superstition Pineda was allegedly part of a gang crew suspected in more than 20 dismemberment killings in Juárez The tortured and mutilated bodies were often dumped in public spaces the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office said One Juárez newspaper described Pineda's gang as "narcosatánicos," claiming the removed hearts were offerings to the devil More: Bodies found in 'narco grave' in Juárez home after banner about 'El Pitufo' In the merciless Juárez criminal underworld it is common for drug cartels and gangs to behead and dismember victims leaving body parts in gruesome displays for rivals Juárez had more than 1,100 homicides last year the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office announced the arrests of four alleged gang members suspected in mutilation killings the attorney general's office issued a correction saying Pineda had not been arrested and was still a fugitive members of the FBI El Paso Safe Streets Gang Task Force and U.S Border Patrol agents located and arrested Pineda at a motel in East El Paso The FBI said that an investigation had found that Pineda had illegally crossed the border and was allegedly running a drug-dealing ring on behalf of the Artistas Asesinos gang in Juárez a revolver as well as a variety of drugs —fentanyl powder and pills who was taken to the middle of one of the international bridges and handed to Chihuahua state investigators Pineda has been formally accused of taking part in the killing of a couple on Nov both cases in the southeastern edges of Juárez the Chihuahua attorney general's office said over the weekend his body was then hacked to pieces at a house before the remains were placed inside plastic bags and dumped in El Mezquital area of the city Mexican drug cartels: 'El 80' pleads guilty in US court, case gives view into Juárez drug cartel A break in the investigation occurred when municipal police stopped a person found with blood stains near the site where a mutilated corpse had been dumped the state attorney general for the Northern Zone of Chihuahua Investigators followed up by searching four locations where they found blood evidence and seized cellphones that the killers used to record the executions on video The killers are part of a cell of the Artistas Asesinos gang allegedly following the instructions and orders of an imprisoned gang leader known as "El Niko," the prosecutor said The Artistas Asesinos (Artist Assassins) is a violent street gang that got started as a Juárez graffiti crew in the early 2000s The gang — which operates in the streets and prisons in Juárez — are also known as the "Doble A" (Double A or AA) and "Doblados," in reference to the double A of their name Pineda has had run-ins with the law since she was 13 years old, Salas told El Heraldo de Juárez newspaper describing her as a "young woman who grew up surrounded by violence" in and outside her home before becoming involved with the Artistas Asesinos and rising in the gang's ranks An FBI spokesperson noted that a mug shot photo circulating on some area news outlets is that of the wrong woman affectionally called "La Niña Blanca" and "The White Lady," typically place altar offerings of fruit Belief in the Santa Muerte has "really grown not just in Mexico but here in the United States and in other parts of the world," said Robert Almonte a law enforcement consultant who gives training seminars to police nationwide on Mexican drug cartels Archives: Drug cartels seek help from Catholic saints, Santa Muerte, expert says marshal for the Western District of Texas and a retired deputy chief with the El Paso Police Department He started researching saints revered by Mexican drug traffickers in the 1980s while working as an El Paso police narcotics officer "I think a lot of it (the spread of the Santa Muerte cult) is word of mouth and what people have had all their life hasn’t been enough They believe in the Catholic saints and Jesus Christ and they believe that’s not enough They hear that someone’s prayers were answered by Santa Muerte and they decide why not give it a shot," Almonte said There is no one standard set of beliefs and practices and rituals can vary among followers of "La Flaquita," the Skinny Lady Word of mouth and books are not as necessary as in the past with extensive information on Santa Muerte worship easily available to anyone on internet videos “When I do my training with law enforcement officers I emphasize that there are a lot of people who are not involved in criminal activity who pray to Santa Muerte," Almonte said in a phone interview on Monday while traveling to give a seminar in the Minneapolis area Believers view Santa Muerte as "neutral" spiritual entity accepting of anyone regardless of nationality sexual orientation and socio-economic status Devotees pray to her for things such as health wealth and for luck beating a criminal court case "Mi querida Santa Muerte siempre guia mi camino, dame fortaleza para vencer el enemigo," the Mexican rap duo La Familia Hemafia pray in their music video for "Mi Santa Mu3rte" asking the skeletal spirit to guide their path and give them strength to defeat their enemy Santa Muerte has references in Mexican culture since Spanish colonial times as the colonizers' Catholicism mixed with belief in the death deities of the native Aztec and Mayan cultures, according to a Catholic News Agency report in 2017 There was a minor resurfacing of belief in the 1940s in historical records before popularity started growing by the turn of the millennium as devotion became intertwined with Mexico's drug-trafficking culture More: FBI arrests 'El Alaska' after kidnapped migrant found at El Paso area stash house "I’ve heard of the offering of hearts to Santa Muerte occurring more often in Mexico I am aware of only one human offering in the United States," Almonte said The supposed Santa Muerte human sacrifice case referenced by Almonte was the killing of 6-year-old Nathan Alexander Sanchez who was stabbed to death by his father in the Los Angeles area in 2014 Deputies found the boy's father in the front yard covered in blood and "speaking incoherently," the Los Angeles Times reported who was allegedly under the influence of drugs Almonte said that a prosecutor and detective contacted him, telling him that the father was frequenting a local Santa Muerte temple and praying for hours before stabbing his son to death allegedly as an offering to Santa Muerte. Almonte wrote about the case in a column last fall in the magazine of the National Narcotics Officers' Coalition There is no mention of Santa Muerte in news accounts of the boy's death and no motive was given in the killing The Santa Muerte does not require human or animal blood offerings. “She’s not Dracula," said the narrator in a video on the YouTube channel "Todo sobre La Santa Muerte" (Everything about the Santa Muerte) The Spanish-language channel has more than 260 videos answering a wide range of questions about the cult There are some Santa Muerte believers who make blood pacts in seeking favors and there are some involved in devil worship and black magic rituals but those are "microscopic" in number compared to all followers The Santa Muerte is a protector who requires faith The heart offerings case in Juárez is a twist of dark spirituality entwined with the blood-soaked drug cartel-related violence and crime that have been a major problem in Mexico for decades "I’m seeing these drug traffickers who pray to Santa Muerte are becoming more bold," Almonte commented More: Who is Jesus Malverde? Other narco-saints of Mexico "The drug traffickers truly believe that no matter what they do in life that they will go to heaven," Almonte said They truly believe that because they worship Santa Muerte she will take them to heaven." You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Already a member? Log in Not a member? Sign up Explore our Food Tours → It’s almost impossible to pass through Barcelona without setting foot in the Barrio Gótico winding streets and medieval buildings that is the historic center of the old city It’s also the epicenter of Barcelona’s tourist trade which means that amongst all the Zara window displays souvenir shops and tapas joints of questionable quality it can be difficult to catch a glimpse of what the neighborhood once was as we made our way through this touristic mishmash The sign over the entrance says La Pineda was established in 1930, but it has actually been around even longer. In the 19th century it served as a place to slaughter pigs and prepare meat. Sometime around the turn of the century, it became what is known as a colmado, a small store selling food supplies such as salt, sugar, cooking oil and conservas (tinned or jarred foods) Prior to the 1950s and the opening in Spain of the first self-service supermarkets it was at these stores that people did their basic food shopping; everything was kept on shelves behind the counters and customers would wait their turn and then ask for each product individually. As the years passed and large supermarkets took over La Pineda began to focus more on selling embutidos (sausages) and cheeses along with the conservas The proprietors also installed a marble-topped bar in the back and started serving snacks and drinks at the charcutería In 1976 arrived in Barcelona and began working at La Pineda he was joined by his younger brother José and now Many things have changed since the brothers first showed up: Carrer del Pi is now full of fashionable boutiques selling designer sneakers and the brothers’ hair has turned snow-white La Pineda itself remains the same as it has for decades Cured hams hang from the iron hooks in the ceiling; the glass display cases are jam-packed with tempting cheeses and sausages; and white asparagus sardines, bonito del norte (albacore tuna), razor clams and even hot dogs have been packed into jars and tins and stacked floor-to-ceiling Although the space is tiny, they have managed to fit in a half dozen small tables for customers to settle in and enjoy a glass of house-made vermut with a plate of sausages and cheese or a bocadillo (sandwich) La Pineda has become a meeting place of sorts for elderly neighborhood regulars The man who provides the bread teaches chess lessons at one of the tables in back; another fellow regularly plays the guitar; and yet another comes several times a week to perform magic tricks for bemused customers while singing “Fly Me to the Moon” in heavily accented English but that’s not the only thing that keeps the old-timers coming back the brothers have managed to put together a top-notch list of suppliers cheeses and tinned seafoods are all of excellent quality paprika-flavored sausage similar to chorizo – from Jabugo; white and red longaniza from Murcia made with lean pork and chopped bacon seasoned with black pepper; and chistorras fast-cured sausages with a high fat content This last sausage had the same rich flavor accented by a spicy mushroomy depth that made us close our eyes and sigh with contentment We washed everything down with a glass of the house vermouth We’re not the only butifarra fanatics at La Pineda. In 2010, a group of younger customers – who are also performance artists – went so far as to form the Buticlub a “butifarra appreciation society,” with La Pineda serving as club headquarters This motley group of exactly 50 members includes longtime regular patrons each with their own badge and member number “We love butifarra and we also love this place It’s so authentic and these guys have so many stories to tell We started Buticlub because we wanted to find a way to share those stories with as many people as possible,” co-founder Dave Glass told us We aren’t yet members of the Buticlub (one of the original 50 members has to either resign or die before that can happen) but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate butifarra with the best of them loading map - please wait...Map could not be loaded - please enable Javascript!→ more information Los Angeles residents saved a staggering 6 billion gallons during the hottest months of the summer From June through September, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers used 6 billion gallons of water less than during the same period last year The usage is the overall lowest among the city’s nearly 4 million residents during those summer months since record keeping at the agency began in the early 1970s “We’ve notched a 9% year-over-year reduction on top of what we had done in the years before,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a news conference at the L.A. County Natural History Museum, touting the water conservation numbers. which all amounted to record low usage during those months “We’ve certainly accomplished a lot,” Adams said at the news conference Yet politicians and water experts have urged residents to do more as hopes of a wet winter seem unlikely with another year of dry La Niña conditions in the forecast Adams and Garcetti suggested that some of the DWP’s residential water conservation rebates and programs — including soil-moisture sensors, low-water-use toilets and washers, and turf replacement — aided in the conservation efforts Garcetti announced last week that the DWP will increase rebates from $3 to $5 a square foot for residential and commercial customers when they replace their lawns with drought-friendly plants. “This is the time of year to be taking your turf out and replacing it with California-friendly landscapes,” which include native plants from the state, the southwestern U.S., Mediterranean regions, Australia and Mexico, Adams said. Since 2009, L.A. has replaced more than 51 million square feet of lawn and saved more than 2.3 billion gallons of water as a result, Garcetti said, enough to supply more than 28,000 households with water for a year. Lifestyle Here’s a DIY guide to killing grass to prep for a drought-tolerant landscape Although conservation continues to play an important and immediate role in the region’s response water experts said that improved recycling and infrastructure — as well as enhanced responses from businesses industry and government — will be needed to reduce reliance on water from Northern California and the Colorado River a key source of water for Southern California aqueduct in an effort to reduce water evaporation Although a massive storm will bring rain and snow to the region this week Adams emphasized that residents should adopt water conservation efforts for the long haul “Last year, we had a lot of rain in December, and then nothing — nothing happened after that,” he said. “We know this year has been a tough year and that next year will be a tough year. There’s no way around it. So ... we have to protect our way of life.” Experts say that although the conservation efforts are helpful, they are not enough to sustain long-term water use across the region. “We have to stop thinking of this as responding to this drought and acknowledge that these droughts are becoming more frequent and severe,” Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, previously told The Times. “Action that we take now — and continue to take even after this drought ends — will be important for the future.” Times staff writer Hayley Smith contributed to this report. Climate & Environment California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Send help right to the people and causes you care about Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee Before joining First 5 LA, Pineda served as association director for evaluation and impact at Living Cities in Washington, D.C. Earlier she was the first strategic data officer for the postsecondary success team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She holds a doctorate in public policy and sociology from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Print A Los Angeles County judge made the rare decision to reject a negotiated plea agreement Friday that would have allowed a sheriff’s deputy to avoid jail time on assault charges stemming from the 2021 shooting death of a suicidal man outside his family’s East L.A Judge Michael Pastor refused to accept the deal — which would have seen Deputy Remin Pineda receive probation and give up his right to be a cop in California — after hearing emotional pleas from the family of 34-year-old David Ordaz Jr. who was shot to death by four deputies while holding a knife and asking police to kill him in March 2021 “I am furious that our system allows Pineda to walk around like nothing happened What about David?” asked his oldest sister during a series of tearful victim impact statements delivered in court Friday Five months after Bryan Diaz fatally overdosed in his L.A. juvenile hall cell, his mother says she’s still waiting for answers as to how the 18-year-old could access fentanyl inside the facility. Steven Alvarado, an attorney representing Pineda, declined to comment after the hearing. The Sheriff’s Department did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the other deputies involved in Ordaz Jr.’s death. Pineda is due back in court in December. “We continue to believe that the charges are substantiated by the evidence and are prepared to move forward with a preliminary hearing and trial,” said Venusse Navid, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office. “Beyond that, it would be inappropriate to comment as the matter is pending litigation.” Pedroza said the district attorney’s office did not consult the family before reaching a deal with Pineda, and only informed her of the terms two weeks ago. Most of her family believed Friday’s hearing was a formality but they wanted to make sure a judge and prosecutors heard their pain. “I thought it’s not going to make a difference. There’s no point. They already made up their minds,” Pedroza said outside the courthouse. “I was really shocked. I did not think this was going to be possible. The first words out of my mouth were ‘Thank God! Thank God!’ ” After Pastor’s ruling, nearly two dozen of Ordaz Jr.’s loved ones could be seen crying and hugging in a third-floor hallway of the downtown courthouse, many of them wearing pins emblazoned with Ordaz Jr.’s face. Pineda was one of several deputies who responded to a 2021 call for help after Ordaz Jr. armed himself with a blade and told his sister he was suicidal at his family’s home in March 2021. When deputies confronted Ordaz Jr., he was holding a 12-inch kitchen knife and told deputies he wanted them to shoot him, according to body camera footage taken at the scene. Gregory Black, accused of killing three in a crash, had been released two years ago after a murder case was roiled by revelations a detective had bugged a lockup. “That’s not what we want to do, man,” Pineda said, according to court records. Ordaz Jr. was standing about 10 feet from the deputies, who repeatedly said they didn’t want to hurt him and ordered him to drop the knife, according to the video. As his family begged him to let go of the weapon, Ordaz Jr. asked the deputies to summon a helicopter and a news chopper, the footage shows. Eventually, deputies fired beanbag rounds in an effort to subdue him. When Ordaz Jr. took several steps forward, they fired their service weapons, killing him with a barrage of at least a dozen bullets. The gunfire continued as Ordaz Jr. collapsed and his relatives screamed out, according to the video. Pineda kept firing after the other deputies stopped shooting, even as Ordaz Jr. “continued to lie on the ground on the right side of his body,” according to a 13-page memo explaining the district attorney’s office’s filing decisions in the case. Another deputy told him to stop, but Pineda fired another round even while Ordaz Jr. was on the ground, disarmed. Shirley said Pineda fired eight times in total. Ordaz Jr. left behind three children. His partner, Jasmine Moreno, said Friday that he had been struggling with anxiety and depression at the time of the shooting. One of his sisters told 911 dispatchers she also feared he had used methamphetamine on the day of the shooting. An autopsy found several types of narcotics in his bloodstream, records show. The victim’s father, David Ordaz, said the incident has destroyed his family and left him incapable of ever trusting law enforcement. “If I have to call the police again, what am I to expect … for them to come and help me or for them to come and kill me or my family?” he asked through a Spanish interpreter. Pedroza said she believes her brother would still be alive today if she hadn’t called the sheriff’s department. “I know that my error was calling my local sheriff’s station and this will be something I have to live with for the rest of my life. That will be my torment,” she said. “I’m scared to be out in the world. I’m scared to drive and be stopped by deputies. I’m scared to walk on the sidewalk where David was killed. My heart is broken. I feel like I don’t belong in this world. I have lost my place in it.” James Queally writes about crime and policing in Southern California, where he currently covers Los Angeles County’s criminal courts, the district attorney’s office and juvenile justice issues for the Los Angeles Times. Texas (KVIA) -- FBI agents arrested Michelle Angelica Pineda The Mexican Government was looking for La Chely for her alleged involvement in at least five homicides in Juarez The FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force worked with the El Paso Police Gang Unit who is accused of running a drug trafficking ring for the Artistas Assessino gang and placing the hearts in front of “Santa Muerte” altars and statutes," according to a news release from the FBI El Paso Office Friday FBI officials say La Chely had entered the U.S agents took her to a port of entry and gave her over into Chihuahua State Police and State Attorney General of Chihuahua custody “Today’s deportation highlights the swift action of our agents and our significant partnerships by successfully taking a violent assassin off our streets and putting her back into the hands of Mexican law enforcement to be tried for her crimes,” said John Morales “Working hand-in-hand with our partners whether in law enforcement and with foreign law enforcement agencies are paramount in order to keep people like Pineda from bringing violence and drugs into our lives and poisoning our communities.” KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KVIA-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Chef Henry Pineda channeled his grandmother to build back different after a fire destroyed his restaurant dreams On September 7, 2020, chef Henry Pineda and his wife Amanda were taking a much-needed beach-day break with family. The pair had been working tirelessly at their Anaheim restaurant Modern Filipino Kitchen (MFK) by Aysee and the long holiday weekend meant waves and relaxation a family member told Pineda that they’d had a premonition about MFK by Aysee it was suggested that someone should smudge the space by burning some sage allowing the smoke to cleanse the restaurant anew Pineda received a call from a neighboring business from the strip mall off La Palma Avenue one phrase stood out: “Your restaurant exploded.” Henry Pineda first thought about becoming a chef while visiting family back in the Philippines Large groups would gather for evening celebrations often taking over the top floor of a nearby three-story restaurant Henry liked the idea of a dedicated place like that It helps that restaurants are in his blood. Henry’s grandmother Pacita founded a restaurant named Aysee (pronounced “I see”) with his aunt back in 1986, pulling letters from the names of family members to craft a unique moniker. It’s where the young Pineda cooked some of his first restaurant meals, and is still considered to have some of the best sisig on the planet The restaurant was founded in the countryside but earned success (and multiple locations) after relocating to the metropolitan city of Manila The first outlet was in a then-up-and-coming neighborhood anchored by a pro sports arena within walking distance to the shop Athletes would stop in to fuel up while training and word of Aysee’s legendary sisig got out Henry’s coach cross-trained him in both the culinary and administrative sides of restaurant ownership he spent time in a variety of kitchens including Anaheim’s Adya and the Penthouse inside the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica Each place presented a new challenge and a new way of looking at the industry He got offers to cook in New York and Hawai’i but stayed on the West Coast to be close to family and friends Eight months before opening his first standalone restaurant in 2016 Pineda traveled to the Philippines to convince his relatives to let him add the Aysee moniker to the sign out front which was already going to contain the words “Modern Filipino Kitchen.” Pacita was against the idea initially and it took some prodding from Henry to convince her that an outpost in California — home to more than 1.5 million Filipinos — could bring extra attention to the company in Manila serving rice bowls with various proteins and dinner kamayan service a traditional Filipino feast served on banana leaves and rice from the elaborate full-table display with their hands Pineda asked his then-girlfriend to help him open MFK by Aysee considering the work that would be needed to build his dream project “If we could work together” in a volatile restaurant “we could get married.” They did just that Ultimately, it wasn’t a gas leak or an electrical issue that caused MFK by Aysee to burn the Orange County fire marshal said that the likely culprit was spontaneous combustion an ephemeral boom created by cooking oils trapped between towel fibers The marshal suggested maybe keeping towels in a metal bin next time The charred remains of Pineda’s restaurant Except what would next time even look like While waiting for the restaurant’s insurance company to work through its own investigation the Pinedas found themselves with the kind of free time together that they hadn’t had since getting married They planned to take a year off after the incident to think through various scenarios including but not limited to reopening MFK by Aysee somewhere else They considered moving to the Philippines or maybe to Samoa both places that would offer an escape from Orange County Henry even tugged at the idea of building a farm in Hawai’i “Not a lot of people get the option to choose” their path but with the Anaheim storefront still just a few years old offering a recently vacated restaurant for a fraction of the original amount the Pinedas decided to at least go walk the space and we felt that it was a sign in the direction we should go,” says Henry Pineda playing to the fast-casual ambiance with a more grill-focused menu that includes plated versions of mainstream dishes like barbecued pork belly and garlicky chicken adobo alongside pancit noodles and lumpia Within months the family found its footing in Southeast Los Angeles and with it a renewed energy to cook Filipino food for an audience The couple began researching possible new restaurant locations Amanda says that she had her own vision of standing inside the former Calivino Wine Pub in Anaheim had been tumbling around the idea of a new restaurant that would further honor the matriarchs of his family named for the Tagalog word for grandmother Lola’s menu features a mix of classic silog meals, variable breakfast options traditionally served with garlic fried rice and a yolky egg. There are ube-infused pancakes and French toast, omelets with chicken adobo, and purely California fare like avocado toast. To honor his father’s Guatemalan roots Henry has also added a huevos rancheros plate with charred chirmol salsa, an unexpected twist for the daytime Spam-and-beef-tapa crowd. There’s a mural inside of Lola’s, depicting a young Henry offering a blessing (a sign of respect in Filipino culture) to his grandmother Pacita. The image has been passed around by all of Pineda’s family members stateside and in the Philippines, including Pacita herself. Henry has been told that she returns to it often, smiling just enough to remark: “Wow. You made me so beautiful.” The fire led to Lola’s, but it wasn’t really the start of the restaurant. For years, Henry only dreamed of having one restaurant that he could call his own, something to make his grandmother proud. Now he has two. “A lot of people sacrificed a lot of things for us to be in this country,” he says. “It’s a big gamble. So far it’s paying off.” MFK by Aysee keeps daily lunch through dinner hours at 16500 Bellflower Blvd. in Bellflower. Lola’s is open for breakfast and lunch at 410 E. Katella Ave. in Anaheim. Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again. From theme parks and wine cellars to beaches and cultural experiences dive into Costa Dorada’s most thrilling attractions azure waters have made Costa Dorada a holiday hotspot for years but there’s so much more to the Catalonian destination than the gorgeous 50 miles of beaches Get ready to wow kids and adults alike at one of Europe’s biggest theme parks head into the hills for hiking and biking or relax and taste some traditional dishes and local regional wines This is one beach break that guarantees something for everyone To help you find that perfect holiday fun this summer travel experts Jet2holidays offer great value breaks in more than 50 amazing destinations Jet2holidays flies to Costa Dorada from 10 UK airports via Reus Airport: Belfast Flights from Liverpool will begin in May 2025 infants under two travelling for free and flexible monthly payments to help spread the cost of your well-deserved holiday it’s never been easier to get that dreamy Mediterranean getaway booked Here’s our pick of some of the best things to do in Costa Dorada… which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to the huge amount of remains that have been excavated amphitheatre and the Devil’s Bridge aqueduct Follow the route that takes in the house where he was born the church where he was baptised and finish at the Gaudi Centre exhibition great food and ancient ruins in our ultimate guide to Costa Dorada","description":"From theme parks and wine cellars to beaches and cultural experiences dive into Costa Dorada’s most thrilling attractions A new children’s bookstore in Larchmont offers multilingual books and interactive events meant to embrace diversity in a predominantly white New York village La Vie Est Belle Librairie offers books in at least seven languages.  She quickly went around the shelves of the Larchmont bookstore’s collection who opened the business – her first – this fall.  but now I don’t have any more books after Hanukkah,” Pineda-Delgado added Being dismissed: Best-selling author decries racism, xenophobia after Larchmont book club event experience Making math inclusive: Does math education work for all? Debate rages over changes to how US teaches the subject Reading for the holidays: Future best sellers? Check out 3 new indie bookstores in Westchester “I want this to be a place where I can uplift a diverse community,” said Pineda-Delgado a Bronx native who identifies as Indigenous Ecuadorian Her goal is to “curate empathy through language.” Pineda-Delgado drew from her experience as a teacher to open the bookstore in September as she gets set to finish her thesis for a doctorate in urban education from the City University of New York The store seeks to celebrate different cultures in one of Westchester's whitest communities Whereas the Bronx neighborhood of Parkchester that Pineda-Delgado grew up and lives in is predominantly Black or Latino The books – which Pineda-Delgado’s family often previews beforehand – aim to expand the community's worldview “I lovingly curate them,” she said “What would I want my children to learn and what valuable lessons are there?” "La Vita e Bella," a 1997 Italian movie about a Jewish Italian bookshop owner who protects his son from the Holocaust through storytelling Pineda-Delgado crafted the bookshelves on either side of the space she placed Native American children's books in front She highlighted many on social media for Indigenous Peoples Day including books on native people across Canada A small children’s table sits in the middle of the store. Toward the back Cecilia’s old playhouse takes up a large corner of the bookstore too. Pineda-Delgado donates a book to Bronx Bound Books to the shop to get some of his favorite French series like “Ariol” by Emmanuel Guibert Alaoui grew up inside her mother’s bookshop in Morocco “Online has taken over,” she said “It’s nice to have a place to go flip through a book.” La Vie Est Belle has also been able to host events that parents say helps sets it apart from other bookstores This has meant a difference for Farah Haggag’s family since they moved from Cairo right before lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in La Vie Est Belle’s STEAM yoga camp Instead of the customary acronym for “science who taught chemistry, changed it to “science art and music.” It's made a difference for Nourildin “They try to leverage different resources,” she said of La Vie Est Belle pointing to the yoga camp and readings by local authors “The concept at the end is still supporting different people “Elephant and Piggie,” by Mo Willems She has appreciated getting books for her son nearby from La Vie Est Belle “It definitely fits the scene,” said Daub “I like walking down the street and hearing different languages spoken.” Pineda-Delgado envisions La Vie Est Belle to be a place to learn from cultures through language and multicultural literature “I feel like we’re limiting if we’re not inclusive,” Pineda-Delgado said Eduardo Cuevas covers diversity, equity and inclusion in Westchester and Rockland counties. He can be reached at EMCuevas1@lohud.com and followed on Twitter @eduardomcuevas Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Since 2018 the NGO Good Karma Projects sounds the alarm on the pellets invasion occurring in Tarragona Joined by Surfrider with the Spanish Coastal Defenders they aim at putting the hot topic of pellets at the heart of public debates in Catalonia and even around Europe is known by local actors and decision makers at different levels This should serve as an example because similar cases are on-going all-over Europe, in Belgium and they are the proof that there are flaws in the current system framing the manufacturing and transport of pellets When collecting pellets on the beach or in the sea we are only scratching the surface of the problem If you want to help us in our fight to preserve our Ocean against polluting giants you can join the Coastal Defenders movement By acting on the field you can alert on any kind of harm or pollution you might witness Follow Surfrider Spain to have the latest update on the Tarragona case the coastline and the pleasures animate everyone who supports Surfrider and guides the organization's action Surfrider is rooted in the value of sharing and participation through inclusion and diversity Surfrider seeks a harmonious relationship between humans and nature Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Your support for the preservation of the ocean 💙 Rohde Nielsen’s TSHD Trud R has recently finished this year’s campaign at La Pineda Beach in Spain This project was part of the 4-year beach nourishment contract that Rohde Nielsen was awarded in 2020 for the client AP TARRAGONA The volume completed this year was 110.000 m3 Climate change and the expected rise in the sea level require forceful coastal management beach nourishment is probably the best management tool that protects and controls coastal development without degrading the beach The picturesque Maresme line has carried passengers from Barcelona to the coast for more than 170 years – but for how much longer passing the few hopeful spring sunbathers and surfers Spain’s oldest train line runs so close to the shore it feels as if you’re travelling on the sea itself Heavy waves took a giant bite out of the coast threatening a section of the track with collapse and forcing the train company to lay on a bus service between La Pineda and Malgrat de Mar It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last: coastal erosion and rising sea levels have put the future of the famed Maresme line in jeopardy. In January 2020, storm Gloria battered the line with 3.6-metre (12ft) waves causing widespread damage and putting several sections out of action the company responsible for railway infrastructure spent €12m (£10m) repairing and shoring up a 1.4-mile (2.2km) stretch of track and replacing a bridge removing even the thin buffer between trains and waves A passenger braves the fury of storm Gloria in 2020. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters“One more Gloria and that will be the end of the train line,” says Antoni Esteban of Preservem el Maresme an umbrella organisation representing 115 community conservation and other groups in the region Opened in 1848 the Maresme line links Barcelona with Blanes The service was conceived to transport the Barcelona bourgeoisie to their summer residences the Maresme population has grown exponentially The train now passes through 16 growing towns with a combined population of about 500,000 There are 37 beaches and five marinas along the way and in summer the trains are packed as people from Barcelona head for the beaches However, rapid urbanisation of the Maresme towns has worsened coastal erosion Human activity and canalisation of the rivers that drain into the sea mean less sediment is deposited a geologist at the Observatori del GeoRisc research institute Breakwaters and sea walls simply aggravate the problem of erosion so the cure is worse than the diseaseJoan Manuel Vilaplana geologistThe five marinas along the coast are also a contributing factor Vilaplana says: “Ocean currents move the sand from north to south as part of a natural process of regenerating the beaches but the marinas’ quays act as sedimentary traps.” on the coastline may only make the problem worse despite being agreed in 2015 by Adif and central where a series of breakwaters was built to reduce erosion less sand is reaching the beaches than ever “Hard solutions such as breakwaters and sea walls simply aggravate the problem of erosion so the cure is worse than the disease,” says Vilaplana Pilar Marcos of Greenpeace agrees: “Building breakwaters is a huge outlay of public money that will solve nothing in the long term as storms get stronger and more frequent Marcos says that local fishers complain about the impact on marine life of constantly dredging the seabed for sand to replenish the beaches after each winter’s storms. Joan Campolier, the mayor of Santa Susanna, which lies midway between Pineda de Mar and Malgrat de Mar, has called for a definitive solution, even if it means closing the line for longer. His counterpart in La Pineda, Xavier Amor, agrees, saying there is no point in trying to fix the problem by patching it up. Vilaplana believes the only long-term solution is to move the line inland, to run parallel with the motorway. Not only would this guarantee the safety and viability of the train – he says it is only luck that there hasn’t been a serious accident – it would free up land that would allow for wider beaches, which research shows is the best defence against erosion. Read moreAlthough there is widespread agreement that the line needs to move inland he says the plan has been stalled by a lack of political will and “It’s hard to justify doing nothing on economic grounds when they’re spending millions on high-speed rail links that no one is using,” Vilaplana says a reference to Spain’s high-speed rail network which is second only to China in distance covered but has struggled to find enough passengers to be financially viable While moving the line inland may be the best environmental solution thousands of commuters will lament the loss of the curious but joyous sensation of being on a train that seems to travel by sea The unnamed Irish holidaymaker is the fourth drowning victim so far this year in the province of Tarragona AN IRISH tourist has died in a suspected drowning on Spain’s Costa Dorada The 72-year-old was rescued unconscious from the water shortly after midday yesterday and attempts made to save his life at the scene by emergency responders But police and paramedics were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead just before 1pm The tragedy happened at a beach called La Pedrera near the resort town of Salou a short drive south of the east coast city of Tarragona The dead man’s identity is understood to have become apparent later in the day when his wife told receptionists at the hotel where they were staying he had gone missing and she was unable to reach him Staff contacted an emergency services coordination centre who told them about the earlier incident and enabled officials to determine the holidaymaker who lost his life was the Irish tourist The hotel where the couple were staying has been named locally as the four-star Golden Donaire Beach Hotel in La Pineda near to where yesterday’s tragedy occurred A post-mortem is expected to take place later today but the results will not be made public and will instead be sent to a local court A teenager died on March 28 during Storm Nelson in Tarragona a 15-minute drive from the scene of yesterday’s tragedy along with a 30-year-old German man who saw him in difficulties and tried to rescue him On Monday afternoon a 57-year-old Irish tourist died during a visit to a famous Algarve tourist attraction The 57-year-old is said to have gone into cardiac arrest after taking a dip at the Benagil Sea Cave Police and paramedics were called just before 3pm after he was taken to dry land on a boat Emergency responders attempted to save his life but were unable to do so and he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene Family members understood to have been with him at the time received psychological support Monday afternoon’s drama came just five weeks after an Irish tourist drowned on the Algarve in front of his partner The 52-year-old got into difficulties at Inatel beach in Albufeira next to the hotel complex that gives it its name The alarm was raised just before 1pm local time on April 20 Two Portuguese locals jumped into the sea to try to help but also got into difficulties They were rescued alive by lifeguards but the Irish tourist couldn’t be saved was being supported by psychologists after the traumatic experience Please check your inbox to verify your details Now download the free app for all the latest Sunday World News, Crime, Irish Showbiz and Sport. Available on Apple and Android devices With towering mountains and an abundance of coastline, Costa Dorada’s signature dishes reflect the best of Mediterranean flavours with simple, local produce, perfectly matched with the renowned wines of the region The food of the Golden Coast is a celebration of the region’s landscape, whether it’s through the fresh vegetables at local markets in Vila-seca, La Pineda or in one of the legendary restaurants in Cambrils. Jet2holidays makes it even easier to dive into the gastronomic delights of Costa Dorada. Flying from 10 UK airports in 2024 and 11 in 2025, they provide package holidays you can trust. With hotel, flights, transfers and 22kg baggage included, there’s plenty of time to indulge in the seafood and wines of Costa Dorada. Here’s how… they would not be allowed to teach some of the books on their curriculum Taylor’s Newbery Medal-winning young-adult classic “Roll of Thunder The challenges came from four parents (three of them Black) for alleged potential harm to the public-school district’s roughly 400 Black students All but “Huckleberry Finn” have been required reading in the BUSD The ongoing case has drawn the attention of free-speech organizations across the country which are decrying it as the latest act of school censorship The charge against these books — racism — has been invoked in the past but in contrast to earlier fights across the country this one is heavily inflected by an atmosphere of urgent reckoning as both opponents and defenders of the novels claim the mantle of antiracism In the abstract, it’s a dispute about the meaning of free speech and who gets heard. More specifically, it’s about what should be taught to the district’s roughly 15,200 enrolled students — who are 47.2% white, 34.5% Latino, 9.2% Asian and 2.6% Black — and how Burbank can move forward on race boldly but sensitively. Books Young America’s Foundation announced Monday that it would provide students in the Burbank Unified School District free copies of five books recently removed from the curriculum And at its root, it stems from a painful personal story. Destiny Helligar, now 15 and in high school, recently told her mom about an incident that took place when she was a student at David Starr Jordan Middle School. According to Destiny’s mother a white student approached Destiny in math class using a racial taunt including the N-word which he’d learned from reading “Roll of Thunder a different boy went up to Destiny and other students and said: “My family used to own your family and now I want a dollar from each of you for the week.” When the principal was notified the boy’s excuse was that he had read it in class — also in “Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry.” Helligar believed the principal was dismissive of the incident “My daughter was literally traumatized,” said Helligar “These books are problematic … you feel helpless because you can’t even protect your child from the hurt that she’s going through.” Helligar is one of the parents who filed complaints But as the books were put on hold and the review process inched forward a diverse group of teachers and students came out against the novels’ removal A report to the superintendent is due from a 15-member review committee on Nov but that will only be the beginning of a long debate — in Burbank and beyond An incident at school prompted the mom to take action (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Essential history or outdated fictions “[W]e believe that the books … have a great pedagogical value and should be retained in the curriculum,” read letter from the NCAC Books written by or featuring people of color are “disproportionately likely to be banned,” said James Tager PEN’s deputy director of free expression research and policy “That is a decades-long trend that advocates and observers have seen.” NEW: PEN America calls upon the Burbank Unified School district to lift the temporary ban on several books dealing with the subject of race in America and allow these books to be taught in Burbank classrooms. Sign our petition today: https://t.co/RQKsZynnu6 Book-banning has a long history in America. Such challenges have sometimes been rooted in bigotry. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is cited by many historians as the first book to be banned on a national scale it was barred by the Confederacy for its abolitionist agenda A century and a half later, Khaled Hosseini’s bestseller “The Kite Runner” was challenged for, among other reasons, allegedly promoting Islam and inspiring terrorism. the coiner of #BlackLivesMatter and others sketch a hopeful future for L.A “Typically these book bans come down from people who are concerned about the books’ challenge to established order,” said Alaina Morgan It’s what makes the situation at BUSD “novel,” she said “I think that for Black parents in these districts there is a very long history of them dealing with microaggressions .. and now they’re seeing their children go through the same things in an allegedly more racially just society,” Morgan said Although she believes cancel culture plays a role in the debate “I think there’s a difference between the gut reaction that cancel culture is — which is people saying ‘Oh they said something racist they’re [canceled] now’ — and what’s happening here,” she said None of the five novels in dispute is openly supportive of segregation or bigotry All were flagged for words we now find offensive But the parents’ objections are not merely over language They also worry about the way these books portray Black history and the lessons they might impart to modern readers “The Cay” and “Huckleberry Finn” feature white children learning from the suffering and wisdom of older Black men “To Kill a Mockingbird” stars Atticus Finch a white lawyer who defends a Black man accused of raping a white woman Its white-savior story line reads much differently nearly 60 years after its publication Hear My Cry” may have instigated Helligar’s complaint Narrated by a young Black girl growing up in the South during the Great Depression and Jim Crow era it’s the only novel on the list by a Black author the BUSD’s reading list hasn’t been revised in three decades The true ban is that there aren’t other books of other voices that could ever be on there.” another Black parent who filed a complaint agrees that the perspectives are badly in need of an update “The portrayal of Black people is mostly from the white perspective,” said Ostrom “There’s no counter-narrative to this Black person dealing with racism and a white person saving them.” “The education that students are basically getting is that racism is something in the past,” she added “And that’s not the conversation that we should be having in 2020 … Unless teachers have been specifically trained to teach these texts through an antiracist lens they are probably reinforcing racism rather than dismantling it.” Others believe that changed lens is not only feasible but necessary — that the books remain essential to helping frame in-class discussions about contemporary racism the district should reevaluate how they’re being taught For one Burbank High School teacher who also asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation the Black Lives Matter protests only amplify these books’ relevance “‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was written 60 years ago and we read it with horror at the unfairness and terrors of a segregated society,” she said and we look at how things were then and how we feel like we’ve come a long way but we can note the serious inequities that still exist.” Plenty of district students agree. On Oct. 22, Sungjoo Yoon, a sophomore at Burbank High School, launched a petition to stop what he called a “ban on antiracist books.” As of Nov Some 80 students also sent personal statements of protest to district officials started the petition because he remembered the impact the books had on him “I didn’t know much about race relations or anything regarding critical race theory when I was younger,” he said and it really did touch me.” He hopes students can continue to have the “breakthrough moment” he did Books From ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to ‘The Birth of a Nation,’ stories that flatten usually falter “There are people who have actively been harmed by some of these books in the past,” Yoon acknowledges unconditionally say the N-word without anybody’s concern or single out a single African American student to become the spokesperson for the entire class I think that’s where the harm is coming from.” Chloe Bauer remembers being in tears when she first read “Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry” in her seventh grade English class at John Muir Middle School called the novel her first lesson in America’s “bloody and gruesome” past When she heard that teachers were told to pause instruction of the book she felt “confused,” “frustrated” and “saddened.” She thought of her sister Chloe Bauer and Sungjoo Yoon have defended the books being considered for removal saying they learned valuable lessons from them about racism Schaben / Los Angeles Times) So Bauer wrote an email to Sharon Cuseo Burbank’s assistant superintendent of instructional services Bauer spoke up: She said the novel had taught her and her peers how “disgusting” the slurs were “This is an incredibly important lesson to learn at age 13 when seventh-graders are being exposed to music films and pop culture with conflicting messages about using offensive language She believes the core message being taught is that racism is an artifact of history “They get to read about racism whereas my children have to experience it That is the privilege that they get to walk around in.” She told the review committee that the incidents she reported were themselves proof the books had failed in their mission: “You’re not doing well as an education system if the people you have educated still haven’t learned empathy.” Some Black parents in the district see both sides of the argument a Black mother of fourth- and seventh-grade students empathizes with the parents who’ve complained “But I think our kids now don’t know how the [N-word] came about They hear it in rap music and they think it’s OK to say They need to know why and where it came from,” she said They need to learn it in a “safe environment.” Memoirs by Kiese Laymon and John Edgar Wideman; essays by Darryl Pinckney and Mikki Kendall; masterpieces from Michelle Alexander and Claudia Rankine The question of what exactly to do with the challenged books in Burbank has not only divided the community but caused frustration over the district’s procedures for handling complaints The process in Burbank can be long and complicated involving five stages consisting of complaints (formal and informal) Although it seems to be designed to ensure that parents are heard the rulebook doesn’t address the core issue of how to improve teaching practices Some parents and teachers were initially troubled by the superintendent’s decision to pause instruction of the books before a formal, written complaint was even made. Four official complaints have since been filed. Under district policy AR 1312.2, “challenged material may remain in use until a final decision has been reached,” with children given the chance to opt out from the reading. Asked why the district removed the books right away, BUSD Superintendent Matt Hill told The Times: “Given the nature of the complaint, the fact that we would have to ask for Black children to opt out of their class and receive an alternative assignment — I did not think that was the most prudent approach. I thought it would be better for us to work together and see if we can get to a resolution.” It’s only fitting that the 25th anniversary edition of Karen Finley’s “Shock Treatment” (City Lights: 144 pp., $15.95 paper) should come out in time for Banned Books Week, the literary holiday about which I feel most consistently ambivalent. The five books in question are currently at step four of the district’s process. The review committee has until Nov. 13 to make a recommendation to Hill, who will make a decision that can then be appealed to the board of education. Its last meeting was Nov. 4, but no consensus was reached. “We are not removing books from our classrooms or schools,” Hill said; they’ll remain in libraries and on optional reading lists. “What we are doing is looking at our reading list and our core novels to identify: Are there concerns with these books? Are these the best books?” While some teachers and parents believe the superintendent is acting in good faith, they are troubled by the process. It certainly is easier to make top-down, yes-or-no decisions than engage a sprawling school district in the difficult business of how to teach old books in new times. If “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” and the other novels make their way back to the curriculum, the most difficult challenge might be to ensure that students of all backgrounds can find in these books what Bauer and Yoon did. World & Nation a leading public grantmaking and child advocacy organization as Vice President of Integration & Learning This position is part of a five-member Executive Team of organization-wide leaders tasked with shaping setting and executing First 5 LA's strategic direction Pineda will oversee development of the learning and evaluation framework for all First 5 LA programs and grants and will be responsible for creating and championing an organizational culture of continuous learning and ongoing improvement She also will be responsible for ensuring First 5 LA is supported by best practices in evaluation and performance measurement methodologies and robust data analysis to capture learnings to improve organizational effectiveness "Daniela is a terrific addition to First 5 LA's senior leadership team measurement and outcomes will help shape a culture of learning and integration within First 5 LA this new division will help inform our strategy and contribute to greater effectiveness and results for young children and their families," said Kim Belshé Pineda currently serves as the Associate Director of Evaluation and Impact at Living Cities Daniela defines the strategic direction of Living Cities' evaluation portfolio and leads all evaluation investments Daniela was the first Strategic Data Officer for the Postsecondary Success team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she was responsible for managing evaluation and research investments that focused on using data to inform strategy and decision-making "First 5 LA is undertaking truly innovative work on behalf of children and families in L.A and I am tremendously proud to join the team," said Pineda "Organizational learning is critical to organizational effectiveness and impact I look forward to working with the First 5 LA team to shape and advance an organization-wide approach to monitoring evaluation and learning to help improve the quality and increase the impact of our work for young children." Daniela earned a Doctorate in Public Policy and Sociology a Masters of Arts from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor and a Bachelor of Arts from Pomona College She has held research fellowships from MRDC and the Association for Institutional Research among others Pineda will begin work at First 5 LA on July 11 First 5 LA named Kim Pattillo Brownson as Vice President of Policy & Strategy First 5 LA named Christina Altmayer as Vice President of Programs and Carl Gayden as Senior Director of Administration The roles are a result of a process undertaken by First 5 LA to strengthen the organization's ability to effectively execute its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan and to help it become a higher performing higher impact organization for children prenatal to age 5 ABOUT FIRST 5 LAFirst 5 LA is a leading early childhood advocate organization created by California voters to invest Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues in Los Angeles County. In partnership with others, First 5 LA strengthens families, communities, and systems of services and supports so that all children in L.A. County enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life. Please visit www.first5la.org for more information Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160608/377329 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160408/353126LOGO http://www.first5la.org Do not sell or share my personal information: A new study by the research group Technatox from the University Rovira i Virgili (URV) has revealed that the beach in the southern Catalan town of Pineda de Vila-seca contains the highest concentration of microplastics. Techatox analyzed fifty beaches along 580 kilometers of the Catalan coastline, from Cap de Creus in the north to Vinaròs in the northern part of Spain’s Valencian region. At La Pineda beach, researchers found 2,000 pieces of microplastic per kilogram of sand, twice as many as the second most contaminated beach, located in the Fangar Bay, part of the southern Ebre Delta. Most of the microplastics found at Pineda de Vila-seca were plastic pellets, often originating from the petrochemical industry. More alarmingly, over 60% of the detected microplastics came from textile fibers, primarily polyester. These fibers pass through washing machine filters before eventually reaching the sea through wastewater. According to Joaquim Rovira, researcher at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at URV, plastic pellets “should disperse into the sea, but the positioning of the underwater outfalls between the Port of Tarragona and Cape Salou prevents it from doing so.” A significant concentration of microplastics was also found at the Fangar Bay at the mouth of the Ebre Delta. There, researchers found 1,100 pieces per kilogram of sand, while the beaches Miracle and Arrabassada on the Tarragona coast recorded over 700 and 600 microplastics per kilogram, respectively. Vallcarca beach, located between Castelldefels and Sitges, followed behind. “We attribute this to the microplastics that reach the sea through the Llobregat River and are transported southward by ocean currents,” says Rovira. In contrast, the findings from Barcelona’s beaches took the researchers by surprise. “What surprised us the most has been seeing that the beaches of Barcelona, the most populated city in Catalonia, have less concentrations of microplastics than other more southern coasts between Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltrú and a big part of the Tarragona coast,” explains Rovira. Beaches on the northern Catalan Costa Brava had the lowest levels of microplastic pollution, according to the study. “We attribute this to the coarser sand, which doesn’t retain as many microplastics as beaches with finer sand,” said Nora Expósito, a researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering, who also took part in the study. This study is the first comprehensive study of microplastic pollution along the Catalan coastline. In total, 70 locations were analyzed, with researchers collecting samples from the intertidal zone, the area of wet sand between the highest wave reach and the current waterline. They analyzed the chemical composition and size of the microplastics, with the larger ones measuring up to 5 millimeters and primarily composed of polyethylene and polypropylene, often originating from degraded plastic bottles or industrial pellets. The smaller particles measured less than 0.5 millimeters and were primarily textile fibers such as polyester and polyamide, commonly released when washing clothes. All in all, the researchers were not surprised by the findings, given the large amount of plastic produced and its low biodegradability. “We have found microplastics inland, in marine waters, wastewater, drinking water, soil and sediments, in mollusks, and even in human feces,” added researchers Ester Marí and Jordi Serra from the University of Barcelona, who also participated in the study. Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. Looking for some achingly beautiful beaches for your next escape? You’ve come to the right place... Size didn’t matter to Pineda, who proved it as a defender with gritty play. The frosh-soph coach raved about Pineda to the head varsity coach, Robert Castellano. One day, Castellano came out to watch Pineda, before he walked away with one question. “Could Pineda perform on the varsity level with his tiny size?” Castellano said. He never found out the following season. Pineda didn’t come out for the team as a sophomore, missing the spring and summer off-season programs. Pineda missed a lot more, his father, Leonardo, the man he said he hasn’t seen since second grade. Pictures are all Pineda has of his dad, who lives in Mexico. The reason Pineda said he hasn’t seen him in person is because the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency deported his father, an undocumented immigrant. Plans for Pineda to reunite with his father escalated in the spring of his ninth-grade year. Pineda lived with his mother, Albina, and the two mulled over the decision to move to the state of Michoacán to be with Leonardo. “We had talked about moving for quite a while,” Pineda said. “My mom left it up to me. I wanted to stay here. I’ve been here since I was like 1. Everyone here is a friend. I had everything here, except for my dad. I had a lot to get used to if we moved to Mexico. “We talked to my dad on the phone. Overall, he said we had a better future here. He always tells me that I’ve made it this far and to not give up.” Pineda and his mom stayed in Costa Mesa. Pineda is glad they stayed put. Pineda returned to the Eagles, and by his senior year, he no longer looked diminutive. He grew to 5-9, and with his play, the soccer team rose to new heights under Castellano this past season. Pineda is the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year in boys’ soccer after he led Estancia (16-6-5) to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs. On an injured left knee, Pineda pushed the program to its best run in 14 seasons. “We haven’t had a player like Marco who plugs up the whole middle the way he does in a really long time,” said Castellano of his defensive midfielder, who earned All-CIF Southern Section Division 5 and first-team All-Orange Coast League honors after he finished with five goals and two assists. “Marco’s not flashy, just strong-willed, and he was so important to the team. The three games he missed because of his bruised knee we lost our shape on the field and our leader. “I sometimes wonder how much better he would have been if he played as a sophomore.” Pineda sat out his sophomore season, not because of lack of size, just confidence. Castellano is an approachable coach, but he’s a stickler about players participating in the off-season programs. He wants them to be committed and have structure. Since Pineda was a no-show in the off-season, he figured he stood no chance to make the team. The story behind why Pineda didn’t come out, him possibly leaving the country to live with his dad, is one he didn’t have the courage to tell Castellano. Pineda did ask Castellano for one more shot, in hopes to resume soccer as a junior. When Castellano saw Pineda again, he was 9 inches taller. “I had to look up to him,” Castellano said. Castellano hasn’t stopped looking up to Pineda. He admires his work ethic, which rubbed off on teammates. Pineda credits his mother for showing him what hard work really is. Albina cleans houses for a living. There isn’t a day that goes by that she doesn’t remind her 18-year-old son that she wants him to pursue a college education and a good job after high school. “She does this all for me, and it’s hard on her. She has to pay all the bills and everything,” said Pineda, who plans to work in the automotive industry after college. Pineda said his father is a mechanic in Mexico. The two enjoy working on cars, almost as much as talking fútbol. Sunday is the time Pineda gets to talk to his dad on the phone. While he cannot see his son, Leonardo can hear that his son has turned into a quality young man. Below are the rest of the players on this year’s Dream Team: The senior center back proved to be the backbone of the Sea Kings’ success. Damon anchored a defense that only allowed one goal per game and held 10 opponents scoreless, nine of which CdM won. The defense recorded five league shutouts. Damon received the Pacific Coast League Defensive MVP award. The sophomore striker became the Eagles’ most dangerous player with the ball, hurting teams with his speed. Pizarro finished with 11 goals and 13 assists, the latter ranked No. 3 in Orange County. He shared the Orange Coast League Offensive MVP award. Pizarro is a two-time Dream Team selection. The junior center midfielder doubled his production from his standout sophomore season with the Sailors. With the top two scorers lost to graduation, Alcantara accounted for 12 goals and six assists, garnering the Sunset League Most Outstanding Offensive Player award. Alcantara is a two-time Dream Team selection. The senior striker moved from the wing to up top and delivered for the Sea Kings with his playmaking ability. O’Connor led CdM to an unbeaten Pacific Coast League title, the first without a loss during Coach George Larsen’s five seasons at the school. He produced 12 goals and seven assists. The junior striker scored with the best of them. In only 19 matches, Sadeghi recorded 25 goals and 13 assists, both ranked No. 3 in Orange County. Sadeghi made the All-CIF Southern Section Division 6 and Academy League first team. He finished with a hat trick three times. The senior midfielder turned it on during the Eagles’ CIF Southern Section Division 5 semifinal playoff run. Cortes scored four goals, including two game-winners during the postseason. Cortes, who totaled seven goals and six assists, earned All-CIF Southern Section Division 5 and first-team All-Orange Coast League accolades. The senior midfielder could play anywhere on the field and excel for the Sea Kings. Stimpson, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League member, helped CdM claim its third league title in five seasons under Coach George Larsen. Stimpson, bound for New York University, finished with two goals and five assists. The senior midfielder is the most technically gifted player Robert Castellano has coached during his 15 seasons. Mendoza’s vision, passing and left-footed shot allowed him at 5-foot-3 to control the midfield. He tallied three goals and nine assists, giving him All-CIF Southern Section Division 5 and first-team All-Orange Coast League honors. The senior defensive midfielder played a vital role to the Sea Kings controlling much of the action. Premer earned first-team All-Pacific Coast League laurels after finishing with seven goals and one assist. Premer scored a goal in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs. The junior center back organized the Eagles in the back with his play and leadership. Monroy’s presence made it difficult for the opposition to score, as Estancia only gave up 23 goals in 27 matches. Monroy, a second-team All-Orange Coast League pick, was like a second coach. The sophomore goalkeeper led the Sailors to third place in the Sunset League and first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs for the second straight season. Negrete made 75 saves, and posted four shutouts and a 1.38 goals against average. He made the All-Sunset League second team. Sports News Camille Van Puymbroeck is a Belgian freelance journalist with a big interest in anything lifestyle and ecology-related Nothing makes her more happy than visiting a former Soviet building Her work has previously been published in Metro With summer in full swing, Spanish environmental organisation Ecologistas en Acción (Ecologists in Action) which comprises over 300 local environmental groups has released a list of the country’s 48 most polluted beaches Spanish beaches are facing a multitude of pollution challenges “One of the biggest problems we are facing is the ‘touristification’ and urbanisation of our coast and this is a problem that especially affects the Canary Islands. The ecological footprint of the Canary Islands corresponds to that of a territory 27 times larger. In other words we need a territory 27 times larger to satisfy all the demands of the economic model and development of the archipelago” a spokesperson of Ecologistas en Acción said No es nueva la denuncia de nuestras compañeras de @EeAfedMalaga acerca de la llegada incesante de residuos plásticos a los ecosistemas marinos, especialmente en la noche de San Juan. Así es como ha amanecido la playa de La Malagueta esta mañana (🎥 @AndaLimpia). 👇🏾🧵 pic.twitter.com/rcporShUY3 The campaign group is partly blaming the Spanish government for the terrible state of the beaches, which, according to them, is caused by a “suicidal race” to boost tourism and to reach record visitor numbers. Some of the most famous beaches in the list include the La Tejita beach in Tenerife and the Playa Blanca beach in Lanzarote. The report comes a little over a year after the decision by Spain’s Balearic Islands to introduce 28 smoke-free beaches, an initiative supported by the Directorate General of Public Health and Participation in order to create healthier and cleaner beach environments. Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website. Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website. One person confirmed dead in nearby building damaged by shock wave ACN | Barcelona An explosion and a subsequent fire occured in an industrial estate in La Canonja near Tarragona One person was confirmed dead after a nearby building partially collapsed as a result of the shock wave from the explosion At 10pm the medical services said eight people were injured while the fire service were still looking for one person believed to be missing on Wednesday early morning The incident occured in a chemical plant belonging to the company IQOXE The Catalan home affairs minister Miquel Buch explained that there was an explosion in a tank of ethylene oxide which caused "a vertical column of smoke" This led to a second explosion at an industrial electricity transformer.  Immediately after the incident the emergency services issued a "Plaseqcat" chemical alert authorities specifically warned the people of La Canonja town and Universitat Laboral in Tarragona to remain indoors and secure windows and doors.  Beyond the immediate vicinity people were advised to stay inside as a preventative measure if they were feeling any discomfort although the authorities reported there was no evidence of toxic pollution At around 9.30pm the advice to residents to stay indoors was lifted The fire service sent 20 units to the scene and confirmed that the fire was only within the industrial estate and hadn't spread to surrounding areas At 10pm they expected to work on securing the site overnight as the situation was "stable The Catalan president and vice president arrived at the coordination center near the site and the Catalan chief confirmed he had spoken with the Spanish president via telephone The train links between Tarragona and Reus and between Tarragona and Port Aventura theme park were disrupted due to the explosion and fire RT-1 and RT-2 lines also experienced disruptions Traffic authorities advised drivers to avoid the N-340 and the C-31b in the surrounding area Print Antonio Pineda the internationally renowned Mexican modernist silversmith who was praised for his bold striking jewelry designs and ingenious use of gemstones Pineda died of kidney failure Monday at his ranch home in Taxco Pineda was among the most prominent of the many silversmiths to emerge from the mountain mining town beginning in the 1930s He was the subject of a 2008-09 exhibition at UCLA’s Fowler Museum, “Silver Seduction: The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda,” which traced the evolution of his work through the 1970s “He was certainly one of the major modernist silversmiths in the 1950s ‘60s and certainly into the ‘70s,” said Betsy Quick the Fowler’s director of education and the show’s in-house curator “There was a small cadre of extremely well-known well-respected and brilliant silversmiths living in Taxco “Antonio really was the last of the great silversmiths of this period.” were nearly 200 examples of Pineda’s silver work The show, Times art critic Christopher Knight wrote “makes a compelling case that the work of” Pineda “represents the art’s zenith.” “I completely agree; it’s just extraordinary work,” Quick said They made absolutely beautiful use of semiprecious and precious stones The works that he created were beautifully designed to fit the human body.” Quick made a pre-exhibition visit to Taxco to videotape and interview Pineda and other local people about the artist and this period She was accompanied by Cindy Tietze and Stuart Hodosh of Los Angeles whose collection of Pineda’s works formed the basis of the exhibition and he had wonderful reflections and recollections of past times,” Quick said “He was very articulate about his work and about the creative process.” One of Pineda’s favorite sayings was: “The richness of silver is immortal Antonio Pineda Gomez was born in Taxco on July 19 At age 11 he had a brief apprenticeship in the Taxco silver jewelry workshop of U.S designer and entrepreneur William Spratling who had moved to the area in the late 1920s Pineda later apprenticed with Mexico City painter and silversmith Valentin Vidauretta and returned to Taxco in 1936 He was involved in mining and worked in sales and management at Spratling’s workshop before opening his own silver jewelry workshop in 1939 Pineda employed nearly 100 other silversmiths A major turning point in his career came in 1944 when his work was included in an exhibition at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco heir to the city’s exclusive department store Gump’s purchased the 160 pieces in Pineda’s collection and offered to sell his designs exclusively Pineda was married and divorced three times he is survived by children Kathleen Pineda Debra Pineda and Carlos Pineda from his first marriage and by Antonio Pineda Delgado Antoinetta Pineda Delgado and Ximena Pineda Delgado from his third marriage He is also survived by brothers Bruno and Raul; sisters Erma and Carolina; and seven grandchildren dennis.mclellan@latimes.com Entertainment & Arts Television Hollywood Inc. 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Barcelona La Pineda Platja – a water-themed breakEnjoy a relaxing and fun trip to the region of Aquopolis and PortAventura World There's nothing better than starting a relaxing weekend than disconnecting by the sea we suggest you start off with a nice stroll along the coastline featuring nearly 4 kilometres of beaches that provide lovely surroundings The beaches are certified Blue Flag areas by the European Foundation of Environmental Eductation There you can also see one of the most representative symobls of La Pineda: a group of sculptures by the same name which stand 24 metres tall and weigh 130 tonnes embellish the seaside boardwalk as a symbol of sustainability The steel and copper sculpture has helped promote the Vila-seca as its image was adopted as a logo for the Patronat Municipal de Turisme de Vila-seca receives visitors filtering light and wind the work of sculptor Sergi Aguilar was built as a tribute to writer and poet Carlos Barral you can head to the Parc del Pinar del Perruquet a natural space that's 2.5 hectares in size where you can stroll around and relax while the kids have a great time get yourself energized to discover Vila-seca by walking along the Raval de la Mar a large road that's just over 3 kilometres and is made for both road traffic and leisurely strolls or cycling you can learn about the area's corners full of history through a route marked with QR codes that will give you information about each monument Along the way you'll find the Parc de la Torre d'en Dolça named after the 16th-century defence tower that stands in the middle of the park and where you can take a break and rest for a while and you can also choose from a variety of beauty and well-being treatments Enjoy a wonderful experience for mind and body Thanks for subscribing! 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