[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO SANDRA CARAVELLA--28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 2015

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and 
sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to 
outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional 
District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Sandra 
Caravella of Atwater Village, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, 
California.
   Born and raised in the Atwater Village area of Los Angeles, Ms. 
Caravella attended Atwater Elementary School, Irving Junior High School 
and John Marshall High School. With the exception of a few years when 
she and her husband, Joe, also an Atwater Village native, resided in 
Michigan, Sandra has been a lifetime resident of Atwater Village, where 
she and Joe raised their family. While a young mother, Sandra 
volunteered at her sons' school, Atwater Avenue Elementary School as a 
teacher's aide, and became involved in the Parent Teacher Association. 
When her youngest son was six years old, she took a part time job at 
the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau working as a 
registration supervisor at conventions, seminars and trade shows, where 
she remained for over two decades.
   Well regarded in her community, Ms. Caravella is a passionate and 
dedicated volunteer. She is a founding member and current Board member 
of the Friends of Atwater Village (FAV), whose first venture was to 
successfully save the historic Van de Kamp Bakery building. As a FAV 
Board member, Sandra has been instrumental in attaining grants for 
community beautification projects that include murals illustrating the 
area's history, flower containers, and a decorative gate at the Los 
Angeles River and Acresite Street. With three other FAV Board members, 
she produced calendars featuring local history and a book entitled: 
Images of America: Atwater Village. Ms. Caravella is a member of the 
Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce, was the chamber's project manager 
of the sign committee, and serves on the Tree Lighting and River 
Committees for the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council.
   Married for nearly half a century, Sandra and her husband, Joe, have 
two sons, Jeff and Brian, two grandsons, Vincenzo and Nico, all of whom 
live in Atwater Village.
   I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of 
California's 28th Congressional District, Sandra Caravella.

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