La Jolla News Nuggets, September 1

Salon helps girl donate hair to Wigs for Kids

La Jolla-based Koda salon recently provided a very special haircut for a very special little girl. Six-year-old Ryder Perryman came in to donate 12 inches of her hair to Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit that creates wigs for children suffering from hair loss.

“It’s powerful to work with a young child who’s willing to selflessly do this for another child. I could see for her it wasn’t about how she looked, but about giving the gift of beauty to another child,” said Cheng Tan, owner of KODA Salon. “Ryder is a generous and sweet girl. She absolutely loves her hair, so this was a big deal for her.”

The majority of the kids who receive wigs from the program are ages 6-16. Many suffer from alopecia, but Wigs for Kids also provides wigs for patients patients with cancer, as well as those suffering from trichotillomania, an obsessive compulsive condition.

KODA Salon clients can donate hair once every year and half, since the donation must be at least 12 inches. More at wigsforkids.org or kodasalon.com

Summer reading program up 26 percent

As part of the annual summer reading program through the San Diego Public Library, La Jolla’s Riford Library held events, workshops, concerts and more to bring in young readers. It must have worked, as youth services librarian Angie Stave reports 814 children and teens participated in the program, which is an increase of 26 percent from last year.

By reading 10 books, kids of all ages were able to “complete” the program, and earned a backpack full of prizes. Of those that participated, 481 finished.

“This is a rather good return rate of about 60 percent. The typical for libraries across the country is about 50 percent,” Stava said. The library is at 7555 Draper Ave. lajollalibrary.org

‘Straight Outta Compton’ actor Jason Mitchell to receive Rising Star Award

The San Diego International Film Festival will recognize actor Jason Mitchell with the Rising Star Award of 2016. The award will be presented Sept. 29 at The Night of the Stars Tribute at the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, 700 Prospect St.

The Rising Star Award recognizes an actor whose early work exhibits significant promise and critical acclaim while taking on challenging film roles. Mitchell achieved critical acclaim for his role portraying the iconic “Eazy E” in Universal’s 2015 N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton.” He won the African American Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as sharing nominations with his fellow cast mates for Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Critics’ Choice Awards.

Mitchell can next be seen starring in a co-lead role in “Skull Island” opposite Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larsen, Sam Jackson, John C. Reilly and John Goodman. sdiff.com