The Sword and The Broom
Linda Salisbury’s retelling of John Mercer Langston’s life story is closely based on his 534-page autobiography From the Virginia Plantation to the National Capital (published in 1894). Langston’s career in education, politics, and as a champion of Constitutional rights for all, is stunning, yet largely unknown today.
A contemporary and rival of Frederick Douglass, Langston had many firsts in his personal and professional life despite his racially mixed heritage that classified him as black. His father, Captain Ralph Quarles, was a wealthy white plantation owner in Virginia, and his mother, Lucy Langston, was Ralph’s former slave with a heritage of Native-American and black. Langston was orphaned at age four, and was taken to Ohio, a free state. It was there that he was educated, became involved in the abolition movement, received two degrees from Oberlin College, and began his many career firsts as a black citizen. He was known as an eloquent and powerful orator.
He founded Howard University’ law school, served as its dean, and was the first president of what is now Virginia State University. In 1890, he was seated in Congress, the first black congressman from the Commonwealth of Virginia, despite the fraudulent election in 1888 that denied him his seat for nineteen months. His story of persevering over discrimination and racism, his numerous achievements, and his ongoing fight for the rights of all, is an inspiration and relevant today.
The retelling includes additional information about the times, plus photographs and images
"It’s terrific. Given that today’s the day before Christmas Eve, I have already spent more time than I can spare reading it. I have made myself put it down. Looking forward to more. It’s a beautiful publication and I am massively impressed."
--Alice Dalton Brown
"Linda Salisbury, in her narrative of John Mercer Langston’s life, coaxes us to a rich understand of the challenges facing a black man in post-Civil War times. It is not only a scholarly work, filled with notes and archival pictures, but also a very readable account. As a teacher of middle school, I feel this book is suitable, and indeed I would recommend It, for ages 12 and above. It is surely a piece of history most of us have not learned in school. As such it is also an eye-opening account for the adult reader. John Mercer Langston’s life is an inspiration to all. With his education from Oberlin College, he had the knowledge, but also the persistence to break many barriers. He was the first black attorney in the state of Ohio, as well as the first black man accepted to practice law before the Supreme Court. After a bitter election of 1888, he was also the first black Congressman from Virginia, the state he and his brothers left when he was orphaned at four years old.
"A stunning and eye-opening book for all Americans!"
--Nancy Bailey Miller--
"As an Oberlin grad (classmate of author), history buff, and writer, I had a slight familiarity with the name John Mercer Langston (1829-1897). Oberlin named a dorm after him, I'd read about the Wellington rescue in The Town That Started the Civil War by Nat Brandt, and I knew he was a forbear of Langston Hughes. But I had no idea what a fascinating character Langston is, as a brilliant, pre-Civil War biracial student of theology and law, rival of Frederick Douglass, reconstruction-era Congressman from Virginia, and later ambassador to Haiti. More amazing to me is that I taught English at Howard University in D.C. for five years but never heard that Langston founded the Law School. The book is a very easy read with many illustrations and a list of sources but no footnotes that distract. This book is an important addition to understanding a period of history and race relations that reverberates to the present."
"Not only was Langston handsome, but as a speaker and public servant in the deepest sense, he was Superman on steroids! I'm so glad to know about him - not least because I doubt I would have plowed through his entire autobiography at this point so the young-adult version is perfect for me. What a gift you have given everyone who encounters the book and, through it, John Langston. I appreciate all the research you did to pull it together, including filling in some gaps when you were able to find supplemental information." --Molly Martindale, California
"I am so impressed with your book on JML. What a wonderful read! I really loved it."
Brownhelm (Ohio) Historical Association


No.8 "Art Nouveau in Prague"
The end of 19th and beginning of 20th century was an interesting time in Prague because of its new architectural styles. We will compare various examples of Prague Art Nouveau with other styles of the period. This tour is particularly suitable for those interested in Art Nouveau and styles of the early 20th century.
We will see the Municipal House, Art Nouveau-style buildings at St. Wenceslas Square, Na Příkopech Street and the National Avenue. A visit to the Museum of Alfons Mucha is usually a part of the tour.
What is there to see during the trip: Examples of buildings in the following styles: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Cubism, Functionalism, Modernism
Price of the tour includes: services of our guide
Price does not include: Alfons Mucha Museum entrance fee - adults: 120,- CZK, children: 60,- CZK
Duration of the tour: 3 hours


St. John the Evangelist was founded in 1905. The first pastor was Rev. John H.C.Rutten from Holland and was ordained in Canada. Nathaniel McCaffrey wrote in a 1950 history of St. John's: "Father Rutten has fierce determination to see his fledging parish built on a solid foundation so that it might prosper and be a source of inspiration to a succeeding generations." The first Mass that was given by the new rector was for 90 parishioners from Dumont and Bergenfield.
Shortly after Father Rutten's arrival, a letter from Bishop O'Connor instructed the members to draw up articles of incorporation and to elect two lay members to the Board of Trustees. Edward F. Flood and Will B. May were elected as trustees and the approval of the name of the parish - St. John the Evangelist - was received from the Bishop.
In March of 1906, 12 lots on Washington Avenue were purchased for $1500. By November, plans were sent to the Bishop for building to cost $9,350, not counting windows, electric wiring or heating unit. Ground breaking took place on November 18, 1906 and cornerstone was laid on March 3, 1907. The rectory was built in 1909.
Mrs. Loretta Simon was married in St. John's in 1913 and remembers a nun saying, "When you put your foot in St. John's, it's like someone putting his arm around you."
Parishioners had been pressing for a parochial school and in 1921 they were ready to open its doors. Before the school year began, the need to purchase additional land and build a larger, more permanent school became evident. In the first 18 months of operation the school attendance jumped from 66 to 240.
In 1946, Father McGuirk, then pastor, began to think in terms of building a new church. He worked closely with an architect in designing the church and insisted upon saving the memorial windows from the old church. In June 1949, construction began on the church that we know today. On December 9, 1950 Archbishop Thomas J Walsh officiated at the dedication. At this time, the Bishop saw the need of the parish and sent two assistant priests to help with the pastoral duties.
More than 50 years have passed since. There have been times of growth and times of decline. Today, we have more than 3,500 families registered in our parish and over 600 children attending our religious education programs. Our parish family is diverse and includes people from many backgrounds, especially Filipino, Hispanic, Irish, and Italian. Having celebrated our Centennial in 2005, we have much to look forward to and much to build on. St. John the Evangelist is still a place where you feel as if someone has put an arm around you. It is place of Many Parts.... One Body.
St. John the Evangelist
The Apostle, John, was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James the Greater. The brothers were fishermen on the Lake of Genesareth. They were called by Christ to become His disciples. John was called the "beloved disciple". He founded many churches in Asia Minor and is the Patron Saint of Asia Minor. St. John The Evangelist wrote three Epistles, the fourth Gospel, and the Book of Revelation.
St. John's Feast Day is December 27


Out of bed early, we still did not leave the hotel until mid morning. Leaving Natchez, MS, Ricardo and I pointed the bikes toward the Natchez Trace Parkway. This scenic and historical parkway leads you 444 miles throught three states and hundreds of years of American history. Today we rode almost 300 miles to Tupelo, MS.
Along the way we stopped several times for rest and refreshments. Then most interesting stop was in French Camp, MS at Leonard's grocery, where we met the manager, Minna and a delightful young man, Drew Guillette. Already bitten by the "travel bug" Drew visited Italy last summer and now hopes to visit Costa Rica some day. Minna, originally from Staten Island, NY, served us a great Bar B Que sandwich for a late lunch. Tonight I will post a photograph of Ricardo, Minna and Drew so you can see the nice folks we meet along the way.
Ahh, Tupelo, MS, the birthplace and early home of Elvis Presley. And of course Ricardo had to visit, have his photograph taken and even sit in the swing on the front porch. And Chuck ? I was the tour guide and photographer.
Tonight we have checked into a nice La Quinta and Ricardo is once again in the pool. Later tonight, a dinner of turnip greens and pinto beans. Monday, a 240 mile ride to Nashville, TN, the home of The Grand Ole Opry and a visit to Ryman Auditorum, the old brick church that became the first home of the Opry. And of course, a stop at my old "hangout", Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.


Established in 1873, Ganong is Canada’s first and longest-standing family-owned and operated chocolate company. They are proud to continue to manufacture all their products in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
In 1885, Ganong original Chicken Bones, one of their most well-known confections, were invented, a spicy cinnamon flavoured candy filled with bitter-sweet chocolate. Using wooden skewers, Ganong was the first candy maker to make lolipops in Canada in 1895. In 1903, Ganong was also responsible for introducing the first heart-shaped candy boxes to Canada.
Visit & Discover
On a visit to St. Stephen, NB, you can explore The Chocolate Museum. The museum opened its doors in 1999, allowing the public to explore the art of Chocolate making and the history of Ganong.
In addition to the museum, Ganong, along with the community of St. Stephen host a yearly Chocolate Fest, in August. This would be a great time of year to plan a day trip or an extended stay in the region.
In 2020, Ganong revised their brand vision which builds on their promise of“Helping Canadians Celebrate Their Sweetest Moments.”


Our first stop was in Memphis. There, we visited Sun Studios. This is the place where Blues artists were able to get “published” before blues became popular. It is also where Blues and Hillbilly music came together to become rock and roll.
Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis all started out here. These 4 were known as the millionaire quartet. You may have heard of the album they made together. Several other artists got their start at Sun Records, too many to mention here.
Oddly, it was selling Elvis’ contract to RCA that allowed Sam Phillips to keep Sun Studio open, clear his debts, and continue to discover new artists. After all, Memphis was the underground for racy blues and Rock.
From there we went to Jackson. Halfway between Nashville and Memphis on the old road, this city had a few gems for us also.
First, the cars from the movies. We were fortunate to find Rusty at the museum cleaning up. He showed us his prize possessions and told us which movie every one came from. There is a Delorian, Herbie, the Batmobile, General Lee, and many more.
Then we went to see the Rockabilly museum. That was an amazing two hour tour. Rockabilly was the term used in the early 1950’s for what we came to know as Rock and Roll. There is an incredible collection of 45’s, royalty certificates, newspapers, memorabilia, and wonderful stories from the volunteers who run the non profit museum.
If you know “the day the music died” made famous by Billy Joel, you will appreciate this gem. Of the Million Dollar Quartet, Carl Perkins was the one with experience and a great stage presence. So when came time for a debut TV appearance, he was the obvious choice. On the way to the show, his driver was distracted/tired and got into a bad accident. Carl suffered major injuries, but the show must go on. Number two choice was Elvis who made his TV debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Had it not been for the accident, today we might remember more the Carl Perkins “original” version of Blue Suede Shoes.
Then we were off to Nashville to learn about Hillbilly music, as country western was called in its youth.
We went to RCA studio B. This is the bigger studio that Chet Atkins opened, after he started making big money with Elvis. Unfortunately, you can only see the studio if you take the full music city tour for which we did not have enough time. All we have are pictures of the outside
After that, we went to visit the Belmont Mansion. This is the largest city mansion open to the public. It used to be 20 rooms larger but the ends were cut off during major renovations. The estate used to span hundreds of acres, but now the house is surrounded by the university.
This was a tale of 3 marriages, several infant deaths, and a fortune that can only be imagined. Many parts of the mansion have been restored, undoing many years of so-called renovations to bring it back to its original condition. They were getting ready for a reenactment of the civil war battle of Nashville on the following day, so we got to see a few of those preparations.
No pictures are allowed inside so you will have to take a peek at their website above for a sample.
Then, we tried to find the Grand Ole Opry. Amidst all the commercialisation and Gaylord Opryland, the Opry is taking backstage to the Christmas fair going on at the moment. As we were not particularly interested /in the artists playing on that day, we went to visit Cooters and Willie Nelson instead. Those are two attractions immediately beside that take you back years in TV and music.
After that, we headed for the North Carolina border, completing 27,000 kilometres in our trip. Words of warning: check the topography before driving at night. The last 10 miles or so in Tennessee and the first 20 or so in North Carolina are in the mountains with sharp curves and long hills. These are best not taken tired at night. We found the first rest stop we could so we could finish that part of the trip refreshed in the daylight.


While San Francisco glowed in the aftermath of the Summer of Love, three rock climbers, a skier, and a filmmaker struck out on their own journey of discovery. The goal was the ascent of the iconic Cerro Fitz Roy in Patagonia, Chile. This six-month excursion resulted in the formation of a ground-breaking movie and three iconic companies (Patagonia, The North Face, Esprit) and the participants’ life-long commitment to the environment. Photos taken during the trip were believed lost in a house fire. A dupe set, found decades later, is gathered here for the first time ever.


LOCATION161 Glenmere Ave
Florida, NY 10921
E. P. Jansen Nursery began with an inspired vision only a family-run company can design. After purchasing her father's home and five acres of land in 1972, Elizabeth and Jan Jansen transformed the land into a community-focused, pick-your-own-strawberries, gladiolus, and chrysanthemum farm. Over ten-thousand chrysanthemums grew throughout the five acres during those early years. But as Jan and Elizabeth adapted and grew their vision, they also began to look ahead, expanding their business plan by breaking up their expansive flower offerings into separate products, and thus allowing the growth of an extensive, diverse nursery.
After years of experience with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Jan decided to leave his position in 1985 and solely focus his knowledge and experience on the growth of serving the community's landscaping supply needs. With both Elizabeth and Jan's undivided energies, the farm only continued to grow from here on out, eventually expanding to over 71 contiguous acres.
As their team continued to develop, adding both Scott and Ben Jansen's expertise, E. P. Nursery looked to further ventures. answering their clients needs for hardscape and stone supplies. Over nine additional acres now supported the growing stone and hardscape yard. Each decade, the company has only continued to flourish. Continued improvements, including the reorganization of trees and hardscape storage, as well as a state-of-the-art spaghetti drip irrigation system, was added to support the dynamic farm and nursery.
After over 45 years, this family-focused company has grown to become the premier hardscape and plant supplier in the region. The sprawling farm now offers high-quality nursery stock curated from around the world as well as a comprehensive selection of natural stone, wall systems, pavers, blue stone, granite, and a wide variety of tools and bulk support materials.


The One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, is the main building in the new World Trade Center complex in New York City. Standing at a height of 541 meters, it became the tallest building in the United States upon its completion in 2014. We will explore the history, construction, and some interesting facts about the One World Trade Center.
The history of the One World Trade Center
The history of the One World Trade Center is closely linked to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, when the original Twin Towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack. Following this devastation, there was a need to rebuild and honor the victims, as well as revitalize Lower Manhattan. A coalition of public and private organizations was formed to undertake this ambitious reconstruction project.
The design of the One World Trade Center was conceived by architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. His vision was to create an iconic building that would pay tribute to the past while projecting a vision for the future. The final design is a glass and steel structure that gracefully rises towards the sky, with an antenna reaching a height of 541 meters, symbolizing freedom and hope.
Click HERE for more information about The one world trade center
The construction of the One World Trade Center
The construction of the One World Trade Center was a complex and meticulous process that spanned several years. It officially began in 2006 with the groundbreaking ceremony and required immense collaboration from engineers, architects, and builders. One of the greatest challenges was ensuring the building’s security and its ability to withstand potential future attacks. Advanced security measures and engineering systems were implemented to make the One World Trade Center one of the safest buildings in the world.
The construction process was also a testament to innovation and technology. Cutting-edge construction techniques, such as modular construction, were employed to expedite the pace of the work. Additionally, sustainable practices were adopted to minimize the environmental impact, leading to the achievement of LEED Gold certification for the building.
The One World Trade Center houses various facilities and interesting features. At its base, there is the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which pays tribute to the victims and recounts the history of the attacks. Furthermore, the building boasts an observation deck on the 100th floor, known as the One World Observatory, offering breathtaking panoramic views of New York City.
An interesting fact about the One World Trade Center is that its height, 541 meters, was deliberately chosen to pay homage to the height of the original Twin Towers. Additionally, the building is a landmark in the adoption of advanced sustainability technology, with energy-efficient systems and a focus on water conservation.
The One World Trade Center is a remarkable architectural and symbolic achievement. Its construction marked a milestone in the reconstruction of the World Trade Center and the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. With its sleek design and impressive height, the One World Trade Center has become a symbol of resilience, hope, and determination for the city of New York and the entire United States.


Contrary to popular belief, Aboriginal rock art is not simply an ancient art form: it is a practice that has continued to within the past one hundred years. Willie’s grandfather lived on these lands, and may well have contributed to some of the more recent rock paintings.
Behind the art lies the story of the Nugal-warra people. Different caves depict different aspects of Nugal society and Aboriginal culture – family stories, mythical figures, spiritual beliefs and practical information. Both the caves and the art formed part of a rich and complex society which was successful for tens of thousands of years.


The United States Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN), based at Fort Sam Houston, TX, has roots dating back to World War I. Officially organized educational programs in Army Nurse Anesthesia began nearly 70 years ago at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C. and the Army Regional Hospital, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; from these programs came the first Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). By the end of 1960s there were six independent Army schools of nurse anesthesia. As well the first Master’s Program in nurse anesthesia was established in 1969 by Ira Gunn and affiliated with the University of Hawaii.
The Army Nurse Corps consolidated nurse anesthesia training in 1970 at William Beaumont General Hospital, El Paso, TX, however this was not university affiliated. During the early 1970s, COL Marion Waterhouse and LTC Mary Cavagnaro began to actively investigate university affiliation. But that did not materialize until the 1980s. In 1977, the program moved to its current location at Fort Sam Houston, TX and the first program director was LTC Joseph Rando.
In 1981, in large part due to the efforts of COL Sarah A. Haliburton, the program became the United States Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing as it became affiliated with the State University of New York at Buffalo. Graduates were now awarded a Master’s Degree upon completion. During the years that followed graduates of USAGPAN still received a Master’s Degree, however the university affiliations changed:
1986 to 1992 – Texas Wesleyan
1993 to 2006 – University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center
2006 to Present - Northeastern University
USAGPAN began its first Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) class with those students entering in June of 2012.
USAGPAN is unique as it trains Army, Air Force, and Civilian Veteran’s Affairs students. In 2000, the United States Air Force began sending students to USAGPAN. In 2004, Veteran’s Affairs followed allowing students to enter. Clinical Phase II training is conducted all over the country. Our clinical sites are as follows:
Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii
Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, GA
Carl Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX
William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX
Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA
Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC
Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX
David Grant Air Force Medical Center, Travis AFB, CA
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA
The mission of USAGPAN is to produce clinicians educated in the complexity of practice at the doctoral level and competent in the unique skills of anesthesia nursing. USAGPAN graduates, both military and civilian, are prepared to function as a leader advocating for quality patient care in time of peace, and when necessary, in time of war, civil disorder, natural disaster or humanitarian missions. USAGPAN is the premier nurse anesthesia program offering high quality and autonomous training in all clinical and professional aspects of anesthesia delivery.
CRNA practice in the military is defined by AR 40-68 and promotes independent CRNA practice in Military and VA Treatment Facilities. As a result, the training environment promotes an autonomy that is very unique when compared to the civilian experience. The day of a USAGPAN SRNA is also unique when compared to most civilian institutions. USAGPAN SRNAs have mandatory “morning reports” in which they present their daily cases to the Staff CRNAs and MDs. In these sessions, key concepts and techniques related to their individual cases for the day are reinforced. It is a tool that greatly enhances learning. Another asset is a dedicated ultrasound machine specifically for the SRNAs at each clinical site and thus graduates have, on average, placed over half of their PNBs with ultrasound guidance.
USAGPAN’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. In February 2008, USAGPAN received the Army Surgeon General’s Excalibur Award to honor its team and organizational performance and excellence in stimulating best practices. Additionally, in 2011, USAGPAN was rated #1 in the nation according to the US News and World Report for top schools for graduate nurse anesthesia training. In conclusion, USAGPAN continues to provide high quality education in pursuit of our mission.


The Surprising History of Coffee in Colombia: Origins, Flavors & More!
Many countries are known for coffee in one way or another. Brazil, Kenya, and Sumatra are world-famous coffee-producing hubs. Italy is known for its population’s insatiable appetite for bold coffee, and Scandinavian countries drink more coffee per person than any other region on earth. Despite coffee’s universal appeal, one country manages to stand out from the rest: Colombia.
Colombian coffee is well-known everywhere coffee is consumed, which is everywhere. But what isn’t as well-known is the interesting and unique history of coffee in Colombia. Like many coffee-producing countries, Colombia’s coffee history is intertwined with the history of colonization. However, several fascinating aspects of Colombia’s specific coffee history make it unique. This article will give a short review of Colombia’s coffee history, from the first trees planted up to present-day Colombian coffee production.
Early History of Coffee in Colombia
Coffee was introduced to Colombia via Jesuit priests in the early part of the 18th century. Colonization is, unfortunately, a ubiquitous part of human history. Besides the many troubling and detrimental effects globalization had on developing countries in the last few millennia, one benefit of contact between cultures is the sharing and spread of crops. Colombia is the third-largest coffee producer in the world today, and without the Jesuit priests that traveled there with Spanish settlers, it might not be the coffee giant it is today.
Many coffee origin stories are a jumbled mix of fact and fiction, and coffee’s early days in Colombia also have elements of legend. The story goes that Jesuit priests – in an attempt to encourage the local population to start farming coffee – meted out planting coffee trees as part of religious penance. As the religion they brought with them spread, so did the coffee trees, and before long, coffee was firmly planted in Colombia’s fields and economy.
The first coffee exports weren’t until the early 1800s, but coffee production in Colombia grew commensurately with the global demand for coffee throughout the 19th century. The United States and Europe were particularly interested in Colombian coffee, and increasing demand from these countries helped jumpstart Colombia’s coffee production.
By the early 1900s, Colombia was already one of the largest coffee-producing countries. Still, it wasn’t until the launch of one of the most famous advertising campaigns ever that Colombia became the coffee titan it is today.
The fictional character Juan Valdez and his mule Conchita began promoting Colombian coffee in 1958 as part of an effort to validate genuine Colombian coffee. At the time, it was popular for coffee companies to blend Colombian coffee with beans from other origins so that they could claim that their coffee was “Colombian.” In an effort to preserve the reputation of Colombian coffee and protect Colombian coffee farmers, the Doyle Dane Bernbach agency created an ad campaign featuring Juan Valdez.
The idea was that only 100% authentic Colombian coffee would have Juan Valdez on the packaging so consumers could easily identify the genuine article from cheap imitations. No one could have predicted the campaign’s wild success, and Juan Valdez became a worldwide hit that catapulted Colombian coffee to new heights. Today, Juan Valdez and his trusty sidekick Conchita are the most famous piece of coffee iconography ever created and have even become strongly associated with Colombia in general.
There are currently estimated to be more than half a million coffee farming families in Colombia, and annual Colombian coffee exports are usually between 11 and 13 million bags. Colombia is the third-largest coffee-producing country behind only Brazil and Vietnam. It is also estimated that approximately 2% of Colombia’s population engages in coffee farming as their primary means of generating income.


"The Athabascan" - Villa 5
A private and cozy country villa for a small group of 6 – 8 people. This well appointed 3 bedroom villa is the perfect design. One ground floor Queen bedroom and 2 large second storey Queen beds with an extra single and pull out twin sofa bed.
The open plan lounge and dining area with crackling log fire allow for long conversations with friends. The secluded private garden of this larger villa leads out to the rolling manicured paddock and the Shiraz vineyard.
The mighty Athabasca River flows by the small northern Alberta town of Athabasca. The “land of the whispering hills”, as the local First Nations word translates, is a land of smooth flowing hills and valleys of rich and fertile farm land and wilderness. When the northern parts of this Canadian province were first being settled by the British and French, they used the shallow but quick moving river to move supplies and people ever northward with big paddle wheelers from this trading post town. Some of the first brick buildings are still being used today for modern business trading. The master proprietor of this estate has a long family history of settlement in this area with most of his immediate relatives still farming and working in and around the Athabasca area. It was in Athabasca that he met and later married his high school sweetheart whose family moved 600 km north of Calgary to buy a farm 4 km down the road from his Dad’s big farming operation.
Bed Configuration: The main floor Queen bed bedroom allows easy access for wheelchairs and limited mobility. There are two private bedrooms upstairs. Bedroom 2 has a Queen and single bed. Bedroom 3 has a Queen bed and sofa bed. This villa can sleep 8 on furnished beds.
Max Adults: 6-8
Max Children: or 2-3


More than 60 years ago, construction began in what is perhaps one of the greatest public works projects in the history of the United States, one that changed the trucking industry in America forever: the Interstate Highway System.
It’s hard to imagine today but before 1956, when the Federal-Aid Highway Act signed by President Dwight Eisenhower approved its construction, the United States was connected by a complex patchwork of state highways, country roads and city streets that made cross-country travel slow and inefficient.
The Interstate Highway System was conceived to be an Interconnected network of modern highways that would allow cars and trucks to travel at faster speeds and to bypass towns and rural areas that were on the way to the final destination.
This innovation made road travel safer and more efficient. For example, if a truck had to make a delivery from Dallas to New York City, it no longer had to go through every town on the way. The Interstate System allowed them to zoom past states until the specific exit closest to the final delivery location.
The Interstate not only brought a boom in American trucking. It also changed the country culturally by making distances between different states shorter and spurring a nationwide interest in cross-country travel and tourism.
Just like the Interstate Highway System, at Quickload we’re all about innovations that make the trucking industry quicker and more efficient.
Content Creator: Pablo Torres


Looking for a local adventure?
For 55+ years.
Our Champlain Heights Community Centre pick up location seats are full but we do have spaces available on the same trips at the Killarney Centre pickup location.
Britannia Mines and Pasta Tuesday Lunch at Boston Pizza
Pick up @ 6260 Killarney St, Vancouver, BC V5S 2X7
Less than a hundred years ago, Britannia Mines* was the largest copper mine in the British Empire. Today, it’s a National Historic Site and a bustling, award-winning Museum. Wander freely and examine much of the mine’s equipment left intact. We will be riding the underground train and re-living what it was like to be a worker at the mine and experiencing the all new BOOM exhibit. BOOM! introduces audiences to the story, sights and sounds behind the architectural marvel, Mill No. 3, with an immersive live-action experience. This experience offers multiple screens, over thirty speakers, and leading-edge special effects — bringing all 20-storeys back to life! After the museum we will have lunch at Boston Pizza for their famous Pasta Tuesday. (guided by Simon Yan)
*There are 47 steps up to the underground entrance and heritage buildings have a raised threshold that can be difficult for wheelchairs to navigate. The main buildings are reached via wooden boardwalks and concrete walkways. The remainder of the site is gravel. Full details can be found on our website at www.britanniaminemuseum.ca/pages/accessibility
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm (Pick up Champlain 8:00am, Killarney 8:15am)
Squamish Sea to Sky Gondola
Pick up @ 6260 Killarney St, Vancouver, BC V5S 2X7 at 9:00am
Lower Mainland’s newest tourist attraction will give you the opportunity to see the picturesque landscape of the surrounding coastal mountains and the Howe Sound fjord below. We will take the Gondola from the base of the Sea to Sky highway and ascend up to the summit. From here there will be 3 viewing platforms for you to fully immerse yourself in the views of Stawamus chief and Shannon Falls. Lunch is not included but there is a cafe at the base of the gondola and a restaurant at the summit. (Guided by Simon Yan)
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Time: 8:45am-3:30pm (Pick up Champlain 8:45am, Killarney 9:00am)


Since the opening of Goodpasture Christian School in September of 1966, administrators, faculty, and staff have all endeavored to support our mission: Building Confidence, Intellectual Growth, and Spiritual Strength in every student.
List of 5 items.
In September of 1966, the school we now know as Goodpasture opened as East Nashville Christian School with eighteen classrooms, serving 149 students in grades one through six. By the second year of operation, the school had added grades seven and eight. Also during that year, B.C. Goodpasture, editor of the Gospel Advocate, was added to the board of directors. Later, the school was formally named B.C. Goodpasture Christian School in honor of Mr. Goodpasture’s outstanding contribution as a church leader, lecturer, and author.
In September of 1971, a new high school facility was opened, which included grades seven through eleven. By 1973, Goodpasture served students in all twelve grades. During the years 1972-1982, many improvements were made to the facilities. Among these were new accesses and parking lots, an athletic field house and football stadium, an addition to the gymnasium, an elementary playground, three tennis courts, junior high classrooms, and a band room.
Since 1982, Goodpasture Christian School has extensively expanded its facilities. A four-classroom kindergarten was built. The high school library and the lunchroom were both enlarged, and the junior high wing was added, which included six new classrooms.
In 1990, The Fine Arts Building, housing a 1,200-seat auditorium, the president’s offices, and six classrooms for preschool students, was completed. Beginning in the summer of 1996, Goodpasture began renovating and improving the older buildings on campus. Since that time, the original elementary building, the high school gym, and the kindergarten building have all been renovated. In the summer of 1997, an addition was made at the south end of the Fine Arts Building.
In 2000, a state-of-the-art field house was constructed for use by all athletic teams. The 17,896 square foot field house has a workout area with exercise equipment to help build strength and agility. In 2002 a clubhouse for the baseball team was completed. It was named the Davy Lovell Memorial Clubhouse in memory of an outstanding Goodpasture student who lost a courageous battle to cancer. August of 2013 saw the opening of Goodpasture’s Great Beginnings Toddler Program, which has been a great success.
Interested in learning more about Goodpasture Christian School? Take time to browse through our website or click one of the links below.


Recent Sale Results
Do you want great results selling at an auction too?
Baer Auctioneers was founded in 1947 by Emmet Baer who graduated the same year from Reppert's School of Auctioneering in Decatur Indiana. Jim Baer joined his father with the business after graduating from Reppert's in 1961. Ken Baer, Bill Baer, and Wade Baer are all graduates of Reppert's in 1983, 1989, and 2002 respectively. The three brothers are the third generation and are taking the business into the new millennium.
The Baer's are owner/managers of the Rogers Community Auction, Inc. and are members of the Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia Auctioneer Associations as well as the National Auctioneers Association.


The dawning of a new era in Yellow Jackets' basketball was marked by the opening of McCamish Pavilion at the start of the 2012-13 season.
Occupying the same footprint on the corner of 10th and Fowler Streets as the historic Alexander Memorial Coliseum, which hosted Tech basketball games for 55 years and saw the Yellow Jackets post a record of 556-194, McCamish Pavilion opened its doors Nov. 9, 2012 when the Tech men hosted Tulane and defeated the Green Wave, 79-61.
It was the first of three sellouts for the Yellow Jackets, who went on to post an 11-6 mark in their first season in the venue and play before an average of 7,365 fans. McCamish Pavilion drew raves from friend and foe alike in its inaugural season, from its state-of-the-art audio-visual technology to the cozy and intimate, but loud atmosphere. The first season of basketball in the new facility included victories over state-rival Georgia and big Atlantic Coast Conference wins over post-season teams Maryland and Virginia.
Tech compiled its best record in the venue in 2015-16, producing a 14-5 record which was the team's best home mark in six years and included big victories over fourth-ranked Virginia and ninth-ranked Notre Dame. The Jackets are now 43-26 in four seasons in the facility.
Tech's women have been equally impressive, accumulating a 42-23 mark in four years, including an 13-5 slate in 2015-16.
McCamish Pavilion is named for Hank McCamish, a long-time insurance executive in the Atlanta area whose family provided the lead gift for the $50 million facility. The arena footprint expanded by about 30,000 square feet over that of Alexander Memorial Coliseum, and the former circular seating bowl was demolished and replaced with a rectangular bowl along with an upper deck.
The most obvious difference is that the walls separating the concourse and the bowl were removed, meaning that the floor is visible from almost every point in the concourse. The familiar domed roof and the 32 steel support beams remain, but the McCamish interior looks nothing like the old Thrillerdome.
Ground was broken for the construction of Tech's new on-campus arena on May 5, 2011, and 18 months later, the Yellow Jackets had a state-of-the-art building with 8,600 seats and a luxurious club area, which provides a cozy view of the court. The lower level seating bowl has 6,935 seats, and the new balcony level seating has 1,665 seats.
Spectators to view the game as they walk to and from concessions and rest rooms, which are all located on the outside of the concourse. The balcony level seating has its own concourses with rest rooms and concessions.
The building features a new center-hung scoreboard, with video screens on four sides and a circular message board underneath. The balcony level facing has a 360-degree ribbon board for messaging and graphics.
The lighting system, similar to those at Madison Square Garden and Staples Center in Los Angeles, will illuminate the court while leaving the stands darkened, creating a theatre-like feel to games.
Nearly the entire structure is brand-new, with the one notable exception being the familiar dome of Alexander Memorial Coliseum and its 32 steel ribs, which stayed in place and provided the skeleton for the new structure. A new roof was installed, and the ribs and the ceiling were re-painted. Around the concourses, pieces of the former AMC court have been inlaid into the ribs.
A courtyard was created outside the West entrance to honor William Alexander, the legendary Tech football coach and director of athletics who led the drive to build Alexander Memorial Coliseum in the 1950s.
The new court remains named for legendary basketball coach Bobby Cremins, who led the Tech men's team from 1981-2000 and compiled a record of 354-237 with three Atlantic Coast Conference championships and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in 19 seasons.
The grand entrance to McCamish Pavilion, which faces the corner of 10th and Fowler Streets, includes graphics presentations recognizing Tech's retired jerseys of Roger Kaiser, Rich Yunkus, Mark Price, John Salley, Tom Hammonds and Matt Harpring, as well as coaches Whack Hyder and Cremins, and longtime radio announcer Al Ciraldo. Tech's NCAA Final Four teams of 1990 and 2004 are also recognized in the main entrance.
McCamish Pavilion was the first project in what became a major transformation of the Fowler Street entrance to the Georgia Tech campus. Across the street is the Yellow Jackets' new tennis facility, the Ken Byers Tennis Complex, which opened in January 2013.
Designed by the renowned architectural firm Populous and built under the direction of Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the arena already has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects of Atlanta for its significant architectural impact on the city's landscape along with such structures as the Sovereign building, TWELVE Centennial Park Tower I, The Atlantic, Loews Midtown, the Atlanta Botanical Garden Hardin Visitor Center, the Georgia Tech Human Research Building rehabilitation, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Building and the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle noted, "The McCamish Pavilion renovation is an example of a project that respects the history of a structure, while making it more functional now and for the future."
"This renovation expands the arena while preserving the character of the original design by a significant Atlanta architect," said Jay Silverman, senior associate of Lord, Aeck & Sargent, Inc., and president of the American Institute of Architects of Atlanta. "It also responds to the character of a growing Georgia Tech campus."


Jeonju Hyanggyo is a Confucian School, which was a national education center during Joseon Dynasty and located in Jeonju Hanok Village (전주한옥마을.) It is believed to be built originally during Goyreo Dynasty at a different site, but the current one was rebuilt by King Seonjo in Joseon Dynasty at the present location. It is a beautiful historic place where the traditional Korean architectural structures are well balanced with the surrounding nature.
The front gate of Jeonju Hyanggyo, Manhwaru (만화루)
Many movies and K-dramas were filmed here including “Sunggyungwan Scandal (성균관스캔들)” and “Love in the Moonlight (구르미 그린 달빛).” Take a peaceful stroll here, just a few minutes away from the lively main streets of Hanok Village.
Inner gate, Ilwolmun (일월문), meaning the gate of the sun and the moon. The center door was for the kings.
Daeseungjeon (대성전). This is a shrine to five great Confucian philosophers including Confucius.
Two gingko trees stand in front of Daeseongjeon on each side, East and West. These trees are about 400-year old and it is believed that these gingko trees were planted because they chase off bugs, which implies wishes for the students become honest and uncorrupted.
Passing the inner gate, here stands Myeongryundang (명륜당). This building was a lecture hall, and it is still occasionally used for some events or lectures.
Dongjae & Seojae. These were pupils’ dormitory.
Jeonju Hyanggyo has different charms in each season, but it would shine the brightest during autumn. If you want to see it covered with golden blanket, here is a link for it.


ZAMZAM: The Story of a Strange Missionary Odyssey
By The Augustana Synod Passengers.
Edited by S. Hjalmar Swanson, D.D.
A reprint of the 1941 edition. 15 black and white photographs. With an epilogue by Eleanor Anderson.
US $ 18.95
Excerpt from the introduction by
S. Hjalmar Swanson:
The S. S. Zamzam left New York (Hoboken), March 20, 1941, for Suez, via Trinidad, Pernambuco, Capetown, and Mombasa. it was declared a neutral ship. Its passengers were chiefly missionaries bound for Africa.
Twenty Protestant denominations as well as the Roman Catholic Church were represented among its passengers of missionaries. These missionaries were bound for thirteen different areas of provinces in Africa. Probably never before had a ship left our shores for the "Dark Continent" with such a host of Christian ambassadors.
Excerpt from the epilogue by Eleanor Danielson Anderson:
The Zamzam story lives on! Beginning in 1991, fifty years after the Zamzam’s sinking, survivors and families have gathered for reunions six times. That list of survivors, with their storehouse of memories, has dwindled drastically with the passing of time. By the year 2008 only two of the known twenty-nine living survivors had been adults on the Zamzam. The story is still told at church and community programs, often accompanied by newspaper articles. Newer media include a website (www.Zamzamship.net), a DVD/video titled “Zamzam: A Missionary Odyssey”, and the book, Miracle at Sea by Eleanor Anderson (Quiet Waters Publications). The republishing of this 1941 book is another testimony to interest in the Zamzam story.
Zamzam materials are now being preserved at the ELCA Archives in Elk Grove, IL; the Billy Graham Center Archives in Wheaton, IL; and the Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Several survivors keep collections, too.
As Zamzam research continues, more is being learned about the Canadian survivors, the internment camps, the German officers and crew, the motives which prompted the sinking, the Egyptian crew and more. Indeed, the story goes on!


A bit about Ashvin Metals
Ashvin Metals Limited was established by John Howarth in August 2011 as an office based metal trading company. It quickly became apparent that a yard was required to process and store the increasing amount of material that was being traded.
In November 2012, a 1 acre site in Poulton-le-Fylde and the Company set about transforming it into a fully licensed, secure recycling facility. The process took over 12 months and required in excess of £1 million of investment.
In April 2013, Andrew Dixon joined Ashvin Metals Limited as Operations Director and as a trader. Volumes increased rapidly over the next couple of years with staffing increasing from 3 to 13, with a turnover in excess of £25 million.


In 1983 the musicians received the historic uniform of a prince-archbishop’s postilion from around 1780. This uniform has shaped the visual image of the Postmusik Salzburg to this day.
In 1984, the Postmusik Salzburg was the first symphonic wind orchestra to play in the Salzburg Festival Hall – it made wind music socially acceptable and helped it to gain appropriate attention in high culture. Symphonic wind music at the highest level has characterized this ensemble since then. Further concerts in national and international concert halls will follow.
In 1985 the Postmusik Salzburg finally became an independent association. Since then, the regular autumn concerts have taken place in the Great Conert Hall of the Mozarteum Salzburg.


Now, to far better acquaint 21st-century Americans with the movement’s history, comes the Civil Rights Digital Library, the solution of years of analysis and an comprehensive network of partnerships, which includes with the nonprofit publisher of American Literature, The Library of America.
The Civil Rights Digital Library (CRDL) is the newest initiative of the Digital Library of Georgia and is the most ambitious and complete digital archive of the national Civil Rights Movement to date. At the forefront of the digital library is an on the internet video archive featuring extra than 30 hours of unedited historical news film chronicling the civil rights struggle in numerous southern cities. These contain unaired and unedited footage of the Atlanta sit-ins, Freedom Rides, the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign, Martin Luther King Jr.’s reaction to President Kennedy’s assassination, his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and his funeral.
Considerably of the inspiration for the project came from The Library of America’s publication in 2003 of the two-volume collection Reporting Civil Rights: American Journalism 1941-1973. Hailed by O: The Oprah Magazine as “a crucial national resource,” Reporting Civil Rights brings with each other practically 200 newspaper and magazine reports and characteristics by 151 writers, which includes David Halberstam, Robert Penn Warren, Ralph Ellison, Anne Moody.
“We anticipate that the Civil Rights Digital Library will continue to develop via our partnerships with allied organizations across the U.S. like The Library of America,” mentioned Toby Graham, director of the Digital Library of Georgia, primarily based at the University of Georgia. “With each other with other colleges and universities, libraries and contributing institutions, customers are in a position to access uncommon and priceless pieces of American history at the click of a mouse.”
“This is definitely a civil rights portal, delivering a seamless virtual library on the Movement,” mentioned Dr. Barbara McCaskill, an English professor at the University of Georgia, whose interest and function helped inspire the Civil Rights Digital Library. “By way of the Library, we can practically eyewitness the pivotal events that shaped American life these days.”
“The Civil Rights Digital Library serves as an perfect companion to Reporting Civil Rights,” observes Library of America publisher Max Rudin, “permitting readers to encounter initially-hand the searing pictures and inspiring stories that the journalists in our collection transformed so memorably into some of the most effective writing in all of American letters.”
Reporting Civil Rights is obtainable wherever books are sold, or from the Library of America’s internet site, exactly where you are going to also discover authoritative collections of the pretty ideal of American literature. The Library of America is the nonprofit publisher of deluxe, uniform editions of American literature, which includes numerous volumes of journalism like Reporting Civil Rights.


Tens of thousands filled Seoul Plaza on the first Anniversary of the Sewol Ferry disaster that claimed 304 lives. The Sewol ferry was carrying 476 people when it sank on April 16, 2014, 325 of the passengers were children. Of the 304 who died, 250 were children from the same high school in Ansan, a city south of Seoul that was the focus of Thursday’s remembrance activities.
Riot police used pepper spray on the mourning families who were infuriated by police barricades erected to prevent them from laying flowers at a makeshift altar in central Seoul after the huge rally at City Hall.
Police brutality and scuffles continued as thousands of people tried to find a way around a giant police cordon thrown across the area. “This is outrageous,” said Lee Myong-Woo, one of the rally organisers. “This was totally the police’s doing. We didn’t want any violence today, and there was no reason to stop us peacefully laying flowers at the altar,” he said.


On February 19, 1942, 10 weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which permitted military commanders to “prescribe military areas . . . from which any or all persons may be excluded.” While the order did not mention any group by name, it profoundly affected the lives of Japanese Americans. In March and April, Gen. John L. DeWitt issued a series of “Exclusion Orders” directed at “all persons of Japanese ancestry” in the Western Defense Command. These orders led to the forced evacuation and incarceration of 120,000 Japanese American permanent residents and Japanese American citizens at 10 major camps and dozens of smaller sites. Held behind barbed wire and watched by armed guards, many Japanese Americans lost their homes and possessions. Congress passed laws enforcing the order with almost no debate, and the Supreme Court affirmed these actions.
President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The law, which was preceded by a detailed historical study by a Congressional commission, judged the incarceration “a grave injustice” that was “motivated largely by racial prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.” It offered an apology and $20,000 in restitution to each survivor.


Christopher Columbus (born between October 31, 1450 and October 30, 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italian explorer, navigator, and colonizer, born in the Republic of Genoa, in what is today northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents. Those voyages, and his efforts to establish permanent settlements on the island of Hispaniola, initiated the Spanish colonization of the New World.
In the context of emerging western imperialism and economic competition between European kingdoms seeking wealth through the establishment of trade routes and colonies, Columbus's speculative proposal, to reach the East Indies by sailing westward, eventually received the support of the Spanish crown, which saw in it a chance to gain the upper hand over rival powers in the contest for the lucrative spice trade with Asia. During his first voyage in 1492, instead of reaching Japan as he had intended, Columbus landed in the Bahamas archipelago, at a locale he named San Salvador. Over the course of three more voyages, Columbus visited the Greater and Lesser Antilles, as well as the Caribbean coast of Venezuela and Central America, claiming them for the Spanish Empire.


We are thrilled to announce that our Vintage Video Game Display, crafted by the talented Ian Harker, has been awarded the Best of Category for Point of Purchase – Floor/Stand Alone at the Neo Graphics Awards, hosted by the Print and Graphic Communication Association. This recognition is not only a testament to our commitment to excellence but also a heartfelt tribute to the founders of DMR Graphics, Ben & Dan Fein.
A Tribute to Our Founders
The choice to design a vintage arcade game as a centerpiece was a deliberate one, rooted in the rich history of DMR Graphics. It serves as a heartfelt tribute to the company’s founders, Ben & Dan Fein. These visionary entrepreneurs made their foray into the printing business in a serendipitous fashion when they acquired the merchandising license for the iconic video game, Pac-Man, back in the early 1980s.
At the time, Pac-Man was relatively unknown and was included in the licensing deal as a mere afterthought. It was bundled with licenses for t-shirt printing, yet little did they know that this seemingly small decision would change the course of their business forever. Shortly after, “Pac-Mania” swept across the United States, and they found themselves printing Pac-Man-themed t-shirts in multiple production facilities nationwide.
This unexpected success became the cornerstone upon which Diversified Screen Printing, the precursor to DMR Graphics, was built. Over time, Diversified Screen Printing transformed into the DMR Graphics we know today, a testament to the Fein brothers’ entrepreneurial spirit and their ability to seize opportunities when they arose.
The Making of the Vintage Video Game Display
Our award-winning Vintage Video Game Display was a labor of love, combining modern design techniques with a touch of nostalgia. Ian Harker played a pivotal role in bringing this display to life. The machine itself was meticulously constructed from Palboard, a durable and versatile material. To make it truly stand out, we employed neon and spot gloss printing on the SwissQ, ensuring that every detail shone with brilliance.
The header of the display was fashioned from 3mm Clear acrylic, featuring 2nd surface neon that added a captivating glow. The game screen, a vital component, was crafted from 6mm clear acrylic with 2nd surface droptix, lending depth and authenticity to the vintage gaming experience. The combination of these materials and techniques resulted in a display that evoked the golden age of arcade gaming.
Best of Category for Point of Purchase – Floor/Stand Alone
Winning the Best of Show award in our category at the Neo Graphics Awards is a profound honor for DMR Graphics. It not only recognizes our dedication to exceptional design and print techniques but also celebrates the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has been the bedrock of our company.
We are grateful to the Print and Graphic Communication Association for this accolade, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and creativity in the world of graphic design and printing.


Rest in Peace: Msgr. David A. Ratermann
Our dear friend, Msgr. David A. Ratermann, passed away November 10, 2014 at Regina Cleri in St. Louis. Msgr. Ratermann was a founder of our Latin America Apostolate in Bolivia in 1956. He served as a missionary priest in Bolivia for 50 years. He was a great inspiration and friend to many. May he rest in peace!
About Msgr. David A. Ratermann …
Msgr. David A. Ratermann was born in Saint Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Saint Liborius Parish and later taught biology at Mercy High School. He was ordained a priest on June 1, 1951 and his first parish assignment was Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (1951-1956).
When the opportunity to work in Bolivia arose, Msgr. Ratermann very enthusiastically volunteered, and was thrilled when Archbishop Joseph Ritter sent him. In 1956, he became one of the first three priests to go to Bolivia, making him a founder of the Latin America Apostolate.
The first commitment of the Latin America Apostolate was to found Cristo Rey Parish in La Paz. Msgr. Ratermann helped to establish this parish and saw its beginnings as a shed with a tin roof and no walls (called “el galpon” in Spanish) transform into a permanent church in 1961. Msgr. Ratermann briefly returned to Saint Louis in 1981, where he served at Most Holy Trinity Parish for 3 months and at St. Luke the Evangelist Parish for 3 years. He went back to Bolivia in 1984 and was stationed in Cochabamba through 2004. In 2004, Msgr. Ratermann retired and returned to La Paz, where he continued to serve at Maria Reina Parish.
Over the years, Msgr. Ratermann worked with many people through his involvement and service at the Maryknoll Language School, the Maria Reina Health Clinic, and Alcoholics Anonymous. The majority of his time in Bolivia was spent working with the Aymara, the native people of Bolivia who live in the Altiplano region surrounding the mountains.
In June 2008, Msgr. Ratermann returned to St. Louis, after 50 years of service in the Latin America Apostolate. He resided at Regina Cleri and continued to promote and share the good news of the Latin America Apostolate with the Archdiocese of Saint Louis.
On November 10, 2014 Msgr. Ratermann passed away at Regina Cleri in Saint Louis. He was a great inspiration and friend to many. We are so grateful for his many years of service to the people of Bolivia. May he rest in peace!
( from: http://archstl.org/node/4336157 on 11/12/2014)


Vincenzo Torriani: Godfather of the Giro
Procycling looks at the legacy of the visionary Giro organiser, who relentlessly pushed the boundaries and took the race into new territory
Procycling magazine: the best writing and photography from inside the world's toughest sport. Pick up your copy now in all good newsagents and supermarkets, or get a Procycling print or digital subscription, and never miss an issue.
This article first appeared in Procycling magazine issue 255, 2019
Thirty years ago, at Italian races, you could still come across two men who had coloured much of post-war cycling history in 'the Boot'. Gino Bartali was a fixture at the big races like Milan-San Remo, the Giro d’Italia and the Tour of Lombardy. He never really seemed to be doing much, to the extent that I pondered what his role was.
Then one day I figured it out: Bartali’s job was to be Bartali. He was invited to the race to maintain a link back to the glory days of his jousts with Fausto Coppi and Fiorenzo Magni. He didn’t have to say or do very much, but his presence alone would remind Italian cyclists, media and fans of their heritage, and emphasise why whichever race it was still mattered. By the late 80s and early 90s, Bartali looked like a gnomic parody of his former self, but was still the focus of public adulation.
Vincenzo Torriani, on the other hand, was still as suave and elegant as in the years of his pomp, but remained more in the background. Few of the fans seemed to recognise him, but with the older journalists – of the Coppi years – the embraces were warm and long.
Torriani had begun organising the races in La Gazzetta dello Sport’s stable after the Second World War, and ceded day-to-day control to Carmine Castellano in 1989, but remained there in the background. He was still fabulously elegant, dressed in his three-piece suits, hair perfectly coiffed with not a lick out of place, and always had a cigarette, which was his personal trademark, clamped to his lower lip as if it had been superglued.
"Torriani was Napoleon," wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Claudio Gregori. "For him, Italy was a land waiting to be conquered… the Italians recognised two people at first sight: Torriani and the Pope."
Another Gazzetta writer, Pier Bergonzi, felt that Torriani was "a giant, a legendary figure. His charisma and the aura that had been burnished by history made him a sort of saint among race organisers. His words carried the weight of a voice marked by the passage of time."
Torriani’s links went right back to the Giro’s founder Armando Cougnet. Just as the major lines of today’s Tour owe much to its long-time organiser Félix Lévitan, many of the celebrated locations in today’s three great Italian races were uncovered by Torriani. The legends and stories of Coppi, Bartali, Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Moser, Saronni, Roche and Hampsten were formed against a backdrop forged by Torriani’s daring and determination.
Like Lévitan, Torriani was an autocrat, but with the charisma that is innate to so many Italians. The Giro’s ‘last boss’ had come to the race from a non-cycling background. His family ran an olive oil plant, but instead of succeeding his father after the Second World War, young Vincenzo opted for organising events on behalf of Azione Cattolica, an organisation linked to the church. Torriani began by putting on plays and shows, then moved into sports events, which brought him into contact with Cougnet at the Giro’s organising newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
He and Torriani faced a massive challenge: the 1946 Giro was run through the war-torn remains of Italy, on roads so damaged that stretches of surface were mentioned in the race manual in the same way we might now list sections of cobbles, crossing the temporary bridges put up by the Allies as they drove out the Germans. The race visited Trieste, then a province contested by both Italy and Yugoslavia, and as they crossed the border the riders met a hostile crowd throwing stones. Security forces shot in the air. The riders knew what gunshots sounded like and ran for cover, too.
Eventually Torriani smuggled 17 die-hards past the road blocks in American military lorries to enable Trieste to have its stage finish. That became his trademark: getting the race through, no matter what.
A pioneer in taking races to new places
The constant need for novelty, the process of exploring fresh locations and presenting them to the public was what drew Torriani into cycling. "My Giri are like my sons," he said. "I feel I have created them, every one different."
My favourite on the Torriani roll of honour is his Giro start in Venice in 1978. That has to be the ultimate challenge for a road race organiser; Venice has no roads within its historic centre capable of taking motor traffic.
On the other hand, Venice’s Piazza San Marco is one of the most evocative places in Italy. To run his race past the lapping waves, the ancient basilicas and the multitude of small boats, Torriani arranged for a succession of ramps to be set up over the bridges along the Zattere embankment on the city’s south side, with a 400m long pontoon bridge taking the riders across the basin at the entry to the Grand Canal, and on into San Marco. It was crazy – anti-slip mats had to be put on all the ramps – but the images were fabulous: Francesco Moser on the front page of Gazzetta racing against the backdrop of the great Salute Basilica. A similar bridge is now used for the Venice marathon.
San Marco, with its pigeons and gondolas, was far from the first location on Torriani’s hit-list. A year earlier, he had been leafing through his Baedeker, and off the Giro went to Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, home of the Leaning Tower. The Vatican had been ticked off in 1974, and in 1981 and 1986 Torriani would add two more iconic tourist locations: the Arena at Verona and Piazza del Campo in Siena.
Hunting down celebrated backdrops is meat and drink now for race organisers, but Torriani was a pioneer in his belief that a race should go pretty much anywhere, however improbable.
The 1973 Giro is immortalised in the film Stars and Watercarriers by Jørgen Leth. That year, Torriani opted for a start in the Belgian town of Verviers, followed by stages to Maastricht, Cologne, Luxembourg, Strasbourg and Geneva, finally taking the race caravan through the Mont Blanc tunnel into the province of Aosta; Torriani had pondered this since the 50s and turned it into a tribute to the fledgling EU’s first growth spurt, when the UK and Ireland joined. He was ahead of his time, prefiguring Jean-Marie Leblanc’s ‘euro’ Tour de France by 19 years. This sort of extended foreign start is now routine for Grand Tours, but in the 1970s, it was truly radical.
The ‘euro-Giro’ was one of Torriani’s personal high points, another was the first ascent of the Passo del Gavia in 1960. By then, Torriani had a reputation for taking the Giro to places that looked impossible to more cautious souls. Questions had been asked about the Stelvio in 1953, and in 1956 he persisted with staging the finish atop Monte Bondone in snowy weather. The gamble paid off, forging the reputation of Charly Gaul. Torriani’s attitude to bad weather was robust. His motto: "If it rains, you get wet."
The Gavia, however, was tackled against the wishes of the director of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Giuseppe Ambrosini, who knew that snow was forecast, and felt that 24 hours before the finish in Milan, the risks were too great. There was also a danger that race vehicles might break down and block the narrow trackway: Torriani’s plan was for them to be thrown off the side, and he took out insurance for any damage caused in this way.
The stage went ahead successfully, with Imerio Massignan leading the race past vast snowdrifts as his tyres sunk into the mud. In a similar vein, finishing the last stage of the Giro right on top of the Stelvio in 1975 was yet another gamble, as a snowstorm could have made the entire race end in anticlimax. But again, it paid off. "You always have providence on your side," said his boss.
Away from the Giro, Torriani’s influence is evident in the Italian classics. We now watch Milan-San Remo and see the build-up over the Cipressa and the finale on the Poggio as part of the furniture. It’s not always been that way. Torriani included the Poggio in 1960, as it became apparent that the traditional ascents over the little capi on the Mediterranean coast road were no longer enough to split the field. The Cipressa was brought in for the same reason in 1982; evolving the race in this way enabled it to survive while using essentially the same route.
Il Lombardia similarly includes one of Torriani’s most controversial discoveries, the ludicrously steep Muro di Sormano in the hills between Como and Lecco, which he came across on a family holiday. "The wall did not exist on any maps; it was a mule track which had to be opened up and given a name," wrote Bruno Raschi. The climb was used only three times before it was abandoned as the riders felt it was too tough; it was put back in from 2012.
Torriani was a man of messianic vision. Some projects remained on the drawing board, including an entire Giro by sea, with everyone on the race doing the transfers by boat, while the riders raced along the coast and visited Sardinia and Sicily. Boats were risky, but Torriani clearly had a penchant for them. In 1961, he took the race to Sardinia aboard a rented ferry. After Sardinia, the ferry took the caravan to Marsala in Sicily, where the port proved too small to accommodate it; to disembark riders and cars, he called upon local fishing vessels.
Other ideas that bit the dust included taking the Giro to Greece in 1964 to celebrate Olympic year, and starting the Giro with a time trial across Berlin going through Checkpoint Charlie. Torriani was ahead of his time again. The Giro finally travelled to Greece in Olympic year in 1996 for a stage in front of the Parthenon, while the 1987 Tour began in West Berlin.
By the 1980s, the fault lines were creeping in. The Giro boss had always been one for tweaking his routes to favour a particular scenario, for example including a 48km stage to the top of Blockhaus in 1972 in an attempt to enable José Manuel Fuente to break Eddy Merckx’s stranglehold. Later, he brought in sprint time bonuses to further the cause of a win for Giuseppe Saronni.
In 1984, however, he went too far in a Giro won by Moser with a spectacular final time trial in Verona, at the expense of Laurent Fignon, who was in the form of his life. Moser had just taken the Hour Record and Milan-San Remo, but was struggling in the mountains against the Frenchman.
Fignon stated in his autobiography that Torriani "had made it clear which side he was on", and said that he remained convinced that the race organiser had dropped the Stelvio from the route to put him at a disadvantage, claiming that there was a landslide on the mountain. "Our plan for a huge offensive had been wrecked by the duplicity of the organisers, who had little regard for the rules of sport."
That might sound unlikely, but three years earlier, the Inoxpran team manager Davide Boifava asked for a video camera to be fixed in the car that would follow Giuseppe Saronni – who was up against Inoxpran’s Giovanni Battaglin – in the final time trial to ensure that the race was run regularly. Nothing untoward happened, but the fact that Boifava felt such a step was necessary says one thing: the Giro was running out of sporting credibility.
It was running out of money, too; Hinault’s second win, in 1982, came after the Rizzoli publishing group, owners of La Gazzetta dello Sport, hit cash-flow problems and could no longer fund the race. Incredible as it may sound now, the route was announced after Milan-San Remo that March, once the Coca-Cola company had come on board.
In 1988 came Torriani’s final spectacular act on the Giro, when heavy snow was forecast over the Gavia in what appeared to be a repeat of 1960. The assumption was that the stage would be cancelled, but Torriani made the riders plough on. The upshot was one of the most spectacular days’ racing the Giro has ever seen. Johan van der Velde, the leader over the top of the climb, lost 48 minutes before the finish, amid apocalyptic scenes. But the spectacle was sobering: the riders risked hypothermia. The next day, the Stelvio was dropped from the route.
The change of philosophy in 1989 was obvious; similar weather hit the race, and stages were cancelled immediately. The Torriani era had come to an end. Torriani lingered on, but like Bartali, he was essentially present as a link to a glorious past.
Back to Torriani’s cigarettes. It’s tricky now to recall the status that was once accorded to smoking, viewed as a sophisticated act à la James Bond or Philip Marlowe. Cycling had its smokers, even among the riders. Bartali, Jacques Anquetil and Gastone Nencini were among those who had felt a quick drag was beneficial as a way of relaxing.
The cigarette had once looked cool, but by the 90s it symbolised where Torriani was: a man out of time. Yet when he died in 1996, he drew warm tributes. There were stories from riders who would raid roadside bars in the 60s and 70s, filling their pockets with bottles and panini.
"Paghera Torriani," they would shout: Torriani will pay. It’s not certain he ever actually got the cheque book out. Robin Magowan, in his book Kings of the Road, wrote: "Torriani has the manner of a man who is everybody’s friend, but when it comes to collecting money he can be a lion."
Sometimes the new Torrianis have failed, for example when Angelo Zomegnan made the decision to run the Giro over Monte Crostis in 2011, which left only acrimony when the climb was cancelled over safety concerns. Sometimes, daring and determination in the Torriani mould still pay off: think of the decision to take the 2010 Giro through horrendous conditions over the ‘white roads’ of Tuscany, an outlandish risk which placed the gravel tracks around Siena at the centre of cycling consciousness, turbo-charging the rise of the Strade Bianche to the status it enjoys today. 'The last boss' would have liked that one.
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By Barry Ryan


The 7th annual Juneteenth festival will take place on June 19th in Appleton’s City Park and will be a celebration of freedom, unity and community. The celebration is free to attend and runs from noon until 6 p.m.
The Juneteenth Celebration will feature:
- MC Keith L. Brown, Mr. I’M POSSIBLE
- “The Prince & Michael Experience” tribute performance
- Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago
- Lex Allen with New Age Narcissism
- Kucha and Baba Tony Stortytellers of Chicago
- HecDaKid from Atlanta
- Music from DJ Afrekete
- Stone of Hope Exhibit
- A Children’s Village with storytelling, face painting, mini golf, a train, and rock wall
- Food, free giveaways, and a resource fair
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The first celebration of the end of slavery took place in Galveston, Texas in 1865. Juneteenth is officially observed on June 19.
“Juneteenth is a time for us to gather as a community to celebrate freedom and remember the sacrifices that have been made while fighting for our freedom. While we understand that the struggle for equality continues, on June 19th, we will honor our past through festive activities that highlight the significance, beauty and diversity of African American culture and our contributions to the world. Everyone is welcome to this inclusive celebration to celebrate our collective American freedom,” said Dr. Bola Delano-Oriaran, one of the co-founders of African Heritage, Inc.
“Appleton is honored to once again be one of hundreds of celebrations happening across the country. We invite our community to join us as we celebrate the oldest African American holiday in the United States.” said City of Appleton Diversity Coordinator Kathy Flores.
This festival is hosted by African Heritage, Inc. and the City of Appleton with major sponsorship from Thrivent Financial, Oshkosh Corporation and Kimberly Clark Corporation.


The Queen's Suite has a stunning carved four-poster bed, sitting room and a luxurious bathroom. It can be connected to the adjoining Edward VII lounge creating an impressive and spacious living space.
The Queen's Suite is the ultimate room for a celebratory or romantic getaway and is also ever popular with families looking to spend time together.
The Queen Suite is in the oldest part of the house, dating back to 1430. Having reputedly been graced by Queen Elizabeth I it is fit for a Queen with every modern luxury.
We encourage guests to arrive early and leave late in order to fully enjoy everything The Spread Eagle has to offer:
Our stunning feature four-poster rooms overlook the front of the hotel with beautiful sash windows with seats. Bright and spacious, they are perfect for a romantic week-end or for a moment of tranquillity .
From £339 View room
Located in the oldest part of the hotel and incorporating many of the historic features of the original property, our Sussex Junior Suites have separate sitting rooms.
From £289 View room


Chartwell was a refuge and a sanctuary for Winston Churchill. The odd conglomeration of structures and additions on the Kentish weald, southeast of London was, for him, an earthly paradise. In fact, he often asserted that “A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted.” It was home.
And if ever a man needed a home, an earthly elysium to recharge, recoup, and reinvigorate, it was Churchill. He was born into privilege on this day in 1874—the son of the parliamentary master, Lord Randolph Churchill, and thus one of the heirs of the Marlborough legacy. Educated at Harrow and Sandhurst, he entered the Imperial service as a hussars officer. After notable tours of duty in India, Sudan, and South Africa, he entered parliament himself.
Having already made a name for himself, he rose quickly through the political ranks. By 1908 he moved from the back benches to become President of the Board of Trade. Two years later he became Home Secretary. The next year he was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty presiding over the naval expansion that preceded the First World War. He was evidently a man of extraordinary gifts and abilities.
A series of disastrous defeats—including the failure of the Dardanelles expedition, which he had championed—Churchill lost his Admiralty post and served out the remainder of the war on the front lines in France. He undertook a painstakingly slow and difficult political rehabilitation in the years that followed. Most analysts believed his career was essentially over—he was now relegated to the outer fringe of political influence. His dire warnings of the threat from Hitler’s Nazi regime in Germany went unheeded.
During those difficult years, Churchill bought and renovated the old estate of Chartwell. It was a place where he could rest and reflect, read and write, paint and build, garden and walk. He once asserted that “We shape our dwellings and afterwards, our dwellings shape us.” There can be little doubt that he shaped Chartwell to suit his peculiar interests and concerns. There his soul was braced for the great trials ahead.
When the Second World War broke out, the hapless Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain was forced to bring Churchill into the government—even though he was now sixty-five years old. He was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. The following May, when Chamberlain was forced to resign, Churchill was asked by the King to form a new government and accept the office of Prime Minister.
Over the next five years, he stood practically alone against the Nazi menace. Almost single-handedly he saved Western Civilization, stirring the British people to unimaginable feats of valor with his bold oratory and even bolder leadership. His unflagging energy and his stubborn refusal to make peace until Adolf Hitler was crushed were crucial in turning the tide of the war and ultimately leading the Western Allies to victory.
After the war, he returned to Chartwell. Extraordinary vitality, imagination, and boldness characterized his whole career. But, he was the first to admit, if he had not had Chartwell—its libraries and gardens, its hearthsides and hedgerows, its peace and quiet—he would never have been able to do what he was called to do.


Wednesday, July 2, 2014 was the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed racial discrimination in the most essential aspects of life - such as employment, schools, public accommodations and housing. It also laid the ground work for key voting protections that allowed African Americans to register to vote and eventually led to the prohibition on poll taxes and literacy tests.
The Civil Rights Act sought to fulfill the promise of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the laws, including access to the ballot box. However, it ultimately took the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 for the federal government to be able to enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
But for a little known Republican from Ohio, the Civil Rights Act might not have passed. William McCulloch of Piqua, Ohio was the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and an ardent supporter of civil rights. Despite political pressure from his district to oppose the Civil Rights Act, McCulloch delivered the necessary votes to pass the controversial bill.
On this 50th anniversary, the call to renew the Voting Rights Act could not be more urgent. Today Speaker John Boehner represents McCulloch’s district, and it’s now up to the Speaker to carry McCulloch’s torch and help get the Voting Rights Amendment Act passed.
Just over one year ago, the Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, which prevented racial discrimination at the polls since 1965. In Shelby v. Holder, the U.S. Supreme Court invited Congress to update the Voting Rights Act, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers has done so with the introduction of the VotingRights Amendment Act (VRAA). Unfortunately, the bill has stalled in the House of Representatives and time is running out to pass it.
Despite great progress in the last 50 years, voting discrimination continues to be a problem. For this reason, a forward-looking and effective VRAA is essential to ensuring that no voter is denied the right to vote and everyone has that right protected equally. The legacy of the Civil Rights Act depends on the passage of the VRAA, as there is no right more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote.
In order to build momentum, the vote must be scheduled before Congress recesses in August.
Call and ask Speaker Boehner to schedule a vote on the VRAA (Click here for
a call script).


In 1872 Rev. Richard Palmer and Caroline Palmer generously financed the beautiful brick and flint Primary school that took fifty-five children for “the labouring, manufacturing and other poorer classes of Purley”.
2005 - 2016
Since that time, Purley has grown substantially with the addition of a school hall in 2005 and a further two classrooms in 2015/2016. It has been a primary school since September 2013.


|We Finally Toured the Queen Mine, a Historic Copper Mine|
|View of Historic Bisbee, AZ from the Queen Mine RV Park|
We always stay at the Queen Mine RV Park, set on top of a hill above the old copper quarry, overlooking historic Bisbee. The entrance to the RV park is just past the Queen Mine Tours Visitors Center. Every time we pass the Visitors Center I say we should check out the tour. This year we decided to do it.
The tour into the now closed copper mine was well worth the $13.00 price of admission. After we were each outfitted in a reflective vest, hard hat, and mine light, we climbed aboard the mine train.
|We Were Outfitted and Ready on the Mine Train|
Our tour guide, Pete, explained the safety rules and that once the train was inside the mine shaft, he would stop the train and make sure each of us was okay with being underground. The narrow tunnel is not a good place to be for a person who is claustrophobic.
|Entering the Narrow Queen Copper Mine by Train|
Pete then climbed onto the orange battery-powered train engine, rang the train’s bell, and we moved forward toward the mine entrance. When the train was entirely inside the tunnel, the doors to the outside mine slammed closed and Pete stopped the train. He walked along each train-car, checking that all passengers were okay with being underground. Then he climbed back on the engine and we proceeded deeper into the earth.
|Pete Climbed Back on the Engine After Checking All Passengers|
|Pete, a Retired Copper Miner, Told Stories of Pranks They Played|
He told how in the early years, they trained mules to haul the ore out of the mine, and how hard the young guys worked to exceed their weekly quotas of ore in order to receive bonuses.
|Mules Hauled Four Cars at a Time, Loaded with Oar|
He explained that the focus was to extract the high percentage of copper, with silver and gold as byproducts.
|Stunning Azurite, One of Two Copper Carbonate Minerals in Nature|
|Queen Mine's Safety Scoreboard|
History of the Mine from Bisbee’s Website:
Bisbee’s Queen Mine was one of the richest copper mines in history. The mine opened in 1877 and eventually closed when Phelps Dodge discontinued mining operations in Bisbee in the mid-1970’s. The Queen Mine opened once again as a tour for visitors in 1976, nearly 100 years after the mine originally opened.
|Terry L Turrell, Author|
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I am alive today because Shanghai opened its doors to my father, his parents, his uncle and his aunt when the gates of most other countries, including the United States, were closed to them. I am alive today because, even as the Japanese conquered the Chinese and forced Jews into the ghetto of Shanghai, they refused to return them to a certain death in Nazi Germany. I am alive today because Jewish agencies like ORT and the Joint Distribution Committee sent aid and support to the Shanghai Refugees. And I am alive today because at war’s end, the United States began to reflect more closely the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty and the Golden Gates were finally opened. A life of freedom and security in America was finally a reality.
This is a picture of the S.S. General W.H. Gordon making its way under the Golden Gate Bridge as it comes to port in San Francisco. This is the ship that in 1948 brought my father and grandparents, German Jewish refugees, from the Shanghai Ghetto to which they had fled to escape the horrors of the Shoah to America. They came here in the hopes of finding a home and, like so many before them, the gift of freedom.
My father, an ardent Zionist, actually hoped to make his way to Israel and help build the modern Jewish homeland. In 1948, that possibility, that long held dream, lay before him. But he faced one significant obstacle, the needs of his parents.
His parents, my grandparents, had sacrificed so much to take him out of Germany and to survive the hardships of living in the Shanghai Ghetto under Japanese domination. They did not have the strength to go to a new and unsettled land. They hoped to go to the United States where they had a San Francisco Jewish community willing to give them shelter and a Jewish company, Levi Strauss, ready to offer employment.
Like so many young adults before him, he sacrificed his dreams for his parents. He knew that they could not go alone, that they needed him now as he had needed them in the past. So, he accompanied them to America on the Gordon, a ship of refugees sponsored by the American Joint Distribution Committee.
In the United States, his parents built a new life. My grandfather worked his entire career for Levi Strauss and retired with pride in what he had accomplished and of how his son had thrived both professionally and personally.
My father went to college and graduate school, met and married my mother (hence my being alive today!) and pursued a career in pharmacy. Ultimately, he became one of the giants of pharmaceutical science, the father of the field of Biopharmeceutics and Pharmacokintetics. He developed or laid the foundations for drugs and therapies that have saved millions of lives, especially among children.
But for the good fortune of finding a refuge, in 1941, from the horrors of the Holocaust, none of this might have happened and I would not have been born to write about it. That Shanghai was one of the few safe havens available to them, that the Japanese refused to send them back when the Nazis demanded it, and that America finally began to return to the essence of its highest ideals are the blessings at the heart of why #myimmigrantfamily is #heretostay.
How many will die or never be born because the Gates of America are once more being closed to refugees whose lives are at risk? Will the United States of today once again become the United States of 1939 that sent the passengers of the St. Louis back to Europe and their certain demise? Will we allow Muslims seeking to escape the horrors of Syria to become the “European Jews” of today, denied sanctuary and sent back into danger?
We who have lived this history know that Silence = Death. And so, we will raise our voices, we will protest and advocate, we will never forget and we will not give up! And one day, I pray, some American Imam, yet unborn, will write that he is alive today because of us.


SALT LAKE CITY — The leader of Mormon Church Thomas S Monson has died aged 90. Thomas S Monson was the 16th president of the LDS Church, he died at 10:01 p.m. Tuesday in his Salt Lake City home.
He had been at the helm of the church for nearly 10 years as prophet-leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Millions of latter-day saints (Mormons) across the world are saddened to see what has been described by the church as a closure of a distinctive era in church leadership. During his time as one of the longest-serving apostles in Mormon history, church membership expanded from 2.1 million members to 15.9 million.
Thomas S Monson will be most remembered for his individual ministry, a relentless drive to go to the rescue. President Monson’s biographer described his lifelong, tender ministry to widows, the lost, the obscure, the dying and the downtrodden as a portable pool of Bethesda, the New Testament place of mercy and grace where waters made the lame whole and Jesus Christ healed a paralyzed man. President Monson carried what he himself termed “Bethesda’s blessing” of heartfelt ministry to a grease pit, countless hospitals and behind the Iron Curtain.
A large, faithful, energetic, gregarious, intelligent man with a prodigious recall that allowed him to memorize talks and remember everyone he met, President Monson shot through the ranks of church leadership, as a bishop at age 22 and president of the faith’s Canadian Mission at 31. He was unthinkably young, just 36, when he was ordained a modern apostle of Jesus Christ on Oct. 4, 1963. No one younger has been called as an LDS apostle in more than a century. The last younger apostle, Joseph Fielding Smith, was ordained at age 33 in 1910; he also lived to become church president.
The senior quorums of the LDS Church are vaults of institutional memory. New apostles are trained by the quorum’s senior apostles. As a new apostle in 1963, President Monson joined a quorum with a handful of men who knew or were raised by Latter-day Saint pioneers who crossed the plains in 1847. They could speak from experience about the church before the Manifesto that ended polygamy in 1890.
By the time of his death, his past relationships in the quorum made President Monson unique among living LDS senior leadership. He was the final prophet to have served in the Twelve with church leaders who had known men who knew the first, Joseph Smith.
President Monson also was the final living apostle called to the Twelve by late church President David O. McKay. He was the last apostle alive who had served with President McKay’s immediate successors at the head of the church, Joseph Fielding Smith and Harold B. Lee. The man expected to succeed President Monson, President Russell M. Nelson, is 93, but he was ordained an apostle more than 20 years after President Monson, in 1984.
President Monson spent more than three decades in the First Presidency. He spent a total of 54 years as an apostle. Only four men in LDS history served longer in the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve — President McKay, Heber J. Grant, Joseph Fielding Smith and Wilford Woodruff.


Welcome to Kalispell
With historic architecture, art museums, down to earth coffee shops, and multiple city parks Kalispell hosts many local residents and tourists year round. Founded as a railroad town and platted in 1891 Kalispell history is still visible even today. Recognized landmarks include, the Conrad Mansion, Hockaday Museum of Art, The Great Northern Rails to Trails and Depot Park located in the heart of downtown. Kalispell's offers a variety of shopping with local Montana themed stores and the newly developed Hutton Ranch Plaza.


The IWK Foundation is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, and we acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.
This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. We are all Treaty people.
Mi’kma’ki includes all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, part of New Brunswick, the Gaspé region of Quebec, part of Maine, and southwestern Newfoundland.


Yiddish Seminar at Monash University
Thursday, the 29th of October, there will be a seminar in Yiddish with Monash University’s international guest
The head curator of the permanent exhibition in the Museum of the History of Polish Jewry in Warsaw.
She will speak on the topic:
The history of Yiddish in the permanent exhibition of the Polin Museum in Warsaw.
The seminar will take place on Thursday the 29th October, 4pm, at the ACJC (Level 8, building H, Monash University Caulfield).
RSVP to Ena.Burstin@monash.eduRead More »