ReportWire

Tag: History

  • Step into the Oval Office: New DC exhibit offers life-sized presidential experience

    Step into the Oval Office: New DC exhibit offers life-sized presidential experience

    [ad_1]

    “The People’s House” opens Monday to the public in Washington D.C., offering visitors an immersive experience to a life-sized replica of the Oval Office. Curators say the exhibit gives people a chance to act as a sitting president or as a cabinet member.The experience also allows visitors to attend a cabinet meeting and vote on a course of action for the president. There are virtual recreations of other parts of the West Wing, such as the Cabinet Room where leaders advise the president. Innovative technology provides experiences of the State Floor, including the East, Green, Blue, and Red Rooms.The centerpiece of the experience is The Oval Office replica, complete with exact copies of President Joe Biden’s desk and armchairs, even down to the family Bible. The White House Historical Association says the decor will change with each sitting president.”When a family comes to Washington D.C. and they have a limited amount of time, we hope they have the opportunity to get a White House tour, but most won’t have that,” White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin said. “So, to learn about the presidency and the White House, you simply come across the street of the White House to 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue and we give you that experience to learn.”The White House Historical Association raised $60 million for the project and is trying to raise $50 million to keep it going. Timed tickets to “The People’s House” are free.

    WASHINGTON —

    “The People’s House” opens Monday to the public in Washington D.C., offering visitors an immersive experience to a life-sized replica of the Oval Office. Curators say the exhibit gives people a chance to act as a sitting president or as a cabinet member.

    The experience also allows visitors to attend a cabinet meeting and vote on a course of action for the president. There are virtual recreations of other parts of the West Wing, such as the Cabinet Room where leaders advise the president. Innovative technology provides experiences of the State Floor, including the East, Green, Blue, and Red Rooms.

    The centerpiece of the experience is The Oval Office replica, complete with exact copies of President Joe Biden’s desk and armchairs, even down to the family Bible. The White House Historical Association says the decor will change with each sitting president.

    “When a family comes to Washington D.C. and they have a limited amount of time, we hope they have the opportunity to get a White House tour, but most won’t have that,” White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin said. “So, to learn about the presidency and the White House, you simply come across the street of the White House to 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue and we give you that experience to learn.”

    The White House Historical Association raised $60 million for the project and is trying to raise $50 million to keep it going.

    Timed tickets to “The People’s House” are free.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • When Michigan State desegregated the college gridiron

    When Michigan State desegregated the college gridiron

    [ad_1]

    Usually, when the Underground Railroad is mentioned, images of Black Americans furtively fleeing enslavement in the South are invoked. A century later in 1966, the system and its heroic conductors such as Harriet Tubman took on new meaning for Michigan State’s football coach Hugh “Duffy” Daugherty (1915-1987) and the school’s president John Hannah (1902-1991) as they colluded to bring Black players out of the grip of Jim Crow laws and eventually aid the end of segregation.

    Those momentous days were given a fresh gloss at a recent Michigan State Hall of Fame induction ceremony where the 1965-1966 football teams became the first teams to be inducted. More significantly, they were the first fully integrated college teams and thereby were instrumental in eliminating the racial barriers and forging a new era of college football. Daugherty spearheaded this movement by venturing to the South to recruit Black players.

    Clint Jones, one of Daugherty’s recruits, said at the ceremony that, “What was accomplished here at Michigan State with the 1965 and ’66 teams was equivalent to Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, or any other paradigm shift that’s happened in the civil rights movement and also American history. And this is American history, not just Black history, but American history, and it is also unprecedented, of what happened in the time period that it did,” he said. “That’s something that for the most part is kind of an urban legend within Spartan Nation that has been revealed throughout the United States, as it should be. Anytime you have a paradigm shift like that it needs to be known and widely spread to the public.”

    Jimmy Raye, the team’s quarterback — an underground passenger, so to speak, and the first of his race to lead a college team to a national title — amplified Jones’s memories about the coach, stating, “I think everything that Coach ‘Duffy’ Daugherty did was unique. I think it’s something that should definitely be recorded in history, and something that was on the precipice of integrating college football throughout the country and particularly the South where I came from, with the Jim Crow laws in effect, and Black athletes didn’t have an opportunity to play Division I level football at Southern schools. I think Coach ‘Duffy’ Daugherty should be recognized for his color blindness and his willingness to play and deal with the consequences of playing a fully integrated team. There are a lot of firsts that took place in that era at Michigan State, and I think that everything they’re doing now to recognize that will stand in the history of Michigan State Athletics for all time. I’m just very, very, very appreciative of that.”

    Several organizations, institutions, and individuals have been tireless in their efforts to keep MSU’s gridiron heroes alive, including Maya Washington, the daughter of Gene Washington, whose documentary Through the Banks of the Red Cedar features Washington’s remarkable college and professional career, and noted Detroit attorney Greg Reed, who as a student at the college witnessed what the team accomplished and who attended the induction ceremony. “What they did was a defining moment in my life,” Reed said, “inspiring me to advocate for exploited athletes and artists as an MSU freshman engineering student. This pledge led me to law school… inspiring my transition into civil rights, representing revered figures from Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Alex Haley, Nelson Mandela, Coretta Scott King, and Aretha Franklin, and six world champions, and grounding me in the principles of ‘know thyself,’ Nation of Islam, and ‘love thyself,’ as I embark on my next journey.”

    Reed insisted that more needed to be known about the role Daugherty and President Hannah played in forging this historic development. Reed did champion a cause to have Congress to archive the team’s legacy for future generations. While Tom Shanahan offers some important insight in his book Raye of Light about the quarterback and Daugherty, turning to the source was even more rewarding as Daugherty in his autobiography (with Dave Diles) recalled the events.

    “Recruiting was a lot easier back when schools in the North had the corner on black athletes,” he recalled. “For a long time, the major southern schools simply didn’t recruit the good black athletes. Coaches like [Alabama coach Paul “Bear”] Bryant would frequently let me know about an outstanding player of that type, and I’m proud to say that Michigan State was a forerunner not only in accepting but aggressively recruiting outstanding black scholar-athletes. Once the doors in the South were opened, though, it made things a lot more difficult.” (Shanahan debunked the myths that “Bear” Bryant sent Southern Black players to Daugherty.)

    Among the engrossing moments in Daugherty’s reflections is his personal encounter with Charles Aaron “Bubba” Smith, and key to Daugherty’s early forages into the South. “Bubba’s father was a very successful high school football coach in Beaumont, Texas. We had tried to recruit Bubba’s older brother, Willie Ray, but he wound up at Iowa. Willie Ray wasn’t happy there and eventually left school. So when Bubba was a senior in high school, Mr. Smith called me and asked if we’d ‘take a chance on my boy Bubba and try to make a man out of him.’”

    Daugherty speaks with delight and reverence about his players as well as his relationship with President Hannah, who had empowered Duffy with unwavering in his support of Duffy’s initiative. He recounted an incident: “There was a so-called Black Student Alliance on campus and there were some football players in that group,” he recalled. “Their concern was that there was not enough black involvement within the framework of the university — secretaries, administrators, cheerleaders, you name it. We had already hired a black assistant coach, but the BSA had some grievances in other sports. The committee took the matter to our athletic director, Biggie Munn, and told him frankly that unless meaningful steps were taken — and right now — they would boycott all spring sports. That meant spring football, too.”

    Duffy continued, “Our black athletes missed one day of practice. I made no announcement of any kind, but everyone knew if they missed one more, that was it. President Hannah saved the day, as he so frequently did. Spring practice rules permit four practice days per week. Dr. Hannah asked if I could excuse the blacks from the next practice. My answer to him was that I thought that would work to the detriment of the entire squad. He said he thought the issue could be resolved if the black athletes could meet with our faculty representative, Dr. John Fuzak and Dr. Robert Green, former disciple of Martin Luther King Jr. The compromise solution was to call off practice for one day for everyone while the summit meeting took place. The problems were aired and solved, and practice resumed. Everyone was back on the field, and that was the extent of our so-called ‘black problem…’ My relationship with John Hannah is the most treasured of all those I have formed in nineteen years as a head coach.”

    Many of the experiences connected with accomplishments of the Spartans in 1965 and 1966 were summoned from the past by the players and other speakers, and it was left to Jones to assemble the pieces. “Everyone from President Hannah to Ken Earley, our equipment manager, and everyone in between worked together for our team to succeed. We were nothing if we didn’t work together,” Jones said.

    What they did on the gridiron ramified to the various sectors of society where activists were bravely involved in bringing about change, and few of them like Reed recognized how all the elements combined and helped expand and accelerate the march toward freedom and justice.

    [ad_2]

    Herb Boyd

    Source link

  • SchoolStatus Selects 2024-25 Customer Advisory Board 

    SchoolStatus Selects 2024-25 Customer Advisory Board 

    [ad_1]

    SchoolStatus, a leader in K-12 data-driven solutions that empower student success, announced today the launch of its 2024-25 Customer Advisory Board (CAB). Composed of education leaders with firsthand experience in K-12 districts and schools around the county, this board will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and product roadmap, building on SchoolStatus’ long history of collaboration with educators. 

    Since the company launched in 2012, SchoolStatus has been dedicated to developing innovative solutions that empower districts to make a real impact for students, families, and educators. With this initiative, SchoolStatus underscores the commitment to addressing the unique challenges of today’s schools, ensuring that its platform is both impactful and aligned with the real-world needs of educators and students.

    “I am truly honored to join the SchoolStatus Customer Advisory Board and collaborate with districts nationwide. This opportunity allows me to learn from other district leaders while supporting teachers using student data and two-way communication tools to drive student success,” said Rachel Blackwell, Digital Learning Facilitator for Pulaski County Special School District. “Together, we can provide educators the resources and strategies to make informed decisions and strengthen relationships with students and families.”  

    “Hearing directly from customers is crucial to ensuring that we never lose sight of the realities in the classroom,” said Russ Davis, Founder and CEO of SchoolStatus. “At SchoolStatus, we firmly believe that educators’ voices must be central in shaping education technology. Our Customer Advisory Board enables us to directly collaborate with the people who best understand the needs of schools and districts across the U.S. so we can continue innovating and providing the best solutions to support all students.”

    Members of the CAB were selected based on their deep knowledge of education technology, passion for improving learning outcomes, and success in supporting students’ academic achievements and families’ evolving needs. Over the coming months, they will meet with SchoolStatus leadership to provide feedback and collaborate on strategic initiatives. 

    Representing six U.S. states, the 2024-25 CAB includes the following members: 

    La’Toya Atterberry, District Instructional Technology Specialist, Meridian Public School District, Mississippi

    La’Toya Atterberry is the District Instructional Technology Specialist for Meridian Public School District in Meridian, Mississippi. She has worked at MPSD since 2019 and was previously with Kemper County School District (eight years) and Meridian Community College (eight years). La’Toya works as an adjunct instructor for Mississippi State University, teaching Digital Tools for Learning to future teachers. She also serves as 3rd Anti President of Auxiliaries for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Beta Alpha Alpha Zeta Chapter Dekalb, MS. She loves showing teachers and students how to integrate technology into the classroom to enhance student learning. Additionally, La’Toya is the Assistant Boys and Girls Powerlifting Coach for THEE Meridian High School. Outside of education, La’Toya is a four-time World Powerlifting Champion. She holds four National titles, four State titles, and competes yearly in powerlifting across the U.S.

    Rachel Blackwell, Instructional Technology/Digital Learning Facilitator, Pulaski County Special School District, Arkansas

    Rachel Blackwell has been with Pulaski County Special School District for 18 years. She began as a classroom teacher before transitioning to math instructional facilitator. For the last nine years, she has been a part of the Instructional Technology. Rachel and her husband Dennis have been married for 21 years and have two children (15 & 8). Her family attends and serves as deacons as well as part of the Young Family Leadership Team at New Life Church. Rachel can also be found on the baseball field cheering on her son or cleaning up one of her daughter’s creative messes. She enjoys, traveling, amusement parks & spending time with her family.

    Johnny Gonzalez, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, Sanger Unified School District, California

    Johnny Gonzalez has worked in the field of education for Sanger Unified School District for over 16 years and had the pleasure of being raised in Sanger Unified. Although he did not graduate from Sanger High, he is proud to be Sanger Unified bred. Johnny has worked with great mentors and exceptional leaders, including Mr. Castillo and Dr. Weichmann, who helped guide his journey as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. Johnny is married to Chistina (14 years) and father to Giannis. He is passionate about calibrating and collaborating with all people in the field of education—and in life.   

    Dr. Keri Johnson, Superintendent, Tuscaloosa County School System, Alabama

    Dr. Keri Johnson has been the Superintendent of the Tuscaloosa County School System since June 2020.  She is in her 25th year of service in public education and has also served as a teacher and administrator in various positions at the school and district levels in the Oxford City, Shelby County, and Alabaster City School Systems. Dr. Johnson has a Bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University in Special Education, a Master’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Special Education, an Ed.S. from the University of Montevallo in Educational Leadership, and an Ed.D. from Samford University in Educational Leadership. She has taught special education classes as an adjunct professor for the University of Montevallo and Samford University and currently teaches graduate-level special education courses at the University of Alabama. She serves on the State of Alabama Accountability Taskforce and is a proud advocate of public education. Dr. Johnsons is a member of the Alabama Transformational Leadership Academy and recently completed the School Superintendents Association’s National Superintendent Certification Program. She recently founded the first group for women superintendents in Alabama – LeadHERship Alabama. Dr. Johnson is married to Chris Johnson, and she has three children: Emily, Abby, and Will. Emily attends The Washington & Lee School of Law. Abby and Will are both students at the University of Alabama.

    Dr. Kristina Pollard, Assistant Superintendent, Leake County School District, Mississippi

    With a career that’s been a shining beacon in education since 1998, Dr. Kristina Pollard is a true education trailblazer. Her extensive 22-year journey has seen her in various key roles, from a biology teacher in the Dallas Public School District to becoming a technology facilitator, Assistant Principal, and Principal in elementary, middle, and high school settings. Not stopping there, Dr. Pollard served as the Director of H.E.L.P. for the College of Education at Marshall University, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence. Dr. Kristina Pollard was appointed as the Assistant Superintendent for Leake County School District in February 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Jackson State University, a master’s degree in elementary education from William Carey University, and a specialist’s degree in administrative leadership from Walden University. She recently earned her doctorate at William Carey University, showcasing her dedication to lifelong learning. Dr. Pollard co-authored “Women Who Lead in Education Featuring School Principals” and serves as co-host of the Class Dismissed Podcast, where she discusses educational news and shares inspirational ideas.

    Stoney Rogers, Technology Integration Specialist, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Mississippi

    Stoney Rogers is a Technology Integration Specialist for the Pascagoula-Gautier School District (PGSD), where he collaborates with Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers to seamlessly integrate technology resources into the classroom. With a strong passion for enhancing education through technology, he has presented at the annual Mississippi Educational Computing Association (MECA) conference numerous times and has served on the MECA board, helping to advance technology integration across the state. Before joining the PGSD Technology Department, Stoney was a Language Arts teacher at Trent Lott Academy for five years. His dedication and expertise in educational technology were recognized when he was named the Mississippi Educational Computing Association’s Technology Integration Specialist of the Year in 2024. Stoney is also a devoted husband and father, sharing his life with his wife and their four children.

    Amanda Samples, Assistant Superintendent, DeSoto County Schools, Mississippi

    Amanda Samples is an education veteran with 23 years of dedication to fostering student success. She served as a head principal for nine years and spent six years at the district office, and is now embarking on an exciting journey as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services. Beyond the professional realm, she is a proud mom to a rising Senior in high school and a 6th grader beginning middle school. In her downtime, you’ll find Amanda immersed in the pages of a good book, tending to her flowers, or indulging in the guilty pleasure of reality TV.

    Dr. Jeff Seeton, Assistant Superintendent, Lake Worth ISD, Texas

    Dr. Jeff Seeton’s distinguished 21 years in education, including years in educational leadership, show his dedication to fostering an environment of academic excellence. Before being appointed Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Seeton served as Principal at Lake Worth High School and held various roles related to the success of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, including Director of CTE at White Settlement ISD, Dean of Students at Crowley ISD, and CTE Instructor at Crowley ISD, Katy ISD, and Alvarado ISD.

    He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from The University of Texas at Arlington and his Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at El Paso. As Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Seeton plays a vital role in advancing the district’s educational goals, implementing innovative teaching strategies, and ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive learning experience for Lake Worth ISD students.

    Dr. LaTonya Shepherd, Public Information and Family & Community Outreach Officer, Santa Rosa County District Schools, Florida

    Dr. LaTonya Shepherd received her leadership foundation at Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church. She currently resides in Milton, Florida where she remains active in ministry. She serves on several community action organizations, as a consultant for the MIA (Men in Action) Program, and a member of the Department of Juvenile Justice Urban League. Dr. Shepherd was the Asst. Principal and Principal for Avalon Middle School from 2014-2018 before being appointed the district’s Public Information and Family and Community Outreach Officer. While serving as an administrator at Avalon, she led one of the district’s largest school climate and culture shifts; thus, advancing the school from a seven-year run of being a B-graded school, to being an A-graded school. Under her leadership, Avalon became a premiere education destination for both students and their families, and those seeking employment in the educational field. Dr. Shepherd is married to Brett (18 years), a history teacher, and is the adoptive mother to Kayden. She is a fierce educational advocate who consistently seeks to provide students and educators with the practical tools they need to be successful. 

    Jastassia White, Assistant Principal, Hattiesburg High School, Mississippi 

    Jastassia White is a proud alumnus of Mississippi State University. She holds an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, a Master’s Degree in Counseling, and a Specialist’s Degree in Educational Leadership, all of which have equipped her with the necessary skills and knowledge to serve her students effectively. Jastassia serves as Treasurer of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Alpha Gamma Chapter, is a member of the Woodlawn Church, and is a Board member of Divine Girl Coalition, Mississippi Professional Educators, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Lambda Kappa Zeta Chapter. Jastassia has volunteered for many community organizations but is most excited about the potential opportunity to serve as a member of the Customer Advisory Board for School Status. In her downtime, she enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family. 

    For more information on SchoolStatus, visit www.schoolstatus.com.

    Kevin Hogan
    Latest posts by Kevin Hogan (see all)

    [ad_2]

    Kevin Hogan

    Source link

  • Today in History: September 19, state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

    Today in History: September 19, state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

    [ad_1]

    Today is Thursday, Sept. 19, the 263rd day of 2024. There are 103 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On Sept. 19, 2022, Great Britain and the world said a final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at a state funeral that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers — and crowds who thronged the streets of London.

    Also on this date:

    In 1796, President George Washington’s farewell address was published. In it, America’s first chief executive advised, “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”

    [ad_2]

    The Associated Press

    Source link

  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

    [ad_1]

    San Francisco’s Fleishhacker Pool was so enormous that lifeguards patrolled using rowboats….

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Trump’s debate line about immigrants eating pets ‘echoes’ racist rhetoric of past world leaders, professor says

    Trump’s debate line about immigrants eating pets ‘echoes’ racist rhetoric of past world leaders, professor says

    [ad_1]

    During Tuesday’s presidential debate, former President Donald Trump made a claim that quickly went viral on social media — and prompted an immediate fact check.

    During a rant about border control, Trump repeated a conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, that has gained traction in some right-wing circles. 

    “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in,” he said. “They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

    MORE: Authors of Jan. 6 graphic novel to send copies to every public high school and library in Pa.

    ABC News anchor and moderator David Muir interjected, saying there are no credible reports of pets being harmed or abused by immigrants in Springfield. But that has not stopped Trump or his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), from spreading this and other inflammatory conspiracy theories about Haitian migrants in the Ohio city. In a lengthy Tuesday post to X, formerly known as Twitter, Vance implied that they were also spreading communicable diseases like tuberculosis and HIV.

    Though the extreme nature of these claims might feel new, they have a long and ugly history. Social media users and commentators quickly likened the comments to the dehumanizing rhetoric Nazi Germany deployed against Jewish people leading up to and during World War II. 

    Katie Sibley, a history professor at St. Joseph’s University, believes the comparisons are valid. As she notes, antisemites including Adolf Hitler have long leaned on blood libel myths that date back to the Middle Ages, which accuse Jewish people of kidnapping Christian babies for ritualistic sacrifice. Sometimes, these pernicious stories incorporate cannibalism, with the blood of the children allegedly used to make matzah.

    “It’s really striking,” Sibley said of the similarities in language. “Here we have people who were accused of eating pets, somebody else’s treasured, small, beloved creature. It sort of echoes that.”

    Language’s link to violence

    As scholars have emphasized, dehumanizing language often precedes violence. In the lead-up to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the Hutu people frequently referred to the Tutsi population as “cockroaches” on a popular radio station. In the mid-1930s, Nazi propaganda depicted Jewish people as worms and “poisonous” serpents. Damaging lies like the blood libel myth were also plastered on the cover of Der Stürmer, the virulently antisemitic German newspaper, and even continued to spread after the concentration camps were liberated. Mobs killed 42 Jews and injured another 40 in a pogrom in the Polish city of Kielce in 1946 after an 8-year-old boy went missing for two days.

    Threats of violence are now starting to emerge in Springfield. Its City Hall was evacuated Thursday over an emailed bomb threat that read, in part, “We have Haitians eating our animals.” The author of the email also claimed to have placed explosives at two DMVs and two elementary schools.

    According to the Haitian Times, many immigrant families in Springfield have kept their children home from school out of fear for their safety.

    Loss of legal rights

    Apart from violence, damaging conspiracy theories are also linked to the suppression of rights throughout history. In 1877, the San Francisco health officer blamed an outbreak of smallpox on “unscrupulous, lying and treacherous Chinamen, who have disregarded our sanitary laws.” Politicians refused to provide Chinese immigrants proper health care, sending them to the filthy “pesthouse” on hospital grounds. 

    This scapegoating and discrimination continued into the 20th century. In 1900, after a Chinese immigrant was diagnosed with the first case of bubonic plague in the United States, the city destroyed local businesses in Chinatown and ransacked homes, burning possessions to “fumigate” the area. The xenophobia toward Chinese immigrants extended far beyond San Francisco, leading to the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned Chinese laborers from entering the country for a decade.

    “This really had an impact,” Sibley said. “People were very much mistreated. Their communities were cut off, and they were barged in upon by the police.

    “There is that bridge from rhetoric to actual laws.”

    As Sibley notes, racist rhetoric also preceded the internment of about 117,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Politicians including Chase Clark, the governor of Idaho, compared them to “rats.”

    Trump’s comments in context

    This is not the first time critics have accused Trump of weaponizing language, or echoing Nazi rhetoric. But his and Vance’s comments — along with campaign ads linking immigrants to crime — have alarmed marginalized communities and the historians who have studied these cycles again and again.

    “We think in this country, we’re not going to have those kind of laws anymore,” Sibley said. “You know, we got rid of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and we got rid of internment, of course, after World War II. But remember that when Trump first came into office, he talked about a Muslim registry. 

    “I think what’s changed is that the rhetoric has been accepted increasingly, sadly, in the public space.” 

    Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt
     | @thePhillyVoice
    Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice
    Have a news tip? Let us know.

    [ad_2]

    Kristin Hunt

    Source link

  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

    [ad_1]

    The Australian Constitution allows New Zealand to join as a state at any time, an option that has…

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Carpenters’ Hall to commemorate 250th anniversary of First Continental Congress this fall with free performances

    Carpenters’ Hall to commemorate 250th anniversary of First Continental Congress this fall with free performances

    [ad_1]

    The First Continental Congress was held at Carpenters’ Hall in 1774, and the 250th anniversary of the historic event will be commemorated this fall with a series of free performances at the Philly landmark. 

    Every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 27, actors will portray First Continental Congress delegates, their spouses and other figures of the time period during live reenactments at Carpenters’ Hall. The “Building Independence” series will feature performances at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

    MORE: This fall at Eastern State Penitentiary’s Halloween Nights, brave souls will be given a puzzle to solve

    Carpenters’ Hall hosted the First Continental Congress from Sept. 5 to Oct. 26, 1774. There were 56 delegates representing 12 out of 13 colonies in attendance, and the group met in order to formulate a response to Great Britain’s increasing taxation on the colonies. Carpenters’ Hall was chosen as the meeting spot because it was privately owned — by the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia trade association — making it a safer spot to meet out of view of British agents.

    The First Continental Congress may not have ended in immediate calls for revolution — that happened in 1776 during the Second Continental Congress at Independence Hall — but it did serve to bring more unity to the colonies and was the first step toward achieving independence.

    Among the people portrayed during the “Building Independence” reenactments will be John Adams, Abigail Adams, Patrick Henry and John Rutledge. The short scenes will cover Continental Congress topics like taxation, slavery and independence, and the effects that the delegates’ policies had on their families and other people living in the colonies. There will also be quotable historic moments during the reenactments, like when Henry exclaimed during a speech, “I am not a Virginian. I am an American.”

    “Building Independence,” which is happening through a partnership between the Carpenters’ Company and Historic Philadelphia, Inc., is also part of the festivities for the Carpenters’ Company’s 300th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the completion of Carpenters’ Hall.

    Building Independence

    Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 7 through Oct. 27
    11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. | Free
    Carpenters’ Hall
    320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

    [ad_2]

    Franki Rudnesky

    Source link

  • Today in History: September 8, Ford pardons Nixon

    Today in History: September 8, Ford pardons Nixon

    [ad_1]

    Today is Sunday, Sept. 8, the 252nd day of 2024. There are 114 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On Sept. 8, 1974, one month after taking office, President Gerald R. Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon for any crimes committed during Nixon’s presidency.

    Also on this date:

    In 1504, Michelangelo’s towering marble statue of David was unveiled to the public in Florence, Italy.

    [ad_2]

    The Associated Press

    Source link

  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

    [ad_1]

    In the late 1800s and early 1900s, homework was a controversial issue. In 1901, California banned…

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • It’s been more than 100 years since a Pennsylvanian was a major player in national politics

    It’s been more than 100 years since a Pennsylvanian was a major player in national politics

    [ad_1]

    “The things that truly last when men and things have passed, They are all in Pennsylvania this morning.” – Rudyard Kipling in “Philadelphia.”

    The failure of Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, to be chosen as Kamala Harris’s running mate reflects the low esteem that Pennsylvania’s political figures are held nationally. Since the nation’s founding, Pennsylvania, once the second largest state in the union, and Philadelphia, once the second largest city, have counted little politically.

    MORE: It’s not hype that Pennsylvania could decide the 2024 presidential election. It’s math.

    Over the years the country’s various political parties, from the Jeffersonians and Federalists to today’s two parties, made few attempts to enlist the city and state’s elites into the heart of national politics. Pennsylvania’s only President, James Buchanan, is regarded as among the nation’s greatest political failures. His inaction during the national crisis over the slavery issue is often credited with helping bring about our Civil War. Since Buchanan, no Pennsylvanian has been a serious candidate for President or Vice President of either major party. 

    The record of the state’s governors and senators is equally unimpressive as far as national prominence is concerned. This despite the fact that for most of the 20th century, Pennsylvania’s electoral vote was second only to New York’s. It was the solidest of Republican bulwarks, voting for the Grand Old Party in every Presidential election from 1900 to 1932 with the exception of Teddy Roosevelt in his Bull Moose campaign of 1912. Franklin D. Roosevelt held the state for his last three terms, but it reverted Republican in 1948 and remained so until John F. Kennedy, building upon a huge majority in Democratic-dominated Philadelphia, carried the state in 1960. In the last eight Presidential elections it only voted Republican once, narrowly for Donald Trump in 2016. 

    Over the last 125 years, only one member of the Keystone State achieved national significance: Boies Penrose, a U.S. senator from 1896 to 1921. Penrose, a 300-pound mammoth of a man, had a legendary appetite. A typical breakfast would consist of a dozen eggs, a half-dozen rolls, and an inch-thick slab of ham washed down in a vat of coffee. His appetite for politics also was equally huge. He effectively ran Pennsylvania politics along with Republican party boss Matt Quay and was a major figure nationally for 30 years. He helped engineer the vice presidency for Theodore Roosevelt in 1900, mostly as a way to spite the Republican party boss, Mark Hanna, whom he personally disliked. He also was one of men responsible for Warren Harding winning the presidency in 1920. No other Pennsylvanian since could boast of similar influence.

    A case could be made that David Lawrence, a long-time Democratic major of Pittsburgh, former governor and respected voice in the Democratic party, helped Kennedy become president. But he was a minor figure compared to Penrose. Hugh Scott, a long-time Republican member of the House and the Senate, was one of the three Republican elders who told Richard Nixon he had to resign the presidency. But like Lawrence, he was a behind-the-scenes operator with no national ambitions.

    The question remains: why has Pennsylvania counted so little nationally? Some historians have argued that Pennsylvania and Philadelphia suffered from an inferiority complex once the state lost influence to New York early in the 19th Century. The nation’s banking center moved from Philadelphia to New York in the 1830s when Andrew Jackson declared war against the Bank of the United States then housed in the city. Financial dominance has remained on Wall Street ever since. The same holds true for Philadelphia’s legal position. The term “Philadelphia lawyer” was once a synonym for honesty and probity and the University of Pennsylvania was once famous for the quality of its graduates. Now Yale and Harvard have long outstripped Penn. The last graduate from Penn’s law school to serve on the Supreme Court was Owen J. Roberts. Famous for casting the vote, “the switch in time that saved nine,” that may have saved the Court from President Roosevelt’s packing plan, Roberts left the Court in 1950. Yale and Havard have dominated the Court since. 

    Pennsylvania’s major contribution to the nation’s economic development, the coal mining industry, Pittsburgh steel mills and the railroads, gave the state a powerful economic position in the nation into the 20th century, but that failed to translate to political power. The Pennsylvania Manufactures Association carefully nurtured the state economically and politically but lacked any interest in national politics. The Pennsylvania Railroad lost power and influence as the New York Central and the Erie Canal gave the Empire state access to the economically expanding Middle West and Great Lakes region.

    Some historians have argued that the state and especially Philadelphia have suffered from an inferiority complex viz a viz as New York became the economic and cultural center but also the sports capital of the nation. For 30 years, Philadelphia matched New York for dominance in the only sport that mattered to the nation, baseball. Christened “White Elephants” by New York Giants Manager John McGraw, Connie Mack’s Athletics won one fewer pennants but two more World Series titles than McGraw’s Giants. But the success of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees combined with the miserable performance of the two Philadelphia teams, the A’s, and Phillies, further reinforced the state and city’s sense of inferiority.

    One of the most interesting and intriguing explanations for both the state’s and its largest city’s sense of inferiority was developed by the historian, R. Digby Baltzell of the University of Pennsylvania, the man who coined the term WASP. Baltzell, an historian as well as sociologist, in a series of books and articles, especially “Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia” argued that Quaker influence with its emphasis on equality and deference was at the core of the state’s reluctance to push itself forward. He contrasted the record of statesmanship beginning with John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, down to the Kennedys compared with the quiet deference of the great Philadelphia families, the Drexels, the Ingersolls and the Biddles.

    With Shapiro’s rejection for the vice presidency nomination and relative insignificance of current Sens. Robert Casey and John Fetterman – one a quiet party regular and the other a party renegade – I doubt if the state’s political insignificance nationally will change.

    John P. Rossi is Emeritus Professor of History at La Salle University. 

    [ad_2]

    John Rossi, Special to PhillyVoice

    Source link

  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

    [ad_1]

    Jim Thorpe’s shoes were stolen just before he competed in the Olympic decathlon. Wearing mismatched…

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • America’s oldest colleges prove even our ancestors were nerds (12 Photos)

    America’s oldest colleges prove even our ancestors were nerds (12 Photos)

    [ad_1]

    [ad_2]

    Camry

    Source link

  • Today in History: September 4, confirmation hearings begin for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

    Today in History: September 4, confirmation hearings begin for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

    [ad_1]

    Today is Wednesday, Sept. 4, the 248th day of 2024. There are 118 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On Sept. 4, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee began confirmation hearings for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on a day that saw rancorous exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.

    Also on this date:

    In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.

    [ad_2]

    The Associated Press

    Source link

  • Today in History: September 4, confirmation hearings begin for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

    Today in History: September 4, confirmation hearings begin for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

    [ad_1]

    Today is Wednesday, Sept. 4, the 248th day of 2024. There are 118 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On Sept. 4, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee began confirmation hearings for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on a day that saw rancorous exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.

    Also on this date:

    In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • Today in History: September 3, automobile driven more than 300 mph for first time

    Today in History: September 3, automobile driven more than 300 mph for first time

    [ad_1]

    Today is Tuesday, Sept. 3, the 247th day of 2024. There are 119 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On Sept. 3, 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first person to drive an automobile more than 300 miles-per-hour, speeding across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

    Also on this date:

    In 1861, during the Civil War, Confederate forces invaded the border state of Kentucky, which had declared its neutrality in the conflict.

    [ad_2]

    The Associated Press

    Source link

  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

    [ad_1]

    Election Day in the U.S. is on a Tuesday because, historically, it allowed farmers to travel to the…

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Today in History: August 28, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers “I Have a Dream” speech

    Today in History: August 28, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers “I Have a Dream” speech

    [ad_1]

    Today is Wednesday, Aug. 28, the 241st day of 2024. There are 125 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On Aug. 28, 1963, during the March on Washington, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech before an estimated 250,000 people in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

    Also on this date:

    In 1845, the first issue of “Scientific American” magazine was published; it remains the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States.

    [ad_2]

    The Associated Press

    Source link

  • Today in History: August 25, National Park Service created

    Today in History: August 25, National Park Service created

    [ad_1]

    Today is Sunday, Aug. 25, the 238th day of 2024. There are 128 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On August 25, 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act, establishing the National Park Service as an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior to maintain the country’s natural and historic wonders and “leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

    Also on this date:

    In 1875, Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, crossing from Dover, England, to Calais (ka-LAY’), France, in under 22 hours.

    [ad_2]

    The Associated Press

    Source link

  • San Jose Chamber launches fund to preserve its downtown headquarters

    San Jose Chamber launches fund to preserve its downtown headquarters

    [ad_1]

    There were quite a few bow ties on display Thursday evening at the San Jose Chamber of Commerce’s annual barbecue at History Park. Nicholas Adams, chair of the Chamber’s board, noted it was just a coincidental sartorial choice.

    “When a lot of people in the San Jose business community see a bow tie, there’s a beautiful smile that comes to mind of the late, great Bob Kieve,” Adams said, referring to the president of Empire Broadcasting, which owned radio stations KARA, KLIV and KRTY and was known for his neckwear.

    The Chamber announced Thursday that it is naming a new foundation to preserve its downtown headquarters in honor of Kieve , who died in 2020 at age 98. Adams said the business organization wouldn’t have been able to acquire the former bank building — located at the high-profile intersection of Market and Santa Clara streets — in 2009 without Kieve, who was a longtime member and a past board chair of the Chamber.

    “Bob was a fearless champion for our business community in San Jose. Bob was a man of action. He didn’t just speak about what he wanted to see, but he actually leaned in hard to help get it done,” he said. It was Kieve’s vision “to secure a home for the voice of business in San Jose now and in the future.”

    DIGITAL PHOTO BY JUDITH CALSON….SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS….MARCH 29, 2002..SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA…… Bob Kieve is a San Jose institution as long-time owner of KLIV and community mover and shaker. He’s about to sell the station and move into internet radio. Friday, his soft music station “KARA of Santa Clara” finishes its 30 year run. Kieve has sold it to a large congloerate of Spanish stations called Hispanic Broadcasting 

    The Bob Kieve Chamber Building Preservation Foundation will be the repository for a capital campaign to raise more than $500,000 to make the building a hub and resource for San Jose businesses. The building includes a meeting room with space for 80 people, offices and drop-in spaces for Chamber members and other rooms for small meetings. The problem is that the building, designed by architect Ralph Wycoff and built in 1942, needs serious upgrades to tech, lighting and security to make it useful for today’s entrepreneurs.

    The building also has a massive vault, which may not be useful for businesses, either, but it still looks really cool.

    There’s a $50,000 matching donations for contributions made through the end of the year. You can find out more information at www.sjchamber.com/bob-kieve-foundation.

    UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT: The hundreds of people who attended the Chamber barbecue made up a who’s who of not only business leaders but elected officials on hand, with Chamber CEO Leah Toeniskoetter welcoming many including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, and Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone. There were also a few candidates who are seeking office on Nov. 5  shaking hands (and possibly shake loose some donations of their own).

    Three attendees I chatted with — Jay Ross, Liam O’Connor and Marissa Sinha — had name badges showing they were all employees at the prestigious downtown law firm Hopkins Carley. However, that won’t be the case in six weeks; they’ll be part Lathrop GPM, serving as the California outpost of a 360-attorney national firm based in Kansas City. Hopkins Carley announced a merger with the larger firm, which becomes official Oct. 1, on Wednesday.

    Hopkins Carley — yes, the firm dropped the “&” from its name recently — was founded in 1968 by John Hopkins and Leon Carley and maintains its downtown San Jose headquarters in two adjoining historic buildings on South First Street, the 1889 Letitia Building and the 1891 Security Building.

    MUSICAL ENCORE: If you were looking for inspiration Friday afternoon, you needed to look no further than Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The Valley Health Foundation held a lunchtime barbecue fundraiser outdoors for VMC’s Recreation Therapy department that included live music by Idol Hands — VMC’s “house band” that includes doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.

    Friday’s gig was special, though, because it marked the return of Chris Wilder, the former executive director of the VMC Foundation, who founded the band in 2006 and played bass. Wilder survived a massive stroke in 2021 and had a long and difficult recovery, but he sat in playing his bass guitar with one hand for four songs Friday — including “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and “Summertime.”

    Former Valley Medical Center Foundation Executive Director Chris Wilder plays bass with the band Idol Hands, which he founded I. 2006, at a fundraising event for Valley Medical Center's Recreation Therapy department. Wilder survived a massive stroke in March 2021. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
    Former Valley Medical Center Foundation Executive Director Chris Wilder plays bass with the band Idol Hands, which he founded I. 2006, at a fundraising event for Valley Medical Center’s Recreation Therapy department. Wilder survived a massive stroke in March 2021. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) 

    “We are really happy to have Chris back with us to play a few songs,” said Greg Price, Idols Hands’ guitarist and vocalist, who is also director of ambulatory support services for Valley Medical Center. Under partly cloudy skies in Renova Park, a big crowd of VMC staff, patients and visitors watched the performance, including Wilder’s mom, Lani, and his brother, Todd.

    “That felt great to go play with the band again and do what I love to do,” Wilder said.

    CHEERS: San Jose’s 10th Street Distillery has a lot to toast about after learning this week that its Triple Cask STR whiskey won the “Best in Show” award in the Whiskies of the World Awards, beating out spirits from Eagle Rare, Thomas H. Handy, Redwood Empire, Lindores Abbey and Blanton’s.

    “The evaluation of whiskies is taken very seriously by our judges, not only to taste and make notes, but also discuss and consider many angles,” said Douglas Smith, proprietor of Whiskies of the World and the San Jose-based Whiskey Education Foundation.

    Founder Virag Saksena says he’s very proud of the award, joining several others the distillery has won in recent years. Despite its geographic name, the distillery’s tasting room is open weekends at 442 N. Fourth St. Go to www.10thstreetdistillery.com to check it out.

    MAGICAL MARATHON: Get your house robes and wands ready, as 3Below Theaters in downtown San Jose is taking part in the annual “Back to Hogwarts” celebrations next weekend with an 8-movie Harry Potter marathon that starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 and finishes 22 hours later.

    There’ll be costume and trivia contests, a midnight buffet, a refillable popcorn and soda (now, that’s really magic.) You’re welcome to bring pajamas or a blanket, but watch the snoring or someone might cast a curse spell on you. Tickets are $75 or $60 for 3Believers members, and there are other Harry Potter events going on as well, including a party for 3Believers members only that includes a screening of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

    Brooms at the ready? Head over to 3belowtheaters.com for the details and tickets.

    [ad_2]

    Sal Pizarro

    Source link