BUSINESS OWNERS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE COUNTY SURVEY

Original by County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office
 
Photos: Bing Copilot Designer powered by DALL-E 3
 
August 20, 2024 (San Diego) -- Business owners are encouraged to take a survey to help the County of San Diego improve its outreach about contracting opportunities. 

Visit the County’s Engage San Diego County site to access the survey. 


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HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IN BOULEVARD

East County News Service

Update August 21, 2024:  The victim has been identified as Arthur Stephen Andreatta, 74.

August 19, 2024 (Boulevard) – The Sheriff’s homicide unit is investigating the death of a 75-year-old man found dead with head trauma inside his home in the 900 block of Tierra Del Sol Road in Boulevard.

Cal Fire  called for deputies from the Pine Valley Sheriff’s station to assist after finding the man unresponsive and later pronouncing him dead.


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DANA LAW TO SPEAK ON ADVENTURES ON THE PACIFIC CREST TRAILAND BEYOND: AUGUST 27 IN JACUMBA

East County News Service

August 27, 2024 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Dana Law has hiked the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail  from Mexico to Canada and the 800-mile Arizona Trail from Mexico to Utah.

On August 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Jacumba Library (44605 Old Highway 80), he will share his backpacking experiences on these trails, including recently completing the Arizona Trail, which included hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim.


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HOSPICE IS NOT ABOUT GIVING UP HOPE

Source: Sharp Healthcre

August 18,2024 (La Mesa) -- Hospice care is a vital service that offers support, comfort and compassion for people with life-limiting medical conditions. But despite its importance, many myths and misconceptions surround hospice, often deterring people from seeking the help they need.

“More than 1.5 million people receive hospice care each year in the United States, but it’s still a service many people don’t know they’re eligible for or don’t think can help them,” says Suzi K. Johnson, vice president of Sharp Hospice and Palliative Care.

From when and where to seek care to how much it costs patients, Johnson addresses the five most common misconceptions about hospice.


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LEMON GROVE LIONS CLUB UNITES TO ASSURE STUDENT SUCCESS

Source: Lemon Grove Lions Club

August 18, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Lemon Grove Improvement Council, Lemon Grove Lions Club and the Lemon Grove Forward Club joined forces  for a special mission: stuffing school supplies into backpacks for local students. With the new school year just around the corner, the importance of preparation can't be overstated.

Together, these dedicated organizations prepared around 200 backpacks filled with essential supplies, all destined for homeless students in the Lemon Grove area. The Lemon Grove School District played a crucial role by identifying the students most in need and will also assist in distributing the backpacks.


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EARTHTALK®: IMPROVING WILDFIRE PREDICTION

 

From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: How can we get better at predicting when and where wildfires will occur so we can adequately mitigate their impact? -- R.K., Tarrytown, NY

In recent years, the wildfires incidents have intensified, driven by factors including climate change, land use patterns and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. As we grapple with the growing risk, efforts to enhance predictive capabilities and mitigate the impact of wildfires have become paramount.


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CHIEF'S CORNER: FORE YOUR SAFETY--NATIONAL GOLF MONTH

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 18, 2024 (San Diego) -- August is National Golf month. This safety article is dedicated to one of the best people in the world.  My Dad Frank DiGiovanna!  He loved to golf and was instrumental in helping me write this. This week would have been his birthday. Here’s to you, Dad!

Golf really is a very safe sport and if you follow a few basic safety rules injuries can be reduced or eliminated.   Swinging of metal clubs propel golf balls at high speeds. If you’re in the way of either, you’re in danger. Following a few basic guidelines can help ensure your safety and that of those around you on the course.


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THE CASE OF THE GREENSBORO GREMLINS

By Eric Martin

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

August 18, 2024 (San Diego) -- Erik Christopher Martin lives and writes in San Diego, California. In The Case of the Greensboro Gremlins: Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth Blook Three, Gremlins and fashion don’t mix!

Summer vacation before seventh grade Dotty is expanding and her girlfriend, Hannah, is getting taller. Hannah fights in a wrestling championship and is hired in a fashion show to model Parker’s clothes. He’s Dotty’s best friend.

Parker, is competing in a young designer fashion show in Greensboro, the prelude to Fashion Week. After a series of accidents plague the rehearsals, Parker hires Dotty to investigate. Her sleuthing reveals gremlins are behind the mishaps. Worse, someone put them in the theater on purpose. Sabotage!


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THE ANIMAL PAD: ALL BREEDS AND ALL NEEDS

By Mimi Pollack

Photo, left: Lauren Botticelli and Alf

August 11, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Nine years ago, I wrote an article on the all-breed dog rescue, the Animal Pad, which was then headed by Rebecca Weinrib and Stephanie Nisan.  A lot has changed since then, and this non-profit dog rescue based in La Mesa has really grown as it continues to save the lives of many dogs. TAP (The Animal Pad) rescues dogs from other shelters, dogs that are owner surrendered, and dogs from various [and sometimes perilous] situations in Tijuana and Baja California.

 Nisan and Weinrib have passed on the torch, with Nisan remaining on the Board of Directors. The present Executive Director and woman of many hats is the formidable Lauren Botticelli, who came in seven years ago. In addition, in 2020, TAP acquired a physical building on Avocado Blvd to run the day-to-day operations and house a kennel for up to 40 dogs.


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JUDGE RULES AGAINST SANTEE’S FANITA RANCH; CITY MULLS APPEAL

 

Court finds City Council should have allowed citizens to vote on ballot initiative before approving project

By Mike Allen

Photo: Fanita Ranch site, courtesy of Preserve Wild Santee

August 15, 2024 (Santee) -- Santee’s Fanita Ranch project, which would put about 3,000 new homes into the northwest quarter of the city, was dealt another set back last week when a Superior Court judge ruled that the City Council didn’t follow its own rules regarding new development.


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ELEMENT DANCE CENTER PRESENTS "A NIGHT OF HOPE” GALA BENEFITING DANCERS AGAINST CANCER AUGUST 24

East County News Service

August 15, 2024 – The Element Dance Center in La Mesa announces its upcoming charity event, "A Night of Hope," gala benefiting Dancers Against Cancer. This extraordinary evening of compassion, talent, and philanthropy is set to take place on August 24 at Joan Kroc Theater, just east of La Mesa at 6611 University Ave., San Diego.

The Element Dance Center has consistently demonstrated a commitment to nurturing young dancers' dreams while fostering unity and giving back to the community. "A Night of Hope" is designed to raise awareness and funds for Dancers Against Cancer, a nonprofit organization providing essential support and assistance to dancers and their families affected by cancer.


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TWO COUNCILMEMBERS CHALLENGE VASQUEZ IN LEMON GROVE MAYORAL RACE

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mayor Racquel Vasquez,Councilmember Liana LeBaron, and Councilmember Alysson Snow

August 15, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez will face two elected officials as challengers in her quest to win reelection in November: Councilmembers Alysson Snow and Liana LeBaron.  The city, which is smaller than other East County incorporated communities, faces greater challenges in addressing issues such as homelessness, housing, and infrastructure including road repairs and storm drains that caused recent flood damage.

Here are highlights of each candidate's background and stances on key issues.


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NEW ‘COLOR THE CORRIDOR’ MURALS IN LA MESA UNVEILED BY MTS

Story and photos via MTS

Photo, left: "Succession"mural by Maxx Moses

August 14, 2024 (La Mesa) --San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) passengers in La Mesa can now enjoy two new murals at the city’s Grossmont Transit Center along the Green Line and Orange Line Trolleys. Today, MTS unveiled two new works by local muralist and graffiti artist Maxx Moses. The Grossmont murals are part of a larger effort by MTS to provide a better, more inviting experience for passengers using the transit system.

“These murals are a way to represent our community and improve our rider’s comfort while waiting for their next ride,” said Patricia Dillard, MTS Board Member and City of La Mesa Vice Mayor. “Creating more inviting spaces along our system is a small way in which MTS is delivering better transit to everyone today.”

In the efforts to provide a more inviting experience on the transit system, MTS approached international muralist Maxx Moses for a new mural installation; he proposed two new works for the Grossmont Transit Center.


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SOME BORDER FIRES SPARKED BY MIGRANTS, IGNITING SAFETY CONCERNS

Photo via CalFire: Border 47 fire was started by migrants, possibly seeking rescue in a remote location near the border, according to Cal Fire.  The blaze charred 50 acres. 

August 13, 2024 (San Diego) – The vast majority of California’s wildfires are caused by humans, as Cal Matters recently reported. Vehicles and lawn equipment are the most common culprits in accidental fires, while a few have natural causes from lightning. 

But along the international border, campfires lit by migrants and fires set by smugglers have sparked numerous recent blazes -- also igniting public safety concerns.

After a surge in border fires in May, Amy Reichert, chairwoman of Restore San Diego, obtained public records from CalFire from May 1 through June 1. .Reichert claimed that  of the eight fires along the border May 1-June 1, seven were tied to illegal border crossers, with one of undetermined cause, since it started in Mexico. 

ECM fact-checked that claim and found it largely accurate, with migrant fires the most likely cause of six fires, shooting the most likely cause in one fire despite a campfire nearby, and the Mexico fire of undetermined cause.


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ANITA FIRE HALTED YARDS FROM HOMES IN SPRING VALLEY



Story and Photos by Josh Stotler



August 12, 2024 (Spring Valley)--A vegetation fire threatened homes on Millar Ranch Road north of Millar Anita Ln in Spring Valley today. Some residents were ordered to evacuated and others asked to shelter in place amid flying ash and debris, with firefighting vehicles lining the roadway. Emergency responders helped escort evacuating residents to safety while crews worked to bring the blaze under control.

The fire was first reported at 1:24 pm and crews responded to find a fire in dense vegetation moving at a moderate rate of spread. Homes on Millar Ranch Rd were immediately threatened and more resources were ordered. Air and ground resources worked under a unified fire command to attack this fire head on and keep the loss of life and property to zero.

Cal Fire crews lit a back fire to eliminate fuel between the head of the fire and houses.

One homeowner, Grace Russo, stayed behind to help save her home. “I sent my daughter and my 90 year old mother to safety and I stayed behind with my labs,” she said of the family's dogs.


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SHELTER-IN-PLACE/EVACUATION ORDER BETWEEN 94 AND SD NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE/SAN MIGUEL MTN

UPDATE: Forward progress stopped at ~12 acres, per incident command, reports Liam Winstead
 
UPDATE: Zone SDC-2217 has been split into two zones. Zone SDC-2217B remains under an Evacuation Order. Zone SDC-2217-A is now under an Evacuation Warning. A new Evacuation Warning has been issued for zone SDC-2218. The Evacuation Warning has been lifted for zone SDC-2098. For the zones' parameters download Watch Duty app.
 
UPDATE: the #AnitaFire is now 15-20 acres and designated evacuation point Regal Edwards Cinema on Jamacha Road in Rancho San Diego (El Cajon)
 
August 12, 2024 (Spring Valley) -- The #AnitaFire started on the west side of Millar Ranch Road but jumped, now well established on both sides, just north of Millar Anita Lane, resulting in immediate structures threatened and a requested Evacuation Order for Zone SDC-2217.

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WHISPERS IN THE SHADOWS: AN AMERICAN’S ADVENTURE TEACHING IN ROMANIA BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN

 

By Sandra Wenner Yeaman

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

August 11, 2024 (El Cajon) -- Sandra Yeaman, a resident of El Cajon, CA, visited Iaşi, Romania in 1978. She was given a two-bedroom apartment with all the usual appliances found in U.S. apartments. She later found out her lifestyle was quite lush compared to local residents. However, on the downside she lived far from the school where she would be teaching English, and it wasn’t close to shopping.

The school at which she was a Fullbright English ­­­lecturer lacked a campus. In fact, the school only had one building. The instructors shared one room as an office and took turns acting as receptionists for the English department. When paid, the British English instructor and Yeaman were the first to be paid. Funds were passed around with the remaining funds. Yeaman and the British instructor made quite a bit more than the others.

The author only taught three days of the week. As a result, she regularly traveled to the Capitol, Bucharest, for weekend visits. Here’s an excerpt:


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THE 17TH VOLUME OF A YEAR IN INK ANTHOLOGY

 

Edited by Kimberly Lee and Kate Manning

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

 

August 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- Published by San Diego Writers, Ink, The 17th Volume Anthology: A Year In Ink, is an anthology of the creative work of San Diegans. In the 2024 version, 281 entries were submitted from all genres.

Of those, 46 pieces were selected to be in this year's anthology (23 poetry and 23 prose). Submissions include short stories, novel and memoir excerpts, creative nonfiction, satire, flash fiction/nonfiction, and poetry.


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SUPERVISOR ANDERSON SEEKS SIGNATURES ON PETITION TO OPEN LOVELAND RESERVOIR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET

 

East County News Service

August 11, 2024 (Alpine)—Supervisor Joel Anderson is asking the public to sign a petition which he will deliver to Sweetwater Water Authority asking the agency to restore sunrise-to-sunset hours at Loveland Reservoir. You can sign the petition here.  

Anderson  has emerged as a champion for local recreational enthusiasts seeking to protect access at several local lakes, including a prior petition that yielded positive results.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: 20TH ANNUAL VAQUEROS RUN COMPLETED IN LAKESIDE

 By Shiloh Ireland

August 10,2024 (Lakeside) -- The annual Vaqueros Run rumbled down Maine Avenue in Lakeside on August 1st. El Capitan High School football team, a Grossmont Union district school, marched down Maine Avenue with their football team and cheerleaders while Maine Avenue was lined with fans. The small-town spirit was alive and the marching band complimented the atmosphere.


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CHICAGO DELEGATES MEET VIA CONFERENCE CALL AND CERTIFY HARRIS/WALZ

By Dennis Moore (photo)
 
August 10, 2024 (Chicago) -- It's official, the Chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Minyon Moore, announced on X(Twitter) that she was a part of a historic moment. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz are now certified as democratic nominees, overseen by Moore.

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TEAM USA MEDALIST PREFERS HEALTHCARE IN PARIS OLYMPIC VILLAGE

"In the Olympic Village in Paris, everyone has free healthcare as a human right. In America, 1 in 4 cancer patients go bankrupt or lose their homes because of the outrageously high cost of care."
 
 
Photos: Bing Copilot Designer powered by DALL-E 3
 
August 10, 2024 (Paris) -- U.S. Olympic rugby player Ariana Ramsey became a sensation on social media this week after documenting a series of free healthcare visits in the Olympic Village in Paris and becoming an advocate for universal care in her home country.
 
Ramsey's initial TikTok video, published Saturday, went viral in France after she expressed disbelief about the free healthcare on offer, playing into the European idea that Americans—who live in the only high-income country in the world without universal care—don't know what they are missing.
 
Read the full article with clickable links and embedded videos in Common Dreams.

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MORE THAN 1 MILLION VETERANS RECEIVING BENEFITS VIA PACT ACT AHEAD OF ANNIVERSARY

The VA has a calendar of in-person events that can be found here. Veterans or their family members can also call the VA at 800-698-2411 to inquire about PACT Act benefits.
 
 
Photo: Joe Biden Presidential Portrait
 
August 10, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) — President Joe Biden on Friday celebrated the number of veterans enrolled in VA health care and benefits as part of a law he signed nearly two years ago, though he said more work must be done for troops who were stationed at a base in Uzbekistan in the early 2000s.
 
“Two years ago, I signed the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act enacting the most significant expansion of benefits and health care for toxic exposed veterans and their survivors in over thirty years,” Biden wrote in a statement.


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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GEN Z VOTE

By Branda Gorgies


Photos from Creative Commons, Pew Research Center

 

Who is Gen Z?

 

August 9, 2024 (San Diego) -- Generation Z, also known as Zoomers, includes all those born from 1997 to 2012, making the older end of the generation 27 years old this year and the younger end 12 years old. Before Gen Z, there were the Millennials(1981-‘96), and then Gen X(1965-‘80), the infamous Boomers(1946-’64), and the Silent generation(1928-‘45).

 

Generational divides have long been used as a way to categorize age in order to study demographics. Age and experiences are key factors in moral, political, and economic interests. By grouping people up by the year they were born, researchers can gain a good understanding of the difference that age creates. It also becomes easier to study the effects of environment and socioeconomic events on the development of those interests. It’s important to note that while there isn’t a concrete difference between those born in December of 1996 and those born in January of 1997, the sole use of generational divides is to work as a tool that makes research easier.


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LA MESA COUNCIL CANDIDATES SHARE STRENGTHS AS THEY VIE FOR TWO OPEN SEATS

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Genevieve Suzuki,Lauren Cazares, and Shawn Townsend.

August 9, 2024 (La Mesa)—La Mesa’s City Council will have two new members after the November election.  That’s because Councilman Jack Shu is retiring and Councilman Colin Parent, whose term  expires, is running for State Assembly.

Both Parent and Shu have endorsed two Democrats running for Council seats:  Genevieve Suzuki, an attorney, journalist and community volunteer, and Lauren Cazares, a policy advisor at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.  The County Democratic Party and prominent Democratic officials have also endorsed Suzuki and Cazares.

The County Republican Party has not endorsed any candidate in this race. Two other candidates have pulled papers to run: fitness company CEO and  personal trainer Shawn Townsend, an independent, and Jose Fernandez, whose information is not yet available.


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LIVING HISTORY PRESENTATION ON MOUNT LAGUNA AUGUST 31 AND SEPT.1

East County News Service

August 8,2024 (Mount Laguna)—The Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association will present its 35th annual Living History Presentation at Mount Laguna’s Red-Tailed Roost, located at 10401 Sunrise High near mile marker 22.5.  

The program will be held Saturday, August 31 (9 a.m.to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and again on Sunday, September 1 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)


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EL CAJON COUNCIL VOTES TO PUT HALF-CENT SALES TAX EXTENSION ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

 

By Rachel Williams

August 8, 2024 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s City Council unanimously voted  on Tuesday  to put a 1/2 cent sales tax extension on the November 5 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would continue a half-cent tax that is set to otherwise expire.  The tax has generated more than $13 million annually for El Cajon’s General Fund, and at least 75% of these funds support the City’s public safety operations.

If voters choose to pass Measure J, continuing this sales tax, significant budget cuts would be avoided, including but not limited to these essential services below:

  • Firefighters and paramedics
  • Police Officers
  • Street Maintenance (pothole repair and repaving)
  • Stormwater and sewage

When comparing El Cajon to other San Diego County cities, the Valley of Opportunity receives a smaller percentage of its property tax, which isn’t enough to sustain the community’s needs.


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SDG&E, CCA'S LAUNCH CALIFORNIA'S FIRST UNIFIED DIGITAL CUSTOMER PORTAL

East County News Service
 
August 8, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and the region’s two Community Choice Aggregators – Clean Energy Alliance and San Diego Community Power – today announced the launch of the state’s first integrated customer portal. MyEnergyCenter.com will offer an intuitive interface, including detailed cost breakdowns, empowering customers to gain comprehensive insight into their bill to better manage their use. MyEnergyCenter.com was set to go live on Aug. 4, replacing SDG&E’s current My Account customer portal.  
 
“As San Diego’s energy providers, this innovative digital experience showcases our shared commitment to deliver transparency alongside award-winning energy reliability,” said SDG&E’s chief executive officer Caroline Winn. “We are committed to working together to provide our shared customers with increasingly clean, safe and reliable electric service.” 

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COUNTY SHELTERS WAIVE ADOPTION FEES THROUGH AUGUST 10

Above fold by Jonathan Goetz
 
ECM file photo: Junebug Owens sent in this idyllic image taken in late June of her Belgian Malinois mix dog, Ellie, lolling amid blossoms from a purple flowering Jacaranda tree and a scarlet Bougainvillea.
 
August 8, 2024 (El Cajon) -- From puppies and kittens to senior companions and small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs - the San Diego Humane Society is overflowing with deserving animals in need of adoption in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and San Diego. Through August 10,the county shelters are waiving adoptionfees.
 
There are thousands of pets in crowded shelters waiting for a second chance.
 
The San Diego Humane Society now offers an adoption guarantee* per Nina Thompson, so families can have peace of mind knowing that if the pet isn't the right match, they will welcome y/our pet back into care if you adopt her or him through the San Diego Humane Society in the event the pet does not work out. 
 
Visit www.sdhumane.org/adopt to learn more.

Don't like your new pet? "We'll take her or him or them back," assures East County Magazine the Director of Public Relations at the San Diego Humane Society (ECM) (official)


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HARRIS PICKS GOVERNOR TIM WALZ FOR VP: MIDWESTERNER IS ALSO A FIVE-TERM CONGRESSMAN, VETERAN, TEACHER AND COACH

By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2024 (Philadelphia) – Large crowds packed a stadium in Philadelphia this week to see the first public speeches by Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her newly-named vice presidential pick, Minnesota Governor and five-term Congressman Tim Walz. Walz brings leadership skills, expertise on rural and veterans' issues, as well as  Midwest common-sense values to the team. Raised on a farm, Walz served 24 years in the National Guard, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major.

He has also worked as a high school teacher and football coach, taking a team with 27 straight losses on to win the state championship for the first time in the school’s history. His affable manner and sense of humor also bring a sense of normalcy that appears to be welcomed by many voters, judging by the enthusiastic cheers heard throughout his first public speech as vice presidential running mate.


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