I don’t normally do anything with the torrent of press releases that come out of the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, but everyone likes a puppy:
STATE SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL DELIVERS SURPRISE GIFT TO STUDENT WHO DONATED HIS SAVINGS TO HURRICANE RELIEF
O’Connell Surprises 6-year-old Long Beach Student with Puppy
LAKEWOOD – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and Long Beach community leader Bob Foster today gave a Gompers Elementary School first grade student a rare white German shepherd puppy as a surprise thank you gift.
 Six-year-old Joe Aubuchon of Long Beach, had been saving for several years to buy such a puppy that he intended to name “Marshmallow.” However, when he heard Superintendent O’Connell had started the California Kids Care program to encourage students to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Joe decided to donate his entire savings of $250 to the relief effort.Â
“I am proud of all the students in California who dug deep into their pockets to donate money to help the victims of the hurricane,” O’Connell said. “But I was particularly touched by the sacrifice made by Joe. When Joe saw pictures on TV of people in the gulf states who were suffering after Hurricane Katrina he decided to donate the entire $250 in his puppy fund. This was truly a selfless gesture that inspired fellow students, school staff, and many other adults who heard about Joe’s donation.”
Joe received 10-week-old Marshmallow at an assembly of his first grade classmates today in the auditorium at Gompers Elementary in Lakewood. His parents, Lisa Hartsfield and Steven Aubuchon, and school officials were aware of O’Connell’s and Foster’s intention to surprise Joe, but he and classmates were not told.Â
“I got teary eyed when Joe told me that he wanted to donate his puppy savings to help the children impacted by the hurricane,” said Joe’s mother. “I am so proud of his selflessness. Joe has wanted a puppy his whole life. This will mean the world to him.” Joe has one sister, 11-year-old Kaitlyn and one bother, 14-year-old Bryan.
More than 500 schools across California participated in the California Kids Care program, raising more than $800,000 to date. An updated list of donors is attached below. Over the next few weeks, all the schools that reported their donations through the California Kids Care will receive a Certificate of Recognition signed by O’Connell, including Gompers Elementary.
“Joe has served as our beacon to energize our Hurricane Katrina relief effort,” said Gompers Elementary Principal Jay Camerino. “He inspired his fellow students and the staff at our school with his generous gesture. I also want to recognize the many other students at our school who sacrificed to donate money for the victims of Katrina. Together they raised thousands of dollars. Each and every contribution is valued and will make a real difference for the families who were victimized by this terrible disaster.”
Marshmallow was born August 12. He is now 17 pounds. Both his parents and his siblings are also purebred, white German Shepherds. Before Marshmallow was given to Joe, he received all his required immunizations and is weaned. O’Connell and Foster located Marshmallow through breeder “Noah’s Ark White German Shepherd.�
It’s true.
As previously mentioned, Shylo‘s wedding had a prom theme. Stephen’s Web comic strip, Avatars*, is featured in the Webcomic Hurricane Relief Telethon Book and Merlin, in a move that surprises no one who knows him, has founded his own religion.
* Avatars link has been removed, as the site has gone dark and is now infected with malware.
The other day, I mentioned my friend Shylo got married, in a wacky prom-themed wedding.
Although she writes too infrequently for such a good writer, she has written about her wedding on her blog:
People commented on the vows, saying they were geniune and clever. While Brian put his to paper, i knew if I did that i’d just cry through the whole thing. So I just thought about what I’d say and said it. I remember looking at the ceiling. I know I cried. But here’s about what I said, plus a bit of what I forgot to say:
A few weeks ago, we had the perfect day. We got up early and I made you breakfast. And you always like what I make and always eat it with thanks. And then we got coffee at that place that’s always too hot. You know exactly how I like my coffee and make it kitty-friendly. Then we went to the MCA, in the middle of the MusiCircus and all of the noise and spectacle. We enjoyed it all, thoroughly excited by the energy in the museum. And then our walk down Michigan Avenue in the rain, so much like a French film. You kissed me in the rain. We went to that playground by my office. And there was no sound except for the fountains, just the phenomenal skyline and the swings. We went up and down in perfect rhythm, enjoying the moment. Then we happened through Millennium Park, where Barenboim was rehearsing. We sat and listened and just enjoyed the harmony. And it wasn’t all perfect, but it was so close to perfect that I recognized – in the moment – how special that day was. How peaceful. And in a life not always full of peace or harmony or happiness, I was so pleased to be there will you.
Do you promise to give me the room and time I need to grow to be the person I want to be?
Do you promise to be patient with me, always, even when I’m not patient in return?
Do you promise to remain active, always searching for new ideas and experiences?
To each question, Brian responded, “I promise I will try.” We thought that was honest, a standard to which we could rise. I hope to always try, though I know that sometimes I won’t succeed.
That sounds both wonderfully realistic about marriage while being wonderfully romantic at the same time. A very good start.
Not as geeky as you might think:
You are 45% geeky.
OK, not that geeky at all, are you? I’ll bet you even have a girlfriend (or boyfriend).
My mad trivia skillz have been instrumental to my success as a reporter, such as it is, thank you very much.
From Indian Country Today, the premier American Indian news site: Deron Marquez, the politically influential chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, takes aim at “reservation shopping,” and specifically attacks proposed casinos in Hesperia and Barstow:
The San Manuel Mission Indians live today on some 800 acres of our ancestral lands, a miniscule portion of what was once a vast homeland, extending from as far north as Barstow south to the San Bernardino Valley; and from the Los Angeles area east to Twenty-Nine Palms. We will never leave, because if we move away from our homeland, we lose our identity. We cease being Yuhaviatam.
Our legitimacy as a sovereign, Indian nation – our claim to the legal and moral right to govern our own affairs – is directly tied to the fact we live on a homeland that has been ours since time immemorial. Thanks to government gaming, we are building a strong diversified economy, preserving our culture and our way of life. Our community is strong and our people are healthy once again.
Indian government gaming works best when tribes use it as part of an overall plan to improve life on the reservation. It was the intent of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, that gaming was to be conducted on “Indian lands.”
Unfortunately, this country has strayed from the intent of IGRA. Indian gaming has become a tool for non-Indian development companies and casino corporations seeking profits, and state officials seeking to tax tribal government revenues.
Some tribal leaders have compounded the situation by allowing themselves to fall prey to non-Indian interests. They are offering up their sovereignty for the almighty dollar.
The result is a proliferation of off-reservation gaming commonly known as “reservation shopping” – a trend that is generating a great deal of negative publicity and congressional scrutiny toward Indian nations.
The concern being generated by the potential proliferation of tribal gaming has seriously eroded the political good will toward American Indians. It also has generated divisiveness among American Indian tribes.
Many tribes are establishing or seeking casinos hundreds of miles from their existing reservations, some in other states. In some instances, these off-reservation casino projects are encroaching on the ancestral lands of other tribes.
Many of these proposals are backed by non-Indian developers or state officials whose goal is to get an unreasonable percentage of revenues from tribal gaming operations. No one is concerned about issues of sovereignty. The projects have nothing to do with the congressional intent of IGRA to build tribal economies and strengthen tribal governments.
San Manuel is not opposed to tribes seeking and acquiring rightful and much-needed lands to rebuild their homelands. We respect each tribe’s sovereign right to conduct government gaming on their reservation. But the abuse of the two-part determination process is hurting all land acquisitions. Efforts to acquire lands far from existing reservations for gaming purposes has generated undue scrutiny from Congress and the public, hindering and delaying tribal land acquisitions for housing, schools, health care facilities and other governmental purposes.
Moreover, off-reservation gaming projects often encroach on the ancestral land claims of other tribes.
Last year, when I appeared before the House Resources Committee on the issue, I testified that two tribes – the Timbisha Shoshone and the Los Coyotes Band – sought to acquire San Manuel ancestral lands near Hesperia and Barstow for gaming purposes. Both are backed by non-Indian casino developers.
Today, three tribes seek our ancestral lands: the Shoshone, Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon Rancheria. One of their casino proposals is near an ancient Serrano village.
Congress needs to act immediately to limit reservation shopping and preserve the integrity and ancestral homelands of all American Indian peoples.
Meanwhile, tribes must not allow themselves to be a party to questionable off-reservation casino projects.
Sovereignty is a sacred responsibility. Our ancestors fought and died and suffered for our inherent right to practice self-determination. Sovereignty is a responsibility. It is not a commodity. It is not a toy.
Marquez has previously voiced complaints about the proposed Hesperia casino.
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