Honor the Past - Commemerating Black American Day, March 5, 1971

February was first designated as Black History Month nearly fifty years ago in 1976*. As February came and went, I was reminded of growing up in Oakland. Recently, my long time friend, Phillip Jackson sent me these medallions. During March of our sophomore year at St. Elizabeth High School, Phillip handed these out to mark a new event for us, "Black American Day"! 

Before there was an official Black History Month, California held its first Black American Day" on March 5, 1971, which was championed as a holiday by Assembly member Willie Brown.  A brass medallion, the  "People's Gold", was issued featuring  the dates 1619 and 1971. 1619 marks the first arrival of Africans in Virginia.*

*References:

First commemoration of Black History Month

https://www.voanews.com/a/february-is-black-history-month-in-the-us/7466915.html

History relayed on coins

https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n06a33.html

Floating Wetlands in Baltimore Inner Harbor

Monday was my second February kayaking and conditions were so good that headed toward the Inner Harbor to check out the "floating wetland" at the Bond Street Pier.

 Floating wetlands that provide wildlife habitats and potentially improve water quality are installed along the developed shorelines in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The floating wetlands are managed by BioHabitats, .

Meet Justin Park, PLA, ASLA, LEED GA, a Senior Landscape Architect for BioHabitats  as he gives us a glimpse into the care of a floating wetland.

Good works for our environment!

References:

BioHabitats

https://www.biohabitats.com/project

Always a Cal Bear!

 It was a tough year for me as a Cal Bear. It was a challenge following the 2023 Bears from way out here in Baltimore.

Our Cal flag was still there for every game at our
Baltimore row house despite late night games

It was tough knowing the Pac12 had disintegrated right there in front of us

It was a roller coaster of big losses and gratifying wins (especially beating Stanford and UCLA; then Coming up short in the Independence Bowl game with Texas Tech.

Still, LB Uluave, RB Ott and QB Mendoza give us something to look forward to next season.

On to 2024! Go Bears!

 

Help for Homeless Vets near-Unanimous in the House Earlier this Week

 

On December 5, HR 3848, Housing Our Military Veterans Effectively Act, passed just 10 votes short of unanimous in the House of Representatives, 408 – 10.

HR 3848 extends help first offered during the pandemic for the more than 33,000 homeless veterans across the U.S. as well as veterans using Federal Housing vouchers. The aid is in the form of stipends to “purchase necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and hygiene items; transportation services; or communications equipment such as smartphones so the veterans can maintain contact with health care providers, prospective landlords, and family members” and increases the per diem rate the VA pays to non-profits assisting veterans in finding housing.

Welcome news addressing the plight of the homeless.

The list of representatives voting no HR 3848 is below. I have yet to find information as to  why these representatives voted against giving aid to veterans in need.

References:

Wake Up to Politics, “16 things Washington did this week” By Gabe Fleisher • 8 Dec 2023 https://www.wakeuptopolitics.com/december-8-2023/?ref=wake-up-to-politics-newsletter

 

Roll Call 695 | Bill Number: H. R. 3848 

https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023695

Congratulations to Cristo Rey de Lasalle St. Elizabeth HS Boy's Soccer Team

 Congratulations to CRDLS Boy's Soccer team on a successful 2023 season, reaching the North Coast Section Division 2 Tournament for the second year in a row. Go Mustangs!

Great Game! Cal 33 UCLA 7 - Go Bears

Box score says it all! 

Kayaking for St. Elizabeth Elementary School

Last year I kayaked around the island of Alameda to raise funds for St. Elizabeth Elementary. On Thursday I kayaked 7.3 miles around historic Baltimore Harbor under perfect conditions. Here are some of the pictures I took along  the way.

My Nov 9 kayaking route around Baltimore Harbor

A 10 min walk from our row house to
the Canton Waterfront Park boat ramp
passing markers commemorating
the pre-Civil War Underground
Railroad path (now Boston Street)
north to Freedom

View of the Korean War Memorial uphill
from the Canton Waterfront Park's boat ramp

At the ramp, 9:15, all ready to launch 

Checking for commercial ship traffic before
crossing the West Channel; Ft. McHenry ahead, 
off to the right

 

After completing the West Channel crossing, seeing the
 Francis Scott Key Bridge in the distance (lower left)
and Ft. McHenry National Monument to the right

Ft. McHenry ramparts, with the small flag 
up; no wind at all!

Heading northwest from Ft. McHenry upstream passing
the Army Corps of Engineers and
research dock 

Ocean going tugs at Maryland Port Authority piers 

Continuing upstream by the last of the Maryland
Port Authority Piers

Ready Reserve Force ships
SS Antares and SS Denobola

Channel-side tank farm with Baltimore
sports luminaries: swimmer
Michael Phelps on this one

...Baltimore Raven's linebacker,
#52, Ray Lewis....

..and Baltimore Oriole, Cal Ripken Jr.

Onward, upstream going by sportswear
giant Under Armour's corporate headquarters

Domino Sugar Plant, in full production

Small dry docks next to Domino Sugar, on
final approach to the Inner Harbor

Entering the Inner Harbor's western edge, 
featuring the Baltimore Museum of Industry

Passing Federal Hill, Baltimore's overlook of 
the harbor dating back to day commemorating
ratification of the U.S. Constitution  

Entering Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Civil War era USS Constellation, a star 
attraction in the collection of historic 
ships open for tours in the Inner Harbor

Iron-clad historic lighthouse, relocated on the
easternmost pier of the Inner Harbor

New development on the eastern edge of the Inner Harbor

Harbor East, cranes over condos under
construction rapidly an industrial zone
into a new residential area 

Frederick Douglass - Isaac Meyers Maritime
Park and Living Classroom: education
though history

Broadway Pier and the lively Fells Point
waterfront 

Canton neighborhood shoreline,
presided over by the golden domes of
St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church 

The twin spires of St. Casimir's, a landmark
in my neighborhood

Heading back to Canton Waterfront Park, with
Navy transport ships U.S.N.S. Gordon and
U.S.N.S Charlton on the far shore

3 and a half hours paddling 7.3 miles;
back to the Canton Waterfront Park 
boat ramp

Hope you've enjoyed this picture tour of Baltimore Harbor. Please join me in supporting St. Elizabeth. See Donation information  below and check out St. Elizabeth's website, too!

https://saintelizabeth.us/

Gratefully,

Frank

St. Elizabeth Class of 1969

f.j.matarrese@gmail.com

Donation Information

Donations should be made directly to St. Elizabeth's. On-line donation can be made via the following links

https://saintelizabeth.us/donate

Donations by check; payable to St. Elizabeth Elementary School,  can be sent to:

St. Elizabeth Elementary School
1516 33rd Avenue

Oakland, CA 94601