SPOTLIGHT
As reported in the Whittier Daily News, our local hero, Yoshio Nakamura, and Linda Oberholtzer’s dad, was honored during the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, March 12, when the board members unanimously approved naming the fine arts building at Whittier High School after him. The honor is not only to acknowledge his contributions as a teacher and his commitment to art education but to also celebrate his achievements as a WWII veteran, a member of the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and serving the Rio Hondo College community.
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Travel notes from Mandy Knight; “I just recently returned from a fun, informative and first-time trip to New Orleans ….during the Mardi Gras season!! The visit included a fabulous evening at the New Orleans School of Cooking where a former middle school teacher entertained us for two hours while she prepared a 3 course (think butter) meal of local fare (Corn and Crab Bisque, Chicken Etouffee, and Bananas Foster) while sharing her Creole culture and the rich and treasured history of the region. Cemeteries and their “above ground 2-bedroom condos”, the mansions and universities on St. Charles Ave, a visit to Mardi Gras World where floats are imagined, designed, and built, the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, the sounds of jazz wafting through the streets, and the revealing residue of beignets were just the warm up for the 2 parades that we enjoyed one evening. Beads and coins (and granola bars) were tossed and scooped up as the Druid Krewe parade floats streamed by our group, fully clothed, warm and comfy on a grandstand just around the corner from our hotel. The National World War II Museum is in New Orleans, and a wonderful way to take in moving personal stories, historical artifacts, and interactive displays illuminating the American experience during the WWII era. From the Normandy invasion to the sands of the Pacific Islands, the Museum salutes the optimism, courage and sacrifice of those who won the war and changed the world. From New Orleans, we traveled to Baton Rouge, stopping to take in a swamp tour (yes, we saw many gators!), multiple (all very different) plantations, the Tabasco plant, and St. Martinville’s “Evangeline Oak”, around which a love story so compelling became the inspiration for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem, Evangeline. This trip was the perfect combination of fun and history!”
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Community News – Whittier Reads is an annual citywide literary event that encourages members of the Whittier community to read the same book at the same time and then discuss it in book groups and participate in special programs which are offered at our Libraries. The Whittier Public Library Foundation has been the sponsor for this community-wide program from its inception since 2004 and has provided funding for the implementation of this program.
The selection for the 2024 Whittier Reads is Stealing Home, by Eric Nusbaum. There are various fun, information and interactive programs offered during the month of April. They are all free of charge (except the Author’s Dinner) To find out more about the programs you can attend go to https://whittierplf.org/whittier-reads/
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Many people were out on Saturday, March 16, to visit the Art Salon hosted by Quincey Grace at her home in the Whittier hills. Among the artists presenting was Emily Heller, who just happens to be the daughter of Chris Heller. The art was enhanced by the beautiful setting with views of the city adding to the ambience.
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We all want to hear about what is happening in the lives of our AAUW community. Spotlight is a great place to share your news, tips, and stories. Send me yours so I can include them in our next newsletter.
Paula Ocampo, Newsletter Editor
(562) 447-7483
