Update: Maria Esther de Capovilla Passed Away

You may remember that I wrote about Maria Esther de Capovilla, the oldest person in the world, on 16 Dec 2005. Guiness Book of World Records had listed Maria as the oldest person in the world in 2005. She was 116.

Maria passed away Monday, August 28th. She was just shy of her 117th birthday on September 14th. Her family was already planning the celebration. Although Maria was in good health, she contracted pneumonia and died two days later.

Maria lived a very full life. Now the oldest person torch passes to Elizabeth Bolden of Memphis, Tennessee. She is also 116.

Helmets to Hardhats

As you may know, soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have many obstacles to overcome. They must transition from military life to civilian life. Some may have jobs waiting for them, but a good many have to start new careers. It's a tough road to travel and a few find themselves struggling financially before they can get back to work.

Building and Construction Unions and the Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment, and Veterans Employment have joined forces to combat the unemployment problem. They've created Helmets to Hardhats, a program geared towards employing returning soldiers.

Applicants are given training in fields such as carpentry and bricklaying. Apprenticeships are arranged through trade unions. Then employers are lined up who will employ the people as they become qualified for their new professions.

The program began in 2002. They now offer 86,845 different careers in contructions. To date, 157,019 people have registered with the program. 38,966 applicants have moved through the program to employment. Several states are involved in Helmets to Hardhats. State support allows for quicker placement of applicants.

If you were in the military and would like to apply, there is an application right on the http://www.helmetstohardhats.org website.

Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

Today we celebrate the 86th anniversary of the 19th amendment. The 19th amendment guaranteed women the right to vote. This was a long battle that begun seriously in 1848. That year Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others organized the Seneca Falls Woman's Rights Convention.

The anti-suffrage movement was well funded and strong. They opposed a woman's right to vote with arguments such as women were not smart enough to vote and most women really did not want to vote.

It took several decades for America to warm up to the idea. Slowly, suffragists won the hearts and minds of their compatriots. Things really changed during World War I when women supported the war by doing factories jobs that men were no longer around to do. President Woodrow Wilson was aware of their contributions. In 1918, he threw his support behind the movement. Wilson stated, "We have made partners of women in this war. Shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toll and not to a partnership of right?"

The tide had turned. That year, the House passed an amendment, 304 to 90. On June 4, 1919, the Senate voted 56 to 25 in support of the amendment. They then needed 36 states for ratification. Tennessee became number 36 on August 18, 1920. The 19th Amendment was passed August 26, 1920 and women voted in their first election that November.

Hearing for the First Time

Little Amina, a 3 year old Iraqi girl, was born deaf. She has never heard the birds chirp, a dog bark, or her mother and father's voices singing her to sleep. Thanks to Colonel Warner Anderson, she now knows the world of sound.

Anderson was stationed in Iraq in 2003, working as a doctor. He heard about Amina and mentioned her story to his wife, Ruth. Ruth contacted the head of otolaryngology at Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas Balkany. Balkany agreed to the surgery.

Amina and her Father were flown to America. The International Kids Fund stepped in to raise the money for the surgery as well as provide travel, housing, and other necessities for their stay (a bill which now totals $40,000)

The surgery involved putting an implant into Amina's ear. When the device was turned on, Amina heard her Father's voice for the first time. Although the surgery is over, Amina still has hard work ahead of her. Most children learn names of loved ones and what to call objects as babies. She will need to go through therapy to learn how to speak and what words to use for things. The therapy will take several months.

Forgiving Hatred

Timothy Zaal and Matthew Boger are the best of friends. They volunteer at the Museum of Tolerance in Southern California. Boger is gay. He ran away from home as a teenager to escape the pain. He came to the museum to work out some issues. Zaal, a former neo-Nazi, served time for assaulting an Iranian couple. He had turned his life completely around since prison.

Zaal and Boger's paths had cross when they were teens. And, Boger almost didn't survive. One night Boger was with some friends at a hamburger stand. Zaal showed up with a bunch of neo-nazis. A fight broke out. Zaal chased Boger into an alley and beat the crap out of him.

Both travelled long roads in the two decades since the incident. Zaal is 42 and a father. Boger is 39. When they frist recognized each other at the museum, it was uncomfortable. They avoided each other for weeks. Then something strange happened--a friendship began to bloom.

It's not easy for either to look back on that night. But, they've decided to turn their past into a learning experience. They know give joint presentations at the museum on that night and how they got to where they are today. Zaal sums it up in an article in the Los Angeles Times "We did not get her overnight. It was many, many years of pain, anguish, and growth."

A Personal Battle for Armor

In October 2003, Brian and Alma Hart got the news they'd been dreading. Their son, John, was serving in Iraq. His Humvee hit a roadside bomb. They were caught in a firefight and John was killed.

The hart's grieved for their beloved son. During this time, they learned that John's Humvee had not been armored sufficiently. Their son's life might have been saved with the proper armor.

The Hart's began a crusade. They've taken it upon themselves to get in the public eye to keep military issues front and center. The Hart's have worked with politicians like Edward Kennedy to get legislative action on these issues. This had lead to more armor on vehicles which already is saving lives. In addition to those efforts, Brian Hart has developed a robotic device that can be used to push IEDs out of the road way so no one is harmed.

The Hart's also take time to console others suffering the same sorrow. They lend support to individuals and families who are grieving. According to Brian, "Sometimes it helps to be with folks who have walked down the same road."

By all standards, the Hart's should be struggling with life in devastation. They've used their grief and turned into a powerful tool for change. Their work may help save someone's life someday.

Firefighters Challenge

Firefights from California to Florida converged on Fremont, California last week for the Third Annual Fremont Firefighters Challenge. 36 teams from across the country participated in th event.

What's involved in a firefighters challenge? Competitions are set up for individuals, two member teams, and five member teams. The participants have to don 50 lbs of equipment. They run through obstacle courses, up and down flights of stairs, and so forth. If that isn't hard enough, they have to drag a 42 lb hose through some of the course. To finish it off, they must drag a 175 lb dummy to safety--106 feet away.

The firefighters from Travis Air Force Base took top honors this year. They destroyed the competition in most events. The real winners are the public. Knowing there are firefighters in this good shape ready to respond to an emergency is a big relief!

Quilting for Freedom

Afghan women are known for skills in arts and crafts. Under the Taliban, much of that talent was hidden. A new project called "The Afghan Freedom Quilt" is allowing women to showcase their creativity and their commitment to survival.

The Afghan Freedom Quilt came into being in 2003. Afghan women from the San Francisco Bay Area travelled to Afghanistan. They brought back patches sewn by war widows in Afghanistan. The patches show off their sewing talents. Some are purely artistic. Many tell stories of sorrow and pain.

The patches were brought back to Fremont, California. Their counterparts in the Bay Area sewed them to the quilt. The quilt was completed in April 2006 and spread out to a 9x9 foot block.

The Foundation for Self Reliance is sponsoring the quilt. The quilt will be going on a national tour soon. You may view the Afghan Freedom Quilt online at the Foundation's website.

DNA Shoah Project

Throughout Europe, unmarked graves from World War II can still be found. Some of the dead were victims of the Holocaust. Others, the usual casualties of war. In all cases, their names have been lost and forgotten.

Howard Cast of Gene Codes has joined up with Syd Mandelbaum and Michael Hammer, founders of the DNA Shoah Project. The project was launched in November 2005. The project will take DNA samples from the bones in the unmarked graves and create a genetic database. They'll then attempt to track down Holocaust survivors and those whose family members were murdered by the Nazis. Their DNA samples will be compared to the database. By comparing the DNA they may be able to unlock identity of the bones. The data may also be used to reunite siblings who were separated during World War II. This same process was used in identifying victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

They expect that the database may take 20 to 30 years to compile. Those who wish to contribute DNA should visit the Shoah Project website at http://www.dnashoah.info.

[Photograph of Auschwitz courtesy of Tim Becker, www.sxc.hu]

Construction Worker Rescued

A construction worker, Casey Johnson, was trapped Tuesday when tons of concrete fell on him. The incident happened in Phoenix, Arizona at the Civic Plaza which was being demolished.

Rescue workers arrived on the scene shortly after the accident. Over 100 firefighters were on hand. Medical staff had access to Johnson as he lay under the rubble. They gave him pain medication and oxygen. Fluids were administered intravenously. All of this was done through a hole in the concrete.

The structure was shored up with air bags and woods. Firefighters then began remove the concrete blocks. It took 6 painstaking hours. Finally, Johnson was brought to safety.

Johnson was taken to the hospital for further care. Amazingly, he only had a one broken bone--his femur!

Teens Help Rebuild Sidell

Teens from the Columbus United Methodist Church of Columbus Wisconsi have headed to Sidell, Louisiana. This is no fun filled festive vacation. They're off to over their help rebuilding houses damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The group will spend five days in Sidell. The group has been teamed up with another group from Pennsylvania. So far they've painted a house, installed insulation, and helped with drywall.

It's sad to think that almost one year after the hurricane (yep, that anniversary is almost upon us) there is still so much to be done. Many folks haven't even gotten their rebuilding money from the government fund.

A big thanks goes out to these kids and all the volunteers who have given their time and energy rebuilding the Gulf Coast. Each home they complete is one more family that will be able to move out of temporary housing and can restart their lives.

Mr. Barros' Neighborhood

In the small city of San Lorenzo, you might run into Keith Barros. These days he seems to be everywhere--from the drivers seat of his UPS truck to the front page of the newspaper.

Most San Lorenzans can say "I knew Keith way back when..." About years ago, he was our regular UPS delivery guy. His visits were friendly. He always took extra care to hide boxes and keep your packages safe if you weren't home.

Little did I know that Keith was from my neighborhood and a community activist. He works with various local organizations and is a strong supporter of our newest County Supervisor, Alice Lai-Bitker. He offers up opinions at local meetings and is a regular letter writer to our newspapers.

When it comes to San Lorenzo, most folks know Keith Barros even if they don't know his name. There probably isn't a more recognizable face in this area--except for my Dad. He's a 30+ volunteer at the local Little League field.

Cyclist Rescued

Kyle Holtrust thought his riding days were over. The 18 year old was out cycling Friday when he was hit by a car. He found himself pinned underneath the car in the middle of the Tuscon Highway with no escape.

An innocent bystander, Tom Boyle, turned into a super hero for the day. He rushed to the scene and lifted the car single handedly off the cyclist while the car's driver pulled him to safety. Holtrust was taken to the hospital where he expected to have a full recovery.

Holtrust's hero wasn't known for super human strength. The 6 foot 4 inch 300 lb. Boyle was at the right place at the right time, and acquired that burst of muscle power when he needed it most. Others on the scene, including the police, were pretty amazed by what they'd seen. "It was outstanding" said Frank Amado, a police spokesperson.

Holocaust Archives Open to Wider Access

An agreement has been reached between three nations that will open Germany's Holocaust records to researchers and journalists. The countries involved are Israel, Germany, and the United Sattes. Other nations may sign on in the near future.

The agreement was brokered with the help of the Red Cross' International Tracing Service. This organization was set up to track World War II's missing. The group oversees the archives in Bad Arolsen, Germany.

This is a change in protocol over the agreement made in 1955. Then it as determined only Holocaust victims or their immediate family members could view the records. As that generation ages, there is a pressing need to open the archives for wider use.

The Nazi archive includes 30 million records on the Holocaust. Every aspect of concentration cap life and death was recorded, so these records are indespensible to researchers. This horrific part of human history should be widely researched or we are doomed to repeat it.