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Thursday, June 9, 2016

2016 Flooding in Texas

Prayers go out to all of the people and animals dealing with the flooding and Mother nature in Texas the last week or so.  Heartbreaking.   I lived in Napa, CA when we had a big flood (The Napa River flood of 1986 is considered by many to be the worst flood experienced by Napa, California during the 20th century. 7,000 people were evacuated, 250 homes were destroyed, 3 people died and damages totaled $100 million) and it devastated many areas.

Flood of the century: 1986 death, destruction led to reform along ...

   I also saw my Grandfather go through the flooding in Gainsville, Texas many many years ago and he did rebuild, but it took a while.  As well as the zoo having to move animals.  
GAINESVILLE, Texas -- Torrential downpours Monday caused flooding in areas across Cooke County,




Prayers to all in Texas in 2016




A sign outside the Hitching Post warns of high water to come Friday, June 3, 2016 in Holiday Lakes.
A woman and a girl travel through the flooded town of Booth, Texas on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Residents and local wildlife could be seen attempting to flee the rising flood waters. Photo: Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle
A woman and a girl travel through the flooded town of Booth, Texas on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Residents and local wildlife could be seen attempting to flee the rising flood waters.
Two fawn deer walk through flood water off FM 1462 to try to escape the rising Brazos River Friday, June 3, 2016 in Rosharon. Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle / © 2016  Houston Chronicle
Two fawn deer walk through flood water off FM 1462 to try to escape the rising Brazos River Friday, June 3, 2016 in Rosharon.


This map from the National Weather Service shows just how much rain has fallen on the Houston area in the past 60 days. Some of the hardest hit areas northwest of the city have seen upwards of 45 inches, much 


Cowboys work to rescue a herd of cattle from a flooded field as the Brazos River overflows its banks Saturday, June 4, 2016 near Chenango.

Boaters drive alongside FM 1462 as the Brazos River floods Saturday, June 4, 2016 in Rosharon.

Homes sit under flood water along the Brazos River Saturday, June 4, 2016.

A home is surrounded by flood waters from the Brazos River Saturday, June 4, 2016.

A home is surrounded by flood waters from the Brazos River Saturday, June 4, 2016 in Rosharon.


A lone armadillo moves across a flooded roadway in Booth, Texas on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Rising waters forced residents to evacuate their homes and buildings.



A fawn stands in flood water as it passes over a road Saturday, June 4, 2016 in Rosharon.





Friday, March 18, 2016

Memories of Moving to Napa in 1976 and Throwback - Napa as it was.

My family moved to Napa, CA in 1976 from LaPuente, CA.  My parents had divorced and my Mom fell in love with my future stepfather.   I was entering 6th grade and my sister was going into 3rd grade.  We attended Shearer Elementary.  We were in the old elementary school and a new school would be be that year.  I absolutely loved this school and we were the last 6th grade class to leave the school.  My class was on the second floor and we had long ramps to the second floor.  It was pretty special.


The school would eventually look like this:



NAPA AS IT WAS


Redevelopment
Redevelopment
Late 1960s — Looking east from the southeast corner of First and Coombs streets. On the left can be seen the Migliavacca building housing Mervyn’s. This stone structure was torn down to build the complex of stores now anchored by Mervyn’s replacement, Kohl’s department store. Some of the buildings on the right were also torn down to construct a new home for Carithers department store. The Carithers building now houses county offices. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency
Redevelopment
Late 1960s — Main street facing south from a location over Napa Creek. Far left is the Main Street Exchange building. The Colonial Saddle Shop building on the right and its neighbors were torn down to create parking for the new Mervyn’s building which now houses Kohl’s department store. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Late 1960s — Looking west from the intersection of First and Main streets. The Migliavacca building can be seen on the right. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Late 1960s — The corner of Main and Fourth streets. This intersection no longer exists, nor do the buildings. The arched entrance to the Riverfront complex on Main Street marks the site. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Redevelopment
1960s — Building fronts on the south side of Second Street at the corner of Main Street. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Late 1960s — Looking west from the northeast corner of Main and First Streets. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Late 1960s — Looking east toward Alta Heights on the south side of First Street. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Early 1970s — The Conner Hotel at the corner of Main and Third streets. This area is now the location of Veterans Memorial Park. On the far left is the Downtown Joe’s property, home of the Oberon Bar at the time. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Early 1970s — Looking west near the southeast corner of First and Randolph streets. As part of redevelopment, the city replaced downtown’s concrete sidewalks with wider, brick sidewalks with benches and planters. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Early 1970s — This classical structure at the corner of Main and Second streets now houses Wells Fargo Bank. In the rear, west of Brown Street is the old Carithers building, with the former Masonic building looming overhead. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Early 1970s — The original Carithers building at the corner of Second and Brown streets. On the right is the new Carithers building which now houses county offices. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Early 1970s — The original Carithers building is prepared for demolition. The new Carithers building, which now houses county offices can be seen at right. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Early 1970s — The original Carithers building is torn down to create parking. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
1970s — The west facade of the Mervyn’s building. The parking lot was eventually removed to create the Napa Town Center and Pearl Street parking garage. Note the parking meters. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
1970s — The 72-foot clock tower, a crowning feature of 1970s downtown redevelopment, at Dr. Dwight Murray Plaza Sr. on First Street. The clock tower was torn down in the 1990s. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
1970s — Three symbols of 1970s redevelopment: The new Carithers building, right, the clock tower, middle and the fountain at Dwight Murray Plaza on First Street. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Mid-1980s — As part of 1980s redevelopment, the city constructed three multi-story parking garages in downtown Napa. In the background, construction proceeds on the Pearl Street garage at the corner of Pearl and Coombs streets. The street-level parking in the foreground would eventually be removed to create Napa Town Center. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Mid-1980s — The parking lot behind Merrill’s drugstore near Pearl and Coombs streets. The parking lot would eventually be removed to build Napa Town Center. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
Redevelopment
Mid-1980s — The parking lot created after the demolition of the old Carithers building on Second Street would itself be removed in the 1980s to create a multi-level parking garage. On the right can be seen the rear entrance to the new Carithers building built in the 1970s. Photo courtesy of Napa Community Redevelopment Agency.
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/throwback-thursday-napa-as-it-was/collection_6191d008-ebac-11e5-af0c-4f9b32e597c5.html#1

Changes in the world of animals in shows

Sea World Story
SeaWorld surprise: No more breeding orcas in captivity

SeaWorld surprise: No more breeding orcas in captivity

After years of pressure, SeaWorld made a surprise announcement: It no longer breeds killer whales in captivity and will soon stop making them leap from their pools or splash audiences on command.
Surrendering Thursday to a profound shift in how people feel about using animals for entertainment, the SeaWorld theme parks have joined a growing list of industries dropping live animal tricks. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is retiring all of its touring elephants in May. Once-popular animal shows in Las Vegas have virtually disappeared.
"Society's attitude toward these very, very large, majestic animals under human care has shifted for a variety of reasons, whether it's a film, legislation, people's comments on the Internet," SeaWorld Entertainment CEO Joel Manby said. "It wasn't worth fighting that. We needed to move where society was moving."
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SeaWorld's 29 killer whales will remain in captivity, but in "new, inspiring natural orca encounters," according to the company. SeaWorld's orcas range in age from 1 to 51 years old, so some could remain on display for decades.
Attendance at SeaWorld's parks declined after the 2013 release of "Blackfish," a highly critical documentary. Some top musical acts dropped out of SeaWorld-sponsored concerts at the urging of animal rights activists, who kept up a visible presence demonstrating outside the parks' gates.
Still, the decision shocked advocates who have spent decades campaigning against keeping marine mammals captive, and it represents a sharp U-turn from SeaWorld's previous reaction to the documentary.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Nancy Reagan Funeral

nancy reagan funeral
Obituary
Reagan6

New York Times Obituary
Video
funeral video
Relatives of every president dating back to John F. Kennedy will attend the funeral at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Attendees of Friday's service will include first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, as well as former first ladies Rosalynn Carter and Hillary Clinton.

Children of past presidents who will attend include Caroline Kennedy, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, Luci Baines Johnson, Tricia Nixon Cox and Steven Ford.

Nancy Reagan's two children, Patti Davis and Ron Prescott Reagan, will speak at their mother's funeral.

Mrs. Reagan will be laid to rest next to President Ronald Reagan on a hillside tomb facing west toward the Pacific Ocean.

The following guests will be attending Mrs. Reagan's funeral:

Presidential Families:

Mrs. Barack Obama
President and Mrs. George W. Bush
Mrs. Bill Clinton
Mrs. Jimmy Carter
Caroline Kennedy
Tricia Nixon Cox
Lynda Johnson
Luci Baines Johnson
Steven Ford

Family Members:

Patti Davis
Ronald Prescott Reagan
Anne Peterson and family
Barton Hegeler and family
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Davis
Ashley and Cameron Reagan
Dennis Revell

Current and Former Politicians:

Governor Jerry Brown
Ms. Nancy Pelosi
Right Honourable Brian Mulroney
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Newt and Callista Gingrich
Michael Antonovich

Military:

Captain Christopher Bolt, Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan
Captain Michael Donnelly

Close Family Friends:

Betsy Bloomingdale
Annalise Anderson

Reagan Foundation Board of Trustees (alphabetical listing):

Cathy Busch
Rick Caruso
Michael Castine
Lodwrick Cook
Steve Forbes
Bradford Freeman
Robert Higdon
The Honorable Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
The Honorable Ann McLaughlin Korologos
Andrew Littlefair
Peggy Noonan
The Honorable Theodore Olson
Gerald Parsky
Jim Pattison
Boone Pickens
The Honorable John Rogers
The Honorable Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.
The Honorable George Shultz
Ben Sutton, Jr.
The Honorable Robert H. Tuttle
The Honorable Pete Wilson

Media/Celebrities (alphabetical listing):

Tom Brokaw
Katie Couric
Bo Derek
Sam Donaldson
Anjelica Huston
Larry King
Mike Love
Chris Matthews
Wayne Newton
Melissa Rivers
Diane Sawyer
Tom Selleck
Tina Sinatra
Gary Sinise
Yakov Smirnoff
John Stamos
Mr. T

For more information, please visit the Reagan Library's web site at www.reaganlibrary.com.

<div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='AP'>Former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy wave to about 100 supporters who greeted them as they arrived at Houston'?s Hobby Airport</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='Associated Press'>Nancy Reagan at the London Zoo.</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit=''>Former First Lady Nancy Reagan raises her glass in front of a portrait of Ronald Reagan during her husband Former President Ronald Reagan's 85th birthday celebration</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='AP'>Ronald Reagan took his wife Nancy for a canoe ride on a pond at their mountain ranch near Santa Barbara</span></div>
<div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='AP'>Ronald Reagan is joined by his wife Nancy at a press conference circa 1960s.</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='AP'>Former first lady Nancy Reagan and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger react to a speech during a dedication ceremony for the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='AP'>U.S. President  Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy stand with John F. Kennedy Jr. and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis talk suring a fund raiser</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='Associated Press'>President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan walk on the South Lawn of the White House in 1984.</span></div>
<div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='AP'>President Barack Obama escorts former first lady Nancy Reagan in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in 2009.</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='AP'>A statue of Ronald Reagan looms in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC.</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit=''>First Lady Nancy Reagan with the president looking on, tugs on the leash of the Reagan's new dog "Lucky",  in 1985.</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit=''>Nancy Reagan gives her remarks at the "A Nation Honors Nancy Reagan" program in 2005.</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='ASSOCIATED PRESS'>Former first lady Nancy Reagan is helped on stage by Frederick J. Ryan Jr., center, Reagan Foundation Chairman</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='ASSOCIATED PRESS'>Former first lady Nancy Reagan, left, is escorted by former President George W. Bush following the funeral for former first lady Betty Ford.</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='MKT'>Nancy Reagan's 94th Birthday</span></div><div class='meta'><div class='origin-logo' data-origin='AP'></div><span class='caption-text' data-credit='ASSOCIATED PRESS'>U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan in 1986 at the White House.   (</span></div>