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May 4, 2011
| Let the Crownings Begin |
Last Sunday was the beginning of the weekly crownings leading up to Pentacost Sunday. Stay tuned to PRESD as we bring you slideshows from each weekly crowning. Click on the photo below to see a slideshow of the first crowning, |
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| Queen Vivian Romero (Click to view slideshow) |
April 14, 2011
| Preserving Our History |
| by Peter Proud-Madruga |
I started Portuguese Research & Education, Inc. (PRESD) in December 2003, although it wasn't until November 2005 that it truly got rolling. The premise was simple enough: form an organization to celebrate the traditions of our rich Portuguese heritage. Growing up in my grandmother's home, I couldn't help but be proud to be Portuguese. I founded PRESD to keep the memory of my late grandmother Margaret Madruga's passion for everything Portuguese alive.
It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of many that our community has so much to celebrate! We are extremely fortunate to have our very own Portuguese Choir, Filarmonica União Portuguesa de San Diego, our Portuguese-American Dancers, and our own União Portuguesa Sociedade do Espírito Santo (U.P.S.E.S.) Hall, where so many memorable celebrations have taken place! For over 100 years we have proudly celebrated the Festa do Divino Espírito Santo, as well as the Festa da Santissima Trinidade, Festa do Santo Amaro, Vindimas, Romarias, and more; San Diego's Portuguese-American community is truly blessed.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of PRESD is interviewing our long-time community members. These people are well-respected for their courage, wisdom, strength, and drive to succeed. They've graciously taken time out of their busy schedules to share their stories with me, relating their struggles and triumphs, and, if you're looking for inspiration, there's plenty of it in those stories. I have been so fortunate to have these people invite me into their homes and share their history with me. What's more, I am honored to say they often have come to consider me their friend as well.
But as much as I've thoroughly enjoyed conducting these interviews, there is a very painful side to this business; when these people die. I know it's inevitable, but it still stings each time I lose another friend. It's something that had never occurred to me when I started these interviews. For each one, I think back on the stories they shared with me, the smile on their faces when they talked about their proudest moments, the anguish and tears when confiding their low points, and of course their laughter when they told a funny story; each and every one priceless.
Joseph Januario
In 2006, I met Joe Januario. He invited me to his home and offered to talk about the history of his family. During our two hours together, I learned about his father's work on dories at the Grand Banks out of Gloucester, Mass., and how his father made it to America. He shared his own memories of growing up as a young boy in San Diego, how incredibly proud he was of his service with the United States Navy during WWII, and he described his career all the way through his retirement. It was a privilege to hear him recount it all, and I had a great time getting to know him.
Joseph Januario (September 20, 1916 - April 12, 2011) |
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| Joseph Januario Jr. USN |
Joseph Januario Jr. USN |
José Januario (Joseph's father)
with Peter Rask |
Even though we only spent a couple of hours talking that first day, from then on, every time I saw him he would smile at me, wave hello and he'd invite me to sit down with him and talk some more. Joe and his wife Caroline always made me feel welcome; and for that I will always be grateful, indebted, and even more passionate about keeping "everything Portuguese" alive.
Listen to part of our interview with Joseph Januario |
August 31, 2010
| We have a Winner! |
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Ken Parks with his brand new iPad |
On May 17th, we began selling raffle tickets to raise funds for three of our programs: Thanksgiving Dinner for homebound Senior Citizens, our new scholarship and our general fund for camera equipment. The prize: a 16 Gigabyte Apple iPad worth $499! Today was the day to pull one lucky ticket out of the hopper and our winner is Ken Parks from El Cajon. Mr. Parks couldn't believe the news when he was told he had won. He told me, "I never win." He can't say that anymore.
Thanks to your support, you helped us net $750. That gives us the ability to provide 25 meals to homebound senior citizens, a $250 scholarship, and enough money to buy additional camera equipment to bring you the best images we can of our community in action.
We will continue to work towards building both the Thanksgiving Dinner funds and scholarship funds. Our goal is to be able to offer a $500 scholarship and to be able to feed 100 senior citizens this year (an additional $750).
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August 16, 2010
| Our Centennial Commorative Book Is At Risk: You Can Help! |
| by Peter Proud-Madruga |
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There is no doubt in my mind that we have a thriving, supportive Portuguese-American Community! In our hundreth year of celebrating the Festa do Espirito Santo, every single fund-raiser was sold out. Attendance was spectacular. In fact, the day of the parade, it was difficult to navigate through the sea of people in the bazaar area. Thousands of people witnessed the event. (Read more of this story) |
August 3, 2010
| Learn to Speak Portuguese |
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If there's one trend I've noticed when conducting interviews with long-time members of the community, it's that their one regret in life was not passing the Portuguese language on to their children. Many times, the children grew up not being able to communicate with their grandparents and others in the neighborhood who only spoke Portuguese.
Studies have also shown that learning a foreign language boosts "brain power."
In September, the United Portuguese SES (UPSES) will be offering beginning Portuguese. This 15-week course is taught on Mondays from 7pm to 9pm at the United Portuguese SES Hall. Whether you know Portuguese or not, this course will help you improve your Portuguese speaking, reading and writing skills.
Details:
Taught by José Duarte Garcia aka Zé. Mondays, from 7pm - 9pm
September 13 - December 20, 2010
If interested in taking these classes contact the UPSES Hall (619) 223-5880
Only $125 per student
Click here for the application. |
July 14, 2010
| Paulinho Wins Stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France |
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Portuguese cyclist Sérgio Paulinho, riding for Team Radio Shack, has won stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France. Today's stage was a challenging, mountainous 178 km (111 miles) ride from Chambéry to Gap. Early on, Paulinho joined five other cyclists in a break away group that distanced the peloton (main group of cyclists) by a margin of 14 minutes. That's a huge margin. Two of the riders in the break away group were French and were trying to secure a victory on France's national holiday; Bastille day. However, with just under 10 kilometers to go, Paulinho answered attacks by other riders in the group of six with a counter-attack of his own. Only one other rider, Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus, was able to keep up. ( Read More of this story) |
July 8, 2010
| PRESD Creates New Guest Book Feature For Memorials |
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Part of our mission at Portuguese Research & Education is to preserve, celebrate and document the history and traditions of our heritage. That includes remembering the people that helped shape the community into what it is today. One of the first areas that we created on our web site back in 2005 was an area for remembering our loved ones that have passed on.
We call this our memorials section. There, we list a photo when available along with a write-up about them. We always thought that it would be special to have a place where loved ones could share stories, or leave a message for the family. We're now pleased to be able to offer the new guest book feature. Think of it as a place where family and friends can share fond memories or stories. The guest book is free and stays with your loved one's memorial page forever. This feature will be added automatically to all new memorial pages and as time allows, we will be adding it to already-exisiting pages. If you'd like to have us add a guest book to your loved one's memorial page, just let us know and we will expedite your request.
Lastly, please help us spread the word. Memorial pages are available to all members of the Portuguese-American community and it is absolutely free, please contact us if you would like to have a memorial page created for your loved one.
Adding stories to the guest book is simple. Click on the memorials link, choose the "Guest Book" link, fill out the form and click on "submit." Or, from the memorial page, scroll to the bottom and choose "Share a Story."
To view stories already submitted, click on the memorial page, scroll to the bottom and choose "View Stories." If you don't see "View Stories", none have been submitted. |
June 28, 2010
| Wonderland Presents: Tuna Fishing Documentary |
Noah Tafollah has completed his latest presentation and he's hooked a whopper. This documentary is about when tuna used to be caught with a bamboo pole. Three men would connect their lines to one hook and work together, because one man couldn't bring in these monster fish alone. To watch the video, click on the link below.
Watch the Trailer
This Tuesday @ 9:00 pm on KPBS.
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June 28, 2010
June 9, 2010
| NRP Sagres Welcomes Guests Daily Through June 13th |
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The NRP (Navio República Portuguesa) Sagres arrived in the port of San Diego at 9am sharp with her sails fully extended. It was a beautiful sight to see. The last time she was here was in 1992, and before that, 1978. In other words, it's a rare opportunity to get to appreciate being on the NRP Sagres.
Now you too can see the Sagres in person for free. The Sagres is open to the public June 9, 11, 12 and 13th. Visiting hours are from 10am - 12pm, 2pm - 6pm and 8pm - 11pm. The Sagres is only here until June 13th, so time is running out quickly! Head down to the Embarcadero and see her first-hand. You'll be glad you did. |
June 7, 2010
June 1, 2010
| Meet the 2011 Festa President |
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| One of the most exciting parts of the Festa for me is the evening dance. After a day full of activities: the parade, the high mass, eating food in the bazaar while enjoying entertainment by the dance groups and bands, the dance is a final chance to have a great time with friends and family. We all know when we see the S.E.S. (Sociedade do Espirito Santo) President approach the stage, it's to make the big announcement. Who will be the next Festa President? (Read more of this story) |
May 29, 2010
May 30, 2010
May 11, 2010
May 2, 2010
April 30, 2010
May 2, 2010
April 30, 2010
April 26, 2010
April 14, 2010
| Azores Genealogical Conference |
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A genealogical conference focusing on the Azores has been planned to include lectures, computer lab time, as well as allowing time for research in the Family History Library (FHL). Lecture topics include computer databases as well as basic techniques for beginners. The FHL has church and civil records from Portugal and the U.S. Other genealogical records include ship passenger lists, census records, World War I & II draft registrations, birth, marriage, and death records for some cities. If you can, plan additional days before or after the conference for more research time. Do not miss this opportunity to research at the world’s greatest genealogical research library.
Hosted by Cheri Mello and Rosemarie Capodicci, Portuguese-Azorean Researchers. (Read more of this story) |
April 12, 2010
April 11, 2010
| Review:11th Annual Crab Feast |
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What an event! There was such great support! I don't think I've ever seen that many people in the hall before. There wasn't an empty seat to be found. The large hall and the small hall were filled to capacity and even every booth in the bar was lined with people ready to enjoy the delicious meal about to be served. Behind the kitchen, the storage room was turned into an activity center and pizza parlor for the children. Dozens of volunteers prepared the feast of garlic bread, garden salad, pasta and the main course, the all-you-can-eat crab! ( Read more of this story) |
February 21, 2010
| Beginning Brazilian-Portuguese Classes Start Thursday |
The word for train in continental Portuguese is comboio, while the Brazilian-Portuguese word is trem. While there are minor differences between the two, the grammar and conjucation of verbs is exactly the same. The major difference is found in the pronunciation. Naturally, coloiquialism will greatly differ as well. However, if you are looking for a course to learn the basics of the Portuguese language, then this course could be for you.
Narciso Garcia, a native Brazilian is starting a beginner's Portuguese course starting on Thursday, February 25, 2010. He teaches the course from his home. Students meet from 7:00 - 8:30pm for 12 consecutive weeks. To sign up for his course, send him an email. |
January 31, 2010
| Don't Miss the UPSES Soccer Invitational |
Photo Courtesy Paradisepride.org |
The first annual UPSES Soccer Invitational, "100 shots on goal", is a two-day soccer event at Liberty Station near Marriott Courtyard. If you love soccer, this is an event you won't want to miss. Proceeds from the event go towards the Centennial Festa. (Read more of this story) |
November 27, 2009
| PRESD's Community Outreach Program a Great Success |
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Back Row: Peter Proud-Madruga, Diana Proud-Madruga, AnaPaula de-Amorim, Glenn de-Amorim, Stinson McElhinney, Andrew Proud-Madruga, Cecil Shuffler
Front Row: Jane Garland, Kelly Tipton, Muriel McElhinney, Maria Shirley, Paulette Shuffler, Rachel Freitas
I have to give credit where credit is due. One of my board members, Kathleen Tucker, suggested our organization apply for a grant from SDG&E for community outreach. That was all it took. Many of the people we interview are senior citizens and they tend to be alone. We saw this as our opportunity to serve our community.
We submitted our proposal for a grant on October 27th. We decided that whether we got a grant or not, this was the right thing to do and we moved forward with our plans immediately. (Read more of this story) |
November 3, 2009
October 30, 2009
| Centennial Gala: Oh What a Night! |
| by Peter Proud-Madruga |
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| (above) Centennial Gala Guests crowd around a board filled with photos from prior Festas |
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What does one hundred years of history look like? Imagine a hotel converted into a museum whose hallways proudly display the history of the San Diego Portuguese Community's Festa do Divino Espirito Santo showcasing beautiful, ornate dresses and capes worn by former Festa queens and photos from as early as the 1910s up to present day. That was the Centenial Gala held Saturday evening, October 24, 2009 and it was a sight to see! A gathering of almost 700 guests was dazzled by this amazing collection of historical artifacts. To preserve this event for posterity, I arrived early and photographed each item on display. There were so many, it took me almost two hours and close to 300 photos to capture everything. (Read more of this story) |
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See Photos of the Centennial Gala |
September 22, 2009
| Port of San Diego Pays Tribute to Tuna Cannery Workers |
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For many years, canneries provided a means of subsistence for thousands of families in San Diego. The first canneries started in the 1910s and lasted until the Van Camp Cannery closed its doors in 1984.
At the height of the tuna cannery success, the industry brought $65 million in annual economic impact to the San Diego region and employed more than 17,000 people. Each year, hundreds of tuna boats brought tuna from the sea right up to the canneries’ back doors. Familiar brands like Chicken of the Sea, Starkist, and Breast ‘O Chicken were packed in the San Diego canneries.
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It is only fitting that an industry that had such a large impact on the community be remembered. The Cannery Worker's Tribute - Parque del Sol public art project, honoring the thousands of San Diegans who worked in the tuna canning industry, will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009.
The artwork is a joint project between the Port of San Diego and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding/Continental Maritime. Created by artists Valerie Salatino and Nancy Moran of Nature Works, Inc., an Escondido sculpture firm, with assistance from Sheila Moran, the artwork incorporates several elements that tell the story of the cannery workers.
Further reading:
Port of San Diego (Video)
Click here to download the Press Release
| Date |
September 26, 2009 |
| Time |
10:30am |
| Place |
Corner of Cesar Chavez & Crosby Street |
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August 3, 2009
June 21, 2009
2009 Festa Slideshows
June 14, 2009
June 14, 2009
June 14, 2009
May 29, 2009
May 27, 2009
May 26, 2009
| The Crownings: Week 1: Ron and Teri Simas Family |
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| What do you get when you cross a Crowning with Day At the Docks? You get very little parking. PRESD apologizes for not being able to provide more photos of the first crowning (April 19th). By the time our photographer found a parking spot and arrived at the church, the procession into the church had already begun. We'll be sure to know about Day at the Docks next time. |
May 23, 2009
| Don't Miss the Festa; Know Your Road Closures |
| It doesn't happen every year, but the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon seems to land on the same day as the Festa do Espirito Santo about every third year. When they do coincide, those people attempting to drive to Point Loma on the day of the Festa are faced with long delays, detours or flat-out road closures that they weren't expecting. To avoid stress and missing the parade, you should should know which roads are affected. (Click here for more) |
February 18, 2009
| Memories of the Downtown Festas told by Jim Bregante |
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| This photo was taken in Our Lady of the Rosary church during the 1964 Downtown Festa. It was the last year of the Downtown Festas. This Sunday, Jim Bregante recounts his memories of the Downtown Festas at the Portuguese-American dinner. If you're interested in hearing more about the Downtown Festas, you won't want to miss his presentation. The presentation is open to members of Portuguese-American Social & Civic Club and their guests. For more information, contact Mary Jane Warren at (619) 890-9685. |
February 18, 2009
| 2009 Cabrillo Civic Club Scholarship |
The 2009 Cabrillo Civic Clubs
scholarship applications are now in
city and county high schools.
Graduating high school seniors of
Portuguese descent who maintain a
3.5 GPA or better and have been
involved in school and community service are encouraged
to apply for the $500 scholarship. Click here for more information.
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January 5, 2009
| How About A Trip to The Azores For Free? |
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If you've been to the Azores, you already know what a beautiful place it is. If you haven't been there, put it on your list of must-see places. In fact, put it near the very top of that list. If you're not familiar with the Azores, it is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 2,400 miles from the East Coast. A total of nine beautiful islands define the Azore Islands.
This month, the Travel Channel's January Sweepstakes prize is a trip for two to the Azores plus $2,000 in spending money. To enter, click here. Entering the sweepstakes is pretty simple. Just provide them with your email address and then answer one question. Heck, they'll even give you the answer if you don't know it. Good luck and should you win, I would be honored to go with you.
Wanna know more about the Azores? Click here
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December 31, 2008
| Feliz Ano Novo! Happy New Year |
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From all of us at Portuguese Research & Education, Inc, Feliz Ano Novo! We wish you and your family a happy 2009 full of joy and good health. |
November 7, 2008
| Community Shows Outpouring of Support for Helen Labruzzi |
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San Diego - Saturday, October 25, 2008 - A big crowd was expected, so when the doors opened at 5 p.m., it didn't take long for the UPSES hall to fill up. Volunteers had arrived hours before to cook spaghetti and sauce, butter bread for garlic toast, and to set the tables. They did a fine job, but everyone knew that the meal wasn't the real reason for so many coming to the hall that night. There was a more important cause; Helen Labruzzi, a very dear and special member of the Portuguese community was in need of help. The community responded.
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October 14, 2008
| Helen Labruzzi Spaghetti Fund-Raiser |
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| Anyone who has lived in Point Loma and has been involved in the Portuguese-American community there knows who Helen Labruzzi is. Few people, if any, have been more involved in the community organizations for as long as she was. She gave of her time and energy freely and helped out the community whenever she could. Now, she needs our help. It's our turn to give some of our time and energy to help support her. See Details |
August 12, 2008
| 24 Years Ago Today: A Look Back in Olympics History |
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| The men's marathon, a grueling 26.2 mile running event, brings the Olympics to a close. It is the final athletic event of the Olympic games. When that first runner enters the arena to the roar of a packed crowd of nearly a hundred thousand people, it must be the rush of a lifetime for the gold medal winner. Such was the feeling of exlieration 24 years ago for Carlos Lopes. (Read entire story) |
July 14, 2008
June 27, 2008
| Reminder: YP Memorial Unveiling is Tomorrow |
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View Larger Map |
Don't miss the unveiling of the YP Memorial. The dediciation ceremony takes place tomorrow, Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 11:30AM. The memorial is located just south of the G Street Pier. The new YP Memorial is just across the sidewalk from the U.S.S. San Diego memorial. You can see part of the U.S.S. San Diego memorial in the photo above (the wall with the ship on it). The YP memorial is visible in this photo, but we can't show you the details until after the unveiling. We don't want to play spoiler.
Come Early
It's summer time and that means the port is bustling with tourists wanting to take in San Diego's sights. Parking is in limited supply and between the tourists and people wanting to eat lunch at The Fish Market, that doesn't leave many spaces. Bring quarters with you. One quarter gives you 12 minutes in a parking meter. The ceremony is expected to last about 30 minutes so if you'd like to avoid a parking ticket, plan on having about a dollar's worth of quarters with you. Attendance is expected to be high, so come early to guarantee that you get to see the unveiling. See you tomorrow! |
June 21, 2008
June 16, 2008
| Yard Patrol (YP) Dedication Memorial: Save the Date |
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| Don't miss out on the unveiling of the Yard Patrol (YP) Memorial Dedication. Thanks to the hard work of August Felando, John Rebello, Kenny Alameda and others, there will now be a place to remember all the hard-working men that served on the yard patrol boats during World War II, helping to keep our country safe. Click here for all of the details. |
June 14, 2008
| 2008 Portuguese-American Community Float: Obrigado to the Donors Who Helped Make it Possible |
| It wasn't that long ago that the 2008 Tournament of Roses parade helped ring in the new year. Unbelievably beautiful floats lined Colorado Blvd representing a "Passport to the World's Celebrations." For the first time in the parade's 119 year history, there was a float representing the Portuguese. The man overwhelmingly responsible for bringing his 30 year dream to fruition was Anthony Bettencourt. The float, "Portuguese-American Community" wouldn't have been a success were it not for the financial support from the Portuguese-American community at large. Mr. Bettencourt wanted to make sure that everyone who helped out was acknowledged. Without further ado, PRESD is proud to help acknowledge these donors. Please click here to see a list of the donors. |
May 18, 2008
May 9, 2008
| Countdown to Festa 2008: The Sixth Crowning |
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Back Row: Mr. and Mrs. John Gonsalves
Front Frow: Princess Renée Gonsalves, Queen Lauren Lowell and Princess Emily Lowell |
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View a slideshow of Queen Lauren Lowell |
April 29, 2008
April 22, 2008
April 14, 2008
| Joe Falante Fish-Fry Fund-Raiser a Big Success |
Ed Rose and his wonderful crew have been putting on Fish-fry Fund-Raisers for many years. Ed's been putting on his fish-fry event for so long, people call it "Ed Rose's Famous Fish Fry." Tonight's effort was one of the most successful yet; a fund-raiser at the UPSES hall to help fellow community member Joe Falante and his family through some difficult financial times. The community made a showing tonight, big time, and raised thousands of dollars this evening to help with Joe's unexpected medical expenses. The delicious smell of Ed Rose's beer-battered fish recipe came served with a baked potato, salad and dessert. However, it was the community that made tonight special. with Thank you to everyone in the community for the outpouring of generous support. |
April 14, 2008
| Countdown to Festa 2008: The Third Crowning |
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Queen VivIan Romero Presents to Coroa (Crown) to Father Mel Collier |
| Yesterday's crowning marked the half-way point of the weekly crownings. There are three crownings remaining and if you can believe, the 2008 Festa do Espirito Santo featuring Queen Ariel Brito and mordomo Bea De Silva is now less than 4 weeks away. |
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View a slideshow of Queen Vivian Romero |
April 8, 2008
| Countdown to Festa 2008: The Second Crowning |
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Mr. and Mrs. Thierry proudly stand behind King Jordan and Queen Taylor Thierry |
| Last Sunday's second crowning was beautiful. Even the weather cooperated this time. We'll be posting a slideshow of the second crowning in a few days. |
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View a slideshow of Queen Taylor Thierry Crowning |
April 6, 2008
| Rest in Peace: Joe Varley |
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Yesterday morning (Saturday, April 5, 2008), Joe Varley passed away in his home with his family by his side. Joe was an integral part of our community and will be dearly missed. Please place Joe and his family in your prayers.
Services will be held at 11AM, Friday, April 11, 2008 at Saint Agnes Catholic Church. |
April 2, 2008
April 2, 2008
March 26, 2008
| San Diegan David Silveira Killed in Alaska Boat Sinking |
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Map, News) - Four crew members died Sunday and another was missing after a Seattle-based fishing boat began sinking in high seas off Alaska's Aleutian Islands, the Coast Guard said.
The dead were among 47 crew members who abandoned ship after the 184-foot Alaska Ranger developed problems. Forty-two crew members were recovered safely, but a search was continuing for the missing person, said Chief Petty Officer Barry Lane.
The vessel started taking on water shortly before 3 a.m. after losing control of its rudder 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, which is on Unalaska Island.
San Diego Natives David Silveira and Daniel Cook died when the ship sank.
Silveira, 50, was born and raised in Point Loma. His family was in the tuna fishing industry. He was the second of four siblings and the only son.
Funeral arrangments are pending.
Related Article |
October 22, 2007
| Our First Video Presentation: Deu Varley |
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Click on the picture above to see the video |
Filmed in 2004 from her home, Mrs. Deutilde Varley describes the process involved in what is now a lost art; creating models from tiny pieces extracted from fig tree piths. Click on the picture above or the article title to view the video. The video is in Portuguese with English subtitles. We hope to make these videos enjoyable and educational, and look forward to providing you with more in the future. Comments and suggestions are welcome, so please forward them to contact@presd.org
Obrigado
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