Allensworth on State Park Endangered List

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the California State Parks Foundation released its second annual “State of Our State Parks” report. The report identifies the top six threats to California’s State Park System.

1. Roads cutting through state parks
2. High speed rail running through state parks
3. Development damaging state parks
4. Historical/cultural resources in danger
5. Overuse and short staffing threatens state beaches
6. State parks imperiled by environmentally harmful activities

The report had this to say about the state’s plan to build a high-speed rail system:

“Reducing traffic and emissions is a good idea – building a rail system that will run through or by 22 State Parks is not. The effects of a high speed rail system on many of our State Parks are enormous, and would include impacts from noise and construction, habitat fragmentation, infringement on cultural resources and recreational trails, and cumulative effects – including growth inducement,”

Monday, March 14 the California State Parks Foundation will hold its third annual Park Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. Meeting with legislators are scheduled during the day and between 5pm and 6:30pm they will honor Assembly Member John Laird and Senator Denise Ducheny for their efforts and dedication to the state parks. The first of three strategic planning sessions is scheduled for this Sunday, February 27, 20005, 1:00 – 3:00pm at the River Center in Los Angeles.

Read the complete State of Our State Parks report. Get more information about the Third Annual Park Advocacy Day or find out how you can help save our state parks.

“The Allensworth Artist” featured in Porterville College art exhibit

In honor of Black History Month the work of Jeanette Brewer "The Allensworth Artist," is featured in an art exhibit at the PC Art Gallery in the Fine Arts Building on Porterville College. The exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday.

On Thursday there will be a reading from the Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have A Dream" speech and historical account of Allensworth Thursday at noon in the theater.

Allensworth State Historic Park official storyteller to perform in Beverly Hills

Actress Ellaraino, the official storyteller for Allensworth State Historic Park, Barbara Clark, Michael D. McCarty, Leslie Perry, and Spoken Word Artist, Willie Sims will present Tellers and Talkers "Up, Down, and All Around" Saturday, April 9, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Public Library Auditorium. This performance is part of the Tale Teller: Storytelling Concert Series for Adults. Admission to this two-hour performance is $10.00 per person. For more information on the Storytelling Concert Series visit the Beverly Hills Public Library web site.

Army Reverses 1894 Dishonorable Discharge for Chaplain Henry Vinton Plummer

Henry Vinton Plummer was the first African American to be commissioned an army chaplain. A charismatic preacher, Plummer was assigned to the Ninth Cavalry in 1884, which at the time was headquartered at Fort Riley, Kansas. Chaplain Plummer was dishonorably discharged in 1894 for "conduct unbecoming an officer" for drinking with enlisted men and cursing in front of one man's children and wife. This week (February 10, 2005) Chaplain Henry Vinton Plummer was posthumously honorable discharge from the Army.

You can hear Michele Norris, of All Things Considered,talk with the Rev. Jerome Fowler about the posthumous honorable discharge of his great-uncle, Chaplain Henry Vinton Plummer.


You can also read the Army News Service article on Capt Plummer at the U.S. Army web site.