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Kane: ‘Mel King Way’ fitting tribute to civil rights icon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

It is impossible to overstate the impact Mel King had on my life.  His example inspired a career in tenant organizing and housing advocacy and a lifelong passion to save the South End as a racially and economically diverse community,  not just at Tent City, but by helping more than 2,000 South End HUD families organize to save their at-risk homes as affordable housing, one building at a time, over the past 50 years.I first met Mel in 1974, shortly after starting at the South End Project Area Committee (SEPAC), the elected Urban Renewal committee that grew out of the Tent City protests in 1968.  Nothing happened on the Tent City site itself until October 1974, when the BRA abruptly advertised the land for an 18-story luxury high rise.  SEPAC convened a neighborhood Task Force, co-chaired by Mel, to develop community guidelines for mixed income housing. SEPAC adopted the guidelines and blocked the luxury high rise plan.In weekly Task Force meetings, Mel guided group discussion to focu...

Chilaquiles verde a magical Mexican breakfast

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

For a food writer, one of the best things about going on vacation is not having to cook every day, all day. Then again, because your world revolves around testing recipes, vacation also can mean work because if you go somewhere new and exciting, you’re bound to eat a dish or two you’ll want to re-create when you get home.At least that’s what happened to me on a recent trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Midweek during our trip, my husband and I braved the snowy Teton Pass into Idaho in my sister’s SUV so we could spend a few hours snowshoeing at the Grand Targhee Resort. Famished after clomping atop the (very deep and very packed!) snow, we stopped at The Provision Kitchen in the tiny town of Driggs for a little well-earned apres ski before heading back up the pass to Wyoming. I love anything with salsa verde, so the restaurant’s chilaquiles immediately caught my eye.If you’ve never had it, chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican breakfast offering in whi...

A sandwich ideal for picnic dinners

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

When it comes to picnics or meals enjoyed at the beach or on park benches, portability reigns supreme. This makes sandwiches the ultimate go-to. Sandwich ingredients do not need to be limited to cold cuts or tuna salad. This recipe for a “Roasted Vegetable Focaccia Sandwich” from “The Pampered Chef¨ Stoneware Inspirations” (The Pampered Chef¨, Ltd.) by The Pampered Chef¨ Test Kitchens puts vegetables front and center.TAG GOES HERERoasted Vegetable Focaccia SandwichINGREDIENTS1 medium eggplant1 large zucchini1 tablespoon olive oil2 garlic cloves, pressedSalt and coarsely ground black pepper (optional)2 balls fresh mozzarella cheese (8 ounces), sliced1 medium tomato, sliced1 7 1/2-inch loaf focaccia bread (about 12 ounces)1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leavesDIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 450 F. Cut eggplant and zucchini crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Combine eggplant, zucchini and oil in a mixing bowl. Press garlic into mixi...

Kelvin Harrison revives historic virtuoso in ‘Chevalier’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

“Chevalier” begins dramatically with a “Battle of the Bands” in an elegant Parisian theater.  Only this is a 17th-century competition between two violinists, the already legendary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Bologne, a biracial musical – and fencing! – prodigy from the Caribbean.While “Chevalier” revives a composer and cultural force erased by history, for Kelvin Harrison Jr. bringing Bologne alive was easily the most challenging role he’s ever faced.Bologne was brought from Guadalupe to France as a child.  The son of a Frenchman and enslaved African woman, the boy was prodigiously talented on the piano, violin and in fencing. For his accomplishments he was honored as Chevalier de Saint-Georges.Harrison, 28, who starred as Fred Hampton in the “Trial of the Chicago 7” and played BB King in “Elvis,” grew up in New Orleans, singing and playing the piano and trumpet. With parents who are musicians, this musical history helped but “Chevalier” really was demanding on a whole other ...

Editorial: Leak puts Pentagon mismanagement in spotlight

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

In a textbook case of closing the barn door after the horse has been stolen, the Department of Defense has revoked access to highly classified information and is “culling through” distribution lists after a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman IT specialist allegedly leaked Pentagon documents and was arrested last week.As the Herald reported, Jack Teixeira, 21, who has been stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod, is accused of publicly posting top secret government documents on the war in Ukraine and other highly sensitive matters. He was arrested at his North Dighton home last week, and arraigned on federal charges in Boston’s U.S. District Court.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a review of Department of Defense security programs, policies and procedures in the wake of this alleged leak, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Monday.No, the time to review security programs, policies and procedures was long before this incident, in order to en...

Lowry: Ron DeSantis is down, but hardly out

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

The Ron DeSantis presidential campaign sure was good while it lasted.The conventional wisdom has turned so decidedly against the Florida governor that he’s getting buried a couple of months before he even announces.Rumors of his political death are not just greatly exaggerated they are absurdly overwrought, although that’s what a bout of bad national polling will do.To listen to the pundits, DeSantis has gone from the political force who steamrolled his way to a historic reelection victory in a large, diverse former swing state to a socially awkward stumblebum who would stay out of the 2024 race if he knew what was good for him.It’s wrong to characterize the last couple of months as a loss for DeSantis. His book was a success and he’s in the process of racking up an impressive string of victories during the current session of the Florida legislature. But there’s no doubt that he’s hit turbulence. He, in effect, walked back the line in his statemen...

Dear Abby: Dad ends contact with son over lifestyle

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

Dear Abby: Our son “Victor” and his wife have informed us that they are “polyamorous.” They have been married for nine years, and were together for five years before they married. They have agreed to this arrangement, and their partners know they are married. They love each other, own a home together and plan to be together forever. They are “safe,” and no one is getting hurt.Because of their lifestyle, my husband, “Del,” has not communicated with them for more than 16 months. He says if I die first, he’ll make sure they get nothing in his will. I have visited them alone (we live over 800 miles away) and plan to do so in the future. Our other married son, “Mike,” tried to talk to his father about this, but Del still refuses to budge. When Mike said this means we will never be together as a family again, his father had no response.I have told Del this is breaking my heart. I have considered leaving him over this. Howev...

Bub's at the Beach to close after 25 years

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It will be the end of an era for a longtime Pacific Beach staple after 25 years of service.Bub's at the Beach, located at 1030 Garnet Ave, will be closing its doors, the bar and grill announced Tuesday via Instagram."25 years in Pacific Beach is coming to an end. Come celebrate with us as we say thank you to PB and everyone who has supported us over the years!! We will be closing our doors at the end of the month so there's a short window to hit your favorites on Bub's menu and give some love to our amazing staff," the restaurant said. California’s Mission-style Burrito among most difficult US fast foods to give up: study Opening in 1998 in Pacific Beach, Bub's then branched out to downtown San Diego, according to its website. Bub's, which is notably known as a big Padres hot spot, is also the official Pittsburgh Steelers' bar in San Diego and home to watch parties for the Virginia Tech Hokies.Talk about tradition, the bar and grill has been serving tater tots since a...

La Jolla Cove fencing in need of fixing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Years of rot from storms and neglect have resulted in a fence standing on the edge of the La Jolla Cove with a little more than paint holding it together in spots. “It’s finally come down to, we need to get it done,” said Bob Evans, the president of La Jolla Parks and Beaches INC. After years of complaining about the issues to the city, The La Jolla Parks and Beaches INC, an association of locals, are vowing to fix the fencing without the city’s help. Passengers react to Southwest Airlines issues at San Diego airport “I can stand here and pound my fists and scream. We deserve, we are owed, the community needs this now, but that’s not going to get it done,” Evans said. The city has agreed to meet with the group and discuss what services might be accomplished by the community group on Thursday. Evans hopes to raise $100,000 to revitalize roughly two miles of fencing from Goldfish Point to Whale Viewpoint.  

House Republicans ready border enforcement push after delays

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:01:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans for months have railed against the Biden administration’s handling of the U.S. border with Mexico, holding hearings, visiting border communities and promising to advance legislation to clamp down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking.But so far, they have failed to unify behind a plan, delaying efforts to pass legislation.Now they are hoping to change that. Republicans on Wednesday are jumpstarting work on an immigration and border enforcement package that would remake immigration law to make it more difficult to apply for asylum and easier for the federal government to stop migrants from entering the U.S.Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican who is chair of the Judiciary Committee drafting the legislation, said he expected Wednesday’s markup of the bill to go “well.”The undertaking comes as Washington is putting renewed focus on border security, and the plight of thousands of migrants who show up seeking entry into the U.S., with a looming May de...