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White Pelican at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

white pelican

Mallard Slough Trail Alviso (San Jose)

White Pelicans can be some of the largest North American birds with a 9 foot wingspan and weighing between 9.2 to 30 pounds. They are identified by having large heads and yellow huge bills. For feeding the pelicans dip their bills to swallow fish. Historically White Pelicans were threatened with extinction due to DDT pesticides during the 1950s and 1960s but returned back to health due to stricter environmental protection laws. White Pelicans generally live in the lakes, marshes, and salt ponds most of the time. The birds are similar to Brown Pelicans except they are larger and don’t dive from the air for fish.

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-white-pelican

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25 Years at SAP Center San Jose

sharks simone biles

 

25 years at SAP Center San Jose celebrates the performers and artists who performed at the Center during that time. Included in the mural are local ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi, popular singer Adele, norteno group Los Tigres del Norte from San Jose, gymnast Simone Biles, the San Jose Sharks, rapper E-40, and legendary singer Elton John. The San Jose mural was organized by Empire Seven E7, an contemporary art gallery located in San Jose advocating for local/global artists and painted by the Los Angeles based The Draculas who focuses on illustration-based projects that find inspiration in narrative.

https://www.empiresevenstudios.com/

https://draculasdesign.com/

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Medina Berry Farm

lety medina family

(L-R)  Jaime Medina, Lety Medina, Kayla Medina, and Alexandra Medina

 

The Medina Berry Farm, a family owned business since 1980, was started by Angelica Medina in Watsonville, CA and they grow delicious strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Lety Medina, Angelica’s sister, assists the business with her family. Both Angelica and Lety Medina sell the berries at local farmers markets in the greater San Francisco Bay Area such as San Jose, San Francisco, and Cupertino. Angelica’s husband Pedro grows the berries at their berry farm in Watsonville.

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Black-necked Stilt

black necked stilt

Photograph taken at the Alviso Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge

 

A Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) of one the most colorful of shorebirds with pink legs, long thin black bill, and black and white plumage. They live in salt marshes, flooded fields, or salt pans. Their diet consists of insects and crustaceans. You can regularly see them at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge.

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The Great Buddha of Kamakura

Great Buddha Kamakura_downsized

Scanned from my black & white film print

 

The Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura) is a large copper image of Amida-butsu (Amitabha Buddha) located at Kotoku-in 高徳院 temple in Kamakura City. The statue of was constructed around in 1252 and was originally indoors. It was said to be destroyed by a tsunamis and typhoons in the 13th & 14th century and later re-built outdoors. The over 750 year old Buddha statue weighs about 121 tons and stands 11.3 meters high and was designated a National Treasure by the Japanese government.

 

https://www.kotoku-in.jp/en/index.php#guidance

 

https://www.kotoku-in.jp/en/about.html

 

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ICE Out of SCC

ice out of scc 1

On Tuesday June 4th, 2019 over 100 immigrants, activists, supporters, lawyers, and clergy held a rally at the Santa Clara County office in San Jose to support due process for immigrants and to prevent the Santa Clara County to collaborate with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). After a strong community presence inside the chamber, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 0 to maintain the strongest Sanctuary Policy in the USA. The rally and mobilization was organized by the FIRE Coalition including: Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN), Silicon Valley De-Bug, Asian Law Alliance, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Pangea Legal Services, People Acting in Community Together (PACT), and Sacred Heart Community Service.