Friday, July 24, 2009

Pánicos, Depresiones y Crisis Económicas Antes de 1930 (1)

Traducido por Miriam Medina

"Esto se usa comúnmente ahora para describir un estado de miedo que linda con el frenesí, de cualquier causa inducida. En la historia, se refiere a los grandes crisis economicos como "Pánicos". Los Estados Unidos han pasado por varios que eran notables.

Aquellos quienes fueron de los más desastrosos han seguido por lo general la especulación imprudente en tierras o seguridades infladas.Se afirma que la crisis de 1816-1819 en los Estados Unidos fue debido a la especulación y desorden después de la guerra de 1812. El siguiente ocurrió en 1825. Un pánico muy memorable era el de 1837.

Los pocos años precedentes habían sido marcados por la especulación extraordinaria, continuada con un sistema bancario poco sólido."La circular de especie de Jackson" hizo que muchos bancos se suspendieran, y el crédito fue deteriorado generalmente en el país. La ayuda gubernamental fue invocada por muchas instituciones financieras, pero sin provecho, como Van Buren, que había tenido éxito a la presidencia, insistio en que los individuos deben rectificar sus propios asuntos. En 1857 otro período de inflación fue seguido por otro pánico.Otra vez en 1873 había una crisis monetaria severa. Justamente 20 años más tarde ocurrió el último pánico del cual el país ha sufrido.

Depresión
El colapso masivo de la economía que normalmente sigue un período de prosperidad. Una depresión es por lo general acompañada por un pánico financiero o un desplome de la bolsa mientras los inversionistas pierden confianza y rechazan comprar las acciónes
o hacer préstamos. Un nivel tambaleante de desempleo es el resultado más inmediato y debilitante. Sin embargo, no todos los desplomes alcanzan el nivel de depresión nacional, Si el descenso en la economía es efímera y relativamente suave, es llamado "una recesión". Tres depresiones principales, así definido debido a la profundidad y duración del colapso han ocurrido en la historia americana: 1837, 1893, and 1929. Algunos historiadores agregan a la lista los descensos en 1857, 1873, y 1907. Hay mucho conflicto entre historiadores económicos y economistas en cuanto a las causas de depresiones económicas.

Crisis económica
Un término usado flojamente por escritores económicos para distinguir la fase aguda o el curso entero de los disturbios en la vida económica que han caracterizado el siglo pasado, y que se han repetido con tanta frecuencia como para que aparezcan los resultados inevitables de la orden industrial moderno . Los fenómenos involucrados son tan complejos que deben estar descritos en vez de definirse.

El hecho que sobresale en la historia económica de los últimos tiempos es la alternancia de la prosperidad y la depresión, de tiempos buenos y mal. Un período de prosperidad con la expansión de los negocios, una gran actividad en la producción y el comercio, es llevado de repente a su fin, generalmente por el fracaso de una casa bancaria prominente, trayendo consigo la caída de otras instituciones financieras y mercantiles.

Se paraliza el negocio, los acreedores exigen el pago de reclamaciones, y los deudores encuentran casi imposible para asegurar los medios de pago. El panico domina, y por un tiempo toda la estructura mercantil amenaza con derrumbarse. De ese evento chocante, los negocios recuperan pero lentamente, su actividad se reduce al punto más bajo, y transcurre un tiempo antes de que la restauración de la confianza ocurra.

A continuación.... (2)
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Si deseas dejar un comentario escribe a: miriammedina@earthlink.net o miriam@thehistorybox.com
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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Poesías de José Martí (7)

"A Micaela"
(En la muerte de Miguel Angel)
I
Cuando en la noche del duelo
Llora el alma sus pesares,
Y lamenta su desgracia,
Y conduele sus afanes,
Tristes lágrimas se escapan
Como perlas de los mares;
Y por eso, Micaela,
Triste lloras, sin que nadie
Tu dolor consolar pueda
Y tus sollozos acalle;
y por eso, Micaela,
Triste en tu dolor de madre,
Lloras siempre, siempre gimes
La muerte de Miguel Angel.
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II
¡ Allí está ! Cual fresca rosa,
Blanco lirio de la tarde,
Sentado en el verde musgo,
Yace tu Miguel, tu "ángel",
La imagen de tus delirios,
La noche de tus afanes,
El alma de tus amores,
Consuelo de tus pesares,
Pura gota de rocío
Que al blando beso del aire
Casta brotó de tu seno
Convertida en Miguel Angel.
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III
¡Allí está ! Lágrimas tristes
Anublan tu faz de madre,
Porque les falta a tus ojos
Algo bello, algo tan suave
Como las nubes de oro,
Rosa y grana de la tarde;
Y en el aire que respiras,
Y en las hojas de los árboles,
Ves cruzar, cual misteriosa
Sombra, de tu amor imagen,
A la perla de tus sueños,
Al precioso Miguel Angel.
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IV
Pero, ¿ no ves, Micaela,
Esa nube y esos ángeles?
¡Mira ! ¿ No ves cómo suben?
¿ Los ves? ¿Los ves? ¡ Triste madre,
Ya se llevan a tu hijo,
De tus delirios la imagen,
El alma de tus amores,
La noche de tus afanes,
Pura gota de rocío
Linda perla de los mares!....
¡ Llora, llora, Micaela,
Porque se fue Miguel Angel!
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14 de abril de 1868
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De mi colección de libros: "Obras Completas José Martí Volumen 17 Poesia; Editorial Nacional de Cuba/La Habana, 1964.
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Vea "El Rincón Español " (música latina, documentarios y más de José Martí.
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Italian Harlem's Police Report #4

Topic: Gunmen Kill Cousin of Lupo-the-Wolf; Slayers Open Fire From Automobile with Sawed-Off Shotguns in Harlem 1922

Vincent Morrelli, also known as Vincent Terranova, whose murder yesterday morning at 116th Street and Second Avenue is said by the police to have been the cause of the pistol battle in Grand Street last evening, was shot down near his home by several men in an automobile, who escaped. Morrelli's ostensible occupation was that of restaurateur, but he is known to the police as a leader in bootlegging gangs and as an associate of counterfeiters, "policy" men and members of other gangs.Morrelli, although severely wounded, dropped to one knee and drew his revolver, firing several times. Then, as he fell back, he flung the weapon far into the street, in apparent last effort to have his person free from any incriminating evidence when the police arrived.

When Patrolman Winter of the East 126th Street Station did arrive, a minute later, Morrelli was dead and the car was gone. Two witnesses, however, were on hand to tell of its presence.Morrelli was identified by his widow, who had heard the shooting. Later investigation showed he was the man who was also known to the police as Terranova. It was recalled that several months ago he had been arrested on a charge of a violation of the Sullivan law and that he had been involved in a bootlegging gang. Detective Hugh Cassidy, who once worked under Lieutenant Petrosino in the Italian district, believed however, that the feud that led to Morrelli's murder ran back further than the Volstead act.

The police were still gathering together the loose ends of Morrelli's history last night, when the Grand Street shooting occurred. In 1908, it developed, he had been arrested as a suspect in the murder of Diamond Sam Sicco. He was acquitted of the charge. The murdered man's half brother, Giuseppe Morrelli, and Ignazio Lupo, were arrested in 1900 at Highland, N.Y., for counterfeiting and were sentenced to serve twenty-five years each. They were pardoned recently.Morrelli was a cousin of Lupo who is known as Lupo, the Wolf, and whose name came up during the investigation of the "barrel murder" at Avenue A and Eleventh Street in 1900.Nicola Terranova, a brother of the slain man, and Charles Umbracio were lured to a house in Brooklyn and killed about five year ago. A cousin, named Charles Lamonti, was shot in 1913 at 116th Street and First Avenue. Lamonti's brother Joe was shot and killed about a year later.

The New York Times May 9, 1922

To contact: miriam@thehistorybox.com
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Italian Harlem's Police Report #3

Topic: Italian Butcher Murdered; Was killed by his former Partner, who had married the Girl he loved 1902

Two Italian butchers, who for several years have supplied meat to the residents of "Little Italy" in East Harlem, fought a duel with pistols and knives yesterday morning, which resulted in the death of one and the disappearance of the other. The dead man is Cinzeno Tanzello, twenty-five years old, of 300 East One Hundred and Seventh Street, and his murderer, Giuseppe De Posino, twenty-two years old, of 306 East One Hundred and Seventh Street, who up to a late hour last night had not been captured by the p olice.Up to several months ago the men were partners in a large butcher shop at 300 East One Hundred and Seventh Street.

Among their customers was a young Italian girl named Rosina. Both fell in love with her, proposed, and were refused. De Posino persisted in his attentions and there were numerous quarrels between the partners. Finally Rosina accepted De Posino, and they were married secretly. When Tanzello learned this he was furious. After a fight the partnership was dissolved. Tanzello continued to run the store at 300 East One Hundred and Seventh Street, while De Posino took his bride to 306 East One Hundred and Seventh Street, where he opened an opposition shop. Since that time the two men have fought and quarreled every time they met.The rivalry culminated yesterday morning, when De Posino saw several of his customers enter Tanzello's store, and leave it with bundles of meat. Furious, he rushed into Tanzello's store and charged him with robbing him of his customers. Tanzello denied the charge, and picking up a butcher's knife made a slash at De Posino. Dodging the blow De Posino stepped backward and drawing a revolver from under his apron fired two shots. One bullet took effect over the left eye, and the other just over the heart. Tanzello fell across the doorstep. De Posino rushed into his won store, grabbed the contents of the till, and disappeared in a tenement house across the street. By this time the entire neighborhood was in an uproar, and policeman Shaw of the East One Hundred and Fourth Street Station, who heard the shots, arrived and found four Italians carrying Tanzello to a drug store. He at once summoned an ambulance, and Dr. Neal took the injured man to Harlem Hospital, where he died a few minutes after his arrival there.Capt. Haughey detailed a number of men on the case, but a most careful search failed to reveal the murderer. Detectives Reed and Dixon, however, arrested Assinato Tanzello, who is either a cousin or brother of the dead man, and Antonio Boliandi, both living at 306 East One Hundred and Seventh Street, as witnesses and accessories to the crime.

The New York Times March 10, 1902.

To contact: miram@thehistorybox.com
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Italian Harlem's Police Report #2

Topic: Armed Gangster Shot to Death 1913

A young Italian known as "Charley Baker," said to be a notorious gangster of Harlem's Little Italy, walked into the saloon of Umberto Vespasiano, at 324 East 115th Street, last night and demanded of the saloon keeper $5 for five tickets he had left with him to sell for an "association" ball to be given next week. When Vespasiano pleaded that he had been unable to sell the tickets, and that being a poor man he could buy only one for himself, Baker snatched the four tickets out of his hand, saying:"All right. I'll collect for the other four when I see you at the ball."Then he went into the rear room of the saloon and began to p lay pool. A few minutes later there was a rush of several men into the rear room, and immediately thereafter a succession of shots. Wespasiano, running into the rear room, found Baker dead on the floor. Policeman Conway, hearing the shots, ran to the saloon, too late, however, to see any of the escaping assassins.When they lifted Baker from the floor a revolver, fully loaded, dropped from his pocket, and in two other pockets were found ten cartridges. The saloon-keeper was held in the East 104th Street station as a material witness. He could give no description of the men who had done the shooting. There were five shots fired, and five bullet wounds in Baker two in his chest, one under his chin, one in his right temple, and one in his left temple.The police theory is that the shooting was a gang's revenge, deliberately carried out for the satisfying of some grudge. The police believe that the assassins took places around their victim before they attacked him. Baker, the police say had been arrested several times. Under the name of Charles Marrone, he was held in $1,000 bail in Special Sessions last January for carrying concealed weapons, but forfeited his bond.

Source: The New York Times December 6, 1913

To contact: miriam@thehistorybox.com
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Italian Harlem's Police Report #1

Topic: Accused of Burning A Boy 1901

Joseph Brossi, an Italian laborer, thirty years old, of 446 East One Hundred and Fifteenth Street, was a prisoner in the Harlem Police Court yesterday morning charged with holding Charles Timmers, seven years old, of 1631 Avenue A, over a bonfire until the boy's hands were fright-fully burned and the hair on his head was completely singed off.Brossi has been working on a new building at Eighty-sixth Street, between First and Second Avenues.

On Saturday afternoon, as it was cold, the laborers built a bonfire, and little Charles, with his brother George, thirteen years old, and Eugene Canfield, twelve years old, of 413 East Eighty-sixth Street, played about it. The boys charge that Brossi lost his temper, seized the smallest and held him over the fire, while the other men refused to interfere. Brossi denied the charge and said that the boys were at the bonfire and commenced to kick the wood and stones. They were finally ordered away, and in running out of the place little Charles fell into the fire, thus burning his hands.Magistrate Meade said that he would give Brossi an opportunity to get witnesses and he held him in $1,000 ball for further examination this morning.The father of the injured boy said that he had positive proof that the Italian held the boy in the fire and that the boy did not fall as the prisoner alleges.

The New York Times January 7, 1901

To Contact: miriam@thehistorybox.com
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

2009 Giglio di Sant’ Antonio Feast in East Harlem


EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT!

"Getting Ready for the Big 10th Annual Feast "Giglio Di Sant' Antonio in East Harlem. Atmosphere charged with Great Expectation.
By Bobby Maida.

"East Harlem, once the largest Italian community in NYC is a pleasant memory for countless former inhabitants. To renew that memory, thousands of former residents along with their children and grandchildren will be returning to renew that bond and meet up with friends in the old neighborhood for the Feast of Giglio di Sant’Antonio sponsored by the Giglio Society of East Harlem.

The Giglio Society of East Harlem is a group of men who have dedicated their lives to honor Sant’ Antonio, their beloved saint. Their love and devotion is on display each year during their Annual Festival held in East Harlem, New York. They honor their Patron Saint in very much the same fashion as their ancestry did and still do annually today in Brusciano, Italy by building a Giglio and dancing it in the streets
of Manhattan, N.Y.

The origins of the Giglio Society trace their heritage back to the town of Brusciano, Italy approximately 20 miles outside of Naples. Here an annual Feast called the Dance of the Giglio takes place yearly in honor Sant’ Antonio. The feast originally began back in the 1880’s when Francisco Vivolo prayed to Sant’ Antonio to help cure his deathly ill child.

In exchange for this cure, Francisco vowed to honor Sant’ Antonio in the same manner the town’s people of Nola, Italy, a nearby town honoring San Paolino di Nola, by constructing Gigli in honor of Sant’ Antonio and dancing them in the streets of Brusciano. Francisco’s prayers were answered and the dancing of the Gigli in Brusciano was born. It continues today where 6 Gigli are built for the Annual Festival during the latter part of August and danced on the shoulders of hundreds of men . For those unfamiliar with the Giglio (pronounced JEEL-YO)-it is a 75 to 85 foot tall wooden structure weighing approx 8,000 lbs with a paper-mache face adorned with beloved saints and colorful flowers.

The face of the Giglio is one of the crucial components of the Giglio, each made from scratch each year to specification of the Maestro di Festa (or Master of Ceremonies) in Italy. Although the face changes yearly, one consistent fact remains and that it- the town’s patron saint can be found somewhere on the face and more likely on the top. Giglios are built in honor of a town’s patron saint and carried on the shoulders of approximately 120 men in a ritual that dates back to 409AD in the town of Nola Italy. Today, Giglio feasts are found throughout a number of towns in the surrounding area of Naples. Each town varies the tradition to meet the local town’s tradition.
On the platform just above the base of the Giglio sits a multi-piece band along with several singers. The music is an instrumental part of the dancing of the Giglio as it inspires the Lifters (also known as the ‘”Paranza” in Italian) to take on the burdening weight of the Giglio and band and dance it in harmony to the music being played. Additional historical Giglio information can be found at www.giglio-usa.org.

Around the turn of 1900’s, Italian immigrants left Italy in search of a better life for their families. During this time, Southern Italy was a very desperate place holding little or no promise of a bright future for the many starving and hungry families. Many had no choice but to pack up their belongings and take a chance on moving to the promise of ‘New World’ – America !

Many families from the town of Brusciano, Italy migrated to East Harlem, NY to start anew with other families and friends that came before them. Although these Immigrants brought little with them on their 30-day long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in the tight confines of the boat, what they did carry with them were their beloved traditions. For the people of Brusciano, this included the yearly Dance of the Giglio Festival in honor of Sant’Antonio.

Upon their arrival, the Italian immigrants of East 106th Street in East Harlem decided to initiate their beloved traditions by building a Giglio and dancing it in the ‘New World’. The Festival on 106th Street grew for many years becoming one of the largest street fairs in America and remained that way until 1955. Then in 1957, the Festival moved a few blocks uptown to 108th Street where the Dance of the Giglio continued until 1971 .

After a 29 year hiatus, the Dance of the Giglio returned to East Harlem in 2000 as a Cooperative Feast with the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that resides on 115th Street between 1st and Pleasant Avenues. The Festival enjoyed several years dancing the Giglio during the Annual Feast of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel that takes place each year on July 16th, the Feast Date of the Madonna. Historical information on the Our Lady of Mount Carmel feast can be found at http://www.mountcarmelofeastharlem.com/olmc.html.

For the 2006 Feast, it was decided to hold the Dance of the Giglio Festival separate from the annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast. The decision to move the Dancing of the Giglio dates made absolute sense in order to relieve the strain on the Giglio community. This strain was caused by the coinciding Giglio Feasts held in East Harlem and Williamsburg- Brooklyn ( www.olmcfeast.com ) dancing their Giglio on the same weekend that fell around the July 16th , the feast date of the Madonna.

The Giglio Society of East Harlem continues as a Society under the auspices of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Church. Their beloved Pastor Father Peter J Rofrano..who they view as a legend in East Harlem and primarily responsible for the return of the Giglio.…… passed away on May 19th, 2007. Father Chris Salvatori who spent much of his early priesthood under Father Rofrano’s guidance describes Father Rofrano as “the icon of East Harlem.” Father returned to our Lord after almost 91 yrs here…. 3/4s of them living and working in East Harlem.

At the moment of his death, Father Rofrano was the Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Church on 115th Street between 1st and Pleasant Avenues. He was born on June 11, 1916. He grew up on East 109th street, was an altar boy at Saint Ann's church on E.110th Street. He grew up with the early 106st Giglio. On July 30,1939 Father was ordained to the Pallotine order of the priesthood in Rome, Italy. But East Harlem and the Giglio were in his blood. You knew this because he wanted the Giglio back in East Harlem. After an absence of nearly thirty years, his dream came true with the lift on July 16, 2000.. The Giglio Society of East Harlem will always cherish the good Father for his total support and spiritual guidance. Father Rofrano Rest in Peace.

The 2009 Dance of the Giglio Feast is the 10th anniversary of its return to East Harlem. It will be held on Pleasant Avenue between 114th and 116th Streets. Opening Night is Thursday—August 6th with entertainment at 8pm by the Brooklyn Keys . Friday night August 7th there will be entertainment at 8pm by Tony Sal and his Doo Wop Revue. Saturday, August 8th will start with a Procession in honor of Sant’ Antonio at Noon. 7 PM will be the Dancing of the Children’s Giglio followed by DJ entertainment by Megan
Z.

Giglio Sunday August 9th will start with a mass for the Paranza at Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 12:30 pm. The Dance of the Giglio di Sant’Antonio will begin at 2:00pm with additional lifts and music by Danny Vecchiano and his Giglio Band, accompanied by Jimmy Alleva, the Giglio Singer. Danny and his band along with Jimmy Alleva have been an integral part of the East Harlem Giglio as well as the Brooklyn Giglio in Williamsburg for many years.

In addition, our Ladies Auxiliary the Giglio Girls will make their appearance with their very own official lift.. Erin Z, Megan Z and Nancee M, Founders/Directors of the Auxiliary say:” Even as little girls, celebrating the Giglio was always a wonderful experience. We watched in awe as our fathers lifted the massive Giglio in honor of St. Anthony. They were overflowing with pride each year as they gathered to “dance the Giglio”. With our society we plan to show our continued support for the Giglio Boys. Our main goal is to follow in the footsteps of our fathers and grandfathers, by helping to keep this tradition alive. Our society is a tribute to them. We hope to make the Giglio Boys of East Harlem just as proud as they have made us through the years.”

Food vendors will be available offering beverages, sausage and peppers, zeppole, steak, shish kabob, seafood and other food items. In addition, Souvenir Tshirts will also be sold (get there early for the shirts go fast). Rides and Games of Chance will also be available for everyone’s enjoyment.

Have you wanted to eat at Rao’s ??? ( www.raos.com ) and can’t get a reservation? Here is your chance. The famous restaurant…a long time Giglio supporter will provide Dinner for 4 on Tuesday September 22, 2009 to the lucky winner of The Giglio Society’s Annual Raffle. Tickets are $10 each. The drawing will be held on Giglio Sunday nite. Winner does not have to be present. All proceeds from the Raffle go directly towards the continuation of the Giglio tradition.

Regarding updates on events sponsored by The Giglio Society of East Harlem go to www.eastharlemgiglio.com For additional feast info call Bob Maida (914) 787 0692 or Email bob631@aol.com


Back to Italian Harlem Page:
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

To Volunteer or not: A Thankless task!

Although I have spoken about this subject matter twice before, I feel the need to readdress the issue. Volunteers are responsible individuals who offer their expert knowledge, talents and services willingly, without remuneration, and reimbursement for their expenses. While some individuals choose to volunteer in their community, there are others that offer their knowledge and usefulness from the comfort of their home via their computer. Whether it is on a large or small scale, somewhere those volunteers are making a positive impact to a worthy cause or on someone's life.

There has always been a need for volunteers, especially now, that we are currently in a severe economic crisis. As a result of Federal cut-backs and lack of funds many charitable organizations are on the brink of closing their doors to those in desperate need. Volunteering requires a lot of hard work, time, and energy and in some cases, money. A volunteer's efforts to a worthy cause will help that particular organization to economize money that would otherwise be spent on labor. Volunteer work is necessary to our American economy.

Unfortunately, there are situations where volunteers are treated with disrespect. Demands are placed upon them to move at a faster pace or to give more of themselves, beyond what was initially required. This reflects a clear message of selfishness and indifference on the part of the administrator that he or she doesn't care much about the quality of the work that is being done, or much about the individual. Whether the volunteer devotes one hour or several hours a week, or a month to a given project, this is only what they are able to do. Volunteering for a cause does not mean, that it should take priority over everything else in their life. Please remember that these individuals have families and situations to tend to outside of their volunteer work.
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There are individuals who pursue goals in their volunteer work, and which with all honorable intentions wish to generate the greatest good possible in furthering the cause. Sometimes a person may succeed in some areas, while in others fail to meet the proposed task. It could be possible that the individual may have devoted all his/her considerable energy and time toward fulfilling one goal and falling short of achieving the others. Nevertheless, I feel that whatever was accomplished and benefited by that volunteer's good intention should be judged for the value in itself and not be reprimanded for "taking on too much" and leaving behind a "half assed" project. I find this to be a very offensive statement. If that volunteer did an excellent job in other areas or at other times, then please do remind them of that good performance, congratulate them or they will think less of their volunteer efforts and cease to contribute their free services. Yet, sadly to say, this doesn't always happen.

On the other hand, dependability as a volunteer is essential. When a volunteer takes on a commitment he or she should focus on how best it should be fulfilled. However, keep in mind that the volunteer's situations and circumstances may change over the years, and their work performance may not turn out as expected .
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So please let us not forget to always be appreciative of all free services that we have received from the efforts of volunteers. "Thank you" is one of the most positive words that we can communicate, yet it is the least used. Thank you expresses gratitude. Just saying a simple" thank you” each time can make all the difference in the world. It encourages that volunteer to go the extra mile, when he or she is being appreciated. Not only thank the volunteers for their services but also thank the administrators of those organizations and humanitarian causes that make it all possible.
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Miriam Medina
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To contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

MAIN BLOG DIRECTORY

A Blog is a frequently updated journal or diary, also called a "Web log," which is a specialized site that allows an individual or group of individuals to share a running log of events and personal insights with online audiences. A Blog is a publication of a mixture of personal thoughts, experiences, and web links.
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Some blogging sites may provide a variety of topics that may be of interest to the public, such as in my case where I love to talk about New York City , New York State and American History as well as life itself.There are many people who love to read blogs, but just don't have the time to go through it's entire contents trying to find something that may be of interest to them. Usually when people approach a blog, they like to go quickly from one thing to the next. As for actually reading the text, there is little evidence of that unless the subject matter should catch their eye, then it becomes worthwhile.
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Since my blog was started in 2007, there have been postings of over 300 tid-bits of information, which talk about history, life situations, goals and success. New updates will continue to be posted regularly. So my dear reader, for your benefit, I am making every attempt to improve the navigation to this treasure trove of information as quickly as possible. For this purpose I have created a table of contents divided by categories, for easy accessing. However if there is something that may interest you, I suggest you find yourself a comfortable chair, and while you're at it, grab a steaming hot cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese and you'll be all set to settle down for a while. So happy reading.


MAIN DIRECTORY
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(A. ) Getting To Know Mimi (B.) N.Y.C. History (C.) East Harlem(D.) Spanish Harlem (E.) Black Harlem (F.) New York State (G.) Urban/Suburban Living Issues
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Table of Contents (3)
(H.) Chit-Chat Over Coffee Swirls
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Table of Contents (4)
(I.) Jewish Knowledge (J.) Self-Improvement (K.) Historical Facts On England & United States
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Table of Contents (5)
(L.) Miscellaneous (M.) Timetables (N.) Ethnic Groups (O.) Legal Talk(P.) Entertainment: Backward Glances (Q.) Immigration
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Table of Contents (6)
(R.) Women__Bio Sketches, Feminine Fancies, Recipes, Kitchen Talk.(S.) Worship
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Table of Contents (7)
(T.) A Little Taste of History, (U.) U.S. History-Transportation, (V) U.S. History-Panics, Economic Depressions
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Table of Contents (8)
(W) El Rincón En Español (The Spanish Corner: )
This section is dedicated to articles of historical facts, poetry, self-improvement, human interest stories etc. written in Spanish
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Table of Contents (9)
(X) So Mr. President, What Did You Do During Your Term in Office....? (The Series)
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MESSAGE BOARD FOR THEHISTORYBOX.COM
(Feel free to express your comments or ask questions regarding: "TheHistoryBox.com." which will be reviewed before posting. Thank You.
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Contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net*

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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Historical Facts On England & United States (10)

Topic: The Years 1651- 1654

1651: (England) Eng. Navigation Act, directed against the Dutch gives Eng. ships monopoly of foreign trade.

1651: (North America) Flatbush was originally known as Midwout and was first settled in 1651.

1652: (England) Eng. Parliament passes Act of Pardon and Oblivion to reconcile Royalists.

1652: (England) English defeat Dutch at Battle of the Downs off Folkestone before they declare war.

1652: (England) First London coffee house opened in St. Michael's Alley, Cornhill.

1652: (North America) Allard Anthony came from Holland to New Amsterdam, now the city of New York, about the middle of the 17th century. The first reference to him in the records is dated 1652.

1652: (North America) The Wyckoff House in Brooklyn, one of a handful of surviving Dutch farmhouses, dates from circa 1652, and is believed to be the oldest structure in New York City. It was built by Pieter Claesen Wyckoff, a former indentured servant who rose to prosperity as a farmer. Until the early 1900s, his descendants lived in the house, which is today a museum of colonial Dutch life.

1653: (England) English defeat Dutch off Portland, North Foreland and Texel.

1653: (North America) On February 6, 1653 the first city magistrate were Arendt van Hattem and Marten Kregur, Burgomasters: Paulus Leendertsen van der Grist, Maxmillian van Gheel, Allard Anthony, Pieter Wolfertsen van Couwenhoven, and William Beekman, Schepenen. Their first meeting was February 6.

1653: (North America) New Amsterdam was incorporated in 1653, and the beaver, as the appropriate symbol of the source of New Amsterdam's wealth, was selected as a part of the seal of the city. The population of the province was then 2,000, that of New Amsterdam 800; and the population continued to increase rapidly. People of means came from the English colonies and from Holland and made small fortunes out of the river trade in furs and the coastwise trade.

1654: (England) First Eng. Protectorate Parliament meets.

1654: (North America) On August 12, 1654 Stuyvesant ordered a thanksgiving because peace had been reached between Holland and England. Men and woman danced around a huge bonfire and guzzled free beer provided by the city fathers.

1654: (NorthAmerica) In 1654 a ferry was established from Peck slip, in New Amsterdam, the ferry on the Brooklyn shore. At first it was under the city's control, but in 1658 it was leased to a private individual for 300 guilders a year. From the ferry on the Brooklyn side there was a road to Flatbush, which corresponded very nearly with the present lower Fulton street. Up to this time the people of Brooklyn had been without a church or a minister, but in 1654 the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus came to Flatbush, where a small wooden church had been erected. Dominie Polhemus preached every Sunday morning at Flatbush, and in the afternoons at Brooklyn and Flatlands alternately.

Source: thehistorybox.com
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Los Zapaticos de Rosa por José Martí (6)

Hay sol bueno y mar de espuma,
y arena fina, y Pilar
Quiere salir a estrenar
Su sombrerito de pluma.

_"¡Vaya la niña divina!"
Dice el padre, y le da un beso:
_"¡Vaya mi pájaro preso
A buscarme arena fina!"

_"Yo voy con mi nina hermosa",
Le dijo la madre buena:
"¡No te manches en la arena
Los zapaticos de rosa!"

Fueron las dos al jardín
Por la calle del laurel:
La madre cogió un clavel
Y Pilar cogió un jazmín.

Ella va de todo juego,
Con aro, y balde y paleta:
El balde es color violeta:
El aro es color de fuego.

A continuación: Los Zapaticos de Rosa
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Historical Facts On England & United States (9)

Topic: The Years 1648-1650

1648: (England) Eng. Civil War: Cromwell demands end of allegiance to the king; Parliamentary "Declaration" on Charles I's misdeeds; Scots begin Second Civil War, and are defeated at Preston; the king offers some concessions to Parliament, which are rejected; Parliament votes to bring Charles I to trial.

1648: (North America) New Amsterdam Governor Peter Stuyvesant appointed four fire wardens to patrol the area between the streets, inspect chimneys to be sure they had been swept properly, and to enforce the ban on wooden chimneys. Fire fighting and city politics have been intertwined ever since Stuyvesant shrewdly split these warden appointments between two Dutchmen and twoEnglishmen.

1648: (North America) Organized fire fighting began in New York in 1648 when the first Fire Ordinance was adopted by the Dutch Settlement of New Amsterdam. Fines levied for dirty chimneys provided funds for the maintenance of buckets, hooks and ladders. It also established a fire watch of eight Wardens and required that each male citizen stand his turn on watch.

1649: (England) Cromwell invades Ireland, sacking Drogheda and Wexford. England declared a Commonwealth. Charles I beheaded (Jan. 30); Prince of Wales, in exile at the Hague, takes title Charles II and is proclaimed king by the Scots in Edinburgh.

1649: (England) In Great Britain, English becomes language of all legal documents in place of Latin.

1649: (England) Free enterprise in England receives state s upport. According to official inventories, King Charles I had stud of 139 horses with 37 brood mares.

1649: (North America) The first extended reference to the shipbuilding timber of New Netherlands is found in a Holland document of 1649, referring to the soil of the province: "It produces several kinds of timber suitable for the construction of houses and ships, be they large or small, consisting of various sorts of oak, to wit: Post oak, smooth white bark, gray bark, black bark, and still another sort, which byreason of its softness is called butter oak. Various sorts of nut timber, hickory, large and small. This timber is very abundant here, and much used as firewood also, for which it is right well adapted. Chestnuts, three sort beeches, axe handle wood, ash, birch,pine, lathwood, alder, willow, thorn, with divers other species adapted to many purposes, but their names are unknown to us."

1650: (England) Dutch and English agree about respective frontiers of their N. Amer. colonies. John Churchill, future Duke of Marlborough, b. (d. 1722).

1650: (England) Opening of first coffee house in England, at Oxford. Tea first drunk in England. Sir Richard Weston (1591-1652), Eng. agriculturalist, advocates cultivation of turnips.

1650: (North America) In 1650 the Town of Hempstead passed resolutions that residents should attend public worship unless a reasonable excuse was offered, or suffer a fine of five guilders for the first offense and twenty guilders for the third offense. After the third offense the culprit was liable to corporal punishment or banishment.

Source: thehistorybox.com

Contact: miriam@thehistorybox.com
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Monday, July 6, 2009

El Rincón Español

Estoy extendiendo "El Rincón En Español" a su propia página en thehistorybox.com, de la cual soy la administradora. Esta sección será dedicada a los artículos de interés histórico, poesías, pensamientos positivo, la música y otra información diversa. Esto será una obra a continuación. Separé una parte de la página para las Obras de José Martí. Se oirá la música de diferente países en el " Rincón En Español".

La Música es una forma de expresión artística, y permite a los participantes seleccionar la música basada en sus gustos, evocando emociones positivas. Se dice que "Escuchar música puede beneficiar a las personas que sufren de estrés. La música Latina forma parte de la cultura y la herencia del artista quien lo interpreta y para quienes las escuchan la música Latina despierta en la sangre el movimiento de bailar. Aqui hay algunos ejemplos .

Juan Luis Guerra de la Republica Dominicana




Chucumite: La Bamba



Joseito Fernandez-Guantanamera



El Rincón Español

Si deseas dejar un comentario escribe a: miriammedina@earthlink.net o miriam@thehistorybox.com
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Jewish Knowledge (11)

Topic: Jewish Tid-Bits-Manhattan #4

Lower Manhattan (Area of Battery; and Whitehall District)

At the corner of Pearl and Broad Sts. is Fraunces Tavern, one of Manhattan's most cherished landmarks and a notable restoration of early Georgian Colonial work. Built in 1719 as a residence by Etienne de Lancey, a wealthy Huguenot, it later was the home of Phila Franks, who lived there after her marriage to de Lancey's grandson, Oliver, Phila was the daughter of Jacob Franks and the sister of David. Oliver's firm__DeLancey. Robinson and Company turned the structure into a store and warehouse in 1757, and in the 1760s it became a tavern. In 1783, Washington bade farewell to his officers in the tavern's Long Room, which was faithfully restored in 1907 by the Sons of the Revolution (not to be confused with the Sons of the American Revolution). A museum, exhibiting Revolutionary relics, is on the third floor, and on the fourth is a small historical library.

On South William St. (then Mill St.) is the site of the first synagogue in North America. In 1728, the Jewish community of New York purchased a lot for L100, one loaf sugar, and one pound of Bohea tea. On this lot a small synagogue was erected and dedicated on the seventh day of Passover, April 8, 1730. Its size 35 feet square and 21 feet high__gives an idea of the small number of Jews who dwelt in the tranquil little town of New York in the days when Newport was a more important harbor for sea-borne commerce. The thoroughfare was referred to as "Jews' Alley" or "Jews' Street" because of the neighborhood and this, the first, house of worship of Congregation Shearith Israel.

The Standard Oil Bldg., at 26 Broadway, has on the left side of the corridor a large bust of the first John D. Rockefeller by the Jewish sculptor, Jo Davidson.

Somewhere along the Battery is the spot where, on a day early in September 1654, the bark St. Charles dropped anchor, and 23 Jews the Jewish "pilgrims" of American Jewish history stepped ashore.

From the western shore of the Battery the visitor may view the world-famous Statue of Liberty (approached by ferry), whose base bears the poem. The New Colossus, by the Jewish poetess Emma Lazarus. One of the devices used to raise funds for the statue's pedestal was a Pedestal Art Loan Exhibition. Artists and writers were invited to contribute a work which would be auctioned off for the benefit of the fund. While a number of big names among them Walt Whitman, Bret Harte, and Mark Twain contributed original manuscripts, only two authors wrote something special for the occasion, and Emma Lazarus, 34 year old New York poetess, was one of these. Her sonnet, The New Colossus, was a tribute to liberty and to America as the haven of the oppressed. At the auction the poem brought $1,500.

Emma was born in New York City on July 22, 1849. Her father was a wealthy sugar merchant and art patron. Among her kinsmen were the Reverend Gershom Mendes Seixas, hazzan of Congregation Shearith Israel and Revolutionary patriot; Maud Nathan, pioneer suffragette; Annie Nathan Meyer, a founder of Barnard College; Robert Nathan, poet and novelist; and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo.
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Sources Utilized to Document Information
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Contact: miriam@thehistorybox.com or miriammedina@earthlink.net
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Jewish Knowledge(10)

Topic: Jewish Tid-Bits-Brooklyn #4

During the '80s and '90s, large numbers of East European Jews crossed the East River to Williamsburg, where they established their own synagogues and other institutions even before the older communities started to move on to the Bedford, Greenpoint and Stuyvesant Heights sections.

The arrival of hundreds of thousands of additional Jews from Russia. Poland and Rumania after 1900 and the razing of whole blocks of East Side tenements to make way for the Williamsburg Bridge caused another great surge of Jewish migration to Brooklyn, which became part of New York City in 1898.

Newly-built elevated lines and the opening of the Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges in the early 1900s, extension of the subway to more distant Brooklyn areas after World War I and the availability of inexpensive one and two-family houses and modern apartment houses within easy reach of New York factories gave impetus to new waves of Jewish migration to Brooklyn as well as to movement within the borough.

From Williamsburg, the Jewish population spilled over into Eastern Parkway and Crown Heights, and then to Borough Park, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Flatbush, Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge. Each population shift created new communities as the newcomers organized their own institutions while the older synagogues followed their congregants to the newer neighborhoods.
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Sources Utilized to Document Information
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Contact: miriam@thehistorybox.com
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