SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
March 9, 2023
Sullivan’s Salvos 3/14/23
In this edition:
*Saint Patrick’s Day!
*St. Patrick’s Day Trivia
*Bob Sullivan
*Congratulations Suzan!
*Congratulations Barbara!
*Congratulations Guillermo!
*Thank You V!
*Did You Know?
*Saint Patrick’s Day!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day on March 17! St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year. While not an “official” holiday, this day has long been considered a holiday by my Irish family.
March 17 is a Friday this year, so we should be able to celebrate correctly! J Meanwhile, I hope each and every one of you is touched by a little luck o’ the Irish!
*St. Patrick’s Day Trivia
Here are some interesting St. Patrick’s Day facts:
*With 23 percent of the population of Celtic ancestry, Massachusetts has a higher proportion of residents of Irish descent than any other state, edging out New Hampshire (20 percent) and Rhode Island (18 percent). The remaining New England states -- Connecticut, Vermont and Maine -- also rank among the top 10 in this category, as do Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Montana.
*New York City has more residents of Irish descent than any city in the world, including Dublin! Boston, however, has the largest percentage of Irish residents of any large American city.
*22 - Gallons of beer consumed per capita by Americans annually. (The equivalent of 176 pints per year.) I used to bring that average way up. Now I bring it way down!
*13 million - In 2017, it was estimated that 13 million pints of Guinness would be consumed worldwide on St. Patrick's Day. And in 2020, it was estimated that in America, overall beer sales would be up 174 percent. In fact, it's the biggest day for bars in the country. And in general, in 2020, it was expected that Americans would spend over $6 billion celebrating the holiday.
*9 - Number of places in the US which share the name of Dublin, Ireland's capital. Dublin, OH was the most populous, at 31,392, followed closely by Dublin, CA at 29,973.
*There are many more Americans of Irish origin than there are Irish in Ireland. (36 million Americans claimed Irish ancestry in 2008; the population of Ireland was 4.4 million at the time.)
*You can't attend a St. Patrick’s Day event without hearing a cry of "Erin go Bragh." What's the phrase mean? It's a corruption of the Irish Éirinn go Brách, which means roughly "Ireland Forever."
*Bob Sullivan
March 17 holds a special place in my heart that goes beyond St. Patrick’s Day. That was also the birthday of my late father, Bob Sullivan.
Dad was a proud union man, Hawkeye fan, and Irishman. We were father and son, but also best friends. I can honestly say he was probably the most fun person I have ever known.
Unfortunately, he left this world much too soon, and never got the chance to meet any of his nine grandchildren. I miss him every single day, but especially on St. Paddy’s Day.
So, if you are looking for an extra toast on St. Patrick’s Day, allow me to suggest that you raise a glass to Bob Sullivan.
Happy birthday, Dad.
*Congratulations Suzan!
Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) founder and Executive Director Suzan Erem has retired from that organization.
Founded in 2015, by two dozen leaders in agriculture, development and planning, SILT’s mission is to preserve Iowa farmland for sustainable table food farming, ensuring that future generations of Iowans can access affordable farmland and the food it can grow. SILT has already preserved 1,200 acres on 16 farms. In 2021, it launched a statewide, Circle Our Cities campaign to circle 10 Iowa cities with 10 permanent food farms in 10 years, and to date has begun that work in Des Moines, Dubuque and Fairfield. All great work, and all because of Suzan’s efforts!
SILT has hired Breanna Horsey of Storm Lake as its next leader. Horsey previously served as the executive director of Storm Lake United, where she successfully promoted business, tourism and economic development in the Northwest Iowa town. Horsey’s experience also includes serving as an urban conservationist and founding a nonprofit organization to get girls outdoors.
*Congratulations Barbara!
The Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic Executive Director Barbara Vinograde is stepping down after 31 years with the organization.
The Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic (FMC) is a non-profit organization, established in 1971. They believe that access to affordable health care is a basic human necessity. They strive to provide the widest range of medical and dental services possible to people in the Iowa City and surrounding community who would not otherwise have access to care.
Barbara Vinograde has given much of her adult life to this noble pursuit. In addition, Barbara is one of the kindest, gentlest, humblest, fairest, most caring people I have ever met. You can look far and wide, and you will not find a better human being. Congratulation, Barbara! You are the best!
*Congratulations Guillermo!
Johnson County is proud to announce that Guillermo Morales has been named the new Executive Director of the Board Office. Guillermo comes to us from the UI Labor Center, and has held a variety of executive positions, including Executive Director of the California Education Association, a 250,000-member-strong labor organization.
Guillermo’s first day will be March 24. Congratulations, Guillermo! I look forward to working with you!
*Thank You V!
Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are working overtime attacking trans folks (especially children). It is sickening. Using their power for evil, they have hurt some of the most vulnerable among us. It is truly heinous, and I hope some of these self-professed “Christians” really do end up finding out how this is viewed by a judging God.
Meanwhile, I want to point out some light in the darkness. My fellow Supervisor V Fixmer Oraiz is the first trans person elected in Johnson County, and one of only a couple in Iowa. On top of starting the new job of Supervisor, many people reach out to V from around the state, looking for help and support for themselves or someone they love. There aren’t a lot of resources out there, and Republicans are removing what does exist.
V has been a rock. Remember, these attacks directly affect them and their family. But V takes the time to listen and help. This cannot be easy. I am so glad V can be there for these folks!
V, keep up the great work! You are a great role model! The bigotry of the GOP may win out in the short term, but we will win in the end. As Doctor King said, “The arc of the moral universe bends toward justice.”
*DID YOU KNOW? Saint Patrick was born Maewyn Succat to a Romanized family in Britain (not Ireland.) He took the name ‘Patricius’ in his writings.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:15 AM
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