ABRAZOS to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) for the Border Violence Summit she hosted in Tucson for Southern Arizona law enforcement agencies. Giffords said, “I want you to have a clear understanding of the roles each agency is playing in this important fight to understand areas of collaboration and partnership.” Our community is grateful to the only public official who has stood tall to speak for our community. Sheriff Antonio Estrada stated, “The quality of life in border communities has suffered from the crises on the border, and these communities are often unable to provide the resources and salaries needed by law enforcement.”

COSCORRONES to Councilman Nubar Hanessian. At the beginning of a May 20 meeting, Hanessian quickly stated, “Let’s reduce the Boy Scouts’ funding to $1,000.”

Last year, the Boys Scouts of America Troop 555 received $3,000. Yet, when it came to funding an adult baseball league, Club Internacional de Veteranos, in the amount of $2,500, Hanessian lobbied to make sure the club was awarded the entire amount.

Why is the city funding adults who can pay their way instead of youth activities? I question the benefit of this non-profit group to our community. The entire $94,000 allotted for donations by the council should have been given to the Santa Cruz Community Foundation to distribute and monitor for results and benefits to our community instead of leaving the decision up to politics.

ABRAZOS to all involved in the patriotic Memorial Day ceremony especially the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2066 and American Legion Post 23. Mayor Octavio Garcia-Von Borstel honored those men and women who gave their lives for America by echoing our community sentiment: “We honor the spirit of all those who died in service to our nation but whom we continue to remember and honor in our hearts.”

Chaplain Robert R. Quihuis read a tribute about VFW member Ernesto “Gato” Martan who is the longest-serving member of the Color Guard. His 61 years of service to our country will never be forgotten. Silence befell the gathering when Boy Scouts of America Troop 555 read the names of all those lives taken in defense of our country. Every name read was a toll for letting freedom ring. Presently, two veterans have their sons serving our country.

Lt. Senior Grade U.S. Navy Nicholas R. Quihuis, of Nogales High School Class of 2000 and 2005 Naval Academy grad, has completed his first deployment from Bahrain Naval Base in the Persian Gulf. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Navy Seal John Rodriquez II has completed two tours in Iraq and is now serving in Afghanistan. Quihuis is the son of Chaplin Robert and Gloria Quihuis and Rodriquez is the son of former VFW Commander John E. and Letty Rodriquez.

ABRAZOS to our Ambassador of Empathy Mayor Garcia-Von Borstel for his offer to find a solution so that the Boys and Girls Club does not shut its doors. The city council gave the club $1,000 vs. last year’s $2,000 gift. A club spokesperson said last week that the organization had only a few months of cash to keep the doors open.

Our community will not turn its back on this vital youth organization. The mayor can begin by recommending that the $5,000 each councilperson budgeted for themselves for outreach be awarded to the club. This is the first year for this budget line item. Basically, it finances ways for incumbents to promote themselves during an election year. Another source is the $25,000 for the Cinco de Mayo and Sept. 16 celebrations. Now let’s see the mayor in action.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Keep your feet on the ground even though you’re wearing better shoes.” Oprah Winfrey