Thank you to the amazing Rotarians who helped make the 2025 Crim Festival of Races a success! This includes runners and walkers, and of course, Rotarians who helped out as volunteers. The volunteers from across our Rotary district (including some high school Interact students) staffed water stations, photo booths, and intersections so ensure a safe and fun atmosphere. And, who can forget Mike Chaffee's terrific breakfast that he offered to the volunteers!
Gene Dennis took these photos and also put together a video montage. Check them out!
September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which occurs in a period that overlaps with the independence days of many Latin American countries, we are going to highlight some lesser-known information about Latinx history and culture. This week's feature focuses on a piece of Mexican and US history.
In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. President James Polk, an advocate for Manifest Destiny (the concept that the United States was
ordained to expand its territory westward), provoked Mexico into responding to US aggression that included blockading the city of Matamoros. (Source: National Parks Service)
The United States defeated Mexico and forced Mexico to hand over about 50% of its territory. All or part of the following states were, until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), part of Mexico: California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Mexico also gave up its claim to Texas (Source: National Archives). So, the next time you ponder the nature of borders, consider that much of what we think of as the US was actually once part of Mexico!
Coming Up: District Governor Jeff Ferweda's Official Club Visit- September 12 at Noon at the Food Bank
