“May I have your attention please. This is Tim McCarthy for the Indiana State Police.”These words have characterized Notre Dame football since 1960, the year former Indiana State Police Sergeant Tim McCarthy began delivering safety messages between the third and fourth quarter of every home football game.Courtesy of Tim McCarthy McCarthy announced his retirement last Wednesday, after delivering 55 seasons’ worth of messages. But what really caught the crowd’s attention, McCarthy said, weren’t his messages, but his puns.“When I first started doing the announcements, everybody was more concerned about having a good time, and what was going on at the game and so forth, and they really weren’t listening to the safety message,” McCarthy said. “And at that time, they were having quite a lot of trouble in Indiana with fatal accidents, just all kinds of really bad accidents. And a lot of those were to and from Notre Dame.” … I thought you know, [the fans are] here for a weekend of fun, and they could care less about a state policeman telling them to be careful on the way home. I thought maybe if I attracted a little attention — so that was when I started using the quips, the very next season. Luckily, at that time, the stadium was unusually quiet because the referees were discussing something on the field … so I went in with a message. I did a warning on drinking and driving, and the punch line was, ‘the automobile replaced the horse, but the driver should stay on the wagon.’ And the crowd heard that, and I heard boos and groans and catcalls.”But a negative reaction was better than no reaction, McCarthy said. That meant people were listening. So he continued with his quips.“The next game I did another quip — it was on driver attitude, and the punch line was ‘some drivers are like steel, no good when they lose their temper,’” McCarthy said. “And gee, more boos and groans and so forth. But toward the end of the season, I started to realize that people were quiet just to hear how corny — and I’m the first one to admit they’re quite corny, many of them — but just to see how corny [the punch line] is. From there I just continued, and it got to the point where people were looking forward to hearing the quip that I had at the end of the message. And in the meantime, they’re listening to the message, which deals with their personal safety.”McCarthy, who grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said he was “born and raised a Notre Dame fan.” His life was also characterized by police work. McCarthy’s father was a city policeman in Fort Wayne.“I just kind of grew up liking police work,” McCarthy said. “It always kind of fascinated me because of my father. So eventually, that’s how I ended up on the state police.McCarthy’s wife was also a police officer — they met at a manslaughter trial in 1956, McCarthy said.“I was a young trooper, single,” he said. “I had arrested a fellow for manslaughter, and she happened, at that time, to be working for the county clerk’s office and would walk into the court room to have the judge sign papers. … And I got the prosecutor to introduce me to her. Later on I called her up for a date, and we started from there.”For years, McCarthy’s announcements at football games were a “hobby” while he worked as a detective sergeant at the Indiana State Police. But when McCarthy retired from the state police, he continued to deliver safety messages at football games.“The one thing I didn’t like about retiring from the state police was that I’d have to leave Notre Dame,” McCarthy said. “But then Moose Kraus, who was athletic director — I told him I was retiring from the state police, and he said, ‘Hey, we’d like to have you keep doing this.’ And I said, ‘Hey that’s fine with me.’ So that’s why I’ve been there so long.”McCarthy can quote many of his quips from memory — he said two of his favorites were, “drinking drivers are not very funny, but they can still crack you up” and “remember, do not let your driving make you grumpy or dopey when the roads are snow white.”McCarthy said writing the punch lines to his messages was a gradual process — he was always on the lookout for a new play on words. Sometimes, though, he did get a little help.“I had some people send me some — I had Notre Dame students and some Saint Mary’s students send me different quips that they thought were good,” McCarthy said. “Some of them I could use, and some of them I didn’t dare use.”McCarthy’s love for Notre Dame, and for Notre Dame students, is what kept him and his puns here so long, he said.“I did it for so long because I liked doing it,” McCarthy said. “I liked the atmosphere over there on game day, and I’ve always been a Notre Dame fan. I really enjoyed working with the students on different occasions, attending some of their events was always a lot of fun. I just enjoyed it.”Tags: Puns, Tim McCarthy
Category: bmjvhksl
UV Damages Plants
Established in 1994, the USDA UV-B Radiation Monitoring Program consists of 27monitoring sites across the United States and southern Canada.The equipment at each site sends in data daily via telephone lines. This allows thedata to be placed on the World Wide Web (http://uvb.nrel.colostate.edu)by the following morning.Because of the time required to set up a UV-B data base, the monitoring sites have tobe in stable rural areas. UGA maintains the Georgia site on a research farm run by the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, Ga.”Our equipment is on our Bledsoe Research Farm in Pike County, which is a perfectsite,” Hoogenboom said. “This is plot land used for research, so development orother major changes in the surrounding area aren’t expected. Development can distort thedata. So long-term stability of the site is necessary.””Many researchers want UV-B data for research on plants, animals and humans,”said Dave Bigelow, a researcher working onthe program at NREL. “But the monitoring equipment needed is very expensive. Now theycan link to our network and get the data they need.”The NREL equipment records UV-B levels every three minutes. “We have four years ofdata. But it’s still too early to tell whether UV-B levels are changing over time,”Bigelow said. “It will probably take many more years to tease out periodic cyclesversus long-term trends.”Bigelow said UV-B levels are normally higher during the summer. “Longer days andhigher sun angles mean higher UV values,” he said. “The highest values occur inthe summer on clear days.”The sun’s rays are strongest at the equator, where the sun is most directly overhead.”UV-B levels are higher at our Georgia site than at our Ohio and Michigan sites forthis reason,” Bigelow said.”We’re plowing new ground with this research. There are so many questions outthere to answer,” he said. “Will plant species that have become somewhatUV-tolerant in Georgia become suitable for Michigan if we begin to see increased UV-Blevels there? Would certain crops perform better if grown using shading? If UV-B lightlevels are increasing, will that affect our food supply?”To date, only a few researchers are actually using the data,” he said.”However, the program is just becoming known. And the data users don’t always reportback to us.” The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences maintains one of the 27 sites in the USDA’s Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring Program. The UGA site is located at the Bledsoe Research Farm in Pike County, Ga. The site consists of radiometers that take measure UV-B radiation levels every three minutes. (Photo courtesy the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.) Humans aren’t the only ones the sun’s rays can damage. Plants can also suffer’sunburns’ and other damage.Researchers with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences areworking with the Natural Resource EcologyLaboratory at Colorado State University tomonitor ultraviolet radiation across the nation.NREL runs the UV-B Radiation MonitoringProgram to collect data on ultraviolet-B, or UV-B, for researchers who study UVradiation’s effects on plants. The program is funded by the U.S.Department of Agriculture.Ultraviolet radiation is classified in three bands: A, B and C. Of these three, UV-Aand UV-B are the only ones that reach the earth’s surface. UV-C is absorbed by the ozonelayer.Most UV-A rays aren’t absorbed by the ozone layer. Most UV-B rays are, but some doreach the earth’s surface.”The ozone layer varies with the time of year and changing weather,” said Gerrit Hoogenboom, a UGA agriculturalmeteorologist who maintains the Georgia UV-B monitoring site. “It has thinned incertain areas due to emissions of ozone-depleting chemicals widely used in industry.”UV rays can cause cataracts and skin cancer in humans.”But they can also damage plants,” Hoogenboom said. “The rays damageplant cells, which can lead to reduced yields in some crops.”Little research has been done on UV damage to plants, because it’s hard to get data.The NREL is working to change that.
Seasonal Mood Swings
Laird Hamilton is an athlete that I look up to. If you are not familiar with Laird, please rent or purchase the movie Riding Giants, or surf (no pun intended) over to this link to familiarize yourself with him. For those of you who do know who Laird is, you know what he has done to revolutionize the sport of big wave surfing.There is a quote of Laird’s that I often reflect upon during this time of year. When asked about how he feels during a long period without the earth producing the big waves that he loves, he says, “It’s as if I’m a dragon slayer, and there just aren’t any more dragons.”This time of year is amazing because the final and climax event of the kayaking season, the Green River Narrows Race, takes place. The only problem is that after that event, well, there just aren’t any more dragons. Life goes from intense buildup to a series of competitions, and then immediately to an hour less time at night to play outside, and no goals in the immediate future to work towards. All of the leaves have fallen and winter sets in.Even though the race hasn’t yet occurred, these snow flurries and freezing mornings are triggering the initial signs of my “feel sorry for myself” button. Although I can feel this happening, I refuse to allow wintertime to negatively affect my mood this year.In reality, winter in the Blue Ridge is an incredibly beautiful time, and carries with it its own set of great memories. Snowfall transforms these mountains, and it’s one of the best times to check out the waterfalls of the Parkway, DuPont State Forest, or Gorges State Park. We are also very fortunate to have the ability to pick and choose which ski resorts we want to frequent. From Cataloochee to the Boone resorts to Snowshoe in West Virginia, there is no excuse not to be outside and making the most of every season.And aside from these opportunities, every athlete knows that winter is the time to place the foundation for their fitness in the following year. The gym is always open and temperature-controlled to help us be where we need to be come springtime.So, rather than wallowing in self-pity when the cold sets in, I’m committed to carrying the same energy through winter that I brought into it. I’ll bet I can hit that kicker faster than you can!
Supreme Court fast-tracks pipeline permitting… but not for Keystone XL
Supreme Court fast-tracks pipeline permitting… but not for Keystone XL A recent survey from the digital guide booking platform 57hours, which connects outdoor enthusiasts with certified mountain guides, shows that the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the guiding industry. The survey asked more than 100 independent mountain guides worldwide how COVID-19 has impacted their livelihood. Their answers paint a bleak picture. WNC receives two USDA Forest Service grants The Keystone XL pipeline is the fourth phase of the Keystone Pipeline System that moves oil from Western Canada to refineries in the United States. The Keystone XL pipeline has attracted strong opposition from environmental groups and has become a symbol for the flight to stop climate change and end dependency on fossil fuels. New survey shows guiding industry faces a tough road Over 56% of respondents said guiding is their only source of income and 0% said they were still taking customers out on guided trips. Respondents also reported that 78% of their future trip bookings have been cancelled with no plans to reschedule. Most said they’ve lost 75-100% of their guiding income. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians will use their grant to expand and connect the Hall Mountain Community Forest to the Little Tennessee River. Foothills Conservancy will use their grant to help purchase the remaining 321 acres of Oak Hill Community Park and Forest in Burke County, the news release said. The USDA Forest Service has awarded grants to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, the agency said in a news release. The grants are a part of the Community Forest Program, which supports working forests that provide benefits like clean water, wildlife habitat, educational opportunities and public access for recreation. The Supreme Court on Monday reinstated the use of a permit that fast-tracks pipeline construction but excluded the controversial Keystone XL pipeline from their ruling. The decision is considered a partial win for the Trump administration, though the exclusion of the Keystone XL pipeline is a major setback for the project. 
East Farmingdale Hit-and-run Driver Sought
Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York A homeless man was struck and critically wounded by a hit-and-run driver after another driver who crashed into the pedestrian stopped in East Farmingdale on Tuesday night, Suffolk County police said.Oliver David, 41, of Freeport, was driving his Mercedes Benz southbound on Wellwood Avenue when he struck the victim at 10:50 p.m., police said. The victim was identified as 64-year-old Kenneth Wiggins, who had been previously reported missing from a homeless shelter in Hillside, New Jersey.While David was trying to stop southbound traffic, a second vehicle, described as a silver older-model Nissan Altima, also struck the victim and then fled the scene, police said.The driver of the Nissan was last seen heading southbound on Wellwood Avenue in the direction of Southern State Parkway, police said.The victim was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he is being treated for head and internal injuries.David was not charged.Vehicular Crime Unit detectives are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 631-852-6555 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Respect the right of those who speak and protest
While it would be preferable to bring this problem to everyone’s attention without any disrespect to our symbols, this is certainly preferable to giving up the right of freedom of speech or protest.To truly honor our country and its veterans by standing at attention with your right hand over your heart, all of our veterans must be included, as well as all of our country’s greatest principles and rights, which include the right to protest injustices.After all, how can you show respect for my service without also respecting my African-American buddies who fought with me?So please consider America’s proud heritage and people before condemning the actions of those who want to right a wrong and make our country even greater by further reducing this racist problem that has too long reflected on all of us.Stephen AndersonCharltonMore from The Daily Gazette:Schenectady, Saratoga casinos say reopening has gone well; revenue down 30%EDITORIAL: Beware of voter intimidationEDITORIAL: Thruway tax unfair to working motoristsEDITORIAL: Urgent: Today is the last day to complete the censusFoss: Should main downtown branch of the Schenectady County Public Library reopen? Recently while conversing with some fellow veteran friends, the NFL protests by some players during our national anthem was bought up.Some felt this protest was disrespectful to them and those veterans who paid an even greater sacrifice, with their lives, to our country.Our flag and anthem are symbols of our great country. These symbols do not make us great. It’s our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and our melting pot of people that make us great that we must continue to defend.If we hear that some of our fellow citizens, many of them veterans, are being treated by a few bad policemen unfairly, we must respond to that problem. Categories: Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Getting Britain moving
To access this article REGISTER NOWWould you like print copies, app and digital replica access too? SUBSCRIBE for as little as £5 per week. Would you like to read more?Register for free to finish this article.Sign up now for the following benefits:Four FREE articles of your choice per monthBreaking news, comment and analysis from industry experts as it happensChoose from our portfolio of email newsletters
IORP rapporteur seeks to stop introduction of holistic balance sheet
Large swathes of the revised IORP Directive, including the proposed risk-evaluation for pensions (REP), are to be cut under plans drawn up by European parliamentarian Brian Hayes.The Irish MEP, IORP rapporteur for the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON), also said the introduction of the holistic balance sheet (HBS) was “not realistic in practical terms” and proposed changes to cross-border funding arrangements.In his preliminary report on the Directive, Hayes suggested that neither the European Commission nor the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) had the power to draft additional technical standards – essentially removing the ability to impose additional requirements without parliamentary scrutiny.He also raised concerns about EIOPA’s development of the HBS, arguing that the model was not “realistic in terms of costs and benefits” in light of pension fund diversity across Europe. Attempting to put to bed any speculation about the introduction of capital requirements without a further Directive, the report added that no capital requirements for IORPs based on either Solvency II or the HBS should be developed “at [EU] level”, as these could “potentially decrease the willingness of employers to provide occupational pensions”.The report also removed the requirements for the REP, instead suggesting a fund should conduct risk assessments in line with the “nature, scale and complexity of its activities”.Hayes’s stance comes after a number of changes to the REP, with a compromise draft drawn up by the Council of the EU last year suggesting individual member states would be granted powers to dictate the scale of assessment needed.The Commission’s initial proposal required a regular evaluation of internal risk management procedures, funding requirements and the impact of climate risk on the fund’s portfolio, among other areas.In what appears to be a well-intentioned attempt to remove requirements for full funding from cross-border IORPs, Hayes also proposed that IORP full funding requirements should only take effect from “the moment when the institution starts operating a new or additional scheme”.The wording echoes an earlier proposal to impose full funding requirements only when a cross-border fund is established, potentially allowing for a vehicle to be launched with a single, fully funded member.However, the wording proposed by Hayes made no mention of cross-border activities, implying that the full funding requirements would be imposed on all regulated IORPs.The parliamentarian also amended a clause specifying that member states should allow IORPs to be underfunded “for a limited period of time”, potentially opening the door to host member states to set recovery periods for cross-border funds under their jurisdiction.
Legalising cannabis will create 100,000 addicts, think tank warns
The poll claims legalisation would also increase the frequency of use. Of those aged 18-24 who said they had smoked cannabis before, over a third admitted they would smoke it more frequently if it was legalised.Andy Cook, Chief Executive of the CSJ, said: “Advocates of cannabis legalisation or decriminalisation should think through the implications of their views. They would open the floodgates to hundreds of thousands of new users, many of whom will be young and vulnerable, and so more prone to damaging physical and mental damage. The Telegraph 7 December 2018Family First Comment: “Legalisation would also increase the frequency of use. Of those aged 18-24 who said they had smoked cannabis before, over a third admitted they would smoke it more frequently if it was legalised.”#LogicLegalising cannabis could lead to an extra one million using the drug with 100,000 becoming addicted, according to a new study which warns of the dangers of “sucking young people into the mayhem”.A report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) linked cannabis use to mental health problems and found “a very real prospect” of more young people taking up the drug if it becomes legal.New YouGov polling, cited in the report, revealed that nearly a quarter of 18-24 year olds who had never used cannabis before would “definitely or probably try it” if the law changed – equating to more than one million new cannabis users under the age of 25 alone.According to WHO and NHS estimates, at least 10 per cent of this number would become addicted – 100,000 people, with the rate of addiction thought to be 10 per cent in adults but as high as 1 in 6 users under 25. “Managing a cannabis free-for-all would also prove a nightmare in which the drug would become even more widely available and young children would be sucked into the mayhem.“We should not be disheartened in the effort to curb illegal drug abuse. For all our difficulties, we should remember that only about seven per cent of people aged 16-59 have smoked cannabis in the last year.”Describing how the law acts as a deterrent, the report states: “The existing law does mitigate the risk that cannabis poses. Although there has been a slight uplift in recent years, cannabis consumption has been falling for nearly 20 years in the UK. A great many people do take the law seriously and, to many, the law continues to deter them from using a harmful substance”.READ MORE: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/07/legalising-cannabis-could-result-extra-one-million-young-people/Keep up with family issues in NZ. Receive our weekly emails direct to your Inbox.
PM Thomas and Skerrit among hundreds at funeral for MP’s mother
Share Share Sharing is caring! Share 65 Views no discussions
Marcella Nerissa DavidSt. George’s, January 13, 2012 – Two current Prime Ministers and a former Grenada government leader were among hundreds who paid final respects Thursday to Marcella David, mother of Grenada’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture.Minister David, in delivering the eulogy, thanked all for attending the funeral of his mother, a former Cabinet Secretary who began her public service career in 1947 at the age of 18. She retired from the service in 1983.According to the minister, his mother “left a legacy of love, compassion, dedication, professionalism, patience and strength.’’“I cannot,’’ he added, “do any less than try to emulate these noble qualities. I see myself as standing on her shoulders and my public service as an MP, and government minister, as continuing in the vein of my mother’s.’’Among the mourners who packed the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in St. George’s were Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and members of his government; opposition leader and former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell; and Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.The 39-year-old Dominican leader, who left Grenada Friday, also attended a post-funeral reception Thursday evening at the Grand Anse residence of the Davids.Phillip, eldest son of Marcella and Chasley David, thanked the service attendees, as well as “all those who prayed for us, called by phone, left messages, and extended condolences through e-mails and text messages or through social networks like Spiceislander Talkshop. Your support and love mean more than you can believe to all of us.’’Here’s the text of the eulogy delivered by Minister Peter David at his mother’s funeral.On behalf of the family, let me begin by thanking all those who came here today to pay tribute to my mother. This is a testimony to her life and her commitment to the people around her.I want to thank the Prime Minister of Grenada and my cabinet colleagues for their generous support and to particularly thank the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, and his delegation for coming this far to be with us. We truly appreciate your kind gesture.Marcella Nerissa David lived 82 wonderful years; first as the proud, studious and obedient daughter, born March 10th, 1929, to James and Ethel Lashley of Carriacou; then as the loving and devoted husband of Chasley David, and as a caring and loving mother of Phillip, Paul, Patrick and myself; as well as the respected matriarch of many grandchildren, great-grands, nephews, nieces and other relatives. She was the undisputed head of the family.Marcella David – my mom – was a friend to many: those who were her immediate neighbours wherever she lived, whether on H.A. Blaize Street – then known as Tyrell Street – where she was born; Hillsborough Street, Archilbald Avenue or in Grand Anse; and those who became her friends through social networks such as the Anglican Church; the Orchid Circle; the Soroptomist Club of which she was a founding member; or the Grenada Netball Association of which she is a former president. She also represented Grenada as a delegate to many council meetings of the International Federation of Netball and Basketball when World Netball Tournaments were held in the Caribbean.Marcella David attended the Anglican High School. She was the oldest member of the MAB Girls of the Anglican High School. The story behind the MAB Girls is a very intriguing one; I won’t attempt to tell it. It would best be told by one of the Old Girls who are here this afternoon to pay their last respects. And then there is Marcella David the consummate professional. The true testament of her professionalism is attested to by all who worked with her; people like Pamela Steele and even her son Phillip. It was well known at the time that Marcella always considered what was best for her employer and her country rather than herself.Even when she accepted the job as the Cabinet Secretary to the People’s Revolutionary Government, it took the personal intervention and a direct plea from former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop to convince her to accept the job. It fact, my father recalls that Maurice had to personally come to her home to urge her to accept. She told Prime Minister Bishop that she needed time to consider the offer. After much deliberation, she accepted but with the understanding that she only wanted to do what’s necessary to establish a proper functioning Cabinet Secretary’s Office and then she’ll vacate.You see, she had decided to retired from the Gairy Government only days before the Revolution, on her 50th Birthday on March 10th, after years of what she saw as political victimization. But I’ll tell you more about that shortly.As Cabinet Secretary, Marcella was the epitome of professionalism. She was determined not to bend the rules for anyone – not even her big son, Phillip, who was a Permanent Secretary at the time. The story is told that when Phillip made a submission to Cabinet and followed up with the Cabinet Secretary, his mother, to find out the status of the submission, Marcella David would quietly, coolly and professionally respond: “You’ll be informed in due course, young man.’’At home, my mom was a great listener; she mentored and encouraged but never forced her decision, viewpoint or opinion on you. It was enough for her to shine the light; it was left to us – her children and whoever else sought her advice – to walk in the light she had presented to us.She always took a personal interest in our well being and professional development. Whether it was Patrick in the food business, or Paul in the trucking business, she gave her full and unwavering support. Phillip similarly with his car business could always depend on her for advice. In my case, she was the person from whom I generally sought counsel. It was sometimes difficult for her – given her own experience. And Mandy, the daughter she never had, became her closest confidante. But just to reiterate, our mother never forced her views on us; hers was quiet, confident counsel.And it was not that Marcella David did not have her own views and opinions on many things; she held on to them and paid for them during her public service career; she paid a heavy price for not sacrificing her principles on the altar of political expediency to simply find favour with the government of the day. As a result, attempts were made by the powers-that-be to frustrate and even humiliate her. Let’s spend a brief moment tracing the history of her public service career.Marcella David began her career as a Lady Clerk (Class 3 Officer) in the Labour Department of the Colonial Government on December 1st 1947. She was only 18. Her salary – L80 per annum.In 1953, as a Class 2 Clerk, she was transferred to the Governor’s Office – which later became known as Government House – where she worked with Administrator James Lloyd, a Jamaican national.Marcella decided that if she was going to make the public service a career, she must apply herself and must be promoted on merit, not on political favour.In 1956, she successfully passed the Efficiency Examinations; passing the exams was a prerequisite for promotion. And the promotions began: She was promoted to the post of Confidential Secretary – Class 1 Clerk – to the Administrator; then, another promotion to act as Clerk to the Executive Council, which is now known as Cabinet. In April 1958, a top colonial official, Mr. E.N. Burke, paid a visit to Grenada and Marcella and a crew of other public servants were responsible for making sure that all aspects of the visit were executed with precision. And they did just that. In return, each was given an honorarium for excellent service: Monica Joseph – $30; Marcella David – $10; and Margaret Phillip (now Margaret Dowe) – $5. The only problem was that it took them a full month before their handsome payments were cleared at the treasury.One of the strengths of a good employer is recognizing talented workers. This was one of the strengths of Governor Ian G. Turbott. On March 10th, 1967, Marcella’s birthday, he wrote then Grenada Premier Herbert Augustus Blaize under confidential cover and seal. This is what Governor Turbott said, and I quote:“Mrs. Marcella David is an efficient officer; her shorthand is excellent and her typing likewise. She is experienced at writing minutes of the Executive Council and I know she will be of great help to you in this capacity, and in any other duties you may wish to give her. A mature and reliable person, she also is capable of enciphering and deciphering. I wish her every success for the future.’’Well, Mr. Blaize hardly needed the note from Governor Turbott to persuade him. In Marcella David, he recognized a professional Senior Civil Servant who took her work seriously. Marcella was brought on board and worked with Mr. Blaize in the Cabinet Office as a Senior Executive Officer to the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Edward Brathwaite.But it was not all smooth sailing in the public service for Marcella David. Remember, I told you earlier that she was not one to sacrifice principle on the altar on political expediency; not a person inclined to do or say things just to win political favour with her bosses. You could imagine; that was bound to lead to trouble.In September 1968 the Executive changed. With hardly any notice Marcella was transferred to take up duties as Bursar at GBSS; it was a position lower than her appointed public service post. Marcella David was full of patience and she could endure. They moved her to GBSS, where my brother Phillip and I were students, and she didn’t complain. In fact, students were glad to have her there and fondly remember her presence at the school. At GBSS, she continued to perform her duties in her usual professional manner.But it was just the start of the moving around of Marcella. From Bursar at GBSS, she was sent to be Bursar at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Community in May 1972.Before the goodly Mrs. David could settled in, one month later – in June – she received notice that she was being transferred to the Ministry of Education and Culture to serve as what they called a “Numerical Replacement.’’ It was at this point that her patience started to run out.In those days many were afraid to speak out because they may lose their jobs; but not my mom, Marcella Nerissa David. She sat down and wrote the Public Service Commission a long stinging letter. Here’s what the letter said, and I quote in part:“Whenever I raised the question of the treatment meted out to me, I was always given the assurance that they were quite aware of my efficiency and this was not in question, and a ‘hint’ given that it was a question of my political views. Whether or not a civil servant may or may not have personal or private views and opinions on any matter, as long as it does not interfere with his efficiency, is a matter on which much can be said.’’ Marcella David ended her letter by asking to be allowed to retire from the Service. However, this was not approved.After the letter, things didn’t get much easier though. Marcella said she was not sure what Ministry she was working for. If you think Bursar and “Numerical Replacement’’ were bad, now she was made Secretary to a number of Councils and Statutory Corporations.As mentioned earlier on March 10th 1979, her birthday, Marcella figured that enough was enough. She determined to leave the Public Service. But as fate would have it, before she could submit her resignation, The Grenada Revolution occurred and Marcella’s life took a different turn. Marcella was invited by Maurice Bishop to take up the post of Cabinet Secretary to the People’s Revolutionary Government in April1979.Her tenure as Cabinet Secretary featured several innovations. She embarked on a rigorous training of officers that included learning the Rules of the Public Service Commission, the Staff Orders, and the Finance and Store Rules.She also introduced the binding at the end of the year by the printery of all Cabinet Conclusions issued during the year for ease of reference. All SR & Os and Acts passed were noted by a black-ink pen on the right-hand corner of the relevant law book; this, too, was for ease of reference.In 1983, immediately following the United States invasion, Marcella decided that her Public Service career had come to an end. She retired to spend more time with the family business and her now expanded family of grandchildren.Education was extremely important to my mother. She said time and time again to her children that all she can give them is a good education; the rest is up to them. I recall that following the US invasion in 1983, she urged me to go study law. I did not have the urge at the time but she kept insisting, indicating to me that it was her desire to be a lawyer but her family could not afford it. When I completed my law degree, I sent the certificate to her and told her it was hers.Marcella David grew up on the Carenage with her father and mother. Her mother died at an early age – in her fifties – causing my mother to always say that any age after fifty for her was a bonus. Her father died tragically on the boat, City of St. George, which sank between Grenada and Trinidad. Through it all, she was the strength of her family.Her children were everything to her. I recall her saying that any person she employed to care for the children was told that her children were first, second and third in anything she did. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the same in her eyes.Both my parents never forgot their humble beginnings and always counseled their children in that regard. Our home was open to all; to this day, my mother’s house is the hive for all of the family, close and extended.A friend of mine – Fourbrass – said this to me last week: “Looking at your mother’s offspring, we know what kind of woman she was.’’My mother was guided by the now famous “Desiderata.’’ The lines of the “Desiderata’’ that so inspired her were:“If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.’’Marcella David, who also served on the Public Service Commission, has left a legacy of love, compassion, dedication, professionalism, patience and strength. I cannot do any less than try to emulate these noble qualities. I see myself as standing on her shoulders and my public service as an MP, and Government Minister, as continuing in the vein of my mother’s.To her church family, we want to thank you for all the support over the years. Bishop Friday, Archdeacon Glasgow, Pamela Steele and the many others, thank you. My mother played the organ of the St. George’s Anglican Church and the Mt. Moritz Church with her children on her lap for many years. She loved every minute of it.To our dad – the quiet and humble patriarch – we know you will miss her dearly. Sixty years of marriage is more than many of our lifetimes; but her presence will always be felt. We will continue her work.Mom, you’ll be dearly missed by all – your husband of 60 years and our dad, Chasley; your sons, grands, great-grands, nephews, nieces, sister, other relatives and friends. You were the bedrock of the family.In conclusion I want to share a poem given to me the day my mom died by a dear friend. She said she found it the day before while cleaning out her home. It is for my father, in particular, and the entire family.And if I go while you are still here…Know that I live on,Vibrating to a different measure – behind a thin veil you cannot see through.You will not see me, so you must have faith.I wait for the time when we can soar together again,Both aware of each other.Until then, live your life to the fullest.And when you need me, just whisper my name in your hear your heart,I will be there.”May you Rest in Peace.Spiceislander.com Tweet NewsRegional PM Thomas and Skerrit among hundreds at funeral for MP’s mother by: – January 13, 2012