Gia Biaggi is a former teacher and administrator, and the founder of Magnolia Project. She has a B.A. in International Studies from Kenyon College, an M.Ed. from the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, and a CTE Credential. Gianna grew up in Sonoma County, and graduated from local public schools.
Our guest speaker on Thursday was Chris Smith, Columnist for the Press Democrat newspaper. He is a veteran journalist who shared reflections on his career in local news. He recounted his journey from early inspiration to working with various newspapers, including the Riverside Press Enterprise, the Independent Coast Observer and the Press Democrat. He emphasized the importance of community storytelling, including obituaries, which highlight the impact of local figures.
Chris shared anecdotes about his time as a journalist, including a pivotal moment involving a Pearl Harbor survivor, Dean Garrik, whose story became one of his favorite assignments. He described how the Dean was thrown off the deck of a ship and rescued out of the water. He had a wound on his back that the medics cleaned and patched, then was put back in service on board a ship headed to Midway. He didn’t feel right and eventually could not get out of bed. Upon further examination, they found out he a machine gun bullet lodged against his heart for months before surgery removed it. He was smitten with his nurse, named Alice and before surgery, he asked her if she would go on a date with him after recovery. She did and they eventually were married. They had fifty years together until Dean died in 1991. Alice is 106 years old now and still speaks at engagements and pulls the 7.7millimeter bullet from her pocket.
Additionally, Chris announced the release of his self-published book about Dr. Byck and Paradise Ridge Winery. He invited attendees to an upcoming event commemorating the winery’s founder.
Click HERE to view a limited time recording of Chris Smith's presentation and here the tale.
10 years ago this week - 3 new Paul Harris Fellows
On a regular basis, our resident photo pro Warren Smith, submits pictures of what is going on at the weekly meetings. You can always find the most recent pictures at the websites photo journal called "Meeting Sighting" Please note that all the meeting photos for the entire Rotary year are at this location with the most recent on the last page.
Thanks for all the great pictures Warren!Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!
Elsie Allen Lobo and Cesar Chavez Language Academy Combined Bands ready for their debut last Wednesday on Disneyland's Magic Kingdom Main Street!
Led by Music Director Efrain Nava, the inspired, committed young musicians proudly paraded through Disneyland. Director Nava, a SoCal native and USC Trojan alum took special pride in seeing his band on a world-class venue. Lobo (Elsie Allen mascot) parents were present to capture many special memories and photos.
In full swing, the babd progresses down Main Street. Through student organized fund raising, community support kept momentum moving forward for nearly a year since the performing invitation came.
"Unidos en la Musica" needs no translation! It is a universal language, capable of bringing people together and over many miles ~ can you imagine chaperoning some thirty eager teens on a bus for hours?
... and moving forward, Cesar Chavez students can continue while some Elsie Students have graduated, with a grand finale! CONGRATULATIONS LOBOS AND DIRECTOR NAVA!!
A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A rabbit asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?" The crow answered, "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow and rested.
A fox jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very high up. —Saurav Maheshwary
The Rotary Club of Palermo Libertà rolled out a project to raise awareness about Rotary’s focus on peace and conflict resolution. In early December, the club’s “Peace Bus” embarked on a roughly five-month journey through Sicily and southern Italy that began in the shadow of Palermo’s legendary Teatro Massimo opera house. “The bus has generated significant interest in the locations it has visited, fostering dialogue in the communities and creating an opportunity to discuss crucial themes such as tolerance and solidarity,” says Eugenio Labisi, a club member whose family offered use of the tour bus for the initiative (his brother, Enrico Labisi, is a member of the Rotary Club of Palermo-Monreale). “The initiative has stimulated reflection and the willingness to engage for peace.”
Uganda
In January, the Rotary Club of Lubowa presented its Vocational Service Award to a local luminary renowned for bringing smiles to hospital patients and their families. Prossy Zalwango, known as Nnalongo (a term of endearment meaning the mother of twins, as two of her five children are), is called a “guardian angel” of the hospital, where she works as a janitor. “Beyond her official role, she had taken it upon herself to care for abandoned and neglected patients, using her own resources to provide them with food, diapers, and basic necessities,” says Rhona Kamukama, the club’s president. “This was true vocational service, practiced not in grand boardrooms but in hospital hallways, with humility and a heart of gold.” In characteristic fashion, Zalwango used the club’s gift of about $400 to purchase groceries for people who needed them.
This story originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary projects make a difference in communities around the world.
.png)
.png)
The Rotary Club of Palermo Libertà rolled out a project to raise awareness about Rotary’s focus on peace and conflict resolution. In early December, the club’s “Peace Bus” embarked on a roughly five-month journey through Sicily and southern Italy that began in the shadow of Palermo’s legendary Teatro Massimo opera house. “The bus has generated significant interest in the locations it has visited, fostering dialogue in the communities and creating an opportunity to discuss crucial themes such as tolerance and solidarity,” says Eugenio Labisi, a club member whose family offered use of the tour bus for the initiative (his brother, Enrico Labisi, is a member of the Rotary Club of Palermo-Monreale). “The initiative has stimulated reflection and the willingness to engage for peace.”
In January, the Rotary Club of Lubowa presented its Vocational Service Award to a local luminary renowned for bringing smiles to hospital patients and their families. Prossy Zalwango, known as Nnalongo (a term of endearment meaning the mother of twins, as two of her five children are), is called a “guardian angel” of the hospital, where she works as a janitor. “Beyond her official role, she had taken it upon herself to care for abandoned and neglected patients, using her own resources to provide them with food, diapers, and basic necessities,” says Rhona Kamukama, the club’s president. “This was true vocational service, practiced not in grand boardrooms but in hospital hallways, with humility and a heart of gold.” In characteristic fashion, Zalwango used the club’s gift of about $400 to purchase groceries for people who needed them.