Author: Alfredo Casuso

Angus J. Whyte: April 8, 1937 – March 6, 2019

A Tribute by thom grexa phillips

Following a brief illness, Angus J Whyte passed away peacefully in the loving arms of his husman thomas grexa phillips on March 6, 2019 in Palm Springs, California to where he had moved in 2018. He was highly regarded for his raconteur wit, generosity of spirit, mischievous sense of humor, and his discerning tastes in music, art and cuisine.  He was 81 years old.

Angus offered many contributions of administrative and financial acumen in his service to many communities, most recently for the last 25 years in the SF Bay Area. From his administrative stewardship of the fledgling SF LGBT Community Center, to his reviving and operating Art for Healing, a charity designed to accept original works of art by donation and place them in hospitals and healing centers, Angus’ ethics, devotion and commitment never wavered.

Angus Whyte was born April 8, 1937 in Carmichael, CA to Angus Joseph Whyte Sr.  and to Rachel Valerie Davidson.  He graduated early from McClatchy High School in Sacramento, CA, and continued his studies and earned degrees from the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Washington. He also completed the Executive Training program in Administration from Harvard University.

Angus had an eternal love of French language and cuisine.  He earned a Fulbright Fellowship to teach English at a secondary school in Mentón, France in 1959. In 1989, he fell in love with an abandoned tower in a village in SW Central France in the Dordogne region and realized a splendid renovation of the three-story property in Belvès, France.

His love of music earned a fellowship at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in harpsichord studies with renowned harpsichordist Gustav Leonhart in The Netherlands in 1963.  He continued his studies with an internship at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria in 1964.  Angus enjoyed donning the gay apparel of the 18th century as he played his beloved music written by Haydn, and Bach.  At one time he insisted he did not want to play any music written after 1769.

Angus published a series of memoirs and short stories entitled “After-Dinner Tales” in 2013, currently available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.  He was commissioned to write a biography of a company celebrating its centennial in San Diego, CA in 1994.  He was completing a second volume of tales entitled “The Lavender Blade” when he fell ill and died.

Angus is survived by his spouse, and his sister, Bonnie Whyte, of Pt. Townsend, WA, as well as numerous cousins currently living in various parts of California and Michigan.

Contributions may be made in Angus’ memory to the Huntington Disease Society of America, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Point Foundation.

(for media queries, please contact David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com )

Subject Line: Media Coverage Request: 8:30am — Thur., Feb. 21 — OUSD Parents Support Teachers, Engage Students, with Creative Outdoor “Strike School”

Media Contact: 
Naomi Stein / (510) 292-1251‬

Who/What:
OUSD Parents Support Teachers, Engage Students, with Creative Outdoor “Strike School”

Where: Dimond Park, Oakland; end of Wellington Street, Scout hut
When: Thursday, February 21, 8:30am-12pm

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FILLED TO CAPACITY. THIS IS NOT A CALENDAR LISTING. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR ONSITE MEDIA COVERAGE ONLY

Rockridge, Calif., February 20, 2019: On Day One of the Oakland teacher’s strike, 10 OUSD Parent-Volunteers will chaperone 55 OUSD elementary students, under the auspices of local non-profit, Friends of Sausal Creek (FOSC), to create a pop-up “Strike School.” STEAM educator, activist, volunteer, and parent of two children who attend an OUSD elementary school, Naomi Stein has organized a morning of eco-restoration and service learning. When she sent out the announcement, the event quickly filled to capacity for children and adult-volunteers.On Thursday, February 21, from 8:30am-12:00pm, 55 students will learn about and plant native species that secure the soil and benefit local insects, engaging in hands-on learning: sampling macro-invertebrates (creatures that live in the creek that one can see without magnification); examining how the presence or absence of certain species reveals the health of the stream. The kids will round out the day with meditation in nature, and artistic projects designed to integrate their learning and time in Dimond Park.

Naomi explains, “In addition to its gross malfeasance, the District has failed to incorporate parent input. So I organized Strike School to provide a meaningful activity that will simultaneously enable parents to honor the picket line, get to work, educate kids and restore a local creek, free, if only for a half-day. We wanted to provide full-day care, but unfortunately FOSC had another contract in the afternoon.”

She adds, “Parents are taking political action through affecting the District’s bottom line. OUSD receives an average of $58/day per pupil. This one action will cost them over $3k, and there are dozens of these pop-up Strike Schools happening all over town. Parents are acting to support teachers in a way that translates into significant dollars. We hope this will get the District’s attention and that they accede to the teacher’s reasonable requests immediately.”

FOSC is generously donating their services, as well as the 10 OUSD parent volunteers who are donating their time and expertise. 

Naomi Stein is a veteran STEAM educator and children’s experiences leader with over 30 years of experience, including two decades working in theater-based education at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Since retiring from the Hall to be a stay-at-home mom, Naomi has spearheaded numerous events such as this for her community, although this is the first that specifically targets protesting OUSD via political action.
To learn more about other initiatives to support Oakland’s teachers, visit the Oakland Education Association’s website https://oaklandea.org/
The general public can also engage in active learning of the skills listed above by volunteering for Friends of Sausal Creek, as well as supporting their efforts to restore Oakland’s least culverted creek, while educating Oaklanders, young and old, at https://www.sausalcreek.org/

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Former Airbnb Problem Solver Steps Out as “Solo World Wanderer”

San Francisco’s Karen Rosenblum Goes Global from Homebase in Madrid

www.soloworldwanderer.org

13 February 2019 – Madrid, Spain:  There are travel experts, and then there is Karen Rosenblum. Her passion is her brand. Her name says it all:www.soloworldwanderer.org.  In a world of experts, she is, well – a world apart. For years, an executive “problem solver” for the AirBnB, Karen is now turning that worldly wisdom to good use, and helping others explore their home planet.

“The not-so-dirty-little-secret of international travel is this,” says Rosenblum, 41, in mock conspiratorial whisper. “It does not have to be expensive, and it does not have to be complicated.”

With 20 years in the professional travel industry, working for companies such as STA Travel and Airbnb, Karen’s job is just that: taking the “complicated” out of travel. While based in Madrid, Spain, Karen helps travelers plan and organize their trips nearly anywhere in the world.

“As a child I was a closet globetrotter, but now I’m out of the closet and monetizing my passion, laughs Rosenblum known to her friends as La Gringa Loca.  “I would tear apart my parents’ Sunday newspaper to find the travel section. That, when I was 15, my parents agreed to take me to Europe with the understanding that I would plan and book the entire trip.  With the help of travel guidebooks as well a trusted travel agent, I planned a trip to Madrid and Paris for my entire family.”

From that armchair genesis, Karen has visited over 60 countries and developed and cultivated a trusted cadre of international hospitality and travel partners in the process. While some ‘left their hearts in San Francisco’, Karen packed up her Bay Area corazon  and moved it to Spain.

“Spain holds a special place for this digital nomad,” says Karen, noting that one of our friends calls her ‘Spain’s biggest fan since Hemingway.’ “There is no denying that Spain and its people have stolen my heart. My passion is seeing Spain off the beaten path, the real Spain that few visitors are lucky enough to get to know. If there’s a town on the list of  ‘Spain’s most beautiful pueblos’  that I have not been to, I am scheming on how to get there.” 

As Kahlil Gibran once wrote: “Work, is love made visible.” Whether catching AVE trains from Madrid’s Atocha Station or setting up hand-crafted artisan-tours-on-a-budget, Karen has taken her passion for travel on the road and online.  

“If you want to travel, just click on me,” says the irrepressible Karen. “Whether your style of travel is super luxury or super-efficient eco-friendly backpack – solo or in a group, I’ve got an itinerary for you.”

For a free consulting experience, contact Karen at karen@spainlesstraveled.com