Happy New Year--tune in for city mayoral updates and a special origin story!
Today, South Bend’s Mayor James Mueller and other elected officials were sworn in today at the Century Center in Downtown South Bend.
James Mueller is now in his 2nd term for the City of South Bend and had a chance to share a public address after being sworn in. James Mueller shares how working together within the city will make the community stronger and shared his passion and optimism for the city during the next few years under his leadership.
He shared:"Bold, deliberate public action will be necessary to get us where we need to go, the kind of action that's already underway with historic investments across our city. We are stronger together, and only together will we rise,"
-Mayor James Mueller, City of South Bend
In the city of Goshen, Mayor Gina Leichty was sworn in to officially begin her duties as an elected official. She was selected through caucusing earlier this year as interim Mayor.
Mayor Gina Leichty is the first elected female mayor in Goshen.
Before adjourning, Leichty, who is the first female mayor of the city, expressed her gratitude to those who had taken part and assisted with the campaign season.
https://www.facebook.com/inspirationalspeakercharlieadams
Charlie Adams recently shared this insightful story within a Facebook post, siting the origin story of the new movie “the Boys in the Boat.”
The post from Charlie shares a story shared with him from David Hoffert from Warsaw Community Schools.
Charlie shares:
“The Boys in the Boat” is an incredible and heartwarming story of teamwork and the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Ryun and I had a chance to see the movie version yesterday with a special knowledge of Joe Rantz. In fact, most likely the book or movie would have never been made without my history students in 2006.
As a teacher, I loved to introduce my students to people who lived the history and could share from their experiences. That included hundreds of the Greatest Generation of the Great Depression. Many of my summers as a history teacher were spent traveling the country doing historical interviews with research grants.
In 2006, my students were studying Jesse Owens and Berlin Olympics. They asked if there was anyone still alive that could tell them about being at the Olympics. We did a quick internet search (revolutionary for its time) and came across a little known participant (Joe Rantz) in Washington state who won a gold medal as part of the 8 man rowing crew team. We put together a letter and sent it away.
A few weeks later later we receive an incredible letter and packet from Joe and his daughter Judy. Joe was in hospice care and his daughter used this request and opportunity from students to collect of his thoughts and experiences before it was too late. My students (and I) felt privileged to learn from these experiences. Joe passed away in 2007.
A highlight was sharing with Joe’s daughter that that initial letter had gone full circle as “The Boys in the Boat” became class read in our middle schools.
Was so much fun watching the movie knowing Joe Rantz’s story might have been lost to history without some students in Warsaw Community Schools. By the way…..In case you have not read the book or watched the movie…..do, as you will be inspired and reminded why teamwork makes the dreamwork!"
- David Hoffert
Warsaw Community Schools Supt
