Selling very special edition Union-Tribune newspapers during Kids’ NewsDay!
Smiling volunteers could be seen throughout San Diego this morning selling special edition newspapers! Today was the 25th anniversary of Kids’ NewsDay, a much-anticipated yearly event whose purpose is to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital.
Over the years, thousands of children and families have been helped by the money raised by generous people who purchase this inspiring edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Since the first Kids’ NewsDay in 1990, about 30,000 volunteers have sold over a million papers, raising nearly 3 million dollars! That’s amazing! The featured section of the newspaper is filled with stories of kids overcoming extremely difficult situations, many with rare or life-threatening diseases. The stories are filled with optimism, and the most inspiring stories are written by children themselves!
If you would like to make a donation to Rady Children’s Hospital, please click this link!
Kid’s NewsDay helps raise funds for Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
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Sculpture of Bum, San Diego’s town dog, in a grassy Gaslamp pocket park.
One of San Diego’s most famous celebrities had four legs and a tail. His name was Bum.
Bum the dog made San Diego his home in the late 19th century. He arrived in town in 1886 by stowing away on the Santa Rosa, a steamship from San Francisco. Soon thereafter, he became the well known town mascot.
Everyone was proud to be Bum’s pal. San Diegans young and old gladly provided food, friendship and their front porches for his sleeping place. Bum helped firemen hurry to fires, led parades, and protected the town’s children. We know this today because James Edward Friend, a journalist, wrote about Bum’s life and famous exploits.
Bum was so popular that one local restaurant put up a sign that read Bum Eats Here. When the city of San Diego passed a law requiring dog licenses, Bum’s picture was featured on the license.
Bum was a free spirit. Nobody owned him. But he had a claim on everybody’s heart. He was given free fare on trains, whenever he decided to come or go. He was given special medical attention when one foreleg became badly mangled in a train accident. He was even given a home at the County Hospital by the Board of Supervisors when his arthritis made it hard to get around. Bum was buried on the hospital grounds after his death in 1898.
Bum’s life has come to represent a small chapter of San Diego’s history, back when today’s downtown competed with Old Town and was called New Town. A bronze sculpture of the famous town dog now occupies a shady pocket park in downtown’s Gaslamp District. You can find the exact likeness of the St. Bernard-Spaniel mix lying on the grass not far from the William Heath Davis House, which is a small museum and the oldest wooden structure in the Gaslamp.
Plaque remembers history of Bum in early San Diego and his legendary exploits.
The nearby plaque reads:
Bum
San Diego’s Official Town Dog
Died November 10, 1898 – Aged 12 Years
Loved by everyone – owned by no one. His name suited him because he arrived as a town stowaway, befriended everyone and “bummed” quality food from the local eateries. As a young dog he survived a scuffle with another dog on the Santa Fe train tracks. Though he lost a foreleg and part of his tail, his spirit was unbroken. He guarded the children, led the parades and fire trucks, and had many adventures. So admired was Bum that the City Council awarded him a lifetime dog license. When he died, children collected pennies for a proper burial.
Bum waits faithfully downtown next to the William Heath Davis House museum.Historical photograph shows Bum among his many San Diegan human friends.Greyfriars Bobby, town dog of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Another dog sculpture perched on a nearby bench is of Greyfriars Bobby, the official town dog of Edinburgh, Scotland. The love and loyalty of both legendary dogs is the reason San Diego and Edinburgh are sister cities.
Bum sculpture recalls another rich chapter of San Diego’s history.
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Many distinguished speakers at the Tony Gwynn Memorial Tribute remembered and honored one of the greatest baseball hitters of all time. The public ceremony was held at Petco Park on June 26, 2014. Here are some quotes…
Ted Leitner, Padres radio broadcaster:
So we will cry together, we will laugh together, we will have joy together today, but one thing we will never never do is to forget the greatest hitter of his generation and one of the greatest people in the history of major league sport.
I would like one more time one final standing ovation before the anthem for that magnificent Padre, number 19, Tony Gwynn.
They lied to us, you know. They lied to us in the movie A League of Their Own, when the manager and the Tom Hanks character said “There’s no crying in baseball!” Wrong, huh? Since June 16, there’s been almost nothing but crying in baseball.
People identified with him more than big muscled sculpted athletes because they thought he was the guy next door. Tony was chunky…He was 4 for 5 today, he doesn’t need to lose weight, okay?
Many of you were there in 2007 when he was inducted with the immortals, literally, in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. It was the biggest crowd in Cooperstown history, beyond Ruth, beyond Mantle, beyond Aaron, beyond anybody when he and Cal Ripken were inducted that hot summer day.
See, nobody’s talking about at-bats and number of hits. We know those numbers. 3141 hits, and 15 All Star Games, and 8 batting titles and 5 Gold Gloves, and all that stuff, but it’s, and that is greatness unto itself, but it’s so beyond that, it’s so beyond that, but the man and the compassion…
But he stayed here. It was never about the money. It was about you folks…it was about this Padre organization that he loved..he was never about the money.
The greatest laugh of all time…it was the best…it was better than the game. I could’ve broadcast that instead of the game.
Ron Fowler, Executive Chairman of the San Diego Padres:
Tony was important to all of us. The number of wonderful stories since his passing from around the country reinforces the many reasons why he was loved by so many.
We all know of Tony’s iconic status as one of the greatest baseball players ever, but even more importantly, many of us experienced the special qualities of the warm, giving and compassionate member of our community. What stood out most for me was Tony’s ability to relate to people from all demos and economic strata. His special ability to relate to children…
Tony considered himself an Everyman and remained an Everyman throughout his entire life, so approachable and so easy for San Diegans to embrace as our city’s favorite son.
Reggie Jackson, member of baseball’s Hall of Fame:
He was a genuine man, he was a quality man, one hundred percent family man, he was a great son, a great husband, a great father, and a great brother. A great friend and a great teammate. He was the example of what we all want to live and emulate as a person. He cared about his fellow Man, and we understand and know that he cared about his community.
During the dash of his 54 years, he showed us the template of how to live with dignity.
I’ll leave you with something to think about as I refer about baseball. I saw some great hitters. I saw Mike Schmidt and Jim Rice. Kaline, Dick Allen, Molitor, Yount and Brett. Cooper and Bench. I saw Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Billy Williams, Stargell and Stretch McCovey. I saw Banks at the end. Number 19, Tony Gwynn, belongs on that page.
John Boggs, Tony Gwynn’s agent:
Tony was a very humble man, and he wasn’t big on ceremonies, especially ceremonies that were about him, but I know he’s looking down this evening on all of us here at Petco and I’m sure he’s very grateful for this outpouring of love.
He was an incredible friend. He was the definition of friend. In life there are a lot of acquaintances but very few true friends…He touched so many people, and I was just lucky to be one of them.
He was so much better than the statistics he accumulated.
There was also the memory of Tony and Ted Williams together in the first interview they did together and I’ve never seen Tony so energized and excited as two of the greatest hitters exchanged baseball knowledge…I was lucky to be just a fly on the wall.
And Tony’s humility. Waiting for the Hall of Fame call, I could not believe how nervous he was. With all of his accomplishments, I said, “Tony, this is a slam dunk.” And he just smiled and looked at me and said. “Hey, you never know.” That was Tony. He never took anything for granted.
To the fans, he loved you and appreciated you more than I convey into words. He loved the city of San Diego, he loved being an Aztec, and he most definitely loved being a Padre. He was and always will be Mr. Padre.
Kevin Faulconer, Mayor of San Diego:
Tony Gwynn represented the best of San Diego. His infectious personality did more than spark the Padres to two World Series appearances, he lit up our entire community with pride, and it’s almost impossible to sum up how much Tony Gwynn meant to our city.
Damian Jackson, former San Diego Padres player:
He was a baseball giant to me…who he was as a man so overshadows what he was as a baseball player, and that’s amazing to me.
He not only showed us how to play the game the right way, but he also showed us how to be the right person, and be a great, respected man in the community.
And boy did he love his family. He talked about them daily. When he talked about his children, he just lit up, like the sun.
He wouldn’ve been a great dad to have.
So Tony taught and inspired us on a daily basis…he was a Hall of Fame man, in my eyes.
You inspire me to be a better father, you inspire me to be a better man, and your legacy lives on in this city and in my heart. And thank you Tony. May you rest in peace.
Rob Manfred, COO of Major League Baseball:
In my 25 years in the game, I’ve known scores of players. Even among this elite group, Tony Gwynn was special. He was special because of his Hall of Fame talent, his devotion to the game, and the values he came to represent.
Tony Gwynn may have been the perfect member of the baseball family.
While he was playing, baseball could always count on Tony to do the right thing…he was a great role model to young players.
Mark Martinez, SDSU Aztecs baseball head coach:
He was my colleague, my mentor, but more importantly, my friend. My family. He was part of the Aztec family.
Coach Gwynn’s a teacher. And he was best at teaching all kinds of things. Obviously baseball, but teaching life lessons…All of his teachings were centered around his core value: Do things right.
And then he would say: “Let’s go to work.” Let’s go to work. Does that not embody what he was about? For 20 years in the big leagues and 12 years on the mesa…
Finally, Coach Gwynn is a gift. He’s a gift to all of us. His laugh, his mentorship, the way he made you feel important, even if he just met you for the first time. He gave these gifts every single day.
Trevor Hoffman, former San Diego Padres player:
Whenever… he had the opportunity to speak to you the fans, it felt like he was talking to us one on one.
What a gift he gave us all. That joy that everybody’s talked about, his smile, and his laugh, will be etched in our memories forever, another great gift…He always said, you give a little bit, you get a lot. How appropriate that was about T. Gwynn…What a great man, T. Gwynn.
It was on one of those videos we heard Tony say thank you, thank you, thank you–always being humble, always thanking us. Well it’s us that needs to be saying thank you to T. Gwynn. Thank you for your Hall of Fame career over twenty years, sharing it with us. Thank you for representing San Diego with such class. And thank you for letting us all in your house tonight. Amen.
Anisha Gwynn Jones, daughter of Tony Gwynn:
On behalf of all of the Gwynn family, I would just like to take the time to thank each and every one of you for all of the support and all the love. Thank you. You guys are why my dad loved San Diego so much.
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Tony Gwynn on video screen at Petco’s Park at the Park.
Tonight I joined thousands of other San Diegans at Petco Park to honor the late Tony Gwynn, the greatest Padres player ever…and one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport.
I apologize that my camera takes very poor long distance shots. There were many speakers paying tribute to Tony, and my photos of the distant stage and podium came out terribly.
A few photographs seem to have captured the spirit of the occasion. Here they are…
San Diegans pay their respects at the Tony Gwynn statue.Flowers, messages and memorabilia from loving fans.Child reaches up to touch number 19.Padres fans enter the stands before Tony Gwynn memorial begins.Anthony Keith Gwynn, the greatest Padre ever.Thanks for the memories, Mr. Padre.Thousands gather long before the memorial tribute starts.Thank you signs and poignant gestures from the crowd.White doves are released near the stage as program begins.
Nineteen doves were released after a choir opened the service, singing: “I’m not here, but I’m not far. My spirit lives on.”
Ted Leitner remembers Tony and introduces many guests.
Ted Leitner, long-time Padres radio announcer, said that we’d never forget the greatest hitter of his generation. He then asked the crowd to provide one last standing ovation. During the memorial tribute, Ted played a recording of Tony’s unforgettable laugh from a cell phone.
There were scores of distinguished guests, and several speakers remembered Tony Gwynn for the cheering crowd.
Reggie Jackson, Mr. October, gave a Yankee salute to Tony and his family. San Diego’s mayor spoke, and so did the Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball. Tony La Russa and Joe Torre stood up in the VIP section to loud applause. On the big video screen, tributes were offered by former teammates and opponents alike. In old videos, Tony Gwynn was treated with respect by contemporary baseball greats, including Mike Schmidt, Cal Ripken, Greg Maddux, Tommy Lasorda and many others.
Every guest speaker at the memorial seemed to agree that Tony was an inspiration to all those around him. To many he was a mentor, and to all he was a friend.
Tony Gwynn is remembered as a great player and great man.After the ceremony, number 19 remains on field.Petco Park slowly empties after tribute ends.
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Balloons honor 19, Baseball Hall of Fame player Tony Gwynn’s number.
This morning Tony Gwynn passed away. Nearly everyone in San Diego loved Mr. Padre. Count me among them.
I drove past Petco Park’s beautiful Park at the Park just before noon and wandered in over the green grass just to see his statue. A crowd of Padres fans had gathered. Flowers and other tributes formed a growing shrine at the base of his sculpture. The big screen was showing interviews and memorable plays from the amazing baseball career of Tony Gwynn. I noted several people were wiping their eyes. I had to do a bit of blinking, myself.
Tony Gwynn worked hard and good things happened.Flowers decorate the base of Tony Gwynn statue.Padres fans watch the big smiling face of Tony Gwynn.Father with child wipes tears from his eyes.
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A meaningful work of art stands in a small park among trees in downtown San Diego. The park includes a hedge maze and a few benches for sitting, and can be found at the west end of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, a beautiful walkway that runs along Harbor Drive. At the center of the maze, a shining sculpture awaits like a revelation.
Shedding the Cloak is a work of public art that glows bright gold from within, both day and night. Created in 2001 by Jerry Dumlao, Mary Lynn Dominguez and Tama Dumlao, the sculpture represents a turning point in a person’s view of others. MLK hoped that all people would shed the cloak of hatred and suspicion, and don the cloak of compassion.
A plaque explains: This beacon of light honors the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that with perseverance and hope the human spirit can break the web of ignorance, hatred and injustice.
The shady park is a quiet place to read a book, relax, or reflect upon life and human potential in a turbulent, often unthoughtful world. The golden radiance from within the sculpture shifts beneath swaying green branches as the sun arcs through the sky. A touch of gold is felt by any who pass by.
Beautiful artwork inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.Rough exterior of fear and malice is peeled aside.Trees and sky seen through sculpture on Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade.Shining golden interior of cloak represents human compassion.Trolley passes behind Shedding the Cloak.Park honors an American hero who stood for human dignity.
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Dogs and humans head toward the 2014 Bark in Balboa Park.
The Eighth Annual Bark in Balboa Park was a triumphant success this afternoon. Hundreds of furry, tail-wagging best friends got to join in the festivities, and nearly all become instantly famous. How does an ordinary, easy-going, everyday dog get 15 seconds of fame? You’re about to find out!
A few early arrivals at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.Friendly pooch near Spreckels Organ Society donation box.Some furry attendees await the free dog-themed organ concert.San Diego Humane Society has volunteers at the event.Lovable dogs await adoption at Bark in the Park.Great Dane takes a nap while a huge crowd gathers.People and pooches enjoy the organ concert from the colonnade.A baby stroller makes a prime seat for the big event.Activity is non-stop even during the fun concert.The unconditional love that dogs give.Spreckels Organ Society photographer hard at work.The eighth annual parade of dogs in front of the organ begins!Dr. Carol Williams plays a rousing Sousa march as pooches pass by.This funny beagle was a real crowd pleaser.A dainty dog in pink enjoys momentary fame on the big stage.
These pics were all taken at Embarcadero Marina Park North.
People fascinated by beautiful San Diego Bay.Just relaxing on the grass enjoying a nice day.Couple paddling along on boards in Marriott Marina.Children explore the blue water from rocks.A stroll through Embarcadero Marina Park North.Walking along the water past a picnic bench.
Hundreds of colorful tiles encircle a large playground at Liberty Station. Each tile was carefully painted by a child. This one contains a special message.
Cool San Diego Sights! 