Current Friendship Weather
Partly Sunny
Temperature: 8.9 °F
Wind Speed: 5 mph W
Gusts: 15 mph SW
Rain Today: 0.00 "
|
Complete Forecast...
 
Friendship Gossip
No Gossip Yet...Post A Juicy Tidbit
Start A New Discussion...
|
|
Scouring 4,399 sources for Friendship news so you don't have to.
|
|
Fox Valley families riveted by India terrorist attacks
Found: 1 Week 20 Hours 40 Minutes ago
The Post-Crescent - Sandhya Sridhar of Appleton first heard news of Wednesdays terrorist attacks in India when an e-mail arrived from her brother in Mumbai, site of raids by heavily armed groups that reportedly targeted Americans and Britons....
Indian expats find attacks shocking
Found: 1 Week 22 Hours 7 Minutes ago
The Green Bay Press-Gazette - Sandhya Sridhar of Appleton first heard news of Wednesdays terrorist attacks in India when an e-mail arrived from her brother in Mumbai, site of raids by heavily armed groups that reportedly targeted Americans and Britons....
India attacks ignite fear here
Found: 1 Week 1 Day 3 Hours 37 Minutes ago
The Post-Crescent - Sandhya Sridhar of Appleton first heard news of Wednesdays terrorist attacks in India when an e-mail arrived from her brother in Mumbai, site of raids by heavily armed groups that reportedly targeted Americans and Britons....
A selfless thank you,
a grateful friendFall Creek man's generosity to ...
Found: 1 Week 1 Day 10 Hours 38 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - FALL CREEK - Before Pete and Sue Roller made their regular trip to the Eau Claire farmers market more than a year ago, Pete already had been thinking about helping out one of the Hmong farming families.Pete had done his research.He learned before his trip to buy vegetables that it's difficult for Hmong families to find land in the area. Most of the farmers market families spend $100 to $300 to rent an acre each year to farm from April through October. Then they spend more money to have it plowed and tilled. And still more is spent to start the seedlings in a greenhouse in St. Paul - which most Hmong farmers in the area do."It's almost like growing vegetables is a labor of love," Pete said while sitting down with his new friend Phong Xiong.Phong, a 28-year-old farmer and translation coordinator for the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, originally rented land with hiswife, Phoua Yang, and father, Song Xiong, for $80 per acre per year. But that increased to $250 per acre, and Phong was getting frustrated with the increases.That's when, in August 2007, the Rollers made their way over to Phong's produce stand at the farmers market."I was joking with him," Pete said about their first encounter. "I said, 'You didn't grow this. This came off a truck from California.' I don't ever see any gardens around here."Phong assured Pete that the vegetables were grown in the area, and that's when Pete asked if Phong needed land to grow his produce.Phong was interested, especially with the cost rising on the land his family already was renting. Phong and his father went to check out the Rollers' land on U.S. 12 between Eau Claire and Fall Creek and were optimistic. "The father and son dug down into the ground and smelled the soil, then they spoke with each other in their own (language)," Pete said.When Phong asked the cost, Pete answered that he and his wife wanted vegetables from the garden and would charge $12 a year for 2 acres. "I told him he must be joking me," Phong said.Phong and his father protested - they couldn't accept such generosity, but Pete assured them they were well deserving of the land at such a fantastic price.Pete was willing to make the deal because he knew Song, Phong's father, helped American troops in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. "I said, "I know that you rescued airmen that were down,' " Pete said recalling the conversation he had with Song.After Phong translated the sentiment, Song simply nodded his head.Xiong family historyPhong's family guessed that he was born in 1980, making him 28 years old. They don't know for sure because he was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and no records were kept.Several years before he was born, Phong's parents lived in Laos. His father helped to fight against the Viet Cong. Song was a captain in the Hmong forces and was wounded several times. He was known for his speed through the jungle and for his ability to quickly climb trees.The United States pulled out of Vietnam in 1975, but Song continued to fight with the Hmong forces until 1980 when his family was relocated to the refugee camp in Thailand.Phong said that's when "the bad times for our people began."Conditions in the camps were horrible. There were 26 people in Phong's immediate family. Because of the war and its aftermath, his family is left with six living members, who now all reside in the United States.Phong and his family give credit to American families for bringing his family to the United States in December 1993. "We are slowly learning American ways," Phong said. "It has been difficult, but we are trying."In 1993, when Phong was about 13, he began attending DeLong Middle School. The first time he walked into the school, he was overwhelmed because it was largest building he had been in to that point in his life."It was just a big shock to me - a big building with so many lights, all the noise in a school, and the laughter," he said. Phong was in English as a second language classes for less than three years. Now he speaks Thai, Lao, two dialects of Hmong and English. Phong is able to help his mother and father converse with Americans because they know little English.Pete's motivationPete didn't need to offer up his land, Phong said. He didn't need to go through the trouble. But Pete has several good reasons for doing so.In a way, Pete did this for his good friend and soldier Capt. Walter J. Gutowski who died fighting in Vietnam in 1969.But even more so, it's about helping out a fellow man and, in turn, receiving wonderful vegetables and a lasting friendship. "The greatest gift is the relationship," Pete said. "Some of us in life can do something. For us not to do something is wrong. These people are good people, and that's why it works."Phong and Song are incredibly grateful to Pete and Sue for their generosity."For my dad, he told me this was a very honorable man and that it was OK to work with him," Phong said. "I've lived here 14 years now. I can see why people would say that America is great. It doesn't have to do with the country, it has to do with the people."Waters can be reached at 833-9214, 800-236-7077 or alyssa.waters@ecpc.com....
Teacher?s faith returns, strengthened despite losses
Found: 1 Week 2 Days 6 Hours 50 Minutes ago
La Cross Tribune - HOLMEN -- It took a relationship with an incarcerated man to renew one woman?s faith, shattered years before by her father?s death....
Prescott resident's AIDS musical is Dec. 1 in Hastings
Found: 1 Week 2 Days 14 Hours 10 Minutes ago
Pierce County Herald - PRESCOTT - Chris Falteisek has been a church accompanist for over 30 years, has performed in five U.S. states, in addition to three concerts in Norway, and has recorded 14 albums.
Advertisement: BRICK AND STONE REPAIR
Free Estimates - Brick and Stone Repair
Call Chuck at 715-273-6053 for your free estimate. Brick and Stone Repair, Ellsworth, Wisconsin.
...
For couple, lifetime separates prom date, marriage
Found: 1 Week 4 Days 9 Hours 48 Minutes ago
La Cross Tribune - In spring 1947, they attended Madison Central High School?s prom together. She wore an elegant dress purchased by a grateful family for which she did housework during World War II. He was 19, on break from his post-war stint in the Marines. Sporting sharp military attire, he attracted admiration. A Central teacher, acknowledging the young man?s uniform, asked the couple to lead the event?s first dance....
Family thankful after heart donation
Found: 1 Week 4 Days 9 Hours 48 Minutes ago
La Cross Tribune - WESTBY — Tina Adam already has the home she shares with her husband, Forbes, and three children festively decorated for the holiday season....
Romance blossoms 60 years later
Found: 1 Week 4 Days 15 Hours 21 Minutes ago
Wisconsin State Journal - In spring 1947, they attended Central High School's prom in Madison together. She wore an elegant dress purchased by a grateful family for which she did housework during World War II. He was 19, on break from his post-war stint in the Marines. Sporting sharp military attire, he attracted admiration. A Central teacher, acknowledging the young man's uniform, asked the couple to lead the event's first dance. "I didn't dance," she says now with a ... ...
Experts say that to be happy, we should be grateful all year long
Found: 1 Week 5 Days 4 Hours 34 Minutes ago
La Cross Tribune - Gratitude isn?t just for the Thanksgiving season, and being grateful is important to our spiritual and mental health, local experts say....
|
|
