On this day, May 5, 1903, James Beard, US culinary expert, author (Delights & Prejudices), was born in Portland, Ore.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing Mrs. Elsie Mitchell, the pregnant wife of a minister, and five children after they attempted to drag it out the woods in Lakeview, Oregon. The balloon was armed, and exploded soon after they began tampering with it. They became the 1st and only known American civilians to be killed in the continental US during World War II.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, Bly minister Archie Mitchell, his pregnant wife Elsie, and five children from Mitchell's Sunday school class were on a Saturday morning picnic. Thirteen miles northeast of Bly, or about sixty miles northeast of Klamath Falls, Mitchell parked the car, and Elsie and the children headed to Leonard Creek. Mitchell later remembered: "As I got out of the car to bring the lunch, the others were not far away and called to me they had found something that looked like a balloon. I heard of Japanese balloons so I shouted a warning not to touch it. But just then there was a big explosion. I ran up there--and they were all dead." It was a Japanese balloon bomb. They were 70 feet tall with a 33-foot diameter paper canopy connected to the main device by shroud lines. Balloons inflated with hydrogen followed the jet stream at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
Appointed by Governor Kate Brown
Governor Kate Brown has announced that she has appointed Alyssa Chatterjee as the Director of the Early Learning Division (ELD). In this role, Chatterjee will lead the agency responsible for supporting Oregon’s young children and families to learn and thrive. She will oversee the transition of the ELD into the new Department of Early Learning and Care on January 1, 2023.
“I am thrilled to name Alyssa Chatterjee as Director of the Early Learning Division," said Governor Brown. "Alyssa led the development of my office’s early learning and child care policy, and had a key role in shaping policy and supporting the work of my Children’s Cabinet and the Racial Justice Council. She hit the ground running in May as acting director to continue our ongoing work with early learning and child care providers to ensure all children across Oregon can thrive and reach their full potential. I look forward to her continued leadership and collaboration.â€
Chatterjee has focused on early learning policy throughout her time working for the State of Oregon. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office as deputy education policy advisor in August 2019, Chatterjee was among the first employees at ELD when the division was formally created. She served in a variety of roles at ELD, including as a policy advisor and legislative coordinator for the agency. As a member of ELD’s executive team, she helped guide the state’s early learning strategic planning process for the 5-year statewide early learning system plan, Raise Up Oregon. She has a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University.
Chatterjee had been serving as the acting director of ELD since May; her permanent appointment was effective August 1.
--Bruce Armstrong| Post Date: 2021-08-14 19:15:43 | Last Update: 2021-08-14 19:23:57 |
