UNION CITY, Calif. — Tom Kitayama, who has the dual distinction of being Union City’s first mayor and the first Japanese American to hold office in state, died of heart failure at Washington Hospital on June 5, 2007. He was 83.

By ALEC YOSHIO MacDONALD
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

From a thatch-roof, bamboo hut in a small village of northern Laos, all the way to the floor of the Minnesota state Legislature, Mee Moua has filled her 38 years on this earth with by overcoming barriers on her way to outstanding accomplishments. Recently, the nation’s highest-ranking Hmong American elected official received recognition for her efforts from an organization whose own 38-year track record bears a similar brand of achievement.

SACRAMENTO — California State Librarian Susan Hildreth, and the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) advisory committee, met on May 25, and selected 29 recipients for $500,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 CCLPEP grants.

The CCLPEP received 73 applications this cycle, with a total amount of $2,414,618 requested.

CUPERTINO (Bay City News Service) — A group of Asian Americans were calling on the community and elected officials on June 8 to help lobby the Japanese government into an apology for the forced prostitution it forced on Asian women before and during World War II.

The Japan Center Garage has funded the Japantown Task Force (JTF) to organize, maintain and outline the content of a Japantown Community Bulletin Board in order to have a central location where community events and meeting notices of public interest can be displayed.

Catcher Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki, the former College World Series MVP while at Cal State Fullerton, has made it to the show.

He was called up on June 10 to take the place of Oakland Athletics backup catcher Adam Melhuse, who was traded to the Texas Rangers a day earlier. With veteran starter Jason Kendall in the last year of his contract, Suzuki, 23, may be the catcher of the future.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The 21^st annual Japanese Cultural Fair will be held on Saturday, June 23, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Mission Plaza Park in Santa Cruz. The park is near Highway 1, in front of Holy Cross Church and one block from the Town Clock.

The fair will feature an array of entertainment, foods and arts and craft booths. Admission is free.