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WASHINGTON (Press Release)—U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano visited El Paso, Texas, Wednesday, April 15, to highlight major DHS efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and cross-border trafficking, which resulted in more than one million apprehensions of illegal aliens in fiscal year 2008—including nearly 800,000 along the Southwest border. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed 369,000 illegal immigrants from the United States during the same time period, a 27 percent increase from fiscal year 2007.
“The Department of Homeland Security has taken strong action to put the right resources in key places along the Southwest border,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Thanks to additional technology and personnel along the border, we are getting better intelligence leading to drug and weapons seizures and better identification of illegal and criminal aliens.”
Secretary Napolitano also announced the appointment of Alan Bersin as DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs. Bersin previously served as U.S. Department of Justice Southwest Border Representative.
“Alan brings years of vital experience working with local, state and international partners to help us meet the challenges we face at our borders,” said Secretary Napolitano. “He will lead the effort to make our borders safe while working to promote commerce and trade.”
Secretary Napolitano visited El Paso as part of a three-stop tour of the Southwest border, which will also include visits to Columbus, N.M., and Nogales, Ariz. Secretary Napolitano will then travel to Mexico City to meet President Obama.
Bersin’s responsibilities at DHS will include improving relationships with the Department’s partners in the international community, as well as those at the state and local level. He will lead the Department’s efforts to crack down on violence along the Southwest border highlighted in Secretary Napolitano’s March 24 announcement including the deployment of additional personnel and enhanced technology to help Mexico target illegal guns, drugs and cash.
Mr. Bersin will report directly to the Secretary’s office, and begins immediately. Following the announcement in El Paso, Texas, Bersin will travel to the border communities of Del Rio, Laredo, Hidalgo, McAllen, and Brownsville where he will meet with local law enforcement to discuss coordination across the border and with federal, state and local authorities.
Bersin brings unique experience to the post, as a law enforcement official, educator, and civil servant. Bersin was appointed in 1995 by former Attorney General Janet Reno as Special Representative for the Southwest Border with responsibility to coordinate border law enforcement from South Texas to Southern California. Bersin advised the Attorney General on improvements in immigration law enforcement along the Southwest border in addition to overseeing anti drug and human trafficking programs. Bersin also worked with the Mexican government and local partners on important trans-national issues such as cross-border commerce and immigration.
From 1993 to 1998, Bersin served as the U.S. Attorney for California's Southern District where he tripled felony prosecutions, resulting in the heaviest federal criminal caseload in the country. These prosecutions involved a full range of federal criminal violations, including immigration and narcotics offenses, in addition to violent and white collar crime.
Most recently, Bersin was the Board Chairman of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. Prior to that position, Bersin served as California’s Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of the San Diego Public Schools. He holds a B.A. from Harvard College, a J.D. from Yale University, and was also a Rhodes Scholar.
Rosenberg new managing director at La Jolla Playhouse
LA JOLLA, California (Press Release)— The Board of Trustees of La Jolla Playhouse announces the appointment of Michael S. Rosenberg as the Playhouse’s new Managing Director. A veteran producer in both the not-for-profit and commercial theatre worlds, Rosenberg will begin full time duties on May 4, 2009.
“After an extensive national search, the Board of Trustees is delighted to welcome Michael Rosenberg to the Playhouse. A highly accomplished theatre producer and administrator, Michael shares the Playhouse’s vision for the future, and I am confident that the institution will thrive under his leadership during this important time in our history,” said Playhouse Board Chair David Dolgen.
Michael S. Rosenberg was Co-Founder and Executive Director of Drama Dept., where he produced 21 productions, including As Bees in Honey Drown by Douglas Carter Beane, June Moon by George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner, The Book of Liz, by David and Amy Sedaris, and the Tribeca Theater Festival in partnership with Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff, the Tribeca Film Festival and American Express.
After twelve years at Drama Dept., he went on to run the theatrical arm of East of Doheny, a theatre and film production company, where he oversaw numerous projects, including the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Grey Gardens. Prior to Drama Dept., Rosenberg worked on the management teams for Broadway's The O'Neill Plays and off-Broadway's The Real Live Brady Bunch and Stars in the Morning Sky. He also spent several years in Washington, DC, where he produced and managed educational theatre programs for the National Dance Institute at The Kennedy Center, Kaiser Permanente and the Shakespeare Theatre. Most recently he was a producer of the 2008 Broadway revival of American Buffalo, starring John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment.
“I have been a longtime admirer of La Jolla Playhouse and am deeply honored to be joining this remarkable institution,” said Rosenberg. “Although our nation is going through a difficult economic period, the Playhouse has remained devoted to its mission of producing compelling, adventurous new work and to providing extraordinary theatre artists with a safe haven to explore their craft. I look forward to working alongside Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, the Board of Trustees and staff to help continue this legacy and to build on the Playhouse’s already well-established national reputation.”
Ashley commented, “I am thrilled that one of America's top
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theatre producers and arts administrators will be joining the Playhouse team. Michael’s unique combination of passion and
pragmatism, along with his extensive experience shepherding to the stage both large-scale musicals and innovative works in development, make him ideally suited for the position. I can’t wait to begin our partnership.”
The process for recruiting the new Managing Director began in September, 2008, where the Board of Directors formed a search committee and contracted the services of BHK Arts Consultants, Inc., an executive search firm specializing in the arts, led by Benita Hofstetter Koman.
In partnership with the Artistic Director, the Managing Director is responsible for directing overall strategic planning, financial management, marketing, development, production management and labor relations for the organization.
The nationally-acclaimed, Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse is renowned for its tradition of creating the most exciting and adventurous new work in regional theatre. The Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, and is considered one of the most well-respected not-for-profit theatres in the country. Numerous Playhouse productions have moved to Broadway, including Big River, The Who’s Tommy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Walk in the Woods, Dracula, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, the Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife, Jersey Boys, The Farnsworth Invention, Cry-Baby and 33 Variations.
Located on the UCSD campus, La Jolla Playhouse is made up of three primary performance spaces: the Mandell Weiss Theatre, the Mandell Weiss Forum and the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for La Jolla Playhouse, a state-of-the-art theatre complex which features the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.
Poway Interfaith Team tells four Jewish-community events for April
POWAY, California (Press Release) -- Here are some upcoming events of the Poway Interfaith Team including representatives of the Jewish community.
The Interfaith team's goal is to increase community awareness and understanding of different faith traditions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.
Hand in Hand—Center for Jewish- Arab Education in Israel, Learning Together Living Together, this Sunday, April 19th, 9:30am and 11:00am services. Fifteen Arab and Israeli Children (6th-9th grade) will be at the Community Church of Poway,13501 Community Rd., Poway. Call: Rev. Glen Larsen at 858-748-3304The youth will speak at services, 9:30am and 11:00am about their personal experiences while attending this first integrated school in Jerusalem.
The school’s purpose and goal is to create a more peaceful, pluralistic, and democratic society in Israel.
Building Bridges of Understanding—Meet our local Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein from Congregation Chabad of Poway, Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 p.m. at the San Rafael Parish Center, speaking on "What Does it Mean to be an Orthodox Jew… Back to the Future?” What do Jews and Catholics Have in Common? 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego. Patty Ann Born - Facilitator. Call 858-674-1145 for more information.
Medieval Event--Free Medieval Entertainment and Music: Pastor Karla Halverson, San Marcos Lutheran, Pastor Dennis Keating, Emmanuel Faith, and Rabbi David Castiglione, Temple Adat Shalom. Friday, April 24th 3pm-5:30pm, Mission Hills Church in San Marcos,400 Mission Hills Court, San Marcos, CA 92069. RSVP by April 17th Call Nusrat Symons, 760-489-6380 ext. 221.Horse Adventures, “Knights” Pony Rides. Royal feast fit for a King or a Queen, Carnival Games and Activities For All.
From Bimah to Broadway—Saturday, April 25, 2009 7:30pm; Temple Adat Shalom, 15905 Pomerado Road, Poway, CA 92064$36 Regular Admission $50 VIP Reserved Seating and Reception (6:30pm) featuring Cantor Lori Wilinsky Frank, Temple Adat Shalom and Cantor IIan Davidson, Temple Beth El, San Pedro.“Enjoy an unforgettable and entertaining evening as two talented cantors perform Broadway hits, musical favorites and cantorial gems, including a unique tribute to Israel. Call 858-451-1200 or visit www.adatshalom.com
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