Many were evacuated by the United States military and brought to America to resettle. And as more people fled in the years after the war, and governments stepped in to address the humanitarian crisis, even more found themselves starting new lives in the U.S.
Around the country, “Little Saigons” grew, here is a little bit about some of the larger communities to have blossomed.
DALLAS-FORT WORTH
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
In the area of Garland, Arlington and Halton City is the largest concentration of the Vietnamese community in the region. The largest concentration of shopping centers, restaurants, temples, and churches is in Garland along Walnut Street between Audelia and Jupiter roads.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
Many refugees in the 1970s heading to North Texas had previously worked with the American government, according to the Oral History Association in Tennessee.
After securing jobs or higher education, many people wanted to move to the suburbs around the larger Dallas area, said Jimmy Tran, of Garland, who started VN United, a soccer-focused nonprofit.
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
In 2019, Tran hosted the first Dallas-Fort Worth Area Asian American Soccer Tournament in cooperation with the city of Garland. The event is now in its sixth year and draws Vietnamese and other Asian soccer teams from as far away as Canada, he said.
Other highlights in Garland include the Cali-Saigon Mall and its Dallas Superstore, which offers international groceries, especially fresh produce, seafood and meats, the mainstays of Vietnamese cooking, said Huy Trieu, the mall’s general manager. “It’s a place that they like because it’s one-stop shopping. We’ve also got a food court where everyone likes to hang out, especially when we have promotions.”
Arlington is home to Martyrs Catholic Church, the largest Vietnamese Catholic Church in the country.
What are the demographic trends involving the area’s Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
The area is home to more than 110,000 Vietnamese residents, making it the fourth-largest Vietnamese community in the U.S. The community grew significantly, according to the U.S. Census, following the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980. According to recent estimates, within the broader Asian American population in DFW, Vietnamese Americans represent approximately 15.3%, making them the second-largest Asian subgroup in the region.
Vietnamese is the third most spoken language in the Garland school district.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
In the last decade, Tran and Trieu said they have seen more and more people coming into the community, especially from California and Arizona, where housing is more expensive.
Some have also come to take advantage of a better job market as more technology companies have opened their headquarters in the area, Tran said.
With the influx of newly arriving residents, though, Tran said there are some clashes between the earliest refugees who came just after the fall of Saigon and those who have more recently settled and aren’t familiar with the hardship and aftermath of war. There is less interest in preserving the South Vietnamese culture, and instead, some want to move on from the past, he said. “But my dad’s generation says no.”
“They come here for economic reasons, where we came as refugees,” he added.
— Erika I. Ritchie
DENVER
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
The Little Saigon Business District can be found along Federal Boulevard in Denver’s southwest area.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
After the fall of Saigon, about 10,000 Vietnamese refugees were resettled in Denver to build new lives, according to History Colorado. Initially, there were no established Vietnamese enclaves, as the state’s program scattered refugees. But a community started to form in 1978, when Thanh Luong, now 74, opened a small Asian grocery store in southwestern Denver to serve the nearby Vietnamese residents. That area would later transform into the Little Saigon Business District.
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
Today, the Vietnamese community’s influence can be seen throughout the district, which includes restaurants, bakeries and an Asian gift shop.
The Far East Center is the gem of the Little Saigon Business District. Built in 1987 by Luong’s family, the shopping center is a landmark where celebrations take place for annual events such as the Saigon Azteca Night Market, Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year – an official state holiday.
What are the demographic trends involving the area’s Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
The metro Denver community gradually expanded from about 10,000 refugees after April 1975 to around 14,000 people of Vietnamese descent by 2000, according to the local historical society.
Statewide, nearly 34,000 Vietnamese people live in Colorado, according to 2021 census data cited by the Colorado Lotus Project.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
As generations of Vietnamese families have been raised in Colorado, older immigrants have watched their descendants embrace new customs and forget traditions, including their language, according to a report by the Denver Public Library.
Some original refugees have accepted that they cannot return to their home country. Father Joseph Dang, 50, lives in Denver now after fleeing Vietnam in 1986. Although he has applied for a visa twice, the Vietnamese government rejected both attempts.
By escaping, “I paid the price,” Dang said, with tears in his eyes. “I’m not able to go back to Vietnam freely.”
— Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton
HOUSTON
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
The Vietnamese community is spread out in clusters throughout Houston. The original Little Saigon popped up in the city’s Midtown neighborhood in the 1980s. However, rising rent costs and redevelopment forces in the 1990s and 2000s pushed many in the city’s Vietnamese community out of the area and into Southwest Houston along Bellaire Boulevard, where Chinatown is located.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
Houston was not near any of the resettlement camps at military bases where many in the first wave of Vietnamese refugees went. But with the city’s warm weather, affordability, opportunities for fishing and shrimping, manufacturing jobs and organizations and families sponsoring Vietnamese refugees who needed to be resettled, Houston has grown to be home to the second-largest Vietnamese population in the nation at more than 140,000 people.
“It was natural to settle in Houston, in the Gulf region,” said Roy Vu, a former Houston resident whose parents were refugees. He is a teacher at Dallas College
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
Today, Southwest Houston has a thriving amalgamation of Asian businesses, including Vietnamese restaurants and stores at the Hong Kong City Mall, nonprofits, media organizations and other Vietnamese shopping centers. Nearby, a Vietnam War memorial was erected in the center of a strip mall.
The largest Vietnamese festival in the state, the Viet Cultural Fest, is held annually in September at NRG Park. A predominantly Vietnamese Catholic church in Southeast Houston holds a large annual crawfish festival, blending Cajun and Vietnamese cuisines that delight thousands.
What are the demographic trends involving the area’s Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
After rapid growth in the first few decades following the fall of Saigon, the Vietnamese community has a stable and aging population. When refugees came to the area, they tended to be younger. Now, the median age is 40 years, older than other Asian American populations in the region.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
The economic situation for the community has improved over the decades, with more people having the means to buy a home and help support family members going to college. Though, the Vietnamese community’s median household incomes lag behind other Asian communities.
— Michael Slaten
NEW ORLEANS
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
In Eastern New Orleans, around the community of Versailles, also referred to as the Village de L’Est.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
In the mid-1970s, thousands of Vietnamese refugees settled in New Orleans through the city’s resettlement agencies, particularly through the Associated Catholic Charities. Today, more than 14,000 Vietnamese residents call New Orleans their home.
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
Versailles quickly became the center of the growing Vietnamese community, where people lived and started their own businesses. It is also where the city hosts an annual Tết Festival and other events celebrating the Vietnamese heritage.
In 2009, Anh “Joseph” Cao was elected to the US Congress from the New Orleans area, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the House of Representatives.
What are the demographic trends involving the area’s Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
While the Vietnamese community has historically been mostly centered in eastern New Orleans, younger generations are moving outside of the neighborhood.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
The coronavirus pandemic brought to light the poverty and food insecurities faced by many Vietnamese residents, resulting in the creation of mutual aid organizations to address the social needs of the Vietnamese community.
— Destiny Torres
ORANGE COUNTY
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
The heart of the Little Saigon community originates on Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, but the enclave has grown in the neighboring cities of Garden Grove, Fountain Valley and Santa Ana, all in central OC.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
Vietnamese refugees began to gather in central Orange County in 1975 after arriving to America at the nearby El Toro Marine air base and being processed through the resettlement center at Camp Pendleton further south. By 1980, nearly 20,000 Vietnamese people lived in Orange County.
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
Today, more than 215,000 Vietnamese Americans live in Orange County, making it the largest hub of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam.
In 1988, Governor George Deukmejian officially declared Orange County’s Little Saigon a distinct commercial district. He did so from the newly built Asian Garden Mall, which remains a landmark shopping center and home to 300 Vietnamese-owned storefronts.
The community’s large Tết parade is broadcast around the country, an annual flower market draws shoppers from around the region ahead of the Lunar New Year, as does a summertime night market. There are art installations dedicated to the Vietnamese American experience throughout the Little Saigon.
What are the demographic trends involving the area’s Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
Little Saigon has a larger share of the population in middle or older ages than the rest of Orange County, meaning it has higher needs for elder care and health care services. But, the birth rate in Little Saigon also is slightly higher compared to the rest of Orange County, signaling the need for continued investment in youth services and public education. Little Saigon households are more likely to be multigenerational, with grandparents often living with their grandchildren.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
Many businesses are changing hands between first-generation and second- and third-generation owners, offering new opportunities for economic growth and to market the region as a destination. New shopping centers such as Westminster’s Bolsa Row will offer goods and services targeting not only Vietnamese consumers, but the pan-Asian community as well as younger consumers looking for trendy dining and shopping experiences.
— Jonathan Horwitz
PHILADELPHIA
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
Philadelphia’s Little Saigon originated in Passyunk Square in south Philadelphia, though in recent years many Vietnamese families have moved further out to the suburbs. There are also areas of northern Philadelphia and along Rising Sun Avenue that have a strong Vietnamese presence, said David Oh, the Asian American Business Alliance’s interim chairman.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
More than 30,000 Vietnamese refugees fleeing with the help of Americans following the fall of Saigon were taken to Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. The base served as one of the four resettlement centers in the United States. As families were sponsored, they migrated out into the greater region. Years later, as more Vietnamese people immigrated, they joined the growing Philadelphia community.
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
Events will be held for Black April, which marks the fall of Saigon, with a flag raising at City Hall and other gatherings at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, at Penn’s Landing, which includes tributes for both Vietnamese and U.S. military service members killed during the war.
But the regular gatherings are becoming more infrequent, Oh said.
“There was a point where the Vietnamese community was really present, that’s just not the case anymore. It’s changed,” he said. “I remember going to Vietnamese celebrations at our big Vietnamese restaurants five times a year, they would be jam packed. They don’t seem to have that these days.”
What are the demographic trends involving the area’s Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
The Vietnamese American community has very much integrated to a point where the young people are more and more involved in their local communities, and don’t feel a need to mix in with the Vietnamese-speaking population like their parents did when they first arrived. The older generation, which grew wealthier, are leaving the city.
“They are a very successful immigrant community” that has “transitioned” from the initial stages of settling into the community, from opening businesses to becoming professionals, “enough so that they could buy a better house and move to better neighborhoods, integrating their kids – and they’ve dispersed,” Oh said.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, there were 20,000 Vietnamese Americans living in Philadelphia.
“I think a lot of the Vietnamese businesses got hit hard, because of the isolation and maybe because (shoppers) had other choices,” Oh said. “I think the Vietnamese community was very successful and able to move.”
But as people choose to move, “you do lose something,” Oh said. “From my perspective, I really enjoy the experience that the Vietnamese community brings to our city.”
— Laylan Connelly
SAN JOSE
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
In the eastern region of San Jose. The community started downtown on East Santa Clara and 5th streets where City Hall stands today, but quickly moved east to Lion Plaza at the intersection of South King and Tully roads. Now, San Jose’s Little Saigon includes the one-mile stretch of Story Road from the Grand Century Mall to the Vietnam Town mega business complex.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
A nascent Silicon Valley, populated by companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Atari, Intel and Apple, needed manufacturing labor when refugees were fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Vietnamese refugees from all over the state and country answered the call, flooding into San Jose to fill the jobs, building community and often springboarding into advanced careers in technology for years to come.
The downtown where City Hall stands today was also full of vacancies after a movement out to the suburbs and its malls. Refugees starting back at zero, scraped together earnings to take advantage of the spaces and built the beginnings of Little Saigon.
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
Many things make Little Saigon special – right now, a seasonal night market open from spring through the end of summer showcases the hundreds of Vietnamese-owned shops, restaurants and businesses at the Grand Century Mall and Vietnam Town along Story Road.
San Jose is also a place where Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong points out people built a particular flavor of San Jose Vietnamese American identity by living closely alongside groups originating from all over the world who speak 100 different languages and dialects. One of her favorite examples Los Arcos, a Mexican restaurant that keeps a vestigial phở menu integrated within its own, in memory of Phở Bang, the iconic Vietnamese noodle soup shop that was there before it and burned down in 2022.
What are the demographic trends involving the area’s Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
The increasing political voice of the Vietnamese American community is such that laws have enshrined recognition of the three-striped flag of South Vietnam (also commemorated as the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag) as the only official flag representing the Vietnamese American diaspora within the jurisdiction and property of the city, as well as Santa Clara County.
New immigration continues from overseas, and transplants seeking community keep moving to San Jose from elsewhere in the state and country. Though, an overall crisis of unaffordability has prompted some people to find better values outside of the city, such as in Morgan Hill.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
The future for the Vietnamese diaspora in San Jose is marked by a passionate bridge generation working to unite and motivate its diverse community despite political, generational and experiential differences. Community members of all ages and backgrounds cite loss of memory of an aging refugee generation, loss of the Vietnamese language, and loss of connection to Vietnam and its affairs in the inevitable progression toward an evolving Vietnamese American identity as major challenges ahead.
At the same time, state law is pushing forth a new curriculum that will teach Vietnamese American history and refugee experiences in all public schools in California. And both long-standing cultural initiatives such as the Vietnamese-English dual immersion programs in some of San Jose’s schools and relatively new organizations such as the Vietnamese American Roundtable and the 100% county-funded Vietnamese American Service Center find ways to engage different members of the community with their history, their culture, their language and with one another.
— Jia H. Jung
NORTHERN VIRGINIA/DC AREA
Where will I find the Little Saigon community?
Nowadays, the Eden Center, a strip mall in Falls Church, bills itself as Washington, D.C.’s “premier destination for Vietnamese cuisines and specialties.” It underwent a major transformation in 1996, adding a 32,400-square-foot space called “Saigon West,” and it boasts a clock tower that replicates downtown Saigon. A yellow and red South Vietnam flag waves over the parking lot.
Today, the Eden Center holds Vietnamese bakeries and coffee shops, health stores, jewelers and restaurants.
What’s the story behind the congregation of Vietnamese refugees in that area?
The Washington, D.C., area — particularly the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington — was a destination for people who already had familial connections established before the fall of Saigon. But it was also a place close to the embassy, the State Department and the American Red Cross, where refugees could find out more about their family still in Vietnam.
What makes this Little Saigon community special?
This Little Saigon is made up of a community that lost its home base more than once.
At the time that refugees settled in Clarendon, expansion of the Washington Metro was underway, and construction in Clarendon had thrown the area into a bit of a disarray, said Elizabeth Morton, an expert in urban planning and historic preservation.
That meant rents were more affordable — albeit, leases were only given for short periods of time, a quarter of a year, or six months, one refugee recalled in “Echoes of Little Saigon,” a documentary about the area.
It wasn’t long before the neighborhood blossomed with Vietnamese-serving businesses.
The Vietnamese community’s shift from Clarendon — where Vietnamese shops and restaurants have been replaced by chain retail stores and expensive cocktail bars in more recent years — wasn’t a sudden exodus as soon as the metro was completed, said Morton, a lecturer at George Washington University.
But eventually the rents did skyrocket — and those short-term leases ended.
And that’s where the Eden Center, a strip mall in nearby Falls Church, came in.
What are the demographic trends involving this Vietnamese community in the last 50 years?
Like many communities, the Eden Center is in the midst of diversifying. There have been efforts to woo younger generations of Vietnamese Americans and expand to non-Vietnamese Asian and non-Asian clientele.
According to the latest U.S. Census statistics, 9.1% of the population in West Falls Church is of Vietnamese descent.
What’s its future looking like for the community as we get further away from the initial exodus of refugees who arrived in the U.S.?
More redevelopment pressure.
A few years ago, the Falls Church City Council started to explore redevelopment projects for the area — and while the plans ultimately included cultural and business protections for the Eden Center, there are still concerns about gentrification and its impacts, Arlington Magazine recently reported.
But that’s where Viet Place Collective comes in. A volunteer group formed when redevelopment talks first began, it works to preserve the Vietnamese community’s legacy in the D.C. area.
“It’s not just about the Eden Center,” said Binh Ly, an organizer with the Viet Place Collective. “For us, it’s advocating for our small businesses that are the ones on the ground, day to day, trying to make sure that we have those familiar tastes and sounds and stuff that make the community what it is.”
— Kaitlyn Schallhorn
]]>With the price of eggs surpassing record highs, you may be scrambling to find weeknight dinner options that won’t break the bank.
Sure, you could look for egg ingredient swaps or vegan substitutes like mung beans. Or, you could find recipes where they’re not used at all.
We’ve done the work for you. Here are 10 weeknight dinners that don’t require eggs, from chicken enchiladas to swordfish and crusted tuna.
Honey Balsamic Short Ribs
“Beef short ribs are first rate candidates for preparing in a slow cooker,” writes Cathy Thomas, an award-winning food writer who has written three cookbooks. “They turn out tender and juicy without supervision. Generally, they are slow-cooked in a wine mixture and served over mashed potatoes. This rendition switches it up in a delicious way, using a balsamic mixture as its sauce.” Get the recipe.
Recipe: These Honey Balsamic Short Ribs turn out tender and juicy in a slow cooker
Shrimp, Tomato and Basil Pasta
“Shrimp and pasta are alluring partners, the shrimp lending a subtle sweetness and slight saltiness to the starchiness of the tender pasta,” according to Thomas. “Tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic come to the party, too, making this quick-to-prepare dish a weeknight winner.” Get the recipe.
Recipe: Shrimp, Tomato and Basil Pasta is an easy and delicious weeknight dinner
Mango Lobster Spring Rolls
“Growing up in Wuhan, China, cookbook author Ying Chang Compestine says it was frustrating learning how to use chopsticks as a kid,” writes Kate Bradshaw for Bay Area New Group. “Watching her son experience the same frustration as a small child, she turned to spring rolls and other wrapped dishes that can be eaten by hand. These mango lobster spring rolls are one of her son’s favorites.” Get the recipe.
Creamy Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas
“This enchilada recipe showcases cooked chicken, but if you wish you can substitute thin strips of steak or small shrimp,” Thomas suggests. “The recipe is from Tieghan Gerard’s cookbook ‘Half Baked Harvest Quick and Cozy’ (Clarkson Potter). The author uses a smooth mixture of cream cheese and milk as the base of the sauce, with store-bought green chili enchilada sauce added to the mix.” Get the recipe.
Recipe: These easy-to-make creamy chicken enchiladas are a tasty, convenient meal
Meaty Beany Chili
“Nothing solves problems, especially those of a cold and cranky drama queen in knock-off Uggs from Stein Mart, like food,” writes Amy Drew Thompson for the Orlando Sentinel. “In this particular case, Meaty Beany Chili, a vegan superstar of a recipe from chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz, is a solver supreme.” Get the recipe.
Spatchcock Chicken with Mint and Green Onions
“Celebrity chef Michael Mina is sharing his family recipes in his new cookbook, ‘My Egypt’ (Voracious, 2024) where he hopes to inspire the next generation of Egyptian chefs — or anyone with an adventurous palate,” writes Jason Mastrodonato for Bay Area News Group. Submerging this spatchchock chicken in feta brine overnight makes a world of difference. Get the recipe.
Grilled Lemon Harissa Chicken
“Firing up the grill is a great way to cook up something delicious — and fast,” says Bradshaw. “This recipe for grilled lemon harissa chicken comes from recipe author Caroline Chambers, who includes it in her new cookbook, ‘What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking’ (Union Square & Co.).” Get the recipe.
Kitty’s Swordfish with Mustard Cream Sauce
“Comedian, actor, and TV host Stephen Colbert and his wife Evie McGee Colbert have written a lovely cookbook, ‘Does This Taste Funny?’ (Celadon Books),” according to Thomas, who “dogeared many pages.”
“The easy-to-prepare swordfish was my first try, and it paid off big time,” Thomas adds. Get the recipe.
Recipe: Comedian Stephen Colbert suggests this method for cooking swordfish
Everything-Crusted Tuna with Snap Peas and Tahini-Jang Sauce
“This sophisticated recipe cooks up in 15 minutes — perfect for elevating a harried weeknight,” writes Bradshaw. “It comes from Caroline Chambers, the popular Substack food writer and author of the new ‘What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking’ (Union Square & Co.).” Get the recipe.
Easy weeknight meals: Everything-Crusted Tuna with Snap Peas and Tahini-jang Sauce
Chicken Mark Nuggets
“This chicken nugget recipe comes from legendary cookbook author Mark Bittman, whose latest installment in his “How to Cook Everything” series is built around kids’ cooking,” writes Bradshaw. “‘How to Cook Everything Kids’ (Harvest) is written especially for the younger set, teaching them cooking techniques as they prepare their favorite dishes.” Get the recipe.
Contributing: Cathy Thomas for Southern California News Group; Kate Bradshaw and Jason Mastrodonato, Bay Area News Group; Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel
]]>The streets of Pasadena, Calif., are once again preparing for the annual floral spectacle that is the Rose Parade. On the docket are impressively-decorated floats, new and nostalgic musical performances, beloved traditions and, fittingly, hundreds of thousands of roses on display.
If you’re looking to tune in from home, staff at The Pasadena Star-News compiled a list of everything you need to know as you watch the 136th iteration of the floral extravaganza.
How to watch
The parade is set to begin at 8 a.m. PST on New Year’s Day. On TV, several channels will be broadcasting the parade, and you can find your Rose Parade viewing options here.
No TV or cable? No problem! For the first time, the staff at the Pasadena Star-News will live-stream the parade on its YouTube channel, beginning at 10 a.m. PST. The stream will be stationed around where the floats fold to make their way under the 210 freeway bridge, making it a unique viewing experience not typically seen on TV.
Also, if you’re on the social platform X, be sure to follow @PasStarNews for live behind-the-scenes posts and answers to your questions.
The floats
From post-military life to the cinematic sensation Wicked to one accompanied by the first-ever all-electric fleet in parade history, there are plenty of floats on the docket this year that are sure to be talkers.
If you’re hoping to catch a specific float or want details on hand as you watch, check out our guide to every Rose Parade float, band and equestrian unit, in order.
The musical performances
Kiesza and Aloe Blacc will kick off 2025’s musical performances during the parade’s Opening Spectacular. Kiesza will reprise “Hideaway,” a hit that dominated global charts a decade ago, with renewed energy for the global audience, organizers said. Aloe Blacc will perform his “Wake Me Up”— a global mega-hit with the late Avicii.
On a float stage backdrop of a towering Elvis Presley and B.B. King, the Rose Parade mid-parade performance will be a tribute to a deep musical legacy. Brandon Bennett, bringing a fusion of country and gospel influences, will perform alongside Chapel Hart, an emerging group of performers who mix country, rock and soul.
Performing in the Rose Parade Grand Finale is ’80s teen hitmaker and Broadway sensation Debbie Gibson. Gibson confirmed she will “pack a lot in” to the performance.
“I get to showcase all my skills in a very short amount of time; in a very dramatic and theatrical way.”
Several marching bands will also display their talents during the parade, and you can see the full line-up here. Tip: Watch the creative ways some bands maneuver around the corners on the parade routes.
The tradition
The 2025 Rose Parade theme is “Best Day Ever!” Every float, band and performance in the coming extravaganza along the 5.5-mile route has been designed with the theme in mind — and you can read about how the parade leaders came to the theme here.
Sports equity icon Billie Jean King is slated as the 2025 Rose Parade grand marshal. The tennis legend, lauded post-retirement for her work promoting gender equality on and off the sports field, will lead off the parade and the following 111th Rose Bowl game, both on Jan. 1.
This year’s Rose Queen is 17-year-old Lindsay Charles, a Pasadena local who is passionate about connecting with her community, sustainability and track and field.
The big game
Ohio State will face No. 1 Oregon at this year’s Rose Bowl game with kickoff at 2 p.m. PST, Monday, Jan. 1.
Dermatology Partners, a privately owned and physician-led dermatology group, has opened a new office in Westminster, its third in Maryland since the Pennsylvania-headquartered practice entered the state in 2023.
The new Westminster clinic, located at 535 Old Westminster Pike, Suite 100, is led by dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic surgeon Dr. Olufolakemi “Kemi” Awe, MD, PhD, FAAD. Awe will provide a full range of dermatologic care, including medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services. Awe received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and her MD/PhD in immunology from Indiana University. She completed her dermatology residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed by a year as a UAB Dermatology faculty member.
The Westminster office will start with five new employees but plans to triple its staff within the next two years. Dermatology Partners’ two other Baltimore-area offices are located in Sparks and Owings Mills. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 888-895-3376 or visit dermpartners.com.
Blizzard named Manufacturing Star
Tim Blizzard, applied mechanical engineering teacher for the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Program at the Carroll County Career and Technology Center, has been named a Maryland Manufacturing Star in Carroll County by the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland.
The Star designation recognizes Blizzard’s contributions to manufacturing career and technology education programs. Blizzard, who is himself a graduate of the Carroll County Career and Technology Center, gained professional experience in private industry as a machinist at Bausch & Lomb, Leica, and American Optical and a manufacturing engineer at Bausch & Lomb, Reichert Jung, and Leica. He then made the transition to education.
Blizzard’s teaching methods combine creativity with real-world experience and current technology trends to prepare students for successful careers. He works with local and regional manufacturing representatives in the classroom, in the field, and on the Technology Center’s advisory board.
Mesta receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Pamela Mesta, supervisor of ESOL for Carroll County Public Schools, received a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MDTESOL) Association during the Annual Fall MDTESOL Conference on Nov. 2.
The award is presented to individuals who have been working in the TESOL field in Maryland for at least 15 years and who have made substantial and exemplary contributions to the field, its students, and/or teachers at any educational level.
Mesta has been part of numerous committees and projects, and has participated in grant and curriculum writing to support second language students and families. She has created or supported activities including math/literacy nights, special education information meetings, and community block parties. Mesta has received several grants to provide unique experiences for students and families, including family field trips to the National Air and Space Museum, week-long STEM summer camps for technology, environmental science for elementary and middle school ESOL students, and bilingual health services for students and families. Mesta also collaborates with Carroll Community College and the Carroll County Career and Technology Center to offer tours and information nights.
She has given many presentations in schools, for her colleagues, and at state and national conferences. She also mentors and collaborates with supervisors from other counties to address common program challenges. Mesta has helped to guide teachers through the National Board Certification process and taught classes for the Maryland initiative to have classroom teachers certified in ESOL. She teaches college courses in the evening and co-authored a book.
Lesh to receive award for teaching aid
Bruce Lesh, supervisor of elementary social studies for Carroll County Public Schools, was selected to receive the James Harvey Robinson Prize by the American Historical Association for his teaching aid “Developing Historical Thinkers: Supporting Historical Inquiry for All Students.”
The prize is awarded biennially for a teaching aid that has made an outstanding contribution to the teaching and learning of history. Submitted works must have the potential to influence history education, demonstrate recent and good historical scholarship, and be well written and attractively presented. Lesh’s teaching aid offers ways to promote teacher growth as it pertains to historical thinking and demonstrates how to align investigating the past with the needs of reluctant readers and students with special needs. It also provides lesson materials and instructional guidance and aligns historical literacy with inquiry-based instruction.
Lesh will receive the award at the 138th annual American Historical Association’s meeting in January.
Business briefs offer information about Carroll County-based companies, employees and their operations, news of awards, promotions, new business openings, new hires, etc. Send your release to the Carroll County Times, P.O. Box 169, Westminster, MD 21158, or cctnews@carrollcountytimes.com.
]]>Hollywood’s primetime stars are on the red carpet for the 2024 Emmys.
Here’s what celebrities wore for the illustrious event:
With polls showing a tight race, the stakes are sky high because the first debate between candidates typically draws a huge audience and has the rare potential to shift opinions of millions of voters all at once.
This presidential debate is crucial for another reason: Harris and Trump have never met or interacted with one another. Americans will get to judge for themselves how they match up and which one they want to lead the country for the next four years.
The debate airs on ABC at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. It will run for 90 minutes and be moderated by John Muir and Linsey Davis.
This is the only confirmed matchup that the candidates have agreed to after several weeks of uncertainty and wrangling. Trump had originally said he would skip the debate but later said he would do it. Since then, there have been arguments over its terms, including whether to mute their microphones.
Watch live as the debate gets underway:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=kRh6598RmHM%3Fsi%3DC7Z9ZvfdqCqUfcQ1
New York Daily News’ Dave Goldiner and Bay Area News Groups’ Gieson Cacho contributed to this report.
]]>BADMINTON
1:30 a.m.
- USA — Group Play: Singles, Doubles
4:30 a.m.
- E! — Group Play: Singles, Doubles
6 a.m.
- USA — Group Play: Singles, Doubles
9:05 a.m.
- USA — Group Play: Singles, Doubles
BASKETBALL
2:30 a.m.
- CNBC — Men’s Group A: Australia vs. Spain
8:15 a.m.
- CNBC — Men’s Group B: France vs. Brazil
12:15 p.m.
- CNBC — Men’s Group A: Greece vs. Canada
5 p.m.
- USA — Men’s Group B: Germany vs. Japan
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
5 a.m.
- NBC — Pool Play
1 p.m.
- NBC — Pool Play
8 p.m.
- USA — Pool Play
BOXING
2 p.m.
- CNBC — Women’s Bantam Eliminations & more
CANOEING
9 a.m.
- E! — Slalom: Women’s Kayak Heats
6:30 p.m.
- USA — Slalom: Men’s Canoe Heats
CYCLING
6 a.m.
- NBC — Women’s Time Trial
7:45 a.m.
- USA — Men’s Time Trial
2 p.m.
- NBC — Men’s Time Trial
DIVING
3 a.m.
- TELEMUNDO — Diving and volleyball
8 p.m.
- NBC — Primetime in Paris (July 27)
EQUESTRIAN
12:30 a.m.
- USA — Eventing: Dressage
1:30 p.m.
- E! — Eventing: Dressage
FENCING
2 p.m.
- USA — Women’s Epee & Men’s Sabre Bronze/Gold Finals
FIELD HOCKEY
10:30 a.m.
- CNBC — Women’s Group: USA vs. Argentina
GYMNASTICS
2 a.m.
- E! — Men’s Qualifying Subdivision 1
6:30 a.m.
- E! — Men’s Qualifying Subdivision 2
8 a.m.
- NBC — Men’s Qualifying Subdivision 2
11 a.m.
- E! — Men’s Qualifying Subdivision 3
8 p.m.
- NBC — Primetime in Paris (July 27)
HANDBALL
7 a.m.
- CNBC — Men’s Group Play
ROWING
Midnight
- USA — Heats: Double, Quadruple & more
4:15 a.m.
- USA — Heats: Double, Quadruple & more
7:15 p.m.
- USA — Heats: Double, Quadruple & more
RUGBY
6:35 a.m.
- CNBC — Men’s Semifinals
7 a.m.
- NBC — Men’s Semifinal
10 a.m.
- CNBC — Men’s Bronze Final
10:45 a.m.
- NBC — Men’s Bronze, Gold Finals
4 p.m.
- USA — Men’s Bronze, Gold Finals
SHOOTING
2 a.m.
- CNBC — Mixed Team Air Rifle Final
2:30 p.m.
- CNBC — Mixed Team Air Rifle Final
SKATEBOARDING
3:45 a.m.
- CNBC — Men’s Street: Preliminary Round
8:30 a.m.
- NBC — Men’s Street: Final
SOCCER
6 a.m.
- TELEMUNDO — Dominican Republic vs. Spain
- UNIVERSO — Argentina vs. Iraq
8 a.m.
- TELEMUNDO — Ukraine vs. Morocco
- UNIVERSO — Uzbekistan vs. Egypt
10 a.m.
- TELEMUNDO — New Zealand vs. USA
- UNIVERSO — Israel vs. Paraguay
- USA — Men’s Group A: New Zealand vs. USA
Noon
- TELEMUNDO — Franci vs. Guinea
- UNIVERSO — Japan vs. Malí
SWIMMING
2 a.m.
- USA — Heats: Men’s & Women’s 4x100m Free & more
7:30 a.m.
- NBC — Heats: Men’s & Women’s 4x100m Free & more
11:30 a.m.
- NBC — Finals: Men’s & Women’s 400m Free & more
8 p.m.
- NBC — Primetime in Paris (July 27)
TABLE TENNIS
10:10 a.m.
- E! — M&W Singles: Prelims & more
VOLLEYBALL
3 a.m.
- TELEMUNDO — Diving and volleyball
4:45 a.m.
- USA — Men’s Pool Play
Noon
- USA — Men’s Pool Play
WATER POLO
5 a.m.
- E! — Women’s Group: Netherlands vs. Hungary
6:30 a.m.
- USA — Women’s Group: USA vs. Greece
9:45 a.m.
- NBC — Women’s Group: Greece vs. USA
3 p.m.
- USA — Women’s Group: USA vs. Greece
The full text of President Biden’s letter to the nation:
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
July 21, 2024
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. American has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is noting America can’t do — when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
Joe Biden
]]>How to watch the debate
The debate will be broadcast live on CNN, along with CNN International and CNN en Español. CNN is allowing other networks to air it live if they use CNN’s logo on the screen. ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox News, Univision, NewsNation, C-SPAN and others have agreed.
What if I don’t have a TV?
Viewers also can watch on CNN.com, NPR.org, YouTube or the streaming platform Max on their computers, tablets or phones.
Contributing: Paul Rogers, Bay Area News Group
]]>What is Concert Week?
Concert Week is a promotion in which select shows are available for $25. The world’s biggest concert promoter, Live Nation/Ticketmaster, created Concert Week 10 years ago, and the event has grown to include more than 5,000 shows around the world.
When is Concert Week 2024?
Concert Week runs from May 8-14. T-Mobile and Rakuten customers are given early access starting May 7.
Fans will want to act soon, as many shows will run out of $25 tickets quickly.
Which artists are participating in Concert Week?
Dozens of artists will have concerts on sale via Concert Week, though exact shows vary based on location.
Some of the bigger artists participating include: Alanis Morissette, Blink-182, Brooks & Dunn, Cage the Elephant, Chicago with Earth, Wind & Fire, Dierks Bentley, The Doobie Brothers, Hootie & the Blowfish, Iron Maiden, Janet Jackson, John Fogerty, Kings of Leon, Luke Bryan, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, Missy Elliott, New Kids on the Block, P!nk, Pitbull, Rob Zombie with Alice Cooper, Santana with the Counting Crows, the Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots, Styx and Foreigner, Tim McGraw and Train with REO Speedwagon.
For a full list, visit this site. Once the sale begins, fans will be able to sort available shows by region, event, venue or artist.
Are the tickets really only $25?
Yes, the tickets are $25, far less than most concert tickets of this caliber. The $25 ticket prices include all service fees, though taxes are not included. Taxes could include city, state or venue fees.
Is it only for concerts?
Concert Week includes shows that are not musical acts. Comedians like Dane Cook and Whitney Cummings will have $25 tickets, as well as the TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race.
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