E1642 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 7, 2009 EARMARK DECLARATION contributions that they have made in shaping Church in Paterson her entire life until she the musical art forms that we enjoy today. moved, and is a now a parishioner of Saint HON. KAY GRANGER Celebrating and observing the 30th anniver- Peter Claver R.C. Church in West Hartford. OF TEXAS sary of June as ‘‘Black Music Month’’ is some- Even into her nineties she was a volunteer at IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES thing that I encourage all Americans to do. I St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged in Totowa, urge my colleagues to support this resolution. NJ. She made many lasting friendships and Tuesday, July 7, 2009 f touched many lives through her involvement Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, pursuant with the Little Sisters of the Poor. When she to the Republican Leadership standards on TRIBUTE TO ANTOINETTE TRIFARI moved in 2006 to Middlewoods Assisted Liv- earmarks, I, KAY GRANGER, submit the fol- ing Home in Farmington, Connecticut, she im- lowing information regarding earmarks I re- HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR. mediately became an active participant in ceived as part of H.R. 3081, the Department OF NEW JERSEY many of their programs. She is the assistant of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Pro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to the pianist in the Choral Group, attends Sunday outings visiting historic and cultural grams Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2010 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 for the language pertaining to ‘‘Sister Cities points of interest around Connecticut, and is a International Cultural and Economic Develop- Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would tutoring mentor for young children. She enjoys ment Exchange Programs.’’ Any funding grant- like to call to your attention the life of an out- playing Scrabble with friends and playing soli- ed by the Department of State Educational standing individual, Antoinette Trifari. She will taire on the computer, and most of all, sharing and Cultural Exchange Programs account mark her 100th birthday with a celebration, her joy of life and her love with all those she would go to Sister Cities International, 1301 joined by family and friends, some of whom encounters. Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 850, Wash- are traveling great distances to be part of this The job of a United States Congressman in- ington, DC 2004. It is my understanding that happy occasion. volves much that is rewarding, yet nothing the funding would be used to support Sister It is only fitting that she be honored in this, compares to celebrating and recognizing indi- Cities International’s ongoing initiatives to in- the permanent record of the greatest democ- viduals like Antoinette Trifari. crease the numbers of international citizen ex- racy ever known, for she has brought so much Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our col- change opportunities through its network with joy to the lives of others throughout her life- leagues, Antoinette’s family and friends, every- Africa and Islamic communities. Once funded, time. one at St. Joseph’s Home in Totowa, New there is a one-to-one match of local private Antoinette is a native of the great City of Jersey, all those who have been touched by dollars to re-granted federal dollars. The City Paterson, NJ. She was born there on July 9, her, and me in recognizing Antoinette Trifari. of Fort Worth, TX, is an active partner in Sis- 1909 to Angelina and John Pescatore, and f was the fifth of fourteen children. She at- ter Cities International, leading in U.S. public UPPER ELK RIVER WILD AND tended Paterson schools, going first to School diplomacy efforts. SCENIC STUDY ACT 19, then graduating from School 5. Then at f age fourteen, she began working, sewing BLACK MUSIC MONTH pearls and sequins onto fabric that was used HON. NICK J. RAHALL II for gowns. Antoinette soon went on to OF WEST VIRGINIA HON. HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHNSON, JR. work for more than ten years in Paterson’s IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF GEORGIA world famous silk and textile mills. Tuesday, July 7, 2009 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Antoinette was married on June 9, 1935 to Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, at the re- Edmund Trifari, also of Paterson, who had at- Tuesday, July 7, 2009 quest of the Pocahontas County Commission tended New Jersey Law School. The wedding of the great State of West Virginia, today I am Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, was held at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church and introducing legislation to provide for a study to I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 476, was officiated by the groom’s brother, Rev- determine the feasibility and suitability of in- celebrating the 30th anniversary of June as erend Aloysius Trifari, a Salesian priest. Two cluding a segment of the Elk River as a com- ‘‘Black Music Month’’. I would like to thank my years later, the Trifaris welcomed twins, Ed- ponent of the Wild and Scenic River System. colleague Representative STEVE COHEN from mund, Jr. and Nancy Angela. The young fam- The Elk River is one of West Virginia’s pre- Tennessee for introducing this important piece ily soon moved to a new development of Cape mier natural resource assets. It is the longest of legislation, as well as the co-sponsors. Cod homes on the outskirts of Paterson, river in West Virginia with its boundaries en- I stand in support of this resolution because known as Colonial Village. Antoinette and Ed- tirely within the State. The study which would it is continuing to recognize the importance mund lived there together until Edmund be authorized by this legislation, however, that black music has played in American cul- passed away on January 2, 2003, after sixty- would focus only on that segment of the Elk ture. Many American made genres of music seven and a half years of marriage. She re- where it begins at the confluence of two such as jazz, blues, gospel, rock and roll, and mained in their home until 2005 when she streams—Old Field Fork and Big Spring the rhythm and blues owe their existence to moved to Connecticut to live with Edmund, Jr. Fork—at the community of Slatyfork and flows the contribution of black musicians in the past. and his wife Claire Elwood. Her daughter North for approximately five miles to the Poca- Georgians such as Tenor Richard Hayes, born Nancy lives in England with her husband hontas/Randolph County line. The study would in 1887 to former slaves, was one of the most George Dowden. be conducted by the U.S. Forest Service. important African-American tenors performing Over the years, Antoinette has been The idea of preserving this river in its nat- in during the first part of the blessed not only with her children, but with ural state is not something new. Indeed, I well 20th century. Hayes was one of the highest seven grandchildren; Conrad, MaryBeth and recall conversations with one of West Vir- paid musicians of his time breaking down Michael Roncati, and TerriAnn, Edmund III, ginia’s visionary conservationists, former State color barriers for other black classical per- John and Brian Trifari. Now, she also has thir- Senator Robert K. Holliday, on this matter dur- formers such as Paul Robeson, Leontyne teen great-grandchildren; Conrad Maxwell, ing the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1989, Price, William Dawson, William Grant Still, and Dean, Mia, Dylan, Carissa Roncati and Jes- the Senate of West Virginia passed a resolu- even Duke Ellington. As well as other native sica Bates, Abigaile, James, Ryan and Mi- tion calling for the development of the Elk Georgia artists like , one of the chael Sands, Joshua, Nicholas and Tyler River into a national recreation area by Fed- main creators of ‘‘soul music’’, who is well Trifari. She is also the loving aunt of countless eral and State governments. And in 1993, I known for his unique version of ‘‘America the nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grand- did propose a Wild and Scenic study for a Beautiful’’. Charles’ rendition of ‘‘Georgia on nephews. 57.5 mile segment of the river. For one reason My Mind’’ was proclaimed the state song on She is well known throughout the Paterson or another, the enthusiasm over this endeavor April 24, 1979. area for a business that she began. She made dissipated. This resolution aims to continue to stress poodles out of commercial yarn; they were so The February 4, 2009, unanimous vote by the importance of recognizing June as Black creative and lifelike that the yarn company the Pocahontas County Commission con- Music Month as it was formally declared in featured a story about her in their corporate sisting of President Martin V. Saffer, David M. 1979. Celebrating the phenomenal work of magazine. She also continues crocheting, a Fleming and Reta J. Griffith to request that a black , musicians, producers, writ- lifelong hobby she still enjoys. Antoinette also study be conducted on a much smaller seg- ers, and singers during one month of the year has a passion for helping people and volun- ment of the Elk River resurrects this issue and is the least that we can do to pay tribute to teering. She was a member of St. Mary’s R.C. makes it ripe for consideration.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:23 Jul 08, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K07JY8.008 E07JYPT1 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with REMARKS July 7, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1643 The ‘‘Slaty’’ segment of the Elk River that ise Allen, who departed this life peacefully on Three Acts’’ in 1973; she later participated in would be the subject of the study authorized Monday, June 22, 2009. Known to all of us as, the first complete recording of the work. Else- by this bill, named in reference to the commu- Betty Lou Allen, she had been a guiding force where, her roles included Teresa in ‘‘La nity of Slatyfork where the river begins, was at The Harlem School of the Arts since she Sonnambula,’’ by Bellini; Jocasta in described in a January 2009 letter written by became Executive Director, and eventually Stravinsky’s ‘‘Oedipus Rex’’; Monisha in Scott local resident Tom Shipley to the Pocahontas President after Dorothy Maynor, the school’s Joplin’s ‘‘Treemonisha’’; and Mistress Quickly County Commission as follows: ‘‘History founder, retired in 1979. in Verdi’s ‘‘Falstaff.’’ abounds around, near and on the banks of the Betty Lou was born on March 17, 1927, in has brought so much joy to Elk River. She is, in a literal sense, very much Campbell, Ohio, near Youngstown. Her father many audiences of all ages and diversity with as she was back in the early 1800’s . . . one worked in the steel mills; her mother had a her beautiful voice. She has long been com- of the last rivers on the East Coast that has thriving business taking in laundry. Betty grew mitted to nurturing young artists across all dis- three naturally reproducing species of wild up in a neighborhood which was mostly made ciplines and opening doors for so many Afri- trout . . . Brook, Brown and Rainbow. As Big up of Sicilian and Greek families, and where can American children who would have never Spring Fork and Old Field merge, they form she was introduced to the opera and its had the opportunity exploit their talents. an impressive gateway to the Upper Elk . . . music. From the neighbors’ windows, she From 1979 to 1992 she served as Executive a gift from God to Pocahontas County.’’ could hear the broadcasts from the Metropoli- Director and President to her beloved Harlem Indeed, the Slaty segment of the Elk River tan Opera house every Saturday from their ra- School of the Arts. Upon her retirement she is a superb fishery, and the West Virginia Divi- dios. stayed on as President Emeritus. While HSA sion of Natural Resources does a good job in Betty lost her mother to lung cancer when was born of the commitment and ideals of its the area. While what is being proposed is a she was 12 years old. After many turbulent founder, it was Betty Allen who strengthened study—not a designation—and while the Wild years, that began with her father, and later in the foundation of the vibrant and inspiring in- and Scenic Rivers Act is very clear that noth- foster homes, where she was treated badly stitution that it is today. HSA honored Betty ing in the statute ‘‘shall affect the jurisdiction and unfairly, Betty moved into the Youngstown Allen with the inaugural Betty Allen Lifetime or responsibilities of the State with respect to Y.W.C.A. when she was 16 years old. She Achievement Award at the Art is Life Gala on fish and wildlife,’’ I am including in the legisla- supported herself cleaning houses, excelled in Monday, March 9, 2008, and graced her pres- tion being introduced today a reaffirmation that Latin and German languages in high school, ence at this year’s benefit. the mere act of studying this segment of the and entered Wilberforce College in Wilber- In addition to her many years as a leader Elk River will not change the status quo with force, Ohio, on a scholarship (A historically and master teacher with HSA, Ms. Allen has respect to State jurisdiction. black institution, it is now Wilberforce Univer- also taught at the North Carolina School of The legislation being introduced today sity). Arts, the Manhattan School of Music, and the states that nothing in the bill ‘‘shall be con- At Wilberforce, Ms. Allen met Theodor Curtis institute of Music in Philadelphia. She strued as affecting access for recreational ac- Heimann, a former Berlin Opera tenor who also holds Honorary Doctorates from tivities otherwise allowed by law or regulation, taught German and voice there and encour- Wittenberg University, Union College, Adelphi including hunting, fishing, or trapping.’’ It fur- aged her to sing. Soprano Leontyne Price was University, and Clark University in Massachu- ther states that nothing in the measure ‘‘shall also a classmate at Wilberforce. Betty went on setts and the New School in New York City. be construed as affecting the authority, juris- to earn a scholarship to what was then the Madam Speaker, HSA President and Chief diction, or responsibility of the State to man- Hartford School of Music in Connecticut. Executive Officer Kakuna Kerina stated: ‘‘The age, control, or regulate fish and resident wild- In the early 1950s, Ms. Allen studied at impact Betty Allen has made as an artist and life under State law or regulations, including Tanglewood, where chose arts educator is measured in the tens of thou- the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trap- her to be the mezzo-soprano soloist in his sands of lives she influenced in their youth. ping.’’ No. 1 (‘‘Jeremiah’’); she was later She was unique in that the standards she ap- In my view, most people associated with a frequent soloist with Mr. Bernstein and the plied to herself were the same as the stand- this segment of the Elk River want to keep it . Betty made her New ards she expected of others, and we are bet- the way it is. As Mr. Shipley wrote, the river York recital debut at Town Hall in 1958 in a ter for it. We extend our condolences to Ms. is ‘‘a gift of God to Pocahontas County’’ and program that included Brahms and Faure´. Allen’s family and thank them for sharing her I would add, to the State of West Virginia and Elizabeth ‘‘Betty Lou’’ Allen was part of the with a vast community of admirers throughout the Nation as a whole. first great wave of African-American singers to the world.’’ In his book entitled ‘‘Upper River, Elk’s Ori- appear on the world’s premier stages in the Elizabeth ‘‘Betty Lou’’ Allen is a national gins and Beyond,’’ Skip Johnson, a long time postwar years. Active from the 1950s to the treasure and true American heroine, whose ar- outdoor columnist and reporter for the 1970s, she performed with the New York City tistic talents expanded the boundaries for so Charleston Gazette, concisely summed up the Opera; the ; and the opera many African American children to achieve to essence of our relationship with rivers. ‘‘Rivers companies of Houston, , San Fran- be the best in any genre they choose to ex- like Elk touch us in a spiritual way,’’ he wrote. cisco, and Santa Fe. In 1954 Ms. Allen made plore. May God bless all of us for the life of ‘‘Dave Teets, my neighbor, gave a talk on riv- her City Opera debut as Queenie in ‘‘Show our American mezzo-soprano, Betty Allen. ers at our 2004 church picnic. He said that riv- Boat,’’ by Jerome Kern and in 1964, she made f ers are important in the Bible, important to our her formal Opera debut at the Teatro Colon in soul and mind, and important to God. They Buenos Aires, Argentina, followed by count- EARMARK DECLARATION also provide recreation, transportation, and less appearances worldwide. natural boundaries. Then he made a less pro- Betty Allen sang the role of Begonia in the HON. JO ANN EMERSON found but equally important point: ‘Who hasn’t City Opera production of Hans Werner OF MISSOURI spent at least a part of a day just watching a Henze’s comic opera ‘‘The Young Lord,’’ con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ducted by in 1973. In review- river roll on?’ ’’ Tuesday, July 7, 2009 I could not agree more. ing the production of ‘‘The Young Lord,’’ New f York Times’ Harold C. Schonberg wrote of Ms. Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, pursuant Allen’s on-stage performance: ‘‘When she was to the House Republican standards on ear- CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ELIZ- onstage everything came to life, and every- marks, I am submitting the following informa- ABETH LOUISE ALLEN, AN thing around her was dimmed.’’ tion in regards to H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year AMERICAN MEZZO-SOPRANO AND Ms. Allen, who also toured as a recitalist, 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agen- HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS’ was known for her close association with the cies Appropriations Bill. PRESIDENT EMERITUS American composers Virgil Thomson, Ned Project Name: City of East Prairie, Missouri Rorem and . At her death, she Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL was on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Bill Number: H.R. 2996 OF NEW YORK Music, where she had taught since 1969. She Account: STAG Water and Wastewater In- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES was also the president emeritus and a former frastructure Project executive director of the Harlem School of the Requesting Entity: City of East Prairie, Mis- Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Arts. souri Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today With the Met, Ms. Allen sang the role of Address of Requesting Entity: 219 N. Wash- in memoriam of my dear friend Elizabeth Lou- Comme`re in Mr. Thomson’s ‘‘Four Saints in ington St., East Prairie, Missouri, 63845–1141

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