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Civic Organist Raul Prieto Ramirez will perform Saturday, Dec 11, and Sunday, Dec 12 at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

SAN DIEGO — If you're looking for something festive and free this weekend, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at Balboa Park will come alive with the sounds of the season. In this Zevely Zone, I met San Diego's civic organist. The Spreckels Organ Society is a non-profit organization curating concerts and performances in the heart of Balboa Park. They hope the public attends two free holiday collaborative performances on December 11 and 12.

In 1914, John Spreckels donated the organ to the city of San Diego and every Sunday since then residents have enjoyed a concert in the park. To keep that tradition going, Raul Prieto Ramirez was hired in 2018.

Raul is from Spain and walked away from a full scholarship to study economics and law. "Because this is the only job in the entire world that allows you to be on a stage consistently," said Raul. "Being able to play every single week, 52 Sundays a year sharing music with an audience consistently. There is nothing else like this in the world."

"We got better than what we could have possibly hoped for," said Dwight Gordon who was on the search committee that found Raul. "He blew away not just the committee that was evaluating him but the audience as well.".

On Saturday, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez will be joined once again by the San Diego Opera and San Diego Ballet for a Christmas Celebration Concert, featuring selections from Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, Bach's Christmas Oratorio and popular Christmas carols from all over the world.

On Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2:00 p.m. at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, San Diego Civic Organist Christmas Sing-along with guest artist Lauren Leigh Martin. Audiences are invited on-stage for an all-inclusive sing-along of favorite Christmas Carols led by San Diego Rock Star Lauren Leigh Martin with the largest open-air musical instrument in the world commanded by San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez.

The Spreckels Organ Pavilion is the largest open-air musical instrument in the world. For more information visit www.balboaparkconcerts.org.

WATCH THROWBACK: December Nights celebrates the holiday season in San Diego's Balboa Park in 2004

This week’s health innovation funding ran the gamut from $1M to $600M, with money going to startups in more than half a dozen countries and tackling a variety of health moonshots.

Investors, learn how you can back Health Transformers through the StartUp Health Moonshots Impact Fund.

Our team tracked more than $1.2B in health innovation funding reported this week, led by Ultima Genomics, a Newark, CA-based developer of a low-cost genetics sequencing platform. The company emerged from stealth mode with the announcement of approximately $600M from General Atlantic, Andreessen Horowitz, D1 Capital, Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed, Marius Nacht, aMoon, Playground Global, and Founders Fund. <source>

Other recent deals included:

Aledade, a Bethesda, MD-based company that works with primary care providers to build tech-enabled accountable care organizations, raised $123M led by OMERS Growth Equity, with participation from Fidelity Management and Research Company and other current investors. <source>

Diabeloop, a Paris, France-based developer of machine learning software for diabetes treatment, raised €70M ($74.9M) led by LBO France, with participation from Terumo, Innovacom, CERITD, CEMAG Invest, Kreaxi, Supernova Invest, AGIR A DOM., Crédit Agricole, Odyssée Venture, UI Inventissement (Sofimac), and Promontoires. <source>

Insilico Medicine, a Hong Kong-based AI drug discovery company, raised $60M from Warburg Pincus, B Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, BOLD Capital Partners, Pavilion Capital, and BHR Investment. <source>

Hint Health, a San Francisco, CA-based digital health company dedicated to direct primary care, raised $45M led by Banneker Partners and Frist Cressey Ventures. <source>

Ordr, Santa Clara, CA-based platform to help companies manage and secure the growing number of connected devices, raised $40M co-led by Battery Ventures and Ten Eleven Ventures. <source>

Watchmaker Genomics, a Boulder, CO-based life sciences company using genomics for personalized medicine and improved human health, raised $40M led by Decheng Capital, with participation from Eclipse Ventures. <source>

Florence, a London, UK-based marketplace that connects nurses and carers looking for extra work with available shifts, raised $35M led by Axa Venture Partners, with participation from Roo Capital and SEEK Investments. <source>

Moxe Health, a Madison, WI-based healthcare interoperability company, raised $30M led by Piper Sandler Merchant Banking and Vensana Capital, with participation from existing investors. <source>

LatchBio, a San Francisco, CA-based developer of a web-based bioinformatics processing platform, raised $28M co-led by Coatue and Lux Capital, with participation from Hummingbird Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Haystack, and Fifty Years. <source>

Orange Health, a Bengaluru, India-based diagnostics lab service startup, raised $25M led by Bertelsmann India Investments and General Catalyst, with participation from Accel, Y Combinator, Good Capital, and Uncorrelated Ventures. <source>

Air Doctor, a Jerusalem, Israel-based platform that connects travelers seeking medical attention with local doctors, raised $20M led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Vintage Investment Partners, Munich Re Ventures, The Phoenix, and Kamet Ventures. <source>

EnsoData, a Madison, WI-based AI healthcare company helping clinicians uncover disease while patients sleep, raised $20M led by Inspire Medical Systems, with participation from Zetta Venture Partners, Venture Investors, Supermoon Capital, Colle Capital, HealthX Ventures, M25 Ventures, Justin Mortara, ??Fred Robertson, MD, and other investors. <source>

SamaCare, a San Francisco, CA-based prior authorization platform for physician-administered medications, raised $12M led by Vive Collective, with participation from NextView Ventures, South Park Commons, and Susa Capital. <source>

Tripp, a Los Angeles, CA-based developer creating VR meditation experiences, raised $11.2M led by BITKRAFT Ventures, with participation from Qualcomm, Amazon Alexa Fund, HTC, Niantic, and Mayfield. <source>

Buddyfit, a Genoa, Italy-based remote personal trainer platform, raised €10M ($10.7M) led by Azimut Digitech Fund, with participation from Cairo Communication, RCS MediaGroup, and private individuals. <source>

Inne, a Berlin, Germany-based healthtech startup that empowers women to track their hormones, raised $10M led by DSM Venturing, with participation from Borski Fund, Calm Storm Ventures, and angel investors. <source>

Massive Bio, a New York, NY-based patient recruitment and enrollment enablement solution for oncology clinical trials, raised $9M co-led by Revo Capital and Kenan Turnacio?lu, with participation from DEG. <source>

SpectrumAi, a Los Angeles, CA-based digital health company focused on the autism space, raised $9M co-led by F-Prime Capital and Frist Cressey Ventures, with participation from Autism Impact Fund. <source>

nilo.health, a Berlin, Germany-based mental wellbeing support platform for the workplace, raised €7.5M ($8M) led by Speedinvest, with participation from PROfounders Capital, Vorwerk Ventures, Atlantic Labs, and angel investors. <source>

Kickoff, a New York, NY-based remote wellness coaching platform, raised $7M led by 645 Ventures, with participation from FJ Labs and Expa. <source>

Culina Health, a New York, NY-based provider of a personalized nutrition platform, raised $4.75M co-led by Healthworx and Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, with participation from Rethink Impact, Tensility Ventures, Alpine Meridian Ventures, Knightsgate Ventures, Graham & Walker, Arkitekt Ventures, and Redo Ventures. <source>

Two Front, a Los Angeles, CA-based digital orthodontic platform, raised $3.5M led by Craft Ventures. <source>

Innerwell, a New York, NY-based psychedelic teletherapy platform, raised $3M led by Greycroft, with participation from Looking Glass, Max Ventures, and angel investors. <source>

Vital, a San Francisco, CA-based startup building an API layer for remote healthcare, raised $2.9M led by Point Nine, with participation from 20VC, Amino Collective, Adventure Fund, Inflect Health, and angel investors. <source>

Visana Health, a Minneapolis, MN-based telehealth startup focused on women’s health, raised $2.6M from Flare Capital Partners, Pixel Perfect Ventures, InHealth Ventures, SWL Healthcare Ventures, and angel investors. <source>

Choix, a telemedicine clinic for reproductive care, raised $1M led by Elevate Capital. <source>

Data is from StartUp Health Insights, the most comprehensive funding database for health innovation. Get all our free quarterly reports and sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.

Investors: Learn how you can invest in Health Moonshots through StartUp Health’s impact fund.

Digital health entrepreneur? Don’t make the journey alone. Learn more about the StartUp Health Community and how StartUp Health invests.

Organization has people with intellectual challenges for 60 years

Grayson Mataya tries his hand spinning for a prize at an event marking the 60th anniversary of Community Living of Port Colborne and Wainfleet Saturday.

It has been a tough couple of years for Community Living of Port Colborne and Wainfleet thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization’s chief executive officer says.

But all that was put aside Saturday as the organization, which provides services for people with intellectual and developmental challenges, celebrated its 60th anniversary with an afternoon of activities and information at Market Square in downtown Port Colborne.

“We’re 60 years strong,” Joanna Mataya said. “We’re still going with the unwavering support we have to continue our work.”

The pandemic and the public health restrictions that came with it were a challenge.

“It was hard on the people we support,” Mataya said. “It was hard on everyone, but imagine these individuals who may not understand why all of a sudden they couldn’t go out. It compounded their anxiety.”

She is relieved that things are returning to some form of normal.

“I’m just really glad we’re moving forward.”

Despite the challenges, Mataya said Community Living was blessed to have people who worked hard to keep things going.

“Our staff is committed, very passionate about what they do,” Mataya said.

Paula Cressey has received help from Community Living since her elementary school days. Now 37, she is helping others through the Self-Advocate program, which was established in 2000 and modelled after a similar program in Welland called People First. For her, Community Living has helped her a lot throughout the years. Cressey works with program staff Dan Tonello and Scott Schihl.

“It’s just a very wonderful resource,” she said of Community Living and all the help it has provided her over the years. “It’s a wonderful place to turn.”

Tonello said the Self-Advocate program is important.

“We’re all citizens,” he said. “We belong in the community. For many years, people (with intellectual and developmental challenges) were treated as less than.”

Meanwhile, Mataya said the organization has just completed its latest strategic plan that will see Community Living move forward into the future.

“Staff are all very excited,” she said. “They are committed.”

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Toronto City Councillor Joe Cressy is making a career change, leaving municipal politics for a new position at George Brown College.

Cressy, who currently serves as the chair of the Toronto Board of Health and as a city councillor, announced his resignation at a press conference on Tuesday.

He said his final city council meeting will be this week, and his final board of health meeting will be on Monday.

Cressy has served as a city councillor, representing the people of Spadina-Fort York, since 2014.

Cressy said he will be taking a new position at George Brown College as senior vice president for external relations, communications and real estate development.

Cressy said he believes in the “power of municipal government.”

“However, I also believe in entering politics effecting change and moving on to contribute elsewhere,” he said. “It’s time for a new councillor’s voice at City Hall, and this October residents of Spadina-Fort York will have a chance to elect their new representative.”

After nearly 8 incredible years at City Hall & on the Board of Health, I'm announcing my resignation. I've accepted a position as a Senior VP at George Brown College.

Serving at City Hall has been a privilege. Now, it's time for a new chapter. My letter: https://t.co/zSA47YEwFD

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) April 5, 2022

Through the pandemic, serving as chair of the board of health, Cressy has overseen the work of Toronto Public Health, and worked alongside the medical officer of health and Toronto Mayor John Tory.

He was also a member of the Toronto COVID-19 strategic command team and immunization task force, which helped lead the city’s response to the pandemic.

Tory thanked Cressy for his work as a councillor and during the pandemic, saying he has been “very, very important” to the city’s COVID-19 response.

“He was one of the leaders and we didn’t let politics or ideology, get in the way of pandemic response,” Tory said. “We followed the public health advice together, we didn’t pick fights with other people, we took the all hands on deck approach and engaged a lot of people up there in the community at the community level, who were trusted (and) who were going to be more trusted than us as politicians.”

Tory said “a lot of that came from the leadership” of Cressy.

Last year, Cressy announced he would not seek re-election.

“In fact, I won’t be running for any election — for mayor, provincially or federally — I’m leaving elected office,” he told Global News in October.

At the time, Cressy said the COVID-19 pandemic had taken an “emotional toll” on him, and that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

“There was a time in my life when I did seriously contemplate whether I would run for mayor, but when [my wife and I] decided to start a family, that’s when it all changed,” he said. “And certainly the experience and the grind of the last two years of this pandemic has affirmed that decision for me.”

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Cressy thanked the people of Spadina-Fort York, but said that it’s “time for a new chapter.”

“It’s time for a grand adventure,” he said, adding that he “cannot wait” to join George Brown College.

Dr. Gervan Fearon, president of George Brown College, said Cressy will be a “powerful advocate for the unique and critical role the college can play and plays to serve local communities, promote regional economic development and opportunities, as well as to engage strategic partners in the future of the college as well as the City of Toronto.”

Fearon said in his new role, Cressy will focus on “building partnerships” and “supporting the strategic direction for advancing George Brown’s commitment to city building and community development.”

30 years ago, Jessica Cressey had a heartwarming experience with a family in Revelstoke during her time in foster care. This week, she decided to reach out in search of the couple she said had impacted her whole life.

“It was just on my heart,” said Cressey.

Her search led her to the Revelstoke Community Facebook page, a place where locals of the community chat, gossip, and discuss culture and events.

One night on her way to work, she decided to post on the page, not expecting much of a response. “The only names I have are Abe and Mrs. B,” said Cressey in her post.

Cressey thought the chances of reconnecting with her long-lost foster parents were low as the only information she had to go on were the fond memories from the happiest part of her childhood.

Not all of Cressey’s childhood memories are happy ones. “It was my first time feeling safe,” she said about her time with Mrs. B.

She had a nomadic childhood, hopping from place to place with her biological mother who suffered from drug and alcohol addiction. Cressey suffered countless abuses at the hands of her mother and the men in her life.

Cressey recounted that when she was just six years old, she and her mother were on the run from something, and their travels landed them in a hotel room in Revelstoke. In that hotel room she was surrounded by drugs and alcohol, and eventually her mother left her in the room to fend for herself.

“I was told I was in the hotel room for days when the front desk clerk had noticed that I was in the room alone,” said Cressey. Adults filled the room: police, paramedics, social workers. She remembers being brought across the street to a pub where her mother was screaming in the bathroom stall.

“Is this your mom?” they asked.

“Yeah it is,” said the young girl.

Cressey recounted giving herself a hickey on the inside of her arm and told the authorities that her mother did it because she didn’t want to go back with her.

“That was the last time I seen her,” said Cressey.

It was then that she was brought to Abe and Mrs. B’s home: the place where she felt safe for the first time in her life. Cressey remembers being overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and kindness she received after all she went through.

“Certain ways the sun sets in the evening, I get this overwhelming sense of peace and happiness: memories only relatable to when I had lived with them,” read Cressey’s post on the Revelstoke Community page.

Commentors on the original post recognized the tale of giving from Abe and Mrs. B, and immediately, the community rallied to connect Jessica to her long-lost foster mother.

Soon, the post had hundreds of shares. Comments started flooding in, and by the time Cressey got off work, the post had nearly 100 likes.

“Sounds like the Bergmans to me,” said one commentor.

“Definitely the Bergmans!” replied another.

“The Bergmans took in many foster children when I was growing up in Revelstoke,” said a community member.

Finally, Jessica got the response she was hoping for all along.

“Yes it was us,” said Mrs. B, Bjorg Buhler, formerly Bergman, in a comment on the post.

“We have many memories from when you were with us. Abe did pass away almost 21 years ago. I am now remarried but I would love to talk to you.”

The page shared a sigh of joy and relief. Mrs. B’s original response has over 400 likes.

“I would love to reconnect even if it’s just a phone call but I would also love to see you in person maybe take you out for dinner or something even if it’s just for one of your loving hugs,” replied Cressey.

“I am absolutely in awe and still somewhat in shock,” said Cressey in a post after she had been reconnected with Mrs. B.

“You all have no idea what this truly means to me.”

Although Cressey’s time with Mrs. B was short, she remembers it as the highlight of her time in foster care as a child and the impact it had on her entire life.

She eventually went to live with her original foster mother in Nicomen, where she was once again surrounded by drinking and partying. “That was normal to me until I experienced being at Mrs. B’s,” said Cressey.

Between the age of 13 and 16, Cressey went through 36 foster homes before finally setting out on her own.

Now, Cressey lives in Merritt where she has a family of her own. Her son Malachi is celebrating his 18th birthday in October.

Cressey said she fell into the lifestyle of addiction herself as an adult, but is now six years clean and sober and has developed a connection to her faith because of the lessons Mrs. B taught her as a child.

“I just want to share my experience, strength, and hope,” said Cressey. She said she hopes her story can touch the lives of others who have experienced or who are currently living in foster care.

Cressey said she plans on making the trip to Revelstoke soon so that she can reconnect with Mrs. B, have a chance to see her old home, and reminisce on those good times once again.

READ MORE: Revelstoke charity shipping containers of goods and supplies to those in need

READ MORE: Acclaimed solo sailor making history by canoeing across Canada

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