Town celebrating first lady's visit

Source: United Press International

MERCED, Calif., May 15 (UPI) -- Residents of Merced, Calif., are marking a visit by first lady Michelle Obama with a two-day celebration, a city spokesman said.

The first lady will deliver the commencement speech Saturday to the 2009 graduating class of UC Merced, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

"This is something that puts the UC Merced campus on an international stage and gives our city a chance to shine along with it," said Merced spokesman Mike Conway. "We couldn't be happier."

The celebration included a "Cap & Town" festival that started Friday.

"We've never seen anything like this before," said bartender David Martinez. "We did have Arnold Schwarzenegger drive through here once and he stopped at Starbucks. That was pretty big. But I think Michelle Obama is definitely going to blow him out of the water."


Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/15/Town-celebrating-first-ladys-visit/UPI-10581242401008/

But isn't it nice to have a First Lady visit where the citizens don't have to call George Romero for advice on how to handle her?

are immigrants or the first in their families to attend college at all -- NPR did a segment this morning:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104165089

And I am happy that Michelle picked that new, small school to visit. I have deep ties with Merced, and the town has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, I think the Universtiy will be a boost to Merced in so many ways. I am very please that attention is being drawn to Merced for a positive reason. Thanks to the First Lady, who picked the pitiful beginings over the grand old halls.

Don't know if you saw the thread yesterday in GD, I think it was, that discussed the economic boost that is coming with her visit.

They had to build a lot more stages, stands, gates, etc. and are spending a lot more than planned.

While, of course, some wanted to complain that now is not the time to spendmore, (blah, blah, blah) there were many quotes in the link posted from local workers and companies that were benefitting from the extra work and very, very happy about it.

And it is most definitely an area that needs a little extra stimulus now. So the visit by the First Lady is a win-win for Merced.

Please, please....PLEASE !!!!

You'll love it.