On this 250th birthday, Americans are asking each other and themselves, “who is an American?” I always thought it was an easy answer, but some want to make it much more complicated than it is.

My mother could trace her American roots to the Dutch in the 1640s and the English in the 1660s. There even was some Native American blood in there somewhere. She had an ancestor who fought in the Revolution, and her great grandfather fought in the Civil War. I have his pocket watch and a daguerreotype of him in uniform.

My father’s side immigrated from Calabria in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a young man, my grandfather had been a fisherman. When he came here, he ended up in the coal mines as most of my Italian family did.

I grew up with my great grandmother, Rose, living in an apartment on the floor below. She and her husband, Anthony, had come with several of their children for a better life. Once here, they had more children. One of them was my grandmother, Seraphina, who was known as Lena.

Which immigrant family member was not an American? The Dutch, English, Italian, or Native American ancestor? Americans are not a people of soil and blood but a people of promise. If we forget the promise of America, I don’t care if you were born here, your soul and heart are not American.

In this week’s edition we have the candidates’ statements. Please take a look especially if you are voting by mail. The ballots go out next week. I have also let you know who I am voting for in the upcoming election.

We extensively cover the county this week. There was quite a bit of excitement with the report released on Commissioner Vargas’ treatment of staff. There is also detailed coverage of the P3 controversy. Stuart decided to put off votes on chickens…both fried and in backyards. The school board will have to decide whether former union president and teacher, Matt Theobold, should be reinstated. The court found in his favor.

Don’t forget to read our many columnists and the nonprofit section.

Now sit back, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy this edition of Friends & Neighbors.

Have a great Sunday Morning!