The Sunshine Report SUNSHINE WEEK IS HERE!!! You are cordially invited to celebrate the longest day of sunshine with the Sunshine Initiative with three events in Newport and Manchester next week. All events are free and catered! Please email [email protected] by June 20th to confirm your RSVP to any or all events. You can learn more here. How Fathers Make A Difference Jay shares thoughts on the importance of fathers in our families, in our lives and in our future. The difference a father can make in a child’s life is enormous. And, in so many ways. This Sunday, we celebrate Father’s Day. Dads all across the country will be honored, appreciated and thanked for all the wonderful love and support they provide for their kids – at whatever age. And, while fathers are highlighted on this special occasion, the truth is that the important work of a father, like that of a caring mother, requires a 24/7 effort 365 days of the year. You can never predict those moments when a dad’s advice, encouragement or intervention can make all the difference. As a father myself, I’ve often asked myself about ‘how I can be the best dad I can be?’ I’ve found Father's Day to be a special moment where we as father’s are given a little extra attention, but also is an important day to recognize and appreciate the bonds between family. I was discussing Father's Day plans with a friend this past week when he shared his own story of how he came to really appreciate his own father and the sacrifices he made to give both he and his siblings the tools to lead a successful life. A World War II veteran, his dad got a job after the war that put him on the road regularly. It’s a common story amongst many in my generation and for my friend, it created an incredible amount of tension in his home when he grew up, to the extent he felt he didn’t really understand his dad and left him feeling a bit bitter about their relationship. Yet eventually he left home for college, graduated, got his own job, and started to build his own family. He said over time, as he faced the challenges of life, he began to realize the hard work and sacrifice his father made was all in the quest to give his own family the chance to grow and succeed. Not only that, as he had his own kids, he found that the bond he shared with his father only grew as he had a renewed perspective on the ups and downs that come with being a dad. Now a very successful businessman, he said that he feels every day is Father’s Day to a degree, because oftentimes, we take our parents for granted, especially when we’re younger. We may not fully appreciate the things they do for us, notably through the difficult moments, until we grow a bit older and gain some perspective on life away from the home where we grew up in. Sometimes we may have had to reconcile relationships with our parents, including our fathers. Whatever the case may be, most of the time what our fathers do for us is out of love. If it feels misplaced or misguided sometimes, that’s ok, the important thing is to find the love through it all. As we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, I encourage you to take a moment to cherish this important relationship and celebrate the positive difference our dads have made in our lives.  You might also enjoy taking a look at this link: ‘9 Reasons Why Fathers Matter’: [link removed] Read The Full Report Battle of New Hampshire Founding Fathers Read More Best Buddies NH - Truly the Best! Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Hershel Nunez This week we are delighted to highlight a political leader who has devoted himself tirelessly to the causes he believes in – Hershel Nunez. Hershel is a State Representative serving on the Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services committee as well as being a liaison for leadership on the Ways & Means. He currently serves as the Majority Development Coordinator providing important training to incoming and freshman House members which gives him the critical role of setting our new legislators on a path to success! He is known for his no-nonsense talk where he gets straight to the point. However, he manages to do this in a way that leaves people with a smile on their face, even when they disagree. This demeanor has made him a true leader in Concord and legislation often hinges on his approval because of the clout that he carries. Originally from Texas, he moved to New Hampshire over 20 years ago to share life with his partner. In 2007, he began working tirelessly with his community in many different areas, then ran for State Representative in 2018. Hershel is a former Political Action Director for the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance currently serving as an Advisor to the Board. He’s also served as a board member for Granite State Home Educators. He has offered policy for the Institute of Justice, has received awards from the American Conservative Union Foundation and is a current member of the national Hazlitt Coalition of Liberty Legislators. In 2009 & 2010, he was named one of the Executive Professionals of the Year by “Cambridge Who’s Who”. He believes in Liberty and Freedom above everything else and continues to advise many others with the liberty perspective and fights for our rights as individuals supporting life, freedom, and the right to economic prosperity. Hershel is retiring after this year to enjoy some much-needed time off. His voice will be missed in Concord, but he has prepared those behind him, and we will continue to see the fruits of his labor for years to come. Thank you so much Hershel for your service! Quotes of the Week “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” Jim Valvano Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  ‌ ‌ ‌ Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]