AFRO Prince Georges 01/11/2014

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDITION

Volume 122 No. 23

JANUARY 11, 2014 - JANUARY 17, 2014

Nobel Peace Prize Vindicated Martin Luther King Jr. for Stand on Non-Violence Nation to Celebrate MLK’s 85th Birthday Jan. 20

By Zachary Lester AFRO Staff Writer When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at age 35, he was the youngest person to ever be presented the prestigious honor. He was the third Black recipient and the second African American, following Ralph Bunche, the famed political scientist and diplomat who was honored for his mediation work in Palestine.

Besides the personal honor, though, historians said the award gave credence to his approach of meeting violence with peaceful resistance.

In a story that ran on the front page of the AFRO on Oct. 24, 1964, King called the award “vindication” for his work. The story was written by reporter James D. Williams after he interviewed King in an Atlanta hospital where he had checked in for a physical and rest.

“This has given me new courage to carry on and I am convinced that is more than an honor to me personally,

but a great tribute to the colored people,” King told Williams.”

He was 35 when he received the prize in a ceremony in December 1964 at Oslo University in Norway. According to a UPI story that ran on the front page of the AFRO

INSIDE A4

Man Jailed for Allegedly Abducting Alexis Murphy Now Charged with Murder

B3

Juanita Moore Dead at 99

12-12-64 AFRO

10-24-64 AFRO

AFRO Archives

on Dec. 19, 1964, he was selected “for championing the principle of non-violence in the struggle to achieve racial equality.” King was presented a diploma, a gold medal and a check for $54,600.

In his acceptance speech, King called the award “profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time—the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression.”

“The thousands of gallant unarmed men and women (civil rights workers) have taken our whole nation back to those great wells of Democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in the formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence,” King said in the story that appeared in the AFRO. “One day, all of Continued on A4

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Black Lawmakers Want Increased HBCU Funding, More Diverse State Police, Other Priorities

By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent Raising Maryland’s minimum wage will headline a long list of issues to be debated during the 2014 session of the Maryland General Assembly.

For 90 days, beginning Jan. 8, Maryland state lawmakers, officials, special interest groups, lobbyists and other stakeholders will gather for the annual conclave at the state capital in Annapolis “It will be very hectic,” said Maryland political expert Paul Herrnson, former director of the University of Maryland’s Center for American Politics and Citizenship.

And with the mid-term elections drawing near, this session’s political overtones will bear sharper edges, several

“The big thing here is [that] it is an election year and members of the legislature would be looking to take popular positions to look good in front of their constituents.”

– Paul Herrnson political experts agreed. For example, Democratic contenders in the heated three-way tug-o-war for the governor’s seat—Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Attorney General Douglas Gansler and Del. Heather Mizeur—all plan to be heavily involved in the session, offering or supporting competing bills to advance their own agendas and raise their profiles.

“The big thing here is [that] it is an election year and members of the legislature would be looking to take popular positions to look good in front of their constituents,” Herrnson said. “A lot of bills will be introduced not to get them passed, but for political reasons,…to make a statement.”

Continued on A3

SNL Finally Hires a Black Woman

Failed Miracles

African Walk on Water Failure—A Myth That Won’t Die

By Zenitha Prince AFRO Senior Correspondent

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Maryland General Assembly Heads to the Conference Table for 2014 Session

By AFRO Staff

Heard the story about the West African pastor who drowned while trying to recreate Jesus’ miracle of walking on water before his congregation? If you haven’t, you may be the only one.

Since the story of the alleged physics-defying attempt was posted Dec. 28 by MJ Celebrity Magazine it has gone viral, eliciting more than 100,000 shares, likes and comments across the social media spectrum. For example, according to Topsy. com, a social media analytics tool, the subject was tweeted over 600 times in the past seven days.

Still, repetition cannot transform a lie into a truth, as President Roosevelt realized, and this “news story” has been uncovered as a tenacious Internet hoax, The Christian Post alleges.

The details of the much reported “story” remains virtually unchanged: Pastor Franck Kabele, 35, leader of a church on the West Coast of Africa, told his congregation he could literally

Continued on A4

psbible.blogspot.com

Kerry Washington’s November 2013 appearance on Saturday Night Live – during Sasheer Zamata which she assumed catehellman.com the role of every Black woman in every script – highlighted the absence of Black women comedians on the cast.

Well, SNL producers handily admitted the faux pas and added Sasheer Zamata, who will make her first appearance on the Jan. 18 show. And AFRO Facebook followers have had much to say about the situation.

“Wow Saturday Night Live still comes on????” asked Andy Bailey.

Jacki Billings quipped, “SNL had to get embarrassed before Continued on A4

Metro Unveils Next Generation of Rail Cars

By Courtney Jacobs AFRO Staff Writer

Join the AFRO on Twitter and Facebook

“Safety is the most important thing,” said speaker Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.).

Maryland’s governor, along with members of the state’s congressional delegation, D.C.’s mayor and congressional representative and regional elected officials braved a frigid January morning on a wind-swept platform at the Greenbelt Metro Station Jan. Continued on A3

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The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

NATION & WORLD Following Move, Challenges Remain for Jahi McMath

The family of a 13-year-old California girl who was declared brain dead after suffering complications from sleep apnea surgery has achieved its goal of moving the girl to a new facility for long-term care, but medical experts say the ventilator she’s on will not work indefinitely.

Jahi McMath’s uncle said she is now being cared for at a facility that shares their belief that she still is alive.

While the move ends what had been a very public and tense fight with the hospital, it also brings new challenges: caring for a patient three doctors have said is legally dead because, unlike someone in a coma, there is no blood flow or electrical activity in either her cerebrum or the brain stem that controls breathing.

The bodies of brain dead patients kept on ventilators gradually

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ASALH

Association for the Study of African American Life and History

88th Annual Black History Luncheon and Featured Authors Event 2014 National Black History Theme

Saturday, February 22, 2014 Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel 2660 Woodley Road N.W. • Washington, D.C. 20008 • 202-328-2000

Guest Speaker Freeman A. Hrabowski, III President • University of Maryland, Baltimore

Featured Authors Event 10am Doors for the Luncheon open at 12:15pm Luncheon Program: 12:30pm–3:30pm Contributions of $100 or more will be acknowledged in our program if received by January 21.

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deteriorate, eventually causing blood pressure to plummet and the heart to stop, said Dr. Paul Vespa, director of neurocritical care at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has no role in McMath’s care.

The process usually takes only days but can sometimes continue for months, medical experts say.

Jahi McMath “The bodies are really in an artificial state. It requires a great deal of manipulation in order to keep the circulation going,” Vespa said.

Brain-dead people may look like they’re sleeping, he added, but it’s “an illusion based on advanced medical techniques.”

The family and their lawyer would not disclose where the eighth grader was taken on Sunday night after a week long battle to prevent Children’s Hospital Oakland from removing her from the breathing machine that had kept her heart beating for 28 days.

The uncle, Omari Sealey, told reporters Jan. 6 that Jahi traveled by ground and that there were no complications in the transfer, suggesting she may still be in California. Nurses and doctors are working to stabilize her with intravenous antibiotics, minerals and supplements while she remains on the ventilator, but her condition is too precarious for additional measures, lawyer Christopher Dolan said.

The new facility has “been very welcoming with open arms. They have beliefs just like ours,” Sealey said. “They believe as we do ... It’s a place where she is going to get the treatment she deserves.”

The nearly $50,000 in private donations the family has raised since taking the case public helped cover the carefully choreographed handoff to the critical care team and transportation to the new location, Sealey said. The facility, where Jahi is expected to remain for some time, is run by a charitable organization that so far hasn’t sought payment, Dolan said.

Both men refused to name the facility or reveal where it was located, saying they wanted to prevent staff members and the families of other patients from being harassed.

Jahi underwent surgery at Children’s Hospital on Dec. 9 to treat severe sleep apnea, a condition where the sufferer’s breathing stops or becomes labored while sleeping. Surgeons removed her tonsils and other parts of her nose and throat to widen the air passages.

While recovering in the Intensive Care Unit, she bled heavily from her mouth and nose and eventually went into cardiac arrest. Doctors at the hospital declared her brain dead three days later and moved Dec. 20 to remove her from the ventilator.

Associated Press writer Alicia Chang in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Was MSNBC’s Melissa HarrisPerry’s Apology Necessary?

MSNBC talk-show host Melissa V. Harris-Perry issued an apology on New Year’s Eve for snide comments by her and a panel of commentators Dec. 29 centering on the Black grandson of Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate.

A series of tweets posted the morning of Dec. 31 in which Perry was contrite about leading her panel in a mocking, teasing stream of comments about the adopted Black infant of one of Romney’s sons drew a barrage of reactions in cyberspace.

“I am sorry. Without reservation or qualification. I apologize to the Romney family,” Harris-Perry said Melissa Harris-Perry

in the first of a series of tweets about a segment on her show in which she invited her panelists to poke fun at a photo of the Romney clan.

The photo, used in the family’s holiday greeting card, showed the former Massachusetts governor holding the baby, Kieran Romney, in the center of a family photo.

“I work by guiding principle that those who offend do not have the right to tell those they hurt that they r wrong for hurting,” said the subsequent tweet.

“As Black child born into large White Mormon family I feel familiarity w/ Romney family pic and never meant to suggest otherwise,” Harris-Perry said.

In the offending segment Harris- Perry and her guests, including actress Pia Glenn and comedian Dean Obeidallah fired out one-liners .

“One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just isn’t the same,” said Glenn, referring to the playful lyrics sung by characters on “Sesame Street.”

Obeidallah compared the photo to traditional meetings of the Grand Ole Party, where he said Republicans “at the convention, they find the one Black person.”

Harris-Perry then shared her hopes to see Kieran Romney married off to Kanye West’s daughter, North West, so the two families could become in-laws.

She has since poured out apologies.

Opinions about the apology varied among the African American community. Was an apology even necessary? Was it sincere-especially when accompanied by the hashtag “#MHPapology” ?

News media outlets, fans, and critics of Harris-Perry have all weighed in since the comments were made on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media websites.

“I watched the show and didn’t find it in bad taste,” said Spencer Moore, on the Melissa Harris-Perry Facebook page. “Nothing offensive was said.”

Still, others found the comments in bad taste, and were glad to see the apology posted.

“It was wrong, she acknowledged and apologized,” said Dawn Melissa Coe, adding her comment to the apology that garnered more than 2,000 responses by late Thursday.

Federal Judge Dismisses Hurricane Katrina-Related Suits

Eight years after Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans in one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes to slam into a U.S. city, a federal judge Dec. 20 dismissed the claims filed by residents and business owners who said the U.S. government had failed to adequately protect the below-sea-level city and should compensate them for lost property and businesses.

U.S. District Court Judge Stanwood Duval Jr. dismissed about a dozen lawsuits citing the difficulty to force the government to pay damages. His ruling followed a federal appeals court ruling that overturned Duval’s earlier decision that the government was liable for damages in the wake of the 2005 storm.

Under federal law, the government cannot be sued over actions that were based “on considerations of public policy,” the appeals panel wrote. “The corps’ decisions regarding the shipping channel fall under that protection,” the appeals court ruled.

In 2009 Duval initially ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for the flooding of the Lower Ninth Ward because the agency failed to properly maintain the channel which allowed protective marshland to wash away.

Rhiana Ryals, 35, of the Carrollton area of New Orleans told the AFRO she and her family lost everything in Hurricane Katrina.

“The only thing I saved was my senior yearbook from college,” said Ryals. “We walked away from it all. Our house was completely flooded, it was horrible.”

Ryals said the hardest part was seeing everything her father worked so hard for—things for their family—was destroyed.

Hurricane Katrina claimed the lives of nearly 1,400 Mississippi and Louisiana residents, thousands of homes were destroyed and a great portion of the city was left under water. More than 500,000 residents, business owners and governments filed lawsuits against the Corps and they wanted the agency to pay.

“It’s disappointing that no one will be held liable for so many lives being lost, so many homes. Obviously there were a lot of mistakes made, but no one is being held accountable.” Ryals told the AFRO.

Harsh Ugandan Anti-Gay Law May Become Effective

Human rights organizations are watching to see what happens with a measure passed Dec. 20 in Uganda that would make conviction for engaging in some homosexual acts subject to life in prison. An initial proposal would have made some acts, such as spreading HIV/AIDS through sex, punishable by death, but it was later reduced.

Human rights groups fear the law would fuel anti-gay sentiment and lead to more violence against gays, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals. The bill must be approved by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni within 30 days. A conservative and religious man, Museveni is expected to sign the bill into law, according to news reports.

The U.S. Department of State issued a statement condemning the measure, which President Obama once called “odious.”

“We are deeply concerned by the Ugandan Parliament’s passage of anti-homosexuality legislation,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said. “As Americans, we believe that people everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality—and that no-one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or whom they love.”

While gay rights efforts have been successful in some regions of the world, such is not the case in Africa. Laws against committing sodomy long have been on the books in many African nations, making homosexuality illegal. The Ugandan government, saying it was making the move to protect families, went a step farther when it increased the penalties for engaging in some homosexual acts.

Gay rights supporters said they believe the law will lead to increased harassment of gays and supporters.

“The witch hunt had already started, and now it has been legitimized by the parliament of Uganda, which is very scary,” Clare Byarugaba, coordinator for the Ugandan Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law, told CNN.com. “We don’t know how brutal the police will be now that the bill has passed. With this legitimization, it’s going to get worse.”

But Uganda Minister for Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo disagreed. Conservatives said they felt the need to act to protect Ugandan children and families, who they feel are in danger if homosexuality becomes acceptable.

“What we are convinced and sure of is that nobody can in one’s right conscience and consciousness choose to be homosexual. This must be under pressure or conditions because we know that the natural tendency is always for a male to go for a female and vice-versa,” Lokodo told CNN.com.

January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014, The Afro-American

A3

Metro

Continued from A1 6 as regional transit officials F. Edwards (D-Md,) said 7000 series cars will replace. unveiled the latest in rail car during the news conference.

“These cars will be the first hardware.

Once integrated into the visible response to the tragedy Its silver-like coating Washington Metropolitan that took nine lives, seven gleaming, the Metro 7000 Area Transit Authority’s of them from the District of series passenger car eased (WMATA) rolling stock over Columbia. We will never onto the platform to the the next few months, the forget them.” applause of the local officials. cars will offer more comfort, She was referring to the “I am excited to be here whisking passengers around June 2009 collision when a today to accept these new cars the expanding Metro network. Red Line train slammed into coming into our region,” D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray said during the news conference.

“Our city is growing. We now have 646,000 people living in D.C., the most we had since the 1970s. We are expected to have 250,000 more people over the next 20 years.

“We now see our nearly 50-year-old system There is no becoming a system of this century,” said Rep. way we will Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). be able to move all of those people without a system The car chassis was the rear of a train stopped as effective as our Metro.” toughened to reduce the risk in front of it. A Metro train The new cars are designed of injury should a collision operator and eight passengers to answer 21st century rapid occur. were killed and 80 additional transit technology needs in “We now see our nearly passengers were injured. a system that was introduced 50-year-old system becoming The interior of the new to the D.C. region nearly 50 a system of this century,” cars will have a blue and years ago.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton gray color scheme and with “Safety is the most (D-D.C.) said of the fourno carpeting. In addition the important thing,” Rep. Donna decade old rail cars that the seats will offer more leg room

White House Photo by Pete Souza

Happy Birthday!

First Lady Michelle Obama turns 50 on Jan. 17. and provide better back support for passengers.

There will be wider aisles, too, to facilitate movement within the car and additional space near the doors for riders who are standing or in wheelchairs.

In addition, there is an automated public announcement system, six different station destination signs, including two

dynamic LCD route maps to allow customers to easily track their location, four video screens in each car and LED screens to provide current and upcoming station information.

“This is an important upgrade and milestone, and we’re going to invest more dollars in the years ahead to keep this system as one of the best,” Gov. Martin O’Malley told the AFRO.

Black Lawmakers Continued from A1

Baltimore Democrat Sen. Lisa Gladden agreed, but added that those lawmakers who are retiring will be looking to make statements of their own.

“Because this is the last of a four-year term, a lot of people are going to be a lot bolder,” she said. “You’re going to see a lot of courage because a lot of people aren’t coming back.”

In the next three months, lawmakers will draft, introduce, hold hearings on, revise and vote on hundreds of pieces of legislation. In last year’s regular session, for example, legislators introduced a total of 2,610 bills and eight joint resolutions and passed 766, according to the Department of Legislative Services.

This year, beyond the normal budget negotiations, raising the state’s minimum wage above the federal rate of $7.25 will top the list of concerns in the Democrat-controlled legislature.

“The governor intends to focus on building consensus around raising the minimum wage,” said Nina Smith, press secretary for Gov. Martin O’Malley, about his agenda.

While most Democrats—including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch—seem to support the move, the challenge lies in agreeing on the details, such as the value of the raise.

Gladden said draft legislation suggests a rate of $10.10 an hour. But another bill introduced by Del. Keith Haynes (D-Baltimore) calls for a rate of $12.50, and Gladden said an even higher rate may better serve Maryland workers.

“When I was a teenager $10.10 would seem like a lot,” she said. “[But] it is not a lot of money when you have kids and have rent to pay and you have to make ends meet.”

The governor and other lawmakers will also focus their immediate efforts on mitigating the impact of the troubled rollout of the state’s health insurance exchange.

For the hundreds, or even thousands, of Marylanders who were blocked from securing an insurance plan through the glitch-prone exchange website, Maryland Health Connection, before the Jan. 1 deadline, the proposed emergency legislation would provide a “temporary bridge to coverage,” through the expansion of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP), a separate state-run program, Smith said.

Marijuana legalization will also be a hot-button issue.

Last year, Del. Curt Anderson’s bill to legalize marijuana and regulate it like alcohol and Sen. Bobby Zirkin’s legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana both

failed in 2013. However, advocates are confident that progress will be made this year.

“Support for removing any sort of marijuana prohibition has been growing rapidly,” said Mason Tvert, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. “More Americans than ever before realize prohibition has failed and are looking for a different approach.”

A November 2013 poll commissioned by MPP and the ACLU of Maryland found that 72 percent of Maryland voters support legalizing marijuana for medical treatment; 68 percent support decriminalizing possession of small amounts and 53 percent favor taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.

Tvert said the benefits of lifting the ban should influence legislators’ decisions.

“Regulating the sale of marijuana takes the product out of the underground market and puts it behind the counters of legitimate tax-paying businesses,” he said. “If legislators take an objective look at the evidence and choose to represent their constituents, then they will pass the legislation.”

While Black lawmakers will likely be very involved in debating these marquee issues, the Legislative Black Caucus also has its own priorities, said Del. Aisha Braveboy (D-Prince George’s), the Black Caucus chair.

The first is ensuring that HBCUs receive parity in

investment—programs, full-time faculty, financial aid, facilities, etc.—“to ensure that HBCUs are competitive and on par with other state universities,” she said.

Another involves ameliorating the disparate representation of African Americans in the Maryland State Police through targeted recruitment in minority communities through specific media outlets, like the AFRO, and other approaches.

The Black Caucus will also push for legislation to expunge the records of those who committed misdemeanor nonviolent offenses and have served their time.

And, the Black legislators will also call for an investigation into the way banks are maintaining and marketing foreclosed property, she said. A recent study by the National Fair Housing Alliance found that some banks seem to be artificially decreasing the values of properties in certain communities due to lack of maintenance and care.

Black and Hispanic communities are disproportionately impacted since they were targeted by sub-prime lenders and thus were more likely to go into foreclosure in the recent housing crisis.

“It impacts not just the owner who has been foreclosed on, but the surrounding homeowners,” Braveboy said. When property values go down, she added, home equities decrease, so “what this really does is strip homeowners of their wealth.”

A4

The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

Chris Brown Returns to Court in D.C.

Prince George’s County Crime Rate in 2013 Reduction

By LaTrina Antoine Special to the AFRO

By Courtney Jacobs AFRO Staff Writer

During a brief hearing in District Court in Washington D.C. Jan. 8, entertainer Chris Brown turned down an offer by prosecutors to plead guilty to simple assault in an Oct. 27 altercation outside the W hotel on 15th Street NW, a stone’s throw from the White House.

Brown, dressed in a blue three-piece suit, stood quietly between his attorneys as they addressed the judge. Brown’s bodyguard, Chris Hollosy, who was also charged in the October incident, also refused the plea offer.

The hearing was closed to the public and the entrance to the courtroom was protected by police in fatigues.

Danny Onorato, a former prosecutor and part of Brown’s defense team, told Judge Patricia Wynn that his client was not guilty of assault. A Feb. 20 status hearing was set in the case.

Attorneys for Brown asked that he be excused from attending because he is in rehab and would miss three days were he to come across country to the hearing.

Brown’s lawyers and prosecutors said they are awaiting a video that contains footage of events from the Oct. 27 incident.

Brown walked out of the courtroom and took a side door in an attempt to avoid the gaggle of reporters who were clamoring to interview him. He was driven away with his entourage in a large, dark SUV.

New Year’s Day had come and gone but for some of the state’s top law enforcement and elected officials gathered in Woodmore Town Centre a significant drop in crime meant there was still plenty to celebrate Jan. 2.

“Today we are here to tell the region and the state that Prince George’s County is a safe place to live, invest, work and visit,” Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III said at the news conference to announce statistics that show a 12 percent crime drop from 2012 to 2013.

Baker was joined by Prince George’s Police Department (PGPD) Chief of Police Mark Magaw, Gov. Martin O’Malley, State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks, County Sheriff Melvin C. High and Prince George’s Council Chair Mel Franklin (D-District 9).

The officials were trumpeting a downward spiral in crime that swelled last year and used the shopping center—and a recent addition to the county’s commercial profile—as a backdrop.

Man Jailed for Allegedly Abducting Alexis Murphy Now Charged with Murder

FBI/Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail

Alexis Murphy and Randolph Taylor

By LaTrina Antoine Special to the AFRO Randy Allen Taylor, 48, who has been jailed since Aug. 11 in connection with the disappearance of Virginia teenager Alexis Murphy was charged Jan. 6 with two counts of first degree murder in the case.

Alexis, 17, of Shipman, Va., near Charlottesville, was last seen Aug. 3, 2013 on a shopping trip to Lynchburg, Va. According to a statement from the FBI, the lead agency on the investigation, Taylor was initially charged Aug. 11 with the abduction of Murphy, who was last seen about 7:15 p.m. Aug. 3.

A motions hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7 at the Nelson County Circuit Court in the case.

“The return of indictments only means that the grand jury found probable cause for the charges that I have mentioned and that Randy Taylor should go on trial for those charges,” Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony Martin told the media after a grand jury indicted Taylor Jan. 6. “The defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Taylor is held without bond at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Jail.

Taylor’s attorney, Michael Hallahan, said that Taylor is prepared to plead not guilty to the murder and abduction charges, according to news reports. Hallahan did not return a call from the AFRO seeking comment.

The prosecution and defense attorneys, along with state and federal authorities, declined to provide additional information on the specifics of the case because a judge imposed a gag order.

“We chose this location because of the great work Wegmans is doing for the community,” Baker said during the news conference. “Decreasing crimes helps businesses in the community have a better way of life.”

According to police data, the numbers of homicides, forcible rapes, robberies, carjackings and assaults dropped from a total of 4,424 in 2012 to 3,794 in 2013.

For property crimes, which include burglary, larceny and vehicle theft, the total in 2012 was 25, 835. The total in 2013 was 22,828.

Since 2010, the numbers show, crime has gone down a total of 27 percent, with homicides down 38 percent.

“To reduce homicides by almost 40 percent since 2010 is a huge accomplishment,” O’Malley said during the news conference. “We can reduce the number of moms and dads at graveyard sites.”

In 2013, there were only 56 homicides in Prince George’s County, the lowest rate since 1986 where there were 55.

“We are not satisfied and we are not yet done,” Magaw said during the news conference. “In fact, we are actually just getting started.”

Failed Miracles Continued from A1

follow in Jesus’ footsteps by walking on water, the Glasgow Daily Record, a Scottish publication, first reported on its website in 2006.

“A priest drowns in West Africa after trying to demonstrate how Jesus walked on water! Could have been even more tragic, I suppose. At least 5,000 of his mates didn’t starve to death,” a columnist for the paper, now called the Daily Record, noted in his 2006 roundup of humorous stories.

Independent conservative news site World Net Daily was one of several media outlets that reported on the story at the time, even including eyewitness accounts of Kabele’s attempt to reenact the miracle found in Matthew 14:22-33 at a beach in Libreville, Gabon: “He told churchgoers he’d had a revelation that if he had enough faith, he could walk on water like Jesus,” an

eyewitness told the Glasgow Daily Record.

“He took his congregation to the beach saying he would walk across the Komo estuary, which takes 20 minutes by boat. He walked into the water, which soon passed over his head and he never came back.”

An AFRO search for more information on Kabele

opinions.

“He had a lot of faith, but not enough,” said one person.

“Did he really think he was going to get such miraculous powers to just perform such a thing in front of people for fame? Because I know he was expecting fame to come out of doing that...

HA! His ass deserved that!” said another commenter.

“Christ walking on water was to demonstrate his deity not for others to walk on water as well.” in cyberspace, including the name and location of his church, revealed nothing more than the stories of his supposed demise—a telling sign that the account could be fake.

But, as it was back in 2006, several media outlets and readers took the story at face value, offering strong

“This is sad because first off people should not be trying to do what Jesus did literally,” said another.

“Christ walking on water was to demonstrate his deity not for others to walk on water as well.”

This is not the first false report of a supposed miracle

to come out of Africa.

Another popular tale involves a self-proclaimed prophet who claimed he could walk unharmed among lions, just like the biblical prophet Daniel.

According to NG Newspapers, the prophet went to Ibadan zoo in south-west Nigeria, and though warned by zookeepers, proceeded to don a long red robe and enter a cage full of lions, while a crowd looked on. Needless to say, he was immediately ripped to shreds.

Some took the stories as fodder to buttress their skepticism about the veracity of the Bible.

“Another example as to how religious zealotry (or religion in and of itself) can reduce the IQ to that of a crayfish,” said one commenter on YouTube. “Can’t say I feel bad for anybody that disregards common sense.

Make dumb choices get dumb results.”

SNL

Continued from A1 this could happen. Insane.” Su Barnes predicted a lot of skits about FLOTUS, Oprah and Beyoncé.

Amid congratulations and the occasional, “Awesome,” the politics of television came through.

“We all know the monster media will continue their games of having very few blacks on TV,” said Tracy Smith.

“Hopefully she can stay black,” said DeMaris Butler, while John Kenya wondered, “Is she black?”

“Here’s to hoping the skits don’t always depend on her blackness,” said Harriet Vinson.

Elizabeth Tate said, “Hopefully she will play the role of a white woman.”

With tongue in cheek, Turhan Jones commented, “Hey,

that’s great, now all our problems are solved.”

Robert Pietri said the Food Network or Cooking Channel should also “bring some color to their lineups.” Richard Raybourne suggested West Indian butlers for Downton Abbey.

And the critical faction said the show hasn’t been funny in years.

“What’s the point of hiring funny people if the material isn’t funny,” said Marcus T. Brown, still wishing Zamata the best.

There were many who – Tracy Smith have never watched or not watched in a long time, offering that biracial Maya Rudolph, who left the show in 2007, should be filling the “black” slot.

And there were those who just didn’t care, except enough to comment, “So what!,” like Robert Woolfolk II.

sense of allowing racists to constantly victimize them for standing up for right, King urged them to continue to be peaceful.

Even in bloody 1963,

August 1963 who were motivated by his dream of freedom. His appearances at churches were filled to capacity. His message was always the same—fight hate

“We all know the monster media will continue their games of having very few blacks on TV.”

Nobel Peace Prize Continued from A1

America will be proud of their achievements.”

King was born in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan. 15, 1929 to a prominent family. His father, Martin Luther King, Sr. was pastor of the prestigious Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. From an early age, King demonstrated strong oratorical skills. He attended Morehouse University and later earned a doctorate from Crozier Theological Seminary in Boston, where he met his future wife, Coretta.

King was a young preacher and father in 1955 when he became the leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The success of the boycott, which ended with city leaders desegregating the city’s public

buses after Blacks refused to ride them for a year, solidified for King that peaceful protest was the most effective way to forge change.

As the Civil Rights Movement progressed, violence against Blacks became bloody and frequent in the South. Blacks who attempted to register to vote— and those who attempted to help them—were beaten, jailed, threatened with violence and sometimes killed. Marchers participating in peaceful protests against segregation, unequal education and discrimination in jobs watched as police officers used attack dogs and hoses against them. As some Blacks questioned the

the ambush attack on NAACP Mississippi field secretary Medgar Evers in the driveway of his Jackson home in June and the savage bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church

“His ‘March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom’ drew hundreds of thousands in August 1963 who were motivated by his dream of freedom.” when, according to the Civil Rights Veterans website “white racists murder [10] people and commit at least 35 bombings,” King urged Blacks and their supporters to remain committed to non-violence.

The year’s atrocities included

in Birmingham in September, where four little girls were killed.

As the violence escalated, King stayed the course. His “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” drew hundreds of thousands in

with love, violence with peace. By the time he was assassinated in 1968, King’s place in history was solidified as the American who had fought hardest against oppression using no weapons.

Though he was proud of

the achievement of winning the Nobel, King told the AFRO in October 1964 that it signaled that there was more work to be done.

“The prize makes me want to do a better job,” King said.”It leave me with a great sense of humility. It arouses in me the feeling that in spite of this type of tribute, there is much more to be done.”

While he is no longer the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize, he still remains the youngest Black person to achieve the honor. In 1992, Guatemalan civil rights activist Rigoberta Menchú Tum, who was 33, was awarded the prize. She also became the first indigenous person to win the award.

January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014, The Afro-American

HEALTH

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Dr. Griffin Rogers

Physician Works to Educate Blacks and Others About Life-Threatening Diseases

By Zenitha Prince AFRO Senior Correspondent

Medicine and public service was in Dr. Griffin Rogers’ blood long before he became a celebrated hematologist. And as the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, he spends his days searching out cures for some of the most common, chronic and costly maladies that plague Americans and making those discoveries accessible to the public.

His fervor is palpable. Hearing him talk about the social and economic toll of the diabetes epidemic—25 million Americans affected by Type II diabetes and another 79 million with prediabetes—one can easily see where he passion to educate the public comes from.

Rodgers shares useful information on how to prevent and manage diseases in a daily, syndicated radio segment called “Healthy Moments,” among other campaigns. Before an interview was completed with a reporter, he had provided her with an extensive list of information about—and his assistant later e-mailed links to—several programs and toolkits to educate the AFRO’s readers about how to prevent or attain treatment for several ailments.

“There’s an imperative that we have to develop better treatments and ultimately cures for some of these common and costly diseases,” he said.

As the NIDDK administrator, Rodgers, 59, oversees a $2 billion annual research budget and 1,300 of the country’s most gifted researchers in the fifth-largest of the National Institutes of Health’s 27 institutes. His agency’s research seeks solutions for diseases such as diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, urologic diseases, liver disease, gall bladder disease, inflammatory bowel diseases and the like.

“As a physician, principally you’re interested in healing, and one has an opportunity in this position to have a major impact on the lives of many billions of Americans and people around the world,” he said. “That’s a satisfaction beyond belief when you can say you’ve contributed at some level to…improved therapies for these chronic and costly conditions.”

It has been a long road to success from his days growing up in New Orleans, where the importance of living up to his potential was engrained in him by his parents--a high school physical education and science teacher and a public nurse, along with the priests at the prestigious all-male St. Augustine High School. His graduating class had more National Achievement finalists than the rest of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama combined, Rodgers said.

“Consciously or subconsciously I was programmed for a career in medicine,” he told the AFRO. “I used to go out with my mother on the weekends to visit some of her patients that lived in the housing projects in New Orleans, as she provided them and their family members with vaccinations and other things. That kind of got me interested in the medical profession.”

But his defining moment came in high school when three of his closest friends were diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and later died.

At that time, the late 1960s and early ‘70s, there wasn’t much that could be done for sickle cell patients except to treat pain and administer transfusions.

“That stuck with me….

They say it’s quite tragic for parents to bury their children, and I think the same is true for kids or teenagers because you feel, at that age, that you’re invincible,” Rodgers recalled.

“To see a friend suffer from a chronic disease and not be able to do much but talk to them and hold their hand is tragic.”

The loss guided his specialization in hematology.

During his clinical rotations, Brown University’s founding chair of dermatology, Dr. Charles McDonald proved an unlikely mentor. Dr. McDonald had developed a means of treating psoriasis with chemotherapy and Rodgers later adopted those findings to develop the first effective, FDA-approved therapy for sickle cell anemia.

“It’s very exhilarating,”

Rodgers said of making a discovery that has saved so many lives. “It did remind me of those three friends I had and made me think that if only I were born earlier, if I could have developed this back then, it could have been available for them.”

Dr. Griffin Rogers Sickle cell anemia is just one of many diseases that seem to disproportionately impact African Americans because of genetic and environmental reasons, Rodgers said—a trend he noticed even when he tagged along behind his mother as she made her neighborhood rounds.

Because of that, Rodgers ensures that NIDDK’s research includes African Americans and other vulnerable populations.

“We make it a point in our studies to oversample for patients who are at risk,” he said. “So we make it a priority to make sure they are included in our trials and retained in our trials because after we get the results of the trials we want to make sure that…if they respond to interventions we can then target our educational campaigns to the specific groups that are at greatest risk.”

Despite the pressures of his job—any given day he may be meeting with NIDDK researchers to develop new initiatives, evaluating the sponsorship potential of research ideas at tertiary education and other institutions, meeting with policymakers, the public and more—Rodgers said he remains excited about the career he has chosen.

“The future has never looked brighter. On many of these diseases I’ve mentioned, basic science has really pointed to potential targets that may be used for better treatments and potential cures...,” he said. “We’re seeing a confluence of these ideas that are taking us in new and exciting directions. The challenge, of course, is in order to do this research, it does take funding.”

Because of the nation’s financial woes, “important decisions” have to be made by the government about which programs will receive the dollars, he said.

“The major challenge in the next three to five years is making sure there is adequate funding to continue the research momentum that has already occurred,” Rodgers said.

Helpful links: • National Diabetes Education Program: http://ndep.nih. gov/.

• National Kidney Disease Education Program: www. nkdep.nih.gov.

• The Kidney Sundays initiative raises awareness within faith communities about the risks for kidney disease and the importance of getting tested. For a Toolkit and other information, visit: http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/get-involved/ kidney-connection/kidney-sundays.shtml.

• Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better, a national program designed to encourage Black women ages 18 and older to maintain a healthy weight: http://www.win.niddk.nih. gov/sisters/index.htm.

• Healthy Moments: Hear it during the “Tom Joyner Morning Show” on Radio One stations WMMJ-FM MAJIC 102.3 in D.C. and WWIN-FM MAJIC 95.9 in Baltimore; or access the latest and archived episodes online by visiting http://www2.niddk.nih. gov/ and using key search words “Healthy Moments.”

Affordable Healthcare for the New Year

District of Columbia residents should visit DCHealthLink. com for Obamacare enrollment before the March 31 deadline.

Or call 1-855-532-5465 for assistance.

In Maryland log onto MarylandHealthCareConnection.gov.

Navigators are available at the Consumer Support Center 1-855-642-8572, with services for the deaf or hard of hearing at 1-855-642-8573.

Hey Adults and Youth!

Would you consider helping change our community values for the better? Yes! How? With a copy of my book, The Mentoring Clinic, in the hands of all our youth, we’ll see their moral values change. Our youth is our change in our community.

The Mentoring Clinic By Arthur Burrell Now Available at Amazon Books $9.95 Or call/e-mail: (410)493-1395 arthur.burrell2@gmail.com

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LOG ONTO www.wjoyfm.com for good gospel, teaching and inspiration.

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The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

COMMUNITY CONNECTION New Associate Minister for Silver Spring Unitarian Universalist Church

The Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley was recently called as associate minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring by the unanimous vote of the congregation. He has served the church as assistant minister since August 2012, joining senior minister, the Rev. Elizabeth Lerner Maclay.

A graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, Calif., Dr. Dunkley also holds a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh and Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley an undergraduate degree from Tufts University. He brings not only his training and experience as a minister to the church but also his wide-ranging musical interests. These include the traditional drumming of Ghana and the Republic of Zaire, the Kora tradition of Senegal, the Gamelan traditions of Java and Bali in Indonesia, and jazz traditions in the Americas as well as Bluegrass and Country Blues. He sings and plays several instruments, including guitar, piano, conga, gangogwe (West African double bell) and didjeridu.

Dunkley previously served Unity Church—Unitarian in St. Paul, Minn. Before deciding to become a minister, he was director of the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture at Duke University and taught music there. He is currently writing a book on spiritual growth and radical forgiveness.

Annual King Memorial Breakfast Honors Community Leaders

Six local residents and civic leaders who best emulate the spirit of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will receive awards Jan. 20 at the 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast at Anne Arundel Community College.

Tickets are still available to this year’s event that focuses on “The Role of Women in the Civil Rights Movement,” and features Rep. Donna F. Edwards, (D-Md.), as the keynote speaker. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast served at 8

a.m. in the David S. Jenkins Gymnasium on the AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway.

This year’s award recipients include: The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Zeitgeist Award, from the AACC Black Student Union, is presented to an individual at the college or in the community who has helped the institution in achieving its equal opportunity and Reynaldo A. Evangelista affirmative action goals. This year’s recipient, Commander Reynaldo A. Evangelista, is an associate professor in AACC’s Homeland Security and Criminal Justice department, teaching mainly in the college’s Police Academy program. As a former member of the Baltimore Police Department, he received a bronze star for apprehending a suspect during a robbery, a life-saving medal for helping a victim after a car accident and Rosalind Hill-Kane many letters of commendation for outstanding police skills.

The George H. Phelps Jr. Distinguished Citizen Award was established by the Anne Arundel County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding achievement and contribution to county residents, with emphasis on commitment in the field of human rights, justice and equality for all people.

The award winner is Rosalind Hill-Kane, a licensed social worker with the Department of Human Resources who has worked with Consolidated Family Services, the Treatment Foster Care Program and Emergency Services to Adults and Families.

Other recipients are County Councilman G. James “Jamie” Benoit Jr., Lisa Vernon, director of the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council, Dr. Melvin D. Howard, a veterinarian who works with Animal Control’s Rabies Clinic and various other commissions; and Dr. John D. Watts, founder, and senior pastor

of Kingdom Life Church in Brooklyn Park.

Participants are asked to donate a nonperishable food item as part of a food drive sponsored by breakfast co-sponsors, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, for neighbors in need.

Please reserve tickets or RSVP by Jan. 10, 2014. Breakfast proceeds support scholarships and help maintain Maryland’s only memorial to King, which is located on AACC’s Arnold campus.

For tickets or information, contact Eugene Peterson at 301538-0887 or Erica Matthews at 443-761-9734.

The White House has a Special Homework Assignment for Students

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host the first ever White House Student Film Festival highlighting the importance of technology in the classroom. There could be a finalist in Prince George’s County.

The Prince George’s Film Office in partnership with Suitland High School and Flowers High School will be offering technical workshops to assist students and parents in video project submissions. Bring students’ interest, creativity and original video ideas.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from workshops to participate.

Concept Development - 7-9 p.m., Jan. 8 Bonnie F. Johns Building, 8437 Landover Rd., Room 206 Landover, Md. 20785 Student Hands-on Video Production Workshops 7 p.m., Jan. 16 and Jan. 23 -Flowers High School Television Studio Film Coaches: Dwayne Brown, Tara Jones, Tewodross Melchishua, Creative Edge Studios For complete guidelines visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/ filmfestival Student Contact: Dwayne Brown 301-386-1619, dwayne. brown@pgcps.org or Maria Saldana 301-817-0092, maria. saldana@pgcps.org. General Information: Rhonda Dallas 301277-1402, rdallas@pgahc.org

“You cannot find this education anywhere else.”

We are now accepting applications for the Spring 2O14 Workshop at Macy’s!

If you are a woman or person of color and own your own business, we invite you to apply for the Workshop at Macy’s!

You’ll gain insight from seasoned Macy’s pros and Macy’s partners, and get the tools you need to succeed and sustain growth in the retail industry.

Apply today at macysinc.com/workshop PICTURED: Amber Lee-Forrester, Kane & Couture. Past participant of The Workshop at Macy’s.

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12/23/13 11:42 AM

January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014, The Afro-American

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OPINION

Why Americans Have Grown to Hate Congress

Congress has itself to blame for its low ratings among the American people.

Policymaking is all about choices; it is the calculus of weighing costs and benefits and the distribution of those costs and benefits. In theory, there are lots of policies that can make everyone better off, but they can only be accomplished by redistributing the gains of the policy.

Congress recently passed William Spriggs a budget deal that ended extended unemployment benefits for those unemployed for more than six months.

Congress could choose to increase government expendituresrather than their current stance of decreasing them-as was done in all other economic recoveries.

Republican members of Congress think America’s working families have forgotten that Republicans expanded real government expenditures (adjusting for inflation) in the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan and 2001 under President George W. Bush by about 16 percent at this point in the business cycle.

The stalemate caused by Republican refusal to increase government expenditures has resulted directly in lower public sector employment-the loss of hundreds of thousands of public school teachers across the country; and more broadly in a tepid recovery.

The argument against restoring government is that it will increase the federal deficit, leaving unpaid bills for our children to pay and put pressure on interest rates that will hurt investment and homeownership by the middle class and tie the hands of future budgets with large interest costs. Well, of course, the failure to back President Obama’s America’s Job Act back in 2011 has meant fewer teachers for our children today, rising class sizes and closed schools in many of America’s cities, meaning our children will pay with higher dropout rates, lower achievement and lower future earnings.

So, that is a trade-off most people think is not sensible.

Currently the Federal Reserve, understanding the dire situation of the economy, has been aggressively pursuing a

In 2013, race still mattered – especially at Fox News.

According to MediaMatters, the watchdog group, last year was a banner period for racebaiting at Fox. “Viewers who spent 2013 absorbed in Fox News might be under the impression that an all-out race war has erupted across the nation this year, thanks to the network’s coverage of everything from voter fraud to Santa Claus echoing one common George E. Curry theme: white folks are being NNPA Columnist victimized in Obama’s America,” an analysis of coverage on the network concluded.

The review showed that Fox, the nation’s top-rated cable network with 1.76 million daily viewers, routinely exploited racial fears to boost its ratings.

“Fox became obsessed with black crime rates in the summer of 2013, when Floridian George Zimmerman went on trial for the 2012 murder of African-American teenager Trayvon Martin, whom Zimmerman shot and killed while he was walking home from a convenience store. Zimmerman, identified as white Hispanic, alleged that he shot Martin in selfdefense, and was not subsequently arrested or charged with any crime until a significant public outcry made the story national news,” MediaMatters noted.

“Fox immediately began running defense for Zimmerman in

what became a red meat story for the network – an opportunity to justify right-wing gun culture and stand your ground laws, stoke fears about the dangers of black youth, and paint whiteon-black crime as exceedingly rare and usually justified while black crime is exploding.”

When Fox wasn’t fear mongering about Black crime, the report stated, it was supporting voter ID laws that suppress the African-American vote.

“The summer’s Shelby County decision paved the way for Republican-controlled state legislatures to continue pushing through voter ID laws, a movement purporting to fight voter fraud that in fact disenfranchises Democratic voting blocs, particularly minorities, by imposing stringent prerequisites to vote that many older and minority voters cannot easily meet. Previously, such measures – in states with a history of disenfranchising minorities – required approval from the Justice Department before being implemented.”

The report noted that the Voting Rights Act’s preclearance provision had been invoked more than 700 times between 1982 and 2006 to prevent racially discriminatory voting proposals to go into effect.

“Perhaps the one story that best encapsulates the way Fox News goes out of its way to paint a distorted image of the crossroads of race and crime in America, it’s the network’s coverage of the so-called ‘knockout game,’” the report explained. “The network has run numerous segments on the alleged craze, and Fox’s Greta Van Susteren has dedicated a recurring segment to the phenomenon.

“The primary take-away for viewers: Be afraid of young, black men and women, and don’t let yourself be an unsuspecting victim – black people could assault you at any

“In theory, there are lots of policies that can make everyone better off, but they can only be accomplished by redistributing the gains of the policy.” policy to keep long-term interest rates down. Its efforts has moderated the loss of wealth in housing that most people experienced when the housing price collapse took away the savings America’s workers stored in their homes as equity.

The Fed policy also has meant a tremendous growth in the Fed’s holding of U.S. Treasury notes. The odd thing about that

‘Race War’ at Fox News

Best of Kofi 2013

is that the Federal Reserve’s profits from receiving interest payments from holding those bonds go back to the U.S. Treasury. So, currently the structure of U.S. debt is at longterm low rates, and the net interest payments are lower because the Fed pays the interest back to the Treasury. This makes the arguments about interest rates silly.

Ultimately federal debt does have to be paid. Since 2009 and the current recovery, 95 percent of income gains have gone to the top 1 percent of American incomes. In the fairness category, most people would agree that if the net result of policies has benefited the top 1 percent only, then they should be the ones paying taxes. It follows directly from a belief that everyone can be made better off, but only if the people benefiting from the economic policy share the gains with others.

But, Republicans have fought hard to protect the 1% from paying their share of policy gains with others. Today they take home more than 230 times the pay of their typical worker.

And, while the federal government isn’t taking advantage of low interest rates, CEOs are by using corporate borrowing to buy back the company stock and boost stock prices and CEO wealth and pay.

Oddly, the research on the effect of extending unemployment benefits has pointed to this anomaly-people getting the benefit are more likely to keep looking for jobs longer rather than give up and drop out of the labor force (disappearing from the statistics). By ignoring them, Congress wishes they would go away. By ignoring the imbalances in their choices, the American people are wishing Congress would go away.

William Spriggs is an economist with the AFL-CIO.

time for no reason other than the fact that you’re white.”

In fact, as the report states, “A New York Times piece on the knockout game cited police officials in several cities where attacks have been reported who concluded that the game ‘amounted to little more than an urban myth, and that the attacks in question might be nothing more than the sort of random assaults that have always occurred.’”

Fox even played the race card with Santa Claus. “Fox capped a year decorated with race-baiting overtones and racial dog whistles with a comparably absurd ornament for the top of their tree: New Fox megastar Megyn Kelly’s unabashed declaration (“for the kids at home”) that Santa Claus is white,” MediaMatters recounted. “’Santa just is white,’” Kelly told viewers in response to a Slate column by Aisha Harris, an African-American who noted that depictions of a Caucasian Santa Claus can have an alienating effect on minority children. Conservative media rushed to agree with Kelly’s assertion, most notably Fox racebaiter-in-chief Bill O’Reilly, who concurred that ‘Miss Kelly is correct. Santa was a white person.’”

The report stated, “Sadly, the Santa story illustrated how harmful race-baiting media coverage can be. Amidst the back and forth over the race of Old St. Nick, a teacher at Cleveland High School in New Mexico reportedly told a black student that he should not be dressed up as Santa because he was the wrong skin color…”

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.)

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The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

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January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014, The Afro-American

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T

he Prince George’s County DELTA Alumnae Foundation (PGCDAF) saluted Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at Camelot in Upper Marlboro on Dec 6, 2013. Featuring the Howard University drum line under the direction of John Newson, teams of HBCU alumni and friends organized a friendly, but important competition with the goal of raising money to support an HBCU program.

Hampton University, led by team leaders Marcia Fields Milton and Venera Busby captured the top honor followed by Morgan State University; Howard University and Virginia State University. Norfolk State University led by Joyce Hall Shambley Hampton University winning team members captured an honorable mention award. WHUR’s Triscina Gray served as the mistress of ceremonies, while committee co-chairs Kathleen Driver and Diane Venable enthusiastically introduced the 18 HBCU teams.

Board chairperson, Norma J. Hatot thanked everyone for their support and paid a special tribute to the team leaders. While Holiday Splendor is an annual benefit, this is the first time that Some of the winning teams representing various HBCUs the focus has been on HBCUs.

(Standing) Carl Anderson, Joan Wickman, Ronald Milton, Chauncey Durham, Shirley Culley, James Morgan, Marcia Fields Milton, Beverly Anderson and Albert Anderson; (Seated) Keith Brock, Vivian Chadwick, Robert Chadwick Sr., and Robert Chadwick Jr.

(Standing) David Robinson, Bonnie Herring, Harold Suggs, Gloria Better and Ronald Jewell; (seated) Andrea Robinson, Fran Suggs, Adrienne Jewell and Panelope Jones

Harold and Joyce Shambley

Guests going though the buffet line; here Joelle Ivey (right) plating up with the good cuisine

(Standing) Gee James and Drew Corbett; (Seated) Dejha Wright, Veturah Thomas, Natak MacMurray and Jennifer Corbett

Joan Wickham, president, National Hampton Alumni Association, Marcia Fields Milton, board of directors and Hampton team leader and Norma J. Hatot, chair, board of directors, PGCDAF

Miriam Brewer and Sharon James representing Howard University with Phyllis Davis, Morgan State University

(Standing) Wendy Peebles, Edgar Brookins, Valerie Fleming; (Seated) Laverne Barron, Gloria Butler, Triscina and William Gray.

Board of directors, PGCDAF

Diane Venable and Kathi Driver presenting the awardees

The Howard University Drumline performed at the gala Photos by Rob Roberts

T

he Black Public Relations Society (BPRS), the Capitol Press Club and the Washington Association of Black Journalists combined to host their annual Holiday Mixer at the Public Bar in Northwest, Washington, DC. Members and patrons raised their glasses to toast another successful year while looking

Rabiah Burks, Brenda Stitch-Finch, Ciera Nicole Butts, Miss DC USA 2014, Jacques Van Brown and Allison Keyes, National Public Radio

Alana Hill, president, Black Public Relation Society; Robyn Wilkes, 1st vice president, Capital Press Club and Donna Walken, president, Washington Association of Black Journalists

Alana Hill, president, BPRS, Michael Dutton and Faye Hyslop

Darlene Superville, AP, Donna Walken and Stacey Samuel, CNN

Ebony Andrews, Miss Black DC USA 2014 mingles with guests

Capital Press Club (CPC) leadership: (back) Derrick Kenny and Trystin Francis; (front) Hazel Trice Edney, president, CPC, and Robyn Wilkes, 1st vice president

Naima Pettigrew and Courtney Rhodes

Edgar Brookins, Ciera Nicole Butts, Miss DC USA 2014 and Michael Dutton

Victoria Holmes, Dedra Owens, Faye Hyslop and Alana Hill

forward to 2014.

Ciera Nicole Butts with Sheila Brooks Special guests included Ciera Nicole Butts, Miss DC USA and Ebony Andrews, Miss Black DC USA along with Sheila Brooks of SRB Communications and Brenda Stitch-Finch, president, VSU NOVA Alumni Byron Scott, Tetiana Anderson and Charles Jones Chapter.

Cheers to all.

Boddy Kinzer, Sheila Brooks, SRB Communications, Maxine Chaplin and Yvette Watson

Brittany Carter, Jasmine Nesi and Yolanda McCutchen Photos by Rob Roberts

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The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

FAITH

Installation Held for Missionary Baptist Ministers

Pastors Set Helping Needy a 2014 Priority, Leader Says

By LaTrina Antoine Special to the AFRO The members of the Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Washington, D.C. and Vicinity met Jan. 6 at Trinidad Baptist Church in Northeast to install new officers. The officers pledged to help the area’s needy, hungry and elderly as their priority for this year, the conference president said.

The Rev. Melvin G. Brown, pastor of Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Northwest Washington and a member of the conference, said in a sermon celebrating the new officers that each had demonstrated a commitment to serving not only their own congregations, but residents of the region in general. The 2 ½-hour ceremony drew dozens of members who came out to pay homage to the leaders. Many in attendance were officials of the conference themselves.

“Today, my brothers and sisters, we have gathered here to recognize and celebrate the faithfulness of these exemplary and extraordinary souls for Christ,” he said. “These elected officers that we have before us today… have…been faithful in their stewardship.”

The Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference is a coalition of pastors of mostly smaller churches in the area who banded together years ago to work on common concerns, such as helping the needy and working with elected officials on behalf of Blacks and church goers.

After the Jan. 6 ceremony, the group’s president, the Rev. Donald K. Sadler, pastor of New Morning Star Baptist Church in Northeast Washington, said the conference members, led by the new officers, will work this year to lobby

Rev. Donald K. Sadler, 50th president of the Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Washington, DC and Vicinity

The Rev. Melvin G. Brown, pastor of Greater New Hope Baptist Church, preached the installation ceremony sermon.

for city officials to provide more affordable housing for local residents, work with people in need of jobs and food and provide a support system to pastors. He referenced the stress many pastors face leading their flocks while they deal with their own problems. Two Black pastors recently made news when they committed suicide, one on a Sunday morning as his family and members waited for him to arrive at church to preach.

“I want to continue our overarching theme, which is celebrating community,” Sadler told the AFRO. He said the ministers recently helped local residents apply for health benefits under Obamacare. He said the conference represents 300 churches in the District, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.

The pastors are also keeping an eye on the upcoming elections in the District. The officers want to help D.C. residents and the members of the conference to become informed voters by bringing the candidates to them to share their

goals, objectives, and visions for the city, Sadler said.

“We want to have the opportunity to sit down at the table and discuss the vision, the direction of our city, and have a voice for those persons who we represent and pastor in the city,” Sadler said.

They are also planning to be active in the elections for the National Baptist Convention, USA in September and the Progressive National Baptist Convention scheduled for August.

With the economic downturn affecting jobs and gentrification in the city leaving many of their members being locked out of opportunity, the pastors are busier than ever, Sadler said.

“There’s always not enough work being done at home and [on] foreign missions, so it is a perpetual effort,” he said. “It’s not a hard task to find things to pick up and continue to do because the needs of others are continuing, the economy continues to be at a stalemate, people continue to lose jobs and lose hope, so our work [continues].”

Dozens of members of the conference celebrated the installation of new officers.

Robert Battle Artistic Director

Antonio Douthit-Boyd. Photo by Andrew Eccles

Masazumi Chaya Associate Artistic Director

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January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014, The Afro-American

B3

ARTS & CULTURE

Mark Wahlberg in Memoir about Ambush of Navy SEALs in Afghanistan

Lone Survivor Film Review by Kam Williams On June 28, 2005, a team of Navy SEALs based in Afghanistan were issued orders in accordance with Operation Red Wings to locate and terminate a Taliban leader whose militia

had been targeting coalition troops in the Kush Mountains of Kunar Province.

The four were then dropped by helicopter line into rugged terrain Courtesy rottentomatoes.com outside the tiny village suspected of harboring Al-Qaida sympathizers.

Soon, the soldiers crossed paths with several shepherds and, against their better judgment, allowed the seemingly innocuous civilians to continue on their way in accordance with the U.S. military’s rules of engagement.

Unfortunately, about an hour later, the SEALs

found themselves ambushed by over a hundred Taliban fighters who had apparently been tipped off as to their whereabouts.

The ensuing, epic battle is the subject of Lone Survivor, a gruesome war flick based on Marcus Luttrell’s (Mark Wahlberg) memoir of the high attrition-rate, harrowing ordeal. Adapted and directed by Peter Berg (Battleship), the picture is most reminiscent of Black Hawk Down, another grim film about an America overseas helicopter operation gone bad.

Given this movie’s title, there isn’t any suspense about how the disastrous misadventure is going to end. Consequently,

the viewing experience amounts to little more than squirming in your seat while watching members of Luttrell’s unit perish, as well as over a dozen of the reinforcements sent to try to rescue them.

A practically-pornographic tribute to fearless, fallen heroes strictly for patriots with a strong stomach for gratuitous violence, however accurate.

Good HH R for graphic violence and pervasive profanity Running time: 121 minutes Distributor: Universal Pictures

Juanita Moore, ’Imitation of Life’ Oscar Nominated Black Actress, Dead at 99

By Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Juanita Moore, a groundbreaking actress and an Academy Award nominee for her role as Lana Turner’s Black friend in the classic weeper “Imitation of Life,” has died.

Actor Kirk Kelleykahn, her grandson, said that Moore collapsed and died Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 99, according to Kelleykahn. Accounts of her age have differed over the years.

Moore was only the fifth Black performer to be nominated for an Oscar, receiving the nod for the glossy Douglas Sirk film that became a big hit and later gained a cult following. The 1959 tearjerker, based on a Fannie Hurst novel and a remake of a 1934 film, tells the story of a struggling White actress’

rise to stardom, her friendship with a Black woman and how they team up to raise their daughters as single mothers.

It brought supporting actress nominations for both Moore and Susan Kohner, who played Moore’s daughter as a young adult attempting to pass as a White woman.

Kohner’s own background is Czech and Mexican. By the end, Turner’s character is a star and her friend is essentially a servant. The death of Moore’s character sets up the sentimental ending.

“The Oscar prestige was fine, but I worked more before I was nominated,” Moore told the Los Angeles Times in 1967. “Casting directors think an Oscar nominee is suddenly in another category. They couldn’t possibly ask you to do one

AP File Photo

This March 31, 1960 file photo shows Juanita Moore, a groundbreaking actress and an Academy Award nominee. She was 99, according to a family member. Accounts of her age have differed over the years.

or two days’ work. You wouldn’t accept it. And I’m sure I would.”

Moore also had an active career in the theater, starting at Los Angeles’ Ebony Showcase Theatre in the early 1950s, a leading Black-run theater.

She also was a member of the celebrated Cambridge Players, with other performers including Esther Rolle and Helen Martin.

Her grandson is currently president and CEO of the Cambridge group.

She appeared on Broadway in 1965 in James Baldwin’s play “The Amen Corner” and in London in a production of “Raisin in the Sun.” “The creative arts put a person on another level,” she told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s why we need to bring our youngsters into the theater.”

Her first film appearance was as

a nurse in the 1949 film “Pinky.” As with other Black actresses, many of Moore’s early roles were as maids.

She told the Times that “real parts, not just in-and-out jobs,” were opening up for Black performers.

Among Moore’s other films were “The Girl Can’t Help It,” ‘’The Singing Nun,” ‘’Paternity” and “The Kid.” Her TV credits include “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” ‘’Adam12,” ‘’Judging Amy” and “ER.” Born in Los Angeles, Moore got her start in show business as a chorus girl at New York’s Cotton Club, then joined the Ebony theater.

She was the widow of Charles Burris. She is survived by her grandson and two nephews. ____ Biographical material in this story was written by former Associated Press writer Polly Anderson.

“A POWERHOUSE.

‘Lone Survivor’ laces action with moral questions that haunt and provoke.

Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch and Taylor Kitsch add to the impact.”

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Brilliantly acted and directed.”

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The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

SPORTS

Would Carmelo-forBlake Trade Work?

AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff

By Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley AFRO Sports Desk

AP Photo

Charlie Strong answers questions during an NCAA college football news conference where he was introduced as the new Texas football coach.

Charlie Strong Officially Introduced as First Black Coach of Longhorns

By Perry Green AFRO Sports Editor The University of Texas officially introduced former Louisville University football coach Charlie Strong as its new head football coach on Jan. 6, making him the first African-American head coach of any men’s sports team in the university’s history.

Strong addressed the media for the first time as the Longhorns’ new coach along with university president Bill Powers and Texas athletics director Steve Patterson during a press conference Monday.

“I’m so thrilled and fortunate to be the head football coach of the University of Texas,” Strong said during the press conference. “To continue the tradition here built by so many great coaches…I can’t wait to get started because at the University of Texas, I want to make sure we represent the tradition and the history of this great program.”

The 53-year-old native of Batesville, Ark. will replace longtime Texas head coach Mack Brown, who coached the Longhorns since 1998 and led them to a national championship in 2006. Brown decided to resign after Texas had one of its worst seasons in recent years; the team was crushed, 30-7, in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30, Brown’s final game as coach.

“Coach Brown left the program in great shape, so the only thing I have to do is just come and lay another brick,” Strong said during an ESPN televised interview. “I’m so happy to be following a legend but I know that there is a lot of work to be done.”

Strong has just four years of head coaching experience, leading the Louisville Cardinals football team to a 37-15 record and three bowl game victories over the last four seasons. But his coaching experience extends back to 1983 when he first joined the University of Florida as a graduate assistant coach. Strong went on to become the defensive coordinator of the University of South Carolina from 1999-2001 and then rejoined Florida under the same role from 2002 to 2009 before taking the head-coaching job with Louisville.

Strong’s defensive background should be an instant boost to a Texas team that ranked 57th in the nation in points allowed per game, a huge drop off from the prime years of Brown’s tenure.

Louisville was ranked 2nd in the nation with 12.2 points allowed per game under Strong this season.

“It’s time to put the program back on the national stage,” Strong said at the press conference Monday. “The mentality is always going to be mental and physical toughness...We will be a hardnosed football team.”

Strong, who had told the Orlando Sentinel in 2009 that he believed race played a part in the reason he wasn’t offered a head-coaching job earlier in his coaching career, acknowledged during the press conference Monday the history made by him becoming the first Black head coach of any men’s athletics team at Texas.

“People look at it as me being a minority. I’m a football coach,” Strong said. “But this is a historical day. There’s always going to be a first somewhere.”

league. And matching him with another superstar in Clippers floor general Chris Paul, would make L.A. an instant contender for the NBA Finals. Remember, it was Melo’s idea all along to eventually team up with CP3.

He wanted Paul to join him in New York to head the star-trio along with the often-injured Amare Stoudemire, but Paul was traded to the Clippers where he eventually settled in with a big contract. This move would give Melo the opportunity to finally get his wish and it would also give New York a young superstar around whom the team can fashion their rebuild. But the real winner in such a move would be the Clippers.

Rumors have been circulating since last summer about a potential Carmelo Anthonyfor-Blake Griffin trade that would swap megastars between two mega-cities. Anthony, on the last year of his deal and playing as a lame duck for the flailing New York Knicks, and Griffin, the Los Angeles Clippers super-talented 24-year-old power forward, certainly don’t lack for talent. But would it make sense for the streaking Clippers (23-13) to deal away a key figure in their resurgence for the aging Anthony and rescue him from the drowning Knicks (10Riley: For all of Carmelo Anthony and Blake 22)? Anthony, who will Anthony’s scoring talents, Griffin turn 30 years-old before you can’t trade away a young the season is over, is power forward not even having one of his best in his prime for a volume seasons with averages of 26 points-per-game scorer. Griffin’s been averaging nearly 26 and nearly nine rebounds a night. ESPN first points and 11 rebounds over the last few broke the story the first weekend of the New weeks, basically giving better numbers than Year that a potential deal was starting to make what Anthony has done all season. But it’s more headway behind the scenes but Clippers not just the scoring that makes Griffin so coach Doc Rivers has already refuted the story dominant. He’s a legitimate superstar whose as “stupid.” However, would a possible deal commercials, dunk contest accolades and be “stupid” enough to work for both teams? youth have made him a very important part of Stephen D. Riley and Perry Green of the the Clippers franchise. To trade that away for AFRO Sports Desk debate the question: a guy who has a proven failed playoff record as an underachiever just doesn’t make sense Riley: We’ve seen enough of Anthony to to me. The Carmelo Anthony brand sounds know that unless he’s going to an absolutely nice and all; but if you look past the hype, the stacked team, trying to make him the focal chinks in the armor definitely begin to show. point of your organization doesn’t work.

We’ve seen Anthony in the leading role for Green: No great player has ever done several Denver and New York teams and anything without a strong supporting cast so only twice in Anthony’s 10-year career have blaming Anthony for his career playoff record we seen deep playoff runs. For Carmelo, considering some of the teams he played with just getting out of the first round would be during that stretch is a bit harsh. Pairing him considered a deep playoff run considering his with Paul would be the perfect scenario. No 23-42 career postseason record. Now, if it was one would ever be able to double Melo again possible for the Clippers to simply acquire because they’d be too worried about doubling Anthony and still keep Griffin then a potential CP3. And don’t forget the supporting cast of big three lineup of Griffin, Anthony and Chris players like the high-flying/defensive-stopper Paul changes the landscape of the NBA. But in DeAndre Jordan or explosive scorer Jamal simply swapping talents may actually weaken Crawford coming off the bench. The Clippers the Clippers considering Griffin has been would be unstoppable! playing stellar and has so much untapped As a diehard Knicks fan, I’d hate to see potential just waiting to be harvested for the Melo go but he’s already made up his mind on promising 24-year-old. leaving via free agency this summer anyway so they might as well trade him now. That way Green: Sure, Anthony has had some the team still gets something in return for his disappointments but let’s make no mistake departure. In such case Blake Griffin is not a about it: he’s still a superstar talent in this bad trade off at all.

Saints Survive Philly to Advance in Playoffs NFL Playoffs – NFC Wild Card Round

By Perry Green AFRO Sports Editor Veteran kicker Shayne Graham nailed a 32-yard field goal to push the No. 6 seed New Orleans Saints to a 2624 win over the No. 3 seed Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC wild card round of the NFL playoffs on Jan. 4 at Philadelphia, Pa. The Eagles came back in the third quarter after being down 20-7 and took a 24-23 lead with nearly four minutes left in the fourth quarter when secondyear quarterback Nick Foles threw a three-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Zack Ertz.

But that was enough time for Saints quarterback Drew Brees to lead his team down the field into scoring range for the game-winning field goal

by Graham.

It was Graham’s fourth successful field goal in the game. He had also made field goals from 36 yards, 46 yards and 35 yards out.

Brees struggled early, throwing two interceptions

in the first half of the game, but eventually warmed up and completed his only touchdown pass of the game on a 24-yard strike to veteran receiver Lance Moore in the third quarter. Brees completed

20 of 30 pass attempts for 250 yards. New Orleans, however, leaned on its running game as Saints running back Mark Ingram ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Veteran running back Darren Sproles also ran for 29 yards on four carries for the Saints.

Foles was flawless in the loss. The second-year quarterback completed 23 of 33 passes for 195 yards and two touchdown passes and did not commit any turnovers.

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy ran for 77 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

The loss eliminated the Eagles from the playoffs with a 10-7 record, while the Saints move up to 12-5 and will take on the No. 1 seed Seattle Seahawks (13-3) on Jan. 11 at 4:35 p.m. ET.

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Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1299 Beatrice W. Farrow Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Barbara Farrow Jones, whose address is 2917 N. Street, SE, Washington,DC 20019 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Beatrice W. Farrow, who died on December 17, 2012 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 10, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 10,2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: January 10, 2014 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Daily Law Reporter Afro-American Newspaper Barbara Farrow Jones Personal Representative

MBE/WBE/DBE/SLBE Subcontractors and Suppliers Ulliman Schutte Construction, LLC, Rockville, MD is interested in receiving quotes from qualified MBE/WBE/DBE/SLBE subcontractors and suppliers for the Piscataway WWTP Storage & Headworks Improvements a WSSC Project bidding on January 23, 2014. Opportunities are available for Specifications Divisions 1 thru 16.

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1328 Estate of Carletha T. Bell AKA Carletha T. Kelly-Bell AKA Carletha K. Bell Deceased NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Michael O. Middleton & Lester L. Oates, Sr. for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representative. Unless a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

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Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1276 Arnor S. Davis Decedent William R. Voltz 2120 L Street, NW Suite 700 Washington, 20037 11:04:06 ESTDC 2013 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Arnetta C. Davis whose address is 2705 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Arnor S. Davis, who died on August 10, 2013, with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 27, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 27, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

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20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1270 To place your ad, call 1-800-237-6892, ext. 262, Public Notices $50.00 & James Frederick Berdine depending on size, Baltimore Legal Notices are $24.84 per inch.

Decedent 1-800 (AFRO) 892 Alan B. Frankle 751 RockvilleFor PikeProof of Publication, please call 1-800-237-6892, ext. 244 Suite 7 Rockville, MD 20852 Attorney LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS N a t h a n D a n i e l s , J r. whose address is 1520 Commerce Street, Wellsville, MD 43968, was appointed personal representative of the estate of James Frederick Berdine, who died on August 16, 2013, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 27, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 27, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not TRUE TEST COPY receive a copy of this noREGISTER OF WILLS TYPESET: Mon Dec 23 10:53:05 EST within 2013 25 tice by mail days of its first publica12/27, 01/03 & 01/10/14 tion shall so inform the Superior Court of Register of Wills, includthe District of ing name, address and District of Columbia relationship.

PROBATE DIVISION Date of Publication: Washington, D.C. December 27, 2013 20001-2131 Name of newspaper: Administration No. Afro-American 2013ADM1270 Washington Law James Frederick Reporter Berdine Nathan Daniels, Jr Decedent Personal Alan B. Frankle Representative 751 Rockville Pike Suite 7 Rockville, MD 20852 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS N a t h a n D a n i e l s , J r.

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Foreign No. 2013FEP143 Date of Death February 18, 2009 Joseph Henry Curtis, Jr Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Shirley Durrant whose address is 1281 Nicole Lane, Clifton Heights, PA 19018 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Joseph Henry Curtis, Jr, deceased by the Orphans Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas for Philidelphia County, State of Pennsylvania on February 19, 2013.

Service of process may be made upon Michael E. Brand, Loewinger & Brand, PLLC, 471 H. Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Colombia real property: 632 5th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Claims against the deTRUE TEST COPY cedent may be preREGISTER OF WILLS sented to the undersigned and with the TYPESET: Jan 07 17:44:42 ESTfiled 2014 01/10, 01/17Tue & 01/24/14 Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Superior Court of Washington, D.C. 20001 the District of within 6 months from the District of Columbia date of first publication of PROBATE DIVISION this notice.

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Shirley Durrant Administration No. Personal 2013ADM1311 Representative(s) Winston W. Lewis TRUE TEST COPY Decedent REGISTER OF WILLS NOTICE OF Date of first publication: APPOINTMENT, January 10, 2014 NOTICE TO Name of newspapers CREDITORS and/or periodical: AND NOTICE TO The Daily Washington UNKNOWN HEIRS Law Reporter Dinia Lewis Tolbert, The Afro-American whose address is 733 Hamilton Street, NW, Register of Wills Washington, DC 20011, TYPESET: Mon Dec 23 01/10, 01/17 & 01/24/14 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Winston W. Superior Court of Lewis, who died on the District of November 19, 2013 withDistrict of Columbia out a will, and will serve PROBATE DIVISION without Court superviWashington, D.C. sion. All unknown heirs 20001-2131 and heirs whose Administration No. whereabouts are un2013ADM1229 known shall enter their Nathaniel Oliver appearance in this Decedent proceeding. Objections to such appointment Attorney NOTICE OF shall be filed with the APPOINTMENT, Register of Wills, D.C., NOTICE TO 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. CREDITORS 20001, on or before July AND NOTICE TO 10, 2014. Claims against UNKNOWN HEIRS the decedent shall be Nathaniel Devon Oliver presented to the under- whose address is 303 signed with a copy to the Hyannis Court, Upper Register of Wills or filed Marlboro, MD 20774, with the Register of Wills was appointed personal with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July representative of the 10, 2014 or be forever estate of Nathaniel Olibarred. Persons believed ver, who died on April 22, to be heirs or legatees of 2008, with a will, and will the decedent who do not serve without Court sureceive a copy of this no- pervision. All unknown tice by mail within 25 heirs and heirs whose days of its first publica- whereabouts are untion shall so inform the known shall enter their Register of Wills, includ- a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s ing name, address and proceeding. Objections relationship. to such appointment Date of Publication: shall be filed with the January 10, 2014 Register of Wills, D.C., Name of newspaper: 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Afro-American Floor Washington, D.C. DC Law Review Dinia Lewis Tolbert 20001, on or before June Personal 27, 2014. Claims against Representative the decedent shall be

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Rankin, Jr, who died on July 11, 2000, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections TYPESET: Mon Dec 23 11:09:09 EST 2013 TYPESET: Mon Dec 23 TYPESET: 11:13:31 EST 2013 such EST appointment Mon Dec 30 12:02:14 2013 LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES to LEGAL NOTICES shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Superior Court of Superior Court of SUPERIOR COURT OF 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd the District of Floor Washington, D.C. the District of THE DISTRICT OF District of Columbia 20001, on or before July District of Columbia COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 3, 2014. Claims against PROBATE DIVISION PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . the decedent shall be 20001-2131 presented to the under20001-2131 20001-2131 Administration No. signed with a copy to the Administration No. Foreign No. 2013ADM1256 Register of Wills or filed 2013ADM1274 2013FEP141 Wuanita Starks with the Register of Wills Lucille Frances August 19, 2013 Decedent with a copy to the underHoskins Date of Death Elliott Milstein signed, on or before July Decedent Dorothy C. Jones 4801 Massachusetts 3, 2014, or be forever NOTICE OF Decedent Ave, NW barred. Persons believed APPOINTMENT, NOTICE OF Washington, DC 20016 to be heirs or legatees of NOTICE TO APPOINTMENT Attorney the decedent who do not CREDITORS OF FOREIGN NOTICE OF receive a copy of this noAND NOTICE TO PERSONAL APPOINTMENT, UNKNOWN HEIRS R E P R E S E N TAT I V E tice by mail within 25 NOTICE TO days of its first publicaMable E. Friend whose AND CREDITORS tion shall so inform the address is 4447 HarNOTICE TO AND NOTICE TO Register of Wills, includmony Road, Preston, MD CREDITORS UNKNOWN HEIRS 21655, was appointed Edward B. Jones whose ing name, address and Elizabeth Blake whose personal representative address is 4324 Ranger relationship. address is 4018 Grant of the estate of Lucille Avenue, Temple Hills, Date of Publication: Street, NE, Washington, January 3, 2014 Frances Hoskins, who MD 20748 was apDC 20019, was apdied on September 14, pointed personal repre- Name of newspaper: pointed personal repre2013, without a will, and sentative of the estate of Afro-American sentative of the estate of will serve without Court Dorothy C. Jones, de- Washington Law Wuanita Starks, who supervision. All unknown ceased, on October 26, Reporter died on June 7, 1997, York C. Rankin, Jr heirs and heirs whose 2013, by the Orphans without a will, and will Personal whereabouts are un- C o u r t f o r P r i n c e serve with Court superviRepresentative known shall enter their George’s County, State sion. All unknown heirs a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s of Maryland. and heirs whose proceeding. Objections Service of process may TRUE TEST COPY whereabouts are unto such appointment be made upon Monalie REGISTER OF WILLS known shall enter their shall be filed with the E. Bledsoe, 1629 K. TYPESET: Mon Dec 30 appearance in this Register of Wills, D.C., Street, NW, Suite 300, 01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14 proceeding. Objections 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Washington, DC 20006 to such appointment Floor Washington, D.C. whose designation as SUPERIOR COURT OF shall be filed with the 20001, on or before June District of Columbia THE DISTRICT OF Register of Wills, D.C., 27, 2014. Claims against agent has been filed with COLUMBIA 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd the decedent shall be the Register of Wills, PROBATE DIVISION Floor Washington, D.C. presented to the under- D.C. Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June signed with a copy to the The decedent owned the 20001-2131 27, 2014. Claims against Register of Wills or filed f o l l o w i n g D i s t r i c t o f Foreign No. the decedent shall be with the Register of Wills Colombia real property: 2013FEP142 presented to the underwith a copy to the under- 528 Sheridan Street, August 30, 2011 signed with a copy to the signed, on or before June NW, Washington, DC Date of Death Register of Wills or filed 27, 2014, or be forever 20011.

Cynthia Campbell with the Register of Wills barred. Persons believed Claims against the de- Decedent with a copy to the underto be heirs or legatees of cedent may be preNOTICE OF signed, on or before June the decedent who do not sented to the underAPPOINTMENT 27, 2014, or be forever receive a copy of this no- signed and filed with the OF FOREIGN barred. Persons believed tice by mail within 25 Register of Wills for the PERSONAL to be heirs or legatees of days of its first publica- District of Columbia, 500 R E P R E S E N TAT I V E the decedent who do not tion shall so inform the Indiana Avenue, N.W., AND receive a copy of this noRegister of Wills, includ- Washington, D.C. 20001 NOTICE TO tice by mail within 25 ing name, address and within 6 months from the CREDITORS days of its first publicarelationship. date of first publication of James Campbell whose tion shall so inform the Date of Publication: address is 13201 Burthis notice.

Register of Wills, includDecember 27, 2013 leigh Street, Upper Marling name, address and Name of newspaper: Edward B. Jones boro, MD 20774 was aprelationship.

Afro-American Personal Representa- p o i n t e d p e r s o n a l Date of Publication: Washington Law tive(s) representative of the December 27, 2013 Reporter TRUE TEST COPY estate of Cythia CampName of newspaper: Mable E. Friend REGISTER OF WILLS b e l l , d e c e a s e d , o n Afro-American Personal Date of first publication: September 19, 2011, by Washington Law Representative January 3, 2014 the Register of Wills Reporter Name of newspapers C o u r t f o r P r i n c e Elizabeth Blake TRUE TEST COPY George’s County, State and/or periodical: Personal REGISTER OF WILLS The Daily Washington of Maryland.

Representative Service of process may Law Reporter TYPESET: Mon Dec 23 11:26:35 EST 2013 12/27, 01/03 & 01/10/14 be made upon John E. The Afro-American TRUE TEST COPY Scheuerman, TYPESET: Mon Dec 30 10:22:28 EST Scheuer2013 REGISTER OF WILLS man & Menist, PC, 700 01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14 Superior Court of E. Street, SE, WashingTYPESET: Dec 23 11:19:11 EST 2013 12/27, 01/03 Mon & 01/10/14 the District of ton, DC 20003 whose Superior Court of District of Columbia designation as District of the District of PROBATE DIVISION Columbia agent has District of Columbia Superior Court of Washington, D.C. been filed with the RegisPROBATE DIVISION the District of 20001-2131 ter of Wills, D.C. Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Administration No. The decedent owned the 20001-2131 PROBATE DIVISION following District of 2013ADM1291 Administration No. Washington, D.C. Colombia real property: Willam J. Noel, Jr. 2013ADM1261 20001-2131 619 21st Street, NE, Decedent Tanys L. Carroll Administration No. Washington, DC 20002.

Kellee G. Baker Decedent 2013ADM843 6926 Hanover Pkwy, Michelle Lanchester, Claims against the deEmma Montgomery cedent may be preSuite 603 Esq DeVore sented to the underGreenbelt, MD 20770 601 Pennsylvania Ave. Decedent signed and filed with the NW, Suite 900 Attorney NOTICE OF Register of Wills for the Washington, DC 20004 APPOINTMENT, NOTICE OF District of Columbia, 500 NOTICE OF NOTICE TO APPOINTMENT, Indiana Avenue, N.W., APPOINTMENT, CREDITORS NOTICE TO Washington, D.C. 20001 NOTICE TO AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS within 6 months from the CREDITORS UNKNOWN HEIRS AND NOTICE TO date of first publication of AND NOTICE TO Lloyd J. DeVore, Jr., UNKNOWN HEIRS this notice.

UNKNOWN HEIRS Dennis D. DeVore., Joyce H. Henderson Tanya M. DeVore, whose whose address is 6120 Clinton T. Carroll, III James Campbell whose address is 3952 addresses are 5411 SecRosedale Dr, Hyattsville, C l a y P l a c e , N E , Personal Representaond Street NW, Washingtive(s) Washington, DC 20019, ton, DC 20011, 5117 MD 20782, was apTRUE TEST COPY Armetus Road; Sims, NC pointed personal repre- was appointed personal REGISTER OF WILLS 27880 were appointed sentative of the estate of representative of the personal representatives William J. Noel, Jr, who estate of Tanys L. Carroll, Date of first publication: January 3, 2014 of the estate of Emma died on March 23, 2010, who died on October 25, Montgomery DeVore, without a will, and will 2013, without a will, and Name of newspapers who died on April 15th, serve with Court supervi- will serve without Court and/or periodical: 1999 without a will, and sion. All unknown heirs supervision. All unknown The Daily Washington will serve with Court su- a n d h e i r s w h o s e heirs and heirs whose Law Reporter Afro-American pervision. All unknown whereabouts are un- whereabouts are un- The TYPESET: Mon Dec 30 heirs and heirs whose known shall enter their known shall enter their 01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14 appearance in this whereabouts are un- a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s known shall enter their proceeding. Objections proceeding. Objections Superior Court of a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s to such appointment to such appointment the District of proceeding. Objections shall be filed with the shall be filed with the District of Columbia to such appointment Register of Wills, D.C., Register of Wills, D.C., PROBATE DIVISION 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd shall be filed with the Washington, D.C. Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. Floor Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 20001, on or before July 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Administration No. Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 3, 2014. Claims against 2013ADM599 20001, on or before June 27, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be 27, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the under- Joseph Brown the decedent shall be presented to the under- signed with a copy to the AKA presented to the under- signed with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed Joseph Sterling signed with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills Brown, Sr. Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the under- Decedent with the Register of Wills with a copy to the under- signed, on or before July NOTICE OF with a copy to the under- signed, on or before June 3, 2014, or be forever APPOINTMENT, signed, on or before June 27, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed NOTICE TO 27, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of CREDITORS barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not AND NOTICE TO to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this noUNKNOWN HEIRS the decedent who do not receive a copy of this no- tice by mail within 25 Sonya N. Armfield whose days of its first publicareceive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 tion shall so inform the a d d r e s s i s 2 tice by mail within 25 Massachussetts Avedays of its first publicaRegister of Wills, includ- nue, NE, #1173 was apdays of its first publication shall so inform the tion shall so inform the ing name, address and pointed personal repreRegister of Wills, includ- Register of Wills, includ- relationship. sentative of the estate of ing name, address and ing name, address and Date of Publication: Joseph Brown AKA Jorelationship.

January 3, 2014 relationship. seph Sterling Brown, Sr. Date of Publication: Name of newspaper: Date of Publication: who died on May 6, 2013 December 27, 2013 Afro-American December 27, 2013 with a will, and will serve Washington Law Name of newspaper: Name of newspaper: without Court superviReporter Afro-American Afro-American Clinton T. Carroll sion. All unknown heirs Washington Washington Law Personal a n d h e i r s w h o s e Law Reporter Reporter Representative whereabouts are unLloyd J. DeVore Joycee E. Henderson known shall enter their Dennis D. DeVore Personal appearance in this Tanya M. DeVore Representative TRUE TEST COPY proceeding. Objections REGISTER OF WILLS Personal to such appointment deRepresentatives TRUE TEST COPY TYPESET: Mon Dec 30 10:42:43 cedent´s EST shall 2013 be filed 01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS with the Register of Wills, REGISTER OF WILLS D.C., 515 5th Street, 12/27, 01/03 & 01/10/14 Superior Court of 12/27, 01/03 & 01/10/14 N.W., 3rd Floor Washingthe District of ton, D.C. 20001, on or District of Columbia before July 3, 2014.

PROBATE DIVISION Claims against the deWashington, D.C. cedent shall be pre20001-2131 sented to the underAdministration No. signed with a copy to the 2013ADM1282 Register of Wills or filed York C. Rankin, Sr with the Register of Wills Decedent with a copy to the underJohn Noble 451 Hungerford Drive, signed, on or before July 3, 2014, or be forever Suite 750 barred. Persons believed Rockville, MD 20850 to be heirs or legatees of NOTICE OF the decedent who do not APPOINTMENT, receive a copy of this noNOTICE TO tice by mail within 25 CREDITORS days of its first publicaAND NOTICE TO tion shall so inform the UNKNOWN HEIRS York C. Rankin, Jr whose Register of Wills, includaddress is 6945 Nash- ing name, address and ville Road, Lanham, MD relationship.

20706 was appointed Date of Publication: personal representative January 3, 2014 of the estate of York C. Name of newspaper Rankin, Jr, who died on WDLR: July 11, 2000, without a Afro-American will, and will serve without Court supervision. All Sonya N. Armfield unknown heirs and heirs Personal whose whereabouts are Representative unknown shall enter their appearance in this TRUE TEST COPY proceeding. Objections REGISTER OF WILLS to such appointment shall be filed with the 01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14, Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 3, 2014. Claims against

The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

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TYPESET: Mon Dec 30 11:51:51 EST 2013 TYPESET: Mon Dec 30 12:29:39 EST 2013 LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM783 Cornelia Kathlyn Marshall aka Cornelia K. Marshall Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington,D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM907 Jessie N. Smith Decedent W. Alton Lewis 1450 Mercantile Lane #155 Largo Maryland, 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS Thomas C. Marshall, whose AND NOTICE TO address is 12817 Broadmore UNKNOWN HEIRS Road, Colesville, MD 20904 Anna L. Norman Turner was appointed personal rewhose address is 509 presentative of the estate of R e i d A v e n u e , Cornelia Kathlyn Marshall aka Cornelia K. Marshall, Murfreeboro, Tennessee who died on September 28, 37130 was appointed 2012 with a will and will serve personal representative without court supervision. All of the estate of Jessie N. unknown heirs and heirs Smith, who died on Auwhose whereabouts are ungust 4, 2013 with a will, known shall enter their and will serve without appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such Court supervision. All unappointment shall be filed known heirs and heirs with the Register of Wills, whose whereabouts are D.C., 515 5th 11:08:37 ESTStreet, 2013N.W., unknown shall enter their 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. appearance in this 20001, on or before July 3, proceeding. Objections 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to to such appointment (or the undersigned with a copy to the probate of deto the Register of Wills or filed cedent´s will) shall be with the Register of Wills with filed with the Register of a copy to the undersigned, on Wills, D.C., 515 5th or before July 3, 2014, or be Street, N.W., 3rd Floor forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . of the decedent who do not 20001, on or before July receive a copy of this notice 3, 2014. Claims against by mail within 25 days of its the decedent shall be first publication shall so inpresented to the underform the Register of Wills, signed with a copy to the including name, address and relationship.

Register of Wills or filed Date of Publication: with the Register of Wills January 3, 2014 with a copy to the underName of newspaper: signed, on or before July Afro-American 3, 2014 , or be forever Washington barred. Persons believed Law Reporter to be heirs or legatees of Thomas C. Marshall Personal the decedent who do not Representative receive a copy of this noTRUE TEST COPY tice by mail within 25 REGISTER WILLS TYPESET:OFMon Dec 30 12:01:25 days of itsEST first2013 publica01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14 tion shall so inform the Register of Wills, includSuperior Court of ing name, address and the District of relationship.

District of Columbia Date of Publication: PROBATE DIVISION January 3, 2014 Washington, D.C. Name of newspaper: 20001-2131 Afro-American Administration No. Newspaper 2013ADM1290 Washington Geneva Tillman Dues Law Reporter Decedent Anna L. Norman Arthur F. Konopka Turner 4530 Wisconsin Ave, Personal NW, Suite 200 Representative Washington, DC 20016 NOTICE OF TRUE TEST COPY APPOINTMENT, REGISTER OF WILLS NOTICE TO CREDITORS 01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14 AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Marie M. Wallace whose address is 539 42nd Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Geneva Tillman Dues, who died on July 24, 2012, without a will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 3, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the under11:28:29 EST 2013 signed, on or before July 3, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: January 3, 2014 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Marie M. Wallace Personal Representative

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The AFRO-AMERICAN Newspapers is looking to hire a part-time Sales Assistant to join our DC office team located on Benning Road, NE in Washington, DC. This entry-level position has advancement opportunity and will provide administrative support for our Advertising Sales Department. Duties will include the following:

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afro.com •Your History • Your Community • Your News

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01/03, 01/10 & 01/17/14

To Subscribe to the AFRO Call 202-332-0080 Celebrating the Centennial Birthday of Gertrude C. Marshburn September 15, 1913 – March 25, 2000 In each passing moment, you cross our hearts and minds but this year we want to celebrate what would have been your centennial birthday. Born 50 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 50 years before the March on Washington, you instilled in us the importance of education and possessing pride in yourself and your community. As an educator and later a highly decorated federal

and county government employee, you exuded an unmatched fortitude and determination to excel in all that you do. We were blessed to have been in your presence for the time we were given and we celebrate the centennial of your birth on this day. We want to wish you a Happy Birthday from your beloved daughter, Jo-Ann and your loving grandchildren, Ja-Zette and Antonio.

To place an Announcement or Obit, call 410-554-8200 and ask for an advertising representative.

January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014, The Afro-American

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The Afro-American, January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014

Sigmas Celebrate Centennial Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, founded at Howard University on Jan. 9, 1914, celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2014 with a year-long slate of activities.

The centennial celebration commences on Jan. 9 with simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies at the gravesites of the three founders. Regional galas will also be held.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is one of the “Divine Nine” predominately AfricanAmerican fraternities and sororities founded from the beginning to the middle of the 20th century to provide Black college students and professionals social and service outlets in their communities. The members are known as “Sigmas.”

Founded by three young scholars—Abram Langston Taylor, Leonard Francis Morse and Charles Ignatius Brown—the membership now includes 150,000-plus members in 700 chapters on four continents.

Phi Beta Sigma’s commitment to service is centered in the fraternity’s three international programs: Bigger and Better Business, Education and Social Action. Concerned about the state of African American businesses and the state of economic development in Black communities, improving the economic state of Black America was the charge in launching the Bigger and Better Business in 1924. Education became an international program in 1929 as the fraternity sought to assist students in college matriculation and scholarship support.

Social Action became an international program in 1934 in response to the fraternity having a desire to address social injustice and seek to bring about a more equitable “social order” in the era of racial segregation.

For more than 60 years, the fraternity has made manhood training for young boys a priority through its Sigma Beta Club.

Founded in 1950, the mission of the 120 clubs is to encourage young Black males to be responsible and work toward attending college.

The boys are mentored by members who are enrolled in college and graduate school.

For the past 40 years, Phi Beta Sigma has focused on the health and wellness of its communities through national partnerships with the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention.

The organization was one of the first fraternities to adopt a national AIDS Awareness campaign.

In 2012, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity took a national stand against hazing and formed an Anti-Hazing Coalition to stop hazing.

“The seeds planted by our founders in 1914 have established deep roots in American society,” said Sigma President Jonathan A. Mason.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity counts among its members many notable figures in the 20th century’s social change and cultural movements including leaders in law, business, education, public service, entertainment and sports. Phi Beta Sigma members having held significant roles in the Niagara Movement, the Harlem Renaissance, the Chicago Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, the Pro-Black Radical Movement, the Million Man March and the election of President Barack Obama Famed members include Dr. Alain Leroy Locke, the Black Rhodes scholar who went on to become executive secretary of the NAACP; James Weldon Johnson, who wrote “Lift Ev’ry Voice,” the Black National Anthem; Dr. George Washington Carver, scientist; U.S. Rep. John Lewis; and Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington.

Phi Beta Sigma also counts amongst its members four American educated African presidents. Former President Clinton is an honorary member of the fraternity.

The centennial celebration will kick off with a round of events Jan. 9-11, when thousands of Sigmas are expected to converge on the nation’s capital. Scheduled activities include a ground-breaking ceremony for a Sigma monument to be placed at Howard University and a gala at the Washington Renaissance Hotel. The ceremony will honor Lewis; former U.S. Rep Edolphus Towns; Johns Hopkins medical research legend C.T. Vivian; and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Sigma member and actor, Malik Yoba will serve as master of ceremonies. Civil rights

activist and actor Harry Belafonte will deliver the keynote

address.

For more information about Phi Beta Sigma and its Centennial Celebration, visit www.PBS100.org or www.PhiBetaSigma1914. org.

Bowie State University Winter Commencement It wasn’t the usual warm time of the year, but nothing could dampen the spirits of the 375 students who graduated, Dec. 20, at the winter 2013 commencement at Bowie State University.

Bowie State graduated 375 at Winter Commencement

Shaneace Virgil, of District Heights, Md., graduates cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree.

Britany Miller, of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Andrew Hewitt, of Takoma Park, Md., who graduates cum laude – both are Bachelor of Science in communications degree graduates.

Courtesy photos