Daytona Times, December 14, 2017 by Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC

B-CU takes Christmas to Campbell SEE PAGE 3

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JULIANNE MALVEAUX: WHEN WILL THERE BE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RACISM? PAGE 4

LOCAL FIFTH-GRADERS LEARNING TENNIS FROM THE PROS SEE PAGE 7

DECEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 20, 2017

YEAR 42 NO. 50

www.daytonatimes.com

Keeping the dream alive together Joint countywide MLK observance will include free program at B-CU. BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES

Over the years, cities in Volusia County have hosted their own observances during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday weekend. However, local leaders will mark the January observance with joint events and a major public event with a national speaker.

“This is the 50th celebration since Dr. King passed away and we want to make sure that it’s a countywide celebration where everyone can come Dr. Martin together and celLuther King ebrate his life and Jr. legacy,’’ the Rev. Nathan Mugala, pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Daytona Beach, told the Daytona Times. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929.

Instead of a traditional banquet with a fee, the major MLK holiday event will be a 6 p.m. program on Jan. 13 at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. It will be free to the public. The speaker will be Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a nationally acclaimed educator, radio host, academic, journalist and author. Dyson is a professor of sociology at Georgetown University.

Reaching youth Mugala and the Rev. Troy Bradley, pastor of Greater Union

First Baptist Church in DeLand, are co-chairs for the MLK 50th Celebration Committee, which is made up of King holiday weekend committees from municipalities across the county. “For years, each city has done their own celebration. Now we have all come together for one big countywide celebration,’’ Bradley stated. At the Jan. 13 event, scholarships will be distributed to graduating high school seniors. Local dignitaries also will be honored. The committee also wants to connect King’s legacy with local youth. “It’s very important for us

to not just remember King but to remember his dream and share it with the younger generation. They need to know that the dream lives on 50 years later. We’ve made strides but still have a way to go. It’s important that we as a county come together and keep the dream alive,” Mugala related.

March, festival On Jan. 14, a praise and worship celebration is scheduled at The Sanctuary, located at 401 E. Taylor Road in DeLand at 4 p.m. Instead of separate marches, See MLK, Page 2

United Methodist leader to speak at B-CU graduation

Wishing them a happy, healthy holiday Light Up Midtown event included screenings, entertainment Local residents got a chance to enjoy some holiday cheer and receive plenty of information on how to have a healthy new year during the City of Daytona Beach’s Light Up Midtown at Daisy Stocking Park. The annual health fair was held on Saturday and included free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. Vendors also passed out plenty of health and wellness information. There were activities for the kids and entertainment, music and dancing for the adults as well. Free food also was provided by Farm Share Feeding Families. VITAS Healthcare was the signature sponsor of the health fair.

Dr. Cynthia A. Bond Hopson will be the speaker at BethuneCookman University’s graduation on Saturday. Hopson is the assistant general secretary of the Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns at the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, Tennessee. In this role, she interprets, proDr. Cynthia A. motes and manBond Hopson ages funding for the 11 United Methodist-related historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which includes Bethune-Cookman University. The fall commencement exercise will begin at 10 a.m. at the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center at BethuneCookman.

Some accolades In March 2017, in honor of Women’s History Month, Hopson was named a “Difference Maker’’ by Faith Magazine, a United Methodist publication. She also has received recognition and honors from the University of Tennessee at Martin Civil Rights Conference, the Haywood County NAACP, and has been named Wiley College Woman of the Year. In 2015, she received Rust ColSee B-CU, Page 6

Homeless left out in the cold during recent drop in temperatures BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Some of Daytona Beach’s homeless sleep on the ground at City Island on Monday night.

ALSO INSIDE

Temperatures dipped into the 30s over the past week and many of the area’s homeless were left out in the cold. The only Volusia cold weather shelter was at First United Methodist Church, 305 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange. The church has a capacity of 34 beds available. A homeless man that would only identify himself as Rob told the Daytona Times, “I spent the night there. They are very nice people. Last year, more shelters

opened, but this year looks like some places backed out for some reason. They don’t open shelters until it gets under 40 degrees. Other than that, they say it’s not cold enough.”

Not enough beds The church was open last weekend and was scheduled to remain open through Thursday. “We are looking at opening another one or two, but with it being Christmas time right now many churches have Christmas programs and services going on,” said Jeremy Royce, Rapid Re-

Housing Manager of Halifax Urban Ministries. The homeless sign up for the shelter through Halifax Urban Ministries (HUM) at its location at 340 North St. HUM specializes in homeless services. “They sign up through us. We usually put the signs out. We direct them and provide transportation. A lot of times we just don’t have enough beds,” said Royce. HUM provides cold weather clothing at its 215 Bay Street location along with showers, food and coffee. Food also is served daily at the North Street site from

SPORTS: LAVAR BALL’S SONS SIGN CONTRACT TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN LITHUANIA | PAGE 7 TECHNOLOGY: NEW FACEBOOK APP FOR CHILDREN SPARKS PRIVACY CONCERNS | PAGE 8

See COLD, Page 2

7 FOCUS

R2 Concert band to perform at Stewart Memorial

The Daytona Beach Concert Band, under the direction of Charles Long, will perform at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church, 317 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Daytona Beach. The program will feature traditional seasonal favorites along with a trumpet solo by band member Robert Unger and a vocal solo by E’Lexis Wiley.

Church to present ‘Night in Bethlehem’ The House of God Church will host “A Night in Bethlehem: A Christmas Extravaganza’’ at 7 p.m. Dec. 22. The event will include worship, singing and dancing. All children will receive a gift. The church is located at 736 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Daytona Beach.

Halifax Health – Hospice offers collectibles to honor loved ones The Halifax Health - Hospice 28th Annual Tree of Remembrance Holiday Collection of ornaments and collectibles are available to holiday shoppers through Dec. 23. This exclusive collection of ornaments and collectibles includes classic angel tree toppers of varying sizes, beautifully crafted beach-themed ornaments, the annual Always in Our Hearts ornament, peace dove and butterfly ornaments, as well as plush Teddy Bears and more. Items can be purchased with a donation varying from $10 to $500. Proceeds will support the Halifax Health-Hospice Patient Memorial Fund.

How to order In recognition of each purchaser’s donation, by their request, a loved one’s name will be placed on a signature memory/honor tag and put on the Halifax Health-Hospice Tree of Remembrance located inside the Volusia Mall, in the Macy’s corridor. Halifax Health - Hospice offers four convenient ways to place ornament orders: The Tree of Remembrance site at Volusia Mall, 1700 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, Macy’s corridor near Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, through Dec. 23, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.;

MLK from Page 1 one march will take place on Jan. 15, the federal holiday and King’s actual birthdate. It will start at Stetson University at 11 a.m. and end at Earl Brown Park, 120 S. Florida Ave., DeLand. A free festival at the park will follow the march. It will include music by the R&B and jazz group Pocket Change of Fort Lauderdale as well as entertainment by local performers and basketball tournaments.

‘East and west’ together “It’s a full day of activities, which should be fun and enjoyable for everyone. We felt we wanted to do something for the people of Volusia County. It’s an historic time with this being the 50th anniversary,’’ said Percy Williamson, a member of the MLK 50th Celebration Committee. “It’s also the first time the east and west

B-CU from Page 1 lege’s highest honor, the 56th Tower of Leadership, and was named the 2015 Citizen of the Year by the Excelsior Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Jurisdiction of Tennessee. In addition, Hopson was presented the Memphis Conference’s 2015 Francis Asbury Award for her leadership and contributions to United Methodist Higher Education.

Journalism degrees Hopson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications in 1985 from Clark College; and a master’s degree in Journalism from Murray State University in Kentucky in 1989. In 2000, Hopson earned her Ph.D. in Journalism from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. More re-

DECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 20, 2017

closes at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays; At Halifax Health Medical Center, 303 N. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Daytona Beach on the following dates and times: •Dec. 19 – Fountain Building Lobby – 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. •Dec. 20 – France Tower Mezzanine – 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Order online at www.halifaxhealth. org/hospice/TOR. For more information on Halifax Health – Hospice programs and services, visit halifaxhealth.org/hospice or call 386-425-4701.

Daytona State sets Enrollment Day Enrollment Day at Daytona State College is Saturday, Jan. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the college’s Daytona Beach Campus provides an opportunity for students to complete everything from admission to registration. How it works: Students start by completing a Daytona State application, then meet with an Admissions Advisor and Financial Aid Counselor, take an assessment test (if applicable), meet with an Academic Advisor, and then lock in their schedule. The time is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Daytona Beach campus, Wetherell Center (Building 100), 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.

Financial aid help The Daytona State Financial Aid Office will be open to assist with college education financing and will provide assistance to complete the financial aid applications (FAFSA). Academic advisors also will be available to talk about academic programs such as Quanta-Honors College, which offers an alternative to regular college classes for highly motivated students. Students unable to attend Enrollment Day can take advantage of Daytona State’s extended registration hours for spring classes, Jan. 2-19: •Daytona Beach campus - 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday •DeLand campus - 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday •Deltona campus - 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday and Wednesday •Flagler/Palm Coast campus - 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday •New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater campus - 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday and Tuesday Note: On Fridays, the campuses are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, e-mail Admissions@DaytonaState.edu or call 386506-4471.

side of the county got together and did one big celebration. This couldn’t have happened without the generosity of our sponsors.’’ Sponsors include Volusia County Government, Bethune-Cookman University, Stetson University, Rotary International, NAACP branches, Greater Union Life Center and The Sanctuary.

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

A disabled homeless man seeks shelter earlier this week.

COLD

Avoiding the law

via email that it doesn’t do a cold weather shelter for the homeless either.

from Page 1

Not only are the homeless battling the cold, they also have other issues, including trying to avoid the police. “I got a $100 fine because my basket was under a gazebo in City Island Park. If I had $100, I’d be in a hotel instead of on the streets,” a homeless man named Rob told the Daytona Times. Ronald, another homeless man, also complained about the lack of services. “Nobody is really doing anything for us. We just prepare to hunker down out in the streets. Whenever they do something for us homeless people, it is always so many rules and regulations that hinder it. He added, “Some cops are good and treat us well. Others take their job too serious and really mistreat us. Bad enough we have to be out in the cold.”

More help needed

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In the works There are plans in the works for several shelters in the area. The City of DeLand plans to build one on the west side of the county while the City of Daytona Beach just broke ground on the First Step Shelter. HUM also plans to open Hope Place at the old Hurst Elementary School in Holly Hill. Construction of the Daytona facility won’t be completed for two more years. Hope Place is facing delays. The city doesn’t have an emergency cold weather shelter. A Volusia County spokesperson confirmed

Advocates believe more needs to be done, especially by local churches. “They open shelters, but they haven’t had enough beds. They really don’t do much until it’s a sustained cold snap, but right now it’s pretty bad. Cold shelters run by the churches can open, but only if it gets 40 degrees. We don’t know why more churches aren’t opening up,” said Mike Pastore. Royce noted, “We need more churches to open up. We need more churches here in Daytona to open. There are a lot of big facilities around. We need the community and other organizations help as well. We need donations and we need cash donations.’’

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Local MLK tie Williamson also mentioned King’s tie to Daytona Beach. “Both Dr. King and Dr. Bethune loom large in not just African-American history but American history. They are two of our most prominent historical figures. Dr. King was mentored and taught by famous theologian and teacher Howard Thurman who grew up in Daytona,” Williamson explained. “His home on White Street is a historical site. It was Thurman who introduced King to the teachings of Mahatma Ghandi and non-violent protest. Thurman was King’s mentor. Thurman lived here the first 17 years of his life,” Williamson added. cently, she earned a certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Hopson is the author of seven books. Her latest is “The Women of Haywood: Their Lives, Our Legacy,” a collection of oral histories and related essays about professional African-American women in Haywood County, Tennessee.

Delta, pastor’s wife Furthermore, she is a Salvation Army volunteer, Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentor, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Nashville Habitat for Humanity Affiliate. Hopson also is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the National Association of Black Journalists. She is married to the Rev. Roger A. Hopson, senior pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church of Memphis and they have two children, four grandchildren, and one-great-grandchild. Information for this report was provided by Bethune-Cookman University.

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East Central Florida’s Black Voice

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DECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 20, 2017

COMMUNITY NEWS

3 7

Accomplished artists bring ‘The Messiah’ to First Church Audiences around the world have had their hearts inspired by performances of Handel’s classic work, “The Messiah.” They’ve delved into the prophesy, birth, death and resurrection compiled for the vocal and instrumental works of “The Messiah,” an English oratorio debuting Dublin a few centuries back, and composed by George Frideric Handel, the Broadway hitmaster. German-born Handel re-enacted the life of Jesus through music. He penned the rendition “The Messiah.” He wrote “The Messiah” in “a fervor of divine inspiration,” influenced by Italian opera, and touted having “seen all Heaven before him” prior to ending the oratorio with the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Ensemble shines Today, “The Messiah” is revered and performed globally. The First Church of Palm Coast can attest. The music ministry orchestrated “The Messiah,” a collaboration of a former choir director and his graduate students of Edward Waters College. The First Church Ensemble was featured for a second season, conducted by Dr. Samuel Shingles. Dr. Shingles is formerly the dean of Arts and Sciences at Edward Waters College and department chair of Music. He is currently director of Choral Activities at the Paxon School for Advanced Studies. What has emerged is professional competence and a first-quality performance for a diverse turnout, and performed by soloists and a chorus, assessed as one of Northeast Florida’s best church choirs. The Rev. Gillard S. Glover, pastor, looked forward to sharing the ensemble’s expertise.

Talented artists The oratorio focused on the Messiah’s Nativity, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension, and with the lyrics resonating from the soloists: Drickus Horne, Nathaniel Shropshire III, Francesca Scott, and Irma Marria Adams.

PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY

Horne has worked with such greats as the world-renowned Linda Twine, director of “The Color Purple.” Shropshire received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009 from Edward Waters College in Music Vocal Performance. Scott has been the primary mezzo-soprano for many performances of the college concert chorale. Adams has performed with such artists as Dottie Peoples and “The Temptations.” She has put her lyrics in the mix of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. The output by the chorus was performed by Jessica Rogers, LaTasha Platt, Brittany Laramore and Kajuan Allen.

‘Exciting and joyful’ “The Messiah” offered an illuminating take on the “Overture” and the “Pastoral Symphony” performed on keys by Heasuk Che. An organist at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Palm Coast, Che has undergraduate degrees from Chongshin University in Seoul, Korea. She engaged in assessing the performance, saying, “It’s always exciting and joyful – and eventful as a tradition every year.” In another talkback while looking forward to next year, Dr. Shingles said, “It was a wonderful opportunity to work with former students, singing the piece we all know and love. “I had an opportunity to hear the soloists again,” reiterates Dr. Shingles. “I taught them these pieces years ago, and they are still in their voices. “I think they did a wonderful job tonight. Don’t you think so?” he asked, and I answered, “They were magnificent!”

PHOTO BY JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY/DAYTONA TIMES

“The Messiah” was collaborated by Dr. Samuel Shingles (not shown) and his graduate students: front row, left to right: Drickus Horne and LaTasha Platt; second row: Brittany Laramore, Francesca Scott, Kajuan Allen, Jessica Rogers, and Irma Marria Adams; plus in the third row: Nathaniel Shropshire III.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR BLACK STUDENTS. NO EXCUSES.

Presenting the seventh annual Kwanzaa event on Dec. 26, 1998 were the AACS Cultural Committee. Left to right are, First row: Mary Francis*, Cultural chair Gertrude Blackwell* and Ada McCain. Second row: Alice Johnson*, Doris Boyd, Erma Brooks and Lenore Standard. Third row, left to right, Charles Timus*, Isaiah Clinton* and James Allen. Not shown are Sheryl Luster Phillips, Elizabeth Brennan* and Mildred O’Bryan. (*denotes deceased)

AACS to celebrate Kwanzaa on Dec. 29 J^[ YbWii_Y ]k_Z[ \hec <beh_ZW 9ekh_[h fkXb_i^[h" family of artists during KwanbWmo[h WdZ XheWZYWij[h 9>7HB;I M$ 9>;HHO ?? zaa,Joinandourwith a goal of educating through PRAISE FOR ‘EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE’: “This guide for African-American college-bound students is packed with practical and insightful information for achieving academic success...The primary focus here is to equip students with the savvy and networking skills to maneuver themselves through the academic maze of higher education.” – Book review, School Library Journal

entertainment. Literally, there will be food, along with food for thought, reclaiming the highest cultural ideals of thought and practice of the seven principles of Kwanzaa and for improving the quality of life in our community.

Kwanzaa is generally celebrated Dec. 26 through Jan 1. It was 1966 that the festivity was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga of the Black Studies Department of California State College. Kwanzaa in Swahili means, “First Fruits of the Harvest.” The guide to living the Seven Principles of the Nguzo Saba are: “Umoja” (Unity), “Kugichagulia” (Self-Determination), “Ujima” (Collective Work and Responsi-

bility), “Ujamaa” (Cooperative Economics), “Nia” (Purpose), “Kuumba” (Creativity) and “Imani” (Faith). The celebration is free to the public. This year’s theme will focus on “Ujamaa” (Cooperative Economics) and, in addition, will be the marketplace for vendors. That’s Dec. 29, 2-6 p.m. at the African American Cultural Society (AACS), 4422 North U.S. 1, Palm Coast. For further details, contact the AACS at 386-447-7030. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted, the prodigal son, or daughter, and the bereaved.

Celebrations Birthday wishes to Linda Sharpe Matthews and Christine Robinson, Dec. 16. Happy anniversary to Bert and Shirley Hinds, Dec. 19; and Clifton and the Rev. Cheryl Daniels, Dec. 20.

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Christmas at Campbell On Monday, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) presented more than 150 students at Campbell Middle School with an assortment of Christmas gifts. The boys received cologne, bowtie sets and hygiene products while the girls were presented perfume and other items.

Campbell Middle School, a partnership of B-CU, is a predominantly AfricanAmerican school in the Daytona Beach community. Dr. Jerry L. Picott, Jr., principal, is also an alumnus of B-CU. B-CU’s Interim President Hubert Grimes and his wife, Daisy, handed out the gifts and took pictures with the students.

7 EDITORIAL

DECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 20, 2017

When will there be zero tolerance for racism? Congressman John Conyers was the first politician to leave his job after the “Me Too” hashtag galvanized women to speak up about sexual misconduct, harassment and more. Too bad that impetus did not float up to the top, when an avowed grabber of women’s genitals was elected to lead this country. Too bad, too, that the many members of Congress who have paid accusers out of a taxpayerfunded slush fund have not been unmasked. We know some of the names. Texas Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold arranged to have his former communications director paid $84,000, a fraction of the $27,000 Conyers is said to have paid. He has not resigned. Nor have Congressional Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, called for his resignation. Farenthold says he will pay the money back. Right.

Pleased by movement As a woman, I am cheered by the #MeToo movement, although I am also chagrined by the myopia about women of color and sexual harassment, rape, and more. In 1944, Recy Taylor was viciously raped by seven White men who never paid a price. Our civil rights icon, Rosa Parks, was an NAACP investigator in this case as chronicled by Danielle McGuire in her book, “At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance.”

JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

And the first case in which the Supreme Court ruled that sexual harassment was a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act was brought by an African-American woman, Michelle Vinson, in the case of Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (1986).

Acknowledgment necessary The high-profile White women who are talking about workplace sexual harassment and assault really need to acknowledge the many ways that African-American women have been systematically abused, and systematically ignored (and sometimes conspired against) by their White “sisters.” Perhaps I quibble, but this overwhelming stand against sexual misconduct (and more – getting nude in front of your staff is not misconduct, nor is forcible kissing, nor is grabbing by the you know what) makes me wonder when there will be a similar groundswell against racism and racial harassment in the workplace.

More than one? Numerous cases of nooses be-

Trump’s claim to be about the law is disgraceful “No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.” – Theodore Roosevelt, Third Annual Message, December 7, 1903 A claim last week by President Trump’s personal lawyer that “president cannot obstruct justice because he is the chief law enforcement officer” sparked immediate comparison to Richard Nixon’s notorious 1977 statement, “When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” While the Senate Judiciary Committee did approve a charge of obstruction of justice against Nixon in 1972, Nixon’s 1977 statement to interviewer David Frost referred to another impeachment article considered but rejected by the committee: the secret bombing of Cambodia. The committee

MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

also rejected an impeachment article regarding Nixon’s personal finances and failure to pay taxes.

Quit before the vote Nixon famously resigned before the House of Representatives could vote on the three articles of impeachment. In addition to obstruction, the committee approved articles charging him with abuse of power and contempt of Congress. But it was widely accepted the House would vote to impeach. In a memo prepared for Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski, the legal team argued not

Strong apprenticeship programs key to addressing the wage gap Over the last decades, many American inner cities have seen an economic resurgence. Buoyed by millennials and people’s desire to shorten their daily work commute, neighborhoods and communities that were all but pronounced dead two decades ago now find themselves flush with new businesses and residents. This is no more evident than here in the District of Columbia, where the economic recovery of the city has been nothing short of breathtaking. However, as many have noted, this growth has not been equally beneficial to all residents.

A proven tool While policymakers and advo-

ODIE DONALD II TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

cates search for answers and solutions to this problem, there is one time-tested and proven tool that should be a key part of any workforce development strategy-apprenticeships. Introduced in the 14th century, apprenticeships combine onthe-job training with classroom instruction, teaching workers the practical and theoretical aspects of highly-skilled occupations. Apprenticeship programs can be

ing displayed in workplaces have been reported in the last decade, so many that a law journal published an article titled, “Does One Noose in the Workplace Constitute a Hostile Work Environment? If Not, How Many?” One isolated incident is not enough, the article opines. What about one unwanted kiss, one abusive grope? Why do nooses get to be seen as “jokes,” while unwanted kissing is seen as an occurrence of zero tolerance? I’m not ever going to excuse sexual perfidy (and more) in the workplace, but I do wonder why we can wink, nod, and grin about racial workplace misbehavior while we stand our ground about gender. I wonder why so many say, “Just kidding” or “Didn’t know” when they are racially insensitive and nobody calls it, but they are willing to call it on gender.

No racial diversity If you look at the Senate and the House of Representatives, the paucity of people of color as senior staff is amazing, as documented by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Surely there is no shortage of highly qualified African-Americans and Latinos who could work for Congress. Why aren’t members of Congress calling each other on their racial myopia? Perhaps racism and racial harassment are a little more complicated than sexism and sexual

only that “no man in this country is so high that he is above the law,” but the offense of obstruction was of particular concern. “Failure to deal evenhandedly with the president would be an affront to the very principle on which our system is built. And this failure would be all the more severe because of the nature of the crime in question, a conspiracy to obstruct justice, the purpose of which was to place certain individuals beyond the rule of law. The result would probably be greater public disrespect for the integrity of the legal process than has already been created by public knowledge of attempts by the nation’s highest officials to put themselves beyond the law.”

Clinton held accountable Twenty-three years later, Congress would vote to impeach President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The special prosecutor investigating Clinton, Ken Starr, wrote in his report, “An effort to obstruct justice by withholding the truth from the legal process – wheth-

sponsored by employers, labor groups, or employer associations. Traditional apprenticeship programs have been primarily relegated to labor fields, such as carpentry or pipefitting, but there are a growing number of companies offering them in high-skill and high-wage fields such as information technology and engineering. While we understand that the wage and employment gaps cannot be completely closed until the educational and systematic inequalities in this country are addressed, strong apprenticeship programs can help bridge the gap between the shortcoming of our education system and job readiness for high wage sectors.

Make the investment Urban policymakers should make a strong investment in funding apprenticeship programs that help those from their most underserved communities enter into career fields with strong earnings and growth. By providing strong hands-on training in high-wage and high-growth fields such as

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: CHRISTMAS IN CONGRESS

NATE BEELER, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Silent on race

ing in a Black person’s face. There should never be another opportunity for an employee (or fellow student or faculty member) to talk about “picking cotton.” There should never be another blackface performance anywhere. And there should never be another person who talks about zero tolerance around workplace sexism to accept any whisper of workplace racism.

Too few White men and women, at the same time, have been willing to apply the same “zero tolerance” to employment matters regarding race. There should never be another noose laid on a Black employee’s desk or displayed in a workplace. There should never be another intimidating Confederate flag fly-

Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. Her latest book, “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy,” is available at www.juliannemalveaux. com. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

harassment. Half of the population, after all, is female, and while women’s rise up the hierarchy in Corporate America, politics, the media, and entertainment is slow, it has been steady enough that powerful women are now able to call men out on their misbehavior, with women demanding resignations of (some) misbehaving men.

er by lying under oath, concealing documents, or improperly influencing a witness’s testimony – is a federal crime. There is substantial and credible information that President Clinton engaged in such efforts to prevent the truth of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky from being revealed in the Jones case.” No president is above the law. Nixon and Clinton were not, and Trump is not. Nor is the president the chief law enforcement officer in the nation; the attorney general holds that distinction. President Trump, of course, has not been charged with obstruction of justice or any other offense. But his lawyer’s claim represents a dangerous and unAmerican view.

‘The law is king’ Thomas Paine, in his revolutionary pamphlet “Common Sense,” wrote, “But where, says some, is the King of America?...In America the law is king.” John Adams enshrined the concept in the Massachusetts Constitution with the often-quoted phrase, “a gov-

tech or entrepreneurship, policymakers can help residents who may not have received adequate educational preparation build key job skills and find stable employment. Furthermore, in a political environment where big initiatives can often be hard to implement, apprenticeship programs have long had bipartisan support. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that more than 91 percent of all apprentices retain employment upon completion of their apprenticeship. Here in the District of Columbia, we have committed to increasing the number of registered apprenticeships through our Apprenticeship DC initiative. In September 2017, we awarded approximately $400,000 in grants to local businesses and communitybased organizations that target the IT, construction, and infrastructure industries.

Multiple models Apprenticeship DC promotes both pre-apprenticeship and

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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ernment of laws, not of men.” It has been a common rhetorical device in modern American politics for rivals to accuse one another of placing themselves above the law, particularly when protesting some executive action or another. But with the notable exceptions of Nixon and Trump, it’s unheard of for a U.S. president to claim that privilege for himself. It’s disputed whether King Louis XIV of France really said, “L’etat, c’est moi” – “I am the state” – on his deathbed in 1715, but it’s certain that the expression has consistently has been held up as the antithesis of the American rule of law. There are nine current members of the Senate who voted to convict President Clinton of obstruction of justice in 1999. They would be hard-pressed now to agree with Trump’s legal team that the offense does not exist.

Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response. registered apprenticeship workbased learning models. Over the next year, we will work with local business owners and community advocates to build upon this effort and target resources to maximize the number of apprenticeships available for our communities. Through this initiative and the D.C. Infrastructure Academy, we hope to prove to Washingtonians that we are committed to ensuring that all District residents are able to participate in District’s growing economy. As officials and policymakers in other urban areas deal with their own economic gaps, I hope that they will take a look at what we have done here in the District with our apprenticeship programs and embrace this model as a strong workforce development tool.

Odie Donald II is director of the D.C. Department of Employment Services. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier. com to write your own response.

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5 7

M ANATION YOR

DECEMBERDECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 20, 2017 14 - 20, 2006

Mattel warns of slumping sales as debt ratings are cut BY JAMES F. PELTZ LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Mattel Inc.’s struggles deepened Monday as the toymaker warned of slumping holiday sales as its debt was downgraded by the major credit-rating firms. Mattel said in a securities filing that its fourth-quarter sales would be “negatively impacted” because of “certain underperforming brands” and because retailers were tightly controlling their inventories this holiday season. As a result, Mattel — whose brands include Barbie, FisherPrice and Hot Wheels — said its full-year sales would drop by “a percentage in at least the mid-tohigh single digits” from last year, when sales totaled $5.5 billion.

Dropping since 2013 Mattel said its profit also would suffer because the sales slump meant the company would have to write down the value of its inventory and offer discounts to retailers to clear out unsold products. Those problems are why S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings further downgraded the company’s debt, which already was below investment grade. The downgrades came as Mattel plans to sell an additional $1 billion of high-yield debt. Mattel’s sales have been dropping since 2013 and early this year it hired a new chief executive, Margo Georgiadis, a former Google executive who is trying to turn the business around and lower the company’s costs.

Hasbro’s offer Among other things, Mattel in October suspended its quarterly dividend. In the meantime, speculation persists that rival toymaker Hasbro Inc. has offered to buy Mattel, although no deal has been announced and both companies repeatedly have declined comment on the rumors. Hasbro’s brands include Transformers, G.I. Joe and “Star Wars” figures, games such as Monopoly and Littlest Pet Shop toys. In downgrading Mattel’s debt, Fitch Ratings cited Mattel’s “execution missteps, including the inability of the company to effectively respond to evolving play patterns” among children, along with such challenges as retailers cutting back on purchases to keep their inventories lean.

Outgrowing toys Mattel has “been challenged by the phenomenon of children — in particular, girls — outgrowing traditional toys at a younger age, with greater interest in consumer electronics, beauty, sports and social media,” Fitch Ratings said. Also pressuring sales was Toys R Us Inc.’s decision in September to file for bankruptcy protection. Toys R Us continues operating while working out a reorganization plan. S&P Global Ratings, in explaining its downgrade of Mattel’s debt, also cited “declining sales trends in certain key product lines, such as American Girl and Thomas” the Tank Engine train toys.

FERRARI/VISUAL/ZUMA PRESS/TNS

Maker Mattel honored fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first American Olympian to compete while wearing a hijab when she represented the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics. She was named a “Barbie Shero’’ and given a one-of-a-kind doll in her likeness. The doll was unveiled at the Glamour Women of the Year LIVE Summit, in New York. It shows her in her white fencing gear.

Why your Christmas tree costs more – again BY RONALD D. WHITE LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

For the second year in a row, American consumers are paying more for their Christmas trees, and the selection might not be as lush. “It’s a tight supply and demand balance this year,” said Doug Hundley, spokesman for the National Christmas Tree Association, which projects that trees across the country are costing 5 percent to 10 percent more than last year. A tree grower for 35 years, Hundley these days handles media questions for the trade group and doesn’t want anyone talking about shortages lest consumers get the wrong message and buy the plastic and metal variety instead. “We believe everyone who wants a natural Christmas tree will be able to find one,” he said.

Lower tree plantings Hundley and other experts say the supply squeeze grew out of the Great Recession as well as agricultural shifts toward more lucrative crops and other land uses, which could contribute to higher prices in the future. Growers in Oregon and North

Carolina, which supply most the nation’s Christmas trees, were betting on an increase in demand shortly before the recession hit in 2007. Sales tanked, causing a severe oversupply of trees. That resulted in sharply lower tree plantings, said Chal Landgren, a professor at Oregon State University Extension Service and a Christmas tree specialist. “The recession certainly had something to do with it, but the bigger problem was that we also overplanted by about 2 or 3 million trees” before the downturn, Landgren said. “There wasn’t any market for those trees,” he said. “People left the industry and we’ve shrunk.”

Growers aged out Between 2010 and 2015, the number of acres growing Christmas trees in Oregon fell to 41,223 from 57,250, federal data show. Some growers planted other crops that were more profitable, and some faced a generational change, Hundley said. “A lot of the growers started out in the 1950s. They are all aged out and their children sometimes aren’t as interested in carrying on,” he said.

Ask Alma: Too many grown people living in mom’s house, rent free Dear Alma, I’m going through an extremely difficult time with my son, his girlfriend and her mom. They all live in my house with their two children. The problem is that they live with me at my expense – room and board, electricity, water, cable and gas. The two ladies refuse to get jobs and they stay on the third floor of my house all day, running the air-condition non-stop. My son works, but he has to pay for the car, insurance and cellphones, plus spending money for his girlfriend and her mom. He doesn’t give me a red cent! The girlfriend doesn’t clean or help out at all and her mom caters to her all day, cooking and

ALMA GILL NNPA NEWSWIRE

Put on your big-girl granny panties and kick them all out. taking food up to her.

Cussed out, threatened I gotta evict them and their two dogs, but they threaten to take

GENARO MOLIINA/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Los Angeles Christmas tree seller George Lopez cuts string off an evergreen on Dec. 6, 2016. Nationally, Christmas trees are projected to cost 5 percent to 10 percent more this year than last. Tougher conditions have winnowed trees, too. “In an average year, about 10 percent of the seedlings die,” Landgren said. “In these last two years, growers have experienced 50 percent, 60 percent and even 70 percent losses on noble firs.”

Diesel cost Another factor: With vast distances to cover getting trees from the growers to market, higher fuel prices are contributing to higher costs. Diesel, the fuel that powers long-haul trucks, is averaging

my grandchildren away, which would devastate my son, knowing they would be homeless. We are both caught between a wall and a hard rock. The worse part of this horror is that the girlfriend curses me out constantly with foul language and I haven’t told my other three children to avoid a huge fight, but I am on the verge of calling my kids to help me get them out. I gave them a time frame for leaving, but my son keeps looking for excuses to keep them here. My choices seem to be to wind up living alone and scared or live in this inferno. Please help. Sincerely, Margie Dear Margie, Girl, you ain’t in charge or livin’ large, but your house guest surely are. Your son isn’t married to her and she ain’t kin, demonstrated by the way she acts. If she was respectful, it would be a different story. Your son and his other family are holding you hostage in

more than $2.80 a gallon nationwide, up more than 40 cents from a year earlier, according to AAA. In California, diesel is averaging more than $3.55 a gallon, up about 70 cents from a year earlier.

Quality down Tree seller Lopez, who runs Lopez Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Trees from the Venice United Methodist Church parking lot in Los Angeles, agrees that everyone should be able to find a tree, but it might not be up to the standards of past years.

your own house and using your grandkids as collateral. That’s crazy and you know it. Your son is using you and allowing his “girlfriend” and her mother to mistreat and disrespect you too. How and when did it get to the point that your son has no regard for you, your feelings or well-being? Let’s start with that. You’re a different kinda mother than I am Margie, because I ain’t never gonna be overwhelmingly disrespected in my own house.

Deal with son Seems to me, you’re mad as Methuselah towards the wrong people. This foolishness reclines at the foot of your son. Deal with him. You are responsible for teaching him about life and, so far, you haven’t done a good job. Simmer down, no worries, you still have time. It’s gonna be hard and it might break your heart for a minute, because your self esteem is shot and you’re afraid to be alone. Girl, please. That’s why the good Lord made books and

Getting 200 noble firs to sell used to be a simple, singlesource purchase. This year, Lopez said he thinks distributors might be hoarding for fear of running out before the tree-buying season ends. “I ask for 200 trees, they give me 20,” Lopez said. “I go to another distributor and he gives me 50. It took forever.” And the quality of the trees is down: “I had to look at 100 trees before I could find 10 that I wanted,” Lopez said.

volunteer programs. Your son will never be the man he needs to be as long as you’re treating him like a child. Unfortunately, he and the other adults in your house have tapped into your weakness and know they don’t have anything to worry about. Why move when you’re perfectly happy living in a comfortable home rent-free?

Kick them out Put on your big-girl granny panties and kick them all out. Stop feeding this monster, Margie, and get your house in order. The best and only thing you have available at any time to offer and assist them is prayer. Get them out and get on your knees.

Alma Gill’s newsroom experience spans more than 25 years, including various roles at USA Today, Newsday and The Washington Post. Email questions to: alwaysaskalma@ gmail.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and Twitter @almaaskalma.

7 CLASSIFIEDS

DECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 20, 2017

I SHOULD PROBABLY GET A RIDE HOME. BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING

180 110

JOMY, stroke survivor.

THIS IS WHAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE LOOKS LIKE. You might not see or feel its symptoms, but the results – a heart attack or stroke – are far from invisible or silent. If you’ve come off your treatment plan, get back on it, or talk with your doctor to create a new exercise, diet and medication plan that works better for you. Go to

LowerYourHBP.org before it’s too late.

M SPORTS AYOR

DECEMBER DECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 2017 14 - 20,20, 2006

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

These students at Westside are learning about tennis during their physical education class. pion Elementary schools are on board, which are predominantly African-American or have high numbers of African-Americans,” Kelly related. Along with Westside and Champion, other local schools participating in the program include Ortona in Daytona Beach, Calvary Christian Academy, Pine Trail and Tomoko of Ormond Beach, Citrus Grove and George Marks in DeLand and Cypress Creek in Port Orange.

Williams’ influence

Armani Martin of Westside Elementary is learning to play tennis at her school.

Local fifth-graders learning tennis from pros Predominantly Black Champion and Westside are participating in the first-year program. BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES

The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) has teamed up with Volusia County Schools to teach local schoolchildren the game of tennis. The tennis pros are going into schools and teaching fifth-

graders the fundamentals during physical education classes over a three-week period. USPTA members who normally train youngsters aspiring to make the professional circuit are assisted by the physical education teachers and coaches at the schools. “The program has been received very positively. These schools are really having a great experience. We did a needs assessment to see where our schools were in regards to tennis and many had the sufficient equipment to do such a program,” said Dr. Grace Kellermei-

er, coordinator of World Languages and Health & Physical Education for Volusia County Schools.

Tennis for anyone Tom Kelly, tennis manager of Florida Tennis Center/Daytona Beach, noted, “I am very excited about this program to teach kids tennis in our schools.” Kelly created the program with a goal to teach kids tennis. A good number of African-American kids also are participating. “We want to bring tennis to everyone. Westside and Cham-

The popularity of AfricanAmerican tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams have attracted more Black kids to tennis, especially girls. Kelly explained, “We do want to see more African-Americans and minorities in tennis, but the influence of Venus and Serena Williams has really pushed the younger kids, especially African-Americans and particularly more African-American girls. He continued, “Also, Sloan Stevens won the U.S. Open this year. She attended an academy in Florida. In, Florida tournaments alone you see more and more African American girls playing. They want to grow up and be like the Williams’ sisters.”

Skills contest The students will compete in the skills challenge during the Daytona Beach Women’s Pro Tennis Championships at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach on Jan. 13. The Women’s Pro Tennis Championship runs from Jan. 7-14 and is sponsored by DME Sports Academy. “It will kind of be like the NBA All-Star skills contest during NBA All-Star weekend, but this will be for the kids. They’ll show off hitting ball with forehand and back hand as well as other skills. They’ll have fun. It will be pizza,

prizes and awards,” stated Kelly.

First year The skills competition focuses on hitting a tennis ball and moving while doing it. It will consist of the following five skills demonstrations – back hand, forearm, rally, 20-yard dash and shuttle run. “Every kid is invited to the skills competition, which is extra motivation for the kids,” said Kellermeier. “It is a wonderful program. We appreciate Mr. Kelly and the tennis pros’ hard work. This is our first year with the program. We will bring it back next year. At this time we plan to have it in 14 schools next year,” she added.

The teachers Professional tennis teachers include Tom Kelly at Westside and Champion Elementary schools as well as Calvary Christian Academy; John Hudson, Arrice Robinson and Sid Moon of Cypress Creek Elementary; Dave Brown at Pine Trail; Kurt Collis at George Marks; Tom Shea at Ortona; Ian Fletcher at Champion Elementary and Calvary Christian. and Jan Buenner at Tomoka. The Florida Tennis Center in Daytona serves as headquarters for the United States Tennis Association in Florida. The USTA is the governing body of sanctioned pro and junior tennis events. The Florida Tennis Center has hosted tournaments featuring some of the top tennis players that have become pro or are aiming to be pros. Players who have competed in the Florida Tennis circuit include Taylor Townsend, Asia Mohamed, Robin Anderson, Francois Abanda, Daria Kasatkina (Russia), CiCi Belis and Shelby Rogers.

LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball to play basketball in Lithuania NICOLE HYATT EURWEB.COM

LaVar Ball’s two youngest sons are now professional basketball players after each signed oneyear contracts with first-division Lithuanian league team Vytautas Prienai, sources told Yahoo Sports. LaMelo, 16, and LiAngelo Ball, 19, agreed to deals with Vytautas that will allow them to start their careers in a competitive professional league with a history of churning out NBA players, including Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas, Boston Celtics center Aron Baynes, former New York Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Isaiah Hartenstein, who was a secondround pick to Houston in the 2017 draft.

Report in January The Ball brothers will report to the team in early January, reports Yahoo Sports. “Our club is excited for the arrival of LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball,” Vytautas sports direc-

tor Vilius Vaitkevicius said. “We are committed to their long-term success and development as professional basketball players.” Vytautas Prienai won a championship last season and plays in competitive games in the Baltic and Lithuanian leagues, which includes teams that participate in EuroCup (Lietkabelis) and EuroLeague (Zalgiris).

Left schools early LaMelo left Chino Hills High in California before his junior season this year to be homeschooled and is considered a legitimate pro prospect. The move to turn pro overseas is unprecedented for the consensus top-10 player in the class of 2019, who is skipping two years of high school and his commitment at UCLA. LiAngelo parted ways with UCLA last week to begin focusing on his training for professional basketball. LiAngelo and UCLA teammates Cody Riley and Jordan Hill were involved in a shoplifting incident in China in November and received indefinite suspensions.

HOWARD SIMMONS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS/TNS

Tina Ball, LaVar Ball, LaMelo Ball and LiAngelo Ball look on as the New York Knicks play the Los Angeles Lakers to Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday.

7TECHNOLOGY

DECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 20, 2017

Facebook’s Messenger Kids sparks privacy concerns Parents grapple with decision to allow children to use app BY QUEENIE WONG MERCURY NEWS/TNS

Torn between the benefits and drawbacks of social media, Leigh Turberville Harrell hasn’t decided yet whether to let her children use Facebook’s new messaging app for kids. On one hand, Messenger Kids allows parents to approve whom their children converse with on the app. But on the other, Harrell, a teacher, worries about cyberbullying and other dangers that lurk online. “They don’t realize that the stuff they’re putting out there on the internet could haunt them for the rest of their lives,” said Harrell, whose children are 4 and 13.

Sparking concerns Nationwide, parents like Harrell are facing a familiar decision: At what age should they allow their kids to use social media? Messenger Kids has also sparked concerns among some parents, pediatricians and consumer advocates who worry about the data Facebook will gather from children. Facebook, like other social networks, requires users to be at least 13 years old to sign up for accounts.

stop staring at their tablets and smartphones, they’re wondering if messaging apps are worth the convenience.

Could be ‘messy’ Dr. Jenny Radesky, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, said children under 12 years old are not ready to use social media without parental supervision. “It’s hard for them to grasp concepts like privacy, who is using their data, or insight into how they might be manipulated through persuasive design - and they are really just starting to build awareness about their identity, role in relationships, and morality,” she said in an e-mail. “Combine that immaturity with the problematic interactions that commonly occur over social media, and it could be messy.”

But the company is rolling out a messaging app that will let children under that age send texts, photos and videos, and add stickers, frames and filters to their images. “Whether it’s using video chat to talk to grandparents, staying in touch with cousins who live far away, or sending mom a decorated photo while she’s working late to say hi, Messenger Kids opens up a new world of online communication to families,” wrote Loren Cheng, Facebook’s product management director, in a blog post.

Already on it

Why trust Facebook? The company said it talked to thousands of parents and experts while it was building the ad-free app, which is designed for children ages 6 to 12. Parents who set up a Messenger Kids account won’t be creating a Facebook account for their children. But some consumer advocacy groups question whether the app will remain free of ads in the future and whether Facebook will use the data to target parents with ads. “Why should parents simply trust that Facebook is acting in the best interest of kids?” James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, a San Francisco nonprofit that promotes online safety for children, said in a statement.

FACEBOOK

The new Facebook app is designed for kids 6 to 12 years old.

Collects some data The privacy policy for Messenger Kids says the app collects data such as registration information, content, activity, contacts

and device information to improve the product and promote safety. If a parent deletes a Messenger Kids account, Facebook will also erase the data they collect, but

the company notes that messages and content sent to users before a deletion may remain visible. And as parents struggle to get their children to

It’s important for parents to monitor whether social media is displacing other activities children need to do, like homework, and how children are treating others through the app, she said. But some online safety experts say many kids under 13 are already on social networks. Messenger Kids, which is rolling out first in the United States in the Apple App Store, also has ways for parents to keep an eye on who their children are talking to online. “Particularly for parents who have already tried to get their under 13s onto Facebook so they can communicate with grandma, this is a godsend,” said Stephen Balkam, the founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute. “For the significant minority of parents who are tech skeptics, they will probably want to steer clear.”

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