Daytona Times - January 31, 2013 by Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC

Black women are unlocking potential of hair untreated by chemicals See page 5

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RAYNARD JACKSON: Gays should start PRESORTED own Boy Scouts organizations Page 4 STANDARD

A ROUNDUP OF LOCAL SPORTS See page 7

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

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JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6, 2013

YEAR 38 NO. 5

Residents could be in for a bumpy ride

PEOPLE SPEAK

Dozens of speed bumps in the works for Daytona, but one local merchant isn’t keen on the selection process BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Several dozen speed bumps are scheduled to be installed on Daytona Beach streets this year. City residents also can request speed bumps for their streets, which concerns a member of the Second Avenue Merchants Association (SAMA). “I don’t think there should be any speed

bumps on any street unless there is a survey done on that street. It should not be one or two residents on the street’s word,” said SAMA board member Barbara Turner-Hymes. The board represents several businesses on Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard. The streets scheduled to have speed bumps installed or streets where they already have been installed include Colfax Drive, Tennessee Street, Forest Lane, Essex Road, North Street, Washington Street, Lincoln Street, Flanders Avenue, Derbyshire Road, Seneca Street, Margina Street, Loomis Avenue, McGee Street, Blais Avenue, Tomoka Road, Garden Street, Kennedy Road, Keech Street, Cadillac Drive, West Wood Drive and Benecia Avenue.

Traffic calming devices Speed bumps, considered traffic calming devices by the city, are constructed at the request of the city and the police department based on assessment of need, said Daytona Beach Public Works Director Ron McLemore. McLemore also confirmed to the Daytona Times that outside requests, made by residents, are added on a first-come firstserve basis. “Once an outside request is made, Traffic Engineering evaluates the request to determine if the installation is feasible and safe. If the evaluation is positive, Traffic Engineering determines the best location on the street,” McLemore said.

He added that the installation of the speed bumps goes on a waiting list for funding and installation is based on order of request.

Two bumps, one block “I would rather see that money going to hire more police; that’s what we need,” Turner-Hymes told the Daytona Times this week. Turner-Hymes first brought her concerns before city commissioners during a recent meeting. “Some streets have two speed bumps in one block no more than one-tenth of a mile apart,” Turner-Hymes noted. “We

SECOND TIME AROUND

Please see SPEED BUMPS, Page 2

‘Street gossip’ won’t stop renaming request by Lucas BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Amina Lowery and Tangela Boyd strike a pose during the inauguration this month. Lowery also attended the 2009 swearing-in ceremony.

Daytonans were among many who traveled to D.C. this month for the president’s inauguration BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Whitney, an instructor at Bethune-Cookman University, along with her daughter and friend Tangela Boyd, also visited the Mary McLeod Bethune National Council of Negro Women House while in D.C. Both are members of the local branch.

‘Awesome feeling’

Local residents were among the hundreds of thousands in Washington last week for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. Many in the crowd were parents and grandparents who were determined that their children and grandchildren had the opportunity to witness history. “I am glad that it wasn’t as cold this time,” said Daytonan Amina Lowery, who was there with her mom Valerie Whitney. Regardless of the weather, Lowery said she felt called to take part in history.

Whitney said she and her daughter also attended the inauguration in 2009. “It was really an awesome feeling. It seemed only fitting that we go back the second time too, given the history that was made with his election,” Whitney said. Boyd, director of communications for the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she wanted to be part of history. “Attending the inauguration this time was very important to me since I missed the 2009 inaugural. President and Mrs. Obama are inspirational and transformational historical figures. I really admire them and felt

it was important to be there to show my personal support,” said Boyd. Also representing Daytona Beach was 8-year-old Edward Butts Jr., the grandson of Daytona Beach icon Dr. James E. Huger, Sr. He was escorted by Thomas and Linda Huger.

Up close and personal Edward was fortunate to meet First Lady Michelle Obama during her visit to Daytona Beach in November before the re-election of her husband. “She called him handsome and asked him for a hug. After that, he requested the opportunity to attend the inauguration,” said Huger. Huger said while at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Edward was selected from the crowd for a television interview. He said that the experience for Edward was exciting. Edward is a second-grader at Turie T. Small Elementary.

“Street gossip” will not stop the process of the renaming the athletic fields at Derbyshire Park after educator and coach Harold V. Lucas from going before the Daytona Beach City Commission, says the city’s leisure services director. Defamatory statements were allegedly made about Lucas during a city commission meeting last month, which has prompted a number of calls to Mayor Derrick Henry. “Most of the people who have called me – it has not been about his (Lucas) char- Harold V. acter. A lot of peo- Lucas ple are concerned about how things are named in the city,” Henry said. All of the Daytona Beach commissioners have agreed with Henry that the renaming process needs revision.

Vote scheduled Feb. 6 Currently, all an applicant interested in having a city property renamed has to do is get 50 signatures, put together information about the nominee, and get approval from the city’s Planning Board before the item goes before the city commission for a final decision. Leisure Services Director Percy Williamson said the city does background checks on those whose name have been nominated for a city facility or street. Please see LUCAS, Page 2

B-CU band again performs at Honda ‘House Party’ in ATL SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Fans, students and alumni packed the Georgia Dome in Atlanta last Saturday to witness performances by eight of the nation’s top marching bands from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) at the oneof-a-kind “House Party,” known as the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.

The Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats band was again in that number. Other bands showing pageantry and musicianship were Albany State University, Alcorn State University, Edward Waters College, Jackson State University, North Carolina A&T University, Tennessee State University and Winston-Salem State University. This year’s showcase includ-

ed a performance by Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Brandy and American dance music singer and songwriter Crystal Waters. The Honda Battle of the Bands, presented by Verizon Wireless and official banking sponsor SunTrust Bank, celebrated its 11th annual Invitational Showcase. “The Honda Battle of the Bands not only provides a na-

tional stage to showcase the talent of these outstanding student musicians, but also the success of the music education programs at each school,” said Marc Burt, assistant vice president, of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda is honored to support these programs with grants that each school receives for participating in the program.”

$20,000 for each band The Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase is the largest and most popular music event of its kind. Widely known to fans as “The Honda,” the showcase not only serves as a platform to highlight and celebrate the heritage and showmanship of HBCU marching bands, but also stands Please see BAND, Page 2

7FOCUS

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Photos courtesy of HONDA BATTLE OF THE BANDS INVITATIONAL SHOWCASE

Saxophonists of the Marching Wildcats are shown at the Georgia Dome ‘House Party.’ Bethune-Cookman University’s band was among eight of the nation’s top marching bands to perform at the 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands Individual Showcase.

BAND

LUCAS

from Page 1

as the only national music scholarship program dedicated to supporting HBCU music education programs. The eight qualifying marching bands each earned a $20,000 grant for their school’s music education programs, along with an all-expense paid trip to perform at the Invitational Showcase in Atlanta.

For more information on the Honda Battle of the Bands program and the Invitational Showcase, visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands. com.

He added that there is the public record about Lucas that stops the city from moving forward. A city commission vote is scheduled Feb. 6. “What the street committee says is one thing; public record is another,” Williamson said.

Daughter’s determination

This high-stepping Wildcat showcases her color guard skills at the 2013 Honda Battle of the Bands.

D’lorah Hyacinth, daughter of Lucas got the ball rolling to have Derbyshire’s athletic fields named after her father. She pleaded her case in December before the planning board about the renaming. “I am happy to see the city has recommended going forward with renaming the field. (My father has) contributed to betterment of city, state of Flor-

ASHLEY THOMAS/DAYTONA TIMES

The construction of additional speed bumps or tables, like the one shown above on Fifth Street, are causing debate on their usefulness.

speed bumps from Page 1 don’t have money for signs that say ‘Children at Play,’ but we can put up speed bump signs. What’s wrong with this picture?” McLemore said it is important to understand that traffic calming works because it causes drivers to pay attention.

Reduces accidents He pointed out that speed bumps are just one of a number of traffic calming devices. “Speed bumps are suitable for low-volume residen-

tial streets. High-volume residential collector streets and commercial thoroughfares are not suitable sites for speed bumps and require other types of traffic calming devices,” he explained. Traffic calming devices reduce accidents by approximately 50 percent and injuries and deaths from accidents by 80 percent to 90 percent, according to information obtained by the Times. McLemore said conclusions from local studies conducted by his department indicate a three- to five-mile per hour reduction in speed after speed bumps are installed. “This small reduction in speed may not appear to be impressive, however, this small reduction in speed brings with it a substantial elevation in driver attention,” McLemore added. But he acknowledged that speed bumps are not “foolproof in preventing those who want to speed.’’

ida and U.S. I submitted an application of over 60 pages. He has touched the lives of hundreds, thousands of lives people who have gone out in the city, state, around the country and are making differences where they are,” Hyacinth said in an interview before his nomination became controversial. The renaming was expected to go through with little fanfare considering unanimous support from the Planning Board after many in the community spoke up in support of the item.

Young’s wife upset Madeline Young, the wife of the late Zone 5 City Commissioner Rufus “Buddy” Young, was the only person speaking against the renaming. Young is upset that promises were not kept to rename something after her husband. The athletic fields to be renamed after Lucas are located in the

zone Young represented for 14 years as a city commissioner. In a letter Young sent to the Daytona Times she said, “How soon we forget the pioneers who have served this city well. He (Buddy Young) was a dedicated man, high standards, complete integrity and boundless enthusiasm for whatever task he took in hand. “Many years of work that he put in the city of Daytona Beach was his pride and joy. He was the commissioner for the surrounding area of Derbyshire Street for fourteen yeas which includes the athletic fields of the park. Who can claim more merit than Buddy Young.” The city commission will vote on the renaming of the athletic fields during its regular scheduled meeting which starts at 6 p.m. on Feb. 6

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2013

COMMUNITY M ANEWS YOR

3 7

DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

Florida Friends for Obama celebrate with inaugural ball Having shaken the dust and now standing tall, the Florida Friends for Obama worked hard and were celebrating President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden’s second term in office. It was Jan. 21, and the action group renewed commitment at the AfricanAmerican Cultural Society during a black tie Inaugural Ball and simultaneously celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Loyce Nottage Allen made progress keeping President Obama in the White House. She’s founder of Florida Friends for Obama, organized in 2008 and working toward the historic moment of his first election. The attendees were served with a souvenir journal, 2013 Florida Friends for Obama membership, bountiful hors d’oeuvres – catering by Cee J C Catering – and live entertainment and dancing. The evening signature was embossed with an America that they are working to achieve by supporting President Obama.

Palm Coast

Community news

By Jeroline D. Mccarthy | Daytona Times The gala spotlighted “Excellence, Reflection & Celebration,” and Bernadette Reeves’ video portrayal of 15-year-old Audrey Nell Edwards at a sit-in during the Civil Rights Movement. The reflection, a reminder of vengeance, examined a scene from the “St. Augustine Four” at a Woolworth lunch counter, and resurfacing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. Reeves, a liturgical dancer, performed “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as a tribute to President Obama. Songstress Linda Cole lavished Nat King Cole’s showcase, performing “Straighten Up and Fly Right” and Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child That’s Got its Own.” Cole presented both themes as a Black legacy, and one which she said should not be lost.

The program flowed with guitarist Cesar Romero; emcee Edmund G. Pinto, Jr., president of the AfricanAmerican Cultural Society; the welcoming remarks delivered by Flagler NAACP First Vice President Barbara Goss, and the invocation offered by Gwen Thomas. •••

‘Healing Revival’ coming to First Church Come, experience God’s power in a “Healing Revival” on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 7 and 8, 6 p.m., at the First Church of Palm Coast. The revivalist will be the Rev. Dr. Henry R. Delaney, a mighty man of God operating in the healing and prophetic gifts, and building churches, acade-

Thomas Allen is shown with wife Loyce Nottage Allen, founder of Florida Friends for Obama. mies, other outreach ministries - and making a difference in people’s lives. He’s expanded the 10th Episcopal District of the CME Church in Savannah, Ga., and has established churches in Michigan, Tennessee, Haiti, Jamaica, and Liberia. Experience God’s working through this 80-yearold, retired CME preacher,

who does not think it robbery to use his gifts. The Rev. Gillard S. Glover is the pastor of First Church, located at 91 Old Kings Road North. The church can be reached at 386-446-5759. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.

Happy Birthday to You! Birthday wishes to: Sondra Henderson, Esther Hamilton, Dr. James Cauley, Jan. 31; Kionie Jordan, Feb. 2; Chloe’ Malloy, Bernice Moore, Jackie Whyte, Feb. 5. Happy anniversary to Leonard and Vivian Rowe, Feb. 5.

School of Arts and Humanities The Bethune-Cookman University Department of English will host a Zora Neale Hurston conference Feb. 1 at the Larry Handfield Music Annex, at 10:20 a.m. The keynote speaker is Valerie Boyd, a writer, professor of journalism, and the Charlayne HunterGault Distinguished Writer-in-Residence at the University of Georgia. She is the author of “Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston.’’ This first conference is dedicated to the memory of Hurston, national folklorist who grew up in Eatonville and taught at Bethune-Cookman in 1934 under the leadership of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, the school’s founder. The conference celebrating Hurston’s accomplishments will feature literary performances, student academic papers, writing contests, and a writer’s workshop. For more information, contact Mary Corliss, Assistant Professor of English, 386-481-2362.

Prince of Peace Villas Ormond Beach 1 bd designed for 62 & over. Accepting apps for residency. Rental assistance available. A non-denominational housing facility. (386) 673-5080 TDD 1-800-955-8771

Zora Neale Hurston Author Valeria Boyd (left), Zora Neale Hurston biographer, is photographed at the 14th Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival in Eatonville in 2003. She will be in Daytona Beach on Feb. 1. ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

GOSPEL HALLELUJAH WORLD WIDE RADIO MINISTRIES Hosted by: Bro. Harold Ford and Prophetess Deborah Ford LISTEN TO WPUL 1590 Saturdays 10 am -noon Sundays 5am- 7am & 1pm-3pm Listen online at: www.wpul1590.com website: www.gospelhallelujah.com

Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!

By Appointment Only - Tues, Thursday, Fri, Sat Derby Shoppes Plaza • 988 Derbyshire Road Daytona Beach, Florida, 32114 A Hair Spa Paradise • 386-679-4100 www.facebook.com/theeclipzsalon

To list your community event FREE, e-mail us at news@daytonatimes. com. No phone calls or faxes, please. Events are listed on a space-available basis, and in the sole discretion of the Daytona Times staff. Effective immediately, paid events will no longer be listed in the Daytona Times Community Calendar. You can advertise local events for as little as $35 per week. Call 813-319-0961 or email sales@daytonatimes for more information.

Compiled by the Daytona Times Who were your ancestors? Genealogy librarian Kim Dolce will offer a fee beginners’ genealogy class from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island, 105 E Magnolia Ave. She will introduce participants to various online and print sources that can help them with their searches. Reservations are not required. More information: 386-257-6036, ext. 16315. Organizer to host workshop If you’re overwhelmed by piles of files, help is at hand. Professional organizer Ingrid Timbs will help you see the light and gain control during a free program from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Feb. 6, at the Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St. Registration is not required. More information: 386-6764191, ext. 100.

Re-Opened

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Community Calendar

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Church to honor Mother Butts Butts Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ of East Central Florida, invites the public to join in the celebration of Mother Willie Butts’ 52nd year of ministry Feb. 5 - 8 at Butts Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 636 Hawk St. A special guest and choirs will minister nightly at 7 p.m. More information: 386-252-8565 or

www.bmtcogic.org. Operations center Ribbon-cutting The Emergency Operations and Sheriff’s Communications Center Ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., 3825 Tiger Bay Road. The 43,000 square-foot, $21 million-dollar facility will house the county’s emergency operations and sheriff’s communications activities, including countrywide 9-1-1 dispatch functions. Family Photo Fun Day Enjoy an afternoon of free parent-child art and photography sessions for children aged 5-12 as Southeast Museum of Photography staff leads a variety of activities that will explore new ways of seeing and creating on Feb. 2 from 1 p.m.- 3 p.m. Preregistration is required. The museum is at Daytona State College, Hosseini Center (#1200), 1200 W. International. Speedway Blvd. More information: 386-5064569. Fresh Start Revival at Mt. Bethel The Mt. Bethel Baptist Institutional Church announces its 2013 Fresh Start Revival Feb. 6, 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. nightly. The guest evangelist will be the Rev. Victor Gooden, pastor

of New Life Church Ministries, Holly Hill. The church is on the corners of Martin Luther King and South Street. SCORE plans email seminar Sponsored by the Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College and SCORE, a free two-part seminar demonstrates how organizations can make the most of an email marketing strategy by using Constant Contact. The seminar will be held at Daytona State College Feb. 12 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Registration required. More information and registration: 386-506-4723 or e-mail sbdc@DaytonaState. edu. Combo to perform at library The Stetson University Jazz Combo will perform Feb. 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island. The student musicians will perform jazz standards and songs from the Great American Songbook. The free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Heritage festival in New Smyrna The 22nd Annual Black Heritage Festival “Sharing yesterday, preserving today, shaping tomorrow” will be held Feb. 8-10 at the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum, 314 N. Duss St. and Pettis Park in New Smyrna Beach. Live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, food and vendors will be on site and a Gospel Fest will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. More information: Jimmy Harrell 386-478-1934.

7 EDITORIAL

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Gays should start own Boy Scouts organizations All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. This statement is the best way to express my thoughts and feelings about what the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is constantly going through. The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the U.S., with more than 2.7 million youth members and more than 1 million adult volunteers. It is estimated that more than 110 million Americans have been members of the BSA since in founding in 1910, including me. The BSA’s stated goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and selfreliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to inculcate typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking.

Fed up with attacks I am fed up with the relentless attacks launched against the BSA by the homosexual community. The reason for the attacks? Because the Boy Scouts of America prohibits avowed gay and lesbian children and adults from participation, citing its principle to

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: SECOND TERM OUTLOOK

to continue in a youth leadership position.”

RAYNARD JACKSON NNPA COLUMNIST

be “morally straight.” They also do not allow atheist and agnostics to participate citing its “duty to God principle.” In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale that Boy Scouts, and all private organizations, have the constitutionally protected right under the First Amendment of freedom of association to set membership standards. In 2004, the BSA adopted a new policy statement, including the following as a “Youth Leadership” policy: “Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed. The conduct of youth members must be in compliance with the Scout Oath and Law, and membership in Boy Scouts of America is contingent upon the willingness to accept Scouting’s values and beliefs. Most boys join Scouting when they are 10 or 11 years old. “As they continue in the program, all Scouts are expected to take leadership positions. In the unlikely event that an older boy were to hold himself out as homosexual, he would not be able

Based on Christianity Wow, what a terrible group, a group that actually instills values and morals into developing kids based on the principles of Christianity. These are the values that makes remote that a child reared with the values of the Boy Scouts of America will become a non-productive member of society. They teach children that there is a right and a wrong; there are things that are legal, but yet not moral; that the Bible is a great guiding, moral book to base one’s behavior on. As opposed to constantly trying to destroy the BSA because they have moral objections to homosexuality; why do they not start their own group to indoctrinate the youth into their desired sexual preferences? They can call their group HIM and HERS. Homosexual Indoctrination of Males (HIM) and Homosexual Enlightenment Regarding She-males (HERS). They are free, as a private organization, to create any rules of membership they choose. And yes, they can discriminate against heterosexuals who stand for Christian values.

No more apologizing I am sick and tired of Christians apologizing for their beliefs. The BSA is not anti-homosexual, but is pro-Christian. I, nor should the BSA, will not apologize for my be-

Jeff Parker, Florida Today and the Fort Myers News-Press

liefs and values. I, nor should the BSA, change their values in order to make others feel good. I find it amazing that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) never opens their mouth when homosexuals discriminate against heterosexuals. Tonya Parker, a Black, homosexual elected judge in Dallas County, Texas, refuses to marry heterosexual couples until she can legally marry. “I do not perform them because it is not an equal application of the law. Period,” she said. I guess the HRC has laryngitis when it comes to discrimination from within their community. The homosexual agenda has little to do with the BSA, they are just a convenient target; and more to do about them forcing society to accept their personal lifestyle choices. They are free to set up any

type of private club they want and indoctrinate anyone who chooses to join. We, who believe in Christian values, have an obligation to take a principled stand in support of organizations such as the BSA and not leave them to fight this battle alone. I will be making a personal contribution to the BSA and strongly encourage you to do the same. If not us, who? If not now, when?

Raynard Jackson is president and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relations/government affairs firm. He can be reached through his Web site, www.raynardjackson. com. Click on this story at www. daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Don’t be fooled by loan offers on TV, radio Have you noticed the television commercials that offer loans of various kinds or another enticements such as auto leases and insurance policies for the elderly? These commercials are laden with information that appears on the screen for a few seconds and is too small to read. On the radio, these kinds of ads have a spokesperson who gives you the details of such offers so fast that you can’t understand a word he is saying. Like me, you have probably wondered why they bother giving the details at all. Of course, by law, they have to disclose this information but I guess no one said how long it should be, how large a font to use, or how slowly the spokesperson had to speak.

Devil in details What does this all mean to us, the consumers? Most of us probably know someone who has fallen prey to these commercials and gone out and made purchases they ultimately regretted because of the

JAMES CLINGMAN NNPA COLUMNIST

high prices they ended up paying. As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” Indeed. The genesis of this article is from the commercial that offers a loan of $10,000 with little or no red tape. It says the company is owned and operated by Native Americans, and it features a phenotypically looking Native American female as spokesperson who lauds the opportunity to get $10,000 to pay all your bills and the convenience of having just one fixed monthly payment. The problem is she doesn’t say what that monthly payment will be. Instead, it is flashed on the screen just before the commercial ends, embedded in a paragraph that is too long to read in the time allotted.

Prepaid credit card use on the rise Since the enactment of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, consumers have benefited from more transparent pricing and improved ability to manage credit card debt. Although 68 percent of consumers had a credit card in 2010, fewer than 40 percent carried a balance that year – the lowest proportion on record. Interest rates paid on credit card debt has fallen since the Act’s implementation. Moreover, the number of late fees paid by consumers dropped by more than half – from $901 million in January 2010 to $427 million in November that same year. Consumers benefited while issuers continued to profit. At the same time, the nation’s top five credit card issuers – who accounted for more than half of the credit card market with combined portfolios of $475 billion, continued to enjoy net earnings that were significantly higher than those of other commercial banks. “The State of Lending in America and its Impact on U.S. Households,” (http://rspnsb.li/state-oflending), addresses how credit card practices and usage have changed since the enactment of credit card reform. It also speaks to emerging challenges. While opponents of credit card reform predicted that the Credit CARD Act would lead to higher prices and shrinking credit availability, those claims were nev-

Charlene Crowell NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER

er realized. According to CRL, “Opponents of the Credit CARD Act raised fears that the reforms would result in the unintended consequence of restricting consumers’ access to credit. This has been proven unfounded.” Additionally, a series of credit card enforcement actions in 2012 by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) resulted in consumers receiving nearly half a billion dollars in refunds. Government penalties were added to these refunds at an additional cost of $66.5 million.

A $10,000 loan, without hassles, can go a long way to help someone who is in dire financial straits, so I would imagine some people would jump at the opportunity to take advantage of the offer. The problem is that it is taking advantage of the consumer. This is not like the $1,000 Montel is offering to put into your checking account “in 24 hours.” Sit down while I tell you what the fine print says on the $10,000 commercial.

Convenient monthly payment? The convenient fixed monthly payments are $743.49. So far so good, right? Well, I had to watch the commercial several times before I could make out how many payments that would be. After at least four viewings, because I did not believe what I thought I had seen the first, second, and third times, I confirmed the number of payments to be 84. “Okay,” I said; let’s see what the total amount of the loan would

lions of Americans. After examining consumer activity from 2000 to 2012, CRL found that credit card debt rose over a full decade from $172 billion in 2000 to $855 billion in 2012. The only consumer debts that surpassed credit cards were housing, cars, and student loans. Many low and moderate income households still turn to credit cards to pay for basic expenses at the rate of 40 percent. Credit card debt has also stemmed from out-of-pocket medical costs for 47 percent of low- and middle-income families. And among families struggling with the challenges of employment, 86 percent racked up credit card debt.

Use of prepaid cards

Further, new financial challenges are emerging with a seven-year surge in the use of prepaid cards. In 2009 alone, six billion prepaid card transactions totaled $140 billion in the U.S. In addition to consumers, many governmental benefits are shifting towards payment via prepaid cards and some employers now offer prepaid cards instead of traMillions in debt ditional payroll checks. Despite these encouraging “Prepaid credit cards can prodevelopments, debt remains a vide convenience and safety, but weighty financial burden for mil- these advantages can be quickly

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.

THE CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

be. For 84 months, which is seven years, at $743.49 per month, the total amount to be repaid is a whopping $62,453! Some may opt for a lower amount, say, $5,000. Well, for that amount you make 84 payments of $486.58, or a total of $40,872! Sound better? This is not a self-righteous condemnation of folks who find themselves in untenable financial situations that call for drastic measures such as taking loans that come with usury interest rates as high as 340 percent. I am simply writing this to inform and warn folks to take time to read the fine print before signing up for desperation loans.

File for bankruptcy Please look for alternative ways to raise money when you have problems – legal ways, of course. And, if the situation calls for it, there is always bankruptcy. I know that comes with a high cost as well, but a least you will not have the

eroded by high fees. Many prepaid cards come with significant charges – fees to sign up, deposit money, check a balance, use an ATM, and cancel the account,” the report said. “Because the disclosure of fees varies from card to card – many are hidden altogether – consumers have difficulty knowing what their costs will be, let alone comparison shopping”, the report said. CRL urges continued state and

burden of trying to pay bills with borrowed money, that is, if you don’t go out after filing bankruptcy and run up debt again. The bankruptcy laws were written to relieve you of that burden and have been used for years by millions of people. Unfortunately, many Black people view bankruptcy as a stigma; other folks view it as a strategy. Read the fine print, folks. And then make good choices when it comes to borrowing money and buying cars.

Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached through his website, blackonomics.com. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

federal enforcements and strong defense of both the CFPB and the Credit CARD Act. For prepaid cards, CRL will analyze credit features, mandatory arbitration and the effect of overdraft fees.

Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org. Click on this story at www. daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

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M AYOR CULTURE

5 7

Going natural Black women are unlocking potential of hair untreated by chemicals BY CINDY HOEDEL KANSAS CITY STAR (MCT)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five years ago, Kansas City, Mo., jazz singer Bukeka Shoals woke up one morning and decided she was through with chemical relaxers. “I was tired of wearing my hair a certain way to feel acceptable,” says Shoals, who now wears her hair in a fluffed-out curly ‘do with slanted bangs framing her face. For Shoals, embracing her African-American hair the way God made it was part of a midlife transformation to express her true self in every way, to get back to a cultural identity she had chosen as a young girl but then drifted away from. Shoals grew up in California in the 1960s and ’70s, when Black leaders, entertainers and athletes wore Afros as a political statement. Her father was earning a doctorate at Stanford University. When she was 6, Shoals asked her parents if she could change her given name, Gretchen Elizabeth, to Bukeka Bosede. Bukeka is a South African name from the Xhosa people, and Bosede comes from the Yoruba of West Africa.

‘Freeing’ hairstyle While most of the nation was mesmerized by televised images of civil rights activist Angela Davis and her amazing Afro — it seemed as big as the moon she was reaching for — Shoals and her family saw her in person at rallies. “My whole family wore Afros then. And my sister and I had wigs that looked like Angela’s hair because ours wasn’t long enough,” she says.

In her late teens, Shoals started relaxing her hair and wore it that way for more than 20 years. When she decided to ditch the chemical relaxers, she discovered natural hair has practical benefits. It requires less time at the hair salon, costs less money and makes it easier to maintain an active lifestyle. Because relaxed hair can lose its shape if exposed to water or sweat, Black women with perms often avoid strenuous exercise. For Shoals, who works out four to five times a week and likes to swim, natural hair is “freeing.” She’s not alone.

LaKeisha Brashier, right, uses a blow dryer on Diane Burkholder’s hair at Shampoo by Salon LaRon in Kansas City. ALLISON LONG/KANSAS CITY STAR/MCT

Oprah too Stylists say there has been a sea change in the last decade, with percentages flipping from 80 percent of their Black female clients using relaxers 10 years ago to only 20 percent using them today. As with most trends, the movement toward natural Black hair started on both coasts before really gaining momentum here about two years ago. Celebrities such as Erykah Badu, Esperanza Spalding and Rihanna are frequently seen rocking natural locks in magazines. In September 2012, Oprah went au naturel, sporting a full mane of real curls in her cover shot for O magazine for the first time. Celebrities have always driven trends in hairstyles. Just as Angela Davis and the Jackson Five ushered in Afros during the Black-is-beautiful movement in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Michael Jackson and Prince ignited a relaxer revolution with their Jheri curls in the early ‘80s. But today’s shift toward natural styles is not a return to the Afro. Blacks who opt for that retro style are the exception, not the rule.

Standing out Kevin Young, a senior on the University of Kansas Jayhawks

basketball team, lets his hair grow during basketball season as a way to stand out. “I like wearing an Afro. Not a lot of people have one. A lot of people say I’m like Samson because I can’t cut my hair,” Young says, laughing. Still, Young says some of his teammates have been growing their own hair out a little longer, too. Students sometimes come up to Young on campus or at the grocery store to compliment his hair. And he does the same thing. “I don’t see many Afros around here, but when I do I make sure I stop and say hello.” LaRon Green, owner of Shampoo by Salon LaRon in Kansas City, Mo., emphasizes that natural Black hair doesn’t have a single expression. “Natural Black hair can be styled to be super curly or stick straight or anything in between,” Green says. In fact, natural hair gives women more styling options than chemically relaxed hair. That’s because sodium hydroxide, or lye, the active ingredient in relaxers, changes the way molecules in the hair bond. In doing so, it also makes hair more susceptible to breakage, so stylists don’t want to

add highlights or use heated styling tools on relaxed hair. Curls in relaxed hair are created by setting wet hair on rollers.

Back to pressing comb Natural hair, however, can be colored, flat-ironed or blowdried. Green uses chemical relaxers on clients who want them, but he tries to talk them into going natural because it is healthier for the hair. Relaxers, especially if applied improperly, can burn the scalp and permanently damage hair follicles, leading to thinning hair and bald spots. The latest generation of heated styling tools and natural creams and oils has helped swing the tide away from relaxed hair by expanding the styling options for natural hair. Today, natural hair can be styled to look even sleeker and straighter than relaxed hair. “By using a pressing comb around the hair line and then flat-ironing the hair, you can add more body and bounce to the hair. Processed hair can’t take heat,” Green says.

Brazilian blowout Queen Latifah’s silky straight look comes from pressing combs

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and flat irons, not chemical relaxers, Green says. You can tell because photos of her in a pool show her hair reverting to natural, tight curls. Another option for straightening Black hair naturally is the Brazilian blowout, says Trae Smith, a stylist at Paul Smith Salon in Kansas City. The technique, popular with Whites, seals keratin and collagen into the hair using high heat. Keratin is a protein that hair needs, and collagen provides necessary elasticity. A Brazilian blowout doesn’t change the chemical bonds in the hair but “tricks” the hair cuticle into lying down flatter, which reduces frizz for several weeks before it returns to its natural form. “Black women just want the same options Caucasian women have. Before, they couldn’t achieve that flowy Kim Kardashian or Jennifer Lopez look without chemical relaxers, but with today’s products and implements they can,” Smith says. Other popular natural looks include popcorn twists, two-strand twists, coils, poufs and braids without extensions.

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JANUARY 31DECEMBER – FEBRUARY 14 - 6, 20,2013 2006

MSPORTS AYOR

B-CU SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman University has a women’s bowling team, which is ranked nationally with a plethora of young talent.

Wildcats bowling team young, talented, nationally ranked BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

Bethune-Cookman University is gaining national attention in a sport that’s isn’t football, basketball, baseball or softball. The Lady Wildcats (3830) bowling team is ranked 19th in the National Ten Pen Coaches’ Association poll. They entered the season ranked No. 17. “It is a plus. Our peers think that we are a quality opponent. It’s also tough because everyone plays their best against us. It’s great for our program and it’s a great recruiting tool,” said Tony O’Neal, B-CU’s head bowling coach. “We are ranked but it’s not a title. We want a ring at the end of the year, but it’s a step in the right direction,” stated senior Staci Hilliard.

Right direction In 2004-05, the Wildcats finished the season fourth in the nation but there were no polls. “It’s our first time being

B-CU ROUNDUP ranked because we only had polls for the past three to four years,” confirmed O’Neal. The Wildcats finished No. 17, going 6-8 at the Kutztown University Invitational, which featured some of the nation’s top programs last week in Reading, Pa. B-CU placed third a week earlier in the Frederick Underwood Invitational in Laurel, Md., a week earlier. “We are progressing well, a little slower but we are a young team laden with freshman and sophomores. We are still young and learning. We are taking steps in the right direction,” responded O’Neal.

Young and talented Bethune-Cookman has a team that is young but has plenty of talent. “There is a lot of talent on this team. All of our players are accomplished high school and national players who are learning how to do it as a team. We have a lot of potential and a great work

Atlantic can’t keep up with Mainland BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

Local storied programs Mainland and Atlantic squared off at Atlantic High in Port Orange last week with Mainland leaving with a 67-50 victory. Mainland won state titles in 1995, 1996 and 1998 while Atlantic made the Final Four in 2007. The Mainland Buccaneers’ speed and athleticism was too much for the Sharks. “We try to get out in transition as much as we can and we do that with our pressure defense. We were able to do that for the most part,” said Landis McCoy, Mainland’s coach. “Tonight was like our last couple of games with the turnovers. We had too many to overcome,” said Kyle Lafebvre, Atlantic’s coach. The Bucs were able to build several leads, but the Sharks countered with sev-

VOLUSIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REVIEW eral comebacks. A steal and layup by Turon Hough gave Mainland a 28-13 lead with 5:15 to play in the second quarter. Atlantic got within 28-20 after a floater by Corneious Reynolds with 3:42 remaining in the half. “They were able to come back a lot. We are still young and inconsistent. We only have three seniors on roster. We are working on becoming consistent, which we will have to in districts to make a run,” added McCoy.

Mainland pulls away The Buccaneers responded by pushing their lead to 37-23 at halftime. The Sharks battled back and got within 37-30 after a three-pointer from Justin Vallejo with 6:01 to go

ethic,” said O’Neal. Hilliard gets the nod as the team’s star player. “I just love to bowl and that helps me be successful, which helps the team succeed,” remarked Hilliard. “She is a phenomenal player. She is our team leader. She is All-Conference and All-MEAC Tournament. Staci has also made All Tournament teams five times this seasons,” said O’Neal. Atlantic High alumnus Rachel Moore is a local product who has stood out and senior Ypretycia Crumley is the dependable team captain. “It’s always interesting being the local player. I have friends and family that are here and I want to represent the city well,” commented Moore. “Rachel is coming along well. She represents her hometown well. Ypretycia is our first four-year letterman and our Baker specialist,” added O’Neal. The Wildcats also have rising stars in sophomores Natalee Armstrong and Felicia Baker. in the third quarter. “We came out with heart and were able to get some stops. We fought and was able to get back in the game a few times,” stated Lafebvre. From there on, Mainland pulled away and led by as many as 24 points. Dexter Goodin had a game-high 14 points, including four three-pointers while Criag Wilmore had 13 with several highlight dunks to lead the Buccaneers. Vallejo and Brandon Shephard each had 13 points to lead the Sharks. Brandon Thompson added 11 points while both Hough and Da’Treon Robinson each had nine for Mainland. “Turon is a spark guy. Dexter is our best outside threat and Tre can shoot as well. They are young and they stepped up tonight,” stated McCoy. Reynolds and Daquan Rahmig each added six points for Atlantic.

Girls basketball district tournaments The district champion and runner-up earn state

“Natalee is a pure athlete who is very tough while Felicia is quiet but a great athlete and competitor,” commented O’Neal. O’Neal is excited about newcomers sophomore Rebecca Gomez from Costa Rica along with freshmen Ebonie Farrell and Alyx Richards. “Rebecca is a great addition and brings a lot of experience. Ebonie and Alyx both have a great work ethic and are learning the college game,” said O’Neal.

Chasing a title under the radar The Wildcats success is going basically unnoticed on a Black college campus where football and basketball tend to get all the attention. “We understand the dynamics of athletics. We don’t see it as a swipe to our sport. It’s just part of America but those true to the athletic field know how important it is to have teams in the nation elite,” responded O’Neal. Hilliard added, “It’s ironic but for the most part we chuckle. It gives us more motivation to win. If we win a title, everyone will know us.” Winning a national title is the goal but B-CU must first get through the MidEastern Athletic Conference, which features several good teams, including two-time national champion, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. playoff bids so making it to the title game is a must. The games are Jan. 28 through Feb. 2. Most likely to make playoffs: Father Lopez. True playoff contenders: Atlantic, DeLand, Flagler Palm Coast, Seabreeze, Trinity. Team most likely to sneak in: New Smyrna, Calvary. 2-8A: DeLand, Spruce Creek, Lyman Longwood, Oviedo Hagarty, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley, Sanford Seminole. Note: Top-seeded DeLand has won 14 straight games and is expected to meet second seeded Seminole in the Final. 3-7A: New Smyrna, University, Melbourne Veira. Note: NSB plays University in semi-final with playoff and district title game berth on the line. Barracudas beat Titans twice this season. 8-6A: Mainland, Seabreeze, Pine Ridge, Deltona, Orlando Edgewater. Note: Seabreeze should make the post season and face Edgewater in the final. 7-4A: Atlantic, Orlando Jones, Orlando Lake Highland Prep, Bishop Moore. Note: Atlantic has the

“The completion in the MEAC is very tough. We have five teams ranked in the top 20 nationally each year. It gets harder because teams become familiar with you. Before we can play for a national title we have to win the MEAC. It’s very difficult getting an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament,” expressed O’Neal. “The competition is fierce. We feel that no one can beat us and that we only beat ourselves. We are working hard towards doing the thing we need to do out there,” added Moore.

Men’s hoops: B-CU splits home games Ricky Johnson’s free throw with 2.1 seconds remaining lifted BethuneCookman to a 58-57 win over the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday. Adrien Coleman had 17 points to lead the Wildcats while teammates Johnson added 11 points and Alex Smith six points with 10 rebounds and five blocks. Two days earlier, B-CU suffered a 68-52 loss to Delaware State University. In that game, Coleman and Paul Scotland each scored 13 points while Johnson added 11 for the ‘Cats.

Women’s hoops: Lady Wildcats split, too The Lady Wildcats (910, 4-3) held off Marylandstate’s top recruit with Ronni Williams but the Sharks must come with their A-game in a tough tournament field to make the post season. 4-3A: Father Lopez, Warner, Lake Mary Prep, Oviedo Master’s Academy. Note: Lopez is expected to breeze through tourney. Warner has had a good season but plays Lopez in semis. 2-2A: Calvary, Jacksonville First Coast, Jacksonville Seacoast Note: A win by the Lions over First Coast in the semis puts them in the post season. 4-2A: Trinity, Orlando Faith Christian, Orlando Christian Prep, Winter Park International Community, Geneva. Note: second seeded Trinity should make the title game and playoffs but can’t overlook International Community in semis. Flagler Palm Coast plays in district 1-8A with Jacksonville teams Sandalwood and Mandarin. Palm Coast Matanzas plays in district 4-5A with St Augustine Menendez, Ponte Verde, Ponte Verde Nease.

Eastern Shore 55-44 on Monday. Terrenisha Hollis had 11 points with 11 rebounds and two blocks to lead BCU. Chastity Taylor and Jasmine Evans each added 10 for the Wildcats. Two days earlier, the Lady Wildcats suffered a heartbreaking 62-57 defeat in overtime at the hands of Delaware State. Hollis led the Wildcats with a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds with two blocks while Taylor added 18 points.

Track and field: Wildcats men win meet B e t h u n e - C o o k m a n ’s men’s track and field team won the Jimmy Carnes Invitational Indoor Track and Field event in Gainesville this past week. The Wildcats program won a total of six gold medals at the event. For the men’s side, Garrett Ellis (50.05) won the 400m dash, Josh Perkins (21.95) took the 200m dash and Keron Stoute (4,007 points) was first in the heptathlon for B-CU. On the women’s side, Rayanna Johnson (3,240 points) won the pentathlon while Tristie Johnson (24.54) took the 200m dash for the Wildcats. The Ladies finished fifth in the team standings. Up next for B-CU is the New Balance Invitational in Brooklyn, New York Feb. 1-2.

New Smyrna staying in 6A New Smyrna Beach High will remain in Class 6A next season as the school won its reclassification appeal with the Florida High School Athletic Association. New Smyrna will remain in District 9-6A with local schools Mainland, Seabreeze, Deltona and Deltona Pine Ridge. The Barracudas were to move to Class 7A and play in District 3 with schools located in Duval County. Staying in the current classification will help the school and program financially, especially with travel.

Prep Sports Seven Basketball Girls: 1. Father Lopez (20-5), 2. Atlantic (15-6), 3. DeLand (24-2), 4. Flagler Palm Coast (18-6), 5. Trinity (17-7), 6. Seabreeze (98), 7. Warner (8-8). Boys: 1. Father Lopez (202), 2. DeLand (15-6), 3. New Smyrna (19-3), 4. Mainland (14-9), 5. Calvary (16-6), 6. Spruce Creek (9-12), 7. Halifax (10-7). Others: Atlantic (9-10). Taylor (6-7), Flagler Palm Coast (9-11).

7PERSONAL

FINANCE

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Blacks bear brunt of Great Recession wealth losses BY FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

The Great Recession has had its greatest impact on AfricanAmericans, who saw their net wealth decrease at a rate more than four times faster than Whites, according to a recent report by United for a Fair Economy, a Boston-based research group that advocates for economic equality, Black families are losing ground. The report titled, “State of the Dream 2013: A Long Way From Home” found that as White families lost 6.7 percent of their average net wealth from 2007 to 2010, net wealth for Black families dropped by 27.1 percent. “Wealth disparities, the legacy of White supremacy in the United States, are among the largest, most persistent, and damaging aspects of racial inequality,” the report stated. According to the report, net worth of White families is more than six times higher than the average net worth of Black families.

Middle class growth Federal policies that compounded the wealth disparities that existed during the Jim Crow era can be linked to rapid expansion of the middle class following World War II. After World War II, the federal government launched a number of initiatives and public investment programs that contributed to the growth of the middle class – a White middle class. Blacks were often blocked from taking part in those same programs that assisted White families in securing stable jobs and buying their first homes, the report observes. As civil rights legislation sought to level the playing field during the 1960s, those same programs that aided Whites in acquiring wealth through home

ownership began to evaporate. “Meanwhile, the financial wealth and social capital that had accumulated for the White middle class was transferred from one generation to the next ensuring that the inequalities of the past live on,” the report concluded. As Whites accumulated wealth, Black families accrued more debt while chasing the American Dream.

SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Housing market’s impact Today, White families carry 17 percent of their net worth in debt, but Black families owe more than half (53 percent) of their net worth in debt. “The [housing] crisis was about people being over-leveraged and communities as a whole carrying to much debt relative to what they owned,” said Tim Sullivan, federal policy coordinator for United for a Fair Economy and co-author of the State of the Dream report. Blacks keep almost half (48.6 percent) of their wealth wrapped up in their homes, making it harder to access those assets in times of emergency. For White families, the value of their home is 27.9 percent of their total assets. Because Blacks tied so much of their financial futures to their homes, when the housing market collapsed, their slice of the American Dream collapsed as well. Whites also held 10 times more of their assets in stocks, bonds and cash in banks than Blacks. This balance enabled White families to weather the crisis better than Black families. “Federal policies that encourage home ownership as both housing and asset building strategies play a significant role in continuing the wealth divide,” according to the report.

Free tax preparation help available at Dickerson Center

HEATHER CHARLES/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Dr. James Thompson, 54. stands in his offices at Associated Allergists and Asthma Specialists, Ltd. in Chicago in October 2012. He grew up in an upper-income enclave surrounded by neighborhoods of more modest means. He said black middleclass residents have historically lived not far from poorer residents.

Some recommendations The top 5 percent of income earners received more than a 30 percent of the home interest mortgage deduction benefits. The bottom 80 percent received only 21 percent of the benefit, according to the report. “We should be looking to pull more people up to the middle class rather than giving more benefits to the wealthiest and people that are doing well,” said Sullivan. Even though the State of the Dream report acknowledges that there are no easy solutions to closing the racial wealth gap, lawmakers ignore the problem at the peril of the nation. The report offered a number of recommendations for closing the gap including: “separating housing and wealth creation policies, implementing better targeted asset building strate-

gies, and encouraging alternative ownership models.” The report offered case studies from Cleveland, Ohio and Austin, Texas where workerowned business cooperatives have made a positive impact on local communities. Four years ago, the Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland were created to combat high unemployment in the city. Now, the worker-owned Evergreen Laundry Cooperative cleans more than 10 tons of linen annually. The laundry business, a solar panel installation service and a greenhouse business, are “thriving” according to the case study. Regina Massey, one of the worker-owners at the laundry co-op was quoted in the case study. “It’s great,” said Massey. “I get to own my house, stay in my house, pay my bills.”

Families in Volusia and Flagler counties could have up to $5,600 additional income this year by taking advantage of the earned income tax credit. However, they may not know they’re eligible. Free tax preparation help is available that will register eligible families for the tax credit through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program. IRS-certified volunteers identify taxpayer’s eligibility for the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit), Child Tax Credit, etc. and to help them file accurate tax returns staff the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites.

Help available at Dickerson Center One of the sites is the John H. Dickerson Center, 308 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Service is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. beginning Jan. 31 until last day to file taxes. The VITA program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income families who prefer not to prepare their own tax returns. The Campaign for Working Families has partnered with the Internal Revenue Service once again this year to offer free tax preparation through VITA. The tax season runs through April 15. The 15 sites are located in Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Port Orange, Bunnell, Palm Coast, Pierson, South Daytona and Seville. The trained volunteers prepared more than 2,500 tax returns in Volusia and Flagler Counties last year saving taxpayers thousands of dollars and helping to get back over $1.7 million in tax credits and over $3 million in refunds. To locate the nearest VITA site, call United Way of Volusia-Flagler Coiunties at 386-253-0564 or 2-1-1, or go online at www.unitedwayvfc. org/taxes.