Lady Wildcats defeat FAMU in MEAC tourney SEE PAGE 7
EE FR
JAMES CLINGMAN: Who pays for police officers’ misbehavior? SEE PAGE 4
MEET THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR’S BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL SEE PAGE 8
East Central Florida’s Black Voice MARCH 12 - MARCH 18, 2015
YEAR 40 NO. 11
www.daytonatimes.com
Volusia County teachers take a stand Educators refusing to work past their contracted hours BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
Volusia County teachers are showing their disapproval of unpaid work by beginning what is called “Work to the Contract.” Working to the contract refers
to teachers in Volusia County only working the contract hours for which they are paid. According to Andrew Spar, Volusia Teachers Organization president, teachers on average, spend an additional three hours per day completing paperwork, attending meetings or training and/or attending after-school activities. For now, teachers will not be participating in those unpaid activities.
Many concerns Spar says this action stems from an ongoing concern that Volusia students and teachers are being shortchanged. As previously reported in the Daytona Times, teachers in Volusia County have been asking the district and school board to address many concerns, including cleanliness of schools, lack of resources (including textbooks), lack of respect for those who work in the school system schools and
lack of competitive pay. At the Feb. 11 school board meeting, hundreds of teachers chanted, “What’s with 1 percent? We give a hundred percent!” Last week, more than 2,000 teachers, support staff and parents participated each day in what was referred to as “walkins” to show unity and concern about the direction the school district is heading. The adults and students in Volusia County teamed up before the school bell
rang and walked in together to show solidarity.
Testy exchange An exchange of words during contract negotiations last on March 5 got ugly when hundreds of teachers were unable to get into the boardroom of the DeLand Administrative Complex. It had been requested that the location be changed to better acPlease see TEACHERS, Page 2
DeLand museum celebrates 20th year BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
The African American Museum of the Arts (AAMA) is celebrating 20 years since the vision of a place where Black artists could display their artwork yearround became a reality. It was founded in 1994 by Irene D. Johnson and her husband, Maxwell, in an effort to shape the thinking of young African-Americans in a positive and self-affirming manner. “We are still here,” Mary Allen, executive director of AAMA, told the Daytona Times. “And we are going to continue to provide enrichment programs to our community.”
‘MazzMuse’ concert
ASHLEY D.THOMAS/DAYTONA TIMES
Motorcycle enthusiasts William and Lynn Rawles were married on March 11 in Daytona Beach.
Couple picks Bike Week as perfect time for nuptials BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
A
mid the engine ramming, loud music and exhaust you will find newlyweds H. Lynn “Buttafly” Hill and William C. “Dollar” Rawles. They tied the knot on March 11 during Daytona Beach’s annual Bike Week, which kicked off March 6 and will run through March 16. The pair, who has known each other for three years, held their destination wedding at the Blue Grotto Wednesday evening in front of friends, family and plenty of bikers. They met at a bike event in New Jersey in 2012. “They both love to ride,” relayed friend Africia Ansari of Newport News, Va. “They are both very outgoing, all about family and have a passion for life.” She said through laughter, “Their bikeloving is everything,”
Bike Week repeats Rawles is the founder of two bike clubs – one in Newark, the other in Bloomfield, NJ. “We both love to ride,” Hill shared. “We met and fell in love.”
Hill says she has been to Bike Week events in Daytona Beach for two years and Rawles has come down for three. “We have a great time,” she continued. “We thought, ‘What better place to get married?’ ‘’ “I ride because the gray area between life and death when only seconds separate the two is where I feel alive. I ride because it’s who I am and it’s in my blood,” said Rawles. “When I look at Lynn that’s where I feel alive!”
World’s largest Daytona Beach has been home to the “World’s Largest Motorcycle Event” since 1937. By Saturday, nearly a half-million bikers are expected to have made their way to the annual event. Street festivals, concerts, motorcycle races, bike shows, rallies, manufacturer showcases and plenty of food to be had take place in and around Volusia and Flagler counties. Bikers convene on Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard (MMB), Main Street, Beach Street and along U.S. Highway 1. “Business has been good so far,” Elijah Perkins owner of J&J Enterprise of Wilmington, N.C. told the Daytona Times on Tuesday. He and wife Jeanette have set up
shop on MMB for over a decade. They sale patches, pins and hats and have a sewing machine on site to add directly to a jacket or other article of clothing. “We’ve come down 15, 16 years and it continues to grow. When we first came, the attractions on this side of town were held in the park and grew and grew and was moved to the street,” he shared. “The first weekend is always slower than the second,” he continued. “But the second weekend makes up for it.”
More competitive Ro Bryant, a Bike Week and U.S. Navy veteran, agrees. “It has certainly grown,” the Jacksonville native said. “There are more of us (Blacks) here, but there is less to do on this side (MMB) than the others, so you have to move around.” Bryant wants to see prices in the MMB area become more competitive and offer additional services that he says are a given at other locales. “The local people are fighting over who will get the dime,” he concluded. “But understand everybody will get a chance to eat.”
As part of the celebration, Allen says an encore presentation by violinist Mazz Swift featuring Richie Barshay will be held at the Athens Theatre in DeLand. “This is a celebration of our 20th anniversary,” Allen shared. “We wanted to bring ‘MazzMuse’ back for a second time. She is an international violinist and plays the traditional and electric violin, she sings as well as plays. She does a phenomenal job.” Barshay is a nationally recognized percussionist. Critically acclaimed as one of America’s most talented and versatile performers of today, Swift has engaged audiences all over the world with her violin/vox/ freestyle composition that uses a weaving of song, melody, and improvisation that she has named “MazzMuse.”
Julliard-trained artist The native New Yorker and solo artist combines elements of classical, folk, electronic, jazz and otherwise free improvisational music to create a complete musical experience. She is a singer and Juilliard School-trained violinist (playing both electric and acoustic instruments) who brings her passion for creating true compositions in the spur of the moment to audiences around the world. As a solo artist, her performance highlights include an appearance at the National Action Network’s 20th Annual Keepers of the Dream awards ceremony where President Barack Obama was the keynote speaker; a “Today’’ show appearance; and a TEDx appearance during the TED Women Conference. Mazz also sits on the artistic board of Con Vivo (the New Jersey City-based chamber music society that brings free chamber music to New Jersey City and surPlease see MUSEUM, Page 2
ALSO INSIDE
PALM COAST: FLAGLER NAACP CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT | PAGE 3 EDUCATION: AFRICAN-AMERICANS FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL AT RECORD LEVELS | PAGE 5
7 FOCUS
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2015
Westside students learning about different countries during ‘Literacy Nights’
Students from Westside Elementary sit with Principal Judy Wench to decorate eggs, a traditional practice of Iranians in celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
Students at Westside Elementary continue their monthly “Literacy Nights,” aimed at helping to improve early literacy at the school. Each month students learn about a different country through reading, clothing, crafts and food. This month, students learned about Persia (Iran), which recently celebrated the Persian new year. Principal Judy Winch
ASHLEY D. THOMAS/ DAYTONA TIMES
Film festival to showcase two Black productions The Friends of the Daytona Beach Library and Cinematique will present a two-day film festival featuring African-American productions. The films will be shown at the Cinematique Theater, 242 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach. They include: • “Johnny Tough”: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28. This 1974 “blaxploitation” film is tempered by a social consciousness. It focuses on a young African-American boy who continually rebels against the White establishment, as represented by his teacher. His attitude is not supported by his parents, so he feels that a show of force is his only option. “Johnny Tough” was the first African-American production to reach No. 1 in Daily Variety. Renny Roker, who produced the film and played the boy’s father, will lead a discussion after the screening.
• “Get on the Bus”: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 29. This Spike Lee production follows a group of African-American men who are taking a cross-country bus trip to the 1995 Million Man March in Washington, D.C. Daytona Beach resident Percy Williamson, who attended the march, will lead a discussion after the film. Food and beverages will be available at the theater. The film festival is part of the Connecting with the Community series, a twoyear program funded in part by a partnership grant from the Florida Humanities Council. In 2014, programs focused on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This year’s programs address contemporary issues and continuing traditions. Connecting with the Community programs are co-funded by the Friends of the Daytona Beach Library. There is no charge for the movies, but tickets are required. To obtain tickets, contact Deborah Shafer at dshafer@volusia.org or 386257-6036, ext. 16264.
AKAs to shine spotlight on men who cook
Spike Lee’s “Get on the Bus’’ will be shown on March 29.
TEACHERS from Page 1
commodate teachers and community members who wanted to attend the public negotiations sessions. During negotiations, Mike Dyer, chief council for Volusia County Schools, told Spar, “If you cannot control your people…” insulting those in attendance and throughout the district. 121926“This only shows c934how little respect this district and board have for the hardworking people in our district,” said Spar. “First, you lock them out of negotiations by selecting a location that is too small to hold those who wish to attend, and then you make a disparaging remark.”
Teachers speak out The union states that teachers in Volusia Coun-
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY ALLEN
Internationally known violinist Mazz Swift (above) will be at the Athens Theater in DeLand on March 28.
MUSEUM from Page 1 rounding areas).
History of museum After numerous community meetings with friends and leaders from West Volusia, a board of directors was established on Sept. 22, 1994, to create the African American Museum of the Arts. Two months later in November, the museum signed an agreement with the DeLand Housing Authority for a 1,200-squarefoot facility located at 325
S. Clara in the heart of the African-American community in DeLand. The museum was incorporated on Jan. 10, 1995. On May 3, 1995, the museum received its 501(c) (3) not-for-profit tax-exempt status and opened its doors to the public on Oct. 8, 1995. Since its founding, the museum has provided exhibitions, held classes for youngsters and seniors, and is frequently the meeting place for community organizations.
Next for museum In interacting with the community, the museum has participated in numerous festivals and spon-
says the monthly event has been a hit among students and parents. About 400 student and parents attended last week. The Rotary Club of Daytona Beach is sponsoring the series of five literacy nights along with Food Brings Hope, a local nonprofit organization that provides meals to homeless or underprivileged children while nurturing the body, mind and spirit.
sored exhibits in schools, businesses and churches throughout Volusia County. While celebrating the past and the present, Allen looks forward to the future of the museum as well. There are plans to renovate the building and build a new museum in upcoming years. “We are here and we will continue to be here,” she said. Tickets to the MazzMuse show can be purchased online at the Athens Theatre website: http://athensdeland.Blurbs/mazzmuse.html. For more information about the museum, contact Mary Allen at 386-7364004.
On March 22, the Gamma Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will present its Third Annual Male Cook-Off event at the Daytona Beach Resort and Conference Center, 2700 N. Atlantic Ave. The culinary competition takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. The cook-off will feature appetizers, entrees and desserts prepared by men of the community who range from culinary hobbyists to professionals. Proceeds from the event will go toward scholarships for Volusia County students who desire to attend college. The event will also feature music, door prizes and a silent auction. For ticket information, contact Patricia James at 386-299-8331 or pjames21578@bellsouth.net.
ty want what is best for parents for help. their students. They want “We are asking parents students to have clean to contact school board schools, teachers with re- members and say that sources and time to as- parents are supporting sist them and they want to the teachers and have the keep teaching in Volusia same concerns,” said PaCounty. tricia Randall, a teacher at “I have found it neces- Osteen Elementary School. sary on many occasions A parent-generated peto use my time, planning tition has been circulatand instructional, to clean ing online and has already my own classroom,” said generated more than 2,700 Cindy Martin, teacher at signatures. Sweetwater Elementary. The Volusia County “We have a curriculum School Board will meet at map that gives us links to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 13, sites on the Internet,” said for a different reason – to first-grade teacher Shirley hear from four search con2 9:25 2/16/01 Andersen. “I can find an sultantsJC who would65 like to adequate resource, after lead the search to find the 30 to 60 minutes of Inter- county’s next superintennet searching. That might dent. give me one to three lesThe board is searching sons that are appropriate for a successor for Superfor one to three days (math intendent Margaret Smith, only).” who stepped down at the Jan. 27 school board meetMarch 13 meeting ing after 11 years. Smith retired abruptThe Work to the Contract will continue until these is- ly following comments 4.25" sues are addressed by the from school board memdistrict and the school ber John Hill who accused board. Teachers are asking Smith of incompetence.
This is the watch Stephen Hollingshead, Jr. was wearing when he encountered a drunk driver. Time of death 6:55pm.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.
Photo by Michael Mazzeo
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2015 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
M A YNEWS OR
Flagler NAACP conference to focus on parental involvement Palm Coast residents are in a whirlwind of activities and looking to do something different leading to development and change. Education Chair Martine R. Wallenberg has announced “A Parental Involvement Conference: Supporting Our Children of Color’’ presented by the Flagler NAACP on March 13, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE. A state of emergency exists in the public schools and is the opportunity for parents, grandparents and legal guardians to speak up and have a dialogue surrounding their children’s education, activities in the community for youth involvement, and what should be known of children’s legal rights within the Flagler County Schools. Facilitating the dialogue will be Dr. Willie J. Greer Kimmons, former superintendent of schools, college president and chancellor; Eric Josey, NAACP first vice president, who will bring the topic of legal rights; and Dr. Willis Walter Jr., dean of the College of Education at Bethune-Cookman University, who will speak about scholarships. Linda Sharpe Haywood is the president of the Flagler County branch. Live entertainment will be provided and a light dinner served. Seating is limited to 125 people so please RSVP to the Flagler NAACP at 386-446-7822.
AACS to give history lessons during meetings Lionel Holder and Robert Brooks, chairmen of the African American Cultural Society’s Education Committee and the Black Studies Group, submitted the following report. On Jan. 22, President Stephanie Ecklin of the African American Cultural Society (AACS) met with Dr. Arthur L. Jamison Jr., assistant professor/director of Educational Programs at the Aerospace Career Academy of Embry-Riddle University, in reference to setting up an informational forum to highlight the benefits of their program for students in Flagler County.
NAACP Education Chair Martine R. Wallenberg announced a state of emergency involving children of color and a conference held to discuss the issue.
PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY
On Jan. 27, President Ecklin met with the Flagler NAACP and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) attorney/educator Amir Whitaker in reference to AfricanAmerican students and their representation by the SPLC. (Whitaker represents Flagler’s Black students for the SPLC.) It was discussed how the AACS can assist with the goal of providing additional services for African-American males. “A Look at Flagler’s State of Black Education,” as reported in my column of Feb. 5, revealed that Florida – a former Jim Crow state – has two school systems here in Flagler County, “and if you look at student outcomes today,” said Whitaker, “you will see two separate stories, and we are trying to address that to where all students are achieving at the same level.” The AACS’s Education and Black Studies Committees are proud to present, “What You Weren’t Taught in Your History Class.” On Feb. 15, Ecklin met with the Education Committee and the Black Studies Group to propose an idea she wanted the committees to include in their program. It involved devoting a portion of time at the AACS membership meetings. The president has already taken steps to successfully curtail the meetings. The presentations are titled “What You Weren’t Taught in Your History Class.” The time saved would be used to offer the presentations. The historical legacies have been very successful in reaching our high school, middle school, and elementary school children. But, we need to reach out to our members and their families. The speaker will use five minutes before the 50/50 drawing and the 200 Club drawing to introduce his topic. We are asking that those who wish to remain for 25 min-
COURTESY OF MARTINE R. WALLENBERG
utes to hear the complete presentation, to do so. Refreshments will be served. AACS meetings are held every fourth Saturday monthly and that’s at 10:30 a.m. to partake in refreshments, and then the meeting will begin at 11 a.m. The scheduled presentations will be held: • March 28: “African Culture,” Bertrand W. Green • April 25: “The Human Family,’’ Robert Whiting • May 23: “African/African American Inventions,’’ Lionel Holder • June 27: “African/African American Physicians,” Dr. Irving Robinson
AACS honors charter members Recently, AACS charter members were honored with certificates of appreciation. They are: Robert Alleyne, Robert Brooks, Lionel Holder, Jeanne Lanier, Lorenzo Jones, Dr. Jeanne Lea, Mildred O’Bryan, Ethel Riley, Robert Ottley, Karen Ottley, Marion Hassell, Emma D. Wilson and Miriam Pincham. The certificates were presented at the Jan. 24 general membership meeting in recognition of ex-
emplary contributions throughout the planning, implementation, and founding of the African American Cultural Society. The executive board agreed that Gold Lifetime Memberships should be presented at a recognition luncheon, the date of which will be determined.
Food giveaway March 14 at church The Women’s Missionary Society of First Church - the Rev. Gillard S. Glover, pastor - has scheduled the monthly food giveaway on March 14, 1 to 3 p.m., 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. For more information, call 386446-5759.
First Church to host ‘100 Women in White’ The Women’s Missionary Society of First Church is inviting the women of the church - and women from the community for a worship service, attired to attain “100 Women in White.” The Rev. Cheryl Daniels of the ministerial staff will be the messenger and will address “Seeking Spiritual Beauty.” The Women’s Missionary Society functions under a spectrum of
charitable services and activities. The worship service will be held on Sunday, March 15, 4 p.m., at the church.
Women’s History Month Luncheon is March 21 Women’s Day Co-Chairs Gloria Singleton and Barbara Greene have invited the community to a catered Women’s History Month Luncheon at noon on March 21 at First Church. The luncheon is one of the activities leading up to celebrating Women’s Day. It will be tastefully casual and fun-filled with entertainment in a backdrop of “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.” The ticket price is $20; tickets can be purchased by calling the church at 386-446-5759. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.
Celebrations Birthday wishes to Loretta Pete, March 13; Ruthie Saunders, Stanley Henderson, March 14; Ron Ambrose, March 16; Devon M. Price, Maxine Hicks, Patrice Henderson, March 17; and Miles Baker, March 18.
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7 EDITORIAL
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2015
Our failure to measure up What do we stand for as a nation and who do we wish to be? In a 1968 speech at the University of Kansas, Senator Robert Kennedy correctly worried too many used our nation’s wealth as the standard of greatness rather than the human values that should matter most. Our Gross Domestic Product – now $17.7 trillion – includes many things for us not to be proud of. So we should ask ourselves how well America is doing on the things that should matter most – the well-being of our children and families and the quality of justice and life in our communities and nation? Among high-income countries, the United States ranks first in Gross Domestic Product and first in the number of billionaires, and second worst in child poverty rates – ahead only of Romania whose economy is 99 percent smaller than ours. It is a national disgrace that children are the poorest group of Americans with 14.7 million living in poverty. We are first in military spending — $11.1 billion a week — and first in military weapons exports.
Jail visions We are first in the number of people incarcerated and worst in protecting our children against gun violence. A Black boy born in 2001 has a one in three chance of going to prison in his lifetime and a Latino boy a one in six chance of the same fate. Children and teens in America were 17 times more likely to be killed by gun violence than those in 25 other high-income countries combined. We are 30th in preschool enroll-
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN NNPA COLUMNIST
ment rates and 17th in reading, 23rd in science, and 31st in math scores for our 15-year-olds. Nearly 60 percent of all fourth and eighth grade public school students in the U.S. and more than 80 percent of Black and almost 75 percent of Latino children in those same grades could not read or compute at grade level in 2013. We rank first in health expenditures but 25th in low birth weight rates, 26th in child immunization rates, 31st in infant mortality rates, and second worst in teenage births – just ahead of Bulgaria. If we compare Black child wellbeing in America to child well-being in other nations, the U.S. Black infant mortality rate exceeds that in 65 nations, including Cuba, Malaysia, and Ukraine. Our incidence of low-birth weight Black infants is higher than in 127 other nations, including Cambodia, the Congo, and Guatemala. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child spells out the basic rights children should have everywhere and is the most widely and rapidly ratified international human rights treaty in history. The United States stands only with new U.N. member state South Sudan as the two countries that have not ratified it – and South Sudan has started working towards ratification.
‘Redefine measures of success’ The United States stands alone, despite recent progress, in still permitting life-without-parole sentences for juvenile offenders who were under 18 at the time of the offense. The U.S. Supreme Court has banned capital punishment for crimes committed by juveniles but America remains one of 58 nations that continues to use capital punishment for adults. In 2013 the U.S. had the sixth highest number of executions — after China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea. If America wants to be a truly great nation on the world stage, it’s time to redefine the measures of our success. The litmus test I propose is that of the great German Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer executed for opposing Hitler’s holocaust, who said “the test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.” The great South African president Nelson Mandela agreed with him and believed “there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” On the Bonhoeffer-Mandela measure of success, we must do much, much better.
Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life. Click on this article at www. daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Black Americans’ threat from Whites wearing badges Is Raymond Wilford, a 26-yearold Black Seattle resident, not dead or seriously injured only because the White mall security officer who maced and then arrested him didn’t have a gun? I’ll come to the deeply suspicious police killings of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri; of Eric Garner, in New York City; and of Ezell Ford, in Los Angeles momentarily. But it’s first worth considering what happened to Raymond Wilford on Saturday, August 9 as he walked to meet a friend at Seattle’s Westlake Mall. His story reinforces what those three deadly incidents have dramatically illustrated: the potential threat from White men wearing badges of some sort of “authority” Black Americans – especially Black American males – face every day.
No punches thrown According to news reports, which include a video of the incident posted online, as Wilford approached the area of the mall where a peaceful pro-Palestinian rally was underway, he was suddenly accosted by a White man who was shirtless, and, witnesses later said, had been harassing the demonstrators with racist slurs. Much of the brief confrontation between Wilford and the man was
LEE A. DANIELS NNPA COLUMNIST
captured in pictures and a video taken by a photographer who had been covering the demonstration. Wilford, taken aback, raised his fists as if prepared to defend himself against the man whom he said was saying “a bunch of racial stuff” to him and had also raised his hands as if to fight. But neither man threw any punches. That’s when the White mall security guard appeared and, according to Wilford and several witnesses, completely ignored the shirtless White man who was yelling and actually walking toward him, raised the can of pepper spray to Wilford’s face and sprayed him. In the video, witnesses can be heard yelling to the security cop, “You maced the wrong guy!”
Mistaken identity The video also shows the security guard grabbing Wilford, now disabled by the pepper spray, by the arm and pulling him into the mall, the both of them followed by witnesses shouting that Wilford
had done nothing wrong. A Seattle police officer, who had arrived late to the confrontation, told the witnesses not to interfere. Meanwhile, the White shirtless man, who has not been identified, just walked away.. For Raymond Wilford the White man with a badge of “authority” he encountered was armed – with a racist imagination, but, fortunately, also only with a can of pepper spray. So, the security guard completely mis-perceiving a potentially serious situation did not have serious consequences. That assessment isn’t meant to diminish the personal anger and humiliation of these kind of encounters we know Blacks and other people of color constantly endure from “Whites with badges” in department and other kinds of stores, airports, schools and college campuses, and so on. However if that Seattle mall security guard had had a gun, would Raymond Wilford’s name now be on the long list of unarmed Black men, women and children killed by “Whites with badges” in questionable circumstances?
Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. Click on this article at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Who pays for police officers’ misbehavior? Ever since President Bill Clinton apologized for the Tuskegee syphilis “experiment” in 1997, we have heard calls for apologies from the government and individuals for a myriad of transgressions against Black people. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that apologies are highly overrated and mean very little when it comes to initiating substantive change and reciprocity toward the offended class or individual. We witnessed the latest apology by the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, to the family of Tamir Rice after the police findings were made public. The report stated Rice’s death was caused by, “by the failure … to exercise due care to avoid injury.” In other words, the 12-year old boy caused his own death. The mayor apologized not for the killing but for the words used to describe the cause of the killing. Rice was shot for holding a toy gun 1.7 seconds after the cops pulled up to his location in a park. No warning, no command to drop the gun, and no attempt to speak to Rice; they shot first – immediately, and now we are asking the questions.
JAMES CLINGMAN NNPA COLUMNIST
and legal rationales, but the bottom line is that the taxpayers of Cleveland will pay dearly for this tragedy. That’s right, the taxpayers, not the police officers, which brings me to my point. From 1995 to 2001, in Cincinnati, police killed 15 Black men, some of whom were wielding guns and some who were innocent victims of overzealous quickon-the-trigger officers. In addition to the killings, many Black people were harassed, profiled, illegally stopped and searched, and unjustifiably injured, physically and psychologically, by police officers. Those incidents, undergirded by economic sanctions imposed against our city and a class action lawsuit, led to several capitulating concessions, which included cash payouts that amounted to more than $16 million, as I recall. Who paid it? The taxpayers, those of us who protested, helped pay the bill Who pays? for the injuries and injustices that We will hear the usual excuses we fought against.
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: FOX NEWS
Looking back on those days makes me see how ridiculous it is for us to follow the same pattern to redress injustices such as the killing of Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and others. Most taxpayers give little or no thought to where the millions of dollars come from when monetary penalties are imposed and paid out to victims of police violence or mistreatment of citizens. Maybe if more of us knew the money was coming from our pockets, money that, in many cases, could have been used for street repair, business development, or capital improvements, we would get together and put an end to this madness. In return for insults, injuries, and injustice we demand apologies and, in some instances, remuneration. All we get are empty words replete with condescension, and payouts from our own tax dollars. They can even say Tamir caused his own death by holding a gun in an “open carry” state, a state where other folks carry guns openly and never get shot for doing so.
Jim Clingman is founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce. Click on this article at to www.daytonatimes.com write your own response.
PAT BAGLEY, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
Systematic racism in America The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report on the Ferguson, Mo. Police Department sheds a brighter light on a serious racial injustice malignancy that is not isolated or unique to that besieged city. What the Justice Department concluded in Ferguson, after months of intense investigation, exposes a systematic pattern of injustice and inequality that can actually be found in many cities across the nation. This federal report presented facts with years of supporting data that revealed how racism was the decisive phenomenon in how the police and courts dealt disparagingly with Black Americans. Racial disparities in police departments and in judicial systems are not just local problems in a few municipalities that have been exposed as a result of a pattern of racial discrimination. This is a national problem that has persisted for decades in the United States. The absence of a cumulative national database on racially motivated police brutality and on judicial racial inequity is a contributing factor to this disgusting yet persistent societal contradiction.
‘Racial bias’ The Justice Department report concluded, “These disparities occur, at least in part, because Ferguson law enforcement practices are directly shaped and perpetuated by racial bias.” The good news is that in the aftermath of the details made public by the Justice Department provides a second opportunity for a more thorough national investigation. Racial justice activists and organizations should demand that the federal government perform a national investigation and audit of all major police departments and judicial systems concerning racial profiling, discrimination, abuse, police violence, prosecutorial misconduct and other forms of injustice based on race. Of course, most of us already know what the outcome of such a new national study would surely reveal. Black Americans and other people of color in the United States continued to endure long-term patterns of racial injustice not just in the so-called “criminal justice system,” but also in systems of health care, employment, housing, education, finance, and in exposures to multiple environmental hazards and toxicities.
‘Intentional and deliberate’ Systematic racism in Amer-
DR. BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST
ica has not and does not occur my osmosis. It is intentional and deliberate. It is the result of the “power” of imposed and unabridged institutionalized racial bias, discrimination, bigotry, hatred, stereotyping and ignorance. Another important and remarkable “revelation” of the DOJ report on Ferguson was the economic greed of that form of systematic racism. The report stated, “Ferguson’s law enforcement practices are shaped by the City’s focus on revenue rather than by public safety needs. This emphasis on revenue has compromised the institutional character of Ferguson’s police department, contributing to a pattern of unconstitutional policing, and has also shaped its municipal court, leading to procedures that raise due process concerns and inflict unnecessary harm on members of the Ferguson community.” The “harm” to the Ferguson community was and continues to be overwhelmingly targeted on Black Americans. The family of young unarmed Michael Brown who was unjustly killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson is going forward with a massive civil suit against Wilson, the police and the court system in Ferguson. The DOJ report should be used as conclusive evidence of the pattern and system of racial wrong doing in Ferguson. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder did the right thing by ordering the DOJ investigation. Holder kept his public promise to stand by the people of Ferguson. The struggle for racial justice continues in Ferguson and across the nation. The antidote to systematic racism in America is to support and empower Black Americans and other people of color in the transformation of the system of injustice in the U.S. into a fair and unbiased system of justice and equality for all people.
Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). Click on this article at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
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5 7
MARCH 12 – DECEMBER MARCH 18,142015 - 20, 2006 EDUCATION
MAYOR
(a trend that holds for all girls, across race), the completion rate for Black girls is 89 percent, only five points lower than the rate for White girls.
Boys still lag behind While the gains of Black girls were more gradual, Black boys have experienced a rocky road to improvement in helping close the Black-White high school completion gap. “The completion rate for Black males followed the same trajectory, but 3 to 8 percentage points lower. Although Black males experienced noticeable gains in completion rates during this century (an increase of 18.1 percent since 2000), their gains were not enough to offset the gains of other groups, leaving noticeable gaps in completion rates between Black males and other groups,” the report stated. “In 2013, the completion rate for Black males (83.5 percent) was 5.9 percentage points lower Black females and 8.8 percentage points lower than White males.”
Theories about rates
CARLINE JEAN/SUN SENTINEL/TNS
Joanna Martin of Miramar is shown at age 17 in December 2014. Martin graduated from Florida Atlantic University about the same time she received her high school diploma. Her path to an early college degree ran through FAU High School, where students take most of their classes at the university. Homeschooled through ninth grade, she won admittance to the high school in a competitive process in which applicants are judged on grades, standardized tests, letters of recommendation and an interview.
African-Americans finishing high school at record levels The completion rate for Blacks rose to 86 percent in 2013 BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – After 30 years of little to no progress, Black youth are completing high school at the highest rates in history. This is the finding in a new issue brief titled, “Young Black
America Part One: High School Completion Rates are at their Highest Ever,” published by the Center for Economic Policy Research, a Washington-based think-tank. The report examines Census Bureau data for 20 to 24 year-olds, and compares high school completion rates around the country over the past 30 to 40 years. “All in all, young Blacks have experienced significant gains in high school completion rates
during the past 13 years,” the report reads. “Given the importance of educational attainment in determining future wages, higher completion rates should, in theory, translate to higher wages.”
Highest ever In 1975, Black Americans finished high school at a 75 percent rate, compared to 88 percent for Whites and the overall 86 percent rate. In 2000, Blacks com-
pleted high school at a 14 percent lower rate than their White counterparts. However, by 2013, the Black completion rate rose to 86 percent, its highest-ever level, shrinking the Black-White gap to less than 7 percent. “I’m a young Black woman and I wanted to answer the question of what’s going on with young Blacks in America,” said Cherrie Bucknor, a Center for Economic Policy Research assistant and author of the paper. “Sometimes there are too many negative portrayals and negative stereotypes on young Blacks, and I like the fact this was something positive to focus on.” The gender break down also shows a noteworthy trajectory. In addition to slightly outpacing the rate for Black boys
Regional analysis also shows a different trend. At 10 percent higher than the national rate for Black students, the West has held the most promise for Black students since 1975. But the other regions have caught up in recent years. As of 2013, Black students in both the Northeast and the West have the highest completion rates (88.2 and 88.1 percent, respectively). Further, all of the regions now have comparable rates for Black students, all within three percentage points of one another. Although the report does not examine or speculate on causes for this breaks in these trends, Bucknor has a few theories. “One factor that might be in play is increasing the graduation requirements for students in general, which makes the decision to drop out or stay in school a little bit different than before then,” Bucknor explained, adding that test scores for entering freshmen also been improving. “And since 2000, some of the plausible factors that I’ve read about include declining teenage birth rates… [which] makes them more likely to be in school.” The teenage birth rate is also at a historic low, particularly for Black teens. According to 2012 data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the maternity rate for Black girls age 15 to 17 has dropped 45 percent since 2000; for 18 and 19-year olds it has dropped 30 percent. This report is the first part in a series that explores measures of success (or lack thereof ) among Black people under 40. “I feel like there’s a lot of attention on Blacks in general, but I wanted to focus on young Blacks like me,” Bucknor said. “So I’m hoping to look at several issues related to education, jobs, and inequality as a way to answer that question.”
Air Force veteran to speak at Women’s History Month luncheon at Daytona State In recognition of Women’s History Month, Daytona State College’s Center for Women and Men Advisory Board of Directors will celebrate the work and achievements of women during its annual luncheon on Tuesday, March 31, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Hosseini Center on the Daytona Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. This year’s event is sponsored by Daytona International Auto Mall and the Simpkins Family Foundation. The luncheon will feature a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Oledia F. Bell, founder and president/ CEO of A Fresh StartVeteran Women “4” Veteran Women.
26 years of service The organization provides transitional services for veteran women and their families. Bell formed the organization upon her retirement from a distinguished 26-year career as a chaplain and lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force.
She believes women possess exceptional strengths and societies become stronger when women are empowered to contribute. National Women’s History Month is celebrating its 35th anniversary with this year’s theme, “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.” This recognition of women and their achievements was designated by joint resolutions of Congress and proclamations by six American presidents. It is an opportunity to gain knowledge and honor women’s triumphs of today and throughout history. The luncheon is open to the public. Proceeds benefit Daytona State’s Center for Women and Men programs and scholarships. Tickets can be purchased online through March 22 at www.DaytonaState.edu/dass/ wcluncheon.edu.
For more information, call 386-5063471 or email CenterforWomenandMen@ DaytonaState.edu.
The Citizens Academy met once a week, usually on Monday evenings, for five straight weeks.
23 graduate from Palm Coast Citizens Academy Twenty-three Palm Coast residents recently graduated from the Palm Coast Citizens Academy, a comprehensive program designed to educate interested residents about the operation and workings of their City government. The graduating class – the 33rd in the program’s history – spent five weeks learning about City departments and visiting City Offices, the Palm Coast Community Center, Main Fire Station 25, and Water Treatment Plant No. 3. The class also attended a Palm Coast City Council meeting together. Mayor Jon Netts kicked off the latest Citizens Academy in February with a session titled “Governing the City,” providing background
on Palm Coast’s incorporation, City Charter, the Council-Manager form of government, and a general overview of the City. Those enrolled in the Citizens Academy met each of the Council members and department directors and other City staff employees.
Free course The March 3 graduates were Steven Anuszczyk, Carol Downs, Helen Dreezer, Edward Heidelbach, Gordon Heritage Jr., Eileen Hibbert, Lorelei Holloway, Lloyd and Maxine Hyman, George Kaleyias, Donald Lebrun, Kaiti Lenhart, Marilyn Paris, Marie Sarsfield, Heidi and Marvin Shipley, Maryann and Gary Sil-
bert, Sherry Snyder, Joel St. Amand, Elaine Studnicki, Zdenka Toth and Stephen Walker. The Citizens Academy meets once a week, usually on Monday evenings, for five straight weeks. The course is free and registration is limited to approximately 30 Palm Coast citizens per session. The academy is held three times a year – fall, winter and spring. There are two more sessions coming up this year, in May and September. To register, go to www. PalmCoastGov.com and search for “Citizens Academy.” For more information, contact Cindi Lane, Palm Coast Communications & Marketing Manager, at 386-986-3708.
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7
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 2015 DECEMBER 14 - 20,18, 2006
Cooper carries Lady Wildcats past FAMU at MEAC tourney Once the first shot went down, the rest of the first half belonged to Kendra Cooper Monday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman defeated Florida A&M 53-41 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament opening round. All but one of the sophomore’s 22 points came on a first-half barrage of seven three-pointers that tied the conference single-game record and came one shy of the Bethune-Cookman record of eight shared by Gwen Davis, Carmen Sanders and Keturah Newkirk. With the victory, Bethune-Cookman (13-16) advances to the quarterfinals, where it will meet North Carolina A&T Thursday at noon. Cooper was 7-9 from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes, including two in the final 1:17 that extended Bethune-Cookman’s lead to 30-22 at the break. “I think the first shot helped me get a little bit of confidence and the team found me,” said Cooper, who also had seven threepointers against South Carolina State back on Dec.
8. “Once people leave me open, I’m going to make it.”
Kudos for Cooper Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Vanessa BlairLewis appreciated Cooper’s effort simply for her progression. At last year’s tournament, Blair noted Cooper “was so nervous, she could never could get into a groove.” “Even at shoot around today, she wasn’t quite herself,” Blair Lewis said. “ She’s come so far and has become a leader.” The Rattlers (8-21) put Dawn King as a chaser on Cooper in the second half to contain Cooper, but here’s the deal: Florida A&M couldn’t score, either. Bethune-Cookman held Florida A&M scoreless the first 10:11 of the second to extend a 30-22 halftime lead to 39-22. The Lady Wildcats led by as many as 21 at 47-26 on two Terrenisha Hollis free throws with 5:42 to play. “All we wanted to do was come out defensively every time we played them and play our game,” Blair-Lewis. Our biggest goal tonight
COURTESY OF B-CU ATHLETICS
Kendra Cooper had 22 points in the game against FAMU. was to hold them under 40, and we did a great job defensively.”
Hollis responds Most of the Lady Wildcats’ defensive run came with Hollis and MEAC AllFirst Team selection Kailyn Williams on the bench with four fouls. Hollis played a
strong stretch once she got back in, scoring nine of her 11 points. “I just had to find myself on the defensive end and not foul,” said Hollis. “I had to be a senior and execute to help my team.” Jasmine Knowles contributed a solid stat line of six points, nine rebounds
and five assists while Williams posted five points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, Bethune-Cookman never trailed after a 10-0 run gave them an 11-3 lead on a Knowles lay-up with 12:43 remaining. After building their lead to 16-6, the Lady Wildcats fended off a Rat-
tler run that cut it to 24-22 on the strength of Cooper’ three-point shooting. The victory gave Bethune-Cookman both its first victory over Florida A&M in the tournament and marked the first time the Lady Wildcats have beaten the Rattlers three times in a season.
Oklahoma recruit decommits after SAE’s racist chant
The Oklahoma football team, scheduled to practice Monday afternoon, instead briefly prayed, then left the field locked arm and arm.
University of Oklahoma football recruit Jean Delance said he withdrew his commitment to coach Bob Stoops after seeing the video that showed SAE fraternity members at the school chanting racist remarks, reports ESPN. “Very uneducated people. I wouldn’t want my son or child to go there or to anywhere like that,” Delance told CBS 11 in Dallas-Fort Worth on Monday. “It was just very disturbing to me. I didn’t like it.” Delance, a four-star ofJean fensive lineman, commitDelance ted to the Sooners in November and visited Norman with his mother, Altavian, last weekend. But when they returned to their home in Mesquite, Texas, the video, in which members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon also indicated that African-Americans would never be admitted to the fraternity, prompted them to rethink the commitment. “I’ve had family history in racial issues,
inequality,” Altavian Delance told CBS 11. “Jean knows these things are serious to us.”
Students expelled Oklahoma president David Boren reacted swiftly Tuesday, expelling two students he says have been identified as leading the chant. Stoops and several Sooners players attended a protest outside the fraternity Monday. Men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger also was seen at the gathering. “It’s sad the ignorance that can still be there with some people,” Stoops told the Tulsa World. “It’s just appalling. …I was here to be with my guys. We all work with beautiful young men and women of all races. It’s just — very little gets me choked up. But that hurt.” The football team canceled its scheduled Monday practice. Instead, players and coaches held a short vigil inside the practice facility. The players, wearing all black, then left, walking in rows locked arm in arm.
Bosh expected back with Miami Heat next season BY IRA WINDERMAN SUN SENTINEL (TNS)
clots, also expected to return next season.
Two weeks after announcing his season was over because of blood clots on his lung, the Miami Heat announced Monday that Chris Bosh is expected to return in time for the start of next season. In advance of Bosh addressing the media Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena, the Heat issued a statement that read: “The Miami HEAT, Thoracic Surgeon Dr. John DeRosimo and team Cardiologist Dr. Ed Neff released the following statement on the health of Chris Bosh: “Chris Bosh will be reevaluated this month, and if cleared, may begin regular exercise at that time with plans to start strength training next month. He is scheduled to resume full basketball activities in September.’’ The prognosis is similar to several other athletes who have been impacted by similar clots, including Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao, who returned from such an illness with no further impact on his career. Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic also is sitting out the balance of this season due to blood
‘A lot better’ Bosh opened his media session by saying, “First off, I just want to thank everybody for the continued support and prayers. It truly has kept me uplifted through this trying time. And I feel that all the love and energy has really allowed me to be back here, not under the circumstances I want to be, but beggars can’t be choosers. “I’m very happy to be here and I’m doing a lot better.” Bosh said he remained confident throughout his ordeal that he would return to the court. “I knew I was going to play basketball again,” he said. But he said he appreciates strides still must be made. “I’m making sure that I stay patient and not getting too ahead of myself,” he said. “I’ve come to appreciate everything about basketball. It’s something that I love and will love forever.” Of where he stands physically, he said, “A little bit of walking every day, just trying to get better as much as possible.”
HECTOR GABINO/EL NUEVO HERALD/TNS
Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh talks about his health and recovery during a press conference on Monday. He said there were doubts about not being able to return, but that they were fleeting. “For a short period of time, but I’m a huge fan of positive thinking,” he said. “That subject did come up,
but that was only a possibility. We wanted to make sure we took all the precautions, of course.” Asked if he was “scared” at any point, he said, “I was not. “Throughout the whole
ordeal, I wasn’t scared. It was kind of a surprise, of course.”
‘Happy to be back’ He said Monday was special.
“I’m just happy to be back. I’m happy to be here, to see the fellas,” he said. “I’m just glad to be back where I belong.” He said there initially was denial, as he tried to play through his discomfort, possibly for as long as two or three weeks, a period during which his statistics declined prior to his All-Star Game appearance, which proved to be his final appearance of the season. “Some days were rough, some weren’t,” he said. “I’m thinking it’s something else.” For now, he said there have been small steps. “I pretty much stay at home,” he said. “Just recently, I started driving around the block. I just stay at home, Of course, being around my children, my family and my wife and everything, I’ve just been really playing with my kids as much as I can.” And then he visited his other family with his visit to the arena. “We’re all there for him,” Coach Erik Spoelstra said before Monday’s game against the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena. “We’re here to support him. The most important thing is he’s healthy, he’s recovering.” Of Bosh being at the arena, Spoelstra said, “It’s a big step.”
R8
7COMMUNITY NEWS
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2015
‘Finding Humor in Grief’ author to speak at March 21 luncheon Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville, author of “Finding Humor in Grief,” will speak at the Friends of John H. Dickerson Heritage Library’s annual author luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21. The luncheon will be in the banquet room of the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, 151 N. Lincoln St., Daytona Beach. Baskerville worked in the public school system for 42 years before retiring in 2011. The following year, her husband of 45 years died. She thought it would be impossible to survive without him until she learned how to laugh more often than she cried. “FindDr. Ruth ing Humor in Grief” details her journey to Baskerville function without her husband. “Writing this book was cathartic for me, but I also wanted to connect with readers who are mourning like I am,” Baskerville wrote in the book’s introduction. “Humor is excellent medicine for the ailing mind, body and soul.’ Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information, call 386-252-9850 or 386-239-6478.
Students from Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church won the high school competition.
Allen Chapel, New Smyrna Middle teams win Brain Bowl High school students representing Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Daytona Beach and a team of students from New Smyrna Middle School were the big winners at the annual Black History Brain Bowl sponsored by the Daytona Beach Section of the National Council of Negro Women Inc. on Feb. 28. Prizes for the winners included laptop computers and tablets, as well as other digital equipment. This year marked the 10th consecutive year that the section has sponsored the event, which is open to middle and high school students throughout Volusia County. Each member of the high school team – Trinity Murphy, Jared Adkins, Adrian Rivers, Matthew Clark and Cameron James – received a laptop computer. Coming in second place was the team from DeLand High School – Sydney Lee, Victoria Moll, Tiara Brown, Tevin Frederick
and Raekwon Scott. Team members also received a prize.
‘Rewarding and inspiring’ Members of the New Smyrna Middle School team were Stacey Norman, Orlane Cardot, Aliya Fredette-Huffman, Brandan D’Arey and Zion Harding. Each received a tablet as their prize. The runner-up in the middle school division was a team representing Deltona Middle School – Alexia Browne, Deborah Alvarez, Klara Gomez and Brianna Ruiz. Team members also received a prize. “We had some very competitive teams this year,” said Valerie Whitney-Lowery, president of the section. “It was evident that the students really worked hard.” Eyvette Presley, co-chair of the Brain Bowl committee, said this year’s event was very rewarding and
inspiring. “We applaud the teams and the adults who served as coaches,” Presley said. Bethune-Cookman University professors Winifred Johnson and Ray Victor, along with professor Roberta Carew from Valencia State College served as judges for this year’s event, which took place at the joint University of Central Florida/ Daytona State College campus. Sponsors for this year’s event were Bright House Networks, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona State College-Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Hendrick Honda, Gainous-Wynn Funeral Home, Jon Hall Chevrolet, The Johnson Agency, Tony Pearson Insurance, Bethune Grill, Mayor Derek Henry, Commissioner Paula Reed, Commissioner Patrick Henry, Waste Pro, Embassy of Hope, Greater New Zion MB Church, Publix Super Market and Little Caesars.
Applications due March 13 for free 4-H spring break camp Volusia County 4-H will host a five-day Healthy Youth Spring Break Camp for children ages 10 to 13 at the Volusia County Agricultural Center, 3100 E. New York Ave. The free camp will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23 to 27. Topics will include healthy eating, food preparation, reading nutrition labels, body image and exercise. Participants do not have to be 4-H members. The camp is sponsored by United Health Care and Florida 4-H. All materials, including lunch, will be provided. Applications, which are available at www.volusia.org/4h, must be received by March 13. There is a limit of 20 students. For more information, contact Laura Cash at 386-8225778 or lcash@volusia.org.
Port Orange board seeking Youth Achievement nominations The Port Orange Youth Advisory Board is seeking nominations for the 2015 Youth Achievement Award. The award recognizes youth in Port Orange who have made a significant contribution to the community. To be eligible, youth must be enrolled in grades 8-12, a resident of Port Orange or attend a Port Orange school. Completed nomination forms must be received before 5 p.m. on March 27 in the Port Orange City Manager’s office, 1000 City Center Circle. Applications are available from the City’s web site at www.port-orange.org. The Youth Achievement Award program was developed by the Youth Advisory Board, which is comprised of middle and high schools students from Port Orange schools. For questions or additional information, call 386-5065522.