‘Motown Madness’ benefits center SEE PAGE 3
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
A YOUNG, TALENTED TRACK PROGRAM AT FLAGLER PALM COAST HIGH SCHOOL SEE PAGE 6
MARCH 30 - APRIL 5, 2017
YEAR 42 NO. 13
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DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS: WILL TRUMP CAUSE HIS OWN ‘TRAIL OF TEARS?’ PAGE 4
www.daytonatimes.com
Holding elected officials accountable NAACP hosts forum that allows leaders to give updates and interact with members of the Black community. BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
ANDREAS BUTLER/DAYTONA TIMES
Daytona Beach Commissioner Paula Reed told the crowd that she is working on economic development in Midtown, proactive public safety, dealing with blight, and after-school programs.
Residents in Daytona’s Black community recently got to question local elected officials on their plans for issues that impact them– public safety, taxes, education and much more. The Daytona Beach/Volusia County Chapter of the NAACP hosted a March meeting at Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church on March 23 brought out Daytona Beach
Mayor Derrick Henry; Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri; Daytona Beach Commissioners Paula Reed and Ruth Trager; Volusia County School Board District 2 Representative Ida Duncan-Wright; and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “When it’s election time, these candidates and elected officials come to our community and solicit our votes. They make promises. Our people are often lied to. It’s time for us to hold them accountable – not only the Black politicians but all politicians,” said Cynthia Slater, president of the Volusia County/Daytona Beach NAACP.
Council missing No member of the Volusia County Council attended.
“I am pleased with the turnout but disappointed with and offended by those who didn’t’ show up; especially those on the County Commission including Joyce Cusack. They have all taken their constituents for granted,” Slater stated. The meeting was an opportunity for the elected officials to let constitutes know what they’ve been doing over the last quarter and a chance to showcase accomplishments. The NAACP plans to do this on a quarterly basis.
Henry’s list Henry touted job growth and the creation of the First Step Homeless Shelter. “We need jobs in the city. We See NAACP, Page 2
Biggest losers are big winners in mayor’s challenge
Taking a personal interest in their city
DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
Gary Salt was the biggest loser at the second annual Daytona Beach Mayor’s Fitness Challenge. Salt lost the highest percentage of weight during the event, which actually made him the biggest winner. For his achievement, he took home a shiny new first-place trophy along with $200 and a $125 coupon to Spikes Athletic Shoes. “The event was a huge success with 80 percent of those people who weighed in and out losing weight. The biggest loser lost 45 pounds and the second biggest loser lost 25 pounds,” Mayor Derrick Henry remarked.
Daytona residents learn about the inner workings of the municipality during a recent citizens academy.
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Top: The citizens academy group, made up of Daytona Beach residents, spent nine weeks learning about the city. Above: Percy Williamson, the city’s Leisure Services director, shares information about his department.
For residents wanting to become more familiar with Daytona Beach’s everyday activities, the city offers a citizens academy program. The only cost is a commitment of time. The most recent class began on Jan. 31 and ended on March 28. This session ended at the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center with the city’s Leisure Services Department. Throughout the interactive weekly sessions, participants get an in-depth overview of
the structure and various functions and services provided by the city. During the nine-week course, participants learn about: • Water and wastewater systems with a behind-the-scenes tour of the city’s water plant on LPGA Boulevard • EMS services with a demonstration of life-saving equipment, including a demonstration of the “Jaws of Life” by the fire department • Crime-fighting initiatives and demonstrations by the police department • Extensive network of parks and recreation opportunities • Neighborhood improvement plans • Road and sidewalk maintenance and traffic management Information on the next class will be posted on the city’s website, codb.us.
Participation up The goal of the event was to promote fitness and to lose weight. “Attendance was actually up from last year and those surveyed have indicated even greater satisfaction,” said Henry. More than 100 residents signed up for challenge and about 70 stuck to it, which lasted for 10 weeks – from Jan. 17-March 25. Henry also wants to inspire individual health and well-being as a way of life. “With Volusia County slipping in its health ranking, we will certainly be planning to do this again,” Henry noted.
Other big losers According to the new health rankings, Volusia is No. 42 in Florida. The rankings, a collaboration between the Robert Wood JohnSee WINNERS, Page 2
Bestselling author to visit Holly Hill bookstore BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
When Jaclyn Gary opened her bookstore in Holly Hill last year, one of her goals was to bring in bestselling authors. Gary will do just that on Saturday when JaQuavis Coleman, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author stops by Mahogany Reads Café, which is lo-
ALSO INSIDE
cated at 787 Center Ave., Suite E. Coleman will be at the bookstore for a book discussion from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. The event is free to the public. Bringing in authors like Coleman and others is part of Gary’s vision for the café and its goal to promote education, literacy and reading in the Black community. “Any way that we can to get people to read is the goal. Cole-
man is an author that the community was seeking so that made me go out and get him. When I see what the community is asking for, then I go out and get it in the store,” Gary said.
On tour Coleman will be stopping in Holly Hill as part of his “The Streets Have No King’’ tour, which is promoting his new book with the same title. The book will be released on April 29. He has authored or co-authored with his wife, Ashley Antoinette Coleman, more than 40 titles. “I’ve never been to this part
of Florida. I am looking forward to connecting with my fans and readers. I want to give a special thanks to Mahogany Reads Café and the entire city for having me,” Coleman told the Daytona Times. Gary noted, “JaQauvis Coleman is really well-known. I have a lot of customers that come in looking for his books. So, I decided to reach out to him. I told him about the bookstore and he was all in.’’
Known for urban lit Coleman, who is from Flint, See AUTHOR, Page 2
SPORTS: FOUR KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THIS YEAR’S FINAL FOUR | PAGE 7 NATION: NNPA HONORS WOMEN PUBLISHERS DURING BLACK PRESS WEEK | PAGE 8
JaQuavis Coleman has had great success as a writer of urban fiction.