Daytona Times - April 30, 2015

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Dr. Henry to speak at Stewart Memorial SEE PAGE 3

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

EE FR

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX: Black women killed by police officers are ignored SEE PAGE 4

A NATIONAL POP WARNER HONOR FOR MALANA JACKSON SEE PAGE 7

APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2015

YEAR 40 NO. 18

www.daytonatimes.com

Black elected officials team up New group will mentor locals interested in running for office BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Minority elected officials in Volusia County have teamed up over the past few months to organize a powerful group. The eight charter members of the Minority Elected Officials of Volusia County are Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, DeLand Commissioner Jessica Davis, Lake Helen Commissioner

Vernon Burton, Volusia County Council Woman Joyce Cusack, Volusia School Board Vice Chair Ida Wright, Daytona Beach Commissioners Patrick Henry and Paula Reed and West Volusia Hospital Authority Member Barbara Girtman. The group will give its formal announcement and host a banquet June 27 at Bethune-Cookman University’s Center for Civic Engagement. The event will detail the group’s intent and purpose to the public. “We have 18 municipalities in Volusia County and we only have four bodies that have minority representation,” Cusack told the Please see MENTORS, Page 2

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSUNIVERSITY.COM

Charter members of the Minority Elected Officials of Volusia County hold a roundtable discussion.

‘Let all your life be music’

Thomas retires after 38 years with the city BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSUNIVERSITY.COM

Dr. Gregory Broughton, a tenor soloist and head of voice at the University of Georgia Athens, is pictured left of Dr. Adolphus Hailstork, eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University. They were at the Southeastern African American Chorale Festival held Sunday.

Chorale festival features voices from HBCUs BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

In partnership with the Southeastern African American Chorale (SEAAC) Festival and the Mary McLeod Bethune Cultural Heritage Arts Festival, the Community Performance Series at BethuneCookman University presented its last

performance of the season on Sunday at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center in Daytona Beach. The performance featured one of America’s leading composers – Dr. Adolphus Hailstork, in the performance of his work, “I Will Lift Mine Eyes.’’ Tenor soloist Gregory Broughton and B-CU Director of Choral Studies Damon Dandridge also performed. The SEAAC meets once a year and is primarily made up of historically Black colleges and universities in the southeast-

SWAT billboards make call to action BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Billboards soliciting support for SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) initiatives are posted all over Volusia County. Signs reading, “The tobacco industry targets youth with flavored tobacco, don’t let them trap our kids,” are part of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County’s tobacco prevention program. “The signs have been placed in eight different locations

ALSO INSIDE

throughout the county,” explained Charles Bethune, Florida Department of Health in Volusia County SWAT coordinator. “We are bringing about awareness to the tobacco issue and dealing with how our kids are being targeted by the tobacco industry.” Bethune says the colorful packages used on cigars and other tobacco products are designed in such a way that attracts young people. “The packaging is used to entice the child. They use the same type of packaging that a lot of

ern United States. “These are students from Alabama State University, Allen University, the College of the Bahamas, Winston-Salem State University, Edward Waters College and the Jackson State University-string ensemble,” Dandridge explained. “Our theme was ‘Let all your life be music,’” Dandridge added. The schools came together to participate in the 21st annual SEACC festival. It was B-CU’s first time participating in the event as well as hosting.

candy products are packaged in, so it’s kind of like giving them the notion that it is safe. They are used to buying candy with that type of package.”

‘Alarming increase’ Candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes were banned under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in 2009. However, menthol cigarettes, non-cigarette smoked tobacco products and smokeless products were not included in the ban. According to a fact sheet provided by Bethune, “Nationwide, there has been an alarming increase in the use of non-cig-

arette smoked tobacco products. The use of these dangerous smoked tobacco products increased by 123 percent from 2000 to 2011.” These products include cigars, cigarillos and little cigars. The design and contents of tobacco products make them more attractive and addictive than ever before, according to the 2012 Surgeon General’s report. Additionally the data shows, “The flavoring and lower costs of these non-cigarette smoked tobacco products and of smokeless tobacco products make them especially appealing to Please see BILLBOARD, Page 2

EDUCATION: EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN U.S. TO GET FREE DVD OF ‘SELMA’ | PAGE 5 SPORTS: RAY LEWIS, BALTIMORE RAVENS WEIGH IN ON PROTESTS | PAGE 7

After nearly four decades of service to the City of Daytona Beach, Jennifer Thomas will not be prepping for her day at City Hall come Monday morning. This is the last week for the retiring city clerk who has worked for Daytona Beach for 38 years. “I’ve been really really blessed over the years,” she told the Daytona Times this week. As the city’s records custodian, Thomas’ office maintains official records, provides support for the city commission regarding agenda prepara- Jennifer tion and coordi- Thomas nation, coordinates municipal elections, and provides notice of public meetings. The West Palm Beach native has been in that role since 2003. Thomas sat down with the Times on Tuesday to talk about her years working at the Ridgewood Avenue office. Her bookshelves were removed of handbooks and manuals and a single plant sat on her desk.

From college to the city She officially began with the city in 1977 after graduating from Bethune-Cookman College (now University) following an internship with Daytona Beach’s Community Development Department. “It has been something that I probably didn’t dream would end up this way, but it was something that I worked hard for a long time. I finished school in 1977 and they offered me a job as a financial specialist after graduating.” In that role, Thomas worked to prequalify homeowners for assistance with housing. “I did the paperwork to justify their assistance and determine how much they would get from the city to repair their homes,’’ she recalled.

Seeing improvements Thomas went on to work in several positions within the Community Development Department, including a housing coordinator and deputy director. Managing city-owned and private property infrastructure improvements were part of her duties. She oversaw a band of emPlease see THOMAS, Page 2


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