Don Walls named top Halifax employee SEE PAGE 8
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
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JULIANNE MALVEAUX: AMERICA’S PRISONTO-PROFIT PIPELINE MUST BE STOPPED PAGE 4
SPEEDWAY AND NASCAR MAKE DONATION TOWARD FIRST STEP SHELTER SEE PAGE 8
JUNE 22 - JUNE 28, 2017
YEAR 42 NO. 25
www.daytonatimes.com
A new look for Joe Harris Park The city is hoping the historic site will be a place for families, not crime. BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
Joe Harris Park, located between Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard and Pearl Street near Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, has been a popular hangout and community treasure for decades.
For out-of-town Black motorcyclists, it has been a prime place to park during Bike Week and Biketoberfest. And it has traditionally been the place to go for locals looking for a friendly pickup basketball game. Unfortunately, the historic park located at 315 Pearl St., also has been the site of shootings, fights and drug sales. A facelift for the park, named after entrepreneur, activist and politician Joseph Harris, is underway. The goal of the City of See HARRIS, Page 2
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRPAHY.COM
Joe Harris Park in Daytona Beach will be closed during renovations. It’s expected to reopen in October.
Health officials: Tuesday a good day for HIV testing
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION 2017
BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
African dancers perform at the Juneteenth banquet held June 14 at the Midtown Cultural & Educational Center.
Local activities include banquet, festival Daytona Beach’s Juneteenth observance started with a banquet on June 14 and ended with a large community festival on Saturday at at Cypress Street Park. This was the 17th year for the Juneteenth festival and 15th for the annual banquet. On June 14, the local Juneteenth committee honored 19 “Hometown Heroes’’ during its banquet at the Midtown
Vendors sold jewelry and a variety of other items at Saturday’s festival.
Cultural & Educational Center in Daytona Beach. Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves in Texas and Oklahoma found out that they were free in 1867, which was two years following the American Civil War. The official day celebrated was June 19, 1865. More photos from the Daytona Beach events are on page 7.
Local health organizations are encouraging local residents to get tested during National HIV Testing Day on Tuesday, June 27. The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County encourages everyone to know their status. Free rapid testing will be available on that day at the health department’s facilities from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Appointments are not necessary. “Everyone should take advantage of this opportunity to confirm their HIV status. When a person knows their status, they can protect themselves and their partners,” said Patricia Boswell, administrator of the Volusia health department.
Results in minutes Rapid HIV testing requires a finger prick to collect a small drop of blood. Results are ready within 15 minutes. If test results indicate a blood draw is needed to confirm the rapid results, it also can be done at no-cost onsite, Boswell added. “The tests are safe and FDA approved. There is some paperwork involved that may be the hardest part,” said Paula Burns, Area 13 HIV/AIDS program manSee TESTING, Page 2
Going fishing: DBPD inviting youth to join them Saturday at Lake Valor
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Lake Valor is located at the Daytona Beach Police Department’s headquarters.
ALSO INSIDE
BY ANDREA BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri.
It was a bike ride in April. Now it’s a fishing tournament. The Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) is offering another opportunity for local youth to hang out with officers as a community outreach effort. DBPD is hosting a fishing tournament for local youth up to 12 years old on Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m. until noon. The event will take place at Lake Valor, which is an actual lake at the police headquarters, located at 129 Valor Blvd., just off Mason Avenue. “We want to try to make a difference with the youth. We are trying to build relationships. Relationship building in the community takes time. We want them to see us in a different light,’’ said
Food, games, prizes The tournament is free and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Those who do participate are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles. Poles won’t be provided. However, the department will provide bait. There will also be free food, including hot dogs and hamburgers. The DBPD plans to give out gift cards, fishing poles and prizes. “We will have bounce houses, barbecue and more. We just want to have a fun-filled positive interaction with the kids. We are still figuring out the prizes. We are looking at prizes for whoever catches the biggest fish, etc.,” Craig noted.
Away from TV The morning is all about fishing and fun. “Many kids like fishing. There are also some kids that have never been fishing. We think it will be fun,” Capri remarked. He added that fishing is a good outing for kids. “Fishing is a great activity. It’s a great sport. It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s even relaxing at times. This also gets the kids outdoors and away from both the TV and video games,” explained Capri.
Plenty of fish Lake Valor is nearly a threeacre lake at the police station. It has been there since the station was constructed 10 years ago. The lake is one of two retention ponds in front of the police See FISHING, Page 2
GUEST COMMENTARY: RUSHERN BAKER: MAKING THE CASE FOR INVESTING IN HBCUS | PAGE 4 NATION: BLACK PRESS TO HONOR MARTIN LUTHER KING III AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE | PAGE 5