Church planning leisure day for the ladies SEE PAGE 3
EE FR
DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS: Stop celebrating about health care and get to work SEE PAGE 4
WHERE TO ENJOY FESTIVALS AND SEE FIREWORKS THIS WEEKEND SEE PAGE 2
East Central Florida’s Black Voice JULY 2 - JULY 8, 2015
YEAR 40 NO. 27
www.daytonatimes.com
Confederate flag will fly at Speedway DIS to offer flag swap at weekend races
A racing fan sits on a makeshift seat near Turn 3 with his Confederate flag prominently displayed during this year’s Daytona 500.
last thing you want is for anyone to come to a sporting event and really not enjoy that experience because of symbols that really represent things that we’re not proud of. “For us, we’re celebrating the American flag this weekend. It’s our nation’s birthday. We’re going to have a flag exchange opportunity. So fans who would like to fly the American flag, we’ll trade with you on whatever flag you have. We want you to celebrate that flag this weekend.”
BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
Last week, NASCAR Chairman Bill France announced that the Confederate flag would be banned from the sanctioning body’s races. But on Tuesday, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said the flag would be allowed at this weekend’s races in Daytona Beach. Chitwood said the Speedway will not ban the Confederate flag but will offer an exchange of a Confederate flag for a U.S. one. “I think the goal of any NASCAR event, and specifically Daytona, we want to be inclusive to everyone,” Chitwod said. “The
‘Offensive symbol’ On June 27, France said the Confederate flag has to go. “We want to go as far as we can to eliminate the presence of that flag,” France told The Associat-
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Please see FLAG, Page 2
An evening with the Alphas
Ormond Beach reunion a tribute to resident who died too young BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
The sixth annual “I Am Ormond Beach” Reunion will honor local icons, including the city’s African-American hero, Derrick K. Bell, who died of leukemia in 1978. A three-day celebration of remembrance and unity is scheduled for July 10-12 and includes a variety of events for family and friends whose lives intersected since secondary school attendance and beyond. The innovative reunion is the brainchild of local resident Michael Gibson, who personally funds the endeavor and core attendees represent his classmates that integrated Seabreeze High School in 1960. Among them are the institution’s first Black student, Don “Butch” Cason and the school’s first graduate in 1967, Linda Dimps. “I’d been in Michigan for about 24 years and when I came home about six years ago, I could never find any of my friends because they’d moved away,” Gibson said. “Coming home was always a bummer because it was either for a funeral or something. I wanted to get everyone home for a community reunion and along with my sister Michelle, we gathered
The Beta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted its first all-white party the night of June 27 to benefit Daytona Beach’s Police Athletic League. The fundraiser was held at the Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural and Educational Center in Daytona Beach. The party included music by The Love Band (above), dancing and art exhibits. Special guests included iconic Alpha man Dr. James Huger (seated right), who turned 100 this year. Dr. Huger has been an Alpha Phi Alpha member for nearly 80 years. PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Please see REUNION, Page 2
Sorority paves the way for more young men to excel Men of Tomorrow program in Daytona culminates with June 20 event SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
Twelve young men took center stage during the biennial Men of Tomorrow program finale presented recently by Gamma Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
ALSO INSIDE
The June 20 event marked the culmination of several months of workshops, trips and community service projects. The focus of the program, which the chapter has presented for more than three decades, is to develop the potential, desire and responsibility within the boys to assume the mantle of leadership. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors that live in Volusia County. “The hours of preparation that
have gone into tonight’s presentation are just the tip of the iceberg in comparison to the things that they will be exposed to as they travel toward lives that matter to their individual families, the communities they live in and ultimately to the world,” said Belinda Williams-Collins, Men of Tomorrow Program co-chair.
Seven ‘Little Men’ Participants this year were Nathaniel Anderson Jr., William Joseph E. Collins, Bryan Gregory Jr., Chayce Wesley Hamilton, Rashad Deron Harris, John Leland Huger Jr., Julian Rhys Hunter, Scott Edwin Summers Jr., Stephan Gary W. Symonette, Arthur Leon West-
brook II, Tyree White and Broderick Williams. The program included a presentation of seven “Little Men of Tomorrow” between the ages of 6 and 9 years old. They were Alex Bernard Baker, Ansel Eli Bullard, Jordan A. Davis, Jeffrey Rayshad Harris, Marquis McCants, T’zion Ramon Troutman and Devan L. Willis. Both groups, dressed in formal attire, entertained the audience with precision dance routines. Each of the older boys also waltzed, first with their female escorts, and then with their mothers.
Advice from businessman Central
Florida
man Kevin L. Jackson was the guest speaker for the event that took place at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort before an estimated 250 people. Jackson’s comments harkened back to the theme for this year’s program – “Paving the Way for Tomorrow’s Generations.” The founder and chief executive officer of Advanced Information Systems Group Inc. (AISG) told the boys that they were “standing on the shoulders” of all those who came before them. “When we have made it, we have to reach back to our future generations,” said Jackson, who took part in a Men of Tomorrow
business-
EDUCATION: HOW TO KEEP STUDENTS FROM EXPERINECING ‘SUMMER SLIDE’ | PAGE 5 TRAVEL: FRAUDULENT HOTEL BOOKING WEBSITES RAISE ALARMS | PAGE 7
Please see MEN, Page 2
7 FOCUS
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JULY 2 – JULY 8, 2015
Where to see fireworks in Flagler, Volusia America’s favorite red, white and blue holiday will be “firecracker hot” in Volusia and Flagler counties. Festivities for the family and children of all ages are scheduled throughout the surrounding counties and towns. Light up the grill in your own backyard or gather the kids and head east or west for a full day of safe fun on beach or land. Here’s a schedule of what East Central Florida has in store this weekend:
Daytona Beach The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort is having a Fourth of July Weekend celebration July 3-5. Concerts all weekend and Fourth of July fireworks over the ocean begin at 9:45 p.m. Bandshell in Daytona Beach: There will be fireworks at 9:45 p.m. on July 4. There also will be an Eagles tribute concert by The Alter Eagles,which begins at 7:15 p.m.
Flagler Beach Flagler Beach is hosting a parade and Fourth of July festival. Independence Day fireworks in Flagler Beach will be held on July 4 at 9:15 p.m. off the Flagler Beach Pier. Flagler Beach’s holiday parade, “Stars and Stripes
Forever,” will begin at 10 a.m., rain or shine. The parade is sponsored by the Flagler Beach Rotary.
Palm Coast Fireworks are scheduled for Friday, July 3, at Central Park in Town Center, at 9 p.m.
DeLand Check out the Fireworks Festival at Earl Brown Park. The event is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Country singer Johnny Bulford, a Central Florida native, will perform.
Port Orange The 4th of July Spectacular will take place at the City Center in Port Orange. There will be festivities that begin at 5:30 p.m.; fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
Ormond Beach The City of Ormond Beach fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. This event will take place at Rockefeller Park, Fortunato Park and Cassen Park (26 Riverside Drive in Ormond Beach). There will be food vendors, live bands and kids activities.
DeBary The DeBary fireworks will be held at Gemini Springs Park. The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. on July 4. There will be festivities, including games and vendors.
Edgewater The annual fireworks event will take place at George R. Kennedy Memorial Park. Before the July 4 fireworks, there will be festivities, including entertainment and vendors. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. The fireworks will begin at dusk. There will also be a 5K run/walk at 7 a.m.
New Smyrna Beach The New Smyrna Beach Fourth of July celebration will take place on the Canal Street Historic District (Riverside Park). A Christmas in July event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fireworks start at 9 p.m.
Lake Helen The city’s Fourth of July parade that begins at 10 a.m. will end at Equestrian Center for an opening ceremony. Music starts at 6 p.m. in Royal Park while the fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
REUNION from Page 1
a committee and got started,” added Gibson, who serves as president of the group known as “Ormondites.”
‘Derrick K. Bell Day’ This year’s reunion has been given an official proclamation by Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelly. Lynn Kelley, former head coach at Ormond Beach Junior High School, and Plemon Hill, the school’s former physical education teacher, both will address the gathering during a barbecue dinner the night of July 11. All festivities are declared “Derrick K. Bell Day,” the theme of the three-day event. Bell’s name, along with the slogan, “Honor Student – Leader – All Star Athlete” appears on all printed items, including event T-shirts, program books and tickets.
‘Super’ student
PHOTOS BY WILLIAM CROOMS/SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
The dapper Men of Tomorrow and Little Men of Tomorrow were presented by the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority on June 20 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort.
MEN
from Page 1 program while growing up in Miami. Prior to going into business for himself, he worked as a design engineer at General Electric’s former simulation and control systems department in Daytona Beach. He founded AISG in 1991 as an information technology contract engineering and computer systems integration firm. In 2003, the company sold all of its commercial assets and today operates primarily as a federal government contractor and commercial investor.
Jackson: ‘Be wise’ Jackson told the Men of Tomorrow participants
FLAG
from Page 1 ed Press on June 27. “I personally find it an offensive symbol so there is no daylight how we feel about it and our sensitivity to others who feel the same way. “We’re working with the industry to see how far we can go to get that flag to be disassociated entirely from our events.” The decision aligns with a nationwide awareness to mute the flag’s public presence following the deadly massacre of nine innocent African-Americans shot to death last month during a Bible study at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. Dylann Roof, a self-proclaimed White supremacist, has been arrested and charged in the “hate crime” and his legacy includes disturbing images of him draped in a Confederate flag. In the aftermath of the killings, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley chose
that it is important to choose their friends wisely and if they find themselves being pulled down by acquaintances, let them go and move forward. “It is not good enough to be smart. What is really important is to be wise. Wisdom…that is what a truly smart person knows to do,” he said. Meanwhile, eight of the high school students graduated this year and have been accepted into colleges. Their career goals include architect, financial consultant, drug enforcement agent, sports broadcaster and mechanical engineer. “Through their talents, discipline and integrity, we believe that these young men will change the world they live in, one obstacle at a time because they are our future,” said Tracia Culver, chapter president.
to reverse her previous stance on the Confederate flag, which has flown on the grounds of the State House since 1962 amidst ongoing protests. A Republican, who is the first ethnic minority and first woman to serve as governor, she advised fellow lawmakers they needed to “remove the flag” once and for all. Popular racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. said last weekend that he disapproves of the Confederate flag. “I think it is offensive to an entire race. It really does nothing for anybody to be there, flying. It belongs in the history books and that’s about it,’’ he said.
More Black fans Volusia County is the proud home to NASCAR, a largely White-dominated sport that has struggled to establish diversity in both participation and fan base. With an inbred history of racism and exclusion, the Confederate flag has dually served as symbol of the “Old South” for millions of White fans who attend Daytona Interna-
The 15-year-old ninthgrader of promise was attending Ormond Beach Junior High School in 1977 when he was diagnosed with acute leukemia following the traditional symptoms of tiredness and an inexplicable nosebleed. A leader among his peers, Bell was a member of student council, office assistant to Assistant Principal George Whitehead and played string bass in the school orchestra. If all of the aforementioned didn’t make him a standout, earning straight A’s and B’s, serving as co-captain of the school football team and captain of the basketball team iced the proverbial cake. In an archived report from the-then Daytona Morning Journal, football coach Butch Rumer stated, “We haven’t had a kid like Derrick at Ormond in three years…I hate to use the word ‘super’ but that’s what Derrick is, a ‘super’ athlete, a ‘super’ student, and a leader among the students.” Bell lost his battle to the disease before he was able to realize collegiate, NFL or NBA dreams, but thanks to friends and classmates like Gibson, his legacy is remembered through a “super” event.
More Hometown Heroes
Kevin L. Jackson talks to the young men at the Men of Tomorrow program about making wise choices.
tional Speedway events. They collectively create a blanket of RVs, campers and parked cars emblazoned with the Confederacy icon. For some Blacks, the flag is too closely aligned with the Ku Klux Klan. But for others, it has not been a barrier to racetrack indulgence. According to the NASCAR, stock car racing is the fastest-growing sport among African-Americans and Hispanics. Since 1995, the percentage of Black fans increased 18 percent to 2 million. And AfricanAmericans comprise nearly 10 percent of NASCAR’s fan base. In an effort to expand its multicultural audience, NASCAR implemented an “industry action plan” aimed at youths under 18 and the 18-to-34 demographic. The age of the average NASCAR fan is 51 years old. Many of those enthusiasts, Black and White, hail from the postsegregation era where flags and some signs were too often deemed offensive.
Beyond freedom of expression Millions of the starsand-bars flag are proudly exhibited by citizens who also embrace it as a homage to their heritage instead of hate. Throughout Florida, pickup trucks don Confederate flags in rearview mirrors and nostalgic license plates are plentiful. NASCAR officials remain readily aware that policing the presence of the flags throughout the Speedway’s common areas like parking lots will be a challenge. Even for the most zealous sports fan, the First Amendment freedom of expression prevails. “That’s what we’re working on — working on how far can we go,” France said last week. “If there’s more we can do to disassociate
A tradition Gibson makes sure to incorporate in each reunion is the honoring of local
ourselves with that flag at our events than we’ve already done, then we want to do it. We are going to be as aggressive as we can to disassociate ourselves with that flag,” he added.
History, not hate France expressed gratitude and a commitment to diversity on Jan. 30 when he enshrined NASCAR trailblazer Wendell Scott as the first African-American inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was his third year on the ballot for consideration despite a 13-year career that resulted in over 100 regional-level wins. “This is a proud day for NASCAR and one of the most significant days in the history of our sport,’’ France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “We are honored to announce Wendell Scott
residents whose contributions have extended beyond the call of duty to benefit the community. This year, three “Hometown Heroes” have been selected by the committee, including Bell who will be posthumously extended the “Inspiration” award. The late Orlando Gionfriddo is being honored for his 15-year ownership of a local Shell Gas Station in the Entrepreneur category. “Many people don’t realize it gets cold in Florida and Orlando did much to aid the Black community,” offered Bell. “More than often when people were short on cash, he would still let them get kerosene to heat and keep their houses warm. He also employed young people like my brother. He just had a very special bond and relationship with folks.” The Education category honoree is Gwendolyn Geneva Jackson, a veteran Ormond Beach educator.
Golf, dinner A family affair in true Ormond fashion kicks off on Friday, July 10, with the Derrick K. Bell Memorial Golf Outing at the River Bend Golf Club at 730 Airport Road in Ormond Beach. Ormondites get social that same evening at a “Meet & Greet” from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Ormond Recreation Center. Family and friends from neighboring communities are invited to enjoy free refreshments while purchasing weekend event tickets, Tshirts, or signing up to contribute to the pool of homemade side dishes for the event. Return to the “Ormond Rec” from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, for a family barbecue dinner complete with chicken and ribs plus all the fixing. The dinner is from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., which includes a program. The reunion closes out Sunday with members worshipping at New Bethel A.M.E. Church in Ormond Beach. Gibson estimates that $2,220 of his personal funds has gone toward venue rentals and fees. In doing so, he has been able to keep prices for dinner and Tshirts at an affordable cost. There also will be games and activities for children. For more information, contact Michelle Babbs at 386-265-3419.
is a member of our 2015 class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees. Wendell had plenty of success in our premier series but his contributions, of course, transcended any results on the race track.” Scott endured tremendous racism throughout this illustrious career and would likely be proud of his beloved sport’s initiative to embrace diversity and eradicate the confederate flag. “Obviously, we have our roots in the South, there are events in the South, it’s part of our history like it is for the country,” France said. “But it needs to be just that, part of our history. It isn’t part of our future. We want everybody in this country to be a NASCAR fan and you can’t do that by being insensitive in any one area.”
GREATER FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA PASTORAL SEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT Please visit our pastor vacancy announcement at www.greaterfriendship.net (open positions), fgbci.org or www.nationalbaptist.com for qualifications and instructions on applying. To be considered for the position, interested candidates must apply. All candidate resumes must be submitted by July 31, 2015.
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JULY 2 – JULY 8, 2015 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
M A YNEWS OR
Flagler NAACP members and friends tee off again next month Have you heard the golf buzz? Area golfers have been invited for fun at the 14th Annual Jacqueline A. Browne Memorial Golf Tournament, a four-person scramble, on Aug. 8 at the Grand Club of Cypress Knoll Golf Course, 53 Easthampton Boulevard, Palm Coast. Don’t miss another moment to sign up. The Flagler County NAACP is the player behind the promotion of the golf rounds for positive interaction within the Flagler County community and the proceeds will go to the educational, social and economic development of local groups. New and returning sponsors are wanted to support the tournament. The sponsorship levels have varying benefits that could afford the opportunity to play without cost. Contributing organizations and individuals can sign up for sponsorships, and depending on the sponsorship, the organization or individual will be listed on a banner at the awards luncheon and/or a sign at one of the tee boxes. NAACP Golf Chairman Harry Davis has plotted the course of a successful event. He is set to receive sponsorships of $500, $350, $100, as well as $50 hole sponsorships from individuals. Golfers, sponsors, and advertisers are wanted! The tournament was founded in memory of Jacqueline A. Browne, who revitalized the then dormant Flagler County branch in 2000 after being approached by individuals experiencing bias, and later serving as the branch president. Browne was a New York City educator, special assistant to the late Robert F. Wagner, Jr., for State Education Department Services, Flagler County Democratic Women’s Club president, chairman of the Board of the African American Cultural Society and president of the Public Works Committee of the Palm Coast Service District Advisory, the forerunner of the City of Palm Coast. Registration will begin 7 a.m., followed by the shotgun start at 8 a.m. The fee per player is $75, which includes green and cart fees, a Continental breakfast, in addition to an awards luncheon. For further information, contact Davis at 386-437-5082, Carol Gorham, 386-446-9982; Bill Gorham, 386-446-9982; or Ralph
PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY
COURTESY OF NELLIE CHAPMAN DAVIS
Notice the poise and flair of models Pat Town, left, and Linda Epps at last year’s Ladies Leisure Day. Harry Davis
Jacqueline A. Browne
Lightfoot, 386-864-1510.
Flagler County issues first vacation rental certificate Flagler County issued the first short-term vacation rental certificate, per a recent press release from Julie Murphy, Flagler County Public Information Officer. “County staff was great and everything went very well and extremely smooth,” said local veterinarian Dr. Gary Shelton. The ordinance was approved on Feb. 19 by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. It was then amended in March to change the application period for existing vacation rentals from April 15 to June 1. It also provides those who qualify six months, until Dec. 1, 2015, to come into compliance with safety standards. Dr. Shelton’s was one of four applications received by May 27. Now 78 properties are in the application process. Many waited to apply because attorneys representing 30 Cinnamon Beach Way and Vacation Rental Pros Management filed a request for a preliminary injunction against the ordinance in March. Circuit Judge Michael S. Orfinger ruled June 1 that the ordinance complied with state law. The judge did determine the ordinance would not apply to rental agreements completed before the ordinance was approved. “I see both sides of the issue, but feel the need exists for this type of regulation,” Dr. Shelton said. “Otherwise, we will have the wild west.”
Artists needed for fall festival in DeLand The DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts (FFOA) is seeking artists to apply for inclusion in the 23rd annual Festival. The event will be Nov. 21-22 in downtown DeLand. The artist application deadline is noon, Friday, Sept. 4. Applicants will be notified of results via e-mail the week of Sept. 18. Interested artists may apply online at https:// www.zapplication.org/event-info. php?ID=4009. The 2015 festival will accept up to 180 artists from around the country. More than $50,000 is available in judging and purchase awards during the festival. Awards are given based on the Judges’ scoring of each artist’s body of work as displayed in the booth. Judges recruited for this year’s Festival are Kevin Grogan, director/curator, Morris Museum of Art, Augusta, Ga.; and artist/photographer Stephen Althouse, Barry University, Miami. For more information about the 2015 DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts, visit www.delandfallfestival.com or email info@delandfallfestival.com.
COURTESY OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner George Hanns, far right, was presented a plaque for completing the County Commissioner Certification Program at the Florida Association of Counties.
Commissioner presented plaque Commissioner George Hanns graduated from a voluntary County Commissioner Certification Program while attending the Florida Association of Counties’ annual conference, according to a press release from Public Information Officer Julie Murphy. He and a dozen other county commissioners from across the state were recently recognized by the Florida Association of Counties and the Florida Counties Foundation. He completed 45 hours of course work to become certified. A statement made on behalf of the Florida Counties Foundation said: “Tremendous commitment and dedication are required to achieve certification. Congratulations to our graduates.” Hanns was presented with a plaque in honor of his accomplishment.
“You learn so much detailed information, all up to date, on so many topics,” Hanns said. “I am going to take three more classes, because it’s very meaningful.”
Ladies Leisure Day at First Church Join Vivian Richardson for a Ladies Leisure Day on July 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Church, 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. The day assigned for fun is attributed to innovative event chair Vivian Richardson and cochair Sondra Henderson. It is one of the developments leading up to celebrating Women’s Day. Enjoy gentle exercise with personal trainer Artie G., in addition to a cosmetic demo and sales, and a dazzling boutique by Chez Jacqueline of Palm Coast. Be delighted by a refreshing tea and delicious finger foods, and a trivia contest involving women of the Bible.
The donation is $12. For further details, contact the church at 386-446-5759. The Rev. Gillard S. Glover is the pastor of the First Church of Palm Coast. ••• The Women’s Missionary Society of First Church has scheduled the monthly food giveaway for July 11, 1-3 p.m., at the church, 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. For further details, call 386-4465759. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.
Celebrations Birthday wishes to Vinnie Carr, July 4; Alexandria Johnson, July 5; Donald Bryant, July 7; and William Jones, July 8. Happy anniversary to Doug and Pat Brown, July 8.
BethuneCookman students created a toxicity food tester to address the homeless population and discarded food reliance.
bring their houseplants, photos and samples of damaged foliage to a Master Gardener Plant Clinic, where specific plant ills will be diagnosed. Reservations are not required. For more information, call Adult Program Librarian Cindy Fouraker at 386-2576036, ext. 16166.
Church collecting funds for new sneakers for school kids Trinity United Methodist recently was awarded a $1,500 grant from the Lockmiller Foundation, a private family fund managed by the Florida United Methodist Foundation headquartered in Lakeland. The grant project, entitled “Sneakers 4 Kids” will provide new running/ play shoes for needy children this fall in time for the beginning of school. “Our school partner is Citrus Grove Elementary, located on Hazen Road very near our new church property. Close to 69 percent or 538 of the children attending the school last year lived at or below the federal poverty level, said Lana Saxon, project coordinator. “It is our intent to give every disadvantaged child a pair of new shoes, socks, and a few other surprises, so they can feel good about starting the new school year,” she added.
Learn how to care for palm trees
How to help
Did you know that palms are not true trees? They should not be trimmed the same as trees because their growing tip could be damaged. Learn how to care for landscape palms during a free one-hour workshop beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island, 105 E. Magnolia Ave. Joe Sewards, an urban and residential horticulturist with the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension, will offer pointers on planting, pruning, watering and fertilizing palms. After his lecture, residents may
Members and friends of the church have agreed to match the grant dollar for dollar, so a fundraising goal of $1,500 has been set. “Contributions from members, as well as the general public, should enable us to meet our goal which, in turn, will allow us to purchase top quality shoes that will wear well and last,” Saxon added. To make a donation or to get additional information about how you can help, contact the church at 386734-4425 or mail a check to Trinity UMC, 306 W. Wisconsin Ave., FL 32720 (marked “Sneakers 4 Kids.”)
COURTESY OF B-CU
B-CU students present food tester during White House event SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
Bethune-Cookman University students recently returned from the nation’s capitol after being invited to participate in President Obama’s National Week of Making event June 12-18 at the White House. B-CU students were invited to this event after impressing the panel of observers at this year’s HBCU Making for Change Showcase. Students, Fatin Cooper, Tanya Pia and Jodi Sanderson, along with advisor Dr. Brandon Noel, traveled to D.C. to represent B-CU. The group created a food toxicity tester intended to provide help for homeless people who are dependent upon discarded food for survival. The B-CU team was one of only 10 presenters at the National Week of Making event. Bethune-Cookman stu-
dents participated in the HBCU Making for Change Showcase along with nine other historically Black colleges and universities. The participating institutions were tasked with attempting to address a community problem using a small set of resources from different corporations (the starter kit).
Small Business Administration, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NASA, Corporation for National and Community Service, Department of Homeland Security and the Smithsonian.
Impressive food tester
The website also notes that the initiative was launched last year, on June 18, when Obama hosted the first-ever White House Maker Faire and issued a call to action that “every company, every college, every community, every citizen joins us as we lift up makers and builders and doers across the country.” At last year’s Faire, Obama welcomed people of all ages who are funneling their ingenuity into amazing projects, developing creative solutions to important problems and bringing their innovations to market. For more information about the National Week of Making, visit https://www. whitehouse.gov/nation-ofmakers.
B-CU students were concerned about homeless people and their reliance on discarded food. Therefore, the students designed a toxicity food tester from the materials provided. This made such an impression on the folks involved in the HBCU Making for Change Showcase that they extended a special invitation to the White House to share their innovative idea. According the White House website, the National Week of Making featured makers from across the country and included participation by federal agencies, including the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S.
Launched last year
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7 EDITORIAL
JULY 2 – JULY 8, 2015
Confederate ‘sons’ should tell the truth
On their website, The Sons of Confederate Veterans describe themselves as preserving the “history and legacy” of the Confederacy. Their organization, they say, is dedicated to ensuring that “a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved.” I suggest that the Sons of Confederate Veterans rewrite history instead of preserving it. They claim that the Civil War (they call it the “Second American Revolution” was fought for the “preservation of liberty and freedom.” Freedom for whom? Alexander Stephens, vice president of the Confederacy, gave his infamous “Cornerstone” speech, in which he outlined the reasons for Southern succession. “Our new government is founded on exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro (sic) is not equal to the White man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition,” he said.
‘Tributes’ everywhere If you drive down South on I-95, you can see some version of the so-called Confederate flag used to advertise everything from hot dogs to automobiles – some say as a tribute to their ancestors. (Hot dogs. Really?) The history of the Confederacy, as embodied in the Stephens speech, suggests that the flag is a symbol of White superiority. No wonder the coward who was welcomed into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church had draped himself in that heinous flag. No wonder racism is so intransient. No wonder the sale of Confederate paraphernalia rose with President Obama’s election. The implicit message – a Black man may be president of the United States, but this flag reminds us that White superiority still reigns.
Centennial trouble In his book, “Troubled Commemoration: The American Civil War Centennial, 1961-1965 (Making the Modern South),” Robert J. Cook describes the tensions that emerged when Southerners wanted to “celebrate” secession
DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM
If the Sons of Confederate Veterans are really about history, then they need to read the Cornerstone speech and repudiate it with as much vigor as they embrace the flag. Otherwise, they are disingenuous liars who would distort history in order to celebrate their ignorance.
the Civil War, the flag went up on April 11, 1961 in South Carolina. Was it a coincidence that sit-ins were taking place all over the country, with one of the most successful taking place in Greensboro, N.C, where Bennett College and North Carolina A&T State University students began sit-ins at the local Woolworth’s?
The ‘rebels’ lost Those who embrace the Confederacy seem to forget that THE CONFEDERACY LOST. The cornerstone principle of White supremacy was defeated when the Confederacy lost the war, but the continued sop to the losing Confederacy left us with all kinds of tributes to United States traitors. I cringe whenever I drive down “Jefferson Davis Highway,” named after the Confederate president. I am annoyed when I refer to Fort Bragg, named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg. The Pentagon says they won’t change the names of the ten military bases that lift up Confederate leaders. Why where these bases named after these traitors in the first place? Taking the Confederate flag down is but the first step in defeating the White supremacy that the odious flag stands for. In the name of the Emanuel Nine, we need to investigate the reparatory justice (reparations) needed to reduce the wealth gap. We need to take the traumatic massacre of the Emanuel Nine and use it as a way to accelerate the struggle for freedom and justice. If the Sons of Confederate Veterans are really about history, then they need to read the Cornerstone speech and repudiate it with as much vigor as they embrace the flag. Otherwise, they are disingenuous liars who would distort history in order to celebrate their ignorance.
and the attack on Fort Sumter, while others wanted to celebrate emancipation. Southern Whites saw the centennial as a way to fight to preserve segregation, African-Americans and some liberal Whites wanted to celebrate the end of the Civil War. The government wanted to celebrate our nation’s triumph over division and strife. The activities, envisioned to “celebrate American patriotism at the height of the Cold War” and to increase tourism in the South, turned into a separate and unequal set of events. The Civil War Centennial Commission, established as a federally funded agency inside the Department of Interior, could not overcome persistent racism. The Kennedy administration was forced to replace conservative commission leadership (that wanted to meet in segregated facilities), Julianne Malveaux is an auwith a group that included histothor and economist. Contact rians. To “commemorate” the 100th her via www.juliannemalveaux. anniversary of the beginning of com.
Time for some ‘Power Talk’ “Now there are some practical things we can do. We begin the process of building a greater economic base. And at the same time, we are putting pressure where it really hurts. I ask you to follow through here.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke those words the night before he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. in his “Mountaintop” speech. He stated the problem, analyzed it, and gave some practical solutions that would lead to economic empowerment and justice. On June 19, 2015 (the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth) at Carl Nelson’s Power Talk Series in Washington, D.C., my speech contained the same basic steps, captured in three questions: What? So what? Now what?
‘Mind to work’ Thousands of people attended the Power Talk event, and stayed for hours to soak up all the information given out by the august group of speakers. Each speaker discussed problems and opportunities that are before us every day. They cited the common areas of work through which Black people can and should collaborate. I trust that most people left with a “mind to work,” as the people had when Nehemiah spoke to them about rebuilding the wall. One of the main aspects of my speech was work. I offered a practical and appropriate response to our economic and political problems via a movement called The One Million Conscious Black Voters and Contributors ( www. iamoneofthemillion.com). I admonished the audience not to merely listen to the words of those Black scholars, activists, educators, and advocates, but also to leave with a commitment to do something in response to what they heard. Why travel to simply hear messages that make us feel good but fail to make us do good? Imagine where some of us would be if those who heard Gordon Granger’s words on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, would have simply returned to their nor-
JAMES E. CLINGMAN TRICE EDNEY NEWSWIRE
Until we organize ourselves into a viable force and are willing and able to execute a collective economic and political strategy, through a “practical” vehicle called the One Million Conscious Black Voters and Contributors, we will remain a toothless tiger – ignored by some, taken for granted by others and, shamefully, feared by no one. mal state of affairs by staying put rather than running for true freedom.
Stay or leave Granger told them they were “free,” with conditions of course, but his General Order #3 also recommended that formerly enslaved Africans in Texas stay on their plantations and “work for wages.” Implicit in that statement was their right to leave if they wanted to – which some chose to do. Just as those brothers and sisters had to make a decision, so
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: MIDDLE CLASS BECOMING EXTINCT
must we today. Will we stay on our psychological plantations, waiting for someone to come and save us or make us comfortable in our misery? Or will we decide to leave our current mental state of complacency and actually do the work necessary for our true freedom? The culmination of freedom for Black people in this nation is economic freedom. In that regard, my recommendation is that we move away from our comfort zones and build an effort so powerful that it cannot be swayed by corporate largess or manipulated by disingenuous politicians.
Things to do That effort is the One Million, a movement that answers most, if not all, of the problems we face. During my speech, I listed 16 things Black folks can do while we wait for a myriad of things to take place in this country. Here are three: (1) Hold ourselves accountable for our own freedom. (2) Organize ourselves around practical economic and political solutions that benefit us. (3) Commit some of our time, talent, and treasure to the uplift of our people. The other 13 are on the One Million website. It is way past time for us to assume our responsibility of taking care of ourselves. Until we organize ourselves into a viable force and are willing and able to execute a collective economic and political strategy, through a “practical” vehicle called the One Million Conscious Black Voters and Contributors, we will remain a toothless tiger – ignored by some, taken for granted by others and, shamefully, feared by no one.
James E. Clingman is the founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce. Contact him via www.blackonomics.com.
MIKE KEEFE, CAGLE CARTOONS
Stop celebrating and get to work The morning of June 25, 2015 brought us another civil rights milestone. On that day, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Affordable Care Act, “Obamacare,” and gave it a new lease on life. Likeminded friends and I shared the news. It was a day of jubilation that equaled or surpassed any other day in recent memory regarding healthcare. I‘m still abuzz, and I’m positive about the healthcare outcomes of millions of my fellow Americans.
A giant step Obamacare is one giant step toward unshackling the chains of corporate oppression from the masses. It removes millions from the ranks that the uncaring, who already have the best of care, designate as acceptable casualties. Those who’ve become more well off than a good life requires often made it to where they are on the backs of the very people they would now deny the right to have a decent health plan. There is a great deal to celebrate! Before Obamacare, millions of poor Americans, including poor White people, flooded the nation’s emergency rooms for their primary care. They had no choice. In the past, Americans visiting emergency rooms witnessed numerous patients with non-critical ailments or ailments which could have been more appropriately managed in a doctor’s office. In those cases, immediate medical care was not denied at the emergency room. Those without insurance or unable to pay for their care were treated anyway. Anyone can understand that someone had to pay. Payments for those medical services were made through the general tax fund of local jurisdictions, and those costs were extended to all taxpaying citizens of each emergency room’s respective jurisdiction. Whatever your opinion of Obamacare, every taxpaying citizen will realize relief from a tax burden that few choose to acknowledge. One of the pre-Obamacare
DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ. TRICE EDNEY WIRE
catastrophes was the inability to obtain insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. Individuals whose medical insurance was a part of their employment package could not be re-insured if they had a disqualifying medical condition. More than a small number of individuals and families fell into bankruptcy as a consequence of pre-existing medical conditions. We have heard stories of people dying because they could not afford insulin or some other regularly used medication. There are stories of young people having no insurance because while in college or before they were able to find a job, they were not covered under the plan of their parents. Obamacare’s new lease on life is less than two years long if a Republican is elected President and the Republicans retain their majorities in Congress. That’s where the GET TO WORK comes into play. Republicans have shown their hatred for the president and his signature healthcare plan. They’ve made more than 50 attempts to repeal it without offering a replacement plan. Some have resigned themselves to the fact that they’ll have to live with the law until they control the legislative and executive branches. We must do the work now to elect officials who will protect Obamacare. We hold the destiny of our health in our hands. Republicans have shown they’ll take it away if we allow them to do so. We must begin working today to keep it.
Dr. E. Faye Williams is national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Contact her via www.nationalcongressbw.org.
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.
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JULYDECEMBER 2 – JULY 8, 14 2015 - 20, 2006 EDUCATION
MAYOR
How to prevent student ‘summer slide’ BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – As students slip into their summer vacations, it’s up to families to make sure they don’t slip into academic amnesia. Usually, in what is called the “summer slide,’’ students forget up to six months of math and reading instruction when they’re not engaged in academic activities between school years. Matthew Mugo Fields thinks he has the solution to halting that slide. He hopes to bridge the gap with Rocket Group, an education company he founded. His suite of programs for schools and parents blend technology, face-to-face instruction, and specialized curricula based on groundbreaking yet obscure research from Stanford University. “[Summer slide] is a huge problem. And it’s exacerbated for low-income and minority students,” says Fields, a Morehouse University alumnus who holds a double master’s in business and education from Harvard University. “The research I’ve seen says that nearly half of the achievement gap can be explained by the difference in summer learning between low-income students and their counterparts.
can become discouraged with their performance – internally and through the actions of teachers and administrators. In this way, summer slide can lead to dropping out.
Impact on students
‘Summer melt’
Tammy Drayton is an early childhood teacher in Newark, N.J. Even kindergarten students are expected to know a few things at the start of school such as counting to 10, colors, shapes, and the days of the week. When such lessons are new or lost to them, the impact is clear. “We might have to do more one-on-one work with [that student],” she said. “But it may affect their social skills because if they realize they’re not on the level of other kids, they tend to pull away and shut down. They feel different, in a sense.” Summer slide affects older students, too, and the stakes are much higher. In high school, there are fewer interventions and opportunities to relearn lost information and students
It also manifests as poor preparation for post-graduation. Another term, “summer melt,” happens when college-eligible high school seniors do not successfully transition to postsecondary education. The Department of Education estimates that up to 20 percent of high school graduates are lost this way, most of them of color. “Preparation is a factor, but not the guiding factor of whether a student will be college-bound,” says David Johns, executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. “The belief…if they can even go to college diminishes, if they are not supported over time.” The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Ameri-
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
At the Midtown Educational and Cultural Center summer program, youngsters enjoy a dance class but they also engage in learning activities. cans is currently working on combatting these summer losses. Although it is still gathering data, it’s clear that parental involvement is one of the most important factors in academic achievement across years, for students of all ages. “It’s important to acknowledge that the first and most important educator in a child’s life is his or her parents. One of the challenges is engaging parents to supplement learning for their scholars,” says Johns. “Often the way we think of learning is that it’s for school only, it happens in the classroom within the school day. But educational development…happens throughout the calendar year.”
Read something Drayton says that in her kindergarten classroom, parents’ efforts are more important than the personalized schoolwork packets her school sends home with students. “My students left me to-
day, and I gave them a list of books along with a summer packet. I don’t necessarily rely on the packets [to determine if slide has occurred],” she says. “It affects [students] based on if they worked with a parent, and it all depends on if they had practice or continuing education in the summer.” Johns explains that income is the strongest predictor of summer slide. More affluent families have the money, job flexibility, and connections to keep their children engaged with programs, gadgets, and enriching experiences throughout the year. Other families, who may lack time, money and access, have to get resourceful in supplementing their child’s education. “Go to the library – it’s free. Dollar stores sell books and places like the Salvation Army sometimes gives away books,” Drayton recommends. “Read something with your child every day. It’s essential to build literacy skills over the summer.”
Have a plan For parents and guardians, Fields offers GiftedandTalented.com, which provides personalized academic supplements and one-on-one tutoring via video chat. The supplements are designed to give all students access to the high-quality resources found in traditional gifted and talented classes, regardless of the student’s placement in school. There are free activities on the site, but incomebased scholarships and financial assistance is also available to take advantage of the site’s complete offerings. “I aspire to get many more students to embrace the idea that ‘gifted and talented’ is a destination, it’s something you can become, not just something you’re born as,” Fields says, also recommending the library and recreation centers to prevent summer slide. “We are in the golden age of technology and education – there are things
Tanzania replaces English with Swahili as official school language NNPA NEWS SERVICE
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR/HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPH.COM
The Rev. Jeffrey Dove (holding megaphone) is coordinated the Sons of Allen Ministry’s “Save Our Sons” march on May 15 in Dayton Beach.
Summer work program in New Smyrna Beach exposed teens to volunteerism, job readiness, college prep Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in New Smyrna Beach established a Save our Sons & Daughters Youth Summer Work Program to share with local youth the importance of volunteerism, job readiness to plan for the workforce, and college prep. The five-week program consists of 12 students between the ages of 14-18 years old who are assigned to various sites to volunteer, including the City of New Smyrna Beach, Mary S. Harrell Black
Heritage Museum, Boys and Girls Club, and the Babe James Community Center. Participants included New Smyrna Beach Police Chief Mike Coffin.
Paid for participation Each student will be paid $500 by the church at the conclusion of the program. “In light of the atrocities happening around our country, I believe it is my responsibility as clergy and pastor to create programs for children in this age range, as they often go underserved,” said the Rev. Jeffery Dove, founder of the program and pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church. The program ends Friday, July 3, at noon with a banquet sponsored by former New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer at his restaurant, SoNapa Grille. For more information about the program, contact Rev. Dove at 386-855-4087.
Back in April, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete’s administration announced that Kiswahili (Swahili) will be the primary language used in his country’s schools. Tanzania will become the first sub-Saharan nation in Africa to revert back to its indigenous tongue as the primary mode of communication in its educational system. This effort is part of the continuing plan he had laid out earlier this past February when Tanzania revealed that it is upgrading its educational programs in an effort to better prepare its youth for a prosperous future. “It’s our hope that when students complete this basic education, which is compulsory up to Form 4, they will be at an age ready to contribute to the counJakaya try’s development,” said SiKikwete funi Mchome, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. He also mentioned that the new system will encompass basic vocational education for students to develop necessary skills, as well as the importance of providing the proper training. “We need a critical mass of skilled labor for the country’s development,” Mchome added.
Known as Swahili Since its 1961 independence from Britain, public education in Tanzania has been bilingual. In elementary school, students are taught in Kiswahili—more popularly known as Swahili in the Western world— with English included in the curriculum. From secondary school all throughout the collegiate level, roles are reversed, with
people can access with any kind of device to keep students engaged. Use the summer to get ahead.” Johns suggests singing, reading and playing with younger students to keep their minds sharp, and planning in advance and setting achievable goals for more independent kids. The Department of Education also recommends helping high school students create post-graduation prep checklists, and allowing them to job shadow a parent of relative or encouraging them to volunteer if they cannot find a job for themselves. “Create a summer intervention plan. Ensure every day they can preserve their knowledge,” he says. “Sometimes we make this more complicated than it has to be. There’s a role every person can play to make these learning connections, whether grandma reads to them, or dad takes them to the museum, or someone counts money with them. Everyone can be an important part of learning for our scholars.”
English becoming the primary format. Kikwete’s decision brings some semblance of clarity to a system that, for generations, has created much confusion among many students, causing them not to excel in either language. Tanzania has utilized Swahili as sort of a bonding element to fortify its foundation and create a strong sense of nationhood. More than 130 different ethnic groups populate the country, each with its own dialect and cultural customs, having the potential for ethnic conflict of the type seen in Kenya and Rwanda. Swahili reflects Tanzania’s diversity and history while simultaneously providing a sense of collective identity and cohesiveness. Its unifying characteristics have helped Tanzania avoid many problems commonly associated with local strife.
Still struggling Tanzania’s self-determining stance ruffled a few feathers throughout the past three decades, as it has continuously shaken off European-imposed imperialisms’ shackles. The country and its young leader, “Mwalimu” (teacher) Julius Nyerere, were revered across the African continent during the post-independence glory years of the 1960s and ’70s for being the catalyst behind Africa’s anti-colonial campaign. Paralyzing economic reform the following decade helped the country develop a free market economy, which has created growth, but the country still struggles to tighten the inequality span. “In a globalized economy where English dominates almost everything—from trade to politics—it is not clear which way Tanzania wants to go in the next five decades,” reads a local report. This policy bucks the trend in the region, as many local countries have adopted English as its medium for education, with some seeing it as an important conduit to global investors. Rwanda, a former Belgian colony, “downgraded” French and adopted English as its official language in education in 2008. Gabon, another Francophone state, followed suit in 2012.
This story is special to the NNPA from the New York Amsterdam News.
R6
7 CLASSIFIEDS
JULY 2 – JULY 8, 2015
My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism. My friend’s uncle’s second cousin’s son has autism.
Autism is getting closer to home. Today, 1 in 110 children is diagnosed. Early diagnosis can make a lifetime of difference.
Learn the signs at autismspeaks.org
© 2010 Autism Speaks Inc. "Autism Speaks" and "It's time to listen" & design are trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc. All rights reserved.
On average, 1 in 6 Americans will get a foodborne illness this year. You can’t see these microbes, but they might be there. Always use a food thermometer to check if meat has reached a safe internal temperature before eating.
KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE AT
7
TRAVEL MA YOR
JULY 2 –14JULY 8, 2015 DECEMBER - 20, 2006
Fraudulent hotel booking websites raise alarms BY WILLIAM E. GIBSON ORLANDO SENTINEL/TNS
HOTEL BOOKING CONSUMER TIPS
WASHINGTON — The vacation package was too good to be true: A room for six at the majestic Pelican Grand Beach Resort in balmy Fort Lauderdale in midFebruary for just $99 a night. A woman from Atlanta booked a room online, paid in advance for a week’s stay and showed up with five children in tow. “You could tell she thought, ‘Finally, I can afford a vacation,’” recalled Bob Keesler, the Pelican Grand’s general manager. This unfortunate family found a gracious hotel but some harsh realities. Rooms were more like $350 to $450 a night, all of them long sold out. Their reservation was nowhere to be found. And they, like too many other consumers, had been scammed by a fraudulent hotel booking site.
Take time to verify the legitimacy of the website. Call the hotel directly to confirm a reservation. Use the brand name of the hotel when making a search: http://www. (brandname).com Take special care when paying in advance. Make sure a rewards program is directly tied to the hotel. Ask about the privacy policy and the cancellation or change policy. Send complaints to the Federal Trade Commission, ftc.gov/complaint.
FTC probe urged An estimated 2.5 million hotel reservations were made nationwide through deceptive booking websites or call centers last year, cheating consumers and bedeviling the travel industry, especially in major destinations like Florida. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, deceptive bookings cost consumers about $220 million from lost reservations, cancellation fees and special charges. Alarmed by this mushrooming form of fraud and its effect on tourism, all 29 members of Congress from Florida recently urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation into deceptive booking practices and fake online hotel websites. “This especially affects the state of Florida, which is the top travel destination in the United States,” Reps. Lois Frankel, DFla., and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., wrote the FTC in a letter signed by their colleagues.
Fake websites Travel industry leaders say deceptive bookings take many forms, from hidden fees to reservations that are never made. Hotel services, such as accommodation for people with dis-
“Don’t book in a rush,” she advises consumers. “Check before you finish clicking through.”
Deal with hotel A room booked online for $99 a night at Fort Lauderdale’s Pelican Grand Beach Resort was a big mistake. abilities, are promised but not available. Victims find it impossible to get refunds or to cancel or change reservations. Some websites are faked, using replicas of logos and brands that look like the real thing. “We had some guests last month who had booked a hotel in the Keys that didn’t exist, so they ended up staying here,” said Heidi Dennis, general manager of The Atlantic Hotel & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. “These poor people paid their money to somebody, and they really didn’t have a true reservation.”
Tough to catch Another guest came to Dennis’ hotel late last year after booking through a fake website that displayed the name and pictures of The Atlantic but used a different address. “Unfortunately, she had al-
ready sent them her money,” Dennis said. “We turned it over to the police. But it’s really tough to catch these people. They have a site up for a short period of time, they get a bunch of money, and the next thing you know the site is gone.” The FTC, charged with investigating consumer fraud, is still considering the Floridians’ request for an investigation. “I’m told we don’t have any way of characterizing how much of this there may be,” FTC spokesman Frank Dorman said in an email message. “All information about investigations is non-public. Consumers should make sure they’re looking at the actual hotel website.”
Buyers, beware Florida’s attorney general, meanwhile, has received 18 complaints since January 2014 about
booking websites that took money from consumers but did not provide reservations, a spokeswoman said. The American Hotel & Lodging Association, backed by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, is pushing for an enforcement crackdown while urging buyers to beware of deceptive sites and call centers. “We’ve seen a real uptick in these deceptive marketing practices in the past several years. Last summer we saw a real spike in it, and we see it again now that the summer travel season is upon us,” said Maryam Cope, vice president of government affairs for AHLA. “We’re not talking about legitimate booking sites, just ones that are trying to mislead people.” Cope said third parties are tapping into the explosion of online hotel bookings, which come at a rate of 480 a minute.
Hotel managers urge guests to call them directly or go to their official websites. But they acknowledge that most third-party booking operations are legitimate and that fraudulent operators sometimes mimic the genuine hotel sites, complete with logos and photo galleries, making it hard to spot a fake. “The sad part of it is, because we are such a social-media world, it can very easily affect the reputation of your business, it can affect the reputation of Fort Lauderdale, it can affect the reputation of the state,” said Keesler, the Pelican Grand’s general manager. “It only takes a couple of bad comments online, like ‘What a bad experience I had,’ and your name gets dragged through the mud when really and truly you had nothing to do with it.” The Atlanta family who came to his hotel in February had to go elsewhere for lodging that night. “Unfortunately, all we could do was help her get accommodations at a roadside motel,” Keesler said. “She probably went back to Atlanta the next day.”
Park 10 decks below. One set of slides will be racing slides with acrylic sections so riders might catch a glimpse of the park below. Another slide will have a bowl feature that lets riders swirl around before sliding out a hole in the middle before exiting the ride. All three will be single-rider body slides, meaning no tubes or mats. “This is the first water slides Royal Caribbean has put on a ship,” said Josh Martin, president of Orlando-based Aquatic Design & Engineering, which has partnered with longtime Royal Caribbean designers Wilson Butler Architects to produce the new water park. “So it was very significant, very challenging to just think through how do we integrate those in to what was an existing class of ship and make them feel like they were always meant to be there.”
Robot bartenders
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL/TNS
The final block is put in place on Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas last month at STX France shipyards in Saint Nazaire, France.
Huge Harmony of the Seas heading to Florida next year BY RICHARD TRIBOU ORLANDO SENTINEL/TNS
What will be the biggest cruise ship in the world is now more than just a rendering. Planned for 227,000 gross registered tons, Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas had its final block of ship structure lowered into place at the STX France shipyards in Saint Nazaire, France, last month. Due in April 2016 and bound for Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale the following November, the ship is slightly larger than its two sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Harmony of the Seas will
hold 5,479 passengers at double occupancy in 2,747 staterooms, which is 41 more staterooms than either older ship. It’s the first of two Oasis-class vessels being constructed at the French shipyards, with the second, which has yet to be named, due in 2018. Royal Caribbean is also expecting delivery of the China-bound Ovation of the Seas in April 2016 and a fourth Quantum-class vessel in 2019.
More ships coming The title of world’s largest cruise ship, though, will be shortlived for the 16-deck Harmony of the Seas as soon as the first of
four Carnival Corp.’s announced 6,600-passenger vessels come to market in 2019. Two of the four will be built for the company’s European-based line Aida with the other two’s brand yet to be revealed. The company owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (U.K.). Harmony’s arrival to Fort Lauderdale in 2016 will be on the heels of Norwegian Escape’s debut this November. South Florida will also see the new Carnival Vista in November 2016 and Regent Seven Seas Explorer in December 2016.
Fancy water slides With Harmony’s arrival, the original Oasis-class vessel Oasis of the Seas will migrate up the Florida coast to Port Canaveral leaving Harmony with Allure of the Seas sailing seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. Harmony’s first voyage from South Florida will be Nov. 5, 2016. Harmony of the Seas will be similar to its sister ships with features such as Central Park, which has real trees and grass in the middle of the ship. What’s new on Harmony, though, will be three water slides that will hang out over Central
The line often takes concepts from its newer ships to roll out in new designs, as well as retrofit older ships when they go into dry dock. That notion means robot bartenders at sea as featured in the Bionic Bar, which debuted on Quantum of the Seas, will also be aboard the Harmony. As far as accommodations, virtual balconies will be installed in inside staterooms offering an ocean view of sorts, while single cruisers will have studio options. Those ponying up for suites will get more exclusive areas including a private lounge, sun deck and their own restaurant called Coastal Kitchen. The line announced some specialty restaurants aboard including Izumi Hibachi & Sushi and Sabor Modern Mexican as well as Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, a new concept that promises a culinary adventure for the senses in a whimsical setting. “We are orchestrating a medley of new exciting concepts with the best Royal Caribbean innovations to strike the perfect chord for adventurous vacationers,” said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley in a press release last February. “That is why we are calling our third Oasis-class ship Harmony of the Seas.”
R8
7PERSONAL FINANCE
JULY 2 – JULY 8, 2015
You’re spending too much on housing It might be time to consider moving to a smaller place. “Spending too much money on rent or a mortgage,” is the biggest reason people struggle financially, said Andy Josuweit, CEO of Student Loan Hero, a loan comparison service. “After living in New York City for a few years, I met dozens of young people who were ‘house poor.’” “These were people who make above-average incomes but end up spending too much on rent,” he said. “As a rule of thumb, you should try to keep housing costs under 20 percent of your income, as opposed to the 28 percent to 30 percent limit that most banks allow.”
You’re investing in stuff instead of yourself Julie Rains, personal finance writer and founder of Investing to Thrive, also said that economic disadvantages play a big part in why some people are poor, but that’s not the only thing holding people back. “Others might find themselves in crises because they have reNATHAN HUNSINGER/DALLAS MORNING NEWS/TNS peatedly underinvested in areas with long-term benefits — (such Yvonne Sands of Dallas, shown in 2010, used payday loans to keep afloat. as) professional career and education, savings, investments — and overinvested and overextended themselves in other areas, such as luxury products and upscale housing.”
Reasons some people can’t get out of the poorhouse BY ELYSSA KIRKHAM GOBANKINGRATES.COM
Many Americans are clearly not experts at managing their finances and end up broke month after month. The cycle of overspending leaves them poor, even if their income means they are considered well above the poverty line. A third of higher-income households – those that bring in $75,000 or more a year — live paycheck to paycheck, a recent survey from SunTrust Banks found. GOBankingRates talked to numerous personal finance experts, asking them all the same question: What is the No. 1 reason
people end up poor or in financial hardship? Read on to find out what problems they say are keeping you broke, as well as what they think you should do to improve your situation.
You’re stuck in a debt trap “When you’re poor, it’s easy to get stuck in a debt trap because you’re desperate,” said Kristin Wong of personal finance website Brokepedia. “Whether it’s a payday loan, debt settlement scam, or even just using a credit card for an emergency, it’s easy to make rash decisions when you’re stressed, and these deci-
sions usually keep people broke.”
You’re not making savings a priority “In my own life, I saw the biggest financial stagnation when I wasn’t paying myself first, even when I had a nice-paying job,” said personal finance expert Philip Taylor of blog PT Money. “When you get paid, make sure you are saving those first few dollars for your future.” “Do it automatically each pay period, and you’re more likely to stick with it,” he said. “You get ahead financially by making savings a priority.”
You’re trying to get rich quick Too many people are looking for the quick and easy way out of poverty and are trying to get rich quick, said Jon Dulin, founder of Money Smart Guides. “Whether it be a hot stock, a job or business idea, too many of us chase the idea that we can come into extraordinary wealth overnight,” Dulin said. “Sadly, it doesn’t work this way,” he said. “You have to put in the hard work to become rich. We see the rich now thinking they got lucky or made it without much work. But we don’t see behind the scenes at just how much work they put in to get where they are.”
You buy depreciating assets “One of the main reasons that
people can become poor is that they focus their time on buying depreciating assets like cars, ATVs, boats, etc.,” said Deacon Hayes, personal finance blogger at Well Kept Wallet. “Because of this, they have little resources to build wealth and, therefore, they continue to live paycheck to paycheck.” How can people fix this problem? “Focus on buying appreciating assets like stocks and real estate, which would grow over time and eventually give them more resources so that they are no longer living in poverty,” Hayes said.
You’re paying too much for your cell phone Lance Cothern of Money Manifesto said that the No. 1 reason people end up broke is that “they buy cell phones and cell phone plans they can’t afford.” Instead of opting for a top-ofthe-line smartphone and unlimited data, he said, “People should stick with cheaper phone carriers that have affordable rate plans, no contracts and lower-cost phones that you aren’t pressured to upgrade every year or two.” “You can get phone plans that only cost $10 a month plus taxes for a simple unlimited talk-andtext plan if you look in the right places,” Cothern said. “That definitely beats $100 a month plus expensive upgrade fees to get the latest iPhone.”
You spend more money than you make Nick Loper, founder of Side Hustle Nation, said the root cause of being broke is nearly always the same: People “spend more than they make.” “As far as I know, that’s the only cause of bankruptcy,” Loper said. “The good news is you can tackle this from both sides of the equation,” he said. “Spend less to live within your means and work to earn more so you have more financial breathing room.” Elyssa Kirkham writes for GOBankingRates.com, a leading portal for personal finance news and features, offering visitors the latest information on everything from interest rates to strategies on saving money, managing a budget and getting out of debt.