Medicare workshop coming up for seniors See page 3
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #189 Daytona Beach, FL
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Daytona
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JAMES CLINGMAN: We’ve been marching in PRESORTED STANDARD place since March on Washington See page 4
Gullah tours offer plenty of Southern history See page 7
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
www.daytonatimes.com www.daytonatimes.com
JULY 18 - JULY 24, 2013
YEAR 38 NO. 29
Locals to line up for ‘Justice for Trayvon’
PEOPLE SPEAK
NAACP, Black clergy to participate Saturday in Daytona vigil BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
The Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP and area pastors are asking Volusia County residents to join them on Saturday at the Fifth District Court of Appeal building for a vigil calling for justice for Trayvon Martin. The Rev. Dr. L. Ronald Durham, pastor of Greater Friendship Mis-
sionary Baptist Church and president of the area’s Black Clergy Alliance, joined several area pastors participated in a tele conference Sunday with the Rev. Al Rev. Al Sharpton. Sharpton Through his National Action Network, he has called for “Justice for Trayvon” vigils around the country.
100 cities or more According to Durham, “The vigils, taking place in 100 or more
cities will be a call to action to push (U.S.) Attorney General Eric Holder to file federal charges for the violation of Trayvon Martin’s civil rights against George Zimmerman.” “If we don’t act now to stem the far-reaching implications for the verdict in this trial, anyone can now find themselves followed or confronted by a stranger, and when asked ‘why are you following me’ can be shot using this ruling as the basis of their defense,” Durham said. Additionally, Durham is asking all youth attending the rally to bring a bag of Skittles and wear a hoodie.
The Court of Appeal is located at 300 S. Beach St.
Prayers drowned out Durham, along with the Rev. John Long of Tubman-King Community Church and Pastor Monzell Ford were in Sanford on Saturday before the verdict was read at the Seminole County courthouse. They were praying among the protesters gathered for the verdict. At times, their prayers could not be heard above the protesters. One protester shouted, “We have been told to pray for our pie in the sky. That is race treason. I reject your notion to rely on
Daytonans represent at NAACP national convention in Orlando
Christianity to solve all our problems. There is another away. You don’t know the Bible you follow.” Monzell still attempted to pray. “I’m crying out Father, set it straight according to your purpose. I came for prayer because prayer changes things. I pray for peace, direction,” continued Monzell as the protesters got louder, shouting “Justice for Trayvon. We want justice. We want justice.”
Prayed despite heckling Long didn’t try to debate with Please see VIGIL, Page 2
Bus fare likely will increase next year BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
Volusia County Councilman Josh Wagner, who represents the majority of Daytona Beach, said he voted last week to start the process of increasing the cost to ride the Votran by 50 cents because he wanted to give Votran the opportunity to conduct meetings to hear from the public. Volusia County Government spokesman Dave Byron said no date has been set yet for a final public hearing and that it will probably won’t happen until later in the year. Byron also noted that “any fare increase likely would be effective early next year.”
Raise fares or reduce service
PHOTO COURTESY OF CYNTHIA SLATER
James Ashley, Cynthia Slater, Leeann Harris and Walter Fordham attended the national NAACP convention at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
Members of the Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP were among more than 3,000 participants at the national organization’s 104th annual convention in Orlando from July 13-17. This year’s convention theme “We Shall Not Be
Moved’’ focused on the modern-day attempts to roll back the progress of the civil rights era and efforts to combat them. Local president Cynthia Slater told the Daytona Times this week the convention was exciting and informative.
‘Much work to do’ “There is much work to do as it relates to working to fight for
voter rights, affordable health care, ending the school to prison pipeline, ending gun violence, environmental justice and disaster recovery, equity in education, employment discrimination, marriage equality, veterans affairs, economic justice, criminal Justice, and, of course, the NAACP calling for an investigation into the violation of Trayvon’s civil rights,’’ Slater stated.
Former NYPD sketch artist’s paintings to grace walls of Scarlett-Golden center BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
The artwork of Weldon Ryan will be on display starting July 26 at the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Center Cultural and Educational Center in Daytona Beach. An opening reception will take place from 6-8 p.m. Ryan’s artwork will replace Anthony Armstrong, who was the first artist to have his
work on display at the center, which opened to the public last month. A closing reception for Armstrong is scheduled for Friday, July 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the center. Ryan was born in Trinidad and Tobago and arrived to the U.S. at age six in the Bronx, New York, where he spent most of his childhood.
Former NYPD sketch artist According to his website, he pursued an
Slater said Zimmerman being found not guilty in the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin “speaks to the unfairness of the criminal justice system.” “We must get these laws changed and we do that by getting out to vote, and removing those politicians who pass these laws from office. Our greatest voice is the ballot Please see naacp, Page 2
art education with his mother’s encouragement. He graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1977, the state University of New York (New Paltz) and later the Fashion Institute of Technology. Before retiring in 2004 and relocating to Palm Coast, he served for 15 years as a police officer and sketch artist with the New York Police Department. Ryan also painted in his studio in the B.U.M.B.O art district in Brooklyn. Several of his commercial illustrations were on the cover and pages of various magazines. Ryan’s art is a representation of his life experiences. “Even though his artwork is somewhat rePlease see artist, Page 2
Councilwomen Deb Denys and Joyce Cusack voted against moving ahead with the increase. Wagner, who agreed with Pat Northey, Pat Patterson, Doug Daniels and Volusia County Chair Jason Davis to begin the process, told the the Daytona Times this week, that he is not sure he will support the increase during the final vote. “I am looking forward to hearing from public. The problem is that we either need to raise fares or reduce the level of service. The only other option is to increase the general fund subsidy. However, there appears to be little support for in increased subsidy,” Wagner concluded.
Current fare in place since 2007 According to information provided to council members, Votran faces a projected increase to the general fund subsidy of an additional $2 million forecasted in 2015. Votran’s current fare structure has been in place since January 2007. Staff members propose increasing the single ride cash fare to $1.50 with an accompanying increase in pass prices. The estimated additional annual revenue generated is $231,533. “If fares were increased to $1.75 with an accompanying increase in pass prices, the estimated additional annual revenue would be $347,778,” said the documents obtained by the Daytona Times. Please see FARE, Page 2
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7 FOCUS
JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2013
Volusia health director named Great Communicator by local public relations professionals
Senior network urges caregivers to try for free cruise
SPEICAL TO THE TIMES
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Family caregivers understand all too well the stress of caring for an aging loved one. What better way to relieve that stress than a getaway? That’s why Florida residents are invited to nominate deserving family caregivers – including themselves – for the opportunity to win a free, four-night, five-day cruise. Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, is sponsoring the cruise for one lucky caregiving hero and guest. Submit your nomination and vote by Aug. 24 at http://cruise.caregiverstress. com/. The Caregiver Cruise is scheduled for Feb. 3-7, 2014, on the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. The cruise will set sail from Cape Canaveral, with stops in CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. In addition to the cruise, the winning recipient will receive 40 hours of free care from a Home Instead Senior Care professional caregiver for his/her senior loved one while away.
Support groups, consultations “The stress of caregiving can have debilitating effects not only on family caregivers, but also on the older adults who are receiving that care,” said President Jeff
The caregiver chosen will receive a free cruise on the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. Huber of Home Instead. “That’s why it’s important for caregivers to take care of themselves. And what better way to do that than during a tropical getaway.” The cruise offers a relaxing retreat with a number of optional activities such as putt-putt golf, cocktail hour, cupcake decorating and scavenger hunts, along with support groups and one-on-one consultations with family caregiving expert Dr. Amy D’Aprix. To take a caregiver distress assessment and learn how you can help guard against the potential dangers related to caregiver stress, go to FamilyCaregiverStressRelief. com. For more information about the Home Instead Senior Care network, go to www.homeinstead.com.
ARTIST from Page 1 alistic, he allows for a bit of serendipity. He is engaged in the use of texture as well as the use of color,” the website states. Ryan has exhibited at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Bronx River Art Center, The Salmagundi, Harlem State Office Building in New York City and various other sites. He has appeared on “The Ricki Lake Show’’ for his artistic skills and his art has been shown on “The Geraldo Rivera Show’’ and CNN. For more information about the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden center, located in Daytona Beach at 1000 Vine St., call 386671-5780.
On prestigious boards With more than 20 years
Above: Weldon Ryan has an extensive art background. At right top: This painting by Ryan is “The Awakening.’’ At right bottom: Ryan’s work, like his likeness of Tiger Woods, will be on display.
Local ministers were in Sanford on Saturday, the day George Zimmerman was acquitted.
NAACP
VIGIL
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box,” she added.
the protesters. “Prayer is the only thing that changes things. That’s all I want to do. I don’t want to debate. I’m praying for peace regardless of the outcome,” Long said. Durham said it was important for them to pray for Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, the parents of Trayvon Martin. “Strength is needed for them. They have gone through a traumatic event in their life for the past year. Right now they need strength. They don’t have that within themselves,” he remarked. “All power is in your
Sharpton, Jackson speak The civil rights organization is holding its national convention at the Orange County Convention Center, less than 20 miles from the city where Zimmerman was on trial in the murder of Martin. NAACP Director of Communications Derek Turner said the organization didn’t anticipate the verdict taking place at the same time as the convention. Among the speakers at the six-day convention were the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King III and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Sharpton was called in last March to help nationalize a local Florida movement to put pressure on law enforcement officials to arrest and prosecute Zimmerman. Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys for Martin’s family, also spoke at the convention.
Jealous talks to Times
“The various civil rights 50-year anniversaries in 2013 “remind us how far we have come and how far we still have to go. “As we honored the contributions of heroes like Medgar Evers, W.E.B. DuBois and Bayard Rustin, we also fought the new Jim Crow of mass incarceration and the old Jim Crow of voter suppression. “We broke records for voter diversity, but faced
DAYTONA BEACH – Bonnie J. Sorensen, MD, director of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, was named 2013 Great Communicator by the Volusia/Flagler Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). Sorensen will be honored Aug. 13 at the 14th annual “Gems in Communications” Great Communicator Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at the Port Orange Cypress Head Golf Club. The annual award, given to one outstanding communications professional in Volusia and Flagler counties, is the highest honor bestowed by the chapter. Kent Donahue, FPRA chapter president, said Sorensen is celebrated for her tireless promotion of healthy lifestyles and public education. “Dr. Sorensen has been highly successful in articulating the interconnection between public health and our everyday lives,” he said. “She has demonstrated a lifetime of accomplishments in effective communication.”
in public health, Sorensen’s professional experience includes service as deputy director of the Florida Department of Health, president of the Florida Public Health Association and recognition as an HIV/AIDS Dr. Bonnie expert. Sorensen In 2007, Sorensen helped launch the new California Department of Public Health in Sacramento under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2012 she was assigned as incident commander of the tuberculosis cluster investigation in Duval County and was named interim director of the Florida Department of Health in Duval County. Sorensen has served on numerous prestigious boards and has received many honors; most recently she received the 2012 Public Health Hero Award by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Board certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Internal Medicine, she earned her Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Medicine at the University of Illinois.
FARE from Page 1 Lower than statewide average PHOTO COURTESY OF CYNTHIA SLATER
Cynthia Slater is flanked at the Orlando NAACP convention by Darryl Parks, left, and Benjamin Crump, the attorneys for Trayvon Martin’s parents. new attacks on equal access to education, health care and economic opportunity,” Jealous continued. Jealous said the convention gave NAACP activists a chance “to celebrate our victories and prepare for the year ahead. We have never been content to just memorialize past icons; we need to be the heroes of our present and future.’’ NAACP Vice Chairman
Leon Russell noted, “The NAACP is still the most influential and relevant voice in the fight for social justice. Even after a banner year for the NAACP, we still face several challenges and we must continue to set the tone for a greater nation and push for civic engagement.’’ NAACP Florida State Conference President Adora Obi Nweze added, “While the future of voting rights and equal ac-
cess to education hang in the balance, our national and state conferences must hold strong. “This year’s convention is essential as we map out strategies to continue to fight attacks on our civil rights. We will join with others across the country to protect rights most sacred in our democracy. As one nation, we shall not be moved.”
East Central Florida’s Black Voice Visit us online at daytonatimes.com
The County Council wants to raise the fares in two steps. The target date for first increase would be Feb. 2, 2014. A second increase would occur Feb. 2, 2015. Revenue generated by a fare increase would help to deal with the funding chal-
hand. Surround the courthouse with love and peace. There are those who have come so that peace may not rein; with you all things are possible. Look down on the family we pray as they hold hands together,” Durham continued, despite being heckled by protesters. “You are with them. You will not forsake them. We pray you bring people together in unity. All things will be done according to your purpose. In the end justice belongs to God,’’ he added. Pete Combs, a reporter and anchor for 95.5FM News/Talk of Atlanta provided the Daytona Times with recordings of the statements he recorded and the pastors’ prayers while in Sanford at the courthouse. lenge. Currently, the fixed route case fare is $1.25 and the day pass is $3. These amounts are lower than the statewide average of other Florida transit systems. The county hosted a meeting with city leaders hoping they would volunteer to chip in to pay for increase in costs to operate the bus system. County Manager Jim Dinneen recommended the 50-cent increase after there was no offer of help from any of the local cities.
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Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!
3 7
M A NEWS YOR
JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2013DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 COMMUNITY
Don’t Miss it! Enrollment Day Saturday, July 20 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Daytona Beach Campus
1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.
DaytonaState.edu • (386) 506-4471
Library to present ‘Medicare 101’ If you’re turning 65 within the next three months, Judy Hahn, SHINE counselor for Volusia County, can help you navigate the system during a free program at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island. She will explain what is covered under Medicare, how individual parts differ from Medicare Advantage, and how to avoid potential financial penalties if you opt in at a future date. Reservations are not required.
Free counseling SHINE stands for Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders. Its mission is to provide free, unbiased health insurance counseling through a dedicated network of volunteers, empowering Florida seniors to make informed healthcare choices. The Daytona Beach Regional Library is at 105 E. Magnolia Ave. For more information, call Adult Program Coordinator Deborah Shafer at 386-257-6036, ext. 16264.
Community Calendar STAY CLOSER, GO FURTHER #5296G-DSC CREATIVE 7/13
To list your community event FREE, e-mail us at news@daytonatimes.com. No phone calls or faxes, please. Events are listed on a space-available basis, and in the sole discretion of the Daytona Times staff. Effective immediately, paid events will no longer be listed in the Daytona Times Community Calendar. You can advertise local events for as little as $35 per week. Call 813-319-0961 or email sales@daytonatimes for more information.
Compiled by the Daytona Times Indigent care grants available The Community Foundation of East Central Florida is accepting applications for the 2013 Simon J. Peabody Indigent Care Grants. Funds are restricted for indigent care in Volusia County. There will be four grants, up to $1,000 each awarded for basic needs services. Visit http:// www.cfecf.org/ to download the grant application. More information: Nita Schmellick at 386-734-4075 or send email to info@cfecf.org. Human Services board to meet July 23 The Human Services Advisory Board will meet at 3:30 p.m. July 23 at the United Way office, 3747 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. The board will discuss the Community Services Block Grant quarterly reports and the community needs assessment. Members will also review the 2013-2014 grant application. For more information, call Pat James at 386-736-5956, ext.12980. Council on Aging plans garage sale The Council on Agency’s Community Sale is July 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 160 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. All proceeds will support the Meals Match Challenge to meet the needs of seniors in our community. For more information, call 386-253-4700, ext. 239. County plans guided hikes Volusia County environmental specialists will lead free guided hikes through two of Volusia County’s most popular conservation lands – Hickory Bluff Preserve from 9 to 11 a.m. July 20; and Heart Island Conservation Area from 9 to 11 a.m. July
27. Reservations are required and may be made by contacting Bonnie Cary at bcary@ volusia.org or 386-736-5927, ext. 21263. Reading program starts at center Children in grades 1 to 5 can learn and laugh this summer at the John H. Dickerson Heritage Library, 411 S. Keech St., Daytona Beach. Reading logs are available for the popular summer reading program. Children can enter a prize drawing every time they finish a book. Special programs begin at 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Food addiction meetings weekly Addicts In Recovery Anonymous can help those who suffer from food obsession, overeating, undereating and bulimia. It is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are no dues, fees or weigh-ins at meetings. There is a weekly meeting every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at United Presbyterian Church, 730 Beville Road, Daytona Beach. Call 386-258-0610 for more information or visit www. foodaddicts.org. Library to host program for teens Local artist Mary Ann Sumner will lead a free “Altered Books” program for teens and ‘tweens at 1 p.m. July 25 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island, 105 E. Magnolia Ave. She’ll show teens and ‘tweens how to add art and objects to books and create niches, pockets, inserts and windows in the pages. Materials and snacks will be provided. More information: Email kdolce@volusia.org or call 386-257-6036, ext. 16315.
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aarp.org /caregiving or call 1-877-333-5885
7 EDITORIAL
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JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2013
We’ve been marching in place since March on Washington As we draw nearer to one of the most relevant events in history, an event that has been revered and immortalized by the iconic phrase, “I have a dream!” hundreds of thousands of people are preparing to relive the famous March on Washington. Aug. 28, 1963 was the day that a quarter million people descended on the National Mall and heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his timeless speech that began with an economic theme and ended with a rousing, thought-provoking, soulful call for freedom and equality.
Restating MLK’s dream Many people are excited about marching once again to commemorate that day in 1963, to restate MLK’s dream, and hear speeches from civil rights icons. In the last 50 years, Black folks have organized more marches than I care to remember. Now we march again, not only to commemorate, but also to demonstrate the failure of our society to fulfill King’s dream. A half century later, we are steeped in the same emotional quandary we started with in 1963; we are bombarded by calls to come back to Washington to repeat what took place in 1963; and we are teaching our children about that day and telling them to “keep the dream alive,” to “relive the dream,” to “redeem the dream,” and to go back and march with us.
Same issues Have we been marching in place all this time? Should we still be doing the same thing we did back then to highlight the same issues and to convince the same entrenched
Marching rewards others JAMES CLINGMAN NNPA COLUMNIST
government and society to accept us as “equal”? Marching in place has taken us nowhere, which is hardly a revelation. By definition, as we learned in the military, it is not supposed to move people forward; rather it is supposed to keep them active, keep their metabolism rate up, and keep their attention right where they happen to be while marching in place. It’s how a “commander” controls his troops while making them expend energy, maybe to tire them out before they are allowed to sleep. Sound familiar?
Weary and tired We have been ordered to march in place for years, only to make us weary and tired, which has caused us to go back to sleep after every march. We slept after we marched in Selma, in Birmingham, in Mississippi, in Chicago, in Harlem, in Washington with a million plus Black men, and after we marched to Jena, La.; Jasper, Texas; and Sanford, Fla. We marched to the polls and voted for Barack Obama, and went back to sleep. Now we have awakened once again “fired up and ready to go” to do what the president suggested a couple of years ago, “Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes…”
If our history of marching is any indicator, after we march this time we will go back to sleep a short while afterwards. So what’s the point? Here’s how Claud Anderson recently put it: “Blacks have been marching for centuries and have barely moved an inch. Marching does not injure the majority society. In fact, it does just the opposite. Black marches reward those who are kicking our butts. Blacks spend millions of dollars on hotels, airlines, restaurants, clothing stores, rental cars, and cabs while attending a march.”
Treadmill activists Stop being “treadmill activists.” And, in light of MLK dying while fighting for an economic cause, if you are going to march in Washington this year, at least fill up at a Black-owned gas station, stay at a Black-owned hotel, eat at a Blackowned restaurant, and charter a bus from a Black-owned company. I can hear the moaning, groaning, and excuses now. Sorry for my cynicism, but I wrote the same thing in 1995 prior to the Million Man March. While we are counting our people at the marches, others will be counting their profits from the marches.
Jim Clingman is founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached through his Web site, blackonomics.com. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Let us refuse to be silent The reaction to the not guilty verdict from George Zimmerman’s jury was swift and strong. Young people poured onto the streets in peaceful protests in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C. By 3 a.m. more than 100,000 people signed an online petition urging the Justice Department to pursue civil rights violation charges against George Zimmerman.
Outrage must continue The outrage over the killing of an unarmed Black teenager who was doing nothing wrong must continue until some semblance of justice is achieved. People who want to keep faith in American justice feel uncomfortable, upset and disheartened. Where is the justice if walking while Black is enough to get you “stopped and frisked” in New York City and fatally shot in Florida with its senseless violent “Stand Your Ground” law that allows people to defend themselves with deadly force anytime and anywhere they imagine they are or say they feel threatened even if they are the stalker? Many decades of struggle and progress to eliminate racial profiling, arbitrary arrests, unfair
Marian Wright Edelman NNPA COLUMNIST
we can create a post-racial America for our children and grandchildren beginning today? Let us refuse to be silent. If Trayvon Martin’s parents had been silent and other voices had not joined with them, George Zimmerman never would have been arrested and never would have been brought to trial. Let us continue to refuse to be silent until all the George Zimmermans of this world are deterred and held accountable for vigilante justice against Black males. Let us refuse to be silent until the killing of Black mothers’ sons is as important as the killing of White mothers’ sons. Only then will we have a post-racial America.
sentencing, imprisonment and criminalization of Black males at younger and younger ages are being reversed by determined special interests like the gun lobby putting profits before the most basic American civil rights. The National Rifle Association and their allies, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), determined efforts to support and pass “Stand Your Ground” and other destructive laws to protect guns rather Marian Wright Edelman is than children perpetuates the epidemic of gun violence, especially president of the Children’s Defor Black male teenagers like Tray- fense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to envon Martin. sure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Refuse to be silent What made a Black male teen- Start and a Moral Start in life ager in a hoodie walking home and successful passage to adultin the rain appear suspicious and hood with the help of caring “up to no good” in George Zim- families and communities. For merman’s eyes? Would he have more information go to www. stopped a White male teenager? childrensdefense.org. Click on Isn’t it long past time that we have this story at www.daytonatimes. a candid conversation about how com to write your own response.
It is past time to confront the Obama administration Alright, team, enough is enough. During the entire first term of the Obama administration, Black America — for the most part — gave the administration a pass. Many of us felt that the first Black president of the United States should have a little breathing room. While we gave him breathing room, the political Right, through organizations such as the Republicans in Congress and the Tea Party, did exactly the opposite. For our silence we received very little. The Obama administration continuously caved to the political Right, apparently hoping that they could convince the other side that they were reasonable. Well, the political Right was not interested in reason: they were interested in blood. So, each concession that the administration made to the political right resulted in nothing. Consider Obama’s pay freeze for federal workers. He received nothing in exchange for this, except further demands from the Republicans for even more cuts.
Blacks in trouble One does not have to be an economist or sociologist to know that Black America is in trouble. Our unemployment rate continues in double digit and at least double
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: STAND YOUR GROUND LAW
BILL FLETCHER, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST
that of Whites. The Supreme Court’s recent decisions on the Voting Rights Act and affirmative action represent one more step towards grinding us down. To this must be added, the hiking in the student loan rate brought on by the failure of the administration and the Congress to reach an agreement, but added to this was an effort by the administration to shift how students (and their families) would actually qualify for loans. There are also concerns when it comes to foreign policy, including drone strikes, harassing political leaders of other countries (e.g., Bolivia’s Evo Morales), the on-going war in Afghanistan, the growing intervention in Syria and, well, you see the problem.
this administration fearing that to do so provides aid and comfort to the political Right. The time has come to cast aside such fears and recognize that there is no constituency that is better placed to lean on this administration than Black America. Our reluctance to criticize this administration must end. Black America that must say, in no uncertain terms, that this administration would not have come into existence without our support and it is time for it to shift gears and focus on the needs of Black America and other constituencies that were there for this candidate, this president, this administration. Perhaps it is time that we also said that we need no more speeches; we need action that favors those of us who exist beneath the clouds.
Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, and the author of “They’re Bankrupting Us” – And Twenty Other Myths about Unions. Follow him on Facebook and at Time to criticize www.billfletcherjr.com. Click Many African-Americans, for on this story at www.daytonavery understandable reasons, have times.com to write your own rebeen reluctant to openly criticize sponse.
ADAM ZYGLIS, THE BUFFALO NEWS
Criminal injustice system failed Trayvon Watching television Saturday night, I sat in stunned silence as the jury returned its not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman in connection with the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL. Then, I was jolted by a comment made by Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda: “… We live in a great country that has a great criminal justice system. It is not perfect but it is the best in the world and we respect the jury’s verdict.” In what country does de la Rionda live? Surely, he couldn’t be referring to the United States. Granted, making the prosecutor prove his or her case against a defendant is a great idea. So is the notion of being presumed innocent until proven guilty. But when it comes to African-Americans, this is by no stretch of the imagination “a great criminal justice system.” I don’t say this out of any bitterness over the failure of the jurors to convict Zimmerman for murdering Trayvon Martin. Yes, I thought Zimmerman was guilty of murder or, at the least, manslaughter. But as much as it pains me, I must also acknowledge that the state of Florida did a poor job prosecuting Zimmerman.
Black homicide rate
George E. Curry NNPA COLUMNIST
ington, D.C.-based think tank, collected some interesting statistics and published an article titled, “The Top 10 Most Startling Facts About People of Color and Criminal Justice in the United States.” Among the facts: • People of color make up about 30 percent of the U.S. population, but 60 percent of those imprisoned. • Once convicted, Black offenders receive sentences that 10 percent longer than White offenders for the same crimes. In addition, Blacks are 21 percent more likely to receive mandatory-minimum sentences than White defendants and 20 percent more likely to be sentenced to prison. • Although African-Americans comprise 14 percent of regular drug users, they are 37 percent of those arrested for drug offenses. • Although Black juveniles are approximately 16 percent of the youth population, 37 percent of their cases are moved to criminal court and 58 percent of African-American youth are sent to adult prisons. • Blacks are twice as likely to be arrested during a traffic stop than Whites and four times as likely to experience the use of force during encounters with police. News coverage and commentary on the Zimmerman trail demonstrated the toxic state of race relations in the U.S., despite having a Black president in the White House. When Zimmerman earlier selected Fox News as the only network he would grant an interview to, he was right at home.
Trayvon’s death is a cold reminder that the Black homicide rate is more than six times that of Whites. According to 2010 FBI statistics analyzed by the Violence Policy Center, the homicide rate for Black victims was 16.32 per 100,000, compared to a rate of 2.66 per 100,000 for Whites. For Black women, the rate was 4.28 per 100,000, compared to 1.48 per 100,000 for White females. And African-American men were homicide victims at a rate of 29.50 per 100,000, compared to 7.08 per 100,000 for White males. Richard Pryor used to joke that criminal justice in the U.S. means “just us.” Although the comedian usually evoked a George E. Curry is editorlaugh – unlike Zimmerman law- in-chief of the National Newsyer’s knock-knock joke – this is paper Publishers Association no laughing matter. News Service (NNPA.) Click on this story at www.daytonaStartling facts times.com to write your own American Progress, the Wash- response.
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5 7
HEALTH MA YOR
JULY 18 –14JULY 2013 DECEMBER - 20, 24, 2006
PAUL TOPLE/AKRON BEACON JOURNAL/MCT
The key to middle age is to stay active, eat healthy and don’t give up,” said Dr. Seth Johnson, a family practitioner in Altamonte Springs. Above, seniors keep rhythm to the music while learning line dancing in a class at the Lawton Community Center last year in Akron, Ohio.
5 ailments to beat as baby boomers age Doctors explain how to avoid certain irritants to have healthy lifestyle BY COLLEEN WRIGHT ORLANO SENTINEL/MCT
As baby boomers march toward retirement at the rate of 10,000 a day, they are encountering unexpected ailments along the way. These are not diseases that will kill them but nuisances that remind them they are aging. And aging is not something baby boomers take in stride, as evidenced by Botox and Viagra. Among the ailments be-
ing diagnosed in increasing numbers as middle age attacks America’s most populous generation are these five: shingles, vertigo, tinnitus, weakened depth perception and menopausal acne. More people check into the doctor’s office with such afflictions because they’re living longer and discovering new issues, said Dr. Michael Link, a family practitioner in Kissimmee. “My practice has aged with me,” said Link, who opened his office 30 years ago. Though doctors struggle to explain why the immune system takes a dip between ages 40 and 50, they suggest the best way to avoid these irritants is to practice
a healthful lifestyle. “The key to middle age is to stay active, eat healthy and don’t give up,” said Dr. Seth Johnson, a family practitioner in Altamonte Springs. Here are some ways to slow down and combat these five common babyboomer ailments.
SHINGLES This painful skin rash occurs when the virus that caused chickenpox during childhood returns for round two. Before age 50, the chance of developing shingles is just 1 percent to 2 percent. But after 50, that chance nearly doubles: 2 percent to 3 percent. A vaccine can decrease
the likelihood of contracting shingles, but Johnson doesn’t recommend it for patients younger than 50. The vaccine cuts the risk in half, but it costs $200 to $300. “If you have a pain you can’t explain for a day or two and then see a rash, contact your physician,” Johnson said. If untreated, the virus can cause tender water blisters and worse. “It can lead to nerve damage and pain for years to come,” said Dr. J. Matthew Knight, a dermatologist in Orlando. The most effective treatment is anti-viral medication used within 72 hours of an outbreak, he said.
VERTIGO A sensation of dizziness, benign vertigo is most likely caused by natural aging or a head trauma that lodges tiny crystals into the wrong area of the ear. This sends bad information to the brain and knocks off
the sense of balance, said Dr. J. Daniel Mancini, Winter Park internal-medicine practitioner. Vertigo can happen to anyone of any age, but it is more common among patients aged 40 to 60. “Every time they lie down or roll over, the whole room starts spinning for 10 to 30 seconds,” said Winter Park ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Jeffrey Baylor. If you suspect you have vertigo, Baylor recommends being tested by an ear, nose and throat specialist to rule out more-extreme causes such as a tumor or stroke. If correctly diagnosed by a doctor, benign positional vertigo is treatable through the Epley maneuver, said Dr. Clifford Dubbin, an Orlando ENT specialist. The Epley maneuver involves sequential movements of the head, staying in each of the four positions for 30 seconds. “If you know you have it, you can save a week or two of misery and do the maneuver,” he said. Dubbin also said benign vertigo can slowly disappear on its own over time.
WEAKENED DEPTH PERCEPTION Reading glasses often become a necessity for aging eyes, but many Americans don’t realize that depth perception also can become an issue, even creating a driving hazard. As vision deteriorates over time, Johnson said, eyes can become less symmetrical. For instance, one eye might see things near while the other sees far. This difference affects depth perception. Research shows that as depth perception begins to deteriorate, one of the most dangerous driving maneuvers is a left turn in traffic, said AARP spokesman Dave Bruns. The advocacy group has created a defensive-driving program that includes strategies for dealing with depth-perception loss. Along with dulled depth perception, baby boomers might find that they can’t see as well in dim light, which also affects their
driving abilities.
TINNITUS That ringing, buzzing, hissing, sizzling sound in your ears has a name: tinnitus. And it’s fairly common among baby boomers. “A lot of us grew up listening to hard rock in the ’70s and ’80s, and it can take a toll,” Mancini said. The condition can last for a week to several years. Tinnitus is related to high-frequency hearing loss, Baylor said, and is cumulative. “Even when you’re not at the point of hearing loss, one thing you’ll start noticing is a high-pitched ring,” he said. The ringing of the ears makes up for the absence of sound, and once you hear a ring, it’s likely to recur. There isn’t a tried-andtrue solution for tinnitus, but Baylor said that for patients who have hearing loss and wear hearing aids, there’s a 50 percent to 70 percent chance of recovering from tinnitus. To prevent the condition, wear earplugs to loud concerts and ear protection at a shooting range, he said.
MENOPAUSAL ACNE It’s like being a teenager all over again: Oily skin and red bumps can reappear around the time women enter menopause. As a teenager, acne develops because of a surge in hormones, Knight said. During menopause, estrogen levels drop and testosteronelike compounds form, causing acne. Menopausal acne might not be as severe as a teenager’s, but it could last as long as one to two years. “You do see people who spent their whole adult life without acne” only to develop it at the onset of menopause, Knight said. “And it’s frustrating” for them. Retinoids, more commonly known as Retin-A, help prevent and deal with acne, said Knight. In addition to reducing puffy oil glands, the topical medicine also combats fine lines, wrinkles and skin cancers.
Study finds growing number of babies have flat spots on their heads BY ALICIA STICE KANSAS CITY STAR/MCT
When Sara Pacheco takes her 2-month-old son in for checkups, he gets all the measuring, weighing and stethoscope time you might expect. But the doctor also carefully examines the shape of the baby’s head, looking for flat spots many infants develop after sleeping in car seats and on their backs for long stretches of times. A Canadian study published this month in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that of the 440 infants studied, almost half of the 2- to 4-month-
olds had at least some flattening on their heads. The condition, known as positional plagiocephaly, can permanently change facial features if untreated. Since the academy in 1992 advised parents to have infants sleep on their backs to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the number of deaths attributed to SIDS has dropped by more than 50 percent. But more babies have been developing flat spots on their heads. Elizabeth Simpson, a pediatrician at Children’s Mercy Hospital, said she sees a lot of babies with small flat spots on their skull. Because infants’
skulls are more malleable, they can change shape if a child lies in the same position too much.
Preventing it Oftentimes these flat spots show up if parents use a car seat as a place to let their baby sleep or sit even when they aren’t driving. “We tend to let happy babies stay put,” Simpson said. “So unless the baby starts crying, we’re liable to let them stay there.” That’s where she comes in. When doctors notice one of these flat spots on a baby’s head, they coach the parents on how to prevent it from getting worse.
Look for a different
HOMESTYLE CHICKEN DISH on the line every day.
Usually spending more time holding the baby, switching up sleeping positions and making sure the baby spends some time lying on his or her stomach does the trick. “It might be better for babies if car seats stayed in the car,” Simpson said. Pacheco said she was never specifically coached on how to prevent her son from developing flat spots on his head, but it hasn’t been a problem. “I always hold him a lot,” she said. “I lay him on his back and sometimes on his side.”
‘Tummy time’ She said their pediatrician also talked to her about how important it is for her son to lie on his stomach, while he’s awake and being monitored, so his neck will get stronger. This “tummy time” also helps prevent the development of flat spots, Simpson said. She said parents also can alternate which way the baby faces in the crib each night, which helps keep from putting too much pressure on one part of the head for too long. About 3 percent of children have severe cases of plagiocephaly, Simpson said. In these instances,
DAVID PULLIAM/KANSAS CITY STAR/MCT
Dr. Amber Hoffman, right, performs a well-check on two-month-old Christian Pacheco as Dr. Kate Robben looks on in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8. Pachecho did not show signs of a flat spot on his head that is becoming more common as the time infants spend on their backs and in car seats. when the baby is about 6 months old, a neurosurgeon evaluates and decides whether he or she needs treatment. This usually means wearing a helmet almost all the time for three to six months. “If nothing is done, some of these kids can have permanent changes,” Simpson said. “Not only is there a flat spot on the back of their head, but one side of their
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PENSACOLA – If you want to work for Baptist Health Care and Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola, you’ll have to give up smoking. Beginning Jan. 1, the hospital will expand its smoking policy. The health care
face might protrude. One ear might be lower set.” The study used data from four community health centers in Calgary, Alberta. It found that 47 percent of the infants studied had plagiocephaly. Authors of the study suggest that doctors talk to parents about the condition before the 2-month well-child visit.
system’s campuses are already smoke-free, with the use of tobacco products prohibited by employees, patients and visitors. The Pensacola News Journal reports the decision by Baptist and Sacred Heart follows a national trend to lower the cost of employee health insurance programs and to promote healthy lifestyles. The hospitals will include nicotine on pre-employment drug screening tests. They’ll also require an affidavit affirming that the prospective employee does not use alcohol. The newspaper reports businesses, including Gulf Power Co., already have a smoke-free policy in place.
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7
M TRAVEL AYOR
JULY 18 – 14 JULY 2013 DECEMBER - 20,24, 2006
der of St. Johns County, Fla. There’s no shortage of plantation tours in the South, but few offer such an unflinching look at the injustices of slavery, while also celebrating the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those forced to endure it. Gullah Tours go beyond Charleston’s antebellum mansions, bustling markets and gleaming monuments. They showcase the African American perspective. Just hop on a bus with Alphonso Brown, owner and operator of Gullah Tours. His passion and knowledge is evident as he points out the wonders of the city that were “built, designed or created by Blacks, but for whom credit was never given.”
Cabbage Row
Reenactments at the Gullah Theater are part of the experience at the Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
South Carolina celebrates heritage of slave descendants through Gullah tours BY TRACEO TEO ATLANTA JOURNALCONSTITUTION/MCT
CHARLESTON, S.C. — At Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mount Pleasant, S.C., a Charleston suburb, Jackie Mickel stands barefoot in front of an old slave cabin, her black hair tucked beneath a white turban, perhaps like her greatgreat-grandmother did when she was enslaved in Dorchester County approximately 25 miles inland. But Mickel is here by choice, eager to reveal the mysteries of the Gullah or Geechee people, descendants of West African slaves who toiled on Lowcountry rice plantations in South
Carolina and Georgia. Because they were isolated on the South Carolina Sea Islands for generations after the Civil War, the Gullah retained much of their culture and language — far more than any other group of African Americans. The Gullah dialect is an English-based Creole language with a strong African influence incomprehensible to most Americans. Therefore, Mickel gives a brief Gullah vocabulary lesson before she tells the story of Brer (Brother) Rabbit, a witty character that often pops up in Gullah folklore to outsmart stronger, more powerful characters, like Brer Wolf and Brer Alligator. When these tales were
told by slaves, Caucasian plantations owners were the brunt of the joke, often compared to the character duped by a weaker but wiser one.
Fascinating stories Mickel is a gifted storyteller, captivating the audience with her animated facial expressions and powerful voice. Her listeners are as spellbound as nursery-school kids as she takes them along on Brer Rabbit’s adventures. Boone Plantation dates back to 1681 and has passed through several owners. At the plantation, tour guides in antebellum costumes lead visitors through a Geor-
gian-style mansion that was built in 1936; however, to many, the nine remaining slave cabins beneath towering Spanish moss-draped oak trees are more intriguing than the grand house with its elaborate antique furnishings. Each cabin depicts a different aspect of slave life, from musical and culinary traditions, to the vast knowledge of indigenous herbs used to make medicine and treat wounds. In one cabin, a Gullah woman in a wide-brimmed hat patiently sews sweetgrass baskets, an accessory famous to the area. This centuries-old basket-making tradition flourishes in the Lowcountry, a craft that can be traced all the way to West Africa.
Down to Florida These coiled baskets, once made by slaves for agricultural purposes, are now sought after by tourists as souvenirs. Roadside basket stands are scatted on the sides of U.S. Highway 17, a portion of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor that runs along the Southeastern coast from Pender County, N.C., to the southern bor-
Brown was raised by his grandparents in a rural community outside of Charleston, and grew up with their Gullah language and traditions. It was during this time — the 1950s and 1960s — the Gullah were often ostracized as primitive and uneducated because they spoke “broken English,” which now can be recognized as a separate language. “In my case, I’m no longer ashamed of my past or those from my past who shaped my future,” said Brown. By the 1980s, Brown had embraced his heritage to such an extent that he started a tour company in an effort to share it with others. On the tour, Brown introduces tourists to Cabbage Row, the section of Church Street that inspired the fictional Catfish Row in The Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” originally an opera and now a revived American Broadway musical. He also drives to the east side of town, which was a crucial link in the Underground Railroad, a portal to freedom for slaves. Moreover, at a small frame house on Bull Street, Brown explains that the government-recognized National Historic Landmark was the residence of Denmark Vessey, a freed slave who organized a failed slave uprising. Authorities discovered the plot and Vessey was hanged along with more than 30 co-conspirators. A tour highlight is the home and workshop of Phil-
IF YOU GO Where to stay: The HarbourView Inn is a boutique hotel on the Charleston Harbor within walking distance of many of the city’s top attractions and restaurants. Breakfast is included and guests have a choice of enjoying their meal on the rooftop terrace or having it delivered to their room at no charge. 2 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401. 1-888-853-8439, www. harbourviewcharleston. com. Where to eat: The Mustard Seed serves healthy, delicious food that includes seafood and pasta. Chuck Dawley Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. 1-843-8490050, www.dinewithsal. com. Open for lunch and dinner. Gullah culture: Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is one of America’s oldest working, living plantations. Live presentations on Gullah culture are offered daily. 1235 Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. 1-843-884-4371, www. boonehallplantation. com. Admission: $20 adults, $18 seniors, $10 children aged 6 - 12, Free for children aged 5 and under. Gullah Tours leave from the bus shed at the Charleston Visitor Center. 375 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401. 1-843-763-7551, www. gullahtours.com. All seats are $18. lip Simmons (1912 - 2009), a renowned Charleston blacksmith whose decorative yet wrought iron gates and balconies adorn the city. Unlike many talented Black artists and craftsmen in prior generations, Simmon’s work was widely recognized. Although they were once marginalized and deprived of their rightful place in Charleston history, today, the Gullah are celebrated for their unique heritage that has helped shape the city.
Budget-busting travel fees to watch out for this summer BY GEORGE HOBICA AIRFAREWATCHDOG.COM/MCT
You booked the flight, you got the hotel, the rental car — maybe you even figured out how much your food costs are going to run you on your upcoming summer vacation. You’re set, you’re done, no surprises. Right? Well, maybe not. As we too often find out when traveling these days, the cost of the trip is not necessarily, well, the cost of the trip. Little fees, taxes, charges and surcharges pop up along the way, sometimes so often that before you’re even in your destination, your budget has been all but blown up. Hitting the road? Keep your eyes peeled for these often very expensive travel fees. With a little extra effort, many of them can be avoided.
The ‘what the hell?’ rental car fee From convention center expansions in San Diego to sports stadiums in Houston and Seattle, cities are increasingly finding the airport rental car counter a swell place to pick up some quick cash. At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, you’ll pay $8 per day — on top of your already giant pile of taxes and fees — for the city to be able to build a new rental car center at the airport. In Charlotte, travelers unwittingly helped build one of the city’s most popular attractions, the NASCAR Sports Hall of Fame. Often, these fees show up as murky, undecipherable line
items on your final bill. You may have no idea what you just paid for, but you paid. Sometimes, a great deal. How to avoid: In many destinations, you’ll find the overall tax burden is far lighter when you rent a car at an off-airport agency location. Anyone headed to a destination that has reasonable public transit links might consider picking their car up a few stops away. You may be surprised at how much you’ll save; you’ll also be surprised to find out that very often, you can pick up a car at an in-town location and return it to the airport without an additional charge, streamlining your trip home.
The UK departure tax The government calls it an “Air Passenger Duty” and it’s supposed to end global warming — or something. You’ll call it shenanigans, when you see how much it can drive up the cost of your trip. Flying London to New York? As of April, there’s now a fee of about $100 for those flying on a basic coach ticket. Everyone else will pay just over $200. It costs even more if you’re flying to the West Coast. And yes, you’ll pay it if you’re using frequent flyer miles. How to avoid: Flying home from London via a close-in continental destination definitely lowers the cost of the fee; just check that it doesn’t raise the cost of the ticket to the point where you’re not really saving. Or just take the money and put it to good use: Round-trip fares on the Eurostar to Paris start
at around $100 — just fly round-trip to Paris and see two cities in one trip. Also, one U.K. airport, Belfast in Northern Ireland, isn’t subject to the tax (yet).
The ‘resort fee’ Remember when you used to get a newspaper, a cheap packet of in-room coffee, some Internet and access to the fitness center for free at your hotel? Oh, wait — at thousands of perfectly good hotels across the country, you still can. So why are we buying into the notion that hotels must now charge us $25 per day (a common number) for the privilege on top of our nightly rate? And worse, why won’t the hotel come straight out and tell us? The Federal Trade Commission thinks this is all a little ridiculous — it issued a warning to a 22 different hotels last year, urging more transparency surrounding the fee. We urge them to just stop charging it and build these costs into the nightly rate. Hotels may need this money to turn a profit, but the reality is, they’re being sneaky by not including these fees upfront, for fear that knowing actual cost of the room night would turn away prospective guests. Tsk, tsk. How to avoid: For most people, their first encounter with the fee will be in a popular tourist destination, like Las Vegas, Orlando, Puerto Rico or Hawaii. In Vegas, avoiding the fee can be tough, with long-time holdouts like Caesars Palace and Cosmopolitan finally giving in this year. In other
destinations like Orlando, it’s much easier to find a hotel that’s still fee-free. When in doubt, ask — before you book, not after. It’s very difficult to argue your way out of this one.
The human-being fee Looking for the best deal on your next flight? Resist the urge to pick up the phone. Not only are the days of sweet-talking the airline rep into getting you some secret fare long gone — most of the best fares come and go rather quickly online — but airlines will charge you a fee for any tickets booked with a live human. Again, $25 (that’s what you pay for United and American, among others) may not sound like much on its own, but these things add up. How to avoid: Book your ticket and make any changes to that ticket online. Or find out what the best fare is by talking to an agent, then hang up and book online.
The overpriced car insurance Rental car companies are increasingly shameless about fobbing off their hilariously expensive insurance policies on unwitting travelers. These can often drive the final cost of your rental hundreds of dollars over the quoted base rate. If you have good car insurance on your personal vehicle and a good credit card (American Express is strongest) don’t cave. You really, really don’t need this. How to avoid: Educate yourself long before you
leave home. Know the ins and outs of your insurance policies — call your insurance agency if you have to. For the ultimate peace of mind, American Express sells a great Premium Car Rental Protection product that costs just $24.95 per rental period — that’s roughly what you’d pay for collision insurance in far too many destinations these days. The best part about the policy: You don’t have to file a claim and there is no deductible. You’re essentially walking away and letting AmEx handle things, which is exactly what the rental car companies use to steer people toward their own policies. (Turns out someone else can do it cheaper. Sorry, guys.) Just be aware that if you don’t have personal auto insurance, credit cards do not cover liability to people and other people’s property.
Overpriced hotel parking You just escaped the rental car lot with minor fee insults — now you show up at your hotel and they want how much for parking? Overnight parking fees are the newest profit center at far too many hotels; there’s nothing more insulting than being told by your hotel (sometimes located out in the middle of a field, or the woods, where there’s plenty of space for everyone) that the charge for your car to spend the night could get both you and your car a stay in a nice motel down the road. Even city hotels are tak-
ing the explosion of overnight parking fees as a sign that it’s cool for them to drive their existing rates into the stratosphere. How to avoid: Read the fine print before you book — particularly in cramped destinations like San Francisco, where overnight parking fees nearly scrape the $70 mark. Either don’t rent a car or stay in the suburbs; there are some nice hotels in Marin County, for example, where you can park your car for free (or much cheaper) and then take the ferry into town, which is a much more relaxing way to arrive, anyway.
The credit card transaction fee Like Rome isn’t expensive enough. Then you get home and find out that your credit card provider tacked on 3 percent (or more) for every time you whipped out your Visa, netting them a tidy little profit off your little Italian vacation. How’s that feel? Even if you use your card in your home country, if the vendor (airline, hotel, etc.) is located abroad you’ll probably get hit. How to avoid: Anyone who travels regularly should be looking for two things in a credit card. First off, your card should be giving you rewards that make travel easier and cheaper, whether with free hotel nights or free plane tickets or general points that can be applied to all of the above. Also, that card should not carry a foreign transaction fee. Capital One’s Venture Rewards card is one option worth considering.
R8
7 BUSINESS
JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2013
General Mills relaunches Hamburger Helper ‘Languishing’ brand being overhauled to boost sales, reach younger market BY MIKE HUGHLETT MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE/MCT
Hamburger Helper needs some help. The classic General Mills product, long the nation’s dominant dry dinner mix, has lost a big chunk of market share recently to a new offering from rival Kraft Foods. Pre-prepared dinner concoctions — from the grocery freezer to the deli case — are proliferating, giving consumers more options. Even General Mills CEO Ken Powell recently noted that the Hamburger Helper brand has been “languishing.” So the Golden Valley, Minn., company is launching a major Helper offensive, starting this month. New products will combine the customary dry mix and pasta with a sauce pouch. New offerings of Chicken Helper are on tap. Packaging will be revamped. And General Mills will retool its Hamburger Helper marketing plan, broadening its message to younger consumers. “We are truly relaunching the brand,” said Katy Dickson, a marketing vice president in the company’s meals division.
Competition from Kraft Hamburger Helper hit supermarkets in 1971, followed by Tuna Helper a year later and Chicken Helper in 1984. The brand became a household name and created a market that it has long dominated. But two years ago, suburban Chicago-based Kraft launched Velveeta Cheesy Skillets, a dinner mix with a dry mix and a sauce pouch. With the extra ingredients, Velveeta Skillets cost a bit more than Hamburger Helper, but consumers were willing to pay the premium. “Skillets were a very successful product launch for Kraft, one of
ANNA REED/MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE/MCT
General Mills is rebranding its line of Hamburger Helper meals, which are shown at the company’s offices in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on June 25. our top 10 in recent history,” said Tiphanie Maronta, a Kraft senior brand manager. For the year ending May 19, Kraft had a 21 percent share of the dry dinner mix market, its sales up 31 percent over a year earlier, according to Chicagobased market researcher IRI, which tracks sales at conventional food retailers.
Wake-up call During the same time, General Mills sales in the dry dinner mix market fell 14 percent to $324 million. And General Mills’ market share, while enviable at 69 percent, was down from 88 percent for 2010. “I think Kraft’s (Velveeta) launch was kind of a wake-up call for General Mills,” said Rick Shea, owner of Shea Market-
ing, a Chanhassen, Minn.-based consultancy. The challenge for any major brand is to “constantly refresh itself,” Shea said. While Hamburger Helper has been retooled several times over the decades, he said, General Mills didn’t do enough in recent years. CEO Powell said as much. “Hamburger Helper was not doing enough over the last couple of years to really refresh the products.” This summer’s relaunch starts with a major packaging makeover. It’s a bolder design featuring a more prominent role for the brand’s cartoon mascot, the Helping Hand. The word “Helper” is in larger type than ever, dwarfing “hamburger” or “chicken.” Indeed, General Mills now refers to the product simply as Helper, not Hamburger Helper.
The ascendancy of chicken has a lot to do with that. “Chicken is now the most popular meat most people prepare for dinner,” Dickson said. “On Google, people are always asking, ‘What can I make with chicken?’’’
13 chicken items Three new Helper chicken offerings are on tap, bringing the brand’s total chicken items to 13 out of an overall lineup of 56, including seven tuna iterations. Another new product is Ultimate Helper, which is fashioned for chicken and hamburger and features — in addition to a dry mix — a sauce pouch. Mills plans an advertising blitz for Helper starting this month. The campaign will include digital, a space in which General Mills is often aggressive, but hadn’t been
with Helper. The brand got a Facebook page only in December. Digital would seem vital as General Mills tries to broaden the marketing of Helper to a younger demographic — 20-somethings, particularly men. “I think it’s really smart for them to target the younger customer that might not know the product,” said Doug deGrood, creative director at Minneapolis ad agency Gabriel deGrood Bendt. General Mills has another challenge: Hamburger Helper is the sort of brand with a stigma in today’s upscale food culture, DeGrood said. “I don’t think it’s ever had a reputation for being gourmet, and, of course, we now have all become food snobs. The evolved culture that (Helper) now finds itself in makes it a challenge for it to be relevant.”
Scoop up hugs, kisses and
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