Daytona Times - September 25, 2014

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Motown show returns to Flagler SEE PAGE 3

EE FR

LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE: Lots of talk but little action on civil rights SEE PAGE 4

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

SATURDAY IS CHURCH AND COMMUNITY DAY FOR WILDCATS SEE PAGE 7

SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 1, 2014

YEAR 39 NO. 39

www.daytonatimes.com

Orange Avenue shutdown hurting businesses BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Business owners, managers and a pastor voiced their concerns over the closing of parts of Orange Avenue at last week’s Daytona Beach City Commission meeting. The overall complaint: Patrons can’t get to the businesses. Prior to the meeting, City Commissioner Paula Reed, whose district covers the area, walked along Orange

Avenue with information businesses could utilize during this time. While visiting with barbers, salon owners, restaurateurs and other business entities on Tuesday, she found that the same sentiments rang true for many of those affected by the street’s closure. “There were a couple of business owners that were telling me their businesses were in dire straits because their customers could not get to them,” Reed told the

Daytona Times. After the project’s completion, which is slated for 2016, Reed relayed that she does not “want a pretty street that has no businesses on it.”

Residents weigh in “I am really excited to see the progress and see the project started of Orange Avenue but one concern I do have is that a lot of the businesses on Orange Avenue are losing revenue due to lack of signs,” Dan-

ny Fuqua, pastor of Word And Praise Family Church on Orange Avenue said as he addressed the city commission last week. “A lot of the businesses are receiving phone calls as to how to get there (the businesses or churches). When you give them the directions, they still can’t find the alternate route to come in to the 955 Plaza and also over by the Church’s Chicken Plaza. “So that is a major, major concern. A lot of busi-

nesses in that area are losing revenue and I did an assessment. I was looking at the signs on International Speedway. If you really don’t know where you are going, you will not find the alternate route to get into that area. The signs are really small and I think they need to get big electronic signs, flashing and giving the alternate routes coming in.”

Can’t find a route “I have a church over

there and visitors are calling and wanting to visit but still can’t find how to get there,” Fuqua continued. “When you have new people in your city, they just give up. Customers call the business and can’t follow the directions and they end up passing them.” “Church’s (Chicken) is saying they may have to close within the next two weeks because of the lack of business and inability of people to be able to Please see BUSINESS, Page 2

Photo exhibit focuses on unrest after killing of Martin BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTS UNIVERSITY

Driving through floodwater can be dangerous and costly. The above motorist had to be towed from rising water after her engine stalled on Magnolia Avenue.

Record rainfall brings flooding to Daytona BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Heavy rainfall has caused isolated flooding in coastal Volusia County as forecasters expect additional storms through Friday. Record-setting rainfall since Wednesday morning included Daytona Beach, 7.95 inches; Ormond Beach, 6.37 inches; and New Smyrna Beach, 5.58 inches. The primary areas impacted are east of Nova Road.

County traffic maintenance crews are inspecting roads and will be installing barricades to close roads if warranted. With 90 percent of the community surveyed, Port Orange’s Damage Assessment Team reported 44 homes and six non–residential structures flooded. The estimated damage amount is $1.5 million. The team was to continue the survey on Thursday in neighborhoods that were impassable due to the flooding. Figures for Daytona Beach were not available.

Overflowed banks According to Volusia County Road and Bridge Director Judy Grim, many canals are at the top of their banks or have overflowed in some areas. This includes the LPGA canal in Holly Hill, the Halifax canal in Port Orange, and the Turnbull Bay hammock. This is causing drainage backup into streets, primarily in the incorporated cities of Holly Hill, Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach. Please see FLOOD, Page 2

The African American Museum of the Arts in DeLand will hold an opening reception for photojournalist Duane Fernandez on Saturday, Sept. 27, featuring his exhibit, “The Trayvon Martin Journey: From Sanford, FL, Daytona Beach, FL, Orlando, FL and Washington D.C.” Following the death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Sanford, national and international coverage ensued over race relations in the United States. Fernandez captured scenes of civil unrest in Central Florida and Duane the nation’s capital, Fernandez photographing everyday people, civil right leaders and law enforcement. “When Trayvon was killed, as a father, I have two sons. My youngest is maybe a couple years older than him. I thought that could have been my son; it touched my heart,” Fernandez explained.

Recording history Fernandez received an associaite of science degree in photography from Daytona State College and runs a nonprofit, Hardnott University, where the mission statement is “teaching kids to shoot with cameras not guns.” He also frequently photographs for the Daytona Times and Florida Courier. “As a photographer it is easy to shoot basketball games and other entertainment, but to me, these photos show civil rights violations and that is more important. It is history, and I wanted to record it.” “His photographs tell a story,” Mary Please see EXHIBIT, Page 2

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to register voters at football game BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

The local alumni and college chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will host a voter registration drive Saturday during the home football game of Bethune-Cookman University against Florida Tech. “We are joining with other chapters and with the college chapter starting at noon,” John Huger Sr., president of the Beta Delta Lambda alumni chapter, told the Daytona Times

ALSO INSIDE

this week. “We will set up outside of the stadium with registration stations on both sides,” he added. “Within our fraternity, one of our national initiatives is to publicize ‘A Voteless People is a Hopeless People.’ Our national president asked us to do a voter registration drive this weekend in hopes that we can bring attention to midterm elections.” Huger also explained that those interested in registering to vote need to bring an ID such as a driver’s license. The football game is 4 p.m. Saturday at

Daytona Beach’s Municipal Stadium. B-CU plays the Florida Institute of Technology based in Melbourne, better known as Florida Tech.

Longtime program “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” was initiated as a national pogram of the fraternity during the 1930s when many AfricanAmericans had the right to vote but were prevented from voting because of poll taxes, threats of reprisal, and lack of education about the voting process. Please see VOTERS, Page 2

COMMENTARY: WHY THE NFL CONTINUES TO FUMBLE THE BALL | PAGE 4 SPORTS: WAS ‘FLEET’ WALKER THE FIRST BLACK MLB PLAYER? | PAGE 7

Trevon Friar of the Delta Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. participates in a backpack giveaway in August. The chapter is continuing acts of community activism on Saturday in a voter registration drive. COURTESY OF TREVON FRIAR


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