Daytona Times - October 10, 2013 by Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC

Daytona

Chartering ceremony set for Pan-Hellenic Council See page 3

EE FR

GEORGE E. CURRY: Yes, mental illness PRESORTED affects African-Americans too See pageSTANDARD 4

U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #189 Daytona Beach, FL

B-CU freshman named MEAC’s volleyball rookie of the week See page 5

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

YEAR 38 NO. 41

www.daytonatimes.com www.daytonatimes.com

OCTOBER 10 - OCTOBER 16, 2013

Activist sparks question again over fire chief job

PEOPLE SPEAK

Interim chief doesn’t meet minimum qualifications to hold the position

Process questioned again

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Questions still are being raised about why Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm has not hired a permanent fire chief. The Daytona Times also has learned that Interim Fire Chief Dru Driscoll does not meet minimum qualifications to hold the job. However, Chisholm has allowed him to apply for the position.

“I’m concerned why we have not hired a fire chief. People are asking why and when is it going to happen,” said Johnson directly to the city manager and the members of the commission to hushed silence. “I hope you are not planning on slipping someone in the back door like you did with (Police Chief Mike) Chitwood. We need to diversify our workforce. We had an African-American fire chief and y’all got rid of him,” she asserted. “I would like to see an African-American in that job,” concluded Johnson who also told the commission she went to the human resources department and learned the job required at least a bachelor’s degree.

ty-three people applied – 24 from Florida and 29 from out of state.

Dru Driscoll

Marjorie Johnson

Larry Stoney

It’s been five months since Daytona Beach stopped taking applications to replace Fire Chief Jim Bland who retired earlier this year. The Daytona Beach Fire Chief’s job opening ran from March 27 to May 3. Fif-

Last month, Daytona Beach Public Information Officer Susan Cerbone told the Times that finalists had not been selected, which was noted in an article on Sept. 5. When asked why Chisholm hasn’t narrowed the list down to a group of finalists, Cerbone said she was told “the selection process is the city manager’s prerogative.” The issue over Chisholm not hiring a fire chief was raised during the Oct. 2 city commission meeting by community activist and former NAACP president Marjorie Johnson.

Please see chief, Page 2

Bessie Marshall, popular coach, educator will be eulogized Saturday BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Funeral services for popular coach and teacher Bessie Carol Murphy Marshall will take place at 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Gertrude Heyn Memorial Chapel on Bethune-Cookman University’s campus. Marshall died Oct. 3 at HalifaxHealth Medical Center. She was 76. Marshall retired as an educator with the Volusia County Public Schools. Her teaching career began in Palmetto and she continued at Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce. She taught physical education, coached basBessie Carol ketball and cheerleadMurphy ing, and taught dance Marshall at Southwestern High School for six years. Due to integration in 1970, she was assigned to New Smyrna Beach High School during the 1970-1971 school year.

Avid B-CU supporter Her career continued at Spruce Creek High School, where she was dean of students and the girls basketball coach. She also taught at Campbell Middle School, eventually retiring at Mainland High. She had a dance group known as the Bessie Marshall dancers. She maintained a close relationship with the dancers throughout her life. Marshall was a member of the Bethune-Cookman University booster club and an avid supporter of the BCU Wildcats. She traveled extensively in support of them with the Edward “Creamy’’ Hayes group. She was a member of the B-CU Alumni Association, Texas Woman’s University Alumni Association and the NAACP.

Dr. Hakim Lucas, Bethune-Cookman’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement, is shown at a reception about the festival with Daisy Grimes, B-CU’s Community Liaison, and Evelyn Bethune, granddaughter of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, right.

Plans under way for 2014 Bethune festival

B-CU founder’s family to host week of forums, concerts and other events FROM STAFF REPORTS

Members of the Bethune family held a press conference on Oct. 4 to announce the creation of the Mary McLeod Bethune Cultural Heritage Arts Festival to

be held in Daytona Beach April 6-13, 2014. Bethune-Cookman University will participate in the festival with activities focused on “five blessings’’ – education, civic engagement, business, health and wellness, and faith, said Dr. Evelyn Bethune, granddaughter of Mary McLeod Bethune. In addition, the weeklong event will include an awards gala, an R&B and jazz concert, authors’ forum, book sales, a

Black film festival and a gospel concert, among many other events to be held throughout the city. “We see this growing into one of the biggest festivals in the southeast region,” Bethune said. “We are glad to have the participation of the Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Preservation Institute, Inc. to make this a true testament to my grandmother’s legacy.” Please see FESTIVAL, Page 2

Please see MARSHALL, Page 2

Music fraternity ordered to suspend activities at B-CU BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Members of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity perform during an event on campus.

Bethune-Cookman University has ordered Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America to suspend all activities on and off campus, including meetings, practices, and involvement in events and programs. Pi Gamma, the local chapter of the music fraternity, is named in a lawsuit connected to the death of B-CU student and marching band member Marcus Thomas. The 19-year-old died in a car accident on Feb. 10, 2012. According to witness accounts given to police, Thomas and several other students had just left

a fraternity leader’s off-campus apartment.

Mom alleges hazing On behalf of her son, Marcus Thomas, Michelle Thomas also is suing Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, B-CU employee Lamar D. Bryant, and Marcus Allen, a B-CU student and “big brother’’ to the pledges. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America is a fraternity for music students. Michelle Thomas’ complaint alleges that hazing activities were conducted both on and off campus. Darryl Lewis, who is with the law firm of Searcy, Denny, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley out of Mi-

ami, is representing Mrs. Thomas. Upon being contacted by the Daytona Times this week about the action of the school against the fraternity, Lewis said B-CU “is merely acting to protect its reputation and money.”

Lawyer: B-CU could do more “The school should have and could have easily protected its students and the community by fixing the school’s well-known long-existing culture of severe hazing. But, they did nothing to stop it,” Lewis said. “Severe hazing endangers not Please see SINFONIA, Page 2

7 FOCUS

OCTOBER 10 – OCTOBER 16, 2013

Did Black Atlanta get to the Promised Land? Seesaw effect

A look at the Black Mecca 50 years later

Nonetheless, more than 40 years after Dr. King made strides to improve the social, political and economic conditions for the poor in America, Atlanta seems to have experienced a seesaw effect in its seat among progressive cities as people moseyed in and out of the city when the recession came in its purview. In 1996, the Olympic Games brought Atlanta unarguably its highest level of visibility on an international scale, and Atlanta was the place to be regardless of race. During this time and the years following, Atlanta’s business sector reached a solid financial footing and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce reported that the Olympics made a $5 billion impact on the city

BY KENYA KING NNPA NEWS SERVICE

A one-way ticket to anywhere in the U.S. after Hurricane Katrina brought a vast number of displaced New Orleanians to the hotbed of the South – Atlanta – where Black political power precipitates AfricanAmerican entrepreneurship, and where a cultural melting pot begets the crux of artistic expression from Mozart to hip-hop. Even since the 1970s, and still today, Atlanta has been Christened as the Black Mecca and for many and is a city where AfricanAmericans are believed to have the best opportunities for prosperity or for reinventing themselves. Fifty years after of the March on Washington and the “I Have a Dream” speech, what has Black Atlanta achieved, and is it still a place for African-Americans to thrive? “It’s no doubt about it,” said Herman J. Russell, chairman and founder of H.J. Russell and Company, which is a 50-year-old construction and real estate empire based in Atlanta. Russell started his construction business at 16 years old and is one of the living icons of Black business. “Atlanta is still the anchor for Black entrepreneurs,” said Russell. “Just for all phases of Black leadership. To be in education, to be in contract business, or to just be a doctor – whatever you may [want to] be. Atlanta is one of the greatest cities in the world to have your enterprise.”

Place for talent For decades, educational and employment opportunities have historically drawn Blacks to the Bible Belt South.

MARSHALL from Page 1 She was a lifelong member of New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She also was a recipient of many awards and accolades.

Daytona native Marshall was born in Daytona Beach to the late Willie Bob and Mary Evelyna Murphy. She graduated with honors in 1954 from Campbell High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Bethune-Cookman in 1958. During that year, she was crowned Miss Homecoming. While at the college, she also was on the girls basketball team. She earned a Master of Arts degree in dance and related arts from

SINFONIA

Progressiveminded people Atlanta, the bedrock of the Civil Rights Movement and birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., also attracts African-Americas who want to stay connected to the “Black experience.” Elder Bernice A. King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and CEO of The King Center, which serves

Texas Woman’s University in Denton Texas in 1974. She continued her education at Florida A&M University in administration and supervision in 1976.

Wake on Oct. 11 Survivors include brothers Jerry A. Murphy (Ann) and Benjamin I. Murphy (Gladys) of Daytona Beach, and James O. Murphy of Norwalk Conn.; sisters, Ophelia W. Robinson, Ernestine M. Seales (Raymond), Janice D. Murphy of Palm Coast; and a host of other relatives. A wake is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 515 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. Daytona Beach. Herbert Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Interment will follow the funeral at Greenwood Cemetery.

just students but the entire community. In this case, for example, the morning that Marcus Thomas was needlessly killed because serious hazing had made him and others so sleep deprived that the driver lost control of his car, children and anyone else could have been standing there waiting for a bus, injuring or killing anyone who happened to be there,” Lewis continued. Lewis added that the school should be applauded for taking the action against the fraternity but added: “At this point the school should stop severe hazing school-wide and meet their full responsibility to Marcus’s family.”

members to refrain from wearing clothing bearing the name of the organization, or any of its emblems, stated a press release. Violation of the policy could lead to removal of recognition of the organization from B-CU. The lawsuit filed by Lewis on behalf of Mrs. Thomas states “some of the pledging activities involved pledges dressing in all black where they would be physically assaulted and battered. During the pledging process, pledges would be forced to be on a “Pledge diet,” where they were not allowed to eat. “Also pledges were required to stay up all night and into the early morning hours, memorizing and reciting fraternity history and facts, clean fraternity members houses and run errands for the members.”

No paraphernalia

Hearing in July

B-CU’s “cease and desist” letter to Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America also requires

The last hearing on the case took place July 1. In addition to Lewis, also present representing the

from Page 1

ing all the time,” he stated. “The range of talent that arrives here is very, very strong. Of course [Atlanta has] 100,000 college students in the city — that’s never a bad thing — and the proportion of them that are African-Americans is increasing, particularly with the focus of the Atlanta University Center with Clark Atlanta, Spelman and Morehouse.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of African-Americans in the Southern region increased by 18 percent from 2000 to 2010, bringing in an additional 3 million, and in 2010, the state of Georgia ranked fourth for the highest number of African-Americans in the United States. President of Clark Atlanta University Carlton Brown agrees that education continues to play a key role in luring people to Atlanta. He also stated that Clark Atlanta, the only independent graduate institution in the entire historically Black college and university network, frequently has Fortune 500 companies from all over the world visiting the institution looking for employees with a firm mindset toward diversity. “We have them com-

thousands of visitors each year, concurs that Atlanta’s unique history of AfricanAmerican life and culture, especially related to civil rights, is a magnet for people color. “I think when people come here they find progressive-minded people,” said King. “They find a hodgepodge of creative and gifted individuals who are doing substantial stuff. I think because I think it has a lot to do with the history and the spirit that emerged from Auburn Avenue in the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, and I believe it’s a carryover from all of that and the fact that there are a number of African-Americans in important places in leadership, although we still have a great deal of work to do in terms of power, leveraging true power in Atlanta.”

Untouchable business opportunities Businessman and entrepreneur Tommy Dortch, who is CEO of TWD Inc. and founder of the Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, said that in spite of Atlanta’s challenges, it is still one of the best a places for African-Americans to reach success. “I’ve traveled to every state in the U.S. except for two and I’ve been in all of the urban centers and I have worked with so many different people. It’s a city where people work together. There are many people who have a difference of opinion. Once you leave Atlanta, you know the difference. When you look at [Washington] D.C., when you look at New York, when you look at Chicago – they don’t have the kind of cohesive coming together that we have,” he stated. Dortch also stated that based on the track record of entrepreneurial success among African-Americans in Atlanta, one has to admit that Atlanta is likely the number one “Black Mec-

CHIEF from Page 1 Qualified Black Johnson also noted that longtime Daytona Beach firefighter Lt. Larry Stoney Jr., who is Black, will have a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix by January 2014. He and Driscoll were among 53 applicants for the job. Stoney has a bachelor’s degree from BethuneCookman. Driscoll has an A.S. in fire science from Keiser College and “anticipates” getting his B.S. in public safety in July 2014, according to the application he submitted for the job. If chosen fire chief, Stoney would be the second Black to hold the position in the city’s history. The city’s first Black fire chief, Dwayne A. Murray, held the position for just a year – from January 2007 to January 2008. He was the city’s 16th fire chief. In March 2010, Stoney was promoted as the

estate of Marcus Thomas were local attorneys William Chanfrau Sr. And Kelly Chanfrau. The lawyer representing Bethune-Cookman at the hearing was Emmet J. Schwartzman. Representing Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity at the hearing was Jeffrey Hurcomb. Jeremy Palma represented Allen. The fraternity filed a motion to dismiss the case arguing, among other things, that the national fraternity could not be held responsible for the actions of members in the local chapter of the fraternity. Lewis argued successfully to Judge Terrence Perkins that the national fraternity could be held liable for the acts of the members in its local chapter.

About the lawsuit Mrs. Thomas’ lawsuit, which was filed last year, states that as a B-CU student and pledge of a fraternity, her son was protected by Florida Statue 1006.63 and protected by

the B-CU Greek Life Policy on Hazing and its Statement on Hazing and Student Code. “Both recognize the inherent dangers of hazing, defined as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student as part of an organization’s initiation or affiliation process and attempt to protect students from those dangers,’’ the suit states. Bryant, a B-CU employee, is being sued because he was the assistant dean of students and director of Student Involvement and Coordinator of Greek Life at the university. B-CU, Phi Mu and Bryant are being charged with negligence. The fraternity and Marcus Allen also are being sued for breach of fiduciary duty. In addition, the fraternity is being accused of default on obligations. The mother is seeking damages in excess of $15,000.

ca” in the nation, not only in the South. In addition, Atlanta has had an AfricanAmerican mayor for nearly 40 years, starting with Maynard Holbrook Jackson in 1974. “When you look at the legacy that Maynard Jackson left us, there is not another city in this nation that has a commitment to diversity and inclusion. For African-Americans in this city to gain almost 38 to 40 percent of all the procurement opportunities in this city, there is not another place in this nation. When you consider this point, we’ve done almost $6 billion in the expansion of Hartsfield-Jackson [airport]. One billion [dollars] of that $6 [billion] has gone to African Americanowned businesses. There is not another city that can touch that,” said Dortch.

Top city for entrepreneurs Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s view parallels Dortch’s premise. “Atlanta has an undeniable legacy and longstanding tradition of supporting urban entrepreneurs. Many of the world’s greatest business ideas and ventures started here in Atlanta, which was named by Forbes magazine as the No. 1 city in the United States for minority entrepreneurs,” said Reed. “That’s a sign that opportunities for emerging urban entrepreneurs and women and minorityowned businesses in Atlanta remain unparalleled. I don’t believe there is any place better than the city of Atlanta to help develop and nurture talented and innovative African-American business owners, and minority and women-owned businesses.”

This story is special to the NNPA from the Atlanta Daily World.

department’s public information officer. Presently, Stoney is responsible for working with the media to disseminate information to the public on the various activities and initiatives of the fire department. He has 11 years with the fire department, serving as a firefighter, driver/engineer, lieutenant, chaplain, and critical incident stress team leader.

Job requirement According to the job posting on the city of Daytona Beach’s website, the fire chief’s pay range is between $81,052 to $143,578 and requires a bachelor’s degree in fire science, emergency medical services, public administration, or a related field. The city also is looking for someone with “10 years of progressively responsible full-time experience in an organized paid fire department or related municipal service, five of which must have been in a managerial capacity, preferably at the level of Battalion Chief or above with responsibility for personnel and budget management,’’ according to the posting.

FESTIVAL from Page 1 Community support Those in attendance at a reception announcing the festival included B-CU’s Dr. Makola Abdullah, Provost; Dr. Hakim Lucas; Amanda MacCormac, The Daytona Pen Women; FRESH Book Fes-

tival Director Donna GrayBanks; Michele Gilbert of YAM (Young Adult Ministries); Deborah Shafer, Volusia County Libraries - City Island; Cynthia Slater, NAACP; Stephanie Mason-Teague, Cinematique; and Bob Kovacevich, Avatar Company. Others represented included members of the BCU’s Alumni Association and Women’s Advisory Board as well as the Daytona Section of the National Council of Negro Women.

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Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!

OCTOBER 10 – OCTOBER 16, 2013

COMMUNITY M ANEWS YOR

3 7

DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

Cultural society salutes its men At the end of the day, a “Recognition Luncheon Honoring Men of AACS, Inc.” spirited camaraderie for a well-planned event, recently recognizing the men moving the African American Cultural Society (AACS) forward. Twenty-eight men resounded to be part of the cultural society, yet separate, and trading suits and uniforms for paintbrushes and mops. They comprise a 501©(3) not-for-profit corporation. The luncheon at the African American Cultural Society interjected the men having installed the needed fixtures while forsaking golf clubs and tennis racks.

Funded repairs They dug deep in their pockets to pay $4,000 toward liquidating the mortgage, said Recognition Luncheon Chair Lynda Baten. The mortgage was liquidated last year and the men have underwritten repairs for the vestibule, ceiling, restrooms, as well as painting the office, and replacing the air conditioner. AACS President Edmund G. Pinto, Jr. was the second president of the Men of the AACS. James Allen was the first; Jay Foxe is the current president, and Vivian Richardson is AACS Board of Directors Chairman. Tickets were sold out for a

Palm Coast Community news Jeroline D. Mccarthy

packed house and for catering by J. C. Curry for a cuisine of applewood lime grilled chicken.

Theatrical productions The program echoed the classic, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” sung by Nicole Dolison. Baten and Cultural Center Administrator/emcee Diana McKie Robinson worked assiduously capturing the nuances, in addition to creating a superb journal. Robinson created a script dubbed by her pen name Skylar Cherry for the AACS theater productions. The theatrics went well, featuring Berthrum Hinds and Edwina Rucker in a riotous performance, impersonating singers Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo and subliminally messaging that in order to join the organization, a prospect would not have to be a celebrity.

‘Man of the Year’ chosen By sealed ballots, Berkeley O. Chandler, Jr. was selected “Man of the Year” by the men for outstanding contributions to their

COURTESY OF FLAGLER COUNTY COMMISSIONER GEORGE HANNS

The Men of AACS are shown during a recent luncheon. goals. Chandler was awarded a $100 restaurant gift certificate and two Southern soul blues tickets. The luncheon marked the men taking in dedication certificates from the Flagler County Board of Commissioners and appreciation certificates from the African American Cultural Society. The certificates reverberated the men’s dedication ascribing the signature of Nate McLaughlin, Chairman of the Flagler County Board of Directors. Pictures were taken by County Commissioner George Hanns. Also in the house were County Commissioner Frank Meeker and Palm

Coast City Councilman William Lewis.

Special guests The other guests focused were Sheriff James Manfre, Deputy County Administrator Sally Sherman, County Administrator Craig Coffey, and Attorney Marc Dwyer The Men of AACS, Inc. “showed out” in the celebratory photo, and were: James W. Allen, Robert Alleyne, Richard Barnes, Walter Boone, Kurt Bottoms, Robert Brooks, Donald Bryant, Berkeley O. Chandler, Jr., Jay Foxe, Lionel Holder, Vincent W. Julius, Victor Krause, James Lee, Joseph Mat-

thews, Louis McCarthy, Charles L. McCray, Sr., John McLemore, John Mills, Walter Morris, Alfred Phillips, Edmund G. Pinto, Jr., Herman Price. John Reid, Eugene Roberson, William Robinson, William Seeney, Johnie Spann and Jerome Williams. As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.

Celebrations Birthday wishes to: Floyd Thorpe, Luther White, Nicole McGlown, Oct. 12; Wanda White, Oct. 13; Michael Booker, Oct. 15. Happy anniversary to: Luther and Wanda White, Oct. 12.

Community invited to installation ceremony for local Black Greeks Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, the PanHellenic Council gives food baskets, clothing and toys to selected families throughout the county.

about the organization.

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Divine Nine

All Greeks, their families and friends as well as the general public are invited to the chartering ceremony as the Pan-Hellenic Council of Central Florida officially joins the National Pan-Hellenic Council at 6 p.m. on Oct. 13. The event will be held at Unity Fellowship Baptist Church, 909 Third St., Port Orange. Rev. Arnold T. Postell is pastor of the church. “The charter will be confirmed and officers installed by NPHC national members and Orlando council officers and members,” said local president Johnnie Moore. Refreshments will be served following the event and information provided

The Pan-Hellenic Council of Central Florida is made up of the Divine Nine Alumni chapters of fraternities and sororities: Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Ro, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Omega Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi and Iota Phi Theta. All chapters serve the communities throughout Volusia County. Individually each organization has programs that mentor youth, assist the elderly, provide food and clothing to the needy, job and medical fairs, just to name a few. “We have banded together to better use our resources and assist each other in conducting social and ser-

vice events,” Moore noted. Upcoming events include a cookout open to all Greeks, undergraduates and alumni; a UNCF fundraiser; and awards gala.

Local officers Other officers in addition to Moore include Patricia Shaw, first vice president; Jeff Turner, second vice president; Doreece Robinson, recording secretary; Deonce’ Roland, financial secretary; Johnnie Chavis, treasurer; and Shawn Gillard, historian. The council meets every second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Olive Garden, 1780 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. For more information, contact Moore at 386-2904707 or Johnnie Chavis at 386-747-2814.

Library at community center needs books, other donations The Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural and Educational Center at 1000 Vine Street in Daytona Beach. is seeking book donations for its library. The library offers free access for children and adults to a variety of books, including historical, educational, fiction, non-fiction, newspa-

per, magazines and other materials to encourage people to read. The center wants hardcover and paperback books and other reference materials, videos, CDs, DVDs and audio books that are in good condition. Please refrain from donating books that are damaged or have

mold or mildew conditions (as they contaminate other books. Books are accepted Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 386671-8337.

Fire department selling breast cancer awareness T-shirts FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Daytona Beach Fire Department will be wearing breast cancer awareness T-Shirts durning the month of October. The shirts were designed by members of the department. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. “While most people are aware of breast cancer,

Yoga workshop designed for breast cancer patients To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the community is invited to a free yoga workshop led by Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center oncologist, Dr. Karin Bigman. This Oct. 22 yoga work-

many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go and need your help,” stated a press release. If you are interested in purchasing one of these Tshirts, contact the administration office at 386-6714000 or stop by fire station No. 3 located at 945 N. Halifax Ave. shop was specially designed for breast cancer patients and survivors and will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, Medical Office Building, first floor classroom, 305 Memorial Medical Parkway, Daytona Beach. No experience is necessary and all are welcome. Space is limited, and registration is required. RSVP by calling 386-2312229.

7 EDITORIAL

OCTOBER 10 – OCTOBER 16, 2013

The delusional Tea Party Republicans As these words are being written, the Obama administration is trying to end a shutdown of the United States government forced by the refusal of the Republican bloc of the House of Representatives to vote on a continued funding of the government’s operations. Looming ever closer is the deadline for Congress to deal, with the country’s debt ceiling by raising its borrowing limit. The Treasury Department last week warned that the Congress’ failure to do so by October 17 could provoke “a financial crisis and recession that could echo the events of 2008 or worse.” But another way of looking at these inter-related, and completely unjustifiable, crises is as an attempt by the Tea Party movement to stage a political coup d’etat. They failed to defeat President Obama last November. Now, Tea Party representatives in the House and Senate – having already emasculated House Speaker John Boehner, the Republican from Ohio, and Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and Senate minority leader – have launched a direct attack against the administration by trying to wreck the government’s ability to function

Birther flimflam However, amid all of the economic pain the Tea Party-Republican coalition’s action are causing millions of Americans, we should not forget that the most important thing pushing the radical right

LEE A. DANIELS NNPA COLUMNIST

wing is not opposition to Obamacare or any other administration policy. Instead, it’s most important motivation is rooted in a bizarre fantasy: that Barack Obama was not born in the United States. That’s right. The “Birther” flimflam, which generated so much overt influence on Republican politics during the President’s first term, is as virulent as ever, according to a recently-published book. The book is Change They Can’t Believe In: The Tea Party and Reactionary Politics in America by University of Washington scholars Christopher Parker and Matt A. Barreto. One of the scholars’ primary goals is exploring the differences in opinion between the two main blocs in today’s Republican Party: those conservatives who declare themselves supporters of the Tea Party and those who say they aren’t. There isn’t sufficient space in this column to say barely more than they found such significant differences between the two groups that they conclude Tea Party sympathizers are far to the right of the “mainstream conservatives” that in the past made up the over-

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: PUSHY CONGRESS

whelming bulk of the GOP. In fact, Parker and Barreto, views surveys and in-depth interviews, found the Tea Party sympathizers’ view are so extreme they can only be correctly labeled “reactionary conservatives.” For me, however, one particular finding of this valuable book stood out – and it encompassed both the Party’s mainstream and reactionary conservatives. In response to a survey question asking their opinion about President Obama’s origins, they found that 48 percent of non-Tea Party Republicans and 62 percent of Tea Party Republicans the people all of the time. believe President Obama was not But it also recalls how long in born in America. the past the large majority of White Americans clung to all sorts of biBirthplace verified zarre notions about Black AmeriThink of that. Despite the fact cans in order to justify their racism that the documentation supplied to themselves. And it underscores by the president, and the verifica- how deeply the virus of racism – tion of the 1961 Hawaiian news- impervious to logic and proven paper announcement of his birth, fact – still persists in a substantial and the objective examinations by segment of white conservatives. innumerable media outfits have all served to confirm the truth of Delusionary mindset the president’s birthplace, a maThis is the delusionary mindjority of all Republicans still cling set that threatens even right-wing to the delusion that’s he’s foreign- conservative legislators with priborn. mary Tea Party challenges if they The scholars’ survey also found deviate in the slightest from the that 58 percent of non-Tea Party most extreme positions. This is the conservatives and 75 percent of delusionary mindset that is willing Tea Party conservatives don’t be- to wreck the US economy if they lieve the president is a practicing don’t get their way. Christian. Elizabeth Warren, the newlyOn the one hand, this twisted elected junior Senator from Masself-deception brings to mind that sachusetts, recently referred to the old saying: you can fool some of GOP-driven shutdown of the gov-

Christopher Weyant, The Hill

ernment as “hostage-taking” and said: “In a democracy, hostage tactics are the last resort for those who can’t otherwise win their fights through elections, can’t win their fights in Congress, can’t win their fights for the Presidency, and can’t win their fights in Courts. “For this right-wing minority,” she continued, “hostage-taking is all they have left – a last gasp of those who cannot cope with the realities of our democracy.” The question we all must confront is how long will this delusionary mindset continue to be a force in American politics.

Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His latest book is “Last Chance: The Political Threat to Black America’’. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Some homosexuals confuse a crime with a ‘right’ As it is written, “there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12 What an appropriate statement to describe the continued denigration of the moral fabric of American society. I am fed up with everyone trying to be accommodating of homosexuals when they refuse to reciprocate towards those who disagree with them. Let me explain. Most of you probably have never heard of Kaitlyn Hunt. She is a 19-year-old from Sebastian, Fl, southeast of Orlando. Last week, she pleaded no contest to two counts of misdemeanor battery, misdemeanor contributing to the dependency of a child and two counts of felony interference with child custody. Under the terms of the agreement, Hunt will be sentenced to four months in jail, to be followed by two years of house arrest with electronic monitoring, and then nine months of monitored probation. If she has no violations, she will not be a convicted felon under Florida law, and she will have the possibility of sealing her file and

the victim. Hunt recently had her bond revoked because she violated the judge’s order. She was discovered to have sent RAYNARD more than 20,000 text messages to JACKSON the victim and had engaged in sex NNPA COLUMNIST despite the judge’s no contact order. The text messages included having the case expunged after 10 nude photos and videos of Hunt years. masturbating. She had secretly given the victim an iPad so they could stay in touch. Sordid background Here’s the sordid background. Hunt, who was 18 years old at the Disturbing response time of the crime, and an unnamed The disturbing aspect of this 14-year-old freshman girl went to disturbing case is the response the same high school and played from Hunt’s parents and homoon the varsity basketball team to- sexual activists. According to news gether. The coach discovered that accounts, Hunt’s father said, “It’s the two girls were having sex and horrible. For my daughter’s sexual expelled Hunt from the team. preferences, she’s getting two feloThe coach reported the situa- ny charges. It could possibly ruin tion to the police, as required by her future.” state law, and Hunt was subseHunt’s mother said, “They [the quently arrested and sent to an- victim’s parents] are out to destroy other school to finish her senior my daughter because they feel like year. Under Florida law, it is ille- she made their daughter gay. They gal for an older teen to have sexu- see being gay as wrong and they al contact with a 14-year-old, even blame my daughter. Of course, I if the relationship was consensual. see it 100% differently. I don’t see In Florida, the age of consent is 16. or label these girls as gay. They are The judge allowed Hunt to be re- teenagers in high school experileased after posting $ 5,000 bond, menting with their sexuality – with with the pretrial court order pro- mutual consent. And even if their hibiting her from any contact with daughter is gay, who cares? She is

still their daughter.” Mind you that the victim’s family never said anything about their position on homosexuality yet the predator’s family is purporting to speak for the victim’s parents. After reading what her parents said, it is quite easy to see why the daughter has no values or morals. The parents are supposed to be adults, but they are behaving like children. Wait, it gets worse, if that’s possible.

Molester supported Some guy named Steven Hunt, Jr., set up a supporters’ page for Hunt and it has more than 300,000 people who have asked that all charges be dropped because this is a case about “consensual” sex. Never mind the fact that in Florida, a 14-year-old is not legally able to consent to sex. The Florida ACLU interjected, “Older high schoolers dating their younger counterparts is an innocuous, everyday occurrence that is not prosecuted – regardless of sexual orientation – and not a crime on par with predatory sex offenses.” Innocuous? Hardly. A crime? Absolutely. The victim’s family is the only

ones showing any class – or common sense – in this repulsive incident. They said in a statement, “It was never our intent to harm the defendant and this case was never about gender or sexual orientation. It was about age-appropriate relationships and following the rules and laws of our society.”

Criminal act The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has not uttered a word about this criminal act. By their silence, one can deduce they believe that it’s okay for an 18-year-old to have “sex” with a 14-year-old as long as they pretend to be in love. This case makes me sick to my stomach. This issue here is about the rule of law and nothing else, regardless of how homosexual activists try to rationalize it.

Raynard Jackson is president and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC. He can be reached through his website, www.raynardjackson.com. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Yes, mental illness affects ‘us’ On Monday, Sept. 16 the news was shocking: A contract employee who worked at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., later identified as Aaron Alexis, killed 12 innocent people in the facility before he was killed by police. For many African-Americans, our first thought was: “I hope it wasn’t one of us.” On Oct. 3, there was another disturbing incident in the nation’s capital: An unarmed woman with her 1-year-old child in the car, drove her vehicle into barriers outside the White House and on Capitol Hill before being shot to death by police. Again, we thought: “I hope it wasn’t one of us.” And the next day brought additional bad news from Washington: A man poured gasoline over his body and set himself on fire on the National Mall. He died the next day. Once again: “I hope it wasn’t one of us.” In each case, it was one of us. Aaron Alexis, the Navy Yard gunman, was Black. Miriam Carey, the 34-year old dental hygienist from Stamford, Conn. was an African-American. And the unidentified man who burned himself to death on the Mall was also Black.

Reluctant to discuss More important than their race, Aaron Alexis, Miriam Carey and possibly the man who set himself on fire suffered from a mental disorder. And that’s something we have been reluctant to discuss.

George E. Curry NNPA COLUMNIST

But it’s time for that to change. In an interview last year on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” Dr. William Lawson, professor of psychiatry and chairman of psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine, discussed some of the factors in our refusal to seek help for mental problems. “Many African-Americans have a lot of negative feelings about or not even aware of mental health services,” he said. “They are not aware of the symptoms of many mental disorders, or they may believe that to be mentally ill is a sign of weakness or a sign of character fault.” That attitude permeates Black America, regardless of income level. “In places like Los Angeles and New York, everyone and their pet has a therapist, yet even among the wealthy and elite, many African Americans continue to hold

tain mental illnesses, can improve cial dysfunction, and numerous African-Americans’ treatment ex- other problems that can end up in periences and increase utilization divorce, unemployment, and suiof mental health care services. cide.” When Blacks do seek help to get over those emotional hurdles, they Treat mental illness George E. Curry is editortend to do so later, when treatDr. Sarah Vinson, who created in-chief of the National Newsment might not be as effective as it may have been if they had sought the website BlackMentalHealth- paper Publishers Association help earlier. In addition to our an- Net.com, said mental illness takes News Service. Click on this story tiquated attitude toward mental a high toll on African-Americans. at www.daytonatimes.com to “Untreated, mental illness can health, medical professionals also cause strained relationships, so- write your own response. share part of the blame. A fact sheet by the National Alliance on Mental Health notes: • African-Americans in the United States are less likely to receive accurate diagnoses than their Caucasian counterparts. Schizophrenia, for instance has been shown to be over diagnosed in the African-American population; • Culture biases against mental health professionals and health care professionals in general prevent many African-Americans from accessing care due to prior experiences with historical misdiagnoses, inadequate treatment and a lack of cultural understanding. • Overall sensitivity to AfricanAmerican cultural differences, such as differences in medication metabolization rates, unique views of mental illness and propensity towards experiencing cer-

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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5 7

HEALTH MA YOR

OCTOBER 10 – OCTOBER 2013 DECEMBER 14 - 20,16, 2006

services and public policy at the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. The local chapter assists with 10 missing person cases a month across the state, and has a dedicated staff member to work on them. Every missing case, Helms said, carries a common thread. “No one expects it to happen,” said Helms “And that’s the problem.” Becky Alexander immediately suspected something was wrong when she approached her mother-in-law’s house on the morning of July 27 and heard Spot (her mother-in-law’s beloved beagle mix) squealing. The screen door was not locked.

Project Lifesaver

JOHNNY CRAWFORD/ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION/MCT

Kim Franklin with the Alzheimer’s Association, right, places a medic alert bracelet on the arm of Carol Moore on Sept. 17 inside the Alzheimer’s Association office in Dunwoody, Ga. Franklin was measuring her arm for a bracelet. Moore is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Dementia patients are prone to wandering off Cases pose special challenges to public and private agencies BY HELENA OLIVIERO ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION (MCT)

ATLANTA — Eleanor Alexander never deviated from her nighttime routine. She’d eat a light dinner, let her dog “Spot” out, let him back in, double-lock the screen door. And then, she and her companion would call it a night. The evening of July 26 started the same way. The 78-year-old told her son she would eat a few bites of the vegetable soup he had brought her, then go to bed. She already had on her pink-striped pajamas when he left. Yet for unknown reasons, instead of going to bed, she stepped outside her rural Coweta County, Ga., home and started walking, dressed in nothing more than nightclothes and slippers.

Found barely alive Within hours, search teams — deputies and volunteers, people on horseback and guiding fourwheelers, some with search dogs straining at leashes — spread out across the landscape, looking for a tiny target: a woman with wavy white hair, blue eyes, barely weighing 100 pounds. They found her three days later. Alexander, suffering from dementia, was tangled in a barbedwire fence in a patch of woods about a mile from home. She was alive, but barely: her body temperature had dropped to 84 degrees. Cases such as Alexander’s have been rising, posing challenges for public and private agencies. De-

mentia sufferers who wander — six of 10 will at some point — can trigger extensive and expensive searches, and not all are found.

New tracking technologies Several law enforcement agencies are adopting new technologies to track individuals with dementia, but none is perfect. Experts also say that families can be slow to recognize that a loved one is at risk of wandering. Before she went missing, Alexander’s son and daughter-in-law had encouraged her to move in with them. But she balked at the idea, and insisted on having her own place. “I couldn’t have imagined she would ever go out solo,” said Becky Alexander, who believes her mother-in-law likely has Alzheimer’s disease although she’s never been formally diagnosed. “She was a homebody. … In hindsight, we should have had someone objective weigh in.”

Mattie’s Call In the spring of 2004, Mattie Moore, a 67-year-old Atlanta woman, wandered away from home. Her body was found eight months later in a wooded area, just 250 yards from her front door. Moore’s death prompted Georgia legislators to create a statewide alert system to help find missing adults with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other mental disabilities. Much like the “Amber Alert” for missing children, a Mattie’s Call disseminates information about a person’s disappearance to the media, other law enforcement agencies, as well on Georgia Lottery machines and signs. The missing person is also listed

in the National Crime Information Center database. Since Mattie’s Call went into effect in 2006, the number of alerts has increased nearly fivefold. In 2007, there were 31 across the state. Last year there were 150. This year, by the end of July, 76 alerts had been issued, including one for Alexander.

Huge problem Other recent cases include: A woman who said she was going to the gym a half-mile from home and ended up in Alabama driving on the wrong side of the road. A Florida man who drove to Georgia until he ran out of gas. A missing Macon, Ga., woman who was found in the attic of a vacant rental property the family once owned. The number of wanderers is expected to rise as baby boomers age and face a diagnosis of dementia. One in 8 people age 65 and older (and nearly 1 in 2 people over age 85) have Alzheimer’s disease. “It’s an absolutely huge, huge problem,” said Carol Steinberg, president of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “It can happen out of the blue. The person could be hungry or thirsty or in their mind be hooked on the idea that they need to go home and they are already home.”

Searching for something With each day, the odds of finding a missing person drops, but the odds are even worse when the missing person suffers from dementia. People with Alzheimer’s are often going somewhere, searching for something, and don’t necessarily consider themselves lost. But most of the time, the per-

• Camouflage doors by painting them the same color as the walls, or cover them with removable curtains or screens. Cover knobs with cloth the same color as the door or use childproof knobs.

$360 a bracelet

• Use devices that signal when a door or window is opened. This can be as simple as a bell placed above a door or as sophisticated as an electronic home alarm. • Provide supervision. (Never lock the person with dementia in at home alone or leave him or her in a car without supervision) • Keep car keys out of sight. For more tips, go the www. alz.org. To get more information, call 800-272-3900.

The program requires the jurisdiction to invest about $4,000 for the tracking equipment; each bracelet costs about $360. It’s also time intensive, requiring specially trained officers to change out the batteries in the bracelets once a month. The program requires each enrolled person to have 24-hour care, because it’s not intended to take the place of supervision and the bracelet has a limited tracking radius. Alexander, who lived alone, would not have qualified. Tommy Pope, director for the criminal investigation division for Fayette County, said the average time of finding someone with a bracelet is under 30 minutes.

‘Comfort Zone’ devices son takes off on foot and gets lost less than a mile from home. Instead of crying out for help, they become frightened and disoriented and might hide from their rescuers. Search missions can last 20 minutes or they can drag on for days. The average time of finding someone missing with Alzheimer’s is about nine hours, according to a 2012 report, “Lost and … Found” by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

A common thread The search and rescue missions are also expensive undertakings, costing taxpayers $1,500 per hour, according to the report. “Looking for a person can be a needle in a haystack,” said Ginny Helms, vice president of chapter

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a GPS-like tracking device called, “Comfort Zone,” which uses a phone or pager-like device to keep track a loved with Alzheimer’s and is designed for people in the early stages of the disease. There’s a startup cost of $99 for gadget and a $14.99 monthly fee. Experts say a critical first step is a more low-tech solution: getting a simple ID bracelet. Since wandering can happen at any time of the day or night, it’s not uncommon for a missing person with dementia to be without a wallet or identification. Many people are found by Good Samaritans who recognize something amiss and help a person get home safely. An ID bracelet can speed up the person’s return home. Medic Alert bracelets include an 800 number to help reach family members and emergency responders.

Stetson University rolls out tobacco/smoke-free plan

Halifax Health receives Komen grant to provide free mammograms For a limited time, uninsured women who are residents of Volusia and Flagler counties can receive free mammograms courtesy of a grant provided by Susan G. Komen Central Florida to the Halifax Health – Center for Oncology. “For several years, Halifax Health has been successful in obtaining funding from the Susan G. Komen Central Florida Affiliate to provide mammograms for uninsured women in Volusia and Flagler counties who would otherwise not be able to access this vitally important screening,” said Catherine McQuade, Hereditary Cancer Risk Program & Breast Health & Cancer Screening Coordinator for the Halifax Health – Center for Oncology. To participate in this program, women must meet the following requirements: • Must be 40-49 years of age

HOME SAFETY CHECKLIST

Alexander was first noticed missing Saturday morning. By late Tuesday morning, hope for a good outcome had diminished. But a crowd of rescuers never gave up. And close to 11 a.m. on that Tuesday, during a search in an eastern patch of woods — the opposite direction of where Alexander was reportedly spotted late Friday evening — Tracy Sargeant, with her search dog “Cinco,” called out. He saw Alexander lying in the grass, covered with bug bites and with ants crawling on her skin. Her eyes were closed. At first, Coweta County Sheriff’s Lt. Col James Yarbrough didn’t think the elderly woman was alive. He knelt down and could tell she was breathing. A variety of electronic tracking systems are now available to help locate missing people with dementia. They can vastly improve the chances of finding someone, but each has limitations. A handful of police and sheriff’s departments across the state have turned to Project Lifesaver, a bracelet-like device that emits a silent tracking signal to help locate wandering elderly.

HEATHER CHARLES/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Betty Daniel, right, of Chicago, gets her routine yearly mammogram from Lead Mammography Tech Stella Palmer at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago last year. Halifax Health is offering free mammograms to women from 40 to 49. • Must be unable to pay for a mammogram • Must have an order from a health care provider • Must be a resident of Volusia or Flagler county The Center for Oncology works with Radiology Associates Port Orange Imaging to schedule mammograms for women who meet eligibility requirements. For more information, call 386-238-2219.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Cessation classes available

Stetson University joins a growing list of U.S. colleges and universities to enact a policy to prohibit smoking and tobacco-related products beginning Aug. 1, 2014. The policy will affect Stetson’s residential campuses in DeLand and at the College of Law in Gulfport. The policy prohibits all forms of tobacco use including e-cigarettes and a variety of smokeless products on Stetson buildings, structures, grounds, parking lots and in university and personal vehicles while on Stetson grounds. “I am proud that Stetson University residential campuses will be completely smoke- and tobacco-free next August,” said President Wendy B. Libby. “Stetson is committed to providing a safe and healthy living, learning and working environment for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors.”

Stetson began implementing smoking restrictions in 2007 by banning smoking near buildings and air vents. The new policy is the result of several years of research, focus groups and a university task force that determined that smoking was inconsistent with the values of the university. Stetson will offer a variety of resources to help members of the Stetson University community quit smoking, including a series of free education programs about smoking and free resources for those who want to quit, including cessation products and classes. Stetson will use the next 10 months to continue to educate the Stetson community and visitors about the new policy with a series of informational sessions, health fairs, human resource training sessions, student tours of campus, in marketing materials and on its website at stetson.edu/breathe-free.

7 CLASSIFIEDS

OCTOBER 10 – OCTOBER 16, 2013

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SPORTS MA YOR

OCTOBERDECEMBER 10 – OCTOBER 2013 14 - 20,16, 2006

Continuing to grow as Magic coach Jacque Vaughn sought to develop himself before second year in Orlando

20-62 record, Magic executives and veteran players marveled at Vaughn’s ability to remain positive and promote a sunny atmosphere. “He’s always the same,” veteran point guard Jameer Nelson said. “He gets on guys, but he’s always the same no matter if we win or lose. He played in the league for a long time, so he knows you can’t get too high or too low.” Vaughn said he insists on receiving constructive criticism from his assistant coaches and his players, but perhaps no one has more freedom to speak frankly to him than Gordon Chiesa. Chiesa spent 16 seasons as a Utah Jazz assistant coach, and Chiesa’s tenure in Salt Lake City included the first four seasons of Vaughn’s playing career.

BY JOSH ROBBINS ORLANDO SENTINEL (MCT)

ORLANDO – Orlando Magic players, coaches and support staffers assembled on Amway Center’s practice court a bit before 10 last Sunday morning. The team split into small groups, with three players clustered around each basket to shoot free throws. Coach Jacque Vaughn started to circulate. He walked from one end of the gym to the other and usually smiled as he stopped to speak with different players. His brief tour ended with a conversation with Mickell Gladness, a 6-foot-11 center without a guaranteed contract trying to earn a roster spot.

Special consultant

Self-examination Vaughn’s relaxed interactions with his players offered a brief glimpse into his personal style. Just four years removed from his NBA playing days, his most obvious characteristics are his easy rapport with players and his perpetually sunny demeanor. Yet as he begins his second season as a head coach, Vaughn also acknowledges he is continuing to grow. “Part of me self-examining is I took different parts of what we did last year and tried to look if it was successful for us,” Vaughn said. “Was shoot-around successful for us? Was our film session successful? How can we be more efficient? So those are the things I really tried to get

FERNANDO MEDINO/ORLANDO MAGIC

The Orlando Magic hired Jacque Vaughn in 2012 as the new head coach, officially closing the door on the Stan Van Gundy era after five years. better at. “I looked at my old practice plans and critiqued them and what I thought were some good things that we’ll continue to carry over and some things that I didn’t like,” he added. “I got with my coaches and we kind of free-forall and critique each other and talk about how we can be better. We’ll always do

that. I ask the players to do that, so I’ve got to do it for myself.”

Complicated task Even the longest-tenured NBA coaches evaluate themselves each offseason and attempt to improve. In that sense, Vaughn, 38, is no exception from the rest of the coaching fraternity. Still, he faces a different

situation than most of his counterparts. He inherited a team at the outset of a massive rebuilding project. The franchise intends to allocate playing time to the youngest, most inexperienced members on its roster. Vaughn faces almost no pressure to win now, but at the same time, he and his staff have a mandate to

accelerate the youngsters’ growth. The task is more complicated than it seems. The youngsters need to improve even as they suffer through loss after loss, and Vaughn must find a way to keep their confidence high.

‘Always the same’ Last season, as the team sputtered to a league-worst

When Vaughn became the Magic’s head coach, the team hired Chiesa to serve as a special consultant to Vaughn. Chiesa still lives in Utah, but he spends about one week each month in Orlando, attending practices and games. When Chiesa isn’t in Central Florida, he watches each Magic game on TV. Chiesa attended the first week of this year’s training camp. He sat on a sideline during each practice with a pen in one hand and a clipboard on his lap. “He’s a constant reminder for me of pushing myself,” Vaughn said. “He is a voice of reasoning, a lot of times a contrarian voice for me, and challenges me to keep pushing myself and keep pushing the staff. He’s done it for 25 years and he’s seen a lot, and for me to talk to him at any time and for him to give me feedback, it’s really priceless.”

MEAC announces top football players of the week ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alexas Thomas from Cocoa is averaging 8.51 assists per set and is ranked fifth in the MEAC.

B-CU freshman named MEAC’s volleyball rookie of the week Bethune-Cookman setter Alexas Thomas has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie Of The Week, the conference announced Oct. 7.

The freshman from Cocoa averaged 11.3 assists per set in the Lady Cats’ three matches last week. Against North Carolina A&T, Thomas set the school record for assists in a three-set match with 48 as B-CU posted a 3-0 victory. For the season, Thomas is averaging 8.51 assists per set and is ranked fifth in the MEAC. Her average of 10.5 assists per set in conference play is third best. B-CU traveled to Jacksonville for a non-conference match Wednesday, then hosts Florida A&M Friday night in a key MEAC match. Florida A&M is 4-0 in MEAC Southern Division play, a match T:7” ahead of B-CU.

Morgan State’s Seth Higgins was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. MSU’s Cody Acker was named Defensive Player of the Week. Cameron Marof of Norfolk State was named Rookie of the Week. MSU offensive lineman Karim Barton earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors while North Carolina Central’s Adrian Wilkins earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors, respectively. Higgins (QB, 6-4, 230, Jr., Edgewood, Md.) completed 12 of 20 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown as he led the Bears to a 34-21 Homecoming win against Florida A&M. The junior also finished with a game and career-high 102 yards rushing on 17 carries with on touchdown.

Game-winning goal Acker (LB, 6-1, 230, Jr., Greenbelt, Md.) returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown in the Bears’ victory over Florida A&M. He also recorded three solo tackles to help Morgan State to its first victory of the season. Marouf (K, 5-10, 155, Fr., Woodbridge, Va.) kicked the game-winning 33-yard field goal with one minute and 10 seconds remaining to lift Norfolk State to a 26-24 victory over Savannah State. He also kicked a 32-yarder in the second quarter and was 2-of-3 on both field goal and extra point attempts, finishing with eight total points.

89-yard touchdown

T:4.875”

Barton (OL, 6-3, 315, Sr., Los Angeles) helped pave the way for the Bears’ ground game that churned for 238 rushing yards and controlled the time of possession (37-to-22 minutes). Barton graded out at 97-percent of his assignments that accounted for 382 yards of total offense. Wilkins (RS, 5-8, 170, r-So., Forest City, N.C.) returned three punts for 98 yards, including an 89-yard return for a touchdown, in the Eagles’ win over Howard. His run was the second-longest punt return in NCCU history. He also returned three kickoffs for 68 yards, totaling 166 all-purpose yards in the win.

Other top performances Nick Belcher (SCSU) nailed two field goals, including a 22 and a career-long 49-yarder, against North Carolina A&T.

Andrew Edouard

Thomas Finnie

Eddie Poole

Tristin Bellamy (SCSU) posted six pancake blocks and graded out at 89-perencet on blocking assignments as he helped South Carolina State record 322 yards of total offense in a win over North Carolina A&T. Akil Blount (FAMU) tallied eight tackles, five solo, with one for a loss of one yard. He also recorded a blocked field goal. Toree Boyd (Howard) graded out at 82-percent of blocking assignments and helped Howard gain 467 yards of total offense against North Carolina Central. Clevonne Davis (NCCU) graded out at 93-percent of his assignments as he helped the Eagles to 269 yards of total offense. He also recorded two pancake blocks. Richard Cue (SCSU) earned MVP honors at the 100 Black Men Atlanta Classic after completing 17-of-28 passes for 236 yards with two touchdowns against North Carolina A&T.

B-CU highlights Andrew Edouard (B-CU) graded out at 83 percent of his assignments as he anchored the Wildcats’ offensive line that accounted for 409 yards of total offense. Rolandan Finch (NSU) rushed for a season-high 134 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown against Savannah State. Thomas Finnie (B-CU) collected seven tackles, two solo, with 1.5 for a loss of six yards against Delaware State. Lawrence Forbes (MSU) averaged 56.0 yards on two punts, including a gamehigh 62-yard boot. Thomas Martin (MSU) collected five receptions for a season-high 71 yards against Florida A&M. Al-Terek McBurse (FAMU) rushed for 110 yards on eight carries with one touchdown against Morgan State.Greg McGhee (Howard) completed 31-of-48 passes for 328 yards with four touchdowns against North Carolina Central. He also rushed 13 times for 48 yards. Eddie Poole (B-CU) caught four passes for 103 yards and one touchdown against Delaware State.

7 MONEY

OCTOBER 10 – OCTOBER 16, 2013

Employment system implementing new platform for reemployment assistance customers FROM STAFF REPORTS

RODOLFO GONZALEZ/AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN/MCT

President Barack Obama stops to have lunch with patrons at Stubb’s BBQ restaurant in Austin, Texas, on May 9. A new study by Visa shows what average Americans spend on lunch a week.

Eating lunch out costing average of $18 per week Credit card company tracked number of Americans going out for midday meals BY SYLVIA RECTOR DETROIT FREE PRESS (MCT)

When it comes to buying lunch, Midwesterners are the cheapest … er, thriftiest … diners in the nation,

according to a new survey by Visa, which surveyed lunch-buying habits and analyzed them by region and gender. The credit card company found that Americans typically buy lunch out almost twice a week and spend about $10 each time. Specifically, average national spending was $18 per week, or $936 per year. But spending patterns varied by region, and Midwest diners spend less on lunches out than people in

Northeasterners lunched out the least, but spent the most when they did, dining out for their midday meal 1.5 times a week but dropping $11.40 each time, for a weekly total of $17.10. In comparing men’s spending with women’s, Visa found that men not only go out more often but order more when they do. They spend an average of $21 a week on lunch, compared with $15 for women.

any other part of the country, the results showed. They went out 1.7 times per week and spent only $8.90 each time, for a weekly average of $15.13.

$21 for men, $15 for women Southerners led perweek spending, going out twice a week and spending $10 each time, or $20 a week. Westerners spend $10 per lunch 1.8 times a week for a total of $18.

Lower incomes spending more Some findings were more surprising: People in lower income brackets — making under $25,000 annually — reported spending an average of $11.70 per lunch, which was more than diners in any other income group. In contrast, people earning over $50,000 a year spent an average of just $9.60 per lunch — a 22 percent difference, Visa said. “Simple choices can have

a large impact on your wallet,” commented Nat Sillin, Visa’s head of U.S. Financial Education. “Don’t blow your budget on burgers and fries. … Clipping a coupon, choosing a lessexpensive item or brownbagging it can save you hundreds over the course of a year.”

Is it worth it? That doesn’t mean that eating lunch at a restaurant is a bad idea, he said. “But it has to fit within your budget. Going into debt for a tuna sandwich isn’t worth it.” Many Americans have figured that out. Visa said 30 percent of respondents claim they don’t buy lunch out at all. Visa’s data was collected in both cellular and landline telephone interviews in late August with 1,005 respondents ages 18 and older, the company said.

Scoop up hugs, kisses, and

Savings.

What can make “Mommy and me” time even sweeter? How about the money you save shopping at Publix for your favorite treats and other items your family loves? With a little planning, you can enjoy great Buy One Get One Free deals and weekly specials throughout the store. Bring in your coupons, and save even more. With all the ways Publix helps you stretch your grocery dollars, you can indulge and have something left over: money.

Love To Shop Here. Love To Save Here. For a list of current Buy One Get One Free deals, weekly specials, and coupons, visit publix.com/save. To view deals on your smartphone, scan the code.

The Center for Business Excellence (CBE) announced this week that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), in partnership with Deloitte, an industry leader in technology and systems integration, will launch a new way to claim weekly reemployment assistance benefits, update and monitor accounts, and respond to requests for information. Known as CONNECT, the new system will provide reemployment assistance customers with better service and convenience. The new platform will be available to claimants on Oct. 15. Beginning that day, DEO’s Contact Center will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. to help claimants with CONNECT. The Contact Center phone number is 800-2042418.

More customer service help DEO has nearly doubled the number of customer service representatives in addition to extending the customer hours. The current system will not be available until 7:59 a.m., Oct. 15. For more information, call 800-204-2418 or visit www.floridajobs.org/ CONNECT.