Daytona Times - November 14, 2013

Page 1

Daytona

Judge Freddie Worthen dies at age 79

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

Gerald Mitchell hopes to pass on boxing talent to area youth See page 7

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

See page 6

www.daytonatimes.com www.daytonatimes.com

NOVEMBER 14 - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

YEAR 38 NO. 46

EE FR

CHARLENE CROWELL: Private student loans PRESORTED no STANDARD better than credit card for college See page 4

Islam chapter in textbook sparks protest

PEOPLE SPEAK

Residents expected to storm Nov. 18 Volusia school board meeting in DeLand over history curriculum

Prentice Hall World History is the textbook for 10th graders.

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

More than 200 people have signed up on a Facebook page to participate in a protest rally at a

school board meeting at 4 p.m. Nov. 18 at the DeLand Administrative Complex, 200 N. Clara Ave. The name of the Facebook page is “Protest Rally against World History Curriculum in Volusia Public Schools.” The protesters are upset that a chapter in a history book used in Volusia County Schools is devoted to the Islamic religion. A line on the Facebook page set up by Rick Sarmiento and Earl Tony Ledbetter states, “We

cannot allow our local, state and federal governments to take away our Christian heritage and indoctrinate our youth with that of one religion over all others. This is AMERICA for God’s sake!”

Security concerns The regularly scheduled school board meeting on Nov. 5 was cancelled for security reasons after the district was contacted by the U.S. Department of Justice just Please see PROTEST, Page 2

Catching the bus will soon cost more BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

The Volusia County Council voted Nov. 7 to increase the fare to ride on Votran buses with the changes going into effect starting in February. It was passed by a 5-1 vote without discussion. Only Councilwoman Deb Denys was opposed. Councilman Pat Patterson was absent. The changes the council voted on included an increase for a one-way ride from $1.25 to $1.50 in 2014 and to $1.75 in 2015. The reduced fare went up from $.60 to $.75 in 2014 and to $.85 in 2015. An all-day pass will increase from $3 to $3.50 in 2014 and to $3.75 in 2015. Other increases include changing a three-day pass from $6 to $7 in 2014 to $7.50 in 2015; a seven-day pass up from $12 to $12.75 in 2014 and to $13 in 2015; and a 31-day pass increase from $40 to $45 in 2014 to $46 in 2015.

Lines up with Lynx Volusia County spokesman Dave Byron said the only other change the council voted on was to change the definition of a reduced rider minor from age 6 to 17 to 7 to 18. “This standardizes Votran with Lynx so that fare media are compatible for the start of SunRail service. This is a minor change for Votran,” Byron said. Lynx provides public transportation in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. The last time Votran had a fare increase was in January 2007. The county sought public input on the proposed fare increase through five public meetings in September across the county. Bus surveys also were accessible for the public to fill out.

$230,000 annual income Votran currently has about 3.6 million fixed route boardings a year. At $1.50, a one-way fare is still below the state average rate of $1.56, Votran’s General Manager Steven Sherrer has stated. The 25-cent increase in fixed route service fares is anticipated to generate additional annual income of about $230,000. Fares will continue to only be paid with cash, tokens or passes.

Children at Volusia VPK Specialists learn about bike safety during a riding course.

Preschoolers pedal for cancer patients Volusia VPK Specialists Trike-a-Thon raises money for children at St. Jude hospital

for anything,” Burch-Medlock said. “Volusia VPK children understand the concept of helping others people. Philanthropy should start early,” she noted.

Bike riding course

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Students of Volusia VPK Specialists in Daytona Beach pedaled and rode in their first Trike-a-Thon last month, raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital based in Memphis, Tenn. Director Janice Burch-Medlock said each student at the local childcare center was responsible for collecting donations through sponsors. “The students were also educated about children with cancer. St. Jude treats the world’s sickest children battling cancer and other diseases for free. No family ever pays St. Jude

The students also were taught by a Daytona Beach police officer the importance of being a safe bike rider. “As a result of what was learned, the students took a pledge to be a safe bike rider and to teach others,” Burch-Medlock added. Each child was presented with a helmet as a token of safety from the Daytona Beach Fire Department. A riding course was designed on the school campus so the students can continue to ride their bikes safely. Along with Burch-Medlock, other founders of the school include Dannette Henry and Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry.

A youngster takes a spin on a tricycle for a good cause.

Palm Coast author helping Blacks boys mature to productive men BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Like most people, Sandra Felecia suffered loss and pain. She is the mother of four biological sons, which she says has made her very empathetic to the plight of the Black male. “I have taken my experiences in life and taught my sons to love themselves, God and mankind,”

said Felecia, who is the co-founder of Abundant Life Ministries-Hope House, Inc. located in Palm Coast. Hope House is a residential group home for teen Sandra boys who have Felicia been abandoned, abused, orphaned or neglected. Her current role as executive

director and chief financial officer has empowered her to develop a ministry with a goal of “nurturing today’s boys to become tomorrow’s men.’’

A testimony “There are numerous Black men and boys who have achieved great success beyond sports and this success was achieved as a result of self-determination, self-

discipline, self-accountability and more important belief in themselves,” remarked Felecia. “In my opinion, we must empower our Black men and boys by teaching them to look inside of self first. We must emphasize the power that lies within and reduce the opportunity for excuses to fail due to external circumstances,” said Felecia, who this year published a book titled “The Affirmation of Me.’’

Felecia says the book is a testimony to one’s ability to overcome life’s most challenging situations and to embrace them as orchestrated situations designed by God to bring Him glory.

‘Catharsis for healing’ Felecia shares a story of her journey to self-love. She wrote the book to help others to forgive Please see AUTHOR, Page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.