Challenger Community News April 12, 2017

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April 12, 2017 • FREE

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“Unapologetically Black – A Legacy Set for Us and Set by Us” INSIDE ROCHESTER

LOCAL

VOICES

Grant Takes a Stand Against Sheriff Howard

Rikers Island, America’s Most Notorious Prison, Is Closing at Last PG. 11

PG. 3

Rochester Black Author Expo

PG. 2

PG. 10

ENTERTAINMENT

Colored Musicians Club Centennial Gala!

PG. 8

Wishing Our Readers A Blessed Easter!

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INSIDE ROCHESTER

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

AROUND TOWN

Corey Lamar Tanksley

Rochester Black Author Expo Corey Lamar Tanksley’s “bright idea” gives birth to a successful writers showcase!

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he Rochester Black Author Expo is the brainchild of award-winning author and Rochester, New York native Corey Lamar Tanksley. In the winter of 2015 he contacted all of the authors that he came across via Facebook and asked if they wanted to hear this ‘bright’ idea. The idea was to get the best African American authors together and instead of competing with each other, unite economically to put together a showcase where all could benefit.

Tanksley was insistent in highlighting the fact that African American authors have different stories and unique perspectives...not just one amorphous blob spewing the same narrative and reinforcing stereotypes. The other ten authors agreed wholeheartedly; from there, the Rochester Black Author Expo was born.

To inspire young writers, the authors collaborated with the Rochester City School District to come up with a writing contest for 7th-12th graders. Every student, regardless of color or race, was encouraged to submit a piece of written work for a chance to win The Marsha Jones Youth Writing award in honor of the late legendary local writer.

After a tour of local radio and television shows to promote the event, on Saturday May 16th the first ever Rochester Black Author Expo was held at The Frederick Douglass Resource Center.

There were performances, giveaways, and panels moderated by mistress of ceremonies and MCC Professor Tokeya Graham.

Well over 200 people of all ages attended The Expo where they purchased books by the authors who sold their titles at individual tables.

It was a huge success!

In 2016 The Expo moved to Wilson Foundation Academy and expanded the number of authors from 11 to 16, which included authors from nearby Buffalo. The Second Annual Rochester Black Author Expo also increased in attendance as well as close to 300 people came through the doors. This year marks the third year and the Expo now boasts over 24 authors from Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse.

The Authors are working hard to shatter their attendance record and hand out more awards as well as money to the youth writers. On Saturday, May 6th at Wilson Foundation Academy, 200 Genesee Street, the 3rd Annual Rochester Black Author Expo will take place from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. As always, admission will be free to this family friendly event. @rochesterblackauthorsexpo2 on facebook

BAOBAB DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES

BLACK THEATER: THE MAKING OF A MOVEMENT Friday, April 14th 7:00 PM This film documents the birth of a new theatre out of the Civil Rights activism of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. It is a veritable video encyclopedia of the leading figures, institutions and events of a movement that transformed the American stage. Amiri Baraka, Ossie Davis, James Earl Jones and Ntozake Shange describe their aspirations for a theatre serving the Black community. Excerpts of A Raisin in the Sun, Black Girl, Dutchman and For Colored Girls... reveal how these actors and playwrights laid the basis for the Black theater of the present. Discussion will follow.738 University Ave. 585-563-2145.

*April 21, 6:30 p.m. - The Black Cinema Series, presented by the Rochester Association of Black Journalists and the Little Theatre, will host a special screening of “Drop Squad,” a featurelength film which explores a variety of themes including the breadth and complexity of blackness.David C. Taylor, a first assistant director on the film, will be present for an audience talk-back. *Rochester City School District Highlights: •Thursday, April 13th, at 4M: Wellness Committee Meeting •Tuesday, April 18th, at 5:30PM: Community & Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting 6:30PM: Special Board Meeting to receive final draft proposal for SUNY Geneseo to serve as the educational partnership organization (EPO) for Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School No. 19 •Thursday, April 20th, at 5:30PM: Finance Committee Meeting 6:30PM: Board Governance Committee Meeting, following Finance Committee MeetingAll of the above meetings will be held in Conference Room 3A on the third floor of the Central Office Building, which is located at 131 West Broad Street.

*Barbers and Cosmetologists Free Financial Literacy Class. United Professional Barbers and Cosmetologists will host the 2nd annual Financial Literacy Class on Monday, April 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Workers United, 750 East Avenue in Rochester.

Special presenters include a representative from Five Star Bank. This class is presented free to all Professional Barbers & Cosmetologists in the Monroe County, City of Rochester area. The class will include Personal Money Management, Personal/Business Banking & Retirement Savings Opportunities. infoupbca.org or call 585-491-6711. *Financial Assistance Programs for City Businesses.

Information sessions continue on Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. *April 13: Carter Street RCenter, 500 Carter St. *April 27: Port of Rochester, 1000 N. River St. RSVP by calling (585) 428-6912.or via email at JoEllen.LaPore@cityofrochester.gov. Resources. *This is a friendly reminder that on Sunday, April 16 “The Meaning of Resurrection” will be discussed at First Community Interfaith Institute Inc., 219 Hamilton Street.

585-461-0379. Minister Lawrance Lee Evans.

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Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• April 12,1017

AREA BRIEFS

Sheriff Howard at April 1 Rally. PHOTO Jay Burney/The Public

Legislator Grant

Legislator Grant Takes A Stand Against Sheriff Howard’s Appearance at Racially-Charged Rally SIGN OF THE TIMES: True Bethel Baptist Church “keeps it real” with their billboard messages on the corner of Fillmore and E. Ferry Street. This recent creation urges us to lift up and support our young people “SO WE DON’T HAVE TO LAY THEM DOWN” (bury them). Rev.. Darius Pridgen is pastor.

BLOOD DRIVE A Blood Drive in honor of our local veterans will be held on Saturday, April 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Donate Life Express Bus, 25 Review Place. To schedule an appointment visit unytsblooddonor.org and enter sponsor code 000324. To schedule a ride call 563-2536. The UNYTS drive is being cosponsored by AMVETS Post No. 13 and the Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post No 24. April is National Donate Life Month.

First Time Homebuyers Orientation A First Time Homebuyers Orientation will be held on Tuesday, April 18 at the William-Emslie Family YMCA at 6 p.m. sharp.

The event, free and open to the public, is sponsored by FLARE Inc., the City of Buffalo/BURA and the Buffalo Urban League.

Learn more about the process of buying a home, how to apply for a mortgage, the benefits of owning a home, credit repair and more. To reserve a seat call (716) 838-6740 or (716) 250-2418.

First Ever “Yes In My Back Yard” Festival Comes to Buffalo!

On April 29, Designing to Live Sustainably will present the first ever Buffalo YIMBY(Yes In My Back Yard) Festival, bringing together block clubs, neighborhood groups, grass roots organizations and interested individuals to get to know each other, exchange ideas, share experiences, and develop skills and strategies that can improve the City of Buffalo, one block at a time. Buffalo YIMBY is FREE and open to the public and will celebrate individuals and organizations that are making change happen and are interested in having a positive impact on their communities.

Buffalo: Block-by-Block is presented by Designing to Live Sustainability with Tri-Main Center, LLC. and will be held on Saturday, April 29 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the Tri-Main Center, LLC, 2495 Main Street. Sponsors include: National Grid, Schuster Construction, LLC, and People, Inc.

Sponsors Resolution Formally Condemning His Actions And Calling For Him To Appear Before The Legislature’s Public Safety Committee To Clarify His Judgement.

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rie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant stood up on the behalf of all Erie County residents by sponsoring a resolution formally condemning what she calls the “inappropriate and undignified appearance” of Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard at “The Spirit of America” Rally which was held in Downtown Buffalo on April 1, 2017.

“What Buffalo and Erie County witnessed in Niagara Square was absolutely not an event Sheriff Howard should have been headlining or participating in, especially while in uniform. Sheriff Howard directly inserted himself into a polarizing political event, and he should have left when he spotted the confederate flag proudly being waved,” said Legislator Grant.

The resolution also addresses the controversy of the sheriff wearing his official uniform at the political event, which critics have said violated the New York State Election Law. The resolution that Legislator Grant formally clocked-in to the Erie County Legislature repudiates the actions of the sheriff and calls upon the Legislature to schedule Sheriff Howard to appear before the Public Safety Committee concerning this serious matter.

Following is the text of the resolution filed by Legislator Grant: RE: Inappropriate and Undignified Appearance by Sheriff Tim Howard at Racially-Charged Rally in the Heart of Downtown Buffalo WHEREAS, a racially-charged political rally took place in Niagara Square on April 1, 2017, drawing out members recruiting for a white supremacist group and other divisive political activists – and sadly under the dubious guise of an “inclusive” and “non-partisan” Spirit of America Rally; and WHEREAS, a key speaker at this political event was Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard, in full uniform; if not in violation of New York State Election Law, which it very well may be, it clearly is violating the spirit of the Election Law; and WHEREAS, it is frightening and disturbing that an Erie County Sheriff would address a political gathering where the confederate flag was held in such high providence and regal – without a care in the world about the litany of hate, and devastation, and oppression, and harm that the confederate flag symbolizes; and WHEREAS, there clearly are no excuses because Sheriff Howard should have known betContinued Page 12

Mary B. Talbert Club to Host Annual Awards Banquet The Mary B. Talbert Civic & Cultural Club will hold their Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday April 29 at 6 p.m. in Salvatore’s Italian Gardens 6461 Transit Rd. The event theme is “Performing Arts and the Legacy Continues.” Nine outstanding individuals from the WNY community will be honored for their community service and achievements.

The 2017 honorees are: George W. Scott, President Colored Musicians Club; Agnes M. Bain Executive Director African American Cultural Center; Bessie Patterson gospel artist and musical coordinator; Ella E. Robinson vocal music instructor; Anisha Hassan, African dance performer; Sandra Gilliam, singer actor; Mitchell D. McCleod, musician, vocalist and choir director; Mary Craig, actress and theatrical director; and Lonnie B. Harrell, singer, songwriter, historian (Posthumously).

The Mary B. Talbert Civic & Cultural Club will present the 2017 Aviva L. Merritt Service Award to a club member who exhibited outstanding service to the club and the community. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Mary B. Talbert Scholarship Fund.

The event chairperson is Cheryl Jones Olive and Debra E.J. Thompson is President. For tickets and information call 716 903-1861.

John Horse

The Rebellion of the Black Seminoles The year, 1835. The setting, the Florida territory on the eve of the Second Seminole War. Tensions between the region’s native inhabitants and an encroaching American government have escalated upon President Andrew Jackson’s order to push the Seminoles west for incorporation with Creek natives. Given the territory’s history as the largest haven for Africans escaping enslavement in the South, a sizable representation of maroons or “Black Seminoles” — Africans both formerly enslaved and free — live among and are allied with the natives.

Unwilling to give up their land or submit to enslavement and though substantially outnumbered and outgunned, the alliance wages war against the United States Army.

From this turmoil emerges John Horse, a brave and savvy Black Seminole of both African and native lineage who fights alongside alliance leader Osceola before rising to leadership himself.

In the process, he is captured by army soldiers but makes a daring prison escape to rejoin and inspire the weary alliance to fight on. From there, Horse, along with his elite cadre of Black Seminole warriors, fights fiercely for three years to a standstill with the U.S. Army, prompting the latter to arrange a Black Seminole armistice in 1838. Not only does this peace treaty represent the United States’ only non-vicContinued Page 11

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NATIONAL + WORLD

Public Slave Auctions Regular Occurrence in Libya, West African Survivors Say

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he sale of Black people has become so normalized in Libya that West African migrants are openly being bought and sold in modern-day slave markets, several survivors told the U.N. agency assisting them in their safe return home.

“The situation is dire,” said Mohammad Abdiker, head of operations and emergencies for the International Organization for Migration. “The more IOM engages inside Libya, the more we learn that it is a vale of tears for all too many migrants.”

Disturbing reports of public slave auctions for migrants are the latest in a laundry list of atrocities committed in the North African nation, including sexual violence, exploitation and slave labor, according to The Guardian. Libya, which serves as a major exit point for African migrants headed to Europe, has slowly slipped into violent chaos ever since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, leaving migrants with little to no cash or citizenship papers extremely vulnerable.

A 34-year-old Senegalese man who was forcibly enslaved but escaped, said he and many others were transported to a dusty lot in the south Libyan city of Sabha after passing through Niger on a bus organized by “people smugglers.” The man said the group paid to be taken to the coast, where they planned to cross the Mediterranean into Europe by boat. However, their driver suddenly claimed that middlemen hadn’t covered their fees and put the busload of migrants up for sale.

“The men on the pickup were brought to a square, or parking lot, where a kind of slave trade was happening,” said Livia Manante, an IOM officer based in Niger who aids migrants wanting to return home. “There were locals — he described them as Arabs — buying sub-Saharan migrants.”

Manate said the Senegalese man’s account of such slave markets was supported by other migrants she spoke to in Niger, as well as others who were interviewed by her colleagues in Europe.

PRAY FOR PEACE.

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

Thousands Protest South African President Zuma JOHANNESBURG — Tens of thousands of South Africans demonstrated peacefully last Friday in a national outpouring of anger at their scandal-tainted president, and a second agency lowered the country’s credit rating to junk status a week after the firing of the respected finance minister.

While concerns grew about the struggling economy and government corruption, the protests were unlikely to pose an immediate threat to President Jacob Zuma, who retains the backing of powerful factions within the ruling African National Congress party. But divisions over his conduct are growing within the party, whose moral authority — a legacy of its leading role in the fight against white minority rule— has eroded during his tenure.

Nobel laureate and anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu, 85 and ailing, made a rare public appearance to support the protests. His foundation posted a scathing tweet in his name: “We will pray for the downfall of a government that misrepresents us.”

In Johannesburg, police fired rubber bullets to disperse about 100 ruling party members who were making their way toward protesters, the African News Agency reported. Separately, ruling party members assaulted several protesters participating in a march organized by the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s biggest opposition group. Other ANC members in military uniforms who had been posted outside their party headquarters helped to escort the protesters to safety.

Federal Judge Approves Baltimore Police Consent Decree

A federal judge signed off on the proposed consent decree between Baltimore and the U.S. Justice Department on Friday, April 7, requiring the city to make exhaustive reforms to its embattled police department.In approving the order, District Judge James K. Bredar rejected the DOJ’s request to delay the agreement’s approval for at least 30 days so the new Trump administration would have time to review the deal.

Jamaican Government Issues Apology, Reparations for the 1963 Brutal Attack on Rastas On April 4, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness made a historic apology for the “grave injustice” of an attack made on Rastafarians between April 11 and 12, 1963 — the year after Jamaica gained its independence from Great Britain. Alexander Bustamante was the country’s prime minister then, and he headed the Jamaica Labour Party — the same party that Holness leads today. Eight Jamaicans were killed in Coral Gardens (near Montego Bay) on what has come to be called “Bad Friday,” since it was Easter at the time.

As many as 150 Rastafarians were rounded up, arrested, beaten and abused; their dreadlocks, which have religious significance, were cut. The series of events that led up to the attack were part of an atmosphere of systematic oppression, discrimination and open hostility towards Rastafarians that had begun prior to independence, all of which were documented in the 2011 film Bad Friday.

The prime minister announced that six lots at a historically relevant property at Pinnacle in rural St. Catherine would be declared as a protected heritage site by the Jamaican National Heritage Trust; he also promised assistance for the Coral Gardens Benevolent Society and said a trust fund of no less than J $10 million (just over U.S. $75,000) would be established for the benefit of survivors. The Pinnacle property has been the source of some controversy. It is regarded as the first Rastafari settlement in Jamaica and the former home of Garveyite Leonard Howell, who is widely considered the founder of the Rastafari movement. After Howell’s death legal battles began over the ownership of the land.

Holness also acknowledged public defender Arlene Harrison Henry’s investigation and subsequent report on the matter, which was submitted to Parliament in December 2015. In it she recommended an apology and reparations for the survivors. fias a practicing Rastafarian.

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HEALTH MATTERS

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

After 56 Years of Keeping Her ‘Promise’ Cosmetologist Merline Bell Officially Retires

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fter 56 years of keeping Buffalo women beautiful, Merline Mobley Bell has officially retired from the hair business.

The former proprietor of Promises Beauty Salon and founder of the Promises School of Beauty Culture, she will be celebrated during a retirement party and birthday gala on Sunday, April 23 at Templeton Landing from 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Many years ago Merline made a promise to herself to establish a Black owned and operated beauty school in the heart of the community.

Against all odds, she fulfilled that dream when Promises School of Beauty Culture opened at 1414 Fillmore Avenue (formerly called Uganda’s). It was not easy. The hours were long (many times 15-hour days/ nights)and there was little or no outside funding, but she managed to survive for about four or five years before closing the enterprise.

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“It’s was an expensive venture; the renovating, architecture, furnishings and all the state requirements but it Merline Bell was worth it,” said the Mississippi native.

Her goal, she continued,was to try to bring back the kind of self determination, pride and independence African Americans experienced in the sixties and early seventies when there were two Black owned beauty schools in Buffalo. The Lillian Dora Beauty School was located on E. Utica and Verplank and the Buffalo School of Beauty was on E. Ferry Street where GiGi’s Restaurant now stands.

Both schools eventually moved to Jefferson Avenue.

“Back in the day most Blacks went to one of the two Black schools right here in the neighborhood,” said Bell, who graduated from the Lillian Dora School. She later earned a degree from Erie Community College and a professional teacher’s certificate from Buffalo State College.

“There was more unity among hair dressers back then. We used to do hair shows and support each other. We also had at least two Black owned and operated beauty supply stores, Ferguson’s Beauty Supply and Gayles.”

On March 17, the lovely Ms. Bell turned 77 years young.

Last year she celebrated her birthday with a trip to Nigeria, West Africa to visit one of her longtime clients.

Next Saturday she will celebrate with close friends, family and supporters at the upcoming gala.

She has left her long standing business, Promises Beauty Salon, located at 1414 Fillmore Avenue, in the capable hands of its new owner, cosmetologist Tammy Martin. “Promises is still very much alive” she said proudly.

With nearly 60 years under her belt as a businesswoman, cosmetologist and teacher, Merline expressed thanks and gratitude for her loyal customers.

“I am eternally grateful,” she said. “Without my loyal customers and supporters, I could not have done it, and ‘Promises’ could not have existed! Thank you all!”

For tickets and more information call 893-1760.

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The Truth About Carbs: Not All Carbs are Created Equal…

“Every cell in our body was once in the food we ate”

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-Helen Guthrie

henever people talk about losing weight, usually the first thing they say is, “I need to give up carbs” or “I love bread, that’s my problem.”

And while these statements do have some validity, the context in which they are spoken is filled with misnomers. I would like to discuss the truth about carbs, clear up some confusion and hopefully clarify and squelch some myths; because not all carbs are created equal. I would like to start with the basics; what is a carb and what is the role of carbs. Then we will explore the categories of carbs and lastly list out the guidelines for choosing carbs.

What Is a Carb and What Is the Role of Carbs?

Carbohydrates are compounds made of single or multiple sugars compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

Carbohydrates are the ideal fuel for the body, provide the body with energy and are extremely necessary for many of the body’s functions. Carbs are the preferred source of energy for the brain and nervous system. Carbs provide fiber which contributes to digestive tract health and enhance weight loss and maintenance of healthy body weight. We need carbs!

What Are the Categories of Carbs?

There are different categories of carbohydrates. It is important to recognize that there are more foods classified as carbs beyond breads and pasta.

•Complex Carbohydrates: Found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes •Refined Carbohydrates: Found in snack crackers and baked goods. The process of refining removes most of the “good” stuff from grains to yield a finer texture and improve shelf life.

•“Other” Carbohydrates: Added sugars found in honey, corn syrup, candies, cookies, and sweetened beverages.

Guidelines for Choosing Carbs 1.Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Using the categories for carbs listed above, choose complex carbohydrates such as fruits, a variety of vegetables (especially dark green, red and orange vegetables) and beans and peas. Increase whole grain intake by replacing refined grains with whole grains. These are “good” carbs and are our most valuable energy nutrient.

2.Limit consumption of refined and “other” carbs. These are the carbs you want to limit. Crackers, baked goods, cakes, pies, cookies are the “bad” carbs.

Not all carbs are created equal! Excess calories put on the pounds and the fat, not the carbohydrate, raises the calorie count the most. The amount of fat in vegetables is nonexistent compared to the fat in a cookie.

The fat content of a carbohydrate is what makes one carbohydrate preferable over another. And this is the truth about carbs.

eat to live

Kathleen

RICHARDSON

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FAITH & FAMILY

“Repositioning the Body of Christ”

Zion Missionary Baptist Church Announces Prayer/Fasting Gathering Dates for April Zion Missionary Baptist Church will once again be hosting the “Repositioning the Body of Christ Through Prayer and Fasting” Monday morning altar prayer for the month of April.

Please add these dates to your calendar of events and join us every Monday @ 6 am:

Monday April 17 Monday April 24 For more information contact the church office at 886-1362.

Rev C.M. Jenkins II is Host Pastor.

CHURCH ORGANIST

A Church is seeking an Organist for employment. For more information please contact Neal at 716-284-7614

WORSHIP THIS WEEK WORSHIP THIS WEEK WORSHIP THIS WEEK WORSHIP THIS WEEK

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com •April 12, 2017

Deep Wells Ministries Presents “Women Preach the Seven Last Words” Deep Wells Ministries will present “Women Preach The Seven Last Words,” at Ephesus Ministries, 341-345 Grider St. Friday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. Speakers include: Rev. Chan-Tell King Beckwith, St. Luke AME Church; Rev. Barbara Campbell, New Hope Baptist Church; Minister JoAnn Cabbagestalk, Elim Christian Fellowship; Rev. Dr. Erika Gault, Elim Christian Fellowship; Minister Stephanie Phillips,Unity Fellowship Church; Rev. Sandra Waller, New Hope Baptist Church; Minister Jackie Vinson, ELIM Christian Fellowship; and Rev. Rachelle Sat’chell Robinson, founder of Deep Wells Ministries.

Community Leader Appointed Executive Pastor for New Church Plant on East Side Evangelistic Temple COGIC has appointed longtime community leader Elder Kenya K. Hobbs as the Executive Pastor of its new church plant located on the East side of Buffalo. Hobbs along with his wife, Evangelist Dianna Hobbs, founder and CEO of the award-winning and internationally recognized Empowering Everyday Women Online Magazine (EEWMagazine.com) will lead this new effort to address the spiritual and practical concerns of community residents.

“We are intentional in our focus to operate a church that looks outward to helping the community to thrive and grow both spiritually and naturally,” said Elder Hobbs. “A good friend once told me ‘Love is what love does,’ and we intend to be doers of God’s word by getting out into the community and helping where we can to improve the conditions and concerns facing many residents,” he added.

The church located at 84 Rickert Ave. in the heart of the inner city of Elder Hobbs Buffalo has its work cut out for it. But Hobbs is undeterred.

“As the old saying goes, ‘No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care,’ and we want to express compassion and concern in everything we do,” said Hobbs. “The Bible says in Jeremiah 31:3, ‘With loving kindness have I drawn thee,’ and we recognize that the greatest agent of change for any community is love.”

Evangelistic Temple is inviting community residents to its Easter Sunday service April 16th, 2017 beginning at 11am. The church welcomes anyone looking for spiritual enrichment through God’s word that has a burning desire to see the church be more socially active in addressing community challenges.

WORSHIP WITH US THIS EASTER SUNDAY!

FAITH & FAMILY

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• April 12,1017

STILL STANDING...

Youth of Historic Church Celebrate Platinum Pastoral Anniversary

By Kent Olden

BUFFALO, NY – Founded in 1831, the historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrates nearly 200 years of being a beacon of hope for those who feel they may have lost their way. Declared to be the oldest Black religious institution in the City of Buffalo, Historic Bethel prides itself on its impact on spiritually freeing the minds of the people in the community, and literally freeing the people of the community, as the church's original site was a station on the Underground Railroad. Bethel has truly shown itself to be dedicated to nurturing the nature of its congregants while never turning a blind eye to someone in need. With the arrival of a new pastor 20 years ago, the church's light certainly showed no signs of dimming.

In 1997, Bethel welcomed its current pastor and first lady, Rev. Richard Allen and Sharon Stenhouse, with open arms as the church continued to live up to its humble mission of being a church without strangers. The Stenhouses maintained just that, especially when it came to uplifting the youth.

"Rev. Stenhouse has always supported each and every endeavor that the Young People's Division (YPD) has brought to his attention," says Paula D. Young, Local YPD Director and longtime Bethel AME member. "They have afforded our youth the opportunity to attend conferences across the country and on the island of Bermuda, have supported them in their local, conference, district and connectional leadership positions and meetings, and so much more."

What sticks out to the Bethel family, however, is the Stenhouses' dedication to the encouragement of the youths' education, which can be plainly seen by the success of local YPDers (as they are called) at such institutions as Pennsylvania State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Washington University, Howard University, Norfolk State University, Paul Quinn College, Morehouse College, Canisius College, and the New England Conservatory of Music. Thanks to that encouragement, these students have gone on to become doctoral candidates/recipients, physicians, nurse, accountants, engineers, journalists, state-federal officials, and Broadway performers.

And now, as Bethel continues to celebrate its successes in the Buffalo community, the congregation turns the spotlight to the ones who have shown outstanding support over the last 20 years: Rev. Richard Allen and First Lady Sharon Stenhouse. On Sunday, April 30 the Young People's Division of the Historic Bethel AME Church will honor Rev. and First Lady Stenhouse as they host 20 Years & Still Standing, a celebration of platinum pastoring.

"This is our thank you to Reverend and Mrs. Stenhouse," said Byron Evans, Bethel's YPD President, and Brianna McIntyre, WNY Conference YPD President (also a member of Bethel). Echoing those sentiments is Immediate Past First District YPD President La'Mone Gibson: "They've done so much for us, and now it's our turn to do something for them."

20 Years & Still Standing will take place on Sunday, April 30 at The Foundry located at 1738 Elmwood Avenue at 4 p.m. Tickets are $50 for adults, and $30 for youth (ages 17 and under).

For more information, please contact the church office at 716-886-1650, or email Paula Young at pdgy1ypd@yahoo.com.

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For example, if a couple chooses side-by-side casketed burial in 2 graves, there’s room for them and up 6 other members of their family. This can represent a significant cost savings for the family. But more importantly, it can make it possible for you and your dearest loved ones to remain together forever.

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Free Life Planning Seminar

Date: Saturday, April 22, Time: 11 a.m – 2 p.m.

Walls memorial A.M.E. Zion Church 455 Glenwood Ave. Financial health • power-ofattorney • advance health care directives • taxes • wills • estate planning • property distribution • divorce/child support & custody and more…

Ask the experts: •Yvonne D. Askew, MSN RN •Dewette C. Aughtry, Esq., •Veronica Ravenell Deas Refreshments will be served!

Please RSVP: contact- walls memorial A.M.E. Zion church, 886-6527Loretta Lewis Brooks, is pastor.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

ON STAGE Seneca Casino Onstage

Showing at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino / Bears Den Showroom...All Tickets can be purchased at 8 Clans or the Players Club Store inside Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, online at ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster location or by phone 1-800-745-3000.

The Purple Xperience (a Prince Tribute), April 14 &15 at 8pm, Tickets start @ $45 Kiss The Sky ( a Jimi Hendrix Tribute) May 12 at 8pm Tickets start @ $25

Colored Musicians Club Centennial Gala This Weekend

B

-THE MUSIC -

No matter what the Musicians Local went through over the past 100 years, everything always came back to the music.

President of the Club, George

BUDDY GUY: The Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo presents Buddy Guy with special guest Tom Hambridge on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $49.50.

DENNIS EDWARDS TEMPTATIONS REVIEW Saturday, May 13, 7:30 p.m., Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St.N.Toawanda; 692-2413, www.RivieraTheatre.org

The Temptations & The Four Tops May 12 at 8pm Tickets start @$45

THE BIRTH OF COOL: uffalo’s own historic Colored Musicians Club will be celebrating their 100 year anniversary at a Centennial Gala on Saturday, April 15 at the Hotel at The Lafayette in downtown Buffalo from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

Rishon Odel and 5th Element will be featured at cocktail hour. A special keynote speaker from the Kennedy Center of the Arts will be in attendance. Also jazz legend and national recording artist Bill Easley will direct the Local 533 Jazz Orchestra. Don’t miss this epic event!

For tickets or to buy a table go to www.cmctheclub.com

KEITH SWEAT Rochester R&B Festival Fri, May 12 @ Blue Cross Arena. ticketmaster

Scott, says it was this dedication to craft that continued to attract legends from far away.

“For people like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, this was a place for them to stop again and again. Not once in a while, but again and again,” said George Scott, Colored Musicians Club president.

-MODERN RENOVATIONS-

Buffalo’s historic Colored Musicians Club has the goahead for an addition and several other improvements just in time for its 100th anniversary.

It was announced last week that the Buffalo Preservation Board approved the club’s project to create a 500 square foot addition along with a staircase, sprinkler system and an elevator. Work is expected to begin in the fall.

The club says it will make

the facility’s popular Sunday night jazz jam sessions more accessible to people with disabilities.

“Our older members that are probably 80 plus that can’t get up there anymore and we just wanted to make open so everybody can get upstairs and enjoy the live music,” said Scott.

The Colored Musician’s Club has hosted many jazz greats since it started operating in Buffalo in 1917.

Robben Ford May 13 at 8pm Tickets start @ $35 Jody Watley feat.

Shalamar Reloaded May 26 at 8pm Tickets start @ $45 Bell Biv Devoe w/ Guy, Envouge & SWV May 27at 8pm Tickets start @$45

(716) 885 5000 bpo.org

Fragrance and Juan Cosmic Energy Announce April Performance On April 22 from 9:00 a.m. until noon at BPS - Bennett Campus Community High School, Fragrance of YAH presents Fragrance and Juan Cosmic Energy along with the children and grandchildren of the late Laymon Harris II during The Creating Legacies Spring 2017 ShowcaseStrengthening the Unbreakable Chain Link by Link!

Laymon Harris II was an author, playwright, singer, songwriter, poet, artist and public speaker.

We are proud to be sponsored by Fragrance of YAH, Fragrance and Juan Cosmic Energy, Consult Medley Publishing, Rudeboyz Artworks, and our host/ venue: Bennett Campus Community High School of the Buffalo Public Schools! For participation, vending, sponsorship, or attendance information, please call Fragrance and Juan at 716-253-1404.

The Music of

PRINCE

Fri. Apr. 28, 8pm Brent Havens, conductor The incomparable music of Prince comes to Kleinhans when Marshall Charloff from Purple Xperience fronts the BPO in this Windborne Music event. Charloff’s imaginative styling of the appearance, voice, and instrumental talent of Prince has wowed audiences across the country. Add a full rock band and rock lighting, and you have an unforgettable evening.

May 14, 2:30pm BPO Sun. Stefan Sanders, conductor

ZOO

Go wild for music! Take a musical menagerie tour with Carnival of the Animals, and watch the instruments take on critter characteristics in The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Free pre-concert activities start at 1:30pm.

M172534

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Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

THE TRIAL OF TRAYVON MARTIN:

New drama by Gary Earl Ross on stage now at the Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Avenue, third floor. Presented by Subversive Theatre, it is directed by Kurt Schneiderman and stars Shawnell Tillery, Brian Brown, Rick Lattimer, Lawrence Rowswell, Leon Copeland, Jr., Kunji Rey, Brittany Bassett, VerNia Garvin, and Michael Mottern.

Showtimes now thru May 6: Thursday thru Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets $25- $30.For more information call 4080499 or subversivetheatre.org Local award-winning playwright Ross examines the question: What would have happened on Feb. 26, 2012 if the roles of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, whose deadly confrontation helped fuel a renewed movement for racial justice in America, had been switched? The Trial of Trayvon Martin is the third in Subversive Theatre Collective’s “Black Power Play Series.” Pictured above, Brian Brown, left, and Rick Lattimer.

Rwanda: Landscape and Memory A Work In Progress Brendan Bannon To Discuss Photographic Journey

Award-winning photojournalist Brendan Bannon will present an Artist’s Talk to discuss his photographic journey Thursday, April 20, on his RWANDA: Landscape and Memory A Work In Progress exhibition currently on view at the Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Hotel Lenox, 140 North Street, Buffalo. The event, 6 – 8 PM (talk starts at 6:30 PM), is free and open to the public.

Brendan Bannon is Buffaloborn photographer and teacher based between New York and Nairobi, Kenya. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian and many other publications.

“How do people see the places where they live? What do they remember as they stand before their past? How is memory connected to the very ground under their feet?

These were the questions I explore with the pictures in this exhibition,” said Bannon. The site of one of the worst calam-

ities of modern times, Rwanda has emerged from the shadows of its past. Widely hailed as one of Africa’s success stories, skyscrapers rise in the capital city Kigali.

Explore what the landscape means to Rwandans today 23 years after the genocide.

The photographs were made during a series of journeys around the country, guided

by Rwandans who shared bits of myth, folk stories and personal reminiscences relat-

ed to the places pictured. Each photograph explores how memory is connected to the land and how the land shapes memory.

The RWANDA: Landscape and Memory A Work In Progress will be on view thru Wednesday, April 26. Nina Freudenheim Galleryat Hotel Lenox 140 North Street daily hours 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday - Friday; Monday and Saturday by appointment, 716-8825777.

ContinentalNow.com

326 Kenmore Ave. 833-5016

Classes start May 8th

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GENERATIONS

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

2017 Beautillion Extraordinaire!

“OPEN MIC in BLACK and WHITE”

“Unapologetically Black – A Legacy Set for Us and Set by Us”

O

n Saturday, April 22, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated Buffalo Chapter requests the presence and support of the community to celebrate and uplift 12 honorable young kings as we honor their accomplishments and completion of the 15th Biennial Beautillion Extraordinaire Leadership Program: Brandon Barksdale, David Brown, Tahir Cook, Christian Cowart, Brendon Garrett, Davon Hardy Jr., John Lane, Keith Norward, Dominik Patton, Jordon Smith, Kaleb Walker and Dorian Withrow.

The Black Tie celebration will begin promptly at 6 p.m. at the Westin Buffalo located at 250 Delaware Avenue .

This leadership program is designed to instill empowering tools which are necessary to approach any situation with confidence and success into young men who are juniors and seniors in high school. Through the utilization of the community, participants will be provided diverse experiences. Beautillion Extraordinaire Leadership program members received training regarding speech, etiquette, leadership, introduction to various professions, nutrition & health education, violence & abuse, networking, fiscal manage-

REACH Academy Charter School offers:  Small Class Sizes– 20:1  An Extended Academic 

Enrolling Now Grades K-1 Apply Online Today @ www.ReachAcademyCharter.org 115 Ash Street Buffalo, NY 14204 Phone: 716 - 248 -1485

  

Day Hands-On Learning Environments Climate Welcoming to all Cultures and Types of Learners Parent Involvement Transportation

ment, fundraising, college preparation, self-esteem and self-image development, African history, community service experience, rites of passage ceremonies and mentorship. Not only did each young man gain knowledge which is needed for success, but also developed friendships which will last a life time.

This year’s ceremonial program will not only honor the accomplishments of these fine young men but the evening will also include the formal presentation of these young men to the community; a dramatic historical performance which pays homage to influential leaders from various time periods in African and African-American history while showcasing the talents of our beautillion participants; a traditional mother son dance; and the first oratorical contest finals. The program will also be filled with inspirational words by the dynamic NYS Regent, Catherine Collins, community leader Officer Armonde Badger and the Honorable Demone Smith.

The evening will conclude with dancing. This event will serve as a monumental time in these young men’s lives and a moving experience for all of the family, friends and community supporters in attendance.

The cost to attend this Black Tie Dinner Gala is $55 per person.

All profits benefit the post collegiate pursuits of the Beautillion participants.

Should you have any questions or to purchase a ticket, please contact the Beautillion Steering Committee by calling 830-1024.

Open Mic In Black And White is a column created to bring past – present and upcoming original artists to you in the form of print. For our readers who may or may not be able to make it out to the open mic scene, I’ll be introducing some very well known and unknown performers to the arts community or world of entertainment.

What better way to break the ice than by going first?

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is “GOODNE$$” a Buffalo native, poet, spoken word artist, and the proud author of this column. I am a member of the Tradition Keepers Black Storytellers of WNY, Juneteenth Committee (Arts & Culture/Sankofa), a part of the Griot Nations’ Griot Poet Society (GPS), and author of three books of poetry, "Naught'etry" Nice & Naughty Poetry I and II .. Inspirational Poetry in Motion, Encouraging And Uplift“Goodness” ing Poems.

On April 22 and 23 I will be presenting my 5th Annual “TWO DAY INNER CITY POETRY MARATHON” in honor of National Poetry Month to be held at the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library (Saturday 2 – 5pm and Sunday 1 – 4pm). My mission is to "Provoke Creativity & Promote Literacy" among the youth and the adults of our communities.

A few years ago I also organized a bi/monthly “CITYWIDE YOUTH OPEN MIC’s.” It was formally held at the Jefferson Library. The Juneteenth Headquarters is now the new home of the “CYOM.” This column is open to all talents in Buffalo and the surrounding areas no matter the age. So without further ado put your hands together and welcome to the page (stage) “GOODNE$$!” {applause} I don’t wanna fight with you tonight but I see you’re about to be a mess …

It’s about to be a war We do this every night, I can’t take it anymore This is not going to be the easiest …

First you’re on then you’re off, Next I’m hot then I’m cold – I can’t take it I don’t wanna fight with you tonight …

I love you “my blanket!”

(From “MY BLANKET” “Get ‘Em” “GOODNE$$”) If you or someone you know would like to be highlighted as a feature, please submit a photo, short bio, contact information and an original piece/song, links for audio or visual to: advertising@thechallengernews.com in subject put; Open Mic In Black And White.

Thank you for your time and attention, hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read/heard, be sure to catch me again soon to see which artist will have the last “spoken” word.

2017 Omega Gents and Omega Queens : Names Matter...

Last week we featured photos of the Omega Mentoring program’s 2017 Queens and Gents at the annual Scholarship Ball. Here are the names of those beautiful young ladies and handsome young men: “Queens”: NaJay Cook, Ja’Niya Baker, JaNya Chambers, Amarri Askew, Zariah Taylor , Monasia Kabuya , Bonisha Robins , Darielle Hough, Morgan Holloway, and Christina Robins.

“Gents”: Laurence Spencer,Jahmal Lewis,Anthony Mandarino,Kavon Rogers,Justin Bennett,Dartaangn Tillmon, Isaiah Penson,Marri Middlebrooks,Carron Mitchell,Jaylin West Not pictured :Armante Clark, Cameron Baker, Miree Harris, Trevis Randall, Zyon Kinncannon Darius Hall and Andre Simmons.

VOICES

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

Long Overdue: Rikers Island, America’s Most Notorious Prison, Is Closing at Last By David Love

R

ikers Island is closing. Although it will not happen overnight and will likely take years to accomplish, the behemoth complex of jails known for its brutality, torture and other human rights abuses will be shut down. Over the years, Rikers has earned the reputation as America’s most notorious prison.

In a March 31 press conference with New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the 10-year plan to close Rikers.

“New York City has always been better than Rikers Island.

I am proud to chart a course for our city that lives up to this reality,” de Blasio said. “Our success in reducing crime and reforming our criminal justice system has paved a path off Rikers Island and toward community-based facilities capable of meeting our criminal justice goals.”

Noting that Rikers Island is part of a national problem, the mayor said that, while the mass-incarceration problem did not begin in New York, it will end there. Since the facility opened in 1932, this marks the first time the city has made closing Rikers its official policy.

Although the jail has been around for 85 years, Rikers Island has an older history fittingly steeped in the enslavement of Black people. As Vice reported, the Rikers (the Anglicized version of Rycken) were a wealthy Dutch family that settled the island in the 1660s at a time when New York was still known as New Amsterdam. From 1815 to 1838, the family patriarch, Richard Riker, oversaw the city’s criminal court. Part of his responsibilities included deeming free Black children, women and men as “fugitive slaves,” allowing for their kidnapping to the South by bounty hunters without a trial. Riker received kickbacks from slave catchers, and he and two slave-catching police officers were known as the “Kidnapping Club” by abolitionists.

Sadly, this sordid history of Rikers Island has continued to plague the facility, which is the second-largest in America after Los Angeles County Jail. The conglomeration of 10 jails sitting on the 400-acre island houses mostly men (93 percent), but also women and juveniles. Throughout a given year, 77,000 people go through Rikers, with 10,000 inmates detained on a given day.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the jail population was double current numbers. The prison population is 89 percent Black and Latino (56 percent African-American and 33 percent Latino) — from New York’s low-income communities — and only 7.5 percent white.

Eighty-five percent of Rikers inmates have not been convicted of a crime and are pretrial detainees, with the rest serving short sentences of a year or less, as The New York Times reports.

Around 40 percent of detainees have a mental illness, according to the Urban Institute.

The decision to close Rikers comes in the midst of longstanding problems of violence, brutality and inhumane living conditions

BLACK SEMINOLES continued from page 3 tory until the Vietnam War over a century later but, given the resulting freedom for 400 formerly enslaved Black survivors, it also qualifies as the largest and most successful rebellion of enslaved Africans in American history.

Though history has not been kind to the Black Seminoles, obscuring their dramatic plight under the general umbrella of “American Indian Wars,” rebuffs any attempts to minimize their pivotal role in the Second Seminole War and its aftermath states J.B. Bird, a longtime researcher on the Black Seminoles,and architect of the definitive website on Horse and the rebellion: “In the military intelligence files of the day, the officers were very clear that the Black Seminoles were the main agitators and the fiercest fighters.”

“We wish to plead our own cause.

Too long have others spoken for us.”

- John Russwurm, Freedom’s Journal.

1827 America’s 1st Black Newspaper

for those detained there. For example, mentally ill detainees have died in custody. Rikers continues to place inmates in solitary confinement, an internationally condemned form of physical and psychological torVICTIM; Kalief Browder was arrested ture, with Black RIKERS and sent to Rikers at age 16 for allegedly stealand Latino inmates ing a backpack. He was never charged. While subjected to the there Browder endured three years of torture punishment at a at Rikers, including beatings by guards from much higher rate his first day behind bars, and starvation. After his release, he committed suicide at age 22. than whites.

According to a report from the federal monitor overseeing Rikers since 2015, the abuse continues, with guards using excessive force at an “alarming rate.” For example, it is common for correction officers to place inmates in chokeholds, punch them in the head while handcuffed, slam them into walls and douse them with pepper spray. The jails also are an environmental disaster, with regular flooding, crumbling infrastructure with dilapidated facilities, a putrid landfill and pollution-belching power plant, and overheated conditions that have given Rikers the nickname “The Oven,” as Grist reported. With no central air conditioning in the summer months, some prisoners have suffered from cardiovascular conditions, heat stroke, rashes and asthma, and some have attempted suicide. One homeless veteran was baked to death in his hot cell that overheated to at least 100 degrees from faulty equipment.

Things came to a head with the story of Kalief Browder, who was arrested and sent to Rikers at age 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was never charged. While there, in a story revealed by The New Yorker, Browder endured three years of torture at Rikers, including beatings by guards from his first day behind bars, and starvation. After his release, Browder committed suicide in June 2015 at age 22, using an air conditioning cord to hang himself. This was a consequence of depression from the abuse he had suffered. The Marshall Project interviewed his mother, Venida Browder, for a video series called We Are Witnesses.

Although de Blasio has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to improving conditions at Rikers, the time has come to phase out America’s most notorious jail. A report unveiled by the Independent Commission on NYC Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform maps out a plan to shut down the jail.

Condemning the facility as a “19th-century solution to a 21stcentury problem,” the commission calls for reducing the jail population by half to 5,000 and placing the remaining inmates in new facilities around the city.

The report makes a number of other recommendations, including reforming arrests by diverting tens of thousands of lowlevel offenders from traditional prosecution and reducing the number of people in pretrial detention so that people do not have to wait months or years in jail for the resolution of their cases.

“Finally, we recommend an approach to punishment that prioritizes meaningful sentences and a judicious use of incarceration for all types of cases,” the report said.

Rikers Island has been used as a torture chamber for Black people for far too long. Its end will come, though not soon enough.

Challenger Community News P.O. BOX 474 Buffalo, NY 14209 advertising@thechallengernews.com

P: 716 881.1051 F: 716 881.1053

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Councilmember Wingo Apologies for Comments Dear Editor: At this past Common Council meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, I introduced a Resolution entitled Diversity in City Honors and Olmsted which supports the Buffalo Board of Education’s new admission policy that is designed to increase diversity, increase current Buffalo Public School (BPS) student enrollment, and create a more representative student body composition of Buffalo’s top performing educational institutions- City Honors and Frederick L. Olmstead Public Schools. I am in favor of equitable access and opportunities for all of Buffalo students; nonetheless, the disparity in the representation of a predominantly African-American school district having a minority presence in a top performing school is wrong.

There are historical and traditional disadvantages that communities of color have experienced in our great City that require amelioration. The Board of Education sought a revision of admissions for a minority of seats, 17%, of which would be reserved for traditional BPS applicants as a measure toward remedying imbalances in the racial makeup of these two schools.

I am unequivocally in favor of these policy changes. However, in defense of my position, and in my passion for my constituency and our city’s youth, I allowed myself to speak beyond my beliefs and made a statement in error that does not reflect my true opinion about Catholic schools, their families, or their students. For that I am Godly sorry and apologize to anyone whom I have offended and or hurt with my words. In my zeal for discussion with my colleagues on this very important and sensitive issue, I erred and my comments are regrettable and unbecoming of who I am and what I stand for.

Again, I apologize, and though I cannot take back the comment and can’t guarantee that I will not make another mistake, I do promise to keep my faith in God and will recommit myself to keeping my enthusiasm and passion tightly reined and will be more careful with my words moving forward.

-Council Member Ulysees O. Wingo

dear editor

(Ed.Note: Blacks make up 17 percent of the enrollment at City Honors, compared with a total Buffalo enrollment that is about 80 percent Black).

Praise for Passage of Final NYS Budget

Dear Editor: It took a little longer than we expected, but we have passed a great budget that is a win for all New Yorkers (2017-2018 New York State Budget). With this budget we have raised the age of adult criminal responsibility, becoming the 49th state to finally accomplish this critical component of criminal justice reform.

We have increased funding for clean water by $2.5 billion to ensure our drinking and waste water systems are modernized.

We have included incredibly important funding to keep refugee resettlement agencies across New York State open if the President’s refugee ban is upheld, and we allocated millions to ensure immigrants receive proper legal representation. We finally passed regulations to ensure ridesharing services are allowed to operate across Upstate New York. We passed the Buffalo Billion 2 program to fund important economic development initiatives across Western New York. We also put millions toward boosting the wages of direct care workers across the state. In a win for economic fairness, we also extended the Millionaires Tax, bringing in critical revenue and ensuring the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share. Finally, we passed yet another significant increase in funding for education, expanded TAP funding, and launched the first program for free college tuition in the United States of America. This budget is a historic win for all New Yorkers and I am proud to support it.

-Assemblyman Sean Ryan

• Published every Wednesday • News Deadline: Friday 5 p.m.

• Ad Deadline: Friday 5 p.m.

• Classified Deadline: Thursday 5 p.m.

We respectfully submit that the opinions expressed on the editorial pages of this newspaper

are not necessairly those of Challenger Community News Corporation or its advertisers.

Advertising /News/ Information/Inquiries adver tising@thechallengernews.com or alnisa33@yahoo.com

Phone: 716-881-1051 Fax: 716-881-1053

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April Happenings at the Buffalo and Employment and Training Center – BETC

T

he Buffalo and Employment and Training Center offers a variety of assistance to job seekers.

Spring Job Fair, one of largest in the area, will be held on Thursday April 27th at the BETC 77 Goodell St. from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Come prepared and dressed for success. All companies attending will be prepared to hire!

Intake and orientation 10a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Health Careers Orientation and Intake Mondays 1:00p.m., Tuesdays Wednesday and Thursday 9:00a.m.

Job Search/Interview Tips April 24th and 25th 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Returning Citizens Program April 24th to April 28th 9:30a.m. Soft Skills-(success in the workforce) Training Class April 24th – 27th 9:30 a.m.

Job Clubs- Tuesdays 12:45 to 1:45, Young Adults (18-24) Wednesdays 10:00.a.m.

Career Planning every 1st Wednesday and Thursday of each month 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Resume writing workshop every 1st and 3rd Friday and Tuesday, April 11th 1pm The following computer classes are available: Computer Keyboarding- 2 weeks Monday Apr. 17 –Th 9a.m.-12 noon; Introduction to Word 2013 -2weeks Monday Apr. 17 –Thursday April 27 1p.m. – 4 p.m.; Introduction to Computers/Internet 2 weeks-Monday Apr. 24-Thursday, May 4 The center is open to anyone seeking employment and all services are free! Stop in for an orientation for our services, Monday -Thursday, 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m., 77 Goodell 8565627(JOBS) Know your rights under the new minimum wage law. General Minimum Wage Rate Schedule for Buffalo is 12/31/16- $9.70/ hour 12/31/17 $10.40/hour.

P.E.A.C.E. Inc. Offering Fair Haven Grief Support Sessions P.E.A.C.E. Inc. (Parents Encouraging Accountability & Closure for Everyone) is offering an eight week support group to those who have lost loved ones to homicide. The support group is free and open to the public.

Entitled the Fair Haven Grief Support, it’s a place where “hope for heavy hearts” is provided and a place where one can say “I’m NOT ok today!”

The grief sharing sessions are being held from 6:30 -8 p.m. at the Sherman L. Walker Center, 608 William Street, the second and fourth Wednesday on the following dates: April 12 and 26, May 10 and 24, and June 14 and 28.

P.E.A.C.E. Inc. is an organization that has been providing support since 2004 for family and friends who have lost loved ones to homicide We are a support to the community and offer hope and healing during times of trauma and grief. For more information call 842-8700.

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com •April 12, 2017

GRANT TAKES STAND continued from page 3 ter – he more appropriately should have immediately removed himself from this event once he saw the confederate flag; and WHEREAS, by Sheriff Howard speaking in full uniform at the event, it gave the appearance that he was expressing the views of the Erie County Sherriff’s Office and Erie County as a whole, and undoubtedly inappropriate when considering the Formal Opinion of the New York State Board of Elections, dated June 10, 2015, on the matter of appearing in uniform at such political events, which reads in part: “There is a material difference between a police officer* appearing in uniform in the political communications of another candidate or political committee, whereby the authority of the officer’s position exemplified by the uniform is applied in aid of a political purpose, as opposed to appearing in uniform in one’s own political communications as an expression of experience or credential.” *The Board finds that as applied to Election Law 17-110, the position of Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff are synonymous to that of “Police Officer.” See, N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. 57, 1998. “…the statute is very clear that a police officer may not use his or her authority as a police officer “to control, affect, influence, reward or punish” in the electoral context. Such determinations must be made on the basis of the specific facts of each case, and police officers should exercise great care – particularly while in uniform, the cloak of authority – to comply with the prohibitions of Election Law 17-110(1)”; and WHEREAS, the Buffalo News, in its editorial, sums it up clearly: “Howard took the leading role in the Spirit of America rally that drew several hundred people to Niagara Square. That it was meant to support the presidency of Donald Trump is irrelevant to the issue. A Democratic sheriff promoting the agenda of a Democratic president would be equally wrong. It’s a failure to comprehend the scope of his public duties.

“It’s not just that it was a political event, either, but one that attracted white supremacists, who have come out of the woodwork lately”; and WHEREAS, Sheriff Howard released a statement addressing his appearance at the political rally, writing that he believes that his speech, in his official uniform, was just a showcasing of his support for American principles, patriotism, and free speech; and WHEREAS, Sheriff Howard’s unregretful stance toward the Spirit of America Rally, one that in its intent and execution was politically partisan and extreme, is unacceptable and this Honorable Body deem it necessary that Sheriff Howard issue a full apology and guarantee better judgment when making public appearances in the future.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Legislative Body call for Sheriff Howard to release an adjoining statement to his posted statement further denouncing hate groups – especially in light of the waving of the confederate flag at this political rally; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Erie County Legislature schedule Sheriff Howard to appear before this Body’s Public Safety Committee to explain and clarify his judgment in representation of the County of Erie at a clearly political event and while in full uniform; and be it further RESOLVED, that this Honorable Body further find the actions of Sheriff Howard inexcusable and inappropriate in accordance with his role as Erie County Sheriff; and be it further RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution be sent to County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard, and any other party deemed necessary and proper.

MINORITY CONTRACTORS WANTED

Minority contractors are being sought to be included in the compiling of a list of African American men and women (W/ MBE) skilled contractors. If you are skilled and experienced in: roofing, carpentry, dry wall finishing, plumbing and or electrical work, contact Ellen Shareef at (716)852-3418, Monday thru Friday or (716) 827-3556.

LEGAL NOTICE

BIDS

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids for Project No. 44864-C, for Construction Work, Rehabilitate Clear Lake Dam, Collins Correctional Facility, Middle Road, Collins (Erie County), NY, will be received by the Office of General Services (OGS), Design & Construction Group (D&C), Division of Contract Management, 35th Fl., Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242, on behalf of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions, until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, when they will be publicly opened and read. Each bid must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and must be accompanied by a certified check, bank check, or bid bond in the amount of $87,500 for C. All successful bidders on a multiple trade project or the successful bidder on a single trade project will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Labor and Material Bond in the statutory form of public bonds required by Sections 136 and 137 of the State Finance Law, each for 100% of the amount of the Contract estimated to be between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000 for C. Designated staff are Frank Peris and Carl Ruppert in the Division of Contract Management, telephone (518) 474-0203, fax (518) 473-7862 and John Lewyckyj, Deputy Director, Design & Construction Group, telephone (518) 4740201, fax (518) 486-1650.

The only time prospective bidders will be allowed to visit the job site will be at 11:00 a.m. on April 14, 2017 at Clear Lake Dam, 3568 Genesee Road, Lawtons, NY. Phone the office of Kim Himes, (716) 532-5151 a minimum of 72 hours in advance.

It is the policy of the State and the Office of General Services to encourage meaningful minority- and women-owned business enterprise participation in this project by contractors, subcontractors and suppliers under the Contract, and all bidders are expected to cooperate in implementing this policy. OGS hereby establishes an overall goal of 30% for MWBE participation, 15% for Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (“MBE”) participation and 15% for Women-Owned Business Enterprises (“WBE”) participation (based on the current availability of qualified MBEs and WBEs). The total contract goal can be obtained by utilizing any combination of MBE and /or WBE participation for subcontracting and supplies acquired under this Contract.

The Bidding and Contract Documents for this Project are available on compact disc (CD) only, and may be obtained for an $8.00 deposit per set, plus a $2.00 per set shipping and handling fee. Contractors and other interested parties can order CD’s on-line through a secure web interface available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please use the following link at the OGS website for ordering and payment instructions: http://www.ogs.ny.gov/bu/dc/esb/acquirebid.asp.

For questions about purchase of bid documents, please send an e-mail to D&C.Plans@ogs.ny.gov, or call 1-877-647-7526.

For additional information on this project, please use the link below and then click on the project number: https://online.ogs.ny.gov/dnc/contractorConsultant/esb/ESBPlansAvailableIndex.asp.

John D. Lewyckyj, C.S.I., C.D.T.

Deputy Director,

OGS Design & Construction Group

A D V E RT I S I N G PAY S !

716.881.1051

EMPLOYMENT

CAR FOR SALE Apartment

Manager:

100 unit, east side, HUD apartment complex seeks full time Site Manager. Duties include leasing apartments, certifying residents, collecting rents, supervising staff and negotiating with contractors. Must have excellent computer and people skills!

EOE. $15/hr. with benefits. Send resume to HR, 215 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14204 or fax to 854-2981.

2000 CHEVY PRIZONLS. Call;John Jones (716)

983-0540.

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS

NFTA Procurement Invitation to Bid

4683 - WATERBORNE TRAFFIC PAINT Download Bids from www. nfta.com

Facilitated Enroller-Erie County and Chautauqua Experience working in the health and human service field.

Educate, engage and enroll individuals aged, blind, or disabled in health insurance. Must be able to travel independently to all consumers in the assigned coverage area.

WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo NY 14214.

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS COUNTY OF ERIE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS New Era Field 2016/2017 Year 4 Capital Improvement Allowance Projects – Site Construction Sealed bids for Site Construction Work for the above project will be received by the County’s Commissioner of Public Works in Suite 1400 of the Rath County Office Building, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York 14202 until 10:30 AM local time on May 3, 2017, at which time they will be opened and read aloud. MBE/ WBE requirements may apply to this project. Additional information must be found at: www.erie.gov/dpw

Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

Facilitated Enroller-Erie County Experience working in the health and human service field. Educate, engage and enroll individuals aged, blind, or disabled in health insurance.

Must be able to travel independently to all consumers in the assigned coverage area.

WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo NY 14214.

LEGAL NOTICE ACTION FOR DIVORCE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT : COUNTY OF ERIE Gilberto Ramos Plaintiff SUMMONS WITH against

NOTICE AND COMPLAINT Jenny Virola Index No:SF2017900678 Defendant ACTION FOR DIVORCE To the above named Defendant: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED AND REQUIRED TO RESPOND to the claim for the relief sought by the Plaintiff by either serving a written Demand for a Complaint or a written Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney, at the address stated below.

If this Summons and Notice is served upon you within the State of New York by personal service you must respond within 20 days after service, not counting the day of service. If this Summons and Notice is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York you must respond within 30 days after the service is completed, as provided by law.

TAKE NOTICE THAT: (A)The nature of this action is to procure a Judgment divorcing the parties and dissolving the marriage between the parties, pursuant to DRL 170 on the grounds of Abandonment. ( B)The relief sought is a Judgment of absolute divorce in favor of the Plaintiff dissolving forever the bonds of matrimony between the parties.

The nature of ancillary relief demanded is equitable distribution of parties assets.

If you fail to respond Judgment will be taken against you, by default, for the relief demanded in this Notice.

This action is brought in the County of Erie because of: Plaintiff’s residence Dated: March ____, 2017________ ____________________ FRANK S. FALZONE, ESQ. Attorney for Plaintiff 215 Hampshire Street Buffalo, New York 14213 (716) 881-2653

13

Email legals & classifieds to: advertising@thechallengernews.com • Deadline Fridays @ 5pm

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

-legalsLEGAL NOTICE

M&T v. COLLINA NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF ERIE M&T Bank, Plaintiff AGAINST Joseph Collina; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated 10-4-2016 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at 92 Franklin St., 1st Floor Alcove, Buffalo, NY 14202 on 5-122017 at 9:30AM, premises known as 684 Minnesota Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Buffalo, County of Erie and State of New York, SBL: 79.74-3-32. Approximate amount of judgment $54,409.77 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index#: 813342/2015.

Mark J. Peszko, Esq., Referee Schiller, Knapp, Lefkowitz & Hertzel, LLP 950 New Loudon Road, Suite 109 Latham, NY 12110 15-18464

LEGAL NOTICE

BIDS

NFTA Procurement Invitation to Bid

4678 -New York State Government Relations Services Download Bids from www.nfta.com

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority will receive sealed bids for BMHA Job #17-06-CF, Pre-Renovation Environmental Services And Environmental Monitoring During Renovations @ Various Developments.

Specifications will be available at the Capital Improvements Office located at 320 Perry Street, Buffalo, New York 14204. Our office hours are 9:00AM to 5:00PM Mon thru Fri. Sealed bids will be received until 3:00 PM, local time, on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at the Capital Improvements Office, 320 Perry Street, Buffalo, New York 14204. Bids received after the stated time will not be accepted. Bids will be opened and publicly read aloud immediately after specified closing time. All bid forms must be filled out and returned. A pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday April 25, 2017 @ 10:00 AM in the conference room of the Capital Improvements Office, 320 Perry Street.

Perspective Offerors are strongly advised to attend the pre-bid meeting.

The BMHA reserves the right to reject any bid, which fails to conform to the essential items, required by the contract documents and to reject any and/or all bids submitted.

Scope of Work: Pre-renovation Environmental Services And Environmental Monitoring During Renovations At Various Developments.

SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS!

LEGAL NOTICE NATIONSTAR V. ANDERSON LEGAL NOTICE BID Buffalo City School District Advertisement for Bids Sealed proposals for the following project will be received at the office of Plant Services, 403 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202. On Monday, May 1, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud for the following GENERAL contract: PROJECT 0032-012: EXTERIOR LEAD PAINT ABATEMENT P.S. #32 Bennett Park Montessori, 342 Clinton Street, Buffalo 14204 Beginning Monday, April 10, 2017, bidding document packages may be viewed and purchased through Avalon Document Services online Planroom website at www.avalonbuff-planroom.com, under “Public Jobs,” or ordered by phone at 716995-7777. Owner can assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or other misinformation obtained via other bid document distribution resources.

A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at the facility on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. ; please assemble at the main entrance. The Architect will be present. Eligible bidders are required to attend this walkthrough or another previously arranged and documented site visit with Architect and/or District personnel.

Please note that required bid bond is 10%. The work will be subject to the equal employment opportunity requirements. Any questions regarding this project, please refer to Christine Hentz, 716-816-3565.

Paul McDonnell, AIA Director of Facilities Planning

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF ERIE NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, V. LANCE DAHN AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF DELORES DAHN ANDERSON A/K/A DELORES E. ANDERSON, et al.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 20 , 2015, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of ERIE, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, is the Plaintiff and LANCE DAHN AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF DELORES DAHN ANDERSON A/K/A DELORES E. ANDERSON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the FORECLOSURE ALCOVE FIRST FLOOR, ERIE COUNTY HALL, 92 FRANKLIN STREET, CITY OF BUFFALO, STATE OF NEW YORK, on May 10, 2017 at 10:00am, premises known as 44 POULTNEY AVE, BUFFALO, NY 14215: Section 90.31 Block 3 Lot 11 ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO, COUNTY OF ERIE, AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 803158/2014. Michael Kuzma, Esq. - Referee. RAS Boriskin, LLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 106, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff

A D V E RT I S I N G PAY S !

716.881.1051

CHURCH ORGANIST

A Church is seeking an Organist for employment. For more information please contact Neal at 716-284-7614

Guest Service Agent

Medicaid Service Coordinator Individualized service planning, advocating, and maintaining records. Home visits required. Experience working with people with a developmental disability, or as a service coordinator with any population.

Some college needed.

WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo, NY 14214.

Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

ILNC ILS Coordinate independent living skills for persons with disabilities.Must possess a Bachelors or an Associates.WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo,NY 14214.

Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

ILNC Intake and Outreach Specialist Support the transition of consumers with developmental disabilities from an institutional setting into the community. Must have high school diploma plus one year of experience working with individuals with development disabilities and their families.

WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo, NY 14214.

Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

14

LOTTERY

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com •April 12, 2017

NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS SUN 4/2

MON 4/3

TUES 4/4

EVE-4-0-3

EVE-4-6-9

EVE- 3-1-3

MID-0-5-3-2 EVE-9-3-5-2

MID-4-9-0-9 EVE-8-3-7-7

MID- 7-5-7-1 EVE- 6-5-9-7

04-13-26-31-37

07-14-30-36-37

04-13-15-24-29

MID-5-0-0

3-WAY WIN 4 TAKE 5

MID-0-8-1

MID-8-0-3

LOTTO

WED 4/5

THURS 4/6

EVE-1-6-3

EVE-1-1-8

EVE-4-0-4

MID- 3-5-2-7 EVE- 7-1-4-8

MID- 5-1-7-4 EVE- 6-5-2-1

MID- 6-4-4-1 EVE- 8-4-5-3

01-19-22-36-38

06-08-09-11-12

MID-4-0-1

MID-1-1-0-3 EVE-0-9-7-7

06-11-16-19-28

MID-6-4-3

07-09-12-14-34

FRI 4/7

SAT 4/8

MID-0-7-8

MID-0-7-5

EVE-5-3-1

14-15-21-23-41-50 #65

HOT TIPS

4018

022

064

648

Zakiyyah’s Rundown (ZR) 876-069-483-349-189-467-162-321-435-678-023-132-455-791-017844-679-010-536-809-546-896-468-901-084-365-800-103-785-457960-529-186-657-350-954-689-955-467-809-074-657-906-671-978010-743-234-680-468-089-902-325-561-635-278-435-780-108-657562-178-930-354-763-469-012-757-689-208-645-785-454-078-612579-905-436-809-675-680-100-535-768-985-324354-184-903-327 MA RUTH SPEAKS THE TRUTH! SURE HITS!

242-000-111-777989-123-125-436515-600-349-675-652

APRIL

Vibes 782-187-678-890347-036 quick money 189-809-444 886-980-422 322-522-355 800-592-390 394-833-924 127-909-418 927-313-466 124-550511-005/201

“It’s In The Stars”

Aquarius -496-235-165-579 Pisces - 056-362-237-694 Cancer - 482-372-895-718 Aries - 289-946-034-594 Taurus -258-231-026-695 Gemini-495-257-694-508 Leo-345-213-157-201 Virgo 385-291-431-170 Libra -247-723-179-501 Scorpio - 453-253-571-597 Sagittarius - 389-701-234-924 Capricorn:893-275-342-506

THE NUMBER BOOK

GAMMA’S APRIL PICKS

093-563-167-096-743-234 APRIL Best Triple- 444 APRIL Special Doubles - 778-335-881-883

444- NUMBER OF THE MONTH

THERE ARE ANGELS EVERYWHERE AROUND YOU..YOU ARE COMPLETELY LOVED SUPPORED AND GUIDED...NOTHING TO FEAR...

04-15-24-33-37-58 #56

996

515

advertising@thechallengernews.com ATTORNEYS ELECTRICAL LAW OFFICE OF DARIA L. PRATCHER, PC “Everything Real Estate” 523 Main Street (716)541-8574

140

Challenger Hits

AUTO BEN’S Downtown Tire

Evening

403 ZR (box) 469 Number Book (straight) Aquarius, Pisces, Aries (box) 313 Quick Money (straight) 5-3-1 ZR (box)

Midday

500 Quick Money (box) 081 ZR, Number Book (box) 401 Hot Tips, ZR, Lucky Duckie (box) 643 Ma Ruth Speaks, Number Book (box) 078 Number Book (box) 075 ZR (box) Number Book (straight)

50 Sycamore (cor. Elm) (716) 856-1066 or 894-1483

COLSTON Enterprises 716 E. Ferry (Near Fillmore) (716) 894-3910

BAIL BONDS GIST BAIL BONDS

A-1 Bail Bonds 855-2514 or 854-2128

BUYING MUSIC LUCKIE DUCKIE

133-202- 335 -2015-4444-1871-0978 134-431-143

648*123*104*820

980-422-809-981-989-970-990-080800-515-996-390-196-102-581-752-319408-378-352-126-189-444-886-514- 332522-112-432-421-423 3-Way Winning Numbers Last Year

04/19/2016 Midday 04/18/2016 Evening 04/18/2016 Midday 04/17/2016 Evening 04/17/2016 Midday 04/16/2016 Evening 04/16/2016 Midday 04/15/2016 Evening 04/15/2016 Midday 04/14/2016 Evening 04/14/2016 Midday 04/13/2016 Evening 04/13/2016 Midday 04/12/2016 Evening 04/12/2016 Midday

2016

8-7-9 4-4-0 8-5-7 7-9-8 7-9-5 7-3-2 0-7-5 4-1-2 0-6-5 6-8-4 9-1-5 1-8-3 6-8-8 7-6-2 1-4-8

PAYING The Best Price for Vinyl Records in WNY LP’s 45’s & 78’s Call 930-1319

CELL PHONES ANSAR CELLULAR Communications & Fragrance Store 1371 Fillmore @ E. Utica (716) 884-2373 EMMA'S CLOTHING 836 N. Goodman Street/ Inside Chester's Rochester, NY 14610 585 287 4226 Port Number/get FREE Boost Phone

DOG TRAINING DOGMAN’S K -9 Obedience Training

1963 Fillmore Avenue (716) 807-8163

EMPIRE ELECTRIC (716) 634-0330

FLORISTS MAUREEN’S Flower Market 441 Ellicott St. * 852-4600

HAIR SUPPLY MAIN HAIR & BEAUTY SUPPLY 3067 Main St. (716) 862-4247

HOME IMPROVEMENT HOMEOWNER;

Free Roof Check, Lead Test, All Home Repairs, Payment Plans, Everyone Approved 380-3459

RESTAURANTS FUSION 4 Restaurant & Bar

Upscale Caribbean, African & Soul Food Dining

719 Plymouth Ave. Rochester, (585) 328-1302 www.fusion4.com

TAILORS ANN RHOD’S Tailoring 3185 Bailey Ave. (716) 838-5633

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES MEREA WORLD Transportation Service Specializing in Round Trip & Over Night Trips Text or call 716 939-8892

CALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS CALENDAR

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•April 12, 2017

15

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12

THURSDAY APRIL 13

TUESDAY APRIL 18

THURSDAY APRIL 20

Hustle for Health Seniors line dance fitness class Gloria J Parks Center 3242 Main St,. 11am - 12pm 716 832 1010. FREE

The Durham Central City Baby Café . Info and support for pregnant and breastfeeding moms 5:30 – 7:30 pm 200 Eagle St. 885-6348.

Diversity Dialogue Speaker Series: “Why Cultural Competence? 6:00- 7:30pm Campbell Student Union- Social Hall, Buffalo State College.

DRILL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP & STEP SHOW: Kleinhans Music Hall, 5 p.m.; show starts at 6 p.m. tickets $25 & available at Doris Records, 286 E. Ferry St. NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR!

A First Time Homebuyers Orientation: William-Emslie Family YMCA, 6 p.m. sharp.

Free and open to the public.

To reserve a seat call 8386740 or 250-2418.

RAWANDA: Landscape and Memory A Work In Progress Exhibit and Talk: Awardwinning photojournalist Brendan Bannon will present an Artist’s Talk Thursday at the Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Hotel Lenox, 140 North Street, 6 – 8 PM (talk starts at 6:30 PM). free and open to the public. (See page 9.)

FOXIE BROWN LINE DANCE CLASSES: Every Thursday 10:30 am – 11:30am, Schiller Senior Center, 2057 Genesee St 444-2046 for more info.

The Durham Central City Baby Café . Info and support for pregnant and breastfeeding moms 5:30 – 7:30 pm 200 Eagle St. 885-6348.

Beyond Boundaries: Dare to be Diverse Film Series Bad Kids: 7:00-9:30pm Burchfield Penney.

SATURDAY APRIL 15 African Heritage Food Co-Op Farmers Market & Black Business Bazaar: 3-6 p.m., Edward Saunders Community Center, 2777 Bailey.716-573-1844.

Plans for Metro Rail Extension to Amherst: Free and Open to All,5:30- 7p.m.

Doors open at 5p.m., United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, 742 Delaware Avenue.

Hosted by Citizens For Regional Transit.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 19 Hustle for Health Seniors line dance fitness class Gloria J Parks Center 3242 Main St,.

11am - 12pm 716 832 1010.

FREE The Durham Central City Baby Café . Info and support for pregnant and breastfeeding moms 5:30 – 7:30 pm 200 Eagle St. 885-6348 THURSDAY APRIL 20

MONDAY APRILL 17

FOXIE BROWN LINE DANCE CLASSES: 10:30 am – 11:30am, Schiller Senior Center, 2057 Genesee St 444-2046 for more info.

GYC Ministries : Gang Summit Basketball and Open Gym, Ages 14 & Up, 7- 9:30 pm C.R.U.C.I.A.L. 230 Moselle Street

The Durham Central City Baby Café . Info and support for pregnant and breastfeeding moms 5:30 – 7:30 pm 200 Eagle St. 885-6348.

Big Easter Family Fest: 12noon – 5pm, 279 Perry Street. Fun for all ages . Free

FRIDAY APRIL 21 Kickoff Fundraiser for Betty Jean Grant: 5:30-8 p.m., the Oakk Room Lounge, 1425 Min St.; $25 and up; food, fun, networking.

SATURDAY APRIL 22 INNER CITY POETRY MARATHON :Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave. 2 - 5pm(adults only) hosted

by Kedra Walker, free & open to the public.

Runway Spring Event: Hosted by Buffalo State’s Fashion and Textile Technology (FTT) Dept. 8p.m. Sports Arena. for tickets visit: http://runway. buffalostate.edu/ or call (716) 878-3478.

South Park High School Community School Event: 150 Southside Parkway, 9:00am - 2:30pm. FREE family event is open to all.

SUNDAY APRIL 23 INNER CITY POETRY MARATHON CONTINUES: Merriweather Library, 1 - 4pm{KID FRIENDLY/ FAMILY ORIENTED, Hosted by Janate Ingram (Solar); free & open to the public.

Thank You from The Forge on Broadway Development Team

We appreciate your attendance, ideas and opinions.

Please share your comments at www.forgeonbroadway.com.

See you At The Events!

Mommy & Me Paint Nite & Anniversary A fundraiser for the Durham Central City Baby Café, “Mommy & Me Paint Nite & Anniversary,” will be held on Wednesday April 12 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at 200 East Eagle Street. Tickets are $30 Join us in supporting/helping the Baby Café celebrate four years of serving pregnant and/or breastfeeding mothers in our community. For tickets and more information call (716)247-0566 or E-mail: 1stbabycaferadio@gmail.com

16

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com •April 12, 2017

images of us

THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER! Maestro Henri Star Muhammad and his lovely wife Isabelle and their beautiful children are pictured following a performance by Drea D’Nur at Kleinhans recently. An amazingly talented family, Mr. Muhammad and his children all participated in the production honoring Nina Simone. He and his wife founded the Muhammad School of Music. All of the children are skillful violin players, Sis Isabelle also plays and teaches music and their daughter, Amirah, second from left, is a trained Ballerina and National Ambassador for Brown Girls Do Ballet Inc. She along with her father Henri Star Muhammad, and the Muhammad Chamber Players, will perform a Ballet and Classical Music Concert at the Market Arcade on Sunday, May 7. See their ad page 7. Third Eye Photo

“On the wings of imagination the mind knows no destination.”

– Lonnie Harrell

CALLING ALL POETS! Join The Challenger Community News in Celebrating NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

Poetry EDITION

BY PARTICIPATING IN OUR INAUGURAL SPECIAL

SEND YOUR NAME, CONTACT INFO AND TYPED POEM TO: The Challenger Community News Poetry Edition • PO Box 474 • Buffalo, NY 14209 or email challengerentry@gmail.com OPEN CREATIVITY – NO PARTICULAR SUBJECT - 1ENTRY PER PERSON

Dedicated to poet, historian, singer/songwriter Lonnie Harrell

as a family

We are facing dementia

Dementia affects the whole family. But you are not alone.

If you or your loved ones are facing Alzheimer’s or other dementia, contact the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter today for answers, for services, for support.

1.800.272.3900 | alz.org/WNY