Challenger Community News March 8, 2017 by Challenger Community News

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March 8, 2017 • FREE

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WISDOM IN TROUBLED TIMES PG. 3

Photography by: Bertram Smith

ENTERTAINMENT

Interview With Music Legends The Isley Brothers

PG. 8

NATIONAL

INSIDE ROCHESTER

Morehouse College President: We Got Played PG. 4

Rochester AKAs Celebrate 70th Anniversary PG. 2

‘Pop Up’ Stores Can Be Economic Boom for the East Side!

PG. 12

INSIDE ROCHESTER

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

VOICES

The Nation of Islam is NOT a hate group

By: Jason Muhammad Part I et me be clear. The Nation of Islam is not a hate group. But the local so-called mainstream media in Rochester, New York has maliciously chosen to regurgitate the slander of the Southern Poverty Law Center, noting with disconcertion that the city is now placed on the center’s annual “hate map” of the country. This is the habitual misnomer used to discredit and isolate a religious group with an impeccable track record of good works and service, particularly to the Black community and other oppressed and marginalized communities throughout the country, as well as the Caribbean, Europe, and Canada. Ironically enough, it was the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels who stated, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” And so “the lie” is a tool of propaganda used against the masses people. This is how under-represented communities are oppressed and used as economic and political pawns by those who tell the lies. By manipulating the perspective of the masses of the people by feeding them lies, the author of the lie seeks to actually undermine and ultimately destroy those that are deemed a threat to the status quo. So it is with the Nation of Islam, in Rochester and beyond. Under the leadership and guidance of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam is the strongest and most consistent organization working to uplift the masses of Black people suffering in every city in America. While others have abandoned the struggle for liberation and Black selfsufficiency for the empty promise of political advancement and personal, financial gain, the Nation of Islam remains in the highways and the byways working with the forgotten and the poor who have no voice. But even a cursory glance at history belies the claim of the liar, and brings the Truth to the forefront: The Nation of Islam has never burned a cross on someone’s lawn. The Nation of Islam has never lynched anyone, or burned them while tied and handcuffed to a tree. The Nation of Islam has never burned White neighborhoods to the ground. The Nation of Islam has never bombed, burned, or destroyed a church, synagogue, or any other place of worship. The Nation of Islam has never vandalized the property of any individual or group. The Nation of Islam has never denied another the right to an education, the right to vote, or any other basic human right such as clean water, use of the toilet, or a plot of land to bury the dead. The Nation of Islam has never enslaved a member of the human family, stripping them of their original name, language, culture, or religion. The Nation of Islam never shot down a young person over Skittles, cigars, cigarettes, cell phones, CDs, loud music, a broken tail light, asking for help after a car accident, playing in the park, shopping in Walmart, working with an autistic patient, an on, and on, and on… But the Nation of Islam does speak Truth to power, similar to the way in which Moses told pharaoh, thus sayeth the Lord.” And this is actually one point that the liar never disputes. It is never said that the Nation of Islam does not tell the Truth, regardless of whom or what. Minister Farrakhan is never portrayed as a false man. So those who are uncomfortable with the Truth like to state that he hates, because they hate the Truth that he, and we, represent. The only thing the Minister and the Nation of Islam hates is what God, Himself, hates. We hate injustice. We hate oppression. We hate greed. We hate evil. Continued Next Week

Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Celebrates 70th Anniversary of Service to Rochester

elta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will celebrate its 70th anniversary of service to the Rochester community on Saturday, March 11 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn-College Town, 30 Celebration Drive. The keynote speaker for the 70th Anniversary Celebration, Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, is the United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. She is also a former Regional Director of the Midwestern Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Four outstanding citizens will receive the sorority’s Champions of Service award: •Rev. James L. Cherry, Jr. and the Antioch Baptist Church, Faith and Family Empowerment Award •Attorney Melissa Barrett, Trailblazer for Justice Award •Mayor Lovely Warren & the Office of Constituent Services, Leadership Award •Dr. Alice Holloway Young, Pioneering Soror Award Chartered in 1947, it is the second oldest of the Divine 9 in Rochester. The sorority’s program goals center on health, education, social justice, and human rights. Since 2000 Delta Nu Omega Chapter has awarded 145 scholarships totaling over $132,000 to deserving high school graduates. The chapter’s service initiatives, scholarship assistance, educational intervention and other progressive programs are designed to have a direct and immediate impact on the Rochester community.

AROUND TOWN

SOMETHING TO DIE FOR: THE LAST POETS Baobab Cltural Center, 728 University Avenue Friday, March 10 7:00 PM The Last Poets is the name for several groups of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s AfricanAmerican civil rights movement’s black nationalist movement.

*National Week of Prayer for Healing of AIDS: SunMarch 5th thru Sat-March 11th (NWPHA). A week of prayer, education, advocacy and service for the Healing of AIDS. This year’s theme is “Talk About It”: Youth and HIV in America. We would like to have as many Youth and Young Adults to be involved to participate during this week of services. Church host locations and times to be determined. This event is presented by Jackie Dozier, Supervisor of Trillium Community Health Initiatives. For more information, please contact Jackie Dozier at 585210-4126 or email: jdozier@ trilliumhealth.org

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Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

AREA BRIEFS

And It’s Not Even Summer Yet… Spring officially begins on March 20, but already there is concern about what summer will bring judging from the number of homicides that have occurred so far. On Monday in the middle of the day at a little after 1 o’clock in the afternoon on Genesee near Eller, three young men were wounded by an apparent drive by; one of them, a 24-year-old, is critical. The other two men ages 18 and 19 were listed in stable condition at ECMC. Leading up to Monday’s shooting violence were two fatal shootings over the weekend. Kennedy Gadley 32, was shot Sunday morning and a 24-year old man was shot near Mills and Peterson Streets. He was taken to ECMC where he later died.

“Keeping It Real: Reality Pedagogy & A Call for Social Justice” The Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching Committee of the Buffalo Public Schools, Cheektowaga Central School District, and Buffalo State College will present the 2017 Urban Forum Speaker Series entitled “Keeping it Real: Reality Pedagogy and A Call for Social Justice”. The Urban Forum will take place on Monday, March 13 at Bennett High School, 2885 Main Street. The Forum opens with a Continental Breakfast at 7:45 a.m. The professional development sessions begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m. The keynote speaker for the March13 event will be Dr. Christopher Emdin, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University, and author of the New York Times BestSeller “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood…and the Rest of Y’all Too.” Superintendent of the Buffalo Public Schools, Dr. Kriner Cash, will provide opening remarks.

Get Ready to Spring forward: Daylight Savings Time Begins on Sunday! In the fall, you got an extra hour of sleep, and it was awesome. But on Sunday, you’ve got to give up that extra hour as it will be time to spring forward. That’s right, the time is approaching for us to change our clocks and rearrange to daylight savings time. We will spring forward at 2 a.m..on Sunday, March 12, 2017. That means you’ll lose one full hour of time and spend that first week perhaps groggy, disoriented and maybe even in a bad mood. In return, however, you will have three hours of extra daylight to do outdoor activities after work. It’s also a full moon.

Wisdom In Troubled Times

t was, perhaps, the most powerful moment during the assembly program at the Math Science Technology Preparatory School last Tuesday. A small army of men, dressed in black, who had been standing along the auditorium walls, went down on one knee while Rev. Gene Copeland delivered an apology to the young men in the audience for any Black father, church or mosque not being there for them. He pledged that whatever it took, he and his 101 volunteer members of Project WITT would pool their resources to fill that void from that day forward. “This school has been written off by a lot of people,” Rev. Coplin said to the all male assembly of 9th thru 12th graders. “But you are our future ..we need you….if you you need money for a haircut, if you need someone with you because you need to go before a judge, these men are here for you.” Several pastors and community leaders were also scheduled to speak including Bishop Roderick Hennings who gave an historical apology of reconciliation; former Attica prison Chaplin Jeff Carter; Dr. James Lewis III, Director and Trauma Chaplin at ECMC Hospital and others. Project WITT, which stands for Wisdom in Troubled Times, was founded by Rev. Coplin. The veteran youth worker said that back in January God gave him the vision and “downloaded it on my spirit” how to transform an entire school. Rev. Coplin likened many of today’s youth to Niagara Falls, wild and unharnessed before someone with wisdom tapped into that energy; the result, a tremendous source of positive power that produced jobs and capital and is now one of the great wonders of the world. “Many of our inner city schools today are filled with this wild unbridled energy and it’s going to take men and women to transform it” and empower these young people to succeed, he said. The plan, he continued, is to train WITT volunteers to become school volunteers, mentors, positive father and

Black Inventions

WISDOM:Rev. Coplin counsels a young man (rear) as WITT volunteer addresses a group of young men. PHOTO BERTRAM SMITH

grandfather role models to male youth at Math Science Technology Prep. WITT will also work with the principal and his staff at the East Delavan Avenue school and assist when and where needed. Most importantly, WITT will motivate and train the leaders among the students themselves, and teach them so that to that they in turn can motivate and train others “until The entire school gets the message – that we are kings and queens!” he enthused. At the end of the program, the men from WITT mingled with the young men, shaking their hands and encouraging them further. Some 97 percent of the students at the school are African American. “We’re going to set a standard for inner city schools in Buffalo,” vowed Rev. Coplin. “Math Science Technology Preparatory School will be a model school. Our goal is to mentally intrinsically transform youth. When a child

has ownership and has people behind them it’s a game changer.” When he initially reached out for 101 volunteers, he said, the reaction was “very positive.” “That’s because WITT gives a solution to the problem that we know we are all dealing with. We’re tired of talking about the problem. It’s time for real men and Black men to take the leading roll. That’s why those boys were blown away at the assembly.” Prior to launching the project publically he presented the idea to the school’s principal Todd Miklas, who shared their vision Rev. Coplin said that the idea has also been well received in the community and around the city. The next assembly he said, will address the girls (Rev. Coplin is founder and director of Project Lee Ministries Inc . Learning & Earning Experiences)

2nd Annual Harriet Tubman Rally and March “United We Stand, Against the Building of the Wall” Friday, March 10, 4:30 p.m., E. Utica & Main Street Stand Tall against racism, sexism, xenophobia & homophobia! Rally for construction jobs, Eastside redevelopment, expanded neighborhood community centers programs and immigrants rights and the DACA program. All groups are encouraged to bring banners, horns, drums and signs to send a message that Buffalo is ONE CITY, ONE PEOPLE and ONE VOICE. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be moved to the Frank Merriweather, Jr. library @ 1327 Jefferson Avenue. Refreshments will be served after Rally.FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BE A GUEST SPEAKER CONTACT LEG. BETTY JEAN GRANT 716-602-5877 OR 716- 894-0914.

We have the following African American Trailblazers to thank for these useful inventions •Three-Signal Traffic Light After he saw a carriage crash in a Cleveland intersection, Garrett Morgan created a version of the modern three-way traffic signal in 1923. He was also the first Black man to own a car in his city. •Closed Circuit TV Marie Van Brit- t a n Brown created a device in 1966 that would be the precursor to home surveillance as we know it. She connected a motorized security camera to a monitor, where one could view images from the camera. •Mailbox In 1891, Philip Downing invented the “street letter box,” which became the predecessor to the metal letter-drop mailboxes we use today. •Potato Chip George Crum is widely credited for coming up with the potato chip as we know it. While he was working as a chef at a resort, a disgruntled patron sent his french fry order back to the kitchen and complained that they were cut too thick. So Crum made a new batch, cut them as thin as possible and added a bit of salt. Thus, potato chips were born. * Laser Cataract Surgery Howard University alum Patricia Bath is responsible for creating the laserphaco probe, a device used for laser cataract surgery. With the help of the instrument, she was able to recover the sight of several individuals who had been blind for over 30 years. •The Blood Bank African American physician Charles Drew developed a way to process and preserve blood plasm, which lasts much longer than actual blood. His discovery was crucial to creating blood banks and assisting in the war effort during World War II. When he grew unhappy with the military’s request to segregate the blood and left his position.

NATIONAL + WORLD Ghana Marks 60 Years of Independence from British Colonial Rule

Played: HBCU presidents smiles are short-lived...

Morehouse College President: ‘We Got Played!’

fter meeting with the Trump administration for two days and reviewing Cheddar Bob’s executive order on HBCUs, Morehouse College President John Wilson Jr. issued a statement Thursday admitting that over 100 HBCU presidents went to the White House, and all they got was a lousy Instagram photo. Wilson said that he and other Black college heads were excited when they heard Trump’s usual hyperbole promising to “do more for HBCUs than any other president has done before.” After all, President Barack Obama set aside $3 billion for African-American colleges and made them a priority within the Department of Education, so Trump—Wilson reasoned— would at least give them $500 million more for this year alone, right? Maybe he’d even boost Pell Grants and create an innovation fund! At least he’d do something Republican, like offer tax breaks to companies that donate to HBCUs! Those are reasonable expectations, right? Wrong. All Trump did was move the HBCU initiative from the Department of Education to the Executive Office of the President—presumably where he uses it as a coaster for his presidential haterade. Aside from that, all the college presidents got was a look at Kellyanne Conway’s bony knees and a few more frequent-flier miles. In her dual role as White House mascot and secretary of shuck and jive, Omarosa Manigault explained, “That’s all we got, bruh.” Wilson was even more pissed at Becky-in-chief Betsy DeVos, who—in a separate meeting—remarked how historically black colleges were America’s original pioneers for school choice. Because—you know—in the 1800s (when the first HBCUs were founded), black people had the option of waltzing into Harvard or Yale, but instead decided to break their backs creating their own schools, just because. Wilson explained: But HBCUs were not created because the 4 million newly freed Blacks were unhappy with the choices they had. They were created because they had no choices at all. That is not just a very important distinction, it is profoundly important. Why? Because, if one does not understand the crippling and extended horrors of slavery, then how can one really understand the subsequent history and struggle of African Americans, or the current necessities and imperatives that grow out of that history and struggle? After becoming one of the many people whom Trump has duped into believing his promises, only to leave empty-handed, Wilson did not address the loud chorus coming from HBCU alumni and Black people in general, screaming, “We told y’all.”

Justice Department May Back Off Police Audits Washington – Attorney General Jeff Sessions indicated recently that the federal government would back away from monitoring troubled police departments, which was the central strategy of the Obama administration to force accountability onto local law enforcement amid rising racial tensions. Session blamed Justice Department scrutiny from afar for undermining the effectiveness of the police across the country. It was a clear reference to the aggressive efforts of the Obama administration to oversee law enforcement agencies charged with civil right abuses.

As the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence, Ghana’s precedent in 1957 inspired other countries to seek liberation and 17 African countries gained independence in 1960. Ghana’s recent history has been a mixed picture of progress and setbacks. Following are a few highlights of the state of democracy in Ghana, natural resources and education. *Ghana witnessed a peaceful transfer of power in its recent elections, in which Nanu Akufo-Addo defeated the incumbent John Mahama in a tight presidential race in December 2016. *In November 2015, Ghana underwent a crisis of confidence in the nation’s judiciary following a corruption scandal. An exclusive Al Jazeera investigation exposed widespread corruption and bribe-taking among several high court judges and many of other court officials. *Ghana was one of Africa’s most dynamic economies for many years, but it slumped in 2014 as commodity prices fell and a fiscal crisis led to a widening budget deficit and rising inflation. The country was forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout in 2015. *Huge hydroelectric projects initiated in the 1960s aimed to provide Ghana with an abundant supply of power. Ghana has one of the highest rates of electricity in Africa. However, soaring demand and a recent drought, likely attributable to climate change, have hampered the ability of Ghana’s dams to produce enough power and blackouts persist. *The United Nations’ Girls’ Education Initiative reports that Ghana has made “good progress” in narrowing gender gaps and improving access to education for girls. *Ghana is resource rich. Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana is the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa and Africa’s secondlargest producer of gold. However, as a gold rush has drawn thousands of Chinese miners over the past decade, some have questioned the extent to which the nation’s resources are truly benefiting ordinary Ghanaians. (Excerpted from AlJazeera English)

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

Links to Provide 3-Year Dental Program in Four BPS Locations

he Links, Incorporated-Erie County (NY) Chapter has launched a three-year “Healthy Teeth are Happy Teeth” Dental Program for inner-city school age children, their parents and guardians. The program will focus on the following: •Helping families become knowledgeable on how oral health affects the body •Providing children free education and dental screenings •Providing oral cancer screening •Providing fluoride treatment •Providing families referrals to free and/or nominal cost dental services •Helping families become knowledgeable about how diet affects dental care In partnership with Complete Health dentistry of WNY, Strong Community Schools, Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, ADM Management Group, Inc., and LEWAC Associates of WNY, The Links will carry out this program now through June 2020. This Community School site program will address oral health in children and adults teaching proper oral care at four

schools on designated Friday’s and/or Saturday’s. In 2016, the Buffalo Public Schools kicked off its Strong community Schools strategy. Benefitting everyone, the effort positions schools as a resource center offering free academic, athletic, language and need based progrlams. There are 13 Strong Community Schools located across WNY. Four Buffalo Public Schools that are participating in the three-year dental health program are as follows: 1) Arthur O. Eve #61, Principal Parette Walker, 453 Leroy Avenue .

2)Early Childhood Center #82, Principal Tanika Shedrick, 230 Easton Avenue. 3)Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy #76, Principal Kathy Foy, 315 Carolina St. 4)West Hertel Academy #94, Principal Cecelie Owens, 489 Hertel Avenue. More than 2,100 children attend these schools, and it is projected that each year more than 1,000 children and adults will be educated on proper oral health. All attendees will receive a free dental-care goodie bag.

A Tribute to Women’s Basketball: In Celebration of Women’s History Month

omen in sports, specifically African-American women in the sport of basketball, throughout history have broken barriers to doors that still are evolving to this very day. The New York Girls, one of the first all Black women’s basketball team, was one of them. The New York Girls were established in 1910 in Manhattan, New York. In an historical event, on February 26th of 1910, two all Black women’s basketball teams, The New York Girls and The Jersey Girls participated in the first ever recorded game of its sorts. The New York Girls won this game 12-3, and their performance as described by The New York Age, the nations leading “negro” newspaper at the time, was “clever and even scientific.” This birthed dozens of all Black female basketball independent organizations that competed nationally and were covered by the Negro press. One of the most dominating teams was the Tribune Girls of Philadelphia, PA. These women won 11 straight Women’s Gregory L. Colored Basketball World Championships in the 1930’s and 1940’s. GAMBLE II The Tribune Girls was the home of Ora Mae Washington, who is considered one of the greatest female athletes of all time amongst all sports across all races. Outside of Washington’s amazing tenure with the Philadelphia Tribune, she won seven consecutive American Tennis Association Women’s Singles Titles. Ora Washington’s play was described as “Intense and Fast.” The versatility of Washington’s athleticism was astounding. She was literally unstoppable. In 1934, a showdown of the two most dominant Negro women’s basketball teams of the era happened. A week long three-game series where The Tribune Girls would play against the Bennett College Five. To paint a clear picture of how dominant the Bennett College Five were, from 1933 to 1937 the Bennett College Five only lost one college game. The Tribune Girls swept the series and left the Bennett College Five completely befuddled. Bennett described the Tribune Girls shooting performance as “almost supernatural.” Today, in Women’s basketball, opportunities have transcended into actual careers. Not just from the efforts of women in the sport of basketball, but across all sports and across all races. In celebrating Women’s History Month, we celebrate the women that have pioneered and paved the way for women to be able to compete world wide in the sport of basketball. These women defied inequality, social injustices, sexism and never forgot that the odds that were before them, were their Odds2Beat. Follow Gregory Gamble on social media @Odds2Beat. Or visit his website at www.Odds2Beat. com

Grassroots, Inc. Sadly Announces the Passing of Frank Garland, III Grassroots, Inc. sadly announces the sudden passing of Second-Vice Chair, Frank Garland, III. Frank served faithfully in this role for a number of years. He consistently ran and held Erie County Committee seat in Masten, and worked hard to ensure his community was represented in government. Frank Garland, more prominently known for his hard work and dedication in the Masten District office, under former Councilman Demone Smith, and current Councilman Ulysees Wingo, was beloved by everyone who interacted with him. More recently, he transitioned to work for the City of Buffalo Parking Commissioner, where he thoroughly was enjoying the new role. Chairman Willie Morris says, “The sudden loss of Frank Garland has left the Grassroots family hurt and speechless. His hard work and dedication, not only to this organization, but also to the community is going to be extremely difficult to replace.” Chairman Morris continued: “On behalf of the Grassroots family, we extend our sincere condolences to the family of Frank Garland. Anything the family needs we are here to assist.” With the highest admiration, the Executive Committee of Grassroots, Inc. has decided that at this year’s 22nd Annual Grassroots Dinner, the “Most Valuable Petitioner” award (an award that Frank has received in the past), will now be known as the “Frank Garland, III Most Valuable Petitioner” award. This honor is given to the hardest working individual who obtains the most signatures for candidates running for office. Funeral services for were held on Saturday, March 4 at the True Bethel Baptist Church, 907 E. Ferry St.

Full Moon Watch... The next full moon is Sunday, March 12; also the first day of Spring. There are two extremes here as it relates to this moon; the self-sacrificial martyr and the ‘drug’-pusher. Those touched by the March Full Moon must be careful not to fall down the rabbit hole of “addiction” (of any kind) themselves in trying to rescue an “addict.” On the positive side supporting a good cause at this Virgo Full Moon can keep one on the straight and narrow. Nervous energy generated at this time needs channeling into something, even simple housework. A good time for a spring clean!

FAITH & FAMILY

Challenger Community News • thechllengernews.com • March 8, 2017

Zion Missionary Baptist Church The United Coalition First Shiloh Baptist Church Celebrates the 10th Pastoral Anniversary of Reverend Jonathan R. Staples ‘Repositioning the Body of Christ’ of Churches Revival

he congregation of Buffalo’s historic First Shiloh Baptist Church invites the community to celebrate the 10th pastoral anniversary of The Reverend Jonathan R. Staples. On Friday, March 10 at 6:30 PM, the church will host an Anniversary Banquet at Shiloh’s E.J. Echols Fellowship Hall, where the preacher will be The Rev. George Woodruff, Pastor, Durham Memorial AME Zion Church. (Donation: $30. For reservations call 847-6555). On Sunday, March 12 at 10:00 AM, The Rev. Dr. Walter Parrish, III, Pastor, Northside Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD will be the celebrant, and at 3:30 PM, The Rev. George Stewart, Pastor, Zion Baptist Church of Cleveland, OH will bring the message. Pastor Staples has been honored to lead the church into its second Jonathan R. Staples and century, having celebrated the First Shiloh Centennial year in 2016. Pastor First Lady Tanya Staples A minister for nearly three decades, Pastor Staples is respected nationally as a leader, preacher, and teacher. As the spiritual leader of First Shiloh, Pastor Jonathan has been led by the Holy Spirit to encourage First Shiloh disciples to worship God in spirit and truth, to study God’s word through Bible study, and to practice good stewardship. Through his abiding faith, Pastor Staples is committed to pastoral excellence and service, implementing God’s vision and empowering the people of God to reach new spiritual heights and to discover their destiny in the kingdom. Founded in 1916, First Shiloh Baptist Church is located at 15 Pine Street. The public is welcome to worship with the First Shiloh disciples for a blessed anniversary celebration filled with powerful preaching, and good gospel singing. For more information call (716) 847-6555 or visit www. firstshilohbuffalo.com.

Zion Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting the “Repositioning the Body of Christ Through Prayer and Fasting” Monday morning altar prayer for the month of March. Please add these dates to your calendar of events for the month of March. Monday March 13 @ 6am Monday March 20 @ 6am Monday March 27 @ 6am For more information contact the church office at 886-1362.

New Hope Baptist Church Celebrates 80th Anniversary

The New Hope Baptist Church of Niagara Falls will be celebrating its 80th Church Anniversary beginning on Wednesday, March 15t at 7 p.m. For the Pre-Anniversary Worship Service, Rev Jimmie Hardaway, Pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church will be the guest speaker. The theme is "We Have Come This Far by Faith" - Hebrews Chapter 11:1-6. On Sunday, March 19, Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, Asbury United Methodist Church, of Rochester will be the 10:15 a.m. worship speaker. At 3:30 p.m., Rev. James C. Blackburn, Pastor or Greater Hope Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker. Sister Josetta Chatmon, Chairperson and Rev. Harvey L. Kelley, Pastor. For additional information, contact the church at 282-8118.

The United Coalition of Churches(UCC) is having a revival called “Rising to Our Fullest Potential” on March 9 & 10 . The Thursday, March 9 speaker will be Rev. Dr. Jimmie Hardaway Jr. of Trinity Baptist Church in Niagara Falls. On Friday March 10 the speaker will be Rev. Dr. Robert J. Lowe of New Beginnings COGIC in Buffalo. There will be a Musical on Saturday, March 11 at 4 p.m. at Open Praise FGBC, 761 Fillmore Avenue. All events will be held at Open Praise FGBC.

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FAITH & FAMILY

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

Pictured (L-R) Robin Barker, Mercedes Wilson, Shetice Williams, Janice McKinnie,and Latosha Payton.

Services Held for Imam Hassan Imam Abdul Aleem Hassan, of Buffalo, New York, returned to Allah on February 24, 2017 at his home in the loving presence of his devoted family. He was pre-deceased by parents Hartley Ashton and Edna Ruth Day, and younger brother George Andrew Day. Imam Hassan is survived by wife Judarah, and seven daughters Natalie Chalah, Dayatra Amber (Paulo Silva), Tiffany Amara, Melanie Elita, Stephanie Anitra, Ajeenah Mahasin (Fuwad Alwakeel), and Khadijah Jabreen (Waulik Jaeder). He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, one great-grand child, and siblings Torkwase Ra, Prudence Alva, Nikosi (Virgil) Ennis, Bayina (Nasar Abadey), And Imanah. He leaves behind a host of family members too numerous to count and a legacy of greatness across various communities.

“You Don’t Know My Story” at Elim Christian Fellowship

Girls 2 Women, in collaboration with Women Against Violence Everywhere (W.A.V.E.) presents, “You Don’t Know My Story,” Saturday, March 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Elim Christian Fellowship, 70 Chalmers Avenue. The presentation will feature Latosha Payton, guest soloist; Robin Barker, owner of Biz Byrd Productions; Mercedes Wilson, founder of For Our Daughters Inc.; Shetice Williams, founder/ owner of Cake Crazy Bakery; and Janice McKinnie, Executive Director of True CDC. Admission for adults is $15 in advance, $20 at the door; youth 17 and younger $10. For tickets call Marilyn Young at 848-0515 or Linda Hughes at 912-7705.

National Women’s History Month Women Empowerment Series National Women’s History Month Women Empowerment Series presented by Nikia M. Sweet will host The Women’s Trailblazer Brunch on March 18 at 12:45 p.m. at the Matt Urban Center 1081 Broadway. This garden vintage themed brunch, catered by Livefromthekitchen and dessert by B Sweet Designs, will also have 15 vendors Spoken Word, Empowerment Hour and special VIP treats.. Nikia M. Sweet is founder and CEO of Clarity Credit Repair and has pulled together a great lineup of guest speakers: Latasha Cunningham owner of Diva4Maid, Velma Watson Community Advocate, and Marla Gillette owner and operator of PIC ( Partners In Care ). Tickets can be found on Eventbrite under “CC’s Women’s Trailblazers Brunch” or call 716 217-5608 dress for success.

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APPOINTED: Frank S. Williams, Daemen College’s associate vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions, has been named interim vice president for enrollment management. In this interim role Williams will oversee Daemen’s admissions operations and provide leadership in achieving the college’s enrollment goals. Prior to joining Daemen in 2006, he served in various capacities at SUNY institutions. Williams , who holds a llicense in ministry, holds a master’s degree from UB University and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Fredonia. He resides in Cheektowaga. Congratulations!

ENTERTAINMENT

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

On Stage at the Seneca Niagara Casino This Weekend

An Interview With The Isley Brothers: One of the Most Durable Acts in Music History

Matt Bauer

rom their first hit with 1959’s gospel-infused “Shout,” to 1969’s “It’s Your Thing” to stone cold 1970s funk classics like “That Lady,” “Fight The Power” and “Take Me To The Next Phase” as well as sensual lovemaking standards like “Sensuality” and “Between The Sheets,” The Isley Brothers (in various configurations and now featuring Ronald aka “Mr. Biggs” and Ernie Isley) have proven to be one of the most durable, significant and diverse acts in music history. Influencing The Beatles, Notorious B.I.G, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Aaliyah, R. Kelly and Public Enemy among too many to mention, the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductees will be performing at the Seneca Niagara Casino, March 11. One of the great and influential guitar players of his or any generation, Ernie Isley (who joined the group full time in 1973) graciously took the time to talk to The Challenger.

How has the group’s sound developed over the years and how would you define it now? We’ve evolved with the music climate and musical terrain. So historically as it’s changed over time Isley Brothers music has changed too. There are some people that are into the Isley Brothers, say, because of “This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)” and there’s folks that may be into the Isleys because of “Twist and Shout” and there’s folks that remember “That Lady,” “Fight The Power” or “Between The Sheets.” Our catalogue has been one of the most heavily sampled: Biggie Smalls’ “Big Poppa,” or people talking about Aaliyah’s “At Your Best (You Are Love)” and not realizing it’s an Isley song in terms of its origin or Bone, Thugs-n-Harmony’s “Crossroads” [which sampled “Make Me Say It Again Girl”]. In that way, we’re well represented and continue to be. What’s the secret to the group’s longevity? Divine grace more so that anything [laughs]. That and the fact that we love what we do and that’s what’s helped us to continue and make changes. What’s been your biggest thrill throughout the years of performing? That’s a hard one because there’s been more than one selling out Madison Square Garden in New York, “Sarsstock” [in Toronto in 2003], receiving the lifetime achievement Grammy award in 2014, the very first time we did “Fight The Power” live. There’ve been many thrills. You mentioned “Fight The Power” and in our current climate that song and “Harvest For The World” seem sadly more timely than ever. Will you ever return to more politically oriented lyrics? We weren’t necessarily trying to be political. We were just trying to state emotional truth. Fighting the power, everybody has to do that at some point. If you’re going to pursue your dreams there’s going to be things in the way. Maybe people or circumstances in the way and you’re going to have to do battle. I can say that for everybody at some point, “Fight The Power” will apply to their experience. How did you develop your guitar playing style and who are you’re influences? In terms of influences, Jimi Hendrix was our houseguest and employee from March 1963 to when I was 11 years old to November of 1965. My brothers got him his first fender guitar. He played very well, obviously [laughs]. I’d never heard anybody play like that. I’d grab my social studies book and sit in his room while he was playing but I wasn’t doing social studies. [laughs]. If he were alive at the time “That Lady” came out he’d be laughing saying ‘How the hell did you do that? Because you never touched my guitars.’ Jose Feliciano and Charles Pitts [who played guitar for Isaac Hayes and played the lead on “It’s Your Thing”] were influences. I was listening to everyone and trying to get what was in my head and eventually I was able to accomplish that. And ideally you end up sounding like yourself. When “That Lady” came out in 1973, it was a great accomplish-

13th Annual Infringement Festival Hey Buffalo Artists! Proposal submissions are open for the 13th annual Buffalo Infringement Festival. The submission genre is broken into: Visual Art, Dance, Film/Video, Literary, Music, Street/Outdoor, Theatre--but no work is turned away for not falling neatly in a category so please apply because all proposals that adhere to the INFRINGEMENT mandate will be accepted if submitted by deadline April 1. No registration fee. Go to Infringementbuffalo.org

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ment to have it on our resume. CBS was wondering what musical category it fit into because it had elements of dance, funk and a rock element because of my guitar tone. Our response was that it fit anywhere. What’s the biggest challenge for veteran artists? I think if you have a reasonable amount of health and fortitude you just get out there and perform. There’s constantly a discovery or rediscovery of Isley Brothers music. The Beatles were doing “Shout” and “Twist and Shout” before they got on Ed Sullivan. I ran into both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney gave me a bear hug and said, ‘Ernie, if it wasn’t for The Isley Brothers The Beatles would still be in Liverpool.” Do you have any new music on the horizon? We just finished a new album collaboration with Carlos Santana. Carlos acknowledged that he’s been listening to the Isleys his whole life and how marvelous a singer Ronald is and how he wanted to work with Ronald.

The historic collaboration between these legendary artists can only be great! Don’t miss the Isley Brothers this Saturday, March 11 at the Seneca NiagaraCasino at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35.

ENTERTAINMENT

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

ON STAGE *SENECA NIAGARA CASINO THE ISLEY BROTHERS Sat. March 11at 8PM Tickets start $35. *FRIDAY MARCH 10 Friday Night Laughs Presents The NY Kings Comedy Tour starring Capone Lee, Rob Stapleton, Talent Harris, Drew Fraser and Mark VieraTwo Shows: 7:30pm and 10pm Tickets $36 Advance / $41 Day Of ShowTickets at Doris Records 716-883-2410, or The Tralf Box Office.

*In The Continuum, directed by Paulette D. Harris, starring Ayana N. Williams and Christina Foster. 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday w/audience Talk Back; March 10-April 2, Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Avenue; admission $25, seniors/students $22; 884-2013.

*Comedy’s Most Wanted, March 24 featuring Lavell Crawford, Corey Holcomb,Dominique, J.J. Williamson, & DC Young FLY and DJ Traci Steele. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com Shea’s Box Office & Doris Records *“THE COLLECTION”, a comedy starring Courtney Turner, Nicholas Bernard, Stan Klimeck and Willie Judson, Torn Space Theater, 612 Fillmore Avenue, now thru March 12. Tornspacetheater.com

LOOK WHO’S TEACHING LINE DANCE!

Songstress/Entertainer Foxie Brown is teaching line dance classes every Thursday from 10:30 – 11:30 am at the Schiller Senior Center, 2057 Genesee St Pictured above are scenes from last Thursday’s class. Foxie ( pictured bottom right) is a great teacher! Stop by and learn all the latest line dances! For more information call 444-2046.

Keith Sweat Rochester R&B Festival Fri, May 12 @ Blue Cross Are- PLUS SIZE CONTEST na. ticketmaster "Do you think you got what it takes to win a plus size contest???. Auditions will be held on Saturday March 11 from PARTY OVER HERE! 2:30pm-4:30pm at 1412 Main Street. The winner gets a cash prize along with a photo shoot! For more information please HANK BELLS STRIKE call 716 (578-4785). FORCE ANNUAL CHARISee you there!!! TY BALL, Saturday March

11, Hyatt Regency, Two Fountain Plaza, 7-1 a.m. For tickets and info (716)4327426.

HUGE 50% OFF SALE PLUS 30% Off U.S. Money!

Saturday March 11 11-5 pm & Sunday March 12 Noon - 5 pm LAYAWAY AVAILABLE

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GENERATIONS

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

ORACLE CHARTER SCHOOL

Application Deadline: March 31st! www.OracleCharterSchool.org/apply

King Center Charter School To Help Families Get A Head Start

Buffalo’s King Center Charter School (KCCS) will hold its Kindergarten Readiness Day on Saturday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school located at 156 Newburgh Ave. The school’s Kindergarten Team will be on site to conduct reading screenings for children age 3-6 years old and will provide families with strategies to improve their children’s reading ability before they enter kindergarten. The event is open to all city families with children in that age range; the school will be accepting Kindergarten applications and school tours will also be available. Gizelle Stokes is King Center’s Outreach Director.

Charter School Of Inquiry’s Children Present ‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ Most of the country celebrates Black History Month in February. But at the Charter School of Inquiry (CSI), African-American history and culture are celebrated all year long. Last Friday, CSI’s children rocked the house with the what they’ve learned about African American culture and history through the mediums of music and art. “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a celebration of African-American history and heroes, presented the CSI children as they captivated us with singing, step dancing, spoken word poetry, and inspired us with testaments to African-American “firsts,” such as Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman awarded an international pilot license in 1921, and Ruby Bridges, the first AfricanAmerican child who at the age of six faced angry, racist crowds to integrate a white Southern elementary school in 1960

Open House Sat. March 25 10-2

888 Delaware Ave. Buﬀalo, NY 14209 716-362-3188

Following the “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performance, collages created by CSI’s Kindergarten and 1st grade children were on display. These collages were inspired by Harriet Powers, an enslaved African American woman who became well known for her bold story-telling quilts with African and African-American themes. CSI children related stories about their favorite family memories in their collages. Also on display were other children’s artwork inspired by their study of the African American experience CSI is located at 404 Edison Street. The school, which opened on August 31, 2015, is in its second year of operation with Kindergarten through Grade 3. An additional grade is added each year until 2019 when CSI will be fully enrolled as a K-6 school.

VOICES

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

Who Polices the Police?

By Daniela Porat/Investigative Post Part II Conclusion

lthough Rodriguez could not access personnel files, she said the police always gave her the documents she requested, such as commissioner’s notes on the officer’s discipline, and she had regular meetings with Internal Affairs to review complaints. Nonetheless, Rodriguez could not see complete complaint files. Richard Morrisroe, the commission’s executive director since April, said he sees the commission as a body that can promote better community relations with the police through programming and settling minor customer service complaints about police behaviour. And like his predecessors, Morrisroe said he believes the commission is a safe space for citizens to express grievances about police conduct. But, he said, “oversight of the police is essentially a function of police administration.” Community organizers want more say in the oversight process. The community would have more faith in the Commission’s work if the public had more direct involvement, said Danielle Johnson, co-chair of the Justice and Opportunity Coalition for Open Buffalo, which is focused on criminal justice reform. For example, she said, some seats could be filled with representatives elected by a consortium of community organizations. “It’s only right for the community to have a say and to have input as to how things proceed when they feel as though they have been wronged,” Johnson said. Legal barriers to disclosure State law provides police protections not afforded to citizens or other government employees. New York Civil Rights Law 50(a) prohibits the disclosure of police personnel records used to evaluate an officer’s performance except by consent of the officer or court order. The law has been widely interpreted to prevent the release of any and all police personnel records to the public. The records are even difficult to obtain during legal proceedings, where judges decide on a case-by-case basis whether to release documents. The law means an officer’s history of misconduct can remain concealed. That was the case for Buffalo Police Officer Corey Krug in successive lawsuits filed against him for excessive force. On the night before Thanksgiving in 2014, Krug was videotaped pushing Devin Ford, a civilian, onto the hood of a car. Krug proceeded to hit Ford with his knee and a baton, the video shows. Just under a year later, federal prosecutors indicted Krug for using excessive force. Ford has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Buffalo. Krug’s attorney, Terrence Connors, denied repeated requests for an interview. This incident is not the first time Krug has been accused of using excessive force. But in these previous lawsuits, those alleging Krug used excessive force against them were denied access to because of 50(a). Cohen, who is not involved in the Krug case but has worked on many other cases of police misconduct, said it’s up to the judge to decide whether records are made available. For the most part, he thinks they make the right decision. Still, when records are denied, he said “it’s very frustrating.” “I want to let the jury know that the person is a monster,” he said. “It gets frustrating for me not to be able to show what this officer has done and to not be able to bring out their prior conduct in a court of law.” Regarding 50(a), Kevin Kennedy, president of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, said he does not think allowing public access to police records “would do the public any good,” arguing that the information is inconsequential. There has been some movement in Albany to amend or repeal 50(a). In December, the Committee on Open Government called for changing or repealing 50(a), citing a “corrosive absence of transparency” around the actions of police and correctional officers, arguing, “there is no reason for requiring a different standard of accountability for those public employees than others.” Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell, a Democrat who represents Manhattan’s Upper West Side, has been one of the legislators pushing for amending or repealing 50(a). “FOIL laws, I believe, are sufficient to protect the privacy of public employees, including police officers,” he said. “There’s no need to have an additional layer of protection.” Settlements against Buffalo police officers have cost the city at least $371,000 since 2011. It’s hard to tell if that’s all. The size of settlements for police misconduct are not easily available to the public. Settlements approved by the Common Council are listed by the type of claim, such as personal injury, but do not identify which city agency the claim was filed against. The city comptroller’s office also does not organize its records on settlements by agency. There’s at least one pending suit that the city hopes to avoid paying for. Krug, with the help of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, sued the city over its refusal to represent Krug in Ford’s civil case. The city, which maintained in court filings that Krug “without a doubt crossed the line,” does not want to provide legal counsel or pay for a settlement. A decision is pending. Family seeks closure The lack of transparency extends to the outcome of some criminal investigations into police alleged misconduct. The death of Matthew Connors is a case in point. “We were stonewalled,” said his father, Garry. Garry requested records on the incident and was initially denied on the grounds the case was an “active investigation.” The family was barred from identifying Matthew’s body and denied autopsy results for nearly seven months. “We couldn’t say goodbye to him. We couldn’t touch his body. We couldn’t do anything,” Garry said. “Right now, we’re waiting to spread his ashes. And we can’t do that until this is over with.”

“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

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Blaming Kiarre…To Protect Buffalo’s Branding

es, Buffalo is looking bad right now. News of the malicious, vindictive retaliation against Kiarre Harris for her decision to homeschool her children has reached every corner of the nation, and probably beyond. Yes, meticulous efforts undertaken in recent years to re-brand Buffalo as a progressive, rebounding city on the move are being seriously undermined by this annoying tale of brutal misuse of state authority that has resonated across socio-economic, political and racial lines. Even Right-Wing America is up in arms over this case, because they get what this brazen, intimately personal violation means for all of us. We all hold the bond between a mother and her children sacred – not to be whimsically and maliciously savaged. It’s so very clear that this is what has happened here, that the propaganda machine has been deployed in full force to re-shape the narrative through rumor and innuendo. The goal is to create a vortex of such confusion and controversy around Kiarre Harris, that people will throw up their hands and SABIRAH dismiss this matter as one big tangled mess. Don’t fall for it. Look closely… right here. MUHAMMAD A recent “mess” of an “article” appeared in a local paper on February 25th, full of sketchy insinuations about other reasons Ms. Harris’s children might have been taken. All of them serve to shroud her in suspicion, and suggest that she isn’t worthy of our support, but not a single one is factual – or relevant. We’re told that Ms. Harris failed to provide stable housing for her children. She moved 3 times in 9 years. In Kiarre’s own words, she defines that as keeping a roof over their heads, regardless of circumstances. She correctly states that CPS’s definition of this as “unstable” is purely subjective. Moreover, since moving is not grounds for taking her children, why are we talking about it? We’re told that Ms. Harris has a history of domestic violence, “including using a knife.” You probably used a knife today, most likely on some potatoes. But now we have images of uncouth, ghetto-fied, loud-talking “Boomshica” running around being unfit to be anybody’s Mamma. We’re told much later in the piece that somebody said Kiarre scratched her car with a knife – in 2012. Is this five-year old, unproven claim the reason her children were taken? No. So why are we talking about it? We’re told that the father of Ms. Harris’s child called CPS and told them that she had left her young children alone. Only the two of them know the circumstances behind this, but the identity of the caller indicates retaliation for a perceived slight, not genuine concern for the children. Regardless…that happened in 2011. Is this six-year old incident the reason the children were taken? No. So why are we talking about it? The school district has reportedly said that Ms. Harris’s problems with CPS started before she withdrew her children. Yes, we know… in 2011. See the duplicitous insinuation that this prior contact is related to the current situation? The school district has also claimed that this is the first time anyone has accused them of reporting a parent for home schooling. First of all, we don’t know that to be true. Secondly, this is probably the first time a parent has withdrawn her own children, and then made a public call for other parents to do the same – going so far as to start a homeschooling group of parents. Kiarre Harris was organizing to enlighten and empower other parents with the motivation and knowledge to take back their own children from the system that has failed them. The system that uses Black children as its cash cow is already battling the millionaires on the school board who are trying to break into its racket. It’s got new Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in a powerful position to throw more of their money to charter schools. But the power…the real power is in the hands of wide awake parents who simply say – no more. Black parents could bankrupt this “education” syndicate overnight. You’re damn right they sicked their institutions on her – with the full intent of crushing her. We’re told ominously that Ms. Harris’s children “had a history of poor attendance,” and that she had “failed to cooperate with the school district to address the poor attendance.” Later in the piece, the authors betray their own chicanery: Sources familiar with this and other cases “say the agency would not have taken her children because of a problem with school attendance.” So why bring this up? Because of what the “sources” state next: that CPS would only have taken the children because of some imminent danger. In the absence of any, the image of a “bad mother” must be conjured. Finally, the authors’ claim that “It’s not clear when exactly the district contacted CPS because the children weren’t in class…” is a concrete admission that the district, that had been properly, legally notified of the removal… contacted CPS because the children weren’t in class. Even those who doubt the district acted maliciously – must concede that it acted with utter incompetence. You must admit that because of this utter incompetence, young children have been taken from their mother because of a set of circumstances that the district – with a telephone call - set into motion. That’s it, and that’s all. No knives, no altercations, no lack of supervision, no absences… none of this innuendo has anything to do with the violent, traumatic, “legal” abduction of these children. Don’t act like you don’t know a White woman’s children wouldn’t have been taken under these circumstances. Don’t act like you don’t know that eight black men would never have been sent to bust up into a hotel room to pull down a White woman’s pants – forcing her 11-year old son to watch helplessly - for any reason. Don’t act like we don’t know this. Act like we do.

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Challenger Community News • thechllengernews.com • March 8, 2017

‘Pop Up’ Stores Can Be Economic Boom for the Eastside!

op Up Shops can be defined as temporary stores that can be set up easily, take very little space and can bring new cash, customers and vitality to a specific area. The city of Buffalo and BUDC partnered with some downtown landlords and some of their own properties to open up such stores on Main street, particularly around and near the Hyatt Hotel and the Ellicott Square Building. The most visible Pop Up store I know about is Phenomal Xpressions, located at 517 Main Street. That store is doing a great business because the owner, Ms. Nikita Williams, advertises and promotes the business heavily on social media, especially Facebook. The beauty of Pop Up stores is that the proprietor gets incentives such as no rent for a time lasting as long as six months; no long term lease and no heavy investment in buying or maintaining the building; and the ability to open or close the business, if needed, in a day or less. Specialty shops such as those that cater to a particular season, purses and shoe stores, novelty and souvenir shops seem to do well all over the country. They can

Sons of Kings Academy Movement To Visit West Africa Sons of Kings Academy Movement (SOKAM) and founder Joe Wooley (pictured right) have been invited by the West African governments of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Senegal to an official visit under Diplomatic Visa during the later part of March thru April. This collaboration has been in the works for several months. Through partnership with West Africa, SOKAM West Africa will be setting up its first International Academy. Stay tuned for more exciting news! Please support and share news of this campaign. This initiative is in need of financial support. Donations of any amount are welcome

JOBS

be set up quickly for a one day event like festivals or they can be around for months or even years. The property owner benefits by acquiring extra financial resources without giving up ownership of the building and he/she can terminate the lease quickly if they get a long term tenant or decides to sell the property. I advise the readers of this article to take a moment and imagine this concept of Pop Up stores on Jefferson, Broadway, Bailey, William and East Ferry Street, selling everything from shoes, candles, t shirts, baked goods, fresh fruits and meats, greeting cards, hardware items and the like. There are many vacant, abandoned ‘eyesores’ on these and other eastside streets which are not slated to receive any kind of help or BETTY JEAN improvement and many of them are owned GRANT by the City of Buffalo. Why not rehabilitate these old, worn down buildings, turn the lights and gas on, and provide short term leases to people who want to start or already have a business but don’t have the resources to purchase a building to sell their products. The City of Buffalo or the private owners of these buildings and their tenants can either enter into a long term lease or the tenant can purchase the building or vacate the space and a new tenant can move in. In addition to the slowly dying commercial strips identified above, other great places for Pop Up shops are the nearly vacant William Gaiter Resource Center on the William Gaiter Parkway and the Beverly A. Gray Resource & Small Business Center on East Street at Jefferson Ave. Struggling businesses on Jefferson Ave and other streets need ‘new blood’ via increased foot traffic, with cash in hand, in the area where their businesses are located. The benefit of bringing Pop Up shops to these and other streets helps not only the city or private owners with the rental cash and the tenant with a way to grow their business with limited investment on their part; it also gives life and vitality to areas that are begging for a helping hand from our city and local leaders. The idea of Pop Up Shops on Jefferson Ave.? Sounds pretty good to me!

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1411 Delaware Ave ● Buffalo, NY 14209 forest-lawn.com

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017 Email legals & classifieds to: advertising@thechallengernews.com • Deadline Fridays @ 5pm

LEGAL NOTICE

WILMIGTON .GILL

Filed: September 11, 2015 Index No. 810933/2015 Plaintiff designates ERIE County as place of trial Venue is based upon County in which premises are being situate SUMMONS WITH NOTICE ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ERIE --------------------------------------------X WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, DOING BUSINESS AS CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR BRONZE CREEK TITLE TRUST 2013-NPL1, Plaintiff, -against- MARK S. GILL; RACHEL A. GILL; CAROL DANKERT-MAURER, COMMISSIONER OF ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #10” inclusive the names of the ten last name Defendants being fictitious, real names unknown to the Plaintiff, the parties intended being persons or corporations having an interest in, or tenants or persons in possession of, portions of the mortgaged premises described in the Complaint, Defendants. --------------------------------------------X TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to

answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance upon the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the date of service or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. If you fail to so appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. DATED: Elmsford, New York September 10, 2015 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY

SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, DOING BUSINESS AS CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR BRONZE CREEK TITLE TRUST 2013-NPL1 AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Richard F. Komosinski Knuckles, Komosinski & Elliott, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 565 Taxter Road Suite 590 Elmsford, NY 10523 Phone: (914) 345-3020

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. NOTICE TO OCCUPANTS: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, DOING BUSINESS AS CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR BRONZE CREEK TITLE TRUST 2013NPL1 IS FORECLOSING AGAINST THE OWNER OF THIS PREMISES. IF YOU LIVE HERE, THIS LAWSUIT MAY RESULT IN YOUR EVICTION. YOU MAY WISH TO CONTACT A LAWYER TO DISCUSS ANY RIGHTS AND POSSIBLE DEFENSES YOU MAY HAVE.TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Sum-

mons is served upon you by publication pursuant to Order the Hon Jeannette Ogden a Justice of the Supreme Court Erie County, dated Nov. 14, 2016 and filed with the complaint

and other papers in the Erie County Clerk’s Office, NY

NOTICE OF OBJECT OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above-entitled ac-

tion is to foreclose a purchase money mortgage to secure $66,482.00 plus interest, recorded in the Office of the County Clerk/City Register of the County of Erie on July 11, 2008 in Liber 13411 at Page 8498 covering the premises described as follows: 185 Ridgewood Road, Buffalo, New York 14220 a/k/a Section 133.64, Block 4, Lot 16 The relief sought in the within action is final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against any Defendants in this action except Mark S. Gill and Rachel A. Gill. #90838

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: ERIE COUNTY WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I TRUST 2005-AC5, ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-A C5; Plaintiff(s) vs. JASON E. HAYNES; et al; Defendant(s) Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about December 21, 2016, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at 92 Franklin St.1st floor Alcove, Buffalo, NY 14202. On April 10, 2017 at 9:30 am. Premises known as 153 GOLD STREET, BUFFALO, NY 14206 Section: 112.50 Block: 5 Lot: 45 ALL THAT PLOT OF LAND, situated in the City of Buffalo, County of Erie and State of New York, being part of Lot Number 41, Township 11, Range 7 of the Holland Land Company`s Survey and further distinguished as Subdivision Lot Number 51 in Block Number 26, as shown on a map filed in Erie County Clerk`s Office under Cover Number 9, being 30 feet, front and rear, by 134 feet in depth, located on the East side of Gold Street, commencing 230.56 feet South of the South line of Lovejoy Street. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment $53,993.46 plus interest and costs. INDEX NO. 802757/2016 Kelly Feron, Esq., Referee

LEGAL NOTICE

BIDS

INVITATION TO BID The NFTA is soliciting bids for Project No. 21BL1619, BNIA – Departure Handrail Replacement, Bid No. E-536 on March 29, 2017.www.nftaengineering. com LEGAL NOTICE

BIDS

INVITATION TO BID The NFTA is soliciting bids for Project No. 13LZ1617, LRRT – Station Exterior Rehabilitation, Bid No. E-534 on March 30, 2017. www.nftaengineering.com

ROOMS ROOMS FOR RENT: Delavan-Humboldt area, Bailey-Delavan. $325$480. Everything included. (716)818-3410.

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS

REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting bids for the NFTA – Fastener & Pad Replacement Ph. 9 Project 25LU1615 in Buffalo, NY for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. MWBE Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3/22/17 @ 3:30pm.Documents can be obtained by contacting Estimating@markcerrone.com , Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-2825245 or iSqFt®. Bids due to MCI by 3/24/17 at 5:00PM electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Certified Minority, Women, and Service Disable Veteran Owned Business Enterprise participation is strongly encouraged.

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting bids for the Wayfinding Signage at NYS OPRHP project in Niagara Falls, NY for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. MWBE Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3/15/17 @ 3:30pm.Documents can be obtained by contacting Estimating@markcerrone.com , Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-282-5245 or iSqFt®. Bids due to MCI by 3/17/17 at 5:00PM electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Certified Minority & Women Owned Business Enterprise participation is strongly encouraged.

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting bids for the Metro Pavement Rehab at 27 Michigan Ave & Eillicott Bus Loop Project 12AW1620 in Buffalo NY for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. MWBE Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3/8/17 @ 3:30pm.Documents can be obtained by contacting Estimating@markcerrone.com , Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-282-5245 or iSqFt®. Bids due to MCI by 3/14/17 at 5:00PM electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Certified Minority, Women, and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise participation is strongly encouraged.

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting bids for the Willert Park Green Infrastructure & Miami and Louisiana St Sewer Improvements in Buffalo, NY for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. MWBE Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3/8/17 @ 3:30pm.Documents can be obtained by contacting Estimating@markcerrone.com , Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-282-5245 or iSqFt®. Bids due to MCI by 3/14/17 at 5:00PM electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Certified Minority, Women, and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise participation is strongly encouraged.

LEGAL NOTICES BIDS REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting bids for the USPS C15U Paving & Truck Levelers Project in Buffalo, NY for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. MWBE Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3/8/17 @ 3:30pm.Documents can be obtained by contacting Estimating@markcerrone.com , Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-282-5245 or iSqFt®. Bids due to MCI by 3/13/17 at 5:00PM electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Certified Minority, Disadvantaged, and Small Business Enterprise participation is strongly encouraged.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids for Project Nos. 45193C, 45193-E, comprising separate contracts for Construction Work and Electrical Work, Rehabilitate Pedestrian Compound, Buildings 123 & 124, Gowanda Correctional Facility, South Road, Gowanda (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 Supervision, until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 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 $23,100 for C and $7,300 for E. 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 $250,000 and $500,000 for C and between $50,000 and $100,000 for E. 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) 474-0201, fax (518) 486-1650. The only time prospective bidders will be allowed to visit the job site will be at 10:00 a.m. on March 9, 2017 at OGS Field Office, 14312 Taylor Hollow Road, Gowanda, NY. Prospective bidders are urged to visit the site at this time. 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) for Construction Work. 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 online 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: h t t p s : / / o n l i n e . o g s . n y. g o v / d n c / contractorConsultant/esb/ESBPlansAvailableIndex.asp. John D. Lewyckyj, C.S.I., C.D.T. Deputy Director, OGS Design & Construction Group

ADVERTISING PAYS! 716.881.1051

CLASSIFIEDS

EM P LOY M EN T Director of Health Home Administration: Must be NYS Licensed level healthcare professional In a supervisory capacity or Master’s level professional With 3 years supervising clinicians. Familiar with Personcentered service model. WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo, NY 14214. Employment@wnyil. org EOE. FACILITATED ENROLLER for Niagara/Erie County. Medicaid experience preferred. WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo, NY 14214. Employment@ wnyil.orgEOE. MAAP Customer Service Representative And File ClerkPart Time: Responsible for filing, maintenance Of program records, and incoming department calls. WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo, NY 14214. Employment@wnyil.org EOE. FACILITATED ENROLLER Enroll individuals who are aged (over 65), legally blind and disabled in health insurance; address the levels of eligibility Experience working in the health insurance field preferred. WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo, NY 14214. Employment@ wnyil.org EOE. APPOINTMENT SETTER

Part-time Appointment Setter Needed for our Outside Sales Team. Must be professional and able to work independently. Flexible Mon. - Fri. Shifts. No weekends. Stay at home moms welcome to apply, as you can work from home. $10 per hour plus bonuses. Call (716) 322-1112 Mon. - Thurs. 9am to12pm to schedule an interview .

St. Martin Village

564 Dodge St., Buffalo, NY 14208 Affordable Family Living 2 Bedroom Flats 3&4 Bedroom Townhomes Appliances, Blinds, Carpet, Cable Ready Laundry Facilities & In Unit Hook Ups Off Street Parking, Garbage Collection For More Information Please Call

716-886-1321

OAHIIO NWD Independent Living Specialist: Establish support programs, critical pathways providers to help facilitate access to needed home and community based supports for the Seneca Nation of Indians community.WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo,NY 14214. Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

Receptionist-ILGR:Answer calls, greet visitors, perform general office duties. WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo,NY 14214. Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

Wellness Coach – Buffalo Mental Health Court:Work experience with disabled adults necessary. WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Bflo,NY 14214. Employment@wnyil.org EOE.

Valet Driver/Parking Attendant

ADVERTISING PAYS! 716.881.1051

LEGAL NOTICE BIDS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority will receive separate sealed bids for the following contract work: Fire Protection System Rehab at Marine Drive Apartments: BMHA Job #17-01FP-CF (Fire Protection); #1701G-CF (General Construction); #1701E-CF (Electrical); #17-01P-CF (Plumbing) Pre-bid Conferences will be held on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. with all potential bidders assembled at the Capital Improvements & Development Office, 320 Perry Street, Buffalo, New York 14204; the project walkthrough may be held/scheduled after the meeting. Separate Sealed bids for each above mentioned BMHA Job will be received on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. 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. Sets of contract documents may only be obtained at the Capital Improvements Office at 320 Perry Street, with a deposit of $100 per set. Only certified company checks, bank checks or money orders made payable to the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority will be accepted. This deposit is refundable upon return of complete sets of documents within 14 calendar days after the bid opening. Failure to comply with this time limit will constitute forfeiture of the deposit. 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. Dated: March 9, 2017

LOTTERY

Challenger Community News • thechllengernews.com • March 8, 2017

KIARREE

NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS SUN 2/26

3-WAY

TAKE 5

TUES 2/28

THURS 3/2 EVE-9-6-6

EVE-2-4-4

EVE-8-4-1

MID- 7-7-2-5 EVE- 5-3-6-6

MID- 4-9-5-8 EVE- 2-8-4-0

MID- 4-8-0-4 EVE- 4-1-4-1

MID-6-3-9

EVE-7-9-1

EVE- 4-2-3

EVE-8-9-6

MID-0-0-6-2 EVE- 8-7-2-6

MID-5-3-9-7 EVE-9-9-9-2

MID- 2-1-1-8 EVE- 0-6-0-3

MID- 1-4-7-2 EVE- 9-3-9-0

01-08-16-28-36

01-03-10-22-33

08-19-20-24-25

MID-0-8-0

WED 3/1

MID-5-0-7

EVE-9-0-3

WIN 4

MON 2/27

LOTTO

MID-9-4-7

02-11-17-19-35

MID-1-9-3

08-11-13-15-30

FRI 3/3

MID-5-2-2

04-09-11-15-26

05-07-08-13-25-28 #11

HOT TIPS

4018

022

064

648

Zakiyyah’s Rundown (ZR) 986-568-853-578-312-468-014-065-768-981-852-679-254-756-801645-580-234-532-791-065-990-456-435-468-015-076-974-240-198513-546-809-507-433-354-760-919-512-891-558-001-064-247-091547-910-107-432-304-567-729-865-790-085-333-465-789-423-567543-106-745-890-965-435-679-510-764-570-468-392-843-256-434627-467-019-690-054-623-467-896-786-578-967-910-435-479-897 MA RUTH SPEAKS THE TRUTH! SURE HITS!

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

MARCH

Vibes 874-254-594-890347-123 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

continued from page 11

“It’s In The Stars”

Aquarius -496-235-165-579 Pisces - 056-362-237-694 Cancer - 482-372-895-718 Aries - 561-236-164-469 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 MARCH PICKS

302-176-743-435-165-270 MARCH Best Triple- 666 MARCH Special Doubles - 662-788-919-322

123 - NUMBER OF THE MONTH

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE BY LETTING GO OF ANYTHING EXTRANEOUS OR UNNECESSARY. ASK FOR HELP. DELEGATE MORE OFTEN.

SAT 3/4

MID-9-8-3

09-12-22-29-30

and the courts will not prevail. But we know how this goes. They’d rather “Sandra Bland” Kiarre Harris than do the right thing – and give her back her children. Her landlord has already let the police into her apartment twice, without her knowledge or consent. She has said unequivocally that she is not suicidal… nor will she be pointing a gun at police, as was claimed with Corryn Gaines. Let ‘em know right now that we ain’t goin for the dumb stuff. Churches, block clubs, and woke individuals, raise a collection for our sister. Then raise another. Free her up to focus on this fight – for all of us. Don’t set up a “Go Fund Me,” because they take a significant portion of the money. Go to 1423 Fillmore and give it to Bro. Sam Radford, who’ll make sure it gets to her. Let’s not watch Darren Wilson receive millions for shooting Michael Brown, or Dylan Roof for shooting up Black folk in a church. This is our sister, and these are our children. We can take care of our own… and it ain’t nobody’s business when we do.

03-09-18-46-47-55 #59

996

515

140

ATTORNEYS

Challenger Hits Midday

9-8-3 Sagittarius, Capricorn (box) 5-2-2 Quick Money, Luckie Duckie (straight) 1-9-3 Luckie Duckie (box) 9-4-7 ZR (box) 5-0-7 ZR (straight) ZR, Number Book (box)

Evening

8-4-1 Quick Money (box) 9-9-6 Hot Tips, Luckie Duckie (straight) 8-9-6 ZR (box) 4-2-3 ZR, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Luckie Duckie (box) ZR, Luckie Duckie (straight) 7-9-1 ZR (straight) Libra (box)

Law Office of Daria L. Pratcher, Pc “Everything Real Estate” 523 Main Street (716)541-8574

AUTO Ben’s Downtown Tire

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

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

BAIL BONDS LUCKIE DUCKIE

134-431-143

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

648*123*104*820

980-422-809-981-989-970-990-080-

800-515-996-390-196-102-581-752-319408-378-352-126-189-444-886-514- 332522-112-432-421-423

03/17/2016 Evening 03/17/2016 Midday 03/16/2016 Evening 03/16/2016 Midday 03/15/2016 Evening 03/15/2016 Midday 03/14/2016 Evening 03/14/2016 Midday 03/13/2016 Evening 03/13/2016 Midday 03/12/2016 Evening 03/12/2016 Midday 03/11/2016 Evening 03/11/2016 Midday 03/10/2016 Evening

Maureen’s Flower Market 441 Ellicott St. * 852-4600

RESTAURANTS

Fusion4 Restaurant & Bar

Upscale Caribbean, African & Soul Food Dining

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

HAIR SUPPLY Main Hair & Beauty Supply 3067 Main St. (716) 862-4247

GIST BAIL BONDS

133-202- 335 -2015-4444-1871-0978

3-Way Winning Numbers Last Year

FLORISTS

2016

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

CELL PHONES Ansar Cellular Communications & Fragrance Store 1371 Fillmore @ E. Utica (716) 884-2373

ELECTRICIAL Empire Electric (716) 634-0330

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES!

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

DOG TRAINING Dogman’s K -9 Obedience Training 1963 Fillmore Avenue (716) 807-8163

To Advertise :advertising@thechallengernews.com

Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com• March 8, 2017

WEDNESDAY MARCH 8

THURSDAY MARCH 9

SATURDAY MARCH 11

King Center Charter School Kindergarten Readiness Day: 10 a.m. l p.m., 156 Newburgh, www.kccs.org/openhouse.

Business Networking Affair “Doing Business With Roswell” : 5:30-8 p.m., hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce , Roswell Park Institute, free and open to the public; for more info 716-400-2041.

Hank Bells Strike Force Annual Charity Ball: Hyatt Regency, Two Fountain Plaza, 7p.m. – 1 am., $65 per person; Tickets(716)432-7426.

Dorie Miller R&P Club, Book Review: The Counter- Revolution of 1776 Slave Resistance. by Gerald Horne at the at Rafi Green 1423 Fillmore,5:30 pm. Hustle for Health Seniors line dance fitness class Gloria J Parks Center 3242 Main St,. 11am - 12pm 716 832 1010. 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 MARCH 9 Foxie Brown Line Dance Classes: Every Thursday 10:30 am – 11:30am, Schiller Senior Center, 2057 Genesee 444-2046. Seeking Public Comment: Buffalo City School District pubic meeting on the Every Student Succeeds Act Plan, 5:30-7:30, #95 Waterfront School, 95 Fourth Street. Dare to Be Diverse Film Series: “The New Black,” 7-9:30 p.m., Burchfield Penny Art Center, Buffalo State College,, Elmwood Ave. open to the public.

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

FRIDAY MARCH 10 2nd Annual Harriet Tubman Rally and March “United we Stand, Against the Building of the Wall” : 4:30 p.m., E. Utica/ Main St. For info 716-602-5877 or 716- 894-0914. In case of rain Merriweather Library.

SATURDAY MARCH 11 The African Heritage Food Coop Pick Up Day: Edward Saunders Community Center, 11:15 AM - 7:00 PM. 716-533-2787. The Buffalo Museum of Science Strategic Planning Focus Group: Delavan-Grider Community Center, 877 East Delavan Ave. 10-11 a.m. Open to community/. Buffalo Charter School Fair: 833 Michigan, 12 noon – 2:30 p.m. public invited.

CALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS CALENDAR

Black Tie Scholarship Dinner: 6p.m. – 12 a.m Statler Ballroom, 107-Delaware; $75, hosted by Phi Omega Fraternity.

MONDAY MARCH 13 GYC Ministries : Gang Summit Basketball and Open Gym, Ages 14 & Up, 7- 9:30 pm C.R.U.C.I.A.L. 230 Moselle.

WEDNESDAYMARCH 15 "Obama Care and Medicaid” Forum: 5:30 - 7:45 p.m. Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue hosted by We Are Women Warriors &Community Health Center Buffalo (CHCB) & (CHCNYS) Community Health Center Association of New York State Public Meeting Board of the Westminster Community Charter School: 3 p.m. M&T Bank, One M&T Plaza - 19th Floor. The Mobile Mammogram Unit: Community Health Center of Buffalo, 34 Benwood Avenue; call 986-9199 ext. 3610 or Ext. 3611 to schedule an appointment.

You are invited to join an open conversation about a new public art project.

Two chances a week to win $1,000 a day for life. Drawings every Monday and Thursday.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017 6 pm Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, PS 192 450 Masten Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 Michigan Street AfricanAmerican Heritage Corridor Open Buffalo Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church © 2017 New York Lottery. You must be 18 years or older to purchase a Lottery ticket. Please play responsibly. For help with problem gambling, call 877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369). nylottery.ny.gov

Job:

N16LO109_307

Mech Size:

5.105’’ x 11’’

Challenger Community News • thechllengernews.com • March 8, 2017

images of us

Sunday, March 12, 2017

“THE SPIRIT OF NINA SIMONE!” Pretty little 8-year-old Haadiyah Habeeb, the daughter of Drea D’Nur, portrayed a young Nina Simone in the powerful “Spirit of Nina Simone” at Kleinhans Music Hall February 24. The show, conceived, directed and produced by the talented D’Nur, received rave reviews. Another daughter, 14-year-old Sehrea Brown, also performed, singing the lead in “to Be Young, Gifted and Black.” Talent indeed runs in the family! PHOTO VALERIE INGOLD

On Five Dollar Family Funday, the second Sunday of every month, museum admission for the entire family is just $5.

Albright-Knox Art Gallery 716.882.8700

“Our children are our future, our life after death.” albrightknox.org -African Proverb EVANS-EVANS-13945 2017 Attorney General Print Ad | The Challenger | 10.375” w x 5.5” h | 4C

Taking pride in home ownership. You do. And we do. We understand taking pride in your first home. It’s why we take pride in making it possible for everyone. Whether you’re looking to purchase a new home or make improvements to the one you own, Evans Bank can help. We offer several great lending options that make it easy and affordable for you to finance your dream. It’s home ownership, a better way—for you and the community. To learn more, contact Eric Gadley, CRA Mortgage Loan Officer, at (716) 926-2044 or egadley@evansbank.com.

EVANS-EVANS-13945 Attorney General Ad_10.375x5.5_Challenger M.indd 1

1/31/17 3:38 PM