Tribute to Trailblazer , Hidden Figure: Katherine Johnson Makes Her Transition Page. 5
February 26, 2020 | FREE |
I AM BLACK HISTORY
The Black History CommUniversity Campus Completes Successful Week-Long Program Page 17
ROCHESTER
Historic Marker for Frederick Douglass Home Page 2
LOCAL
Nevergold Pens History of Buffalo’s First African American Teacher Page 8
THE ARTS
Legislator Baskin Announces Good News for Arts & Cultural Organizations Page 3
THE POSITIVE IDEALS OF MA’AT
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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BUFFALO, N.Y. PERMIT NO. 164
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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
City of Rochester Black Heritage Committee, RCSD and City Installs Historic Marker at Last Remaining Home Owned, Occupied by Frederick Garth Fagan Dance Join Forces for Community Douglass in Rochester Celebration on Saturday, February 29 In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Rochester’s Black Heritage Committee, in partnership with the Rochester City School District’s Department of African and African-American Studies and Garth Fagan Dance, will present a Community Celebration on Saturday, February 29, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Hochstein School of Music, 50 N. Plymouth Ave. The evening will feature dynamic performances by internationally acclaimed Garth Fagan Dance and 728 University Ave. accomplished poet and recording artist Amir Sulaiman. 585-563-2145 More than 250 free tickets have been distributed to youth, •Tuesdays Gentle Yoga series primarily in grades 3 – 8 who reside in the city of Rochester, with JAMES THOMPSON, to attend the performance. Students will also be provided with free transportation to and from the event, prime seating 5:45-7:45 p.m. at Hochstein, and an opportunity to meet and greet the Garth Fagan dancers after the show. • Friday Film Series In addition, a total of 60 students will receive community 2/28 Friday Film Series, scholarships ranging from $250 - $1,000 for two months of Manuscripts from Timbuktu dance instruction at Garth Fagan Dance. The general public is also invited to enjoy the Community Celebration. General 7:00 p.m. $7 suggested admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased at City Hall, donation •Saturdays Drumming with 30 Church St. in Room 100A.
At The Baobab...
FANA BANGOURA, 9:30 a.m.10:30a.m., 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
AROUND TOWN SATURDAYS Hustle for Health Urban line dancing with Jazzy T & Ty Stewart at East High School: 1801 E. Main St, Rochester. 11a.m. -12 p.m. Free for 18+ Call 716 -800 1196.
Apply for Summer Youth Employment Opportunities
The City of Rochester has installed a new historical marker at the site of the only home owned and occupied by Frederick Douglass that is still standing in Rochester, 271 Hamilton St. “This house is a symbol of freedom and I am proud to know it is still standing in Rochester,” said Mayor Lovely A. Warren. “I want to thank all of the people who made it possible to tell the story of this house, including Ms. Sherri Dukes, the owner of the house; the Office of City Historian Christine Ridarsky; and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Thank you for keeping the legacy of Frederick Douglass alive in Rochester.” The famed abolitionist and orator lived in the Hamilton Street property with his daughter, Rosetta Douglass Sprague, son-in-law, Nathan Sprague, and their family from 1873 to 1874. Though he occupied the house only briefly, Douglass maintained ownership of the building for several decades, which allowed him to continue to vote in federal elections following his relocation from Rochester to Washington, D.C., in 1872. The historic marker was made possible by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, a Syracuse-based grant-making foundation that has funded nearly 1,000 historic roadside markers and plaques nationwide since 2006.
Mayor Lovely A. Warren and the City of Rochester, Monroe County and RochesterWorks invite youth between the ages of 14 and 20 to apply for the City’s Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP) and RochesterWorks! Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). These two programs provide summer-long career exploration and paid employment opportunities for youth who are currently enrolled in middle or high school, or who are actively pursuing their high school equivalency diploma. Interested youth may apply online for both programs beginning Sun., March 1 through Thurs., March 26 at 11:59 p.m. In addition to the online application, applicants must submit a copy of their Social Security card, work permit, most recent report card and photo ID. A printed application signature report page must also be signed by a parent or guardian and submitted. Supporting documentation will be accepted at Adams Community Center, 85 Adams St., beginning March 16 through March 27. Documents will only be accepted from 4 – 7 p.m., Monday – Friday. For more information, or to apply for SOOP or SYEP, please visit www.summeryouthemployment.org.
2019-20 EASTMAN PRESENTS WEDNESDAY | MARCH 4 | 7:30 PM Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Bobby
McFerrin “There is almost something superhuman about the range and technique of Bobby McFerrin.” — Newsweek SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE | STARTING AT JUST $10
585-274-3000 EastmanTheatre.org 20CON64552_Eastman_Challenger_McFerrin_Ad_4C_10.375x5.5_LV1.indd 1
Eastman Theatre Box Office 433 East Main Street (Free parking on Main St.) Media Sponsor: City Newspaper
2/20/20 8:10 AM
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
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AREA BRIEFS
ON DISPLAY! Customers at Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue are greeted with an impressive Black History Month display at the store's entrance. "Tops never stops..." being relevant...!
Dr. Brooks-Bertram to Present on Topic of Enslavement On February 27 Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram will give a presentation on enslavement, in particular the escape of Rev. Dunjee from a Virginia slave plantation, his escape to Canada, his return to the United States and his outstanding accomplishments in education and church building. All are welcome.The talk will take place at the Merriweather Library from 6-8 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Green Named Director of School/Community Partnerships Canisius College has named Wilbert R. Green II, of Buffalo, director of school and community partnerships within the School of Education and Human Services. His responsibilities include cultivating school and community partnerships, and overseeing student teaching and field placements with the college’s teacher education programs. Green comes to Canisius Wilbert R. Green II from Say Yes to Education Buffalo, where he served as the Community Schools East Zone leader. Green earned a bachelor of arts degree in English and secondary education from Alfred University, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix. He also holds a certification in executive conflict coaching.
Free Workshop on Local Land Use, Green Code & Zoning Learn how to make your voice heard in development and zoning decisions to benefit the whole community at a free workshop on Thursday March 3 from 12 noon to 2 pm. at 617 Main Street, Market Arcade Complex, 3rd floor (not too far from TGI Friday downtown.) Zoning and land use decisions have major impacts on the well being of a community. This workshop will feature Jessie Fisher, Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara and Art Giacalone, Environmental Law Attorney sharing how individuals and groups in Buffalo and Erie County can understand land use and zoning law, terminology and procedures so they can more effectively express their concerns about proposed projects or changes.
Legislator Baskin (center) with local artists including John Baker to her right and Lorna Hill to her left.
Baskin Announces Changes to Arts and Cultural Funding Application Process New questions and mentoring opportunities will make the process more responsive to smaller organizations. Erie County Legislature Chair April N. M. Baskin joined with representatives from the Poloncarz administration and representatives from local arts organizations to mark an important change to the application process for the county’s arts and cultural funding. Updates will include revisions to the short form for smaller organizations and questions that will help determine if an organization's mission includes a focus on highlighting the experiences of those in poverty or social injustice. The revisions also include eliminating time consuming portions of the short form application such as lengthy essays which are often a completion barrier for smaller arts groups who do not have an in-house grant writer or full time staff. In addition, there will be a series of mentoring workshops throughout the application window. This new application is aimed at groups with operating budgets of less than $250,000 who may have previously found the County process confusing and difficult given their smaller size and limited staff. “Erie County Government listened to the call to make local government more equitable and responsive to the communities it serves,” said Baskin who last year vowed to support local artists in Erie County. “I know that working together; we can lay the groundwork for a renaissance in Buffalo’s arts community in the 21st century.” Smaller arts organizations whose mission is to tackle social justice through creative outlets are often small in administrative staff numbers, which makes sustainability difficult. But Baskin believes that their work can provide perspectives that are missing from our region’s current cultural offerings. “Our smaller arts organizations highlight poverty, racial injustice and sexism, they are housed in communities whose residents have limited access and opportunities to develop their artistic abilities,” noted Baskin. “These institutions are creating free after-school programs that highlight the undiscovered talents of children whose parents are working multiple jobs to keep food on the table. These organizations challenge systemic customs and laws that marginalized the oppressed. These organizations tell the stories of those so often silenced and ask us to Continued Page 8
We Demand Justice for Sister Jeanneie!
Jeffrey Calhoun, 62, of Lockport, was indicted on two felony charges of unlawful imprisonment and menacing — both as hate crimes — in addition to a count of assault and criminal impersonation of an officer in the attack on Mrs. Jeanneie Muhammad last summer. His trial has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 9a.m. before Judge Christopher J. Burns in Part 19 of County Court, 25 Delaware. We demand justice for Sister Jeanneie!
Dr. Carter G. Woodson
Dr. Carter G. Woodson: "Father of Black History Month" The Father of Black History Month, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, was born in 1875 near New Canton, VA. He was the son of former slaves. In 1907, he obtained his BA degree from the University of Chicago. In 1912, he received his PhD from Harvard University; the second African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard, after WEB Du Bois. In 1915, he and friends established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. A year later, the Journal of Negro History, began quarterly publication. In 1926, Woodson proposed and launched the annual February observance of “Negro History Week,” which became “Black History Month” in 1976. It is said that he chose February for the observance because February 12th was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and February 14th was the accepted birthday of Frederick Douglass. Dr. Woodson was the founder of Associated Publishers, the founder and editor of the Negro History Bulletin, and the author of more than 30 books. His best known publication is The Mis-Education of the Negro, originally published in 1933 and still pertinent today. He died in 1950, but Dr. Woodson’s scholarly legacy goes on.
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Bussiness/Job Skills/Etc.
Make Carpentry Your Career This is your first step for a great opportunity to join the Carpenters’ Union. Our goal is to recruit, train, and employ the next generation of skilled carpenters in the State of NY. The information session will be held at 1159 Maryvale Dr. in Cheektowaga. All sessions will be held at 6 p.m. on the following dates: March 2 / April 6 / May 4 / June 1/ July 6.
Black Job Fair Black Job Fair takes place Friday February 28, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Millennium Hotel 2040 Walden Ave with top positions from top employers like NFTA-Metro, M&T Bank Channel 7, ECMC, GBUAHN, General Motors, WUFO, Roswell Park, US Census 2020, BlackVCF.com and MarcusGarveyWay.com The BJF is all about diversity and equality and fair jobs for all. Find them online at blackjobfair.com, on IG & FB @Blackjobfair. You can also contact BJF at Blackjobfair@gmail.com or call 464-2846.
Black Expo” Black History Edition A Black History Celebration! An African American Small Business
Exposition
Niagara Falls On March 1st, Organizers will be hosting the “Black Expo” the Black History Edition, which is a showcase of minority owned businesses as a celebration of Black History in Western NY. There will be over 50 vendors marketing a variety of goods and services: from jewelry to real estate. The event will be held from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, located at 825 Depot Ave W., Niagara Falls, New York. Western New York is filled with African American talent and this is a platform to display their skills and celebrate Black History to the community. Felicia Johnson, the organizer states “Black History is American History and it is celebrated 365 days of the year! Buffalo On March 7 Organizers will be hosting the “Black Expo” the Black History Edition, which is a showcase of minority owned businesses as a celebration of Black History in Western NY. There will be over 50 vendors marketing a variety of goods and services: from jewelry to real estate. The event will be held from 1 pm to 4 pm at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, William Gillison Fellowship Hall, located at 701 E. Delavan Ave., Buffalo.
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
Patrice Funderburg Named Executive Director of Charlotte N.C. Agency Buffalo native Patrice Funderburg, former Center for Community Transitions (CCT) board co-chair and criminal justice advocate, was recently named executive director of the Charlotte, North Carolina agency. “For the past four years, Patrice has played a key role in the critical work we do for our community,” noted outgoing director Myra Clark. “She’s demonstrated how thoughtful and skilled she is in many areas and I’m confident in the path she’ll lead for this organization.” After working in corporate human resources for over 20 years, Funderburg has used her background and experience for social justice, specifically working as an advocate and activist with people directly impacted by incarceration and correctional control. For the past three years, Patrice has taught classes and mentored women and girls at Mecklenburg County Detention Center with local nonprofits that serve returning citizens. She also serves on North Carolina Gov. Cooper’s State Reentry Council Collaborative and is an advocate member of the National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. “Building people not prisons isn’t just a statement at CCT, it’s how we model community,” Funderburg said. “The people and families we serve are our greatest assets. When people feel seen, heard and valued, they’re able to navigate their own transformation. We provide the tools and support they need to be successful.” She added, “I look forward to leading CCT in its vision of lowering recidivism, improving access and opportunities to sustainable employment, and disrupting the generational cycle of poverty to prison.” The Center for Community Transitions is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the community by helping people with criminal records and their families find healthier and more productive ways of living. (Patrice is the daughter of Richard Clark of Buffalo and Barbara Clark of Charleston S.C.)
Scholarship Opportunity Black Nurses Rock Buffalo High School Student Scholarship Opportunity Deadline March 1 Qualifications: High School Senior, good academic standing accepted to a Nursing School. Candidates are to submit Last report cards, letter of recommendation from current teacher, acceptance letter, 300 word essay focused on why you want to become a nurse and how you plan on serving your community. Please include a picture of yourself. Email bnrbflo@ gmail.com or mail to Black Nurses Rock Buffalo P.O. Box 1551 Buffalo NY 14226
TALK PRO P L U S Hosted by
The Radman
(George Radney) &
The Mighty O’Ba (Patrick Freeman)
105.5 FM “The Beat” Rochester Every Saturday 7AM – 8AM “Taking you to the locker room and beyond!”
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS!
#301
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
NATIONAL
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'Trailblazer,' 'Human Calculator,' 'Hidden Figure Tulsa Race Massacre Will Officially Become Katherine Johnson, Who Helped Put a Part of Oklahoma School Curriculum The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Will Officially Become a of Oklahoma School Curriculum Beginning in the Fall Men on the Moon Makes Her Transition Part CNN reports that Oklahoma’s education department will provide the framework of a curriculum in April that’s deat Age 101 signed to provide “extra support and resources” when teach-
“Knowing when to stop, you can avoid any danger.” -Tao Te Ching
Katherine Johnson, a pioneering Black mathematician who helped NASA launch men to the moon, died Monday, Feb. 24 at 101.Johnson was portrayed in the 2017 movie "Hidden Figures." Scientists, celebrities, and politicians around the world are paying tribute to NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who died at the age of 101 on Monday. Johnson was hired as a "human computer" at NASA's predecessor agency, NACA, in 1953. By hand, she calculated rocket trajectories for NASA's early missions and checked the math for the launches that sent the first American into orbit and put the first men on the moon. As a Black woman in a segregated government agency that was primarily staffed by white men, Johnson faced severe discrimination. Her contributions to history and space exploration went largely overlooked until the 2017 movie "Hidden Figures" highlighted her pioneering work. Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the US' highest civilian honor, by President Obama in 2015. Johnson's mathematical prowess was so unmatched at NASA that John Glenn, the first man to orbit Earth, insisted that she personally check the math that an electronic computer had done for his Mercury mission in 1962. In 1970, Johnson quickly conducted calculations by hand to save the crew of Apollo 13 after an in-flight explosion. Creola Katherine Coleman was born on Aug. 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., the youngest of four children of Joshua and Joylette (Lowe) Coleman. Her mother was a schoolteacher, her father a farmer. Katherine entered high school at 10 and graduated at 14. The next year she entered West Virginia State. By her junior year, she had taken all the math courses the college had to offer. Her mentor there, William Waldron Schieffelin Claytor, only the third black person to earn a doctorate in mathematics from an American university, conceived special classes just for her. She found, unsurprisingly, that research opportunities for black female teenage mathematicians were negligible. She took a job as a schoolteacher in Marion, Va. In 1940, she was chosen by the president of West Virginia State to be one of three black graduate students to integrate West Virginia University, the all-white institution in Morgantown. She is survived by two daughters, Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Another daughter, Connie Garcia, died in 2010; her second husband, James Johnson, died in 2019.
Federal Investigation Results in Sentencing for 64 White Supremacists The Spokesman-Review reports that 64 various members of white nationalist gangs in North Texas have been sentenced to a collective 820 years. That averages out to about 12.8 years per person. This sentencing concludes a six-year-long investigation involving 153 white nationalists. The other 89 were sentenced back in 2017 to a collective 1,070 years in prison. Their sentencing comes as a result of charges ranging from drugs and firearms to kidnapping, threats and assault. U.S Attorney Erin Nealy Cox said “Not only do white supremacist gangs endorse repugnant ideologies, they also facilitate a violent drug and gun trade, putting our citizens in grave danger.”
ing students about the infamous Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, in which Tulsa’s affluent Greenwood District—more commonly known as Black Wall Street—was burned to the ground by a horde of racist white folks, killing hundreds of innocent black people in the process and injuring arguably even more. . It will be officially incorporated into lesson plans beginning in the fall. “What we want to ensure is that...we are teaching [at] a grade-appropriate level those facts that have not been taught in a way they should have been taught in Oklahoma,” State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said at a news conference on Wednesday. “This is...our history and we should know it.” Deborah A. Gist, the superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, admitted that despite being a student of the same school system she now oversees, she never learned about the massacre herself until she became an educator.
Black Woman Becomes The First Doctor To Cure Cancer In Mice Using Nanoparticles Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green has become the first person to successfully cure cancer in mice using laser-activated nanoparticles, according to Black Culture News. Unlike traditional cancer treatments, Green’s revolutionary and unique nanoparticle technology, which was found to successfully cure cancer after testing on mice within 15 days, does not require chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Green received a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expand her nanoparticle cancer treatment research.
Mr. Chauncey Young ( 5/9/53 - 12/14/19) Mr. Chauncey Young 66, passed away unexpectedly on 12/14/19 at Buffalo General Hospital. Funeral services were held on Saturday 12-2119 in Niagara Falls, New York. Mr.Young highly respected the "Holy Lord Jesus Christ" and loved being amongst the peo ple. Chauncey was a man well known for his 6'6" height and befitting first name. Mr. Young had an extensive professional background in Behavioral Health Counseling and Human Services. He was a New York State Certi fied Chemical Dependen cy and Substance Abuse Counselor. Mr. Youngs' career included training in the Erie County Correctional Facilities and the Buffalo Pub lic School System. Mr. Young graduated from Canisius Col lege, Buffalo, NY. Buffalo State College, and Niagara County Community College. He achieved his MS.Ed. in Counseling Education and Human Services, and both B.A. and AS. De grees in Criminal Justice. Mr. Youngs' professional employ ment curriculum spanned throughout the Buffalo, New York region. He was the son of J.T. Young (deceased) and Evelyn Young. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda Burch Young. He is survived by sisters, Fawn Morrison and Alesia Kay Young, brother, Jarvis Young, niece Montiqua Blakey. He leaves to cherish his life several family members, in Florida, Niagara Falls, New York, Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia, Nevada, Georgia, D.C. Our family wish to express the utmost love and appreciation to everyone who supported us during this most difficult time of bereavement.
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FAITH & FAMILY CLASSIFIED
GOSPEL CHOIR DIRECTOR POSITION St.Philips Episcopal Church is seeking a part time Gospel choir director, must be able to read music and have some experience. If interested please call Pastor Stephen Lane@833-0442 to discuss terms. Meeting Rooms Available. Reasonable rates. St. Luke AME Zion Church, 314 East Ferry St. Buffalo, N.Y. Call 716-883-0961 Meeting Space available for group church/ministry. Fully Furnished and equipped. Turnkey ready. Call 716-886-2199.
You Don’t Know My Story Empowerment Brunch Women Against Violence Everywhere in collaboration with Elim Community Corp Girls 2 Women Mentoring presents the 6th Annual, You Don’t Know My Story, Empowerment Brunch Symposium, 200 Women in Pink on March 7 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Elim Christian Fellowship 70 Chalmers Ave. in Buffalo. Organizers are celebrating 6 years of empowering women by providing a platform for women to share their testimony/stories of triumph, stories of healing, stories of struggles, and stories of success, in an effort to empower others.You Don’t Know My Story Empowerment Breakfast, has been a powerful, standing room only, spirit filled that has brought over 300 women together all over the city. This event has been responsible for connecting women from various backgrounds, and in different stages of their life. Many of whom, have long standing relationships to this day! Donation: $ 35 in advance $ 40 at the door. Tickets available on Eventbrite. You may also contact Marilyn Young - 716 848-0515 / Linda Hughes- 716- 912-7705 /or Tracey Adams- 716- 563-4406
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
Attention Family Caregivers
Do you or someone you know cares for a family member with memory impairment at home? Metro’s Circle of Love Respite Program will be held FREE OF CHARGE every 2nd Friday of each month from 10 am – 2 p.m. Contact Lynelle Reed at (716) 8915652 or metroumchurch@ gmail.com for more information or to sign up. Angela R. Stewart, Pastor.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK WORSHIP THIS WEEK WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Miracle Missions Church Heads to Lancaster, PA. To See Production of the Stage Play “Queen Esther”! Dr. James A. Lewis III, Senior Pastor and Miracle Missions Full Gospel Church to host trip to Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA to see the stage play QUEEN ESTHER. Set in the opulent yet perilous Persian Empire, QUEEN ESTHER is a captivating tale of beauty and bravery. Esther’s ordinary life changed forever when she was taken through the palace doors, entering a new world of royalty and risk. With a crown on her head and a secret in her heart, can she find the courage to trust in God’s plan and believe that she was made for such a time as this? The trip offered will leave Mount Olive Baptist Church 701 E. Delavan, , at 8: a.m. August . The group will stop for lunch August 7, and shopping August 8 all at the expense of the attendee. The trip cost includes transportation, play ticket, hotel, breakfast and dinner on August 7 and lunch August 8, 2020. The group will stay overnight at the selected hotel. The group will attend the play at 7:00 pm on August 7, 2020. The group will shop on Saturday, August 8, 2020 and have lunch at a restaurant before returning home.
HEALTH MATTERS
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
Guard Your Heart!
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By Barbara Echols The steady, rhythmic beat of the heart is the source of the human body’s power. Constant circulation of well oxygenated and nutrient rich blood throughout the body’s vast network of blood vessels to the cells and organs is essential for their growth, repair and maintenance. To effectively carry out its task the heart beats approximately 70 times each minute. A reduction in this pace of blood flowing throughout the body can trigger an abnormal heart rhythm. The pace at which the blood flows through the passageways is of supreme importance for an energetic body. The life force of the body is the blood stream; therefore, it is vitally important that the stream of blood exiting from the heart flows smoothly through unobstructed, flexible passageways; especially the arteries. Accumulations of waste, resulting from the incomplete digestion of foods, hormonal ash, and environmental particulates which enter the body through the pores and nostrils from the surrounding atmosphere, set the stage for the development of diseases which impair the heart’s performance: heart attack, heart disease and congestive heart failure. To avoid the development of such dis-eases, a proactive approach must be taken The intake of fats, on a daily basis, is one way to discourage the development of diseases which impair the heart’s performance. Fatty foods promote or discourage disease processes. Not just any fat will do, however. Monounsaturated fats are the answer for good heart perfor-mance. Olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, is considered a “safe fat” because it remains liquid in the blood vessels. Olive oil guards the arteries from damaging cholesterol build up within the blood vessels. Its antioxidant properties retard the conversion of cholesterol to plaque. In addition, olive oil is a source of vitamin E. Vitamin E effectively dilates (opens) blood vessels, permitting improved blood circulation. As a result, olive oil reduces blood pressure, retards the formation of blood clots, and relieves constipation. Cooking with olive oil is not a way to receive all these benefits. Heat destroys all of the benefits. On a daily basis, ingest 1 -2 TEA-SPOONSFUL of olive oil; preferably extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil. Continued Page 8
KNOCK OUT CANCER! TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR RISK TODAY.
PATIENTVOICESBUFFALO.COM This program is supported in part by a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation .
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The History of Buffalo’s First African American Teacher
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
The Garveyite Perspective By Lion Blyden
by Barbara A. Seals Nevergold, PhD Ida Dora Fairbush was born on October 15, 1869 and died on September 20, 1945. Between those two dates she lived her life as a daughter, sister, student scholar, educator and community builder. As Buffalo’s first African American public-school teacher, Ida Fairbush was a pioneer and in every sense of the concept, she was an “Uncrowned Queen”. In spite of significant contributions to her community, Ida’s story is largely unknown. Her history, like those of countless other Black women in this Ida Dora Fairbush country, has not been fully documented in local history or popular literature. However, Dr. Barbara Nevergold was determined to correct this oversight. Buffalo’s first Black teacher, Ida Dora Fairbush, was hired by the school district in 1897 and retired after 40 years of continuous service in 1937. Through her research Dr. Nevergold has written a monograph -- “It Rests with Her to Pave the Way: Ida Dora Fairbush - Buffalo's first African American Teacher: a Pioneer” -- that offers a portrait of Ida – her challenges and successes, the Fairbush family and Buffalo’s African American community of the post-Civil War era. This biographical sketch connects the historical backdrop and details about Ida’s family, education and community engagement gleaned from contemporary sources. Funded by a grant from the Buffalo Teachers Federation and inspired by a movement to place a headstone at Ida Fairbush’s unmarked grave, this publication is dedicated to the BTF, Dr. Ellen Grant, Mr. Jeffrey Reed of the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Buffalo News journalist, Sean Kirst and Dr. William Greco. Mr. Phil Rumore has donated copies of the publication to each of Buffalo’s Public-School libraries. The School System will also digitize the article for student and teacher use. Thanks, Mr. W. Charles Brandy, Dr. Fatima Morrell and Mrs. Ann Botticelli and, of course, Dr. Kriner Cash. The BTF has also endowed a $1000 scholarship in memory of Miss. Fairbush. The Uncrowned Queens Institute will have more information about the scholarship within the month. In honor of Black History Month, Dr. Nevergold is donating copies of her monograph to each library in the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library system. She spoke on Ida Dora Fairbush at the downtown library last Sunday.
The Phoenicians Were Africans!
Last weekends Maat Law Academy with Law offices of Craig D. Carson at the Rafi Green Center was a wonderful event; bridging the generational gap while informing the community about law. Sunday's "Feed the City" event hosted by Diamond Creations and Smile You are Great featured food, fellowship and fun! Free breakfast, clothes, coffee etc was served to all who passed the stand at Greyhound.
GUARD YOUR HEART continued Olive oil is available in capsules, bottles and cans. Olive oil in trans-parent bottles should be avoided. If the taste of oil in the mouth is a disgusting thought, consider driz-zling 1-2 teaspoonfuls over lightly steamed or raw vegetables, or baked potatoes. A homemade olive oil dressing can also be used: 1 cup of extra virgin cold pressed olive oil, a clove of fresh garlic, a pinch of crushed red pepper and your favorite herbs; that is, dill, marjoram, oregano, or rosemary. Modify the recipe to your taste, and use it daily as an effective prevention for the onset of heart problems. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23; Amplified Bible)
‘The Phoenicians were a coastal branch of the Canaanites, who, according to Biblical traditions, were the brothers of Kush (Ethiopia) and Mizraim (Kmt)--members of the Hamite ethnic group. In other words, the Bible states that the ancient Canaanites, Ethiopians and Egyptians were all African nations. Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop claimed that “Phoenician history is therefore incomprehensible only if we ignore the Biblical data, according to which the Phoenicians, in other words, the Canaanites, were originally Negroes, already civilized, with whom nomadic, uncultured white tribes later mixed.” While acknowledging the Biblical data, Diop cautioned that the economic relations shared by the Kamites and Phoenicians should not be minimized in explaining the strong sense of solidarity which generally existed between them. There was frequently a Kamite presence: military, diplomatic, religious or commercial, both in the Canaanite hinterland and the Phoenician city-states themselves, and Diop goes on to state that, “Even throughout the most troubled periods of great misfortune, Egypt could count on the Phoenicians as one can count more or less on a brother.” The Moors, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Egyptians, Libyan, Nubians, all are part of the same family and bloodlines they are all Africans of various shades, facial features and hues. -Runoko Rashidi
"How I choose to Honorably Remember SiStar Iyetta Gwen Neal" Iyetta was a Spiritually, in tune sister and Master of Astrology. She had a way of weaving her studies into anything you were going through. It didn't matter if you didn't believe in the power of reading the heavenly objects that influence our daily lives. She would just remind such a person of a biblical scripture like "As Above, So Below!" She was a private person but loved to be in public places and celebrate all that unites our people. There was not a place that you would see her that you would be surprised that she had arrived. It was more like "We were expecting you!" She could be found at many ComeUnity events, confirming in the audience in our native tongue - shouting out 'Yebo' and 'Àsé'. Many times she would have her tambourine, Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ and other traditional African instruments to add to her rejoicing affirmations. She was a community Mother and when you confided in her you knew it would stay with her unless you gave her permission to share it. A few years ago, a few women started meeting nearly every couple of weeks for about two years. We called ourselves the Sisters of the Sun. We shared and loved on each other so much during these times. These were trying times for many of us, including her. Even as life and living got in the way of us getting together, she desired for us to again meet more regularly. Now her desires can be met as she transitions from one world to the next. She will be with us when we call upon her. Every time, without fail because the ether realm is absent of any physical obstacles. In the ethereal realm any time we desire for her to be with us she will be there... As expected, because this is her way. Just as she would be with us at any time we needed her in the physical realm. These tears are for the living because Iyetta would definitely want us to get the African instruments and increase the vibrations in her honor. She has earned her Heavenly Crown! Yebo and Àsé! May Sister Iyetta Gwen Neal Soar In Paradise!" - Queen Nia
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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
*Beethoven, the world’s greatest musician, was without a doubt a mulatto. He was called “The Black Spaniard”. His teacher, the immortal Joseph Haydn, who wrote the music for the former Austrian National Anthem, was colored too. *.The Grimaldi, a Negro race, lived in europe as late as 12,000 years ago. Two complete Grimaldi skeletons are in the Museum of Monaco, near Monte Carlo.
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH As Black History Month 2020 comes to an end, I invite all City residents to continue to reflect upon the theme “African Americans and the Vote”. The theme coincides with the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote. It also marks the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the culmination of the women’s suffrage movement. Our great City is strengthened and enriched by people of all backgrounds, and my goal, as your Mayor, has been to create a community where no one is left out and no one is left behind. My Administration continues to lead by example. We’ve hired the most diverse workforce in our City’s history. We continue to create highly effective and innovative programs, such as our police department’s community policing initiative. As we continue to build a diverse, inclusive and equitable city of opportunity, let us continue to honor the extraordinary contributions made by local African Americans throughout the history of our community. THE HONORABLE BYRON W. BROWN Mayor of Buffalo
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Entertainment
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
on stage Open Mic and Creative Expression
Neville Francis Band And The Riddim Pose (inset)
A Black History Month Tribute to Bob Marley ! What would be a finer time to celebrate one of the most respected reggae artists of all times? One who broke racial barriers and fought for universal Peace & Love... As Baba Simba Would Say... (Robert Nesta Marley).Bob Marley managed to popularize reggae music around the world. Music that once sound strange and foreign to many ears. Bob crafted some of the most enduring anthems such as Buffalo Soldier, Natural Mystic, Rat Race, War, Exodus, Dread Natty Dread, No Woman No Cry, Redemption Song, Stir It Up, Get Up Stand Up and Jammin. Within the simplicity and depth in the lyrics of his music only a true prophet could achieve. With that being said people who listen to cultural music can appreciate bands such as The Neville Francis Band And The Riddim Pose who continue to play Bob Marley music and encourage his legacy to live on. Band Members( Rodney(Bass 1), Ira(Bass 2), Dustin Francis(Guitarist), Anthony(Drummer 1), George (Drummer 2) , Jason(Keyboardist) and last but not least Neville Francis... Submitted By Kay Taylor
Black History Month at the Broadway Market Saturday February 29, the Larry Salter Soul Orchestra will perform 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. 999 Broadway Also, Check the Broadway Market’s website for February cooking classes too! www.broadwaymarket.org
Tuesdays 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. until March 31 "Can you hear me. now?" Open Mic for all acts. A Free Coffee House for Youth. Open Mic Sessions and expressive art and community building workshops plus delicious food. ages 12-21 at Gloria Parks Community Center contact Mike Tritto 716 823-5085 COOKIN' ! "Cookin' At The Cookery Starring Zoe Scruggs and Ember Tate Musicians: Piano George Caldwell; Bass Sabu Adeyola; Drums Rodney Harper; Guitar Mike Moser For more information call 8398540 or go to www.musicfare.com Join Cooperation Buffalo and PUSH Buffalo as we screen "The Take," by Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein who have partnered with Ujima Company (a democratic theatre collective!) who will be hosting the screening 6 -8:30 p.m. at Ujima Theatre 429 Plymouth street. UPCOMING SHOWS AT SENECA NIAGAARA CASINO Buy tickets at the 8 Clans at Seneca Niagara, The Logo Shop at Seneca Allegany, or online at ticketmaster.com, or at any Ticketmaster location. CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER AND FRIENDS Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 8:00 PM Tickets start at $45 THE TEMPTATIONS AND THE FOUR TOPS Friday, May 8, 2020 at 8:00 PM Tickets start at $45 BEARS DEN GUITAR SHORTY Friday, April 17, 2020 at 8:00 PM Tickets start at $35. Guitar Shorty is nothing less than a giant in the blues world. Credited as on influence on both Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy, Guitar Shorty has electrified audiences for five decades. MOTOWN EXTREME REVIEW Friday, May 15 & Saturday May 16 at 8:00 PM Tickets start at $45 high-energy performance showcasing hits from iconic groups like The Jackson 5, Martha Reeves, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross & The Supremes.
Rishon Odel CD Listening Party February 29 6:30p.m. listening party for his new project "the L word" at Black Rock ESP 71 Military Road. Wine and hordeuves will be served. Must RSVP by February 22. Tickets on eventbrite. For more info call 553-0642. The Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective The Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective is excited to launch its first Celestial Jazz Series with award winning international Chicago jazz saxophonist/composer Ernest Dawkins at Lincoln Memorial Church 641 Masten Avenue. For tickets go to www.pmljazz.com We hope that you will join us on March 13th at 7p.m. for an incredible spirit-filled, soulstirring evening of music. Please invite your family and friends to support this fundraising effort for the Love Supreme School of Music. Party Over Here PARTY OVER HERE! Antoine Thompson will celebrate his 50th Birthday on Saturday March 7 from 7-9 p.m. at The Rose Bar, 199 Scott St. RSVP at antoinethompson@yahoo.com
Open Mic Poetry Returns to EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe, the Original Poetry Place, has announced the restart of their free Open Mic Nights every Tuesday at 80 Oakgrove Avenue from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be interactive intermissions and food will be available for purchase. The “Tea Cup” has served the community for 20 years through food, service, and engaging gatherings that unite people from all walks of life. As the first venue to host open mics in Buffalo, these nights serve as a place of expression and acceptance while provoking thought and meaningful conversation. All ages are welcome!
SUPPORT
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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
The Art of Motherhood: GET FOKUS'D Productions Presents The Art of Motherhood: The Beauty and The Challenges Get Fokus’d Productions, local award winning digital storytelling company’ owner and creative director Aitina Fareed-Cooke to showcase photography & film titled The Art of Motherhood on Saturday MARCH 7th form 12-2 p.m. at the Leroy R. Coles, Jr. Library | 1187 E. Delavan Ave. The Art of Motherhood features a collection of images and visual stories of eight moms from all walks of life unraveling the beauty and challenges of parenthood. Unveiling the work of Aitina Fareed-Cooke, an awardwinning photographer, winner of the CEPA Gallery exhibition award, Buffalo Urban League of Young Professionals and recognized by 43North’s Ignite Buffalo (People’s Choice Award), Fareed-Cooke’s project is the culmination of her own experience as a mom and documented stories of other mom’s around the city of Buffalo. Reminiscing over her own experience when she was a single mom for a time, Fareed-Cooke, now married with two children wants her work to create meaningful conversations about the meaning and purpose of motherhood. Fareed-Cooke will be announcing the launch of two creative photography sessions; the Matriarch Sessions, for women who are the sole surviving matriarchs of their families and the ‘Sistahs’ Sessions specifically for sister siblings. Individuals who are interested can register for these sessions at the event. Get Fokus’d Productions will also be accepting any donations from attendees interested in giving. A portion of the proceeds raised at the event will support similar projects in the future. Reserve your seat by registering online today at http:// bit.ly/38MYlGi
“Knowing when to stop, you can avoid any danger.” -Tao Te Ching
"OUR HISTORY DID NOT BEGIN IN CHAINS, IT WILLNOT END IN CHAINS.... Malcolm X
Blanc Photographie
The Community’s Portrait & Event Photographer. 716.319.8979 • Facebook: Blanc Photographie • Instagram: @blanc_photographie
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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
G-Health Enterprises Celebrates...
B
lack frontiersman Joseph Hodges was one of Buffalo’s earliest non-white settlers. Local griots - oral historians - know that Underground Railroad conductor Harriet “Mother Moses” Tubman led runaway enslaved Africans through the Niagara region. Abolitionist William Wells Brown lived on Pine Street in Buffalo and helped fugitives cross the water into Canada when he worked for the Lake Erie Steamship Co. Frederick Douglass spoke to a full sanctuary at the Michigan Street Baptist Church. In 1905, W.E.B. DuBois, with other Black leaders, planned the Niagara Movement and Booker T. Washington addressed crowds in Buffalo. Mary B. Talbert campaigned for antilynching legislation from her home on Michigan Avenue. From The Buffalo-Niagara African American Heritage Guide
EMBRACING the Past, ENCOURAGING the Present, EMPOWERING the Future.
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
MASTERS
TOUCH
1933
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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
Tina pictured speaking at lastweek's dedication.
Credit Where Credit Is Due!
Community Activist Tina Sanders Played a key role in having street named in honor of Coach Adridge
O
f all the names mentioned in the brief last week citing the unveiling dedication of the trailblazing street sign in honor of coach Norzell “Nore” Aldridge, there was one glaring omission – that of Tina Sanders. Ms. Sanders, longtime community activist and founder of No More Tears organization and former Fillmore District Council candidate, played a very significant role with that honor being bestowed upon the late beloved football coach. It was in fact the effort by Sanders that made it ultimately happen. ”I approached Council Member Mitch Nowakowski soon after he won the seat and we talked” Tina told the Challenger. “ At that time I asked for only three things – that Norzell be honored with a street in his name, new lights for the kids ball field, and new bleachers.” The council member did not hesitate she said, and put the resolution together to have him honored at her request. The proclamation of the “Norzell Aldridge Way, located at the corner of Koons and Sycamore near the Harvey Austin School , was the Council Member’s first act. Hats off to both his quick action and Tina’s dedicated service to her community!
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Maasai Consignment Boutique Celebrates Second Anniversary Maasai Consignment Boutique will celebrate its second anniversary on March 1. Maasai will be celebrating the anniversary with free hot chocolate and treats throughout the month of March at their historic location of 208 E Delevan Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208. “We are excited to be contributing members of the community for another year. We love every item that we sell in store and we are blessed to bring peoples treasures to their next home”, says owner Michelle Matthews. Maasai Consignment Boutique is run by Michelle Matthews and Janine Gates, both Buffalo natives. They offer interior design; sell art, furniture, music, and anything vintage and magnificent that catches their eye. They sell spring flowers and live Christmas trees in their respective seasons. “Please stop into Maasai Consignment Boutique just to see us, we always have new things in store that are sure to keep you coming back for more,” says Janine Gates. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 12 noon to 7 PM, and Saturdays from 10AM to 5PM. 2020 MEGA DROP:
1.6 MILLION GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PACKAGES ARE HERE More than 1.6 MILLION packages of Girl Scout cookies have landed in Western New York for the Mega Drop event. Girl Scout volunteers will fill their vehicles with cookies to begin delivering them to eager cookie customers who have placed orders and for Girl Scout cookie booth sales. The media is invited to attend any of the Mega Drop dates: February 26 – 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Corrigan Warehouse, 1800 Broadway Ave., Buffalo, NY 14212. The Girl Scout Cookie Program powers amazing experiences for girls and buying Girl Scout cookies is a tasty treat that helps girls learn five leadership skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Whether there is a preference for Thin Mints, Lemonades, or all Girl Scout cookies, cookie lovers can find where Girl Scout cookies are being sold near them by using the Cookie Finder App at www.gswny.org until March 29, 2020.
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
ENTERPRISE CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENT PLACEMENT LOTTERY
Black History Explosion
The Enterprise Charter School’s student placement lottery for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year for Kindergarten through 8th grade will be held on Wednesday, April 1st, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the school located at 275 Oak Street, Buffalo, New York 14203. Kindergarten children from the Buffalo School District must be 5 years old by 12/31 to be eligible. Students from suburban districts must follow their district requirements for age appropriate Kindergarten children, most of which are 12/1. Applications are available by calling (716) 855-2114, via our Web site Enterprisecharter.org, or by visiting the school. Applications continue to be accepted throughout the year. Enterprise Charter School shall not discriminate against or limit the admission of any student on any unlawful basis, including on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, race, creed, gender, religion or ancestry. A school may not require any action by a student or family (such as admissions test, interview, essay, attendance at an information session, etc.) in order for an applicant to either receive or submit an application for admission to that school.
The BUILD Community School 340 Fougeron St. will host a Black History Explosion featuring student presentations and performances on Saturday, February 29 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free breakfast and lunch!
Call 716-855-2114 for an application today. Applications always accepted for Grades K-8 is a K -8, tuition free, public charter school centrally located in downtown Buffalo. Enterprise offers smaller class sizes with an extended day. Students enjoy Spanish, Computers, Gym, Theatre, and Art. Enterprise also provides Consultant Teacher, Resource Room, Speech, OT, PT, Counseling, and ESL services. A free before school program and free After School Program are also available. Transportation is provided by most districts.
Now Accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year.
VOICES
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
“Harriet Tubman is My Aunt”
One Buffalonian Reveals His Own Black History
I The 42 Positive Ideals Of Ma'at
1.I Honor Virtue 2.I Benefit With Gratitude 3.I Am Peaceful 4.I Respect the Property of Others 5.I Affirm That All Life Is Sacred 6.I Give Offerings That Are Genuine 7.I Live In Truth 8.I Regard All Altars With Respect 9.I Speak With Sincerity 10.I Consume Only My Fair Share 11.I Offer Words Of Good Intent 12.I Relate In Peace 13.I Honor Animals With Reverence 14.I Can Be Trusted 15.I Care For The Earth 16.I Keep My Own Council 17.I Speak Positively Of Others 18.I Remain In Balance With My Emotions 19.I Am Trustful In My Relations 20.I Hold Purity In High Esteem 21.I Spread Joy 22.I Do The Best I Can 23.ICommunicate With Compassion 24.I Listen To Opposing Opinions 25.I Create Harmony 26.I Invoke Laughter 27.I Am Open To Love In Various Forms 28.I Am Forgiving 29.I Am Kind 30.I Act Respectfully Of Others 31.I Am Accepting 32.I Follow My Inner Guidance 33.I Converse With Awareness 34.I Do Good 35.I Give Blessings 36.I Keep The Waters Pure 37.I Speak With Good Intent 38.I Praise The Goddess And The God 39.I Am Humble 40.I Achieve With Integrity 41.I Advance Through My Own Abilities 42.I Embrace The All
BY KENT OLDEN
have a secret. It’s something that I’ve been sitting on my entire life. Sometimes it manages to slip through the cracks and into the earshot of an over zealous passerby, leaving me to get rained on by a deluge of what I considered to be very invasive questions: “Have you always known???” or “What does it feel like???” or “Do you have pictures???” or, my personal favorite “WHY HAVEN’T YOU MENTIONED THIS BEFORE?!” Yes, I have always known, and because of that, it feels quite normal to me. Yes, there are pictures in albums at home. Why haven’t I mentioned it before? Well, as odd as it may sound, I never really thought there was much to mention. In my head, I was always just a regular person living a regular life. However, now that I have my own children, I have come to understand the importance of the legacy that my family must maintain simply by being born into this bloodline. My name is Kent Olden, and Harriet Tubman is my aunt. -The Family TreeBenjamin and Harriet Ross raised their nine children on the plantation of Anthony Thompson in 19th century Maryland. The fifth of those children, Araminta (who later changed her name to Harriet in honor of her mother), went on to be known as “the Moses of Her People,” as she returned to the slavery-ridden south to free those loved ones she left behind after successfully escaping herself. Later settlingin Auburn, New York, the story of Harriet Tubman lives on forever. Another of Ben and Rit’s offspring, however, was Robert Benjamin Ross. Fleeing from the plantation of Edward Brodess (Thompson’s stepson who inherited the senior Harriet and her children when he turned 21) with the help of his sister Minty (as they affectionately called Araminta), Robert later changed his name to John Henry Stewart in an effort to throw off the authorities that subsequently went searching for Brodess’s runaway slaves. After making the successful trek north, John and his wife had a daughter. They named her Gertrude. Once Gertrude became a woman herself, she gave birth to a son that she named Harold. After growing up to become the first Black graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy, Harold married his sweetheart, Gladyce, and they had three children, which included a daughter, Arlene. When she was 22, Arlene gave birth to her only child, a son, whom she named Kent. Kent, himself, had four children: Kyle, Kendra, Kameron, and me. Tracking back through the generations, we see that my great-great-great grandfather was Harriet Tubman’s brother. That is the first time in over 30 years of life that I have ever said that without being forced to, and it feels great. Now, with a new generation added to the family tree (my daughters, Kendall and Khloe, and Kendra’s son, Tyler), it has become our charge to uphold the legacy of our family as it continues to thrive with our children. Just as my grandmother taught me, my children will learn the sacrifices that those that came before them made just so they could be. I will teach them that anything worth having is worth fighting for. They will be proud to say that their great-great grandfather was the first Black graduate of UB’s School of Pharmacy, or that their great grandmother established the Harriet Tubman 300s to educate Western New York on the importance of Buffalo as a stop on the Underground Railroad, or that daddy is a Morehouse Man who is active in a number of civic organizations, both local and national. But above all this, may they ever be proud to say “Yes. Harriet Tubman IS my aunt.” As we celebrate Black History Month in Buffalo, just as I do with my daughters, I encourage each and every one of us to take a moment to remember what brought us to where we are. Remember those who paved the way so that we live out the dreams of those who never thought this life was possible. As we stand united, we must always remember to never let our legacies die, for if we let them die with us, future generations will never know the power that lies within them. As my aunt said, “Dead men don’t tell no tales... Let your legacy live so that you may live also.!
“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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Update: Over 14,000 Signatures and One Arrogant, Disrespectful Council Member! Dear Editor: Thank you to the 14,112 individuals who signed the We the People Petitions calling for the removal of the distorted monument sitting in MLK Park on Buffalo’s Eastside for the last 37 years that never looked like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. As many of you may well know the Coalition to Save MLK Park kicked off its campaign to remove and replace that monument on Monday January 15, 2018 on Rev. Martin Luther King’s national holiday. Our goal was to collect 10,000 names of residents who live in the City of Buffalo N.Y. and Erie County. On Tuesday September 17, 2020 the Coalition handed into the City of Buffalo Clerk Department, over 500 pages of “We the People Petitions “with a total of 14,112 signatures requesting that the Common Council call a public hearing on this issue. October 1, 2019 at the Common Council regular meeting-item 19-1616-GEN-S Herbert, Et AL, Petition for Removal & Replacement of Bust in MLK Park came before the council and it was referred to the community development committee. On Tuesday October 8, 2020 idem 19-1616-Gen – S Herbert Et AL, MLK Petitions came before the community development committee where Council President Darius G. Pridgen orchestrated between the other two Black council members – Mr. Wingo and Mr. Wyatt - to vote to receive and file – meaning the item was dead. On January 29, 2020 we submitted a letter to the City of Buffalo Clerk Department calling on the Masten District Council Member Ulysees O. Wingo, to reconsider as soon as possible and referred this item to the next full council regular meeting for further discussion, and have the council to do a roll call vote and to hold a public meeting concerning this item. On Tuesday February 4, 2020 the item came before the Common Council regular meeting, and it was referred to the next community development meeting Tuesday February 11, 2020. At that meeting I was allowed to speak concerning the removal of the monument. I shared with those council members a little history and told them how in 1982 I attended a community meeting called by Mr. Clifford Bell and the late Pastor Bennett Smith at St. John Baptist Church asking those who were there for a financial donation to build a statue of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. At no time did they say “we wanted to build a statue that symbolizes the plight of a Black Man and the legacy of Dr. King.” I personally donated 100 dollars cash into the basket they had sitting on the table. I was 33 years young. I and everyone expected a statue to look just like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. As far as I’m concerned, Mr. Bell and company fraudulently solicited community dollars under the pretense of building a statue in the image of Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. The arrogance and disrespect of the Council Member of the Masten District representative Wingo, in how he spoke to me at that last Council Session a few weeks ago, and his BS remarks, must be noted. I was asked if the Coalition to Save MLK Park was a non-for-profit organization, and did I have officers, president, vice, president, broad members? I told him yes 14,112 individuals who signed “We the People Petitions!” Then he told me that I would have go back and have our petitions resigned to verify the petitions legitimacy! This elected official disrespected and talked down to me publicaly in front of the other common council members on Tuesday February 11, 2020. But we shall return and neutralize the Mastin District Common Council Ulysees O. Wingo and his negative b.s.! Samuel A. Herbert Chairman of the Coalition to Save MLK Park
dear editor
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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
LEGAL NOTICES
LLC's
-LEGAL NOTICESOLOMON'S FAMILY FUN CENTER, LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on DECEMBER 23, 2019. Office in Erie County. SSNY is the designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 50 Viola Dr. Cheektowaga, New York, 14227. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Jan.22,29 Feb. 5,12,19,26 NOTICE OF FORMATION Criminal Justice Professionals Training and Consulting, LLC filed Articles of Organization with the New York Secretary of State (SSNY) on January 15, 2020. Its office is located in Erie County. The SSNY is the designated agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to 1967 Wehrle Dr., Ste. 9, Williamsville, NY 14221. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Jan.22,29 Feb. 5,12,19,26 -LEGAL NOTICENOTICE of FORMATION of a DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Name of LLC: Big Nickel Industries, LLC Date of filing of Articles of Organization with NY Dept of State: January 15, 2020. Office of the LLC: Big Nickel Industries LLC, 1006 Grant Street, Buffalo, New York, 14207, Erie County. The NY Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. NYSS may mail a copy of process to the LLC at 1006 Grant Street, Buffalo, New York 14207. Purpose of LLC: Any lawful purpose. No specific duration attached to LLC. Jan.22,29 Feb. 5,12,19,26 -Legal NoticeASI Design Legacy LLC. Filed with SSNY on 02/03/2020. Office: Erie County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail copy to: 436 Berkshire Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215. Purpose: Any lawful. Feb. 12,19,26 Mar. 4,11,18 -LEGAL NOTICEJR ENTERPRISES CONSULTING LLC 50 Fountain Plaza Suite 1400 KEYCENTER Buffalo, NY 14202. Filling date. October 4, 2019 Feb. 26 Mar. 4,11,18,25 Apr. 1
LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEVELOPER PARTNERS The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority and Bridges Development, Inc. are soliciting written qualifications from Developers for AuthorityWide Asset Repositioning/Redevelopment of Distressed Properties within the BMHA portfolio. Qualifications must be received no later than 4:00 pm (EDT), Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Interested Developers may contact Kimberly M. Candelario, Operations Manager, Bridges Development, Inc., email only, to request a copy of the Request For Qualifications (“RFQ”), at kcandelario@bmhahousing.com.
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES!
LEGAL NOTICE BID REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting bids for the following projects for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. Optional MWBE Pre-bid meetings will be held interested firms at MCI Office upon request. Documents can be obtained by contacting the associated estimator, Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-282-5245 or iSqFt®. Bids due electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Certified firms for associated goals are strongly encouraged.
EMPLOYMENT
Highway Rehab N Canal Road CR 77 Old Niagara Rd to Erie Canal in Town of Lockport NY. Contact Tom Tibbs ttibbs@markcerrone.com. DBE 11% WBE: 6.9%. Proposals due to MCI by 2/24/2020 at 2:00PM. LRRT Fastener and Pad Replacement Phase 10 in Buffalo, NY. Contact: Andrea Calabrese acalabrese@ markcerrone.com. MBE: 3% WBE: 5% SDVOB: 1%. Proposals due to MCI by 3/10/2020 at 2:00PM.
LEGAL NOTICE BID REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting bids for LRRT Fastener and Pad Replacement Phase 10 in Buffalo, NY for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. Optional MWBE Pre-bid meetings will be held interested firms at MCI Office upon request. Documents can be obtained by contacting acalabrese@markcerrone.com. Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-2825245 or iSqFt®. Bids due electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305 MBE: 3% WBE: 5% SDVOB: 1%. Proposals due to MCI by 3/10/2020 at 2:00PM.
LEGAL NOTICE BID Bids will be received by RP Oak Hill Building Co., Inc. for the UB – Farber Hall Stair Expansion Project on 3/5/2020 at 2:00pm. Please fax bids (716-822-4367) or email (bids@ rpoakhill.com) prior to 2:00 pm. The scope of work includes site, concrete, steel, roofing, carpentry, painting, etc. The contract documents may be examined at Construction Exchange or canbe purchased at Avalon Printing, (P: 716-995-7777). This project is prevailing wage. ***W/M/DBE & SDVOB participation is encouraged.
HELP WANTED
File Clerk Needed. Filing and maintenance of consumer service records and personal assistants’ files. EEOC. employment@wnyil.org
JOBS
Buffalo Employment and Training Center /BETC 716-856-5627
www.workforcebuffalo. org The BETC is here to help with your job searching needs. We have free services to all jobseekers looking to find better paying work, an exciting new career, or wanting to upgrade skills to become more marketable. in today’s marketplace. Orientation Times: Monday – Thursday, 10 am or 2 pm.
COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WNY Has Immediate Openings for the following positions
Come grow with us!
Director of Employment & Training Director of Housing License Practical Nurse Data Entry Clerk Family Partner/Home Visitor Youth Services Program Coordinator Sr. Substance Abuse Counselor Youth Services Counselor Teacher (Certified) Teacher I/II/III Nutrition Associate Maintenance Associate Substitute Teacher HR Benefits Specialist Visit us at www.caowny.org to learn more about the requirements and to complete an online application. Erie & Niagara counties.
CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC West Valley Demonstration Project CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC (CHBWV) (West Valley Demonstration Project), located approximately 35 miles south of Buffalo, NY, is recruiting for the following full-time positions: •Decontamination/Decommissioning (D&D)/Waste Operations Operators - Perform decontamination, deactivation, abatement, and decommissioning/waste operations (D&D/WO) assignments safely in hazard controlled work environments (radiological, asbestos, lead, industrial, chemical hazards, etc.). •D&D/Waste Operations (Maintenance) Technicians - Perform a wide variety of tasks associated with maintenance, tool and material control, minor building repairs, grounds keeping, repair services, laundry, and other project work. Maintain an order of cleanliness; primarily in the company offices and rest rooms by providing housekeeping. •Waste Handling Supervisor – Responsible for the quantity and quality of work through planning, organizing, and directing the actions of hazardous/radioactive material handling operators. For detailed information and to apply visit our Company Website at http://www.chbwv.com & click on “Careers” Deadline to apply is March 15, 2020 We are an EEO Employer Drug Free workplace U.S. Citizenship is required for employment This Organization Participates in E-Verify
LEGAL NOTICE Bank of America
N.A. v. Nawaz
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK – COUNTY OF ERIE INDEX # 816068/2018 FILED: 1/16/2020 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND NOTICE Plaintiff designates ERIE County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises are situated. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff, against TARIQ NAWAZ A/K/A TARIZ NAWAZ, if they be living and if they be dead, the respective heirs-at-law, next-of-kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant(s) who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or inheritance, any right, title or interest in or to the real property described in the Complaint, RANSOM OAKS COMMUNITY CORPORATION, CHARLESGATE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION, TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION, BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, and "JOHN DOE" and "JANE DOE", the last two names being fictitious, said parties intended being tenants or occupants, if any, having or claiming an interest in, or lien upon the premises described in the complaint, Defendant(s). 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 on the plaintiff's attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. 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 (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Joseph R. Glownia, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Erie County, granted on the 10th day of January, 2020, and filed with the Complaint and other papers in the office of the County Clerk of Erie County. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by TARIQ NAWAZ A/K/A TARIZ NAWAZ to MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC, its successors and assigns, bearing date June 2, 2006 and recorded in Book 13293, Page 6489 in the County of Erie on June 2, 2006, which was modified by agreement dated October 13, 2009 and was recorded on October 30, 2015 in Liber 13743, Page 6831, and was thereafter assigned to BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP by instrument dated August 13, 2015 and recorded on September 23, 2015, in Book 13738, Page 6660, said premises being known as 1304 CHARLESGATE CIRCLE, EAST AMHERST, NY 14051 (Section 28.33, Block 1, Lot 121). ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Amherst, County of Erie and State of New York. YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. There is due and owing to plaintiff the sum of $75,294.68, with interest thereon at 4.875% per annum from 3/1/2018. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt described above. UNLESS YOU DISPUTE THE VALIDITY OF THE DEBT, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER YOUR RECEIPT HEREOF THAT THE DEBT, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, IS DISPUTED, THE DEBTOR JUDGMENT AGAINST YOU AND A COPY OF SUCH VERIFICATION OR JUDGMENT WILL BE MAILED TO YOU BY THE HEREIN DEBT COLLECTOR. IF APPLICABLE, UPON YOUR WRITTEN REQUEST, WITHIN SAID THIRTY (30) DAY PERIOD, THE HEREIN DEBT COLLECTOR WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT, YOU ARE NOT PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR THE UNDERLYING INDEBTEDNESS OWED TO PLAINTIFF/CREDITOR AND THIS NOTICE/DISCLOSURE IS FOR COMPLIANCE AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE New York State Law requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT You are in danger of losing your home. If you fail to respond to the summons and complaint in this foreclosure action, you may lose your home. Please read the summons and complaint carefully. You should immediately contact an attorney or your local legal aid office to obtain advice on how to protect yourself. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-269-0990 or visit the Department’s website at HTTP://WWW.DFS. NY.GOV. Rights and Obligations YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay property taxes in accordance with state and local law. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner's distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. Aldridge Pite, LLP. Attorneys for the Plaintiff, Fifteen Piedmont Center, 3575 Piedmont Road, N.E., Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30305. Our File 1092-10289B
17 LEGAL NOTICE
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020 Fareverse LLC v Timothy James
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ERIE Plaintiff designates ERIE as the place of trial situs of the real property SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 100 BAKOS BOULEVARD BUFFALO, NY 14211 District: Section: 101.16 Block: 1 Lot: 34 NDEX NO. 806180/2018 FAREVERSE LLC I/L/T/N FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC, Plaintiff, vs. TIMOTHY JAMES AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT JAMES, JR; NAJA JAMES AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT JAMES, JR; JARELL JAMES AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT JAMES, JR; TOMA JAMES AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT JAMES, JR; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERRT JAMES, JR, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NYS DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #12," the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. 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 on the Plaintiff's Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $277,500.00 and interest, recorded on May 5, 2016, in Book 13763 at Page 3351, of the Public Records of ERIE County, New York, covering premises known as 100 BAKOS BOULEVARD BUFFALO, NY 14211. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. ERIE County is designated as the place of trial because the real
property affected by this action is located in said county. 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 the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. RAS BORISKIN, LLC Attorney for Plaintiff 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675
LEGAL NOTICE 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 Friday, March 13, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud for: P.S. 97 Harvey Austin School Interior Painting and Finishes Restoration Bids will be opened for the following prime contract: General Construction. Beginning Monday, February 24, 2020, 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 716-995-7777. 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 Monday, March 2, 2020 at 2:00 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 Mel L. Alston, AIA, 716-816-3748. Paul McDonnell, AIA Director of Facilities Planning
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Buffalo Employment and Training Center /BETC 716-856-5627
www.workforcebuffalo. org The BETC is here to help with your job searching needs. We have free services to all jobseekers looking to find better paying work, an exciting new career, or wanting to upgrade skills to become more marketable. in today’s marketplace. Orientation Times: Monday – Thursday, 10 am or 2 pm.
BASKIN /ARTISTS continued
reflect and reconsider our priorities, our politics, and how we value one another. These organizations deserve to thrive. They deserve an opportunity to grow, to reach wider audiences. Day by day, it is their work that pushes us out of our comfort zones and interrogates our complacencies.” Baskin has been working with local artists and members of the WNY Urban Arts Collective and Frontline Arts Buffalo to better understand the challenges these smaller groups face. Late lastyear, she convened a round table group of local artists and the community’s major artinstitutions. At this town hall, local artists voiced their concerns with the application process to the Erie County Cultural Resources Advisory Board, the organization who makes recommendations to the County Executive’s Office for budgeted cultural funding. Opening thisdialogue paved the way for future conversations directly with the Department of Environment &Planning that ultimately lead to the much needed revisions in this year’s application. Using the insights gained from those sessions, Baskin reached out to the Poloncarz Administration to see if the arts and cultural process could be designed to be more responsiveto the needs of smaller organizations. Frontline Arts Buffalo has spearheaded the campaign to make sure Erie County is moreinclusive of diverse arts groups. . Their focus on serving underrepresented and low-income communities has made them powerful advocates for local artists in the City of Buffalo. Lorna Hill from Frontline Arts and the Ujima Theatre Company praised this first step to bridge the gap between our established institutions and the vibrant smaller organizations andindividuals who have so much to contribute. “This is a stunning victory for local artists,” said Lorna C. Hill, founder of Ujima TheaterCompany and a member of the Frontline Arts Collaborative. “We approached the administration and discovered open hearts and open minds. I am con-
fident that this is the beginning of a process that will leader to greater support for local artists.” Baskin was pleased to note the Albright Knox’s Open House: Domestic Thresholds exhibit at the Northland Workforce Training Center, which features East Side artist, Rodney Taylor. Rodney unfortunately passed away a few months ago, but his work continues to shed light on life on the East Side of Buffalo. Baskin wants to build on this exposure by pursuing more dialogue with leadership at AlbrightKnox and Northland and other large institutions in order to discuss more inclusion and partnerships with smaller arts organizations. John Baker, a local artist who has been advocating on behalf of Buffalo’s artistic community for forty years voiced his support for the changes. Applications for arts and cultural funding are available on the Department of Environment & Planning website. For more information, please visit: www.erie.gov/environment/ and look for the section entitled “Cultural Funding”. The standard application for groups with operating budgets about $250,000 will also be available on this site. Please visit Legislator Baskin’s page at www.erie. gov/baskin/ for updates on future mentorshipworkshops which will be conducted at various community locations to assist in the understanding and completion of this process.
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"I Am Black History! Last Friday the Black History CommUniversity Campus wrapped up its first community learning event with a Black History celebration, exhibit and crowing ceremony. Each young “King” and “Queen” received a certificate and a crown. Marcus Brown President of Juneteenth and Pastor Blue, head of the local NAACP did the honors which took place at the Buffalo Urban League CRUCIAL Center. Hats off to the organizers and sponsors for this amazing weeklong cultural experience. Pictured on the this week’s cover (and at the top of this page) is Wisdom Osbone Harris, age 7 and his brother Wealth Harris Epps sons of Fragrance Harris Stanfield. In the group shot above, students’ perform “Lift Every Voice & Sing” at the Apollo Media Center, which they worked on daily with Sister Fragrance. She explains: “ They learned the meaning of the lyrics. The goal was that the children would have a better understanding of how songs were cries for help and consolation for hope unrealized and that music is not just about our own personal trials and triumphs, but those that will speak for our people for generations to come!”
Watch for the next Black History CommUniversity Campus event! Bro. Ron Draffin expressed the e xperience in a poem: Black history is world history Was the week of education Out of Afrika came all humanity Logic, even to a child’s imagination They tested and they tried As children are known to do But in the end they leaned in Eager to learn the truth From Hatshepsut to Mansa Musa A rich history before enslavement How King Shaka and Queen Nzingha Fought European advancement Queen of Sheba and King Taharqa both famously in the Bible Opened minds these mouths of babes They claimed their royal title Their potential endless and bright as the brightest star They know how amazing they will become And were crowned the future Kings and Queens they are
-By Ron Draffin
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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS SUN 2/16
ATTORNEYS
CLEANING SERVICE
LAW OFFICE OF DARIA L. PRATCHER, PC “Everything Real Estate” 523 Main Street (716)541-8574
SISTER DIANE'S CLEANING SERVICE
PRATCHER & ASSOCIATES Franklin Muhammad (Pratcher) Attorney 1133 Kensington Avenue (716) 838-4612
AUTO BEN’S Downtown Tire
50 Sycamore (cor. Elm) (716) 856-1066 or 894-1483
(770 )256-3271 Diane.Shakir@gmail.com Independent Contractor
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BAIL BONDS GIST BAIL BONDS
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BARBER SHOPS MASTERS TOUCH 1283 E, Delavan (716) 322-5641
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BOOKS ALIVE CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE 2275 Fillmore Ave. (716) 837-1118 ZAWADI BOOKS 1382 Jefferson Ave. 716-903-6740
FLORISTS MAUREEN’S Flower Market 441 Ellicott St. * 852-4600
TAILORS ANN RHOD’S Tailoring 3185 Bailey Ave. (716) 838-5633
WEBSITES SMALL BIZ WEBSITES CONTACT CHRIS PARKS (716) 249-4800
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wednesday February 26
Thursday February 27
Saturday February 29
Hustle for Health Urban Line Dancing for Seniors at Gloria J Parks: 3242 Main St. 11a
Jeremy Anderson Motivational Speaker in Educational Arena: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Zion Dominion lobal Ministries, 895 N. forest Rd, Amherst; free and open to the public; hosted by Canisius College Academic Talent Search Program; 888-3280. Free.
Black History Explosion: BUILD Community School 340 Fougeron St. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free breakfast and lunch!
Durham Central City Baby Café Info and support for pregnant and breastfeeding moms 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 200 Eagle St. (716) 427-0 Grief Support Group: Delaine Waring AME Church, 680 Swan Street, Thursdays, 6:308 pm. 716-842-6747. Thursday February 27 Yoga: 7 p.m. Kemetic Yoga (Egyptian Yoga) $10. Juneteenth Headquarters, 1517 Genesee St. Grief Support Group: Delaine Waring AME Church, 680 Swan Street, Thursdays, 6:308 pm. 716-842-6747.
Friday February 28 Roland Martin to Keynote SUNY ECC “Retention & Success of Students of Color in Higher Education” Conference: 8: a.m. – 5:30 p.m., City campus. 121 Ellicott Street Register at https://www.ecc. edu/drive-in-conference/ Black Tie for Black History Extravaganza: 7-11 p.m. The Metropolitan Entertainment. Complex ;1670 Main Street; $30 tickets @ Doris Records.
HBCU THINK TANK: East Community School 8:30a.m.-12noon featuring a panel of local HBCU Alum, financial aid info, step show; hosted by Gamma Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020
MEN LEADING BY EXAMPLE CONFERENCE: The Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center is hosting its annual men’s Conference on Saturday, February 29 from 10 a.m.to 1:30p.m. at their 555 Ellicott Street campus. For more info call (716) 645-1942. Among the participants pictured above from left: Judge Craig Hannah, Antoine Johnson, Pastor Larry Donaldson, Dr. Christopher St.Vil, Karl Shallowhorn and Dr. Darren Brown.
Saturday February 29
Sunday March 1
Columnist Eva M. Doyle Observes 41st Anniversary of the Eye On History Column: Merriweather Library 2 to 6 p.m. Admission free. 847-6010.
Book Signing: Emmanuel Kulu Jr. author of "I Black Pharaoh: Rise to Power" Burchfield Penney Art Center 2 -5 p.m. tickets available on Eventbrite.com.
Black History Black Expo: 1-4 p.m. Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center 825 Depot Ave., NF; (716)495-4416. Monday March 2
Tuesday March 3
Sunday March 1
The Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center FREE Men’s Conference: 10 a.m.to 1:30p.m 555 Ellicott Street campus.
Winter Bash 2020: Roosevelt Park 256 Millicent Ave. 1-4 p.m. Free events food music; hosted by Mayor Brown and Wintermission Buffalo.
Yoga: 7 p.m. Kemetic Yoga (Egyptian Yoga) $10. Juneteenth Headquarters, 1517 Genesee St. Hustle for Health Urban Line Dancing for Seniors at Gloria J Parks: 3242 Main St, 12pm - 1pm
HEAP OUTREACH: PUSH Buffalo, 429 Plymouth Ave 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monday March 2 8327 p.m. Kemetic Yoga (Egyptian Yoga) $10. Juneteenth Headquarters, 1517 Genesee St.
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR!
NORTHLAND WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER
MAYOR BYRON W. BROWN INVITES YOU TO 683 Northland Avenue LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NORTHLAND CORRIDOR
20
AND GROWING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE Challenger Community NORTHLAND CENTER News • t hec hallengernews.com •Februar y 26,2020 MAYORBYRON BYRONW. W.BROWN BROWNINVITES INVITES YOUTO TOWORKFORCE TRAINING MAYOR YOU
LEARNMORE MOREABOUT ABOUTTHE THENORTHLAND NORTHLANDCORRIDOR CORRIDOR LEARN ANDGROWING GROWINGOPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIESAT ATTHE THE AND NORTHLANDWORKFORCE WORKFORCETRAINING TRAININGCENTER CENTER NORTHLAND
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MAYOR BYRON W. BROWN INVITES YOU TO
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LEARN ABOUT THEWORKFORCE NORTHLAND WORKFORCETRAINING TRAININGCENTER CENTER NORTHLAND SESSIONS 683Northland NorthlandAvenue Avenue 683 ON-GOING PROJECTS! TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
ThereCENTER are 3,000 jobs to fill in Western New York NORTHLAND WORKFORCE nd out about all of the exciting projects, TRAINING with starting salaries paying $30,000 or more per 683 Northland Avenue 6:00pm-7:30pm investments and opportunities in the year in 5:00pm-6:00pm Manufacturing & Energy. Slots are filling orthland Beltline neighborhood, as well up fast for FallABOUT 2019. All THE you need is aSPECIAL valid ID PRE-ENROLLMENT LEARN how the new Workforce Training Center 6:00pm-7:30pm 6:00pm-7:30pm 5:00pm-6:00pm 5:00pm-6:00pm to start. We have PROJECTS! training, all we need is you. SESSIONS ON-GOING is creating high-quality employment SPECIAL PRE-ENROLLMENT SPECIAL PRE-ENROLLMENT Start building your career and futureThere today are 3,000 jobs to fill in Western New York LEARN ABOUT THE LEARN ABOUT THE Find out about all of the exciting projects, 6:00pm-7:30pm opportunities, honoring Buffalo’s 5:00pm-6:00pm with starting salaries paying $30,000 or more per SESSIONS SESSIONS ON-GOINGPROJECTS! PROJECTS! investments and opportunities in the ON-GOING Weat are currently enrolling for the Fall SPECIAL year2019 in Manufacturing & Energy. Slots are filling ndustrial heritage, and helping to revive Find out about is goingPRE-ENROLLMENT on Northland, asNew we LEARN ABOUT THEwhat Northland Beltline as well There are 3,000 jobs in Western New York There are 3,000 jobs toto fillfill inneighborhood, Western York Find out about the exciting projects, Find out about allall ofof the exciting projects, up fast for Fall 2019. All you need is a valid ID Semester. We offer education and training SESSIONS with starting salaries paying $30,000 or more per with starting salaries paying $30,000 or more per ON-GOING PROJECTS! as how the new Workforce Training Center he Northland residential neighborhood. investments and opportunities the investments and opportunities inin the to start. We have training, all we need is you. plan forBeltline the Beltline Brownfield Opportunity Area! year in Manufacturing & Energy. Slots are filling Manufacturing &York Energy. Slots are filling intointhe areas: Electrical Construction There are 3,000year jobs fill in Western New is following creating high-quality employment Northland Beltline neighborhood, as well Find out about all of the exciting projects, Northland neighborhood, as well Start building your career and future today up fast for Fall 2019. All you need is a valid ID with starting salaries paying $30,000 or more per up fast for Fall 2019. All you need is a valid ID opportunities, honoring Buffalo’s Machine Tool investments and opportunities in theTraining how the new Workforce Training Center asas how the new Workforce Center & Maintenance Electrician, year in Manufacturing & Energy. Slots are filling allall start. We have training, we need you. toto start. We have training, we need isis you. We are currently enrolling for the Fall 2019 Northland is Beltline neighborhood, as well heritage, and helping to revive is creating high-quality employment creating high-quality employment up fast for Fall 2019. Allindustrial you need your is your a valid ID and Start building career and future today Start building career future today Technology, Welding Technology, Mechatronics as how the new Workforce Training Center Semester. We offer education and training to start. We have training, we need is you. opportunities, honoring Buffalo’s opportunities, honoring Buffalo’s theallNorthland residential neighborhood.
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is creating high-quality employment We are currently enrolling for the Fall 2019 We are currently for the Fall 2019 Start career and futureenrolling today industrial heritage, and helping revivebuilding your industrial heritage, and helping toto revive opportunities, honoring Buffalo’s Semester. We offer education and training Semester. We offer education and training We are currently enrolling for the Fall 2019 the Northland residential neighborhood. the Northland residential neighborhood. industrial heritage, and helping to revive in the following areas: Electrical Construction the following areas: Electrical Construction Semester. Wein offer education and training the Northland residential neighborhood. Maintenance Electrician, Machine Tool in the following areas: Electrical Construction && Maintenance Electrician, Machine Tool & Maintenance Electrician,Welding Machine Tool Technology, Welding Technology, Mechatronics Technology, Technology, Mechatronics Technology, Welding Technology, Mechatronics For more information:
Beltline Brownfield Opportunity Area Thursday, March 5, 2020 •• New Northland Central For more For more information: Tenantsinformation: NORTHLANDWTC.ORG uffalo Urban 6:00-8:00pm Development Corporation Albright Knox, Northland Events • Location: Northland Central or (716) 436-3229 (716) 856-6525 The Shed Urban Development • BuffaloForFor more information: Corporation For more information: more information: For more information: (716) 856-6525 683Buffalo Northland Avenue 541 E. Delavan Construction NORTHLANDWTC.ORG Buffalo Urban Development Corporation NORTHLANDWTC.ORG Urban Development Corporation • (716) 436-3229 (716) 856-6525 oror (716) 436-3229 (716) 856-6525 For more information: Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (716) 856-6525
MAYOR BYRON W. BROWN
MAYOR BYRON BROWN MAYOR BYRON W.W. BROWN
For more information: NORTHLANDWTC.ORG or (716) 436-3229
MAYOR BYRON W. BROWN
Apply for 4th through 7th grades for our growing 4 – 12 school. Learn For more about our tuition-free, more information: collegeNORTHLANDWTC.ORG prep public charter school or (716) 436-3229 at our free family events.
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March 28, 10am–12pm Buffalo Collegiate
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AYOR BYRON W. BROWN
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