Homeless Voice; The Grinch That Stole Christmas

HOMELESS

A

s you know the cities are trying their best to totally get rid of the Homeless Voice. It has been and still is a battle that we are prepared to fight tooth and nail to win. Let me tell you that we probably would be the best shelter in the world if we did not have to sell this paper because it causes so many problems; but at the same time it gives us the freedom to run our program of taking everybody who comes to our doors.

We do not have some governmental agency trying to limit the number of people we can take or even the type of people we would be able to take, and for that matter, dictate the reasons why we have to discharge a client. All this plus having to spend

Wrong again, we did not and they thousands to get grants! And then to were challenged once again and they find out we have not been approved gave up. Then out of nowhere, the for the grant. Sometimes you will cities started to enforce this old law spend $10,000 to have a grant done by a professional and then to be told a that says no person can go in the paved portion of the street to solicit year later that you missed the grant by one point. I can also tell you that if business. This means that we cannot we were collecting donations for a get off the medians to sell the Homeless Voice. This meant a total loss of cause other than Homeless issues there sales and it also meant that we could would be no not have the ability to distribute the problem.

Our latest fight press and our religious views. They claimed safety as the reason, but they has been with the forgot about years ago when they city of Pembroke Pines. You see, Mayor Fekete ...continued on page 5 there has been a law on the The “Homeless Voice” sent this entire article to books for over 10 years that Mayor Fekete via email. We asked for him to says a person cannot go on to the paved portion of the street to solicit respond to this article, so he could express his own business. The cities have never views. We also asked him to send us any corrections enforced this law on the regular newspapers and the firemen. In or things he did not agree with. He did not respond their quest, first they tried to stop us to either question. This is the opinion of the but left the Herald and the Sun“Homeless Voice.” The fact that we called him Sentinel on the street. When that happened we took a few cities to non-caring towards the homeless is based on his court and they lost. So we were back on the streets. Then they came comments and attitudes expressed in one of several out with some other laws that re- meetings. He may have some form of love for the stricted everybody and thought the poor, but(Continued he didon page not5)express it to us.

Homeless Voice would give up.

“I do not want the Homeless coming up to my car to ask me for anything.”

I

walk by Susan quite a bit in the daytime and she is always busy being someone's friend. If she is not playing with Chris on the Nintendo game she is helping Helen Jones regain her strength from the stroke she suffered just a few months ago.

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She’s also the “I’ll do anything a normal holifor anybody if they need help” day season, the homeless girl and “It is such a were there that's what setting up makes her so Christmas the cafe for sweet.

In present for me the party. fact that's what makes every day of the Eh o ma e lce s hs them all so sweet. The year when I see person had part in homeless my Homeless agetting Susan and Mr. Riche the have a way of helping helping others c a f e t e r i a for the little ones. The homeless helping others who those who who come in ready Homeless Voice kids and the come in from the streets. It is need help.

Just like last from the streets.” YMCA kids had what every especially nice to see when famiother kid had for this very lies come in with nothing and my year when we had the low income families special holiday season. It is such guys and gals are ready to lend a from the local YMCA for a holi- a Christmas present for me every helping hand just like Sue. In this (Continued on page 10) day bash so the kids would have day of the year when I see my

Voice

Page 2

HOMELESS VOICE

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Para traducir de inglés al español: Vaya en Internet. Vaya: http://systran.aol.com/ para levantar a traductor. Vaya: www.homelessvoice.org para encontrar el artículo. Artículo del copy a la página del traductor. o llame 954-410-6275 para las direcciones

Page 3

December, 2003

HOMELESSVOICE.ORG

Happy Holidays to all. This year I will be celebrating Christmas with my new family. Sara, Lily (my four-month old daughter) and we will have our first Christmas together.

The back page displays an AD stating certain cities do not allow our vendors to leave the medians. Please take time to go to them. Let us all have a great end to this year.

-Mark Targett LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND TO: P.O. BOX 292-577 DAVIE, FLORIDA 33329 FAX TO: 954-926-2022 EMAIL: info@homelessvoice.com

ALL DONATION REQUESTS IN THE HOMELESS VOICE FOR ANY CHARITY ARE ADVERTISED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS WORDING A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION M AY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE IN THE STATE 1-800-435-7352 REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMM ENDATION BY THE STATE

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Voice

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LOIS’ LANE

T

he other day I happened to be wrapping a gift and my thoughts drifted back to another present I wrapped.

A c t u a l l y my son, oldest daughter and I wrapped a huge stuffed turtle for their younger sister...a Christmas present. Cathy and Michael had picked it out for Diane, who at the time was probably about 6 years old. So that it would be a surprise, Diane was banned to her room during the wrapping only being allowed out for a glass of water now and then. You can imagine how long it took. The kids wrapped it in the first layer of paper, using miles of tape. Then came the first box. Same wrapping procedure. A layer of paper and another box until we finished with one half the size of a washing machine. We had so much fun keeping this secret from Diane for a good hour at least. Now finished it was placed in a very conspicuous spot by the Christmas tree. We wouldn't let her touch it to see if it rattled or if it was heavy. When Christmas morning came she wasn't allowed to open it first. This might sound a little mean, but Diane had as much fun as we did. When she finally got to it, it took twice the time and twice the effort to unwrap, each layer she came to brought laughter and sighs at tackling another layer.

While the kids were younger, tree shopping was a

family affair; we actually took movies on the very first trip. Presents had to be put under the tree as soon as they were wrapped and each piece of clothing had to be wrapped separately...this way the kids had more to open. A couple of years we drove around looking at all the fancy decorations. We didn't h a v e much in the line of outs i d e decorations but from the first year I did our picture window with a sleigh and reindeer and trees and snow, it became a tradition. Our tree was decorated with probably six or seven times the number of lights "needed" for the size of tree. Everyone in the neighborhood admired it, and it was always in the middle of the front window. Santa always stopped at Gramma and Grampa's and filled the stocking. They were the first things the kids looked for. They were the hardest to fill and I think the most expensive and held a lot of necessary items like underwear and school supplies. And sometimes Santa lost a few presents in Mom’s bedroom.

Presents were hidden all over the house and coded so that only I would know who they belonged to, but the kids always managed to find them. Cathy became an expert in unwrapping and rewrapping them. She said it

What could we do for the homeless?

took experience but she rewrapped them so that I never knew they had been opened. It's funny how one thing will lead to another. “Hiding the presents all over the place” reminded me of the trunk full I would carry around for months.

One day, after shopping at K-Mart, I came out to the car, three kids in tow, only to find a flat tire. I made sure the kids stayed in the car while I dug out the spare and jack. It wasn't until Lois Cross, Volunteer of the year by the COSAC Foundation I was done, that I realized all three were in the I remember my first back seat, looking through the crack where the trunk opens and Christmas in Florida. Gone were had seen more than I wanted the white Christmases and enter them to. Questions of “whose the world of sun and open winwere they” were answered with dows…the breeze blowing the the standard. We have all used it tinsel into knots. I miss the smell at one time or another…. Oh, of a real tree (my beauty was an they are for the little girl across artificial), Christmas caroling. the street. I'm minding them for Jack frost on the windows.

Christmas is filled with her mother so they will be a surso many memories. For most of prise.

Now that my kids are us, they are good, happy grown, they look back at the mul- ones. The preparations start for titude spread around the living some in July with early Christroom and realize that, yes…they mas present shopping. The gifts did get a lot, but wonder if it was are wrapped and stored by so impressive because they were thanksgiving. Plans are made for so young and small. What they family gatherings. The tree is all remember most, besides hunt- bought and trimmed. If you do ing expeditions, was finding the winter cleaning that's been done empty plate where Santa's cook- too.

There is another sceies were and his empty glass of milk. Of course, the reindeer had nario: the poor family. They eaten all the carrots too. Then wonder how will they ever be there was the question of how did able to buy things for their kids Santa get around the WHOLE so that they will have a happy WORLD in one night. What else Christmas. Decisions have to be made. What can I get the most than different time zones?

After everything was for my money? Will the kids feel opened and while the family vis- less than their friends who will ited, I finished the traditional tur- obviously be getting much key dinner. Eight hours of cook- more? The tree is bought on ing and the meal is finished in Christmas Eve when the prices fifteen minutes. Then another go down and is probably hour of packing up care packages smaller. Probably the family got for everyone to take home and together and made their own dishes, dishes, dishes. It was decorations. Remember the rope worth it though, because even we used to make from entwined now, some 25 years later, mom's circle of construction pastuffing and gravy are in demand. per? Snowflakes that were cut Before everyone went home my from tissue paper? Working at a kids and theirs would visit old happy holiday became a family friends and neighbors around my project.

(Continued on page 13) neighborhood.

Page 5

December, 2003

SUNDAY’S WORLD

L

et's face it. This year has been difficult for most people, my family included. Every time we turn on the TV news, we are bombarded with rapes, murders, wars, a failing economy, and a government which wants too much for a wealthy few and too little for those who really need help.

And the newspapers are filled with negativity from cover to cover.

If many of you are like me, when you see so much bad news-wars, pain, killing, hunger, and the list goes on and on-- you begin to feel depressed and wonder, "Why go on hoping and working towards a dream that probably will never come true?"

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a writer-- not just a writer, but a successful novelist. True, I have had small victories here and there amidst the stack of rejections I have gotten over the years, and still get daily. There has been many a night when I have gone to bed swearing I would never write another word, only to wake up in the morning and roll my wheelchair back to my computer, and write.

Lately it has been more difficult to take that ride from the breakfast table over to the writing desk. I find myself looking at my computer screen and thinking, "Why do it? Why bother, when no one wants my books?"

And then, Christmas came in October. The Marlins were battling for the National

League Wild Card playoff spot against the Phillies, and they won! My heart stopped, then started beating wildly. These young players believed in themselves and in their abilities. It was contagious; and I began to believe again, too.

Next the Marlins played the Giants.

All the odds makers and the newspapers headlines boasted, "Fish No Match for Barry Bonds," and doubt seeped into my head. But then I saw the faces of the boys I had come to love as dearly as my own family; and I saw a look in their eyes that said, "We are good. We know our worth--and we can win."

And win they did.

Then came the National League Pennant Series. I sat on the edge of my seat as we faced and beat the great Sammy Sosa, who turned into "Sammy So So" as the Fish faced the Cubs down and defeated their supposedly invincible pitchers, Prior and Woods, back in the Windy City.

My husband Jim and I celebrated by decorating PJ, our Marlin green vehicle, with posters and slogans. We yelled to our family, our neighbors, and our friends, "GO MARLINS!" And each time I yelled, I began to believe stronger, not only in the Marlins' ability to clinch the Pennant, but in my belief that I was in command of my own destiny.

The Marlins now have won the World Series. And they did it because they knew they could. All the history of the New York team and all the stories about their great wonderful play-

ers did not scare my boys, who played from the heart--who didn't allow fear or doubt to keep them from their dream of winning.

I, for one, am ecstatic over their success. But more importantly than their win is the hope and joy they have given to us, the people of South Florida.

All through the series, I read many newspaper articles which call my beloved boys "The Little Team That Could." On Saturday night, October 25th 2003, they were no longer the little team that could, they were the team that did. It no longer mattered what other people had thought or doubted about them, or what the reporters had written about them, or how the non-fans joked about them, because they had proven themselves to be the "best of the best," and now nothing else mattered.

Their win made me happy beyond words, not just because the team played well, proving again and again that baseball is one of the best games in the world. The Marlins proved to me once more that life is good.

(Continued from page 1)

many letters and emails that it was unsafe for them to sell the paper and that it should be outlawed." But, when we did a public records search we saw only complaints about the homeless. Not one letter mentioned anything about safety. Not one letter…. One letter even said they were afraid to catch Hepatitis from a homeless person if they walked next to their car.

We met with the City of Pembroke Pines and at the meeting was Mayor Fekete, who in our opinion turned out to be the biggest advocate against the poor and the Homeless. We went to the meeting with the spirit of cooperation and thought that we could make a plan that would be agreeable to the city

and us, but that did not work. It is so the street. We told the Mayor that, if a person in the car solicited to us amazing how many of the city politiand wanted to buy a cians have their Homeless Voice we names on Boards of We told him we should be able to go charities and in the paved say very bad things could not make it out portion of the street about the Homeless.

One Commissioner financially, working to make the sale. He said we could not. from a city said all from the medians We told him we H o me l e s s people should be com- but he acted like he could not make it financially, working mitted to an asyfrom the medians lum. Mayor Fekete could care less. but he acted like he did not want the could care less. He had a very pomHomeless or poor approaching anypous and uncaring attitude.

City one's car. We told Mayor Fekete that we were going to challenge the Manger Dodge and the Police Chief did not make any rude comments at state law because of the way the all. Mr. Dodge at least offered some statute is written. It says no person (Continued on page 6) can solicit from the paved portion of

If you truly believe in who you are and you know your own worth, then nothing is impossible.

wanted to remove us from the streets. They used phrases like: “I do not want the Homeless coming up to my car to ask me for anything.” So we tried to meet with some of these cities. Some were nice but some put their nose up like it did not matter what we said. Some would say that "It was the homeless they cared about and that they have received so

Sunday showing support for her team, while her strength is renewed.

And if you truly believe in who you are and you know your own worth, then nothing is impossible.

Each of you has a dream, one that you maybe have set aside or even tossed away due to rejection and frustration.. Please– go retrieve it, dust it off, and embrace it once more. It's so easy to let doubt, lack of self-confidence, and fear get in the way of life.

You are good, your dream is good, and you can each win the World Series of your dearest wish.

Take a tip from the Fish-don't be satisfied with nibbling on small bait. Work towards catching the biggest whopper of your goal, hang on tight, and reel it in as your destiny.

Thank you Jeffery L., Skipper Jack, Pudge, Jeff C., Juan P., Miguel C., Juan E., D. Lee, Alex G., Luis, Josh, Brad, Carl, Mark, Dontrell, Ugi, Chad, Loop, and all the rest of you for bringing us Christmas In October.

I love you all.

By Sunday Uher

Voice

Page 6

HAPPY HANNUKAH

(Continued from page 5)

other ways to look for funding and suggesting that maybe we should start reconsidering how we could raise our money. He seemed to be concerned that all this is going to affect us.

We knew Mayor Fekete would not change his mind so we asked if there was any other places in the city that were public spaces that we could use and places that he thought would not be impacted by us selling the Homeless Voice.

In other words, we asked what area in the city could we sell the paper that would not be too intrusive and not upset any person. He said he was not going to answer that question. I pleaded with him that we did not want our vendors to be harassed if we decided to do other public locations like City Hall or the CB Smith Park. I asked the Mayor again. I said, “I am asking you a question and want to know where we can sell our paper.” He declined once again. Then I told him he was forcing us to use other means to distribute the paper and I could see that Door-to-Door was coming near.

I explained that the Supreme Court states that knocking on a person’s door is a protected right and those people trying to sell papers or distribute papers or religious views would be allowed. He said, and I am not quoting verbatim…You mean the Supreme Court is going to take away MY right to privacy?

We discussed that; and I told him that we thought going Door-to-Door was way too intrusive and we thought some people would be intimidated by having a stranger knocking on their doors. We also knew that some people go out of their way and make rude comments to our vendors like, “Go get a job you lazy bum”, and that if one of our vendors knocked on one of those person’s door that they would get really mad. I tried to drum it into his head that we don’t want to do Doorto-Door and that he should give us some areas where we can sell the paper. Mr. Mayor said our vendors would not go Door-to-Door.

I told him we would be selling the paper some place in his city if we have to have the United States Marshal Service enforce a

court order, if he tried to use the police to stop us. I don’t know what you are thinking after reading this, but I know what I am thinking. “How could it come to this? Getting a court order to sell a homeless newspaper!”

It is true. You have no idea what all the street homeless newspapers have to go through in the USA. Court case after court case to have Hopefully the mayor will open his the right for the poor to have a heart like the Grinch did in the movie. voice! It is election time in the City of Pembroke Pines you would think he would offer at and I hope the citizens of that city least one location. But no, he did realize that this mayor is going to not. Many people don’t really underexpose his residents to all kind of stand homeless issues and we cerDoor-to-Door sales. He is taking us tainly don’t want to scare them by from the most public place (the knocking on their door. And what streets) and forcing us to the most about the senior citizens who are private public place (the doors of afraid of just anybody knocking on homes). In an Ohio case the Sutheir door? Is it fair to expose them preme Court ruled going Door-toto this situation? I say it is not fair Door was a First Amendment right. but if we get totally banned from the You would think after all this pleadstreets, it will be our only way to ing with him and explaining that we don’t want Door-to-Door because survive. I thought maybe if we had to go Door-to-Door that we would we thought it was too intrusive and (Continued on page 9) that the streets were the best place;

HANNUKAH “Festival of Lights” Dec 20th Legends have been interwoven with historical fact to create what we now know as HANNUKAH . The historical facts are described in I Maccabees 4: 36-59 in which Judah Maccabee defeats the Greco-Syrian army in 165 BCE. While Judea was under Hellenistic rule, pagan worship took place in the Temple. After the Maccabean victory, Judah found enough undefiled oil in the Temple to rekindle the menorah. However, there was only enough oil to last one day. Miraculously, it burned for 8 days.

Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. Kwanzaa is neither political nor religious and despite some misconceptions, is not a substitute for Christmas. It is simply a time of reaffirming African-American people, their ancestors and culture. Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili, has gained tremendous acceptance.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA • • •

Dec 26: Umoja (Unity) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, and nation.

Dec 27: Kujichaguila (Self Determination) - To create, name and define our lives for ourselves.

Dec 28: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) - To build and maintain our community while working with others to solve problems.

• Dec 29: Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses to profit from them together.

• Dec 30: Nia (Purpose) - To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community.

• Dec 31: Kuumba (Creativity) - To leave our community for beneficial and more beautiful than we inherited it.

• Jan 1: Imani (Faith) - To believe in our people, teachers, and leaders and the virtue and victory of our struggle.

There are many different ways to spell Hannukah or Hannuka or Channukah or Channuka.

Page 7

December, 2003

MERRY CHRISTMAS

My Christmas Wish

I

am 6 and one of the ten thousand homeless children that live on the streets of Haiti. I am 34 and just bought my second house. I am Buddhist. I am the mother of 3 children whose lives were stolen by starvation. I am only 26 and made my first million. I am sick and cannot afford treatment. I am 55 and still looking for my first big investment to make it big. I am 12 and not had anything to drink in over three days. I am in business school. I am someone who could not afford school. I am someone who only travels first class. I am someone who cannot find water. I am the truth, I am the life, I am the way. I am

woman. I am Muslim. I am suffering. I am your enemy. I am black. To understand the truth is to feel for the suffering of all. We all suffer; the rich with their anxieties about what they are attaining and the orphaned 5 old that lives on the streets of Peru.

When did we decide it was more important to attain than to feed the hungry? When you are hungry, I am hungry. Jesus once said, when I was in jail you did not visit Me, when I was hungry you did not feed Me and when I was naked you did not cloth Me. I believe Jesus was trying to say that we all are one; that we must only live as one. I think Christmas helps people understand that.

Christmas is the celebration of understanding it is better to give than receive. With this in mind, this Christmas we should really celebrate who Christ is by making sure no one goes to bed hungry and no children will be homeless in the street. We must understand that thirst doesn’t care that it is Christmas. This Christmas theme should be, “To Have, is to Have Way Too Much.” This Christmas 80 thousand people will die because of no food, water, or proper health care. Not to mention proper sanitation and HIV/AIDS. The other day, a lady lost her life in Haiti giving birth because she did not have the onedollar to enter the hospital to give

Oh!!..They're So Unhappy.

My Teddy Bear Friends are missing their White Roses.

Someone has taken them away!

O

ver the past couple of years that I have been writing articles for the Homeless Voice, I have been inspired by emails and so many articles I have found on the internet.

Just now I was on the net again, looking for something specifically for Christmas and came across a site that broke my heart.

Here we are all planning for the holiday and what we are going to buy for our kids. We here at the homeless voice plan to help families with children and give suggestions on how to help out the homeless and say how we could change our hearts toward those who are so less fortunate.

Please ...Will you Help Me? My Name is Bluebird, I've been flying around for a long long time.

Bluebirds are supposed to bring Happiness to everyone they know, but... Some of my Teddy Bear Friends are very, very unhappy. I cant find their Happiness.

Can you help me bring their happiness Back to them......Please!!!

With all our plans I think most of us have forgotten about the moms and dads whose little one has been taken from them, whether it be by kidnapping, justice system or death.

When I used to live at my house, I would always drive by the cemetery on Taft street and during the holidays see all the child-like decorations on the graves. More than once I have walked that plot, looking at the names and ages and praying for their parents. What must these special times be like without them.. The hole in a parents heart is never filled, nor would it be for the rest of the family members. What could be worse?

Not knowing where your child is! That’s what's worse. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and suffering. We all have commented at some time or another...every time the phone rings or the door knocks, my heart jumps. Can you ever imagine how those mom’s and dad’s hearts must jump and sink.

I am not qualified to say anything more on this subject, but I want to print what I found on this website.

Listen in your mind and heart to a baby music box while you read “Teddy Bears and Whit Roses.”

Please pray for these families. Please keep your eyes and ears open as you go about your own holiday preparations. Watch for a little one who might stray from parents or babysitter. Watch, always...no matter what time of year...for anything suspicious looking where a child is concerned.

Love, Lois

If you think you have seen a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children directly at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Callers without access to the US 800 telephone system should call 001-703-522-9320.

This Christmas 80 thousand people will die because of no food, water, or proper health care. birth to her child. The child will spend its first Christmas orphaned over one dollar. I had enough money in my couch to stop that child from being orphaned. I hope this Christmas we all come together as one and really throw the big guy a birthday bash by helping all who suffer.

Aaron Jackson Executive Director The Chick Grant Foundation

Teddy Bears and White Roses A teddy Bears Garden is filled with love of White Roses sent from Heaven above.

Teddy Bears and White Rose, True friends will always be For Teddy Bears and White Roses Have a bond that we cannot see.

White Roses stand for Innocence, Purity and Charm A trait that all our children have when there has been no harm.

White roses also represent A hidden world within, of secrecy and silence , A child’s needs not fulfilled.

White Roses bloom abundantly thru Care and love and hope With teddy bears to wipe their tears When they cant seem to cope Without a loving Teddy Bear, White Roses may not bloom for Teddy Bears seem to know How to share within their gloom

The hidden side of Roses are ones that should not be For Children are White Roses to bloom abundantly copyright Cuttyhunk@aol.com1998

Voice

Page 8

NEW LIFESTYLES

A

s some of you I often wonder if the rest of the world remember we figured out that having a wrote a story of Jackie Robinson. person who suffers from a hearing The man who got frustrated because he disability as well as a speaking could not hear and disability is not too hard to work with. talk.

As the story said, we got him his two-way est exits on both sides of the hall- to communiagain, email pocket device so he could way” This makes it so easy. cate have some form of communica- And Jackie has also taught staff Jackie kept Jackie with his new communication tool. tion with his friends and staff some new phrases in sign lan- on typing IM Jackie can now communicate with us and here at the shelter. We also have guage and we are working on in my cell we with him. Thank you readers. a way to vibrate him if there is a getting him to say a few words. phone from fire in the building and type these It is so cool to see us both smile his pocket device. I thought he Jackie is full of surprises. I often words “Fire.. Fire… Do not use for reasons other than to calm was just having a problem typing. wonder if the rest of the world elevator and go towards the clos- him down. In the last article I Later I realized he was trying to figured out that having a person said that even staff could learn tell me INSTANT MESSAGE. who suffers from a hearing disfrom the homeless and Jackie So Lois got up from her desk ability as well as a speaking disproved that once again. faster than ever before and Jackie ability is not too hard to work Sending him an email is fun fit right in and we were chatting with. Thank you Jackie for teachand it works but what happens using AOL’s IM’s feature. In the ing us so-called professionals when Jackie is right in front of last article we also talked about something new.

-Sean Cononie you and you were trying to Jackie’s clothes, it was so funny, Homeless Voice of Florida communicate. Sending emails the day he went to Lois’ desk he scononie@homelessvoice.com would be a little harder and was wearing a dress shirt and he his having to use the small looked like he was an executive. keypad on his pocket device to fully explain something to us would cause any man to ob and Ann had waited to have talking and laughing as they recounted get angry. So as we kids until they were financially the events of the morning. They all were passing notes stable. They both worked at a fell silent however, when they saw to each other trying power plant right outside of their town. their home engulfed with flames. Fire When they had saved up enough fighters were on every side trying fuAccording to The United States Conference of Mayors: money, they moved into a furnished tilely to put out the blaze.

DID YOU KNOW THAT WHEN IT Two hours later the house three-bedroom home with That day would stood smoking in the cold a reasonable mortgage.

CAME TO… as the Petersons huddled After they had their son families who visited food pantries the problems vary be remembered air together on the sidewalk. A Troy, Bob took on extra from state to state. For instance in Seattle, one can receive, as one of the candle had destroyed sevhours so that Ann could along with products that they purchase, supplements from the stay home. They contin- best Christmases enty percent of the house food banks. These food banks have a supply of donated foods and nonfood grocery essentials. Because the food supply at food and most of their belongued to live comfortably banks is limited, families and individuals are limited to visiting They went to a when their daughter Emma any of them had ings. a food bank only once or twice a week. Also, to avoid duplicanearby hotel and Bob called was born. For the next ever had. tion of services, the City of Seattle uses zip codes for tracking. their insurance company five years the Petersons It is not uncommon for food bank participants to visit while Ann tried to reassure had many great memories more than one food bank because of need. Families and indiin their home. Starting holiday tradi- the children that they would still have a viduals are not turned away if they visit a food bank out of their tions, lazy summer days, and ordinary good Christmas. But she also had her catchment area. They are served and encouraged to use the food days of just enjoying each other’s com- doubts. She ran out to the store and bank in their neighborhood. pany. The family embraced the birth bought as many presents as she could The Homeless Voice food pantry allows someone to of their new arrival Natalie and consid- afford; the kids had to have something. get food one time a month in most cases, however if it is emergency we will not turn anyone away. The Homeless Voice does ered themselves the luckiest people in When she returned to the hotel Bob not use zip codes but we do handle only the South part of the the world. Little did they know that a and the kids had made little snowflakes County. Our zone is from State Rd 84 to Miramar Parkway. bitter cold day three years later would out of napkins and hung them around Great food pantries like the Cooperative Feeding Programs the room. Bob had turned on some change everything. serves many meals a day as well as serving many families who The winter morning started off Christmas music and they were jumphave been faced with poverty issues for a long time. They are as usual. Bob made oatmeal in the ing on the beds singing along loudly. always in need of donations of food. Please remember to buy kitchen while Ann settled the children Ann laughed and joined her family. some extra food and bring it to them there telephone number is That Christmas Eve they all down at the table. With only two 954-792-2EAT. weeks until Christmas the kids were slept in the same room and when We at the Homeless Voice are asking questions to the govvery excited. They had written their morning came the kids opened their ernment, since the rise of families not being able to have adequate food for their families, when and if the food stamps alwish lists to Santa weeks before and few presents gratefully. For the rest of lowance will increase. We are asking cities across the country were chatting enthusiastically about the day they sat around singing carols what are they doing, are they supporting their food pantries by what he would bring. After breakfast and laughing together. What mattered setting up pantries in every city. We are also asking the the whole family went into town for was that they were together and that churches what they are doing to the annual Christmas parade. The none of them had been hurt in the fire. combat starvation. Too many times Petersons were having a great time They loved spending time together churches only help parishioners and even when the parade was interrupted whether it be in their familiar old forget about the starving homeless for a couple of minutes to let a fire house or in a tiny hotel room. That and poor people in the community. truck go by. The festivities ended day would be remembered as one of Remember what Jesus said, If you when Santa went slowly by on his float the best Christmases any of them had feed one of these you have fed me.

Some churches go out of their way complete with his reindeer, elves, and ever had. to help the poor while some disre-Sara Cunningham hands full of candy being thrown to the gard them completely. crowd. The Petersons’ car was full of

B

Page 9

December, 2003

NEW LIFESTYLES

I

'HOMELESS PLEASE HELP GOD BLESS'.

used to live in Henderson, half eaten Big Mac, these cons Nevada, just next door to Las are very real. Which leads me to Vegas. My husband and I my experience over Christmas of learned very quickly that the 1995.

We had only lived there town was full of con-artists, rip offs, scams and any other devious for six months but had learned means to get you, and get you very quickly never to trust a sogood. There are people who stand called-homeless person on their at the stop light of freeway exits word. Until one special day, my holding cardboard signs pleading husband and I had been out for help. 'HOMELESS - Christmas shopping at Toys-RPLEASE HELP - GOD BLESS'. Us. We had just spent well over When they are offered a sand- $200 on tons of toys for our two wich by a kind soul they refuse it children. It would be an awesome Christmas this year and demand The thing that really as work was going money. Makes y ou wonder caught my eye though extremely well for my husband and I where they got was the shopping cart had just started my that pack of filled with all their new job. cigarettes in their shirt pocket worldly possessions. It As we walked out of the store, there and the 32 oz was overflowing with on the curb, begBig Gulp sitting blankets, coats, shoes, ging for a hand out, at their feet. sat a man in his mid These pants.

-thirties. Our age. very same The weather was 'homeless' folks have been followed on different beautiful, it was 70-some degrees occasions by suspicious news and the sun was high in the sky. reporters. It's amazing to find out Yet this man had on a coat and a that these people are far from sweater and what appeared to be homeless and are usually living several layers of shirts. His face better than you and me. Many was sad looking, tattered from have been followed back to the harsh desert winds. All hu$250,000 homes with a Jaguar mility had left him, it was apparand a BMW in the driveway. ent. Beside him sat his teenage These cons actually get dirty for daughter, probably 15. She held a work instead taking a shower like cardboard sign that said 'HOMELESS - PLEASE HELP the rest of us.

Unfortunately for the real HUNGRY'.

The thing that really homeless folks out there who would be very thankful for that caught my eye though was the

shopping c a r t filled with all their worldly possessions. It was overflowing with blankets, coats, shoes, pants.

Amongst all that dirty and shabby clothing was a teddy bear.

It's face peeking out from the cart underneath a dirty brown jacket.

One of it's eyes were missing and it appeared to have lost some of it's stuffing. My guess was this teddy belonged to the young girl sitting on the curb, sign in hand. I imagined that it probably used to sit proudly upon a frilly lace pillow amongst other stuffed animals in a young girl's yellow & white bedroom. One that was only a memory now.

I watched shopper after shopper walk by this humble man and his tired child. But not my husband. He stopped and handed the man a $20 bill. The man got to his feet and shook my husband's hand and said "Thank you.

Thank you so much. This is very generous of you. You have no idea how many people walk by and whip nickels at me and tell me to get a job and get a life. I can't thank you enough." He had a tear in his eye as he smiled at my Knight In Shining Armor.

He went on to tell my husband that he had only been homeless for a few months. Him and his wife and daughter had moved to Las Vegas because they were told the work was plentiful. Unfortunately things

We are still trying to do the medians before we go Door-to-Door so please remember our vendors may not be able to come off the medians to bring you your paper. So if you see them, you can pull over to the side of the street or go to the turning lane and have them come to your car that way you can get your paper. I’m sorry for this inconvenience and please don't get mad at the vendor if you are beeping and they don’t come out to your car.

We all have to do some extra work to pick up a copy of the Homeless Voice. As stated we are

trying every method to avoid going Door-to-Door. Even though the Mayor had a hard nosed attitude we are still trying to work within the guidelines so we don’t bother any person at home, again trying to be that good community member. This Mayor states it is about safety and that is why he wants the vendors off the street. However, usually the Herald or the Sun-Sentinel vendors who are hit by cars are hit because the driver ran over the median. I don’t know what this guy, the mayor, is thinking.

Plus, now we are going to have people moving over three lanes of traffic

(Continued from page 6)

pass out free stickers so people would put them on their windows if they did not mind us going to their door. Then if someone did not have a sticker we would not approach that house. I also thought the same thing for cars. If they had a sticker on their windshield then we would approach their car because that sticker means that they were soliciting us to come to their car. I thought of everything so we did not have to disrupt people in the city of Pembroke Pines. I know that we will pick Door-to-Door only if we lose the court case and only if we can’t work the medians.

We want to be a good community member and not bother people; so I need to figure out what to do, and this is where you come in.

“I am asking you a question and want to know where we can sell our paper.”

WE NEED gift certificates for Publix or Winn-Dixie Call 954-925-6466

didn't work out for him. He said that when things got tough his wife took off and things just went downhill from there.

There are many lessons I have learned in this world. One is to be thankful for what you have.

I don't know whatever happened to that man, his daughter and her tattered teddy bear, but I can only hope that things worked out for them. I am thankful for a healthy, happy family and will never forget the image of that day.

By Amanda Formaro

to get a copy of their favorite paper. I can now see that accidents are going to happen because people will want to get their Herald or SunSentinel or even their Homeless Voice. I can see it now, cars weaving to get to the turning lane.

The city also says to have the customer pull off to the side of the street to get their paper. What are they thinking! How many accidents are caused by people pulling off and then back on the street. So if you are going to go to the turning lane or be the person who pulls off to the side of the street please be careful and plan ahead. I am going to ask the cities, “Who will become liable if they want us to sell our papers in this fashion?”

In Florida more pedestrians (Continued on page 13)

Voice

Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To Whom It May Concern: Please feel free to use this information in an issue of The Homeless Voice.

Some years ago, my family discussed how to manage our holiday gift buying challenge. With seven adult children in the family, and ten grandchildren, the gift buying challenge was becoming intense! Of course, we went through the process of drawing names, and each person buying only one gift, but since we were so rarely able to be all together for the holiday, this became difficult as well, so we agreed to do something new! We agreed that instead of buying holiday gifts, we would each make a contribution, in the amount we would otherwise have spent on holiday gifts, to an organization set up to provide housing for the homeless.

Each year I have found an organization to receive my gift, and this year I am pleased to be able to offer my gift in honor of my family to the COSAC Building Fund.

Sincerely, Happy Holidays!

Claire B. Pompano Beach

(Continued from page 1)

paper you will see all these kids who came to us in just the last few weeks. We had no room for them so we had to make an emergency hostel, that meant one big room like a hostel at a hotel or what some would call an emergency dorm room. This meant we had to use the cafeteria and that meant our homeless had to give up the rec room. That meant the kids came first and no movie for a while and no room for them to hang out and play cards. This was another Christmas present for me, not one client complained that they had to give up their play time. This was so amazing for me to see how they knew that these families and little ones needed a place to stay.

Of course Sue was there helping the moms getting the kids ready for sleep and also giving up her fun time as well as playing with Chris on the Nintendo. But this also meant Sue had time to really get to know someone else just like her.

Mr. Riche is the man who helps staff all the time. He comes home from vending all day and then helps out until midnight getting the new clients to their new bed. You would

hear him meet a new client for the first time and before the client could say another word Mr. Riche would say "Did you eat tonight?"

He made sure all new people had what they needed for the night. If someone was a little dehydrated he would get them a Gatorade. If someone had HIV and was weak he gave them a health shake to give them some vitamins they needed to build up their immune system. I guess this is what makes them the very special couple that we wanted to write about. I wished the rest of the world would learn from my homeless when it came to man helping man.

They may not gets A's and B's on their life-skills with the multitude of problems that they have some, which some are their own fault and some that are not. But they sure get an A+ when it comes to lending a helping hand. This is Christmas for me because I am a Christian and for some of our other readers I would like to say happy Hanukah and Happy Kwanzaa. But since I am a Christian, I remember the story of Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus. When Mary and Joseph were ready to give birth their was no room at any of the inns, they finally met

“I often wonder if Mary and Joseph had the same problems as our homeless do when they try to find a bed.”

I Buy at Top Prices.

E-mail Me Your Inventory comicsbuyrsell@aol.com 954-614-7326

this one person who said the only space I have is my stable. The stable became their shelter.

The community pitched in., the shepherds came, the animals came, and then the community got together to lend a helping hand. Just like my people who I love dearly, my homeless. I often wonder if Mary and Joseph had the same problems as our homeless do when they tried to find a bed.

I must thank you the readers who made our stable possible for the pregnant moms who have come to us. I thank you the homeless who were the towns people and the shepherds who help these families just like Mother Mary and Joseph. I thank the pets including little Lady who gives the little ones smiles on their faces and in some cases those smiles surely give them warm chills.

Lets make the world a better place.....

Lend a helping hand to those who need it.

And if it can't be a hand, just give a smile to someone you know who is down on their luck. A smile goes a long way.

Sean Cononie Homeless Voice of Florida scononie@homelessvoice.com

• Talk to your Human Resource Manager about how you can donate money to help the homeless thru a payroll deduction for the COSAC Foundation

American Express Will Match Any Donation Their Employee Makes

We Need Men's Clothes Call 954-925-6466

Page 11

December, 2003

LOCAL NEWS

Pines online pharmacy closes the name of TropicalRx.com in a banner ad,'' the father said.

SIMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE The boy then filled out a simple online questionnaire, lying about his age and complaining of pain, and bought Vicodin ES (for Extra Strength) using his father's credit card. When the boy was caught in school with the pills, the father traced what had happened through his credit card and the family computer. ''I called the DEA, the Florida Medical Association and the state medical board,'' the father said in a telephone interview, adding that he also complained to the bank processing the creditcard billing and that the bank said it would stop servicing the pharmacy.

Joe Kilmer, the DEA's South Florida spokesman, declined to confirm or deny whether the agency was investigating the pharmacy.

In the past few weeks, the DEA has yanked the controlled-substance licenses of two Broward pharmacies, RxNetwork and Lifeline Pharmacy, for violating regulations by filling prescriptions based solely on online questionnaires.

In each case, the objections were to diet pills; neither pharmacy provided opiate painkillers to online customers.

A spokeswoman for the Florida Board of Pharmacy said Clinical Solutions had not surrendered its license and was still in good standing. The firm could reopen immediately if it so chose, she said.

Last month, when a reporter visited Clinical Solutions, pharmacist Ray Bean said the firm used several websites other than TropicalRx, but he declined to name them.

Cononie, who runs the Broward homeless group, believes the closing of Clinical Solutions ''doesn't stop a lot.'' ''I get e-mails every day offering to sell painkillers,'' he

Pressure from federal officials prompts the shutdown of a Pembroke Pines pharmacy that had specialized in serving online customers.

C

linical Solutions, a Pembroke Pines pharmacy that provided addicting painkillers to online customers, has stopped operating, one of its officers said Thursday. ''Because of the newspaper story and a lot of things, we closed down,'' company executive Mike Rodriguez said in a telephone interview. ''We don't want to be in any situation.''

The Herald wrote about the pharmacy last month after a reporter purchased Vicodin ES, an opiate, through one of the firm's websites, TropicalRx.com.

That site has vanished from the Internet.

Rodriguez offered no other information, and no one answered the phone at the pharmacy's office in far western Broward County. The announced closing came after at least two major complaints about the website.

Sean Anthony Cononie, head of the Homeless Voice in Fort Lauderdale, said he contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Broward Sheriff's Office and U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch of Pembroke Pines in early October after learning what the firm was selling. ''Something needs to be done,'' Cononie said. ''If it's against the law, it should be shut down. If it's not, then our ambition is to get a law passed.''

In a suburb of Chicago, meanwhile, a father complained about the website after his teenage son ordered Vicodin ES from TropicalRx.com and ended up in the hospital.

The father, who asked that his name not be used to protect his son's identity, said the problem began when a relative received a prescription for Vicodin after having wisdom teeth removed and didn't use all the pills. The boy took the pills, liked the effect, did a Google search for Vicodin and ''found

said.

L a s t month, a Herald reporter ordered Vicodin from another site, LePROSCRIBED: A month after selling a galRxStore.com, narcotic to a Herald reporter over one of which charged its websites, Clinical Solutions of South $145, plus a $49 Florida, a Pembroke Pines pharmacy, is shipping fee, for no longer in business.

60 tablets. PurMARSHA HALPER / HERALD STAFF chased from a chain pharmacy with a proper doctor's prescrip- able words. tion, those pills would have cost

BY JOHN DORSCHNER jdorschner@herald.com less than $60.

Published on November This online order, 14, 2003, Page 1C, shipped from the Netherlands, The Miami Herald turned out to be Paracod, not Vicodin. At The Herald's request, the pills were tested by the University of Florida toxicology laboratory, directed by Bruce Goldberger. He reported that the Dutch pills contained codeine, a painkiller not nearly as strong as the hydrocodone found in Vicodin. ''Codeine is on the low end of potency,'' Goldberger said.

PAINKILLER POPUPS Banner ads for painkillers are everywhere on the Internet. Last month, after the first Herald article on Vicodin appeared, several readers complained that when they searched for the story at Herald.com, ads popped up showing where they could pur- 6740 TAFT STREET,HOLLYWOOD chase the narcotic LOCATED ACROSS FROM WINN-DIXIE ON online.

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Voice

Page 12

HEALTH

H

ere at the Homeless Voice we get at least two people a month, who became homeless because they had a heart attack and lost their job, lost their apartment or even their house because they cannot afford to pay the mortgage. This is another reason the Homeless Voice recommends people to have long term disability and short term as well. If a heart attack hits you, you may be out of work for a long time so having these benefits helps you stay self-sufficient. A few months ago we told you that all our staff was trained in First Responders and AED training, which is another term for a defibrillator. These AED’s don’t cost an arm and a leg but they will help bring blood to your arms and legs. If you have had a heart attack in the past or a family member has, you may consider getting one of these. You can finance them or if you really need one give up your cable TV for two years. You may consider keeping aspirin with you at all times for yourself or for others. The Homeless Voice will be running these types of medical information stories that are related to homeless issues, but not all the time. We may run some that are very important to you our readers.

C

oronary attacks (commonly called heart attacks) result from coronary heart disease (CHD)blood vessel disease in the heart. Coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic heart disease are other names for coronary heart disease. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle itself-the myocardium-is severely reduced or stopped. This occurs when one of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle is blocked. The blockage is usually from the build-up of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances) due to atherosclerosis, and can lead to a heart attack.

E

xtensive clinical studies have identified factors that increase the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack. Some of these risk factors, such as being male or having a family history of heart disease, cannot be changed. However, other risk factors can be changed and can greatly reduce an individual's risk of heart disease. Remember to follow your doctor's recommendations concerning these factors.

Fortunately, many of the factors that contribute to heart disease are controllable through lifestyle changes. Remember, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease is self-awareness and education.

Smoking The risk of heart disease for smokers is more than twice that of nonsmokers. When a person stops smoking, regardless of how much he or she may have smoked in the past, their risk of heart attack rapidly declines.

Although death rates from heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases have declined slightly in recent years, these illnesses claim one American life every 34 seconds.

High Blood Pressure If you have high blood pressure, it is important to work with your doctor to lower it. A proper diet, losing weight, exercising regularly, restricting sodium intake, and using medication may all be required to lower your blood pressure to a healthy level.

OTHER FACTORS High fat/high cholesterol diet Family history of coronary artery disease Diabetes Lack of exercise Obesity (being overweight) Stress

T

he classic symptom of a heart attack is chest pain that is unrelieved by rest and often spreads or radiates through the upper body to the arms, neck, shoulders, or jaw. However, some patients may only experience chest pressure/discomfort, with or without other symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, fainting, fatigue, sweating, or nausea. In contrast with men, women are more likely to feel fatigue or nausea prior to a heart attack. They also feel pain high in the abdomen and chest, and even in the back, neck, or jaw. Whatever the nature of the pain, it does not have to be jarring or obvious for it to signal an impending heart attack. In fact, obvious pain is a better signal of an impending heart attack than discomfort or heartburn-like symptoms, which can be easThe classic symptom of a heart attack is chest pain ily ignored or mistaken for indigestion.

Up to 25 percent of heart attacks are symptom-free.

J

ust as some people experience no symptoms during silent ischemia, some people can have a silent heart attack without knowing it. Up to 25 percent of heart attacks are symptom-free. Of course, the absence of symptoms does not mean the absence of damage to the heart muscle. Unfortunately, people having a silent heart attack are unaware that they need to seek proper treatment immediately and additional heart-related events or damage may occur.

A

s a general rule, it is better to be safe than sorry. If a heart attack is suspected and any of these symptoms are present, this may indeed be a sign of a serious lack of oxygen-rich blood supply to the heart. Emergency medical help should be sought immediately. Physicians usually advise stricken individuals to first call 911, then to chew an aspirin and wash it down with a glass of water, while waiting for help to arrive.

First call 911, then to chew an aspirin and wash it down with a glass of water.

Page 13

December, 2003

HOBO JUNGLE

(Continued from page 9)

are killed than paper vendors, but no city has tried to outlaw pedestrians.

In Florida more bike riders get killed than newspaper vendors and I don’t see any mayor trying to outlaw kids riding bikes. There are a few commissioners who are really concerned about safety, but in this case this Mayor has made many statements against the Homeless. This is the same Mayor who, just a few years ago, allowed his firemen on the street but kicked us off. In fact they had a city ordinance that stated that no charity could collect on Pines and Flamingo and we were kicked off the corner but then the firemen went to that corner.

This Mayor has gone way out of his way to destroy this paper and I hope the voters in his city realize that we don’t want to go Doorto-Door. We feel that the street is the less intrusive means and I often wonder why he is forcing us to go to the most private public place and knock on someone's door. We feel that the voters really need to know the truth. They must know it was him, the Mayor, Mayor Fekete who forced us to go Door-to-Door because we had no other place to go.

We asked and we tried to be a good community member because we did not want to go Door-to-Door and the Mayor still refused to give us any area to sell the paper. Now he is going to be upsetting the community by forcing us to go Door-to-Door. I honestly think he does not want to get re-elected again. In this paper on page number 11, you will see my name in the “Online Pharmacy” story that was run in the Miami Herald in the month of November.

The funny thing is, that after you read the article, you will

wonder how this occurred in his city, an online pharmacy dealing in prescriptions for narcotics without the patient seeing a doctor. That is correct. Kids were, getting dope in the Mayor’s City. HOWEVER, we at the Homeless Voice were right on top of it. Maybe the Mayor should have been worrying more about the safety of children getting pain pills that could kill them than worrying about the homeless selling their paper when the traffic was stopped.

T h e city could have utilized their resources better and stopped this Online Pharmacy when it first opened its doors. What a misuse of valuable police services. The Pembroke Pines Police Department has always been advocates for the Homeless and for people who suffer from mental health issues. (I have often said that it is not the “officer,” but the orders that he must follow that are a problem.)

It is my opinion the Mayor is just using the police department to end the word Homeless in his city. It is OK that the Mayor did not monitor this drug situation like I did, because I was the one who took the information and flew to Washington to meet a member of Congress at the Capitol and showed him how easy it was to buy pain pills over the Inter-

net. The government is working very hard to shut these places down.

I feel like I am doing the Mayor’s job but I don’t mind because it seems I can prioritize my efforts better then he can. And also remember this agency was the leader in South Florida to go after Pain Clinics that were pushing narcotics.

We do much more than sell a paper. I must stress the fact that the Pembroke Pines Police Department does do a great job taking the homeless to shelters. They have always been friends to the Homeless.

The Mayor does a great job of ridding his city of the Homeless and dumping them at our shelter. You see the last sentence? He won’t let us sell the paper anywhere but the medians yet he expects us to use our funds to house his homeless. He should be very happy that I am still taking his homeless because I am letting my Christian values make my decision for me. If you live in the City of Pembroke Pines we want you to understand that it is not our choice to go Door-to-Door, we are being forced to.

We tried very hard and were willing to work other public locations instead of going Doorto-Door, but the Mayor failed to give us a public space. Mr. Mayor please let us know where we can go! Please reach out to the Mayor; maybe he just does not under-

Maybe the Mayor should have been worrying more about the safety of children getting pain pills that could kill them than worrying about the homeless selling their paper when the traffic was stopped.

stand. Maybe he needs to be educated a little or maybe he needs to rethink this. Could he really be a compassionate man but a little confused? Let’s see what he does with this problem. Will he be like the other city leaders who try to make sure that the policy they enforce is being done correctly?

After all, the entire statue states that as long as the solicitation is not being done in the paved portion of the street, the vendors should be allowed to go on the paved portion of the street to secure the donation or sell whatever their product is.

Then there is the question, should the city be sued for every paper vendor who was killed in the city because the city has never enforced this statue. Mr. Mayor, please look deep into your heart and see if you are making the correct decision; because any decision you make that interferes with our right to distribute our press or interferes with us doing what God commands us to do (in the book of Mathew), we will surely put your name in that “book” at the courthouse, you know, the docket.

This is the opinion of the Homeless Voice Sean Cononie Homeless Voice of Florida scononie@homelessvoice.org

Lost Bond Receipts?

Want Your Bond Back?

Call 954-410-6275

(Continued from page 4)

Another family might be in dire straights financially, for whatever reason it may be. Will the rent be paid, much less decorate the house? The electric bill? Will there even be a Christmas this year. Where to get help??????

And lastly, the homeless. They have no home to set up a tree, instead some sleep under a tree. Presents? If they had the money, would they be welcome in the stores to make a purchase, and who would be the recipient? Is there family somewhere that they are estranged from? Would they love, as a Christmas gift, to be able to go and visit them? Would they love to be able to go home to stay? Instead they survive and make the best of a bad situation. Any love that they

have in their heart is probably shared with their friends.

What could we do for the homeless?

Would you be so kind to invite one for dinner? That's a hard one, I know, because all your family and friends are gathered together and besides most people have a problem with strangers in their home. Make a care package from your own dinner.

But there are other things that can be done. Buy and wrap some tee shirts in different sizes (Be sure to code them as to sm. med.

And large.) and socks, socks and some hygiene products, deodorant, tooth brush and tooth paste, hair products, hair brushes and combs. And hold them in the trunk of your car. Anytime, for that matter, would be a good time to keep non-perishables like pack-

we need reporters Call the Homeless Voice 954-410-6275

ets of instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and soups. Gift certificates are good for any fast food place.

No matter what you are able to do, do this at least: Plan on making one effort in reconciling differences, whether it be with family, friends or neighbors. What is in our hearts is so important? Do not talk about it or wish about it, do it. My aunt told me so often…actions speak louder than words.

Lois Cross

Peace be with you and yours.

La paz esté con usted y el tuyo.

La pace è con voi ed il vostro.

A paz seja com você e o seu.

La paix est avec vous et le vôtre.

Frieden ist mit Ihnen und ihrem.

Voice

Page 14

HOMELESS VOICE

HELP PAY OFF OUR MORTGAGE We need just 41,900 people to send in a check for $20.00, Or 16,760 people to send in a check for $50.00, Or 8,380 people to send in a check for $100.00, Or 838 people to send in a check for $1,000, Or Just one wonderful person or business to send a check for the entire $838,000.00 Remember the donation is tax deductible!!

Please send your checks to:

The COSAC Building Fund P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 We do thank you

T

his year I have one simple request for the "we still need your help " column.

I feel like a little kid asking for presents or my two front teeth. Here it is, all I want for Christmas is our Mortgage paid off, Our Mortgage paid off. I wish I could put the tune in this article. Our campaign still exists, If we can’t get the mortgage paid off, we would love an interest rate of about 6 percent on the outstanding balance, that would save us about 2000.00 a month and make our mortgage payment go down from 8400.00 a month to about 6400.00. We would need the remaining balance financed over 30 years. So if anybody can get us a mortgage let us know. In fact all our campaigns still exist.

You the readers we thank you for helping us do what we do best. These children were hungry and you fed them, these children were without clothes and you clothed them, these children were without shelter and you opened our doors. Sound familiar? Jesus said these words. I know Jesus would not get mad if I thanked you on his behalf.

So I give each and every one of you a whopping "Thank you"

Page 15

December, 2003

HOMELESSVOICE.ORG

Do not buy a paper from him.

This man was arrested.

He is not authorized to ask for donations for the Homeless Voice or Helping People In America.

If you see this man wearing one of our shirts please call our Loss Pre-

vention Department at 954-2148529. If for some reason you cannot get a hold of us you may call the Police.

He sometimes wears a black stocking on his head.

He uses these intersections but May use more than what is listed: Commercial -411 Commercial and 31 St. Commercial and Powerline Oakland and 441 Oakland and 31st McNab and University Drive Commercial and University Commercial and Rock Island McNab and Rock Island Cypress and Powerline McNab and 31st

Keep in mind that he may even try to go to Dade in the future.

This Issue, Vendors should be wearing a bright yellow or a white shirt with ‘Homeless Voice’ in black on the front and back. If you see any other color shirts with this issue, please call LOSS PREVENTION at 954-920-1277

Things We Need Donated Soda Sneakers Laundry Detergent Pillows Linens for Bunk Beds Blankets Towels Cars Computers Motor Homes

Over the Counter Pain Medication Copy Paper Pens Notebooks House Telephones Sugar Butter Salt Coffee creamer

Liquid Bandage Medical Gloves Rubber Cloves Vitamins Face Mask Bleach Lunch Meats Milk VHS movies Hand Soap

Coffee Coffee Frequent Flier Miles Toilet Paper Lysol Spray Clorox Wipes Industrial Mops Brooms Pillow Cases Recreation Items

P le a se H e lp …

T h e R a in is D ro w n in g U s D O N AT E O N L IN E … @ b y u s in g

w w w.H o m e le s s Vo ic e .o rg

VOICE VOICE

HOMELESS HOMELESS

We may need you to pull over and make a donation

Cities are Changing and want us off the street So please do not get mad at our vendors if you are holding up money and they do not come to your car.

• I know this will be a big pain • We can only do medians for now • We are going to court

en español page 2

WE NEED

FREEZERS

...PLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE

Call 954-925-6466

Couple of the Month Article page 1