Insight News ::: 1.23.12

Courtesy of the Capri Theater

Speak Low When You Speak of Love A Va Vale l nttin lent ine’s e’s Da e’ D y mu musi sica ical co conv nver ersa sati tion ion abo bout b ut lov ove, ove ee, fea eatur tu urriing ingg TheoCapri Theater’s series offers a musical conversation ffoour uttsttan a di ing ng Twi win“Legends” Citi ities es per erfo form rmer ers: s: San anfo ford rd Moo oore re,, De Denn nniss Twin performers: Speaabout Sp Spe rs,, Juulove, rs liius featuring Col olli olli lins ns four and outstanding Den enni niss Og Ogle lesb sby. y.Cities Cap apri ri The heat ater err,pianist 2027 20 2277 Sanford and (pictured Dennis Broadw Br Bro way ay,, Mi MMoore n ea nn eapo poli po lis,, vocalists lis, MN. N. Sat atur urda day, y, Feb eb.left . 11to&right) Sun unda day, y, andOglesby, Feb b. 12, Dennis and The10concerts are Tiicket T Tic cket ts ar a e $2 $Spears 5 (aannd d $20 2Julius 0 for Collins. gro roup upss of or mor ore) e) aat nd7 cp.m. an n bSaturday, e or o dereed Feb. 11, Sunday, 12, 2012. thec eca apri apri ap rith th hea e 2012, ter. te r or org, gand , or 3ca calp.m. ll Ova ati tion onTi TixxFebruary at 8666-8 -811 8111 1-4 -411 1111

INSIGHT NEWS January 23 - January 29, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 4 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Remembering King is under withering attack: The Voting Rights Act and the rights it protects – for all Americans to be able to participate in free and fair This year, on the day our elections. South Carolina has nation celebrated Dr. Martin become ground zero in this Luther King, Jr., I proudly battle.

On one stood alongside side, civil NAACP State rights activists Conference and the U.S. presidents on Department the steps of the of Justice capitol building are fighting in Columbia, on behalf of South Carolina thousands upon for the annual thousands of King Day at the voters who Dome March would be and Rally. The disenfranchised event has grown by laws that into a massive introduce commemoration the first new over the years, Dr. Martin Luther financial and but this year it King, Jr. literacy-based took on a new obstacles to significance as Attorney General Eric Holder voting since we eliminated joined the commemoration, the poll tax and voting honoring Dr. King and tests. Fighting on behalf of pledging to carry forward his Americans like the students at South Carolina’s Benedict mission in the years ahead. whose student Looking out over the College, crowd of thousands, I reflected identification cards have been on how Dr. King risked deemed insufficient for use as everything to advance civil voter ID. And we are fighting and human rights in America. on behalf of senior citizens How, despite repeated threats born in South Carolina in a against his life, he spread the time when blacks often were message of non-violent civil not issued birth certificates. disobedience against unjust Now, for the first time in their laws throughout the Jim lives, they will need to pay Crow South and our nation as upwards of $150 to obtain the documents required by South a whole.

Dr. King’s leadership has Carolina’s voter suppression inspired Americans to win law.

On the other side, big victories that have moved like South our nation closer to the long- governors Nikki Haley expressed, but yet-unrealized Carolina’s ideal that our school children are suing to gut the Voting repeat every day: we are Rights Act after the Justice “one nation, under God, Department blocked the indivisible, with liberty and state’s discriminatory voter ID law. justice for all.”

It was an honor to stand Yet today, one of the greatest victories Dr. King VOTE TURN TO 6 helped win during his lifetime

By Benjamin Todd Jealous President & CEO, NAACP

Naomi Tuti delivering her message of Ubuntu at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast

Suluki Fardan

Tutu: Act for justice

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

Remembering Michael Collins

By Ivan B. Phifer Staff Writer

Nearly two-thousand Minnesotans turned out for last Monday’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast and to hear the message of keynote speaker, Naomi Tutu.

Tutu’s message was one based on the South African concept of Ubuntu, meaning shared humanity. “A spiritual advisor told me ‘how you do anything speaks to how you do everything,’” said Tutu, daughter of famed Nobel Peace

Prize recipient, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “We need to take that concept outside these doors and act for justice.”

Tutu said the ideals of the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have yet to be fully realized.

“We live in a world where our children don’t have access to education and the money we spend on ice cream could insure that every citizen of the world could have access to

clean water,” Tutu said. She continued, “We live in a world where a 3-year-old boy, Terrell Mayes, was shot in his own home. As long as our children are not safe, we are far from the Promised Land.”

Mayes was killed by a stray bullet in December while in his North Minneapolis home.

Tutu also said some socalled activist have become lazy in the struggle. “If a person

MLK TURN TO 8

The African American community has lost another giant in the world of education. At the age of 74, Brother Michael Collins died Sunday January 8 after a long fight with lung cancer.

“Minneapolis lost a great role model this week. Brother Collins was not only a talented educator, but a champion of the less fortunate and a dear friend to those who knew him,” said Congressman Keith Ellison.

COLLINS TURN TO 2

Red Tails

cretin-derhamhall.org

Pete Souza

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Tuskegee Airmen prior to a movie screening of Red Tails in the Family Theater of the White House, Jan. 13, 2012.

Michael Collins

Education Bryn Mawr students’ paralympic experience

PAGE 4

Aesthetics

Martha Reeves

PAGE 5

Business

Distracted?

Help yourself stay on task

PAGE 7

Full Circle

Is she wife material?

PAGE 10

Page 2 • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Insight News

insightnews.com

In the week after the President was elected Nobody Asked Me

By Fred Easter In the week after the President was elected, the comedic newspaper, “The Onion”, ran this headline: “Black Man Given Worst Job in America”.

Subsequent events have proven that tongue-in-cheek assessment to be all too true.

The current bevy of candidates for the republican nomination would like us to forget what a mess George W. left the country in. They talk as if Obama is the source of all the country’s problems. They are confident that America has already forgotten that George W. inherited a budget surplus from Bill Clinton. In fact, it was that budget surplus that W used to sell the country on the “temporary”

tax break for America’s richest citizens and its corporations that do business internationally.

They conveniently sidestep the fact that their colleagues in Congress consistently vote against initiatives they formerly supported just in order to thwart Obama.

Republicans seem to have difficulty telling the difference between the truth and a lie.

W spoke of a “temporary” tax break, but now that the “temporary” period has expired; republicans want to use the term

“class warfare” for those who want to let the breaks expire, as originally intended.

These would be presidential candidates speak of keeping corporate taxes low so that jobs will be created; when it’s the same corporations that shipped as many jobs overseas as they could.

Gov. Dayton finds himself fighting the same battle. He has proposed a budget that would give tax credits to companies that hire returning veterans, the unemployed and youth.

Republicans in our Legislature want to preserve tax breaks for those now enjoying them without regard for what jobs they ship overseas.

Wherever you turn, republicans are lining up with big corporate spending and ignoring the issues of “the American people” they reference at every opportunity.

They seem to be betting that massive television advertising, as the races heat up, will confuse a lazy, forgetful electorate. The saddest thing is that their core,

base constituency consists of folk who are called “the religious right”.

I have read that “book” they hold in the hand that isn’t holding their gun. They support “right to life” unless you’re already born. They would repeal “Obamacare” and privatize Social Security, which means raiding it. How do they skip over the part in the “book” which says “inasmuch as ye have done it unto these, the least of my children; ye have done it unto me.”

Elections 2012: Feb. 7 Precinct Caucus locations Elections 2012: Feb. 7 Precinct Caucus locations 7:00 PM. http:// www.58dfl.org/calendar/ SD58A • W3-P7 Cityview School, 3350 North 4th Street • W4-P1 Creekview Park Rec. Center, 5001 Humboldt Ave. N. • W4-P2 Creekview Park

Rec. Center, 5001 Humboldt Ave. N. • W4-P3 Shingle Creek Commons, 4600 Humboldt Ave. N. • W4-P4 Loring School, 2600 44th Ave. N • W4-P5 Folwell Park Rec. Center, 1615 Dowling Ave. N • W4-P6 North United Methodist Church, 4350

Fremont Ave. N. • W4-P7 Folwell Park Rec. Center, 1615 Dowling Ave. N • W4-P8 Lucy Craft Laney School, 3333 Penn Ave. N • W4-P9 Folwell Park Rec. Center, 1615 Dowling Ave. N • W4-P10 Lucy Craft Laney School, 3333 Penn Ave. N. • W5-P2 Parkway United Church, 3120 Washburn Ave.

SD58B • W3- P8 Fairview Park, 621 29th Avenue North • W3- P9 North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Avenue North • W5- P1 UROC, 2001 Plymouth Avenue North • W5- P3 UROC, 2001 Plymouth Avenue North • W5- P4 Minneapolis Urban

Letter to the editor I am excited about the opportunity to elect delegates to endorse candidates for our

district.

Precinct caucuses are the entry point to selecting representation of our values at

the city, state and federal level.

Please attend your caucuses on February 7, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

While our district is diverse we share essential values.

The ability for citizens

Collins

in doubling enrollment for student body, raised more than $25 million from benefactors which created an academic environment in which at least 96 percent of graduates annually have matriculated to college in the past decade.

Under Collins, DeLaSalle boasted top-flight academics. It rivals predominantly white and wealthier private high schools in terms of National Merit Scholars and college placement rates.

DeLaSalle, named for John Baptist DeLaSalle, a French priest in the 17th century who

established a Christian order of teachers to educate poor children, says it offers the largest per-capita financial aid program of any Minnesota high school. However, unlike some other private schools, Collins insisted that all families had to pay something and work off tuition, no matter how poor, how brilliant or how athletic was their student.

“One of the first African American graduates of DeLaSalle, Brother Collins turned down offers from colleges in order to transform

the Minnesota high school into one of the highest achieving private schools in the area.

When Brother Collins became President in 1991, DeLaSalle suffered from a 20-year enrollment decline and red ink.

Within his first year, Michael balanced the budget,” Ellison said.

Collins joined Christian Brothers in 1957 during his studies at St. Mary’s University of Winona for religious studies.

Collins is also a prominent figure nationally in Catholic education. Collins sat on

From 1 Collins, a St. Mary’s University Trustee, was the first African American to graduate from DeLaSalle High School in 1955.

Collins would become president of DeLaSalle, his alma-mater in 1991. His contributions to the high school where nearly half of the 650 students are members of minority groups and a third live in or near poverty, resulted

League or North Point, 2100 Plymouth Avenue North • W5- P5 North Commons Park, 1801 James Avenue North • W5- P6 H a r r i s o n Neighborhood Association, 503 Irving Avenue North • W5- P7 Phyllis Wheatley, 1301 10th Avenue North • W5- P8 Plymouth Christian Youth Center, 2210 Oliver

Avenue North • W5- P9 Phyllis Wheatley, 1301 10th Avenue North • W5- P10 River of Life, 2200 Fremont Avenue North • W7- P6 The Churchill, 111 Marquette Avenue • W7-P7 5th Avenue Lofts, 401 North Second Avenue • W7-P11 Mill City Apartments, 225 Portland Avenue

in our district to at the very minimum earn a livable wage that meets basic needs and allows equal access to quality education and viable communities are paramount opportunities for our prospective delegates. These are weighty and complex issues

and require the participation of dedicated and progressive minded individuals.

We need to elect people who share and will fight for our values - the values of this community. It begins here!!!!!

Makeda Zulu-Gillespie Senate District 58 Chair

the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) from 1996-2004, serving as president of the secondary schools department from 1996-2000 and as vice chair of the full board from 2001-2004.

Collins would further work at four Christian Brothers affiliated high schools; DeLaSalle from 1959-1967, moving to Shanley High School in Fargo, ND in 1967, St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, CA, in 1980. Collins returned to the Twin Cities

in 1987 as one of the first coprincipals of the newly merged Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul.

He received the NCEA’s 2007 Sister Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ Award for his leadership in promoting diversity in Catholic education.

“Brother Collins knew that education could be a force for economic mobility. Many lives have been changed because of Brother Collins, and the entire Minneapolis community is better off because of his leadership,” said Ellison.

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Page 3

DFL announces key staff additions The Minnesota DFL recently announced several key staff additions, as the party gears up to reelect President Obama and Senator Klobuchar and recapture majorities in the State House and Senate this November.

DFL Chair Ken Martin said, “We are proud of the team we are putting together to help our DFL candidates succeed this fall. With the experience and creativity of our staff, and with a solid organization supporting us, we are prepared to compete and win both locally and statewide. Though each of these individuals brings a

unique skill set, they all share our fundamental commitment to improving the quality of life for working families in Minnesota. That is why we are all here and why I am pleased to welcome them aboard.”

Berrett Gall became Finance Director in December after having consulted with the DFL finance department since March, 2011. His got his start in politics at age 16 as a finance intern for Heidi Heitkamp’s gubernatorial campaign in North Dakota. Berrett went on to serve as Finance Director for Congressman Earl Pomeroy, State Director for

Governor Howard Dean, North Dakota DNC Field Director, and Finance Director for El Tinklenberg and Jim Meffert’s congressional campaigns in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

A North Dakota native, Berrett studied political science at North Dakota State University.

Mackenzie Taylor rejoins the DFL as the 2012 Coordinated Campaign Manager.

Mackenzie graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2007 with a degree in political science.

She has worked on numerous city council, legislative, congressional and

statewide DFL campaigns. In 2010, she served as the Field Director for the Minnesota DFL Coordinated Campaign.

Kate Monson joined the DFL staff this week as Communications Director.

From South Dakota originally, Kate studied religion at St. Olaf College and earned her master’s degree at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

After staffing campaigns for three cycles, including serving as Communications Director for El Tinklenberg in 2008 and Jim Meffert in 2010, she started a digital media company for small businesses,

Museum salutes women scientists

ScienceMakers

ScienceMakers Program organizers and scientists at the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Discovery Hall. From left to right: Joanne Rizzi, Valerie Taylor, Julieanna Richardson, Reatha Clark King, Trachette Jackson, Jeanette Brown and Frank Snowden.

ScienceMakers brings pioneering African American women scientists to St. Paul’s Science Museum of Minnesota ScienceMakers, in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota, as a result of a $2.3 million National Science Foundation grant, hosted an evening with four nationally prominent

African American women scientists entitled, Breaking Barriers: African American Women in Science on January 13, 2012.

Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota, Frank Snowden, moderated this event as part of the 20th Annual African

Americans in Science Festival at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The featured ScienceMakers were chemist and author, Jeanette Brown; former president and executive director of General Mills, Reatha Clark King; professor of mathematics and cancer researcher, Trachette Jackson; and electrical

engineer and computer scientist, Valerie Taylor. This pioneering program is part of a collaborative effort with the nation’s top science centers including Detroit Science Center, Center of Science Industry in Ohio, Fernbank Science Center, Franklin Institute, Lawrence Hall of Science, Museum of Science and Industry, Saint Louis Science Center and SciWorks.

“We are so excited to take part in the 20th Annual African Americans in Science Festival and to highlight the achievements of these amazing and dynamic African women scientists,” stated Julieanna Richardson, The HistoryMakers’ founder and executive director.

For more information, visit The HistoryMakers website at www.thehistorymakers. com and The HistoryMakers digital archives at www.idvl. org/thehistorymakers and www.idvl.org/sciencemakers, call 312-674-1900 or email jw@thehistorymakers.com.

The HistoryMakers’ National Headquarters is located at 1900 South Michigan Ave. Chicago, Illinois, with regional offices located in Atlanta, Georgia and Washington D.C.

nonprofits and artists. Kate also consults with Main Street Communications, one of the top advertising firms in the Democratic Party.

Carlie Waibel was hired as Deputy Communications Director in November after interning in the DFL communications department.

Prior to her work at the DFL,

Carlie interned with Senator Tom Saxhaug during the 2009 legislative session and worked as a field organizer for Jim Meffert’s congressional campaign in 2010. Carlie is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas, where she majored in political science.

Page 4 • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Insight News

insightnews.com

EDUCATION class launched into imagining what it would be like to ski with some form of physical disability. “What would it be like to ski without your arms? legs? eyes?” Margaret asked the class. The kids hemmed and hawed.

“Impossible?”

Silence. “Well, let’s give it a try…”

The kids partnered off and, using scooters, tried to maneuver between cones on the gym floor alternatively losing ability in their arms and legs. Lastly, the students blindfolded one another and were challenged to guide their partner through a ski course involving hills and turns- and ultimately help their partner eat at a feed station at the end of the course.

“What was hard about that?” asked assistant coach

Bryn Mawr students practicing for cross-country ski program

Courtesy of Nordic Ski Foundation

Bryn Mawr students’ paralympic experience “Skiers take your marks….

TWEET!” the whistle blew and the kids were off- however they weren’t skiing- they were scooting. Without any snow- the youth at Bryn Mawr Elementary school have gotten creative for crosscountry skiing practice- and today they were pretending to be Paralympic cross-country skiing athletes.

The Nordic Ski Foundation runs cross-country ski

programs in six North Minneapolis elementary schools. In a typical winter, the Nordic Ski Foundation, working collaboratively with the physical education instructors, facilitate eight weeks of cross-country skiing instruction with fourth and fifth grade students. The Foundation provides skis, poles and boots that live on site at the schools, and the kids wrap up the season by participating in the Minne-

Loppet- a children’s ski race that is part of the City of Lakes Cross-Country Ski Festival.

The program also includes a nutrition component where the students learn how to healthily fuel active skiing bodies.

“Are you doing your snow dances?” asked program Director Margaret Adelsman of the Bryn Mawr 4th graders as they assembled in the gymnasium. The kids nodded shyly. With winter sprouting

more sticks than snow Margaret, a former college skiing star and longtime coach, has had to formulate new skiing instruction made for “dryland”. “We skied on the grass the other week,” she said, but even that gets old after a while.

Today the kids were in for a treat. Drawing parallels to the upcoming Paralympic Nordic Ski competition coming to Wirth in a few weeks, the

Ingrid Remak after each pass. “Your muscles get so tired!” remarked Kue Thao in exasperation. “It was so noisyit was hard to hear my guide,” said Jennfier Dakota who skied with the program last year. “I panicked. I kind of lost my senses,” said Daveron Granberry.

“I was pretty nervous that if I was skiing I might smash into things.” He then went on to compliment his guide for doing such a good job at leading.

Nearing the sound of the bell, there was only one item left on the agenda- a snow dance. In the last ten seconds, the class flailed, bounced and twisted for winter- a dancing storm convincingly strong enough to bring in a blizzard…

Page 5 • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Insight News

insightnews.com

AESTHETICS

Martha Reeves

By Alaina Lewis Contributing Writer

What singer Martha Reeves did for music and the African American culture during the 1960’s helped pave the road for today’s brown skinned generation to have a voice in mainstream entertainment.

Inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 with her group Martha and the Vandella’s, she rose to the top of the charts churning out hit songs like “Dancing in the Streets,” “Nowhere to Run,” and “Heatwave” along with 21 other notable classics. Yet

even after all those years of having established herself as one of Motown music’s most talented sweethearts, Reeves still has eyes for the year 1968. It was a single year that rewired the terrain in many people’s lives, and through its layers of life altering events it is an “hour” in history that signified true change both for those who lived it, or those who learned of it from peering through the window of a world history lesson.

Reeves touched down in Minneapolis last week to perform at the Dakota

REEVES TURN TO 6

Suluki Fardan

Martha Reeves

Lion King: Owning your greatness

By Alaina Lewis Contributing Writer

Copyright Disney. Photo Credit Joan Marcus

Jelani Remy as “Simba” from The Lion King National Tour

The first time I set my sights on Pride Rock, I was 17 years old and a young usher working at the Orpheum Theater under Jerry Knock, and Lion King the Musical was having its worldwide premiere. That was 1997, and amidst the costumes, the rehearsals, the building of sets, and preparation, lay a magical message of transitioning and owning your greatness— a sentiment reprised from Disney’s famed animated tale, by the wondrous director Julie Taymor. Much like Simba, the Lion King’s famed protagonist, I

too was on a journey to explore, grow and escape unto my destiny during that season. 15 years later as the King returns to the Orpheum Theater for its 4th time, the show still has the same depth and greatness as it was celebrated for, except this new cast definitely has found their own positive space and voice in these Pride Lands. Although merely a subtle difference from the original, they’re not just mimicking the shoes they’re filling, rather, they’ve found a way to add their own sole.

Watching this 2012 cast was like meeting an old friend for the

LION KING TURN TO 6

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS AN ANONYMOUS CONTENT/WORKING TITLE PRODUCTION A KEN KWAPIS FILM DREW BARRYMORE JOHN KRASINSKI “BIG MIRACLE” KRISTEN BELL DERMOT MULRONEY TIM BLAKE NELSON EXECUTIVE VINESSA SHAW AND TED DANSON MUSICBY CLIFF EIDELMAN PRODUCERS LIZA CHASIN DEBRA HAYWARD STUART BESSER PAUL GREEN PRODUCED BASED ON THE BOOK SCREENPLAY

BY STEVE GOLIN MICHAEL SUGAR TIM BEVAN ERIC FELLNER “FREEING THE WHALES” BY THOMAS ROSE

BY JACK AMIEL & MICHAEL BEGLER DIRECTED BY

KEN KWAPIS

SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC AND VARÈSE SARABANDE

A UNIVERSAL PICTURE

© 2011 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

STARTS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Page 6

HEALTH How pregnant women can avoid dangerous everyday chemicals

By Doris Rapp, M.D. Pregnant women are trying to be healthier. Many take all the right steps to promote the birth of a healthy baby, including eating right, taking vitamins and eliminating alcohol and nicotine from their lives.

Unfortunately, all those efforts may be for naught if they are still being exposed to unseen chemicals in their daily lives. Dr. Doris Rapp, an experienced physician and expert on all the hidden household and environmental hazards, wants women to know about the many insidious and dangerous threats to their unborn babies. The harmful exposures can cause serious harm and damaging birth defects to

Reeves From 5 Jazz Club and Restaurant for two shows as Martha and the Vandella’s. Before setting foot on the stage, she teamed up with the Minnesota History

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane

babies in the womb, and they are right under our noses.

“One of the most dangerous groups of chemicals to pregnant women is known as PCBs,” said Rapp, author of 32 Tips That Could Save Your Life (www. dorisrappmd.com). “PCB stands for polychlorinated biphenyls, and they are commonly used in industrial pesticides. While they may not be in your house, they may exist in your office, your water or your food, especially if you live near the Great Lakes or consume seafood caught there.

These chemicals pass through the placenta into the unborn, and some exposures have been known to cause devastating birth defects. These chemicals have also been found in the breast milk

of women.”

According to Rapp, some of the dangers of these pesticides include, but are not limited to: • Lower birth weight • Smaller head size and developmental delays • Movement, mental, and behavioral problems • Increased or decreased activity levels • Slowed thought processing and “less bright” appearance • Lower reaction times • Compromised nervous systems “Moreover, a group of pesticides known as organophosphates also poses a high risk for pregnant women,” Rapp added.

“These include Bisphenol-A and phthalates,” she said. “They are

derived from World War II nerve agents and are highly toxic. Even at low levels, organophosphates can be toxic to the developing brain, and studies show that they can affect brain and reproductive development in unborn animals.

While most pesticides categorized as organophosphates have been banned for household use, they are still permitted for commercial use, including in fumigation for mosquitoes.

Malathion, a common toxic organophosphate, is still allowed for use as an industrial and household insecticide. In the US, approximately 15 million pounds of Malathion are used each year by the government, as well as by businesses and homeowners.”

Her advice for women is to do

all they can to avoid contact with these chemicals, starting before conception.

“Stay as far away as possible from pesticide-treated areas,” Rapp said. “Do not eat pesticideladen food or any fish from the Great Lakes. Try to eat only organic foods. Further, if your job requires you to be in contact with any chemicals or pesticides, insist that other tasks be given to you for the duration of your pregnancy.

Half the battle is knowing these dangers exist, but the other half is being informed and conscientious enough to be able to avoid contact with these dangerous and toxic agents.”

Dr. Rapp is board certified in pediatrics, pediatric allergy

and environmental medicine.

She was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo until she moved in January 1996 to Phoenix. She practiced traditional allergy for 18 years and then, in 1975, began incorporating the principles of environmental medicine into her pediatric allergy practice.

She is a certified specialist in environmental medicine. She has published numerous medical articles, authored chapters in medical texts and written many informative and “how-to” books and booklets about allergy for the public. She has also produced numerous educational videos and audiotapes for the public, educators and physicians.

Center in St. Paul, MN to greet fans and tell her perspective on life in 1968 as illustrated in the center’s current project, “The 1968 Exhibit.”

The year 1968 saw its share of triumphs and unspeakable losses and the Minnesota History Center offers a month by month breakdown of the many challenges and important moments that helped to shape the world today. From the Vietnam War, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King,

Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the influence of the Beatles and their music, to Richard Nixon’s rise, and the introduction of the peace sign and flower power revolution— moreover than just being a history lesson, the exhibit takes you back in time through massive visuals that implore you to feel like you’re Marty McFly in a Deloreon.

When you enter the exhibit, Vietnam war video tape plays inside a helicopter which conveniently sits inside a fully

dressed 1968 living room complete with the orange carpet and the click dial television— it really drives home the impact of the Vietnam tragedy that many people watched in horror from their very own television screen.

Reeves, who lived through 1968, had many anecdotes to share with fans surrounding the 365 days that are highlighted at the center. Of the imagery in the exhibit displaying the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. she shared a very

poignant story that sent us all down memory lane. “Mahalia Jackson sang “Precious Lord” at King’s funeral. It was written

by Thomas Dorsey and also one of King’s favorite songs.

I met Dorsey. He wrote that song while his wife was dying.

He sat at her bedside with his pen. It took a good 3 or 4 hours before she took her last breath, and in that time frame he wrote “Precious Lord.”

Like Reeves, I’m sure everyone can find a story,

a memory, or a little bit of themselves in such a key year in our history. “The 1968 Exhibit” is now showing at the Minnesota History Center and until February 20th.

For more information on Martha Reeves please visit: http://www.missmarthareeves. com/ For more information on visiting The 1968 Exhibit at the Minnesota History Center: http:// www.minnesotahistorycenter. org/

Vote

sacred of rights.

NAACP State Conference presidents and our allies throughout the nation are leading the battles to defend voting rights this year, and that’s why it was so important that they led this march in South Carolina.

We marched to defend our right to vote and to defend our nation’s dream of America as a place where everybody works, everybody contributes, and everybody counts.

We marched for good jobs that can support our families,

and an education for our children that will pave the way for them to do the same.

We marched to declare our intent to defeat the deeds of any governor who would deify our great dreamer, but desecrate his dream.

Dr. King’s dream will become a reality. It will take vigilance. It will take patience.

It will take hard work. But together, we will win this fight and uphold the right to vote for all Americans in 2012 and beyond.

first time, and recognizing how in life although we change, we truly do come full circle in the “circle of life.”

For those who have been living on the outskirts of the

“Pride Lands” and are unaware of what this magical tale holds, Lion King the Musical charts the journey of a young lion cub named Simba, born of the great Mufasa and Sarabi, and heir

to the throne. Upon his birth, Mufasa’s brother Scar grows a bitter heart towards his nephew; this glorious birth means that he will no longer inherit the throne upon his brother’s death… unless of course by some type of divine intervention. Simba, unaware of any issue in the mist, carries on like any young curious cub would, taking risks and enjoying an easy life with his best friend Nala. Unfortunately, Simba’s agog nature puts him at risk for Scar’s plots and evil intentions.

Scar sets Simba up, and his father Mufasa gets killed in the ordeal. Simba, heart broken and believing it to be his fault, flees the Pride Lands— defecting the throne, and leaving Scar to take his place as king. Eventually, Simba realizes that you can’t run from what’s rightfully yours, and that in order to be fully realized, you have to forgive yourself for your mistakes accept your true position in the circle of life.

One thing Lion King always manages to do every time it cycles through the world on its various tour stops is touch an audience in a very unique way.

It seeks to engulf them in every angle of the story. Most theater productions keep their shows contained to merely the stage leaving the audience to watch the show from the other side of the pale. Lion King treats the entire auditorium as a stage. From the opening number where you watch as elephants enter through the back of the auditorium and make their way through the crowd and onto the stage, to those malevolent hyena’s stalking through the theater on their way to exert their will on the Pride Lands. Lion King treats its patrons like members of their kingdom. It’s a tactic

that not only pulls you deep into the story, but also forces you to form stronger emotions at every angle, versus those of a simple bystander.

It also causes one to consider the lion within themselves.

With its predominately Black cast, and its powerfully engaging message, Lion King the Musical breaks all barriers.

It is also doing its part to serve members of the Minneapolis/ St. Paul community by utilizing its positive message to deliver justice and outreach to tomorrow’s generation. Steve Nelson of Amicus, a non-profit organization that works with individuals involved in the justice system, took their group “Circle of Peace” and some of the members of “Boys Totem Town” to the play and to meet some of the cast members afterwards. Many in the group found the production to be a great teacher and felt that their own journey through the justice system and current walk towards rehabilitation, mirrored Simba’s story as he fights to overcome his past mistakes and find himself on his walk through life.

Anyone’s ability to walk away after seeing this play, and capture what the underline meaning really is proves that Lion King never fails at owning its point. It also doesn’t fail at making one believe in themselves.

Lion King the Musical runs from now until February 12th at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis, MN. For more information or to get tickets, please visit: http:// www.hennepintheatretrust.org/ or 1.800.982.2787. For more information on Amicus please visit: www.amicususa.org

From 1 alongside Attorney General Holder as we recommitted ourselves to protecting our most

CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Harry Colbert, Jr. Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Fred Easter S. Himie Oshana Himot Timothy Houston Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

Lion King From 5

Page 7 • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Insight News

insightnews.com

BUSINESS Distracted? Help yourself stay on task Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com People talk about ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder. My personal version of ADD is RADD: Radio Attention Deficit Disorder.

Pandora is a great app because it introduces fresh music all the time.

However, naturally curious, I listen to two-thirds of a cut and feel ready for the next one. Unfortunately, if you know Pandora, you know it allows you to pass on a few songs and then gently cuts you off because its license requires you to actually listen to each song in its entirety.

Once my RADD self-diagnosis was declared, I wondered if this attitude applied to other parts of my life. It does. I read most

of a book, then flip to the end to see how it wraps up. At work, I can’t take my phone into meetings because I know that, two-thirds through the meeting, I will want to check my mail. I know the signs of ADD, and I don’t have it, so no meds for me. Instead, I’ve had to develop ways to stay focused medfree. I’ve learned from others that it isn’t hard to develop new habits intentionally designed to keep us focused and on track.

Phones are the world’s most obvious distraction. Every time you check your phone when you’re meeting with me, I think you have something more important on your mind than our business. I have seen a meeting leader ask someone to leave because he was not paying attention. Embarrassing in the moment, and tough to be reminded of during a performance review.

Leaving your phone outside is painful for most ladder climbing professionals. Instead, just turn it off. Turned off, checking it becomes more complicated and likely not worth the effort. No

PhotoXpress

one complains about waiting thirty minutes for an email response.

Unless you’re expecting a baby, it can wait.

Multiple deadlines can have you jumping frenetically between

tasks. Organize your time to know when you will work on each task.

Physically organize your space to separate projects. These two tricks are simple and require very little discipline. Your mind and desk

will be clear of outside projects, leaving you more focused and effective.

My friend Grace often wanted to quit her spinning class partway through. She was committed to

the benefits of the workout, and decided to trick herself into staying.

She chose a bike near the front so leaving became conspicuous.

She rewarded herself in a small way after class. Eventually, she developed the habit of not leaving, and no longer looked for excuses to cut out.

Boredom affects everyone occasionally. Early on, energy and curiosity is high, but interest wanes when an idea is no longer shiny. Can you pace your passion for the project? Commit to yourself to finish everything you start, and plan when and how you will finish. Constantly look for connections between what you are doing now how you will feel when you’re done. Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than the last few notes of a song.

Julie Desmond is Talent Manager for Express Employment Professionals. Write to julie@ insightnews.com.

Need help with taxes? Ask U.S. Bank With tax season right around the corner, employees at U.S. Bank stand ready to help lowto moderate-income families in the Twin Cities with their taxes.

Beginning in January through the end of the 2012 tax season, 67 U.S. Bank employees will volunteer three to four hours of their time per week to assist AccountAbility Minnesota, a local nonprofit that provides free tax preparation and financial services to

qualifying individuals. The volunteers will serve at the 12 Twin Cities tax clinics operated

by AccountAbility Minnesota.

The number of U.S. Bank volunteers who have pledged their time for the 2012 tax season represents a 76 percent increase over the number of volunteers from the bank last year and signifies a growing commitment to AccountAbility Minnesota and the Twin Cities community.

“As the Twin Cities’ hometown bank, we are thrilled to partner with AccountAbility Minnesota again this year,” said Elliot Jaffee, Twin Cities Market President for U.S. Bank. In 2011, U.S. Bank AccountAbility Minnesota volunteers donated nearly 1,110

hours of tax preparation and tax clinic assistance and helped prepare more than 1,400 returns for low- to moderate-income individuals. Overall in 2011, AccountAbility Minnesota served nearly 12,000 taxpayers helping them to claim $22.3 million in refunds. “Through

the work of our volunteers at tax time, we help low-income families significantly boost their income, sometimes by 40%, and we partner with financial institutions like U.S. Bank to connect those families to financial products and services that enable them to use

part of their refunds to save, and ultimately build economic security.”

Together U.S. Bank and AccountAbility Minnesota opened 200 savings accounts for un- or under-banked consumers during the 2011 tax season.

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Page 8

MLK From 1

Local Legend honoree VJ Smith

Mawata Ross, member of Men of March leads the Dr. Martin Luther King Statewide Celebration march

Suluki Fardan

Local Legend honoree Mary M. Tjosvold

Jackie, Avaya, Virginia and Ruzis from Little Louzis Day Care at the Dr. Martin Luther King Statewide Celebration

Suluki Fardan

Emerging Legend recipient Peter Larson

clicks on (an online) petition, that person thinks ‘I’ve done something.’ And if they click on 20 petitions they think they deserve the Nobel Peace Prize,” Tutu said during a pre-breakfast press conference.

According to Tutu, the election of Pres. Barack Obama has in subtle ways hampered race relations.

“Obama’s presidency makes it seem as if we don’t have to have the conversation about race and has allowed to creep into our political discussion racist conversation without being overtly so,” Tutu said referring to statements by Republican presidential hopeful, Newt Gingrich that poor Black youth should seek janitorial jobs.

Terry Austin, founder of A Positive Image, an organization dedicated to service, education and leadership, said there is plenty of work to be done to achieve King’s dream of full racial equality.

“If Dr. King were still alive, he’d be most disappointed in the educational achievement gap, especially with African American boys,” Austin said.

He agreed with Tutu’s concept of Ubuntu. “Everyone from the whole community needs to play a role in uplifting the race. A community approach is key.”

The breakfast, presented by the United Negro College Fund and General Mills is in its 22nd year and is one of the largest King Holiday observances in the nation.

The celebration also featured the presentation of the Local Legend and Emerging Legend community service awards.

Local Legend honorees were V.J. Smith, national president of MAD DADS and founder of its Minneapolis chapter; and Dr. Mary M. Tjosvold, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and owner of Mary T. Inc. who founded an elementary school in Cameroon.

This year’s Emerging Legend recipient was Peter Larson, a senior at Wayzata High School who spent more than 300 nights sleeping outside to raise awareness and more than $400,000 for homelessness programs.

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Page 9

C OM CO MMUNI M U N IT TY

North Minneapolis Neighborhood beat...

By Ivan B. Phifer Staff Writer Cleveland The Cleveland Neighborhood Association will hold a neighborhood board meeting 7-8pm January 23rd at Lucy Craft Laney 3330 Penn Ave. N. due to the Martin Luther King Holiday originally scheduled for January 16. For more information: Debbie Nelson, 612-588-1155 or can@ clevelandneighborhood.org GED Classes Sumner Library, located at 611 Van White Memorial Blvd. is now accepting enrollment for GED classes. A ten-dollar registration fee is required for material expense. All classes however are free. The classes are held mornings from 10:00am-noon and evenings from 6:30-8:30pm Monday through Thursday. For more

information: 612-377-5399.

Capri Theater: “Speak Low When You Speak Love” The Capri Theater presents their “Legends” series featuring four outstanding Twin Cities performers: Sanford Moore, Dennis Spears, Julius Collins and Dennis Oglesby. The concerts are at 7pm Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, and 3pm Sunday, February 12, 2012. Tickets are $25, and $20 for groups of 10 or more. Capri Theater,2027 West Broadway Minneapolis, MN. For more information, visit www.thecapritheater.org Open Mic Xpressions The Freedom of Xpression open mic sessions, hosted by Crystal “Azteca” Ruiz, at the Capri are free and open to the public the first Monday of every month with the exception of this coming month. The doors open at 5:30 pm and the theater will be open for tech rehearsals and workshops between 6 and 7

Classifieds/Calendar Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, andrew@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Andrew Notsch. Free or low cost events preferred.

Events Afro-Modern at TU Dance Center - Jan Fri. nights, from 7:30-9pm at TU Dance Center. The class is taught by Ms. Kenna-Camara Cottman, recently named one of City Pages’ “Artists of the Year.”

The class will continue on Fri. nights through Feb. 10. TU

Insurance Agent

Dance Center: 2121 University Ave. W. St. Paul.

NHCC Celebrates Martin Dr. Wendy Mogel - Jan 26 The Blake School will be welcoming New York Times bestselling author and parenting expert Dr. Wendy Mogel to our school the evening of Thur., Jan. 26. An internationally acclaimed clinical psychologist, parenting expert and the author of the New York Times bestselling parenting book The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. Her new book, The Blessing of a B Minus, is about raising teenagers.

Free and open to the public.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. 7-8pm.

Juliet Nelson Auditorium, The Blake Upper School 511 Kenwood Pkwy, Mpls.

MN 55403.

Looking for people with a strong entrepreneurial mindset to own their own insurance agency.

The average agent earns over $120,000 a year, with some earning over $500,000. If you desire financial independence, call 651-2043131 to set up an appointment.

Community Organizers Wanted!!

Working America / AFL-CIO is hiring full time staff to take our country back from the political forces that favor the wealthy and corporate special interests over your well-being! Diversity is highly valued at Working America: Women, people of color, and LGBT applicants strongly encouraged to apply. $457.60 week base pay - Entry Level. Fun work environment. EOE. Rapid advancement opportunities. - Apply Now: 612-331-5800

Copyright Notice Copyright notice: All rights Reserved re common-law copyright of trade - name/trademark, VINCENT EDWARD PAYNE as well as any and all derivatives and variations in the spelling of said trade-name/trademark - copyright ©1981 by Vincent Edward Payne, said trade-name/trademark, VINCENT EDWARD PAYNE© may neither be used, nor reproduced, neither in whole or in part, nor in any other manner, whatsoever, without the prior, express written consent and acknowledgement of Vincent Edward Payne, subscribed with the blue or red ink signature of Vincent Edward Payne, herein-after “Secured Party,” for full copy of terms and conditions, send SASE to Vincent Payne, Secured Party C/O P.O. Box 29001, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429. No objection raised within 30 days after this public notice, all are estopped from violating and infringing on common-law copyright so in noted record, owner; Vincent Edward Payne, autograph common-law copyright ©1981.

Not About Bombs - Jan 27-Mar 3 This exhibit will not be what you expect. It is not about war. It is not about Iraq. It presents contemporary art

by Iraqi women, but mainly in an attempt to deliberately

p.m. Artists wanting to perform on stage are required to sign up between 5:30 and 7pm. the night of the event. Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway, Minneapolis, MN. For more information, contact Crystal at cruiz@pcyc-mpls.org.

Business Committee Meeting The Hawthorne Business Committee and WBC Business Committee have merged to become the Northside Business Committee. The first meeting is 8:30am Friday, January 27th at McDonalds 916 W. Broadway.

Business committee meetings occur every other month, quarterly happy hours, and business lunches are open to all.

For more information: Alicia - alicia@westbroadway.org or 612-353-5178.

Get Paid Helping Northside Seniors & Disabled Adults The Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and the Neighborhood

PHONE: 612.588.1313 explore and challenge expectations.

This exhibit addresses how a female perspective can fit into the modern context of turmoil and conflict through art and avoid falling into the typical ways that women are represented and... misrepresented.

Opening Reception: 6-9PM Feb. 2 @ Intermedia Arts - 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls, MN. The Family Life Centre 2012 Women’s Prayer Brunch - Jan 28 The Family Life Centre, formerly known as Holding Forth the Word of Life Ministries, now moved forward with the same vision for “family restoration God’s way”.

FLC expanded its capacity to serve families in the Metro Area with its new site while furthering outreach to the community through the AGAPE 24-hour Child Development Centers and the OASIS of Love Crisis Intervention programs and ongoing churchbased ministries.

• January 28th -- 2012 Women’s Prayer Brunch hosted by Dr. Diane Thibodeaux, invites women from all over to gather at FLC, 4947 W. Broadway, Crystal, MN from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. RSVP

by January 23rd. Women’s groups

Weight loss classes Weight loss classes for Black men take place every Friday from 6:30-8:30pm at Kwanzaa Church 2200 Emerson Ave. N. The class is a 12-week course for Black men who live with obesity, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and hypertension. The cost ranges from $100 to $300 depending on training materials. Space is limited to the first 10 qualified participants.

For more information: Kwasi Nate Russell 612-359-0077 or Kwasinate.russell009@gmail. com

Involvement Program (NIP) serve North Minneapolis as two senior chore service agencies. CEAP serves seniors north of 44th Ave. N. and NIP serves seniors south of 44th Ave. N. Both agencies have opportunities for individuals to earn $15 an hour doing snow removal and responsibilities as independent contractors. Both programs require individuals to be 18 or older and go through a criminal background check.

Participants must also have their own shovel, or snow blower and provide own transportation to job sites. For more information: Jon Burkhow at 612-374-3322.

Volunteer opportunities The Target Meals for Minds program, in collaboration with Second Harvest Heartland will have volunteering opportunities to end the fight of hunger in North Minneapolis. A mobile food pantry will open once per month at Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary 807 24th Ave. N. The distribution time &

Camden North United Methodist Church (NUMC) has a Church Clothes Closet 9am-Noon the first Saturday of each month and 6-8 pm the first Monday of each month at 4350 Fremont Ave. N. Donations are accepted. For further information: 612-5224497

FAX: 612.588.2031 and/or individual reservations welcomed. Call FLC or RSVP online at www.hftwol.org Contact FLC for more details at 612-5225807.

Ghost Stories: Five Writers Read Works on Historical Trauma - Feb 5 African- American, Hmong, Japanese-American, Jewish and White Earth Anishinabe writers explore how the stories of their parents, grandparents and historical communities impact the writers’ own lives. From the ridiculous to the tragic, the writers examine the legacies of the Holocaust, war, racism and genocide. Sun. Feb. 5. 3pm @ St. Paul Jewish Community Center - 1375 St. Paul Ave. St. Paul.Free and open to the public.

My Visits to North Korea - Feb 9 Presenter: Roy Kim. Kim is a native of North Korea and a resident of Minnesota. He is able to visit his family in North Korea.

He will share a brief history of the country’s division and war and his observations during a visit to North Korea during the recent regime change. Thur., Feb. 9 - 7pm @ Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church – Fireside Room - 7600 Harold Ave. N., Golden Valley. All are welcome. For more information contact: NWN4P@yahoo.com Metropolitan State hosts free concert - Feb 10 MSU presents “Winter Concert Series III” featuring guest cellist Soo Bae on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. in the university’s Auditorium, 700 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul.

This is the third of five Minnesota Sinfonia concerts conducted by Jay Fishman at Metropolitan State this season. The concert is free and open to the public.

FREE Fitness Classes - Tue. Wed. Thurs.

Featuring: Cardiovascular work out by Annice, The Diva - Tue.

dates are 5-7:30pm Thursday January 26 and 5-7:30pm Wednesday February 15. For more information: Kris Jensen, Volunteer Coordinator 651-2162761 or visit www.2harvest.org/ volunteer North Minneapolis Tornado Recovery Sites are available for mental and emotional recovery for victims traumatized by the May 22nd North Minneapolis tornado.

To schedule an appointment with a health care provider, three sites are available; Northpoint Health & Wellness Center 1313 Penn Ave. N. 612543-2566, Hennepin County Mental Health Center 1801 Nicollet Ave. S. 612-596-9438 or Hennepin County Medical Center Acute Psychiatric Services 701 Park Ave. S. 612873-3161.

Crisis response teams are available 24/7. For adults, 612-596-1223 or 612348-2233.

EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com

Nellie Stone Johnson scholarship application process open Applications for the 2012-2013 academic year are now being accepted. The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship is available to minority students from Union families attending or planning to attend a college or university in the Minnesota State Colleges and University’s system.

To be eligible an applicant must be a racial minority and a union member or the child, grandchild, or spouse of a union member. The Scholarships are for first time applicants who will be attending a MNSCU college or university. They may also be renewed by current recipients who will remain a MNSCU student for the 201213 academic year.

Applications and additional information about the scholarship are available on line at: http://www.nelliestone.org Or by calling: Local: 651-738-1404 or Toll free: 866-738-5238.

Applications must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2012 to be considered.

6-7pm. Muscle conditioning exercise in addition to cardiovascular - by Georgia, Ms Smooth - Wed. 6-7pm.

Pilates by Angela, No Mercer - Thur. 6-7pm. Located: 310 E. 38th Street, 2nd Floor gym, Minneapolis. Registration Fee: $25 for the entire season (Sept. thru May 31).

Free Lead Paint Testing If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible to receive new windows through a Hennepin County grant program: • Home built before 1978 • A child (5 or under) lives in or frequently visits your home • Live in Hennepin County • Meet certain income qualifications Sustainable Resources Center have partnered with the National Center for Healthy Housing to bring a national perspective to our efforts in Minnesota.

SRC will be working with public, private and nonprofit organizations throughout the State to develop the plan. This is a great opportunity to encourage and support the creation of healthy homes for all! Call Sustainable Resources Center at 612-872-3281 to schedule a free home visit! Communication available in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. http://www.src-mn. org/ Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program (MFPP) MFPP provides free counseling for Minneapolis homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages (and referrals for clients outside of our service area). Located in the Minneapolis Urban League building at 2100 Plymouth Ave N, call 612-331-4090 and select option 3 to speak with a MFPP representative and set up an appointment.

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Page 10

FULL CIRCLE

Is she wife material?

Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Since last week’s article “Is he husband material” was published, I have received several requests asking that I follow up this week with an article on “Is she wife material?”

My mind immediately took me to the nursery rhyme quote, “sugar and spice and everything nice.” Although wives should be nice and sweet, they require real substance. For me personally, good wife material is made up of good company, meaningful communication, spiritual connection with God, mutual attraction, and common goals and interest. Because this is my personal list, it is most likely too narrow of a view of what is wife material to adequately address the needs of the diverse readers.

After much research, here are my 6 key characteristic that make up wife material.

She must be supportive.

Contrary to popular belief, the way to a man’s heart is not through is stomach, but through his ego. For within it lie his dreams, ambitions, and most importantly, his manhood. To challenge it would be disastrous.

All men need support regardless

PhotoXpress

of their profession. A pastor needs a prayer warrior, a rapper needs a road warrior, a businessman needs a jetsetter, and an athlete needs an ego booster. They all need support that is comparable to them.

Besides every successful man is a successful woman helping him to fulfill his dreams.

She must be virtuous. This is more than just moral excellence.

It is the character that a woman posses that will allow him to see

her as the mother of his children and someone he can take home to meet his mother. Virtue is a woman’s jewel. Men collect toys and treasures. Toys are soon discarded, but treasures are kept for life. Virtue is a treasure that all women who are “keepers” possess.

She must be wise. “A wise woman builds her house” (Proverbs 14:1). The wise woman is the one who uses her

skills, knowledge and abilities to harmonize with that of the man.

She adds value to him. The family as a whole is better because she makes them better. Her presence is always welcomed, and her absence is noticed.

She must be submissive. This does not mean that she sits at her husband feet and does whatever he says. It means she must be under the authority of her husband. The Biblical example of the family

nucleus, the husband is the head, responsible to God for the family and the wife is by his side helping him fulfill his responsibility. A woman that is wife material must be willing and able to support her husband with this responsibility.

She must be a force under control. There is no doubt that the woman is a power force that cannot be denied. You see this in nature in the lioness and the she-bear. They are both feminine

and powerful, and they use their force to defend their off-spring.

But what you do not see in nature is them using their power against their mate. It must be the same for women who are good wife material. Her power must always be directed away from her husband and family. When it comes to the man in her life, she must have his back, front, and both sides.

She must be able to love in the present tense. Her wounded past cannot be projected into her present or she will by default create a wounded future. Her affection is critical to the success of the man. Her love in the present tense provides him daily conformation to his manhood. A loving wife can turns in ordinary man into superman.

Finally, a wife is a help that is suitable for her husband. She is interdependent, providing the man that loving support that he needs, while receiving the love and protection that he provides.

Her words are her most powerful tools so she must use them to build her house. She is strong, durable, and forgiving. A wife is the hand that rocks the cradle, and the sugar and the spice that makes everything nice.

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

Page 11 • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Bottineau Transitway open houses The public is invited to attend a series of open houses in January 2012, involving the Bottineau Transitway. The project is in what is called the “scoping phase” and is soliciting public comment through February 17, 2012, on its scoping booklet, which includes: • The history, purpose and need of the project.

• Information about proposed alternatives under consideration for study and other issues that will be covered in the Environmental Impact Statement.

• A general timeline for

the project, including key decision-making milestones.

The Bottineau Transitway is a proposed project that will provide for transit improvements in the highly traveled northwest suburbs of the Twin Cities. The Bottineau Corridor generally follows Bottineau Boulevard (County State Aid Highway 81), extending approximately 13 miles from downtown Minneapolis through North Minneapolis to the northwest suburbs of Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, Osseo and Robbinsdale.

The public meetings

are hosted by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and are taking place the following dates in January 2012: • Monday, January 23, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Theodore Wirth Chalet, 1301 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Minneapolis • Tuesday, January 24, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Brooklyn Park City Hall, 5200 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park • Wednesday, January 25, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis

• Tuesday, January 31, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Ave. N., Robbinsdale All meeting locations are accessible for persons with disabilities. Materials from the meetings will also be made available on the project website at http://www. bottineautransitway.org The scoping booklet is available for online review at the project website at w w w. b o t t i n e a u t r a n s i t w a y. org. Copies of the scoping booklet are also available for public review at the following Hennepin County Library locations:

• Maple Grove, 8001 Main St. • Osseo, 415 Central Ave. • Brooklyn Park, 8600 Zane Ave. N. • Brookdale, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway., Brooklyn Center • Rockford Road, 6401 42nd Ave. N., Crystal • Golden Valley, 830 Winnetka Ave. N. • North Regional, 1315 Lowry Ave. N., Minneapolis • Sumner, 611 Van White Memorial Boulevard., Minneapolis • Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis Auxiliary aids, services

and communication materials in accessible formats and languages other than English can be provided by contacting Brent Rusco at 612-543-0579 or via email at brent.rusco@ co.hennepin.mn.us.

Comments can also be submitted online at the project website by emailing Brent Rusco, by faxing 612-3489710, or by U.S. Mail using the address: Brent Rusco, Bottineau Transitway Project Manager, 701 Fourth Ave. S., Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Look for more news on the Hennepin County website – www.hennepin.us.

FREE TAX PREP! FAST REFUNDS!

FREE TAX PREP. FAST REFUNDS. GET YOUR TAX CREDITS IN 2012.

UÊ IRS-certified tax preparers will get you all you have earned!

UÊ Free tax preparation if your income is at or below $30,000 for an individual, or $50,000 for a family.

UÊ For specific eligibility requirements, call United Way 2-1-1.

FOR A LIST OF FREE TAX PREPARATION SITES: UÊ United Way 2-1-1 Dial 2-1-1, or from a cell phone dial 651-291-0211 (1-800-543-7709 outside of the metro area) UÊ Minnesota Department of Revenue 651-297-3724 or 1-800-657-3989 UÊ Minnesota Relay for hearing impaired 711 (TTY) UÊ www.taxes.state.mn.us Search for “free tax preparation sites”

CLAIM it!

A CO M M U N I T Y - W I D E PA R T N E R S H I P

™

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 23 - January 29, 2012 • Page 12