Insight News ::: 02.11.13

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February 11 - February 17, 2013

Vol. 40 No. 7• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Ellison town hall on gun violence gets contentious

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

Harry Colbert, Jr.

President Barack Obama at the Minneapolis Police Department Special Operations Center.

President Obama examines North Minneapolis violence reduction as model for national gun violence legislation chose north Minneapolis as the setting for his first speech outside of Washington D.C. on the issue of gun control. The president, who has made gun control his chief initiative in his second term, spoke Monday, Feb. 4, to a national audience and said regardless of a person’s political views, now is

the time for action.

“We don’t have to agree on everything to agree it’s time to do something,” said the president, who offered his remarks at the Minneapolis Police Department Special Operations Center, 4119 Dupont Ave. N. The site is just blocks from several shootings,

including the shooting of 5-yearold Nizzel George, whose teenage murderers recently plead guilty to the crime. The center is also near the location of the still unsolved shooting of 3-year-old Terrell

The tension was palpable during a packed town hall meeting to discuss federal efforts to reduce gun violence.

The town hall, called by US Rep. Keith Ellison, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District – a district that has been home to its share of gun violence – took place inside Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Ave. S. And though the meeting was inside a place of worship, the mood was far from serene. And in a room with walls adorned with statistics on gun violence and names of those killed by guns and with a son of a man gunned down in a mass shooting offering his personal experience with gun violence, one might think the call for gun control would have been unanimous, but that was far from the case.

In a meeting that lasted nearly two hours and was, on a couple of occasions interrupted by outbursts from those opposed to any changes in the nation’s gun laws, the most poignant voice might have been that of 17-year-old Sami Rahamim.

Rahamim’s father, Reuven Rahamim, was one of six people gunned down this past fall in a mass shooting at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis.

“Nothing can prepare you to hear your father has been murdered with a gun,” said Rahamim, who said when he heard of a shooting in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood, he sent a

Special to NNPA from McFarlane Media

By Harry Colbert, Jr., Contributing Editor, and Al McFarlane, Editor-inChief, Insight News

Minneapolis – During the 1990s Minneapolis earned the dubious moniker, Murderapolis for its high number of shootings and murders, but the city is now being hailed as a national model in reducing crime.

The city’s turnaround is the reason President Barack Obama

All beards considered

Pillsbury United Communities moves headquarters to West Broadway

By Ahmed Tharwat The election of President Mohamed Morsi in Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood’s success in securing political power in the Arab Spring has brought a new brand of Muslim leader to the public arena — men with beards.

Arab dictators didn’t have beards. Some wore mustaches as a sign of vitality and masculinity.

The look was popularized by Saddam Hussein of Iraq, where almost every man has a mustache.

However the Saudi kings came up with their own goatee beards.

And Yasser Arafat, of course,

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Shaina Brassard, West Broadway Coalition Pillsbury United Communities has been creating choice, change and connection in Minneapolis since 1879, when Pillsbury House was founded to help support the community in a holistic manner.

Like the settlement house movement that Pillsbury United Communities (PUC) grew out of, the organization’s mission “recognizes the complex causes and effects of social and economic inequalities and works to effect positive change by connecting individuals and building meaningful relationships.”

The original Pillsbury House offered services that included a

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Business

Grieving, depression affect work performance

PAGE 4

Shaina Brassard

L to R: Julia Donaldson, Molly Thompson, Adair Mosley, Anne Rondonim, and Katie Black Kohn

Lifestyle

Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe: Where delicious food is a family affair

PAGE 8

Commentary Congress should confirm B. Todd Jones at ATF

PAGE 9

Health

Saving energy and money with home automation

PAGE 11

Page 2 • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Insight News

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EDUCATION

MPS wants students back A Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) program that helps former and current students obtain their high school diploma is reaching out to those who attended MPS between 2000 and 2012 and need to pass one or more state tests to graduate high school.

We Want You Back (WWYB) is a partnership between MPS and the Minneapolis Youth Collaborating Board that provides test preparatory classes

for math, reading and writing, as well as regularly scheduled GRAD testing dates. The next testing dates are March 5 – 13.

Piloted at MPS in 2009, WWYB is committed to the school district’s vision of every child college and career ready. Students leave school before graduating for a variety of reasons. WWYB and its community partners are dedicated to reaching out to every student

to help him or her complete high school and earn a diploma.

Student needs vary and WWYB offers a range of learning options from returning students to their traditional school to online courses for students who are just a few credits short of graduating.

For students under the age of 21 who are disengaged from school, WWYB collects educational records and completes an analysis of

credits before determining the appropriate school placement.

Adult Basic Education programs such as the GED or Adult Diploma are available for students over the age of 21.

Students who have met the credit requirements for graduation and have passed any of the Minnesota Basic Standards Tests in reading, writing or math can still count those results toward graduation through 2013.

Students only need to pass the GRAD exam in the content areas they did not pass on the BST to earn a diploma.

In addition, Minnesota has a three attempt rule for all students that have not passed the math exam (Basic Standard or GRAD). This means students need to attempt to pass the math GRAD exam with a score of 50 or better three times. After the third attempt, providing

the student has taken a math preparatory class, the math exam is considered “passed” by the state. The three attempt rule for math is expected to expire after 2013; at that time, students will be required to reach a score of 50 or better in order to pass the exam.

For additional information: http://alc.mpls.k12.mn.us/wwyb

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder

MN Governor Mark Dayton

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Senator Al Franken (D-MN)

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN)

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak

Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau

V. J. Smith

doesn’t work, and they know how to get things done without regard for politics.”

During his public remarks, which lasted about 15 minutes, the president reiterated his call for legislation that he said can reduce the number of gun crimes in the nation. As a part of the president’s plan, he called on Congress to enact legislation to make mandatory criminal background

checks for all guns sold in the U.S., limit the capacity of gun magazines to 10 rounds and to reenact the assault weapons ban.

“The vast majority of Americans – including a majority of gun owners – support requiring criminal background checks for anyone trying to buy a gun,” said Obama. “That’s common sense.

There’s no reason we can’t get that done. That is not a liberal idea

or a conservative idea. It’s not a Democratic or Republican idea; that is a smart idea.”

The president said it is past time we act to end the scourge of gun violence in the nation. But he said he needs the American people’s help.

“The only way we can reduce gun violence in this country is if the American people decide it’s important. If you decide it’s

Obama From 1 Mayes, Jr., who was killed in his home by a stray bullet.

Prior to his nationally televised remarks, President Obama, along with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN), acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), B. Todd Jones, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and select members of law enforcement met privately with several area individuals whose lives were directly impacted by gun violence. The private roundtable lasted nearly an hour.

“If we’re serious about preventing the kinds of tragedies that happened in Newtown, or the tragedies that happen every day in places like Chicago or Philadelphia or Minneapolis, then law enforcement and other community leaders must have a seat at the table,” said Obama, while flanked by nearly 100 members of various city and state law enforcement officers. “All the folks standing here behind me, they’re the ones on the front line of this fight. They see the awful consequences – the lives lost, the families shattered. They know what works, they know what

studiotobechi

Mary Johnson and Oshea Isreal important. If parents and teachers, police officers and pastors, hunters and sportsmen – Americans of every background stand up and say this time it’s got to be different,” said President Obama.

V.J. Smith, founder of Mad Dads, who met with the president, said though the mass shootings in suburban communities may have prompted the call for gun control, residents of inner city communities find themselves

under siege daily.

“We have small massacres every day in Minneapolis and St. Louis and Detroit and New York (City),” said Smith. “We needed to do something a long time ago.”

Smith said the color of the victims played a role in the reason there was little national outrage until now.

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FOREVER SAINT PAUL LIGHTS UP SAINT PAUL

Come see the Guinness World Records attempt 520,000-piece Lite-Brite Picture by Saint Paul artist Ta-coumba Aiken.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 UNION DEPOT IN SAINT PAUL’S LOWERTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD Celebrate the launch of The Saint Paul Foundation’s $1 MILLION Forever Saint Paul Challenge. Free, fun activities for the whole family.

STARTS AT 3 P.M. / OFFICIAL LIGHTING CEREMONY: 7 P.M. UNION DEPOT / 214 E. KELLOGG BLVD. Visit MNIdeaOpen.org/foreversaintpaul for more details.

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Insight News • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Page 3

Dehn, Moran resolution honors Rosa Parks Rep. Raymond Dehn (DFLMinneapolis) and Rep. Rena Moran (DFL-St. Paul) introduced a resolution honoring the memory of Rosa Parks on the 100th anniversary of her birth, yesterday.

The two legislators read the following statement on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives after introducing the resolution.

“On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks boarded the Cleveland Avenue bus in Montgomery, Alabama to go home after a long day of work.

As the bus filled up, the driver told four AfricanAmericans to give up their seats so whites who were standing in

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane 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 Intern Miki Noland Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Insight Intern Abeni Hill Contributing Writers Cordie Aziz Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Oshana Himot Timothy Houston Alaina L. Lewis Lydia Schwartz 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.

Rosa Parks, 1955

Raymond Dehn (59B)

Rena Moran (65A)

the aisle could sit down. Three of them complied, but Rosa refused, telling the bus driver

that she didn’t think she should have to move. The decision led to her arrest for violating a

Montgomery segregation law.

Ms. Parks’ courageous act over 50 years ago was not

spontaneous. She did not refuse to give up her seat simply because she was tired from a long day’s work as some have suggested. In her words, “the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”

Ms. Parks’ arrest sparked a boycott of Montgomery’s city buses that lasted 381 days, making it one of the largest and most successful movements against racial segregation in our nation’s history.

On what would have been her 100th birthday, we are honored to introduce a resolution recognizing Ms. Parks’ immeasurable contributions to shaping a more equal, just, and inclusive society.

As we honor her legacy, we are reminded of countless others, such as the late Hubert H. Humphrey, who strove to extend civil rights to all people.

The Minnesota icon’s historic speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention calling on the nation to “walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights” was also a key moment in the struggle for equality.

Let us never forget the hardship, sacrifice, and pain endured by leaders like Ms. Parks. Please join us in honoring her legacy and committing to protect America’s promise of liberty and justice for all.”

Dayton appoints Judge Alexander to 4th judicial district Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Judge Pamela G. Alexander as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District. Judge Alexander will be replacing The Honorable Robert A. Blaeser, who recently retired. The judgeship will be chambered at Minneapolis in Hennepin County.

“Throughout her career, Judge Alexander has demonstrated exemplary courage and a commitment to justice for all people,” said

Governor Dayton. “Her legal expertise, acquired through nearly 30 years of experience on the bench, has prepared her well for this new role. I am confident that Judge Alexander will serve the Fourth District with distinction.”

Judge Pamela G. Alexander is the President of the Minnesota Council on Crime and Justice, and previously served as a Municipal and District Judge for Hennepin County from 1983 to 2008.

Prior to her judgeship, she

Obama

Harteau.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek also participated in the roundtable discussion with President Obama. Describing himself as a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, Stanek said the problem is one of access.

“Gun ownership isn’t a privilege, it’s a right guaranteed by the Constitution,” said Stanek.

“We have an access problem; people already prohibited by law from owning or buying a gun should never have access to firearms. We shouldn’t impose on the rights of law abiding citizens to try to solve this problem. Gun

From 2 “It’s (gun violence) happening to white folks now, but it’s been happening to us on a daily basis,” said Smith.

Mary Johnson, who said she spoke candidly with President Obama, said the president is sincere in his efforts to greatly reduce gun violence.

“He wasn’t here just for show,” said Johnson, whose son, Laramiun Byrd, was murdered in 1993.

Johnson reached out to her son’s killer, Oshea Israel, and, eventually formed a bond with him. Together, the two travel the nation speaking on the ills of violence. Johnson and Israel are now next door neighbors.

“A change is going to happen,” said Johnson. “This issue isn’t going to be dropped.”

In 1995, Minneapolis tallied 99 murders. At that time, political and civic leaders came together to address the issue and stem the tide of violence. In what has been termed the Minneapolis Model, a partnership was formed between police, politicians, community activists, clergy and residents in affected areas with a goal to empower citizens and end the culture of violence that was plaguing many neighborhoods.

Since adopting the Minneapolis Model, crime in the city has been reduced by 40 percent according to city officials. This past year, the city totaled 41 homicides. In 2009 – a year where the city saw one of its lowest homicide totals in years, 19 people in the city lost their lives due to homicide.

“When it comes to protecting our children from gun violence, you’ve shown that progress is possible. We’ve still got to deal with the 60 percent that remains, but that 40 percent means lives saved – parents whose hearts aren’t broken, communities that aren’t terrorized and afraid,” said the president. “If there’s even one thing we can do, if there’s just one life we can save, we’ve got an obligation to try.”

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau offered their support for President Obama’s common-sense proposals for ending gun violence.

Rybak and Harteau joined President Obama for the roundtable discussion that included grassroots, community and law-enforcement stakeholders in the fight to end gun violence.

“The most important thing he did was listen — for nearly an hour — to people who day after day, are building peace on our streets. He knows that they, and all Americans, can help everyone in Washington understand that we need commonsense laws that make all of us safer,” said Rybak.

“There is not one simple solution to ending gun violence, but all solutions are rooted in partnership. One of our greatest partners in the fight is President Obama, who supports law enforcement, understands the complexity of gun violence, and has the courage to seek out and implement solutions,” said

Judge Pamela Alexander

worked as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney and was a criminal defense attorney with the Legal Rights Center, Inc. She has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School and the William Mitchell College of Law. Judge Alexander earned her B.A. from Augsburg College and her J.D. from the University of Minnesota School of Law. Additionally, Judge Alexander is a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court

Equal Fairness in the Courts Committee and a recipient of the 2011 Woman of Courage Award from the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.

Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District consists of Hennepin County.

More information on the Commission on Judicial Selection, as well as vacancies it is currently considering, can be found at http://mn.gov/ governor/appointments/ judicial-appointments/

control alone will not solve the complex problem of guns and extreme violence.”

“We know that the mentally ill are no more likely to become violent than the general population, but when mental illness is untreated there is an increased risk of violence,” said Stanek.

In Hennepin County, we book nearly 38,000 people into the jail annually with an estimated one-third suffering from mental illness.

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) said, “After suffering a shooting tragedy in our city only

a few months ago, the residents of Minneapolis have rallied around common-sense reforms to keep our communities and our families safe from gun violence.” Ellison was referring to the mass shooting at Access Signage Systems that killed six this past fall.

“In the wake of Newtown, Tucson, Aurora and so many others, we must find smart ways to prevent gun violence in every city in America. Today’s forum with the President moves us closer to that goal,” said Ellison.

At a packed community forum last week, Rep. Ellison announced he has invited Samir Rahamim,

whose father was killed in the Accent Signage shooting last September in Minneapolis, to join him for the President’s State of the Union address on Feb.12,.

“Sami suffered a tragic lost. Yet he has stepped forward to make a difference in our community and our nation and I will be proud to have him as my guest at the State of the Union,” said Rep. Ellison.

“I hope his voice and activism will prevent another child from losing a family member to gun violence.”

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Page 4 • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Insight News

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BUSINESS Grieving, depression affect work performance Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com We almost had to let him go.

Steve was forgetting everything.

He forgot to check messages and forgot to return calls. He read emails and didn’t respond.

When asked about work that should have been completed, Steve just shrugged and gave us a deer-in-the-headlights, whatam-I-doing-here kind of stare.

He was confused and the rest of the team was frustrated. A coworker complained, “It’s like the day his mother died, Steve checked out.” Aha. Steve was grieving.

According to the Wall Street Journal, workplace grief costs businesses more than $75 billion every year in reduced productivity, increased errors and accidents. After a family member dies, an employee often returns to work, eager to

PhotoXpress

get back to normal life, routines, and a paycheck. However, a well-documented phase of the grieving process, depression, can interfere with performance.

In this stage of grief, the reality

of loss is sinking in. A survivor might experience difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, low energy, and crying spells. The stresses of a normal day only compound the problem so that

even a top employee may need some latitude and some tools in order to work through grief without letting his work go altogether.

If your organization has

a bereavement policy, let the employee know about it. This is not the first benefit employees look into when starting a job, so they might not be aware. Simply knowing that he has three days off with pay can ease some of the anxiety associated with a loss. Usually, the three days are a blur, filled with planning, notifying people, and possibly traveling to a funeral. Those who have experienced losses of their own will understand, this is not a paid vacation.

When the employee returns, he or she is unlikely to be “over it.” Simply saying, “I’m sorry for your loss,” can really help.

If your colleague sees your sympathy as an opening to free counseling sessions, it’s okay to say, “Let’s have lunch this week and talk about it,” or, if you’re not that close, “You might find some good support groups online.” You don’t have to be swallowed by someone else’s loss, but showing that you care is appropriate. There is an elephant in the office; point it out, and move on.

Forgetfulness is common for several weeks following a major life change. It usually

presents as short term memory loss; a simple conversation can be erased the minute you walk away. Avoid frustration by putting expectations in writing.

Email summaries and scheduled reminders are useful now. You are not babysitting, although it looks like that. You are ensuring that your own priorities are met by recognizing the temporary setback your colleague might be having. Follow-up is a good habit for anyone to develop, so when this phase is over, which it will be, you can thank your grieving co-worker for inadvertently improving your work habits.

And his own. Introduce your co-worker to Post-it notes and the sticky note function on his computer, along with reminders on his phone.

Seemingly simple extra steps can have a profound impact on productivity – everyone’s.

Julie Desmond is IT Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Send your career questions to jdesmond@ georgekonik.com.

Occupy organizer acquitted of assault charges at Freddie Mac law firm Last week a Ramsey County jury found Anthony Newby, executive director of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, not guilty on assault charges. An employee of a law firm representing Freddie Mac, a primary target of the housing justice movement, pressed charges after a peaceful protest March 1, 2012.

Newby was charged after attempting to help the law firm employee, who fell as dozens

of supporters demanded justice for Minneapolis homeowner Monique White. White was then facing imminent eviction at the hands of Freddie Mac, the government- sponsored mortgage giant known for its enormous taxpayer bailout and consistent refusal to negotiate with struggling homeowners.

After a national public pressure campaign, White ultimately won a negotiation and was able to stay in her home.

Around 40 supporters packed the courtroom to support Newby, a founding member of Occupy Homes MN. When asked if he had any final words for the court Newby said: “I look forward to the day when the executives who crashed our financial system receive the same degree of scrutiny I did over the past week.”

This trial is part of an aggressive trend of prosecutions by the cities of Minneapolis and

St. Paul targeting the non-violent Occupy Homes movement.

It comes on the heels of the outrageous riot charges leveled by the city of Minneapolis at the peaceful protesters arrested defending the Cruz family home last spring. These charges all represent attacks by elected officials on those working to prevent foreclosures and evictions in the Twin Cities.

“The only assault I see happening here is the assault

Beards From 1 had a small beard, but to most westerners he simply seemed to be unshaven.

Beards come in different shapes and forms. They not only signify different religious identities but have also socioeconomic implications that may be confusing for untrained Western eyes that have only been exposed to terrorists with beards.

Yet many terrorists don’t have beards. None of the 19 hijackers of 9/11 had a beard. During the height of Islamophobia, my only bearded brother at the time was randomly snatched out of his own home early morning, put in jail and tortured for 13 months, he was later released after they found out his beard was not necessary a good evidence for terrorist activities.

Western media has focused on the attire of Muslim women, such as hijab, but not enough on Arab men’s facial fashions.

Jonathan Rashad/Creative Commons

Mohamed Morsi

I know it is a risky business, but I will try to navigate through the different beard styles and their socioeconomic meanings.

Now, when I visit Egypt, the thing that strikes me is seeing my five bearded brothers waiting for me at the airport. It is a breathtaking even for a family member. Growing a beard under Islam is mandatory for some men; for others it is a matter of identity and a choice, just like hijab for women.

According to brother Burhan

on our right to protest,” said Nick Espinosa, who testified on Anthony’s behalf this week.

“Our tax dollars should be keeping people in their homes and prosecuting the criminal acts of the banks, not peaceful protesters.”

On Friday, February 1 the judge threw out the disorderly conduct charge based on a lack of evidence. On Monday, February 4 the jury acquitted Newby of assault and found him

guilty of trespassing. He will pay a small fine, and the charges will drop from his record within a year if he complies with the terms of his sentence.

“Today’s victory in court has renewed my commitment to stand against the corruption and greed of the financial industry,” said Newby. “I’m ready to get back to work building a more just and equitable world for hardworking families across Minnesota.”

from www.islamhelpline.com, during the Prophet’s time growing a beard was considered normal and natural for a man. The Prophet only asked Muslims to trim the mustache (as the Amish do) to distinguish themselves from the pagans.

Western men grow beards mostly for convenience or sex appeal. Muslim men grow beards to indicate their devotion to their faith. Among the Salafy (orthodox Muslim) the longer and more unkempt the beard, the more traditional and pious is the man.

The Brotherhood beard is more organized and controlled. During my visit in Egypt last summer, I went to two Million Man Marches in Tahrir Square — one for a

Salafy protest rally, and another for the Muslim Brotherhood.

Each time the square was full of bearded men, confident, proud and cheerful. Unlike the Salafy, the Brotherhood beard seemed shorter and trimmed. The Salafy beard is rough, thick and long.

This widespread beard wearing in Egypt is new. During the Hosni Mubarak era, it wasn’t a common public phenomena.

Mubarak’s heavy handed treatment of Islamists, due to his subscription to the war on terror doctrine, kept bearded men in Mosques, away from public eyes.

During my visits to Egypt in those

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Insight News • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Page 5

AESTHETICS Mouton Noir Wines owner André Hueston Mack to appear on ABC’s The Taste New York City – Winemaker and sommelier André Hueston Mack ended 2012 on a great note by selling over a million dollars of his Mouton Noir wines worldwide and in 17 USA markets. His credibility as an expert on wine and bottle notes has landed him a spot on ABC’s new primetime cooking show “The Taste,” featuring food experts Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson. Mack will jump start a great new year by appearing on the February 12 episode of the cooking competition as a guest mentor to restaurateur Brian Malarkey’s team of contestants.

“I was excited to receive an invitation to mentor the chefs on food and wine pairings.

To work with Brian Malarkey was a treat and to be a part of the show’s launch was equally as incredible,” states Mack

André Hueston Mack

WBC From 1 day nursery for working families and mothers, a health clinic, industrial training, and sewing classes. Today, “There is so much going on at Pillsbury. Last year we were fortunate to come in contact with roughly 50,000 people through many ways, including our centers, our theater, and the charter schools we authorize,” says Adair Mosley, assistant to Pillsbury President and CEO Chanda Smith Baker. Mosley, a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, spoke about the depth and breadth of services offered by the organization. What Mosley finds most rewarding about his position at PUC, “is being able to know that we’re creating something that is really supporting families and our youth.”

President Chanda Smith Baker became President in May 2011, after working for the organization since 2000, originally as director of one of the neighborhood centers.

Says Mosley, “She’s been a very staunch advocate and fighter for education reform and what is best for our children.” Smith Baker

Beards From 4 days, I didn’t notice bearded men that much; having a bearded friend in one’s group was a public eyesore, that sometimes limited us to going to beard-friendly places.

A few times, security men at clubs refused to admit the bearded ones in our group. At the airport (rather as in Western airports), you would see bearded men undergoing facial profiling from airport security.

Now, the Arab Spring has evolved into an Islamic spring.

Now, in Egypt , not only do they have a bearded president for the first time, but beards are worn by almost everyone — taxi drivers, shopkeepers, teachers, ministers, bank robbers. Even policemen and some military personnel demand the right to wear beards.

You don’t have to be a Salafy or a Muslim Brother to have a beard — even men of the secular left can wear a beard, a political one, as popularized by Che Guevara.

In post-Mubarak elections, beards have played a vital

Chanda Smith Baker also leads the organization in a focus on equity, diversity and organizational leadership. While the state shutdown of Summer 2011 affected the funding of many PUC projects, the organization was able to keep its doors and

services open.

As can be expected of an organization with such a long history, Pillsbury is changing and evolving. In July of 2012, Pillsbury centralized various administrative offices and

political role. Because many Egyptians are illiterate, officials use a pictorial ballot, and having a beard could give a candidate an edge. Egyptians voted heavily for bearded candidates.

Muslim Brotherhood and Salafy candidates have dominated.

And of course now Egypt’s president and prime minster both

have beards. But having a vision for a new Egypt is another story that remains to be shaved.

moved its headquarters from the Camden neighborhood of North Minneapolis to the corner of West Broadway and N 2nd Street. The West Broadway space also hosts the Twin Cities Public Allies program, which places 24 young adults in nonprofit organizations for 10 months in order to advance new leadership.

In North Minneapolis, Pillsbury operates two of its five Neighborhood Centers, the Oak Park Center at 1701 Oak Park Ave N and the Camden Neighborhood Center at 1210 37th Ave N. The Pillsbury United Communities Interpreting Agency, housed at the Oak Park Center, provides interpreter and translation services throughout the city, including at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center.

PUC also played a crucial role in responding to the needs of Northside residents affected by the 2011 tornado.

Mosley, who is a member of PUC’s leadership team, explains that there is special attention being paid to the

who was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal for his business acumen and approach to making wine.

André Hueston Mack gave up a lucrative career in finance to pursue a growing passion in wine. In 2003, Mack was awarded the prestigious title of Best Young Sommelier in America by the highly regarded Chaine des Rotisseurs. This recognition led to a job as sommelier at Thomas Keller’s worldrenowned French Laundry in Yountville, California. Mack went on to accept the position of Head Sommelier at Keller’s equally famed Per Se in New York City, where he managed a 2500-selection awardwinning wine list and consulted regularly with Chef Keller on menu and pairing development.

A growing desire to own his

own wine company led Mack to found Mouton Noir (black sheep) in 2007. Mouton Noir wines are served at the best restaurants across the United States. He recently began curating wines for Club W, a wine club for a new generation of drinkers, to continue his mission of making wine more accessible. Mack’s appearance on “The Taste” lines up with this mission.

“My hope is to present wine as a compliment to modern lifestyles by essentially taking it back to its original context. It should be used as an everyday luxury and sit on the dinner table with the condiments and seasonings.”

Watch André Hueston Mack put his wine philosophies to the test on “The Taste” airing on Tuesday, February 12, 8 p.m.

EST (7 p.m. CST).

North Minneapolis centers: “We’ve been having several conversations about how we can have a greater impact in North Minneapolis, and one of the ways is turning the Oak Park Center more into a youth and family engagement center, a collective gathering space where people can come to get information. We’re interested in really engaging the community holistically, bringing parents to the table, as well as having a focus on grandparents who are raising children.”

At the Camden Neighborhood Center, which is also undergoing a revamp, the focus is on senior services and disability services.

“There is an adult daycare, developmental disabilities employment opportunities and resources. We’re trying to break down the walls and engage the elderly better with the community because we need them, we need our elders,” says Mosley. The Camden Center is notable in part because there are very few other social services providers north of Lowry Avenue.

Other programs throughout the city include the acclaimed Pillsbury House and Theater, Full Cycle Bike Shop and internship program for homeless youth, the Brian Coyle Center in CedarRiverside, and more. PUC also authorizes charter schools, currently sponsoring, guiding and encouraging 13 schools that fit the organization’s vision.

Finally, PUC employs over 250 people throughout the year.

Pillsbury United Communities is truly a remarkable agency, and the West Broadway Coalition is proud to have it as a member organization.

Its history and present are an important part of the social fabric of North Minneapolis and Minneapolis in general. In the words of Mosley, “It’s exciting to be able to meet many different needs that people have. We look forward to another 100 years,” http://www.puc-mn.org Executive and Development Office 125 West Broadway Ave, Suite 130 Minneapolis, MN 55411

Ahmed Tharwat is a host and producer for Arab American television show, “BelAhdan” (with open Arms). His weekly talk show airs on MN Public TV and at www.ahmediatv.com.

TEN THOUSAND THINGS presents Will Power’s hip hop retelling of Aeschylus’ The Seven Against Thebes, the story of two brothers who try to rule their kingdom peacefully despite their father’s curse.

FEATURING Katie Bradley, Aimee K. Bryant, H. Adam Harris, Kinaundrae Lee, Brian Sostek, Ricardo Vazquez, Joetta Wright, AND Bruce A. Young

FEBRUARY 15 – MARCH 10, 2013 OPEN BOOK $25 (Students $15 on Sundays with valid ID)

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CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

Page 6 • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Insight News

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FULL CIRCLE When the heart is like a battlefield Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Sometimes relationship can seem like a battle and the heart like a battlefield. During this battle, friendly fire can occur.

“Friendly-fire,” is a military term that I use to describe a situation in which someone that is on your side, someone that is suppose to be there to protect you, causes you harm.

Friendly-fire can be deadly. In relationships, the most grievous of all friendly-fire is infidelity.

When men and women are unfaithful, they cause harm to the very person they should be protecting.

Friendly-fire is emotionally damaging to the injured. It leaves them wondering how anyone who was supposed to protect them could hurt them so badly. The hurt varies in degrees from person to person, but no matter how slight the condition may appear, it will only get worse over time. Injured people need care. No wound can go uncovered, and no hurt can go untreated. What steps should be taken to keep friendly-fire from

turning deadly? Here are three steps that I believe will help heal the hurt.

Step one, stop the bleeding.

Don’t allow yourself to be subject to continued cheating.

Cheating is friendly fire at its worst. It creates an explosive situation that is emotionally destructive. There are some who will want go on with the relationship as if the infidelity has not occurred. Others will try to keep the incident a secret, but a cover-up is never a good idea.

There is no need to try to protect the cheater. The wounded person is the one that needs the care. The wounds we can’t see are always more serious than the ones we can see. Never leave emotional

in the hands of the person that cause the hurt. There are trusted people in everyone’s circle who are qualified to provide spiritual and emotional support.

Step two, protect the wound.

Healing is never instantaneous.

It takes time to recover from being wounded emotionally.

The damage may have cut deeper than ever imagined. At the same time, life goes on, and most people do not have the luxury of living in the recovery room. Whenever an injury of any kind occurs, everyone wants to see what it looks like. They want you to expose your scares for the benefit of their viewing.

Limited the number of people you tell. I recommend that only

those that are providing care be allowed access to your wounded heart and soul.

Step three, treat for shock.

Stay away from negative people, activates, and environments.

This requires immediate action.

Seek out positive people. One of the most effective treatments for shock is found in the words of the caregiver who must remain calm and provide comfort. Feed yourself a steady dose of encouragement. Words are medicine. Words are life.

Remember, “This too shall pass.”

Infidelity happens. In an ideal world, everyone would be faithful to their relationships, but this is not an ideal world. We are

all subject to “friendly fire” and one day we may have to give or receive care because of it.

Know that there is help and hope in God. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities.

To get copies of his books, or for questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

First Black nurse in Army Nurse Corps honored; anniversary celebrated TUSKEGEE, Ala. (February 1, 2013) – Army ROTC and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health helped to celebrate the achievements of one of black American history’s pioneering professionals, Della H. Rainey, Feb. 1 in Basil O’Connor Hall. During WWII, Rainey became the first black nurse commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States’ Army Nurse Corps and the first nurse to become part of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Lt. Col. Patricia A. Coburn, deputy chief nurse for U. S. Army Cadet Command, served as the guest speaker for the event. After a presentation, a cake was cut to honor the birthday of the U.S. Army Nurses Corps. Feb. 2 marked 112 years that this service branch has been in existence.

A cake was cut at Tuskegee University in honor of the U.S. Army Nurses Corps’ 112th birthday.

Tuskegee University

Tuskegee’s Army ROTC passes on leadership and traditions TUSKEGEE, Ala. (January 30, 2013) – During a small, yet solemn ceremony, Tuskegee University’s Army ROTC Golden Tiger Battalion installed a new cadet commander in

Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Museum Jan. 30. Michael Benton, a senior aerospace engineering major from Detroit, passed the battalion flag and his command on to Darryl Lenard

Lassic, Jr., a senior majoring in supply chain management and hospitality management from Montgomery, Ala. Army ROTC commander, Lt. Col. Robbie J. Cross, said the program periodically rotates command so the students can have leadership opportunities before entering service in the United States Army.

“Anytime there’s a passing of colors, it’s a changing of the guard. But, the unit and history remain,” Cross said.

‘Tiger pride is within you’ During his time in ROTC, Benton became a member of the Ranger Challenge team 20122013 and 2012 Color Guard team. His awards include the Superior Cadet Decoration Award and Cadet of the Month Award. He was also inducted into the Reserve Officers Association of the United States.

As the battalion stood at parade rest in the museum, Benton gave them one last word

Tuskegee University.

Left to right: Master Sgt. Freddie Green, senior military instructor; Michael Benton, outgoing battalion commander; Darryl Lenard Lassic, Jr., new battalion commander; and Lt. Col. Robbie J. Cross, Army ROTC commander.

of advice during his remarks.

“Give [Lassic] the same respect you gave to me and he’ll look out for you,” Benton said.

Lassic’s accomplishments include being selected to serve as the battalion’s logistics officer, graduating from the Leadership Development Assessment Course as well as being a member of the Color Guard, Honor Roll, and receiving the Sergeant York Award.

During the ceremony, Lassic expressed gratitude to his family and the many mentors who helped him in his development.

“Today is not about me, but about the future of the Golden Tiger Battalion,” Lassic said.

“We have a saying: ‘Tiger pride is within you.’ Being an officer, you have to reach down deep within yourself to be able to lead.

But, I also feel it’s important to remember what you learned from your peers and parents.”

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Insight News • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Page 7

The origin of Black History Month Notes on the struggle

By Professor Mahmoud El -Kati So often we find ourselves involved in activities without fully understanding why, as occasionally is the case during our annual observance of Black History Month. This celebration is our most meaningful opportunity to promote cultural awareness, provide direction for our young and take pride in our collective historical accomplishments.

Since 1926, there have been various ways in which Black people set aside a time of year to honor our past, appreciate our present and work toward fulfillment of the future. This concept was introduced by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, one of our most revered historians and critical thinkers. Dr. Woodson was a man who not only studied and wrote history but made history as well. He was a brilliant scholar with a universal mind, and yet he chose to devote his life and genius to discovering the lost of missing pages of history and including the facts about achievement, challenges and heroism of Black people, and placing them where they rightfully belonged.

As a living public figure, Dr. Woodson’s name was prominent from 1912 until 1950, the untimely year of his death. With a background of struggle that was required to obtain an education, Dr. Woodson climbed from the coal mines of Virginia and West Virginia and finished high school at age 22. By age 37 he had earned his PhD in history from Harvard University and went on to fulfill his passionate desire to be useful service to his people.

After serving as Dean of Liberal Arts at Howard University and Dean of West Virginia Institute, Woodson stated that his dominant purpose was to turn his historical training and preparation to the best racial account Woodson shared his learning and research skills by developing three enduring institutions, which are still with us today: The Association of the Study of Negro Life and History (now Afro-American Life and History), founded in 1915; The Journal of Negro History and the Negro History Bulletin both of which were founded in 1916. The latter two have been published quarterly for more than a half century and provided generation of Black Scholars with the opportunity to develop their skills and expose their work.

Woodson did not stop there -- in 1926 he founded Negro History Week, to observe between the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln in February. He inspired Black Americans to make a

Dr. Carter G. Woodson

Creative Commons

concrete expression of their heritage by holding celebration in their churches, schools and community centers as well as lodges and civic clubs. He also traveled widely establishing Negro History Study Clubs and encouraging small groups of people to spend Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons in their homes learning about the history of American that had been left out of the one-sided, white oriented school textbooks.

Today, we celebrate Black History Month and one can well imagine that Dr. Woodson would be pleased to know that the tradition he introduced has been so proudly expanded by his people. Today, the ultimate intent of Black History Month is not only to help African Americans understand, appreciate and preserve our great heritage, but also to speak to the members of the larger society who are looking for avenues of understanding themselves and their Black countrymen.

By extension, Black History is a celebration of the existence of a key people, a people who came here before the Mayflower. Most of all, Black History Month is a time of learning and reflection-a time to look at one another, instead of up or down to one another.

Thank you Dr. Carter G. Woodson. We love the memory of you and will continue to cherish and maintain this great idea. Sleep well our father; your children honor you still.

Opening delayed, African American museum programming goes on

By Sheila Reagan TC Daily Planet The Minnesota African American Museum and Cultural Center (MAAM), which was originally scheduled to open its doors last June, has had to delay its opening several times since; while there’s currently no set date for the museum’s permanent opening, the center continues its programming outside of the museum walls.

Most recently, MAAM announced that it would open in February, in time for African American History Month, but according to founder Roxanne

Daniel Patrick Murphy.

A community festival hosted by MAAM in June.

Givens, the museum will not open in February, and at this

point there is no confirmed date for when it will open. When they

do open, she said, there won’t be a ceremony, but instead will simply begin welcoming visitors during regular hours.

While the museum remains closed indefinitely, the organization continues programming as a “virtual museum,” Givens said. That includes working with schools to stage “trunk shows” about African American History.

MAAM is also in talks with the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) to co-host a collaborative event surrounding CTC’s production of Jackie and Me. Originally that collaboration was going to include a trip to the museum after which students would walk over to the nearby

CTC to attend the performance, but Givens said she they are still in talks about how that collaboration can happen.

The museum has also worked with church partners to celebrate the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in an event at the Minnesota State Capitol.

The organization has plans to tell the story of African Americans who were involved with the Civil War. “There were about 104 African Americans who were here that fought in the Civil War,” Givens said.

“We’re gathering information so that we can provide an accurate history of African Americans.”

According to Givens, while there weren’t any dedicated African American regiments from Minnesota, there were African Americans from Minnesota that were assigned to other regiments from the Midwest. Part of the research for this project includes identifying grave markers from these soldiers.

Another upcoming event will hopefully happen in May, during which Dred Scott’s only living heir will visit the Twin Cities.

Givens said that if the museum is not yet open, the event will take place at another location. In the past they have used churches and also Sabathani Community Center as venues for events.

Givens was reluctant to provide many details about the reason for the delayed opening, saying only, “It’s

a very convoluted process we’re working through.” (In September, the Star Tribune reported that the opening was being held up by negotiations among the museum, the State of Minnesota, and Franklin Bank regarding the museum’s mortgage.)

According to Givens, the organization has received a lot of support from the African American community as well as the state, and that local educators have come to regard MAAM as the go-to place for African American history.

That’s not to say that everyone has been as supportive as the museum had hoped.

MAAM was disappointed, for example, that they didn’t get very much press coverage about their activities surrounding the Emancipation Proclamation anniversary. “It’s a global issue,” Givens said, “about how African Americans are represented.”

When the museum does open, the first main exhibit, about African American baseball, will be larger than when it was last summer, when it first installed and was viewable at a preview event. The exhibit was taken down last fall so that the artifacts wouldn’t get destroyed during renovations to the building, and are now currently in storage.

One of MAAM’s main collaborating partners is

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Page 8 • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Insight News

insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe: Where delicious food is a family affair and Baja soup on Thursday, and chicken gumbo or chili on Friday. On Saturday, soups and deli sandwiches are on the menu.

BY CHEO SMITH, TC DAILY PLANET Mychael and Stephanie Wright, husband and wife co-owners of Golden Thyme, started up their cafe and coffee shop 13 years ago this March, first serving only coffee and pastries. Before long, people were asking for food to go along with their jazzlegend-themed coffee drinks— and the Wrights delivered.

Their menu now features daily breakfast including waffles and Mix-n-Go Grits—a bowl of grits topped with an egg, cheese, peppers, and a choice of breakfast meat. For lunch, there are sandwiches, a soup of the day, and a special that rotates daily and features hearty chicken noodle soup on Monday, nine-bean soup and cornbread on Tuesday, Golden Thyme chicken with spaghetti or red beans and rice on Wednesday, gourmet tacos

B FRESH Photography and Media

PUZZLES

MAAM From 7 Obsidian Arts, a contemporary African American arts

organization. The partnership has involved collaboration on numerous levels, from the curation of the black baseball exhibit to a trip to Cuba this spring.

The trip to Cuba is in a way

I ordered the chicken gumbo, a plate of Golden Thyme chicken and spaghetti, and a side of horseradish coleslaw.

The bowl of gumbo tasted like a true southern dish. I wasn’t surprised when I learned that it was made with real filé, a powdered thickener and seasoning made from ground sassafras leaves.

The spicy sausage complemented the simply shredded chicken and gave the dish a lot of character. The baked chicken is covered in their special Golden Thyme seasoning, a blend of herbs and spices that give the chicken a deep golden brown color and a rich, spicy flavor. The coleslaw was fresh and creamy and, with the addition of a bit of

horseradish, had a little kick.

The menu contains a number of healthier options including ground turkey in the spaghetti and turkey andouille sausage in the gumbo rather than pork.

The intersection of Selby and Milton is a hub of blackowned businesses and is a neighborhood and community landmark. Golden Thyme Owner Mychael Wright founded the Selby Avenue JazzFest in 2002, and the Wrights’ passion for their neighborhood is evident in the number of people in the coffee shop who are greeted by name and welcomed like family.

Soul Food MN is a series in which writer Cheo Smith and photographer Rebecca McDonald visit and review Twin Cities restaurants serving soul food and southern food.

Is there a great soul food restaurant we’re missing?

Write to jay@tcdailyplanet.net.

U.S. Presidents ACROSS 1. Ruler sides, e.g.

6. Toward the stern 9. Hit the bottle 13. “La traviata” composer 14. Tokyo, formerly 15. *First President to resign 16. One of three hipbones 17. Bruin legend Bobby 18. Some tournaments 19. *First to be assassinated 21. Protests 23. Corn spot 24. Mischievous Scandinavian god 25. Actress ___ Gasteyer 28. Famous Christmas guests 30. As much as necessary 35. Follows ding?

37. Sold in bars 39. “Tonight’s _____ be a good night...”

40. Allege 41. *Andrew Johnson’s tribulation, e.g.

43. Clever tactic 44. Bouncing off the walls 46. Sports award 47. Equal 48. Scraps 50. Brewer’s kiln 52. Word for a nod 53. Second word of many fairytales 55. Poison ___ 57. *First to have been divorced 60. *First Rhodes Scholar 64. Model-building wood 65. Boiling blood 67. Nobody 68. Open up 69. Belonging to us 70. Capital of Tunisia 71. Big first for a baby 72. Meaning literally “born” 73. Cancel, as in correction, pl.

ANSWERS TURN TO 10

an extension of the baseball exhibit; people who sign up will travel to Cuba in order to find out more about baseball there.

Cuba, Givens explained, hosted a number of Negro League baseball players.

Southall explained that in doing research for the black baseball exhibit, the curating team found that there were a number of Cuban players that participated in the Negro league, and also that a number of Negro League players went to Cuba to get away from the racism of the United States.

MAAM and Obsidian sought out Dennis McCroskey, based in California, who regularly conducts baseball-specific trips to Cuba. McCroskey knows

where all the stadiums are and has intimate knowledge of the baseball history in the country, Southall said, so they’ve been working with him to craft a trip.

People interested pay for their own travel, and there’s room for about 30 to attend, Southall said.

Southall said the Cuba trip is a true partnership between Obsidian and MAAM, with both organizations doing a bit of the heavy lifting.

The two organizations also collaborated on the baseball exhibit—titled Bringing it Home—at the museum, with Obsidian lending support in terms of the curation and some

MAAM TURN TO 9

DOWN 1. *Reagan’s description of Soviet Union 2. Hero place 3. Smiley face 4. Something concluded 5. Arabian sand-laden wind 6. Quite a stretch 7. *First to appear on black-andwhite TV 8. Body center 9. Cone-shaped quarters 10. Farm team 11. French-American soprano Lily ____ 12. Ensign, for short 15. Paying close attention 20. Minimum 22. *First to appear on color TV 24. CIA connection, e.g.

25. *First to live in White House 26. Star bursts 27. Beside, archaic 29. *Clinton’s number two 31. “My bad!”

32. Untwist a rope 33. Garden creature 34. *Rutherford _____ 36. “True ____,” starring John Wayne 38. Pop 42. Disinfectant brand 45. Courtney Cox’s character 49. Hot springs resort 51. Contaminates or corrupts 54. Tear jerker 56. Type of whip 57. Deliver a tirade 58. Dresden’s river 59. Hurry up!

60. Wrap in waxy cloth 61. Voice quality 62. “Get __ __!”

63. “The Untouchables” leader 64. *Presidents Obama and Bush both campaigned from one 66. Street in Paris

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Insight News • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Page 9

COMMENTARY Congress should confirm B. Todd Jones at ATF Nobody Asked Me

By Fred Easter Nobody asked me, but it sure looks like B. Todd Jones is getting “Susan Rice’d” by Republicans in the Senate at the request of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Susan Rice is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She shoulda, coulda, woulda been Secretary of State but, born again henchman, Sen. John McCain used untruths, innuendo and misinformation to announce Republicans’ intention to withhold her confirmation. Jones is the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. He has also been acting as interim director of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). How, you ask,

can a man hold a challenging, full-time job in St. Paul while holding another challenging, full-time job in Washington D.C, at the same time? How, you ask, can this brother do a great job at both positions? The point is … no human could; which is how the NRA likes it.

This is how our fractured system of government works, or doesn’t. There hasn’t been a dedicated director of the ATF in more than six years.

This allows NRA Pres. Wayne LaPierre to sit piously in Congress and argue that we only need to enforce existing laws, rather than enact new gun regulations.

George W. Bush and his “dad,” Dick Chaney, saw no need to fill the ATF position.

Obama has been blocked from filling it, as well as scores of other appointments he has made to the federal bench and other posts. This is the Republicans plan to hamstring his administration. Not only are we saddled with the greatest “do-nothing” Congress ever, but there are many more subtle,

B. Todd Jones under the radar, tactics right wing big money has been using to halt the change Obama and the American people want.

If Mitt Romney had been

elected, confirmations of right wing judges would’ve rained down. Believe it. No director of the ATF Bureau would’ve been appointed though. The

NRA is perfectly satisfied with a leaderless, underfunded ATF. The Tea Party can’t sleep at night worrying about the Supreme Court and the federal court system moving to the center-left of the political spectrum.

Jones has the double handicap of being the same color as Rice, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama. As far as we know, though, he is neither Kenyan nor Muslim, and was born in the good old U.S. of A. Still, people all over the country are coming out of the woodwork to besmirch his reputation and credentials.

You’d think that after six years of no director, they’d be willing to welcome what they’re calling an “incompetent, flawed” one. For the Republicans, Barack is already one too many brilliant and principled African-American in powerful positions in America. Allowing him to appoint more is seen by them as out of the question.

The idea of President Obama leaving a lasting mark

on the fabric of American life gives the right wing apoplexy.

With accomplishments of healthcare for all Americans, looming immigration reform, a vibrant auto industry, the end of two wars and Osama Bin Laden dead, we can add the possibility of a more liberal Supreme Court and federal bench. Add to that the possibility of the end of subsidies to Big Oil. Then add an America that is not so quick to kill for what it purports to believe. While we’re at it, add a country where the richest 1percent of the American population is no longer enjoying more wealth than its poorest 60 percent and we see evidence of his legacy that could outlive Sasha and Malia Obama – and it should.

If we and our president are successful with his agenda for change, America will have begun to fulfill its promise as a true bastion of democracy and softened its reputation as a greedy, imperialist superpower.

It will have begun to be what our Navy calls, “A global force for good.”

Right now is our turn to say “no more!”

Child Watch

By Marian Wright Edelman This is an important conversation for our children, for our communities, for Democrats and Republicans.

Speaking is difficult but I need to say something important. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something.

It will be hard. But the time is now. You must act. Be bold.

Be courageous. Americans are counting on you. -- Statement of former Representative Gabrielle Giffords to the Senate Judiciary Committee, January 30th, 2013 At the January 30th Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the survivor of a gunshot to the head, gave us our marching orders.

The United States stands alone in the world in our tolerance of gun violence but in the wake of the devastating Newtown murders, a powerful outcry of ordinary Americans across the country is saying no more. This time we want our collective heartbreak and outrage to be followed by real change.

How have people in other countries responded after a gun massacre or mass shooting?

Australia and Great Britain provide two examples. In 1996, 35 people were killed and 23 others were wounded by a gunman at the Port Arthur tourist site in Tasmania, Australia, in one of the largest massacres ever committed by a single shooter.

Within twelve days of the shooting, spurred by strong public support, the Australian federal and state governments agreed to the historic National Firearms Agreement (NFA), which banned semi-automatic and pump action rifles and shotguns and required registration of all firearms, strict standards for gun licenses, and a permit for each gun purchase subject to a 28-day waiting period.

The NFA also prohibited private sales, regulated ammunition sales, and required licensees to receive firearm safety training and to store firearms safely. To get banned

MAAM From 8 of the installation. “We are so excited at the advent of the museum in Minnesota focused on African American history and culture,” Southall said. “That excitement lends to doing what you can, whether it’s completely compensated or not.”

When the museum re-opens, the Bringing it Home exhibit will be expanded onto the second floor, and will contain a bunch of extra stuff that there wasn’t space for last summer for the teaser event. “It’s almost a completely different show,” Southall said. “There’s a lot more to show.”

rifles and shotguns off the streets, the federal government bought back or accepted turn-ins of over one million guns which were then destroyed.

The National Firearms Agreement was supported by a coalition of groups from across the political spectrum including women’s organizations, seniors, religious leaders, police, parents, human rights organizations and schools, all demanding stronger gun violence laws in Australia.

In the 18 years before the NFA there were 13 mass shootings in Australia. In the 16 years since, Australia has not had a single mass shooting. Rates of overall gun deaths, gun homicides, and gun suicides, which were declining prior to the NFA, started declining twice as fast after the reforms.

Just weeks before the Port

civilian hands. The government also instituted firearm amnesties across the country resulting in the surrender of thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition.

After Great Britain acted, gun-related crimes continued to rise for a while, following a trend that began earlier in the decade.

Experts said it was inevitable that criminals were not going to surrender their illegal handguns and it took time to reduce the pool of illegal handguns after the ban and see declines in gun-related crimes. But after peaking in 2003 and 2004, the total number of firearm offenses has fallen every year since. In 2009, nearly 67 percent of U.S. homicides were committed with guns while in Great Britain the number was only 6.6 percent. In 2010, 27 people were killed by gun homicide in the

Let’s heed Gabby Giffords’ moving testimony to be bold, to be courageous, and to act now for our children’s sake.

Arthur massacre in Australia, 16 five- and six-year-olds and their teacher were killed in a devastating school shooting in Dunblane, Scotland. After those murders the public outcry in Great Britain was very similar to the one we are seeing in the U.S. right now. The shooter owned his guns legally and the outrage over his crime started a public campaign for tighter gun control culminating in a petition being handed to the government with over 700,000 signatures. A 1987 mass shooting by a man who killed 16 people and wounded 15 others had already led Great Britain to ban semi-automatic and pump action rifles and shotguns. This time, eleven months after the Dunblane murders, Great Britain passed the Firearm (Amendment) Act of 1997 instituting tighter controls over handguns. Soon after, the country went a step further and prohibited all handguns in

United Kingdom, which includes both Great Britain and Northern Ireland and has a population of more than 62 million people.

In California and Texas, with a similar combined population of 62 million people, there were 2,255 gun homicides. What a difference guns make.

Some will argue that other factors contribute to the lower gun violence rates in Australia, Great Britain, and similar countries beyond their strong gun control legislation. Others note that the United States is a very different place, with entrenched attitudes equating guns with personal freedom, tens of millions more people, and tens of millions more guns, and we may never be able to expect the same success reducing the number of gun murders to near zero. These points may have some merit but are not reasons to dismiss anything other countries may be getting right in favor of

Southall said he’s excited about the additional material the expanded exhibition will allow.

Previously, they had to “try to tell the rather glorious and complicated story of the rise and fall of the Negro Leagues on two walls,” he said. The expanded exhibition will tell a story with a lot more points. For example, there will be a larger section about the role of women baseball players both in the sport and in management. “In some cases, women were vital in many changes that affected the broader world of baseball,” he said.

Another aspect that will be featured is night baseball, and Southall said they have some stunning images of the first night baseball game, with lights

that were developed to make it possible using lighting trucks with cranes.

The new exhibit will also include maps, which were not included before, so visitors can see where the different historical baseball events took place.

Hopefully, the exhibit will be open to the public sooner rather than later, so the public can see the new exhibit. “Our goal was not to be a virtual museum,” said Givens.

Minnesota African American Museum and Cultural Center Phone: (612) 872-1655 http://www.maamcc.org Twitter: @mnaamcc

continuing to do nothing new here. In both Australia and Great Britain extraordinary tragedies pushed a groundswell of citizens to stand up and say no more and elected officials to follow through with significant action.

If Americans had said no more after Columbine, there may never have been a Virginia Tech. If we had said no more after Virginia Tech, there may never have been a Tucson. If we had said no more after Tucson, there may never have been an Aurora. If we had said no more after Aurora, there may never have been a Newtown, and maybe some of the more than 31,000 other American gun deaths

that occur each year could have been prevented.

President Obama was correct when he said at the interfaith prayer vigil at Newtown High School that “no single law—no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. But that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that—then

surely we have an obligation to try.”

Let’s heed Gabby Giffords’ moving testimony to be bold, to be courageous, and to act now for our children’s sake.

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www. childrensdefense.org.

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Page 10 • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Insight News

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COMMUNITY Neighborhood organizations calendar Cleveland • The Cleveland Neighborhood Association will host their monthly board meeting Monday 7-9pm February 18th at Lucy Craft Laney 3330 Penn Ave N. For more information, Ariah Fine, Director of CNA 612-588-1155. • The Cleveland Neighborhood Association engages youth in decision making through the Youth Committee.

Meetings are held every first Thursday of the month. The next Youth Committee meeting will be held March 20th 6:30-7:30pm at Lucey Craft Laney 3333 Penn Ave N. • The Events Committee is made up of Cleveland Residents who help put on Live on the Drive, Spring Cleaning and Greening Day and other activities. Meetings are held every second Thursday of the month. The next meeting will be held Thursday January 10th from 6:30-8pm. For more information, 612-588-1155.

West Broadway Coalition • Join us for a healthy breakfast, program and networking Thursday, February 21st, 8:00-9:30am at Fairview

Park 621 29th Ave N. Networking Happy Hour • Join WBC for Happy Hours Tuesday, February 26th from 4:30-6pm Good Sports Bar and Grill, 200 West Broadway. Join other members of the Northside business community for some informal conversation and networking.

Jordan • JACC will host a listening session Thursday, February 21st, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Board meetings are open to the public.

Willard Hay/Near North • The Northside Residents Redevelopment Council will host their monthly board meeting Monday, February 18th at UROC 2100 Plymouth Ave N. • Northside Resident Redevelopment Council are working to engage adolescent youth through Teen Job Assistance @ North Regional Library 1315 Lowry Ave N. for teens in grade 8 and up. Get the help you need to land your next job! Minneapolis WorkForce Center staff will present tips and

Calendar • Classifieds spoken word artist Tish Jones will use spoken word to help participants tell their stories and craft new poetic works.

Workshops take place at 4pm, Tue., Feb. 5 at Rondo Library (461 N Dale St, 651-2667400) and at 11am, Sat., Feb. 9 at Highland Park Library (1974 Ford Pkwy, 651-6953700). Another workshop for Saint Paul Public Library teens, Tell Your Story with Commemorates Black Hip Hop, presented by hip hop artist Toki Wright, will History Month February Saint Paul Public Library host be held at 4pm on Wed., Feb. several free events for all ages 5, at the Rice Street Teen in February to commemorate Zone (1022 Marion St, near Black History Month. Merriam Rice Street Library, 651-558Park Library (1831 Marshall 2223). The headliner event for Ave, 651-642-0385) will screen Black History Month is a free the film “The Powerbrokers,� performance by the acclaimed about Civil Rights activist, local jazz group, Moore by Whitney Young, who led the Four, at 6:30pm, Wed., Feb. National Urban League, at 20, at the Landmark Center (75 7pm on Mon., Feb. 4. At Truth W 5th St, 651-292-3233.) For Be Told workshops for teens, kids, Central Library (90 W 4th St, 651-266-7000) will host African Drumming Community Living Specialist and Dance presented by Teach independent living skills to individuals with Duniya Drum & Dance disabilities one-to-one in their homes for a Hopkins at 11am, Sat., Feb. 23. non-profit. Train in areas such as household skills, budgeting, cooking, community awareness and For more information, health & safety. Transport people to medical apts please call 651-266and weekly errands. Flexible part time to full time 7000 or visit www.sppl. hours available but may include some afternoons, org/blackhistory. eves or weekends. Knowledge & ability to mentor Send Community Calendar information to us by email: info@insightnews.com, by fax: 612.588.2031, by phone: 612.588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411. Free or low cost events preferred.

EVENTS

culturally diverse population of male clientele. AA degree or better, own reliable transportation & references, computer literacy required. Exper preferred.

13.50 – 14.40 per hour DOQ. Email resume to Mary Perkins at mperkins@reachforresources.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KFAI, a 35-year old community radio station seeks experienced Executive Director. Responsibilities include staff development, fundraising, community outreach, strategic partnerships and alliances. ED reports to 15-member board. The ability to attract, nurture and retain an effective staff team is essential. The successful candidate will be able to effectively delegate and employ a participatory leadership approach and have the maturity, experience and skill to instill confidence and build a shared vision with stakeholders.

West African Dance & Drum Classes African Dance w/ Whitney $12 - All classes Drop-In. Every Saturday 1:00pm 2:30pm; Every Tuesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm. at Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010

Ellison

information on job search, then provide one-on-one assistance with your job search, applications, rĂŠsumĂŠs and interview preparation. Register online at http://www.hclib.org/pub/events/ Register.cfm?SessionNo=12566, or call 952-847-8450.

STEP-UP Internships • Minneapolis youth ages 14-21 can apply for a summer internship with STEP-UP. All applications must be completed online. If you need assistance with your application, call 612-673-5041 or visit the STEPUP page for agencies that offer staff and/or computer assistance. As part of the process of getting a STEP-UP internship, youth must complete a competitive application process and work readiness training through the program. Internships are paid, and youth are matched up with a wide range of local businesses for summer jobs.

The deadline is March 4th, 2013.

Powderhorn The Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association Starting in February 2013, Women Venture will offer its “Plan to Succeed�

Phone: 612.588.1313

Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406.

Mentor Series Feb. 1 – 13 Mentor Series, National Book Award Winner William Alexander, and Literary Love Fest - At-A-Glance: 2/1: Mentor Series Reading: Jude Nutter; 2/2: Poetry Reading: Hadara Bar-Nadav, Adam Clay, Michael Robins, & Kristin Naca; 2/5: Minnesota Emerging Writers’ Grant Reading; 2/9: Second Story with Will Alexander and Kelly Barnhill; 2/9: Mizna’s Journal Release Reading; and 2/13: Literary Love Fest. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free, open to the public, and take place at The Loft Literary Center at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis. Please call The Loft for class details & times: (612) 215-2575, website: https://www.loft.org/ REVOLUTION ‘63 Feb. 1 – Feb. 17 1963 is often referred to as the “end of innocence� in the United States. The year was filled with many historical markers — the March on Washington, the church bombings in Birmingham and the assassination of President Kennedy. Join us as we mark the 50th anniversary of this tumultuous year with another groundbreaking Youth Performance Company (YPC) original musical at Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, 1900

Reuven Rahamim, who immigrated to the United States, founded Accent Signage Systems in 1984 and turned From 1 it into a multi-million dollar text message to his father company. telling him to be careful “My father lived the because there was a American dream, but died the The ideal candidate must possess exceptional shooting in the area. “By American nightmare,� said Sami written and verbal skills, excellent strategic planpassing legislation we Rahamim. ning abilities, solid management skills, and the will be preventing other capacity to translate vision into results. Require at Sami Rahamim, along with least 5 years progressive leadership experience, families from getting Protect Minnesota, has been BA or equivalent experience. Excellent benefits, the phone call (notifying lobbying law makers at the salary commensurate with experience, to apply the family of Reuven state capitol to enact stricter email resume, cover letter and salary history to search@dendros.com by February 22. No phone Rahamim’s murder) my state gun laws. Together, the calls. EOE. family received.� group is calling on federal legislation that will put an end to the so-called gun show loophole that allows buyers to purchase guns without a criminal Minneapolis Public Schools is accepting background check, a ban on assault type applications and scheduling interviews weapons like the for the 2013/14 school year! ones used in mass shootings in Aurora, TEACHERS: Col., and Newtown, Conn., and a ‡ 6SHFLDO (GXFDWLRQ DOO DUHDV maximum limit of ‡ (OHPHQWDU\ 6HFRQGDU\ 10 rounds for gun ‡ )UHQFK ,PPHUVLRQ clips and magazines.

But not all ‡ 6SDQLVK ,PPHUVLRQ ELOLQJXDO ELFXOWXUDO KLJKO\ SUHIHUUHG in attendance were ‡ 6FLHQFH 3K\VLFV &KHPLVWU\ *HQHUDO (DUWK so eager to acquiesce ‡ :RUOG /DQJXDJH &KLQHVH -DSDQHVH 6SDQLVK $UDELF to such changes. “In this rush ‡ &DUHHU 7HFKQLFDO (GXFDWLRQ (to pass legislation) ‡ /LFHQVHG 6FKRRO 1XUVH we’re missing the target,� said Lee If you would like to view these positions and Burke, who said submit an online application, please visit the problem is not being tough enough www.mpls.k12.mn.us on crime. “We’re to view all of our open positions. not going after the criminals in this 0LQQHDSROLV 3XEOLF 6FKRROV VWURQJO\ HQFRXUDJHV country. I had two GLYHUVH FDQGLGDWHV WR DSSO\ friends murdered

course at the PPNA office. Plan to Succeed is a free 5-week training course for qualified participants and offers vital sessions that will provide the skills and tools needed to grow a business that is feasible, viable and desirable. See the attached document for more information. In addition, participants will receive three 1-hour sessions with one of Women Venture’s seasoned Business Consultants. The course is limited to only 10 participants so register early. The next meeting takes place 6:00 – 9:00 pm February 25 Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association Office 821 E. 35th Street Minneapolis, MN 55407 Lind-Bohanon The Lind-Bohanon Neighborhood Association Business committee meets monthly to discuss important topics related to improving the local business area. Residents who have an interest in attending are welcome. Thu, February 21, 7:00pm – 8:30pmShingle Creek Commons, 4600 Humboldt Ave N. Victory • The Victory Neighborhood Association will hold a neighborhood

Fax: 612.588.2031

Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis.

Free Parking! Recommended for grades 4 and up.

Themes: history, community, friendship, strength, and resiliency. Call 612.623.9080 or youthperformanceco.org for information and reservations.

Events at Red Balloon Bookshop Feb. 14 – Feb. 21 Thursday, Feb 14 – We Love Our Customer’s Sale! – 14% off of any full-price, in-stock items!

Friday, Feb 15, 6:30 pm - Heather Anastasiu, GLITCH #2 (OVERRIDE Saturday, Feb 16, 2:00 pm Elizabeth Foy Larsen, UNBORED Thursday, Feb 21, 6:30 pm Chapter & Verse Book Club 891 Grand Ave St Paul, MN 55105 (651) 224-8320 www. redballoonbookshop.com Saakumu West African Drum and Dance Troupe Performance Feb. 14 An exciting evening of culture and inspiration awaits audiences as Hamline welcomes back the Saakumu Drum and Dance Troupe, one of the leading traditional and contemporary dance and music groups in Ghana, West Africa on Thursday, February 14 at 7 p.m. Sundin Music Hall, 1531 Hewitt Ave. The group’s repertoire includes a range of spiritual, ceremonial, and contemporary African dance forms. The performance

and both of their killers are walking the streets today.

We’re ignoring God’s law that murderers should be put to death.�

Theresa Cutler said she is opposed to any changes in gun laws because of her need to protect her family. “With all due respect to the police and law enforcement, I’m the first responder if someone tries to harm my family,� said Cutler. Cutler said having an assault type weapon is a deterrent to criminals looking to do harm.

In his support of tougher gun laws, Ellison pointed out that he is, in fact a gun owner himself, but he said calling for restrictions is not calling for a ban. “The reality is, we’re going to have to make some changes in our laws,� said Ellison. “It’s now time for us to show fortitude and put some reasonable laws in place.�

Ellison said since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, there have been well over a thousand gun deaths in the nation. The Sandy Hook shooting took place on Dec. 14. “We can talk statistics, but really, we’re talking about people. We’re talking about an empty chair at the dining room table,� said Ellison. “Enough is enough, the proposals we present are common sense,� said Rahamim. “We have the power to save lives.�

Ellison announced that Rahamim will be his guest at the president’s upcoming State of the Union address.

meeting Wednesday February 27th from 7-9pm at St Johns Missionary Baptist Church 4301 Thomas Ave N. For more information, Diane Spector 612-529-9558.

Graffiti Removal Program • Hennepin County Sentence to Service has a work crew available to abate graffiti in our area! The WBC is here to help you get connected to this great resource. To request this service, you must fill out a form that gives Sentence to Service permission to clean up the graffiti that is present on your business, garage or home. If you have any questions, please contact the WBC at 612-353-5178.

Heritage Park Accountability MN is coming to Heritage Park on February 20th to prepare your taxes for FREE! There are only a few appointment times left, so contact me today to reserve your spot. Make sure you get your full return this year! Free tax preparation will be prepared Wednesday February 20th.

For more information, contact Alecia J. Lenoard at 612-767-1055.

Email: info@insightnews.com

is free for Hamline students with ID; Community members may purchase tickets at the door for $5.

A Tribute to Black Cultural Icons Feb 15 Experience a night of musical, poetic, and theatrical performances honoring 50 Black Americans who achieved success before the age of 50, including Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Gabby Douglas, Marvin Gaye, Monique, Spike Lee, Malcolm X, Magic Johnson, and President Barack Obama on Friday, February 15 at 7 p.m. Sundin Music Hall, 1531 Hewitt Ave. Performers include Hamline students and local artists, including actor/singer Julius Collins III and dance group Immortal Dance Crew.

Open Cities dinner honors Black History Month Feb. 15 A free community dinner and health fair in honor of Black History Month will be held on Friday, February 15, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Dunning Recreation Center, 1221 Marshall Avenue, in St. Paul.

Sponsors of the dinner are Open Cities Health Center (OCHC), ARTS-US,

Answers From 8

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

The event is open to the public.

To learn more about the Community Dinner and Annual African American Health Fair call Hareen Witherspoon at (651) 251-5978.

The 8th Annual Volunteer Expo Feb. 16 HandsOn Twin Cities presents The 8th Annual Volunteer Expo at the Mall of America, Rotunda and First Floor, Saturday, February 16th, 2013, 10am – 3pm. Find meaningful ways to make a difference through the power of volunteering when you join HandsOn Twin Cities for the eighth annual Twin Cities Volunteer Expo. Find the perfect volunteer project for you, your family, or your group.

Choose from one-time projects or longer-term commitments.

Visit with representatives from 75 area non-profit organizations and find out how you can get involved in a good cause and benefit your community. Also at the event, participate in “speed volunteering� activities (projects completed at the expo) and attend the Be the Change Awards Ceremony at 1pm.

insightnews.com

Insight News • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Page 11

HEALTH Federal government must step up or MinnesotaCare will go Minnesota is moving forward on reforming our health care system, but the federal government needs to do its part - and soon, according to the Minnesota Budget Project.

“Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans will get access to affordable health insurance under proposals in the Legislature, including two bills being introduced that would preserve

MinnesotaCare,” said Minnesota Budget Project Deputy Director Christina Wessel. “The federal government needs to provide specific guidance on some of these issues so the state can move ahead.”

The bills being introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate would use a federal Basic Health Plan, an option

included in the Affordable Care Act, to fund the next generation of MinnesotaCare. House File 214 and Senate File 184 would make up to 190,000 low-income working Minnesotans eligible for affordable health insurance, including family farmers and others who are employed but unable to get insurance. However, Minnesota policymakers are

still waiting for the federal government to issue guidance on how states can implement a Basic Health Plan. Without information from Washington, Minnesota cannot move forward with a Basic Health Plan, and tens of thousands of Minnesotans could lose access to affordable health insurance.

“There is so much at stake

in Minnesota. We can continue to be a national leader in health care innovation by preserving MinnesotaCare, through which hundreds of thousands of lowincome working individuals get affordable health insurance,” said Wessel. “By using the Basic Health Plan option, we can keep MinnesotaCare and make it even better. And Minnesota can use

hundreds of millions in federal dollars to accomplish those goals.”

Wessel said the Legislature and Governor Dayton deserve thanks for their leadership in advancing proposals that bring hundreds of millions in federal dollars to fund health care for Minnesotans.

Saving energy and money with home automation

By EarthTalk® E - The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I understand that there are many kinds of automatic features that can be incorporated into a home—even some that can be operated remotely—that can save energy and provide other environmental benefits. Can you enlighten?

-- Robert Goodman, Taos, NM Home automation may indeed be the next big trend in what consumers can do today to stand up for the environment.

By setting up a wired (or even wireless) system, homeowners can optimize lighting level efficiency, cut heating and cooling energy costs and deactivate energy-consuming devices and appliances even when no one is home.

“An automated home brings together security, fire, lighting, temperature control, audio, video, pool, spa, drapery control, sprinklers, and anything else that you want so that these systems can talk to each other and work together,” reports Jay McLellan of Home Automation Inc., a leading manufacturer of integrated automation and security systems for residential and commercial use. “In an automated home these devices work together to make the home more energy efficient, comfortable, more convenient

iStockPhoto

By setting up a home automation system, homeowners can optimize lighting level efficiency, cut heating and cooling energy costs and deactivate energy-consuming devices and appliances even when no one is home. Pictured: A motion and sound sensor, one form of home automation already widely in use for keeping lights off when a room is not occupied. and safer.”

One easy way to dip a toe in the water of home automation is to swap out regular light

switches for occupancy sensors, which can tell if a room is occupied and will turn lights on and off accordingly.

Upgrading to a programmable thermostat that will regulate heating and cooling according to a set schedule is

another way to reduce energy consumption and save money.

Some newer models, such as Nest from California-based Nest Labs, can program themselves based on occupants’ routines and also offer the option to adjust heating and cooling settings remotely via the Internet. A built-in occupancy sensor signals to the Nest whether and when people are around, and the unit then adjusts heating or cooling accordingly. The newest version, Nest 2, can tell within a half hour when occupants have vacated and will set the indoor temperature to more energy efficient level on its own.

Shelling out $249 for Nest’s so-called “learning thermostat” may seem a little extreme, but the feature may save enough money and electricity to pay for itself in as little as a year. Nest Labs helps consumers track their energy usage and savings with monthly “energy reports” that detail why home heating and cooling costs have gone up or down (based on usage and time away, as well as other factors, such as weather). These reports also contain tips on how to optimize Nest as well as other tips to increase energy savings accordingly. Nest thermostats can replace most existing thermostats and do not require upgrading to a newer furnace or air conditioning system— although newer heating and cooling systems, especially those that meet the U.S. government’s

EnergyStar criteria for efficiency, do tend to save much more energy than older ones.

Some 56 percent of the energy used in a typical American home goes to heating and cooling, so automation can make a big difference for the environment and the pocketbook.

Beyond lighting and thermostats, whole-house automation systems connect home electronics (including appliances and security systems) into an integrated wireless network that allows occupants to control from off-site, including via the Internet or a mobile phone app. A Sylvania Z-Wave Starter Kit from SmartHomeUSA. com is one affordable way to get started with whole-house automation; you can start small and gradually add electronics to the system.

CONTACTS: Home Automation Inc., www. homeauto.com; Nest Labs, www. nest.com; SmartHomeUSA, http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ ShopByManufacturer/Sylvania/ Item/SH50102.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@ emagazine.com.

Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe.

Free Trial Issue: www. emagazine.com/trial.

Herberger’s reaches $4.2 million for breast cancer research From left to right are: Allan Zolin, Store Manager; Michel Toussaint, Store Manager; Steve Griffin, Store Manager; Dr. Douglas Yee, MD, Director, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Professor, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, John H. Kersey Chair in Cancer Research; Susan LaLonde, VP Regional Store Director; and Phil Page, Store Manager.

Herberger’s and its parent company The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:BONT) raised more than $100,000 for its breast cancer charity partners through its annual Charge Against Breast Cancer™ and October Pink Shops in 2012.

Its beneficiaries—Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa; Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation; Masonic

Cancer Center, University of Minnesota; and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation— have benefitted from BonTon’s support since1998.

Bon-Ton has donated a total of $4.2 million to these charities throughout the years.

Brendan Hoffman, President and CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. said, “Breast cancer touches the lives of many of our customers and associates. Everyone at

Bon-Ton is very proud of the money we have raised in the hope of finding a cure for this disease.”

Charge Against Breast Cancer™ offers Bon-Ton customers an opportunity to be involved in this important cause throughout the year. The customer simply uses his or her Bon-Ton credit card to make a purchase and the Company makes a donation to fund breast cancer research.

Call 911 for suspicious activity, emergencies and crimes in progress There have been reports of burglaries in some city neighborhoods recently so now is a good reminder that the City of Minneapolis wants residents to call 911 to report any suspicious activity, crimes in progress and anytime folks need the police, fire, or ambulance to respond.

Residents are a neighborhood’s eyes and ears, and arrests often result from good witness information and quick calls to 911. It’s important for folks to call 911 if they think they see something suspicious.

Examples of suspicious activity could include sounds of glass breaking, an unfamiliar vehicle circling the block, suspected drug dealing, or an unfamiliar person carrying items from a house.

Tips for calling 911 When calling 911 folks should

Obama From 3 State Representative Raymond Dehn said, “It is an honor to have President Obama in town meeting with community leaders to discuss strategies aimed at preventing gun violence.

“Far too many Americans’ lives are needlessly cut short by ongoing shootings, including six Minnesotans who were killed at Accent Signage, a company based

follow these guidelines: • Do not hang up. If the call isn’t answered immediately or if you encounter silence on the line, do not hang up and redial unless the silence lasts more than 8 seconds.

• Do not hang up if you call 911 by accident. Hang ups require 911 operators to call back the number the incoming 911 call came from. This happens up to 200 times a day and uses valuable 911 resources including phone lines that should be used for answering emergency calls.

• Give your location when calling 911. This includes, address, intersection, and landmarks. Be prepared to give a short description of a suspect.

• Help can be sent while you talk. A caller should state the problem briefly, answer

the operator’s questions and stay on the line until the operator terminates the call.

• You can ask 911 operators to stay on the line until help arrives.

• If you need a translator, let the operator know or simply say, “Language line.”

in the district I represent.

“Sadly, our neighborhoods in north Minneapolis are no stranger to gun violence. Tragedies like the death of 3-year-old Terrell Mayes, who was killed by a stray bullet in late 2011, and 5-yearold Nizzel “Stewie” George, who was shot last summer as he slept on a couch at his grandmother’s home will never be forgotten. We owe it to the parents and family members who lost loved ones to take action to reduce violence and keep our streets safe.”

In Washington, D.C.,

Monday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and college presidents from across the country called for an end to gun violence.

Since the Newtown shooting , 350 college presidents who have come together through College Presidents for Gun Safety, as well as the Executive Committee of the Association of American Universities (AAU) on behalf of its 60 university members, have signed a letter calling for political leaders to take concrete steps to prevent gun violence.

When to call 911 There are many reasons to call 911 including: • If the situation requires an ambulance or the fire department to respond immediately • To report a situation that requires a police officer at the scene (for example: assaults, burglaries, kidnapping, domestic disputes, auto theft, accidents in which there are injures / or it is unknown whether injuries have occurred, etc.).

• To report a crime that is in

progress • To report suspicious criminal activity that you witness (for example: sounds of shots fired, cries for help, sounds of glass breaking or if you see an unfamiliar person carrying items from a house).

When not to call 911 There are also many reasons not to call 911. Folks should avoid calling 911 to get directions, legal advice, or to find out if someone is in jail.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Jail Roster is available online at http://www4.co.hennepin.

mn.us/webbooking/ or by calling 612-348-5112. People should also not call 911 to report city issues that do not need police, fire, or an ambulance to respond. They should use the City of Minneapolis website or call 311.

Page 12 • February 11 - February 17, 2013 • Insight News

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