LAWT 02-14-2013

W E E K E N D E R

Vol. XXX, No. 1323

www.lawattstimes.com

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

HOROSCOPES A

RIES ~ You have more of a flair for communication this week than usual.

Keep your words diplomatic but effective if your opinion is called for. A relative seeking advice will be glad they asked you.

Soul Affirmation: I make the first step and the universe will come to my aid.

AURUS ~ Don’t sweat the small stuff this week. You have a keen eye for the big picture, and you’ll be most productive if you ignore the petty this week. Your home is very happy tonight! Count your blessings! Soul Affirmation: Cheerfully handling what comes at me is the test of who I am.

EMINI ~ Your energy level remains high; be careful not to overdo it but enjoy the wonderful feeling of your physical self as much as possible. A phone call from a friend who lives far away will brighten your week and inspire you with travel plans. Soul Affirmation: Slow and easy is the best way for me to travel this week.

ANCER ~ Things are busy this right now, and you love it! You feel very much as if you are at the center of life.

Children will be a topic of conversation.

Make plans to enjoy a special week with your honey. Soul Affirmation: I appear to others what I know myself to be.

EO ~ You can fly through the week if you keep your level of cooperation high. By this week’s end, you’ll have many plans, romantic and otherwise for the time period . Be patient at the workplace and things will go fine. Soul Affirmation: I take it easy on myself this week.

IRGO ~ You may feel as if you’ll never get everything done that’s asked of you, but stay steady and on course, take things one step at time, and you’ll be amazed at what you accomplish. Celebrate with a special friend. Soul Affirmation: This week is a gift that I deserve.

Feb. 14 - 20

Inside This Edition

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IBRA ~ It’s a great week for catching up on chores and leftover tasks from last week. You’ll also have the opportunity to spend some time thinking about the direction you want your life to flow toward. Soul Affirmation: I face each day with a smile and the day smiles back at me.

CORPIO ~ Communication vibes are highlighted, and you are in your element. Many ideas will be presented, and everyone will be very receptive and agreeable to what you say. Romantic interests are easily pursued this week.

Smile on! Soul Affirmation: The slowness of my pace gives me time to refresh my energy.

AGITTARIUS ~ Love and romance vibes are all around you this week!

They will soothe your spirit and uncoil your tensions resulting from having too much work to do. Delegate some of the minor tasks so that you can do your best at the big stuff. Have a loving, lovely week.

Soul Affirmation: New intuitions create new plans and a new cast of characters.

APRICORN ~ Financial matters are highlighted during working hours.

Everything to do with your money, or money under your care, goes smoothly.

Another party invitation arrives. . . say YES! Soul Affirmation: I admit what I really want out of life this week.

QUARIUS ~ If you are finding it hard to concentrate on a project at work, begin imagining it successfully completed.

Work steady and stay calm this week. This week is a good time for personal inventory.

Soul Affirmation: I will take time to enjoy the simple things in life.

ISCES ~ Mental fog lifts and you are sharp as a tack once again. You’ll be making decisions about partnerships and joint finances. A very happy week is in store. Soul Affirmation: My smile is a radiant light to those I encounter.

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CITY NEWS SERVICE

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CITY NEWS SERVICE Apartment construction and operations contributed $14.7 billion to the economies of Los Angeles and Orange counties in 2011, supporting 107,000 jobs, according to a report released Tuesday. Despite the sluggish economy, the apartment construction industry in the two counties supported 18,000 jobs, spent $1.3 billion on new local apartment construction and created a total economic apartment construction contribution of $2.7 billion in 2011, according to the study by the National Multi Housing Council and the National Apartment Association. The study found the apartment operations industry supported 88,000 local jobs, spent $5.8 billion operating 1.3 million apartment homes and generated a total local economic contribution of $12 billion in the two

WEEKENDER Published Weekly – Updates 3800 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008 Administration – Sales – Graphics – Editorial 323.299.3800 - office 323.291.6804 - fax Beverly Cook – Publisher, Managing Editor 1976 – 1993 Charles Cook – Publisher 1976 – 1998 Melanie Polk – Publisher 1998 – 2010 WWW.LAWATTSTIMES.COM

EMAIL: wattsweekender@yahoo.com Circulation ..................................................................................30,000 The opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the L.A. Watts Times.

The L.A. Watts Times is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, CDs or tapes.

CIRCULATION AUDITED BY CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL

An admitted drug courier was sentenced this week to five years probation and ordered to pay $2,000 in fines for scheming to bribe ex- Transportation Security Administration agents at Los Angeles International Airport to help smuggle marijuana onto a flight.

Charles “Smoke” Hicks, 24, of Culver City, acknowledged in a plea agreement working with Millage J. Peaks IV, a retired Los Angeles city fire chief’s son, who promised to pay $500 for each suitcase containing marijuana that cleared security at LAX, according to prosecutors. A second admitted pot courier, Andrew “Drew” Welter, 25, of Fontana, is expected to be sentenced April 8.

Peaks, 25, admitted to bribing former TSA employees Dianna Perez and Randy Littlefield to allow pounds of marijuana to pass undetected through the LAX screening process between November 2010 and October 2011. The marijuana was being flown from Los Angeles to Boston, according to court papers. Peaks was sentenced to a year in federal prison and ordered to pay a $6,000 fine. Littlefield, 29, of Paramount, was sentenced to eight months behind bars, and also ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Perez is scheduled to be sentenced March 25.

More L.A. county jobs due to apartment construction

L.A. Watts Times

Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. ............Executive Publisher & Executive Editor Brenda Marsh Mitchell ..................................Executive Vice President Tracey Mitchell ......................................................................Controller Brandon I. Brooks ..................................................Co-Managing Editor Yussuf J. Simmonds ..............................................Co-Managing Editor Jennifer Bihm................................................................Assistant Editor Bernard Lloyd ....................................................Director of Advertising Benjamin Samuels ....................................................Graphic Designer Kim McGill ............................................................Production Designer

Drug courier sentenced

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BlackFacts.com

February 15, 1804 The New Jersey Legislature approved a law calling for “gradual” emancipation of African Americans.

In so doing, New Jersey became the last Northern state to outlaw slavery.

February 18, 1688 First formal protest against slavery by organized white body in English America made by Germantown (Pa.) Quakers at monthly meeting. The historic “Germantown Protest” denounced slavery and the slave trade.

AP Photo

counties. The figures were based on research of buildings with five units or more conducted by economist Stephen S. Fuller of George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis.

“Although attention is usually focused on homebuilding and the single-family sector, the annual construction and operating outlays for apartment buildings with five or more units are major sources of economic activity, jobs and personal earnings,” Fuller said.

Grants available for Los Angeles county residents in need of housing CITY NEWS SERVICE More than 180 applicants have been awarded grants for down payments on homes in a home-buying program started about a year ago as part of a settlement between banks and the Department of Justice, it was announced recently. Grant funding totaling $4.3 million remains available. Grants of $30,000 each through the NeighborhoodLIFT SM program

are available to Los Angeles County residents who earn no more than 120 percent of the median income for the area, plan to stay in their home for five years, and participate in a buyer education program with a HUDapproved a counselor.

The nonprofit NeighborWorks America worked with the city of Los Angeles and Wells Fargo to create the program and have given out $5.4 million See HOUSING GRANTS, page 10

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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Chris Dorner, Not an isolated incident Key events in Two officers, same stories, different outcomes manhunt for fugitive ex-LAPD officer

BY MALEENA LAWRENCE LAWT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AP Photo

San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies conduct door-to-door search for ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner in Big Bear, Calif. Thursday Feb. 7, 2013.

Key events in the expansive, ongoing manhunt for Christopher Dorner, the fired Los Angeles police officer suspected of killing three people — including a police officer in Southern California — and posting a manifesto on Facebook outlining plans to kill the families of those he says have wronged him, all times approximate: — Sunday, Feb. 3: An assistant women’s college basketball coach and her fiancé are found shot to death in their car in Irvine, Calif. Police learn later the woman was the daughter of a retired Los Angeles police captain who represented Dorner in disciplinary hearings that resulted in his dismissal from the force.

— Monday, Feb. 4: Some of Dorner’s belongings, including police equipment, are found in a trash bin in suburban San Diego, linking him to Irvine killings.

— Wednesday, Feb. 6: Police announce finding Dorner's manifesto online.

— 10:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6: A man matching Dorner’s description makes a failed attempt to steal a boat from a San Diego marina. An 81-year-old man on the vessel is tied up but otherwise unharmed.

— 1:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7: LAPD officers, protecting a person named in the manifesto, chase a vehicle they believe is Dorner’s. One officer is grazed in the forehead by a bullet during a shootout, and the gunman flees.

A short time later, a shooter believed to be Dorner ambushes two Riverside police officers during a routine patrol. One officer is killed, and the other critically injured.

— 2:20 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7: A shuttle bus driver turns in a wallet with an LAPD badge and a picture ID of Dorner to San Diego police. The wallet was found fewer than five miles from the boat, near San Diego International Airport.

— 5 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7: LAPD officers guarding a manifesto target in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance open fire on a truck they mistakenly believe to be Dorner's. A mother and daughter delivering the newspaper are injured.

A short time later, Torrance police are involved in a second shooting involving a different truck they also mistake for Dorner’s. Nobody is hurt.

— 8:35 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7: Police find a burned-out pickup truck near the Big Bear ski area in the San Bernardino Mountains. Six hours later, authorities identify it as Dorner’s.

— 9:40 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7: Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego is locked down after a Navy worker reports seeing someone who resembles Dorner. Military officials later said Dorner had indeed checked into a hotel on base earlier in the week — on Tuesday — but had left on Wednesday.

— 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7: Authorities search a Las Vegas-area home belonging to Dorner and leave with several boxes of items. They say no weapons were found but decline to disclose what was discovered.

— Friday, Feb. 8: Dozens of searchers hunt for Dorner in the freezing, snowy San Bernardino Mountains after losing his footprints near the site where the truck was found. Authorities search Dorner’s mother’s house in La Palma and collect 10 bags of evidence and also take five electronic items for examination.

Police also search a storage locker in Buena Park.

— Saturday, Feb. 9: Helicopters equipped with heat-seeking technology resume search for Dorner in the mountains near Big Bear. Authorities reveal that weapons and camping gear were found in Dorner's burned truck.

— Sunday, Feb. 10: Authorities announce $1 million reward for information leading to Dorner’s arrest.

— Monday, Feb. 11: Riverside County prosecutors charge Dorner with murdering a police officer and the attempted murder of three other officers in a potential death penalty case. Authorities receive more than 700 tips since the reward was announced.

— 12:20 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12: Police are summoned after a man See DORNER, page 5

In recent days we have been trying to come to grips as to why Chris Dorner, a decorated military soldier and former LAPD officer chose the path of “necessary evil” to clear his name. To get a better understanding of his actions, I read his manifesto in which he states that by crossing the Blue line, he was retaliated against, persecuted and terminated, thus effectively ending both his military and law enforcement careers.

As I read Dorner’s manifesto, it reminded me of a prior incident with a current LAPD officer, Sergeant Randy Franklin. Who could better understand the frustrations of Dorner than a fellow officer who also believed the department he served was one of integrity, honesty, and dignity?

I interviewed Sgt. Franklin after reading an L.A. Times article about his battle with police corruption written on May 28, 2009 by Joel Rubin, then again, in the intense days of the LAPD announcing it’s plan to reopen Dorner’s case followed by an attached bounty offering $1 million for his capture.

For those unfamiliar with Sgt. Franklin’s case, in 2005, his home was illegally searched by LAPD. The search warrant (falsely written) stated the location was a gang hangout with "numerous citizen complaints of gang activity and blatant narcotic sales/use at the location."

A LAPD internal investigation cleared the officers of all allegations of misconduct stating there was no evidence that the officers had falsified a search warrant. Sgt. Franklin was then forced to seek remedy through a civil suit. The jury unanimously found the officers involved, liable for falsifying a search affidavit, which is a crime, and their conduct to be outrageous in doing so. Sergeant Franklin again asked that these officers be disciplined but LAPD refused and instead promoted them. According to Franklin, “… it’s a pattern of conduct that the LAPD covers up crime, the white officers get promoted and the black officers get fired”.

Sergeant Franklin then sought aid from the Police Commission, Los Angeles city council members, FBI, NAACP, ACLU, and the mayor of Los Angeles, all of whom refused to acknowledge or respond.

Today, Sergeant Franklin is still fighting the same injustice Chris Dorner talks about in his manifesto.

He is still implicated in an unsolved murder in which they took his duty weapons during the illegal search and placed them into an unsolved murder investigation to imply a connection.

The “path of moral corruptness” and racism runs deep in LAPD, so deep that Sgt. Franklin thinks it will never go away.

If one wants insight into the mindset of Dorner one simply needs to speak to Sergeant Franklin. Both are military trained, male Black police officers who reported injustices and endured the racist wrath of the Los Angeles Police Department. Both have spent large amounts of their personal incomes to fight the injustice of the department. The difference is, Sergeant Franklin chose a much less tragic route to air his grievances and

Sgt. Randy Franklin

Christopher Dorner

reclaim his name. He has spent the past eight years trying to get the aforementioned people to listen and correct what they have done but to no avail.

Mentally, this makes you wonder, how many more officers silently suffer under the Blue Line instead of speaking out?

Unfortunately, it has taken a Dorner manifesto and several targeted

deaths to get LAPD to take notice. If you ask Sergeant Franklin, what he thinks of the LAPD today, he will tell you, “They lack integrity, honor, dignity, discipline, reverence for the law and respect for the people they swore to serve.” This comes straight from someone who believes that the greatest mistake in his life was joining the LAPD. maleenalaw@gmail.com

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC’S

Saturday & Sunday February 23-24 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

J Join us for the Heritage Award ceremony at 1:40 p.m. Sunday, February 24 honoring Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. Lawson is pictured left with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Photo Credit: Jack E. Cantrell, Memphis Press-Scimitar: Courtesy Special Collections, University of Memphis Libraries.

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OIN the Aquarium of the Pacific as we host our eleventh annual African-American Festival, celebrating the richness and diversity of African-American and African cultures. The weekend will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, ethnic food, and more. Featured are hip hop and breakdancers, tap dancing, mardi gras second line dancers, live jazz, interactive drum circles, West African dance, cultural storytelling, community award ceremonies, and a host of other exciting activities.

aquariumofpacific.org 562 . 590 . 3100 100 AQUARIUM WAY, LONG BEACH, CA 90802

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Present this coupon at the Aquarium ticket window and receive $5 off Adult Admission.

Limit (4) discounts per coupon. Not applicable with online tickets or any other offer. Not valid at off-site sales locations. Distribution of this coupon on Aquarium grounds is prohibited.

No cash value. May not be sold. Valid February 23-24, 2013 only.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Jazz icon Donald Byrd dies at 80 This March 12, 1990 file photo shows Jazz educator and musician Donald Byrd in AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler New York.

Metro Briefs A Better Commute? It’s About Time Starting February 23, Metro ExpressLanes will save you time in tra;c on the I-10 freeway, joining those already open on the I-110. The lanes are toll-free for carpools, vanpools and motorcycles. Solo drivers can use ExpressLanes by paying a toll. All vehicles need a FasTrak account and transponder to use the lanes. To get yours, visit metro.net/expresslanes. ®

Metro Buys 550 New Buses The Metro Board of Directors approved spending $302 million to purchase 550 new 40-foot transit buses fueled by compressed natural gas. The new buses will replace vehicles that are past 12 years of age and 500,000 miles over the next three years.

Gold Line Weekend Service Increased The frequency of Metro Gold Line trains is increasing from every 12 minutes to every 6 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 8pm. Now you can enjoy Old Pasadena, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and East LA over the weekend all while making better connections and with less time spent waiting for the train.

Metro Looks For Bids On Regional Connector Metro has issued requests for proposals for construction of the $1.367-billion Regional Connector light rail line through Downtown LA. The two-mile, fully underground route will connect the Metro Gold, Blue and Expo lines. For more information visit: metro.net/regionalconnector.

Welcome Back The LA Kings

If you’d like to know more, visit metro.net.

13-1361ps_gen-ce-13-009 ©2013 lacmta

The victorious LA Kings have returned to action at STAPLES Center following their 2012 championship season. Metro has several connections to get to the center including the Metro Silver, Blue and Expo lines which let you o= adjacent to the arena. Visit metro.net/discounts and >nd out how to save 10% o= at the Team LA Store.

BY RANDALL CHASE AND KATIE ZEZIMA ASSOCIATED PRESS Jazz musician Donald Byrd, a leading hard-bop trumpeter of the 1950s who collaborated on dozens of albums with top artists of his time and later enjoyed commercial success with hit jazz-funk fusion records such as “Black Byrd,” has died. He was 80.

He died Feb. 4 in Delaware, according to Haley Funeral Directors in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Mich., which is handling arrangements. It didn’t have details on his death.

Byrd, who was also a pioneer in jazz education, attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, played in military bands in the Air Force and moved to New York in 1955. The trumpeter, whose given name was Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, rose to national prominence when he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers later that year, filling the seat in the bebop group held by his idol Clifford Brown.

He soon became one of the most in-demand trumpeters on the New York scene, playing with Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. He also began his recording career by leading sessions for Savoy and other labels.

In 1958, he signed an exclusive recording contract with the Blue Note label and formed a band with a fellow Detroit native, baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, making their label debut with the 1959 album “Off to the Races.” The band became one of the leading exponents of the hard-bop style, which evolved from bebop and blended in elements of R&B, soul and gospel music. A 1961 recording, “Free Form,” brought attention to a promising young pianist, Herbie Hancock.

In the 1960s, Byrd, who had received his master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, turned his attention to jazz education. He studied in Paris with composer Nadia Boulanger, became the first person to teach jazz at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and started the jazz studies department at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Byrd began moving toward a more commercial sound with the funk-jazz fusion album “Fancy Free” in 1969, taking a path followed by fellow trumpeters Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. He teamed up with the Mizell brothers to release “Black Byrd” in 1973, a blend of jazz, R&B and funk that became Blue Note’s highest selling album at the time.

Jazz critics panned Byrd for deviating from the jazz mainstream, but he was unperturbed.

“I’m creative; I’m not re-creative,” Byrd told the Detroit Free Press in a 1999 interview. “I don’t follow what everybody else does.”

Byrd invited several of his best students at Howard to join a jazzfusion group called the Blackbyrds that reached a mainstream audience with a sound heavy on R&B and rock See DONALD BYRD, page 10

South LA Catholics applaud Pope’s decision to resign

BY CORA JACKSONFOSSETT CONTRIBUTING WRITER Totally surprising the world, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation at the end of February after nearly eight years in office.

In a statement released February 11, the 85-year-old Pope said, “Strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”

Many observers debate the wisdom and timing of his notice, considering that the last resignation from the papacy occurred nearly 600 years ago.

Others expressed the opinion that the Pope should have delayed his pronouncement until the season of Lent passed.

However, South Los Angeles Catholics were accepting of Pope Benedict’s action with some even commending his acknowledgment of the heavy impact of declining health and advanced age.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that most Catholics applaud his decision and agree it was a wise choice. He acknowledged the limitations of his age and accepted ending his service after eight years,” noted Father Paul Spellman, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

Holy Name, located at 1955 West Jefferson Boulevard, ministers to a congregation that is 80% of African descent comprising natives of the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, and Central, South and Latin America.

The leaders of Transfiguration Catholic Church, an enduring institution in the Leimert Park neighborhood, shared similar reflections.

“The deacons at the Deacon Mission Center, Inc., included Pope Benedict XVI in our evening prayers. We prayed for health of our Pope and that the Holy Spirit will lead our church in this time. We are sure the Holy Spirit will continue to guide the church in the direction that God wants the church to go,” said Deacon Greg Patterson.

“Pope Benedict is a humble man. It took a lot of courage to step down, considering his health and not being able to do as much travel as he needs to do,” observed Margret Henschel, wife of Deacon Louis Henschel.

Deacon Emile Adams said, “I am proud to be a Catholic, and offer my prayers for the current Pope and his successor.”

Transfiguration member Ron Bowden added, “It’s time for all Catholics to come together with prayer for Pope Benedict and his successor.”

Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez described Pope Benedict’s resignation as “a beautiful, Christ-like act of humility and love for the Church. This is the act of a saint, who thinks not about himself but only about the will of God and the good of God’s people.

“Let us thank God today for the love and witness of Pope Benedict XVI. Let us entrust him to our Blessed Mother Mary and pray that he will continue to have joy and peace and many more years for prayer and reflection.”

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony issued a statement saying, “Pope Benedict XVI has been an extraordinary successor to St. Peter these past eight years, and I thank God for the graces and blessings which have come to the Church and to the world during his Pontificate.

“Surely one of his great legacies will be a continuing emphasis on the need for all Catholics to exercise their role as evangelizers in the world. His focus upon the new evangelization will continue to enliven all disciples of Jesus.”

Vatican officials announced that a Papal Conclave, comprised of the College of Cardinals, will convene before Easter Sunday to select Pope Benedict’s successor.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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LAWT File Photo

Senator Curren Price and Sheriff Lee Baca are pictured at a gun buyback event in Compton (January 2012).

BY BARBARA BLACKBURN LAWT CONTRIBUTING WRITER Recent mass shootings have placed a renewed national focus on gun violence and its consequences.

With voters across Los Angeles heading to the polls on March 5, the issue of public safety has taken on a particular urgency in Southeast L.A., where voters are poised to decide who will next represent the Ninth District on the City Council.

As Election Day approaches, one thing has become clear: the next council member from the Ninth District must come into office prepared to make public safety and crime prevention a top priority. In a city where crime is falling overall, Southeast L.A. — covered by LAPD divisions that include Central, Newton, 77th and Southeast — experienced an uptick in violent crime last year.

The leading candidate in the race, Senator Curren Price, has a long record of seeking creative and effective solutions to crime and violence reduction. As a state legislator, Price serves on the Senate Committee on Public Safety, as well as on a key subcommittee on Corrections, Court Administration, and Public Safety. His signature approach to making neighborhoods safer is a fusion of crime prevention, intervention and suppression.

As his campaign has visited with thousands of voters in the Ninth District, Price believes constituents expect their next council representative to show urgency on the issues of crime and violence.

“I have spoken to residents and business owners in every corner of the Ninth District,” said Price. “From the proud neighborhoods in the southeast portion of the district to University Park, there is one issue that unifies people everywhere: deep concern about crime and public safety. These concerns are heightened for the most at-risk neighborhoods in Southeast

L.A. — which was the only part of the city that experienced an increase in violent crime last year. It is an issue that we must tackle immediately, and a duty that requires experience, dedication and focus.”

As a sitting state legislator, Price is not waiting until he arrives at City Hall to begin making change. Already, with the eyes of the nation fixed on how our society can reduce gun violence, Price is considering legislation that would place an additional tax on ammunition sales — with the dollars going toward better funding the state’s Victims Compensation Board. In recent months, Price was among the local officials who supported gun buyback events that resulted in the surrender of thousands of deadly weapons to the LAPD and L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

A longtime proponent of community policing and strengthening ties between local law enforcement and the communities they serve, Price firmly believes that the next council member must be prepared to fight for the necessary funding to making communities safer. That includes increased staffing at all LAPD divisions in South L.A., and a police department that is better resourced across the board.

“Gun violence is a public health issue,” said Price. “Leadership is essential, because there is no higher calling than making neighborhoods safer for our families and children.”

DORNER Continued from page 3 resembling Dorner steals a purple Nissan in the San Bernardino Mountains. The vehicle is quickly spotted by California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens on Highway 38. After briefly losing the suspect, the wardens see a white pickup truck driving toward them erratically and at a high rate of speed. Wardens say Dorner rolled down his window and opened fire as he drove past them in the opposite directions.

One of the wardens was able to get out and fire at the driver, who escaped on foot after crashing his truck.

— 12:40 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12: State Fish and Wildlife wardens are involved in a shootout with the suspect. Two San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies are wounded in a

business card bulletin board

Sen. Price puts premium on violence reduction

second exchange of gunfire and are transported to Loma Linda Medical Center.

— 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12: Police surround the cabin where the suspect is holed up and gunfire erupts before a blaze engulfs the structure and law enforcement officers wait for the fire to burn out.

— 4:50 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12: A San Bernardino County sheriff’s spokeswoman confirms one of the two wounded deputies has died, and the other is in surgery and expected to survive.

— 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12: A law enforcement officials tells the AP a charred body has been found in the rubble of the burned cabin. They don’t confirm the identity, although authorities earlier said they believed the man in the cabin was Dorner.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

The National Basketball Association’s annual pause for cause, or All Star break will take on a more significant meaning when it is staged in Houston on Sunday Feb. 17 at the Toyota Center.

Traditionally it is a time of the year to celebrate its stars from past and present, reflecting on games gone by during the current season, but also introduce the next highflying dunk king.

It’s a basketball ritual that has unfolded for the past 61 years and is more of an entertainment exhibition than anything else, but the ultimate stars of stars seem to always allow their competitive juices to flow.

The list of those whose rite of passage has been to perform in the NBA All Star game multiple times include a galaxy of stars such as; Kareem Abdul Jabbar (19), Kobe Bryant (15), Kevin Garnett (15), Shaquille O’Neal (15), Tim Duncan (14), Karl Malone (14), Jerry West (14), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Bob Cousy (13), John Havlicek (13), Larry Bird (12), Elvin Hayes (12), Magic Johnson (12), Moses Malone (12), Hakeem Olajuwon (12), Bill Russell (12), Isaiah Thomas (12), Oscar Robinson (12), Charles Barkley (11), Julius Erving (11), Elgin Baylor (11), Julius Erving (11), Paul Pierce (10), John Stockton (10), Clyde Drexler (10), Hal Greer (10), Jason Kidd (10)Dominique Wilkins (9), Dwayne Wade (9) and LeBron James (9).

I could name them all, but why bother when there is only one omission from the aforementioned list whose accomplishments in the game of basketball on and oơ the court justifiably single him out as the greatest EVER! He took the slam-dunk contest to an orbit where Julius Erving could not! His half dozen NBA titles elevated the Chicago Bulls to a stratosphere that it will never reach again and meant an estimated $1 trillion to the windy city’s economy during his playing days.

F E AT U R E

The high flying, leg kicking, tongue wagging, bald baller we aơectionately know as MJ, but whose birth name is Michael Jordan will celebrate his 50th birthday on the same day of the NBA All Star Game Feb. 17.

This current generation of hot shot hoopsters may not fully understand the magnitude of the Air Jordan, but millions of Blacks have convinced their parents to pay through the roof to wear his Jordan Brand sneakers produced by Nike.

When Jordan was a rookie in the NBA All Star game veterans such as Isaiah Thomas collectively froze him out and refused to pass him the basketball, but 14 All Star game appearances later he was the MVP in the event three times.

Jordan did his real work when the stakes were at their climax, a 63 point outburst against the Celtics in 1986 prompted Bird to hail him as “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

Lakers great Magic Johnson put it in a more earthly tone; “There’s Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us.”

Even to this day his astronomical achievements are bronzed statuettes which are symbolic of a standard left for those behind him to only dream about; Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009, 2 Olympic gold medals – 1984, 1992, 6-time NBA Champion, 6-time NBA Finals MVP, 5-time NBA MVP, 10 NBA Scoring Titles, 3 time steals leader, 3 time minutes leader, 14 NBA All-Star Selections, 3 time NBA All-Star Game MVP, 11 All-NBA Selections, 9 All-Defensive First Team Selections, 2 time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion – 1987, 1988, NBA Rookie of the Year – 1984–85 NBA Defensive Player of the Year – 1987–88.

While Lakers icon Jerry West is the symbol of the NBA uniforms, Jordan’s stamp on the game itself is revolutionary from the bent rim asphalt playgrounds of New York where he was born to the humid indoor courts of Los Angeles and beyond throughout the International hemisphere, Jordan is a in a Space Jam of his own.

The Portland Trailblazers have the dubious distinction of passing over Jordan in the in the 1984 draft in favor of Sam Bowie at senior center from Kentucky, while Houston took Nigerian born Hakeem Olajuwon with the first selection.

The third pick in that draft, Jordan owns the NBA Finals record of averaging 41 points per game in 1993, a career scoring record of 30 points per game, a consecu-

L.A. Watts Times WEEKENDER

tive game record of 866 games of scoring 10 points or more, a record of 5, 987 points in playoơ games and oh by the way he owns the scoring record for NBA All Star games for a career with 262.

The mystery surrounding the bizarre disappearance and murder of his father James in 1993 prompted him to retire from basketball and play professional baseball a passion that he’s had since childhood.

However, many had questions of whether or not his father’s murder had anything to do with gambling debts that Jordan acknowledged he had, but nothing had proven that to be the case.

James Jordan’s body was found floating in a South Carolina creek on Aug. 3. The cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest, a result of robbery.

Jordan, 57, had been missing for three weeks and the family had not filed a missing persons report. Police said that the family did not seem concerned about his absence, and they apparently did not realize that he was missing, since he traveled extensively on business.

Jordan mourned his father by escaping from basketball in 1994 playing for the minor league aƥliate of the Chicago White Sox Birmingham Soul garnering meager stats before returning to the NBA. After losing in the second round of the playoơs fol-

www.lawattstimes.com

NBA All Star Game is a fitting backdrop for its Greatest Star

lowing his return in the 1994-95 season, he returned with a vengeance the following year leading the Bulls to the best record in NBA history going 72-10 and leading Chicago to the first title during their second three-peat.

Jordan played in sold out arenas in practically every game he played in, at home and away. His jersey sets retired in the rafters at both North Carolina and in Chicago where the only statute outside the United Center is one of MJ. Now, as an owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, the only Black owner in the NBA, Jordan is destined to prove that he can turn around the most hapless franchise in league history.

Worth in excess of $500 million, a proven entrepreneur in business, a father to three grown children and recently engaged, Jordan gave us everything he’s had in the sport of basketball.

He owes us nothing more, but there is something about his ultra competitive drive that leads me to believe that he will not stop until he proves to us he can successfully lead an NBA franchise from the owner’s box.

Whether he does or not, matters least because he has already proven that in the game of basketball he has NO AIR APPARENT!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Macys salutes American icon Gordon Parks In celebration of his 100th birthday and Black history month

Rep. Bass Statement following President Obama’s State of the Union Address

Photo by Cristi Burgos

(L-R) Vanessa Barnett, Journalist HipHollywood.com; Eriq La Salle, actor/director; Jeff Friday, CEO American Black Film Festival; Jacklyn Burgo, Macy's Multicultural Marketing Event Manager; Carol Jackson, Macy's VP External Affairs; Richard Roundtree, actor; Daven Baptiste, writer/director.

LAWT NEWS SERVICE This Black History Month, Macy’s, The Gordon Parks Foundation, American Black Film Festival and American Airlines celebrated the life, the legacy and the 100th birthday of Gordon Parks - visionary and artistic master who defined a generation

and inspires artists today.

Macy’s Baldwin Hills welcomed guests to the “Soul Jam” dance party hosted in the MSTYLE LAB Department from 2 – 4pm featuring soul/funk music from the movie Shaft and live dance performances.

Customers boogied to tunes from the 70s and took photos in the photo booth.

The celebration continued as Macy’s hosted “In Conversation” with actor/director Eric La Salle, founder of the American Black Film Festival; Jeff Friday, director/writer and Dave Baptist for a spirited discussion about Parks’ influence on film and the future of African American cinema. The See GORDON PARKS, page 11

Dear Valued Reader, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Over the next several weeks, we will be delivering the Los Angeles Sentinel, Southern California’s Premier Black Newspaper, to your household in hopes that we can persuade you to subscribe to the Sentinel.

Yes, African Americans have made solid progress across the nation, yet communication between us and about us is more crucial today than ever before. To that end, I am asking you to subscribe to the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper to help keep the Black Press of America alive and vibrant.

In the Sentinel you will see and read about yourself, your neighbors, your loved ones, your children and your community!

Many would like us to believe that the Black Press is dead. But we know that isn’t true.

Since 1827’s Freedom’s Journal, the Black Press has chronicled and documented our history, our challenges and our achievements, we need the Black Press more today than ever before.

The Sentinel and the Black Press cover our news in ways that other publications won’t or don’t.

Your subscription is important – please subscribe TODAY! We urge you to take out a subscription in the name of your children and other family members. We must teach our children to support Black own businesses.

For 80 years, the Sentinel has covered OUR news and it is my intent to continue that mission with your support. Please sign up online at www.lasentinel.net or call (323) 299-3800 TODAY. Danny Bakewell, Sr. CEO / Publisher, Los Angeles Sentinel

Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.)

Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address: “I applaud President Obama’s focus on the middle class tonight and the thousands of Americans struggling to lift themselves out of poverty. By focusing on a balanced approach to reducing our deficits, investing in proven areas for job creation like education, infrastructure and manufacturing Congress can do its part to expedite our economic recovery.

“I was particularly pleased with the president’s call to increase the minimum wage. As President Obama pointed out, if he and Governor Romney can find common ground on this issue then certainly we in Congress should be able to do the same so that everyone in the richest country in the world

has a fair shot at getting ahead.

“By putting petty partisanship aside and ending the continuous cycle of self-made crises, Congress can not only tackle these challenges, but also take on comprehensive reforms to fix our broken immigration system, reduce gun violence to keep our children safe and eliminate unnecessary barriers to voting.

“These are all ideas worthy of an up or down vote and it’s time for Congress to get back to work on behalf of the American people.”

Last day to register to vote The 2013 primary nominating election Los Angeles City Clerk June Lagmay reminds eligible residents they must register to vote by Tuesday, February 19 in order to be able to vote in the March 5 city of Los Angeles primary nominating election. To be eligible a potential voter must be a citizen of the United States and 18 years old by election day. Registered voters who have moved or changed their names since the last election must re-register to vote.

Voter registration is handled by the Office of the California Secretary of State. You can register to vote from the following sources: • Contact the Office of the California Secretary of State. Complete your registration online at https://rtv.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote/, or download the form at http://www.eac.gov/assets/1/Documents/Federal% 20Voter%20Registration_1209_en9242012.pdf and complete and return by mail • Contact the Office of the Los Angeles County RegistrarRecorder/County Clerk’s (RR/CC) by visiting their website at www.lavote.net or email them at voterinfo@rrcc.lacounty.gov. You can also call them at tollfree at 800-481-VOTE or direct at 562-466-1310, or register in person at the RR/CC Office at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650 • Voter registration forms may also be available at the public counter of most Los Angeles City and County buildings, libraries, fire stations, post offices, and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices The Official Sample Ballot for the March 5 city of Los Angeles primary nominating election (available in English and the eight Federally-mandated languages of Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese) is available on the City Clerk’s Elections website at http://clerk.lacity.org/Elections/ under the “Find Your Polling Place and Sample Ballot” link. Copies of the official sample ballot and voter information pamphlet are also available by contacting the Office of the City Clerk Election Division by March 1.

For further information or assistance, call the Election Division at (213) 978-0444 or toll-free at (888) 873-1000 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Office of the City Clerk - Election Division administers elections for the city of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Los Angeles Community College District. The city’s primary nominating election will be held March 5 and the general municipal election will be held May 21.

More information can be found on the Election Division’s website at http://clerk.lacity.org/Elections/.

opinion

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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What we can do to reclaim Black children

BY SUSAN L. TAYLOR NNPA SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR Six years after I first heard them, the statistics still haunt me: Eighty-six percent of Black children in the fourth grade read and do math below their grade level. Black girls between the ages of 15 and 24 represent the greatest number of new HIV infections.

Homicide is the leading cause of death for our boys. The village is on fire!

And our love is the saving, healing water that legions of our children are literally dying for. When we listen we hear their cries rising above the flames. Their voices carry the incendiary pain and humiliation of intergenerational poverty that turns dreams to ashes: days of missed meals, uncertain safety and poorly resourced schools that plenish the pipeline to prison.

These are among the many grievous thefts of potential impoverishing the lives of Black children in the land of plenty, a land made rich and powerful on the backs of our ancestors. And it’s happening on our watch.

Attorney General Eric Holder charged a national task force with investigating how exposure to violence impacts children. I attended his December 14 meeting at which the culminating findings in the Defending Childhood report were delivered. The violence that children of this nation are subjected to in their homes and communities and glamorized in the media is relentless and chilling.

Expert after expert cautioned that exposure to violence traumatizes children and that, unresolved, those traumas easily lead to deep depression and dysfunctional behaviors. These socially disruptive behaviors—our young people’s cries for help—lead the nightly news from coast to coast, rousing shame and anxiety. We hold our collective breath and pray, Lord, don’t let the crazed one be one of us. But the question that is never asked and answered is why are these young people acting out? What I have come to know in my personal and professional life is this: Understanding the cause of our pain and taking action to address it are crucial to our healing.

With understanding and action, we heal, grow and thrive in profound ways. Held up proudly, nurtured and supported, we have in past generations succeeded despite the often dire economic circumstances, troubled families and traumas that many of us endured coming of age. Who among us isn’t carrying some hurt or depression or self-sabotaging habit we yet need to break?

We are a remarkable species, living at an extraordinary time in history, a marvel of creation, human and divine. Love is the divine aspect of our being. It is restorative and healing and elevates everything it touches.

That’s the promise. Love, God, Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah—call It what you will. Originating Spirit gave birth to all existence. It’s the energy that governs and balances all in creation, every cell in every living thing. It is the unchanging, unfailing, eternal aspect of our being. Spiritual awareness inspires the love, walk-on-water faith, courage and creativity needed to heal everything within us and around us, including the damage done to our people over the seas and centuries.

With love and caring we can create the beautiful future we want.

Among my baby-boomer peers are real-world exemplars of the good that is possible when a generation cares and acts out of love: We build schools and cultural institutions, develop businesses, write great books, compose great music and create dances that elevate the spirit.

The generation that inspired me –– that inspired the creation of Essence and the building of other Black institutions –– stopped a war, moved young people out of gangs and into breakfast programs that often gave school children the only nutritious meal they had each day. We didn’t pull a trigger to settle a beef or join gangs to make family. Even if our own family was broken, our community was whole and stood in the gap. Grownups did not fear or neglect the young. They loved, protected and corrected us. Today, under-resourced Black children have been all but discarded.

While there are no people on earth more kind, caring and creative than us Black folks, a certain world-weariness has crept into our days. As a group, we able African Americans have halfstepped around our moral responsibility to care for “the least of these.” We cannot minimize the external threats to Black advancement, but our greatest challenges are endemic. Ours is a spiritual crisis. Our spirit is fed by faith and nourished in community. But the social bonds that once tied us to one another are frayed. We have forgotten who we are and what we’re supposed to be doing here; forgotten that “we are each other’s keeper…each other’s magnitude and bond,” as the late, great Pulitzer Prizewinning poet Gwendolyn Brooks reminded us. Like our foreparents, who made possible the privileges we now take for granted, we must live for a purpose greater than the acquisition and accumulation of more stuff to stumble over, clutter our path and obstruct our vision. The terrain we traverse today is not even the rough side of the mountain; the rough side is behind us, cleared for us by those who came before us. We are uniquely positioned among people of African descent to make that final assault on the summit of our aspirations, if we will commit to doing what has become most difficult for us as a people: link arms and aims, make a plan and get along with one another to see it through.

We say that God is love. But love is a verb. It requires us to do something, to actively care for ourselves and serve one another from the overflow. In the image and likeness of that Love and caring that gives Itself away to the world, we can move strategically, creatively toward economic and social justice. No obstructions strewn in our path will deter or impede us when we stand for the high purpose and move forward—together. But we’ve got to move. We’ve got to push Black leaders to humble themselves, allow love, not ego, to lead. And if they won’t lead, then they must follow and bring their constituents and congregants along. Our children cannot continue to die outside the temple doors while we “praise His holy name” within. We are all here on assignment. We honor God when car-

Susan L. Taylor ing for our vulnerable young. Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray.

In January we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Just six years before that hard-won acknowledgment of our humanity on the long march toward freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) that African Americans were “so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.” But Frederick Douglass, even in the face of the Dred Scott decision, envisioned an end to slavery just down the road.

If during the most despicable time in this nation’s history, a man who was born into slavery could lead abolitionists and a president to take a stand on the right side of history, let us not retreat from making the only moral choice before us in our time. We have everything we need: creativity, connectivity, education, resources, access, a history of triumph and a pantheon of way-showers. We can learn to work together better; choose healthier, lifesustaining behaviors; fill our hearts with love and gratitude and do this work that is ours to do. We can reclaim and secure the young lives we abandoned and rebuild the village.

And we can do it well by mentoring.

Mentoring—a low-cost, highreturns solution—works miracles. In the tradition of our ancestors, whether we are rich or poor, formally educated or not, and though none of our lives is perfect, we can provide a protective shield for the children. Done well and consistently, mentoring changes even the most challenged young lives. But when the call goes out for mentors, White women and men are the first respondents. Black women and men too often are not in the mix, while the wait lists at youth-serving organizations continue to swell with Black children, the vast majority of them our beautiful boys, waiting….

The National CARES Mentoring Movement, founded as Essence CARES in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, is committed to changing this in the now time! Before we began our work, there was no national infrastructure in place to engage desperately needed Black men and women volunteers. Operating in nearly 60 U.S. cities under the leadership of devoted volunteer community leaders, CARES is determined to ensure that all Black children needing guidance and role

models are surrounded by a circle of caring, supportive adults who are committed to volunteering just one hour a week of their time as mentors. Because our program evaluators have determined that the stress of competing pressures is a major factor distracting many African Americans and diverting our energies away from critically needed engagement in mentoring today, CARES is building single-gender Wellness Mentoring Circles –– safe spaces, where mentors share their challenges and triumphs, support one another, build community among themselves and learn to manage stress. When we are healthy and whole we’re better equipped to support our children. This year, in more than a dozen cities, we are piloting programs with our partners that undergird our children academically, emotionally and socially.

To date, CARES has recruited more than 125,000 mentors for upwards of 135,000 children. But it’s

not enough. So I’m asking that you stand in the gap and volunteer an hour a week to help guide our young who need more caring adults in their lives.

Our children losing ground need your congregation, your block association, your friends and family, they need our fraternities and sororities to take action. We need all hands on deck, and the best way to get others to step up is to get engaged ourselves and express the joy we feel and the healing that occurs when doing God’s work.

You can email me at taylor@caresmentoring.org or visit our website, www.caresmentoring.org, to get connected with a local CARES Affiliate. You can also start a mentorrecruitment movement in your area.

Linking arms and aims, we can ensure the village that now burns will be reborn, phoenix-like, from the ashes, and that our children will soar, dreams first, into a new day.

Susan L. Taylor is the founder and CEO of National CARES Mentoring Movement. For 27 years she served as the chief editor of Essence magazine. Learn more about the programs of National CARES at www.caresmentoring.org.

BlackFacts.com February 14, 1867 Morehouse College organized in Augusta, Georgia. The institution was later moved to Atlanta. New registration law in Tennessee abolished racial distinctions in voting.

February 16, 1957 Actor Levar Burton was born in Landsthul, Germany. Burton won fame for his acting in the television movie “Roots,” which was based on the novel by Alex Haley. He became known once more in the 1980s and 1990s for his recurring role in the “Star Trek: Next Generation” series; and the award-winning public television series “Reading Rainbow” in which he was also executive producer.

February 17, 1997 Virginia House of Delegates votes unanimously to retire the state song, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” a tune which glorifies slavery.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Barry Bonds seeks dismissal The legend of golfer of felony conviction Black History Month:

John Brooks Dendy

BY MICHAEL DEAN SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM ARIZONA INFORMANT Before there was Charlie Sifford, Ted Rhodes, Bill Spiller or Lee Elder, there was John Brooks Dendy, the selfmade golfer from North Carolina who made a name for himself in the 1930s.

Dendy grew up in Asheville and fell in love with the game of golf at an early age. He had scuffled around and found some discarded club heads with no shafts. He whittled down broom sticks, fitted them in the heads and began playing whenever he could. He also began caddying at Asheville Country Club and by his early teens had developed a game that was hard to beat. Some of the members of the club took notice and quietly encouraged him.

At 18, Dendy had completed high John Brooks Dendy school and was preparing to head to Paine College in Augusta, Ga. to play football. Because of his golfing prowess, a few members of the country club extended Dendy the financial assistance to enter the Southern Open at Lincoln G &CC in Atlanta and to the chagrin of homegrown heroes Howard Wheeler and Hugh Smith, Dendy won. During the awards ceremony, Dendy relinquished his amateur status and accepted the $50 prize money for first place.

Excited by his good fortune, his family encouraged him to compete in the 1932 United Golfer’s Association – Negro National Open in Indianapolis.

Dendy had never been that far away from home before and was only comfortable on the golf course. The virtual unknown whipped his competitors with ease earning the trophy and the $100 prize money.

In the pre-tournament “Calcutta,” Dendy had been purchased for $400 and the bettor won big so he gave his man a $500 bonus for winning, five times the amount of the winner’s check. On his long trip home, Dendy never slept for fear that someone may attempt to rob him. He would go on the win National Open in 1936 and successfully defended in 1937. He also won the Southern Open again in 1934 and 1936 after breaking through in 1932.

One of the most legendary stories told about John Brooks Dendy occurred in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1933. He had been invited to participate in an 18-hole exhibition and was pressed for time because the bus that he was on developed problems along the way. He arrived at the course, went to the first tee, and without warming up, cut the dogleg with his drive on the 342 yard opening hole. When he got to the green, he found his ball in the cup for a 1. He then played the next three holes 2-3-4, all of them birdies and finished the day with a score of 59. The 1-2-3-4, six-under par start, made Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. By 1940, Dendy hadn’t made any headway financially playing golf, so he opted to take a job as a locker room attendant at Asheville CC and later worked at Biltmore Forest CC where he served until he retired in 1980. He didn’t play much golf in his later years and died in 1985. Throughout his storied career Dendy won 52 tournaments, including three National and three Southern Open Championships. He was also a friend of heavyweight champion Joe Louis and the two often partnered successfully in money matches in Chicago and across the country. “Lest’ We Forget.”

HOUSING GRANTS Continued from page 2 to aspiring home owners, as well as another $1.5 million to after school, gang prevention, community health and economic development programs in the city.

“Thanks to Wells Fargo’s generous grant donations and community programs, Angelenos from San Fernando to San Pedro can own their own piece of the city and help to revitalize their neighborhoods,” Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

“While no single program will ever reverse the effects of the country’s foreclosure crisis, we’re proud to continue doing our part to support the

recovery by helping promising homebuyers achieve ownership success in a sustainable and responsible way,” said John Sotoodeh, Wells Fargo’s Los Angeles region president.

The home-buyer assistance program in Los Angeles region was first rolled out in 2012 and will expand to the Inland Empire this year. Wells Fargo has funded $89.9 million in down payments and $11.8 million toward counseling, education and program support in 20 different locations across the country hardest hit by the 2008 housing crash and subsequent financial crisis.

BY PAUL ELIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS A lawyer for Barry Bonds urged a federal appeals court on Wednesday to toss out the slugger’s obstruction of justice conviction, saying a rambling answer he gave while testifying before a grand jury was not a crime.

Appellate specialist Dennis Riordan argued that Bonds was not formally or specifically charged with the felony that he was convicted of committing. A federal jury in April 2011 found baseball’s all-time home runs leader guilty of obstruction for saying he was a “celebrity child” when asked about injecting steroids.

Prosecutors asked Bonds during his December 2003 grand jury appearance whether Greg Anderson, his personal trainer, ever gave him “anything that required a syringe to inject yourself with?”

Bonds referred to his father, former major leaguer Bobby Bonds, when he responded “that’s what keeps our friendship. You know, I am sorry, but that — you know, that — I was a celebrity child, not just in baseball by my own instincts. I became a celebrity child with a famous father. I just don’t get into other people’s business because of my father’s situation, you see ...”

That particular exchange wasn’t included in the indictment originally released in November 2007. The omission is “the dagger in the heart of this conviction,” Riordan argued.

Further, Riordan said that Bonds ultimately answered the question when put to him again and denied receiving any substance to inject.

Judge Michael Daly Hawkins wondered aloud if Bonds’ direct denial undercut the government's argument that Bonds intentionally misled the grand jury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Merry Jean Chan countered that the denial was a lie because Bonds’ former personal assistant, Cathy Hoskins, testified that she witnessed Anderson inject Bonds. Chan said Bonds’ denial and his other rambling answers to the same question throughout his grand jury appearance added up to obstruction.

“He answered the question falsely each time,” she said.

Bonds and his legal team are asking a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the lone felony conviction stemming from Bonds’ 2½ hours of testimony in December 2003 before a grand jury investigating performance enhancing drug use and sales among elite athletes.

Bonds, who was rejected by voters last month in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame, wasn’t required to attend Wednesday’s highly technical hearing, though Riordan said his client expressed a desired to watch the proceedings in person.

Riordan said outside court that he advised Bonds to watch from afar rather than personally attending the 35-minute session San Francisco. A local television station was given permission to show the hearing live and streamed at least a couple of segments on the Internet.

“His presence would have been a distraction,” Riordan said.

AP Photo/George Nikitin, File

In this Wednesday, April 13, 2011 file photo, former baseball player Barry Bonds leaves federal court in San Francisco, after being found guilty of one count of obstruction of justice. Bonds’ appeal of his obstruction of justice conviction is scheduled to be heard by a three judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013.

Legal experts who have followed the case closely since his grand jury appearance in December 2003 are divided over Bonds’ chances before Daly Hawkins and Judges Mary Schroeder and Mary Murguia, each of whom was appointed by a different Democrat president and all of whom are based in Phoenix, home of San Francisco’s division rival Diamondbacks and about a 20-minute drive from the Giants’ Scottsdale spring training facility.

One set of analysts argue that appellate courts are reluctant to overturn jury verdicts absent an overwhelmingly obvious mistake. They say that U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who ran the trial, is a respected jurist who has few of her cases overturned.

“There is a definite overriding respect of a jury’s verdict,” said Howard Wasserman, a Florida International University law professor.

“Typically, it’s pretty hard to get a jury’s verdict reversed.”

On the other hand, there are those lawyers who argue that Bonds stands a good chance to clear his name.

“The government’s biggest hurdle is that testimony obstruction cases are usually based on blatant, undeniable lies to questions at the heart of an investigation,” said William Keane, a San Francisco criminal defense attorney. “Here the prosecution limps in with only a single rambling, unresponsive, unimportant answer that is literally true.”

Regardless of the outcome, University of New Hampshire law professor Michael McCann contends that the case was ultimately a loss of the U.S. Department of Justice. In a case that put a superstar athlete at the defendant’s table, the jury deadlocked on three charges of making false statements “The main thrust of the government’s original case was that he lied when he denied taking steroids,” said McCann, who also edits the popular Sports Law Blog. “That’s not what he was convicted of. Obstruction was not the main charge.”

If Bonds’ conviction is upheld, he will have to serve 30 days house arrest.

DONALD BYRD Continued from page 4 influences. The band landed in the Top 10 on the R&B charts with the mid'70s albums “Street Lady,” “Stepping Into Tomorrow” and “Place and Spaces.”

In 1982, Byrd, who also had a law degree, received his doctorate from New York’s Teachers College, Columbia University, and turned his attention from performing to education. Byrd, a longtime resident of Teaneck, N.J., was a distinguished scholar at William Paterson University and twice served as an artist-in-residence at Delaware State University.

Byrd didn’t have much training in mathematics but created a groundbreaking curriculum called Music + Math (equals) Art, in which he transformed notes into numbers to simultaneously teach music and math.

“I can take any series of numbers

and turn it into music, from Bach to bebop, Herbie Hancock to hip-hop,” he told The Star-Ledger newspaper of Newark, N.J. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, he returned to playing hard-bop on several albums for the Landmark label, which also featured saxophonists Kenny Garrett and Joe Henderson.

He performed on Guru’s 1993 jazz-rap album, “Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1,” and his recordings were sampled on more than 100 hip-hop songs by such performers as Black Moon, Nas, Ludacris and A Tribe Called Quest.

In 2000, the National Endowment for the Arts recognized Byrd as a Jazz Master, the nation's highest jazz honor.

Zezima reported from Trenton, N.J. Associated Press writer Charles J. Gans in New York contributed to this report.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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Former En Vogue member Dawn Robinson joins the cast of R&B Divas LA

LAWT NEWS SERVICE Dawn Robinson, former member of En Vogue and Lucy Pearl joins the Los Angeles cast of R&B Divas.

Known for her sultry voice, sexy style, and fiery personality Dawn is prepared to open up and speak freely about her success with En Vogue, and the ups and downs of life after leaving a multi-platinum group. The show starts taping this month and is slated for a third quarter debut.

Once a member of one of the hottest groups in the 90s, she truly made her presence known among the talented quartet and became a fan favorite. Her distinct voice can be heard on many of the groups hits including “Don’t Let Go,” “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” “Never Gonna Get It,” “Hold On,” and “Free Your Mind.” The group sold over 28 million records worldwide, garnered multiple platinum albums, several awards, and the honor of being named one of the most successful Girl Groups of all time.

Dawn is positioning herself for an explosive comeback. She is excited about R&B Divas LA, and the talented cast. . Never one to shy away from setting the record straight and laying it on the line, she will talk freely about her experience with the group, but doesn’t intend to dwell on

the past. Where her life is taking her is her focus on the show and her journey back to the top of the charts.

Ready to begin a new chapter in life she faces fears that affect people from all walks; “am I good enough,” “can I have it all,” and “where do I go from here?”

“Being a part of En Vogue was an amazing experience,” said Dawn.

“The group achieved a level of success that few music groups ever achieve and for that I am humbled and grateful, but now it’s time to focus on Dawn and where my path will lead me. Being a cast member of R&B Divas LA is going to be an incredible opportunity for me to hang with women I respect and who understand the difficulties associated with re-inventing yourself in this industry.”

Musically, the world is familiar with Dawn of En Vogue and Lucy Pearl, but there is so much more to Dawn Robinson; woman, singer, songwriter, actress, author and designer. She is prepared to take the entertainment industry by storm with all her new projects, including the development of her own girl group “GLAMM.” Dawn is finally in a place in her life where there is clarity and confidence. Her new journey will catapult her to yet another level of success and she invites the world to join her.

Michelle Obama plugs ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Oscar-nominated film “Beasts of the Southern Wild” has gotten Michelle Obama’s ringing endorsement.

The first lady played host Wednesday at a White House workshop for about 80 middle- and high-school students from the District of Columbia and New Orleans, in the state where the movie was set.

Students saw the film, then questioned cast members and the director.

Mrs. Obama said she saw “Beasts” last summer and considers it one of the most powerful and important movies released in a long time.

The film tells the mythical tale of a 6-year-old girl named Hushpuppy struggling to survive in the southern Delta with her ailing father as a storm approaches. Her world consists of a small but tightlyknit shantytown community on the bayou with wild animals, both real and imagined.

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

The film “Beasts of the Southern Wild” actress Quenzhane’ Wallis smiles in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday Feb. 13, 2012, attended by middle and high school students from the District of Columbia area and New Orleans taking part in in an interactive student workshop with the cast and crew of the movie, hosted by first lady Michelle Obama.

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

First lady Michelle Obama speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, in celebration of Black History Month, welcoming middle and high school students from the District of Columbia area and New Orleans taking part in an interactive student workshop with the cast and crew of the film “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”

GORDON PARKS Continued from page 8 moderator for the discussion was Vanessa Barnett, journalist for HipHollywood.com. The 300 plus crowd was in “awe” as actor Richard Roundtree made a special appearance paying homage to Parks.

Roundtree played the lead role in Shaft – the first Hollywood film, written, directed and scored by an African American. Roundtree joined the panel and shared personal stories and fond memories of Parks. Some of the discussion points included: who was Gordon Parks; how did his work tell the story about the black experience in America; the social responsibility of film makers to depict positive images of African Americans and how has

Parks influenced a generation of film makers.

Following the discussion, customers enjoyed light refreshments by Post and Beam and wine provided by Estelline Vineyard. With “$50 or more” purchases made during the event, customers received a commemorative Gordon Parks journal and a copy of Eric La Salle’s new book, Laws of Depravity.

From February 1 – 28, visitors to macys.com/celebrate will be offered the opportunity to enter for the chance to win a trip for two to the American Black Film Festival in Miami and a $1000 Macy’s Shopping spree courtesy of American Airlines.

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATIONWITH RELATIVITYMEDIA A BLUEGRASS FILMS/AGGREGATEFIMUSICLMS PRODUCTION A SETHGORDONEXECUTIVEFILM “IDENTITYTHIEF” JASONBATEMANPRODUCEDMELISSA MCCARTHY JONFAVREAU AMANDA PEET TIP ‘T.I.’ HARRIS GENESIS RODRIGUEZ MORRIS CHESTNUT JOHN CHO ROBERT PATRICSTORY K ERIC STONESTREET BY CHRISTOPHERSCREENPLAY LENNERTZ PRODUCERS PETERDIRECTEDMORGAN DANKOLSRUD BY SCOTTSTUBER JASONBATEMAN PAMELAABDY AUNIVERSALPICTURE

BY JERRYEETEN AND CRAI G MAZIN

BY CRAI G MAZIN BY SETHGORDON SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC AND LA-LA LAND RECORDS

© 2012 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

12

Thursday, February 14, 2013

e v e n t LISTINGS

2/2013

L.A. Watts Times Calendar, Compiled by Brandon I. Brooks, Co-Managing Editor 2/16 FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION EVENTS: In his campaign against poverty, Board of Equalization Chairman Jerome E. Horton takes his team of certified income tax prepares to the California State University, to help families earning less than $51k annually qualify and file for to $5,891 in Earned Income Tax Credits.

The Long Beach Free n Jerome E. Horto Family Day Service event was a huge success, providing free health care services, low cost automobile insurance, discounted utility services and so many other benefits. WHERE: California State University, Los Angeles. WHEN: 8:00 a.m.

– 4:00 p.m. Thereafter, mega events will be held on February 23, 2013 at California State University, Dominguez Hills, on March 2, 2013, at California State Poly University, Pomona, and on March 8, 2013, at Rio Hondo College.

“Billions in tax refunds go uncollected annually in California; Horton encourage taxpayers not to make a contribution to the IRS by not claiming their earned income tax credit.” Make your reservation today at 323-980-1221.

2/16 – 2/17 JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA WINTER CONGRESS 2013: Junior State of America is the largest, nationally student run organization in the United States. California. Students from every high school chapter gather with created bills and planks to entertain at Congress. With students serving as Party Leaders and Whips, the youth are able to problem solve real-life solutions to some of America’s most talked about issues. WHEN: February 16-17. WHERE: Torrance Marriot South Bay 3635 Fashion Way, Torrance, CA 90503. Winter Congress is a Mock Congressional Stimulation with over 600 students estimated to be in attendance with schools from all over Southern California.

UP & COMING 2/23 STEP AFRIKA! AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE & BODY PERCUSSION: Like a band without instruments, stepping is a percussive dance that uses kicks, stomps, claps and chants to create visually and musically exciting rhythms that enthrall audiences. As the world’s first professional dance company devoted

to stepping, Step Afrika! is a high energy performance with roots in African dance and military marching. The performance includes a South African gumboot dance, a South African Zulu dance, and routines in collegiate step traditions practiced by men and women all across the United States. First developed by college groups in the mid 1900’s, today stepping can be found in elementary, middle and high schools, as well as in churches and community-based organizations.

Based in Washington, D.C., the company has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the White House and as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department at events throughout the world. WHEN: 11:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. WHERE: W.M. Keck Children’s Amphitheatre 135 N Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012. For more information call (213) 9727211or visit www.musiccenter.org/events/worldcity/StepAfrika/

2/23-24

NOW – 3/ 7 THE LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE PRESENTS: “The 90 That Built L.A.,” an exhibit at the Museum of African American Art. This multi-layered exhibit chronicles and celebrates the League’s 90 plus year milestone of serving the city of Los Angeles, in addition to honoring 90 champions for change and equality, past and present. The exhibit will include personal artifacts from honorees; a retrospect of the social, economic, political and civic challenges and triumphs for Los Angeles residents of color and the League’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the community. WHEN: Museum hours are Thursday -Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday –Wednesday the exhibit will be closed.

Admission is FREE! Where: Museum of African American Art 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008 (Located on the 3rd floor of Macy’s at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall). For more information call (323) 294-7071 or visit www.theleague90.com. For more information on the Museum of African American Art, visit www.maaala.org.

NOW – 3/16 URBAN SCHOLAR SATURDAY ENRICHMENT ACADEMY: Urban Scholar Athletes, Inc. will conduct its Urban Scholar Saturday Enrichment Academy [Winter Term]. WHEN: Every Saturday, from January 19, 2013- March 16, 2013, from 11:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. WHERE:

The Rev. James Lawson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Photo Credit: Jack E. Cantrell, Memphis Press-Scimitar:Courtesy Special Collections, University of Memphis Libraries.)

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC HOST 11TH ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL: Join the Aquarium of the Pacific as we host our 11th annual African-American Festival, celebrating the richness and diversity of AfricanAmerican and African cultures. WHEN: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. WHERE: WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802. The weekend will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, ethnic food, and more.

Featured are Hip Hop and break dancers, tap dancing, gospel singers, Mardi Gras second line dancers, live jazz, interactive drum circles, West African dance, cultural storytelling, community award ceremonies, and a host of other exciting activities. For more info call 562-590-3100 or www.aquariumofpacific.org.

ON GOING NOW – 2/28 WESSON ANNOUNCES AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: Council President Herb Wesson has announced that in commemoration of African American Heritage Month, the City Council is sponsoring an exhibit “From Where We Come – The Art and Politics of Slavery” featuring contributions from the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Collection and highlighting the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

WHEN: Thursday, January 29, 2013 through Thursday, February 28, 2013. WHERE: City Hall Over-Bridge Gallery 200 North Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Darby Park Recreational Center, 3400 Arbor Vitae, Inglewood, CA 90305. The Academy is targeted for students currently in 1st-6th grade.

Certificated and experienced teachers will help students explore specialized areas of science, reading, and math in fun and engaging ways as well as prepare students for the upcoming California standardized test. Additionally, throughout the program, students will have an opportunity to earn “scholar bucks” for prize redemption, receive free books, and participate in fieldtrips and community service initiatives.

Program registration is $40.00, which includes the 1st session, t-shirt, and a Scholastic Weekly Reader magazine subscription. Weekly classes are $20/week, in which sibling discounts are available. For additional information about the program, contact Alexis Coleman, Program Director, at (310) 528-3845/ info@urbanscholarathletes.com or visit the website at www.urbanscholarathletes.org.

TO MAKE A CALENDAR SUBMISSION: Include event name, date(s), time, location, contact/RSVP information and admission price, if any. Use BRIEF paragraph format (no lists, line breaks, or all caps). All calendar submissions are space-permitting and may be edited for brevity. Send submissions, along with any images, to brandon@lasentinel.net with the subject heading “LAWT Community Events.” Please include text in the body of your email, not in an attachment.

BLOOD DONOR CENTER

MAKE SAVING LIVES A HABIT

Donate Blood TODAY! DONOR REQUIREMENTS • Must be at least 17 years of age • Must provide valid photo ID (drivers’ license preferred)

• Must weigh more than 110 pounds • Should be well hydrated Every month, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles needs to collect 1,000 units of blood products to meet the needs of its patients. Please join us at our upcoming blood drive and help with this very important cause. Each donation can help two children in need, and you can double your efforts by bringing a friend!

FOR INFORMATION CHLA.org/GIVEBLOOD