November/December 2006 Volume 9, Number 6 $3.00
A Young Equestrian’s Ride to Fame Mayor John Marks: Shaping Tallahassee’s Future
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“Anything Is Possible,” says Commissioner Matthew M. Carter
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With so many demands during the holidays, fitness and health sometimes take a back seat to preparing meals, party planning and shopping. Here are some simple tips to keep your holidays healthy: Find creative ways to exercise–Take the stairs. Park far away. Go for a long walk with relatives. Slip on your sneakers and go speed shopping. Prepare healthy holiday meals–Mix in low-fat yogurt in creamy dressings to cut down on saturated fat. Substitute chopped veggies for some of the bread in your stuffing. Source: American Heart Association
Provide healthy choices–Remember your guest’s special health concerns, like Uncle Bob’s high blood pressure and diabetes, and Aunt Millie’s high cholesterol, and provide healthy foods low in salt and saturated fat, as well as a low sugar alternative to traditional holiday desserts. Helping you stay healthy is part of our mission at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. For more health information, visit www.bcbsfl.com.
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CONTENTS Volume 9, Number 6 November / December 2006
Southern Area of The Links Make impressive Progress Toward Endowment of HBCUs
Cover Story Anything Is Possible Commissioner Matthew M. Carter talks about experiencing the American Dream. By Lucia Reid
Cell Phone? You Can Do Without It Cell phones can be a blessing, but sometimes they are inappropriate. Melva Akens talks about cell phone etiquette
IN EVERY ISSUE Health Notes Benefits of Exercise for Seniors UF & Shands Jacksonville Florida Scope
A Ride to Fame Meet Shayla Wilson, Equestrian: an inspirational story of a young woman whose dream is to make it to the Olympics By Staff Writer
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Soul Food––Reinvented for Today’s Family Update your wardrobe without spending a mint (photos of holiday elegance included. Compliments of Neimanmarcus.com) The Onyx Awards: Its History and What It Means to Florida
Onyx Magazine
Onyx Serial (Blue the Black Fish, Part VIII) Onyx Profile (Stumbling Blocks) Keeping it Real (Biopics: Blurring the line between Fact and Fiction By Karyn Beach Hair Tips Make-Up Tips Book Review: More than a Slave Photo Gallery
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November / December 2006
Visitors Save Big with “Orlan-Dough Mega Value Package”
Select Rosen Hotels Kick Off Holiday Travel Season with $39.95 Rate and $3,000 in Orlando Discounts Rosen Hotels & Resorts is kicking off the holiday travel season with an “OrlanDough Mega Value Package,” offering a rate of $39.95 per night (double occupancy), $30 in food and beverage discounts, and the “Orlan-Dough Mega Value Pack,” filled with discounts and offers for theme parks, attractions, dinner shows, restaurants, golf, and spa worth a combined value of more than $3,000. The offer is valid for travel from Nov. 1, 2006 to Jan. 31, 2007 at Rosen Hotels & Resortsʼ four Orlando leisure properties – Quality Inn International, Rodeway Inn International, Quality Inn Plaza and Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista. The late fall and winter months are an ideal time to visit Orlando. With average daytime temperatures in the 70s from November through January, sunny, cloudless skies are the norm. Although thereʼs no “real” snow and ice in Orlando, holiday shows, decorations, events and festivities are abundant in the theme parks, dinner attractions, malls and more. During non-holiday weeks, theme park queues are virtually wide open, making it even more enjoyable for Orlando visitors to reconnect and spend quality time with family and friends throughout the season.
• Tropical Swimming Grotto at the Quality Inn Plaza • Spacious, Florida-Themed Guest Rooms at the Quality Inn International • Dining Options Include the Acclaimed Shogun Restaurant at the Rodeway Inn International and Sumptuous Family Style Buffets Call (866) 337-6736, visit www.rosenhotels.com/mega or contact the participating Rosen hotels directly, Quality Inn International: (800) 825-7600 • Rodeway Inn International: (800) 999-6327 Quality Inn Plaza International Drive: (800) 999-8585 • Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista: (800) 999-7300
PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lillian Seays ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / EDITOR Lester Seays (Director of Operations) Director of Technology Brian Seays Director of Special Projects Cheryll Daniels
From the Editors We’ve almost made it to the end of another year. A lot has happened since we began this journey in January. As we enter the holiday season, I invite you to pause with us, as we give thanks for having been blessed throughout 2006. As we move on, we are proud to feature Commissioner Matthew M. Carter of the Public Service Commission and Mayor John Marks of Tallahassee in this issue of Onyx Magazine. See page 22 where we highlight the brilliant leadership of both men. How often has the word equestrian passed though your lips in daily conversation? I would guess that you could count the number of times on one hand, but after reading A Ride to Glory, that might change. There is always someone in every sport who can take it to a totally different level. Shayla Wilson has a passion for riding horses and to make it to the 2012 Olympics. Keep an eye on Shayla, because she is determined to accomplish her dream. Don’ t be surprised if she becomes a household name some day. See page 18. Understanding what’s in and what’s out in fashion this season is a “no-brainer”; stores and fashion shows alike are keeping it in your face, but is anyone telling you the correlation of fashion to you as an individual––your personality, your age, your pocketbook, etc. See what Onyx has to say about fashion in this issue. Health notes, hair tips, business etiquette, entertainment are among the things that we bring to you in every issue. We hope that we have, and will continue to help you in some way. Don’t forget, your comments are encouraged. You may contact us by mail or by going to www.onyxmagazine.com. Merry Christmas and New Year... and as we always say, “Stay healthy and stay solvent.”
Lillian and Lester Seays You may have a good story to tell. Send your profile, news, and/or events to PMB 412, 7226 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32818 or go to www.onyxmagazine.com (please include photos) Onyx Magazine
Director of Media Relations Steven King Director of Sales (Northeast Florida) David Williams
Dear Readers,
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Special Projects Consultant RBlack & Associates
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Director of Circulation Kenneth Seays Contributing Writers Melva Akens Karyn Beach Willie Clark Zelma Dickerson Paula Hoisington Cathy Howse Dewayne Jones Steven King Natalie A. Mitchell Matthew Reed Selena Webster-Bass Wanda Toby Photographers Ted Hollins Larry Mooring Lester Seays Onyx Magazine is published bimonthly by LBS Publications, Inc., PMB 412, 7226 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32818. Phone: (407) 293-6102, (407) 579-9894 or (407) 443-6237, Fax: (407) 523-5225. Subscription rate is $15 for six issues. For subscriptions and notification of address change, contact Onyx Magazine at the above address, or e-mail us at onyxmagazine.com. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Copyright 2006 by Onyx Magazine. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writer or interviewee, and not necessarily those of the publisher. Manuscripts, photos and art should be submitted with a self addressed stamped envelope. The publisher does not assume responsibility for any materials not submitted in manner advised. Unsolicited materials are not subject to payment by Onyx Magazine.
November / December 2006
It’s the Holiday Season, and There’s No Need to Lament over What You Can or Cannot Eat: Soul Food –– Reinvented for Today’s Family Try Roniece Weaverʼs low-fat versions of favorite soul-food recipes Southern Potato Salad 3 -Pounds Boiled Potatoes 4 –Hard Boiled Eggs, Chopped 4 – Tablespoons Of low fat Mayonnaise Or Miracle Whip, Then Add To Taste 2 – Tablespoons Of Sweet Pickle Relish, Then Add To Taste 1 – Teaspoon Of Yellow Mustard, Then Add To Taste 1/4 –Teaspoon Salt, Then Add To Taste 1/4 –Teaspoon Pepper, Add To Taste To Taste Paprika, Sprinkled Over Top Of Salad Parsley, Sprinkled Over Top Of Salad Rinse potatoes thoroughly under running water. Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with at least two inches of cold water. Bring water to rolling boil and cook potatoes until tender. Don't allow the water to boil out. Once potatoes are done remove from heat, pour out water and allow to cool. Go ahead and clean your large pot because you will use it later to mix up your potato salad. Place eggs into a small boiling pot and add cold water. Cook eggs on medium-high heat until done. Remove from heat, add cold water and allow to cool before chopping. Now that the potatoes have cooled, peel them and mash them up one at a time into your large pot. Add chopped eggs, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, salt and pepper. Mix all of the ingredients thoroughly. Start with the exact measurements and adjust to your desired taste. Spoon the combined mixture into a suitable size bowl with lid. For the purpose of presentation, top mixture with a sprinkle of paprika and parsley. Now you have southern style potato salad. Cover with lid and refrigerate. Serve salad cold.
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November / December 2006
Angel Lush with Pineapple (Compliments of Kraft Foods) Prep Time: 15 min Total Time: 1 hr 15 min Makes: 10 servings 1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling 1 can (20 oz.) DOLE Crushed Pineapple in Juice, undrained 1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping 1 pkg. (10 oz.) round angel food cake 10 small fresh strawberries MIX dry pudding mix and pineapple with its juice in medium bowl. Gently stir in whipped topping. Let stand 5 min. until thickened. CUT cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom cake layer, cut-side up, on serving plate; top with 1-1/3 cups of the pudding mixture. Cover with middle cake layer and additional 1 cup of the remaining pudding mixture. Top with remaining cake layer; spread top with the remaining pudding mixture. REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour. Top with strawberries just before serving. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator. KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS Substitute Prepare as directed, using JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Reduced Calorie Pudding & Pie Filling and COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping. How to Cut the Angel Food Cake Use a serrated knife and gentle sawing motion to easily cut the angel food cake. NUTRITION INFORMATION Nutrition (per serving) Calories160 Total fat1.5 g Saturated fat1 g Cholesterol0 mg Sodium360 mg Carbohydrate37 g Dietary fiber1 g Sugars33 g Protein2 g Vitamin A0 %DV
Vitamin C20 Calcium4 Iron2 %DV
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The Surprising Extra Benefits of Exercise for Seniors It’s never too late to begin an exercise program by Janet Crozier
We’ve all heard about the many benefits of exercise – a healthier heart, stronger bones, improved appearance and flexibility, but exercise has many additional benefits, especially for seniors.
Prevent disease -– Exercise may delay or prevent many diseases associated with aging, such as diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease, stroke, and others, and may reduce overall death and hospitalization rates, according to the National Institute of Aging.
“Many characteristics we associate with older age – like the inability to walk long distances, climb stairs, or carry groceries, are largely due to a lack of physical activity,” explains Dr. John Montgomery, a family physician, medical epidemiologist and vice-president of senior care solutions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. However, according to AARP, 40 percent of people between 45 and 64 are considered sedentary. For people over 64, that number jumps to 60 percent. “Some are worried that exercise will cause illness or injury,” says Montgomery. “Others think exercise means they have to do something strenuous, which they may not be capable of. What they may not realize is that it could be more of a risk not to exercise,” explains Montgomery. Seniors can benefit tremendously from regular exercise. The Centers for Disease Control reports that seniors have even more to gain than younger people by becoming more active because they are at higher risk 8
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Improve healing –– Injuries and wounds take longer to heal as people age. Regular exercise by older adults may speed up the wound-healing process by as much as 25 percent. (Source: Senior Journal.com)
Dr. John Montgomery for the health problems that physical activity can prevent.
Even moderate physical activity can help seniors to: Increase mental capacity - Research links physical activity with slower mental decline. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of your body, including your brain, and might promote cell growth there. Exercise - particularly if it starts early and is maintained over time - is beneficial in preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: Senior Journal.com)
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Improve quality of life –– A new study has found that previously sedentary senior citizens who incorporated exercise into their lifestyles not only improved physical function, but experienced psychological benefits as well. (Source: Senior Journal.com) Increase balance –– This helps prevent falls, a major cause of broken hips and other injuries that often lead to disability and loss of independence. (Source: Senior Journal.com) Increase life expectancy –– Benefits are greater among the most active persons but are also evident among those who reported moderate activity, according to the CDC.
November / December 2006
A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY “When it comes to exercise for seniors, consistency is more important than intensity,” explains Montgomery. Researchers have found that you don’t have to engage in strenuous exercises to gain health benefits. “Moderate exercise, such as walking five or more days a week can lead to substantial health benefits. Even brief amounts of physical activity, say 10 minutes at a time, can be beneficial.” NEVER TOO LATE According to the National Institute of Aging, exercise isn’t just for seniors in the younger age range. People who are 80, 90 or older can also benefit greatly from physical activity. Exercising regularly can help prevent or delay some diseases and disabilities as people age. In some cases, it can improve health and independence for older people who already have diseases and disabilities, if it’s done on a longterm, regular basis. “The key is to find something geared to your fitness level that you enjoy doing,” says Montgomery. “And it’s important to start at a level you can manage and work your way up slowly.” Start by seeing your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
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TIPS FOR STICKING WITH AN EXERCISE PROGRAM Have a plan. Identify obstacles and find ways around them. For instance, your fitness routine easily could run off track during the holidays and vacations. Look for hotels with a health club, and include a walking or biking tour of scenic or historic places in your vacation plans. REVIEW YOUR GOALS If you start to feel it's just not worth it, think about why you decided to change in the first place. Maybe you wanted to lose weight. Perhaps you've lowered your blood pressure or are beginning to control your diabetes. Reminding yourself of the goals you've realized and the ones you're still striving for will help you push ahead. Mobilize your support system. Call on friends, family members, or neighbors who have been your cheerleaders. They can encourage you to stick with it. Be easy on yourself. Falling off track doesn't mean throwing in the towel. Remind yourself that change takes time.
Source: AARP Janet Crozier has more than 30 years of experience working with older adults. Ms. Crozier holds a Graduate Certificate in Aging and Adult Services and is a Certified Senior Advisor. She has served on Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging’s Board of Directors for many years and has been recognized nationally for her service to Medicare beneficiaries by the federal Medicare program. Currently, Ms. Crozier is a full time Senior Educator with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. November / December 2006
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John Marks: A Journey to Leadership – Shaping Tallahassee’s Future
Being the Mayor of the 7th largest city in the State of Florida with 180,000 plus residents, six institutions of higher learning, 65,000 college students and more than 41,000 state employees keeps Tallahassee Mayor John Marks busy most days, nights and weekends. Prior to being elected Mayor of Florida’s capitol city, Marks traces his beginnings back to his native Miami, Florida. A product of the public school system and a graduate of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Marks was encouraged to attend Florida State University (FSU) upon graduation in 1965. Marks’ great grandparents, grandparents, mother and father were all college graduates. Coming from such a lineage, he understood the value of a college degree and accepted the challenge of being one of the first African Americans to attend a predominately White educational institution in the South. During his tenure at FSU, Marks was confronted with a number of obstacles, yet overcame institutional and cultural prejudices and racism to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He later went on to become one of the first African Americans to graduate from FSU’s College of Law with his Juris Doctorate degree in 1972. 10
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While excelling in academics, Marks was also a campus activist and leader. He served in the Student Senate and was one of the charter members of the first Black fraternity (Omega Psi Phi) to be established on a White southern university campus. Upon graduation in August of 1969, Marks married his college sweetheart, Jane Awkard. After being commissioned a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and admitted to the Florida Bar, they moved to California to begin his military assignment. Marks served four years as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corp at Travis Air Force Base, California. While in the military, the Vietnam War was raging and this tumultuous period would have a profound effect on his social and political ideology. In 1976, the couple moved back to Tallahassee to be near family and friends and to start a family. What was intended to be a temporary stop before moving on to Miami, became permanent. For three years, Marks held the position of administrative law judge and in 1979 was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) by Governor Bob Graham. At the time, he was the first African American and the youngest to serve as a FPSC Commissioner. He remained on the commission that regulates the state’s investor owned public utilities for eight years, the last two as Chairman. In 1987, Marks became a partner in the law firm of Katz, Kutter, Haigler, Alderman and Marks. He remained there for ten years before joining the boutique law firm of Knowles, Marks and Randolph,
P.A., practicing in the area of utility regulatory law. Having a desire to serve his community, Marks often considered elected office, but never actively pursued the idea until there was a change in the local political structure that prompted him to consider running for public office. In 2002, the untimely death of a Commissioner left the City of Tallahassee without African American representation for the first time since 1972. Recognizing this void, citizens from all segments of the community encouraged Marks to seek public office. After consulting with family, friends and political allies, Marks decided to run for Mayor against two incumbent city commissioners. After winning 44% of the vote in the primary, Marks eventually sailed to victory by winning with 67% of the vote in a runoff. Mayor Marks sought re-election in September 2006 and won handily in the primary with a 78% margin over two opponents. Since taking office, Mayor Marks has addressed a number of important issues such as economic development, an active 18-hour downtown, redevelopment of disadvantaged areas, affordable housing, child literacy, and the enhancement of cultural opportunities. The Mayor is currently focused on several community-based initiatives such as securing a trauma center, developing a convention hotel and conference center and building a local coalition to end chronic homelessness. As a leader, Mayor Marks has given his time and guidance to many community en-
richment organizations, including the Collins Center for Public Policy, the Mary Brogan Museum of Arts and Science, the United Way of the Big Bend, the Tallahassee Urban League, the American Heart Association, and Kids Incorporated, Inc. He is a graduate of Class XX of Leadership Florida, and a life member in the NAACP. Among others, his current affiliations include the Tallahassee/Leon County Civic Center Authority, the Tallahassee Economic Development Council, the Florida League of Cities, the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Conference of Black Mayors, and the Sunshine State Government and Financing Commission. Most recently, Mayor Marks was elected the first President of the Florida League of Mayors. As one of Mayor Marks’ colleagues stated, “He’s the guy they choose when a group of leaders need a leader.” In the future, Mayor Marks intends to use his position as the President of the Florida League of Mayors to address an issue that is vital to all Floridians and the fiscal health of every municipality – tax reform. Although he has already had a distinguished career, his time in public service is not close to an end. Be on the lookout for the name John Marks – this is not the last you will hear of this rising political star.
Since taking office, Mayor Marks has addressed a number of important issues such as economic development, an active 18-hour downtown, redevelopment of disadvantaged areas, affordable housing, child literacy, and the enhancement of cultural opportunities. November / December 2006
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FLORIDA SCOPE Nu Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s 2nd Annual Community Service Awards News Breaking Story about the First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
WINTER PARK - The year 1980 marked the beginning of Nu Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. legacy. Nu Iota Omega Chapter began with the vision of 17 women who wanted to implement Alpha Kappa Alpha’s purpose and community-oriented programs in the North Orange-South Seminole county areas.
JACKSONVILLE - In a decision by the Board of Directors of one on the fastest growing minority chambers in the city, Ms. Deborah K. Thompson, President, announced that the First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce (FCAACC) having recently relocated, is changing its image and many of the thoughts around the developing of small minority (especially black) business owners. According to Ms. Thompson, many of these business owners go traditional businesses because they are familiar. They know how to be a good car mechanic or cook the food at a restaurant, fix or do hair in a beauty or barber shop. Although functional for the past, these businesses are less desirable on a large scale for the future.
To honor our continued legacy of community service, Nu Iota Omega Chapter recently hosted its Second Annual Community Awards and Reception. The Community Service Award has been implemented to recognize and showcase the unsung heroes / sheroes of the community. Nu Iota Omega Chapter will utilize this award to thank community members for their service in the categories of Community, Humanitarian and Trailblazer. This year’s award recipients are as follows:
In order to work with the ensuing economic trends, this small business society must think out of the traditional box and pursue unfamiliar industries with vigor. One of those industries is the financial services industry. At the new Legacy Building, Ms. Thompson and the board headed by Mr. A. D. Roberts, a local business owner, will lead the membership and its program client base to new heights. Through a strategy partnership, the Chamber will train business owners very candidly about the business choices that they make. This new state of the art business community of potential start up and existing businesses will be exposed to non-traditional business models in a technological setting for the future. New tenants will be exposed to on-line business development training on a variety of business topics, business models that create economic development and wealth within a nurturing environment. Business owners will learn to choose the best business model for their personality and style, meet one on one with Marion Graham and learn his success techniques. They will see economic empowerment and hear of career and business opportunities that will project them quickly to the top. Be a success, visit the 15,000 sf Legacy building at 1725 Oakhurst Avenue on Jacksonville’s thriving north side and see a location that is good for the Chamber and can be good for you. Let’s change our image and brand today. Call (904) 652-1500 to make an appointment. 12
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TRAILBLAZER: Ms. Joyce Moore Swain, a divorced single parent of three who first worked as a domestic. She also worked at the Winter Park Day Nursery and DePugh Nursing Home. After 14 years of low wages, Joyce enrolled in a three-month business course at Orlando Vocational School and worked weekends to make ends meet. She emerged with clerical skills and a will to succeed. The Advent of Joyce Moore Swain’s Mark of excellence on the City of Winter Park includes: • 1973 – clerk-typist with the Winter Park Police Department. • Coordinator of the city’s mini-bus system, working with the city net communications system. • End of 1974, receptionist in the city manager’s office. • 1984 – Promoted to assistant City Clerk. • 1991 – Promoted to City Clerk. Ms. Swain has left her mark of excellence in Winter Park City government. In 2000, Ms. Swain retired as the first AfricanAmerican City Clerk for the city of Winter Park. When she started her career with the City of Winter Park, being the first was not on her mind, being the best was the objective. HUMANITARIAN: Mr. Ronald “Ron” Allan Moore – father, son, brother, friend and mentor – was born in Winter Park, Florida, almost 50 years ago. Mr. Moore began his educational journey at the Welborne Avenue Kindergarten in Winter Park. He attended numerous elementary and junior high schools due to the fact that this was the beginning of the de-segregation era. He persevered through this maze and finished at Winter Park High School in 1974 and ultimately received his Bachelor of Science degree, with a concentration in health & physical education, (cum Laude) in 1978 from Virginia State College in Petersburg, Virgina. Mr. Moore returned home to work in the community where
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November / December 2006
FLORIDA SCOPE You Are a Star! YPAs Laud Carlos Beruff for Support of Statewide “A Day of Stars”
A Toast to the Honorees: Joyce Swain, Ronald A. Moore, Lisa Williams
SUMTER COUNTY - Gwennette Gant, Mel Reaves and Beverly Steele, members of the Young Performing Artists (YPAs), Inc. Board of Directors, traveled to Carlos Beruff’s offices to present him a desk plaque topped with a golden star. Said Gant, “On behalf of the Young Performing Artists, Inc., its young artists, volunteers and Board, it is my pleasure to present this golden award for your tremendous support. As the signature sponsor for the past two years, and for our recent A Day of Stars statewide event where young artists competed for $500 scholarships in four art disciplines, we came to show our appreciation and to truly thank you.” “Mr. Beruff believes in our mission to encourage the young’artists of today who will keep the arts of tomorrow alive. At our Day of Stars, July 15th at the Sumter Expo Center, we were able to award $2000 in scholarships because of the support of his company. What a wonderful act of kindness for Mr. Beruff to help us assist those who will make the arts their life’s worth and work”, said Steele, founder of YPA, Inc.
Members of Nu Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
he grew up. In March of 1978, he was employed by the City of Winter Park as Recreation Chief/Director of the Winter Park Community Center. One of his goals was to make a difference in the community where he grew up; and he has continued that effort for the past 28 years. His current title is Recreational Chief.
“SR 44, LLC, is a new corporation in Sumter County, and we have found Mr. Beruff to be a man of his word. He is a state-certified building contractor and has built in excess of six hundred homes in several counties in the state of Florida including Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Charlotte and now, in Sumter. He is a good neighbor,” commented Mel Reaves, YPAs, Inc. Board of Director. For more information about YPA or to make a donation, call 352-748-2008.
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Mr. Moore is the father of two children––Lauren, 22 and William, 11. He is a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where he dutifully serves as head of the Tape Ministry. He enjoys watching drag races and is a collector of drag race funny cars, motorcycles and other memorabilia. He enjoys family activities such as, having “family dinners” on Sundays with his biological family, and often with his 11-member staff in an effort to develop a closer relationship with each other. COMMUNITY: Ms. Lisa Williams organized her own nonprofit organization, L. A. N. E. S. –– Loving Assisting Educating and Supporting Teenage girls. Girls who participate in L.A.N.E.S. broaden their horizons through educational, cultural and life skills activities and discussions. The organization's purpose is to mentor young girls from 6th to 12th grade from Southwest Orange County. The mission is to help develop the character and skills of these girls that they may become responsible and productive young women. Ms. Williams spends her personal time meeting with these girls, praying for these girls, and seeking funding for the field trips, workshops, guest speakers, newsletters, and scholarship opportunities. November / December 2006
Picture L-R: Gwennette Gant, YPAs, Inc. Board of Director and Carlos Beruff, CEO, SR 44, LLC. ( Photo taken in Beruff’s office.)
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Cell Phone?
You Can Leave Home Without It––Really, You Can By Melva Akens “ARE YOU AWAKE YET!? “ Those are the words that were screamed in my ear as we waited to board the 6:00 am flight at Los Angeles International Airport. I said to myself, “Self… how did he know that I only slept three hours last night?” I turned slowly to see who had such insight on my activities only to find a gentleman standing eight inches behind me talking on his mobile phone. In the few minutes it took for us to approach the flight attendant who was checking boarding passes, I learned more than I cared to know about this man’s investment deal and the worth of his corporation. Quite frankly, I gained enough information to commit a serious felony, kidnap a beloved one for a handsome ransom, or completely blow the investment deal by making a couple of telephone calls. Five hours later, the flight landed in Orlando, and I whisked off to a pedicure appointment. I was escorted to a station next to a female client who was chatting away on her cell phone. The nature of that conversation contained the details of her inability to conceive a child without engaging a fertility clinic. …This just wasn’t my day…. I've come to the conclusion that those who cannot do without a mobile telephone are everywhere! There's got to be a mobile phone alien (MPA) that consumes the lives of relatively intelligent humans, and have caused them to misplace the concept and understanding of the word privacy. Small electronic devices seem to overwhelm our ability to connect with others, and it has pushed us to the point of acting rude and disrespectful. In addition to the airport and nail salon, the MPA invades the bodies of individuals who are shopping in the super market, those at the customer service counter in department and specialty stores, the drivers of motor vehicles who have exceeded the speed limit, customers receiving relaxation and medical service, and people who are walking at an uneven pace and in a spastic manner while in crowded public areas. These are only a few… I know there are many more sightings to list. The MPA invasion results are profound interference with peace, and disruption of what was previously viewed as time meant to relax our bodies and recharge our energy. The Age of Technology has moved us paces ahead; however, technology has also created a strain of patterns that isolate humans from one-on-one communication and good manners. The standard by which we are willing to conduct ourselves while on a telephone are beyond belief. Perhaps if we think of a mobile phone as an emergency aide only, it will remind us to avoid imposing on others with our conversation and ill behavior. The crowds continue to get busier and faster, and every little bit of advice is helpful in helping us navigate through public places. And as we encounter those posed with the MPA, remem14
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ber the battery won't last forever and with any amount of luck, the signal will go weak and abort. In case none of the former occurs, I’d like to offer six suggestions for polite mobile telephone usage. (There are actually over fifteen to consider.) They will add to the ease and comfort of placing and accepting calls when away from home, especially during the holiday season. • You Can Leave Home Without It Go ahead; try it…you won’t melt away. Why not enjoy your planned outing and the company of those around you? Another option would be to only use the phone during “break time”. Be mindful that the more we engage in self-fulfilling activity, the more likely we have little regard for others. Give it a rest and see what happens. • Silence Is Golden Turn off, silence, or place your electronic device on vibrate upon entering a venue that requires an admission fee. Keep in mind that people who have paid to be admitted to a performance or paid to receive a service, deserve the courtesy of enjoying their investment. • Let Them Miss You What on earth did we do before “call waiting” and "voice mail" service options? Consumers waste millions of dollars each year on voice mail feature, because they don’t use it. Ninety-seven percent of those who have this feature do not use it to its full advantage. Trust me on this one, your conversations are better respected and you will appear to be more professional, organized and “in control” if you don’t interrupt a conversation to answer an incoming call. It is better to return a call after you complete a conversation. The same applies if you are meeting with someone and your mobile phone rings. Let it go to voice mail! • Keep It Simple The shorter your conversation, the better: corporations provide cellular phones to employees for the convenience of keeping in touch with the office, to conduct business while out of the office, and to keep activity moving during business travel. One is still expected to be productive, so don’t monopolize the time of others by keeping them on the phone unnecessarily. • Keep It Under the Roses Respect your information and the information of others when speaking on the phone. If in a public area, step away from others or step outside to continue the telephone conversation. Look to see that others are not around. Also, do not put someone on speakerphone without first asking their permission. Keep your conversation private. • Politeness Prevails When on your phone, yield to others when walking or standing in the line of movement. There's nothing more frustrating than someone needing to get by and they can't, because the line of walk is blocked––three or four steps to your right so others can pass is appropriate.
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November / December 2006
Florida Scope From page 13
Hometown Role Models Honored JACKSONVILLE - In a tradition initiated in 1980 by The Greater El Bethel-el Divine Holiness Church, five hometown role models will be honored at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Police banquet hall located at 5530 Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville. These role models are being recognized for their outstanding achievement, leadership and contributions toward helping to build a stronger and healthier community. Honorees include Edye McCowan - Fresh Ministries, Dr. Chuck Ways - Optimum Health Chiro-Care, Dr. Frank Hurst - Hurst Chiropractic Clinic, Lt. Bobby L. Deal - Police Athletic League (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office), Mr. Jamal Anderson - A.J. Construction, and Attorney Reginald Estell, Jr. Guest speaker will be Charles Spencer, Executive Vice President of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, LA. Event Chairman is Bishop Dr. Lorenzo Hall, Sr., Pastor; Co-Chair, The Honorable Pat Lockett-Felder. For additional information call (904) 710-1586.
DOH ACKNOWLEDGES LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Department of Health (DOH) recognizes November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. “Florida residents can take a stand against lung cancer by avoiding the use of tobacco products,” said DOH Secretary for Health M. Rony François, M.D., M.S.P.H., Ph.D. “During this month, we ask all Floridian smokers to consider breaking the nicotine addiction.” According to the American Lung Association, an estimated 60 percent of people with lung cancer die within one year of diagnosis and about 75 percent of afflicted individuals will die within two years. Although lung cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, it is still a grave concern for the Florida Department of Health and for all Floridians. According to Florida’s statewide cancer registry, the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS), there were a total of 15,768 new lung and bronchus cancers diagnosed in 2003, the most current data year available. Additionally, FCDS reports 34,458 tobacco-related cancers were diagnosed, and 20,016 deaths occurred from these cancers in Florida. Acute myeloid leukemia, cancer of the trachea, lung and bronchus, lip, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, cervix, bladder, kidney and renal pelvis and stomach are all cancers known to be associated with tobacco use. Lung and bronchus cancers remain the second most common after skin cancers, but they are the leading causes of cancer deaths. Cigarette smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer. Other risk factors include cigar and pipe use, secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos, pollution, lung disease, and personal history. There is no evidence that smoking low tar cigarettes reduces the risk of lung cancer. Individuals need to be aware of preventative health complications associated with smoking such as chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease and stroke as well as problems with pregnancy and birth. Symptoms associated with lung cancer include: a cough that does not go away, chest pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and recurring bronchitis or pneumonia. To assist those who are contemplating quitting smoking, a toll-free Quitline is available. The number is 1-877-822-6669 Continued page 36 November / December 2006
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FASHION d n Tre
Lucia Reid Reporting
It’s that time of year again. Many have already revamped their wardrobe, but some of you may be a little slow pulling it together–– sort of like I am. My problem is that I don’t have much money to spend. I have learned, however, that it takes more skills than money. That being said, let me share what I’ve learned, and then we can ride this train together. First, fashion experts are saying that you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself, because there are a lot of things that are back for another season, but before you get into what’s hot and what’s not, determine what fashionable means to you. Not to put thoughts into your mind, but you know, trendy and fashionable aren’t necessarily the same unless you deem it so. Fashion is sort of like being well put together while expressing the “real you”. What that simply means is that a well-planned wardrobe does not require a mortgage note.
Compliments of Dr. Denise Y. Mose 16
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First of all, the fall/winter colors are taupe, pale khaki, apple cinnamon, mineral red, red mahogany, purple, bijou blue and gray. Take inventory. Begin by comparing the hot items for this season with what you already have in your closet. The “musthaves” include a skinny scarf for a burst of color, a great pair of boot (Western inspired is popular, but not a must). You really want to stick with the boots or sandals, no white running shoes, please. By the way, are your wedge heels in good repair? Good, because they are back, but you do want to have a pair of black and a pair of brown shoes, both open toes and enclosed. The high skinny heel is popular, but go for the heel that best
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suits you. Go for at least one really nice pair of jeans, and a really great looking fall bag. Slouch bags are still part of the trend. Color is boss, from cobalt to aquamarine, pink and lilac to liven up the neutrals. You might even opt for a silvery or golden metallic: the larger, the better. If you favor purses that show the label, go for it. All materials and textures are a go––animal skin, synthetics, leather... just don’t allow your purse to take on the shape of the bulk that you are carrying inside. Last season, costume jewelry was really strong. It’s back––bulky as ever, including both wood and bone jewelry. Pearls are back in the mix making that black or brown suit or basic dress look really classy. Accessories really make an outfit pop. Bold is beautiful. Remember the leggings? You’ll probably see a lot of those this season. But be careful, leggings aren’t for everyone. If you’re too heavy, they will show the unsightly cheese on your thighs. Velour and velvet track suits are looking good for lounging around the house or as a cover up for workout attire. Oh, did I mention that the high neck blouses are back? And the bows are a little bigger. And while we are talking about tops, this is the season when tops are valuable for layering. Whether tanks, halters or t-shirts, they will support any outfit ( skirt, jeans, capri pants, or under a suit jacket or blazer. Guess what, the tunics are coming back, too. Now, for the older set. Just because you are fifty and beyond, it does not mean that November / December 2006
you have to dress matronly, unless you have kept physically fit, the halters may be out, but regality isn’t, and that’s where you need to be. Follow your taste. Choose colors that compliment your skin tone, stick with simple cuts, and depend on your accessories, but be careful not to over accessorize. A bright pattern may not need to be accessorized.
Compliments of Dr. Denise Y. Mose
Compliments of Dr. Denise Y. Mose
Compliments of neimanmarcus.com
You can identify your fashion style by trying on different styles until you find the one that looks right for you. Invest in a nice suit or dress that can be used for a lot of different occasions. One that can take on a totally different look depend on how it is accessorized. As appropriately summed up by one writer, “Fashion is an image and a way of presenting yourself to the world.”
Compliments of neimanmarcus.com November / December 2006
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[ÉÄ|wtç XÄxztÇvx Photos compliments of neimanmarcus.com 18
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November / December 2006
The Onyx Awards: Its History and What It Means to Florida LBS Foundation Incorporated was established as a nonprofit in 2003. It was created as the philanthropic arm of LBS Publications (Onyx Magazine) “...to enable the citizens of Florida to maintain health and education as uncompromising solutions to stronger and more progressive Florida communities.� In order to raise funds to meet the objectives of the organization, the Onyx Awards was born. The first production of the Awards show was presented in April 2003. Since that time, the month of March has been established and recognized as the month of the Onyx Awards. How Nominees Are Chosen: Candidates for Onyx Awards nomination come from all parts of the state. Past nominees have come from Orlando, Jacksonville, Panama City, Ocala, Gainesville, Leesburg, Tampa, Cocoa, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, West Palm Beach, Temple Terrace, and Miami. Names are suggested to the presenting entity, Onyx Magazine. From that list, four nominees are chosen for each of six categories. Currently, the Northeast Florida holds its own Onyx Community Awards in the City of Jacksonville. Winners in each of the categories automatically become nominees for the statewide Onyx Awards in Orlando. It is the intent of Onyx Magazine to set up a similar arrangement in other areas of the state. To eliminate biased selection of winners, judges are selected from across the United States (none from Florida). The judges do not communicate with each other––they don’t know each other. Each judge tabulates his or her findings and emails the results directly to Florida Trophy in Orlando. They then tabulate the findings of the judges and engrave the names of the winners on the plate to be placed on the appropriate trophy. No one connected with Onyx Magazine, LBS Foundation or the committee members knows the winner until it is announced the night of the Onyx Awards. All Onyx Awards nominees are worthy winners of the Ovation (trophy). Unfortunately, there is only one trophy per category. The nominees must not only be achievers in their profession, they must also have used their time and talent unselfishly in giving back to the community that supports them.
November / December 2006
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Categories: There are six competitive categories: Business, Community Service (individual), Political Involvement, Communications, Music/Performing Arts and Sports. There are five non-competitive awards: Community Service (organization), Humanitarian, Cultural Diversity, Distinguished Citizen and Lifetime Achievement.
Boggy Creek has been identified as the ideal camp for these children. Therefore, the objective is to provide transportation for as many children as possible, and also make donations to the camp itself. We believe that children who have these opportunities become more confident and self reliant. As a result, they will be more capable of academic success, thus realizing their potential as productive citizens and a credit to society.
Description of the Onyx Awards: The Onyx Awards is a black tie / red carpet event that includes a special reception for the major sponsors, the nominees and their guests. Before dinner, which is served to all, there is the red carpet walk where nominees and guests are interviewed. The televised show consists of major talent interspersed among the announcement of award winners. The Onyx Awards has proven to be a wonderful venue for successful networking.
How Are the Proceeds from the Onyx Awards Used? Proceeds from the Onyx Awards go to Sickle Cell Disease organizations to help send young sickle cell victims to summer camp. In the past, contributions have also been made to Bethune Cookman College for the Bronze Statue Project and National HBCU. In 2007, we will begin our support of early literacy. To learn more about Sickle Cell Disease, see names of past winners, photographs, or to purchase tables or individual seats for the Onyx Awards, go to either of the following sites: www.onyxmagazine.com www.LBSfoundation.org www.onyxawards.com or call (407) 293-6102 Contributions can also be made online or mailed to LBS Foundation Incorporated at PMB 412, 7226 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32805. Any amount from one cent up to “the sky is the limit� is appreciated.
How Does This Event Impact the State? The ultimate goal of LBS Foundation, a 501(c)(3), is to see that children throughout the state born with sickle cell disease are given the same opportunities as normal children. Being able to participate in summer camp is every child’s dream. It is our desire to make that dream come true. Because of its medical facility and professional counseling staff, Camp
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By DeWayne Jones
As Dr. Jones walks into his brand new office, which is still in its first stages of completion, painters continue painting the walls and cleaning the rooms. On one side of the wall, he notices his Texas Chiropractic College degree and the Alabama State Examiners Board of Chiropractic Examiners certificate. Thinking back over the years, Dr. Jones pauses to recount his blessings. His appreciation for what he has accomplished through all his hard work is worth more than words can express. Dr. David Jones, a former Top Ten student athlete at Maynard Evans High School, shares his journey of “stumbling blocks”––those things that cause us to err or to stray from reality, and “stepping stones”, which are those resources that help us make wise decisions––the inspiration and strength from God’s Word and from those persons in your life who understand your situation. These things give you the courage and endurance to press forward towards your goal in life. For David Jones, it’s maneuvering bones. “Every event that changed my life; whether positive or negative, was a learning experience. Every step had meaning and a purpose; I don’t regret any step I’ve taken,” says Dr. Jones. A native of Orlando, Florida and now residing in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Jones is beginning his chiropractic profession in the McCalla Chiropractic and Wellness Center where he will manage the entire facility. In 2000, Dr. Jones graduated from Florida A&M University and received his bachelor’s degree in pre-med. Upon completion, he enrolled at Life University in Atlanta, Georgia where he studied chiropractics until the school lost its accreditation in 2002. This was a stumbling block for Dr. Jones, but with the advice of professors, parents and many prayers, he pressed forward even though the decision was difficult. Said he, “I had to transfer from Life University, because they had some issues with accreditation. In addition, I had to learn to balance school, working to pay bills, and making time for me so I could relax and get my mind off of everything that was going on in my life at the time.” In December 2004, Dr. Jones received his doctorate from Texas Chiropractic College in Houston. As Dr. David Jones reminisces on the past, he recalls a time in his college career when school was a second priority. “I had a full scholarship at FAMU, but I lost it after the first semester, because I was slacking in my work ethics. I eventually got back on track after hearing from the homefront…I promise you, it wasn’t good news either. That situation helped me to understand that you can’t take anything for granted. It immediately woke me up.” This sit20
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Dr. David Jones uation, as well as others in Dr. Jones’ life was a stumbling block that became a stepping-stone that helped him to move closer to becoming a success. Dr. Jones’ parents, David and Connie Jones, have had the most impact on his life. He stated, “My parents gave me guidance, taught me values, showed me love, and were persistent in encouraging me to go after my dreams.” Dr. Wyatt, one of the clinic doctors at Texas Chiropractic College, was also an inspiring individual. “He was very upbeat, positive and kept me motivated during the down times,” said Dr. Jones. To students currently matriculating in college, and to future doctors, Dr. Jones advises, “Don’t put a lot of blame on the professor when you’re having difficulties with your studies, because it’s a part of the learning process. There are a lot of things in life that one has no control over, so you have to put your faith in God and take care of your business, because nobody else will. Another piece of advice to ensure both personal and business success is to stay true to yourself, don’t try to please others. Continue to have faith in God; trust that you can do anything you set your mind to do.” Dr. Jones is married to Dr. Kendrea Burton Jones, who is a Doctor of Dentistry. The former Dr. Burton is from Montgomery, Alabama and is also a graduate of Florida A&M University where she studied Pre-Medicine. She attended Dentistry School at the University of Alabama and received her DDS in Pediatrics Dentistry. The medical duo plans to expand their clientele and create satellite offices for their practices. Additionally, the couple hopes to develop a network with experienced physicians who are willing to teach them the ropes. Through hard work, learning from his mistakes, and encouragement from people in his life, Dr. Jones is a prime example of one being able to succeed regardless of life’s obstacles. And now, once a high school basketball star whose shot could be compared to a NBA star, David Jones has proven that he can handle business on and off the court. His specialty was the crossover, where he broke a lot of ankles. Now instead of breaking ankles, he’s fixing them. By the way, Dr. David Jones is my brother.
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November / December 2006
Passionate About Health Education Zelma Dickerson Director, Community Affairs
Women and young ladies gathered early Saturday morning, October 28 for the third annual Pink Passion Brunch sponsored by Community Affairs at Shands Jacksonville. Rose Devoe and the Women’s Department of Grace Baptist Church where Reverend John Devoe pastors were hosts. Located on Jacksonville’s eastside, a targeted zip code for high incidence of health disparities, Grace Baptist is one of more than 40 faith-based partners of the Community Affairs Department. Pink Passion Brunch is a premier program of Community Affairs that gains new participants each year. Highlights of this year’s program included the opportunity to win a $300 designer hat donated by KMBE and other prizes such as beauty and spa gifts and designer cakes, hat, purse, and shoes by Judy’s Cakes of Jacksonville. Everyone received something tangible to take home. Terry Lee of Managed Care listened intently and jotted down two pages of notes. When asked about his note taking Terry replied, “I have a wife and daughters at home.”
Zelma Dickerson awarding designer hat to Molly Payne.
University of Florida physician, Dr. Kim Barbel-Johnson, engaged the audience of 60 women and one man with her charismatic, practical teaching style. To no one’s surprise, this group of ladies demonstrated their passion for good health and education by correctly answering 90% of the questions on breast cancer among African American women. Evidents reveal that efforts to educate the community about self-breast exam (SBE), positive reinforcement and repeat educational experiences do impact the learner. Shands Jacksonville Community Affairs Vice President Elizabeth Means and staff are proud of the effective, life-changing community outreach programs in targeted high risk areas. “It’s a good return on our investment,” said Zelma Dickerson, Community Affairs director, “when our customers empower themselves with knowledge to become lay health educators.” African Americans in the US disproportionately bear the burden of cancer. When all cancers are combined, African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group. Clearly the gap between Whites and Blacks remains large according to American Cancer Society reports. Socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and racial bias are other factors that appear to contribute to higher mortality rates in Black women with breast cancer. Source: “Cancer”, published online Oct. 23, 2006, Ivanhoe Newswire. For more information about community outreach, Shands Jacksonville Community Affairs, contact Zelma Dickerson, 904-244-9305.
November / December 2006
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Anything Is Possible: Public Service Commissioner Matthew Mark Carter II sits at his desk in his Tallahassee office. At his back hangs a portrait of his deceased father and namesake, a minister of the gospel, and before him hangs another of Abraham Lincoln, an emancipator of men. The portraits and their position bespeak Carter’s faith in Christ and his faith in the promise of America. In this setting, and just about anywhere else, it is customary to hear Carter proclaim “the American Dream.” “I grew up poor on farms in South Georgia during Jim Crowe, at a time when no one like me had even seen a Black lawyer. Now, I am a lawyer. Now I make decisions that affect how millions, even billions, of dollars are spent. If someone like me can be a lawyer, can work at the highest levels of state government, and can be appointed to public office by the Governor of one of this country’s greatest states, anything is possible. Only in America!” Commissioner Carter’s firm belief and faith in the American Dream is tempered by his frustration that some have been unable to access that dream. And this frustration informs his decisions at the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), a state agency that has economic regulation authority over investor-owned electric companies, gas companies, many water and wastewater companies, and to a limited extent, telephone companies. With regularity, Carter is faced with decisions that directly impact people’s finances, and therefore their lives. 22
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In March 2006, Carter and his fellow commissioners traveled to FP&L’s hurricane battered South Florida territory to hear the people’s thoughts about whether and how much FP&L should be allowed to borrow from the bond market to repair broken infrastructure and to replenish storm recovery reserves. The company asked for approximately $1.7 billion for this purpose, all of which would be paid back by customers over a 12-year period. Ultimately, after hearing the public outcry, and hearing evidence presented by the company and its adversaries, The Commission reduced that amount significantly. The Commission heard customers in four cities testify about hardships after the storms and what effect electricity prices have on their lives. They got an earful. In Broward County particularly, Carter heard from residents impacted by long delays in restoring electricity following Hurricane Wilma. People with special needs – mobility impairments, medical conditions requiring refrigeration for medicine and electricity for oxygen production – and people on fixed incomes who find meeting everyday needs a challenge, let alone during a prolonged disaster recovery period. Carter listened intently as the frustrations of the people poured forth. One witness in particular, Josephine Edwards, who testified on behalf of the community activist group ACORN, passionately
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November / December 2006
Why Commission Carter Believes in the American Dream By Lucia Reid described her difficulties in keeping her electricity on with the rising costs of service. Her emotions were so raw she lashed out at commissioners and company representatives alike charging, “God be against each and every one of you. A bunch of y’all is nothing but a bunch of greedy dogs, and that’s what your life has turned into, greedy dogs. Consider that.” Carter, moved by the impassioned speech, spoke afterward to a much calmer Edwards, assuring her that her comments, and those of all the customers had been heard, and would be considered when making a decision on FP&L’s storm cost recovery petition. “She was a very sweet woman in reality,” Carter said. “She just
“In a country where a boy who used rope to hold up his pants can grow up to live the life that I’ve lived, and can have the chance to give back to others, to teach them what I’ve learned, anything is possible.”
wanted to know that we were listening, and that we were going to seriously consider her situation when we made our decision.” He did. When the PSC issued its order on May 30, 2006, the Commission had reduced FP&L’s request by $600 million, primarily from the company’s requested storm reserve funds. Said Carter, “At least from my perspective, I couldn’t see making the people give the company what amounted to a $450 million no-interestloan, particularly to replenish a fund that may or may not be needed in the immediate future.” Fortunately, Carter and his colleagues have been proven correct in this decision, as mother nature has shown mercy on Florida’s storm-weary population through the 2006 Hurricane Season. Carter pointed out that the same mechanism that awarded storm recovery dollars to the utility in 2004 and 2005 would be available in the future if reserves proved inadequate. Some observers contend that the Commission’s decision in the FP&L storm cost recovery case was a departure from the norm for a body that had been perceived prior to Carter’s appointment as too friendly toward regulated companies. Shortly after the Commission issued its order in the FP&L case, Public Counsel Harold McLean, the people’s representative before the PSC, said, Continued on page 26
A Ride to Fame:
An Inspirational Story of a Young African-American Equestrian on Her Journey to the Olympic Games. Shayla Wilson is an unusual woman engaged in a traditional yet unusual sport. She is an equestrian athlete with her mind focused on making it to the Olympics in 2012. The Orlando born recently enrolled in Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia in pursuit of this, her ultimate dream. The equestrian sport has over 2,000 years of development in its history, and is a billion-dollar industry that continues to grow in popularity. Shayla specializes in the stadium jumping and dressage disciplines. Few women make it to the top of this game, but Shayla is determined to be one of the few. A woman with her skill-set, talent and potential is difficult to find.
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Said Shayla. “Judges, coaches and employers agree that I am a strong contender with Olympic potential.” African American women are generally not the image that comes to mind when equestrian Olympic athletes are mentioned. This is a sport that is dominated by wealthy middle-aged men. The cost of competing at a high level is great. Shayla is not wealthy, at least not yet, but as an African American woman, her dedication to this sport has allowed her to win major classes at nationally recognized horse shows. For example, Horse Show in the Sun (HITS) at Ocala is a major seven-week nationally qualifying show, and even as an amateur competing against seasoned professionals,
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she has won classes and been awarded two reserve champions for timed divisions. Competitively, Shayla is a force to be reckoned with, even though she competes on borrowed horses while other riders have had the opportunity to train and compete on their own horses for years. Says she, “I muck stalls, lead trail rides, exercise horses, groom, and perform other duties to be able to compete. Given my growth and development, drive and winning show record, I am ready to go to the next level.” As a stepping-stone, Shayla is attending Virginia Intermont College on a $3,000/year academic scholarship and a $1,500/year top award athletic scholarship. Virginia InterNovember / December 2006
mont College is the top equine university in the nation, and Shayla is the first African American to ride on their equestrian team. “I decided to attend this school to receive the training, education and grooming necessary to become a professional in the horse industry and ultimately an Olympic equestrian athlete. Additionally, I have two international and Olympic caliber trainers who are eager to prepare me for the 2012 Olympics once I graduate from college in two years,” said Shayla. Shayla is likely to graduate with honors. She is more than an equestrian, having just received her midterm report, she shares with excitement that she is also an “A” student. If the equestrian sport has traditionally been for the wealthy, why has Shayla been able to excel in such an expensive sport, you might ask. Says she, “In the beginning, my parents were able to pay for lessons. They even made sacrifices that enabled me to have my own horse until I reached the 11th grade. At that point, I was able to work for experience. I have worked at Drifton Farms in Monticello, 3H Equestrian Center in Ocala, and Full Partners Farm in Gainesville as a stable hand, show groom, assistant manager, breeding operator, and exercise rider to trade for lessons and valuable experience. I have even held a silent auction and a horse show to raise funds.” Shayla is still in need of funds. She is currently accepting pledges from individuals and seeking sponsors to cover the cost of riding-related supplies, horse care, localrated and international competition expenses, clinics and training, and tuition so that she may focus her energy on practice and graduation. Donors will receive quarterly newsletters and updates summarizing her accomplishments on her web site, which is (www.myspace.com/packpony). Since her arrival at Virginia Intermont College in late August of 2006, Shayla has enrolled in the highest level training program available and has earned a key spot on the Dressage team that is sanctioned by the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA). “My spot on this team will enable me to send my resume to the International University Equestrian Federation (AIEC) in hopes of getting selected to compete in international horse shows. The AIEC horse shows are exciting events that are held in different countries all over the world. This year, there will be competitions in Germany, Sweden, and Belgium. These shows have both a stadium phase with jumps set at 4 feet 6 inches high where judges score the riders on style and speed, and a dressage phase consisting of a 2nd level drill test based on the harmony of horse and rider while demonstrating difficult movements. In other words, these shows are the highest level of competition that exist for collegiate riders. Only four to eight athletes in the country get selected for these events to represent the United States. “I intend to be one of the four,” said Shayla.
Few women make it to the top of this game, but Shayla is determined to be one of the few.
budget and the company’s balance sheet.” Carter may be uniquely qualified to strike that balance. In addition to practicing law, he also has a background in fihaving Commissioner Carter is nance, also a minister worked as a financial consultant “As a whole I think they gave consumers for the firms Waddell & Reed, Florida Provery fair consideration. And I think that fessional Services Group, and Merrill consideration was long overdue.” Lynch. He has witnessed the impact that Carter welcomes a change in public per- government regulation and intervention can ception towards the Commission “because,” have on large business organizations as a he said, “it is an important part of the con- Deputy Secretary of Florida’s Department tract I made with the Governor and Legisla- of Management Services, and as a staff polture when I was seeking appointment.” icy expert with the Florida House of RepreCarter said that he promised legislators and sentatives. While these experiences the Governor in pre-appointment interviews contribute to Carter’s ability to account for that he would not take any actions that “the company’s balance sheet,” another set would raise even the appearance of impro- of experiences qualify him to identify with priety. In fact, according to Carter, one Sen- everyday people and therefore account for ator asked him to promise that he would not the “customer’s budget” when making regso much as take a cup of coffee from a reg- ulatory decisions. ulated company. His reply to the Senator: “With $128,000-a-year [the statutory salary Lawyer Carter is also Reverend Carter, of a PSC commissioner], Senator, I can buy pastor of Beulah Hill Missionary Baptist my own cup of Coffee.” Carter said he also Church in Gretna, Florida, president of the promised the governor that he would “fol- Congress of Christian Education (Union low an ethical code beyond what is required Baptist Association), and vice-moderator of in Florida law, one that should be a model the Gadsden County Baptist Association. for the nation.” Carter has a master’s degree in theological science, and is currently working on a DocBut Carter is quick to point out that de- tor of Divinity degree. It is not lost on Pascisions like the FP&L storm cost recovery tor Carter that, according to Census decision shouldn’t be regarded as a sign that estimates, his flock is situated squarely in the Commission is anti-business. “At all one of the poorest census tracts in Florida. times in that case, I kept the consumer in In fact, a principal aspect of his ministry is mind. I thought about people like Josephine providing education about personal finances Edwards, and people like my Aunt Geneva “from a Biblical perspective.” The author in Pompano Beach, who are on fixed in- of a book titled, The 90% Rule: How to Get comes, but ultimately, the decision was Out of Debt and Prosper and Why It’s Imbased on the facts of the case. It’s important portant, Carter shares his financial knowlfor people to understand that the Commis- edge, as well as his own past financial sion must also consider the financial health struggles, in his books and workshops that of the businesses it regulates. A company teach a Bible-based formula of budgeting, in poor financial health pays a premium to tithing, and saving. borrow money. Utilities are capital intensive businesses. They need lots of money In his ministry, Carter sees the direct to build, maintain, and repair infrastructure. and immediate impact that changes in elecIf that money is costly to borrow, the in- tric, water and telephone rates have on the creased costs of borrowing are passed on to budgets of those most in need. This awarethe customer. So, that’s the context we’re ness has led Carter to champion a pair of dealing with, and we’re always trying to struggling programs at the PSC called Lifestrike a balance between the customer’s line and Link-Up Florida. These programs 26
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provide need-based assistance to help pay for the cost of initial hook-up of local telephone service and to provide an ongoing subsidy for the monthly cost of that service. To date, regulators have been disappointed by the level of participation by eligible residents. “Both government and industry have worked to promote the Lifeline and LinkUp programs, but for whatever reason, they [qualified customers] just aren’t signing up,” Carter said. However, since Carter and his colleagues also new to the Commission have arrived, the agency is trying new approaches to improve enrollment. “We’re taking more care to partner with the kinds of organizations that relate to the people. Not government agencies, but churches and other community groups that play a more vital role in the lives of everyday people,” Carter said. According to the Commissioner, the agency has started using an automated application for the first time, and hopes are that this process will further boost enrollment. Lifeline/Link-up participation rates have remained below 20 percent of eligible households. Participation reached its peak at 18 percent in 2003 and has declined annually since then. “This is a valuable service that helps those with the least among us,” said Carter. “There’s no good reason we can’t get better participation.” Carter’s interests at the PSC are broadbased. At the National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC), an association of national, state, and local utility regulators, Carter currently serves on the Committee on Water and the Ad Hoc Committee on Critical Infrastructure. According to Carter, these platforms allow him to give Florida a voice in regulatory policy discussions about issues increasingly vital to the state – water and public safety. “Florida is facing a looming water crisis,” said Carter. “Most people don’t give water a second thought. They turn on the tap, and it comes out. Whether a person uses a little or a lot, in most cases it doesn’t have a significant impact on the monthly budget, because water service is generally the least expensive utility service a household receives. Water is cheap. The infrastructure needed to deliver it is expensive, but water is cheap.” Carter said that in the future that may not be the case. “As the November / December 2006
population continues to grow and congregates in places where drinking water is more scarce, like the coasts, utilities will need to find alternative sources for water,” he said. According to Carter, that means more costly methods of treating and storing water, and those are costs that get passed on to the consumer. “These impacts can be delayed and lessened if we all do our part and conserve water to the extent possible,” he said. Carter helped to deliver this message to NARUC Commissioners in San Francisco this past Summer when he introduced a children’s theatrical production created by the Florida PSC staff designed to teach school children about the importance of water conservation. Carter said the PSC is currently working on getting this production into Florida schools, and he hopes to be able to expand the production into a larger water conservation awareness program for kids. Water issues are so vital to the state, according to Carter, that he hopes to have the opportunity to participate in renewed discussions about a stronger statewide water policy that better defines and coordinates the roles of the various state agencies regulating water use, and provides a serious solution to impending water supply problems. “More costly water will cascade through the Florida economy, as families have less money budgeted for discretionary spending and for other necessities, and as businesses pass on their costs,” said Carter. “Over the last year there has been a public outcry about electricity costs due to the price of generating fuels. What isn’t talked about very much is the enormous amount of water consumed by power generators to make electricity. Fortunately, that water is cheap right now. Will that always be the case? I’d definitely like to see the PSC have more active role in helping keep the consumption rate and the price of water as low as possible. We can do without electricity – I know because I grew up without it – but we can’t do without water. It is essential for all life.”
mize investment in infrastructure to provide for safety and security while also improving everyday reliability. Carter believes that Florida’s experience with hurricane reconstruction and infrastructure hardening will be an important part of that discussion. “We’ve accomplished a lot in Florida since the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes,” said Carter, who points to recent actions of the Commission in requiring investor owned electric and telecommunications utilities to undergo more rigorous pole inspections and initiated rule-making dockets to examine physical hardening measures for the electric grid, including building to higher wind loading standards and exploring when and where undergrounding is appropriate. “Storm hardening is not just a reliability issue to the Commission,” said Carter. “Sure, we want to be able to avoid power outages during storms, and we want to be able to restore power more quickly when we can’t avoid outages, but more importantly in my mind, we want to make sure people’s lives are not at risk.” Carter said that despite jurisdictional questions, the safety issue is what led he and his colleagues at the PSC to ask for the voluntary compliance of rural electric cooper-
atives and municipal utilities with pole inspection regimes. “A pole is a pole is pole,” said Carter. “If a pole falls on a man he will be just as dead if that pole is owned by FP&L or by the city of Jacksonville. It doesn’t matter if a person lives in a city or in the country. It doesn’t matter if they live behind gates or if they live in an old neighborhood. It doesn’t matter if they live at the beach or in the hills. Everybody deserves the same level of safety.” Carter’s view that every person deserves the same level of safety from electric utilities is an extension of the egalitarianism displayed throughout all aspects of his public life. Whether he is working to ensure that Florida’s utility companies embrace ethnic and racial diversity, or he is running church programs in Gadsden County, Florida, to help needy school children improve their academic performance, his ultimate concern is helping others access the “American Dream.” “In a country where a boy who used rope to hold up his pants can grow up to live the life that I’ve lived, and can have the chance to give back to others, to teach them what I’ve learned, anything is possible,” said Carter. “Only in America!”
Carter’s also is a member of NARUC’s Ad Hoc Committee on Critical Infrastructure, a position he hopes will enable him to talk about some of the work the PSC and Florida’s electric and telecommunications industries have done to make Florida a safer place. In November, Carter will moderate a panel discussion at the NARUC Annual Meeting in Miami regarding ways to optiNovember / December 2006
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Keeping It Real Biopics: Blurring the Line between Fact and Fiction Diva Soul Sista
By Karyn L. Beach
It was Alfred Hitchcock who said, “Movies are like real life with the boring parts taken out.” This statement rings particularly true when it comes to film biographies otherwise know as biopics. Lately, the road to Oscar, or at least a nomination, is paved with portrayals of real people. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles; Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, and Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter; Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina (Hotel Rwanda); Will Smith as Muhammad Ali. Most recently, there is Oscar buzz surrounding Forest Whitaker for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. While all of these men have stories deserving of a movie, a funny thing happens on the way to the multiplex. In an effort to streamline and simplify the plot, real life often undergoes some radical changes as it’s transformed into celluloid. A group of friends or co-workers are fused into one perWill Smith son; people that never existed are created to further the plot; entire years are lost, people erased and facts changed to ‘heighten the drama.’ It’s understandable from an artistic perspective, but it should serve as a warning for moviegoers: things are not as they appear on screen. Producers have even come up with a phrase for it: ‘inspired by’ true events. The life of John Nash, the real life schizophrenic scientist who overcame his debilitating mental illness to win the Nobel Prize ‘inspired’ the Academy-Award winning A Beautiful Mind. Although the characters carried the names of the real John Nash and his family, the fact that it was merely ‘inspired by’ his life allowed producers to ignore his bisexuality, his sometimes extreme cruelty towards loved ones, and his Anti-Semitism. The movie also conveniently omitted the mother of his first child who had to sue him for child support. Denzel Washington was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, a boxer who was wrongly imprisoned for murder. It is clearly a compelling story, but it’s still the victim of artistic license. There are a number of factual inaccuracies in the film (as well as the book it was based on). Most notably, the sinister detective portrayed in the film as framing Carter and being his nemesis since his childhood never existed. Also, when Carter was released in 1985, it was because of procedural errors and not because he was falsely convicted. After I reviewed Ray, I received an interesting e-mail from the Augusta Chronicle. The purpose of the e-mail was to set me straight on a couple of facts about the real Ray Charles and his relationship with the state of Georgia. When the movie was re28
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leased, the Chronicle did an investigation on the facts presented in the film. They found that Ray Charles was never officially banned from Georgia. An article in the Chronicle purports to tell what really happened. "I cannot find any indication that he was banned," said Joanne Smalley, a reference archivist with the Georgia Archives who said she checked governor's files and Georgia laws for the time after the Augusta incident. "The only thing that shows up is in 1979 when he performed Georgia on My Mind before the State Legislature." Jamie Foxx Like Ray and Jamie Foxx several years ago, people are predicting an Oscar nomination for Forest Whitaker for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. The film ‘inspired by’ Amin’s reign, is told from the perspective of a fictional white Scottish doctor who comes to the African nation in search of adventure. Told through his eyes, the extreme brutality that Amin inDenzel Washington (photo courtesy of Ouida) flicted on between 300,000 and 500,000 of his own countrymen is only shown in the film’s final act. The bottom line is that biopics are not history lessons. Enjoy them as entertainment, see them for the fictionalized story or the performances, but don’t come away feeling as if what you have seen is ‘the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’ It isn’t. The good thing about biopics is that they bring the real story to the forefront of the public consciousness. Often, when a biopic is released, cable stations like A&E, Discovery, The History Channel and even network programs like Dateline and 60 Minutes will often feature segments highlighting the more factual and accurate ‘true stories’ of the movies in question. Ironically, those fact based accounts are often more dramatic than the movies inspired by them. When it comes to the biopic, Hitchcock got it half right. He should have said, “Movies are like real life with the boring parts taken out and the rest revised, reorganized and reimagined.”
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November / December 2006
Southern Area of The Links, Inc. Makes Impressive Progress Toward Endowing HBCUs Johnson led a group of women to a victorious feat, a giant step toward the goal she had set for her region to raise a half million dollars to endow Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBUCs) in the southern area of the United States. Says Mrs. Johnson, “We’ve already funded six colleges; three have been partially funded.” It is her goal to endow each of the colleges / universities with $10,000 to $20,000 each. Dr. Dorothy C. Yancy, Margaret Johnson, As The Links moved into the Nancy Wilson, Dr. Gwendolyn Lee, National PresWestin Hotel across the street from the ident; Dr. Gladys Vaughn, Immediate Past President Charlotte Convention Center, they were and Margot J. Copeland, Vice President concerned as to whether or not they Margaret Thompson-Johnson realwould meet their goal. Whether or not ized a dream come to fruition in CharMargaret Johnson felt the same was lotte, NC September 24th. You see, hard to discern; just like a good leader, somebody said “it couldn’t be done…“ only the strong side of her was visible to but in the words of Edgar Guest, “Withher Link Sisters. out any doubting or quiddit, she started Johnson, with the help of the Charto sing as she tackled the thing that lotte Chapter, had arranged a fabulous couldn't be done, and she did it.” weekend. On Saturday afternoon, The Links shopped for jewelry. As they enJust six months away from the end joyed tasty hors ’d’oeuvres, provided by of her tenure as Southern Area Director their host, the owner of the upscale jewof The Links, Incorporated, Margaret elry store, many succumbed to the temptation of the magnificent display of diamonds, but of course, that was the plan.
President of the Charlotte Chapter of The Links, Rev. Dr. Clifford A. Jones, Sr., Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, Link Margaret Johnson, Director of Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated 30
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and recently renovated building where the president’s office suite is housed. With the administrative building being perched atop one of the most elevated locations in the area, President Yancy conceivably has a better view of Charlotte than anyone in the entire city. Sunday afternoon, a telethon was held at the site where the classy Nancy Wilson was to perform later in the evening. Approximately 3,000 quests were in attendance. The combined events netted over a quarter of a million dollars. It was the culmination of a wonderful weekend for a wonderful and worthy cause.
The next morning, The Links worDr. Dorothy C. Yancy, shiped together at the Friendship Baptist President, Johnson C. Smith University Church, a new sanctuary, a grand structure. Following the church service, the group enjoyed lunch at Johnson C. Smith University where the college president, Dr. Yancy (also a Link), updated the women regarding the improvements on campus. The bonus of being there was a guided tour of the new library TELETHON: Link Margaret Johnson w/members of the Charlotte Chapter of The Links.
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November / December 2006
Soul food – Reinvented for Today’s Family By Roniece Weaver Soul food is a style of cooking that originated during American slavery. It is a common term used for an ethnic cuisine: the food traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans. Many of the various dishes and ingredients included in “ soul food” are regional meals and comprise a part of Southern cooking. African slaves were given only the leftover and undesirable cuts of meat from their masters (whereas the white slave owners got the meatiest cuts of ham, roast, etc) Soul food is known for its robust flavor and delightful taste, and even though it arose from slavery, soul food is popular with most Southerners, both Black and White. Over the years, it has become apparent to us that there is a need to evaluate the nutritional content of soul food and to find exciting ways to improve its nutritional value while maintaining culture and tradition. We have found that it can be done. Many of the vegetables consumed in soul food are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. African Americans traditionally “made more” with vegetables, than “made do” with select soul food choices. Today, it is just as simple to take generations of recipes and create heart healthy substitutions using simple ingredients, all the while maintaining our valuable soul food traditions.
Cooking Soul Food the New Soul Food Way One can easily make regional and family favorites healthy with just a few substitutions and changes. This is what we like to call the “New Soul Food Way”. The following is a list of dishes or ingredients commonly found in soul food and how to make your meals healthier. BISCUITS - Old: (a shortbread similar to scones, commonly served with butter, jam, jelly, sorghum or cane syrup, or gravy, and used to wipe up or “sop” liquids from a dish) Generally an oversize serving can be equal to two or three slices of bread. New: Cut that portion in half and/or use sugar free jams and jellies. Reduce the amount of fat used in baking them. Black eye peas - Old: (cooked separately or with rice, as in dishes such as Hoppin’John). New: Prepare with low-sodium bouillon, olive oil, smoked turkey necks and other spices instead of bacon fat drippings. Butter beans - and other dried, frozen or canned beans (eg immature lima beans) Old: usually cooked in butter) New: Prepare without meat or use low sodium bouillon or smoked low-sodium bouillon, olive oil, smoked turkey necks and other spices instead of bacon fat drippings. Catfish - Old: Dredged in cornmeal and fried. New: Panfry, grill, or smoke catfish instead of frying. Chicken - Old: often fried with cornmeal breading or seasoned flour. New: Oven fry(ie. bake) chicken at high temperature to achieve the same crispy texture. Chitterlings (Chitlins) – Old: the cleaned and prepared intestines of hogs, slow-cooked, and often eaten with vinegar and hot sauce; sometimes parboiled and then battered and fried. New: Make this special dish for holidays only, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Keep serving sizes at less than three ounces. Chow-chow - Old: This is a spicy, homemade pickle relish made with okra, corn , cabbage, green tomatoes, and other vegetables; commonly used to top black-eye peas, as a condiment or as a side dish. New: This food is already pretty healthy. You don’t need to change it. Collard greens or Turnip Greens - Old: (usually cooked with ham hocks and often combined with other greens) New: Prepare without meat or use low sodium bouillon or smoked turkey necks for flavoring. Use other herbs and flavorings that complement your recipes instead of fat. Cornbread - Old: (shortbread that is often baked in an iron skillet, sometimes seasoned with bacon fat) and chicken fried steak ( beef or chicken deep fried in flour or batter, usually served with gravy) New: Prepare your cornbread with light (1%) sour cream or nonfat milk. Cracklins - Old: ( commonly known as pork rinds and sometimes added to cornbread batter) New: Avoid adding this to your foods; cracklins are high in fat and don’t add much value to what you’re eating. Desserts - Old: Cakes pies, cookies etc. New: Use egg substitutes, low fat margarine and sugar substitutes such as Splenda baking for your sweet treats Fatback - Old: (fatty, cured, salted pork used to season meats and vegetables) New: Prepare without meat or use low sodium bouillon or smoked turkey necks for flavoring. Use other herbs and flavorings that will complement these recipes instead of fat. Fried fish - Old: (any of several varieties of fish, such as whiting, catfish,
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porgies, bluegill; usually dredged in seasoned cornmeal and deep fried) New: Bake , broil, poach grill or panfry these tasty fish. Fried ice cream - (ice cream that is deep frozen, coated with cookies and fried) New: Have sorbet or sugar-free ice cream for dessert, in one cup servings. Grits and cheese grits - Often served with fish. New: Prepare with water or nonfat milk instead of with whole milk. For cheese grits , used reduced fat cheeses. Ham hocks - (smoked and used to flavor vegetables and legumes/beans) Hog maws - (or Hog Jowls, sliced and usually cooked with chitlins and beans) New: Prepare without meat or use low sodium bouillon or smoked turkey necks for flavoring. Use other herbs and flavorings that complement your recipes instead of fat. Hot sauce - Old: ( a condiment made from cayenne peppers, vinegar, salt, garlic, and other spices, but not the same as Tabasco sauce, which has heat but little flavor; often used on chitlins, fried chicken and fish New: You can use this as you like. It’s a great healthy substitute for fatbased flavorings. Macaroni and cheese – Old: a family favorite comfort food. New: Use egg substitute, nonfat milk and reduced- fat cheeses. Mashed potatoes - Old: (Usually made with butter and evaporated milk) New: Prepare with reduced fat margarine and non fat milk Meatloaf and meatballs - Old: Typically served with brown gravy. New: Use lean ground beef or ground turkey breast to make these family favorites Neck bones - Old: Beef neck bones or pork neck bones – seasoned and slow cooked) and Okra (an African vegetable usually fried in cornmeal or stewed with tomatoes, corn, onions and hot peppers) New: Prepare without meat or use low sodium bouillon or smoked turkey necks for flavoring. Use other herbs and flavorings that will complement these recipes instead of fat. Pig feet - Old: Slow cooked, like chitlins, sometimes pickled and often eaten with vinegar and hot sauce. New: Prepare without meat or use low sodium bouillon or smoked turkey necks for flavoring. Use other herbs and flavorings that will complement these recipes instead of fat. Ribs - Usually pork, but sometimes beef ribs. New: Grill pork tenderloin instead of ribs to decrease your fat intake. Rice - Old: Usually served with dried beans. New: Use brown or wild rice instead of white rice. This will increase your fiber intake. Succotash - Old: Originally a Native American dish of yellow corn and butter beans, usually cooked in butter. New: Prepare without meat or use low sodium bouillon or smoked turkey necks for flavoring. Use other herbs and flavorings that will complement these recipes instead of fat. Sweet potatoes and yams Candied or baked. New: Use Spenda or a sugar substitute for sweetening and cooking.
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by Cathy Howse
GIMMEAHEADWITHHAIR
Hair Tips
Is it true that wool and other winter fabrics damage our hair or cause split ends? Hair breaks and damage are the results of improper hair care. If your hair is in good condition, you don't need to worry about anything wool. It is a myth that wool is a problem for our hair. I just want to know if it is okay for me to use shampoo designed for White people's hair, example: L'Oreal, Herbal Essence etc. Are these shampoos okay for Black women to use, or having been designed for White people’s hair, will it damage mine? There are so many different types of shampoos out there, I’m not sure which is best to use. There are a lot of good shampoos on the market, and contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to use all the same products in a product line as we are made to believe. That is just another marketing ploy to get you to purchase products all in the same product line. Shampoo should not be looked at as for Black or White hair. They should be chosen by the specification on the label. Shampoo is generally specified for oily, normal, or dry hair. Shampoo for dry hair, which most African Americans have, is what we should always choose. For years, I recommended Herbal Essences by Clairol for dry damaged hair, color treated and chemically treated. After receiving many complaints about itchy scalp, and learning that one of the main ingredients in just about all shampoo, sodium laureth, is a known irritant, I now recommend a health food brand called Aubrey Organics that does not contain that ingredient. How do I tell what my hair type is? Is there a certain test that you do to get this information? Go online and type in the search box Andre Walkers Hair Types. It is reprinted all over the web. I'm considering a texturizer for my daughter; it seems lower maintenance and more natural looking. She has a relaxer in her hair now that is slowly growing out, but could be tightened up with just a touch-up. Putting a texturizer in your daughter’s hair now would be a terrible mistake. Texturizers and relaxers don't mix! You could end up making the child bald! Texturizers are NOT low maintenance. They require the same amount of care as the relaxer! She should either cut the relaxer off, or let it grow out. Texturizers require the same amount of care as the relaxer! A texturizer is a chemical just like a relaxer; not only is it harsh, it is equally as caustic as a relaxer!
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November / December 2006
Blue–– the Black Fish, Part VIII
By Steven King
19 Nov. For the past three days, we have been going to the rifle range. We are learning to shoot the M16 rifle and the pistol. Today, we had the qualification for expert. I didn’t do very well with the M16, but I got expert with the pistol. Only a few more days left in first phase. I’m asking God to help me along the way in second phase. 20 Nov. Today, we had lifesaving at the pool. It was all right but the water was cold. We had a pretty tough run this morning in the soft sand. I heard one of our instructors was telling people all up and down the coast about me and the other Black guy in my class. That makes me feel kind of proud. This whole training is basically mental. I just turned 20 and got a birthday card from my mother today. It’s nice to know that someone is thinking about you. 26 Nov. Today was our last day of first phase. No more getting up at 4:00 in the morning. I did my best time in the four miles today, 26:18 and my best time on the obstacle course, 12:15. I’m the slowest in the class on the obstacle course. I’m really glad to be leaving first phase, but I’m sure second phase is a lot harder. I passed my first phase test with a 79%. I thank God I made it through first phase. 28 Nov. Today was our first day of second phase and I think it’s going to be hell. We spray painted our helmets from green to red to show we were in phase two. The instructor can run like a wild horse. We are going to learn a lot of stuff. I am having a little problem learning the stuff that they are teaching us. We had classes on nautical charts–– beach terminology and surf reports. 1 Dec. I fell back on the run today. I did terrible. We are learning how to make maps and I am not getting this stuff they are teaching us.
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3 Dec. I fell back on another run today. I don’t know why I couldn’t keep up. I have a bad pain in my hipbone I hope it is nothing serious. This second phase is so demanding. We are going to be in the water a lot starting tomorrow. We’ve been having homework every night and I am not getting this material. I’m asking God to help me along. A brother from SEAL team one was killed last night jumping out of a plane. Heavenly father please help me get the material they are giving out. 7 Dec. Tomorrow we start Water Week. 8-14 Dec. Last week was water week. We did a lot of reconnaissance in the ocean and the bay. We had two tests last week. I got 82 on one and 76 on the other. We start learning demolition tomorrow. It’s going to be tough, but I’m going to give it my best shot. I’m asking God to help me through. 16 Dec. Today really wasn’t my day. I got wet during the obstacle course. The instructor took us down to the bay and made us do all kinds of races. We had to do sugar cookies. A sugar cookie is when you get wet and then roll around until you are covered in sand. Tomorrow we have a TNT test. We have one black instructor and he is making me take salt tablets to help with muscle cramps. I think he is really concerned so I have to do my best to let him know I appreciate it. I am going home for Christmas break. When we get back, we have to spend a week at San Clemente Island. Blue went back home for his two weeks of vacation. Its 1976 now, and Blue rang in the New Year with friends and family in Stuart, Florida. When Blue returned to BUDS training, his class went to San Clemente Island for a week. It was just like hell week in a way. They got up early in the morning and did PT. San Clemente Island had a sparse camp
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with tin buildings. The terrain was rocky and full of hills. Before the trainees could enter the mess hall to eat they had to perform a series of pull-ups and bar dips. There were two long distance swims. Blue did not complete the first three and a half mile swim. The water was cold and his body cramped up. He did complete the five and a half mile swim, although he can’t remember how he made it back to the barracks after the swim. He somehow survived the grueling physical test. Blue’s class conducted a lot of explosives training on the island and Blue passed his final demolition test. One of the recruit officers did not pass the final demo test and was dropped from BUDS by the SEAL Instructors. Due to demanding classroom work consuming his days, Blue’s journal entries are less frequent. 20 Jan. Today was a pretty easy day. I got my best time on the obstacle course 11:13. We spent the rest of the day in the classroom getting lectures on SEAL ambush techniques, assault tactics and insertion/extraction methods. 22 Jan. Today, we had a 4 mile timed run. Everyone was slow. We ran down to the North Island. I got a 29:36 on the run. We did insertion and extraction by boat today. It was kind of cool playing the real SEAL. We also did patrolling out on the beach tonight. We fill out our dream sheets tomorrow. I am picking SEAL Team 2 or UDT 21, because those are the only east coast teams. Class #85 will be graduating tomorrow. My class is now the senior training class at the compound. We have nine more weeks to go! ONYX Magazine continues the follow Blue in our next issue. Visit www.onyxmagazine.com for more information on Blue the Black Fish. November / December 2006
Lifeline Assistance and Link-Up Florida Lifeline Assistance that and Link-Up are programs that assist are programs assist Florida low-income consumers low-income consumers with telephone connection fees and with telephone connection fees and monthly telemonthly telephone bills.
phone bills.
• Lifeline provides at least $13.50 credit on qualified residential local monthly phone bills ($162 annually) • Lifeline provides at least $13.50 credit on qualified • Link–Up provides a 50% reduction in telephone service hook-up residential monthly phone bills ($162 annually) charge, up to local a maximum of $30
• Link–Up provides a 50% reduction in telephone You couldhook-up be eligible charge, for savingsup on to your telephone bill if service a monthly maximum of $30 You could be eligible for savings on your monthly telephone bill if...
TELEPHONE SAVINGS PROGRAM you participate in any of the following programs: • Medicaid – Department of Children & Families (DCF) • Food Stamps – DCF • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) – DCF • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Social Security Administration • Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8) – HUD • Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) – DCA • National School Free Lunch Program – Department of Education*(DOE) • Income at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Level – Office Public Counsel* (OPC)
Only offered by BellSouth, Embarq & Verizon Florida residents who receive federal assistance may qualify for Lifeline and Link-Up. Customers are now able to self enroll and choose the participating telecommunications company from which they receive service by using the automated on-line Lifeline application form on the Florida Public Service Commission website: www.psc.state.fl.us. Additionally, if your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, but you do not participate in any of the programs listed above, you may be able to qualify by contacting the Office Public counsel at 1-800-540-7039. “Link-Up Florida and Lifeline are two programs all qualified Floridians should take advantage of. There are no catches or strings attached. The programs are here to help economically disadvantaged citizens save money and maintain consistent telephone service. Link-Up and Lifeline are here to ensure all Floridians are full players in the information age that is upon our state and our nation” Chanel White, Lifeline Coordinator for the Florida Office of Public Counsel.
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Betty Ray
Comelious C. Williams, Sr.
Deborah Bell
Dorothy Brewster
Fred Andrews
Janice Williams
Lee Ester Nelson
Lillian Bray
Lillian Smith
Martha P. Cummings
Mary Johnson
Thelma Howard
Tommy Downer
Willie Corbitt
Claude Simmons, Jr.
Melvin Bodison Left: Sandra Thompson, Co-Chairperson Right: Delaney F. Williams, Chairperson
Seniors (Ages 50-89) Compete for “Mr. & Ms. West Union” Title
Florida Scope
Photos compliments of Greg Miller, Photographer To satisfy the need for a van equipped to accommodate their handicapped, the West Union Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville embarked on a mission to sponsor a fundraiser to help them acquire such a vehicle. Under the leadership of Pastor Leroy C. Kelly and a little creativity, the Christian Education Ministry chaired by Delaney F. Williams and co-chaired by Lee Ester Nelson envisioned a unique project that could solve the problem: a “senior’s pageant”. The persons pictured above will compete by raising funds to purchase the much needed van. The man and the woman who raise the most money will be crowned king and queen and will wear the title, “Mr. & Ms. West Union”. Members of the ministry are excited about the idea and are working hard to bring it to fruition. Members of the committee include Pastor Leroy C. Kelly, Isabella Kelly, mother of the pastor; Martha Cummings, Sunday School superintendent; Rebecca Hobbs, Chair of the Trustee Ministry; Dorothy Brewster, Chair of the Deaconess Ministry; Shirley Porter, Youth Director Ministry; Janie Everett; Sandra Thompson, secretary; Frances Lynch; Gwen Simmons; Lillian Smith and Annie Washington. The event is scheduled to take place at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, December 10th at the West Union Missionary Baptist Church located at 1605 W. Beaver Street in Jacksonville, FL. The guest Mistress of Ceremony is the Pastor and co-founder of Joshua Faith Christian Center, Pastor Gloria Pickney. Vocal performer is recording artist, Henrietta Telfair and the Youth Praise Spiritual Dancers of Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, Jacksonville. Cristin Wilson, former news reporter, will be the fashion commentator. 36
Onyx Magazine
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November / December 2006
From the newest member of the staff: “My name is Lee Felicia Williams, and I am so excited to be your resident make-up artist. I look forward to your questions and comments concerning all your cosmetic interests. “I began my love affair with make-up years ago. I have always been very inquisitive about different make-up trends. As a life coach, I am first concerned that women understand that beauty is so much deeper than the misconstrued media images. I look forward to educating you and empowering you through the cosmetic medium.”
While serving as the lead make-up artist for The Prototype Fashion show in Tallahassee, Florida on November 3, 2006, I realized that holiday looks are definitely in the forecast. The consistent request from the models was vibrant colors. The holiday season is here and lots of you will be attending work parties or other festivities that will require you to look your best. Don’t just get pretty from the neck down! Include that pretty face too, darling! Start by incorporating more water and moisturizer in your beauty regimen. Drinking more water will nourish your skin from within and with the cooler temperatures more moisturizer will be required to keep the ash at bay. I recommend vitamin enriched face base by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. A great cleanser to consider is noncomodogenic Cetaphil. Next play up your eyes by using a great eye shadow base to really make those eyelids pop. Think of colors that you are comfortable in and that will enhance your clothing color scheme and your personality. Some of my favorites are sushi flower, embark, stomp and expensive pink (M.A.C. cosmetics). A few basics to keep in mind are arched brows and lengthening mascara. Lee Felicia Williams is the founder of The Renaissance Experience, which specializes in life coaching, mentoring, and empowering women. She is also a radio personality, speaker, and Christian abstinence advocate. Lee discovered her love for makeup as a hobby, but has since added the trade to her professional lifestyle. She is based out of Tallahassee, Florida. November / December 2006
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CFBNA Responding to Health Needs in Central Florida Catherine Connor, breast cancer survivor, dancer and dynamic speaker With a rich agenda of health topics that included different types of cancers, HIV/AIDS, and other health disparities, the 34th National Black Nurses Annual Institute and Conference recently held in Hollywood, Florida yielded enriching experiences for the Central Florida Black Nurses Association (CFBNA). Other training workshops included business ideas, business update, grant writing and web-based services. A special conference highlight was the Military Forum of Nurses. Bernice Edwards and Gail Parker, biological sisters who served as military nurses, were honored for their outstanding service on behalf of the United States of America during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm War. Both Bernice and Gail are from Orlando. CFBNA is committed to helping nursing students remain in college. They seek out minority students all over Central Florida and encourage them to apply for scholarships. Each year, they provide scholarships
of their own for tuition, books, and other college expenses. Making it as convenient as possible for nursing students, members of the organization go as far as to hand deliver and mail applications to guidance counselors and instructors. Each scholarship applicant is interviewed in person. This year, just prior to the annual scholarship luncheon, Monica May of Star 94.5 (Community Connection) interviewed Judith Clark, CFBNA President; Taquisa Mackey; and Norma Rhines along with Sherlean Lee, President of Sisters Network, Inc., a National African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization. The theme for the luncheon was Breast Cancer Awareness. At the luncheon, Catherine Connor, a breast cancer survivor, delivered an inspiring and thought provoking speech. She also performed a captivating dance, to the background of “Still Holding On” by Yolanda Adams. One of the member’s husbands (Mr. Roberts) was soloist at large.
Onyx Magazine
Astrazeneca, Central Florida Pharmacy Council, Valencia Community College Foundation, Eliza Kirby Scholarship, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Komen Breast Cancer Central Florida Affiliate, and Florida Hospital Winter Park Cancer Institute sponsored the event. Future plans for the CFBNA include initiating a mentorship program for high school and college students. Interested parties may find out how they can join the CFBNA by calling (407) 975-5253. The association can be located on the web at www.cfbna.org. The 35th National Black Nurses Annual Institute and Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia.
The CFBNA awarded a scholarship to each
Back row – L to R: Taquisa Mackey, Willie Parsop, Wenell Slaughter, Jawnita Green 2nd Row:- L to R: Quibulah Graham, Althea Wright, Dorothy Jackson, Docoth Moore, Gail Parker, Ingrid Philpot, Bernice Edwards, Nicole Henderson. Front – L to R: Hortensia Owens, Constance Brown, Judith Clark, Elaine Caldwell, Arlinda Phillis, Rose Lee
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of two students from Valencia Community College, one from South Seminole Community College, and one from the University of Central Florida.
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Central Florida Black Nurses Association members receive plaque for working as Military Nurses at National Convention: Ingrid Philpot, Vice President; Bernice Edwards, military nurse; Gail Parker, military nurse; Judith Clark, CFBNA President
November / December 2006
Onyx Book Review MORE THAN A SLAVE: The Life of Katherine Ferguson By Margaret D. Pagan Ferguson was an exceptional child. At the age of seven, she began to perform the cooking duties that she had watched her mother perform. She was baking desserts and preparing meals for the white family and was responsible for taking the family’s children to school each day where she sat in the classroom with them. This exposure to school filled Ferguson with a huge desire to start her own school for children. The Presbyterian Church in New York City gives her credit for having started the first Sunday school in the State of New York.
Margaret D. Pagan. More Than A Slave: The life of Katherine Ferguson. Institute for Black Family Development and Moody Publishers: Detroit, MI, 2003. $16.00. Review by Dr. Lavon Bracy More Than a Slave: The Life of Katherine Ferguson is an extraordinarily well-written book by a very powerful writer, Margaret D. Pagan. The content of the book coupled with her writing style is riveting and never ceases to hold the reader’s attention. The suspense and anticipation of discovering what happens to the life of a seven year-old child who never knew her father and never sees her mother again after having been separated from her by the slave owners motivates one to stick with it to the end. Moreover, this is a book for the entire family. The tender loving care and faith in God that Katherine Ferguson’s mother has are made evident in the opening chapters.
When she was set free from slavery at the age of 16, she used the recipes that she had remembered from watching her mother bake to become a baker. As a result, she became a successful businesswoman. She used her income to support herself and to take in abandoned white and black children in New York City––providing them with food, housing and clothing. She also started a school for these children in her home.
Although far along in her pregnancy, Ferguson’s mother, with the assistance of her husband, is determined to escape the slave owners in Virginia by becoming a stowaway on a cargo ship headed to New York City. During her travel to gain freedom so that her baby would not be born a slave, Ferguson’s mother delivered her on the cargo ship. During the delivery, the ship’s captain discovered her. Upon arrival in New York, the captain sold Ferguson and her mother back into slavery to a white family that resided there, but not before her mother was able to dedicate her back to God as a gift.
Despite the illiteracy and emotional deprivations she suffered in slavery, she was driven by the belief that she belonged to God, His love made visible. After having spent time in West Africa and having toured the slave trade castles, I understand how we as a race are so strong. The will and strength of our ancestors are demonstrated so vividly in this book. As you read this book, you will appreciate your past, reflect on the present, and thank God for the future of generations to come. You will understand from this book, that God has been a driving force in our deliverance from slavery.
Prior to being separated from her mother, Ferguson was constantly taught that she was more than a slave, because she belonged to God. This identity was planted so deeply into Ferguson’s heart and spirit that she was able to continue a life of prayer and faith in God just as her mother had taught her.
This is a great book of courage and promise; it will provide much discussion for the entire family. (Mail requests to - More Than a Slave • P. O. Box 555726 • Orlando, FL 32855)
Ferguson never learned to read; she was illiterate all of her life, but she was blessed with a phenomenal memory. She had the ability to remember scriptures from the Bible that she heard read each Sunday as she attended church services with her slave owners. She was a woman of prayer who yielded her life and her will to God.
“ The book demonstrates the value of literacy, not only during slavery, but even in these times when many adults and children cannot read.”
November / December 2006
Jackie Perkins, Pres., The Montsho Foundation, Inc. Bd. of Dir.
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The Links and Nancy Wilson at the VIP Reception following the concert
Lunch after church on the campus of Johnson C. Smith
Betty Smith, Ralph Smith, Lillian Seays
The Links tour the campus of Johnson C. Smith University
The Links worship together at Friend-ship Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC At the Telethon
Grand Opening of Shingle Creek Resort
Alonzo Morning and Shaquille O’Neal at Shaq’s Mama Said Knock You Out Golf Tournament
The Tangelo Children’s Choir serenades Harris and Patricia Rosen at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Exterior view of Shingle Creek Resort
Harris Rosen and his wife, Patricia cut the ribbon at the Shingle Cree Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Other Shingle Creek Resort VIP look on. View of one of the guest rooms
Ericka Dunlap was invited to singe at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Aug. 23, 2006, Fireman’s Fund, Rosen Hotels, ProvInsure and Halcyon presentation of $25,000 to the Orange County Fire Rescue for much needed equipment in Tangelo Park & Williamsburg
Lucill O’Neal, Sandra Jeter and Judith Birckhead at Ribbon Cutting
Tuskegee Airman, Judge Robert Decatur and Ron Blocker, Superintendent of OCPS
School Board Member Kathleen Gordon presents plaque to Harris Rosen during ribbon cutting ceremony
Judge Robert Decatur, Lillian Seays, Kathleen Gordon, Melva Akens, Akens, Lester Seays
Morgan Ministries, Inc. is centrally located in the Pine Hills area of Orlando. Their work in mentorship, civic engagement and social responsibility is a staple in the community and has empowered many. Contact: (407) 523-1991 Below –– Guests at the Florida State Education Task Force Meeting: L-R: Pat Whatley, Hugh Harris, Dee Dee Schaffaer, Walt Griffin, Dr. Bernadette Kelley, State Chairman of Task Force; Geraldine Thompson, Sanford Mayor Linda Kuhn; Victoria Smith; and Rose Davis
Elizabeth Means, cive president of Shands Jacksonwille’s Community Relations Department Jerome Spate, president of Northeast Florida Chapter, and Curlue Huger
Mr. & Mrs. Ben Green
Scholarship recipient, Jacqueline Grant; presented by Selena Bass, M.P.H., program manager for the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Shands Jacksonville/ Nemours Children's Clinic
The Northeast Florida Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association, Jacksonville holds their annual banquet. A plaque for “Outstanding Service” was given to Curlue Huger and Onyx Magazine. Scholarships were awarded to Jacqueline Grant and Clayton Martin.
Sickle Cell Banquet Speaker: Dr. Paul Pitel, Nemours
Scholarship recipient Clayton Martin presented by Selena Bass
Sickle Cell Banquet Speaker: Dr. Bruce Mitchell, LJD
PHONE: (407) 293-6102