March 6th, 2014 Edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Normandy pushes for tuition caps

Unbanked Task Force regroups

By Dale Singer Of St. Louis Public Radio

Normandy’s school superintendent says the district’s finances can be helped if lawmakers would cap tuition paid for transfer students at the same amount that districts receive for accepting deseg students going from St. Louis to St. Louis County.

n “Since that rate already exists in all of those districts, except for St. Charles County, and they accept that amount, why not just make that the same rate for the transfer?” – Superintendent Ty McNichols

That amount, about $7,200 a year, is less than Normandy has been paying for most of its 1,000 students who transferred to nearby accredited districts at the start of the current school year. Tuition rates range to as high as $20,000, and the payments have put Normandy’s finances at a precarious point.

The district says it needs $5 million in emergency funding to avoid going broke at the beginning of April. When the state school board voted last week to put the district’s finances under the control of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Commissioner Chris Nicastro said the move guaranteed Normandy students would finish out the school year in their own classrooms. On Tuesday the Missouri House of Representatives advanced a bill that would approve spending $5 million to keep the district open for the remainder of the school year. The House endorsed a supplemental budget proposal (HB 2014), which includes half of the $44 million that Governor Jay Nixon proposed for

By Chris King Of The St. Louis

“When

are spending millions of dollars on fringe financial services and getting no return on their money.”

– Ted Rice of Montgomery Bank

Fragmentation and segregation

SLU

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

in favor of merging its city and county governments, said Joe Reagan, president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

“Louisville wanted to be a major metropolitan area,” Reagan said, “and it was tired of having its rear end kicked by folks like

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones gave the keynote speech at an event her office hosted for the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force.

Photo by Wiley Price

Dwight detained for driving without a license

Party planner Dwight Eubanks seen from time to time on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” was arrested again in the ATL following a traffic stop.

According to Straightfromthea.com, Dwight was pulled over in Dekalb County on Feb. 28. When officers asked for his license, he was unable to produce a current ID. This is the second arrest for Eubanks, who was popped for driving on a suspended license in 2011.

album release party for Ross.

DeKalb police noted that the shooting happened at around 3 a.m. after a dispute between the club DJ and another man in the back parking lot.

According to police two off-duty officers working at the nightclub heard gunshots in the back of the club bout 4 a.m.

When the officers responded to the rear of the club, “one subject turned toward them, firing shots,” a rep for DeKalb police told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“They returned fire, hitting the subject in the leg.”

The wounded man, who was identified as a DJ at the club, got up and went back inside the club, where he was arrested before being transported to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Despite the presence of Ross and Diddy, reports claim the entertainers most likely had nothing to do with the shooting.

wanted him held in contempt of court.

She told The Scoop with the Hiphop Socialite that the drastic measure is not to get him locked up, but to get some treatment for what she claims are serious mental illnesses suffered by the legendary MC.

“I do not want to see my child’s father go to jail. However, I do want to see him get the mental help that I believe he desperately needs,” Bryan said. “So this situation is a curse and a blessing.”

She highlighted a particular incident early in their relationship to support her claims that he is bipolar and a paranoid schizophrenic.

Shooting ruins Rick Ross release party

Police are investigating a shooting that took place at a popular Atlanta club that hosted a party with Bad Boy Records CEO Sean “Diddy”Combs and Rick Ross.

My Fox Atlanta reports the incident happened at the Velvet Room club during an

Carmen claims Nas needs mental help

Last week it was revealed that rapper Nas had fallen behind $11k in child support, had stopped paying his 19-yearold daughter Destiny’s college tuition and that Carmen Bryan

“I came in the house, Destiny and I, and he was on the couch wrapped up in a blanket; his mom was on one side of him, his brother on the other side, there were a few more people in the house,” Bryan said. “My first reaction was, ‘Is everything okay? What happened?’ And that’s when Nas told me ghosts were haunting him again, and entities were whispering to him and touching him and bothering him. So, I’ve witnessed this long battle with insanity.”

Da Brat ordered to pay by $6.4M for bottle toss

Da Brat was ordered to pay $6 million in restitution to Shayla Stevens for bashing her head in with a liquor bottle at a Halloween party back in 2007.

She spoke to TMZ about the verdict.

“That was a hell of a shock. I was baffled. I knew I shouldn’t have did what I did. And I knew she was entitled to something, but $6.4 million... hell no,” Da Brat told TMZ. “They had all of her doctor bills and they said it came to about $60,000. They didn’t even have a neurologist there. A true neurologist or a neurological surgeon or anything like that to show proof that there was neurological damage.”

She also says that she doesn’t have money to pay the settlement – and owes a laundry list of others.

“Hell no,” Da Brat said when asked if she could pay up. “I’m just gonna do what I do. Work and whatever ever money I get, I guess she’s entitled to some of it, but I owe a lot of people. She gotta stand in line.” Sources: TMZ.com, The Atlanta JournalConstitution, straightfromthea.com, My Fox

Dwight Eubanks

Da Brat

Montford Point

Marines host ‘Chosen Few’

Call for support for national memorial for USMC pioneers

By Bridjes O’Neil

Of The St. Louis American

Local chapters of the Montford Point Marine Association and its Ladies Auxiliary recently hosted the 17th Annual Chosen Few Luncheon Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Hilton St. Louis Airport. The event honors the legacy of the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Keynote speaker retired

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Willie Williams said African Americans have a long history of participating in our nation’s wars. And the historical contributions of African Americans within the military have created a social change throughout the nation that has had a lasting impact, Williams said. The Montford Point Marines simultaneously fought battles abroad and at home, he said.

“It was amazing to me that these Montford Point Marines – in that type of environment

– would still fight so hard to serve a nation that was determined to treat them as something less than human,” he said. The U.S. Marine Corps was

the last branch of the service to admit African Americans. Segregation laws of the 1940s prohibited blacks from training with whites, and a separate training facility was created for black recruits at Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, N.C. From 1942 to 1949, nearly 20,000 black men trained at Montford Point. Williams said he and others who look like him would not have had the same opportunities, if it were not for the original Montford Point Marines who broke down barriers.

Williams said his proudest achievement in his military career was spearheading the passage of H.R. 2447, a bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to original Montford Point Marines. President Obama signed the bill into law on November 23, 2011. Nearly 400 original Montford Point Marines received Congressional Gold Medals, the highest civilian honor, on June 27, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

“There were tears of joy because it had been a long fight to get that,” Williams said.

Original Montford Point

Marines Godfrey Wilson and James Wilkes, of St. Louis, and Wendell Ferguson and John Vanoy, of Chicago, attended the event. All men stood and were applauded, with random outbursts of “hoo-rahs” from some in the audience.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley rushed from the dedication ceremony of the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge to introduce his friend James H. Buford. Buford, board member of the National Urban League and former president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, was awarded the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“He’s the only man I know who wears a bow tie every day of the week and looks pretty good in them,” Dooley joked of Buford.

Michael P. McMillan, Buford’s successor at the local Urban League, is the recipient of last year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Buford said he was honored to be chosen by the “Chosen Few.” Buford spoke of receiving awards

Big money dodges taxes

By Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Columnist

Local chapters of the Montford Point Marine Association and its Ladies Auxiliary recently hosted the 17th Annual Chosen Few Luncheon Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Hilton St. Louis Airport.

from numerous organizations because it was thought to be “the good thing to do.” This award, he said, is particularly special to him because it comes from men of honor, discipline and service.

“If young African-American men could follow in the mold of the Montford Point Marines and these gentlemen in the room,” Buford said, “then we wouldn’t have any problems.”

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt.-At-Arms Taylor Faulkner and Jeri Myers, past president of the Ladies Auxiliary, were the recipients of the chapter’s President’s Award.

The chapter continues to preserve the legacy of the Montford Point Marines for future generations. Alan L. Parker Sr., president of the MPMA St. Louis Chapter #13, raised awareness for the Montford Point Marines Memorial Project and pleaded for financial support.

“The Montford Point Marine Memorial will tell the story of the men of Montford Point to our children, to future Marines, and to Americans for years to come,” Parker said.

The Montford Point Marines Memorial Project will be located within the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, N.C.

For information on the Montford Point Marines Memorial Project, visit http:// www.mpmamemorial.com/.

Eighteen American multinationals – companies such as Nike, Microsoft and Apple – have used tax havens abroad to avoid what Citizens for Tax Justice estimates as $92 billion in federal taxes. This is money that could be used to provide universal preschool for America’s children.

CTJ also found 235 companies reported last year over $1.3 trillion stashed abroad to avoid paying the taxes that domestic companies must pay. A Senate hearing showed how Apple used Ireland as its favorite tax haven, developing what Sen. Carl Levin called “the Holy Grail of tax avoidance,” creating “offshore tax entities … while claiming to be a tax resident nowhere.”

This outrage is not illegal. In a dodge known as “deferral,” the tax laws allow companies to forego paying taxes on money earned (or reported as earned abroad) until the company brings the money back to the United States.

bring the money home in what they call “a tax repatriation holiday.” The companies argue, as WinAmerica, the front for the current campaign does, that they’ll invest in jobs here in the U.S., but can’t afford to pay the taxes due (the same taxes that domestic small businesses can’t avoid). So let them bring the dough back at a nominal tax rate and they’ll reinvest millions in America.

Of course, each time the Congress provides this kind of tax holiday or amnesty, it gives the corporations an even greater incentive to stash their cash abroad.

This perverse loophole gives companies a very big incentive to ship jobs or report profits abroad. Through transfer pricing, multinationals can easily game the system to report their profits in low tax countries abroad, even while the bulk of their sales are in the U.S. This, in part, is how General Electric can make millions in profits and pay nothing in taxes.

As companies park more and more cash abroad, they then pay more in lobbying and campaign contributions to persuade Congress to give them a deep tax break if they

The last time the Congress bought this malarkey, even the jobs argument turned out to be false. The companies bringing the dough back actually laid off workers in the ensuing years. They used the money to buy back stock (raising the value of their stock options), or to buy other companies. Now with the trillions sitting abroad, the game is beginning again. “Bipartisan” bills have been introduced to let corporations bring bucks back home at a zero percent tax rate, if they agree to use some of the money to purchase bonds issued by a newly created federal infrastructure bank. They get to bring $6 back tax-free for every $1 they invest in infrastructure bonds. Congress could simply get rid of deferral and tax companies on their profits no matter where they are reported, allowing them credit for taxes paid to foreign entities. Multinationals should pay the same tax rates as domestic companies do.

Photo by Wiley Price

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

Editorial /CommEntary

‘Urgent need for financial education’ ‘My Brother’s Keeper’

“St. Louis tops the nation in the number of minority households that are either unbanked or under-banked,” St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones said Friday morning at an event her office hosted for the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force. “We are also at twice the national average in overall unbanked households. These statistics are alarming, and they demonstrate an urgent need for financial education for our citizens.”

We agree, and we commend Jones for her leadership on this crucial matter. Since the task force started its Bank On Save Up initiative, its 20 member banks have opened 1,615 accounts, 83 percent checking and 17 percent savings, with an average balance of $1,118. The Treasurer’s Office is responsible for half of these newly banked citizens, as more than 800 city employees opened accounts when Jones converted city payroll to mandatory direct deposit. These raw numbers are modest, but the very high account retention rate of these new accounts – nearly 96 percent – is extremely encouraging.

As a personal aside, Jones mentioned she had just signed a contract to buy a house. “I’ve been saving for it,” she said. We immediately thought of another once-promising young AfricanAmerican elected official from a powerhouse North St. Louis political family who was much in the news on Friday: former alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, who has admitted to paying $4,450 in mortgage fees (among thousands of dollars in other personal expenses) from her campaign committee’s fund, which is illegal. Clearly, Triplett (and a number of black elected officials who misused campaign funds before her, including former state Senator Robin WrightJones and former state Representatives Rodney Hubbard and T.D. El-Amin) needed some of that financial education.

Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce is reportedly considering filing charges against Triplett, in addition to the financial penalty levied by the state’s (notoriously weak and toothless) watchdog commission for campaign finance and ethics. Given that the money Triplett spent was paid to her campaign fund willingly by her supporters, we believe that the only direct damage she did was to her own credibility. There is not one public fund or project that was hurt by her misjudgment. Of course, the indirect costs to the community of another discredited African-American elected official’s shameful financial misbehavior are self-evident.

In the hope that the banks on the task force can take a joke, we are reminded of an old wisecrack: A stupid crook robs a bank; a smart crook opens one. The fact is that a former

alderman could face criminal charges for spending less than $20,000 in campaign funds on transient needs and wants, while a sitting speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives legally invested $900,000 of his campaign funds to purchase 12,000 shares of bank stock. We do not claim that now former House Speaker Steve Tilley acted criminally in so doing – he is not, in the eyes of Missouri law, a criminal for buying bank shares with campaign funds. This is not to single out Tilley’s opportunism, but to question our state’s woefully inadequate laws concerning political campaigns.

“Simply put, financial literacy is the ability to understand how money works,” Jones said to her fellow task force members. “Financial literacy is about planning for the future. When you know how to manage your money, you can make better choices about your future.” Our community has a lot to learn about managing money if we are ever going to improve our prospects for the future. And our elected officials had better improve their own financial literacy, not to mention get a more firm grasp on ethics, if they intend to be the caliber of leaders that we need to advocate for more fair and prudent public policy.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Let’s make some history

By Jason Q. Purnell Guest Columnist

I had the pleasure of hearing the late dean of AfricanAmerican history, Dr. John Hope Franklin, speak a few years before his death in 2009. What I remember most from his talk was a pointed comment he made about the study and understanding of black history: “We’ve got to get beyond chronicling the ‘first Negro to cross the street.’” That comment is particularly poignant having just come out of the month of February, when we’re presented with the familiar parade of inventors, entertainers, athletes and activists who people our national homage to Americans of African descent. I myself sat rapt through all six episodes of Henry Louis Gates’ “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” on PBS, recently completed all 2,306 pages of Taylor Branch’s masterful Civil Rights Movement trilogy, and have traced my own family’s genealogy as far back at 1812. But I still think Dr. Franklin had a point. When we reduce our history to an annotated listing of heroes and breakers of the color barrier, we remove it from ourselves and our presentday struggles. We risk a kind of backwards-glancing paralysis that saps us of the strength that a deep understanding of our history should provide. We forget that the extraordinary

African Americans who are featured during Black History came from an historical and cultural context made up of people whose names we will never know, but who nonetheless did remarkable things.

There was real heroism in newly freed slaves stepping out of the wreckage of the “peculiar institution” to build families, farms, churches, schools, businesses and entire communities. They faced every imaginable obstacle: sharecropping peonage, Jim Crow laws, “night riders,” race riots, lynching and the daily, almost pedestrian, denial of their full humanity. And somehow they would persevere, and their children would give birth to the blues and jazz, to the Harlem Renaissance and the Talented Tenth, to the NAACP and the Urban League. And their grandchildren, assembling in the churches their ancestors built, would march and sing with fire hoses, snarling dogs and bullwhips arrayed against them – and change a nation forever.

We stand as heirs to these, our ancestors, but often we do not fully use our inheritance. If men and women fresh from bondage could face the terrors of the post-bellum South –to say nothing of surviving spiritually intact through centuries of that bondage –then surely the most educated and remunerated generation of African Americans in this nation’s history can work to address the problems of today. Several of my colleagues from Washington University and Saint Louis University and I have spent the past several months suggesting that the focus for improvement

“My Brother’s Keeper” has a much nicer ring than “Stop and Frisk.” It also promises to be a more effective, less self-defeating way to address the interlocking social and economic crises afflicting young men of color.

I’ll go out on a limb and predict that President Obama gets some heat for launching a program whose benefits are aimed solely at AfricanAmerican and Hispanic men and boys. The nation’s first black president gets slammed by critics who accuse him of “playing the race card” every time he acknowledges that race and racism still play a role in determining opportunities and outcomes.

But obviously they do. My Brother’s Keeper, which Obama announced Thursday, is the kind of targeted publicprivate initiative that might actually do some good, even without tons of new federal money thrown in.

I suppose other critics might ask what took Obama so long. The president bristles at this line of questioning, pointing to the fact that his most ambitious achievements have their greatest impact among disadvantaged minorities. Obama also understands that even if he had a Congress that would give him carte blanche, solving the problems that face young men of color would take many years of sustained effort.

You’d have to fix broken schools and broken families. You’d have to eliminate the racial bias in policing and the justice system that makes

African-American and Hispanic men far more likely to be stopped, arrested and sent to prison than whites who engage in similar illegal behavior.

You’d have to somehow bring enough commerce and industry back into hollowedout neighborhoods to provide decent jobs. You’d have to convince millions of young men that the odds are not stacked against them, despite copious evidence to the contrary.

Where do you even start?

Down in the trenches.

“We have credibility on these issues because we’ve been working on the ground,” La June Montgomery Tabron,

n Where do you even start? Down in the trenches.

president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, told me. Kellogg is one of 10 major foundations that have agreed to join with business leaders and the federal government in the Brother’s Keeper initiative. Collectively, the foundations are already spending more than $150 million on programs aimed at young men of color. They are now pledging to invest at least another $200 million.

The other participating foundations deserve a shoutout: the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies, the California Endowment, the Ford Foundation, the John R. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Kapor Center for Social Impact, the Open Society Foundations, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Letters to the editor

Outstanding classroom tool

rests at the intersection of health, education and economic viability through a project called “For the Sake of All.” With the guidance of committed community partners from public health and healthcare, education, community and economic development, media, and business, we have presented information on pressing issues like poverty, early childhood development, high school dropout, mental health, residential segregation and chronic disease.

We haven’t just listed problems; we have also suggested a set of policy and programmatic recommendations based on the best scientific evidence we could find and the input of the community. It is crucial that the community have an opportunity to tell us if all of this work is heading in the right direction.

We want everyone in our community to respond. Any serious reading of AfricanAmerican history tells us that our progress has never been achieved by ourselves nor only for ourselves. We cannot tackle enduring disparities of health, wealth and education alone, and we cannot achieve justice if it is not justice for the sake of all.

So, we are hosting a Community Feedback Forum 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 at the Forest Park Visitor and Education Center. We envision this as a kind of open house for community members to drop in to respond to draft elements of our final report. Jason Q. Purnell is an assistant professor at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University.

We thank Cathy Sewell for attending the Each One Teach One Tutor Training at Washington University. Staff and tutors at WUSTL all asserted that she did an excellent job of explaining the use of the STEM pages in The St. Louis American, which is our principal tutoring resource for Each One Teach One. We also appreciate your resumption of the delivery of the dedicated copies of The St. Louis American to both Ford and Laclede schools for second semester. We continue to be grateful to you for providing this outstanding classroom tool for STEM education.

Shirley B. Brown

St. Louis Public Schools

Top-heavy cops

Reorganization of St. Louis’ police districts is underway. Chief Sam Dotson said the changes were necessary due to a decline in population and a skewed distribution of crime and calls-for-service. Thus the department will realign from nine districts to six. Population statistics reflect 1950 as the city’s high at 856,800 residents. St. Louis today hosts a population of just over 300,000. That’s a decline of over 60 percent, but police districts decreased only 33 percent. The new plan will consist of six districts, each with three precincts having three patrol areas (beats) each. Each precinct will have a sergeant. So a sergeant will supervisor only three to six officers, while an accepted level of supervision is 10.

A stated purpose of the reorganization is to put more cops on the street to patrol and shag 9-1-1 calls. Under the new district scheme, officers will staff about 54 police patrol vehicles. If there were four districts with four precincts of

As the foundations identify factors that either create or destroy opportunity for young men of color, Obama has pledged to adjust federal policy accordingly. One example is the disparity in school suspensions. The Department of Education recently issued new guidelines for enforcing “zero tolerance” school disciplinary policies after studies found that minorities were more likely than whites to be suspended for infractions.

Students who miss class time due to suspensions are less likely to graduate. And in the case of far too many young men of color, during the suspensions they are more likely to find themselves in potentially dangerous situations.

As Montgomery Tabron reminded me, Trayvon Martin’s home was in Miami, far from the central Florida town where he died. At the time of his fatal encounter with George Zimmerman, Martin was staying with his father for a few days because he had been suspended from school. Authorities had found what they said was marijuana residue in his backpack.

Obama has consistently preached the need for at-risk youth to take personal responsibility for their lives. Some commentators have criticized him – unfairly, he feels – for “blaming the victims” rather than the societal forces that work against them. If you’re male and AfricanAmerican or Hispanic, you can’t afford to make the same youthful mistakes that your white counterparts get to make. That’s one of the many reasons why this race-specific initiative is so badly needed. My Brother’s Keeper isn’t a solution. But it’s a start.

four beats each, there would be 64 patrol vehicles. Dotson says commanders will be removed from the department payroll by attrition, with no lay-offs or reduction in rank. The only attrition in the command ranks is retirement, so taxpayers will continue to foot-the-bill for a variety of “don’t do much” jobs.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Transfer landfill to feds

The North County Incorporated Board of Directors supports the transfer of jurisdiction oversight of the West Lake Landfill to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).

Transferring the jurisdiction oversight to FUSRAP will allow experts in this area to assess the site, provide action plans for the containment or remediation, and long-term management of the site. We believe that FUSRAP would be able to determine the safest and most appropriate containment measures for the radioactive materials found within the West Lake Landfill and then subsequently manage containment appropriately.

We base our request on the following key points:

1) All other radioactive contaminated sites in the St. Louis Metro Area are contained within the FUSRAP program.

2) The unknown level of contamination to the area now under consideration.

3) Conflicting information on the extent of contamination based on data that is over 50 years old.

4) Lack of technical expertise to address the assessment of the radioactive site, with ability to remediate and manage the site for longterm safety to the public.

Rebecca Zoll, president/CEO North County Incorporated

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Guest Columnist Jason Q. Parnell

St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones addressed the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force on Friday morning at an event her office hosted at the William J. Harrison Education Center. Photo by Wiley Price

Daddy’s graduation

Mia Turner, age 2, observed the Fathers’ Support Center of St. Louis’ recent graduation ceremony for its 100th Family Formation class. Her father, Mario Turner, and Deshaun Ceruti were among the 22 graduates of the sixweek, full-immersion, boot camp-style program that teaches parenting skills.

Nominate a remarkable senior

The St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System is accepting nominations for seniors to be recognized at its 2014 Ageless Remarkable St. Louisans Gala. The event honors outstanding St. Louis-area older adults, age 75 and up. Nominations are being accepted now through March 10, 2014, via the St. Andrew’s website at http://www.standrews1.com/nomination.

Meeting of prisoner advocates

Missouri Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) will meet 6 p.m. Friday, March 7 at the University City Public Library, 6701 Delmar Blvd. in the Loop. Keith Brown-El will be here from Kansas City. He is a paralegal who spent 36 years in prison fighting for prisoner rights and now serves as CURE’s Vice-Chairman. Meeting topics include medical abuse and neglect of Missouri prisoners, including wrongful deaths. The group is also fighting mandatory minimum sentences and will be organizing for the April 9 Criminal Justice Lobby Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City. CURE’s scheduled February 1 meeting had to be cancelled due to illness and weather conditions, and the group apologizes to those who tried to attend. Contact: Hedy (Edna) Harden, chair, at 877-525-2873.

County Health Department reopens

The Saint Louis County Department of Health’s main facility has reopened following repairs there following a water line break on February 8. All public health services are once again being offered at the Health Campus, located at 6121 North Hanley Rd. in Berkeley. For a complete list of the services offered by the Saint Louis County Department of Health and locations where those services are offered, visit www.stlouisco.com/HealthandWellness.

Central Library wins architecture honor

The St. Louis Public Library and Cannon Design won the American Institute of Architects’ 2014 Institute Honor Award for Architecture for the Central Library restoration and renewal project, one of 11 winners nationwide. “The transformation of the interior stacks is fantastic,” jurors remarked; “it provided the opportunity for a progressive intervention that is still sensitive to the host building. The canopy on the exterior, too, is modern yet sympathetic to the historic building.” In the year since it reopened to the public, Central has averaged nearly 40,000 visitors per month. For more information, call 314-539-0300. For a tour, visit http://www.slpl.org/slpl/library/ central_tour.asp.

Life changes in an instant

By Ciera Simril For The St. Louis American

Sometimes we underestimate the power of surprises occurring in our lives. This jumpstart adds an extra kick to your adrenaline that prepares you for the worst. This somehow keeps us on edge about choices we make in our lives. I have had my own jumpstart that has changed who I am as a person. I won’t ever be the same.

I still remember the cold night on the 26th of February last year. I sat at home doing some homework, when I felt a cold breeze inside my house. This cold breeze was something I hadn’t ever felt before, and I knew something had to be wrong. That was the moment that I received devastating news that my nephew Chris had been murdered.

I won’t ever forget the feeling in the bottom of my stomach. How could Chris, an 18-yearold high school senior with straight A’s, be dead? I remember thinking that this couldn’t be happening to my family. I couldn’t describe the despair that I felt. I couldn’t find understanding of why someone would want to hurt such an innocent spirit.

My nephew Chris was a very happy and rambunctious child who had many dreams growing up. During his short 18 years here on Earth, he played football at Washington High School in South Bend, Ind. and attended college preparatory classes through the Upward Bound program at the University of Notre Dame. Chris was planning to attend college with numerous schools to choose from, until his life was cut short.

This happens every day to other families everywhere. My heart goes out to those families trying to put together the pieces of their lives after something so tragic. After dealing with this myself, I know it’s not easy to move on from such a loss.

I just want to let people know that there is more to one life ending. The more energy you put towards their memory, the stronger you become. We need to show others that darkness only lasts at night and joy always comes in the morning.

I’m urging everyone to find support and begin doing something productive to prevent us from having to keep burying our children. We have control over the epidemic that’s plaguing our children and our communities. We can do more by raising awareness about this problem instead of thinking it won’t happen to us.

Though life will never be the same without Chris, that cold breeze has kept me awake. That shiver I felt has been with me since that cold night, and I won’t ever underestimate the element of surprise because life can change in an instant.

Ciera Simril is a former St. Louis American intern.

Ciera Simril

Photo by Wiley Price

Continued from A1

Committee member Galen Gondolfi of Justine Petersen, a community-based lender, said the net family savings from these new accounts totals approximately $1.9 million annually, based on average of $1,200 savings for each family.

Gondolfi also said the 96 percent retention rate of new banking customers was more encouraging than the modest raw numbers. Several members of the task force said the reported total was also lower than the actual number of newly banked individuals, because not all participating lenders have reported fully. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has stepped in to facilitate with ongoing data collection and tabulation.

The treasurer’s office is responsible for fully half of the reported number of newly banked citizens. When Jones

MERGER

Continued from A1

Richard Lugar (former mayor of Indianapolis) and the mayors of Nashville, who had gotten their act together 30 or 40 years before and had really become strong competitors in attracting talent, attracting businesses and attracting jobs.”

Reagan was one of several regional leaders who spoke about reuniting St. Louis city and county governments at a Saint Louis University School of Law symposium on Feb. 29. Since St. Louis city and

moved city staff payroll to mandatory direct deposit, 800 unbanked employees started new accounts to accept payroll deposits, she said. Active engagement in the task force by participating banks was evident in attendance at the event, when 27 people identified themselves as members of one of the 20 sponsor banks. Representatives from two of the seven Platinum Sponsor banks, Montgomery Bank and Pulaski Bank, addressed the task force.

Ted Rice of Montgomery Bank said the task force was addressing the concern that “people are spending millions of dollars on fringe financial services and getting no return on their money.”

Thelma Moorehead of Pulaski Bank said that enrolling people who are new to the banking system is a matter of face-to-face interaction and “overcoming objections.” Once enrolled, she said, a community banker needs to offer additional

county split governments in 1876, the conversation to reunite the region has periodically resurfaced. The new initiative Better Together hopes to return the discussion to center stage. Sponsored by Missouri Council for a Better Economy, the initiative aims to study various aspects of the region’s governments and how a merger would affect them.

The day-long SLU Law symposium covered everything from the history of the governments’ separation to examples of other cities that have successfully merged.

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, the keynote speaker,

Southern Commercial Bank. The gold sponsor banks are First Bank, Great Southern Bank and PNC Bank, And the silver sponsor banks are Citizens National Bank, Eagle Bank, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Carrollton Bank, Commerce Bank, First National Bank, First State Bank of St. Charles, Regions Bank, Reliance Bank and The Private Bank. Task force co-chair

Jacqueline (Jackie) Hutchinson, of People’s Community Action Corporation, described many public forums and events where task force banks interacted with the public, in partnership with her agency, the United Way, Beyond Housing, Grace Hill, the Gateway Classic and People’s Health Centers.

franchise.

“financial literacy” so that new customers understand the benefits in continuing to use the bank, rather than a payday lender or check-cashing

served as mayor when Indianapolis consolidated its city and county governments in 1970. Lugar said the Indianapolis merger attracted more jobs and made it easier to move ahead with capital projects, such as building major sports facilities.

As with Indianapolis, Reagan said that Louisville’s merger reversed the city’s brain drain and population decline. In 2012, Louisville topped the list of metro areas luring and retaining college-educated residents ages 25 to 39, he said, knocking Portland off as the perennial number one, according to a Portland State

The other platinum sponsor banks are Fifth Third Bank, FCB Banks, Heartland Bank, Midwest BankCentre and

University study.

The sponsoring nonprofit for Better Together is largely funded by Rex Sinquefield, billionaire financier and political investor. A strong believer in small government and free markets, Sinquefield led the latest unsuccessful initiative to get rid of the city’s earning tax, which makes up one-third of the city’s revenue. Sinquefield proposes to raise sales tax in place of the earnings tax. Studies show that raising sales tax disproportionately affects impoverished families compared to the wealthy.

At the symposium, St. Louis

Hutchinson said the task force would be doing more community events with churches and also more outreach via social media. The United Way also will facilitate “train a trainer” sessions in financial literacy with the

Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones openly expressed her view that the merger is a “veiled attempt” to eliminate the city’s earning’s tax. However, she said her official position on a merger is “neutral.”

Fragmentation and investment

James H. Buford, the former CEO and president of Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis for almost three decades, is a board member with Better Together. He took a moment to speak on the community’s criticism and skepticism of the initiative.

Buford said, “People ask me, ‘Why are you involved? All those rich white folks put their money together to come up with a plan to merge the city and county and get rid of the municipalities.’ And I say, ‘I don’t know about that.’”

Buford said he firmly believes that a merger must happen.

“My main concern is that people get jobs,” Buford said. “I’m here to represent AfricanAmerican people. I want to be at the table. I’m not going to let this process get compromised.”

Buford sits on the initiative’s public finance committee, which recently released its research findings on the region’s financial structures. He said the results shine a light on a “serious inequality” in the region.

“I look at our fragmented

FDIC. This year, the task force intends to reach unbanked people before they are old enough to bank. Money Smart Week in St. Louis, April 5-12, will open at the Saint Louis Zoo with activities to teach children the basics of financial literacy.

Jones said she campaigned for treasurer with a message of financial literacy, despite the fact that the office is known to the public almost solely as the agency that controls parking (and issues parking tickets) in the city. But she meant the message.

“Financial literacy means people need to be able to understand how money works,” Jones said, “and use that understanding to plan for the future.”

For more information about the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force at GetBankedNow.org or follow on Twitter @stlunbanked.

region,” he said, “and I see many of these small communities, a number of which were created to foster segregation.”

Racial segregation is at the heart of why the city and county governments separated in the first place, said Anders Walker, SLU Law professor and co-director of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Law. It dates back to the Civil War, when area residents were divided on the issue of slavery.

The fragmentation between city and county has bloated over the years until St. Louis County itself is now divided into 91 municipalities and nine unincorporated areas of wildly varying size and resources.

The Better Together finance study found that many North St. Louis County municipalities with less than 5,000 people and high poverty rates do not have any debt. For an individual, no debt is typically a good thing, Buford said. However, for a city, that often means that the small government does not have access to the capital market and has no means of funding capital improvements.

“Fragmentation is a structural impediment to community reinvestment,” Buford said. “You can’t continue to live in a community where you don’t have the ability to invest back into your community. Everyone should be on the level playing field.”

Thelma Moorehead of Pulaski Bank (center) addressed a meeting of the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force on Friday morning at the William J. Harrison Education Center, 3140 Cass Ave., as Jackie Hutchinson and Lisa Potts of People’s Community Action Corp. and Gail Cramer and Shelly Conley of Pulaski Bank listened.

Photo by Wiley Price

GATEWAY

Continued from A1

catch the sun. Brightergy, a Missouri-based energy company, donated the solar array, with an estimated value of $80,000. It will produce about 33,000 kilowatthours of electricity per year, which will save the district about $3,000 in electricity in the first year.

This green initiative comes with a curriculum: BrighterSchools, a solar energy education program provided free to schools who install solar electricity with Brightergy.

n “Instead of using things that pollute our Earth, the solar panels provide a very clean and natural energy.”

– Terrence Lovett

BrighterClassroom is the program’s mainstay component, developed in conjunction with EarthWays Center of Missouri Botanical Garden. It includes eight lessons that correlate to Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. Students learn about energy in all its forms, energy conservation and efficiency, and the value of renewable energy.

Teachers who choose to incorporate the program into their lesson plans take part in

NORMANDY

Continued from A1

K-12 education and emergency funding for Normandy. If funding doesn’t come from the Legislature, Nicastro has said it will have to come out of sharper savings from the district’s budget.

To avoid such a drain in the future, Superintendent Ty McNichols said he has urged lawmakers to make the tuition rate for transfer students from unaccredited districts

two professional workshops. Gateway – a magnet school that focuses on preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – has made an effort to engage teachers to “cast a wide net of teachers who would use the program,” said Renee Racette, assistant principal. Students use Brighterview, an online monitoring system, to access production data, such as the amount of electricity produced on a sunny day versus a cloudy day. Recently, data retrieved showed the system produced 6,538 kilowatt hours or about $400 in electricity. Students may share their findings on BrighterConversation, a social media platform and community blog.

Approximately 160,000 students statewide in grades K-12, enrolled in 75 districts and individual schools, participate in the BrighterSchools program. Several districts, including Maplewood Richmond Heights, Pattonville, Ritenour and University City, are in the process of introducing the program.

“The BrighterSchools

the same as that for students under the voluntary interdistrict desegregation plan.

“Since that rate already exists in all of those districts, except for St. Charles County, and they accept that amount, why not just make that the same rate for the transfer?” McNichols said in an interview after the Normandy school board meeting.

McNichols told board members he is “very optimistic” that lawmakers will approve some form of a cap on the amount of tuition paid for transfer students.

program takes an extraordinary topic – energy – and makes it approachable and easier to understand,” said Cindy

By a vote of 5-1, the board approved the latest round of bills for the transfer students, for $809,897.27 for December. Board member Terry Artis, who has consistently opposed paying such bills, was the only no vote.

The board also discussed the possibility of a community rally to show support for Normandy schools as discussion continues in Jefferson City about possible changes in the transfer law and ways that state education officials can intervene to help struggling school districts.

Bambini, director of business development at Brightergy.

“Our goal is to create greener, healthier schools

The board was told that Beyond Housing, which has coordinated activities among the two dozen communities that make up the school district as part of its 24:1 program, would help organize the activities.

The main event tentatively is set for March 15, with other activities such as a community vigil possible in the days leading up to that date.

“The community has been demanding that we allow them to do something,” McNichols said after the

by Wiley

by providing Missouri’s students and teachers with the resources and tools needed to generate increased awareness about energy, technology and sustainability.”

board meeting. After the meeting, board president William Humphrey was asked about the state move to take over Normandy’s finances. He called it a political decision aimed at ensuring that the district would get the money it needs to finish the school year.

But he also questioned why anyone at the state level thought Normandy could not control its budget. He noted that before the payments for transfer students began, the district’s fund balance was 19 percent, larger than what he

said was the state average of 12 percent.

“I think this particular board fully understands its fiduciary responsibilities,” Humphrey said.

Asked about hints in the past that the board is considering going to court to improve its chances of survival and to change the transfer program, Humphrey said, “We haven’t made any firm decisions, but I wouldn’t rule anything out.”

Edited for length and reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Photo

Price

Merita Haxhia, a physics teacher and chair of the Science Department at Gateway STEM High School, teaches

Charvez Williams, Tramel West and Terrence Lovett how a solar panel converts sunlight into electricity.

Obituaries

Leanore Mae Shivers

May 1, 1939—March 1, 2013

Mom, Grandma and Granny, You are missed dearly, every second, minute and hour of each day “LADY”. Your wisdom lives on as a legacy!

Much love always, Your daughter, Ernestine; grandson, C. David; and family members

Barbara Jean Davis

Barbara Jean Davis was born October 16, 1944.

Barbara Jean Davis

Barbara was educated in the St. Louis Public School System and was a graduate of Vashon High School in 1962. Throughout her life she has had a passion for weddings and events, music and drama and performing arts. She participated musically with the Gospel Choral Union, The Thomas Dorsey Choir, National Baptist Convention Choir and her very own Mt. Zion MB Church Sanctuary Choir where she has served as Choir President.

Barbara transitioned to be with the Lord on the evening of February 25, 2014. Barbara will be truly missed and was loved by all she met.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her mother, Idella Taylor; daughter and son-inlaw, Earmon and Veronica

Burton; brother, Allan Taylor (Trish and Damon) of Detroit, MI, one aunt, Doris Johnson (Joe) of Chicago, IL; special sisters, Cathy Marshall, Billie Jinkins and Delores Penton; grandchildren, Joshua, Jeremiah, Paris, Dejah, Dashay, Ebony, Lee and Briana; a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, cousins, family and friends. Services: Visitation will be held Thursday, March 6, 2014, from 4pm-7pm at Austin Layne Mortuary (Normandy Chapel), 7733 Natural Bridge Rd., Normandy, MO 63121. Friday, March 7, 2014, Visitation: 9 am-10 am, Musical: 10 am-11 am, Homegoing Service: 11 am at Mt. Zion MB Church Christian Complex, 1444 S. Compton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104, Interment: Jefferson Barracks.

DaShon Lamont Haskin

grandmother, Jennifer Arnold; grandfather, DeWayne Haskin; great-grandmother, Corena Arnold; two aunts, Danielle Arnold and Dianah Haskin; three uncles, Dewayne Haskin, Dwight Haskin Jr. and Demitrious; a host of greataunts, uncles, many cousins and extended relatives and friends. Dashon will never be forgotten.

Special thanks to the entire St. Louis City Police Department, St. Louis City and County communities for all the encouragement and prayers during this time of loss for our family. Special thanks to the amazing staff of Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapel for the love, comfort and peace of mind you gave us during this time. Special thanks to the Wagner Avenue Church of Christ for the support of the Arnold and Wimbley families during this time of bereavement. You have always been our rock during hard times.

Edward David Harrison

Edward Harrison

his grandchildren. He was affectionately called “Grandpa”. Edward leaves to celebrate his life: his sons, Earl Harrison (Carol) of Sparta, Illinois, Leonard Jerome Harrison (Cynthia); ten grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren, cousins and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family.

Nixon should help heat up MO

By Gentry W. Trotter

For The St. Louis American

DaShon Lamont Haskin was born to Dennis Lamont Bigham and Ericka Nicole Haskin in St. Louis, MO on March 25, 2010. We celebrated DaShon’s birth and are now celebrating his going home to be with his protector. DaShon was an energetic young boy who just brightened up a room when he came into it. He was loved by many. God called Dashon home on January 8, 2014. He leaves behind to cherish his memories: his father, Dennis Lamont Bingham; mother, Ericka Nicole Haskin; his sister, Gabriella “Gabby” Haskin;

Edward David Harrison was born on December 31, 1927 in Starkville, Mississippi to the union of Joe Willie and Louise Harrison. He was the third of four children. His mother, father, siblings and two sons preceded him in death.

Edward received his education in Starkville. He was employed with American Car Foundry for 15 years until the company closed. He was also employed with Mississippi Valley Research for about five years.

Edward attended Mount Zion Missionary Church. Edward was united in holy matrimony to Anna Jean Wiggins on March 6, 1946. To this union, four sons were born, Edward, Earl, Leonard and Lamont.

Edward was full of life up until his sudden death. He loved hunting, fishing, and traveling the roads, especially to his beloved Mississippi. Edward loved his family and was very close to all

Remembering Cylesta

Porter

August 17, 1914 –March 6, 2013

Cylesta Porter passed away on March 6, 2013. Her family was hoping to celebrate her 100th birthday this year but God had other plans. She is fondly remembered by her loving daughter Portia (John) Simpson, two sons, Robert (Theresa) Porter and John Porter; nieces Portia (Richard) Sorden and Tonya Tanksley, and nephew, Duane (Cassandra) Sullivan.

Attention

St. Louis American Readers

As a service to the community, we list obituaries in the St. Louis American Newspaper, on a space-available basis and online at stlamerican. com. AT NO CHARGE. Please send all obituary notices to kdaniel @ stlamerican.com.

With one of the worst winters ever in Missouri and Illinois, Heat-Up St Louis and its 15 partnering social service, community action, governmental and utility partners are still beating the bushes for utility assistance dollars. The wolves are already at the doors of thousands of seniors and disabled on fixed incomes and working poor families, who are making decisions between eating or heating, paying the rent while their home heating budgets have sky-rocketed upwards in some cases to 35 percent.

Many Missourians are still baffled at Governor Jay Nixon’s decision to reallocate $15 million of LIHEAP dollars from the urban cores of Kansas City and St. Louis to that of about 15,000 propane households in outlying areas so they can have warmth. While Attorney General Chris Koster is investigating alleged price-fixing in the propane industry, why would any state official not entrust utility funds with those that are regulated through the Missouri Public Service Commission, the norm for Ameren Missouri and Laclede Gas? The propane industry is not regulated.

Most recently we participated in a Consumer Services Roundtable hosted by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) and its chair, attorney Robert Kenney. The diverse group with broad representation further focused on searching for dollars and new long-term, methods and procedures of improving the utility assistance arena. As far as I’m concerned, the system is broken. That’s one primary reason I created Heat-Up

St. Louis 14 years ago as a regional safety net. The roundtable representation included the Office of Public Counsel, Committee to Keep Missourians Warm, Department of Health and Senior Services, utilities and social service and community action agencies, who dispense Heat-Up St. Louis and other public and private utility funds that can be effectively bundled as leveraged fiscal resources drastically reducing high utility bills, often while packaging LIHEAP (federal) and Utilicare (state) dollars. Gov. Nixon has yet to fund the Utilicare program; the last time dollars flowed into our needy neighborhoods was during Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration. Being without a home heating source has historically become a health and safety issue. Winter time has the highest incidents of home fires throughout the nation. People keeping their primary heating disconnected while relying heavily on heaters and other gadgets have become financial and safety nightmares. In St. Louis city earlier this winter, a drastic fire produced the death of a small child, and fire officials discovered the use of 10 space heaters.

We are therefore puzzled why Gov. Nixon, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder or state lawmakers from the St. Louis region have not vigorously called for Utilicare funding. We call on Nixon and the Legislature to stand up now and help heat up Missouri. Trotter is founder and interim executive director of Heat-Up St, Louis, a regional, all-volunteer utility assistance charity. All public donations are used to service the needy.

Cylesta Porter

DaShon Haskin

Leanore Shivers

Gentry W. Trotter

Triplett admits to misusing campaign funds

Former St. Louis Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett admitted to misusing between $8,000 and $18,900 in campaign contributions in a consent order filed February 26 with the Missouri Ethics Commission, which enforces campaign law in Missouri.

She had raised the funds for Friends of Kacie Starr Triplett, the fundraising committee for her campaigns for 6th Ward alderman. In addition to the committee’s bank account, Triplett also admitted to misusing funds from its PayPal account.

She was first elected to the office in 2007 at the age of 26. She was reelected in 2011 and then resigned in 2012 to accept a consulting contract with Behavioral Health Network.

According to the filing with the commission, Triplett first submitted records of her misdeeds when the commission reviewed her committee in April 2013, after she had resigned from office. Her records were then subpoenaed by the commission on September 12, 2013.

Triplett misused the funds to pay for the basics, as well as frills, of her personal life. She admitted to paying $4,450 in mortgage fees, at least $2,763 in “food, beverage and entertainment,” $1,925 in credit card debt, at least $1,068 in “salon and spa services,” at least $1,021 from miscellaneous stores, more than $1,000 in phone bills, more than $640 in student loans and more than $450 in utility bills –all from her campaign funds. She also took at least $4,284 in cold cash from the campaign committee.

The earliest of these misuses of campaign funds noted in the consent order is February 3, 2010, late in her first term as alderman. The last date noted in the consent order is March 31, 2011, early in her second term that was quickly abbreviated by her resignation.

Triplett also admitted to eight other counts of filing irregularities and errors in the handling of her campaign account, including unreported

Ellinger won’t seek reelection

Missouri progressives were shook up on Monday when state Rep. Rory Ellinger, who had recently filed for reelection, announced he would discontinue his campaign because of health issues.

expenditures and falsely reported expenditures. To take one example among dozens, she paid her mortgage in $1,158.05 of campaign funds but reported it to the commission as a purchase of equipment from Best Buy.

In the consent order, Triplett agreed to pay the commission $100,000 in fees or $10,000 in fees within the next 45 days. This comes with the condition that if she violates any other campaign law within the next two years, she would owe the commission the remainder of the $100,000.

Needless to say, Triplett has announced no intention to reenter politics within the next two years. After the consent order was reported on Thursday, Triplett reportedly resigned from her consulting position with Behavioral Health Network.

Also on Thursday, Triplett sent a message by email to friends and supporters. “My actions were illegal and indefensible,” she wrote. “Regrettably, my mistakes resulted not from need, but from greed and selfishness. I fell into a behavior in which, if I desired something that I could not afford, I used my campaign funds to buy it. This was wrong.”

Since The American endorsed Triplett for reelection while she was indulging in this year-plus binge of lawbreaking, we are among those disappointed and offended by her extremely poor judgment. Let this be a stern lesson to other elected officials: You must live within your means, despite the temptations that surround politicians who are routinely wined and dined and offered glimpses of the good life. It is much better to say “no” up front than to say “sorry” when the humiliating news breaks later.

It’s not clear just how sorry she will be in the end, as the St. Louis circuit attorney is reportedly reviewing the matter. Triplett is not alone in her misjudgment. Most recently, former state Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis,

was fined more than $270,000 for allegedly spending $14,169 in campaign funds, including nearly $1,800 at a clothing boutique. She has appealed the ruling. View her consent order at http://mec.mo.gov/Scanned/ CaseDocsPDF/18758.pdf.

Bosley disputes findings

While on the subject of former elected officials in the (bad) news, former mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. has rejected the disciplinary recommendations from a three-person state panel and asked for a full briefing and argument before the Missouri Supreme Court.

The panel, appointed by the state Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel,

recommended that Bosley lose his law license for at least two years for mishandling clients’ funds. An attorney for Bosley said that Bosley “believes the panel’s recommendation contains mistakes in its factual findings and suggests an inappropriate sanction.”

“Fortunately, the Missouri Supreme Court Rules provide that a hearing panel’s recommendation is only a preliminary finding,” Bosley’s attorney noted.

“Mr. Bosley has already rejected the panel’s decision and will bring his case before the Missouri Supreme Court. He hopes the judges on that Court will conclude – based upon Mr. Bosley’s conduct, his character, and his past contributions to the profession and community – that Mr. Bosley should be able to continue representing his clients.”

“I will withdraw my candidacy for re-election,” Ellinger wrote in an email distributed by Jim Ross, veteran Missouri campaign consultant. “Late last week I received information from my cardiologist that in the future will require me to redirect my focus toward my health.”

At the time of his announcement, Ellinger was unopposed.

“I am announcing my withdrawal today in order to provide as much time as possible for residents of the 86th District to consider running for this seat; filing closes March 25,” Ellinger noted. “However, my office remains open and we will continue legislative work until my term ends in January 2015.”

Democrats have until March 25 to replace one of the Legislature’s most eloquent, outspoken and persistent advocates of the poor.

“I hope that whomever is chosen by the voters will carry on my commitment to helping the vulnerable and the powerless, to addressing issues of injustice and unfairness,” Ellinger wrote. The EYE seconds that.

Ellinger also offered some useful advice to whoever comes after him.

“My advice to my successor is that you can make a difference as a member of the minority party if you focus more on what Missourians need and stand on your principles,”

he wrote. “Seek out areas of agreement to move our laws forward, even a small amount.” He also made a good case for why one progressive vote matters in a Legislature with a right-wing Republican supermajority.

“In 2013 had just a very few votes changed, HB 253 would be in place today, bankrupting public education,” he noted. “Had a single vote changed, today we would criminalize law enforcement officers who enforced federal laws regarding machine guns. Had one vote changed we would institutionalize conspiracy theories regarding sharia law and the United Nations.”

Finally, Ellinger nobly speaks what should be the conscience of this district, which includes the liberal enclave of University City: “The 86th may comprise the most progressive district in Missouri; that carries with it an obligation to stand for the rights of the vulnerable, the disenfranchised, and the marginalized.”

High-paying players

On Monday the PostDispatch supplied some good number-crunching reporting on major political donors in Missouri.

Someone the EYE has never heard of before named Walker Moskop reported that of the 25 donors who gave the largest donations (of $5,000 or more) to candidates and ballot measure committees, only four were individuals: Rex Sinquefield, former Republican gubernatorial candidate David Spence (who spent $2 million on his own campaign), Tamko CEO David Humphreys of Joplin and Clayton businessman Sam Fox

This photo of then 6th Ward Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett chatting with then U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan was published in the Dec 1, 2010 edition of The American, when Triplett was in the middle of a binge of misusing campaign funds to pay her personal expenses. Later that month, for example, she would pay her electric bill with campaign funds.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Walnut Grove Elementary School 5th grade teacher

Ms. Milliano works with students Destiny Griffin 10, Lawrence McBride 11, Jacquelynn Moungwoolsord 11, and Kameron Scott 12, to learn the laws of weight and gravity for their STEM lesson. The school is in the Ferg/Flor School District.

St. Louis American

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: nie@stlamerican.com.

SCIENCE CORNER

Do you get complaints about the smell when you take off your shoes? Have you ever wondered what causes feet to stink? According to Kidshealth. org, bacteria are the culprit. Bacteria love dark, damp places and multiply in sweat; therefore, sweaty shoes are the perfect breeding ground. These bacteria will eat dead skin cells and oils from your skin. The bacteria release waste in the form of organic acids, which is what creates the foul odor. Some people have an odor much worse than others. Chances are, their feet have the bacteria Micrococcus sedentarius, which produce volatile sulfur compounds. If you’re curious what a volatile sulfur compounds smell like, think of the smell of a rotten egg.

Foot odor can be pretty embarrassing, so what can you do to prevent it?

q Be Clean. Bathe regularly and be sure to dry your feet completely when you are done.

w Wear the right socks: cotton, wools, and special knits

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Purpose: In this experiment, you will determine if you can recognize a person’s gender by their bare feet. The first thing you need to do is set a hypothesis, that states your beliefs. Maybe you feel that girls’ feet are easier to recognize. Maybe you feel that boys’ feet are easier to recognize.

Materials Needed:

20 volunteers (10 male and 10 female) who will let you take pictures of their feet • Camera • Black Poster Board • Post-It Notes • Felt Pen • Chart Survey to Record Your Data • 50 People to Survey

Recent guidelines suggest walking at least 10,000 steps per day. How far is 10,000 steps? The average person’s stride length is approximately 2.5 feet long. That means it takes just over 2,000 steps to walk one mile. If you take 10,000 steps, how many miles do you walk? _________

If you walked 10 miles, how many steps did you take?

A reasonable goal for most people is to increase average daily steps each week by 500 per day until they can easily average 10,000 per day. Example: If you currently average 3,000 steps each day, your goal for week one is 3,500 each

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTOR:

Jan Ernst Matzeliger

Why Do Feet Stink ?

are designed to absorb sweat so your feet can breathe. It’s important to change to dry socks when your socks become wet.

e Make sure your shoes aren’t too tight. Tight shoes cause your feet to sweat, which invites the bacteria.

r Rotate shoes. Switching your shoes gives them a chance to dry out and breathe.

t Kill the germs. Disinfectant spray and antibacterial soap can help kill bacteria.

y Wash your shoes and insoles. Be sure to dry them completely before wearing them again. Setting your shoes in the sun to dry can also help.

u Don’t wear shoes made of plastic. This type of material does not allow your foot to breathe.

i Go barefoot. Let your feet air out, especially at night.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text to find a cause and effect, problem and solution.

Procedure:

q Ask each volunteer to stand on a sheet of black poster board to make the pictures consistent. Place a numbered Post-it note in front of their feet so you can keep track of which feet belong to which age and gender. Then take the pictures. (Make sure no one is wearing anklets, toe rings or nail polish.)

w After you print the pictures, find 50 volunteers to survey. Show them each photograph and ask them to guess whether the feet belong to a male or female. Record their answers on a chart. For each picture, keep track of how many people guessed right, and how many guessed wrong.

Analyze: Compare the results with your hypothesis. Learning Standards: I can set a hypothesis and test its accuracy.

day. Your week two goal is 4,000 each day. Continue to increase each week. If the average person walks 3,500 steps per day, how many weeks would it take them to build up to 10,000 steps per day using this system? ___________

If you are starting a walking program, it is suggested that you walk for 30 minutes per day and build up to 60 minutes. If the average walking speed of a person is four miles per hour, how far will they walk in 30 minutes? ______ How far will they walk in 60 minutes? ______

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

In the United States, the

Jan Matzeliger was born on September 15, 1852, in the colony of Dutch Guiana. His father was an engineer and his work fascinated Jan, who joined him in machine shops at the age of 10. When he was 19, Matzeliger left home to travel as a sailor on an East Indian merchant ship. Two years later, he settled in Philadelphia. He worked for several years to learn English and struggled to find a job. In 1877, he moved to Lynn, Massachusetts, to find work in their shoe industry, which was thriving. He worked as an apprentice and learned the cordwaining trade, which meant creating shoes almost completely by hand.

As a cordwainer, he made molds of the customer’s feet with wood or stone (these were called “lasts”). These molds were used to shape the shoes. The molds were attached to the soles of the shoes by hand, which was very difficult and time consuming.

Matzeliger wanted to find a solution to this problem and he began thinking of machines that could do this job. On March 1, 1883, he received patent number 274,207 for his “lasting machine.” This machine held a shoe on a last, pulled the leather down around the heel, set and drove in nails, and then released a finished shoe. It could create up to 700 pairs of shoes a day, more than 10 times the amount of human hands. This allowed shoes to be created at a lower cost. With this machine, more unskilled workers were able to have a job, and more people were able to afford footwear. In Lynn, shops multiplied, the division of labor increased, and larger central shops were open. Lynn, Massachusetts, became known as the “shoe capital of the world.” In 1886, Matzeliger died at the age of 37 from tuberculosis. After his death, the United Shoe Machinery Company acquired his patent. 1n 1991, the United States Government issued a “Black Heritage” postage stamp in his honor

Discuss: Who was Matzeliger’s early inspiration? What caused him to create the machine? If you could create a machine to solve a problem, what would it be?

Learning Standards: I can read a biography of a person who has made contributions to the field of science, math, or technology.

MAP CORNER

Use the newspaper to to sharpen your skills for the MAP test.

Activity One — Sport for a Lifetime: Determine which sports mentioned in the newspaper would be the most beneficial to you as a lifetime sport. Explain why. Choose three details to support your opinion.

Activity Two — Scientific

Advancements: Collect ads for products and services that were not available 30 years ago. Discuss the scientific advancements that have made these new products and services available to the public.

Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write with a main idea and supporting details.

Photo: Wiley Price /

Forgotten names

We shouldn’t settle for remembering only the most famous

By Bernie Hayes

For The St. Louis American

Countless men and women demonstrated, protested, sacrificed, and bled for their basic entitlement of equality, but during AfricanAmerican History Month we appear to only distinguish or reflect on a select few. We recognize the same heroes and heroines over and over again, yet there are some with similar names as these champions

that we either do not know or choose to ignore. Many dedicated their lives to the pursuit of civil rights and equality, and I would like to compare a number of them who have comparable names.

Bernie Hayes

The entire world knows of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the activist preacher who was the most dominant figure in the Civil Rights Movement of the ‘50s and ‘60s; but there was another Martin. Martin Delany was a radical

pre-Civil War abolitionist, Black Nationalist, explorer of Africa and veteran of the American Civil War. His father was a slave, and all four of his grandparents had been captured in Africa and brought to America as slaves, but his mother was free, and by law this meant Delany was born free. From earliest childhood, he was told by his parents that his ancestors were African royalty. His family fled

north when his mother faced prosecution for educating her children.

We know and hear of the continuous activism of the Baptist Preacher Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was an aide to Dr. King and founder of the Rainbow-Push Coalition, and who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1984. But there were other heroes named Jackson.

We must remember Wharlest

Jackson, who was killed in February,1967 in Natchez, Mississippi. He was the treasurer of his local NAACP chapter and one of many blacks who received threatening Klan notices at his job. After Jackson was promoted to a position previously reserved for whites, a bomb was planted in his car. It exploded minutes after he left work one day, killing him instantly.

Another Jackson is Jimmie Lee Jackson, who on February 26, 1965 in Marion, Alabama was beaten and shot by state troopers as he tried to protect his grandfather and mother from a trooper attack on civil rights marchers. His death helped lead to the SelmaMontgomery march and the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act.

And there was a Jesse that we often fail to notice. His name is Jesse Owens. James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals.

We read and hear about George Washington Carver, who was born into slavery in Diamond, Missouri and became one of the most prominent scientists and inventors of his time, as well as a teacher at the Tuskegee Institute. Carver devised over 100 products, including dyes, plastics and gasoline, using one of these crops, the peanut. He died in 1943.

during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration. She was a legendary woman named Mary. But have you heard of Mary Ellen Pleasant? Almost 100 years before Rosa Parks, San Francisco resident Mary Ellen Pleasant sued a local transportation company for not letting her and other African Americans ride. She won. She also helped to establish the Bank of California. Pleasant earned her title as the “Mother” of California’s early freedom movement, establishing the local Underground Railroad. She financially supported John Brown from 1857 to 1859. In the 1860s and 1870s, Mrs. Pleasant brought several civil rights lawsuits in California, especially against the trolley companies, most of which she won.

Another Mary was “Stagecoach Mary” Fields. Stagecoach Mary was the first African-American woman employed as a mail carrier in the United States, driving her mail route by stagecoach from Cascade, Montana to St. Peter’s Mission, Montana.

n We recognize the same heroes and heroines over and over again, yet there are some with similar names as these champions that we either do not know or choose to ignore.

But there was also George Washington Williams, the author of “History of the Negro Race in America,” widely considered the first objective history of African Americans. He is famous for the oral histories he wrote detailing the experiences of black Americans during the American Civil War. In addition to being an author, Williams was also a pastor, attorney and the first African American to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives.

And there was the African American named George Washington who in 1875 founded Centralia, Washington. He was the son of a black slave, and a jack-of-all-trades who journeyed to the Pacific Northwest to create a new life.

Washington settled first in Oregon City, but within a few years crossed the Columbia River into what would soon become Washington Territory.

We read and honor Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, who rose from poverty to become one of the nation’s most distinguished African-American leaders and the most prominent black woman of her time. She was the central figure in the creation of Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida, a founder and president of the National Council of Negro Women, and a leading force in developing the black women’s organization movement. She was one of the few blacks to hold influential positions in the federal bureaucracy

There are so many more. For instance, I could compare Rev. Ralph Abernathy of SCLC with the great sprinter of the ‘30s, Ralph Metcalfe, who many will say was better than Jesse Owens. Metcalfe was at his best between the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. He won both sprints at the AAU and NCAA for three straight years (1932-34) and won the AAU 200m in 193536 to give him a record of five straight wins in this event.

Ralph Metcalfe later became well known in Chicago politics, serving on the city council under Mayor Daley for many years. In 1970, Metcalfe was elected to the U.S. Congress from the 1st District in Illinois, serving until his death. Did you know there was an African-American educator, newspaper publisher and politician named John Quincy Adams? He is best known as the editor of the Western Appeal/The Appeal of St. Paul, Minnesota from 1886 to 1922. Between 1876 and 1886 Adams lived in Louisville, Kentucky, where he taught school and was engaged in Republican Party politics at the state and national levels, serving as ganger and storekeeper in the United States Revenue Service. He lost that appointment with the election of Grover Cleveland in 1884. During that period, he and his brother Cyrus Field Adams published the weekly Louisville Bulletin between1879 and 1886. In 1880 Adams was responsible for convening the first Colored National Press Convention and was elected its first president. There are so many more that we do not know about or remember, but this perhaps will give you the incentive to research and not be satisfied with the few that we continue to celebrate time after time.

Martin Delaney

Jesse Owens Wharlest Jackson

Mary Ellen Pleasant

By Bridjes O’Neil

‘Gateway’ out of homelessness

New board chair has innovative ideas for emergency shelter

Of The St. Louis American

Derrick Thomas, newly elected board chairman of Gateway 180, is already strategically planned how he will strengthen and grow the state’s largest 24-hour family emergency shelter – and help more of its clients transition into homes. Gateway 180 is a resource for women, children and families experiencing the burden of homelessness.

n “I would like to see our organization control its destiny by creating its own income streams.”

– Derrick Thomas, board chairman of Gateway

Thomas began serving a twoyear term as board chairman on January 1, replacing former board chairman, Mike Stokes. Thomas said most nonprofits, like Gateway 180, typically rely on donations and grants from corporate endowments and government agencies.

“That’s all well and fine,” he said, “but I would like to see our organization control its destiny by creating its own income streams.” His plans include long-term goals like steering the board toward creating more avenues for transitional housing “or even acting as co-developer,” he said, “helping the agency create affordable housing of its own that it could own and operate.”

He said he will also utilize his personal network to recruit more talented and dedicated leaders to serve as board members and on the agency’s various committees.

Forest Park Forever is embarking on a $30 million capital improvement plan to add new signage, renovate the bathrooms, expand the paths and trails, give the horse police a new stable, and revamp the Muny parking lot –among other improvements.

Emerson commits $5M to Forest Park Forever

Capital improvement projects will follow city’s minority inclusion goals

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

Forever

said they were “thrilled” last week when they announced Emerson’s $5 million donation to the organization’s endowment and capital improvement projects. Emerson’s contribution is the largest gift Forest Park Forever has received from a publicly traded company. For park lovers, the timing couldn’t be better. The organization is embarking on a $30 million capital improvement plan to add new signage, renovate the bathrooms, expand the paths and trails, give the horse police a new stable, and revamp the Muny parking lot – among other improvements.

The capital projects are being funded through a $30-million bond

agreement between the City of Saint Louis and Forest Park Forever, signed in April 2013. As part of the agreement, the organization recently launched a campaign to raise private funds to help pay for the improvements. Also under the agreement, the project leaders will follow the city’s minority inclusion goals of

See EMERSON, B2

Crocodile tears over jobs

Eugene Robinson

been amusing to watch GOP grandees try to paint themselves as champions of the working stiff. This new appreciation for the struggles of low-wage earners was prompted by a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which estimates that raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10, as President Obama proposes, would result in the loss of 500,000 jobs. Never mind that about 25 million workers would get raises, according to the report, or that 900,000 people would be lifted out of poverty. A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, released a statement saying that the CBO report “confirms what we’ve long known” and that “our focus should be creating – not destroying – jobs.” Boehner is consistent on the

Constance G. Gully has joined the Eagle Bank and Trust Company Board of Directors. She is interim president at Harris-Stowe University and its executive vice president for business and financial affairs. Locally owned and operated, Eagle Bank and Trust has 12 locations throughout St. Louis, Jefferson County and in Perryville with over $900 million in assets.

David R. Noble has been named community development and CRA officer for Midland States Bank, which has assets of approximately $1.7 billion. He will spearhead Midland’s corporate-wide community development plan. He is an experienced banker and co-founder and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan St. Louis Community Reinvestment Act Association.

Sonya BrooksWhite has been appointed director of human resources for the City of Florissant, the largest city in St. Louis County with 52,000 residents, by Mayor Thomas P. Schneider. She previously served as human resources manager and deputy city clerk for the City of Ferguson, where she worked since 2003. Prior to that, she held positions with AT&T and Lucent Technologies.

Ola Ayeni is self-financing and opening Claim Office, intended as an entrepreneurial hub, in the Railway Exchange building downtown. He is founder and CEO of eateria, a $50,000 Arch Grant recipient in 2013. A veterinarian by training, he moved to the U.S. from Nigeria for more work opportunities and came to St. Louis from Naperville, Ill.

La Royce Gaines has been selected for the spring 2014 class of Coro Women In Leadership, a leadership training program for women. She is a full-time MBA student at Lindenwood University and works at the Duree Center for Entrepreneurship at Lindenwood as a graduate assistant. Previously she taught business in the Jennings and St. Louis Public school districts.

James H. Buford has been named to the Board of Directors for Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center. A native St. Louisan, Buford is a board member of the National Urban League, among other board commitments, and the longtime former president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Constance G. Gully

serves on the Homebuilder’s Association Board

the Affordable Housing Commission.

Photo by Wiley Price

David R. Noble Sonya BrooksWhite

Ola Ayeni

La Royce Gaines

James H. Buford

Derrick Thomas is the newly elected board chairman of Gateway 180, the state’s largest 24-hour family emergency shelter, and Kathleen Heinz Beach is its new executive director.

By Eugene Robinson

Self-employed? Don’t forget these tax-filing tips

By Jason Alderman

Calculating income taxes is a royal pain, even when your situation is uncomplicated enough that you can file a 1040EZ Form. And if you’re self-employed, be prepared for extra layers of complexity.

Not only must you file an annual return with numerous additional forms and schedules, you’re also responsible for paying quarterly estimated taxes, which can mean having to write a pretty hefty check while waiting for your clients to pay their overdue bills. Add in that you’re also responsible for funding your own health insurance and retirement and you may start to miss having an employer manage a portion of your financial affairs. (Although many people go into business

for themselves precisely to call their own shots.)

Here are a few things to remember when calculating your 2013 taxes:

n In addition to the home office deduction, you generally can deduct many other businessrelated expenses, including: legal and accounting fees, and professional dues and subscriptions.

First, some potentially good news for taxpayers who claim a home office deduction: You now may choose between the traditional method of calculating the business use of your home (which involves numerous calculations, filling out the onerous IRS Form 8829 and maintaining back-up records for years) and a new simplified option. Under the new, so-called “safe harbor” method, you can simply claim a standard deduction of $5 per square foot for the portion of your home used regularly and exclusively for business, up to a maximum of 300 square feet – a $1,500 limit.

EMERSON

Continued from B1

contracting at least 25 percent minority-owned businesses and at least 5 percent womenowned businesses.

The 13 million annual visitors take a toll on the park, and the organization relies heavily on private donations to care for it, said Lesley S. Hoffarth, Forest Park Forever president and executive director.

“Emerson has shown great leadership and generosity in supporting one of St. Louis’ most beloved civic treasures,” Hoffarth said.

In 2003, Emerson also participated in Forest Park Forever’s “Restoring the Glory” campaign and donated a $3 million lead gift for the restoration of the iconic and much-beloved Emerson Grand Basin. One of the most photographed landmarks in St. Louis, the Emerson Grand

Basin has become a marker of Forest Park Forever’s successful restoration efforts.

“St. Louis is home to Emerson’s corporate headquarters and hundreds of employees, so we have a responsibility to this community to help enrich our cultural institutions like Forest Park,” said Patrick J. Sly, Emerson executive vice president.

Steve Finerty, chairman of the Forest Park Forever Board of Directors, said, “Emerson’s sustained investment in Forest Park is truly inspiring.”

Contrast that with the traditional method where you must calculate actual expenses of your home office expressed as a percentage of the square footage your home office consumes. For example, if your office takes up 12 percent of your house, you can deduct 12 percent of your electricity bill.

A few additional details:

• You can choose either method from year to year; however, once you’ve elected a method for a given tax year

n “We have a responsibility to this community to help enrich our cultural institutions like Forest Park.”

– Patrick J. Sly, Emerson executive vice president

Forest Park is the nation’s seventh largest urban park – 60 percent larger than New York’s Central Park. Park planners want to make sure it remains one of the region’s favorite places

to visit by making these new improvements, Hoffarth said. During the winter months, the park closes down all but two bathrooms and most water fountains to ensure that the pipes don’t freeze and burst. However, with the new design, park planners will be turning several bathrooms into heated year-round restrooms. And rather than isolated huts, they will also look more like “gathering spots” with benches, bike racks and plantings. The trails around the park are mostly well connected, but some paths drop off in the middle of the park, Hoffarth said. Along with improving entrances, project leaders will be sewing up any gaps in the trail system, including routing a cross-park connector.

Currently, some ponds and

it’s irrevocable.

• Under the safe-harbor method you cannot depreciate the portion of your home used for business in that particular year.

• With the new method you can still claim allowable mortgage interest, real estate taxes and insurance losses as itemized deductions on Schedule A. These deductions don’t have to be allocated between personal and business use, as under the traditional method.

streams aren’t accessible because of tall grasses and weeds. But in other areas, park engineers have already put flat rocks around the water, so people can sit and get close to the water. Hoffarth said they will continue to do that throughout the park. Engineers also will connect some park ponds with its river to aerate the water and reduce the park’s dependence on tap water.

Construction on the Muny parking lot’s redesign will most likely begin in 2015.

Other future plans include building a playground and walking paths off of Carr Lane, as well as upgrading Central Field with pathways and more accessible restrooms.

Hoffarth said gifts like Emerson’s make all these improvements possible.

“Through its support of Forest Park’s improvement projects and endowment,” she said, “the legacy of Emerson’s gift will last for generations.”

You’ll need to weigh whether the recordkeeping hours you save justify the potentially smaller deduction –especially if you have a large home office or considerable deductions. Suggestion: Look at last year’s deduction and compare what it would have been using the $5 per square foot calculation, factoring in time spent doing the math.

A few other selfemployment tax-filing considerations:

• In addition to the home office deduction, you generally can deduct many other business-related expenses, including: legal and accounting fees; professional dues and subscriptions; business insurance and licenses; professional training and education; professional equipment and software; maintenance/repairs; and business-related mileage, travel and entertainment.

• You can also deduct the full cost of medical, dental, vision and long-term care

insurance premiums for you, your spouse and dependents, even if you don’t itemize deductions.

• For more details on business expenses and deductions, see IRS Publication 535 (www.irs.gov). Also visit the IRS’ Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center.

Bottom line: Income taxes are often more complicated for self-employed people and good recordkeeping is essential. Unless you’re an accounting whiz, consider hiring a tax professional or financial planner who specializes in self-employment issues. The penalties and fees they can help you avoid – and hidden deductions they can uncover –will probably more than pay for their fees.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To participate in a free, online Financial Literacy and Education Summit on April 2, 2014, go to www. practicalmoneyskills.com/ summit2014.

Business BrieFs

World Wide Technology sponsors Muny season with $150K

World Wide Technology made a leadership gift of $150,000 to become the Muny’s 2014 season presenting sponsor – the first overall season sponsor in its 96-year history.

“World Wide Technology is committed to The Muny and to making exceptional musical theatre accessible to everyone,” said David Steward, World Wide Technology chairman and founder.

The Muny’s 2014 season opens on June 16 with “Billy Elliot: The Musical,” followed by “Tarzan,” The Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess,” “The Addams Family,” “Seussical: The Musical,” “Grease” and “Hello, Dolly!” New season tickets are available beginning March 8. For more information, visit www.muny.org.

Firm handling suit against producer of recalled dialysis drug

The national law firm of Baron and Budd is now handling lawsuits for people who have experienced sudden heart issues or died during or shortly after dialysis treatments. The lawsuit is related to the recall of GranuFlo, the brand name of a product used in dialysis. Baron and Budd is currently working with hundreds of patients and their families and has an active role on a national scale in this important litigation.

On June 27, 2012, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class I recall of GranuFlo, saying that use of GranuFlo can lead to metabolic alkalosis in patients, which can cause low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiopulmonary arrest and death.

If you or someone you know has undergone dialysis treatments and experienced a heart attack, cardiac arrest or even death, contact Baron and Budd at 866-472-9108 or visit http:// baronandbudd.com.

SBA Emerging Leaders deadline is March 16

The application deadline for the SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative is Sunday, March 16. The SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative is a federal training initiative that specifically focuses on executives of businesses poised for growth in historically challenged communities.

It is open to small business owners and executives that have annual revenues of at least $400,000, have been in business for at least three years and have at least one employee other than self. The only cost is the time and commitment to complete the curriculum over the course of seven months.

For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/ emergingleaders or contact Angie Wells at 314-539-6613 or angela.wells@sba.gov.

STLCC to host ProductCamp St. Louis on March 29

The Workforce Solutions Group of St. Louis Community College will host ProductCamp St. Louis 2014 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Corporate College, 3221 McKelvey Rd. in Bridgeton. ProductCamp is a free, participant-driven, collaborative conference on topics relevant to anyone who builds, designs, markets or manages a product or service that was first held in Silicon Valley in 2008. Individuals are invited to submit an entry to lead a session in your area of expertise, and volunteers also are needed to assist with activities prior to and after the event. To learn more about the event, visit www.stlpm.org/productcamp. To RSVP, visit www.stlpm.org/productcamp/register.

“I can’t go anymore. It was a pleasure playing with you.”

– Tiger Woods to Luke Guthrie, as he withdrew from the Honda Classic with a lower back injury

PreP Football Notebook

With Earl Austin Jr.

The Missouri Class 3 state quarterfinals will be held on Saturday at Jefferson College and Moberly Area Junior College. The winners of Wednesday night’s sectional contests will move on to the quarterfinals. At Jefferson College, the girls’ game will be at 1 p.m., followed by the boys game at 2:45 p.m. At Moberly, the girls will play

In Class 3, Madison Prep defeated Carnahan for the District 3 title as they began defense of its state championship. Senior forward Arlando Cook scored 22 points. The Carnahan girls won the District 3 championship. In District 4, it was a Cardinal Ritter sweep as both its boys and girls

The post-trade deadline NBA reminds me of those reality shows where people blindly bid on confiscated storage units, hoping to cash in big. Though the deadline passed without much of a whimper, the deals made after the trade deadline, involving players who were traded and/or released, could have a heavy impact on the playoffs. Eleven deadline deals went down this season, but most of them involved old and/ or average players being exchanged for cigarettes and car wash coupons other non-essential players or draft picks. The exceptions both involved the Philadelphia 76ers, who moved rising star Evan Turner and some guy (Lavoy Allen) for former Indiana Pacers’ AllStar Danny Granger. The Sixers also dealt away Spencer Hawes, one of the few decent centers in the league, to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Earl Clark, Henry Sims and two second round

Whitield’s basketball team celebrates following a 45-39 win over Maplewood-Richmond Heights winning the 2014 Missouri State High School Class 3 District 4 Basketball Tournament.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Claib’s Call

With Mike Claiborne

Blacks still left outside the ropes in golf

JUPITER, FLA – Recently

I attended a PGA event called the Honda Classic. It is considered one of the top events on the tour that is not a “Major.” This year the tournament had a field that featured eight of the top 10 golfers in the world, including Tiger Woods. The great Jack Nicklaus was even in attendance, not to mention the estimated 250,000 fans who showed up for the four-day event. Perfect weather, great crowds and good golf until the final nine holes was what they came to see. There was one thing missing ... no African Americans. Oh, there were the ones you normally see at Forest Park or Norwood Hills Country Club, who dress the part as they keep up with whatever Tiger is wearing this week. I learned long ago, no matter what you think and wear and how much you pay for it, golf is a sport where you cannot buy a game to go with your nice outfit, even Tiger’s.

Mike Claiborne

absolutely no one. No other African American has won a PGA event since Tiger Woods made his debut. We have seen players from places like the Fiji Islands win, people who come from places that are hard to find on a big map; people from around the globe who have been inspired by Tiger Woods to play golf are winning tournaments. But there has not been an African American who has even made the cut in a PGA event. Surely you would think that after all the time, money and energy invested in such a project, there would be at least one, but that is not the case.

To make matters even more concerning, it is hard to find a black caddie on the tour. This was a job that whites would have had nothing to do with years ago, as this was a way many blacks learned how to play the game when the course was closed to patrons and members. That job is no longer to be had.

n Now you know why the black caddie has almost gone the way of the dinosaur in some tour events.

It has been 18 years since Tiger Woods came onto the scene for the game of golf. The sport was struggling with its identity, image and lack of a face for the game – until Tiger hit town. He opened the doors for a younger, less affluent audience, as well as people of color. Not just for people from the inner city, but for people all around the world, Tiger Woods was here to save the game. TV ratings went up, revenue went up, courses were being built at a rapid pace to accommodate the new participants and, yes, black people were starting to pick up clubs and take up the sport. Some made the mistake of not taking lessons, but that is a story for another day. Millions of dollars have been poured into youth and minority golf programs, and never was there a greater race than to see who the next Tiger Woods would be.

Well, after 18 years of searching, the results are in:

Considering the fact that the money is so much better for the players, some caddies now make at least 10 percent of the winnings that week. Russell Henley won just over a million dollars for winning the Honda Classic last week. Simple math tells me that his caddie could have pocketed $100,000 dollars. Now you know why the black caddie has almost gone the way of the dinosaur in some tour events.

One thing is for sure, golf is a very challenging sport to play when it comes to making money. There are only 125 players on the tour who have qualified to play. Others are sent to what some would consider a golfer’s Devil’s Island, which is called “Q” school – a grueling series of golf rounds, where last man standing is the winner. Winning at “Q” school only affords you the opportunity to go out and play on the tour if there is a spot open. Making the cut to play for money on the weekend is the next near

Despite the success that

on the PGA Tour.

mission impossible.

Cashing a check is next, provided you cash enough checks during the year where you are one of the top 125 money winners. If not, see you at “Q” school again. One can only compete at this for so long before other career options are considered.

The fact that there are not

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Continued from B3

draft picks that they can only hope will like turn out as extraregular as Clark and Sims.

Clearly the Sixers organization is positioning itself to fail in hopes of landing in one of the top three draft positions. That would grant the team a shot at one of the fierce freshmen atop draft boards everywhere: Joel Embiid (Kansas), Jabari Parker (Duke) and Andrew Wiggins (Kansas). Why else would the team agree to move Hawes for nothing and acquiesce to Granger’s request for a buyout, so he could sign with a playoff contender? It’s a common occurrence known

over the years, it has not translated into more African

enough African Americans inside the ropes at PGA events is concerning. While the game has grown among those who do not make a living at it, we are still short on names of who may be the next Tiger Woods. I say that only in color terms and not in skill, as there may not ever be a golfer who dominated the

as tanking. Every season a few cellar-dwelling teams do it. Every season those same cellar dwellers deny it. This season, the Los Angeles Clippers have cashed in most from the midseason giveaways, signing Granger and Glen “Big Baby” Davis for the rest of the season in moves that add depth to one of the major players in the West. Davis was bought out by the Orlando Magic, another cellardwelling, draft-dreaming team. If he stays healthy, Granger could potentially steal away Matt Barnes’ starting spot at

game like he has.

I am not sure what the next step to remedy this problem should be. I am out of answers, as I have seen African Americans excel at virtually every other sport they have been introduced to on a fair basis.

The golf industry has made millions off of African

n Clearly the Sixers organization is positioning itself to fail in hopes of landing in one of the top three draft positions.

small forward for the Clippers. Davis won’t start, but provides a gritty, tough rebounder who can put the ball in the basket. The Clippers weren’t the only playoff-bound team to activate a free upgrade. The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Caron Butler (Milwaukee Bucks) to bolster its playoff run. The injury-prone swingman has seen better days, but his presence is greatly appreciated in OKC after learning Thabo Sefalosha will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a calf strain. Like Granger, if Butler can funnel his inner-IceJJFish and stay on the floor, he should make an impact for the Thunder.

In the East, the Chicago Bulls got in on the mix by signing Jimmer Fredette (Sacramento Kings). The sharp-shooting Fredette never lived up to expectations in Sacramento, but his long-range prowess could be exactly what Chicago needs. Tom Thibodeau’s team is full of grit and grind, but needs someone to help stretch the floor. Let’s not overstate things, Chicago has no shot at winning the East, but Fredette could help them win a series. The same can be said for the Memphis Grizzlies

Americans since Tiger’s arrival, when it comes to merchandise and participation. The sport has also reinvested into that same community, and yet the wait continues to have more professional participation, be it as player, caddy or administrator.

back in the West, who signed Beno Udrich (New York Knicks).

Pacers and Cavs tops in trades

As far as playoff contenders who actually made trades instead of playing the vulture game, the Pacers and Cavaliers came out on top (thanks to the 76ers). Although Granger and Turner are strikingly similar players, Turner is five years younger and less injury-prone. Though his contract is up after this season, he gives the Pacers a super sub for the playoff run and could be signed to a contract extension if Lance Stephenson goes to the highest bidder. Listing the Cavaliers as playoff contenders seems wrong, but they are currently sitting just 3.5 games out of the 8th and final playoff position. The team is playing much better than the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons, the two teams seemingly standing in the way. Once Anderson Varajao, CJ Miles and Dion Waiters return from injury, they will join Hawes and the rest of the team for a strong push for that 8th seed.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk and on Google+.

Tiger Woods has enjoyed

Americans playing

Reed leads STLCC to championship

Former McCluer North coach succeeding at college level

By Earl Austin Jr.

American

Louis

Of The St.

The St. Louis Community College men’s basketball team won the National Junior College Division II Region 16 championship last weekend.

The Archers defeated Penn Valley 76-74 in the championship game, which was played in Lexington, Mo. With the victory, the Archers advance to play MidSouth Community College in Memphis on Saturday night. The winner of that game will advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Danville, Ill. next week.

STLCC is led by coach Randy Reed, who took over this season after leading McCluer North High to three state championships and four Final Four appearances during his stellar 16-year prep coaching career. Reed was a former All-American player at STLCC in the late 1970s.

The Archers were led by Randy Reed, Jr. the coach’s son, who scored 20 points in both the championship game and the Archers’ semifinal victory over North Central.

The 6’5” Reed was named the Most Valuable Player of the

Continued from B3

percent from the floor (162of-336), including a team-high 56 3-pointers in 163 attempts (34.4 pct.), and has made 117of-142 free throws (82.4 pct.). Foster has scored 20 or more points in 14 contests, including a career-high 36 points against Truman State University. Foster has recorded eight double-doubles this year and is one of only eight players in NCAA Division II to record a triple-double this season, which was the first in school history. He has led the Miners in scoring 12 times. He is the leading active scorer in the GLVC with 1,596 career points, good for fourth place on Missouri S&T’s alltime scoring charts. He also stands second in career games played (109), third in career field goals made (568), and fifth in career 3-pointers made (187).

The son of Greg Foster, the silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1984 Summer

HOOPS

Continued from B3

p.m., Girls, Friday, 5:30 p.m. District 6 (at Fort Zumwalt East), Boys, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Girls, Friday, 5:30 p.m. District 7 (at Hazelwood West), Boys, Saturday, noon, Girls, Saturday, 2 p.m. District 8 (at SLUH), Boys, Friday, 7 p.m.; Girls, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Region 16 Tournament. Guard Jake Hensel added 15 points in the championship game while guard Cortez Conners (Webster Groves) added 12 points. Reed, Jr. and Conners were both named to the All-Region

16 team while Randy Reed was named the Region 16 Coach of the Year. Conners has signed with Cal-State Bakersfield in the fall while Reed is currently being recruited by several Division I schools.

MVC comes to STL

Undefeated Wichita State is No. 1 seed

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St. Louis American

The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament returns to the Scottrade Center this weekend with the Wichita State Shockers looking to continue its historic season. Wichita State enters “Arch Madness” as the No. 1 seed after its 31-0 regular season. The Shockers, who are ranked No. 2 in the country, went undefeated while defeating opponents by an average of 16 points a game. They advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 2013, losing to eventual national champion Louisville.

Here is this week’s schedule for the MVC Postseason Tournament:

Thursday, March 6

8 Drake vs. 9 Evansville, 6:05 p.m.

7 Bradley vs. 10 Loyola, 8:35 p.m.

Friday, March 7

1 Wichita State vs. Drake/Evansville winner, 12:05 p.m.

4 Missouri State vs. 5 Illinois State, 2:35 p.m.

2 Indiana State vs. Bradley/Loyola winner, 6:05 p.m.

3 Northern Iowa vs. 6 Southern Illinois, 8:35 p.m.

Saturday, March 8 Semifinals, 1:35 p.m. and 4:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 9 Championship Game, 1:05 p.m. (KMOVTV)

play this weekend’s

will play Bradley on Thursday night at 8:35 p.m.

Local players in the MVC: Christian Thomas of Loyola (Clayton), Keith Pickens of Missouri State (Oakville), Nathan Scheer of Missouri State (Borgia), Addison Joseph of Drake (Clayton) and Darrion Harris of Bradley (Whitfield).

Prep Athletes of the Week

n “Bryce has exemplified how a true student-athlete should conduct oneself academically, athletically and socially.”

– Missouri S&T head coach Jim Glash

Olympics and a world record holder in the hurdles, the younger Foster has enjoyed an illustrious career for the Miners. He led the team in scoring as a freshman and sophomore at 13.0 and 14.9 points per game, respectively. As a junior in 2011-12, he dropped to 10.5 points a game, good for second on the team. A year ago Bryce Foster averaged 13.2 points over the first six games before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Foster is the fourth Missouri S&T student-athlete to earn the nation’s top academic honor and first from the men’s

Class 4 District 3 (at Hillsboro), Boys, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Girls, Friday, 6 p.m. District 4 (at DuBourg), Boys, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Girls, Friday, 5:30 p.m. District 5 (at Vashon), Boys, Saturday, 2 p.m.; Girls, Saturday, noon District 6 (at MICDS), Boys, Saturday, 4 p.m.; Girls, Saturday, 2 p.m. District 7 (at St. Charles), Boys, Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

basketball program. Volleyball player Jennifer Costello earned the award following the 2012 season, while swimmers Jack Pennuto and Bill Gaul were the recipients of the award in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

The Capital One Academic All-American program is a student-athlete recognition program administered by College Sports Information Directors of America. The program selects an honorary sports team composed of the most outstanding student athletes of a specific season for positions in various sports, who in turn are given the honorific “Academic All-American.”

“In his senior season, Bryce has continued to provide our younger players with an almost perfect example of how to work for successes, both academically and athletically,” said Coach Glash.

“Most importantly, his determination to meet and succeed all academic obligations at Missouri S&T has allowed him to set himself up to be very successful in his future professional endeavors.

Big finish for Suggs

Washington High senior guard Ronnie Suggs closed out his regular season in a big way last week. The 6’6” Suggs had 41 points and nine rebounds to lead the Bluejays past Oakville 78-47. He followed up with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, including six of seven from 3-point range, in an 82-34 victory over Warrenton. Suggs finished the regular season averaging 23.2 points a game.

Shawn Roundtree

Edwardsville – Boys Basketball

The 6’0” senior guard has been a major cog in the Tigers’ run to the Southwestern Conference championship.

Roundtree had 25 points and nine assists in the Tigers’ 72-57 victory over Alton in a big conference showdown at Alton. He closed out the regular season with 20 points and nine assists in a 57-36 victory over Belleville East.

For the season, Roundtree is averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 assists a game. He is shooting 43 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the free throw line for the Tigers, who finished the regular season at 25-2.

Roundtree has received offers from Division I schools such as UMKC, Eastern Illinois, Furman and Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Eddie Longmeyer

Pattonville – Boys Basketball

The 6’2” senior guard is one of the top players in the Suburban North Conference. Longmeyer had 25 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Pirates 64-50 victory over Howell North to close the regular season. He had 25 points in a 72-48 victory over McCluer and a season-high 40 points and 10 rebounds in a recent victory over Hazelwood West. For the season, Longmeyer is averaging 22 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range. Pattonville opened play in the Class 5, District 3 Tournament against Parkway North this week.

Coach Randy Reed (center) of St. Louis Community College, poses with top players Randy Reed Jr. (left) and Cortez Conners (right) after the Archers won the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Region 16 Championship last week.

Former Clayton High standout Christian Thomas (#32) returns to his home town to

Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at the Scottrade Center. Thomas’ Loyola University team

The Affordable Housing Commission financially supports the agency’s emergency shelter program and is an integral piece of Mayor Francis G. Slay’s 10-year plan to end homelessness in St. Louis, Thomas said. Thomas was hired as a general contractor to help design and construct a new recreational backyard space for children temporarily housed at Gateway 180. The space came to be known as Mack’s Backyard, named after fouryear-old Mack, a client who told staff the hardest part about being homeless was not having his own backyard. In 2013, the agency provided emergency shelter to 547 children, with an average age of seven. Amenities – like Mack’s Backyard or a mural of smiling playful children painted years ago by children who were clients at the emergency shelter – make the

agency seem more like home. Thomas will work closely with newly appointed Executive Director Kathleen Heinz Beach, who is uniquely qualified to serve the agency, he said. Beach replaces former Executive Director Martin Rafanan and recently served as interim director and as a board member. As a board member, Thomas had a vote in Beach’s appointment to executive director.

“Kathleen has a sincere nature in fulfilling the mission of Gateway 180. She has a genuine rapport in engaging with the clients,” Thomas said. “Her transition will provide greater stability for our organization as we continue to serve the most vulnerable families in our community.”

The agency strives to end homelessness in metro St. Louis by providing families with the necessary tools to help them become both independent and permanently housed. The agency is a member of the St. Louis Continuum of Care for Ending Homelessness, a collaborative network of over

60 providers of health, social and domestic violence services.

The emergency shelter is one of four housing programs at the agency that includes traditional housing, Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing. Between the agency’s four housing programs, the agency served 1,122 people in 2013.

Beach said the agency’s Permanent Supportive Housing program is the agency’s largest potential growth area. The program offers Section 8 housing with clients paying 30 percent of their income and is open to qualifying families who have graduated from the emergency shelter program.

“We welcome families into our emergency shelter on what is often the worst day of their lives and we give them hope,” Beach said. “Thanks to the support we receive from the St. Louis community and the hard work of our staff, they will never be homeless again.”

For more information, visit www.gateway180.org/. The emergency number is 314-8025444.

JDRF presented Edward Jones with the 1st Place Corporate Walk to Cure Diabetes fund raising team award recently at the JDRF Corporate Walk Awards Luncheon held at The Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop. “JDRF corporate partners consistently go above and beyond in their efforts to raise money for type 1 diabetes research,” said Ally Bartholomew, development manager for JDRF Greater Missouri and Southern Illinois Chapter. “With their support, we are able to increase the amount of research we fund. Our partners take us into their corporate families and make JDRF a part of their culture.”

ROBINSON

Continued from B1

issue, at least, if at times a bit overdramatic: In 1996, when he was head of the House Republican Conference, he said in an interview with The Weekly Standard that “I’ll commit suicide before I vote on a clean minimum wage bill.” The purpose of raising the minimum wage is to give those at the bottom of the pay scale something that more closely approximates a living wage. It strikes me as obscene for conservatives to prattle on about the “dignity of work” when workers can toil long and hard in full-time jobs and yet their families can still be poor and in need of government assistance.

Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that the CBO report is right in its analysis and projections. And let’s take Republicans at their word that they are inconsolably distraught about the prospect of seeing 500,000 jobs disappear. Boehner and his colleagues should simply look at a few prior CBO reports. They’ll see how all those jobs, plus a lot more, can be recovered. First: extend the long-term unemployment benefits that expired at the end of last year. According to the CBO – whose

word, apparently, is now holy writ among Republicans – this simple measure would add 200,000 jobs, perhaps as many as 300,000. If Republicans would go along, we’d be more than halfway toward erasing the loss from increasing the minimum wage. The CBO has estimated that canceling the acrossthe-board reductions in federal spending known as “sequestration” would preserve 900,000 jobs a year. Democrats have been trying mightily to get these budget cuts repealed. Republicans, given their newfound concern about workers, surely now will concur that the spending must be restored, right?

That gives us more than 1 million jobs to replace the 500,000 lost from hiking the minimum wage. But Republicans wouldn’t want to stop there. To maximize employment, putting as many people to work as possible, the GOP should obviously begin designing a new economic

stimulus package.

According to the CBO, Obama’s $800 billion stimulus – much maligned by Republicans as a waste of money – created or saved an average of 1.6 million jobs per year from 2009 through 2012. Clearly it’s time to give job-creation another boost.

Am I holding my breath for Boehner to unveil the trilliondollar Full Employment Stimulus Act of 2014? Of course not. The GOP’s sudden commitment to job creation is a sham. Far-right Republican orthodoxy opposes raising the minimum wage on ideological grounds, not because of some commitment to full employment.

There was a time when both major political parties understood the phrase “dignity of work.” Obama and the Democrats still believe that no one who works full time should have to be poor. Despite their new rhetoric, Republicans obviously disagree.

Financial Focus

By Aaron Ezell, financial advisor

Left to right: Rich Unnerstall, LaSheena Ayuso and Patrick Culleton.

Edward Jones leads way in JDRF fundraising

Photo by Dave Myers

Cbabi finishes ‘365 Days with Dad’

Local artist painted a year of black fatherhood

By Nancy Fowler

St. Louis Public Radio

but it turned into a two-year endeavor for reasons including the fact that the father of three spends as much time parenting as he does painting.

When Bayoc began “365 Days with Dad,” his daughter Jurni was 11. Now she’s blossomed into a teenager, who’ll start driving in three years. For now, Bayoc’s the one driving Jurni and her younger brothers Ajani and Borago around, living what he paints.

“I go get the kids at 3:30, come home, sit down for a second, maybe paint a little more, get them to wash the dishes,” Bayoc said.

Oscar is the new black Oscar is the new black

Major milestones for people of color at 86th

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Who could forget back in 2001 when the 74th Annual Academy Awards were unofficially dubbed “the year of the black Oscar”?

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington captured the world’s attention with their leading performance awards, and Sydney Poitier was awarded a special honorary Oscar.

Berry became the first woman of color to win a “Best Actress” award for her role in “Monster’s Ball.” Washington (“Training Day”) and Will Smith (“Ali”) became the first two men of color to be nominated together in “Best Actor” category.

Well, after 2014, the 2001 Academy Awards will have to be remembered as something else.

How fitting (yet underreported) that on the 75th anniversary of Hattie McDaniel’s win as the first black to bring home Oscar gold – and the 60th anniversary of Dorothy Dandridge’s “Best Actress” nod for her performance in “Carmen” –barriers were still being blown down for blacks at the Academy Awards.

Considered to be the darling of this year’s Oscars, “Best Supporting Actress” winner Lupita Nyong’o’s deep chocolate skin beamed almost as brightly as her statue when she lifted it to the heavens.

The image of her doing so will personify the 2014 Oscars for future generations – as will her “12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen jumping for joy across the stage after the film captured “Best Picture” honors.

And while the film’s three wins – also including “Best Adapted Screenplay” for John Ridley – made “12 Years a

See OSCARS, C4

“When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me – and every little child – that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.”

– Lupita Nyong’o

Jeer at the villain Tef Poe tells cautionary tale in debut album

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“I was still washing dishes at a restaurant when I got these beats,” rapper Tef Poe said as he talked about the release of his latest project. “When I was listening to these tracks, I had no idea what type of personal transformation I was about to go through and the things I was about to see.”

He hid his laptop and would squirrel away during his shift to write rhymes for the tracks during his breaks.

Faith on stage

St., March 7-9.

Jimonn Cole returns to St. Louis in ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“There’s a line in the play that says ‘to have faith is to have wings,’” said Jimonn Cole, one of the stars of the touring production of “Peter and the Starcatcher.” “I’ve actually taken that line as a personal mantra for myself.”

He’ll play the villain (and a host of other characters) on stage when the production comes to the Peabody Opera House this weekend.

“It’s the prequel, so it’s not the story of Peter Pan, but more of how things came to be – like how Hook got his name and why Peter never grew up,” Cole said. The play premiered on Broadway in 2009 and went on to win an Obie, a Drama Desk and five Tony Awards.

“Most theatre going on right now is very technical,” Cole said. “This is a play with 12 actors on stage who become everything –we become walls, we become the furniture, and we change characters with the switch of a light.” Over the course of the evening, Cole

be doing this forever?’ Then I just got to the point where I was like, ‘If I don’t make some choices and some bold moves and really put my feet down, I don’t have a chance.’”

“There’s no Def Jam in St. Louis; there’s no Interscope in St. Louis,” Poe said. “You can’t go to Dellwood and stop See TEF POE, C4 Though

“That was a real dark time for me,” Poe said. “I was like, ‘Man … am I going to

He had been spinning his wheels on the hip-hop scene since the early 2000s – doing shows and making mixtapes that made him popular in St. Louis and abroad, but he couldn’t pay the bills.

Bayoc began his series of fatherhood portraits out of necessity. His canvases and his wife’s cupcakes and cookies from their

SweetArt Bakery and restaurant in South City weren’t bringing in

Tef Poe will perform selections from his debut album “Cheer for the Villain” at 8 p.m. Friday, March 7 at Vintage Vinyl,

Of

Jimonn Cole stars in the national tour of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” which comes to the Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market

Painting by Cbabi Bayoc, from his “365 Days with Dad” project

See CBABI, C4

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts

Thur., Mar. 6, 7 p.m., The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Colored Sky, An Evening of St. Louis Jazz. Join Diversity Awareness Partnership for an evening with nationally known jazz artists: Feyza Eren, Scott Sheperd and Steve Davis. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.dapstl.org.

Through Mar. 8, Jazz St. Louis presents Sean Jones Quartet. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Through March 8, Jazz St. Louis presents Sean Jones Quartet. 3536 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Mar. 8, 7:30 & 9 p.m., Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels presents Chrisette Michele. 999 N. Second St., 63103.

Sun., Mar. 9, 6 p.m., The Bistro at Grand Center presents Andre Delano. Andre Delano has demonstrated his amazing ability to woo a crowd with his saxophone time and time again. 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Thur., Mar. 13, 8 p.m., The Fox Theater presents Experience Hendrix. Celebrate the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Mar. 15, 7 p.m., Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels presents Kevin Eubanks. 999 N. Second St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 881-7777.

Sat., Mar. 15, 8:15 p.m., The Sheldon presents Renée

Fleming - Sheldon Gala 2014. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.sheldonconcerthall. org.

Sat., Mar. 15, 7 p.m., Parkway Instructional Service Center host Spring Concert. Come enjoy live entertainment by the “Splen . Dour “ Band as they bring you the hottest spring concert for 2014 with live music from R&B, Blues, Motown, Neo Soul & more. 12657 Fee Fee Rd., 63146. For more information, contact Ossie Wallace (314)-458-5056.

Wed., Mar. 19, 8 p.m., The Sheldon presents A Celebration of Art and Sound. Celebrate and support the return of classical music to the St. Louis airwaves by attending this inaugural evening of outstanding performances. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Thur., Mar. 20, Kwame Foundation presents Live Your Dream Concert Hosted by Jade Harrell of Magic 100.3/Hallelujah 1600. Performances by Brianna Elise & Trio. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com.

Sat., Mar. 22, 9 p.m., The Ambassador presents K. Michelle. 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Tues., Mar. 25, 7:30 p.m., The Sheldon presents St. Louis Jazz Orchestra. The St. Louis Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Jim Widner, is St. Louis’ premier big band, focusing on the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson and others, as well as contemporary music. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Mar. 29, 9 p.m., The Ambassador presents The R&B at its Best Tour feat. Dru Hill, J. Holiday, Johnny Gill. 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

local gigs

Sun. Mar. 16, 3 p.m., Hatheway Cultural Center presents Masters of MotownMasters of Motown’s dynamic vocalists are backed by a band of seasoned musicians who have been performing together for decades. 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey IL, 62035. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Wed., Mar. 19, 8 p.m., The Sheldon presents A Celebration of Art and Sound. Celebrate and support the return of classical music to the St. Louis airwaves by attending this inaugural evening of outstanding performances. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

special events

Thurs., Mar. 6, 10 a.m., America’s Center hosts St. Louis 37th Annual Builders Home and Garden Show. The Builders Home & Garden Show is the place to see, learn about and buy the latest home products and services from approximately 500 companies covering more than 9 acres of

exhibit space. 701 Convention Plaza, 63101.

Mar. 7 – 8, St. Louis Brewery and Taproom presents Stout and Oyster Festival 2014. 2100 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit schlafly.com.

Sat., Mar. 8, 10 a.m., IL Monastero - Saint Louis University hosts Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. 17th Annual Youth Symposium. The ladies of the Eta Mu Sigma and Zeta Sigma Chapters of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. will present their annual Youth Symposium – “Partners for Progress, Working Together to Build Bridges for Youth.” 3050 Olive St., 63103.

Sat., Mar. 8, 6 p.m., Hilton at the Ballpark hosts Jamdown Rockas. Caribbean Island Fundraising Auction Gala benefiting 3 Little Birds 4 Life to raise crucial funds needed to grant wishes to young adult cancer patients, ages 18-40, with any type of cancer and any stage. One S. Broadway, 63102.

Mon., Mar. 10, 7 p.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. presents 96th Annual Dinner Meeting. Keynote Speaker, Ambassador Andrew Young, will be speaking on a Roadmap to Opportunity. Renaissance Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Ave. For more information, call (314) 615-3668.

Thurs., Mar. 13, 10 a.m., St. Louis Unbanked Task Force presents A Networking Breakfast, Pastors along with

Ricky Smiley’s House Party featuring Rickey Smiley, SaltN-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane & Sugarhill Gang. For more information, see COMEDY.

local bank and community leaders to discuss creating a strategy for improving inancial capabilities for St. Louis families. The Gateway Classic Sports Foundation 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Thurs., Mar. 13, 7 p.m., Chaifetz Arena hosts Loosecannon Celebrity Basketball Game. One S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. thechaifetzarena.com.

Sat., Mar. 15, 7 p.m., America’s Center hosts Girls Night Out Gala. A benefit to support A Hero’s Impact Foundation a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to mentor children and families from all walks of life; with special emphasis on families facing illness. We will be honoring 20 special ladies that have overcome tremendous obstacles. 701 Convention Plaza, 63101.

March 16 – March 20, Black College Tour, Colleges/ Universities on the tour include: Tougaloo, Jackson State, Alcorn State, Southern Dillard and Xavier. For more information, Please visit the website: akagammaomegastl.com or call 314-721-2708.

Mar., 20 – 23, The Family Arena hosts Moolah Shrine Circus. 2002 Arena Pkwy., Saint Charles, 63303. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Mar. 22, 6 p.m., Grand Renaissance Hotel hosts 2nd Annual Purple Ball.

Dinner, Live Auction & Lupus Leadership Awards Ceremony Cocktail Attire with a Splash of Purple Valet Parking, Lupus Leadership Awards, and Medical Advancement Award. 800 Washington Ave., 63150. April 2 – 5, Jazz at the Bistro presents Cyrus Chestnut Trio with Russell Malone. Virtuosic and playful, pianist Cyrus Chestnut’s hard swinging, soulful sounds have become a staple in the jazz community. Blending contemporary jazz, traditional jazz, and gospel, Chestnut gives himself plenty of freedom to explore different emotions. Russell Malone’s lyrical work has projected him into the mainstream of jazz guitar. 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Fri., April 4, 8 p.m., The Fox Theater presents St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. High school students compete at the Fox Theatre for college scholarships and prizes and will be judged by performing arts professionals. This Broadway-style family show is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are however required. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. foxpacf.org.

comedy

Sat., Mar. 15, 7:30 p.m., Peabody Opera House presents Gabriel IglesiasUnity through Laughter. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit fluffyguy.com.

Sat., Mar. 15, 8 p.m., The Fox Theater presents Ricky Smiley’s House Party. Featuring Rickey Smiley, Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane & Sugarhill Gang 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit metrotix.com.

theatre

Mar. 6 – 29, Washington University South Campus Theater presents Rent. A contemporary rock/pop riff on Henri Murger’s comic French novel, Scenes de la Vie de Bohème and (to a lesser extent) the famous Puccini opera La Bohème, but now set in New York City’s East Village. 6501 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

literary

Thurs., Mar. 6, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Ishmael Beah, author of Radiance of Tomorrow Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone, discusses his first novel, Radiance of Tomorrow, an affecting, tender parable about postwar life in Sierra Leone. 650 Maryville University Dr., 63141. For more information, visit www. left-bank.com.

Sat., Mar. 9, 2:30 p.m., The Daughters of the Dust Book Club will host the renowned poet, Mary Lott and readings from her new release, “I Continue To Scream,” University City Library, 2nd Floor Auditorium, 6701 Delmar. For more information, call 314 409-7469.

Tues., Mar. 11, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie signs and discusses “Americanah.” The Nigerian writer presents a dazzling story of love and race centered around a young couple from Nigeria who face difficult choices in the countries they come to call home. 1640 S. Lindbergh, 63131. For more information, visit www.leftbank.com.

Tues., Mar. 18, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author George Packer, author of The Unwinding. A riveting examination of a nation in crisis, from one of the finest political journalists of our generation. Packer journeys through the lives of several Americans including a son of a tobacco farmer, a factory worker in the Rust Belt, a Washington insider, a Silicon Valley billionaire, and others. 321 n. Tenth St., 63101. For more information, call (314) 436-3049.

arts

Thur., Mar. 6, 7 p.m., Opening Reception for An Activist Voice: The Art of Nanette Carter and Howardena Pindell. This Women’s History Month exhibit will be on display March 3-April 3. Instructional Resource Building, St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley Campus, 3400 Pershall Rd., 63135. For more information, call (314) 513-4861.

Fri., Mar. 7, 6 p.m., Opening Reception for Art of Africa. Featuring over 100 pieces of beautifully crafted art and artifacts from the African

continent, many made using wood indigenous to the areas of Africa in which they were created. The DeToye Student Gallery will feature the work of Liberty Middle School students. The Exhibit will run through Apr. 11. Edwardsville Art Center, 6165 Center Grove Rd., Edwardsville, IL. 62025. For more information, call (618) 655-0037.

Mar.8, 2 p.m., Opening reception for 10th Street Gallery’s presentation of “Women in Textiles,” featuring 4 multi-talented women artists. Exhibit runs through April 12. 419 N. 10th Street. For more information, visit www.10thstreetgallery. com

Thurs., Mar. 27, 5 p.m., The Barnett on Washington presents The Vine and Canvas event. The event will feature a diverse collection of talented artists who will be displaying and discussing their work in a elegant Spanish mission environment. 3207 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (636) 448-1747.

lectures

Sat., Mar. 8, 9 a.m., Teacher Hiring Fair to Promote Diversity. Designed to advance increased representation of individuals of color within St. Louis independent schools. BA/ BS degree minimum –certification or previous teaching experience preferred. Emerson Performance Center, Harris-Stowe State University, 3101 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information & to register, visit www.independentschools. org/hiringfair.

Mar. 8, 2 p.m., Teacher Career Fair Preparation Workshop, Brentwood Recreation Center, 2505 S. Brentwood Blvd. For more information, e-mail Carletta@ educationfourall.com.

Thur., Mar. 13, 7 p.m., Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice presents From Abuse to Independence. Michelle Schiller-Baker, executive director of St. Martha’s Hall, and Bridget McDermott Flood, executive director of the Incarnate Word Foundation, will discuss the issue and present new ways to support victims of domestic violence through micro-lending services. Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, call (314) 863-1247.

Sat., Mar. 15, 8 a.m.,

Building Bridges-Men

Taking Stand Against Domestic Violence, Men’s Conference. Our focus is to bring awareness to ending domestic violence. Keynote Speaker-Pastor Jacob Washington & Guest speakers: Pastor Harry Stanford, Minister Dawon Gore, Apostle Gerald Higginbothan, Pastor Kenneth McClamb, Apostle Brian Pruitt. Come enjoy food, workshops, resources and prizes. Comfort Inn,12031 Lackland Rd., 63146. For more information, visit www. healmending.org.

Sun., Mar. 16, 12 p.m., Yummies Restaurant hosts St. Louis Women United Brunch. St. Louis Women

United is a brunch series that Princess Stormm from Hot 104.1 has put together to build women empowerment. Come out and enjoy brunch with a wonderful keynote speaker and a panalist of St. Louis most elite women. 2800 Olive St., 63103.

Tues., Mar. 18, 11 a.m., The Multiplicity of Music and Dance on the Southern Plantation. Educator Katrina Thompson will discuss the history of slavery in the United States, and how music, song and dance were intertwined into every aspect of a slave’s life. William J. Harrison Education Center, 3140 Cass Ave., 63106.

Wed., Mar. 19, 12 p.m., The Courageous Women of Africa. This Women’s History Month event features a movie and discussion concerning Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia. Social Sciences Building, St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley Campus, 3400 Pershall Rd., 63135. For more information, call (314) 5134861.

Thur., Mar. 20, 7 p.m., From Ring Shout to Twerking: The Historical and Cultural Context of Black Female Sexuality in Dance. Educator Kartina Thompson will speak on dance as a cultural signifier that played starkly different roles in the societies of West African and Western Europe during the era of slavery. St. Louis Community College, Forest Park Campus, 5600 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 644-9100.

Thurs., Mar. 20, 7:30 p.m., Touhill Performing Arts Center presents Michele Norris: Eavsedropping on America’s Conversation on Race. Award-winning journalist Michele Norris is one of the most recognized voices in radio. One University Dr., 63121.

Fri., Mar. 21, 12 p.m., Prostitots and Kinderwhores: Understanding and Responding to the Sexualization of Girls. This Women’s History Month event features a discussion about the trend in Western culture to sexualize girls and young women, especially through consumer products and social media. The presentation includes a look

at consumption, the effects of hypersexualization for girls and boys, and strategies to resist and reverse this trend. Training Center, St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley Campus, 3400 Pershall Rd., 63135. For more information, call (314) 513-4337.

Thurs., Mar. 20, 3 p.m., Small Business Majority presents Affordable Care Act Options and Enrollment. SBM has a Missouri gran.

Sun., Apr. 13, 11 a.m., Blessed Hope MB Church hosts a Sunday Brunch, Savoy Banquet Center. For more information, Call (314) 600-3099.

Sat., Mar. 22, 9 a.m., St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel hosts Independent Christian Author Book Fair. This event is designed to showcase the work of self-published Christian Authors who have labored tirelessly to write, bring to print and sell their works. This fair has hopes to draw every Christian writer of every denomination and faith in the areas of iction, non-iction, self-help and children’s books. 10700 Pear Tree Ln., 63134.

Fri., Mar. 21, 7 p.m., The Scottish Rite Cathedral presents Sounds of Praise featuring Tamela Mann. 3633 Lindell Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels presents Kevin Eubanks. See CONCERTS for details.

OSCARS

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Slave” the big winner of Sunday evening, there was more to celebrate off-stage. Until mid-way through the ceremony, when she delivered her remarks, few realized that for the first time in history an African American, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, is president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization that presents the Oscars). She is only the third woman to do so, and the first in more than 30 years.

And while British actors and actresses have become synonymous with the Academy Awards, as far as being major contenders and winners over the years, her co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor became the first black Brit to earn a nomination for Best Actor.

McQueen was the first black British person to be nominated for Best Director and only the third black to be nominated in the category.

McQueen also became the first black producer to win Best Picture, and “12 Years a Slave” became the first film with a black director to win in that category.

But her statement could also apply to McDaniel’s experience at the Oscars back in 1939. McDaniel and her guests were relegated to a “colored section,” and she wasn’t even given the dignity of being able to speak her own words of gratitude.

Continued from C1

enough money. So they wondered: What if Bayoc painted one father-themed picture every day for a year?

The project developed snags. Being a father often took precedence over painting fathers. As the series dragged into its second year, Bayoc took on other painting jobs and his daughter Jurni noticed some visible changes in her father.

“At the start of it, it was interesting but in the middle I noticed he needs to sleep a lot more because he was getting a lot more gray hair,” Jurni said.

Over the course of “365 Days,” Bayoc filled his canvases with images from inside his head and from special requests from buyers, including family photographs.

One painting shows a father and son reading on the couch. It hangs in the library of an elementary school in Arkansas, a quiet testimony to the power of a good example. Another features a little girl wearing a royal

blue dress and clinging to her father’s leg. The child –who’s now a woman – wore the dress to her daddy’s funeral when she was only 3.

Bayoc’s own father died when he was 11. He remembers their fishing trips and motorcycle rides. He passes down that fatherly influence by helping the boys with their art projects. Eightyear-old Borago likes his father’s style.

“He taught me how to draw,” Borago said.

Ten-year-old Ajani also recalled some of the ways his father was there when he was younger, and now.

“He taught me how to tie my shoes, and he helps me when I can’t find the meaning of a word,” Ajani said. Bayoc also helps his daughter with her own creative endeavors. She’s often at his side when he delivers the wedding cakes that his wife has created.

“[He taught me] how to set up weddings and more about photography,” Jurni said.

Angela Williams of Atlanta knows Bayoc from her time in St. Louis, and she knows the importance of a father who’s involved in

the minutia of his children’s daily lives. Her ex-husband has coached their 12- and 18-year-old boys’ sports teams, taught them to make brownies and taken them to Sunday School.

Soon, painting number 365 will be displayed in Williams’ home.

“About a month into his venture I said, ‘I want to be the last one,’” Williams said.

Williams didn’t ask Bayoc to create any specific image. She wanted him to use his imagination.

After “365 Days,” Bayoc will get right back to work on several upcoming projects, including a book and a traveling exhibition of the fatherhood paintings. Another commission is a series of nine-by-eleven-foot murals at the Missouri History Museum that he’ll paint with local children.

But first, a toast, to the completion of “365.” Bayoc plans to celebrate with friends and champagne.

“Yeah, I’ll be having a party,” he said. “Then, I’ll still be just as busy.”

Edited for length and reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Nyong’o became the sixth black actress to win Best Supporting Actress, joining McDaniel (“Gone with the Wind”), Whoopi Goldberg (“Ghost”), Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”), Mo’Nique (“Precious”) and Octavia Spencer (“The Help”). But the Kenyan actress was the first African person of color to win an Academy Award (South African actress Charlize Theron became the first African to win for her role in “Monster”).

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and company assume more than 100 roles.

Cole, a Julliard-trained stage and television actor, took the part in “Peter and the Starcatcher” because he wanted to get a musical theatre credit.

“I come from a background of primarily Shakespeare, August Wilson stuff, more of the straight plays,” Cole said. “I wanted to break into more musical theatre, and without having it in your background it’s very hard to do.”

He has been well received since stepping into the role of Slank for the national tour and is eager to return to St. Louis. He has been to town before as a featured performer in productions of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” and Mark Twain’s “Pudd’nhead Wilson” and was pleasantly surprised.

TEF POE

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by Arista, and L.A. Reid is not coming to St. Louis to find Tef Poe. I had to create that energy for myself.”

Less than two years later, he would be retired as a “Freestyle Friday” champion on BET’s “106 and Park,” featured in hip-hop publications like “The Source” and “XXL,” ink a distribution deal with Universal Records and release his debut album “Cheer for the Villain.”

Tomorrow night he’ll give St. Louis a three-dimensional listen with a special performance of selections from his CD at Vintage Vinyl.

In the midst of his transformative journey into a full-time hip-hop artist, he faced a family tragedy that rerouted the direction of the album. A younger cousin died

From start to finish, the evening was thrilling, captivating and a long time coming.

“It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s,” Nyong’o said during her acceptance speech.

She was speaking of her performance as Patsey, the tortured enslaved girl who was at the mercy of her master’s lust.

“It’s wonderful to come to a city with a receptive audience, and you always want to inspire them,” he said. “You enjoy the experience of turning people around and opening up their imaginations.”

He especially enjoys playing to younger audience members who resemble himself as a child.

“I didn’t see of lot of people that looked like me on stage,” Cole said of his younger years. “So I can’t tell you how much it means to see a young black kid in the audience. ”

Cole vividly recalled making the connection himself as a freshman in high school in his native Virginia Beach, Va., when he watched a rehearsal of Athol Fugard’s “The Road to Mecca.”

“One of the actors came down the back stairs. He was in costume and he was in rehearsal, and he had a script in his hand,” Cole said.

“I had always had an appreciation for theatre, but honestly before that moment I

last year in a high-speed police chase on South Grand.

“I wrote a record that I was gonna play for him. I said a line where I referenced his name, and I said, ‘If you’re listening to this music, please say a prayer for him,’” Poe said.

“I was going to let him listen to the song, because I thought it would be a leeway for me to have a conversation with him about some of the things going on in his life and the choices he was making. That was the first record I made for the album, and by the time I got to the third record he was dead.”

Poe made the audacious decision to create a conceptual album that focused on that night and the actions that led up to his cousin’s death.

“I said, ‘This is a good way to catch people completely offguard,’” Poe said. “It sounds opportunistic, but when you try to make timeless music, you kind of have to hit them with

Because she was black, McDaniel’s acceptance speech was prepared by the Academy – which is almost impossible to believe after seeing Isaacs introduce herself to tens of millions of viewers as the Academy’s president in 2014. This year’s Oscars spoke to the possibility and promise of diversity in a way that had never been done before. Through “Black Oscars 2014,” we saw ourselves – in front of and behind the camera, on and off the stage – and we were given something to aspire towards.

“When I look down at this golden statue,” Nyong’o said, “may it remind me – and every little child – that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.”

had never seen a live actor off of stage. It was like a student athlete walking past an NFL star quarterback. It made me realize that it’s a craft and that it could be me on stage.” Seeing the actor behind the scenes made him realize his own potential, while witnessing the man perform gave him a new perspective on the power of theatre.

“I have a strong commitment to stagecraft – not celebrity, but honest-to-God stagecraft – and that’s live theatre,” Cole said.

“Causing people to have emotion based on how you breathe or turn your head, and making people gasp by how you smile – that’s something that doesn’t happen through the television screen or on the movie screen. You literally see their imaginations open up.”

The national tour of “Peter and the Starcatcher” comes to St. Louis March 7-9 at the Peabody Opera House. For tickets or more information, visit www.peabodyoperahouse. com or call (314) 499-7600.

some shock value.” Despite what the title “Cheer for the Villain” suggests (a dual dose of bait-and-switch and irony), the album is a cautionary tale. Some of the elements are factual. Others are embellishment for the sake of entertainment. All of it is for a greater purpose.

“In rap, we do a lot of praising for the bad guy,” Poe said. “A lot of people come out and want to be the biggest gangster they can be, the biggest killer they can be and the biggest drug dealer they can be in their music, so I tried to take that mirror, hold it up to ourselves and see how foolish we look sometimes.”

Tef Poe will perform selections from “Cheer for the Villain” at a special show at Vintage Vinyl (6160 Delmar Blvd.) on Friday, March 7 at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.tefpoe.com.

Cbabi Bayoc

Photo by Stephanie Zimmerman (St. Louis Public Radio intern)

Chefs at the Science Center

Kerry Stevison Senior Educator, YES

Last summer, teens in the Youth Exploring Science (YES) Program at the Science Center attended a conference about healthy food. They met some chefs, Margaret Grant and Mary Denny, from the Chef and Child Foundation of the American Culinary Federation. Together, they realized that the chefs could be a great asset to the YES teens, who are learning about healthy food and gardening. Since then, the chefs have coached some of our teens to victory in a youth cooking contest and taught multiple two-hour classes about healthy cooking. The chefs visit 25 of the YES teens about once a month and show them how to make simple, healthy dishes. One of the first things the YES teens learned was knife skills—how to correctly choose and use a knife while cooking, in addition to knife safety. The teens have made pizza, potato and leek soup, guacamole, and many other delicious, healthy dishes. The partnership has allowed the teens to become more familiar with both cooking techniques and a variety of new ingredients, such as avocadoes and leeks.

Some of the teens have made the dishes for their families at home. All of them are learning how to make their own food from healthy ingredients, and having fun while doing it. Here’s one of the recipes that Margaret and Mary shared with the teens: Potato Leek Soup. You will need 20 potatoes, 9 leeks, 2 large yellow onions, 3 quarts of chicken broth, 2 cups of heavy cream, 9 tablespoons of butter, and salt and pepper. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Clean the leeks and then slice them, keeping only the white part. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and then add the sliced onions and leeks. Cook, stirring, until onions are limp and just slightly brown. Add sliced potatoes to saucepan, then pour in enough chicken broth to just barely cover the potatoes. Continue cooking over medium heat until potatoes are tender. Mash and stir potatoes until desired consistency is reached. As you mash the potatoes and the soup thickens, turn down the heat and stir frequently with a large spoon to prevent scorching on the bottom. Add the heavy cream and salt and pepper. Cook 15 minutes more over low heat, stirring frequently, then remove from heat and serve. Enjoy!

By Melanie Adams

Annie Malone and more for Women’s History Month

As the calendar signals the end of Black History Month and the beginning of Women’s History Month, the Missouri History Museum presents a wide array of programs to commemorate the courageous actions of women, then and now.

As with Black History Month, the museum believes that history should not be confined to one month, but should be explored throughout the year. While there are programs exploring women’s contributions to history in all of our calendars, we have taken specific care to facilitate programs this particular month that highlight the diverse spectrum of women.

As mentioned in a previous column, the teens in the museum’s Teens Make History program will provide the information for the next History Museum column using the research they gathered while conducting oral histories with local civil rights activists. This column focuses on the many community programs that are planned for March. Even though it is Women’s History Month, I hope everyone feels welcome to attend the programs and contribute to the conversations taking place.

Patsey’s Plea: The Women of 12 Years a Slave Thursday, March 6 at 7pm

AT&T Multipurpose Room, FREE

There has been a lot of acclaim for the award winning movie Twelve Years a Slave about freeman Solomon Northup and his journey into slavery and back. But what about the enslaved women who worked alongside the men in the fields and in the house? This program helps answer this question with a panel of scholars discussing enslaved women and the implications for today’s women.

The Patience of Pearl Sunday, March 9 at 1pm

AT&T Multipurpose Room, FREE

Whether or not you believe in the power of the Ouija board, the story of Patience Worth will leave you questioning. When St. Louis homemaker Pearl Curran began writing fiction and poetry on a Ouija board in 1913, she attributed the work to the “discarnate entity” Patience Worth, a 17th century Puritan. Come hear author Daniel B. Shea deliver new information about the authorship of her books and their place in women’s writing.

The Life and Legacy of Annie Malone and the Historic Poro College Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm

AT&T Multipurpose Room, FREE

Celebrating a local African-American business woman, Linda Nance, president of the Annie Malone Historical Society, shares Annie Malone’s powerful story of uplift and provides insights in Malone’s incredible generosity and outstanding philanthropy. Providing financial support for the YMCA during the first part of the twentieth century and a space for the community to learn African American history, Malone’s

Wednesday,

story is not a Black story or a women’s story, but a story of a St. Louis native creating a better place for the people in her community.

African American Women’s Expressive Culture as Protest Art Thursday, March 13 at 7pm AT&T Multipurpose Room, FREE

The museum welcomes back Dr. Treva Lindsay, assistant professor of history at The Ohio State University, to discuss African American women and their culture as protest art.

Invisible No More: Celebrating and Uplifting Black Women Sunday, March 16 at 3pm Grand Hall, FREE

Join us at the museum as we celebrate African American women in song, poetry, and art. This celebration recognizes their strength, grace, and voice in American culture.

As you can see by this sample of programs, the museum has something to offer to all audiences. In addition to these programs, there are theater programs and children’s programs that will engage you on issues related to women and their accomplishments. As always you can check out the new 250 in 250 exhibit that highlights the accomplishments and moments of local women. For a complete list of programs I encourage you to check out the museum’s website at mohistory.org.

Linda Nance, president of the Annie Malone Historical Society, will speak on “The Life and Legacy of Annie Malone and the Historic Poro College” 7 p.m.

March 12 at the Missouri History Museum.

Photo: Annie Malone in 1927, from the Missouri History Museum’s archive

Chefs Mary and Margaret along with YES teens Aleah and Chevon.

~ Celebrations ~

Spelling Star Engaged

Chloe J. Frye and Roger Kelly Jr. of St. Louis, MO announce their engagement to be wed in 2015. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Phyllis E. Frye and the late Dr. Derrick O. Frye. Chloe is a graduate of Xavier University of LA. She is now teaching in the Riverview Gardens School District. The groom-tobe is the son of Roger Sr. and Cassandra Kelly of St. Louis, MO. He is currently enrolled at Harris-Stowe and plans to pursue a degree in dentistry.

Reunions

All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High Class of 1964 has started planning for its 50-year class reunion. We are currently looking for participants to help with the planning. Please provide your contact information to: beaumont64alumni@gmail. com.Send your ideas as well as

the best time for meetings.

Beaumont High Class of 1968 46th Reunion Family Picnic will be Saturday, June 7, 2014. Meetings to plan the picnic will be the 4th Saturday of February 22, March 22 and April 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at STL County Library 7606 Natural Bridge. For more information email bhsco1968@att.net or call 314 869-8312.

Beaumont High Class of 1984 is looking for participants to begin planning its 30-year class reunion. Please provide your contact information to: beaumont_1984@yahoo.com.

Soldan High Class of 1965

presents Washington, DC: Our Nation’s Capital, June 19-24, 2014. For more information contact: Corinne Parker-Stukes 636-294-4373, Brenda Wallace-Yancey 314-830-1334, Isaiah Hair, Jr. 314-387-7592 or email: soldanclassof65@gmail.com.

Sumner High Classes of 1954 will celebrate its 60-year class reunion August 15-16, 2014 at the Sheraton Westport, Plaza Tower, 900 Westport Plaza. Contact Audrey Poindexter (314) 383-7174; ajpoin@att.net or Marlene May (314) 5679629; onelene1@att.net.

Sumner 1964 Class Reunion Committee is looking for

Walneisha White is among 30 students in the St. Louis area who earned a spot in the St. Louis PostDispatch Regional Spelling Bee, which was held at McKendree University on March 1. Walneisha is an eighthgrader at Confluence Academy-South City, and this was her first spelling bee competition.

Birthdays

The children, family and friends of Maeola Blanchard join together to wish her a Happy Birthday. She celebrated 82 years on February 28!

Happy Birthday to Bryson Lee Jones! He turns seven on March 7!

Love, Grandma (Edna Jones)

Happy Birthday to Pearl Seaborn on March 4!

From, Your family and friends

classmates we have lost contact with. Please call or email any changes to your name, address, telephone number, and/or email to Patricia Wells Sheltonat (314) 839-2214 or patricia.shelton@ att.net or Carol Strawbridge at (314) 524-8504 or strawu@ AOL.com.

Sumner High Class of 1969 has started planning its 45th class reunion. Please email shsclassof69@yahoo.com for more information or call Leonard at 314-413-3104 or Meredith at 314-306-2349.

Sumner High Class of 1974 has started planning its 40th class reunion. Meetings are held the third Saturday of

the month from 2-4 pm at New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church, located at 4055 Edmundson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63134. For more information please contact Denise (Washington) Nicks at Sumnerclassof74@yahoo.com, 314-642-3366 or Joyce (Bush) Cruesoe at cruesoe2195@att. net, 314-484-1552. Sumner High Class of 1979 is looking for classmates to participate in activities leading up to its 35th Class Reunion, June 20-22, 2014 in Lake Ozarks, MO. Please forward contact information to sumner1979@ymail.com or call Sara at 314-482-1558. Various activities are planned.

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103 FREE OF CHARGE

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us!

However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Maeola Blanchard Bryson Lee Jones Pearl Seaborn

Christian marriage on the rocks

Novel by minister from ESL shows that God will pull a couple through

By Ciera Simril For The St. Louis American

The author of “Can We Do That?” (2009), Rev. W.G. Robinson, M.D., a native of East St. Louis and an ordained minister for the past 10 years, has returned with another message-driven book, “A South End Sunday Dawning.”

He started off writing essays, and one of his essays developed into his new book. “I wrote the book in small chunks of essays and then blended them all together,” said Dr. McNeese. “Writing is my pastime, my love, and everybody makes time for what they love.”

“A South End Sunday Dawning” tells a story about a Christian marriage. The story focuses on the how Christian marriages are challenged from outside influences. Dr. McNeese examines a tough time period in 1959 that’s critical for his two married characters, Rev. Steven and Virginia Thompson. Steven has a questionable past life, with women and job troubles. Christian marriages are hard to maintain, the book depicts, due to lack of communication, poor time management and not sharing a close enough bond. Rev. Steven Thompson works long weekdays, weekends and has financial heartaches due to the decline of his economic wealth.

The Thompson’s have eight children together but only five live at home with them. Virginia’s parents help take

care of two children due to the financial strain on the family. Their oldest son was serving in the military, so they didn’t have to accommodate him unless he came to visit. With this type of strain on their marriage, it’s a test of will power and love that gets them to a better place. By the end of the book, the reader is assured that everything will work out fine when you trust in God.

“It is so very important to maintain a Christian marriage,” Dr. McNeese said. “After all, we have told the world that we have the answer – Jesus – that He will solve our problems and guide us through. What a lousy example we make when our marriages are no

better than those who have not embraced our faith. What poor witnesses we make through our relationships.”

He faced the challenge of writing a story without any training in narrative writing, character development or historical fiction. Yet, he did a great job pulling together the story with all three of these important roles. Dr. McNeese does admit that it was challenging for him, and he’s waiting for the public to give him conformation.

Dr. McNeese said, “The book cries out for a sequel, or at least some discussion of what happens to marriages, or relationships when they go through the vicissitudes of life (perhaps even through the eyes of these two characters)? What are those ups and downs? How do people handle them? How should people handle them? Indeed, how should people who call themselves Christians handle them?”

Dr. McNeese serves as executive assistant to the dean of Diversity, Multicultural and Minority Affairs at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill. He is an emergency physician and an associate professor in the department of Internal Medicine and the department of Humanities at SIU.

He served as an Air Force Morse Intercept operator in Vietnam (1966) and achieved the ranks of technical sergeant before becoming a military

He is an ordained Minister in the Church of God of North America, headquartered in Anderson, Ind. and pastor of the New Mission Church of God in Springfield, Ill. He has eight children and lives in Springfield with his wife of 36 years.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

What if all of the faith heroes chose not to trust The Lord? What would have happened? Where would we be now? What if Moses would have accepted defeat at the Red Sea? What if Daniel would have gone into the lion’s den with no faith? What if Joseph would have not trusted God in the pit?

They would have been failures and God would have not received the glory from their situations. But they did have faith, BIG FAITH, and they did great things for God. The benefits are still lingering today.

Are you ready to step out on faith? It’s your turn to be great. Do something that will last for eternity. Follow God’s will. Jesus already knows you can do it. Do you? Right now is your time. Don’t run from His call.

What if you don’t listen to God’s voice? How will your life pan out? Will you just meander through life aimlessly, wondering what could have been? Will you settle for defeat, or will you choose to be great?

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” –Hebrews 11:6

Are you ready to step out on faith? You’ve been thinking about making a move for a while now. God has been calling you to something greater. You talk about it. Other people see it in you. It makes you excited. But the time for talking is over. It’s time to go! Taking that first step may be scary, but you won’t regret it. What would be worse: making a risky decision or missing out on what Christ has called you to do? You may not see yourself doing something greater, but God does. Nothing is blocking you from your God given destiny but you. You may not be where you want to be yet, but stay focused and keep trusting God. No one ever became successful by being lazy. Success comes through hard work. Success comes through doing the uncomfortable things. Success in life comes from living out Christ’s plan for your life. You have the skills in Christ. You are capable in Him. He is all you need. Go after your destiny. What if you just follow God’s plan? NaWayMinistries.org

Rev. W.G. Robinson, M.D., a native of East St. Louis and an ordained minister for the past 10 years, is the author of the novel “A South End Sunday Dawning.”

Event-planning program produces first graduates St. LouiS AmericAn

Plus, WUSTL to sponsor all-girls STEM charter school in St. Louis

American staff

A new program in hospitality has produced St. Louis Community College’s first event planning graduates.

The event-planning curriculum is part of Hospitality and Tourism Studies program offered at the Forest Park campus. Some students finished all 21 credit hours in three semesters, with eight receiving their certificates of specialization in December.

The students seek career opportunities in this vast and diverse field that includes administrative positions in event planning organizations, hotels, attractions, venues, country clubs, sporting arenas, casinos, experiential marketing, live events, mobile marketing, volunteerism and catering companies.

So far, five of eight December graduates have landed positions in the St. Louis area – working for a hotel, an upscale supplier of event décor, a florist, a not-for-profit planning a major event, and an internship with Soulard’s Mardi Gras Inc.

“They are in a position to use their newly acquired knowledge, either presently or in the near future. Meeting Professionals International has been forwarding other job leads for student consideration,” said Craig Mueller, associate professor.

This program, launched in August 2012, gives students an overview of the many sectors of the meeting and event planning industry. It also provides students with the foundational skills and knowledge to be able to work in an entry-level position. Mueller and Jeff Ivory, associate professor, created the program.

“The coursework is appropriately rigorous in order to be representative of the demands of industry,” Mueller said. “Meeting and event planning requires budgeting, organizational, time management, communication and promotional skills.” Mueller and Ivory have had certified meeting professionals – with many years of experience in the field – teach the specific event-planning classes.

Mueller said 21 new students are enrolled in Event Planning I. They will schedule Event Planning II for either summer or fall semesters.

As part of revamping the hospitality studies curriculum, the department has proposed a future associate degree in hospitality and tourism that will eventually feature four focus components: event planning, food and beverage management, hotel management, and travel and tourism.

According to the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, St. Louis hosts 21.4 million visitors each year, who spend $4.33 billion in the local economy on leisure, conventions, meetings and business travel. In addition, 80,000 St. Louis area residents are employed in the tourism industry, with $2.51 billion in earned wages generating $801 million in local, state and federal taxes. St. Louis travel and tourism ranks among the top 10 industries in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. For more information, contact

Mueller at 314-644-9590 or email: cmueller@stlcc.edu, or Ivory at 314-644-9764 or email: jivory@ stlcc.edu.

WUSTL to charter all-girls school

Washington University in St. Louis has announced that it will serve as the institutional sponsor for Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls (hawthornschool.org), the first single-sex STEM charter school in St. Louis.

Pending approval of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Hawthorn will open in August 2015 with a 6th and 7th grade class and will add a class each year. Ultimately the school will serve 500 girls in grades 6 through 12 by 2020. Enrollment will be open and tuition will be free.

The school has yet to identify a location.

Mary Danforth Stillman, daughter of Sen. John Danforth

and niece of former Washington University Chancellor William H. Danforth, is the school’s founder and is leading efforts to open the school. Hawthorn is affiliated with the Young Women’s Leadership Network (YWLN), which supports five high-performing all-girls public schools in New York City and nine affiliate schools in Illinois, Texas, Maryland and New York.

The flagship YWLN school in East Harlem boasts a graduation rate over 96 percent for the past 13 years. Every graduating senior has been accepted to college with significant financial aid.

Hawthorn will offer an innovative, hands-on, collegepreparatory curriculum that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Lessons will be reinforced through after-school and summer programming. Hawthorn will emphasize collaborative learning and connection to families and the broader community. Girls will wear uniforms and meet daily with a faculty adviser. A full-time social worker will be on

staff and a trained college counselor will work with the girls beginning in 10th grade. The school will also incorporate both a leadership and a health and wellness curriculum at all grade levels.

“The single-sex option is out there for people who can pay and now we are saying, ‘Let’s provide that option to students with limited financial resources,’” said Stillman “At Hawthorn, every leadership role will be filled by a girl. Every classroom discussion will be led by a girl.” Washington University will help train teachers, develop curriculum and provide student tutors and mentors. Washington University also sponsors KIPP Inspire Academy, a high-performing middle school in the Fox Park neighborhood.

Women, especially minority women, are underrepresented in the STEM fields. Ralph S. Quatrano, PhD, dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science and a vocal advocate for women in engineering, says programs like Hawthorn can help close the gender gap.

“To address the most pressing problems facing our planet, we need a diverse community of quantitatively skilled problem solvers,” said Quatrano. “Women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are critical to this endeavor. By educating and empowering young women in our region, the Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls will help build a strong STEM pipeline.”

Accelerated online RN to BS program

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing began offering an accelerated registered nursing (RN) to bachelor of science (BS) program in January 2014. This 100 percent online program will replace the previous hybrid RN to BS program.

Students will be able to complete this accelerated program in as short as one year (three semesters) or at a slower progression over two years.

“The accelerated format and support system provided through a new online immersion on Blackboard helps students who are new to distance learning and technologybased education,” said Dr. Roberta Harrison, assistant dean for undergraduate programs.

Classes for this fully accredited option are structured in an eightweek course. It will require students to take a total of six core nursing courses once all general education course requirements are met. This program is designed for students who already have an associate degree or diploma from another nursing program. In order to accommodate the needs of working RNs and to allow for a maximum level of convenience, this program will be offered in a flexible online format. Applications for the accelerated RN to BS program are being accepted now and can be found at siue.edu/nursing.

St. Louis Community College’s first event planning class includes, front row, from left, Deborah Logan, Stephanie Bennet, Michelle Cope, Hannah Nelson, Ashley Lauer, Feven Alemu, Margaret Mack and Erica McFerrin; and back row, from left, Demarco Burr, Jennie Drag, Michelle Henderson and Susan Luxem.

and Glenn

their

on

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week

Three stars for 2 Chainz. I’m telling you that based on his performance at the last Super Jam, I was prepared to nod and snooze my way through the 2 Chainz show Friday night. But I don’t know if he secretly hired Beyoncé (or maybe Miguel, who is more in his budget) to be his concert performance coach, or decided that he was finally going to put his heart into a show because he was headlining. Either way – and trust me, I never thought I would live to say this – 2 Chainz had my attention for most of the show when his “2 Good to Be T.R.U.” tour stopped through the Chaifetz. His lyrical content still gives me 8th grade freestyle battle honorable mention, but still he worked the mess out of that stage. I wish I could say the same about his opening acts, but I can’t. August Alsina and Pusha T needed their tour checks docked for that half-hearted mess. Auggy was giving me a dollar tree Trey Songz – not today, but 2005 Trey Songz…when all he was serving up on stage was shaky vibrato with backing vocals, rustic cornrows and blank stares. The girls got their life from him, even though I don’t know why. And poor Pusha T just said “bump it, I’ll just lip sync to these tracks.” About halfway through he tried to play rap-a-long to the music, but the folks were over it until he did that one early hit he had. Once he ended that song though, they were over it all over again. It didn’t help AT ALL that his swag was giving us a thugged out Celie. The man of the hour emerged after some ratchet corny skits, but was full of energy when he hit that stage. I was shocked! All three times I’ve seen him live before it was like he was performing at his own wake. I was even more surprised by how many upstanding citizens get their musical life from this trap poet. I saw a school principal, a pastoral aide/deacon (whose identity I will protect) and a whole bunch of other all the way grown people that I didn’t even think knew who 2 Chainz was – like my favorite STL it couple Jay Johnson and his lovely wife Jeanne Roberts Johnson

2 Chainz: Take two. Liquid Assets and LooseCannon teamed up for the 2 Chainz after party with special guest August Alsina and it was just as turned up as the show as far as the crowd went! Folks were lined up all the way down to where Washington Blvd. becomes Washington Ave. 2 Chainz showed up when he felt like it, and was tapped out as far as energy – but I couldn’t even be mad because of how he put it down on stage. His latest visit was definitely a win for the promoters of the city.

Faux fur funny. I made my way to the Ambassador for the Michael Blackson (a.k.a. the African King of Comedy) show Saturday night and clearly y’all weren’t letting any ice or snow get in the way of getting your laugh on. It was packed like Niecy Davis’ blues shows used to be up in the Ambassador Saturday night. I’m sure if they had heated tents folks would have been perched outside. It doesn’t pain me one bit to say that in my opinion STL’s own Jessie Taylor upstaged Blackson. When he got to talking about the folks coming up in the building with the fakest of furs – “German Shepherd coats with the paws still attached” to be exact – I fell out. EVERYTHING else that came out his mouth was NSFP (not safe for Partyline), but know that I howled – like a German Shepherd getting made into a coat, if you will – through his whole set. The bit was even funnier to me when Michael Blackson finally came out looking like he had turned Mufasa from “The Lion King” into a custom tailored vest. I guess he was comical enough, like when he said his mother thought he was so ugly that she used to breast feed him wearing sunglasses. But the rest of the jokes… I felt like I had heard before. I think the only real bad thing about the show was folks had to wait until almost midnight for the main attraction.

A good look for the Gladiators. You “Scandal” addicts (a.k.a. Gladiators) finally got what your soul has been aching for when Olivia Pope and the crew FINALLY returned to TV screens last Thursday. And Hot 104.1 was absolutely winning with the watch party at EXO. I’m telling you it was so cute that I hope they do it again with the season finale! The vibe was right and self-proclaimed gladiator Mz. Janee (in the Midday) was the perfect hostess with the mostess as the folks sat on the edge of their seats waiting for the hardcore political ninja assassin tactics “Daddy Pope” was gonna bring out of his bag.

314 Day fantastic photo opp. Since I’m already speaking on Hot 104.1, I might as well mention that Radio One St. Louis is planning to do it extra big in honor 314 day (next Friday, 3/14) with the ultimate selfie and they are asking the whole city – and surrounding areas – to get in on the action. My girl Staci Static will be broadcasting live from the top of Art Hill (in front of the Art Museum). She will be interviewing STL VIPs and at 4 p.m. everyone will come together for a HUGE pic and they are asking ALL residents in the St. Louis area to be a part of the historic moment. Be sure to rep the city with Cardinals gear, Rams gear, Blues gear or Fleur-de-lis (that French looking symbol we have on our city flag that looks just like the New Orleans Saints logo). They said there will be free food provided for everyone that attends and promise plenty of other surprises. They had me at free food. Hopefully the snack feast will feature some STL signature eats.

Destiny

came out to get

laugh

with comedian Michael Blackson Saturday night @ The Ambassador Aye

Jasmine and Catrina kicked off their Mardi Gras weekend with a live performance by The Dirty Muggs Friday night @ Lola

Free Time’s Darryl and Roy Rob brought Bourbon Street to Soho for their Mardi Gras Experience Saturday night

Fans laughed until it hurt thanks to funny men Jessie Taylor, Michael Blackson and Jovan Bibbs Saturday night @ The Ambassador

Beauties Felicia, Jenae and Mimi couldn’t help but partake in the Mardi Gras festivities offered up by Free Time Saturday night @ Soho

Melanie and Dre couldn’t help but grin after the good reception they received for the Friday afternoon happy hour grand opening event for the Marquee

Jason and April Spain made their way to the Rustic Goat as they celebrated Mardi Gras Saturday night

Host Fat Fat, DJ Jewel, DJ Sno and Raphael of the Umbrella group helped hold the party down for Mardi Gras Saturday night @ Lola

chilled

Tour, which came through Chaifetz Arena Friday night and featured Pusha T and August Alsina.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

She’s not crazy! (It’s menopause!)

By Denise Hooks Anderson, M.D. Medical Accuracy Editor

The next several paragraphs are not just for women but for all of those husbands, partners, friends and family who have been yelled at, cursed at, and called everything but a child of God for no apparent reason at all, simply because their loved one was going through menopause. “The change”, as it is affectionately referred in polite circles, occurs on average around age 51. However, some women may start having symptoms in their mid-40s. We recognize these women quite easily because they are the ones fanning, stripping off layers of clothing, and sweating profusely. They are also always asking if anyone else is hot. If left up to them, the temperature in the office and at home would be sixty degrees all year round. Sound familiar?

In addition, these women are not sleeping well, irritable, and may be experiencing painful intercourse. As you could imagine each of those symptoms could potentially cause marital problems if the partner did not understand the huge hormonal shift occurring in their significant other. Some of my male patients have actually thought their marriage

was over because their wives seemed distant and angry. Therefore, in honor of Women’s History Month and as a gift to my Y-chromosome friends, let’s talk about these complicated beings called women and this out of body experience upon which they have embarked. Knowledge is indeed power and if we can understand the science behind the madness, family and workplace conflict could potentially be avoided.

Denise Hooks Anderson, M.D.

In this country, average age of girls starting their period is 12, but it can begin as early as 8 and as late as 15. Menstruation, monthly bleeding occurring every 21-35 days, usually begins two-three years after breast growth begins. The hormone estrogen rises at the beginning of a woman’s menstrual cycle and causes the lining of the uterus to get thicker. When women or young girls menstruate, they are actually shedding the lining of their uterus. Because of the hormonal shift of women during this time, women may experience headaches, feelings of sadness, crankiness, and pain. This phase of

life for women lasts for about 35-45 years and varies in intensity as the woman ages. The next phase is called perimenopause and it is during this time that women may begin to miss periods and experience the infamous hot flashes, an overwhelming sensation of heat that emanates from the inside out. Hot flashes have been described by some women as an internal fire raging out of control. If you are in proximity of these women, you can actually feel the heat from their bodies.

Menopause begins when periods have ceased for one year. Getting to this point can be frustrating for many women because it is not uncommon to miss a period several months in a row but then have the period resume as if it had never stopped. I have a few 54-year-olds that are still having periods! It is important to point out that during this perimenopausal time that ovulation is occurring, although irregularly. Therefore, women can get pregnant in this phase of the lifecycle.

I’m sure each of us knows someone who is now on Social Security but who has a child still in high school. They had to learn anatomy the hard way! So what can women do to help with the myriad of symptoms associated with menopause?

Try dressing in layers and not wearing overly restrictive clothing. Many women also choose to sleep in cool rooms at night and use fans directed toward their side of the bed. I have also heard of women using frozen vegetables as ice packs during those warm moments.

Avoiding warm liquids before bed help as well.

Try over the counter lubricants such as Astroglide for vaginal dryness. In addition, drinking plenty of water and avoiding douching will help alleviate dryness. If you want to improve your sex drive, then consider a regular exercise routine. Exercise releases endorphins in the brain and causes people to feel better in general which results in increase interest.

Try taking an over the counter supplement such as Black Cohosh or prescription medication such as Paxil or Clonidine to help with the hot flashes and mood issues. These meds are not addictive and can be stopped once the symptoms subside. If symptoms are severe and there are no contraindications, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be prescribed.

Hormone replacement therapy is not first line treatment anymore because of the increased cancer risks. Yet, for some women the benefit outweighs the risks and this decision to start HRT must be thoroughly discussed with their primary care provider or gynecologist.

Menopause is a natural progression of a woman’s life cycle yet it can cause some disruptive changes for not only women but also the people around them. Nevertheless, for the majority of women, menopause can be managed with lifestyle modifications, medications, and cognitive behavior therapy.

Yours in Service, Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D. Assistant Professor SLUCare Family Medicine yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

Your Health Matters

A bi-monthly special supplement of the St. Louis American March 6, 2014

Your Health Matters provides up-to-date information, from an African-American perspective, about one of the most important subjects in evryone’s life – their personal health.

Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher

Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO

Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President

Chris King, Editorial Director

Denise Hooks Anderson, M.D., Medical Accuracy Editor

Sandra Jordan, Health Reporter

Debbie Chase, Director of Health Strategy & Outreach

Onye Hollomon, Barb Sills, Pamela Simmons, Sales

Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager

Angelita Jackson, Cover Design

Wiley Price, Photojournalist

the

Controlling other health issues reduces kidney disease risk

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

Some loss of kidney function occurs naturally over time, usually after age 60. For African Americans, the leading cause of kidney disease or kidney failure is not old age; it is having high blood pressure or diabetes.

Any of the three problems can exist initially (when it is easier to treat) without any outward symptoms. In addition, all three of them can kill you.

High blood pressure causes artery damage, and the kidneys are artery-rich. Over time, uncontrolled hypertension can cause the arteries around the kidney to narrow, weaken or harden, and they will be unable to deliver enough blood to the kidney tissue. The American Heart Association said damaged arteries are unable to filter blood very well. While healthy kidneys produce a hormone to help the body regulate its blood pressure, damaged kidneys from high blood pressure are on a downhill spiral.

Diabetes causes damage to nerves and blood vessels. Those small blood vessels in the kidneys, when damaged, cause persons to retain more water and salt than necessary, leading to weight gain and ankle swelling, according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). When the body has high levels of blood sugar, it makes the kidneys overwork and eventually filter too much blood, said the American Diabetes Association. After many years, those filters in the kidneys start to leak useful protein into the urine. The overwork can cause the kidneys’ filtering ability to give out, and waste products build up in the blood, leading to kidney failure or end-stage renal disease, which can only be treated by kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Living a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing diabetes can reduce or prevent the chances of developing kidney disease.

“High blood pressure is more prevalent in African Americans so it is the leading cause of kidney disease in this population,” said Marie Philipneri, M.D., a nephrologist and associate professor at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Family medical history is also factor in kidney disease.

Philipneri suggests persons with no known risk factors should at least have their blood pressure and blood glucose checked to see if they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or issues with

Keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol in check reduces the risk of developing kidney disease or kidney failure.

Tips for keeping kidneys healthy

• Keep your target blood pressure below 130/80 mm/hg

• If you have diabetes, maintain blood sugar or glucose targets

• Keep your cholesterol levels in the target range.

• Take medicines the way your provider advises. (Certain blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, or ARBs, for cardiovascular disease may protect your kidneys.)

• Eat less salt and salt substitutes. Aim for less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily.

• Choose foods that are healthy for your heart: fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods.

• Limit your alcohol intake.

• Stay physically active.

• Lose weight if you are overweight.

• If you smoke, take steps to quit. Cigarette smoking can make kidney damage worse.

Sources: NKDEP and CDC - National Kidney Disease Education Program and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Experts say normal creatinine levels range between 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women.

Additionally, using certain classes of over-the-counter medications can tax the kidneys. Long-term use of pain medications known as NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which have fever and pain reducing properties, can cause chronic kidney disease. Meds in this class include common medications like ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve and naproxen, Philipneri said. Persons with kidney disease as well as other health issues should follow their doctor’s advice before using OTC medications.

“And you also need to be very careful about what supplements you take, especially the not so-well-studied drugs and supplements,” Philipneri added.

kidney function.

Screening for kidney disease is straightforward.

“You do a blood test; a urinalysis will tell us if there is any protein in the urine,

blood in the urine or any abnormal sediments,” Philipneri said. “We check the protein to creatinine ratio and that gives us an idea whether you have kidney disease or even late [stage] kidney disease.”

The NKF has lists of herbal supplements that may be toxic to the kidneys, harmful when you have chronic kidney disease and some herbs that are known to be unsafe for everyone. Find them at http://bit.ly/1i04HFP.

Delta Dental-MO launches website for dental plan purchases

Delta Dental of Missouri today announced the launch of individual.deltadentalmo. com, an e-commerce site for persons looking to purchase individual or family dental coverage.

The new site allows shoppers to compare plan options, obtain a quote, access the provider network, view a wealth of oral health information and purchase dental coverage online.

While pediatric dental care is covered under the Affordable Care Act, adult coverage is not.

“We understand that every dollar spent on preventive care saves money on restorative and major care down the road,” commented David Haynes, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Missouri.. “Access to affordable coverage is closely tied to the probability that an individual will visit the dentist regularly. These are essential factors in protecting the oral health and overall health of Missourians and their families, and this drives our business and social mission.”

The company has developed several benefit plans that focus on prevention and comprehensive oral health care. Those who purchase a Delta Dental Individual and Family plan can choose any dentist and have coverage, but individuals will pay the lowest out-of-pocket costs when they receive services from a dentist in the Delta Dental PPO Network. On the new site, members can find a dentist, print an ID card, manage their own accounts, make profile changes and review claims. Personal assistance is also available at 866-991-7345.

For more information, visit individual.deltadentalmo.com.

HealtH Profile

A passion for serving the underserved

Name:

Joi Erving, M.D.

Position/Where:

Internal medicine physician at Mercy Clinic in Union, Missouri

Career Highlights:

• Internal medicine physician in primary care

• American Board of Internal Medicine (Board Eligible- Exam August 2014)

Awards:

• Say Yes to Children Award, Continental Society, 2009

• Laudable Achievement in Ambulatory Medicine; Morehouse School of Medicine, Class Day, May 2008

• Honors in Community Health, Morehouse School of Medicine, May 2006

• Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Xavier University of Louisiana Chapter, 2003

• Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society, Xavier University of Louisiana Chapter, 2002

Continental Society National Scholarship Winner 20002004

Education:

Medical School

Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta

Residency: St. Louis University School of Medicine

Personal:

• A member of Greater Mount Carmel

Missionary Baptist Church

• A member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Zeta Sigma Chapter

St. Louis Connection:

I am originally from St. Louis. I went to Gateway Institute of Technology and graduated in 2000.

Journey to success:

I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. I remember visiting my pediatrician, Dr. Mary Tillman, and her allowing me to listen to my heart with her stethoscope. This simple act sparked a desire that stayed with me from her office throughout my studies and is still present to this very day. I see my position as a physician as a vocation more than simply being a career choice. As a child and young adult, I remember imagining myself doing what I thought a doctor did and experiencing a sense of fulfill-

ment and purpose.

Both my natural and my church families were extremely supportive of me and continue to be. My mother was consistent in her choice of black female pediatricians because she wanted me to see people that looked like me doing what she knew I wanted to do with my life. I have had obstacles, as everyone else has, in obtaining my goal. I had to sacrifice time, experiences, and even some unfruitful relationships at times in order to secure my future.

I have a passion for serving the underserved. This was something that was already placed in me by God, but was further developed by my training at Morehouse. Morehouse has the National Center for Primary Care and our professors helped us to further develop the skills required for caring for underserved communities through both urban and rural health courses.

Joi Erving, M.D.

HealtH Briefs

Dialysis patients with sickle cell trait require more anemia drugs

The presence of sickle cell trait among African Americans may help explain why those on dialysis require higher doses of an anemia medication than patients of other ethnicities, according to a study appearing in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

The sickle cell trait is the carrier state of sickle cell disease and is present in roughly 6 percent to 8 percent of African Americans. In sickle cell disease, individuals have two copies of a genetic mutation that produces an abnormal change in hemoglobin, the primary molecule that carries oxygen in the blood. This change can lead to severe anemia and abnormally shaped red blood cells that can block the flow of blood, causing organ damage. Generally, sickle cell trait (when only one copy of the mutation is present) is thought to be benign, but kidney abnormalities have been reported in some affected individuals.

Studies have also shown that African Americans with kidney failure require higher doses of medications to treat anemia during dialysis. To investigate whether the presence of sickle cell trait among African Americans play a role,

Vimal Derebail, MD, MPH of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill/UNC Kidney Center and his colleagues examined laboratory and clinical data over six months in 2011 concerning 5319 adult African-American hemodialysis patients.

Patients with sickle cell trait received about 13% more of the medications used to treat anemia than other patients to reach the same level of hemoglobin. The investigators also found that sickle cell trait was slightly more common among dialysis patients, present in 10% of study participants compared with 6.5% to 8.7% in the general African-American population.

The findings suggest that the presence of sickle cell trait may explain, at least in part, prior observations of greater doses of anemia medications administered to African-American dialysis patients relative to Caucasian patients.

“While we don’t know whether there are any adverse consequences to this higher dose of medication yet, further policies and decisions regarding management of anemia in dialysis patients should take into account these findings,” said Dr. Derebail. “Also whether sickle trait is more common in dialysis patients because it contributes to kidney disease should be explored further in future research.”

Diet, exercise may affect risk of developing kidney stones

Even small amounts of physical activity may decrease the risk of developing kidney stones, according to a study appearing recently in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The study also found that consuming too many calories may increase kidney stone risk.

Over the last 10 to 15 years, research has revealed that kidney stones are more of a systemic problem than previously thought. Their links with obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease demonstrate that the process of stone formation involves more than just the kidneys. As the prevalence of kidney stones has increased dramatically, especially in women, efforts to decrease the risk of stone formation have become even more important.

Mathew Sorensen, MD of University of Washington School of Medicine, and the Puget Sound Department of Veterans Affairs and his colleagues studied whether energy intake and energy expenditure relate to kidney stone formation. They studied 84,225 postmenopausal women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative, which has been gathering information such as dietary intake and physical activity in women since the 1990s.

After adjusting for multiple factors including body mass index, the researchers found that physical activity was associated with up to a 31 percent decreased risk of kidney stones.

“Even small amounts of exercise may decrease the risk of kidney stones – it does not need to be marathons, as the intensity of the exercise does not seem to matter,” said Dr. Sorensen. Women could get the maximum benefit by performing 10 metabolic equivalents per week, which is the equivalent of about three hours of average walking (2-3 mph), four hours of light gardening, or one hour of moderate jogging (6 mph).

The team also discovered that consuming more than 2200 calories per day increased the risk of developing kidney stones by up to 42 percent. Obesity was also a risk factor for stone formation.

“Being aware of calorie intake, watching their weight, and making efforts to exercise are important factors for improving the health of our patients overall, and as it relates to kidney stones,” said Dr. Sorensen.

Physical activity

may slow kidney function decline in KD patients

Exercise could have a powerful effect on maintaining the health of persons with chronic kidney disease. Study findings indicate increased physical activity may slow kidney function decline in patients with kidney disease. The study appeared recently in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Approximately 60 million people globally have chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the past 20 years, few new interventions have been shown to be useful in slowing the progression of the disease. Identifying modifiable risk factors for progression of CKD represents a critical next step toward reducing the morbidity, mortality, and health costs for one of the most expensive chronic health conditions.

Cassianne Robinson-Cohen, PhD at the Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington and her colleagues studied 256 participants of the Seattle Kidney Study, an ongoing study that is collecting information on patients with CKD, for an average of 3.7 years.

The found that physical activity was inversely related to kidney function decline in a graded fashion and to a degree that was stronger than previously reported in the general population. Each 60-minute increment in weekly physical activity was linked with a 0.5% slower decline per year in kidney function.

“This study demonstrated that even small amounts of physical activity, such as walking 60 minutes per week, might slow the rate of kidney disease progression” said Dr. Robinson-Cohen. “Physical inactivity is emerging as one of the few risk factors for kidney disease progression that is amenable to intervention.”

Thurs. Mar. 6, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., SSM Heart Health Screenings - $20 at St. Mary’s Health Center, 6420 Clayton Rd. Richmond Heights, Mo., 63117. Screenings for cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, body fat analysis and blood pressure. For more information, call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (1-866-7763627) or visit ssmhealth.com/heart.

Fri. Mar. 7, 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., 14th Annual Developmental Disability Awareness Art Fair, Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis. For more information, call 314421-0090 or visit www.stldd.org.

Sat. Mar. 8, 10 am – 12:30 pm, Groundbreaking for Universally Accessible Playground at Willmore Park, Hampton Ave. St. Louis 63109. For more information, call 314-421-0090 or visit www.stldd.org.

Sat. March 8, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., National Kidney Foundation’s Free Kidney Health Check, Macedonia Baptist Church, 10 S. Norman E. Owens Place, East. St. Louis, Ill. The assessment includes risk survey, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure check, free

Calendar

educational materials, and opportunity to speak with a health care professional. For more information, call 314-961-2828 x.482

Wed., Mar. 12, Food Allergies 101, Mo Baptist Medical Center, a free community panel discussion. For more information, visit aafastl.org.

Mar. 18, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Oh Baby! Baby Shower to benefit St. Louis Crisis Nursery at Village North Retirement Community, 11160 Village North Drive. RSVP by calling 314747-WELL (9355) or 1-877-747-WELL (9355).

Sat. Mar. 22, 6p.m. – 10 p.m., Lupus Foundation’s Purple Ball, Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel Majestic Ballroom, 800 Washington Ave. For more information, visit lfaheartland.org.

Tues. Mar. 25, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Diabetes Alert Day, Christian Hospital Diabetes Institute, Physicians Office Bldg. 1 #101 N. Registration is required by calling call 314-747-WELL (9355) or 1-877747-WELL (9355).

Tues., Mar. 25, 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Diabetes Alert Day, Christian Hospital Main Lobby, 11133 Dunn Rd. Registration is required by calling call 314-747-WELL (9355) or 1-877747-WELL (9355).

Fri. Mar. 28, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Health Insurance Literacy: Identifying Awareness & Promoting Healthy Communities, J.C. Penney Conference Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis North Campus. Fee $10 until March 14, when it increases to $20. For more information, call 314-516-6590 or register online at http://bit.ly/1mHO1Vz.

Sat. Apr. 5, 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m., Christian Hospital Auxiliary Golden Charity Ball, Norwood Hills Country Club, One Norwood Hills Country Club Drive, St. Louis, 63121. RSVP by March 21. Cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, live auction and dancing with the Ralph Butler Band. For more information, contact the Auxiliary office at 314-653-5634, Sheryl McClary at 314653-5193 or via email at SMcClary@bjc. org.

Sun. Apr. 6, 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., A Tasteful Affair, Food Outreach’s 26th Annual Food & Auction Extravaganza, The Ballroom at The Four Seasons Hotel, 999 North 2nd Street, St. Louis. For tickets or more information about Food Outreach, visit www.foodoutreach.org or call 314-6523663 Ext. 122.

Sat & Sun. Apr. 5 & 6, Go! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend, Half marathon, marathon, marathon relay, 5K run/walk, Mature Mile, Go! St. Louis Read, Right & Run marathon and Children’s Fun Run. For more information, visit gostlouis.org.

Sat. Apr. 12, 6 p.m., 24th Annual Orchid AAFAir, by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, St. Louis Chapter at Four Seasons St. Louis. Cocktail reception and silent auction at 6 p.m. with dinner and live auction at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit aafastl.org/orchid.

Sat., Apr. 26, 8 a.m., St. Louis March

for Babies, Upper Muny Parking Lot in Forest Park. Registration at 8 a.m. and walk begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call 314-513-9990 or visit www.marchforbabies.org.

Sat. May 3, 4 p.m., St. Louis Walk to End Lupus, Carondelet Park. For more information, call 314-644-2222 or visit www.lfaheartland.org.

Sat., May 10, 4 p.m. Metro East March for Babies, GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.,2301 Grizzlie Bear Blvd. Registration at 4p.m. and event begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 314-513-9990 or email MO633@marchofdimes.com.

Sundays, 10 a.m. – Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109 meets in the 11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road at I-270/ Hwy. 367. This is an open meeting for alcoholics, drug addicts and their family and friends.

Mondays, 7 p.m. – “Tobacco Free for Life” support group – free weekly meetings at St. Peters Mo. City Hall. Supported by SSM Cancer Care; RSVP initial participation to 636-947-5304.

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Alcohol and Drug Informational meeting, Christian Hospital, Professional Office Building 2, Suite 401. For information, call 314-839-3171.

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. –STEPS Schizophrenia Support Group This nationally recognized program provides education and support for those with schizophrenia. Group is facilitated by an experienced STEPS nurse. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

First Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Family Support Group by NAMI St. Louis, The Alliance on Mental Illness at Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 1807 Biddle Street. No registration needed; no cost. For more information, call 314962-4670.

Free psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations are confidential at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. Call 314-839-3171.

HealtHy Q &

a

Why does kidney disease happen more often with African

Americans?

One reason may be that the No. 1 and No. 2 issues contributing to kidney disease are serious and prevalent health problems among African Americans; diabetes and high blood pressure. Those conditions damage your kidneys over time without symptoms. According to Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, African Americans are nearly four times more likely than whites to have kidney failure. A few months ago, the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study and the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK) published joint results that a gene variant that is common among African Americans hastens kidney disease progression and kidney failure.

The work of the kidneys is to remove waste and extra water from the blood.A blood and urine tests can reveal early signs of kidney disease. To reduce your kidney disease risk, get tested for diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, particularly if you have a family member with kidney failure. Follow your doctor’s instructions on treatment if there is an issue. Control your blood pressure and blood sugar by healthy foods that are high in fiber, low in fat, cholesterol and salt; limit alcohol; exercise regularly; maintain a healthy weight; and don’t use tobacco products.

For more information, visit the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org or the National Kidney Disease Education Program at http://1.usa.gov/1o72KET.

Email your health-related question to yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com. A health professional will provide an answer that will be printed in a future issue of Your Health Matters.

Auxiliary reinvents to support CHIPS Health and Wellness Center

The new Greater Saint Louis Auxiliary, Inc. (GSAUX) debuted two weeks ago when it announced to members it will support fundraising efforts and provide volunteer manpower to CHIPS (Community Health-In-Partnership Services) Health and Wellness Center this year.

The former Saint Louis ConnectCare Auxiliary was forced to discontinue it services and completely close its operations when the ConnectCare health facility on Delmar shut down operations in November, 2013.

“Shortly after the health center closed, our Auxiliary went into action to reduce, repair and reorganize,” said Auxiliary president, Judi Sams.

February was the first membership meeting under its new name: Greater Saint Louis Auxiliary, Incorporated. Officers include Same, Carolyn Stafford, 1st vice president; Grace James, 2nd vice president; Freddie McCadney, recording secretary; Bertha McClure, corresponding secretary; Patricia V. Mayfield, financial secretary; Robert Rembert, treasurer; and J. Edward Holt, nominating chairman.

“This partnership will open opportunities for GSAUX to support CHIPS Youth Leadership Development, Healthcare Beyond Walls Programs and clinical services,” said Sams. Every year, the auxiliary will review its partnerships.

CHIPS, located at 2431 N. Grand Blvd., was founded in 1990 by nurse practitioner and public health executive Judy Bentley to meet the growing needs of the high-risk, low-income, underserved and uninsured population of North St. Louis. It is one of the only free clinics in the area.

“We look forward to the partnership Greater Saint Louis Auxiliary and CHIPS will create,” said Bentley. “CHIPS is the story of many people contributing a little bit, whatever talent and time they have,” she said. “The beauty of our program is that it is community based, so there are no limits to what we can do for people who are hurting.”

The Auxiliary also announced support of the Innovative Concept Academy (ICA), a school that is overseen by a court system and dedicated to the education and rehabilitation of delinquent teens. ICA offers a chance for their students to break a cycle of courtrooms and prison cells.

“ICA wish list is modest,” Sams said. “Our organization is looking forward to a close partnership with its staff and students.”

Judi Sams, president of Greater Saint Louis Auxiliary, Inc. and Judy Bentley, president and CEO of Community Health-In-Partnership Services (CHIPS) are collaborating to support health services for the uninsured and underserved in St. Louis. After fundraising many years for the now defunct St. Louis ConnectCare, the newly created Auxiliary will fundraise for CHIPS.

Greater Saint Louis Auxiliary, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation organized to operate exclusively for charitable, social service, educational, health and scientific purposes; included are organizations that

qualify as exempt organization under Internal Revenue Codes.

For more information, write Greater Saint Louis Auxiliary, Inc., P.O. Box 4113, St. Louis, MO 63136, call 314-3135609. For more information about Community Health in Partnership Services, visit www.chipsstl.org.

Silencing the voices in your head

By Mellve Shahid, Sr., founder/CEO The Empowerment Network

So many lessons from The Empowerment Network have been shared with me by survivors and members that are in the organization. Listening to the conversations of prostate survivors has opened up many doors and programs that now exist in our prostate cancer advocacy organization.

I recently interviewed a newly diagnosed prostate cancer survivor that was going through surgery and as I listened intently to his conversation at the ofice, I noticed that he kept using the words, “I can’t do this. I can’t handle the news.” These are words that I have heard many times from men after they received the news from their urologist that they were diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“Why me? Why is this happening to me? Maybe, I should end it all as I contemplate the thoughts of taking my life.” These are some of the voices that echo inside the heads and the hearts of many men after hearing the words that “you have prostate cancer.”

The voices that echo inside of their

Behavioral

Christian Hospital offers free and confidential psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

Christian Hospital Key Program offers support and education to patients with chronic mental illness to prevent increased severity of symptoms and to reduce the need for inpatient re-hospitalization. Call confidentially to 314-8393171 or 1-800-447-4301.

Crime Victim Advocacy Center provides no cost support for persons affected by criminal acts. Email peggy@supportvictims.org, visit or call the 24-hour hotline 314-OK-BE-MAD (652-3673) or visit www.supportvictims.org.

Bike helmet safety

The St. Louis County Health Department provides free bicycle helmets to St. Louis County residents between ages 1 and 17 by appointment only. Proof of residency is required. For the location nearest you, visit www. tinyurl.freebikehelmets.

heads are speaking fear and death into their hearts and are being expressed in their thoughts which will limit the ability of the body to heal. A quote that I have often heard during my earlier days in church holds truth: “So as a man thinketh, so is he.”

The words that I spoke came out of nowhere and in an instant I said, “You must silence the voices that echo in your head that are now speaking negativity into your spirit. Those voices are speaking fear and the fear will set up failure. Silence them and tell them to leave – now.”

Mellve Shahid, founder and CEO, The Empowerment Network

My mind then relected back to national motivational speaker, best-selling author and media personality, Willie Jolley, and one of his books “A Setback is a Set-up for a Comeback.” He writes: “Once you make the decision to stay calm in the midst of the storm, and you have decided not to panic, you must decide to remain positive. Maintain a positive attitude and think about your options.”-

Even in the midst of a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Jolley continues in his book, “You cannot control what happens to you, you cannot control what happens around you, but you can control what happens in you. With a positive attitude you can ind some good in the bad and some happiness in the sad. Your attitude in life is a choice and a decision. Take on an attitude of gratitude and be thankful that you know. Make a commitment to yourself to keep going. Realize the power and the greatness that is within you.”

What I received from Jolley’s writings is this - refuse to stop and never give up on life. In order to turn a set-back into a come-back you must be willing to ight, and ight hard; you must expect to win. Jolley’s book is a “must read” for every prostate cancer survivor in the nation who wants to heal.

As cancer survivors we need confidence, determination and persistence to

HealtH ResouRces

Breast Cancer Gateway to Hope offers no-charge medical and reconstructive treatment for uninsured breast cancer patients in Missouri. Contact 314-569-1113.

Dental

Free Dental Hygiene Clinic - No charge dental exams, x-rays, cleanings and other dental services for children and adults provided by dental students at Missouri College. Patients needing more extensive dental work (fillings, crowns, etc.) will be referred to local dentists. For information, call 314-768-7899.

Diabetes

SSM St. Mary’s Health Center provides free, Diabetes Support Group sessions the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m. to address health management issues. It’s located at Meeting Room 1 on the second floor, 6420 Clayton Rd. in St. Louis. To register, call toll free 866-SSM-DOCS (866-7763627).

Health Partnerships

The Center for Community Health and Partnerships: Building Bridges for Healthy Communities works to develop and support beneficial community-ac-

ademic partnerships to address the health needs of the St. Louis. For more information, email publichealth@wustl. edu; phone 314-747-9212 or visit publichealth.wustl.edu.

Information Missouri 2-1-1 offers referral and information on a wide range of social service and helpful resources. Call 2-1-1.

Medical

Boys & Girls Clubs Dental & Vision Clinic at Herbert Hoover Club, 2901 N. Grand, St. Louis. Open year-round for members at no additional fee by appointment only. Teeth cleaning, braces, x-rays, root canals, some extractions; vision mobile unit, comprehensive exam and glasses, if required. Make an appointment by calling 314-355-8122.

Salam Free Saturday Clinic, 10 a.m. –

2 p.m. at the Isom Community Center at Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 916 N. Newstead, St. Louis, Mo. for those who are uninsured. For more information, call 314-533-0534.

Nutrition

Food Outreach provides food, meals and nutritional education/ counseling to

win the war on cancer that has now entered our bodies. This will help to change the voices in your head to, “I can do it. I can survive this prostate cancer diagnosis and I want to live. ”

As I shared my thoughts with the aforementioned newly diagnosed prostate cancer survivor, I watched as a smile appeared on his face and calmness seemed to ease his spirit. It seems that the negative voices were gone away and a new life had just emerged.

This is Black History Month. Know that our history reflects an unyielding spirit for survival as a people and a thirst for life. Prostate cancer is not the end of life for those who understand, but a new beginning to celebrate the new life that Almighty God has blessed us with.

For more information, call 314-385-0998 or visit www.

TheEmpowermentNetwork.net. “The Empowerment Network Health Radio Show” airs every Sunday, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on WGNU 920 AM and online at wgnu920am.

eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS or cancer in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www. foodoutreach.org.

St. Louis Milk Depot - SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is a breast milk depot for the Indiana Mother’s Milk Bank. Milk Depot staff will store and ship your milk to IMMB. For more information, call (314) 242-5912.

Prostate Cancer

The Cancer Center of The Empowerment Network at 6000 W. Florissant in St. Louis provides information on prostate and other types of cancer, and services and support. For more information, call 314-385-0998.

Prescription Cost Help

Schnucks Pharmacies – now offers certain prescription prenatal vitamins for free and offers no-cost generic prescription antibiotics at select locations.

Wal-Mart Pharmacies – offer select prescriptions for $4 or less for a 30-day supply or $10 for a 90-day supply. View the complete list at www.walmart.com/ pharmacy.