October 11th, 2012 edition

Q&A with Claire McCaskill

Incumbent

senator supports Obama on important issues

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of the St.Louis American

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is running for re-election on Nov. 6.

The American: Alot of ourreaders may not know about some of the outrageous things that youropponent has said. Give the black community three reasons to vote against U.S. Rep. Todd Akin.

Claire McCaskill: Todd Akin wants to abolish programs. He wants to abolish the minimum wage. And he thinks employers should have the “freedom” to discriminate. He believes employers should have the freedom to pay anyone anything they like. If they negotiate a wage with an employee, it shouldn’t make any difference. If this is about employer freedom, then that would remove the ability to require employers to not discriminate against workers based on gender or race or anything else.

Sista Struttin’ in Forest Park

History Museum controversy

Media

uproar reminder of missed opportunities for black community

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of the St.Louis American

People who grew up in St. Louis remember that two central exhibitions in the Missouri History Museum, for a long time, focused on Charles Lindbergh and the Veiled Prophet organization.

“While Lindbergh is, rightfully, a St.

St. Louis remembers

By Sandra Jordan Of The St.Louis

Louis icon, earlier exhibitions failed to tell the complete truth about his antiSemitism and Nazi sympathies,” stated the Missouri Historical Society in its case statement for the Center for History and Community Collections. And for the African-American community, this type of missing historical acknowledgment can create a barricade

life’

Abeloved and respected children’s health advocate and medical pioneer, Helen Elizabeth Nash, M.D. passed away Thursday, October 4 at her home in St. Louis. She was 91. Dr. Nash blazed trails as an African-American woman training for and starting a medical practice in the 1940s. She opened her medical practice in 1949 in the St. Louis black business district, ‘Biggerthan

to the museum, the society stated.

That’s why in 2004 the society and Museum President Robert Archibald decided to build a center where the entire community could unite its history with that of the museum by sharing and archiving their stories together.

See MUSEUM, A6

BJC, CORTEX minority goals questioned

Leaders

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of the St.Louis American

The new BJC administration building and future projects in the CORTEX research park will shoot for a goal of employing 15 percent minority and women workers on the proposed $2.2 billion phase of CORTEX construction, said project leaders at an Oct. 4 minority and women business outreach event.

“It would seem that not adopting Board Bill 75 is yet another poor example for CORTEX, setting a negative tone.”

– City of St.Louis Comptroller Darlene Green

Fifteen percent marks the lowest goal for putting minorities and women to work on a St. Louis City project of this scale in the last several years.

The $19-million O’Fallon Park Recreation Center in North St. Louis City put 33 percent minority workers and four percent women to work. The Metropolitan Sewer District is aiming for 25 percent minority and 6.9 percent women workforce goals (on projects $500,000 or more) on its upcoming $4.7 billion projects.

In 2009, the city passed an

ordinance (68412), which sets forth workforce goals on cityfunded public works contracts of 25 percent minority, five percent women, 20 percent local workforce and 15 percent apprentices. Although CORTEX leaders do not plan to follow the city’s workforce goals, Sandra Marks, who was recently selected as the BJC project’s diversity consultant, said the BJC administration building and all CORTEX projects will mirror the city’s goals on the business side. The projects will follow the mayor’s executive order (#28) goals of hiring 25 percent minority business enterprises (MBEs) and 5 percent women business enterprises (WBEs).

Tiff in public financing

On Oct. 31, CORTEX CEO Dennis Lower will ask the Tax Increment Finance (TIF)

“Donald was a beautiful person who brought light into the lives of all comers.”

DONALD M. SUGGS JR. PASSES

By Rebecca S.Rivas

urge developers to mirror city workforce ordinance See NASH, A13

Donald M.Suggs,Jr.,(1961 – 2012)

on Fri., Oct. 5, 2012. He was 51. ASt. Louis native but long-time resident of Manhattan’s East Village in New York City, Donald was a senior editor at The Village Voice a former associate director at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and a former pro-

See McCASKILL, A13

Sen.Claire McCaskill said she has supported President Barack Obama on numerous issues,from increasing Pell grants to passing health care reform.

About 8,000 supporters gathered in front of the Missouri History Museum for the third annual 3K Sista Strut Breast Cancer Walk,organized by Clear Channel St.Louis,in

Photo by Wiley Price

RumorFix is reporting that former “Football Wives” star PilarSanders has been forced to move out of her house, because the electricity and gas have been shut off for lack of payment. The model – who is locked in a nasty divorce with former NFLplayer Deion Sanders – is having a hard time making ends meet, according to her publicist Kali Bowyer.

Deion Sanders recently filed to lower his $10,500 a month child support order and in the meantime

Pilar claims Deion hasn’t paid her one thin dime. Pilar’s attorneys filed an emergency request to get Deion to continue with his support payments

According to court doc-

Lights out forPilarSanders

uments obtained by RumorFix, Deion makes $161,565.25 a month and is worth $250 million. His attorneys are claiming the $10,500 in child support is extreme and six times what everyone else in Texas pays. Plus, they claim paying the utilities is not a child support expense.

Angela Stanton keeps Phaedra beef brewing

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Parks filed a defamation lawsuit against Vibe Magazine for publishing Angela Stanton’s memoirs, ‘Lies of a Real Housewife’, detailing the time she allegedly spent working for Phaedra pulling various scams around the country.

THE STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING

Stanton used her twitter to spill some tea about how things are allegedly working in her favor.

“Wondering why Phaedra Parks ain’t told nobody her fed lawsuit against Vibe has been dismissed.”

Trouble in paradise for Gilbert and Ms.Govan?

“Basketball Wives LA” star Laura Govan’s romance with her children’s father Gilbert Arenas has been on shaky

ground for years, but the tumultuous couple recently decided to give it another go. Sources told Tattle Tailzz Arenas has been creeping for a while with a woman named Mel who would often show up at Memphis Grizzlies games and shamelessly sit right across from Laura.

Ms.Jackson fighting family venom featured in Vanity Fair

Earlier this week “Vanity Fair” printed scathing excerpts from a new book called ‘Untouchable’claiming Janet Jackson held up her brother’s funeral demanding Michael Jackson’s estate reimburse her the $40,000 she paid for the

funeral deposit. Aletter to Vanity Fair from Janet’s attorney demands a retraction. An excerpt of the letter reads as follows:

“The article states that, according to Untouchable, Ms. Jackson put down a $40,000 deposit to secure a burial plot for Michael Jackson but refused to let the funeral take place until the money was repaid. This is untrue. Ms. Jackson never delayed the funeral in any way. In fact, she paid for the funeral and was reimbursed for some of those expenses by Michael Jackson’s estate in the year after the services took place. In addition, there were other private costs associated with Michael Jackson’s passing that Ms. Jackson incurred and for which she has never sought reimbursement. To falsely accuse Ms. Jackson of holding up her brother’s funeral over money is outrageous.

I demand that Vanity Fair retract its statement that Ms. Jackson “refused” to let Michael Jackson’s funeral take

place until the money she put down as a deposit on his burial plot was repaid.”

Janet wasn’t the only Jackson taking heat in the book. There are also claims that mother Katherine and sister LaToya descended on Michael’s house in the days following his death and ransacked it looking for money.

Gary Houston to come for Nick Gordon on reality show

During the premiere of “Steel Magnolias” on Lifetime, a commercial for the Houston family reality show, “Houstons: On Our Own,” showed Whitney Houston’s brother Gary confronting Nick Gordon about hooking up with Bobbi Kristina.

In the clip Gary is seen sitting across the table from Nick telling him, “No one knew from a Godson that you would turn into a boyfriend. No one knew that...”

The Houston’s 14 episode reality show -starring Bobbi Kristina, Nick Gordon, Pat and Gary Houston and Cissy Houston premiers on the Lifetime Network October 24.

Sources: RumorFix, Now Magazine, Vanity Fair, Tattle Tailzz, Lifetime

Phaedra Parks

Janet Jackson

Pilar Sanders

Voters should keep Nonpartisan Court Plan

Vote no on Constitutional Amendment 3 on Nov. 6

By Sydell Shayer For

The St. Louis

American

Missouri’s Nonpartisan Court Plan is a model for the nation with over 30 states adopting the same or a similar court plan. Why then would the state Legislature choose to ask voters in November to dismantle this successful judge selection process?

To put it simply, the proposed changes to the plan would give the governor more power in the judicial selection process, bringing partisan politics into a system that is presently fair and impartial.

The League of Women Voters supported the Nonpartisan Court Plan from its inception. There is no evidence that the plan needs changing. Prior to 1940, when the Nonpartisan Court Plan became law, Missourians elected judges. Tired of the corruption and the influence of the political machine in Kansas City and the political bosses in St. Louis, Missouri voters, by initiative petition, amended the constitution to give the governor the power to appoint judges from a list developed by a nonpartisan judicial selection commission. Judges are now chosen based on merit rather than political party. The influence of campaign money is gone and candidates for judgeships no longer need to spend time fundraising or campaigning. They can do their jobs.

The Nonpartisan Court Plan applies to the Missouri Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and St. Louis City and St. Louis County in the eastern part of the state. It covers Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties in the Kansas City area. Greene County in the Springfield area recently voted to forego the

election of judges for the nonpartisan plan.

The Nonpartisan Court Plan candidates for judicial appointment are scrutinized by the judicial selection commission. The candidates go through a rigorous application, research and interview process on background, education, competency, experience and temperament. The commission thoroughly studies each applicant and chooses the three best candidates from which the governor selects one to fill a vacancy on the court.

After the judge serves one year, citizens vote at the next election on whether to retain the judge. Additionally, at the end of each judge’s term, citizens vote on whether to retain the judge. The option of impeachment by the legislature is also available. In over 70 years since the Nonpartisan Court Plan has been in effect, voters have retained all but two judges.

The Judicial Selection Commission is composed of three lawyers selected by the Missouri Bar Association, three non-lawyers appointed by the governor plus the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

The ballot proposal, if approved by the voters, would modify the composition of the Appellate Judicial Commission and the selection process for judges to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. It would eliminate the chief justice as a member, give the governor the power to appoint four citizen members who may be lawyers in addition to the three lawyers the Bar Association appoints. It would increase from three to four the number of nominees the commission presents to the governor and would eliminate the staggered terms of the commissioners allowing the governor to appoint four members in his first year in office.

If one wants to be assured that politics will not enter the judicial selection process, that the judges are beholden to no one but the public, that the selection process is open and transparent, that ordinary people have a place on the judicial selection commission, and that the candidates for judge are selected based on merit, Vote No on November 6, 2012.

You will be in good company. The Missouri Bar Association, present and former Missouri Supreme Court judges appointed by both Democrat and Republican governors and many other civic organizations warn against tinkering with the Nonpartisan Court Plan.

We have seen what happens in other states when politics enter the judicial appointment process. One of the few areas where Missouri has gained positive national recognition is our Nonpartisan Court Plan. The League of Women Voters urges voters to maintain a just and impartial court by voting no on Constitutional Amendment 3. Let’s be proud of Missouri’s judicial record and not turn back the clock.

Shayer is a League of Women Voters of Missouri Board member.

Extreme measures in ESL

Two weeks ago St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly reported that, because of the combined efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement, homicide in ESL was down by 85 percent (since June 1) and decreased, overall, by 30 percent since 2010. The federal “Save Our Streets” effort was a major success and should be applauded and renewed, especially in light of recent events.

Those unfortunate events include a sudden surge in violence in the past week, including the shooting of a 14 year-old boy mowing his lawn, an 18 year-old man who was stabbed to death and the fatal shootings of three teens and wounding of two others outside the VIP nightclub.

blue (gang colors) will be pursued as well.

I commend Mayor Parks (I didn’t stutter) for finally being proactive in this matter. It’s about time.

However, there probably should be some joint effort between the city and School District 189’s truancy department, as I severely doubt that the ESL jail has the capacity to accommodate the myriad students who can be found playing hooky or violating curfew on any given day.

James Ingram

Four murders and two shootings in one week, more than most communities experience in an entire year, now makes the overall reduction in ESL’s murder rate seem like a distant memory.

Unfortunately, that’s par for the course in East Boogie, where the negative often overshadows the positive.

However, there’s room for optimism amid the doom and gloom.

Mayor Alvin Parks Jr., in reaction to the deadly surge in crime, has imposed a curfew on teens 17 and younger. The curfew will be between the hours of 8a.m. and 3:30p.m. (on school days) and after 10p.m., as well as for those who are found loitering.

Those teens found in violation will, supposedly, be arrested.

In addition, police have been instructed to conduct more vehicle and pedestrian searches for drugs, weapons and open containers of alcohol.

And those who wear red or royal

I also question the legality of stating, on the record, that you will target individuals on the basis of the color of their garb, though I’m well aware of the connection to the gang lifestyle. Parks may want to rethink that one. Also, the term “loitering” must be more clearly defined (by Parks), lest any law-abiding individual can be harassed for being in violation of such vague terminology.

But, radical circumstances call for radical remedies and ESL’s extreme levels of criminality and disregard for the law must be addressed. The majority of good people in ESL cannot be held captive by fear and violence because a few rotten apples have hijacked the safety and reputation of a once stellar community.

Mayor Parks must work in conjunction with the federal, state and county authorities to reverse crime in ESL and restore some sense of normalcy to what was once an “All American City” only 50 short years ago. And if it takes extreme measures, then so be it.

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo. com Twitter@JamesTIngram. If you like my column, then you will love my radio show on WGNU920am every Sunday from 4-5 pm. Please tune-in and call-in.

Editorial /CommEntary

Black base’s love for Obama is strong

Most African Americans believe in a benevolent guiding Providence, and this belief has only been strengthened by the remarkable events of the 2012 presidential campaign. Our candidate, President Barack Obama, has been vilified and villanized by Republicans and rightwing media ceaselessly since the day he was elected. The non-stop misrepresentation and scorning of his character and policies – indeed, even his citizenship status – was bolstered by an economy that is improving, but has remained sluggish, particularly in the African-American community. Those of us who support this president expected to see him fighting for his political life come October 2012. But a scarcely believable set of miscues including derisive comments by his opponent, Mitt Romney, and by other highly visible Republicans on the campaign trail – along with the public finally coming to experience and appreciate some of the real benefits of “Obamacare” that they had been told was evil incarnate – has put Obama in the lead in national polling with the election less than a month away.

It is very important that African Americans, even in states like Missouri where the president is not expected to win, put their love and support for this historic president in action and vote on November 6. In fact, absentee voting has already started, so voters should see if they qualify for an absentee ballot and, if so, go cast one right away. A well-known spiritual asks, “Where were you when they crucified my Lord?” and we are continually called to witness the major events of our time. We know where we were on November 8, 2008 – we were at the polls, helping to elect this historic president. And now history calls us back to the polls on November 6, 2012 (or earlier, for those qualified to vote absentee). Even if we believe our candidate might not win in our state, we must contribute to his national popular vote totals, because we want, need and expect this great man to be returned to the White House by significant majorities in both the Electoral College and an unequivocal mandate of the American people.

A strong public mandate would be essential to the transformative second term in office of which this president is capable. The often center-right course he has steered in his first term was absolutely essential to his political survival, but in a second term he would be empowered to be much more of the audacious president we fell in love with on the campaign trail in 2008. Obama already is an historic candidate, the first African American ever elected to the nation’s highest office, but a strong popular mandate for his second term would give him the opportunity to be a truly transformative president and policy maker, freed from the burden of a looming reelection fight.

It also is important for Democratic leaders, nationally and in states with a significant black voter base, to understand how deeply revered Barack Obama remains in our community. Many white progressives who gave Obama his first surge as a presidential candidate and many white independents who contributed to his crushing victory in 2008 now say they will vote against Romney, rather than for Obama, and that is fine – we will take their vote for any reason. But white Democrats must realize that the black base does not see Obama with the same degree of criticism and skepticism that they do.

Obama is one of us, one of what Ossie Davis called our “black shining princes,” and Democrats are challenged to find a way to benefit from our unqualified, overwhelming support and regard for this president to sway black voters to keep voting down the entire ticket. It is well known that the size of the African-American voter turnout is critical to the success of many Democratic party candidates across the nation, and there is no stronger incentive for African-American voters to participate than affirming their love and respect for Obama at the polls on November 6.

COMMENTARY

The policies, not the polls

Conservative activist circles are abuzz with a new conspiracy theory: Polls showing President Obama with a growing lead over Mitt Romney are deliberately being skewed by the Liberal Mainstream Media so that Republicans will be disheartened and stay home on Election Day. This is denial and selfdelusion. It’s a false narrative that encourages the Republican Party to take the wrong lessons from this election, no matter the outcome. The whole atmosphere surrounding the presidential race is different since the party conventions. The Obama campaign has begun warning supporters about the perils of overconfidence. Romney, meanwhile, wages a daily battle to keep the words “beleaguered” and “embattled” from latching onto his candidacy.

The reason for the change is that polls indicate Obama’s once-slim lead has grown beyond the margin of error. A Pew Research Center national poll last week showed Obama up by eight points. The most recent National Journal poll showed the president with a seven-point lead. On Wednesday, even the Gallup daily tracking poll – which has consistently measured the race as extremely close – had Obama up by six. The Rasmussen daily tracking poll, however, saw the race as

still tied. Why the anomaly? Because the Rasmussen firm weights its sample to achieve what it believes to be a representative balance of Democrats and Republicans. While other pollsters also ask about party affiliation, most of them weight their samples to reflect the nation’s demographic profile. That’s the discrepancy that gives rise to the conspiracy theories. The polls that show Obama with a substantial lead also show an electorate comprising substantially more Democrats than Republicans. It stands to reason, say the theorists, that these surveys would overestimate the vote for Obama and underestimate the vote for Romney.

Those dastardly liberals in the media – and, apparently, in most of the major polling organizations – must have decided to give this false picture of the race in order to discourage conservatives and make them resigned to an Obama victory.

“They’re trying to wrap this up before the debates even start because I think they’re worried about the debates,” radio host Rush Limbaugh told his audience. “I think they’re trying to get this election finished and in the can by suppressing your vote and depressing you so that you just don’t think there’s any reason to vote, that it’s hopeless.”

An anti-Obama website called unskewedpolls.com has reweighted a number of recent polls and concluded that Romney actually has a lead of nearly eight points. So why is Romney acting like a man who’s behind rather than comfortably ahead? Because

As

he’s smart enough to know the conspiracy theory is nuts. The problem is that party affiliation can be weak and changeable. Voters who describe themselves as Democrats one month can call themselves Republicans or independents the next. In this sense, it’s not something polls can assume as a precondition.

It’s something polls discover.

If pollsters look at a demographically representative sample of registered or likely voters and find fewer Republicans than might be expected, it could be that voters who once might have called themselves Republicans no longer feel comfortable with the label.

Whoever wins in November, it is clear that while the past four years have been rough on the president’s image, the impact on the Republican brand has been nothing less than brutal. Voters blame the GOP for the gridlock and brinkmanship that have characterized much of the president’s first term. The Republican Party has taken stands on issues such as abortion and immigration that big segments of the electorate find extreme and unacceptable. Moderate Republicans, as a political species, are all but extinct.

If a polling sample shows Democrats outnumbering Republicans by, say, 32 percent to 24 percent (with most of the rest calling themselves independents), GOP partisans shouldn’t worry about a conspiracy. They should worry that this is a snapshot of how Americans feel about the two major parties. It’s not the polls, it’s the policies.

Issues

No bullies at the polls

“Eligible Americans have a civic duty to vote, and government at the federal, state, and local level has a responsibility to protect voters from illegal interference and intimidation.”

– Bullies at the Ballot Box report

A new report by Common Cause and Demos, entitled “Bullies at the Ballot Box,” recently took direct aim at Jim Crow-like tactics designed to challenge and intimidate voters at the polls. The report especially notes the campaign of intimidation that is currently being waged by a Tea Partyaffiliated group called True the Vote which has set a goal of training and deploying as many as one million poll watchers “to challenge and confront other Americans as they go to the polls in November.” True the Vote has said they want to make the experience of voting “like driving and seeing the police following you.” Earlier this year, we saw what happened when an overzealous citizen decided to follow and confront a teenager with a hoodie whose only

“crime” was walking while black. As the new report states, “There is a real danger that voters will face overzealous volunteers who take the law into their own hands to target voters they deem suspect.”

These mostly conservative groups claim their purpose is to protect against voter fraud – a solution in search of a problem, since the incidence of voter fraud in America is miniscule. The only fraud is their real intent, which is to gain political advantage for their preferred candidate by disenfranchising, suppressing or bullying progressive voters who tend to be people of color, the elderly, students and people with disabilities.

The Bullies at the Ballot Box report raises awareness about this threat and outlines what is legal and permissible when it comes to challenging a voter’s eligibility both before and on election day. It also assesses the ability of 10 key swing states to protect the rights of voters who may face this type of poll-stalking intimidation. According to the report, “In examining the ten states’ laws governing challenges to voters’ right to vote before Election Day, including the use of voter lists created through caging or other unreliable practices, we find Colorado, Nevada, and Ohio are satisfactory, North

Letters to the editor

Wake up call for Normandy

I am saddened by the news that the Normandy School District has been stripped of its state accreditation. My heart goes out to the children and parents of the district in this time of uncertainty.

While the Normandy School District has a proud history of providing quality education since 1894, the district has recently languished in its annual evaluations. In fact, the district has met only four or five out of the 14 standards on which school districts are judged. While I’m aware that the department of education is still working with the district’s staff to reevaluate certain accreditation data, and that further accreditation decisions regarding the district may be determined at a future board of education meeting, the bottom line is that four, five or even six accreditation points out of 14 represents a failing grade for the children, parents and taxpayers of the district.

While this reclassification of the Normandy School District as “Unaccredited” marks an unfortunate day for the Normandy community, I cannot help but remain hopeful. I am optimistic that this reclassification will serve as a wake-up call to the community that business as usual is simply unacceptable. Our children are our most valuable natural resource.

It’s time for the parents, teachers, administrators, elected officials, and citizens of the Normandy School District to step up as a community and help facilitate Normandy’s path to re-accreditation. I look forward to working toward a long-term, sustainable solution for the children and parents of Normandy.

State Sen. Maria ChappelleNadal, University City

Rude Republican awakening

Republican candidates who are running against “Obamacare” and the “failed stimulus” might be in for a rude awakening come November.

Thousands of Missourians are already benefiting from the Affordable Care Act, either by keeping their children on their insurance policies until age 26 or by getting help

Carolina and Texas are mixed, and Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia – five out of the ten states – unsatisfactory.”

The intimidation tactics by True the Vote and others, along with new voter ID laws in at least 30 states, and the elimination of early and weekend voting in several others, could seriously impact the outcome of the November election.

Stephen Spaulding of Common Cause, a co-author of the report put it this way:

“We’re concerned about this well-organized, well-funded effort to suppress the vote by challenging voters in the run-up to the elections and on Elections Day, and fostering a climate of intimidation. We’re concerned that these techniques are being targeted at voters of color, students and the poor specifically, for partisan reasons. No one wants voter fraud. The issue is their techniques are just throwing up barriers to eligible Americans, who just want to cast their ballot.” We agree. That’s why the National Urban League has devoted this year to removing those barriers through our “Occupy the Vote” campaign. Morial is president of the National Urban League.

paying for their employees’ insurance as small business owners. Many Missourians have already received refund checks from their private insurance companies who had been spending too much of the premium dollars collected on profit for their shareholders and not enough on actual medical costs. Republicans in Congress now want to rescind that provision of the ACA so insurance companies can continue to siphon 30 percent off the top again. Polls show that the majority of Americans, including Missourians, enthusiastically support the provision of the ACA that prohibits insurance companies from dropping coverage when their policy holders get sick. Republicans point to the results of an offseason election last year where the majority of Missouri voters rejected the ACA. A “huge majority” of a tiny minority of voters is NOT a mandate. Another tactic Republicans are using to scare voters is their misrepresentation of how the ACA saves the Medicare program $716 billion by eliminating the “incentive” bonus insurance companies had been collecting for offering the Medicare Advantage plans. President Obama believes that extra money would be better spent on direct medical services to seniors.

As far as the Reconstruction and Recovery Act passed in 2009, that stimulus money didn’t “fail” the thousands of construction workers who built roads and bridges all over the state. It didn’t “fail” the thousands of teachers and first responders who were able to keep their jobs. It didn’t “fail” the families helped by the Health and Human Services Department. Voters who choose to believe outrageously deceptive television ads will probably vote against their own best interest, and that’s a shame.

Susan Cunningham Pacific

Needed: Wiley’s photo

Wiley Price, the photographer for the Salute to Excellence in Education, took some pictures of me and my children. I am an alumna of the Salute award, and the year I received the award both of my children were out of the country in school. Since both of them were in town for the anniversary they were able to

accompany me to the event this year. I wanted to know how I can get the pictures Mr. Wiley took of me and my children together.

Rona Robinson-Hill Via email

Editor’s note: St. Louis American photojournalist Wiley Price is best reached at wprice2@stlamerican.com if he took a picture of you that you would like to receive a copy of.

Columnist

Eugene Robinson

Guest Columnist Marc H. Morial

President Barack Obama and his daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama begins her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Tuesday night, Sept. 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Energy assistance is available to help

residents

The Urban League currently has funds available to support the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents in St. Louis City and Wellston through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

LIHEAPutility assistance is designed to provide emergency funds to help pay heating bills for residents in St. Louis City and Wellston.Eligibility for LIHEAPis based on income, family size and availability of resources. Applications will be accepted for LIHEAPbeginning October 1 for households with Elderly and Disabled residents only and November 1for other applicants.

Residents can apply by mail, fax or in person. For the fastest service, residents are strongly encouraged to mail in their completed applications to the Urban League, P.O. Box 23457, St. Louis, MO 63156 or fax it to 314-531-7462.Applications are available online at http://www.ulstl.org/LIHEAP.aspx. You can also drop off your completed application to our new location – 935 N. Vandeventer, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

To apply, you will need to provide copies of proof of income and social security cards for all household members along with your most recent utility bills.For more information, please call (314) 615-3640.

Sex offender registration tips program

The National Megan’s Law Helpline – (888) 2757365 – is available to provide support to communities: on issues related to accessing sex offender registration information; responsible use of information; sexual abuse prevention resources; and accessing crime victim support services.

Parents for Megan’s Law staff provide assistance to the community in accessing their state sex offender registries and prevention specialists provide support to parents and community members to assist in their sexual abuse prevention education strategies. Certified rape crisis counselors are available to support all victims of violent crime and to provide geographically appropriate referrals.

The Sex Offender Registration Tips Program provides the public an opportunity to report registrants who are failing to comply with registration requirements, employment or supervision restrictions or who are in positions of trust where they can access children. Tips can be provided via the Helpline or website at www.parentsformeganslaw.org.

This program is not intended to be used to report police emergencies. Dial 911 or contact your local law enforcement agency directly for emergencies. Agency deputized staff work collaboratively with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to facilitate the appropriate follow-up action.

Neighborhood art

Apple forthe TeacherAwards

Alpha Zeta Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. (Reverend

Doris A. Graham, Ph.D., Chapter President) will observe its 31st annual “Apple for the Teacher” Awards luncheon Saturday, November 17 at the St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel at 11:30 a.m. This event honors area educators during National Education Week. This year’s theme is “Great Public Schools: ABasic Right and our Responsibility.” For ticket information contact Ms. Andrea Alexander, AEWChair at (314) 355-1714.

Skin is deep

By Dr.Jackie Garrett

For The St.Louis American

The skin is the body’s largest organ, and the health of the skin is impacted by one’s overall health. Some changes in the skin may be a warning sign that something is going on inside the body. For example, jaundice with yellowing of the skin and eyes may be an indication of liver disease. If you notice a skin change or concern, make an appointment with your physician so that the matter can be evaluated.

Take a look at the color and texture of the skin around your neck, armpits, knuckles and bend of the elbows. Acanthosis nigricans presents as a dark discoloration and a velvety thickening of the skin which may indicate insulin resistance and a risk for diabetes especially if one is overweight or if there is a family history of diabetes.

The sudden onset of small bumps with a yellowish-orange hue known as eruptive xanthomas may develop on the skin as a consequence of high cholesterol and triglycerides. Risk factors include a family tendency of elevated lipids, excess alcohol intake or diabetes. Sometimes the bumps may be itchy, but on the hand, they might only be noticed by examining the skin carefully in good lighting. It is critical to reduce the fat content in the diet, and it may require prescription medication for adequate control of the lipids which are measured with a blood test.

Varicose veins and the effects of gravity can lead to leg swelling and a rusty looking reddish-brown discoloration with scaling called stasis dermatitis. People who stand for prolonged periods of time or sit with the legs hanging down are at risk for leg swelling particularly if there is obesity, congestive heart failure, water retention, a history of blood clots, a history of a leg fracture, malfunctioning valves in the veins or advancing age. Swelling tends to progress as the day goes on, but improves when the legs are propped up in a reclining chair with the toes raised up higher than the nose.

People with this sort of chronic leg swelling are at risk for local skin infection like cellulitis and leg ulceration. Your doctor can order Doppler tests to evaluate blood flow up and down the legs, manage underlying conditions, institute compression stockings, and prescribe topical steroids for treatment of the rash.

Sensitivity to sunlight is observed in lupus which is a multi-system autoimmune disease with a female-to-male ratio of 6:1 and a black-to-white ratio of 4:1. Skin changes with lupus can include a butterfly-shaped red rash on the nose and cheeks and chronic round scarred patches particularly in the ears and on the scalp with hair loss.

There are many prescription drugs that have warnings about the potential for causing a rash when the skin is exposed to the sun. People who take medications with such warnings and individuals with conditions like lupus should wear protective clothing with long sleeves, a hat with a wide brim, and sunscreen to block both UVA and UVB rays to protect against the rays that pass through window glass of a car or bus. They should limit outdoor activities to the times of the day when the sun’s rays are less intense – early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Your skin is a window to your health. Be sure to show and discuss skin concerns and changes with your physician.

Jacquelyn B. Garrett, M.D., dermatologist, is at 11125 Dunn Road, Suite 204, St. Louis, Missouri 63136, 314-355-7111.

Dr.Jackie Garrett

Yaa Williams,5,a student at Shaw Visual and Performing Arts,makes a Native-American mask during the Lewis Place neighborhood fair recently at the intersection of Marcus and Lewis Place.

Photo by Wiley Price

“By engaging underserved segments of the community on new grounds in a new space,” the statement reads, “the Center for History and Community Collections will forge a new partnership focused on providing access to a multifaceted community history that heals old wounds and improves the prognosis for a healthy future for the St. Louis region.”

In 2006, the museum’s board of trustees approved the plan for the $12-million center and purchased a building at 5863 Delmar Blvd. from former mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. and his associate, James Armstrong, for $875,000, plus about $100,000 in legal and other fees. Yet what happens with so many plans to build centers that engage the underserved minority community, there was no private funding to make it happen.

Few remember that in 2003, the Grand Center district received a TIF (tax increment finance) for a $400-million development, which included opening an African-American History museum. Almost 10 years later, the plan still has not gotten backing from the private sector to support the vision. No one probably would have heard of the Missouri History Museum’s plan for the community center had it not been for the recent uproar over the land purchase among local media.

In a recent report of the museum’s procedures, the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD) stated that the Missouri History Museum should get an appraisal before purchasing any property. Local media questioned why the museum and the society did not get an appraisal before buying the Delmar location, especially

from a former politician.

Media also targeted Archibald for having personal connections with Bosley, who had previously served on the museum’s board of trustees for six years and stepped down in October 2005.

The museum’s Board of Trustees and Archibald have agreed to get appraisals on all future projects and acknowl-

edged the mistake.

“In hindsight, it was a mistake not to get an appraisal, but at the time in general practice of commercial real estate, you didn’t get an appraisal,” said Archibald. “You get an appraisal if you are going to get a mortgage. The argument being made now is that we are a public institution, and we should have gotten an appraisal.”

The Missouri Historical Society hired real estate consultant David Hoffmann, principal of Hoffman Development, for $10,000 to research properties, compile a list of potential parcels and provide advice. According to estimates received from professionals, the building would cost about $20 to $25 a square foot. The Missouri Historical Society used private funds to purchase

42,994 square feet of land on Nov. 9, 2006 for $20.35 per square foot.

Recently the museum provided other examples of properties that sold during that time period, showing that their price was comparable to others. One property at 1444 Goodfellow sold on Nov. 29, 2005 at $25.65 per square foot. Another property at 5863 Delmar closed on Sept. 1, 2005 for $31.68 per square foot.

Media focused on a July 29, 2004 purchase by developer Joe Edwards, who bought the old Delmar High School at 5875 Delmar for $9.52 a square foot. However, it was a sealed bid.

Melanie Adams, now the museum’s managing director for community education and events, was hired as a consultant in 2004 to lead the center’s

planning process. She said that she, not Archibald, worked directly with Hoffman to find the center’s future location. And Bosley’s property, a failing restaurant at the time, was in the prime neighborhood where they wanted to open the center.

Among several raised in the African American community, the newly surfaced land deal brings up several questions, but few that are found in mainstream media reports.

“I think that the criticism about the sale has less importance than the question of when and why hasn’t corporate St. Louis financially invested any dollars North of Delmar for a cultural facility that highlights African Americans and the contribution they’ve made to the city,” said Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis City NAACP. “I’m fine with going back six years and talking about the land deal, as long as it includes why the people didn’t invest in it once we got the land.”

By 2008, the depressed economy forced the museum to put a hold on the plan and instead start using the museum itself to incorporate the center’s mission and ideas.

“While the center will not happen as we once hoped, its concept will live on,” said V. Raymond Stranghoener, chairman of the museum’s Board of Trustees.

Adams stayed on at the museum to implement these outreach programs to the African-American community, including numerous workshops and exhibits on race, genealogy and urban stories. They also incorporated more programs using technology to tell and share stories.

“Some say we need to find new national myths, new stories to heal ourselves,” stated Archibald in the center’s case statement. “I say that we don’t need to invent new stories and new myths. I say that they are right here around us if we will but listen and look.”

Robert Archibald,president of the Missouri History Museum and Melanie Adams,the museum’s managing director of community education and events,with the architectural renderings of a community center to be built in the 5800 block of Delmar Blvd.Plans were halted due to the lack of private funding support.

Photo by Wiley Price

CORTEX

Continued from A1

Commission at a public hearing for $157 million in public financing for the proposed $2.2 billion project – which is expected to take 25 years to develop. Several city officials believe that if CORTEX, a private research park in the Central West End, wants public tax financing, they should also have to follow the city ordinance 68412 (also referred to as Board Bill 75) and promote diversity on its large development projects.

“The CORTEX Project has been riffed with controversy regarding land acquisition issues, and it would seem that not adopting Board Bill 75 is yet another poor example for CORTEX, setting a negative tone,” said City of St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green.

The TIF Commission has the ability to make a condition that in order to receive the city’s assistance, an applicant must abide by any city law. One agency that could have significant influence on the commission’s decision to apply this condition is the St. Louis Development Corporation, which is the economic development agency for the City of St. Louis.

In an interview with the corporation’s executive director Rodney Crim, who was appointed by Mayor Francis G. Slay, Crim did not indicate whether he would encourage the TIF Commission to apply this condition.

When asked if he believed CORTEX should adopt the city’s workforce ordinance on its projects, just as it did the city’s MBE/WBE goals, he said, “I think that using that framework to have the discussion is a good place to start. Where it ends is based on our discussions for a non-publicservice entity.”

When asked if he believes the city’s goals are attainable on this project, Crim said he did not know.

City leaders defend goals

Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed said his office will be sending a letter to the project leaders this week asking them to increase their minority workforce participation goals on the project.

“This mayor and his appointees have not made minority participation a priority for the city of St. Louis,” said Reed, who recently announced his candidacy for mayor, “and as a result, after nearly 12 years in office, has not increased capacity among the city’s minority contractors so that there would never even be a question about whether fair goals on public projects are attainable.”

Michael Holmes, executive director of SLATE and who is charged with helping St. Louis residents find jobs, said he fully stands behind the city ordinance.

He said if the TIF Commission asks his opinion about CORTEX adopting the ordinance, he will say, “We have a workforce bill in place. If you can’t meet this, then explain why you can’t.”

Holmes, also a mayoral appointee, said he sat down with CORTEX leaders and gave them a copy of the ordinance weeks ago.

Marks emphasized that the 15 percent goal is a minimum.

“We are getting a lot of pressure from the city to adopt Board Bill 75,” she said. “We are evaluating what has been achieved on other city projects.”

CORTEX is a non-profit biosciences district, founded by BJC Healthcare, Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis University and Washington University. Lower said CORTEX will soon “finalize how best to advance workforce participation objectives” on the next phases of development.

“Research parks are developed over decades and not years,” he said. “Sustained development of CORTEX will bring significant construction and permanent job opportuni-

“The TIF would be taking dollars away from our school districts, so you have to see the dollars get fed back into the community in some way.”

— Yaphett El-Amin, executive director of MOKAN

ties to the city.”

Alderman Terry Kennedy, who sponsored Board Bill 75 in 2009, said CORTEX is not legally bound to follow the ordinance because it is not a “public works” or civic project.

“However, it would be a good gesture and recognition of the public support that is coming to them,” Kennedy said. “It would be a good gesture for them to reciprocate.”

“We have a workforce bill in place.If you can’t meet this, then explain why you can’t.”

– Michael Holmes, executive director of SLATE

Tax dollars from the community

Yaphett El-Amin, executive director of the minority business advocacy group MOKAN, said her organization is not happy about the 15 percent combined workforce goals.

“At a minimum we should see at least a 25 percent workforce goal, being in the heart of the city,” she said. “The TIF

“This mayor and his appointees have not made minority participation a priority for the city of St.Louis.”

– Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed

would be taking dollars away from our school districts, so you have to see the dollars get fed back into the community in some way.”

Technically with a TIF, school districts don’t lose any taxes, but they don’t gain any either – at least not for the 23 years that the developers have to pay the bond.

ATIF is a tool for developing blighted areas, which involves capturing a certain

Registering teens to vote

Deanna Tamborelli,a Spanish teacher at Confluence Academy High School in downtown St.Louis, helped senior Aristeed Harris,18,in filling out a voter registration form. Tamborelli held a forum to help students register to vote.

amount of revenue from taxes when property value and sales goes up — rather than actually raising property or sales taxes. For example, say a person owns a $20,000 house and about 60 percent of the owner’s property taxes go toward the school district. If a redeveloper comes in and rehabs the neighborhood and that property value goes up to $100,000, then schools will still only receive the amount of taxes on a $20,000 house. The other taxes go towards paying the development debt. For up to 23 years, school districts won’t get any additional funding from property taxes.

El-Amin said MOKAN will ask Mayor Slay to encourage his appointees to encourage project leaders to adopt the city ordinance – not only on CORTEX projects but other TIF-funded projects as well.

“We plan to appeal to the TIF Commissioners,” she said. “The school board has two commissioners and one of those is Roger Casey and he has been a champion for minority workforce participation.”

Photo by Wiley Price

Three

things

to remember from the Clemons hearing

Three statements made during the Missouri Supreme Court’s evidentiary hearing for Missouri death row inmate

Reginald Clemons held in St. Louis September 17-20 tell the story of Clemons’ 1991 confession to a role in the rapes and murders of Robin Kerry and Julie Kerry and his claim that his confession was coerced and scripted by St. Louis police detectives Chris Pappas and Joseph Brauer

1. ‘We conduct ourselves professionally.’

“We conduct ourselves professionally,” now-retired Detective Chris Pappas said to Josh Levine, who was representing Clemons, under cross-examination as Levine was peppering Pappas with questions about police brutality allegations.

It remains to be seen what Judge Michael Manners, the Special Master appointed to gather new evidence by the Missouri Supreme Court, will make of the mass of evidence presented to him about how this confession was obtained.

Thus far, a series of observers have taken the cops’ word over Clemons’: the commander of Internal Affairs at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, who did not discipline the detectives; the 1993 trial Judge Edward Peek who allowed the confession into evidence; and the 1993 jury, which convicted Clemons and sentenced him to death partly on the strength of the

confession.

However, three suspects for the same crimes interrogated by the same police department in the same week – Clemons, his codefendant Marlin Gray and Thomas Cummins, the original suspect who became the prosecution’s star witness – all made very similar claims as to the “professional” conduct of the police who interrogated them. All testified to being threatened, cuffed in the back of the head (at the brain stem, certain to disorient yet all but impossible to bruise) repeatedly, and reading scripted confessions once they agreed to confess.

Judge Manners asked Kevin Huelsmann, the lieutenant in Internal Affairs who conducted the investigation into Clemons’ and Gray’s claims of police brutality, if he was aware that Cummins made similar claims. Huelsmann said that he was made aware of that. “Did the fact that there were three similar claims influence or direct your investigation?”

Judge Manners asked. Huelsmann testified, “No.” Judge Manners’ question suggests that he saw a pattern emerging. It’s a pattern of detectives beating a series of partly or totally scripted confessions out of a series of suspects, then keeping only the confessions they wanted. Cummins’ initial confession that he was responsible for the Kerry sisters’ deaths became inconvenient and unwanted after Cummins’ testimony about a missing flashlight led police to Clemons, Gray and

the other codefendants, who all confessed to a group rape that ended in murder.

At this evidentiary hearing granted, in part, for Clemons to try to prove his innocence, he pled the 5th Amendment on 29 questions pertaining to the rapes after Judge Manners clearly warned Clemons he would draw an “adverse negative inference” to Clemons pleading the 5th. This places Clemons at the scene of a group rape on the Chain of Rocks Bridge that ended in the murder of the Kerry sisters, and new DNA analysis presented by the state at the hearing also supports the group rape scenario. This would make Cummins’ confession scripted, as he claimed.

But the confessions of all four codefendants – Clemons, Gray, Antonio Richardson and Daniel Winfrey – all end with Cummins being forced to jump off the bridge after his cousins were pushed in. Clearly, this did not happen. Crime scene investigators thought this claim was so preposterous they took Cummins in for questioning as a suspect, rather than witness. His own father is on record in the police report telling his son no one would believe he fell 90 feet from the bridge without getting injured or even getting his hair wet. That would make all the confessions scripted in part.

In the hearing, Brauer

testified that he and Pappas brought out the recording equipment for Clemons’ confession “after he had his story straight.” There is your “professional” police work in St. Louis, ca. 1991.

2. ‘I didn’t think they cared’

Susan Boresi, who argued the hearing for the Missouri Attorney General, called to the stand a series of police personnel who saw Clemons after his confession. They all testified that Clemons did not appear to be injured and did not tell them that he had been beaten into a confession.

When Boresi asked Clemons why he didn’t tell anyone he had been beaten, he testified, “I was still in the police station where I’d been beaten. I didn’t think they cared.”

If common sense is good for anything in a court of law in Missouri, that explanation should make worthless the testimony of about half of Boresi’s witness list.

The testimony of Joyce L. Taylor, a processing clerk for St. Louis police then and now, also was telling. Under crossexamination by Levine, she admitted what all of the lower level police personnel testified, that they had no conversation with Clemons.

“Normally they don’t speak

Missouri Assistant Attorney General Susan Boresi shows Reginald Clemons the flashlight that tied Clemons and his codefendants to the crime scene of the Chain of Rock Bridge rapes and murders when Clemons took the stand during the evidentiary hearing that the Missouri Supreme Court ordered in his case on September 19.

Pool photo provided by St. Louis Post-Dispatch

with the clerk because the detective or officer is standing there with them and there is Plexiglas,” Taylor testified.

This image reveals the absurdity of the situation. If a detective beat you until you confessed, what are the odds that you are going to tell a processing clerk on the other side of a Plexiglas window that the detective standing next to you just beat you up?

3. ‘Until we showed him the pictures’

However Pappas and Brauer obtained Clemons’ audiotaped confession, it was made clear at the evidentiary hearing what a damaging piece of evidence it is. A transcript of Clemons’ confession is readily available, but few have heard the audiotape since his 1993 jury trial.

In the transcript, Brauer offers Clemons a tissue, leaves the room to get the tissue, and then twice tells him to “take his time.” It read like a trick from the torturer’s handbook: to plant in the transcript the impression that the suspect was weeping remorsefully and that the detectives were concerned for him.

The audiotape – which Boresi played in court with Clemons on the stand – shows that in fact he did weep deeply during his confession. He burst

into tears when first shown pictures of the Kerry girls and continued to weep, on and off, until the tape was shut off.

“He was calm, his voice soft, until we showed him the pictures of the girls,” Brauer testified, “then he became remorseful and started crying. He was visibly shaken.” This testimony is a perfect match to the evidence on the tape.

A supporter of Clemons’ who heard this recording remarked afterwards those were the tears of a young man crying because he was throwing his life away on a false confession. The fact that his weeping starts when he sees the pictures of the girls supports Brauer’s contention that these were tears of remorse.

Also, Clemons’ decision to plead the 5th Amendment 29 times while being questioned about the group rape scenario –after Judge Manners reminded Clemons he would draw an “adverse negative inference” from Clemons’ avoiding selfincrimination – makes it all but impossible to believe that Clemons played no role in the rapes.

Interestingly, Judge Manners’ questioning from the bench teased out the fact that Clemons was not alone in pleading the 5th. Before dismissing Huelsmann, Judge Manners asked Huelsmann if anyone invoked the 5th Amendment during his investigation into Clemons’ claims of police misconduct. Huelsmann answered yes – Pappas and Brauer both refused to testify in his 1991 Internal Affairs investigation on grounds that their answers might incriminate them. Some time between then and now, Pappas and Brauer decided that they could in fact answer questions about their interrogation of Clemons’ without incriminating themselves. Did they become less guilty, or more willing to perjure themselves? These are the questions Judge Manners must be asking himself.

NASH

Continued from A1

breaking through racial barriers in the St. Louis medical community and serving as a pediatrician to three generations of children during the 45 years of her practice.

In 1949, Dr. Nash became the first African-American woman to join the attending staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and in 1977 she became the first to become president of the medical staff.

“Dr. Helen Nash was a trailblazer for serving the underserved in St. Louis,” said Jade D. James, MD MPH President, Mound City Medical Forum. “She truly served from the heart and her impact remains a thread in the fabric of healthcare in St. Louis.”

Along with being a “first” is dealing with anger, resentment and prejudices of others. Petite in stature, Dr. Nash was a powerhouse who stood up

SUGGS

Continued from A1

York Times writer Jennifer Steinhauer, who met Donald while interning at the The Village Voice in 1988 and remained good friends. “While not religious as per se, he was the most ministering person I know, keeping faith and fellowship with the fancy and the forgotten, the establishment stars and those whom life and circumstances had kicked aside. All had a home with Donald, and his big belly laugh, his charming scolds, his eclecticevenings – one never knew who would be at his table at Sally’s or a fundraiser event.”

Writer and friend from Yale University Lisa Jones said Donald was someone who helped her become a writer and always remained one of her biggest champions.

“Editor/activist/change agent, the world is a safer place for all of us because of his bravery and fire,” Jones said. “I’m glad he saw the world he helped build come to

McCASKILL

Continued from A1

rule that insurance companies can’t pay as much as they want on their own salaries or find ways to deny health-care claims. They have to spend 80 cents of every dollar on health care. If they spend less, they have to refund that money to the people. This year thousands got refund checks because insurance companies have spent too much on overhead and not enough on their health care. Seniors receive free preventive care and they don’t have to pay a co-pay for mammograms or colonoscopies or any other preventive-care services. We are also strengthening Medicare programs by closing the donut hole for seniors. With the health care reform, in the

for who mattered mostpatients.

“She had very high standards and, being one who was never shy about speaking her mind, did not hesitate to challenge anyone who for any reason failed to meet those standards,” said Will Ross, M.D., MPH, associate dean for diversity and associate professor of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine. “Through Dr. Nash I learned to never compromise my principles, to elevate those around me so they might reach their fullest potential, and to always give back to the community that gave so much to her.”

“Helen Nash was bigger than life. She was a consummate pediatrician, a mentor to her patients (and many of their parents) and a stalwart of doing the absolute best for her patients and families,” said Alan Schwartz, M.D., Ph.D., the Harriet B. Spoehrer Professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at

fruition. As a writer, I owe him everything. He imagined a place for me as a scribe, a place that had not existed before.”

In 1991, Donald founded People Using Media to do Prevention, or the PUMP project. PUMPtaught young people from neighborhoods devastated by HIVhow to produce HIVprevention videos, which they brought back to their own communities to teach their peers how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS. In 2007, PUMP alumni joined with Better World Advertising and Salt and Pepper Media to co-produce a television prevention education ad campaign by and for Harlemites, which ran on M-TV, VH1, BET, NY1, and LOGO.

Suggs also worked extensively with New York’s African and Latino immigrant communities and organized prevention education projects in Harlem; Puebla, Mexico; and in Santo Domingo and Bani, in the Dominican Republic.

“Donald was known for speaking Spanish and French;

future, insurance companies can’t deny you because you had the nerve to be sick before.

The American: Many of ourreaders would envy the close working relationship and the relationship of trust you have shared with Barack Obama. Tell ourreaders something about the president we might not know that you know from working directly with him.

Claire McCaskill: He is intensely committed to his family. He feels so strongly about having dinner with his wife and daughters. He loves the idea that he can go upstairs and be with his family. He has worked very hard to maintain a normal childhood for his daughters. They have chores and do the kind of things we all want children to do. He is a

WUSTLSchool of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital pediatrician-in-chief.

“She set a high bar and spent her life helping patients exceed it.

Generations of St. Louisans are all the better for Helen’s presence, engagement and resolve. We miss her deeply.”

Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of Washington University School of Medicine, said he met Dr. Nash while serving as a physician in training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

“I learned firsthand that she was an outstanding clinician and a great teacher,” Shapiro said. “There are many physicians across the country who are grateful for her wisdom and mentorship. I am one of them.”

Anational historic figure, Nash along with Dr. Park White at Washington University helped usher in the post-modern era of neonatal care. After visiting neonatal care units across the country, Dr. Nash designed a ward for premature infants that included individual bassinets and provided more strict attention to hygiene and

yet he was also fluent in the languages of the street,” said his sister Dawn Suggs. “He was a revolutionary who walked the pier, the back alleys, and streets of New York to dispense condoms and social services information to transgender street walkers. Donald had an irascible wit and razor sharp tongue, which slayed and left many a bully speechless, but when he wanted to support and uplift a dejected friend, relative or stranger, he could recognize the beauty of your soul and make you feel like a queen, no matter your trappings.”

“Donald is and always will be a force of nature, who lives on in everyone lucky enough to call him friend.”

– Yoga instructor David Kim

After graduating from Yale, he began his career as a journalist in London. As a freelance journalist he had written for publications ranging from The New York Times to The Advocate Vanity Fair Contributing Editor Nancy Jo Sales posted a

great role model for fathers all over the country.

The American: The Republicans have done a lot of damage to statewide Democrats by attacking Obama and candidates’association with Obama. So we know a senatorlike yourself has to remain politically aware of associating with the president on controversial issues. Yet Obama has said overand overagain that he needs you in the Senate. Explain to ourreaders the value of a ranking Democrat in the Senate forthe president.

Claire McCaskill: If you look at the way we increased Pell grants, if you look at our efforts to establish equal pay for equal work, and if you look at our efforts to clean up abuse in the credit card industry,

air-conditioning. The two were instrumental in reducing the premature infant death rate at Homer G. Phillips Hospital by making relatively simple improvements in hygiene and equipment.

Long before social determinants of health became standard fare for public health practitioners, Dr. Nash treated her patients’illnesses in the broader context of their family, economic, social, and environmental situations.

“She became an early proponent of providing family planning services to the African-American community and an active member of the Health and Welfare Council of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Board of the Developmentally Disabled,” Ross said. “She promoted more team practice with staff nurses, and trained countless students, residents, and faculty at both the Homer G. Phillips Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.”

Dr. Helen Nash was part of a three generation legacy of

summation of Donald’s character that appeared on his Facebook page this past week. “I am gathering a list of descriptions people have posted here about Donald....”dear,” “warm,” “beautiful,” “ministering,” “charming,” “a positive role model,” “a star,” “brazen,” “joyous,” “fierce,” “fearless,” “fearsome,” “exuberant,” “wonderful,” “kind,” “a man of great intellect and humor, integrity and decency,” “passionate,” “extraordinary,” “good,” “relentlessly outspoken,” “lovely,” “irreverent,” “funny,” “witty,” “wise,” “an angel....”

Donald also worked at a gift shop called Exit9. The store had this message on its Facebook page:

“We, at Exit9, would like to express our sincere condolences for the loss of our most caring friend and associate, Donald Suggs. You will be

those are all things the president needed assistance with in the Senate, and I was pleased to be with him on. I support him. He wants me to win. But he also appreciates that I am independent. He would tell you that if you asked. I am also willing to tell him when I think he is wrong about things. We have a good working relationship but one that is based on mutual respect and one that allows for disagreements.

missed not only by us, but by the many customers who looked forward to your endless smile and contagious laughter.”

Yoga instructor David Kim wrote, “Donald is and always will be a force of nature, who lives on in everyone lucky enough to call him friend.

He’s a constant reminder that life is vast, that [an] exciting possibility can be found down every corridor, whether it’s Yale’s lit-crit department, the drag extravaganza of Escuelita, or the constantly evolving streetscape of his beloved East Village.”

Many remember Donald as a “brilliant writer” and “even more luminous human being,” said Chi Chi Valenti, who met Donald 1987 when they were both researching/writing their breakthrough pieces on the rich ballhouse culture –Donald’s for the Village Voice and Valenti’s for Details.

“I think our pieces came out within a few months of each other,” said Valenti.

“Some writers would have been weird, shady or compet-

The American: There were successful street teams for several black candidates in the August primary. Are you intending to invest campaign resources into these proven street teams in a get-out-thevote effort in St. Louis?

Claire McCaskill: Absolutely we have been in touch with all of the campaigns that worked throughout the summer months. We have

physicians, which included her father, her brother and her niece.

“Dad and Helen were role models for me coming up, and it’s really great to know that she’s lived a wonderful life and touched so many lives in St. Louis,” Nash’s niece, pediatrician Dr. Alison Nash said last year in an interview for The American Dr. Helen Nash was born August 8, 1921 in Atlanta, Georgia, the third of six children born to Dr. Homer E. Nash, Sr. and Marie Antoinette Graves Nash. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta in 1941 and a medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1945. She completed her internship and pediatric residency, including chief residency at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis and joined the medical staff upon completion.

itive about this. Donald instead became a fast friend and one of my favorite East Village sightings for the next 25 years.”

Dawn said Donald was a wonderful uncle and surrogate father to his niece, Lali, and so many others. He focused his life on improving the lives of others. For this, he will be truly missed. “Donald walked the walk long after others had strolled on by the worthy causes and fights worth having to live more conventional and selffocused lives,” wrote Jennifer Steinhauer. “The East Village is now absent its original mayor, and his memory will be a blessing to us all.” He is survived by his partner Jeremy Hess, son Luis Ramirez, father Donald, mother Betty, sisters Dawn and Dina, niece Delali Maxine, grandmother Elnora, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations be sent to One Iowa Education Fund, 419 SW8th St, Des Moines, IA50309

offered to hire any and all workers that are willing to continue the work of knocking on doors and making sure they know what’s at stake in November. We were all elated Barack Obama was elected in November 2008. Now is no time to take a nap. We have to make sure he is reelected because there is a lot at stake.

See DR. NASH, A16

Helen Elizabeth Nash,M.D.

Cops testify to Clemons confession

Both Pappas and Brauer pled the 5th during Internal Affairs investigation in 1991

By Chris King Of The St.Louis American

The two St. Louis Metropolitan Police detectives who took Reginald Clemons’ confession on April 7, 1991 took the witness stand on the second day of the new evidentiary hearing ordered in his case by the Missouri Supreme Court, September 19, 2012. Susan Boresi, who argued the hearing for the Missouri Attorney General, called first Joseph Brauer and then Chris Pappas. Josh Levine, representing Clemons, cross-examined both of the former detectives, now retired.

and voluntary.”

Detectives Pappas and Brauer both refused to testify in the 1991 Internal Affairs investigation on grounds that their answers might incriminate them.

Both detectives testified that they did not threaten or strike Clemons and that Clemons’confession was “free

Clemons confessed to raping Robin Kerry on April 4, 1991 as part of a group rape where Marlin Gray and Antonio Richardson both raped her and her sister Julie Kerry on the Chain of Rocks Bridge and then Richardson pushed them both off the bridge. Two days later, Clemons recanted his confession, claiming it was coerced and scripted. At the hearing, Clemons testified that Pappas and Brauer provided him with a “crib sheet” to guide his confession.

Brauer and Pappas denied this at the hearing, though Brauer did testify that he and Pappas brought out the recording equipment for Clemons’ confession “after he had his story straight.”

Pappas also testified that he

did not threaten, strike or deny counsel to Thomas Cummins during Cummins’interrogation in 1991. Cummins, the first suspect in the murder of the

Kerry girls (his cousins), confessed to making a sexual advance at Julie Kerry and then pushing her off the bridge during the ensuing argument.

Retired St.Louis Metropolitan Police Detective Chris Pappas, who took Reginald Clemons’confession on April 7,1991,testified on the second day of the new evidentiary hearing ordered in his case by the Missouri Supreme Court, September 19,2012.

According to police, he told them he wasn’t sure if he pushed Robin Kerry off the bridge or if she jumped in after her sister.

Cummins recanted his confession, claiming it was coerced and scripted, citing many of the same details from Clemons’complaint.

At the hearing, Pappas testified that “Mr. Cummins’father was present” when he interrogated Cummins. According to the police report introduced as evidence at Clemons’trial, Cummins’father left the interrogation room with Detective Richard Trevor before Pappas obtained Cummins’confession along with Lieutenant Steven Jacobsmeyer.

In a deposition for the hearing, Cummins claimed Jacobsmeyer threatened to put him in the hospital and provide witnesses that he did not harm Cummins. Jacobsmeyer did not testify at the hearing. Pappas was named personally in the lawsuit Cummins filed against the police department and the detectives who interrogated him, which the City of St. Louis settled for $150,000 after Clemons and two co-defendants, Marlin Gray and Antonio Richardson, were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.

DR. NASH

Continued from A13

In 1964, she married James Abernathy and together they shared their love of travel, boating, and caring for their dogs until his death in 1980. She enthusiastically explored many hobbies including photography, music, cooking, reading, and collecting.

Dr. Nash was also a patron of the arts, including the St. Louis Symphony, and she was a board member and contributor to the Missouri Botanical Gardens, where she served on its Board of Trustees for more than two decades.

Pappas testified at the hearing that he had no personal knowledge of Cummins’lawsuit. Clemons’counsel Levine said to Pappas, “You have no personal knowledge of a lawsuit where you were named as a defendant?”

On the third day of the hearing, September 20, Boresi called Kevin Huelsmann. Now retired, he was the lieutenant in Internal Affairs who conducted the investigation into Clemons’and Gray’s claims that their confessions were involuntary. Huelsmann testified that he found no evidence for Clemons’or Gray’s claims and that Internal Affairs recommended no disciplinary action against Pappas and Brauer. Before dismissing Huelsmann, Judge Manners directed a telling question to the witness. He asked if anyone invoked the 5th Amendment – the right to refuse to answer a question if doing so might incriminate you – during his investigation into Clemons’claims of police misconduct.

Huelsmann answered yes, Pappas and Brauer both refused to testify in his 1991 Internal Affairs investigation on grounds that their answers might incriminate them.

In 1993, Dr. Nash retired as professor emeritus (clinical) of Pediatrics from WUSTL. After her retirement, she served as its Medical School dean of minority affairs from 1994 to 1996. Each year since, the School of Medicine as bestowed the Dr. Helen E. Nash Academic Achievement Award to a student who has exhibited to an unusual degree the qualities of industry, perseverance, determination, and enthusiasm.

“She had very high standards and, being one who was never shy about speaking her mind, did not hesitate to challenge anyone who for any reason failed to meet those standards.”

– Will Ross,M.D.,MPH

“Her advocacy for the health and wellbeing of children and emphasis on education as crucial to human development were demonstrated in her service and generous support as a Garden Trustee,” said Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, president of the Missouri Botanical Garden. “While Dr. Nash will be deeply missed, we celebrate her accomplishments and their impact over many years in the St. Louis community.”

Dr. Nash received numerous awards and recognitions throughout the years, including a Doctor of Humane Letters in 1992 from Webster University; the Lifetime Achievement Award in Health Care by the St. Louis American Foundation in 1996 and last month, the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation 2012 Lifetime Achievement & Walk of Fame Awards.

“Her contributions to neonatology and pediatrics, public health and civil rights have made our lives and our community richer,” Ross added. “What a life, what a legacy.” Dr. Helen Nash is survived by her brother, Dr. Homer E. Nash, Jr., sister, Mrs. Dorothy Shack, nieces, Cheryl Chisholm, Terrell Mann (Steve), Karen Reynolds (Stanley), Sherry Heard, Lauren Nash Ming (Leo), Dr. Alison Nash (Clarence Dula), and Tracey Nash-Huntley (David Huntley); nephew, Hailu Shack, fifteen grand nieces and nephews; two great-grand nieces; friend and caregiver, Ethel Ellis; former office staff members and a host of other friends and associates. Amemorial service will be held on October 27, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 5010 Terry Avenue in St. Louis. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Louis Symphony, the Missouri Botanical Garden or the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Pool photo provided by St.Louis Post-Dispatch

BUSINESS

Micro-inequities expert SteveYoung tells the World Diversity Leadership Summit audience that nonverbal messages can impact workplace inclusiveness.About 600 corporate and government officials attended Young’s keynote speech on Oct.2,hosted at Edward Jones’Headquarters.

Diversity summit offered inclusive practices

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of the St.Louis American

St. Louis American Photojournalist Wiley Price and I attended part of the World Diversity Leadership Summit “Diversity 2012 and Beyond” on Oct. 2, hosted at Edward Jones’headquarters.

When we got back to the office, we started watching people’s hand motions, their eye movements and how they emphasized their

SALUTETO BUSINESS

SALUTETO

BARBARA

WASHINGTON

Vice president of public relations and special events at Mathews-Dickey

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of the St.Louis American

Washington will be recognized as 2012 Non-Profit Executive of the Year on Thursday, Nov.15.

Barbara Washington, vice president of public relations and special events at Mathews-Dickey Boys’& Girls’Club, sings gospel music everywhere she can. One of her favorite gospel songs is “Wade in the Water,” which makes a biblical reference to a healing pool that an angel touched to cure physical and emotional illness. With the turbulent childhood she experienced growing up, she deeply understands why “healing pools” in the St. Louis community are so necessary for children.

See SALUTE, B2

words. We wanted to determine if they were sending the “micromessages.”

“Micromessages are those subtle – and sometimes not-so-subtle – nonverbal messages that people send through body language, tone of voice and the way they inflect words,” said keynote speaker and microinequities expert Steve Young, to an audience of 600 corporate and government officials.

“Micromessages signal at an immediate gut level how people feel about each other.”

And those messages can create “microinequities” or “micro-advantages.” It’s not a secret that body language is a large part of how we communicate. However, when put in the frame of equality and diversity, these messages offer a tangible way to observe tendencies and to create a more inclusive environment.

In its eighth year, the two-day World

See SUMMIT, B2

St. Louis physician installed as chairof National Medical Association’s board

Ingrid Taylor, M.D., a staff doctor at the Family Care Health Center in St. Louis, was recently installed as chair of the Board of Trustees for the National Medical Association, the nation’s oldest and largest medical association representing the interests of more than 50,000 African American physicians and their patients.

“I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of this prestigious organization,” Taylor said.

The goal of her one-year term is to continue to ensure fiscal and programmatic stability of the organization and to work with the NMAleadership in moving the historic organization forward.

Helping patients understand the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is one of the NMA’s programmatic efforts.

Ingrid D. Taylor,M.D.

One way NMAis moving forward is with a new management team in place for the organization’s finance department.

“We have outsourced our CFO services to Renner & Company, CPA, PC.,” Taylor said.

“We have a very aggressive and astute health policy committee that is planning many educational opportunities regarding the Affordable Care Act,” Taylor said.

“We are also looking into opportunities to explain this act to patients so that they can understand it, and we are gearing up to be the organization to go as content experts when dealing with health disparities and health inequalities.”

Taylor is a board certified family physician who joined the staff at Family Care this year. In practice since 1997, Taylor previously worked for the Institute of Research and Education in Family Medicine where she cared for underserved and underinsured patients at John C. Murphy Health Center, the Evangelical Children’s Home and CHIPS,

See TAYLOR, B2

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

Robin Vaulx-Williams is the new principal of Washington Elementary School in the Normandy School District.She has over 20 years of experience in the field of education, having served the district as principal, assistant principal, instructional specialist, mathematics specialist and classroom teacher.She holds Master of Arts degrees in educational leadership and educational processes from St. Louis University and Maryville University.

Paula D. Knight has been appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon to the Coordinating Board for Early Childhood. She is associate superintendent for the St. Louis Public School District, where she provides direct supervision of all elementary school principals as well as the Curriculum & Instruction and Early Childhood departments. The board is the state’s public/private entity for coordinating a cohesive system of early childhood programs and services.

Herman E.Davis

Herman E. Davis has been named an AgelessRemarkable St. Louisan by St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors. He supports the community through his service as an Elder at Brotherly Love West Christian Assembly. As a member of the church’s board of directors, he provides advice on matters affecting the church and serves as a volunteer driver for the church’s food pantry. He also provides volunteer handyman services to widows and single women.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

A-B InBev presents training to Consortium for Leadership Development

Anheuser-Busch InBev executives recently hosted a high-level training workshop for the Consortium for Leadership Development (CLD). James Villeneuve, VPof Corporate Affairs & Communications, and Dr. Mamie Parker, former executive with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, discussed “Globality” with participants. Created in collaboration with the Anheuser-Busch School of Business at Harris-Stowe State University and the African American Business Leadership, CLD is a 10month leadership-training program facilitated by corporate executives and entrepreneurs such as David Steward, David Price, Arnold Donald, Keith Williamson, Michael Holmes and Larry Thomas. It was created to address the business imperative of developing highpotential individuals with diverse backgrounds, to draw on a larger talent pool in this age of globalization.

Black Alumni of Washington University present Entrepreneurship panel

The Black Alumni Council of Washington University will present “Entrepreneurship in Challenging Economic Times” 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Sat., Oct. 13 at Simon Hall, Room 103 on the campus of Washington University. The moderator is Craig Fowler of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and panelists include Brenda Newberry of The Newberry Group, Arnold Donald, former CEO of Merisant Company, Keith Turner of TurnGroup Technologies and Glenn Dalton of RDK Group. To register, call 314-935-5645 or wubac@wustl.edu

Paula D. Knight

Robin VaulxWilliams

By Jason Alderman

If your spouse-to-be is considering postponing the wedding because of fears about the so-called “marriage penalty,” you two probably have bigger issues than whether you’ll have to pay higher taxes as a married couple than when you were single. Having said that, marriage does indeed have many financial ramifications – both good and bad – and several involve the dilemma over whether to file income taxes together or separately. Let’s sort through the noise: First, a quick primer on how progressive taxation works. As your income increases, the additional income gets taxed at increas-

SALUTE

Continued from B1

The St. Louis-area club provides this for more than 40,000 young men and women annually.

“I’ve used singing to raise money for scholarships and help young women and men succeed in school,” Washington said. “I’m concerned about today’s youth. We have to have leaders for them. Working for a man like Martin Luther Mathews is an honor. He is a child at heart and motivating person who has allowed me the opportunity to utilize every skill I have to make things happen, including raising millions of dollars to help thousands of children turn their lives around.”

Washington will be recognized as 2012 Non-Profit Executive of the Year on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the 13th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. The

Is the IRS’‘marriage penalty’real?

ingly higher rates. Currently there are six federal tax rates ranging from 10 percent for low-income families and individuals to 35 percent for earnings over $388,350 a year. Most people’s income straddles several brackets. For example, a single person with $50,000 in taxable income would pay 10 percent tax on the first $8,700 earned; plus 15 percent on income between $8,700 and $35,350; plus 25 percent on income between $35,350 and $50,000. Thus, you’re not paying 25 percent on the full amount; just on the portion within that range. The marriage penalty occurs when couples file a joint return and, in some cases, pay higher income tax than if

networking reception begins at 11 a.m., and the luncheon and program start at noon.

The event is jointly hosted by the St. Louis American Foundation, St. Louis RCGA and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Washington has quite a story to tell, many parts of which are tragic. Yet she feels her story reflects how tragedy can be turned into triumph, and that is the message she passes along to the youth.

“My mother didn’t get a chance to raise me because she suffered depression,” Washington said. “She was married to a military man at the age of 13.”

Her mother moved in and out of many difficult relationships and homes, and so did Washington and her siblings. After enduring several abusive foster-home situations, Washington and her sister Jackie eventually went to live their step-grandmother, who basically brought them on as farm hands rather than relatives. However, that’s where she fell in love with hard work

PERSONAL FINANCE

they’d remained single. For example:

If you have only a single household income (or one spouse earns significantly more) you usually get a “marriage bonus” – that is, your combined income is taxed at a lower rate than if the high earner were paying tax as a single person.

However, once you enter the higher end of the 25 percent tax bracket, the disparity between filing jointly and as a single person becomes more pronounced as your combined income increases, especially if you earn fairly similar amounts and/or you’re both highly paid.

For example, single people with $75,000 in taxable income fall squarely within the 25 percent bracket; however, if you’re married and earn a combined $150,000 income, you would hit the 28 percent bracket.

Some would argue, then, that getting married is a financial disadvantage, but that’s not necessarily true. Married couples are eligible for many tax breaks and other benefits that often more than compensate for paying higher income tax. For example:

If you have medical coverage through your spouse’s employer, monthly premiums

are not considered taxable income, as they are for unmarried domestic partners.

Similarly, your spouse can pay for your medical expenses on a pretax basis using his or her flexible spending account. You’re entitled to 50 percent of your spouse’s Social Security benefits while he or she is alive and can collect their benefit amount after death if it exceeds your own. Plus, you’re entitled to a $255 spousal death benefit.

If you die without a will, your spouse automatically inherits your estate, tax-free. Everyone else besides spouses must pay taxes on estates valued over $5.12 million.

Married people are usually charged less for auto and other insurance than singles.

If you’re considering the “married, filing separately” filing option instead of filing jointly, note that you’ll forfeit several tax credits and deductions available only to joint filers, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, the tax credit for child

and with school. Washington was living in Germany when she found out her mother died. After burying her mother in Mississippi, Washington relocated to St. Louis to be with her sister and

raise her two sons.

“I knew when I got here I needed to make some quick moves to get on my feet,” Washington said. “I worked three jobs and some days would catch three to five buses to get to them.” She advanced in corporate America as a single mother raising her two sons, Jay and Jamie.

She began volunteering for Mathews-Dickey about 30 years ago and became so involved that the organization tapped her to be the head of public relations.

“I learned from Mr. Mathews that if you can get a team involved, then you can be successful,” she said.

“Everyone has a talent. You have to be able to motivate people and get from them their strengths. You also have to know where their weaknesses lie and help them overcome these areas to become a contributing part of the team.”

Washington’s specialty for

non-profit fund-raising is spin-

ning a shoestring budget into a profitable event that promotes the goodwill of the organization.And in the early years of building the PR & special events department, Washington developed a knack for forging partnerships with corporate communications professionals and PR firms to spread positive messages about the organization.

She also engaged a total community effort of business, clergy, law enforcement, schools and parents in order to realize successful results for her organization.

She established and annually oversees three prominent community-wide fundraisers and utilizes her grant-writing skills to generate nearly $1 million for the club’s programs.These events are the Clifton Davis “Say Amen” Gala benefiting literacy programs; the Sheer Elegance Fashion Show, a holiday fundraiser for the Club’s Girls’

Program; and “Jack Buck Celebrity Night with the Stars & Tony LaRussa,” benefiting the Reviving Baseball in the Inner-city Program. Washington also administers education programs with a dedicated staff and 250-plus professional volunteers. “Our lifeblood is volunteerism,” she said. “My proudest achievement is being able to see so many young people who have gotten involved in programs who come back and say, ‘I want to get involved.’If you receive, you must be able to return the blessing.” As a testament to that, Washington’s favorite gospel number is Mahalia Jackson’s “If I Can Help Somebody As I Travel Along (Then My Living Shall Not Be In Vain).” Tickets are $75 each for general seating, tables of 10 available for $750; $100 each for Preferred/VIPseating, tables of 10 available for $1,000. Call 314-533-8000 or visit stlamerican.com.

Barbara Washington sings the “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” surrounded by the Globe Girls at the 2005 Sheer Elegance Fashion Show, a holiday fund-raiser for the Club’s Girls’Program.

“Cameron Newton did not play good football today.”

— Cam Newton,on his own performance after the Carolina Panthers’loss at Seattle last Sunday

Conferences up for grabs Defense leads Rams to 3-2

Parkway Central, Kirkwood meet in battle of unbeatens

Those fans of the Suburban South and Suburban West Conferences are in store for an exciting weekend of football. The Suburban South is totally up for grabs on Friday night with two marquee matchups. Parkway Central (7-0) will host Kirkwood (60) in a battle for first place in the league. Both teams are also undefeated in conference play. Meanwhile, Webster Groves will host Rockwood Summit in a battle of two teams with one loss in Suburban South play. The Suburban West title will be on the line as well as Lafayette host Parkway South in a battle of 7-0 teams. Lafayette has been a dominant team from the beginning of the season while Parkway South is enjoying an excellent rebound

Earl Austin Jr.

PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

With Earl Austin Jr.

season from last year’s 5-5 campaign.

On the Illinois side, East St. Louis can lock up the Southwestern Conference title with a victory over visiting Belleville West on Friday night. Should the Maroons upset the

IN THE CLUTCH

With Ishmael H.Sistrunk

HELLO BROOKLYN!

Nets set to return to relevance

For the years, the New Jersey Nets toiled in obscurity. As an outsider, it seems like the Nets haven’t been relevant since Derrick Coleman and Drazen Petrovic electrified fans back in the early 90’s. In reality, Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles and Kenyon Martin led the Nets to two consecutive Finals’appearances in 2003 and 2004, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs respectively. But since 2006, when Kidd (now with the NYKnicks) shook the spot for greener pastures in Dallas, the Nets have been lost and forgotten - until now. After being purchased by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, moved across state lines to Brooklyn and brilliantly rebranded by minority owner and Brooklyn legend Sean Carter aka Jay-Z, the Brooklyn Nets are ready to return to relevance in a city where minorities are the majority. Black and Hispanic Americans make

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

up nearly 54% of the population of proud Brooklynites. Though Jay-Z’s minority stake likely falls somewhere between 1/15th of one percent and 1.47%, depending on who you believe, his impact on the team is immense. The multiplatinum rapper and husband to Beyonce helped recruit current and former All-Stars Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace. All three players were acquired by trade, but both Williams and Wallace recently re-signed with the team largely due to the Jay-Z’s influence and the immense buzz throughout Brooklyn. As New York City’s most populous borough, success in Brooklyn will mean high earning power for Nets players. The minority owner’s influence goes far further than serving as a recruiter, as he

See

Flyers, the winner of Friday night’s O’Fallon at Edwardsville showdown can tie East Side for first place.

ï Miller Career Academy is enjoying the best season in the school’s history with its 7-0 start. The Phoenix solidified its position as the top team in the Public High League with a 20-14 victory over Soldan last weekend. The Phoenix also scored convincing victories over fellow PHLcontenders Gateway Tech (21-0) and Vashon (40-22) during the season. Career Academy will close the regular season with games against Cleveland and Northwest

See PREP, B4

Record eight sacks during win over Arizona

Kicker Greg Zuerlein booted four field goals and is a perfect 12 for 12 so far this season.

The St. Louis Rams have had 10 much needed days off as they prepare to take on the Miami Dolphins. The Rams are 3-2 and now boast a 2-0 record in the suddenly competitive NFC West division. The Rams are a game over .500 mainly because of the stout play of the defense. The defensive unit is led by middle linebacker James Laurinitas with 49 tackles and cornerback Courtland Finnegan, who is second on the team with tackles with 36 and three interceptions including one for a touchdown. The Rams has already made some impressive strides so far in the Jeff Fisher coaching area. Last year, the Rams’ defense yielded 25.4 points a game and allowed teams to convert on third down at a rate of nearly 40 percent. And this 2012 version of the Rams has allowed 18.8 points per game, which is an improvement of a touchdown. On top of that, the Rams had to deal with injuries to defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Matt Conrath both rookies. Ahead injury to Eugene Sims and an injury to safety Quintin Mikell in the most recent contest against the Arizona Cardinals have also hit the defense. The Rams defense seems to get better game by game. In the game against the Arizona Cardinals, the Rams just abused Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb for nine sacks. Kolb sported a limp and a bloody mouth. And trust me Kolb would have rather had that red mouth, thanks to a Powerhouse cherry flavored pixie stix ,instead of having defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn make his 60 minutes on the football feel like he was on a southbound trip to the depths of downtown H-E-double hockey sticks. And after watching what the Rams have done to mobile quarterbacks like Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson and Washington Redskins Robert Griffin III, plus the rude way they treated Kolb last Thursday, what could Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill expect? If I could borrow a quote from Clubber Lane from Rocky III, “PAIN!!!!”

See RAMS, B4

Palmer L. Alexander

Photo by Wiley Price

Carnahan Cougars’Demetrius Ransom (12) is pulled down by the Rosevelt Rough Riders’Terrence Moore (55) and Antonio Gambrell (23) during Saturday's game at Gateway Tech.The Cougars went on to shutout the Rough Riders 28-0.

Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets

RAMS

Here is a chance for the Rams to get their first road win of the season. And it can happen thanks to the ferocious defense that they employ now. And I haven’t even mentioned that great contributions by linebacker Jo-Lunn Dunbar and defensive lineman William Hayes who were free agent pickups in the off season and paying big dividends to the Rams much improved defense. After five games, it’s pretty easy to tell why the Rams have made strides instead of constantly going backwards. Man, what a difference a solid head coach and a competent general manager and scouting department can do for a whoa as me franchise.

PREP

Continued from B3

Continued from B3 Academy.

ï The McCluer Comets are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory. McCluer is currently 6-1 entering Saturday’s showdown

against visiting rival McCluer North. McCluer features a standout two-way performer in senior Champ Holloman, who plays quarterback and leads the team in tackles. The Comets are also still in the hunt for the Suburban North title, trailing league-leading Hazelwood Central by one game. McCluer still has a game left with Hazelwood Central.

Freshmen of Influence

Acouple of talented freshmen has made an immediate impact at the varsity level this season. On the Missouri side, wide receiver Harry Ballard is enjoying an excellent debut at McCluer North. The 6’2” Ballard has 22 receptions for 454 yards and eight touchdowns. He is averaging more than 20 yards per catch. On the Illinois side, tailback Kentrail Moran of O’Fallon has rushed for 465 yards on 86 carries and scored seven touchdowns for the Panthers, who are currently 6-1. Moran rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns in O’Fallon’s 31-7 victory over Collinsville last Friday.

*Play by Play Friday Night’s Prep Football Game of the Week returns to KATZAM, Hallelujah 1600 with a Public High League clash

between Soldan and Gateway Tech. The pre-game show begins at 6 p.m. with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Top Games of the Week

O’Fallon at Edwardsville, Friday, 7 p.m.

Soldan at Gateway Tech, Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Kirkwood at Parkway Central, Friday, 7 p.m.

Parkway South at Lafayette, Friday, 7 p.m.

Summit at Webster Groves, Friday, 7 p.m.

Highland at Jerseyville, Friday, 7 p.m.

Maplewood at Cardinal

now offers a special free newspaper reading service for blind or visually impaired persons.

INSIDE SPORTS

With Earl Austin Jr.

College basketball gets underway

Believe it or not, college basketball gets underway this weekend as official practice begins for programs around the country. There is great optimism locally for both the University of Missouri and Saint Louis U. programs heading into the season. The ESPN cameras will be in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday night for Missouri’s opening practice at The Mizzou Arena. ESPNU’s Midnight Madness Tip-Off program will feature the opening night of practice for Mizzou and six other top programs around the nation. ESPNU will also be televising the opening practices at North Carolina, North Carolina State, Florida State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and defending NCAAnational champion Kentucky.

Mizzou is coming off a tremendous 30-5 season under first-year coach Frank Haith. In his second year at the helm, Haith has a squad armed with a veteran backcourt in Phil Pressey, Michael Dixon, senior forward Laurence Bowers and several talented transfers in their debut season in the Southeastern Conference. Meanwhile, the SLU Billikens have been picked to finish in second place in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The Billikens return a strong nucleus from last season’s 26-8 team that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Kwamain Mitchell is back to

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

ESPN will carry Missouri’s opening practice Monday night

lead the Billikens, who are under the direction of interim head coach Jim Crews. A24year head coaching veteran, Crews is stepping in for Rick Majerus, who is sitting out the season due to health reasons.

SLU will be hosting its annual Fan Fest on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Chaifetz Arena. The event is free and open to the public.

On the recruiting trail

Edwardsville High basketball standout Garret Covington recently gave a verbal commitment to attend Western Illinois University. The 6’5” Covington is one of the area’s top players in the Class of 2013. As a senior, Covington averaged 18 points, mostly from long range. He is one of the top returning players on an Edwardsville team that advanced to the IHSAClass 4ASupersectionals last season.

In his second year at the helm, Frank Haith has a squad armed with a veteran b ackcourt in Phil Pressey, Michael Dixon, senior forward Laurence Bowers and several talented transfers.

Lindenwood University men’s basketball coach Brad Soderberg got commitments from 6’7” forward Marcus Hinton of Hazelwood Central and 6’2” guard Nick Van Osdale of Belleville West. Edwardsville two-sport girls standout Emmonnie Henderson has narrowed her list down to four schools. The basketball and track standout has it down to Louisville, Tennessee, Miami (FL) and Purdue. The 6’2” Henderson led Edwardsville to the

school’s first ever berth in the Illinois Class 4Astate-championship game in basketball last season. She followed up by leading the Tigers to their first state championship in girls

track. She is being recruited in both sports.

ï Former Hazelwood East standout football player Christian Kirksey is having a

Jonathan Parker

CBC – Football

nice collegiate career at the University of Iowa. The 6’2” 220-pound junior linebacker had a big moment in the Hawkeye’s recent 31-13 victory over Minnesota when he

Athletes of the Week

Deantrell Prince

Christian-O’Fallon – Football

designed the team’s logo, sits on the Barclays Center’s board and helped design the area which challenges Jerry Jones’ Cowboy Stadium in technological superiority as far as sports venues are concerned.

Of course the product on the court is what counts. For years the crosstown Knicks have spent buckets of bills on star players and marketing and have as many championships in my lifetime as I do - none. But the Knicks have also began ramping up its efforts to build a contender by acquiring stars such as Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudamire and Tyson Chandler. This should set up a nice NYrivalry between two very talented teams. Also Prokhorov’s smart but free-spending style will fit perfectly in the Big Apple and contrast the Knicks’‘spend first, ask questions later’ approach to basketball. Though the Knicks have a more loyal following, the Nets have a better starting lineup. Even after the failure to

strike a deal for Dwight Howard, the Nets lineup is stacked. Williams, Johnson and Wallace are joined by Kris Kardashian...er...Humphries and Brooks Lopez. Neither Humphries nor Lopez are allworld players but they are both very talented and underrated throughout the league. Assuming health, the Nets have enough talent to challenge a handful of other teams to earn the Eastern Conference silver behind the defending champion Miami Heat. If they draft as well as they deal, Brooklyn could see the Jiggaman hosting a championship parade a few years down the line.

Jay-Z’s recent string of eight consecutive sellout shows to open the Barclays Center is a big sign of the excitement in Brooklyn. His reputation as hip-hop’s finest and presence as “executive producer” of the popular video game NBA2K13 should help extend the popularity of the reborn Nets beyond city and state boundaries, meaning more and more fans will be saying Hello Brooklyn, goodbye futility.

The senior tailback had 288 yards of all-purpose yardage and four touchdowns to lead the Cadets to a 49-12 victory over DeSmet in a Metro Catholic Conference game last Friday. Parker rushed for 125 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns on runs of nine and 36 yards. He also scored on a 76-yard pass and a 95-yard kickoff return. For the season, Parker has rushed for 603 yards on 94 carries. He also has eight receptions for 137 yards. He has scored a team-high 11 touchdowns for the Cadets, who are currently 7-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state of Missouri in Class 6. CBC will host Jefferson City Helias on Friday at 7 p.m.

The 6’1” junior amassed 392 yards of all-purpose yardage and scored four touchdowns in leading the Eagles to a 48-21 victory over Trinity last Friday night. Prince rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns on runs of 17 and 83 yards. He also scored on a 66-yard pass reception and a 94-yard kickoff return. For the season, Prince has rushed for 552 yards and nine touchdowns. He has 22 receptions for 462 yards and six touchdowns in leading Christian-O’Fallon to a 6-1 record. Prince has a total of 16 touchdowns on the season. On defense, he has 44 tackles and three interceptions. The Eagles will visit Scott City

SLU Billikens senior guard Kwamain Mitchell

Missouri’s Phil Pressey

SUMMIT

Continued from B1

Diversity Leadership Summit offered practices – rather than checklists – that leaders could use to address complex challenges, opportunities and risks related to local and global diversity and inclusion management. This year, about 200 senior global executives from the world’s leading corporations attended the conference. In one of his examples of micromessaging, Young pretended to be a boss introducing two of his employees to another executive. For the first employee, Young offered a long technical explanation of the person’s job description; he pointed at the employee with a casual “hitch-hiker thumb;” and he did not look at the employee during the introduction. For the second employee, Young gave a shorter description but he used more adjectives to describe the employee’s work, such as “creative” and “exciting.” His eye contact acted as a bridge, connecting the two people being intro-

TAYLOR

Continued from B1

the Community in Partnership Service Health Center.

Taylor is a long-standing member of the NMAand has been a member of its board since the early 2000s and received its Woman in Medicine Award in 2007. As a Region Five chairperson from 2002-2006 for the NMA, Taylor organized continuing medical educational seminars for physicians. As chairperson of the NMAEducation Committee, her work included increasing awareness of health conditions among patients and consumers. She is also an advocate for increasing the pipeline for minorities entering

duced. And he patted the employee on the back. Though both were technically correct and met the “checklist” of a good leader, the person hearing the introductions would immediately know which employee was the

“Micromessages are those subtle – and sometimes not-sosubtle – nonverbal messages that people send through body language, tone of voice and the way they inflect words.”

– Micro-inequities expert Steve Young

more valued.

“As it relates to the workplace, it’s potential,” Young said. “You see people and you define them and we confine them. When we deal with people, we want to try and figure out, ‘what else am I not seeing?’”

medical and allied health professions.

“We have as one of our signature programs, an annual mentorship workshop, where we go to undergraduate campuses and we mentor students on what they need to have in place in order to be a competitive applicant for medical school,” Taylor explained. “We realize that these students are our lifeline and we do as much as we can to support their matriculation into and their retention through medical school.”

Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Xavier University and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Cincinnati. Taylor completed her residency in family medicine at Kansas University

Author and motivational speaker Stedman Graham also spoke on Oct. 3, and was introduced by Sharon HarveyDavis, chief diversity officer and VPat Ameren.

Panelists in various breakout sessions at the event included: Sharon HarveyDavis, Emily Pitts, principal of inclusion and diversity at Edward Jones; Chris Tabourne, assistant VPof corporate diversity at Enterprise Rent-ACar; and Reena Hajat Carroll, executive director of the Diversity Awareness Partnership.

The event was sponsored by several local groups, including Edward Jones, Ameren Corporation, Enterprise RentA-Car and The Diversity Awareness Partnership.

“In a business world that is increasingly Pan-global, where the lines between culture, commerce and community are increasingly blurred,” said Douglas Freeman, founder of the summit and CEO of Virtcom Consulting, “the organizations which are best positioned to deal with this new reality stand the best chance of prospering.”

Medical Center. In addition to her practice, Taylor developed Allies in Healthcare, LLC, a health information company to increase health literacy and health empowerment. In 2010, Taylor was appointed by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to be a member of the MO HealthNet Oversight Committee and she serves on the Board of Directors of Health Literacy Missouri. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and is active in various civic, community and medical organizations. About the NMAgoals, Taylor said, “We have high expectations – we’ve raised the bar and we expect to reach these goals by the summer of 2013.”

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

Fri., Oct. 12, 8 p.m., The Cunninghams: Don & Alicia in concert, Harris-Stowe State University 3026 Laclede Ave. For more information call HSSU (314) 340-5736.

Fri., Oct. 12, 8 p.m., The Ambassador presents Future. 9800 New Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 456-4826 or visit www.metrotix.com.

Oct., 12 – 13, Jazz St. Louis presents Dave Black/Paul DeMarinis Group. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call314-289-4030 or visit www.jazzstl.org.

Sun., Oct. 14, 3 p.m., The Fox Theatre presents Imagination Movers Rock-OMatic Tour2012. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 5341678.

Sat., Oct. 20, 7 p.m., Red Velvet Ball Swings! feat. Jazz at Lincoln CenterOrchestra with Wynton Marsalis. A symphonic evolution of swing and jazz paying homage to America’s musical heritage. Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For information, call (314) 534-1700 or visit www.stlsymphony.org.

Mon., Oct. 22, 8 p.m., The Pageant presents Waka Flocka Flame. 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 726-6161.

Thur., Oct. 25, Chaifetz Arena presents Wiz Khalifa One S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 977-5000.

Oct. 26 – 27, Jazz St. Louis presents Legacy Jazz Quintet Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call314289-4030 or visit www.jazzstl.org.

Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, Jazz St. Louis presents Terell Stafford: This Side of Strayhorn. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call314289-4030 or visit www.jazzstl.org.

local gigs

Through October30, Wednesdays – Saturdays, The Griot Museum of Black History presents “Songs From the Soul”: African American Icons of Music History. 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, call (314) 241-7057 or visit www.thegriotmuseum.com.

special events

Thur., Oct. 11, 8 p.m., The Sheldon presents The 100th Anniversary Celebration feat. Branford Marsalis. World premiere of “This Present Past,” composed by St. Louis’own Peter Martin, featuring a poem by Howard Nemerov! An all-star ensemble will perform the piece that encompasses both jazz and classical music. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63101. For more information, call (314) 533-9900.

Oct. 12 – 14, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 6225435.

Sat., Oct. 13, 10 a.m., Professional Organization of Women (P.O.W.) present the Frankie Muse Freeman 7th Annual Scholarship Breakfast, Renaissance Airport Hotel (ballroom), 9801 Natural Bridge. For more information, visit http://powincstl.org/site/

Sat., Oct. 13, 10 a.m., 3rd Annual Lincoln Family

CALENDAR

Picnic, Forest Park, Ground #1 near Zoo, Highway 40 @ Hampton side, Donation: $5.00. For more information, call Joe Jackson Sr. at (314)614-0796.

Sat., Oct. 13, 10 a.m., Child

Safety Day. Take a ride with Fredbird on MetroLink, get St. Louis Cardinal items along the way. The train leaves at exactly 10:10. Events include storytelling, free fitted bike helmets, college planning, and more. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.stlchildsafety.com.

Sat., Oct. 13, 7 p.m., We Can Face presents their1st. Annual Old School Dance fund raiseron Saturday 8370N. Broadway (The Starlight Room). The funds will be used to improve the daily lives of cancer patients and their families. For more information: The web site is: www.wecanface.org. and email is margo_deloch@yahoo.com

Oct. 13, 7 p.m., City North Y’s Men and Women Club, 40 and overSpeed Dating and Dance, cocktails and appetizers, Regional Art Commission (R.A.C.) 6128 Delmar Blvd.

Sat., Oct. 13, 12 p.m., Something New Bridal Fair. Don’t run all over St. Louis trying to plan your wedding! Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For

more information, call (314) 863-5811.

Sat., Oct. 13, 6 p.m., Secrets and Stories of the Old Courthouse. Discover secrets of the building and revisit stories of people who walked its halls. Events include participating in a historic trial, experience an immigrant receiving American citizenship, and more. 11 N. 4th St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 655-1614 or visit www.jnpa.com.

Sat., Oct. 13, 6 p.m., The Griot Museum of Black History presents Songs From the Soul Trivia Night. Gather your family and friends and come test your knowledge about black music. 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, call (314) 2417057 or visit www.thegriotmuseum.com.

Oct. 13 – 14, St. Louis Kids Expo. Events include interactive workshops, inflatable fun world, health & wellness fair, and more. North County Recreation Complex, 2577 Redman Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 9958625 or visit www.stlouiskidsexpo.com.

Sun., Oct. 14, 7:30 a.m., 4th Annual GO! St. Louis Halloween 1-K, 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run. Thousands of costume-wearing participants of all ages and fitness levels compete. Apost-race costume contest, along with lots of vendors

Chaifetz Arena presents Kellogg’s Tourof Gymnastics Champions. See our recent Olympic gymnastic champions up close and witness their awe inspiring medal routines. One S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 977-5000.

Sat., Oct. 20, 6 p.m., 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis presents “4 Forthe Future” Annual Black Tie Gala. Hyatt Regency, St. Louis Riverfront, 315 Chestnut St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 367-7778 or visit www.100blackmenstl.com

Sat., Oct. 20, 10 a.m., Shalom Church City of Peace hosts College Fair. Participating schools include SIUE, UMKC, Hampton University, Mizzou, Clark Atlanta University, and more. 5491 N. Highway 67, 63034. For more information, call (314) 653-2300 or visit www.shalomccop.org.

make this a fun event for the entire family. Participants receive a long sleeve shirt, finisher medal and Halloween treats. Soldiers Memorial Park, 1315 Chestnut St., 63155. For more information, call (314) 727-0800.

Tues., Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Barktoberfest—Benefitting the Humane Society of Missouri. 10% of all sales for the night will be donated to the Humane Society. Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, 3229 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 951-1567.

Wed., Oct. 17, 11 a.m., 3rd Annual Health Literacy Missouri Tribute Awards Luncheon. The St. Louis Palladium, 1400 Park Pl., 63104. For more information, call (314) 799-8886.

Thurs., Oct. 18, 6 p.m., National Coalition of 100 Black Women - Metropolitan St. Louis ChapterOpen House, 100 Black Men Building, 4631 Delmar Blvd. RSVPwith Cerese Pennington, Vice President of Membership at 314.443.0857 or via email at vpmembership@ncbwstl.org For more information, visit our website: www.ncbwstl.org

Fri., Oct. 19, 6 p.m., St. Louis ConnectCare invites you to 15th YearGala. Architechture Hall, City Museum, 701 N. 15th St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 879-6234.

Fri., Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m.,

Sat., Oct. 20, 10 a.m., 2012 St. Louis Pet Expo. Bring Your Pet and meet Shorty Rossi, star of “Pit Boss” on Animal Planet. Pets must have proof of current age-appropriate immunizations. See live demonstrations on agility, obedience, and more. St. Charles Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza, 63303. For more information, call (800) 977-3609.

Thur., Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., Gateway to the Stars: Ghosts of the Arch Grounds. Rangerled walk explores the various “incarnations” of buildings, people, and boats that once inhabited the area. For more information, call 9314) 6551750 ext. 472 or visit www.nps.gov/jeff.

Sat., Oct. 27, 9 a.m., St. Louis Zoo hosts Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday. Mummies and daddies are invited to bring their little ghouls and goblins for safe and free trick-or-treating, entertainment, games and costume parade along the Pumpkin. One Government Dr., 63110. For more information, call (314) 781-0900.

Sat., Oct. 27, 11 a.m., Sisters of Hope, Inc. hosts 2nd Annual Bold Confident Women & Girls Expo: Confidence & Natural Beauty. Events include programs in business leadership, dance, and communication enhancement. Missouri History Museum, Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park. For more information, call (314) 372-5452 or visit www.sistersofhope.org

Sat., Oct. 27, 1 p.m., St. Phillip’s Lutheran Church Community Involvement

Chaifetz Arena presents Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions featuring gold medalist Gabby Douglas.See SPECIAL EVENTS for more information.

Committee present Annual Card Party Fundraiser. Tickets can be purchased for $7 and games include raffles and card games. 2424 Malone Dr., 63113. For more information, call (314) 283-9306 or (314) 531-6318.

literary

Thur., Oct. 11, 7 p.m., Schafly Public Library will host author Stephen Kantrowitz, author of More Than Freedom: Fighting for Black Citizenship in a White Republic, 1829 – 1889. The book chronicles the true experiences of black and white Northern activists to establish African Americans as free citizens. 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 206-6779 or visit www.slpl.org.

Thur., Oct. 11, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library will host author Daniel Woodrell author of The Outlaw Album. Rat Pack Mystery. 6800 Michigan Ave., 63111. For more information, call (314) 206-6779 or visit www.slpl.org.

Sat., Oct. 13, 11 a.m., Carondelet Public Library will host author Robert J. Randisi, author of Last to Die. Rat Pack Mystery. 6800 Michigan Ave., 63111. For more information, call (314) 206-6779 or visit www.slpl.org.

Wed., Oct. 17, 7 p.m., Schafly Public Library will host author William H. Chafe, author of Bill and Hillary: The Politics of the Personal. The book argues that the trajectory of the Clinton’s political lives can be understood only through the prism of their personal lives. 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 206-6779 or visit www.slpl.org.

theatre

Sun., Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m., A Jazz Heaven Series (Under the Rainbow). This musical production pays tribute to some of our most legendary jazz vocalists, musicians, and poet on a journey through the life of these legends with poetry and verse. Florissant Civic Center Theatre, #1 James Eagan Ctr Dr., 63033. For more information, call (314) 921-5678.

Oct 16 – 28, The Fox Theatre presents Les Miserables. An epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 534-1678.

Oct. 19 – 20, LDM Production presents Chain Breakers: The Gospel Stage Play. Dr. Henry Given Administration Bldg., Harris Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63120. For more information, call (314) 5607963 or (314) 593-7358.

Oct. 26 – Nov. 4, The Black Rep Presents ANNE & EMMETT, ANNE & EMMETTtells of the moving, memorable meeting of Anne Frank and Emmett Till in a magical place called Memory. Frank recounts her experience in the Holocaust, and Till his tragic tale of racial hatred and violence in the American South. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For ticket information, call The Black Rep Box Office (314) 5343810 or online at metrotix.com.

arts

Sat., Oct. 20, 12 p.m., Paint, drink, and be merry with Vino van Gogh. Create your own painting with friends and at the end of the night, take home your painting! Molly’s in Soulard, 816 Geyer Ave., 63104. For more information, call (314) 241-6200.

Through October27, In the Still Epiphany, Approximately 50 works of art from Emily and Joseph Pulitzer Jr.’s Collection, Opening reception 5 p.m. April 5, The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts (in Grand Center) 3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108.

lectures

Thurs., Oct. 11, 8 a.m., AAUWBallwin-Chesterfield Branch presents “Women In Politics” with guest speaker Dayna Stock, Manager, Sue Sheer Institute for Women in Public Life, Trinity Lutheran Church, 14088 Clayton Road (At Clayton Road and 141), Chesterfield, MO 63017. For more information, e-mail: apatriciashores@att.net

Tues., Oct. 16, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m., Ballpark Village hosts Business Opportunities Information Session. Seeking Minority & Women-owned DBE Construction firms. St. Louis Cardinals Champions Club, Busch Stadium Administrative Offices, 700 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www.stlballparkvillage.com.

Wed., Oct. 17, 3:30 p.m., Simon CenterforRegional Economic Forecasting hosts Immigration in St. Louis: A Pathway to Economic Success. The Saint Louis region is currently considering ways to promote immigration to reverse the adverse demographic trends that the region faces as both St. Louis City and County have lost population. John Cook School of Business, St. Louis University, 3674 Lindell Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 977-3813.

Sat., Oct. 20, 9 a.m., Ladies of Inspirational Success presents And Still I Rise Domestic Violence Conference. Sessions include Safe Dating for Teens, panel discussions, and more. Saint Peter AME Church, 4037

Margaretta, 63115. For more information, call (636) 2937104.

health

Thurs., Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m., FisherWellness Centerpresents Comfort Foods with a Twist, Fisher Wellness Center, 11634 West Florissant, Florissant, MO 63033, RSVP: simplyhealthy.com/events or contact Elaine@simply-healthy.com or call (31) 435-1121.

Sat., Oct. 13, 7 a.m., St. Louis Chapterof Autism Speaks hosts 10th Annual Walk Now forAutism. The event will also have booths, games, and more. Central Field

The Pageant presents Waka Flocka Flame.See CONCERTS for details.

Forest Park, 5595 Grand Dr., 63110. For more information, call (314) 989-1003.

Sat., Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m., St. Louis Golf forthe Cure will be holding its 6th Annual Golf Tournament and Auction forbreast cancer, Eagle Springs Golf Course, 2575 Redman Road – St. Louis MO 63136. For more information, call (314) 3557277.

Sat., Oct. 13, The American Diabetes Association presents Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes. Walk around beautiful Creve Coeur Lake, 1-mile or 3.7-mile routes with rest stops.Enjoy breakfast, live music, kids zone, health and wellness fair before and after you walk. Creve Coeur Park,

2143 Creve Coeur Mill Rd., 63146. For more information, call (314) 822-5490 ext. 6830.

Wed., Oct. 17, 11 a.m., 3rd Annual Health Literacy Missouri Tribute Awards Luncheon. The St. Louis Palladium, 1400 Park Pl., 63104. For more information, call (314) 799-8886.

Sat., Oct. 19, 10 a.m., Join Missouri Health Equity Collaborative (MOHEC) for a regional discussion of health equity, the social determinants of health, and potential solutions. Innovative practices and programs will be featured from Greater St. Louis, including Dr. Will Ross, Washington University; Bryan Evans, Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri; and Peter Holtgrave, The OASIS Institute. Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63112. Visit mohec.org for details.

Fri., Oct. 19, 6 p.m., St. Louis ConnectCare invites you to 15th YearGala. Architechture Hall, City Museum, 701 N. 15th St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 879-6234.

Sat., Oct. 20, 9 a.m., First Baptist Church of Chesterfield Annual Charles Drew Blood Drive, 17103 Wildhorse Creek Road, Chesterfield, MO 63005. For more information, call (636) 537-8748

Sat., Oct. 27, 9 a.m., The American CancerSociety hosts Making Strides Against Breast CancerWalk. Celebrate people who have battled breast cancer, raise

awareness about ways to help prevent breast cancer, and raise money to find cures and support programs and services for those facing the disease. Forest Park Upper Muny Parking Lot, Macklind Dr. and Union Dr., 63110. For more information, call (314) 286-8159.

spiritual

Sat., Oct. 13, 6 p.m., MinisterTravis Kent and Friends present “How I Got OverMusical.” This is a hand clapping foot stomping event so come get your praise on with us.There is going to be some down home gospel singing with a host of invited special guest. Leonard Missionary Baptist Church, 1100 N. Compton, 63106. For more information, call (314) 914-7712.

Sun., Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m., The New Emmanuel Inspirational Choir hosts 45th Annual ChoirDay Celebration: I will bless the Lord at all times. New Emmanuel M.B. Church, 6233 Chatham Ave., 63133. For more information, call (314) 369-1814.

Sat., Oct. 27, 4 p.m., Healing & Mending Ministry invites you to “Not Me” Youth Expo. Join us for music, a stage play, and prizes. Bring awareness to teen depression, date rape, suicide, and more.Proceeds from event will support Women and Teen Programs to end violence against families. Resurrection Life Christian Center, 1651 Redman Rd., 63138. For more information, call (314) 255-6181.

So, when it comes to dressing for fall it doesn’t have to be limited to just sweaters and jeans. The weather is perfect for one to still be flirty, sexy and have a carefree, style point of view when it comes to the fall frocks! For example, don’t be hesitant to buy a sleeveless dress. It can be paired with a faux fur bolero jacket or layered and colored blocked with a turtle neck (YES, I SAID TURTLE NECK) in a contrasting color, underneath.

As long as the style compliments the body type, and you refrain from cheaper fabrics, dressing for fall can be trouble-free.

This season’s trends incorporate some oldies but goodies along with a breath of fresh style air.

Military inspired looks from the 1940’s are where it’s at complimented by the androgyny of leather, the old and new mesh beautifully. And of course where would fall fashion be without COLOR. Wearing rich warm colors like orange, maroon, and heather grey, adorned in heavy durable fabrics like jean and wool, and making it UBER glamorous with luxurious accessories like fur, studs, and anything gold is a formula for FALL FASHION GREATNESS.

Not forgetting about our hair and makeup, the trends are ever so complimentary, ranging from big tousled curls to the classic high bun which can be worn with any hair texture type paired with a classic smoky eye and red lip or high shimmer and a shiny

gloss. Teaming up with designer boutique, A Taste of Luxurie, we give you a glimpse of what the season has to offer with incorporating effortless style with high glamour.

Danie Rae’s Top Fall Fashion Picks

HAUTE IN THE FALL For the sake of “keeping up with the Jones’s”, designers who have the goods for this season range from Rachel Roy for that tailored but funky look to Jeremy Scott for a more avant gardé flow!

WEAR FOR THE STREET

As much as I respect the “Couturier”, I have a jones in my bones for some authentic street wear brands! Check for Pink Dolphin, Hellz Bellz, and Play Cloths.

LONG HAIR DON’T CARE

After rocking the natural curls all summer, it’s time to show off the luxurious locs! Even if you have to sew, glue,

or braid it, long hair is a must for this season.

DAPPER-DAN

Dudes are the flyest in the FALL!!! Ladies will definitely be checking for the gents rockin’ a hoodie with timbs, a flannel shirt and a dark washed jean or sporty sport coat with a cable knit sweater all complimented with the full beard.

SMELL GOODS

Colognes/Perfumes are the key to any successful swagger! Instead of the light floral scents, opt for something rich and heavy this season.

Clothing courtesy of A Taste of Luxurie, 364 N. Boyle, St. Louis, MO 63108. Contact 314.534.3800 for more information or visit online at www.atasteofluxurie.com or on Facebook at atasteof_ luxurie.

For more fashion updates and “Check Up On It” style alerts, follow Danie Rae, Style Broker on twitter @ danie_rae.

SINGLE

Continued from C1

In fact, don’t expect to change someone at all. You must realize faith is a matter of personal decision. You can’t force someone to believe in God nor should you want to. If someone is not at a place where they are ready to embrace faith and live a lifestyle that reflects their faith, it may be good to ditch the missionary dating and find someone who shares your values.

The Personal Aspect. “To thine own self be true” has always been a helpful gut check for me. Throughout the years when confronted with challenging decisions, it’s helped to bring clarity and insight to otherwise confusing situations. And it applies to choosing a mate as well.

At a certain point, you have to ask yourself what you’re willing to give up for the sake of a relationship? If your faith is of particular importance to you, why would you compromise it?

ARTS

Continued from C1

Louis Jazz All-Stars, a group of talented high school musicians that receives funding from A&E.

When you first meet someone, in the giddy excitement of a new relationship, you might find yourself explaining away certain things or excusing certain behaviors just to keep the relationship going. But, long-term, this never works. Eventually, you will have to confront the issues that you knew were a problem from the beginning. And it could be time unnecessarily spent on a relationship that was never going to work.

When choosing a mate, the most important thing is to be clear about your nonnegotiables. There has to be a standard of what you will and won’t accept in relationships. Now, I am not saying that you should have a mile-long list of do’s and don’ts. But you should be very clear about what you want in a relationship and what won’t fly.

So, if there are some inconsistencies with your boo as it relates to your desire to share a mutual faith, then perhaps the relationship is not on solid ground and shouldn’t continue.

The Social Aspect. Within your faith community, it’s

Festival St. Louis’ education programs, introduced by Christopher Limber, education director.

likely that there are principles related to being “equally yoked.” These principles highlight the importance of couples sharing a mutual commitment. Simply put, it’s ensuring that you and your boo believe the similar things about the same faith doctrine. Practically speaking, it’s checking what people say against what they do. When choosing a mate, you have to ask yourself the question, “Is their lifestyle respective of the faith they say they embrace?” And you also have to consider, “Do we share mutual beliefs, values, morals and ideologies?”

Asking these questions within yourself will help you to shift through the romantic feelings and determine if your boo’s character is compatible with what you desire in a mate. This will help you to choose wisely.

Desiree S. Coleman is a motivational speaker, freelance writer, wife and mother. Find her on Twitter at: @ thelovejourney7 and check out her book “Why Dating Sucks & How Courtship Is Better” for an eye-opening take on dating and relationships (available on www.amazon.com).

Continued from C1

suppression laws and tactics that could keep millions of eligible voters from the polls on November 6. The proliferation of voter ID laws across the country, along with new registration restrictions in some states, the elimination of early voting in others, and an organized campaign of intimidation by an army of partisan poll-watchers, threatens the integrity of this year’s presidential election.

These efforts are primarily targeted at people of color, the elderly, students and people with disabilities – the very people whose lives could be most affected by the coming election. While the Justice Department has blocked several of these laws and

a coalition of civil rights, human rights and social justice organizations is fighting back in the courts, the National Urban League, through our Occupy the Vote campaign, is organizing direct citizen engagement and opposition to the voter suppression movement.

Since the beginning of this year, we have been asking citizens to make sure they know the current law in their states, prepare themselves to comply, and most importantly, vote. The celebrity voices in our new ad campaign have the potential to boost national awareness and reach millions more people with the message that with so much at stake in this year’s election, we must make every effort to get to the polls and make our voices heard.

In addition to our national Occupy the Vote ad campaign, the National Urban League has launched

grassroots voting efforts in several states. We’re inviting supporters to become modern day “Freedom Fighters” –knocking on doors, making phone calls and engaging the community to educate and motivate citizens who may not be aware of changes in the law.

The Urban League Movement is keenly aware of the overwhelming sacrifice our predecessors made to secure the right to vote. We will not stand by and allow voter suppression efforts to turn back the clock on our constitutional rights. Protect your right to vote. It’s time to be heard. To register to vote or report a problem at the polls call 1-866-MYVOTE-1. To volunteer or get involved visit: www.occupythevote12. org. Marc H. Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League.

Prior to the campaign’s official kickoff, Rick Dildine, executive director of the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, and Timothy O’Leary, general director of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, spoke to Edward Jones associates about how A&E funding is critical to the success of their organizations.

Kickoff events included remarks by A&E President Cynthia Prost and Edward Jones Managing Partner Jim Weddle.

An outstanding array of performers from several of A&E’s grantee organizations also participated including Circus Flora, featuring the St. Louis Arches; Center of Creative Arts (COCA), featuring COCAdance; Dances of India; Jazz St. Louis, featuring Gene Dobbs Bradford and the Blues Inquisition and a performance by Brian Owens, St. Louis Symphony community programs coordinator, program manager of the IN UNISON choir and lead singer of the 571st Air National Guard band, Sidewinder.

Kickoff attendees also enjoyed a short scene from Cruel to Be Kind, an anti-bullying initiative that is a key component of Shakespeare

Edward Jones associates tapped into their own artistic creativity by hosting a flash mob designed to inspire giving to A&E inside a company cafeteria along with other activities throughout the twoweek campaign.

“Our friends at Edward Jones demonstrate incredible generosity and enthusiasm for the Arts and Education Council’s annual campaign,” said Cynthia A. Prost, president of the Arts and Education Council.

“Their efforts ultimately strengthen the neighborhoods and communities where they conduct business. By supporting the St. Louis arts community, Edwards Jones helps ensure the area’s legacy of artistic excellence and provides children and adults with opportunities to explore and experience exceptional art and culture throughout the region.”

Edward Jones has consistently conducted A&E’s largest Workplace Giving Campaign for many years.

Campaign chairs rotate from year to year and associates serve on events, prizes and communications committees. Committee assignments enable associates to grow professionally and showcase their leadership skills to their leaders – playing a major role in the larger corporate goals for professional development and training.

“Serving on the Workplace Giving Campaign Committee provides many of our associates a unique opportunity to develop skills and competencies outside of their day-to-day responsibilities with the firm,” said Associate Co-Chair Brian Mathus.

“Our committee members know they are making a difference, and they’re learning and having fun in the process.”

Edward Jones has donated more than $5.5 million to the Arts and Education Council since 1978 with more than $3.3 million coming from its workplace giving efforts. Edward Jones substantially increased its 2012 giving by donating $30,382 more than was raised in 2011. An additional campaign among the firm’s St. Louis-area branch offices will be held in the fall of 2012.

Edward Jones has a long history of support for the Arts and Education Council, beginning with former Managing Partner John Bachmann, who chaired A&E’s board from 1994 through 1996. Edward Jones Principals Jim Krekeler and Eric Koestner are both members of the Arts and Education Council’s board of directors. Edward Jones Principal Bob Ciapciak and Krekeler are former A&E board chairs.

In the past 49 years, the Arts and Education Council has raised and distributed more than $100 million to arts and arts education organizations throughout the 16-county, bi-state St. Louis region.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Missouri History Museum willing to tackle the difficult topics

Welcomes diverse voices that provide counter stories to country’s

Over the summer I had the opportunity to present to a group of museum colleagues the programs and exhibits presented at the Missouri History Museum over the past few years. I spoke about exhibits such as Race: Are We So Different, America I Am: The African American Imprint, and the upcoming multimedia exhibit, Question Bridge: Black Males, which looks at African American male identity. With regard to programs, I highlighted our yearly series such as Race, Class, and next year’s Avenues of Activism. I mentioned speakers such as Dr. Jelani Cobb talking about the Willie Lynch letter and director Byron Hurt talking about his documentary, Beats and Rhymes, that looks at misogamy in hip hop. I ended my presentation by focusing on our upcoming programs on the Delmar Divide and the BreakBeat Scholars program for 9th graders.

After my fifteen minute presentation, a member of the audience from a large southern historical society exclaimed, “Wow, your boss lets you do those programs!” Taken a bit back by the question, I reiterated the Museum’s mission of facilitating solutions to common problems and how the institution believes that issues of race continue to be the elephant in the region’s living room. My colleague continued by saying that he would love the opportunity to be able to develop and implement programs that questioned and challenged both history’s and his city’s racial status quo, but that his institution was very conservative.

This type of conversation is

By Melanie Adams

not an isolated incident. I have met people in St. Louis and beyond who are impressed with not only the number of public programs we do each year (700 last year), but with the Museum’s willingness to tackle difficult topics both in programs and exhibits. The Museum’s ability to do such programs is because of the vision and leadership of its president, Dr. Robert Archibald. Through his twenty-four years at the History Museum, he has built a national model for history museums that promotes partnerships, dialogues, and engagement with all members of the community. Because of his willingness to see history as something more than dates and dead white men, Dr. Archibald has created an institution that welcomes diverse voices to provide counter stories to the country’s national narrative.

An example of how the Museum achieves diverse voices against a national narrative is the upcoming exhibit and programming around Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon. This exhibit, organized by the Mount Vernon Ladies’Association and funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, looks at the life and times of George Washington and his contributions to the country as a founding father. To help round out this traditional narrative, the Missouri History Museum’s Teens Make History group researched and wrote a play about Ona Judge, Martha Washington’s enslaved maid who escaped and avoided capture. This play shows the strength of Ona Judge in the same way the exhibit shows the strength of George Washington. While some institutions may only see or show one side of the story, the Missouri History Museum sees a tapestry of stories that when woven together produce a more complete, a more inclusive, picture of history. Because of the Museum’s mission, its resources, and its president, I always say I have the best job in the world. I have the opportunity to come to work each day and create programs that entertain, educate, and challenge the St. Louis community. I work with talented professionals, interns, and teens who are excited about history and the power it has to create positive change. So yes, my boss lets me do programs that may be controversial or go beyond the scope of the traditional museum, but that what makes both him and

national narrative

the Missouri History Museum special and specially effective.

I Am Free Now: The Ona Judge Story Saturdays, October 13th –November 17th 11:30am in the Currents Gallery Free Ona Judge was Martha Washington’s enslaved maid. Hear her story of escape and ways she avoided recapture.

Discoverthe Real George Washington: New Views form Mount Vernon Opens Friday, October 19th Cost: Adult: $10;

The Missouri History Museum’s Teens Make History group researched and wrote a play about Ona Judge,Martha Washington’s enslaved maid who escaped and avoided capture.This play shows the strength of Ona Judge in the same way the exhibit shows the strength of George Washington.

Senior(62+)/Student/Active Military/Tour Groups: $8; Children 6-12: $4; Children 5 and younger: Free; As always, the exhibit is free on Tuesdays between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. For additional information, please check out our website at www.mohistory.org

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Pageant finalist

Ferrin JaNae Young from St. Louis, has been selected to participate in the 2013 Miss Missouri USA/Teen USAPageant on November 2-4, 2012 in St. Charles. She will be competing as Miss Greater St. Louis USAand will compete in swimsuit, evening gown, and personal interview competitions. Ferrin recently graduated from Harris-Stowe State University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Academic achievement

Congratulations to Christina Bustamante for being inducted into the U.S. Achievement Academy. Christina was admitted for her academic performance in two subjects—science and language arts. Keep up the good work, Christina!

Reunions

All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High Alumni

Class of 1983 Bluejackets come on lets go, 30th class reunion in 2013. If you would like to be on the committee to meetto startfund raisers, and

Engaged

George and Bonnie Gipson announce the engagement of their daughter, Kristen MoniqueGipson to Quincy Jones, son of James and Lourdes Jones.ANovember 2012 wedding is planned.

give great ideasin making this 30th reunion a success, then we need you!Please contact Tammy Flowers at 314-3247615, Pat Ricks Wiley at 314583-2954 or email bhs83alumni@ymail.com.

Roosevelt Class of 1983 committee is in the process of planning their 30th High School Reunion. We are looking for ‘83 Rough Riders to call us with their contact info: Rhonda Jones-Jackson (312) 554-5330, Bettye Clark-Potter (314) 484-2032, Deneen LottBaker (314) 772-2655, Carmen Williams (314) 546-1260, Randy Smith

revrtaylor@gmail.com, email info to: roosevelt-class-of1983@hotmail.com.

SumnerClass of 1976 annual celebration will be Friday, October 19, 2012 at the Machinist Hall 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. in conjunction with Sumner’s Homecoming Dance. Donation $15/Advance included light Hors d’Oeuvres.For more info, contact B. Louis at 314.385.9843 or email:sumnerclassof76@yahoo.com.

Mail donation to:Sumner Class of 76, P. O. Box 69241, St. Louis, MO63169-0241 by Oct. 12, 2012 with selfaddressed stamped envelope

Birthdays

October 12, 2012

Special Birthday wishes to Mary Katherine Billingsly Wall, 101 years young and going strong! Mary Katherine attributes her longevity to holding true to her Catholic faith and staying active. This is the first year she did not plant a vegetable garden, but in her 100th year, she did! Happy Birthday, Mary Katherine!

October 10

Happy Birthday

Oksanna Muhammad, celebrating 13 years! Love Mom, Dad, Sheldon, baby sis Amirah

More birthdays

October 10 Delores Minor-Brown celebrates her Golden “50” Birthday!

October 13 Happy 21st Birthday, Clarissa “Claire” McCray!

for ticket(s).

The SumnerAlumni Association presents a Maroon and White Homecoming Week Oct. 1620, 2012. Roll with an all Family Skate Party Tues., Oct. 16, 7 pm – 10 pm at Skate King ($6 Advance/Door).

Alumni Hoop-Fest Basketball Game(s) at Soldan Thur. (Donation/time TBA). Alumni Dance Fri., 8 pm – 1 am at the Machinist Hall; $12 Advance/$15 Door (Vendors welcome $50/request appl.). Parade Sat. 10 am (Cars, floats, SUV’s, Marching Bands, etc. are welcome;

request Parade Appl.). Tailgate Party atnoon at Sumner High. Sumner’s Homecoming Football Game 1:30 pm at Sumner’s Tuskegee Airmen Field, Sumner vs. Soldan. For more info, contact Michelle Elgin at 314.452.1275, Sheila Goodwin S.H.S. 314.371.1048 (Parade) or email: sumneralumniassn@yahoo.com.

University City High School class of 2003 will be celebrating their 10-year reunion July 2013 in St. Louis. We’re still in the process of rounding up all of our graduates and would love for you all to contact us, as soon as possible if you

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 4242 Lindell Ave St. Louis, MO 63108

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, 4242 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. 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

Religion

Ministers counter the ‘Don’t Vote” sermonizers

Jackson, Sharpton, Bryant brush aside gay marriage issue

By Hazel Trice Edney (TriceEdneyWire.com)

Blacks must focus on the big picture, not just President Barack Obama’s support of same-sex marriage, in deciding whether to cast a ballot for his re-election or to stay at home, say three prominent black ministers. They argue that the African-American community has much more pressing problems with which to contend. A high unemployment rate, crumbling schools, low test scores, high dropout rates, home foreclosures, high rates of incarceration are of signiicant concern, the ministers said.

Yet President Obama’s support of same-sex marriage has divided the black community, and some African-American voters said they will not vote because of the president’s position.

That idea brought the Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, to tears on Saturday, Sept. 22, during a forum at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. The question also riles the Rev. Al Sharpton, host of PoliticsNation on MSNBC, who believes some people are being paid to advocate staying home on November 6, election day.

Rev. Jackson used a handkerchief to wipe away tears as he sat on the panel, recalling how he was jailed on July 6, 1960, for trying to use a public library. Given the atrocities he sees, he’s “not quite ready to prioritize same-sex marriage” as a major

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, was brought to tears during a forum at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference at the thought that some black people would choose not to vote because President Obama supports marriage equality.

issue affecting the inancial welfare of the black community.

Teaching the audience a quick lesson that brought them to roaring and empathetic laughter, he asked them to respond to the following questions:

“How many of you have a relative in jail? Raise your hand…How many of you support Medicare and Medicaid? Raise your hand…How many of you support social security? Raise your hand…How many of you have or know someone with home foreclosure? Raise your hand...You know somebody in student loan debt? Raise your hand…You know somebody with credit card debt? Raise your hand…You know of voter suppression? Raise your hand…You know somebody.”

With nearly every hand raised, Rev.

Jackson then hit the audience with the unexpected question: “How many have ever been invited to a same-sex marriage?...How many has ever had one in your church?”

Not a hand was raised in the room of about 300 people, who broke into laughter – mainly at themselves.

“While we [should be] arguing about our option of Medicare, Medicaid, housing, jobs, and justice, we are arguing about whether someone has the right to engage in a wedding that you were not invited to,” Rev. Jackson said as the audience roared with applause and laughter.

Rev. Jackson said he believes the same-sex marriage debate in the black community is being prompted by rightwing conservatives who have pushed their priorities onto the black community.

“I don’t want anybody to jump line and put on us their priority,” he said.

Rev. Al Sharpton also believes the pervasive discussion regarding same-sex marriage is a sinister agenda on the part of a stealthy right wing.

“We have disagreed with every president on something,” Sharpton said in a brief interview during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards Dinner.

“Bill Clinton put bills through that hurt us – welfare reform. We’ve never talked about not voting. I think that some of the people who are saying this are sponsored by our enemies, because show me anywhere in history where we’ve ever said we’re not going to vote because we disagree with the opinion of a president. He didn’t propose a law; he didn’t say he was going to campaign for a law. He gave an opinion and then all of a sudden they tell people don’t vote?”

The Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, pastor of the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore, said he wants to register a million voters before the Nov. 6 election.

Bryant said he has been told by some black pastors that they will not be voting for President Obama because of his stance on same-sex marriage. This position gives civil-rights leaders an even more urgent motive to inspire people to go to the polls, Bryant said. Jackson said, “Don’t win the same-sex debate and lose the right to a house, health, education, jobs, and justice.”

One sure way to get Satan’s attention is to really try to turn your life over to Christ. Supposedly, as long as you engage in all of the pleasures available to you in this world with no regard to spiritual discipline, Lucifer has no need to spend any energy whatsoever fighting for your soul. A lifestyle void of the Lord voluntarily sentences that soul to eternal damnation. As we all go through life, I admit that we sometimes lose sight of the obvious. I know I have. A life without purpose, without direction, a life without faith in something is a life spent wandering aimlessly through every worry, addiction, confusion and perversion this world will throw at you. The devil does not need to do any work to gain access to this life. He can just wait at the toll booth entrance to hell and collect unsuspecting souls as they meander by. Maybe some of us could at least try to make the devil sweat a little bit in his attempts to manipulate you. On the other hand, a life dedicated to purpose, built upon integrity and anchored in faith instantly becomes a priority target for Satan’s machinations. I’m trying to make him work every day by appealing to the Lord to allow me to accomplish His will on any given day. Satan is coming for anyone who tries to hear and respond to God’s Word. “Some people are like seed along the path where the Word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the Word sown in them.” Mark 4:15. If you know this, what are you doing to arm yourself against the inevitable onslaught that awaits you for trying to be true to god’s Word? “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14. Satan cannot stand the thought your love of God could supersede his ability to wreck your world. His biggest trick is to get you, me or anyone to love him or herself more than they love the Almighty. And if he can get you to love those things of this world that you have a particular weakness for, then his job is done. “For as I have told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach and their glory is their shame. But our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:18-20.

The American is accepting Inspirational Messages from the community. Send your column (no more than 400 words) as a Word document and pasted text to cking@stlamerican.com and attach a photo of yourself as a jpeg ile. Please be patient; we will run columns in the order received.

James A. Washington

UMSLgets $150K fornursing programs

American staff

Gov. Jay Nixonrecently announced nearly $1 million in grants to educate additional nurses at college and universities across the state, marking the latest award of grants made available through the Governor’s Caring for Missourians initiative.

These Caring for Missourians grants are funded by revenue generated from nursing licensing fees collected by the Missouri State Board of Nursing. The program is providing $1 million in grants each year in Fiscal Years 2012, 2013, and 2014. Public and private colleges and universities are eligible to apply for grants of up to $150,000 per institution per year to hire additional faculty, purchase vital educational equipment or offer scholarships.

“An education in nursing is a clear pathway to a rewarding and lifelong career, but far too often, too many students were being turned away from nursing education programs because they were at full capacity,” Gov. Nixon said.

“As our state economy continues to move forward, health care will remain as a growing industry in our state. These Caring for Missourians program grants will assist our nursing schools in educating more students and connecting them with good jobs in every corner of Missouri.”

The State Board of Nursing has approved the following seven grants: Lincoln University (Jefferson City)

$124,115

Missouri State University (Springfield)

$144,134

Research College of Nursing (Kansas City)

$148,032

Truman State University (Kirksville)

$150,000

University of Missouri –St. Louis

$149,978

University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg)

$131,266

University of Missouri –

Columbia

$150,000

To select the grant recipi-

ents, the Missouri State Board of Nursing reviewed competitive applications submitted by the institutions. In the third year of the program, the board will again be inviting applications and awarding the grants on a competitive basis. Launched by Gov. Nixon in

2009, Caring for Missourians is a strategic initiative to increase the number of nurses, physicians, dentists and other health professionals being educated at Missouri’s public colleges and universities. Colleges and universities developed individual plans for

Caring for Missourians grants are funded by revenue generated from nursing licensing fees collected by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

how they would invest their Caring for Missourians funds.

Gov. Nixon and the State Board of Nursing announced plans for the expansion of Caring for Missourians using the license fee revenue in December 2010.

Nov.15 deadline for scholarship applications

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis’ interest-free loan application deadline is Thursday, November 15, 2012. The Scholarship Foundation offers qualified students the opportunity to apply for renewable, interest-free loans of up to $7,000 per academic year, based on financial need, academic potential, and strength of character. High school students, college students, and nontraditional applicants pursuing their first bachelor’s degree are encouraged to apply at www.sfstl.org.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is a nonprofit organization that provides access to postsecondary education to eligible St. Louis area students who would not otherwise have the financial means to attend accredited two-year or fouryear colleges, or technical schools. Applicants must reside in: St. Louis City and St. Louis County; the Missouri counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles and Warren; and the Illinois counties of Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair. Interest-free loans and grants are awarded to students who have graduated high school or earned a GED and are planning to enroll in approved, accredited postsecondary programs. To be eligible, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal resident and be a permanent resident of the St. Louis metropolitan area for at least two years prior to the date of application.

Students can apply for funding by completing an online “general application” which enables applicants to simultaneously apply for The Scholarship Foundation’s interest-free loan and a variety of external scholarships offered by several providers on the St. Louis Graduates website (www.stlouisgraduates.org). Upon completion of the general application, applicants must go on and complete additional questions for each scholarship to which they’re matched. For more information, contact The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis at (314) 725-7990 or email at info@sfstl.org.

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week

Delores Shante dshante@stlamerican.com

Slam dunk forSista Strut. You just had to be there to really soak in the sea of pink and brown as ClearChannel St. Louis’3rd Annual Sista Strut started out at the Missouri History Museum and made its way all up and through Forest Park last Saturday! I would say the third time’s a charm – but the first and second ones were on and poppin’as well. I didn’t know what to expect for 2012 because the temperature had done a nose dive from the night before. But I should have known that if the ladies showed up in the rain and risked fresh hairdos for the first Sista Strut that it would take more than a little chill to hold them back. The masses showed up with pink earmuffs, scarves, leg warmers, tights and so on, to make sure their body temperature was on lock as they showed their support of survivors and raised awareness for women of color who have been impacted by breast cancer. Sista Strut has been huge from hello – and if year three is any indication, the event is going to get bigger and better EVERYYEAR. And we really show our support in our own way, don’t we? The t-shirts were by no means enough. I saw pink sew-ins, eye shadow, eyelashes (I saw you Patricia Moore), Nicki Minaj style lacefronts – even a pink cotton candy colored little poodle. I can’t even tell you exactly how many, but I can say ATLEAST6,000 showed up. Estimates have reached as high as 10,000 – and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were right on. I’m offering a via satellite standing ovation to the men, women, children, survivors and supporters who came out and to the Strut. This opportunity to come together, touch and agree in the effort to curb the statistics of breast cancer among women of color should NEVER be missed.

Big Ups forBig K.R.I.T. Although 80 percent of the folks don’t know who Big K.R.I.T. is, I must say that I was disappointed that the Old Rock House wasn’t packed all the way out last Wednesday as one of rap music’s rising stars blessed the stage. I was expecting the crowd to be hanging out the windows from the second floor and being forced to listen from across the street like the time Wiz Khalifa came to town as an underground star. Oh well. Even though it was so empty towards the front you could turn backflips, K.R.I.T. still killed it like he was performing before a sold-out show at the Scottrade as he and Slim Thug headlined the Kings of Underground (or something like that) rap show. I can’t tell y’all how much I live for him – he picks up where 8Ball & MJG left off before they got kind of corny. Even though the bulk of the city’s hip-hop heads may not be on K.R.I.T. now, y’all will be…and I will relish in the opportunity to say I told you so when he becomes a household name! As far as Slim Thug goes, I protested his performance because of that mess he cranked up about black women a couple of years back. The only way he could pay me to bother is if he did a public press conference with Jimmy Swaggert tears and an “I have sinned against you” monologue. I won’t be holding my breath though. The shoe game showdown. I made my way down to the KillerHeels party at the Ginger Bistro Saturday night and some of the folks took the slogan literally. I saw some of the girls barely making it from their cars –limping and leaning to the side and carrying on as they eased from the parking lot to the party. I was thinking “How are y’all going to enjoy yourselves if your faces are twisted with pain in your spike heel stilettos and you haven’t even made it in?” Well, the more soulful girls got it in on the dance floor barefoot, and the others were simply sitting pretty. My peoplewatching muscles were beyond pleased this night and it would be the ultimate oversight if I didn’t give the lovely Ashley Mitchell a serious shoutout for her zebra striped Louboutin Daffodils.

Last dance of the Day Party. Everybody with a babysitter or extended children’s church hours was in to bid farewell to Day Party Season 2012 Sunday afternoon at Mandarin. There was a desperate need for an overflow room up there as one of the sexiest crowds in the STLtried to keep it cute as the people threatened to break the fire code up in there! And the fact that DJ Charlie Chan Soprano was SERVING on the ones and twos didn’t make matters any better. Every now and again I couldn’t fight the urge to break it on down and the slightest shoulder groove would end up with somebody catching an elbow to the stomach! It was all love though as the young, black and fabulous crowd helped one of the favorite club summer series bow out with a bang. I’m already missing seeing the summer dresses and sunglasses, but I know things will be back in full effect for 2013 – and hopefully I will be back in “Jet Beauty of the Week” shape by then!

Comedy Corey Holcomb Style. You know you have a special gift with respect to the funny game if you can come out on stage looking like you had paused a PlayStation 3 game, changed out of your house shoes and moseyed on over to Westport Plaza to bring the house down! Corey Holcomb had the folks weak at the Funny Bone as he threatened to date a woman in the audience, talked about the side woman/side baby game. I must give a note to my audience neighbors – the male component of the couple in particular. Even though he probably knows this now based on how things probably turned out for him after the show was over, I feel compelled to tell the masses that kissing your boo in the mouth and publicly proclaiming her as your side chick is absolutely NOTabout that life! She played it cool during the comedy, but something in my spirit tells me that a cuss out went down in the parking lot and stretched all the way down Westline Industrial Drive. But back to the show, y’all already know the nature of black comedy – i.e. NONE of his show is safe for Partyline. Those of us in the building will be cackling until he makes his way back to the Lou. I’m telling you, I live for Corey Holcomb at least as much as some of the comics that headline arenas and whatnot. And when he told his friend and fellow comic Jessie Taylor that all he needed was a bang to make his female security guard dreadlock ponytail complete, I was ready to follow him on the road and make my world-famous fried egg sandwiches at his every command!

Ebony,Courtney and Donna celebrated their birthdays to the grooves of DJ Nune and Thelonious Kryptonite Saturday night @ The Coliseum

Kay Chris,Birthday girl Angie,Sharma and Lillyan on celebrating the friend’s Birthday at Soho at night

in

Alishia and Eric at the Libra affair

night enjoying some good fun with friends at the Ginger Bistro

Fans Etheria,Kim,Tiara,and Jessica were eager to pose with southern rap boss Slim Thug before his performance Wednesday night @ Live From the Underground Tour @ The Old Rock House

Stephanie and Becky Blue enjoyed the laid-back vibe last Friday @ Lola

Sharniece,Kelly and Denise enjoy a girls’night out Saturday @ Soho

Demarco and Damion cater to the Libras with their Head over Heel Bash Saturday Night @ Ginger Bistro

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

Money Wise workshops part of American’s commitment to the community

By K.Michael Jones Of The St.Louis American

In the last eight years alone, The St. Louis American has been recognized with 12 first place awards for Community Service from six different industry associations. Recently, the American won an international first place Community Leadership Award by Inland Press Association, an organization of more than 1,200 member newspapers in all 50 states, Canada and Bermuda.

nize those outstanding individuals and organizations who are excelling, and making our region a better place to live in. We are truly proud of the success of these events, and how well-received they have been by the community.

But we’re not stopping there. We are looking for more ways to engage readers, whether it be in our print product, on our website, through social networking, or through a variety of different public events.

Our Money Wise workshops are free to the community, and provide extremely useful financial information for our readers.

The Community Leadership Award recognizes “the initiative and achievements of newspapers working through the combined resources of news coverage, editorial support and staff involvement to improve the community.” Entries were to show how the local newspaper is effectively involved in the life of its community.

Suburban Newspapers of America, an organization of more than 2,000 newspapers throughout North America also bestowed first place Community Service honors on the American, and the American is a four-time first-place winner for Community Service from the National Newspaper Association.

Each of the awards were given, in part, because of the American’s annual Salute to Excellence program, which includes four quarterly recognition events (Salute to Excellence in Education, Salute to Excellence in Health Care, Salute to Excellence in Business, and Salute to Young Leaders).

At The St. Louis American, we feel it is our duty to publicly recog-

As part of our mission to continuously educate and inform our readers, in 2011 The St. Louis American began a number of financial literacy and health literacy events, each free of charge, and each in the heart of the community.

Our Money Wise workshops are free to the community, and provide extremely useful financial information for our readers. Avariety of important topics are covered in the Money Wise workshops, including: budgeting, living on a fixed income, home buying, investing, and debt relief. There are also programs for teaching children how to budget and save. This session, there will also be an emphasis on women in business and financial security for women.

Our staff gives a special thanks to our partner Afro World for hosting the workshops, and to our main sponsors Justine Peterson Housing, Midwest Bank Centre and St. Louis Community Credit Union.

If you have any suggestions regarding how you think The St. Louis American can be more involved in the community, please email me at kjones@stlamerican.com.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

Committed to economic empowerment

St. Louis Community Credit Union hosts credit event Oct. 22 at Afro World

Special to The American

Since 1942, St. Louis Community Credit Union has had a solid tradition of serving and empowering diverse communities within the St. Louis metropolitan area.In fact, our commitment to meeting the financial needs of people from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic walks of life has never been stronger.

As a means to promote financial empowerment, we invest our resources in branch facilities, as well as product and service offerings that cater to underserved markets. We offer second-chance checking products, credit building services and a payday loan alternative in an effort to help break the predatory lending cycle for consumers.

Simply put, we work to provide individuals

the tools they need to help increase their standard of living and better their lifestyle. In fact, a recent study from Washington University’s Olin School of Business found that we save consumers an average of $400 per year just by banking with us. This, along with our social influence, equates to an economic impact of nearly $20 million of giveback to the community.

We serve people who live, work, worship or study in St. Louis City, County, the Metro East, and their family members. To learn more, visit our web site at WorksForMe.com.

Don’t miss our special Money Wise presentation on the importance of building, maintaining and repairing credit, Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at Afro World International (7276 Natural Bridge Rd).

Opportunities during open enrollment

If you work for a medium-size or large organization, you may well be entering that time of year known as Open Enrollment. While it may not be as dramatic as the “other” election that’s arriving in a few weeks, Open Enrollment will provide you with some choices that can have a big impact on your life.

Depending on how your organization administers its benefits program, you may be able to make changes to several important areas during open enrollment. Here are three of them:

ï Life insurance — If your employer offers free or inexpensive life insurance, you should almost certainly accept it. But if your situation has changed since you first received life insurance as an employee benefit — that is, if you’ve gotten married or had children or bought a house — you

may well need to supplement your employer’s policy with outside insurance. Also, make sure the beneficiary designations on your employer’s policy are still correct.

ï Disability insurance —

Almost everyone recognizes the need for life insurance. But that’s not necessarily the case with disability insurance — which is unfortunate, because a worker’s chance of becoming disabled is 2 to 3.5 times greater than dying, according to A.M. Best, the credit-rating company. If your employer offers disability coverage, you should probably take it — but, as is the case with life insurance, you may need to supplement your employersponsored plan with a policy of your own. To determine how much protection you need, add up your monthly living expenses and then compare the total to your current disability insurance cover-

age. You may well discover a “gap” that should be filled.

Roger Macon, AAMS

ï 401(k) plan — If you can make changes to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan (such as a 403(b) plan for nonprofits or a 457(b) for state and local governments), you’ll want to consider two key areas: your contribution amount and yourinvestment mix. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to contribute as much as you can afford to your retirement plan because your money can grow on a taxdeferred basis. So, if you can afford it, or if you’re anticipating a salaryincrease for next year, consider bumping up your retirement plan contribution. As for your retirement plan’s investment portfolio, take a close look at it. Does it still reflect your risk tolerance and time horizon? These two factors will change over the years, so you’ll want to make sure your

investment mix keeps pace. Also, is your account properly diversified, or have you tended to concentrate your dollars in just one or two types of investments?

While diversification cannot guarantee a profit or protect against a loss, it can help you reduce the impact of volatility on your holdings.

You should have several weeks in which to study your benefit plan options, so take the time you need to make the right choices. You may also want to consult with a professional financial advisor — someone who can help you determine your life insurance and disability protection needs as well as review your retirement plan’s investment mix to ensure it’s still appropriate.

For further information contact Roger Macon, AAMS at (314) 4813962

How credit cards impact yourcredit score

Due to the economic recession and legislation that has passed like the Dodd Frank Act and the Credit Card Legislation of 2009, credit card companies have gotten a bad name – they can be high interest and high fees. But what most consumers don’t always understand is that credit cards can be an important tool in building and re-building your credit score, if you use them correctly. Tips to using credit cards to build your credit score:

Have at least one credit card –maybe two (but do not get caught in the trap of opening too many credit cards) 6 credit cards won’t boost your score any more than if you just manage 1-2 credit cards correctly.

Pay on time – Never be 30 days late! A30 day late payment can drop your credit score 100 points!

Keep yourbalance on yourcredit card under30% of the credit limit –even less is better, 0-10% is optimal. If you have a credit card at a $300 credit limit, your balance should never be over $90

Use yourcredit card fora need not a want! – a tank of gas, couple of groceries, prescriptions, something that is part of your monthly budget and you pay off each month. Do not buy something you want with your credit card, something you need

Do not max out credit cards – a maxed out credit card could decrease your credit score 50-60 points.

Pay off yourbalance in full every

month! Consumers think that you have to keep a balance at all times to build your credit score but this is not true, paying off your balance every month is the best way to build your score and not pay interest on the money borrowed. Though, if all you can afford is the minimum payment make that payment on time! Paying on time is the most important to your credit!

Do not close yourcredit cards

Closing a credit card can significantly

decrease your credit score and needs to be done strategically.

For consumers who are in the process of re-building their credit scores, a secured credit card is the best way to build your score. Be careful of credit cards that have high annual fees and other fees associated with opening cards. Be sure to read and fully understand the terms and conditions of any credit card that you open!

For those that are stuck in credit card debt and don’t know what to do:

ï Put your credit cards away and stop using them. But don’t close them!

ï Create a realistic monthly budget and stick to it. If you ultimate goal is to cut back on your credit card debt you will most likely need to change the way your spend so you can put more money to pay off your credit card debt.

ï Be careful about debt consolidation plans – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

ï Use credit card reduction tools like powerpay.org or Bankrate’s Credit Card Loan Consolidation Calculator to see how long it will take you to pay off your credit card debt

Aperfect mix of business and friendship

Southern Commercial Bank understands the importance of building relationships with its customers. Just ask Jay and Jeanine Riley, owners of the local concrete company Riley Ready Mix.

As the business grew, so did the need for Jay and Jeanine to have a positive relationship with their bank.

Jay founded Riley Ready Mix in 1997. As the business grew, so did the need for Jay and Jeanine to have a positive relationship with their bank. That’s when they met Southern Commercial Bank’s Kevin Coerver. Kevin seized the opportunity to build the relationship by getting to know the Rileys personally as well as professionally.

The Rileys wanted the amenities offered by larger banks but the personable approach of a local bank. Southern

Commercial Bank delivered just that. Jay and Jeanine never have to call an 800-number and talk to an anonymous voice. Additionally, because the bank’s decision makers are in St. Louis, they’re able to quickly respond to the Riley’s needs.

“I’m a concrete guy,” Jay explained. “So when I have business questions, I turn to Kevin. He’s a great sounding board for our company.”

The Rileys truly value the relationship they’ve established with Southern Commercial Bank—it’s an important asset to their success. Which, coincidentally is exactly how Southern Commercial Bank wants each of their customers to feel.

Jay and Jeanine Riley,left,owners of the local concrete company Riley Ready Mix,with Southern Commercial Bank’s Kevin Coerver