September 15th, 2011 Edition

SLPS contracts in question

School choice advocates hired to recruit for public schools

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

Longtime St. Louis activist Bertha GilkeyBonds is one of the state’s biggest advocates for charter schools, particularly in black neighborhoods where school buildings are boarded up.

Suggs scholar studies abroad

Brittany Daniel returns from Australia to Mizzou

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of The St.Louis

American

She’s the state director for the national nonprofit Black Alliance for Educational Options.

Just this year the St. Louis Public School District has awarded her organization four contracts, totaling more than $750,000, to recruit students into the district and improve student performance.

It could be that Superintendent Kelvin Adams is trying to mend the public education chasm. Or it could be a suspicious conflict

American places first forGeneral Excellence

This summer, University of Missouri student Brittany Daniel studied Australian animals in their natural habitats on a monthlong expedition. Every few days, she and 13 other students traveled to a new amazing place, including veterinary schools, mountains and animal sanctuaries, to learn about animals.

It was all part of a study-abroad program through UM’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. And it was all paid for through her 2008 Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship, which funds a studyabroad experience.

“The university gave us the opportunity to see things that we would never have seen if we toured Australia by ourselves,” she said. The students visited ranches where farmers talked about working with native animals, and they also learned about the Aboriginal culture. Even though Daniel is not a veterinary student, she said the program was fascinating. This May, Daniel will graduate with a degree in communications science and disorders, and then she’ll go

‘Amen’chorus forDr. Doris Jones Wilson

Legendary choir director and arranger honored for 65 years of service

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St.Louis American

What

Photo by Wiley Price

Members of the Legend Singers performed at West Side Missionary Baptist Church on

to celebrate

career of legendary choir director

arranger Dr.Doris Jones Wilson.

Photo by Wiley Price

Adrian White and her daughter Francesa White,age 6,a student at Barbara C.Jordan Elementary School,and other citizens,including Kim Shivers,participated in

commemoration

Gucci gets six months

Gucci Mane pleaded guilty to two counts of battery, two counts of reckless conduct and one count of disorderly conduct on Tuesday (Sept. 13).

Gucci Mane, born Radric Davis will spend the next six months in jail in Georgia.

According to police, the 31-year-old Mane picked up a woman at a suburban Atlanta mall in January, invited her out for breakfast and then tried to offer her $150 to stop by a hotel with him. When she refused, he pushed her out of his car while it was in motion. She was taken to the hospital with “soreness and pain.”

A judge ordered Mane to complete 12 weeks of anger management classes, plus pay the victim $5,090 for her medical bills and a $3,000 fine.

In 2001, the rapper was arrested for cocaine possession and spent 90 days behind bars.

He served a six-month prison term in 2005 for assault. In 2009, he was behind bars for a year for violating probation for that assault.

Kanye’s fashion house hits the streets in October

Rapper/designer Kanye West has confirmed he will present his first ever womenswear collection next month in Paris, France. Kanye he decided to skip all Fashion Week related events in New York this weeks, to debut his S/S 2012 collection on Saturday, October 1st, in Paris. The rapper has teamed with Londonbased designer Louise Goldin to create the line, while Givenchy designer Ricarrdo Tisci is serving as a mentor to West.

daughter, has been assigned to bed rest since August and will continue until the baby is born in December or January.

Terrence Howard threatens to ‘whoop that trick’ via voicemail

According to Radaronline.com, Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard left a life-threatening message on a stranger’s voicemail. In the message Howard identifies himself before going off on an angry tirade about the source calling his wife.

Fashion insiders have labeled Kanye’s upcoming show the most “talked about show of the season,” while the collection itself is also being touted as one of the best in the 2012 Spring/Summer season.

Bouncing baby boy for Fantasia

Jamie Foster Brown of S2smagazine.com says singer Fantasia Barrino is pregnant with a boy.

The singer has reportedly had a few complications during this round of motherhood and has been committed to bed rest, but she’ll be the star at an October 1st baby shower in North Carolina.

Barrino, who already has a 10-year-old

“[expletive], you been calling my wife... If you call my wife again I’m going to come to your house and I’m going to cut your [expletive] throat,” Howard says in the message.

“Understand that. I’m gonna tell you this one time. You call my wife again, I’m going to kill you.”

According to the source, just five days prior, a female friend of his said she got Howard’s phone number from another friend. After a night of drinking with the source, she decided to prank call Terrence and leave a message expressing her undying love.

“Her phone was dead, so

she used mine and left about a three-minute voicemail professing her love for him,” the source told RadarOnline.com.

“But apparently the call was made to his wife’s phone, not his.” Howard again called the source and left another voicemail, but this time to apologize.

“I’m so sorry for calling you and speaking that way,” Howard said. “I thought you were somebody that’s been harassing my wife. Please forgive me.”

Sparks as Sparkle, Whitney Houston signs on as mama

American Idol Winner Jordan Sparks has been tapped to play the lead in the remake Sparkle. Her mother will be played Whitney Houston. The role

Jordan Sparks

Remembering James E. McLeod

Vice chancellor for students and dean at Washington University

By Susan Killenberg McGinn Washington University

James E. McLeod, vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital of kidney failure after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 67.

In a letter addressed to the WUSTL community Sept. 6, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced that “Washington University has lost one of its greatest citizens and leaders.”

“No single individual has had a greater impact on the vitality and the quality of student life at this university,” Wrighton says. “Jim was truly a man of wisdom, compassion and steadfast loyalty to the university. He enjoyed deep and lasting respect from all who were fortunate to interact with him.”

As dean of the College of Arts & Sciences – WUSTL’s largest undergraduate school with 4,000 students –and as vice chancellor for students, he helped build a warm, supportive and challenging student culture. McLeod’s goal was to have every student “known by name and by story.”

From the time he arrived at Washington University in 1974 at the age of 30, the Dothan, Ala., native adopted Washington University as his institution and St. Louis as his home.

“Jim McLeod was one of the inest people I’ve known,” Chancellor Emeritus William H. Danforth says. “The amazing thing about Jim was everyone felt the same way. We will all miss him very much. He was one of the important shapers of Washington University.”

In a 2009 letter announcing a scholarship fund being established in McLeod’s name, Danforth and Robert L. Virgil, DBA, Olin Business School

professor, dean and trustee emeritus, wrote:

“No one has worked harder or has devoted more of himself or herself. He always puts the needs of the institution and its people irst. As he once said, ‘People talk about careers. I don’t have a career. I have a job, an important job that needs doing.’”

Effective leader

Recognized as one of the university’s most effective leaders, McLeod spearheaded many successful undergraduate efforts, including developing a residential college approach to dormitory living; strengthening the undergraduate advising system; constructing new small-group housing; advising the new undergraduate curriculum effort in Arts & Sciences; enriching the mix of seminar experiences for freshmen; establishing and building the John B. Ervin Scholars Program; and helping initiate and shape the expanded studyabroad program.

In a Washington People proile of him in the Aug. 27, 1992, Record, McLeod said that while undergraduates were deeply involved in the life of the institution, “we need to seek ways to involve them even more, whether through research projects, seminars, lectures or colloquia. Becoming engaged with the intellectual work of an institution is important. Learning is not a spectator sport.”

Nor is being a dean of a college or vice chancellor of students. His calendar was full morning and night, weekdays and weekends, says Patti Randall, his administrative assistant the past nine years.

“He would say, ‘If a student is having a problem, it’s their whole world.’

And he would ask me to ind time on his already full calendar to meet with

that student,” Randall says.

“He wouldn’t say ‘no’ to anyone. Everybody wanted his time, whether it was a faculty issue, a student issue or a request to speak at an engagement. He never wanted to leave anyone hanging. He was amazing,” Randall says.

Morgan DeBaun, a senior majoring in political science in Arts & Sciences, says “Dean McLeod embodied the pulse and warmth of our campus. As student body president and an Ervin Scholar, I had the privilege of spending time with him in multiple settings, and I was a witness to his untiring commitment to making every individual’s Washington University experience phenomenal. My heart breaks at the thought of him no longer physically being present on campus,” DeBaun says, “but I know his spirit and legacy exists in all of the students he has touched.”

‘Wise, caring and a genius’

“Jim meant so much to me and to so many people at Washington University, in St. Louis and in higher education,” says Provost Edward S. Macias, PhD, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences. Macias, who had known McLeod since he arrived on campus in 1974 and worked closely with him during Macias’ tenure as dean of Arts & Sciences and then as provost, says McLeod was “wise, caring and a genius.”

“His genius was making us and our institution work so well,” Macias says. McLeod joined the WUSTL faculty in 1974 as an assistant professor of German in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures in Arts & Sciences. He held a number of administrative positions, including assistant dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences from 1974-77; assistant to then Chancellor William H. Danforth from 1977-1987; and director of the African and Afro-American Studies Program (now known as African and AfricanAmerican Studies) in Arts & Sciences from 1987 until 1992, when he was appointed dean. When Wrighton named him vice chancellor for students, McLeod became responsible for undergraduate admissions, inancial aid and student affairs. As dean, he oversaw all aspects of the College ofice, from advising to curriculum to graduation.

35 years of invaluable contributions

Washington University established a scholarship fund in 2010 to honor McLeod for 35 years of invaluable contributions, inspiration, devotion and guidance to the university community.

Nearly 1,500 friends and admirers of McLeod contributed nearly $4 million to create the fund. The irst class of McLeod Scholars entered WUSTL last fall.

At 16, McLeod entered Morehouse College, where he graduated in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in German and chemistry. After two years at the University of Vienna, he had shifted his major emphasis to German. He did his graduate work in German at Rice University, where he was a National Defense Education Act Fellow and Woodrow Wilson Fellow. McLeod was recognized for his contributions not only to Washington University, but also to the St. Louis community. In 1991, he received the Distinguished Faculty Award at WUSTL’s Founders Day. In 2007, he and Danforth received the Rosa L. Parks Award for Meritorious Service to the Community, established by the university’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee. The St. Louis Business Journal named McLeod one of St. Louis’ Most Inluential Minority Business Leaders for 2007 and he received the Salute to Excellence in Education Lifetime Achiever award from the St. Louis American Foundation in 2008.

Active in the St. Louis community, he was a board member of the American Youth Foundation and the National Council on Youth Leadership and president of the board of directors for Express Scripts Foundation and chair of the advisory council of New City School. He served as a board member of the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Churchill Center & School for many years. For his effective leadership in the community, he received the Coro Leadership Award in June 2011. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Clara, the departmental librarian for the Ronald Rettner Earth & Planetary Sciences Library of Washington University Libraries; a daughter, Sara, of Atlanta; his father, the Rev. James C. McLeod of Dothan; a brother, Jeff McLeod of Birmingham; and two sisters, Alice Head and Mary Parker, both of Dothan. He was preceded in death by his mother, Earline McLeod. Services were held this weekend. Burial will be in South Carolina. In lieu of lowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the James E. McLeod Scholars Fund. Please make checks payable to Washington University and send to Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1082, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130. The university will hold a memorial event to honor McLeod’s life and service at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, in the Athletic Complex Field House.

EDITORIAL /COMMENTARY

Special session reveals urgent needs

Disturbing developments in the special session of the Missouri Legislature that is underway in Jefferson City point to matters that require urgent attention if this state and region are to avoid slipping further behind peer regions and states in the U.S. in this age of a competitive global economy. Most immediately, leadership in the Missouri House of Representatives simply must restore to the economic development bill the $300 million in tax incentives for eligible facilities – eligible over a 15-year period – designed to encourage private capital investment in building St. Louis out as a signiicant two-way freight cargo hub. Very late on Monday, these credits were stripped from the bill in the Missouri Senate, leaving only the $60 million for freight forwarders that offers no long-term prospects for rejuvenating the badly-lagging airport in the state’s primary economic hub, the St. Louis region. Other peer regions, such as Cincinatti, are poised to implement similar long-term incentives to attract new cargo hub investment.

Speaker of the House Steve Tilley has impressed many Democrats with being a straight shooter, and we take him at his word when he says he wants what is best for St. Louis. The commendable leadership Tilley has shown in steering local control legislation would pale in importance beside his taking a stand, here and now, in insisting that the Show Me State show the world that it is indeed an active, forwardthinking participant in global trade.

Also, we suggest that Governor Jay Nixon reconsider judgments that have guided his involvement in bringing Aerotropolis to fruition. He has never taken seriously the job-creating boost these incentives would provide. He has acted as if the Quality Jobs legislation can do what Aerotropolis purports to do in the realm of job creation, which it can not do, while also pushing his own job-creation strategies in the ield of technology, which in fact can be handled by existing economic tools.

Nixon’s mistake has been to let politics be his guide in this policy process. He cast his lot with

a St. Louis developer who is a direct rival of Paul McKee Jr., who (along with attorney Steven Stone) has led the years-long effort to establish a Midwest China Hub and encourage private capital investment through these triggered tax incentives. Nixon’s key advisor on this bill has been determined to exclude McKee’s projects from any beneits of the bill, even though everyone is working within parameters developed by McKee and Stone. Nixon seems to have bought the line that Aerotropolis is a bail-out of McKee, an argument we might expect for well-intentioned but naive community activists to accept. Nevertheless, we suggest that the top elected oficial in the state look beyond any narrow-minded position and reconsider what initiatives hold the highest potential long-term beneit for the state and its badly under-performing economic engine.

As for McKee and Stone, it is time that they consider cutting bait on Peter Kinder, who is not likely to be an electable statewide candidate in Missouri in 2012. Nixon listens to the worst people whisper about McKee and Stone because of their loyalty to his presumed Republican rival. Nixon holds grudges with the best of them, but perhaps it is not too late for McKee and Stone to candidly reassess the electability of their candidate and quietly but irmly suggest to Nixon that they will not oppose him in 2012.

That leaves us with a suggestion for Peter Kinder. He can be effective and impactful without being governor; in fact, he can be effective and impactful without being a candidate at all. Public disclosures about his personal life have damaged him as a Republican, and his repulsive lirtations with the far-right tea party contingent have made him anathema even to sympathetic Democrats. However, Kinder has a record that demonstrates that he loves St. Louis and knows how to steer risky legislation in Jefferson City. It is time for him to consider taking his name off the campaign sign and moving behind the scenes, where he has much good work to do for this city and state that he loves.

Ten Septembers have come and gone since that awful morning. But on this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we are summoned once more to honor those we lost by keeping our country strong and true to their memory. Over the coming days, we will remember nearly 3,000 innocent victims – fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters who were simply going about their daily lives on a beautiful Tuesday morning. And we’ll talk to our children about what happened on that day, and what’s happened since.

Like every American, I’ll never forget how I heard the terrible news, on the car radio on my way to work in Chicago. Yet like a lot of younger Americans, our daughters have no memory of that day. Malia was just 3; Sasha was an infant. As they’ve grown, Michelle and I faced the same challenge as other parents in deciding how to talk with our children about 9/11.

One of the things we’ve told them is that the worst terror-

ist attack in American history also brought out the best in our country. Fireighters, police and irst responders rushed into danger to save others. Americans came together in candlelight vigils, in our houses of worship and on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Volunteers lined up to give blood and drove across the country to lend a hand. Schoolchildren donated their savings. Communities, faith groups and businesses collected food and clothing. We were united, as Americans.

This is the true spirit of America we must reclaim this anniversary – the ordinary goodness and patriotism of the American people and the unity that we needed to move forward together, as one nation. Indeed, the last decade has been a challenging one for our country. But we have also seen the strength of the United States – in cities that have refused to give in to fear; in communities that have persevered through hard economic times; and, above all, in our men and women in uniform and their families who have borne an extraordinary burden for our security and our values. The perpetrators of those attacks wanted to terrorize us, but they are no match for our resilience. Today, our country is more secure and our enemies

are weaker. Yet while we have delivered justice to Osama bin Laden and put al-Qaeda on the path to defeat, we must never waver in the task of protecting our nation.

On a day when others sought to destroy, we choose to build. Once again, Sept. 11 was a National Day of Service and Remembrance, and at Serve. gov every American can make a commitment to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 by serving our neighbors and communities.

Finally, on a day when others tried to divide us, we can regain the sense of common purpose that stirred in our hearts 10 years ago. As a nation, we face dificult challenges, and as citizens in a democratic society we engage in vigorous debates about the future. But as we do, let’s never forget the lesson we learned anew 10 years ago –that our differences pale beside what unites us and that when we choose to move forward together, as one American family, the United States doesn’t just endure, we can emerge from our tests and trials stronger than before.

That’s the America we were on 9/11 and in the days that followed.

That’s the America we can and must always be.

COMMENTARY

The sinkhole of perpetual war

The war our enemies began on Sept. 11, 2001, is long over. Perhaps now, after 10 years of anxiety and self-doubt, we can acknowledge our victory and begin the postwar renewal and reconciliation that the nation so desperately needs. There never was a “war on terrorism.” It wasn’t “terrorism” that crashed airliners into buildings on that brilliant Tuesday morning. The attacks were carried out by a 19-member assault team from al-Qaeda, a terrorist organization then being sheltered by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. There most deinitely was a war against al-Qaeda, and we won. Within four months, U.S. invasion forces had routed the Taliban and scattered what was left of al-Qaeda to the four winds. Maybe that was the moment we should have recognized our victory. Maybe it was March 1, 2003, when Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the man most responsible for designing and orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, was captured. Or maybe it was the moment in 2004 when Afghanistan’s ledgling democracy held its irst presidential election. By the middle of the decade, we had accomplished every rational goal of the war that 9/11 began. Al-Qaeda’s leader and

founder, Osama bin Laden, was still at large, but this meant we needed to conduct a continuing manhunt, not a continuing war. We should have recognized this distinction.

We couldn’t, though, because George W. Bush and Dick Cheney plunged us into an unnecessary war in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was one of the most bloodthirsty, power-mad despots on the planet, but he had nothing to do with 9/11. He had no weapons of mass destruction.

Wars are so much easier to start than end. We’re still in Afghanistan, we’re still in Iraq, and we’re still paying a terrible price for refusing to accept the obvious fact that we’ve already won the war that 9/11 compelled us to ight.

The most painful cost, of course, is the more than 6,000 deaths and tens of thousands of grievous injuries that our armed forces have suffered. Other military families have endured multiple deployments and “stop-loss” extensions; returning veterans are at elevated risk for stress-related disorders, divorce, unemployment, even homelessness.

The hundreds of billions of dollars that have been poured into the sinkhole of perpetual war contribute substantially to the nation’s enervating iscal woes.

We need to improve the schools. We need to refurbish the infrastructure. We need to jump-start the economy and also reduce our long-term debt.

ETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Local control questions

It seems local control of the police department will become a reality. I have concerns about how the department will be governed. I have read that the chief will report to the Public Safety director, no further details. Before something is changed or modiied, we should know exactly how the change or modiication will work.

Will the Public Safety director have knowledge of how a police department operates, or will he be a puppet of the mayor?

Will the chief be appointed by the mayor? Will the chief come from the ranks of the department or will there be a nationwide search for a gypsy chief?

Will a new mayor have the authority to appoint a new chief? If so, what happens to the old chief? Is he terminated or retired, or does he return to his former rank?

Will the police department come under Civil Service? Under Social Security?

Will asset forfeiture funds be used as intended or will these funds become part of the budget?

One positive that I envision is the Airport Police Department becoming a part of the city police department just as the airport ire department is a satellite of the city ire department.

Louis

Leroy J. Adkins, St.

Local control and cleaning house

The Missouri Legislature may return the St. Louis Police Department to its rightful owner, the citizens of the city of St. Louis. If Missouri politicians cease the political shenanigans of their forefathers and the legislation becomes law, the citizens of St. Louis and their elected oficials will be presented with a unique opportunity; that being, to build a new police department!

The investigative iasco related to the alleged criminal activities of former Chief Joe Mokwa, et al., demonstrated the stranglehold that politics has on police operations. It was the greatest scandal in the history of the department and it was swept beneath the police-blue carpet

We need to agree on ways to accomplish this agenda through vigorous political debate – not grinding grudge matches in which the other party’s destruction is given priority over the nation’s well-being.

Yet here we are, paralyzed. Voters swing violently to the left, then two years later they swing violently to the right; if they could, one recent poll said, they’d kick out every single member of Congress and start over.

It’s hard to overstate the extent to which the 9/11 attacks magniied the nation’s anxieties. Perpetual war produces a state of mind in which differences of opinion become questions of patriotism, adversaries become enemies and ideological territory must be defended. Now, after 10 long years, perhaps we can inally get unstuck. Bin Laden is dead, his terrorist organization in shreds. The al-Qaeda that attacked us on 9/11 is defeated. This does not mean there will never be another terrorist attack. For years to come, perhaps indeinitely, intelligence and military assets will have to be deployed to try to detect and prevent new atrocities. This activity doesn’t yet have a name – but whatever it is, it isn’t war. The state of war that the nation entered after 9/11 should have ended years ago. Let’s end it now. Remember the way this all started, look again at those horriic images from 9/11, and then remember: We won.

behind the wall of silence, aided and abetted by “go along to get along” cops, a fearful citizenry, backroom politics, and “Oh, well” prosecution. The template for a truly professional police department is readily available. It involves “cleaning house,” nationwide recruiting of older, well-educated applicants and making relatives of elected oficials and city employees ineligible for hire. Establish reasonable, responsible rules of conduct, which include inancial disclosure, and operational policies and procedures that enhance police performance and the delivery of police service to the community.

But it will take a public demand from concerned citizens who want a competent, professional department that will be worthy of their respect.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

‘Extra’voters in ESL

After inding 363 voters on the St. Clair County database that were not even registered, according to the East St. Louis Board of Elections, we have sent an Oversight Request to the Illinois State Board of Elections and a Removal Request to Chief Judge John Baricevic regarding the Chairman, Mr. Elmer Jones. We are also developing a petition to reject the City Election Law of 1885 for the February 2012 primary.

The 363 “extra” voters on the county list were discovered only after we noticed that Michael Collins had voted while Carl Oficer and Alvin Parks had not voted. Several people also voted that were not on the county report at all like Walter Hill. When Rebecca “Becky” Ayres from the St. Clair County Data Processing Department was called and asked about this issue, she indicated that she only printed what was input at the East St. Louis Board of Elections.

James Lewis, Executive Director of the East St. Louis Board of Elections, who thinks that we have 3,000 more registered voters than possible because of 2010 Census inaccuracies and the National Voter’s Right Act of 1993 repealed Section 6-58 of the Illinois Election Code. When confronted

the 363

were probably inactive voters who had to vote by afidavit. Invariably, they were regular voters like Michael Collins. Please contact us if you are interested in conidentially assisting with this effort to eliminate the East St. Louis Board of Elections at www.alliance1820. com.

Matt Hawkins, president ESL Alliance for Change

L

with

“extra” voters, these

Columnist Eugene Robinson

The Missouri House of Representatives has an opportunity to restore to the economic development bill $300 million in tax incentives designed to encourage private capital investment in St. Louis as two-way freight cargo hub.

HBCUs get federal grant forbehavioral health

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding up to $1.5 million, over three years, to Morehouse School of Medicine to enhance the effort to network the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the United States to promote behavioral health, expand campus service capacity and facilitate workforce development.

This cooperative agreement is designed to increase racial/ethnic diversity in the health professions to reduce health disparities among traditionally underserved communities.

The effort supports SAMHSA’s strategic initiatives on the prevention of substance abuse and mental illness.

“This new grant will hopefully be a stepping stone for the development of a more diverse and innovative behavioral health care workforce that can more effectively meet the needs of all Americans,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde.

Continued support for this cooperative agreement is subject to the availability of funds and the performance of the grantee. For additional information about these grants and other SAMHSAprograms, visit http://www.samhsa.gov.

Pattonville offers screenings for preschoolers

The Pattonville School District offers free health and developmental screenings for children ages 3 1/2 to 5 years old who have not entered kindergarten. The screenings are conducted through Pattonville’s Parents As Teachers program.

Developmental screening is a quick way to look and see if a child’s development is on track.Early identification of and intervention with any developmental concerns will help a child to be the best he/she can be. Ateam of parent educators will administer the DIAL-3 (Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning).An early childhood nurse will complete a health assessment that includes a vision and hearing screening. The screening process takes approximately two hours. Screening appointments are limited. Parents should schedule a screening as soon as possible, especially if their child will enter kindergarten in August 2012.To schedule an appointment, call (314) 213-8000, press 4, and dial extension 1168 to leave a message.When leaving a message, parents should include their name, telephone number, home address and their child’s name and birth date.

Dedicated to the Drum Line

In 2008,Nicholas McDowell,one of Provident’s after school directors, came up with an idea to create a drum line with interested elementary students from one of his after-school sites.Now Provident’s After School Drum Line is made up of 12 elementary school children,4th to 6th grade.The Drum Line rehearses three days a week and has performed across the state at many functions,including a performance in front of the governor.On Saturday,the Drum Line will be performing at Provident’s 150th Anniversary Gala at the Chase.

‘Share the Truth about Tobacco’contest

At a school assembly last week at McCluer South-Berkeley High, the Saint Louis County Department of Health, along with community partners Better Family Life, the St. Louis Blues, and the St. Louis Cardinals, launched its effort to put a powerful voice behind a youth-led local anti-tobacco movement, named AirO2Dynamic by the youth themselves. They announced a multi-media contest to get youth engaged in fighting tobacco marketing.Arecent report from the Federal Trade Commission shows that tobacco companies still spend nearly $10 billion annually advertising their products in the U.S. The youth leaders of AirO2Dynamic, from schools around the county, wanted to challenge all local youth to creatively express anti-tobacco messages. Middle and high school-aged youth throughout St. Louis County are encouraged to “Share the Truth about Tobacco” by submitting entries in the following categories: Video, Photography, Digital Art or Poetry/Lyrics.

Entries are being accepted Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. First-place winners will receive an iPad, second-place will receive an iPod nano, and third-place will receive a digital camcorder. Winners will be announced in two age groups: middle school and high school. Full contest rules are available at youth.letsfaceitstl.com.

Love, books and eReaders

By Cheryl Pearson-McNeil NNPA Columnist

I’d like to share a love story with you. It’s probably not the kind you’d expect.The characters in this story are not sultry women and manly men. They are tablets, like iPads, eReaders (electronic devices that allow you to digitally read books, magazines, etc.), and other mobile connected devices.

Once upon a time, Nielsen’s quarterly survey of smartphones, tablets and eReaders reported that men and younger folks dominated the tablet and eReader ownership market. The survey showed that 62 percent of tablet owners were 34 and younger, and that those in the 55-plus crowd made up only 10 percent.

But, old man time came along, and showed what a difference a year makes!By the second quarter of 2011, the percentage of users over 55 jumped to 19 percent; while the number of young’uns who owned tablets dropped to 46 percent, according to Nielsen data.While men (still by far) prefer tablets more than women, 61 percent of women have taken an affinity to eReaders, up from just 46 percent this time last year.

Smartphones are the darling devices and are pretty evenly split between men and women. To break down our love affair with smartphones even further, Nielsen research shows that 40 percent of all of U.S. mobile owners over the age of 18 own smartphones.And, of those, Android is now the most popular operating system (40 percent) edging out Apple’s iOS (iPhones), which came in second with 28 percent of all smartphone owners.

While the iPhone may be behind in the smartphone market, additional Nielsen research shows that the iPad continues to dominate the market in the United States in the tablet race.

So, we have all of these cool toys.How are we using them?Households with mobile connected devices as well as desktops or laptops were asked which device they use more since they acquired a tablet: 35 percent of tablet owners report using their desktop computers less often or not at all, while 32 percent of laptop owners say they use their laptops less often or not at all and 27 percent of those tablet owners who also own eReaders reveal that they now use their eReaders less often or not at all. I own both a Kindle and an iPad2, but I prefer to cuddle up in bed with a good book.But, I’m clearly in the minority because according to Nielsen, 61 percent of eReader owners are snuggling up in bed with one of any number of eReaders. Somebody save me! The eReaders are taking over; bookstores are rapidly closing down.But, I remain steadfastly devoted to the smell of freshly printed books and the feel of actual, not virtual, pages between my fingers. So, I’m holding out hope against hope that books won’t go the way of the dinosaur, the eight track or VCR!

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of public affairs and government relations for Nielsen.

Cheryl PearsonMcNeil

AMERICAN

Continued from A1

awards are an affirmation of the dedication TheAmerican has for its readers.

“Our team is committed to be the best we can be for our readers and for the community,” Suggs said. “We are proud to provide a service, and we are humbled by these outstanding awards from our newspaper colleagues.”

He noted TheAmerican is heartened that more than 21 percent of its content is provided by the community. “They deserve the credit, too,” Suggs said. “Where would we be without them?”

The St. Louis American received second place awards for Best Online Newspaper/Website, Best Newspaper Design and Best Editorial. Other awards include: Best Headline Writing; Best Coverage of Government; Best Coverage of

SLPS

Continued from A1

educational options for African-American families, charter or not, and they have successfully recruited students at one SLPS school for the last four years – for free. Adams said it doesn’t matter whether the alliance supports charter schools or not, they have successfully recruited more than 100 students this year.

“The fact that they are a pro-charter group is inconsequential here,” Adams said. “We are not anti-charter, we are pro-student. She is providing a service.”

BAEO background

In April 2007, the national BAEO leaders established a Missouri chapter, and soon after, they chose Gilkey-Bonds to be its director.

In both 2009 and 2010, BAEO received funding from Rex Sinquefield’s foundation, said the group’s spokesman David Grubb. And in 2009, the organization and Sinquefield worked together to demonstrate in front of the district’s administrative building and demand that the district sell its vacant lots to charter schools. Gilkey-Bonds led the fight.

Then in 2010, GilkeyBonds served on the advisory committee for the Prop S campaign, led by Richard Gaines,

Young People; Best Editorial Cartoon; Best Special Section; Best Sports Photo (Wiley Price) and Best Sports Columnist (Mike Claiborne).

Sweets enter Hall of Fame

Also at the awards event, Missouri Press Association president Joe May presented Ellen and Fred Sweets with Missouri Press Association’s Hall of Fame induction award for their parents, Melba and Nathaniel A. Sweets. Melba worked for The American for 47 years and Nathaniel for more than 50. Nathaniel A. Sweets is publisher emeritus of the paper and Melba Sweets is editor emeritus.

The 2011 Hall of Fame class also included Ron Jennings of the Sedalia Democrat, Don Warden of the Gasconade County Republican, Doug Davis of the Lamar Democrat and the late Norman Colman of Colman’s Rural World

a member of the district’s three-person Special Administrative Board. She still holds this post, and the committee meets three times a year to monitor Prop S funds.

Contracts

In March, the group landed its first two contracts to work with Ashland and Columbia elementary schools from March 11 to June 30. The first contract for $40,000 was to provide an after-school remediation program, engage parents and work with the student government at Columbia Elementary. The second contract awarded BAEO with $32,000 to do the same at Ashland Elementary.

The school year ended on June 5, so the organization only had 75 days to complete the task. If you break down the money, that’s a pay rate of just under $1,000 a day for the organization to work in two schools. About 97 percent of this went towards wages or salaries, according to the contracts’budgets.

Both were sole-source contracts, which the district defines as, “The commodity or service has no competitive product and is available from only one supplier,” according to the contracts.

On May 5, the SAB approved a $20,000 solesource contract to recruit 150 students into seven schools –

Ashland, Clay, Cole, Columbia, Cote Brilliant, Farragut and Meramec – by August 15.

This budget states that BAEO would get $10,000 for every 75 students recruited.

Adams said $20,000 is a bargain, considering that the district receives $10,000 per student from the state. As of Sept. 6, BAEO had turned in 217 school registration forms, and 121 are confirmed as attending this year, he said.

“That’s $1.2 million for our district,” Adams said. “It’s well worth the investment if the students are attending our schools.

Now the group is onto its current contract of $668,376.43. From July 25, 2011 to June 25, 2012, the organization will create parent resource centers at seven schools, including Hamilton,

Jefferson, Sigel, Mann, Walbridge, Ashland and Columbia.

Adams said getting parents engaged is an invaluable service. This contract was opened to the public for bidding, but no one submitted a bid, he said.

Why only BAEO?

It was Columbia Elementary Principal Crystal Gale and former principal of Ashland Elementary Bobby Gines who sent the request to the district for a “sole source purchase” contract with BAEO on February 28, 2011.

In order to pass the “solesource” test, someone searched the internet for companies providing similar services and searched purchasing files to see if the district had any

record of vendors that have provided such services.

Nothing must have shown up because Carlinda Purcell, deputy superintendent of academics, signed the request, according to the contracts.

Both were approved by SAB board on March 31.

Also in the request document, the principals had to explain their reasoning why no other vendor in town could provide acceptable services.

The principals stated, “There is no other vendor with this unique skill set. This vendor has a proven record of success.”

In St. Louis, this record would be for Gateway Tech High School. For the past four years, BAEO has recruited students into the aviation program at no charge to the district.

Gilkey-Bonds said one of its members, Maxine Johnson,

At the 145th annual Missouri Press Association convention in Branson last week,six outstanding newspaper veterans were inducted into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame. The 2011 Hall of Fame class included Melba Sweets and Nathaniel A. Sweets of The St.Louis American (represented here by two of their children,Ellen Sweets and Fred Sweets),Ron Jennings of the Sedalia Democrat,Don Warden of the Gasconade County Republican,and Doug Davis of the Lamar Democrat.The late Norman Colman of Colman’s Rural World was also inducted.Nathaniel A.Sweets is publisher emeritus of the paper and Melba Sweets is editor emeritus.

took her son out of the Imagine Schools, a charter school, to go to Gateway’s aviation program. At that time, only nine students were enrolled, and the program was on the brink of collapse.

“We supported her position to leave the charter school, and we went over to help her to recruit students,” GilkeyBonds said. “We believe in choice, and we don’t apologize for that.”

Now the aviation program is full, and their recruitment assistance isn’t necessary. They were successful at Gateway. But is there really no other organization in town capable of recruiting students for the St. Louis Public Schools?

To this question, Adams responded, “It was the only group we knew of at that particular time.”

Photo by Kent Ford

Givens to be inducted into Missouri Walk of Fame

Honored at Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event

American staff

Harris-Stowe State University President Dr. Henry Givens Jr. has been selected by U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Jr. as a 2011 honoree at the Missouri Walk of Fame induction. Dr. Givens will receive the award during a reception and presenta-

tion in Washington, D.C., on Friday, September 23. The event is part of the Annual Legislative Caucus sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Clay and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II are the honorary chairmen of the event, which will be held at the Board of Governors Room of the American Red Cross. Dr. Givens is being honored for his achievements and accomplishments throughout his illustrious career in the field of education and will join other distinguished Missourians that have made significant contributions to the African-American community.

9/11 and us

The New York City event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center was also a dedication of the World Trade Center Memorial. The memorial is a part of the reconstruction on the prime real estate that was once home to the twin towers. In addition to the memorial, the site will eventually include the One World Trade Center, a museum and a transportation hub. The cumulative costs of this public-private partnership hovers around $5 billion.

Ground Zero is inescapably laden with emotion and politics. Nearly 3,000 human beings lost their lives at that fateful day but with any tragedy of this nature, the impact goes far beyond the time, place and date; it is perpetual and sometimes, immeasurable.

I have been asking people what the impact of 9/11 has been on their lives. The majority of them see the horror of

events of September 11 but make no direct association with their life or future. This is furthest from the truth. The Bush administration used the attack to embarked upon the invasion of a sovereign country than had no real relation to 9/11. A Brown University study estimates the government has spent nearly $4 trillion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Add a few trillion more to the budget for the war on terrorism. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but a hastily passed U.S. Patriot Act gave our government the legal tools and authority to abuse the rights of people regardless of their affiliation with “terrorism.” U.S. military and intelligence agencies were unmasked as perpetrators of torture and extraordinary rendition which

Dr. Givens will retire as president of Harris-Stowe State University on September 30, 2011, after 32 years in the role.

“I am flattered and humbled to be recognized by Congressman Clay and the Missouri Walk of Fame,” said Dr. Givens.

“Harris-Stowe has had a long-standing partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus and has supported their efforts for many, many years. It is my distinct privilege to be included among Missouri’s most prominent individuals. I am truly honored.”

upped the levels of hatred of the U.S. by the rest of the world.

The events of September 11 have been used to restrict our civil liberties, to trigger mistrust and hate between one another, and to numb our thinking about why our government is not responding to our needs. Our war economy has resulted in misplaced priorities. The faces of terrorism – Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein – have been killed but Americans remain fearful.

Americans are now more suspicious of one another than ever, with particular venom directed towards Muslims or anyone who looks Middle Eastern. Others have used the election of the first black president to unleash more vitriol. Instead of coming closer together after such a tragedy, we are a nation truly divided. We find divisions wherever we can – race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, size, color and the list goes on.

I suggest that we take a page from the organizers of the World Trade memorial and

their use of “meaningful adjacencies.” The victim’s names were not etched in the bronze in some random fashion but instead based upon relationships on that fateful day. They could be family members who died in the rubble but they could also be friends or co-workers who were “linked together by happenstance and blood.” We need to continue the healing of this country by connecting with those who share commonalities that we have yet to uncover. But we must get past our fears. This by no means dismisses the external factors exacerbated by capitalism, such as poverty, racism or homophobia; those are systems that require big picture strategies. I’m talking about practices that the average person can do today, right now. At a time when acts of domestic terrorism and individual crime victimization, along with financial insecurity, occupy our national psyche more than Al-Qaeda showing up in our neighborhoods, human relationships can be comforting and powerful. Our connectedness can only strengthen our humanity.

Harris-Stowe State University President Dr. Henry Givens Jr.

Jamala Rogers

The mind and the murderer

Did mental illness lead a mother to kill her children?

By now you’ve read or seen the heartbreaking story of a young East St. Louis mother indicted for killing two of her small children with shotgun blasts, before fleeing to downtown St. Louis, striking three pedestrians with her vehicle and, finally, being arrested on a bench in front of KMOVTV, near the St. Louis Arch grounds. Witnesses described her as disoriented, with blood on both her body and clothing.

As the mother, Yokeia Smith, 25, wrestles with two first-degree murder counts, details are emerging which may reveal the trigger and motivation for such a gruesome and horrible act by a mother whose cousin, Dawn Triplett, believed “loved her kids.”

If that were true, then what causes a loving mother to even be suspected of such a heinous act? The true answer may be as complex as Yokeia Smith’s trials and tribulations in recent months and years.

According to one of Smith’s co-workers, the young mother had recently lost her job. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman Kendall Marlowe confirmed that, as far back as 2007, Smith had been twice investigated for neglect. Family members stated Smith had also been diagnosed as being bi-polar and was prescribed medications for her condition. Smith’s live-in

boyfriend, Dexter Nicks, said that Smith had recently been released from jail after a twoweek stint on a felony DUI.

So, by all indication, we have a distressed, troubled, mentally ill young woman who is described as mixing prescription medication with alcohol. That alone is a formula for (at the very least) drama, violence and a challenging home environment for her children.

To compound matters, the biological father of the children, LeVada Brown, is incarcerated in a Wisconsin prison for his armed robbery of a credit union back in 2007, about the same time that Yokeia Smith was under investigation for child neglect.

People like to casually refer to persons like Smith as having gone “postal” or “snapping.”

The truth is that it is never that simple.

Underneath all of the

distress, dysfunction, medication and intoxication, Smith may have never developed the constitution or the capacity to cope with her circumstances. Who knows?

That reality may have took the lives of little Yokela Smith, 4, and her brother LeVada Brown, 5. Fortunately their older brother Xaveious Brown, 8 was able to escape during the shootings.

We can only pray that young Xaveious can escape the mental and emotional damage that often accompanies such tragedies. His family can’t afford the expensive psychiatrists and counseling services that he may possibly need for much of his life. Hopefully, time will ameliorate and diminish the psychological effects of such an experience.

As for Yokeia Smith, this may be a case study in what the toxic combination of poverty, mental illness, despair and dysfunction can produce. Prison is not a solution. Yokeia Smith may have pulled the trigger on that sad day, but if so poverty, mental illness and depression may have loaded the gun. Let’s remember that lesson.

NOTE: Starting Friday, September 23, 2011 please join me on WGNU Radio-920 AM as “Listen-Up” with James Ingram, the radio show premieres. The show will be a radio version of my column. So join me each Friday, from 7-8 p.m. WGNU-920AM or at www.wgnu920am.com. As always, my email address is jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.

James Ingram

Yokeia Smith

Obituaries

In Loving Memory of Stephanie Monique Spagner ,“MUFF”

August 2, 1972— February 25, 2009

Goodbyes are never easy, but memories linger on. We love you so much. We miss you so much.

Father, Louis Spagner preceded Stephanie in death; mother, Claudia J. Spagner; sons, Ronnell, Tammond and Taron; sisters, Lynetta and Earline; brothers, Antione and Earvin; aunts, Virginia, Brenda, Cynthia and Ruby; uncle, Evan L. Spagner (Dianne); niece and nephew, Precious and Kaon; cousins, Keith, “Lil” Keith, Christopher Baby “Lil” Keith III, Sierra, Keisha and Courtney; godmother for Ronnell—Annie Hunt; godmother for Taron—Evelyn Spagner.

Rest in peace “MUFF”

All your many relatives

All your many, many, many friends

In Memory of Mrs. Hattie Duncan who died

September 16, 1964

Sadly missed by daughters

Ola Beauregard and Betty Uaught, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren.

Ernestine Newman

Dearest wife and mother, passed on September 1, 2011 following a brief illness. Educated and taught in St. Louis School District 27 years. She leaves to cherish her memories husband, Christopher, and children Paula, Christie, and Gregory. Daughter Genell preceded her in death. She is cherished by six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, many friends, and neighbors. Service: September 23,2011 at 11 am, Cote Brilliante Pres. Church, 4673 Labadie, St. Louis, MO 63115.

Jimmie B. Hubbard

January 20, 1927 –August 28, 2011

They dated for several years before Uncle Sam told Jimmie to report for active duty in the U.S. Army. He ended up on a boat headed for Korea where he fought in the Korean War. While fighting in Korea, Jimmie asked the Lord to come into his heart and bring him safely home. The Lord answered his prayer and Jimmie returned to the States a decorated soldier and joined Christ Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church where he was baptized by the late-Reverend Earl R. Williams. And he asked Adell to marry him. Jimmie and Adell were joined in holy matrimony on February 11, 1954. They were blessed with three “sweet” daughters and three beautiful granddaughters. God blessed Jimmie and Adell with more than 57 years of marriage before he was called home to be with the Lord.

Jimmie was preceded in death by his grandmother, his parents, his favorite aunt, Velma Burton, seven siblings (Richmond, Willie B., Johnny, Edward, Robert, Earnest, and Nina), and a sister-in-law (Luella Swain), whose memory he cherished.

On Sunday, August 28, 2011, the Lord said, “Well done, my son,” and He called Jimmie to his eternal home. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Adell; three daughters, Sherry Lynn, Nannette (Mike,

his dedicated son-in-law), and Lisa; three granddaughters, Erika, Jessica, and Tyler; two sisters, Lenolia and Margie; an extended family of half brothers and sisters; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.

Jimmie Bathew Hubbard was born on January 20, 1927 in Enondale, Mississippi, to the union of Daniel Hubbard, Jr. and Lois Hubbard (Moore). He was raised by his adored grandmother, Lou Calvert. The third of ten children, Jimmie moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1946. He held a number of odd jobs once he arrived in St. Louis. He drove taxi cabs, cleaned office buildings, and worked at the St. Louis Cottage Mills Rope Factory for a number of years. Eventually, the Lord blessed him with his first “good-paying” job as a porter at Union Electric, the local utility company. Jimmie possessed a strong work ethic and he was a hard worker — never late, always early, and never (ever) sick. During his days at the rope factory, one of his co-workers, Leland Tucker, told him he had an auntie he wanted Jimmie to meet. Jimmie wasn’t interested in meeting his co-worker’s auntie, but he decided to go ahead and get it over with. He accompanied this buddy to a Thanksgiving Day party, and at that party, Jimmie met his bride-to-be, the lovely Adell Marie Jenkins … and she “sure didn’t look like no auntie.”

Stephanie Spagner

Ernestine Newman

Jimmie B. Hubbard

Tea party nihilism: special session edition

A close reader of this paper, who has a more consistently positive impression of Gov. Jay Nixon than we do, called this week after watching the Republicans clash in the special session of the Missouri Legislature inally called by the governor. “I read your story about how many editorials it took for you guys to get Jay to call this special session,” said this friend of the paper, a veteran political operator and oficial. “Now do you see why he hesitates to trust the Republicans to do anything they tell him they will do?” Now, we see.

The moderate, pro-business Republicans (who ind their party being hijacked by the far right in Missouri and around the country) told us before they told Nixon. “We have a deal,” they told us. “If the governor gets us back to Jefferson City, there will be an economic development deal.” We believed them. “Development bill will be ready for Nixon,” we editorialized on June 30. The Republicans made this same announcement more publicly on July 20, and soon thereafter Nixon announced a commitment to calling a special session. His belief that an agreement had been forged among warring Republican legislators was critical, the governor said; otherwise he’d just be asking taxpayers to pay for an expensive “debate society.” Oh, if only it were a “debate society.” When the disappearing moderate Republican caucus square off against the new breed of nihilists that hold their party – and to an appalling extent, state and national politics – hostage in 2011, it’s more like a turkey shoot. On this gun range, the targets are any constructive plans for good,

forward-thinking government while a Democrat is governor or president, shot down by short-sighted, extremist saboteurs. Good government, for this dangerous breed, is no government – at least as long as they are paid representatives of that government who pander to the people who think they hate government. To name some names: state Sen. Jason Crowell, state Sen. Rob Schaaf, state Sen. Jane Cunningham and state Sen. Brian Nieves Even Senate leaders, such as state Sen. Rob Mayer, seemed to have backed down from the deal that brought them back into session after their right lank barked at them.

According to an operative working on behalf of moderate, pro-business Republicans, one of their own kind inadvertently beneitted the tea-partying saboteurs. He conirmed a tip that state Sen. Brad Lager tried the old “break it to get paid to ix it” play on the eco devo bill, but then Humpty Dumpty could not put all of the pieces back together again once the deal was shattered.

Nixon, being a skilled political operator himself, seized an opening, in the absence of a done deal. He got out the microscope on returns-on-thedollar for tax credits and began to thread the proverbial eye of the needle. Ironically, given that Nixon himself suffers as a Democrat from this tactic when practiced by Republicans in Washington, it’s a little like trying to gum up the federal government by getting ixated on the debt ceiling. Missouri state government has been lavish with tax credits with a return on the dollar that are a fraction of what economic analysts project for the tax credits bundled in

War-era state laws that established the governor’s police board, this police commissioner could be ired “with or without cause” by his boss (that is, ultimately, the mayor) – or the governor. The City Charter provision for police governance is terrible, but much more subject to change by the citizens of St. Louis city than state legislation. That’s why The American has joined in the effort to establish local control year after year, though without success.

Success seemed much more likely this past session, with a grass-roots advocate, state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, now in the state House and on good terms with Speaker of the House Steve Tilley; Mayor Francis G. Slay inally, genuinely, committed to ighting the police association on this issue (and also on good terms with Tilley); a former state legislator (Jeff Roorda) now handling the police association; and a billionaire inancier (Rex Sinqueield) backing a statewide ballot initiative that would push local control without any of the input or deals Roorda can win for his clients in Jefferson City. Roorda did win for the cops limited collective bargaining rights.

A legislator who fought local control for the cops longer than the cops publicly fought for themselves, state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, amended other key provisions. Then the session ended with nothing done.

some enemies in the city. What city players sometimes fail to appreciate, with all of their “economic engine of the state” mojo, is that many other oficials and operatives in the state don’t fear their wrath much. Chappelle-Nadal does not run as an African American in the city. She runs as a multi-ethnic woman in a diverse sector of St. Louis County with some serious political woman power. She has proven at the polls many times: the things that upset the constituents of Jamilah Nasheed, or even Lewis Reed (an elected oficial who shows great skill in engaging a diverse electorate), do not make many of her constituents angry. We don’t agree with the city activists that her opposition is merely personal, and we’re not persuaded by Chappelle-Nadal that her opposition is purely based on policy. We are dubious about her stated intentions for opposing the elimination of anachronistic policies for the city that does not effect local or county government in her own district. We think some information is missing from the conversation. Roorda has made headlines with his legislative savvy and verbal skills, but the political muscle behind the scenes in the police oficers’ statewide association – that have killed local control in the Legislature year after year – are still on the scene.

Aerotropolis. But Nixon has seized an open opportunity to get his DED oficials to pull out the scales and measure tax credit worthiness by the penny. Their penny wisdom, as per usual, is pound foolishness.

Local control saboteur?

Another key item on the special session: local control of the St. Louis Metropolitan

Police Department. Currently governed by a Board of Police Commissioners appointed by the governor (that also includes the mayor as ex-oficio member), the department would be turned over to city government. The City Charter provides for a single police commissioner who reports to the director of Public Safety, who is himself a mayoral appointee. Under the City Charter, which is only slightly less dated than the Civil

Local control is back in the special session, has passed out of the House, has a good chance in the Senate and according to a source close to the governor is something Nixon would sign in its current form. Yet ChappelleNadal still opposes it. This matter was a subject of concern this weekend by city activists, who sought a weekend meeting with her and were denied. These activists were left convinced that Chappelle-Nadal’s opposition to the bill is purely personal. Certainly, she and Nasheed are at odds. She also clashed stridently with Slay and Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen, when they testiied for local control in the capitol. Chappelle-Nadal has earned

Chappelle-Nadal may be privy to a strategy for beating local control by any means necessary, regardless of what quotable business agents say to the media. If local control of the city police is defeated by a determined, obstructive legislator from the county, acting in deiance of her colleagues, then Maria’s many enemies in the city will go crawling all over her political operations trying to igure out why she did what she did. It would be much better for her – and much, much better for the city of St. Louis – if she gave the best evidence against having made a deal by simply standing down and letting her Senate colleagues pass local control.

A St. Louis ireighter yells adjustments during the raising of an oversized American lag in front of City Hall before the start of the Third Annual Fallen Fireighters Candlelight Remembrance Vigil in St. Louis on September 8. At the solemn ceremony, the names of nearly 200 area ireighters killed in the line of duty, were read aloud.

Photo by UPI/Bill Greenblatt

BUSINESS

Miguel Alexander and Carla P.Alexander,grandson-in-law and granddaughter of Mrs.Lillie V.“Granny”Pearson,display photographs of Mrs.Pearson alongside her longtime neighbor,Mrs.Robenia Harris,and Sonia Lee,history professor at Washington University.Mrs.Pearson was 33 years old when she founded her store,Tillie’s Food Shop,in 1948.Lee received a Faculty Innovation Grant to develop and implement a community-based course that connects Washington University students with Mrs.Pearson’s descendents and other archivists of black businesses in St.Louis.

Remembering black businesses

Town/gown history course connects Wash U students with North City families

By Debbie Parker

For The St.Louis American

For 40 years, Tillie’s Food Shop operated at the corner of Garrison and Sheridan avenues in the North St. Louis neighborhood of JeffVanderLou. More than a grocery store, the site became a hub of informal activism and community empowerment. Now, students in a service-learning course at Washington University in St. Louis are working on an application to get the grocery store and its adjacent buildings – better known as “Tillie’s Corner” – on the National Register of Historic Places. Their class, “Building St. Louis History: The City and Its

Edward Jones hosts Diversity CareerFair

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of The St.Louis American

Between Starbucks and FootLocker, Taylor Calvin had 10 years of experience in management when she walked into the Edwards Jones Diversity Career Fair last November.

She came away a strong potential for an interview, and by January she was working in the contact management and marketing department as a service specialist.

Calvin understands how applying for a position at Edward Jones may feel intimidating without a financial background.

“I didn’t know anything about equities,” Calvin said. “That’s one thing to point out. You don’t have to have experience in the financial industry. Jones is really good about training you to be successful in that position.”

Edward Jones will host a diversity career fair from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the firm’s headquarters, 12555 Manchester Road in Des Peres. About 15 percent of the associates at

See FAIR, B2

“Building St.Louis History:The City and Its Renaissance,”is taught by Sonia Lee, assistant professor of history in Arts & Sciences.

Renaissance,” is taught by Sonia Lee, assistant professor of history in Arts & Sciences. Lillie Velma Pearson opened Tillie’s Food Shop in 1948 at a time when black St. Louisans were kept out of white institutions and forced to create their own spheres of com-

merce, entertainment, religious and cultural life.

Black entrepreneurs often were unable to attract capital outside of their communities and white residents in neighboring areas were unlikely to patronize their businesses.

As crime in the area increased in the 1970s, Pearson refused to leave, believing that her community needed access to highquality food. The shop’s longevity and reliability were especially important as residents and other businesses left the city.

Pearson died in 2006 at the age of 91. Her granddaughter, Carla Pearson

One-man production team

Martin Sophia worked his way from Kenya to independent St. Louis theater producer

By Chris King Of The St.Louis American

Martin Sophia, age 31, is an aspiring film director, playwright and actor from the East African nation of Kenya. So when he came to the U.S., one might think he’d land in Los Angeles or New York; or, if he came to St. Louis, that his entry would be through a scholarship program at a university.

But in fact, Sophia is a Kenyan who transplanted himself directly to St. Louis as an immigrant and is supporting himself through a mosaic of assorted jobs while taking acting roles and working hard to produce his first play here.

“I work about 100 hours a week sometimes. I work for Scholastic Book Fair about 55 hours a week, then I drive a cab on the weekend, do personal training midweek and maybe give a massage,” he said.

Hard work is anything but new for this young man.

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

Joylynn Pruitt, Superintendent of the School District of University City, has been selected to attend the National Alliance of Black School Educators’third annual National Leadership Institute. Pruitt is among 74 superintendents nationwide attending the institute, which will be held June 23-25 in Charleston, S.C. Attendees were selected from the 366 African-American superintendents in the U.S., which less than three percent of public school districts.

Darrell Hamilton, a junior at Hazelwood East High School, is the state vice president of community service for FCCLA– Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. Hamilton has been involved in FCCLAsince ninthgrade. As a state leader, he has the duty of planning the state community service project and determining by-laws for the state association. He’s also a voting delegate at the national level, and will conduct workshops at state and regional meetings.

Adrienne D. Davis, Vice Provost and the William M. Van Cleve Professor of Law at Washington University, has been elected to the Laumeier Sculpture Park’s Board of Trustees. Sanjay Jain, President and CEO of LaserBand LLC; and Margaret McDonald, Principal of ARCTURIS also were elected to the non-profit organization’s 34member board that oversees Laumeier Sculpture Park in partnership with St. Louis County Parks.

Johanna Wharton, vice president of system advancement, Grace Hill Settlement House, is new to the Family Support Network Board of Directors. Founded in 1982, Family Support Network works to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing home-based, cost-free counseling and therapy to at-risk families in the City of St.Louis and St. Louis County. Chris Frede, Maryanne Mica, Alison Scholin and Eric Trelz are also new board members.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

HDC CEO Ruth A. Smith responds to news reports

“I was raised by a single parent and I accredit everything I know to her, especially in being a gentleman and taking care of myself,” he said.

“I was an adult at the tender age of 9. I cooked for my two sisters, went grocery shopping and pretty much raised them. I was the man of the house, something my mom made very clear to me and I thank her to this day for that.”

He grew up in Kenya working hard out of necessity. Now in St. Louis, he works hard to pursue his dream of being a producing playwright and director. He said, “If I didn’t work hard, I wouldn’t have the means to produce this play.”

The play is Up and Running!, written by Derek Benfield, a British author. Sophia will produce and direct it September 16-18 at the Shrewsbury Civic Center.

“This was the first play I did when in

The Post-Dispatch and other news sources have reported that the Human Development Corporation has more than $1 million in unpaid obligations and can not account for all of its public funding. As a result of the news reports, President and CEO Ruth A. Smith is stepping down this month, all of its employees have been laid off. The State of Missouri previously had initiated an audit of the agency, and state officials currently are working to distribute social services that had been performed by HDC to other local agencies.

“Under my administration we have servedapproximately 1,500,000 people in the city of St. Louis and Wellston. The events that have occurred recently have been brought about by some bookkeeping errors, untimely receipt of funds from funding sources and a disgruntled employee,” Smith said in a statement to The American

“I’ve worked directly with many of these individuals on a personal basis, and felt their personal needs and to this day I will continue to serve in some capacity.” Smith has been employed by the Human Development Corporation for over 40 years.

Akande to host Small Business Forum and Technology CareerFair

Benjamin Akande, dean of the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology at Webster University, will keynote the Small Business Forum and Technology Career Fair 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, September 16 at MAC-Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave. The event is hosted by the Institute of Technology and Global Career Resource Network. For information, call 314-486-1208 of visit www.tech-institute.com.

Darrell Hamilton

Joylynn Pruitt

Adrienne D. Davis

Johanna Wharton

Photo by Wiley Price

Martin Sophia

Ruth A. Smith

When you invest in bonds, you are investing in the debt of a government entity or a corporation. Abond is simply evidence of a debt and represents a long-term IOU. Bonds are issued by federal, state, and local governments; agencies of the U.S. government; and corporations. By selling debt with a promise to pay it back with interest, the issuing agency can raise capital to finance its operations. The issuing company or government entity will outline how much money it would like

HISTORY

Continued from B1

Alexander, and Carla’s husband, Miguel Alexander, still live in the house next to the store. The couple is striving to preserve Pearson’s legacy as a black female entrepreneur and inspiration to many.

Lee says Tillie’s Food Shop is an important example of corner shops that served as a foundation for social cohesion in African-American areas.

To help establish the historical significance of Tillie’s Corner, the WUSTLstudents hope to meet with former customers, vendors or anyone who may have conducted business with Pearson at an Old

FAIR

Continued from B1

Edward Jones’s St. Louis headquarters are minorities. And the financial services firm would like to attract more, said Regina DeLuca-Imral, media coordinator and member of the company’s inclusion council.

So far, seven associates were hired as a result of last

to borrow, for what length of time, and the interest it is willing to pay. Investors who buy bonds are lending their money to the issuer and thus become the issuer’s creditors. Bonds are sold at “par” or “face” value, which is the price at which the bond is issued, usually in denominations of $1,000. By purchasing a bond, you are lending the debtor money. In exchange, you receive a note stating the amount loaned, the interest rate (the “coupon” or “coupon rate”), how often

Neighborhood Reunion Street Festival from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, in the 2700 block of Howard Street.

Students are also looking for black and/or female small business owners who operated in St. Louis from 19481988.

The interviews will be used to build a local archive of black and women-owned St. Louis business history. “We would never learn about the history of Tillie’s Corner without their research,” Lee says, adding that the project is helping students connect to the city. “They are combining their intellectual interests with community service. They are not just helping the city, as they would through volun-

year’s fair. Calvin and her sister are two of them. Calvin remembers the fair clearly. She and her sister arrived at the beginning and had spent a good hour walking around meeting people. Calvin was taking a rest when Craig Basler, a general partner in the service division, came up and introduced himself.

“In the service division, we are looking to hire that talent,” Basler said. “It’s rare that

What is a bond?

P

ERSONAL

the interest will be paid, and the term of the loan.

The principal (the amount initially paid for the bond) must be repaid on the stipulated maturity date. Before that date, you (as lender) receive regular interest, usually every six months.

FINANCE

By Charles Ross

Charles Ross

teerism, but they are building a body of knowledge that is vital to the city and their own intellectual growth.”

Lee received a Faculty Innovation Grant last year from the Gephardt Institute for Public Service at Washington University to develop and implement the communitybased teaching and learning course.

Her students also are researching local archival collections as they strive to learn more about Tillie’s Corner and the overarching history of St. Louis urban renewal and preservation. They will start conducting interviews with local residents in early October. Interviews will be ongoing.

Carla Pearson Alexander

someone comes in off the street and they already know about finance. I can train a person in finance, but it’s hard to train the personality. Her ease of relating to me and the environment was attractive as well.”

As their conversation went on, Basler was able to see that her personality was a natural fit for the service department, he said. She also articulated well the different roles and

The interest payments on a bond are usually fixed. Before 1983, bondholders would receive coupons that they would clip and mail in semi-annually to receive the interest payments.Presently, all bonds are issed electronically in book-

said she and her husband recently visited the Washington University students to share “Granny’s story.”

The couple hopes to secure needed funding for renovation by getting Tillie’s Corner on the national register. They recently replaced the roof and a crumbling back wall. With the close proximity of Dunbar Elementary and Vashon High School, they would like to establish a tutoring center on the property as a tribute to Pearson.

“Granny used to say, ‘If I can help just one child, I’ll feel as if I’ve done something right,’” says Pearson Alexander.

Pearson sometimes helped

responsibilities she took on at FootLocker and Starbucks.

“We can teach you the financial aspect, but you are bringing these natural assets to the table,” he said.

Basler recommended that she apply for a position in the department, and even helped her connect with the person who would arrange an interview.

Calvin said even though most of her interactions with

entry form only. If you are considering buying a bond, remember that the market value of a bond is at risk when interest rates fluctuate. As interest rates rise, the value of existing bonds typically falls because the interest rate on new bonds would be higher. The opposite can also happen as well. Of course, this phenomenon applies only if you decide to sell a bond before it reaches maturity. If you hold a bond to maturity, you will receive the interest payments dueplus your origi-

the working-class black mothers by caring for their children at her store and giving food without charge. She offered credit to customers who could not afford to pay, or temporary employment in exchange for food. She inspired many people to work hard and eventually become self-sufficient, Pearson Alexander says.

All of Pearson’s children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews worked in the store.

nal principal, barring default by the issuer. Additional considerations are a bond’s maturity date and credit quality. Investments seeking to achieve higher yields also involve a higher degree of risk.

Charles Ross is host of the syndicated radio program “Your Personal Finance.”

Contact him at P.O. Box 870928; Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087; or email to charles@ charlesross.com.

“As soon as we could reach the cash register, we were working,” Pearson Alexander says. “It was the best handson training – learning how to count, read, manage your time, keep records and everything else. We appreciate the time and love that Granny gave to all of us.”

people are now through phone calls, she said her years of dealing with customers faceto-face made for good practice.

The company has opportunities for professionals in finance, internal audit, service, information systems, marketing, operations, human resources, training and development and compliance.

“The Diversity Career Fair is a unique opportunity to meet Edward Jones associates and leaders and learn more about the exciting careers available at the firm,” said Emily Pitts, Edward Jones’ principal responsible for inclusion and diversity.

Pearson’s oldest daughter was nicknamed “Tillie,” and because Pearson liked the name so much, “Tillie’s Food Shop” was born. “We continue the work to carry out Granny’s vision so her struggles in life and her history won’t go unnoticed,” says Pearson Alexander. “No, these are not just any old buildings. Here is a wonderful story that needs to be told.”

Individuals who would like to be interviewed for the project may contact Dr. Lee in the Department of History at 314935-6507 or Miguel and Carla Pearson Alexander at 314535-2397.

will welcome attendees and share a few words about careers at Edward Jones.

“Part of our mission is to help drive the value of diversity in our home offices,” said Basler, who also sits on the company’s inclusion council of 20 members.

“You don’t have to have experience in the financial industry. Jones is really good about training you to be successful in that position.”

– Taylor Calvin

The career fair also is aimed at attracting candidates for the financial advisor and branch office administrator roles in St. Louis and around the country.

At 5 p.m. that evening, Edward Jones’principal responsible for human resources, Anthony McBride,

SOPHIA

Continued from B1

Kenya under my own production, so I thought of having a little déjà vu,” Sophia said. “It is a very funny comedy.”

He is finding the challenges of producing his own play independently in St. Louis – as an immigrant with no university or organizational support – to be “endless.”

The whole intent of the fair was to open the company’s eyes to the networks and diversity available, he said.

“The career fair brings in pools of talent that I might not normally see,” he said. “You hope that talent would come to us, but we also have to go out and seek that talent, and the career fair is one of those opportunities.”

Fair attendees are encouraged to RSVPfor the event by sending an email to STLCareers@edwardjones.co m. Additionally, jobseekers may submit a resume to this address, whether or not they attend the event.

Kenya,” he said. “To some, it was a bit of a struggle.” American food, however, remains something of a struggle for him.

“My challenge at first was the food. Ahot dog from here tastes totally different than one from Kenya,” he said. If his challenges in adjusting sound trivial, he would agree. Overall, he gives St. Louis and the U.S. a resounding endorsement.

“If I didn’t work hard, I wouldn’t have the means say to produce this play.”

It was a challenge getting actors to commit to the rehearsals with an unknown, independent director and is a challenge developing an audience.

– Martin Sophia

“The American Dream is what every country in the world envies, especially Third World countries, so I came here to live the dream since I have better opportunities here,” he said.

“Getting an audience has been the biggest challenge!” he said. “I was prepared for that, though, because I am not known here and hence my ticket sales have just been from a word of mouth.”

One aspect of this is familiar from Kenya. He said, “I have realized most people here in St. Louis don’t want to pay for theater. I had a similar issue when I was back home, though.”

In general, he said, adapting to St. Louis has not been so difficult.

“I think I had an easier time adjusting to the culture than some of my friends from

“I love America; She has been good to me; I have lived actually a fantasy life.” That fantasy life will be led here, not on either coast. He said, “There was a time I wanted to move to L.A., but I chose to make it happen here.”

Martin Sophia will produce and direct Up and Running! September 16-18 at the Shrewsbury Civic Center. Shows are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Advance tickets are $15 (call 314-757-4527) or $20 at the door.

Strong start for PHL

By Earl Austin Jr.

Of the St.Louis American

Career Academy is off to a dominating 3-0 start.The Phoenix are averaging a whopping 60 points a game, which includes a 78-0 victory over Beaumont last Thursday.

The Public High League has displayed some strength early in the season with teams such as Miller Career Academy and Gateway Tech leading the way. Both schools are among the Class 4 teams in the area. Career Academy is off to a dominating 3-0 start. The Phoenix are averaging a whopping 60 points a game, which includes a 78-0 victory over Beaumont last Thursday. The Phoenix features three top offensive players in seniors Lamore Wise, Markese Marbley and Devin Buford. The 6’0” 215pound Wise has rushed for 390 yards and five touchdowns. The 6’1” 210-pound Marbley has rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns. The 6’1” 200-pound Buford is a big-play receiver who has eight receptions for 145 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Wise also has three sacks and one interception. Senior linebacker Gabriel Lloyd has 26 tackles while senior DeShaun Isaiah has five sacks. Gateway Tech is led by do-it-all quarterback Paul Rice, who has passed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 371 yards and three touchdowns.

Receiver Kalen Petty has 11 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns while Michael Ball has four touchdowns.

There are two big dates on the calendar to mark down regarding these two teams. On Thursday night Oct. 6, Career Academy will be hosting Class 6 power DeSmet in a game that will be played at Gateway Tech. The Phoenix upset DeSmet last season. On Saturday, Oct. 15, Career Academy and Gateway Tech will hook up in a big showdown that will have PHLand district title implications. That game will be played at Gateway Tech.

On tap this weekend

Fort Zumwalt West (1-2) at Francis Howell

See FOOTBALL, B5

Eyes on black quarterbacks

SPORTS

With Earl Austin Jr.

RAMS ROUNDUP

Reeling from Eagles, Rams face Giants

From 4-0 in the pre-season to 0-1 in the prime time

By Palmer L.Alexander III

For The St.Louis American

Most of the game the Rams’ defense kept over-running plays and got gashed on the cut-back runs.

The St. Louis Rams’first offensive play of the season looked and felt like a quick-hit strike like from 10 years ago. Steven Jackson bursts up the middle for a 47-yard touchdown to get the Rams off and running. On the Rams’next possession, after the Eagles tied it 7-7, quarterback Sam Bradford fumbled the ball, and thanks to a heads-up play by Eagles defensive lineman Darryl Tapp the Eagles took the lead and seized the momentum for good. This isn’t the first time Tapp has caused trouble for the Rams. As a Seattle Seahawk, Tapp played the game of his life with a broken arm registering four sacks that day, abusing (former) Rams first-round offensive lineman Alex Barron. After Bradford lost the ball, Tapp held onto his leg for dear life and that fast the game was tied. However, there was a lot of football left to play. But, the Rams never found it again. The momentum was gone. The confidence that they exuded

See RAMS, B5

a

last

– Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick

Jr.

running back Jonathan Parker (10) rushed

yards against DeSmet during Saturday's Football America Tourney at the Edward Jones Dome.The Cadets went on to defeat the Spartans 52-22.

Malcolm Hill Jr. of Belleville East

Former Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers put on quite

display

weekend against the Arizona Cardinals.

Photo by Wiley Price

Abandon Rams? Already? Really?

The good ship SS 2011 Rams had a bit of rough sailing on Sunday, and while the voyage has barely left port the “Abandon ship!” alarm apparently has been sounded.

While I am not one to base a season on what I see opening day, I did not base my prediction of 6-10 on one game, like it appears many have. The talk shows and their hosts act as if the Rams are illegal aliens and no longer want anything to do with them. My, how the rosy picture that was the St. Louis Rams is being covered with thorns.

I know the 4-0 pre season record created hope, but many of you just wanted a win no matter when it took place.

CLAIB’S CALL

With Mike Claiborne

What surprises me is how quickly people have turned on the Rams. Perhaps you were not paying attention to what was going on, as much as you thought you were including those who think being at practice every day makes them an expert. And for those who elected not to attend, great, if you knew something about the game beforehand. I am surprised that the

Rams looked like the Rams of last season. Poor pass protection and tackling, and no real receivers for Sam Bradford – or anyone else short of Kurt Warner – to throw to. The first headscratcher was the highround draft choice receivers in Donnie Avery and Mardy Gilliard. Once they were cut by the Rams, no one else thought much of them; they are

unsigned as of this writing. The guys who replaced them have looked worse, but then again they are rookies, right? What about Denario Alexander? The favorite son from Mizzou? He did not even dress for the game. Speaking of not dressing, how is it that the 14th player in this most recent draft was not dressed out for the game? Was he hurt? Not according to the injury list. Is he that bad? Not sure but it is not a good sign, especially now that all those who thought he was a good pick for the Rams have gone into seclusion. The Rams have issues for sure and perhaps problems down the road. With that in mind, I still think it is too early to abandon ship, although it may not be a bad idea to know where life jackets and life boats are in the event of an emergency.

Welcome to the playoffs

While Major League Baseball playoffs do not begin until the end of the month, the playoffs are already underway for the Cardinals. Going into Pittsburgh with a five-game winning streak, this is do-ordie week for the Cardinals. After they finish up with the Pirates, they get the best team in baseball in Philadelphia for a four-game series. Yes, the playoffs are underway already for the Cardinals.

Overrated already...

As I watched college and pro football over the weekend, I watched teams and players and realized that there are some vastly overrated people who play these games.

Let’s start with college football. Is there a more overrated team in the country than Penn State? We hear how good they are, yet when they play another big boy like Ohio State or Alabama they are lucky to stay on the field with them.

Then there is Old Joe, now

Steven Jackson of the St.Louis Rams runs for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.It was not enough as the Eagles went on to defeat the Rams 31-15.

relegated to the press box. They say he is coaching from there. He could be on the sidelines, or for that matter in the space shuttle, and it won’t make a difference. Penn State no longer has anything coming.

Speaking of nothing coming, while my good friend Lionel Phillips bleeds the green of his Notre Dame Fighting Irish, I am starting to worry about and for him. His Irish are running out of excuses for why they will not return to the glory years. They again made a big mess in the bed against Michigan Saturday night, and I heard every excuse from the lights being too bright so the defenders could not see to Brian Kelly being not feisty enough on the sidelines because he knows the camera will be watching him after his outburst of last week.

OK, whatever, man. Here is

the real deal: Notre Dame can no longer recruit the good player, let alone the borderline player. Their mystique no longer exist with today’s players. Their parents may remember Holtz, the Rocket, Bettis, Rice and Lyght, but the kids don’t.

As for the pros, if Tony Romo and Mark Sanchez were not over paid to wear the Cowboys and Jets helmets they would be out of work. These guys are featured so much that it is sickening. I am not one that gets caught up in the dumbest stat in the world –what a quarterback’s record is, because it is a team sport – but when have these guys ever made a play for their team? Oh yeah, they can help the other team with an interception, but spare me all the hype that these guys and players like them receive because of the city they play in.

DeAndre Williams

quarterback for the Lions. In U. City’s opening season loss to Parkway West, he threw three touchdown passes and also scored on a 70-yard touchdown run. In three games, Williams has thrown seven touchdown passes while rushing for two more.

University City will visit Parkway Central in a Suburban South Conference game on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Mike Claiborne

INSIDE

Continued from B3

er, not much was expected of Franklin in his first road contest against a Pac 12 contender on national television.

What Franklin did in just his second start at Mizzou was remarkable. He carried the ball 27 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He completed 26 of 42 passes for 319 yards and two more touchdowns. He finished the game with 403 yards of total offense.

Despite missing several of his offensive teammates due to injuries, Franklin rallied the Tigers from a 30-16 fourthquarter deficit to the verge of stealing a big road victory. It is still early in the James Franklin era, but Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel seems to have his next stud quarterback. Very impressive.

On Saturday, Michigan’s Denard Robinson provided some spectacular late-game heroics in leading the

RAMS

Continued from B3

during the 4-0 pre-season was gone. Rookie tight end Lance Kendricks dropped a couple of key passes. Not just Kendricks, but wide out Brandon Gibson did as well. Gibson followed a Kendricks drop with one of his own. And there wasn’t a player within eight or nine yards of him. The ball hit him squarely in the hands.

Then, in an almost cruel form of irony, in the next commercial you see a woman with

FOOTBALL

Continued from B3

(3-0): Friday, 7 p.m. – Ashowdown in St. Charles County features these two Gateway Athletic Conference. West is 12, but there losses have come against highly-rated CBC and Arkansas state power Bentonville. Howell is on a roll in the first three weeks. The teams staged two great games a year ago with Howell winning the regular season game and West coming back to win the Class 6 state quarterfinals.

Jefferson City Helias (2-1) at MICDS (3-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. – Abattle featuring two of the top Class 4 teams in the state. MICDS is coming off a big victory over rival John Burroughs last weekend.

HILL

Continued from B3

leading the Lancers to a 22-7 record. Hill took his game to another level during the summer when he averaged 20 points a game for the Southwest Illinois Jets 16U team, which was coached by Pat Smith.

His outstanding play during the summer really raised his national profile as many of the nation’s top collegiate programs came calling. However, the attraction of playing at his

Wolverines to a heart-stopping 35-31 victory over Notre Dame in front of a crowd of 114,000 in the first ever night game in the Big House. Robinson threw two touchdown passes in the last minute of the game, including a 16-yarder to Roy Roundtree with two seconds left for the winning score. Robinson directed an 80-yard drive in the last 28 seconds of the game to give the Wolverines the victory.

For the game, Robinson amassed 446 yards of total offense. He rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown and passed for 338 yards and four touchdowns, putting him in the early conversation for the Heisman Trophy.

Speaking of the Heisman Trophy, last year’s winner, Cam Newton put on a recordsetting performance in his National Football League debut for Carolina. In the Panthers’28-21 loss at Arizona, Newton threw for 422 yards and two touchdowns. His 422 yards tied an

one arm surfing underneath a 15-foot wave, but you have a pro football player with two good hands drop a huge pass. Those plays have got to be made. At the end of the day, the best team won. The Eagles never relinquished the lead once they got it. The Rams did a decent job getting to the elusive Mike Vick. Vick took some hard shots from the Rams defense. The Rams defense got pressure, but they couldn’t bring him down. The defense at times looked out of position. Most of the game the Rams’defense kept over-running plays and got

Helias in annually one of the top programs in the state.

Belleville East (2-1) at East St. Louis (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m. – The Lancers will try to challenge East Side’s supremacy in the Southwestern Conference. Both teams are 1-0 in league play.

Kirkwood (2-0) at Hazelwood Central (1-2), Saturday, 1 p.m. – The highpowered Pioneers will come North to take on Central. The two teams staged an epic 4139 contest last year, won by Central.

CBC (3-0) at SLUH (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m. – Metro Catholic Conference rivals meet. CBC showing early signs of being the area’s most dominant Class 6 team.

Lafayette (3-0) at McCluer

state school in front of his family and friends helped make the difference.

Hill was also relieved to get the recruiting process behind him so he can prepare for his junior season, which promises to be a very good one for him and his Lancers team, which is expected to be one of the top teams in the St. Louis metro area.

“It feels good to get it out of the way, because I can now concentrate on school and the upcoming season,” Hill said. “I’m looking forward to having a great year with my teammates.”

NFLrecord for most passing yards by a quarterback in his first start. Newton added an 1yard touchdown run in which he dived over a pile of defenders in the end zone.

• St. Louis University High will be honoring one of their all-time great former athletes in football star Henry Jones on Friday night. Jones will have his number retired at a ceremony before the Jr. Bills’showdown rival CBC. A1986 graduate of SLUH, Jones went on to become a All-Big Ten Conference performer at the University of Illinois. Jones also played 12 seasons in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons from 1991-2002. He was an All-Pro with the Bills in 1992 after leading the NFLin interceptions. He becomes only the second former athlete in SLUH history to have his number retired. The first one was former basketball star and Hall of Famer ‘Easy’Ed McCauley.

gashed on the cut-back runs. It was as if the Eagles stretched the entire defensive line in one direction and then ran the ball in the other direction. It was a tough loss. But, its only one game. I don’t think Steve Spagnuolo was outcoached. I think his team didn’t make the plays when they needed to. This was a great test for the Rams and Spagnuolo. There is no time to feel sorry. Next week is the New York Giants in prime time. Can they respond? We’ll find out.

Any questions or comments, email me Livnleagend@hotmail.com.

North (2-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. –Lafayette will put its unblemished record on the line to face a solid McCluer North team.

Lindbergh (2-1) at Parkway South (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m. –An excellent Suburban West Conference game between two top programs.

Financial Focus

By Andre Nelson, financial advisor

Celebrating five years of soul

R&B star Syleena Johnson headlines

Café Soul’s 5th anniversary

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“She fits the bill perfectly,” Café Soul co-founder Nichol Stevenson said about Syleena Johnson. “She has been underrated, but she has one of the most familiar and identifiable voices in R&B music. Syleena is the perfect example of good classic soul music.”

Tomorrow night Johnson will come to town and help Café Soul, one of the most successful long-running open mic series in recent years, rejoice at five years in the game.

“I can’t wait,” Johnson said about her upcoming St. Louis performance. “I’m excited to be back and give people what they haven’t heard in a while. Expect some signature Syleena and maybe some cool fun surprises.”

In a delightful coincidence, five is a common denominator for Johnson and the ladies of Café Soul. As she prepares for her Café Soul debut at the 5th anniversary, she is also excited to be returning to the music scene after a hiatus with her fifth album. Chapter V: Underrated drops September 27.

“The most important message that

See SOUL, C5

POTPOURRI WITH DANA GRACE

Parasailing with the stars

By Dana G. Randolph Of The St. Louis American

Dr. Myrtle Dorsey is the new Chancellor for the St. Louis Community College system. Dr. Dorsey moved to St. Louis from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She spent nine years as the Chancellor for the community college system there. On September 1, she received a warm welcome to St. Louis at a reception hosted by the Ecumenical Leadership Council. The council is a group of statewide ministers dedicated to the social, educational and political empowerment of the African American Community. The event was held to introduce Dr. Dorsey to the community and gave her an opportunity to share her vision for the St. Louis Community College system. The reception at the Royal Vagabonds Club in the city’s

Central West End was well attended. Damion Trasada brought greetings from Governor Nixon and discussed the role two-year colleges play in providing access to education and employment for our youth. On hand to meet and greet Dr. Dorsey were; Bishop Lawrence Wooten Rev. Douglas Parham Rev. & State Rep. Tommie Pierson (ELC), Ada Taylor, CEO Deer Valley Home Health Services (they provided the food), St. Louis Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed Drs. Earl and Esther Beeks, Karen and Dr. Gary Watkins Vickie Newton, UMSL Chancellor Tom George, Jim Buford (Urban League STL), Dr. Art McCoy (Superintendent Ferguson-Florissant School District), Dr. Doris Graham (Ferguson-Florissant School Board), Eddie Davis (Center for Acceleration of

African-American Business), Renee Franklin (St. Louis Art Museum), Abe Pruitt (President, Fireighters Institute for Racial Equality), Harold Brown (STL NAACP), Northwoods Mayor Everett Thomas, Thelma Cook (HSSU Board

New work by a native son

Show of Michael Marshall mono prints opens Friday at Atrium Gallery

Chris King Of The St. Louis American

A show of newly developed work by Michael D. Marshall opening in St. Louis is akin to a homecoming gig by the homegrown composer and musician Oliver Lake or a performance by native son poet Quincy Troupe. Like those better-known brothers in their more popular art forms, Marshall is one of the inest visual artists from St. Louis to emerge in his generation. And also like Lake and Troupe, Marshall aims to please. Lake’s bands swing; Troupe’s poetry is accessible to anyone who understands the English language. Just because they are geniuses, they

don’t act like they need to show how much smarter than you they are. Actually, they want to delight and inspire us. Marshall shows the same humble and winning approach in his visual art. He knows very well what he is doing. “When the prints are working well, I am absorbed into a soothing and well-ordered visual dimension,” Marshall writes in the Artist’s Statement to his new show of mono prints. His choice of language relects very accurately the new work he has to show his hometown: it is “soothing” and “wellordered” in the “visual dimension” in which he works so well.

The public should come and get absorbed in this pleasing visual dimension at Atrium Gallery this Friday, September 16. The opening of New Studio Works: Michael Marshall Mono Prints + John Schwartzkopf Sculptures will be celebrated with the artists from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery, located at 4728 McPherson Ave. in the Central West End.

To hear personally more of Marshall’s precise use of language, come back to the gallery at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 17 to hear him speak about

the work.

Marshall – who is well known in contemporary art circles throughout the world as a painter – has been working using complex procedures with oil-based media and overlapping stencils. He was inluenced in developing these new procedures by the sculptor Albert Paley’s use of stencils during his residency at the University of Hawaii Hilo, where Marshall is a professor and administrator in the Art Department.

I also see traces of Henri Matisse’s effortlessly graceful late-period cut-outs, executed when the master was wheelchair-bound. The graceful forms and brilliant colors of late Matisse are overlaid on igural patterns that evoke at times African masks, and at times the human dramas of Jacob Lawrence. Other marks seem to indicate the spirit of play and the joy of geometry – what Marshall himself calls “calligraphic doodles.” But even these colorful scribbles appear against a backdrop of form and color shaped by a master. As Marshall writes, “I

See ART, C4

T” Towns have teamed up as the holy hip-hop duo Forever.

Preaching

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

If someone were to put Nehemiah

“Millie Boy” Holly and Steven “SteveT” Towns in a group of rappers for a game of “guess the holy hip-hop duo,” the challenger would most certainly lose. With tattoos, baggy jeans and the genuine rapper swag, the two have an energy that blends in with the industry –which is rooted in their past lives. But the message of the music that the childhood friends team up to create is another matter altogether. But it didn’t start out that way. Millie

Boy tried his hand at gangster rap, but it didn’t it him. Steve T scored a major deal thanks to The Bangaz club hit “Run up Get Done Up” – a song that on the right night could inspire a melee with one wrong shove. But today, the childhood friends are in a new place with their music and their faith.

“God is even in our control as far as our destiny,” Steve T said. “He had his hand in it so that I could only go so far because of the mandate on my life. He just used that situation to draw me to See FOREVER, C4

President) and Kenny Murdock (WGNU). Double Header for Steven Roberts (President, Roberts Companies). Steven hosted

Former gangster rappers

“Millie Boy” Holly and Steven “Steve-

Brenda Gail Ringo started her month-long 55th birthday celebration by parasailing with Vanessa Heintz-Jordan, and eating fresh ish at the trendy Rui Resort and Spa in Jamaica.

See POTPOURRI, C4

Café Soul’s 5th Anniversary Celebration starring Syleena Johnson takes place on Friday, September 16 at the Loft.

Dana G. Randolph

A selection of mono prints by Michael Marshall opens Friday, September 16 at the Atrium Gallery, 4728 McPherson Ave. Marshall speaks there 11 a.m. Saturday, September 17.

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.

gateway classic activities

Sat., Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m., Classic Teen Summit, Location: Washington University (Seigle Hall) 1 Brooking Dr, St. Louis, MO 63130. Free to high school students and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Advanced registration is required. To register, visit www.gatewayclassic.org.

Sept. 22, 10:30 a.m., 2nd Annual Classic CareerFair

Location: St. Louis Gateway Classic, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King, St. Louis, MO 63106.

Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.,Classic Gospel Showcase featuring Chris and Kyle, God’s Chosen and P-Dub, Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington, 63103. For more information, call (314) 6211994.

Fri., Sept. 22,Classic Comedians Showcase featuring Pierre Edwards, Damon Williams and Matt Collins, Location: Casino Queen

Sevens Club, 200 South Front St., East St. Louis, IL62201. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sat., Sept. 23, 12 noon, Rams Coaches Luncheon honoring 1st Annual JFLHall of Fame Inductees St. Louis Gateway Classic, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King, St. Louis, MO 63106. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sat., Sept. 23, 12 noon, Classic Ladies Luncheon honoring YWCA’s Adrian Bracy, The Ethics Project’s Christi Griffin, Dr. Carolyn Pryor, Angel Lewis, and Barbara Wilson (Boeing). Keynoting the event will be author and motivational speaker Denise Williams, Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, One S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sat., Sept. 23, 5 p.m., Pep Rally Lincoln University, Missouri Southern State University, Clark Atlanta University and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Baer Plaza. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sat., Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Lifetime Achievement Awards and Walk of Fame

CALENDAR

Dinner, Honorees: Ruth Smith (Executive Director, Human Development Corporation), Dr. John Wright (author and retired educator), St. Louis native Dr. Arlene Ackerman (CEO & Superintendent of School District of Philadelphia), Irving Clay (retired Alderman & civic leader), Jonathan Butler (Grammy Award Winner singer and guitarist), Hon. Jimmie Edwards (22nd Judicial Circuit Court Judge), and Lou “Fatha” Thimes (retired comedian & radio pioneer). Hyatt St. Louis at the Arch, 315 Chestnut, St. Louis, MO 63102. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sun., Sept. 24, 8 a.m.,JFL Football Exhibition Scrimmage, Location: Edward Jones Dome. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sun., Sept. 24, 9 a.m., Classic J-Walk’N, Gateway Classic Parade, 13th and Market. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sun., Sept. 24, 9 a.m., The Classic Founders Parade, 13th & Olive to Tucker to Market to Broadway. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

Sun., Sept. 24, 11 a.m., Ameren Gateway Football Classic Doubleheaderfeaturing the MO Lottery & CharterHalftime Battle of the Bands, Edward Jones Dome. For more information, call (314) 621-1994.

concerts

Sat., Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., Superstars of Soul starring El DeBarge, The Isley

St.Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation presents the 18th Annual Gateway Football Classic. For more information, see 2011 GATEWAY CLASSIC ACTIVITIES.

Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Scream Tour 10th Anniversary starring Mindless Behaviorand Diggy Simmons with special guests The New Boyz, Jacob Latimore, Hamilton Park and introducing the OMG Girlz, The Fox Theatre. Tickets on sale Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

local gigs

Thurs., Sept. 17, 3 p.m., Trio Tres Bien and Danita in concert, Scruggs Memorial Church, 3600 Cook AveSt. Louis Mo.

Brothers, and After7, Chaifetz Arena.For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Sat., Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., Joe McPhee’s Survival Unit III, The Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand. For more information, e-mail, newmusiccircle.stl@gmail.com

Sat., Sept. 17, 2 p.m. & 5 p.m., Yo Gabba Gabba, The Fox Theatre. For more information, call (314) 534-1111 or visit www.metrotix.com

Sat., Sept. 24, 7 p.m., Chris Brown, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

Mon., Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. (6 p.m.), How Sweet the Sound Gospel ChoirCompetition with Donald Lawrence, Marvin Sapp and CeCe Winans, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.howsweetthesound.com

Sat., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m., Uplifting rapperLupe Fiasco brings a collection of alternative hip-hop hits to Chaifetz Arena. Tickets go on-sale on Thursday, September 1 at 10 a.m.at MetroTix.com, charge by phone at 314-534-1111 and the Chaifetz Arena Box Office.

Oct. 6- Oct. 8, Gentleman Jack & Leisure Studies presents the inaugural Lola STL Music Fest, over three days Lola will host the best regional and national funk, soul, hip hop artists with special bites and drinks for the new annual event with guests that include Diamond D and Fatlip of Pharcyde and Van Hunt. Lola. For more information visit www. welovelola.com

Sept., 24, 6:30 p.m., (6 p.m. doors) Chuck Flowers In Concert: ATribute to Stevie Wonder, The InSpot, 5854 Delmar.

Sept. 25, 7 p.m. (6 p.m.) AList Band SummerNights Concert Series featuring live music Live Music R&B, Motown, Blues and Jazz Quintessential Dining & Nightlife 149 North Main St. St. Charles, MO. For more information, call (314) 5171995

Oct. 1, 5 p.m., “Billie Holiday & Nina Simone Meet” starring Jeanne Trevor& Wendy Gordon, Robbie’s House of Jazz #20 Allen Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119

special events

Thurs., Sept. 15, 11:30 BMASTL’s monthly Marketing Masters Luncheon featuring keynote speakerTom Haas, CMO at Siemens Corporation, The Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel, 7730Bonhomme Ave., Clayton, MO, 63105.

Fri., Sept. 16, 10 a.m., Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School will host a Barbara Jordan stamp unveiling in conjunction with the United States Postal Service Gateway District,1500 N. 82nd Blvd. in University City. For more information, please contact the office of communications at 314-290-4016.

Sat., Sept. 17, 9 a.m., Mill Creek Annual Picnic, Heman Park.

Sat., Sept. 17, 10 a.m., MoDot Annual Show Me Safety Fair, FUN Activities PLUS Child Identification, Free Giveaways , Health Screening Games, Refreshments, Safety Interactive Demonstrations and Live Remote: Foxy 95.5 & HOT104.1, Urban League , 8960 Jennings Station Road St. Louis, MO 63136

Sept. 17, 10 a.m., The St.

Louis VAMedical Center and the City of Alton (IL) will host the annual commemorative Remembrance Ceremony in Honor of Former Prisoners of War and those still Missing in Action. The Alton (IL) Marina.

Sept. 17, 1 p.m., S.H.E.R.A.H. hosts a Pretty Party,Sabayet Community Center,4000 Maffitt Avenue, 63113. For More Information about the “Pretty Party” or to purchase tickets, visit: www.sherah.webs.com

Sun., Sept. 18, 12 noon, Rev. William G. Gillespie Way Street Dedication Ceremony Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church, 4673 Labadie Ave. Sun., Sept. 18, 3 p.m., Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. and Top Teens of America present the 2nd Annual Roy Hamilton Walk ForSickle Cell Disease TLOD Sickle Cell Sabbath, Koeneman Park , 8937 Old Lucas & Hunt Road,Jennings, MO 63136 .For more Information, contact Lady Yolanda Austin, Jennings Councilwoman (314780.0721), Lady Mavis Merritt (314-249-6219), Lady Wanda Taylor (314-917-7085).

Through Sept. 18, The Fox Theatre wants to hear your stories and ideas for promoting tolerance. Patrons of any age are asked to submit a 500 word essay about the negative effect that “snap judgment” intolerance can have and provide an example of how you might encourage tolerance in your community, school or workplace. The essays will be collected online at www.fabulousfox.com/contests through Sun., Sept. 18. Top 10 essay finalists will be notified by Sept. 23 and will receive two (2)tickets to THE ADDAMS FAMILYat the Fox Theatre on Wed., Sept. 28 at 8pm.

Mon., Sept. 19, The Miles Davis Festival pays tribute to the 85th birthday and 20yearmemorial of its favorite son, Miles Davis Dewey, III, with two jam sessions, Downtown BBs Jazz, Blues, and Soups, Featuring Willie Akins, Anthony Wiggins and Adaron Jackson Joining Mile Davis To Go Jazztet. For more information, please visit http://milesdavisfestival.com Fri., Sept. 23, 7 p.m., Natural Nights to Commemorate and Celebrate the Life and Contributions of Kwame Nkrumah, 1st African President of Ghana, 4507 Manchester. Call 314-5315900.

Sat., Sept. 24, 11 a.m., U City Jazz Festival, featuring Jeanne Trevor & Friends, Mike Silverman’s Classical Jazz Quartet, John Coltrane Tribute featuring Maurice Carnes Hipjaz Quintet, Clave Sol, U City Young Jazz Lions and the Washington University Jazz Clinic, Heman Park, For more information, visit www.ucity-

jazzfestival.com

Sun., September11, 2 - 5 p.m., more than 3,000 people are needed to volunteerfor the 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance. United Way of Greater St. Louis has organized dozens of projects throughout the community for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to pay tribute to those who were lost and those who rose in service. To find out about available projects and sign up, please contact United Way at www.stlremembers.orgor 314539-4296.

Fri., Sept. 16, 6 p.m., St. Louis American Foundation 24th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education, America’s Center. For more information, call (314) 5338000.

Thurs., Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Urban Artist Alliance for Child Development AllWhite Party Benefit with performances by Stallings, Knowledge, Xplicit, Fior Baptiste and more! For more information, e-mail keyamurdock@yahoo.com

Thurs., Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Episcopal City Mission Gala Fundraiser“Moment in Time,” Crowne Plaza Hotel, Clayton, MO. For more information, call (314) 436-3545.

Through Oct. 7, In celebration of the festival’s 20th year in St. Louis, Grand Center Inc. is seeking local and regional talent forFIRST NIGHT- St. Louis, a New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts that calls on artists of every medium to be the catalysts in creating a shared cultural celebration. For questions or to speak with a member of the First Night staff, please call Travis Howser at 314-2891507 (email travis@grandcenter.org).

Sun., Oct. 9, 2 p.m., Our Second Act Incorporated fundraiser starring Kim Massie, the Diva of blues, soul and R& B, Coco Soul and D.J.Mr. We, Robert Probstein Golf and Tennis Club House in Forest Park. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support scholarships for women over the age of 55. For more information, call (314) 875-9932.

Sat., Oct. 15, 9 a.m., City North Y’s Men and Women Club All You Can Eat Breakfast, To Support Y’s Men’s International Projects, Monsanto Family YMCA, 5555 Page Blvd.

Oct. 28 – 30, Extraordinary Events Presents its 2nd

Annual Ladies Spa Retreat Weekend To Hot Springs, Arkansas. Call 314-219-4188 for more info or register online at www.sparetreatweekend.eventbrite.com.

Niecy’s Network Showcase, The showcase provides a spot for talent to shine! Fridays 8pm Klmaxx Room inside the Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Road call (314)337-8087.

comedy

Fri., Oct. 28, 8 p.m., Fox Concerts presents Chris Tucker, The Fox Theatre. For more information, call (314) 534-1111 or visit www.metrotix.com.

Dec. 31, 8 p.m., New Year’s Eve Homecoming Comedy Jam Cedric The Entertainer Live featuring Malik S. Peabody Opera House. Visit www.ticketmaster.com

literary

Sept. 15 – Sept. 18, Bouchercon, America’s most important mystery conference featuring the genre’s top stars and features a variety of events and workshops, Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Avenue. For more information, visit http://www bouchercon2011.com

Thurs., Sept. 22, 7 p.m., The St. Louis County Library Foundation and Pudd’nHead Books are pleased to present a Reading Garden Event Series program with acclaimed young adult author Margaret Peterson Haddix, who will discuss the latest installment in her Missing series, “Torn.” St. Louis Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.

Tues., Sept. 27, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library Foundation’s Pacesetter AuthorSeries presents founderof Systems Service Enterprises, Inc. (SSE) Susan Elliott for a discussion of her memoir “Across the Divide: Navigating the Digital Revolution as a Woman, Entrepreneur, and CEO.” St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.

Oct. 1, 1 p.m., Olivia Longstreet will be celebrating the release of her first children’s book, Edgar’s Moon Christian Family Store, 10807 West Florissant.

Mon., Oct. 10, 7 p.m., The St. Louis County Library Foundation and Left Bank

Books present bestselling historical fiction writer Sharon Kay Penman for a discussion and signing of her new novel Lionheart St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Call 314-9943300 or visit www.slcl.org.

theatre

Sept. 16 – 18, Up and Running by African playwright Martin Sophia, Shrewsbury Civic Center. 5200 Shrewsbury Road. Call (314)751-4527.

Sept. 22 – Oct. 15, New Line Theatre presents the hit Broadway musical Passing Strange. For more information, visit www.newlinetheatre.com.

Through Sept. 25, Gitana Productions presents the original play Inalienable Rights: From Pearl Harbor To 911 Regional Arts Commission in the University City Loop. A panel discussion will follow the matinee performance at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

arts

Sept., 15, 6 p.m., Nia’fidahli presents, I AM HIPHOP: Redefining the Images of Women in Hip Hop, Nia’fidahli will team with Tavis Smiley’s, America I Am Exhibition, to present an interactive, art-driven event that will bring together a plethora of St. Louis musicians, scholars, activists, poets

How Sweet The Sound Choir Contest and Gospel Celebration with Donald Lawrence, Marvin Sapp and special guest CeCe Winans.See CONCERTS for details

and visual artists in an effort to highlight the positive contributions of women in hip hop, as well as engage in a healthy dialogue about ways to redefine how women are perceived within the context of hip hop culture. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

Through October7, Ronald Herd II: The Most Known Unknown Nu-Art Series’ Metropolitan Gallery, 2936 Locust Blvd., St Louis, MO, 63103. For more information, call (314) 535-6500.

Sept. 19, 5 p.m., St. Louis County Library will host a public reception fora series of Pop Art Workshops with New York artist Michael Albert. The workshops will be held at seven SLCLbranches and the public reception featuring the artist’s work will be held at the Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., South. The Pop Art Workshops are part of SLCL’s Art @ Your Library programming. For more information

please call 314-994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org/art@yourlibrary2011/sept-oct.htm.

Through Sept. 16, FormerSt. Louisian Christine Flavin’s show Where I Am Now, a photography exhibit in Gallery FAB at the University of MissouriSt. Louis. Areception will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 12 in the gallery. Gallery FAB is at 201 Fine Arts Building at Rosedale Drive and Florissant Road in St. Louis County (63121). For more information, call 314-516-6967.

Sept. 16- Sept. 18, the17th Annual MOSAICS Missouri Festival forthe Arts, more than 110 juried and invited artists from across the state, region and country will exhibit, discuss, and sell artwork. Main Street in St. Charles. For more information on the MOSAICS Missouri Festival for the Arts, call 314-482-5476 or visit www.stcharlesmosaics.org

Sun., Sept. 18, 1 p.m., U City in Bloom Garden Tour, A self-guided tour of 10 private gardens, and one community garden in University City. The tour will conclude at U City Centennial Gardens at City Hall where light refreshments will be served. For more information, call (314) 9733541.

lectures

Thurs., Sept. 24, 6 p.m. The City Forum and a panel of experts present an audienceinteractive discussion about and colloquial definitions of “race,” “white,” and “black” have changed throughout history, the history of these words and what they mean to us today. MacDermott Grand Hall, Missouri History Museum. For more information, visit http://www.CitiTalkLiVE.com

Through Oct.8, High school students who plan to pursue higher education can get a head start by attending a workshop at six St. Louis County

Library branches. The workshops feature author and youth motivational speaker Grant Baldwin. For more information and to register for one of the workshops, please call 314 994-3300.

Sat., October8, 10 a.m., the Black Alumni Council of Washington University presents “YourMind on Your Money – YourMoney on YourMind,” Alumni House Living Room, 6510 Wallace Circle.To register, call 314935-5645 or e-mail wubac@wustl.edu

Thurs., Sept. 15, 4:30 p.m., Prostate CancerAwareness Happy Hour, Men - take charge of your health and set the date to learn about your health and your prostate! Christian Hospital Physician Office Building 2, 11125 Dunn Road Cancer Care Center Lobby. Space is limited; please call 314-747-WELLto make your reservation.

Thurs., Sept. 22, 11 a.m., OurSecond Act, Inc. presents ADay of Mind, Body and Spirit Rejuvenation, featuring inspirational message, nail care muscle therapy and more. Richmond Heights Community Center, 8001 Dale Ave. For more information, call (314) 875-9932.

Sat. Sept. 24, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Global Scholars Health Fair, Washington University/BarnesJewish campus - just north of the Central West End Metrolink stop in the plaza next to Barnes and Noble. Free screenings include blood pressure, glucose; exercise & flexibility; nutritional & health information.

Sat., Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m., Covenant ForLife Christian CenterCommunity Health Fair In partnership with CHIPS Health and Wellness Center, 7200 W. Florissant. For more information, call (314) 489-7454.

two power breakfasts this week at popular Shula’s 347 Grill located in the newly renovated Roberts Mayfair Hotel in downtown St. Louis.

On Wednesday September 7, Steve was asked to host a roundtable discussion led by Michael L. Davis (Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration). Mr. Davis’ task is to connect with area leaders in business and banking in order to access their vision for the future of our economy, discuss problems in their respective industries and message back to the White House.

A few of the roundtable participants included; Steve Roberts Pat Crowley (Sr. VP, Bank of America), Jeff Hall (CFO, Express Scripts), Jim Krekeler (General Partner, Edward Jones), Tom Reeves (CEO, Pulaski Bank), Kenny Story (Director, Roberts Hotels Group) , Victor Franklin (Mercer) and Tom Irwin (Executive Director, Civic Progress).

Dr. Myrtle Dorsey, the new Chancellor for St. Louis Community College, received a warm welcome to St. Louis at a reception hosted by the Ecumenical Leadership Council.

The following morning (September 8) Steve hosted RCGA’s Breakfast with the Gazelles. Breakfast with the Gazelles is features leading business, regional and entrepreneurial leaders who focus on issues and ideas that affect their businesses and the community at large. Steve gave a powerful audio visual presentation that detailed The Roberts Companies success, vision for the future and commitment to the St. Louis community. Discussions following varied from the proposed China Hub to employment, the state of our economy and the need for commitment to the St. Louis community. Steve’s presentation was well received and Shula’s breakfast was top notch. Shula’s St. Louis management advised the St. Louis location is the only Shula’s

FuTurE

Continued from C1

where we are right now as a group.” After being frustrated by a deal that seemed to leave him stagnant, he teamed up with Millie Boy in 2008. Their second single “Put Me In” reaches the public next week. The song is all about getting put in the game for whatever you want to do and taking charge of your life.

“We decided that we are not going to so much push doctrine or religion, we just

want to free the minds of the people,” Millie Boy said. “To give them something that lets them know that it is okay to be who you are. You don’t have to follow the trends of the media or entertainment. We have so many lost identities because people are afraid to be themselves, not knowing that people standing up and being who they are can empower someone else.”

They’ve even set themselves apart from the traditional Christian hip-hop by pegging their music as “freedom music,” as opposed to inspirational, spiritual or gospel.

“We wanted to put as much

location that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. McCormick and Schmick’s popular Seafood eatery in West County was the last stop for Brenda Gail Ringo’s (Ferguson-Florissant School District) month-long 55th birthday celebration.

Brenda began her summer birthday celebration in Jamaica at the trendy Rui Resort and Spa. She traveled with friends Connie Spencer Greg Houston, Connie Carson and Marilyn Wilson. Brenda had a great time in Jamaica and is looking forward to her return trip next summer. She said the fresh fish, fresh fruit drinks, entertainment and weather were perfect. She even tried her hand at parasailing and loved it.

Two weeks later Brenda celebrated with family and friends in the private dining room at McCormick and Schmick’s. Granddaughter Shawnese Ringo (Ball State) prepared a PowerPoint presentation tribute in honor of her Grandmother’s birthday. Delicious food, birthday cake and great conversation were enjoyed by; Jennifer and Kenneth Jones, Andre and Sheron Chaney Brandra Xavia and Tavon Sampson (New York), Brothers Marion Theodore with daughter Tedrah, Aunt Francis Trotter, Cousin Elizabeth Hawkins (Boston), Donna

Christ and as much Jesus as we could in it,” Steve T said.

“But you have to reach people and meet them where they are and not shove it down their throat. And we didn’t want to present something where we would end up preaching to the choir.”

The group wants to create a universal message that hits the hearts of the most hardcore hip-hop heads. They are confident that their flow, production quality and quality songs – for which they credit their experience in the mainstream – will give them an edge.

“Somebody needs to take it to the places we are will-

Ellis, Bertha Myers, Angela Carey, Louise Portis and Corliss Stewart

The St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education is tomorrow night and tickets are at a premium. Please contact Robin Britt at 314-533-8000 to reserve your seat now. Mike Claiborne’s Dirrty Muggs Band will provide entertainment at the after party, he promises a repertoire that will keep you all dancing all night Michelle L. McClure, PhD (Assistant VP for Academic Affairs, HSSU), Natissia Small, M.Ed. (Assistant Dean of Students, UMSL) and Marsha Yvonne Merry, NBCT (Library Media Specialist, SLPS) are among the 2011 Excellence in Education Awardees.

Hats off to the St. Louis City chapter NAACP and President Adolphus Pruitt for hosting the August 30th reception at Centene headquarters to recognize Attorney Frankie Freeman for receiving the NAACP’s Spingarn Award in Los Angeles this summer. Adolphus thought it was important for members of the St. Louis community to honor Atty. Freeman in person. Kudos!

Blessings!

Dana Grace: dgrandolph@ live.com.

ing to go to,” Steve T said.

“When you look at the gospels and you look at where Jesus was, he wasn’t always in the temples or in the synagogue. He said he came for those who were hurt, who were sick and who were lost.”

And Forever believes that freedom music will send them on the path to help others see the light of the One that led the way.

“We just want to be an example through the music and the life that we live,” Millie Boy said.

For more information on Forever, visit www.iamforevermusic.com.

I hope to convey to listeners with Chapter V is strength,” Johnson said. “That’s the thesis for this album. I want to show that I’ve remained strong and I’m focused. There hasn’t been enough shine offered to real singers lately. But I’m hoping that what I’m doing on the new album will be bringing it back to the forefront.”

Johnson’s upcoming crusade for the crooners actually falls in line with the intention Café Soul founders Stevenson and Angela Brown had in mind when they created the monthly open mic event five years ago. Their hope was to create a platform for quality performing artists to hone their craft and showcase the potential that lies within St. Louis. Since that time Café Soul has grown into so much more. They have presented national artists, teamed up to co-sponsor talent showcases like the Budweiser Superfest Opening Act (which gave Café Soul alum Theresa Payne the opportunity to open for Jill Scott), in addition to their monthly duties of presenting a show of national concert caliber at The Loft featuring the best and brightest talent in town.

“I wanted us to be a landmark – a stamp here in St. Louis,” Stevenson said. “I’m never completely satisfied,

but considering this market and how it goes I think we’ve been successful. Our brand has become very recognizable –and we feel good about being a household name.”

It was exactly what they set out to do when Café Soul started with a core group of singers, poets and musicians back in 2006. The locations have changed and some might say the vibe has gone from hardcore soul to a more inclusive R&B feel. But the purpose of extending the opportunity to perform for rising artists has remained.

“We are going strong,” Stevenson said. “After five years we are still part of the race and I see us bringing it and climbing up the ladder for the next five.”

Café Soul’s 5th Anniversary Celebration starring Syleena Johnson takes place on Friday, September 16 at the Loft (3112 Olive). Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information about the show or Café Soul, call (314) 504-7405.

Continued from C1

usually start with two or three large shapes and solid ground coloration and work to place the forms in a manner that will maximize visual tensions.”

Syleena Johnson

This Week in Black History

September 14

1940 – Blacks are allowed for the irst time to enter all branches of the U.S. military when President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on this day, signs the Selective Service Act.

September 15

1830 – The First National Negro Convention takes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Top on the agenda were the better organizing of anti-slave activities and whether or not free Blacks should return to Africa.

1881 – Inventor Jan E. Matzeilger is born in Dutch Guyana. He came to the United States in 1878 and by 1880 had patented a shoe lacing machine.

1889 – One of Black America’s most outstanding poets, Claude McKay, is born. He would become a leading igure during the Black Cultural Revolution known as the Harlem Renaissance.

1963 – In one of the most heartless terrorist attacks of the Civil Rights Movement, the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama is bombed by white supremacists and Ku Klux Klan members. Four little Black girls are killed. But instead of scaring African Americans into backing away from their demands, the act actually inspired the Civil Rights Movement.

September 16

1848 – The French abolish slavery in all their territories. It would take a Civil War and another 17 years before slavery is abolished in America.

1925 – Blues great B.B. King is born on this day in Itta Benna, Mississippi.

1933 – “Emperor Jones” is released on this day by United Artists. It starred social activist Paul Robeson as Brutus Jones. It was the irst Hollywood ilm with a Black leading man and a white supporting cast.

September 17

1787 – The United States Constitution is approved but it includes three clauses allowing for the continuation of slavery even though it was suppose to be a document of freedom.

1861 – Hampton Institute (now university) is founded. It has now become one of the nation’s leading predominately Black educational institutions.

1973 – Illinois becomes the irst state to honor Civil Rights Movement icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a state holiday.

September 18

1850 - Congress passes the Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850. The Compromise was essentially a vain attempt to reconcile differences between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North as to whether Midwest states would be slave or free. The law basically required Free states to

Booker T. Washington

help slave states capture escaped slaves.

1895 – Booker T. Washington delivered his famous (or infamous) “Atlanta Compromise” speech in which he promotes Black economic betterment at the expense of civil and political rights. The speech endeared him to whites opposed to the social integration of Blacks but it angered progressive Blacks, including scholar W.E. B. DuBois, who began to portray Washington as an “Uncle Tom.”

September 19

1865 - Atlanta University is founded in Atlanta, Georgia. It was one of many educational institutions established during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War to educate former slaves.

1981 – An estimated 400,000 people from various labor and civil rights organizations rally in Washington, D.C. to protest the domestic policies of President Ronald Reagan. His policies were viewed by the demonstrating groups as anti-Black and opposed to the best interests of working class people.

September 20

1958 - A deranged woman stabs then rapidly emerging civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. during a book signing ceremony at a Harlem, New York department store. Rumors circulated that the stabbing was part of a government conspiracy against King but no evidence was ever produced to support the theory.

1984 “The Cosby Show” starring comedian and activist Bill Cosby debuts on NBC Television. It becomes one of the nation’s highest rated television series and was widely praised by civil rights activists because of its generally positive portrayal of a Black middle class family.

September 21

1905 - The Atlanta Life Insurance Company is established in Atlanta , Georgia and becomes one of the largest insurance companies in America serving a predominantly African American clientele.

1984 - General Colin Powel becomes the irst African American named as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the nation’s top military leader, Powell was praised by some Blacks as a role model while he was criticized for supporting what critics considered the government’s war-mongering policies. His generally positive reputation was damaged by his speaking before the United Nations and providing misinformation in 2003 in support of the Bush administration’s war in Iraq

By Melanie Adams

Talking about ‘Waiting for Superman’

Documentary sparks debate about urban education

The challenges associated with public education are dificult to understand and even more dificult to solve. Everyone thinks they have the answers on how to improve achievement in the nation’s underperforming schools. From longer school days to double periods of communication arts to theme schools, educators are constantly throwing ideas at the walls hoping one of them will stick. One of the latest ideas being thrown against the wall are Charter Schools, which are portrayed in Davis Guggenheim’s documentary, Waiting for Superman showing at the History Museum on Saturday, September 17 at 1pm.

Waiting for Superman follows ive children and their families as they navigate the Charter School lottery system in Harlem, the Bronx, D.C., Los Angeles, and Redwood City. The documentary shows the family’s angst around the perceived importance of getting into a Charter school so their children can escape their neighborhood schools and have a chance at future success. No one can blame a parent for wanting their child to do well and it is really no one’s place to judge a decision a parent makes for their child. Charter schools were created to give parents more educational choice and some parents are making the choice to leave their neighborhood schools for a charter school.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit I am one of the few people that have not seen the documentary. The reason I did not see it is because I don’t need to see a ilm to know the state of urban education. I don’t need to see a ilm to know that public schools in large urban areas need to do better. I don’t need a ilm to show me that parents, regardless of their color, all want the same things for their children. I was amazed when the ilm came out and people acted like this was all new information to them and for a few weeks there was a sense of urgency around public education among people who were “enlightened” by the ilm.

As with any topic of community interest, the documentary allows an opportunity for discussions among educators and non-educators about what works and what does not work in public schools.

In some areas, whole teaching staffs and their administrators viewed the documentary and held discussions about what they saw and how it applied to their region of the country. Overall, anything that gets people talking about improving urban education is a good thing. The problem becomes that the urgency fades away and students are quickly forgotten as the media focuses on the next educational scandal.

Charter schools are back in the news with the Houston School District using the Charter school model to run 11 of its schools. Harvard economics professor Dr. Dryer identiied ive characteristics of successful charters: longer school days and years; more rigorous and selective hiring of principals and teachers; frequent quizzes whose results determine what needs to be retaught; “high-dosage tutoring”; and a “no excuses” culture. Looking at these characteristics makes me ask the question that shouldn’t these be the characteristics of all public schools and not just Charters. All education eyes will be on Houston as it undertakes this latest methodology to improve educational outcomes for inner city students. Regardless of your thoughts about charter schools and their effectiveness in providing a quality education, I encourage you to take the time to see Waiting for Superman. Any documentary that encourages a community dialogue about issues of education, class, and race is worth two hours of your time.

Waiting for Superman Saturday, September 17, 2011 1 p.m. screening followed by comments from Grace Guggenheim (sister of director Davis Guggenheim) FREE

Waiting for Superman discussion Wednesday, September 21, 2011 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. FREE Facilitated by Cooperating School District

Beaumont High School Class of 1966 will have their 45-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-16, 2011.Friday night - Meet & Greet; Saturday night - Dinner Dance and Sunday morningBrunch.All events will be held at TheSt. Louis Airport Renaissance Hotel.Please contact Josh Beeks 314-3030791 or Evelyn Wright- 314479-7674.

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Harris-Stowe State University is calling on the classes of 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011, with the class of 1961 being the “Golden Class,” for its 50-year reunion at the annual Gold Gala in October.If you or anyone you know is a member of any of these graduating classes and would like to participate, please contact the HarrisStowe Office of Alumni Affairs at (314) 340-3390 or alumni@hssu.edu.

Northwest Class of 1981 30th reunion, Oct. 7-9, 2011, Hilton St Louis Airport, 10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63134, 314-4265500, $75 per person/$140 for couples, $79 king/ $84 queen double, money order or cash

Anniversaries

only please.Payable to:

Northwest Class of 81 Reunion. For information contact: Annette Irving at 314640-1193, Karen NealCinningham at 314-477-5435, Donna McRae at 314-3692748 or Sharon Scott at 314484-7067.

Soldan High School Class of 1962 is in the process of planning our 50th class reunion for the second weekend in August of 2012. We are calling all classmates to come and celebrate this momentous occasion. Your contact information is urgently needed. Please call Bobbie Brooks at 314-8389207 or Hiram Wilkens at 314803-5580. You may email Sam Harris at harrissam@hotmail.com

Soldan High School Class of

1982 is preparing for its 30 year reunion in 2012.We are seeking contact information to complete our class directory. Please email information to Rahmina Stewart Benford and Bridgette West at soldanclassof82alumni@yahoo.com.

Soldan International Studies High School Class of 2002 is preparing for its 10-year reunion in 2012. We need your contact information to complete our class directory. Please email your information including mailing and email address to soldanclassof2002@yahoo.com. For more information please contact Denise Cobbs at 314-3231228 or email: denisecobbs83@yahoo.com. Please join our Soldan Class of 2002 group on Facebook.

SumnerHigh School Class of 1987 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 25-year

We are in the process of planning. Your contact information is needed ASAP. Please emailyour information to: sumnerco1987@gmail.com

Vashon Home Coming Football Game Vashon vs. Sumner at Sumner High School, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at 1:30pm. We need all former football players, cheerleaders, band members, majorettes, spirit squad, pompon,all students, andall staffof Vashon High School to come out to support our football players. ForTShirts contact, Coach Reginald Ferguson 314-5339487.

Do you have a cel-

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:

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

Bishop Ellis back in the pulpit

‘The Lord is still in the prayer answer business’

American staff

Last Sunday the New Northside Missionary Baptist Church received the answer to prayer they had been looking for. After a long extended illness, Bishop Willie J. Ellis was back in his pulpit. It goes without saying the church was ecstatic, jubilant and overwhelmed with joy.

First Lady Beverly Ellis shared with the church many of the challenges the Bishop had been through and how the Lord has beaten back the forces of evil in his behalf.

“What you see before you this first Sunday is nothing short of a miracle,” said First Lady Beverly Ellis. “He can feed himself, brush his teeth, comb his hair, and hold an intelligent conversation. The Lord is still in the prayer answer business.” Needless to say, Bishop Ellis has come a long way and is making improvements each and every day.

Bishop said to the church as he departed, “May the Lord bless all of you.”

Bishop Ellis has pastored the New Northside Missionary Baptist Church 47 years. The most recent of its accomplishments, the church has completed the Bishop Willie Ellis Life Center. This facility rivals the best to be found anywhere providing child development, a banquet center, state-of- art kitchen, dining room and a fullsized gymnasium.

“Just his presence invigorated the entire church,” said

Last Sunday the New Northside Missionary Baptist Church received the answer to prayer they had been looking for. After a long extended illness, Bishop Willie J. Ellis was back in his pulpit.

given to St. Louis-based Kingdom House, a social service organization located on the City’s near south side.

In 2007, Harvest Fest donations were given to the James S. McDonnell branch of the USO (United Service Organization) located at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport which assists military personnel and their families.

In 2008, the American Heart Association was the beneficiary of the funds raised during the Harvest Fest weekend.

The 2009 beneficiary was Backstoppers, which provides assistance and financial support to the families of fallen or severely injured police, firefighters and first responders in the St. Louis metro area.

Night production entitled “Step Together for Christ,” featuring step, stomp, and dance performances from local churches, groups, and organizations.

Christian Embassy Church has donated more than $10,000 to area charities through its Annual Harvest Fest celebration. The CEC Harvest Fest is a weekend of health screenings, gospel music, games, food, fishing, and paddle boating, and fun for all ages. There will also be a 5K run/walk, prizes, vendors, and many other activities. The purpose of Harvest Fest is to bring the community together to raise funds to support charitable organizations. This year’s Harvest Fest will begin on Friday, September 23 at 6 p.m. with a Family Fun

Come and enjoy CEC’s 36 acre Kingdom Complex on Saturday, September 24. The day begins with an early morning run/walk at Black Jack Park. The run begins at 9:00 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:30 a.m.

At 10 a.m., the event continues with games booths, inflatables, dunking booths, music and food. The Harvest Fest weekend ends on Sunday, September 25 with an uplifting worship service at 9:30 a.m. at Christian Embassy Church.

In 2005, the first Harvest Fest funds supported surviving families and a severely damaged church during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

In 2006, donated funds were

When

InspIratIonal Message

God says it’s time to play

By James Paine For The St. Louis American

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your fathers household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”.

3 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him…..” (Gen. 12: 1-4)

Last year, the Christian Embassy Church Haiti Relief Fund distributed the proceeds to the Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, and Wings of Hope to help families and communities devastated by the Haiti earthquake.

The 2011 the beneficiary will be the American Diabetes Association.

For more information about the 7th Annual Christian Embassy Church - Harvest Fest, call 314-741-4463 or visit http://www.christianembassychurch.org

Family and Friends Day Dinner

On September 18, Solomon’s Temple (5569 Page Blvd.) will host Family and Friends Day Dinner. Bishop James E Holloway Sr. is founder and pastor and 1st Lady Linda D. Holloway is co-pastor. Visit www. solomonstemplechurch.org or mail solomons@i1.net.

Imagine this. It’s forth and long. Two minutes left in the game. The starting quarterback has just been carted off the field with a broken leg. Your team is down by two, with the ball on your own 20 yard line. You’re the back up quarterback; and as soon as the injury cart clears the field, the coach looks at you and tells you to get in the game. Excitedly, you motion to a teammate to play catch with you so that you can get loose; but the coach looks at you once again and yells, “Get in the game! We don’t have time for warm up tosses. It’s time to play” When God sequestered Abram’s attention to follow him in the scripture noted in Genesis, He did so without allowing him the luxury of gaining comfort with his assignment. According to the call, Abram can’t try his as-

James Paine

signment on for size, and send it in for alterations if he feels that it doesn’t quite fit him. Nor is he at liberty to commute back and forth between his comfort zone and this abstract, unspecified, mysterious place of eventual blessing to which God is calling him. Rather, God calls for an immediate commitment. Play now, or get off the field! There is no time to think about it. No time to pray about it, and no time to follow up with God in a few days after he’s considered it with his prayer partner. No, Abram must immediately assess and act upon the validity of God’s word now; and his decision to act or to abstain from action will set the course for both his life and his legacy. As with Abram, God is constantly presenting opportunities for us to yield our lives to Him in ways that will increase our faith capacity to both believe in, and act on his word. Human faith and divine response is a reciprocal two-way process, and is the only established transactional currency accepted as legal tender between God and man; because our faith honors God, and God in turn honors our faith.

Whether you’re hearing God’s voice for the first time, or trying God out for the first time, or even boldly trusting God with everything for the first time, it doesn’t matter. God requires faith and obedience as raw materials

Send your Message column (no more than 500 words) as a Word document and pasted text to cking@stlamerican. com and attach a photo of yourself as a jpeg file. Please be patient; we will run columns in the order received.

Karen Harvey, church clerk.

Christian Embassy Church Harvest Fest

UNCFawards $246K to 39 area students ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Special to The American

The United Negro College Fund awarded a total of $246,100 to 39 area students. These students are attending 23 different colleges and universities throughout the country and theygraduated from 15 differentprivate and public school districts throughoutSt. Louis. 2011 UNCF Scholarship Awardees are:

Standing (Lto R): Brandon Jackson, Brandi Burse, Breah Ratlif, Kaitlyn Johnson, Kevin Mangrum, TaylorVales, Samson Webster, Jonathan Scott, Lee Fuqua, Kristia Abernathy, Jordan Young, Corrier Talton, Angelo Jones, Deja Tolbert, Jack Nguyen.

Sitting (Lto R): Kendal Rothschild, Jamika Meads, Lavetta Lewis, Tonisha Lewis, Jasmine Roby, Danielle Nance, Tiffanie Toles, Javanieshia Kincaid, Ida Asega. Kneeling (Lto R): Allison Wallace, Anastasiya Zamskaya, Kaylyn Moore, Morgan Spears, Dennise Hernton. Not pictured: Nadia Armouti, Alexandria Belton, Annyce Echols, Shontrice Garrett, Jay Gill, Taylor Jones, Vanessa Luster,

Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis accepting applications

Dijonnaise Matthews, Cullen Watkins, Gary Wilson

Scholarship Foundation accepting applications Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is now accepting

applications for interest-free loans for second semester. Graduating high school seniors, college students, and nontraditional applicants of all ages and abilities are encouraged to applyby the Tuesday, Nov. 15midnight deadline. The Scholarship Foundation

will award approximately 600 students $3.4 million in interest-free loans this year. Awards are based upon financial need, academic potential and strength of character. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is a non-profit 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 four-year colleges, or technical schools. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis serves students who 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 General Educational Development certificate and are enrolled in approved, accredited postsecondary programs. Scholarship Foundation need-based interest-free loans are renewable, with a maximum loan amount of $7,000 per academic year. To be eligible, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen (or possess an Alien Registration Card) and be a permanent resident of the St. Louis metropolitan area for at least two years prior to the date of application.Students must plan to enroll in or be currently enrolled in a degree program at an accredited and approved nonprofit college, graduate, professional, vocational or technical school for a minimum of six credit hours per semester. Students can find the application by going to The Scholarship Foundation website at www.sfstl.org.Further details are available on the website or by calling 314-7257990.

More than 7,000 students have been awarded more than $48 million in interest-free loans and $2.8 million in grants by the foundation since 1920.

Edward Jones

Diversity Career Fair

Financial-services firm Edward Jones will host a diversity career fair from 4:30 to 7 :30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept.

27, at the firm’s headquarters, 12555 Manchester Road in Des Peres. Edward Jones offers St. Louis based opportunities for talented professionals in finance, internal audit, service, information systems, marketing, operations, human resources, training and development and compliance. The career fair also is aimed at attracting candidates for the financial advisor and branch office administrator roles in St. Louis and around the country. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with recruiters and leaders from every area of the firm. At 5 p.m. that evening, Edward Jones’principal responsible for human resources, Anthony McBride, will welcome attendees and share a few words about careers at Edward Jones Attendees are encouraged to RSVPfor the event by sending an email to STLCareers@edwardjones. com. Additionally, jobseekers may submit a resume to this address, whether or not they attend the event.

Technology Career Fair

The Institute of Technology and Global Career Resource Network of St. Louis Missouri is hosting aSmall Business Forum and Technology Career Fair 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, September 16 at MACMissouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave. Keynote speaker are Dr. Benjamin Akande, Webster University; Dean of Webster University’s School of Business and Technology; other speakers include, Nia Ray, Executive Director Missouri Workforce Investment Board; Aki Causevic, Business Developer at St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE); and Joy Ann Venverloh, President, Lexx Funding. For information, call 314-486-1208 of visit www.tech-institute.com.

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week

St. Louis’ own rap star Nelly was on deck at Citi Trends’ St. Louis Mills location to meet and greet with fans and give a sneak peek of the latest offerings from his Apple Bottoms clothing line. Apple Bottoms models Shaunterious Viel and Jade Owens were on deck and wearing the signature style of the

Salute Eve. One day before I make my grand entrance in Beyonce’s Valentino maternity gown (don’t even try it with the rumors…it’s just the closest thing to plus-size they have) and I am as hungry as I am excited because the 24th Annual Salute to Excellence Education Gala will be the place to be for the “who’s who,” and the “who’s new.” I’m almost certain it’s sold out – as usual – but it’s worth it to try to see if you can get in where you it in. The fact that Dee Dee and his Dirty Muggs will be shuttin’ it down for the afterparty has me it to be eulogized… shoot, the way I plan to get it in on the dance loor, they just might have to do so.

Snooze-ology.As DJ Willpower spanned the usual underground soul gems, silent side-eyes were waitin’to unfurl for the launch of Fusicology featuring yet another returning act, Anthony David. Here’s my beef, I have all love for Vanita Applebum and family for bringing in artists of quality and depth. However, I believe it is time to retire this same roster of ive or so artists at every turn.As much as I admire the artistry of Eric Roberson, Choklate, and the like; but hoistin’their shapes on a stage just a couple of months from their previous stint is a bit of overkill. I tip my sew-in to Ms. Nicci Roach but gworl, do we really need a prolonged on-stage interview session at every Applebum outing? Why ask such mundane questions that have as much depth as: So your name is Bilal? So you like to sing? Perhaps an interview session isn’t the best feature for a nightclub concert where a respected audience is eager to punch once all is said and done. This is especially true when no one is really payin’ attention. For the beautiful Selena J, the incessant appearance of some vague poem that is barely memorized wasn’t givin’ me what I wanted either. As for the actual concert: a quiet snooze. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Anthony David’s music and accompanying vocal stylings. However, producing the same recycled set that was given not too long ago is not the bee’s knees. Although I did tap my foot to a few cuts, there was nothin’new to see here, folks.

Hopefully after yet another return of Choklate at Lola on Sunday at 7pm, we can be presented with something fresh.

Funk meets Ratchet at Lola. A much more lively and packed crowd awaited my entrance at Lola on Saturday as the masses pelvic-popped the house down to the reappearance of DJ Rich Medina and Funkin Right’s 1-Year Anniversary. With Nappy DJ Needles on hand, this not-to-be missed event even drew a full wedding party. Bride and groom shimmied to jams like Stevie Wonder’s “Signed Sealed Delivered” and “Sir Duke” along with Brick’s “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” and other soul/funk tracks. Squeezing through the mostly standing room only crowd, I found DJ Nune in the Absinthe Bar puttin’ on a rarely-seen hood hip-hop hat. Much to Kevin Johnson’s chagrin, his frame was nearly toppled over behind the enthusiasm of a certain ratchet dust bunny from Waka Flaka and the like. Witnessing her sweat-drenched dreads being lung back and forth, I suspected a long line of certain substances from here to the MLK Bridge was the culprit. Meanwhile, once I saw the irst Mary J. Blige “My Life” blonde/bronze wig randomly promenade through the crowd, I knew that the Cochran Gardens community got hold of the eclectic party and planned a hostile takeover. Here’s hopin’that one of my favorite downtown spots survives such treachery.

A wail to Victory. I’m sure I join everyone here in St. Louis by extendin’ a “you go girl!” to Amber Bullock for securing BET’s Sunday’s Best crown this past Sunday. I plan to ind the nearest Dress Barn in preparation for the celebration ceremony held in her honor this Friday, September 16th at Kennerly Temple. Doors open at 7 p.m. Make sure to come out and show your girl some love!

A Sweat-less Superstars of Soul. Unless you have been livin’ under a pile of rocks, you should know that The Superstars of Soul: Ron Isley, El Debarge, and (for some scalp scratching reason) After 7 will be playin’ at the Chaifetz Arena this Saturday, September 17th. Notice someone missing? Yeah well Mr. PleaseBaby-Please himself, Keith Sweat had decided to chuck up the deuces in his supporting role in this tour effort. I must say, I am not too terribly upset behind this.

A concert set full of constant whining has never tickled my fancy. Although I’m sure there are some that will be in deep despair over the 50-year-old’s absence. For you, I give you a heartfelt “There-there” and accompanying virtual hug with a built in back pat.

A Soulful Re-Launch. A Shoutout goes to my boy Teddy Bfree for a successful relaunch of Soulful Sundays at the Inspot Dessert Bar & Lounge. Although I wasn’t able to attend due to a full wax job, I heard it was all the rage! With the free bogged wine, free chocolate covered strawberries, free admission and live music; I would have freely kicked my heels up in glee with a plate full of everything. That’s exactly what I plan to do at the next Soulful Sundays coming up back at the Inspot Sunday, September 18th at 6pm.

Don’t forget the soul. Café Soul that is…they will be celebrating their 5th Anniversary at the Loft this Friday featuring Syleena Johnson. The Guess-What-ShoNuff songstress will be moanin’ and bayin’ with DJ C-Note on decks. Make sure you hit up Angela Brown or Nichol Stevenson if you’re trying to get a featured reserved table for this event, after you hit the Salute to Excellence irst, of course. Make it a full night y’all. Congrats to the Café Soul family!

Special Mentionables. Mr. Mark Jones and company will be carryin’ on the Stress Free Fridays banner at JJ Stuarts Friday as they host a ight party. In case you opt out of being perched in front of Syleena Johnson and a diva fan, you can head on over here and catch the Mayweather/Ortiz ight. This event starts at 8pm with a $5 damage at the door.

If watchin’ the ight doesn’t incite your interest, maybe a fashion feature would. DELUX Magazine will present “Fashion Elevated” – the premiere of Epiphany Boutique on Friday September 16th at 8pm. This event will showcase exclusive fashions while bein’ served with complimentary Grey Goose cocktails to the exotic pulsating tunes of Marvin Cockrell. Sounds good to me! Hit up your boys Keith Grifin and Wayne “Triky” Haley for more information.

Teddy B. Free and InSpot owner Authur @ Soulful Sundays @ The InSpot

Erwin and Preshalyn @ at the Loft Saturday night

Majic 104.9’s Selena J and R&B Singer Anthony David share some face time before his show Friday ngith @ Lola

Alonzo and Babette chilax Friday night @ Lola Friday

Keva and Doug get an earful of Anthony David live Friday night @ Lola

Kathy, Catina and DELUX Magazines Tiffany Nashville experience Anthony David @ Fusicology kickoff show Friday night @ Lola

women’s clothing line well.

Tasha, Asia and Lavonda enjoy the ambience Saturday night @ The City

Chelsy, Kristina and Shonta kicked it in the name of DJ Needles’ anniversary Saturday night @ Lola

Trenae and Brandy unwind Saturday night @ The City

Birthday brothers Ryan and Rob celebrate Saturday night @ Lola

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

Tragedy of 9/11 highlights need to treat mental illness

By Consuelo H.Wilkins,MD

This month marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorists’attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. In addition to the tributes to the victims and heroes from 9/11, there have been a number of stories in the media about those who have suffered from anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. It’s easy to understand how survivors as well as the families and friends of those involved would be emotionally and psychologically affected by these tragic events.

The 9/11 events have brought significant attention to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is commonly called PTSD. People often use the term PTSD to describe their emotions after a stressful event; however, that is medically inaccurate. For PTSD to be diagnosed, a person must have experienced or witnessed an event that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury. Following the event, the person is unable to cope with the overwhelming symptoms that occur. In PTSD, the symptoms include having flashbacks of the event, intense fear, helplessness, anxiety, anger,

insomnia, and avoiding people or situations.

In addition to the psychological and emotional symptoms of PTSD, there are associated changes in the brain as well as possible long-term health complications such as cardiovascular disease or recurrent infections.

Prior to 9/11, PTSD was most commonly associated with veterans, especially those who have served in combat. Because the diagnosis of PTSD among veterans is sometimes associated with financial or insurance benefits, there has been controversy about the impact of the disorder on a person’s health and ability to function. After 9/11, more civilians were diagnosed with PTSD and the awareness (and acceptance) of this condition among health professionals, policy makers, and the public has increased. Many are hopeful that this increased awareness will result in improved diagnosis, increased access to mental health

Consuelo H. Wilkins,M.D., Medical Accuracy Editor

services, and more research to study PTSD.

Currently PTSD and related conditions that may occur after traumatic events or prolonged exposure to trauma (such as domestic violence) often remain undiagnosed. There is also growing concern regarding the long-term effects of repeated exposure to violence and abuse, especially that experienced by children, which happens more often among people living in lowerincome neighborhoods.

Children who live in poor neighborhoods are much more likely to experience or witness violence and abuse and African Americans have the highest rates of poverty in the country. Some researchers believe that the long-term health consequences of repeated exposures to violence and abuse can be as harmful, if not more harmful, as events like the 9/11 tragedies.

When you are exposed to a situation in which there is a real or perceived threat of harm, the body’s natural alarm system, often called the ‘fight or flight system’, is triggered. The adrenal glands release stress hormones, primarily cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones increase blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels, which are all impor-

tant during a suddenly stressful event; however, if the body is exposed to these hormones repeatedly and for long periods, it is damaging.

The long-term exposure to cortisol, adrenaline and other stress hormones can increase the risk of heart disease, depression, obesity, difficulty sleeping, diabetes and possibly some cancers. These hormones can also have a negative effect on the brain, which can result in memory impairment in adults and may cause developmental delays in children.

Additionally, PTSD and chronic stress are associated with alcohol and substance abuse, which have added short and longterm health consequences.

Treatment for PTSD and related disorders is individualized and can be effective in decreasing the emotional, psychological and physical symptoms of these conditions. Specialized treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and medications. For more information, talk to your health care provider or visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org or call 314-9624670.

Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D., is medical accuracy editor of The St. Louis American and associate professor of medicine and psychiatry, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, at Washington University – St. Louis

YourHealth Matters

Abi-monthly special supplement of the St. Louis American September 15, 2011

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

Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher

Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO

Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President

Chris King, Editorial Director

Consuelo Wilkins, MD, Medical Accuracy Editor

Sandra Jordan, Health Reporter

Debbie Chase, Director of Health Strategy & Outreach

Sonia Dulaney, Onye Ijei, Barb Sills, Sales

Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager

Angelita Jackson, Cover Design

Wiley Price, Photojournalist

THE

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Cancerin your‘pocketbook’

By Sandra Jordan Of The St.Louis American

It’s the female cancer few will talk about, as if talking about it will make it more deadly – or contagious – or all of the above (and neither is true).

Ovarian cancer.

And it’s the cancer that Pocketbook Monologues creator and St. Louis native Sharon K. McGhee is in her third fight against in the last two-and-a-half years.

The word “pocketbook” was coined a couple of generations ago by our most senior and seasoned African-American sisters pertaining to those most discreet subjects of a sexual nature.

“And there are some rules that went with it – keep it closed, don’t people ramble all in it—make sure your pocketbook is clean.” McGhee said.

McGhee created the Pocketbook Monologues to talk to black women and girls about taking responsibility for their own sexual health, following the design of Vagina Monologues author Eve Ensler. Soldout performances in Chicago where McGhee currently resides preceded her most challenging role yet.

“It also started a new chapter in my life — I was diagnosed [in 2009] with stage 4 ovarian cancer, three weeks fore I got the phone call to be a part of the Housewives of Atlanta franchise,” McGhee said. Her decision – chemotherapy the next week or jump on the creative opportunity of a lifetime to deal with a cause she is so passionate about –the HIVepidemic in black women.

“So what’s a girl to do? I tell you what I did. I put my wigs in a suitcase and my Vicodin in my overnight bag and we went down to Atlanta and filmed a wonderful show,” she said. “But what people don’t know, while it all looked great on television, it was the roughest time for me, because in another three weeks, I had another chemotherapy treatment.”

There are three types of ovarian cancer, depending on what type of tissue is involved. Epithelial cells cover the ovaries, the two egg-shaped organs on either side of a woman’s reproductive system. Germ cells create the eggs inside of the ovaries. Stromal cells are the tissue which holds the ovaries together and makes most of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

The American Cancer Society says higher risk factors for the most common type of ovarian cancer (epithelial) include:

• Age- half of all these cancers are in women over age 63

• Obesity- an ACS study found a incidence and a higher death rate among obese women

St.Louis native Sharon K.McGhee,creator of Pocketbook Monologues,is in her third fight against ovarian cancer in the last two-and-a-half years.

• Fertility drugs

• Male hormones, or androgens

• Estrogen therapy after menopause

• Family history of ovarian, breast or colorectal cancer

The ACS says the following is associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer:

• Having children - the risk goes down with each pregnancy

• Birth control pills

• Tubal ligation

McGhee said it almost felt like she was getting her blessing in the middle of her hurricane.

“God was showing me this balance of my life and what it is to actually live with a cancer diagnosis, deal with everything that goes with it – the surgery, the depression … to understand this diagnosis happens to a lot of people and that you can find your will through God and through perseverance to live and thrive with it,” McGhee said. “I never wanted the cancer to have me.”

Ovarian cancer usually strikes women after menopause, but it can occur at any age. Early detection of ovarian cancer is difficult, because oftentimes, women with ovarian cancer have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is

in an advanced stage and hard to treat.

“The day that I was diagnosed with cancer, my mom died of a debilitating stroke. She had been sick for almost a year-and-a-half,” McGhee said. “I would leave Chicago on Friday, go to St. Louis, take care of my mom.

“So when people would say, ‘Wow, it looks like you are losing weight,’I would say, I’m stressed out because my mom is dying. I’m tired – my mom is dying,” she summed up.

“Every symptom that I had that told me loud and clear that my body was in

See CANCER page 5

Photo by Wiley Price

HEALTH BRIEFS

Cancerdrug also reduces pain forbabies with sickle cell

Acancer drug already used to treat adults and school-age children with sickle cell anemia is safe and significantly reduces pain and other complications of the disease in children as young as 9 months, according to a national study involving a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher.

Pediatric researchers at UTSouthwestern and 13 other academic medical centers say hydroxyurea should be offered to all young children with sickle cell anemia, regardless of disease severity and clinical symptoms. The findings of the Pediatric Hydroxyurea in Sickle Cell Anemia, or BABYHUG, trial appeared in a recent edition of the Lancet

“We’ve offered hydroxyurea at Children’s since 1992 to severely involved patients with frequent or severe complication down to age 3. On the basis of the BABYHUG study’s findings, our sickle cell team has made a conscious decision to now offer hydroxyurea to all sickle cell anemia patients in the first year of life,” said study coauthor Dr. Zora Rogers, professor of pediatrics at UTSouthwestern and clinical director of the general hematology and bone marrow failure program at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

The findings, Dr. Rogers said, likely will change how all medical professionals treat very young children with sickle cell anemia.

“This medication reduces painful events, the major crisis patients fear about sickle cell disease, as well as the problems doctors fear, which include chest syndrome – a unique complication of pulmonary infarction and infection that only occurs in sickle cell disease – hospitalization and transfusions,” she said. “The study also showed a

trend of reducing organ damage in the spleen, but the study sample was too small to prove protection.”

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited genetic blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces mutant, inflexible, sickle-shaped red blood cells. These cells may aggregate and block small blood vessels within the body, causing pain, organ damage, stroke and premature death. Approximately 100,000 Americans suffer from the disease.

Babies born with sickle cell disease are protected for about six months by fetal hemoglobin. As fetal hemoglobin levels drop, however, the disease starts its damaging effects. Although hydroxyurea is effective at raising fetal hemoglobin and thus reducing painful events and other crises in adults and older children, researchers were uncertain until now whether the drug could also help babies.

Higherdoses of morphine justified forsickle cell patients

Frequent episodes of severe pain occur in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and require treatment with potent opioid medications. According to a recent study published in The Journal of Pain reports that SCD patients clear morphine from their blood stream quickly and, therefore, require high doses to achieve optimal analgesia.

Researchers from departments of pediatrics at five U.S. medical centers collaborated on a study of 21 young adult SCD patients to determine the impact of the disease on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of morphine in the body, or pharmakinetics. Previous studies have shown that accelerated clearance of morphine in children with SCD was associated with increased hepatic and renal blood flow caused by higher cardiac output from chronic anemia in SCD patients. The studies, however, were conducted on children during painful episodes, which could have influenced the outcome.

Patients in this study were not taking opioids or experiencing acute complications of the disorder. All participants received a single 30-minute infusion of morphine sulfate and blood draws were taken at several intervals for a period of 24 hours.

Results showed that the half-life of morphine in the SCD patients was three to 10fold shorter compared to morphine clearance in non-SCD patients. The authors concluded that increased hepatic and renal blood flow and elevated glomular filtration rate are the likely reasons for accelerated clearance of morphine.

Varicoceles linked to lowertestosterone levels

As many as 15 percent of men have varicoceles, masses of enlarged and dilated veins in the testicles. There is new evidence that varicoceles, long known to be a cause of male infertility, interfere with the production of testosterone – a crucial hormone to maintaining men’s health.

Results of new research by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center are in a recent edition of BJU International They say microsurgery can increase testosterone levels in these men.

“Varicoceles are a much more serious problem than previously thought. Low testosterone causes significant health problems in men. Besides causing low energy, decreased muscle strength and sexual problems, it is a major risk factor for osteopenia/osteoporosis and can also cause changes in cognitive and psychological function, in particular, depression,” says Dr. Marc Goldstein, who initiated and led the study.

Varicoceles usually first appear during or shortly after puberty, explains Dr. Goldstein. “The common wisdom has been to leave them alone unless they are causing pain or infertility. But, as a result of our study, I recommend that teenagers and men with serious varicoceles be referred to a male reproductive urologist experienced in microsurgical varicocelectomy. It is much easier to prevent future fertility problems and low testosterone than wait until the damage has already occurred.”

In the study, Dr. Goldstein and his colleagues measured the preoperative testosterone levels of 325 men with varicoceles and in 510 men without varicoceles. They found that men at every age with varicoceles had significantly lower testosterone levels (416 vs. 469 ng/dL) than the comparison group. After undergoing microsurgical varicocelectomy, testosterone levels significantly increased in 70 percent of the patients, with a mean increase of 178 ng/dL.

“This research indicates that varicocele surgery, at the least, prevents further deterioration of testosterone production,” says Dr. Cigdem Tanrikut, one of the authors of the study.

Signs of ovarian cancer

• Nausea, vomiting, fatigue and losing weight

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding

• Fluid accumulation in the abdomen

• Pain in legs or feet if pelvic nerves are affected

Source: MedlinePlus/NIH

CANCER

Continued from page 3

need of care, I masked under the influence of ‘My Mom Needs Me,’” she said.

“I had every symptom of ovarian cancer known – the bloating, the heavy bleeding; the weight loss – but we now know that a pap smear will not diagnose ovarian cancer.”

After her radical hysterectomy to remove a cancerous tumor the size of a grapefruit, McGhee said she left Chicago to attend her mother’s funeral in St. Louis, and returned back to Chicago for chemo.

The cancer returned a year later, in 2010, and McGhee completed her scheduled appearances before more surgery and chemo.

“I call it The Curious Case of Cancer,” McGhee described. “I started to think of chemo like a carwash. You can get the $5 wash, the $6 wash, the $7 wash, right? But if you pay for the $7 wash, they got this extra blaster on the side. But when you come out, there’s still going to be some little particles of dirt and dust around. And that’s what I think of chemo inside of my body. Like we are washing to get all of these bad cells out, but we might not get all of them. And that’s where I am right now — they didn’t get all of them.”

Her father, best friend and family in St. Louis and involvement in support groups are providing strong emotional support through now her third bout, which occurred six months ago.

McGhee’s experiences incited a new voice, another monologue – this time about the commonalities among everyone who has a form of “The Big C.”

“After your initial diagnosis, there are some universal themes that we all share: depression is depression; chemo is chemo; having your body cut and then body parts removed … I had to find some sort of way to make this work for me,” McGhee said.

One way is point out the cultural differences in dealing with chemo.

“I loved my curly mane, but I don’t remember anyone mentioning you would lose hair there too. I am not missing the hair on my head – I am missing the hair on my pocketbook, and that’s a big thing for women,” McGhee said.

“And I notice when I go for chemo that most of the black women wear wigs and most of the white women are bald.”

And after talking about it at the Missouri Black Expo in August in St. Louis, McGhee said when the Cancer Monologues rolls out this Fall, it will include her presentation and Q & Abetween a doctor and the audience.

“When women and when men leave, they leave knowing more than when they came,” McGhee explained. “I think telling the truth, finally, through my grace is what I should be doing now – telling my truth.

“Our body speaks to us loud and clear. We are not listening.”

For more information, visit the American Cancer Society at cancer.org or the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at www.ovarian.org.

Sistas are preparing to strut

The second annual Sista Strut Breast Cancer walk takes place in St. Louis on Saturday, October 1 at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For participants who registered before the Last Chance registrations, t-shirts are available for pick-up at Macy’s at the St. Louis Galleria Mall on the following dates:

Thursday, September 15, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, September 16, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, September 17, 3.p.m. - 6 p.m.

To pick up a t-shirt, please keep in mind the following requirements: In order to pick up a shirt, you must bring your e-mail confirmation or receipt.

If you’re picking up shirts for someone else, please bring their email confirmation, receipt or a copy of their identification.

For multiple shirt pickup, organizers said please make sure you have ready the names and contact numbers of each person’s shirt you are picking up for easy verification.

For team registration, only the team captain is able to pick-up shirts.

If you can’t attend a t-shirt pick-up event, your t-shirt will be available for pick-up the day of Sista Strut, October 1, between 8 a.m.10a.m.

Last Chance registrants will be available on event day at the Missouri History Museum on Sat. Oct. 1. On site registrations will be available at $18 per person by credit card or money order only.

The Sista Strut rally begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Proceeds from the event benefit The Breakfast Club, an African American breast cancer support group.

For more information, visit www.SistaStrutSTL.com.

New link found between Parkinson’s and prostate cancer

University of Utah School of Medicine researchers have found evidence that Parkinson’s disease is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer and melanoma, and that this increased cancer risk also extends to close and distant relatives of individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic condition that leads to tremors and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. Most studies demonstrate that individuals with PD have an overall decreased rate of cancer, with the notable exception of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Previous research has suggested a possible genetic link between PD and melanoma, but these studies have been limited to first-degree relatives who often share a similar environment, making it difficult to distinguish between genetic and environmental risk factors.

“Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease may share common disease-causing mechanisms with some cancers,” says Dr. Stefan-M. Pulst, professor and chair of the department of neurology, at the University of Utah, and co-author of the study.

“Rather than relying on patient interviews for family medical history, we were able to use the UPDB, along with statewide registries of cancer and death, to look for links between PD and cancer,” said Lisa Cannon-Albright, PhD, University of Utah professor of internal medicine, division chief of genetic epidemiology, and co-author of the study.

“Collectively, these data strongly support a genetic association between PD and both prostate cancer and melanoma.”

– Dr.Stefan-M.Pulst, professor and chair of the department of neurology, at the University of Utah

“Using the Utah Population Database, we were able to explore the association of PD with different types of cancer by studying cancer risk in individuals with PD, as well as their close and distant relatives.”

The Utah Population Database (UPDB) includes birth, death, and family relationship data for over 2.2 million individuals, including genealogy data from the original Utah pioneers. Some of the records in this computerized database extend back over 15 generations, making the UPDB a useful resource for studying genetic risk. The UPDB is also linked with the Utah Cancer Registry and Utah death certificates dating back to 1904.

The study teamscreened the UPDB to identify nearly 3000 individuals with at least three generations of genealogical data who had PD listed as their cause of death. The researchers discovered that the risk of prostate cancer and melanoma within this PD population was significantly higher than expected. They also observed an increased risk for prostate cancer and melanoma among first-, second-, and third-degree relatives of these individuals with PD, although the excess risk for melanoma in third-degree relatives did not reach statistical significance.

The researchers also identified individuals who were diagnosed with either melanoma or prostate cancer to evaluate their risk for death with PD. They found that these individuals, as well as all their relatives, had a significantly increased risk for death with PD.

“Collectively, these data strongly support a genetic association between PD and both prostate cancer and melanoma,” says Pulst.

“Our findings point to the existence of underlying pathophysiologic changes that are common to PD, prostate cancer, and melanoma,” says Cannon-Albright.

“Exploring the precise genetic links among these diseases could improve our understanding of PD and influence strategies for prostate and skin cancer screening.”

Thurs. Sept. 15, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. - Free Prostate and Glucose Screenings and men’s health information at Christian Hospital Physician Office Building 2 Cancer Care Center Lobby, 11125 Dunn Road. Call 314-747-WELL(9355) to make a reservation.

Sat. Sept. 17, 8 a.m. - NCCS 5K Charity Run forthe National Children’s CancerSociety, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Pre-registration is $20 and race day is $25. Race begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call 314-446-5222 or email jmeurer@theNCCS.org or register online at www.theNCCS.org/5Kcharity run.

Tues. Sept. 20, 4 - 7 p.m. Free prostate screenings by SSM CancerCare at Dave Sinclair Lincoln Mercury in St. Peters, Mo. SSM Breast Care will also be on-hand if any women would like to receive a free breast cancer risk assessment. To register, call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (1-866-776-3627).

Thurs. Sept. 22, 6 p.m. - Saint Louis University School of Public Health

CALENDAR

Annual Scholarship Dinnerand Awards Ceremony, Busch Student Center. Tickets are $75 per person. Featured speaker is Michael Fraser, Ph.D., C.A.E., CEO of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. For more information, call Grace Findley at 314-977-8302 or email ghutchi3@slu.edu.

Sat. Sept. 24, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Health & Resource Fair, Shalom Church City of Peace, 5491 N. Highway 67 (Lindbergh), Florissant, Mo. Health screenings to include mammograms (by appointment); HIV/AIDS, Head, Skin and Neck Cancer; Sickle Cell Anemia and Mental Health. Free smoking cessation classes; emergency/disaster preparedness info and resources for Alzheimer’s and dementia. For more information, call 314-653-2300 or visit www.shalomccop.org.

Sat. Sept. 24, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Make Me Beautiful Event for breast and kidney cancer patients, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1444 S. Compton, St. Louis, 63104. Services include facials,

make-up artists, hand/back massages, mini manicures, temporary tattoo artists, no-cost health screenings; giveaways, raffles, entertainment and more. All cancer patients get one free ticket and one free spa treatment of their choice. For others, tickets are $2 in advance; $3 at the door. All spa treatments are $3. For more information call PatchQuilt at 314256-9380.

Saturdays, until Sept. 24, 1-3 p.m.Free pediatric health clinic that is student-run by the Human Resource Center. Free school physicals, immunizations, and other health screens by SLU and Cardinal Glennon physicians. The clinic is located at 1371 Hamilton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63112. For inquiries, call 314-389-0008.

Tues. Sept. 27, 4 - 7 p.m. Free prostate screenings by SSM CancerCare at Dave SinclairFord in South St. Louis County. SSM Breast Care will also be on-hand if any women would like to receive a free breast cancer risk assessment. To register, call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (1-866-776-3627).

Sat. Oct. 1, 8:30 a.m. - Sista Strut 2nd Annual 3K Breast CancerWalk at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Proceeds benefit The Breakfast Club, an African American breast cancer support group. After 8:30 rally, the Strut begins at 10. On-site registration is $18 per person. No cash or checks accepted; credit cards and money orders only.For more information, go to www.kmjm.com.

Sat. Oct. 1, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. –Bowling Out Cancer-Women’s Cancer Awareness Luncheon, Christian Hospital Paul F. Detrick Bldg., 11133 Dunn Rd. Free to attend, but please register at 314-747-WELL(9355) or 1-877747-WELL(9355).

Sat. Oct. 1, 3 p.m. - Walk forLupus Now, by the Lupus Foundation of America, Heartland Chapter in Carondelet Park in St. Louis. The walk begins at 4:00 pm, rain or shine. To register, visit www.LFAHeartland.org.

Oct. 5, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., 2nd Annual Health Literacy Tribute Awards luncheon by Health Literacy Missouri at The Palladium, 1400 Park Place, St. Louis. For more information, call 314-361-9400; email info@healthliteracymissouri.org or visit www.healthliteracymissouri.org.

Sun. Oct. 9, 9 a.m. – Central West End 5K Run to the End – Just forthe Health of It. Event starts at the corner of Maryland and Euclid avenues in St.

Louis. Cost is $25 per person by Sept. 30 and $30 the week of the race. For more information, call 314-361-9400 or visit http:www.healthliteracymissouri.org.

Fri. Oct. 14, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Saint Louis ConnectCare Cocktail Party, annual fundraising event for St. Louis ConnectCare, at Highland Golf and Tennis Center in Forest Park. Event includes entertainment, heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar; silent and live auction. Ticket prices are $100 –Regular; $125-Friends; and $150 –V.I.P. For more information, contact Rosetta Keeton at 314-879-6231 or rxk2630@stlconnectcare.org.

Sat. Oct. 15, 8 a.m. – MBU Run for Ronald 5K run/walk, on the campus of Missouri Baptist University at 1 College Park Drive, St. Louis, 63141 to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House on the campus of St. John’s Mercy Children’s Hospital. The cost is $15 and $20 after Sept. 15. To register, call (314) 392-2304 or via-email at myersl@mobap.edu.

Sat. Oct. 15, 8th Annual CCDC Health Fair by Calvary Community Development Corporation, 2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in St. Louis. For more information, go to www.calvarycdc.org.

Sat. Oct. 29, 9 a.m. – Making Strides Against Breast CancerRun/Walk in Forest Park /Upper Muny Parking Lot–St. Louis. For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at http://tinyurl.com/ACSmakingstrides.

Sundays, 10 a.m., Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109 meets in the 11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road at I270/Hwy. 367. This is an open meeting for alcoholics, drug addicts and their family and friends.

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

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Help fora drug-free life - chemical dependency information meeting. Call 314-8393171.

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

EALTHY RECIPE

Whole wheat pasta with garbanzo beans

Serves 4

8 oz. of whole-wheat penne pasta

1 Bunch of Swiss Chard

1 10oz can of Garbanzo beans

1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil

1 pint cherry tomatoes

2 garlic cloves

1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese Salt and Pepper, to taste

Cook Pasta according to package directions.

• Sauté garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Add Swiss chard, tomatoes and garbanzo beans.

• Cook until heated through about 10 minutes

• Toss with pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Per serving: 300 calories, 8 g total fat (2.2 saturated fat), 48 g carbohydrates, 13 g protein, 5 g dietary fiber, 213 mg sodium

Food Outreach continues to be the only nonprofit organization in the greater St. Louis area that focuses on providing critical nutritional support to individuals with a life-threatening illness.Through a combination of prepared meals, groceries and nutrition counseling, the organization is able to enhance the quality of life of low income men, women and children living with cancer or HIV/AIDS.The on-staff chef and on-staff registered dietitian work together to develop menusthat are tailored to the specific nutrition needs of Food Outreach clients.Food Outreach is on pace to provide 410,000+ nutritious meals to 1,500 clients residing in 137 Missouri and Illinois zip codes in 2009. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www.foodoutreach.org

PROFILING PEOPLE IN HEALTH

Respiratory therapist develops skills through SSM St. Mary’s

Bessevelyn M.Tables.MD

Position/Where:

Family Medicine Physician at Mercy Clinic Family Medicine Hazelwood 801 Hazelwest Dr., Suite 100; St. Louis, Mo. 63042

CareerHighlights:

Co-chief resident Mercy Family Medicine 2010-2011

Resident Recruitment Committee 2010-2011

Board Certified

Awards:

• Frank M. Hull Award for Excellence in Biology, University of Mississippi-2000

• Dr. Rodney M. Coe Award with Distinction in Community Service, Saint Louis University School of Medicine-2008

• Dr. John H. Gladney Diversity Award, Saint Louis University School of Medicine Multicultural Affairs-2008

• Dr. Donald W. Bussmann Award, Saint Louis University School of Medicine-2008

• Dr. Joseph J. Lauber Service Award, Mercy Family Medicine Residency-2011

Education:

• BS in Biology—University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

• ASCPcertified medical technologist—- Northeast Mississippi Medical Center

• Medical School—Saint Louis University School of Medicine

• Family Medicine Residency—-St. John’s Mercy Medical Center Department of Family

Personal:

• Daughter of Mr. Charles Glen and Dr. Bessie E. Tables

• Four brothers and two sisters

• Engaged to Maurice Redden, MD

• Attends New Sunny Mount M.B. Church

• Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

St. Louis Connection:

I relocated to St. Louis in July 2004 to attend medical school at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. When I arrived I was told that it was a place that I would not be able to leave. I made plans to leave St. Louis in 2008 and then again in 2010; however, God said differently. I have come to believe that this is home.

Yourjourney to success that got you where you are:

I grew up in the small town of Potts Camp, Miss. I attended both elementary and high school at Hickory Flat Attendance Center in Hickory Flat, Miss.

Growing up in a rural community, I received primary medical care from a nurse practitioner. She practiced quality medicine while making each person feel as if he/she were her only patient. It was from my encounters with Mrs. Sue Morrison that I became interested in medicine. My mother insisted that I attend summer enrichment programs.

I had decided at an early age that I wanted to become a physician, and that resolve was strengthened in high school. I have an older sister and an older brother both have careers in medicine, a registered nurse and a medical technologist respectively. Gaining increased medical exposure through their career experiences solidified my decision to pursue a degree in medicine.

However, as I neared the completion of my degree at the University of Mississippi, I decided that I was not going to continue my original pursuit of a medical career. Instead I chose an alternate path during which time I worked as a biologist for USDA-NPRU, as a medical technologist and a youth counselor. But in 2003, I was unable to ignore the voice of God as He called me to stay true to my life’s calling. I then began preparing for the MCATand the medical school interview process. In August 2004, I was a member of the entering class at Saint Louis University School of Medicine

As a medical student, I was devoted to empowering patients by helping them increase their knowledge regarding their medical conditions and promoting preventative care. Among the things with which I was involved as a medical student include SNMA, a lead coordinator for the Health Resource Center (student organized free clinic for underserved people), and HIVawareness. I also helped to organize and volunteered at health fairs. As a resident at St. John’s Mercy Department of Family Medicine, evidence-based medicine and quality patient care was a priority.

Currently, I am one of four physicians practicing at Mercy Clinic Family Medicine in Hazelwood, Mo. I see patients of all ages (pediatrics to geriatrics). My special interests include: preventative medicine, weight loss and women’s health issues. I am interested in working to organize monthly patient education classes.

I have been fortunate that I have not had to make this journey on my own. My family, my friends and my church have been and continue to be extremely supportive. Most importantly, God has been with me through it all, and having Him there has made the difference.

Bessevelyn M.Tables,MD

Breast Cancer

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

Behavioral

Christian Hospital offers free and confidential psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. The hospital has a geriatric psychiatric unit dedicated to serving the mental health needs of geriatric patients. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

Christian Hospital Key Program is for patients with chronic mental illness. The program offers support and education to prevent increased severity of symptoms and to reduce the need for rehospitalization. Call confidentially to 314-839-3171 or 1-800-447-4301.

Crime Victim Advocacy Center provides no cost support for persons who have been affected by criminal acts. Emil peggy@supportvictims.org, visit or call the 24-hour hotline 314-OK-BE-MAD

HEALTH RESOURCES

(652-3673) or visit www.supportvictims.org.

Diabetes

SSM St. Mary’s Health Center provides free, open-to-the-public Diabetes Support Group sessions the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m., overseen by certified diabetes educators to address health management issues. It’s located at Meeting Room 1 on the second floor, 6420 Clayton Rd. in St. Louis. To register, call toll free 866-SSM-DOCS (866-776-3627).

Free, diabetes education program held at various locations by the Diabetes Network of St. Louis. Participants will be offered testing and support for diabetes control. Six sessions will cover monitoring your blood sugar, controlling complications of diabetes, living a healthy life through diet and exercise, and personal goal setting. Call Coco Bopp 314-747-9533 for information.

Dental

Free Dental Hygiene Clinic - No charge dental exams, x-rays, cleanings and other

dental services for children and adults provided by dental students at Missouri College. Patients needing more extensive dental work (like fillings, crowns, etc.) will be referred to local dentists. For an appointment, call 314-768-7899.

Fitness

Coed Jazzercise - $1 per session on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center, 1350 S. Lafayette (behind Yacovelli’s). For more information, call 314-921-6825.

Information

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

Medical

St. Louis ConnectCare offers walk-in services Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and most holidays. For more information, call 314-879-6300.

Salam Free Saturday Clinic, 10 a.m. –2 p.m. at the Isom Community Center at

Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 916 N. Newstead, St. Louis, Mo. for those who are uninsured. For more information, call 314-533-0534.

Nutrition

Food Outreach provides food, meals and nutritional education/ counseling to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS or cancer in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www.foodoutreach.org.

Angel Food Ministries operates in hundreds of churches nationwide and offers heat and serve meals, canned and fresh food boxes at a reduced cost. Find the nearest locations by zip code at www.angelfoodministries.com.

Prostate Cancer

The Cancer Center of The Empowerment Network, located on the lower level at 6000 W. Florissant, provides information on prostate and other types of cancer. Also available are free mammogram and PSAtesting certificates, for use at any Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Center. For information, call 314-385-0998.