Gary Crusader 1-21-2017 by The Crusader Newspaper Group

GARY CRUSADER 1-21-2017.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 1/19/17 1:36 AM Page 1

Holloway and Dillard receive Drum Major Awards

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Huge turnout for youth summit on Cyberbullying

(See pages 8)

Blacks Must Control Their Own Community

(See pages 9)

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VOLUME LV NUMBER 39 —SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

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Black leaders boycott Trump’s Inauguration By Erick Johnson Some of the nation’s most prominent Black lawmakers in Washington are gearing up to boycott the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, ushering in a new, aggressive era of Black activism in what many fear will be a tumultuous period for civil rights leaders. The Black political boycott joins a roster of entertainers and celebrities who are not performing or attending Trump’s inauguration. While members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) aim to make a statement to the nation’s Republican leadership, Black congressmen from Chicago remain undecided or mum on whether to join the boycott. It’s a tough decision for lawmakers who could later face reprisals from the Trump administration over the next four years. It could mean a lack of political and financial support for lawmakers seeking federal dollars for important projects. Many Black lawmakers aren’t backing down. As the nation’s first Black president, Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wrap up their historic term in the White House, race relations continue to intensify around the country and in the nation’s capital while Trump begins his populist agenda that many fear will be a major setback in gaining civil rights for minorities.

THE CAPITOL BUILDING once again will serve as the backdrop for the presidential inauguration, but many Black poltiical leaders will boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) With nearly a million spectators expected to gress continues to move to appeal the Affordwatch Trump sworn in as America’s 45th presi- able Care Act aka Obamacare and conservative dent, a growing number of angry Black law- Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions gains momentum in makers are staying away to protest while Con- being confirmed as the next U.S. Attorney

General. Two days before the Trump parades down Pennsylvania Avenue, some 58 Democrats had vowed not to attend his inauguration at the Capitol building. While some are minority and Hispanic lawmakers, most of them are part of the 49-member Congressional Black Caucus—the largest size in the organization’s storied history. The boycott effort intensified after Trump attacked prominent Civil Rights champion and Georgia Cong. John Lewis, who said the new president will be an “illegitimate” one because of alleged Russian interference in the November elections. In response, Trump said Lewis “is all talk, no action.” The war of words sent Black lawmakers to Lewis’ defense and added more to the list of inauguration boycotters, kicking off a new era of angry, intense politics under Trump’s leadership. Black lawmakers boycotting the ceremony come from Arizona to Illinois to Oregon. While Louisiana Cong. Cedric Richmond, current chairman of the CBC, considers skipping the ceremony, his predecessor, North Carolina Cong. G.K. Butterfield decided to boycott after engaging in “deep thought.” “I believe it would be hurtful to my constituents for me to attend the inauguration,” Butterfield tweeted. (Continued on page 2)

A Gary relic gets closer to a rebirth Abandoned City Methodist Church among three Gary finalists for $5 million grant By Erick Johnson For decades it stood as an abandoned symbol of Gary’s decline. The haunting, empty gothic sanctuary of the historic City Methodist Church has attracted gawkers, tourists, even Hollywood filmmakers seeking to capitalize on its grandiose interior that is now a creepy setting with its piles of rubble, and collapsed ceiling. Now, City Methodist Church, once the gracious site of Gary’s well-heeled before it was abandoned during an era of white flight, could become

a place where couples could exchange vows under towering columns and dance the night away under a roofless relic and a moonlit sky. It’s part of a proposal to transform one of Gary’s most prominent buildings into an open air space for a wedding and reception hall. If it succeeds, the project would turn a 92-year-old decaying landmark that for over 40 years served as an eerie attraction where history and hardship came together. Called the “Gary Ruins Garden,” the proposal took a big step to becoming a reality on January 17, when it’s creator, Gary Redevelopment Deputy Director Jack Eskin was selected as a finalist in the prestigious John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Cities Challenge, an annual national competition that encourages applicants to come up with ideas to make their city more successful. As it turns out, City Methodist Church was one of three entries from Gary that are among 144 fi(Continued on page 6)

CITY METHODIST CHURCH, long vacnat for decades, will have an open space ampitheater and reception hall, if a proposal wins the Knight Foundation’s Knight Cities Challlenge.

GARY CRUSADER 1-21-2017.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 1/19/17 1:36 AM Page 2

Financial bar raised for Gary’s school district Advisor predicts missing payrolls in February and March Contributed By: The 411 News With the school superintendent in the hospital and the financial advisor checking in by phone, both were far away from harsh criticism they would have faced if they had been in the same room with school board members at Tuesday’s night’s session. An expired insurance policy for school buildings and deeper cuts were on the table for the board that has four members experiencing onthe-job training. School board president Rosie Washington had read Supt. Cheryl Pruitt’s message at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ecumenical Service on Monday and Pruitt missed Tuesday’s working session on the budget. Gary teachers union president GlenEva Dunham said, “She’s sick, that’s all I know; probably stress.” Tackling the immediate crisis of the insurance policy that had expired January 15 and on the recommenda-

tion of financial advisor Jack Martin, the board had to consider approving a new building insurance proposal for a cheaper cost. The district could not meet the down payment of $218,000 that was required by the current provider to renew the policy, Martin said, and the board’s approval of the lower bid “would bind coverage tonight and give us some time on making the down payment.” New board member Norman Bailey said, “If we can get insurance tonight, we need to do that.” “If a building burns down tonight, we’d be lost,” said new member James Piggee. Robert Buggs, a new member said, “If we don’t act on this, we’re putting others at risk.” HARD AT WORK during a recent Gary Community School Corporation Board meeting is Carlos Tolliver, another new memGlenEva Dunham, president of Gary Teachers Union (standing) and seated are two new board ber, asked for a delay on the approval until their next meeting, but the members Norman Bailey and Carlos Tolliver. said. The school district and its state break. It also approved the closing board approved Martin’s recommen- dation. That the board was not notified legislators are working on a plan to of Watson Boys Academy, Jefferson of the impending policy lapse was get support from the state. If that Elementary, and New Tech High also a cause for alarm. “With this succeeds, it will restore scheduled School, the school within a school at the Gary Career Center at the we’re taking a source of revenue payrolls. Board member Nellie Moore was end of the school year in June. from another Gary business,” Rosie Washington said. “But when we infuriated. “We had a board meeting “Mr. Martin, are you assuming look at the numbers we had to go in December and approved all the that we’ll just keep on working,” with the lower bidder. Somebody cuts except moving service center asked Dunham. “You are totally out here should have known about this staff to satellite locations and to Roo- of order. This is not right. And I will policy lapsing. We need to find a sevelt. We’re sick and tired of this stop working with you.” Dunham chief financial officer to help run piecemeal stuff. We acted on every- said she had met with Martin late our district or we’ll find ourselves thing you and the superintendent last week and there was no mention again in this quagmire.” The dis- proposed. Now you’re coming back of missing payrolls. trict has not had a financial officer with Deep River.” Martin said he Before the discussion could conwas “only doing what the superin- tinue into shouting matches, Washfor more than a year. Martin caused even further alarm tendent asked and the more likely we ington gained order to move on to with the possibilities of paydays be- close them, the more likely we’ll get the next agenda item. The board will meet for another ing delayed. The district can meet money from the state.” In December, the school board ap- working session on Friday, January its next payroll on Friday, January 20 but future paydays in February proved the immediate closing of 20 at the school service center. The and March are in jeopardy, he said, Williams Annex during the winter meeting is open to the public. unless more cuts are made. The scheduled February 3 payroll will move to February 15 and the scheduled February 17th payroll GARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL Corporation Board Members will move to March 15. “After that we’re in no-man’s land,” Martin from l-r: Norman Bailey, Robert Buggs, and James Piggee.

Black leaders boycott Trump Inauguration (Continued from page 1) He joins California Cong. Maxine Waters, who has been perhaps the most vocal opponent and politician to skip Trump’s inauguration. On Jan. 15, Waters tweeted, “I never ever contemplated attending the inauguration or any activities associated w/ @realDonaldTrump. I wouldn’t waste my time. In Chicago, a spokesman for Cong. Danny K. Davis said as of Wednesday, the veteran politician had not decided whether to attend Trump’s inauguration. Another seasoned Black congressman in Chicago, Bobby Rush, could not be reached for this story. 2

In Los Angeles, Cong. Karen Bass tweeted out a poll asking constituents whether she should go to Trump’s presidential inauguration. Out of 17,118 votes on Tuesday, 83 percent who voted said “no” and 16 percent said “yes.” Other Black lawmakers boycotting the inauguration include: California’s Cong. Barbara Lee; Florida’s Congressmen Alcee Hastings and Frederica Wilson; Maryland’s Anthony G. Brown; Michigan’s Cong. John Conyers; Missouri’s Cong. William Clay Lacy; New Jersey’s Cong. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Donald M. Payne Jr.; North Carolina’s Cong. Alma Adams; Ohio’s Cong. Marcia

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

Fudge; and Pennsylvania’s Cong. Dwight Evans. Trump responded to boycotters by saying he will give away their tickets. In a conference call with reporters on Jan. 16, a spokesman for Trump’s transition team, Sean Spicer, said, “We’d love for every member of Congress to attend, but if they don’t, we’ve got some great seats for others to partake. It’s a shame that these folks don’t want to be part of the peaceful transfer of power.” One Black lawmaker who will attend the festivities is Missouri’s Cong. Emanuel Cleaver, who said he will go “out of respect for the peaceful transfer of power.” Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

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GARY CRUSADER 1-21-2017.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 1/19/17 1:36 AM Page 3

Reenvisioning The Dream By Dezimon Alicea Marvin Gaye’s record hit song “What’s Going On,” played as the background for the day on my radio as I pulled into the West Side School parking lot. This song also serves as the backdrop to racial tensions across the U.S. currently in 2017. Cars filled that lot, as people

was passed in 1863. King pulled on the heartstrings and consciousness of the more than 250,000 people in attendance; some white and many Black. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., King rang out the now famous words; “I Have A Dream.” The speech and persona of Dr. King were so impact-

toric Trinity Baptist Church in Gary and General Chairperson of the Ecumenical Committee. Students were in attendance as well. For most of them, they received a free day, since schools were closed in observance of Dr. King’s birthday. Before 1983, students would not have had this opportunity. Thanks to the persistence and diligence of Representa-

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING’S life and legacy was the topic of essays written by middle and high school students from the Gary area. Pictured left to right during ceremonies at the West Side Leadership Academy are Gloria Griffin, Reverend Carlos Reed, and Congressman Pete Visclosky, listening attentively as an essay is presented. THEY’RE ALL WINNERS as you can tell from their smiles. The young people pictured above represent high school and middle school students, who participated in a Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest and won monetary awards for their efforts. Reverend Carlos Reed and retired teacher Gloria Griffin (far left) presented their awards during a ceremony at the West Side Leadership Academy. arrived for service in honor of Dr. ful that they are still celebrated to- tive Katie Hall, Dr. King’s birthday Martin Luther King Jr. Our nation’s day. The man is celebrated, as well as became a national holiday. Having this day turned into a nafirst Black president is making his the dream he gave insight to during transition out of the White House, the course of his speech. Inside of tional holiday was to help younger yet the relations between whites and the West Side Theatre Guild, on the generations remember the work of Blacks are no different than they same stage where Mrs. King stood Dr. King. Those sentiments could were in the 1960’s during the height in 2004, men and women joined to- be heard within the sermon of Pasgether in honor of a man and his tor Cudjoe, the keynote speaker of of the Civil Rights Movement. During the Civil Rights Move- dream. The 48th Annual Ecumeni- the day’s event. While speaking with ment, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. cal Service honored the legacy of Dr. Pastor Cudjoe after the service he gave his famous, “I Have A Dream” King and saw people of different said that “We’ve forgotten some of speech that shaped modern America. ages reflecting on his efforts of the stories of Dr. King, we’ve forgotten some of his speeches, and we’ve His transformative words were rank- equality for people of color. Among those in attendance were forgotten some of the sacrifices he’s ed as the top speech of the 20th Century. And one can understand Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wil- made.” He also went on to say that why, during the course of his ora- son, Indiana Congressman Pete we must continue building on the tion Dr. King spoke to the racism Visclosky, Eddie Melton, Senator of foundation which Dr. King made. It’s ironic, that in just a few more that was still prevalent, even after the 3rd District of Indiana, Rev. the Emancipation Proclamation Dwight Gardner, Pastor of the his- days, we will see the first Black presi-

dent leave the oval office. But, it was just 54 years ago the very idea of a Black man serving in that high of a political office was just a dream. Rev. Dwight Gardner said before dismissing the people that the choir would usually sing, “We Shall Overcome” as the final song, but this year they chose to sing “Ain’t Gon Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” as people exited the building. Maybe that decision was made because in some people’s eyes, we have overcome. Whatever the reason, the spirit of triumph could be felt. As students left, there was a sense of remembering and reinventing. Remembering the past and reinventing their futures. Because of the strides of Dr. King and so many others, becoming President of the United States can not only be a dream, but it can become a constant reality.

BISHOP NORMAN HAIRSTON delivered remarks at West Side Leadership Academy on Monday, January 16. Bishop Hairston was part of a celebration honoring the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Open Letter on the IHSAA Ruling From a Student’s Perspective Dear IHSAA: The recent ruling by the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) prohibits every athlete in every sport at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy (TBLA) in Gary, Indiana from competing in state tournaments for the next two years. It also states that no junior or senior athlete can transfer because it would be for “athletic reasons.” These punishments are harsh and have left many heartbroken as if attempts are being made to crush our dreams. As an alternate on the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee and a student who is deeply impacted by these rulings, I felt it was my responsibility to speak up. I am a student athlete who plays both basketball and baseball. I also serve as Junior Class President and currently have a 4.0 grade point average. I believe www.garycrusader.com

in IHSAA rules and regulations but, I do have questions regarding the following: 1) The timing in which the penalty was announced 2) The method that was used to deliver the message 3) Why the penalties given affected every athlete in every sport in the school Not only was the gut-wrenching news delivered days before the Girls Sectional Drawing, but ironically on Friday the 13th and days before the nation would commemorate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many of the athletes in other sports wondered how a boys' basketball issue could affect their chances to compete. If this was just a boys' basketball issue, why did every sport get penalized? The news was sent out via YouTube video. As a student, given the severity of the news, I would

Langston Stalling have preferred to have heard it directly from our administrators or received a letter. Many athletes began to fill the hallways crying after viewing the announcement be-

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

cause it was devastating and very impersonal! As a student, I do not understand how the actions of individuals, who no longer work at our school, can harm every athlete at TBLA. I was always taught to do my part by going to school every day, attending practice, maintaining the grade requirements and respecting those who were in charge. In return, it was expected that those in leadership would follow the rules and meet the expectations of the IHSAA. I absolutely knew nothing of any wrongdoings, yet I am impacted drastically. As it seems, only the kids are affected. The adults can move on and get other jobs wherever they please, while the students are left to suffer the consequences. This is clearly unfair. On Friday, January 13, 2017, I was shocked about the news, and I was also heartbroken not only for me, but for my fellow classmates. To all the seniors who were count-

ing on the IHSAA tournaments to get them accepted to college and scholarship opportunities, their dreams are now deferred. What are they supposed to do? What am I supposed to do since I cannot transfer to another school? We are relying on the adults in positions of authority to work on correcting any infractions that occurred in the past to ensure that they never happen again. In the meantime, I do not believe that every sport should suffer or that we should have to wait two years before returning to IHSAA tournament play. I am respectfully asking IHSAA officials to reconsider it’s ruling for sports at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy and to recognize the innocent futures they are potentially ruining. Respectfully submitted, Langston Stalling

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

GARY CRUSADER 1-21-2017.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 1/19/17 1:36 AM Page 4

FAREWELL OBAMA, HELLO UNCERTAINTY Last week the nation celebrated the 88th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who, 54 years ago, was assassinated by unknown persons. James Earl Ray was accused of the deed, but after considerable research, it may be that he was not the culprit. Whatever the case, Dr. King’s assassination revealed the deep rifts in this country regarding race relations. Dr. King set the bar high; the strategies that he used were to encourage unity among the races in America. He spoke of a time when people would be assessed based on the content of their character. President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States and the 44th person to hold that position, ran on a platform of unity. In some ways, Obama can be seen to carry Dr. King’s vision forward. President Obama’s administration embraced diversity; he was a class act. There were a number of positive benefits gained by American citizens during his term in office. In addition to helping to enhance the economy, he passed landmark legislation that helped increase the number of Americans covered by healthcare by more than 20 million. Though his intentions were honorable, Republicans attempted to thwart him at every turn. In spite of that, President Obama served with honor and dignity. Ultimately, Donald Trump is threatening to dismantle Obama’s legacy. Donald Trump, who will have given his inaugural address by the time you read this, seems to be as negative as Obama was positive. Before he even took the oath of office, he had skirmishes with the press, the intelligence community, and civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, among others. Trump’s tirades on Twitter are legendary; it seems as though we can expect government by social media. Moreover, he has assembled a cabinet that looks like it came straight from the pit of social justice hell. The people that he has appointed represent the exact opposite of the direction in which the United States should be going if we are to experience a modicum of social justice at home. Trump has identified someone over education who has traditionally fought against public education and who has not been a teacher or administrator; he has appointed someone over the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who does not embrace the notion of climate change. He has vowed to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, which would take healthcare away from millions of Americans, he plans to develop a Muslim registry, and he has helped to increase animosity between the races. Trump gets into unnecessary fights and has defied the Republican status quo, especially regarding his business holdings and his refusal to release information about his taxes. He is a loose cannon, who is very unpredictable. He is so thin skinned that he becomes obsessed with revenge over real or imagined insults or slights. He has threatened to kick the media out of the pressroom when he ascends to power because the media dares to print objective criticism about him. A large number of Democrats threatened to boycott his inauguration and there was a Million Women March organized to demonstrate their opposition to his presidency. The most ominous threat of a Trump presidency, though, is his penchant for cozying up to enemies of the United States and for playing down threats to national security. He was slow to believe that the Russians tampered with our election. Also, it is very scary that he will have his hand on the nuclear button and can, in one move, order the destruction of life on this planet as we know it. All in all, Donald Trump’s administration portends to be one of the most divisive and dangerous in modern history. The idea of building a wall to keep immigrants out of the United States is really a metaphor for his approach to the world; he is more of a wall builder than a bridge builder. He seems to prefer blocking people rather than reaching out to them. Because of Trump’s apparent worldview and his promise to “Make America Great Again,” African Americans should make sure that the community has a game plan that will counter any changes that threaten the viability of the community. The most likely leverage is connected with economics. It is time for the Black community to grow up and to forge its own destiny as we careen headlong into a very uncertain future! A luta continua. 4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Trump’s nominee for labor secretary is a bad choice Dear Editor: •Donald Trump has nominated fast-food CEO Andrew Puzder to lead the Labor Department. This is a bad choice for working people. •This pick betrays the spirit of the Trump campaign and threatens to leave working people more vulnerable to abusive employers. •Puzder opposes raising the minimum wage and says workers don’t need overtime and should instead be happy with a “sense of accomplishment.” •Puzder has used his position and authority as a fast-food CEO to enrich himself at the expense of working people by violating labor law. One investigation found that more than half of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants reviewed weren’t paying workers what they were owed. •He refused to pay his managers the overtime they earned and said he’d like to replace human workers with machines, because machines “never take a vacation…there’s never a slipand-fall, or an age, sex or race discrimination case.” •People who work at his restaurants make poverty wages while he made

more money last year in one day than one of his full-time minimum wage workers makes in a year. •All of these reasons make Puzder unfit to run the agency tasked with protecting people at work. Thank you, Randy Hennings Rolling Prairie, Indiana

This is how it should be done

and follow their input. It also seems like the residents did an exceptional job in terms of cooperating. Too many times in instances such as this there is a lot of division - lifelong residents discounting the input of newcomers, families with children vs those without, and we wind up with more dissent than anything. The University Village groups, eight of (Continued on page 5)

GARY CRUSADER (U. S. P. S. 214-400)

Editor-Publisher

Dorothy R. Leavell Advertising Director

Dear Editor: The big news is the city’s University Park East neighborhood is going to get some major improvements. The bigger news is the improvements are recommended by the residents of the area. This is great because generally it is the municipality telling a neighborhood this is what we think you need and what you will get, like it or not. This time though, it was the residents who developed the improvement suggestions and successfully pursued a $500,000 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant, with the city’s assistance. To my way of thinking, this is how neighborhoods and neighborhood improvements should work. Residents of a neighborhood know far better the pluses and minuses of their area than developers or city planners. So, it only makes sense to seek

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

J.L. Smith

1549 Br oadw ay Gar y, Indiana 46407 219-885-4357 An independent newspaper serving the Southside Westside and Northside, printing the news impartially empowering what it believes to be right and appealling what it believes to be wrong without regard to party politics. Devoted to the Industrial, Educational, SocioPolitical and Educational advancement of Black people.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column is a gossip column. We ask that items contained herein be judged by individuals that read it as such and not as documented facts gathered by the news-gathering personnel of this publication. GUESS WHO’S NOT COMING? It appears President-elect and soon to be President Donald Trump will notably be missing several wellknown delegates and personalities at his presidential swearing in ceremony due to his mouth and/or opinions as to how other folks should run their business. It’s all over the place

Martin Luther King, III came out of Trump Tower. He told the media their meeting was only to discuss projects the two may deal with, but we’ll see down the road what type of deal he struck with him. The third met with him despite Trump’s statement about Congressman Lewis, who back in the civil rights days walked side by side with his father. -NoseyWHAT IS TRUMP UP TO?

Donald Trump that he and Congressman John Lewis of Georgia had words after Lewis made a statement that Trump was not the right person to be President of the United States. Well it’s a known fact Trump doesn’t take criti-

Of course, MLK III is not the first African American that’s been seen coming out of the Royal Trump Tower. Also, seen was TV, radio and game show host Steve Harvey exiting the

Congressman John Lewis cism well. He tweeted back that Representative Lewis needed to run his state’s business and stay out of his. Since Congressman Lewis heard what Trump said, he has announced that he will not be attending the inauguration ceremony, along with 58 other Democrats in government and counting.

I DON’T THINK MLK, JR. WOULD AGREE Nosey is wondering what Civil Rights Leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is thinking about his son and namesake MLK, III after he was photographed by paparazzi as he www.garycrusader.com

Kanye West elevator with Trump walking side by side. Kanye West is another one who has met with Trump. Guess we’ll have to wait to see what they are really cooking up and who else will cross over. -Nosey-

BON APPETITE - IT’S CHEF’S SURPRISE Now Nosey doesn’t know if this is true or not, but word is that the morning breakfast served during the 2017 MLK Scholarship Breakfast held at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago attended by quite a few digni-

taries and well-known personalities cost a pretty penny. Naturally you would expect a nice meal. Well, several years ago guests were only served oatmeal and orange juice, which many thought was the first course until the program was over and they realized that was it! This year guests were served a breakfast that looked

like a “Chef’s Surprise.” Some say it was hash brown, sausage, bacon, eggs and an assortment of breads. Others aren’t sure because it was all mushed together. I guess it isn’t true you get what you pay for? -Nosey-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Continued from page 4) them, appear to have collaborated and set priorities for what they would like to see done. The other really cool aspect of this is city officials have said this process will be a prototype for improving other parts of the city. Personally, that kind of thinking will really transform the city and excite people. Folks will feel they have ownership in whatever improvements come about. We know when people own things they tend to take better care of those things. Everyone involved seems to understand that the talked about improvements will take time, and they are OK with that. The people at City Hall are showing a lot of vision as they are giving us information about potential future projects. What they are talking about, removing blight, new street lights, better drainage, are all doable and not some pie-in-the-sky type promises. They also are attempting to work with the school district to market vacant schools in the area. As long as I have been in Gary, I can’t recall this sort of cooperation between the district and City Hall. There is no doubt it is long overdue.

Steve Harvey

-Nosey-

SEATED LEFT TO right at the 2017 Rainbow PUSH annual MLK Breakfast in Chicago are Reverend Jesse Jackson, Chicago Cardinal Blasé Cupich, and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.

With all this good news there is still the worry that once the president-elect takes office if he will allow federal dollars, especially from HUD to continue to flow to Gary as they have in the past several years. Mark Plate

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

A welcomed surprise Dear Editor: I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised when I read the news about the Lake County Drug Task Force making a record haul in confiscations and not once was Gary mentioned. The $1.2 million the task force took in last year seems like it was a product of smart police work, not traditional police work. With smart policing, law enforcement officials use research and anecdotal information to learn where a problem is and then they come up with a strategy to address it, and hopefully eliminate the problem. What we have seen traditionally, regardless of the law enforcement agency, is a focus on Gary because somebody surely is doing something wrong. Yes, they would come up with some arrests and some drugs, but not nearly as large as what was collected last year. I am not saying that Gary is without its own drug problem, but it is refreshing to see law enforcement admit we are not the only drug offenders in the county. Now, that the task force recognizes that maybe its leaders will pay some attention to Gary, work with our police department, and Lake County will have fewer drug-related issues all the way around. By learning where the problem really was in 2016, the task force’s work likely saved a lot of lives and it shut down a pipeline that was feeding

high school and university students. I am not going to question whether the focus on other communities is a result of the suburban opioid epidemic sweeping the country. I am just glad task force officials recognized the white suburbanites with their high levels of disposable incomes are buying more and larger quantities of drugs than their urban counterparts. Equally important, at least to me, was the significant number of arrests of Lake County gang members. By taking nearly 100 of these types off the streets, even temporarily makes for a better quality of life for everyone. It is easy to applaud the task force’s actions. At the same time though, I can’t help but think the county can do more if its officials are serious about reducing drug use. One thing it can do is devote resources to education regarding illicit drugs. Officials also should give a hard look to substance abuse treatment programs throughout Lake County. If the county simply keeps locking up people and not helping them get treatment, or doesn’t help prevent the potential first-time user from picking up a needle or pipe, then it is only doing half the job. In essence, it is creating a revolving door. Arrests are great, but arrests paired with treatment or counseling is much greater. In no way do I want to discount the fine work of the task force, but we all must admit there is more to be done. Martha Jefferson

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

GARY CRUSADER 1-21-2017.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 1/19/17 1:36 AM Page 6

Community Civility Counts will hold its second annual World Civility Day Community Civility Counts will hold its second annual World Civility Day events on Thursday, April 13, 2017 A full-day of civility-themed activities and an awards dinner in the

evening will be held at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond and Avalon Manor in Merrillville. Community Civility Counts started as an initiative of the Gary Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee and it has expanded to

include many partners, both locally and nationally. It was launched in 2015 at a press conference held in the Gary Chamber board room. “As the executive director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce and speaking on behalf of our board of

3rd Annual Savor the South Shore

Call for restaurants to participate in restaurant weeks promotion The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is once again presenting Savor the South Shore – Restaurant Weeks and is seeking restaurants to participate. More than 30 restaurants participated in last year’s 14-day culinary celebration along the South Shore. Savor the South Shore takes place from February 20 to March 5 and offers diners discounted 3-course menus. Restaurants wishing to partici-

pate in the two-week promotion can submit their menu information by visiting www.alongthesouthshore.com/savor. The form includes menu price points and specifics, hours available and whether a special lunch menu will be offered. Participation is free and open to all restaurants located in northwest Indiana offering lunch and/or dinner. Participating restaurants will also have their menus featured on the Savor the South Shore webpage: www.alongthesouthshore.com/savor. Restaurants will also be promoted on the Savor the South Shore Facebook

page, www.facebook.com/SavorSouthShore and the VIP Text List. Those interested in signing up for the VIP Text List can text “Savor” to 36000 (standard text rates apply). Savor the South Shore provides restaurants the opportunity to attract new customers and highlight specialty menu items and pairings. Restaurant week sponsorship is also available. Contact Heather Becerra, chief marketing officer with the South Shore CVA by calling 219-9897770.

directors, I am elated over the scope and success of the Community Civility Counts initiative,” said Chuck Hughes. “We could not have envisioned early on that CCC would now be recognized in several areas of the world.” Its first World Civility Day event, April 14, 2016, was sold out with 300 people from Indiana and nine other states and three countries. UN Ambassador Dr. Clyde Rivers gave the keynote address at the packed Majestic Star Casino ballroom in Gary. Dr. Rivers is expected to return for the second World Civility Day. World Civility Day on April 13, 2017, will include a kickoff lunch and workshops at the Indiana Welcome Center. Workshop themes will include civility in the classroom and

workplace civility. The dinner, held at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville, will include featured speakers and the first awards presented by Community Civility Counts. The National Civility Center is a partner and sponsor of the day. Sponsorships and tickets are available through the Gary Chamber of Commerce at (219) 885-7407. Tickets are $25 for the afternoon lunch and workshops and $60 for the dinner and can be obtained by calling the chamber. To follow the activities of Community Civility Counts, or if you have any questions, contact the Chamber office at (219) 885-7407. You can also visit and like the Civility Counts page on Facebook.

A Gary relic gets closer to a rebirth (Continued from page 1) nalists from cities across the country. The other two entries are “Ballpark Plaza,” an idea to turn a vacant lot across the street from the U.S. Steel Yard on 5th Avenue east of Broadway into an outdoor entertainment center and farmer’s market. The project was submitted by Brenda Scott-Henry, director of Gary’s Department of Environmental and Green Urbanism Affairs. Scott-Henry submitted on behalf of Kenneth A. Pharr, who died in December. The third proposal, “In Love with Gary, Indiana,” would establish the city as a unique and inexpensive urban wedding destination. Submitted by Dana Crawford of SmithGroup JJR, the project aims to boost economic opportunities in Gary and change the city’s narrative. For the second consecutive year, Detroit and Philadelphia top the list of finalists, with 21 and 20 proposals respectively. San Jose, California, represented with eight projects. Applicants from Charlotte, North Carolina produced 12 finalists, according to the foundation’s website. It’s unclear 6

whether this is the first year that Gary has had a finalist or if this was the most the city has had in the competition’s three-year history. Competition in the challenge is so intense that just being named a finalist is an honor in itself. The foundation received 4,500 applicants for 2017, surpassing the amount in the competition’s inaugural year in 2015. If the judges say “I do” to the City Methodist Church wedding proposal or the other Gary finalists, the winner will share $5 million in earnings for their projects. The winner will be announced in the Spring. The history and mystique of City Methodist Church may just put the proposal over the top. Renowned photographers and filmmakers are attracted to the grandiose and urban scenery. Built in 1925 when Gary was a bustling steel town, City Methodist Church’s congregation included the city’s predominately white elite and movers and shakers. Located just off Broadway at 577 Washington St., the traditional English Gothic, nine-story church was built by Rev. William G. Seaman, who said the structure would last forever.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

The building cost $1 million to build, nearly $14 million today. With an auditorium, basketball gym, offices majestic fireplaces, ornate windows and fine masonry, City Methodist Church at the time was considered Gary’s finest place of worship. However, because of segregation and Jim Crow laws, Blacks did not worship at City Methodist Church. As Gary’s population became predominately Black in the 1960s, City Methodist’s affluent worshippers left the church and the city during a period of white flight. The congregation of the church dramatically shrank and re-

maining congregants could no longer afford the upkeep of the building. A committee held a meeting in October 1974 and decided to relocate and close the church on January 3rd, 1975. The building was sold to Indiana University as a campus extension but nothing was done with it. According to historians with Preserve Indiana, the building was used sporadically as a church by another congregation. Historians say it was also used as a local dance center and a halfway home for underprivileged children and single parents, but it eventually fell into abandonment and disuse. Gary eventually took ownership of

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

the building after B&R Realty in Gary turned it over to the city. Over the years, the elegant building became the home for vagrants and homeless persons. In 1997, the roof collapsed as a fire ripped through the building. Since then, City Methodist has continued to decline, but even as the building slipped further into disrepair, it became more attractive to tourists, photographers and filmmakers. The remnants of City Methodist have been featured in numerous photo shoots. History buffs say the building has been featured in a dozen of movies, including "Nightmare on Elm Street” and "Transformers 3.” With falling rubble and aging infrastructure, city officials erected a 10-foot fence around the property to keep tourists and gawkers out, saying the building is unsafe. Onlookers occasionally slip through the fence to take a risky glimpse of the grand and splendor of a bygone era. Too expensive to preserve or even demolish, City Methodist remains abandoned and unused. There was talk of turning it into a ruin garden, but nothing ever materialized. www.garycrusader.com

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Words of Dr. King continue to resonate in challenges to Black America CIRCLE CITY CONNECTION By Vernon A. Williams Martin Luther King, Jr. did not seek leadership. When the need arose, leadership of Montgomery, Alabama sought him. Dr. King had no martyr complex, but he recognized that in order to live fully, men and women must be committed to something worthy of laying your life on the line for. Dr. King taught us that to reorder our thinking to Kingdom priorities, we must recognize that greatness is solely the measure of one’s willingness to be the most humble servant, and out of that humility emerges rejection of second-class citizenship. Hypocritically, the nation today places Dr. King on a silver platter. But the truth is that he was subjected

to scorn, ridicule, and vilification from whites throughout his heroic ordeal, typified by the disrespect of Chicago Mayor Daley and Dr. King’s assault during open housing marches in Cicero. Dr. King was victim of a home bombing in Atlanta and incessant threats on his life followed him even as he was under constant harassment by the FBI. Not all his detractors were white. More militant Black leaders – such as Kwame Toure (Stokely Carmichael), El Hajj Malik (Malcolm X) and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell III mocked him as “Martin Looser King” while hate-filled white bigots in the south hung him in effigy under the taunting signage: “Martin Luther Coon.” Even more conservative, establishment-sanctioned African American Vernon A. Williams leadership renounced and rained criticism on Dr. King. When Dr. King from the chorus of “Black Power” denounced but refused to disengage emerging from a younger generation of Black activists, African American civil rights leaders like Whitney Young of the National Urban League and Roy Wilkins of the NAACP grew increasingly uncomfortable with him. will be able to benefit from subseContrary to Black bourgeois leadquent state funding opportunities. ers, Dr. King believed that it was too The event is set from 11 a.m. to simplistic to scapegoat the radical 2:30 p.m. at Blue Chip Casino, 777 pleas of black youth for the public Blue Chip Drive, Michigan City. policy failings of a federal governEarly bird registration is $30 before ment that was not genuinely interFeb. 1. Registrations received be- ested in social equality. The all-too tween Feb. 2 and Feb. 10 will be familiar tune of “cooperation from $35. below will lead to change from Registration, sponsorship and vendor booth reservations are available online at www.southshorecleancities.org under the “Events” tab. For more information, contact Catherine Yoder at (219) 644-3690 or cyoder@southshoreclean-cities.org.

Annual meeting set for South Shore Clean Cities Event lauds clean fuel leaders, environmental successes South Shore Clean Cities will present awards to clean transportation and energy leaders from throughout Northern Indiana at its annual meeting February 14 at Blue Chip Casino, representatives announced recently. “South Shore Clean Cities members are shining examples of how business, government and environmental responsibility can work in harmony to boost economic development, create cleaner air and enhance quality of life,” South Shore Clean Cities Executive Director Carl Lisek said. “Our annual meeting recognizes local leaders, highlights innovative projects and inspires others to take similar action through networking opportunities.” The annual meeting celebrates the successes of South Shore Clean Cities members in increasing the use of clean fuels and clean fuel vehicles, reducing dependence on petroleum use and imported oil and improving air quality. Attendees will learn how South Shore Clean Cities members are making a difference throughout Northern Indiana. The day will include networking opportunities with industry leaders and elected officials, information about the latest clean fuel and clean vehicle technologies and details about grant funding opportunities for future projects. The meeting will highlight information on the $39 million Indiana is set to receive as a result of the Volkswagen diesel emissions settlement and how the public and private sector www.garycrusader.com

above,” was soundly rejected by Dr. King, much to the chagrin of Black elites who were beginning to reach for the economic carrot dangled before them in the form of federal government dollars. Yet Dr. King remained unfazed. It was that Godly demeanor, perspective, vision and courage that separates him from the leaders of his or any time – Black or White. Speaking of courage, speechwriters working with Dr. King during the famous March on Washington in 1963 strongly suggested that the civil rights leader make a few changes to his final draft. Seems that they liked everything about the speech except the phrase, “I have a dream.” Dr. King instead went with his instincts. The rest is history. He stood for what he believed. Perhaps most useful in remembering Dr. King is putting his powerful eloquence into every day context – applying his words to the issues of today. Here are a few of King's pearls of wisdom to help remind you how his message continues to resonate: "Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase." "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." "There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right." "Nothing in the world is more dan-

gerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." "Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education." "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." "Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve.” "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." "Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals." "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.” CIRCLE CITY CONNECTION by Vernon A. Williams is a series of essays on myriad topics that include social issues, human interest, entertainment and profiles of difference-makers who are forging change in a constantly evolving society. Williams is a 40-year veteran journalist based in Indianapolis, IN – commonly referred to as The Circle City. Send comments or questions to: vernonawilliams@yahoo.com.

About South Shore Clean Cities South Shore Clean Cities is a 501(c)(3) organization managed by Legacy Environmental Services, Inc., a woman-owned, certified Women's Business Enterprise located at the Purdue Research Park in Merrillville. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities coalitions are nonprofit organizations designed to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector by advancing the use of clean fuels and vehicles, idle reduction technologies, hybrid electric vehicles, fuel blends and fuel economy while reducing dependence on imported oil.

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Holloway and Dillard receive Drum Major Awards The start of 2017 is turning out to be an extraordinary and surprising year for guests and honorees attending the 38th Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast presented by the Gary Frontiers Service Club on January 14th. This affair has grown to be the preeminent event in remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work in Gary with over 650 guests. On the dais were notable people representing Indiana’s city, state, and federal government as well as the church. All in attendance were reminded of the sacrifice made by Dr. King, the uncertainty of the times during the era of Trump and the hope that we share from each of these distinguished individuals on the program. There were several newcomers to the programs, Pastor Jackie DragoHunter, Indiana’s first African American Attorney General Curtis Hill, and Pastor Curtis Lee, as well as Community Contributors Dorothy R. Leavell, publisher of the Gary Crusader Newspaper and Rosemarie Joiner, Cub Director for the John Will Anderson Boys and Girls Club.

Eight Marchers were individually recognized for their personal commitment and dedication to serving others before the lights were dimmed and candles lit. Members of the Gary Frontiers escorted the two Drum Major Awards into the room as a bell rang and the names of all Drum Majors was announced. This year was one of those exceptional years in which two Drum Majors were honored — Denise C. Dillard and James L. Holloway. Surprised with a first of its kind award for her dedication and commitment to the Gary community was this newspaper’s Editor and Publisher, Dorothy R. Leavell. Mrs. Leavell is the publisher of two papers, the Gary and Chicago Crusader Newspapers. In her remarks she shared the reality of the newspaper business as she reminded the guests of the numerous other newspapers that have come and gone. Leavell’s sacrifice in order to provide the citizens of Gary their own news is why she was the recipient of the 2017 Gary Frontiers Gratitude Award.

STANDING WITH THEIR new 2017 Drum Major Awards are James L. Holloway and Denise C. Dillard.

THE 2017 GARY Frontier Marcher Award recipients bow their heads for prayer.

MARCHER COMMANDER Kerry Rice Sr. (left), Drum Major Denise Dillard and guest.

CURTIS L. HILL, Indiana Attorney General

AT THE CLOSE of the program speakers and honorees hold hands and sing the civil rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome.” L-r: Pastor Jackie Drago-Hunter, Gary City Council President Ronald Brewer, Gary Crusader Newspaper Publisher Dorothy Leavell and James Holloway. 8

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017

CATHERINE CAMPBELL (left) and Senator Eddie Melton (right) congratulate 2017 Marcher Natalie Ammons.

THE SPEAKERS AND honorees at the 38th annual MLK Memorial Breakfast program. Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

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Huge turnout for youth summit on Cyberbullying By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray Instead of staying at home to relax or spend time with her girlfriends cruising the malls, Chelsea Stalling used her Dr. Martin L. King Jr. holiday as a day of service. Stalling, who is the senior manager/external affairs for the Chicago Urban League of Chicago, participated in the MLK Youth Summit held at the Genesis Center. Stalling was one of several presenters at a workshop on cyber

sandwiches in addition to providing a first aid kit that will be distributed to Brother’s Keeper and Emma’s House. The kits that the young people made included bandages, alcohol swabs and a quote from Dr. King. They were told the purpose for including the quote was to be an inspiration to anyone reading it and that you never know when someone needs a little inspiration. Dilworth said, “It was truly a community project.”

STUDENTS TOOK SPECIAL care as they prepared the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that were to be placed in the bags. They were given to both the male and female homeless shelters along with the first aid kits. regularly making it the most com- is not brave enough to do it in per- worth attending because they gave son. mon medium for cyberbullying. out water bottles, labeled bags, but Tobar said she has not experi- most importantly, the one thing Cyberbullying usually occurs as a form of payback or blackmail. enced bullying at her school be- they gave out was a lot of memoMost of the young people believe it cause they are strict and they don’t ries and some very important literis an easier way to get away with tolerate it, but it was worth going ature about Dr. Martin Luther bullying, especially when a person to the Summit. She said, “It was King, Jr.”

THE YOUNG PEOPLE wrote out the various quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that were to be placed in the bags distributed to the homeless. bullying for young people to warn them about the dangers that can be found on social media. More specifically, they learned the signs and characters of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes places using electronic technology. The various types of devices and equipment includes cell phones, computers and tablets, as well as communication tools such as social media sites, text messages, chats and websites. McKenya Dilworth, Superintendent of Parks and Recreations for the City of Gary, said there were close to 100 students raging in ages from 5 to 18 that attended the summit. One of the service projects the group decided to do was because of Dr. King and something he said, “Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve.” The group had to make peanut butter and jelly www.garycrusader.com

Mia Tobar, a 14-year-old student from Thea Bowman Leadership Academy was one of the students who attended the Youth Summit. She said the best part about the Summit was the dance company-Dance Excel, which represented Black culture and the arts. She said, “I also liked how we came together to make the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and the kits that we distributed to the homeless.” Stalling talked to the group about their personal experiences with online bullies and to let adults know if they are being bullied. Cyberbullying occurs nearly 43 percent of the time while kids are online. One in four has had it happen more than once and at least 70 percent of the students who attended the summit said they frequently see bullying online. Over 80 percent of teens use cell phones Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

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Singles Ministry helps make Christian Connection By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray The “Christian Connection” located in the Family Christian Center is a Singles Ministry founded by Elder Yjimizia nine years ago. She turned over the leadership of the ministry to Christian Connect Patrick Bell who continues to hold meetings for individuals who want to make a Christian connection. The Family Christian Center is a non-denominational church located at 340 45th Avenue in Munster, IN. This mega church with its huge facility offers the perfect space for bringing large numbers of people together. Bell describes the singles that come to the center as individuals that are single, widowed or divorced. What they all have in common is the desire to meet someone similar to themselves but most importantly, a Christian. Bell said, “We have a strong passion to teach unmarried individuals to understand who they are and get to know themselves. When they know who they are, they have the

CHURCH CALENDAR

A FEW OF the members of the Singles Ministry pause to be photographed. They are Katrina Johnson, Eloise Black, Candance Congress, Michael Clark (front) and Andrew Stewart and Marvin Lyles top row. right tools to follow their dreams.” Anyone can come to the meetings even if they are not members of Family Christian Center Church. Bell said

the center is not considered a club, but a ministry. He said, “I would say we are one big family /community.” The ministry is made up of 60 or

70 members that meet regularly. When they host events the turnout reaches up to 200 guests. Some of those events they attend together are

bowling, skating and most recently they had an all-white party cruise. This ministry is for heterosexual individuals only. According to Bell a few married couples have come out of this ministry. He said, “One couple dated for a year and now they are engaged. There is also another couple who have been married for a couple of months now that met through the ministry.” The mission statement of the ministry is “We believe in having a healthy productive relationship with God, friends and family.” In their meetings, they discuss being pure, being a healthy individual and wanting to add to someone’s life. Bell said they are a very balanced group. “It’s not boring. People not married can get together and it’s not a weird or awkward situation. We are very friendly, genuine and just like a family,” said Bell. There are those in the group who are divorced, widowed, and some with children. For those who were married and it didn’t work out, they find that there is still hope and God’s plan for them is great. Bell said, “He [God] has a spouse perfect for everyone.”

Live Streaming from Trinity United Church of Christ Church members that can’t make it to church or who are stuck in the house for various reasons can now watch Trinity United Church of Christ service streamed live. Beginning at 12 noon on Sundays, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. for Prayer Service and Usher Dance rehearsal on Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Trinity’s Somebody’s Closet is open also on Saturdays beginning at 10:30 a.m. Trinity UCC is located 1276 West 20th Avenue in Gary where the Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson is the pastor. Food Pantry Ministry at Jerusalem There is a food pantry available to those in need each third Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1741 Fillmore Street in Gary. Rev. Isaac Culver is the pastor. First AME Church First AME Church, located 2045 Massachusetts Street, holds its services on Sundays beginning at 10:30 a.m. with Sunday School starting at 9:15 a.m. The Bible School is held on Wednesdays at 12 p.m. and the church gym is open for recreation on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Food distributions are on Thursdays starting at 6 p.m. Rev. Dr. Virgil Woods is the pastor. 10

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Gary native graduates Magna Cum Laude at age 75 By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray Doris Newby-Armstrong said after graduating from Roosevelt High School many years ago she had no intentions of going to college, but when the opportunities came she took them. Now at 75 years old this recent graduate says she understands why people say, “it’s never too late.” Her husband the late John Butler Armstrong was a member of the United States Air Force and served in Korea. After he served his tour, the two of them returned to the Gary area to live. John Armstrong enrolled in college at Purdue first and later she did also. “It was on my mind to go so I enrolled and took basic classes. I only enrolled for one year though,” she said. Because of his commitment to the military, they moved quite frequently all over the country. The moves were never close to one another. They moved from Detroit to Glendale, Arizona, to Chicago before eventually settling down in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The two of them made it their home for the last 45 years. Newby-Armstrong worked in Milwaukee and attended Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). She decided on MATC because her friend owned a childcare center in the area. The friend told her if she obtained a certificate in childcare, she could have the job of running one of the two centers. “It took me a year, but I went back to school and got my certificate so that I could get that job,” she said. While working as director of the Child Care Center her mother, who lived back in Gary became ill and required 24-hour care. Newby-Armstrong said it was her decision to bring her to Milwaukee so that she could care for her. Her mother lived with her for six years before she passed in 1994. Even after her passing, she continued to work at the Child Care Center for another four years. Two years later the Milwaukee Marion University partnered with her church Holy Redeemer Institutional COGIC. The members had the opportunity to enroll in courses on campus that could lead towards an undergraduate degree, masters or Ph.D. Newby-Armstrong said her goal was to obain a Bachelors. She said, “I had a high school diploma and one year

is still on cloud 9. “So many wonderful things have been happening to me since I got my degree. I have been on Fox TV News, interviewed by several newspapers throughout Milwaukee and I can be found on YouTube and the Internet. A dear friend she graduated with from Roosevelt High School in Gary said she was so proud of her. She said, “She has always been a nice, good, thoughtful and generous person. At her age, I am truly excited for her. She is a person who always accomplishes whatever she has plans to do. Her mission was to graduate from college and she did and with honors.” There are no plans for her to DORIS NEWBY-ARMSTRONG WALKS across the stage earn a master’s degree although as she prepares to obtain her bachelor’s degree from many have suggested to her Milwaukee’s Marion University with honors, magna cum that she should go back. laude. of Purdue, along with credits LEGAL NOTICES from the Child Care Center, which added up to be an Associate’s Degree worth of credits.” For two years, she only took basic classes during the school year and a few during the Summer months because of the goal she set for herself to complete the program – two years. It took 120 credits to graduate from Marion with a bachelor’s degree, but when they added up hers it came to 117. She said, “I needed one more class so I went back for a photography course to get those last three credits.” Newby-Armstrong said that was the hardest class that she had ever taken. “I’m used to pointing and shooting cameras, but I had to buy a digital camera and the lens. It was a lot of work.” Finally, on December 16, 2016 Newby-Armstrong graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree. Currently she works at Khols Department Store, where she has been for 17 years. She also gets offers to photograph weddings, all types of parties and bridal showers because of the experience she obtained from that one photography class. Newby-Armstrong had an assignment in her Communications class to donate blankets to homeless shelters throughout the area. From that project, they donated 200 blankets to seven various shelters in the Milwaukee area. She said the Lord put it on her heart to continue donating blankets so on her own she has continued to donate 100 blankets a year to various shelters in her area. As far as the new college credentials she earned, she says she

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF GARY, LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, THAT A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 401 BROADWAY ON THE 7TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2017 AND A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE 24TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2017 AT 5:30 P.M. C.P.O. 2016-83 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GARY AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS TO PAY THE COST OF CERTAIN LOCAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SYSTEM OF ROADS AND HIGHWAYS OF THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE INTERESTS OF THE OWNERS OF SAID BONDS, OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH AND REPEALING ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH. Sponsored by: Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, City of Gary, M. Celita Green, City Controller CITIZENS APPEARING AT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD THEREON. SUZETTE RAGGS Gary City Clerk

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C.P.O. 2017-01 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF GARY, LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, TO MAKE TEMPORARY LOANS TO MEET CURRENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND AND FIRE PENSION FUND AND IN ANTICIPATION OF REVENUES TO BE RECEIVED IN SUCH FUND IN THE YEAR 2017; AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES TO EVIDENCE SUCH LOANS AND THE SALE OF SUCH NOTES TO FIFTH THIRD BANK; AND APPROPRIATING AND PLEDGING THE REVENUES TO BE RECEIVED IN SUCH FUND TO THE PUNCTUAL PAYMENT THEREOF. Sponsored by: Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, City of Gary, Celita M. Green, City Controller CITIZENS APPEARING AT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD THEREON. SUZETTE RAGGS Gary City Clerk

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OF THE CITY OF GARY, INDIANA. Petitioner: Jeanine Roper, 8136 Hickory Avenue, Gary, Indiana Property: 637 S. Lake Street, Gary, Indiana CITIZENS APPEARING AT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD THEREON. SUZETTE RAGGS Gary City Clerk

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF GARY, LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, THAT A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 401 BROADWAY ON THE 7TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2017 AND A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE 24TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2017 AT 5:30 P.M. C.P.O. 2017-03 AN ORDINANCE REVISING 2017 APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CITY OF GARY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FUND, AND THE MARQUETTE PAVILION FUND. Sponsored by: Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, City of Gary, Celita M. Green, City Controller, McKenya Dilworth, Parks Superintendent, Gary Parks Board of Commissioners CITIZENS APPEARING AT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD THEREON. SUZETTE RAGGS Gary City Clerk

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