Gary Crusader 3/18/2017 by The Crusader Newspaper Group

GARY CRUSADER 3-18-2017 16 Pages.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 3/15/17 11:48 PM Page 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Harvard Law elimination of LSAT may impact diversity in the legal profession (See pages 7)

St. Paul celebrates 101st anniversary and the installation of its elevator

(See pages 10)

Blacks Must Control Their Own Community

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Tolliver to battle Pruitt in court April 12 Seeks to dismiss order of protection after being accused of stalking Gary school chief By Erick Johnson A court date has been set for a judge to decide whether to keep an order of protection in force that was obtained by Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt against School Board Trustee Carlos Tolliver. Tolliver is accused of stalking the Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) superintendent. Tolliver’s attorney, Darnail Lyles, said the hearing will be held at 11 a.m. on April 12 at the Lake Superior Court, 2293 N. Main Street in Crown Point. Judge John Pera will hear the case. Lyles will seek to have the order dismissed, which he says should have never been taken out. Lyles said the date incensed his client who wanted a swift ending to the case, but instead got a date that’s two weeks later than the time scheduled for a judge to rule on Pruitt’s request. Pruitt was granted an emergency order of protection against Tolliver on Feb. 22, saying she feared for her life after two inci-

Carlos Tolliver dents where she was allegedly threatened. A judge was scheduled to hear the case on March 27, but Lyles sought to move up the date so his client could attend school board meetings while Pruitt was present. Tolliv-

er—an outspoken board member who some call a watchdog who speaks out against wasteful spending—has been unable to attend school board meetings because of the stay-away order. As serious financial woes plague the GCSC, Lyles said he tried to get an earlier court date so his client can resume attending the meetings and suggest ways the district should cut costs to stay afloat. After several proposed court dates, Lyles ended up with an April 12 hearing—a later date and a different court location. “Essentially what this is, is a prolonged effort to keep my client away from school board meetings. He’s mad as hell because he can’t go to school board meetings and be the watchdog that he was elected to be,” Lyles said. In court documents, Pruitt said Tolliver made verbal attacks against her, but did not list any details. In another alleged incident at the Gary Area Career Center, Pruitt said Tolliver told her “All bets are off…I am going to get you.” Lyles said the order of protection should be released because Pruitt’s claims aren’t covered under an Indiana statute. He went

Cheryl Pruitt on to say that his client’s message was constitutionally-protected free speech that accurately describes GCSC’s troubles. Gary schools face a serious crisis as dwin(Continued on page 2)

Firm picked to resurface Gary Airport runway Crusader staff report Rieth-Riley Construction Co., a Goshenbased firm with a location in Gary, was given a multi-million dollar contract to resurface the 7,000-foot original runway at the Gary/Chi-

cago International Airport. Rieth-Riley has done major roadwork in cities in the Midwest. On Monday, March 13, the Gary Airport Authority selected Rieth-Riley out of three bids. During the project, Rieth-Riley will replace the asphalt with con-

crete. The company will start the first phase of the project by resurfacing 2,000 feet at the east end of the runway. The airport project is expected to last three years. The second phase will be done in 2018 when Rieth-Riley will pave up to 3,000 feet of

GARY AIRPORT’S PRIMARY asphalt runway will be resurfaced with cement during a three-year project.

the runway’s mid-section. The remaining portion will be resurfaced in 2019. The Gary airport’s Executive Director, Dan Vicari, said by resurfacing the runway in phases, the airport will be allowed to remain open during the project. In one news report, Vicari said the last time the entire runway was resurfaced was in 2004. In 2015, the runway was extended to 8,900 feet, but the newer portion was built with concrete. When the project is completed, the entire runway will be made of concrete. Construction officials say concrete lasts longer than asphalt and is more expensive to install. With traffic from the Gary and Chicago Air Show and plans to lure more airlines to the airport, airport officials believe a concrete runway will be strong enough to handle the load. Rieth-Riley will be paid $4.2 million in 2017, Vicari said in news reports. A federal (Continued on page 2)

GARY CRUSADER 3-18-2017 16 Pages.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 3/15/17 11:49 PM Page 2

Supreme Court Justice returns to Gary By Ciara Smith “His body of work stands as a powerful illustration of the guidance courts provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes encompassing nearly every facet of Hoosier life,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush said in her annual State of the Judiciary address. These words were in tribute to the career of Justice Robert Rucker, Indiana’s 105th Supreme Court justice, who returned to Gary a hometown hero on March 9. Justice Rucker returned to his alma mater, Roosevelt High School, to celebrate his retirement after 26 years of serving on the state’s highest court. He was joined by other notable Northwest Indiana natives

Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, and Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, as he gave one of his final arguments in front of 300 students. Justice Mark Massa called him “one of the greatest figures in the history of the state of Indiana.” Judge Rucker was appointed to the Court of Appeals, as its first African American judge, in 1991, followed by his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1999. During his tenure, he served with eight other judges, and authored over a thousand criminal and civil opinions, his 2007 opinion in Anglemyer v. State being cited more than 7,000 times across the country, to clarify Indiana sentencing laws. He holds a coveted spot in the American Law Institute and the

Justice Robert Rucker

longest tenure of any present court justice. After graduating from Roosevelt High school and working for some time in the steel mill, Rucker enrolled at Indiana University Northwest in 1964. He was later drafted to enter the Vietnam War, and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service. “It was no way for me to anticipate ever really becoming a lawyer. I’m from a working class family. My dad drove a taxicab, and worked part time in the mill, and my mom was a domestic. I didn’t know any lawyers, didn’t know any professionals,” Justice Rucker said in an interview. “To even think about becoming a lawyer was not something that was in my contem-

plation. And certainly not to become a justice on the Indiana Supreme Court. I had no reference point.” Despite his humble beginnings, Rucker graduated from Valparaiso University in 1976 and spent nearly 15 years as an attorney and deputy prosecutor for the city of Gary. The local courthouse at 15 W. 4th Avenue was renamed the Robert D. Rucker Courthouse in 2010, after the longest tenured justice. The 70-year-old plans to step away from his seat formally on May 12, leaving a Supreme Court vacancy that will be filled by Governor Eric Holcomb.

Civility Reclaiming Northwest Indiana Region By Ciara Smith Blight, crime and declining revenue may be hard to ignore in a city like Gary, that’s struggled for years, but the Gary Chamber of Commerce won’t be deterred from reclaiming the city’s life and civility. An event steeped in kindness and respectability sold out last year, attracting more than 300 people from nine states, and three countries. This year, the Gary-based Community Civility Counts initiative plans on making it bigger and better. World Civility Day, a full day of civility-themed activities and awards will be held on Thursday, April 13, to promote the Community Civility Counts campaign, which focuses on raising the bar in business, education, and all facets of life throughout the Northwest Indiana (NWI) region. The initiative started as a project of the Gary Chamber of Com-

Chuck Hughes merce Public Policy committee and has since expanded to include partners both locally and nation-wide. Officially launching in 2015, in a Gary Chamber board room, Civility Counts has since joined forces with The Time Media Co., and the

National Civility Center to get its message out. “It’s an awareness campaign. We looked at every walk of life. People bully — cyber and social media bullying, young people are fighting, domestic abuse, disputes in the workplace, we have people shooting policemen. Anywhere you look there is a need for civility in our actions and that’s our purpose for it,” said Charles (Chuck) Hughes, executive director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce. Hughes credits Gordon E. Bradshaw, the Chamber’s public policy chairman, for birthing the idea and creating a poster. That poster, drew the attention of Dr. Clyde Rivers, the United Nations Ambassador who will give the keynote address at World Civility Day for the second year in a row. The Community Civility Counts team was recognized as members of the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators in 2016 — a fitting

award, as organizations and surrounding communities are beginning to follow suit. Hammond, Valparaiso, LaPorte city councils and the Lake County Council have all adopted Civility Counts resolutions. The movement has also spread to state government, as a senate resolution recognizing the Community Civility Counts Initiative has already been introduced by Senator Lonnie Randolph. No matter how far it reaches, “the good part about it is that it gives us something that we’re leaders in, and it’s nothing but positive,” said Hughes. The big day will include a kickoff lunch and workshops at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond, IN and extend into its first awards dinner that evening at Avalon Manor in

Merrillville. Workshops offered on April 13 are slated to include: “The Business Case for Civility at Work” by Lew Bayer of Civility Experts of Canada; “Civility in the Community” by the National Civility Center; “Where do we go from here – chaos or community?” by the Urban League of Northwest Indiana; “Civility in the Classroom” by Summer Moore of Community Civility Counts and “Cyber Bullying in Schools” by Cathie Bledsoe of the Indiana State Police Internet Crime against Children Task Force. To follow the activities of Community Civility counts, visit and like the Civility Counts page on Facebook. Sponsorships and tickets are available through the Gary Chamber of Commerce at (219) 885-7407.

Tolliver to battle Pruitt in court . . . (Continued from page 1) dling enrollment and eroding property taxes threaten the future of nearly 6,000 students.

a bill that will allow the state to take financial control of the Gary school district.

Despite closing schools, staff layoffs and slashed budgets, the GCSC is $101 million in debt. Indiana lawmakers are reviewing

Tolliver is one of two board members who have clashed with Pruitt on several recent proposals. One proposal involved local attor-

ney, Clorius Lay, whom Pruitt wanted to hire as a part-time consultant for $50,000 a year despite the district financial problems. Many agreed with Tolliver that the proposed hire was a bad idea and that the funds could be put to better use.

Firm picked to resurface Gary . . . (Continued from page 1) grant from the Federal Aviation Administration will help pay for the project. While officials say Rieth-Riley will hire subcontractors to help with the project, none of the firms are from 2

Gary. They include C-Lee Construction Services Inc. of Griffith, Midwest Electric of Crown Point and Dyer Construction. In news reports, officials were not able to provide specifics on what type of jobs would be created by the resurfacing project.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017

Rieth-Riley has been in business for 20 years. According to its website, the company in the past two decades has resurfaced roads and repaired bridges in cities in Michigan and Indiana. The company has won numerous awards and praise for its work. Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

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Katie Hall luncheon to honor national leaders Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Lee H. Hamilton, Margot Lee Shetterly, Author of the Book, Hidden Figures, and Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson will receive 2017 CoKatie Hall Public Service Award on Saturday, April 8th The Katie Hall Educational Foundation will honor national leaders and a famous author at its 5th Annual Katie Hall Public Service Awards Luncheon scheduled for Saturday, April 8. Among those being honored with the Foundation’s highest award is

Lee H. Hamilton Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and former U.S. Representative Lee H. Hamilton representing Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District from 1965 to 1999, where his chairmanships included the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Select Committee to Investigate

Covert Arms Transactions with Iran. As a Member of Congress, U.S. Representative Hamilton voted for House of Representatives Bill, H.R. 3706, commonly known as the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday Law, which was authored and sponsored by his colleague, former U.S. Representative Katie Hall representing Indiana’s First Congressional District; and signed into federal law by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983, at The White House. Mr. Hamilton has been one of the most influential voices on international relations and American national security over the course of his more than 40 year career. He is a former Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission and Co-Chairman of the Independent Task Force on Immigration and Americans Future. An accomplished author, Mr. Hamilton has penned and/or copenned the Iraq Study Group Report; Without Precedent; How Congress Works- Strengthening Congress; A Creative Tension- The Foreign Policy Roles of the President and Congress; State of the Struggle- Report on the Battle Against Global Terrorism; The 9/11 Report; and Congress, Presidents, and American Po- litics- Fifty Years of Writings and Reflections. Currently, Mr. Hamilton is serving as a member of the U.S. Security Advisory Council and serves as a Professor in the School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University in Bloomington. The second 2017 Co-Recipient of the Katie Hall Public Service Award is Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the best-selling novel, Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American

Margot Lee Shetterly Women Who Helped Win The Space Race (2016). Her non-fiction book was adapted as a feature film- Hidden Figures, starring actress Taraji P. Henson as one of the main characters, Katherine G. Johnson, a mathematician. The feature film, Hidden Figures was a contender for Best Picture during the 89th Academy Awards Ceremony in February 2017. Both the book and the feature film tells the incredible story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson- three (3) highly talented African-American women working at NASA, who served as “human computers” (the brains) behind one of the greatest operations in history–the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, an unprecedented accomplishment that turned the tide in the American Space Race with Russia and other countries. Their achievements at NASA galvanized the world. Thus, the trio crossed all gender and racial barriers to inspire generations to

dream big. Katherine G. Johnson, in 1961, calculated the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s flight– the first American in space; and later worked on the 1969 Apollo 11 trajectory to the moon. Mrs. Johnson, in 2015, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama at The White House. The third 2017 Co-Katie Hall Public Service Award recipient is The Honorable Karen Freeman Wilson. On December 31, 2011, Karen Freeman-Wilson became the first woman to lead the Steel City of Gary, Indiana and the first AfricanAmerican female Mayor in Indiana. Prior to becoming the City of Gary’s Chief Executive, FreemanWilson has demonstrated public service and leadership in state government. During her tenure as Indiana Attorney General, Freeman-Wilson fought passionately on behalf of youth, seniors and abused nursing home patients. She was one of the first Attorney Generals in the country to combat gas price gouging and to ensure that tobacco settlement dollars were directed towards smoking cessation and health care. While she was the Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, Indiana was one of the first states in the U.S. to pass legislation comparable to the American with Disabilities Act. Her accomplishments and track record of success have resulted in awards from local, state and national organizations. Freeman-Wilson serves on the National League of Cities’ Board Executive Committee, Co-Chair of the

Presidential Task Force and the REAL (Race Equity and Leadership) Council. She previously chaired NLC’s Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee. In November 2016, she was elected second Vice President (VP) of the organization’s Leadership and Board of Directors. Freeman-Wilson also chairs the Crime and Social Justice

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson Committee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Mayors/Police Chiefs Working Group on Police Community Relations and is also a member of the USCM Advisory Board. She was valedictorian of her graduating class at Roosevelt High School and went on to graduate from Harvard College (cum laude) and from Harvard Law School. The Honorable Karen Freeman Wilson is currently in her second term as Mayor of the City of Gary, Indiana.

East Chicago students to benefit from propane school buses Project funded in part by BP CADER grant is first of its kind in Region Project partners announced Monday that East Chicago public school students are the first in the Region to ride on school buses powered by propane, thanks in part to a grant provided by BP’s Whiting Refinery. “Our district was in the process of purchasing new buses,” School City of East Chicago Superintendent Dr. Paige McNulty said. “The decision was made to purchase buses that benefitted the community ecologically as well as improved safety. Additionally, the district will have eventual cost savings over time.” The project was announced Monday March 13, during a press conference at the School City of East Chicago’s Administration Building. The six Blue Bird Vision Propane buses were designed, engineered and manufactured by ROUSH CleanTech. The buses emit 80 percent fewer smog-producing hydrocarbons www.garycrusader.com

and virtually eliminate particulate matter when compared to dieselpowered buses. The school buses began running in East Chicago at the beginning of the month and are serving students in every school in the district. The School City of East Chicago serves just over 4,100 students. “Replacing diesel-powered school buses with propane-powered alternatives shows the value the School City of East Chicago places in lowering tailpipe emissions from their school bus fleet as well as improving the quality of life for those that ride, repair and reside around these buses,” said Shawn Seals, senior environmental manager for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Air Quality. The funding for the school buses was provided in part by the BP Whiting Refinery Cleaner Air through Diesel Emissions Reductions (BP CADER) grants, the program which was administered by South Shore Clean Cities.

The BP CADER program was created as part of a 2012 settlement agreement between BP’s Whiting Refinery and several environmental groups. The program provided $450,000 through a competitive grant process in 2013 and 2014, aimed at reducing diesel emissions in Lake County municipalities, schools, not-for-profit hospitals and county government. The goal was to improve air quality through projects that leveraged other funding sources to provide the greatest public health impact. School City of East Chicago Transportation Director Robert Garcia was an early champion for the district’s efforts for cleaner school bus technologies and worked with South Shore Clean Cities to apply for the BP CADER grants. The School City of East Chicago received $46,388.60 in the first round of grants for the installation of Telematics vehicle-tracking systems for 31 school buses designed to monitor and reduce idling.

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

In the second round, the School City received $20,948 toward the conversion of two diesel-fueled school buses to propane. After the grant award was announced, School City officials indicated the matching funds were not available to cover the remaining costs. Shortly after Dr. McNulty became School City of East Chicago superintendent in August 2016, she, Garcia and other district staff members reached out to South Shore Clean Cities, saying they remained interested in propane-fueled school buses. South Shore Clean Cities Executive Director Carl Lisek noted there were funds remaining in the BP CADER account and after discussions with BP representatives, presented a check for $10,000 to the School Board in September 2016 to assist in the purchase of six new, propane-fueled school buses. The School City of East Chicago purchased the six propane-fueled Blue Bird Vision school buses from MacAllister Transportation in Indi-

anapolis. A propane autogas fuel system manufactured by ROUSH CleanTech powers each bus. “South Shore Clean Cities was pleased to be a part of the process to bring cleaner buses to the School City of East Chicago for the benefit of the students, faculty and staff as well as all of the citizens of East Chicago,” Lisek said. “Working with South Shore Clean Cities members MacAllister Transportation and ROUSH CleanTech to provide stateof-the-art vehicles that provide financial savings and improved air quality helps the Hoosier economy and the environment.” Propane-fueled Blue Bird school buses create up to 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide and up to 24 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than diesel-fueled school buses, according to ROUSH CleanTech. The switch to propane, which will be provided by Ferrellgas, also will save the School City of East Chicago fuel and maintenance.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017

GARY CRUSADER 3-18-2017 16 Pages.qxp_Sheriff 9/8/07 2007 3/15/17 11:49 PM Page 4

CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN March, Women’s History Month, is a time to celebrate the contributions that women have made, or are making, to the world. This year, it seems as though women’s history is taking on extra importance. Black Lives Matter was started by women a couple of years ago and is still going strong, and the movie “Hidden Figures” recently highlighted the role that African American women played in NASA’s Moon program. One of the biggest catalysts, though, for the growing profile of women was Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful run for president. Of course, a lot of people thought she was going to win, and this created a lot of enthusiasm among many women and girls. They were proud to see a successful, intelligent woman hold her own in an arena that is usually the domain of men, as a serious presidential candidate. The truth be told, however, is that women have been doing great things for many years. Black women in particular have done a phenomenal job in keeping families and communities together. From slavery days to the present, Black women have taken a big hit for the things that they have done. For instance, there is an African American pundit with a number of YouTube videos that blames all of the ills in the African American community on Black women. He basically says Black women raise their girls while being single mothers to be “hoes” and hood rats with the main goal of destroying Black men. Interestingly, he has nothing to say about the fact that men also bear half of the responsibility for raising Black children. But this is a digression. He also said that Black women today are the worst examples of women that the world has to offer. The truth of the matter is that the Black community would be much worse off if Black women didn’t hold down the proverbial forts. Suppose Black women decided to abandon families …what would happen to our children? They have done a yeoman’s job, often sacrificing their own wellbeing to ensure that Black men survived. They have had to raise their boys defensively, often without men, by equipping them to deal with a world that has been hostile to them. Historically, and even today, Black women have taken the lead in all types of initiatives. Many sheroes too numerous to name have helped forge a successful path for African Americans. Women have made inroads into just about every area of endeavor even though women still do not have the support that is due them from a patriarchal society. Women are often paid less money for the same jobs that men have, and there is definitely a glass ceiling in America. Yet, if we look around it is becoming more and more evident that women are succeeding at a phenomenal rate in nontraditional fields. There are women at the heads of corporations, there are airline pilots, award-winning architects, race car drivers and other movers and shakers. Think of Oprah Winfrey and OWN; Ava DuVernay and her television and video projects; Cathy Hughes with TV One; and thousands of other female entrepreneurs who are changing the face of things in America. Women have come a long way. Considering the hostile climate that will probably impact the African American community during the current presidential administration in America, it would behoove us to ensure that both Black women and men work together to better community fortunes. This would mean that women must develop a greater trust in their men and that Black men must put aside their chauvinist demeanor (those that fit this category) to work together to ensure the viability of the Black community. This would mean that Black pundits (and rap artists, both male and female) strive to project a better image of Black women. It has been said that a society can go no further than its women. If they fail, so does the society. We should all take heed of this admonition and become “the wind beneath the wings” of our Black Queens. A luta continua. 4

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Pruitt-Tolliver situation is embarrassing Dear Editor: Just when it seemed like the Gary Corporation School Board was getting its act together we get an embarrassing situation with the head of the district and one of its newest board members. The fact that Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt filed for an order of protection against Carlos Tolliver, who was elected to the board last year should sit well with no one. The embarrassing part is two highly qualified Black professionals are in this major public feud. I fully understand that Ms. Pruitt did what she felt was most appropriate. Mr. Tolliver, who has long been a school district critic, continued on that path. Personally, it is embarrassing because these are educators who no doubt over the years have had to settle any number of disputes between peers, as well as students. My guess is in most, if not all of those instances, they encouraged the feuding parties to work it out between themselves. I am no way saying Ms. Pruitt should not have exercised her constitutional right to file for the protection order. It seems that by now both Ms. Pruitt and Mr. Tolliver have had enough time to cool off. Do you think it is time for them to sit down with one another and reach some sort of understanding? If no, will the busi-

ness of the district be hurt or disrupted? I have watched a lot of public sector boards and commissions operate over the years. That means I have seen plenty of disputes, but I cannot remember any that escalated into court action. When I lived in Detroit, there were at least two instances when city council members had physical altercations. Afterward, when everyone had calmed down life went on as usual. I wish that could happen here now. For the sake of students who have read about this dispute, it has to be confusing. Here are the people who decide students’ futures, but they can’t get along. No doubt that the district’s detractors are yucking it up and actually enjoying there is this public friction in the district. I really don’t know why someone, a friend, or colleague, couldn’t step in and mediate. I do understand however, that when emotions are involved logic isn’t always present Of course, we can’t unring this bell, but hopefully, there is a lesson or two to be learned. The way I see it, because this dispute doesn’t directly involve students, finances or school buildings; it was not necessary to be this public. In the future maybe the district can establish a protocol that keeps these kinds of matters in house. I don’t believe that just because someone has a taxpayer-funded job every aspect of their lives has to be under a microscope.

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

Denise Matters

Gary pastors just don’t get it Dear Editor: I actually laughed out loud when I saw the headline in one of the daily newspapers “Gary pastors pray for growth of congregations.” I was laughing because it was so hard to be(Continued on page 5)

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ly this president is having flashbacks from his days as the host of the “Apprentice” television show, where he would periodically fire one of the contestants. This further shows how irrational his decisions have been since taking over the White House. Having gotten rid of all of the second tier of the State Department employees he puts the country’s foreign policy at stake while he sends the Secretary of State on a mission around the globe. Meanwhile, forget about Trump’s pro-

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. BACK IN THE FRAY Word reached Nosey that former Lake County Sherriff Roy Dominguez has changed his mind regarding running for the office again. Awhile back Dominguez let it be Roosevelt High School/Roosevelt College and Career Academy known that he decided not to run and had taken a position with the Lake County Courts. However, after looking at the field of potential sheriff candidates, he no doubt feels that he has a good chance at victory. Dominguez clearly has a leg up on many of those that may throw their hats into the ring next year. Name recognition, finances and a built in organization make him a formidable candidate for the sheriff’s contest in 2018. That is if he doesn’t change his mind again and decide not to run. Until then stay tuned. Roy Dominguez

-Nosey-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Continued from page 4) lieve that men recognized the popu- pastors should be doing is coming lation has shrunk tremendously over together for a widespread outreach the decades, yet they want more campaign. They need to be deep in people to come to their respective the community addressing people’s churches. I was laughing because if needs whether they are church memone church gets a larger congrega- bers or not. We all know there are tion, it is likely that the congregation hundreds, if not thousands of families at some other church will shrink. in Gary severely struggling to meet There also is the possibility they their basic needs. If all of these pastors believe that people like me, often who are praying for larger congregacalled the “unchurched” will sud- tions would come together, pool their denly decide because they are pray- money and other resources and help ing I will figure out I need a church the least among us, then maybe, just home. maybe more people would take an inHere is what the pastors seem to terest in the church. These churches be missing, or maybe they don’t need to be much more visible to first want to admit it but church mem- get people’s attention, and then get bership continues to drop because them to think about showing up regof the image so many preachers are ularly on Sundays. portraying. We have not had it here People may not say it to pastors’ but it was national news that an At- faces, but there are ongoing conversalanta pastor was accused of inappro- tions about how one church compriate behavior with teenage boys. petes against another to see who can What about the preachers, yes there have the biggest building, the longest has been more than one, who admit radio show or television show; and of to the congregations that they vio- course who is driving the newest and lated their marriage vows with an- most expensive car. All of those are other woman, and want forgiveness turnoffs to people participating in the and things to proceed as usual? I church. They believe their tithes and truly have lost count of how many offerings will go toward a new Espreachers, along with their spouses, calade or Hummer. If the pastors have lived lavish lifestyles but have don’t realize these things, they are truly members of their congregations liv- out of touch. Of course, since they are ing in rundown houses and often pastors they are supposed to pray. without enough money for gro- They also are supposed to be shepceries. herds and in this case, not enough of See, although that is not happen- them are going out to gather the flock. ing in Gary, the fact that it is going Shepherds don’t sit near the barn to on in any predominantly Black pray the flock in. church makes many pastors and Marc Ross churches suspect. What the local www.garycrusader.com

THE ROOSEVELT SITUATION What started out to be a five year relationship between Roosevelt High School/Roosevelt College and Career Academy has stretched into a 10 year deal so far. It appears that the relationship may last beyond that because most folks don’t appear to be bothered by it. It’s sort of like when a family has a problem child that they don’t seem to be able to handle so the child is sent to someone to address the problem. Now the parents would love to have the child come home but they are not sure they can deal with the child. So what they do is leave the situation like it is and leave the child where he/she is and hope for the best. That’s kinda the situation the Gary “Board of Mis-Education” finds itself in. Even though they would very much like to have Roosevelt under their control, the board realizes that

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions the school corporation is in no shape to take control of the school. So in the meantime, they just sit back and watch as EdisonLearning makes a ton of money off Roosevelt without providing any positive results. With no objection to the way things are going, Roosevelt may well be in state control for another 20 years. -NoseyJUST CAUSE YA CAN DON’T MEAN YA HAVE TO Last week Trump had his Attorney General fire 45 U.S. Attorneys across the United States. Among those fired was David Capp, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. While it is not unusual for the president to change the members of their administrations, it should be noted that many times these changes take a little time. But this is not the case with the Trump administration. Apparent-

David Capp mise to make America Great again, the way things are going it’s questionable if he can keep the country safe. One of his latest moves that places the country in peril is his request to cut $1 billion out of the Coast Guard budget, which make no sense. After all Trump’s ranting about keeping the borders safe, he seeks to cripple one of the agencies responsible for securing the borders. More and more Trump proves that he and his group ain’t ready for prime time.

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Bill payment assistance still available after statewide suspension NIPSCO is reminding customers that bill payment assistance is still available after the state’s moratorium on disconnecting natural gas service during the winter for eligible customers ends March 15. Between December 1 and March 15, natural gas utilities in Indiana do not disconnect service to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) customers who are delinquent on their home heating bills. Customers experiencing financial challenges are encouraged to contact NIPSCO to explore the options available to them, including: LIHEAP Program: Support is available to households falling within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines and is fully funded by a federal block grant offered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Applications for heating assistance are taken through May 12, 2017. Summer cooling assistance will run from June

5, 2017, through August 11, 2017. • NIPSCO Customer Assistance for Residential Energy (CARE) Discount Program: In addition to the assistance available through LIHEAP, the NIPSCO CARE Discount Program is designed to provide further bill reductions to LIHEAP-eligible customers. Once enrolled in LIHEAP, customers are automatically enrolled in the program, and reductions range from 11 to 26 percent, depending on the same criteria used by the state in determining the level of assistance. CARE discounts are available through May 31, 2017, or until funds are exhausted. • NIPSCO Hardship Program: For customers just outside the federal poverty guidelines for LIHEAP, the NIPSCO Hardship Program offers up to $400 in gas bill assistance to households between 151 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Hardship funds are available through many of the same local Community Action Agencies where LIHEAP

funds are distributed and are available through May 31, 2017, or until funds are exhausted. • Township Trustees: A limited amount of energy assistance funds are available through local Township Trustee offices. Last year, approximately $1.2 million was distributed to help nearly 7,000 customers. NIPSCO customers are encour-

aged to contact their local Township Trustee to see what help is available. • Payment Arrangements: A NIPSCO credit agreement allows customers to make an initial payment within five days of the agreement, then spread the remaining unpaid balance over three months, plus current bills as they are due. For more information on billing

options and payment assistance, visit NIPSCO.com/PaymentAssistance. In addition to offering a number of payment assistance options, NIPSCO offers a number of energy-efficiency programs to help lower energy usage and bills. Visit NIPSCO.com/Save for more information on available programs and other ways to save.

Will Federal lawmakers turn back the clock on fair housing? By Charlene Crowell When future generations read the history of the nation’s first Black President, I believe there will be greater acknowledgement of his administration’s significant accomplishments. For now, however, an undeniable strategic war is underway to dismantle the very progress President Obama achieved. General market media have extensively reported on reforms or repeals of the Affordable Care Act, Wall Street reform and the future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It is equally important to share that a key Obama regulation that spoke to the future of fair housing is again under assault on Capitol Hill. A 2015 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule finally delivered on the promises first made with the 1968 enactment of the Fair Housing Act. While the Act outlawed housing discrimination, it also included another important legal requirement. To advance the purposes of the Act, federal agencies and federal grantees were also to forge inclusive and diverse communities as a means to reverse America’s housing history of segregation and Jim Crow. Known as Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), the HUD rule requires that cities, counties and states receiving funds for housing and community development engage in a planning process to help them take meaningful and deliberate actions to overcome historic segregation patterns, promote fair housing choice and create inclusive communities free from discrimination. Two HUD tools were shared to assist communities in the planning process, Data and Map6

Florida, Tennessee and Texas. A companion bill was also introduced in the Senate with one co-sponsor. Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, the bill’s lead sponsor in the lower chamber, shared in a prepared statement why he feels so strongly about appealing the rule. “The AFFH rule marks President

Obama’s most aggressive attempt yet to force his utopian ideology on American communities disguised under the banner of ‘fairness.’ This overreaching mandate is an attempt to extort communities into giving up local zoning decisions and reengineer the makeup of our neighborhoods.” For civil rights, housing and con-

sumer advocates, the unique Black American experience was deliberately engineered – but from a different perspective: to deny housing opportunity, voting rights, economic mobility and even quality employment or education. “AFFH is central to fulfilling the (Continued on page 7)

Charlene Crowell ping and an Assessment of Fair Housing. AFFH affects all public housing authorities and three other popular HUD programs: Community Development Block Grants CDBG), Emergency Solution Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). From its beginning, HUD’s AFFH rule was met with attack and multiple legislative attempts to repeal it. The latest attempt is The Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act of 2017. If enacted, it would nullify the HUD rule. The bill would also ban federal funds from being used for any federal database that contains geospatial information on community racial disparities and disparities in access to affordable housing. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill has already attracted 24 co-sponsors from 14 states. Half of the lawmakers’ support for the repeal comes from only four states: California,

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Harvard law elimination of LSAT may impact diversity in the legal profession CIRCLE CITY CONNECTION By Vernon A. Williams A Gary politician joked during a fundraiser, “What do you call 5,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?” An attorney himself, the self-effacing official paused for a contemplative moment then quipped, “A good start.” It’s an old joke – a cruel one, perhaps, to some in the legal profession but one that captures the disdain with which attorneys are frequently viewed. In every survey of the most hated professions, lawyers rank between first and fourth. It hasn’t been helpful that an inordinate number of attorneys comprise perhaps the least popular entity in the country – Congress. While numbers are dwindling, make no mistake. The dominant profession of those in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remains lawyers – at just under 40 percent. Any hope of lawmakers in Washington becoming more "people friendly" any time soon is a pipe dream. In a particularly antagonistic move, Congress last week advanced legislation designed to make citizen participation

in class action suits incredibly more difficult; a move applauded only by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and big business. The politically charged firings and forced resignations of 46 U.S. attorney generals convey the clear intention of the new administration to stack the deck with lawyers willing to 'drink the Kool Aid' of the incumbent. Even the Bible takes serious swipes at the profession in Luke 11:46: “Woe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.” Sounds like Congress, judges that could care less, ambitious prosecution and play-for-pay defense attorneys with no souls. Still, like it or not, America is a country of laws. At the other end of the spectrum are lawyers who fight fearlessly and tirelessly for those least capable of defending themselves. There are the heroes of the legal profession, relentlessly challenging the system. We just need more of those gladiators for human dignity – the resistance against the ruthless. There are lawyers who champion the oppressed and fight for the downtrodden, who otherwise would be left to their own

Will Federal lawmakers turn... (Continued from page 6) purposes of the Fair Housing Act,” said Wade Henderson, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “It’s based on a simple and perfectly fair premise: if a city or locality seeks taxpayer funding for HUD projects, they should actively work to ensure that all taxpayers can enjoy the benefits without the prospect of unlawful discrimination. Indeed, the rule provides local jurisdictions with broad discretion to decide which issues to prioritize and address.” “By attacking the AFFH rule, Rep. Gosar and other bill sponsors are seeking to re-codify housing discrimination into U.S. law,” noted Maya Rockeymoore, President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions, a social change strategy firm. “By disallowing the collection of federal data by place, race and other key demographics, the bill’s sponsors seek to prevent local governments from making their communities the best places to live by limiting their ability to use critical data and information to inform their community planning decisions.” Until the 1968 Fair Housing Act, local zoning laws across the country supported segregation along with redlining Black communities to exclude borrowers from mortgage and home improvement loans along with a litany of bad real estate practices that denied opportunities to build family www.garycrusader.com

wealth. Omitting Black neighborhoods from multiple listing services, door-to-door block-busting that attempted to create a sense of fear from lost property values due to integration, and restricted covenants that explicitly excluded many minorities from ever buying property in designated areas — were all the kinds of tactics used to preserve segregated housing before the Fair Housing Act. Fortunately, a growing coalition of progressive interests is conveying to Congress their firm intent to preserve HUD’s rule. Led by the National Fair Housing Alliance, to date more than 950 academicians, individuals and advocacy organizations spanning national, state, and local levels in civil rights, fair housing, affordable housing have joined the battle to preserve an essential component of the Fair Housing Act. Speaking for the coalition working to preserve the AFFH rule Shanna L. Smith, president and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance said, “It reflects the strongly held American value that everyone deserves access to the opportunities they need to flourish, regardless of the color of their skin or the zip code in which they grow up.”

Vernon A. Williams devices in a brutal judiciary. We need more good lawyers. That is why I find a recent decision of Harvard Law School heartening. Arguably, the nation’s most prominent law school recently announced a move that could open doors for a more diverse pool of attorneys pleading cases across the nation. Harvard Law School is eliminating the LSAT requirement - opening access to those who cannot afford to prepare for or take the exam multiple times. The GRE will provide an alternative. Most education pundits and prospective students of color subscribe to

the theory that standardized tests are racially biased. Statistics confirm that African American test scores are significantly lower. But the question is, how does it factor into the capacity of a young man or woman to excel in the legal profession if he or she passes the bar. William Henderson, a law professor at Indiana University's Mauer School of Law who studied LSAT performance says: “There’s no number that’s more slavishly followed in admissions than the LSAT. There is not a strong correlation between interesting people who are going to make a contribution to this world and an LSAT score in the 170s or higher. There is probably going to be a fair number of diverse candidates, but probably white candidates as well, who think they have a great compelling story to go to Harvard. It will allow Harvard to admit the very best people independent of LSAT scores.” Harvard Law says it’s about “expanding access to legal education for students in the United States and internationally.” The GRE, the school noted, is more widely available around the world than the LSAT. Accepting the GRE in place of the LSAT means more students will be eligible to apply, including those applying to other types of graduate programs in addition to Harvard Law School — among other things, it’ll save those applicants money. The GRE, the announcement noted, has been shown to reliably predict first-

year law school grades. This move is part of a wider strategy to “eliminate barriers as we search for the most talented candidates for law and leadership,” HLS Dean Martha Minow said in the statement. Jeff Thomas of Kaplan Test Prep, in a statement to Above the Law, says this change might spread throughout the legal academy: “Harvard Law School’s decision to allow applicants to submit GRE scores instead of LSAT scores has the potential to create a domino effect among other law schools. When Harvard changes their admissions strategy, other law schools take notice.” No one knows the immediate or long-term impact. What is certain is progress under the existing system was painfully slow. In reality, to create a true two-test admissions landscape, the vast majority of law schools would have to make this decision. The Harvard decision may be a mere first step. But isn’t that the prerequisite for any life-changing journey? 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 differencemakers 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.

Charlene Crowell is the communications deputy director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org. Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

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PNW celebrates 1-year Founders Day anniversary Outstanding Faculty, Staff, Student awards presented; employment ten-ure recognized Purdue University Northwest recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its founding (March 4, 2016) in recognition of when the Higher Learning Commission officially approved the establishment of Purdue University Northwest via the unification of Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central. The Founders Day observance served to honor the many accomplishments, “firsts” and memorable events that took place during PNW’s first year of existence, while commemorating the rich histories of Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central and looking ahead to the university’s future. Faculty, staff and student honors Outstanding faculty, staff and student awards also were presented. The recipients were nominated and selected by their peers. Those honored were: Outstanding Administrative Leadership Awards – Donna Adelsperger, associate comptroller, and Edward Furticella, head, Department of Quantitative Business Studies. Outstanding Faculty Awards – • Engagement: Chenn Zhou, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation; • Scholarship: James Pula, professor of history; • Teaching: David Pratt, associate professor of education. Outstanding Student Service Award – Kate Zavada Sech, majoring in early childhood education.

Tanika House Employees honored for their years of service: 50 years – Saul Lerner.

45 years – Edward Vockell. 40 years – Daniel Dunn; Edassery James; Zenobia Mistri; Alan Spector. 35 years – Roberta Allan; Isaac Facen; Michael Flannery; Leslie Rittenmeyer; Richard Trznadel. 30 years – Harvey Abramowitz; Ralph Cherry; Tammy Guerrero; Akram Hossain; Patricia Jacoby; Michael Kull; Maria Longas; Lakshman Mapa; Paul McGrath; Robert Merkovsky; Masoud Mojtahed, Mary O’Dea; Susanne O'Drobinak; Daniel Padberg; Thomas Roach; Scott Smithson; Sham Tickoo; Wei Tsyi Ting; Laura Unger; David Vor-

Maribel Lopez wald; Nuri Zeytinoglu. 25 years – Reynaldo Barreto; Deborah Birch; Thomas Brady; Mary

Didelot, Anthony Elmendorf; Roy Evans; David Feikes; Lori Feldman; Lorna Hecker; Lisa Hopp; Michael Mick; Michael Pelter; Jeanne Rhyne; Sharon Robey; Beth Rudnick; Eugene Schlossberger; Pierre Simmons; Peter Turbek; Jane Walker; Rita Fields. 20 years – David Burrus; Jason Buxbaum; Susan Delatorre; Janusz Duzinkiewicz; Anne Edwards; Renee Fife; Maria Garcia Verdugo; Catherine Gillotti; Collins Glass; Cynthia Graham; Kimberly Ison; Tricia Jauquet; LaShawn M. Jones; (Continued on page 12)

Kenisha Williams Outstanding Administrative Staff Awards – Kenisha Williams, Admissions and Recruitment processing team lead, and Tanika House, assistant director of Financial Aid. Outstanding Clerical Staff Awards – Maribel Lopez, secretary, Department of Political Science, Economics & World Language and Cultures, and Chiquita Teamer, secretary, Facilities Services. Outstanding Service Staff Awards – Patrick Tracy, detective, University Police, and Matt Gourley, computer technician, Information Services. 8

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St. Paul celebrates 101st anniversary and the installation of its elevator By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church was organized 101 years ago in a portable building at the 21st Avenue School in December 1916. Six persons were involved in the organization plan, Brother and Sister Julius Collins, Brother and Sister Scotty Campbell, Sister Rosie Pope and Sister Leona Roberts. It was Campbell who suggested the name St. Paul and the group accepted it. One hundred and one years later, St. Paul continues to maintain the faith, the love of one another and the spiritual guidance that the Lord has brought them through. A number of ministers have pastored at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Martin Van Buren Bolden served as the first pastor of St. Paul. He organized the Northern Indiana District Association and the Indiana Baptist State Convention where he served as president. Bolden was pastor until his death in 1925. Other ministers served with distinction as well, however, a rebirth occurred when Rev. Lester K. Jackson was welcomed as pastor in 1943. A member of the National Council of Churches of Christ, during his ministry, the church’s outstanding debts were paid, war bonds were purchased and youth activities were expanded. Jackson noted, “It is a thousand times better policy to give youth activities in the church under proper supervision and guidance than to permit youth to become hopelessly lost and flounder in

religious spheres.” Under Jackson’s leadership St. Paul’s membership grew and the church was known for its many activities both within the church and in the community. Jackson also brought new ideas to the City of Gary as well as to the church. He introduced the concept of Men and Women’s Day, and King and Queen Fashion Shows. Jackson also led efforts to improve employment opportunities for African Americans. He supported integration within the schools and equal opportunity for students. When St. Paul was destroyed by fire on May 2, 1963 Jackson led the effort to build a new church home. On Sunday, January 16, 1966 the congregation marched into the new edifice at 2300 Grant Street where the church remains today. Rev. Jackson continued his ministry at St. Paul through 1968. Rev. Everett Gray was chosen as St. Paul’s fifth pastor to lead the membership on December 17, 1968. Under his leadership, structural improvements were made to the edifice and the land surrounding the church. Rev. Gray retired as pastor of St. Paul after 36 years.

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church On December 9, 2009, the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church membership voted unanimously to call Rev. Howard Carter as the sixth pastor. Rev. Carter, an associate minister from Galilee Baptist Church, had been attending and assisting interim pastor Rev. Johnson

for over two years. Carter continues to create initiatives and opportunities that support the church’s mission to serve Christ while serving the community. On Friday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. St. Paul will celebrate 101 years since the church was organized,

as well as the installation of its new elevator. Guest ministers will include Rev. Leverne Swain, pastor of Koinonia Missionary Baptist Church. On Sunday, March 26 at 4 p.m. Rev. Isaac Culver of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church will lead services. The public is invited.

Church Calendar Learn to crochet at TUCC-Gary Crochet Classes will be offered on Wednesdays, beginning March 22, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ – Gary, 1276 W. 20th Ave. in Gary. The pastor of Trinity is Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr. For more information, call Adrianne at 219-944-0500. Rev. Dr. Jackson to keynote at Mt. Zion AME Church On Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 4 p.m., the public is invited to celebrate the 58th church anniversary of Mt. Zion AME Church, 1765 Tyler Street in Gary. The guest speaker is Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr. of Trinity United Church of Christ-Gary. The pastor of Mt. Zion AME is Rev. Therese LaShawn Bibbs. 10

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Wirt-Emerson Concert Choir performed for former President Obama and former First Lady By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray For Donte Williams and the other members of the Wirt-Emerson Concert Choir the opportunity to be invited to Washington, D.C. to perform for President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama was a wonderful experience and something they will always remember. Williams and 25 of his classmates that make up the 45-member choir of Wirt-Emerson Performing Arts School traveled to Washington on December 11-13 to perform for the President during one of his receptions before leaving office after eight years as President of the United States. According to Williams, meeting the Obamas was so authentic for him. He said, “We were the only high school there to sing for them. We had our own showplace section to walk through that was connected to the White House. We were in the first section that you would pass.” Among the songs the choir sang for the Obamas included “America The Beautiful,” “The 12 Days of Christmas,” “Ave Maria” and “A Christ-

WIRT-EMERSON CONCERT Choir performed for former President Obama and former First Lady mas Joy.” the Concert Choir for the past 16 during his last year in the White Williams said after their perfor- years said the students loved the op- House. Many other individuals who mance the choir had the opportunity portunity to visit Washington, D.C. had heard the choir sing before sent to personally meet the Obamas who and perform for the then President in requests in the hopes of getting an took the time to shake each one of and First Lady. opportunity to hear them perform. It the choir member’s hands. Williams Boynes said the choir had been finally happened when the Art Coorcalled that “A Life Experience.” sending numerous requests to per- dinator for the school, Larry Brewer, Marion Lynn Boynes, director of form for the President specifically received an email asking if the choir would like to perform at one of the Obama’s Holiday Receptions. Boynes said, “We were happy to jump at the opportunity.” Security for the White House informed the school that only 25 of and accessories to young ladies for way help a young lady make her the 45-member choir would be able dream come true with something to to attend. She said, “They were very their special night. strict about it. We only had two According to Jerome Pennington, wear to the prom. chairman of the “Somebodies Closet Clothing Ministry,” Trinity has been operating this program for the last five years. He said, “We are here to serve the needy by providing clothing, toiletries and shoes to men, women and children.” The give-a-way will take place on March 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Any young lady in need of a dress or any accessory should contact Maxine Brown at (219) 201-0840. There is an application process that requires them to fill out a form to identify themselves and come to the church on that day. She will be assisted in selecting the appropriate dress for the evening, along with a fitting room to try on dresses and a seamstress on hand to help with any alterations necessary. Although the church has already collected over 100 dresses in all sizes, they are still in need of donations of extra shoes and jewelry. Pennington said the reason the church does this is because they want to serve the community. He said, "We want to help our children, provide for them and let there be no girl left behind. We want to give a dress another chance to dance.” Donations are still being accepted from the public in addition to donations from members of Trinity. Pennington said he hopes this will some-

Trinity UCC providing prom dresses to girls in need of something to wear By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray When a young lady is in need of a dress to wear to her prom there is a place that is providing all the necessities required to make her wish come true. “Somebodies Closet Clothing Ministry” at Trinity UCC in Gary will be donating prom dresses, shoes

A STUDENT MODELS the types of beautiful prom dresses that will be available at the Trinity UCC prom clothing give-a-way on March 25. www.garycrusader.com

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days to send in the list of students who would be attending along with the one chaperone. When we flew out, Brewer and Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Pruitt went along with us. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, who was already in Washington, treated us to dinner while we were there. The mayor told the students that they were singing for someone very special.” The reception that the president was hosting was for the Secret Service and the United States Marines. Boynes said, “It was a wonderful opportunity not only for me, but for the students as well.” A junior at Wirt-Emerson, Williams is a vocal major. His plans after high school are to attend either Indiana University in Bloomington, Georgia State or Michigan State and to major in psychology. Out of over 100 high school choirs from throughout the country WirtEmerson has also been chosen to perform at Walt Disney World for a group of their executives March 19 for three days. They will be performing a 25-minute concert singing a cappella. Williams said the choir will be featured at the theme park throughout their stay and has been asked to sing two of the parks favorite songs “It’s A Small World After All” and “Zip-A-Dee-DoDa.” The trip is being funded by Walt Disney World, money from the choir’s fundraisers and donations from Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Pruitt.

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LEGAL NOTICES

Commercial magazine and publication writing workshop On Friday, March 31, 2017, Superhero Training & Supply, Inc. will sponsor a commercial magazine and publication writing workshop which will be hosted by the Department of English, Purdue University Northwest, at CHESS Art Gallery, 6725 Kennedy Avenue in Hammond, IN from 1:00-3:30 p.m. The workshop will be led by professional writer Lorie West. In earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in professional writing, Lorie West studied the craft from journalism to public relations, fiction to technical writing, as well as humor in literature and writing as healing. She applied her strengths, editing and creative nonfiction writing, most recently as associate editor at Trusted Media Brands, Inc., formerly known as The Reader's Digest Association. There, she worked on staff of enthusiast magazines Birds & Blooms,

Country Woman, Farm & Ranch Living and Country, while also making contributions to Reminisce and Taste of Home magazines, book projects and special interest publications. True to her first editorial job on Trains magazine, Lorie lives in a West Allis, WI, bungalow alongside railroad tracks. The cost of the workshop is $20, and is limited to 20 par-

ticipants who are at least 18years-old. To register, email trainer@superherotrainingandsupply.org to reserve your space. Payment by cash or VISA will be accepted at the door. Proceeds will benefit Superhero Training & Supply, Inc. Superhero Training & Supply, Inc. is an educational nonprofit dedicated to pro-

viding students and adults with tools to combat stress and anxiety through yoga, mindfulness and meditation. It currently offers after school programs in Hammond elementary schools, providing yoga, meditation, mindfulness, homework help and creative writing instruction. For more information, visit www.superherotrainingandsupply.org.

PNW celebrates 1-year Founders Day anniversary (Continued from page 8) Jonathan Kuhn; John Lucas; Sandra Montalvo; Leslie Mosser; Neil Nemeth; Mark Penman; Edwin Rodriguez; Jane Rose; John Rowan; Kathryn Rowberg; Susan Scachitti; Mark Smith; Janice Tazbir; Leslie Thompson; Kathleen Tobin; Edward Vavrek; Elsa Weber; Jennifer Williams; Samuel Williams. 15 years – Susan Anderson; Burton Artz; Jacqueline Bales; Derek Bjonback; Richard Bohan;

Patrick Tracy Lavada Brandon; Chynisse Browder; Kimberly Butala; Kam Chan; Terri Chance; Kuan Chou Chen; Keh Wen Chuang; Howard Cohen; Jerry De Groot; Martin Denkhoff; Mary Jane Dopp; Laura Dorsch; Matthew Dudzik; Patricia Hales; Janet Hero; Pamela Hunter; Keyuan Jiang; Athula Kulatunga; Suzanne Lesko; Patricia Mellon; 12

Matt Gourley Jennifer Meska; Cheryl Moredich; David Nalbone; Agbai Nnanna; Laura Pardonek; Kevin Popa; David Pratt; Victor Shires; Claudia Valladolid; Nerry Valle; Ruijian Zhang. 10 years – Arifin Angriawan; Constantin Apostoaia; Gokarna Aryal; Euradell Bannister Dumas; Cindy Best; Bonnie Colon; Samuel Cuellar; Tom Dobes; Mohammed Errihani; Roy Fowles; Kim Frazier; Kendra Gardin; Doreen Gonzalez Gaboyan; Amy Grossman; Kenneth Jackson; James Johnsen; Susitha Karunaratne; Kenneth Kincaid; Janet Landrum; Anka Matijevich; Thomas Megyesi; Louise Meuzellaar; Paolo Miranda; Karen Morris; Rex Morrow; Shoji Nakayama; Julie Osborn; Richard Panton; Robert Peterson; Juanita Pruitt; Vanessa Quinn; Myrna Ramirez; Brad Remmenga; Virginia Rhodes; Christabel Ro-

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galin; Heather Runyan; Akili Sadiki Shakur; Kristin Sarver; Angela Schooley; Kathryn Smith; Sara Soneye; Sheila Stephenson; Daniel Suson; Rita Swartzlander; Nicoleta Tarfulea; Robert Teske; Heather Torrie; Xiuling Wang; Kenneth West; Amelia Wilson; Carol Wright; Lin Zhao. 5 years – Marcella Allen; Ruth Andrews; Reginald Black; Gary Brownlee; Amanda Champlin; Angelo Cicco; Kevin Cleary; Richard Costello; Taryn Eastland; Lorri Feldt; Thomas Hampton; Wei He; Brooke Hewson; Scott Iverson; Elizabeth Janowski; Kristine Kuether; William Law; Erika Lubeznik; Judith Moore; Jane Mutchler; Janice Ott; Michael Prater; Stacie Reardon; Jennifer Rockafellow; Randyl Rohm; Marla RoppFunk; Omar Sahmoudi; Joellen Sanders; Terrence Scherer; Manghui Tu; Janice Van-

deel; Florian Vauleon; Gayle Voight-Block; Kenneth White; Henry Williams; Diana Young. Retirees – Mary Ann Bishel; Philip Brown; Ruthann Chaddock; Pamela Eggebrecht; Theresa Ek; Kathleen Galovic; D. Carol Kurmis; Lynda Levin; Larryl Matthews; Bernard Parsons; Cynthia Roberts.

MBE/WBE COMPANIES WANTED

LAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SEEK MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES ANO WOMAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES LOCATED IN LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA

The Board of Commissioners of Lake County is seeking to identify companies who are minority business enterprises and woman business enterprises (hereinafter "MBE" or "WBE") who can provide products and services that are routinely purchased by Lake County. In the past, Lake County has experienced difficulty in identifying MBE and WBE companies and notifying them of proposal and bid deadlines.

Any MBE or WBE that is interested in doing business with Lake County Indiana must submit a letter expressing their interest along with the documentation of their MBE or WBE status to Commissioner Kyle Allen, Sr., 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point, Indiana 46307.

In the letter, the MBE or WBE must identify the type of service(s) and/or product(s) that they can provide to Lake County, Indiana. Lake County may or may not have a need for the type of service(s) or products from a responding MBE or WBE. However, this information will be retained by Lake County and referred to should these service(s) and/or product(s) be needed in the future.

Any request for clarifying information also must be submitted in writing to Commissioner Kyle Allen, Sr., Board of Commissioners, at the above address.

Chiquita Teamer

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF LAKE Michael Repay Kyle Allen, Sr. Jerry Tippy

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Becoming Smoke-free for Free By Crystal Lynn Smoking tobacco – a behavior learned from family or peers, picked up in the peak of life’s stresses, or sought out during a stage of curiosity – is a topic we all know. The once popular enticing crave to smoke has lost its appeal. Those who’ve experienced this addiction cannot always explain why it is so hard to break the habit even when an individual wants to quit. Whether it’s the pleasure and energy the nicotine provides within 10 seconds of entering the body or the subliminal messages crossing your path every time you walk into a gas station, there are many factors you have to fight not only internally, but externally to overcome the addiction. Popular television campaigns run by the Truth, the American Legacy Foundation on tobacco education, attempts a scared straight tactic by vividly showing the health complications from smoking. Fresh Empire, the nonsmoking campaign, focuses on the teen demographic by lyrically flowing its message on breaking the chain of addiction in chain smoking. Regardless of the organizations that fight to make tobacco a thing of the past those organizations still have to fight the tobacco conglomerates that send the opposite message. Specifically targeting Black communities, tobacco industries spend 10 times more on cigarette ads labeling this a “Market Priority.” A study done by the American Journal of Public Health found the cost of little cigars and cigarillos were cheaper in neighborhoods with a higher density of minority residents. While the tobacco industry spent $25 million per day on advertisement and promotion, it’s

in the U.S. with 72% using text messaging which can be used as a reinforcement for those trying to quit. While many associate smoking with cancer, smoking can cause many other health problems we don’t think about including bone health, fertility, birth defects, decreased immune functions, and smoking is the cause of rheumatoid arthritis. By putting down cigarettes the risk of a stroke can fall to about the same as a nonsmoker within two to five years. After just one year your risk for a heart attack drops sharply. And 10 years after quitting, your risk for lung cancer drops by half. With over 25 years of research and experience, the principles and practices used in the Quit Now Indiana program will equip you with the tools and resources to not “just quit” but become a “nonsmoker.” For printed information, visit www.QuitNowIndiana.com or www.eQuitNow.com 1.800.QUIT.NOW

costing Indiana residents $0 to join the Tobacco Quitline, a free resource offered by the nonprofit organization. Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Quitting is a choice that many make every day. While the sensation and cravings are hard initially, there are thousands of people who choose to live a healthier life each year. The programs available to Indiana residents are fitting to the lifestyle and pace of each individual. From certified coaching sessions to personalized text messages (text2Quit) each participant in the program is given multiple methods to succeed in quitting. The phone based cessation counseling service offered by the Indiana Tobacco Quitline offers a customized plan tailored to the needs of each quitter. A Web Coach option is also available with e-tools and educational information as a guide through the quitting process. Paired with the Text2Quit participants have shown to double their success rate over a period of six weeks. There are over 270 million cell phone users

MEMBERS OF CUB Scout Troop 504 treated the bingo group at Kindred Rehab Center to winning gifts during their regular weekend game. The young Cubs presented each winner with a gift of their choice and helped them with bingo numbers. The patients as well as the Cubs enjoyed themselves throughout all the games. (Photo by Carmen)

IU Northwest welcomes family of Henrietta Lacks to campus event ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’ raises discussions of bioethics Indiana University Northwest invites the campus and community to the culminating event of this year’s “One Book … One Campus … One Community” reading initiative on March 22. Beginning at 1 p.m. in the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium, located in the Savannah Center, attendees will hear a presentation by the daughter-in-law and great-granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and used to develop important advances in medicine. Her story, chronicled in New York Times best-seller, “The Immortal www.garycrusader.com

Life of Henrietta Lacks,” by Rebecca Skloot, explores the collision between ethics, race and medicine. Skloot delves into the perspectives of Henrietta’s family, which did not learn about the cells until the 1970s, when scientists wanted to conduct research on her children, and who never benefitted from the profit of her cells, which are still being bought and sold today. The Lacks family struggle is also the topic of upcoming HBO film, co-produced by and starring Oprah Winfrey, scheduled to be released in April. The family members who will share their story include Shirley Lacks and Veronica Robinson. Shirley Lacks is Henrietta’s daughter-in-law, and best friend of Henri-

etta’s deceased daughter Deborah, a prominent figure in the book. Since retiring from the banking industry, Shirley dedicates much of her time traveling around the country, keeping Henrietta’s legacy alive. Shirley

Blacks Must control their own coMMunity

has three children and five grandchildren. Robinson is Henrietta Lacks’ greatgranddaughter. Inspired by Henrietta’s story, she is currently studying to become a Registered Nurse at Baltimore City Community College. She represents the Lacks family on the National Institute of Health’s panel that reviews applications to conduct research using the HeLa genome. Veronica is also a mentor at Johns Hopkins for Dunbar Scholars and a very active member of the Lacks Family Foundation. During their March 22 presentation and question-answer session, Lacks and Robinson will share their perspectives of learning about Henrietta’s cells and their significance decades after scientists took them and

began using them to change the face of medicine. Following the presentation, at 2 p.m., the organizers of the One Book … One Campus … One Community … reading initiative will announce the winner of the Student Essay Contest as well as the selection for the common read for the 2017-18 academic year. At 2:15 p.m., attendees should plan to stay and have their personal copy of the book signed by Shirley and Veronica at a concluding reception. All events are free and open to the public. For more information about the book and the One Book … One Campus … One Community … reading initiative, visit: iun.edu/onebook.

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Beauty and the Beast is a beautiful timeless love story By Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J. her fears and befriends the castle’s enchanted staff. She learns to look I had the opportunity to screen beyond the beast’s hideous exterior, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” allowing her to recognize the kind courtesy of Liquid Soul Media, and heart and soul of the true prince that I must say that the film is just fantas- hides on the inside. Consequently, tic. “Beauty and the Beast” is a story she finds herself falling in love with about a handsome young prince the beast, who is played by Downwho rudely turned down the rose of ton Abbey’s Dan Stephens, and the a poor, old woman, and at that mo- beast is falling head over hoofs for ment he is cursed and turned into a her. He even lets Belle go back to the beast. He can only return back to village to check on her father. All is the handsome buck that he used to well that ends well. There’s a big parbe, if he is able to have someone fall ty at the end, and Gaston finally realin love with him before a glass-en- izes that he will never have Belle, and cased rose loses its last petal. the beauty and the beast dance the Now, I’m not normally one for the night away. kids’ movies, but this was a welcome This is a Disney remake of the carWednesday night respite that turned toon version that was released more out to be a “not-so-bad” idea. The than 20 years ago. Valincia Woolmovie was filled with magic, as is ridge was sentimental in her review Disney’s trademark, and the 3D of the film, as she sang all the numprojection literally brought the ac- bers and reminisced about the time tion right in your face. she took her son to see it at the theWhat may be the prince’s only ater. “I fell in love with the animated chance at love arrives when he meets version of “Beauty and the Beast” Belle, a bright, beautiful and inde- when it aired in 1991, and the movie pendent woman and the only hu- still manages to steal my heart 26 years later,” she said. “When I entered the theater for the advance screening, I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew that it had to be better the second time around. I’ve seen many remakes that were disappointing, so the characters, the music, the visuals, all of it had to be perfect.” Woolridge was not disappointed. “As the movie reel spun, my mind was taken over with memories from yesteryear. The characters were spot on. The innocence of Belle; the gentleness of the beast; Gaston who was so full of himself and LeFou the buffoon added life along with the laughter. I got so excited as the dinner scene approached and Lumiere the Candelabra began singing ‘Be Our Guest.’ Oh, it was magical. Mrs. Potts Angela Brown and Chip were my oldest son’s faman girl to ever visit the castle since vorite characters when he was a little it was enchanted. Belle’s father Mau- boy. We would sing this song togethrice, played by Kevin Kline, goes off er. It brought me to tears when Belle to sell some of his beautiful handi- and the beast danced to the theme work, his horse gets spooked and he song, and I was overcome with nostalends up in the palace. He meets the gia.” Woolridge added that Gugu beast and is captured, as the beast Mbatha-Raw, Kevin Kline, Audra Mcbelieves that he was trying to steal Donald, Stanley Tucci and Ian McKellen, just to name a few, are some of from him. As the timeless story goes, Belle her favorite actors. “It did my heart goes looking for her father, and one good to see them as main characters in thing leads to another. Belle has been the movie. This is a remake of which spurning the advances of Gaston, Disney can be proud.” “Beauty and the Beast” comes to who has hired LeFou as his valet. Belle readily changes places with her Chicago theaters on March 17. father, and her father goes back to Charlie Parker’s Yardbird the French village, telling everyone presented by Lyric Opera about the beast. No one wants to March 24 and 26 believe him, and Gaston, who is the most eligible bachelor on earth, Lawrence Brownlee stars in this attempts to have Belle’s father committed to the asylum. Gaston 90-minute opera based on legendary is always protected by LeFou, who jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. Lymakes sure that Gaston always ric Opera of Chicago and Lyric knows how great and fantastic he is. Unlimited are proud to present the After a while in the palace, Belle, Chicago premiere of a jazz-infused played by Emma Watson, abandons operatic event, Charlie Parker’s Yard16

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THE BEAST AND Belle share an enchanted moment in Beauty and the Beast, which is a great take on a timeless love story. bird – A Chamber Concert. Directed by Ron Daniels, this opera explores the extraordinary life of legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. In partnership with the Harris Theatre, performances take place two nights only, March 24 and March 26, at the Harris Theatre, 205 E. Randolph St. Tickets start at $35 and are available at www.lyricopera.org/yardbird or at 312-8275600. In that empty twilight between life and death, tortured jazzman Charlie Parker composes his final masterpiece, revisiting the inspirations, demons and women who fueled his creative genius. This freeform expedition into the mind, heart and per-

sonal purgatory of the bebop great stars Lawrence Brownlee as the legendary saxophonist. Set in the famed NYC jazz club Birdland, Angela Brown sings the role of Parker’s mother, Addie. Krysty Swann, Rachel Sterrenberg and Angela Mortellaro portray his wives Rebecca, Chan and Doris. Ryan Opera Center alumni Will Liverman sings the role of Dizzy Gillespie, Parker’s fellow jazz legend, and Julie Miller as the “Baroness of Jazz,” Baroness Nica. Kelly Kuo conducts a 16-piece orchestra, and it is performed in English with projected English texts. Following the opera, audience members are invited to enjoy a perfor-

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mance of Parker’s music by members of Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic featuring Rajiv Halim (alto sax). Brown, who was raised in Indianapolis and whose mother remembers her dressing up at the age of 6, talked about her performance in this opera. “All through my career, I have played matriarchal figures like Serena in “Porgy and Bess” and Cilla in “Margaret Garner,” regal figures like Elisabetta in “Don Carlo,” “Tosca,” “Aida.” Taking a few attributes from each one of these women and stirring in a little Angela Brown with some research on Charlie Parker’s life and mother, I came up with my version of Addie Parker.” Parker’s story very well lends itself to an opera, Brown added. “It is one of the many stories that can be told about a very important musician. He was the father of bebop, a very important part of jazz. He had a life that operas are made of: humble beginnings, love, tragedy, discord, and he died young. His life story is made for opera.” However, she added that this presentation is different. “Yardbird is a total twist from the normal opera. It is something that everyone will enjoy and understand, especially with the supertitles. The music is palatable, easy to understand. You can even leave humming some tunes. And, you learn more about Charlie Parker’s fascinating life.”