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Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper oud PPaper aper ffor or a Pr oud PPeople...Sinc eople...Sinc Proud Proud eople...Sincee 1971 THURSDA THURSDAYY,NOVEMBER 6 - WEDNESDA WEDNESDAYY, NOVEMBER 12 12,, 2014 VOL. 43 NO. 39 50¢ A Pr Crist leads Scott in Florida’s Race for Governor. Will it last, making Florida Scott free or will Floridians be singing ‘Good time Charlie got the blues’?

Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ Deuteronomy 1:13 (NASB)

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

RICK SCOTT

Florida’s race for governor is almost too close to call. According to a Quinnipiac University Poll released Monday, the day before the November 4th elections, Democrat Charlie Crist leads with 42 percent while incumbent Republican Governor Rick Scott is lagging by a miserable one percent.

Elections over the country are this tight. This is a testament

to every vote matters. Every vote can be the vote that wrought the fate of this country.

For pitiful reasons and circumstances, the common employee believes that they are looked over and disenfranchised, to the point that their vote has no influence. Yet, they do not realize that just a few votes can decide and shape how the future will find them.

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Souls to the Polls punctuated Election 2014

By Derek Joy And so, it came to pass. . .

Widespread media created more than sidebar stories as people early voting concluded its 14 day run.

Bishop Victor T. Curry, senior pastor of New Birth Cathedral of Faith and president of the local Miami Dade Chapter of NAN (National Action Network), issued a frequent reminder leading up to the 2012 Presidential Election.

The message was that the partying and celebration that followed the 2008 Election that saw Barack Obama become the first Black American elected President should be replaced with concentrated efforts.

Curry, along with the Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and national NAN president, coined the phrased “Souls to the Polls”, geared toward an all out effort of the Black American church community to mobilize voters.

“It’s politics,” said Sandra Stacy Gibbs, a Miami Dade registered voter. “We can all just

cast our votes and pray that the best person to meet our needs prevails. It’s not a lackadaisical attitude. However it’s what dictates behind closed doors that matters.

“Everybody promises jobs.

What we need is someone to help Black owned businesses, create safer environments for all ages, not just help the rich

Local nonprofit receives boost to aid youth gardening program State Farm® Youth Advisory Board grants $29,075 to local program

HandsOn Broward’s Sander Schrantz helps Pompano Beach Elementary School students Carl Cherenfant (front) and Wesley Duroseau water vegetable plants in the new school garden.

From Kristina DaSilva BROWARD COUNTY, FL – HandsOn Broward received a $29,075 service-learning

grant for a youth gardening project from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB).

The local volunteer mobilization hub is one of 65 community or-

Pleading Our Own Cause

ganizations across the United States and Canada and one of five programs in Florida to receive the grant.

HandsOn Broward will use the funds to expand the scope of its youth gardening program to include 15 new schools and youth centers. The program will provide an opportunity for 3,000 local students to learn about and engage in nutrition education and environmental stewardship through the creation and maintenance of a vegetable garden.

“We’re grateful for companies like State Farm and the great work that they do to make service-learning possible,” said Sander Schrantz, HandsOn Broward’s Director of Special Programs. “Because of their support, we’re able to involve kids in hands-on learning experiences that will expand their knowledge of healthy and sustainable food options.”

(Cont'd on Page 12)

get richer, especially by fighting wars. We just need to build a better foundation.”

Broward, Miami Dade, Jacksonville, the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, and other areas throughout Florida, saw Black American churches galvanize voters and descend on polling precincts in impressive numbers.

The mid-term elections don’t result in a voter turnout equal in number to that of a Presidential Election. Yet the political dirt flew nonstop, the bashing was never ending, and many people surmised that it was simply laying the groundwork for the 2016 Presidential Election.

“For sure that’s what it is,” said George Stewart, a Miami Gardens resident. “They’ve got nothing for Hillary Clinton. So 2016 is up in the air for Republicans.”

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David Catania might be D.C.’s first openly gay mayor

By Maya Allen Howard University News Service David Catania, a D.C. City Council member and mayoral candidate, waded through the crowds of potential voters at Columbia Heights Day, an annual festival in Northwest Washington, D.C., shaking hands and meeting community members. His volunteers were a rainbow of affiliations and colors — Black, white and Latino; gay and straight, longtime Washington residents and newcomers to the nation’s capital. They were decked out in blue and white Catania gear, waving their signs and working the crowds.

(Cont'd Greeting guests in khakion pants and a lavender-collared dress shirt, Catania didn’t look like the type of guy on the verge of possibly making political

CATANIA history. But he’s been working on it.

Catania could become the Page 13) mayor of the nation’s first white capital. If elected, he would also be the city’s first openly gay mayor.

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Woodlawn Connection: Rubin Stacy

By Chelsea Blackmon On July 19, 1935, hundreds of citizens gathered to see what was to be the only lynching in Broward County. As Rubin Stacy’s body hung from a tree, some spectators became participants and took turns shooting at him 17 bullets hit the mark.

According to his death certificate, he died from a “broken neck and gun shots through the heart.” Some spectators took pictures near the body as if this event was a great accomplishment. Judging by the one published photo of the incident, their intentions were successful.

What exactly had that man done to lose his life in such a manner? Three days earlier, Stacy had gone to the home of Marion Jones to ask for something to drink. Marion Jones, a white woman, told the police that he tried to physically harm her. She said she was afraid when she saw his face. Rubin Stacy was identified as her attacker. He was then arrested and put in jail. Years later she recanted her version of the story.

Sheriff Bob Clark decided to remove him from the jail and claims he intended to relocate him to the Dade County jail for

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“safe keeping”. Sheriff Clark, knowing there would be trouble, deputized several men but later reported that they were overpowered by masked men and were forced to drive Stacy to a site near the home of Marion Jones.

Today, that area is the southwest corner of Davie Boulevard and State Road 441. An unnamed eye witness and participant recounted the incident, in a 1988 Sun-Sentinel article, and said the people were so excited about the thought of a lynching that they stopped doing whatever they were doing and all met Sheriff Clark, his deputies and the masked men near the home of Marion Jones.

When Stacy was removed from the car, his hands were cuffed and his face shrunk in

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terror. Marion Jones’ clothesline was ripped down and thrown over a tree. Stacy was ushered to the place where he would take his final breath.

It was there that Rubin Stacy was murdered by a mob.

Many came to see Stacy’s body.

One man recalled, “Watching the blood drip from his toes.”

During those times, a lynching was something of a show. According to one account, his body was left hanging about eight hours.

The lynching happened about 79 years ago and is a part of Broward County’s history.

“It’s like a stain that won’t go away.” Rubin Stacy was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery. Although his marker cannot be located at Fort Lauderdale’s Woodlawn Cemetery, family oral history and his death certificate reveals that he was indeed, interred there.

As the great-great niece of Rubin Stacey, learning about this shook me to the core. I always knew that lynchings happened, but the fact that it happened in my hometown and to someone in my family, it kind of hurt. Actually, it really hurt.

(Cont'd on Page 9) MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

Page 2 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • November 6 - November 12, 2014

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Tavis Smiley on Democrats running away from Amother’s mission: Combating domestic violence Mary L. Datcher Obama: 'Peter only denied Jesus three times' By From the Windy City Word

SMILEY Earlier this month, Tavis Smiley made headlines by admitting that, although Democrats need a heavy Black voter turnout in order to beat back Republicans in the Midterms, Blacks don’t really have a good reason to show up for Demo-

crats. Now, Smiley is again making news by highlighting just how unpopular Pres. Obama is, as evidenced by the number of Democratic candidates who are running away from the President. Smiley noted that these candidates may have a hard time getting out the Black vote since they’re throwing the Black President under the bus.

While appearing on Face the Nation, Smiley clearly expressed how he views Democratic candidates in relation to Black voters.

“In Kentucky it was discussed earlier you have a candidate who four times in a matter of minutes wouldn’t even admit to voting for Barack Obama. You want his loyal base to support you, you give the President the Heisman, but you want constituents to vote for you. I mean, Peter only denied Jesus three times. The fourth time denial in matter of minutes but you want the Black vote to save you a-

gain. You want Hispanics to save you again. I’m not saying that Blacks and browns ought to abandon the Democratic party, what I’m saying is you’ve got to hold them accountable and maybe the lessons of what happens this year ought to start being reviewed now in advance of 2016,” said Smiley.

This echoes comments made

by Smiley on ABC’s This Week not long ago.

“If you’re Black or brown, other than helping to save the Democrats’ hide, give me three good reasons and you turn out the vote this time,” explained Smiley. “Now I’ll catch hell for saying that... No, I am not suggesting—I’m not suggesting that people ought to stay home and sit on their hands. What I’m suggesting is that neither party has focused clearly enough on the issues of Black and brown voters to inspire them and motivate them to turn out in 2014. And we may see the same thing in 2016."

Lauderhill City Hall brings a month of Breast Cancer Awareness to a close. At the direction of Commissioner M. Margaret Bates, City staff turned City Hall a bright and vibrant pink – reminding everyone about Breast Cancer Awareness. City Hall and Oakland Park Boulevard was an unforgettable reminder that preventative measures and awareness can help save lives. Commissioner Bates hopes this lighting of City Hall becomes an annual tradition.

(Part One of a Two Part Series) CHICAGO, IL – It was a day that no mother or father ever wants to experience – a call informing them that their child has been murdered. The moment a child enters the world; most parents take on the responsibility of protector, nurturer, provider and gatekeeper. Often, parents prepare themselves for the tables to reverse when one day they will be the ones cared for by their adult children, looked after and worldly provisions passed on to their heirs along with their final wishes.

Yolan Corner didn’t have the privilege. Nor did her daughter, Nova Henry. Neither will be able to see Nova’s daughter, Ava, march across the stage to receive her college diploma, participate in her wedding or see Ava have children of her own. These precious moments-were stolen the night Frederick Goings murdered Nova, 24, and her 10-month old daughter six years ago in their South Loop townhouse.

Instead of being paralyzed by the tragedy, Yolan Corner has used it to become a champion for families that are surviving violent crimes. Now remarried, she reflects on how her life has changed since that tragic night in January 2009. A constant tastemaker on the House music scene, she is now married to Chicago event promoter, Reggie Corner; folks often call her by her nickname, Loni House.

“Actually Loni House became about when I started a Facebook page around 2008,” she explained. “Reggie and I began dating. When I started that, I had moved into House music.

I’m with Reggie now; so I thought about ‘House’ because I like House music. Then, it dawned on me, that’s really my maiden name because my biological father’s name is House.”

Growing up on the Southside of Chicago, she spent time between her grandparents’s home in a middle class neighborhood in Cleveland and Chicago. After her grandmother became ill, she returned to Chicago to live with her mother.

“Growing up, I remember my-self saying when I was a

Nova Henry and daughter had dreams cut short. little girl, whenever someone would ask my name, I would reply, ‘My name is Yolan and I’m Black and I’m proud!’ I remember hearing this James Brown song, which was always playing in my mother’s house.

So when someone would ask me my name, that’s how I would always respond. Every since then, I grew up always having my own opinion. That was kind of the beginning of me trying to do some things.”

During her senior year at Thorndale High School, she discovered that she was pregnant, prompting her transfer to a school for unwed mothers. As fate would have it, she was repeating a path etched by her mother. Instead of realizing her dreams of attending college and becoming an entertainment lawyer, she began making a living by working in her parent’s beauty and barber shop as a hairstylist.

“Every weekend, I had to be at work. That’s how I got into doing hair,” she explained. “I got married there; my dad’s shop was on 79th and Halsted. I would remember Father [Michael] Pfleger coming to the neighborhood and petitioning to close down some of the liquor stores. I really admired him for his fight and fearlessness.”

She did not know that she would later work with Father Pfleger, a noted Chicago activist, years later.

He wasn’t the only celebrity who would enter her life.

She also developed a close relationship with future basketball star Eddy Curry, who was often a stable in the Henry home.

“Our home was the house that our kid’s friends would hang out and feel comfortable visiting,” Nova recalled She noticed the platonic friendship that the two young adults shared soon turned romantic. Between Curry’s transitions from college to professional basketball, he moved Nova into his home, where Nova eventually became pregnant with the couple’s first child, Noah.

Ecstatic about the impending arrival of her first grandchild, Loni noticed a change in her daughter.

“Something in her changed; her self esteem was low, which I had not seen in her,” Loni remembered.

Suspecting her husband of infidelity, Nova moved out and began rebuilding her life.

(NEXT WEEK: Tragedy hits home)

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Hepatitis C reaches historic highs: Burgeoning Baby Boomer generation at extreme risk with more than 75 percent infected as spending on HCV treatment predicted to surge more than 200 percent by 2015 Expert available to discuss reasoning’s, resolutions and frightening factoids about the escalating incidence of Hepatitis C, including populations most at risk; what is perpetuating the epidemic; devastating personal health and socioeconomic impacts; the ease, importance and availability of testing; curative treatment options; exorbitant drug costs now as high as $1,000 per pill; and important pending legislation The numbers are sobering: While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.2 million Americans are currently infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the World Health Organization (WHO) further estimates that a staggering 130– 150 million people globally have a chronic HCV infection and that 350 000 to 500 000 people die each year from HCVrelated liver diseases.

While alarming, these data points are no surprise given that the vast majority of those infected with the debilitating, costly and life threatening HCV

virus—the leading cause of advanced liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplants—are entirely unaware and asymptomatic. As worrisome, since the virus often goes undetected, individuals often unknowingly transmit the disease to others.

Even those who are aware of their HCV positive status face barriers relating to exorbitant drug costs, which can current-

ly reach a prohibitive $1,000 a pill. One recent report even cited a “jaw-dropping” prediction that spending on HCV treatment would surge by more than 100 percent in 2014 and by more than 200 percent in both 2015 and 2016. View additional frightening factoids about HCV bulleted down below.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Community Redevelopment Agency fills vacancy left

by Carlton Moore in Pompano’s Northwest District

BAKER POMPANO BEACH, FL The Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

(CRA) has named Ms. Dahlia Baker and Sergeant Willie Jones to the position of Liaisons to the Northwest CRA District and Job Creation. The late Carlton Moore previously served as Liaison to the Northwest CRA Advisory Committee.

Baker, a resident of Pompano’s Northwest District, has been working for the CRA Business Resource Center since 2011 as the program manager. She supervised the Job Placement Center and focused on community outreach.

Jones has more than 30 years of experience, having worked for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and also as a corrections officer. He has strong supervisory and administrative management experience with various law enforcement and community agencies.

Humphries: FAMU family must step up to secure university’s future As we close out this 2014 homecoming weekend. I will make some observations about the university and where we are today and what I personally believe has to happen. I have heard that some believe that the world has changed since I was president and that I may be out of touch with how to promote the university successfully and attract the necessary resources to sustain our alma mater. All due respect to those persons, but I disagree. When it comes to the “meat and potatoes” of FAMU and it relevancy to the fabric of American Higher Education the fundamentals have not changed.

My view: 1. It is critical that all persons in leadership must have a fundamental appreciation and respect for our history, the special role that FAMU plays, and the unique dynamics that it must navigate to be successful in a landscape that does not want FAMU to succeed and is actively seeking to starve the university to death.

One cannot adopt a model that is successful at a predominantly white institution (PWI) and just drop that model into FAMU and expect it to work without significant amounts of nuance and finesse. Any notion of: “I’m from a PWI, I get it, the current and former university community doesn’t” – is arrogant, inherently naïve, and will fail. The stakes are too high to not be thoughtful in every action that FAMU administrators and employees take.

2. Anyone that doesn’t appreciate point #1 should quickly and swiftly be removed from university leadership but with due process. How former Head Football Coach Earl Holmes was handled was in very bad form and the impact of the firing is costing us more in damage to our brand than if he continued as coach and lost every game the rest of the season. This was simply poor judgment. If FAMU

Frederick S. Humphries, the eighth president of FAMU, shared the following message with the FAMU family on his official Facebook page on Nov. 2, 2014. is to be considered a serious university, be a destination for the best students, faculty and garner the public trust to attract research money and elite athletes - these kind of actions must be managed better “Full Stop.”

3. As a community we must make our views about decisions at FAMU visible but respectfully - the world is watching and we must consistently demonstrate that we are serious, thoughtful and deliberate in everything that we do.

4. The alumni must support the university that provided them with tools to be successful in life. I met so many alumni this weekend who are very successful spiritually and financially. Many of them met their spouses at FAMU. How can one have received so much and give so little in return? I have personally given all that I have for this university to be great whether it’s through my time or from my pocketbook. I am not suggesting that all alumni need to be me, but we must give back. Cecka Rose Green’s 10 for10 Challenge is a great example of an idea that used “crowd funding” as way to give

“We are happy to announce that Ms. Baker and Sgt. Jones will be filling the void that was left by Mr. Moore,” said Kim Briesemeister, principal partner of Redevelopment Management Associates, which oversees the CRA. “This will further strengthen the CRA’s ability to help meet the immediate needs of the Northwest community.”

Baker and Jones will jointly serve as links between the CRA and Pompano Beach residents in the Northwest District, to communicate the redevelopment vision and plans as well as help promote various programs and job opportunities throughout the area.

For more information about the Pompano Beach CRA, contact Shanna Benson at (954) 786-7824 or shanna.benson@copbfl.com back. She is to be commended for this effort. Others must step up as well. The gift from Microsoft Board of Directors Chairman John Thompson, a “Mighty Rattler” should make everyone think about “how can I give more within my personal situation?” and play an active role in the university being strong.

5. I, along with others, walked the stadium and spent time promoting former Gov. Charlie Crist during the homecoming game. We must vote for him, however, if he wins then we must hold him accountable to FAMU. That goes for all elected officials that we collectively support, including our own alumni who are in office. Our alumni must vigorously fight for FAMU the way that Florida State University (FSU) and University of Florida alumni fight for their respective alma maters.

I am not suggesting that ours don’t, but simply making a statement. Make no mistake, when John Thrasher takes office as president of FSU, FAMU will be in the fight of her life in the Florida Legislature.

6. Lastly, I firmly believe that our new president, Dr. Elmira Mangum, absolutely can’t fail. This presidency is at one of the most consequential crossroads in University history. We are at an inflection point. The long term position of the university will be determined on her watch. Yes, it’s a heavy burden but it’s one that must be carried as if she was Hercules. For our Madame President for to be successful, I respectfully encourage her to master our history as a university. Spend some time at the FAMU Black Archives to understand where we have come from and the obstacles that have been overcome. It will give her the context that she needs to navigate FAMU and the State of Florida. She must succeed for the university cannot sustain another negative administrative experience.

If she fails, I fear that my stated dream of leaving FAMU in “The Springtime” when my presidency ended will turn to a very long Winter that we may never recover from.

Long live FAMU!

November 6 - November 12, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 3

All We Ever Do is Talk - embracing educational reform There’s been a lot of discussion lately about our public school systems. A recent report revealed that 49 schools within Tulsa Public Schools received an F grade by the state of Oklahoma. Most of those schools are in my legislative district.

I am constantly wondering how, with so many different avenues of resources and different “plans of action” by our urban public school districtswe still get the same result!

Last week, one of my constituents invited me to the debut of his new play called- All We Ever Do is Talk. The play highlighted the problems in an urban school district similar to the one I represent. It was the classic case of the book, Who Moved My Cheese, everyone blamed everyone else for the problem.

The administrators blamed state government for lack of funding to schools, the parents blamed the administrators for lack of leadership, and the teachers blamed the parents.

What I know for sure: as a community, we need to muster the courage to embrace new concepts for educating our kids.

I got involved in education reform as legislator after studying the growth of the private prison industry in Oklahoma.

After reviewing data on the number of illiterate inmates and the alarming disproportionate number of ethnic minorities in prison, I began to realize the connections between private prisons and low childhood literacy.

This year, a report showed that one school in my district had 68 percent of its third graders fail state reading exams.

That number is similar to other schools in my legislative district.

If a student can’t read on grade level by the third grade the likelihood that they can perform well in science, mathematics, or history is dismal.

What has been proven is that a student’s chances of being in the “pipeline to prison” greatly increases when that student lacks strong reading skills.

REMEMBERING OUR VETERANS ON THIS DAY

As our legislators across America return to “work” after the beginning of the year, I am hoping that we will spend coming months crossing the “partisan isles of education”, consistently considering how every action and vote affects the outcome of our children’s future.

I did just that when I worked with Republicans and Democrats to expand our state’s charter school law. I authored a bill that allows our state’s universities to sponsor charter schools.

The bill was in response to Tulsa Public School’s effort to place a moratorium on a charter school in my legislative district. Today that school is sponsored by our state’s only Historically Black University.

While charters were not popular with Tulsa Public Schools then, today, the district not only sponsors charter schools, it received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a charter compact with its charters.

The district now collaborates with its charter schools on best practices.

In addition, I supported bipartisan legislation that created the Lyndsey Nicole Henry Scholarship. Named for former Governor Brad Henry’s daughter, Henry became the first Democrat governor in the nation to sign legislation allowing special needs students to attend a private or parochial school on a state sponsored scholarship. I have also championed other school choice measures that give kids trapped in poor perform-

Jabar Shumate, State Senator th 11 District of Oklahoma Tulsa, Oklahoma ing schools an opportunity to get the best education available.

We have an alarm at the gate, and as a community we must not be afraid to explore every option so that our young people don’t become the statistic used to justify more private prisons across America.

Recently, I was listening to noted educator and founder of the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), Dr. Howard Fuller give a speech. He said, “I am haunted by this mental picture of four Black students sitting down at a lunch counter in Greensboro [1965] demanding to be served.” Fuller went on to say, “And now in 2011, four students sit down at a lunch counter where they are welcome, and can’t read the menu.”

It is time to move beyond talk and take direct action to improve quality educational op-tions for our kids. The eyes of the future look upon us and pray that we see beyond our own time!

Page 4 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • November 6 - November 12, 2014

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Dr. Rosalind Osgood is an AARLCC Culture Keeper!

By Steve Vinik On Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, Dr. Rosalind Osgood will be the third “African-American Culture Keeper” to be honored by the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). The program begins at 4 p.m. The library’s first Culture Keeper honoree was W. George Allen, Esq., a pioneer in Florida civil rights, and the second was Broward County’s Mayor, Barbara Sharief.

According to AARLCC’s Pearl Woolridge, a Culture Keeper is “someone who has made significant contributions to the community in such areas as education, religion or politics.” Ms. Woolridge is coordinating the Culture Keeper programs and arranging for the programs to be video-recorded, a copy to be kept in the archives of the library to be shared with

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Bobby B. DuBose, at a special retrospective event celebrating over five years of service, hard work and accomplishments as the Commissioner for District III in the City of Fort Lauderdale, was roasted by State Senator Chris Smith and State Representative Perry Thurston. Commissioner Dubose will be leaving his Commissioner’s seat for a State Representative seat. Both Perry and Smith gave great encouraging words, however Smith summed it up the best. “Bobby, if you can remember this you will do fine in Tallahassee. “Politicians are like baby diapers. They have to be changed often and for the same reasons.”

Budget cuts may imperil Blacks from checking out public libraries

future generations.

Dr. Rosalind Osgood is a former adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University in the Masters of Public Administration Program. She is the author of two academic articles, Moral Development and Municipal Elected Officials and Ethics in Municipal Government in Florida. Dr. Osgood is also the author of The Story Behind the Story, a literary repose that discusses the value that mentoring has added to her life.

On Nov. 6, 2012, Dr. Osgood was elected by to the School Board of Broward County to represent District 5 by 70 percent of the voters. In 2013, Dr. Osgood became the First Female Chaplain for the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

Dr. Osgood is a Broward County native. She is a graduate of Fort Lauderdale High

School and single mother of three adult children who are college graduates. She has earned both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University. In 2001, she had the unique honor of being the first woman in the history of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church to be licensed, ordained, and positioned in the pulpit, by the late preacher extraordinaire, Rev. Dr. Mack King Carter.

In December 2007, she earned a Master’s of Divinity Degree from New Orleans Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the founder of Dr. Rosalind Osgood Ministries International and the Women Reaching Women Word Network International Prayer Ministry. Dr. Osgood is the president/CEO of Mount Olive Development Corporation

OSGOOD (MODCO).

Dr. Osgood’s life is a prime example of how education, faith in God, and community support can provide opportunities that might otherwise have been unimaginable.

BROWARD COUNTY CHAPTER UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE USA, SHINES BRIGHTLY IN BROWARD ON THEIR 71ST ANNIVERSARY, UNITED NATIONS DAY & SCHOLARSHIP ANNUAL LUNCHEON – The luncheon was held on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 at the Inverrary Country Club. Twelve distinguished honorees and scholarship winner were honored that represent the team global citizenship and youth. The honorees include Standing l to r: Edward S. Cooke, UNA Pioneer Award; Bishop Ansel Rosegreen, UNA Clergy Award; Congressman Alcee L. Hastings, UNA Champion for Humanitarian Change Award; Frantz Jean, UNA Man of the Year Award; Michael Adden, UNA Professional Award; Dr. Daniel Desir, UNA Man of Distinction Award; James F. Griffin 11, UNA Distinction Award; Presenting awards, Sharon Tweneboah. Seated l to r: Lori Sparks, UNA Distinguished Achievement Award; Beverly Parker, UNA Distinguished Service Award; Dr. W. Blanca Moore-Velez, president; Betty Davis, UNA Global Achievement Award; Annete Green-Alvarez, UNA Advocacy Award; Minister Sheketa Plummer, UNA Community Service Award. The Dr. W. Blanca Moore-Velez Scholarship winner goes to Brandon Smith, who is away at Oakwood University in Alabama. Right: Bertha Henry accepts award presented by Sharon Tweneboah. The luncheon was a great success and this would not have been possible without out committed members as well as other NGO and community organization representatives.

Addicted to Zane: The Queen of Urban Erotica

By Courtney Shepard

By Jazelle Hunt Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) Between the rise of digital media, changing social landscapes, and decreased funding, the nation’s 8,956 public library systems are at a crisis stage. And underserved communities and people of color stand to lose more than other communities.

Public libraries stand in the gap for many Black Americans and their households. In a 2013 Pew Research Center survey, 47 percent of African American respondents 16 years and older had visited a library within the past year. Blacks and Latinos were more likely to consider their public library’s services “very important to their lives.”

This is particularly true in the case of Internet access, as Black people are less likely than their white counterparts to have high-speed Internet access at home. In addition to being left behind in a digital age, much of the job market has gone online; many employers no longer offer an in-person application option.

The library is often the only place in a community where a person can receive free technical assistance and help with applying for jobs online.

“The library becomes a social change agent where people of African descent can go, and have a safe space, and empower themselves,” says Princess Black, a Statesboro, Ga. native

studying library science at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. “As we’re moving further into the 21st century, the library’s responsibility, especially to African American communities, is to mold and shape itself into whatever the community needs it to be.”

Black points to the Ferguson Public Library as an example.

As the demonstrations around Michael Brown’s killing pushed the Ferguson-Florissant school district’s first day of school back a week, the small library became a makeshift school for 200 students, and a safe space for the community during unrest.

“Ferguson [Public Library] is a very small library, it only has one full-time librarian. Given the climate, he could’ve easily said no; however, he allowed them to use the space,” Black explains. The Ferguson head librarian, Scott Bonner, also helped organizers find partners to provide overflow space, food, and school materials. Bonner was one month into the job.

“And so he got rolled into a position of basically being an activist,” Black says. “The library has broken away from the tradition entity it used to be—[they] now play an active role in social justice.”

Black says that because the duty to serve the community is so inherent, libraries and librarians often do not recognize their roles as agents of social justice.

(Cont'd on Page 11)

Zane has been dubbed the Queen of Urban Erotica for at least a decade. She began writing steamy, lust filled stories on AOL message boards in 1997.

Since then, Zane has picked up a major following, written and co-written at least 30 books, including Nervous, Shame On It All, After Burn, and Sex Chronicles.

She has boosted the careers of more than 100 other up and coming authors, had two television shows including Cinemax’s Zane’s The Jump Off, documentaries and if that’s not enough, this phenomenal woman has added a major motion film to her long list of accolades.

Addicted, a movie based on her very first self-published novel of the same name, came in kicking down doors and stepping on glass barefoot (sorry, spoiler alert) on Oct. 10, 2014.

An erotic thriller that is sure to have you squirming in your seat follows Zoe, portrayed by Sharon Leal, a successful Black business woman whose dark secret is threatening her family, livelihood and life itself.

Pique your interest yet?

The movie also features Boris Kodjoe (I know, *swoon*), who plays her husband Jason, all of the chocolate deliciousness that is Tyson Beckford and the gorgeous William Levy. It is well worth the watch, but make sure you take a friend, because you’re going to need someone to share your complete shock with.

Zane has undeniably opened the doors for erotica authors, and paved the way for books and movies by others, but this will always be her territory. If you have ever picked up a Black erotic book, it is almost guaranteed that Zane has touched the work in one way or another

whether just being an inspiration, co-writing, or editing and with her work, she has influenced women to be more in touch with their sexualities, freeing themselves through her characters. Characters who she builds on and writes backgrounds and histories to that most people never get to see and when Zane is done with that novel, she moves on to the next cast of characters.

“People always ask me what’s my favorite book that I have written and I always say the same thing. It’s whatever book I’m currently writing because that’s what I’m living and breathing at the time. I’m living my life as if I’m living with these characters.”

For all those wondering out there, no; Zane doesn’t write her characters based on her own experiences, but instead, aims to build an interesting but flawed person trapped between the pages of each novel. She said, “It doesn’t matter how great a story is if the readers don’t care about the characters, they won’t care if something happens to the character.”

Zane always aims to make that character relatable, that she wants to make each story better than the last so when asked how she felt about Addicted being the first of her novels to be made into a movie, I wasn’t surprised to hear her say how proud she was.

It made sense because it was the first she wrote, but now she’d moved on to greater and greener pastures; one of which being her newest released novel, The Other Side of The Pillow. The excitement in her voice was overwhelming as she described how she came to write her most explosive and bitter character to date.

“There were so many women on

my facebook page that whenever a man asked for advice on their marriage or relationship problems, the women would eat the men alive.

"I just found it so interesting that they would put a spin on the story and somehow it would always end up that the man had to have done something, and at the end of the day, no matter where the trail leads, it’s always the man who caused his woman to act a certain way.” She laughed as she recounted stories on her Facebook page, simply named Zane.

Her character, Jemistry Daniels, was born from the myriad of comments the women left behind whenever a man attempted to ask for relationship advice on Zane’s facebook page; needless to say, she leaks animosity.

“Can a woman that is that hurt, find love in spite of that fact and because I wrote this book a lot of women are like ‘Ok, now I feel like I may have some hope, because if she can find love... maybe there’s some hope for me yet. Maybe if I stop waiting for the other shoe to drop’ if there’s another shoe to begin with... I always have an underlying message that I want people to walk away with.”

And finally, soon to be released in January 2015, is Vengeance. With this novel, Zane boasts the greatest artwork to leak from her pen. She wouldn’t tell me much, only that the main character was the most complicated of all her characters from the past (yes, even more complicated than Jude/Jonquinette from Nervous.)

All in all, Zane still sits pretty on her Erotica throne. She’s still very unconcerned about the critics resting at her feet

ZANE asking her to tone it down because in the end, she writes for her enjoyment and whether they like it or not is not of her concern. She aims to write the best story she can with the characters she has.

Don’t forget to catch Addicted in theaters near you and pick up Other Side of the Pillow!

Zane will be in town and is headlining at A Conversation with... Zane in Miramar, FL at The City of Miramar Cultural Center Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 at 7:30p.m. Partial proceeds from the event will benefit the Breast Cancer Awareness organization Save the Twinz. She will read from her latest novel, Other Side of the Pillow and do a Q&A with the audience as well as tell the story behind the hit film Addicted.

For more information and tickets call 954-602-4500 or v i s i t www.Miramarculturalcenter.org.

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

November 6 - November 12, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 5

Community Digest

Publix is Proud to Support Community News WHERE SHOPPING IS A PLEASURE

Celebration

Fifth Pastoral Anniversary Celebration, Dr. Louis Sanders & Lady Ophelia Sanders, PhD. Monday, Nov. 3-9, 2014 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 2380 N.W. Third St., Pompano Beach, Fla. Anniversary Luncheon, Saturday, Nov. 8. 2014 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Carolina Golf Club, 3011 N. Rock Island Rd., Margate, Fla.

Expo

Broward Health Supplier Diversity Business & Health Expo, Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Signature Grand, 6900 W. State Rd. 84, Davie, Fla. There’s a registration, parking and breakfast fee. Register, space is limited at BrowardHealth.org/sdexpo.

For additional info call (305) 762-6151 or (305) 971-9446.

Event

Feeding New Hope Baptist Church partnership with Wayne Barton Study Center, and Feeding South Florida would like to feed a thousand families, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1321 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Bring your bags, boxes and carts and receive this blessing. Free Free Free. For more info contact pastor Ricky Scott at (954) 4632192 or Paul Fields at (754) 422-5944.

Fest Youth for Christ Outreach Ministry Inc., Pastor D. Fraizer, November Fest, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 from 12 to 3 p.m., at 675 N.W. 22 Rd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Free games, food, entertainment and Health screen.

For additional info call (954) 581-5603.

Gala Elite Pink Miami presents Pink Gala Benefit Gala, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., at Hyatt Regency, 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, Fla. For more info or to purchase tickets call (786) 285-8417 or visit www.elitepinkmiami.com

Forum To honor the men and women who serve in the United Stated Armed Forces, the Pride of Fort Lauderdale, Elks Lodge #652 and the Daughters of Temple #395 will be hosting its annual Veterans Day event, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 at 11 a.m., at 712 N.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more info call (954) 463-7474.

District 5 School Board Representative Dr. Rosalind Osgood presents Anti-Bullying Community Forum, Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 at 6:30 p.m., at Parkway Middle School Auditorium, 3600 N.W. Fifth Court, Lauderhill, Fla. Mr. Brad Mattair, principal.

Meeting

Dear Members November meetings, please note the following General Membership meetings of the NAACP Fort Lauderdale/Broward Branch, for the purpose of election of officers and atlarge members of the executive committee.

3. On Nov. 13, 2014 at the Mizell Cultural Center at7 p.m., the election of officers and atlarge members of the Executive Committee will take place Polls will open from 5 to 8 p.m. In order to vote in a Branch election, one must be a member in good standing of the Branch 30 days prior to the election. A form of identification is required.

Should a run-off election be necessary then election shall occur on the following date at time certain (at least 1 hour) at this location, Run-off elections shall be conducted not less than ten days after the original election.

The Sistrunk Historical Organization is now accepting applications for its parade and Urban Music Festival which will be held February 28, 2015. Be a part of this phenomenal and festive event by visiting www.sisttunkfestival.org and completing your application. It is going to be awesome!!

Happenings at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center

The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center is located at 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Call the Welcome Desk at (954) 357-6210.

Youth Services Please call the Youth Services Desk for info on programs and services for children and teens.” · Tuesday, Nov. 18, 25, from 10:30 to 11:15, Preschool Story Time Fun! Stories, finger plays, songs and crafts – youth service area. · Saturday, Nov. 15 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., Celebrate International Games Day! Family game time fun – youth service area. · Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m., Free Homework Help available for students grades K thru 12.

(Only homework and educational games are allowed on Children’s and Teens’ computers during Homework Help hours.) For more info call (954) 357-6157. · Saturday, Nov. 8, 22, 2014 at 2 p.m., Kheprera Study Group: Featured book African Holistic Health by Llaila O. Afrika. For more info call (954) 357-5950. · Monday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m., an afternoon with Dr. Rosalind Osgood. Third in the Culture Keepers Series moderated by Dr. Tameka Hobbs, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of History at Florida Memorial University · Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 5 p.m., The Mocombeian Foundation’s 2md Annual Reading Night. The foundation’s mission is “Teaching Reading Strategically”.

Free Computer Classes Schedule – pre-registration is required for all classes. Call (954) 357-6236, due to limited seating, registration begins (6) six days prior to each scheduled class. Pre-registered students are asked to arrive 15 min. before class to check in. **Please bring a storage device (such as thumb drive) if you wish to save your work** The following classes are funded by the Broward Public Library Foundation · Thursday, Nov. 6, from 10:30 to 12 noon, Resume Writing I · Thursday, Nov. 13, from 10:30 to 12 noon, Resume Writing II · Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Computer Literacy, I · Thursday, Nov. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Computer Literacy I

Family Fun Night

Join us at the library and enjoy games, crafts and dinner on us! Bring your whole family, specially your children, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Tyrone Bryant Library, 2230 N.W. 21 Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-8210.

United Way of Broward is looking for volunteers: We are looking for volunteers that can dedicate one hour per week, for 25 weeks to read to first grade students for the 2014-2015 school year -- No experience is necessary; just a love for children. Volunteers must complete and pass a background check.

ReadingPals takes place during school hours.ReadingPals runs from September 2014 to June 2015.

Through the ReadingPals initiative volunteers read with children at 14 public schools and 6 childcare centers throughout Broward County. For more information about volunteering, training dates and volunteer requirements for the ReadingPals initiative please contact Lola Jordan at (954) 453-3738.

ATTENTION RADIO LISTENERS We have free gifts for everybody who calls into the show and shares their opinion. Listen every Saturday at 4 p.m. to Spiritual Downloads with Anna Stephenson on WWNN Radio AM 1470. It’s a live Call in talk show that discusses everything from Spiritual Matters to what matters to you. The show can also be heard on the Internet at wwnnradio.com; just click on the listen live button. Your voice is the most important part of the show. So call in and let us hear what you have to say. The toll free call in number is 1-888-565-1470.

Also e-mail Anna Stephenson at annasmiami@aol.com with a subject you want to hear discussed on the show. The show also interviews special guests Like Jessica Reedy from Sunday Best. Shelia Raye Charles, Melba Moore and different preachers and gospel musical artists and politicians.

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Opinion

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that it will implement a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program (HFRPP) beginning in early 2015. Under the HFRPP, certain Haitian individuals will be permitted to come to the United States up to two years before their immigrant visa priority dates become current. As a Member of Congress, I have long supported and called for such a program to be created, and applaud the Administration’s action on this critical matter. The HFRPP will not only reunify hundreds of families and provide them with increased opportunities for success, but will also save lives, accelerate Haiti’s recovery efforts following the devastating 2010 earthquake, and help to bolster the island nation’s fragile economy.

For countless people throughout the world, the United States remains a shining beacon of opportunity and an enduring symbol of hope. And each year, some Haitians risk their lives – often at the mercy of smugglers – to cross the notoriously treacherous 80mile-wide Mona Passage strait toward Puerto Rico and eventually reach our shores. Tragically, many do not make it. Still others have navigated the increasingly tighter U.S. immigration process and succeeded with the help of their family members who are already living here. However, due to annual caps, more than 100,000 Haitians with approved family-based petitions remain on waiting lists of up to more than 12 years in Haiti.

The number of Haitian refugees seeking a better life in America skyrocketed after the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake of January 12, 2010 com-

pletely devastated the island, killing over 200,000 Haitians. More than four years later, approximately 150,000 Haitians still live in appalling conditions in tent camps or temporary plastic and plywood structures that make up the growing communities outside of Port-au-Prince. Many have no water, electricity, or hope that their government will help them.

Sadly, the United States’ record on helping Haitians has been a mixed one. As a Federal District Judge in Florida in the 1980s, I presided over a case that resulted in the suspension of deportation hearings for several hundred Haitians who were detained, some argued purposefully, in locations where they could not obtain legal representation. As part of a separate case, I also ordered the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to issue 22,000 work permits to Haitian immi-

A sporting view of service transcends political profit Charlie Crist’s campaign a Coast Guard, Marine

By Derek Joy stroke of inclusiveness and Corps, Navy and the Democracy And just like that, it all came into reservists, including focus.

Ah, yes. The frolic and fun of Halloween is in the rear view mirror and Veteran's Day looms on the horizon.

This is the time when America honors it brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In alphabetical order: Air Force, Army,

Westside Gazette Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM) Bobby R. Henry, Sr. - PUBLISHER Pamela D. Henry - SENIOR EDITOR Sonia M. Henry Robinson COMPTROLLER Elizabeth D. Henry CIRCULATION MANAGER Carma L. Henry - DATA ENTRY Charles Moseley MARKETING DIRECTOR Tarrence Crawford & Ron Lyons PHOTOGRAPHER Levi Henry Jr. - CHAIRMAN Yvonne F. Henry EDITOR (Emeritus)

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

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Air National Guard.

So, as media reports showed members of the Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat volunteering in the comJOY munity to help veterans and their families, Fritz Ettienne, Jr. and Damian Parms.

Gotcha. Names that are not quite in the household category. But are good examples of that unique form of service. You see, Ettienne and Parms are college student athletes.

That’s right. Both were coached by Monsignor Pace High School Head Football Coach Mario Smith, who cofounded and stages the Broward Dade Public -Private All Star game.

Service. That is. Beyond politics or the search for personal gain. Ettienne first attended a junior college and was awarded a scholarship to Memphis State University, where he is a lock down safety.

Parms was awarded a scholarship to Florida Atlantic University, where he is also a lock down safety. Teammates, they were. And most likely will play on Sundays once this season is over.

Interesting thing is how athletes can toil in the private and small high schools, yet thrive on the big stage of college competition. Even more interesting is how a significant number of professional football players compete at colleges and universities that don’t get the big time recognition.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Ebola tracks outbreak of HIV/AIDS pandemic

By Bill Fletcher, Jr. NNPA Columnist A high school friend of my wife was one of the earliest victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He was a flight attendant, who was FLETCHER stricken and died quickly. When he died they still had not come up with a name for the pandemic. But then others became sick and died and suddenly the public knew that something deadly was unfolding.

In the beginning of the pandemic there were different ways that it was characterized. The media and the “street” would talk about the “gay cancer” or the “disease” that afflicted Haitians, homosexuals and hemophiliacs.

There were those who suggested locking up entire populations. No one seemed to know whether you could hug and kiss someone with what later came to be called HIV/AIDS. There was panic. While the science was ignored, there was a demand for a cure. All sorts of theories circulated as to how and why HIV/AIDS emerged.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GUIDELINES The Westside Gazette welcomes your letters. Letters must be signed with name clearly legible along with a phone number and complete address. No unsigned or anonymous letters will be considered for publication. The Westside Gazette reserves the right to edit letters. The letters should be 500 words or less.

The light is the truth

By Lucius Gantt

How the United States can bring Haitian families back together

By Congressman Alcee L. Hastings

The Gantt Report

By Roger Caldwell This race is too close to call, but if I was a betting man, I would put my money on Char- CALDWELL lie. Charlie has run a strategically intelligent campaign, which engaged all of the diverse cultures in Florida. ExGovernor Crist is truly the “people’s governor,” because Charlie showed up where you would less expect him to be found.

The Crist campaign was inclusive and at anytime, the “people’s governor” could be found at any Floridian’s kitchen talking about Florida’s problems and getting advice on how to fix it. I had the pleasure of meeting Governor Crist at one of my favorite soul food restaurant in Orlando called Chef Eddie. Charlie took his time and talked to everyone that had something to say to him, and he ate some of the best soul food in the state.

I have no idea how Charlie acted at his other stops, but that day it was a pleasure talking to him, and he showed genuine concern for me and the other folks at the restaurant. Without a doubt, Charlie is a people person, and he understands the trials and problems of the working and middle class.

I also had the personal experience of seating next to Annette Taddeo running for Lieutenant Governor at a forum, and she is cut from the small mould as her boss. Annette is extremely easy to communicate with and she listens to what you have to say. She is a hard worker, and she is a people’s person, who cares.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Dishonoring success

By Jineea Butler NNPA Columnist If you want a provocative comment about the Black community, turn to CharBUTLER les Barkley. The NBA Hall of Famer made headlines last week when he addressed comments about Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson not being Black enough for his teammates. He said that African Americans are too concerned with street cred than true success and that’s holding the community back.

Whether he knew it or not, Barkley’s observations would also apply to the Hip Hop dilemma, which can be defined as the common distasteful physical emotional and/or mental trauma people experience when coming in contact with the Hip Hop Community.

While I agree with some of Barkley’s statement, I don’t believe this is a conversation that should target only at the uneducated, unsuccessful and unintelligent Blacks. It gives everybody with a college degree and some success under their belt a pass to point their fingers at the less fortunate in the community without taking a look at what part they play.

Let’s be honest, Russell Wilson is White America’s Black role model, rightfully so. Russell came in as a young, mixed race, quiet second-year quarterback and won the Super Bowl.

He showed White America he knows how to play their game and he is good at it. Like Barkley, he had a White wife.

Naturally, the Black community generates hate for those type of achievements, which.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

grants within 60 days, a proposition at which INS initially balked, but ultimately complied with. Federal Court rulings that favored Haitian immigrants were, at best, scarce and, at worst, nonexistent prior to CONGRESSMAN HASTINGS my decisions. My concern for, and dedication to, our Haitian friends only deepened when I was elected to Congress. Over the years, I have proudly sponsored legislation that would stop the interdiction and return of Haitian refugees, and have supported the commitment of economic and peacekeeping assistance to Haiti.

On May 30, 2014, I was proud to send along with Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and 61 other Members of Congress a letter to President Obama urging him to direct DHS to create a HFRPP, which will not only reunite families, but help grow Haiti’s economy in the form of remittance payments and promote safe and legal migration from Haiti to the United States.

Creating the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program was the right decision, and its time long overdue. But it is not too late to help those still in need. It is my sincere hope that the Program will be expanded, so that all Haitians with approved petitions may join their families in the United States as soon as possible.

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings represents Florida’s 20th Congressional district and serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.

My newest book is scheduled for a 2015 release and will be titled The Light Is The Truth!

Today I want to give you a taste of one of the GANTT issues I’ll write about.

It’s the Sunday before the 2014 election and all through the house not a registered soul was stirring, not even a political mouse!

At this time, I don’t have a clue what the results will be but there is one thing I can predict.

I believe far more Democratic candidates will lose than win their political races.

In cities, states and political districts where there are more registered Democrats than Republicans or independents, Democrats will not be as successful in generating Democratic voters as they should be.

Why? Primarily because the socalled political professionals that Democrats choose to hire and pay millions of dollars to can’t go to sleep and dream about how to advise Democrats how to achieve Election Day success!

Let me explain why I say this.

The voters in so-called Democratic states are total political idiots when you look how they are thought of by Democratic Party leaders. Democrats, and others, in your community are educated, they are experienced, they are versatile and many have a history of giving solid political advice and winning strategies but what do state Democratic Party leaders do? They hire people from Iowa to tell Democratic candidates how to win in Florida.

They hire media consultants from Illinois to create political messages for candidates in Georgia.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Watching the elections The Black Athlete from abroad

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist JERUSALEM — On Election Night, I uCURRY sually stay awake as long as my eyelids are willing to cooperate. But this year was different.

Instead of alternating between watching CNN and tracking results on the Internet, I was in the Holy Land, nearly 6,000 miles from my office in Washington, D.C. With Daylight Savings Time going into effect last Sunday, I was in a time zone Tuesday seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. That meant that instead of hearing the TV network projections trickle in as polls closed in different regions of the U.S., I had to go to bed not knowing if Democrats had lost control of the Senate, as predicted, and how well African Americans had turned out in the pivotal states of North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana and Arkansas.

I fell asleep in my hotel room confident of two things: First, no matter how strong Blacks went to the polls in this off-year election, when voting historically favors the party out of the White House, Democrats were unlikely to regain control of the House of Representatives. Second, if Republicans managed to wrestle control from Democrats in the Senate, Democrats would blame the low turnout among African Americans.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

When does one become ‘Black enough?’

By Omar Tyree NNPA Columnist Seattle Seahawks TYREE Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, published a revealing article a month ago on ThePlayersTribune.com in which he discussed being a bully in grade school.

Wilson evidently concluded that it would be beneficial to tarnish his squeaky-clean image so more fans and players could relate to him. But now it’s been reported that unnamed “sources” within the Seahawks locker room claim some players don’t consider Wilson “Black enough.”

It seems like just yesterday that President Barack Obama, was questioned about not being “Black enough” while running for president in 2008.

In fact, he showed up late for a speech to the National Association of Black Journalists and jokingly asked was that Black enough for them. Former Miami Dolphins lineman, Jonathan Martin was deemed not “Black enough” by his African-American teammates a year ago, when being bullied and called the N-word by Richie Incognito, a White teammate. A year earlier, Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, whose father boasted that he and his wife had reared their son to be colorblind, faced similar charges.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

We should banWest Africans from entering U.S. Beyond the Rhetoric

By Raynard Jackson NNPA Columnist I have had it with all the whining and complaining I am hearing JACKSON from Africans regarding the growing demand from Americans to deny travel to the U.S. for Africans from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea because of the Ebola epidemic that has infected those countries.

Let’s be clear: No one has a right to travel to the U.S. It is a privilege conferred upon would be travelers at the sole discretion of the U.S. Our government, like others around the world, has the right to deny anyone entry into our country for any or no reason at all.

Except for President Obama, every president has put the safety of the American people before “political correctness” or the sensitivities of foreigners. President Obama seems to be more concerned about hurting the feelings of Africans or hurting their economies more than protecting his own people.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Government owes us reparations

By Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist Last week I wrote about the shocking story ALFORD of how our Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) willfully brought crack cocaine into the Black neighborhoods of our nation to make cash for financing a revolution in Nicaragua. This is going down as the vilest act perpetrated against a specific race of people. An agency of our nation performed and managed the dastardly act and must be held accountable. In other words, reparations are due.

They are due but they will never come unless we start acting and demanding justice. There has been talk of reparations for the effects of slavery. That isn’t going to fly as too much time has gone by to calculate just how much damage was done and who deserves what.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

AF amily T hat Prays T ogether, Stays T ogether Family That Together, Together

Church Directory

November 6 - November 12, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 7

St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church 145 NW 5th Avenue Dania Beach, FL 33004 Office: (954) 922-2529

Bishop Victor T. Curry Senior Pastor/Teacher

Worship T his and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choice This

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 2211 N.W. 7th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061 Church: (954) 583-9368 Email: bethelmbchurchfl@att.net

Reverend Jimmy L. English PASTOR WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship ............................................................. 8 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Sunday School ........................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday (Prayer Service & Bible Study) ............................... 7:30 a.m.

Saturday (Women Bible Study) ............................................................ 8 a.m.

"Baptized Believers working together to do the will of God"

First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc. 4699 West Oakland Park Blvd.

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313 Office: (954) 735-1500 Fax: (954) 735-1939 fbcpg@bellsouth.net

Rev. Dr. Derrick J. Hughes, Pastor SUNDAY SERVICES Worship Services .......................................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Children's Church ........................................................ 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Communion (First Sunday) ......................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.

New Members' Class .................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Church School .............................................................................. 9:30 a.m.

Baptist Training Union (BTU) .................................................... 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ...................................... 11:15 a.m.. & 7:00 p.m.

Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Rev. Juana Jordan, M.Div E-MAIL:juana.jordan@flumc.org 2351 N.W. 26th Street Oakland Park, Florida 33311 Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520 Church Fax: (954) 731-6290

SERVICES Sunday Worship ................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School .............................................................................. 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ........................................... 11a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Mount Calvary Baptist Church

800 N.W. 8th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 Church Telephone: (954) 943-2422 Church Fax: (954) 943-2186 E-mail Address: Mtcalvarypompano@bellsouth.net

Reverend Anthony Burrell, Pastor SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

New Member Orientation ........................... 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................ 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service ........................................ 11:00 a.m.

WEDNESDAY Prayer Meeting ............................................... 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study ..................................................... 7:00 p.m.

"Doing God's Business God's Way, With a Spirit of Excellence"

New Birth Baptist Church The Cathedral of Faith International Bishop Victor T. Curry, M.Min., D.Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher 2300 N.W. 135th Street Miami, Florida 33167

ORDER OF SERVICES Sunday Worship ........................................................ 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday School ....................................................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday (Bible Study) ......................................................................................... 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................................................... 10:45 a.m.

1-800-254-NBBC * (305) 685-3700 (o) *(305) 685-0705 (f) www.newbirthbaptistmiami.org

New Mount Olive Baptist Church 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33311 (954) 463-5126 ● Fax: (954) 525-9454 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY Sunday .................................................... 7:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ............................................................................ 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Noonday Service .................................. 12:00-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ............................................ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Where the kingdom of God is increased through Fellowship.

Leadership, Ownership and Worship F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 581-0455 ● Fax: (954) 581-4350 www.mtzionmissionarybapt.com

Rev. Dr. James B. Darling, Senior Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship Service .............................................................................. 8:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ............................................................................................................... 10:00 a.m.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) ......................................................................... 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ........................................................................... 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Saturday (2nd & 4th) Growth & Orientation ........................................................... 9 a.m.

But be doers of the Word - James 1:22 nkjv - “A Safe Haven, and you can get to Heaven from here”

A FAMIL Y THA T AMILY THAT PRA YS TOGETHER PRAY ST AYS TOGETHER STA

WORSHIP SERVICES Bible Study (Wednesday Night) ...................................................... 6:45 p.m.

Sunday School .............................................................................. 8:45 a.m.

Sunday Morning Service ............................................................. 10:00 a.m.

Williams Memorial CME “PRAYER IS THE ANSWER” 644-646 NW 13th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 (954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line) (954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line) Email: wm_cme@bellsouth.net (Church} pastorCal50@yahoo.com (Pastor)

Rev. Cal Hopkins.

M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher

The WITNESS of “The WILL” Sunday Worship Experiences ................................................................ 7:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................................................................................. 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday Night Triumph {Prayer, Praise and Power} Prayer Meeting ................................................................................................................ 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study ........................................................................................................................ 7:30 p.m.

We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter TODAY to Whole Body of Christ, not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR! Come to the WILL ... We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ!”

Obituaries James C. Boyd Funeral Home BRABOY Funeral services for the late Mother Daisy Braboy were held Nov. 1 at New Covenant Deliverance Cathedral with Bishop Sylvester Banks officiating. Interment: South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fl. RUFF Funeral services for the late James Ruff, Jr were held Nov. 1 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Apostle Lucille Hargrett officiating.

McWhite's Funeral Home BASKIN Funeral services for the late Janette Baskin - 55 were held Nov. 1 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Kwaun Felton officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

DUDLEY Funeral services for the late Z’Keitha Natae Dudley – 31 were held Nov. 1 at Word Of The Living God Ministries with Apostle John L. Mohorn, Jr. officiating.

ELLISON Funeral services for the late Rosa Mae Lewis Ellison – 68 were held Nov. 1 at McWhite’s Funeral Home. Interment: Gospel Light CCHL, Sylvania, GA. FARMER Funeral services for the late Gail Gloria Farmer were held Nov. 2 at Sunrise SDA with Elder W. Spence.

MITCHELL Funeral services for the late Quilone Mitchell – 84 were held Nov. 1 at The House Of God, Church Of The Living God, The Pillar and Ground Of The Truth Without Controversy Keith Dominion with Min. Jasper Lamar Eaddy officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home JOHNSON Funeral services for the late Sister Mamie Lee Johnson were held Nov. 1 at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church

with Bishop C. E. Glover officiating. Interment: Lauderdale Memorial Gardens.

POWELL Funeral services for the late Terri Ann Powel – were held Nov. 1 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship Center with Pastor Julian Hutchinson officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Clark & Norris Homes of Funeral FLEMING Funeral services for the late Sean Cleophas Fleming – 34 were held Nov. 1 at Greater Providence Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. W.M. Ramsey officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery (Central).

LARRIEUX Funeral services for the late Patricia Elliott-Lar-rieus – 53 were held Nov. 1 at The Spiritual Isreal Church and it’s Army with Elder David L. Torrence officiating.

KIDS TALK ABOUT GOD

Why has God the Father given his son power over everything?

By Carey Kinsolving and Friends “Jesus deserves all the power,” says Kianna, 9.

“He died on the cross to save us from our sins. This is cool for me to believe in him. He created everything, so he should have power over everything. I think he totally deserves it!”

In the Apostle John’s vision of heaven, he sees angels, living creatures, elders and a host of thousands united in a song of praise to the Lord Jesus Christ: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).

The praise song continues with every creature in heaven and on earth united in song: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13).

When Pontius Pilate told Jesus that he had the power to release him or crucify him, Jesus said: “You could have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above.

Therefore the one who delivered me to you has the greater sin” (John 19:11).

The most amazing non-use of power is when Jesus laid down his power willingly and submitted to the abuse, ridicule and agony of being crucified as a common criminal. All of recorded history has never witnessed this kind of non-use of power.

Pilate represented all the might and authority of the world’s greatest empire. Compared to the power that Jesus possessed, Rome was nothing. It’s like a child with a pea shooter threatening someone with a nuclear bomb.

“Jesus knows what it is like here,” says Anna, 10. “He came here so we would know he has been here and walked on this earth. As God, he knows what is best for us.”

“A good man always knows his limitations,” said Clint Eastwood in one of his movies.

As much as people like to boast about life without limits, finite beings face limitations. To put your life into the hands of a God who is all knowing and all powerful, takes the pressure off. This doesn’t mean Christians shouldn’t use the brains and ability that God gave them, but they should use them with humility.

Even though advances in science have achieved what people couldn’t even imagine 100 years ago, our ignorance always outpaces our knowledge. The more we learn, the more we realize we don’t know. Like unlocking successive doors, one discovery leads to another. Not so with God. He knows everything, and he also has the power to act on what he knows.

“God gave his son Jesus power over everything because he loves him,” says Sarah-Ann, 8.

That is exactly what the Bible says, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand” (John 3:35).

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

The Religion Corner: Why residual effects of domestic violence cause some to snap

By Lyndia Grant Special to the NNPA from Informer

The Washington

The late Farrah Fawcett earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of Francine Hughes in the 1984 television movie “The Burning Bed.” The TV adaptation shows GRANT flashbacks while Francine stands trial for murder after she snapped one day. She poured gasoline around the bed of her sleeping spouse, doused him, lit a match and walked away. Her husband, Mickey, drove her over the edge after more than a decade of domestic abuse.

The purpose of this column is to show how some of us get out of domestic violence successfully, while others, like a former coworker, simply snap. They lose their minds or they kill the perpetrator the way Fawcett’s character, Francine, did in the movie.

Thank God I didn’t snap! Forty years ago, I married a tall, handsome Marine who turned out to be violent. I was 19 years old, and I had a “good government job” working for the U.S. Tariff Commission, which is now known as the International Trade Commission. Some of my co-workers there have become my best friends. But one of them changed.

The violence in my marriage began during my honeymoon. It frightened me terribly that my husband grabbed me around my throat, choking me because of something I said that displeased him. Shocked by what had happened, I jumped on the telephone with a teary plea to my father, asking him to come and get me.

By the time Daddy arrived, my husband had persuaded me to stay. He hugged, apologized, and was kind. It was only just beginning. Today, I’m not sorry I stayed. I have three beautiful, adult children and three lovely grandchildren as a result of that union.

I’m a firm believer in Romans 8:28, which reads, “And I know that all things work together for good, to them who love the Lord, and who are called according to His purpose.”

My co-worker’s story didn’t end very well. She had been a minister, married with two children, a boy and a girl. She appeared happy, came from the Pentecostal faith. She shouted, preached and loved the Lord. She was a special person.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Page 8 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • November 6 - November 12, 2014

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Black folks lead the nation in church-going, praisedancing, shouting, call-and-response, and “whoopin.” CLINGMAN We like to “get our church on” and feel good while doing so. We do our holy dances and run down the aisles to lay our money at the feet of preachers, some of whom “anoint” it, by stepping on it, before they spend it. During a two to three-hour period on Sundays, Black churchgoers display their finest clothing, which in many cases pretentiously shrouds our misery, pain, anger, contempt, doublelives, and any number of issues we face during the other six days of the week.

For some, church service is a release, an ecstatic elixir for what ails us – at least for a few hours. It is a time for us to exchange pleasantries with others: “How are you this morning?” “Fine, just fine” is the usual reply, despite knowing all along that we are stressed out about something. We have all the sayings down pat.

“Too anointed to be disappointed;” “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good” (That one is quite true); and “I’m too blessed to be stressed,” just to name a few. But what is really behind the masks that we wear? What is beneath the fine clothes and the forced smiles?

One would think that Black church folks would be the most content, being that many of us say we are “Sanctified and Holy Ghost baptized.” But every day many of us prove that we are not content, we are not happy, we are not satisfied, and we are far from being “too blessed to be stressed.” Rather, we are really “too stressed to be blessed.”

The vast majority of our lives is spent dealing with financial issues in the form of working a job or two, with all the overtime we can get, trying to figure out how to pay our bills when we end up every 30 days with more month than money, and studying numerology in an effort to hit the “Lootery,” better known as the Lottery.

We are stressed out about that car we bought that we could not afford or that house we purchased just to impress the Joneses. We are angry because our spouse paid too much for a pair of shoes, a suit, or a big screen TV. We argue about whose money it is, who earned it, and who will spend it. And to make matters even worse, we go on shopping binges to get even, spending money we don’t have, buying something we don’t need, to impress someone who doesn’t care.

More stress, but that’s alright, we can get a recharge at church, right? We get paid on Friday, spend it on Saturday, go to church on Sunday and fall down on our knees to pray, “Lord, have mercy on me.” Just like the song, “Stormy Monday Blues.” Economic stress, in addition to all the other stressors in our lives, can cause us to miss out on our blessings, thus, too often we are just the opposite of the cute saying, “Too blessed to be stressed.”

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

FUNdraising Good Times

Year end giving – it’s not too late

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Phone: (954) 581-2915 Fax: (954) 581-2390 Cell: (954) 224-9866 Pearl and Mel Shaw

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Crazy as it seems, 2015 is knocking at the door. Yes, we still need to celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza and New Years Eve. But, really, 2015 is almost here.

And the question is: how is your nonprofit fundraising? Whether you are an employee or a board member, here are a few steps you can take today to change your yearend financial outcomes.

Staff. Take the time to create a yearend appeal letter for distribution to those who have given to your organization in the past. Be sure to send to those you serve and those you met during the year. Always send to lapsed donors. Highlight the impact your organization has made in 2014 and most importantly share your vision for 2015. Ask for a specific amount. Include a return envelope. Create an online appeal that ties to your appeal letter. Review and refine your e-communication list. Test to make sure your online giving page is easy to use and easy to

find. Take the time to plot out how you will use social media to encourage giving. Create the tools that board members, friends and volunteers can use to encourage those they know to give. Include sample text for email messages, tweets, and Facebook posts; links to specific pages on your website or blog (don’t forget your “donate now” page); and most importantly share photos and SHORT engaging videos. We all love images!

Volunteers. Now is the time to be proactive. It is easy to wait for staff to give you all the information you need: that is often a plan for not making the ask.

Instead, decide for yourself which actions you will take between now and the end of the year to help raise funds for your nonprofit. Are there two people you can talk with, sharing your nonprofit’s impact, vision and fundraising priorities? Will you ask each to consider a gift?

Here’s encouragement: too many people don’t give because they aren’t asked.

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success.

For help with your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

November 6 - November 12, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 9

Blacks 'unbank' at higher rates than whites

By Freddie Allen, NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON,D.C. (NNPA) – When it comes to cashing checks and other financial transactions, Blacks are

“unbanked” at much higher rates than Whites, according to a new report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

The FDIC, an independent government agency that gua-

Crist leads Scott in Florida’s Race for Governor.

Will it last making Florida Scott free or will Floridians be singing ‘Good time Charlie got the blues’?

(Cont'd from FP) These candidatures are stopping at nothing to get elected.

Governor Scott, who has not courted the Black vote and openly refused to speak at Florida Memorial University, which is the only Historical Black College and University (HBCU) in South Florida, was campaigning at Black churches on the last day before elections.

Democrats’ ‘Souls to Polls’ day saw Republican Governor Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist visiting Black Baptist churches in hopes of securing the votes that will surely push them over the top to victory.

Charlie Crist, along with Vice President Joe Biden, Congressman Alcee Hastings and several other prominent Democrats, went from church pulpits to the streets to encourage support from Black voters.

Gov. Rick Scott was not far behind with his bigwig politicians inciting Black voters. Scott recalled his teaching and his Christian upbringing imposed by his mother and his grandmother.

“Jesus Christ is my savior,” he said to some amens. “From a very young man I learned the importance of believing in Jesus Christ, and I have all my life.”

By the time this newspaper hits the streets the elections will have ended. Whatever impact Scott and Crist visits’ made to the Black churches, and whose prayers will be answered in their quest will have all come to fruition.

To all of those who participated in the political process of this United States of America, we applaud you for the courage to involve yourself in our electoral course of action-both candidates and all those who voted!

What ever the outcome we did what we could to get BLACK people and our readers to come out and vote-can you say the same?

Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and [a]grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 1 Kings 12:7 (NASB)

David Catania might be D.C.’s first openly gay mayor (Cont'd from FP) In addition, in a city where every elected mayor has been a Democrat, this Republicanturned Independent, is gaining ground, according to recent polls, and could beat his Democratic opponent.

Jon Clenert, a member of the board of directors of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, an organization that endorsed Catania over a year ago, said Catania has made great strides by even making it a race beyond the April primaries, when the winner of the Democratic primary is usually seen as the shoe-in winner for mayor.

“We knew that Catania had a chance of winning,” said Clenert, a resident of Washington, D.C. since 1967. “We honestly believed that, in this particular campaign, after the April primary there would be a real election in November as opposed to the November election being a coronation that it has been since home rule.”

Catania, a nearly 20-year elected official, has taken to the mayor’s race and describes the experience so far as “exhilarating.”

“I look at it as an opportunity every day to get out and talk with residents about what they’re looking for in the next mayor, what priorities they have, what issues are important to them and how they want us to go about solving those problems,” he said.

“People really care about this city. They’re excited about the vibrancy of it, and they want to see it continue,” Catania said.

Catania is the son of a singlemother, from Kansas City, Mo., with an upbringing that he says has impacted his career and his politics. He has retold the story of how his mother was married to a police-dog trainer who used his canines to keep her trapped in their home. It’s been 24 years since his mother’s passing and talking about her still brings tears to his eyes.

What his mother endured, he said, is why he is so concerned about the underdog in American society.

“So many of the problems our community faces are the legacies associated with failed public school system,” he said.

“People don’t have opportunities for housing because they can’t get jobs. They don’t have access to jobs because they don’t have the skillsets because the education system failed them.”

Catania continued: “Many of our social ills about crime, families, and human service issues all comes down to setting people up to succeed. The most important thing a government can do is give individuals a chance to take care of themselves and education paves the way for that opportunity.”

Catania moved to Washington in 1986 to attend Georgetown University for his undergraduate degree. He con-tinued on and earned his law degree.

Throughout his 17-year tenure as a councilmember, his smarts and intelligence have been widely recognized.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

rantees deposits up to $250,000 at insured banks, conducted the study in June 2013 aided by the United States Census Bureau, and collected data from nearly 41,000 respondents.

For the survey, the FDIC defined households that didn’t have an account at an insured institution as “unbanked” and households that had a bank account at an insured institution but still used alternative financial services (AFS) to perform some banking transactions (i.e. check cashing and payday lending) as “underbanked.”

In 2013 the FDIC estimated that less than 10 percent of U.S. households were unbanked. However, the rate of Black households that go without federally-insured bank accounts dwarfs the national rate.

According to the FDIC report, 20.5 percent of Black households are unbanked, compared to less than 4 percent (3.6 percent) of White households that don’t have a bank account at an insured institution.

And while less than 1 percent of U.S. households were “recently unbanked,” when the FDIC conducted the survey, Blacks accounted for nearly 50 percent of the households in that group.

“Among households that recently became unbanked, 34.1 percent experienced either a significant income loss or a job loss that they said contributed to the household becoming unbanked,” stated the report.

In contrast, 19.4 percent of households that had recently opened a checking or savings account when the poll was taken said that a new job prompted the transition.

Limited job prospects may partly explain, why Blacks who often suffer unemployment rates that are double the national unemployment rate, often go without bank accounts.

The Southern region, where most Blacks live, reported the highest rates for the unbanked and underbanked.

“In fact, while 38 percent of U.S. households live in the South, approximately 44 percent of unbanked and underbanked households lived there,” stated the report.

Almost 60 percent of survey respondents that went without a federally-insured bank account said that they didn’t have enough money to keep in the account or meet the minimum balance and more than 34 percent said that they disliked or didn’t trust banks, according to the FDIC report.

The string of high-profile settlements in cases of lending discrimination and misleading investment practices that involved Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Citigroup that followed the housing crisis did little to sway public sentiment.

In July 2014, Bloomberg News reported that, “Citigroup Inc., agreed to pay seven billion dollars in fines and consumer relief to resolve government claims that it misled investors about the quality of mortgage-backed bonds sold before the 2008 financial crisis.”

Woodlawn Connection: Rubin Stacy (Cont'd from FP) I was so upset that something like that had hit so close to home. After a while though, I shaped up. I decided that I would use this tragedy to motivate me to achieve more in life. I would show the world that I am greater than what happened to my family, and this would simply make me better, not bitter.

HISTORY ACROSS BROWARD NEEDS YOUR HELP WE ARE BACK! If you have information about anyone buried at Woodlawn Cemetery and would like to help please contact the students at historybroward@gmail.com or call the club advisor Roberto Fernandez at (754) 322-0200.

Nearly 70 percent of all U.S. households had at lease one bank account and had not used an alternative financial service (AFS) over the last 12 months, but only 40 percent of Black households are considered fully banked. More than 75 percent of White households are fully banked.

In a report on the FDIC’s findings, the Center for American Progress (CAP), an independent, nonpartisan educational group, said that people who are unbanked or un-

derbanked, tended to pay more for basic financial services, relied more heavily on “cash and paper checks that can be risky,” and lacked “affordable products for savings and credit.”

Joe Valenti, the director of asset building at CAP and the author of the report, wrote that families that don’t have bank accounts, “may not have access to affordable, responsible credit when looking to purchase household items, cars, or homes.

And they may not have a safe

place to keep savings in case of an emergency.”

Valenti noted that a recent Federal Reserve survey revealed that almost half of all U.S. households said that they would be unable to come up with $400 in an emergency without borrowing or selling something.

Valenti concluded: “Having access to banking services is a critical first step toward financial security.”

Florida Memorial Men’s Soccer history making year

The Florida Memorial Men’s soccer finished the 2014 campaign with an 11-5- record, their best regular season in the program short time. They finish second in The Sun Conference with an 8-2- record, enabling them to claim an at-large tournament berth. The Lions will host the first rounds of the Conference tournament on Saturday, November, 8 at 5:00 p.m. at Vicaya Park in Miramar, Fla. Florida Memorial University is coached by Fernando Valenzuela, who is in his 6th season

and is the only coach in the program’s history.

Here is a list of this year’s major achievements: · Beat the #1 Team in the Nation · Lions ranked # 30 in the Nation · A school-record Fivegame winning streak. · School records for wins 11-5 · Two victories over teams which appeared in the Top 25 (#22 Bethel, #1 Thomas). · School record for wins

home and away (8-5 away, 3-0 home). · Fourth Sun Conference Tournament berth. · Best finish in Conference play in school history (2nd Place) · Henrique Rezek Named Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week · 15 Men’s Soccer Named to The Sun Conference Fall Academic All-Conference Teams · 5 Men’s Soccer Named Daktronics-NAIA ScholarAthletes All-American

Page 10 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • November 6 - November 12, 2014

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Dolphins shut out Chargers 37-0

By Dedrick D. Henry, Sr. Ryan Tannehill threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and Miami forced four turnovers to shut out the San Diego Chargers 37-0. The Dolphins (5-3) earned their third consecutive win as they began a stretch of four games against playoff contenders.

San Diego was shut out for the first time since 1999, while the Dolphins earned their first shutout since 2006. Every Miami win this season has been by double digits, and this was the easiest yet - and their most lopsided win since 1995. Tannehill had a career-high passer rating of 125.6. He went 24 for 34 with no turnovers and threw touchdown passes to Charles Clay, Rishard Matthews and Jarvis Landry. Tannehill also ran for 47 yards on four carries.

Miami’s front four dominated the Chargers offensive’ line, hurrying Philip Rivers into a fumble and three interceptions,

Tannehill threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and Miami forced four turnovers to shut out the San Diego Chargers 37-0. two to Brent Grimes. Rivers passed for 138 yards and a quarterback rating of 31.0. Rivers went to the bench for good late in the third quarter, and the

Adrian Peterson avoids jail time in child abuse case

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson pleaded no contest Tuesday to a reduced charge of misdemeanor reckless assault as part of plea deal with prosecutors to resolve his felony child abuse case.

As part of the deal, Peterson will avoid jail time and instead be ordered to pay a $4,000 fine, court costs and 80 hours of community service.

“I truly regret this incident,” Peterson said outside the courthouse. “I stand here and take full responsibility for my actions.

I love my son more than any one of you could even imagine.

I am looking forward to and I am anxious to continue my relationship with my child.

“I am just glad this is over. I can put this behind me and me and my family can begin to move forward.”

The immediate question is when Peterson will return to the field for the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson, 29, had missed eight games with pay while the case was pending. On Sept. 17, the team placed him on exempt/ commissioner’s permission list, which required the former NFL MVP to remain away from all team activities.

Commissioner Roger Goodell must first rule on Peterson’s status, reinstating him or subjecting Peterson to discipline.

“We would review the matter, including the court record, and the commissioner would make a determination,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said before the ruling. “We cannot provide a timetable.”

When asked when Peterson will return to the field, his attorney, Rusty Hardin, said, “All

LEGAL NOTICES PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and architectural/engineering services. Interested bidders are requested to view and download the notifications of bid documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at: www.broward.org/purchasing.

Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27, 2014

of that is in the hands of the NFL.” After a grand jury indicted Peterson in September, the Vikings said he would not play at least until his legal proceedings were resolved. The plea deal paves the way for his return and helps him avoid the risk of being sentenced to up to two years in jail.

For prosecutors, a plea deal helps them avoid the risk of Peterson being acquitted in a jury trial, where Hardin is considered a powerful persuader.

“On behalf of the mom in Minnesota, this is... consistent with what she wanted,” Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said after the ruling.

The deal includes a two-year deferred adjudication, a form of probation. If he completes the terms of his two-year deal, he would not have a conviction on his record, Ligon said. Peterson also will be subject to random drug testing during the two-year period.

The Vikings declined to talk about his possible return Tuesday prior to Peterson’s court hearing Tuesday.

“At the appropriate time, we’ll make comments on Adrian,” Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said.

Peterson, 29, had stood accused of injuring his 4-yearold son in May after disciplining him with a tree branch or “switch.” Peterson said the injuries were unintentional and that he was imposing the same kind of discipline that had been imposed on him as a boy growing up in Texas.

Peterson posted $15,000 bail on Sept. 12.

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Charles Clay goes up for a touchdown pass from Tannehill.

Dolphins ended his ChargersThe Dolphins mounted record streak of at least one touchdown drives of 77 and 61 touchdown pass in 28 consecu- yards on their first two possestive games. sions. Reshad Jones then inter-

cepted Rivers to set up a field goal that made it 17-0 after just 21 minutes. Caleb Sturgis missed a 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half. The final score could have been even more lopsided, but the Dolphins stalled four times inside the Chargers 10-yard line, and those possessions netted a total of only nine points.

Things went wrong for the Chargers from the opening possession, when McCoy gambled by going for a first down on fourth and 1 at the Miami 22.

Branden Oliver was stopped for a 1-yard loss, and Miami marched for a touchdown. This was the only time the Chargers crossed midfield. Rivers had a clear path to a first down on a third-down scramble but slid prematurely but came up short, and the Chargers had to punt.

Then came his first interception, and the massacre began.

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November 6 - November 12, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 11

South Florida Travel Squad coming to a stadium near you

South Florida Travel Squad in Charlotte. N.C.

By Sylvester "Nunnie" Robinson Some of the greatest ideas or concepts are often unintentional and serendipitous in nature.

The latter certainly applies to the South Florida Travel Squad (SFTS), an eclectic group of fanatically, passionate African-American football enthusiasts whose evolution has been understatedly extraordinary.

By mere chance, Brother Lennox George, John Wimberly, Gary Torrence and Clayton Jenkins stopped by Brother Harry Harrell’s house in Melrose during the mid-80s. Harry, who had recently moved into his new home with wife Janice and children, was watching a televised pro game. He gladly welcomed the erstwhile intruders into his home, sharing the chips, peanuts and other available assorted snacks.

After having such a great time, they decided to continue at another venue, Lennox’ home the following week. Eventually the numbers grew too large for homes so it was moved to the larger and more conducive fraternity house to the delight of several wives. To avoid family conflicts on Sun-

day, NFL Monday Night football (MNF) became the appointed destination.

The meals became much more elaborate as participation increased. Harry Harrell, coowner of Tom Jenkins Barbecue, began assigning two hosts, who would be responsible for all refreshments for each Monday night. Early on it was determined that the group, at this time numbering around 10 members, would embark on a road trip to an NFL game, a feasible and desirable extension of MNF. Since most members were either Dolphin or Cowboy fans, which remain true today, the logical choice was a game at Texas Stadium between Dallas and Miami in 1985.

The original goal was to attend a game in every NFL city outside the state of Florida.

Since that auspicious beginning, the SFTS has attended games in Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, Nashville, San Diego, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta and several other NFL cities. This year marks the 29th year of MNF. These excursions have morphed into must do/attend affairs

Souls to the Polls punctuated Election 2014

(Cont'd from FP) Stewart alluded to former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton being the most likely Democratic Presidential Candidate/ Nominee, while Republicans are still scampering about, seeking its nominee.

“I think it was successful,” said El Portal Mayor Daisy Black, a member of St. Paul AME Church. We (more than 200 people) go from the church (1861 N.W. 52 St.) to the Caleb Center.”

Black is locked in a re-election battle against Councilwoman Claudia Cubillos in an election that could see four new Village Council members. Councilman Omar Nickerson is the only unchallenged seat.

“Anytime you motivate the masses to vote, it’s a good thing,” said the Rev. Dr. James Bush III, associate pastor of Antioch Baptist Church of Brownsville and a former Florida State Representative.

“It’s a good thing because it provides an opportunity to take advantage of the sacrifices that have been made by Blacks just to get the right to vote. Some people are self motivated.

Others need to be motivated and inspired by outside forces.

“As long as we have party politics in this country, there’ll always be a need to motivate people to vote because there will always be political bashing of each other. They do that to avoid dealing with the real issues. It’s still a plantation mentality.”

Hence, the “Souls to the Polls” effort appeared to have increased voter turnout for the mid-term elections where the marquee race was Republican Governor Rick Scott being challenged by former Republican Governor Charlie Crist, a Democrat.

That race saw Republicans attack President Obama and Democrats in Congress. Democrats, in turn, attacked Scott, the Republican majority in the Florida State Legislature, as well as Republicans in Congress.

Hence, the Souls to the Polls Campaign has kicked off a much needed counter attack to the abuse and neglect Black Americans encounter in the political and socio-economic arenas.

because the components have become so significant and compelling. They include dinner at a minority owned establishment, stadium tour, social outing, cultural tour and the penultimate tailgate prior to game, all leading up to the GAME. The detailed coordination of these trips was placed in the capable hands of Harry “Eaze” Harrell, dubbed by SFTS members “The Commissioner”.

It is an awesome task that he performs with great aplomb and acuity. His tasks are made less demanding because of the support he receives not only from the travel squad but also from brother-in-law Rex Warner and best friend Anthony Tynes.

Responsibilities include but aren’t limited to the following: travel itinerary, game tickets, hotel accommodations, travel gear, hospitality, pairing roommates, payment schedule and collecting funds. It is a monumental task that he relishes, viewing it as a labor of love. If he weren’t so successful in the food service industry, he would

have been a great travel agent.

Harry states thusly, “These are not Omega Psi Phi road trips, though many members are Omega men.”

Other fraternities, particularly Kappa Alpha Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha, are represented along with members of the Masonic order.

The relationships of members are uniquely intertwined: father/son - such as our bus driver Lee Brown and his son Brenon and Melvin Davis and Mel, Jr.; brothers John, Clifford and Floyd Wimberly; and best friends James Roscoe and George DeVaughn. It is a football trip for football fans.

It is a rare occasion when a first time attendee or Rookie, which carries certain obligations, doesn’t become a permanent participant.

The message to all is simple - pace yourself; it is a marathon, not a sprint and be on time.

Members of the squad cover the gambit: longshoremen, ac-

countants, educators, architects, computer techs and attorneys.

I think it is safe to say we are all proud of the fact, especially the Commissioner, that in all of these 29 years, we have never had an incident that would cast aspersions on our church affiliations, communities, families or race.

Our most recent trip, 2014, took us to Charlotte, N.C. where we saw the Charlotte Panthers play the Chicago Bears.

Highlights of the trip still resonate a month later.

The first was the cultural affair where all members visited the Latibah Collard Green Museum in Charlotte, chronicling the Black American experience from Africa to America through the Civil Rights movement and beyond.

I certainly recommend anyone visiting Charlotte to make the Latibah Museum a must see attraction.

Secondly, the trip occurred during Breast Cancer Awareness Month so naturally the Commissioner, always creative and innovative, presented each member (55 in total) with a pink jersey, worn to the game to show our support for breast cancer victims and survivors.

And then there was Larry Barnswell, longtime teacher and coach at Dillard High, who gathered several of his former students/athletes, including accountant Antonio Brihm, educator John Williams and longshoreman James Roscoe, for a timeless and priceless photo op.

The order of or selection of the games are based on seniority and availability. A venue like Green Bay for example is virtually out of the question. The Dolphins are up next but it won’t be in Miami.

Be on the lookout for a classy group or large contingent of football loving African American men in a stadium near you!

Ryan Tannehill threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and Miami forced four turnovers to shut out the San Diego Chargers 37-0. The Dolphins (5-3) earned their third consecutive win as they began a stretch of four games against playoff contenders.

Budget cuts may imperil Blacks from checking out public libraries (Cont'd from Page 4) And generally, neither do those outside the library science field. Today, the public library system is facing the challenge to innovate, while also demonstrating its value and purpose.

Currently, public libraries act as a community center and equalizing force, offering free computer, literacy, and language classes, Internet and information access, shelter, child activities and youth programs, life skills workshops, and social connection. Public libraries provide safe space for community organizing, and for students, senior citizens, and indigent people who have few options.

Last year, the Aspen Institute, a Washington, D.C.based education and policy think tank, convened a Dialogue on Public Libraries Working Group to explore and create strategies to sustain and elevate public library systems. The 35member group includes library science professionals, philanthropists, corporate CEOs, government officials, nonprofit executives, and researchers.

Last month, the Working Group released a report titled, “Rising to the Challenge: Re-envisioning Public Libraries.”

“One challenge is that often libraries are taken for granted,” says Maureen Sullivan, a Working Group member and former president of the American Library Association.

“Libraries are sometimes the first place funding is cut, because policymakers often do not understand just what public libraries mean to their communities today.”

Almost 85 percent of all public library operating budgets are from local sources, primarily taxes. The remaining amount comes from states, and other sources such as grants or donors. Federal funds account for well under 1 percent of public

library operating costs.

Because of this, public library budgets contend with the ebb and flow of several factors each year. The Brooklyn and New York Public Libraries, for example, are facing a combined $57 million decrease in funding and 19 percent decrease in staff, according to the Aspen report.

Funding is also a serious problem in rural areas, in terms of providing high-speed Internet, services, and adequate staff.

“Further complicating the library funding situation is the increase in government mandates that have affected expectations of public libraries in supporting e-government services,” the report reads. “There has been a noticeable shift in what this requires of libraries— moving from simply providing government forms to providing computers and training to access and navigate. Very often, libraries must deliver services to meet these growing demands without any additional funding to cover the costs.”

“Most libraries are fighting and scuffing for resources because there’s this idea that libraries are not necessary— there’s e-books and the Internet and all these things. When I tell people I’m in librarian school they’re like ‘who needs libraries, Google is the library!’” Black says. “But libraries today...play a central role in every community, regardless of if it’s impoverished or well-off. What the library can do for you is boundless—anything you can think of can emerge from a library if you put it to use.”

As libraries move into the future, the report calls for the strengthening of public libraries as community hubs, and ensuring that libraries can provide content in all formats, from books and publications to ebooks, Internet radio shows, and other digital media.

The Working Group also

wants to bolster public libraries as a point of access to the digital, globalized world. By linking libraries to each other via the Internet, for example, people will no longer be bound by geography when using library resources.

These predictions are al-ready coming to pass. For example, the Central Arkansas Library System has its own theater where the community can take in plays, films, music performances, and children’s story times. Maryland’s Howard County Library System offers a hi-tech digital

media lab where teens participate in STEM classes, trips, and workshops.

For those interested in supporting their local libraries, Sullivan recommends visiting in person, getting a library card, and participating in events.

“I’m hard pressed to think of another institution in commu-nities designed to serve everyone this way. Every state has great library systems,” she says. “Let the library know about [your] information needs, and tell public officials how the library makes a difference for [you].”

Page 12 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • November 6 - November 12, 2014

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Dillard QB Jason Collins makes Dad proud

By Dedrick D. Henry I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Johnny Collins, the father of Jason Collins, who is a sophomore quarterback at Dillard High School with a 3.9 GPA. Jason has exceeded his father’s expectations as well as his own with his many accomplishments on the field as well as in the classroom. Jason has thrown six touchdowns and rushed for two with over 150 yards rushing in five games and has been voted Mr. Varsity at Dillard’s Homecoming. Jason raised by his father, a single- parent has earned a four year scholarship to Howard University and plans to major in engineering.

Johnny Collins, a proud father of three who believes in always putting God first has equipped his son with the necessary essentials to strive and survive in today’s society. Johnny has always put education before sports so he is extremely proud of his son and all that he has done and plans to do. “Raising a child or children has never been an easy task so when parents see their off-spring succeed a feeling of exuberance is

unexplainable,” states Collins.

With the tragedies of young Black men dying or falling to the way side Johnny has never failed to stay committed to his son and children, and their positive performance when it comes to education and all that it has to offer.

Jason is an articulate young man who always gives his all and loves to compete and whose adrenaline rush is being chased by defenders. He recalls his most monumental moment so far in his life when he scored his first high school touchdown against Stephenville High School in Texas. He is an above average child with an above average mind who pushes himself to be the best and always thrive for excellence. A child who adores the high school life, atmosphere, and all the good that school spirit is that can never be repeated. The memories being made through homecomings, spirit week, dances, sports and pep rallies is what Jason truly cherishes.

Young Collins is a team player who respects his coaches and cares for his teammates just as he does his own siblings. His teammates to him are temporary replacements for his own

Happy Birthday to Our Mother

Geneva Graham Henry November 6, 2014

MR. BONNIE LOCKHART Viewing Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 4 – 5 p.m. – Family 5 – 9 p.m. – Public Funeral Services Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, 1 p.m.

Mount Nebo Baptist Church, 2251 N. W. 22 St. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Funeral Services Entrusted to James C. Boyd Funeral Home

We love and miss you, Your Children, Bobby, Dorenda, Pamela, Sonia and Carma Lynn

Local nonprofit receives boost to aid youth gardening program

State Farm representatives present a check to HandsOn Broward at Pompano Beach Elementary School.

(Cont'd from FP) The group broke ground on the first garden of the grant period on Tuesday as HandsOn Broward volunteers and representatives from State Farm gathered at Pompano Beach Elementary School. The new garden will be used as a teaching tool for the school’s science programs.

“State Farm supports service-learning because it integrates service to the community into classroom curriculum using a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility,” said Jose Soto, State Farm community specialist for the Broward County area. “Servicelearning is an excellent way to engage students outside of the traditional ‘chalk and blackboard’ model, and the YAB really liked this project’s core goals.”

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has granted over $32 million in grant money since its inception in 2006, empow-

ering youth to implement service-learning in 520 communities.

About HandsOn Broward: HandsOn Broward inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action to positively effect change in Broward County.

To learn more about HandsOn Broward’s upcoming service opportunities or to schedule a volunteer orientation at your organization or place of business, please call (954) 233.1300 or visit us online at www.HandsOnBroward.org About the Youth Advisory Board: The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a diverse group of 30 youth, ages 17-20, who were chosen through a competitive process to lead and oversee this $5 million/year signature service-learning initiative.

The Youth Board identified the issues, issued competitive grants and will now provide technical assistance, communication and oversight to site grantees.

Jason and Johnny.

his

father

siblings. Jason struggles daily juggling school, practice, homework, chores, football, not to mention the pressure from wanting to succeed and keep everyone happy. This special young man has managed to maintain all the above through hard work, dedication, and perseverance as well as his fathers’ and family support.

Jason, a Miami Dolphin fan, who likes to eat chicken and shrimp pasta while watching the Cleveland Show, that’s if he’s not playing the piano. Yes, this young man also plays the piano and can read music as well, so sky’s the limit as far as young Collins is concerned.

Jason is a grateful son who appreciates his father’s sacrifices and for always providing for him and his siblings and always being there in times of need.

Jason wants what we all strive for success and wealth and he is building a solid foundation with education being the objective. ” I want to have a great career in engineering and want to have a good income.

Good enough where I don’t have to worry about where my next meal is coming from or worry about keeping my job or not. A job the pays $ 75,000 a year or more,” states Jason. As you can see Jason is not like all the boys when they say job he says career, which says a lot about this young man. A young man who knows that an education will take you much farther than any sport could ever take you.

Johnny constantly pushes Jason pertaining to his schooling and him growing into a young man of success, never allowing athletics to conflict with his studies. Mr. Collins believes in instilling characteristics that will benefit him through life such as responsibility, making no excuses, and knowing who you are and what you stand for or represent. As a student Johnny demands that Jason maintain his good grades and not allow anything or anyone to hinder his education.

Mr. Collins has no problem with correction on or off the field, he doesn’t hesitate to critique, whether it’s a bad pass or teachers’ report Dad has something to say. Johnny is a father that believes in getting involved and staying involved, not settling for just getting by when you know you can do better.

Having raised a son already who is currently in the Army, Johnny, is fully aware of being a consistent father is the most important thing to do for any child, especially a young Black boy. Mr. Collins does allow Jason to make some decisions for himself as long they are beneficial for him and most definitely positive because these same decisions will enable him to grow into a man.

“As a father we don’t get the recognition that we truly deserve but I’m only speaking to the everyday fathers not the when I get a chance fathers.

Jason is my hero, I tell him all the time how proud I am and how he gives me another reason to smile, to see him growing into a young man amazes me.

With the many challenges of single parenting I am truly proud of my son and all that he has done,” says Collins.

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November 6 - November 12, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 13

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Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper