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JUNE 22, 2012—NASSAU EDITION African American Community VOL. 19 NO. 6

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Officials: Cause of Hempstead fire still mystery

Originally published: June 18, 2012 7:32 AM Updated: June 18, 2012 10:39 PM By PATRICK WHITTLE AND TANIA LOPEZ [email protected],[email protected]

While the cause of a stove fire that sparked a massive Vil-lage of Hempstead apartment blaze remains a mystery, the resident of the unit where it be-gan recounted tearfully Monday how the appliance burst into flames just days after she and her four children moved in.

"All I did was turn on the stove and the whole bottom started flaming up," Maria Rod-riguez said in an interview Mon-day.

The family had moved into the apartment at 590 Fulton Ave. just two days before the Sunday fire. They had lived at 600 Fulton Ave., she said, add-ing that she had just turned on the stove for the first time to make dinner when it erupted. She said she ran into the hall, grabbed a neighbor and called 911 before gathering her kids and fleeing.

The blaze that left dozens of people homeless has stumped investigators.

"It's unclear as to what hap-pened with the stove," said Bo Pilczak, a supervisor with the Nassau fire marshal's office,

adding that there did not appear to be a problem with safety equipment in the building. "Everything seemed to be working appropriately."

The fire was able to spread quickly because Rodriguez left the door open when she scram-bled out of the apartment, Pilczak said. The cross ventila-tion gave the fire enough oxy-gen to rapidly spread, he said.

Rodriguez will not be charged because the fire does not appear suspicious, said Pilczak, who also confirmed that the stove was brand new.

Building owner Karan Singh declined to comment Monday.

The inconclusive determi-nation is little consolation to the dozens of people who were forced out of their apartments. As many as 72 of them, includ-ing 20 children, were housed overnight in a temporary shelter in the gymnasium at Hemp-stead High School.

About two dozen others slept overnight at the Bedrock

(Continued on page 2)

THE NEW COMMUNITY JOURNAL FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2012

NASSAU COUNTY EDITION PAGE 2

Bar & Grill, down the block from the apartment building, known as Fulton Manor.

Monday, they waited for word from the Department of Social Services about when they could return to their homes. A spokesman for the American Red Cross of Greater New York, Sam Kille, said up to 12 apart-ments were destroyed.

"I can see my neighbors' house next door," said Lillie Griffin, 49. "His bathroom fell in my bathroom!"

Griffin was being advised by Department of Social Services social worker Juan Rodriguez.

Hempstead Mayor Wayne Hall said DSS would provide rent vouchers to residents of de-stroyed apartments.

"They put me in a hotel," Griffin told Rodriguez outside the entrance to the department. "They told me to come back in a week, but what am I going to wear? I don't have anything."

Rodriguez told her to head to the Red Cross Shelter at the school where they would give her a debit card to buy clothes.

Griffin stayed with a neighbor, but doesn't want to overstay her welcome.

"I'm glad I'm alive and that I made it out," she said. "I wasn't burned, I was just a little dis-traught."

(Continued from page 1) Outside the building Mon-day, one resident, Daniel Reiner, 45, said his apartment was de-stroyed and he had lost two cats -- Tiger and Patches -- in the evacuation.

"It's heartbreaking," he said. "I spent the night in my car."

And, Linda Harvey, who lives on the sixth floor, was luck-ier than some of her neighbors.

"My apartment wasn't really damaged, but that doesn't really matter because I can't get in," she said, adding that she will stay in Elmont with her children until she is allowed back in.

"Today is going to be a very much wait and see what happens next as officials inspect the apart-ments to see which ones resi-dents can go back to," Kille said.

Residents cannot return to the building until it passes a fire safety check, said Arthur Cher-nault, the village's building su-pervisor. The building's stand-pipe system shut down during the fire and needs to be fixed be-fore residents can return, he said.

"We wouldn't allow anybody in there until we've had a chance to look at it," he said. "It would be premature to let people into a building that has not been checked out."

With Zachary R. Dowdy, Laura Figueroa, Nicole Fuller, Paul LaRocco and John Valenti

rally Honoring

the Hempstead

fire department

HEMPSTEAD, NY, JUNE 2012: The Long Island Conference of Clergy and Friends will be sponsoring a Rally Saluting the “Hempstead Fire Department” for their selfless act of bravery and dedication to the preservation of life in their response to the tragic fire at 590 Fulton Street Hempstead, NY on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 6:20pm.

LONG ISLAND COUNCIL OF CHURCH

LEADERS Bishop Frank O. White, President Rev. William Watson, 1st Vice Dr. Phillip Elliott, 2nd Vice



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Dad Accused of Beating Daughter's 'Molester' to Death Is No Hero

Prepare to feel conflicted. A father who says he found a man trying to molest his 4-year-old may be facing a whole other kind of trial. Cops in Shiner, Texas, say the little girl's dad put a stop to the assault then beat the man to death.

So far what cops will do with the dad remains up in the air. I'm not surprised; there's no easy an-swer here for them. Say you were put on a jury to face a case like that. Would you be able to make a decision that would let you go to bed that night with a clear conscience? I don't think I would.

I want to say that the fatal beating the Lavaca County sheriff says happened in a family house (no names have been released to protect the sexual as-sault victim's identity) on Sunday afternoon was the right thing and cheer from the rooftops.

More from The Stir: Teen's Random Mur-der by Store Clerk Should Put Us All on Edge

I'm a parent, for cripes sakes. I never want to see a child being hurt in any fashion. Just last night I sat in my house with my heart beating fast against my chest because I'd heard a rumor that a local teen had to be airlifted out of an accident scene (good news: it was one of those exaggerations that spreads on Facebook -- she's fine). In that sense, if the allegation of abuse is true, then I would have been shaking with anger and horror both. If I were that father, I would have wanted to kill that man.

But wanted to does not equal would have.

Consider this: when you take justice into your own hands, what happens? You get in trouble. You, the person who, up until that very moment, was in the right.

You may say it's "worth it" because the other person got what you thought was "coming," but you are forever marred by having sunk to the criminal level. You are what you profess to de-spise.

I can imagine that if this dad beat this man, he thought he was doing it for the right reasons. I hope that the police and prosecutors treat this whole case with that in mind. But there is no way to walk away from this one feeling anything but conflicted, is there?

What's your read? Do you think the accusa-tions against this dad make him a criminal or a hero?

COMMUNITY JOURNAL COMMENTARY

The man was acquitted this week...

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Dozens killed in Nigeria religious riots

KADUNA, Nigeria - At least 52 people were killed in religious rioting sparked by three suicide bombings against churches in north-ern Nigeria, where the dead were piled up on Monday in mortuaries and cemeteries in the city of Kaduna.

Rioting broke out Sunday after suicide car bombers attacked three churches in northern Nigeria, killing at least 19 people and wounding dozens.

Christian youths had set up roadblocks and dragged Muslims

from cars or motorbikes and killed them, witnesses said. Although there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for

Sunday's church bombings, Islamist sect Boko Haram, which is wag-ing an insurgency in the northeast against President Goodluck Jona-than's government, had claimed deadly church attacks on the previous two Sundays, as well as others.

A Reuters reporter visited two hospitals in Kaduna. At the St Ge-rald Hospital, spokesman Sunday Aliyu said there were 40 bodies in the hospital morgue and 72 people being treated for burns and other wounds. At Barau Dikko Hospital, Matron Hassana Garba confirmed 12 dead and two injured people being treated.

"Many of [the injured] need surgery, but a shortage of blood is stalling treatment," a Red Cross official in Kaduna told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

' E x p l o s i o n s a n d g u n s h o t s ' On Monday evening residents reported gunfire and explosions in Damaturu, the capital of northeast Yobe state and the site of several previous attacks by Boko Haram.

"We are all indoors, the explosions and gunshots have been going on since 5pm. It's boom, boom, boom, everywhere," Oluchi Jonah, a local resident, told Reuters by phone.

Blasts hit northern Nigeria churches In November, 65 people were killed in attacks claimed by Boko

Haram on churches, mosques and police stations in Damaturu, where security forces often clash with Islamists in gun battles.

Corpses littered church grounds in parts of Kaduna on Monday. They were piled one on top of the other in an old cemetery, some charred.

A 24-hour curfew imposed by the Kaduna state government on Sunday largely succeeded in restoring order, residents said.

The violence stoked fears of wider sectarian conflict in Nigeria, an OPEC member and Africa's top oil producer that is home to the world's largest equal mix of Christians and Muslims.

Nigerian whistleblower under investigation for alleged cor-ruption

Mohammed Inuwa said he was lucky to escape with his life. He hid in a bush when rampaging Christian youths pulled Muslims off their motorcycles and beat them to death.

"They were mostly killing okada riders (motorbike taxis). I was hiding in the bush while all this was going on. If they saw me, that would be it," the second-hand clothes seller said, estimating 15 peo-ple were killed right by where he was hiding.

Boko Haram church bombings seem calculated to trigger wider sectarian strife, often striking at the heart of Nigeria's volatile "Middle Belt", where the mostly Christian south and Muslim north meet.

The Islamists' leader, Abubakar Shekau, has said the attacks on Christians were in revenge for the killings of Muslims.

But such attacks have usually failed to spark sustained conflict in a nation whose Muslims and Christians mostly co-exist peacefully, despite periodic flare-ups of sectarian violence since independence from Britain in 1960.



GOP, Holder open to talks before contempt vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — Both House Republican officials and Attorney General Eric Holder say they’re willing to negotiate an end to a potential constitutional confrontation in a dispute related to the botched “Fast and Furious” gun-tracking operation.

The conflict turned nastier Wednesday, when a House committee voted to hold the attorney general in contempt and President Barack Obama invoked executive privilege to avoid turning over some docu-ments related to the operation.

However, House Republican leaders said they were willing to negotiate if the administration turned over more emails and memos. And Holder said Thursday that resolving the conflict through nego-tiation was still a possibility.

Holder, in Copenhagen, Denmark, for meetings with European Union officials, said the administration had given the House Over-


Obama could become 1st incumbent president outspent in campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s campaign said Wednesday it expects the president to become the first incumbent to be outspent by his opponent, outlining the potential for $1 billion in spending from Republican-leaning outside groups supporting Mitt Romney.

Campaign officials said they expected Romney and a collection of Republican-leaning super PACs would spend roughly $1.2 billion to help get him elected against a president who broke all fundraising re-cords in 2008 by hauling in about $750 million. The officials briefed White House and other political reporters only on condition of ano-nymity in order to discuss internal campaign strategy and polling data.

With Obama and Romney locked in a tight contest, the fundrais-ing-and-spending prediction to a room full of reporters amounted to a strategic way for Obama’s team to set high expectations for the other side, provide some urgent incentive for Democratic donors to give more, and raise scrutiny about the role of big-dollar giving in Rom-ney’s campaign.

Underscoring the fundraising problems, one Obama campaign official predicted that Romney and the RNC would raise $100 million in June, surpassing Obama’s side again. But the official noted that De-mocrat John Kerry raised more than President George W. Bush after locking up his party’s nomination in the spring of 2004.

Romney’s campaign joined with the Republican National Com-mittee to raise more than $76 million in May, outpacing Obama and the Democratic party, which raised a combined $60 million for the month. It was the first time that Obama has been outraised by an oppo-nent since 2007.

Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said the Obama campaign is “used to moving the goal posts,” citing projections that Obama’s campaign might raise $1 billion.



Has Jesse Jackson become irrelevant?

Is Jesse Jackson still relevant? And can he remain relevant in the age of Obama?

For the past decade, it seems, the iconic civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of Rainbow PUSH Coali-tion, has been on a quest to remain relevant and engaged in the issues affecting black America.

For example, this week he spoke out on the tragic and sudden death of Rodney King, and reminded the public of the specter of ra-cial profiling and police brutality.

This past weekend, he led an anti-violence march with Rev. Mi-chael Pfleger and a hundred protesters at a suburban Chicago gun shop.

“Each year … about 7,000 African-Americans are murdered, more than 9 times out of 10 by other African-Americans,” Jackson said. The streets of America’s urban centers have become a killing field for black men, and last weekend the civil rights leader called for a nationwide protest on gun shops in 20 cities. But the nationwide march never really got off the ground.

And Jackson recently took Adidas to task for rolling out the ill-advised JS Roundhose Mids basketball sneakers, which have rubber shackles attached to them and have been denounced by some black leaders as “slave shoes.” Taking on the sneaker giant didn’t seem to gain much traction.

In addition, Rev. Jackson alienated himself from Democratic Party circles when he said of President Obama, “See, Barack’s been talking down to black people … I want to cut his nuts off.” Mean-while, at age 70, he is often perceived as being eclipsed by Rev. Al Sharpton, of the National Action Network and MSNBC, as head hon-cho and de facto leader of black America. And Sharpton’s access to the Obama White House is comparable to Martin Luther King’s rela-tionship with Lyndon Johnson, except that Obama is the nation’s first black president.

To some degree, Jackson is a victim of his own success, if victim

is an appropriate term. After all, as the first African-American to emerge as a viable candidate for president, he paved the way for Obama to seal the deal — as Shirley Chisholm paved the way for Jackson years earlier. Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 campaigns were ener-gizing and of historic importance, although the rainbow coalition that voted for him did not transform into an enduring social movement.

Having a black man in the White House has created a challenge for black leadership to redefine itself in some ways, and to reaffirm itself in others. There was no post-racial America following the 2008 election — given the resurgence of racism, white conservative back-lash and growth of hate groups — and Obama has not replaced black leaders. To the contrary, black leaders are more important than ever, given the assaults on civil rights and voting rights the nation is endur-ing.

Further, we have learned that a black president is not necessarily the president of black America. A nation’s commander-in-chief has far too many constituencies, loyalties and obligations for that to hap-pen. As Jackson, the Congressional Black Caucus, and others have criticized the president for his occasional reticence on the problems black folk face, Obama needs a left flank to keep him honest and challenge him to do better. Plus, Obama won’t be president forever, in any case.

Just as an older generation had to step aside for him, Jesse Jack-son has had to contend with a younger generation of black leaders, and that is not a bad thing. For example, there is a new energy com-ing out of the NAACP with Ben Jealous at the wheel, on issues rang-ing from the death penalty and voter ID to Trayvon Martin and stop and frisk. This represents the awakening of a once-rusty dusty ol’ civil rights establishment that sat on its laurels for years, congratu-lated itself for the hard-fought victories of the 1950s and 1960s, and was far too content with holding chicken dinners, mistaking them for action and calling it a day.

And yet, we should resist the temptation to rely on anyone, whether Rev. Jackson, Rev. Sharpton, or even President Obama, as the singular titular head of black America. One person cannot do it alone, and putting one’s faith in messianic figures does not necessar-ily serve our best interests. As the martyrdom of Dr. King, Malcolm X and others has demonstrated, depending on one leader can lead to catastrophe if that leader departs from the scene and creates a vacuum




with no contingency plan.

Is there a role for Rev. Jackson? Indeed there is, though perhaps not as in the past. Circumstances change, people change, and we must adapt. As a village elder, Jackson has political acumen, wisdom from which the community can learn, and experience that a new generation of leaders can and should emulate. No one has done it the way Jesse has, with his successful negotiating skills leading to the release of American hostages in international conflicts.

Moreover, given Jackson’s work with Dr. King and the civil rights movement, his experience with voting rights activism, coalition build-ing, economic empowerment, selective boycotts and desegregation resonates today. The tactics he employed are relevant in the retro years of the twenty-first century, where the old civil rights battles meet new challenges, with a twist.

Once again, black Americans find themselves with their backs against the wall, along with 99 percent of Americans of all colors. But they are not used to adversity and fighting to overcome it in the way that civil rights workers literally fought for their lives. Nevertheless, they are learning a lesson in the need to develop strategies to fight back. We can blame the old folks for not teaching the younger genera-tion the lessons of the civil rights movement, replacing them instead with an ethos of getting rich and looking out for number one. A new crop of Americans, including African -Americans, is not used to rough times — but they are waking up quickly.

With the erosion of voting rights, labor rights and women’s rights, a cradle-to-prison pipeline, chronic unemployment and increased eco-nomic inequality, Jesse Jackson has a role to play. Not as the only leader or the top black leader, but one of a host of leaders who work together to solve problems, rather than undercut each other and com-promise the community for personal gain and media attention. And really, no one should be the sole leader.

We should cultivate leadership on every block and very corner and develop innovative strategies, yet avoid reinventing the wheel by emulating the successes of people such as Rev. Jackson.

Follow David A. Love on Twitter at @davidalove

(Continued from page 7)

sight and Government Reform Committee a proposal to negotiate an end to the conflict.

“I think the possibility still exists that it can happen in that way,” Holder said. “The proposal that we have made is still there. The House, I think, the House leadership, has to consider now what they will do, so we’ll see how it works out.”

But he called the contempt vote “unwarranted, unnecessary and unprecedented.”

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said the full House would vote next week on accepting the Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s contempt of Con-gress vote.

Committee officials who would conduct any negotiations in the coming days for Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said they are looking for at least some additional documents on Fast and Furious — plus some “signs of good faith.”

The latter could include substantive responses to future committee requests for documents; reforming the approval process for wiretap applications; acknowledging mistakes in misleading Congress about Fast and Furious; taking whistle-blowers seriously; and producing a log of documents to be turned over, according to the officials, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the issue by name.

The administration would have to abandon the president’s assertion of executive privilege — a legal position that attempts to protect inter-nal executive branch documents from disclosure. If the administration maintains that stance, it could lead to court fights that could take years to resolve.

The last Cabinet member to be cited by a congressional committee for contempt was Attorney General Janet Reno in President Bill Clin-ton’s administration. That was never brought to a follow-up vote in the full House.

Technically, if the full House approves the Holder contempt cita-tion, there could be a federal criminal case against him, but history strongly suggests the matter won’t get that far.

Democrats contended that the 23-17 party-line contempt vote Wednesday was just political theater. The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, called the vote “an extreme, virtu-ally unprecedented action based on election-year politics rather than fact.”

Democrats noted that during the committee’s 1 1/2-yearlong inves-tigation, the Justice Department has turned over 7,600 documents about the conduct of the Fast and Furious operation.

While Boehner and Cantor would make the final decision on post-poning a vote, aides to the speaker and Issa said the chairman and his staff would conduct any upcoming negotiations — as they have been doing throughout the year.

The Issa aides believe that a few hundred pages of documents may satisfy them, providing that those records tell the story of how the Jus-tice Department came to understand that it gave Congress false infor-mation on Feb. 4, 2011. The department said then that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made every effort to inter-dict weapons moving from Arizona to Mexico.

More than 10 months later, the department retracted that statement after it became clear that the guns were not intercepted but allowed to “walk” to Mexico in hopes that officials could track them to drug lords. The most tragic occurrence in the flawed operation came when agents in Arizona lost track of several hundred weapons, and two of the guns were found at the scene of the slaying of U.S. border agent Brian Terry.

The flaws were exposed by whistle-blowers who contacted Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

On Tuesday, Holder offered to give lawmakers a briefing on the withheld documents but insisted that this action satisfy Issa’s subpoena for the records and negate the need for a committee contempt vote. Issa


rejected the offer, saying it was an attempt to force an end to the com-mittee’s investigation.

The wiretap approval process is important to Issa because, he con-tends, the Justice Department gave only a cursory look at applications for wiretaps on targets in Fast and Furious.

One Issa aide said the committee negotiators were looking for the administration to “generate good will that will potentially change the atmosphere on getting a deal.”

Another aide added, “But we have to see the documents.”



Mangano’s Mismanagement Leads to

Service Cuts Dems criticize decision to revoke funding youth programs

with red light camera revenue

(Mineola, NY) – On Monday, June 18, 2012, Nassau County De-mocratic lawmakers, led by Kevan Abrahams, highlighted money

that County Executive Ed Mangano has wasted that could have been used to fund social service and youth agencies.

Because of County Executive Mangano’s continued mismanage-ment he has decided to strip the funding from youth and other social service programs that was provided through the red light camera law (which Mr. Mangano supported as a Legislator in 2009).

Mr. Mangano claims he does not have the money to fund youth pro-grams, but – since the day he took of-fice as County Executive in 2010 – he has awarded over $10 million in legal contracts to his politically-connected friends. His most recent taxpayer-funded “gift” was $400,000 worth of legal contracts to the law firm of Re-publican Party boss Joe Mondello.

Additionally, his outside “legal ex-perts” have continuously lost in court, costing the county money (i.e. fighting the NIFA takeover, illegally firing As-sessment Review Commissioners and putting forth an illegal map during the course of the redistricting process).

Other examples of money wasted by the Mangano Administra-tion include:

$27 million in police overtime, which has accumulated since closing half of Nassau’s police precincts

$2 million on politically-charged, taxpayer-funded mailings – an increase of over 12 percent since taking office

$300,000 on trucks with Ed Mangano's photo and name, to do nothing but drive around the county.

With such frivolous expenditures, it should be no surprise that Ed Mangano still hasn't come close to achieving the $150 million in sav-ings that he told NIFA he would deliver by February 1st, 2012, now four months past due.

“Between the millions of dollars in outside contracts to his politi-cal friends, his failure to achieve promised savings, and redirecting money from red light cameras, that was intended to fund our youth programs, it is evident that Ed Mangano's mismanagement has led us into a deep financial crisis.” said Legislative Democratic Leader Kevan Abrahams. “Our caucus will not bail him out by approving excessive borrowing.”

Members of the Democratic Caucus are asking Mr. Mangano to stop funneling money to politically-tied individuals and law firms; restore proper funding to our youth agencies; and start working to-wards a more fiscally-stable Nassau County.

Mangano’s Business-Friendly Policies Allow

International Company to Expand in Bethpage

Mineola, NY – Bematech International Corporation, a leading commercial automation company, today credited Nassau County Ex-ecutive Edward P. Mangano’s business-friendly policies for its deci-sion to relocate and expand its North American office from New Hyde Park to the Bethpage Business Park. This relocation to the former U.S. Navy-Grumman Corporation, will allow Bematech to generate addi-tional employment opportunities while contributing to the local eco-nomic base. Bethpage-based Steel Equities, which was granted an eco-nomic development compact from the Nassau County Industrial De-velopment Agency to renovate 85.5-acres within the Bethpage Busi-ness Park, is the contractor for the building.

County Executive Mangano said, “Bematech’s decision to move its North American offices from New Hyde Park to the Bethpage Busi-ness Park, and its commitment to a continued investment in Nassau County, is a major benefit to our local economic base. Bematech and other local employers know that my administration is working tire-lessly to improve the economic climate. They recognize my efforts that have held the line on property taxes for two consecutive years while reducing the size of government. By creating this pro-job and anti-tax atmosphere, we are developing a positive environment that encourages companies to come to Nassau and stay here. I invite any company interested in locating in Nassau to visit the Bethpage Busi-ness Park as it has tremendous potential for growth.”

Bematech International Corporation delivers hardware, solutions, services and training to increase efficiency in retail and hospitality stores. Bematech is hopeful that its building will be used as the proto-type for development in the surrounding area and that the investment by Steel Equities in the new facility will attract additional businesses to the Bethpage Business Park. In a letter to County Executive Man-gano, Bematech General Manager Juliet Derby wrote, “The decision was greatly influenced by your efforts with the Nassau County Indus-trial Development Agency to expand business in Nassau County. Steel Equities in partnership with the Nassau Legislature communicated the advantages and the exciting new development plans for the area.”



Hempstead Senior Enrichment Installation of Officers Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby attends the Town Of Hempstead, Hempstead Senior Center’s Installation of Officers held at the Mac Arthur

Housing complex located on Clinton Street in Hempstead. Photo shows the Councilwoman presenting a Certificate of Outstanding Service to officers in the club at this event. L-R Gregory Lopez – retired Senior Bus driver Julius T. Freeman -Tuskegee Airmen Laura Coington- Co-ordinator Hempstead Senior Center Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby Leonor Lourenco –2011-2012 Corresponding Secretary Doirs Barstch 2011-2012-2013 Treasurer Winnie Howell – 2011-2012-2013 Recording Secretary

Laura Coving-ton Retires Hempstead Senior Center

A dinner was held for Laura Covington at Guy Anthony’s Italian Cuisine in Merrick to celebrate her retirement as Town of Hempstead Coordina-tor of the Hempstead Senior Center. Town of Hempstead Counc i lwoman Doro thy Goosby presented a Certificate of Recognition to Ms. Coving-ton and offered her heartfelt congratulations. Photo: Valerie Covington, Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Laura Cov-ington, Chrystal Laura Coving-ton, Quintin Covington



Stearns Park Civic Association Honors Veterans The Stearns Park Civic Association hosted a scholarship fundraiser dinner dance in honor of Veterans. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman

Dorothy Goosby presented a Certificate of Recognition to each of the Veteran honorees, congratulated board members and President Sharon Payne. Photo: Councilwoman Goosby with Board Members Pres. Sharon Payne, Annette Dennis, Linda Hall, Vernon Webb, Vilma Osborne Honorees: William Mouzon, Robert Webber, John Williams, William “Chuk” Fowler, William Marinaccio, Stephen Drummond, Lincoln Par-sons, Paul Nehrich, Wilfred Smith

Woods Avenue Block Party

Neighbors of Woods Avenue in Roosevelt hosted a block party with pony rides, a train ride and games. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby enjoyed the fes-tivities and greeted neighbors. Photo: Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Rajarius Simms-Coggins, Darryl Coggins & Family



Glory House Men in Roosevelt Glory House in Roosevelt hosted an open house, “Welcoming Glory House Men” to the community. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman

Dorothy Goosby presented a Certificate of Recognition to Director Terenna Williams and enjoyed the festivities at the event.

Roosevelt Library Father's Day Program

The Roosevelt Public Li-brary hosted their 4th Annual “Boyz To Men” Father’s Day Program at the library. Town of Hempstead Coun-cilwoman Dorothy Goosby congratulated honoree Wil-ton Robinson, Jr. (Library Board President) and all of the members of the library board. Leg. Robert Troiano, Dr. Bola Majekodunmi, Trustee, Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Wilton Robinson, Pres. Joy Rankin, Library Director, Frank Abel, Jr., Vice President



From the Desk of Mayor Hall June is a season to celebrate milestones, and to look ahead to new beginnings. Here in Hempstead, 525 students will graduate from our middle schools, an estimated 250 students will graduate from high school and many other Hempstead young people will join the nation’s 1.7

million college graduates. Hempstead High School’s Class of 2012 will go on to some of the best institutions in our nation, as well as excellent local schools. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and our entire Village, I com-mend valedictorian Jocelyn Solis-Moreira and salutatorian Jacqueline Fleu-riscar, and all of those students who worked hard to reach Commencement Day.

Whether you are a graduating student, family member, friend or other supportive person in a student’s life, I encourage you to reflect on the mean-ing of “commencement.” Graduation is never the end; on the contrary: it’s the beginning of something new.

Those of you celebrating your graduation from college are about to step into adulthood, prepared to meet your anticipated career goals. Many of you are eager and enthusiastic, while some may be apprehensive. Either way, with hard work and perseverance—the same qualities that helped you get where you are today — you will succeed.

Those of you receiving diplomas this Saturday at Hempstead High School’s Commencement ceremony are well prepared for college, career or the military. Perhaps you had moments when you thought you wouldn’t make it — but you did. It’s my hope that each of you will make the most of what you’ve learned and continue on the path to success.

Those of you who will enter high school in Septemberare equipped to begin the final phase of your public education. Every year, you’ve become a little more independent, a little more confident, and a whole lot smarter. Per-haps you had some great times, and perhaps some tough times, but you made it. Dedicate yourself to making the next year in your new school an even better one than the last.

To every one of you: Your life is what you make it; no one can achieve success for

you, nor can anyone prevent you from becoming successful. Accept guidancefrom those who care about you; believe it or not, they might know a thing or two.

Don’t confuse success with money or status; success is being able to go to sleep at night knowing you’ve done your best. Life is not a contest.

Don’t compare yourself to anyone else; you are one of a kind. And don’t think you’re better than anyone else; if you do, you’ll miss out on what the world in all its great diversity has to offer.

Be kind, caring and compassionate to those around you. You have the potential to make the world a little bit better — or a little bit worse. It’s always easier to make it worse. Don’t take the easy way out.

Don’t let your fears, disappointments or anger get the best of you; t h e y ’ r e j u s t t e m p o r a r y s e t b a c k s . Grab hold of your life with full force; go after your dreams!

I want to thank every parent, caregiver, guardian and teacher who played a role in helping shape a child on the road to adulthood. Without you, these young people would not be where they are today.

Congratulations to all of our graduates. Hempstead is proud to celebrate your achievements, and I have tremendous hopeseach of you. I am quite certain I will not be disappointed.

Sincerely, Wayne

Wayne J. Hall Sr. Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Hempstead

Community Development The Incorporated Village of Hempstead Community

Development Agency “(CDA)" is a public benefit corpo-ration established in 1964 pursuant to Title 16 Sec 585 to address problems of urban de-cay. Originally known as the Urban Renewal Agency, the name was changed to Community Development Agency by State Law in 1980. The Agency is led by it's own Board of Directors which is chaired by the Village Mayor. The selec-tion of the Directors is ratified by the Village B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s . The Community Development Agency's function is to plan and implement programs involving the

rehabilitation of both the residential and commercial sectors of the village, foster economic growth, provide assistance to public service organizations, eliminate blight and improve opportunities for low & moderate income citizens. The CDA's major programs include: Special Economic Development Construction of Affordable Housing Homeowner's Assistance Program Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Program Facade Improvement Program Public Facilities and Improvement Micro-Enterprise Incubator Program

Claude Gooding, Commissioner (516) 485-5737

50 Clinton Street, Hempstead, N.Y. 11550

RERE--ELECTELECT

MAYOR WAYNE HALLMAYOR WAYNE HALL

20132013



Water Taxi Opens Between Freeport and

Lido Water Taxi service has begun between Freeport, Sea-

breeze Park, and Lido Beach. Town of Hempstead Council-woman Doroothy Goosby, town and village officials and Mayor Andrew Hardwick congratulated owner Rick Cohen.



Black Americans losing homes over property taxes: It doesn't have to happen

Imagine one day reaching a milestone and realizing an accom-plishment that so many of your brothers and sisters have failed to achieve in the past: home ownership.

For many Americans, it’s the American dream. Imagine not only buying a home and putting down a down payment with a 30-year mortgage, but actually one day owning your home free and clear.

In other words, your home is paid off; no mortgage, no bank, no finance company, no-nobody, but you. Hallelujah! Free at last, the American dream! In your heart and soul, you feel you’ve insured as well as secured yourself from the thought of ever one day becoming homeless in America. What an accomplishment!

Now imagine losing it, and not because you didn’t pay the mort-gage.

Although you’ve achieved the so-called American dream, let me share with you some truths that often turn your dream into a nightmare, especially for African-Americans.

You see, in America, even though you somehow manage to pay off your mortgage, the truth is, you’ll never own your home and be free from added taxes. You might pay the mort-gage off, but you never stop paying property tax on it. That’s right. And guess what? If you don’t pay your property taxes, the govern-ment has the right to take your home from you, and it’s all legal.

Every year African-Americans lose millions of dollars in real estate simply by not paying their property taxes. From farmland to commercial property to multi-family units right down to personal residences. This has got to stop.

The current recession has only added to this growing nightmare. Personally, I’ve never liked the idea of paying property taxes each and every year on your personal residence, especially after you’ve satisfied the mortgage debt and are living on a fixed income from retirement and social security. It’s really a bad deal for the home-owner. It’s not fair. Case and point: when you buy growth stocks like Apple and hold them, as they appreciate over the years you don’t pay a dime in taxes until you sell. Same rule applies to cash value life insurance policies — no taxes, as rich people continue to stash mil-lions of dollars in them. The same rule should apply for residential property.

Could it be that assets such as stocks, bonds and insurance get special tax treatment because African-Americans aren’t known for using and taking advantage of these wealth building investment vehi-cles?

Did you know that when figuring your net worth, your personal

residence isn’t used in the compu-tation? It’s your home, not an in-vestment. It doesn’t matter if it’s paid off or not, it’s not an invest-ment and you will never stop pay-ing for it.

Recently, a 101-year-old, Afri-can-American woman lost her home because she failed to pay her property taxes. Sad, but it still hap-pened. It should serve as a wake-up call to the rest of us that age does-n’t matter when you’re talking business and money.

So how can we avoid this hap-pening to the rest of us in the fu-ture?

First, pay your taxes. If you find yourself behind for several years, and you can’t afford to pay all the years at once, pay the oldest tax bill first. This will buy you some time for at least another year. Paying the oldest bill first will keep the property taxing authority from foreclosing

on you property now.

The rule is, if you’re behind one or two years paying your property taxes, they won’t foreclose. But if you manage to fall be-hind after the third year, you’re living on borrowed time. Inves-tors are circling your property like vultures waiting to scoop it up after that third year.

You see, when you fail to pay your property taxes, investors pay them for you. Yes, that’s right. A complete stranger pays your tax bill. It’s called purchas-ing a tax certificate. Now don’t get me wrong, this investor could be an individual

or a corporation. In the case of the 101-year-old woman it was a gov-ernmental agency.

The investor is in it for a profit — nothing personal. Paying other people’s property taxes (purchasing tax certificates) is a very profit-able business. Tax certificates can pay anywhere from 5 percent to as much as 18 percent on the dollar.

If you think it’s shocking to hear that a 101-year-old woman lost her home due to delinquent taxes, be advised, it can happen to anyone. People lose homes not just due to property taxes, but African-Americans also lose millions of dollars worth of property each year because they simply failed to have a will or a trust drawn up before they died.

In the end, it’s all about the money. We need to be educated to do better about protecting the assets we have worked so hard for.

Robert Henderson Jr. is a certified financial planner, president of the Henderson Financial Group, author of “The New Underground Railroad” and a talk radio host based in Miami, Florida.

IN THE BLACKIN THE BLACK



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Hempstead Chamber of Commerce Installation The Hempstead Chamber of Commerce held an installation ceremony for new officers of the organization at the Hempstead Public Library.

Town of Hempstead Councilwoman presented a Certificate of Recognition to the newly installed officers and congratulated outgoing President Leona Baum. David Nunez, Treasurer, Leone Baum, Past President, Al Forde, President, Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Trustee Perry Pettus, Richard Bell, Vice President

Small businesses in Cook County will soon get more loans

Small minority and female-owned businesses will soon receive more loans in Cook County. Officials in the Chicago area want to make it easier for small businesses to compete with large corpora-tions. The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

At a time when businesses are having a hard time getting loans, Cook County officials are trying to make it easier for small mi-nority- and women-owned companies to get the capital needed to compete for government projects.

County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Wednesday she wants to help those businesses get loans so they can bid on jobs like fixing up the old Cook County Hospital on the Near West Side or on county highway or housing projects. She said she sat down with officials with some of the nation’s largest lending in-stitutions, who have pledged to work with small businesses.



Dr. Lindamichelle Baron

No Dreams Allowed by Dr. Lindamichelle Baron

I dedicate this article to Lance, one student I didn’t reach. I didn’t reach him, because, although I had the will, when I taught him, I didn’t have the necessary skill to actu-ally teach him. So I believed I might have met Lance, later, on the streets, armed with everything but an education and ready to use his armor to do battle. I have seen those who have been misguided, misdirected, and misunderstood on the streets. Some of them seem ready to pounce. We are complicit. We cannot stand on the sidelines and chastise and ridicule them without taking responsibility for not pro-tecting them. We have allowed the dismantling and de-struction of those fail-safes in schools that supported our children. All of us must fight for our children and their dreams, but as an educator my responsibility is magnified.

I was telling the story of Lance as my personal and professional failure, to a group of administrators when a par-ticipant in the audience called out, “Are you talking about Lance — and saying my Lance’s last name. I was taken aback. How did that principal know whom it was that I was referencing? Well that person was a principal in the school where I had taught some thirty years ago. Lance, the student I couldn’t reach, must have been reached by somebody, be-cause, as I was to learn, Lance was now the president of the PTA at the school where I once taught. I received the mes-sage, “Don’t give up on our children.” Our children are resil-ient. We must do everything we can to support them as we pass them on to others who continue the life-enhancing proc-ess.

As a professor, I am charged with the responsibility to guide pre-service teachers through the philosophies, teach-ing and learning research and theories. But Lance’s story reminds me that I must do so, not as an armchair intellec-tual, but as one who still speaks from the perspectives of a classroom teacher. My job as a professor is to use my ac-tual experiences with students and their teachers in order to make connections between the textbook my college stu-dents must purchase for my course and the real world of the classroom in the schools. So, I represent the perspective of the teacher/author as well as the perspective of the child drowning in some of the classrooms in this city. Classroom teachers are the captains of their ships, in a fleet of ships. They must have life preservers on board ready to help save any child who falls overboard.

Not long ago I visited one junior high or middle school, and the school yard gate had a sign that read “NO Dogs Allowed.” But someone had scratched out one of the words of the warning. Instead of “dogs,” the word “dreams” was inserted. It read, “No Dreams Allowed.” A dream is a vision of possibility, or a vision of impossibility worth reaching for in spite of whatever obstacles. A dream is the vision to see the top of the mountain before you even have the tools or skill to climb. Some of the students in our schools are without dreams. Some believe that their dreams

are confiscated at the front doors. Some dreams can’t sur-vive the scanners, and the fear, and the low expectations.

A paraphrase from a well-known book, the Bible, ex-claims, “without a vision a people will perish.” If we want to stay alive we have to help children see their possibilities and revision their perceived impossibilities. And if enough of them aren’t trying to pass the test of life—the school will perish. We have to give our children something beyond standardized tests to pass. That is my job. To prepare educa-tors who will prepare our children to live a life driven by their dreams, unencumbered by those people and entities who/that devalue their lives, capacities and their dreams.

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. Lindamichelle Baron. All rights reserved.



Hat’s off to the

Graduates Stephen R. Acevedo

School is officially over and watching all of the graduates this year has really reminded me of just how much of a milestone it really is to walk down that path, whether an elementary school graduate or high school graduate, the level of achievement is the same.

Within the past two days I watched several new and former students of mine graduate and I could never feel more proud of them. The cur-riculum the students of this generation endure is clearly harder than for any prior, and with the growing amount of test-ing, it truly is accom-plishment for these stu-dents to graduate.

However there is one harsh certainty – that life after graduation will only get harder. For students out of elemen-tary school, middle

school will be a new world, and it will mold them into the people they will later become. As for the high school graduates, the col-lege life will be their transi-tion into adulthood and an insight into how the real world works.

It will be tough, and sadly many graduates will find themselves dropping out of school and falling off their path to a higher educa-tion, but this is where I greatly urge parents to be that pesky broom stick con-stantly pushing their chil-dren from behind. This is the time where parents need to be mosquito like in their ways and continue to push education on their children regardless of the situation, because if there is one thing I’ve learned from college, it’s that in today’s economy, a high school diploma just doesn’t cut it anymore.

On that note, I wish a happy graduation to all graduates and I hope that parents continue on doing what they already have in

order lead their children to receiving the diploma they

have or will be receiving this year.



ASK LISA-ANNE

Do You Know the Dangers of Leaving Children in Hot Cars?

Q. I recently heard about an old grandmother who was babysitting her four month old great grandchild and forgot the infant was in the car and the infant died from heat exposure. Can you warn parents about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars this sum-mer?

A. It is such a sad scenario to hear that parents, grandparents and even babysitters, have left a child or two in the car because they only planned to be in the store or post office for a few minutes. Many return to find the child/children very sick or dead. In the story you have shared, it was just a sad mistake. Being older and out of her usual routine, made it easy to forget the infant was there. This is especially true in these kinds of cases because many babies sleep while driving in a car so there would be no noise to re-mind the adult of the child’s presence.

One common thread in these types of situations is having the child in the car is not the person’s usual routine. Parents need to create a system that decreases the chance of the other par-ent forgetting the child. For example, the parent not taking the child that day should call and follow up with the other parent as a reminder. It takes a few seconds and guarantees the child is not forgotten.

Although experts often focus on more common safety measures, like using car seats correctly and basic childproofing, there are many less well known 'hidden dangers' that may put your kids at risk. Your family car is one of these 'hidden dangers,' and it is not just because of car accidents. In addition to the risk of getting hit or run over by a car, being left or getting trapped in a hot car can be just as deadly a danger. In fact, over 230 chil-dren have died after being left in a hot car (sometimes on relatively mild days with only 70 degree temperatures) since 1998. According to the www.About.com website, situations in which kids get hurt in hot cars include:

a. infants and toddlers are simply forgotten in their car seat

b. toddlers or preschoolers sneak into the car to play and can't get out

c. kids get trapped in the trunk

What's So Dangerous About It? In addition to the risk of being

abducted if they are left alone in a car, on a typical summer day, the tempera-ture inside a car (even with the win-dows rolled down a little) can quickly rise above 120 to 140 degrees. Even on a relatively mild day, the tempera-ture inside a car can get above 100 degrees. At those temperatures, kids

are at great risk for heat stroke, which can lead to a high fever, dehydration, seizures, stroke and death. Your child could get caught in a closing power window. If a car thief decides to steal your car while you are gone, he may leave your child outside and your child could start wandering around looking for you, making it hard for them to be located. Another danger of leaving your child alone in a car is that they can get out of their car seat and start playing with the steering wheel, gas pedal and brake pedal, or the gear shifter, resulting in the car moving without a driver behind the wheel. If the car starts moving while your child is alone in the car, the car could be hit by another car or it could hit something like a tree or a pole. The car could also move onto the road creating a very dangerous situation for other cars on the road. Now the child’s life and other innocent drivers’ lives are in dan-ger. www.associatedcontent.com

Don’t Think This Could Ever Happen To You?

If you don't think that it can happen to you, consider these descrip-tions from the death certificates of children from 1998 that were published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

a 9 month old died after being 'left strapped in child safety seat in a sweltering minivan for two hours - misunderstanding between child's parents resulted in the child being left alone in the van; one parent believed infant was at home with the other’

a 6 month old 'baby died when acci-dentally left in hot car for 3 hrs, died when outside 90-degree temperatures rose to 130 degrees inside closed car, parents thought the other had carried the baby from the car to crib'

a 34 month old 'toddler who recently learned how to open a car door ap-parently climbed inside family station wagon while parent and sibling were in house'

a 23 month old died when a 'relative babysitting child, put child in car for trip to store, went back in house hav-ing forgotten something, was dis-tracted by something on television, sat on couch to watch, fell asleep, woke up two hours later'

a 2 year old died after a 'parent left child in car after returning home from errand - was left for more than an hour'

a 2 year old 'child apparently slipped away from parents and siblings, fell asleep atop blanket in unlocked car in driveway of home, oldest sibling found child 40 minutes later'

Remember, according to the Na-tional Highway Traffic Safety Admini-stration, 'a locked car sitting in the summer sun quickly turns into an oven,' and 'temperatures can climb from 78 degrees to 100 degrees in just three minutes, to 125 degrees in 6-8 minutes.' Visit www.nhtsa.gov for more information.

Here Are Some Safety Tips!

1. Don't leave them in a car, which can quickly heat up, especially on a hot, sunny day

2. Always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can't get to them

3. Warn your kids about playing in the car by themselves without adult supervision

4. Install a trunk release mechanism, so that they can't get trapped in the trunk

5. Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about getting the grocer-ies, etc., out of the car when you get home

6. Make sure that child car providers and day care workers have a plan to make sure that kids aren't left in the day care providers car or van

7. If you are afraid that you might leave your sleeping infant or toddler in their car seat when you get out of the car, place a reminder on the dashboard.

8. Also be on alert for cars that might have an unattended child left inside. If you see a child alone in a car, be sure to call 911 and help make sure the child gets out as soon as possi-ble.

9. When a child is missing, in addition to checking the backyard pool and any other bodies of water, check inside the car and trunk of any nearby vehicles.

10. Check the temperature of child safety seats and seat belts before buckling kids up. The metal can become hot enough to cause burns.

11. Ensure that children drink plenty of fluids and are always hydrated.

12. If you fear you may forget that you have a baby or toddler in the car, set an alarm on your phone or PDA to remind you.

13. If driving your children is not the normal routine of your spouse, plan a follow up call to each other to make sure they are not forgotten by mistake.

14. Make follow up calls to others who don’t normally drive your children including grandparents, aunts, un-cles and friends.

Can Criminal Charges Be Brought Against Parents for Leav-ing Children in Cars Alone?

Yes, there can be penalties for leaving children unattended in parked cars.

Although there is no uniform law, local laws are currently being enacted to allow police to ticket anyone who leaves an underage child in a car with-out the supervision of someone who is of the required age. The fee can range from $100-$300, along with costly court fees. If anything happens to the child, more serious consequences can

occur, such as criminal charges which can include:

Jail sentence

Probation

Community service

Parents can be charged with child neglect, child endangerment, which is a grave charge that can lead to jail time, and possibly a Child Pro-tective Services investigation that may result in the placement of their children in foster care. Because of the serious repercussions that can occur from leaving a child in an unat-tended car, it is wise to seek counsel from a criminal lawyer should you be charged with this crime. Parents are advised to never leave their children in unattended cars in the summer or in the winter and not even for a few minutes. Take your child with you wherever you go. If you don’t want to carry your child from store to store then wait till your spouse is home to do your shopping or get a babysitter. The possible results are not worth risking it. Visit www.About.com, www.4rkidssake.org/hotcars.htm and www.legalmatch.com for more information.

Lisa-Anne Ray-Byers is a li-censed and certified speech-language pathologist who has worked in edu-cation for over two decades. She holds graduate degrees in speech-language pathology and multicultural education. She also holds certifica-tion in educational administration. She is the author of the books, They Say I Have ADHD, I Say Life Sucks! Thoughts From Nicholas, They SSSay I’m a StStStutterer, But I SSSay Nothing! Meet Kelly and co-author of 365 Ways to Succeed With ADHD! She is the Education Editor of the Community Journal newspaper in Baldwin, NY and a member of the National Education Writers Association. You may con-tact her at [email protected] or by visiting her website at www.AskLisaAnne.com.



Hempstead Pre-K Moving Up Ceremony Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby attends the Hempstead Pre-K Moving –Up Ceremony . This year’s theme was “Believe and Achieve” for

the youngsters moving up to Kindergarten in the fall. Photo shows the Councilwoman with Retiring Pre–K Principal Frances Edmonds, Superin-tendent Dr. Patricia Garcia and Dr. Nichelle L Rivers.

Rev. Frances Edmonds Retires Hempstead Public Schools

A gala retirement celebration was held at the Woodbury Country Club in honor of Rev. Frances Edmonds, a Bald-win resident. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby presented Rev. Edmonds with a Certificate of Rec-ognition and congratulated her on her 34 years of dedicated service to the children of the Hempstead Public Schools. Photo: Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby Rev. Frances Ed-monds & George Edmonds, Baldwin



Dunbar-Abrams Alumni Association Scholarship Awards Luncheon The Dunbar-Abrams Alumni Association, Greater New York Chapter, hosted their Annual Scholarships and Awards Luncheon Celebration

at Verdi’s of Westbury. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby was pleased to present a Certificate of Recognition to each of this year’s honorees and to congratulate President Joe Darty. Photo: Jimmie McLaughlin, Bessie Garner, John Green, Webster Taylor, Joe Darty, President, Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Rev. Noreen Davis, Steve Skinner, Thomas Humphrey accepting for Elder Bobby Brunson, Rev. Laura Daniels

Hempstead

Day The Village of Hempstead

celebrated “Hempstead Day 2012” at Kennedy Park in Hempstead. The day began with a 5K Race-Walk-A-Thon and concluded with festivities in the park. Town of Hempstead Coun-cilwoman Dorothy Goosby con-gratulated Hempstead Village officials and greeted vendors and neighbors from Nassau Extended Care.



Freeport Elementary Schools Hold Festivals of the Arts

All four elementary schools in Freeport staged their own Festival of the Arts show in an exhibition that demonstrated student growth during the school year due to district-wide initiatives aimed at cultivating talent in the performing arts.

The programs, performed in each building during the day for fellow students and once at night for family members, showcased the advancing skills of students ranging from first grade to fourth grade. The programs featured groups singing, dancing and playing in orchestras and bands, with some students participating in more than one discipline. The shows also featured multimedia presentations. Among the more well known songs presented were Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” Bill With-ers’ “Lean on Me” and the Katy Perry hit “Firework.”

The Archer Street School Fourth Grade Chorus, directed by Jennifer Rothenberg, presented Ray Charles’ “Fifty Nifty United States” as part of the school’s Music and Dance Festival.



Freeport Art Students Design Fashion Bags And Win Internships

Art teacher and career facilitator Cathy Rode’s fashion design students at Freeport High School were given the oppor-tunity to sketch their way to a future career in a contest sponsored by a local retailer. “You can make this happen for your-self” were the incisive words Ms. Rodes used at the ceremony that revealed the final judging.

First place was deemed a tie between Gissell Diaz-Tineo and Alicia Canas. Ms. Diaz-Tineo’s design was named “Regal Fantasy” and Ms. Canas’s “As The World Goes Round”. Second prize went to Elba Hidalgo for her ‘Pretty In Pink’, and third place to Khatora Watson for her design called ‘Spike It Up’.

Mrs. Lauren Harris, owner of Let's Bag It a bag and accessories boutique in Merrick, had met with the students earlier in the year and encouraged them to put onto paper their design ideas for a thematic handbag and matching hat, shoes and outfit. Mrs. Harris awarded the top winners a designer bag and arranged for them to serve an internship with the Sondra Roberts company, a high fashion handbag and accessory design house in Manhattan.

The top designs were displayed in the school lobby and critiqued by Mrs. Harris and her junior buyer and daughter, Julien for creativity, salability, target customers, materials used, and price point.

Freeport High School provides opportunities for students to make connections from education to career experiences.



Nassau BOCES Barry Tech students earn top honors in statewide competition

GARDEN CITY, N.Y., June 19, 2012 — The students of Nassau BOCES Barry Tech, dominated this year’s SkillsUSA New York Leadership Conference and Skills Championship, held in Syracuse, N.Y. More than 20 Barry Tech teens, who study at the Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center in Westbury, took first, second or third place.

Two Barry Tech students campaigned for and won official posts. Faiz Kapadwala was elected SkillsUSA New York State President for 2012-2013 and will serve as New York State Officer at the national conference. Sandra Willis of Baldwin High School earned the rank of National Delegate.

Nine Barry Tech students were chosen to attend the 48th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference. Mark Arias, Michel Cabral, Ryan Cullinane, Faiz Kapadwala, Jonathan Miller, Sebastian Puerta, Jennifer Renous, Jacob Shuster and Sandra Willis have all earned the trip to Kansas City, Mo., for the national conference.

The effort that goes into qualifying for the annual SkillsUSA competition is monumental. All Barry Tech students have a double work load, completing not only their Barry Tech assignments, but satisfying full courses of study at their home schools as well. Add to that the intensive training that it takes to earn the privilege of compet-ing in SkillsUSA, and it becomes clear how tirelessly these students work.

Classes at Barry Tech carry no ordinary criteria for completion. In addition to meeting state academic standards, Barry Tech students must meet industry certification requirements in their chosen careers. As a result, Barry Tech students earn certificates in their specific fields of study, as well as technical endorsements on their diplomas.

About Nassau BOCES Barry Tech

From teenagers earning certification as computer network techni-cians to adults learning new trades, Nassau BOCES Barry Tech, lo-cated at the Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center in Westbury, gives people the skills they need for success. Each year, thousands of high school students attend classes at the state-of-the-art career and technical education center. The school is committed to en-suring student success, and with its diversity of program offerings, Barry Tech helps to improve Long Island’s regional economy. For more information about Barry Tech visit www.barrytech.org or visit www.nassauboces.org for more news, information and educational updates.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry lead-ers working together to prepare high school and college students to be leaders in the world of work. The program also helps establish indus-try standards for job-skill training and instills a respect for commu-nity service in its participants. The U.S. Department of Labor recog-nizes SkillsUSA as a “successful model of an employer-driven youth development program.”

The New York Leadership Conference and Skills Championship aims to recognize and honor students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including those in the health care industry. Students participated in a series of timed events related to their courses of study at Barry Tech as well as in competi-tions in general work skills.

The names of all Barry Tech SkillsUSA winners are listed in the table on the following page. Winners are categorized by name, the events in which they participated, the Barry Tech programs they rep-resented and their home schools.

From Your Paycheck to Your Pastor’s Wallet: How Prosperity Tithing Just Got Easier

Before the advent of technology, you had to put money in a plate that was passed around the church in order to give tithes. Now that day is gone, and you can give tithes with the press of a button.

Programmers have come together to create a GivingKIOSK, which allows congregants to give money using touch screen software. Churchgoers can now use the touchscreen to input their debit or credit card information without having to reach into their pockets during church service.

“Too many Church organizations do not have the convenience of paying by credit card or debit and losing the ability to capture Tithes and Offerings that the church may not have otherwise received,” the company’s web site proclaims. “Checks are on the decline and the Church community needs a way to keep up with the changing land-scape of the younger generation. GivingKIOSK was developed and designed to meet this need.”

I can hear Creflo Dollar and Eddie Lee Long cackling from all the way over here.



Student Event Program High School

First Place First Place First Place First Place

Jacob Shuster

Pin Design

Advertising and Animation Design

North Shore

Julie Fithian

Small Animal Careers Veterinary Science

Mepham

Sebastian Puerta

Action Skills Graphics and Commercial Printing

Paul D. Schreiber

Mark Arias

Action Skills Assistant Medical Assisting Paul D. Schreiber

Michel Cabral-Martin

Extemporaneous Speaking Cosmetology

Lynbrook

Jonathan Miller

TV/Video Production Team Video Production

Carle Place

Evan Pivnick

Second Place Second Place Second Place Second Place

Jennifer Renous American Spirit Medical Assisting Baldwin

Rosella Cangialosi Culinary Arts Culinary East Meadow

Melissa Torre Customer Service Veterinary Science Island Trees

Victoria Cody Job Interview Veterinary Science W. Tresper Clarke

Brenda Gonzalez Promotional Bulletin Board Advertising and Animation Design Hempstead

Jorge Mendez Promotional Bulletin Board Assistant Advertising and Animation Design Paul D. Schreiber

Kenneth King Banner Contest Advertising and Animation Design Uniondale

Cassandra Clement Banner Contest Assistant Advertising and Animation Design Massapequa

Bridget Moore Community Service Team Medical Assisting Wantagh

Samantha Esturo Community Service Team Medical Assisting West Hempstead

Zachary Atlas Video Product Development Team Video Production Oceanside

Vincent Sciroppo Video Product Development Team Video Production Syosset

Emily Witteck

Third Place Third Place Third Place Third Place

Casey Flanagan Small Animal Careers Veterinary Science John F. Kennedy

Michael Confortin Basic Vehicle Maintenance Auto East Meadow

Jeffrey Scialo

NYS President, NYS Officer NYS President, NYS Officer NYS President, NYS Officer NYS President, NYS Officer

Faiz Kapadwala

National Delegate National Delegate National Delegate National Delegate



Safe Ways to Detox

Before you think about de-toxify your body you need to identify where and how you get exposed to various toxins in the body. Toxins can easily be in the air we breathe, the water we drink, chemical preserva-tives in food, chemicals found in personal care items, dry cleaning resi-dues, household cleansing agents, herbicides and pes-ticides.

Toxins are present in some over the counter drugs and second hand smoke. Even negative thoughts like anger and fear can produce toxins in the body. If you identify with one or more items on listed, you might want to look into engaging in a de-toxification program.

Before you do that, let me point out to you these important channels of elimination. The body has seven channels of elimina-tion: The skin is the largest

organ and an impor‐

tant way for the body to rid itself of waste (sweating)

The liver has 260 known functions. It’s one of the largest and busiest internal organs and it’s essential to fil‐tering toxins especially alcohol.

The lungs take in oxy‐gen and discharges carbon dioxide

The kidneys regulate water and pH levels. It also excretes acid wastes

The lymphatic system is like the body’s gar‐bage collector and it

contributes greatly to a strong immune sys‐tem resulting to health in the body.

The colon is often over looked and neglected elimination organ. Be‐

fore considering a de‐tox program make sure to open this channel. If blocked, toxins can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream causing toxemia.

The blood is also a channel of elimination

Some signs that you may need to detox yourself are: Constant flatulence

Acne

Diarrhea

Bloating

Dark color urine

Fatigue

Irritability

Chronic congestion

Abnormally bad breath

Persistent body odor

Allergies

Constipation

Constant headaches

Weight gain

Taking the time to de-toxifying can be very re-warding. The results could be surprising, ranging from mental clarity, weight loss, vitality, clear skin, im-proved immune system and better sleep.

Always check with your health care professional be-fore engaging in anything new but once you do, here is a simple at home detox you can try.

The first step is to stop taking in toxins. Remove the ones you can identify. And get as much rest as possible. The body repairs while you sleep. Most im-portantly try to reduce your stress levels as much as possible.

Avoid these items the following food items: proc-essed and refine foods, dairy, meats and poultry, refined sugar, coffee/caffeine, alcohol and soft drinks.

Incorporate these items: super hydrate with water, fruits especially water melon, vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, fi-ber, probiotic, exercise, per-haps meditation and you can use this inexpensive way to balance the body’s pH by adding half a lime or lemon to the water you drink throughout the day.Personally, I always start my detox with a colo-nic. According to Dr. Jen-sen, both death and health start in the colon. Next week we will cover colonics and how they play an integral role in detoxifi-cation.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide gen-eral educational informa-tion. Information provided should not be construed as




Planned Parenthood of Nassau County Offers Free HIV Testing On National

HIV Testing Day Hempstead, NY—Marking National HIV Testing Day on June 27,

Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (PPNC) will host free testing for HIV and other STDs to encourage women, men, and teens to get tested.

People can get free testing on June 27 — National HIV Testing Day — by coming to the Hempstead Bus Terminal from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. During that time, PPNC will be providing free HIV& STD testing on the Plan Van, which will be parked on West Columbia Street between the LIRR Hempstead Station and the bus terminal. To be eligible to do an STD test, the person must not urinate one hour prior to providing a urine specimen.

Free HIV testing will also be available by appointment only on National HIV Testing Day at PPNC’s Hempstead health center at 540 Fulton Avenue, the Massapequa health center at 35 Carmans Road and the Glen Cove health center at 110 School Street.

“HIV and STD testing is now a routine health care service for everyone—not just for at-risk populations,” said JoAnn D. Smith, PPNC’s President & CEO. “National HIV Testing Day is a great re-minder that early diagnosis and treatment saves lives and prevents new infections.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), today there are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S., including more than 290,000 women. Women of color are disproportionately affected, as are women under 40.

“HIV testing is for everyone, including women,” said PPNC’s Senior Vice President for Health Services, Nancy O’Keefe. “It is now a routine part of health care. Everyone should get tested regularly. By providing free testing on June 27, we are helping to ensure that cost is not a barrier.”

According to the CDC, in 2009, women comprised 51% of the US population and 23% of those newly infected with HIV. The rate of new HIV infections among black women was 15 times that of white women, and over 3 times the rate among Hispanic/Latina women.

“HIV has a huge impact on women’s health,” said Ms. O’Keefe. “You should discuss these issues with your partner, use protection, and regularly get tested.”

medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, you should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.

This article is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide specific medical ad-vice, and should not be used to make a diagno-sis or to replace or overrule a qualified health care provider's judgment. Nor should readers rely upon my information if they might need emergency medical treatment. I strongly encourage readers to consult with a qualified health care professional for an-swers to personal ques-tions. By writing this article I do not estab-lish a doctor-patient relationship with the readers.

The information and opinions expressed here are be-lieved to be accurate, based on the best judgment available

(Continued from page 27) to the author, and readers who fail to consult with appropri-ate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.

Your feedback and questions are welcome. For specific personal coaching, you can email Immacula Oligario di-

rectly at [email protected] or visit us online @ www.yesicandoit2.com



Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice

“Operation: Long Distance

Haul” Results in

Three Arrests, Seizure of

More than $2 Million in

Counterfeit Cell Phones

More than 32,000 counterfeit phones seized in Nassau County and at JFK International Airport

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen

Rice was joined by Nassau County Police Sergeant Patrick Ryder, Special Agent in Charge

James T. Hayes of Homeland Se-curity Investigations in New

York, and U.S. Customs and Bor-der Protection, JFK Port Director Brian Humphrey to announce the results of “Operation: Long Dis-tance Haul,” a multi-agency in-vestigation that has resulted in

three arrests and the seizure of more than $2 million worth of

counterfeit Chinese cell phones. The investigation was con-

ducted by the DA’s Office, Nas-sau County Police Department, ICE Homeland Security Investiga-tions, and U.S. Customs and Bor-der Protection.

Arrested as a result of the investigation is Qiang Chen, 44,

and Ye Zhang, 43, both of Syosset and doing business as AMAX In-ternational Group, Inc., and Robert Eisenberg, 28, of Manhat-tan, doing business as Cellular Wholesale USA, Inc. Chen is charged with five counts of Trade-mark Counterfeiting in the Second Degree. Zhang faces two counts of Trademark Counterfeiting in the Second Degree, and Eisenberg faces one count of Trademark Counterfeiting in the Second De-gree. Each defendant faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

The charges could be up-graded to Trademark Counterfeit-ing in the First Degree depending on the ultimate number of counter-feit items and their retail value.

The investigation began in January 2012 when customs agents at JFK International Airport per-forming a random inspection of a

shipment of cellular phones from China grew suspicious that the phones were not authentic due to their appearance and because they were shipped loose in cardboard boxes with no packaging. Agents removed several phones from the shipment and sent them to the re-spective companies they were la-beled as, such as Motorola, HTC, LG, and Casio, for testing.

Analysis by the real manufac-turers revealed that these phones were counterfeit, with numerous inconsistencies in the phones’ de-signs and the inferior technology and parts used in their construc-tion.

Agents enlisted the assistance of the Nassau County DA’s Office in March, and allowed the ship-ment to reach its intended recipi-

ent, but flagged both the sender and recipient. Eight more pallets of counterfeit cell phones were sent via China Air to the same recipi-ents between January and June.

The Nassau County Police Department’s Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Unit tracked the phones from the airport to two warehouses in Plainview and Hicksville.

Search warrants were exe-cuted yesterday at the warehouses, as well as on a shipment at JFK, resulting in the seizure of more than 32,000 phones with a retail value of more than $2 million. The recipients would re-package and sell the counterfeit phones online or through legitimate cell phone wholesalers who were likely un-aware they were receiving counter-feit goods.

Business records will be ana-lyzed to determine what companies were duped by the counterfeit phones, and they will be contacted and warned to investigate their in-ventory.

“These scam artists knew that these phones were junk, knew that they were illegal, and knew that they were duping their customers, and the only thing they cared about was their profit,” Rice said. “Thanks to the collaborative ef-forts of the law enforcement agen-cies involved in this investigation, these three men will be held ac-countable for the damage they have done.”

“The defendants in this case allegedly sought to profit by pro-viding the public with a substan-dard product. They also robbed manufacturers of their intellectual property, and robbed consumers of quality they come to expect and demand,” said James T. Hayes Jr.

special agent in charge of HSI New York. “HSI and its law en-forcement partners will remain vigilant of criminal organizations that try to circumvent our customs laws to smuggle cheap knock offs that impact our economy.”

“’Operation: Long Distance Haul’” is a great example of how effective Law Enforcement can be working in collaboration,” said Nassau County Police Commis-sioner Thomas Dale. “The Nassau County Police Department has a long history of enforcing Trade-mark Counterfeiting offenses. It's an economic crime, it hurts the regular cell provider and causes a burden on taxpayers and law en-forcement. These counterfeit phones can cause health issues due to products not being manufac-tured to U.S. standards. I would like the thank the hard work and dedication of the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, ICE Homeland Security Investigations in New York, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”

Deputy Chief Anne Donnelly and Assistant District Attorney Bena K. Varughese of the Rackets Bureau are prosecuting the case for the DA’s Office.

The charges are merely accu-sations and the defendants are pre-sumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.



Suffolk Man Pleads

Guilty to Killing Two

Men in Drunk

Driving Crash on Wantagh

State Parkway

Ramirez will serve five to 15 years in

prison

MINEOLA, NY – Nas-sau County District Attor-ney Kathleen Rice an-nounced today that a Brent-wood man has pleaded guilty to driving drunk and killing two men in an April 2011 crash on the Wantagh State Parkway.

Oscar Ramirez, 30, pleaded guilty last Friday to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, and Driving While Intoxicated. A judge agreed to sentence Ramirez to five to 15 years in prison in ex-change for his plea. Rami-rez is due back in court July 26.

Rice said that at ap-proximately 4:50 a.m. on April 30, 2011, Ramirez was driving a Ford Wind-star minivan northbound on

the Wantagh State Parkway when he side-swiped a Kia sedan just south of Hemp-stead Turnpike in East Meadow. The Kia, contain-ing driver Larry Scuteri, 49, of West Islip, and passen-ger Daniel Gambardella, 46, of North Babylon, was pushed onto the east shoul-der of the parkway and across the grass. The Kia then became airborne and struck a tree, killing Scuteri and Gambardella instantly.

Ramirez, who is in the country illegally and has no driver’s license, admitted that he drank nine beers that night and had a blood-alcohol content of .10% more than two hours after the crash. Scuteri and Gam-bardella were on their way to Manhattan where both men worked as members of

the Carpenter’s Union.

“This is a devastating tragedy that could have eas-ily been prevented if this defendant had chosen to put down his keys and call a c a b , ” R i c e s a i d . “Unfortunately, Oscar Ra-mirez made a different choice, and he must now face the repercussions of that decision.”

Assistant District Attor-ney Michael Bushwack of the Vehicular Crimes Bu-reau is prosecuting the case for the DA’s Office. Rami-rez is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nas-sau County.

Happy MEMORIAL DAY Weekend!!!!!!

Give A $1 Dollar In the Name of Your Father.....

Support Male Leadership Empowerment Programs at Urban League of Long Island - Campaign for Achieve-

ment. Click on the link below:

http://www.urbanleaguelongisland.org/

Donate_Now_.html GVE BACK TO MOVE FORWARD



Queens Woman

Charged With Stealing Money

from Group Home for the Developmen-tally Disabled

Yearwood stole more than $12K, worked as resident man-

ager of two Nassau group homes

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kath-leen Rice announced today that a Queens woman has been ar-rested and charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records after she stole more than $12,000 from two local group homes for the develop-mentally disabled where she worked as the resident man-ager.

Denessa Yearwood, 36, of Springfield Gardens, was ar-rested yesterday by DA Investi-gators and charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and ten counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First

Degree. She faces up to seven years in prison if convicted and

is due back in court tomorrow.

Rice said that since 2001, Yearwood, who works as the

resident manager for a group home in Lynbrook and in East

Rockaway, stole more than $12,000 by altering or re-using existing receipts for resident ex-

penses in the homes’ ledgers. The theft was discovered during a routine audit of the Lynbrook home’s books in May 2011 by a compliance analyst with Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc., a non-profit that provides services to more 3,000 developmentally dis-abled children and adults in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Yearwood was terminated in June 2011.

“The caregivers in these homes are supposed to be re-sponsible for the safety and wellbeing of the residents, not taking advantage of them,” Rice said. “The residents of both homes have been short-changed for more than a dec-ade, and it is outrageous that this defendant would abuse her position this way.”

Assistant District Attorney Vickie Curran of the Govern-ment & Consumer Frauds Bu-reau is prosecuting the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Yearwood is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County.

The charges are merely ac-cusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and

unless proven guilty.

Domestic violence has no boundaries. You, your relative, neighbor or friend could be a

victim of domestic violence. Contact the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence for help. Call the 24-hour hotline

631-666-8833. Trained counselors are always available.

For more information visit www.sccadv.org

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 631-666-7181.



Can Southern Baptists’ first black president restore faith?

When the results were an-nounced that the Southern Bap-tist Convention had over-whelmingly selected their next president, Tyrone Barnette shed a tear.

“Yes, there were tears in my eyes,” said the pastor of Peace Baptist Church in Deca-tur, GA. “It is a momentous occasion.”

The predominantly white Southern Baptist denomination made history and headlines late Tuesday when they elected Fred Luter, Jr. their first Afri-can-American president. Luter is pastor of Franklin Baptist

Church in New Orleans.

According to news reports, Luter, who was the sole nomi-nee, was supported by more than 7,000 members of the SBC. That is a big deal, consid-ering that the denomination was founded in 1845 because of their support of the institution of slavery against northern Baptists.

Barnette believes this is a good move in the right direc-tion. However, he is not naïve enough to believe that “we have arrived.”

“Any great movement starts out ceremonial,” he said.

“There is a ceremonial portion to this moment for sure. It is the beginning of the healing proc-ess for our denomination.”

Dr. W. Franklyn Richard-son has his reservations.

Richardson, who is chair-man of the Conference of Na-tional Black Churches and pas-tor of Grace Baptist Church in New York, said there is a dan-ger that Luter’s election could be window dressing.

“There are two thoughts I have about it,” he said. “I do not want to take anything from my brother and this highly sig-nificant occasion in his life. It is

an indication of God using him and an occasion of celebration for him.”

However, in looking at the reputation of the Southern Bap-tist denomination, Richardson said Luter’s election, and the value and validity in it will be determined by how consistent, how reflective, his election is in the operation and life of the de-nomination.

He believes there still re-sides in the denomination some racism and some reluctance to catch up with the rest of Amer-ica. Take for example the com-




Life Changing Words

When God Says “Yes”

Mat 19:26 KJV “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossi-ble; but with God all things are possible.”

When God says “Yes” there is nothing anyone can do or say to stop what He has ordained. For when God speaks surely it has to come to pass in the natural. So whatever God has promised you in this year or in the future don’t be dismayed if you have not seen the manifestations of your promises yet. For God have an appointed time and the ap-pointed day to show up and show out. What we must learn how to do is wait on God and have pa-tience. Though God never does it like you expect Him to He will always keep His word. As a Chris-tian I have truly learned His ways are not my ways neither are His thoughts my thoughts but surely God has a different way of doing things. Most of the time until full manifestation is completed it never makes sense to our natural or carnal mind.

Just when you think you have figured God out (smile) He makes a u-turn and does something completely the opposite of what you thought. That’s why as Christians we have to learn to trust God and lean not on our own understanding but acknowl-edge Him in all our ways and He shall direct our path. Gods’ path of righteousness is definitely a path that we as believers want to say yes to. His path for our life is so much greater than the path we could ever take or imagine for ourselves. Not only do we want God to say Yes but we must also sur-render and say yes to Gods will. That is when God can do the miraculous in our life; for to surrender to God is to open the door to the impossible.

In these days of uncertainty with the world we all ought to be absolutely certain of God. Meaning that there is nothing impossible or too hard for God. So whatever you need from God is available through His Son all you have to do is ask for it.

Just because you don’t have enough money, knowl-edge, connections, or confidence to do what God called you to do, doesn’t mean God can’t do it. So don’t give up or be dismayed but be encouraged and trust God. That is what faith is all about trusting God when you can’t see, or understand but your hope is in the Almighty One.

So as you make your future plans to prosper never forget to leave the door open for God to bless your visions, hopes, and dreams. Why should you leave the door open? Because “Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is im-possible; but with God all things are possible.”

Apostle Dr. Karen Deadwyler is a new author inspired by God. Her first book titled “His Miraculous Way” speaks of her victory through Jesus Christ. For Apostle Karen is truly a miracle writing about miracles. She is the Visionary of a women’s ministry called Willing Women of Worship Fellowship and the Pastor of Glory Temple Ministries. To contact her, inquire about her book or to send comments email her at [email protected] or visit her website: www.godlypleasures.org



ments of Richard Land, head of the denominations Ethics and Reli-gious Liberty Commission, made weeks after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Land commented that he believed President Obama and black leaders were politically using the death of Trayvon Martin to advance. Land later apologized.

“I do not believe that has been eradicated by the ceremonial election of a black president,” Richardson said. “That is not to take away from his accomplishment. Yet at the same time, the, in my ob-servation, the coming of it is not a consistent, throughout the organi-zation.”

During a press conference Tuesday night, Luter addressed the denomination’s past.

“We cannot avoid that this convention started as a result of slav-ery. All of us have a past and all of us have done some things in our pasts that we are not happy about,” he said. “We cannot do anything about that past. It is done and over with. However, we can do a lot about our future.”

He is not proud of the denomination’s past, Luter said in the conference. However, in the 25 years he has been part of the de-nomination he said he has witnessed their attempts to make amends for that past.

“To see this happen this year, I think it says this convention is putting their money where their mouth is,” he said. “We have spent the past few years talking about making changes and now our ac-tions are showing.”

And there is still work to be done Luter, Barnette and Richard-son believe.

When he joined the Southern Baptist Convention 19 years ago, Barnette he had no idea of the denomination’s past. But when he did come to know their past, he decided the best way to make a differ-ence was to stay. And now that Luter is president, Barnette is even more committed to be a prophetic voice within the denomination.

(Continued from page 33) “Even though Fred is our president, we must maintain our pro-phetic voice to speak to what is wrong. We must still address issues going out in our denomination,” he said. “We must maintain our pro-phetic voice and push the envelope to bring up the issues that need to be dealt with.”

And even though they respect Luter, Barnette said they cannot let their fears of hurting him and his presidency influence their prophetic responsibilities.

While Richardson holds to his belief that Luter’s election is sym-bolic, he welcomes being proven wrong. He welcomes the opportunity to work with Luter and the SBC.

“There are issues that African-Americans face that the church must address. And so, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with him and to help in any way we can to build bridges,” he said. “At the end of the day we all are under the banner of Christ. The challenge of the church is to find ways there is unity that does not restrict us. How do we celebrate Christ and yet not become dismissive of each other on basis of our cultural diversity.”

For Luter, it is yet to be seen what impact his election will have on the SBC. Yet, he dismisses the idea that his election is a symbolic one.

“What happens from this day on? If we stop appointing people of color to leadership roles after my term is over, we have absolutely failed,” he said. “Time will tell and it remains to be seen what can hap-pen from here on. I promise you I will be a cheerleader. I do not want to just be a symbolic image. I will do all I can to ensure this is not a one-and-done deal, but something we can see from years down the line.”

Reports from National Public Radio, the Christian Post and the Baptist Press contributed to the report.

Follow Mashaun D. Simon on Twitter at @memadosi

Bethel AME Church in Freeport Celebrates Juneteenth Bethel AME Church in Freeport hosted their first annual Community Pride Juneteenth Celebration at the church. Town of Hempstead Coun-

cilwoman Dorothy Goosby presented a Certificate of Recognition to Juneteenth committee members and praised their efforts to educate the chil-dren and community about the meaning of Juneteenth which honors African American heritage by commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865.



Rev. Regina Johnson Birthday Celebration Rev. Regina Johnson, of the Deeper Life Worship & Deliverance Center Church, celebrated her birthday with church family and friends at

Verdi’s of Westbury. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby was pleased to present a Certificate of Recognition Rev. Johnson and wish her heartfelt happy birthday wishes.

Rodney King, motorist whose beating by Los Angeles police officers sparked

deadly US race riots, dead at 47 By NBC News, msnbc.com staff

and news services

Updated at 3:34 p.m. ET: Rod-ney King, the black motorist whose videotaped beating by Los Angeles police officers in 1991 sparked some of the deadliest race riots in U.S. his-tory, was found dead Sunday, police said. He was 47.

Police in Rialto, Calif., found King's body in a swimming pool after getting a 911 call from his fiancee, Rialto Police Capt. Randy DeAnda told NBC News. Officers pulled King from the pool and began doing CPR, but he was unresponsive.

King was transported to Arrow-head Hospital in Colton, where he was pronounced dead at 6:11 a.m. PDT, DeAnda said.

The San Bernardino County coroner will perform an autopsy.

"Right now we have no reason to believe there was foul play be-cause of the circumstances," Rialto Police Sgt. Richard Royce told

msnbc.com. "The evidence is that it was a simple drowning."

Homicide detectives continued to investigate mid-Sunday morn-ing, Royce said, although he called the investigation "a standard death investigation."

A file photo from the Los An-geles Times shows that the pool is oval and that King had erected tarps around it to pre-vent neighbors from peering in. Two dates are inscribed along the pool wall: 3/3/91, the day King was beaten, and 4/29/92, the day a jury acquitted three of the four officers who beat him.

King was beaten by Los Ange-les Police Department officers on a dark street on March 3, 1991, after he was stopped for speeding. Four officers hit him more than 50 times, kicked him and shot him with stun guns. A bystander videotaped much of the incident from a distance.

A year later, a California jury acquitted three of the four officers, three of whom were white and one Hispanic. The jury deadlocked on one of the charges for Officer Laurence Powell.

The riots that erupted on April 29, 1992, were among the most (Continued on page 37)



lethal in U.S. history. By the time order was restored, more than 50 people had died, nearly 3,000 were injured and thousands of businesses were damaged or destroyed.

In one of the most searing images from the riots, a 33-year-old white construction worker named Reginald Denny was pulled from his vehicle and beaten uncon-scious by four men at a Los Angeles intersection. Twenty years later, he has still not recovered from his injuries.

The violent reaction prompted King's famous plea on television: "Can we all get along?

Nearly a year later, a federal jury convicted two of the police officers of a federal charge of violating King’s civil rights and sentenced them to 30 months in prison. Two other officers were acquitted. King eventually re-ceived a $3.8 million settlement from the city, and the case led to sweeping changes in the LAPD.

The police chief, Daryl Gates, came under intense criticism from city officials who said officers were slow

In the two decades after he became the central figure in the riots, King was arrested several times, mostly for alcohol-related crimes. He later became a record company executive and a reality TV star, appearing on shows such as "Celebrity Rehab."

In an interview earlier this year with The Associated Press, King said he was a happy man.

"America's been good to me after I paid the price and stayed alive through it all," he said. "This part of my life is the easy part now."

King had recently been promoting his just-published memoir, "The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion to Redemption." The book came out around the 20th anniversary of the L.A. riots.


King, who has three children, was engaged to marry Cynthia Kel-ley, a juror in the civil suit he brought against the city of Los Ange-les, according to the biography that accompanied his book.

The Los Angeles Times published a quote that King gave the newspaper earlier this year: "I would change a few things, but not that much. Yes, I would go through that night, yes I would. I said once that I wouldn't, but that's not true. It changed things. It made the world a better place.''



ever you do in life. He noted that there were naysayers during his rise to his current achievement – but he did-n’t listen to them. He listened, instead, to the positive voices in his life – such as his parents and supporters like ABGS Middle School principal Hank Williams. In his remarks, Williams noted that there were those who said Holloway was too small, that he couldn’t read and

would not stay in the classroom. Holloway proved them all wrong by following his own determined path, rather than letting others dictate his path for him.

Within hours of the m o v i n g u p e x e r c i s e s , CBSsports.com’s "Goodman’s Rankings” had Holloway on their list of the top college players during an ESPN broadcast discussion of the upcoming draft.

When Holloway’s name is called on Thursday, all Hempstead will celebrate. And even if he doesn’t hear his name on Thursday, he will still pursue his goal albeit a dif-ferent pathway, an alternative route. This young man does not give up. Hempstead, however, will still be celebrating no matter what happens on Thursday, because Holloway is a college graduate, a role model for those hundreds of ABGS students sitting patiently on stage in their shiny caps and gowns. Holloway is already a winner in Hempstead’s eyes and his number has already been called…The ABGS Vale-dictorian who delivered the Farewell Address is Pablo Jose Correa. Salutatorian was Sonia Benitez. The Hempstead High School auditorium was full of proud parents, relatives, ABGS teachers and staff, and School Board members salut-ing these youth on this hot but inspiring Thursday evening.

--B.J. Robinson is an educator, a youth sports advocate and author of a young adult biography of LeBron

James.

ON EVE OF NBA DRAFT, HOLLOWAY SPEAKS TO

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS Terrell “Tu” Holloway is set to put Hempstead on

the map during the 2012 NBA draft on July 28. This is a mo-ment and a stage he has dreamt about and has spent over a decade preparing for –by being one of the hardest working, most skilled and prepared point guards in the high school and college game. At Xavier, he won awards, led his team in scoring and led them to successive appearances in the pres-tigious NCAA tournament. But before Holloway enters the NBA draft spotlight next week, first he made an important stop in his hometown of Hempstead as Guest Speaker at the ABGS Middle School “Moving Up” Exercises.

Before the hundreds of nattily dressed boys and girls accepted their certificate and entry into high school, first they listened to Holloway, a young man who sat in the same classrooms they did, ate in the same cafeteria, had some of the same teachers and bounced balls in the same gym – 9 years ago.

Holloway abandoned the prepared speech and instead spoke from his heart. He talked of having spent time in 5 high schools, in 3 states. During his junior year at Hempstead High school, he led the Tigers to the Nassau Class AA title. He then attended Harmony Community School (Cincinnati, Ohio) before entering Xavier on a full scholarship, as a Lib-eral Arts major.

Holloway spoke straightforward to the middle schoolers, imploring them to do what’s right – for them. He said they needed to find their own way – with the knowledge that college is not for everyone –but you should seek to excel in what-

Cincinnati high school wins state track title, team trains on parking lot

The story of the Shroder High girls track team in Cincinnati is as good as it gets in sports. The girls train and practice in a nearby park-ing lot, because the school does not have a track. It’s something that seems insurmountable – ex-cept when you learn the girls’ 4-x-100 meter relay team won a state title earlier this month. Sports Il-lustrated has more on this wonder-ful story:

The Shroder High girls’ 4-x-100-meter relay team just won the Ohio Division II state championship. It burned up the 400 meters in 48.8 seconds, even with an imperfect exchange. “They truly earned that title,” said Warmack.

Well, yeah. They paid the price in shin splints. And general sore-ness, hips to hamstrings. Tracks are rubber. Rubber relents. As-phalt is somewhat less forgiving. “I hate running on that drive-way,” said team member Toni Harkness. “But when I got on that track at state, it was a whole lot easier. I could just run.”

After dodging bus bumpers, an actual track felt like wind be-neath her wings. I’m not sure what it says about a bunch of kids who catch a dream while running on a driveway. But it’s not bad. What’s even better, they’re not impressed. “We set out to win it,” said senior Domynique Shelby, “and that’s what we did.”

The girls each won a medal. I asked Shelby where she keeps hers.

The girls each won a medal. I asked Shelby where she keeps hers.

"On the printer,'' she said.




NBA Finals Game 5 ticket prices averaging over $1,300

NBC Miami – The Miami Heat have an opportunity to secure the second NBA championship in franchise history (and first since the Big Three teamed up in the summer of 2010) Thursday night, and the price to see the game live at the American Airlines Arena has skyrocketed on secondary markets.

According to ticket reseller TiqIQ.com, the average price for a Game 5 ticket was $1,312.07 as of Wednesday afternoon, up 47 per-cent since the start of Game 4 on Tuesday night. The quantity of Game 5 tickets available on secondary markets has fallen 40% over the same period.

The cheapest set of two tickets currently available costs $315, but those might not last very long. For the better-off Heat fans among us, one AAA Suite is available for $52,000. There is also a ticket in the second row of the Flagship South section of the arena available for over $12,000.

The demand for a potential series-clinching Finals ticket in Miami was also high last year, but that time it was visiting Dallas Mavericks fans who were scooping up seats to the deciding Game 6 on the secon-dary market. TV cameras showed a plethora of blue-clad Mavs fans in the lower bowl of the AAA when Dallas topped Miami to win its first title.

We’re guessing this time around it is not the visiting fans who are driving up ticket prices. After winning the first game of the Finals, Oklahoma City has dropped three straight, unable to corral the Heat’s offense late in games.

Not surprisingly, the average ticket price for Game 5 is the highest-priced NBA game all season. The previous high was $1,159.72 for a ticket to Game 1 of the Finals in Oklahoma City (on average). $1,300 seems like a lot to pay for a Finals ticket, but that price is less than 0.01% of the $16 million salaries the Heat have paid both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade this season.

For those of us who can't afford the pricey ticket to Game 5, the action will be televised on ABC, with tipoff shortly after 9pm.

What?

"On the printer at my house. It's holding down some papers. At least I think that's where it is.''

Shelby has suffered the most for her success. While teammates had occasional injury issues from running on the pavement, hers were chronic: "Both shins, hamstrings, hips and a quad,'' Warmack said.

Shroder underachieved in the regional meet last year, because so many of its athletes were recovering from asphalt wear and tear. This year, Warmack scaled back workouts. What had been 3,000 meters a week was cut to 2,000. They ran just one hard day a week. Also once a week, Warmack and his assistant, Chris Bishop, loaded up the 20 or so athletes in their two vehicles and shuttled them 10 minutes to a nearby high school with a track.

Warmack also entered his team in nearly twice as many meets as most high school teams typically enter, simply so his kids could have tracks to run on. He paid the entry fees himself.

That didn't solve the problem of the baton exchanges entirely. There is a 10-meter "acceleration zone'' in a relay, where the ex-change must take place. If it doesn't, you're disqualified. Actual tracks have this area clearly marked. Warmack spray-painted red tri-angles at each end of his acceleration zone. Problem was, he didn't measure correctly at first. And because he's only working with 200 meters, his teams can't run an entire race. Exchanges are done indi-vidually in practice. There isn't much flow.

Two years ago, Shelby fell during an exchange. She didn't take off fast enough. The runner in the previous leg ran up Shelby's back. Literally. The accident haunted Shelby, even this year, Warmack said.

Then there was the dip and rise in the pavement, which happened to be right in the center of the acceleration zone. "The run-up was faulty all year long,'' Warmack said. "Practicing here made it next to





impossible to get their marks correct.'' That is, the delicate timing was perpetu-ally wobbly. In races decided by frac-tions of seconds, that could be a prob-lem.

"If we can get the baton exchanged, we can outrun most people,'' Warmack said.

They didn't get it right in the state finals. Shelby ran the first leg. Her split time -- 11.8 seconds -- was the fastest of the race. But the exchange with Hark-ness was flawed. The girls were in fourth place, halfway through the race.

The previous year, they'd finished sixth in the state, less than three seconds behind the winner. Their two fastest and most experienced runners -- Harkness and Shelby -- returned. Warmack knew a state title in the 4-x-100 was in reach. "That's all we talked about,'' Warmack said. So much that, at one point during the season, Shelby told her coach to stop talking about it. "We know,'' she said.

Anyone heard using the word "can't'' was forced to do push-ups, coaches in-cluded. Bishop, a Cincinnati firefighter who doubles as assistant track coach and supervisor of Shroder's weight room, swears the relay team worked harder on lifting than the football team. "They knew what they wanted,'' Bishop said, "and what they needed

(Continued from page 39) to do to get it.''

It might be easy to forget the pain of running on asphalt, when you're gliding on rubber. The motivation was never for-gotten, however. "We do won-der what we could do if we had a real track,'' said Bishop.

No better than what they did. No better than first place. The Jaguars went from fourth to tied for first in the third leg, then brought the title home in the anchor leg. Their winning time was 1.1 seconds faster than the second-place team. That was pounding some seri-ous pavement. "Ran their hearts out,'' Warmack said.

There are no plans for Shroder to build a track, not unless Fifth Third Bank or Coca-Cola cede some of their exten-sive parking-lot acreage. The best Warmack and his athletes can do is what they've been doing. Negotiate the peaks and valleys and watch out for the oil slicks.

"The kids don't complain,'' said Warmack. "They just run.''



Cardinal Club was also the as-sistant golf coach at Louisville and set up a tryout for me with the Head Coach. Cardinal Club was 32 miles from the dorm I lived in. I remember meeting the Head coach and him saying, “So you’re the guy I’m here to see”, half surprised that the buzz was created from a Black kid from Versailles, Kentucky. As well as the story began all was not well for me at Louis-ville. The first qualifying rounds I did not play good golf at all. Truthfully, I did not know how to actually play the game. The coach was gracious and patient with me knowing my road to the team vastly varied from the polished players he had recruited. With time and some hands on attention from coaches and fellow teammates, I was competing in qualifiers by the third tournament of the year. During a series of qualifying rounds I actually earned a spot to travel, but I was not afforded the chance. I was called in to coaches’ office one morning after workouts and was congratulated on my good play, but notified I would not be trav-eling because he believed I was, “Raw Talent.” He made me aware that may game, though good, was not good enough to travel with the team. Earning a spot to play after walking-on to a program meant the world to me. I thought I had finally arrived and all the mornings of hitting ball before and after class in high school had paid off. But in the blink of it an eye it was all taken way. Being told you were not going to be able to do the very thing you had worked and strived for devastated me. In the following semester my effort put into golf dwindled then almost stopped. I had no incentive to continue to work as hard as I had, because there was going to be no pay off for it. Noticing my flat-lining efforts the coach told me that my performance in amateur tour-naments during the upcoming summer would be the deciding factor to determine if I would have a position on the team for the 2005-06 season. I learned how to play golf at the University of Louisville. I learned how to play the “game”. I learned the elements of course manage-ment, and how to pick a course apart. I learn how to manage my emo-tions as well as develop my shot shaping abilities. I am thankful for the time I spent in Louisville and the lessons learned while there, but I believed I was better than raw talent. So I decided to transfer and play golf where I felt I would be appreciated, so I went to Florida A&M University. As I listened to the show, I heard Pete McDaniel talk about creat-ing academies to teach youth how to play the game, sign them up to play in bigger tournaments in an attempt to increase minority partici-pation in Division I athletics. All players that were not as developed should attend HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universi-ties). I had the opportunity to do both, being on both sides of the fence HBCU’s lack vital things necessary for players to be success-ful: 1. Structured Programs 2. Adequate practice facilities 3. Booster funding 4. Manufacturer recognition We can send players to our HBCU’s, but if the programs in place are not structured to help advance the player what good is it going to? It is not uncommon for coaches at HBCU’s not play college golf; in actuality few of them have formal training in golf. Not taking any-thing from the coaches as a people or their efforts exerted, but how is a coach with no firsthand playing experience going to help guys get to the tour? Now, there are schools that have coaches with playing experience like Edward Waters College, but all HBCU’s cannot be coached by legends like Calvin Peete. Often time’s golf coaches at HBCU’s merely schedule tournaments, buy clothes, and drive to the tourna-

Doug Smith- Blog: June 2012 "My Letter To The Industry"

Blog: June 2012 "My Letter To The Industry" The letter below is very special letter to me. I wrote this during a very tough time in my life. When I wrote this piece my mom was losing a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. My mom passed 3 days after the date on the letter … she listened as I read this to her that evening. February 24, 2009 was the day I stopped chasing my dream, it was also the same day I lost my best friend.

I recently watched Uneven Fairways: A Discussion on The Golf Channel, and my mouth dropped. I was appalled upon hearing an-swers that were given, by a panel of “experts”, in an attempt to ex-plain why there is not more minority representation in professional golf. Money and lack of talent development were the two main factors voiced by the panel as the achilles heel of minority involvement in golf. I am writing this letter to briefly give a firsthand account of my experiences trying to make it in to the professional ranks. I believe I am more than qualified to speak on this subject matter since I am a 25 year old, Florida A&M University graduate and for-mer golf team member. Also having played golf at the University of Louisville, not to mention 2005 Independent Division Medalist at the National Minority Collegiate Championship qualifies me to speak on the subject at hand. I was not born to a rich family, but my parents would have sold the shirt off their backs to see me succeed in golf – they damn near did, a few times. In my case, financially, I was limited to statewide and area tours as well as coaches. My family couldn’t afford to send me to the Leadbetter Academies, Jim Flick, Jim McClean or to see Dr. Bob Winters unlike my white competitors. I played junior tours from my 6th grade year clear through to my senior year of high school and never had the company of my own race in the field. It bothered me at first, but I got used to being the only Black kid. Local and state wide tours are all fine and dandy, but college coaches want to see how you stack up against players from around the country. I came from a family where both of my parents worked. It would have been a difficult task for them to miss work just to take me to golf tournaments. Now contrast my dual parent household to a single parent household that many minority children face each day. It was tough for me to get to tournaments, it would have been twice as difficult for a single parent to fund a junior golf career. As a youngster I was unaware of the bigger tours like Ajga, FCWT, orthe IJGT until my senior year in high school. I never knew about tournaments like Junior World or the U.S. Junior Am until I was too old to compete! Had it not been for the National Minority High School Championships, along with the Bill Dickey Invitational and the Toledo Minority Golf Association tournaments my name would have never drifted beyond the borders of Kentucky. Speaking for me and hundreds of other minority players around the country talent was never the issue, it was a lack of opportunity to display our talents is the reason minority players go unnoticed . I be-lieve there are more families out there that do not know about various avenues that can be taken to get their child nationally known, just like mine. I graduated high school in 2003 without a golf scholarship or a place to play, but I was fortunate enough earn a scholarship through academics to the University of Louisville. Due to the cold, like in most mid-west states, play is suspended from mid-November to the end of February, if we are lucky. In those months I did not miss a beat. Although I was not playing golf I stayed very active in the sport by mentoring members of the Louisville Urban-League Youth Golf Program during the first semester of my freshmen year. Once weather broke I began taking lessons from the Head Golf Pro-fessional at The Cardinal Club in Simpsonville, Kentucky. The Pro was surprised to see the talent I displayed without going to the bigger named coaches in the country, which is a testament to the coach I had received lessons from at local practice facility. Call it good fortune or sheer happenstance the Head golf pro at

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