Washington Afro-American Newspaper December 7 2013

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Volume 122 No. 18

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DECEMBER 7, 2013 - DECEMBER 13, 2013

D.C. Council Unanimously Approves Minimum Wage Hike

Mayor Vincent Gray Announces Second Run

By Ben Nuckols Associated Press

Opponents Criticize Move

By Zenitha Prince AFRO Senior Correspondent Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray, whose first term has been marked by tremendous success in

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INSIDE A5

Luke James Visits Duke Ellington School of the Arts

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improving the city even as an investigation into possible wrongdoing in his 2010 campaign has persisted, ended months of speculation Dec. 2 when he announced that he is running for reelection.

Gray, 71, who collected nominating petitions required to run, is among almost a dozen contenders for the post. Four council members—Muriel Bowser, Jack Evans, Vincent B. Orange and Tommy Wells— are among the candidates whose names will appear on the ballot in the April 1, 2014 primary, which will essentially decide who is elected in the Democratic stronghold. The candidates

“…the first-time mayor will have to face D.C. voters amid an ongoing federal probe into alleged corruption in his 2010 campaign…”

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Mayor Vincent Gray announced his re-election run Dec. 2.

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will have until Jan. 2 to collect the signatures of at least 2,000 Democrats to get on the ballot.

More challengingly, however, the first-time mayor will have to face D.C. voters amid an ongoing federal probe into alleged corruption in his 2010 campaign that may have spread into his administration. Four highlevel aides associated with the campaign pleaded guilty to felonies for orchestrating an illicit $650,000-plus “shadow campaign,” bankrolled by local businessman Jeffrey Thompson, on Gray’s behalf, and for paying former mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown to attack thenincumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Gray, who has not been charged, has maintained his innocence, and said he waited this long to allow U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald Machen Jr. to complete his investigation.

“I was hoping that all the 2010 stuff would be over,” Gray told the Associated Press. “It isn’t, and it will continue on however long the U.S. attorney chooses to investigate it.”

Continued on A3

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Council voted unanimously Dec. 3 to increase the District of Columbia’s minimum wage to $11.50 an hour, one of the nation’s highest.

The vote by the 13-member council follows a national trend in which localities and states are addressing the minimum wage in the wake of federal inaction. Last month, suburban Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland also approved raising their minimum wages to $11.50. California,

“Supporters said the bill would allow low-wage workers to share in the District’s prosperity and continue living in the city.”

Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island have raised their minimum wages this year.

The council bill must clear one more vote before it goes to Continued on A5

Court Rules Crack Sentencing Reforms Don’t Apply to Those Already Imprisoned The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund A sharply divided Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 3 that the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the unfair, unjustified, and racially discriminatory crack cocaine/powder cocaine sentencing ratio from 100-to1 to 18-to-1, does not apply to thousands of individuals who are currently incarcerated pursuant to sentences imposed under the discredited 100to-1 regime. Seven judges concluded that the FSA should apply to those serving sentences under the 100-to-1 federal sentencing structure, but ten judges declared that it should not.

“We are deeply disappointed in the outcome of this case. Thousands of people, the majority of whom are African-American, are still serving time under an

unfair drug sentencing regime that has destroyed individuals, families and communities,” said Sherrilyn A. Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense

Crack cocaine

and Educational Fund.

“Today’s decision demonstrates that those who are working to eliminate the impermissible role of race in criminal prosecutions and sentences still have much more work to do. We will continue to press this issue in the court” Ifill added that LDF officials “are heartened that seven judges…were willing to rule in favor of a just application of the Fair Sentencing Act. Their powerful dissents encourage us to remain steadfast in our effort to win the release of those held under draconian and discriminatory sentences.”

Continued on A3

D.C. Council Considers Voting Rights Bill for Undocumented Residents

By AFRO Staff

Students and parents at the roundtable event on bullying

Photo by Maria Adebola

Bullying Prevention, Control Weighed at Norton Roundtable

By Maria Adebola Special to the AFRO

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and the Commission on Black Men and Boys, led by former D.C. Police Chief Isaac Fulwood, listened to harrowing stories about childhood bullying Nov. 20.

For Christian Phillips-Gilbert, 15, now a sophomore at Eastern High School, bullying began in middle school and is just now subsiding. “They would call me names, and I would cry,” he said. It went on for two years, he said, adding it was one of the reasons his grades dropped.

Although he said he did not tell his parents at first, Gilbert instead decided to talk to a school counselor about it. The counselor was able to help Gilbert make friends, and now he says, “I have a whole bunch of confidence in myself and I don’t get bullied anymore.”

Gilbert said he now believes that words can’t hurt him.

Billed as “a Candid Conversation with the Community on Preventing Bullying,” the roundtable is part of the drive by the city’s non-voting delegate in Congress to implement the antibullying law.

Continued on A6

Members of the D.C. Council Dec. 3 moved a bill to give voting rights to undocumented residents, placing it among a few jurisdictions across the country to consider giving a political voice to people who are not legal citizens.

The measure was proposed by Council members David Grosso (I-At Large), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1)and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), who issued a statement about the so-called “Local Resident Voting Rights Act of 2013.” The measure would amend the District of Columbia Election Code to include among legal voters anyone over the age of 18 who has resided in the District for 30 days or more and is a permanent resident of the United States under federal law, even if they are not a citizen.

“D.C. residents know all too well what it means to be denied equal voting rights in the United States,” Wells said in the statement. “It goes without question that every resident of D.C. deserves a vote and a voice in our local government. D.C. needs to be a great place for everyone to live, work and raise a family. No one should be denied these basic rights.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 53,975 residents in the District are foreign born, but not naturalized U.S. citizens. More than 90% of that population is 18 years of age or older, Wells’ statement said.

Currently, only a handful of jurisdictions allow noncitizens can vote in local elections in the U.S. Chicago and New York City allow noncitizens to cast ballots in school board elections.

Six jurisdictions in Montgomery County, including Takoma Park, have allowed it for years.

Measures to give voting rights to permanent residents are also pending in New York City for municipal elections and in four jurisdictions in Massachusetts-- Cambridge, Amherst, Newton and Brookline, which need state legislation to implement their local laws.

Legislation to allow noncitizens to vote in municipal elections would likely increase the voting population in DC’s Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 where over 18 percent of the ward population is foreign born, the statement said. The greatest impact would be in Wards 1 and 4.

The D.C. measure will now move to committee. It is not expected to come up for a vote until late February or early March, according to a Wells spokesman.

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The Afro-American, December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013

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NATION & WORLD Kanye West Threatens to Boycott Louis Vuitton Producer and rap star Kanye West has launched another public tantrum, this time against luxury handbag, clothing and accessory design house Louis Vuitton.

The influential, outspoken hip-hop recording artist said he is displeased with the fashion line’s lack of diversity and considers their pricing Kanye West “ridiculous.”

West took to the air-waves Nov. 25 on 92.3 NOW in New York to not only voice his frustrations but to persuade consumers and his fans not to purchase Louis Vuitton products because the luxury brand decided not to work with him.

“Everybody in New York City right now, don’t buy any Louis Vuitton until after January,” West said in an interview with 92.3 NOW. “Now do you want to meet with me?”

West, 36, said he was in Paris and wanted to meet with Vice President Yves Carcelle, the head of Louis Vuitton, but Carcelle declined. West claimed Carcelle said, “I don’t understand why we need to meet with you.”

When the rapper entered the rap scene he was known as “The Louis Vuitton Don,” always seen wearing signature Louis Vuitton backpacks, hats and accessories.

“Influence. They think that I don’t realize my power.

They want to marginalize me,” West said.

In September, he slammed high-end fashion house Fendi for rejecting his leather jogging pant idea.

West, who is trying to get a sneaker contract, initially faced setbacks on that front. He tried to strike a deal with Nike but the shoe manufacturer declined to offer him royalties for his Yeezus collection because he isn’t a professional athlete.

Adidas has agreed to his terms, and West is on his way to create his sneaker collection.

Lawmakers Seek New Laws to Deter ‘Knock-Out Game’ Congressional representatives and municipal authorities across the nation are banding together to propose new laws that toughen punishment for assault convictions linked to the “knockout game.”

In a call to action for prosecutors and law enforcement officials, Wisconsin Representative Dean Kaufert (R) asked for stiffer penalties with fewer delays in the prosecution phase.

“This is not a child’s prank, this is a serious crime where innocent victims are assaulted, injured and in some instances even killed, and it should be treated that way,” Kaufert said in a Nov. 27 statement. “We want to send any potential perpetrator of this senseless violence the message that if they do this in Wisconsin they will face serious criminal consequences, not a slap on the wrist.”

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Young participants in the “game” choose a victim at random and punch them in the face with the intention of knocking them out cold in one swing.

Many of the unsuspected assaults have been recorded and placed online to amass hits on YouTube and attention on other social media sites.

Though some claim that the increased attention from news media in recent days is an attempt to boost hysteria and cause racial divides—most victims are White or of non-African American descent—lawmakers nonetheless are taking steps to introduce bills increasing punishments for taking part in the game.

New York Senator Hugh T. Farley announced Nov. 25 that he too will be leading legislative efforts to stop the trend from spreading.

Farley joined Assemblyman Ted Tedisco in promoting the “Knockout Game Deterrent Act,” under which New York participants in “Knockout Game” assault cases could face over two decades in prison.

The Knockout Game Deterrent Act is still in the draft phase but should be ready for introduction in early December.

Essence Magazine Launches Filmmaking Contest to Improve Portrayal of Black Women Essence magazine has challenged aspiring filmmakers to counter the distorted portrayal of Black women in film and television, and to showcase images of Black women that depict the beauty, bounty, triumphs and truths of their lives.

“We’re launching a short film contest seeking visions of Black women that are multidimensional, ones that are different Shonda Rhimes will serve from the stereotypical and on the celebrity panel of often negative images that the contest. respondents in a recent, ground-breaking Essence study told us don’t truly reflect the totality of who they are,” the magazine stated in an overview of the contest on its web site.

According to the study, published in the magazine’s November issue, more than 1,200 respondents said an overwhelming majority of the images they encounter in traditional and social media fall into negative stereotypes— gold diggers, modern jezebels, baby mamas, uneducated sisters, ratchet women, angry Black women, mean Black girls, unhealthy Black women, and Black Barbies.

Conversely, respondents said they very rarely saw reflections of who they genuinely are: young phenoms, real beauties, individualists, community heroines, girls next door and modern matriarchs.

Magazine officials said they hoped the study would help

marketers and content creators to create more authentic images of Black women, a mission that is at the core of Essence.

Contest participants are challenged to write and direct an original short film no more than 20 minutes long that presents an image of a Black woman that defies the stereotypes and offers a fresh, unique perspective. The deadline for submission is Dec. 5.

A team of Essence editors will choose the contest finalists and a panel of celebrity judges will choose the winner. Those judges include husband and wife producing team Mara Brockand Salim Akil; “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes and actress Regina King among a host of others.

The winner will be honored at the magazine’s seventh annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon on Feb. 27, held

during Oscar week.

December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013, The Afro-American

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Local Entrepreneur Launches Mayoral Bid

By Courtney Jacobs AFRO Staff Writer Andy Shallal, 59, owner of the Busboys and Poets restaurants in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, is among the almost dozen people vying running for mayor of Washington, D.C. Instead of announcing his bid at one of his four restaurants, where a coffee house atmosphere has been the backdrop for fundraisers for radical causes for years, Shallal announced his bid Nov. 8 at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a popular U Street NW eatery.

As dozens of people crowded into the back room of the restaurant, Shallal, the Iraqi-born son of the late Arab League representative to the U.S., Ahmed Shallal, singled out housing and education as major issues in the city.

“Housing availability is a crisis in this city,” he said. “It’s never about resources with these kinds of problems. It’s always about priorities. When the voters speak, the council should listen.”

Shallal’s family came to the U.S. from Iraq in 1966, and settled in Arlington, Va., when he was 10 years old.

Shallal, who has described himself as a progressive activist, opened Busboys and Poets in 2005 and named the restaurant after poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the

Wardman Park Hotel in D.C. while writing poetry early in his career.

Shallal is an advocate of increasing the minimum wage and is helping to create a restaurant association called Restaurants Advancing Industry Standards in Employment—RAISE. His experience in elective politics is scant. In 1991, Shallal was involved as an organizer and a precinct supervisor in the Jim Zais campaign for the Ward 2 D.C. Council. The campaign race was extremely close, with Jim Zais losing to current council member and mayoral candidate Jack Evans by 300 votes.

That same year, he worked on a ballot initiative to limit campaign contributions to $100 for citywide races and $50 for ward races. The initiative, which was passed by D.C. voters, was repealed by the D.C. Council.

On the national level, Andy was an organizer and a delegate for then-California Gov. Jerry Brown when Brown ran for president in 1992. In addition, Shallal has been involved in schools, serving as a PTA president and an appointee on the Human Rights Committee for Fairfax County Public Schools.

He is on the board of trustees for the Institute for Policy Studies and the co-founder of Think Local First DC, a local business association of over 400 local and independent business

owners working to make D.C.’s business scene more unique and vibrant.

Andy Shallal Shallal announcing his was a huge mayoral bid Photo by Courtney Jacobs supporter of current Mayor Vincent C. Gray.

“If he runs I wish him luck,” Shallal said before Gray announced that he is seeking re-election. “I’m in this race now to the finish.”

His racial identity has been ambiguous since childhood. “I remember being asked to fill in a bubble for my race,” Shallal said. “The school needed to know if I was ‘White,’ ‘Black,’ or ‘Other.’ As one of the few brown kids in my school, I knew I neither fit in with the ‘White’ team, nor with the ‘Black’ team, and no 10-year-old wants to be labeled the ‘Other.’ So I left those categories unmarked.”

Mayor

Continued from A1 The incumbent and his supporters have argued that despite the investigation, the District has thrived under Gray’s leadership.

The population has expanded, construction of new projects has soared, test scores for students have improved, crime has dropped and property values have skyrocketed—among other improvements.

“Our record speaks for itself. Look at the fiscal stability in this city, look at the economic development, look at the education improvement, look at the way people are getting back to work,” Gray told reporters as he left the Board of Elections, according to an NBC News video.

Yet questions persist. Several of Gray’s rivals said his continued presence in the Wilson Building would leave a taint of corruption on the District. Wells (D-Ward 6), came out punching in a statement he posted after Gray made his intentions to run known.

“Vince Gray was elected under false pretenses and doesn’t deserve a second chance because he ran a corrupt campaign,” Wells said. “I’ve known Vince Gray for years and I’m disappointed that he let me down—and everyone in D.C. down.”

Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), was much more diplomatic, saying voters deserved answers.

“I have always said that it did not matter who was in the race. And that has not changed,” she said in a statement. “[But] now that Mayor Gray is seeking re-election, he will have to end his silence and answer the many legal questions about his 2010 campaign.”

Jermaine House, spokesman for Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) declined comment and the campaign of Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large), did not reply to phone calls and e-mails requesting comment. Washingtoncitypaper. com quoted him as saying “I will say there is a distinct difference between Vincent Orange and Vincent Gray.”

Businessmen Andy Shallal and Christian Carter, however, said Gray and the other politicians who are running represent the old school of corrupt D.C. politics. For example, Orange, who made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2006, has also been plagued by questions about Thompson, who contributed major funds to his 2011 campaign for the council.

“Vincent Gray has run out his turn and his life in politics and it is time to hit a reset button,” Carter, the 31-year-old CEO of staffing firm New Columbia Enterprises, told the AFRO. He added, “I actually welcome him into this race because it will help voters draw a comparison between

what he represents—old ideology and old ways and his old boy network—and what I represent which is fresh, new and innovative ideas and ideology and a new look.”

Shallal, the Iraqi-born owner of Busboys and Poets and a supporter of D.C. arts and culture, echoed those sentiments.

“Mayor Gray is the fifth city hall politician to enter the race. He’s also the latest reason why D.C. voters should look past City Hall to find the progressive leadership the District so sorely needs now,” he said in a statement.

“We won’t get better leadership in the Mayor’s office by electing another career politician who’s already in City Hall. This election is about electing a Mayor with a different vision, not a Mayor whose political resume adds up to another round of business-as-usual.”

Lesser known candidates were less forthcoming in their opinions on Gray’s announcement. Michael Green chose not to comment. Frank Sewell, who ran unsuccessfully for the Ward 8 D.C. Council seat in 2004, did not respond to phone calls requesting a statement, and the campaign

manager listed on his fliers, the Rev. Anthony Motley, told the AFRO that he is not associated with the Sewell campaign. Candidate Octavia Wells, whose listed address is that of the Community for Creative Non-Violence homeless shelter near Judiciary Square, left a voice message telling a reporter that Gray was “not qualified” to be mayor because “he supports homosexuality and homosexuality is illegal.”

Reta Jo Lewis, an attorney, former Chamber of Commerce official and a former State Department appointee, also claimed “outsider” status. She said while she can bring “a new, inclusive approach to the Wilson Building,” Gray and the four contenders from the Council represent the “status quo.”

“The Mayor’s announcement does not change my strategy or our message. I will continue to talk to the people of D.C. about my message of inclusion, of changing the status quo and ending corruption, and to fight for a government and an economy that works for everyone,” Lewis said in an e-mailed statement.

Crack Sentencing Continued from A1

In 2010, Congress passed the FSA to reduce the irrationality and unfairness occasioned by a federal sentencing structure under which 100 grams of powder cocaine triggered the same sentence as a single gram of crack cocaine.

Congress made this change in recognition of the fact that powder cocaine and crack are indistinguishable from one another and the fact that the law was imposed in starkly racially disproportionate ways. Indeed, Judge Karen Nelson Moore, who joined the majority and concluded that the law does not apply to those who are already serving 100-to-1 prison sentences, acknowledged that the 100to-1 ratio “led to the mass incarceration of AfricanAmerican men and has bred distrust of law enforcement in the larger African-American community.”

Nationwide, nearly 9,000 individuals—90% of whom are African American--are serving out sentences imposed on them under the 100-to-1 ratio.

In its amicus, or “friend of the court” brief in this case, LDF argued that the court’s failure to apply the FSA to individuals serving sentences based on the 100-to-1 ratio would perpetuate an irrational and racially discriminatory sentencing regime. In oral argument, Vincent Southerland, senior counsel in the Criminal Justice Practice at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, urged the court to apply

the Fair Sentencing Act’s new 18-to-1 crack-powder cocaine sentencing ratio to those still serving sentences under the old 100-to-1 ratio.

Southerland noted that “everyone—from all three

the inherent arbitrariness and unfairness in perpetuating the unjust 100-to-1 sentencing ratio, despite Congress’s command in the Fair Sentencing Act.” In his dissent, Judge R.

…the 100-to-1 ratio “led to the mass incarceration of African-American men and has bred distrust of law enforcement in the larger AfricanAmerican community.”

– Judge Karen Nelson Moore branches of government to the law enforcement community and the American public—has recognized that the old 100to-1 crack cocaine sentencing ratio was unfair and racially discriminatory. The Fair Sentencing Act was enacted to end that old discriminatory sentencing ratio. It is extremely disheartening that a majority of the judges on the Sixth Circuit failed to see

Guy Cole agreed. “Congress repealed the law because the ratio is unjustified, with the full awareness of its discriminatory effects,” he said. “Using the ratio to deny sentence modifications continues to treat AfricanAmerican offenders more harshly than White offenders, despite Congress’s aim to the contrary.”

Drivers. Bikers. Walkers.

• Safely share the road.

Do not run in front of an approaching streetcar.

• Streetcars cannot go around cars parked on the tracks. Park within the white lines and do not double park.

Testing on H Street Begins in December

• Streetcars travel at or below the posted speed limit and must obey all traffic signals.

on H Street this December as

It’s Electric. Be Safe.

it’s tested and certified for the

• Streetcars are powered by electricity—use caution when approaching a work zone.

• The overhead wire or “catenary” is energized at 750v DC. Do not attempt to climb the poles, touch the wires, or throw things at them.

DC Streetcar will be in motion

opening of the system and regular operations. Testing during live traffic conditions is important to the certification process.

• Streetcar power substations are prohibited from entry for your protection.

Keep up with all things DC Streetcar!

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December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013, The Afro-American

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‘Black Nativity’ Star Luke James Visits Students at Duke Ellington School of the Arts

By Marie Adebola Special to the AFRO Two days before his film debut, Luke James, an R&B singer, songwriter and actor in the film, Black Nativity, visited the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

He stopped by the school in Georgetown in Washington D.C. to talk to students who are about to stage their own production of the play.

The movie is based on Langston Hughes play, also called Black Nativity, which retells the story of Jesus’ birth with an African American cast. Black Nativity stars Jennifer Hudson, Tyrese Gibson and Forest Whitaker.

Kayce Wilson, a 16-year-old junior who moderated the event, asked James what inspired him to go into music.

James said he was exposed to wide range of music as a child including jazz, country and R&B. In high school, he joined a group called Upskale with two other boys. One night, they tried to get into a theater where Gibson was performing. They went through the back entrance and started singing, hoping that somebody will notice them. The bold move led to jobs writing songs for artists such as Chris Brown and Britney Spears.

James landed a role in the movie when he was invited to perform at the BET show “Black Girls Rock” last year. A casting director was in attendance and invited him to audition for a part. Although he admits he had not seen the play, he said a lot of research went into understanding his role as JoJo, a homeless man whose girlfriend is expecting a baby.

“Some people have never heard about Black Nativity. I never heard about Black Nativity,” he said. “I had to do my

The poster for Black Nativity at Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Photos by Travis Riddick

Luke James (seated left) talks with students

research on it. I had to make sure that I am doing the best I can number to be a professional.” to people who have seen it already who had an idea who JoJo The play opened Dec. 4 at the Duke Ellington School of Arts is.” in the Ellington Theatre with performances scheduled through While the question-and-answer session was in progress Dec. 15. For more information, visit www.ellingtonschool.org. upstairs, in the Ellington Theatre, students were rehearsing the play, which is directed by Katherine Smith and Tracie Jade Jenkins.

“We have some connection to the movie itself and some of the people in the movie,” said Ronald Lee Newman, the play’s operations manager and producer. “One of our directors, Tracie Jenkins, is good friends with some of the people producing the movie, so Luke James came through that way.”

Jaymie Lawson, a 16-yearold junior, plays the narrator.

Lawson said all she knew about the play was that it was focused on the story of Jesus’ birth and how it affected Blacks.

“In this play, it focuses a lot on the story of hope, I want people to learn that no matter what you go through, there is hope for you, don’t be defeated,” she said.

James’ advice for emerging artists was to surround themselves with like-minded people.

“You must believe in yourself first. You have to put in your 10,000 hours. That’s supposed to be the ideal Duke Ellington School of the Arts staff and students

Minimum Wage Hike Continued from A1

Mayor Vincent Gray’s desk.

The Democratic mayor has advocated for raising the city’s minimum wage from its current $8.25 to $10 an hour, but not higher. However, he said Tuesday he wants to continue working with the council to find consensus on the appropriate increase

and whether future increases should be tied to inflation, as the council bill would do.

Supporters said the bill would allow low-wage workers to share in the District’s prosperity and continue living in the city.

“This is a major win for economic justice,” said

Councilmember Tommy Wells, a Democrat who is one of four mayoral candidates on the council.

Earlier this year, Gray sparred with the council over a bill that would have forced Wal-Mart and other large retailers to pay their employees a “living wage”

of at least $12.50 an hour.

The council approved the bill but fell one vote short of overriding a mayoral veto.

Wal-Mart had pledged not to build three of its six planned stores in the city if the bill became law.

Labor unions, Democrats and other worker advocacy groups have been protesting around the country to call attention to the difficulty of living on the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. On Thursday, fast-food workers in about 100 cities plan to walk off the job. President Obama is backing a Senate measure to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, but the House is not expected to act on the bill.

The bill approved Tuesday Dec. 4 would increase the district’s lowest wage to $9.50 on Jan. 1, $10.50 in July 2015

and $11.50 in July 2016, with future increases tied to the Consumer Price Index to keep up with inflation. The district government is reliably liberal on economic issues, and much of the opposition has come from those who say it won’t lift city residents out of poverty.

“This is not a living wage

However, some opponents have said the bill would hurt the city’s job market by forcing businesses to lay off workers or relocate. The D.C. Chamber of Commerce has advocated a $10 minimum wage, phased in gradually to soften the impact on employers.

Among large cities, San

“This is not a living wage bill. In my view, this bill doesn’t go quite far enough.”

–Councilmember Marion Barry bill,” said Councilmember Marion Barry, who said a true living wage would be more than $20 an hour. “In my view, this bill doesn’t go quite far enough.”

Francisco has the nation’s highest minimum wage at $10.74, with Santa Fe, N.M., just 2 cents behind. Because increases in those wages are tied to inflation, San Francisco is projected to have an $11.22 minimum wage by 2016, according to the National Employment Law Project.

The council also voted Tuesday to mandate paid sick time for restaurant workers.

Some councilmembers and advocates have pushed for the city to also raise the $2.77 minimum wage for workers who rely primarily on tips, which restaurant and bar owners have opposed.

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The Afro-American, December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013

Friendship Collegiate Senior Joins Payne Leads H.D. Woodson Past D.C. State Board of Education

By Ariel Medley AFRO Staff Writer

The D.C. State Board of Election has a new student representative following the Oct. 23 swearing-in of Friendship Collegiate Academy senior Daniel Spruill.

Spruill, 17, of Southeast Washington, D.C., said he was ecstatic about his inclusion on the board and was eager to contribute his thoughts on improving education in D.C. While student representatives are nonvoting members, the board recognizes Spruill as a full member. State board student representatives serve as liaisons between state education officials and the students of Washington, D.C. “I want to change education at my school,” Spruill said. “One of my ideas [to the State Board] is to get the next generation involved in computer science. Computer science is revolutionary and it expands horizons. I want this generation involved in the

mastery of it.”

Crediting his college counselor, Dr. Shairzay, for introducing him to computer science, Spruill urged younger

admitted that he didn’t always understand nor have a passion for computer science. “[Computer science] gets such a bad rep, especially on

Jason Perry, a senior at Woodrow Wilson H.S., and Spruill at the swearing in students to “keep your mind open and stay open to all ideas. The worst thing you could do is close doors for yourself.”

The high school senior

T.V. Popular belief would tell you that it’s nerdy or boring.

Just a bunch of guys staring at computer screens all day,” he said. But Spruill, following his counselor’s advice,

enrolled in an AP computer science class his junior year and discovered a new love.

“Now I’m getting my friends involved in it,” he said. “I’m even teaching my 12-year-old brother computer science and he really likes it.”

Spruill also has a strong passion for electrical engineering. After graduating this spring, Spruill plans to pursue a double major in computer science and engineering, and then earn a law degree. He has applied for a scholarship with the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, which, if accepted, would pay his full tuition from his bachelor’s degree up through his doctorate.

The state board’s newest student representative said he always dreamed of using his education to pursue a career in politics, but now dreams of starting his own business. He said he admires corporations like Apple and hopes to create a similar business.

“I want to start a business that helps people meet their needs,” he said. “I want to change the world.”

Richmond-Born Russell Wilson, MVP Contender Dazzles on Monday Night Football

By Perry Green AFRO Sports Editor

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson rushes against New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, in Seattle.

AP Photo

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson made his case for a NFL Most Valuable Player consideration after a stellar performance in leading the Seahawks to a blowout win over the New Orleans Saints (9-3 record) on Monday Night Football Dec. 2 in Seattle, Wash.

The win advanced the Seahawks to an 11-1 overall record, more than two games ahead of any other team in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Wilson completed 22-of-30 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns, committed no turnovers against an aggressive New Orleans defense. The second-year quarterback has 2,672 total passing yards with 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions so far on the season. His 108.5 passer rating ranks third among starting quarterbacks in the league.

Wilson was one of nine African-Americans to begin the season as a starting quarterback, the most in the history of the NFL. He was chosen by Seattle in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the same draft that featured Washington Redskins second-year quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 2012, but some observers contended that Wilson had the better rookie season of the two.

Wilson in Turkey Bowl, 25-13

By Breana Pitts AFRO Staff Writer Senior wide receiver D’Andre Payne awed a packed stadium with an all-around memorable performance as the H.D. Woodson Warriors defeated the Wilson Tigers, 25-13, in the 44th Annual DCIAA Turkey Bowl on Nov. 28 in Washington, D.C. Payne, who will attend the University of Tennessee, set up two touchdowns with a key interception and punt return and scored a touchdown of his own.

The Warriors came out strong in the first half against the Tigers. Payne’s interception set up a 10-yard touchdown by senior running back Jai Carson, who finished with 73 yards on 21 carries. Junior quarterback Rashad Cooper also rushed for a touchdown.

But the game’s pivotal moment came late in the third quarter, when Payne caught a 60-yard touchdown pass that gave the Warriors a 19-7 lead.

Payne wowed the crowd again on the next possession, when he returned a punt 25 yards into Wilson territory. He eluded several defenders and executed a perfect spin move, making the crowd go wild. The return set up Cooper’s second touchdown of the day and pushed the score to 25-7 with nine minutes left in the game.

“I love my team,” said Payne, who was named the game’s MVP. “We just came out, we worked hard, we got the win.”

Senior wide receiver Maurice Carter and junior running back Larry Frazier both scored for the Tigers.

“I’m proud because these guys have had a lot of adversity this year,” Woodson head coach Steve Scott told reporters. “These young men, they stepped up.”

Scott was also named 2013 All-DCIAA Stars Division Coach of the Year.

The Thanksgiving victory marked the Warriors’ second Turkey Bowl title in four years. They will face Friendship Collegiate in the D.C. State Athletic Association championship on Dec. 6. Friendship defeated McKinley Tech 43-0 in the other semifinal on Nov. 30.

Wilson finished his first season with an NFL-rookie record 26 passing touchdowns to 10 picks, while Griffin had 20 passing touchdowns to just five interceptions. Wilson so far has had the better sophomore year. His 22 touchdowns to six interceptions tops Griffin’s 15 touchdowns to 11 interceptions for an 83.3 passer rating.

Wilson was born and raised in Richmond, Va. His grandfather, Harrison B. Wilson Jr., was president of Norfolk State University from 1975 to 1997. His grandfather was also a standout athlete in football, baseball, basketball and track at Kentucky State University.

Harrison Wilson III, Russell Wilson’s father, played football for the University of Richmond as a wide receiver and made the 1980 San Diego Chargers roster before quitting football to become a lawyer. He died in 2010. Wilson’s sister, Anna, is touted as one of the most promising high school basketball prospects in the country.

Bullying Prevention Continued from A1

The roundtable brought out experts as well as community leaders who addressed ways to prevent bullying. Students and parents shared their stories.

Tameka Garner-Barry’s 9-year-old son Omar followed the proper protocol and told school officials when he began to experience bullying at Yu Ying Charter School in Northeast Washington.

Nothing was done until her son was forced to defend himself when he was attacked by two students in the classroom.

“This year alone has been one of the most difficult years

“This act is one of the first in the nation to address bullying at a city wide level, acknowledging bullying happens beyond the schools.” for him,” Barry said. “I began to notice that his self-esteem was beginning to dwindle, he started walking with his head down, and it was up to my husband and I to rebuild it back up.”

Barry feels that schools need to play an active role in preventing bullying.

Norton said students are now protected by the Youth Bullying Prevention Act of 2012.

“This is a pretty large effort that has to be made to deal with bullying,” said Isaac Fulwood, current chairman of the U.S. Parole Commission. “You have parents, educators, and the community people affected by bullying, and it is going to take a lot of work to organize us talking more about how we can facilitate this issue.”

Isaac Fulwood at the roundtable event on bullying Photo by Maria Adebola

December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013, The Afro-American

Success Story

A7

BUSINESS

Diane S. Taitt

Interior Architect , ASID, Assoc AIA; Founder and Managing Principal of De Space Designs Name of business: De Space Designs, a “Wholistic” earthcentered interior architecture & design practice.

Brief: Taitt has practiced interior architecture in the U.S. for more than 20 years. She launched De Space Designs in 2005 to focus on “Earth-Centered Design,” a wholistic integrated design concept she created.

She studied architecture in Italy and Denmark, backpacked through North Africa, led commercial interior architecture projects in China, and documented a spiritual journey through Indonesia. She has worked with the YMCA, schools, Creative Associates, and The Refuge of Hope and served as a mentor Diane S. Taitt and adjunct professor.

Years at business: 20-plus years of professional experience; seven years as founder and president of De Space Designs Born: London, England Raised: Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean College, locations, degrees: Pratt Institute, NYC, Bachelors of Architecture; Baruch College, NYC, Masters of Business Administration, Marketing and Management; Parsons, NYC, Certificate of Set Design; First job: When I was eight years old, I appointed myself creative director of our neighborhood kids theatre production group. The production was held on my parent’s front porch to a full house.

Worst job: Every undesirable job I had helped me focus on what I was passionate about and

helped steel my commitment to be an entrepreneur. However, every job requiring me to “toe someone else’s line” was a challenge.

Who is (was) your mentor? My life mentors are God, my Dad, and Nature. I’ve had many other mentors throughout my life, however. When I was 18, three people were influential in forging my path to architecture. Lloyd De Souza mentored me at my first architectural internship in Trinidad; he was pivotal in my decision to attend Pratt. My good friend and local artist Christopher Cozier taught me how to paint and see the natural world. Ann Dardaine, a good friend and artist, guided me through a portfolio compilation for my Pratt interview.

What inspires you? I am inspired by the genius of nature, truly the greatest artist and designer. I am particularly in awe of the sea, with its myriad of color, pattern and visual textures. My Caribbean roots and childhood experiences inspire my aesthetic sense of design, like feeling the grass beneath my bare feet, feeling the sand between my toes, watching the sun rise with my father on Store Bay Beach in Tobago, watching silvery fish dancing in the early morning light, and smelling aromatic fruit and flowers. The intangible transfer of experience and the essence of a sensual Caribbean land and people are central to the creation of a sensory journey in all my designs.

Who (or what) do you credit for your success? Believing in myself and my passion; accepting that it was okay to fail; my unwavering perseverance; possessing an over-arching vision; a keen awareness of the connectivity of humanity, the connectivity of all things with energy and vibrations.

What lies ahead for you? We will continue to build our “wholistic” design practice and brand globally. We’re working on a coffee table book on creating sacred spaces. There may be a product line of soft furnishings and furniture in the future. An international partnership that will also provide mentoring, training and a global exchange study program. We want to take our experience to third world countries, helping grow the movement of earth and human-centered design.

Advice to the aspiring professional? Follow your passion. Believe and trust in yourself.

Surround yourself with like-minded professionals. You cannot build a successful business alone.

Lockheed Martin’s Stephanie Hill Looks to Make a Difference Among Women of Color

By Maria Adebola Special to the AFRO Although Stephanie C. Hill describes herself as an “accidental” engineer, a glance at her background shows it’s no surprise that she has risen to become president of Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions’ Civil Division.

Engineering wasn’t in her family background, but achievement is no stranger in the Hill household. Her mother, Doris Cole, is a retired kindergarten teacher and her father, Harry Cole, was the first African-American elected to the Maryland Senate, as well as the first to sit on the Maryland Court of Appeals, that state’s highest court.

Their daughter discovered she was talented at mathematics while in the Baltimore public school system. Economics was a natural fit as a major at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), she said.

“When I first started college I decided I wanted to be an accountant, and so that’s why I chose the major of economics,” she noted.

The so-called “accident” occurred halfway through her undergraduate days when she happened to choose “as an elective, a programming class and absolutely fell in love with

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it.” She went on to declare computer science along with her economics degree her junior year.

When she worked at the career center at UMBC, she learned about engineering jobs before gaining experience with the government as an engineer.

“It was one of the best decisions I have made, because coming out of college, I was able to start with Lockheed Martin and get an opportunity as a software engineer.” Two decades later, she is at the top of the defense contractor’s ladder.

Hill says her parents played a big role in her career choice.

“The way that I was reared with a focus on excellence, and my father very focused on doing the right thing, making sure you are achieving as much as you can achieve and my mother’s loving hand of care really has given me a balance as I approach the work that I do,” she said.

She describes her current position as “one which no day is like the next or like the one before.” Although she has days that are very intense, Hill says that, “through more than 25 years at Lockheed Martin, I have never been bored.”

As president of the Information Systems & Global Solutions’ Civil division, Hill spends a lot of time with customers both in Washington D.C. and internationally. She also works with employees, conducting roundtables and brainstorming ways the company can prolong its partnership with government and commercial customers.

“We look at what investment we are going to make, what technologies and areas to focus on from an investment perspective, to ensure they are meeting customer’s needs,” she said.

Hill is very involved in the effort to reach out to students, especially minority women, in all settings to educate them about the world of STEM careers. She developed the STEM mentoring program that Lockheed Martin partners with schools in Maryland to bring volunteers from the company into the classroom. These volunteers work with students and teachers to introduce science, technology, engineering, and, math in the classroom.

“I have a real passion for making sure that people, and young women and minorities in particular understand that

science, technology, engineering and math, the STEM field are viable and exciting careers for them,” she said. “So we spend a lot of time in the community.”

According to the National Science Foundation, women, particularly women of color, continue to be significantly underrepresented in almost all science, technology, engineering, and, math academic positions.

Hill says that, of all the women who seek a STEM education, only 26 percent (Courtesy Photo) of those women achieve STEM Stephanie C. Hill, careers. “The number is already president of Lockheed not high enough for those who Martin’s Information know that they want to do the education. We have to get more Systems & Global Solutions. young women to know how much fun a STEM career can be.”

Hill said there were not a lot of women in the work chart early in her career. 25 years later, it’s a different story: Lockheed Martin has a female CEO, and one of its largest business areas has a female executive vice president.

She said she lives by a philosophy of “living a holistic life that makes a positive difference.”

“This means that you have to devote time to your family, your friends, and your community,” she said.

She also wants to make a difference through her career for not just for her family, but hopefully to inspire a young person unaware of the opportunities in STEM fields.

Outside of work, Hill enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. She also enjoys cooking and sings in her church choir.

Collection Schemes Fleece Consumers

By Edward Johnson Debt has transformed our society. It can be a useful financial tool, or an anchor around your neck. It seeps into every aspect of our life and can be complicated. Easy credit, the desire to keep up with the latest in consumer goods, or the habit of living beyond one’s means can certainly be to blame.

However, it is not always a case of overspending. Medical emergencies, the loss of employment, or any unexpected change in income or expenses can cause financial distress.

Inevitably, when bills go unpaid, debt collectors come calling.

When they do, you should know what is considered acceptable collection conduct.

Over the past decade, complaints to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about the debt collection industry have risen by 58 percent. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) debt collectors are one of the single most-complainedabout industries. While the industry has done an admirable job in establishing a code of conduct and encouraging compliance with acceptable practices, those efforts are only as good as the intent of the collector to follow the rules. As is evident by a number of recent FTC court cases, some debt collectors blatantly ignore the laws.

In one case, working out of offices on the east coast, a consortium of rogue collectors threatened consumers that if they did not pay, their bank accounts would be closed, their wages garnished, they would face felony fraud charges, would have to appear in court thousands of miles away from their home, or would be arrested at their workplace. The FTC case showed that many consumers ended up paying the collector for debts they did not owe because they were fearful of the threats and wanted the harassment to stop. As it turns out the collectors often tried to collect on debts that were not even

real. Such substandard marketplace practices are not news to the BBB as the various collectors associated with the scheme had F ratings with the BBB. Recently, scammers have latched on to debt collection as a means to separate consumers from their money. Con artists are now posing as police officers, or members of the Sheriff’s Office to collect on fake debts, tickets and fines.

The primary consumer protection law related to debt is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The act prohibits deceptive, unfair and abusive collection practices. The Act does not allow collectors to use obscene or profane language, threats of violence, harassment, misrepresentation of a consumer’s rights, or disclosure of personal affairs to third parties. Reforms to consumer protection laws are currently being explored by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in an effort to modernize the legal framework surrounding debt collection.

In the meantime, the BBB continues to remind consumers of their rights. Collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.; contact your friends, family or employer; inundate you with calls; threaten your reputation; or threaten you with arrest The BBB also reminds consumers that collectors, when asked, are required to provide written documentation that substantiates the debt.

While consumers should accept responsibility for their debt and use credit wisely, they should never accept harsh or abusive behavior.

Edward Johnson is president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving the metro Washington, D.C. and Eastern Pennsylvania region.

A8

The Afro-American, December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013

COMMUNITY CONNECTION Free Holiday Cab Rides Offered to Thwart Drunk Driving

fare), safe way home.

For more information: Soberride.com.

Oxon Hill, Md.

D.C. Black Professionals Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity to Host Holiday Soiree Annual Holiday Party The National Black MBA Association, the National Sales Network and the National Association of Black Accountants will host the D.C. Black Professionals Holiday Soiree at the Oxon Hill Manor Mansion on Dec. 14.

For more information: Eventbrite.com.

Landover, Md.

Kwanzaa With Queen Nur Combating that time of year classified by U.S. Government officials as one of the deadliest times on America’s roadways due to an increase in drunk driving, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, a local nonprofit, recently announced that free cab rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the D.C. area during the winter holidays.

The annual Holiday SoberRide® program will operate between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am each evening between Dec. 13 and Jan. 1 as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk, holiday period.

During the evening hours, between Dec. 13 and Jan. 1, Washington-metropolitan area residents celebrating with alcohol may call the toll-free SoberRide phone number 1–800–200–TAXI and be afforded a no-cost (up to $ 30

The Alpha Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity will host their annual holiday party on Dec. 7 at the B. Spot lounge in S.W. D.C. For more information: Holidayalphasigmapbs1914eorg.eventbrite.com.

Learn about the symbols and stories of Kwanzaa and the history of the African-American celebration with professional storyteller Queen Nur. This event, which will be held at the Publick Playhouse in Landover, Dec. 17, will feature stories, dance, singing and more.

For more information: Pgparks.com.

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December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013, The Afro-American

A9

OPINION

Opening the Doors to Our College and Universities “In America today, college is available to everyone prepared to move forward in life,” Dr. Claudio Prieto, then Assistant U.S. Education Secretary, once observed. “For minorities like us, there are still barriers to obtaining an education, but with hard work, those barriers are manageable....”

Most of us would agree.

Yet, for Americans of color, acknowledging that educational opportunity is now far greater than in Elijah Cummings our past is not the same as concluding that the very real barriers to a better life can be “managed” easily.

Among the most difficult of our remaining challenges is finding ways to pay for the education that will transform our lives.

As a society, our future prosperity and national security depend upon properly educating all Americans who are willing to learn. Helping those who are determined to improve themselves through higher education must rank among our foremost priorities.

In this Information Age, it should surprise none of us that the average annual earnings for an individual with a college degree are 60 percent higher than are earnings for those whose education ended with high school.

Yet, despite the clear benefits of obtaining a college education, far too many Americans are trapped outside the university gates, looking in.

I am honored to serve on the Board of Regents of Morgan State University where we are doing all that we can to make a Morgan State education affordable. Yet, despite our best efforts, some students must leave school before obtaining their degrees because they no longer can afford the cost.

In my work, both in Washington and here in the Baltimore region, these are tragedies that I am determined to eliminate.

The Congressional Research Service observes that the published annual costs for tuition, fees, room and board at public four-year institutions average roughly $17,000 for in-state students – and often twice that staggering amount at private not-for-profit four-year institutions.

Few of us have the financial resources to pay, out-ofpocket, the staggering “sticker price” of a college education.

As a result, college students typically must rely upon a combination of grants and student loans to balance the books.

Fortunately, federal assistance, approved by the Congress under the Higher Education Act, is available to help college students pay their bills.

Each school year, the U.S. Department of Education provides approximately $150 billion in grants and loans to more than 14 million college students. This help flows to nearly 60 percent of all the students who are studying to complete their undergraduate degrees.

I strongly support this federal investment in the future of our people.

For example, this year, I have authored and introduced H.R. 3446, the FAFSA Fairness Act of 2013, which would simplify and reform the complicated process for students to apply for federal student financial aid when they no longer have contact with their parents.

Moreover, I have long understood that there are many other obstacles to prospective college students receiving the financial aid that they need and deserve.

For too many, especially for those who are the first in their families to attend college, a prominent barrier is often lack of information.

They do not realize all of the help that is available to help them afford their tuition, fees and other college costs. Many do not know how to go about applying and qualifying for this aid.

This is the critically important information many students and parents have received in the free seminars that our congressional office has organized each year since I first entered the Congress.

Please mark your calendars for the 17th Annual “How to Pay for College” seminar on Dec. 9 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral Street in

It’s the current American reality that’s become a nightmare for millions upon millions whose lives, occupations and economic stability once seemed to embody it.

A new survey released Thanksgiving week by the Washington Post and the Miller Center, a nonpartisan, public policy-focused affiliate of the University of Virginia, offers fresh Lee A. Daniels evidence that Americans overwhelmingly still hold fast to the positive beliefs that in the 20th century helped project the buoyant optimism of the American character.

For example, 85 percent of Americans think that being able to attend college is at least a part of the American Dream; and 87 percent feel that way about home ownership. A nearly equal proportion – 86 percent – consider that doing better than their parents is part of the American Dream; and 61 percent claim that the idea of the American Dream is meaningful to them personally, while another 18 percent say it’s not meaningful to them but is to other people.

However, the true importance of the survey, which has been conducted since the 1970s, is that it’s the latest document to plumb the impact of the economic crisis – the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 – that’s pushed many Americans into desperate circumstances.

In significant measure, that calamity has eroded not just to their financial resources but also their hopes about the

present and the future. More than 60 percent say they worry the economy’s unsettled condition will cause them to be laid off, the largest proportion of concern that question has ever produced.

Nearly half, 48 percent, said they feel less financially secure than a few years ago; and 66 percent expect it’ll be harder for people like them “to get ahead” in coming years; while a total of 73 percent say they’re somewhat or very dissatisfied about the country’s economic situation. Only 39 percent believe their children will be able to better the family’s current standard of living; another 24 percent believe their children’s circumstances will roughly match theirs; but 28 percent believe their children will be economically worse off.

Not surprisingly, lower-paid workers worry far more than those higher up the wage scale about losing their jobs or running out of money to pay their rent and other necessities before the end of the month. That truism has a greater importance now than usual because more than half of the jobs created since the Recession ended have been low-wage positions paying on average little more than $30,000 a year.

The economic hardship faced by these workers – the working poor – and the millions of Americans at or below the poverty line has been underscored in recent months by a number of developments.

The American Dream Lives! But...

They include: • The one-day work stoppages by fast-food workers in dozens of cities across the country to dramatize their very low wages.

• The increasing number of states and municipalities that are moving on their own to increase the minimum wage in their jurisdictions (more than 4 million workers are paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour).

• New research showing the astonishing growth of income

Baltimore.

Our free event will include one-stop shopping as representatives from 29 different community and state colleges, public and private universities and scholarship organizations work to inform students and their parents about post-secondary programs and financial aid programs.

Then, during the one-hour program portion of our event, I will be joined by noted experts who will share their knowledge about federal and state financial aid benefits, private scholarships, SAT preparation, the college admissions process and the value of our community colleges.

Participants will hear from experts provided by the U.S. Department of Education, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Central Scholarship, the College Board, Morgan State University and Howard Community College.

As taxpayers, we are helping to fund the $150 billion in federal student aid that our government provides to students each year. We each must assure that every local student who needs this help takes the steps necessary to apply and qualify.

For all of us, young and older alike, higher education is the door to opportunity. We need only to help each other open that door.

Rep. Elijah Cummings represents Maryland’s Seventh Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

inequality in American society,

New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s proposal to increase the taxes on the city’s wealthiest resident in order to fund improvements in the public schools. A new poll shows the idea has drawn widespread support from residents – including conservative and wealthy residents – of both New York City and the state.

The increasing attention being paid to the predicament of food stamp recipients, who face severe cutbacks in their monthly allotments on top of one they already suffered this month.

And, lastly, there was Roman Catholic Pope Francis, in a lengthy official, and startling, document issued two days before Thanksgiving, sharply criticizing the “idolatry of money” and the conservative “trickle-down theories” of economics for having helped usher in a “globalization of indifference” to the plight of the poor.

Those criticisms, embedded in the 200-plus page missive, were clearly a call for efforts to reduce the degree of income inequality in Europe and the United States as part of a broader campaign to make compassion a central part of nation’s and individuals’ approach to solving problems.

These and other developments raise the question: Are we witnessing the development of a “critical mass” of individuals and institutions of diverse philosophical views, that’s ready to redress at least some of the causes of the dangerous increase of poverty and income inequality?

Now, that would be a dream worth working for, in the United States and abroad.

Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His latest book is Last Chance: The Political Threat to Black America.

What Would Republicans Do on Healthcare?

Many ardent conservatives are critical of the Affordable Care Act or what they derisively call “Obamacare.”

But what are they proposing that proves that they care about uninsured Americans?

The Tampa Bay Times’ “Pundit Fact” team discovered some interesting findings when they approached that question indirectly. Specifically, the newspaper looked at the main Republican alternatives to the George E. Curry Affordable Care Act and the patient diagnosis under the GOP proposals was not encouraging.

“Not all but most of the nine bills on our list use the tax code to put more money in citizens’ pockets on the condition that the money will be spent on health care,” the newspaper stated. “We found three basic approaches that potentially address insurance affordability.” It cited overhauling health care tax deductions, refundable tax credits and health Savings Accounts.

On overhauling health care tax deductions, the newspaper said, “The most generous proposal comes from the conservative Republican Study Committee, which put forward a bill with 100 cosponsors that would give a $7,500 deduction to

individuals and a $20,000 deduction to families.

“We saw two big catches here. You would need to have insurance in the first place. Plus, the bill would eliminate the biggest tax break households enjoy today, the portion of their premiums paid by their employer. Getting rid of that $170 billion tax benefit would be a tough sell and a dramatic change to employer-provided insurance.”

As for the refundable tax credits, it was noted that they “are like tax deductions, with the big difference that you can claim the credit even if you don’t have taxable income. H.R. 2300 from Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) offers a maximum tax credit of $5,000 for families making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $47,000 a year.”

The paper said, “While the details are different, this resembles the program put forward by President George W. Bush. A 2005 study of the Bush plan by the Tax Policy Center, a joint project by the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, found that ‘lower-income individuals experience the largest declines in uninsurance rates’ under the Bush proposal.

“However, of the 45 million people uninsured then, Bush’s $3,000 tax credit plan would have helped only about 2 million people who made less than 200 percent of federal poverty and just a bit over 3 million overall.”

The third option – Health Savings Accounts – fared no better. The Tampa paper said, “Thomas Buchmueller, a health economist at the University of Michigan, said it is a major undertaking to provide insurance to those who lack the money to pay for it. “‘Tinkering with tax deductions and making health savings

accounts more attractive is not going to change that basic fact,’ Buchmueller said. ‘Roughly half of the Affordable Care Act coverage gains come from expanding Medicaid. I don’t see anything in these proposals that would do much for the people who will gain Medicaid under the ACA.’” Like so many issues, Democrats and Republicans differ in fundamental approaches.

“One of the widest gaps between Democrats and Republicans is the basic understanding of what it means to offer a plan to people of limited means,” the Florida newspaper observed. After a terrible 2-month rollout, the Obama administration finally may be in a position to silence some of its legitimate critics. A report issued Dec.1 by the Health and Human Services Administration disclosed that the primary website, HealthCare.gov, has been successfully overhauled and is now able to support more than 800,000 consumer visits a day.

“The new management system and instrumentation have helped improve site stability, lower the error rating below 1 percent, increase capacity to allow 50,000 concurrent users to simultaneously use the site and will help drive continuous improvement on the site,” the report stated. “While we strive to innovate and improve our outreach and systems for reaching consumers, we believe we have met the goal of having a system that will work smoothly for the vast majority of users.”

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.)

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Sister Norma Smith (Honoree) and Brother Lacey Smith Jr. Ambria Hudson, Sister Ann Neal (Honoree) and Pastor A. C. Durant

Mother Dorothy Jones and Brother Jeffrey Brown

The Honorable Vincent B. Orange, Councilmember, At Large

The Tenth Street Baptist Church celebrated its130th Church and Sunday School Anniversary and Annual Homecoming Celebration, Oct. 1–6, 2013. The theme was “UNITY” (Allowing God through Christ to make us “Diversified, but one body.”) At the banquet on Oct. 5th at Martin’s Crosswinds, Greenbelt, Md., eight members with 70 or more years of continuous membership with the Tenth Street Baptist Church were honored: Sister Ora Burns, Sister Sarah Hubbard, Mother Dorothy Johnson, Sister Ann Neal, Xavier Kelly, Sister Minnie Prescott, Sister Norma Mother Charity Thomas Smith, Mother Charity Thomas, and (Honoree), Sister Curlie Williams. Each recipient Deacon Clifford was presented with a beautiful Thomas and crystal clock, imprinted with Pastor A. C. Durant their name, church name and anniversary theme.

Additionally, honorees were presented with a congratulatory letter from D.C. Councilman Vincent B. Orange.

Destiny Ross, Mother Dorothy Johnson (Honoree) and Pastor A. C. Durant

Sister Curlie Williams (Honoree) and Minister Limmie Tyler

Sister Minnie Prescott (Honoree) and Minister Phillip Frazier

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray Derek Ford, Chief Kenneth Ellerbe, D.C. Fire and EMS and Kevin Murray

Phillip David, Senior Grand Warden, John T. Doles Sr., Most Worshipful Grand Master; honoree Barbara E. Murray, Grand Worthy Matron and Thomas Coleman, Grand Worthy Patron

Joe Coleman,former lead vocalist, The Platters and Dr. Vanessa Weaver Coleman

Akosua Tyus presents a token of appreciation (framed photo) to Julian Bond

Julian Bond, D.C. Councilwoman Muriel Bowser and Wade Henderson

Jane’e Kelly, Madison Joyner and Sister Ora Burns (Honoree) Courtesy photos

Jacqueline Manning, D.C. ANC Commissioner, Verenice Santos, Comcast and Lecester Johnson, Academy of Hope

Ernestine and Kofi Tyus, AFRO cartoonist, parents of chapter president, Akosua Tyus

Honoree Barbara Murray, Grand Worthy Matron (center) with members and friends Recipient of the D.C. NAACP Centennial Legacy Award, The Honorable Lorraine Miller; Akosua Tyus, chapter president; Barbara Murray, Certificate of Silver Life Membership; Rev. Dr. Morris Shearin, NAACP Centennial Legacy Awardee and Mossi Tull, NAACP Centennial Next Generation Awardee

The D.C. branch of the NAACP led by its current president, Akosua Tyus, celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Centennial Freedom Fund Dinner, Nov. 7, at the at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Northwest Washington, D.C. Civil rights icon Julian Bond, who is the NAACP chairman emeritus was the event’s keynote speaker.

The event recognized legendary and rising civil rights leaders in D.C., as well as the Honorable Lorraine C. Miller and Rev. Dr. Morris

L. Shearin Sr. with the Centennial Legacy Award and Mossi Tull with the Centennial Next Generation Award. Miller was recently named as the NAACP’s interim president and CEO, replacing Ben Jealous. Rev. Dr. Charlene Manning gave the formal welcome and introduced the MC, Harold Fisher, WHUR Radio Personality. The D.C. branch was founded on June 3, 1913, and now has more than 1,800 members.

Master of Ceremonies, Harold Fisher - WHUR Radio Personality

WHUR Radio personality, Harold Fisher, Karen James Sloan, Darryl Anderson, Rhonda Anderson, DeGloria Hallman and Edgar Brookins

Jessica Orey, Gigi Dixion, Honoree Lorraine Miller, Clayola Brown and Jan Temple

Mrs. Julian Bond, Michael Curry, President, Boston NAACP, Radio personality, Joe Madison, Julian Bond, Keynote Speaker, Dr. Frank Smith, African American Civil War Museum and Lincoln Lawrence

Honoree Mossi Tull (4th from the right) with friends and associates Photos by Rob Roberts

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The Afro-American, December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013

SENIOR LIVING

Alzheimer’s Awareness Critical in African-American Community

By Alexis Taylor AFRO Staff Writer Peggy S. Jackson was the first to notice that something was awry with her mother, Myrtle L. A. Roselle.

The 77-year-old retired educator had always been independent, but lately, it seemed things were a little off.

“I noticed some bills were being paid double, some weren’t being paid at all,” Jackson told the AFRO. “One day I went to go see her and she was sitting on the front porch.

The house was full of smoke. She had tried to boil an egg and burned it.”

Then came the memory loss. It didn’t take long before doctors told Jackson what she was witnessing: her mother’s brain had slowly begun to shut down. She was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

A once-vibrant part of the Sharon Baptist Church, Roselle’s entire demeanor began to change and there was little she- or anyone else- could do about it.

“She began to have a suspicious nature and thought people were stealing from her. She was very active in the church, but had begun to accuse people in the church of theft,” said Jackson, who admits she knew nothing of tending to the daily needs of an adult before she was thrust into the position of full-time caregiver.

For 17 years she took on the responsibilityand the stressors that come along with it, until her mother passed away in March of last year.

She was 94 years old.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 5.4 million people suffer Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Many of that number begin showing the signs after age 60.

Alzheimer’s Disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, which, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is a term

used for a variety of illnesses characterized by a loss of brain function regarding memory, language, or both. As brain function begins to dissipate, the organs controlled by the brain begin to fail.

“The brain is the command center for all of our function,” said Kimberly Lawson, healthcare administrator for the African American Alzheimer’s and Wellness Association. “With Alzheimer’s Disease, there could be short term memory loss with long term memory still in tact. There could be an inability complete mathematical solutions and repetitive questions- a person might come back asking the same questions maybe ten minutes or fifteen minutes after an answer.”

Lawson said other symptoms include a change in how one dresses.

“The ability to groom themselves declines as the disease begins to run its course,” she said, adding that family members should take notice if elder’s are layering their clothing unnecessarily or bathing irregularly.

Lawson also highlighted the importance of awareness in the African American community where hypertension and diabetes are rampant.

“Both of those diseases increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease,” she said.

According to Cass Naugle, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, dealing with an AD patient usually falls solely on family members- especially when Medicare and private insurance companies refuse to cover needed expenses.

“Many people just assume that Medicare will cover it, but Medicare only covers skilled care or acute care. The importance of getting information early on is so that the family can plan for the person’s care.”

The Alzheimer’s Association offers onetime $500 grants to offset the financial burdens caused by the disease.

According to information released by the Alzheimer’s Association, new mandates within

cleaning the house.”

“They don’t think to ask for support for something that should come naturally to the family, but at some point it gets to be more than one person or a family can handle.”

Naugle believes the holidays are the best time to check up on family members at risk of developing AD. “If a family member hasn’t been home for a while, they Stock Photo may see changes in their loved Up to 5.4 million people suffer Alzheimer’s disease in the one,” she said. “Pay attention United States. to those changes if they look like they’ve lost weight, if they are not bathing, or if they the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) make it easier for persons with are dressing incorrectly, make a call to the early-onset AD to get coverage. The PPACA number and we can create a plan for helping also makes care more accessible in the homes that family member.” of patients- rather than only through nursing If you know someone who is experiencing homes. The Maryland Health Connection is symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, the insurance marketplace for Marylanders. please call 1-800-272-3900. Operators are on Like Lawson, Naugle said education is the duty 24 hours a day. first step in combatting AD. Family members and concerned caregivers are encouraged For information and healthcare to seek help from organizations focused on enrollment call the fighting and researching the disease.

Consumer Support Center at “The African American community 1-855-642-8572 or visit cares for its elders,” she said. “Often family Maryland Health Connection.gov. members start to take over for the person Services for deaf or hearing unconsciously. They’ll start getting the impaired at 1-855-642-8573. groceries, balancing the checkbook, and

AARP Introduces Free Health Care Costs Calculator for Retirement Planning AARP has launched a free online “Health Care Costs Calculator,” a major addition to their Ready for Retirement suite of planning tools. In a survey accompanying the release of the calculator, AARP found that just 36 percent of older Americans have taken any steps to save for out-of-pocket health care expenses, though multiple studies show that such costs often reach significantly more than $200,000 for a retired couple.

“The free Health Care Costs Calculator can play an important and often overlooked role as families and individuals plan for retirement,” said AARP Vice President for Financial Security Jean Setzfand. “Health care costs can have a significant impact on

retirement savings. With this calculator, AARP aims to help more Americans confidently plan for and achieve retirement

goals.”

The calculator estimates health costs in retirement by utilizing a database that

aarp.org

includes $136 billion in costs from actual health care claims.

Individuals can select from 82 medical conditions to estimate how much they may need to spend on out-of-pocket health care costs. The calculator also assumes that individuals will be eligible for and select Medicare Parts A, B and D. After estimating costs with the calculator, users can create a customizable action plan to help save for health care in retirement and make impactful changes in their lives that include planning, saving and making healthy changes. For example, if a person has “get to a healthier weight” as a goal, the tool will offer possible next steps for pursuing that goal.

The Health Care Costs Calculator requires no registration and collects no personal data on any user. The tool is available at http://www. aarp.org/healthcostscalc.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization, with a membership of more than 37 million people over the age of 50.

December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013, The Afro-American

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ARTS & CULTURE

Growing Fans in A Unique And Versatile Way A One-on-One Interview with Omar Benson Miller

By Andrea “Aunni” Young Special to the AFRO Opening this week, the highly anticipated heartstopping thriller Homefront, is a new movie featuring renowned actor Omar Benson Miller. Miller, best known for his stellar performances in movie such as 8 Mile and Miracle at St. Anna, is also recently known for captivating audiences in the weekly hit drama CSI Miami. Homefront, also an action flick, features Miller in this new dark and cozy hometown-style story that is filled with unexpected twists,

deception, and manipulative lifestyles that breed off of the illegal drug known as meth (methamphetamine).

Miller’s character, Tito, is a friendly man trying to keep the peace in a small town.

The screenplay for Homefront was written by veteran screen icon Sylvester Stallone and directed by Gary Felder. In a one-on-one interview, Miller shared with AFRO insights on his film.

AFRO: Let’s talk about your upcoming movie ‘Homefront,’ what is your character doing?

Omar Miller: That’s

work with Sylvester Stallone?

Miller: Sly was really, really cool. We had a rehearsal session with the director where we ran our scenes, and improv stuff and came up with new stuff. He was very open to creativity and whatever you were gonna bring. I really, really appreciated that from him.

Omar Benson Miller Photo by Christopher Medina/imdb

a really good analysis of it. That’s exactly what my character is trying to

A Long Walk with Naomie An Interview with Naomie Harris

By Kam Williams As a critically acclaimed actress in film, television, and theatre, Naomie Harris is making more of a name for herself with each of her successive, luminous performances. Last year, she starred as Bond girl ‘Eve’ opposite Daniel Craig in the 007 feature Skyfall.

She also appeared in Danny Boyle’s production of Frankenstein at The National Theater in London alongside Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch. In the The First Grader, she played ‘Jane,’ a first-grade teacher in Kenya who fought for the right of an 84 year-old man to be educated.

The London-born actress enjoyed her first major breakthrough performance in 2002 in Danny Boyle’s Naomie Harris 28 Days Later, and she went on to receive further critical acclaim for her role as Tia Dalma in Pirates of rottentomatoes.com the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Here, she talks about her latest outing as ‘Winnie Mandela’ opposite Idris Elba in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

do. I play Tito in the film Homefront. The character is Jason Statham’s only friend. And he’s a guy; he’s an outsider that’s moved into a very exclusive, small town. Not exclusive in it’s class or anything like that.

Just exclusive in the sense that they don’t take kindly to outsiders. So I’ve actually embraced him and we are doing work together on his house that he is trying to restore. And I’m just trying to keep the peace, and unfortunately I’m not successful at that, so we have an action film.

AFRO: What was it like to

AFRO: Do you feel you are being typecast in Hollywood?

Miller: No, I think to be typecast you have to be complicit in that. If you look at my body of work, it’s pretty diverse. I’ve been the good guy, I’ve been the bad guy.

I don’t feel like I’m being typecast and I’ve definitely made it a conscious effort to avoid that.

AFRO: You have also been a director?

Miller: I directed a film, a very small independent film about family that I made with my family. It was a lot of fun! I learned a lot about filmmaking, just the process.

It helped me to appreciate the great directors that I’ve worked with. Just helped me appreciate the process of film

making in general, even more.

AFRO: You were Private First Class Sam Train in ‘Miracle at St. Anna?’ Why was that your favorite film?

Miller: Because of what I was able to do. I was able to do something so, as an actor that was very challenging.

He wasn’t really slow, he was really sharp and in tune, just in a common sense sort of way. So I really loved the film, I loved how it came together. I just wish more people would’ve seen it.

AFRO: As an actor, you have a unique appearance, you are very tall. You’ve played a lot of supporting roles. Are you interested in the premiere role in a cast versus a supporting role?

Miller: For me, I’m always interested in trying to figure out how … I can bring my own physicality in real life to this character, to this role. So, I always want to do that and Homefront is a great example, because they get to use my size.

AFRO: Thank you so much for the interview Omar!

Miller: Thank you Aunni!

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Kam Williams: Hi Naomie, I’m honored to have another opportunity to speak with you.

Naomie Harris: Oh, no, my pleasure, Kam. KW: What did you know about Winnie Mandela when you accepted the role?

NH: I actually had no idea who Winnie Mandela was. Obviously, I knew she was Nelson Mandela’s wife, but I thought the role was basically going to revolve around her supporting him.

I had no idea that she was a political activist in her own right, and that she was integral to the anti-Apartheid movement.

KW: What is your vision of her?

NH: I found her to be the most complex character I’ve ever played. She’s almost seven different characters in one.

She’s done some controversial things that are very difficult to justify. She’s also a woman of immense compassion. And she’s a person of the people.

In South Africa, she’s known as Mother Africa, and is loved and admired by many for having helped hundreds of thousands of people. So, she’s complex, and very hard to define in a brief space of time.

Idris Elba and Naomie Harris in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom KW: Did you spend any

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time with Winnie’s daughters Zenani and Zindzi Mandela in preparation for the film?

NH: Yes, I had an opportunity to go out to dinner with both Zenani and Zindzi.

KW: Did you actually shoot on location in the prisons in Jo’burg, Robben Island and Pretoria?

NH: No. However, we did shoot in South Africa, in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and in the actual courthouse where the trial took place. So, there are some historical moments which were filmed on location in the same places where they originally happened.

KW: What do you want audiences to remember most about the movie?

NH: In terms of Winnie, it’s not my place to judge her and some of the actions that she’s taken. What I wanted to do was show with as much compassion as possible a comprehensive and detailed portrayal of how she started out in life, why she made the choices she made, and who she ultimately became. I hope to bring some understanding to the woman.

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KW: Did you have any reservations about playing Winnie? Many actresses might have declined the role given her tarnished image.

NH: No, it’s not like I always want to play saints. The sinners are actually much more interesting to play, because they’re more complex. And as an actor, that’s what you’re always looking for, complexity and layers.

KW: Was it a blessing or a bane to be cast as a Bond girl?

NH: Definitely a blessing. Definitely! I’m very proud of my role as Eve, and really enjoyed the experience. And it’s been a great boost for my career. So, 100 percent a blessing.

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The Afro-American, December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013

My Take

High Unemployment Benefits Capitalists Today’s politicians and many economists seldom, if ever, discuss the concept of full employment. It appears that capitalist economies promoted by these politicians and economists are incompatible with full employment. However, full employment is necessary for improving standards of living in capitalist economies.

Full employment is where everyone or nearly everyone wanting to work at the going rate is able to get a job. In the absence of full employment, a permanent state of unemployment prevails and the economy is not maximizing its output.

There are three different types of unemployment: voluntary (by choice), frictional (in between jobs) and involuntary Byron A. Ellis (unable to find work).

Involuntary unemployed are individuals that are not working but actively searching for work, they are distinguished from nonparticipants in the labor force, because nonparticipants, although jobless, are not searching for work.

Involuntary unemployment occurs when the level of physical investment (construction in housing, plants and equipment) is low.

Therefore, involuntary unemployment is about the availability of money in the economy, which creates effective demand, enhancing investors’ returns expectations. It is the expectations of returns that cause physical investments.

Both Karl Marx, architect of socialist system that was embodied in the former Soviet Union, and Milton Friedman, an economist who believed a corporation’s prime responsibility is to increase profits for stockholders, said that when economies are moving towards full employment, capitalists would have to pay higher wages, which reduces profits and causes

Out of the Furnace

businesses to fail or lay off workers (involuntary unemployment).

The concept of full employment has been repeatedly redefined to accommodate, in the words of Marx, “the reserve army” of unemployed workers, so capitalists can easily replace the employed. For example, Friedman introduced the term “Natural Rate of Unemployment,” arbitrarily defined as moving percentage of “naturally” involuntary unemployed labor.

However, involuntary unemployment occurs when the money supply falls; and, its incidence depends on the age, sex, color, and skills of individuals. Nonetheless, many politicians and mainstream economists argue that unemployment occurs because the involuntary unemployed are untrained or do not want to work for low wages.

Their narrative ignore the facts, employment, as well as wages, is about physical investment: future capital stock (physical assets) is equal to current capital stock plus net domestic investment. Therefore, when the Federal Reserve (Fed) removes money from the economy, it constrains credit and hence consumption and domestic investment.

In essence, government policies (monetary and fiscal) determine the level of unemployment.

Furthermore, when government officials ignore the concept of full employment they facilitate “the reserve army” of unemployed.

Thus, it is difficult to understand why voters continue to reelect politicians (Democrats and Republicans) that are not interested in attaining a full employment economy.

Byron A. Ellis, PhD., is Executive Director of The Jethro Project. He researches and publishes articles in the fields of engineering, economics and management.

My Take is a social commentary feature that allows AFRO readers to share their insight into a range of topics. Please submit your 250-450 word entries, with My Take typed into the subject field, to editor@afro.com. Include your name, age, occupation and daytime phone number. The AFRO reserves the right to edit or reject any entry.

A Search for a Missing Sibling in Gruesome Revenge Thriller Film Review by Kam Williams Russell Baze’s (Christian Bale) is stuck in a dead-end job at a rural Pennsylvania steel mill rumored to be closing soon. He’s not in a position to abandon the Rust Belt in search of greener pastures, between having to care for his terminally-ill, widowed father (Bingo O’Malley) and a kid brother (Casey Affleck) suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Military veteran Rodney Jr. hasn’t been able to make the adjustment back to civilian life following several tours of duty over in Iraq. In fact, he hasn’t been the same since their mother died.

Because of a burgeoning gambling debt, Rodney has agreed to participate in fixed street fights being staged by the bookie (Willem Dafoe) he owes a lot of money. Trouble is he becomes so blinded with rage after being punched, that he can’t be relied upon to throw a contest as promised.

Russell is so desperate to save his troubled sibling that he’s even willing to pay off Rodney’s I.O.U. in increments on his modest salary. But even that plan goes up in smoke the day Russell is arrested for manslaughter after driving under the

Forest Whitaker and Christian Bale influence.

By the time he’s paroled, Rodney’s disappeared, and is rumored to have been abducted out of state by a ruthless gang of drug dealers led by a sadistic Ramapo Indian (Woody Harrelson) with a short fuse. The local police chief (Forest Whitaker) is sympathetic, but has no jurisdiction in Jersey,

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which leaves Russell no choice but to take the law into his own hands with the help of hard-nosed Uncle Red (Sam Shepard).

Written and directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), Out of the Furnace is a gritty revenge thriller unfolding against the telling backdrop of a decaying American landscape. Thus, almost overshadowing the desperate search at the center of the story is the sobering specter of an aging national infrastructure irreversibly past its prime.

While the gratuitous violence goes over the top occasionally, the film nevertheless remains highly recommended, at least for folks with a cast iron stomach. For, the veteran cast of this character-driven splatter fest proves to be as adept at delivering dialogue as dispensing street justice.

A gruesome showdown between warring clans reminiscent of an old-fashioned, backwoods feud between the Hatfield and the McCoy families.

Very Good (3 stars) Rated R for profanity, drug use and graphic violence Running time: 116 minutes Distributor: Relativity Media

December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013, The Afro-American

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The Afro-American, December 7, 2013 - December 13, 2013

AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff

SPORTS

Should Washington NFL Bench RGIII?

By Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley AFRO Sports Desk At 3-8 and virtually out of the playoff hunt, the Washington NFL team is playing for next season. The defense has been horrid and the offense has been all but invisible the last few weeks. But despite poor special teams play, bad play calling and a laughable pass defense, the quarterback play of Robert Griffin III is always the first and last thing to blame if you’re critiquing the Washington team.

Whatever RGIII does, it’s at the forefront of Washington’s issues. After a Monday night disaster against the San Francisco 49ers, a few opposing players said they believe Griffin should be benched until he fully heals from an ACL tear he suffered late last season. Benching Griffin could solve a few things for the quarterback personally but it could also open a Pandora’s box that no one associated with the team is willing to risk. Is it worth it at this point to bench RGIII? Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley of the AFRO Sports Desk debate the question.

Riley: 11 games into the season, benching RGIII at this point does service to basically nobody. Without a true offseason, Griffin has been horribly bad at times this season.

His throws have been off the mark and his decision-making has been questionable. But nevertheless, Griffin still gives Washington it’s best chance of winning. Winning may not mean much now, with the postseason out of reach, but some extra work wouldn’t hurt the sophomore signal caller.

Washington took a risk when they started RGIII on opening day. To bench him now, 12 weeks later, makes no sense.

Green: It makes sense if you don’t want Griffin to improve and you’re trying to see what you have in Kirk Cousins.

Griffin has looked lost out there at times this season, and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s play calling hasn’t helped him. The style of offense Shanahan really wants to run may be more suited for Cousins than RGIII. Instead, Shanahan has to run these college plays to try to take advantage of Griffin’s mobility. The college-style option runs and quick screens worked so well for RGIII last season before the injury.

season is a miracle in its own right. But since the team decided to let him play, they need to stick with him.

Like Cousins, Griffin is only a second-year quarterback.

They both need the extra playing time to improve their game. If Griffin is going to be the quarterback of this team then he needs to be the quarterback who’s receiving the playing time.

Green: Injury aside, RGIII has been flat-out horrible at times. You say he needs to get the work but any quarterback playing this bad might need to get that extra work at practice.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) On game day, a coach Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III warms up before an NFL football has to put his team in the game against the San Francisco 49ers in Landover, Md., Nov. 25. best position to win and right now Griffin is not But NFL defenders have caught on to the trend this season and the best option.

The reason why he’s struggled so much this have shut Griffin down. Plus, he isn’t running as often because year is because he’s been forced to be a pocket passer. The he isn’t as elusive as he was pre-injury. I don’t want to say he’s NFL wasn’t made for mobile quarterbacks to run around all still hurt because I don’t believe that. I just think he’s not as day and toss the ball at the very last second before taking a confident, and you can’t be a starting quarterback in the NFL crushing blow.

We’ve been forced to watch Griffin morph without confidence. his game into precision passer and the experiment has been a Riley: Washington just won the NFC East last season; it’s disaster.

It’s passing quarterbacks, not running ones, who win not like they’re devoid of talent. The pieces are there for the in the NFL. We already know what Griffin is and we know Washington, but the team needs to identify two to four other what Cousins brings.

Washington needs to take a hard look players along the offensive line, front seven and secondary at it’s quarterback situation because one style is going to last that can come in and play up to NFL standards. It’s hard to a lot longer than the other. The fact that the mobile Griffin fault Griffin for his performance considering he didn’t have pretty much got his knee blown out in his first year tells me an offseason or training camp to get in sync. Washington has everything I need to know about which player has a better thrust him out there despite his ACL so they must stick with chance of longevity. Cousins could be the best fit for this him. Personally, I feel as though Griffin should have sat out franchise going forward and he needs a chance to take over the this season altogether; he only tore his ACL in January. The reins from RGIII. fact that he rehabbed the injury and made it back to start the

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Superior Court of Superior Court of the District of the District of District of Columbia District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 20001-2131 Administration No. Administration No. 2013ADM316 2013ADM1117 Eugene Hollimon Evelyn F. King Decedent AKA Ara D. Parker Evelyn D. Foote-King 5627 Allenton Road Decedent Suite 100 Thomas L. Campbell, Camp Spring Esq MD 20746 3807 Minnesota Ave, Attorney NE NOTICE OF Washington, DC 20019 APPOINTMENT, NOTICE OF NOTICE TO APPOINTMENT, CREDITORS NOTICE TO AD NETWORK AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS UNKNOWN HEIRS AND NOTICE TO Pool/Center, Large Lots, Martha L. Brown, whose UNKNOWN HEIRS Bay & Ocean Access, address is 1539 41st Va s h o n e D . F o o t Great Fishing & Kayak- Street, SE, Washington Wimbush, whose adDC 20020, was apdress is 3603 Apple ing, Spec Home pointed personal repre- Cross Place, Clinton, MD www.oldemillpointe. sentative of the estate of 20735, was appointed com 757-824-0808 Eugene Hollimon, who personal representative died on December 23, of the estate of Evelyn F. 2012 with a will, and will King AKA Evelyn D. serve without Court su- Foote-King, who died on LOTS & pervision. All unknown January 31, 1998, withACREAGE heirs and heirs whose out a will, and will serve whereabouts are un- with Court supervision.

LAND/ CABIN PACK- known shall enter their All unknown heirs and appearance in this h e i r s w h o s e AGE! 13+ ACRES proceeding. Objections whereabouts are un$57,900. Breathtaking to such appointment (or known shall enter their 50 mile rolling mountain to the probate of de- a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s cedent´s will) shall be proceeding. Objections views. Near river & filed with the Register of to such appointment town. Add cabin packWills, D.C., 515 5th shall be filed with the age for $40,000 & place Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Register of Wills, D.C., it on your parcel, your Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C .

515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd 20001, on or before May Floor Washington, D.C. way! Perc ok, ready 29, 2014. Claims against 20001, on or before June to use the decedent shall be 6, 2014. Claims against or build. Low down presented to the under- the decedent shall be financing. Call now 800- signed with a copy to the presented to the underRegister of Wills or filed signed with a copy to the 888-1262 with the Register of Wills Register of Wills or filed with a copy to the under- with the Register of Wills signed, on or before May with a copy to the underGRAND OPENING 29, 2014, or be forever signed, on or before June LAND SALE! Beautiful barred. Persons believed 6, 2014, or be forever to be heirs or legatees of barred. Persons believed wooded lot near golf the decedent who do not to be heirs or legatees of course. Only $59,900. receive a copy of this no- the decedent who do not Adjacent lot sold for tice by mail within 25 receive a copy of this no$339,900! Close to ski days of its first publica- tice by mail within 25 tion shall so inform the days of its first publicaresort and spectacular Register of Wills, includ- tion shall so inform the mountain lake. ALL ing name, address and Register of Wills, includNEW INVENTORYrelationship. ing name, address and Must see! Execllent Date of Publication: relationship.

November 29th, 2013 Date of Publication: Financing. Call now Name of newspaper: December 6, 2013 877-888-7581, x177.

Afro-American Name of newspaper: Washington Afro-American Law Reporter Washington Law MISCELLANEOUS Martha L. Brown Reporter Personal Vashone D. FooteAIRLINE CAREERS Representative Wimbush begin here – Get FAA TRUE TEST COPY Personal approved Aviation REGISTER OF WILLS Representative TYPESET: Dec 03 15:14:47 EST 2013 Maintenance training.

11/29, 12/06Tue & 12/13/13 TRUE TEST COPY Housing and Financial REGISTER OF WILLS Aid for qualified stuSuperior Court of dents. Job placement asthe District of 12/06, 12/13Tue & 12/20/13 TYPESET: Dec 03 District of Columbia sistance. CALL Aviation PROBATE DIVISION Institute of Maintenance Washington, D.C. 800-481-8974 Superior Court of 20001-2131 the District of Administration No. District of Columbia 2013ADM1159 PROBATE DIVISION TYPESET: Tue Nov 26 13:17:10 EST 2013 LEGAL NOTICES Annie Mae Epps Washington, D.C. Decedent 20001-2131 Rosalind Ray, Esq Administration No. Superior Court of 6856 Eastern Ave, NW, 2013ADM1194 the District of #208 Carlene Ferguson District of Columbia Washington, DC 20012 Decedent PROBATE DIVISION Attorney Kimberly Fahrenholz, Washington, D.C. NOTICE OF Esq 20001-2131 APPOINTMENT, 1304 Rhode Island Administration No. NOTICE TO Ave, NW 2013ADM1102 CREDITORS Washington, DC 20005 Clifton C. Moody, Jr AND NOTICE TO Attorney Decedent UNKNOWN HEIRS NOTICE OF NOTICE OF John William Epps and APPOINTMENT, APPOINTMENT, James H. Epps, whose NOTICE TO NOTICE TO address is 1320 KingCREDITORS CREDITORS sbury Dr., Mitchellville, AND NOTICE TO AND NOTICE TO MD 20721 & Othman UNKNOWN HEIRS UNKNOWN HEIRS Drive, Ft. Washington, Cecil Ferguson, whose Clifton Carl Moody III, MD 20774, was apwhose address is 2790 pointed personal repre- address is 2021 High Burruss Mill Rd, Bum- sentative of the estate of Timber Rd, Ft. Washingpass VA 23024, was ap- Annie Mae Epps, who ton, MD 20744, was appointed personal repre- died on April 29, 2013, pointed personal representative of the estate of without a will, and will sentative of the estate of Clifton C. Moody, Jr, who serve without Court su- Carlene Ferguson, who died on September 15, pervision. All unknown died on September 28, 2013, with a will, and will heirs and heirs whose 2011, without a will, and serve without Court su- whereabouts are un- will serve without Court pervision. All unknown known shall enter their supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose heirs and heirs whose a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s whereabouts are un- proceeding. Objections whereabouts are unknown shall enter their to such appointment known shall enter their a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s shall be filed with the a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s proceeding. Objections Register of Wills, D.C., proceeding. Objections to such appointment 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd to such appointment shall be filed with the Floor Washington, D.C. shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 20001, on or before June Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd 6, 2014. Claims against 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. the decedent shall be Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before May presented to the under- 20001, on or before June 29, 2014. Claims against signed with a copy to the 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be Register of Wills or filed the decedent shall be presented to the under- with the Register of Wills presented to the undersigned with a copy to the with a copy to the under- signed with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed signed, on or before June Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills 6, 2014, or be forever with the Register of Wills with a copy to the under- barred. Persons believed with a copy to the undersigned, on or before May to be heirs or legatees of signed, on or before June 29, 2014, or be forever the decedent who do not 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed receive a copy of this no- barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of tice by mail within 25 to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not days of its first publica- the decedent who do not receive a copy of this no- tion shall so inform the receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 Register of Wills, includ- tice by mail within 25 days of its first publica- ing name, address and days of its first publication shall so inform the tion shall so inform the relationship.

Register of Wills, includRegister of Wills, includ- Date of Publication: ing name, address and ing name, address and December 6, 2013 relationship. relationship.

Name of newspaper: Date of Publication: Date of Publication: Afro-American December 6, 2013 November 29, 2013 Washington Law Name of newspaper: Name of newspaper: Reporter Afro-American John William Epps Afro-American Washington Law James H. Epps Washington Law Reporter Personal Reporter Cecil Ferguson Clifton C. Moody, Jr Representative Personal Personal Representative Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS REGISTER OF WILLS 12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13 11/29, 12/06 & 12/13/13

12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1178 Michael DeFonzo Decedent Dennis A. Baird, Esq 1323 Fenwick Lane Silver Spring, MD 20910 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Michael Anthony DiFonzo, whose address is 4014 8th Street, North Beach, MD 20714, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Michael Defonzo, who died on February 27, 2008, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Michael Anthony DiFonzo Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TYPESET: Tue Dec 03

12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

Superior Court of the District of DistrictEST of Columbia 15:15:14 2013 PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM372 Annie Lee King Decedent Robert M. McCarthy 4405 East West Hwy. Suite 201 Bethesda, MD 20814 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Linda Crockett, whose address is 3707 Aynor Drive, Mitchellville, MD 20721, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Annie Lee King, who died on January 31, 2013, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Linda Crockett Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

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TYPESET: Wed Nov 27 TYPESET: Tue2013 Dec 03 15:14:27 2013 TYPESET: Tue Dec 03 15:15:31 EST 2013 LEGAL NOTICES 13:10:25 EST LEGALEST NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

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NAME: ________________________________________________ ADDRESS: _____________________________________________ PHONE NO.:____________________________________________ CLASSIFICATION: ______________________________________ (Room, Apt., House, etc.)

INSERTION DATE:_________________ TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:43:36 EST 2013

WASHINGTON AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER

Legal Rates Superior Court Advertising of the District of Effective October 1, 2008 Columbia Civil Division Case No.13-0007523 PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: India La’Dray Spriggs (Estates) Applicant ORDER OF202-332-0080 PUBLICATION NOTICES CHANGE PROBATE OF NAME India La’Dray Spriggs TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:43:53 EST 2013 having filed an applicaa. Order Nisi $180.00 per 3 weeks t i o n f o r j u d g m e$n t60 per insertion changing the name from b. Small Estates (single publication $ 60 per Superior insertionCourt of India La’Dray Spriggs to the District of c. Notice to CreditorsIndia La’Dray SpriggsDistrict of Columbia Means and having $ap1. Domestic 60 perPROBATE insertion $180.00 per 3 weeks DIVISION plied to the court for an Washington, D.C. 2. Foreign $180.00 per 3 weeks Order of Publication$ 60 of per insertion 20001-2131 the notice required$ by d. Escheated Estates 60 perAdministration insertion No. $360.00 per 6 weeks law in such cases; it is by 2013ADM812 e. Standard Probates $125.00 the Court this 5th day of Mary A. Thomas November 2013, hereby AKA ORDERED, that a copy Mary Adelaide Thomas CIVIL NOTICES of this order be published once a week for three (3) Decedent a. Name Changes 202-879-1133 $ 80.00 15:15:47 EST 2013 Consecutive weeks, in James J. Fitzgibbons, Afro American, a news- Esq. b. Real Property $TYPESET: 200.00 Tue Nov 19 12:44:16 paper of general circula- 13321 New Hampshire, tion of the District of Ave. #110 Spring, MD Columbia; andFAMILY it is fur- Silver COURT 20904 Superior Court of ther NOTICE OF the District of ORDERED, that the pub202-879-1212 APPOINTMENT, District of Columbia lication must begin no NOTICE TO DOMESTIC PROBATE DIVISION later than two weeks RELATIONS CREDITORS Washington, D.C. days after filing of the ap202-879-0157 AND NOTICE TO 20001-2131 plication;and it is further UNKNOWN HEIRS Administration No. ORDERED, that the FIMarilyn Simpson, whose 2013ADM1146 NAL HEARING on this a. Absent Defendant 150.00 Monica Hahn application to change address is 3803 Dunhill $Patricia Court, Bowie, MD 20721, Decedent name of an adult will be b. Absolute Divorce $ 150.00 was appointed personal NOTICE OF held in Judge-Inc. Custody Divorce APPOINTMENT, Chambers, Room 4220 representative of the $150.00 e s t a t e o f M a r y A .

NOTICE TO in the District of ColumCREDITORS bia at 500 Indiana Ave- Thomas AKA Mary Adelaide Thomas, who died AND NOTICE TO nue N.W., WashingTo place your ad, call 1-800-237-6892,onext.

262, Public Notices $50.00 & up August 28, 2006, with UNKNOWN HEIRS ton,DC 20001 On The a will,Notices and will serve depending on are with$24.84Christina per inch.

Andrea Hahn & 20thsize, day Baltimore of December,Legal Michael Gregory Hahn, 2013 at 2:45 p.m. If any out Court supervision. All 1-800 (AFRO) 892 unknown heirs and heirs whose addresses are person desires to oppose are 5325 Westbard Ave., application, that please the whose For Proof this of Publication, call whereabouts 1-800-237-6892, ext. 244 710, Bethesda, MD person or his or her at- unknown shall enter their 20816 & 152 Goodell Rd, torney must be present at a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s Folsom, CA 95630 were the present hearing or file proceeding. Objections appointed personal rewritten detailed objec- to such appointment shall be filed with the presentatives of the tions five(5) business Register of Wills, D.C., estate of Patricia Monica days in advance of the Hahn, who died on Octohearing with Judge-in- 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd ber 2, 2013 without a will, Chambers and mail a Floor Washington, D.C. and will serve without copy to the applicant or 20001, on or before May 22, 2014. Claims against TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:43:36 EST 2013 andNOTICES Court supervision. All unapplicant’s counsel; LEGAL the decedent shall be known heirs and heirs it if further presented to the underwhose whereabouts are ORDERED,that notice signed with a copy to the unknown shall enter their be sent to the applicant’s Superior Court of appearance in this creditors personally or by Register of Wills or filed the District of proceeding. Objections registered or certified with the Register of Wills Columbia to such appointment mail and show proof of with a copy to the underCivil Division signed, on or before May shall be filed with the service by filing the Case No.13-0007523 22, 2014, or be forever Register of Wills, D.C., affidavit/declaration of IN RE: barred.

Persons believed 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd service India La’Dray Spriggs to be heirs or legatees of Floor Washington, D.C. SO ORDERED Applicant the decedent who do not 20001, on or before May JUDGE ORDER OF receive a copy of this no22, 2014. Claims against PUBLICATION tice by mail within 25 the decedent shall be A TRUE COPY TEST: CHANGE OF NAME days of its first publicapresented to the underIndia La’Dray Spriggs TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:43:53 EST 2013 signed with a copy to the 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 tion shall so inform the having filed an applicaRegister of Wills or filed Register of Wills, includtion for judgment with the Register of Wills ing name, address and changing the name from Superior Court of with a copy to the underrelationship.

India La’Dray Spriggs to the District of signed, on or before May Date of Publication: India La’Dray SpriggsDistrict of Columbia 22, 2014, or be forever November 22, 2013 Means and having apPROBATE DIVISION barred. Persons believed Name of newspaper: plied to the court for an Washington, D.C. to be heirs or legatees of Afro-American Order of Publication of 20001-2131 the decedent who do not Washington Law the notice required by Administration No. receive a copy of this noReporter law in such cases; it is by 2013ADM812 tice by mail within 25 Marilyn Simpson the Court this 5th day of Mary A. Thomas days of its first publicaPersonal November 2013, hereby AKA tion shall so inform the Representative ORDERED, that a copy Mary Adelaide Thomas Register of Wills, includof this order be published Decedent ing name, address and TRUE TEST COPY once a week for three (3) James J. Fitzgibbons, relationship.

REGISTER OF WILLS Consecutive weeks, in Esq. Date of Publication: EST 2013 Afro American, a news- 13321 New Hampshire, TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:44:16 November 22, 2013 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 paper of general circula- Ave. #110 Name of newspaper: tion of the District of Silver Spring, MD Afro-American Columbia; and it is fur- 20904 Superior Court of Washington Law ther the District of NOTICE OF Reporter ORDERED, that the pubDistrict of Columbia APPOINTMENT, Christina Andrea Hahn lication must begin no PROBATE DIVISION NOTICE TO Michael Gregory Hahn later than two weeks Washington, D.C. CREDITORS Personal days after filing of the ap20001-2131 AND NOTICE TO Representatives plication;and it is further Administration No. UNKNOWN HEIRS ORDERED, that the FI- Marilyn Simpson, whose 2013ADM1146 TRUE TEST COPY NAL HEARING on this address is 3803 Dunhill Patricia Monica Hahn REGISTER OF WILLS application to change Court, Bowie, MD 20721, Decedent name of an adult will be was appointed personal NOTICE OF 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 held in Judge-InAPPOINTMENT, representative of the Chambers, Room 4220 e s t a t e o f M a r y A .

NOTICE TO in the District of Colum- Thomas AKA Mary AdCREDITORS bia at 500 Indiana Ave- elaide Thomas, who died AND NOTICE TO nue N.W., WashingUNKNOWN HEIRS on August 28, 2006, with ton,DC 20001 On The a will, and will serve with- Christina Andrea Hahn & 20th day of December, out Court supervision. All Michael Gregory Hahn, 2013 at 2:45 p.m. If any unknown heirs and heirs whose addresses are person desires to oppose whose whereabouts are 5325 Westbard Ave., this application, that the unknown shall enter their 7 1 0 , B e t h e s d a , M D person or his or her at- a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s 20816 & 152 Goodell Rd, torney must be present at proceeding. Objections Folsom, CA 95630 were the present hearing or file to such appointment appointed personal rewritten detailed objec- shall be filed with the presentatives of the tions five(5) business Register of Wills, D.C., estate of Patricia Monica days in advance of the 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Hahn, who died on Octohearing with Judge-in- Floor Washington, D.C. ber 2, 2013 without a will, Chambers and mail a 20001, on or before May and will serve without copy to the applicant or 22, 2014. Claims against Court supervision. All unapplicant’s counsel; and the decedent shall be known heirs and heirs it if further presented to the under- whose whereabouts are ORDERED,that notice signed with a copy to the unknown shall enter their be sent to the applicant’s Register of Wills or filed a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s creditors personally or by with the Register of Wills proceeding. Objections registered or certified with a copy to the under- to such appointment mail and show proof of signed, on or before May shall be filed with the

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December 7, 2013 - Decemer 13, 2013, The Afro-American

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TYPESET: Tue Nov 19

11/29, 12/06 & 12/13/13

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM924 Ometa D. Fields AKA Ometa D. FieldsBrown Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Marion E. Winston, whose address is 6915 Hastings Drive, Capital Heights, MD, 20743 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Ometa D. Fields AKA Ometa D. Fields - Brown, who died on April 28, 2013, with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd

shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd 12:44:31 EST 2013D.C. Floor Washington, 20001, on or before May 22, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before May 22, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: November 22, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Sheila A. Evans Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13

TYPESET: Tue Nov 19

LEGAL NOTICES

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1147 Leo R. Williams, Jr. Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Anthony B. Williams, whose address is 516 Cathedral Street, #3F, Baltimore, MD 21201, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Leo R. Williams, Jr., who died on September 9, 2013 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before May 12:44:47 2013 22, 2014.EST Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before May 22, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: November 22, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Anthony B. Williams Personal Representative

TYPESET: Tue Nov 26 13:14:41 EST 2013 TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:47:19 TYPESET: ESTWed 2013 Dec 04 10:54:13 EST 2013

LEGAL NOTICES

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division Case No.13FSP728 IN RE: Woineshet Gebassa Applicant ORDER OF PUBLICATION CHANGE OF NAME Wo i n e s h e t G e b a s s a having filed an application for judgment changing the name from Naomi Abiyot Abebe to Naomi Leelena Fekadu and having applied to the court for an Order of Publication of the notice required byEST law2013 in such TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:46:47 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 cases; it is by the Court this 1st day of November 2013, hereby SUPERIOR COURT OF ORDERED, that all perTHE DISTRICT OF sons concerned show COLUMBIA cause, if any there be, on PROBATE DIVISION W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . or before the 9th day of December 2013 why the 20001-2131 prayer of said complaint Foreign No. should not be granted; 2013FEP122 provided that a copy of Date of Death this order be published March 6, 2012 once a week for three (3) Edna F. Frye Consecutive weeks, in Decedent Afro American NOTICE OF SO ORDERED APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE A TRUE COPY TEST: AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS TYPESET: Tue Nov 26 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 Jerilyn s. Frye whose address is 901 Cypress Point Circle, Mitchellville, Superior Court of MD 20721 was apthe District of pointed personal repreDistrict of Columbia sentative of the estate of PROBATE DIVISION Edna F. Frye, deceased, Washington, D.C. by the Orphans Court for 20001-2131 Prince George’s County, Administration No. State of Maryland, on 2013ADM1112 September 20, 2013.

Mack Linsey Davis Service of process may Decedent be made upon Robert V. Lawrence A. Thrower, Frye, 2512 28th Street, Esq. NE, Washington, DC 3215 Fayette Road 20018 whose designa- Kensington, MD 20895 tion as District of Colum- Attorney bia agent has been filed NOTICE OF with the Register of Wills, APPOINTMENT, D.C. NOTICE TO The decedent owned the CREDITORS following District of AND NOTICE TO Colombia real property: UNKNOWN HEIRS 430 Ridge Road, SE, Marlo Davis, whose ad#202 Washington, DC dress is 1390 Bryant St., Claims against the de- NE, #202, Washington, TRUE TEST COPY cedent may be preDC 20018, was apREGISTER OF WILLS sented to the under- pointed personal repreTYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:46:13 EST signed and filed2013 with the sentative of the estate of 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 Register of Wills for the Mack Linsey Davis, who District of Columbia, 500 died on September 5, Superior Court of Indiana Avenue, N.W., 2013, without a will, and the District of Washington, D.C. 20001 will serve without Court District of Columbia within 6 months from the supervision. All unknown PROBATE DIVISION date of first publication of heirs and heirs whose Washington, D.C. this notice. whereabouts are un20001-2131 known shall enter their Administration No. Jerilyn S. Frye a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s 2013ADM1139 Personal proceeding. Objections Samuel Dixon Representative(s) to such appointment Decedent TRUE TEST COPY shall be filed with the NOTICE OF REGISTER OF WILLS Register of Wills, D.C., APPOINTMENT, Date of first publication: 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd NOTICE TO November 22, 2013 Floor Washington, D.C. CREDITORS Name of newspapers 20001, on or before May AND NOTICE TO and/or periodical: 29, 2014. Claims against UNKNOWN HEIRS The Daily Washington the decedent shall be Freddie D. Lindsay, Law Reporter presented to the underwhose address is 813 The Afro-American signed with a copy to the Madison Street, NW, TYPESET: Tue Nov 26 13:15:23 EST 2013 Register of Wills or filed Washington, DC, was 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 with the Register of Wills appointed personal rewith a copy to the underpresentative of the estate signed, on or before May Superior Court of of Samuel Dixon, who 29, 2014, or be forever the District of died on May 12, 2001, barred. Persons believed District of Columbia without a will, and will to be heirs or legatees of PROBATE DIVISION serve without Court suthe decedent who do not Washington, D.C. pervision. All unknown receive a copy of this no20001-2131 heirs and heirs whose tice by mail within 25 Administration No. whereabouts are undays of its first publica2013ADM708 known shall enter their tion shall so inform the Tonya White appearance in this Register of Wills, includproceeding. Objections AKA ing name, address and to such appointment Tonya Roberson relationship.

Decedent shall be filed with the Date of Publication: Register of Wills, D.C., Wesley L. Clarke November 29, 2013 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd 1629 K. Street, NW Name of newspaper: Floor Washington, D.C. Suite 300 Afro-American 20001, on or before May Washington, DC 20006 Washington Law 22, 2014. Claims against Attorney Reporter NOTICE OF 12:45:38 EST 2013 the decedent shall be Marlo Davis APPOINTMENT, presented to the underPersonal NOTICE TO signed with a copy to the Representative CREDITORS Register of Wills or filed AND NOTICE TO with the Register of Wills TRUE TEST COPY UNKNOWN HEIRS with a copy to the underAndrew White, whose REGISTER OF WILLS signed, on or before May 22, 2014, or be forever address is 1410 34th TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 11/29, 12/06 & 12/13/13 barred. Persons believed Street, SE, Washington, to be heirs or legatees of DC 20020, was apSuperior Court of the decedent who do not pointed personal reprethe District of receive a copy of this no- sentative of the estate of Tonya White AKA Tonya District of Columbia tice by mail within 25 Roberson, who died on PROBATE DIVISION days of its first publicaWashington, D.C. tion shall so inform the February 28, 2013, with20001-2131 Register of Wills, includ- out a will, and will serve Administration No. ing name, address and without Court supervision.

All unknown heirs 2013ADM1140 relationship. a n d h e i r s w h o s e Iradelle C. Byars Date of Publication: whereabouts are unDecedent November 22, 2013 known shall enter their NOTICE OF Name of newspaper: appearance in this APPOINTMENT, Afro-American proceeding. Objections NOTICE TO Washington Law to such appointment CREDITORS Reporter AND NOTICE TO shall be filed with the Freddie D. Lindsay UNKNOWN HEIRS Personal Register of Wills, D.C., Representative 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Robert C. Byars, whose Floor Washington, D.C. address is 530 Roxboro 20001, on or before May Place, NW, Washington, TRUE TEST COPY 29, 2014. Claims against DC, 20011, was apREGISTER OF WILLS the decedent shall be pointed personal repreTYPESET: Tue Nov 19 12:47:03 EST 2013 presented to the under- sentative of the estate of 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 signed with a copy to the Iradelle C. Byars, who Register of Wills or filed died on December 3, SUPERIOR COURT OF with the Register of Wills 2010, without a will, and THE DISTRICT OF with a copy to the under- will serve without Court COLUMBIA signed, on or before May supervision. All unknown PROBATE DIVISION 29, 2014, or be forever heirs and heirs whose W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . barred. Persons believed whereabouts are un20001-2131 to be heirs or legatees of known shall enter their Foreign No. the decedent who do not a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s 2013FEP131 receive a copy of this no- proceeding. Objections Date of Death tice by mail within 25 to such appointment December 20, 2010 days of its first publica- shall be filed with the Ola Cleonia Lewis tion shall so inform the Register of Wills, D.C., AKA Register of Wills, includ- 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Ola Cleonia Motley ing name, address and Floor Washington, D.C. Lewis 20001, on or before May relationship.

22, 2014. Claims against Decedent Date of Publication: the decedent shall be NOTICE OF November 29, 2013 presented to the underAPPOINTMENT OF Name of newspaper: signed with a copy to the FOREIGN PERSONAL Afro-American Register of Wills or filed REPRESENTATIVE Washington Law with the Register of Wills AND NOTICE Reporter with a copy to the underTO CREDITORS Andrew White signed, on or before May Cephas Lewis whose adPersonal 22, 2014, or be forever dress is 708 Stratford Representative barred. Persons believed Manor Terrace, Silver to be heirs or legatees of Spring, MD 20905 was TRUE TEST COPY the decedent who do not appointed personal re- REGISTER OF WILLS receive a copy of this nopresentative of the estate tice by mail within 25 of Ola Cleonia Lewis 11/29, 12/06 & 12/13/13 days of its first publicaAKA Ola Cleonia Motley tion shall so inform the Lewis, deceased, by the Register of Wills, includCircuit Court for ing name, address and Montgomery County, relationship.

State of Maryland, on Date of Publication: April 2, 2012.

November 22, 2013 Service of process may Name of newspaper: be made upon Paul HolAfro-American land, 939 Westminster Washington Law Street, NW, Washington, Reporter DC 20001 whose desRobert C. Byars ignation as District of Personal Columbia agent has Representative been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. TRUE TEST COPY Claims against the deREGISTER OF WILLS cedent may be presented to the under11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 signed and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1013 Rose M. Dyke Decedent Joseph L. Gibson, Jr 1401 Mercantile Lane, Suite 381 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Annette Mitchell, whose address is 7683 Cambridge Street, Houston, TX 77054, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Rose M. Dyke, who died on August 12, 2013, with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, 13:15:41 EST 2013 D.C. 20001, on or before May 29, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before May 29, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: November 29, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Annette Mitchell Personal Representative

Washington, D.C. Joint Steamfitting Journeyman & Apprentice Training Committee

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

The Washington, DC Joint Steamfitting Apprentice Committee (Steamfitters Local 602) will accept applications for the 2014 first year class as follows: Applications must be made in person. There will be a $50.00 non-refundable application processing fee at the time of application which is payable in cash or money order only made payable to HPRTF. Applicants must apply in person at the UA Mechanical Trade School (8509 Ardwick Ardmore Road, Landover, MD 20785) on the following dates from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Monday, January 6, 2014 Wednesday, January 8, 2014 Friday, January 10, 2014 OR Applicants must apply in person at the UAM Steamfitters Local Union 602 (7552 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA 22150) on the following dates from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Monday, January 13, 2014 Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Friday, January 17, 2014 TYPESET: Tue Dec 03 15:19:03 Requirements for Steamfitter Program: Minimum Age 18 by August 15, 2014 High School Diploma Or GED (we do not accept online diplomas) Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia

Presentation of the Following Documents must be made at PROBATE DIVISION Time of Application: Washington, D.C. 1.Valid driver´s license or state issued ID card with picture 20001-2131 2.Social Security Card Administration No. 2013ADM1166 3.Birth Certificate or valid United States passport Robert W. McNair 4.DD214 (if Veteran) Decedent 5.High School Diploma with an Official Transcript of Grades Bernard C. Coleman (Sealed and Certified by School).

6444 Bock Road OR Oxon Hill, MD 20745 High school seniors must present a letter on school letterhead NOTICE OF from a high school official verifying graduation before June 30, APPOINTMENT, 2014 with an Official Transcript of Grades (SealedNOTICE and Certified TO CREDITORS

by School).

TYPESET: Tue Dec 03 15:18:39 EST 2013 AND NOTICE TO OR UNKNOWN HEIRS GED Certificate with GED Test Results Aungela McNair Upon completion of yourSuperior application, be eligible toFeazell, take Courtyou of willwhose address is 331 a math and/or aptitude testthe theDistrict same day at 12:00 p.m. of starting Ellerton South, Laurel, District of Columbia Any and all foreign documents must be accompanied by aapMaryland 20724 was PROBATE DIVISION translation of that document and a letter from your embassy pointed personal repreD.C. is sentative stating its authenticity. Washington, If the document a diploma of theand/or estate of 20001-2131 Robert W. McNair, of who transcript, the letter must also document the equivalency Administration No. died on June 7, 2013, said diploma and/or transcript.

2013ADM1172 Mary E. Jones

Superior Court of

the District of TYPESET: Tue Nov 26 13:16:46 EST 2013 Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1154 Johnnie Mae Burton Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Leona Raiford, whose address is 2108 South Lowell Street, Arlington, VA 22204, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Johnnie Mae Burton, who died on September 30, 2013, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before May 29, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy 12:45:58 EST 2013to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before May 29, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: November 29, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Leona Raiford Personal Representative

District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1182 Michael J. Jackson AKA Michael Jerome Jackson Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Paula L. Adams, whose address is 748 Wineberry Way, Aberdeen, MD 21001, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Michael J. Jackson AKA Michael Jerome Jackson, who died on July 4, 2013 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Paula L. Adams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

11/29, 12/06 & 12/13/13

11/29, 12/06 & 12/13/13

with a will, and will serve

Court superviPlease visit our website for more details at without www.steamfittersDecedent All unknown heirs 602.orgThe Apprentice selectssion. students KimCommittee Y. Jones a n d h e i r s ofw any hose 1 0 1 2 P eor n n ethnic s y l v a norigin i a whereabouts race, color, sex, age, national to all the rights, are unAvenue, SE privileges, programs and activities generallyknown accorded made shall or enter their DC The Apprenticeship available to students Washington, at the school. a p p e a r a n c e Comin this Attorney proceeding.

Objections mittees are actively recruiting applicants minorities TYPESET: Tue2013 Dec 03 including 15:31:03 2013 NOTICE OF to suchEST appointment TYPESET: Tue Dec 03 15:16:04 EST and females.

APPOINTMENT,

TYPESET: Dec 03 12/06, 12/13 Tue & 12/20/13 Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1172 Mary E. Jones Decedent Kim Y. Jones 1012 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Ernest C. Jones, whose address is 98 Ervin Overlook, Sterling, VA 22556, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Mary E. Jones, who died on August 31, 2011, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

shall be filed with the NOTICE TO Register of Wills, D.C., CREDITORS 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd WMATA/DC DOT Certified DBE Firms AND NOTICE TO Floor Washington, D.C. Subcontractor Bids UNKNOWN HEIRS 20001, onGarage or before June Bus ErnestAndrews C. Jones,Federal whoseCenter 6, 2014. Claims against address is 98 Ervin Over- the decedent shall be Solicitation Info: Earthwork, Site look, Sterling, VA Material 22556, Testing, presented to the ConunderUtilities, Landscaping, Fencing, Site Paving, was appointed personal signed with copy to the crete, Masonry, Steel, &a Caulking, representative of theWaterproofing Register of Wills or Millwork, Division - Doors and Windows, Divisionfiled 9 estate of Mary E. 8Jones, with the Bridge Register of Wills - Finishes, Division 10 - Specialties, Cranes, who died on August 31, with a copyFire to the underJib Crane, Portable Cranes, Elevators, Protec2011, without a will, and signed, on or before June tion , Fuel Systems will serve without Court 6, 2014, or be forever supervision. All unknown barred. Persons believed Hensel Phelps heirs 4437 and Brookfield heirs whose Corporate Suite 207 to beDr., heirs or legatees of whereabouts are unChantilly, VAthe 20151 decedent who do not known Contact: shall enter their Jarett Lowman for information receive a copy of this noa p p e a r a n jlowman@henselphelps.com c e i n t h i s tice by mail within 25 proceeding. Objections Phone: 703.828.3200 days of its first publicato such appointment Fax:703.802.1580 tion shall so inform the shall be filed with the Register of Wills, includRegister of Wills, Hensel Phelps is anD.C., Equal Employment ing name, address and Opportunity Employer 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd relationship.

Floor Washington, D.C. Date of Publication: 20001, on or before June December 6, 2013 6, 2014. Claims against Name of newspaper: the decedent shall be Afro-American presented to the under- Washington Law signed with a copy to the Reporter Register of Wills or filed Aungela McNair Feazell with the Register of Wills Personal with a copy to the underRepresentative signed, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever TRUE TEST COPY barred. Persons believed REGISTER OF WILLS to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not 12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13 receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Ernest C. Jones Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

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The Afro-American, December 7, 2013 - Decemer 13, 2013

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land, 939 Westminster Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. Claims against the decedent EST may 2013 be pre12:45:02 LEGAL sented to NOTICES the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Cephas Lewis Personal Representative(s) TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS Date of first publication: November 22, 2013 Name of newspapers and/or periodical: The Daily Washington Law Reporter The Afro-American

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presentative of the estate of Ometa D. Fields AKA Ometa D. Fields - Brown, who died on April 28, 2013, with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unTYPESET: Tue Nov 26 13:17:49 EST 2013 shall enter their LEGAL NOTICES known LEGAL NOTICES appearance in this proceeding. Objections Superior Court of to such appointment the District of shall be filed with the District of Columbia Register of Wills, D.C., PROBATE DIVISION 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Washington, D.C. Floor Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 20001, on or before May Administration No. 22, 2014. Claims against 2013ADM1161 the decedent shall be Doris Marie Hemsley presented to the underDecedent signed with a copy to the NOTICE OF Register of Wills or filed APPOINTMENT, with the Register of Wills NOTICE TO with a copy to the underCREDITORS signed, on or before May AND NOTICE TO 22, 2014, or be forever UNKNOWN HEIRS Lynette Karen Marie Jef- barred. Persons believed fers, whose address is to be heirs or legatees of 3025 W Street, SE, the decedent who do not Washington, DC 20020 receive a copy of this nowas appointed personal tice by mail within 25 representative of the days of its first publicaestate of Doris Marie tion shall so inform the Hemsley, who died on Register of Wills, includOctober 21, 2013, with- ing name, address and out a will, and will serve relationship. without Court supervi- Date of Publication: sion. All unknown heirs November 22, 2013 a n d h e i r s w h o s e Name of newspaper: whereabouts are un- Afro-American known shall enter their Washington Law Reporter appearance in this Marion E. Winston proceeding. Objections Personal to such appointment Representative shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd TRUE TEST COPY Floor Washington, D.C. REGISTER OF WILLS 20001, on or before May TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 29, 2014. Claims against 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 the decedent shall be Superior Court of presented to the underthe District of signed with a copy to the District of Columbia Register of Wills or filed PROBATE DIVISION with the Register of Wills Washington, D.C. with a copy to the under20001-2131 signed, on or before May Administration No. 29, 2014, or be forever 2013ADM1136 barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of William G. Hairston the decedent who do not Decedent NOTICE OF receive a copy of this noAPPOINTMENT, tice by mail within 25 NOTICE TO days of its first publicaCREDITORS tion shall so inform the AND NOTICE TO Register of Wills, includUNKNOWN HEIRS ing name, address and Juanita C. Hairston, relationship. whose address is 6532 Date of Publication: Eastern Avenue, NE, November 29, 2013 Washington, DC 20012, Name of newspaper: was appointed personal Afro-American representative of the Washington Law estate of Warren G. HairReporter Lynette Karen s t o n , w h o d i e d o n Marie Jeffers September 27, 2013 Personal without a will, and will Representative serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose TRUE TEST COPY whereabouts are unREGISTER OF WILLS known shall TYPESET: Tue Nov 26 13:15:01 ESTenter 2013 their appearance in this 11/29, 12/06 & 12/13/13 proceeding. Objections to such appointment Superior Court of shall be filed with the the District of Register of Wills, D.C., District of Columbia 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd PROBATE DIVISION Floor Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before May 20001-2131 22, 2014. Claims against Administration No. the decedent shall be 2013ADM1158 presented to the underRuth Lewis Deal signed with a copy to the Decedent Register of Wills or filed Lynn H. Johnson, Esq. with the Register of Wills Johnson & Pavuk with a copy to the under1413 K. Street, NW, signed, on or before May Ste 1500 22, 2014, or be forever Washington, DC 20005 barred. Persons believed Attorney to be heirs or legatees of NOTICE OF the decedent who do not APPOINTMENT, receive a copy of this noNOTICE TO tice by mail within 25 CREDITORS days of its first publicaAND NOTICE TO tion shall so inform the UNKNOWN HEIRS Register of Wills, includMont Seward and Mi- ing name, address and chele Patterson, whose relationship. addresses are 8140 Date of Publication: Havenview Drive & 5990 November 22, 2013 El Palomino Drive, River- Name of newspaper: side, CA 92509, were ap- Afro-American pointed personal repre- Washington Law sentatives of the estate Reporter of Ruth Lewis Deal, who Juanita C. Hairston died on August 4, 2013, Personal without a will, and will Representative serve without Court supervision. All unknown TRUE TEST COPY heirs and heirs whose REGISTER OF WILLS whereabouts are un- TYPESET: Tue Nov 19 known shall enter their 11/22, 11/29 & 12/06/13 appearance in this proceeding. Objections Superior Court of to such appointment the District of shall be filed with the District of Columbia Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd PROBATE DIVISION Floor Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before May 20001-2131 29, 2014. Claims against Administration No. the decedent shall be 2013ADM1126 presented to the under- Colleen V. Ford. signed with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed Decedent NOTICE OF with the Register of Wills APPOINTMENT, with a copy to the underNOTICE TO signed, on or before May CREDITORS 29, 2014, or be forever AND NOTICE TO barred. Persons believed UNKNOWN HEIRS to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not Sheila A. Evans, whose receive a copy of this no- address is 7013 Barton tice by mail within 25 Road, Landover Hills, days of its first publica- MD 20784, was aption shall so inform the pointed personal repreRegister of Wills, includ- sentative of the estate of ing name, address and Colleen V. Ford, who relationship. died on August 31, 2013 Date of Publication: without a will, and will November 29, 2013 serve without Court suName of newspaper: pervision. All unknown Afro-American heirs and heirs whose Washington Law whereabouts are unReporter Mont Seward known shall enter their Michele Patterson a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s Personal proceeding. Objections Representative to such appointment

TYPESET: Tue Dec 03 15:19:03 EST 2013 12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13 Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1166 Robert W. McNair Decedent Bernard C. Coleman 6444 Bock Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO 15:18:39 EST 2013 CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Aungela McNair Feazell, whose address is 331 Ellerton South, Laurel, Maryland 20724 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Robert W. McNair, who died on June 7, 2013, with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law

Classifieds Continued on B9

December 7, 2013 - Decemer 13, 2013, The Afro-American

B9

LEGAL NOTICES

TYPESET: Tue Dec 03 15:19:39 TYPESET: EST 2013 Tue Dec 03 15:19:54TYPESET: EST 2013Tue Dec 03 15:20:29 TYPESET: EST 2013Tue Dec 03 15:20:12 EST 2013Tue Dec 03 15:19:22 TYPESET: Tue Dec 03 15:14:09 EST 2013 TYPESET: EST 2013 Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1083 Ella Louise Cooper Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Te r r i L y n n C o o p e r, whose address is 5819 Lawton Court, Lanham, MD 20706, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Ella Louise Cooper, who died on October 11, 2013, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Terri Lynn Cooper Personal Representative

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1106 Ramona Osborne Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Joanne Osborne, whose address is 4018 Meade Street, NW, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Ramona Osborne, who died on September 4, 2013, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Ramona Osborne Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1176 Lillian F. James Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Robert N. James, whose address is 7916 Legation Rd., New Carrollton, MD 20784, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Lillian F. James, who died on March 31, 2001 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Robert N. James Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1175 Helena M. Reels Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Evelyn D. Grimes, whose address is 721 Nova Avenue, Capitol Heights, MD, 20743, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Helena M. Reels, who died on November 4, 1997, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Evelyn D. Grimes Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 12/06, 12/13 & 12/20/13

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY INVITATION TO BID INVITATION NO. 120180 16th Street and Alaska Ave., NW and Anacostia Water Pumping Stations Improvements and Modifications The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is soliciting bids for Invitation No. 120180: 16th Street and Alaska Ave., NW and Anacostia Water Pumping Stations Improvements and Modifications.

The following listing enumerates the major items of work included in the contract: *16th Street and Alaska Ave Water Pumping Station. oDemolition and replacement of HVAC equipment and ductwork oNew 100 KW backup diesel generator and recessed support pad and enclosure walls oExternal and internal piping modifications to 16-in and 12-in ductile iron water pipe oDemolition and replacement of electrical, instrumentation and security equipment and components*Anacostia Water Pumping Station oModifications to 13.8 KV primary breaker oModifications to 4, 160-V switchgear and secondary breaker oModifications to generator set breaker and controls The project requires completion within 365 consecutive calendar days.

This project is estimated to cost between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.

DC Water will receive Bids until 2:00 p.m., local standard time on January 8, 2014.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be conducted on December 18, 2013.

This project may be funded in part by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Fair Share Objective for Minority and Women´s Business Enterprises participation in this work of 32% and 6%, respectively, has been established. The program requirements are fully defined in USEPA´s Participation by Disadvantaged Enterprises in Procurement under EPA Financial Assistant Agreements - May 27, 2008.

The Davis-Bacon wage determinations shall apply.

DC Water Owner Controlled Insurance Program will provide insurance.

Bid documents are available at the Department of Procurement, 5000 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20032. Sets of Bidding Documents can be procured for a non-refundable $50.00 purchase price each, payable to DC Water. Payment must be in the form of a money order, certified check or a company check.

Documents can be shipped to Bidders providing a Federal Express account number.

The DC Water Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant is a secured facility. Persons intending to pick-up Bidding Documents are to contact the Department of Procurement at 202 787 2020 for access authorization.

For procurement information contact Mr. Carlo Enciso; email carlo.enciso@dcwater.com, (voice 202 787 2029).

For technical information contact: DETS-Construction.Bid.Inquiry@dcwater.com View DC Water website at www.dcwater.com for current and up coming solicitations.

To advertise in the AFRO Call 202-332-0080

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Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013ADM1177 Olethia O. Reels Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS DeVoanna R, Reels, whose address is 2502 Ramblewood Drive, District Heights, MD, 20747, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Olethia O. Reels, who died on May 16, 2008, without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 6, 2014. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 6, 2014, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Devoanna R. Reels Personal Representative

Bring your stamped letter to Macy’s addressed to Santa At The North Pole, and drop it into our special Santa letterbox. We will count them up, and for each letter received, we’ll donate $1 to Make-A-Wish® up to $1,000,000... and we’ll deliver them to the Post Office.

Share your holiday spirit with us! #MacysBelieve

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11/22/13 7:49 PM

RECLAIM THE

PROMISE PUBLIC EDUCATION OF

Public education is under attack and underfunded throughout our country. Now, communities are coming together for our schools and our children to champion great public schools as the heart of our neighborhoods.

On Dec. 9, parents, students, teachers, school staff and more than 100 community groups are reclaiming the promise of public education with a National Day of Action in more than 60 cities.

Together, we can make sure our schools are places where all kids can thrive and the voices of those closest to the classroom are heard.

Join us as we reclaim public education as a steady anchor of our democracy, a vital engine of our economy, and an undeniable gateway to opportunity for every child.

ON DECEMBER 9TH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Parents, students, teachers, school staff and communities are standing together to reclaim the promise of public education. You are invited to a town hall meeting at 6:00 p.m. at Eastern Senior High School (1700 E. Capitol St. N.E.) to discuss challenges like testing and truancy, and to engage with mayoral candidates on public education.

PAID FOR BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, RANDI WEINGARTEN, PRESIDENT