Challenger Community News March 11, 2020

B U F F A L O U R B A N L E A G U E S E A R C H F O R A N E W P R E S I D E N T / C E O U N D E R W AY PAGE 3

March 11, 2020 | FREE | COMMUNITY NEWS

“I AM NOT INVISIBLE!”

Explosive Full Stage Production In Support Of Project Mona’s House, Honors The Strength Of Women Who Have Survived/Overcome Human Trafficking. Page 9

ROCHESTER

Minor Football League Heads North to Rochester!

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BUFFALO 400

Faith Leaders Convene Here to Demand Economic Justice for New Yorkers Of Color Page 7

BUSINESS

The Hair Hive: Buffalo Sisters Open First Black Female-Owned Beauty Supply Store Page 4

Inaugural Harriett Tubman Parade is Huge Success! Page 15

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BUFFALO, N.Y. PERMIT NO. 164

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INSIDE ROCHESTER

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

Minor Football League Heads North to Rochester, New York!

MFL Chargers Franchise to be Led by New General Manager Patrick Freeman

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he newly formed Rochester Chargers franchise of the expanded Minor Football League (MFL), will be led by General Manager Pat Freeman.

Over the last 25 years, Buffalo native Freeman has covered the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the last 20 Super Bowls. He is an experienced professional writer covering sports on national, collegiate and local levels. For his work covering the league, Freeman is a member of The Pro Football Writers Association of America. His sports media accolades reached a career height from 1994 until 2008 when he hosted the acclaimed talk show “The Message,” in which he interviewed some of the most famous authors and celebrities of the last century. Some of the top guests included Dick Gregory, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Andre Reed, Bob McAdoo and Donald (Sly) Green.

Freeman is currently the feature writer for the Buffalo Criterion Newspaper. He now offers his 25 years of experience in sports broadcasting to help young broadcasters master the art of delivery and interviewing. Freeman is also an ordained Minister in the Universal Life Church and has spoken at numerous churches and programs throughout the country.

Freeman will also assist to expand the league's Richard Myles Sr. (left) and Patrick Feeman efforts into Africa. He completed the study of the Temples and Pyramids of Egypt under the guidance of Dr. Asa Hilliard and was later initiated into the Holy Royal Family, which positions him well to help expand the league.

Freeman has received many awards including, the prestigious Eye on History award and the Black Achievers in Industry award. He is a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Freeman brings an energetic vision and a winning direction to the Rochester Chargers organization rooted in discipline and his passion for the game of football.

Dates for tryouts and combines for the 2020 season will be released soon.

At The Baobab...

728 University Ave. 585-563-2145

•Tuesdays Gentle Yoga series with JAMES THOMPSON, 5:45-7:45 p.m.

• Friday Film Series

•3/13 Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise 7:00 p.m. $7 suggested donation •Saturdays Drumming with FANA BANGOURA, 9:30 a.m.10:30a.m., 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

SEE YOU AT THE EVENTS!

To register for the tryouts, prospective players should go to the league website, www.mflishere.com. Players can visit the Rochester Chargers Facebook page or call the league office at (240) 551-8031 or email experiencethemfl@gmail. com for further information.

The Rochester Chargers franchise looks to build a storied history within the Western, N.Y, community. The Chargers will play in the Mid-Atlantic Division in the National Minor Football League conference which also includes the Washington Chiefs, Maryland Colts, and New Jersey Raiders. Each team will play 10 games (five home and five away). The season begins on Saturday, June 6.

About The MFL: The Minor Football League (MFL) has been in existence since 1993 and has continued to grow since inception to now boast 32 franchise teams across the country. The Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Founder of the league is Richard Myles, Sr., a native Washingtonian and former player at Arizona State University.

Myles previously played professionally as a member of the New England Patriots.

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Musical Reflections

Blues Legend Buddy Guy: Still Going Strong at 83! By George Radney

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egendary Blues artist Buddy Guy, at 83 years young is still going strong!

Proof was in the amazing, outstanding concert and history lesson he gave during a recent performance in Rochester, NY at the Kodak Center.

The blues legend talked about how his music, along with many other Black artists had been “stolen by White people.” He mentioned for example, Big Ma Ruth as the person who wrote and sang “You Ain’t Nothing But A Hound Dog well before Elvis Pressley made it a hit.

At one point he even had the house lights turned up to see the majority White audience in attendance to make sure he was talking to the right people and getting his point across that in order to get air play a White performer had to play it and take over rights to a “colored person’s song.” Buddy went on to state that ”The English inva-

sion” woke up Americans to blues artists. Rolling Stones named their band after a Muddy Waters song and most artists, including the Beatles performed with Blues Legends like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Mississippi John Hurt, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, and Buddy Guy. During his Rochester performance, Buddy went back to playing his guitar on classic blues hits like “Just Nineteen” and “Feels like Rain”both songs with an extended guitar solo. He fused in an outstanding version of a Muddy Waters classic “I just wanna make Love to you” and another blues treasure ‘Whose Makin’ Love to your old Lady.”

Buddy also explained the guitar riff that he taught Jimi Hendrix in the summer of 1968 and “The next thing he knew I heard a song on the radio featuring the guitar riff I had just taught in back in the summer!” Buddy per-

formed a rousing version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.”

Buddy Guy is currently on tour promoting his latest CD “The Blues is Alive and Well.” He performed several songs from the new CD and my favorites were “Cognac” a hard core blues tune surrounding his love for the brown liquor and a straight ahead blues song called “Old Fashioned” that brought the near capacity crowd to its feet with the hard driving guitar and organ mixture.

Buddy, a true showman, at 83 years old did not sit down at all during his hour and a half show! Buddy did one encore to a very appreciative audience including songs “The Blues is alive and well, ” and ‘”Guilty as Charged.”

He’s truly amazing and if you are blessed enough to see him in concert go and witness this American treasure firsthand!

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Marc h 11, 2020

AREA BRIEFS

TRANSITION? Mattie's Restaurant on Fillmore Ave. is currently closed for business. Owner George "Butch" Holt said that the business is currently going through a "transition." We'll give more details on the plans and future of Mattie's as soon as they are available.

Buffalo Urban League Search for a New President/CEO Underway The Buffalo Urban League’s search for a President and Chief Executive Officer is underway.

“This is a very important undertaking for the Buffalo Urban League and the community,” said Steve Finch, Board Chair, Buffalo Urban League. “With the upcoming retirement of our current President and Chief Executive Officer, Brenda McDuffie, the Board of Directors and its search committee is working to hire her successor before her departure in August.”

The Board and its Search Committee is conducting a local and national search for the position. The job description and qualifications are available on the Buffalo Urban League’s website- www.buffalourbanleague.org. March 13 is the deadline for interested candidates to submit their resumes to Janine Gordon at jgordon@nyaaa.com. All resumes are confidential.

Mrs. McDuffie, who has headed the local office for 21 years, said she wants to see the organization taken to “new heights” and that she will be there to support those efforts.

“I’m not leaving the community,” she assured. “I’m inspired. It’s really an exciting time!”

Although it is a national search, she urged the community to let others locally or across the country know about the opening.

Free Legal Clinic

Community Stakeholder Meeting A community stakeholders meeting hosted by Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski will be held Saturday, March 21 from 8:30- 10:30 a.m. at Soul Saving Revival Center, 664 Fillmore. The meeting is free and open to the public and will feature a hot breakfast, district updates, and guest speakers For more information or to RSVP: 851-4138 or pyarborough@city-buffalo.com

The Buffalo African American Museum will host a community meeting and discussion on the Monument in MLK Jr. Park Thursday March 19 at 6 p.m. at the Merriweather Library 1324 Jefferson Ave. “There are exciting things planned for MLK Jr. Park. The Buffalo African American Museum ( BAAM ) has joined with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy in calling the community together to discuss a plan” said BAAM chairman Clifford Bell.

“The Conservancy, the steward of all City’s Olmsted Parks, has a five year plan that includes MLK Jr. Park, but the plan originally did not include the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bust Plaza.,” he continued. “This is a chance for those who are not aware of the Five year plan, to know what it contains and have a voice in plans for the future of the park and the plaza. Add your voice to the plans and ideas for this vital community asset.”

Are registered

you to

VOTE?

Dread Scott’s Fight For Freedom March 6 1857: The Dread Scott decision asserting that Black people could not be citizens of the United States, was handed down by the Supreme Court.

A free legal advice clinic will be held on March 19 and again on April 16 at Our Lady of Hope Church at the corner of Grant and Lafayette from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Community Meeting And Discussion On The Monument In MLK Jr. Park

Dread Scott

Mayor Brown (center) with Black History Month Honorees

Mayor Brown Recognizes Black History Month Honorees Mayor Byron W. Brown recently recognized local African-Americans who have made significant contributions to their community as part of Black History Month festivities. The event was held in the lobby of City Hall here Mayor Brown also delivered a proclamation, noting this year’s Black History Month theme as “African Americans and the Vote.”

“African Americans have had a particularly unique experience with voting throughout the history of this City and country. Many brave Americans marched, protested, were arrested and even died working toward voting equality,” Mayor Brown said. “Today, it remains critically important that all Americans exercise their voting rights at every level of government, especially in the African American communities.”

The event recognized African-Americans in seven categories for their outstanding community service.

THE HONOREES WERE: • Art – Will Holton, Saxophonist • Education – Dr Kriner Cash, Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools • Youth – Natosha Cummings-Price, ECC Head Woman’s Basketball Coach • Military & Law Enforcement – Lt. Kelly Craig, Buffalo Police Dept. and US Army Civil Affairs Officer • Faith-based – Pastor Dwayne Jones, Mt. Aaron Baptist Church • Community Service – “Mamma” Charlene Miller-Caver • Health Care – Dr. Breeann Wilson, Podiatrist at Pure Podiatry.

The event also featured a music solo by a local musician, Vallana M. Harris. Shannon Smith, a News Reporter at WIVB-TV, was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the event.

Dred Scott first went to trial to sue for his freedom in 1847. Ten years later, after a decade of appeals and court reversals, his case was finally brought before the United States Supreme Court. In what is perhaps the most infamous case in its history, the decision of the court was read on March 6 1857. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney – a staunch supporter of slavery, wrote the “majority opinion” of the court.

It stated that all people of African ancestry – enslaved as well as those who were free -- could never become citizens of the United States and therefore could not sue in federal court. The court also ruled that the federal government did not have the power to prohibit slavery in its territories (declaring that the Missouri Compromise of 1820 legislation which restricted slavery in certain territories unconstitutional).

Seven of the nine Supreme Court Judges had been appointed by pro-slavery presidents from the South, and of these, five were from slaveholding families.

While the decision was well-received by slaveholdContinued Page 13

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BUSINESS

The Hair Hive: Buffalo Sisters Open First Black Female-Owned Beauty Supply Store

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By Nanette D. Massey

n the early 1900s, Madame C.J. Walker made a name for herself by going door to door selling her new hair care products to Black women. She built a virtual army of independent Black business women by training thousands of others to sell her products and to use them in salons.

Today that demographic has flipped, and the Black hair care industry in the U.S. is nearly completely dominated by people of Korean descent, according to the Black Owned Beauty Supply Association. THE HAIR HIVE: Sisters Danielle, Brianna and Lauren Challenger Photo Dr. Tiffany Gill, author of Beauty Shop Politics, notes that most of the industry’s wholesale catalogues are even printed in the Korean language.

Three enterprising Black sisters on Buffalo’s East side - Lauren Jackson, Danielle Jackson and Brianna Lannie - are looking to take a chunk of that business back for themselves.

The Hair Hive opened Saturday, March 7th, at 1413 Fillmore across the street from Mattie’s Restaurant.

Lauren finished her bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Canisius College, then settled into a comfortable, steady job as a supervisor for the post office.

“I became content with just how life is, just doing my 9-to-5, you know, the good government job with benefits. I realized I didn’t want this to be the rest of my life.”

Inspired by a story of two sisters in New York City, she sent a group text to her sisters suggesting they open their own beauty supply store.

Danielle was on board without hesitation.

“I was frustrated with the current climate of hair stores in the city" she said. "You walk in, they don’t speak to you, they haven’t worn the products in their own head, they just cash you out!”

The third sister, Brianna was instantly in agreement. A licensed cosmetologist, Brianna always knew she wanted to do hair for a living. Bowing to pressures about stability, she detoured into completing a bachelor’s degree in marketing, also from Canisius. When it was time to decide what to do next, her first love won out anyway. Now she can put that marketing education to work to benefit her own business.

The sisters stress that first and foremost they want patrons to feel welcome in their store.

They want people to see it as more than just a place to buy things, but to be able to take advantage of their expertise and passion about the beauty industry as a resource. All three have specific experience with the products sold in the store, and can advise customers from first hand knowledge. They say that too often they’ve seen people buy products that are all wrong for them due to lack of a store clerk's knowledge.

Their current inventory will grow as the business grows. The sisters don’t want to keep product on the shelves that is likely to expire or go bad. Right now they’re concentrating on stock that sells quickly because they know they’re the products consumers want most. Brianna adds “I’m not going to mislead you just to sell you something, you can expect honesty and knowledge.”

The young entrepreneurs were aided with a start-up loan from the Westminster Economic Development Initiative, an effort by the Westminster Presbyterian Church to empower economically disadvantaged Buffalonians with start-up capital. Given all the talk of economic development in our town, Danielle said she was surprised at the lack of available help through sources like banks and even the federal U.S. Small Business Association.

“The SBA seemed more geared towards people who have already been in business for a year or so, but WEDI was so easy to deal with" she noted. "We’re really thankful to them, I wish more sources had more faith in start-ups.”

There are big plans in the works for the store. The near future will see wholesale and bulk discounts for licensed beauticians, a loyalty program, and an entrepreneur spotlight where other independents will be given the opportunity to sell their products out of the Fillmore store.

“Everybody knows somebody who’s selling something,” Lauren says. “We want to support each other. We grew up five minutes from here, our main focus is to give back to our community.”

The store is brightly lit, warm, friendly, and well stocked . They’re open until 9pm except Sundays, and can be found online at www.THHBuffalo.com

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

POWERFUL PEOPLE!

Community's Most Infuential Leaders Named to Business First "Power 250" and "Power Politicians 20" List From college presidents to enterprising clegy and medical service CEO's the following community leaders were among those recently naned to the Buffalo Business First prestigeous annual "Power 250 List." of powerful people in Western New York. Congratulations!

Katherine Conway-Turner President SUNY Buffalo State Kunle Odunsi Deputy Director Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Kriner Cash Superintendent Buffalo City School District

AN INTERACTIVE COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON THE

MLK MONUMENT IN MLK JR. PARK March 19, 2020, 6:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave RSVP or Qns: Zach@bfloparks.org or call (716) 536-1123.

This community meeting will address the following: Background on the Park: the Five Year Plan for MLK Jr. Park Vision for the Future of the MLK Monument in MLK Jr. Park • Repairs • Improvements • New Ideas

h o s t e d b y:

Brenda McDuffie President & CEO Buffalo Urban League

bfloparks.org

Mark Blue President NAACP Buffalo Branch Dwayne Jones Pastor Mount Aaron Baptist Church Lavonne Ansari CEO Community Health Center of Buffalo Inc. Michael Chapman Pastor & CEO St. John Baptist Church Stephen Tucker Executive Director Northland Workforce Training Center Raul Vazquez President & CEO G-Health Enterprises Thurman Thomas President 34 Group Additionally, the following elected officials were among those named to the publication's list of the area's 20 most influential and powerful politicians. The "Power Politicns 20" list included: Crystal Peoples-Stokes Majority Leader New York State Assembly Byron Brown Mayor City of Buffalo Darius Pridgen Common Council President City of Buffalo

Call For Appointment

(716) 894-4904

16th YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

• Drop Offs Welcome •Experienced • Low Cost • Fast Service!

•Direct Deposit •Free Electronic Filing Available "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Marc h 11, 2020

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR SENIORS ST. JOHN TOWER, BUFFALO

COME ENJOY QUALITY LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH RENTS BASED ON INCOME - AS LOW AS ZERO. → Newly Renovated Units → Great Location → Personal and Courteous Onsite Management. → Professional Security → On-Site Laundry Room → Full Time Social Service Director → Daily Activities → Free Shuttle Bus → Emergency Pull Cords → And much more

FIND OUT MORE! CALL TODAY: 716-855-1505

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FAITH & FAMILY

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

CALVARY C.M.E. CHURCH NEWS

ST.JOHN’S CASH BASH

Niagara Falls: New Hope Baptist Church Anniversary

“Saints Beyond the River”

St. John’s AME Church Cash Bash 2020 will be held Saturday March 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Packard Court Community Center, 4200 Pine Ave. Niagara Falls. There will be a $250 cash prize every 20 minutes (need to be present to win) and a $50 cash prize every 15 minutes (must be present to win).

There will also be a basket raffle and 50/50 raffle. Donation is $25 and includes a delicious chicken dinner.

For additional information, please call the church at 285-6432.

Falls NY will celebrate its 83rd Church Anniversary on Sunday March 15. The theme is “The Church Endeavoring to Keep the Unity of the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace.” The morning service will begin at 10:15 a.m. with special guest speaker Reverend Robert L. Bradley Jr. At 3 p.m. the Reverend Dr. James C. Blackburn, Jr. of Greater Hope Baptist Church of Buffalo will be the guest speaker. Reverend Harvey L. Kelley is the host pastor. All are invited to attend. For more information please contact the church 282-8118.

Calvary Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 1007 Ellicott St., is marking its centennial celebration this year! We are looking for relatives whose love ones were members of Calvary, who are now deceased, to contact us. We’re planning a Memorial Service- “Saints Beyond the River”- to honor their memory on Sunday, May 17, 4 p.m. Please contact Yvonne Patterson at 883-6061 or VON2151@aol.com by May 1.

“Women’s History Month Event” GOD IS AMAZING! In celebration of Women’s History Calvary C.M.E. Church is hosting a worship experience highlighting some of God’s anointed female speakers who will be sharing seven of God’s attributes. This service will be held on Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Rev. Nadia Holloway, Min. Ernestine Brown Richardson, Rev. Gloria Bryant, Sis. Rita McMillon, Rev. Kere’ Patterson-Boyd, Sis. Ebony Singletary, and Min. Marquitta Whitehead are the vessels for the word to be shared for the night. Guests soloist is Sis. Nikki Hicks and guest organist Sis. Martha Connor. Rev. Brandon K. Baum is the host pastor.

New Hope Baptist Church, 1122 Buffalo Avenue in Niagara

Spring Gospel Explosion at Greater Royal

Deacon Clarence Rodolph presents Spring Gospel Explosion on Sunday March 22 from 4 p.m. at the Greater Royal Church 1335 Clinton Street where Apostle Albert Wilson is Host Pastor. The Event will feature, Favva Gospel Singers, St. James Praise Dancers, Gussie Mitchell &Wandering Five, Dean Singers, Scottie & the Mighty Tornadoes, YMCA Senior Choir with special guests New Gospel Time of Rochester NY. Tickets for Adults $10 in advance, $15 at door, Children $5 at door.

Doors open 3 p.m. Program at 4 p.m. Sharp. Info call Clarence Rodolph 716 893-9891

Visit Trinity Baptist Church Historical Museum!

Compliment your Black History experience with a visit to the Trinity Baptist Church Historical Museum located at 2930 Bailey Ave Contact Bernice Wiggins, founder and curator of the Museum at 716 691-6183 to arrange your visit.

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Marc h 11, 2020

Well Women Health Summit A free Well Women Health Summit will be held Saturday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Roswell Cancer Institute, 665 Elm St. The keynote speaker is Kelly Diane Galloway of Mona’s House.

Free parking! Breakfast and Lunch provided. To register, go to: www.1199seiu.org/ well-women-health-summit

FREE Kidney Health Screenings New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, will present a FREE Kidney Health Screenings provided by the Kidney Foundation of Western New York, supported by the local Buffalo Medical Community, Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Schiller Park Senior Center, 2057 Genesee St., Buffalo. You are urged to call and set up your time slot! For registration, please contact Barbara Breckenridge at 529-4392, 510-6702 or email: bbreckenridge@kfwny.org

Faith based leaders convend here March 7.

State Faith Leaders Convene In Buffalo To Demand Lawmakers Promote Legislation to Advance New Yorkers Of Color’s Economic Status BUFFALO, NY – On March 7, the 400 Foundation, a faith-based coalition of pastors and clergy members from communities across New York, held an event with faith leaders from across Buffalo, New York to promote the need to improve the political and economic wellbeing of New Yorkers of color by advancing sensible and progressive legislation during the 2020 state legislative session. The event was held at Friendship Baptist Church.

As we push past the 400th anniversary of Slavery in North America as an economic system, and after 400 years of economic, racial, and political injustice in Black communities across New York State, the 400 Foundation looked to blaze a trail of prosperity for the underserved Black communities of Buffalo, New York. The event outlined a clear policy and legislative vision for promoting economic equity, job growth, and Black businesses for the historically underserved Black communities and individuals in Buffalo.

“It is shameful that after 400 years Black people’s unemployment rate is still double that of White New Yorkers– and although we make up almost 16% of the New York State population our black businesses only receive about 1-2% of statewide contract spending” said Rev. Reginald Bachus, President of the 400 Foundation. “This was about charting a new course to strengthen our communities in Buffalo for generations to come by attacking the roots of inequity and expanding access to good jobs and workforce training for black and brown members of Buffalo’s workforce. New Yorkers must lead the way toward economic justice by using the 2020 State Legislative Session to address the greatest crises still facing Black communities.”

The event promoted the legislative priorities and demands of faith leaders across New York State, which include: The need to invest $100M to create acceleration centers and networks for underserved black communities.

The need to conduct a study on current and proposed legislation that will affect Black communities and the accelerator networks.

The need to commission a study on rebuilding underserved black communities through economic acceleration centers and networks.

ABOUT THE 400 FOUNDATION The 400 Foundation was birthed in February 2019 as a historical response to the 400th Anniversary of Slavery in North America and a biblical response to the Exodus liberation story after 400 years of oppression. The plan was to learn from and embrace African Americans’ 400 years of experience in North America. Second, mobilize the community’s growing outcry for change. Third, channel that energy to move our communities FORWARD in 2020.

Gerald A Barker 3/27/45 3/11/19 Gerald A. Barker departed this life March 11 2019. He leaves to mourn his beloved wife, Arthea and other lov­ ing family and friends.

The Road to a Better You. Call to find out if you are eligible for a $5/month membership!

716.431.5141

1021 Broadway | jrchc.org/medical/gym

1933

The family is having a me­ morial service for Gerald Barker on March 27 from 4pm - 8pm at the Apollo Media Center 1346 Jef­ ferson Ave. All family and friends welcome. Arrange­ ments by Brian K Lewis Fu­ neral Home.

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Entertainment

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

Party Over Here

Retirement Party

THE DANCE ON WIDOWS ROW. Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center presents The Dance on Widows Row, written by Samm Art-Williams and directed by Paulette D. Harris, starring Renita Shadwick, Sandra Gilliam, Debbie Davis, Al Garrison, Chalma Warmley, Leon Copeland Jr. and Linda Barr on March 13- April 5, Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. Matinee 4 p.m. Box Office 8840279.

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO. 7p.m. March 14.

Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave. 852-3825.

Tickets are $35-40 (box office, Eventbrite.com).

JANET JACKSON: 8 p.m. July 21 KeyBank Center. 8554444 keybankcenter.com. Tickets $49.95 - $184.95 @ box office , 888-233-6000, tickets.com PATTI LABELLE 6:30 p.m. June 23. Artpark, Lewiston.

Tickets are $19 lawn, $29 and $57 reserved (box office, tickets.com, artpark.net, 888-223-6000).

RICK ROSS: SUMMER JAM XX: 5 p.m. July 18. Canalside, 44 Prime St. (Kiosk on the Boardwalk at Canalside, eventbrite.com) VIP tickets are $50 to $70; general admission with merch pack and express entry is $40. Regular general admission tickets will go on sale later.

COMING TO SHEA’S Tickets for the following productions are available online at sheas.org, at the Shea’s box office (650 Main St.) and by calling 847-0850.

“Ain’t Too Proud,” May 11-16, 2021 This Tony Award-winning Broadway musical (best choreography) is the story of the legendary Motown vocal group The Temptations and its rise from the streets of Detroit into the Rock and Hall of fame.

Friends and family will celebrate Detective Sergeant Swat Commander, Cedric R. Holloway on his retirement after 33 years of service on Saturday, March 14, from 6-11 p.m. at Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium, 1100 Jefferson & Dodge.

Tickets $25. R.S.V.P: Joanne Wiley 602-7073 and Tracy Schultz 8880485.

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” Aug. 15 to 22 Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s calling PulitzerPrize winning novel.

Hamilton,” Nov. 4 to 22 Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about American founding father Alexander Hamilton returns to Buffalo after its successful 2018 run here. The musical garnered a record 16 Tony Awards in 2016.

SENECA NIAGARA CASINO Buy tickets at the 8 Clans at Seneca Niagara, The Logo Shop at Seneca Allegany, or online at ticketmaster.com, or at any Ticketmaster location.

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER AND FRIENDS Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 8:00 PM Tickets start at $45 THE TEMPTATIONS AND THE FOUR TOPS Friday, May 8, 2020 at 8:00 PM Tickets start at $45 BEARS DEN :GUITAR SHORTY Friday, April 17 at 8:00 p.m.Tickets start at $35. Guitar Shorty is nothing less than a giant in the blues world. Credited as on influence on both Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy, Guitar Shorty has electrified audiences for five decades.

MOTOWN EXTREME REVIEWFriday, May 15 & Saturday May 16 at 8:00 PM Tickets start at $45

Blanc Photographie

The Community’s Portrait & Event Photographer.

716.319.8979 • Facebook: Blanc Photographie • Instagram: @blanc_photographie

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Marc h 11, 2020

Typography of Women: I Am Not Invisible

Explosive Full Stage Production in Support of Project Mona's House, Honors The Strength Of Women Who Have Survived/ Overcome Human Trafficking

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ypography of Women: I Am Not Invisible, is a call to action.

Explosive, honest, poetic, musical, visually exciting and inspiring, this unique artistic project is meant to honor the strength of women who found the means and courage to break away from their human traffickers in the quest to have a second chance at living a life of promise rather than living day-to-day in pain and fear.

Celeste Lawson, creator, producer, and co-artistic director of Typography of Women, has assembled a team of some of the most recognized and talented women in our community to tell the stories of a brave group of women who found their way to Project Mona’s House - a transitional residence for women who escaped human trafficking and are trying to rebuild their lives. It is the only such facility in Western New York.

They are women who are willing to share their experiences and feelings through prose, poetry, and the visual arts. They entrusted their written expressions to Lawson, who in turn transcribed and transformed their words into a manuscript and full stage production that will take place on Saturday, March 21at 8 p.m. in Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College. The performance features the talent of dancer/choreographer and co-artistic director Robin Hibbert, the lush and healing sounds of singer/composer Drea D’Nur, a collaborator on creating the production, and the dramatic skills of 11 actors - nine women and two men - and nine accomplished dancers representing an array of genres and traditions.

There are special guest appearances by Sara Rogers of Girl Crush, Daughters of Creative Sound and choreographer, William E. Thomas. The performance is bookended by two art exhibits that opened earlier this month at WNED studios and CEPA gallery that run respectively until March 27th and April 4th, and lastly, a forum and panel discussion on Sunday, March 22nd at the Burchfield Penney Art Center facilitated and presented by a collection of scholars, researchers, and legal industry professionals who work directly with human trafficking victims and perpetrators. The exhibits were coordinated and installed by the WNY Urban Art Collective and Los Artistas del Barrio (LAdB) under the leadership of John Baker and Michele Agosto. Lawson acknowledges that none of this would be possible without the blessing of Project Mona’s House founder and executive director, Kelly Diane Galloway.

“This is a passion project for me,” states Lawson. “For more than twenty years I’ve carried the desire to find a way to use the cultural arts to tell the story of human trafficking in an inspirational way, and give voice to the voiceless – well, at least one form of human trafficking.” She continues, “trafficking comes in many different forms from commercial sex, to online trafficking, forced labor, and now organ harvesting.”

According to the Polaris Project, the national watch organization against Human Trafficking, there are 44 million people worldwide caught in the clutches of this form of modern day slavery. Human Trafficking is a global crisis situation she points out, and the Buffalo Niagara Region has a very real human trafficking problem.

“It is not a crime of the inner city,” Ms. Lawson points out. “Trafficking takes place in upscale suburban neighborhoods, in city apartments, in rural farm communities, in schools and in foster care. There is no geographic exemption for human trafficking, and no specific profile of a trafficking criminal.”

Locally, human trafficking incidents have taken place in

Typography of Women: I Am Not Invisible Events: •WNED Horizons Art Gallery 140 Lower Terrace thru March 27 Free and open to the public.

– now

•CEPA Gallery, 617 Main Street, Market Arcade – now through April 4 Free and open to the public •Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, live performance – Saturday March 21st at 8p.m. Tickets $40 available at (716) 878.3005 or online at: https://buffalostatepac.org/calendar/all-events/event:i-amnot-invisible/ “I AM NOT INVISIBLE”: On the cover pictured far right Kelly Diane Galloway and Celeste Lawson (blue dress). Also from the top, Row 1: Melinda Capeles, Venecia “Goodness” Green, Barbara Carr, Gaitrie Subryan, Natasha Perkins, Gunilla Kester, Samantha Cruz, Dayatra Hassan, Sara Rogers, Lorna C. Hill. Row 2: Drea d’Nur, Verneice Turner, Robin Hibbert, Rhianna Rogers , MARY MORAN, Dana "Roxy" Harris , Dana Fischer, Naila Ansari. Row 3 Kathleen Betsko, Vonetta Rhodes, Ilana lane, Katherine Lavin, Kerry Kate Abelsmith, Virginia Batchelor. Row 4: Michele Agosto, Neytanya Thompson, Nayury Faber.

Lancaster, Orchard Park, Elmwood Village, Cheektowaga, and metro Buffalo, just to name a few.

Consider these facts: •The United States is both the largest consumer and exporter of human trafficking in the world.

•Over 70 percent of trafficking victims are American citizens who have been abducted, deceived, or betrayed and forced into the human trade business •70 percent of human commerce consumers

•Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Avenue – Sunday, March 22nd, 1p.m. community discussion, panel and screening of “Sold Next Door” by Pan American Film Division and excerpts from the Saturday live performance.

Free and open to the public.

For more information: (716)374.1740 or email typographyofwoman@gmail.com or visit https://thebuffaloproject.wixsite.com/tbpinternship/projectmona Typography of Women: I Am Not Invisible is made possible with a grant from the MAP Fund supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Rigidized Metals, Erie County Legislature Chairperson, April Baskin, and The Buffalo Project, along with friends from Just Buffalo Literary Center, CEPA Gallery, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Arts Services Initiative, WNED, Minute Printing, and Buffalo Spree.

By Staff Reporter

The average age of victims in the commercial sex trade ranges from 11 years to 14 years old but, can be and are often, much younger. n Online trafficking is growing in leaps and bounds and affects primarily young teens. It’s been documented that a child is worth about $300,000 a year to a trafficker, and the average lifespan of a child caught up in trafficking is only about 7 years before they succumb to death, either by addiction, violence, illness, or suicide. “ The women of Project Mona’s House all have a different story but are all grounded in the same dark mire of deception, coercion, and betrayal,” pointed out Lawson. “They come from all walks of life, diverse ethnicities, and a range of social, educational, and economic status. They are all at least 18 years old and may have suffered the trauma of trafficking for only a few months to many years, perhaps even most of their lives up until this point. They are fighting for their lives. They want to have a future free from fear and open to opportunities to achieve personal goals.”

In addition to bringing awareness and support to the fight against Human Trafficking, and promoting the work of Project Mona’s House, Typography of Women is meant to be a vehicle that shares information on the ways we, as a community, can do our part to deter human trafficking in our region.

“Kelly Diane often uses a phrase in her public presentations,” concluded Celeste, ‘The eye won’t see what the brain doesn’t know what to look for.’ The aspiration of Typography of Women is to help everyone learn and understand more about recognizing the signals, symptoms, and circumstances that could be a trafficking situation. Everyone is invited and welcome to join the fight against this crime inflicted on humanity. We all need to know and we all need to understand it can happen to anybody!”

BUFFALO’S OWN ROSLYN RUFF CONTINUES TO SHINE! Buffalo’s own Roslyn Ruff, formerly of Ujima Theatre, continues to make strides in her theatrical career.

An enormously talented actress of film and stage, her most recent accomplishment involves being selected to play the Narrator in Claudii Rankine’s “Help” currently on stage at The Shed in New York City. In the play Ruff is the sole Black woman among 20 White men in the production about air travel and White privilege. Among her many accompishments, in 2018 she was nominated for the Drama League Awards for her exceptional performance in “X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation. Congratulations Roslyn!

10

Generations

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

Stephanie Diana Wilso America’s Second Woman of Color in Space Will Keynote AAUW’s “Tech Savvy 15” Event For Girls !

Carter G. Woodson Essay Contest Winners

Stephanie Diana Wilson, the second woman of color in space, will be the keynote speaker at the “Tech Savvy 15: Girls Exploring Science Technology, Engineering & Math” event on Saturday, March 21. Presented by the American Association of University Women, “Tech Savvy 15” will feature fun, exciting hands on workshops for girls in the 6th thru 9th grades from 8:30 a.m. to 5 pm at UB North Campus Student Center. Sessions for parents and educational professions also will also be offered.

Virginia Walden Ford of “Miss Virginia” Will visit Niagara Falls

In 2019, Virginia Walden Ford was the subject of the major motion picture “Miss Virginia.” The prominent civil rights activist is coming to Niagara Falls for a special engagement on March 28, from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. at Antonio’s Banquet and Conference Center. The Niagara Falls City School District (NFCSD), WGRZ-TV, the National Federation for Just Communities, and Niagara County New York are hosting Walden Ford. Civil Rights Award in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will also be presented at the event and voter registration and census 2020 information will be available. This event is free and open to the public.

Pictured abovr are the winners for the 43rd Annual Carter G. Woodson Essay Contest sponsored by the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier. The theme was, “Why is it important for African Americans to vote in Western New York?”

Back row: Board members- Madeline Scott, Kristen Elmore, W. Charles Brandy, Sharon Holley Front row: Zoe Maddox- 2nd place, grade 4-6; Shanya Worthy - 3rd place, grade 4-6; Helisa Watson - 1st place, grade 10-12; Leairah Crosby - 1st place, grade 7-9; Ayanna Muhammad - 1st place, grade 4-6. Congratulations!

BLACK DOLL EXHIBIT CELEBRATES BLACK BEAUTY AND WOMAN IN LEADERSHIP: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SPELL!” Up In The Sky presented “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SPELL” Spelling Bee recently. Seventeen children participated and our 1st place winner was (Jermaine) standing to the right in the photo.

2nd place was (Demari) standing to the left in the photo and 3rd place was (Je’mayiah) standing in the middle. Our three judges included Betty Jean Grant, Brandee from (BHealthy Hair) and Wynettea Mcelveen. Our special guest was The UB BULLS! Up In The Sky thanks all our sponsors and everybody who contributed to a wonderful day.

Buffalo Genealogy Society of the African Diaspora

.s fo www n i e r o M

d.daem katelan

en.edu

So, who do you think you are? Join members of the Buffalo Genealogy Society of the African Diaspora (BGSAD), on Saturday, March 14th from 11:00am - 1:00pm as they share tips on successfully tracing your roots.

In honor of Women's History Month, special focus will be placed on breaking through barriers to locate female ancestors. If you have examples of your own family history research efforts please come ready to share.

This event is hosted by the Fruit of the Spirit Women's Ministry of the Calvary Baptist Church 1184 Genesee Street Buffàlo, NY 14211 the Rev. Corey B. Gibson, M.Div., Senior Pastor. This event is free isn’t open to the community.

Light lunch will be served.

Nearly 150 residents attended Erie County Legislature Chairwoman April N.M. Baskin’s is inaugural Black Doll Exhibit last Saturday at the Leroy R. Coles Jr. Branch Library. The event was sponsored by Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Gift baskets celebrating the legacy of Rosa Parks and Kathrine Collins sponsored by the Xi Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. Buffalo. The group photo at the bottom includes of School Board President Sharon Belton-Cottman, Judge Jeannette Ogden, County social services Commissioner Marie Cannon, Buffalo Police Deputy Commissioner Barbara Lark, paper doll artist Ari Moore, County Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin, Judge Debra Givens, Judge JaHarr Pridgen, buffalo fire lieutenant Shelby Thompson, NYS Regent Dr. Catherine Collins and School Board member Dr. Kathy EvansBrown. Not pictured but in attendance: NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Buffalo Comptroller Barbara Miller Williams, Judge Barbara Johnson-Lee and Judge Betty Calvo-Torres .

ZONTA CLUB CARNIVAL

The Zonta Club of Niagara Falls, will present Carnival at Four Points Sheraton, 7001 Buffalo Ave., Saturday March 21st, 6-11 p.m. Profits from the event will go to local and international service, scholarships and programs to empower women and girls.

VOICES

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Marc h 11, 2020

Universal African Black Cross Nurses Covid-19 Report

I

n these times we are facing an actual pandemic. In the interest of protecting their people, nations and governments of the world are coming together to try and contain this very serious issue. Knowing the history of these things when speaking of African people around the world, we must ask ourselves who has diasporic African people's interest as their primary charge? The answer is simply, the Black Cross Nurses. An auxiliary of the Government of the UNIA-ACL, the Universal African Black Cross Nurses were developed to assist our people in areas of general health and wellness as well as responding in time of extreme need. At a time when the Red Cross would not hire Black nurses, Amy Garvey and Henrietta V. Davis created the Black Cross. This auxiliary served our people by providing food, blood pressure checks, graduating nurses with certificates, developing clinics and hospitals, and even sent bandages to Ethiopian fighters in the Ethio-Italo war. In this vein we write this article today.

First, despite the inclination to do so, we must not follow misinformation in the guise of conspiracies. The idea that African people are immune to the Covid-19 virus is disproven by the recent reports of at least 45 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in places like Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, South Africa, Cameroon and Togo. Experts have cited the fact that the numbers are lower due to less international links with the rest the rest of the world. The Africa Report states,"Africa gets approximately 5% of global tourism flows, and an even smaller 4% of China’s tourists." Less tourism as well as less access to testing will logically provide for lower numbers.

How concerned should we be? As far as levels of fear are concerned, it is suggested that you do not panic, yet still remain cautious. Transmission is believed to be similar to the cold or flu virus, either person-to-person or from contact with infected surfaces or object. The World Health Organization and CDC have released lists of cleaning products to assist in prevention. Hand sanitizers approved should have more that 60% alcohol. The local Black Cross has begun its Hand Sanitizer Initiative to provide bottles to schools and senior centers. We appreciate all who have donated to support this initiative. Other tips include hand washing (20 seconds or more), covering cough, avoiding handshakes and places where people are sneezing and coughing. Prevention at this time is the only weapon we currently have, please use it wisely!

For more information please contact division433office@ gmail.com CashApp: $Buffalo433 -QUOTE OF THE WEEK“The slave went free; stood a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery.”

-W. E. B. DuBois describing the period in the 1800's when White Southerners were calling for “Redemption” – the return of White supremacy and the removal of rights for Blacks – instead of Reconstruction.

“We wish to plead our own cause.

Too long have others spoken for us.”

- John Russwurm, Freedom’s Journal.

1827 America’s 1st Black Newspaper

U.S. Continues Its War on the Rest of the World

T

By Margaret Kimberley

he duopoly corporate parties enforce silence and ignorance on foreign policy to ensure that Americans have neither the knowledge nor the tools to resist their country’s policy of endless war.

It isn’t clear who the next president of the United States will be but the terrible handiwork of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump are creating terrible suffering for millions of people around the world.

Donald Trump is making a big show of a phony peace agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban were given life by Jimmy Carter, who sought to undermine the sovereign government of that country. We were told that the Soviets had invaded when in fact the government of president Najibullah had invited them, an act he had every right to undertake.

What followed was years of civil war, billions of dollars funneled to the mujahadeen, including the likes of Osama bin Laden, who subsequently turned against his sponsors and killed 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001. No one wanted to remember that bin Laden was originally lauded as a freedom fighter by Carter and Reagan, only to be rubbed out years later by Barack Obama.

Carter began the use of jihadist proxies and all of his predecessors followed in his foot steps. The current turmoil in Syria is a direct result of Obama’s turn at creating disaster. Along with his partners in NATO, and Israel, and gulf monarch states, he sought regime change against Bashar al-Assad. Now the Syrians are on the verge of taking back their country with the help of their allies but NATO member Turkey has again proved itself to be treacherous and makes a last stand with its jihadist proxies to continue the suffering of the people there.

The presidential campaign is a farce, as foreign policy is treated like a frill that need not be mentioned. That is because the war party duopoly have no intention of changing U.S. foreign policy in any significant way. The cynical maneuvers continue as Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar drop out in order to help Joe Biden. Elizabeth Warren hangs on and the hapless Biden is used to convince fearful black voters that he is the only hope of defeating Trump.

Bernie Sanders may be the most progressive on domestic issues, but his foreign policy positions are no better than those of the men who previously filled the job he hopes to hold. When he isn’t calling Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping thugs he is supporting the destruction of Venezuela and other countries targeted by the United States. Tulsi Gabbard questions the regime change concept but she has been barred from debates and is thus rendered invisible to the electorate.

Her invisibility is hardly coincidental.

While Democrats sound alike, the Trump administration enters into an agreement with the Taliban to reduce the number of U.S. troops. Trump has a bit of a foreign policy victory, a slight undoing of a 40-year long crime against the Afghan people who have suffered after the U.S. intervened on behalf of jihadists. his information is rarely shared with the American people.

The average voter seldom thinks about foreign policy for the simple reason that they aren’t asked to do so. When Syria,

Challenger Community News P.O. BOX 474 Buffalo, NY 14209 advertising@thechallengernews.com

P: 716 881.1051 F: 716 881.1053

Continued Page 12

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Spectrum News Black History Features Outstanding Dear Editor: This is a written ovation -- for Spectrum News' outstanding Black History Month TV features -- and their online Black History Month in Buffalo Photo Gallery. There are 25 photos with individuals profiles or places have background information. They are located at https://spectrumlocalnews.com/ nys/buffalo/news/Black-HistoryMonth. The information has ongoing relevance.

dear editor

Also, for their recent spotlighting of the neighborhood and business concerns voiced by Jerry Daniels, Jr. and Jerry Daniels, Sr., the co-owners of the Carl-Jeff Barbershop (859 Jefferson Avenue). Read on.

Two of the historical TV stories were titled: "Remembering Buffalo Civil Rights Activist Mary Talbert" and "Buffalo Gearing up for Harriet Tubman Parade." (The parade occurred on March 8.)

Mayor Byron Brown (Buffalo's First African American mayor) -- Shirley Chisholm (The first Black woman to run for president. Ms. Chisholm was an Amherst resident for awhile. She's buried in Forest Lawn.) -- and singer Rick James, Grammy Award winner, are just samplings. Hopefully, they will entice visitation to the interesting, informative Spectrum website noted at the beginning.

The inclusion of the long-gone Michigan Avenue YMCA sparks fond memories of a treasured community place for youth over countless years.

Now, moving on to Spectrum's extensive TV news coverage (February 4) about the father and son's issue. That was, a decaying quartet of houses, on Carlton Street, nearby the barbershop.

Jerry, Jr. summarized the houses were a neighborhood detriment. The ugly view from some of the windows -- could deter potential renters from choosing the apartments over the barbershop -- which are currently under renovation.

But I have good news. I saw the houses on February 25. Surprisingly, almost unbelievable, they have new roofs. Never underestimate the power of citizen action, community newspapers and TV news exposure!

-Katherine Massey

Where Are All the Community Business?

Dear Editor: Not long ago I was looking for a window washing service and the time before that someone to haul some things out of my attic. I checked your Business Directory first both times thinking I might find a Black business to support, but found nothing I was looking for so I had to go on line. Needless to say I was not able to spend my money in the community. The business directory is a great idea and very helpful.

But I don’t see restaurants, barber shops, doctors or dentists, plumbers, contractors etc. So how are we supposed to support community businesses - especially Black owned businesses - when we don’t know where to go or who to contact?

-Jimmy Aaron

• Published every Wednesday • News Deadline: Friday 5 p.m.

• Ad Deadline: Friday 5 p.m.

• Classified Deadline: Thursday 5 p.m.

We respectfully submit that the opinions expressed on the editorial pages of this newspaper are not necessairly those of Challenger Community News Corporation or its advertisers.

Advertising /News/ Information/Inquiries adver tising@thechallengernews.com

Phone: 716-881-1051 Fax: 716-881-1053

12

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

Rise Up Right

WAR

continued from page 11

Welcome to Rise Up Right, where we give you the best sports news and highlights, and updates taking full circle in the sports world.

Thank you for your continued support....and with that being said Let's Rise Up....

Afghanistan or any other far away place breaks into the news cycle they are told little more than that foreign leaders who work with the U.S. are good but that all others are consigned to thuggery.

March Madness The UB Bulls men's team definitely ended the season on a high note as they have reached the 20-win mark again for the third consecutive season. Jayvon Graves 25 point night led the Bulls to an 88-84 over Bowling r on Friday night. The men's team will now be waiting on the MAC Conference Tournament as the winner will get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Americans should know that Turkey’s gambit of unleashing refugees into Europe is a direct result of its acting in concert with the U.S. regime change plot. Of course the Europeans now wringing their hands in fear of newcomers went along with the scheme and share in the blame as they continue their role as America’s vassal states.

The UB Bulls women's team will be looking forward to the MAC Conference Tournament coming up. The women's team could be riding a six-game winning streak going into the tournament. Summer Hemphill will look to lead the Bulls back to the NCAA Tournament. Will the Lady Bulls win the MAC Tournament? March Madness is on the way.

Buffalo Bills Talk This week has been an interesting week as Jordan Poyer wife Rachel Bush spoke about publicly on restructuring her husband contract with the Buffalo Bills saying "Pay him what he deserves or he will go somewhere else it's football not rocket science." Interesting enough the Bills Mafia believes that he deserves a new contract and so do I but I think it's being handled wrong. It's a good thing that the Buffalo Bills on Monday signed 32 year old former All Pro Josh Norman to a one-year six million dollar contract in which incentives could lead to an eight million dollar contract in retrospect. This signing in my opinion will lead to two things. The first thing is that you can bet your bottom dollar Tre White will be getting signed to an extension by the Buffalo Bills. Secondly, Jordan Poyer most likely will get the extension he is looking for seeing that safety help will be very important with the acquiring of Josh Norman. Will Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier be able to bring on the resurgence of Josh Norman who has declined in the last couple of years.

Buffalo Sabres Talk The Buffalo Sabres are currently on the six-game losing streak as talks of the process are being made again by head coach Ralph Krueger. The Buffalo Sabres honestly need to be looking to get more veteran talent on this team. Hockeytown USA understands that the Sabres are going younger with the roster but more acquisitions like Wayne Simmonds will help the Sabres in the long run as they lack physicality, determination, and discipline mentally. When will the drought end for the Buffalo Sabres?

In Other News The Bryant & Stratton Bobcats men's team will be ranked 5th in the USCAA National Championship. They will take on Bluefield State College in the first round.

The Bryant and Stratton women's team women's team will be ranked #4 in the USCAA National Championship. They will take on Clinton College in the first round.

For more sports talk and news follow me on Facebook @Andre Robinson or D'Andre Torch Robinson.

Join the Rise Up Family Sports Network for a look at all the daily sports shows. therealtorch716 or riseupfamilyseven16 on Instagram.

Watch Rise Up Unlimited TV Show every Thursdays at 130pm and Saturdays at 730am on Channel 1302 for Spectrum Cable Subscribers. Also tune in to Power 96.5FM every Sunday from 6pm to 7pm as I am a Co Host on the WUFO Sport Report.

Colston Mobil Auto Repair WILLIAM COLSTON

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• IT'S WINTER CHECK UP TIME!

Phone: 716.896.3910 • 720 E. Ferry St.

Diagnostic Testing, NYS Inspection, Towing Service Tire Repair, Brake Repair, Air Conditioning Service

The foreign crises that are treated like background music are in fact very important. No one knows if Turkey’s rampage on behalf of the United States can start a hot war that candidates will suddenly have to address.

The consensus for imperialism is no accident. The military industrial complex makes sure that its gravy train continues in Afghanistan and elsewhere and presidential candidates don’t even pretend to change a corrupt system. After inauguration day on January 20, 2021 the United States will continue to be the biggest threat to peace in the world. Millions of people will be bombed or sanctioned and Americans will continue to live in ignorance as they wonder why their country is hated. They need only look at the presidential candidate debate stage to answer the question.

Margaret Kimberley’s Freedom Rider column appears weekly in BAR, and is widely reprinted elsewhere. She maintains a frequently updated blog as well at patreon.com/margaretkimberley and she regularly posts on Twitter @freedomrideblog. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City, and can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgendaReport.com.

COMMENTS? Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

TO ADVERTISE: advertising@ thechallengernews. com 716.881.1051

13

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Marc h 11, 2020

JOBS

Buffalo Employment and Training Center /BETC 716-856-5627

www.workforcebuffalo. org The BETC is here to help with your job searching needs. We have free services to all jobseekers looking to find better paying work, an exciting new career, or wanting to upgrade skills to become more marketable. in today’s marketplace.

Orientation Times: Monday – Thursday, 10 am or 2 pm.

BLACK HISTORY continued ers in the South, many northerners were outraged. The decision greatly influenced the nomination of Abraham Lincoln to the Republican Party and his subsequent election, which in turn led to the South's secession from the Union.

The sons of the late Peter Blow, Dread Scott’s first slave master, who were childhood friends of Scott, had helped pay Scott's legal fees through the years.

After the Supreme Court's decision, the former master's sons purchased Scott and his wife and set them free.

Dred Scott died nine months later.

TALK PRO P L U S Hosted by

The Radman

(George Radney) &

The Mighty O’Ba (Patrick Freeman)

105.5 FM “The Beat” Rochester Every Saturday 7AM – 8AM “Taking you to the locker room and beyond!”

LEGAL NOTICES -Legal NoticeASI Design Legacy LLC. Filed with SSNY on 02/03/2020. Office: Erie County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail copy to: 436 Berkshire Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215.

Purpose: Any lawful.

Feb. 12,19,26 Mar. 4,11,18 -LEGAL NOTICEJR ENTERPRISES CONSULTING LLC 50 Fountain Plaza Suite 1400 KEYCENTER Buffalo, NY 14202.

Filling date. October 4, 2019 Feb. 26 Mar. 4,11,18,25 Apr. 1 -Legal NoticeFaith Hope & Love LLC. March 5, 2020 93 Wilkes Buffalo, NY 14215, Erie County The NY Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. NYSS may mail a copy of process to the LLC at: 93 Wilkes Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 The purpose of the Limited Liability Company is to sell baked goods. No specific duration attached to LLC. March 4,11,18, 25 April 1,8

LICENSING -LEGAL NOTICENotice is hereby given that a license number 3163549 for beer, cider, liquor and wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, cider, liquor and wine at retail Restaurant Park Vue LLC DBA Park Vue Soul Food Bar and Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 34 S Crossman Ave Buffalo NY 14211 in Erie county for on premise consumption.

LEGAL NOTICE BID COUNTY OF ERIE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES 95 FRANKLIN STREET BUFFALO, NEW YORK County of Erie, New York RFP RELEASE The Erie County Department of Social Services is seeking proposals from qualified not-for profit agencies to provide Safe Harbor Services (RFP #2020-013VF) and Non-Residential Domestic Violence Services (RFP #2020-012VF) in Erie County. The RFPs can be found at http://www2.erie.gov/purchasing/ index.php?q=requests-proposalsamp-construction-bids starting on March 16, 2020. A complete copy of the package can also be obtained by contacting Judith Kolmetz, at 716858-7932, or via email at Judith.Kolmetz@erie.gov on or after March 16, 2020.

All correspondence, communications and/or contact with the County in regard to any aspect of this proposal shall be with the ECDSS contact person listed on the specific RFP. Prospective proponents, or their representatives, shall not make contact with or communicate with any representatives of the County, including employees and consultants, other than the designated person in regard to any aspect of this proposal.

One copy of the final sealed proposal is due to the Erie County Department of Social Services, ATTN: JUDITH KOLMETZ, 95 Franklin Street, Room 865, Buffalo, New York 14202, by 3:00 p.m. (EST) on April 16, 2020. An electronic version of the submission must be submitted according to the instructions contained in the proposal.

Erie County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and waive any informality.

Marie A. Cannon Commissioner of Social Services

LEGAL NOTICE NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE

D/B/A CHAMPIION MORTGAGE V. WIEDEMAN

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS–SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF ERIE – NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY, Plaintiff, -against- Leah Wiedeman a/k/a Leah R. Wiedeman a/k/a Leah Wiedemann; if living, and if he/she be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; United States of America Internal Revenue Service CCP Lien Unit; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; Citibank, N.A.; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Defendants-Index No. 813301/2019. Plaintiff Designates Erie County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Erie County. To the above named Defendants–YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); the United States of America may appear or answer within 60 days of service hereof; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated February 10, 2020. NOTICE-YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME – If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE; New York State law requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT You are in danger of losing your home. If you fail to respond to the Summons and Complaint in this Foreclosure Action, you may lose your home. Please read the Summons and Complaint carefully. You should immediately contact an attorney of your local legal aid office to obtain advice on how to protect yourself. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure.

In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services’ at 1-800-269-0990 or visit the Department’s website at http://www.dfs.ny.gov.

FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. We are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Joseph R. Glownia, AJSC dated February 10, 2020. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 12910 Deerfield Drive, Sardinia, NY 14134 located at Section 326.06 Block 1 and Lot 34.1 Dated: February 11, 2020 Filed: February 12, 2020 Pincus Law Group, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Margaret Burke Tarab, Esq., 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 (516) 699-8902.

EMPLOYMENT

JOBS

Buffalo Employment and Training Center / BETC 716-856-5627

www.workforcebuffalo.org

Health Homes CoordinatorBuffalo. Coordinate services w/Health Home for decreasing high-risk medical and/or behavioral health costs for individuals being served in this Health Home. EEOC. employment@ wnyil.org by 3/20/20.

Grant Writer Opportunity

The Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. (BFNC) invites qualified candidates to submit proposals for contractual grant writing services. BFNC is seeking to contract with an individual or firm that specializes in the grant process and can assist BFNC with grant funding to cover youth and senior program services.

RFP’s shall be submitted electronically by email.

Email: Chandra Redfern, Chief Operating Officer at: credfern@bfnc.org.

Proposals must be received by BFNC by 5:00 PM on March 26, 2020. www.bfnc.org

Financial Analyst Buffalo State, State University of New York, seeks candidates for the position of Financial Analyst.

For a full job description and to apply: https://jobs.buffalostate.edu.

Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and committed to respect for diversity and individual differences.

LEGALS LEGAL NOTICE BIDS COUNTY OF ERIE NOTICE TO BIDDERS Hillcroft Drive Bridge Replacement PROJ# FA-5761.69-20 Department of Public Works, Division of Highways seeking sealed bids for Federal Aid Bridge Replacement Project. Sealed proposals will be received at Rath County Office Building, DPW, 95 Franklin St, Room 1404, Buffalo, NY 14202 by, and opened at, 10 am EST, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Certified check in the amount of $65,000.00 is required as bid deposit. Pre-let meeting scheduled Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 10 am EST at Rath County Office Building, DPW, 95 Franklin St, Room 1404, Buffalo, NY. Davis Bacon Wage Rates, Local Minority, & Disadvantaged Workforce goals, NYS Apprenticeship, and DBE goals may be required. Plans and additional bid submittal information on the Erie County website at: http: //www2.erie. gov/dpw see On Line Bid Retrieval.

LEGAL NOTICE BIDS

NFTA Procurement Invitation to Bid

4950 - AIRCRAFT APRON LIGHTS Download Bids from www.nfta.com LEGAL NOTICE BID REQUEST FOR BID Mark Cerrone, Inc. is requesting quotes for the Smith Street at Eagle Street Real Time Project – Buffalo Sewer Authority in Buffalo, NY for all scopes of work detailed in contract documents. Optional MWBE Pre-bid meeting will be available upon request at MCI Offices. Documents can be obtained by contacting jlarcara@markcerrone.com, Phone 716-282-5244, Fax 716-282-5245 or iSqFt®. Quotes due electronically or in person at 2368 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14305 by 3/16/2020 at 2:00pm. Certified Minority and Woman Owned Business Enterprise participation is strongly encouraged.

Find Jobs on thechallengernews.com

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS SUN 3/1

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CLEANING SERVICE

LAW OFFICE OF DARIA L. PRATCHER, PC “Everything Real Estate” 523 Main Street (716)541-8574

SISTER DIANE'S CLEANING SERVICE

PRATCHER & ASSOCIATES Franklin Muhammad (Pratcher) Attorney 1133 Kensington Avenue (716) 838-4612

AUTO BEN’S Downtown Tire

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BARBER SHOPS MASTERS TOUCH 1283 E, Delavan (716) 322-5641

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BOOKS ALIVE CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE 2275 Fillmore Ave. (716) 837-1118 ZAWADI BOOKS 1382 Jefferson Ave. 716-903-6740

FLORISTS MAUREEN’S Flower Market 441 Ellicott St. * 852-4600

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •Marc h 11, 2020

Wednesday March 11

Tuesday March 17

Niagara Falls New Hope Baptist Church Special Wednesday Night Program by the Youth: 7 p.m. For info 716- 282 -8118.

Uncrowned Community Builders Host Author of “Harriet Tubman: Bound for the Promise Land”: 5 p.m. Buffalo Historical Society.

Hustle for Health Urban Line Dancing for Seniors at Gloria J Parks: 3242 Main St.11am12pm. 716 -832 1010.

Wednesday March 18

The Durham Central City Baby Café - for pregnant and breastfeeding moms 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 200 Eagle St. (716) 427-0566.

Thursday March 12 Yoga: 7 p.m. Kemetic (Egyptian) Yoga $10. Juneteenth Headquarters, 1517 Genesee.

Friday March 13 Buffalo Filmmaker Doug Ruffin Returns for Screening of “67: Buffalo Uprising”: 7-9 p.m. Buffalo State College 230 Upton Hall, 1300 Elmwood Ave.; free & open to the pubic 2020 ReelRap FREE MOVIE AND DISCUSSION: 7 p.m.

'Night of the Living Dead' Outside The Box, 1272 Delaware Avenue (in the carriage house) 716-445-5122 Saturday March 14 St. John’s Lodge No. 16 Free & Accepted Masons Re-Dedication of Lodge: 17 Kingsley St. 11 a.m.

Annual Master’s Ball St. John’s Lodge No. 16 Free & Accepted Masons: The Marriott Hotel on Millersport Highway 6 p.m.

Retirement Party for Detective Sergeant Swat Commander, Cedric R. Holloway: 6-11 p.m., Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium, 1100 Jefferson & Dodge. Tickets $25. R.S.V.P: 602-7073 or 888-0485.

Winter Bash 2020 Outdoor Events: MLK Park. Free.

Buffalo On The Rise Networking Event: 2-7 p.m. William Emslie Y, 585 William St. (716)997-4264.

INAUGURAL HARRIET TUBMAN PARADE AND PROGRAM A HUGE SUCCESS! The Inaugural Harriett Tubman Parade and Program last weekend was a huge success! The WNY Peace Center estimated approximately 600 marching in the parade. Another 400 were in and out of the Merriweather Library where the after march program took place. Many people did not stay because they ran out of seats! Hats off to Betty Jean Grant and her We Are Women Warriors organization, dedicated parade staff and sponsors for an inspiring Saturday afternoon experience!

Monday March 16 Yoga: 7 p.m. Kemetic (Egyptian) Yoga $10. Juneteenth Bldg., 1517 Genesee St. Hustle for Health Urban Line Dancing for Seniors at Gloria J Parks: 3242 Main St, .

12pm - 1pm. 716 832 1010

See You at the Events

Public Meeting Notice: Board of the Westminster Community Charter School 3 p.m.

M&T Bank, One M&T Plaza - 16th Floor.

Hustle for Health Urban Line Dancing for Seniors at Gloria J Parks: 3242 Main St.11am12pm. 716 -832 1010 The Durham Central City Baby Café - for pregnant and breastfeeding moms 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 200 Eagle St. (716) 427-0566.

Thursday March 19 Community Meeting to Discuss Plans for MK Park: 6 p.m., Merriweather Library.

Join Betty Jean Grant & Sherry Sherrill Co-Hosts of

“THE RED, BLACK & GREEN SHOW” Every Saturday Morning @ 8AM WJJL -1440 AM Radio

Spirited • Informative • Relevant • Community News & Views To Join in the Conversation Call 716-674-9555.

Listen online on the WJJL Old Time Rock And Roll App, or live on Facebook at the Betty Jean Grant Facebook Homepage (To Become A Weekly Sponsor Call 716-602-5877)

SEE YOU AT THE EVENTS!

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews .com •Marc h 11, 2020

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