2
INSIDE ROCHESTER
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
Baobab Cultural Center Events 728 University Ave., (585) 563-2145.
“No Evidence of Failure” performed by Vitolio Jeune and Natalie Rogers.
Ageless Grace Rochester’s Garth Fagan Dance Featured in New York Times Rochester’s awesome Garth Fagan Dance Company was the subject of two New York Times features recently. In the Thursday, November 14 edition, a photo of the company was prominently displayed at the top of Page A2 “Inside The Times” under the caption “Ageless Grace.” The caption announced a review of the company’s most recent performance at New York’s Joyce Theatre where “the company, which includes several dancers over 50, celebrates the resilience and Ageless Gace: The above photo which appeared beauty of age.” in the Nov. 14 edition at the top of Page 2. The review, by Brian Seibert, praised the dancers performance; singling out 51-year-old Natalie Rogers, who returned to the Garth Fagan Dance company last year after an eight-year break, and who was described by the writer as looking “amazing.” He also had praise for performances by 61-year old Steve Humphrey and Norwood Pennewell, 55 as well as Nicolette Depass and Wynton Rice for their “rich Faganesque duet.” Prior to their performance at The Joyce, an article appeared on Nov. 1 dealing with the phenomenal staying power of his more mature dancers. Garth Fagan Dance concluded its triumphant return to The Joyce on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Brothers Club on So. Plymouth Seeking Food & Clothing Donations for Thanksgiving The Brothers Club is seeking any kind of donations that would help with their 2nd Thanksgiving Dinner and clothes give away. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, from 12-5 p.m., we will serve anyone that is in need of a meal. We also give away clothes to those who are in need of any assistance. Needed are turkeys, chicken, canned goods or just volunteers to help serve the food and give away the clothes. Anyone who has clothes to donate, please make sure they are clean and wearable. You may call to drop off your donations or make arrangements to have them picked up. We are located at 1172 Plymouth Ave South. For info call the brothers club @ 585-319-5573 or Eula @ 585-285-3914.
EDUCATIONAL SERIES African World History Class Tuesdays, 7:30-9 pm Hosted by Kiah Nyame The African World History class provides an ongoing experience of the contributions and achievements Africans and African-Americans have made throughout history. The class uses the historical experiences of African peoples to highlight the cultural values we share.Classes are open to the community - walk ins welcome. Donations are appreciated. RSVP YOGA WITH JIM THOMPSON 'Easy' Yoga with Jim Thompson. Classes take place Tuesday evenings 5:45 - 7:15. EDUCATIONAL SERIES West African Drumming and Dance Classes with Fana Bangoura *Drumming Classes: Saturdays, 10:30am-12:00pm at the Baobab *Dance: Sundays, from 2:00-3:30pm at Danc Encounters 215 Tremont St Open to students of all levels. Tuition for either class: $15 per session drop in; $10 for students with ID. No pre-registration necessary. CONTACT: kerfala.bangoura@gmail. com (503-679-3372; www.mounafanyi.org Now available at the center: The State of Black Rochester 2013 The State of Black Rochester 2013:
FEATURED IN FORTUNE MAGAZINE: The Xerox
Corporation made history in 2009 when it named Ursula Burns as its new CEO, making her the first AfricanAmerican woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Four years later, Burns has settled in as one of the most powerful figures of any kind in the world of business. In recognition of her leadership, Fortune Magazine in October ranked Burns at No. 13 on its list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.
AROUND TOWN KWANZAA MEETINGS ANNOUNCED
Kwanzaa meetings this year to plan and implement the 2013 Kwanzaa Celebration will be held on Wednesdays at the Baobab Cutural Center 728 University Avenue from 5-6pm October 9th - December 18th. Join us to plan an exciting and wonderful Kwanzaa Celebration! *The Housing Council Operating Rental Property Workshops, Sat. Dec. 14, The Housing Council, 75 College Ave., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sat. Jan. 25, East Rochester 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; fee $35 per person; to register call 546-370com
#38 Frank Summers scoring touchdown against Jets. PHOTO JEROME DAVIS
Bills Rout Jets 37-14 The Buffalo Bills defense (the best unit on team) came with an outstanding game with Da’ Norris Searcy scoring on a 32 yard interception return. The Bills defense forced Jets QB Geno Smith to stay in the pocket, and he was very careless with the ball. The defensive game plan was solid and well executed by the team. -CommentsCordy Glenn :“We were more physical and By GEORGE determined to rebound from recent losses.” RADNEY Da” Norris Searcy : “I had a straight shot on the interception, we knew the task at hand and had a good week of practicing and this game could be the one to turn the entire season.” What more can be said about the outstanding play of Bills All-Pro Safety Jairus Byrd, who had two interceptions, a sack and four tackles….. JUST PAY THE MAN! Byrd is playing at an all-pro level and (his interception against Steelers was MVP style) should be paid like it. The Bills Continued Page 12
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
ChallengerCN.com
Challenger Community News •
WNY AREA BRIEFS
Kennedy Urges Commissioner King to Schedule Community Forum in Buffalo
Umoja to Host Convening of the Elders
“From VickTim to Vick-tory: The Fall and Rise of Michael Vick” “From Vick-Tim to VickTory: The Fall and Rise of Michael Vick,” based on the newly published book of the same name by Ken Robinson, every Monday, at 7:30 pm on Time Warner Cable channel 20. Rebroadcast on Saturdays at 8 am. A book signing is scheduled for Friday, November 22, at the Perk’s Cafe, 36 Broadway Avenue, downtown (near the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library). Doors open at 6pm.
Scholarship Benefit Concert The Odyssey Jazz Band will host a college scholarship benefit concert for Ahmad Pleasant on Friday, December 6 at 6 p.m. at the Colored Musicians Club, 145 Broadway. Admission is $25.
Umoja Inc. will host its annual Convening of The Elders on Saturday, Dec. 7. The event will open with a luncheon at 12 noon followed by the Spoken Word from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Pratt Willert Community Center, 425 Pratt St. The event is sponsored by the Community Action Organization and will be marked by “great food, fellowship and wisdom.” The “Elders” include Robert Lewis, Ray Smith, George K. Arthur, Ron Bassham, Ted Kirkland, Solomon Myree, Alton Bowens, Willie Warren, William Peoples (host), Baba Eng, L. Nathan Hare and Sam Radford (moderator). For more information call 892-3462.
Moot Center Prepares for Annual Thanksgiving Dinner The Moot Senior Center will host its 33rd annual BFNC/Citigroup Thanksgiving Dinner for the community this Thursday, November 21 at the Center, 292 High St. Pappy Martin and the Love Supreme Trio will provide entertainment for the first seating. The seating schedule is as follows: *Seniors Seated at 12 noon *2nd Seating General Public, 2:30 – 5 p.m. *3rd Seating General Public, 5:30-7 p.m. Tickets are $1 at the door or can be purchased in advance at all BFNC locations. Letrice Harwell is chair of BFNC’s Thanksgiving Dinner committee.
The Central Park Five Park Five tells the story of the five Black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were wrongly convicted of the brutal raping of a white woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989, raises important questions about basic human rights. Presented by the Buffalo Chapter of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee, 7pm, Wednesday, November 20 at Burning Books, 420 Connecticut Street.
3
State Education Commissioner canceled, then rescheduled a series of town-hall meetings across the state, but NYSED has not yet scheduled forum in Erie County.
HONORING A HERO!
Erie County Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant (second from left) and Legislator Timothy R. Hogues (right), honored Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority bus driver Darnell Barton at the November 7 session of the Legislature after he saved a woman from committing suicide while driving on his route in Buffalo. As a result of his amazing heroic act, he was also honored by City Hall where Mayor Byron Brown presented him a check for $10,000 from real estate mogul Donald Trump; has appeared in publications all over the country and on national TV; was interviewed by celebrity chef Rachael Ray for national television; honored by the Buffalo Bills and received well wishes from Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea. Barton was driving his bus along Elmwood Avenue on Oct. 18 when a young woman was spotted hanging over the edge of the expressway overpass as others walked and rode by. He stopped his bus and saved the woman from jumping. Congratulations to a true hero!
Senator Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, is urging New York State Education Commissioner John King to schedule a community forum in Buffalo to ensure local families have the opportunity to hear more and ask questions about the state’s new Common Core standards. Previously, Commissioner King canceled, then rescheduled a series of town-hall meetings across the state. King was expected to appear in Williamsville for an October 24 forum prior to the cancellations, but the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has not yet scheduled a new forum in Erie County.
The Tradition Continues:
Local “Athletic Greats” to Gather at Humboldt Inn Thanksgiving Eve
T
he traditional Thanksgiving Reunion in honor of Buffalo’s “Athletic Greats” from the 40’s to the present will be held Wednesday, November 27 at 8 p.m. at the New Humboldt Inn on Humboldt and E. Delavan Avenue. The public is invited to attend. This marks the 14th year that the annual event has been held. A highlight of the Thanksgiving weekend in the community, it is organized yearly by Richard “The Lion Hearted” Clark along with gracious hosts Barbara and Lonnie of the New Humboldt Inn. Participants look forward to another year of laughter, “tall tales” of days gone by, and coming together. Some of the “greats” who graced Buffalo’s basketball courts, football fields, track fields, tennis courts, pools and baseball fields over the years include: Brad “Boxhead” Thurman, Ronnie “Chung” Stokes,” Freddie “Oil Can” Gordon, McCarthy “Mac” Gibson, Kevin “Babyface” Clark, Orv and Wilber Cott, Art “The Motivator” Serotte, Ricky “Sprint” McCarley, Hank “Track and Field” Sevillian, Bernard “High Jumpin” Chaney, Charles “English Channel” Chapman, Russeau “The Dolphin” Taylor, Jerry “Slamdunk” Rowe, Carl “Blue” Mitchell, Lamar “Buster” Keaton, Morris “Mo” Brown, Willie “Hutch” Jones, Willie “The Politician” Morris, Michael “The Creator” Norwood, Harry “Mr. Spiritual” Ward, Michael “God’s Gift” Chapman, Herchel “Lord’s Blessing” Chapman, Joe “Long Distance” Hicks, Jim
WILLIE “HUTCH” JONES is truly one of the “Athletic Greats” – both on the court and off. With a history of playing in the NBA with such teams as Los Angeles Lakers, the San Diego Clippers, and meeting the likes of Kareem Abdul Jabbar , Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, he’s the founder of the Willie “Hutch” Jones Sports Educational & Sports Program for Youth here in Buffalo, which is over 25 Continued Page 12 years old!
Dr. Nuriddin
Muslim Journal to Honor Former Buffalo Resident, Abdel Nuriddin Former Buffalo resident Imam/Dr.. Abdel J. Nuriddin, N.D., Ph.D., will received the Monte I. Fateen Sr. Awards at the 10th annual Muslim Journal “A Time to be Grateful” awards weekend Dec. 13-15 at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel in Bermuda. Dr. Nuriddin, who formerly served as the Resident Imam of Masjid Nu’man in Buffalo from 1980 to 1988, also served as an Associate Imam at the world renowned Masjid Malcolm Shabazz in Harlem from 1992 to 1995. A world traveler, he currently resides in Greenboro, North Carolina where he is active in the community and owns and operates Genesis Health and Nutrition Center LLC with his wife Connie (Genesis was founded in Buffalo and was located on Walden Avenue). He has studied with some of the world’s most noted holistic healers and teachers and has a Doctorate Degree in Naturopathy from the Clayton School of Natural Healing. Dr. Nuriddin is the author of two books, “Causes, Symptoms and Solutions” and “The Five Essentials of Balanced Health.” A much sought after speaker, he hosts a weekly live call-in tv program in Greensboro as well as hosts a program titled “Wholistic Health” on AM360 blog talk radio on Mondays at 9 a.m.
ChallengerCN.com
4 National/International NEWS blackagendareport Food Stamp Overpayment Nelson Mandela Thompson News Briefs Becomes Remains 'Quite ill' Glitch: Poetic Justice? NOVEMBER 20, 2013
South Africa's former president, Nelson Mandela, remains "quite ill" and unable to speak because of tubes that are keeping his lungs clear of fluid, though he is relaxed, his former wife told a South African newspaper. "He remains very sensitive to any germs, so he has to be kept literally sterile. The bedroom there (in his suburban Johannesburg home) is like an ICU ward," Winnie Madikizela-Mandela told the Sunday Independent. "He is 95 years old and it is difficult for him, because of all the tubes that are in his mouth to clear the (fluid from his) lungs, and prevent an infection recurring." Because of those tubes, she said, he communicates through his face. "But the doctors have told us they hope he will be able to recover his voice," she said, adding that he is being treated by 22 doctors at his home. Mandela's former wife shot down reports that the former anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace prize winner was on life support. "I have heard this nonsense that he is on life support. He is not," she told the newspaper. When asked if he was peaceful, she said, "Very. When he is very relaxed, he is fine," adding that it helps he is at his home, an environment that he recognizes. Mandela has been in intensive medical care at his Johannesburg home since being discharged on Sept. 1 after nearly three months in a hospital for a recurring lung infection. Madikizela-Mandela, 77, published a book of her prison diaries earlier this year entitled "491 Days: Prisoner number 1323/69."
Brooklyn’s 1st Black DA
Former federal prosecutor Kenneth Thompson has defeated longtime Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes to become the borough’s first Black DA. Hynes, the Brooklyn DA for 23 years, conceded defeat with 99 percent of precincts reporting, Thompson had 75 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. Thompson, a former federal prosecutor who tried the New York City police officers accused of attacking Abner Louima in 1999, is taking over one of the largest district attorney’s offices in the country, with more than 80,000 cases a year. As a private attorney, he was best known for representing the hotel maid at the center of a sex assault scandal involving former International Monetary Fund head Dominique StraussKahn.
ATTENTION FORMER COKE OVEN EMPLOYEES
Coke oven emissions from Bethlehem Steel, Donner Hanna and other Western New York coke oven facilities are a potent cause of lung cancer and other cancers. If you or a family member is suffering from or died as a result of a cancer from work on coke oven batteries, you may be able to file a legal claim against the manufacturers of coke ovens and collect significant financial compensation.
ONE WESTERN NEW YORK LAW FIRM HAS EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA
LIPSITZ & PONTERIO, LLC
We are Located in Downtown, Buffalo, NY
Call Us Today: 716-849-0701 www.lipsitzponterio.com
135 Delaware Avenue • 5th Floor • Buffalo, New York 14202
New Book on William Patterson, of “We Charge Genocide”
Throughout their history in North America, Blacks have sought international allies in the fight against racist oppression, said Dr. Gerald Horne, professor of African American Studies at the University of Houston. In his new book, Black Revolutionary: William Patterson and the Globalization of the African American Freedom Struggle, Horne details how the Black communist lawyer’s international organizing efforts “eventually led to the erosion of Jim Crow” in the U.S. Patterson played a central role in the famous Scottsboro Boys case and, along with Paul Robeson, presented a petition to the United Nations, in 1951, charging the U.S. with genocide against Blacks.
Crusading Black Radio Station Needs $4,600 to Survive Radio station WMXP, a low-power FM outlet operated by the Malcolm X Center, in Greenville, South Carolina, can only broadcast an hour or two a day because of a faulty transmitter, said activist and attorney Efia Nwangaza. Even more desperate is the need to raise $4,600 to save the community center’s building from the county tax collector. “We did the radio station as an enhancement of the center,” said Nwangaza. “It has to be a vehicle that extends the voice of the people of the community. Otherwise, it has no meaning.” To help, go to www.wmxp955.com, or call 864.901.8627.
Advertise
TODAY CALL 881.1051
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
First The government cuts benefits to most food-stamp recipients when a 2009 federal program that increased monthly allotments expired Nov. 1. Benefits fell by $11 for individuals and $36 for families of four. That means people will run out of food earlier in the month and turn to food pantries to fill the growing gap. The reduction has affected more than 47 million people . It is the largest wholesale cut in the Food Stamp program since Congress passed the first Food Stamps Act in 1964 and touches about one in every seven Americans. THEN… Last Saturday night some food stamp recipients in Louisiana had unlimited funds for several hours because of a glitch with Xerox. Two Walmart stores were left ‘decimated’ and their shelves stripped of food. Shoppers abandoned full carts in the middle of the store after the cards were fixed . NOW…WalMart will have to pay for hundreds of thousands of dollars of groceries bought by Louisiana food stamp recipients after that computer glitch gave them unlimited funds on their government-issued credit cards. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, which oversees the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card program in the state, said WalMart could have instituted an emergency $50 limit for each customer, but chose not to - and as a result, the retail giant must foot the sizable bill. It comes after dozens of welfare families with EBT cards picked the shelves bare in stores in Springhill and Mansfield on Saturday and walked away with up to ten shopping carts filled with meat and other groceries - in a spending frenzy described by local officials as ‘worse than Black Friday’. “… There was no food left on any of the shelves, and no meat left. The grocery part of Walmart was totally decimated,’ Springhill Police Chief Will Lyn told ABC News. Chief Lyn said he saw some families ring up bills up more than $700. The average monthly food stamp allotment in Louisiana is $136 per person. LOCALLY food stamp recipients in Buffalo were also “blessed” with the extra benefit…the “glitch” to overpay recipients was poetic justice in the eyes of those who need help the most….
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
5
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
HEALTH MATTERS
Soda Intake Could Factor into Increased Risk of Kidney Damage Anyone concerned with their long-term health might want to rule out, or at least limit, the intake of sugary sodas. Studies completed with the help of approximately 12,000 employees at the Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan gauged how many soft drinks were included in daily diets. Eleven percent of employees that participated in the study confessed to at least two sodas a day and showed protein in their urine three years after the initial survey. Dr. Orlando Gutierrez, a kidney specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham told the U.S. National Library of Medicine that protein in the urine can carry dangerous health consequences. “We now understand that protein in the urine may be a really early marker for heart disease, stroke and heart failure,” he said. “We can assume that this is a healthy population, so I think the results are relative to healthier people, not just those with kidney disease.” A separate study completed on rats at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland showed that fructose can affect kidney sensors used for salt balance. As a result of the increased sensitivity, cells in the kidney reabsorb salt at an increased rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 20 million Americans over the age of 20 suffer from chronic kidney disease. Of that 20 million, 35 percent have diabetes, and 20 percent have hypertension.
76080_Fuel_Fall2013N4NPrint / 8” x 10” / B&W PUBS: Buffalo Challenger
Struggling with your heating bills?
You may be eligible for up to $400 in assistance from the Neighbor For Neighbor Heat Fund. If you or someone you know is having trouble with paying their heating bills, our Neighbor For Neighbor Heat Fund can help. In Western New York, grants of as much as $400 are available to individuals who meet one of the following criteria:
• Individual is 55 years old or older. • Individual (or a member of their household) is handicapped or has a disability that reduces the household’s income.
• Individual has a certified medical emergency. • Individual is receiving unemployment benefits.
To apply, contact The Salvation Army at (716) 883-9800, extension 230, the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging at (716) 753-4471, or Catholic Charities at (716) 856-4494 (ask for parish outreach), to find the nearest agency and determine the necessary documentation to bring to the application interview. Don’t delay, as funds are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Grant amounts are determined by need, and individuals must have made at least four payments to their heating bill within a 12-month period from the date of application in order to be eligible. You may qualify even if you are not a National Fuel customer.
HOPE for all seasons
76080_Fuel_N4NPrintAds.indd 3
11/7/13 2:46 PM
6
ChallengerCN.com
FAITH BASED
Zion Missionary Christmas Bazaar
Zion Missionary Baptist Church Greeter’s Committee will host their annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 179 E. Ferry St. at Waverly in the Van C. Thomas Fellowship Hall. Individuals interested in becoming a vendor may call Ms. Joseph at 891-5119 or Ms. Moss at 248-6416.
“I love the Lord because He hears my prayers and answers them. Because he bends down and listens. I will pray as long as I breathe! Psalm 116:1-2 TLB
NOVEMBER 20, 2013 Challenger Community News •
True Bethel Annual Christmas Bazaar True Bethel Senior Fellowship Ministry Annual Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, November 30 from 10 AM to 3PM at 907 E. Ferry Street. There will be many of our community’s local business owners on hand. If you are interested in becoming a vender please contact Anita Sawyer at 895-8222x204 by November 20th.
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
ChallengerCN.com
Challenger Community News •
spoken word
Lips Of Thanksgiving by Lorayne D. Simmons Gratefulness in thanksgiving is the reasonfor abundant is God's blessings in every season. (JOHN 1:16; HEB. 13:1516) When I look back over all my days, how can I not give God all the praise? (PS. 50:14) When I count the many blessings He has generously bestowed, melodiously I cannot help but praise Him the more. (IS. 51:3) When I look back over how many times He has made a way, how can I not give Him thanksgiving every day? (PS. 26:7) He is worthy to be praised and to be higher lifted up for running over is my life, my plate and my cup as on this day of remembrance and thanksgiving I sup. (JOHN 6:11) When gathering together with manyforget not to thank God for His plenty. (PS.116:18-19; REV. 7:12) ALL RIGHTS @NOV. 1994
RESERVED.
Agape to Celebrate 10 Years of the Preaching Ministry of Pastor Allen An evening of celebration recognizing 10 years of the preaching ministry of Rev. Brandon Karl Allen, Senior Pastor of Agape AME Church, 224 Northland Avenue, will take place on Saturday, November 23 at 5 p.m. at the church. All psalmists, musicians, choirs, praise teams and liturgical dance ministries are invited to join in. For more information call 510-2746 or 768-0943. “The Message of our Ministry in in the Music.”
Pastor Brandon Karl Allen
BPS REPORT continued from page 10 rate at the end of 5 years, if poverty is not eradicated in 5 years? Dr. Brown also notes for the Senators that teacher development is available, but since the union contract doesn’t mandate it, most of them don’t go for it. So, teachers refuse to develop but poverty is to blame. How is it that so many of us expend the effort to gain stellar credentials, and swallow such balderdash? How does a descendent of those who walked out of slavery and taught our babies under trees with nothing but love repeat such nonsense? Have we forgotten that a boy named George Washington Carver, who was born into slavery studied nature and became a master inventor and teacher? After clamoring for her own education, didn’t a penniless Mary McCleod Bethune
sell pies from a bicycle, seat 5 impoverished women on wooden crates, and grow those five into a university? What accounts for the brilliance, wealth, and entrepreneurial spirits of Madame CJ Walker, A.G. Gaston and so many others born into poverty? Far more frightening than the ravages of poverty is the habit of acquiring just enough of White folks’ “deegrees” to be utterly useless to self. Stop letting people tell you our babies are slow, retarded, misbehaved, have ADHD, or are otherwise unfit or undeserving of a quality education. In spite of everything, defend them. Each one of them was born with the essence of divine, and in an environment that acknowledges, respects, honors, and encourages the god force within them, they will excel in every course. Let’s get busy creating that environment. More next time.
VISIT THE NASH HOUSE MUSEUM
The Nash House Museum 36 Nash Street*856-4490 www.nashhousemuseum.org
Historic home of the late Rev. J. Edward Nash and Frances Jackson Nash. Open by appointment November - January
7
Dr. Walter Earl Fluker To Lead Discussion On Ethical Leadership Dr. Walter Earl Fluker will present a discussion on ‘”Ethical Leadership The Quest for Character, Civility and Community” on Saturday, November 23 at 9 a.m. at St. John Baptist Church, followed by a book signing. Dr. Fluker will be St. John’s special guest for their Sunday Worship Service on Sunday, November 24 at 10 a.m. Minister Michael Chapman is host pastor. Walter Earl Fluker is the Martin Luther King Jr .Professor of Ethical Leadership, the editor of the Howard Thurman Papers Project and the Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Initiative for the Development of ethical Leadership at Boston University of Theology. He was founding executive director of the Leadership Center and the Coca-Cola Professor of Leadership Studies at Morehouse College. He is the founder of VisionQuest International and Walter Earl Fluker and Associates. Dr. Fluker is a well known expert in the theory and practice of ethical leadership.
Worship This Week!
ENTERTAINMENT Forbes: “The Best Man” Steals Thor’s Thunder 8
“Yes, Black people go to the movies”
H
ollywood is a place of brilliance and finance, but it’s not always a place of social intelligence. The big wigs out west seem to keep forgetting that Black people are an extraordinary audience for new films, and that they spend a lot of money. In fact, Black people love entertainment more than nearly any other group. One writer at Forbes Magazine, Scott Mendelson, actually seems to get it. Mendelson wrote an article about the enormous success of “The Best Man Holiday” on opening night, as it raked in $10.7 million, (an unquestionable triumph for the $17m comedy) making it the #1 ranked film in the country, even ahead of “Thor: The Dark World,” and it’s massive budget. Mendelson says that the film gives two important lessons for Hollywood execs to observe: First, being the top-ranked film matters less than being the top story of the weekend. ”The Best Man Holiday” is expected to earn at least $30 million for the weekend, but we predict that it’s going to be closer to the $40 million dollar mark given the momentum of the film in theaters. The second lesson that Mendelson offers Hollywood is that “Yes, Black people go to the movies.” We all like to act surprised over and over when Tyler Perry scores again or when Kevin Hart’s concert film breaks out in limited release. But Black audiences like seeing themselves on screen. More importantly, they really like seeing Black characters onscreen in starring roles in films that don’t necessarily revolve around racially-based adversity. When Hollywood bothers to make films like that, African-American audiences generally show up in relatively solid numbers. He mentions in the article that many of the stars of the original “Best Man” film have become bigger stars in the 14 years since the original project hit the big screen. “Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, and Harold Perrinea are all ‘names’ in the African American community. The Best Man Holiday not only operated as a nostalgic sequel for audiences pining for a time (1997-2004) when films like The Best Man weren’t an aberration, but also happened to be primed to capitalize on being the first big ensemble romantic comedy to open after the (we hope) trend-setter that is Think Like A Man.”
Orchestra Rehearsal
Rehearsal for the Larry Salt er Soul Orchestra is held every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. the public is invited. Call first. (716) 855-9383
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
ON STAGE The Sunset Limited
on stage @ Paul Robeson Theatre at the Afrian American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave., Nov. 8 - Dec. 1; Fri/Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 4 p.m.; $25, seniors/students $22; 884-2013
Wayne Shorter
November 21, UB Center for the Arts; tickets @ Center Box Office; for info; 645-2787 or visit UBCFA. ORG
Faith, Bilal and thJazz Example
Sat. Nov. 30, The Metropolitan, 1670 Main St., tickets $25 @ http://faithharris.com; $30 @ door.
Clybourne Park,
starring Buffalo’s own Barry Williams & Danica Riddick, Shea’s, Nov. 8 Dec. 1; Thursdays @ 7:30 p.m; Fridays & Saturdays @ 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; tickets $35 & $17 students @ Shea’s Ticket Office.
AUDITIONS The Paul Robeson Theatre will hold auditions for its February production of "Branches From The Same Tree" on Mon. Dec. 2nd and Wed. Dec. 4th at 7pm. Please call in advance for an appointment 884-2013. Paulette D. Harris is artistic director.
SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
The Beautiful Music Band
featuring “Peaches,” Saturday Novembe 23 (Thanksgiving Celebration) and December 21 (Christmas Party) & Dec. 28 at The New Humboldt Inn, E. Delavan & Humboldt Parkway; Also playing at the Seneca Niagara Casino Middle Stage, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22.
Saturday LIVE
@ The Historic Colored Musicians Club, Live Music 8:30 p.m., followed by open mic; host Larry Salter. Admission $5.
See you at the events
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
9
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
Line Dance Classes *Urban Line Dance classes by Cheri, 716-2009702 will be held: Monday’s at the 600 Club, North & Fox 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at New Humboldt Inn, 8-10 p.m.; the last Tuesday of each month Ballroom classes. Wednesdays at St. Phillip’s, 15 Fernhill from 6 to 8 p.m. *Miss Barbara Tuesdays at St. John Baptist church Family Life Center,184 Goodell St. 6 pm: Instructor Barbara Glover *Willa J. Line Dance, Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10:30 a.m., Martha Mitchell Center, 175 Oakmont; Thursdays Schiller Park Center, 60 and Better! 10:30 a.m.; 444-2046
ON STAGE LISTINGS ARE FREE!
A New Day Dawns at WUFO Radio The first station to program to Buffalo’s African American community, has a new building, new owners and a new vision, as Sheila Brown and Darius Pridgen take control.
F
or as far back as most with the fact that she is a of us familiar with smart, savvy, ambitious WUFO 1080 Radio business woman, made her can remember, there have a force to be reckoned with. been attempts, and/or at Joining Sheila in the new least a strong desire among venture is an equally astute local persons to purchase the and well-connected busistation from its Pittsburgh- nessman and an incredbased owners – Sheridan ible man of faith – the Rev. Broadcasting. Darius Pridgen, Pastor of Last Friday at the ribbon True Bethel Baptist Church. cutting ceremonies mark- They worked on the deal for ing the station’s new home several months and formed on Broadway, a few doors a new company to run the down from the historic Col- station – vision Multi Media ored Musicians Club in the Group. planned African Heritage Call them the ‘dynamic Corridor, General Manager duo,’ as they both share Sheila Brown announced the vision of strengthening that not only did the station WUFO’s position as the have a new home leading voice – but new owners of the commuas well: herself nity in the City of and Rev. Darius Buffalo. WUFO Pridgen. was the first As majorradio station to ity stockholder, program to the owning the staBlack commution is a dream nity locally. Its come true for legacy is amazSheila, who has ingly rich. spent years vi- Sheila and Rev. Pridgen. The station sualizing and began officially praying for it; a dream she’s broadcasting on November had since the first day she 2, 1962 with famed Clevewalked into the old LaSalle land dis jockey Eddie O’Jay Street office at just 21 years as the first personality on air of age. broadcasting with a “rhythm She started from the bot- and blues” format. tom – as an account execuWUFO has provided the tive – and worked her way nation with some of its most up; even leaving the station popular African American at one point briefly and em- radio personalities including barking on a new businsess famous New York City DJ venture – only to return in Frankie Crocker, Gary Byrd 2006 with the same burning and Jerry Bledsoe. Also: desire and dream. Thelka McCall and her son “I even kept journals...I Dwaune Dancer Donovan, have about 12…laying out the incomparable Jimmy what I would do once I Lyons (“The Lyon’s Den”), owned the station. I never Don Mullins, Sunny Jim stopped praying,” she said Kelsey, Al Brisbane, Chucky T, Al Parker, Darcel Howell, Her strong faith coupled Keith Pollard (“The Disco-
A NEW DAY: (L-R) Legislator Betty Jean Grant, Council Member and co-owner Rev. Darius Pridgen, Mayor Brown (behind Sheila), co-owner Sheila Brown and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes join together to cut the ribbon at the new WFO home. Photo by Princess Photography tizer) and countless others. Today WUFO plays Urban Contemporary & Gospel hits mixed with community oriented talk, sports, Soul Oldies, Reggae and Afro Beat on weekends. It’s the only station where listeners can hear what the African American commuity truly feels about local and national issues, starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday mornings with The Community Hour call- in talk show, followed by Bethesda World Harvest and the Nation of Islam. The pulse continues throughout the week, for example, with talk show host Jim Anderson on Tuesdays. The NAACP and the Urban League both also have talk shows onWednesdays. And although Sheila has lots of ideas and plans for the future, there are no immediate major changes on the horizon right now, she said. When asked about converting to 24 hours at some point, she assured that was something they would definitely be working on. “I would like to say to the community thank you and please keep supporting us… make WUFO 1080 a part of your day.” Meanwhile, Sheila Brown will be doing what she does best, running the day to day operation of the station that she not only loves, but now owns…. (Sheila, age 49 is married to Kenneth Brown (23 years) They have three children, Morgan, a sophomore at North Carolina A&T where
she is majoring in Pre Med; and twin boys who attend the Park School. She ihas been a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church all her life. Both her parents - Charles and Frankie Holloway – are deceased. “I keep a photo of them right behind my desk…shinning on me every morning,” she said. They were well aware of their daughter’s inner most desire. They would be pleased to know that her dream has finally come true.)
AROUND TOWN Marnetta Malcolm
Saturday, November 23rd The Buffalo Urban League Gala…Buffalo Convention Center…6pm …honoring the brightest in the community and the BEST formal affair of the season….more info buffalourbanleague. org Saturday, November 30th 9pm… Eric Martin and Grand Slam Promotions “Old School Party”…Pearl Street…ticket $15 before 11/9 & $20 after…available at Hair to Go Natural and Doris Records….Great way to reconnect with friends that come home for the holiday…. Saturday,Nov. 30th @8pm K.Michelleat the Tralf with special guest Sevyn Streeter…$40 adv/$45 day of…
10
GENERATIONS
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Buff State BENGALS basketball team is loaded and ready to go!!
tenacious defender. Many BENGAL faithful remember his highlight dunk of last season (can be seen on YouTube) in the season finale at Geneseo. Newcomer transfer Junior Legree Kirkland a.k.a. “Lex” (Frederick Douglas, Brooklyn NY) adds some much needed size (6’4 225 lbs.) inside. One of the premier shot blockers in his last year at Broome C.C., he is expected to step in a fill the front court gap left by Seth Runge and others. Another junior of note is Chris Thompson (Channel View H.s., Far Rockaway NY). Chris (6’5 230 lbs.) has a chance to step in as a big man who is versatile both inside and out. Many expect him to cause problems for the opposing teams’ center because of his versatility. Freshman Lovell Smith (6’3) and Rey Jordan (5’10) are fresh off a state championship with McKinley H. S. last season! Both made All High and All Western NY team last season. They know a little something about team play and winning so they should fit in just fine with the seasoned veterans on the BENGALS. Jovohn Owens (6’1) led Hutch Tech to the Class A – Championship game last season and he too also knows what it takes to be a winner. This All-High/ All-Western NY player has shown that his future looks
Recently Herman Wa l l a c e died after spending more than 40 years behind bars in solKARIMA itary conAMIN finement. He and his co-defendants, Robert King and Albert Woodfox (“The Angola Three”), had spent most of their time in prison at Louisiana State Penitentiary, aka “Angola,” aka “The Farm.” Back in 2005, when Prisoners Are People Too had its first meeting, we screened “The Farm: Angola USA,” a film about Louisiana State Penitentiary, a prison farm located on a 18,000acre property which was previously a plantation. What happens there today is little different from what happened there when enslaved Africans worked the land. Disrespect, humiliation, mental and physical abuse, and murder is the order of the day. Herman Wallace and his co-defendants were convicted of the 1972 stabbing murder of a prison guard, 23-year-old Brent Miller. Interestingly enough, there was no physical evidence linking them to the crime, DNA evidence was lost, and the testimony of the main eyewitness (a jailhouse snitch) was discredited. Miller’s wife has repeatedly and openly stated that she does not believe that these men were responsible for the death of her husband. After 29 years, Robert King’s conviction was overturned on appeal and he was released. King has worked tirelessly to build international recognition and support for the plight of “The Angola Three.” Albert Woodfox is still in solitary confinement. Herman Wallace died on October 4, 2013. The US government denies the existence of political prisoners. These are men and women who remain incarcerated for their political views and actions. Wallace and Woodfox were members
Continued Page 12
Continued Page 11
T
he Buffalo State BENGALS kicked off their season this past Saturday when they traveled to Rochester NY to face the St. John Fisher Cardinals. Fisher, a member of the Empire 8 basketball conference, was voted the preseason favorite by the sportswriters and coaches in that league, to win the E8 (Empire 8) championship this season. The BENGALS prevailed 67-59 in a game that saw the debut of 8 BENGAL newcomers. Many consider this year’s team to be the youngest in recent memory (6 freshman) however many of the freshman come from winning programs such as McKinley, Hutch Tech, Amherst, St Joes and Akron High School! The two lone seniors on this year’s team are Chris Castren a.k.a. “Caz” (Voorheesville, Voorheesville NY), who last year averaged nearly six points a game and almost three rebounds in 24 contests! When his jumper is on, he, and Rod Epps, form one of the most deadly outside combos in the league. Once “Caz” (6’3 -190 lbs.) is fully recovered from this past summer’s knee surgery, he should be a force to reckon with in the SUNYAC. He is joined by fellow senior Justin Mitchell (Timon High school, Buffalo NY) whose resume includes MVP of the SUNYAC tournament in his last full season (2010-11) and 2nd team All SUNYAC in both 2010-11 and 2011-12 season(s). Injuries have kept Justin out the past season and a half, however he returns for his final season stronger than ever. Justin (6’5 200 lbs.) is a dominant inside presence, on offense and defense. He should have a senior year to remember. Both Caz and Justin were part of the BENGALS “Sweet 16” team that won the SUNYACS and advanced to the 3rd round of the NCAA playoffs in 2011! Roderick Epps (Uniondale, Uniondale NY) returns with a 20.3 pts. per game aver-
2013-14 Men’s Basketball Team: Bradley Doyley (3), Johnathan Belton (4), Jordan Glover (10), Roderick Epps (11), Rey Jordan (12), Legree Kirkland (13), Chris Thompson (23), Justin Mitchell (24), Chris Castren (25), Chris Boyd (30), Maurice Miles (33), Lovell Smith (35), Jovohn Owens (44), Sean Buckley (50). Fajri Ansari, is Head Men’s Basketball Coach; Kevin Glover, Malik Campbell, Mark Gross Assistant coaches; Arthur Eve Jr. Assistant Coach-Operations; and Tariq Ansari, Assistant Coach – Technical Support.
age (4th in the SUNYAC). This sharpshooting junior should cause many sleepless nights for opposing coaches with his quick trigger. Last year Rod (6’4) and Jake Simmons formed one of the highest scoring combo backcourts in the nation. Maurice Miles (Hutch Tech, Buffalo NY), returns after missing all but 6 games of last season due to a fractured foot. This 6’4 210 lb. junior is considered by many to be one of the most versatile players in the SUNYAC. This year he could be seen in a starting role at anywhere from the 2 (Shooting guard) to the 5 (Center)! The key to all of the BENGALS success could be sophomore guard Bradley Doyley (H.S. for Sports management, Brooklyn NY). For the past three seasons the point has been manned by seniors Ant Hamer (last season) and Norman Simmons (the two prior seasons). Bradley (5’10) has shown, from his play last year, that he is more than ready to assume a leadership role and run the BENGALS offense this season. This writer expects big things from Bradley this season. The other sophomore, Chris Boyd (East High, Buffalo NY) gradually made his way into the rotation last year as the season grew. Chris (6’0) has the potential to be one of the deadliest 3 pt. threats in the conference, if he continues to work hard. He is also a
Remembering Herman Wallace (1941-2013
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
The Need For Reform Of The Public Educational System(S)Throughout America Part 1of a 3-Part Series I appreciate the opportunity to share some thoughts on the reality, as I see it, of the public educational system(s) in America, and what impact it has on our overall condition as a people. I welcome and appreciate it because it also seems to me that we, as a people, are relinquishing the TRUST given to us by GOD, in each generation, to always promote, develop and improve upon the quality of our collective human condition. The quality of our lives, as human beings, and particularly as Afrikan Americans depends to great extent on the quality of the education we receive, or don’t receive. I have learned that, and history conBrother firms, that the real quality of life in any BABA ENG society, and certainly in a pluralistic one, depends to a great extent on the quality of education of its citizens. As you, my people know, I spent a lot of time in prison and learned first hand there that the degree of the civilization, or lack of it, in a society can actually be measured by entering its prison. As that is true, so it is also true that the degree of civilization in a society, and an assessment of its future potential, can be measured by entering its classrooms! I believe we can all agree that there is a lot that is wrong in our classrooms, in our schools. So, it should not be a surprise to us when we hear of, or even see the level of violence, anger, distorted thinking and behavior exhibited by our youth. It should also not be a mystery that our behavior is the manifestation of our thinking. If our thinking is not correct, then our behavior will not be correct. So, does its surprise you that our youth act out, on what we have allowed to be put into their heads? What is put into their heads from the t.v’s, from the movies, from the dvd’s; from your talk and my talk, or lack of it; from peers who are exposed to the same distorted images and ideas, and from the classrooms, is what we allow! I believe we can agree that the highest form of human development should be the goal of any family or educational system. That’s fundamental. When rightly guided, it gives itself to the improvement and maintenance of the best quality of life achievable for the people of that time. Families, communities, society as a whole is nourished by educated and rightly guided people of all nationalities and ethnicities who share in the work, and the benefits of collective social advancement. You know , I like to look to history for examples of social development in order to discover what methods and strategies older civilizations used in order to develop the individual and society. From that examination of history, I have come to believe that one of the first civilizations to achieve outstanding success in education and therefore individual and social development was Ancient Khemit, commonly and mistakenly known as ancient Egypt. Continued Next Week
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
OPINIONS
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
Our Story
KWAME TURE (Stokely Carmichael)
Kwame Ture, formerly known as Stokely Carmichael, the former SNCC activist whose name will forever be linked to the term “Black Power,” died in Conakry, Guinea, on November 15, 1998, at age 57. Ture spent his last decades as an organizer of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party. He once said: “Our grandfathers had to run, run, run. My generation’s out of breath. We ain’t running no more.” A magnificent communicator in the same league as skilled orators such as Malcom X, Thomas Sankara, Jean Bertrand Aristide, Fidel Castro and Tajudeen Abdul Raheem, Kwame Ture could speak at great length without notes and with amusing wit. *After leaving Howard U. in 1964 Ture was named regional coordinator of SNCC projects in the Mississippi delta, where he organized the voter registration of a people who had been denied the franchise since the end of Reconstruction. 1964 also was the year of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, (FDP). The Democratic Party of Mississippi refused to accept AfricanAmerican delegates to the national convention that year The FDP remained a powerful force however, registering thousands.
“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
BPS Report: Blaming the Victims
dear editor... Glad the Election is Over… Dear Editor: I’m glad this election is over because I was really getting tired of listening to all the shamful fake election commercials and B.S. the present administration was putting out. “Buffalo on the Move?” There’s no question that the present Mayor has spent or invested $1.7 billion dollars in economic development, but how much of it went to revitalize the poverty areas? If you look around you’ll be hard pressed to see it manifested anywhere in our community. Statistics state that Buffalo lost over 20,000 residents since this Mayor took office; unemployment among Black men is the highest in the nation; we are the 4th poorest city in the country, and we have a failing education system which he never speaks on until Election time – and then he’s not really saying anything. He’s in bed with a big time developer who makes it a habitt of attacking Black women, especially anyone who has a position in leadership. Crime is at all- time high, unsolved homicides are rising among black case, look around at the east side and ask yourself do we deserve better? Why we continue to just turn our heads and give this total sell out Mayor a free pass, is beyond me. Talk about S.O.S.-Stuck On Stupid - wake up Buffalo wake up! Sergio was the best choice without a doubt in the general election, but as we know, the best man doesn’t always win. -Darnell Jackson
REMEMBERNG HERMAN WALLACE
continued from page 10 of the prison’s chapter of the Black Panther Party. As activists, they worked to improve conditions at Angola. They organized petitions and hunger strikes to protest segregation within the prison, and to end systemic rape and violence. For decades, Herman Wallace endured the torture of solitary confinement and the lack of proper medical care, even after a diagnosis of liver cancer. His many attempts to present his case to the courts, proclaiming his innocence, were dismissed and ignored. On October 1, 2013, a federal court overturned his murder conviction, saying that his confinement had been unfair and unconstitutional. On October 2, dying of liver cancer, Mr. Wallace was finally taken from the prison by family and friends. On October 4, he joined the Ancestors. At the next meeting of Prisoners Are People Too, we will screen the award –winning documentary “Herman’s House” which details a project that Herman Wallace participated in with filmmaker Angad Bhalla and artist, Jackie Sumell. The question was asked: “After forty years of living in a 6 foot by 9 foot prison cell for 23 hours a day, for more than forty years, what kind of house do you dream about?” The film details the symbolic meaning of Herman’s dream house. Join us on Monday. November 25, 7:00-9:00pm (note time change), at the Pratt-Willert Community Center, 422 Pratt Street in Buffalo. The Circle of Supporters for Reformed Offenders and Friends of BaBa Eng are the sponsors of this program. For further information, contact Karima Amin, 716-8348438 or karima@prisonersarepeopletoo.org or BaBa Eng, g.babaeng@yahoo.com.
Challenger Community News P.O. BOX 474 Buffalo, NY 14209 advertising@thechallengernews.com
P: 716 881.1051 F: 716 881.1053
11
At this time we want to continue our conversation on personal responsibility for the deplorable condition of our schools and the intolerable, substandard education being imposed upon our children. We didn’t set up the employment system for the suburbs that masquerades as an education system, but no one is going to end this travesty but us. This time, we want to closely examine one of the tactics used by those who run the system to maintain their strangle hold on the economy produced by our children: Blaming the Victims. Given the dreadful outcomes we’re Sabirah seeing, where 45 out of 57 schools are failing, we should expect them to formulate a narrative that shifts the focus away from their performance, Muhammad lest we look up and see the obvious: that we have consigned our children to being “taught” by “teachers” – who have a failing grade. Absenteeism Before his departure, former Superintendent Dr. James Williams revealed a study done on our schools that showed a rate of absenteeism among Buffalo Public School teachers that was comparable to or exceeding the rate of absenteeism among students! For example, the current attendance rate for students at the Harvey Austin School is 90%. For their teachers, it’s 85%. That same study showed that the schools in bad standing have the highest rates of teacher absences. Considering the greater demand for substitute teachers, the subsequent classroom instability and the tone of indifference set by the teachers, isn’t it likely that absent children are following the leader? Children unprepared for School A child who arrives at school walking and talking has already demonstrated his or her ability to learn and retain information. It should be utterly unthinkable to blame any home situation on poor preparation of children in the face of the phenomenal outcomes of Marva Collins and Tim King of Chicago’s Westside Preparatory School and Urban Prep Academies, respectively. In Geoffrey Canada’s Harlem Children’s Zone, and Eric Mahmoud’s Minneapolis Seed Academy and Harvest Preparatory School, students hail from the same dysfunctional environments as any other community under siege. Children in Chicago are excelling in a virtual war zone. Even more damning is the fact that here in Buffalo, children who arrive from Head Start with excellent preparation actually regress once joining the toxic environment of failure in our schools. Certification vs. Qualification A qualified teacher has the ability to take a child from wherever he or she is academically and progress from there. But the process of certification is only a tactic used to reserve teaching jobs for White women, who have the resources to go through the process. Widespread failure is the inevitable result of “teachers” who have no investment in our community, whose children do not attend school here, and whose approach to the task ranges from casual indifference, to utter incompetence, to conscious and deliberate sabotage. Consider the challenge of Lafayette High, where dozens of foreign languages are spoken by the students. Certainly among the adults who immigrated with them are teachers, or at the very least, those who can assist or instruct in their own languages. Never mind the educational needs of those students. The Teachers Union’s concern is employment for its members. Instead of changing teachers, then, or improving the qualifications of teachers, the only motivation is to change the child. Through drugs, suspensions, expulsions, special education assignment or the releasing of functional illiterates, children suffer the consequences. The whole environment is one that reinforces the teachers’ under development, never challenging them to master the craft. They bleed their low expectations onto our children, who marinate in the festering contagion of failure. Moreover, how long ago did we grasp the fact that children learn best where their cultural paradigms are respected and utilized? How much failure is attributable to the fact that the teaching staff has no ability to relate culturally to the students, and, worse, has no desire to? Economic Conditions Blaming children for the failures of adults looms ugliest when parents, who trust teachers, believe the lies they tell to cover themselves, and become accomplices in the victimization of our own children! Another manifestation of our complicity was demonstrated by Superintendent Brown at a recent hearing held by the NYS Senate Committee on Education. In summing up the challenges facing the district, she reminded that body that “Poverty is the number one predictor of success (or the lack thereof) in school.” She cited statistics to show that the educational performance gap between the children of poor and affluent families continues to grow. Think on that. What is she saying? (Incidentally, Buffalo has just been newly designated the 2nd
• 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.
Continued Page 7
ADVERTISING /News/ Information/Inquiries adver tising@thechallengernews.com or alnisa33@yahoo.com
Phone: 716-881-1051 Fax: 716-881-1053
12
ChallengerCN.com
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BILLS continued from page 2 fice should take care of him before the end of the season. He has shown way more upside than Ryan “noodle” arm Fritzpatrick did before he got paid! The Bills offense finally started running fullback Frank Summers (scored on a 3 yard run) a couple a times and should get more carries in games coming up. The Bills offensive coordinator should come up with pass plays to C.J. Spiller instead of handing the ball off to him; C.J. needs to get the ball in space in order to be effective. E.J. Manuel played an excellent game and was able to go down field with relative ease. E.J. must learn how to do this on the road with a good game planning from his offensive coordinator. The Jets future Hall of Famer Ed Reed (playing his first game for Jets) said: “Dawan Landry and the guys helped me out today. I’m pretty fresh and ready to go. I’m comfortable with scheme and we can’t make mistakes like we did today. I did not get many calls (after being waived by Houston) so I made a decision that’s best for me. Rex Ryan (Jets Coach) knows what I can do and definitely communicating and working with the younger players plus you are never too old to learn something.” Kellen Winslow: “I’m good and whatever they ask me to do, I will do; we must do a better job and make better decisions”. It’s the bye week and well deserved time off from the game. Buffalo v. Atlanta in Toronto in two weeks. BENGALS continued from page 10 bright at Buffalo State. Sean Buckley (The Park School, Akron NY) may have been the biggest surprise of camp. This 6’6 freshman surprised many in tryouts with his intensity and dogged determination. Size is sorely needed in the SUNYAC and Sean’s should pay big dividends for years to come! Jordon Glover (6’2 - St Joes Collegiate, Kenmore NY) comes from a basketball school and family (his father played point guard at Turner Carroll, and was Coach Ansari’s very first point guard in 1991). He guided a St Joes team that made it to the championship of the Monsignor Martin league last year. This All-Catholic/All Western New York player was considered by many to be one of the best point guards in his league. Last but certainly not least is Jonathon Belton. This 5’10 freshman (Amherst High school, Amherst NY) was the Amherst captain and nearly derailed McKinley’s championship march last season in the playoffs. This hard-nosed All ECIC/All Western NY player has shown in practice to be a fearless competitor. His ability to get to the bucket will serve him, and the BENGALS, well this season. Just the kind of player that legendary coach, Fajri Ansari (Turner Carroll H.S. – two State Federation Championships, five State Catholic Championships and three Monsignor Martin Manhattan Cup Championships), likes to have on his team! After a contest on Tuesday at Medaille College (November 19) the BENGALS first home game will be this Friday, Nov 22 vs. Ohio Northern. If you know of any Not for Profits, youth and/or church groups who would like to be the guests of the BENGALS, at a home game, please contact the Buffalo State Men’s basketball Office at 716- 878-6519. The Buffalo State “Sports Arena” (Home of the BENGALS) is a first class arena that seats 3,500. BENGALS Schedule (HOME GAMES BOLD with tipoff times) 11/15 @ St John Fisher W 67-59, 11/19 @ Medaille, 11/22 Ohio Northern 8 p.m., 11/23 John Carroll 4 p.m. 11/26 Hobart 7 p.m., 12/6 Oneonta 8 p.m., 12/7 New Paltz 4 p.m., ORLANDO FLA HOLIDAY CLASSIC – 12/20 vs. Carthage, 12/21 vs. North Central University, 1/10 @ Cortland, 1/11 @ Oswego, 1/14 @ Geneseo, 1/18 @ Fredonia, 1/21 @ Brockport, 1/24 Plattsburgh 8 p.m., 1/25 Potsdam 4 p.m., 1/28 Fredonia 8 p.m., 1/31 Oswego 8 p.m., 2/1 Cortland 4 p.m., 2/7 @ New Paltz, 2/8 @ Oneonta, 2/14 Brockport 8 p.m., 2/15 Geneseo 4 p.m., 2/21 @ Potsdam and 2/22 @ Plattsburgh. SUNYAC Playoffs begins 2/25 Go BENGALS!!!!
ATTORNEYS
DJ’S
LIQUORS & WINES
Pratcher & Associates 1133 Kensington (716) 838-4612
DJ Kenny Kutz (716) 400-7358
Bellamy’s Liquor Store 405 E. Ferry * 884-4066
DOG TRAINING
ONE STOP
Colslton Mobile Auto Repair 720 E. Ferry * 896-3910
Dogman Jo Dog Trainer 1963 Fillmore * 807-8163
BAIL BONDS
EATERIES
Mandella Market & Citgo Gas 272 E. Ferry cor. Jefferson 716-882-0288
A Bail Company Inc. Ken Thomas (716) 867-0073 Judy Bunk (716) 830-1512 Southtowns (716) 570-0849 Rochester (585) 749-7879
The Corner Store Deli & Grill 1733 Genesee * 895-2009
AUTOMOTIVE Charlie “The Tuna” Chapman: Another true Athletic Great. Known as “The Black Butterfly,” because of his powerful Butterfly stroke, in 1981 he made history as the first African American to swim the English Channel. In 1997, he was the first to complete the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. He learned to swim at the old E. Ferry St. YMCA, which now houses the Gateway-Longview Center.
ATHLETIC GREATS
NOVEMBER 20, 2013 Challenger Community News •
continued from page 3
BARBER SHOPS
Horne, David “NFL” White, St. Clair “Spiritual Love” Fabor, John “Road Dog” Jacobs, Kenny “The Mac Man” Maclin, Joel “Boo” Alexander, James “J Bop” Jacobs, Daniel “Dan A Gress” Adams, Herbert “Mr. Competent” Bellamy, Albert “Kootie Boy” Blanks, Lloyd “The Lover” Lightfoot, Durie “Papa D” Burns, George “Bob Hope” Holt, Gene “The Machine” Roberson, Anthony “Mongoose” Masiello, Cecil and Beanie Brown, Harold “Bad News” Barnes, Levi, “The Musician” Ruffin, Jimmy “Dub” Williams, Ricky “NBA” Williams, Clarence “Pumpkin” Strong, Roger “77 Points” Brown, Alex “The Father” Harris, Leonard, Trevor “I Can” Ruffin, Joe “Flash” Jackson, Cleveland “Pikin Bo” Kirkland, Gordon, “Karaoke” Thompson, Michael “Jack Bocci” Nelms, Derrick “The Entertainer” Powell, Leroi “Everything” Johnson, Earl “The Man” Holmes, Eddie “Ass Kicking” Stenhouse, Eric “All Sports” Hawkins, Glen “Dash” Morey, Anthony “Barbro” Rantin, Kenny “High Hurdle” Ross, Albert “Mickey Mouser” Howard, Walter “Jap” Cromer, Key “Vandross” Berry, Bobby “Elegant” Pope, Kenny “Thoughful” Pope, Joe “Green Eyes” Jennings, and Richard “The Lion Hearted” Clark.This year, as in years past, those greats who have passed on will also be remembered.Theyinclude: Fred “Frenchman” Foster, Bernard “Smooth” Mitchell, Ron “Run Ron Run” Fleming, Zellie “ZD The Zone Breaker” Dow, Al Brown and Bob “Bean Ball” Buchanan.
Klassic Kuts 1471 Kensington 836-3260 Master Touch 1283 E. Delavan 901-5909 SOLO Unisex Salon 3081 Main St. 833-2553
BOOK STORES
Tomatoes 1393 Kensington*835-3663
ELECTRICAL EMPIRE ELECTRIC 716-634-0330
HAIR SALONS Althea’s Hair To Go Natural 727 Main St. (716) 883-2000 www.hairtogo.com
PHONE SERVICE Boost Mobile 1286 E. Delavan (716) 551-0304 360 Eggert Rd. (716) 939-3900 Town Gardens Plaza (716) 768-3887
PHOTOGRAPHY Princess Photography (716) 563-0994 ICU Photography 716-578-3462
Zawadi Books 2460 Main St.* 903-6740
Anointed Hands African Hair Braiding 369 Trenton Ave. 939-5077 (Macy)
Garland Studios LLC 716-471-2476 www.fgarlandstudios.com
CAR WASH
Chanel’s 2462 Main Street * 563.9575
Fast Eddie Hand Car Wash 1736 Fillmore* 891-5575
Woody & Manuel’s AFRO STYLES 862 E Delavan * 896-9386
PROPERTY INSPECTION
CHILD CARE
Karen’s Salon & Spa 413 Jefferson Ave. 812-9666
Cookieland Group Day Care 24 Barthel Miss Cookie*893-0590 Dean’s Day Care 61 Montana Ave. 716-896-1751 Debbie’s Little Scholars 484 Hickory St. (716) 304-6820 First Impressions Day Care 847 Walden Ave. 716-533-8075 Kim’s Building Blocks Day Care 1479 E. Delavan Ave. 895-8693
DELI / VARIETY Grant’s Variety Shop 1055 E. Ferry St. 893-0704
Miracle Tranition 2 3339 Genesee * 481-1321 Serenity Hair Boutique 221 Jefferson Ave. (716) 812-0663
Majadi Enterprises, Inc. Willie A. Price CSI 716-316-7776
PRINTING Totem8 Design + Print (716) 404-9258
TAILORS Ann Rhod’s Tailoring 3185 Bailey Ave. (716) 838-5633
HAIR SUPPLY
WINDOWS
Main Hair & Beauty Supply 3067 Main St. (716) 862-4247
Priced Right Windows USA 710 Kensington Ave. (716) 833-2500 578-7873TAILOR
INSURANCE Able Insurance Jeff Moore/Broker 1798 Main St. (716) 883-5212 Joseph Burch Insurance 4180 Bailey Avenue (716) 830-3417
Advertising Pays advertising@thechallengernews.com
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
CLASSIFIED
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
LEGAL INDEX NO.: 800164/13. Filed Date: 11/04/2013. SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND NOTICE. MORTGAGED PREMISES: 537 LASALLE AVENUE A/K/A 537 LA SALLE AVENUE, BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14215. (SBL #: 79.73 – 5 – 8). Plaintiff designates Erie County as the place of trial; venue is based upon the county in which the mortgaged premises is situate. STATE OF NEW YORK. SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF ERIE. HSBC BANK USA, N.A., Plaintiff, -againstERIKA L. HARRISON A/K/A ERIKA HARRISON, if living, and if dead, the respective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignors, lienors, creditors and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and their respective husbands, wives or widows, if any, and each and every person not specifically named who may be entitled to or claim to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the verified complaint; all of whom and whose names and places of residence unknown, and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained by the Plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, MARK CARNEY, ATLANTIC CREDIT & FINANCE, INC., Defendants. 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 attorneys for the Plaintiff within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. 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 PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS 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. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $ 56,150.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Erie on July 23, 2004, at Book 13175, Pg. 9603, covering premises known as 537 LASALLE AVENUE A/K/A 537 LA SALLE AVENUE, BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14215 – SBL #: 79.73 – 5 – 8. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. The Plaintiff also seeks a deficiency judgment against the Defendant and for any debt secured by said Mortgage which is not satisfied by the proceeds of the sale of said premises. TO the Defendants ERIKA L. HARRISON, the foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication to an Order of the Hon. SHIRLEY TROUTMAN of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and filed on October 22, 2013, with the Complaint in the County of Erie, State of New York. The property in question is described as follows: ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the City of Buffalo, County of Erie and State of New York, Being part of Lot No. 46, Township 11, Range 7 of the Holland Land Company’s Survey, according to map filed in the Erie County Clerk’s Office under Cover Map No. 998, is known as Subdivision Lot Number 496. Dated: New Rochelle, N.Y. November 4, 2013. McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, P.C. By: /s/________________ Jonathan Pollack, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiff 145 Huguenot St., Ste. 210 New Rochelle, NY 10801 p. 914-636-8900 f. 914-636-8901 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 OR 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 Banking Department at 1-877-226-5697 or visit the Department's website at 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.
13
C LA SSI F I ED NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BIDS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the County Legislature of the County of Erie, New York, shall be held in the Chambers of the Legislature, located at Old County Hall, 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo, New York, in said County, on the 25th day of November, 2013, at 5:00 O’Clock P.M., Prevailing Time, for the purpose of conducting a public hearing to hear public comment on the County Executive’s 2014 Tentative Budget.
Scrufari Construction Co. Seeking M/WBE subcontractors to quote SUNY Hayes Hall Building Wide Restoration, Phase II Bid Date: December 3, 2013 EEO Employer 282-1225
The County Executive’s 2014 Tentative Budget was submitted to the Legislature on the 15th day of October, 2013. Copies of the Budget are available for Public Inspection at the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature, located at Old County Hall, 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo, New York 14202. Dated: Buffalo, New York, November 13, 2013 By: Robert M. Graber Clerk, County Legislature REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
EAST SIDE APARTMENTS AVAILABLE *Two and Three Bedroom Apartments starting at $395 plus security. Apartments Section 8 Ready. Call 836-8686. SERVICES
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS for Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections for the BMHA Section 8 Housing Program The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA) requests responses to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections for the BMHA Section 8 Housing Program required for use by the BMHA. The project scope, content of proposal, and vendor selection process are summarized in the RFP that describes the terms and conditions under which the Housing Authority will select a firm for these services. Proposals must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. (EST) on December 6, 2013. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the RFP, please contact Larry Sherlick at the BMHA at lsherlick@bmhahousing.com or contact Mr. Sherlick at (716) 855-6711 ext. 209.
BIDS NFTA Procurement Invitation to Bid 4346 - WHEELCHAIR ACCESS VANS 4362 - TRANSIT BUS SEAT COMPONENTS Download Bids from www.nfta.com
14
ChallengerCN.com
NOVEMBER 20, 2013 Challenger Community News •
EVENTS
NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS
3-WAY WIN 4
MON 11/11
TUES 11/12
WED 11/13 THURS 11/14 FRI 11/15 SAT 11/16
“Special” Board of Education Meeting: 4:45 p.m., 801 MID-135 MID362 MID-503 MID842 MID-712 MID-561 MID-697 City Hall EVE-390 EVE-617 EVE-106 EVE-726 EVE-625 EVE-352 EVE-622 Family Fun Bowling Day: Every Wed. Kerns Bowling, 163 Kerns, 5-8 p.m. Hosted by Buffalo United Front.
MID-5571 MID-7262 MID -4174 EVE-0394 EVE-5856 EVE- 9421
TAKE 5
LOTTO
SUN 11/10
Wednesday November 20
HOT TIP
MID-1284 EVE-9800
1-15-17-34-37 23-24-29-37-39 3-16-24-32-35 4-6-12-21-36
996
311
2-17-26-36-38
MID-2931 EVE-9332
MID-2770 EVE-7499
5-15-27-31-37
7-8-28-35-37
10-18-33-40-45-46 #48
768
000
Zakiyyah’s Run Down 486-625-967-806-079-657-236-671-678-340-726-970-430968-086-609-705-563-435-978-265-780-104-657-569-478630-359-763-946-019-757-684-908-695-785-959-678-219576-605-246-806-675-380-100-435-768-685-209-359
Billy Bye Bye Sez: 911-1927- 298- 123 -133-067-850 NOVEMBER Vibrations
289-163-654-890-529-236-556quick money $$$$ 189-809-444 886-980-422 322-522-355 800-592-390 394-833-924 127-909-418 927-313-466 124-550-525 583-269-508
MID-2680 EVE-7052
THE NUMBER BOOK
grandma’s NOVEMBER pics
255-677-793-563-867-296-243-738
2743-5464-4221-1064-8894-0987 FALL FAVORITES!! 030-637-326-648-479-690-250-647690-250-647-067-896-786-578-222
27-30-32-44-58-59 #39
617
410 202
CHALLENGER HITS MIDDAY 362-Fall Forecast (bx) 712-Quick $$$ (bx) 697-ZR (bx) 242-Quick $$ (bx) EVENING 390-Quick $$ (Straight)* 617-Hot Tips (Straight)* 106-Number Book (bx) 726-ZR (Straight*) 352-Luckie Duckie (Straight)* LUCKIE DUCKIE
Durham’s Central City Baby Café: Every Wednesday & Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., free supper; experienced moms and certified counselors available; bring the kids; for info call Doris @ 8856348. Erie County/Buffalo Safe Neighborhoods Committee Meeting: 3 p.m., Merriweather Library; 602-5877. National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Family Support Group Meeting: 7 p.m., Abbott Corners, Lake Shore Behavioral Health, 3176 Abbott Rd., Orchard Park; 226-6264. Thursday November 21 BFNC/Citigroup Thanksgiving Dinner: 292 High St., Moot Senior Center; Senior Seating 12 noon; 1st public seating 2 :30; 2nd public seating 5:30 p.m.;$1 at door.
134-431-143 Buffalo
648*123*104 980-422-809
981-989-970-990-080-800 390-196-102-581-752-319408-378-352-126
189-444-886-202
322-522-412-432-421-423
3-Way Winning Numbers this Time Last Year 11/29/2012 Evening 11/29/2012 Midday 11/28/2012 Evening 11/28/2012 Midday 11/27/2012 Evening 11/27/2012 Midday 11/26/2012 Evening 11/26/2012 Midday 11/25/2012 Evening 11/25/2012 Midday 11/24/2012 Evening 11/24/2012 Midday 11/23/2012 Evening 11/23/2012 Midday 11/22/2012 Evening 11/22/2012 Midday 11/21/2012 Evening 11/21/2012 Midday 11/20/2012 Evening 11/20/2012 Midday
7-0-8 7-1-8 7-6-3 0-8-3 3-5-3 4-4-4 3-2-7 3-3-3 6-7-4 1-7-2 6-5-3 9-1-8 9-5-3 6-0-9 9-4-1 4-0-8 8-8-9 6-4-0 0-9-1 5-2-9
Public Schools Community Roundtable: “How to Connect With Your Child’s Teacher & The Common Core Standards: 6-7:30 p.m., PS 95 Waterfront School, 95 Fourth St. Utica Heights Block Club Business Workshop: “Starting A Business: Your Path to Success” 6 p.m, Merriweather Library, Jefferson & Utica; conducted by Buffalo Regional SBA Office.
CALENDAR
Saturday November 23
Buffalo Urban League 2013 Gala: Buffalo Niagara Convention Center; (716) 2502424. “Tellabration”: An International Night of Sgtorytelling, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 6320 Main St.; free event; sponsored by Spin-a-Story Tellers and Tradition Keepers: Black Storytellers of WNY; Donations raised go to Prisoners Are People Too, Inc.; 6944464 or 834-8438. Sunday November 24 Thanksgiving Dinner for Veterans: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., VA WNY Healtcare, 3495 Bailey Ave; for homeless and other needy veterans and their families; 862-8885. Buffalo City Ballet Clara’s Tea Party Fundraiser: 4 p.m, Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, 641 Transit Rd. Tickets $25; www.buffalocityballet.org Monday November 25 Prisoners Are People Too Meeting 7-9 p.m., Pratt-Willert Community Center, 422 Pratt St.;834-8438. An Evening With Dr .Pamela C. Brown, Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools: 5:30-7:45 p.m, Merriweather Library, Jefferson & Utica; free and open to the public; hosted by We Are Women Warriors and Legislator Betty Jean Grant; 6025877 or 400-1817. Public Hearing County Executive’s 2014 Tentative Budget: 5 p.m., Old County Hall, 95 Franklin St., 4th Floor.
Friday November 22
Saturday November 30
Book Signing: “From VickTim to Vick-Tory: The Fall and Rise of Michael Vick,” by Ken Robinson; Perk’s Café, 36 Broadway downtown near Library; 6 p.m.
True Bethel Christmas Bazaar: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., 907 E. Ferry.
Saturday November 23 Holiday Bazaar and Community Wellness Event: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., St. Luke AME Zion Church, 314 E. Ferry St. @ Lonsdale.
Sunday December 1 WUFO’s 3rd Annual Buffalo’s Best Meets Sunday Best Gospel Singing Showcase: Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St., 4 p.m.; tickets $15 advance, $20 @ door; available at WUFO Studios, 1 43 Broadway; 834-1080.
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Challenger Community News • ChallengerCN.com
15
16
ChallengerCN.com
Celebrating 90 Years Young!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Pictured (left to right seated) Anita Elizabeth Dabney, Sarah Ruth Hunter, Lois Blayton Dabney (birthday girl!), Gwen Blayton Robinson, Olivia Lois Dabney, Margaret Susan Dabney; (Standing left to right) Karalenne Joyce Gayle, Imani Elizabeth Blayton Dabney, Geoffrey Alan Gayle, Lydia Curtis Robinson, Jacob Astor Gayle, Jr., Maya Farrow, Ngozi Robinson, Mark Robinson, Michelle Lowery and Alana Patrice Gayle (Tendai). PHOTO MELVIN WATKINS
THANK YOU. Lois (left) thanks well wishers at her surprise “Lunch With Lois” birthday party. PHOTOS MELVIN WATKINS
Lois Dabney Celebrates 90th Birthday A Great Party for a Great Lady! Lois Dabney admitted that the last thing she wanted for her 90th birthday, was a party. But after the surprise “Lunch With Lois” celebration on November 2 (her birthday was actually on Nov. 1), she said she could not have been more pleased . “It was a complete surprise,” the lovely and gracious Mrs. Dabney told The Challenger. “I don’t know how they were able to keep it from me! And so many people knew!” The well-deserved tribute, organized by her three daughters - Anita Dabney of Austin, Texas, Margaret Dabney of New York City and Olivia Farrow of Columbia, Maryland - was held at the Holiday Inn on Delaware Avenue. It was attended by a host of family and friends locally and from around the country, including her Spelman College classmate Barbara Sparks Jackson from Tulsa, Oklahoma and childhood friend Jean Hunton, currently of Silver Springs, Maryland. Mrs. Dabney, who was born and raised in Washington, D.C., is a retired Social Worker from the West Seneca Developmental Center. She graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and went on earn her Masters Degree from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. Her late husband, Dr. Oliver Dabney, was a longtime, respected dentist in the City of Buffalo. The event featured praise and well wishes from family members Gwendolyn Robinson and Alana Gayle Tendai; her neighbor Barbara Breckenridge, her college classmate Barbara Sparks Jackson, Lillian Grestman of the Blue Rose Foundation (of which Mrs. Dabney is a member), and Valerie DeBerry, Vice President of the Buffalo Chapter Girl Friends, Inc. (and the sister of nationally renowned author Virginia DeBerry and Dr. John DeBerry). Mrs. Dabney has been a member of the Girls Friends for over 50 years. Dr. Jacob Gayle delivered the invocation . Special acknowledgement and appreciation was made to musician Rey Scott & Co. and Harriett Everett. “It really was a great party!” concluded an appreciative Mrs. Dabney.
NOVEMBER 20, 2013 Challenger Community News •