Community Journal
Tribute to a Black Military Legend Colonel Charles Young Www.communityjournal.info
VOL. 20 NO. 48
MARCH 14, 2014—NASSAU EDITION
Serving Nassau County’s African American Community
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News anchor Pam McKelvy removes wig and debuts her natural hair on TV Memphis-area news anchor Pam McKelvy shared an emotional moment with viewers last week while discussing her journey as a breast cancer survivor and the personal bouts she faced with hair loss. McKelvy was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2012 and underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, which eventually eradicated the cancer. However, throughout her battle, she suffered extreme hair loss and opted to wear a wig every day since last March – until she appeared on WMCTV last Wednesday. During a segment exploring women and their “crowns of glory,” McKelvy shared an inspiring message to cancer victims and survivors who have experienced hair loss by telling her story of self-acceptance. “I made my choice also because I think about the message I send to young women about confidence and selfacceptance,” she said. “The times are changing, and God’s delivered me with a brand-new spirit and a head full of hair, and here it is.”
“A woman’s relationship with her hair is sacred,” she said. “Her hair is her crown of glory. And for women in TV, it’s intensified. I lost my hair after chemo and I’ve been wearing a wig since this past march.”
Moments later, McKelvy removed her wig — saying she’s “taking it off for good” – and debuted her curly, natural hair.
McKelvy described this as a “milestone” moment and said she hopes her decision will help inspire others going through similar struggles.
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(L-R)Leonard A. Lawson Jr.,President-BlacqueIce Productions, Charles Blatcher III, Chairman-National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations, Michael Clark, PhD Historian- National Minority Military Museum Foundation and Howard Jackson, Chairman - National Minority Military Museum Foundation
Tribute to a Black Military LegendColonel Charles Young, USA On Friday, February 28, the Coalition of Black Veterans Organizations, in tandem with representatives from Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s office, Superintendent of the Golden Gate Recreation Area Frank Dean, and representatives of the National Minority Military Museum Foundation all gathered with local residents and friends at the Oakland African-American Museum and Library to unveil a bronze maquette statue of American hero, Colonel Charles Young. Colonel Charles Young was many things—a diplomat, an educator, a Buffalo Soldier-- and his legacy lives on through all the African-American soldiers, colonels, and generals that came after him. The statuette serves as a model for the monument the Coalition has been working to erect in Washington, D.C., and was designed by renowned sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez. Once erected, the work will stand as the first depiction of an African-American NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
military officer on horseback. The Coalition of Black Veterans has been working diligently to get Col. Young an honorary promotion to Brigadier General, and this event has brought them one step closer to their goal with the help of dedicated public servants like Rep. Barbara Lee. “I will continue to fight for Colonel Young’s honorary promotion,” she said in a statement through her Deputy Director, Katherine Jolly, “to ensure that his sacrifice, dedication, and service are recognized in full.” The Coalition has taken its fight all the way to the White House, and has been awaiting a response from President Barack Obama pertaining to the requested promotion and whether he will accept a casting of the maquette as a gift to the nation from the Black Veterans Coalition. “The maquette is worthy of a place in the White House,” says Chairman of the Coalition, Charles Blatcher III. “It is a magnificent work of art that symbolizes the dedication and honor of Black participation in the Armed Forces during an era in American History that should not be overlooked or forgotten.” Blatcher, the Keynote Speaker at the unveiling, noted the importance of recognizing not only great men like Young, but the contributions of all black soldiers. “The obvious racial injustices committed against black soldiers in the separate but not equal Armed Forces is a subject that (Continued on page 6)
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Community Journal a publication of Emerging Business Group, Inc. Š2006 New York all rights reserved The Community Journal is a weekly publication, based in Baldwin, New York, dedicated to sharing news and information among minority businesses and residents which will enable positive action - economically, socially and politically - for the betterment of us all. From our premiere issue, July 1, 1993, we have grown to be one of the leading African heritage news and information sources on Long Island. As a community - based publication, we intend to expand our presence and to encourage greater participation from all members of the community in forging our shared destiny. We are a "for-profit" business and hope to extend that spirit of economic empowerment to many other businesses in our community. We are published each week unless otherwise indicated and are distributed through newsstands, independent sales agents, and subscriptions.
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COLUMNIST: IN THE BLACK Larry Montgomery, Sr. EDUCATION Lisa Byers ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: “VILLAGE LIFE Magazine”
FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2014
THE ARTICLE ON THE NEXT PAGE “WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday endorsed a proposal that would result in shorter prison sentences for many nonviolent drug traffickers, saying the change would rein in runaway federal prison costs and create a fairer criminal justice system. Holder’s backing for a U.S. Sentencing Commission proposal to lower the guideline penalties is part of a broader Justice Department effort to lessen punishment for nonviolent drug dealers. He has been pressing to ease long mandatory sentences and has called for greater discretion for judges in sentencing.” COMMENTARY:
HEALTHY LIVING RELIGION: Dr. Karen Deadwyler LOCAL SPORTS: BJ Robinson
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MINISTER LARRY MONTGOMERY, SR. PUBLISHER AND CHIEF
This thinking is a long time coming and COMMUNITY JOURNAL, INC. sad to say if not for the reality of the past decade as a Black man in America I am ashamed that the justification for the change in mind set is only based on budgetary considerations. While the Federal Sentencing guidelines originally seemed to be a good idea they has failed to level the playing when it comes to sentencing people of color and the poor. However with the U.S. prison population almost doubling the combined prison population of the world including China what message have we already sent? The U.S. prison population is made up of more than 75% minority males. Now with the idea of legalizing of marijuana across the country in full swing do you think those budgetary concerns mentioned by Eric Holder are fact or fiction? (Continued from page 3)
begs for historical redress,” he said to the crowd. “Colonel Charles Young became the standard bearer for the cause.” Charles Young was born in 1864 to enslaved parents, yet he became the third African-American to graduate from West Point. He then rose through the military ranks and became the first black American to be promoted to Colonel, in 1918. In addition to his exemplary military record, Young became the nation’s first black military attaché to a foreign government, and he served as the Superintendent of Sequoia National Park. “Colonel Young continues to be an inspiration to this day,” said Golden Gate Recreation Area Superintendent Frank Dean, “through his leadership as a proactive superintendent of Sequoia National Park he protected the majestic Sequoia trees from poachers, while building the trail to Mt. Whitney.” Congresswoman Barbara Lee cited the important message to the next generation about the significance of African-American trailblazers like Colonel Young. “I am truly inspired,” she said. The Coalition invites you to learn more about this exemplary American and enjoy the maquette of Col. Young as it remains in residence at the Oakland African-American Museum and Library.
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ERIC HOLDER ENDORSES DRUG SENTENCING CHANGES WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday endorsed a proposal that would result in shorter prison sentences for many nonviolent drug traffickers, saying the change would rein in runaway federal prison costs and create a fairer criminal justice system. Holder’s backing for a U.S. Sentencing Commission proposal to lower the guideline penalties is part of a broader Justice Department effort to lessen punishment for nonviolent drug dealers. He has been pressing to ease long mandatory sentences and has called for greater discretion for judges in sentencing. “This focused reliance on incarceration is not just financially unsustainable — it comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate,” Holder said in an appearance before the Sentencing Commission, an independent agency that establishes sentencing policies. In a country where nearly half of all federal inmates are serving time for drug crimes, the harshest penalties should be reserved for violent drug defendants and criminals with long rap sheets, Holder said. Holder directed prosecutors in August to stop charging many nonviolent drug defendants with offenses that carry mandatory minimum sentences. He has also said he also wants to divert people convicted of low-level offenses to drug treatment and community-service programs and to expand a prison program to allow the release of some elderly, non-violent offenders. Bipartisan legislation pending in Congress would give judges more discretion in sentencing defendants for drug crimes. The attorney general last year asked the commission to consider reductions in the sentencing guidelines for nonviolent drug crimes. The commission responded with a proNASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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posal in January that would tie many drug offenses to shorter sentencing ranges. The effect, the Justice Department says, would be to reduce by 11 months the average sentence of a drug dealer and would trim the federal prison population by roughly 6,550 inmates at the end of the five year. The proposal would affect about 70 percent of drug trafficking offenders. “I understand that people feel a sort of tension in this notion that we’re going to spend less, we’re going to put people in jail for smaller amounts of time, and yet you’re going to tell me that we’re going to be more safe,” Holder said in response to a question about whether the proposal could compromise public safety. “And yet, the empirical studies that I have seen, and which I have faith in, indicate that if done appropriately those are in fact the results that you can get.” The commission was not expected to vote on the proposed change until at least April, but Holder planned to instruct prosecutors in the meantime not to oppose sentencing recommendations in line with the newly proposed ranges. Holder’s announcement won support from groups including the American Civil Liberties, which decried what it called the “failed, racially biased war on drugs.” But a national association of prosecutors is opposing the proposal, arguing that mandatory sentences have been helpful in securing cooperation from defendants and witnesses and that the majority of federal prisoners “have been very bad actors for a long time.” “Rewarding convicted felons with lighter sentences because America can’t balance its budget doesn’t seem fair to both victims of crime and the millions of families in America victimized every year by the scourge of drugs in America’s communities,” Raymond Morrogh, the top prosecutor in Fairfax County, Va., and the director-at-large of the National District Attorneys Association, said in prepared remarks. Thursday was Holder’s second appearance before the Sentencing Commission. PAGE 7
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Cabbie sues DA, cops, LIU Post lacrosse players over arrest following ditched fare Originally published: March 13, 2014 8:54 PM Updated: March 13, 2014 10:11 PM By BRIDGET MURPHY bridget.murphy@newsday.com A Westbury cabdriver has filed a lawsuit claiming a robbery charge was trumped up against him after LIU Post lacrosse players used a police connection to prevent their own arrests after skipping out on a $28 fare home from a bar. The claim filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Central Islip alleges one of the police officers involved in the arrest told the cabbie that police knew the charge was false, but got orders to arrest him and not the students since one was the nephew of a three-star Nassau police chief. Attorney Harry Kutner Jr. filed the lawsuit in late February, a week after, he said, a Nassau County district court judge dismissed the robbery case against his 25-year-old client, cabbie Mevyo Jean. "To have somebody arrested for robbery in order to cover up a crummy misdemeanor for his nephew and his buddies, for sticking a cabdriver for $28, it kind of shows how untouchable they think they are," Kutner said Thursday of the police official he listed in the claim as "Chief Frank Doe" as he works to identify the officer. Among other defendants, the lawsuit lists Nassau County, a county detective and more unnamed police officials, along with Nassau's district attorney, Kathleen Rice. It also names eight defendants who are identified as college students who were part of the March 2013 incident on the LIU Post campus, including five listed on the 2014 roster for the men's lacrosse team. Records that the plaintiff provided show two of the students, brothers Robert and John Cegielski, signed police complaints against Jean. They alleged the cabbie snatched an iPhone that belonged to one of the brothers after the full fare wasn't paid, and then temporarily dragged the student alongside the taxi as he drove away. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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The lawsuit says Jean picked up the students at a Hempstead bar and agreed to a $35 fare, but all passengers except for one of the brothers fled without paying upon arrival at the campus. It also claims that Jean had the last passenger call the others to come back with money, but they returned "with many other very large, muscular" students and ran in a menacing manner toward the cab before the driver drove away. Jean also said Thursday that the last passenger, who threw $7 on the dashboard before trying to run from him, told Jean the other students were going to come back and jump him. The cabbie said the student also told him his uncle was a police officer so he shouldn't "mess" with him. He said the student told him he'd left his phone in the cab and Jean said he could come and get it later in exchange for the fare. A spokesman for the Nassau district attorney referred questions on the lawsuit to the county Thursday and declined to talk about the robbery case, which Kutner said is sealed. A county spokeswoman and a police spokesman said they wouldn't comment on pending litigation. The students and their families either couldn't be reached or declined to comment. An LIU Post spokeswoman said school officials were unaware of any claims against the university and had no comment on cases against other parties. Jean said he was studying electrical engineering in college by day and driving a cab by night at the time of the incident. The Haitian immigrant and Westbury High School graduate said the felony charge temporarily derailed his bid to become a U.S. citizen and left him too nervous to keeping driving a cab. He said the income loss led to money troubles for him and his wife, who have a 3-year-old daughter. The suit seeks more than $2 million in damages. "Who says that they're not gonna go out again and try to do that same thing again?" Jean said. "I mean, someone got to pay."The other student defendants were identified in the lawsuit as Brandon M. Bertone; Matthew Maloney; Tyler Olli; Daniel Jeannotte; Adam Winne; and William Ardamis. Ardamis, Jeannotte and Winne are on LIU Post's 2014 lacrosse roster, along with the Cegielski brothers. Bertone was on the school's 2013 team roster.
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LI Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Annual Reception The Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO hosted their Annual Reception at the Huntington Hilton, honoring Thomas Gesualdi (President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 282), Adrienne Esposito ( Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment), and Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby. The awards were presented by Roger Clayman (Executive Director AFL-CIO) and John Durso (President AFL-CIO) and recognized the honorees commitment to improving the lives of Long Islanders.
LONG ISLAND’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT PROGRAM FOR EAST END CHARITIES March 10, 2014, Melville, NY – East End charities will have an opportunity to receive $2,500 in funding, thanks to the All For The East End Fund at the Long Island Community Foundation (LICF). Proceeds of $50,000 from the AFTEE Presents Nile Rodgers Dance Party that was held this past summer on August 19, 2013 at the Martha Clara Vineyard in Riverhead, were presented to the Foundation and applications are now being accepted for the current grant cycle. The Building Stronger Neighborhoods Program, as it’s named, will support nonprofit organizations serving Long Island’s East End communities of Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold, and East Hampton. Proposals will be accepted to support projects and programs in the fields of health and NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
welfare, the environment, arts and culture, education, and youth. The application deadline is April 25, 2014 and application instructions and guidelines can be found in the Grantseekers section at www.licf.org. An advisory committee consisting of one representative from each of the five East End towns will help guide LICF in determining the projects to be funded. They include, Ken Pysher –Shelter Island; Greg Blass – Southold; Vince Taldone – Riverhead; Debra Halpert – Southampton; and Laura Anker – East Hampton. “As a community foundation, we believe in the power and potential of individuals and organizations to change communities and we play a variety of roles,” said David Okorn, the Foundation’s executive director. “But our key goal is to be the connecting point for philanthropy and various community groups working together toward (Continued on page 10)
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OP-ED FROM THE DESK OF DON DURANT So much is rushing towards us at the same time. The Loss of a House seat in Florida, in a Special Election, was a surprise to many. This seat was originally a Republican seat, and the Democratic candidate, stood her ground on “Improving Obamacare” This was a strategic mistake, in that Obamacare is not broken. She played into the hands of the Republicans, and failed to speak on what she would bring to that seat. She failed to speak on the Jobs needed and the protections of Social Security. She failed big time, in addressing a platform, that would be interesting to many. Instead she decided to allow the Republicans to call the shots, and set the tone. This is a lesson intact, about what must happen in the fall during the 2014 Campaigns. In many other areas, we will fight hard fought battles, in order to make a major change in the quality, and numbers of Democrats in the House of Representatives. Carolyn McCarthy, in Long Island, has been ill and is stepping down from her Congressional seat. Partisan politics will play a major part in setting the stage for one of the hottest Congressional races in the nation. Huge money expenditures will pour into this race. Outside interests, will be paying more into the New York races than most other places. These efforts will not create new jobs, or cheaper healthcare, or increased minimum wages, or reduced Homelessness, but it will by all means wake up the electorate to come out, speak up, and vote. Karl Rove, The Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and so many other Billionaires are fighting to retain the power. The Citizens United, Supreme Court, will do nothing to minimize the excessive spending by Super PACs in elections, and the nation will continue to change and deteriorate. It is of the utmost importance that our voters turn up, and turn out. Across the nation, this is the only way, we can win an election. There is much negative advertising being pushed to defeat candidates, and not much being spent to win Democratic races. The GOP is using OBAMACARE as a (Continued from page 9)
the common vision of a healthier, stronger Long Island.” “The AFTEE Executive Committee and Board worked diligently this past year to raise its first $50,000 which is now in the capable hands of the Long Island Community Foundation,” affirmed Bob Edelman, Executive Board Member and CEO of Dan’s Papers. “The Advisory Committee representing all five East End towns was the next stage in our evolution and puts in place the process by which the funds raised by AFTEE will be distributed to the East End nonprofit community. Having played a key role on the Executive Committee and the Board of AFTEE, Dan’s Papers has been involved and committed from the beginning, and I look forward to continuing our participation and support of AFTEE in 2014.” “We are very proud of our community and its support of AFTEE, and even more excited to begin the grant process that will move important funds raised through our inaugural Concert into the hands of the organizations that can put them to good use.” Claudia Pilato, Executive Board Member and VP, Director of Marketing of BNB. The All For The East End Fund is a field-of-interest fund established within the Long Island Community Foundation (LICF) in 2013 NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
wedge, to make Democratic incumbents vulnerable. Nassau County District Attorney, Kathleen Rice is the Democratic candidate to replace Congresswoman McCarthy. Both women have waged major efforts against the gun lobby, and this effort against gun violence and advocating for families and communities in need is a major effort that will draw much attention from the gun industry and supporters. D.A. Rice, stated that she is running because of the need for independent Problem Solvers in the Congress who share these values and who care about the needs of people. I'm concerned about: Homelessness, Increased wages, Healthcare, Jobs, individual rights and Fair Taxes. What say you? by All For The East End (AFTEE), which is an independent 501(C)(3) organization whose mission is to raise funds and awareness for East End needs. The Long Island Community Foundation (LICF) is the Island’s community foundation, making grants to improve our region and helping donors with their philanthropy since 1978. We identify current and future community needs, strengthen the Island’s nonprofit sector, encourage philanthropy, and, with our generous donors, build a permanent endowment to address these needs. We have made more than $145 million in grants from hundreds of funds established by individuals, families, and businesses. LICF is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the country’s oldest and largest community foundations. To learn more about the Long Island Community Foundation, visit our website at www.licf.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @LICommunityFndt.
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PRESIDING OFFICER GREGORY HONORED BY FAMILY LIFE CENTER Amityville, NY – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory was recently honored by the Family Life Center for his commitment and dedication to the community. Family Life Center serves the Wyandanch community with a mission to “preserve, strengthen and empower the community.” They offer a variety of programs to address the needs of families, including those which focus on academics, recreation and socialization. Presiding Officer Gregory was honored at their Inaugural Gala, with the theme, Empowering the Village One by One. “It humbles me to be honored by this great institution that takes pride in providing not only a safe place but an enriching environment for our most prized possessions, our youth,” said Presiding Officer Gregory. “I want to thank Reverend Carter-England and Family Life Center for this award. It is truly an honor to be recognized by them.” NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day The Roosevelt Children’s Academy hosted a Read Across America Day at the school. The event celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss and is an annual reading motivation and awareness program geared toward bringing the love of reading to children. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby read to Mrs. Gonzalez’s 2nd grade class. John Hope Franklin Lecture Series at Adelphi The African, Black and Caribbean Studies Program at Adelphi University presented their annual John Hope Franklin Distinguished Lecture Series on Literary and Social Criticism. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby presented a Certificate of Recognition to speaker Harriet Washington, Ph.D., author, professor and lecturer. The Councilwoman congratulated Dr. Marsha Tyson Darling, Director of the program, and Adelphi President Robert Scott. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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From the Desk of Mayor Hall This Saturday, March 15, the Village of Hempstead will celebrate Women’s Health and Fitness Day. This free event is presented by First Lady of the Village Derrah Hall and Black Girls RUN! Long Island. Women’s Health and Fitness Day was created to recognize the importance of physical fitness and provide an opportunity for women all over Hempstead Village to come together and have a great day. The fitness event will be held at Kennedy Park on 335 Greenwich Street from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and will feature dozens of fitness activities specifically geared toward women. No experience is necessary to participate; regardless of your fitness level, you’ll enjoy workshops, exercise classes, health screenings and information, nutrition seminars, Zumba, running, yoga and more. If you’ve ever wanted an opportunity to learn about these activities from a knowledgeable professional, this day presents the perfect opportunity. You can choose to take part in any or all of these activities. Come on out and join us! Ms. Hall created this event to address a serious concern, not just in our community, but all over the country: a lack of clear information about proper diet and healthy exercise. Obesity rates are rising. Personal health is deteriorating. If Americans do not start committing more seriously to proper diet and exercise, problems such as diabetes and heart disease will continue to increase. Fortunately, we are not helpless; experience has shown that with determination, an individual can change his/her behavior and begin to lead a healthier life. You don’t need an expensive gym membership or personal trainer to add exercise to your lifestyle. It can be as simple as getting off the bus a stop early, using steps instead of the elevator, or participating in Villagesponsored events like the aforementioned Women’s Health and Fitness Day. Eating a nutritional diet is not difficult. It includes:
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Keep your overall fat intake to a minimum. Limit sodium and salt intake. The FDA recommends limiting salt intake to no more 2,300 milligrams a day, or about one teaspoon. Limit alcohol intake. Eat foods high in potassium and choose low-fat or non-fat dairy options over more fattening options. I hope to see you this weekend at the Women’s Health and Fitness Day. Also, I encourage all Village residents to come out and join me in the Tyler Curry Memorial 5K Race/Walkathon, scheduled for Saturday, June 7. To learn more about what is going on in the Village of Hempstead, including information about local organizations that serve youth and families, visit www.villageofhempstead.org. To report any nonemergency issues around the Village, remember to use the VillageLine at 516-478-6333. Sincerely,
Wayne Mayor Wayne J. Hall
HEMPSTEAD PUBLIC LIBRARY ADULT WORKSHOP USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN YOUR JOB SEARCH Wednesday, March 26, 2014 6:30pm – 8:30pm For immediate release* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * advance Registration needed * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Contact: Reference* * * * * * * * * * * * *481-6990 A resume is no longer enough. Today’s job seekers must have a LinkedIn Profile and know how to use other social media for a well-rounded job search strategy. Participants will learn how to build their LinkedIn Profile and how Twitter and Facebook can add value to a 21st Century job search. This is an informative presentation and handouts will be made available to all who attend. This free program will be held in the Community Room of the library. Registration is required.
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and high-fiber foods. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Tyrell Carillo, Sr. Owner and Manager of T. Carrillo Funeral Service, LLC. Joins Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. as a Member March, 11, 2014 - Long Island, New York - Tyrell Carillo, Sr. Owner and Manager of T. Carrillo Funeral Service, LLC. Joins Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. as a Member. “Tyrell Carillo, Sr.’s decision to join the chamber of commerce will provide our members and chamber network quality bereavement services at the highest levels, we are delighted that our member Tyrell Carillo was awarded the prestigious NYS Funeral Directors Association Certificate of Merit and voted by his classmates and faculty as being the students who best typifies the highest ideals of the Funeral Service Profession. His addition to the membership ranks of the chamber will serve as a significant asset.” Phil Andrews, President, Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Tyrell Carrillo,Sr. is owner and manager of T. Carrillo Funeral Service, LLC, located in the Bronx, N.Y. As a first generation Funeral Director, Mr. Carrillo strongly believes that his service is his ministry, which explains his unique style of serving every family as his family. He was born and raised in the Bronx and graduated from Walton High School. After graduating from high school, he earned a Mortuary Science degree from the American Academy McAllister Institute NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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of Funeral Service in Manhattan. Upon completion of his Mortuary Science program, he was awarded the prestigious NYS Funeral Directors Association Certificate of Merit, as voted by his classmates and faculty, as being the student who best typifies the highest ideals of the Funeral Service Profession. With over 15 years of Funeral Industry experience, Mr. Carrillo understands the importance of family and community. As a result, he and his fiancée and 5 children, often donate to the Abyssinian House and other shelters throughout the 5 boroughs. Local charitable events are also frequented annually, such as AIDS Walk NY. He is an active member of First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce and of Boyer Lodge # 1, MWPHGLNY. Visit: www.tcarrillofuneralservice.com to learn more about his company. Visit: www.awny2014.kintera.org and search “Team Life Walkers" to donate towards his efforts About the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) “The Mission of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., is to advance and promote economic development for business, and to advance responsive government and quality education on the behalf of all small businesses, with emphasis on African Ancestry, while preserving the Long Island community”. Long Island means the New York State counties on Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Kings. A Chamber of Commerce is one of the most well known and recognizable organizations in the country chartered to stimulate business in local and regional areas where they are designated to serve. Don’t forget to follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/ longislandafricanamericanchamber To be placed on our email list for upcoming Business Card Exchange & Breakfast Series events, email the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. at info@liaacc.com
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.Magic Johnson shares business savvy with teen Disney Dreamers Magic Johnson doesn’t fit neatly into any box. He is a retired pro basketball star who has reinvented himself to become a mega-entrepreneur that’s smashed nearly every glass ceiling. His journey to the top is testimony to overcoming adversity alongside dogged determination to succeed and prove people wrong. As Johnson’s career has morphed from dominating the basketball court to savvy businessman, an underlining principle has been to give back to the community, especially the next generation. So over the weekend, the 6-foot-9 towering NBA legend, took time from his busy schedule to inspire, encourage and motivate 100 handpicked teens at the seventh Disney Dreamers Academy in Orlando, Florida. “I grew up poor but didn’t have poor dreams,” Johnson told the high school students. “I don’t want any excuses from any of you. Failure is not an option.” During his motivational speech, Johnson talked candidly about the need to make sacrifices; stay disciplined and face obstacles head-on. He opened up about growing up in poverty in Michigan and overcoming a “reading problem in 7th grade.” Then once he had his heart set on a career in basketball, Johnson recalled that he’d spend hours and hours practicing, without falling into the trap of being distracted by friends. “I made sacrifices,” he said. “When my friends were doing something else I was on that basketball court each and other day.” Talking about his transition from the basketball court to the boardroom, Johnson told the teens the most important thing he has learnt is the value of knowing your customer. In fact, his company, Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE), has made its money capitalizing on the buying power of minorities coupled with a unique understanding of diverse urban communities. Johnson has a knack at working with established brands and fine-tuning them to suit the areas he targets, as was the case with his Starbucks partnership, which severed as a catalyst for redevelopment in urban communities. “I changed and tweaked my Starbucks to fit urban America,” said Johnson, chairman and CEO of MJE. “I took out those things that wouldn’t resonate with the urban consumer.” He also touched on the importance of establishing and NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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protecting your brand. IN THE BLACK “All of you are a brand,” said Johnson, who is now one of America’s most influential black businessmen. “What you do with your brand is going to be so important.” Johnson has an estimated net worth of $500 million. Clearly his brand name has premium value. He believes a reason his numerous business interests are successful is he is flexible when faced with challenges and unexpected problems. “You have to adjust and adapt in business every single day,” said Johnson.
“Life is about having a plan and then executing it. I had a plan to be a businessman but then I had to execute it.” Johnson is still clearly thrilled he has achieved the unthinkable – the ownership of basketball teams. “I got a chance to own the Lakers, but why, because I did everything the right way. I made all the right decisions so when the opportunity came I was ready for it.” “It was more important that I opened the door for other minorities to finally understand that they could own teams. It was not just for me but for them as well.”
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Chuck Madu, Owner of Freeport Medical Supply, Inc. and Xtra Care Pharmacy set to be honored at the Diabetes Health & Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. Benefit Gala March 14, 2014 Chuck Madu, Owner of Freeport Medical Supply, Inc. and Xtra Care Pharmacy set to be honored at the Diabetes Health & Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. Benefit Gala March 14, 2014. Chuck Madu will be honored for his recent work with the American Diabetes Association where he hosted a Community Walk for the Cure of Diabetes. The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. 2014 Annual Gala Benefit will be held on March 14, 2014 at Verdi’s of Westbury, located at 680 Old Country Road, West New York,11590 from 7:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. The event is themed “Creating a Unique Learning Environment through Health and Education Learning Initiatives.” The red-carpet fund-raiser gala will recognize individuals whose efforts have contributed to diabetes and health awareness. Tickets, donations, sponsorship or advertising information is available online @ https://www.eventbrite.com/ e/diabetes-health-wellness-academyof-nyc-benefit-gala-verdis-of-westbury-tickets8766616185?ref=efb Funds raised at the Gala will support The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. in its efforts to assist families, caregivers, and guardians in the daily management of prevention and awareness as well those affected with chronic disease. The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. intend to launch an innovative learning environment that alleviates gaps in disease management and healthy living while delivering effective daily education. The late scientist Jonas Salk once said that “hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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dare to make dreams into reality.” This statement is best attributed to Chuck Madu, owner of Freeport Medical Supply Inc. and Xtra Care Pharmacy. About: Chuck Madu – Chuck Madu is a native of Nigeria, Chuck (Nigerian name shortened for Chukwuma) came to America in September 1995. Like most immigrants who sojourn to the shores of America each year in hopes for a better life, Chuck Madu came to America with a dream: a better life through education. Chuck wanted more than just a college degree, though. He wanted to own his own business, and not just any business, but a medical supply and drugstore. Today, less than fifteen years after arrival to America, ChuckMadu has realized his childhood dream of education and ownership of his own business, and today, he residents of the Incorporated Village of Freeport enjoy the services of Chuck Madu’s medical supply and drugstore. “I came to America to train for what I wanted to do in life. I wanted to become a health care professional. Chuck Madu’s educational journey began at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in the spring of 1998, where he graduated with an associate’s degree in science. Upon graduation, he matriculated at Long Island University Brooklyn campus. He studied pharmacy, and in 2002, Chuck Madu obtained his doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm.D). Next, he went to work for Walgreens and spent six years in the drugstore chain’s employ. Never losing sight of his dream, Dr. Madu resigned from Walgreens in December 2006, parting with job security and great income. Yet, undeterred by not having job security, he registered and began his medical supply and drugstore business, Freeport Medical Supply, Inc. in May 2006. Gratified with how far he has come, Chuck admits with no regrets, saying “I made a bold step. I didn’t really have the means to begin my own business, but I knew that I wanted to have my own. I wanted to provide services, my own services to customers. I like the satisfaction of having my own. Chuck Madu is committed to community wellness, especially where Diabetes is concerned. Last August, he partnered with American Diabetes Association to host Community Walk for the Cure of Diabetes, and he plans to make the walk a yearly event. Dr. Madu has received numerous recognitions as a result of his commitment to community. In September 2013, he received the Community-minded Business Awardby the Hempstead/Uniondale Times and Power Networking Business Seminar Series during their annual Networking in the Hub seminar. Freeport Medical Supply and Xtra Care Pharmacy located at 75 South Main Street in Freeport. Telephone number (516) 208-7432. Get Tickets today online @ https://www.eventbrite.com/ e/diabetes-health-wellness-academy-of-nyc-benefit-galaPAGE 17
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ASK LISA-ANNE Do School Uniforms Make a Difference in Academic Performance? Q. My niece attends a charter school and they wear uniforms. My sister thinks that wearing uniforms helps improve academics in schools. Is this true? A. Well, it depends on whom you ask. If you ask people who went to Catholic or other religious schools, other private schools or who went to school outside of the USA where everyone wore uniforms; they would tell you yes! Those who never wore uniforms may take another view on the subject! Researchers are divided over how much of an impact - if any - dress policies have upon student learning. A 2004 book makes the case that uniforms do not improve school safety or academic discipline. A 2005 study, on the other hand, indicates that in some Ohio high schools uniforms may have improved graduation and attendance rates, although no improvements were observed in academic performance. In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. Noting the perceived benefit that uniforms conferred upon Catholic schools, some public schools decided to adopt a school uniform policy. President Clinton provided momentum to the school uniform movement when he said in his 1996 State of the Union speech, "If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms." The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms! According to proponents, school uniforms: Help prevent gangs from forming on campus Encourage discipline Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes Help identify intruders in the school Diminish economic and social barriers between students Increase a sense of belonging and school pride Improve attendance
Opponents contend that school uniforms: Violate a student's right to freedom of expression NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
Are simply a Band-Aid on the issue of school violence Make students a target for bullies from other schools Are a financial burden for poor families Are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay
taxes for a free public education Are difficult to enforce in public schools What Research Says About School Uniforms! Virginia Draa, assistant professor at Youngstown State University, reviewed attendance, graduation and proficiency pass rates at 64 public high schools in Ohio. Her final analysis surprised her: "I really went into this thinking uniforms don't make a difference, but I came away seeing that they do. At least at these schools, they do. I was absolutely floored." Draa's study concluded that those schools with uniform policies improved in attendance, graduation and suspension rates. She was unable to connect uniforms with academic improvement because of such complicating factors as changing instructional methods and curriculum. University of Missouri assistant professor, David Brunsma reached a different conclusion. In his 2004 book, The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us About American Education: A Symbolic Crusade, Brunsma reviewed past studies on the effect of uniforms on academic (Continued on page 20)
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Students Recognize Freeport Police with Adopt-A-Cop Luncheon Students at Bayview Avenue Elementary School in Freeport finally had their chance to participate in the Freeport Police Department’s Adopt-A-Cop program when fourth-graders performed for visiting officers during an inschool pizza luncheon hosted by the local precinct and PTA. The luncheon was originally scheduled for Valentine’s Day but was delayed due to bad weather. Students representing all five fourth-grade classes spoke about the officers with whom they have bonded. The officers were presented with paper flowers and other tokens of appreciation. Before pizza was served, the students performed a song of appreciation called “It’s Adopt-A-Cop Time” for the visiting police regiment. “These officers are part of our Bayview Avenue School family and we enjoy seeing them NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
every year,” said school social worker Cindy Misrock. The Adopt-A-Cop program reaches out to all four elementary schools to foster an ongoing cooperative relationship between the students and local law enforcement that will endure as the students continue their education. A huge end-of-year picnic is in the works to keep this relationship growing. “I am so proud of our students,” said Principal Odette Wills. “I think the students’ singing and speeches made this the best Adopt-A-Cop program ever.”
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performance. He also conducted his own analysis of two enormous databases, the 1988 National Educational Longitudinal Study and the 1998 Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Brunsma concluded that there is no positive correlation between uniforms and school safety or academic achievement. Meanwhile, the movement toward uniforms in public schools has spread to about a quarter of all elementary schools. Experts say that the number of middle and high schools with uniforms is about half the number of elementary schools. If uniforms are intended to curb school violence and improve academics, why are they not more prevalent in middle and high schools, where these goals are just as important as in elementary schools? Because, says Brunsma, "It's desperately much more difficult to implement uniforms in high schools, and even middle schools, for student resistance is much, much higher. In fact, most of the litigation resulting from uniforms has been located at levels of K-12 that are higher than elementary schools. Of course, this uniform debate is also one regarding whether children have rights, too!" The debate over uniforms in public schools encompasses many larger issues than simply what children should wear to school. It touches on issues of school improvement, freedom of expression and the "culture wars." It's no wonder the debate rages on. Information gathered from http://www.greatschools.org/find-aschool/defining-your-ideal/121-school-uniforms.gs?page=3
Two Freeport Odyssey of the Mind Teams Advance to State Competition The Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School’s fifthand sixth-grade Odyssey of the Mind teams both placed first at the regional competition held in early March and will now represent Freeport School District at the state competition at Binghamton State University in April. Teams are judged in part by their ability to think creatively and present their ideas in performance. The teams, comprised of seven students each, earned the highest scores possible thanks to their outside-of-thebox thinking and theatrical skills. The students, coached by Carrie Frederick and Christina Schwarz, have worked together since October honing their abilities to quickly create the original scripts, scenery and costumes that were judged on during competition with other schools in the region. The Odyssey of the Mind program was designed to challenge student teams to apply their combined creative and performance skills to meet challenges in a meaningful and fun way.
Lisa-Anne Ray-Byers is a licensed and certified speechlanguage pathologist who has worked in education for over two decades. She holds graduate degrees in speech-language pathology and multicultural education. She also holds certification in educational administration. She is the author of the books, They Say I Have ADHD, I Say Life Sucks! Thoughts From Nicholas, They S S Say I’m a Stutterer, But I S S Say Nothing! Meet Kelly and co-author of 365 Ways To Succeed With ADHD and 365+1 Ways to Succeed With ADHD available at www.Amazon.com. She is a member of the National Education Writers Association and the education editor for the Community Journal newspaper in Baldwin, NY. You may contact her at speechlrb@yahoo.com or by visiting her website at www.AskLisaAnne.com. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Students lives are changed thanks to Nassau BOCES Travel to Albany to share stories with New York State legislators GARDEN CITY, N.Y., March 13, 2014 — “LIHSA provides a place for kids like myself who are passionate about the arts, a home that make us feel comfortable in a high school setting where otherwise we would feel left out,” was the message theatre student Zack Zaromatidis told legislators. “It also provides me with the knowledge, skill sets and experience that I would need to further my career. Without the knowledge I obtained this one year alone, I would have been lost in this whole educational process of the art form entirely." Zaromatidis was one of 24 Nassau BOCES students who traveled to the New York State Capitol in Albany to call on legislators to continue supporting the programs that helped them change their lives or pursue their dreams. Similarly, Elizabeth Garcia told legislators that Nassau BOCES’ Teenage Parenting Program is helping her to finish school. “I am also receiving additional parenting and child development classes along with my academic subjects,” she went on to say. Eric Ricks, currently attending the Animal Care Skills program at Barry Tech, says that “because of Barry Tech I am now on track and focused to do better at my home school. Barry Tech gave me a reason to come to school.” “Now more than ever, it is critical for legislators to see firsthand the impact that Boards of Cooperative Educational Services throughout the state have on students,” said Dr. Thomas Rogers, Nassau BOCES district superintendent. “I’m particularly proud of the educational results our students achieve — often against all odds.” Sporting pins saying “Nassau BOCES is the solution,” the high school students and/or staff visited with 15 legislators or their aides, including senators John J. Flanagan, Kemp Hannon, Carl L. Marcellino, Jack M. Martins and Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos; and assembly members Brian F. Curran, Charles D. Lavine, David G. McDonough, Thomas McKevitt, Michael Montesano, Edward P. Ra, Joseph S. Saladino, Michelle Schimel, Michaelle Solages and Harvey Weisenberg. The students represented three Nassau BOCES schools or programs —Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center (Barry Tech) in Westbury, Long Island High School for the Arts in Syosset (LIHSA), and the Teenage Parenting Program in Westbury as well as staff from Career Preparatory High School in Westbury. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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When AMERICA runs out of VICTIMS like these who do you think MURDERERS like those will come after next? Let JUSTICE prevail... NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Queens Janitorial Company Ordered to Pay More than $94K in Back Wages and Unemployment Insurance MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced that a Queens janitorial company was ordered today to pay six employees back wages totaling more than $39,000 and more than $56,000 in unemployment insurance to the New York State Department of Labor. Ashland Building Services, Inc., of Sunnyside, was ordered by Nassau County District Court Judge Tricia Ferrell to pay $38,264.50 in overtime wages and $56,463.77 in unemployment insurance. The payment order resulted from the company’s guilty plea today to the charge of Failure to Pay Wages (an unclassified misdemeanor) secured by DA Rice’s Labor Unit. “Hardworking men and women who put in more than 40 hours a week are entitled to be paid overtime,” DA Rice said. “My office is dedicated to routing out those employers who cheat their employees out of their hard-earned wages – as well as prosecuting companies who attempt to avoid the Unemployment Insurance Tax by paying workers off the books.” DA Rice’s Labor Unit conducted the investigation after receiving a complaint from a former employee stating that she had been underpaid by Ashland. DA investigators interviewed the complaining witness, as well as other employees of Ashland and determined that Ashland failed to pay time and one-half for overtime to six employees for janitorial services provided at the I-Park Office Complex in Lake Success. The investigation also uncovered a large off-the-books payroll for which the company was not paying the proper contribution to the State’s Unemployment Insurance Fund. An audit conducted by the New York State Department of Labor’s Unemployment Insurance Division determined that the company underpaid its contributions by $56,463.77. ssistant District Attorney Richard Balletta, chief of DA Rice’s Labor Unit, is prosecuting the case. Ashland Building Services, Inc. is represented by Lowenstein Sandler LLP
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DA Rice Announces Takedown of Major Counterfeiting Operation More than $2 Million worth of health & beauty products of major international brands seized from five locations across Nassau County MINEOLA, N.Y. -- Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the takedown of a large-scale, sophisticated counterfeiting operation in which more than $2 million worth of health and beauty products was seized yesterday from five locations across Nassau County. Court-ordered search warrants were executed by teams yesterday at five locations. Arrested as the heads of the scheme yesterday were brothers Pardeep Malik, 59 of Plainview, and Hamant Mullick, 60 of Franklin Square. They are each charged with three counts of Trademark Counterfeiting in the 1st Degree (a C felony) and one count of Trademark Counterfeiting in the 2nd Degree (an E felony). Nassau County District Court Judge Anna R. Anzalone set bail at $100,000 for each defendant at arraignment today, and the defendants are due back in court on March 11. “Health and beauty products like lip balms, oils, shampoos and inhalers are highly regulated in order to protect consumers, but these defendants are charged with going around those protections and stealing the brands of major corporations that comply with the law,” DA Rice said. “These actions can endanger the public and local and federal officials, as well as industry manufacturers, are working hard to protect the public in this case.” Working with the Nassau County Fire Marshals, the Valley Stream Fire Department, the NCPD DA Squad and ESU, U.S. Food & Drug Administration and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and representatives of and several of the manufacturers of the products being counterfeited, DA investigators found the defendants operating manufacturing, storage and showroom facilities in Franklin Square, Oceanside, Freeport, and Valley Stream. More than $2 million worth of alleged counterfeit products were seized and removed in four tractor-trailer trucks yesterday. The scheme was discovered when Valley Stream Fire Department officials, after responding to an April 2013 fire in their jurisdiction, returned to the location in January of (Continued on page 25)
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this year for a follow-up to their investigation and stumbled upon what appeared to them to be a counterfeiting operation. Valley Stream FD officials notified Nassau County Fire Marshall officials, who went to the location, observed what appeared to be a counterfeiting operation and obtained samples of some of the product, which they sent to the
manufacturers, who verified that the products were counterfeit. After notifying Nassau County Fire Marshall officials and DA Rice’s office, samples of the products were sent to manufacturers, who verified that the products were counterfeits. The brothers were found to be selling the goods to distributors. Products have been found to turn up in retail locations in New York, Pennsylvania and Florida and investigation is underway to determine if there are more locations. The distributors appear to be selling primarily or exclusively to smaller, independently-owned stores rather than large corporate chains. One manufacturer has described this operation as the biggest known such manufacturing operation in the United States, while another has called it the only known such manufacturing operation in the United States for their products. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Yesterday’s searches and arrests represent the early stages of an ongoing investigation. Investigators are trying to determine the entire scope of the scheme in terms of collaborators, where the fake products have been sold, and how much revenue the defendants have taken in as a result of the scheme.
DA Rice said that it’s not yet known whether there is a health risk associated with the counterfeit products, but that the seized products are being tested by labs right now to determine their safety and quality. Counterfeit products such as these potentially pose health risks because of the ingredients used and the lack of proper sanitary controls under which they are produced. The counterfeit products found are facsimiles of major international brands owned by Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Procter and Gamble, and Unilever, including ChapStick, Johnson’s Baby Oil, Vicks VapoRub, Vicks Inhaler, Vaseline and Always sanitary pads. Chris Vuturo, spokesman for Procter and Gamble, said: “Procter and Gamble applauds the action of Nassau County law enforcement in shutting down this operation, and helping protect people from these counterfeit products. We’ll continue to work with all federal, state, and local authori(Continued on page 27)
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Disbarred Attorney Charged with Stealing from Clients Urena de Checo, 39, of Freeport, found taking money meant to pay settlements for clients she represented MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest of a disbarred attorney who is accused of stealing money meant to pay settlements for two clients she represented in June 2013. Urena de Checo, 39, of Freeport, was arrested today and charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree (a D felony). If convicted, she faces up to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison on each charge. De Checo was arraigned today before Nassau County District Court Judge Rhonda Fischer, was conditionally released to probation, and is due back in court on March 24. “When people pay money to retain a lawyer’s services, they have a right to representation by an attorney who puts the best interest of their clients above themselves,” DA Rice said. “Clients shouldn’t have to wonder if their attorney is actually working on their behalf, or profiting from their position for their own personal gain.” DA Rice said de Checo was hired in June 2013 by the owner of a Hempstead barber shop to represent him in a civil matter. The owner gave de Checo $10,000 in cash, which was to be used to pay for a settlement in his case. Shortly thereafter, de Checo mailed a check drawn on an escrow account to the attorney representing the other party; however, the check was returned for insufficient funds. Although de Checo promised to send a new check to the other attorney, she never did so. In addiNASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice
tion, she stopped answering calls from her client and did not respond to his letters. Also in June 2013, a Hempstead restaurant owner hired de Checo to represent him in a landlord/tenant case. The restaurant owner gave de Checo a check for $10,600, which was to be used towards a settlement of the case. The defendant informed her client that the check should be made out to her. However, rather than depositing the check in her escrow account and forwarding payment to the other party in the case, de Checo cashed the check, and did not forward the funds as required. De Checo eventually stopped answering calls from her client about the missing funds. The cases were referred to DA Rice’s Criminal Complaints Unit for investigation. De Checo submitted her resignation from the practice of law, and was disbarred on Jan. 29, 2014. Members of the public suspecting wrongdoing on the part of their attorney can file a complaint with DA Rice’s office at (516) 571-3505. Assistant District Attorney Edward Bradley of DA Rice’s Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting the case. De Checo is represented by Charles Rosenblum, Esq. The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty. PAGE 26
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ties to continue frustrate and eliminate counterfeiting, and help them continue to pursue this investigation. We encourage consumers to be cautious about buying branded goods that look suspicious, or from outlets that are unfamiliar – buy only from sources that are well known and trusted.” Other products including over-the-counter cold medicines and painkillers were also found in the brothers’ “showroom” in Valley Stream, but the manufacturing source of those products is not yet known; no evidence of counterfeit medicinemaking equipment was found by investigators yesterday. FIVE TIPS TO IDENTIFY A FAKE 1. First look for obvious signs – a strange picture on the package, strange languages for your locale, strange colors, or strange typeface. 2. If the illegitimate product is more sophisticated, however, it can be hard to tell from looking. The next best way is to consider the price paid. If the price was atypically low, without any kind of coupon or special promotion, then it may be illegitimate. 3. Counterfeit products will not have the same quality or consistency of real products. 4. Also look at the expiration date, as this can be another indicator of a fake. 5. Try to shop at established and trusted stores, which are highly likely to be connected to legitimate supply chains. Members of the public suspecting that a product is fake are urged to contact the manufacturer as well as local
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prosecutors. Suspected products purchased in Nassau County can be referred to DA Rice’s Economic Crimes Bureau by calling her Criminal Complaint Unit at (516) 5713505. Nassau County Chief Fire Marshall Scott Tusa added that the locations also had “numerous fire & code violations including open electrical wiring, empty fire extinguishers, and locked & blocked exits that made the workers inside virtual prisoners in the event of a fire or other emergency.” “The discovery of this operation illustrates the importance of the Fire Marshals day to day routine inspections and response to complaints across the County. It was a routine response that allowed Fire Marshals to develop the initial information which lead to the larger investigation.” Assistant District Attorney Andrew Weiss and Assistant District Attorney Whitney Matthews are prosecuting the case for DA Rice’s Economic Crimes Bureau. Malik is represented by Steve Christiansen, Esq. Mullick is represented by Michael Brown, Esq.
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NCDA: Case Update (Raymond Roth verdict) Raymond Roth, 49, of Massapequa, was convicted today in a bench trial by Nassau County Judge Tammy Robbins of Attempted Burglary in the 3rd Degree (an E felony), Criminal Impersonation in the 1st Degree (an E felony), Attempted Unlawful Imprisonment in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor), and Criminal Impersonation in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor). Roth was found not guilty of Attempted Kidnapping in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) and Attempted Coercion in the 1st Degree (an E felony). On March 21, 2013, according to prosecutors, Roth approached a woman in Freeport and while pretending to be a police officer, demanded she get into his vehicle or be arrested. When she refused, Roth followed her to a check cashing establishment where he tried to gain access to a locked back door. Roth pleaded guilty earlier that day on March 21, 2013 to Conspiracy in the 4th Degree for his involvement in a scheme to defraud a life insurance company by faking his own death in the ocean off Jones Beach in July 2012. He is due back in court for sentencing in both cases on March 21. His son, Jonathan Roth, 23, of Massapequa, was sentenced on March 4 by Judge Robbins to one year in jail for helping his father in the life insurance scheme.
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Suffolk Man Arrested for Stealing $172K from Employer Thomas Holt, 65, of Nesconset, was an employee for 20 years at business in Great Neck MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest today of a Suffolk County man who stole more than $172,000 from the Great Neck business where he worked as a salesman. Thomas Holt, 65, of Nesconset, was arrested today and charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony). If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. (Continued on page 29)
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Holt is expected to be arraigned in Nassau County District Court later this afternoon. “Businesses often rely on employees to be the trustworthy face of their operations. When that trust is violated, everyone – including customers, fellow employees and management – is hurt by their misconduct,” DA Rice said. “Employees who abuse their positions for their own personal gain must be held accountable for their crimes.” DA Rice said Holt was employed for the last 20 years at an interior design and supply firm located in Great Neck, where his job was to take orders and payments from walkin customers. Starting in 2008, he told dozens of customers that he could provide them with a discount, provided they paid him directly with a check made out to cash. He then delivered the merchandise ordered by those customers from the inventory of the store, but did not forward the checks to his employer. Rather, he deposited them in his own personal checking account. The scheme lasted until 2012. Holt was fired by the company in October 2012. The scheme was discovered during a routine review of the company’s financial records, which showed that payments on invoices had not been credited to the company’s accounts. After speaking with customers who gave payment directly to Holt, the company referred the case to DA Rice’s office for investigation. Assistant District Attorney Edward Bradley of DA Rice’s Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting the case. Holt is represented by Frank Doddado, Esq. The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
DA Rice Announces More than a Half Million Dollars in Stolen Medicaid and Public Assistance Funds Ordered Repaid to Taxpayers Last of eight defendants in sweep sentenced in court today MINEOLA, N.Y. - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the sentencing today of the last defendant arrested in a countywide Medicaid and Public Assistance fraud sting involving eight people who collectively have been ordered to repay more than a half million dollars to taxpayers for benefits they were not entitled to receive. Mathew Sutphen, 52, of Massapequa, was sentenced today by Acting Nassau County Court Judge Erica Prager to a conditional discharge, 210 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $167,240.79. Sutphen pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) in January 2012. His wife and co-defendant, Angela Sutphen, 54, also of Massapequa, pleaded to Welfare Fraud in the 5th Degree (an A misdemeanor) in January 2013. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Angela Sutphen was sentenced on March 4 to a conditional discharge and 210 hours of community service. “Those who think they can take advantage of public assistance programs by collecting benefits they have no right to receive threaten the viability of a social safety net that is paid for by the hard-working men and women of our county,” DA Rice said. “My office will continue its efforts to make sure that money stolen from taxpayers is repaid and those who abuse the system will be held accountable.” The Sutphens are the last of eight defendants sentenced in the sweep, which was the result of joint investigations by DA Rice’s Public Assistance Fraud Unit and the Special Investigations Unit of the Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS). Medicaid provides free public health insurance to more 5.3 million low-income individuals in New York State. It is funded jointly by federal, state, and local governments. As a result of the sweep, a total of $527,439.78 in restitution was ordered returned to the funding agencies, with 25 percent going to the state and another 25 percent going to the local county. DA Rice said that between April 2004 and November 2009, the Sutphens stole more than $167,000 in undeserved Medicaid and Public Assistance benefits by underreporting their income and assets and failing to disclose the ownership of timeshares, a co-op in Florida, a second home in Suffolk County, and the ownership of Cornerstone Bancor Mortgage Company. Mathew Sutphen was arrested on October 13, 2011. They are represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County. The other defendants sentenced in the sweep are: ·
Joan Anzalone, 45, of Glen Cove, was arrested on (Continued on page 30)
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September 1, 2011 for stealing more than $26,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits between August 2005 and July 2009. Anzalone pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 5th Degree in November 2012 and was sentenced to a conditional discharge and restitution in the amount of $10,412.54. DA Rice said Anzalone claimed to earn between $15,000 and $17,800 as a self-employed house cleaner. In fact, Anzalone’s undisclosed bank records reveal annual deposits between $16,000 and $118,000 during the fraud period. · Rehman Aziz, 53, and Nighat Aziz, 47, of Sea Cliff, were arrested in September 2011 for stealing more than $96,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits. Rehman Aziz pleaded guilty in March 2012 to Welfare Fraud in the 3rd Degree and sentenced in May 2012 to five years’ probation, 210 hours of community service, and restitution in the amount of $96,540. Nighat Aziz pleaded guilty in March 2012 to Welfare Fraud in the 5th Degree and sentenced to a conditional discharge. DA Rice said that between June 2004 and September 2010, the defendants stole more than $96,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits by claiming a weekly income ranging between $325 and $525. In reality, they own their own business and home, and have a yearly income between $56,000 and $116,000. · Rizwan Basit, 35, and Shamama Shamin, 30, of Valley Stream, were arrested on September 21, 2011 for stealing more than $16,000 in underserved Medicaid benefits. Rizwan Basit pleaded guilty to Disorderly Conduct in April 2012 and was sentenced to a conditional discharge, 210 hours of community service, a fine of $500, and restitution in the amount of $8,000. Shamama Shamin pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 4th Degree in April 2012 and sentenced to a conditional discharge and restitution in the amount of $8,457. DA Rice said that between April 2007 and December 2010, the defendants stole more than $16,000 in underserved Medicaid benefits by failing to disclose the ownership of two Cold Stone Creamery locations, two Mercedes-Benzes, and annual bank deposits between $140,000 and $193,000 during the fraud period. · Dennis Melandro, 39, of Hicksville, was arrested on September 28, 2011 for stealing more than $11,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits. Melandro pleaded guilty to Disorderly Conduct and sentenced to a conditional discharge, 70 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $11,587. DA Rice said that between April 2009 and May 2010, Melandro stole more than $11,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits by failing to disclose his employment and income. The investigation revealed that Melandro is a licensed real estate agent, operated his own business, Disasterpro, and had deposits into his bank accounts between $158,000 and $738,000 during the fraud period. · Laurie Morales, 44, of Freeport, was arrested on September 14, 2011 for stealing more than $162,000 in undeserved Medicaid, Food Stamp, and Day Care benefits. Morales pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 2nd Degree in January 2013 and sentenced in June 2013 to 5 years’ probation, 210 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $162,474.45. DA Rice said that between NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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January 1997 and January 2011, Morales stole more than $162,000 in undeserved Medicaid, Food Stamp, and Day Care benefits by failing to disclose her actual income, the ownership of her home, and the presence of her husband in the household. From 2004 through 2010, Morales claimed to earn between $200 and $250 per week. In reality, Morales had annual bank deposits between $56,000 and $70,000. · Tahira Mundiya, 47, of Farmingdale, was arrested on September 14, 2011 for stealing more than $62,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits. Mundiya pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 3rd Degree in May 2012 and sentenced in July 2012 to five years’ probation, 210 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $62,728. DA Rice said that between September 2001 and June 2010, Mundiya stole more than $62,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits by failing to disclose the ownership of a second home with rental income and a gas station. Assistant District Attorneys Christine Burke, Chief of DA Rice’s Public Assistance Fraud Unit, and Brian Heid of DA Rice’s Economic Crimes Bureau, are prosecuting the cases.
Bookkeeper Sentenced for Stealing More than $866K from Nassau County Architectural Firm Lori Maceluch, 48, of Huntington, forged more than 500 checks, spending cash on vacations, shopping and restaurants MINEOLA, N.Y. –Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Huntington woman has been sentenced for using her position as a bookkeeper to steal more than $866,000 over a six-year period from a Nassau County architectural firm. Lori Maceluch, 48, pleaded guilty in January 2014 to one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd Degree (a D felony). Maceluch was sentenced today by Nassau County Court Judge Alan Honorof to 3 to 9 years in prison on the top charge and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $866,114.18. She was also sentenced to 2 to 6 years for each count on the Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument charge, which will be served concurrently to the top charge. “By committing these crimes, Ms. Maceluch brazenly abused her employer’s trust while treating herself to vacations, clothes, and meals – all on the company’s dime,” DA Rice said. “Today’s sentence is a reminder that those who deceive and steal money from their employer will face consequences for their actions.” DA Rice said that between May 2005 and September 2011, Maceluch used her position as bookkeeper for a Nassau County-based architectural firm to steal $866,114.18 by (Continued on page 31)
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forging a firm partner’s signature on 568 checks she wrote to herself. As bookkeeper for the firm for approximately 15 years, Maceluch had access to the firm’s operating account. Maceluch disguised the theft by fraudulently enhancing legitimate expenses in the company’s financial records. She used the stolen cash to fund a lifestyle that included dining at restaurants and taking vacations to the Berkshires, Nantucket Island, Fire Island, Florida, and the Dominican Republic. Maceluch spent tens of thousands of dollars on credit card payments and at various retail stores including Lord & Taylor and Bon Bon’s Chocolatier. The theft was discovered in late 2011 when an internal audit of the company uncovered discrepancies in the accounts payable and accounts receivable records that could not be explained. Maceluch was terminated shortly thereafter and the case was subsequently referred to the DA’s Office. Assistant District Attorney William Jorgenson of DA Rice’s Government & Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting the case. Maceluch is represented by Michael Alber, Esq.
DA Rice to Address Danger of Heroin Usage Among Young People at Local School Presentation
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NCDA: Case update (Animal cruelty plea) hawanna Hughes, 37, pleaded guilty today before Nassau County District Court Judge Rhonda Fischer to one count of Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance, an animal cruelty charge under New York State’s Agriculture and Markets Law. Hughes was arrested in March 2013 for failing to provide veterinary care in October 2012 through December of 2012 for wounds to a dog’s neck, paws, near his tail, and a broken leg that had gone untreated and healed incorrectly, causing permanent disfigurement to the animal. The dog’s leg needed to be amputated due to the incorrect healing and pain to the dog. Hughes received a sentencing commitment of 30 days’ jail time and 3 years’ probation. Additionally, prosecutors are requesting an order to restrict possession of any animals by her for a period of five years. Prosecutors are also requesting an order allowing for spot checks of Hughes’ home to assure that she is complying with the restriction of possession order. Hughes is due back in court on May 7. The dog, a pit bull-mix named “Snowball,” was adopted by private citizens. After a few surgeries, the dog is in good condition. Hughes’ husband and co-defendant, Lee Hughes, 39, pleaded guilty on Feb. 26 to one count of Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance for failing to provide veterinary care for Snowball, and received a sentencing commitment of 60 days in jail and 3 years’ probation. Lee Hughes is due back in court on May 1. Shawanna and Lee Hughes, along with veterinary assistant Reginald Smith, were arraigned in February 2014 on animal cruelty charges stemming from a separate investigation led by the New York State Attorney General’s Office for the improper amputation of the leg and ears of a pit bull puppy. The puppy in that case, “Miss Harper,” was put up for adoption after receiving care by veterinarians. Assistant District Attorney Alexander Lev of DA Rice’s Animal Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case involving the pit bull “Snowball.” Shawanna Hughes is represented by Lori Golombeck, Esq.
Now in its 6th year, DA Rice’s ‘Not My Child’ program teaches parents and educators about the problem of heroin addiction MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice is scheduled to appear at HB Thompson Middle School in Syosset on Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. to speak at a presentation of “Not My Child,” a program she created to address the epidemic of heroin addiction and its devastating impact on families and neighborhoods. “It’s heartbreaking to see a parent who has lost a child to heroin abuse talk about how they didn’t know about the warning signs of drug use, or where to go to for help,” DA Rice said. “At this presentation, parents and educators will get the information they need to protect young people from this growing problem.” Not My Child is a presentation that teaches parents about how to look for signs of drug use, and how abuse of heroin and other opiates isn’t just about shooting up with needles – addiction to opiates in pill form is a growing problem among young people in our communities. The presentation will also discuss trends DA Rice’s office is seeing in drug use among young adults in our area. Started in September 2008, Not My Child is designed to help parents and educators spot heroin addiction in its early stages, and gives examples about how they can create partnerships to tackle this deadly disease. HB Thompson Middle School is located at 98 Ann Drive in Syosset. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
Public Service Announcement from the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Did you know that you, your relative, neighbor or friend could be a victim of domestic violence? Domestic Violence has no boundaries. Contact the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence for help. Call the 24-hour hotline 631-666-8833. Trained counselors are always available. For more information visit sccadv.org Domestic violence is a crime. Those suffering are often afraid to report it to the police. The Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic V iolence places trained advocates in all seven Suffolk County Police Precincts to help those in need. For more information please call 631-6668833 or visit us at www.sccadv.org
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Obamacare credited with significantly lowering rate of uninsured WASHINGTON (AP) — The rate of U.S. adults who lack health insurance keeps going down, according to major survey tracking the rollout of President Barack Obama‘s health care law. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, released Monday, said the share uninsured Americans is on track to drop to the lowest quarterly level it measured since 2008, before Obama took office. The poll found that 15.9 percent of U.S. adults are uninsured thus far in 2014, down from 17.1 percent for the last three months — or calendar quarter— of 2013. That translates roughly to 3 million to 4 million people getting coverage. There are three weeks left to sign up for health care under Obama’s health care program, his signature — and controversial — domestic policy achievement. Republicans are virtually uniformly opposed to the 3year-old law and are seeking to make a major issue of it ahead of the November general elections, when control of Congress will be at stake. Opponents consider taxes associated with the law burdensome for businesses and also ob-
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ject to a requirement that virtually all Americans get covered or risk fines. They also point to the numerous glitches that first plagued the health care website created by the Obama administration to help people find coverage. Gallup said the drop in insured Americans coincides with the start of coverage under the health care law on Jan. 1. The major elements of the law, called the Affordable Care Act, are now in effect. Insurers can no longer turn away people with health problems. New state-based markets are offering taxpayer-subsidized private insurance to middle-class households. The survey found that almost every major demographic group made progress getting health insurance, although Hispanics lagged. With the highest uninsured rate of any racial or ethnic group, Latinos were expected to be major beneficiaries of the new health care law. They are a relatively young population and many are on the lower rungs of the middle class, holding down jobs that don’t come with health insurance. But the outreach effort to Hispanics got off to a stumbling start. The Spanish-language enrollment website, CuidadodeSalud.gov, was delayed due to technical problems. Its name sounds like a clunky translation from English: “Care of Health.” A spot check of the Spanish site on Sunday showed parts of it still use a mix of Spanish and English to convey information, which can make insurance details even more confusing. All indications point to lackluster Latino numbers, prompting the administration to make a special pitch as the (Continued on page 33)
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What is ‘CTE’ all about? There have been numerous reports in the past two weeks about the four former NFL stars — Tony Dorsett, Joe DeLamielleure, Leonard Marshall and Mark Duper — diagnosed with early signs of a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. These reports have shifted into discussions on how to prevent other players from developing CTE, including possible changes to game rules, special testing and delaying youth involvement. But, what exactly is CTE? CTE is a condition where repeated blows to the head or neck — in contact sports such as boxing, football and hockey — eventually lead to long-term brain damage. The head trauma can be as simple as hitting the ground during a tackle or a full speed helmet-to-helmet collision. In CTE, the brain breaks down and develops a build-up of an abnormal protein called tau, which contributes to the symptoms. What CTE looks like The symptoms include cognitive deficits such as memory loss, impaired judgment and confusion; behavioral changes such as impulse control or aggression; and psychiatric symptoms such as depression, paranoia and suicide. Eventually, the degeneration of the brain in CTE causes deNASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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mentia. Dorsett appeared on ESPN last week and confirmed that he has memory deficits, emotional outbursts, depression and thoughts of suicide. Typically, CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem during an autopsy, however, Dorsett and other athletes are showing early symptoms of the condition. Just a concussion, or brain damage? (Continued on page 34)
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end of open enrollment season approaches on March 31. The president was on Spanish-language television networks last week to raise awareness. Gallup found the biggest drop in the uninsured rate was among households making less than $36,000 a year — a decline of 2.8 percentage points. Among blacks, the uninsured rate was down by 2.6 percentage points. It declined by 1 percentage point among whites. But Latinos saw a drop of just eight-tenths of a percentage point. The survey was based on telephone interviews from Jan. 2-Feb. 28 with a random sample of 28,396 adults aged 18 and older in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total national sample, the margin of error is plus or minus 1 percentage point, larger for subgrou PAGE 33
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We now know that a concussion — including “seeing stars” or “getting your bell rung” — is, in fact, minor brain injury.
published findings of an autopsy on a former NFL player 12 years out of retirement. He reportedly had a mood disorder, problems with cognition and symptoms similar to someone with Parkinson’s disease.
Concussions have been a part of the game — even as of last week, NFL teams reported a total of 62 concussions since the beginning of the 2013 season — but there’s an increased awareness lately. Simply put, any blow to the head or any impact that shakes the brain around with a resulting symptom — headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, memory loss or feeling foggy — is a concussion.
Two years later, in response to these new findings, The Sports Legacy Institute was created in Boston with the goal of promoting awareness of brain injury in sports and studying the brains of deceased athletes. That same year, they received their first donation to the brain bank from the family of Chris Benoit — a champion professional wrestler who ended his life in a shocking double-murder suicide.
Making this definition more accurate has become important in identifying who is actually at risk for long-term damage. But, while CTE is known to come from repeated concussions, it can also occur in players who take blows with seemingly no symptoms.
Some speculated that steroids were responsible, but SLI, along with Boston University researchers, performed forensic testing that showed signs of CTE.
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In 2010, Boston University researchers found CTE in the brain of a dead college football player who had hung himself, and had never reported having a concussion. Advocates say that this makes a case that even small blows without a full concussion could still have long-term damaging effects. Putting two and two together This issue is not new. Back in 2005, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sent surveys to more than 3,000 members of the NFL Retired Player’s Association and found a connection between repeated football concussions and dementia later in life. In fact, they found a 37 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s dementia among those who responded. Some needed help from family members to complete the survey. That same year, University of Pittsburgh researchers
CTE and suicide Since then, several other professional athletes who have committed suicide were found to have damage consistent with CTE. In the same year, NFL defensive back Andre Waters committed suicide at age 44, and the pathologist who performed his autopsy told the New York Times that Waters’ brain had degenerated into a brain of an 85-year-old man and that his brain had characteristics of Alzheimer’s patients. Boston University researchers also found CTE in the brain of former Pro Bowl Safety Dave Duerson who, at 50, committed suicide with a gunshot to the chest. He left a note asking that his brain be donated to the Brain Bank. Star NFL linebacker Junior Seau was 43 took his own life last May. A National Institutes of Health study found his brain also had signs of CTE. The month before, former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray
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LI COUNCIL OF CHURCHES NEW DOLLARS/NEW PARTNERS Many congregations face challenges using their buildings in ministry and mission and finding support to maintain them. The Partners for Sacred Places’ program called “New Dollars/New Partners” helps teams from local congregations to do just this. The LICC Board recently voted to sponsor a year-long New Dollars/New Partners project, provided that a dozen congregations commit to it by the end of this month. In order to schedule a Saturday this spring when the teams will meet for the first time, the Partners need to know this week if it looks like we will achieve this number. We currently have eight commitments. You can find a report on our Fall Convocation with the Partners and a form for expressing interest in New Dollars/New Partners in our January newsletter, which is available on-line at www.liccny.org Each congregation that takes part in this training would be expected to send a team of two to four people to four day-long training events, two in Suffolk and two in Nassau, and to contribute $500 toward the expenses of the project. The gathering for religious leaders in New Castle and Westbury that the Westbury Friends Meeting had planned to host on Monday, March 3, at 550 Post Ave. at 7PM has been postponed until next Monday, March 10. I understand that the Friends will be sharing some info about the New Dollars/New Partners project. For further information, please call 516-3333178 Monday through Friday 8 to 4 (or leave a message on the answering machine at other times) and leave your name, congregation, and phone number. ROOF REPAIR NEEDED The LICC’s Freeport Emergency Food Center has a leaky roof that our landlord, Nassau County, will not repair. They reimburse only a small part of the work they asked us to do—their payment has decreased over the past three decades as the number of people they ask us to help has increased five-fold--so we cannot afford to spend a lot repair the building in which they have asked us to operate. Do you know anyone who might donate their services to fix the roof that the County will not repair? If so, please contact Wally Merna at liccfreeport@optonline.net or 516-868-4989 or Tom Goodhue at tomgoodhue@optonline.net 516-565-0290. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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NEW DIRECTORY OF CHURCHES & SYNAGOGUES OF LONG ISLAND Our new directory of Long Island churches, Unitarian Universalist fellowships, and synagogues on Long Island is hot off the presses. It lists about 1500 local congregations/parishes, plus denominational executives, local ecumenical and interfaith organizations, chaplains, pastoral counselors, information on worship services in many languages (from American Sign Language to Vietnamese), and information about worship services for those with special needs. We mail this directory free of charge to our member congregations, the Friends of the LICC, and our major donors, and hand it out at our Board and committee meetings. If you do not receive your copy soon, this may be a sign that you need to do the paperwork to officially join! We sell the directory for $50 to not-for-profit organizations and for $100 to businesses that have a legitimate need to find local clergy, such as funeral homes and hospitals. We also can email you the directory as a Word file if this would be helpful. You can snail-mail a check made out to the LICC to 1644 Denton Green, Hempstead NY 11550 Attention: Sara Weiss or you can charge it to your MasterCard or Visa by calling 516-565-0290 with the relevant information. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Weiss at 516-565-0290, ext. 207 or saraweiss@optonline.net. And let us know if you would like your congregation’s Web site or email address included in the next directory. HELP FEED SENIORS, NEW MOTHERS & CHILDREN Catholic Charities distributes free food to seniors, mothers in the second half of their postpartum year, and 5 ad 6-year-old children whose income is less than $1174 a month for individuals or $1579 for couples through the Commodities Supplemental Food Program. They also are signing up homebound seniors to have pre-packed boxes of food delivered to them once a month. They would also be glad to hear from congregations or agencies that would like them to deliver food each month to seniors and mothers. Call Blair Jones at 516-623-4568 for more info about this. Catholic Charities is distributing CSFP food at the LICC’s Riverhead office (407 Osborne Avenue at Lincoln, 631-727-2210) on the fourth Thursday of each month from 10:00 to 11:30. They have several other new monthly distribution sites where seniors and young mothers can select food themselves. There may be a need for an additional site in the Moriches and perhaps also one more in Riverhead or Flanders. Those who do not serve 20 or eligible people on any given day of the week might consider distributing pre-boxed food throughout the month.
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Question: "Christian fasting - what does the Bible say?" Answer: Scripture does not command Christians to fast. God does not require or demand it of Christians. At the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial. The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2; 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus completely on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him. Fasting helps us gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God. Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast. Anything given up temporarily in order to focus all our attention on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when fasting from food. Extended periods of time without eating can be harmful to the body. Fasting is not intended to punish the flesh, but to redirect attention to God. Fasting should not be considered a “dieting method” either. The purpose of a biblical fast is not to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God. Anyone can fast, but some may not be able to fast from food (diabetics, for example). Everyone can temporarily give up something in order to draw closer to God. By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can more successfully turn our attention to Christ. Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want. Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Question: "Who was Ehud?" Answer: Ehud served as the second judge of Israel following Othniel. After Othniel’s death, the people of Israel sinned and fell to the king of Moab, serving him for 18 years (Judges 3:13–14). When the Israelites cried out for help, God sent Ehud to serve as judge. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Facts about Ehud include that he was the son of Gera and belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. He was also noted as a left-handed man (Judges 3:15). This detail would become important to the success of his mission. Beginning in Judges 3:16, we read that Ehud made himself a small sword (about 16 inches long) and strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes—had Ehud been righthanded, he would have carried the sword on his left side. Next, he visited the Moabites’ King Eglon under pretense of paying a tribute. When Ehud was checked for weapons, his small sword was apparently missed as it was in an unexpected location. Following the presentation of his tribute, Ehud said that he had a secret message for the king. Everyone left the room except Ehud and King Eglon. Ehud then pulled out his sword and stuck it into the king’s stomach. The king was obese, and the sword disappeared inside his belly. Ehud left the sword and escaped through a porch opening. When Eglon’s servants later found the king dead, Ehud had already escaped and rallied the people of Israel. Going to the town of Seraiah, located in Ephraim, Ehud sounded a horn or shofar. The Israelites cut off the Moabites at the Jordan River. Judges 3:29 records that about 10,000 Moabites were killed in the battle. Once free from Eglon’s rule, the Israelites enjoyed 80 years of peace, the longest peaceful period recorded during the time of the judges (Judges 3:30). While this account is one of the more graphic scenes in Scripture, it is also very insightful. The original readers would have seen the power of God in this story for a variety of reasons. First, a lone man walked into the king’s palace, assassinated the king, and walked out without being captured. This was a highly unexpected event that involved great risk. Second, one battle changed the next 80 years of Israel’s history. Ehud’s story involves more than removing a wicked leader; it includes a change in national history for an entire generation. Third, Ehud’s success is a story of freedom. Just as God had redeemed Israel from Pharaoh and the land of Egypt when they cried out for help, God redeemed Israel from their bondage under King Eglon when they turned to Him. Ehud’s actions offer a valuable look at how God can change the course of a nation in a single day when He responds to the cries of His people. Further, we see God being faithful to His promise to help Israel when they repented of their sins and turned to Him—a lesson relevant still today. PAGE 36
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Don’t Be Intimidated TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies...” (Philippians 1:28, NLT) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria With God on your side, there is no reason to be intimidated by your enemies. You don’t have to be intimidated by cancer. It’s no match for your God. Sickness cannot keep you from your destiny. God has you in the palm of His hand. Nothing can snatch you away. If it’s not your time to go, you’re not going to go. Don’t be intimidated by that financial problem. Don’t be intimidated by what somebody said about you. There is an anointing on your life that seals you, protects you, enables you and empowers you. God has infused you with strength. The Scripture says that you can do all things through Christ. Today, go out with confidence. Go out with boldness knowing that if God is for you, it doesn’t even matter who is against you! No foe can stand against the power of Almighty God. You are empowered and equipped for victory, so don’t be intimidated! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, thank You for empowering me to live in victory no matter what I may be facing. I trust that no matter what comes my way, I am safe in the palm of Your hand. I won’t be intimidated by anything in Jesus’ name! Amen! — Joel & Victoria Osteen
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$600K taken from safe at Osteen's megachurch HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities are investigating after $600,000 in checks and cash was stolen from a safe at Pastor Joel Osteen's Houston megachurch, which has one of the largest congregations in the country. Police spokesman Kese Smith said Tuesday $200,000 in cash and $400,000 in checks were stolen from a safe sometime between 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. Monday. The theft was reported Monday morning by a church employee and an off-duty sheriff's deputy who provides security at the facility. No arrests have been made, Smith said. Church officials declined to comment Tuesday. In a statement issued Monday, Lakewood Church said the money and checks taken, as well as some envelopes with written credit card information, were limited to funds given during this past weekend's Saturday and Sunday services. Joel OsteenAP Photo: Pat Sullivan Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen smiles during an interview in the former basketball arena that has become the new home for the church in Houston, in this Sept. 20, 2004, file photo. "We are working with the police to fully investigate the incident," the statement reads. "The funds were fully insured, and we are working with our insurance company to NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
restore the stolen funds to the church." The church encouraged people who made contributions this past weekend to keep track of their accounts and report any suspicious activity. But church officials noted there was no electronic data breach and that individuals who put their offerings in a drop box, gave online or made a bookstore purchase were not affected. More than 40,000 people attend weekly services led by Osteen, whose televised sermons reach nearly 100 countries.
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Easterling committed suicide at 62 and his autopsy showed signs of CTE. More research and testing The SLI, in particular, continues to receive brain donations, perform testing and advocate about CTE. In January 2013, they published findings in the journal Brain showing that 68 of the brains from 85 subjects with a history of mild repetitive brain trauma had evidence of CTE. Since CTE can only be definitively diagnosed postmortem, there is a need for earlier testing and research among living athletes — both active and retired. Dr. Tyeese Gaines is a physician-journalist with over 10 years of print and broadcast experience, now serving as health editor for MSNBC’s theGrio.com. Dr. Ty is a practicing emergency medicine physician in New Jersey and clinical instructor of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Follow her on twitter at @doctorty.
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You’ve written your resume, now it’s time to explore all aspects of the interview process. Learn how to effectively “sell” yourself during the meeting and what to do afterward to separate yourself from your competition. Know what types of questions to ask and how to anticipate and answer difficult questions asked of you. The program will be held in the Community Room. Registration is required for this free program.
NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
Many of us local high school sports fans recall the heroics of George Beamon on the basketball court at Roslyn High School where he starred for 3 years. He led Long Island in scoring his senior year, posting 34 points a game, and led Roslyn to the 2008-2009 Nassau County Class A championship. He set the school record for most points with 56. Then he went on to Manhattan College where for the past four years he has played for one of the most exciting small college teams along the Eastern coast. Last year, with Beamon out due to a medical redshirt, Manhattan just missed beating Iona to win the MAAC tournament and get an instant bid to the NCAA tournament dance. This year, the Manhattan Jaspers are "dancing" to a brand new tune. The Jaspers defeated Iona 7168 Monday night to take the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title (MAAC) which garners them an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Even though Beamon wasn’t playing last year when the team just missed winning the MAAC, he was still there in the midst of it all and has fresh memories of it. "The feeling we had last year, we were'nt trying to hate that," Beamon said on the Jaspers official website. "I did everything in my power and the guys did everything in their power not to let up any 3s." Beamon was one of four players to score in double figures for second-seeded Manhattan (25-7). The Jaspers have been on a roll, winning 11 of 12 of their last contests, including a 80-77 O.T. win over Iona at home just 10 days ago. They were not going to be denied this time. We teach our students about perseverance and determination and Manhattan's team exuded both of these principles. Beamon was named first team All-MAAC and gained Most Outstanding Player honors after helping lead Manhattan to the MAAC championship title. In the Jaspers' 71-68 victory over Iona, Beamon finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Now Beamon and the other Jaspers are poised to experience one of the most exciting accomplishments in college sports, competing in the NCAA tournament. This is one of the high point of many young athletes lives. Seeing Beamon's success gives hope to other local youngsters who toil in Nassau or Suffolk's gyms and dream of moment's like this. It really doesn't matter if Manhattan makes it to the second round or not. The fact is Beamon and company have made it to the dance itself and from this point on, it's all good. Beamon is already a winner, having received his undergraduate degree, he is now a graduate student fulfilling the final year of his eligibility. He has done things the right way, working hard in class and on the court and enjoying every moment of his excellent college career. For the local youth, he is a role model because he has that piece of paper and now he has achieved a dream. -B.J. Robinson PAGE 39
THE NEW COMMUNITY JOURNAL
FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2014
Jackson, Knicks agree in principle: source Phil Jackson has reached an agreement in principle to oversee the Knicks basketball operations and “president’’ will be in his title, according to a league source. All that’s left is the lawyers finalizing the last contract details by week’s end before Jackson officially returns to the organization that drafted him and where he won two titles as a player. The Post has learned Jackson gave the Knicks a verbal commitment on Saturday. The Garden still will not comment on Jackson’s status.
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Three years ago, Buss told The Post, “I can tell you he was open to going to the Knicks in 2005, then the Laker job opened up. The Knicks job would bring him full circle and I wouldn’t stop him.’’ Jackson has spoken fondly about his mentor, former Knicks coach Red Holzman, who Jackson said was the reason he wanted to get into coaching. “There’s no doubt Red took special affection toward our relationship,” Jackson told The Post in 2004, when he was about to break Red Auerbach’s coaching-title record. “He always called me after a winning season. When it was Bulls-Knicks in the conference finals, he always made a point of seeking me out, right up until the end. I’m sure he’s somewhere up there smiling down.” Now it appears Jackson will attempt to help resuscitate a Knicks franchise that has collapsed this season. The Knicks began to rebuild in 2008 to get under the salary cap in an attempt to sign LeBron James.
Knicks president/general manager Steve Mills will remain on board in a revised role and work with Jackson. Knicks owner James Dolan hired Mills because of his vast network of contacts with NBA agents and GMs. That isn’t the strong suit of Jackson, winner of 11 titles as coach of the Bulls and Lakers. Some issues during the last couple of days revolved around his living arrangements. Jackson lives in Marina Del Rey, Calif., with his fiancée, Lakers president Jeanie Buss. Jackson is expected to live in New York during the season, but do some commuting. Buss visits New York on business periodically. During Jackson’s failed negotiations with the Lakers last season, he reportedly asked for $11 million to $12 million a year. He made $12 million in his second-to-last season coaching the Lakers in 2009-10, but took a “pay cut’’ to $10 million in 2010-11, his final season with the team. Jackson has five kids and seven grandchildren, but because Buss, 52, has no plans to retire, he became bored during his time away from the NBA, sources said, and has eagerly anticipated a front-office job. Buss declined comment, saying it was inappropriate to talk about another club’s business. The third time is the charm for Dolan, who had tried to woo Jackson twice previously. Dolan failed in 1999 when Jeff Van Gundy was coaching and again in 2005 when Isiah Thomas attempted to lure Jackson. NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
Apart from last season’s No. 2 seed, the results didn’t materialize, with the Knicks a long shot to make the playoffs and looking to rebuild again with Carmelo Anthony as their centerpiece. Anthony is a free agent this summer and doesn’t know Jackson well, but Jackson has 11 championship rings with which to woo Anthony. Jackson does not have experience building an NBA roster. Before his coaching exploits with the Bulls and Lakers, he worked for five seasons in the defunct CBA in Albany, where he constructed fluctuating rosters in a chaotic environment. Jackson, a member of the Knicks’ 1970 and ’73 championship teams, appeared in 732 games in 11 seasons with the franchise, placing him fifth on the franchise’s all-time list of games played.
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BETHEA ON NATIONAL LEAGUE COMMENTARY FOR THE CHEAP SEATS
Hello Sports Fans, the New York Knicks have finally made a move to improve its team by hiring the legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson. The unfortunate twist in the Jackson hire is the role he has accepted is president of basketball operations as reported by Knicks management sources. The great coach Phil Jackson has earned the title of great with record-breaking achievements such as a combined 13 championships. Jackson also played with the New York Knicks under the late great Red Holzman earning 2 NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Jackson earned 11 NBA championships as coach, beginning with 6 leading the Chicago Bulls, and 5 leading the Los Angeles Lakers. The late great Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics is second with 9 championships behind Phil Jackson. Most Knicks fans are hoping Jackson will bring his special high seat for comfort (due to back problems) to the sidelines and guide the Knicks to a championship because Jackson’s name is associated with champion. Phil Jackson has earned the respect from the “cheap seats” with success in every team he has coached, however there is a point that inspires debate. Jackson has had the privilege to coach players that are recognized as the best to play the game of basketball, namely the great Michael Jordan. Jackson coached the Chicago Bulls from 1989 until 1998 and in that time period he guided the team to record setting wins, which contributed to his .704, win percentage, which currently ranks as the highest in the history of the NBA. The debate starts by questioning Jackson’s success without the great Michael Jordan leading his team and single-handedly dominating the game by simply winning every year. Jordan had help on the court, and Hall of Famer Scott Pippen certainly conNASSAU COUNTY EDITION
tributed to the success of the team’s dominance. Pippen was a terrific defender and was the second option behind Jordan during the man-to-man defense era. Coach Jackson developed a system called the tri-angle, which balanced the offensive strategy and allowed individual success for a team without a featured center. Jordan excelled in the tri-angel system and proved to be unstoppable in his efforts that created highlight film that’s simply amazing to watch. Most sports enthusiast believe the NBA rule of zone defense was inspired by the oneman dominance practiced by Michael Jordan, and felt it was necessary to implement the practice of team play. The greatness of Jordan over-shadowed coach Jackson and it wasn’t until Jackson joined the Los Angeles Lakers that NBA fans noticed something great in his leadership. However the questions remained the same with the Lakers team that featured the great Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq) and current NBA great Kobe Bryant. O’Neal truly dominated the paint and proved unstoppable during his time period in the NBA, which combined with Kobe Bryant offered one of the NBA greatest shows in the world. The debate stops when sports fans look at the coaches of the teams Jackson guided to success before his arrival. In both franchises the teams (Chicago and Los Angeles) were predominately the same and Jackson propelled both to instant success and subsequently turned the franchises into winners. The New York Knicks are currently seeking a change that will encourage Knicks fans to continue to support the team and have confidence in Knick management leadership. Phil Jackson’s presence will offer hope because it appears the Knicks are attaching itself to a proven winner.
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"CHRIS ARCENEAUX ~ LIVES THE DREAM"! On the Front Cover of "African American's Golfers Digest Magazine"! Just Awesome! Blessed! "I MADE IT"! "TEARS OF JOY!" "About 5-plus years ago I looked at the mortgage industry and then picked up the African American Golfer's Digest Magazine. I had tears in my eyes looking at all the mess in the mortgage industry. I said to God I will be on this Cover! I called Debert Cook and introduced myself and ask what does it take to get on the cover? Today it's a LIVING Reality! I sat with Champions Tour Player "Jim Thorpe" and Hall of Fame "Charlie Sifford" and many others who also have graced the cover. I am living a Dream. I worked at this day and night non-stop! IN EVERY CHILD’S HEART THERE LIVES A DREAM!!! It all starts with a DREAM. For Chris Arceneaux, the DREAM started as a young man growing up in Louisiana looking through the fence of a golf course with tears in his eyes trying to figure out how to get on the inside! Please subscribe and read my full story! Support our efforts and subscribe to African American Golfer's Digest. Special thanks to "Debert Cook" for her dedicated service of helping develop the game of golf in each community around the world. Support AAGD by subscribing to the magazine. Add Debert Cook as a Friend on Facebook and Like her page!!! To subscribe to the magazine and begin receiving your first issue: https://africanamericangolfersdigest.com/subscribe.html Thank you for Supporting AAGD!!!
NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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Volume 2 Number 48
Arts, Culture and Entertainment Magazine
VILLAGE LIFE MAGAZINE
ONLINE EDITION
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Jazz In The Gardens music festival promotes cultural fellowship This week will mark the 9th annual Jazz In The Gardens Music Festival in Miami Gardens, Florida. Serving as a vessel to deliver premiere music from all eras of R&B, JITG has presented acts such as Ne-Yo, Earth Wind & Fire, and Fantasia. And this year will be no different. Hosted by one of the original “Kings Of Comedy” D.L. Hughley, JITG 2014 will have Oscar-award-winning Jamie Foxx, Kelly Rowland, and LL Cool J, among others, hitting the stage.
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would love to have JITG and Miami Gardens as a whole attached to. Prior to his term as mayor, Miami Gardens had one of the highest crime rates in the Sunshine state in 2010. Since then, JITG has become a safe event for all ages. Gilbert attributes it to the evolutionary growth of Jazz In The Gardens, specifically citing the talent range of the artists. “We can’t satisfy everybody, but there is something for everyone to enjoy when you come down here for the festival.” The family-reunion-like atmosphere is a mainstay at JITG and other spring music festivals in the south. If Gilbert were to sum up the cultural fellowship that can be experienced at JITG in one phrase, it would be to come and be ready to be entertained. “It’s the truest type of experience you can find,” stated the mayor. “From what started off as an event with just 1100 people, has become so much. The sky is the limit.” Will you be attending Jazz In The Gardens?
Miami Garden’s Mayor Oliver Gilbert III anticipates it being another benchmark year for the concert series. Speaking not only as a political official, but as a The Miami Gardens native, he’s seen the growth of the festival and its potential as a business. “We’d like for it to grow and have the same impact as New Orleans Jazz Festival has for Louisiana,” said Mayor Gilbert to theGrio. theGrio’s B-side: Anthony Hamilton breaks down his classic hooks A positive, friendly environment is a label Gilbert ONLINE EDITION
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Steve Harvey on ‘Today’: ‘I know how real people think’ Steve Harvey took a break from hosting his own daytime talk show Monday to join The Today Show to discuss all of his latest endeavors. The successful stand-up comic is now a host on three different platforms: a no. 1 rated radio show, the popular Family Feud game show, and his very own hit TV show, titled Steve Harvey. He is also the author of two successful relationship books Straight Talk, No Chaser and Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, which went on to be produced in a Blockbuster hit with another installment scheduled to hit theaters soon. Harvey is also the father of seven children proving that he wears many hats, while Today describes him as a “true renaissance man.” Today‘s Matt Lauer talks to Harvey about his successful journey to stardom — and gives the former King of Comedy a pop quiz on relationships.
Naomi Campbell talks booking modeling gigs in her early years: I felt like ‘what if I was blonde and blue-eyed?’ After being discovered on the streets of London at only 14 years old, Naomi Campbell took the fashion world by storm. She was the first black model the grace the covers of Time Magazine and French Vogue, and has been a muse for countless designers for nearly three decades. These days Campbell brings her industry savvy and strong personality to Oxygen’s The Face. The model competition gives viewers unprecedented access inside the world of the fashion industry as three teams of aspiring models, each led by a supermodel coach, are guided through reallife assignments, including photo shoots and commercials. The Face is back for a second season with Campbell and two new super model coaches, Anne V and Lydia Hearst. In an interview with theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon, Campbell talked about season 2 of The Face, and also opened up about Oscar winner and rising fashion icon Lupita Nyong’o. During her February 27th speech at the Essence Magazine Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon Nyong’o revealed that as a child she experienced “self-hate” because of her dark complexion and used to pray for lighter skin. “I understand where she’s [Nyong’o] coming from, I’ve heard it many times,” Campbell said. “But I never felt that. I felt like ‘what if I was blonde and blueeyed? Would I have better opportunity for getting this job?’ Those things went through my mind…absolutely. But look, she’s done it now and she didn’t have to do any of that to get to where she wanted to get to. She is an inspiration to all young women, especially African women.” “The hope that she gives… I don’t think she knows how significant she is, and for what she’s done for so many young women all over the world.”n September 2013, Campbell teamed up with fashion industry veterans Bethann Hardison and Iman to support a campaign for increased diversity on fashion runways across the world. Paris fashion week came to an end last week and Campbell assessed diversity on the runways in 2014. “It’s a little better… yes there is an improvement, but it could be better,” Campbell said. Lastly the 43-year-old model revealed that she “still feels nervous on the catwalk,” but has no plans to retire from modeling anytime soon. ONLINE EDITION
Brenda Blackmon is one of the most recognizable and talented journalists in the nation’s number one television market, New York. She joined the news team at WWORTV in 1990 and became a multi-Emmy award winning reporter and role model for her community. She has won numerous awards for journalism and has received community citations and notable honors. The Urban/Black Entertainment Report says, “She has such a warm, engaging and effervescent personality you can’t help but like her instantly.” The Network Journal recognized her as one of the “25 Most Influential Black Women in Business”, redefining excellence. Her hometown of Columbus, Georgia honored her as “One of the Century’s Most Influential.” She was influential indeed, making history as the city’s first African American News Anchor. Brenda has done it all: reporter, film editor, film photographer, talk show host for television and radio, show producer, writer, and TV anchorwoman for decades. Brenda graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has received two honorary doctorates. She is now working on her MBA. Brenda says, “I believe as it is written in Isaiah 56:1, Be just and fair to all. Do what’s right and good.
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MONA BUSH-LOVETT Welcome to Fashion Tips for the upwardly mobile black woman. Hi, my name is Mona Bush Lovett I lived in Hempstead for 44 Years. I'm the mother of 2children, I am a grandmother, who presently lives in Rochester, NY area. I have worked as nurse (LPN) for over 20 years. I love the Lord because He loved me first and He is first in my life. I hope these weekly fashion tips are of help I love to shop and I hope you see something of interest for your wardrobe. For More: http://www.stylisheve.com/jeanoutfits-for-women-by-stylish-eve/
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Cafe Long Island on Thursdays: @ 3:30 pm on Cablevision, Channel 115 and 120 PAGE 8
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Village Life Is a publication of Emerging Business Group, Inc. Š2012 New York all rights reserved Village Life Magazine is a weekly publication, based in Baldwin, New York, dedicated to sharing business, cultural, entertainment and religious information among minority residents which will enable positive action - economically, socially and politically - for the betterment of all. Village Life is a footprint of the Community Journal newspaper which premiered on July 1, 1993, since then we have grown to be the leading African heritage news and information sources on Long Island. As a community - based publication, we intend to expand our presence and to encourage greater participation from all members of the community in forging our shared destiny. We are a "for-profit" business and hope to extend that spirit of economic empowerment to many other businesses in our community. We are published each week unless otherwise indicated and are distributed through newsstands, independent sales agents, and subscriptions.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES, MUSIC, LITERATURE, MUSEUM, RADIO, CABLE TELEVISION, RELIGION, CULTURE, HOME AND GARDEN, DINING
Publisher: Www.communityjournal.info
Larry Montgomery Mailing Address: 456 New York Avenue Baldwin, New York 11510
MAIN ADVERTISING SALES NUMBER:
(516) 384-0961 ADVERTISING AND SALES COMPANY: Make all checks out to: EMERGING BUSINESS GROUP, INC. E-mail: montgomerybusiness@hotmail.com
WAYNE BRADY APRIL 3rd, 2014 8:00 p.m.
NEWS NUMBER: (516) 384-0961
Privacy Policy We do not accept anonymous comments. If you do not want your comments or your name or address published tell us. Thank you from the Mgmt. ONLINE EDITION
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NYCB THEATRE AT WESTBURY NEW SHOWS ON SALE THIS WEEKEND! SPANK! HARDER - THE SEQUEL SUNDAY, MARCH 23 at 7PM Tickets are $59.50 & $39.50 TICKETS ON SALE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 at 10AM STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS FEATURING EDIE BRICKELL FRIDAY, APRIL 18 at 8PM Tickets are $89.50, $59.50 & $49.50 TICKETS ON SALE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 at 10AM FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS THIRD SHOW ADDED! SATURDAY, APRIL 26th at 8PM Tickets are $79.50 & $59.50 TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 at 10 AM! FAMILY FEUD LIVE SUNDAY, MAY 4 at 5PM Tickets are $59.50, $49.50, & $39.50 TICKETS ON SALE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 at 10AM AN EVENING WITH JOHN LEGEND THURSDAY, MAY 15 at 8PM Tickets are $69.50, $59.50, & $49.50 TICKETS ON SALE – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 at 10AM KANSAS THURSDAY, MAY 29 at 8PM Tickets are $39.50, $29.50 TICKETS ON SALE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 at 10AM JOHN PINETTE FRIDAY, JUNE 6 at 8PM Tickets are $49.50, $39.50 RESCHEDULED DATE from JANUARY 11 TICKETS ON SALE NOW! JOHN PINETTE SATURDAY, JUNE 7 at 8PM Tickets are $49.50 & $39.50 RESCHEDULED DATE from JANUARY 12 TICKETS ON SALE NOW! ONLINE EDITION
Author Cherrie Amour
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Interview with Library Buyer I had the opportunity to participate in an author event in my hometown of Effingham, IL. I thought this was a great time to do an interview with the buyer and get some feedback for my authors. I hope this is helpful for anyone looking to get into the library system. Q: I understand that there are different size library systems. How do you adjust your approach for each one? A: Since my experience within libraries has been with small and medium sized libraries, I will respond from that perspective. Most of the buyers within these libraries are easy to locate and chat with. A phone call and brief introduction (always respectful of the librarian’s time) may seem like a long shot, but when followed by an email linked to a way to purchase the book most people will take the time to at least check out the item.
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Q: What is the best way to approach a library: personal contact, email, letter, sample book in mail? A: Personally, I’ve never turned away an author. I have had some that were much too pushy, and I’ve made it a point not to purchase their titles. I appreciate when an author takes the time to stop at the library and show me a copy of his/her work. Email is welcome, but without a phone call or letter – I usually don’t follow up. There simply isn’t enough time in my day. I don’t know that I would invest in sending a sample book in the mail. The expense of mailing would deplete any profits. Q: What do libraries look for in a book before they accept into their system? A: For our library, I look for books that reflect our community’s interests. I also look for books that have been vetted by someone – whether it is a professional journal like Library Journal or Publishers Weekly or another author. I also read reviews posted by readers at Amazon.com and GoodReads. Q: Is there a more efficient way to have a larger reach in the system or is it best to approach one library at a time? Authors might consider contacting Illinois Library Association or ILA to ask about being one of the Illinois Authors featured at the ILA conference. There are also two library systems within Illinois. SHARE and RAILS – both of these systems have annual conferences for their members and with the right connections and planning, an author might be able to be part of these events too. (Continued on page 25)
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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D4B5K34
“THE GAME OF YOUR LIFE” (Genre: Sci fi) By Minister Larry Montgomery, Sr. Author of the ‘U.S. Marshal Harry Bailey Parables of Life Series’ If you think Video Game Playing is the way of the future then this story is for you. Here we take a hard look at that dream job in the future. In the year 2050, today’s Video Game Playing dream job becomes a real life nightmare since you literally have to risk your life to collect your paycheck. Follow Randy Hatchfield a year 2050 video game quality assurance agent who sets out to collect the biggest paycheck of his career, from an employer who will stop at nothing to keep him from collecting it. Randy like you or I, has followed the rules, put in his hours, and is now ready to get paid. Follow him through the longest 24 hours of his life and see what it costs him to collect the biggest paycheck of his life in the ‘GAME OF YOUR LIFE.’ God Bless... ONLINE EDITION
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List Price: $24.99 6" x 9" (15.24 x 22.86 cm) Black & White on White paper 314 pages ONLINE EDITION
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Emerging Business Group Incorporated ISBN-13: 978-0983691907 ISBN-10: 0983691908 BISAC: Fiction / Crime https://www.createspace.com/4457654 PAGE 18
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Dilemma, The Way Station, The Game of Your Life and 2-1-1 Emergency are all available online at Createspace: https:// www.createspace.com/4444954
Dilemma U.S. Marshal Harry Bailey the case of the Murderous I.D. Thief
Authored by Min Larry Montgomery Sr. ABOUT THIS BOOK Dilemma: di-lem-ma: noun: 1. A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, esp. equally undesirable ones. This book is another case in the ongoing series based on the life and times of the fictional character, U.S. Marshal Harry Bailey, entitled: Dilemma--The case of the Murderous Identity Theft. An identity theft steals the identity of a serial killer whose M.O. is to steal the identity of her victims and then kill them when she is ready to move on. The penalty for Identity theft as a Class D Felony is 7 years in prison with restitution and reparations. The Penalty for Murder or conspiracy to murder can be http://www.amazon.com/ dp/B00F8NJH7Q Death or life in prison without the possibility for parole. This story centers around a young African American immigrant who will do anything to live the high life, engage in sex for money, sale and use drugs, anything to be considered a lady of leisure. In furtherance of keeping this lifestyle our villainess preys on married men, steals their wife's identity sleeps with and uses the husband letting him think he is lavishly courting her until the money runs out. Then she blackmails them using theirs or their wife's money to pay her bills. Until one day she stole the identity of a serial killer whose m.o. was to steal identities just as she does but when the money runs out she savagely kills the victim and attaches herself to the victims loved ones until the inheritance has been spent and then she moves on to a new opportunity. Marshal Bailey catches the case of an identity theft victim; a woman whose husband was black mailed by the serial killer after a failed trisk and then wound up dead. The investigation is hampered by the activities of a second identity thief, who by all accounts is a serial liar. Finally the serial killer turns her attention to our lead suspect and it is only a matter of time before the two collide in this deadly game of identity cat and mouse. The serial killer makes two failed attempts to finish off the identity thief but not until the third attempt does Marshal Bailey intervene... The question is does our main suspect survive, or does the serial killer win out? Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General ONLINE EDITION
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‘The Book of Negroes’: Controversial novel turned into a BET miniseries BET Networks is turning the controversial novel The Book of Negroes into a miniseries. The 2007 novel, written by Canadian author Lawrence Hill, is being adapted for TV by Conquering Lion Pictures and Out of African Entertainment, according The Hollywood Reporter. The story centers on Aminata Diallo, an African woman who is taken by slave traders from West Africa to South Carolina. It follows her through the American Revolution in New York, the isolated refuge of Nova Scotia and the jungles of Sierra Leone, before she ultimately secures her freedom in England in the early 1800s. “We are excited to partner with Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment and Entertainment One on this historic project and to bring the acclaimed Book of Negroes to life for the BET audience,” said Loretha Jones, president of original programming at BET Networks. Production on The Book of Negroes will start in South Africa in the fall. The novel was initially published in the Canadian and U.K. markets with its original title, The Book of Negroes, but due to historical sensitivity the title was changed to Somebody Know My Name when published in the U.S. Somebody Know My Name was included amongst Oprah’s top summer reads for 2010 in O Magazine. In 2011 Hill’s book sparked heated debates abroad. A Dutch group torched the cover of The Book of Negroes as a protest against the novel’s title. The group, known as the Foundation to Honor and Restore Victims of Slavery in Surinam, vowed to burn copies of the book in an Amsterdam park unless its name was changed. Hill’s novel is based on the historical document “The Book of Negroes,” which was created by British naval officers in 1783, near the end of the American revolutionary war. It was a list of 3,000 African-American slaves who were considered British loyalists and hoped to escape from New York to Canada, and thus to freedom. The British insisted that only those who were listed in “The Book of Negroes” could travel, and created a ledger to name, and seemingly describe, each person. Canadian film maker Clement Virgo is said to be on-board to direct The Book of Negroes. The Book of Negroes will air stateside on BET and on CBC in Canada.
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The ADHD Awareness Book Project:
365+1 new ways to succeed with ADHD
WE DID IT AGAIN! IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR THIS TIME OVER 80 ADHD EXPERTS AND COACHES, INCLUDING ME, COMPILED THEIR BEST ADHD STRATEGIES INTO A BOOK TITLED 365 WAYS TO SUCCEED WITH ADHD! WELL, WE DID IT AGAIN WITH THIS FASCINATING BOOK CONTAINING 365+1 IDEAS ON HOW TO SURVIVE WITH ADHD. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING EITHER BOOK JUST LET ME KNOW! Lisa Byers speechlrb@yahoo.com
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To Whom Much Is Given– Cinematic Book Trailer-2013 Published on Dec 24, 2012 Cecilia T. Capers' first novel "To Whom Much Is Given" is set for 2013 publishing by Red Ibis. This is the official cinematic book trailer filmed by Saint-Victor Productions. The trailer stars Lawrence Saint-Victor, Toni RobisonMay, John Thomassen, Tatianna Mott, and Cecilia T. Capers. Directed by Lawrence SaintVictor. Cinematography by Jay Espinal. Produced by Tone at The Top Media Inc. and Red Ibis. Book photography and cover design by Charles W. Winslow. Filmed in New York City. See behind-the-scenes footage by 6 Chamber Productions in the Red Ibis "To Whom Much Is Given" Novel playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch? feature=player_embedded&v=eRM2CpqPHs ONLINE EDITION
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After 22 Years, "A Black Parent's Handbook" Is Still Empowering Black Parents Across America Nationwide (October 15, 2013) -- Back in 1990, after only two years of teaching in Brooklyn, NY and East Orange, NJ respectively, renowned educator, Baruti Kafele had the audacity to write a handbook for Black parents to assist them with educating their children. He entitled the book, A Black Parent's Handbook to Educating Your Children (Outside of the Classroom). He consequently left the classroom temporarily after his first two years of teaching to devote his life to getting A Black Parent's Handbook into the hands of thousands of parents throughout the U.S. In 1992, he returned to the classroom but continued to devote a substantial amount of energy to promoting A Black Parent's Handbook and it eventually became an Essence Magazine number one best seller in 2002. It is now in its 22nd year of empowering a whole new generation of Black parents. Kafele says that the motivation for writing this book was that he was meeting and working with so many wellintentioned parents who wanted to assist their children through the educational process but simply didn't know what to do or where to start. He frowns upon the notion that parents are not involved or don't want to be involved in their children's lives, educationally speaking. He instead asserts that parents absolutely want to be involved but are simply in need of strategies that they can easily and readily implement during the time that their children are at home. A Black Parent's Handbook is comprised of the following topics: * Preparation for Success * Reading for Success * Setting Goals for Success * Studying and Testing for Success * Communicating for Success * Collaborating for Success * Distractions for Success A Black Parent's Handbook is not a long book – it's only 74 pages. It's not a difficult read either. Instead, it is a guide providing strategies and suggestions for parents to utilize toward the educational growth and development of their children and should be referred to regularly. Over the past 22 years, parents have shared with Kafele that they literally raised their children on the contents of this book.
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that addresses reading for success. Kafele has argued for the past 22 years that in education, we can have the best schools, best curriculum, best teachers and best teaching strategies, but if Black children are not being exposed to who they are, both historically and culturally, then we are spinning our wheels at best. He argues that when Black children are exposed to "who they are," we increase the probability exponentially that they will have the will to strive for excellence because by exposing them to "their story," we are essentially helping them to develop a purpose for learning, rooted in the greatness of who they are historically. Kafele says, "I want them to see and understand where they stand along the continuum of history to help them to better understand their roles in life moving forward." About The Author Baruti Kafele, affectionately known as "Principal Kafele," excelled as an urban public school educator in New Jersey for more than 20 years. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. As a middle and high school principal, he led the transformation of four different schools, including Newark Tech High School, which went from a lowperforming school in need of improvement to being recognized by U.S. News and World Report three times as one of the best high schools in the United States. He is now a full-time national / international educational consultant. He is also the author of the books, Closing the Attitude Gap: How to Fire Up Your Students to Strive for Success, Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School and in Life, and A Handbook for Teachers of African American Children. About The Book A Black Parent's Handbook to Educating Your Children / Price: $5.00 / ISBN: 0-9629369-0-1 / 74 pgs. / paperback / Baruti Publishing. For more details, visit www.principalkafele.com Social Media www.facebook.com/principalkafele www.twitter.com/principalkafele
At the core of A Black Parent's Handbook is the chapter ONLINE EDITION
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(Continued from page 11)
Q: Is it best to donate to a library or is it okay to expect them to purchase a copy? A: Personally, I like to purchase copies from authors, but I understand that some authors really want their work to be “in” a particular library – and there is the argument that unless a book is in the library, people won’t find it. So I would be comfortable with either option. Q: Do libraries always welcome book signings or not so much? A: Our library welcomes book signings, but we sometimes struggle to get a good turnout for the author, and that can make for an uncomfortable feeling. I really appreciate it when the author does as much as he/she can to help promote the event, too. Using social media as well as putting out your own press release can go a long way in making sure people know the event is happening. I always ask authors if they are comfortable presenting or teaching others to write or publish. Not everyone is comfortable in this role, but being able to offer this additional program to the library may help sell your book signing. Q: With the amount of books published each year, libraries have to be choosy. I understand that a review from a journal would help get in the door. What journals do libraries typically read and rate as a good source? A: Library Journal, Publisher Weekly are both the gold standard. Other resources that are good include: GoodReads, Amazon.com, People Magazine Q: How do libraries view self-published books vs books that are traditionally published? A: With the tremendous variety of publishers and platforms available to authors, I know librarians are looking at all formats. Self published books can raise “red flags”, but when the title is relevant to your community’s interests and welledited, it can be a welcome addition to your collection. Helen Matthes Library http://www.effinghamlibrary.org/ Thanks for taking the time to read my interview with Johnna Schultz with the Helen Matthes Library. Please follow my blog to receive more information on self-publishing and author interviews.
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JIM BELUSHI AND THE CHICAGO BOARD OF COMEDY AT THE NYCB THEATRE AT WESTBURY FRIDAY, MARCH 28 at 8PM Westbury, NY – Live Nation is pleased to present Jim Belushi and The Chicago Board of Comedy at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m. Joining Belushi for the night are comedians Megan Grano, Larry Joe Campbell, Brad Morris, Joshua Funk, and Trey Stone on the piano. Tickets are $69.50, $49.50 and $39.50 and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the Westbury box office. Event, date and time are subject to change. All ticket prices are subject to applicable service charges. For further information, please visit www.theatreatwestbury.com. “We are not stand-up comedians," says Jim Belushi. "Our show is not a passive, sit-back-and-watch experience. Most of the fun we have on stage comes from our inclusion of the audience – we get suggestions from them to begin each scene we perform and, in certain instances, bring them on stage with us to add to our performance. It’s less a ‘show’ and more a party. At least it feels like one to me. This group of actors brings me right back to how I started out in comedy. Maybe that’s why we have so much fun doing it.” An alumni of television's “Saturday Night Live” and the Chicago-based Second City comedy troupe, Jim Belushi later starred in the hilarious ABC hit comedy, “According to Jim,” on which he also served as executive producer, music composer and director. Most recently, Belushi has been performing as Zee Blues in an updated version of the “Blues Brothers,” with fellow actor-comedian Dan Aykroyd. Megan Grano has appeared in various TV shows, including “Weeds,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Hot in Cleveland,” and “Conan.” Larry Joe Campbell joins The Board of Comedy after spending eight seasons working with Belushi on “According to Jim.” He has also been featured on “Weeds” and “Rules of Engagement.” Hailing directly from The Second City’s Mainstage, Brad Morris has appeared on “The Office,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Joshua Frank is an award-winning director for Second City. For more information about Jim Belushi and The Board of Comedy, go to www.jimbelushiandtheboardofcomedy.com.
PLEASE KEEP THE COMMENTS COMING AND IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE ARE DOING SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FINANCIALLY CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEB-SITE www.communityjournal.info Subscribe Today for only $91.25 per week ONLINE EDITION
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Spike Lee to attend Roger Ebert film festival CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (AP) — Director Spike Lee will attend a 25th-anniversary screening of “Do The Right Thing” at late movie critic Roger Ebert’s film festival. The festival announced Tuesday that the screening will take place April 25 during the 16th annual Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois. Ebert gave “Do The Right Thing” four stars when it debuted in 1989. The festival previously announced director Oliver Stone would attend a 25th anniversary screening of his film “Born on the Fourth of July.” Comedian Patton Oswalt will attend a screening of his 2011 movie “Young Adult.” Ebert died last April at age 70. The year’s Ebertfest is April 23-27. The full lineup will be announced soon. Ebert’s alma mater, the University of Illinois, is based in Champaign and neighboring Urbana.
Dye Happy, Long Island:
Run or Dye, the world’s most colorful 5K, will debut in Long Island on April 12, 2014 What happens when you combine thousands runners and walkers with a blast of color, a heap of happiness, a pinch of passion and a splash of spontaneity? Say hello to Run or Dye, the world’s most colorful 5K. This weekend, Run or Dye Long Island will draw thousands of participants to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to celebrate the vibrancy of being alive – all while being blasted with more than five tons of color dye powder during a 5K run/walk. Culminating with a “Color Festival” at the end of the race, there will be no shortage of fun – or color – throughout the day.
Radio Show host Don Durant of Living, Caring, and Sharing Hosts Live Show in New York Link http://www.prlog.org/11933857 ONLINE EDITION
WHAT: Long Island WHERE: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum WHEN: Saturday, April 12th DETAILS: http://www.runordye.com/locations/long-island Want to get blasted with color? Register at www.RunOrDye.com. For more information about Run or Dye, visit http://runordye.com. Run or Dye, the world’s most colorful 5K, is a recreational 5K that celebrates fitness, friendship and fun -- all while blasting participants with safe, eco-friendly, plant-based dye powder. A leader in the fitness literacy movement, Run or Dye’s mission is to encourage better health, fitness and nutrition decisions among its participants and supporters. With races planned in more than 50 high-profile venues across the country, it is expected that more than 500,000 people will Run or Dye in 2013. Ready to live life in full color? Learn more at http:// runordye.com. PAGE 26
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Meredith Willson's
THE MUSIC MAN Friday, March 21 at 8pm Saturday, March 22 at 3 & 8pm Sunday, March 23 at 3pm Order Now and Save 30%* When You Use Code AC30 NJPAC and Two River Theater Company in Red Bank co-present this concert version of Meredith Willson's beloved Broadway musical, featuring an AfricanAmerican cast. Directed by Obie Award winner Robert O' Hara, Meredith Willson's The Music Man will be performed for audiences in both Newark and Red Bank. Winner of Best Musical at the 1957 Tony Awards, The Music Man tells the story of con man Harold Hill, who falls for piano teacher Marian Paroo in the summer of 1912 as he bamboozles the townsfolk of River City, Iowa into financing a marching band. "Professor Hill" has to choose between the promise of romance and a quick getaway as his scheme begins to unravel. The memorable score includes "Seventy-six Trombones, "Ya Got Trouble" and "Till There Was You." In O’Hara’s staging, River City will be an all-black town, inspired by historical accounts of communities established by former slaves across the U.S. in the Great Migration following the Civil War. The company will include 12 actors, some of whom will double in the six-piece onstage band. Music direction is by Kenny J. Seymour (Broadway’s Tony-winning Best Musical Memphis). ONLINE EDITION
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Isaiah Johnson (Broadway’s Peter and the Starcatcher, The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino) portrays Harold Hill and Stephanie Umoh (Ragtime, 2009 Broadway revival) will play Marian Paroo. Meredith Willson’s The Music Man will be presented at Two River Theater Company for six performances, March 13-16, and at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater for four performances, March 2123. * No refunds, exchanges or returns on already purchased tickets. Tickets purchased online are subject to a per-ticket handling charge. Artists, dates, times, venues, prices and programs are subject to change. Single-performance tickets are available online at njpac.org, via phone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722) or at the NJPAC Box Office, One Center St., Newark. For groups of 10 or more, call the NJPAC sales desk at 1-888-MY-NJPAC (1888-696-5722). All tickets purchased online and via phone are subject to a per-ticket handling charge. The NJPAC Box Office is open Tuesday-Saturday from noon to 6pm and Sunday from noon-5pm. The Box Office is closed on Mondays. Phone calls to 1-888-GO-NJPAC (466-5722) for single-performance ticket orders are answered seven days a week, from 9am to 9pm. Phone calls to 1-888-MY-NJPAC (6965722) for groups of 10 or more are answered Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Artists, dates, times, venues, programs and prices are subject to change. Questions or comments? Please e-mail ticketservices@njpac.org. Email Preferences | Unsubscribe © 2014 NJPAC - Administrative Offices: 973-642-8989 Box Office (Toll Free): 1-888-466-5722
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Son of God Review .By S. Michael Houdmann, Got Questions Ministries The Son of God movie released in 2014 is essentially "The Life of Christ" section of The Bible TV mini-series that aired on the History Channel in 2013. Having watched the TV mini-series, I did not see anything in the movie I did not remember seeing in the TV mini-series. Numerous scenes that were in the TV mini-series were cut or shortened for the movie, however, likely to keep the movie at a reasonable length. Overall, I enjoyed Son of God. It is a reasonably accurate portrayal of the life of Christ. The actors did a good job. The cinematography is excellent. The musical score is enjoyable and fits the scenes well. I especially enjoyed that virtually everything the actor portraying Jesus says is a direct quote from Jesus in the Bible, although many of the quotes are not in the same context as recorded in the Bible. I did not care for some of the "artistic license" taken, especially the times when the "artistic license" resulted in the movie contradicting the Bible. Here are some of the items I noticed: The Magi In retelling the story of Jesus' birth, a common mistake is having the Magi visit at the same time as the shepherds. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Magi likely arrived days or years later (Matthew 2:1-12). Mary of Bethany In many of the disciples' scenes, Mary of Bethany is shown to be among them. Son of God seemingly portrays her as one of the disciples. Now, it is entirely possible that Mary was indeed present during some of those events. However, the Bible definitely does not present her as having any sort of leadership role equal to that of the disciples. Also, in a couple of scenes, while the disciples were complaining or doubting, Mary stands firm, telling them to obey and trust Jesus. Granted, the disciples often misunderstood or doubted Jesus. But the Bible nowhere records Mary rebuking or instructing the disciples. Lazarus The scene portraying Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead has Jesus going into the tomb, while John 11 records Jesus, from outside the tomb, calling Lazarus to come out. Barabbas Barabbas, a notorious prisoner (Matthew 27:16), appears in several scenes. In one of them, he encourages Jesus to prove that He is the Messiah by conquering the Romans. In the Gospels, Barabbas only appears when Pontius Pilate offers to release Barabbas or Jesus (John 18:39-40). Nicodemus Son of God portrays Nicodemus as being a close confidant to the high priest Caiaphas. John 3 says Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He is never presented as being especially close to Caiaphas. The movie also uses Nicodemus to question Jesus, "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?" while Matthew 22:15-17 has the question being asked by a nameless Pharisee. It could have been Nicodemus, but the Gospels definitely do not identify that particular Pharisee as Nicodemus. Judas In the movie, Judas needs some convincing before he is ONLINE EDITION
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willing to betray Jesus. In Matthew 26:16, Judas deliberately seeks an opportunity to betray Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane in the movie, when Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, Peter punches Judas. While I actually enjoyed seeing Peter smack Judas, the Bible does not record anyone assaulting Judas. Caiaphas It was interesting how the movie portrays the political issues between Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas. Pilate is depicted as a brutal character, crushing any rebellion against his authority. In the movie, Caiaphas' issue with Jesus is primarily a matter of preventing a riot that would cause Pilate to close the Temple during Passover. While this was very likely part of Caiaphas' concern regarding Jesus, in the Gospels, Caiaphas is more concerned with Jesus due to His popularity and His claims to be the Messiah. Caiaphas did not want to lose power as a religious leader. That is the primary reason he wanted Jesus executed. The Temple Veil At the death of Christ, the movie shows the temple veil falling instead of tearing (Matthew 27:51). This crucially important symbolic event is definitely underemphasized. The tearing of the temple veil/curtain symbolized how the death of Christ removed the barrier between us and God. Now, through Christ, we can approach the throne of grace boldly (Hebrews 4:16). In the movie, it is merely a small part of the damage from the earthquake. The First Witnesses In the movie, Mary of Bethany is the first witness of the resurrection. The Bible has Mary Magdalene and two other women being the first witnesses (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1). The movie depicts Mary of Bethany entering Jesus' tomb and seeing the burial garments. The Bible says Peter was the one to enter the tomb and find the burial garments (John 20:2-10). Even beyond this, the various resurrection appearances are confused and out of order. Conclusions Far above the various issues mentioned above, I was most disappointed that the reason for Jesus' death and the meaning of His resurrection are completely missing. The fact that Jesus' death is the atoning sacrifice for sin is not mentioned at all (1 John 2:2). The connection between the Passover sacrifice (Exodus 12) and Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) is not made. The fact that Jesus' resurrection proves His victory over death and sin and guarantees a resurrected eternal life for all who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15) is nowhere to be found. In the end, the Son of God movie is nothing more than a reasonably accurate history of the life of Christ. Yes, history is important, but in the Bible, the spiritual/theological meaning behind events is what is truly important. The Son of God presents a Jewish Messiah who is crucified, dies, comes back to life, and commissions His followers to spread the word. But why did He have to die? What is the meaning of the resurrection? What is the message the apostles were supposed to proclaim, and why was it worth dying for? Early in the movie, Jesus tells Peter they are going to change the world. That is absolutely and completely true. Jesus and the apostles did change the world (Acts 17:6). The Son of God ultimately falls short in that it neglects to explain why, how, and with what the world was changed. PAGE 28
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ORDER YOUR BLACK YOUR BLACK EXPRESSION HOLIDAY DAY GIFTS FROM US GET A FREE SIX MONTH SUBSCRIPTION TO THE COMMUNITY JOURNAL. INBOX US AT: montgomerybusiness@hotmail.com FOR DETAILS ONLINE EDITION
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Marvin Sapp not a suspect in Teleka Patrick disappearance GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- In recent weeks rumors have circulated suggesting Grand Rapids pastor Marvin Sapp is a suspect in the disappearance of Teleka Patrick. But Kalamazoo County Sheriff's investigators say the rumors are false. Patrick, a 30-year old Kalamazoo doctor, disappeared December 5 under unusual circumstances. It was later revealed that Sapp was granted a personal protection order against Patrick three months prior to her disappearance. In September, Sapp, an acclaimed gospel recording artist and pastor at Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, alleged Patrick claimed to be his wife, contacted his teenage children and had been to his home. He said she had joined his church after moving from California. From the beginning of the investigation authorities at the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department have said Sapp was not a suspect. Undersheriff Paul Matyas, tells WZZM 13 News that is still the case. "Mr. Sapp has been nothing but cooperative. He Is an innocent victim of stalking in this incident."
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GOSPEL SOUL ICON MAVIS STAPLES: SHE'LL TAKE YOU THERE! Gospel/Soul classics "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself" were among the songs that propelled Mavis Staples into the forefront of American popular culture. Mavis' voice is one of the most iconic of the sixties, seventies - and even today- as she continues her inspiring work with recent collaborations with artists such as Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, and more. This is an opportunity to hear what true soul, true gospel, and true R&B is all about. There is only one Mavis Staples, and she's coming to The Suffolk! We promise "she'll take you there!"
COMEDIAN NICK DIPAOLO PROVES THAT WORDS CAN NEVER HURT YOU! Nick DiPaolo's comedy is not gentle. It is not easygoing. But Nick DiPaolo's comedy is honest, smart and most importantly, FUNNY! Known for his numerous appearances on the Comedy Central Roasts (Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson, Dennis Leary, Jeff Foxworthy, and Larry the Cable Guy), as well as his appearances on the Howard Stern Show, Louis, and his own Nick and Artie Show, which he cohosted from 2011-2012 with Artie Lange. An emmy winner for his writing on the Chris Rock Show, and a writer for the 77th Academy Awards and the MTV Music Awards, Nick DiPaolo is the real thing - and he's coming to The Suffolk Theater! ONLINE EDITION
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ville Centre. Dan decided to cover as many fascinating aspects of Long Island as he could, from the political entities of both Nassau and Suffolk County, to environmental organizations such as The Citizens Campaign for the Environ‐ ment and Richard Amper of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, music leg‐ end Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, the organization Long Island Cares, and for‐ mer 14 year Major League Baseball player, Frank Catalanotto plus many other notable Long Islanders. Through his three year filmmaking journey on This Is My Long Island, Dan had faced some personal issues. In the first week of November of 2013, Dan lost a dear childhood friend of 32 years and one of the co‐producers of the film, Dianne Zaremba, to an apparent suicide. A week later , on November 12, 2013, as Dan was trying to press forward and was ready to screen the film, the Marquardt’s home caught fire and the family lost everything, including the footage of the film and all Dan’s camera and editing equipment. Friends, family and associates from all over Long Island came together to donate, hold fundraisers, and assist the Marquardt family, one of them even donated a car for the family’s use. Though Dan’s camera and computer equipment have yet to be replaced, he was able to retrieve the raw edit file footage from his internal hard drive of the computer that was destroyed in the fire. Founder and owner of CR Computer, Dan's cousin and co‐producer, Robert Magioncalda, was able to recover the raw edit files from the burnt in‐ ternal hard drive and saving Dan's legacy that he had worked so dearly for 3 and a half years. Dan Marquardt was the 2013 recipient of the Long Island Film/TV Founda‐ tion’s Finishing Fund Grant, and he proudly accepted the award at last year’s Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE). While Dan is awaiting acceptance from the selection committee to screen at this year’s LIIFE (July 9 – 17 at the Bellmore Movies), the Long Island Film‐ When Rockville Centre's own, Dan Marquardt, worked in a law firm in West TV Foundation has decided to work with Dan Marquardt for a red‐carpet cast, Islip for a number of years as an Administrative Assistant, he knew there was crew and press screening event at the Bellmore Movies to highlight Dan’s something else he was supposed to be doing. dedication to filmmaking and Long Island. Dan approached his wife, Susan, and told her of his desire to become a This is My Long Island will screen on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 7:30 filmmaker, and she supported him knowing it would mean a change in their p.m. at the Bellmore Movies. You must be on the guest list to attend. A lim‐ lifestyle for them and their 2 daughters, Tiffany (12) and Dyani (16). ited number of tickets may be available for purchase once the invited guests With $7,500 to buy equipment, and friends and colleagues donating their knowledge and time, on occasion, a Canon C300, Dan began a three‐year, self‐ are in. Otherwise, This is My Long Island will be coming to a film festival near you. taught, journey to produce his very first feature‐length documentary, This Is For more information on This is My Long Island or Dan Marquardt, please My Long Island. Dan’s grandfather, Eugene J. Murray, is the former Honorable Mayor of the contact Dan Marquardt at sawgrassproductions@gmail.com. For information Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre for 20 years. Dan’s uncle is Francis X. on the Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) please contact Debra Marko‐ Murray, who is Eugene's eldest son, is currently the Honorable Mayor of Rock‐ witz at debfilm@aol.com or www.longislandfilm.com
Three Years in the Making, This is My Long Island, Premieres at the Bellmore Movies
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PLATINUM SELLING ARTIST ANDTHE X FACTOR JUDGE DEMI LOVATO ANNOUNCES THE NEON LIGHTS TOUR SET TO LAUNCH IN FEBRUARY 2014 MARCH 7 – IZOD CENTER MARCH 11 – NASSAU COLISEUM
The general on-sales will begin on Saturday October 5, at www.livenation.com.
DEMI, the 4th album from Demi Lovato on HollyNorth American Tour Features Dates With Little Mix, Cher Lloyd and Fifth Harmony; Will Visit 27 Cities Includ- wood Records, is out now and features the charting New York, Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, Dallas, Nash- topping, double platinum-certified single, "Heart Attack," and "Neon Lights." The album hit #1 on iTunes in ville 50 countries and debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 Tickets On Sale Starting Saturday, October 5 at 10am, chart in the U.S. "Heart Attack" reached #5 on the Billat LiveNation.com board Top 40 Radio chart and became the 3rd Top 10 New York, NY – September 30, 2013 – Platinum- hit of Demi's career. The video for the song has selling music artist and The X Factor judge Demi Lovato amassed over 100 million views on VEVO, while a reannounced exclusively on a Facebook Q&A yesterday mix of the single also hit #1 on the Billboard Dance that she is launching THE NEON LIGHTS TOUR on Chart. February 9, 2014, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Demi is also joining the Emmy Award®-winning Pepsi Live At Rogers Arena. Produced and promoted show GLEE for a guest starring role set to start airing by Live Nation, the North American tour will support her on October 3. Earlier this month, she returned for her latest Hollywood Records album, DEMI, and visit 27 second season as a judge and mentor on The X Factor. cities across the United States and Canada, including She will appear on Conan tonight (September 30) and shows in the New York City area, Chicago, Toronto, will perform on both The Tonight Show Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Nashville. “Neon Lights” is with Jay Leno (October 2) and The Ellen DeGeneres the forthcoming single from DEMI and will impact at radio in early November. THE NEON LIGHTS TOUR will Show (October 7). also feature lead special guests, Little Mix, performing THE NEON LIGHTS TOUR DATES on their first U.S. tour, as well as Cher Lloyd who will All dates and venues below subject to change. also perform on select dates. The X Factor finalists Fifth Harmony will perform on all dates below.. turned hit-making girl group, Fifth Harmony, will also join their X Factor mentor on all dates throughout the *Dates with Little Mix tour. **Dates with Cher Lloyd Citi® cardmembers will have access to a pre-sale February 9* Vancouver, BC Pepsi Live @ Rogers tickets beginning Wednesday October 2, at 10:00 AM Arena local time through Citi's Private Pass® Program. For February 11* San Jose, CA SAP Center complete pre-sale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. February 13* Anaheim, CA Honda Center (On sale ONLINE EDITION
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October 12) February 15* Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena February 17* Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theater At Grand Prairie February 19* Houston, TX Toyota Center February 21* Atlanta, GA Philips Arena February 23* Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena February 25* Sunrise, FL BB&T Center February 26* Tampa, FL Time Bay Times Forum March 1* Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center March 2* Fairfax, VA Patriot Center March 5* Worcester, MA DCU Center March 7* East Rutherford, NJ IZOD Center March 8* Wallingford, CT Toyota Oakdale Theatre March 11* Uniondale, NY Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum March 13* Auburn Hills, MI The Palace At Auburn Hills March 14* Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena March 16* Omaha, NE CenturyLink Center March 18* St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
For more information www.littlemix.com.
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on
Little
Mix,
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Fifth Harmony has quickly become one of the mosttalked about acts in pop music. After debuting "Miss Movin' On" live on The Today Show, the program received more tweets about this concert than any other performance all summer. The music video has surpassed 11 million views mark on VEVO, while the song reached #34 on Top 40 Radio, and is continuing to gain steam. Cumulatively, they have 70 million total YouTube views, nearly half a million Facebook "likes", and over 750,000 Twitter followers. Building on the monumental success of their debut single "Miss Movin' On", Fifth Harmony (5H) are now gearing up to release their first EP, Better Together [Epic Records/Syco Music] on October 22, 2013. For more information on Fifth Harmony, visit www.fifthharmonyofficial.com. Please visit www.DemiLovato.com, www.LiveNation.com and www.Ticketmaster.com for additional ticket and tour information. About Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Artist Nation Management and Live Nation Media/Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.
March 20** St. Louis, MO Chaifetz Arena March 22** Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena March 23** Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena March 26** Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre March 27** Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena March 29** Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena March 30** Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse Earlier this year Little Mix soared into the top 5 of the Billboard 200 album chart with their debut album DNA, entering the chart at No. 4 and making history as the first ever British girl group to debut in the top 5 with their debut album release. Since then, Little Mix have amassed a dedicated and loyal fan base, having graced the covers of Seventeen and Girls Life magazines and garnering over 150 million cumulative VEVO views, 2.6 million Facebook fans and over 4.3 million Twitter followers. Little Mix have become global superstars selling over 3 million records worldwide and are prepping for the Fall 2013 release of their new album featuring the upcoming single, "Move." With worldwide momentum behind them, the group is now ready to tour the U.S. for the first time as special guests on the Demi Lovato tour. ONLINE EDITION
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GLOBAL SUPERSTAR MILEY CYRUS TO LAUNCH BANGERZ TOUR ON VALENTINES DAY 2014 Highly Anticipated Tour Includes 38 Dates throughout the United States and Canada th April 24 – Nassau Coliseum Tickets on Sale November 16 at 10am November 6, 2013 (New York, NY) – Global superstar Miley Cyrus announced today the details behind her BANGERZ TOUR. The highly anticipated tour, produced and promoted by Live Nation, kicks off on Valentine's Day February 14, 2014 in Vancouver, BC at Pepsi Live @ Rogers Arena and will visit 38 cities throughout the United States and Canada including New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, Washington DC and Miami. Tickets go on sale starting Saturday, November 16 at www.livenation.com. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, November 12 at 10 AM local time through Friday, November 15 at 10 PM local time. Fans will have additional opportunities to purchase tickets early by signing up for a Facebook RSVP at http://bit.ly/ _MileyRSVP. Tickets for the general public go on sale Saturday, November 16. Additional details are available at www.livenation.com. Details for Miley’s BANGERZ TOUR follow her surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live where she announced to fans that she would be launching a tour soon. The announcement on Saturday Night Live comes on the heels of her well-received appearance ONLINE EDITION
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on the show (re-airing November 9) as both host and musical performer on October 5 that was part of a series of headline-making appearances that supported the release of her new album, Bangerz, on RCA Records. Bangerz debuted at #1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and the Digital Album Charts with over 270,000 albums sold. Additionally, during release week, Bangerz hit #1 on iTunes in over 70 countries. Both singles, “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop”, off Bangerz have already sold 4.3 million copies in the U.S. alone. “Wrecking Ball” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks. It became Miley’s first Billboard Hot 100 #1 and her fastest-flying top 10 on Radio Songs. “Wrecking Ball” also hit #1 on Spotify where it reached the highest streams ever for any track in the U.S. beating the next highest week by nearly 500,000 plays. This exciting news came just two days after her music video for "Wrecking Ball" became the fastest music video ever to reach CERTIFIED status, VEVO's milestone for videos delivering 100 million views in only 6 days. Cyrus shattered the previous record which she held for “We Can’t Stop,” which was
CERTIFIED by VEVO just 37 days after it premiered. Bangerz has been getting rave reviews including Entertainment Weekly calling it “…utterly fresh, a pop blitz from a hip-hop blueprint, and proof that Miley won't settle for just shocking us.” US Weekly declared it “the year's most titillating pop explosion” awarding the album “4 stars (out of 4).”
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WAYNE BRADY Born in 1997 in Columbus, Georgia, Wayne Brady auditioned for the British comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and he was cast in several episodes and later starred in the American version as well. In 2001, The Wayne Brady Show first aired, and although the show earned two Daytime Emmys, it was canceled in 2004. Brady returned to host 2007's FOX network game show Don't Forget the Lyrics. Wayne Brady was born on June 2, 1972, in Columbus, Georgia. Raised primarily by his paternal grandmother, Valerie Petersen, Brady had a pronounced stutter and shied away from public interaction. At home, Brady proved to be intelligent and creative. By age three his grandmother had taught him to read, and by age six he began to create his own plays, commercials, songs and interviews, basing them on models drawn from television. As he embraced his theatrical side, young Brady was inspired by 1950s- and '60s-era music and television, and admired celebrities like Danny Kaye, Sid Caesar and Gene Kelly. Brady attended Dr. Phillips High School, where he excelled in his studies. At 16, he joined the ROTC, which provided both discipline and self-confidence. He intended to join the military, but after appearing in a high school play (and enjoying the resulting rave reviews), Brady altered his plans. Upon his graduation in 1989, Brady made a deal with his grandmother: If he could earn a living as an actor within six months, he would forgo the military. Brady was soon cast in a theme park show at Universal Studios, and immersed himself in the local theater scene. He appeared in classics including A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, and A Raisin in the Sun. A regular at Orlando's SAK Theater Comedy Lab, a haven for improv and sketch comedy, Brady earned his comedic chops performing in multiple shows a night. By 1992, the SAK honored him as "Rookie of the Year for Theater Sports/Improv." That same year, Brady moved to Las Vegas to dance, sing and act in a musical revue. He soon discovered a talent for mimicking musical genres and performing seamless impressions of rock 'n' roll greats including Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. In 1996, after performing in showcases across the country, Brady was hired to work in a musical revue based in Oahu, Hawaii. It was there that he met Mandie Taketa, a ONLINE EDITION
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dancer in the show. The two began dating and, after the revue closed, the couple moved to Los Angeles. Rise to Fame In California Brady began earning television parts, including guest-starring roles in In the Heat of the Night and I'll Fly Away. Around the same time, several former compatriots from the SAK relocated to the West Coast. Along with Brady, they formed the critically lauded improv group, "Houseful of Honkeys," which still performs regularly at the Acme Comedy Theatre. In 1997, Brady auditioned for the established British comedy series, Whose Line Is It Anyway? The improvbased show featured a rotating quartet of comedians performing lightning-speed comedy games and improvised songs in front of a live audience. The content closely mirrored Brady's skill set, and his audition made a huge impact on the producers. He was subsequently cast in several episodes. When the same company, Hat Trick Productions, brought the show stateside in 1998, Brady auditioned once again. After a grueling six-hour tryout, he was cast as a series regular. The following April, he wed Taketa. As a result of his work on Whose Line, Brady's career skyrocketed. His good looks, easy appeal, and triple-threat virtuosity not only made him an audience favorite and an Emmy winner, but they also gave him the leverage to start his own television show. In 2001, ABC debuted The Wayne Brady Show, a weekly variety revue featuring a mix of music and comedy. A year later, the network revised the format and added a talk show element to the program. The show thrived for several years, during which time Brady became a father. His daughter, Maile, was born in 2003. Although The Wayne Brady Show earned two Daytime Emmys, it was canceled in 2004. Brady hit Broadway the same year to star as Billy Flynn in the revival of Chicago. He also appeared in a notable role on Chappelle's Show, hilariously skewering his "nice guy" image. After touring with his own live show, Brady returned to the small screen to host 2007's FOX network game show Don't Forget The Lyrics. That same year he and Taketa divorced. Brady has since made appearances in multiple television series including 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, and Everybody Hates Chris. In 2008 he released the Grammy-nominated album, A Long Time Coming.
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American Idol Two Time Semi-Finalist Season 2-10 Jerome Bell set to perform at The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. Benefit Gala March 14, 2014 The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. 2014 Annual Gala Benefit will be held on March 14, 2014 at Verdi's of Westbury, located at 680 Old Country Road, Westbury, New York, 11590 from 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. The event is themed "Creating a Unique Learning Environment through Health and Education Learning Initiatives.” The red-carpet fund-raiser gala will recognize individuals whose efforts have contributed to diabetes and health awareness. Tickets, donations, sponsorship or advertising information is available online @ https:// w w w. e v e n t b r i t e . c o m / e / d i a b e t e s - h e a l t h wellness-academy-of-nyc-benefit-gala-verdisof-westbury-tickets-8766616185?ref=esfb Funds raised at the Gala will support The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. in its efforts to assist families, caregivers, and guardians in the daily management of prevention and awareness as well those affected with chronic disease. The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. Intends to launch an innovative learning environment that alleviates gaps in disease management and healthy living while delivering effective daily education. “As the parent of a child with diabetes, one of my greatest daily worries is whether she’ll survive outside of my direct care,” said Sabrina Gardner, founder of The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. We need a continuum of innovative health and educational services blended with support systems where students spend the vast majority of their day. ONLINE EDITION
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About The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of NYC The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C., will be the first school/academy in the U.S. to cater to the direct needs of students and their families who struggle with diabetes and other medical health issues. The academy is incorporated by The University of The State of New York Board of Regents and The New York State Education Department. Sabrina Gardner, founder of the Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C., was inspired by the struggles of managing consistent daily care for her own child who has Type 1 juvenile diabetes. The Diabetes Health and Wellness Academy of N.Y.C. envisions blended relationships between student, parents, caregivers and specialists incorporated with education on a daily basis as a solution to the challenge of consistent chronic disease management. “Our learning environment will provide students with the support to become active participants in disease management and guardians of their own ongoing health,” says Gardner. Dr. Gerald W. Deas: Professorship in Preventive Medicine, Visionary, Writer, Educator, Poet and Philanthropist Angela Banks Jourdain: Critical Care Nursing Education specialist at North Shore Long Island Jewish Health Systems Preston King, C.P.A.: Chairman of New York Citi Works Georgette D. Brown: Assistant Director of Athletics, Adelphi University Samuel L. Dunston: Founder/President of National Allotment Insurance Agency, LTD Nancy Davidson: Qivana Health Systems Business Owner Dr. Okechukwu Echezona: Founder/CEO of Strong Movement Arnie Joseph: Founder/President Chroma Health Solutions
of
Hon. William B. Wise: Trustee of Westbury, New York Mr. Leo Gardner: President of Strong Movement
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Women’s History Month: How Oprah Winfrey became her OWN woman If Oprah Winfrey didn’t exist, we couldn’t invent her, at least not without her help. It’s not enough to say that before Oprah no one like her existed. It’s more likely that before Oprah no one like her was even possible. She has tapped a vein of American selfinvention described by Emerson, who, as literary critic Harold Bloom reminds us, generated the idea of “selfrebegetting” where one becomes “one’s own father,” or in Oprah’s case, one’s own mother. Oprah Winfrey has birthed herself as arguably the most uniquely gifted American of her time. That’s an audacious claim in the age of Obama. Barack Obama proved his chutzpah and prophecy by forecasting the nation’s readiness to make him its first black president. Yet his chokehold on the American imagination may reflect the office he occupies as much as his irresistible appeal. Oprah is a distinct ancestral throwback: She rose from Mississippi poverty to become a global icon while comforting the American psyche as our therapist in chief. She has sought to relieve depression, salve the whiplash of selfhate, and untangle assorted phobias and anxieties. She’s also been our sister in struggle as she battled weight, racism and stress in the public glare. Oprah dissected these familiar ailments on TV as millions tuned in to discover how she fared and how they could benefit from the experts she featured.
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While getting our minds right Oprah also elevated our spirits through what might be seen as her media ministry. That’s a noble feat, since she opposed ills like sexism and homophobia that flow from organized religion while absorbing the spiritual insight they offer. Oprah has been a compassionate evangelist for enlightened spirituality that makes religion behave, and that invites morality to pay attention to the troubles of ordinary citizens. If her idol Phil Donahue looked outward to the intellectual and social landscapes of the nation, Oprah turned inward. She stopped the spill of trash on tabloid television, a genre she had helped to exploit, and turned instead to interior spiritual conflicts and existential crises. She translated the Greek philosophical notion of telos in her exhortation to “live your best life,” and offered the epistemology of Descartes a modern makeover with her declarations of “what I know for sure.” Oprah has also gone to war against impoverished views of black women’s identities on the big and small screens as a gifted actress – most recently in her memorable portrayal of a domestic servant’s wife who managed to squeeze joy from dutiful marriage and suffocated desire in Lee Daniels’ The Butler. And who can forget Oprah’s propulsive portrayal, in her screen debut, of Sofia, the stubbornly independent woman in Steven Spielberg’s screen version of Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple, especially Sofia’s immortal stalk through a corn field to chastise protagonist Celie for counseling her stepson and Sofia’s husband, Harpo, to beat her. Oprah offered a disciplined sketch of a deeply religious black mother, Mrs. Thomas, who sought to guide her son Bigger through the perils of Jim Crow before his tragic and inevitable demise in the film version of Richard Wright’s novel Native Son. And as Mattie Michael in the television adaptation of Gloria Naylor’s novel The Women of Brewster Place, Win(Continued on page 41)
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frey gives compelling voice to single, black, working-class mothers struggling to design a better day for their children in the great black migration from the south to northern haunts. Perhaps most famously, Oprah breathed cinematic life into Toni Morrison’s magisterial novel Beloved as the protagonist Sethe, who would rather kill her children than have them suffer the prolonged death of slavery – opening a window onto the psychic terror that millions endured in forcible silence. Oprah wasn’t content to simply shepherd these classic literary works to the screen. She turned her passion for reading into a national obsession and made literacy sexy. Oprah’s book club was the biggest in the land and included millions of her viewers. She used a ‘televisual’ medium that was supposedly the death knell of literacy to reestablish its prominence in culture – snatching it from the hands of professionals and giving it back to the people. The gift of reading isn’t the only thing Oprah has given to her followers. She has been as generous with her money as she has been with her advice and encouragement to the masses. Black people have had a tortured relation to money. Most of us have lacked it for the bulk of our existence in America; after all, black wealth pales in comparison to white wealth, whether measured in household income, jobs, or the ability to transmit it from one generation to the next. Black folk have adopted a number of responses to money. We have shied away from the pursuit of wealth, preferring a heavenly — rather than earthly — reward for our struggles. We have embraced social justice and criticized capitalism’s ugly effects. We have believed that we aren’t meant to be rich and adjusted our ambitions to whatever means are available to get money. We have baldly pursued riches through street games of chance or hoping to hit the lottery. Or we have made sacred the pursuit of wealth in a gospel of prosperity, a thin cover for black guilt over middle-class status. Oprah has successfully defeated the plague of black guilt over wealth by viewing herself as a conduit for black blessing. She has avoided the naked pursuit of capital by surrendering to a bigger spiritual and moral purpose that yields wealth but doesn’t greedily pursue it. And Oprah has attempted to right the wrongs of society more through financial than political means. As the richest black American ever, Oprah has matched her wealth with a deep desire to help others far less fortunate. She attempted early in her career to ease poor black people away from project hallways and ghetto hoods, and to pluck them from the bad habits and forces that stymie their ascent. She has sent countless black youth to school, and funded black colleges and other institutions that offer blacks all sorts of aid and uplift. She also founded a school for young black girls in South Africa, at the invitation of Mandela to use her might to make a difference. Oprah’s philanthropy has funneled resources to black and female causes the world over as a self-motivated tithe to her roots. Few gestures could be blacker. That hasn’t hushed talk of Oprah avoiding her racial obligations or eagerly embracing the mainstream’s values and goals. She proves in such criticism to be the forerunner to Obama twice over, both in her ability to navigate the white ONLINE EDITION
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world, with all the complicated negotiations and concessions that such an enterprise demands, and in the complaint that her success means that she’s cut off from her black roots. Obama has been accused of barely speaking about race in office despite writing a masterly memoir on the subject. The same can hardly be said of Oprah. During her long haul on network television, she did countless shows that addressed various features of gender and black existence. (I was there to talk on three such shows: a remarkable hour on black males that linked our plight to slavery; a show that united the mother of Emmett Till and the widow of Medgar Evers to discuss racial trauma and forgiveness; and a show that grappled with the gender and racial fallout of the hit film Waiting to Exhale). Oprah has also been criticized for making millionaires out of white experts like Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz while failing to lift black talent to stardom. That may seem a fair criticism until we wrestle with the lesson we’ve learned with the Obama presidency: There is little genuine acceptance in many quarters of white America for the broad expression of black intellectual talent. What Obama understands, and what Oprah knew long before he did, is that smart black folk provoke both excitement and nervousness, especially if it seems that talented black folk will bring along other talented black folk. The resentment Obama has faced as the symbolic captain of American blackness suggests a deep resistance to too much blackness, and to too many black folk, in one space, at one time. Oprah has dealt the cards handed to her. She can create shows that draw white folk in, but she can’t create white appetite for the black talent that Oprah might otherwise introduce. (Spiritual and lifestyle guru Iyanla Vanzant is, for some critics, the exception that proves the rule: only after a failed run on network television did she earn a spot on Oprah’s television network.) However we should remember that, despite her enormous fame and success, Oprah couldn’t automatically translate her fortune into white bodies in the seats for her screen version of Beloved; neither did it mean an Oscar nod for her exceptional work in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, especially in a year when the rule of “one black at a time” seems to have trumped the celebration of two vastly different black realities and time periods explored in the films The Butler and best picture Oscar winner 12 Years A Slave, the chosen vehicle to articulate the black experience this year. Oprah’s cultural ubiquity reveals a conundrum: through no design of her own – after all, this is “no crabs in the barrel” syndrome, where blacks pull down other aspiring blacks or block their path to triumph, a destructive practice that certainly exists – Oprah’s success, despite continued racial prejudice and sexism, is an endorsement of the American social order, in the same way that Obama’s rise to power legitimates the political order. In large sections of white America there has been little tolerance for the plural expression of black talent at the apex of influence or power, whether it flares in the resentment of Eric Holder’s or Susan Rice’s rise in politics, or in the resistance to other candidates for black success in Oprah’s cultural sphere of influence. (Continued on page 49)
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Ida B. Wells: Journalist. Teacher. Anti-Lynching Crusader. Women’s Rights Activist. Civil Rights Pioneer. Ida B. Wells was born into slavery on July 16, 1862, in Holly Springs, Mississippi. She was orphaned at 16 after both of her parents and a younger sibling died from a yellow fever epidemic. In order to support and care for her five remaining siblings, she secured a job as a teacher. She eventually moved to Memphis where she became a leading journalist and civil rights activist. When her newspaper office was destroyed in an angry response to her outspoken writings, Ida B. Wells was exiled from Memphis, and stayed away from the South for over 30 years. In 1893 and 1894, she traveled across the United States and throughout the United Kingdom and Great Britain, passionately writing and speaking out against lynching. She eventually moved to Chicago and married Ferdinand L. Barnett in 1895. The widowed Ferdinand was an attorney and editor of The Conservator, one of Chicago’s Black newspapers. In addition to the two children from his first marriage, he and Ida had four children together. Ida B. Wells-Barnett continued her activism while juggling motherhood and her many civil rights commitments. In 1909, she was one of the founders of the NAACP, although she later had conflicts with its leadership because she was perceived as too “radical.” She also worked with Susan B. Anthony as a leader in the movement for women’s suffrage. In Chicago, Ms. Wells worked with Jane Addams to prevent the establishment of segregated public schools, helped to open Chicago’s first kindergarten for Black children, founded the Negro Fellowship League to assist Black men and boys who were excluded from the YMCA, and started the Alpha Suffrage Club – an organization of Black women who worked to obtain the right to vote. Ida B. Wells-Barnett died on March 25, 1931, at the age of 68, from a brief illness due to kidney failure. She and her husband, Ferdinand L. Barnett, are interred together in Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery Statements of Support “The Ida B. Wells Monument is a singular opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge Bronzeville’s history while anticipating its future.” Alderman William D. Burns, 4th Ward “I am writing in support of your efforts and to comment the Ida B. Wells Commemorative Art Committee and the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture for developing a monument that will celebrate Ida B. Wells’ legacy and help increase public awarement of her imONLINE EDITION
portant work. The location of the monument in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville community is of great significance and appreciation to the communities and generational admireres who were impacted by her work…As a female leader of the great state of Illinois I can personally appreciate and support eh commemoration of Ms. Wells’ life, work and writings.” – Kimberly du Buclet, State Representative, 26th District As the written history of America finally, albeit slowly, recognizes the role of African Americans, some names emerge as giants from the shadows. One of those is certainly Ida B. Wells, America’s premier anti-lynching campaigner. Born into slavery, she was destined to be one who would help shape post Civil War America as an investigative journalist, newspaper editor and publisher, and leader of the emerging women’s and civil rights movements. We here in Chicago are proud to claim her as our own for the many years of leadership she provided our city. I was delighted to learn of plans for a (Continued on page 45)
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monument to her life and work here in the place she called home for so many years and trust that the project will soon become a reality. – Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL 7th District) It is without hesitation that I offer my support for the Ida B. Wells Monument. Sadly, much of the history of Bronzeville is not celebrated as it should be. It is important that people who live or visit our community know about the many contributions some of its residents have made towards social justice…She used her many talents to address inequality wherever she saw it even in the face of threats against her….As residents and tourists alike visit the monument, they will undoubtedly be moved by the courageous dedication exhibited by Ms. Wells and gain a greater appreciation for the historical significance of Bronzeville. I see this as an opportunity to generate community pride while inspiring others to pursue the type of important work that was carried out by Ida B. Wells. - Alderman Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward “It is with hope and pride that I support the movement for an Ida B. Wells Monument in Oakwood Shores. As a journalist and social activist, Wells was a strong voice against racism and sexism. Her advocacy paved the way for generations of African-Americans who followed her, and she should be commemorated with a monument that will invite future generations to learn about her contributions.” – Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul, 13th District “At a time when women were seen and not heard, Ida B. Wells was a voice for those who had none. Even today her legacy lives on, and she continues to be a role model for young women. Her advocacy for equality for women and African Americans should inspire us all to speak out against injustice.” – Lt. Governor Sheila Simon
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The Monument A monumental sculpture accompanied by supportive art pieces will be located in a park-like setting on the Langley Boulevard median, just south of 37th Street in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. The Langley Boulevard median lies at the heart of the Oakwood Shores community, on the former site of the Ida B. Wells public housing development. The plaza where the Ida B. Wells monument will be erected. The Ida B. Wells Commemorative Art Committee has commissioned the creation of a sculptured monument that will honor the life and times of the historic Ida B. Wells. The sculpture will be created by Richard Hunt, a Chicago native and world-renowned artist. The abstract sculpture capturing the artist’s vision of Ida B. Wells and her legacy will be at least 20 feet tall, and will have a large base upon which an image of Ida B. Wells and excerpts of her writings will be engraved. Upon completion, this monument will be donated to the City of Chicago’s Public Art Collection. As a second phase of the project, smaller, interactive art pieces will be commissioned to allow the public to experience the work of Ida B. Wells in a reflective manner. While a precise description of the project awaits the artist’s conception, additional elements may include a timeline of key events related to Ms. Wells’ causes and accomplishments, occasional seating along the pathway in the Langley median, or boulevard signposts or similar features with a historical narrative and illustrations.
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ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA By William Shakespeare Edited & Directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney In an exciting international collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and GableStage, Miami, The Public welcomes back writer/director Tarell Alvin McCraney (The Brother/Sister Plays) as its new artist in residence with ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. At the fringes of a war-torn empire, a man and a woman have fallen desperately, passionately in love. But for a soldier set to enforce the imperial will and the queen intent on throwing off the yoke of the empire, there is no place for personal desire.
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and transports us to 18th century, sun-soaked Saint-Domingue on the eve of revolution. Presented by The Public Theater, Miami's GableStage, and the Royal Shakespeare Company in collaboration with The Ohio State University Use code CAESAR for $25* tickets! (Reg. $67) Publictheater.org 212.967.7555 (noon - 8pm daily) *Discount valid for preview performances 2/18-3/4 only. Offer expires 3/4. Listed price includes a $2 facility fee. Phone and Web orders are subject to a $5 per ticket service fee. Regular price $67. Subject to availability and prior sale. Cannot be combined with other discounts or offers. Some blackout dates may apply. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. This offer may be revoked at any time; no refunds or exchanges.
McCraney creates a stripped down new version of Shakespeare's gripping story of romance set against a world of imperial politics and power play ONLINE EDITION
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USA’S GOLDEN COUPLE DAVIS AND WHITE HEADLINE THE 2014 CAST OF EMMY-AWARD WINNING STARS ON ICE® America’s Premier Figure Skating Production Welcomes the U.S. Olympic Bronze Medal Figure Skating Team to the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 PM
TICKETS ON SALE NOW (UNIONDALE, NY) – Meryl Davis and Charlie White returned from the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, with the United States’ first ice dancing gold medal in history. Stars on Ice, featuring Davis and White along with their bronze medal winning teammates from the inaugural Olympic figure skating team event, will visit Uniondale on Sunday, April 13 for a 4:00 PM performance at Nassau Coliseum. The country’s premier figure skating production, Stars on Ice, in a partnership with U.S. Figure Skating, is proud to announce that for the first time ever, the U.S. Olympic figure skating team will headline the annual nationwide tour. Bringing the spirit and passion of the Olympics back to home ice, the entire bronze medal winning U.S. Figure Skating team will highlight a truly spectacular and star-studded cast. In addition to Gold medalists Davis and White, two-time U.S. champion Ashley Wagner, 2014 U.S. champion Gracie Gold, four-time and reigning U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott, 2014 U.S. silver medalist Jason Brown, and two-time reigning U.S. pair champions Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir comprise the bronze medal team that will join the Stars on Ice 2014 Tour. The Stars on Ice 2014 Tour cast will also include two-time U.S. ice dancing silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates, 2011 U.S. Champion Ryan Bradley and 2010 Olympian and 2014 U.S. Bronze medalist Mirai Nagasu. Several special guests will also make appearances throughout the tour. Stars on Ice continues to be a pioneer in figure skating by offering fans the rare opportunity to witness some of America’s most creative and cherished champions performing together in both individual and ensemble routines. Founded and produced by Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton, Stars on Ice is one of the premier family entertainment events in the U.S., and the only figure skating tour in America, bringing you the greatest performances and competitors from the 2014 Winter Games. This year’s Stars on Ice production has joined forces with U.S. Figure Skating, moving its traditional tour dates to the spring in order to showcase the World’s best figure skaters at the top of their form and to offer special opportunities for fans across the country to celebrate the accomplishments of these historic skaters. Tickets for the 2014 Stars on Ice Tour in Uniondale are on sale now. Special on-ice seating is available upon request. Tickets start at $25 and are available via www.starsonice.com, www.ticketmaster.com, Nassau Coliseum Box Office, and by phone 1-800-745-3000. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Please visit www.starsonice.com for the most up to date information, as well as exciting show announcements. Stars on Ice is pleased to announce Macy’s, KOSE, and airweave as Associate Sponsors of the 2014 Tour.
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Oprah has also been criticized for not being political; what she proved in her endorsement of Obama’s presidential candidacy in 2007 is that she is highly selective. It is easy to forget, in the wake of Obama’s global fame and international popularity, that Oprah leveraged her wealth and reputation, and most important, her trust among whites, to lift Obama to a much higher plateau than he might have achieved alone, and not nearly as quickly. It was a real risk for Oprah, who felt the backlash from conservative elements of her white audience that resented her political transparency. Oprah showed real courage in staying the course in her support of Obama because she believed he was good for America. One of the prime reasons Obama was in office to give Oprah the Medal of Freedom is because she set in motion the logic that led to a small measure of reciprocity: his medal for her mettle. Obama is surely a remarkable human being, a political genius who divined the times were right to sweep him into office. Still, it is his official role that gives him political recognition and authority. Oprah Winfrey is a private citizen; she holds no office, speaks with no state authority, depends upon no governmental budget to fund her vision, only the ONLINE EDITION
pluck and enterprising spirit that has led her to transform TV, and the magazine world, too. Who else appears on every single cover of her publication because she is, quite simply, peerless? The icing on a considerable cake is that she has her own network. Black folk have often whispered among ourselves that the ultimate triumph in a society that demeans and disrespects us is to avoid going, hat in hand, to any number of white bosses, or their institutional corollaries, begging for a job. We must not work for somebody but be worked for; not consume but manufacture; not buy but own, an idea that is vitally important to a people who have ourselves been owned. What greater symbol of triumph is there than the acronym of a business, OWN, that literally got in the black – like the woman who owns it – ahead of its time? That she has done all of this before the age of sixty is beyond anything that could have been imagined before she was born.
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VILLAGE LIFE MAGAZINE
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THE NEW COMMUNITY JOURNAL
NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2014
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