
March 22 - 29 , 2024
March 22 - 29 , 2024
Issue 6 passed, with over 70% voting yes. The levy renewal for the City of Dayton will generate around $15 million each year for police, fire, road repair, parks, and more.
The Centerville School District levy has failed. The vote was 53% against the levy vs. nearly 47% in favor.
Last year, the Centerville School District had a levy on the November ballot, which voters also rejected.
Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge won her Democratic primary in her bid to keep her commission seat, after facing civil engineer Youssef Elzein. Dodge faces Republican Kate Baker, Huber Heights councilmember who won her primary against Jordan Wortham.
According to unofficial results for Greene County:
The Yellow Springs school district had its 9 mill levy fail, with 55% of voters against. Another levy in Xenia was turned down by voters. The new Xenia 4 mill levy would have funded police and public safety. About 58% of voters were against.
Xenia Mayor Sarah Mays narrowly won the Republican nomination for Greene County Commissioner, with a 52-48% vote against Bob Stone.
The city of Fairborn passed new levies for roads (around 59% in favor) and another one for police, fire and EMS
YWCA Dayton hosted its sold-out 26th annual Women of Influence Luncheon event on March 14th. With nearly 1,000 attendees, the event was an incredible success for the nonprofit and the women who are served by various programs YWCA Dayton runs. At the event, six women who have made
an incredible impact across the Dayton community were honored. The women who received the 2024 Women of Influence Award include:
• Barbara Stewart Bostick, Owner, You & Me Inc.
• Belinda Kenley, Vice President, Energy Optimizers USA
• Janice Culver, Community Volunteer, and
Philanthropist
• Nozipo Glenn, Community Advocate
• Sarah Hackenbracht, CEO, Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association
• Pat McDonald, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
The event celebrated these women and their achievements, discussed Continued on Page 2
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called the diagnosis a "gut punch."
By Berkeley LovelaceJr., Patrick Martin and Lauren Dunn Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized this week for not being more transparent about his prostate cancer diagnosis, acknowledging that the news had not only affected him but also shocked many others, “especially in the Black community.”
"It was a gut punch," Austin said Thursday at a news briefing.
The diagnosis — which was made public Jan. 9, about a week after he had been hospitalized with complications from cancer surgery, blindsiding even the White House — has renewed public discussion around prostate cancer in the Black community.
Why does it appear to be so prevalent in black men, how soon is too
soon to seek screening, what are the early symptoms and when is an appropriate time to tell loved ones? All men are at risk for prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men in the U.S.,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, there will be nearly 300,000 new cases of prostate cancer and just over 35,000 deaths.
(close to 64% in favor). Jamestown voters turned down a Greenview Local Schools construction levy, in a 66-33% vote.
According to unofficial results for Clark County: Chris Clark has ousted Incumbent Sheriff Deborah Burchett in a bid for Clark County Sheriff. A
former sheriff’s office major, Clark is also the Madison Twp. Fire and EMS chief and received close to 60% of the unofficial votes.
In the Clark County Commissioner primary, retired health commissioner Charlie Patterson won with just over 43%
of the vote. That's in a four-way race with Dave Marshall, local teacher and former campaign worker; Matt Quesenberry, local project manager for a construction engineering company; William Lindsey, New Carlisle City Council member. All were hoping to fill the seat that will be vacated at the end of Commissioner Lowell McGlothin’s term. In November, Patterson faces Democrat and former Springfield city commissioner Kevin O’Neill.
According to unofficial results for Miami County
In Elizabeth Township, an 8 mill levy was voted down with 78% of the voters saying no. Officials say it would have generated $626,000 annually for their fire and EMS department.
According to the unofficial results for local
Continued on Page 2
SALT LAKE CITY -
The University of Dayton men’s basketball team saw its season come to an end on Saturday, falling 78-68 to ninth-ranked Arizona in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
In the first half the Flyers finished the half on a 10-0 run, holding Arizona scoreless for the last 2:43.
Whether prostate cancer is, in fact, more common in Black men than other groups remains an open question, said Dr. Abhinav Khanna, a urologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
But it is sometimes more aggressive in Black men, he said.
Black men in the U.S., Khanna said, are two times more likely to die from prostate cancer than white men.
“Not all prostate cancer is lethal, but we have seen that black men do have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer,” he said.
One potential reason is that Black men — depending on their socioeconomic status — may not get screened as vigilantly as white and Asian men do in the U.S., leading to more advanced cancer diagnoses and worse outcomes, said Dr. Ravi Munver, vice chairman of the depart-
Junior Daron Holmes II led all players with 14 points in the opening half and also pulled down five rebounds. Arizona built up a 17-point lead, 37-20, with 4:17 remaining in the half. Dayton shot 35.5% (11-31) from the floor while Arizona shot 64.0% (16-25) while the Wildcats hit 55.6% (5-9) from three while the Flyers shot
ment of urology at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
A study published in the journal Cancer in 2022, for example, found that outcomes for Black men with prostate cancer are worse because they are less likely to be screened or to receive treatment.
Dr. Adam Murphy, an associate professor of urology at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, said genetics can also play a role in prostate cancer risk.
Being of West African descent, for example, is a potential risk factor, Murphy said. Other risk factors include age and family history, he said.
“If you have first-degree relatives who have prostate cancer, or even secondary-degree relatives, it increases your risk a little bit,” he said. “And then there are related cancers
Continued on Page 6
33.3% (5-15).
In the second half Arizona pushed its lead to 10 on its first trip down the floor of the second half but UD battled back to within three (52-49) with 11:42 to go. The Wildcats answered with a 14-2 burst over the next 4:51. Dayton shot 42.9% (12-28) from the floor, while ‘Zona shot 42.9%(13-28). But from beyond the arc in the second half, the Flyers were 2-of-9 (22.2%), and the Wildcats were 3-of-9 (33.3%).
DaRon Holmes II led the Flyers with 23 points and 11 rebounds, both game highs. Koby Brea (14 points), Kobe Elvis (13) and Enoch Cheeks (10) joined Holmes in double figures.
UD ends the year 25-8, while Arizona improves to 27-8.
ebrates a festival and others that involve coloring and hunting eggs.
Celebrate Holi West Carrollton Branch
Monday, March 25, 4-5 pm
Celebrate Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, Love, and Spring, by reading stories and exploring food and crafts. Families
Eggxtra! Eggxtra! Come Paint and Find Them
West Branch
Wednesday, March 27, 3:30-5 pm
Listen to storytimes, paint wooden eggs or dye real ones and enjoy an egg hunt. Families
The Dayton Foundation, the oldest and largest community foundation in the Greater Dayton region of Ohio, announced today that it has surpassed $1.12 billion in current assets as of December 31, 2023. The Foundation now is among the top four percent of more than 800 community foundations nationwide for assets under management and the third largest community foundation in Ohio. Additionally, Foundation fund holders awarded 23,859 in grants and scholarships totaling $124.1 million in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 – more than in any previous year – with an additional $90.4 million awarded in its current fiscal year to date. Since the Foundation’s inception in 1921 more than $1.37 billion has been awarded to charities locally, nationally and internationally.
Said Dayton Foundation Governing Board Chair David Miller, “We’re so proud to serve the charitable giving needs of Greater Daytonians. Giving of this level
is a testament to the trust our community holds for The Dayton Foundation, and we’re honored to carry out their hopes and dreams through charitable gifts to the nonprofit organizations and causes most important to them.”
According to Mike Parks, CFRE, president of The Dayton Foundation, the establishment of new donor funds of all types, including Charitable Checking AccountsSM, the Foundation’s free donor-advised fund option, as well as new contributions to existing funds, played a major role in getting the Foundation to where it is today. During its last fiscal year, The Dayton Foundation received nearly $77 million in new gifts and added 260 current and deferred funds, bringing the total number of Foundation funds under management to a record 4,145.
“This milestone in the number of funds opened and grant dollars awarded is thanks to the many caring individuals and families who are committed to making Greater Dayton
better and stronger for all of its citizens,” Parks said. “Each year, these fund holders invest in meaningful causes and organizations locally, across the nation and internationally, spanning areas of interest from education, arts and culture, health, human services, religion and more. The strength of their giving is remarkable for a community of our size, and we are grateful to be their partner in giving.”
The Dayton Foundation has witnessed significant growth in the last decade, with assets under management rising from $416 million in 2013 to $1.12 billion at the close of calendar year 2023.
For more information about The Dayton Foundation, including how you can establish a charitable fund, visit the new daytonfoundation.org or follow the Foundation on Facebook, X or LinkedIn.
Continued from Page 1
Ohio General Assembly primary races:
Ohio Senate District 6 (Montgomery County): State Rep. Willis Blackshear Jr. won the Democratic primary with just under 50% of the votes. He faced Dayton Public Schools and Planned Parenthood board member Jocelyn Rhynard and Kettering City Councilwoman Jyl Hall. Charlotte Mc-
Guire, a State Board of Education member, won the uncontested Republican primary.
Ohio Senate District 10 (Clark, Greene, Clinton counties): Former state Rep. Kyle Koehler won the Republican nomination with over 63% of votes. His opponent was Carolyn Destefani. Koehler now faces Daniel McGregor, who is uncon-
tested in the Democratic primary.
Ohio House District 38 (Dayton): Desiree Tims, president & CEO of Innovation Ohio, won the Democratic primary, carrying over 71% of the vote. Her primary opponent was Derrick Foward, president of the Dayton unit of the NAACP.
YWCA’s Women of Influence Luncheon Sells Out; Honors Accomplishments of Women Across Dayton...
Continued from Page 1
include an egg scavenger hunt. Babies & Toddlers
Spring Egg Hunt
Northmont Branch
Saturday, April 6, 10:30 am-12:45 pm
Decorate a paper bag and celebrate the season of Spring with an egg hunt. Families
For more information, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org. Additional questions may also be directed to the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.
Production
Baby & Toddler Storytime: Egg Scavenger Hunt
Trotwood Branch
Thursday, March 28, 10:30-11:30 am
Our traditional storytime full of rhymes, songs, and stories that encourage early literacy in young children will also
DML is committed to providing access to all of our events. If you would like to request accommodations for sign language interpretation, audio amplification, and/or language translation please contact us through the method that best meets your needs. Additional accommodations may be available upon request. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
stoppable,” said Williams. “This is us and it takes all of us to break barriers, change minds, reshape systems and structures that oppose these critical human rights.”
YWCA Dayton also celebrated women across generations in Dayton, such as Pat McDonald, a previous winner of the Women of Influence Award and now the Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
“United, we are un-
People have long been fascinated with the ghostly unknown, wondering whether ghosts are real or just a figment of their imagination. This obsession has compelled Dustin Pari, expert paranormal researcher and renowned team member of television’s Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International to delve deep into the question Ghosts: Do You Believe?, an all-new live show breaking down the boundaries between reality and the supernatural. The national tour will visit more than 40 cities including Dayton at the Victoria Theatre on April 26, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and available at daytonlive.org/ghosts and at the Box Office in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center, Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. or via phone at 937-228-3630.
Ghosts: Do You Believe? host Pari — who had his own encounter with a spirit in his childhood home — shares his knowledge with audiences about the world’s most riveting paranormal evidence and perplexing ghost stories that simply defy explanation. This spine-tingling, interactive journey through haunted encounters and
mind-boggling phenomena features photographic evidence from Pari’s travels.
“My goal is to bring audiences a deeper insight into the supernatural world and unlock the mysteries that haunt us all,” says Pari. “It’s the 21st century and yet people today are just as obsessed with the paranormal and the belief that ghosts exist as they have been since the beginning of time.”
Ghosts: Do You Believe? invites guests to experience the unseen in an extraordinary live show, tackling such questions as:
Are ghosts real?
Can we make contact with the other side?
What happens after we die?
Does any of our spirit continue to linger here on the earthly plain?
How do we cope with our own mortality?
“Ghosts: Do You Believe takes attendees on a journey exploring the human spirit and ghostly apparitions. Audiences will leave the theater with a greater understanding about the search for meaning in life, beyond death and ghosts,” says Pari.
For more information about Ghosts: Do You Believe? including tour dates and tickets, visit www. ghostsdoyoubelieve.com; and, follow the tour on Facebook, Instagram and X.
TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL will take over the Schuster Center in Dayton April 9-14, 2024.
“This empowering story of hope and resilience celebrates the iconic music of TINA TURNER and features over 20 of her greatest hits,” says Kailey Yeakley, Dayton Live Manger of Social Media & Public Relations. “We can’t wait for our patrons to enjoy this legendary production and have ‘Simply The Best’ experience!”
Show Synopsis:
An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters.
One of the world’s bestselling artists of all time, Tina Turner won 12 Grammy Awards® and her live shows were seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.
Featuring her much loved songs, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.
How to Get Tickets:
Tickets are available at daytonlive.org/tina and at Box Office in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. or via phone at 937228-3630.
Performance Schedule:
Tuesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 12 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Background on Broadway: Join us 60 minutes before each performance of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL for Background On Broadway! You’ll learn about the development, history, and artistry of the show. This free event is held in the Schuster Center’s 4th Floor Lobby. You must have a ticket to that day’s performance.
The following is a list of Easter-themed events happening in the Miami Valley.
BEAVERCREEK
Be Hope Bunny Trail: Be Hope Church has The Be Hope Bunny Trail for kids up to 5th grade from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at 1850 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek. Free, Includes interactive egg stations. There will also be a petting zoo and wagon rides through the woods.
BELLBROOK
Easter Egg Drop: Jon Pemberton & Associates’ annual Helicopter Egg Drop, Noon-2 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at Miami Valley South Stadium, 3757 Upper Bellbrook Road, Bellbrook. Registration is required.
CENTERVILLE
Easter Egg Hunt: Normandy United Methodist Church, Easter Egg Hunt for toddlers to 5th graders from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at 450 West Alex Bell Road, Centerville. Afterward, craft and snacks in the church.
DAYTON
Easter Egg Hunt: The City of Dayton is spon-
soring two free Easter
Egg Hunts for kids 10 and younger. Bring a basket.
The first is 6 p.m. March 26 at the Northwest Recreation Center, 1600 Princeton Drive, Dayton. Next is 6 p.m. March 27 at the Lohrey Recreation Center, 2366 Glenarm Ave., Dayton.
Resurrection Egg Hunt: Englewood Baptist Church is having a free Resurrection Egg Hunt (during Bible Study) at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, March 31 at 722 Albert St., Englewood. Each kid is guaranteed a half pound of candy. There will be a big prize raffle.
FAIRBORN
Teen Flashlight Easter
Egg Hunt: The City of Fairborn invites teens for an Easter Egg hunt with a twist — in the heart of the disc golf woods, under the cloak of darkness. Teens will search for Easter eggs to redeem for prizes from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, March 29 at Fairborn Community Park, 691 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn. Cost: $10/resident; $12/ non-resident. Ages 12-18 years. Teens will need to
bring their own flashlight and bag/bucket. An adult must stay for the entire program as teens may be finished hunting eggs at various times. All teens must be signed in and out. Pre-registration is required! Spots are limited. Call Fairborn Parks and Recreation at 937754-3090 or email recreation@fairbornoh.gov.
Easter Egg Hunt: The Fairborn Chamber of Commerce, WPAFB Company Grade Officers Council and Foy’s Stores, are sponsoring the 55th annual Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. Easter Sunday at Fairborn’s Central Park located next to the YMCA. There will be more than 10,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes. Special designated areas for participants include sections for ages 1-3, 4-6 and 7-11. Cash is hidden in some of the eggs, as well as notices for bike winners, along with the candy. All children will proceed to the YMCA after the eggs have been collected where everyone will receive a special prize. Pictures with the Easter Bunny can be taken at that time.
GREENE COUNTY Easter Egg Hunt: Young’s Dairy, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 31 at 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs. Show up early; starts promptly at 2 p.m. for children ages 4 and younger. At 2:20 p.m. they’ll do it again for ages
5 to 7. At 2:40 p.m. they will have the final hunt for ages 8 to 10. Young’s mascot, Barnabe, will be present.
Community Easter Egg Hunt: Wright Patterson AFB and the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a Community Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 31 at Central Park, 222 S. Central Ave., Fairborn.
KETTERING
Mega Egg Hunt: Children through 6th grade for games, activities and a Mega Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at Grace Baptist Church, 2901 Galewood St., Kettering.
NEW CARLISLE
Easter Egg Hunt: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30 at Medway United Methodist Church, 2550 S. Dayton Lakeview Road, New Carlisle. Multiple family shows, visit from the Easter Bunny, and 30,000+ eggs filled with candy and prizes for kids ages 0-10 years old.
VANDALIA Vandalia Easter Extravaganza: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at Vandalia Recreation Center, 1111 Stonequarry Road, Vandalia. Free. Includes egg hunts at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a baby goat petting zoo, arts and crafts, face painting, vendors, games and activities, food trucks, Easter bunny photo area, a golden egg scavenger hunt and more. Bring your own egg basket.
and transformation throughout our nation’s political landscape is not new. Our country will always be divided over who gets the political upper hand and the fight to keep it. With today’s polarization approaching Civil War levels, the division is no longer regional (North vs. South). It is more political (red vs. blue) but remains divided by culture, race, and class. At one time, the Democrats were the conservatives, and the Republicans were the liberals.
It is unlikely we will ever see the two parties flip again in ideology, but the internal political transformation on the state level will always take place. Whenever I think of the Democratic Party, I see it as a big tent party of political inclusion. It generally welcomes a broad spectrum of views and beliefs, reflecting a nation of people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. Those making up the big tent may not always agree on every topic, but diverse ideas and backgrounds should always be welcomed. The Democrats, with its broad coalition of movements, face a greater challenge than Republicans in keeping their big tent intact from one election to another.
Since people don’t like to be taken for granted, the Democratic Party must work hard and focus on expanding the big tent and keeping it unified. Therefore, Democrats should have listened more to Tom Vilsack when he sounded the alarm as Agriculture Secretary in the Obama administration. Vilsack grew frustrated with a culture in Washington that oftenignored rural America’s struggles. “I just sometimes think rural America is a forgotten place,” he often said.
The fact that many white, working-class voters turned decisively to the former reality TV star after supporting Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 played a big part in electing Donald Trump as president.
Before Trump’s surprising victory, Vilsack complained loud and often that the Democratic Party had given up competing in large areas of the country that were necessary to win Senate seats, governor’s races, and state legislatures.
“Democrats need to talk to rural voters,” Vilsack once warned. “They can’t write them off. They can’t ignore them. They actually have to spend a little time talking to them.”
Before Vilsack became Agriculture Secretary, he served two terms as governor of Iowa, which is 95% white. His eight years as governor should have been the national blueprint for the Democratic Party to follow in addressing the isolation of white working-class voters in rural America—now, rural America has become the heart of Trump’s MAGA movement.
When Vilsack won his long-shot race for governor in 1998, it was the first time Iowa had elected a Democrat in 32 years. In eight years, he transformed the state’s political landscape when he was followed by a Democrat governor who, for the first time in four decades, had a Democratic legislature. “I personally took over managing legislative races,” Vilsack said. “We won the House and the
Senate, and we had three of the five members of Congress.”
Vilsack’s success was a boon for Barack Obama, whose 2008 victory in Iowa proved that he could attract the support of white Midwestern voters.
As the party of political inclusion, the Democrats were deaf to Vilsack’s warnings. All the political gains in Iowa made at the state and federal levels and in presidential elections are now erased. Today in Iowa, Republicans dominate every aspect of state government while controlling both U.S. Senate seats and three of the four U.S. House seats. After Obama left office, Trump also won the state in the last two presidential elections. Duplicate this in pockets throughout the nation, and the Democrats are hard-pressed to keep the Obama-winning coalition together. It shows how the Democrats are losing the culture wars. Surprisingly, the Democrat’s big tent does not accept the rural white working-class voters in the same manner it accepts white working-class voters from urban areas who typically aligned themselves with unions.
The political transformation saw Iowa change from red to blue and back to red. Today, Florida is in the midst of its own political transformation by building on a trend over
What do you think of when you hear the word peace? Do you think of the absence of noise, but quietness? When thinking of the word peace, there really are no answers for how we can even acquire this, but when one thinks of inner peace, most would agree that it can be a feeling that differs from person to person.
In a recent “Daily Devotions Comments”, the Psalmist wrote, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” I wonder how many persons have ever felt this way? The fact is --- there is no escape. You will eventually discover that wherever you go—Peace is “an inside job.”
There was recently a commentary that spoke of a discussion on how to escape the storms of lie, but peace without the storms is our dependence on God, no matter what God you serve.
When we are able to focus on God’s plan for our lives, we soon realize that the practice of worry does not benefit us at all, but depending on Him and increasing our relationship with Him, we will find that peace is not so unattainable after all.
Recently, I read a chap-
the last decade that has pushed the state further to the right. Miami-Dade County has long been a Democratic stronghold in Florida.
If Republican success in expanding their support with Hispanic voters continues to gain momentum, it would likely take Florida out of play entirely for Democrats in future presidential elections.
Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster who worked on Obama’s successful 2012 presidential campaign, said that instead of working to counter the GOP’s outreach
Brenda Cochran
ter in an inspirational book that described peace as God taking life’s broken pieces and giving us unbroken peace. When we are able to focus on God who can solve anything, we won’t focus on the problems we can’t solve and we will be able to experience in-depth peace and be able to carry that sense of peace with us wherever we go.
Peace is more than just a thought; it’s who we are inside. A peaceful attitude is a reflection of our self. When we see the horrors of what is happening in so many worlds around us, we will see leaders who are no doubt fearful, selfcentered and out of touch with their inner truth.
The sanest way to find peace and be at peace is by just stopping, being quiet and making friends
efforts, Democrats, by and large, ceded ground to Republicans, especially in Miami-Dade County.
“The larger realignment has been accelerated by the lack of a comparable presence on the playing field by Democratic organizations and party efforts to try to maintain or regain the hold they had on Hispanic voters in 2016,” Amandi said. “They just left the playing field.”
As the Democrat’s political base shrinks in Florida with a growing number of Hispanic voters flipping to the Republicans, the Democratic Party’s dependence on
with ourselves through meditation. This is the one means of lifting us out of turmoil of our minds, removing the storms that often come in our lives or removing the misunderstanding and/or suffering. By practicing on meditating, we can find our freedom from quick and self-serving behavior and develop more compassionate understanding.
Making friends with ourselves just as we are is the key. Whenever we are at peace with ourselves, then we will be at peace with the world, but if we get caught up in the drama around us, we’ll never find that peace we want. We have to let the drama go.
In order to gain peace, it is about choosing peace, not expecting it. We can put ourselves in charge of our peace and remember that the only person who can place anyone else above you when it comes to finding peace is you.
When we can achieve this peace, it means that there is one less person suffering and one less person causing suffering.
the Black vote becomes even more critical with future elections. No one likes to be taken for granted. As rural voters nationally felt ignored and taken for granted, Hispanic voters in certain areas of the nation are feeling the same way. The Democrats cannot afford to make the same mistake with Black voters.
David W. Marshall is the founder of the faithbased organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.
WILBERFORCE —
In 1974, two violent tornadoes wreaked havoc across the eastern United States, causing devastation and destruction in their wake.
Central State University, Ohio's only public Historically Black University, was hit hard by one of these tornadoes, with an estimated 80% of its campus destroyed. Despite this, the people of Central State refused to be defeated. Their unwavering commitment to one another and to their community saw them through a trying time, and their story of resilience continues to inspire today.
The tornado was no ordinary weather event — it was part of the infamous Super Outbreak that affected 13 states across the eastern United States, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction and devastation, according to the National Weather Service.
In total, 148 tornadoes were documented from this event, causing 335 deaths and over
6,000 injuries, the NWS reports. Ohio was one of the hardest hit areas, with 159 deaths and over 4,000 injuries reported in the Ohio Valley region alone. Two violent F5 tornadoes wreaked havoc in Xenia and Sayler Park, a western suburb of Cincinnati, with the former being one of the deadliest with 34 deaths. The Xenia tornado is one of the costliest U.S. tornadoes on record, with damages totaling approximately $250 million in 1974.
On the 50th anniversary of the tornado, the University will commemorate its spirit of resilience and perseverance, celebrating the strength and determination of its students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
Marauder Strong: Central State remembers 1974 tornado
During Communication Week, a student- and faculty-led, week-long event, several tornado-related sessions will take place, and the public is invited to attend.
The main event will be a memorial service from 4:15-4:45 p.m. on April
3 at Walter G. Sellers
Alumni Tower/William Galloway Hall, which is one of the few structures that stood intact after the storm. However, much of the building was destroyed, making it a poignant example of Central State's resiliency.
In the case of inclement weather, the memorial service will move to Charles H. Wesley Arts and Science Building Auditorium. Speakers will include retired Professor Robert Marcus and Nathan Bouldin, a member of the class of 1974.
Additionally, a survivors' panel will take place from 9:30-10:45 a.m. on April 4. Panelists will include graduates of the class of 1974 Obie Houston and Victor Davis; Greta Winbush, '76, professor of Psychology and Gerontology; Alma Brown, Xenia tornado survivor and administrative secretary in the College of Education whose mother worked in the Office of the President and whose father worked at the CSU Police Department in 1974; and Dr. Lesa Taylor DeVond, Xe-
nia tornado survivor and director of Central State University-Dayton, whose father was also working at Central State as chief engineer of the power plant.
Please refer to the agenda below for other events commemorating the tornado.
Communication Week
Central State Remembers the 1974 Tornado
Storm Chasing
Tuesday, April 2 | 9:3010:45 am.
Mass Communications
Center TV Studio
Guests: Storm chasers Aaron Rigsby and Laci Graham
Campus-wide Tornado Drill
Wednesday, April 3
1:30-2 p.m.
Memorial Service
April 3 | 4:15-4:45 p.m.
Alumni Tower*
Guests: Retired professor Robert Marcus and Nathan Bouldin ‘74
*Inclement weather: Charles H. Wesley Arts and Science Building Auditorium
Survivors’ Panel
April 4 | 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Mass Communications
Center TV Studio
Guests: Alma Brown, Dr. Lesa Taylor Devond, Obie Houston ’74, Victor Davis ‘74, and Greta Davis, ’76
Forecasting and Preparedness: Then and Now
April 4 | 12-12:50 p.m.
Mass Communications
Center TV Studio
Guests: Ethan Raby, Director, Greene County Emergency Management; and Ashley Novak, meteorologist, National Weather Service
Library exhibit: 50 Years Since F5 Tornado Struck
April 1-30 | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hallie Q. Brown Library
About Central State University: Central State University is a public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution with a 135-year tradition of preparing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research, and service. Central State ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s best colleges in five categories, including Best Undergraduate Engineering Program and Top Public Schools.
The University fosters academic excellence within a nurturing environment and provides a solid liberal arts foundation and STEM-Ag curriculum leading to professional careers and advanced studies globally.
EEO Statement:
Central State University, an 1890 Land Grant Institution, is committed to the full inclusion of all people and does not discriminate based on race, age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV / AIDS states, marital or family status, military status, national origin political beliefs, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Department of Human Resources at (937) 376-6540. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution
Some individuals behind bars are being given a chance to learn.
Inmates currently being held at Dayton, Lebanon and Warren correctional institutions will soon have a chance to obtain a degree. In the spring, interested inmates can start their journey with Wilmington College to receive a bachelor’s degree for a specific field.
A release shows the college will provide in-
person courses through a Sinclair Community College articulation agreement. The agreement with Sinclair offers associate of applied sciences degrees. The Federal Pell Grant was recently reinstated, which is allowing Wilmington College to apply for funding for students wanting to receive a higher education.
“Although programs and funding sources have changed, the goals of our prison program remain
the same: decrease recidivism, improve the job prospects of returning citizens and provide meaningful personal development for persons who are incarcerated,” said Corey Cockerill, interim president of Wilmington College.
A college English professor says courses will be held at least once a week, with a possibility for some to be held hybrid.
Wilmington College says the summer semester
Advertise Your Church in the
Library Giving Day 2024 happens Wednesday, April 3, and Dayton Metro Library’s campaign is celebrating the 100th anniversary of DML’s Bookmobile.
Library Giving Day is a nationwide event where communities acknowledge and support the vital and trusted institutions we call libraries, and DML invites its communities to support one of its longest standing services, the Bookmobile.
In the last 100 years, the Library has reduced barriers to literacy and resources through the Bookmobile, which has served patrons all over Montgomery County.
In 1923, Electra Collins Doren established one of the nation’s first Book-
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that run in families like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other germline genetic mutations that can increase your risk, like Lynch syndrome.”
What are symptoms of prostate cancer?
For the vast majority of men, there won’t be any signs or symptoms until the disease is far more progressed, experts said. Dr. Samuel Haywood, urologic oncologist at Cleveland Clinic, said symptoms include: Difficulty urinating Blood in urine Pain near the prostate
mobiles, a book wagon, which was used to deliver books to factory workers and outlying areas. Since then, the Bookmobile has transformed into an early literacy tool serving more than 10,000 children across Montgomery County each year. DML’s current Bookmobile has been in service since 2005. It serves many children who do not have direct access to a library, as well as preschools, daycares, and child devolvement centers, by providing early literacy programming for children between the ages of three- and 10-years old teaching children early literacy skills and modelling behaviors that promote reading readiness. In 2023 alone, the Bookmobile served 16,218 children and distributed 28,171
Before symptoms begin to appear, the only screening for prostate cancer is a blood test called a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. In 2018 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that men ages 55 to 69 should make an individual decision whether to get a PSA test. The task force advised against prostate cancer screening for men 70 and older.
Munver recommended that Black men who are at increased risk for prostate cancer should start screening at ages 40 to 45, aligning with recommendations from the American Uro-
books. All donations made on Library Giving Day will be made in support of a new Bookmobile for DML. Additionally, DML has a donation match on Library Giving Day thanks to a generous, anonymous supporter, meaning that every donation made on April 3 will have double the impact.
Community members can help DML in continuing to serve Montgomery County children and families by driving through the years to come in a new Bookmobile. Visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/ Donate to donate directly to DML. Additional questions may also be directed to Lauren Tappel, DML’s Development Director, at 937-496-8587.
logical Association.
“If it’s caught early, prostate cancer is very treatable, very curable,” said Khanna. Munver understood why Austin didn’t tell the public about his diagnosis sooner.
Prostate cancer is a very sensitive issue for men, he said. It’s often only after they are diagnosed, or come to terms with their diagnosis or undergo treatment, that men are more comfortable talking about their diagnosis, he said.
“It’s a very personal issue,” he said. “They realize that prostate cancer is one of the cancers that’s
SOUL II SOUL INFLUENCE: HIM IS OR IS NOT – TRAINING
GROUND 03182024
Pastor/Chaplain Pamelajune (Pj) Anderson, DMin.
Lt. Commander (RET) USN Chaplain Corps
TFAM National Veteran’s Support Chaplain Certified Peer Support Specialist
BE STILL AND YOUR SOUL WILL SPEAK
“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” John 14:26-27 The Message
Dear God, You wowed me again when You made me lay down in green pastures. I’m learning to notice what the Holy Spirit did through me during this Lenten season. It was the first time I experienced the Presence on a deeper level. I was delivering a message to a community in spiritual pain. I, too, was in spiritual pain; maybe the better word is emotional pain. I asked myself during the delivery, “Who is that speaking through me?” I felt completely removed from the moment while the Holy Spirit spoke from my notes, as opposed to a manuscript. I thought I was having an out-of-body encounter. However it was happening, that is where I want to live, leaning on the everlasting arm, totally relying on the Holy Spirit's power and presence. According to Psalm 23, a green pasture is a place and activity where God’s plenty is lavish, a location where there is no madness, movement, or manipulation. It is a God-thing where there is peace that the world cannot give or take away. It is a training ground where I learn to relax and receive provisions on steroids.
What does the Holy Spirit's Presence feel like to you?
I understand the Lord when He told His Disciples, “Wait until you receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;” Sometimes, we cannot know anything significant outside of His Revelation Knowledge, such as how to forgive myself for making mistakes and ask for forgiveness when misunderstood. It is an amazing learning practice.
LOVE YE ONE ANOTHER
very treatable or curable in men and not necessarily a death sentence."
Murphy, of Northwestern Medicine, noted that there is also a stigma for men generally.
“The way that men engage with health care is
very different than what women do because of a lack of having to go into see OB-GYN,” he said. “And so men are oftentimes lost after they graduate from high school or college.”
“I think what his ac-
tion did was to kind of highlight the fact that even though he was duty bound to tell that fact, you know, to the White House, that same stigma persisted, that's how strong it was,” Murphy said.
Now that the weather is warming and there are more hours of daylight, it’s a great time to start a new wellness journey. Engaging in healthy activities outdoors provides a boost of benefits that indoor workout sessions do not, such as decreased stress and increased vitamin D and heart health.
Indeed, heart disease is the leading cause of death of men and women across most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
However, the CDC also reports that Black citizens are at greater risk of death from heart disease compared to other races and ethnic groups.
Creating healthy habits, such as adopting a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity, can decrease the risk for heart disease. The MetroParks Trails Challenge is the perfect way to get acclimated to outdoor activity while having fun and increasing your fitness level.
“The MetroParks Trails Challenge is an opportunity for people to discover new places in MetroParks while trying new outdoor recreation activities,” said Jordan Hart, MetroParks outdoor recreation coordinator. “Because each participant gets to decide in which order they complete trails, it provides folks with the opportunity to start with shorter trails while building stamina to tackle longer trails.”
Participants have until Oct. 31 to hike, cycle, mountain bike, paddle and horseback ride as many of the 28 trails as they can for a chance to win prizes. Participation is free and can be completed online at www.metroparks.org/ trailschallenge.
Everyone starting a new exercise regimen should consult their primary care physician. Many may find starting the MetroParks Trails Challenge by complet-
ing the Heart Healthy Trails is a great starting point.
Heart Healthy Trails are easy, entry-level trails on paved or flat surfaces without a lot of elevation change. The American Heart Association recommends walking at a brisk pace of 24 minutes per mile and work toward walking at least 2.5 miles per hour. Heart Healthy Trails are marked every quarter mile, allowing hikers to keep track of their pace.
Heart Healthy Trails that are part of the MetroParks Trails Challenge in 2024 are:
• Germantown MetroPark (natural surface)
- 6401 Boomershine Rd. –wetlands entrance
• Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark (natural surface) – 1301 E. Siebenthaler Rd. – Marie Aull Trail
• Island MetroPark (paved surface) – 101 E. Helena St.
• Englewood MetroPark (natural and paved surface) – 4361 W. National Rd.
Learn more about Heart Healthy Trails at www. metroparks.org/heart. How to participate in the 2024 MetroParks Trails Challenge
• Visit metroparks.org/ trailschallenge to register, access the 2024 MetroParks Trails Log and
The first Regional Menthol Prevention Summit is scheduled for May 16, 2024, at Sinclair Conference Center. The Summit will address the targeted marketing to youth and people of color to encourage the use of menthol products.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40% of deaths due to menthol cigarette smoking between 1980-2018 were those of African Americans, despite African Americans making up only 12% of the population. The data also shows that during that time, 1.5 million African Americans began smoking menthol cigarettes.
The CDC reports that in 2023, 40.4% of middle school and high school students who are currently smoking cigarettes report using menthol cigarettes. Also, nearly 9 in 10 youth (grades 6-12)
who reported using tobacco products used flavored varieties.
“It’s time for our community to use its voice to end the targeted sale of menthol nicotine products to not only African Americans but also to our youth. When we see the end of selling menthol products, we will save nearly 700,000 lives within 40 years. How can we not act?” said Bruce Barcelo, Founder of the Regional Menthol Prevention Summit. The Summit will bring together community leaders across Ohio from healthcare, education, prevention, and policy sectors. The leading experts in tobacco prevention will share the latest research and enforcement of legislation, including Carol McGruder, CoFounder of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, Dr. Rob Crane, Founder
and President of the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, and Dr. Micah Burman, Professor at the Ohio State University College of Law.
“We are grateful to our many partners who are supporting the Summit, including Sinclair College, the CareSource Foundation, Montgomery County ADAMHS, Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County, Montgomery County Prevention Coalition, Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes (PAVE), Dayton Children’s Hospital, and Soter Technologies. We invite everyone to the table for this important conversation, including our elected officials and faith communities who are critical to our fight for lasting change against tobacco addiction,” said Barcelo.
To register for the Regional Menthol Prevention Summit, reserve a free spot here.
learn more about the trails challenge.
• Hike, bike, ride, paddle or horseback ride the designated trails — in any order and at your own convenience. Use the MetroParks mobile app to learn more about individual challenges. Those who have not yet downloaded the app can do so for free by visiting metroparks. org/mobile.
• Track your progress on the mobile app. Everyone can participate — including children.
• Submit your trails log no later than Oct. 31 at metroparks.org/trailschallenge to be eligible to receive prizes. How to win prizes:
• Complete just one trail in the challenge, and you will be entered to win a $100 gift card to a local outdoor gear or bike shop of your choosing. You will receive one entry for each trail you complete. Complete all 28 trails and get 28 chances to win.
• Youth ages 14 and younger who complete just one trail will be entered to win a Kids Adventure Pack, which includes cool outdoor gear. Youth also will receive one entry for each trail they complete. Note: Youth must complete entries through online form to be eligible.
• Everyone who completes at least 18 trails will receive a MetroParks
Trails Challenge sticker. Also, 100 people completing at least 18 trails will be selected at random to receive a MetroParks Trails Challenge T-Shirt.
• Winners be notified by e-mail or phone. Prizes will be distributed after Oct. 31.
How to plan ahead:
• Some of the trails in the challenge are segments of larger trails, so participants may have to hike, bike or shuttle back to their starting point. Other trails included are loops, starting and ending at the same point. These are marked on the trail log.
• Some of the trails require special gear, such as a mountain bike or kayak, but participants can walk, hike, run or jog 22 of the 28 trails. Check metroparks.org/ programs-events-finder throughout the year to register for programs, such as Try Mountain Biking, that allow you to borrow gear to complete trails.
• Participants must use necessary safety equipment, including a helmet and life jacket, during their adventures.
• Check the status of trails at MetroParks’ alerts page (metroparks. org/alerts), the Miami Conservancy District’s Trail Conditions page and the Miami Valley Trails’ alerts page.
For more about the outdoors, head to metroparks.org and visit Five Rivers MetroParks’ blog at metroparks.org/ ParkWaysOnline. To plan a visit, navigate trails, find amenities and more, download OuterSpatial to access MetroParks’ free app for Apple and Android devices by visiting metroparks.org/mobile.
This MetroParks Monthly column contains content provided by your Five Rivers MetroParks. We invite your input and story suggestions by emailing multi.media@metroparks.org or calling 937-275-PARK (7275).
Elders living in their own homes is a high priority for most seniors. The benefit is indisputable, as it relates to being in a familiar setting. The realization of living alone can become a concern as aging introduces many struggles, especially as it relates to managing household tasks and managing daily hygiene obligations. Hiring a professional caregiver is an excellent option for our loved ones to age in place safely. Professional caregivers not only manage the daily chores but can also be companions to help reduce loneliness and isolation.
Social Connections are Vital
Social isolation is, without doubt, natural for elders who live alone— often magnified when seniors have trouble getting around and driving is no longer an option. Things we take for granted may mean a whole lot to a loved one living alone with health challenges, mobility challenges, and more. Conversation can help with memory and uncover hidden cognitive declines that would otherwise not be noted if someone lived alone.
Transportation Assist There comes a time
when unsafe driving is a huge concern. Giving up the car keys is not always easy. It is a sign of losing independence.
Professional caregivers can assist with grocery runs, appointments, taking them to church, and visiting community outings. Families are often concerned about how much professional care services cost and their options for payment. Community bus services are showing up in communities. Call public bus and curb-to-curb services if in your area. Fees are usually nomi-
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The Alzheimer’s Association released its 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures annual report. It provides an indepth look at the latest statistics and information on Alzheimer’s disease prevalence, incidence and mortality, as well as new data on the dementia care workforce, costs of care and the impact on caregivers across the country and our state.
The Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures reveals that dementia caregivers and health care workers report difficulties in navigating dementia care within the U.S. health care system.
Nearly half (46%) of health care workers say
that their organizations do not have a clearly defined process for care coordination and clinical pathways for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.
In addition, 60% of health care workers surveyed for the Facts and Figures special report, “Mapping a Better Future for Dementia Care Navigation,” believe that the U.S. health care system is not effectively helping families navigate dementia care. New stats released in the report include:
The Impact of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
• An estimated 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older have Alzheim-
Eldercare and Hiring In-Home Caregivers...
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nal, and you can get a ride on the same day. I would recommend making reservations if taken due to sometimes limited space.
Cost for Services
There are several choices when paying for professional care. You must do your homework!
All services are not created equal. Finding the right service provider can be tricky. Starting with the insurance company and researching
what is available is always important. Always search in-network companies. Remember, private pay is not covered by insurance. Medically necessary home care is covered by insurance. It is always possible to mix services—private and professional—but again, check with provider services for information. It is also nice to ask for referrals from families who have used a service you are interested in. Whatever you de-
er’s dementia, including 236,200 in Ohio.
• Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger-onset dementia.
• The U.S. population aged 65 and older is projected to grow to 82 million by 2050. By 2030, all American baby boomers (born 1946 - 1964) will be 65 or older – putting them at greatest risk of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Mortality
• Between 2000 and 2021, the number of Alzheimer’s deaths in the U.S. more than doubled, increasing 141%, while those from the leading cause of death, heart disease, decreased 2.1%.
• 4,947 Ohioans died
cide, please tap into your covered resources, like Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits. An assessment from any company is required to determine the unique needs. It’s all about connection, that perfect fit where all feel comfortable, valued, and safe.
As Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, if you have concerns about a loved one’s ability to live independently or your growing responsibilities
from Alzheimer’s in 2021 (the most recent year for state-by-state data).
• Ohio’s mortality rate of 42% is higher than the national mortality rate of 36%.
• Alzheimer’s dementia is the 7th leading cause of death in Ohio.
• The Costs of Alzheimer’s and Caregiving
• This year, the cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia is projected to reach $360 billion — a $15 billion increase from a year ago. This does not include unpaid care provided by family caregivers.
• Last year in Ohio, there were 414,000 family caregivers, providing 624 mil-
as their sole caregiver, consider the advantages of transportation options and professional care for your loved one. Be safe! Be well!
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman is a retired registered nurse and case manager, CEO of Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate and author of From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor, and The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers.
lion hours of unpaid care valued at $11.427 billion.
• Dementia caregivers report higher rates of chronic conditions, including stroke, heart disease, diabetes and cancer compared than caregivers of people without dementia or non-caregivers. In Ohio, 63.7% of caregivers reported at least one chronic condition.
• The shortage of dementia care specialists is a barrier to timely and accurate diagnosis, and a lack of diagnosis means a delay in treatments, care delivery and support.
• 55% of PCPs caring for people living with Al-
zheimer’s say there are not enough dementia care specialists in their communities. In Ohio, a 229.4% increase in this workforce will be needed to care for the state’s population by 2050. I’d be happy to connect you with local experts to discuss the findings of this year’s report and their implications for Ohio families and caregivers facing Alzheimer’s. Attached for your review is a fact sheet that outlines topline Ohio-specific facts from the report.
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