NTOUCH January 2023

Publishers: Tampa Bay Tammy & DJ CEO

FREE Tampa • St. Petersburg • Clearwater • Largo • Tarpon Springs . Brandon • Bradenton • Sarasota • Lakeland Plant City

Dear Girlfriend,

My wife and I attended a ball a few years back and we totally enjoyed ourselves. I think it was the last one before the pandemic at the Hyatt. It was in September or October. Thus, we were surprised to find the ball was going to be on New Years Eve. Regretfully we will not be in attendance this year because we already have plans to travel out of the country. Otherwise we would be there.

My wife and I were discussing the ball and some of the past winners and we were wondering what a couple has to do to be recognized in such high esteem. The Traveling Couple

At the Power Couples Ball, we like to honor couples who are thriving and surviving while maintaining their families respectfully and legitimately in the community because we know that is no easy feat. The selection begins with someone thinking enough of you to nominate you for the Power Couple of the Year.

The prospective couple must be married at least 12 years. We try to consider and speak with everyone that is nominated to see where their feelings are on marriage. We don’t care if it’s your first or second marriage, but do require you to believe this time it’s forever.

Secondly we try to confirm you will be in attendance. We know that powerful people have busy lives. However, you can’t be recognized if you are not there. There’s no fun and thrill in that. So, once your attendance is confirmed, you can be considered a candidate for the Power Couple of the Year. Like the lotto slogan “You must be in it to win it.” We make our selection at least a month out, because awards have to be personally engraved and delivered in advance.

When making decisions, We goggle your name, accept input from past winners, and loyal respected participants.

In the past, we would try to surprise the couple but have found that we ended up being surprised ourselves with a no show! That’s why last minute decisions on attendance don’t usually work for being chosen Power Couple of the Year. Once chosen we always tell the better half to ensure they have no other plans or obligations.

One year we only had one half of the Power couple so we decided that could not happen ever again. We concluded that we needed to speak with the nominee to make sure they are both available and preferably table host, ensuring their full participation with family and friends.

The Power Couples Ball is a ministry for me. The original theme is “staying in love and keeping our community strong.” I actually founded the Power Couples Ball in 2009 after the loss of my son in a car accident in 2008 coming home from college. I experienced the stress that the loss of a child could do to a marriage and decided to redirect that pain and energy into something positive; saving marriages and saving our sons.

The Power Couples Ball is date night at its best. So I try to choose a Couple who is not there just for the award (I see that as pretentious and self serving) but instead a couple who is genuinely there for an elegant evening with other successful like minded individuals as we continue in “Connecting Powerful People to do Powerful Things”

Power Couples Ball 2022

You Heard It From ME

Meet Robin Lockett, the past President of the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus, the former Political Chair of the NAACP and the Regional Director of Florida Rising, an organization dedicated to empowering the people to fight on issues that concern the community.

Robin is throwing her name in the hat for the Tampa City Council race which will be held on March 7, 2023.

My wife, TampaBay Tammy, and I met Robin over 20 years ago when she showed up at our home in Keystone as a real estate appraiser. Impressed with her professionalism and knowledge of Tampa Bay we became friends. Robin’s past experiences and associations makes her the

By Publisher Daryl Johnson

right person for the City council at such a time as this.

Robin fights against wrong and supports what is right. “I feel that there is always a way to resolve an issue. I also know there has to be consistency in the community.” stated Lockett. “Community involvement and input has always been important. When the community has all of the information and how it affects them, that empowers them to make the best decision for themselves.”

Consistently listening, engaging, informing and offering solutions.

Robin has worked loyally on other campaigns and given her time and energy unselfishly.

Robin’s wake up call came when

her son said, “Ma you need to be the change you wanna see, you’ve been doing the work.” That was the encouragement and validation she needed.

Robin is Tampa bred, she attended Tampa Bay Tech vocational high school where she studied business and played basketball. She remembers when there was community engagement before decisions were made and is looking forward to continuing that process.

Robin Lockett, wants to serve as your next Tampa City Council Member for District 2 (City Wide).

Robin Lockett

Power Couple 2011

Bethune Cookman University Hires Retired

Bethune-Cookman

Reed, 44, had previously served as the "Chief of Staff" and senior football advisor at Miami, where he starred as a player from 1997-2001. In 2016 Reed coached as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills.

The St. Rose, Louisiana, native was a decorated player for the Hurricanes, earning consensus All-American honors in 2000 and 2001 and the Big East co-defensive player of the year in 2001. Reed was a pivotal leader for the Hurricanes' run toward a BCS championship win over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. His 21 interceptions in his four years in Coral Gables still stand as a program record.

"Ed is one of the best to ever wear a Miami Hurricanes uniform and he has served as a great mentor to our

student-athletes the past three years," said Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich, per the Associated Press. "He will do a tremendous job leading the Wildcats ... the entire Miami family wishes him all the best."

A super college career was rivaled only by Reed's time in the pros. He was selected 24th overall by the Ravens in the 2022 NFL Draft and spent 11 seasons in Baltimore, where he was a five-time All-Pro and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004. His career was capped by a win in Super Bowl XLVII before spending the next season with the New York Jets and Houston Texans before retiring. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Reed replaces Terry Sims, and takes over a program that went 2-9 overall and 2-6 in SWAC competition.

has hired former Miami and NFL star safety Ed Reed as its head coach!

NFL Star Ed Reed

photo: NFL

Power Couples Ball 2022

Power Couples Ball 2022

MLK Freedom Parade Plant City, Florida

Retired Colonel Karen Chambers, has been selected to serve as Parade Grand Marshal for the 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Plant City on January 14, 2023.

The Improvement League of Plant City is honored that she has accepted the invitation. Their theme this year is “Excellence Through Education –College - Military - Vocational.”

Colonel Karen Chambers served 28 years in the US Army. She retired in 2012 as Deputy Surgeon. Colonel Chambers’ community

involvement represents the true values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and what the Improvement League of Plant City as an organization founded by the late Jerry Bailey strives for in “fostering equitable opportunities for all residents regardless of race, sex, age or religion” stated William Thomas.

The parade will start promptly at 1pm at the intersection of Wheeler Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Plant City, FL (across from Wells Fargo Bank).

Halvern Johnson, Daytona Beach Alumni Polemarch

the MLK Parade, food drives, and fundraisers providing much needed scholarships for student’s books, tuition, etc.

This year they have added a Kentucky Derby Watch Party and dinner with live entertainment to their list of endeavors. Their Derby watch party will take place on May 6th at the Hard Rock Hotel on Daytona Beach. For more information for this event go to www.dba-kappas.org .

Halvern Johnson comes from a long line of strong, handsome Kappa men who have pledged all across the South. His granddaddy, his father and his 5 uncles are all proud Kappa men. Halvern was installed as Polemarch for the Daytona Beach Alumni Chapter on Bethune Cookman University Campus in May of 2022. Established in 1949, the Daytona Beach Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi is noted for its community service. They annually participate in

Halvern attended Tampa Catholic High School where he was All American in Sports. He matriculated to Lane College where he pledged the Beta Lambda Chapter in 2000. Halvern completed his Bachelors in Marketing at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte North Carolina. He presently works for Boy Scouts of America as a Field Director in Daytona Beach Florida.

Gamma Theta is the undergraduate chapter at BCU. There will be a spring intake for the Alumni and Undergraduate Chapters. If interested please call Halvern at 813-245-9687.

FAMU Graduate Levon Esters Named Dean at Penn State

FAMU grad Levon Esters has been named dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education at Penn State University. Esters will begin his appointment on May 1, 2023.

Esters holds a doctoral degree in agricultural and extension education from Penn State, and a Master of Science degree in agricultural education from North Carolina A&T, and a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Florida A&M University.

Esters currently serves as the associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and faculty affairs and professor of agricultural sciences education at Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute.

In his new role, Esters will provide mission-critical leadership and oversight across all of Penn State’s

more than 200 graduate fields of study, including 109 research master’s degree programs, 99 professional master’s degree programs and 95 research doctoral programs. He will oversee the admission, matriculation and graduation of all graduate students across the University, with the exception of professional students in the College of Medicine, Dickinson Law and Penn State Law. A core focus of Esters’ career has been developing programs to support underrepresented graduate students, emphasizing STEM-based agricultural and life sciences disciplines.

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Go Ahead And Get Your Laugh On

Mature

1. When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.

2. To me, “drink responsibly” means don’t spill it.

3. Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 is the new midnight.

4. It’s the start of a brand new year, and I’m off like a herd of turtles.

5. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

6. When I say, “The other day,” I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.

7. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

8. I had my patience tested. I’m negative.

9. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back reincarnated as a Tupperware lid that doesn’t fit any of your containers.

10. If you’re sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, “Did you bring the money?”

11. When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say “nothing,” it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.

12. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.

13. I dont run like the wind, I run like the winded.

14. I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don’t know whose side I’m on.

15. When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, “Why, what did you hear?”

16. When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery?

17. I don’t mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

18. When I ask for directions, please don’t use works like “east.”

19. Don’t bother walking in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That’ll freak you right out.

20. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes you heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.

21. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

Blind Date…

How was your blind date?” A college student asked her roommate.

“Terrible!” the roommate answered.

“He showed up in his 1932 Rolls Royce.”

“Wow! That’s a very expensive car. What’s so bad about that?”

“He was the original owner.”

WI-FI Password

Me: What’s the wifi password?

Bartender: You need to buy a drink first.

Me: Okay, I’ll have a coke.

Bartender: Is Pepsi okay?

Me: Sure. How much is that?

Bartender: $3

Me: There you go. So what’s the wifi password?

Bartender: You need to buy a drink first. No spaces, all lowercase.

A Dream

Wife: I was dreaming I was at Walmart shopping for grocery .

Husband: I was dreaming I was with 3 women.

Wife: Was I there?

Husband: No, you were at Walmart.

Parachuting

On the first day of training for parachute jumping, a blonde listened intently to the instructor.

He told them to start preparing for landing when they are at 300 feet.

The blonde asked, “How am I supposed to know when I’m at 300 feet?”

“That’s a good question. When you get to 300 feet, you’ll be able to recognize the faces of people on the ground.”

After pondering his answer, she asked, “What happens if there’s no one there I know?”

Another Dumb Blonde

A blond is sitting at a bar wondering why she has three sisters and her brother has four.

The Cake

A married woman was having an affair with a baker. After some time, the baker went to the woman’s house while her husband was home, bringing a wedding cake.

“Edith, darling!” said the baker. “I have our wedding cake made! Let us go and get married!”

Alarmed, the husband said, “What’s going on here, Edith? What’s this baker doing here?”

The baker said, “Did you not hear? Your wife Edith no longer loves you, so she is leaving you and marrying me instead! That is why I baked this wedding cake. We are heading off now!”

Infuriated, the husband raised his fists in the air and shouted, “Stop right there, you baker scum! You can take my wife if you want, but the cake stays here!”

“Why?” asked the baker. The husband said, “Because you can’t have your cake and Edith too!”

Growing Old

Old Lady: My joints are too tight. Friend: You’re rolling them too tight.

The Apprentice

The doctor really wanted to go fishing, but he didn’t want to lose any income.

Therefore he told his Apprentice, a not too bright fellow, that he would not be there the next day, so dismiss the heaviest cases and try his hand at the simple ones. This was the agreement. Two days later the doctor returned and asked, How many patients did you treat?

Three, answered the proud caretaker. The. first one had a headache and was given paracetamol. Brilliant, replied the doctor. The other one had a thorn, which I pulled out with tweezers. Good, good!

- The third was a lovely young lady, who came running into the office, tore off all her clothes and shouted. “You have to take care of me, I haven’t seen a man in two years!”

- Good God! What did you do with her?! She got eye drops.

The Hunter

A hunter went hunting one day in West Virginia and bagged three ducks. He put them in the bed of his pickup truck and was about to drive home where he was confronted by an ornery game warden who didn’t like the hunter. The game warden ordered the hunter to show his hunting license, and the hunter pulled out a valid West Virginia hunting license.

The game warden looked at the license, then reached over and picked up one of the ducks, sniffed it’s butt, and said, “This duck ain’t from West Virginia. This is a Kentucky duck. You got a Kentucky hunting license, boy?” The hunter reached into his wallet and produced a Kentucky hunting license.

The game warden looked at it, then reached over and grabbed the second duck, sniffed it’s butt, and said, “This ain’t no Kentucky duck. This duck’s from Tennessee. You got an Tennessee licence?” The hunter reached into his wallet and produced an Tennessee license. The warden then reached over and picked up the third duck. “This duck’s from Virginia. You got a Virginia hunting license?”

Again the hunter reached into his wallet and brought out a Virginia hunting license. The game warden was extremely frustrated at this point, and he yelled at the hunter, “Just where the hell are you from?”

The hunter turned around, bent over, dropped his pants, and said, “You tell me, you’re the expert!”

Black Physicians

Dr. Terri Ashmeade Pediatrics

Dr. Gwendolyn T. Clayton General Practitioner

Dr. Eddie Echols Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Faith Felder Malcolm General Practitioner

Dr. Mendy Ligon Dentist

Dr. Brian Ligon Dentist

Dr. William Marsh Orthodontist

Dr. Donna Powell Gastroenterologist

Dr. Paul Sheehy Podiatrist

Dr. Thomas Taylor Dermatologist