Issuu

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!! 50 Cents

www.capitaloutlook.com

Vol. 37, No. 51: Section 01

Tallahassee, T allahassee, Florida

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011 2011

The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute By Paul Douglas

Tis the Season

Outlook Contributor

Person of the Week

Sean D By Terrika Mitchell Outlook Staff Writer

His Twitter bio describes him as a DJ, a producer, a photographer and always on his “positive vibes.” What most people may not know about Sean Woods, or Sean D as he’s affectionately called by community members, is that connecting with local youth is priority for him. “That’s just a personal passion,” said the Daytona native, in which the D in Sean D represents. “I know a lot of kids listen to me on the radio and I feel like I’m kind of obligated to go out there and be face-to-face with them and let them know how life really is.” The modest Woods often

1363 E. Tennessee St, Tallahassee, Fla. 32310

Positive vibes

The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute is the largest and most advanced proton therapy facility in the world. The $250 million, 98,000-square-foot center gives hope to thousands of cancer patients. to ease human misery and save this endeavor would bring reve- lion, which was out of the budget lives,” Harvey said. “I don’t think nue to a university that could use range of most universities. Knowing that black men that there’s anything better than the financial assistance. However, he also acknowl- have a 60 percent higher rate of that.” During an era when there edged that the state-of-the-art prostate cancer than whites, Harwere only three of these facilities center would cost anywhere vey was inspired to put his instiin the country, Harvey knew that from $180 million to $240 mil- tution in a position to help fight See INSTITUTE, Page 5

FAMU board bucks Scott, keeps Ammons on the job By Brandon Larrabee

OPINION / 4 EDUCATION / 5 RELIGION / 6

Briefs State Board of Education OKs tougher FCAT grading system

FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger Champion died in Orlando following the annual FAMU-Bethune Cookman football game on Nov. 19. FDLE has since announced that it also is looking into the band’s finances. Badger also said the board would meet at FAMU next month to conduct Ammons’ evaluation. And in a statement issued following the meeting, the board said it was too soon to force Ammons to step aside, even temporarily. “Until information and results from the ongoing investigations are made available to the board, enabling it to effectively conduct a fact-based deliberation on the role of the adminis-

Belle Wheelan, president of SACS Commission on Colleges, FAMU’s accrediting body tration and the President in these matters, the board is deciding to leave the status of the President unchanged,” it said. Scott publicly waded into the controversy last week, calling on the board to suspend Ammons to remove any doubts about the thoroughness of the investigation. Ammons said after a Dec. 16 af afternoon meeting with Scott that he would consider the advice, but the board action Dec. 19 would keep him on the job for the time. The governor released a statement following the meeting saying he would follow the board’s decision. “For the sake of appearanc-

With a unanimous vote Monday, the State Board of Education approved a tougher scoring system for the FCAT, the state’s standardized reading and math exam. The change is meant to raise the academic standards for Florida students. Last year, state officials rolled out the FCAT 2.0, a new version of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. A new scoring system is needed for the new test, state officials have said. However, many students are expected to score lower under the newly approved grading system, which determines the “cut scores” or the scores that determine failing and passing grades. More Floridians are taking their toothaches to the ER

See BOARD, Page 8

See POW, Page 5

Alumni and students unite sharing untold stories By Ashley Hogans Outlook Staff Writer

Miami native Rondrea Mathis decided to further her education in 2001 by attending Florida A&M University fresh out of high school. However, once she stepped foot on ‘the Hill” and experienced college, she realized she wasn’t prepared. “I didn’t know what to do as a freshman,” Mathis said. “I didn’t know how to navigate college because I was the first one in my family to go to school. I came to Tallahassee with my friends saying, ‘We are going to do this thing.’ But I didn’t know what do. I was just following the crowd.” After Mathis struggled academically for a few years, she decided to drop out of college in 2003. For three years she was out in the real world and realized the importance of a college degree and decided to attend FAMU a second time. Mathis said she was elated to receive a second opportunity. “For everything to come together and work out, and for people in the financial aid office to

Inside COMMUNITY NEWS / 10

The News Service Of Florida Special to the Outlook

The Florida A&M University board of trustees agreed Dec. 19 to keep President James Ammons on the job despite an ongoing investigation of the school’s famous “Marching 100” band, rejecting a recommendation from Gov. Rick Scott that Ammons be suspended. The board’s decision came in the wake of building pressure on Scott to butt out of the inquiry at the historically black university, with the regional accrediting body and the head of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus both telling the governor to keep his distance. And in explaining the decision, FAMU Board Chairman Solomon Badger sent an implied warning shot at Scott and others. “We will stand firm against outside influence, regardless of how well-intended,” Badger said during a teleconference to discuss Ammons’ status. The board did agree to set up weekly meetings over the next 60 days to remain apprised of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into what happened to drum major Robert Champion, whose death after a hazing incident was ruled a homicide last week by Orange County Medical Examiners.

PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Tallahassee, FL Permit No. 562 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Vowing to find out more about proton therapy, Dr. William Harvey, president of Hampton University, decided to conduct his own research about the cutting-edge treatment after several Hampton alumni inquired about it earlier that day. Fascinated by his results, Harvey decided to visit a proton therapy center in 2005 after having a vision of bringing an identical center to Hampton. That same vision later transformed into the largest and most advanced proton therapy facility in the world. The $250 million, 98,000-square-foot center gives hope to thousands of cancer patients. In other words, it’s one of the industry’s heaviest hitters. “With this center, we’re able

Rondrea Mathis

James Bland

say ‘because you are standing in my office and even though I don’t know you, I am going to give you a chance,’ that really touched my heart.” Many stories like Mathis’ are being told on website WeAreFAMUnited.com. The website is designed to paint a true portrait of FAMU while igniting a movement, according to website founder and FAMU alumnus James Bland. This comes after FAMU re-

ceived a lot of media attention nationally and locally for the death of drum major Robert Champion, who died from being hazed following the Florida Classic, according to Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office. “This is not the FAMU that we know,” Bland said. “And, we hope that people would not only know that side of FAMU that is being painted in the media. We want to empower those who want to be a positive voice and bridge

the gap between Rattlers — young and old — by uniting them around a central bond that we all share, the love for our university.” Amanda Byrd, who was the 2008-2009 Miss FAMU, graduated from the institution in 2010, and is now a pediatric occupational therapist. She is working closely with Bland managing the website and Twitter page (http:// twitter.com/WeAreFAMUNITED). “We feel like the institution itself is to educate, uplift and provide ‘Excellence with Caring’ in all of us,” Byrd said. “Many of us are out here in our respective fields doing phenomenal things and we feel like that’s what FAMU is about.” FAMU alumni, current students and individuals in the community impacted by FAMU are encouraged to upload their video blogs to Youtube.com or Vimeo. com, and send their video blog link to famuforever@gmail. com to be uploaded to www. WeAreFAMUnited.com. Many FAMU alums have shared their personal stories on the website, and like Mathis who See UNITED, Page 5

More Floridians who go without routine dental care are resorting to hospital emergency rooms when the pain of tooth decay or infection becomes too terrible to bear, costing taxpayers and hospitals nearly $90 million last year. Health experts said too few dentists accept Medicaid patients in Florida, where reimbursement rates are among the lowest in the nation. And in many cases, ER visits only result in treating the pain — not the underlying cause, resulting in a costly cycle of return visits.

This Week’s Word “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4 (NKJV)

T:9.88”

www.capitaloutlook.com

Capital Outlook

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

Turning your paper into plastic : priceless

Apply for the H&R Block® Emerald Prepaid MasterCard®— a smarter, safer, and more convenient way to pay than cash.

Easy to get: No bank account or credit check required.

Easy to use: Shop online, over the phone, and for everyday purchases

wherever Debit MasterCard is accepted. Can your cash do that?

Visit an H&R Block tax office to get your refund loaded onto an Emerald Card.® Go to hrblock.com/emeraldapply to learn more.

The H&R Block Emerald Prepaid MasterCard is issued by H&R Block Bank, a Federal Savings Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from MasterCard International Incorporated. Fees may apply. Emerald Card is a trademark of HRB Innovations, Inc. This product may not be available at some locations. MasterCard, the MasterCard Brand Mark and Priceless are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. ©2011 MasterCard.

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

Capital Outlook

www.capitaloutlook.com

the joy of a smarter,

stronger

network.

You may have heard. AT&T and T-Mobile are planning to come together. What will that mean to you? More cell sites and spectrum means better service sooner. And it means your Internet is about to take a big leap forward with LTE — a super-fast mobile broadband technology. We are going to deploy it to more than 97 percent of all Americans, giving you access to a cutting-edge wireless network and all the opportunities it brings. So, the moment something worth celebrating happens in your friends’ lives, you’ll know.

MobilizeEverything.com

Opinion

www.capitaloutlook.com

Capital Outlook Published by LIVE Communications, Inc. 1363 East Tennessee St. Tallahassee, FL 32308 Capital Outlook Bulk Rate, Permit No. 562 Postage Paid at Tallahassee, Florida Send address changes to Capital Outlook 1363 East Tennessee St. Founded in 1975 by Stephen K. Beasley

Publisher/President Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes, Jr.

Education Editor Dr. Ronald W. Holmes

Office Manager Taralisha M. Sanders

Advertising (850) 877-0105 advertising@capitaloutlook.com

Editorial and Advertising Office Phone: (850) 877-0105 Fax: (850) 877-5110 Email: info@capitaloutlook. com Website: www.capitaloutlook.com Annual subscription rate: $40 Published weekly on Thursday Advertising and Information Deadline: 5 p.m. the preceding Thursday Office Hours 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

Politicizing a FAMU tragedy By Gayle Andrews T h e Florida A&M University Board of Trustees (BOT) sent a blistering message to Gov. Rick Scott; “Stay out of our business.” The Board refused to accept his demand to suspend President James Ammons. Several criminal investigations are underway over the tragic death of drum major Robert Champion, ruled a homicide resulting from a band hazing ritual. The unfortunate death shined a glaring spotlight on the dangerous hazing culture prevalent at universities everywhere. The seriousness of the investigation of the horrible event evolved into an unnecessary political distraction, thanks to Scott. Scott’s demand that Ammons be suspended until the investigations are complete meant the BOT would have to reverse its earlier decision to reprimand rather than fire him. As usual, Scott was doing what he does best; acting without any authority. Ammons answers to the 13 member FAMU Board of Trustees. That legal authority was given to them to eliminate this

kind of political meddling that has interfered with the academia in the past. Interestingly enough, Scott only appointed three of the 13 on the board so his political influence was minimal from the start. And the members cannot be removed without cause. None of those variables stopped Scott. His injection into the matter set off a firestorm of anger and panic mobilizing the FAMU, alumni and the Tallahassee community. The ministerial alliance met with Scott at the mansion. That night, thousands of FAMU students marched to the Mansion demanding that the governor not interfere. Scott came out of the mansion to talk with students. He opened with the line he uses on all black people… “I grew up in a housing project.” And Scott refused to back down. But he would soon understand that he stepped into a realm well beyond his influence. Following the mansion rally, there was the very critical closed meeting between Scott and Ammons. Also in the meeting was former Sen. Al Lawson, BOT member Marjorie Turnbull and Scott’s top staffers. Reportedly a staffer was pacing saying, “I told you not to do this.” Scott meanwhile tried to convince Ammons that taking a month’s paid leave with pay was more

like a vacation. This was a face saving effort for Scott no doubt that didn’t work. Turnbull, a well-respected educator, former lawmaker and daughter of a University of Florida President, lit into Scott telling him he was totally out of line and was over reaching. Ammons emerged saying he would honor the BOT decision. The BOT dismissed the governor’s suspension demand. Scott has taken the focus away from the investigation. This is not about Ammons, or Dr. Julian White, but what happened to Robert Champion, and to prevent it from reoccurring. Scott is the most unpopular governor in the country and in Florida history. With so little support, meaning 74 percent of the people dislike him; did he expect to gain politically? With numbers like that, it’s hard to muster support even if he were right. Was it worth the sidetracking of a critical process to attempt to gain political mileage? Who knows. As usual, Scott wants it his way, without compromise. That’s not how to govern successfully. That’s not how you represent the people. He keeps losing in the courts and now thankfully in an area where he should never be allowed to tinker. He has no respect for the laws, constitution and very little respect for higher education

in particular. The FAMU family has successfully beat back political subterfuge spanning six decades. There have been suggested mergers, closures and a host of schemes to dismantle the county’s number one HBCU. It’s nothing new, nor is the fight to prevent it. But the ministers, alumni and the students without fear or political agenda rallied for the institution and its mission. The other universities players were watching intently. No one wants Scott to pick their president. Gayle’s grandfather C B Andrews, Sr. attended FA&M Normal School. She and her son are graduates of FAMU. She is an Outstanding and Distinguished graduate who is a corporate and political media consultant in Tallahassee.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott

FAMU alumni president says hazing is a national problem, Governor Rick Scott should not interfere at FAMU By John Michael Lee, Jr., PhD. The president of the Florida A&M University (FAMU) National Alumni Association, Tommy Mitchell, held a press conference Dec. 18 on the FAMU campus to make two points: 1) Hazing is a National Problem, 2) Florida Gov. Rick Scotts intervention can possibly jeopardize the accreditation of FAMU. The Alumni of FAMU want the media to recognize that Hazing is indeed a national problem. In fact, there have been over 18 hazing-related deaths in 2011 alone at universities across the country including Indiana University, Penn State University, Utah State University, Youngstown State University, the University of Michigan, Yale and Cornell Universities. Also, there have also been hazing incidents at other Florida Universities including in the Florida State University Marching Chiefs in 1999 and the University of Miami in 2002. In 1999 at an off-campus party, Chad Temple and three other members of the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, including the two saxophone section leaders, were barred from the band as punishment for hazing -- including paddling of second-year band students. There is clearly a difference in treatment of cases at the Florida’s Predominantly White Universities and Florida’s only Historically Black University. There media has a public obligation to report the full scope and problem of hazing in the United States and at FAMU. Hazing-related deaths in the United States dates back to 1832, yet the most recent hazing related death was at Bowling Green University on December 13, 2011 and not at FAMU. The only difference between these other universities and FAMU is that skin-color of the majority of the students on each campus. The media must report these other facts and incidents to the same level and with the same scrutiny of what has happened at FAMU. This has not happened to date. While the media (national, local and the FAMUAN) are doing their jobs and should

continue to cover the facts surrounding the hazing death of Robert Champion and other hazing incidents, they have an obligation to do the appropriate research, provide critical analysis and multiple perspectives. Journalists also have the obligation to be fair (to FAMU and its students) and balanced. Hazing is not unique to FAMU nor is it found only in the confines of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The list of hazing Incidents that from across the country has been provided shows that hazing is indeed a part of universities (Predominately White and Historically Black) across the country: Also, the idea that hazing is only associated with bands and fraternities and sororities is also false. An Alfred University survey found that almost 80 percent of college athletes have been hazed; the vast majority of hazing incidents -- on the high school, college and pro levels -- go unreported. The list compiled by ESPN.com- with the help of hazing authority Hank Nuwer - provides, of 68 alleged and confirmed incidents of hazing on the high school, college and professional levels that occurred from 1980-2000. Most situations came to light through the police or court system. I would also like to share with you a list of Hazing Situations that have resulted in the Death of a student at Colleges and Universities from 1838-2011 across the country dating back to 1838 to 2011 has also been provided. Why has the national and local media failed to use this information which has been provided freely? Hazing is indeed a national problem that is found throughout many aspects of American society, and FAMU is indeed a microcosm of that greater society. The attached document shows that hazing incidents at public and private universities, elite and open access universities, urban and rural universities, and Predominantly White Institution, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, etc. Most instances of hazing related deaths have occurred on Predominantly White Universities, many of which have been repeat offenders such as Cornell University, which has had five hazing-related deaths since 1832. The most recent incident at Cornell University was earlier this year on February 25, 2011. George Desdunes, a Sigma

Alpha Epsilon fraternity member and student at Cornell University, was found unresponsive in the fraternity house early Friday morning and transported to the hospital, where he later died. The national media did not even look twice at this incident. Incidents at Florida State University (2011) and the University of Miami (2002) - both Predominantly White Institutions in the State of Florida- have received near the publicity of the incident at FAMU- a Historically Black institution in the State of Florida. Florida State University is also a repeat hazing offender and has a history of hazing in its marching band program as well. Governor Scott Should Not Interfere at FAMU Governor Scott has told the FAMU BOT- which is entrusted with all matters pertaining to the President of FAMU- to suspend Dr. Ammons. Not only does Scott lack the legal standing to make such a request that supersedes the FAMU Board of Trustees, the Florida Board of Governors and the Constitution of the State of Florida, but also the governor’s action places FAMU’s accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in jeopardy. The governor of Florida has proclaimed to have the best interests of FAMU in mind as he continually calls for the suspension of Ammons. How can this be the case when his very action jeopardizes the accreditation of the university and gambles the future of all 13,000 FAMU students? Does Governor Scott want FAMU to become the new Morris Brown College- another Historically Black College or University that lost its accreditation in 2002? All FAMU Alumni call into question Scott’s call for Ammons to be suspended pending this investigation. Why didn’t Governor Scott ask the Eric J. Barron, President of FSU, to step down on January 9, 2011 when a FSU sophomore, Ashley Cowie, was shot and killed at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house in what has been deemed an accidental, but alcohol-related, shooting. Cowie was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. A Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity member has been charged with manslaughter in the case. Scott also did

not ask for an FDLE investigation into the incident at FSU nor did the media sensationalize this event. Similarly, in 2002, Chad Meredith, a freshman at the University of Miami, died in a fraternity related hazing incident on the University of Miami campus in November, 2002. Again, there was no gubernatorial intervention in that death, nor was the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) asked to investigate that case. ----------------------ABOUT NORTH STAR EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING, LLC- North Star Educational Consulting (NSEC) is an educational consulting company that was started by John Michael Lee, Jr., President and CEO, to help improve the educational environment for children throughout the nation. NSEC provides motivational speaking to students, workshops for teachers; test score analysis for schools and districts, and strategies for schools and districts to increase student educational attainment. About John Michael Lee Jr., PhD-John Michael Lee, Jr, PhD is the president and CEO of North Star Educational Consulting, LLC. John also serves as the policy director for the Advocacy and Policy Center in the Advocacy, Government Relations and Development unit at the College Board. John earned his Ph.D. in higher education administration from New York University and his MPA with a concentration in economic development from the Andrew Young School at Georgia State University. John is also a 2003 graduate at Florida A&M University and a former member of the Marching 100

Tommy Mitchell Sr., president of FAMU National Alumni Association

www.capitaloutlook.com 5 Education What is hazing in our society?

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

Ronald Holmes, Ph.D. Education Editor/Vice President In the 1976 movie Carrie, a young girl who does not make friends easily is humiliated, harassed and abused by her peers and classmates. There are scenes of boys taunting Carrie and girls throwing objects at her. One girl even locked Carrie in a closet and forced her to pray. The most heart-wrenching scene is when Carrie is tricked to attend a prom with Tommy Ross. While at the prom, the queen and king ballots are rigged so that Carrie and Tommy can win the crown. Just as it appears Carrie is finally accepted among her senior classmates, she is drenched with a bucket of pig’s blood with the majority of the student body and others laughing at her. So the questions to be asked are: What is hazing in our society? What percentage of students experience hazing on college and university campuses? What are the myths about hazing? What can be done to prevent hazing? According to research, hazing is illegal in 44 states and comprises, of “any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers regardless of the person’s willingness to participate” in the activity. The activity is normally affiliat-

ed with an individual being physically and psychologically abused, depriving of sleep, carrying unwarranted objects, consuming alcohol and participating in sexual acts. Hazing is a popular culture in higher education. In a national study on student hazing, consisting of 11,482 undergraduate students from 53 colleges and universities, 55 percent of college students affiliated with groups, organizations and teams experienced some type of hazing. In about 95 percent of the hazing incidents, students did not report their cases to the campus officials. Half of these hazing incidents are placed on the internet by the offending group. Joining groups, organizations and teams are about gaining acceptance, belonging and affection, as a part of students’ social needs. Students willingly or unwillingly do about anything to gain membership in an organization. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), “many studentathletes believe the myths that hazing will accomplish team building and bonding, instill needed humility in new team members, establish a hierarchy for leadership and decision-making within the team, allow individuals free choice regarding their participation and be fun and harmless.” To support their argument, hazing is a continu-

Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D. ing tradition in the NFL and other professional sports without any sanctions. In the NFL, rookies are hazed by veteran players as part of the initiation and acceptance into the league. Some examples of hazing rookies include cutting their hair in peculiar ways and having them to carry veterans’ football workout gear. In some teams, rookies are taped to the goal posts while sprayed with mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise or whipped cream. Because of the potential psychological and physical harm to the athletes and the refusal of players such as Dallas Cowboys Dez Bryant to carry Roy Jones’ workout gear, two NFL coaches banned the traditional hazing ritual. Dallas Cowboys’ first-year coach Jason Garrett and Jacksonville Jaguars’ former coach Jack Del Rio opposed the ritual. Del Rio apparently felt compelled to protect first-round draft choice and rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert from any undue stress or harm especially since he

was drafted to compete for the starting quarterback position against veteran quarterback David Garrard. To eliminate the myths of hazing on college and university campuses, the NCAA recommends that higher education administrators employ comprehensive strategies to hazing preventions at all levels (individual, institution, group, community and public policy). They recommend that schools clearly define the consequences for documented hazing occurrences and establish an effective method for investigating allegations of hazing incidents. Finally, schools should assure legal steps are followed in line with allegations of hazing incidents. Similarly, the findings in the national study of student hazing recommends that higher education administrators make hazing prevention inclusive to all student groups on campus and that they extensively educate all stakeholders of the campus community about the seriousness and dangers of hazing. The study also recommends that schools create hazing interventions that are researched-centered and evaluate them periodically to measure their effectiveness for hazing preventions. In the Carrie movie, the victim was reluctant to attend the school’s prom

Institute from Page 1

United from Page 1

against the disease. “In Brewton (his hometown in Alabama) my folks told me not to curse the darkness but to light a candle,” Harvey said. “That’s what I’ve tried to do.” Yet, not deterred by financial costs, he decided to share his idea with the government, Wall Street, local banks, equipment manufacturers, and other prominent corporations and companies. He amassed $200 million from bank loans, federal and state funding, tax-exempt bonds, and he received land donations from the City of Hampton to help turn his vision into reality. The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI) officially opened in August 2010, and it’s one of eight in the U.S. Although only two of the five treatment rooms are operational, Harvey expects the center to be at full capacity by 2012. He’s predicting 2,000 patients annually, 65 percent with prostate cancer, 35 percent with lung, breast, pediatric and other cancers, once the three remaining rooms are activated. Doctors note that proton therapy is expensive,

currently teaches at the University of South Florida, encourages students to never give up on their dreams. “It’s about doing what it takes, and taking something that could’ve been bad and turning it into

and was warned by her mother that everyone at the school would laugh at her. However, Carrie wanted to be accepted among her peers especially since she was not getting the necessary affection and love at home. So she attended the prom despite her mother’s wishes. In this movie and other facets of entertainment, we can see that hazing is about taking advantage of someone who desires to be part of an activity. The Carrie movie shows that hazing can have a disastrous impact on all who are involved. Hazing is a criminal act and thus we must teach our students to abolish these archaic practices for the safety and welfare of the student

body. We must also partner with community organizations and campus officials to create researched-based anti-hazing preventions to help our students overcome the myths that hazing will foster team building and bonding. For additional information on hazing, please go to www.theholmeseducationpost.com. Dr. Ronald W. Holmes is the author of Education Questions to be Answered. He is the National Superintendent of Education for the National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc., a former teacher, school administrator, and district superintendent and can be reached at rwholmes@capitaloutlook.com.

Photo courtesy of Auburn University

something good,” Mathis said. “I’m not the first one this has happened to and I won’t be the last person. But I made my failure into a success story, and I know that it can happen for a lot of other people.”

Ashley Hogans can be contacted at ahogans@ capitaloutlook.com.

Woods has capitalized on the opportunity that started as an extra-curricular activity. His claim to local fame could have much to do with his appearances as an event host, panel guest and club DJ. Undoubtedly, the catchy tagline “You can’t hate Sean D!” hasn’t hurt either. “When I first got on the radio, I used to record everybody that called. I don’t care who it was,” Woods remembers. An unexpected phone call from a fellow radio personality, Ebonee Thompson, made history for Woods. “I think I called to nag him about something and I didn’t know he was recording,” said Thompson, who is now Woods’ publicist and friend. “He said something and I just said ‘I hate you Sean,’ and then it became ‘You can’t hate Sean D.’ He’s one of my best friends and I’m blessed, in that regard, that I can call on him for something professionally and for anything personal too.” Unfortunately, sometimes Woods encounters “strong dislike” from being in the public eye. “The bad part with my life and my lifestyle is that it’s easier for me to get judged by so many people because I’m a public figure,” he said. “So I know I don’t have any grasp on who hears me on the radio, who hears my show or who comes to the club while I’m DJing. People kind of draw their own conclusion according to what they know or might know or have heard about me.” The part-time photog-

rapher combats negative attitudes with a concept he’s coined as “positive vibes.” The idea derived in memory of his grandmother who died last year. “I never saw her sweat – even when the pressure was on. She was cool like that,” said Woods. “So I try to make myself be on this personal high every morning because, if I run into a couple of speed bumps, it will slow me down but it’s not going to hurt me that bad.” Woods understands how radio works as a business. His passion fuels other projects like his Who Dat Music Show, which features independent artists. Still, managing the radio station takes precedence. “He’s a sweetheart,” said Jacquell Lawson, better known as The Apostle on WANM’s morning gospel show. “Sean is the type of person who likes to get behind the scenes. He plays a pivotal part here at the station.” Lawson is also the station’s program director and a former classmate of Woods. While he can be a people’s person, he values personal time to manage his thoughts. “Money is cool but it’s priceless to be able to help somebody and see that you’re really making an impact on somebody’s life. That’s what I get when I go speak to the kids or help somebody out. That’s the kind of feedback I get from them,” he said.

POW from Page 1 Dr. William Harvey, president of Hampton University. but many say it requires fewer visits for follow-up treatments than other forms of therapy. Veteran oncologist Dr. Allan Thornton, recruited by Hampton from the Indiana University Health Proton Therapy Center, said that proton therapy has had skeptics for more than a decade, but he is still a believer. “Until referring physicians understand the wide range of benefits of proton therapy, there is going to be a wide range of reticence,” Thornton said. Harvey said that local reaction to the new building has been positive. “It’s great medicine, it’s great technology, and it’s a terrific economic impact on the community,” Harvey said. Lankford Blair, a 62-year-old health counselor diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009, said that

he’s pleased with his treatment at HUPTI, and that he selected the best place for healing. “We could have gone with other options, but decided to wait until other things opened up,” Blair said. “We knew this was cutting edge. For me, it became a no-brainer.” Harvey mentioned that Hampton’s cash-strapped economy in will gross up to $12 million from the facility. He said it will create 2,000 construction jobs, and full-time employment for 125 employees with an expected payroll of $5.5 million. The center is also projected to boost medical tourism annually and create local revenue from visiting patients that spend on dining, hotels, entertainment and other luxuries.

The gantry rotates around the patient to deliver treatment from different angles, allowing the physician to precisely target the tumor site.

visits local schools and has lunch with the students, hosts pep rallies or talent shows, and speaks to a group of his younger listeners. His efforts are highly regarded among many of his colleagues. “One of the things that I like most about him is that he is concerned about the community, particularly the youth,” said Keith Miles, general manager for Florida A&M University’s WANM 90.5FM. “He likes to do that because he sees himself sitting in those same seats those kids are, but he had good mentors and he did find his passion in radio. So now, what he wants to do is keep the kids focused until they can find what it is they really want to do, then, lock on to that passion and be successful.” “Sean from Daytona” became Sean D after achieving an on-air position with FAMU’s radio station, WANM 90.5 FM, after much pleading with then-operations manager Gregg Bishop. For three years now, Woods has been the station’s operations manager and continues to host twice a week on Mondays and Fridays at 4 p.m. “Now that I have this position, I understand why he was pushing me away so much,” said Sean, a Spring 2007 graduate of FAMU. “You hear it everyday, 10 to 20 times. Everybody wants to be on the radio but it’s only a handful of people who come and it ends up being a passion and something they really want to do later down the line. I think Gregg told me ‘no’ at least 10 times before he really gave me a chance.”

Terrika Mitchell can be contacted at tmitchell@ capitaloutlook.com.

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011 Religion Devotional –– “The Greatness of Joy”

www.capitaloutlook.com

“The Joy of the Holy Ghost” By Brenda J. Swaine “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 NIV This topic was meant just for me. Now let’s first see when the “Holy Ghost” first appeared on the scene.

Let’s look at Genesis 1:2 NIV, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” From this, we see that the Holy Ghost has been around since the beginning of human existence. What is joy? Well for me, joy is the presence of Jesus Christ in my life! For you see, I have experienced Joy in the Holy Ghost when I was at my lowest. Seems sort of strange one would say, Joy when you are at your lowest? Not strange at all. When you are at your lowest that is when God comes in and restores your spirit, bring you peace and joy. For the Holy Ghost is joy! For those of us who

Now is the Time

Jennifer Benson Schuldt By Jennifer Benson Schuldt Special to the Outlook

Read: Luke 2:8-20 Glory to God in the highest! —Luke 2:14 During our church’s Christmas celebration, I watched the choir members assemble in front of the congregation while the music director rifled through papers on a slim black stand. The instruments began, and the singers launched into a well-known song that started with these words: “Come, now is the time to worship.” Although I expected to hear a time-honored Christmas carol, I smiled at the appropriate choice of music. Earlier that week I had been reading Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth, and I noticed that the first Christmas lacked our modern-day parties, gifts, and feasting—but it did include worship. After the angel announced Jesus’ birth to some wide-eyed shepherds, a chorus of angels began “praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest!’” (Luke 2:13-14). The shepherds responded by running to Bethlehem where they found the newborn King lying in a barnyard bassinet. They

returned to their fields “glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen” (v.20). Coming face to face with the Son inspired the shepherds to worship the Father. Today, consider your response to Jesus’ arrival on earth. Is there room for worship in your heart on this day that celebrates His birth?

have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have the spirit of God in us. We are blessed and at peace with his presence. The Holy Ghost in us helps us to stay in right standing with God. By being in right standing with God we will have peace and joy in our lives. The Holy Ghost, when you allow it to operate in you, there is victory and joy in your situation. Let’s look at Judges 3:10 NIV - 10 The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The LORD gave CushanRishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. The Holy Ghost when it came upon him he was victorious! Now the Holy Ghost

is the best guide we can ever have. We think that our navigation system in our car will get it from point a to point b without any problem, but the Holy Ghost and written in John 16:13 NIV, “13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. How reassuring this is. There is no need to hear, “recalculating make a u-turn”. When the Holy Ghost comes, it will guide you in all the truths. What joy knowing that you can’t go the wrong way when the Holy Ghost abides in you! My three remain points: 1. We all know what the power of joy is; we

know there is nothing so attractive as joy, there is nothing that can help a man to bear and endure so much as joy. When we lose that joy, we need to do as David ask God to restore unto us the joy of thy salvation and fill us with thy free spirit. 2. There is the joy of deliverance from sin. The Holy Ghost comes to sanctify us. Christ is our sanctification, and the Holy Ghost comes to communicate Him to us. We shouldn’t forget that day of deliverance. 3. Finally, my third thought is: the joy of the Holy Ghost is the joy of the love of the saints. The Holy Ghost was not given to any man on the day of Pentecost separate from the others; He came and filled the whole company. We know how much division and

separation and pride there had been among them, but on that day the Holy Ghost so filled their hearts that we find it was afterward said: “Behold how these men love one another.” I found the lyric to a song that I would like to leave with you. The song is entitled, Joy in the Holy Ghost I’ve found a friend, o Such a friend He made my heart his home God himself is with me And I know I’m never alone I know all my tomorrows will be better than all my hopes We’ve got love grace peace and power And joy in the Holy Ghost.

Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.: EDUCATION QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED In a time of an uncertain economy, this book provides solutions for improving America’s schools through federal funding, programs, services, community partnerships, accreditation and leadership standards. The book can be very helpful to school stakeholders such as parents, teachers, principals and district administrators since the topics focus on the K-12 environments. With a plethora of references to support numerous suggestions, discrepancies and issues, this book can be useful to graduate students, professors, researchers, university administrators and education state agencies. While America’s schools are faced with numerous challenges in today’s society such as the lack of family stability and parental involvement, this book also provides a roadmap for successful and struggling schools in the U.S. To order a copy of EDUCATION QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED, visit: http://www.authorhouse.com or call 1-888-280-7715, Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble (bn.com).

Grant us, Father, hearts of worship At this time of Jesus’ birth; We would see anew His glory Shine throughout this sin-cursed earth. —D. De Haan Heaven’s choir came down to sing when heaven’s King came down to save.

Reverend Dr. R. B. Holmes , Jr.

“The Christ Centered Church With a Program of Prayer and Progress ”

THE STATE OF THE THE STATE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONSUMER Capital CONSUMER Outlook

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

September 2011

www.capitaloutlook.com

September 2011

The following highlights are extracts from the full report. To download the full report, go to: www.nielsen.com/africanamerican

About the Report In more than 100 countries around the world, Nielsen provides clients with the most complete understanding of what consumers watch and buy. As business executives look for opportunities to grow their companies and gain market share it is critical that they understand new and emerging demands from consumers, especially within growing segments, wherever they do business. As the population of the United States evolves to become more ethnically diverse, the complexity of such an effort has grown. To help close the gap and give insight as to how to address the needs of the growing diverse base, Nielsen—along with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)—has developed this report to better illustrate the qualities of the African-American community, the business opportunities that exist, and the best methods for a productive connection between businesses and this community.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

THE STATE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONSUMER REPORT Population Trends

Income

The African-American community makes up 13.6% of the population of the United States and is projected to reach 14% over the next 10 years. This equates to populations of 42,071,000 and 47,587,000 for 2010 and 2020, respectively. The average age for African-Americans is 32.1 with more than 47% under the age of 35.

Between 2000 and 2009, the number of African-American households earning $75,000 or more grew by 63.9%, a rate 11.7% greater than the change in the overall population.

Although the African-American population continues to have high concentrations in cities, over the last ten years census population trends have shown dispersion to suburban areas and warmer regions of the country.

Mobile Phones African-Americans’ Preference of Smartphone

African-Americans tend to use phones primarily for talking and texting. African-Americans talk an average of 1,298 minutes a month, more than twice that of White Americans, who talk an average of 606 minutes a month. African-Americans also exhibit high use of phones for emailing (43%) accessing the mobile internet (41%) and visiting social networking sites (37%).

Apple iPhone OS

Average Voice Minutes Used by African-Americans per Person

Average Number of Billed SMS Sent/Received by African-Americans

Q1, 2011

minutes

$1 trillion annually, if African-Americans were a country, they’d be the 16th largest country in the world.*

Education

Among mobile phone users, 33% of all African-Americans own a smartphone. Additionally, 44% of all new mobile phone purchases by this group are smartphones.

1,298

With a buying power of nearly

Q1 2011

Android OS

37%

* If comparing buying power to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), defined as the value of all goods and services produced within the geographic territory of an economy in a given interval, such as a year.

16% Other

RIM Blackberry OS

30%

907

Texts Sent/ Received

The percentage of AfricanAmericans attending some college or attaining a degree has grown for both men and women from 39.6% to 45.3% and 44.9% to 53.6%, respectively.

WHAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS WATCH

13%

Television Viewership

Microsoft Windows Mobile

Not only does the average African-American household have four or more televisions, but also spends an average of seven hours 12 minutes each day—or 213 hours per month—watching them. This amounts to about 40% more viewing time than the rest of the population.

1/3 of all AfricanAmericans own a smartphone.

African-Americans are 30% more likely to visit Twitter.

Online African-American Internet Users and Visits to Categories of Sites During July 2011… There were 23.9 million active African-American Internet users

Top 10 Most Watched Among African-Americans, Ages 18–49 Excluding Sports January–June 2011 (In Millions) Rank Program

African-American households tend to prefer premium cable channel programming, drama, live or reality television program and sporting events. The 12.5 million African-Americans who tuned into Super Bowl XLV, vs. the 11.2 million who watched the previous year, helped make it the most watched Super Bowl ever. It ranks as the #1 Most Watched Show for African-Americans for January through June 2011. The Grammy Awards, BET Awards and Academy Awards attracted 4.1 million, 3.9 million and 2.5 million African-American viewers respectively. Dancing with the Stars and American Idol drew 2.5 and 2.3 million African-American viewers respectively, while The Voice and Sunday Best 4 garnered approximately 1.5 million each**. ** Persons Ages 2+. All Day Parts. Live+7. Excludes breakouts, repeats.

54% visited a Travel site 50% visited a Mass Merchandiser site 50% visited a Current Events & Global News site 44% visited a Health, Fitness & Nutrition site 39% visited a Sports site 37% visited a Coupons/Rewards site 37% visited a Broadcast Media site 31% visited a Financial Info & News site Source: Nielsen, NetView, Total (July 2011) These figures should not be trended with Home and Work data used prior to July 2011.

Trends in Advertising Spend and Effectiveness Total advertising expenditures spent in African-American media reached $1.9B in 2010, increasing 3% versus 2009. At $916M, TV ad spending accounted for 46% of the total, followed by advertising in spot radio ($704M) and national magazines ($362M).

Total advertising expenditures reached

$1.9 billion

in African-American media in a 3% 2010 increase

Top 10 Advertisers for AfricanAmerican Media (2010) Parent Company

% Change

Procter & Gamble

15%

L’Oreal

32%

Johnson & Johnson

-16%

General Motors

12%

McDonald’s

-7%

Verizon

-9%

U.S. Government

AT&T Berkshire Hathaway National Amusements

11%

over 2009

About Nielsen

About NNPA

Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NySE: NLSN) is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence, mobile measurement, trade shows and related properties.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association, also known as the Black Press of America, is a 71-year-old federation of more than 200 Black community newspapers from across the United States.

3% -8%

1 The Game: Season 4 2 Real Housewives Atlanta 3 Let’s Stay Together 4 American Idol-Wednesday 5 House of Payne 6 American Idol-Thursday 7 Dancing With the Stars 8 Grey’s Anatomy 9 Law and Order: SVU 10 Apprentice 11

3.08 1.76 1.56 1.08 0.97 0.96 0.95 0.83 0.81 0.80

Persons 18–49. Prime Day Part Live+7. Excludes breakouts, repeats, specials, programs <5 minutes, and programs <2 telecasts.

of which...

76% visited a Social Networking/Blog site

Viewers

WHAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS BUy African-Americans shop more often than all other groups, but spend less money per trip and overall. This behavior reflects a propensity to make quicker/smaller purchases based on short-term needs and less on deal availability or the desire to “stock up.” The African-American market is more likely to frequent drug stores, dollar stores and convenience/gas outlets. Major retail channels seem to have a prime opportunity to motivate this highly active group to come to their stores.

African-Americans shop often, but spend less per trip & overall; are less deal prone Total Retail Channels

Annual Shopping Trips Per Household AfricanAmerican

165.7

Non-AfricanAmerican

153

Basket Ring Dollars Per Trip AfricanAmerican

$37

Non-AfricanAmerican

$45

The information contained here is extracted from the full State of the African-American Consumer Report. Snap here to download full report or download at www.nielsen.com/africanamerican

Copyright © 2011 The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved. Nielsen and the Nielsen logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of CZT/ACN Trademarks, L.L.C. Other product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

StateOfTheAfricanAmericanConsumer_brdsht_BW.indd 1

12/13/11 5:48 PM

Classifieds

www.capitaloutlook.com

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

CLASSIFIEDS

Employment

LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JOB OPENINGS THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS ARE “Open Until Filled” Application Development Analyst (Applications & Database) IT Technical Support Specialist II Sustainability Program Coordinator THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS ARE “OPEN CONTINUOUSLY” Paramedic (PRN) EMT (PRN) For additional information on these positions and other job openings: • Go to www.leoncountyfl. gov/HR/jobs/joblist.asp • Call our Job Line at (850) 606-2403 • Watch Comcast Channel 16 (Tuesdays 9am-12am) • Visit Human Resources, 315 South Calhoun Street, 5th Floor, Suite #502 An Equal Opportunity Employer HIRING (APPLY NOW!!!) Immediate opening in busy office for an Personal Assistant/Receptionist. This position is responsible for basic office duties and handling and routing office phone calls to the appropriappropri

ate party. The candidate must be organized, well-spoken, and reliable. Good computer skills and basic understanding of technology is also required. This is a part time position with hours of 11am to 3pm, Mon. -- Fri. We offer a competitive salary plus health benefits. To apply for this position please email your resume to George on (workatfurniture2@gmail.com.) Dept. of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS, Government Operations Consultant II (HIV Incidence & Resistance Database Manager), annual salary $38,659.92 – $66,000.00. This is a highly responsible position responsible for managing and coordinating HIV incidence and resistance data. The best qualified candidate will be an analytical thinker, possess intermediate skills in using SAS, team oriented worker with the ability to work independently, follow instructions well, and have working knowledge of public health principles, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suites (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access). Preferred working knowledge of SQL and how other data systems interact with such system. Examples of work include: maintaining clean, accurate data, creating SAS datasets to send to CDC, creating reports for HIVR Coordinator and others who request, running estimate programs, and creating database systems. Apply at: https://jobs.myflorida.com. Requisition 64003496. Only State of Florida Applications will be accepted – no resumes. Closing date: 01/10/2012. EO/AA/VP Employer. E-

Verify employer.

Legal Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. Case No. 2011-CP-774 Probate Division In Re: The Estate Of OLA H. SPEARS Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of OLA H. SPEARS, deceased, Case No. 2011-CP-774, is pending in the Circuit Court for Leon County, Florida Probate Division, the address of which is 301 South Monroe Street, Leon County Courthouse, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301. The names and addresses of the Co-Personal Representative and their attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the Decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the Decedent and persons having claims against the estate of the Decedent must file their claims with this Court WITHIN

THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. All persons on whom this notice is served who have objections that challenge the qualifications of the CoPersonal Representatives, venue, or jurisdiction of this Court are required to file their objections with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of the first publication of the Notice is the 15 day of December 2011.

3777 Peachtree #1504

The administration of the Estate of DELORES ROBERTS, deceased, File Number 2011CP-604, who died testate is pending in the Circuit Court for Leon County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. The name and address of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All other creditors of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives: Carolyn D. Cummings, Attorney at Law Florida Bar No. 0353442

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT:

The date of the first publication of this Notice is December 22, 2011.

All persons on whom this notice is served who have objections that challenge the qualifications of the personal representative, venue or jurisdiction of this Court are required to file their objections with this Court, WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS

Personal Representative: LAWRENCE L. ROBERTS 919 SAN LUIS ROAD. Tallahassee, Florida 32304

preciate the seriousness of the issues with which the University is dealing as it relates to the reported hazing events of recent weeks; however, the issues are those of the University and as such should be handled by the governing board,” Wheelan wrote. In an interview Monday, Wheelan said the board was free to suspend Ammons if it believed it was necessary, but not because of pressure from Scott. “If they do it because he tells them to, that jeopardizes their accreditation,” she said. Losing accreditation could endanger federal financial aid to students, but Wheelan said the organization was likely to place an institution on warning first. She also said SACS has taken no steps toward investigating FAMU over the governor’s comments.

On Dec. 19, Rep. Mia Jones, the Jacksonville Democrat who chairs the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, also urged the university’s board to make its own decision. “Governor Rick Scott is our state’s Chief Executive Officer, and while he is certainly entitled to an opinion, his actions or influences on the management and governing of the University could jeopardize FAMU’s accreditation under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,” said Jones, a FAMU alumna. “It is the position of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus (FLBC) that the Board of Trustees be allowed to fulfill its duties in the manner outlined in Florida statutes without influence from the Legislative or Executive branch of government.”

462 W. Brevard Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 T (850) 224-3730 Co-Personal Representatives Dale Spears 4217 Rockingham Road Tallahassee, Florida 32303 T Gail Arleen Spears Board from Page 1 es, and to assure the public that these investigations are clearly independent, I believe it would have been in the best interest of Florida A&M University for President Ammons to step aside until all of these investigations are completed,” Scott said. “However, we have a process in Florida for the administration of the State University System, and that process has been followed.” Over weekend and leading up to Monday morning’s meeting, pressure had been building on Scott to remove himself from decisions about Ammons’ future – including a letter from Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, FAMU’s accrediting body. “Having been a college president, as well as being a parent, I truly ap-

Road,

Atlanta, Georgia 30319

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NUMBER: 2011CP-604 IN RE: ESTATE OF DELORES ROBER ROBERTS, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is served within three months after the date of the first publication of this notice must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, AND OBJECTIONS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

Attorney for Personal Representative: Martin L. Black, Esquire 219 East Virginia Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 850-222-1343

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

Capital Outlook

www.capitaloutlook.com

10 www.capitaloutlook.com Stephon Parker Jr. Outlook Staff Writer

Chanukah on Ice When: Dec. 25 Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Where: Lake Ella Annual Chanukah party featuring: Sculpting & Lighting of an ICE MENORAH Play in the SNOW! Cost: Free Admission. All Night CROP When: Dec. 30 – Dec. 31 Time: 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. 820 E Park Avenue, A-100 AN EXCITNG 12 HR CRAFT NIGHT Cost: $40.00 pp INCLUDING: A Beautiful Design Studio available for sewing, Lots of Tables for; Scrapbooking, Jewelry Making and Card Making. Incredible Gourmet Meal, Refreshments, Professional Massages, Exciting Entertainment Fun, Door Prizes and More! Fees Due: Dec. 28 Call: April Vicary at 850264-6024 or 850-656-0432 Hotel Duval Fundraiser: “Kids Across America (KAA)” When: Jan 15 Time: 8 p.m. – Midnight Call: Hotel Duval @ 850224-6000 To book tickets for the event, visit http://campfiresandcocktails.eventbrite. com. For more information visit www.kidsacrossamerica. org

The Young Mothers Christian Mentoring Ministry of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church held its second annual Christmas luncheon on Dec. 10 at the Bethel Family Life Center. The event assisted young mothers who were looking for help with bringing joy to their families for the holiday season. The afternoon started with a meal served for more than 50 families. Following that, children walked with their parents through a winter wonderland in the gymnasium. Families met Santa Claus and received Christmas gifts. Denise Parker chaired the event and said it was the vision of the Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr. that put this ministry and event into motion. “Last year, Pastor Holmes received a vision from God to do something with assisting young mothers,” Parker said. “One of the things he wanted to do was have a Christmas celebration for more than 100 babies.” Leading up this event, members of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church flooded the stores shopping. “We had people in stores shopping for more than eight hours,” Parker said. Parker added that the event was important to helping start the ministry. She was pleased with the turnout, especially since

Community News Tis the season the luncheon is only in its second year. “This year it has grown,” Parker said. “We have more than 150 babies and a lot of family members.” Families danced to Christmas songs and enjoyed the afternoon. Amanda Kelley, the mother of Adrian, 3; and Angel, 5, said it was hard for her to stop smiling as she saw her kids meet Santa Claus for the first time. She was appreciative for all that was given to her family. “This really helps out,” Kelly said. “There are other people out there who are willing to help others in need and that says a lot.” Mike Dawkins is a father of five and said seeing his newborn get this experience early in her life was a blessing.

“I feel like this church is doing something nice for the kids,” Dawkins said. “A lot of us are not able to buy our kids gifts and this is a helping hand.” Dawkins also said he planned to use this as lesson for his children to learn. “I want them to know it is not always about receiving, but giving as well.” Dawkins said. “This event is something that will help me bring my family close together.” Also in attendance was Dr. Marvin Henderson, also a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. Henderson was pleased with the work of the church and how this very young ministry was impacting the community in a positive way. “This is an outstanding event,” Henderson said. “These children are our fu-

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

ture leaders and I am just proud to be part of this ef effort.” Henderson also said that the event is focusing on the children, but still not forgetting about the mothers. “I want all the young mothers to know and feel that they are loved,” Henderson said. “We appreci-

ate everything that they are doing with their kids.” Stephon Parker can be contacted at sparker@ capitaloutlook.com.

Children sat with Santa as a part of the holiday celebration.

Young Mothers Mentoring Ministry members

Merry Christmas Publix will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. Be closed Christmas Day. And open regular hours December 26.

National

11 www.capitaloutlook.com

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

NOW YOU HAVE A BETTER TV CHOICE. CenturyLink Prism . Interactive TV you control. Any show, any time, from any TV. TM

America’s fastest growing broadband company now brings you a better choice in television. It’s not cable. It’s not satellite. It’s Prism. It’s interactive TV that you control from the moment you click the remote. It’s so advanced, it even updates automatically. Simply put, it’s the best way to watch all your favorite shows, teams – you name it. So turn off cable and satellite, and turn on TV worth switching for.

Bundle BRILLIANT TV with Pure Speed for an even BETTER experience.

Prism TV TM

• Over 120 all-digital channels • FREE HD and Whole Home DVR for 3 months

Pure Broadband – 10 MBPS • Consistently fast all day, every day • No phone line required

Prism TV + Pure Broadband TM

= $

.95 a month for 6 months*

BONUS!

PUT YOUR PRISM TV ON VACATION WHEN YOU HEAD BACK NORTH TM

SEE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOURSELF! Test-drive it online at seeprismtv.com or in store today: 1544-2 Governor’s Square Blvd. 1410 Market St. 2020 West Pensacola St.

Call 866.484.7057 *Offer ends 12/31/2011. Offer and stated rates are available to new, first-time CenturyLink™ Prism™ TV residential customers in select areas only. The $65.95 monthly rate applies to up to 10 Mbps Pure Broadband and Prism™ TV package for six (6) months of service with a minimum service commitment of twelve (12) months, after which standard rates apply. A $6.99 monthly DVR service fee applies when the Quad Play DVR is purchased with Prism™ TV package. Promotional offer cannot be combined with any other Prism offers. All prices, packages and programming are subject to change without notice. Taxes, fees, and surcharges will apply. An additional monthly fee (including professional installation, if applicable) and a shipping and handling fee will apply to customer’s modem or router. Customer must cancel DVR and/or HD service by calling CenturyLink Customer Service before the end of the three-month promotional period to avoid monthly charges, or the standard monthly rate for each service will apply until service(s) are cancelled. Offers may be limited to specific locations. General – Services and offers not available everywhere. CenturyLink may change, cancel, or substitute offers and services, or vary them by service area, at its sole discretion without notice. Requires credit approval and deposit may be required. Additional restrictions apply. Terms and Conditions – All products and services listed are governed by tariffs, local terms of service, or terms and conditions posted at http://about.centurylink.com. Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges – Taxes, fees, and surcharges apply, including a Carrier Universal Service charge, National Access Fee surcharge, a one-time High-Speed Internet activation fee, state and local fees that vary by area and certain in-state surcharges. Cost recovery fees are not taxes or government-required charges for use. Taxes, fees, and surcharges apply based on standard monthly, not promotional, rates. Call for a listing of applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges. Monthly Rate for All Service Bundles – The monthly rate for all bundled services will apply while customer subscribes to all qualifying services. If one (1) or more services are cancelled, the standard monthly fee will apply to each remaining service. Pure Broadband – Early termination results in customer being responsible for payment of the applicable monthly recurring service fee multiplied by the number of months remaining in the minimum service period, up to $200. Performance will vary due to conditions outside of network control and no speed is guaranteed. Telephone landline is part of the service only for the purpose of data traffic transmission/connection and cannot be used for voice traffic transmission, except for 911 services. CenturyLink™ Prism™ TV – All plans require separate local phone service plan and include digital channels (including local channels), one (1) set-top box (STB), one (1) modem gateway, and up to four (4) standard direct video streams to residence. CenturyLink-provided STBs are required to view TV. If a term agreement applies to the offer, an early termination fee in the amount of discounts received applies if customer terminates services before the end of the applicable term agreement. Local channel availability varies by market. Caller ID service must be purchased separately to enable the on-screen Caller ID feature; Caller ID feature is not available in all areas. High Definition (HD) available on all TV plans for an additional $11.99/month, and up to two (2) of the up to four (4) video streams can be in HD. Customer’s location determines both HD availability and the maximum number of HD video streams (between 0 and 2 HD streams) a customer can view and record at any one time per residence, regardless of the number of STBs in the household. All non-HD video streams are provided in standard definition. Subscription to service precludes customers from purchasing high-speed Internet services from any third party. Additional charges will apply for additional programming packages, movie channel subscriptions (except for Prism™ Premium plan), Pay Per View movies and events, On Demand purchases, and premium services/subscriptions for all plans. Some subscription services, events, and broadcast network service may be blacked out in customer’s area. Customer may dial *67 (touch-tone) or 1167 (rotary) prior to placing a call to block their calling information. In order for media sharing to operate correctly customer must have Windows XP or VISTA and Windows Media Player 11. Vacation Program – Offer available to residential customers only. Only certain CenturyLink services are eligible for the Vacation Program; third party services received through CenturyLink are not eligible. Offer may include a reduced monthly recurring charge for a predetermined number of months each year, retention of equipment and suspension of service, programming and agreement during Vacation Program activation. A zero balance for each applicable service is required for eligibility. If customer does not contact CenturyLink to resume full activation of applicable services before the end of six (6) consecutive month period, all applicable monthly charges, fees, surcharges, contractual obligations, etc., will resume automatically. Vacation Program services will have restrictions and limitations that will vary for each applicable service. Contact CenturyLink for details. Equipment – Minimum equipment and CenturyLink professional installation are required. At initial installation, each customer receives: one (1) VDSL 2 modem; up to six (6) STBs (standard plan includes one (1) STB; additional STBs are available for an additional monthly rate, per STB); and one (1) remote control per STB installed. All equipment must be returned to designated CenturyLink retail store within thirty (30) days after service disconnection in an undamaged condition, or customer is charged for each equipment piece not returned or returned as damaged. Prism™ TV Plan – Quad Play DVR service excluded and is available for an additional monthly fee. Green Lantern: ©2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. ©2011 CenturyLink, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The name CenturyLink and the pathways logo are trademarks of CenturyLink, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Dec. 22 - Dec. 28, 2011

Capital Outlook

Celebrate

www.capitaloutlook.com

family

Celebrate

food

culture

— HAPPY KWANZAA 2011 —