Capital Outlook

Godby student puts hard work before play. . . Page 3 50 Cents

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Vol. 37, No. 42: Section 01

Tallahassee, Florida

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

An unforgettable smile graces the airport

By Ashley Hogans

Photo by ASHLEY HOGANS

The plaque will hang inside the airport art gallery.

See SAUNDERS, Page 2

Cummings serves senior community

A look into revitalizing Midway

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

The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) returned a familiar face and smile to the airport.

Family and friends gathered at the Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) on Sept. 27 to dedicate a special plaque in honor of Officer Michael Saunders.

“You know this is not something the family asked for,” said Martha Saunders, Officer Saunders’ wife. “This is something his gym buddies wanted to do and the guys here at the airport. The fact that they wanted to do a tribute to him was just overwhelming.”

Michael Saunders, died on Dec. 12, 2009 after a car hitand-ran Saunders while out on his routine morning walk. Officer Saunders was a part of the police department for more than 20 years.

Jack an Jill anniversary

1363 E. Tennessee St, Tallahassee, Fla. 32310

Outlook Staff Writer

Prior to the accident, Saunders served the community as a TPD security officer with the Tallahassee Regional Airport.

“As we said here today, he really was the face of Tallahassee,” said Dennis Jones, chief officer of the TPD. “He had a smile that would light up the room and that’s why I said we want to bring his smile back to the airport. This is a very special occasion for us.

The time I was able to spend and get to know Mike Saunders, as well as getting to know his family...they are just a fantastic group of people.”

Because of his service to the airport for more than 10 years, Officer Saunders’ “gym buddies” and the police department could not think of a better place to hang his plaque.

“This plaque represents the interchange that goes on in any service that you give and a po-

Inside LOCAL/STATE / 3 OPINION / 4 EDUCATION / 5 RELIGION / 6

Person of the Week

COMMUNITY NEWS/ 8

Briefs

Law firms descend on Florida to take over foreclosure business

Carolyn Davis Cummings

By Terrika Mitchell

Ella Barber (right), 82, plans to revitalize the city of Midway as its new mayor by giving back to residents.

By Ashley Hogans

Outlook Staff Writer

Outlook Staff Writer

Carolyn Davis Cummings was inspired to become an attorney by Revious Ortique – New Orleans’ first black Supreme Court Justice and, as fate would have it, her second cousin. For the Mississippi native, an attorney’s services extend outside the courtroom – as Cummings has demonstrated in her 29 years of practice.

“I’m dedicated to (being an attorney) because I realize that there are a lot of people who would not otherwise have legal representation if it wasn’t for attorneys’ dedication to giving See POW, Page 2

With only a few months in the hot seat, Midway Mayor Ella Barber has already addressed issues resulting from the Midway Police Department’s recent shut down.

“We have a stable police department now and I have an auditor going into our finances,” Barber said. “We are going into the community and meeting the needs of the people and addressing them.”

Barber said the police department is now working with the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office

until they receive resources needed to run independently.

Barber went from serving the Midway community as a city council member for 12 years to serving as the elected mayor, hoping to take the city to its greatest potential.

“My vision is to move Midway forward and get professional people here as well because we don’t have the infrastructure,” Barber said. “But in order for Midway to move forward you must have services that you will give back to the people and the community, and not just taking away from the community all the time. In the past a lot was taken

from the community and not given to them in return.”

Midway’s government consists of seven elected city council members and the mayor is appointed by the city council for a two-year term.

Although Barber never dreamed of being mayor, she said that she is elated to fulfill the position.

“During my tenure I hope that we will be able to have quality lives for the citizens of Midway, deliver jobs and quality homes and living for the people,” Barber said.

However, Barber’s first priority is to listen to residents’ See MIDWAY, Page 2

The men and women behind the uniform

By Ashley Hogans Outlook Staff Writer

Military colors, ribbons and metals have a symbolic meaning behind them. But joining the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) in high school speaks volumes for students ready to serve their country.

With Veteran’s Day approaching, Leon High School Marine JROTC instructor Gunnery Sgt. Anthony L. Reaves teaches his students the importance of joining the JROTC at a young age.

“The junior level of ROTC teaches discipline, structure and citizenship values to give back to your community,” Reaves said.

The Marine Corps JROTC (MCJROTC) program at Leon

Law firms from throughout the country have opened offices in Florida to capture foreclosure business abandoned by the Law Offices of David J. Stern and Ben-Ezra & Katz in the wake of investigations into possible foreclosure fraud.

The new Florida firms have taken over files from Stern and BenEzra Katz, once two of the largest foreclosure firms in Florida.

They left tens of thousands of foreclosure files up for grabs after they withdrew from the foreclosure business following allegations of “robo-signing” and other improper or sloppy handling of residential foreclosures and after being terminated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Gov. Scott wants Florida’s jobless to work for their aid Florida Gov. Rick Scott has a message for people receiving unemployment compensation in his state: if you want it, you’ll have to work for it.

On Oct. 12 Scott proposed a mandatory job retraining for Floridians getting unemployment assistance.

“Florida must focus its efforts on ensuring that it can offer the most able workforce in the nation,” he said, unveiling his 2012 jobs and economic development agenda.

Scott’s unemployment plan is similar to one passed in Georgia where companies train jobless workers receiving state aid. President Barack Obama proposed a national program based on the Georgia model in September.

This Week’s Word “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:10 (KJV)

Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Reaves leads the Lion Battalion in the 2010 Veteran’s Day parade.

Rickards Army JROTC Cadets.

See VETERANS, Page 2

2

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Capital Outlook

City of Tallahassee electric and natural gas customers will see lower utility bills Special to the Outlook City of Tallahassee electric and natural gas customers have seen lower utility bills since Oct. 1.

Electric and natural gas rates for residential customers have decreased by two percent each. Rates for commercial customers have lowered by between 2.9 and 3.4 percent, depending on the size of the business.

“Having recently met with a group of small business owners, I know this comes as welcome news as they continue to endure a difficult economy,” said City Commissioner Andrew Gillum, lead commissioner on the City’s Financial Viability of the Government Target Issue

Committee. Gillum also indicated that “the City needs to find more ways to help the business community in these trying times.”

With the newly announced rate reduction, city electric rates have decreased by 23 percent since January 2009. Natural gas rates have lowered by 24 percent in that same time period.

City utility rates are adjusted twice annually, in April and October, based on the cost of fuels to run power plants and the price of natural gas. Changes in the Consumer Price Index are also taken into account.

“In comparison, our residential rates remain below the statewide average and our commercial rates are among the lowest in the

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

Walmart’s supports the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in D.C. Special to the Outlook

state,” said Reese Goad, director of Utility Business and Customer Services for the City. “Rates for small businesses are the lowest among all municipal utilities and second lowest when compared to all utilities in the state. Local businesses enjoy rates 28 percent lower than those in Gainesville and 17 percent lower than those in Orlando.”

Fall is typically a great time for homeowners to make energy-efficiency improvements as contractors typically can work with customers on installations faster than during sum-

mer months. With cooler weather on the horizon, this is also a good time for residents to have their home heating systems examined for efficient use.

For more information on utility rates, energy efficiency programs and other Energy Smart Plus (e+) initiatives, visit Talgov.com/ YOU. Contact Reese Goad, Utility Business & Customer Services, (850) 8916803 or (850) 544-9906; or Bill Behenna, Department of Communications, (850) 891-8533.

Walmart’s Support of the MLK Memorial Walmart has been a major supporter of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C., contributing a total of $1.5 million in cash and issuing a $12.5 million letter of credit which helped the MLK Memorial Foundation raise the funds necessary to complete the memorial.

“As we honor and remember Dr. (King during this weekend’s dedication,”

said Sharon Orlopp, global chief diversity officer for Walmart. “We should all be inspired by his commitment to freedom, opportunity and justice for Americans of all backgrounds. This memorial is a permanent testimony to the historical significance of Dr. King, his dream and the role we all must play in making his vision come to life. Through our support of the Memorial, we’re proud to help ensure the legacy of Dr. King lives on for generations to come.”

DCF, partners work together to combat domestic violence

Special to the Outlook The Florida Department of Children and Families joins law enforcement agencies, victims’ advocates, shelter providers and others in the child welfare community during the month of October to fight the problem of domestic

violence across the state of Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott has proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Last year, there were more than 84,000 calls about domestic violence incidents involving children made to the Florida Abuse

Hotline, amounting to 20 percent of the total calls to the hotline regarding child abuse or neglect. In 2010, there were also 191 domestic violence homicides in Florida, more than one every other day.

“We know that domestic violence not only hurts the victims, it also impacts their children, extended family, community and the entire state,” said Secretary David Wilkins.

“Our department is working diligently with partners across each community in Florida to bring awareness to this cause, to prevent this cycle of abuse and to support each victim with what

POW from Page 1 back to the community,” said Cummings, the namesake of Tallahassee’s Cummings & Hobbs P.A. For years, Cummings has provided pro bono, or voluntary, legal representation for senior citizens from Bethel Towers, the Tallahassee Senior Center and the Lincoln Neighborhood Center.

“I think the most fulfilling experience for me has been dealing with my seniors, especially in instances where I meet clients who really need services I know they can’t afford,” Cummings explained.

Offering free services hasn’t always been an option for Cummings though.

After graduating from the University of Florida’s College of Law in 1981, she worked for Legal Services of North Florida as a staff attorney. Then, for 15 years, she worked with Florida’s Department of Labor handling employment cases. In 1998 Cummings went into private practice where there is more flexibility.

“I always wanted to work for myself,” Cummings reflected. I felt like I could contribute more,

have more control over the types of cases (I handled) and I wanted to take free cases. I just really wanted to be my own boss.”

Now, the Alcorn State University graduate contributes substantially as a member of The Tallahassee Bar Association, the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and the National Association of University Women (NAUW).

NAUW President Jerry Gilmore said that Cummings, who is the current vice president of NAUW, has been her right hand.

Gilmore and Cummings work with other association members to provide community outreach.

“She brings awareness to the group on issues we should be abreast on,” Gilmore said. “She also brings ideas about what we can do in the community tomake a difference.”

Cummings noted that the group is particularly focused on reaching teenaged females through a subsidiary group called Beaming Stars.

While Cummings has only one son, she has dedicated several years as an in-

termediate Sunday School teacher at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. She participates in the choir and serves as the church attorney as well.

“What keeps me grounded is my faith in God and my belief that He orders my steps,” she said.

“For the most part, I’ve been successful. My definition of successful might not be someone else’s definition, but, what I mean is, I have grown.”

At this stage in Cummings life, family seems to be what she has grown to value most.

“I can honestly say that my son is the one aspect of my life that I’m most proud of,” she said of her son who is a third year medical student at Harvard.

Nikie Lindsey, Cummings’ sister, appreciates the support her family can always expect from her sibling. Cummings recently sponsored Lindsey’s daughter’s “Sock-out Diabetes” campaign.

Midway from Page 1 needs then find solutions to meet them.

“I am the mayor of everybody (in Midway),” Barber said. “I am concerned and I care about what happens to them; everybody is important to me, and everybody has a contribution to make. I want them to realize that.”

As of now, the mayor is working on a historical survey of Midway to highlight its scenic attractions to bring people to the community. Also, Barber is working with the Valdene Family Foundation to contribute funds to purchasing Thanksgiving and Christ-

mas dinners for the citizens of Midway.

“My thing is to be the servant of the people and they can reach me at anytime,” Barber said. “The people can see a difference in Midway since I have become mayor.”

Although being mayor can be a stressful job Barber’s faith keeps her grounded.

“I trust in Him to give me the strength. After all, He determines who goes and how long you stay here,” Barber said. “I try to be in a good mood all the time because (citizens of Midway) feel like they can

come to me and talk to me in confidence.”

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

This is the second of a two-part series on Mayor Ella Barber of Midway.

Ashley Hogans can be contacted at ahogans@ capitaloutlook.com

is needed to live a happy, healthy life.”

To help these children and the parent who is a victim of domestic violence, the department this year began providing an intensive training to our child protection investigators called the “Safe and Together Model.”

This approach enables the entire child welfare community to evaluate families and develop plans to keep children and victims safe, while holding the perpetrator accountable. By doing this, many children have been able to stay safely in their own home with a parent instead of being placed in foster care.

Saunders from Page 1 lice officer is essentially a service,” said Eunice Saunders, Officer Saunders’ mother. “The fact that he was a servant is merited of what they are doing here today, and it makes us feel very proud. We were always proud of him but this is just the icing on the cake.”

The plaque will hang inside the airport art gallery since Officer Saunders loved traveling and art was his major at Florida State University.

Former co-workers, friends and family members shared memorable moments with Officer Saunders.

“With this celebration I meet more people, and pieces of him come back to me as more memories that I

Wilkins led a live Webcast on Oct. 11 to talk with child welfare and domestic violence professionals statewide about this new training, the partnerships our agency has formed and the hard work that is being done to fight domestic violence.

The Webcast roundtable also included Trula Motta, director of DCF’s Office of Domestic Violence; Emery Gainey, the division’s director of law enforcement, Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs for the Office of the Attorney General; and Tiffany Carr, the CEO of the Florida Coalition

Against lence.

Domestic

can store for him; and completely new experiences that he has touched with people and it touches me very deeply,” said Levien Saunders, Officer Saun-

ders’ brother.

Vio-

For more information about domestic violence in Florida or to see the Webcast, visit DCF’s Office of Domestic Violence online at dcf.state.fl.us/programs/ domesticviolence/awarenessmonth.shtml. For immediate assistance on domestic violence, please call the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800500-1119 or go to www. fcadv.org. To report child abuse or neglect, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.

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

(left to right) Martha Saunders, Levien Saunders, Eunice Saunders and Nick Saunders.

Veterans from Page 1 was established in 1996 and is composed of 165 students. When a student completes two years in the MCJROTC program and graduates they can be promoted to grade E-2 on initial enlistment in an active or reserve component of a military service.

“We are trying to educate all of our Americans, not just the old, but definitely the youth because I think we have lost the values of this country,” Reaves said. “The military to me is one of the last forefronts that teach those values of what it means to be an American.”

According to Reaves, the MCJROTC program helps develop responsible citizens, leadership skills, character, self discipline, respect and it allows students to explore opportunities in public service and military services.

Rickards High School has an Army JROTC (AJROTC) program that shares some of the same

values helping students achieve their goals as early as high school.

“Some of these students don’t have a father figure so you have to teach them respect, attention to detail and complete each mission,” said Master Sgt. Jerome A. Kerrison, Army Instructor of Rickard’s AJROTC program.

Rickards’ AJROTC program was developed in 1993. The “Raider Battalion” has since been recognized as “Honor Unit with Distinction” by the Department of the Army.

This award includes the top 20 percent of JROTC programs earning a minimum of 94 percent on their annual unit inspection and unit report of activities and service. Joining the JROTC allows students to broaden their horizons, fellowship and build relationships.

“Rickards is dedicated to community service and provides color guards, honor guards, and support

details to many Tallahassee schools and organizations for events year round, including nights and weekends,” said Major Joe Christen Senior Army Instructor of Rickard’s AJROTC program.

Leon and Rickards high schools JROTC programs focus on developing character traits that will help students survive and succeed in life.

“Freedom is not free; it takes a special young man and woman to go out there and serve. After all, you are a servant,” said Kerrison.

“So, my hat goes off to them.”

The JROTC program has many incentives for cadets seeking scholarships to college if they qualify.

Some scholarships, like merit-based scholarships, award up to $20,000 a year to be used at a college of a cadet’s choice.

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

Local/State

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

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3

National Save the Family Now Movement Inc. to host National Family March in Eatonville Special to the Outlook The National Save the Family Now Movement Inc. – a coalition of pastors, publishers and community leaders along with the Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM) – will host “A National Save the Family Now! March & Rally” Nov. 19 in historic Eatonville, Fla. The purpose of the march is to celebrate family and to challenge policies, programs and persons that demean and denigrate the black family in particular, and all families in general.

Additionally, the march will honor community organizations and churches that have developed positive programs for strengthening families.

Bobby R. Henry

Reverend R.B. Holmes Jr.

Mayor Bruce Mount

Deputy Mayor Eddie Cole

Bobby R. Henry of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and president of FABOM, stated, “This is a fine opportunity for our community to come together during this FAMU/BCU football classic to uplift our families and deal with issues that negatively impact the family.” Henry is also the publisher of the WestsideGazette.

The Rev. R.B. Holmes

Jr. of Tallahassee, Fla., president of region two of the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) and president of Live Communications Inc.,

stated, “This movement and march is extremely significant to mobilize and motivate our people to stand up against public policies that will diminish social

security, mediocrity, voters’ rights and education.”

Region two of the NNPA is comprised of seven states: Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Holmes is also pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Fla. Eatonville was the first incorporated AfricanAmerican community in

the nation. Mayor Bruce Mount and Deputy Mayor Eddie Cole are asking everyone to support this family march.

“Our families, whether traditional, or non-traditional, are the foundation of our communities. We must do everything we can to reclaim our young people and support their goals and aspirations,” said Mayor Mount.

For more information you may contact Dr. Linda Fortenberry at (850) 6810990 or (850) 222-8440.

Email savethefamilynow@ savethefamilynow.com or visit the website at savethefamilynow.com.

National Achiever’s Society student speaks at Youth of the Week: Homecoming Convocation Craig Williams puts “Good morning to Dr. shirts and matching ties. and School Advisory Counhard work before play Special to the Outlook Ammons, Board of TrustSchool Principal Dr. cil member. Reece is also

By Alicia McKnight Outlook Contributer

When it comes to working hard Craig Williams, 16, knows all about it. The Amos P. Godby High School junior said that he’s usually laid back, but when it comes to school, he works very hard.

“I am taking (Advanced Placement) environmental science, AP English comprehension, and honors American history,” he said. Williams also mentioned that English is his favorite subject.

Williams uses his spare time to relax. He also enjoys listening to pop and hip-hop music and riding bikes.

“I like mountain bikes because you can pretty much go anywhere on them,” said Williams.

The student-athlete is currently preparing for the soccer season to begin.

“We practice Monday through Friday and our first game is Nov. 3,” said Williams.

This past summer Williams participated in an eight week Professional Opportunity Program for Students (POPS) internship with the City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Economics and Community Services at the Renaissance Center. “(POPS) was really nice, and it was astonishing how Dr. (Regina) Bryant had everything done and completed in a short amount of time. I know I could never do it,” he said.

“The internship was really nice as well; the people at the job accepted me and held nothing back.”

As a part of the internship, Williams gained practical work experience.

“Mostly I would file paper work, organize notebooks and folders for job interviews,” said Williams.

Williams plans to attend Tallahassee Community College and then transfer to Florida State University to study film production.

“I’m taking a digital design class at Godby and, in the level that I’m in, we are doing some editing,” he said. Williams’ dream job is to become a film producer.

If offered the opportunity to go anywhere in the world, Williams would choose Los Angeles.

“There is a lot of history there, including cinematography. I would like to study more on that subject,” said Williams.

Williams considers

Craig Williams his mom a prominent role model for his life.

“She had kidney failure and she has no kidneys,” he said. “My mom still finds a light to just lead her and push forward.”

Duane Reece Jr., a fifth grader at Bond Elementary School’s All Male Academy, was a participant in Florida A&M University’s Homecoming Convocation. Reece, a third-year student in the academy, along with a fourth-grade student also from Bond, was well received by the audience. The event was held in FAMU’s Gaither Gymnasium on Oct. 7.

This was Reece’s second year as a participant on the homecoming program, as he also represented his school last fall. The students presented a time capsule to FAMU President James H. Ammons.

The letters in the capsule were written by students in the second through fifth grades from the academy, and looked into years 2019-2022.

Reece read a copy of his letter to the eager listeners:

ees, podium guests, faculty, staff and the best student body in the world. I am Duane Reece Jr., a first year professional MBA student from Tallahassee, Fla. It is my honor to serve as student body president for the 2019-2020 academic year at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. I remember when I attended Homecoming Convocation in 2011 and I decided then that I would be a Rattler.

Thank you Florida A&M University for all your encouragement!”

Upon the closing of this message, the audience went crazy with joy. Some audience members were seen wiping their eyes after hearing and observing such a moving presentation.

Academy students grades kindergarten through fifth grade were in attendance and sharply dressed in their navy blue blazers, khaki pants, white

d. e r i u eq r e n e li n o h no p

Pam Hightower stood a member of the National proudly on stage with her Achiever’s Society (NAS), students.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s Additionally, they Sigma Beta Club and a were accompanied by member of the Jacob ChaMrs. Rachel Blanks, after- pel Baptist Church, where school coordinator, Transi- he is active in the youth tion Principal Mrs. Regina choir.

Browning and classroom teachers.

Reece is the son of Shelonda Jackson who is employed at Bond Elementary as a paraprofessional. He is the grandson of Dr. Malinda Jackson James, former district administrator with Leon C o u n t y Malinda Jackson James with her grandson S c h o o l s Duane Reece Jr.

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Opinion Pass the jobs bill now!

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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.

Associate Editor

Education Editor Dr. Ronald W. Holmes

Youth Editor Delaitre J. Hollinger

By Cloves Campbell NNPA Chair

As America’s unemployment numbers continue to rise, many are wondering why Congress is hesitant to pass the American Jobs Act. Is it because it’s President Barack Obama’s proposal that the ultra right wing members of Congress are reluctant to support a good bill? Or is it because we are waiting for their non- existent jobs plan? Whatever the reason, American’s need jobs right now and the American Jobs Act will provide them.

Taralisha M. Sanders

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

Editorial and Advertising Office Phone: (850) 8770105 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.

median family will get to keep over $1,000 more from their paychecks each year.

Third, by committing to rebuilding America’s infrastructure and revitalizing our communities, more people can go to work with a feeling of responsibility, working to improve our country.

Fourth, it will extend unemployment insurance to 1.4 million African-American family heads as they continue to seek employment. It will also provide a new tax credit for businesses that hire long-term unemployed people.

Finally, this bill is paid for in a fair way – by closing corporate tax loopholes and asking the wealthiest Americans to finally

pay their fair share.

The American Jobs Act isn’t just about creating jobs today; it makes sure that those jobs are jobs of the future to help American workers with good jobs and fair wages. It invests in education so our children can compete globally and it invests in small business to enable us to tap their creative talents. It makes sure that America makes goods that the world will buy. I encourage you to call, write and text your representatives in the U.S. House and Senate and urge them to pass the American Jobs Act. Let’s get America back to work!

Occupy Wall Street group speaks up for America

By Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.

TriceEdneyWire. com

People are turning.

The misery is too widespread. The privileged are too brazen; the injustice, too apparent.

On Wall Street, young students have created a free democratic space in a place they call Liberty Square. They protest that Wall Street has been rescued, but there is no help for most Americans. In a moving statement, they presented their view: “We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care.

We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we are working at all.

We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.”

Their demonstrators were scorned in the beginning. They had no clear demands. They were organized with no formal struc-

ture. They were squatting out in the rain, not allowed tents or bedding.

But they understood the value of nonviolence. In the face of pepper spray and police provocation, they stayed disciplined. As they were being dragged away to be arrested, they said to the police, “We are the 99 percent. We are fighting for your pensions.

You should stand with us.”

They made no demands but their analysis was dead on. The wealthiest few are capturing all the rewards of growth in this society, while the large majority falls behind. Wall Street got bailed out, rescued without being reorganized, while homeowners were left to fend for themselves.

Inequality has reached levels not seen since before the Great Depression. With this kind of inequality – with the top 1 percent having as much income as the bottom 60 percent the economy doesn’t work well. The rich turn to speculation. The middle class sinks. And the country suffers.

Now conservatives are talking about sending the bill for Wall Street’s excesses to the most vulnerable – cutting Medicare and Social Security, slashing spend-

ing on public education.

Many of the kids in Occupy Wall Street are graduating from college with thousands in college debt and no jobs are to be found.

They are the 99 percent.

The discipline of their demonstrations, the clarity of their moral voice, has touched a chord.

Now groups are organizing to occupy financial districts in some 57 cities. Demonstrators have been arrested in Boston and San Francisco. The New Bottom Line is leading sit-ins at big banks in cities across the country. And this Wednesday, labor unions and civil rights and community action groups will join in New York in a march to support Occupy Wall Street.

A movement for change is building across the country. In July and August, without much press attention, citizens flooded congressional town hall meetings to demand jobs. Congressional caucuses created jobs tours. And they made a difference. The president chose to put out the American Jobs Act and demand that Congress act. People are turning.

Occupy Wall Street is in that tradition of nonviolence with a moral voice organizing to chal-

lenge entrenched power and privilege, a movement that stands with the majority against a powerful elite. To date, this has been a remarkable commitment to nonviolent protest, with creative and new techniques.

It was reported that the Wall Street traders drank champagne in their offices as they looked down on the drenched and straggly demonstrators in Liberty Square.

They should hold their scorn.

This is how change takes place.

The courageous stand up — and more and more people come to their side. The movement for jobs and justice has started up again.

is unemployed. If there are three people passing out programs, one of them is unemployed. If there are three people, or four, or five, or six, this pox called unemployment has visited them. Who is he, who is she? Mother, father, brother, Sister, somebody who brought a quarter to the table and the quarter isn’t there, not anymore.

In order to just stay even, our nation needs to generate 275,000 jobs each month. Last month, a month where some celebrated our “progress,” we generated just 103,000 jobs. We aren’t moving ahead, we are falling behind. Our reality is that the jobs market is broken and nobody wants to fix it.

Instead, we see a nation at political gridlock. The congressional republicans don’t want to pass the President’s jobs bill, and they have offered few alternatives. So we sit and wait to see if anyone will break the gridlock that keeps our legislators from moving forward. This is drama, it is trauma, it is bless you, mama, because it is overtime for there to

be some forward movement.

Perhaps this is not an issue for those whose constituency is enjoying a 9.1 percent unemployment rate. But there are too many who are experiencing much more than that. Throw a stone into the Black community. See who it hits. It is one in three, one in three, and one in three. What that means is that the pox called unemployment affects everyone.

When the reality of worklessness hits so, so, many, the fact is that it affects us all.

The numbers come out every first Friday. The reality visits our community each and every day.

One in three adult African Americans cannot find work. This is a depression level unemployment rate. People are hurting, but nobody really cares. One in three, One in three, and One in three.

One in three

By Julianne Malveaux

Office Manager

Let’s take a closer look at what the president’s plan will do to get people back to work.

First, it will help America’s small businesses hire and grow by cutting payroll taxes by 50 percent. America was built on the backs of small businesses, and by giving them these options they are more likely to create more job opportunities. These types of cuts can help over 100,000 AfricanAmerican owned businesses.

Second, instead of giving corporate tax credits that end up doing nothing for the overall economy, he proposes to extend the payroll tax. By doing this, 18.5 million African-American workers will be affected and the

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

NNPA Columnist

The first Friday of the month is a day when economists like me are riveted to the news. We want to know what’s up with the unemployment rate, and with the changes that have taken place in the last month. Last week, our nation learned that we treaded water.

The unemployment rate remained at a high of 9.1 percent, 8 percent for white folks, and 16 percent for Black folks. Some pundits were jazzed at the rates, thinking that they meant we are doing okay.

What’s okay? The real unemployment rate for African Americans is close to thirty percent.

This means that a third of the Black world is not working. This means that there are too many Black folks who are tripping. This means that too many are managing pain. And with the Congress ignoring the reality, failing to of-

fer the relief from the jobs bill, this means that nobody cares.

I hear from people all the time. Their stories are heart rendering. They talk about the lives they once had, the lives they now have. Once upon a time, they had homes, mortgages, and opportunities. Now they have lost jobs, homes, and their opportunities.

They are the folks that stand in the middle of the statistics. We know the numbers, but we don’t know their pain.

The pain is more acute for African Americans than it is for others. President Obama has not fully addressed that, although his spirited anger at the recent Congressional Black Caucus dinner was a great step in the right direction. Still, I have to think that if there were a crisis in Appalachia or in New Mexico, there would be a more invigorated response.

Instead, Black folks are unemployed and nobody really cares.

Go to church and count it out. If there are three people huddled over water, one of them

Julianne Malveaux is President of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.

Corporate tax refunds

By Judge Greg Mathis No matter how you look at it, the economy is stalled, and has been for some time. National unemployment rates hover at just over 9 percent – and spike even higher in hardhit cities. The federal government is unable to balance its budget because it isn’t bringing in enough revenue, putting much-needed social programs at risk. Everyone – from corporate leaders to local politicians to the president is urging us to sacrifice and make the hard choices needed to ride this recession out. It doesn’t appear as

if the nation’s major corporations are being told the same things.

According to the study released by the Institute for Policy Studies, 25 of the nation’s top U.S. companies received an average of more than $300 million each in tax benefits. Most of these corporate refunds are the result of write-offs obtained through offshore income tax income shelters that corporations use. Additionally, the corporations get tax breaks for a variety of corporate initiatives that may or may not benefit local communities or the federal government. Each of these top 25 companies – which include Verizon, eBay and General Electric brought in profits of nearly $2 billion each and paid more to their

chief executives than they did in federal taxes.

This practice of multi-billion dollar companies not paying their fair share and it must be addressed. Any reasonable person would agree that, if a company performs well, its leaders should be paid accordingly. However, it is unthinkable that a company bringing in billions of dollars would receive a tax refund, especially at a time when the federal government is frantically searching for revenue.

Small businesses drive the nation’s economy – they make up the majority of the country’s employers and employ more people than large corporations. Yet, they are not afforded the same gener-

ous tax breaks as large companies. If our economy is going to rebound, the government has to rethink who and what it supports. The focus must be placed on those entities that invest in their communities and spur job growth.

There is no overwhelming evidence that the monies our nation’s top companies saved in federal taxes have trickled down to the common man. That is a travesty. If these corporate refunds are not being granted for programs that help boost the economy or create jobs, this practice should be reviewed and eliminated immediately.

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

Education

www.capitaloutlook.com

5

Is it time to privatize public education?

Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.

Education Editor/Vice President

Some carpenters practice the concept of “measuring twice and cutting once.” Their goal is to make sure that they don’t waste materials and time on the job and complete the task at 100 percent proficiency.

This philosophy is similar to the business principle that says, “If you do the job right the first time, you don’t have to do it again.”

America’s public school system is constantly criticized by politicians, policymakers and business executives for not doing the job right the first time. In fact, they have repeatedly expressed disenchantment about students’ poor performance on standardized tests and ill-preparedness for work. So, the questions to be asked are: Is it time to privatize public education?

What policies encourage the expansion of privatizing public education? How many schools are managed by for-profit Education Management Organizations (EMOs)? What is the percentage and advantage of EMOs as charter schools?

What state is on the verge

of privatizing its public schools? What are the pros and cons of privatizing public education?

Privatization of public education is not a new phenomenon. School systems for decades have contracted with the private sector to manage services they could not effectively do or did not have the time and resources to manage efficiently. Some outsource services include contracts for transportation, custodial, lawn and catering. Now, privatization of public education is increasingly expanding to the administrative operation of schools.

According to research, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act provides an avenue for privatizing public education through establishing a market for supplemental educational services and the labeling of failing schools. These services typically provide support to schools through tutorial assistance from education service providers such as the Sylvan Learning Center.

Schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) get sanctioned by the NCLB and, subsequently, provide privatiza-

Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D. tion options such as converting to a charter school or contracting with a for-profit Education Management Organization such as Edison Learning. Schools that fail also provide privatization options through state vouchers. These vouchers allow students to use their tax dollars to attend a high performing public/private charter school or an EMO. As a participant in the free enterprise system of managing public schools, EMOs evolved in the early 1990s. Sixteen states operated for-profit EMOs totaling 131 schools in the 1998-1999 school year compared to 31 states totaling 728 schools in the 2009–2010 school year, according to the National Education Policy Center.

Of the 728 schools oper-

ated by EMOs in the 20092010 school year, only 53 percent met AYP. With the steadily growth of for-profit firms, the highest number of EMOs are located in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, Ohio and Pennsylvania; and approximately 93 percent of them are charter schools.

Charter schools are given more autonomy than traditional public schools to create innovative curricula, programs and services to meet the needs of specific students. They are responsible for improving students’ achievement according to established goals of their charters or contracts as negotiated between the governing bodies such as local school boards, state education agencies, universities and business organizations. They must meet the goals of the charters in order to continue operating.

President Barack Obama promotes charter schools as a central component of his Education Reform Program. He has significantly increased funding to create more successful charter schools, improve struggling charter schools and eliminate failing charter schools through

competitive grants such as the Race to the Top. Through this education reform, parents have additional alternatives to educate their children.

According to The Huffington Report, Michigan Republican state leaders are pushing for privatization of Michigan Public Schools. This legislation, introduced recently by State Sen. Phil Pavlov, is designed to significantly “expand charter schools and privatize public school teaching by employing” EMOs. While proponents of the legislation believe that privatization will help to address the budgetary shortfall, create competition, creativity and better outcome for tax dollars, opponents believe that this initiative is very senseless, will replicate services, diminish autonomy and local control of public schools.

Opponents also believe that state leaders should allocate appropriate funding to public schools for a better return on investment.

During the time of a lean economy coupled with the demand for high performing schools, legislators are creating a market place

for privatization of public education. This initiative, in addition to outsource services managed by private companies, comes in forms of supplemental education services, vouchers, charter schools and EMOs. In my view, privatization of public education can create competition for tax dollars and force traditional public schools to improve or fail. When low-performing schools show drastic improvement, they should be allocated additional funding to strengthen their staffing and academic programs. This should support low-performing schools to remain in existence and compete equally for tax dollars. This should allow low-performing schools to continue their pursuit to “do it right the first time so they don’t have to do it again.”

Dr. Ronald W. Holmes is the National Superintendent of Education for the National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc. He is a former teacher, school administrator, and district superintendent and can be reached at rwholmes@capitaloutlook.com.

The racial wealth gap is growing: College access for African Americans at risk Special to the Outlook Severely restraining the ability of blacks to pay for college is the fact that, for the past 40 years, black family income has held steady at about 60 percent of median white family income. This large and unyielding gap is a huge barrier to blacks who seek education beyond high school.

A far more important statistic for measuring the ability to finance the cost of higher education is family

wealth. Family assets such as stocks, bonds, money in the bank, and real estate produce interest, dividends, or rental income which are commonly used to offset or pay college costs. Wealth also includes the value of a family’s home. This important asset can be sold or borrowed against to provide funds for college expenses.

The wealth gap between black and white families has been huge.

Typically, over the past

generation white families have had wealth that was 10 times that of black families.

A new study from the Pew Research Center shows that during the recent recession, the wealth gap has grown even wider.

In 2009 the average white family had had a median net worth of $113,149.

The average black family had a median net worth of only $5,677. Since 2005 the median net worth of black families had dropped

by more than 50 percent.

In 2009 the average white family had a net worth that was almost 20 times greater than the median net worth of black families.

With sharp rises in tuition at many state-operated colleges and universities, the growing racial wealth gap will undoubtedly result in the inability of many black students to afford a college education.

Audra Burch is the 2011 recipient of the Thelma Florida State University Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award Moot Court Team wins currently writes on a range Thelma Gorham,” Hawkins international competition Special to the Outlook of stories for the Miami said. “The award is given Special to the Outlook The Florida State University College of Law Moot Court Team has won first place in the World Finals of the 2011 Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. The semifinal and final rounds of the competition were held Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 at the High Court of Cape Town, South Africa. The team beat Georgetown in Washington, D.C., in April for the right to represent North America in the international competition.

Winning team members are third-year law students Tanya Cronau, from Port St. John and Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Lynn Guery, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and 2011 graduate Anne Marie Rossi, from Tampa, Fla. They were coached by Tallahassee attorney Arthur Stern.

“We were all thrilled when Florida State won the right to represent North America,” said Dean Don Weidner. “To be the global

winner has us all walking on cloud nine.”

Florida State defeated Saint Petersburg State University (Russia), the winner of the European round, in the semi-finals. They defeated the National University of Singapore, the winner of the Asia Pacific round, in the final round.

The judges for the final round were Judge Abdul Koroma, Judge Peter Tomka and Judge Xue Hanqin, all of the International Court of Justice.

“We’re on top of the world,” said Nat Stern, the team’s faculty advisor.

The Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition is sponsored annually by the International Institute of Space Law. The competition is based on a hypothetical space law dispute before the International Court of Justice.

For more information about the competition, visit: http://www.iislweb.org/ lachsmoot/.

From left, Tanya Cronau, Lynn Guery and Anne Marie Rossi, with their North American award.

The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) awarded Audra D.S. Burch the 2011 Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award on Oct. 12.

The award was presented during the school’s annual Grads are Back Luncheon in the SJGC Gallery.

Burch is an awardwinning and enterprise writer for the Miami Herald. She has been nominated three times for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize and she was part of a team that published a book on hurricanes.

“We are so proud of

Audra Burch Audra’s professional accomplishments,” James Hawkins, SJGC dean, said.

“Anyone who knows Audra knows her commitment to journalistic excellence.”

The 1988 graduate

Herald. Most recently, she covered the Casey Anthony murder trial and wrote stories on prescriptive drug abuse in Florida.

Burch launched her career at the Post Tribune in Gary, Ind. There she covered police, county government and legal affairs. She then joined the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and was on a two-person team that won several national awards for a series exposing menu fraud at South Florida restaurants.

“The Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award bears the name of FAMU’s first instructor of journalism—

to an alumnus who has excelled professionally and demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the university.”

Burch is a former deputy regional director of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Association. She chaired the NABJ Region IV conference in 1999 and she is a former president of the Palm Beach chapter. Over the years, she has mentored numerous aspiring journalists and has served as a teacher/coach at several FAMU summer journalism programs.

She lives with her husband in Hollywood, Fla.

TCC’s Florida Green Academy now offering North American Board of Certified Energy Professional Photovoltaic entry-level exam Special to the Outlook Tallahassee Community College’s Florida Green Academy is now a provider of the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals Photovoltaic (NABCEP PV) entry-level exam.

The NABCEP PV entry-level program is designed for those individuals wanting to enter the solar photovoltaic field.

Successful completion of the nationally industryrecognized exam allows for candidates to demonstrate they have achieved a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation and operation of PV

systems.

The NABCEP PV entry-level exam will be offered at TCC on Nov. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the College’s Center for Workforce Development. Cost is $150.

In addition to the exam, TCC is also offering the Fundamentals of Solar Photovoltaic-NABCEP Entry-level Certificate of Knowledge course from Oct. 17 to Nov. 1. The class will meet Mondays from 6-10 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost is $495.

The NABCEP PV Entry-level Exam Review course is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 2 and 3 from 6-10 p.m. The review course is

geared towards students who have previously taken a PV course at TCC and want to refresh their knowledge. Cost is $105.

Students can register for the exam and/or courses via EagleNet at www.tcc. fl.edu.

For more information on the NABCEP PV entry-level program and/ or preparation courses, contact Marc Dick at (850) 201-9612.

The Florida Green Academy, part of TCC’s Center for Workforce Development, is a dynamic training center dedicated to existing and emerging “green” occupations and

industries, such as energy, construction and transportation. The Florida Green Academy is currently focusing on the following broad areas: alternative energy, energy efficiency in buildings and construction, environmental management, sustainability practices, and water management, including waste water.

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Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011 Religion Devotional –– “The Greatness of Joy”

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“The Joy of Service”

By Lula F. Banks, Ed.D. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your pres-

ence, o Lord. They rejoice in your name all the day long; they exult in your righteousness, ” (Ps. 89:15-16).

The Joy of Service is from God and, because of His love for us, we delight ourselves with gladness to serve by doing something for someone.

Significantly, being joyous in service is having the right attitude and spirit which affect the way we serve. When we are faced with discouragement, despair, and burden by other vicissitudes of life, they can cause us to lose our flame of fire to have joy.

Psalm 30:5 says “… weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Saints, don’t let Satan rob you of your joy of service. Know that “God is spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth,” (John 4:24). Be excited about the fullness of God – just think of His goodness, mercy and grace.

When we get low in our spiritual joy, ask God to “…renew a right spirit within me” and “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit,”

(Ps.51:10-11). Having a free spirit gives us liberty – freedom to choose how we want to serve: joyfully or non-joyfully. “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s Servant,” (I Cor. 7:21).

We must “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 5:11). In truth, worship and service should be our greatest response to God – LORD I trust you and want to joyously serve you. Whatever

you need me to do – send me LORD, I’ll go!

Our purpose of worship should not be focused on what we can obtain; but rather to exalt God. A spontaneous emotion to gladly serve comes from deep within our hearts; in doing so, we show our love, delight, and adoration for Him. Thusly, an expression of our love in this manner fills us with joy. Then we can say, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders,” (Ps. 9:1).

The Joy of Service should be motivated by the goodness of God and what

He does for us every day.

God said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,” (John 15:6). Just knowing that He abides in us assures His love for us. As we draw closer to him, he draws closer to us!

Therefore, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” (1 Thes.4:18) and remember to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice,” (Phil. 4:4).

Men’s Devotional –– “Lord, Set Us Free” This week, the Capital Outlook continues a nine-week series of Men’s Devotionals.

“Lord, Teach Us to Pray”

By Deacon Bruce Harrell Jesus, after he had ceased from praying, was asked by one of his disciples, “Lord teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.” And Jesus proceeded to introduce the model prayer.

We’re all familiar with this prayer. For most of us, as a child this became our first prayer. And depending on our spiritual growth, we either graduated to a more purposeful, intentional, inspired dialog. Or we held on to the model and it became a ritualistic, obligatory, feel-good antidote to be recited prior to going to bed – with no thought of its meaning or significance, missing badly what Jesus was trying to teach his disciples.

Often, when we are in the habit of saying something a lot, we don’t take the time to reflect on what the words actually mean.

We place so much emphasis on reciting the words that we miss the message.

Accordingly, this model prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples was more than mere words. And in the same way, this exhortation from the disciple of “Lord, teach us to pray” was more than an excited utterance.

Contained in this request is the subtle admission by

the disciples that there is something lacking in our lives. Yes, we know how to fish, we know how to collect taxes; we know how to count money. But we don’t know how to pray. Keep in mind that these men were handpicked by Jesus. We are reminded of Solomon, a man also chosen by God, who, at a tender age, was aware of his own deficiency, his inadequacy, when it came to the things of God. We could speculate but we can’t be sure what prompted that disciple to say to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” It could have been that since John’s disciples had their distinct prayer, they wanted theirs.

Or they could have been like the young Solomon who confessed that, “I don’t know how to do that.”

It could have been that this certain disciple was aware that certainly he, but more generically all people, are born incomplete. In other

words, people are not born complete when it comes to going in and out before God. We do not, by nature, have the knowledge or the skill or even the inclination by nature, to do things right in the sight of God or in the service of God. So, on this occasion, the disciples adopted a frame of mind like a little child that allowed them to ask for help in something that is so fundamental and so basic that, if we are not careful, a proud person would be ashamed to admit that they didn’t inherently have the ability to do that.

At the intellectual level, a person could reason, “well, all praying is, is talking, isn’t it, thinking words directed to God? Surely we were born with the inherent ability to do that weren’t we?” Well, no we weren’t. Not the right way.

Solomon reminds us that we don’t know how to go out and come in with God.

Jeremiah reminds us that it is not in man that lives to direct his own steps.

So, let us look closely at this model prayer recorded in Matthew 6:9-15 to get an indication of what Jesus was teaching.

9After

this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

We are to acknowledge God as our Father and also recognize that he is worthy to be worshipped.

God is our provider, and He will provide for us daily.

12And forgive us our

debts, as we forgive our debtors.

This is the most serious portion of the prayer. Jesus is telling us that we cannot expect God’s forgiveness unless we are willing to forgive each other.

13And lead us not

into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and

the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

This is a request to God to help us with our desires so that we do not give in to the temptations as set by the Devil. For in times of trial, God desires the situation to be a test that will prove us to be strong and make us stronger.

This model prayer is a serious commitment to God. It is His desire that we would allow Him to be Lord of our lives, and even let Him do on earth as He does in Heaven.

10Thy

kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

We are asking God to take control of things on earth as He does in heaven.

This is an act of surrender, and if we make this request of God then we must be willing to submit to him.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

Reverend Dr. R. B. Holmes , Jr.

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

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

Capital Outlook

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connections We’ve made important moves to strengthen your network.

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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 keep your bonds strong by reaching out to those you care about the moment they need you.

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© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.

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8

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011 Community News Jack and Jill celebrates 60 years

www.capitaloutlook.com

By Terrika Mitchell Outlook Staff Writer

In a black-tie event reuniting past and present members, Tallahassee’s chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. culminated their 60th anniversary – celebrating working, living and playing together.

The “Diamond Celebration” was held in Florida State’s University Club Tom and Ginny Ballroom.

Notables such as Tallahassee Mayor John Marks,

the Rev. Julius McAllister. pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; and former Jack and Jill national President Eva Wanton, who was honored during the ceremony, were in attendance.

The national organization was founded in 1938 in Pennsylvania by 20 mothers who came together to discuss creating an organization to provide social, cultural and educational opportunities for youth between the ages of 2 and

19. The Tallahassee chapter was established 13 years later and remains an asset to the black community.

Attorney Chuck Hobbs II, a former member of the local chapter, was master of ceremony. He recalled defending the organization to fellow Morehouse College students who accused Jack and Jill members of being egotistic.

“Jack and Jill of America is not about being better (than others),” he said.

“It’s about making sure the

black family is better.”

Tamara Turnley-Robinson, national vice president of the southeastern region of Jack and Jill of America Inc., quoted Wanton in order to explain the impact a chapter should have on the society.

“A Jack and Jill chapter should never exist in a community where the community is not better because of it,” she said.

The national organization started as one for mothers and their child(ren) but

now includes an additional auxiliary for father involvement.

Members are educated in financial literacy, legislative advocacy, healthy living and leadership development.

Chauncey Haynes was a former teen president in the Pensacola chapter of Jack and Jill. He said that he was fortunate to “rub shoulders” with members who went on to become successful, such as Hobbs.

“Every young person

Covenant Hospice

Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church

Email: mtzionchurchclerk@ gmail.com

Admission: FREE For vendor Information: 850-668-1668 Location: 4665 Thomasville Rd.

“Dialogue of Hope” When: Oct. 20 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Location: Jack L. McLean Community Center 700 Paul Russell Rd. RSVP: 850-575-4998

“Homecoming & Old Fashion Day Program” When: Oct. 30 @ 11 a.m.

Contact: Mable Johnson @ 850-228-5944 Location: 3116 N. Meridian Rd

Good Shepherd Catholic Church “Annual Holiday Arts & Craft Show” When: Nov. 12 Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

City of Gainesville “Downtown festival & Art Show”

Airport funfest a success for families

By Crystal Jordan Outlook Contributor

Tallahassee Regional Airport’s first “Airport Funfest & BBQ Challenge” was an all-day event. The event featured a Florida sanctioned BBQ competition, children’s activities, live musical performances, arts and crafts, cars and aircraft displays, door prizes and more.

The free event was one the whole family would enjoy.

“This is a great time for families to come out show their support to our community, “said Airport Marketing and Event Coordinator Laura Brown.

The Airport Funfest & BBQ Challenge event was created by Sunil Harman, Tallahassee’s new director of aviation, who wanted to creatively bring more awareness, support and revenue to the Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH).

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), chapter 445 offered free

introductory flights to students between the ages of 8 and 17.

Additionally, the City of Tallahassee aviation staff is working on an Air Service Development Strategy in hopes of helping reduce airfare.

“Most flights out of Tallahassee are 60-70 percent business, 20 percent family/getaways and 10 percent is impulse flying,” said Marshall J. Taggart, Jr., assistant director of avi-

ation. “More than 500,000 people travel through Tallahassee Regional Airport yearly.”

Approximately 5,000 people visited the funfest to their support. Roy Ford, a Tallahassee resident, and his family, in-laws included, stopped by to enjoy all the festivities.

“It’s great to bring something, so positive to our community and make it a family affair.”

Some of the event’s pro-

ceeds will go to the United Way of the Big Bend.

The barbecue competition was judged by city officials and some event participants who donated one dollar, which was then donated to the United Way. The Airport Funfest & Barbecue Challenge was a success and officials hope to make it an annual event.

Photos of participants from the event.

Photos by CRYSTAL JORDAN

should have the opportunity to belong,” he said.

The Jacks and Jills enjoyed a day of face painting, out-door games and food and drinks the preceding Saturday on Florida A&M University’s campus as part of the anniversary celebration.

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

Photos by LEWIS JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

When: Nov. 12-13 Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Cost: FREE Visit: www.gvlculturalaffairs.org Call: 352-334-ARTS

Health

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

www.capitaloutlook.com

Special to the Outlook

Medicare open enrollment begins October 15

With more benefits, better choices and lower costs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are encouraging people with Medicare and their families to begin reviewing drug and health plan coverage options for 2012. The Medicare Open Enrollment Period – which begins earlier this year on Oct. 15 – has been expanded to last seven weeks and will end on Dec. 7. This will give seniors and people with disabilities more time to compare and find the best plan that meets their unique needs. Across the country, Health and Human Services (HHS) officials will hold 150 events in the days leading up to Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period to inform and educate people with Medicare.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, people with Medicare can get certain preventive services for free and can get more affordable prescription drugs,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Open enrollment is seniors’ chance to review

Affordable Care Act gives seniors with Medicare cheaper prescription drugs, free preventive services and lower costs their Medicare choices and pick the plan that works for them, or keep the plan they have today.”

Beginning Oct. 15, people with Medicare can begin reviewing the 2012 quality ratings for Medicare Advantage health plans (Part C) and prescription drug plans (Part D) for the upcoming year.

This year CMS is highlighting plans that have achieved an overall quality rating of 5 stars with a high performer or “gold star” icon so people with Medicare can easily find high quality plans. People with Medicare can switch to an available 5-star plan at any time during the year.

Using Medicare’s Plan Finder – available at www.medicare.gov/finda-plan – people will see the enhanced star ratings for 2012. In addition to the enhanced star ratings for 2012 and new “gold star” icon, Plan Finder users will see an icon showing which plans received a low over-

all quality rating for the past three years.

“Over the past year, we have worked to improve health coverage choices for people with Medicare, and make it easier for people to find a plan that is both a good value and meets their health care needs,” said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D. “Due to these efforts, people with Medicare have good, meaningful choices for their 2012 plan options.”

In 2012, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, additional benefits to people with Medicare include lower prescription drug costs through a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs in the coverage gap (also referred to as the “donut hole”), wellness checkups, and access to certain preventive care with no copayments – a benefit that all Medicare Advantage plans will offer starting in 2012.

Resources for Medicare Beneficiaries People with Medicare, their families and other trusted representatives can review and compare current plan coverage with new plan offerings, using many proven resources, including: • Visiting www.medicare.gov, where they can get a personalized comparison of costs and coverage of the plans available in their area. The popular Medicare Plan Finder tool has been enhanced for an efficient review of plan choices. Spanish Open Enrollment information is available.

• Calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for around-the-clock assistance to find out more about coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-4862048. Multilingual counseling is available.

• Reviewing the 2012 Medicare & You handbook. It is also accessible online at: www.medicare.

gov/publications/pubs/ pdf/10050.pdf – and it has been mailed to the homes of people with Medicare.

• Getting one-on-one counseling assistance from the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Local SHIP contact information can be found: o At www.medicare.gov/contacts/organization-search-criteria. aspx or o On the back of the 2011 Medicare & You handbook or; o By calling Medicare (contact information above). o Through a listing of national stand-alone prescription drug plans and State specific fact sheets can be found at: www.cms. hhs.gov/center/openenrollment.asp People with Medicare who have limited incomes and resources may qualify for Extra Help paying for their prescription drug costs. There is no cost to

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apply for Extra Help, also called the low-income subsidy. Medicare beneficiaries, family members, trusted counselors or caregivers can apply online at www. socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778) to find out more.

Protecting Against Fraud and Identity Theft During this Open Enrollment Period, Medicare recommends that people treat their Medicare number as they do their social security number and credit card information. People with Medicare should never give their personal information to anyone arriving at their home uninvited or making unsolicited phone calls selling Medicare-related products or services.

Beneficiaries who believe they are a victim of fraud or identity theft should contact Medicare (contact information above). More information is available at www.stopmedicarefraud. gov.

Breast cancer awareness perfume could actually cause cancer

By Amanda Elser Special to the Outlook

Everyone “goes pink” come Oct. 1, embellishing themselves in an assortment of pink products all of which raise money for the fight against breast cancer.

But one of these products, a perfume released by the breast cancer awareness powerhouse Susan G. Komen for the Cure, contains an ingredient that studies

have shown to be a contributing factor in the development of breast cancer.

The perfume, “Promise Me” was released this past April by TPR holdings, which according to AOL Daily Finance, is a consumer products company that manufactures a wide array of colognes and cosmetics.

In TPR’s partnership to Susan G. Komen, in return for Komen’s endorsement,

TPR will donate $1 million a year to the charity.

But it wasn’t until after advocacy group Breast Cancer Action sent a sample of the perfume to a California-based laboratory that the shocking ingredient list was discovered.

“Promise Me” contains galaxolide, a synthetic musk. According to the article galaxolide is “a hormone disruptor, it accumulates in the body and has

shown up in the fat, blood, and breast milk of women who wore perfumes that contained it. More disturbing, some studies have shown that it may be a contributing factor in the development of breast cancer.”

While the Susan G. Komen foundation insisted that their medical and scientific affairs team deemed this product not harmful, the charity still ended up

discontinuing the original product and have set about reformulating the perfume for a 2012 release (although

the original formula is still available for sale in over a dozen retail locations).

Come save where making shopping a pleasure is part of the deal.

Even when you’re shopping on a budget, you don’t have to give up the experience you deserve. At Publix, you’ll find hundreds of items on sale every day, while you still enjoy the service you can’t quite put a price on. Go to publix.com/save right now to make plans to save this week.

to save here.

10 www.capitaloutlook.com

Classifieds/Sports

Oct. 20 - Oct. 26, 2011

CLASSIFIEDS

Employment

Analyst (Applications & Database) THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS ARE “OPEN CONTINUOUSLY” Paramedic (PRN) EMT (PRN)

LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JOB OPENINGS THE FOLLOWING POSITION HAS A CLOSING DATE OF: October 21, 2011 Health & Wellness Coordinator

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

THE FOLLOWING POSITION HAS A CLOSING DATE OF: October 28, 2011

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Real Estate Manager

Attn: Southeast Regional Drivers. Tired of running to the Northeast?

THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS ARE “Open Until Filled” GIS Database Analyst GIS Technician (Two positions available) Application Development

Currently hiring CO and I/C to run in the Southeast.

Home Weekly!

Great Benefits! Must have 1 year T/T exp. CDL-A. EPES Transport. 877-9830202www.epestransport. com

Legal Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File Number: 2011-CP000562 In Re The Estate Of: DORIS R. GARCIA, Deceased NOTICE OF PETITION FOR SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS A Petition for Summary Administration has been filed in the estate of DORIS R. GARCIA, deceased, File Number 2011CP-000562, in the Circuit Court, Leon County, Florida, the address of which is: Clerk of the Circuit Court Leon County Courthouse 301 S. Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32302 There is no personal representative.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT: All persons on whom this notice is served, who have objections to the granting of the petition or who challenge the 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 A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. 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, 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 NO-

Sport business degree now available on TCC’s campus Special to the Outlook Saint Leo University’s Tallahassee campus is now offering a Bachelor of Arts degree in sport business.

This new degree program is in addition to its criminal justice and psychology degree programs. Saint Leo University’s Tallahassee campus is located on the main campus of Tallahassee Community College – one of TCC’s five University Partners.

The sport business program prepares students to pursue careers in leadership positions in settings ranging from youth, amateur or professional sports, to recreational or college sports, and at sports governing bodies or in sports

marketing positions. The course offerings will begin with the start of the spring 2012 semester.

Saint Leo University’s B.A. in sport business and its online Master of Business Administration with a specialization in sport business are both accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), a specialized body that promotes and recognizes excellence in sport management programs at colleges and universities.

“This accreditation is a testimony that Saint Leo University is a national leader in sport business education, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels,” said Eric C. Schwarz, Ph.D., chair and associate

professor of sport business.

Both academic programs are offered through Saint Leo University’s Donald R. Tapia School of Business.

Dean Michael Nastanski said students, prospective students and employers can take confidence in knowing that COSMA reviewed and approved Saint Leo’s overall approach to business education. Additionally, Saint Leo business programs are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.

Financial assistance is available through the Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) as well as federal aid programs. The FRAG is available to students

who are Florida residents working on his or her first bachelor’s degree and are enrolled at Saint Leo University-TCC as a full-time student.

Saint Leo offers TCC graduates and any other interested participants the opportunity to pursue an education without leaving TCC’s main campus.

TICE ON THEM.

sons are invited to attend.

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

TIME: October 25, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.

PLACE: Howell Center, 3955 W. Pensacola Street PURPOSE: Business Meeting An Agenda Review Workshop for School Board Members who wish to attend is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Monday, October 24, 2011 in Portable #2, 2757 W. Pensacola Street.

All interested persons are invited to attend.

ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, AND OBJECTIONS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED The date of the first publication of this notice is October 13, 2011.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Superintendent’s office not later than five working days prior to the proceeding.

Leonard Alterman Attorney for Petitioner 4035 Atlantic Boulevard Jacksonville, Florida 32207 Telephone (904) 739-3440 Fax (904) 636-0856 Florida Bar Number: 107075

For further information please contact: Superintendent’s Office Leon County Schools 2821 W. Pensacola Street Tallahassee, Florida 32304 (850) 487-7247

Announcements THE SCHOOL BOARD OF LEON COUNTY announces a regular meeting to which all interested per-

Signed: Jackie Pons, Superintendent

Last weekend

Local teams bring wins home Florida A&M v. @ Savannah State

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Florida State v. @ Duke

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For more information on Saint Leo UniversityTCC, visit the University Center at TCC, call (850) 201-8655 or log on to saintleo.edu/tallahassee.

BETHEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH REVEREND DR. R. B. HOLMES, JR., PASTOR

Preaching, Praise & Prayer!

“THE JOY OF JESUS!” Philippians 4:4, John 15:11, Psalm 30:5

141ST Church Anniversary & Pastor’s 25th Anniversary Wonderful Wednesdays!!

Wonderful Wednesdays – Noon!!

Wonderful Wednesdays - 7:00 PM!!

October 5, 2011

Reverend Dr. Joseph Wright, Pastor Jerusalem Baptist Church Tallahassee, FL

Reverend O. Jermaine Simmons Pastor Jacob Chapel Baptist Church Tallahassee, Florida

October 12, 2011

Reverend Perry Robinson, Pastor New Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Jacksonville, FL

October 19, 2011

Reverend Torin T. Dailey, Pastor First Baptist Church of Oakland Jacksonville, FL

Reverend Jeremiah Robinson, Pastor Royal Tabernacle Baptist Church Jacksonville, FL Reverend Dr. James Bouyer, Pastor New Jerusalem Baptist Church Thomasville, GA

October 26, 2011

Reverend Kirby Freeman, Pastor New Trenton Baptist Church Emerson, OH

Reverend Michael Jackson, Pastor Springhill Baptist Church Jacksonville, Florida