Walk to End Alzheimer’s comes to Tallahassee. . . Page 7 50 Cents
Vol. 37, No. 38: Section 01
Tallahassee, T allahassee, Florida
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Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2011 2011
Community Experience
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida Special to the Outlook
Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES
Gov. Rick Perry said at a Sept. 7 MSNBC presidential debate that “it is a Ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today, ‘You’re paying into a program that’s going to be there.’ Anybody that’s for the status quo with Social Security today is involved with a monstrous lie to our kids, and it’s not right.” about Social Security by calling the program “a Ponzi scheme.” Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney, seen as Perry’s strongest rival, seized on the remark and has hammered Perry with it
ever since. He continued that attack Sept. 12 in a tea party debate in See SECURITY, Page 2
Taking time Bethune-Cookman University to give competes nationally Person of the Week
Photo by BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY
Irene Perry
Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed
By Terrika Mitchell Outlook Staff Writer
Irene Perry, born and raised in the Chaires community, is redefining retirement. Once leaving the Leon County school system as an educator after 37 years, Perry picked up speed. That was 20 years ago and she’s just reaping the consequences. “I feel myself slowing down,” she laughed. “I may not see it, but I can feel it.” Perry has every right to slow down. She was one of 30 teachers to integrate public schools in the county at Pineview Elementary. After 10 years, she taught at Kate Sullivan Elementary unSee POW, Page 2
By Terrika Mitchell
Outlook Staff writer
In the spirit of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed, Bethune-Cookman University’s (B-CU) first woman president since McLeod, is preparing the university to compete in the national arena. In a 360-degree presidential evaluation, conducted by an outside source earlier this year, Reed was criticized by B-CU faculty, administration and students who provided input. Results ranged from Reed’s accomplishments with university budget balancing and fundraising to questioning
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune her integrity. One supporter referred to her as a “change agent.” “I’m about change,” said Reed, who added that she is honored to follow in the founder’s footsteps. “People don’t like change and they don’t like to move out of their comfort zones.” Reed is still relatively new to the B-CU scene, with only eight years as president. Her predecessor, Dr. Oswald Bronson, served 29 years as president – overseeing university successes such as increasing major fields of study and adding new accreditations to the nursing and teacher education programs, according to B-CU’s website. In 1904 McLeod opened the school as a girls’ institute that
transitioned into a co-ed high school, then junior college and finally a 4-year institution in 1941 known as Bethune-Cookman College. Reed said that it is her job to acclimate B-CU students for the 21st century, especially through civic engagement – as McLeod had envisioned. “I am nurturing students to perform nationally,” said Reed, who remembered playing McLeod in a Negro History Week assembly in grade school. “Just to hang around campus to make students feel warm and fuzzy is not necessary. That’s not as important as students being connected to the (university’s) vision.” Students share at least one common vision as Wildcats; “Enter to learn and depart to serve.” With the construction of B-CU’s Center for Civic Engagement and the L. Gale Lemerand School of Nursing, $100,000 grants to its wellness center, and endowment growth, students can expect to graduate with experience to outperform many. “Sixty-five percent of our students come from Florida,” Reed said. “Florida wants to keep them here (after graduation), so what are we doing? Students are participating in internships that hopefully lead to employment. We’re creating new academic programs and the number of students going to graduate school here is increasing.” See COOKMAN, Page 2
Parole Commission needs more staff for civil rights By David Royse The News Service of Florida Special to the Outlook
A change made by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet this year that makes it harder for ex-convicts to get their civil rights restored has increased the workload at the Parole Commission, which said it needs more people to deal with the process. In a legislative budget request sent by the agency to the governor on Sept. 15, the commission asked the governor’s office to consider suggesting to lawmakers that they pay for 10 additional staffers at the agency to process applications for restoration of civil rights. Estimated cost for those new staffers in salary and benefits: $511,685. Even if Scott and lawmakers were to go along, those 10 employees still wouldn’t make much of a dent in the backload of requests from people who want to again have the right to vote, hold office or carry a gun after serving
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With senior-rich Florida shaping up as a critical state in the 2012 Republican primary, two of the leading candidates are battling over the future of Social Security and whether one frontrunner’s inflammatory comments about the program could harm the party in a general election. At stake are the 29 electoral votes up for grabs in Florida and perhaps more in other states where retirees have flocked in recent decades. The scuffle also shows where tea party rhetoric could collide with electoral realities in the largest of swing states. The issue gained life in the GOP primary last week, when Texas Gov. Rick Perry responded to a debate question about earlier statements he had made
Florida Parole Commission Chair Tena Pate
Florida Parole Commission Cochair Monica David
their time. Florida, led on the issue by new Gov. Scott, and new Attorney General Pam Bondi, voted in March to end the automatic restoration of civil rights that had been put in place under previous Gov. Charlie Crist and a previous Cabinet.
In doing so, workload wasn’t really part of the equation. Both Scott and Bondi said it simply was good public policy that felons seeking to get their rights back should show they deserve it by first abiding by the law on the outside for a time. But in going from automatic
restoration of rights to a process by which Parole Commission employees must evaluate applications from those who want their rights back, the commission now has much more work to do. “We are not surprised the state needs more money to address this self-inflicted problem... this is what happens when good governance takes a backseat to a political agenda,” said Ron Bilbao, senior legislative associate for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which had opposed the change. “Whether the state gives the Parole Commission the resources they need to do their job will prove what the intent really was. Either the attorney general and governor actually want people to have the right to vote, or they prefer to keep a Jim Crow-style system where people can’t vote, get discouraged and give up.” Under the previous rule, it took a little bit less than an hour See PAROLE, Page 2
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Social Security takes center stage leading into 2012
Inside CLASSIFIEDS / 3 OPINION / 4 EDUCATION / 5 RELIGION / 6 COMMUNITY NEWS / 7
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Is Florida ready to consider Texas’ higher education reforms? Is it possible to evaluate a college professor the same way NFL scouts measure the speed, strength and quickness of college athletes? Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants to have that debate. He’s looking to a controversial Texas proposal as a guide. The Texas model has sparked a Lone Star backlash from schools concerned the plan forces them to adopt a one-size-fits-all template, undermines research and damages the value of a degree. An organization of the nation’s top research universities has warned members about adopting the Texas reforms. Supporters say the plan was meant to start a conversation. Small businesses can get new federal tax credit for offering health insurance The Internal Revenue Service wants to make sure that small businesses know they may qualify for a new federal tax credit – if they pay at least half their employees’ health insurance premiums. This tax break could help some of the more than 4 million Floridians who don’t have health insurance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said 27 percent of the Sunshine State’s population lacks the insurance. Corrections: In last week’s Sept. 15 - Sept. 21 issue, the article, “The Tenelle’s remain happy fifty years after wedding bells,” Tenelle should be Tennell. Clarence was Clerk of Court for 15 years. Patricia Tennell is a licensed registered nurse and their daughter Sonya is an attorney specializing in corporate compliance. They also renewed their vows on their 30th anniversary. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused our readers.
This Week’s Word “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (KJV)
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Capital Outlook
Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2011
Cookman from Page 1 Cookman’s administration is proving itself worthy of the 2007 university-status proclamation, in spite of controversial grade change scandals involving sexual misconduct and continual faculty dismissal and replacement. Ebony Minter, 2011-
2012 Student Government Association president, said that the relationship between administrators and students is delicate and could improve. Still, B-CU fosters a family element that she can be proud of. “One of my main concerns was the communica-
tion and transparency between administration, faculty, staff and students in regards to the changes that take place and the changes that students wish to see,” Minter said. “As a student government, with the help of our vice president of student affairs, we have tried
to ensure that whenever appropriate and necessary there is always student representation.”
Security from Page 1 Tampa. “The term ‘Ponzi scheme,’ I think, is over the top and unnecessary and frightful to many people,” Romney said. Perry, who penned an editorial in USA Today earlier Sept. 12 softening his language and saying Social Security needs to be reformed, rebuffed the swipe from Romney. “Rather than trying to scare seniors like you’re doing – and other people – it’s time to have a legitimate conversation in this country about how to fix that program where it’s not bankrupt, and our children actually know that there’s going to be a retirement program there for them,” Perry said during the nationally televised debate. Democrats who hope to recapture Florida for President Barack Obama’s re-election effort in 2012 have gleefully jumped on the controversy – and said that some of Romney’s ideas for Social Security are no better than Perry’s. “Make no mistake,
the tea party agenda includes ending Medicare as we know it, eroding Social Security and, if fully implemented in 2012, eliminating 9.5 million jobs across America,” said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith. The party released a web video Sept. 12 highlighting Perry’s “Ponzi scheme” comment. So far, Perry’s supporters in Florida are sticking by him. Appearing on CNN’s “American Morning” on Sept. 13, state House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, backed the comments. “I think Gov. Perry’s metaphor of a ‘Ponzi scheme’ is accurate in that it’s unsustainable,” Cannon said. “The new investors’ money that is paying our retiree won’t be there for those newer investors.” Romney supporters, unsurprisingly, disagree. “Our nominee must also oppose the dismantling of Social Security,” U.S. Rep. Connie Mack said in a statement issued by the Romney camp. “It is a pro-
gram millions of seniors rely on – and many of them in our state of Florida.” The dynamics of the Republican primary in Florida help to fuel the issue. State leaders have pushed to make the state’s GOP vote fifth in line – behind traditional early states like Iowa and South Carolina, where Perry will be favored, and New Hampshire and Nevada, where Romney appears to have the edge. There are signs that Social Security reform might no longer be the third rail of American politics, even in Florida. Marco Rubio won a U.S. Senate seat despite his support for raising the retirement age, a stance that was assailed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist in the GOP primary that Crist eventually left and in the three-way general election that followed. But Matthew Corrigan, a political science professor at the University of North Florida, said Rubio’s statements appeared to be more carefully calibrated than
Perry’s characterizations of Social Security. “I think where Rick Perry got into trouble is people interpreting him as questioning whether we should have the program,” Corrigan said. Even some Republicans who agree with Perry that the program needs reform say his rhetoric could cause heartburn in a general election. “Could he have utilized more artful wording? Sure,” said Brian Graham, a Republican consultant. Graham said a general assault on calls for Social Security reform might not be as potent now as in the past, in large part because of the new attention being paid to the country’s debt load. But he said it could still make a difference even in the primary among GOP voters concerned with electability. “I think, for those voters, Mitt Romney looks more attractive because, of course, that issue won’t be there to beat up Mitt Romney on,” Graham said.
ter.”
said. “I do know that my attitude is certainly centered around my religious beliefs.” She said starting the church’s clothes closet was her human service project. Inevitably, Perry said she loves her family, who has remained supportive – especially her husband of 50 years, Alfred. She adores her son, daughter, granddaughter and twin great-grand children. “Regardless of what
she’s involved in, she’s going to give 150 percent,” said Alexandria Perry-Ingram, Perry’s granddaughter who says they share an enduring relationship. “She has a special place in my heart, not only as mother or grandmother, but as a friend.”
POW from Page 1 til her retirement in 1991. After being retired a year, she helped initiate Bethel Christian Academy as a second-grade teacher. “I don’t know how they got me to say yes,” she said. Perry worked another five years but decided to refocus on giving back. “(Volunteering) stems from my childhood,” she said. “I was basically reared by a single father and there were many people who helped me get where I am.” Her selfless volunteering spans across several fields – from education to healthy living to community involvement – particularly in things that involve senior citizens. Tallahassee Democrat’s Active Living magazine has featured Perry and she’s graced the cover of Tallahassee Memorial’s Healthy Living magazine as a community volunteer. She is currently on the advisory council board for the Tallahassee Senior Center. She works with organizations such as LeonWakulla County Retired Educators Association, the National Association of University Women, and the National Hook-up of Black Women. It’s a wonder how she is able to excel. “When you ask her to be somewhere, she’s there ahead of time,” said School Board Member Maggie Lewis-Butler. “She goes out of her way to produce the necessary resources to get a job done.” Lewis-Butler and Perry have served on academic boards together, and are sorority sisters and neighbors. Perry is most proud of neighborhood accomplishments at the Jake Gaither Community Center. She organized the center’s women’s golf league, which meets every Thursday, and started its Mature Women’s Exercise Class. “Some days we have as many as 40 women (in class),” Perry said excitedly. “It makes me feel so good that I was able to bring something to the cen-
Perry embraces Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” – to drive her giving. She grew up in St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal but has been a member of Bethel AME church for more than 50 years. “Church and school were all we had to do when I was growing up,” Perry
Terrika Mitchell can be contacted at tmitchell@ capitaloutlook.com
Terrika can be contacted at tmitchell@capitaloutlook.com
Parole from Page 1 for most restorations to be completed, and it was largely a clerical process. Now, for most cases – those that don’t involve actually holding a hearing, it takes about 5 hours to process the application. For those cases in which a hearing is needed, it takes nearly 14 hours to determine whether or not to recommend giving someone their rights back, a decision ultimately up to the Cabinet. As of July 1 there were 95,425 pending clemency cases. The commission estimates that with its existing staff of 39 it would take five years to get through all of them even if they weren’t to get any more applications. “Recognizing the state’s continuing budgeting constraints and current office space, the Commission is requesting ten (additional) positions,” the agency said in its request. What if the agency were to ask for what it really would need to clear the backlog? “It would take a total of 192 full time positions to complete it in a year,” said Jane Tillman, spokeswoman for the commission. “But we also understand the fiscal position the state’s in,” Tillman said. Still, she said, “if someone may have been under the misperception that our
workload would decrease under the new rules, this is just the opposite. The bottom line is there are pending cases that are going to take longer to do and we don’t have the staff right now to complete those in a year.” “By funding 10 additional (employees) to process and complete clemency cases, the commission will be able to complete more cases and deliver better services to its customers and the public,” the commission said in its proposed budget. The change in the way Florida handles restoration of civil rights was opposed by a number of groups that typically advocate for the poor and minorities. They have said it makes it harder for ex-convicts to reintegrate into society after serving their time. The majority of the cases handled by the Board of Executive Clemency – which consists of Scott and the Cabinet – are requests for civil rights restoration. With the change made in March, Florida rejoined a list of four states – along with Kentucky, Virginia and Iowa – that don’t automatically restore civil rights after release from prison. Officials in the attorney general’s office declined to comment.
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Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2011
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Employment
LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JOB OPENINGS THE FOLLOWING POSITION HAS A CLOSING DATE OF: September 23, 2011 Management Analyst
&
Budget
THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS ARE “Open Until Filled” Application Development Analyst GIS Database Analyst Application Development Analyst (Applications & Database) 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
Announcement THE SCHOOL BOARD OF LEON COUNTY announces a regular meeting to which all interested persons are invited to attend. TIME: September 27, 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, SeptemSeptem ber 26, 2011 in Portable #2, 2757 W. Pensacola Street. All interested persons are invited to attend.
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. For further information please contact: Superintendent’s Office Leon County Schools 2821 W. Pensacola Street Tallahassee, Florida 32304 (850) 487-7247 Signed: Jackie Pons, Superintendent
Invitation to Bid COOK BROTHERS, INC. Is bidding the following project and would appreciate a bid from your firm. LAKE JACKSON BRANCH LIBRARY, COMMUNITY CENTER AND HUNTINGTON OAKS RENOVATIONS DESCRIPTION: PHASE 1A +/- 12,000 GSF RENOVATION, PAHSE 1B +/-3,000 GSF RENOVATION, PHASE 2 FRONT FAÇADE RENOVATION BID DATE: 10-12-2011 BID TME: 2:00 ET PLEASE SEND BIDS NO LATER THAN 1 HOUR PRIOR BID TIME FAX BIDS TO: 850-5141007 or MAIL BIDS TO: 1255 COMMERCE BLVD., MIDWAY, FL 32343 It is the bidder’s responsibility to confirm all changes, supplements or addenda and that any bid was received by Cook Brothers, Inc. prior to bid closing. CBI is not be responsible for bids received late, for any reason and DOES NOT encourage emailed bids. SCOPES OF WORK INCLUDED: SITEWORK, CONCRETE, MASONRY, STRUCTURAL STEEL, LIGHT GAUGE STEEL, ROUGH CARPENTRY, FINISH CARPENTRY, MILLWORK, INSULATION, WATER REPELLANTS, METAL ROOFING, HOLLOW METAL DOORS, GLASS AND GLAZING, HARDWARE, DRYWALL, ACOUSTI-
CAL CIELINGS, CERAMIC TILE, FLOORING, PAINT, TOILET PARTITIONS, SIGNAGE, BLINDS, FIRE PROTECTION, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MODIFIED BITUMINOUS ROOFING, STUCCO, PROJECTION SCREENS, DEMOLITION Plans are available for purchase at THE BLUEPRINT SHOP in Tallahassee, FL. (850-224-2699) and for no cost review in our office or online at www.theblueprintshop.com (click on PLANWELL at the top left of the page and then PUBLIC PLANROOM at the bottom left. Look for file # 99-0040). COOK BROTHERS INC. DOES NOT HAVE PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE – IN ANY FORMAT. If you have any questions or problems obtaining or reviewing plans and specs, please contact PETE MABRY at phm@ cookbrothersinc.com. or by phone at (850) 514-1006.
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Cook Brothers, Inc. Is Actively Attempting To Obtain MBE/WBE Participation. There will be a pre-bid meeting on Thurs. 09/29/2011 at 2:00 PM. Eastern time in the Cook Brothers Inc. office at 1255 Commerce Blvd. Midway, FL. ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED AND W/ MBE PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR MBE CERTIFICATION AT THAT MEETING. COOK BROTHERS, INC. Pete Mabry, Project Manager
Legal Notice Notice Under Fictitious Name Law Pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of My Unique I located at 3971 Emerald Chase, in the County of Leon, Tallahassee, Florida 32308. Cicero Hartsfield intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.
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Thirty-eight states rigging voting rules for GOP
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By Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. TriceEdneyWire. com
As the campaigns for the 2012 presidential election begin, Republicans are trying to rig the rules. In 38 states, they are pushing measures that will effectively lock millions of the young, the poor, the elderly and minorities out of the election booth. This is the most systematic rollback of voting rights since the segregated South invented literacy tests, poll taxes and intimidation to bar blacks from voting. Their motivation is clear. Republicans are championing an agenda that they know lacks popular support – from lowering taxes on the rich to seeking to end Medicare as we know it. They have a stake in lowering voter turnout, not raising it. Paul Weyrich, a co-founder of the Moral Majority, used to warn Christians about what he called the “goo goo syndrome,” the good government types who wanted to make voting easier. “I don’t want everybody to vote;” he said in 1980. “Our leverage in elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.” So Republican governors and legislators are introducing
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than 10 percent of U.S. citizens lack such identification, and the numbers are even higher among constituencies that traditionally lean Democratic – including 18 percent of young voters and 25 percent of African-Americans. This is the political equivalent of gamblers paying to shave points in a basketball game. If they canceled the game, or made one team forfeit, fans would object. So they rig the outcome by paying one player to feign injury or play badly. In presidential elections as close as those in 2000 or 2004, shaving a few percentage points off the turnout could make a determining difference. Only we are not talking basketball here. We are talking about one party cynically erecting barriers to the fundamental right to vote. The real problem in American elections is too few people vote. Registration isn’t automatic. Early voting is limited; elections take place on a weekday when working people have a hard time getting to the polls. Republicans have no campaign to make voting more accessible. This is the real “Ponzi scheme” that does injury to the American promise of fairness and equality. The irony is those that are willing to declare war for democracy abroad are too willing to declare war against democracy at
home. We cannot survive such a global contradiction. The whole world is watching and it must see the attorney general and Department of Justice take on a higher profile to protect voting rights. Their targets are apparent. Ohio and Florida, with conservative Republican governors, banned early voting on the Sunday before the election, the day when black churches often provide assistance for their congregations to vote. Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott disenfranchised more than 97,000 ex-felons and prohibited another 1.1 million prisoners from being allowed to vote after serving their time. In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry signed “emergency legislation” that makes a concealed weapon permit an acceptable voter ID but disqualifies a student ID. Wisconsin’s infamous Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation that allowed students to vote only with an ID that included information that no college ID currently provides. More than 200,000 students in Wisconsin may be disqualified from voting as a result. It is time for the Justice Department to rouse itself. It is time for citizens to mobilize.
President Barack Obama’s strategic leadership for jobs By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
Publisher/President
measures designed to curtail voting, particularly by constituencies likely to oppose their course. Their excuse is to combat voter fraud – but they have failed to produce any evidence that this poses any concern. Even when White House adviser Karl Rove pushed the Bush Justice Department to make voter fraud a focus, they could not dig up evidence of its existence. In a 2007 report, New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice summarized the evidence: “It is more likely that an individual will be struck by lightning than that he will impersonate another voter at the polls.” As Nation reporter Ari Berman summarizes, a dozen states now have passed obstacles to voting, with more considering them. They are requiring proof of citizenship for registration; they put groups seeking to register voters at legal risk. Maine repealed Election Day voter registration, on the books since 1973. Five states – Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia – cut short their early voting periods. Six states controlled by Republican governors and legislatures – Alabama, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin – will require voters to produce a government-issued ID before casting ballots. More
NNPA Columnist
The American Jobs Act (AJA) has been presented to the Congress of the United States by President Barack H. Obama. This is another major step forward to get the entire nation to re-focus on implementing solutions to the nation’s unemployment crisis. In particular for black Americans the prolonged joblessness problems are causing pain and misery in nearly every community. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, last month’s unemployment rate for black Americans rose to 16.7 percent, the highest unemployment rate for black Americans since 1984 while, at the same time, the unemployment rate for white Americans fell slightly to 8 percent. Some of us recall that during the administration of President Ronald Reagan in the early 1980s, the unemployment rate for black Americans surged to more than 20 percent. The point today is that we have had high unemployment before, but we managed to not let an overall sense of hopelessness and defeatism to be a permanent fixture in our consciousness as a people. African-American leaders today should be speaking out in support of The American Jobs Act. President Obama’s recent speech to a joint session of Congress and the subsequent delivery of this important legislative ini-
tiative was a remarkable strategic move by the president. What is needed now is public pressure on all members of Congress to get this bill enacted into law as soon as possible. The tea party wing of the Republican Party appears to be leading the rest of the moderate Republicans straight off the cliff of ultra conservatism into a deep abyss of politically-motivated cynicism and do-nothingness on the issue of jobs for all Americans. In other words, there is a clear premeditated motive by those who want to defeat President Obama in 2012 that is glaringly obvious: to prevent Congressional passage of The American Jobs Act to politically in an attempt to injure President Obama at the expense of permitting high unemployment to continue. Annalyn Censky for CNNMoney reported that, “Black unemployment has been roughly double that of whites since the government started tracking the figures in 1972. Economists blame a variety of factors. The black workforce is younger than the white workforce, lower numbers of blacks get a college degree and many live in areas of the country that were harder hit by the recession – all things that could lead to a higher unemployment rate.” Of course there are many different other historical and contemporary causes for the fact that black Americans are the most unemployed in America. Beyond describing the problem, how-
ever, we need solutions and we need jobs now. That is why there should be a sense of urgency in both the black American and Latino American communities to mobilize support for The American Jobs Act specifically because this legislation will provide real employment opportunities for our communities. According to the official White House release on the AJA, the purpose of “the American Jobs Act is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. And it would do so without adding a dime to the deficit.” For black Americans, many of whom have been underemployed as well as unemployed, the Obama Jobs Act is a welcomed initiative. The American Jobs Act has five components: 1. Tax cuts to help America’s small businesses hire and grow; 2. Putting workers back on the job while rebuilding and modernizing America; 3. Pathways back to work for Americans looking for jobs; 4. Tax relief for every American worker and family; 5. Fully paid for as part of the president’s long-term deficit reduction plan. African American owned businesses will benefit from the passage of the AJA because of the projected millions of dollars in payroll tax cuts. These savings will enable these businesses to, in turn, hire more employees from our communities. Fifty billion dollars will be spent on new
infrastructure jobs for highways, transit, rail and aviation. AfricanAmerican and other minority contractors will have expanded opportunities to participate in the implementation of the AJA. Thirty-five billion dollars will be for retention and hiring of teachers, firefighters and other public servants. Twenty-five billion dollars will be for investing in the modernizations of 35,000 public schools and other infrastructures related to schools across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of youth jobs will be created and, given the fact that black youth unemployment in some areas of the country exceeds 30 percent, this component of the AJA is vital for our young brothers and sisters who are crying out for an opportunity to be gainfully employed. President Obama has acted. Now it is our turn to show and express support for the immediate passage of the American Jobs Act by the Congress. This is urgent. Let’s not waiver or be immobilized. It’s time to stand up for the empowerment of our communities. Support the American Jobs Act. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is senior advisor for the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and president of Education Online Services Corp. and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN).
King out of context - Just fix it! By Dr. Julianne Malveaux Special to TriceEdneyWire
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was anything but an “arrogant twit.” Yet, Dr. Maya Angelou called it entirely correctly when she said that one of the quotes engraved on the side of the new memorial to Dr. King portrays the man as a braggart, not the humble servant leader that he was. “I was a drum major for justice,” the memorial reads. The actual “drum major” speech is a profound speech about the herd instinct that many human beings have, much to their detriment. As part of a herd, we often buy what we can’t afford, put on airs that serve no purpose and fail to speak up when it is unpopular with the crowd. Dr. King said, “If
you want to say that I was a drum major, say I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. Say I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.” Maybe that full quote was too long for the slab of stone, but the “if” clause is extremely important to its meaning. Angelou, a personal friend of King’s, raises her voice representing so many when she says the out of context quote does not do King’s message justice. I am amazed at the glib excuse for editing the quote, because of “space constraints.” Find another quote that fits better into the space, instead of mangling one and taking a civil rights icon’s message out of context, changing the meaning, intent and spirit of the “drum major” speech. I am also bothered at the response that some of the King memorial
leaders had for Angelou. “She didn’t come to meetings,” said one, implying that absence is consent. “Did she ever get the minutes? Was there a vote? Executive architect Ed Jackson Jr., says they ran the change by an oversight group, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and “they didn’t have a problem with it.” I’d like to know whether this group’s major concern is aesthetics or historical accuracy. Angelou’s principled stance is appropriate. Many of us may know the correct quote and its context, but many do not. A generation from now, when millions of people from all over the world are coming to visit the monument, will the quote show King and his message in its full authenticity? This is the only monument on the National Mall that lifts up an African American. It is a tremendous accomplishment. It ought to be correct. I can already hear someone
say “don’t sweat the small stuff.” A quote out of context is no small thing, especially not when it alters the meaning of the message. My grandmother is not the only elder who made “young’uns” cringes when she railed, “If you are going to do something, then do it right.” I sure hope the folks who made quote decisions had those kinds of grandmothers. Then they would understand that Angelou is simply an advocate for historical accuracy, for King’s dignity and for a monument that fully reflects the years of dedication, commitment, and effort that have gone into it. Do it right. Fix the quote. Don’t take King out of context. Julianne Malveaux is president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.
Education
5 How will Dekalb County School System put “Students First?” Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2011
Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.
Education Editor/Vice President
Educators, researchers, philosophers, business executives and others have debated for centuries whether leaders are born or made. Depending on whom you ask, some believe leaders are born because they have inherited an innate ability to effectively run an organization. Others believe leaders are made because, for each new leadership position, they have to apply their prior and new experiences to develop a strategic plan germane to the conditions of the organization. Whether leaders are born or made, there is a preponderance of information that leadership is about building effective relationships with all constituents of an organization. On Sept. 15, Dr. Cheryl L. H. Atkinson was officially sworn in as superintendent for the Dekalb County School System (DCSS). Dekalb County is one of three school districts in the Atlanta area that has undergone change at the superintendent level in the last year. With a superintendent change in
DCSS, the questions to be asked are: How will Dekalb County School System put “Students First?” What are the steps Dr. Atkinson plans to take to reach the vision? How does Dr. Atkinson visualize transforming DCSS into a world-class school district? Dr. Atkinson became the first African-American female superintendent to run Georgia’s third largest school system on a permanent basis. She is the former superintendent of Lorain city schools in Lorain, Ohio and brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and understanding to lead Dekalb County’s district to a world-class organization. In addition to Lorain city schools, Atkinson was the associate superintendent of Charlotte Mecklenburg school district in Charlotte, N.C. with 127,000 students and an operating budget of 1.2 billion. She has worked at many other school levels including deputy superintendent, executive director of curriculum services, director of staff development, principal, curriculum coordinator and teacher in school districts and cities across the nation. Atkinson attributes her success to
Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D. building positive working relationships with students, parents, community and media, leading and executing all governing board decisions according to board policy, reorganizing school districts with substantial cost savings and aligning the curriculum for K-12 for improvement of students’ proficiency in the classroom and on standardized tests. Dekalb County School System (DCSS) is located in Stone Mountain, Ga. It operates on a budget of $775 million with 14,700 employees and 98,000 students occupying 136 schools. In DCSS, 69 percent of the students are African-American, 11 percent white, 12 percent Hispanic and 5 percent Asian/Hawaiian. Of the student popula-
tion, 69 percent are on free or reduced lunch. As the Chief Executive Officer, Atkinson says she will focus on shifting the school system to one that puts “Students First.” Her objective is to focus on student success and to implement instructional innovations to help students and parents engage, learn and achieve. The district has been mired in a series of media and legal crises, few of them directly related to instruction, and Atkinson will refocus the district’s attention and energies toward ensuring that student success is placed before all other considerations. In her first 90 days, Atkinson says she will immerse herself in the school district’s operations, and will meet with parents, teacher-parent organizations, teachers’ groups and civic and business leaders. She will visit every school in the district and meet with every principal, and will make immediate changes in existing and new personnel to enhance students’ success. Atkinson will also make a comprehensive assessment of the financial resources of the district, with an eye toward shifting
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as many of those resources as possible to schools and classrooms. Atkinson has begun the journey with the development of a three-phase strategy for putting children first in every action implemented in the district. In the first phase of the plan, Atkinson says she will conduct a personnel audit of the central office, which will occur over the next two weeks. Phase two of the entry plan includes auditing programs within divisions and departments. The final phase of the entry plan is to develop and present to the Board of Education and the community the Superintendent’s Excellence for Education Plan (EFEP). Atkinson’s EFEP will be a strategy to improve educational achievement, internal operations, reporting, and accountability. She says that listening to and learning from internal and external stakeholders will be an integral part of the plan. At the conclusion of the plan, Atkinson says she will provide a summary outlining the findings and use them as a tool for future direction. With over 29 years of training in education,
Atkinson is confident that with all of DeKalb County’s stakeholders working together and putting “Students First,” DCSS can reach its goal of building a world-class school district. The citizens of DeKalb County expect quality education, and the children of DCSS deserve nothing less. Atkinson is committed to educational excellence and asks the community to join her in achieving this goal throughout DCSS. The Capital Outlook congratulates Dr. Atkinson’s on her new superintendent appointment and wishes her success in building strong relationships with all stakeholders in DCSS and making the district a world-class organization. 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.
Florida student loan defaults rise
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida Special to the Outlook
More Florida students can’t afford to pay their student loans and are defaulting at higher rates than a year ago, due to the economic malaise, higher interest rates and the rise of for-profit colleges, which often charge higher tuition than public colleges. Florida’s federal student loan default rates for the fiscal year 2009 were 10.5 percent, a big increase over the 8 percent default rate reported the previous fiscal year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. This puts Florida in the top 10 states for highest student loan default rates in the nation, and is seen as an indication of the state’s larger economic woes. Florida’s community colleges, for-profit colleges and historically black colleges had higher default rates – with some as high as 25 percent - than traditional state universities. Proponents of those schools say the higher default rates are a reflection of their bigger population of low-income students, who take out more loans
and don’t have family financial support, than any perceived weakness in their programs. Nationally, the number of students defaulting rose from 7 percent to 8.8 percent, the highest rate since 1997. Arizona had the highest student loan default rate at 16 percent, with North Dakota and Montana the lowest at 3.4 percent. Typically a student who doesn’t pay back a federal student loan that was taken out to pay for college classes is unemployed or doesn’t make enough money to afford student loan payments. “Borrowers are struggling in this economy,” said James Kvaal, the deputy undersecretary of education. He said the rise in the number of students who can’t pay their loans is a direct reflection of the high unemployment rate. To be counted as default, a student had to have been at least 270 days past due by the end of September 2010. The default rate doesn’t include all borrowers, just those with loans that came due in the fiscal year 2009. Mark Kantrowitz, the publisher of FinAid.org, a resource for financial
aid information, said poor job opportunities for new graduates and higher student loan interest rates are to blame for the rise in defaults. The federal government changed the interest rates on federal student loans in 2006 to a flat rate, versus the variable rate that students had been paying. That flat rate – for most loans now about 6.8 percent – was higher than the variable rate many students were previously paying, causing minimum monthly payments to rise. “Every year since then, students have been graduating with more and more fixed rate loans and the average interest rate has been going up,” Kantrowitz said. Still, unemployment is a bigger driver, he said. Florida’s community colleges typically saw higher loan default rates than most four-year public universities. State College of Florida, ManateeSarasota, for instance, had a 16.3 percent student loan default rate for fiscal year 2009. “Community college students, for the most part, live a lot closer to the edge financially than university students do,” said St. Pe-
tersburg College President Bill Law. The default rate at his school was 12.5 percent. Law said students who attend St. Petersburg College may also take out more student loans because some are not eligible for Bright Futures scholarships, which are awarded by grade point average and test scores. Kathy Mizereck, executive director of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges, said students who attend Florida’s for-profit colleges and technical schools have greater financial need. “The students who attend our institutions tend to be older, working adults who have little or no support from family,” Mizereck said. Some of the schools with the highest federal default rate came from forprofit colleges that focused on career training, such as cosmetology. For instance, over a quarter of students who had to repay loans in fiscal year 2009 taken out to pay for classes at Orlando-based Centura Institute were not able to, according to federal data. Centura offers training in massage therapy, nursing, and medical billing.
The federal government changed the interest rates on federal student loans in 2006 to a flat rate, versus the variable rate that students had been paying. Nationally, Kvaal said for-profit colleges are partially driving the increase in student loan defaults. The default rate for all forprofit colleges rose from 11.6 to 15 percent in the fiscal year 2009. One reason the government tracks this data is that schools with default rates of 25 percent or higher for more than three years in a row lose their ability to offer federal loans to students. No Florida schools met these criteria. For-profit colleges sometimes charge higher tuition than community colleges or state universities. Mizereck noted that is because they receive no state funds and are largely supported by student tuition. Kantrowitz said forprofit schools do cater to low-income students. “The student who goes to for-
profit colleges are almost guaranteed to graduate with debt – 96 percent do,” he said. But the school’s forprofit status also adds to the debt load, he said. “A few thousand dollars of that debt is due to the profits,” Kantrowitz said. He did a study that indicated as much as 10 percent of a student’s loans from a for-profit college are attributable to its profit. “For-profit colleges are charging a little bit too much compared to other institutions,” he said. Students who cannot pay student loans back are not given a free pass. Their accounts are typically passed to a collection agency, and in the most severe cases wages and tax returns can be garnished.
Professor tenure poised for Legislative comeback By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida Special to the Outlook
Eliminating or changing how professors are awarded tenure, a longerterm contract that carries more job security, is likely to surface again this legislative session. At a meeting of college presidents Sept. 9, college officials were briefed on the law surrounding “continuing contracts,” or tenure,
Rep. Erik Fresen sponsored the bill during last year’s legislative session.
in the expectation that it will again be in legislative crosshairs. “We do know it is going to come up,” said former state Rep. Joe Pickens, now president of St. Johns River State College, urging other college presidents to be aware that an effort to eliminate tenure contracts at Florida colleges is likely to resurface after it was defeated last legislative session. Examining tenure is also reportedly an interest of Gov. Rick Scott’s, said Katherine Johnson, president of Pasco-Hernando Community College and head of the Florida College’s Council of Presidents. She said Scott is asking potential appointees to university and college governing boards their stance on tenure contracts. A controversial bill
to eliminate continuing contracts within the Florida College System was dropped last legislative session after the Association of Florida Colleges Council of Presidents voted to oppose the measure. But this year, college presidents are signaling a willingness to work with lawmakers on a possible compromise. “If we just tell the Legislature we are not interested in discussing tenure, then the Legislature will do what the Legislature does, and that is just pass something and say ‘This is what you have now,’ ” Pickens said. He urged the other college presidents that working with lawmakers could be fruitful. “We should advocate on behalf of our faculty,” he said.
Tenure is a longtime academic tradition. At the university level, universities typically offer tenure to professors after a rigorous six-year process. Professors that meet a university’s standards on teaching, research and service are awarded tenure contracts with no expiration date and cannot be fired without just cause. For professors, tenure is valued because it protects academic freedom, permitting research and discussion of unpopular or controversial topics without reprisal. Colleges that offer associate and bachelor’s degrees also award tenured contracts, but the process is short – typically about three years – and emphasizes teaching ability over research. The push to eliminate
or change the tenure system in Florida is linked to a similar effort in Florida’s K-12 public schools. This year, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that eliminated long-term contracts and pay tied to length of time teaching, putting all teachers on annual contracts and linking their salaries to student test scores. Scott has shown a keen interest in ushering in higher education reforms similar to ones championed by Gov. Rick Perry in Texas. As part of those reforms, tenure would be based more on teaching evaluations and student satisfaction than research. It also provides incentives for tenured professors to teach more classes. Professors are particularly wary of changes to tenure. Ed Mitchell, the executive director of the United Faculty of Florida,
said if tenure is eliminated or dramatically changed, it will drive talented professors away from Florida “The entire idea of stripping tenure is like putting a giant sign at the Florida border that says: ‘The best and brightest need not apply,’ ” Mitchell said. “Nobody is going to come here without tenure.” He added that there is a misconception that tenure means a professor cannot be fired. “I have people fired every year with tenure,” Mitchell said. “Tenure means you can’t be fired without just cause.” Rep. Erik Fresen, RMiami, the sponsor of the bill during 2010 legislative session that eliminated college tenure contracts, did not return a call seeking comment.
Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2011 Religion Women’s Devotional –– “Abundance from Above”
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The Capital Outlook continues its weekly women’s devotionals. This week’s devotion is prayerfully presented by Natalie R. Jackson. John 10:10
“Ring Around the Tub” Natalie R Jackson First Mission COGIC, Tallahassee Fla.
Those of us who still take baths sometimes see a “ring around the tub.” Well, of course this represents the extra dirt, dust and particles that have clung to our skin – that need to be rinsed off. Do we know that when we are baptized, it symbolizes the cleansing of our souls? This act and profession tells God, us and others that I have accepted to be clean. I remember when I was baptized and the many people who were in front and behind me; wow! Now
what if that was a sin bathtub? What a ring! Jesus came and showed us the way of cleanliness – a sin-free life. My church, First Mission COGIC, has a date for our next baptism, and guess what? I want to be in the number. Yes, I was baptized as a child and knew who God was then, oh but now, it is so much greater. I understand what it truly means to be clean and sanctified. We are encouraged in
John 3:5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. We must have a “ring around the tub.” There is no other way. And when we ask for the Holy Spirit, that helps the other “particles, dust and dirt” not to attach. So we are encouraged today to check our ring! Love you much. God loves you best. Good day. God’s way.
Faithfulness prevails for Faith Christian Family Center By Terrika Mitchell Outlook Staff Writer
It was nearly 20 years ago when “home is where the heart is” took on an entirely different meaning for members of the Orange Avenue New Revelation Faith Temple First Born Church. The congregation’s church home was destroyed in a 1995 man-inflicted fire ignited in the middle of the night. “The biggest thing I wanted to teach was faithfulness,” said Bishop Howard F. McMillan who was pastor at the time. “If you remain humble to the kingdom work of God, it will prevail. And it did prevail.” After more than two years of “church hopping” then-Elder McMillan, and congregation settled into their current 310 Laura Lee Ave., quarter-of-a-million dollar-facility. The church was no longer under the cooperation of First Born churches. Instead, it was an independent institution under the name Faith Christian Family Center, affectionately called FCFC. “The church remained in the general area because that’s where we were needed the most – on the Southside,” the bishop said. “We had started one of the first computer and after-school programs in the community when the church burned down.” McMillan said the community was very generous in giving to the church in its time of need. He recalled Greater Love Church of God in Christ, South Capitol COGIC and The Rock being temporary homes for him and his congregation. Hard work was nothing new for the 35-year pastor who began in Quincy, Fla., at a small church with three members. McMillan’s wife of 37 years, First-Lady
Phyllis McMillan, said she was shocked to find out that he would be pastoring. “I didn’t really know he came from a family of ministers,” she said. “And I didn’t know how to be a pastor’s wife. He told me to be myself, and that’s what I did.” Now, it may be concluded that Bishop McMillan’s ministry under God is prevailing. Faith Christian
Family Center was able to re-establish a resource center which offers a free summer girl’s camp in July, ACT/SAT training every Monday – as well as a drug recovery program on that night – and endorses the RonShay Dugans Drowsy Driving Act. “We’re building the church, the family and the community through Christ,” said resource cen-
ter Director Josie West, quoting the church’s mission. “All of those (services) we offer are components to a family.” She said the community resource center also has a senior citizen program and gang awareness program coming soon. With Pastor and FirstLady McMillan’s anniversary recognition beginning Sept. 18, much celebration
McMillan and congregation settled into their current 310 Laura Lee Ave., quarter of a million dollar facility.
is in order. Church services will be held throughout the week until the anniversary climax and banquet on Oct. 1. Guest churches include Greater Blessings Tabernacle of Praise, Saint City Ministries, Major Care Ministries and Agape Without Borders Church. One of the highlights of McMillan’s ministry was being ordained bishop in May 2010.
“It was a very humbling and gratifying experience to reach that level of servitude,” he said. You can find out more about Faith Christian Family Center at faithchristainfamily.org.
Bishop Dr. Howard F. McMillan
Mother Phyllis McMillan
Terrika Mitchell can be contacted at tmitchell@ capitaloutlook.com
Reverend Dr. R. B. Holmes , Jr.
“The Christ Centered Church With a Program of Prayer and Progress ”
Community News
Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2011
Back-to-School Community Experience
Outlook Staff Writer
The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting one of its largest events, “Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” in Tallahassee Sept. 24. Big Bend residents are encouraged to participate in this life changing event to help restore the future for millions struggling with this disease. The walk will kick off at 8 a.m. at the Lewis Park in downtown Tallahassee. Organizers will provide programs, services and educational information to residents that are affected by this disease. “Looking at the Big Bend area as a whole there’s 5,500 people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Katie Garro, development manager for the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and North Florida Chapter. “We guess that each person with the disease has two caretakers so that’s close to 15,000 caretakers, or people that are day in and day out affected by this disease in the Big Bend area. Coming in and doing a fundraiser also allows us to bring in education and programs that are vitally needed.” During the walk, indiAlumni Complex/Museum 214 Alexander St. Thomasville, Georgia 31792 Donations: $25/Single & $40/Couples Contact: Rena Nelson @ 850-590-7397 2011 Retail Beverage
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Walk to End Alzheimer’s comes to Tallahassee Ashley Hogans
Thomasville, Georgia Area Buffalo Soldiers Inc. & Jack Hadley Black History Museum Hosting: Lt. Henry O. Flipper “2011” Banquet/Ball When: Oct. 8 Time: 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Attire: Formal Where: Frederick Douglass
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Council “Educational Seminar & Trade Show” When: Oct. 9-11 Where: Omni Orlando Resort @ ChampionsGate Registration information: http://www.frf.org/index. cfm?s=mbr&a=Meetings For more information call:
viduals will be able to learn about Alzheimer’s disease, which is the nation’s sixthleading cause of death. Participants will receive information on the most recent in Alzheimer’s research and clinical trial enrollment to support programs and services, as well as how to spread awareness. There will also be a special ceremony dedicated to those affected by Alzheimer’s. “There has never been a greater need for the citizens of Tallahassee to join in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” stated Kay Reddington, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and North Florida Chapter. “Funds raised will provide care and support services to the 500,000 residents of Florida living with Alzheimer’s, while also contributing to advancing critically-needed research.” Since this is the first time in several years the
Alzheimer’s Association of Central and North Florida is renewing its presence in Tallahassee the organizers are expecting a turnout of more than 150 people. Participants can register online in advance at alz. org/walk or go directly to the Tallahassee page kintera.org/FAF/home/default. asp?ievent=456728. Individuals have until the day of the event to sign up at the registration tent. Organizers are encouraging participants to ask coworkers, family and friends to walk as a team to raise money and donate to help fight Alzheimer’s. “They can donate online at alz.org/walk or you can bring donations with you the day of the walk at the registration tent,” said Garro. “You can also mail in donations as well.”
Sherry Whitney @ 888-3573824
Time: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Where: Smith-Williams Center Annex 2295 Pasco St. Contact: Teion Harrison @ 850-459-8387
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated CHI UPSILON OMEGA “A Social Justice & Human Rights Community Education Forum” When: Oct. 22
Once you know, there’s only one place to go. Perhaps you’ve been running all over town to save a little bit here and a little bit there. When all the time, you could save just as much at Publix, and enjoy the shopping experience, too. So relax—we’ve got you covered. Go to publix.com/save right now to make plans to save this week.
to save here.
Ashley Hogans can be contacted at ahogans@ capitaloutlook.com
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Capital Outlook
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Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2011
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Customer must cancel DVR and/or HD service by calling CenturyLink Customer Service before the end of the six-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, one (1) modem gateway, and up to four (4) standard direct video streams to residence. CenturyLink-provided set-top boxes 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 set-top boxes (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 (touchtone) 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. 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. X-Men First Class – ©2011 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved. X-Men, all character names and their distinctive likenesses: TM & ©2011 Marvel Entertainment, LLC and its subsidiaries. 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.