UPW - Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

OCTOBER 11 - 17, 2018 VOL. 8 NO. 1

Music Arts Dance On Display At Westobou FAYTH HOPE, VOCALIST WITH WEIRD AROUND STRANGERS, performs at the Augusta Common during the Westobou Festival. The annual multiarts event celebrates music, dance, visual arts and other creative avenues of expression. (October 4, 2018 - Augusta, GA) - Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Perfect Picture

Paine College Volleyball SportsJournal

City Classic Hall of Fame Inductees Named NBA Legend Tree

Rollins to be featured guest

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BEC PLEX @ MUSIC FEST SAT. OCT 6 12 noon - 7 pm BEC PLEX MUSIC SHOWCASE

Showcasing acts performing “Live” during October Children under 10 free $10 Adv. $15 at the door Fun for the entire family snacks, games, movies (12 - 2 pm

SAT. OCT 6 8 pm - 12 midnite GROWN & SEXY FALL SOIREE’ Dance Anyway You Wanna With Vante’te’ the DJ $10 Adv. $15 at the door

FRI. OCT 12 8 pm - 1 pm GSG BAND

Dance to Classic Soul/R&B Favorites Five Buck Friday $5 Adv. $10 at the door

SAT. OCT 13 8 pm - 12 pm JAZZFLOSION II • SAXES AND MORE Relax & Enjoy Jazz in an intimate setting All Table & Chair Seating Reserved - $20 VIP $30 and Food on Sale Also at Cash BECBarPLEX Music Fest

FRI. OCT 19 8 pm - 12 pm LIVE CONCERT & KARAOKE CONTEST Enjoy 60’s & 70’s Oldies featuring MOD SQUAD Five Buck Friday $5 Adv. $7 at the door

SAT. OCT 20 8 pm - 1 am REGGAE FEVER • Live Onstage LADY D • RAS SHALIMAR • DJ SPUDD Roots Rock Reggae for dancers and lovers $10 at the door

FRI. OCT 26 5 pm - 9 pm REFLECTIONS AFTER DARK ART AFFAIR Art Show - Jazz Music - Light Refreshments Tickets $10 • Cash Wine & Beer Bar

3 UrbanProWeekly • OCTOBER

Coach James McRae

2018

Marion Barnes

Tree Rollins

Marion Barnes, Coach James McRae to be inducted to the 2018 Augusta City Classic Hall of Fame AUGUSTA The President of the Augusta City Classic, Henry Ingram, and the Board of Directors have announced the 2018 Augusta City Classic Hall of Fame Inductees.

The Augusta City Classic Hall of Fame has become one of the most Prestigious Hall of Fames in the Community and this Coach James McRae and Mr. Marion Barnes have been selected.

Marion E. Barnes was born and raised in the Augusta area and is a proud member of the Class of 1950 of Lucy Craft Laney High School in Augusta, where he lettered in football. Barnes is a 1957 graduate of Paine College and was outstanding in both football and basketball.

After receiving a degree in Science from Paine he continued his affiliation and loyal support to his alma mater as a member of the Paine College Alumni Association and a member as well as an inductee in the Paine College Athletic Hall of Fame (which he is a founding member).

He was also inducted into the SIAC Athletic Hall of Fame in Birmingham, AL in 1994.

Currently, Mr. Barnes in the longest sitting Board Member on the Richmond County Board of Education.

Coach James McRae was born and raised in the Laurel, Mississippi.

McRae is a graduate of University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and was an All-Conference football player.

He moved to the Augusta area in the early 1960’s and started his teaching and coaching career at Tutt Jr. High School. He would leave there and coach Football, Basketball and Track at Westside High School – while serving as their Athletic Director. During his tenure he touted a winning record until his retirement in 1999 and is known at Westside by many coaches, players and alumni as “A Legend.”

“We are looking forward to another Outstanding August City Classic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet,” Board President Henry Ingram stated. “This year’s Class of Hall of Famers are at truly dynamic. They have proven themselves in the classroom, on the field and most importantly in the lives of the thousands of children that they touched.”

The 2018 Augusta City Classic Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on Wednesday, November 14, at 7 p.m. The event will take place at the Augusta Marriot on the River.

The Guest Speaker will be NBA Legend Wayne Monte “Tree” Rollins. Rollins played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.

For more information about the Augusta City Classic please visit their Facebook page or call our office 706-810-0258.

A T.W. JOSEY VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DEFENDS at the net during a home game against Harlem. The Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Eagles 2-0. Harlem is ranked ranked fourth in Class 2A and is ranked first in AA/A Area 2 volleyball standings.

(October 2, 2018 - Augusta, GA) Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

Mike Dorsey featured at Trinity Fatherhood Summit Mike Dorsey, author and entrepreneur, will lead a discussion at the Fatherhood Summit at Trinity C.M.E. Church on Saturday, October 13.

The discussion begins at 10 am and will end at noon.

Mike Dorsey is a husband, father and graduate of Georgia Institute of

Technology. He is the recent author of “Dynamic Black Fatherhood Manifesto,” a compelling book that breaks down 10 key areas of commitment to excellence necessary by Black men for the success of the Black Community.

Trinity CME is located at 2930 Glenn Hills Drive This event is free.

Early Voting In Augusta Begins on Monday, October 15 at the Municipal Building

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THE CITY NEWS

Columbia County Arts charter school fights to regain focus, trust, leadership

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer AUGUSTA People are beginning to talk more and more about what’s happening in Columbia County’s much talked about charter school for the arts.

The School for Arts-Infused Learning (SAIL) is just beginning year 2. In its first year, the K-6 school got loads of statewide recognition and has a waiting list of several hundred prospective “scholars.”

But suddenly, much to the dismay of parents and faculty, in just the past 20 days, the school has been turned topsy-turvey in a whirl of firings, board reshuffling, criminal complaints, authoritarian posturing and downright bullying by the silencing of the faculty and staff.

It sounds so much like D.C. politics that you would never guess that there could be so much sound and fury in the hinterlands of Evans, Georgia.

What was to have been a year of expansion and promise came to an abrupt halt on September 24 when parents received a letter informing them that the board had decided to “go in another direction” and that the school’s superintendent, Kristy Zgol, was being replaced.

Naturally, the parents wanted more details, so they showed up at a called meeting to discuss what was happening.

In the eyes of many parents and faculty, Zgol, was the heart and soul of SAIL. Before taking the reins as superintendent, she was a board member years before the school became a bricks and mortar reality.

Zgol is credited with playing a key part in crafting the school’s unique learning environment. Parents praised Zgol for her ability to name every student and their parents and she seemed to be the ideal administrator.

At the meeting, the board couldn’t or wouldn’t answer the questions that the parents had. While the parents were left to “cool their heels,” the board went into executive session and only emerged to read statements.

A pristine learning environment is being put to the test.

What makes SAIL so unique?

The School for Arts-Infused Learning (SAIL) is a public charter school.

The unique character of the charter between the school and the state enables it to operate outside of the restraints of traditional schools.

In the case of SAILS, that unique posture enables it to: • Shape a unique learning ground “from the ground up” for its clientele (students K-6) who are referred to as “scholars.”

• It can accept students from Richmond County or any of the neighboring counties. In fact, SAIL is unique among most charter schools because it can accept students from anywhere in the state.

• There is no entrance exam to get in.

• There is no tuition. It is not a private school it is a public school.

• Admission is by lottery.

• On top of all that it’s a charter school. As a charter school it operates free from the dictates of any locally elected school board.

They did, however, dissolve the board’s leadership and then reform it, after stripping four board members of their positions. Then they sought to reassure the parents that, things were going to go smoothly — even without Zgol. They named a new interim superintendent and announced plans to begin the search for a new permanent superintendent.

But still no explanation.

The frustration of the parents grew.

How could a school that was a state leader in testing suddenly lose its senior leadership and not have any kind of explanation for the parents?

To make matters worse, the revamped administration issued

a directive preventing all staff — including faculty — from engaging with the public about school business in any fashion — especially social media — under pain of dismissal.

The parents demanded answers, more transparency and are seeking ways to have input in the board’s future decision making.

Then came the shocker. This week, media organization’s learned that several days after the sacking of Zgol (on Oct. 5), Kevin Burnley, vice-chair of the SAIL Board of Governors, filed a police incident report making allegations against Zgol and two others.

According to the report, Zgol attempted to alter her employment

contract. The report alleges that on Sept. 27, Zgol (who at the time was no longer superintendent) had someone use the school’s computer to send a copy of her contract to her. The complaint listed the time of the alleged illegal transmission. It went on to say that Cheryl Salter and Mark Boyd met with Zgol at the school on Oct. 4 (again, the report listed the time and place of the meeting). At that meeting, the report says, the three colluded to authenticate the altered contract.

The report also suggested that all three had been fired and that the school intended to pursue the matter further.

Not surprisingly, the apparent confirmation that Zgol had been fired did little to answer the questions the parents had about why she was let go in the first place. The shenanigans with the altered documents came after Zgol was fired.

With faculty and staff forbidden to talk about what was happening at the school, the parents could only wonder what was going on.

Some parents want to organize; some want to work quietly so as not to make the situation any worse, and others are hopeful that — “this too, will soon pass.”

SAIL parents have been active on social media and pass information among themselves and to the media through Facebook pages.

Perusing their online comments reveals the bewilderment among the parents. Some parents have filed complaints with the state charter board commission. They believe that SAIL routinely disobeys the state’s open meeting act. Some parents are seeking state intervention and taking their complaints to the Georgia Department of Education and want a full investigation into the board’s decisions.

Parents may get some answers in the wake of the police report at the school’s next scheduled meeting on October 18 at 5:30 p.m. Parents have been invited to submit requests to address the board and to make comments at that meeting.

Fever On Stage

AUGUSTA’s Queen of Reggae

RAS SHALIMAR Roots • Rockers • Lover’s Rock • Live

to place your name on the seminar attendance list.

Refreshments will be served The CSRA Business League, Inc. a not for profit, 501 (c) 3 organization that has supported Small, Women, Veteran and Minority owned businesses in the CSRA since 1970, Upcoming Seminar: Tuesday, 13 November 2018 - 7th Annual Woman Empowerment Conference, held at the St. Paul Church River Room located on Reynolds Street, beginning at 5:30 PM. Vendor Spots are currently available for $25.00.

Registration information: https:// w w w.eventbrite.com/e/7th-annual-woma n- empower ment- con ference-presented-by-ab-beverage-tickets-50599139388

Apply now for $10,000 Small Business Grant

Deejay SPUD The AUG’s hottest Caribbean deejay

SATURDAY • OCT. 20 • 9 PM. BEC-PLEX • 5955 JEFF-DAVIS HWY • NORTH AUGUSTA $10 • 803-599-7986 • 5 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA

The City of Augusta Housing and Community Development Department announced recently it’s Competitive “Seeds For Life” Business Initiative Grants. Small businesses throughout the CSRA can compete for a $10,000 grant.

Six eligible existing small businesses in Augusta-Richmond County will each receive

a $10,000 grant.

Applications are now open with closing date being midnight Oct. 21, 2018.

Details and applications are online only at Augustaga.gov through the AHCD NEIGHBORLY SYSTEM at the link: portal. neighborlysoftware.com/augusta/participant

ê ELECT A. K. Hasan

ê

RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 6

As your elected School Board Member, I will work to: Reduce Taxes; Strengthen parent, student, teacher relations; Improve Teacher Recruitment and Student Test Scores and Fortify all Personnel Retirement Plans to enhance their standard of living.

EARLY VOTE FOR A.K. HASAN Municipal Bldg. Only: Municipal Bldg. Only:

Mon. - Fri. (OCT. 15 - 19) and (OCT. 22 - 26) 8:30 - 5 pm Sun. OCT. 28, 11:00 am - 4 pm

Municipal Bldg: Diamond Lakes: Henry Brigham Cntr: Warren Road Gym:

Sat. OCT. 27 9 am - 4 pm Mon. - Fri. OCT. 29 - NOV. 2

8:30 am - 6 pm

NOVEMBER 6TH: LAST CHANCE TO VOTE FOR A.K. HASAN • Native Augustan • Graduate of Lucy Laney HS • Author & Contractor • Former U. S. Marine • Former School Board President • Former Augusta City Councilman

2018

LADY D

The CSRA Business League, Inc. will sponsor a 8A | Hubzone Certification Seminar, featuring Ms. Tanzee Hall - Jones, a SBA Business Opportunity Specialist with the Georgia District Office of the Small Business Administration The seminar will take place on Tuesday, 23 October 2018 at the Augusta Richmond County Public Library, located at 823 Telfair Street. Doors for the Seminar will open at 5:00 pm, and the Seminar will begin at 5:30 pm.

The seminar is free. Register before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at: https:// w w w. e v e n t b r i t e . c o m / e / c s r a - b u s i ness-league-inc-sba-8a-hubzone-certification-seminar-tickets-49554972256. You may also call the League’s office at 706 722 - 0994

5 UrbanProWeekly • OCTOBER

8A-Hub Certification Seminar set for Oct. 23

i&i productions presents

AT YOUR PRECINCT: Gracewood Regional Hospital, Burns Memorial Church, Southside Baptist Church, Stevens Creek Church, Gracewood Community Center, Pine Hill Baptist Church

ê

Email: akfriends2018@gmail.com

SportsJOURNAL

BY VINCENT HOBBS

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Paine College in action against Clark Atlanta U. PAINE COLLEGE SOPHOMORE MELINA ROSE looks up to set the ball during a home volleyball game against Clark Atlanta University.

The Lady Lions were defeated 3-0 in the final score. (October 2, 2018 Augusta, GA) Photo by Vincent Hobbs/ Sports Journal

7 UrbanProWeekly • OCTOBER 2018 (Above) PAINE COLLEGE’S KENNEDY CURTIS (center) waits for the serve during a home volleyball game against Clark Atlanta University. The Lady Lions were defeated 3-0 in the final score. (October 2, 2018 - Augusta, GA) Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal (At Left) PAINE COLLEGE’S AYANNA HARRISON listens to her coaches during timeout in a home volleyball game against Clark Atlanta University. The Lady Lions were defeated 3-0 in the final score.

(October 2, 2018 - Augusta, GA) Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

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ARE YOU AT RISK?

Stress Physical Inactivity Family History of Cardiovascular disease Obesity Stress Physical Inactivity Diabetes Family History of Cardiovascular disease High Blood Pressure Obesity Diabetes High Cholesterol High Blood Pressure Cigarette Smoking High Cholesterol Cigarette Smoking

HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK East Central Health District HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK Hypertension Management Outreach Program East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach Program

Richmond County Richmond County Health Department 706.721.5800 Richmond County 706.721.5800 706.721.5800 www.ecphd.com

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Donald Trump: Disrupter-In-Chief Will the Democrats Be Able to Slow Him Down? bipartisanship is dead. Even with the slimmest majority, a political party can get big things done. You don’t need the other party. Not even a single crossover.

The president can be unpopular.

Ditto your party. All you need to govern successfully is party discipline. Keep your cabal together and anything is possible.

Trump’s approval ratings hover around 38%. That’s Nixon During Watergate level. Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate.

Conventional wisdom, based as it is on historical precedent, dictates that controversial legislation can only pass such a narrowly-divided legislative body if the majority entices some members of the minority to go along. There’s a corollary to that assumption: the implicit belief that laws are politically legitimate only if they enjoy the support of a fairly broad spectrum of voters.

Not any more.

In this Trump era major legislative changes get rammed through Congress along strict party-line votes—and Democrats suck it up with nary a squawk. Trump’s Republicans passed a huge tax cut for corporations and rich individuals.

Protesters? What protesters? The GOP gutted Obamacare and suffered no consequences whatsoever…not even a stray attack ad.

The same goes for judicial nominations. Time was, a President would withdraw a nominee to the Supreme Court if the minority party wasn’t likely to support him or her, as Reagan did with the controversially far-right Robert Bork.

Trump rams his picks through the Senate like Mussolini, Democrats be damned.

UPW Urban Pro Weekly Hephzibah, GA 30815

2018

By Ted Rall Donald Trump may last; he may go away. But the influence of his revolutionary approach to American politics will endure. What he learned and taught about campaigning will be studied and emulated for years to come.

Social media matters. In 2016 his free Twitter feed defeated Hillary Clinton’s $1.2 billion fundraising juggernaut.

Foot soldiers don’t matter. Clinton was everywhere—every state, most counties. In many states Trump didn’t have a single office.

It’s not location, not location, not location. Clinton dropped buckets of cash on events in big expensive cities. Remember her Roosevelt Island launch announcement, the fancy stage using Manhattan as a backdrop? Trump rode the escalator down to his lobby. He held rallies in cheap, hardscrabble cities like Dayton and Allentown. He understood that his audience wasn’t in the room. It was on TV. It doesn’t matter where the event is held.

Stump speeches are dead. Stump speeches originated in the 19th century. In an era of mass communications you’re an idiot if—like Clinton—you read the same exact text in Philly as you read in Chicago.

CNN covered Trump’s rallies more than Hillary’s because not because Jeff Zucker wanted Trump to win.

TV networks are in the ratings business; Trump’s free-form extemporizing was entertaining because you never knew what he was going to say.

Now Trump is revolutionizing governance.

The biggest revelation from Trump’s first term—at this writing, I assume he’ll be re-elected—is that

Rightist extremist Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a slim 54-45. Considering that Democrats were still seething over Republicans’ refusal to consider Obama high court nominee Merrick Garland (a centrist) for 10 months, that was a remarkable success. We don’t know what will become of the battle over Brett Kavanaugh, hobbled by multiple accusations of sexual assault and his anguished, furious performance trying to defend himself on national television; if confirmed it will be by the slimmest of party-line votes.

One can, and perhaps should, deplore the new normal. In the long run, it can’t bode well for the future of a country for its citizens to be governed by laws most of them are against, passed by politicians most of them despise, and whose constitutionality is assessed by court justices most of them look down upon. But this is reality. Sitting around tweeting

your annoyance won’t change a thing.

Darwinism isn’t survival of the fittest; it’s survival of the most adaptable. Crocodilians have stuck around hundreds of million of years in part because they’ve learned to eat just about anything. The same goes for politics: if Democrats want to win power and score big victories after they do they’ll learn the lessons of Trumpism or die.

Party discipline is everything.

Traitors, Democrats In Name Only, cannot be tolerated.

There is no room in a modern political party for “moderates” or “centrists.” Only a strong, strident, unapologetically articulated left vision can counter the energized GOP base and its far-right agenda.

Politics as bloodsport? It was always so. Republicans knew it. Thanks to Trump, Democrats can no longer deny their clear options: get real or get left behind.

URBAN PRO WEEKLY

Publisher URBAN PRO WEEKLY MEDIA 706-306-4647 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com

UrbanProWeekly • OCTOBER

COMMENTARY

CEO / Sales FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com

Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media

UrbanProWeekly - OCTOBER

2018

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D.E. Abrams, Counselor at Law handling Richmond County Board of Education

Tribunal Cases • Legal Representation at tribunal • Ideal for parents who cannot be present • Over 10 years as Sitting Legal Advisor for BOE Tribunals.

Most cases $35.00.

Our Motto: “The best ability is availability” Since 2008

Like us on Facebook

“When Your Child’s Educational Career Is At Stake You Need Professional Help!”

706.829.5595 CORRECTION: We regret errors that appeared in the Sept.

13 edition of UPW. School Board Candidate A.K. Hasan is 63 years old, not 61. In 1990, Mr. Hasan resigned from the City Council to run for the State House seat vacated by Charles Walker. Mr. Hasan never ran for the U.S. Congress.

MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY WE TAKE

• Georgia medicaid • Insurance plans • Charge cards • WIC vouchers

Marshall Curtis, Pharmacist/Owner Baron Curtis, Pharmacist

FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

706-722-7355

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2018, for the following: 1. Freedom Park Gymnasium Lights RFP#18-826 2. Fresh Produce and Eggs RFQ #18-827 Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Cecilia Perkins in the Business Office at perkice@boe.richmond.k12.ga.us or 706-826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org/bids, or at Richmond County School System, Central Office 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, GA 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Angela D. Pringle, Secretary

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UrbanProWeekly • OCTOBER

2018