april 6, 2011

CHALLENGERCN.COM • (P) 716 881-1051 (F) 716 881-1053 APRIL 6, 2011 CHALLENGERCN.COM • (P) 716 881-1051 (F) 716 881-1053APRIL 6, 2011

AROUND TOWNINSIDE ROCHESTER

Did you nominate your favorite barber

or hair stylist for the upcoming

special salute & competition?

Got a story idea for me? E-mail me at [email protected].

MARSHA

JONES

Quincy Troupe Salutes Garth Fagan’s Creative Muse Recently, poet, author, and writer Quincy Troupe was in town to celebrate the creative genius of Garth Fagan. The two men sat down to discuss how visual arts, literature, performing arts and choreography are coming together to interpret and create new works among themselves. Troupe explains that he and Fagan initially met when (Garth) had a dancer interpret two of his poems through dance. “Latin American artists have been doing this type of artistic collabora-tion for years. The United States is falling behind,” he continues. Troupe admits that the US is a huge consumer of “white bread” artists and that there is nothing wrong with it. In terms of areas in the US open to different ideas: he cites New York City, LA, San Francisco, and Rochester, NY because of Garth Fagan. “Garth is an innovative choreographer. He’s the man and a risk taker,” continues Troupe, who retired from teaching at the University of California at San Diego in 2006. His book, Miles and Me was on the New York Times Best-Selling list. A movie will be released in November 2012. “If Garth Fagan weren’t a Black man, Ithink he would be much more appreciated.” Influenced by Miles Davis and Pablo Piccasso, Troupe grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and described it as a place not meant for visual or musical artists. A self-taught writer, Troupe has

GEVA Establishes Essie Calhoun Diversity in the Arts Award Essie Calhoun, Retired Chief Diver-sity Officer, Director of Community Affairs, Vice President of Eastman Kodak Companyand Chair of the 2011 United Way of Greater Rochester Cam-paign, was honored at Geva Theatre

Center in recognition of her many contri-butions to diversity in the community and in the arts. Geva created the Essie Calhoun Diver-sity in the Arts Award. Ms. Calhoun is the first recipient of this award, which will be given annu-ally to a person or organization that pro-motes and encourages diversity in the arts.

Geva’s Artistic Director Mark Cuddy remarked, “It gives me a special joy to honor Essie Calhoun in this manner on behalf of all Rochester organizations that have benefited from her dogged support and clear philan-thropic vision. Personally, Essie has been such a stalwart champion of Geva’s diverse programming that I always feel her presence when season planning. I knew that she and Kodak would be there to stand with us.” The Essie Calhoun Diversity in the Arts Award recognizes that art allows for the expression of truths and beliefs and helps us gain an understanding of one another and our world. It further acknowledges that a mixture of cultures stimulates creativity, the sharing of ideas, and the building of a common col-lective future, which has always been close to Ms. Calhoun’s heart. “Going forward, whomever receives the annual “Essie” Award will be standing on some pretty broad shoulders,” commented Mark Cuddy. “It’s a fitting tribute to the legacy one person can build in our community.”

Essie Calhoun

traveled extensively through the Caribbean credits this area for a recent explosion in the arts. “Haitians and Cubans pro-vide a lot of inspiration for the pieces we are now discover-ing. It is very forward looking and thinking. You see so much of the culture in the work. Art reflects culture. In the US, art often reflects money. It doesn’t reflect art and isn’t great art. Sometime it has become com-mercialized and formulated. “It’s actually sad because in a sense we are witnessing the “dumbing down” of America. We now have artists that are more interested in making money then creating something that preserves or reflects the times that we live in. Art is dif-ficult. You want your concept to be simplistic. You don’t want to just hand people he meaning of your work. As a poet, I want people to embrace my work and look at my finished work as a piece of beauty.” Troupe is thankful every-day for his arts education and background. “It taught me to be a human being, to listen to literature and I have met a lot of wonderful artists.”

Seeking Emerging Film- And Videomakers... Submit films and videos to the monthly Emerging Filmmakers Series at the Little Theatre, Rochester, NY. Open to New York State filmmakers, regardless of age or educational status. Films must have been produced in New York State within the past two years. Maximum length: 30 minutes. No fee. No honorarium. No return without SASE, even locally. Deadline: ongo-ing. Send DVD screener (screening quality), cover letter (including one-sentence film description, one-sentence director bio, email address and exact running time) and SASE for return to Karen vanMeenen, Programmer, Emerging FilmmakersSeries, Little Theatre, 240 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14604. Notification by email within four weeks of receipt.

*Dreamgirls are Back by Popular Demand! Rapa presents a return pro-duction of the hit Broadway Musical “Dreamgirls” to the Stage at East End Theatre, 727 E. Main St in Rochester on April 15,16 (Friday and Saturday) at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday April 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $22 and are available at the door. Call (585) 325-3366 for more information.

*August Wilson’s “Radio Golf” on Stage, at the GEVA Theatre Center, now thru April l7; (585) 232-GEVA or gevatheatre.org

Must bring in this ad to receive 10% Discount!

CHALLENGERCN.COM • (P) 716 881-1051 (F) 716 881-1053 APRIL 6, 2011

Area Br ie fs

challengercn.com

ANTI–BULLYING CAMPAIGN CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED Mayor Byron W. Brown has announced his selection for the City of Buffalo’s Anti-Bullying slogan contest. Emerson School of Hospitality (PS #302) is the winner of the Anti-Bullying advertising campaign, with the slogan “Buffalo Bulldozes Bullying” “Congratulations to the students of Emerson School of Hospitality and their principal, James G. Weimer, Jr.,” said Mayor Brown. “It is important to raise awareness about bullying in our com-munity because it has become a very serious issue. January’s summit paved the way for other initiatives to eliminate bullying in the City of Buffalo. We all play a part in the ‘bulldozing’ of bul-lying and violence.” At the Anti-Bullying Summit in January 2011, Buffalo Public School students in grades 7th –12th learned and discussed how bullying impacts them, bystanders, and the Western New York Community. The Anti-Bullying slogan contest was announced at this conference. The challenge was to design a slogan on anti-bullying and violence, the winner to be selected by Mayor Brown as the official anti-bullying message for the City of Buffalo. Thanks to the support of AT&T, the event’s premier sponsor and Lamar Advertising, Emerson School of Hospitality slogan and artwork will be featured on sixteen poster-size boards throughout the City of Buffalo. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) will place the posters in shuttle waiting areas. The NFTA’s official unveiling will be Thursday, April 7, 2011.

National Crime Victim’s Right Week is April 10-16. This years’ theme is “Honoring the Past, Reshaping the Future.” If you or anyone you know has been a crime victim please contact Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center, 1081 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14212, 897-4100.

April 9 Mortgage Check-Up Event Provides Relief A Mortgage Check-Up event on Saturday, April 9 will provide Western New York homeowners worried about their mortgages with a quick, easy and confidential way to address their concerns. Counselors and lawyers will consult homeowners privately from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the FLARE office at 307 Leroy Ave. The Mortgage Check-Up is sponsored by West Side Neighborhood Housing Services and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, in partnership with Fillmore Leroy Area Residents (FLARE), Western New York Law Center, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo and Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled and Disadvantaged of Western New York. Those interested in the event can call West Side Neighborhood Housing Services at (716) 877-3910, regis-ter online at wnymortgagecheckup.eventbrite.com, or simply drop in at the FLARE office on April 9.

DID YOU SEE ANYTHING? On March 5, 2011 the night of Lloyd

Banks appearance/ performance at the Town Ballroom there was an incident that took place outside the Town Ball-room located on Main St. in the City of Buffalo. The incident I am referring to took place at approximately 2am- 3am in the front of the Town Ballroom (Main St. entrance) spilling over into the alleyway adjacent to the establish-ment and then onto Washington St. (the rear of the building). If anyone out there in the Buffalo or surrounding areas was a patron of the Town Ballroom or a passer by and witnessed a young man wearing a black button up shirt and dark colored jeans being assaulted, we would like to hear from you! This includes: A recount of the event, digital photos, cell phone photos, or cell phone video. If anyone can shed light on the incident that took place you can contact us @ 716-200-9147 email: [email protected]

Poetry Award: Buffalo United Charter School fourth grader, Hernasia Parker participated in a poetry writing contest through Creative Communica-tions and received the honor of being one of 10 fourth graders nationwide chosen to be published. Hernasia’s poem, “Living in a Dark Black Sky,” is published in “A Celebration of Poets, Fall 2010,” which can be found on www.poeticpower.com.

Parents To Vote On Direct Action Plan For Education Reform Mayor Brown and other Elected officials Join with Parents of the District Parent Coordinating Council In the Viewing of Education Documentary ‘Waiting for Superman” followed by a discussion on what Parent Must Do for Education Reform Councilmember Rev. Darius Pridgen offers his Churches if Parents are willing have a Day of Protest to bring attention to Structural problems in Buffalo Schools Parents of the DPCC voted ont on a plan to deal with what Superintendent Dr. James A. Williams calls “STRUC-TURAL PROBLEMS” that prevent education reform in Buffalo Public Schools. Parents invited Mayor Brown and other elected officials to join them for a discussion on their plans to work together to reform Public Education in Buf-falo. Parents discussed organizing an action to bring attention ‘Structural Problems” that have led to a 75% dropout rate for Black, Hispanic Males and ELL students and 45% drop out rate for White males. As well as an overall graduation rate that is below 60% and the worst in WNY. Common Councilmember Rev. Darius Pridgen has stated that if the parents are willing to take their children out of School for a “Day of Protest” he be willing to offer his church locations with volunteers at sites to bring students too. He stated that as a former Buffalo Board of Education member he knows that Board cannot reform itself. “This District needs radical change and it needs it now and only by doing something that will bring attention from officials and forces outside Buffalo can we expect any real meaningful change,” he stated. Parents discussed the possibility of mayoral control as a way to begin to address the structural problems. Similar to the reforms that have taken place in New York City after Mayor Bloomberg assumed Mayoral Control. Parents will ask elected officials to work to give them a right to vote on the Buffalo School Budget. Parents will call for the Buffalo City Council to conduct hearings on the Education Crisis in Buffalo before approving the Cities contribution to the Buffalo School Budget. Parents demanded a resolution to the impending dispute between the School District and the Buffalo Teachers Fed-eration over the PLA schools that can potentially prevent the District from being eligible for Eight to Twelve million

National Crime Victims Right Week

Free Law School Information Sessions The WNY Pre-Law Success Initiative, in collaboration with the Minority Bar Association of WNY, UB Law School and Millard Fillmore College, will present a free information series about career possibilities in law and what it takes to enter law school. All session will be held at the UB Law School, John Lord O’Brian Hall Room 108. To pre-register go to www.mfc.buffalo.edu or call 829-3131*Wednesday April 13: Learn how to prepare for Law School*Weekend Lecture Series, Sat. April 9: 9:30 am – noon Room 104, Free. *Tuesdays and Thursdays June 28 through July 21, 4 week workshop series on opportunities in the legal field. Open to high school graduates, college and grad students, post grads and adults in career transition.

Make Your Voice Heard about Primary Care Planning in WNY On Thursday, April 7 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue, there will be a very important meet-ing about primary care planning in WNY. You will have the opportunity to review, discuss and question the preliminary set of statewide rational service areas (RSAs) for a HEAL 9 funded project called “Comprehen-sive Primary Core Assessment of New York.” The discussion will be lead by representatives from The Center of Health Workforce Studies If you have any questions please contact Mary Craig, at 881-8222. If you would like to offer your com-ments and cannot attend the meeting please respond at office@enahec,org. For more Information about this proj-ect, we invite you to visit http://chws.albany.edu/index.php?rsa.


NEWS UPDATE

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with MESOTHELIOMA or anotherASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASE you may be able to file a legal claim againstthe asbestos industry and collect significant financial compensation. Call thelaw firm of Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC at 716-849-0701.

ALL CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL.

LIPSITZ & PONTERIO, LLCNew York’s Leading Mesothelioma Attorneys

Call Us Today: 716-849-0701www.lipsitzponterio.com

135 Delaware Avenue • 5th Floor • Buffalo, New York 14202Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

ASBESTOS INJURIESMESOTHELIOMALUNG CANCER

JOHANNESBURG — More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in a western Ivory Coast town, a Catholic charity said Saturday, adding that the mass killings happened in an area under the control of forces fighting to install the country’s internationally recognized president.The U.N. military spokesman said he had no information about mass kill-ings in Duekoue, though he confirmed there are nearly 1,000 peacekeepers based there.Spokesman Patrick Nicholson of the Roman Catholic charity Caritas said workers visited Duekoue on Wednes-day and found hundreds of bodies of civilians killed by bullets from small-arms fire and hacked to death with machetes.He said they estimated that more than 1,000 civilians were killed.The International Federation of the Red Cross put the death toll at Duekoue at about 800, in separate and independent visits Thursday and Friday.Nicholson, the Caritas spokesman, said the killings occurred over three days in a neighborhood controlled by fighters loyal to internationally recognized President Alassane Ouat-tara, though it was not clear who the

Farrakhan Defends Gadhafi, Says Quake Coming Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan continued last Thursday in his role as Moammar Gadhafi’s only outspoken friend in the United States. Even Gadhafi’s own ambassador to the United Nations has denounced him, Farrakhan told a packed house at his Chicago headquarters that he considered Gadhafi a brother, and that if there was any “gangster” on the world stage, it was the United States. “I don’t care what Gadhafi has done wrong. He’s not the mad dog of the Middle East,” Farrakhan thundered. “The mad dogs are growling and biting in Washington, D.C.” It was billed as a press conference, but Farrakhan’s opening statement lasted a stem-winding 90 minutes. He cited abundant housing in Libya, advanced medical care, and a water pipeline from the desert which he helped switch on. The Black Muslim leader has been friends with Gadhafi for decades.Indeed, the very building in which Farrakhan spoke, the gold encrusted “Mosque Maryam” on south Stony Island, was acquired with Gadhafi’s help. He provided the Nation of Islam with a $3 million loan, which they used to acquire the facility, a former Greek Orthodox Church. Later, Gadhafi provided Farrakhan with another $5 million loan, which Farrakhan has previously said was forgiven in full. “It’s a terrible thing for me to hear my brother called all of these ugly and filthy names,” said Farrakhan. And he warned the United States that their continued adventures in Africa were about to bring on the violent wrath of an angry God. “Death and destruction is on the way to all of us, and we are worse pre-pared than the Japanese,” he said.The Nation of Islam leader bashed President Barack Obama, who he suggested was being duped by white advisors.“We all fell in love with him during the campaign. He’s not the same man today,” said Farrakhan.

Crisis in Ivory Coast : More Than 1,000 Killedperpetrators were.“The massacre took place in the ‘Carrefour’ quar-ter of town, controlled by pro-Ouattara forces, during clashes on Sunday 27 March to Tuesday 29 March,” Nicholson said. “Caritas does not know who was responsible for the killing, but says a proper investigation must take place to establish the truth.”He said the victims included many refugees from fighting elsewhere in the country, where rival forces had been battling over a disputed Novem-ber election.ELECTION November’s election was meant to heal divisions sown by a 2002-3 civil war that left the country divided into a rebel-run north and government-run south, but the dispute has worsened divisions and killed well over 300 people since November.The U.N. says the number of Ivo-rian refugees in Liberia has reached 68,000, with another 40,000 internally displaced. “We’re hearing explosions and gunfire in Koumassi. No one is outside except the military,” said Patrice Gore, 31, a mechanic who lives there. “We hit the ground every

time we hear them.”

Previously, the United Nations put the death toll at 492 from four months of fighting to install rival leaders follow-ing disputed November elections.In one village near Abidjan, the state-ment said, at least nine civilians were killed “in an apparent case of collective punishment against alleged civilian supporters of Gbagbo.”

Tuesdays 12 NOON - 1 P.M.


HEALTH MATTERS

Continued Page 13

1-800-382-HOME (4663)For more information, call

or visit www.nyshcr.org

• 30- or 40- year fixed interest rates that are typically below market;• Financing up to 97%;• Flexible underwriting guidelines;• Down payment assistance (higher of $3,000 or 3% of the loan amount or up to $10,000);• No points;• No financing add ons.

The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) offers first-time homebuyers:

The path to your first home.

Five Optimal Health SecretsBy Teal Scott

Modern medicine has seen a lot of changes in recent years, but there’s still too much focus on dealing with specific physical ailments rather than prevent-ing them. Learning to utilize the intensely symbiotic relationship that exists between the mind and the body can help you to maintain a healthy life. Here are five practical ways to achieve optimal health that your doctor won’t share with you: 1.Change Your Thoughts. The role of the placebo effect has largely gone unnoticed, misunderstood and even trivialized, which is unfortunate. The mind’s effect on the body (which we call the placebo effect) could be the single most important part of the healing process. Many people believe they do not have control over their own thoughts. This is not true. Changing thoughts, like anything else, simply involves practice. The things that tend to get our attention are things we do not like about our lives, or the negative thoughts, while the things that are positive about our lives go unnoticed. Change your thinking to one of optimism and gratitude. Consciously looking for things to enjoy, appreciate and be thankful for is enough to dramatically change the energy that you are projecting into your world, as well as into your body. Learn to recognize your negative thoughts and beliefs, and then replace them with thoughts that feel good to think. Soon, you will find you have let go of the thoughts that are standing in the way of your physical and mental health. 2. Stop Paying Attention to the News. We often get so familiar with our normal routine that we do not realize we are filling ourselves full of infor-mation that is not in line with good health. Many people get out of bed and immediately tune into the news. This ensures that you will start the day off on a negative foot. News, like any other business, must find a way to sell. Shock value sells. Negativity sells. 3. Eat for Health. You are what you eat. When you are in a positive mind set, you will find that you gravitate towards foods which are a match to your overall health. When you are in a negative mind set, you will gravitate towards foods which are not a match to your overall health. It remains true that physically taking steps towards health is no match for taking mental steps towards health. However, when you are nourishing your body with healthy things, it can definitely help you to achieve mental health as well. Realize that feeding your body in a healthy way is one way of showing love to yourself. Try to have fun expanding your palette. No matter what you’ve heard, healthy food does not have to taste bad, it can even taste better than unhealthy food. Deliberately look for restaurants with healthy options on their menus. Eat whole foods, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Eat less processed foods, and get help to slowly overcome your attachments to sugar, alcohol, caffeine and other “junk” foods. This should not be a stressful transition to make. The stress involved in dieting often only worsens the problem instead of solves it. So, set attainable goals and make the transition from unhealthy foods to healthy foods a gradual one. In no time, you will notice a difference in your energy level and your overall health. 4. Find an Exercise You Love to Do. It is no secret that regular exercise plays a large role in health. You are living life in this physical body, so...use it! You do not have to be athletic to exercise and it does not have to be a source of stress for you. In fact, exercise for the sake of exercise when you don’t enjoy it is detrimental to health. No one likes to force themselves to exercise. The way to get around the stress involved with exercise is to make exercise a part of something else you love to do. If you do not yet have a particular exercise you enjoy, you can start by searching for an activity that incorporates exercise which raises your heart rate for at least 30 minutes. You may try several activities before finding the one that really fits. Any type of exercise turns from a burden into a joy when you are focusing on what you love to do. A lot of people are looking for other people to exercise with. If you integrate exercise into your daily routine, it will lead to a longer, healthier and more fulfilling life. 5. Put Out Into the World What You Want to Get Back. Simply put, you get back what you give out. We have a tendency to expect others to change the way that they are thinking and acting without realizing that the only person we can ever change is ourselves. The interesting dichotomy is that the minute you change the way you think and act, the world outside of you will also change. Begin to experiment with this by practicing random acts of kindness. Such simple activities empower you. They help you to see that you can make a positive change in the world. You will start to feel capable and proactive. The same way you are treating others and there is nothing quite like a supportive environment to help you achieve your optimum health. Taking steps towards your mental and physical health, along with making your health a priority, enables you to live the fulfilling and joyful life which you deserve to live. Your life is an open canvass. Enjoy it and make a mas-terpiece of it. Let your physical and mental health pave the way.Teal Scott, is the author of the spiritual self-help book. Visit her online at www.thespiritualcatalyst.com/.


“Enough is Enough” City-Wide Prayer

CALL: 881-1051

New Testament Revival Cathedral987 Kensington Ave.

Bishop Gerald Drayton - PastorMonday April 4 – Friday April 8Beginning nightly from 6 – 7 pm

Second Temple Missionary

Baptist Church(Masten District Block Clubs)

812 East Delavan Ave. Milton French - Pastor

Monday April 11 – Friday April 15, Beginning nightly from 6 – 7 pmFor More Information call Elder Wiggins @ 954-3330

Shaddie Swag Releases Second CD

Chistian Hip Hop’s Shad-die Swag, (aka Rashad Howard) – known as the “Hardest Rapper in Buffalo,” held his second CD release concert, “Antidote,” at True Bethel Bap-tist church last Friday evening

along with Ajae So Soulful. “Anti-dote” was produced by DeShaun Jones and the artist himself (Howard). Swag is a popular and well known gospel rapper and vocalist, but his appeal is national Shaddie Swag is definitely the “one to watch!” Congrats on your second CD!

Shaddie Swag

Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Events *Every 2nd Saturday @ 9 am. : Zion’s Power Hour. Come out and participate in an anointed hour of PRAISE , WORSHIP, PRAYER, TESTIMONY. Followed by a free continental breakfast. *Sunday April 10 @ 4 pm :Mass Choir “Spring Concert”. Tickets $3. *Sunday April 17 : “The Old Rugged Cross” @ 4 pm. Some of the best Gospel singers in Buffalo sing to the re-enactment of Jesus’ journey to Glory. Zion Missionary Baptist Church,

179 East Ferry St.Dr. Robert E. Baines Sr., Pastor

Pastor Raines Invited to Oxford Round Table: Will Celebrate First Pastoral Anniversary this Sunday The Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church located at 55 Grape Street is

honored to share with the Community of Buffalo, that their Servant and Pastor Frank Raines III was invited to make a presentation last month to the Oxford Round Table in Oxford, England. Pastor Professor Raines is a faculty member of the Wayne County Community College in Detroit, Michigan. The title of his presentation is “Effective Children’s Literature and Culture, Building Under-standing to Religion, and Philosophy.” The Oxford Round Table is a unique forum; it’s an opportunity for scholars and leaders to discuss

government policy in a collegial, “think-tank” atmo-sphere. Papers presented at the Round Table may be

submitted for publication in the Forum on Public Policy, an on-line and a hard copy journal of the Oxford Round Table. The Gethsemane Family is proud of their Servant and Pastor we think you are Awesome Pastor Raines! We pray God will continually Keep his Loving Hand upon you. This Sunday, April l0 at the 10 a.m. Morning Worship Service, the Gethse-mane Missionary Baptist Church will honor the first pastoral anniversary of Pastor Raines. Rev. John H. Gilmore will preside over the service. The public is invited to attend.

Pastor Raines

Free Spirit Baptist to Celebrate 10th Pastoral Anniversary The Free Spirit Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate the 10th Pas-toral Anniversary of Rev. Anthony G. Harris beginning Saturday, April 9 at noon with a Pastor’s Banquet at Beaver Hollow Conference Center, Java, N.Y. On Sunday, April 10 at the 9 a.m .worship service the guest preacher will be Dr. Joseph Covington of Friendship Baptist in Corning, N.Y. and later that day at 4 p.m., the Rev. Dr. Dennis Lee of Hopewell Baptist church in Buffalo will be the guest preacher. For more information call 893-2080.


Miracle Missions Full Gospel Church Pastor, Dr. James A. Lewis III’s 60th Birthday. On this auspicious occasion, we will celebrate Pastor Lewis’ birthday while select individu-als from our community give him a “Royal Roasting.” The Birthday cel-ebration will be held at the Westwood Country Club located at 772 North Forest in Williamsville; on April 8, beginning with a VIP Reception at 6

Pastor James Lewis to be Honoredp.m. Pastor Lewis is known through-out the community for his dedication and compassion to assist those from all walks of life. As the Pastoral Care Director at the Erie County Medical Center where he exhibits empathy and compassion in his hospital ministry, people are blest and encouraged. He has numerous years of experience work-ing within the community providing awareness and education about HIV/AIDS. He is a peacemaker involved in

the Stop Violence movement through the Buffalo United Front and vari-ous organizations. He has a genuine love for people and the community. Through his vision, the Miracle Mis-sions congregation will be establishing programs and services to assist those in need at our new church home and community service building. This celebration also serves as a major fundraiser for completion of

renovations to our church edifice and construction of the Community Ser-vice Building. For ticket and more information call 898-3357

Bishop Henderson has been keeping watch over two treasures of Buffalo's East Side -- his historic Michigan Avenue Baptist Church and the Nash House, formerly occupied by the Rev. J. Edward Nash, who was pastor of the church from 1892 to 1953. Nash House has become a library/museum containing historical records and memorabilia.

Bishop Henderson: The Man, the Ministry, The Mission The New Testament Revival Cathe-dral invites the community to a “Cel-ebration of Life” honoring the life of Hishop William Henderson: the Man, the Ministry, The Mission, on Sunday April10 at 5 p.m. at 987 Kensington Avenue where bishop G.J. Drayton is the host pastor. All are welcome.

PASTOR LEWIS

President Obama’s Prayer: “To Walk Closer With God” Social justice, humility and “to walk closer with God” are President Obama’s daily prayers, he told the National Prayer Breakfast last month. In a speech laced with Scripture, he initially covered familiar ground, noting how he came from a non-religious family that, nonetheless, showed him “the imperative of an ethical life and the necessity to act on your beliefs.”

Passport Day in the USA 2011 on April 9 The U.S. Department of State is once again sponsoring Passport Day in the USA on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Twenty-three Buffalo/Niagara area Post Offices are scheduled to partici-pate in the national event. Customers have the option of apply-ing for a passport book, good for all international travel or the passport card, which is less expensive but good only for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region and Bermuda. The cost for an adult passport book is $110 plus a $25 processing/accep-tance fee and the cost of photos; the adult passport card is $30 plus a $25 processing fee and the cost of photos. Both are good for ten years. Custom-ers wanting both the passport book and card are charged only one processing fee. Payments are accepted via cash, check. Credit cards are acceptable for processing and photo fees only. Travelers are encouraged to apply for a passport several months before they are scheduled to travel overseas. A passport application is normally processed by the State Department within five to six weeks. In Buffalo go to: Niagara Square Sta-tion, 229 W. Genesee St. 9:30 am – 2:30 p.m; Central Park Station, 170 Manhattan St., 9am-1pmBuffalo Main Post Office, 1200 Wil-liam St. 9 am – 2 pm


entertaiment

AsantawaHolly

ON STAGE

*August Wilson’s play, “Radio Golf,” Geva Theatre Center,75 Wood-bury Blvd., Rochester; featuring Rich-ard Brooks, March 22-April 17; (585) 232-1366 ext. 3057

WUFO’s Annual Easter Egg HuntSaturday, April 23, Mt. Olive Baptist Church * 701 East Delavan Ave.

“Humble” is the first word that came to mind after having the opportunity to sit down with Buffalo Gospel artist Julius “choSon” Spencer. With the ability to mix traditional, contempo-rary and rap gospel, choSon’s vocals

and lyrics are on a powerful mission of musical minis-try. I left a very relaxed interview with choSon knowing exactly why this artist’s music is touching so many. A: How did you choose the name choSon to go by as an

artist? C: The name really is not about me. I lower case every letter but the S, to make sure the emphasis is on the Son. I wanted a name that really allowed all the emphasis to be off myself. A: I would classify your music as

“choSon” Spencer: Music is My Ministry

*Big Time Thursday Night Comedy, Starting April 7, The New Golden Nugget, 2046 Main St, hosted by Brooklyn Mike; featuring AG White & Kook Bubba Ice; for more info (716) 335-1529; tickets @ Doris Records, New Style Records & The Nugget; 25 & over.

Gospel, but I don’t want to general-ize all that you do. Can you tell the readers more about the type of music you do? C: It is Gospel but I do look to create a mix between Gospel and Soulful. It is a combi-nation of some of your traditional Gospel, along with Contemporary Gospel and also Rap. I look to create music that reaches out and speaks to everybody. A: Preparing for this interview, I knew your older brother Carlos Spencer is a minis-ter but did not realize your father was also a Pastor and your mother is a singer. What influence has your family’s background had on you as a artist? C: That was a huge influence just growing up. I will be honest even when

I didn’t want to go to church growing up, I was made to go to church (laugh-

ing). It was a huge impact on my life and music. A lot of my friends grow-ing up went through the same things but our responses were not the same. A lot of those prob-lems I didn’t have to take home without an outlet with my family and my music. A: In 2008 “Psalms and Proverbs Chapter 1” made its debut as your first full album. How was that for you. C: The idea of the album actually came from my brother Carlos, he came to me and said,”

you’re going to put out a cd”. I didn’t have any music written and was not prepared for a cd to be put out but after he spoke those words I just started to get music from different sources and began writing music. I didn’t realize how much I had in me, so many experi-ences that I personally went through helped me write songs. “Psalms and Proverbs Chapter 1” transformed into a really good collection of music from contemporary gospel to rap. A: I know you have been doing a lot

of performing, should we be expecting a new cd soon? C: Absolutely. I am looking forward to a release at the end of the summer. I feel good about the new project. I am excited about it. A: choSon when you began doing music what was your goal? Do you want to be a star Gospel artist? C: Initially I did. I want to be totally honest, I wanted to be a Grand Gospel artist making it outside of Buffalo and more nationally known. God brought me to a point to be able to say if I only do music here in Buffalo, I will be ok, I will touch people and be happy and I accepted that. It wasn’t until that point that opportunities began to open up for me an other places outside of the state and even the country. I really had to sincerely say that I love making music and as long as I am able to touch people’s lives that is what is important, not where

Continued Page 11


On Stage Listings are Free. Write: The Challenger, On Stage, PO Box 474,, Bflo., NY 14208; or email: [email protected]

DID YOU VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE

BARBER OR HAIR STYLIST YET?

ON STAGE

*The Legendary Dionne War-wick, April 10, 7 p.m., the Riveria Theatre & Performing Arts Center, North Tonawanda, NY, 692-2493.

*JAR THE Floor” on stage, Paul Robeson Theatre, April 29 –May 22 (Mother’s Day Dinner Theatre May 8); 350 Masten Ave. 884-2013.

Dreamgirls Back by Popular Demand! Rapa presents a return production of the hit Broadway Musical “Dreamgirls” to the Stage at East End Theatre, 727 E. Main St in Rochester on April 15,16 (Friday and Saturday) at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday April 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $22 and are available at the door. Call (585) 325-3366 for more information.


“We wish to plead our own cause. too long have others spoken for us.”-John Russwurm, Freedom’s Journal, 1827America’s First Black Newspaper

“What is planted cannot be uprooted.What is well

embraced cannot slip away.”I CHING

Published by Challenger Communityy News CorporationP.O. Box 474

Buffalo, NY 14209Phone: 716. 881-1051 Fax: 881-1053 Email:

[email protected] Every Wednesday

Our news deadline is at 5 pm on the Friday prior to Wednesday publication.

Deadline for ads that require in-house design is 5pm Wednesday.Elecronically transmitted ads, Friday @ 5 p.m. Deadline for classified ads is Thursday at 5

p.m. Deadline for cameraready/or electronically transmitted ads Friday at 5 pm.

We respectfully submit that the opinions expressed on the editorial pages of this newspaper are not necessairly those of Challenger Community News Corporation or its advertisers.

The Meaning ofThe above image/logo, part of the Challenger flag, corresponds to one of the 81 chapters in Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. This particular tetragram corresponds to number 27, defined as “The Skillful Exchange of Information.” (From R.L Wing’s book, The Tao of Power.)

“The truth, always the truth--at all costs”

Speak Out!

HUA H U CHING

BETTY JEANGRANT

Ingram Announces Candidacy for Lackawanna School BoardDear Editor: I would like to announce my can-didacy for the Lackawanna School Board. As a resident of Lackawanna, I think it is time to have people on the school board whose sole purpose is to help our children and our schools. We can no longer accept what is hap-pening at our schools, and must stop allowing a few individuals from lock-ing in their own tenure. We must put people on the board who will make sure that our children are the top priority, and who will tell parents the truth about what is going on with the schools. I hope you will give me that chance; together I know we can make a difference.

-John Ingram

Remembering Manning MarableBy Cristian Salazar

Manning Marable, an influential Columbia University scholar of Afri-can Ameri-can history and cu l -ture whose forthcoming Malcolm X biography could revise perceptions of the slain civil rights leader, died April 1, just days before the book described as his life’s work was to be released. He was 60. His wife, Leith Mullings, said Dr. Marable died from complications of pneumonia at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. She said he had suffered for 24 years from sarcoi-dosis, an inflammatory lung disease, and had a double lung transplant in July. She said his latest book, “Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention,” will be released Monday. Two decades in the making, the nearly 600-page biography is described as a reevaluation of Mal-colm X’s life, bringing fresh insight to such subjects as his autobiography, which is still assigned in many college courses, and his assassination at the Audubon Ballroom in New York on Feb. 21, 1965. The book is based on exhaustive research, including thousands of pages of FBI files and records from the CIA and State Department. Dr. Marable also conducted interviews with the slain civil rights leader’s confidants and security team, as well as witnesses to his assassination. Blair Kelley, a history professor at North Carolina State University, called Dr. Marable’s death a “dev-astating” loss for Black historians. “He really deserved the opportunity to be celebrated for his groundbreak-ing scholarship,” Kelley wrote on Twitter. Dr. Marable was born in Dayton, Ohio, on May 13, 1950. He wrote in his 1998 book, “Speaking Truth to Power,” that he was born into the era that witnessed the emergence of Rosa Parks, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and nonviolent movements in the South to combat white supremacy. But as the child of middle-class black Americans in the North, he watched from afar as African Ameri-cans in the South struggled against segregation and racial inequality, he wrote. As a teenager, he found his emergent political voice writing columns for a neighborhood news-paper. Dr. Marable wrote that his mother

One year before his death - April 4, 1967, “Beyond Vietnam” is the speech where Dr. Martin Luther King labeled the U.S. government the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today. Sadly, 44 years later the 44th president is a bi-racial, half Black man and the label STILL FITS! ~ Howard Barrrett

An Unfortunate ExperienceDear Editor: On the morning of March 19 an unfortunate incident occurred at a popular restaurant on Buffalo’s east-side. I was disrespected punked off and humiliated in front of my friends, my community and more then any-thing my “lady friend,” who was in town visiting for the weekend. She had heard great things about this establish-ment and wanted to eat there. We were seated at our table when I noticed across from us a table for four was being cleaned off. I said to my lady; “let me see if we can get that table.” I started walking toward the table when I was told by a gentleman, the brother of the owner, that he had four people coming. Looking around I didn’t see anyone and said to him, “I don’t see anyone.” He then said they were up front. I said ok and started heading back to my seat when he stood in front of me and said “don’t ever question me when I tell you some-thing.” So I said to him are you crazy? I can question you or anyone. I’m the customer. He said “you don’t question me, this is my place and I’ll make it so that you won’t be served when you come in here. By this time he is getting louder. Now I’m asking him “are you finished.” Then he said to me so all could hear “get the f_ _ _ out of here.” You could hear a church mouse run across the floor it was so quite and the owner was standing right there, saw and heard it all. My lady, my friends and community members witnessed it all too. As my friend and I prepared to leave, I looked at the gentleman and said “I won’t forget this” and we left the African American business estab-lishment. Being a strong Blackman I felt I’d failed to protect my lady friend from being disrespected in public and this being her first time in Buffalo, all she wanted to do was go there to eat. I will never spend my cash at their restaurant again or tell people about them. No owner or worker should

ever talk to their customers or employ-ees they way I was spoken to, in an unprofessional manner. We entered the restaurant feeling happy, I was not rude, disruptive or disrespectful I simply asked a question about the availability of a table. Black people, we should stop spend-ing money to be treated with no respect whether it’s with a Blacks or Whites. We ended up going to another African American establishment, had a great breakfast and a wonderful rest of the day.

-Samuel A. Herbert

Buffalo’s ‘dead people’ problems did not start with Karla Thomas! During the month of October, I had the honor or task (I am not sure which, at

this moment) of sitting in on the hearing called by then City of Buffalo Human Resource Commissioner, Karla Thomas. I was there because Karla asked me to be there in support of her. I was there also, because I had personal knowledge of incidences where some families of deceased individuals collected illegal health and compensation benefits from the city while I served as University District Councilmember in 2002 or 2003. At that time, either the Masiello Administration or his Department of Human Resource, under the direction of Commissioner Leonard Matarese, found out that a group of firefighters who went off the city payroll on what was designated an on-the job- disability or workman compensa-

tion, had retired over the years but they were still being paid the higher benefits that went with their injuries. Instead of applying for and receiving a lower retired pension rate, they went still collecting their disability pay, which was not subjected to income taxes. It was also found out that a number of family members of retired employ-ees who had died, were still being carried as dependents on the now deceased employee’s health policy. It was found that most of those relatives who were illegally collecting the benefits failed to notify the city’s Department of Human Resource that the policyholder was no longer alive. The city even threatened to sue the family members for the amount of money that was owed to the city. At this time, I do not know if the city followed through on this threat but I do know that the mayor, the Council members, the comptroller’s office and the city of Buffalo’s Human Resource Department knew that there was a problem. Now, let us fast forward to 2009. Former Human Resource Commissioner, Karla Thomas was fired because she inherited a condition or a problem that was clearly identified in 2002. I do not know if Mayor Masiello reprimanded Commissioner Matarese for the loss of several hundred thousands of dollars of city’s fund. However, I do know that, if he was disciplined, he was allowed to keep his job. He remained the city’s human resource commissioner until his contract expired and Mayor Brown chose not to extend it. I also do not know if the then city comptroller ( I think it was Anthony Nanula) was even chastised for not finding out this information through various audits. However, I do know that, in 2009, Comptroller, Andy San Filipo, (who has since left city government) knew or should have known, about the problem that was detected in 2002. As I write about the events that transpired in 2002, I am not letting Karla Thomas off the hook. When one ascends to a leadership position, certain responsibilities come with the territory. A key one of them is that: the person who is deemed in charge is ultimately in charge of what goes on, good or bad, in his or her department. Karla Thomas’ Human Resource Department had a responsibility to order the Social Security data machine that would have weeded out the abusers. To Ms. Thomas’ credit, she said that she delegated that responsibility to an underling who, according to Ms. Thomas, falsely told her that she had ordered it. It might be worth noting that, the individual who lied, was not fired; she was simply allowed to revert back to her previous Civil Service status and she is still on the payroll. But, at the end of the day, the buck must stop somewhere and unfortunately, it stopped at Karla Thomas’ desk! Did Ms. Thomas’s behavior warranted her being fired? Would a suspen-sion of a few weeks with or without pay, have been more appropriate and fair? Would Karla Thomas’ fate have been less drastic if she were, let’s say, a White female? a White male? Or even a Black male? If Ms. Thomas’ transgressions were similar to the one encountered by former Human Resource Commissioner, Leonard Matarese, then why were the outcomes so drastically different? The former was unceremoniously fired while the later was allowed to fulfill the terms of his hiring contract before he was let go. As I reflect on the employment history of these former, strong, intelligent African American employees in both, the Buffalo Police Department and the Brown Administration; from Cariol Horne to Della Abrams to Angela Joyner to Karen Fleming to Donna Brown to Rita Hubbard-Robinson to Michele Barron to Karla Thomas and also yours truly; there seemed to be an ‘uncomfortable fit’ between these former city workers and the current administration.

Black Women in the Brown Administration....

Continued Page 11

If your willingness to give blessings is limited, so also is your ability to receive them


-12-Colors blind the eye.Sounds deafen the ear.Flavors numb the taste.Thoughts weaken the mind.Desires wither the heart.

The Master observes the worldBut trusts his inner vision.He allows things to come and go.His heart is open as the sky.

Whatever happens to Moammar Gad-dafi, an independent Libya is not on the U.S. agenda. “Obama hopes to ‘stabilize’ Libya under indirect U.S. dominion through a kind of protector-ate involving various ‘international’ entities, on the Haitian model.” The president’s doctrine of “humanitarian” warfare – like his rhetoric – is merely a sweetened derivative of George Bush’s more crudely presented policies. “In the final analysis, Euro-American hege-mony means crushing the aspirations of all Arabs in the sand.”

By Glen Ford

In Libya, Barack Obama now faces the central contradiction of his presi-dency: How to accomplish George Bush’s strategic objective, to wrest back America’s post-Soviet global supremacy – a goal Obama has always, and openly, shared – while avoiding becoming embroiled in another Bush-style “dumb war.” This was the trick that Obama promised he alone was equipped to pull off by adorning the U.S. empire with a new, engaging, articulate, colored “face.”

I’m at. A: Let’s back up and talk about some of these opportunities? Did you say out of the Country? C: (laughing) Yes, I had a few opportunities to go to Germany. I first went during the summer for a huge festival that is celebrated there. I was invited out by a good friend of mine to be a part of a group of 14 artists. There were 7 of us from the States and another 7 artists from Germany and we collaborated and performed together. We were received very well and I had an opportunity to not only experience music in another country but also work with artists from Germany. It was an extraordinary experience. A: Who are some of the other artists you have had the opportunity to work and perform with? C:I have been blessed to have an opportunity to work with/open up for artist such as the Da Truth, Darcel Blue, Dave Hollister, Kierra “KiKi” Sheard, Flame and Martha Munizzi to just name a few. A: That few is a very impressive (laughing).Who are some of your musical influences you draw from? Music Soulchild, Kirk Franklin and of course artists like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. I think that having a wide range of music that I love makes it interesting to be able to tie all my influences into my music so I am not limited to what I can do as an artist to touch people. A: What is one thing you want the Challenger readers to take away about this interview and the music of choSon? C: My one message that I would try to strive to let people know is that nobody’s perfect and nobody has to be perfect to come to God. That’s one message that I try to convey in my music and I want to make clear on my next project. Where you are is where God wants to meet you. A: Inside source (laughing) give us something we may not know about you? C: I started out in music on the drums. I like to play the drums, actually more than I like to sing and rap. I’m not saying I am a great player (laughing) but put me behind some drums..oh boy(laughing).A lot of people don’t know that. A: Last thoughts? C:I want everyone who is reading this to know, Keep pushing, keep striv-ing and let’s really start to show each other love. I think that is lacking in our community. Let’s push each other, help each other and support each other. For more information on upcoming performances and information on choSon please visit www.chosononline.com.Hotep, Asantewa(know an artist having a positive impact in Buffalo? contact [email protected]

CHOSON INTERVIEW continued

BlackAgendaReport:

Obama’s North African War FaceObama strains to maintain that prefab-ricated face in the midst of an explo-sive and wholly unexpected political earthquake in the Arab world. The United States, as we wrote on March 23, “wants desperately to position itself on the ‘right’ side” of the unfolding Arab Reawakening and, if possible, to “appropriate to itself a section of the ‘Arab revolt.’” Having found – and helped create – that opportunity in Libya, the Americans and their European co-conspirators rushed in with a reenactment of George Bush’s “Shock and Awe” – a “full spectrum dominance” assault involving hundreds of cruise missiles that reminded even Moammar Gaddafi’s worst enemies that, in the final analysis, Euro-Amer-ican hegemony means crushing the aspirations of all Arabs in the sand.As the U.S. discovered in 2003, “Shock and Awe” repels as much as it impresses. Like the Bush Middle East/Western Asia offensive that ini-tially targeted over 30 governments for overthrow (including Libya) but got bogged down in Iraq, Obama and the French and British are in danger of having “reached too far.” Imperialism’s

refreshed Obama-face is looking more than ever like a grotesque Halloween mask, and he knows it.

The president’s press conference last Monday was an effort to reposition the United States, and to readjust his own face to the Arab world. The lull that followed in “coalition” air strikes on Gaddafi forces, which allowed battered Libyan units to retake ground briefly held by the highly disorganized and foreign-dependent rebels, could serve as a means for the U.S. to squeeze the bravado out of the Benghazi-based fighters – a kind of discipline by denial. Despite the West’s boundless praise for these purportedly democratic “freedom fighters,” the imperial plan does not include allowing them – whoever they are – to form a regime with authority over the country. More cautious ele-ments within the Obama administration may have arrived at an accommodation with NATO member Turkey, whose own interests in the region are incom-patible with those of the British and French – and, ultimately, the United States.Obama acknowledged that the all-out assault on Libya too overtly resembles Bush-style regime change: “To be blunt,” he said, “we went down that road in Iraq…. That is not something we can afford to repeat in Libya.” Yet, regime change is a defining privilege of imperialism and, therefore, Obama reiterated that the American position is that Gaddafi must go.The contradiction, which causes Obama grief in Manifest Destiny America, is exponentially more acute in the midst of the Arab Re-Awakening. The president’s carefully crafted lan-guage indicates that Obama hopes to “stabilize” Libya under indirect U.S. dominion through a kind of protector-ate involving various “international” entities, on the Haitian model. The key paragraph is:“Gaddafi has not yet stepped down from power, and until he does, Libya will remain dangerous. Moreover, even after Gaddafi does leave power, forty years of tyranny has left Libya fractured and without strong civil institutions. The transition to a legiti-mate government that is responsive to the Libyan people will be a diffi-cult task. And while the United States will do our part to help, it will be a task for the international community, and – more importantly – a task for the Libyan people them-selves.” This is not a formula for rule by the Benghazi crowd, whose Islamist elements are indigest-

ible, if not anathema, to U.S. poli-cymakers and image-spinners. It is a rationale for a long, Haiti-like occupa-tion under a compliant United Nations or improvised multi-national façade. Arab nationalism cannot be allowed free rein anywhere, since imperial rule abhors all nationalisms but its own.Since the campaign days, Obama has struggled to infuse his deceptive rheto-ric – which is really all that separates him from Bush – with the language of “Responsibility to Protect,” or R2P. Cloaked in the cynical camouflage of “humanitarian” objectives, Obama hopes to draw an illusory line between his and Bush’s worldviews, that will be palatable to a new an emboldened Arab audience. It is a doomed mission, not only because of the inherent con-tradictions between Arab aspirations and imperial dominance, but because American rulers are incapable of speak-ing to a warlike U.S. nationalism and addressing Arab aspirations at the same time. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the top U.S. diplomat, cannot even maintain the discipline of a consis-tent lie. She admitted that widespread bloodletting by Gaddafi’s forces was a fantasy and invention:“I know that the nightly news cannot cover a humanitarian crisis that thank-fully did not happen, but it is important to remember that many, many Libyans are safer today because the interna-tional community took action.”There was no humanitarian crisis, and it will become increasingly impossible to frame the Euro-American assault in North Africa as anything other than an imperial offensive, designed to keep the Arab world in its place and to usurp African sovereignty over the continent’s resources. Obama’s “face” is melting.BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at [email protected].

encouraged him to attend King’s funeral in Atlanta “to witness a sig-nificant event in our people’s history.” As the correspondent for a local black newspaper, he marched with thousands of others in the funeral procession. “With Martin’s death, my childhood abruptly ended,” he wrote. “My under-standing of political change began a trajectory from reform to radical-ism.” Dr. Marable graduated from Earlham College in Indiana in 1971 and received a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1972 and a doctor-ate in history from the University of Maryland in 1976. In the 1970s, he was active in the National Black Political Assembly, a community organizing group, and the National Black Political Assembly. He taught at Cornell University, Ohio State University and the University of Colorado before joining the Columbia faculty in 1993. He lectured widely throughout the country and was co-founder of the Black Radical Congress, an organiza-tion of African American activists. Dr. Marable wrote almost 20 books, including the landmark “How Capital-ism Underdeveloped Black America” (1983). Before his biography of Mal-colm X, he published books on Medgar Evers and W.E.B. Dubois. At Columbia, he was founding direc-tor of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies and estab-lished the Center for Contemporary Black History. His marriage to Hazel Ann Marable ended in divorce. In addition to his second wife, sur-vivors include three children from his first marriage and two stepchildren.

MARABLE continued


COUNTY OF ERIE 95 FRANKLIN STREETDEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES BUFFALO, NY 14202

County of Erie, New YorkCase Management and Information & Assistance

The Erie County Department of Senior Services is seeking proposals from agencies to provide case management and information & assistance to frail elderly persons living in North Buffalo, Grand Island and Tonawanda. The RFP# 1108BC can be found at: http://www.erie.gov and a complete copy of the package can be obtained by contacting Judy Casassa at 716-858-6922.

All correspondence, communications and/or contact with the County in regard to any aspect of this proposal shall be with Judy Casassa.

Final sealed proposals are due to the Erie County Department of Senior Services at 95 Franklin St, Room 1329, Buffalo, NY 14202 by 4:00 PM (EST) on Friday, April 15, 2011. A pre-application information meeting will be held in Room 1350 of the Rath Building, 95 Franklin St., Buffalo at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 1, 2011.

Erie County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and waive any informality.

Brenda W. WardCommissioner of Erie County Department of Senior Services

COUNTY OF ERIENOTICE TO BIDDERS

REPLACEMENT OF PAVEMENT ROAD BRIDGES BR139-RR1& RR2

PROJECT NO. FA-139-RR2-11LOCALLY ADMINISTERED FEDERAL AID PROJECT 5755.38

The Department of Public Works, Division of Highways, is seeking sealed bids for this bridge replacement project. Sealed proposals will be received at the DPW-Division of Highways Main Conference Room 1404, 95 Franklin Street, 14th floor, Buffalo, NY at 10:00 a.m., April 28, 2011. Bid deposit of $140,000.00 required. Plans will be available for purchase at $100./set from April 7, 2011 through bid date. Pre-let meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 14, 2011 11:00 am at the DPW-Division of Highways Conference Room 1404, 95 Franklin Street, 14th floor, Buffalo, NY. Bid submittal details are on the Erie County website at: www.erie.gov/bidproposals.asp

PROJECT: BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS: BPS #53 Community School Bids: Sealed bids will be received at the office of LPCiminelli, Inc., 2421 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214 at 2:00 PM, on May 3, 2011 for the contracts listed below.

Pre-Bid Meeting: A pre-bid meeting will be held at BPS #53, Community School on April 19, 2011 at 2:00 PM, located at 329 Roehrer Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14208. All bidders are urged to attend.

Site Tours & Information Sessions: Site Tours of BPS #53 will be available immediately following the Pre Bid Meeting.

Contracts: The Project will be constructed using a multiple subcontract format. The following subcontracts will be bid at this time:

Contract 100 – Asbestos Abatement / Demolition **Contract 101 – General Construction Contract 205 – Structural Steel Contract 102 – Masonry Contract 103 – Roofing Contract 104 – Windows **Contract 105 – Drywall/Acoustical **Contract 106 – Painting **Contract 107 – Plumbing Contract 108 – HVAC * Contract 109 – Electrical

** “Bidders on Contract 101 General Construction, Contract 105 Drywall/Acoustical, Contract 106 Paint-ing, Contract 107 Plumbing and Contract 109 Electrical MUST BE a Certified Woman Owned Business Enterprise or a Certified Minority Owned Business Enterprise as defined in Specification Section 00900 Development and Diversification Plan for Workforce and Business, Section II Business Development and Diversification Rules”.

The following Contracts will be bid at a later date:

Contract 901 – Building SystemsContract 906 – Flooring Contract 920 – Security (DWT)

Coordination between Contracts 100, 101, 205, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, and 109 and Contracts 901, 906 and 920 will be required.

Workforce and Business Diversification: It is the policy of the Program Provider to provide equal opportunity for all qualified individuals and businesses, to prohibit discrimination, and to promote full realization of equal opportunity through positive continuing programs. Refer to Section 00900 of the Project Manual, “Development and Diversification Plan for Workforce and Business”.

Definitions: The Owner shall be defined as the City of Buffalo City School District as Agent for the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA), Buffalo N.Y. and the Joint School Construction Board. The Owner has retained the services of LPCiminelli, Inc. as Program Packaging and Development Services Provider herein after referred to as the Program Provider. The Architect for BPS #53 shall be defined as Cannon Design.

Opening of Bids: The proposals will be privately opened.Consideration of Bids: The Program Provider reserves the right to waive any informality in the bid proposals, to reject any or all bids, or to issue any contract which it deems to be in the best interest of the Project.Bidding Documents: The Bidding Documents may be obtained starting on April 6, 2011, through Reprocraft located at 282 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, upon the deposit of $100 per set, by check made payable to LPCiminelli, Inc. Bid deposit will be refunded to bidders returning the Bidding Documents in good condition within 30 days of the Bid Date. To obtain Bidding Documents, contact Reprocraft at (716) 847-6262. Bidding Documents may be examined at the following locations:

LPCiminelli, Inc. – 2421 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214Buffalo Board of Education Plant Services Department – Room 406 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY, 2660 William Street, Cheektowaga, NY 14227Reed Construction Data, On-Line Viewing Site Only: www.reedconstructiondata.comBuilders Exchange, Inc., 180 Linden Oaks, Suite 100, Rochester, NY 14625-2837Southern Tier Builders Association, 65 East Main St, Falconer, NY 14733The Outsource Center, 1649 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14211McGraw Hill Construction: www.network.construction.comOther locations where contractors and subcontractors normally view plans.Plan Holders List: An updated Plan Holders List may be obtained by accessing LPCiminelli’s website at www.lpciminelli.com. The list is updated on a daily basis and can be found under “Bidding” and the school name. Requests for Information: Requests for Information regarding BPS #53 Bid Documents shall be submitted in writing to the attention of George Spinaris at LPCiminelli, Inc., fax: (716) 854-6655 or email: [email protected] .

END OF SECTION 00100

Dear Eve:One afternoon, I met a lady who I thought would make a wonderful mate for me. The more we talked, the more I felt like this lady was the type for me.That night we went out on the town - eating, sipping and believe it or not, we seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. Later that same night,

we had nothing more to do, so our conversation led to sharing our past experiences. We shouldn’t have. In the process, when the lady shared her morbid past experiences, I turned to ask her if she thought she would ever do any of those things again. There was no sign of remorse when she quickly said she wouldn’t hesitate. I didn’t ask another question. I knew immediately that I would never want to see the lady again. Before we began sharing our past experiences, I had asked her to attend a play with me the following week. How do I handle this now? What do you suggest? I don’t care to take that sinful lady anywhere. And I refuse to become one of her victims. I wish to remain Anonymous Dear Anonymous: Since you didn’t mention what any of the past experiences were — neither hers —nor yours —— I have no comment.However, I do have a few sug-gestions. Why not try to at least reach the lady to let her know you are not going to the event? Or why not wait until she calls you - then let her down easy? Or since we all have sinned at one time or another, why not search yourself to see whether or not you yourself committed a sin in one of your past experiences? Then be honest. Isn’t possible that you for¬got to share it? All sins can be forgiven.The Bible reads - in John Chapter 8 Verse 7 - Jesus said “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.”


FOR RENT 2 & 3 BEDROOMS

BIDSAffordable monthly rent basedOn 30%of your gross annualWages and utility allowance

Deduction. Updated 2 bedroomTownhomes. Attached garages.Private entrances. AppliancesIncluded. Laundry hookups.

Amherst School District. Metro& Bus lines. Convenient location.Sec. 8 affordable

housing.42A Oxford AvenueAmherst, NY 14226

838-5850or 853-1548

[email protected]

DISCOVER ALLENHURST

EAST SIDE APARTMENTS AVAILABLE

*Two and Three Bedroom Apartments starting at $395 plus security. Apartments Section 8 Ready. Call 836-8686.

A.C. Ware ManorApartments

A Great Place to Call Home134 Spring Street

Buffalo, NY 14204(716) 854-0636 Fax 854-0631

IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCYFor Seniors 62 Yrs. And Older

One Bedroom ApartmentsInclude

AppliancesWall-to-Wall CarpetOff Street ParkingLaundry FacilitiesCommunity Room

Electronic Door Entry System24-Hour Surveillance CamerasLocated on Major Bus Lines

Give Us A Call For MoreApartment Information

(716) 854-0636Office Hours:

Tuesday & Thursday8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

NFTA ProcurementInvitation to BidJanitorial ServicesLandscape MulchingDownload Bids from www.nfta.com

Board of Education Buffalo, New York

Division of Purchase 716-816-3585

**Sealed proposals will be received in Room 816 City Hall On: Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM for RFP #10-11-059 OCCUPATIONAL & PHYSI-CAL THERAPY SERVICESOn: Wednesday, April 19, 2011 at 2:00 PM for RFP #10-11-057 DISTRICT LAN CABLING Specifications and bid forms are available atwww.buffaloschools.org/Pur-chaseDept.cfmCraig A. KoeppelDirector of Purchase

INVITATION TO BIDThe NFTA is soliciting construction bids for Project No. 12NL1005, NFIA – Off-Site Parking Lot Improvements Phase 1 – Overflow Lot #3, Bid No. E-467 on April 26, 2011. www.nftaengineering.com

NOTICE OF INVITATIONTO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES

Proposals are requested by the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, Division of Sewerage Management (DEP/DSM) for the Erie County/Erie County Sewer District No. 4 Iroquois and Broadway East Pumping Station Improvements. In accordance with Local Law No. 6, proposals are hereby invited for the subject project. Proposals are to be submitted in the exact format of submittal available from Erie County Department of Environment and Plan-ning, Room 1034, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York 14202, Telephone (716) 858-8383. Proposals will be due May 3, 2011. The DEP/DSM emphasizes that declining to respond at any step of the procurement process prior to selection will not hinder firms from being solicited for future jobs. To obtain a copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) or review documents related to this invitation, please call the above number, write to the above address or e-mail [email protected]. This invitation does not commit the Department of Environment and Planning, Division of Sewerage Management, Erie County, to accept any priced proposal, nor does it obligate Erie County for any costs associated with preparing or submitting proposals.

BY: Joseph L. Fiegl, P.E. Deputy Commissioner Erie County Department of Environment & Planning Division of Sewerage Management

BIDS

BIDS

SENIOR HOUSING

McDonald’s to hire 50,000 workers - in 1 day N E W Y O R K (CNNMoney) -- McDonald’s said Monday that it is planning a one-day hiring spree of 50,000 new workers on April 19 for its U.S. restau-rants. M c D o n a l d ’ s (MCD, Fortune 500) said that these new “Mcjobs” will include crew and management positions, part-time and full-time. McDonald’s, which has 14,000 restaurants in the United States, said the hires will occur nationwide. “We’re excited to offer 50,000 new jobs, all across America, all in one day,” said Jan Fields, president of McDonald’s U.S.A. Fields, who started working at a McDonald’s restaurant as a crew member behind the counter in 1978, said the 50,000 new hires will increase the U.S. workforce to 700,000 from its current level of 650,000. She said the average pay for the jobs is $8.30 an hour. That’s compared to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, though in some states the minimum wage is higher. She said that restaurant managers can make $50,000 a year. This announcement from McDonald’s is just the latest sign of an improving job market. On Friday, the U.S. government announced a gain of 216,000 jobs in March, pushing the unemployment rate down to 8.8%, its lowest level in two years.

SOUTH BUFFALO SENIOR COMMUNITY OPENNG SOON

HOLY FAMILY APARTMENTS

920 Tifft Street, Buffalo NY 14220

Seniors 55 years and older can enjoy:

One and two bedroom apartments with affordable rents which will include:

Locked Controlled Entrance, Carpeting,

Heat, Central air, Laundry Facilities, Appliances,

Off Street Parking / Close to bus lines

Fire and Safety Control Monitoring Systems

Community Room

CARING FOR ELDERLY AND FRAIL POPULATIONS

For information and/or to get on the initial application mailing list, call or write on or before April 18, 2011

525 Washington Street, Buffalo NY 14203

716) 847-1635


EVENING

THE NUMBER BOOK

NEW YORK NUMBERS

ZAKIYYAH’S RUNDOWN

619-650-759-918-956-709-301-965-605-700-941-359-615-036-770-983-490-118-109-147-685-958-936-407-714-127-799-038-759-159

quick money $$$$189-809-444886-980-422322-522-355800-592-390394-833-924127-909-418927-313-466124-550-525583-269-508

980-422-809981-989-970-990-080-800390-196-102-581-752-319-

408-378-352-126189-444-886

322-522-412-432-421-423

134-431-143 648*123*104

MA RUTH SPRING

Specials!000-648-715-618-202-514-

333-111grandma’s

pics134-605-132-240-999-356-010 -790-111

DANCE Dance Lessons with Smooth Steppers: Urban Line Dance, smooth style Ball-room, Steppin’ and Swing; CRUCIAL Center, 230 Moselle St., Saturdays at noon; Tuesdays at 6 p.m. $3; 633-7813. *Line Dancing With Pearl Harris: 6-7 p.m. Pratt Willert Community Center, 422 Pratt St. donation $2. Wednesdays *Community Dance and African Drumming Classes: African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Avenue, 3 p.m. Saturdays and 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; $15 monthly; visit www.africancultural.org more information *Line Dancing Lessons, First Shiloh Baptist Church, 15 Pine St., 6:30 p.m. Fridays. 847-6555. Free. *Line Dance Lessons: 10 a.m.-Noon; Martha Mitchell Center, 175 Oakmont St.; 444-2046 or 833-1038, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday 6-7:30 pm; $2 *Line Dance by George Patterson: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; Delavan Grider Center, 896-7021, Mondays & Thursdays. *June-Teenth Afrikan Family Time Drum Dance and Song: 6-8:30 p.m.; Gateway-Longview Family Resource Center, 347 Ferry Street. Fridays * Argentine Tango Every Monday with Travis Widrick 7 - 10 p.m. 1st hour begin-ners lesson,The Gallery @ Chow Chocolat, 731 Main St. *Salsa Night Every Wednesday with Calvin and Fanny 7 - 10 p.m .1st hour begin-ners lesson The Gallery @ Chow Chocolat 731 Main St. *Latin Night 1st/3rd Friday with Chun Poh, Salsa, Merengue, ChaCha, Bachata 8 p.m.- midnight, Chow Chocolat 731 Main St. *Urban Ballroom Stepping, Swing, Beginners Salsa (all classes $3, 633-7813); Tuesdays 6-7 p.m. Urban Line Dancing; 7-8 p.m. Ballroom Stepping; Saturdays 1-3 p.m. Ballroom Stepping, West Coast Swing, Beginners Salsa. *Urban Line Dance: Learn some of the latest hot line dances,Mondays Old 600 Club, Mondays 7-9 p.m.; Wednesdays 6:15-8 p.m., ,St. Philips 15 Fernhill. POETRY *Open Mic Poetry: 6:30-9 p.m.; EM Tea Coffee Cup Café, 80 Oakgrove St.

EXERCISE *Senior Fitness Class: 9:45-10:45 a.m.; Delavan Grider Center, 877 E. Delavan; 896-7021; Wednesdays *Exercise for Health: 9:30-10:30; Edward A. Saunders Center, 2777 Bailey Avenue; 332-4381 Thursdays *Open Gym: 5-8 p.m.; Delavan Grider Center, 877 E. Delavan; 896-7021. Fri-days *Tae-Kwan-do: 6-8 p.m.; Delavan Grider Center, 877 E. Delavan; 896-7021. Mondays & Fridays

On-Going Events

Lucky Louie Says If You Dream of:

*Snakes 236*Shoes 965

*Mother 562*Old Lady 725*Old Man*625

*Keys 841*Husband 328

*Wife 711

HOT TIPS

140-202 451-810 123-555 970-825 000-444 470-488 719-034

NUMBERS

WIN 4TAKE 5

LOTTO

6-24-28-34-41#55 15-18-19-24-41#59

SUN 3/27 MON 3/28 TUES 3/29 WED 3/30 THURS 3/31 FRI 4/1 SAT4/2 MID- 753 MID-520 MID- 232 MID- 141 MID-424 MID-410 MID-607 EVE-311 EVE-768 EVE- 041 EVE-328 EVE-146 EVE-400 EVE- 286 MID - 1185 MID- 6117 MID-8277 MID-1072 MID- 6901 MID- 0901 MID-1103 EVE- 4023 EVE-6488 EVE-1058 EVE-3234 EVE- 2405 EVE-0444 EVE-1409 5-11-16-26-30 10-24-26-32-39 5-10-21-30-34 9-10-23-26-30 15-23-32-33-36 14-16-25-29-35 3-8-16-17-28

MIDDAY232-Quick $$ (bx)410-Hot Tips (bx)

*768-Number Book (Straight)*

041-Lucky Ducky (bx)*328-Number Book

(Straight)*146-Number Book (bx)


SEE YOU AT THE EVENTS!


CALENDAR OF EVENTS


The road to College and Career Success Begins in Kindergarten.

At King Center Charter School, we believe that all children must be college ready and college bound from an early age. Join us as we expand to the middle school years. We are a school community of experienced and expert educators, committed to providing the best academic, social, and emotional skill development to insure your child's future. Please refer to our website to submit an application-www.kccs.org. Due date is April 1, 2011 30 Rich Street, Buffalo, NY 14211 716-891-7912 Fax: 716-895-2058

Schiller Park Gospel Fest Schiller Park Community Services announces its first ever Schiller Park Gospel Fest, a showcase of gospel music from churches around Western New York for ages 55 and better on Saturday April 9, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Schiller Park Senior Citizen Center, 2057 Genesee Street, in Buffalo. This performance will feature music from several gospel choirs and artists, including United Voices of Metro-politan UMC, True Vine Christian Center, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Bright Morningstar Baptist Church, Love Alive Full Gospel Bap-tist Church, Natasha DaVias (a.k.a. Natahlie) and The Charles Billups Ensemble. Admission is only $5.00 each, but you must be 55 or better to enter. Coffee and popcorn is free. For tickets, call the Senior Center at 895-2727. For more information about the event, please call Executive Director Michael Tritto, Jr.at 896-4021.

Wednesday April 6

Meeting City of Buffalo Commis-sion on Reapportionment: 5:30 p.m.; City Hall Rm. 1417; call 851-8144 or 851-5105.

We Are Women Warriors Commu-nity and Family Empowerment Group Meeting: 6-7:45 p.m.; Frank E. Merriweather Library, 1324 Jef-ferson; call 536-7323 or 894-0914.

Thursday April 7

Urban Dementia Care Conference: 12-4 p.m. morning; 5-8 p.m. evening; Deaconess Center, 1001 Humboldt Pkwy; cost $10; call 626-0600 to register.

Friday April 8

March & Rally-Stop All the Wars at Home and Abroad: 4:30 p.m. prelude protest 4:00 p.m.; Lafayette Square.

Annual African Marketplace Theme “Looking Back Over The Years:”5-7 p.m.; 1095 Jefferson Ave.; call 631-0242

Saturday April 9

Women for Human Rights and Dig-nity 33rd Annual Forum & Luncheon: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Millennium Air-port Hotel; call 831-9821 for reser-vations.

UB Hosts “Spectacle of Sound Jazz Festival: 6 p.m.; The Tralf, 622 Main St.; presale tickets $5; at door $8; call 689-1100 or 645-8518.

Meeting City of Buffalo Commis-sion on Reapportionment: 9 a.m.; City Hall Rm. 1417; call 851-8144 or 851-5105.

West Side Neighborhood Housing Services Mortgage Check Up Event: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; FLARE Offices, 307 Leroy St.; to register call 885-2344.

WNY Writing Project Hosts “Mind, Body, Spirit” Creative Writing Work-shop: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Canisius College Lyons Hall, 2001 Main St; cost $40; call 888-3105.

Schiller Park Community Services First Gospel Fest: 3-7 p.m.; 2057 Gene-see St.; admission $5; must be 55 or better; call 895-2727.

Canisius College Hosts Hispanic Youth Music Project: 7:30 p.m.; Montante Cultural Center (cor Main & East-wood Pl); free and open to public; call 888-2835.

Rev. Daris Dixon-Clark 4th Anniver-sary Pastoral Celebration “Family Fun Day:” 3 p.m.; Bowl Inn Bowling Center, 727 Bailey Ave; $9 per person shoes included; call 847-1020.

Sunday April 10Addeynu Allahe-Universial Arabic Association Business Meeting: 2 p.m. Salatul Dhur; meeting at 2:15 p.m.; 245 Elmwood Ave. (Stuyvesant bldg).

Tuesday April 12

B.O.S.S. (Buffalo’s Own Smooth Step-pers): 6-8 p.m.; Gateway on E. Ferry; Ballroom, Chicago Steppin and Swing classes; rubber sole shoes please

Wednesday April 13

Board of Education Regular Board Meeting: 5:30 p.m.; Room 801 City Hall.

Erie Community College Spring Open House: 4-7 p.m.; ECC City Campus, Burt Flickinger Athletic Center, 21 Oak St.; ECC South Campus, 4041 Southwestern Blvd. Williamsville; call 851-1866.

Saturday April 9


Drill-O-Rama 2011 Rocks Kleinhans! The level of talent and creativity never ceases to amaze me. Year after year, high step-pers and fancy dancers take to the stage and blow the audience away with their skills. This year was no exception. Drill-O-Rama 2011, held at Kleinhans Music Hall last Thursday evening, was an awesome display of our children’s talent and creativity. New to the program this year was the Guppies division – tiny tots with big dreams and even greater energy – Wee Fine, Jus’ Enough difference and Devastation Mini-Me’s. They absolutely stole the crowd’s heart! The Jr. Independent and Grammar School division was a hard act to follow. They absolutely tore it up. A special performance by Prestige & Truth (Combined) Dance Team was awesome. Under the direction of Mrs. Felicia Doctor, these young people showed us why they made it to an America’s Next Best Dance Crew audition recently. Division 2, the Senior Independent and High ‘School division, rounded out the night with more unlimited talent and creativity. One of the highlights was a cameo appearance by “Mr. Drill-O-Rama” himself, Marcus Brown who came on stage at the beginning of the Crusaders Marching Unit as the father of the bride. And once again hats off to the young folks who made us proud by conducting themselves as respectful young adults.And the winners? *Jr. Independent Division: 3rd Place, Jr. Gospel Difference; 2nd place Devastation; and 1st Place, Even-finer. *Best Captain Jr. Independent Division: Even-Finer *Elementary School Division: 2nd Place School 53 (Soulja Queens) *Step Team Winner Grammar School Division: 1st Place School 53 (Team Demolition – they tore it up!) *Best Captain Elementary School Division: Team Demolition/School 53 *Best Dressed Elementary: School 5 3 * Elementary Division: 3rd Place, Cobra Crusaders; 2nd Place Baby Fine; 1st Place, Divine-Devastation. *Best Captain Elementary Division: A Lil’ More difference (Dezhaela Hughes) *Best Dressed Elementary Division: Triple Threat *Jr. Independent Division: Most Original, Even Finer *Most Outstanding; Divine Devastation *Senior Independent Division: 3rd Place Crusaders; 2nd place, Gospel Difference; 1st Place, Buffalo’s Finest *High School Division: 3rd Place Hutch Tech; 2nd Place Arts (Performing Arts) Acad-emy; 1st Place Oracle (New champions!) *Best Dressed Sr. Independent Division: Crusaders *Best Dressed High School Division: Oracle *Best Captain Sr. Independent division: Sr. Crusaders *Best Captain High School Division: Hutch Tech *Most Original: Sr. Crusaders *Most Outstanding Division 2: Buffalo’s FinestSpecial thanks to Mr. Marcus Brown and the Drill Teams United of WNY for a great 38th annual event!

april 6, 2011

Documents

arts award essie calhoun

essie calhoun diversity

visual arts

annual essie award

essie calhoun diversity

garth fagan werent

writer quincy troupe

creative genius of garth