Immigration spawns church fury

sfltimes.com
“Elevating the Dialogue”
SERVING MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, PALM BEACH AND MONROE COUNTIES
IN THIS ISSUE
DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 50¢
BROWARD
Immigration spawns church fury
By DAPHNE TAYLOR
Special to South Florida Times
POMPANO BEACH — At least one determined African-American leader is
on a crusade, hoping to put an end to President Barack Obama's immigration
reform policy. The Reverend O'Neal Dozier, pastor and founder of The Worldwide
Christian Center Church in Pompano Beach and founder of The Voting Majority, a
group of both clergy and non-clergy who are fighting against Obama’s immigration plan, says the president's stance on immigration is hurting black people and
he is demanding a reversal because the policy violates the Civil Rights’ of blacks.
Dozier is so passionate about it, that he has written a letter to the president, urging him to rethink and reverse his policy. He emailed the letter to
the White House last week, on the day President Obama
unveiled his plans.
NATION/3A
Petermans
Our Environment
LETTER ON 6A
Dozier says if the president's policy on
immigration is implemented, it would be
devastating for African-Americans because it
would take away jobs that blacks desperately
need and it’s infringing on African-Americans’
civil rights. “The Civil Rights act states that no
one has the right to infringe on our freedom,”
stated Dozier. “We are guaranteed life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. Flooding the job
market with 'illegals' like this will hurt blacks,”
he said, in a telephone interview.
President Obama's immigration reform
would in effect, shield some 5 million people, mostly Hispanics, from being deported
SPORTS/8A
Hands up
don’t shoot
PHOTO COURTESY OF O’NEAL DOZIER
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITEHOUSE.GOV
Barack Obama
PLEASE TURN TO IMMIGRATION/2A
NATION
O’Neal Dozier
MIAMI-DADE
PortMiami prepares
for a vast expansion
PHOTO COURTESY OF REALFILMECAREER.COM
Current Tubman African American Museum
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY
Aerial view of PortMiami expansion from 40,000 feet
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEGACY.GPB.ORG
Future Tubman African American Museum.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BLACKIOWA.ORG
Harriet Tubman
The 9/11 attacks and aftermath “really affected fundraising,
and there was a series of other things
that happened,” he said. “It was almost like the perfect storm.”
The price of steel and other materials skyrocketed, a series of hurricanes devastated the South and labor
costs soared, Ambrose said.
The museum's previous leadership had decided to start construction before it collected the $15.5 million it estimated the building would
The controversial dredging in the PortMiami is approaching to completion in July 20.
The $180m project that is deepening the port’s channel
to 50 feet will clear the way for Post-Panamax megaships,
making the port a major logistics hub connecting Asia and
Latin America. The second producing agent of revenue in
the county, the port now contributes nearly $27 million
annually to the local and state economies and supports
207,000 jobs in the State of Florida.
PortMiami’s expansion is expected to boost local
economy by doubling the cargo traffic and generating
more than 20,000 new jobs.
But industrial projects involving natural resources
come at a price. In early June scientists from the University of Miami and Coral Morphologic reported excessive
sediment damage to corals in the area of the deep dredge.
An inspection by the Miami-Dade County’s Division of Environmental Resource Management followed, finding a
blanket of silt and clay over the bay bottom.
PLEASE TURN TO TUBMAN/3A
PLEASE TURN TO ENVIRONMENTAL/2A
Tubman Museum nears completion
By LAURA CORLEY
The Telegraph
MACON, Ga. (AP) — The new
home of the Tubman African American Museum is finally taking shape
after nearly 15 years of planning, fundraising, building - and roadblocks.
A 74-foot-tall circular atrium will
welcome visitors in the spring for the
museum's soft opening, but for now
the downtown building is filled with
echoing voices and the sound of construction workers as they make final
touches.
David Thompson, a founder of
the Piedmont Construction Group,
said the museum is by far the longest
project he has ever worked on.
“I've been involved for 15 years
on this project,” Thompson said. “We
started and it stopped for years and
years. We started the budgeting in
1999. ... We all have been for decades
waiting on this moment.”
Construction started on the new
building in 2001, but only the exterior
was completed before progress came
to a screeching halt, said Andy Ambrose, the museum's executive director.
By JULIANA
Special to South Florida Times
REGION
Thanksgiving dinner delights city’s guests and the homeless
By KYOTO WALKER
Special to South Florida Times
PHOTO COURTESY OF FEEDINGSOUTHFLORIDA.ORG
West Park’s children enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.
WEST PARK — In this recent economic downturn, many families desiring a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner did
not have that option. However, staff and
volunteers from Feeding South Florida
Mobile Food Pantry helped make it possible for residents in West Park to have a
free meal to celebrate the holiday, and
it came to them. The nonprofit agency,
whose main warehouse is based in Pembroke Park, serves Broward, Miami-Dade,
Palm Beach and Monroe counties, and
provided produce for the city’s annual
Thanksgiving dinner held Wednesday,
Nov. 25 at Mary Saunders Park, 4750 SW
21st St., West Park.
Eric H. Jones, Jr., the mayor of West
Park, said even though the dinner is held
only once a year, he thinks that it makes
an important contribution to the community. “There are always people that are
in need,” he said. “Even though it’s not
consistently done, it’s just the thought of
someone having enough care, that we
can show how much we care at least on a
small scale.”
Jones, who has been the mayor of West
Park (formerly known as Carver Ranches) for the past ten years, said that many
organizations partnered with the city to
help sponsor the Thanksgiving dinner,
which has been held for about 30 years.
“The city helped sponsor the event to
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Thanksgiving dining Balancing economics / environment
provided all year long
ENVIRONMENTAL, FROM 1A
PHOTO COURTESY OF FEEDINGSOUTHFLORIDA.ORG
The Thanksgiving celebrants
THANKSGIVING, FROM 1A
make sure that everyone who comes will be served,” he said.
“And we get quite a few people every year.”
Feeding South Florida also partners with many agencies
throughout the year to help feed people year-round in the four
counties, according to Sari Vatske, vice president of community
relations. “Collaboration is at the center of what we do. We have
approximately 325 partner agencies throughout Broward, MiamiDade, Palm Beach and Monroe counties,” she said. “Our partner
agencies hold regular distributions for their clients in need of
food assistance. With so many partners, we are able to ensure
that the communities in need of assistance receive it”
Vatske said each year Congresswoman Frederica Wilson’s office helps support the West Park event which serves about 1,000
families. Vatske said that the city hosts the annual dinner and gets
the turkeys donated.
“(The meals) may actually alleviate some of the situations that
might prevail,” Jones said. “And that’s not just in West Park but all
over.”
Jones said although the city may be “in the black” budget
wise, there still may be some residents in need. “We don’t screen
anyone (at the Thanksgiving dinner),” he said. “Whoever comes,
we try to help. The food is just a small portion of it. It’s the mindset that’s going to make a difference.”
It’s the little things at home that could be great things in other
places, so it’s important to be grateful, Jones said.
“Thanksgiving at its origination was about thanking God for
the blessings of this new country,” he said. “And I think that moving forward, we have a lot to be thankful for. We might have problems in certain areas, but they’re minor when you consider what’s
happening worldwide.”
For information about Feeding South Florida Mobile Food Pantry or to make a donation call (954) 518-1818 or email: contact@
feedingsouthflorida.org.
“I have never seen reefs like the ones near the
dredging,” says Rachel Silverstein, Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper Watchdog executive director. “It is covered in sediment that is smothering the reef; it is all
fine dust.”
In September the group filed a suit with the
Tropical Audubon Society, Captain Dan Kipnis, and
Miami –Dade Reef, claiming that the project violated
the Endangered Species Act, in addition to several
permit conditions by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The complaint alleged that the
Army Corps of Engineers shifted away from being
environmentally sensitive by failing to monitor the
turbidity in the water and moving its dredge ships
away from reef areas, causing irreparable damage of
staghorn coral colonies.
Prompted by the suit, on Oct. 23 the Army Corps
acceded to pay $400,000 to rescue hundreds of
threatened corals from near the dredging and reinforce best practices. The project now includes the
restoration of more than 16 acres of sea grass and the
creation of over nine acres of artificial reef.
Laura Reynolds, executive director for the Tropical Audubon Society says the mitigation efforts are a
work in progress. Hundreds of coral fragments were
moved to University of Miami nurseries for restoration, but “the port was supposed to shut down operations until turbidity is down and that has not happened.”
Coral reefs and the marine life they support are
critical to the survival of Miami’s tourism, diving, fishing and seafood industries, all engines for the local
economy. “We have a whole economy based on reef
resources, a real unique thing,” says Silverstein. “Nobody is talking about how this is going to affect small
business owners and the community at a large.”
Another factor in the equation is that some coral
reefs buffer adjacent shorelines from wave action
and prevent erosion - without reefs the coast could
become more vulnerable and potentially increase
Miami’s flooding problem. The Union of Concerned
Scientists’ studies have shown that tidal flooding in
the city will keep increasing as sea levels along the
northeastern United States’ Atlantic coast have risen
a rate three to four times faster than the global average. Ankle-deep water on Washington Street and
Alton Road in Miami Beach could become a more
frequent occurrence.
The question of just how much hurting the environment is outweighed by economic development
is a delicate one. In this case, ports must expand
to stay within the global commerce route and mitigation has to be carefully planned. Silvertein says
she is curious about how the past will inform the
decisions made by other ports, such as Port Everglades, which has even greater and more sensitive
coral and seagrass resources.
Still pending approval, the port’s expansion is
estimated to cost about $370,000, an investment to
be offset by revenue increase and about 480,000
temporary jobs, including the designing, engineering and the actual dredging. Ellen Kennedy,
spokesperson for Port Everglades, says the project
has been in the making for 17 years due to reasons
that include seeking clarity on how to best safeguard against damage.
David Bernhart, Fishery Management Officer at
National Marine Fisheries Services, says that NOOA
has already provided a consultation to the Army
Corps as to the potential sedimentation next to the
channel to help ensure a more stringent environmental review.
“If we ended up with some major lessons learned
from Miami, we must implement them.”
Immigrant compassion or Democrat politics
IMMIGRATION, FROM 1A
and would allow them to work legally in the United
States. The policy doesn't give them citizenship, but
would allow them to work and pay taxes here. The
president addressed the nation last Thursday and
said he would use his executive powers to implement his policies. Congress has not passed an immigration bill and the president said it's time to do
so; therefore he is acting with or without them. This
too, bothers Dozier because he said the president is
acting like a “king,” instead of the head of a democracy. “He has been trampling all over the Constitution since he's been in office. Congress represents
the people! He's acting like he's the Legislative
Branch and the Executive Branch --and the Judicial
Branch, too. He's supposed to execute laws that are
already on the books! He doesn't have the power to
do this himself! ” Dozier declared fervently.
As a pastor, Dozier was asked if allowing
immigrants to work legally in the United States
wasn't the compassionate thing to do, as President
Obama stated in his speech. The president had said
that (deporting them) “is not who we are.” Then he
quoted scripture, stating, 'We shall not oppress a
stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger --for
we were strangers once, too.' Dozier was asked if
welcoming immigrants here was not the Godly
thing to do. “All of us are compassionate,” he stated.
“But there's a proper way to do this.” Dozier does
not believe President Obama is acting on the
immigration issue out of compassion, but instead,
for political gain. He believes the Democrats are
positioning the Party for the 2016 elections. Dozier
says this means blacks are getting the raw end of
the deal from both Parties. “I look at the Democratic
Party throwing blacks under the bus, because they
(Democrats) want the Hispanic vote in 2016. That's
the vote they want. That's why Hillary Clinton (who
is purported to run for president in 2016) praised
Barack Obama for this! Both political parties are
willing to throw blacks under the bus in order to
garner the Hispanic vote,” Dozier stated.
The president also stated in his speech that the
immigrants, who are allowed to work here, will also
pay taxes. But Dozier insisted that because of their
income bracket, that won't happen. “They will not
end up paying taxes. In essence, some of them will
get money back. They're not putting money into our
economy,” he said. “These workers will compete
with black workers and it will end up in black unemployment.”
“It’s time that black Americans realize this man
is destroying this great country.
SFLTIMES.COM | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 3A
Nation
A long-term view of our
changing environment
Slave history rekindled
TUBMAN, FROM 1A
cost at the time. As a result, the “payas-you-go” method made construction even more costly.
In 2005, construction was halted
indefinitely.
The windows, which had already been purchased, were
stored in a warehouse, and plywood was installed instead.
“We'd come in here once a
year and make sure it was still OK,”
Thompson said. “We had some minor vandalism (and) some copper
pipes stolen. We put up an alarm
system in here and quickly word
got out, ... and they left it alone.”
In January, construction ramped
up again.
At this point, the museum should
be ready for a hard opening in June,
Ambrose said.
The 49,000-square-foot space
has more than 40 rooms, all built at a
collective cost of about $18 million.
On the first floor will be a
museum store, two classrooms,
storage space and a gallery for
temporary exhibits. When the museum opens, the gallery's first exhibit will showcase the museum's
collection of black artists with ties
to Georgia, Ambrose said.
A steel staircase leads up to
the second floor of the atrium,
where an open-air, circular walkway will become a gallery in the
round. Its first exhibit will feature
three-dimensional, sculpture-like
items by an artist from Chicago
known as “Mr. Imagination” or
“the bottle cap artist.” The artist, Gregory Warmack, died after
moving to Atlanta, and his family
left the collection to the Tubman.
Three more galleries are on
the second floor. One will feature
the museum's signature mural,
“From Africa to America,” and
another will feature a popular exhibit on black inventors.
The third gallery, for temporary
exhibits, will pay homage to the
woman the museum is named after.
“We're going to open with an
exhibit of works depicting Harriet Tubman,” Ambrose said. “At a
later date, we're going to bring on
a wonderful signature exhibit of
African-American music and musicians from Macon and Middle
Georgia, centered around Little
Richard and Otis Redding.”
Ambrose said the museum has
wonderful collections it hasn't
been able to show because of its
smaller space on Walnut Street.
For the past decade, most of the
museum's collections have been
in and out of storage elsewhere.
The move to Cherry Street Plaza,
across from the Sports Hall of
Fame, will increase the museum's
gallery space more than fivefold.
“Now, we're going to finally have
a chance to weave those (works)
into historical presentations and
stories both of national as well as local history,” Ambrose said.
Besides being a place for art
and history, Ambrose said he
hopes it will also be a place for
the community to use for meetings, classes, seminars, weddings
and more. It also comes with a
kitchen for catered events.
“For museums nowadays, particularly those that are community
focused, you have to have rooms
that function in many different
ways,” he said. “Rental revenues
(and) special event revenues are
critical to museums.”
The museum was partially
built with $2.5 million from special option sales tax proceeds,
an investment Ambrose said the
community should see.
“We wanted to make sure that
what we did here was truly a community project and truly had a community impact,” he said. “About
two-thirds of the work on this project is being done by local artisans,
contractors and subcontractors,
(and) over 50 percent of that is minority, African-American primarily,
owned and operated firms.”
The
museum
originally
opened in 1985 on Walnut Street.
“Sometimes things that you
have to wait a while for are
well worth the wait,” Ambrose
said. “We think that's going to be
the case with the Tubman.”
The current state of urbanization makes
it hard to imagine this very recent past, and
perfectly illustrates how our environment can
be dramatically altered in a short time. Worse,
many current residents have no idea that the
area was so recently rural and agricultural.
Having seen the changes over the course of my
lifetime, I am acutely aware and therefore more
sensitive to the warnings of climate scientists
who say our environment is undergoing a significant climactic shift.
Increasingly destructive weather events
that happen more frequently, and rising seas
that flood and displace communities are
among the effects we are already seeing. On
the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, South Florida
is in the bull’s eye as the ocean rises. It’s hard
to fathom, but many people remain detached
from the issue as if it has nothing to do with
them. The truth is, it has everything to do with
everyone, and will affect us from our pocketbooks to our very lives.
By more Americans becoming engaged
with these issues and communicating with
each other and our Congress, we can make a
positive difference in promoting respect for
nature and restraint in its use. My long term
experience with our local environment combined with the insight gained working on these
issues over the past 20 years give me a unique
perspective which I am delighted to share with
you. Over this series I plan to share the story
of how the draining of the Everglades coupled
with the Great Flood of 1947 killed tomato
farming; how commercial development of the
Everglades changed our environment; and
how the conservation movement saved large
tracts of land and water that now form part of
our national heritage.
Audrey and I will also strive to keep you
abreast of national issues that affect our environment and natural resources, and suggest
ways that you can choose to become involved.
Finally, I will share some of the ways in which
communities such as the Gullah Geechee
people on the Low Country Sea Islands are already experiencing and adapting to climate
change.
Whether you call it nature or the environment, the bottom line is that we shape it and it
shapes our lives. The more plugged in we are,
the greater the likelihood that we can influence
a positive outcome.
By FRANK PETERMAN
A few years after my wife Audrey and I had
the eye-opening experiences that made us
into advocates for the environment, I asked my
mother:
“So Mom, what do you think about the environment and people working to protect it?”
“Oh chile!” scoffed the 80-year-old community leader. “That’s just them people trying to
get money from the government.”
Shocked, we sputtered, “Really? But what
about nature? Don’t we have to protect nature?”
“Oh Nature – that’s a whole n’other thing. We
have to protect nature because you know, we
can’t breathe concrete,” she said emphatically.
Mom has been gone six years now (a program at Delevoe Park in Fort Lauderdale this
Saturday, Nov. 29 will honor her life) and I often
think of her words when I observe the destruction of the environment around us, accepted so
casually by the population even as scientists
warn of imminent collapse. Could it be that a
mere difference in words and perception stand
in the way of the environmental revolution that is
urgently needed?
I feel very lucky to have experienced South
Florida from the 1940s as a boy growing up in
Dania, pronounced “Danie” by us locals. The rich
agricultural area teemed with an abundance of
wild fruits and vegetables that we children
picked and snacked on as we walked to school,
and fields of tomatoes grew down to the Intracoastal. Dania was known as “The Tomato Capital of the World,” and our signature event was
an annual parade and festival complete with the
crowning of “The Tomato Festival Queen.” The
Frank and Audrey Peterman are national
outer limits of our community was SR 441, where award winning environmentalists, speakers and
the Everglades began. Everything beyond was authors living in Fort Lauderdale. www.legacyonpractically wilderness.
theland.com.
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Health
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HIV cases hit all-time low in NYC
PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE.COM
New York Health Commissioner Mary Bassett
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of
new HIV diagnoses in New York City has
reached an all-time low.
The city's Department of Health released the good news on Monday - World
AIDS Day.
The nation's largest city recorded 2,832
HIV diagnoses in 2013. That is a 40 percent
drop since 2003.
Moreover, the number of AIDS cases
decreased 67 percent over the last decade.
City officials said that while blacks and
Hispanics make up half of the city's population, they make up three-quarters of the
new HIV cases.
Health Commissioner Mary Bassett
said that black and Hispanic men who
have sex with other men remain the most
at-risk population.
Bassett marked the data release with a
speech at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater.
She said she was “proud to celebrate” the
new low.
HIV infections rise among the
young, gays throughout Brazil
PHOTO COURTESY OF GALLERYHIP.COM
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's Health Ministry says that while HIV remains stable the
rate of infection is growing among young people and homosexuals at a fast clip.
Fabio Mesquita, who heads the ministry's branch dedicated to fighting the virus,
said Monday that infections rates among 15-24 year-olds have risen from 9.6 for every 100,000 inhabitants in 2004 to 12.7 in 2013.
Brazil has long been regarded as a model in the fight against HIV for its widespread distribution of free antiretroviral drugs. The government says some 400,000
people are receiving the treatment, out of a total of an estimated 734,000 people infected.
Activists have blamed the rise in youth infections on a lack of adequate sexual
education campaigns. Brazil's growing Pentecostal churches, which oppose sex education, are increasingly represented in the Congress.
DAVID I. MUIR/FOR SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES
By PIERRE B. BLAND, DVM
our expectations in anticipation of
disappointment with the decision. Still
the tension was high and our pets took
notice. They each selected one of us to
pay a bit more attention to that evening,
instead of their usual naps and the
ceremonial licking of the ice cream
bowl. Instead of their usual lounging
positons, Vee Vee had her head in my
lap with a constant upward gaze while
Kolohe stood in Jim’s lap. We waited
until the last minute to start viewing,
attempting to avoid the ruminations
of the news anchors. Usually the dogs
would not join us to complete the nightly
viewing formation for at least 10 to 20
minutes after we were seated, assuring
no interruptions by phone calls or
whatever daily event needed finishing
touches. It was as if they knew we were
going to need the moral support.
As the news conference began and the
decision was announced, I looked at Jim,
sighed, and mumbled an expletive. Vee
Vee jumped into my lap and began licking my face. I noticed Kolohe was doing
the same with Jim. As our disappointment
moderated and we continued to watch,
the dogs never left our sides nor did
their attention waver. After over an hour
of viewing transpired and the events in
Ferguson descended into riots and police
actions, the dogs decided we had enough.
Both leapt off the sofa and started walking
back and forth toward the bedroom. We
took notice and heeded their suggestion.
As we were transfixed by the outrage
and frustration of the Ferguson decision,
our dogs did what they could go help us
cope with the frustration in their own way.
They seem to be aware of the folly of the
superior species on the planet and the
pain we so regularly inflict upon each other. Makes you wonder who the pet is and
who is taking care of whom.
We were sitting, transfixed on the television like so many in the country. Seated
faithfully as if in the pews on Sunday morning. Left to right: myself, Vee Vee, our miniature pincher, Kolohe, our toy fox terrier,
and my partner Jim. This was not our typical night of viewing. No wondering how
our heroes would escape the hordes of approaching zombies for the umpteenth time
or who would be eliminated for a lack of
imagination and not being “fashion forward.” This was real life and it mattered to
everyone watching, if they realized it or not.
We were awaiting the grand jury decision
on the possible indictment of the police officer in the shooting of Michael Brown.
Dr. Bland is the owner of Dr. Bland’s
We had discussed the case many times Vet House Calls. He can be reached at
since last July and as a result, moderated 964 673 8579 or at doctorblandvet.com
SFLTIMES.COM | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 5A
Business
sfltimes.com
“Elevating the Dialogue”
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
PETITE PERFECT FIT, LLC
Petite Perfect Fit, LLC is an internet based
retailer focused on meeting the unmet need for
clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry designed
specifically for petite women. Although many
retail chains offer S and XS sizes, they often have
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PHOTO COURTESY OF BLACKENTERPRISE.COM
Looking for a business loan?
Here’s your answer
Special to South Florida Times
For most small minority business owners having access to adequate capital is
the greatest challenge affecting the growth
of their companies. The biggest roadblock
is navigating the ever-changing and cumbersome loan requirements from banks
and other major lending institutions. The
process is often frustrating and discouraging, which ultimately hampers economic
development across the state.
Created in 1987, BBIF Florida (BBIF) is
a non-traditional lender that specializes
in providing loans to Black, minority and
underserved small businesses. BBIF provides small business loans that range from
$5,000 – $250,000. The organization directly administers four distinct loan funds
for business working capital needs including: business lines of credit, contract &
accounts receivable financing and equipment financing.
The four loan programs are:
• The Black Business Loan Fund (BBLF)
provides loans to qualified stage 1 Blackowned businesses (established a minimum of 2 years). Loan Amounts: $10,000$100,000.
• The Micro Loan Fund (MLF) provides
loans to qualified startup and stage 1 businesses. This fund is race neutral; it is available to any race business-owner. Loan
Amounts: $5,000- $50,000.
• The Contract Financing Loan Fund
(CFLF) will provide loans to minority businesses with acceptable contracts. Loans
are secured by an acceptable contract and
must provide job creation. Loan Amounts:
$10,000 -$100,000.
• The Small Business Loan Fund (SBLF)
was formed to provide SBA Community
Advantage loans to established minority
and small businesses. This fund is race
neutral. Loan Amounts: $50,000-$250,000.
*For more information on our loan
funds, qualifications or to download an application, please visit the BBIF website at
www.BBIFFLORIDA.com
BBIF is dedicated to doing more than
just simply helping Black, minority and
underserved small businesses find loans;
we are committed to assisting our clients
become more successful in every facet of
their operations. The organization provides
assist clients in building their management
capacity by offering Financial Technical
Assistance services including monthly
roundtables and signature events such as
the Business Networking Event and the
Business Opportunity Symposium Series.
BBIF’s impact throughout Florida has
been significant. The organization’s historical multiplied economic impact has
contributed $430 Million to state’s economy. We have worked with 335 loan recipients who have created or sustained some
11,155 jobs. The BBIF has handled more
than $40 million in business loans, with an
outstanding client historical loan loss rate
of less than three percent.
BBIF has earned the respect of elected
Lara Gonzalez: is the founder and President of Petite Perfect Fit, LLC. Having
come from a family of entrepreneurs, Lara’s dream has always been to create
and manage her own business. “Although I love Colombia and I am proud
of my Hispanic heritage, from an early age I have always wanted to live and
work in the U.S.,” she noted. Lara moved from Colombia to the U.S. at the age
of 16 in pursuit of the American dream. She became an American citizen that
same year, and received a college degree in 2012. In spite of being a young
Hispanic woman with limited resources in a new country, Lara was inspired
by the possibility of starting her own fashion business in the US. “My heart
was always focused on fashion, and one of my biggest dreams was to start
and run a business where I could help millions of people. I am now living the
American Dream!”
At 5’3” and 95 pounds, Lara always had a hard time finding fashionable clothing
that fit her. Like many petite women, in addition to having the frustration of
struggling to find clothes and accessories that fit and were fashionable, Lara
has also had to suffer the occasional embarrassment of having to shop in the
children’s section. She shares this burden with an estimated 43 percent of
American women who are also petite and who represent more than $10 billion
of buying power in the fashion industry. In spite of this large market, in recent
years many retailers have turned their attention to “plus” sizes. As a result, the
selection of clothing and accessories for women who wear XS and S sizes is
shrinking. Lara realized that this was a major market opportunity.
Company Mission: In 2013, Lara decided that petite women had been
underserved in the fashion industry for far too long. She wanted to help petite
women feel more confident by offering quality clothing that fits perfectly.
Lara strongly believes that, “The key to looking fabulous is fit!” She formed
Petite Perfect Fit, LLC with a mission to offer the latest trends in chic, sexy, yet
classy and sophisticated styles that evoke an attitude of confidence for petite
women. Her hope is that through fashion she can spread her “Proud to be
Petite” message to women around the world. Lara exclaims, “I am continually
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For more information about Lara and Petite Perfect Fit, please check us out at
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Philosophy:
“The key to looking fabulous and confident is to
achieve a perfect fit”
PLEASE TURN TO LOAN/7A
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11/19/14 12:32 PM
6A | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM
Opinion
Letter to President Obama
Pastor O’Neal Dozier
Dear Mr. President,
If you implement your policy of comprehensive immigration reform and amnesty, you
will be violating the rights of black Americans guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Civil
Rights Act of 1866. In addition, your immigration plan will cause the lost of millions of
black American jobs to lower income labor.
U.S. history has shown that a surge in immigration of any ethnic group has negatively
impacted the black workforce. Therefore,
we know that your plan of granting citizenship to an unprecedented number of people living illegally in the United States will
crush the job-market for black Americans.
With upwards of 11 million amnesty citizens,
plus another 11-22 million non-citizens anchored
by family, God’s unalienable rights of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness will be dramatically compromised in the black community, as
millions of jobs will be lost. As such, we strongly
recommend that you rethink your immigration
plan. If you decide to continue on your current
course, the Voting Majority and I will take the
next step in our 4-step strategy in opposing you
and Obama-Immigration.
Regards,
Rev. O’Neal Dozier
Representing the Voting Majority
www.VotingMajority.org
THE POLITICS OF BLACKNESS
Who are these Ferguson protesters?
In Ferguson, Missouri, when the stepfather of Michael Brown heard that the
grand jury refused to indict Officer Darren Wilson, his very emotional words
were,“Burn this mother f**ker down.”
And burn they did.
Over 25 businesses were looted
and destroyed. Many owned by Black
folk. Even two of the media people became victims of the so-called protesters turned angry mob. A male reporter
had his car burned out along with some
expensive camera equipment. The female passenger told of being threatened and told to get out of the car so
the mob could set fire to it.
For over a week, protestors marched
all over the country and caused organized chaos. For what?
They used the shooting of Michael
Brown as an excuse to stop traffic and
stop decent, hard-working people from
going to work. So who were these protesters who could afford to march all
day long stopping traffic and carrying
signs, wearing masks like anarchists or
scarves like ISIS, and taunting police?
Many of them were communists,
anarchists and professional agitators.
Michael Snyder writes “10 Signs that
Communists are Infiltrating Ferguson
Protests” in End of the American Dream
http://endoftheamericandream.com/
archives/10-signs-that-ferguson-couldbe-the-start-of-a-communist-revolution-in-america.
Some of the signs they carry might
just tip you off –banners and flyers with
“The Revolutionary Communist Progressive Labor Party” on them, etc. How
about them chanting outside the Ferguson courthouse, “The only solution is a
Communist revolution.”
Van Jones, avowed Communist and
CNN contributor stated he saw some
professional protesters and then argued with Don Lemon from CNN who
confessed that most of the protestors
became violent. Lemon said there was
too much “political correctness” in talking about the protestors, when it was
clear that a large number of people
were burning and turning over police
cars and looting stores and then burning them. I mean we saw it for ourselves on the night that the grand jury’s
decision was announced.
So now we have organized protests,
indicative of the Occupy movement
taking over cities like New York, Oakland and St. Louis. Even the St. Louis
Rams got in on it by coming on the field
with their hands up.
The mantra has become “Hands Up,
Don’t Shoot,” even though the testimony of the medical examiners was that
Michael Brown couldn’t have had his
hands up by the way the bullets flowed
through his body. And then we know
that Michael Brown’s partner in crime,
Dorian Johnson, lied when he said that
Officer Wilson pulled Brown into his car
and that he shot him in cold blood in the
back as he ran away. And finally, that
Brown turned around with his hands up.
All lies.
But nobody cares. Michael Brown,
who was a thug in life, has become a
hero in death. Nobody cared about the
black thugs who cold cocked whites
in the street and ran. Nor do they care
about the blacks who murdered white
men in cold blood. They just care about
the small number of blacks shot by white
cops. That way they can claim racism.
So they want more black cops in
Ferguson? What happens when black
cops shoot black men?
My great grandson was jacked up
and cold cocked knocking him over a
park bench by a black cop, then five or
six cops surrounded my great grandson who was now on the ground while
the black cop stood over him punching
him while the others (white and black)
kicked him. Then my other great
grandson rushed into the crowd of cops
trying to stop them. Both of them were
then taken to jail.
Would Al Sharpton and the other
race baiters come to the aid of my babies? I think not. Because the main culprit was a black cop.
Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe on
MSNBC, the liberal of liberals, said he
could not take it anymore. The Rams
holding up their hands was the final
straw for him. And he could not understand why Michael Brown was a hero.
He lamented that he had heard enough
“B.S.” on air.
But the worse B.S. I’ve heard today
is that Time Magazine will give the
Ferguson protesters the “Person of the
Year” award, just like it gave the Occupy Movement. Funny, Time totally ignored the Tea Party movement – mostly
middle class white and black conservatives – calmly protesting the lies about
ObamaCare. But they were called racists and terrorists.
Seems like Time likes groups which
loot and burn or defecate and urinate
in parks. And Michael Brown is a hero to
liberals. Now watch the “Person of the
Year” tear this country apart.
Barbara Howard is a political
consultant, radio host and commentator and motivational speaker. She
is Florida State chairwoman for the
Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
and Trade & Travel goodwill ambassador to Kenya. She may be reached
at [email protected].
Ferguson, Missouri once again reminds Black art in Miami: Version 5.0
America that it has a significant problem
For the past
several months
our nation has
been gripped in
the vice of a call
for justice, fairness, and balance following
the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. However,
one cannot look at Ferguson through a lens that
does not bring into focus similar situations in
New York, Detroit, California, Florida, or South
Carolina to name only a few. There seems to
be a total disregard of black and brown life
on the part of some in our criminal justice system, as their paths cross with members of the
law enforcement community. Let me say it is
very clear to many of us that police officers are
necessary, important, and in many cases most
professional in the discharge of their duties.We
support professional and responsible police officers, regardless of race, color, or community.
However, there are those officers that need to
be weeded out due to their insensitivity, disregard, and lack of respect for the citizens they
are duty-bound to protect and to serve.
St. Louis prosecutor Robert McCulloch, once
again pulled the scab off of a wound that has
never really healed. The wound is called “injustice.” Mr. McCulloch seemed more comfortable
in the role of defense attorney representing Officer Darren Wilson, than the prosecuting attorney representing the people of Ferguson and
the family of Michael Brown. The very definition
of the role of a grand jury as given by him was
flawed. The process from day one seemed to
be more of a choreography leading to a non-indictment, than a pathway that would lead to ultimate justice. From the length of time in which
Michael Brown lay on the street 4 ½ hours,
strategic leaks from the prosecutor’s office, the
dumping of data to overwhelm the grand jury,
until the timing of the announcement at night
by the prosecutor that there would be no indictment. This is particularly curious as the protesters were asked not to hold demonstrations at
night by the same police department, and to
hold demonstrations during the day. One might
wonder, why then would such an inflaming conclusion by the prosecutor’s office be held during the night?
It is important to point out that the people of
Ferguson did not, or have not demanded anything more than justice. No one has asked for
treatment of black or brown people different
than other folks. The call has been to treat them
the same as our white brothers and sisters who
are brought before the justice system. Mr. McCulloch stated that “the grand jury’s job was to
determine precisely what occurred.” However,
most lawyers would argue that the purpose of
the grand jury, once it is convened, is to determine whether a crime was probably committed, even though the exact probable cause is
not precisely defined.
America must take a serious look at the process within our criminal justice system and how
it treats all of its citizens who are protected by
the U.S. Constitution. It is important to remember that we have been here before. In 1967,
the National Advisory Commission on Civil
Disorders (the Kerner Report established by
Contact Us
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then President Lyndon B. Johnson) asked three
basic questions: What happened? Why did it
happen? What could be done to prevent it from
happening again? The tragedy with this report
is that many in police departments today have
not read, do not understand the full scope of
and the benefit from this report. It still serves
as a blue print for police, community, social,
economic, and political interactions across the
country. One of the first witnesses to be invited
to appear before the commission was Dr. Kenneth B. Clark, scholar and educator. Dr. Clark
said to the commission:
“I read that report…of the 1919 riot in Chicago, and it is as if I were reading the report of
the investigating committee on the Harlem riot
of ‘35, the report of the investigating committee
on the Harlem riot of ‘43, the report of the McCone Commission on the Watts riot. I must again
in candor say to you members of this Commission--it is a kind of Alice in Wonderland--with
the same moving picture re-shown over and
over again, the same analysis, the same recommendations, and the same inaction.”
It is time for action, not just more discussion. Police officers must stop viewing AfricanAmerican males, as characterized by Officer
Darren Wilson as “demons or as Hulk Hogans,”
when encountering them on the streets of our
cities. There must be greater training and sensitivity provided to law enforcement officers,
and their leaders. There must be continuous
oversight by local commissions and a national
body established for police departments and
law enforcement agencies to monitor their activities. As an example, now is not the time to
reduce or eliminate the Board of Police Commissioners in the City of Detroit. Now is the time
to strengthen, empower, and support it. The
Justice Department must still hold police departments across the nation accountable. Laws
need to be reviewed as to the limitations of and
the length and breadth in the use of deadly
force on the part of police officers. Body cameras must be implemented and worn by police
officers as they discharge their duties, not only
to preserve their security, but the security of
private citizens. Police departments need to reflect the diversity of the communities in which
they serve. Police departments do not need to
engage in militarization in their communities,
but in community policing for their communities.
The Justice Department must proceed to
conclude its own independent investigations
concerning the death of Michael Brown at the
hands of Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, and
the practices of the Ferguson Police Department.Young people and those who legitimately
protest these conditions must be respected and
protected. The lives of private citizens and the
property of local communities should be protected from those who seek to use this as an opportunity for their own self-interests. We cannot
be discouraged by the recent events. We must
be encouraged to go forth in the pursuit of justice. In the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
“an injustice to anyone anywhere…is a threat to
justice everywhere.”
For more information on the Detroit Branch
NAACP please call (313) 871-2087 or visit www.
detroitnaacp.org.
Five years ago, I was lamenting
the dearth of the black art experience
during the Miami Art Basel international show, now in its twelfth year. The
first Miami Art Basel was in 2002; a
small show by comparison to today’s
outpouring. We didn’t expect much
back then, in the beginning.
During Basel shows
past, the search for
‘black’ art and ‘black’
artists was daunting- a
piece here and there
throughout the major
shows. An artist sighting
was hit or miss. Locally
produced shows were
passed over, neglected,
and went mostly unsubscribed, with few exceptions.
Countless black folk who travelled
to Miami in search of themselves in
artistic expressions were repeatedly
frustrated. There was so little to see.
So few places to go.
Fast forward to 2009, and the scarcity of aesthetic depictions of my experience was glaring in their absence.
Now, that has all changed. And it
seems rather suddenly.
Something wonderful has happened. There is an abundance of Afrocentric art events during Miami Art
Basel 2014 aka “Miami Art Week.”
For a comprehensive listing go to:
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/visual-arts/art-basel/article4200990.html
But this phenomena did not happen overnight.
No. It took the right mix of energy
and near magical timing.
I attribute this outpouring to the
following: persistent effort; political
corrections; ‘mashing’ up of culture,
language, interethnic cooperation
amongst the local residents from
throughout the African diaspora;
2013 opening of PAMM; organization
of the PAMM African American Ambassadors; re-opening of the Lyric
theater; Overtown redevelopment
initiatives; Prizm; KROMA; Opa-locka’s Art of Transformation; FUSION
MIA; N’Namdi Contemporary; Diaspora Vibe Virtual; Little Haiti Cultural
Center; Haitian Arts Alliance; MOCA;
Art Africa Collective; Peter London
Global Dance Company, and many
more.
Kudos to the pioneers. The KUUMBA Artists Collective, originated by
Gene “Dinizulu” Tinnie, has been
pushing the agenda since the 1970s.
There is fine art, music, dance,
fashion, performance art, panels and
workshops, food and festivals-all expressing an afro-centric sensibilitysomething for everyone.
I am overjoyed, but overwhelmed
thinking about how to navigate the
entire scene.
I’m starting early and going until.
After all, it’s not art without the parties.
Day One: I’ll arrive late on
Thursday and hit PRIZM to see what
Mikhaile Solomon has curated at
the Miami Center for Architecture
and Design, followed by the PAMM
party on the Plaza to listen to Future
Brown.
Day Two: I’ll begin at the north
end of the county, in Opa-locka, where
Willie Logan has lead
the Art of Transformation; next up, North Miami to MOCA, where
Barbacar M’Bow has a
curation of art up from
the motherland- Africa;
then I’ll go down to
Overtown, to the Lyric
Theater to see the Purvis Young exhibition; I
will catch a meal in mid-town- Cheese
Course here I come.
While in mid-town, I’ll check out
Richmond Heights native, Chery Edwards’ Cuba series at SPECTRUM
Miami; swing up to Wynwood to enjoy the exhibits at Fusion MIA and
N’Namdi Contemporary- both curated by George and Jumaane N’Namdi;
and end up the evening at the FUSION
MIA BET awards event.
Day Three: I’ll hit the Beach for
the official Basel show and SCOPE.
I’ll relax over coffee in Wynwood at
the Perkulator Lounge (sponsored by
Black Art in America) where I’ll rendezvous with my Najee Dorsey and
my friends from Black Art in America
at Briskey Gallery. Check out Najee’s
Leaving Mississippi series.
Late afternoon: the gallery at the
Little Haiti Cultural Center in Little
River, followed by Carol Jazaar’s studio
in Miami Shores.
Of course, I’ll close out the day
back at the BET Lounge at Fusion MIA.
Day Four: No rest, yet. Starting
off with brunch and a panel discussion in Overtown at Jackson’s Soul
Food Restaurant to hear more views
about the African diaspora and art,
hosted by Robbie Bell, Rosie Gordon Wallace, et al; fried fish and
grits; then I’ll head down to the University of Miami to catch the panel
at Ludlow Bailey’s 5th annual workshop; head over to spend a little
time with my friend Jihad Rashid in
Coconut Grove at KROMA, one of
the newest additions to Basel. It’s
filled with artist studios, galleries,
where I’ll check out paintings by
Bettye Wright!
Dinner? I’ll consult Robbie Bell’s
Scrumpterou®Report for the best
spots: www.gotorobbiebell.info
Oh yes, I’ll finish up at the BET
Lounge for the last party.
Join me? Hope to see you all out
enjoying Miami Art Basel from the
black side.
Antonia Williams-Gary is a consultant with Miami-based Savings and
Grace Enterprise. She may be reached
at [email protected]
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SFLTIMES.COM | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 7A
Caribbean
Jamaica panel starts examining
bloody 2010 raid in Tivoli Gardens
PHOTO COURTESY OF JYOTICOMMUNICATION.BLOGSPOT.COM
Sir David Simmons
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — A
fact-finding panel appointed to
examine a bloody 2010 security
operation in Jamaica has started its
work in the island's capital.
The three-member commission
is led by David Simmons, a retired
chief justice and ex-attorney
general in Barbados. The panel
convened Monday and expects to
hold hearings for the first two weeks
of December and then resume in
2015.
They will examine a 2010
operation during a state of
emergency that killed more than
75 people as police and soldiers
hunted for the island's biggest
gang boss. Most of the bloodshed
occurred in a Kingston slum called
Tivoli Gardens.
Jamaica's public defender has
said 76 civilians and one soldier were
killed. But details of the operation
remain murky and there have been
numerous claims of unlawful killings
by security forces.
Puerto Rico’s Governor says
buses, trains won’t be paralyzed
DAVID I. MUIR/FOR SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES
The eye of the beholder
By CALIBE THOMPSON
I have a facebook friend who is constantly posting pictures of her very unusual
baby. The child’s eyes are larger than most and she breathes through a tube in her
neck, clearly because she has trouble breathing on her own. Before I knew what was
going on, I’d often wonder why, when the child was probably uncomfortable all the
time, would her mother keep posting these pictures. Why, when she knew how judgmental, thoughtless and cruel people might be, she would expose her child to that.
One day, she made us all understand.
The mother wrote an open letter about how she and her husband discovered that
their child had a rare condition, how doctors said she would only have a few short
years to live, and how they decided that every day they spent with her would be precious. She sees her baby as extra special delicious and phenomenal, and everyone
needed to know that.
Here, we talk about Caribbean issues. There, we see beauty in the country landscapes and whatever beaches remain pristine. But through our own eyes, I question
how much we see it in ourselves.
Photographer David Muir refers to an image he loves called Beauty Shop where
the woman in the shop didn’t want her picture taken because in her own eyes “she
neva pretty.” She had very African features - a broad nose, dark skin, and a short afro.
The picture came out gorgeous.
But she had likely been told all her life - “laad you black eeh? How you nose so
big? How you hair so tough?”
It becomes a shock when extraordinarily successful people explain that they
didn’t get where they were going because someone else believed they could, they
got there because they believed they could. Their own eyes saw their own potential
and that’s what they focused on. Not the out-of-focus, can’t-do attitude of those around
them.
In this week’s perspective I’ll discuss choosing to find beauty in ourselves and
how much more important that is than looking for approval from the folks outside.
To watch the extended perspective and much more on Caribbean America, set your
DVR or tune in to each Sunday’s episode of The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly on SFL /
The CW Network (Ch 39 / Comcast 11). Catch replays on the website at www.thecaribbeandiaspora.tv. Calibe can be reached at [email protected].
c
i
s
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u
PHOTO COURTESY OF PRFAA.PR.GOV
Alejandro García Padilla, Governor of Puerto Rico
By DANICA COTO
Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico's governor said late Sunday that lawmakers have reached a last-minute agreement on a proposed oil tax increase and that
public transportation will not be paralyzed as previously planned.
The announcement, made in a televised address, followed a flurry of meetings with
legislators this weekend regarding a bill that would increase the excise tax on a barrel
of crude oil from $9.25 to $15.50 and help generate $178 million a year.
Garcia has said the increase is needed to boost a debt-ridden transportation agency amid bankruptcy concerns.
“It's the least burdensome solution of all,'' he said.
The measure also aims to help the government sell up to $2.9 billion in bonds and
refinance at least $1 billion in loans made to the Highway and Transportation Authority, which owes $2.2 billion to the island's Government Development Bank, about 21
percent of the bank's loan portfolio.
Prior to Garcia's announcement, Puerto Ricans had been bracing for what officials
warned would be an indefinite suspension of buses and trains that serve an estimated
75,000 people. Officials had said that public work projects would be suspended and
that the Department of Transportation did not have enough money to pay salaries with
the tax boost.
Some agencies within that department operate on quarterly spending plans instead of a yearly budget because of their precarious fiscal situation.
``It's time to face our problems, Garcia said. ``We have to tighten the belt on all
public corporations without layoffs.''
The tax boost is not expected to affect power bills in Puerto Rico, which on average are more than twice those on the U.S. mainland. However, consumers will see an
increase in other areas because the private sector will pass along that cost, said economist Gustavo Velez.
The tax increase comes as the island of 3.67 million people struggles through a
nearly decade-long economic slump.
Velez said his biggest concern is that the government plans to issue more bonds
soon with help from the new tax.
“We cannot keep going further into debt, and we cannot keep approving taxes to
artificially maintain corporations alive,'' he said.
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8A | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM
FERGUSON
Hands-up don’t shoot: Continuum of racial strife
By JIM SALTER AND JIM SUHR
Associated Press
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION / M.JURY FOR SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES
in surrender. Within hours, “Hands Up. Don't Shoot!”
became the rallying cry for protesters.
Witness accounts contained in thousands of pages
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Five NFL players entered the foot- of grand jury documents reviewed by The Associated
ball field with their hands raised. A day later, Ameri- Press showed many variations about whether Brown's
cans walked out of work or school showing the same hands were actually raised - and if so, how high.
gesture of solidarity with Ferguson protesters after
Some people were offended by the hands-up gesture.
a grand jury decided not to indict the white officer
The St. Louis Police Officers Association said the
who shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black display by St. Louis Rams football players Tavon Austin,
18-year-old.
Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook and Chris GivThe pose has come to symbolize a movement, even ens was “tasteless, offensive and inflammatory.”
though witnesses offered conflicting accounts of whethThe episode recalled a famous one that occurred
er Brown had his hands up in surrender when he was more than four decades ago at the Mexico City Sumkilled by Darren Wilson.
mer Olympics in 1968, when the U.S. was roiled by raProtests turned violent last week in cial turbulence.
the St. Louis area after a grand jury deAfrican-American sprinters John Carlos and Tomcided not to indict Wilson for shooting mie Smith gave the black power salute while on the
Brown during an August confronta- medal stand.
tion that had inflamed racial tensions
“If they choose to come out and raise their hands
across America.
in support of whatever their emotions are, they have
The power of the symbol was evi- the right to do that,” Carlos told The Associated Press.
dent again Monday. Protesters across “I don't think the whole story has been told about the
the U.S. walked off the job or away Michael Brown tragedy, and the pros and cons on both
from class in support of the Fergu- sides. They can just go by their emotions. I don't think
son protesters. Walkouts took place anyone got injured or shot by expressing emotions.”
in New York, Chicago, San Francisco
In Washington, the White House on Monday anand elsewhere.
nounced the conclusion of a three-month review of
At the University of Missouri-St. the Ferguson situation. President Barack Obama wants
Louis, not far from Ferguson, about more officers to wear cameras to promote trust, but he
30 students chanted “Hands up. is not seeking to reduce federal programs that provide
Don't shoot!”
the type of military-style equipment used to dispel the
The exact circumstances sur- unrest in Ferguson and elsewhere.
rounding Brown's death will forever
The Ferguson Commission appointed by Missouri
be in dispute.
Gov. Jay Nixon met Monday for the first time. The 16-perWilson told the grand jury that he son panel will study the underlying social and economic
shot Brown in self-defense. But several conditions from failing schools to high unemployment
witnesses said Brown had his hands up that have gained attention since Brown's death.
BASKETBALL
LeBron: Johnny Football
“ready to go” for Browns
The CiTy of forT LauderdaLe
presenTs The 8Th annuaL
CounTdown To The hoLidays by
spending your weekend
in The hearT and souL of The CiTy!
Friday, December 5, 2014 | 5:00 pm
Historic sistrunk Boulevard
Between NW 9th Avenue and NW 12th Avenue
event highlights:
Wonderland:
With Toy Giveaway and Health Fair
Johnny Manziel and LeBron James
By TOM WITHERS
BEREA, Ohio (AP) —
LeBron James says Johnny
Manziel is “ready to go” if
the Browns decide to start
him at quarterback this
week against Indianapolis.
Manziel replaced Brian
Hoyer in the fourth quarter
of Sunday's loss in Buffalo,
and there's a chance he
could start Sunday.
James' marketing firm
LRMR Management Company formed by LeBron and
Johnny Manziel, represents
the popular rookie quarterback and the two have
become close. James said
he's one of Manziel's “biggest supporters, he's part
of the family so of course I
want him out there.”
The NBA star felt Manziel played well during his
two series against the Bills.
The first ended with Manziel scoring on a 10-yard
touchdown run.
James said Manziel's “still
learning. If coach is ready for
him to give him the nod, he'll
be ready to go, but he's going to have some bumps and
PHOTO COURTESY OF LRMRMANAGEMENT.COM
Giant Holiday Tree
Visits from local sports teams’ mascots
bruises, just like any other
rookie quarterback.”
Special Entertainment
Kids Zone: Santa, snow, game trucks and more
Food Vendors
for more details:
Call 954.828.4742 or
Visit www.lightupsistrunk.org
SFLTIMES.COM | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 1B
Around South Florida 2B
Obituaries 3B
Prayerful Living 4B
WWW.SFLTIMES.COM | 954.356.9360
SOUTH FLORIDA
Adoption Month a success in Broward, Palm Beach
stories of how adoption has changed their
lives and the lives of so many children who
are looking for a place to call home.”
Wynter said the need for adoptive parents continues.
“We have over 150 children available
for adoption in Broward and Palm Beach
counties,” said Wynter. “National Adoption
Month and events like our Fall Festival help
us create that awareness.”
As the single private non-profit entity
responsible for administration of the local child welfare systems in Broward and
Palm Beach counties, ChildNet continues
to bring years of dedication to protecting
abused, abandoned and neglected children in the communities it serves.
(Top L to R): Pompano Beach Fire Rescue Team:
Wilson Leger, Jim Dryden and Damien Scott
For more information about becoming
a foster or adoptive parent, call ChildNet
in Broward County at 954-414-6001 and
in Palm Beach call 561-352-2501. Visit
www.ChildNet.us and www. facebook.
com/ChildNet.
(L to R): Omega Psi Phi Eta Nu Chapter: Calvin Alamar, Robert Bailey, Malcolm Roberts and Wil- here, including our dedicated staff, that
has helped make our Fall Festival a huge
liam Lyons
success every year,” said Elizabeth
Staff Report
Wynter, director of community relations
for ChildNet. “The support and spirit
SOUTH FLORIDA — Families, that the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity brings
children and advocates kicked to this picnic is invaluable. They have
off National Adoption Month with helped us create an event where famithe annual Family Fall Festival. lies and children can come together and
Hosted by ChildNet, the commu- raise awareness about the need for more
nity-based care lead agency in adoptive parents.”
Broward and Palm Beach counties,
The local Pompano Beach Fire Rescue
and Omega Psi Phi fraternity’s Eta Team was also on site to participate with
Nu chapter, the annual picnic cel- the children and families who enjoyed
ebrated Broward County families pumpkin decorating, sand art, face
who have recently finalized adop- painting, team games, and bounce houses.
tions the opportunity to bond. By Musical entertainment and an array of
end of the month, dozens of chil- food barbequed on-site were provided
dren were adopted in the two by the “brothers” of Omega Psi Phi, a
counties.
fraternity founded at Howard University
On Nov. 22, 37 children were ad- in 1911 that has hosted the Fall Festival for
opted at the Broward County Court- more than two decades.
house. A day earlier, 24 children
“We come together every year to host
were adopted into 16 families at the this event with ChildNet without a single
Palm Beach County Courthouse for hesitation,” said Melvin Davis, president
National Adoption Day/Palm Beach. of the Eta Nu chapter of Omega Psi Phi.
Officials hailed the success.
“Our partnership allows so many great (L to R): Julie Matthews, Tadeas Bocek, Trayvon
“We are grateful to everyone people to come together and share and Rushella Gregory
(L to R): The De Jong family: Terri, Samuel, Jack and Sarah
MIAMI-DADE
Opa-Locka commission hosts Thanksgiving giveaways
Staff Report
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF OPA-LOCKA
Commissioner Joseph L. Kelley, second from right, gathers with Pastors L.B. Roundtree, left, Noel Miniel, Cristino Pinales, and
Jorge Rodriguez from The City of Opa-locka’s Faith Based Initiative, for Fellowship and Community Feeding with residents.
BROWARD
‘Celebrity waiters’ to work for
tips at 14th annual breakfast
Special to South Florida Times
FORT LAUDERDALE — On Friday, Broward’s top community and business leaders will don aprons to serve as “celebrity
waiters” at the 14th Annual Breakfast for
Champions of the Homeless event, hosted
by the Broward Partnership and the Downtown Council of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.
More than 200 guests are expected to
attend this popular power breakfast, where
celebrity waiters aim to dazzle with their
table decorating and serving skills and
compete to earn the most “tips” to benefit
the Broward Partnership.
This year’s roster of celebrity waiters
includes Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler
and his wife Susan, City of Fort Lauderdale
PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUEBROWARD.ORG
Sheriff Scott Israel
Commissioners Robert McKinzie, Bruce
Roberts, Romney Rogers and Dean Trantalis,
Broward County Commissioner Chip
LaMarca and his wife Eileen, Broward County
Sheriff Scott Israel and his wife Susan, and
community leaders Jaye and Tony Abbate,
David Armstrong, John Benz, Bob Birdsong,
Darran Blake, Elliott P. Borkson, Gale Butler,
Keith Costello, Heiko Dobrikow, Jim Ellis, Dr.
Nabil El Sanadi, Gloria Fernandez, Calvin
Glidewell, Kenneth Gordon, Jonathan Keith,
Jean McIntyre, Dev and Ramola Motwani,
Howard Schumacher, Cathy Stutin, Stephen K.
Tilbrook, Michael D.Wild and Lynne Wines.
The 14th Annual Breakfast for Champions event is made possible through the
support of its sponsors, the Leo Goodwin
Foundation, AT&T, Charlene Bender, Brian
Foss & Dennis Fruitt, Gordon Food Service
(GFS), the International Culinary School at
The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Pierson Grant Public Relations, Publix Super
Markets and the Sun Sentinel.
Proceeds from the event will assist the
Broward Partnership in operating the 230bed Central Homeless Assistance Center
on the Huizenga Campus, which serves
more than 1,200 homeless men, women
and children each year. In addition to safe
shelter and nutritious meals, the Broward
Partnership offers wrap-around case management and comprehensive services,
such as medical and dental care, behavioral health, workforce development, family
therapy and others that assist the homeless
in reacquiring health, housing and employment as quickly as possible. For more
information, visit www.bphi.org. OPA-LOCKA — Mayor
Myra Taylor and Opa-locka
commissioners kicked of the
city’s Thanksgiving celebration a few days early with two
food giveaways for residents.
City leaders sponsored
their annual Thanksgiving
initiatives to provide fellowship and food to hundreds of
residents for the holiday. The
gatherings were hosted by
Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes,
and Commissioners Joseph
L. Kelley and Luis B. Santiago,
in conjunction with the city’s
Faith Based Initiative.
At the first event, on Nov.
22, Kelley and Santiago
kicked-off the first initiative which consisted of a diverse congregation of local
churches in the city. Both welcomed attendees, and Kelley
also led the audience in song.
Among the guest speakers
were Pastor L. B. Roundtree,
of New Mount Pleasant, Pastor
Noel Miniel, Inglesia de Dios
Pentecostal and Pastor Samuel Pratt from New Missionary
Baptist church. Pastor Cristino
Pinales Ministerio Renuevo
followed with an inspirational
song and closing the program
with a prayer, was Pastor Jorge
Rodriguez of Guerreros de Jesucristo. After the praise and
worship, the Commissioners
distributed food bags, with
nonperishable goods, to all
attendees.
On Nov. 24, residents
filed in a line that stretched
for blocks for the annual
turkey distribution. Though
the giveaway started at noon,
people gathered as early as
PLEASE TURN TO OPA FOOD/2B
PALM BEACH
PHOTO COURTESY OF ORANGE BOWL YFA
Orange Bowl honors four parks
WEST PALM BEACH — The Orange Bowl
Youth Football Alliance (OBYFA) presented
by Sports Authority traveled honored four
recreations leagues in Palm Beach County
this fall as part of its Park of the Week Program.
The OBYFA Park of the Week program
presented by Sports Authority recognizes
select youth football parks across South
Florida each Saturday during the fall to
show its continued support of the community. The Orange Bowl Committee has supported youth football across South Florida
for 16 years.
The program began the day in Lake Worth
to celebrate the West Boynton Football
League at Buttonwood Park. Park of the
Week then traveled to West Palm Beach
to honor the Palm Beach County Youth
Football League at Lake Lytle Park and
then to Boca Raton to recognize the West
Boca Tackle Football League at Veterans
Memorial Park. The day’s activities concluded in Wellington at Village Park when
the program highlighted the Western Communities Football League.
At each stop during the program, Orange
Bowl members, ambassadors and staff
presented each park with a commemorative plaque.
2B | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM
Around South Florida
ELGIN JONES
[email protected]
PRISONS CHIEF RESIGNS
Michael Crews has resigned
his post as secretary of the
Florida Department of Corrections effective Nov. 30.
Gov Rick Scott appointed
Crews to the job more than
two years ago amid scanCREWS
dal, corruption and inmate
deaths. Those issues continues to plague
the department, but Crews made the mistake of pushing for pay raises for corrections officers in his department.
Palm Beach County
WHAT A COUPLE
Mark Englander, 67, of
Boynton Beach is accused
of arguing with his new wife
about his not receiving a
wedding gift from a friend,
according to an arrest report. He is accused of batENGLANDER tery, and allegedly stating
that he would kill her, but he would never
get away with it. He was booked into the
Palm Beach County Jail. Some marriage
and honeymoon.
REYNOLD’S AUCTION
Burt Reynolds, 78, is auctioning off some of his art, movie
memorabilia, Emmys and
other possessions. Reynolds, a graduate of Palm
Beach High School, ran into
financial trouble in 2011,
REYNOLDS
when his Jupiter mansion
went into foreclosure. That seven-bedroom
home is now on the market for $4.5 million,
but was originally listed for $9 million.
COOPER SELECTED
Don Cooper, worked 20 years as Port St. Lucie’s city manager before leaving in 2010.
He is now the new city manager in Delray
Beach. He replaces Louie Chapman, who
agreement between attor- at $170,000 contained information obresigned under fire over a
ney Earl Hall and Rogers tained via skimming devices. Atkinson is
$60,000 trash bin contract
where she would be paid a being held in the Lee County Jail as the
and was accused of mispercentage of his $100,000 investigation continues and expands to
leading
commissioners
fee to lobby for Gulf Con- Miami-Dade County into the fraud and
about it. Mayor Cary Glickstruction and Dwight Ste- identity theft by skimming devices.
stein, Commissioners Shelly
phenson Construction to
Petrolia and Jordan Jarjura
land a contract to build a CREDIT UNION
voted for Cooper. CommisCOOPER
sioners Adam Frankel and STEPHENSON City of Miramar project. In Federal regulators with the Financial
Al Jacquet did not. Cooper helped bring exchange, Rogers would lobby Miramar Crimes Enforcement Network has fined
Digital Domain’s animation studio to Port St. city officials directly, due her relation- Miami Gardens-based North Dade ComLucie and was heavily criticized when the ship with them. Rogers later revealed munity Development Federal Credit
company went bankrupt, leaving the city a possible conflict when an unrelated Union $300,000 for admittedly violating
holding a $40 million tab for the facilities DSC contract came before the Lauder- bank secrecy act and opening up the U.S.
that housed the company. Cooper beat out dale Lakes CRA to build the library, but financial system to potential money launinterim City Manager Terry Stewart, Boca went ahead with her vote for the compa- dering and terrorist activity. The tiny inRaton Assistant City Manager Michael Woi- ny. The next day she received a $2,000 stitution has a net worth of $616,641, but
ka, Broward County Deputy Administrator check from the company but Rogers conducted over $2 billion dollars in wire
Roberto Hernandez and Lancaster County, and DSC owner Dwight Stephenson says transfers from all over world and $14 milit was for the Miramar project, not her lion in cash transaction over the past few
Penn., Chief Clerk Andrea McCue.
CRA vote. The case was originally inves- years. The investigations are continuing,
tigated by the FBI, which referred it to but expect this credit union to be shut
Broward County
the Broward State Attorney’s Office. Asst. down.
State Attorney Catherine Maus wrote in
MILLIONS AT STAKE
The compact the state has a memo that, “In light of the lack of eviMonroe County
with the Seminole Indian dence that the June 2007 payment was
Tribe rakes in more than for the Lauderdale Lakes library, this
JAILED AGAIN
$116 million in annual rev- investigation is closed. There is insufMiami attorney Kenneth
enue. Former Gov. Charlie ficient evidence with which to sustain a
Kukec, 61, is back in jail. In
Crist negotiated the deal in charge of unlawful compensation.”
July he was charged with
2009, but it is scheduled to
possession of cocaine,
SCOTT
expire next summer. It almultiple counts of preMiami-Dade County
lows the tribe to have the exclusive right
scription drug and parato hold blackjack and other card games
phernalia possession, and
DEADLY INVASION
at its casinos in exchange for a percentresisting arrest after alOctavia Jones, 37, was shot KUKEC
multiple times and killed legedly being caught snorting cocaine
age of revenues paid to the state. Gov.
by two masked men who inside a Plantation Key convenience
Rick Scott will sign a new compact, but
burst into the home she store. Kukec was released on bond and
the state Legislature may not support it.
shared with a boyfriend was on probation. He tested positive for
Instead, some have expressed interest in
in Northwest Miami-Dade. drug and surrendered for violating the
opening up competition and allowing the
The gunmen did not make terms of his pre-trial release.
other casinos to hold the games as well.
JONES
any demands and took
nothing from the home. Jones’ boyfriend COMMUNITY DISSERVICE
ROGERS CLEARED
State Rep. Hazelle P. Rog- left the crime scene unharmed. Jones’ Brian Sheppard, 23, of Cudjoe Key was
ers, (D-Lauderdale Lakes) family and Crime Stoppers are offering on probation and performing his courthas been cleared in a rewards for information. The number to ordered community service work at
the Vineyard Community Church as
long-running
bribery call is 305-471-8477.
part of his driving with a suspended
investigation into allegations she accepted a BAD CREDIT
license punishment. The church pastor
bribe for her 2007 vote Leon Marcel Atkinson, 29, of Miami is in noticed computer equipment, an air
ROGERS
as Lauderdale Lakes city jail after being pulled over in Ft. Myers compressor, Nintendo video game
commissioner serving on the city’s on a traffic stop. Police smelled marijua- controllers and two archery bows
Community Redevelopment Agency na and conducted a search of his vehicle missing. His son checked and found
(CRA) board, in support of a Dwight Ste- where they found dozens of counterfeit them at a pawn shop on Deer Key. The
phenson Construction (DSC) contract credit and gift cards scattered through- items were traced to Sheppard, who
to build a library. It involved a verbal out the vehicle. The cards were valued has been arrested.
Opa-Locka hosts two Thanksgiving giveaways
OPA FOOD, FROM 1B
5 a.m. Holmes gave out the turkeys, while
members of the Reed family provided
Georgia collard greens. Family members
live in Opa-locka, Miami Gardens and
Niceville Fla. City officials say that each year,
they pool physical and financial resources
to rent a truck, purchase gasoline and
collard greens, then assemble in the City
of Opa-locka to distribute the vegetables
during the Turkey giveaway event.
Annie Strozier noticed signs about
the turkey giveaway posted throughout
the city. She said she made plans to
arise at 4 a.m. to take her place in front
of the line. She said she needs the extra
help, because she cooks Thanksgiving
Miami-Dade Chamber gala
celebrates 40-year legacy
Alberto Ibargüen
Staff Report
MIAMI, FL — The Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce (M-DCC) marks its 40year legacy of promoting black-owned
businesses this week with gala to celebrate its achievements and to honor local
heroes.
The chamber is hosting a ruby inspired black-tie gala 6 p.m. Saturday at
Jungle Island Tree Top Ballroom, 1111
Parrott Jungle Trail in Miami.
The gala draws an esteemed group of
notable civic, business and community
influencers. This year’s gala chairman is
Alberto Ibargüen, President and CEO of
the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Music will be provided by legendary Doug E. Fresh.
The M-DCC has been at the forefront
the past forty-years advocating for Black,
Minority and Women-Owned businesses
providing a blueprint to create awareness
of the economic impact minority-owned
businesses have in the Miami Dade and
South Florida area. The M-DCC carries the leadership torch of past presidents, including Inaugural President David Fincher (1974-1984); Dorothy Baker
(1984-2004), and Bill Diggs (2005-2013).
Newly elected President G. Eric
Knowles has already begun to make an
indelible mark through advocacy and
membership engagement.
“It is important to understand the relevancy and celebrate the successes of
Gordon “Eric” Knowles
the past 40 years, as we build a platform
for our future,” Knowles said. “While creating a level playing field for our current
membership, it is important that we create a tide that will raise the entrepreneurial spirit of our young business professionals here in Miami- Dade County and
throughout South Florida.”
Gala Sponsors include John S. and
James L. Knight Foundation, Carnival
Cruise Lines, FPL, Baptist Health South
Florida, W South Beach, Port of Miami,
FIU and Greater Miami Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau. The M-DCC gala is
one of the most sought out invitations in
South Florida during the holiday season.
Also, the chamber will honor community luminaries in leadership categories. The 2014 Miami-Dade Chamber
Gala honorees include: Garth Reeves Sr.,
publisher emeritus of the Miami Times,
who will receive the H.T. Smith Lifetime
Achievement Award; Adora Obi Nweze,
president of the Florida State Conference NAACP, will be presented the Distinguished Service Award; and MiamiDade County Commissioner Dennis C.
Moss is being recognized with the Citizen Of The Year Award.
Tickets are $200 per person and
$2,250 for a table of 10.
For more information and to reserve
your space, please contact the Chamber at
305-751-8648 or register online at www.mdcc.org.
dinner each year, for her
and anybody else that
meal.
Commissioner Kelley
on the diversity of the
entire family
wants a hot
commented
worshippers
within ONE community, “We are united
in the Spirit to accomplish the collective goal of conducting worship and
fellowship along with feeding God’s
people spiritually and naturally!”
SFLTIMES.COM | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 3B
Obituaries
Iconic Mexican comedian ‘Chespirito’ dies at 85
PHOTO COURTESY OF THERANKING.COM
Roberto Gomez Bolanos as El Chavo del Ocho
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the
iconic Mexican comedian who wrote and played the boy
television character “El Chavo del Ocho” that defined a
generation for millions of Latin American children, died
Friday at age 85.
Known as “Chespirito” (chess-pee-REE-to), he
changed comedy in Latin America, taking his inspiration
from Laurel and Hardy as well as Mexico’s other
transcendent comedian who eventually made it to
Hollywood, Cantinflas.
His two most famous characters were El Chavo del
Ocho, who lived in the homes of Latin America and
beyond with his barrel, freckles, striped shirt and frayed
cap, and the naive superhero El Chapulin Colorado, or
The Crimson Grasshopper. His morning show was a
staple for preschoolers, much like Captain Kangaroo in
the United States.
His employer, the Televisa television network, which
is the world’s largest producer of Spanish-language
programs, did not give the cause of death. It said his body
would be flown from his home in Cancun to Mexico City
on Saturday for a private funeral Mass at the network’s
headquarters, and a public tribute was planned for
Sunday at Azteca stadium.
He warmed the hearts of millions with a clean
comedy style far removed from the sexual innuendo
and obscenity-laced jokes popular today. In a career
that started in the 1950s, he wrote hundreds of television
episodes, 20 films and theater productions that drew
record-breaking audiences.
His prolific output earned him the nickname
Chespirito. It came from the Spanish phonetic
pronunciation of Shakespeare — Chespir — combined
with “ito,” a diminutive commonly used in Mexico that
seemed natural for Gomez Bolanos because of his short
stature.
“Nicknames are the most essential in life, more
valuable than names,” the actor said in 2011.
On Friday, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto
tweeted, “Mexico has lost an icon whose work has
transcended generations and borders.”
Born Feb. 21, 1929, he trained as an engineer, but he
was dedicated to writing from a young age.
Acclaimed Egyptian novelist
Radwa Ashour dead at 68
CAIRO (AP) — Acclaimed Egyptian
novelist and educator Radwa Ashour, who
used her often deeply personal writing
style to champion human rights issues,
has died after a long battle with cancer.
She was 68.
She chronicled her fight against cancer in her novel Heavier than Radwa, set
against the turbulent days of Egypt's revolution. She died Sunday and her funeral
was Monday.
Born in Cairo in 1946, Ashour's writing won multiple awards, including the
Constantine Cavafy Prize for Literature
in 2007 and the Owais Prize in 2011. She
wrote more than fifteen books, the bestknown of which is the Granada trilogy,
which chronicles the rise and fall of Arab
civilization in Spain.
“I sometimes refer to her as a ‘woman of steel’ because she seemed so indefatigable ... and it's hard for those of
us who knew her to believe that anything could win when it took her on,”
said Barbara Romaine, a professor at
Villanova University who translated
three of her books. She added that
Ashour played an important role for
“the advancement of women's presence in the literary world.”
She was politically active her entire life, notably as a founding member of the March 9 movement calling
for the independence of Egypt's universities.
“She was involved up to the very last
moment. As long as she could walk, she
went out to protests,” said prominent
novelist Ahdaf Soueif, a close friend.
Ashour saw her own writing as a way
to “challenge the dominant discourse”
and “conjure up the unaccounted for, marginalized and silenced areas of the past
and the present.”
“I write, the space becomes my own,
and I am no longer an object acted upon
but a subject acting in history,” she said in
a journal article.
She is survived by her husband, Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti, and her son,
poet Tamim Barghouti.
Talented both on the screen and behind it, he achieved
smashing success in 1970 with the creation of Chespirito,
a television show that included segments about “The
Crimson Grasshopper.”
The goofy superhero dressed in a red bodysuit and
hood with antennae that helped him detect danger
miles away. He completed the outfit with yellow shorts
and boots, giving him the look of a red bumblebee. The
character, whose superpowers included shrinking to the
size of a pill and dodging enemies, constantly repeated
his signature phrases,“You didn’t count on my cleverness’’
and “All the good people, follow me.’’
In 1971, Gomez Bolanos wrote and acted as El Chavo
del Ocho (The Boy from the Eight), a reference to the
channel that broadcast the show.
El Chavo proved so popular that reruns are still shown
in multiple countries in Latin American and on Spanish
language television in the United States. Many Latin
Americans, living under dictatorships during the height
of the show, found his underdog triumphs heroic in the
face of authority.
In a 2005 interview with the Mexican newspaper La
Jornada, Gomez Bolano said he always wrote with working
class people in mind.
“There are writers who pour out words, concepts that
sound really important but that basically say nothing,”
he said. “I always tried to be as concise as possible, all
to try and reach everyone, but especially the simple
people, those who needed to be reached more than
anyone else.”
He also delved successfully in theater for adults. In
1992 he produced, directed and acted in 11 and 12, the
story of a man who loses his genitals in an accident and
wants to impregnate his wife. The play set a record in
Mexico, surpassing 3,200 performances.
Gomez Bolanos is survived by his second wife, actress
Florinda Meza, as well as six children from his first
marriage and 12 grandchildren.
Medical pioneer Dr.
Aaron Shirley has died
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Dr. Aaron Shirley, who
broke racial barriers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and founded the Jackson Medical Mall, has died. He was 81.
Family members say in a statement that Shirley
died of natural causes Nov. 26 at a Jackson hospital.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at the UMC
Conference Center at the Jackson Medical Mall
starting at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, Shirley's family asks that donations be made to the Dr. Aaron Shirley Foundation through the Jackson Medical Mall.
Shirley graduated from Tougaloo College and
Meharry Medical College. He was the first AfricanAmerican pediatric resident at UMMC in 1965.
In 1970, he helped establish the Jackson Hinds
Comprehensive Health Center, which became the
largest community health center in the state.
In 1995, he and a group of partners transformed
the dilapidated Jackson Mall into the Jackson Medical Mall, a health care facility for the underserved.
Survivors include his wife, Dr. Ollye Shirley, and
four children.
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RANGE
FUNERAL HOME
HADLEY DAVIS
FUNERAL HOME Miami Gardens
HADLEY DAVIS
FUNERAL HOME MLK
WRIGHT & YOUNG
FUNERAL HOME
MANKER
FUNERAL HOME
JAY’S
FUNERAL HOME
EDWARD L. BROWN, 48, Cargo
Transporter, died November 25,
in Atlanta, GA. Funeral be held
12 pm Saturday at St James
Catholic Church.
VERA J HENDRIX, 65, Teacher,
died November 28 at Palmetto
Hospital. Funeral will be held 10 am
Saturday in the chapel.
CLAUDETTE BROWN, 61, PBX
Operator, died November 18. Funeral will be held 11 am Saturday
at Fulford United Methodist.
ROBERT TILLMAN, 85, Cab
Driver, died December 1, at Arch
Plaza Nursing Home. Funeral
arrangements are incomplete.
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LOSSIE M. MCCLARiEN, 100,
Homemaker, died November 30.
Funeral 10 am Saturday at Macedonia Baptist Church Coconut
Grove.
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HALL-FERGUSONHEWITT MORTUARY
ROSIE L. COLLINS, 70, Retired Office Administrator, died November
25, at Jackson North Hospital. Funeral will be held 11 am Saturday
at Valley Grove Missionary Baptist
Church.
FRANK JONES JR., 82, Landscaper, for FPL, died November
25. Funeral will be held 12 noon
Saturday at Hall-Ferguson-Hewitt
Chapel.
VASQUEZ METAYER, 72, Business Owner, died November 21, at
Broward General Hospital. Funeral
will be held 9 am Saturday at Haitian Evangelical Baptist Church.
RICHARD LAW, 87, Retired
Roofer, died November 27. Final
Funeral Service will be held in
Cordele, Georgia at William Funeral Home 407 W. 17th Avenue
Cordele, GA 31015.
HAROLD NOTTAGE SR., 63, Retired Mechanic, died November
27, at Miami Jewish Nursing
Home. Funeral will be held 10 am
Saturday in the chapel.
THELMA TURNER, 60, died November 26, at Jackson Memorial
Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete.
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BARBARA WALKER, 51, Store
Manager, died November 29, at
South Miami Hospital. Funeral will
be held 2 pm Saturday at Bible
Baptist Church.
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ATAVIA JONES, 37, Office Manager, died November 25. Funeral
will be held 2 pm Saturday at Antioch M.B. Church of Miami Gardens.
JAMES DANDRIDGE, 84, Employee, for Miami-Dade Water &
Sewer, died Nov. 29, at Jackson
Memorial Hospital. Memorial
service was held 6:30 pm Tuesday at Manker Memorial Chapel.
PATRICIA JEAN PERRY, 66, Bus
Driver, died November 24, at
North Shore Medical Center. Funeral will be held 11 am Saturday
at Jordon Grove M.B. Church.
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FUNERAL HOMES Broward
OCILIA ANESTAL, died November
18, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Arrangements are incomplete.
SHIRLENE LASSITER, 61, Medical Coder, died November 26. Funeral will be held 1 pm Saturday
in the chapel.
LOUISE ROBINSON, 58, Medical
Assistant, died November 26. Funeral will be held 11 am Saturday
in the chapel.
1 col x 1.85"
TOMMY WALKER, 53, Security
Officer, died November 22. Funeral will be held 10 am Friday at
New Shiloh M.B. Church.
JAMES C. BOYD
FUNERAL HOME
EDMA B. BEAUBURUN, died No-
urday at St. Clement Catholic
Church (Wilton Manors, Florida).
OSCAR JEROME HALL SR., 71,
died. Funeral will be held 10 am
Saturday at James C. Boyd Funeral Home.
vember 25, in Fort Lauderdale,
sfltimes.com
FL. Funeral will be held 9 am Sat-
SILASSEL LOUIS, died November
24, in Plantation, FL. Funeral will
be held Sunday at Sinai S.D.A.
Church (Plantation, Florida).
ABE PARTRIDGE JR., 50, Cook,
died November 23. Funeral will be
held 12 noon Saturday at Jay
Johnson Chapel.
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MARY DILLARD, 80, died November 24. Funeral will be held
2:30 pm Saturday in the chapel.
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OSCAR CARTER JR., died November 21, at North Shore Hospital. Funeral will be held 2 pm
Saturday in the chapel.
ROSE GREEN, 50, Retired Manager, died November 29, at North
Shore Hospital. Arrangements are
incomplete.
CONNIE MARCUS, 84, Auto Mechanic, died November 28. Funeral will be held 2 pm Saturday
at Hall-Ferguson-Hewitt Chapel.
JOHN DANIEL MORRIS, 78,
Equipment Operator, died November 25, at Jackson Memorial. Funeral will be held 2 pm Saturday
chapel.
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ELIE COLIN, died November 20,
in Orlando, FL. Funeral will be held
10 am Saturday at Christ Sanctified Church - Orlando.
JOSEPH PYROL, died November
27, in Orlando, FL. Funeral will be
held 11 am Friday at Pax Villa Funeral Homes, Chapel - Orlando.
LOUISE PUGH, 69, Homemaker,
died November 19. Funeral will be
held 1 pm Saturday at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
ROY MIZELL &
KURTZ
FUNERAL HOME
HELEN M. HAMM, 81, of Fort
Lauderdale, died November 30.
Funeral will be held 10 am Saturday at First Baptist Church Piney
Grove.
KATHY KNIGHT, 52, of Hollywood,
died November 30. Funeral will be
held 11 am Saturday at Roy Mizell
& Kurtz Worship Center.
HOMER MURRAY, 66, of Fort
Lauderdale, died November 30.
Funeral will be held 1:30 pm Saturday at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship Center.
THELMA HATCHER, 87, died. Funeral will be held 1 pm Saturday
at New Hope Baptist Church.
Classifieds
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NOTICES
PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS
Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting
bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and
architectural/engineering services. Interested bidders are
requested to view and download the notifications of bid
documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at:
www.broward.org/purchasing.
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4B | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM
Prayerful Living
“His master replied,‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have
been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness.” (Matthew 25:23 NIV)
I
THE REV. DR.
R. JOAQUIN WILLIS
n the Parable, Christ outlines the requirements for
all to get into Heaven. He
tells us those who honor
God’s standard, will receive
an extravagant opportunity to
“Come and share your Master’s
happiness.”
Three servants are given different amounts of gifts. Jesus
uses this to address the principles of good and bad stewardship. His main points are, we
must clearly understand God’s
standards; not misinterpret the
rewards implied; mustn’t be
afraid to fail; and we are to use
and multiply all gifts.
Christ’s purpose according
to T.D. Jakes is to equip us to
use our “instincts.” Our instincts
help us to advance God’s kingdom, and our own positions in
life, when we are presented with
extravagant opportunities.
Two of the servants performed at their highest level of
excellence, turning five (5) and
two (2) talents into 10 talents and
4 respectively. While the third
failed by burying his one talent.
The first two brought 100 percent return on the Master’s investment. They received the extravagant opportunity available to us
all, which as Jakes calls it, “The
cross over moment” into Heaven.
When we clearly understand
our unique and individual gift(s)
and personal standards, we perform with excellence and at our
optimal level of 100 percent efficiency. Hopefully, we know
God spares no expense when
it comes to blessing us, but He
does expect a (ROI) “Return on
His Investment.” We must therefore accept responsibility for
our gift(s) and for the complete
fulfillment of His expectations.
Extravagant
opportunities
sometimes come surrounded by
cloudy circumstances. Often inclement weather is a mask for a
sunny opportunity. When we say
to ourselves on a rainy day, “Today isn’t a good day.” We should
know actually that day, despite
the clouds and the rain, maybe
an opportunity in disguise. We
just need to forge ahead.
Jakes says, we should know
when we look into our gift box,
“Our gifts and talents come without instructions and each servant
or recipient in scripture had to
use their instinct to determine the
best way to invest their gifts".
When we understand our
gifts come without instructions,
other than our instincts, we won’t
misinterpret God’s reward and
recognition system, and we can
then do as Nike says, “Just Do It”
and fully succeed.
When life gives us an extravagant opportunity to use our gift(s),
Congratulations to the 2014
Knight Arts Challenge winners
who are enriching South Florida
through the arts
47 winners • $2.29 million
this is the same as God giving us
permission to step out on faith,
into our own unique destiny.
“Many spend their lives at
'the crossroads of greatness,' trying to figure out which way to
turn,” says Jakes. We must know
that nobody can tell us the time
or the direction of our destiny.
No parent, spouse, teacher or
pastor can tell us which way to
turn, or when to step into our individual destiny.
The servants’ rewards were
based on what they did with what
they had. Jakes goes on to say,
“The result of your authentic stewardship is always promotion. The
knock of opportunity, if answered
with the right instinctive action,
will inevitably result in promotion.”
The servant who buried
his talent said, “He was afraid.”
Therefore, fear won that battle.
He decided not to use his talent,
not to multiply it, not to invest it,
but rather to hide it. Jakes says,
“He hid his talent and exposed
his fear, instead of hiding his fear
and exposing his talent.”
If we don’t let ourselves become afraid to fail, we can stand
at the crossroad to greatness,
and clearly hear our instincts
and then make the right turn.
People who live fulfilling lives
follow their instincts and learn to
overcome their fear of the future,
and their fear of failure.
When we understand that
God gives us all extravagant opportunities, to use the gifts given
us, to help God’s people, we in
turn bring glory to God.
Those who live by their instincts know you have to seize
all opportunities to move ahead,
and have the courage to forge
ahead into the unknown future.
We then seize every extravagant
opportunity God sends our way!
The Rev. Dr. R. Joaquin Willis is
pastor of the Church of the Open
Door UCC in Miami’s Liberty City
community. He may be reached
at 305-759-0373 or pastor@
churchoftheopendoormiami.org
»
Miami Music Project
»
Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs
»
Museum of Fashion
»
Norton Herrick Center for Motion Picture Studies /
University of Miami
»
Nu Deco Ensemble
»
Oliver Sanchez Studio
»
Olympia Center
»
Opa-locka Community Development Corporation
»
Amanda Keeley / EXILE Books
»
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science
»
Andrew Yeomanson / DJ LeSpam
»
Pioneer Winter / Collective
»
Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE)
»
Ranjana Warier
»
BFI (Bas Fisher Invitational)
»
Sound and Vision
»
Bookleggers
»
Stiltsville Trust
»
Books & Books
»
The Children’s Voice Chorus
»
Buskerfest Miami!
»
The Screening Room
»
Cannonball Miami
»
Third Horizon Media
»
Centro Cultural Español de Cooperación Iberoamericana
»
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
»
City of Doral
»
»
Community Arts and Culture
University of Florida - College of Fine Arts School of Music
»
Elizabeth Cerejido
»
Village of Pinecrest - Pinecrest Gardens
»
FATVillage Arts District
»
Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival
»
Foundation for Emerging Technologies and Arts
»
hiccup
»
HistoryMiami
»
IFE-Ile
»
inkub8
»
Jai-Alai Books
»
Jason Taylor Foundation
»
Key West Art & Historical Society
»
Letter 16 Press
»
Little Haiti Cultural Center
»
Live In Color Dance Collective
»
Mexican-American Council
»
Miami Center for Architecture & Design
»
MDC Live Arts
The Knight Arts Challenge is a community-wide
contest funding ideas to help bring South Florida
together through the arts. More at KnightArts.org.
@knightfdn, @knightarts
SFLTIMES.COM
DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014
Art Basel 4C
Acclaimed event gets
an infusion of soul
7C Events Calendar
2C | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM | SoFlo LIVE
technology
Gift Guide: Dragons, aliens, heroes for the gamer
By LOU KESTEN
Associated Press
Sony’s PlayStation 4 video-game console has built an
impressive lead over its competitors. That’s good news
for holiday shoppers because it has driven Microsoft and
Nintendo to offer more budget-friendly holiday deals on their
consoles.
Microsof t
Corp.’s
$350 Xbox One packages
have jettisoned the Kinect
motion-sensing
device,
which some gamers didn’t
find appealing because it
gave them more exercise
than they would have liked.
Instead, you get a copy of
either Assassin’s Creed
PHOTO COURTESY OF NINTENDO.COM
Unity or Sunset Overdrive.
Super Mario 3D World
Meanwhile, Nintendo has a
$300 Wii U package with
Super Mario 3D World.
Sony Corp.’s console still costs $400, but you can get
Grand Theft Auto V, updated with better graphics, with the
PS4.
Of course, your gaming loved one probably already has
the latest console. In that case, here are some new games
to feed the machine. Be sure to find out which console your
loved one owns, or there’s bound to be disappointment.
For adults
Dragon Age: Inquisition (Electronic Arts Inc., for the
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $59.99): Anyone who’s
into Game of Thrones or The Lord of the Rings will adore
this sword-and-sorcery epic from the role-playing masters
at BioWare. It offers more than 100 hours of adventure
as you build an army of humans, elves, dwarves and more
to prevent demons from destroying a sprawling, gorgeous
fantasy world.
Middle-earth: Shadow of
Mordor (Warner Bros., for the
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox
360, PC, $59.99): In this
action-focused take on J.R.R.
Tolkien’s world, a swordwielding ranger takes on a
series of orc warlords, one
by one. No two duels are the
same, and victory requires a
satisfying blend of strategy
and reflexes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TITANFALL.COM
Titanfall (Electronic Arts, Titanfall
for the Xbox One, Xbox 360,
PC, $59.99) or Destiny
(Activision, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, $59.99):
Gamers who love to go online and shoot other gamers got
two fresh arenas this year. Titanfall adds giant robots to the
mayhem, while Destiny delivers a wider variety of intense
cooperative battles.
Wolfenstein: The New Order (Bethesda Softworks, for the
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $59.99): Some triggerhappy gamers prefer a good story to the chaos of online
play. For them, I recommend this chilling alternate history, in
which a plucky resistance fighter tries to take down the Nazi
regime that has overrun all of Europe.
Alien: Isolation (Sega, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox
360, PC, $59.95): The toothsome alien stalking this space
station can’t be killed, so anyone who goes in with guns
blazing is likely to get eaten. It’s almost as nerve-racking as
the original Alien movie from 1979.
can capture villains in shells made of “traptanium” (known to
the rest of us as plastic). Switching traps allows you to play
as different bad guys. There are now hundreds of Skylander
characters available, costing $5 to $16 apiece. Surely the
collector in your family is missing a few.
Fantasia: Music Evolved (Disney, for the Xbox One,
For everyone
Xbox 360, $59.99): Players become conductors in Disney’s
amiibo (Nintendo, Wii U, $12.99): The toys-to-life reimagining of the classic
category — figurines that interact with video games — has film, rearranging tunes from a
playlist that goes from Mozart
to Elton John to Nicki Minaj.
Like most rhythm games, it’s
good fun for family gatherings.
(Be advised: It does require
Kinect.)
Sid Meier’s Civilization:
Beyond Earth (2K Games,
for the PC, $49.99): The
stargazer on your list will dig
the latest “Civ” simulator,
which adds all kinds of crazy
technology, from nanorobotics
to neural uploading, to the
classic formula. Why settle
PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE.COM
for conquering Earth when
Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes
are whole
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOYSRUS.COM
SFT ColorChrist 5.06x5 BW_Layoutthere
1 11/13/14
4:59new
PM planets
Page 1
been the hottest thing in toy stores for the past few years. out there?
Fantasia: Music Evolved
Nintendo Co. is finally joining
the fray. Want to team up
with Mario in Super Smash
Bros. for Wii U ($59.99)?
Place his character on the
Wii U’s GamePad, and you
can teach him new fighting
styles. The amiibo models
include favorites such as
Donkey Kong, Pikachu
and Kirby. They are also
compatible with Mario Kart
8, Hyrule Warriors and more
games to come.
Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel
Super Heroes (Disney, for the
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox
360, Wii U, $74.99): The Walt
Disney Co., meanwhile, has
expanded its line of playable
figurines by calling on the
Avengers to assemble. The
starter kit includes Iron
Man, Thor and Black Widow,
all starring in a goofy, kidfriendly adventure in Marvel’s
Manhattan.
Additional
heroes like Spider-Man and
Groot cost $15 apiece.
Skylanders Trap Team
(Activision, for the PS4,
ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER | KNIGHT CONCERT HALL
PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360,
Wii U, $74.99): Activision
•
started the whole toys-to-life
trend with this blockbuster
franchise, and this year’s
model is as clever as ever. The
new Trap Team Skylanders
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film
Horrible Bosses 2 gets better second time around
like when Kurt secretly records a conversation and then produces said recording to the
person he’s recording. Then again, if the guys weren’t the world’s most inept criminals,
this movie wouldn’t be so hilarious.
Writer/director Sean Anders (with story help from John Morris, Jonathan Goldstein, and
John Francis Daley has managed to make a sequel that is better than the original film.
This second Horrible Bosses is funnier and more twisted than the first. Their deft writing
of situational comedy feels fresh. Indeed, the surprise twists really keep the audience on
their toes. Without ruining the film, Pines’ Rex is a great villain in that he outsmarts the
ultimate villain of the film: his father.
Not to knock the good movies of 2014, but Horrible Bosses 2 is one of the best films
of the year. It’s been a while since I’ve laughed that hard at a film and had that much fun
at the movies. Horrible Bosses 2 is intensely hilarious and all the actors seem better at
playing their characters this time around. Then again, Sudeikis, Day, and Bateman are
great character actors.
Likewise, Jamie Foxx’s Dean “MF” Jones steals the show. Unfortunately, Dean lacks
enough screen time to give the full breadth of the character. Although, there’s always
part three. Speaking of part one characters, Jennifer Aniston’s Julia makes a comeback
to dizzyingly sexed-up hilarity. It’s odd to see Aniston as a raunchy dentist, but she pulls
it off.
Kevin Spacey is also back as Dave Harken, Nick’s really mean ex-boss, now in the
slammer. For an idea of Spacey’s performance think House of Cards’ Frank Underwood
with an angry and frozen face. Spacey hilariously channels his inner mean and still
manages to be a likeable character. Spacey, who once played the Keyser Soze, is just
that good.
Lastly, Sudeikis, Day, and Bateman have dialed up the comedy factor. Their characters
seem funnier , yet dumber than before. The audience can really see why they weren’t cut
out to be the boss, which brings up the major point of Horrible Bosses 2.
Not everyone is cut out to be the boss or to lead. Some people flourish better under
someone than in charge. Unfortunately, being nice to your employees isn’t really a
requirement to lead. Instead, being apt and capable to do the job at hand is a requirement.
And, if you can’t successfully carry out your own criminal plan, like kidnapping and
ransom, then you’re not equipped to lead. Carrying out plans to profitable ends makes
horrible bosses a necessary evil; even if you fantasize every day about getting rid of them.
The cast of Horrible Bosses 2
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVIE-INFOS.NET
By KIMBERLY GRANT
Special to South Florida Times
We’ve all been there. You spend 40 hours a week listening to their conflicting
directives, while biting back your smart retorts. Or they talk down to you like you’re a
servant. Or you know they’re ill-equipped to manage or even do their job. Yet, someone
has put them in charge. Yes folks. Like opinions, we’ve all had one horrible boss. At least,
that’s how we related to the first Horrible Bosses film.
In the sequel to the hit film where lowly employees act out every subordinate’s fantasy,
Kurt Buckman (played by Jason Sudeikis), Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman), and Dale
Arbus (Charlie Day) are back. This time, Nick and company are their own bosses. They’ve
managed to do what most people in their position have wanted to do: they’ve created a
product and started their own company. In this case, they’ve invented the Shower Buddy.
In a Shark Tank-like experience, super product company, Boulder Streams, asks them to
sell their company. When they refuse, the head of Boulder, Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz),
masterminds an unethical way of forcing them out of their company, stealing their product
and leaving them on the brink of bankruptcy.
Naturally, our guys resort to crime as a solution: they’ll kidnap Bert’s son, Rex Hanson
(Chris Pine) and ransom him for the money they owe. If only our favorite trio of lackeys
were smart enough to pull off their plan. Instead the guys foil their own plot at every turn,
The characters in Horrible Bosses 2 plot to murder their bosses.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FANSSHARE.COM
4C | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM | SoFlo LIVE
SoFlo LIVE | SFLTIMES.COM | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 5C
art
Art Basel gets infusion of soul
By MICHELLE HOLLINGER
Special to South Florida Times
The eclectic, internationally celebrated Art
Basel is becoming more soulful. The soul infusion
began three years ago with the Art Africa Miami
Arts Fair (AAMAF), an event launched by local
architect Neil Hall “to showcase engaging and
thought-provoking art that served a continuum
of the Black, Caribbean, social, political, hip hop
artistic strand that spoke to the Black Presence
missing from the Art Basel script.”
The effort is being enhanced this year with the
launch of Soul Basel Overtown: A Celebration of
Art, Music and Culture in Colored Town. Overtown
is known for its former status as a vibrant
community with a vibrant nightlife that featured
PHOTO COURTESY OF NAKAZZI
a who’s who of the country’s most acclaimed
Untitled
African American performers. With widespread
efforts underway to recapture the lost essence
of the area that include a variety of housing, shopping and entertainment options, Soul of
Basel is a fitting addition to Art Basel, the global art festival turned destination event for art
lovers from around the world.
sfltimes.com
“Elevating the Dialogue”
ADVERTISING PROOF
Pyramid Books celebrates Black
History Month 365 days a year
to educate all people about the
African Diaspora; educating
and expressing to the world the
beauty and culture of a great
people. We have a great selection
and knowledge of the titles we provide
and recommend.
We also specializes in hard-to-find books
and may already have it in stock, even if the
distributor says it’s out-of-print..
Call us at 561.731.4422. We have a treasure
chest of such books waiting for you.
Hours:
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday 11:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday Noon to 5:00 p.m
544-2 Gateway Blvd.
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Tel: 561-731-4422
Fax: 561-731-0202
web: http://www.pyramidbooks.net
email: [email protected]
Located in the heart of Palm Beach county
in south Florida. Whether traveling north or
south on I-95, we’re easy to find.
Overtown: The Soul of Basel kicked off last month with a Paint Party at the Clyde
Killens Pool Hall. On Wednesday at the Lyric Theater, a showcase featured the works of
late Overtown artist Purvis Young, the self-taught talent who gained a national celebrity
following with his urban images. The historic theater will also be the venue when the Black
Archives features the works of South Florida visual artists in the lobby from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
through Sunday. The gallery will include art from JaFleu, Mariah Fox, George Gadson, Sim
Malden, Michael McLaren, Shernett Muhammad, Bennie Osborne and Johanne Rahaman.
One of the most anticipated
artists to be featured at Soul of Basel
is Nakazzi Hutchinson, who goes by
her first name. Its meaning, “woman
of substance,” is exemplified in her
diverse, highly acclaimed body of
work. A graduate of the Sculpture
department at the Jamaica School
of Art, Nakazzi considers herself
primarily a sculptor but her work
also includes charcoal drawings,
paintings, batiks, murals, mosaics,
and ceramics.
Widely known for her hand
painted, life-like ceramic masks that
celebrate Caribbean hairstyles with
her use of natural material, Nakazzi
is the youngest artist to be honored
in both the public and juried
awards with The Mutual Life Artist
of the Year award in 2001. Also,
one of her life sized sculptors is a
part of the permanent collection
PHOTO COURTESY OF NAKAZZI
of The Jamaican National Gallery. Lioness
“This year’s effort continues to sustain the dynamic discourse of the AAMAF narrative
and artistic strands of Black and Caribbean culture revolution,” said Hall, who is also CEO
of the Midtown-based Urban Collective, “a sustainable lifestyle design brand driven by a
passion for innovative design, art and cultural exchange with partnering skilled artisans
in developing countries.”
Besides diversifying Art Basel, The Urban Collective is credited by many with an
awakening synergy within the urban art community that is reflected in the emergence of
art fairs like Prizm, Kroma, Fuwon Mia, Global Caribbean and Multitudes.
In collaboration with City of Miami Commissioner Keon Hardemon, Southeast
Overtown Parkwest Community Redevelopment Agency and the Black Archives, this year’s
AAMAF runs 8 to 10 p.m. through Sunday. Admission to the gallery is free.
For more information, please visit artafricamiamifair.com.
SIDEBOX
Thursday Dec. 4
Art & Design | All Day
Experience the unique design objects from master designer Michael O in
TheUrbanCollective Gallery
Friday Dec. 5
Art & Jazz | 5:30pm to 7pm | Public
Grove to the soulful sounds of Gregory Ledon & Miami Jazz whose sound is rooted in
the tradition of Miles Davis
Saturday Dec. 6
Artist and community dialogue with the Nobodies outside the margin. Panel
discussion on the policies of representation: Art, Poverty, Ideas and Vision moderated by
celebrated author, scholar and Professor Dr. Carol Boyce Davis (book signing to follow)
Sunday Dec. 7
Soul Basel Farewell Brunch powered by TheUrbanCollective
| 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Hosted by Robbie Bell, Carla Hill, Dorothy Fields
ON THE COVER
Invitation only. Partial proceeds to go to Overtown
PHOTO
COURTESY OF NAKAZZI
Children and Youth Coalition. Limited tickets available, $50
Untitled
per ticket.
dance
Jazz Love Night: Dancers grace Arsht stage
mission, which is to provide opportunities for local dancers and choreographers who have
not traditionally had the chance to practice their art professionally” said London.
Jazz Love Night is the company’s culminating performance of a season consisting
of two community productions staged at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. The repertoire
showcases the works of six multiethnic choreographers from South Florida, including
Luis Cuevas, Justin Rappaport, Lloyd Knight (principal dancer with the Martha Graham
Dance Company), Gentry George (former Ailey II dancer and founding artistic director of
Zest Collective), Armando Gonzalez (soloist with the Geneva Ballet), and Sharron Lynn
Williams (former dancer with Ailey II and Broadway’s The Lion King). London will also
premiere his own choreography-- a new jazz improvisation composition piece based on
Trinidad Calypso music and steel pan instrumentation.
In 2011, London’s company received an Arts Challenge grant award from the Knight
Foundation. “I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to the Arsht Center administrators
for selecting PLGDC as an Arts Partner,” said London. “The pieces featured in Jazz Love
Night evoke interpretations of love, celebration and gratitude, themes that are appropriately explored in time for the holidays,” he continued.
Along with the Knight Foundation, Jazz Love Night is made possible with support from
The Miami Foundation, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and a generous gift from the late Victoria London (1945-2014), former Honorary Consul of Romania.
General admission tickets are $35, and discounted rush tickets are $20 for students
and seniors with valid identification. Groups of 10 or more will receive a 15 percent discount. Tickets can be purchased from the Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 9496722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.
sfltimes.com
“Elevating the Dialogue”
ADVERTISING PROOF
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREGORY REED
Leon Cobb in foreground and Yu-Mien Wu ( Right ) in Peter London’s “ZEN WATER CURRENTS” with costumes by Blair Brown. Premiered April 5, 2014 at Peter London Global
Dance Company’s “Emerging Choreographers Showcase”
For more information about Jazz Love Night, visit www.peterlondonglobaldance.org.
Learn more about the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Special to South Florida Times
MIAMI — The works of six multi-ethnic choreographers from South Florida will grace
the stage at Adrienne Arsht Center this month in a dance showcase that caps a season
of works from the Little Haiti Cultural Center.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and The
Peter London Global Dance Company, Inc. (PLGDC) present Jazz Love Night 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 and 13 in the Carnival Studio Theater, 1300 Biscayne Blvd in Miami.
London, the founder and artistic director of the multicultural dance troupe, will produce the two-night engagement accompanied by a
soundtrack of celebrated
20th Century jazz masters.
The dance sampler features new works from six
choreographers, including
one from London himself,
as part of the Company’s
inaugural Victoria London
Choreographers Showcase.
“Best by choice not by chance”
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6C | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM | SoFlo LIVE
travel
By TAMARA LUSH
Associated Press
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOPWALLS.NET
Rendering of Ferrari World in Dubai.
Expo spotlights theme park fun
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEYPARKS.DISNEY.GO.COM
Rendering of Shanghai Disney Resort
ORLANDO — How would you like to ride an elevator 120 feet up in the air, then flip head over heels six
times as the lift plummets back down to the ground?
Or fight good and evil with a laser blaster while dodging a lifelike, creepy-looking Joker?
Those are just two of the new theme park attractions opening in 2015, announced this week at The
International Association of Amusement Parks and
Attractions Expo in Orlando.
It’s the theme park industry’s biggest trade show,
with 27,000 attendees, 1,000 exhibitors and nine
miles of aisles snaking along the Orange County
Convention Center in Orlando, America’s theme park
capital.
New parks, rides, products and foods are
announced each year at this show. Some, like the
opening of Shanghai Disney Resort and the expansion of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, focus on overseas
trends. In France, Le Puy du Fou announced the
addition of “Neopters,” luminescent drones used to
create aerial shows over the park.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights in the
United States for the coming year:
Creature freezing: Triotech, a Montreal-based
company, announced that it’s installing a new interactive dark ride at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena
Park, Calif., for summer 2015. Called Voyage to the
Iron Reef, riders will climb into “submarine-inspired
vehicles” and will blast away at scavenging creatures,
fish, and other 3-D creatures as they attempt to save
Knott’s from a watery doom. This attraction might be
the first-ever to involve the steampunk puffer fish.
Superheroes: S&S Sansei technologies unveiled
the world’s first 4-D “free-fly coaster train” at Six
Flags Fiesta Texas. In summer of 2015, those who
climb aboard “Batman: The Ride” will face a 120-foot
elevator-type lift before plunging downward. Jeffrey
Siebert, Six Flags Fiesta Marketing Director, says riders will “tumble head over heels six times.”
More superheroes: “Justice League: Battle For
Metropolis” will feature the DC Comic all-star team
at Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags Over Texas.
Highly detailed scenery will immerse guests in a
struggle between good and evil involving special
laser blasters, a dramatic custom musical score,
and a 3-D fog screen. Lifelike animatronics, including a very creepy-looking Joker, will make appearances. Oceaneering, a company that also built the
ride system for Transformers at Universal Studios,
created the ride system.
A video game with water: What do you get when
you cross a mom with a psychologist and an inventor? Slide Boarding, which is a waterslide and video
game developed by Denise Chapman-Weston. The
mother of three wanted to bring video game graphics, lights and music to water parks. The concept is
coming to some Wet’n’Wild parks and is already in
Las Vegas.
Don’t forget the food: A new snack trend has
hit the Orlando area and is poised to take off at
theme parks and amusement centers worldwide.
It’s called a Honolulu Hot dog. Using an all-beef
frank, a chicken-based dog or a “bacon sausage,”
the bun is toasted internally on heated spikes, then
filled with one of seven sauces (pineapple, coconut, guava, lemon garlic, spicy mustard, mango or
“lava’’). The hot dog is inserted in the toasty bun,
then slathered with more sauce. No drips or mess.
Yum.
SoFlo LIVE | SFLTIMES.COM | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | 7C
events calendar
COMPILED By MARISSA CLARKE
Special to South Florida Times
Dec. 4
Dec. 4
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMIGOV.COM
Art Beat Opening Reception: Take a look
at multi-ethnic artwork by local and international artists. The exhibit features paintings,
sculptures, multi-media installations and
photography. Live jazz and steel drum music will play through out the evening. 6 to 9
p.m. at the Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212
NE 59th Terr., Miami. Free. 305-306-7521
or www.artbeatmiami.com.
December 4
Everlasting Joy!: This two-act play tells the story of Christmas. Presented by Revelation Ministries, part one of this play is an adaptation
of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge’s heart and life are changed
by grace. The second part is He Lives! a drama
that tells the story of Christ from his birth to
his death and Resurrection. This is the group’s
18th annual production. 7:30 p.m. today
through December 13 at Trinity Church, 3901
NE 22nd Ave., Lighthouse Point. $20. 1-800838-3006 or www.revelationministries.com.
Dec. 4
Dec. 4-10
Clematis by Night Tree Lighting: Make it a night to remember with a synchronized holiday sound and light show as
the 600-ton Sandi Tree comes
to life. Listen to live music,
check out four other 25-ton
sand sculptures and play a
round of mini golf on the Peppermint Putt-Putt. 6 to 9 p.m.
on the Waterfront at North &
South Clematis between Narcissus and Flagler Drive, West
Palm Beach. Free. 561-8221515 or www.wpb.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HDW.EWEB4.COM
December 6
Historic Overtown Soul Basel: Check
out art by local visual artists in the lobby
of the Historic Lyric Theater. Works by eight
artists, including Bennie Osborne, George
Gadson, and Mariah Fox will be on display
in celebration of Art Basel in a partnership
with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Sunday at The Historic Lyric Theater, 819 NE
Second Ave., Miami. Free. 305-636-2390.
Grinch Day: Celebrate the holidays with a
screening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas,
play games, and help decorate the library’s KidSpace! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mendel Public Library, 411 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Free.
A Jazz Holiday: The Metta Quintet perform
jazzy holiday tunes! The Broward Jazz Combo
will join the award-winning group. 8 p.m. at
Bailey Concert Hall and Fine Arts Theatre,
3501 Davie Rd., Fort Lauderdale. $20-$25.
954-201-6884.
Dec. 6
Dec. 6
Paws with Claus:
Bring Fido out for a
day of music, photos with Santa and
more! Dress your
pet in a costume
and they may win
the holiday hound
contest.
Vendors
will be on hand with
the perfect gift for
your pet. 10 a.m.
to noon at Gary B.
Jones Park for People and Pups, 8101
Southgate
Blvd.,
Tamarac.
Free.
954-597-3624.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOSETHELEASH.COM
December 7
Family Fun Concert – Time Flies: Orchestra Miami performs a live adaptation of Eric
Rohmann’s picture book which follows a bird
caught in a dinosaur exhibit at the natural history museum. The group performs music by
Bruce Adolphe and will be conducted by Elaine
Rinaldi. Projected images from the book will
appear on screen. 7 p.m. at Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 SW 57th Ave., Pinecrest. $32
Family Pack (two adults, two children) $12 for
adults, $9 children general admission.
December 8
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMIANDBEACHES.COM
Music in Need Benefit Concert: Help
raise funds for music programs at local public schools with this concert by FIU music
students. The performance features music
by FIU faculty, students, and past Music in
Need grant winners from Miami-Dade County
Public Schools. 7:30 p.m. at the Herbert and
Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center,
10910 SW 17th St., Miami. 305-348-0496
or www.music.fiu.edu.
December 5
Conversations with the Artists: View art
paintings, sculptures, installations and
photography while listening to music at
this showcase of local artists presented
by Art Beat Miami. 6 to 8 p.m. at Chef
Creole Restaurant Tiki Hut, 200 NW 54th
St., Miami. Free. 305-306-7521 or www.
artbeatmiami.com.
Friday Night Jazz: Enjoy an evening of
smooth jazz with the Veronica Swift Quartet.
Lead by jazz vocalist Veronica Swift, expect
an evening of easy swinging jazz, fast swing
and slow ballads. 5:30 p.m. at Mandel Public
Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis
St., West Palm Beach. $10, $5 for memberof
the Friends of the Library. 561-868-7709.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BESTPAPERZ.COM
Orchid, Garden & Gourmet Food Festival: The eighth annual event features gardening lectures, cooking demonstrations,
and orchid displays. Check out a variety of
orchids while listening to live music and
buy a meal from a gourmet food trucks. 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bonnet House Museum
& Gardens, 900 N. Birch Rd., Fort Lauderdale. $15. 954-703-2614.
Origami That Pops
for Family Fun: Learn
about the beautiful
world of origami as
Steve Vinik teaches
you how to fold simple
objects that move or
pop open! 1 to 2:30
p.m. at Broward County Main Library, 100
S. Andrews Ave., Fort
Lauderdale. Free, preregistration is required.
954-357-8243.
My Best Enemy: This dark World War II comedy follows two friends who take part in a case
of mistaken identity as a Jewish man changes
places with his former best friend, a Nazi, in order to survive. Hijinks ensue in the screening of
this Austrian film shown with English subtitles.
5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Weston 8 Cinema,
1338 SW 106th Ave., Sunrise. $7. 954-3894321 or www.artscouncilwestonfl.com.
December 9
Heart Like a Wheel: Catch the screening of
this 1983 film starring Bonnie Bedalia as
Shirley Muldowney, a drag-racing driver. This
biographical film directed by Jonathan Kaplan follows Muldowney, a 1950s housewife
who went on to break records in the National
Hot Rod Association. 6:15 p.m. at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 NW
22nd Ave., Miami. Free. 305-638-6771.
December 10
PHOTO COURTESY OF
VISUALIONER.COM
Yoga in the Park: Bring your yoga mat, water, and a towel to relax and unwind with a
yoga session by the bay. A certified instructor will lead you through the movements and
the atmosphere is perfect to reduce your
stress before returning to the weekday grind.
6 p.m. at Bayfront Park Amphitheater, 301
Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Free. 305-358-7550.
Please email your event to [email protected] by the preceding Thursday at 10 a.m.
8C | DECEMBER 4 — 10, 2014 | SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES | SFLTIMES.COM | SoFlo LIVE
food
sfltimes.c
“Elevating the Dialogue”
ADVERTISING PROOF
FAMILY FEATURES — The average person’s caloric
needs have decreased since the 20th century when lifestyles were more active, yet nutritional needs are generally
the same. Getting the nutrition you need without consuming too many calories can be as simple as incorporating
nutrient-dense foods, such as potatoes, into your diet.
Not only are potatoes a cost-efficient kitchen staple,
there are dozens of quick and easy ways to prepare this
ultimate comfort food while taking advantage of an extra
helping of nutrition.
A medium-size potato (5.3 ounces or 148 grams) has
only about 110 calories, 4 to 5 percent of the average
adult’s total daily calories, but provides much higher percentages of many nutrients.
There are many low calorie ways to prepare potatoes
deliciously. Here are just a few tasty low or no calorie topping ideas:
Toasted sesame seeds
Whipped butter and poppy seeds
A spoonful of stewed tomatoes and a bit of grated cheese
Melted butter or margarine thinned with lemon juice
A mix of dried herbs: parsley, chives, basil or dill
Mock sour cream (cottage cheese and lemon juice
whipped in a blender)
Chopped onion with coarsely grated black pepper
Chive-spiked yogurt
Prepared horseradish
Heated marinara sauce
Low calorie dips or salad dressings
For more recipes and tips for preparing
nutritious and appetizing potato dishes, visit www.
eatwisconsinpotatoes.com.
Servings: 4 (two tacos each)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
1/2 pound Wisconsin Yukon Gold or red potatoes, cut
into bite-size cubes
Olive oil cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 pound diced boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup finely chopped poblano, Anaheim or bell pepper
1 teaspoon Mexican seasoning blend
1/2 cup red chile enchilada sauce
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese
8 small corn tortillas, warmed or crunchy taco shells
Optional toppings: shredded cabbage or romaine lettuce,
diced tomato, diced avocado, thinly sliced radishes, fresh
cilantro leaves and salsa.
8 lime wedges
Place potatoes in microwave-safe bowl and cover with
plastic wrap. Microwave on HIGH 5–7 minutes.
Spray large skillet liberally with cooking spray. Add
potatoes and onion; cook over medium-high heat 5
minutes, stirring and coating with cooking spray occasionally. Stir in chicken, pepper and seasoning, and
cook 5 minutes more. Add red chile enchilada sauce
and simmer 5 minutes.
Place equal amounts of cheese on each tortilla
and heat in skillet until cheese is melted. Add potato
mixture and any other desired toppings. Serve with
lime wedges.