The Metro Herald staff would like to wish
you and your family the best and most
REED
glorious America’s Birthday Bash ever as we
LET F
celebrate 230 years of freedom. On this Fourth of July as
inscribed on the Liberty Bell, let us “Proclaim Liberty throughout all
the land unto all the inhabitants thereof,” taken from Leviticus 25:10.
See more on the Liberty Bell on page 14. There are lots of local
celebrations in our area as well as the “Capitol Fourth” celebration on
the mall (see page 12-13). So, rev up the grill, get out the fireworks and
count your blessings for living in such a wonderful country. Even with
all of its faults, America is still the “Home of the Free and the Land of
the Brave.” And, America still provides ways for its citizens to let their
voices be heard and to make a difference in its national policy and
direction. So, celebrate the good and work to change the rest . . .
ING!
OM R
VOLUME XV, NUMBER 26
Imaging the Politics, Culture, and Events of Our Times
Happy
230th
America!
Carroll County
Howard County
Baltimore
Annapolis
Montgomery
County
Loudoun
County
Fauquier
County
Fairfax
County
Prince
William
County
Anne
Arundel County
D.C.
Arlington County
Prince George’s
County
Alexandria
Spotsylvania
County
Stafford
County
Fredericksburg
Charles
County
Westmoreland
County
Richmond
June 30, 2006
When an American says that
he loves his country, he means
not only that he loves the New
England hills, the prairies
glistening in the sun, the wide
and rising plains, the great
mountains, and the sea. He
means that he loves an inner
air, an inner light in which
freedom lives and in which a
man can draw the breath of
self-respect.
—Adlai Stevenson
I have a dream that one day
this nation will rise up and
live out the true meaning of
its creed: We hold these truths
to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal.
—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We look forward to a world
founded on four essential
freedoms. The first is freedom
of speech and expression. The
second is freedom of every
person to worship God in his
own way. The third is
freedom from want. The
fourth is freedom from fear.
—President Franklin Roosevelt
The day will be the most
memorable in the history of
America. I am apt to believe
it will be celebrated by
succeeding generations as the
great anniversary festival . . .
It ought to be solemnized with
pomp and parade, with
shows, games, sports, guns,
bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this
continent to the other, from
this time forward for ever
more.
—John Adams, July 3, 1776
The things that the flag
stands for were created by the
experiences of a great people.
Everything that it stands for
was written by their lives. The
flag is the embodiment not of
sentiment, but of history.
Thomas Kinkade’s Original Poster image,
“A Capitol 4th,” commissioned in 2006
—President Woodrow Wilson
See page 12-13 for more
Visit us on the web at www.metroherald.com
June 30, 2006
THE
METRO HERALD
NEWSPAPER
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2
Editorial
I
found myself
in a lonely place
and it was up to me
to get myself out . . .
I chose hope
and
I chose to believe
in myself.
For the first time
on that day
I chose a moment
which was
not touching
another moment
on one side,
nor married
to the moment
on the other side.
I declared myself
free,
and called it
Independence Day.
You must choose
to believe
in something
but
be wise unto yourself . . .
because the key
is not to wait too long
or you end up
believing in nothing . . .
Having America stare back at the
Revolutionary War and stare past the
Republican Revolution . . . and to know
that self-indulgence is not self-fulfilling .
Every day that I am alone, I am
reminded that had not the Revolutionary
War occurred in the seventeen hundreds or
the Civil War in the eighteen hundreds,
there is a strong possibility that the call to
conscience by Martin Luther King and the
subsequent Civil Rights movement might
not have occurred . . .
America somehow godded over the
Age of Reason and slid into the Age of
Denial. The colors of racism draw things
out of us even in silence . . .
There is a failure in courage in
America at every level—the church, the
President, the Congress, the school, and
us—because we don’t demand and
therefore we are trapped by our expecta-
tions of others rather than the actions of
ourselves. Can the American Dream for
one be the American Nightmare for
someone else?
Where is the
Neo-American Independence Day
to be found?
Is it an
abused woman
walking away?
The acknowledgment of a marriage
that never was?
A baby taking
its first breath,
or step,
or word,
or potty-sit
outside its mother’s womb?
A hearing aid that works
or sight restored?
A graduation?
A wedding?
A walk?
A book?
A God?
A religious honesty-fidelity?
A moment in time?
A face of a woman
you can’t let go?
Or the strength of a man
who won’t let you go?
Holding hands in front of
your parents?
The loss of innocence?
The gaining of maturity?
Facts, realities?
Old things made new . . .
like reaffirming every person’s right
to be whole and productive?
The ability to cheer loud
for winners
and louder
for those who don’t win
BUT who don’t give up either?
The right for every citizen
to be an American . . .
regardless of race/creed/color?
Extending ourselves
through independent acceptance?
OR, better yet,
touching what we say
and calling it:
Independence Day
—PDD
THE METRO HERALD
June 30, 2006
THE METRO HERALD
3
AROUND THE REGION/AROUND THE NATION
June 30, 2006
GUIDELINES FOR VIRGINIA’S FIRST
SALES TAX HOLIDAY PUBLISHED
TODAY BY DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION
G
uidelines and rules for Virginia’s first sales tax holiday were published on June 23 by the Department of Taxation to provide information for both consumers and retailers. The Department also published a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to show
how the guidelines and rules will be applied during the sales tax holiday, to
take place August. 4–6 this year.
During the sales tax holiday, retailers will not charge the 5 percent retail
sales tax on purchases of school supplies costing $20 or less per item, or
clothing, including footwear, priced at $100 or less per article. Included as
part of the guidelines are an all-inclusive list of school supplies eligible for
the sales-tax exemption and a representative list of clothing eligible for the
exemption. All retailers who sell the exempt items must participate in the
“holiday.”
The guidelines and FAQs are posted on the Department’s Web site at www.
tax.virginia.gov/salestaxholiday.
“The Department worked closely with retailers and retail organizations in
developing these guidelines and rules over the past several weeks,” said Joel
Davison, the agency’s Public Relations Manager. “The new documents
posted on our Web site should answer a lot of the questions that both shoppers and retailers may have about the sales tax holiday.”
In addition to exempting school supplies and clothing from the sales tax
during the three-day “holiday,” retailers may also choose to “absorb” the sales
tax on any non-exempt merchandise they sell. Retailers who voluntarily absorb the sales tax must pay the tax themselves to the Department.
“This means that retailers who don’t sell school supplies, clothing and
footwear may also participate in the holiday, if they so choose,” Davison said.
“We expect many stores to take advantage of this.”
The 11-page FAQs address general questions that consumers and retailers
may have about the “holiday,” plus a number of specific questions, such as
how layaways, gift certificates, rain checks, returns and telephone sales will
be handled.
The sales tax holiday was unanimously approved by the General Assembly earlier this year. It will take place each year beginning on the first Friday of August and ending at midnight on the following Sunday.
DOMINION AND WAL-MART TO
OFFER COOLING ASSISTANCE FOR
VIRGINIA-AREA SENIOR CITIZENS
D
ominion and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has announced the beginning of
the 16th consecutive year of Fan Care, a partnership with the Virginia
Department for the Aging that helps low-income older citizens in Virginia keep cool during the summer months. Over 22,000 fans have been distributed since the program’s inception. The program provides one free fan to
elderly Virginians who live within Dominion’s service area and who meet eligibility requirements. An estimated 1,200 people will receive fans this summer.
“Fan Care demonstrates the compassion of Virginia’s business community
to assist our senior population,” said Eva Hardy, senior vice president-External Affairs & Corporate Communications-Dominion. “There are many elderly
Virginians who are in poor health and confined within their homes. The cooling effect of just one fan is enough to make the dog days of summer more
bearable.”
Fan Care is a public-private partnership administered by the Department
for the Aging. Dominion is the primary sponsor. Wal-Mart is the exclusive retailer providing fans to local Area Agencies on Aging at a discounted rate. The
discount enables more seniors to be served by the program.
Local Area Agencies on Aging administer Fan Care by screening applicants and distributing fans. A list of participating agencies is available by contacting the Virginia Department for the Aging at 1-800-552-3402. In addition,
Wal-Mart will be hosting an on-site screening for area seniors at the 2501
Sheila Lane location in Richmond on August 5.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WINS NATIONAL AWARDS
M
ontgomery County was
awarded two 2006 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties
(NACO) for programs housed in its
Department of Economic Development. The County’s Business Incubator Network and Workforce Investment Services Division were each
honored for their excellence and innovative services and for the extraordinary benefits they bring to the residents and businesses of Montgomery
County.
“We are extremely proud of these
awards as they are a testament to the
commitment we have to provide a
wide variety of services that meet the
high standards the people of Montgomery County deserve,” said County
Executive Douglas M. Duncan. “Our
Incubator Network has been an unqualified success and has helped foster
the growth of our local, small business
community, particularly in the advanced technology sectors. Our
Workforce Investment system is a
tremendous service for the residents of
our County as they look to advance or
change their careers while at the same
time being an invaluable resource to
our business community when they
need to hire new employees or retrain
their current workforce. Together,
these programs are an important factor
in Montgomery County adding more
than 92,000 jobs in the last 11 years
and have helped our County become
Maryland’s largest job creator and
most diverse job center.”
Since the opening if its first facility,
the Maryland Technology Development Center (MTDC), in 2000, the
Montgomery County Business Incubator Network has graduated more than
30 companies that now employ over
1,100 people in the County. The system has expanded over the years to include the Silver Spring Innovation
Center (SSIC) and the brand new
Wheaton Business Innovation Center
(WBIC). Together, these three facilities provide over 85,000 square feet of
below market office and lab space for
start-up and small businesses.
The incubators feature state-of-theart wiring and offer tenants reception
services, conference rooms, fax and
copy machines, and mailrooms. In
addition, all tenants have access to all
of the weekly programming and educational seminars that take place
throughout the incubator system.
Unique programs such as the University of Maryland’s Intellectual Property Law Center and the County’s
Business Mentoring program are also
NATURE CENTER OFFERS SEVERAL SUMMER NATURE CAMPS
T
he City of Alexandria’s Jerome
“Buddie” Ford Nature Center
is offering several summer nature camps in 2006 for children ages 3
to 12. The camps will focus on sensory
exploration, insects, reptiles and amphibians, and geology. Other activities
and items offered include games and
prizes, T-shirts, field trips, and takehome crafts. Participants will meet the
center’s wildlife residents, such as the
new Eastern Screech Owl.
The center will offer the following
nature camps:
• Tadpole Camp (Participants who
are 3 and 4 years old). Runs Mon-
4
day, July 10, through Friday,
July 14, 2 to 3pm, $55 per camper.
• Budding Naturalist Camp (Participants entering kindergarten and
grade 1). Session 1, runs Monday,
June 26, through Wednesday,
June 28, 1 to 3pm, $65 per camper;
Session 2, runs Monday, July 17,
through Wednesday, July 19,
10am to noon, $65 per camper
• Junior Naturalist Camp (Participants entering grades 2 through 4).
Session 1, runs Monday, June 26,
through Friday, June 30, 9am to
noon, $75 per camper; Session 2,
runs Monday, July 17, through
Friday, July 21, 1 to 4pm, $75 per
camper
• Naturalist Aides Camp (Participants entering grades 5 and 6).
Runs Monday, July 10, through
Friday, July 14, 9am to noon, $85
per camper
The newly renovated Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, which was officially reopened and dedicated in November 2005, is located at 5750 Sanger
Ave. Registration is currently open for
all the center’s summer nature camps.
To register, call 703-838-4829. For
more information, visit alexandriava.
gov/recreation/nature/buddie_ford_
center.html.
available to the companies free of
charge.
Currently, more than 50 percent of
the companies in the County’s Incubator Network are Minority, female or
disabled (MFD) - owned, including 11
of the 12 new companies at the WBIC.
Overall, Montgomery County is now
home to the most women-owned businesses in Maryland, the most Hispanic-owned businesses in Maryland,
the most Asian-owned businesses in
the State and home to the second highest concentration of African-American-owned businesses in the State.
“It has been the mission of our Department to find new, innovative methods to deliver the services our residents
and businesses need to prosper,” said
David Edgerley, Director of the Department of Economic Development.
“We are very honored to be recognized
by our peers across the country with
these awards. This will only reenergize us as we work to attract and develop high quality jobs for the highly
talented workforce here in Montgomery County.”
The Division of Workforce Investment Services (DWIS) was established
within the County’s Department of
Economic Development in 2002. As
Montgomery County’s Workforce Investment Act administrative entity, the
Division administers all federal Workforce Investment Act programs and coordinates with other workforce and
training programs in Montgomery
County. DWIS also serves as staff to
the Montgomery County Workforce
Investment Board. The DWIS is a collaborative organization that:
• Administers more than $4 million
in federal, state and local workforce
funds;
• Plans, manages, and coordinates
local workforce programs and services;
• Oversees the MontgomeryWorks
One-Stop Career Centers;
• Provides staff support and coordination for the MCWIB; and
• Implements programs and services
to meet the training and employment needs of citizens and employers in Montgomery County.
The Workforce Investment works
with partners at the federal, state and
local level to provide a wide variety of
services that target everyone from
youth workers looking for summer
jobs, adults who have been downsized
or are looking to transition into a new
career all the way to seniors looking
for part time employment. In addition, DWIS has numerous training programs that employers can use to help
cover the costs of training new employees or retraining their current employees. DWIS can also assist in recruiting employees and sponsors many
job fairs throughout the year to help
match residents with jobs. Thanks in
part to these services, over the last 11
years Montgomery County has added
92,800 jobs to the economy and become Maryland’s largest job center.
In addition, the County has maintained
one of, if not the lowest, unemployment rates in the State and region.
For more information on the
Wheaton Business Innovation Center
or to learn how to apply for the Montgomery Business Incubator Network,
contact John Korpela at 240-453-6348
or Jerry Godwin at 301-942-4495.
For more information on the County’s
Workforce Investment Services contact Eric Seleznow at 240-777-2000.
For information on both programs and
all the Department of Economic Development has to offer call 240-7772000
or
log
onto
www.
montgomerycountymd.gov/ded.
BLACK WRITERS REUNION
& CONFERENCE RETURNS TO
DALLAS IN JULY 2006
A
frican-American writers from all over the nation will converge in
Dallas, Texas, to teach, learn and exchange information about their
craft and the business of writing and publishing. The Black Writers
Reunion & Conference will host a wide range of attendees—from beginning
writers and aspiring novelists to award winners and celebrated veterans—this
July 15-16, 2006 in Dallas, Texas, with pre-conference activities on July 14.
“We’re very pleased to launch the 2006 program schedule, offering workshops covering topics from the basics of writing to advanced techniques for
polishing and selling your fiction, nonfiction, and plays,” said Tia Shabazz,
conference director.
Back after a five-year hiatus, the Black Writers Reunion & Conference
also features pitching sessions, where authors can submit ideas and manuscripts to editors, as well as critiquing sessions. The conference includes
workshops led by African-American literary luminaries such as popular and
best-selling authors Dr. Venise Berry (Colored Sugar Water, So Good), Tonya
Marie Evans, Esq. (Literary Law Guide), Anita Bunkley (Black Gold, Steppin’ Out With Attitude), Evelyn Palfrey (The Price of Passion), Gwynne
Forster (Fools Rush In), ReShonda Tate Billingsley (My Brother’s Keeper),
Vincent Alexandria (Postal Blues), award-winning playwright and poet Cherryl Floyd-Miller, literary agent Mondella Jones (Keith Boykin), self-publishing gurus Mack and Sara Smith (How to Self-Publish & Market Your Own
Book), and web maven Pamela Walker-Williams, among others.
Selected workshop titles include Fiction Writing Essentials, Writing the
Popular Novel, Screenplay Basics, Poor Man’s Copyright, Agents 101,
Reader Relations, Promoting & Marketing Your Books Online, Getting Into
Bookstores & Staying In, Tapping the Hidden Short Story Market, Crafting
the Synopsis, Writing the Stage Play and many others.
Those interested in attending should visit the Black Writers Reunion &
Conference website at www.blackwriters.org for registration, workshop
schedules, travel and other information. Pre-registration is required for all
activities.
THE METRO HERALD
AROUND THE NATION
June 30, 2006
THE KUTZTOWN FESTIVAL: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT KEY TO OUR SUCCESS
F
ifty-seven years ago, a small
group of educators, farmers,
and community leaders pulled
together to create the first folklife festival in Kutztown, which attracted a
few hundred curious sightseers. Today,
community leadership and support
continues to be the cornerstone of the
Kutztown Festival, and attendance is
up to 130,000 visitors.
The Kutztown University Foundation, Inc., whose mission is to generate
financial support for Kutztown University, and the Kutztown Fair Association, owners of the historic Kutztown
Fairgrounds, are partners in the Kutztown Festival. Recognizing the importance of ongoing strong ties to the
community, the Festival’s board of directors voted last year to provide significant college scholarship aid to students in the Kutztown area. In
2005-06, $20,000 in scholarships was
designated for this purpose.
The Kutztown Festival is the
largest-attended event in Berks County
and has important economic implications for the wider community. The regional economic impact of the Festival
in 2005 is estimated to be $11.5 million, according to the International
Festivals and Events Association. The
creation of more than 1,000 jobs during the nine-day festival is one of the
key items in this economic impact.
In turn, the contributions of scores
of local volunteers and participation of
more than twenty-five local not for
profit groups result in a rich community spirit that is vital to the Festival’s
success
The Festival’s annual survey of
about 1500 visitors reveals the important role of volunteers, most of whom
come from Kutztown and the nearby
area. They are consistently cited for
their friendliness and helpfulness. The
core group consists of about 200 volunteers who serve as greeters, information booth attendants, quilt barn
helpers, and survey takers.
Hundreds more staff the booths run
by local civic groups and churches.
They sell food ranging from local
favorites such as corn fritters and shoo
fly pie to full course all-you-can-eat
dinners. These organizations have an
opportunity to raise money to help support their own important projects in the
community and, for many of these
groups, participation in the festival is
the largest fund raising endeavor of the
year.
“Our volunteers are true good will
ambassadors. We hear constantly about
their warmth and kindness. When visitors enter the festival grounds, when
they stop by our information booth, or
when they walk up to one of the many
booths operated by local service clubs,
community organizations, or churches,
they receive a hearty hometown welcome. It’s a tradition that is almost as
old as the festival itself,” comments
Festival Executive Director Dave
Fooks.
The Kutztown Festival features a
wide variety of good family fun. In addition to lots of Pennsylvania Dutch
food, there are 220 nationally-recognized, juried folk artists and traditional
American craftsmen; nearly 2,500 locally hand-made quilts on display and
for sale; Pennsylvania German living
history through numerous folklife programs, antiques and collectables, 6
stages of entertainment, music, dancing,
and a wide range of children’s activities.
The 2006 festival runs from July
1–9 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds.
Good old-fashioned fun and nonstop entertainment happens all day
A wonderful experience for children! Delightful baby farm
at the Kutztown Festival. We have continuous entertainment on 5
animals, puppets, make-and- take crafts, hay stacks and mazes,
stages everyday. Take part in an old-fashioned cake walk! Watch
story time, singalongs, and hands on fun. Sponsored by The
square dancing, catch a comedy show or enjoy the sounds of our
Morning Call
strolling Sauerkraut
Band. Our reenactment
of an actual 19th century
hanging has stunned
audiences for years. We
also show a Mennonite
wedding, early farming
techniques or you can
take part in an actual
country auction in our
pavilion. For those who
want to learn more about
the ways of the PA Dutch
we have seminars on
dialect, traditions and
other areas of interest of
PA Dutch life. Also new
this year, you can
experience the music and
stories of the ever
popular Ray Owen,
Visit America’s largest Quilt Sale. Over 2,500 traditional quilts,
Pennsylvania’s finest
handmade by local quilters. Experience the exciting quilt auction
entertainer!
of the top 24 prize winners on the second Saturday. Sponsored
by Byers’ Choice, Ltd.
Hours are 9a.m. to 6p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $10, seniors $9.
Children 12 and under are admitted
free. There is ample free parking and
free shuttle service is offered from the
Festival parking areas to the fairgrounds. For a free brochure, please
call 1-888/674-6136 or 610-683-1597.
Visit the Festival website at www.
kutztownfestival.com
Traditional crafts will be on display.
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE TO INHERIT KING PAPERS
A
collection of Martin Luther
King Jr.’s handwritten documents and books won’t be sold
at auction and instead will be given to
his alma mater, officials said Friday.
A coalition of businesses, individuals and philanthropic leaders led by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin bought
the collection from the King family for
an undisclosed amount, said Morehouse College President Walter
Massey. Franklin, did not immediately
respond to calls seeking comment
Martin Luther King Jr.’s invitations
to the inauguration of President John F.
Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon
Johnson are displayed at Sotheby’s in
New York, Wednesday, June 21, 2006,
during the auction preview of “The
Martin Luther King Collection.”
Sotheby’s is making a second attempt
to find a buyer for the collected papers
of Martin Luther King Jr. The historical
trove, worth an estimated $15 to $30
million, contains a recently discovered
version of the famous “Letter from
Birmingham Jail.” (AP Photo/Richard
Drew) (Richard Drew—AP)
The personal papers and books of
the civil rights leader were expected to
sell for $15 million to $30 million at
Sotheby’s auction house in New York
on June 30. Massey said the Atlanta
group offered more than that.
Massey said his historically black
college near downtown Atlanta would
acquire the collection, which historians
had called one of the greatest American archives of the 20th century in private hands.
“It really didn’t belong anywhere
else,” said Andrew Young, a lieutenant
of King’s during the civil rights movement, who became overcome with
emotion when discussing the deal Friday night.
The papers span 1946 to 1968, the
year King was assassinated. They include 7,000 handwritten items, including his early Alabama sermons and a
draft of his “I Have a Dream” speech,
which he delivered Aug. 28, 1963, at
the March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom.
Atlanta is King’s birthplace and
where his wife, Coretta Scott King,
raised their four children after his
death. It also is where she founded the
King Center for Nonviolent Social
Change and where King and his wife
are entombed.
“I can’t imagine a better home than
the home of Dr. King for this collection,” said Sotheby’s Vice Chairman
David Redden, who confirmed that the
auction would no longer take place.
“It was there for years, it’s going to
be there forever. I think that’s a mar-
velous conclusion to this extraordinary
process,” he said. “It guarantees that it
will be looked after properly and made
available to the public.”
Redden would not disclose the purchase price. The city was the sentimental
favorite in the bidding and was rumored
to have stiff competition from others
across the country, including the Library
of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution,
Duke University, and the Schomburg
Center for Research in Black Culture at
the New York Public Library.
Coretta Scott King’s death in January
was a catalyst for the sale because her
will calls for the liquidation of her estate.
For years, Sotheby’s auction house has
tried to sell the collection, but previous
negotiations with various institutions fell
through. “People have seen this as an
opportunity to step up and lay claim to
Martin Luther King’s nonviolent heritage as a part of Atlanta’s tradition,” said
Young, a former mayor of the city.
The 139-year-old Morehouse College stands as the largest private, liberal arts college in the country for men
with 2,800 students, and one of only
four all-male colleges in the U.S. The
school’s other famous alumni include
actor Samuel L. Jackson, former U.S.
Surgeon General David Satcher and
film director Spike Lee.
When responding to an ad,
tell them you saw it in The Metro Herald
THE METRO HERALD
VETERANS INCREASINGLY DECLARE
THEIR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
BY INVESTING IN FRANCHISES
V
eterans are increasingly declaring their financial independence
by purchasing franchised small businesses through the VetFran
program, reports the International Franchise Association, the
world’s oldest and largest trade association representing the sector.
Nearly 500 veterans in 45 states have purchased franchised small
businesses through the association’s Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, known as VetFran, and more than 120 are in various stages of negotiation. A list of participating companies is available on the association’s Web site, www.franchise.org, under “Franchising for Veterans.”
More than 200 franchise companies that are members of IFA participate in the program, which offers veterans a “best deal” through discounts or other incentives that are determined by each company. VetFran was recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs last
year with a Support Sector Champion Award for expanding business opportunities for veterans.
With 22 percent of the nation’s veterans either purchasing or starting
a new business or considering the possibilities, according to the U.S.
Small Business Administration, the increased veteran ownership rates in
franchising is not surprising, said IFA president Matthew Shay. “Many
veterans venturing into small-business ownership for the first time are
attracted to franchises for the advantages they offer, including a popular
brand name, structured business model and training and support, which
aren’t available to those who attempt to create a business from scratch.”
“Veterans are highly-desirable franchise owners because their military training instills in them a strong sense of discipline and an ability to
lead within a structured system, which carries over well to a franchised
business,” explained Shay. “The VetFran program provides the sector
with a way of attracting excellent candidates, while at the same time
honoring veterans for their service.”
IFA is the world’s oldest and largest trade group representing the
franchising sector. Its membership includes more than 1,000 franchisors, 8,000 franchisees and 400 suppliers.
5
AFRICA UPDATE
June 30, 2006
AU TO DISCUSS
DEMOCRACY
CHARTER
BLAIR PROMISES
NEW AFRICA FOCUS
PRIORITIES PROBLEM
Tony Blair and Bob Geldof
K
ofi Annan, Bob Geldof and
Nigeria’s President Obasanjo
are to sit on a panel set up to
track aid promises made to Africa,
Tony Blair has announced.
The UN secretary general will chair
the panel, being set up a year after G8
pledges and a popular campaign
pushed Africa up the international
agenda.
Backed by Bill Gates, the body will
monitor issues such as debt and trade.
The initiative would ensure promises made at the G8 summit at Gleneagles last year were kept, Mr. Blair said.
‘GOOD PROGRESS’
The British prime minister also
warned against Africa slipping down
the global priority list.
“There is an enormous amount of
work to do,” he said in a speech in
London. “I am under no illusions that
we set very ambitious goals for Gleneagles.
“We have made good progress but
it is going to take an enormous amount
of work in years to come to alleviate
poverty in Africa and tackle climate
change.”
Aiming to “maintain the international political profile of Africa
achieved in 2005”, the Africa Progress
Panel will produce an annual report for
the G8, UN and the Africa Partnership
Forum - an existing body tasked with
monitoring progress in the continent.
KEY G8 AFRICA PLEDGES
The panel’s members are still being
finalized, but among them will be
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo
and Peter Eigen, the founder of the
global anti-corruption watchdog
Transparency International.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates will
help fund the panel.
Mr. Eigen told the BBC it was important for the panel to have an independent voice and added that more
joint efforts between African leaders
and those in developed countries were
needed.
He highlighted the importance of
good governance in helping development. Certain sectors, including petrol
and mining firms, were increasingly
concerned about the levels of transparency in their African investments,
he said.
Although Mr. Blair is convening
the panel, Downing Street is stressing
its independence. The new panel’s
focus will be tracking progress on
promises made at last year’s G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.
The meeting was lobbied by a high
profile “Make Poverty History” drive,
which included the Live8 concert run
by campaigner and musician Mr.
Geldof.
“These issues were not high up the
political agenda, in the UK, let alone
internationally. Now they are,” Mr.
Blair said.
Mr. Blair said there was a huge leap
in international aid last year but acknowledged that this had much to do
with debt cancellation for Nigeria and
Iraq—and accepted that maintaining
aid remained a challenge.
Mr. Blair also said his main disappointment at the last G8 was that there
wasn’t more progress on trade reform.
Oxfam director Barbara Stocking
welcomed the new panel as a “serious
and credible international task force”.
“The key thing now is to ensure
that the membership reflects the geographical spread and expertise needed
to deliver on every one of G8’s commitments,” she said.
But not all non-governmental organizations have been so positive. “We
are tired of world leaders heaping
praise on. Make Poverty History while
simultaneously stabbing us in the back
by breaking their promises,” said Peter
Hardstaff, head of policy at the World
Development Movement.
“We have seen numerous panels
and monitoring bodies in the past.
None of them have made the G8 any
more likely to keep their promises,” he
added.
SOMALI ISLAMIST CONDEMNS ETHIOPIA
groups and both the United States and
Ethiopia have been alarmed by the Islamic courts capture of the Somali
capital, Mogadishu, and other towns.
He denies the charges but the US
has said it will not deal with him.
The US House of Representatives is
due to discuss what it calls “The Expanding Crisis in the Horn of Africa”
later on Thursday.
Mr. Aweys’ latest comments are
likely to further heighten tensions.
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys
O
ne of the leaders of the Islamist group that has taken
control much of southern
Somalia has accused Ethiopia of “occupying” Somali territory.
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys
called for talks on Ethiopia’s Ogaden
region, inhabited by ethnic Somalis.
His accusation comes after Ethiopia
tightened security along the Somali
border, following the advance of the
Supreme Islamic Courts’ Council.
Mr. Aweys fought in the two countries’ war for the region in the 1970s.
Ethiopia also played a key role in
defeating his Islamist militia al-Itihaad al-Islamiya in the 1990s.
Mr. Aweys is on a US list of people allegedly linked to terrorist
6
ARMS EMBARGO
“Ethiopia mistreats the Somalis
under their administration. The land
was given to them by colonialists and
we will seek justice to resolve the crisis that is dividing the two countries,”
Mr. Aweys told the AFP news agency.
“We are ready to negotiate,” he said.
The Islamists have accused
Ethiopia of sending troops into Somalia in support of the weak interim
government, based in Baidoa, 200km
from Mogadishu.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi denies these accusations that
Ethiopia had sent troops into Somalia.
“We have beefed up our defences
all along the border to prevent any
threat to our security that might emanate from the resurgent Jihadists in
Mogadishu,” he said.
Ethiopia helped Somalia’s now interim president, Abdullahi Yusuf, defeat al-Itihaad in the 1990s.
Last week, Mr. Awey’s Somali
Supreme Islamic Courts Council and
the largely toothless interim government agreed not to fight each other.
The recent advances of the Islamists have renewed fears of major
conflict in Somalia, which has not
had an effective national government
for 15 years.
Meanwhile, the African Union is
to ask the United Nations Security
Council to partially lift its arms embargo on Somalia to allow for an
African peacekeeping mission to go
there.
“Whilst we support the arms embargo, the peace support mission
should not be affected by this embargo,” South Africa’s foreign minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said
after a meeting of the AU’s Peace and
Security Council.
“The transitional government
must be able to build its institutions
like the police and so on,” she said.
Somalia’s president is in favor of
the deployment of peacekeepers, but
the Islamists strongly oppose the
move.
Yahya Jammeh
A
frican Union foreign ministers
meeting in the Gambian capital, Banjul, are to discuss proposals for a charter on democracy and
governance.
The charter would aim to make it
easier for power to change hands
through the ballot box, but a BBC correspondent says some clauses are contentious. Several leaders have tried to
overturn constitutional bans on presidents serving more than two terms in
office. The AU is already supposed to
suspend governments which take
power by arms.
A final version is expected to be put
to African heads of state at their annual
summit meeting this weekend.
The BBC’s Elizabeth Blunt says the
proposed charter is a strongly worded
document, considering the personal
histories of some of the men who will
be asked to approve it.
The host of this meeting, Gambian
President Yahya Jammeh, like several
of his peers, is a former soldier and
coup-maker who later legitimized his
rule through an electoral process.
The most senior of the AU leaders,
Omar Bongo, has been president of
Gabon since before many of the partic-
ipants in this summit were even born.
If adopted, the new charter would condemn any unconstitutional change of
power, as well as any refusal to accept
defeat and hand over power after losing an election.
This much, as well as the threat of
suspension from the Union for offending governments, seems likely to be
accepted by the summit.
The attempt last year by the young
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe
to step into his dead father’s shoes
without an election was greeted with
general disapproval across the continent and he was ostracized in just the
way proposed in the new charter.
President Faure stepped down after
being proclaimed president but won
disputed elections shortly afterwards.
More contentious has been a clause
condemning attempts to change the
constitution in order to stay indefinitely in power.
This is a live issue in several countries, including Uganda, and Nigeria,
where heads of state have changed or
have shown signs of wanting to change
their constitutions to extend the presidential term.
The proposed charter has strong
support from the head of the African
Union commission, Alpha Omar
Konare, who in his opening address to
the meeting, called for clear political
engagement to bring this charter into
force.
UGANDA: SECURITY IN NORTH
IMPROVED, BUT CHILD PROTECTION
STILL AN ISSUE—UNICEF
D
espite improved security in northern Uganda, fear and deprivation
continue to plague children in the region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) announced in a report on Friday.
According to Unicef’s latest report on the humanitarian crisis in Uganda,
better security had allowed some displaced families to move from large
camps to smaller settlements closer to their homes, and some 30,000 people
in Lira District to return to their villages. However, the 20-year insurgency by
the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) still deprives the local population—
mostly children and women—of “their rights to access basic healthcare, safe
water, education, protection and shelter,” the report said.
Since 1988, when the LRA took over leadership of two-year-old rebellion
against the Ugandan government, it has terrorized the civilian population by
abducting boys and girls into a life of violence, forced combat and servitude.
“Many abducted girls are allocated to officers in a form of institutional rape,”
the report said. “Of an estimated 25,000 children (7,500 girls) abducted by the
LRA since the start of the conflict, some 1,000 are ‘child mothers’ who conceived children of their own while in captivity.”
The conflict is concentrated in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Lira
and Apac, where close to two million people live in 200 camps, relying heavily on humanitarian assistance to survive. The report said that in March, more
than 13,000 children, or “night commuters”, in Gulu, Kitgum and Kalongo
districts trekked daily from their homes to the relative safety of urban centers.
Other factors made daily life a misery for the region’s children, including inadequate accommodation; lack of water and sanitation facilities; absence of
caregivers; abuse and dysfunction. “Children in more stable family situations
were less likely to ‘commute’,” according to Unicef.
On average, the night commuters walked 3kms, although some walked as
many as 8kms each way. While the number of night commuters had decreased in
March, the agency reiterated that phasing out
support for these children could only occur in
the context of improved
security. The report also
catalogued at least 12 instances of abduction
during March in Lalogi
sub-county, Koch Goma
sub-county, and Bobi
sub-county, all in Gulu
District.
THE METRO HERALD
AFRICA UPDATE
June 30, 2006
AU DARFUR MISSION
‘TO END SOON’
LRA VICTIM:
‘I CANNOT FORGET
AND FORGIVE’
THE 7,000-STRONG
AU FORCE IS HAMPERED
BY LACK OF FUNDS
F
T
he African Union has insisted
its peacekeeping mission in
Sudan’s Darfur region will end
in three months’ time. The peacekeepers will leave by the end of September
even if there is no agreement on replacing it with a United Nations force,
an AU meeting agreed.
Sudan is vehemently against this
move, but UN boss Kofi Annan hopes
to change their mind at this weekend’s
AU summit. South Africa’s foreign
minister said the AU did not have the
money to continue even if it wanted to.
For us that mandate should end and the
UN should be the one who takes over.
WHAT SHOULD THE
AU DECIDE?
But the UN head of peacekeeping,
Jean-Marie Guehenno, says the UN is
committed to bolstering the AU mission.
The 7,000-strong AU force in Darfur operates with the approval of the
Sudanese government, but has been
hampered by a lack of funding and resources.
Conflict in Darfur between rebels
and pro-government forces has killed
at least 200,000 people in three years it
is estimated.
NO FUNDS
“Whatever happens our mandate
ends on 30 September unless there are
new developments in the discussions
between the Sudan and the UN,” said
South Africa’s Foreign Minister
Nkosazana Dlaminini Zuma South
Africa’s foreign minister
Nkosazana Dlaminini Zuma, who
chaired an AU Peace and Security
Council meeting on the subject. “For
us that mandate should end and the UN
should be the one who takes over.”
The meeting took place ahead of an
AU heads of state summit in The Gambia. In a separate move, the head of UN
peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno has
said the UN will strengthen its support
for the AU Darfur mission. But, he gave
no details. “We believe that the United
Nations can help the African mission,”
he told reporters at the UN after returning from an assessment mission in
Sudan. “We did not get any objection
from the government of Sudan so we are
going to work in earnest on that.” If
Sudan gave its consent, he said, a UN
force the size of a division—thought to
be about 17,000 troops—should be deployed in January next year.
A recent AU-brokered peace deal
has failed to end the violence in Darfur, where more than 2m people have
fled their homes.
KENYAN TRAFFICKER GETS 30 YEARS
A
Kenyan man has been sentenced to 30 years in jail in the capital,
Nairobi, for his part in one of Africa’s biggest cocaine trafficking operations.
A court in Nairobi found David Mugo Kiragu guilty. Five other suspects,
including two Italians, were acquitted.
The 18-month trial has been marred by controversy with allegations of
corruption and tampering of evidence. It followed the seizure by Kenyan authorities of 1.1 metric tons of cocaine worth more than $88m in 2004. Kenya
is still seeking the extradition of a man, Mr. Kiragu’s brother, they believe to
be the prime suspect who is serving a jail term in the Netherlands.
This country is now described as a major center for drug trafficking and
this has created a bad image and name for residents
The drug haul was destroyed in a very public display back in February to
dispel fears that it had been sold. More than 950 sachets of cocaine were
burnt in front of journalists, diplomats, members of the judiciary and the suspects arrested for trafficking the shipments.
“This country is now described as a major center for drug trafficking and
this has created a
bad image and
name for residents of this
country,” Chief
Magistrate Aggrey Muchelule
said when pronouncing sentence, AFP news
agency reports.
The BBC’s
Karen Allen in
Nairobi
says
poverty, corruption and geography all conspire
to make Kenya
an
attractive
transit and storage point for
drugs.
THE METRO HERALD
ollowing recent comments from
Lord’s Resistance Army rebel
leader Joseph Kony in which he
denied committing atrocities, Ugandan
Ochola John, 25, responds by telling
his story. He was abducted by rebels
from his village, Namkora in northern
Uganda, which was attacked in February 2002. During the attack 50 people
were axed to death and he was one of
35 abductees.
I wish I could be born again. It
hurts me to see my reflection because
of the way I now look. The memories
of it all are so painful.
It was in the night when I saw a
number of torches flash at me. I was
commanded to lie down facing the
ground. As I did so, the rebels began
raiding other houses around me.
They arrested many—tying, and
lying the victims on the ground in three
lines. People were screaming from all
corners of our village.
Two men were tied and forced onto
the ground where their heads were
joined together. The rebels tried to
force me to pick up a log and hit their
heads but I refused so one came for me
with a knife and cut off my left ear. He
accused me of being a government soldier and said that I would be finished
off if I failed to smash their heads.
But then, they started smashing the
people’s heads themselves. I was put in
the middle as they smashed the people’s heads.
Kony breaks his silence
ABDUCTED
At about 0700 in the morning, they
led 35 of us into the bush. About five
kms (approximately three miles) from
the scene they began taunting me, saying that I was big-headed, and because
I refused to respect them I would be
cooked alive.
They kept on beating us and they
denied food or water from us. We complained saying we were hungry and
thirsty. They stopped raping the
women that were in our group and
acted as though they were going to let
us eat and drink. The ladies were
forced to boil water in a big can.
Shortly after this they announced
that we would eat the government soldier—supposedly, me.
For a long time, the rebels took
turns at beating us men with hot metal,
and raping the girls. I was already
spiritually dead.
They returned to me at some point
and re-tied me before chopping off my
lips. They then cut off my right ear and
my nose. Some time later their commander Joseph Kony phoned, telling
them to leave the place immediately.
We were then relocated about 15km
further into the bush.
BAD OMEN
I was bleeding. I could not cry anymore and for two days I couldn’t drink
water.
The rebels debated for two days
whether or not I was to be killed. They
told me I was a bad omen and so must
suffer. My wounds had begun to rot.
The smell was so bad. But still they refused me any treatment. Then on the
seventh day, because I never expected
to live, I insulted their commander in
the hope that in revenge he would kill
me. He just ordered his soldiers to cut
off my hands. They did.
Ochola John and his wife called their baby boy Anywar, which in their Luo language
means an insult or an abuse
That evening I remember seeing
my fellow female abductees crying.
One of them had been killed and another had had her breast cut off.
I don’t know how but by what I
think was the eleventh day of being
abducted I was still living.
HELPLESS
The rebels kept telling me that I
would soon be dead. They picked out
two of the starving, tired girls that
could hardly even walk from being repeatedly raped and ordered them to
take me home.
The three of us were helpless. The
girls were crying, inconsolably, when
some government soldiers found us
following a further night spent out in
the open.
They took us straight to the nearest
hospital where we received treatment.
On reaching hospital, my wife came to
see me with my parents, relatives and
friends.
They found it hard to see me as a
human being. I was rotting, smelly and
deformed.
TIME
My wife could not find words to
speak to me. She just felt very sick.
My thoughts were filled with bitterness. I hated life and wished that I had
just been killed. All I wanted was to
commit suicide and die.
My wife started taking care of me
in the hospital. I had asked her to leave
me alone, explaining that because I
was deformed, I couldn’t be her husband anymore. She refused. Over and
over she rejected my request, saying
that the baby she was carrying for us,
the child we were expecting, needed a
father. She kept saying that I hadn’t
asked to be deformed like that and
someday God would let me know why
I had been put through such an ordeal.
My wife, Grace, with time helped
to suppress my terrible feelings and
thoughts. When our baby boy was
born, I named him Anywar, which in
our Luo language means an insult or an
abuse. I named him so because of
what the Lord’s Resistance Army
leader, Joseph Kony, did to me.
I try, but I cannot forgive, and I cannot forget.
FACTOID
The first official
Fourth of July
celebration,
as affirmed by
a legislative act,
occurred in
Massachusetts
in 1781.
By the mid 1800s,
it became a
United States
custom to
commemorate
Independence Day
in states and
territories.
7
CAPITAL COMMENTS
June 30, 2006
WEBB CAMPAIGN BLASTS
ALLEN CAMPAIGN FOR
“WEAK-KNEED ATTACKS”
AGAINST MEN AND WOMEN
IN UNIFORM
T
he campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Webb today called
the attacks on Webb’s patriotism
by Allen’s campaign, “weak-kneed attacks by cowards” and demanded that
Allen and his campaign apologize.
“George Felix Allen Jr. and his
bush-league lapdog, Dick Wadhams,
have not earned the right to challenge
Jim Webb’s position on free speech
and flag burning. Jim Webb served
and fought for our flag and what it
stands for, while George Felix Allen Jr.
chose to cut and run. When he and his
disrespectful campaign puppets attack
Jim Webb they are attacking every man
and woman who served. Their comments are nothing more than weakkneed attacks by cowards. George
Felix Allen Jr. needs to apologize to
Jim Webb and to all men and women
who have served our nation,” Webb
spokesman Steve Jarding said.
On Tuesday, George Felix Allen Jr.
and his campaign issued a press release
in which the Allen campaign, through
Wadhams, implied that Webb’s position in support of the Free Speech
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
amounted to a political act and not a
defense of our Constitution, which
Webb fought for and for which he was
highly decorated. George Felix Allen
Jr. did not serve.
“I believe it is precisely because of
bush-league attacks like this that John
Zogby, a highly respected, independent
polling expert just this week said that
Dick Wadhams is not fit to serve as a
campaign manager and that George
FEDER DECLARES
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
A
s Americans prepare to celebrate our country’s independence, we look to the great battles of the past and the lessons they
teach us for the future. Our forefathers fought for independence from a
foreign power and for independence
from unfair taxes. 10th District congressional candidate Judy Feder is
using this important and patriotic holiday to call for another kind of independence for Americans—energy independence.
“Two-hundred and thirty years ago,
brave Americans dared to declare their
independence to build a stronger future
for their children.” Feder said, “Today,
building a stronger future for our children means declaring independence
from profiteering oil and gas compa-
$75,000 GRANT AWARDED
TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD
ALLIANCE, INC. FOR
SERVICE TO HOMELESS
S
enator George Allen (R-VA)
today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded a
grant of $75,000 to The Good Shepherd Alliance Incorporated (GSA), for
their “Career Advancement Now!”
(CAN) project which seeks to improve
the earning potential of Loudoun
County’s homeless population.
“I am so pleased that these folks are
receiving this funding. Providing
training in the skills necessary to sustain themselves is truly an invaluable
benefit to the homeless,” said Senator
Allen. “This project is of vital impor-
8
Allen should find a new manager,”
Jarding said.
“While Jim Webb and others of
George Felix Allen Jr.’s generation were
fighting for our freedoms and for our
symbols of freedom in Vietnam, George
Felix Allen Jr. was playing cowboy at a
dude ranch in Nevada. People who
live in glass dude ranches should not
question the patriotism of real soldiers
who fought and bled for this country on
a real battlefield,” Jarding said.
“Is Dick Wadhams willing to publicly say that Colin Powell, John Glenn
and Bob Kerrey are unpatriotic for
having the same position on the flag
burning amendment that Jim Webb
has? Ask him,” Jarding said.
Jarding continued, “The following
is why George Felix Allen Jr. has not
earned the right to challenge Jim Webb
in his support of our Constitution and
its free speech provisions:
• Jim Webb was first in this class of
243 at the Marine Corps Officer’s
Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.
• Jim Webb served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam, where as
a rifle platoon and company commander in the infamous An Hoa
Basin west of Danang.
• Jim Webb was awarded the Navy
Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two
Bronze Star Medals and two Purple
Hearts while fighting in Vietnam.
• Jim Webb served as a platoon commander and as an instructor in tactics and weapons at Marine Corps
Officer Candidates School.
• Jim Webb served in the US Congress as counsel to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs from
1977 to 1981, becoming the first
Vietnam veteran to serve as a full
committee counsel in the Congress.
• In 1982, Jim
Webb first proposed, then led
the fight for including
an
African American soldier in
the memorial
statue that now
graces the Vietnam Veterans Jim Webb
memorial on the National Mall.
• In 1984, Jim Webb was appointed
the inaugural Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Reserve Affairs, where
he traveled extensively in, and
worked closely with, our NATO allies. As Assistant Secretary, Webb
directed considerable research and
analysis of the U.S. military’s mobilization capabilities.
• In 1987, Jim Webb was appointed
Secretary of the Navy becoming the
first Naval Academy graduate in
history to serve in the military and
be appointed Secretary of the Navy.
• In addition to his wartime medals,
Jim Webb has been awarded the
following medals and citations:
—The Department of Defense distinguished Public Service Medal
—The Medal of Honor Society’s
Patriot Award
—The American Legion National
Commander’s Public Service
Award
—The VFW’s Media Service
Award
—The Marine Corps League’s Military Order of the Iron Mike
Award
—The John Russell Leadership
Award
—The Robert L. Denig Distinguished Service Award.
nies. We must free ourselves for the
sake of our economy, our security, and
our health.”
“Frank Wolf and George Bush have
had many chances to break oil’s stranglehold on our economy and on our
wallets, but they instead have accepted
large contributions from oil companies
and supported giveaways to the industry totaling billions,” said Feder. “It is
time for us to declare our independence from gasoline and oil corporations who are making record profits on
the backs of consumers like you and
me.”
Feder outlined the cost our “addiction to oil” has on our community. “We
don’t just pay for it when we empty our
wallets to fill up our tanks,” she noted,
“As many families are all too aware,
we pay for it when we send our young
men and women to fight in Iraq or intervene in other unstable oil states.
And we pay for it
when air pollution
reaches levels that
health authorities
warn are dangerously high, as they
did twice last
week.”
As Feder explains, the first step
to energy inde- Judy Feder
pendence is to end giveaways to oil
companies, which could save taxpayers well over $48 billion. Savings
should be invested in improving efficiency, bringing alternative fuels to
market, and encouraging smart growth
that links land use and transportation
planning. Feder would also take steps
to increase the supply of hybrid cars
and E85 ethanol, an alternative fuel
that can power many cars already on
the road.
tance to the homeless in Northern Virginia and I’m glad that they will be
able to continue offering their services
to enable these individuals to get back
on their feet again.”
The Good Shepherd Alliance manages homeless shelters throughout
Loudoun County. The project guides
clients from the moment of intake all
the way through self-sufficiency in a
maximum of 89 days, and expects to
enroll at least 50 new clients in the
CAN program within the next 18
months. They estimate the average
wage will be up to $9.85 an hour for
the work performed within the program. 50 percent of the new enrollees
(25 clients) will be encouraged to obtain a GED and 100 percent of the new
enrollees (all 50
clients) will be
encouraged and
assisted to enter
skills training,
apprenticeships,
or higher education as a part of
the
program.
Services include
post-job place- Sen. George Allen
ment mentoring (R-VA)
and educational/
skills advancement.
For further information, contact
Ms. Joyce Trickett at The Good Shepherd Alliance, Inc. via phone: (703)
433-2631 or email: joygoodshepherd
@bigplanet.com.
IKE IS ENDORSED BY
SIERRA CLUB AND BY THE
FIREFIGHTERS!
T
he Sierra Club, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
protect and restore the quality
of the natural and human environment,
endorses Ike Leggett for County Executive. Leggett’s record and his platform on balanced growth for Montgomery
County
and
his
consensus-building approach to county
issues are major factors in our consideration for endorsement.
Ike is an experienced and strong
leader, a listener, a consensus builder
and truly dedicated to working for the
best interests for all of Montgomery
County. Ike stood up to Big Tobacco
on behalf of our health when as a
County Council member he championed smoke-free restaurants.
Ike championed protection of our
water through institution of a dedicated
revenue source for storm water management and led the effort to establish
a county recycling program. He was
instrumental in creating the offices of
the Inspector General and the People’s
Counsel, both of which have been
helpful in protecting the county’s environmental resources.
Ike understands the importance of
developing ways to live in a more sustainable fashion while living well as
our county’s population grows. He is a
strong proponent of mass transit and
believes it is the most effective means
of improving transportation in the capital region. We are counting on his consensus building skills to resolve outstanding issues with the Purple Line so
that it can move forward along with an
attractive bike and pedestrian trail.
“Because his campaign is broadly
financed and not dependent on large
contributions from developers, he is
best equipped to put citizen issues such
as children’s education, health, air
quality, and protection of our agricultural lands and
parks ahead of special interests. In
short, the Sierra
Club believes that
Ike Leggett is the
one Montgomery Ike Leggett
County needs to lead it into the challenging days ahead,” said Anne Ambler, Chair of the county’s group of the
Sierra Club.
“I am honored to receive the Sierra
Club’s endorsement,” Leggett commented when told about the endorsement. “I believe that the Sierra Club’s
endorsement is the good housekeeper
seal of approval for leadership that is
responsive to smart growth and protecting our fragile environment; it
speaks volumes about the choices in
this important election.”
Also, the Montgomery County Career Fighters announced its endorsement for Ike Leggett for County Executive in the 2006 primary and general
elections.
The Montgomery County Career
fire Fighters Association represents
over 1000 career fire fighters and paramedics who proudly serve the citizens
of Montgomery County.
“Ike Leggett is the right man at the
right time to serve the citizens of
Montgomery County. Ike is a man of
strong integrity and has the unique
ability to reach out and unite all of the
people regardless of our differences.
He has a deep appreciation and understanding of the difficulties that fire
fighters and paramedics face while
risking their lives 24 hours a day 7
days a week for the citizens of Montgomery County,” says John J. Sparks,
president of Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1664.
IRAQI GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT
GIVE AMNESTY TO TERRORISTS
C
ongressman Harold Ford, Jr. voted against a Republican-sponsored resolution supporting an Iraqi government that is considering granting amnesty to terrorists
who attack U.S. troops.
In a statement, Ford said: “Our troops deserve our full
support and our prayers. They also deserve a strategy that
works. Unfortunately, this resolution is nothing more than a
gimmick. It fails to recognize that ‘stay the course’ is not Congressman
working and that amnesty for terrorists is unforgivable. I sup- Harold Frod, Jr.
port our troops and our goals in Iraq. But I will not support a
resolution praising a government that wants to grant amnesty to terrorists fighting our troops. There is only one option for such people: we should hunt them
down and punish them. Amnesty is not an option.”
NEWARK TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR
CORY BOOKER AFTER GANG THREAT
N
ewark Police today started providing around the clock
protection to mayor-elect Cory Booker. This comes
after reports that some gang members may be planning to kill him. They are allegedly concerned about a crackdown on drug sales when Booker takes office.
Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said a gang-related threat came from an informant at the county jail.
Fontoura: “It came from the Bloods. They’re relatively Mayor-Elect
young punks who like to boast and talk out loud. . . . They’re Cory Booker
not to be taken lightly.”
Booker responded to the threats in a statement by saying, “I will not be intimidated or deterred. . . . I remain steadfast and focused to ensure the safety of every
person in the city.”
After the threat was discovered, the sheriff’s department, the county prosecutor’s office and state police provided the mayor-elect with security.
Visit us on the web at www.metroherald.com
THE METRO HERALD
CAPITAL COMMENTS
June 30, 2006
REID CALLS FOR
ATTENTION TO VOTING
RIGHTS ACT
B
arely a month after a bipartisan
and bicameral press conference
on the steps of the United
States Congress to announce plans to
reauthorize the Voting Rights Act, that
vital legislation now appears stalled in
both the House and Senate. Urging the
Senate to keep its commitment to such
an important safeguard of Americans’
civil rights, Senate Democratic Leader
Harry Reid today delivered the following speech on the floor of the U.S.
Senate.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT
OF SENATOR REID’S REMARKS,
AS PREPARED:
Mr. President, as you know,
through these doors to my left is a
beautiful room. We call it the President’s Room, or the Red Room. We
call it the President’s Room because
for many, many decades this was the
place where the Presidents came to
sign legislation. During the past century, the 20th Century, it wasn’t used
often at all. Rarely was it used for a
President to come and sign legislation,
but on August 6, 1965 it was used.
The last time the Red Room—the
President’s Room—was used for signing a bill into law was on that date in
the hot summer of 1965. It had been a
very hot summer. The reason President
Lyndon Johnson came to the Capitol to
sign a bill here rather than the White
House was because he was signing the
Voting Rights Act.
For the reason I say it was a very
hot summer—it had been a hot couple
of years—I would direct everyone’s attention to a wonderful book written by
Taylor Branch. It’s a relatively new
book published recently called “At
Canaan’s Edge”. This book tells many
stories, but one is how the Voting
Rights Act became law. People sacri-
KEY RACE:
MARYLAND GOVERNOR
M
ontgomery County Executive and Democratic candidate Doug Duncan decided
to drop out of the governor’s race, due
in part to a recent diagnosis of clinical
depression.
Duncan says he’s been struggling
for more than a year with the disease.
He thought he was suffering from campaign-related stress, but says “this is
more than the usual stress of campaigning.”
Duncan says his family has a history of fighting the disease. He says the
decision to leave the race was the right
one for him and h is family and he
needs to focus on his health.
His decision solidifies the already
likely nomination of Baltimore Mayor
Martin O’Malley in the September 12
Democratic primary. O’Malley has also
gained an advantage in not having to
spend campaign funds to fend off Duncan, whose poll numbers had recently
ficed their lives to allow this movement to move forward and ultimately
to have this legislation passed.
Mr. President, if we look back historically, the Voting Rights Act of 1965
is one of the most significant pieces of
legislation ever passed by Congress. It
brought America forward 100 years
after the Civil War and gave African
Americans the right to vote.
Previously, counties in the South
that were virtually all African American had no voters. The Voting Rights
Act changed that. Lives were lost, and
many, many people were injured—seriously injured—in an attempt to secure
the basic right of voting in America.
Why do I bring this to the Senate’s
attention today?
In early May, I joined Senator Frist,
the House leaders, the chairmen and
ranking members of the Judiciary
Committees in both bodies and civil
rights leaders to announce our support
for the reauthorization of the Voting
Rights Act.
We stood together that day on the
steps of the Capitol to announce the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of that
bill.
The moment held great promise for
the Congress and for the nation.
It showed that leaders of both parties recognized that protecting the right
to vote is not a partisan issue – it is an
American issue and one we would join
together to support without qualification.
While finding common ground
seems increasingly beyond our reach
on many of the debates here, our joint
support for the Voting Rights Act stood
as a sign that we could still readily join
together to protect the rights upon
which this nation was founded.
In the weeks that followed, some
progress was made in moving the bill
forward in the House and the Senate.
An exhaustive record was built in
both Chambers demonstrating without
question
the
continued need
for
Voting
Rights Act protections.
But of late,
that progress has
stalled.
Last week,
House leaders
failed to follow Sen. Harry Reid
through on their (D-NV)
commitment to move reauthorization
through that body. It is now not clear
when the House will act. We certainly
urge them to do so as quickly as possible.
That is the commitment they made
in May and the American people will
hold them to it.
But here in the Senate, we need not
wait for the House.
I understand that the Senate Judiciary Committee will complete a
markup of this important legislation in
July. The original timetable for that
consideration was May.
I also understand that the Majority
Leader, has committed to move this
legislation on the floor in July. That
schedule should not be permitted to
slip further.
I agree with the Majority Leader
that Voting Rights Act reauthorization
must be our priority in this next work
period if we are to live up to the commitment we made upon introduction of
this bill.
I stand ready to work with him to
accomplish its swift enactment.And
we won’t stand alone on the Senate
floor our pursuit of that goal. Over 40
Senators—Republicans and Democrats—have signed on as cosponsors of
this legislation.
Together, we can fulfill the commitment we made together in May to
support the voting rights of all Americans without equivocation by calling
this bill up in July and moving forward
with its swift passage.
been up despite his underdog status.
The change will also mean that Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich can
spend the coming months targeting his
negative campaigns toward O’Malley
alone. One such attack could come out
of recent U.S. Census Bureau numbers
that show that Baltimore’s population
is shrinking at a rate of 500 residents
per month. O’Malley has recently appealed the figure in order to preemptively stop any criticisms of his ability
to expand city growth.
Ehrlich released his first TV ad on
June 21, citing his conservation efforts,
tax cuts, and stem cell research funding. The folksy piece has caused a stir
among some viewers, including stem
cell research supporters and environmental organizations, who say that
many of his alleged achievements are
questionable at best.
Baltimore Gas and Electric rates
may become a defining issue in this
election as many Marylanders face a 72
percent increase in their electric bills.
In a dual effort to appease angry voters
and to increase
their poll numbers,
Democratic candidates Martin O’Malley and Doug
Duncan testified
before a joint legislative committee
on June 13, advocating a rate-relief
plan that would Martin O’Malley
ease energy costs for consumers.
Incumbent Robert Ehrlich was absent from the hearing, denouncing the
plan as likely to destabilize energy regulation and potentially cause blackouts. Ehrlich has established himself as
a pro-business candidate who has allied himself repeatedly with BGE and
the Public Service Commission. Last
month, President Bush voiced his support for Ehrlich at a fundraiser, bringing a welcome $1 million boost to the
Republican’s campaign.
The governor was expected to
make official his bid for re-election on
June 28.
UNITED WE
STAND
THE METRO HERALD
EMERGENCY BILL
INCLUDES DARFUR MONEY
by Donna de la Cruz—AP
T
he Senate recently allocated
$60 million toward launching a
U.N. peacekeeping mission in
the Darfur region of Sudan.
The money to help stem the brutality and chaos in Darfur is part of the
$94.5 billion emergency spending bill
to fund the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and aid to Gulf Coast hurricane victims. President Bush has said
he will sign it into law.
The Darfur money was included in
an amendment sponsored by Sen.
Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and cosponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, DIll., and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.
To pay for the proposed peacekeeping
mission, funding for a huge U.S. embassy project in Baghdad was cut.
Menendez said he hoped a U.N.
peacekeeping mission would bring
peace and stability to the region. In
2004, Congress enacted a measure to
stop trade and separately approved a
resolution declaring that the atrocities
in western Sudan were acts of
genocide.
“Genocide has no political affiliation, and today both Democrats and
Republicans in the U.S. Senate and
House of Representatives stood together in unity to reject the atrocities
that have beset those in the Sudan,”
Menendez said.
Fighting began in February 2003
when rebels from black African tribes
took up arms, complaining of discrimination and oppression by Sudan’s
Arab-dominated government.
The government has been accused
of unleashing Arab tribal militias
against civilians in a campaign of murder, rape and arson. At least 180,000
people have died—many from hunger
and disease. More
than 2 million have
fled their homes,
many to neighboring
countries
where stability has
been threatened by
Darfur’s chaos.
President Bush
has called for the
United Nations to Senator
Barack Obama
take over peacekeeping in Darfur. But the United
States has run into strong resistance in
its bid for a Security Council resolution giving the U.N. immediate control
over peacekeepers.
Objections from China, Russia and
several African nations have forced the
United States to strip out much of the
most powerful language of the draft,
possibly delaying the deployment of
U.N. peacekeepers in the troubled Sudanese region.
And tribal leaders have rejected the
possibility of U.N. peacekeepers replacing African Union forces in Darfur.
Obama called the additional funding a step in the right direction but said
more work is needed to end the violence.
“My hope is that as we go forward,
the administration and other nations
will work together to push the Sudanese to admit a United Nations
peacekeeping force,” Obama said.
A U.N. Security Council delegation
earlier this week wrapped up its Africa
trip with a sense of urgency for finding
ways to end the conflict. Members
were warned during their final stop in
Congo that all of central Africa could
be destabilized by the fighting in
Darfur.
“The situation is simple: if we don’t
act, people will die,” said Brownback,
one of the Senate’s leading figures on
Darfur.
BUSH ADMINSTRATION URGED TO AID
IN DISASTER RELIEF FROM RECENT
RECORD-BREAKING RAINS
A
ll 10 members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation today released a letter to
President Bush urging him and members of his Administration to marshal
the federal resources necessary to aid
Maryland communities hard hit from
this past week’s record-breaking
rains. The text of the letter signed
by Senators Paul S. Sarbanes, Barbara Mikulski, and Representatives
Wayne Gilchrest, Dutch Ruppersberger, Ben Cardin, Al Wynn, Steny
Hoyer, Roscoe Bartlett, Elijah Cummings, and Chris Van Hollen
follows:
June 29, 2006
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
During this week’s storm system
that battered the Mid-Atlantic region, torrential downpours caused
extensive flooding and damage to
communities throughout Maryland,
and claimed at least four lives. The
National Hydrometeorological Prediction Center estimated that some of
these communities received record
levels of rain. Homes and public fa-
cilities have been damaged, businesses have been seriously impacted,
farmers have experienced extensive
crop and livestock losses, and critical
roads, bridges and dams have been
significantly impaired. County officials have ordered more than 2,200
people to evacuate their homes due
to flooding.
State emergency officials are currently in the process of assessing the
damage to these communities, and
are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine their eligibility for a Federal
disaster declaration. In the meantime, we urge you to immediately
send representatives and release
funding from the various Federal
agencies that have programs that do
not require such a declaration in
order to help address the damage incurred by these recent storms, remove debris, and prevent future
damage to these vulnerable communities. These include, but are not
limited to, the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Small Business Administration.
We hope that you will give this
request prompt and favorable attention, so that we may provide immediate assistance to these communities. Thank you for your attention to
this important matter.
9
INSIGHTS & VIEWPOINTS
June 30, 2006
OP-ED
T
oday’s children grow up
watching their parents try to
keep up with the latest trends.
Instead of looking like normal moms,
you see more and more mothers who
would rather look like their daughters.
It’s no wonder that teens themselves
start growing up much faster. Unlike
their parents, however, today’s kids
strive to look and feel older. They
strive to behave like adults at increasingly younger ages. The trend not
only leaves adults shaking their heads
in disbelief, it also can be confusing to
children and rob them of their precious
childhoods.
“Kids are growing up too fast and
forgetting to be kids,” says Nicole
Rocheleau, author of the new book
Ollie Ollie in Come Free! (Pub-
OP-ED
There can be no greater
tragedy than to forget one’s
origin and finish despised
and hated by the people
with whom one grew up.
—Paul Robeson
T
he problem of the world’s
blacks has been a lack of unity.
No individual or organization
has ever succeeded in uniting members
of the Black race.
In the early 20th Century, Marcus
Garvey sought to unite US blacks,
those in the West Indies, South and
Central America with those of Africa
to better all’s industrial, commercial,
educational, social, and political conditions. Garvey wanted every black to
work toward a common objective of
building a nation of his own on the
African continent.
If not for lack of unity, African
Americans would be leading efforts to
build cities, nations, governments, industries of their own in Africa. Instead, Black Americans are engaged in
American Establishment designed po-
10
STOPPING KIDS FROM GROWING UP TOO FAST
Special to The Metro Herald
lishAmerica, 2006). “They also tend
to make choices leading them to too
much responsibility for their young
ages.” She stresses how important it
is for kids to be themselves and encourages teens to use the motto: “The
only one to stop you is you.”
Peer pressure has always been high,
but the pressure to grow up continues to
rise unabated. “Kids would want to
stay kids longer if we don’t expect them
to take on too much responsibility,”
says Rocheleau. “When we put too
much pressure on them to make their
own decisions, they start deciding what
to do with their bodies, their clothes,
their reputations and their choices.
There has got to be a happy medium.”
Rocheleau feels that one way to combat the peer pressure to grow up too fast
is by encouraging them to read books
with positive messages. “Too often
today, children read books with main
characters in their age group who are experiencing so much negativity in their
young lives,” says Rocheleau. “
The books often contain no parental
guidance, no structure, no respect for
others, no hope, and no simple clean fun.
I believe that better books offer better
choices, and better choices allow for better friends, better learners, better listeners, better attitudes, and better grades.”
Her passionate feelings about this
issue led her to write her own book designed for the 9-12 year-old reader. If
you ever wanted to climb a tree, jump
over a fence or jump into a pool with
all your “good” clothes on – then you
are the perfect candidate for Roche-
BUSINESS EXCHANGE
William Reed
Special to The Metro Herald
litical programs of disinvestment, not
building in Africa. Garvey’s Dream
of economic and industrial growth occurring in Africa is being done by the
Chinese and their government.
The “I ain’t left nuthin in Africa”
attitude endures among African Americans. As the Chinese fund growth for
millions on the African continent,
African Americans play politics. The
Chinese government’s African Policy
Paper supports investment in Africa
and offers favorable loans and credits
in such projects. While African
Americans endorse establishment programs to “spank” places like Sudan
and Zimbabwe “back into line”,
“China is establishing strategic partnerships with Africa based on equality
and mutual trust on the political front
and ‘win-win’ economics.
China is building railways and
roads in Angola, Nigeria and Kenya,
revving up trade volumes with South
Africa and Zambia and, most of all,
guzzling up Africa’s rich reserves of
oil and minerals. Beijing is increasingly courting resource-rich countries,
like Sudan and Zimbabwe, which have
been marginalized in recent years by
the West, forging partnerships on the
strength of its non-interference foreign
policy. This flies in the face of the
United States’ “big stick” policy for
Africa.
As Americans carry a stick to deal
with Africa, Beijing’s diplomacy has
been backed by a steady wave of investment in rebuilding and expanding
infrastructure in the impoverished continent. Private investment between
China and Africa is in the billions.
China’s largest African trade partner is
South Africa with annual revenues of
$8 billion expected. China pledged a
loan of $1 billion to oil-rich Nigeria to
help it repair its dilapidated railway
system. It has similar infrastructure
deals throughout the continent
Throngs welcomed Chinese President
Hu Jintao during his recent African
tour. He was cheered when emphasiz-
ing China’s intention to adhere to longstanding non-interventionist policies in
dealing with other countries.
Africans welcome the Chinese approach of doing business and not pegging economic activity to political
conditions there. But, African Americans aren’t about that. Most recently,
African American groups and political
leaders have been caught up in hostility toward Africa, vocally encouraging
America to weld a “big stick” there.
Anti-Africa actions among African
American stand in the way of a Garvey-like movement of positive involvement. Mostly, we stand aside
Western human rights groups’ assertions that China actions are wrongheaded and its main purpose is to provide a shield against international
efforts to reform corrupt or abusive
regimes in Africa.
Isn’t it time for American Blacks to
cease being becoming permanent
pawns of the establishment and start
thinking past supporting the American
status quo. Like the Chinese, blacks
should be involved in activities to extract raw materials from African soil
and manufacturing them into items
useful for our benefit. Working with
our African kin will help us create
more jobs, production and wealth on
the planet.
In contrast to Chinese investment
in Africa, American Blacks are in a
time warp, still engaging processes
used to fight apartheid in South Africa.
Instead of pushing for American investment in Africa, at the behest of establishment-oriented politicos, African
American lawmakers are in statehouses in Illinois, Massachusetts,
Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas
pushing legislation to exert financial
pressure on Sudan barring their state
from investing in companies that do
business with Khartoum. Is that the
way to build railroads?
•
•
•
William Reed—
www.BlackPressInternational.com.
leau’s book, Ollie Ollie in Come Free!.
The main character of the book is
Emmy Bolan, a typical 12-year-old
girl. She’s insecure, funny, always
trying to fit in, and has a flare for the
adventurous. She has readers laughing out loud as she gets herself into
several totally embarrassing situations.
She has a family that loves her, a best
friend who would do anything for her,
and a secret crush. The character of
Emmy was loosely based on Rocheleau herself. Like Emmy, Rocheleau
is accident-prone. In fact, she broke
over thirty bones before her thirtieth
birthday.
Ollie Ollie in Come Free! is
Nicole’s first book in a promising
young reader series centered around
the character of Emmy Bolan. Her
books feature strong and modern female characters as well as meaningful
relationships between adults and children. Appealing to the young at heart,
her books are not only written for the
9-12 year-old reader, they are also designed to make readers of all ages
laugh out.
GLOBAL WARMING: HARMFUL TO ALL,
BUT SOME MORE THAN OTHERS
BY C.J. CORREA BERNIER
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
T
he international dimensions
of environmental problems
are becoming the center of
attention as they gain center-stage
in debates concerning the future of
our planet. The range of issues
being discussed is extensive, but
global warming seems to be a common subject in most conversations.
The coexistence of environmentalism and economic development and
the need for cooperation, fairness
and equity among countries seems
to be one of the major questions.1
In the midst of our global environmental conversations we must
keep in mind that the activities of
human society, on a broad scale, are
harmful to all, but to some more
than others. In the case of global
warming, we suffer along with the
planet but for island nations that
will disappear, or for indigenous
communities, it is not an “environmental problem,” 2 it is the literal
destruction of their environment,
history, legacy and lives.
In the United States, communities of color are also drastically affected. A recent report notes the
disproportionate co-relation between African Americans in the
U.S. and climate change. The report argues that African Americans
are less responsible for climate
change, but suffer more from the
health impacts.3
In 1987 the existence of a nationwide pattern of disproportionate
environmental risk based on race
was demonstrated for the U.S.4
This evidence challenged the U.S.
environmental movement to recognize its tendency to ignore issues of
race, class and gender when setting
agendas for social action. Today the
mainstream environmental community is involved in serious discussions about how to frame the ecojustice issues along with those
dealing with environmental justice
or environmental racism, but, to
look at the issue of global warming
as one that is in opposition to those
confronted by the environmental
justice movement will be a mistake.
The global environmental justice movement compels us to rethink our understanding of global
environmental problems and exist-
ing proposals to solve them. Justice
is an essential demand, in the aftermath of historic, systematic discrimination and disproportionate
environmental degradation of those
on the margins.
If we look at global warming as
an issue of human rights and environmental justice we will be able to
see the connection between the
local and the global. Rising temperatures are already affecting the
lives of million of humans, particularly in people of color, low-income, and Indigenous communities. The health of many has been
already
compromised, their financial reality has become a burden, and their
social and cultural lives have been
disrupted. As we dialogue, research
and seek solutions to our climate
and energy problems we must seek
to ensure the right of all people to
live, work, play, and pray in safe,
healthy, and clean environments.
We must envision a transition to a
future that protects the most vulnerable from the impacts of climate
change.5
•
•
•
The United Church of Christ has
more than 5,700 churches throughout the United States. Rooted in the
Christian traditions of congregational governance and covenantal
relationships, each UCC setting
speaks only for itself and not on behalf of every UCC congregation.
UCC members and churches are
free to differ on important social issues, even as the UCC remains
principally committed to unity in
the midst of our diversity.
1Ruchi
Anand, “International Environmental Justice: A North-South
Dimension,” International Journal
of Politics and Ethics, Vol. 1, 2001
2Ibid
3“African Americans and Climate
Change: An Unequal Burden”
Congregational Black Caucus
Foundation, July 2004.
4“Toxic Wastes and Race”, United
Church of Christ, Commission for
Racial Justice, 1987.
5Environmental Justice and Climate
Change Initiative, 2005.
THE METRO HERALD
June 30, 2006
THE METRO HERALD
11
2006 FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
June 30, 2006
T
une in to multi-award-winning A Capitol Fourth on PBS on Tuesday,
July 4. It’s America’s premier birthday celebration. Check your local broadcast times. This year’s new concert host Jason Alexander, a seven-time
Emmy nominee, will lead an unrivaled evening of patriotic and uplifting music
followed by a spectacular display of fireworks over the Washington Monument.
America’s premier Independence Day holiday concert will feature performances
from some of the country’s best known and award-winning musical artists, including: music legend Stevie Wonder, who will be receiving the National Artistic
Achievement Award with a tribute from Academy Award winning actor Cuba
Gooding, Jr.; Sesame Street’s Elmo who will join dazzling singer and actress
Vanessa Williams for a rousing performance that will help children and their families get into the full spirit of Independence Day; international superstar Michael
Bolton; teen sensation JoJo; and multi-platinum country recording artist Jo Dee
Messina performing with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of
top pops conductor Erich Kunzel. ‘Capping the show will be a rousing rendition of
Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” featuring the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute
Battery, an audience favorite and now A Capitol Fourth tradition. The Choral Arts
Society of Washington, under the direction of Norman Scribner, celebrates its 40th
anniversary and returns again to the show. The Joint Armed Forces Color Guard of
the Military District of Washington will also perform. This year marks the 75th
anniversary of the National Symphony Orchestra, which will be commemorated by
a visual and musical trip down the Orchestra’s illustrious memory lane.
A Capitol Fourth can also be heard live in stereo over National Public Radio and
will be broadcast by the American Forces Radio and Television Network to the approximately 1 million U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Defense civilian employees and their families stationed overseas in 176 countries and territories and aboard
more than 200 U.S. Navy ships at sea.
4TH OF JULY CONCERTS
THE 2006 4TH OF JULY PARADE
CELEBRATES AMERICA’S
230TH BIRTHDAY
T
he 2006 Fourth of July Parade celebrates the 230th birthday of the
United States of America. The parade begins at 11:45AM and lasts
approximately 2 hours. The parade marches west along Constitution
Ave. between 7th and 17th Streets NW. The parade consists of over 60 units
including national
personalities, designed floats, national marching
bands, giant helium balloons, favorite costumed
characters, and
unique specialty
groups.
Come
help the National
Park Service celebrate this time
honored tradition
in the heart of the
Nations Capital.
It is a patriotic,
flag-waving, redwhite-and-blue
celebration
of
America’s liberty.
Jason Alexander
Erich Kunzel
12
Stevie Wonder
Nat. Symphony Orchestra
Elmo
Choral Arts Society of DC
Visit www.pbs.org/capitolfourth
for more information.
T
he United States Army Blues
Jazz Ensemble with Special
Guest Artist Bobby Caldwell
and the Allegro Foundation will provide
the musical entertainment on the Southwest corner of the Washington Monument grounds beginning at 4:00pm.
The National Mall & Memorial Parks
Ranger staff will present a Living History Vignette.
The main concert is held on the West
Lawn of the U.S. Capitol from 8pm to
9:30pm. Taking the Metro to the concert site is strongly advised due to traffic volume and street closings put in
place for the event. The nearest stations
are Capitol South, Federal Center SW
(Orange/Blue line) and Union Station
(Red line).
Please allow extra time for travel if
you are planning to attend A Capitol
Fourth, as space will be limited and
heightened security measures will be in
place. Checkpoints will be set up for
search of bags and parcels. Guests will
be required to enter through a metal detector.
All concerts are free and open to the
public. No tickets are necessary.
JoDee Messina
Military District of Wash.
Vanessa Williams
FIREWORKS
If you view the fireworks near the
launch site (Reflecting Pool) during the
fireworks display:
Michael Bolton
US Army Herald Trumpets Army Pres. Salute Battery
T
he Historic Preservation Division will host a picnic in
observance of Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4,
from 11a.m. until 3p.m. The
event will be held at Rippon Lodge,
15500 Blackburn Road in Woodbridge. Tickets are $3 per person
and reservations are suggested.
Participants will enjoy site
tours, games, crafts and entertainment! You can bring a picnic lunch
to eat on the lawn or purchase food
once you arrive.
For more information or reservations please contact the Historic
Preservation Division at 703-7925632 or 703-792-4754.
NEW ENGLAND
ROCKERS OSB TO
CELEBRATE
INDEPENDENCE
DAY WITH
TROOPS IN IRAQ
AND KUWAIT
A
T
he annual fireworks display will
immediately follow the concert
at 9:10pm to 9:30pm. The optimum viewing areas for the fireworks
will be at a distance from the launch site
(Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool).
These areas include:
• U.S. Capitol
• Lincoln Memorial
• National Mall between 14th Street
and the U.S. Capitol
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial
• The Ellipse
• West Potomac Park
• East Potomac Park
• Anacostia Park
• Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial
• George Washington Memorial Parkway across the Potomac River in
Virginia
STAR SPANGLED
PICNIC
• Consider wearing eye protection and
ear plugs.
• Do not enter the fenced safety zones
around the launch site.
• After the fireworks, do not walk
along Independence Ave. between
Daniel Chester French Dr. and 17th
St. until safety teams clear the area of
potentially harmful fireworks debris.
Arrive early in the day to stake out
your viewing spot!
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
JoJo
fter spending the past year
headlining shows across
New England and opening
for major acts such as Gavin DeGraw, American HiFi, New Found
Glory, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Massachusetts rockers OSB will take to the
world stage performing for troops in
Iraq and Kuwait as part of the Stars
for Stripes 4th of July celebrations.
During the week of July 1-8,
OSB will perform shows with
American Idol finalist Jessica
Sierra. The tour is hosted by USAREUR/MWR (United States
Army Europe—Morale, Welfare,
and Recreation) in cooperation with
Stars for Stripes
Stars for Stripes works in conjunction with Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE), USAREUR, MWR
and AFE (Armed Forces Entertainment) to take quality, celebrity entertainment into the remote sites
where the troops need the moral
boost the most. Throughout the tour,
OSB will experience military life
first-hand as they live and eat where
the troops live and eat, are transported in military vehicles, and perform for the most appreciative audiences they will ever entertain.
Following every performance, Stars
for Stripes entertainers typically
sign autographs for everyone, no
matter how long the line or how
many hours it takes for everyone to
get an autograph and have their
photo made with the celebrity.
“We consider it a great honor to
have been selected for the Stars for
Stripes Tour over Independence
Day,” said Brendan Mahoney,
OSB’s lead singer. “Our troops overseas give so much of themselves
every single day, putting themselves
in harms way so that we can continue to live the American dream.
Being able to go to Iraq and Kuwait
to entertain them is one small thing
we can do to say thank you.”
For more information visit
www.osbband.com or www.
starsforstripes.com.
Army Blues Jazz Ensemble Bobby Caldwell
THE METRO HERALD
THE METRO HERALD
CELEBRATE FOURTH OF JULY WEEK AT WOLF TRAP
W
olf Trap National Park for the
Performing Arts has D.C.’s
Fourth of July holiday week
plans covered, as Washington area favorite Bonnie Raitt and special guest
Keb’ Mo’ perform on both July 3 and 5;
the National Symphony Orchestra takes
the stage on July 6 with Itzhak Perlman,
July 7 with Leonard Nimoy and To
Boldly Go . . . , and July 8 in an Ode to
Beethoven; and the always popular Gipsy
Kings close out the week on July 9.
BONNIE RAITT
WITH SPECIAL GUEST KEB’ MO’
MONDAY, JULY 3 AND
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5
AT 8:00 P.M.
TICKETS RANGE FROM
$25 THROUGH $42
JULY 3 IS NOW SOLD OUT;
LAWN ONLY AVAILABLE FOR JULY 5
O
n the heels of her incredibly
successful new album Souls
Alike, Wolf Trap favorite Bonnie Raitt returns to the Filene Center
performing vintage hits alongside new
material of the same spirit. A multiple
Grammy Award winner and respected
musical trailblazer, Raitt has produced
such hits as “I Can’t Make You Love
Me,” “Love Sneakin’ Up On You,” and
“Something To Talk About.” Supporting Raitt is blues innovator Keb’ Mo’.
Drawing inspiration from blues, folk,
gospel, and R&B, Keb’ Mo’ has cultivated a devoted fan base across genres
and generations.
Patrons can call (703) 255-1868 to
check on last minute ticket availability.
musically simulating British General
Wellington’s victory over the French,
will be fully reenacted onstage.
Group rates available—visit www.
wolftrap.org for more information
Group rates available—visit www.
wolftrap.org for more information
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
TO BOLDLY GO . . .
NARRATED BY LEONARD NIMOY—
EMIL DE COU, CONDUCTOR
FRIDAY, JULY 7 AT 8:30 P.M.
TICKETS RANGE FROM
$18 THROUGH $62
GIPSY KINGS
SUNDAY, JULY 9 AT 8 P.M.
TICKETS RANGE FROM
$25 THROUGH $42
E
mil de Cou makes his 2006
debut as Wolf Trap’s National
Symphony Orchestra festival
conductor with To Boldly Go . . . , a
wonderfully stimulating program combining astronomy, science fiction, pop
culture, and the narrative talents of Star
Trek alum Leonard Nimoy!
The evening’s program is divided
into two distinct musical sections. The
first is a musical arrangement of composer Gustav Holst’s The Planets, an invigorating journey through the solar
system, narrated by Nimoy. The second
portion consists of fully orchestrated
themes from the best in science fiction—Star Wars, The Twilight Zone,
Close Encounters of the Third Kind . . .
and of course, Star Trek, “to boldly go
W
Leonard Nimoy
where no man has gone before!” The
performance is also accompanied by
film clips shown on large screens both
in the pavilion and on the lawn.
Group rates available—visit www.
wolftrap.org for more information
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ODE TO BEETHOVEN—
EMIL DE COU, CONDUCTOR
SATURDAY, JULY 8 AT 8:15 P.M.
TICKETS RANGE FROM
$18 THROUGH $62
orld music legends Gipsy
Kings conclude a vibrant
weekend at the Filene Center. Returning for yet another summer,
Gipsy Kings have been wowing audiences since their 1988 recording debut
stateside. The sensation of their song
“Bamboleo” grew to soaring heights internationally. Celebrating the gypsy
background of their home in southern
France, Gipsy Kings’ passionate rhythm
and intricate guitar synergy will provide
a unique and celebrated world music
experience.
Tickets can be purchased at The
Filene Center Box Office located at
1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia
22182; by calling 1(877)WOLFTRAP;
or online at www.wolftrap. org. For
more information, call Wolf Trap at
(703) 255-1868.
E
Emil de Cou
mil de Cou and the
National Symphony
Orchestra perform a
collection of Beethoven’s
“greatest hits” to round out
the NSO’s first 2006 threeday residency at the Filene
Center. Widely popular and
recognizable
movements
from the Fifth and Ninth
Symphonies are a feature of
the evening’s program. Additionally, the 1812 Overture,
Gypsy Kings
INECOM’S CIVIL WAR DOCUMENTARIES IN STORES AND
AIRING NATIONWIDE HNORING THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
“Gettysburg and Stories of Valor”
contains 30 unique stories that capture
the scenic beauty of the Gettysburg
battlefield, examine rare Civil War artifacts and reveal the personal stories
of the men who fought there.
“Horses of Gettysburg” captures
the relationship between soldiers and
their horses on the battlefield. Filmed
in high-definition with charging
horses, period photos, battlefield
panoramas and no “talking heads,”
this cinematic documentary tells the
story of the estimated 72,000 horses
and mules that fought at the Battle of
Gettysburg. It celebrates the forgotten
heroes of the Civil War and their criti-
Bonnie Raitt
Keb’ Mo’
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOZART!
FEATURING ITZHAK PERLMAN,
CONDUCTOR AND VIOLIN
THURSDAY, JULY 6 AT 8:15 P.M.
TICKETS RANGE FROM
$20 THROUGH $60
F
rom one genius to another,
world-renowned violinist Itzhak
Perlman leads and participates in
the celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart’s 250th Birthday! Acclaimed as
one of the greatest musicians in recent
time, Perlman plays dual roles as violinist and conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in the ensemble’s 2006
season debut. The evening’s program is
expected to realistically emulate
Mozart’s style and grandeur as Perlman
performs Mozart’s 3rd Violin Concerto.
I
n honor of the 143rd
anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1-3, 2006, Inecom Entertainment Company presents two 2DVD Box Sets from Director Mark
Bussler - “Gettysburg and Stories of
Valor” narrated by Keith Carradine
(HBO’s “Deadwood”) and “Horses of
Gettysburg” narrated by Ronald F.
Maxwell (director of the epic films
“Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals”). Distributed nationwide, the
DVDs are available at video stores, Internet retailers, educational and institutional distributors and large retail
chains such as Borders.
cal role in shaping the United States of
America that we live in today.
The special edition 2-DVD Box
Set contains more than three hours of
special features including two interviews with narrator Ronald F.
Maxwell, a documentary with Eric
Campbell, Gettysburg National Military Park Ranger and Civil War author
and an interview with Doug Sloan, notable Hollywood horse wrangler, on
caring for animals in films.
“We have DVDs covering Civil
War battles, its leaders, prison camps,
etc. It’s about time the animals of the
Civil War got their due,” says Mike
Koepke, “Mike’s Civil War Musings.”
In addition to these DVD Box Sets,
the award-winning “Lincoln and Lee
at Antietam—The Cost of Freedom”
DVD is available for sale and will also
air nationally in high-definition on
public television in July. Narrated by
Ronald F. Maxwell (director of “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals”)
and written, directed and produced by
multiple-award winner Robert Child
(“Gettysburg: Three Days of Destiny”
and “Gettysburg: The Boys in Blue
and Gray”), this film vividly brings to
life the story of America’s fight for
freedom during the bloodiest day in
American History.
The film will air nationally in July
(check local listings): Tuesday, July
4, 2006 7:00pm (EDT); Wednesday,
July 5, 2006 4:00am (EDT)
13
2006 FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
June 30, 2006
THE LIBERTY BELL
While the Bell, with joyous note
Clanging from its brazen throat,
Rings the tidings, all-exultant—
peals the news to shore and
sea;
“Man is man—a slave no longer,
Truth and Right than Might are
stronger.
Praise to God! We're free; we're
free!”
—Elbridge S. Brooks, from
“Liberty Bell,” section I.
Philadelphia, 1776, written in
1885 for St. Nicholas Magazine
T
radition tells of a chime that
changed the world on July 8,
1776, with the Liberty Bell ringing out from the tower of Independence
Hall summoning citizens to hear the
first public reading of the Declaration of
Independence by Colonel John Nixon.
The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the Bell in 1751 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William
Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges.
Penn’s charter, Pennsylvania’s original Constitution, speaks of the rights
and freedoms valued by people the
world over. Particularly forward thinking were Penn’s ideas on religious
freedom, his liberal stance on Native
American rights, and his inclusion of
citizens in enacting laws.
As it was to commemorate the Charter’s golden anniversary, the quotation
“Proclaim Liberty throughout all the
land unto all the inhabitants thereof,”
from Leviticus 25:10, was particularly
apt. For the line in the Bible immediately preceding “proclaim liberty” is,
“And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year.”
What better way to pay homage to Penn
and hallow the 50th year than with a
bell proclaiming liberty?
The Liberty Bell was rung to call
the Assembly together and to summon
people together for special announcements and events. The Liberty Bell
Ring out the peals of the Liberty
Bell!
Let the tones be loud and clear,
Till, borne on the floating
breeze’s swell,
The weary slave shall hear,
And the booming sound of its
ringing knell
Shall reach the oppressor's ear—
And drown the shout of the
auctioneer
Ring out the peals of the Liberty
Bell!
Ay, ring the call for the jubilee
Afar over land and sea,
Till woman's voice shall the
chorus swell,
And childhood shall clap its
hands in glee,
And the echoing chimes come
back and tell
That every slave is free.
—Aurelia F. Raymond,
“The Liberty Bell,” 1858
tolled frequently. Among the more historically important occasions, it tolled
when Benjamin Franklin was sent to
England to address Colonial grievances, it tolled when King George III
ascended to the throne in 1761, and it
HISTORICAL NOTES
O
n July 2, 1776, with a draft of the Declaration of Independence
before them, the Second Continental Congress voted for independence. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted
these words, and a new nation was born. This new nation promised to secure
the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for each and every one
of its citizens. “In order to form a more perfect Union...and secure the blessings of liberty,” for itself and its posterity, the United States of America
established a government of democracy to fulfill that promise. Today,
America continues to uphold its ideals and is a symbol of freedom and
democracy for the entire world.
The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the
Declaration of Independence on July 6th, 1776.
John Hancock signed his name on the Declaration of Independence so
that King George would not have to “put on his spectacles” to see.
Only one President, Calvin Coolidge, was born on the Fourth of July.
Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the
Fourth.
The earliest known Fourth of July celebrations, including parades and
fireworks displays, were held in Philadelphia in 1788. In 1795, a gathering of
approximately 100 people met near Rock Creek in Washington, DC to
celebrate Independence Day over dinner, followed by toasts to George Washington’s health. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson hosted the first Fourth of July
celebration at the Presidential Mansion. Businesses were closed in honor of
the date with the exception of merchants who sold fireworks and ice cream.
“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the
history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeding
generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as
the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought
to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, gun,
bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other,
from this time forward forevermore.”
—Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776
14
tolled to call together the people of
Philadelphia to discuss the Sugar Act
in 1764 and the Stamp Act in 1765.
Throughout the period from 1790 to
1800, when Philadelphia was the nation’s capital, uses of the Bell included
calling the state legislature into session,
summoning voters to hand in their ballots at the State House window, and
tolling to commemorate Washington's
birthday and celebrate the Fourth of July.
There is widespread disagreement
about when the first crack appeared on
the Bell. However, it is agreed that the
final expansion of the crack which rendered the Bell unringable was on
Washington's Birthday in 1846.
The Bell achieved an iconic status
when abolitionists adopted the Bell as a
symbol for the movement. It was first
used in this association as a frontispiece
to an 1837 edition of Liberty, published
by the New York Anti-Slavery Society.
In retrospect, it is a remarkably apt
metaphor for a country literally cracked
and freedom fissured for its black inhabitants. William Lloyd Garrison’s
anti-slavery publication The Liberator
reprinted a Boston abolitionist pamphlet containing a poem about the Bell,
entitled, The Liberty Bell, which represents the first documented use of the
name, “Liberty Bell.”
In 1847, George Lippard wrote a
fictional story for The Saturday Currier which told of an elderly bellman
NATIONAL
ARCHIVES JULY
4TH PROGRAMS
O
n Tuesday, July 4, the
National Archives will
present a day of special
programming for family audiences to celebrate the nation’s
230th birthday.
On the Constitution Avenue
steps from 10am to 11am, “A Dramatic Reading of the Declaration
of Independence” will take place.
The reading ceremony will include:
• Presentation of Colors by Continental Color Guard.
• Brief Performance by the U.S.
Army 3rd Infantry “Old
Guard” Fife and Drum Corps
• Video Presentation—“Declaring Our Freedom”
• Dramatic Reading of the Declaration of Independence by special guests including Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Ned Hector
From 11am to 4pm:
• Meet historical figures Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Ned Hector,
General Bernardo de Galvez,
George Washington, Martha
Washington, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth “Mumbet”
Freeman, and George Mason
• Sign the Declaration of Independence—Constitution Avenue Lobby
• Wagons West!— Constitution
Avenue Lobby
• Stake Your Claim—O’Brien
Gallery Lobby
• Write a Secret Message—Public Vaults Entrance
• Draw Your Dream of America—Public Vaults Exit
• National Archives Experience
Tattoos—Presidential Conference Room Lobby”
All programs are free, open to
the public, and take place at the
National Archives Building on
Constitution Avenue between 7th
and 9th Streets, NW.
Visit www.archives.gov for
updated information on all National Archives public programs
and to obtain a downloadable map
of the archives.
waiting in the State House steeple for
the word that Congress had declared
Independence. The story continues that
privately he began to doubt Congress’s
resolve. Suddenly the bellman’s grandson, who was eavesdropping on the
doors of Congress, yelled to him,
“Ring, Grandfather! Ring!”
This story so captured the imagination of people throughout the land that
the Liberty Bell was forever associated
with the Declaration of Independence.
INDEPENDENCE DAY ACTIVITIES
ON THE STREETS OF FAIRFAX
T
he City of Fairfax has planned a host of activities for July 4, including a parade in historic downtown Fairfax and music and fireworks at
Fairfax High School. Independence Day Parade—The 40 th annual
Independence Day parade steps off at 10a.m. from the intersection of Route
123 (Chain Bridge Road) and Sager Avenue, rain or shine.
The parade loops around downtown Fairfax, along Chain Bridge Road,
Main Street, University Drive and Armstrong Street. Among the entries in
this year’s parade are Dunbar Senior High School Crimson Tide of D.C. and
Porterville High School Panther Band from California. Other parade entries
include the Washington Redskins Marching Band, many large inflatable parade balloons and cartoon characters.
The 2006 theme is Marching Down History’s Lane, contributed by Walt
Morris, a long time resident of the City of Fairfax and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Blue & Gray Post 8469 Fairfax. The theme was fittingly
selected to celebrate the City of Fairfax’s 40th parade. The 2006 parade grand
marshal is Warren R. Carmichael, the voice of the city’s parade. Carmichael,
a former Fairfax County Police Department spokesperson, has announced the
parade every year since its inception in 1966.
Old Fashioned Fireman’s Day—After the parade, watch area fire companies compete using firefighting and emergency techniques and equipment
in the Old Fashioned Fireman’s Day from 12:30p.m. to 5p.m. at Fire Station
3, 4081 University Drive. This event also features food, beverages and
games.
Evening Show and Fireworks—As the sun sets, enjoy music and dancing during the Evening Show at 7p.m. at Fairfax High School (3500 Old Lee
Highway). The show will feature City of Fairfax Band and J.P. McDermott
and Western Bop. There will be a spectacular fireworks display after dark,
followed by more music by J.P. McDermott and Western Bop. The rain date
for the fireworks only is July 5. Lawn chairs, smoking, alcohol and animals
(except guide dogs) are not permitted on the football field. Public parking is
not available at Fairfax High School. Parking Is available at the Fairfax Circle Building next to Home Depot on Old Lee Highway.
Historic Open Houses—Several historic properties will be open to the public on July 4, including the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center (9am to 4p.m.,
10209 Main Street), Ratcliffe-Allison House (11:30a.m. to 1p.m., 10386 Main
Street), and Legato School (9a.m. to 1p.m., 4000 Chain Bridge Road).
Sponsors—Event sponsors include WASH-FM, Cox Communications,
Fairfax American Legion Post 177, Fairfax City Auto Dealers Association,
Patriot Harley Davidson, Cardinal Bank, Jaguar Development, Courtland
Homes at Pickett's Reserve, PNC Bank, Fairfax Boulevard Partnership,
Everly Funeral Home, Fairfax Host Lions Club, Fairfax's Own Red, Hot &
Blue, Chocolate Lovers Festival Committee and Veterans of Foreign Wars
Blue & Gray Post 8469.
Parking, Shuttle Information—Shuttle bus service for the parade runs
from 8:30 to 10:30a.m. from George Mason University, Woodson High
School and Fairfax United Methodist Church. Shuttles will return spectators
to these locations after the parade. On July 4th, for the evening show and
fireworks, public parking is not available at Fairfax High School. Please use
shuttle buses available from 6–9:15p.m. at Woodson High School (9525
Main Street) to Fairfax High School. Shuttles will return spectators to Woodson High School after the fireworks until 11p.m. On July 5th, rain date for
fireworks only, please use shuttles available from 7–9:15p.m. at Woodson
High School. Shuttles will return spectators to Woodson High School after
the fireworks until 11p.m. Limited handicapped parking is available at Fairfax High School. Parking Is available at Home Depot (3201 Old Lee Highway near Fairfax Circle). For information, call 703-385-7858.
For Information on Independence Day activities or to volunteer, call 703385-7949 or visit www.fairfaxva.gov/specialEvents/IDC/IDC.asp.
THE METRO HERALD
HEALTH & WELLNESS
June 30, 2006
BLOOD DONATIONS SLIPPING AS
4TH OF JULY APPROACHES
A
s the 4th of July weekend approaches, our community is experiencing a sharp decline in blood donation rates throughout the area, which
could have a negative effect on an already vulnerable blood supply
and put patients at risk. In response, the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac
(GC&P) Region of the American Red Cross is urging all eligible whole blood
donors to “Be the One We Count On” by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a donation appointment before the 4th of July holiday. Platelet donors
can call 1-800-272-2123 to schedule an appointment.
“If donation rates drop, then the blood supply is severely strained,” said
Gary Ouellette, Chief Executive Officer for the GC&P Region. “Local cancer patients, trauma victims, and premature infants depend on the community
to maintain the blood supply. Although many people are enjoying the Holiday this weekend, the need for blood does not take a vacation. The patients
who depend on the blood supply are counting on local citizens to be there
when they are needed, and the blood is needed now.”
As a special thank you to the community, the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is offering all blood program participants an exclusive “Be the One We Count On” t-shirt, as well as a chance
to win $100 worth of free gas in a weekly raffle.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO GIVE BLOOD?
Donors must:
• Be generally in good health;
• Be at least 17 years of age, or in the state of Maryland only, 16 years of
age w/written parental consent;
• Weigh no less than 110 pounds;
• Have NOT received a tattoo within the past year;
• Have NOT donated whole blood within the past 56 days•
Members of the community are asked to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE immediately to schedule an appointment to donate at any American Red Cross Donor
Center or community blood drive. Information about Regional Blood Donor
Centers or community blood drive locations and times can be found at
www.my-redcross.org. Business and community groups that are willing to
hold blood drives are asked to call 1-800-787-9282, x4680 for information.
OP-ED
I
have a confession to make: Despite a long career in the healthcare business, I still do not relish a
trip to my doctor’s office. Really, who
does? Chances are, you’ll be poked,
prodded and asked all kinds of intrusive questions. But despite what we’d
like to believe-that by avoiding the
doctor, you avoid getting sick-not
scheduling regular check-ups may actually make you more sick.
Just because you don’t feel sick or
have any outward signs of illness,
doesn’t mean that you aren’t at risk for
developing a serious condition. Dr.
Carolyn Clancy from the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality illustrates the point, “ ... Individuals who
receive primary or secondary prevention services have no obvious signs of
illness; in clinical terms, they are
asymptomatic.” For example, tracking
higher blood pressure in adults is an
effective way to identify whether or
not you are at risk for heart diseaseand if so, to intervene before the disease ravages your body. Screening for
colon cancer to detect pre-cancerous
polyps is another example of preventative care.
Some of the most expensive and
sometimes preventable conditions are
diabetes, hypertension and high cho-
PREZISTA RECEIVES U.S. FDA APPROVAL
AS PART OF HIV COMBINATION THERAPY
T
he U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to the antiHIV
medication
PREZISTA™
(darunavir) tablets. as TMC114, was
developed by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals
Ltd. and will be marketed in the U.S.
by Tibotec Therapeutics, a division of
Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.
FDA accelerated approval procedures allow for earlier approval of drugs
that provide a meaningful therapeutic
advantage over existing treatment for
serious or life-threatening diseases. This
approval is based on the 24-week analysis of HIV viral load and CD4+ cell
counts from the pooled analysis of the
TMC114-C213 (POWER 1) and
TMC114-C202 (POWER2) studies.
Longer-term data will be required before the FDA can consider traditional
approval for PREZISTA.
PREZISTA, co-administered with
100 mg ritonavir (PREZISTA/rtv) and
with other antiretroviral agents, is indicated for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
in antiretroviral treatment-experienced
adult patients, such as those with
HIV-1 strains resistant to more than
one protease inhibitor.
This indication is based on Week 24
analyses of plasma HIV RNA levels and
CD4+ cell counts from two controlled
trials of PREZISTA/rtv in combination
with other antiretroviral drugs. Both
studies were conducted in clinically advanced, treatment-experienced (NRTIs,
NNRTIs, and PIs) adult patients with
evidence of HIV-1 replication despite
ongoing antiretroviral therapy.
The following points should be
considered when initiating therapy
with PREZISTA/rtv:
• Treatment history and, when available, genotypic or phenotypic test-
THE METRO HERALD
ing should guide the use of
PREZISTA/rtv.
• The use of other active agents with
PREZISTA/rtv is associated with a
greater likelihood of treatment response.
• The risks and benefits of
PREZISTA/rtv have not been established in treatment-naïve adult
patients or pediatric patients.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION
PREZISTA does not cure HIV infection or AIDS, and does not prevent
passing HIV to others.
PREZISTA is contraindicated in
patients with known hypersensitivity
to any of its ingredients.
PREZISTA/rtv is contraindicated
with astemizole, terfenadine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, cisapride, pimozide, midazolam, and triazolam. Co
administration is not recommended
with carbamazepine, phenobarbital,
phenytoin, rifampin, lopinavir/ritonavir, saquinavir, lovastatin, pravastatin,
simvastatin, or products containing St.
John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Caution should be used when prescribing agents such as sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil, or other substrates,
inhibitors, or inducers of CYP3A in
patients receiving PREZISTA/rtv. This
list of potential drug interactions is not
complete.
PREZISTA must be co-administered with 100 mg ritonavir and food to
exert its therapeutic effect. Please refer
to ritonavir prescribing information for
additional information on precautionary measures.
Severe skin rash, including erythema muliforme and Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome, has been reported in sub-
jects receiving PREZISTA during the
clinical development program. In some
cases, fever and elevations of transminases have also been reported. In clinical trials (n=924), rash (all grades, regardless of causality) occurred in seven
percent of subjects treated with
PREZISTA; discontinuation due to
rash was 0.3 percent. Rashes were generally mild-tomoderate, self-limiting
and maculopapular. PREZISTA should
be discontinued if severe rash develops.
PREZISTA should be used with
caution in patients with known sulfonamide allergy.
New-onset or exacerbations of preexisting diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia, and increased bleeding in
hemophiliacs have been reported in patients receiving protease inhibitors. A
causal relationship between protease
inhibitors and these events has not
been established.
PREZISTA should be used with
caution in patients with hepatic impairment. There are no data regarding the
use of PREZISTA in patients with
varying degrees of hepatic impairment;
therefore, specific dosage recommendations cannot be made.
Redistribution and/or accumulation
of body fat have been observed in patients receiving ARV therapy. The
causal relationship, mechanism, and
long-term consequences of these
events have not been established.
Immune reconstitution syndrome
has been reported in patients treated
with ARV therapy. The potential for
HIV-cross-resistance among protease
inhibitors has not been fully explored
in PREZISTA/rtv treated patients.
The most frequently reported moderate to severe adverse effects were
headache (3.8%), diarrhea (2.3%), abdominal pain (2.3%), constipation
(2.3%), and vomiting (1.5%).
THE POWER OF PREVENTION
Larry Lucas
Special to The Metro Herald
lesterol. If you are diabetic, doctors
say early diagnosis and proper treatment and management of the disease is
particularly critical to preventing complications such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, nerve damage, kidney
failure, heart attack and even death.
Studies have shown that identifying
and treating hypertension in its early
stages can prevent damage to the blood
vessels, important in reducing the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes or other
serious cardiovascular conditions.
Preventative care is important to
everyone’s health, but particularly for
seniors. As we get older, it becomes
more difficult to keep track of what can
seem to be an ever-growing list of ailments, doctors and medicines. The new
Medicare plan not only offers seniors
prescription drug coverage, but also a
one-time physical for new enrollees,
screenings for cardiovascular disease,
cancer and diabetes, as well as flu shots.
One way to help ease the burden of
keeping track of your health care, and
to help improve your treatment is to
regularly visit the same doctor. A
study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine by Dr. Mark
Doescher shows that adults who regularly visit the same doctor-or the same
clinic-are more likely to get better preventative medicine. Continuity of care
is the important factor. By forming a
relationship with one primary care
doctor, over time they will be better
able to identify risk factors and
changes in your health.
When conditions go undiagnosed,
medicines are underused and costs associated with emergency care, hospitalizations and total health spending can
increase. According to the 2003 U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report “Prevention Makes
Common Cents,” there is accumulating
evidence that much of the morbidity
and mortality associated with chronic
diseases like asthma, obesity, diabetes
and cardiovascular disease may be preventable. For some of these condi-
tions-like obesity and some forms of
cardiovascular disease and diabetes-it
starts with eating right and exercising.
In other cases, the proper medicines
can help. The Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) report,
“There is no question that prescription
drugs have significantly improved the
treatment and management of many
major conditions ...These drugs significantly reduce inpatient admissions and
lengths of stay. They reduce future costs
and, far more importantly, save lives.”
We are fortunate to live in an age
when prescription medicines are readily available to cure or treat everything
from hypertension and ulcers to cancer
and even Alzheimer’s. Every day, millions of Americans rely on these medicines to live longer, healthier, more
productive lives. As promising as this
is, we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we used it as an excuse to become complacent about our health.
For those who may need help paying for their medications, there are assistance programs available. Last year,
America’s pharmaceutical research
companies launched the Partnership for
Prescription Assistance (1-888-4PPANOW), which has helped more than
2.2 million people who needed a helping hand to connect to programs that
may provide free or nearly free medicines.
•
•
•
Larry Lucas is the deputy vice president for Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
INNOVATIVE HEALTHCARE WORKER
TRAINING TO BEGIN IN THE DISTRICT
I
n response to the critical shortage of healthcare workers facing Washington, DC, Councilmember David Catania (I-At Large) has been able to secure $1 million in the FY 2007 budget to develop an innovative health
professional training program here in the District. Catania was also responsible for allocating monies in the FY 2006 budget for capital and infrastructure development for the program.
Beginning this year, Southeastern University will partner with Greater
Southeast Community Hospital (GSCH) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to operate a Center for Allied Health Education at the
hospital. Operated by the Southeastern University Center for Entrepreneurship and Continuing Education, this program will begin with training for
Medical Assistants, Medical Lab Technicians, Cardiovascular Technicians,
and Medical Coding and Billing Specialists. The plan is to expand the program over the next five years to train District residents in other high-demand
allied health professions.
“Through this new program, we will provide District residents with meaningful career opportunities in one of the fastest growing fields in the country,”
Catania said. “Equally important, this program will assist our health care
providers in securing the needed professionals to meet the needs of our community.”
Moreover, we will also be better serving those individuals who rely on the
critical services that allied health professionals provide.”
As the first of new classes begin this summer, the partnership was officially launched at a kickoff event on June 22, at the Greater Southeast Community Hospital Annex, 1310 Southern Avenue SE, second floor. Councilmember Catania and Southeastern University President Dr. Charlene Drew
Jarvis gave remarks, and representatives from SEIU and Greater Southeast
Hospital were on hand to offer details about the program.
15
EDUCATION
June 30, 2006
$8 MILLION AWARD TO IMPROVE
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR DC STUDENTS
T
he DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation
(the Trust) announced recently
that The Wallace Foundation is investing up to $8 million over three years to
improve out-of-school programs for
students in the District of Columbia.
The District is one of five cities
chosen by the New York–based foundation to participate in its Learning in
Communities initiative, which aims to
develop comprehensive systems for
out-of-school learning with consistently high standards. The other cities
are Providence, New York, Boston,
and Chicago.
The initiative will begin in three
pilot middle schools in January and
will serve a total of about 600 children.
Those schools are Charles Hart Middle
School, Kelly Miller Middle School,
and Lincoln Middle School. More sites
will be added in subsequent years. Ultimately, the goal is that all middleschool children in the District will have
access to high-quality activities outside
of the school day - in the afternoons, on
weekends, and during the summer.
“A high-quality after-school program has the power to dramatically
change a young person’s life,” said
Greg Roberts, president and CEO of the
Trust. “We believe this initiative will
engage more students in the District in
after-school programs that are safe, enriching and of the highest quality.”
Begun in 1999, the Trust is a nonprofit that works to increase the quality,
quantity and accessibility of services for
children, youth and families in the District of Columbia. It funds programs
that serve about 10,000 children a year.
The Wallace Foundation supports effective ideas and practices that strengthen
education leadership, arts participation,
and out-of-school learning.
Led by the Trust, this new initiative
is a broad partnership of community
agencies and groups, including the
Mayor’s office and other branches of
DC government, the DC Public School
system, business leaders, local universities, private funders, parents, and the
community. Nearly 50 individuals
from all sectors of the city have been
involved in planning the initiative.
“This generous grant from The Wallace Foundation will enable Trust and
city leaders to help all students in our
city achieve their fullest potential,” said
DC Mayor Anthony Williams. “The
only way we, as a city, can solve our
problems is by tackling them together.
And that’s what this initiative does.”
In addition to the $8 million from
the Wallace Foundation, the Trust
plans to raise another $8 million from
local foundations and business leaders
to expand the effort. That effort already has begun, and several private
funders already have shown strong interest. By the fall, businesses also will
be able to support the effort by encouraging employees to volunteer as mentors or tutors. The Trust also will seek
partnerships with community organizations, such as local sports teams and
a youth-oriented, hip-hop radio station.
The initiative is starting its pilot
projects in middle schools because recent national research shows many
urban children are “lost” during those
years. One study shows that children
entering middle school with even one
of four risk factors have only a 10-percent chance of graduating from high
school on time or at all. The four factors are: failing English, failing math,
poor behavior, and truancy.
In the District of Columbia, middle-school children face additional
challenges:
• 54 percent live in homes headed by
single women
• 27 percent live below the poverty
line; 60 percent live in families
with annual incomes below
$50,000
• 22 percent live in homes where
English is not the primary language
• 24 of the 27 public schools serving
grades 6 to 8 failed to meet adequate yearly progress goals under
the federal No Child Left Behind
law
• 720 middle and junior high school
students were picked up by DC police for truancy in 2004-05
REGISTRATION STILL OPEN
FOR SELECTED “CAMP CHINQUAPIN”
SUMMER CAMPS
R
egistration remains open for several of the City of Alexandria’s popular “Camp Chinquapin” summer camps for children and teens, ages
3 to 16. Openings remain in Camp Chinquapin Sports Camp (ages
6-12), Day Activities Camp (ages 6-12), Performing Arts Camp (ages 6-12),
Tennis Camp (ages 6-12), Basketball Camp (ages 8-14) and Inline Skating
Camp (6-16).
Camps operate during various weeks between June 26 and August 18.
Hours of operation are 9:00AM– 4:00PM, with before-and after-care options
available. Tiny Tot Tennis for children ages 4-5 will operate from
9:00AM–1:00PM only. Before-and after-care is not available for Tiny Tot
Tennis.
Registration will remain open until the limited number of available camp
slots are filled. Registration fees vary. Financial assistance is available
upon request.
Day Activities Camp sessions are held at George Mason Elementary
School, 2601 Cameron Mills Rd. Performing Arts Camp meets at the Dr.
Oswald Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St. All other camps are held at the
Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, 3210 King St.
For additional information or to receive a registration form, visit the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center or call Melissa Riddy at 703-519-2160, extension 15. Registration forms can also be downloaded from the City of
Alexandria’s website at or visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/
chinquapin. The Virginia Department of Social Services authorizes and licenses the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ Day
Camp Programs as Day Care Operations.
16
• More than 735 students in grades 6
to 9 dropped out of DCPS in 200203
“As in all big cities, many of our
children need additional supports beyond the school day,” said DC Public
Schools Superintendent Dr. Clifford B.
Janey. “The school system is committed to this exciting initiative because
we know it will reinforce what youngsters are learning in school and help
them succeed academically.”
National studies show that highquality out-of-school-time programs
can improve school attendance, graduation rates, test scores in reading,
math, and English as well as cultivate
positive attitudes toward school. Research also shows that such programs
can reduce risky behaviors and increase children’s aspirations and decision-making skills.
The District has more than 150 programs that serve at least some middleschool students—programs ranging
from academics to sports to arts to
mentoring. But the District lacks the
right out-of-school programs in the
right places for the needs and interests
of children and their families. Local research conducted for this initiative
showed that 60 percent of children participate in out-of-school-time activities
between one and five days a week. On
average, students were spending only
two days a week in after-school activities, but indicated they likely would attend four days a week, if given the opportunity. Many community-based
program providers also expressed a desire for higher-quality options for middle-school children.
This out-of-school-time initiative
aims to build a more coordinated system to improve the quality of afterschool and summer programs for all
DC as well as to increase access to and
enrollment in those programs.
“Cities across the country want better ways to provide high-quality outof-school learning opportunities to
children who need it most—through
understanding need, aligning programs
with those needs, and tracking participation,” said Nancy Devine, Director
of Arts and Communities at The Wallace Foundation. “Washington, DC is
already recognized as a leader in afterschool, and we hope that this grant will
help our nation’s capital move even
closer to its goals, and provide useful
lessons for other cities.”
The new out-of-school-time initiative will strengthen the District’s efforts in five key areas:
• Building closer partnerships among
schools, other city agencies and
community-based providers to
achieve better outcomes for children
• Producing diverse high-quality programs that fit children’s needs and
interests
• Developing quality standards for
programs and training providers
• Assembling a database that will
permit officials to match children
with quality after-school programs
and other services
• Conducting a communications
campaign to build awareness of the
value of after-school programs for
students.
HELPING
AFRICAN-AMERICANS
TO ACHIEVE
FINANCIAL FREEDOM
W
hen it comes to their finances, Americans have become alarmingly dysfunctional the past several years. In fact,
the personal savings rate in the U.S. is
the lowest it has been in 73 years. To
make matters even worse, credit card
debt is at an all-time high, with an average of $9,312 per household. For
African-Americans, the numbers can
be even more daunting. A recent report revealed that 84% of all AfricanAmerican credit-card holders carry a
balance, the highest of any ethnic group
in the country. Where do Americans
begin to get themselves onto the road to
economic empowerment.
“Changing your mindset is the first
step toward financial freedom and economic independence,” says Carla J.
Cargle, noted African-American financial expert and author of the new book,
The Financial Truth . . . to Humble,
Wise and Wealthy Living (Wealth
Builders Publishing, 2006). “A person’s mindset determines their future.
A poverty mindset reaps poverty, but a
wealthy mindset reaps wealth.”
Recently featured in Jet Magazine,
Cargle is determined to change the
mindset of consumption and poverty
within the African-American community. “I’m on a mission to help
African-Americans develop a positive,
healthy and spiritual relationship with
their money,” Cargle says. She’s dismayed by the community’s lack of financial discipline and its increasing
focus on material things.
She encourages African-Americans
to think about wealth in a different
way. “Wealth is not ‘bling.’ It’s not
wearable or drivable,” says Cargle.
“Wealth is not in your money, wealth is
in your mind. It’s measured by what
you own, not what you earn.”
While most financial advisors want
you to believe that their finances are
perfect, Cargle is not ashamed to admit
that she’s experienced financial chal-
Carla J. Cargle
lenges of her own. Cargle particularly
understands the bumpy path to economic independence because she has
actually been there. Her advice stems
from her own experiences. She has
lived from paycheck to paycheck and
has even been unemployed and incapable of finding food, clothing, and
shelter for herself.
By applying basic financial principles to her life, Cargle was able to go
from poverty to prosperity. Now approaching her 15th year as a financial
advisor, she shares her vast knowledge
on wealth transformation to audiences
and readers all over the country. She
educates her audiences about the intricacies of creating wealth and how to build
and protect it for generations to come.
In her book, during her speaking engagements, and throughout her financial empowerment program, The Financial Truth, Cargle emphasizes that
the responsibility of ending the cycle of
financial destruction begins with the individual. “The road to wealth truly
does begin with you,” she says. “Becoming wealthy is within your power.
The Financial Truth will set you free.”
Through the application of sound
and practical advice, Cargle wants to
lead you out of debt and put you on
your journey towards wealth and financial freedom. “Just remember that
wealth must manifest itself with your
mind before it can exist in the tangible,” she says. “Don’t allow society
to make you believe that wealth is only
about being a multimillionaire or billionaire.”
For more information 727-4437115, ext. 223
SUMMER TEEN POOL PARTIES
PLANNED BY RECREATION
DEPARTMENT
M
iddle and high school students in Montgomery County can
have a cool summer at a series of pool parties planned by the
County’s Department of Recreation.
Water sports, sand volleyball, music and prizes will be offered at the
following four parties scheduled on Friday nights, from 8:30–11:00PM,
during the month of July:
• July 7, Wheaton/Glenmont Pool, 12621 Dalewood Drive;
• July 14, Germantown Pool, 18905 Kings View Drive (off Clopper
Road);
• July 21, Martin Luther King Outdoor Pool, 1201 Jackson Road, Silver Spring; and
• July 28, Western County Pool, 20151 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville.
Students must show their school ID cards or be accompanied by a parent. Admission is $3. Refreshments will be sold.
Students requiring assistance for special needs or financial aid should
contact the Recreation Department in advance for the most efficient service.
The pool parties are sponsored by the Youth Advisory Committee of
the Recreation Department and the Montgomery County Police C-SAFE
Initiative.
For more information, call 240-777-6985.
Visit us on the web at www.metroherald.com
THE METRO HERALD
EDUCATION
June 30, 2006
VITAMIN SCHOOL FINAL RESULTS
T
here is one school of thought
which says there is nothing
more important than good
health. Then there is another school—
Vitaminschool—brought to you by
Glacéau, makers of Vitaminwater,
which says having a cool $100,000 for
college tuition isn’t so bad either.
Three high school students were chosen as national finalists to compete for
the chance to win a $100,000 college
scholarship at the Vitaminschool in
Union Square, New York City. The
students were selected based on their
submissions for a nutrient-rich school
lunch and have each already received a
$5,000 donation to their high school to
go towards promoting healthy eating
and hydration.
Earlier this year, high school students nationwide were asked to submit
a recipe for a school cafeteria lunch
packed with nutrients, complete with a
dessert and their favorite Vitaminwater
to complement the meal. The recipes
were judged on nutritional value
(50%), originality of recipe (25%) and
the 150-word essay that accompanies
the recipe (25%), by a panel of judges.
Three students in 12 different cities
were chosen as local semi-finalists and
competed for the chance to move on to
the next round of competition.
The following three students were
chosen from the 12 local finalists,
based on their recipes.
Stephanie Wheeler, 16, ($100,000
Scholarship winner) The Woodlands,
TX, The Woodlands Christian Academy—Chicken fajita burgers with
seared peppers and salsa, watermelon
granita
Joe Brown, 16, Atlanta, GA, Riverwood High School—Joburritos and
tortilla ice cream
Nina Dutton, 16, Washington, DC.
The School Without Walls—Wild
salmon “fenugula” salad and the
healthy, nice banana “splice”
The students showcased their recipes
in front of a host of celebrity judges live
at Union Square in New York City on
June 5. The judges who sampled the
recipes and decided upon the local finalist, are Kelly Clarkson—musician; Jorge
Cruise– diet coach/author; and J. Darius
Bikoff–founder and ceo, Glacéau. The
judges selected one grand prize winner
who received a college scholarship
worth $100,000 from Glacéau.
Vitaminschool is all about educating students on how to get more of the
nutrients they need, without giving up
the flavors and taste they crave. The
program, sponsored by Glacéau will
empower students to abandon the
empty calorie, preservative-filled
norm, and take steps towards a healthier, more positive lifestyle for themselves and their communities.
“Kids today are a lot smarter about
nutrition than most companies give
them credit for,” said J. Darius Bikoff,
founder and ceo, Glacéau (the sponsor
of the program). “Vitaminschool is an
opportunity for students to demonstrate how they would go about improving their diets in a way that works
for them, if given the tools to do it.”
The Vitaminschool tour hit the road
on April 24, and made its final stop in
New York City on June 8th, for the
grand finale. For further information
on the competition, go to www.
freelunchmoney.com.
ABOUT GLACÉAU
Formed in 1996, we are the creator
of the enhanced water category and
maker of Vitaminwater®, fruitwater®
and smartwater®. Glacéau is all
about “keeping it real,” and we use
only natural flavors and colors in our
products. (why would you do it any
other way, really?) Today more than
five million bottles of Glacéau products are sold every day to thirsty people like you. Proof that when you put
a better product on the market, people
respond. For more information visit
www.glaceau.com.
WINNING RECIPE BY
STEPHANIE WHEELER—
CHICKEN FAJITA BURGERS WITH
SEARED PEPPERS AND
SALSA/WATERMELON GRANITA
Fajita burger
1/3 pound ground chicken
1/4 tablespoon ground chipotle chili
powder
1/4 tablespoon grill seasonings
(preferably montreal steak
seasonings by mccormick)
extra virgin olive oil
tomatillo salsa
a whole wheat bun
1
red or green bell pepper seeded
and thinly sliced lengthwise
Watermelon granita
2/3 lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1/2 tablespoon splenda
1
cup watermelon pieces (remove
seeds)
1/3 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Glacéau Vitaminwater—focus
(for more clarity)
Preparation for Fajita burger
Combine ground chicken, chili
powder, grill seasonings and form mixture into an 1 inch patty and drizzle
with olive oil. Cook the patty for 6
minutes on each side or until meat is
firm and cooked through.
Vegetable mix: Heat a skillet over
high heat, add olive oil and bell peppers (peppers should be seared to the
edges). Then, add salsa, stir, and remove from heat. Serve this on the side
or on top of burger.
Preparation for Watermelon granita
Collect 2/3 of the lime’s juice in a
medium bowl (warming lime in mi-
THE METRO HERALD
crowave before makes it easier to
juice.) Combine water and splenda in
a saucepan and bring to a boil, then set
aside to cool.
Puree the watermelon in a food
processor or blender, then strain
through a coarse strainer into bowl containing lime juice. Stir in vanilla extract
and cooled splenda syrup. Pour mixture
into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
once done freezing, place cubes in
blender and blend until it reaches a
smooth frozen drink consistency.
ATLANTA FINALIST
JOSEPH BROWN—
JOBURRITOS/TORTILLAS AND
ICE CREAM
Joburritos
1
package (10 oz.) frozen corn
1
can (4 oz.) black beans, drained
2
boneless and skinless chicken
breast halves, minced and precooked
1
bag romaine lettuce
2
tomatoes, minced
1
onion, minced
1
bell pepper, minced
1
clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
2
tablespoons of peach salsa,
Newman’s own brand (per
burrito)
Mexican cheese blend, to taste
1
tablespoon of butter
6
wheat tortillas
Tortillas and ice cream
Sinless flavor ice cream (from
cold stone creamery)
6
tortillas
1⁄2 teaspoon sugar
1
teaspoon cinnamon
Glacéau Vitaminwater: focus—
kiwi strawberry flavor
Preparation of Joburritos
Defrost frozen corn in a skillet with
tablespoon of butter After defrosting
corn, rinse black beans under warm
water to eliminate coloration. Add
beans to corn and sauté. Once the mixture is tender, let cool to room temperature. Start layering the corn and bean
mixture, chicken, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and peach salsa onto tortilla, then
wrap and enjoy.
Preparation of Tortillas and
ice cream
Cut tortillas into 1⁄4 pieces (chip
shaped), and bake in an oven at 375 degrees until golden brown. Sprinkle
chips with brown sugar mixture.
Scoop ice cream into a bowl, and
present with tortilla chips
DC FINALIST, NINA DUTTON—
WILD SALMON “FENUGULA”
SALAD/HEALTHY,
NICE BANANA “SPLICE”
Wild salmon “fenugula” salad
1
filet wild alaskan salmon (only a
3 oz. serving is needed)
Note: wild salmon is used because
many scientists agree that farmed
salmon accumulate greater amounts of
dangerous chemicals, such as flameretardants and possible carcinogens
1⁄2 cup thinly sliced fennel (the
white root part; feathery leaves
may be used as garnish)
3⁄4 cup baby arugula
1⁄4 cup radicchio
1
teaspoon extra virgin olive oil,
plus enough extra to brush onto
the salmon for broiling
2
teaspoons lemon juice
dried rosemary
fresh thyme
All 3 finalists with all NYC judges (left to right): Floyd Cardoz—executive chef at Tabla,
NY; Nina Dutton, from DC; Stephanie Wheeler,(winner), Houston; Joseph Brown,
Atlanta; Kelly Clarkson; J. Darius Bikoff; Jorge Cruise
ground black pepper
Makes 1 serving.
+ healthy, nice banana “splice”
1
cup non-fat vanilla frozen yogurt
1⁄4 cup grape nuts cereal
1
medium-sized banana, sliced in
half lengthwise
3
bing cherries
10 blueberries (approx.)
a few slices of fresh peach
1
teaspoon shavings of dark
chocolate
Glacéau Vitaminwater:
defense—raspberry-apple flavor
(compliments the other fruits of
the banana “splice”
Note: use chocolate that is 70% cocoa
or greater, for even more of the
antioxidants and taste dark chocolate
provides, with proportionally less fat
and sugar than chocolate with lower
cocoa content
Makes 1 serving
Preparation of Wild salmon
“fenugula” salad
Brush a small amount of the olive
oil onto each side of the file. Sprinkle
black pepper, rosemary, and thyme
leaves liberally on both sides of the
salmon filet. Broil the salmon until
done—when it flakes apart if one gently attempts to separate a piece of the
filet with tongs; set the filet aside.
Toss sliced fennel, arugula, radicchio,
lemon juice, and one teaspoon of olive
oil in a bowl; add two to four pinches
of black pepper and toss again. Transfer salad to a plate; slice a three-ounce
piece of salmon into approx. half-inch
slices (or sliced close to this size as
flaking allows); array this salmon on
top of the salad; add a sprig of fennel
leaves for garnish, if desired.
Preparation for Healthy, nice
banana “splice”
Pour the whole-grain cereal into a
shallow bowl, and jiggle the bowl a bit
to form a level layer of cereal. Scoop
out the frozen yogurt into two or three
scoops, and place them in a line on top
of the cereal layer. Place one half of
the banana on one long side of the line
of frozen yogurt scoops (the cut-side of
the banana touching the yogurt); place
the other half of the banana on the opposing long side of the line of frozen
yogurt scoops in the same manner.
Sprinkle the blueberries onto the
dessert, onto the frozen yogurt, as well
as the cereal. Place the peach slices
around or next to the frozen yogurt.
Place the cherries on top of the scoops
of frozen yogurt. Sprinkle the chocolate shavings over the frozen yogurt
(for a healthier alternative to fatty and
sugary hot fudge sauce
PRINCE
GEORGE’S
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
LAUNCHES
FINANCIAL AID
WEB PAGE
P
rince George’s Community
College has launched a financial aid Web page that
provides students with comprehensive information about the financial aid process, from applying for
assistance to repaying student
loans. The page serves as the college’s electronic financial aid office. Visitors to www.pgcc.edu/
financialaid will find the page tailored to meet the needs of today’s
technological society, with online
scholarship applications, financial
aid documents and forms, and loan
counseling.
“This Web presence will provide prospective students, current
students, and visitors with important deadlines for filing financial
aid forms, searching for scholarships, and other valuable financial
planning information. The most
significant change is the focus on
usability” said Tracy Harris, dean
of enrollment services.
The Web page also offers information about several options to
pay for college, such as the college’s tuition payment plan, military tuition assistance, short-term
emergency loans, and veterans education benefits. A Spanish translation of the page may be accessed at
www.pgcc.edu/financialaid/
espanol or from the English version of the page. PGCC developed
the new Web presence for its financial aid information in partnership
with Sallie Mae, Inc. For more information regarding financial aid,
call 301-322-0014 or visit the financial aid Web page at www.
pgcc.edu/financialaid.
Prince George’s Community
College is a comprehensive, public, post-secondary institution that
provides high quality academic instruction, workforce development
and continuing education to the citizens of Prince George’s County
and surrounding areas. The college
awards associate’s degrees, letters
of recognition and program certificates. For more information, visit
the college Web site at www.
pgcc.edu.
17
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
June 30, 2006
NEW NAMES SPLASH EXTRA EXCITEMENT
AS FIRST-TIME WINNERS AND FAMILIAR
FACES LEAD 2006 BET AWARDS
Damon Wayans
B
ET has outdone the awards
arena again with its telecast of
the 2006 BET AWARDS.
Live from the Shrine Auditorium, it
was a star-filled night of excitement,
first-time winners and familiar faces.
Winners from the 2006 BET AWARDS
featured a mix of superlatives in
music, film, sports, philanthropy and
accomplishment. R&B legend Prince
captured his first-ever BET Award in
the category of Best Male R&B Artist;
as did newcomer Chris Brown as Best
New Artist; rapper T. I. for Best Male
Hip-Hop Artist; and Kirk Franklin as
Best Gospel Artist. Familiar favorite
Mary J. Blige was a two-time winner
for Best Female R&B Artist and for
Video of the Year (Be Without You) in
a tie with rapper Kanye West’s collaboration with actor Jamie Foxx on Gold
Digger. The West-Foxx tandem also
picked up BET hardware for Gold Digger in the Best Duet/Collaboration category. An encore telecast of the ’06
BET AWARDS is Friday, June 30 at
7:30p.m. ET/PT.
Hosted by actor/comedian Damon
Wayans, the night also featured
songstress Chaka Khan as BET Lifetime Achievement Award recipient;
and actor/activist Harry Belafonte as
recipient of the BET Humanitarian
Award. BET also unveiled the firstever BET ‘J’ Cool Like That Award,
named for the re-launched channel formerly named BET Jazz. R&B crooner
Anthony Hamilton was the inaugural
winner of that honor.
The following is a list of winners
from the 2006 BET AWARDS
(**Note—Viewers’ Choice winner not
listed since voting continues real-time
during live telecast):
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: T. I.
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Missy
Elliott
Best Male R&B Artist: Prince
Best Female R&B Artist: Mary J.
Blige
Best Gospel Artist: Kirk Franklin
Best New Artist: Chris Brown
Best Duet/Collaboration: Kanye West
featuring Jamie Foxx (Gold Digger)
Best Group: Black Eyed Peas
Best Actor: Terrence Howard
Best Actress: Taraji P. Henson
Male Athlete of the Year: LeBron
James (Basketball)
Female Athlete of the Year: Venus
Williams (Tennis)
BET ‘J’ Cool Like That: Anthony
Hamilton
Video of the Year (tie): Mary J. Blige
(Be Without You); Kanye West
featuring Jamie Foxx (Gold Digger)
Viewers’ Choice: Chris Brown
ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is
Chris Brown
Mary J. Blige
the nation’s leading provider of quality
entertainment, music, news and public
affairs television programming for the
African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than
81 million households according to
Nielsen media research, and can be
seen in the United States, Canada and
the Caribbean.
ARENA STAGE ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE
SUMMERTIME RUN OF 3 MO’ DIVAS!
A
rena Stage announces its
“double-the-diva” cast for
Broadway
writer/director
Marion J. Caffey’s 3 Mo’ Divas!, a
musical celebration of class, sass and
style. Due to the extraordinary vocal
demands of the production, Caffey has
assembled a double cast. “It’s not just
three divas, it’s actually six incredible
divas for an eight-show week,” said
Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly
Smith. The divas, whose versatility
and experience make a powerful combination in this D.C. area premiere, are
Gretha Boston, Andrea Jones-Sojola,
N’Kenge, Nina Negri, Jamet Pittman
and Vivian Reed. Caffey, who directed
the 2005 Arena Stage revival of
Crowns and created the international
hit Three Mo’ Tenors, will direct and
choreograph 3 Mo’ Divas!, collaborating with his musical partner Joseph
Joubert (Three Mo’ Tenors, The Color
Purple). The production had its successful world premiere at San Diego
Repertory Theatre in March 2004,
where N’Kenge, Pittman and Reed
were part of the original cast. Supported by an onstage orchestra, 3 Mo’
Divas!, a 2004 Los Angeles Times’
Critics Choice, spans eight musical
forms and features 400 years of music
in a single evening—everything a
music lover could want, from Bach to
Cole Porter, Gershwin to Cab Calloway and Ellington to The Supremes.
18
Performances begin Wednesday,
July 12, and run through Sunday,
August 13 in the Kreeger Theater.
Tickets are available now by calling
the Arena Stage Sales Office at (202)
488-3300
or
visiting
www.
arenastage.org.
3 MO’ DIVAS
SPECIAL EVENTS,
TICKET INFORMATION AND
PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
SOUTHWEST NIGHT
FRIDAY, JULY 28 AT 8:00PM
Arena Stage offers its neighbors
$20 tickets for one designated Friday
performance per production. Those
who live or work in Southwest D.C.
may purchase up to four of these
deeply discounted tickets, based on
availability. Proof of residency or employment must be presented at the time
of purchase. Southwest Nights are
sponsored by Waterfront Associates.
wild and join in August 1st for a special Culture Cool summer event.
(Shirt and shoes required.)
Tickets range from $55 to $74,
with discounts available for students,
groups, persons with disabilities and
senior citizens. HOTTIX, a limited
number of half-price, day-of-performance tickets, are available from
90-30 minutes before curtain prior to
every performance.
FIVETWENTYFIVE TICKETS,
a limited number of $10 tickets for
patrons aged 5-25, are available for
purchase until 5:25 on the day of performance. (For matinee weekend performances, tickets can be purchased
on the day before the performance.)
COOL NIGHT, HOT DIVAS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1 AT 7:30PM
Box Office (202) 488-3300
Group Sales Hotline (202) 488-4380
TTY for patrons hard of hearing
(202) 484-0247
Info for patrons with disabilities
(202) 554-9066
For this special night in association with Cultural Tourism DC, 3 Mo’
Divas! audiences will cool off with
iced tea and free souvenir fans. Following the show, Arena Stage tickets
will be awarded to the audience
members with the Zaniest Summer
Outfits! From funky shades and
Aloha shirts to flip-flops and
board shorts, let your imagination run
Sunday at 7:00PM Tuesday &
Wednesday at 7:30PM
Thursday, Friday & Saturday at
8:00PM
Saturday & Sunday matinees at
2:00PM
Weekday matinees at 12:00PM
July 21 & 26
PERFORMANCE TIMES
JOHN ADAMS ORFF ENSEMBLE TO
RECEIVE $25,000 MUSIC FUND
A
n Ohio woman who heard about the John Adams Orff Ensemble is
giving John Adams Elementary School $25,000 to establish the Janice Baker Cook Fund for Music to benefit the endeavor.
“I was so impressed with the dedication and hard work of (John Adams
Music Teacher) Wes McCune over so many years, and the results he has
achieved, that I felt I wanted to be part of this program that enriches the lives
of so many children,” said Columbus resident Beverly Rawles, who learned
of the ensemble through McCune’s sister, who also lives in Columbus. During a family visit, McCune met Rawles, who read some of the teacher’s grant
proposals and decided to assist the ensemble by setting up a fund.
The school has received the first $5,000 and will receive the rest over the
summer, McCune said. “The funds were designated by Mrs. Rawles for specific requests I had proposed, which include replacement of instruments, mallets, recording equipment and improvements for performance space.”
Rawles named the fund in honor of her piano teacher, Janice Baker Cook,
who “is nationally recognized and has been acclaimed by leaders in the field
of music as an ‘awesome teacher’ for her skills in reaching and motivating
students of all ages,” Rawles said. “Janice teaches the student first and then
the instrument. She has a passion for music and for teaching. Her love of
music inspires her students to reach for excellence.”
Cook is a nationally certified piano teacher with a private studio in Worthington, Ohio. She serves as a judge for the National Guild of Piano Teachers, frequently leads music educator workshops and is a presenter at state and
national conferences. She was selected as the first recipient of the Ohio Certified Music Teacher of the Year award.
One of Cook’s most distinguishing characteristics is her quest for new
techniques and methods of teaching music, Rawles said. “It is with great pride
that I have selected Mrs. Cook to honor in this way for her love of children
and for enriching their lives through music.”
The John Adams Orff Ensemble consists of third-, fourth- and fifth-grade
students who meet every day before school to play pitched and non-pitched
percussion instruments.
The repertoire of the group includes a variety of styles. In addition to
works composed specifically for this instrumentation, they learn and perform
folk music, adaptations of classical compositions and improvised pieces.
This group represents a wide range of socioeconomic, academic and ethnic backgrounds. Established in 1995, the program averages an enrollment of
20 students. Student selection is based on the recommendations of the music
department and classroom teachers and referrals from the school’s support
team, consisting of a psychologist, social worker and guidance counselor.
The group performs frequently at school and in the community. They have
performed for business partners, civic organizations, retirement homes,
telethons and national and international conferences. The Orff Ensemble performed at the opening concert of the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
with jazz legend Billy Taylor.
For more information, contact the school at 703-824-6970.
FAIRFAX
SAXOPHONE
QUARTET
SUMMER
CONCERT
T
he City of Fairfax Band
Association, and Music Director, Robert Pouliot, will
present a Fairfax Saxophone Quartet Summer Concert free on
Thursday, July 20 at 8:00PM at
the City Hall lawn, 10455 Armstrong St, Fairfax, VA
The City of Fairfax Band Association continues their tradition of
free summer concerts on Thursday nights in July at Veteran’s Amphitheater on City Hall’s lawn at
10455 Armstrong Street.
The July 20 concert features
the Fairfax Saxophone Quartet,
one of the Association’s small ensembles. Enjoy a free concert
under the stars. Bring a chair or
blanket to sit on! Note this is
weather permitting.
For more information, contact
the City of Fairfax Band Association office at 703-757-0220 or online at www.fairfaxband.org. Or,
contact the City of Fairfax Parks &
Recreation Department at 703385-7858.
Sponsored by City of Fairfax
Parks & Recreation Dept
US AIR FORCE
SUMMER
CONCERT
SERIES
T
he United States Air
Force Band, Silver
Wings will perform on
the West Steps of the United
States Capitol, Washington,
DC Tuesday July 18, beginning at 8:00PM.
The United States Air Force
Band, Diplomats will perform
at the Smithsonian National
Air and Space Museum, 6th
Street and Independence Avenue SW on Wednesday July
19, beginning at 12:30PM.
The United States Air Force
Band, Max Impact will perform at the Sylvan Theater located at the base of the Washington Monument, Washington
DC on Friday July 21, beginning at 8:00PM.
These concerts are free and
offered as a public service;
tickets are not required. For
more information call The
United States Air Force Band’s
Concert Line at (202) 7675658 or visit our homepage:
www.usafband.com.
THE METRO HERALD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
June 30, 2006
THE COCA-COLA PRESENTS THE
2006 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL ADDS
JAMIE FOXX TO ALL-STAR LINE-UP
T
he Coca-Cola Presents the
2006 Essence Music Festival
today announced the addition
of Jamie Foxx to the star-studded lineup of performances on Sunday, July
2nd, which also features Chris
Brown, Jaheim, New Edition and
Bobby Brown, Steve Harvey and
Doug E. Fresh and the Pioneers of
Hip-Hop including Slick Rick, Sugar
Hill Gang, MC Lyte, Biz Markie,
Whodini and Dana Dane.
“The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006
Essence Music Festival is reinforcing
its standing as the largest gathering of
Jamie Foxx
African-American musical talent in
the world with the welcome addition of Jamie Foxx, a multi-talented performer who is adored by the ESSENCE audience,” said Michelle Ebanks,
President of Essence Communications, Inc. “As a both a main-stage performer, and a participant in the launch of our Essence Cares! initiative, Jamie
Foxx is fully on board with this year’s theme—a ‘bigger party with a deeper
purpose’.”
Jazz musician Mike Phillips has also been added to the Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival roster of Lounge acts.
Other scheduled appearances at the Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence
Music Festival include: Cedric the Entertainer, Charlie Wilson, Earth, Wind
& Fire, Keyshia Cole, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Mo’Nique, Toni Braxton, and Yolanda Adams.
Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com, 800-488-5252 or 713-629-3700 in
Houston. Tickets are $45, $56, $67, $72, $83, $110 and $165. All tickets are
subject to additional service charges. For hotel accommodations, call 888508-5731. For more information, see the July 2006 issue of ESSENCE or log
on to essence.com.
The Coca-Cola Company is the Festival’s presenting sponsor for the ninth
consecutive year. The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival’s
major sponsors are Budweiser/Bud Light, Kraft Foods, Chevrolet, McDonald’s
and Verizon Communications. In addition, Level Vodka, Southwest Airlines,
U.S. Army and Wells Fargo will serve as official sponsors for the Festival.
The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival is produced by
Essence Festivals LLC in association with Festival Productions of New
Orleans. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications
Inc. (ECI). ECI is also the publisher of ESSENCE magazine. ESSENCE,
after 36 years, continues to be the preeminent lifestyle magazine for AfricanAmerican women.
FREE ART EXHIBIT CELEBRATING
PEACE PREMIERES AT UNION STATION
A
n exhibit featuring 83 original works of art by youth from around the
world will premier at historic Union Station July 1-15, 2006. The
Sister Cities International Showcase of Young Artists exhibit features
original works of art by youth ages 13-18.
Created around the theme, “What does global citizenship look like?” this
vibrant and inspiring artwork shows how young people view the world and
their role within it as members of a global society. The artwork can be found
in Union Station’s West Hall and is free and open to the public. The exhibit is
sponsored by Americans for the Arts, Sister Cities International, and Union
Station. Donors Anne Galloway, Margaret C. Honey and Dorothy Zammitt
also contributed to make this event possible.
The exhibit coincides with the Sister Cities International 50th Anniversary
Conference being held in Washington, D.C. July 13-15, 2006. The historic
event will bring 1,200 delegates from around the United States and the globe
to honor outstanding sister city programs, advocate for legislation that will
expand the number of international exchanges, attend the National Summit on
Citizen Diplomacy, and plan new ways to reach out in peace and understanding.
Since 1988, the Showcase of Young Artists has encouraged youth from
around the world to express the mission of Sister Cities International through
artwork. After the premier at Union Station closes, the artwork will go on tour
around the United States and be hosted by local sister city programs.
ABOUT SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL
Representing more than 2,500 communities in 134 countries, Sister Cities
International is a citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad. Begun in 1956 after a
White House summit where U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for
people-to-people exchanges, sister city partnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grassroots level. Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation by focusing on sustainable development, youth and education, arts
and culture, humanitarian assistance and economic growth programs. For
more information, go to www.sister-cities.org
THE METRO HERALD
SILVER SPRING STAGE PRESENTS
“WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF”
S
ilver Spring Stage presents the
electric, funny, compelling,
powerful, and award-winning
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee. The play, directed by Seth
Ghitelman and produced by Brenda
Ryan, depicts one saucy night at the
home of a mild college professor and
his racy wife entertaining a young couple with drinks, seduction and revelations. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
will run weekends through July 23.
Silver Spring Stage is located in the
METRO DC AREA
TO SUPPORT
HOPEFEST: A
BENEFIT FOR
HURRICANE
KATRINA
SURVIVORS
G
ospel artists and musicians, plus leaders from
the church and business
communities will take the stage at
HopeFest to benefit Hurricane Katrina survivors. The event will be
open to the public and held Saturday, July 8, from Noon to
7:00PM on the grounds of Mount
Ephraim Baptist Church at 610
Largo Road in Upper Marlboro,
Maryland.
“This is the first time that musicians in the faith community have
united in this area to help raise
awareness and funds for Hurricane
Katrina survivors,” said Phillip
Carter, event coordinator and
founder of Phillip Carter and the
Sounds of Victory Ministries.
“This is an awesome opportunity
for the metro DC community to experience great food, fun and fellowship while helping others.”
Contributions and donations
raised at HopeFest will be used to
support Christ in Action (www.
christinaction. com) and the Convoy of Compassion (www.
wootencommunications.com).
The Convoy delivers much—
needed items to Hurricane Katrina
survivors, many who are still displaced in areas hardest hit such as
Pass Christian, Mississippi and
surrounding areas.
“On our third trip to the region,
we’ll make deliveries to Pass
Christian and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to deliver more help and
hope to those in need,” said Glenn
Wooten, founder of the Convoy of
Compassion and president of
Wooten Communications. “The
Convoy of Compassion serves not
only as a means of getting supplies
to the region, but to make the public aware of the plight that people
face daily because of this devastation. We want to keep a spotlight
on this problem.”
HopeFest is supported by
Wooten Communications; Phillip
Carter and the Sounds of Victory
Ministries (www.sovministries.
com); the Christian Music & Ministry Network (a foundation that
supports Christian independent
artist and outreach ministries).
For morel information 301520-6656, 301-567-8237
Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower
level (next to the CVS) at Colesville
Road and University Boulevard. Ticket
prices range from $11 to $15. Performances are Friday and Saturday at
8:00PM and Sunday matinees on July
9 and July 23 at 2:00PM. Tickets can
be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling
301-593-6036.
Winner of the 1963 Tony Award for
Best Play, Edward Albee broke new
ground in his first original full-length
play into the fragile American psyche.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was
viewed as revolutionary and made
Albee the second most produced playwright in the country, after Shakespeare. He also shocked Broadway audiences with a level of intensity and
profanity unprecedented for the American stage. The profanity was so striking that though the Pulitzer Prize Committee selected the play for the 1962
drama prize, the Columbia University
trustees, who oversee the award, overruled the committee and denied the
award because of the play’s explicit
language, interest in “taboo” subjects,
and controversy. Similar to his oneacts of the era, Albee wrote in
metaphors of the contemporary period.
In October 1962, the play opened on
Broadway and nuclear war was nearly
breached with the Cuban Missile Crisis. The character of Nick, though
never spoken out loud in the play, is allegedly named after Nikita Kruschev.
The characters George and Martha
hold the same names as the country’s
first president and his wife. This represented the conflict of traditional and
modern, generational or East and West
perceptions of the world. In1966, Mike
Nichols directed the movie version
featuring a famous warring couple
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor,
who would win her second Oscar.
George Segal and Sandy Dennis, also
an Oscar winner, rounded out the cast.
Warner Brothers had to make some
edits to the language in order to pass
the censors. The film was one of a
handful that precipitated the Motion
Picture Association of America establishing the current rating system. The
film remains the only one in history to
receive a nomination (13 in total) in
every single eligible Oscar category.
There have been numerous revivals,
including a 2005 production that won
Bill Irwin a Tony for lead actor. Cold
War analogies aside, the play transcends a specific time and remains so
affecting because of the very nature of
human relations, its cruelty, fragility
and the power of reconciliation.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is
set on the campus of a small, New
England university. It opens with
George (Craig Miller) and Martha
(Tamar Phillips) coming home from a
party at her father’s house. The two of
them have a complex relationship
driven by love, disappointment, and
control. Even at the late hour of two
o’clock in the morning, they are expecting guests: the new biology professor Nick (Aidan Hughes) and his wife
Honey (Annette Kalicki). The two are
in for a surprise as George and Martha
are on for a full-scale battle. In the first
act, entitled “Fun and Games” by
Albee, Martha and George try to fight
and humiliate each other in new, inventive ways. They fuel each other’s
jealousies by competing for their
guests’ attention as they relate different
versions of their life story. In the second act, “Walpurgisnacht,” the games
get nastier. George and Martha attack
Honey and Nick, attempting to force
them to reveal their dirty secrets and
true selves. Finally, in the last act, “The
Exorcism,” everyone’s secrets have
been revealed and purged. Honey and
Nick go home, leaving Martha and
George to sort out the remnants of their
marriage.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is
presented by special arrangement with
Samuel French Inc.
CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR ART CONTEST
FOR PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY
P
eople of all ages with epilepsy
are encouraged to submit original artwork to the “Expressions
of Courage” art contest. Sponsored
by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., in
partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, the contest highlights the significant effect epilepsy can have on individuals and the courage many show in
facing it. The first Expressions of
Courage art contest began in 2002.
• Who can participate? All people
diagnosed with epilepsy are encouraged to enter original art.
• What are the artistic requirements?
Artwork may be created in ink,
pencil, crayon, marker, paint or any
other flat medium, including computer-generated art.
• Where do I send entries? Entries
should be mailed to: Expressions of
Courage, c/o Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., 389 Pittstown Road,
Pittstown, NJ 08867.
• How long does the contest last? Entries will be accepted through July
31, 2006.
• How and when do I find out who
will win? A panel of judges will
review the artwork and winning en-
tries will be posted on the contest
website and included in a calendar,
coffee table book or note cards
available at physician offices nationwide. Winners will be announced in November during National Epilepsy Awareness Month.
• How do I find an entry form or
more information? Entry forms
and more information can be found
at www.expressionsofcourage.
com or by calling 800-224-4935.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition
that affects approximately 2.7 million
Americans with nearly 200,000 newly
diagnosed cases each year. Epilepsy
can develop at any time in life, but
there is a particular susceptibility in
young children and the elderly.
Seizures can be anything from a momentary disruption of the senses, to
short periods of unconsciousness or
staring spells, to convulsions. They
are caused by a sudden change in how
the cells of the brain send electrical
signals to each other. Currently, there
is no cure for epilepsy; however,
seizure medications help control
seizure activity in the majority of people with this condition.
19
COMMUNITY NEWS
June 30, 2006
ALEXANDRIA
ALEXANDRIA ANNOUNCES
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
A
ll Alexandria City government
offices will be closed on Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4.
The Alexandria Circuit, General
District, and Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Courts and the Clerk of
Court’s Office will also be closed on
Tuesday, July 4.
Commonwealth of Virginia offices
located in Alexandria, including the
DMV Office at 2681 Mill Road, will
be closed on Monday, July 3, and
Tuesday, July 4.
All Alexandria Health Department
offices and facilities will also close on
Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4,
including The Flora Krause Casey
Health Center at 1200 N. Howard St.
and the Adolescent Health Center at
3701 W. Braddock Road.
City recreation centers will be
closed on Tuesday, July 4, except for
the Chinquapin Recreation Center,
which will open from 8:00AM–
5:00PM.
City libraries will be closed on
Tuesday, July 4.
DASH bus service will operate on a
Sunday schedule on Tuesday, July 4.
Residential trash and recycling will
not be collected on Tuesday, July 4.
Collection services will be delayed by
one day between Tuesday and Thursday.
The Alexandria Police Department
will suspend enforcement of parking
restrictions at metered spaces, as well
as time restrictions in residential permit parking districts and other areas
with signed parking time limits, on
July 4. HOV restrictions on Washington Street and U. S. Route 1 will be
lifted on July 4.
The Alexandria Office on Women
emergency hotlines will be fully
staffed and operational on Tuesday,
July 4. The domestic violence hotline,
703-838-4911, and sexual assault hotline, 703-683-7273, as with all Office
on Women hotlines, operate 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year.
BAND CONCERT AT
ORONOCO BAY PARK
T
he 257th Army Band, “The
Band of the Nation’s Capital”,
will present a free public concert on Saturday, July 8th at 6:00pm
at Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town,
Alexandria as part of the city’s annual
Anniversary Celebration. Under the
baton of Commander and Conductor
Chief Warrant Officer Sheila M. Klotz
the band will perform a diverse program of classical favorites, military
marches and patriotic selections. The
program will also highlight several
vocal standards with the band’s featured vocalist Specialist Vicky Golding
as well as clarinetist SSG Brian D.
Jones who will perform Artie Shaw’s
Concerto for Clarinet. Oronoco Bay
Park is located on the Potomac River at
701 North Lee St. in Old Town
Alexandria, Virginia. As always, this
concert by the 257th Army Band is free
and open to the general public. For
more information call 703-838-4844 or
703-838-4686 for more information
about this and other events associated
with Alexandria’s Anniversary Celebration.
To contact the 257th Army Band
call 202-685-7889.
20
AREA WAL-MART DONATES
$7,500 TO FIGHT HUNGER
E
mployees at the Kingstowne
Boulevard Wal-Mart recently
donated $7,500 to two Alexandria-area food banks, as a part of a national effort by Wal-Mart to help combat hunger through America’s Second
Harvest Network. The Capital Area
Food Bank received $5,000 and United
Community Ministries received
$2,500.
Hunger is a serious issue in the
Washington metro area; there are approximately 633,000 area residents at
risk of, or experiencing hunger, according to estimates from the U.S.
Census Bureau. Wal-Mart knows that
hunger has a lasting impact on not only
children and elderly, but on the entire
nation. As a part of their partnership
with America’s Second Harvest Network, Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUBS
will match the first $5 million raised in
their stores and clubs across the nation.
Founded in 1979, the America’s
Second Harvest Network now feeds
more than 25 million people each year
in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Through a Network of more than 200 food banks and
Food Rescue Organizations, nearly 2
billion pounds of food are secured and
distributed yearly. An America’s Second Harvest Network Member serves
nearly every county in the U.S. making
it the largest charitable hunger relief
organization in the nation.
JULY GENEALOGY MEETING
T
he July 18th meeting of the
Mount Vernon Genealogical
Society (MVGS) will be in
room 112 of the Hollin Hall Senior
Center in Alexandria, Virginia. The
meeting will start at 1:00p.m. and is
free and open to the public. The meeting will feature a presentation entitled
“DNA Testing for Genealogists”. The
program will be presented by Linda
Thompson Jonas.
Can DNA testing do anything for
me? How can it help me break through
my genealogical brick walls? Can I use
it to solve problems in all of my genealogical lines? What types of tests
are available, and how are they different? What’s the difference between the
various testing companies, and which
one should I use? Can I use DNA testing if I’m a woman? How can I contribute to the scientific knowledge
available, and why would I want to?
Linda Jonas will answer these questions and more. She will bring actual
reports from the testing companies and
show what you can learn from the latest DNA tests. See the amazing genealogical discoveries you can make
from the DNA test results of people
you don’t even know!
Linda Thompson Jonas has been
conducting full-time genealogical research for more than 30 years. She is a
former president of the British Isles
Family History Society-U.S.A. and is
co-author with Paul Milner of A Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering Your
English Ancestors (Betterway Books,
2000) and A Genealogist’s Guide to
Discovering Your Scottish Ancestors
(Betterway Books, 2002). Linda specializes in finding immigrant origins.
She is a former volunteer at the Immigrant Genealogical Society and was a
staff trainer at the Los Angeles Family
History Center. She lectures on all aspects of immigrant research including
passenger lists, naturalization records,
and more. She is particularly sought
for her expertise in finding the origins
of Colonial Americans. Linda is a regional coordinator for the International
Society of Genetic Genealogy
[ISOGG], and is conducting several
DNA projects of historical importance.
She is co-administrator for the Thompson DNA Project (a surname project)
and for the British Isles DNA Project
(a geographical project). She is
uniquely qualified to help participants
use DNA with traditional genealogy to
find the origins of their ancestors.
Linda is currently the president of the
Mount Vernon Genealogical Society
and is also the Director of the McLean
Family History Center which specializes in colonial immigrant ancestry.
The Hollin Hall Senior Center is located 4 miles south of Alexandria just
off Fort Hunt Road at 1500 Shenandoah Road in Alexandria, Virginia.
Additional information about the
meeting and MVGS can be found at
www.MVGenealogy.org/. Any questions about the program should be directed to Harold McClendon at 703360-0920.
FAIRFAX COUNTY
MANASSAS MUSEUM
WINS AWARD
T
he Manassas Museum System
is the 2006 recipient of the
Joseph L. Harsh Award presented by the Northern Virginia Association for History in recognition of its
diverse programs, which recognize and
present the history of Manassas. The
award was presented to the Manassas
City Council during its meeting on
Monday, June 26.
In nominating the Museum for the
award, Fairfax County historian and
past co-recipient Ross D. Netherton
said, “Working partnerships between
the Museum System and the City’s
schools, its service organizations and
its tourism facilities make it possible
for residents and visitors to appreciate
and celebrate the City’s rich historical
and cultural heritage.”
Netherton also cited the Museum’s
wide-ranging focus in his nomination.
“Its properties and programs illustrate
Manassas’ history over more than two
centuries. They do not freeze the City’s
character in one period of history, or
around any particular set of notable
personalities.”
Named for the first recipient,
George Mason University history professor and acclaimed Civil War author
Joseph L. Harsh, past recipients of the
Harsh award have included the historian for the City of Alexandria, and the
Arlington County historian that cofounded the Black Heritage Museum.
The Northern Virginia Association
for History (NVAH) was established in
1979 to increase public appreciation of
the region’s history. As an “umbrella
organization,” it provides a forum for
groups and individuals working in
archives, libraries, museums and in independent research.
CITY OF FAIRFAX BAND
CONCERT
T
he City of Fairfax Band Association continues their tradition
of free summer concerts on
Thursday nights in June and July at
Veteran’s Amphitheater on City Hall’s
lawn at 10455 Armstrong Street.
The July 6 concert features the
Rebel Run Dixieland Band, one of the
Association’s small ensembles. Enjoy
a free concert under the stars. Bring a
chair or blanket to sit on! Note this is
weather permitting.
For more information, contact the
City of Fairfax Band Association office at 703-757-0220 or online at
www.fairfaxband.org. Or, contact
the City of Fairfax Parks & Recreation
Department at 703-385-7858.
CREATIVE TOOLS
FOR SENIORS TO SHARE
FAMILY SNAPSHOTS
T
he Reston Community Center
offers a variety of photo preservation and presentation classes
for senior adults this summer at RCC
Hunters Woods. From archiving to
digital photography to slide show presentations, there’s something for all
tastes.
In “Digital Photography and Photo
Editing” (Monday-Friday, August
7–11, 10:00AM–12:30PM), students
learn about the world of digital cameras, scanners, photographic file formats, and editing and repairs. The
course is $75 for residents and employees of Small District 5, and $150
for non-residents.
Two courses, “Adobe Photoshop
Elements” and “Preparing a Slide
Show with MS PowerPoint”, introduce
seniors with intermediate computer
skills to digital photo editing and presentation. Offered
August
2–3,
“Adobe Photoshop Elements” covers
tools, filters, layers and special effects
($30 residents/employees, $50 nonresidents). On July 25 and 26,
“Preparing a Slide Show” focuses on
creating common slide presentations
and incorporating art and graphs($30
residents/employees, $60 non-residents).
Photo classes for senior adults are
listed on pages 46 and 47 of the RCC
Summer Program Guide. To register,
please call 703-476-4500 or 800-8281120 (TTY). For more information,
contact Shawnna Molina, senior adult
programs director, at 703-390-6157.
MASTER SINGERS
OF VIRGINIA
T
he Master Singers of Virginia is
pleased to announce auditions
for its 12th season. Singers of
all voice types are highly encouraged
to reply.
The Master Singers of Virginia, directed by Dr. Erik Reid Jones, is the
premiere a cappella choral ensemble in
Northern Virginia, concentrating on
20th and 21st century choral music.
Some of the music to be performed in
the upcoming season includes Rachmaninoff’s “Vespers”, Britten’s “Ceremony of the Carols”, and Aaron Copland’s “In the Beginning.”
The Master Singers perform three
major concert programs each season as
well as other engagements throughout
Northern Virginia and the greater
Washington, DC area. The upcoming
season will include engagements at
both the Waterford Concert Series in
Waterford, Virginia, and the Alden
Theatre Concert Series in McLean, VA
For further information about the
Master Singers of Virginia, visit
www.msva.org. To schedule an audition call Diana Manfredi, President, at
571-213-6306.
such as how to lower sodium intake,
how to find reliable nutrition information on the Internet and how to choose
the healthiest cooking oil. Bilingual
assistance is also available
The Senior Nutrition Program, part
of the Department of Health and
Human Services, sponsors the hotline.
ST. MARY’S CITY
TIDEWATER ARCHAEOLOGY
DAYS PLANNED
T
idewater Archaeology Days, on
Saturday and Sunday, July
29 and 30, 2006, offer the public an opportunity to explore archaeology at Historic St. Mary’s City, one of
the best-preserved colonial sites in the
nation. Visitors can help uncover bits
of Maryland’s past, take special guided
tours of the archaeology laboratory,
and discover how researchers use historic and archaeological evidence to
re-create the past at the museum.
Special activities are scheduled
from 10a.m. to 4p.m. both days. Tidewater Archaeology activities are included in museum admission ($7.50
adults, $5.00 seniors and students,
$3.50 ages 6-12) along with entrance
to all museum exhibits, including a
representative 17th-century tall ship,
the Godiah Spray Plantation, the State
House of 1676, and the Woodland Indian Hamlet.
For more information, call 240895-4990 or 800-762-1634 or visit
www.stmaryscity.org.
WASHINGTON, DC
SOLDIER-LED WALKING
TOURS AT FORT WARD
MUSEUM AND
HISTORIC SITE
T
he free soldier-led walking
tours will be conducted by
guides in period uniform. Fort
Ward is the best preserved of the 68
major Union forts which defended
Washington, D.C., during the Civil
War. Today, nearly 90% of the Fort’s
original earthwork walls remain, and
the Northwest Bastion has been authentically restored to its original appearance. The tours will introduce visitors to the history of the Defenses of
Washington, the building and role of
Fort Ward, 19th-century fortification
engineering, and the troops who were
stationed in this area during the Civil
War. Walking shoes are recommended.
This event will take place on Saturday, July 8, 2006 from 10AM to
2PM and is free and open to the general public with no reservations required. Fort Ward Museum & Historic
Site is located at 4301 West Braddock
Road, Alexandria, VA.
Call 703-838-4848, for more information.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION
PROGRAM OFFERS FREE
NUTRITION HOTLINE
S
eniors and their caregivers can
get diet and nutrition questions
answered by a registered dietitian by calling the County’s free Senior
Nutrition Hotline at 240-777-1100.
The new service is available Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11a.m.
Information is available on topics
THE METRO HERALD
SPORTS & RECREATION
June 30, 2006
NBA AND CAREERBUILDER.COM TEAM UP
TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY, RECRUITMENT
AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
NBA Legends in Business (from left to right) Dave Bing, Jamal Mashburn,
CareerBuilder.com COO Brent Rasmussen, Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins and
Julius Erving
T
he NBA and CareerBuilder.
com recently announced a new
partnership committed to promoting diversity recruitment among
employers and career development
among young people. The NBA and
CareerBuilder.com will highlight their
new relationship by unveiling the first
“Legends in Business” team, which
will reach more than 100 employers
and over 100,000 potential employees.
This new agreement will be supported through a variety of initiatives,
including an overhaul of the NBA Employment Website, career-oriented
content on NBA.com, various job
fairs, and employer conferences.
The team includes NBA Legends
Dave Bing, Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Jamal Mashburn, and Dominique
Wilkins, who were selected for their
success in business after basketball.
This team of NBA Legends will share
its knowledge and expertise in career
development and emphasize the importance of diversity in the workplace starting today with an event at the world’s
only NBA Store in New York City. At
the event, the “Legends in Business”
team will be speaking to a group of students from New Heights, a non-profit
educational organization based out of
New York, about the importance of education and career development.
“The ‘Legends in Business’ team is
proud to reunite with the NBA on this
initiative,” said Dominique Wilkins.
“In our years since playing in the NBA,
we have each experienced firsthand the
value of diversity hiring within our
own organizations and business ventures so we are pleased to join forces
with the NBA and CareerBuilder.com
in order to extend and promote this important message to various other employers and potential employees.”
“Our partnership with the NBA is
part of CareerBuilder.com’s commitment to serving the employment needs
of the communities around us,” said
Brent Rasmussen, COO of CareerBuilder.com. “Combining the resources of the nation’s largest job site
and a global sports giant like the NBA
will help to raise awareness of issues
that are critical to today’s and tomorrow’s workforce. The ‘Legends in
Business’ team brings together the talents and insights of leaders on and off
the court to reinforce a positive message to employers and workers alike.”
In the U.S., minorities are expected
to make up 34 percent of the labor force
by 2012. Studies have shown that diversity increases a company’s success,
positively impacts company culture,
and helps companies to improve relationships with their customers. The
NBA, a leader in diversity hiring as ev-
THE METRO HERALD
idenced by Richard Lapchick’s Racial
& Gender Report Card, and CareerBuilder.com are dedicated to educating
employers and employees about the
important role that diversity hiring
practices plays in the workplace.
Since retiring from the NBA, the
“Legends in Business” team has collectively experienced success in a wide
variety of business initiatives and ventures. Julius Erving retired from professional basketball in 1987 and has
since divided his time between entrepreneurial projects and community
service efforts. Most visibly, Erving is
the president of The Erving Group, a
private investment company. He also
serves on the Board of Directors for
several companies including Saks, Inc.
and Fusion Telecommunications.
Dominique Wilkins is a part owner
& VP of Basketball for the Atlanta
Hawks and works in various management functions within the organization’s
basketball and business areas. Wilkins
is also a partner in a mortgage company,
Exclusive Metro Mortgage, and a principal in a firm that is marketing a basketball shooting improvement device.
Clyde Drexler is involved in various
business projects including real estate
ventures, product endorsements, and
airport concessionaire investments. In
addition, he owns and operates
“Drexler’s World Famous BBQ &
Grill” and serves as a broadcaster, covering all Houston Rockets home games,
for FSN Houston and KNWS Ch. 51.
Jamal Mashburn has numerous investments that span a variety of industries, but his most significant venture is
his ownership of five automotive dealerships in Central Kentucky, including
Toyota/Scion,
Lexus,
Nissan,
Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep, and Porsche.
Mashburn also has an ownership stake
in Jackson Plastics, Inc., a Certified
Minority Business Enterprise which
produces plastic injection molding
parts for automobile manufacturers.
Dave Bing founded a steel company called the Bing Group in 1980,
which is currently one of the largest
African American-owned businesses
in the United States. He also went on
to acquire Superb Manufacturing, a
$28 million-per year metal stamping
company, as well as a small construction firm. During his offseasons while
playing in the NBA, Bing held management positions at the National Bank
of Detroit, Chrysler Corporation, and a
small steel company, where he taught
himself finance and deal-making.
For more information on the NBA,
visit http://NBA.com. For more
information about CareerBuilder.com
products and services, visit www.
careerbuilder.com.
LOCAL RUNNERS HEADED TO CHICAGO MARATHON
AS PART OF NEW BALANCE GLOBAL CENTENNIAL TEAM
J
eff Jorgensen of Washington,
D.C., and Robert Denmark of
Arlington, Virginia, have been
selected by New Balance to celebrate
its 100th anniversary in 2006, as
members of the New Balance Global
Centennial Team. They will join 98
other international runners of all ages
and backgrounds from 50 races around
the world to symbolize the global
spirit of runners—from elite to recreational—at a gathering in October
2006, at the LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon.
“We are thrilled to recognize athletes like Jeff and Robert for their ded-
ication to running and their success in
achieving their personal goals,” says
Scott Schoenfeld, New Balance Southeast regional sales representative. The
runners were selected for their essay
submissions on what New Balance
means to them.
As members of the New Balance
Global Centennial Team, Jorgensen
and Denmark will travel to the October 22, 2006, LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon and have the option to run
in that event. They will also receive a
commemorative centennial package
and be featured on New Balance’s centennial website.
RAVENS AND REED
AGREE ON
EXTENSION
FACTOID
T
he Baltimore Ravens announced a contract extension
for safety Ed Reed. It is a
seven-year contract extending his current contract six years. Reeds stats to
date:
Year
GP/S
TT
Solo
INTs
FR
FF
TDs PD
2002
16/16
86
69
*5-167
0
1
0
*13
2003
16/15
92
77
*7-132
0
0
0
*19
2004
16/16
89
80
*9-#358 321*17200510/
1040361-23000
2
1
*17
*1-23
0
0
*12
2005
10/10
40
*Led team and NFL
#NFL record
36
Both runners were recent participants in the George Washington
Parkway Classic in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 23, 2006. Jorgensen ran
his first 10k at the age of 12 with his
father, an avid runner. Denmark says
his world revolves around running.
New Balance Global Centennial
Team members will be selected from
50 partner races spread over five
continents that include more than
500,000 participants. For more information, visit www.nbteam100.
com.
For more information about New
Balance visit www.newbalance.com.
0
The Declaration
of Independence
was passed
on July 2, 1776,
but the
national holiday
is celebrated
on the 4th—
the day
it was
officially adopted.
21
CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS
June 30, 2006
TRUCK DRIVERS
Only $250 buys a
25-word classified ad in
98 newspapers across Virginia.
Call: The Metro Herald at
703-548-8891
OR
Virginia Press Services at
804-521-7571
to place your ad in the
AD NETWORK CLASSIFIEDS
ADOPTION
A Loving Couple wishes to adopt
newborn. Will provide a warm, wonderful, caring and loving home. Expenses
paid. Please call Karen and Ross at
1-800-706-3901.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
ALL CASH CANDY ROUTE. Do you
earn $800 in a day? Your own local
candy route. Includes 30 Machines and
Candy. All for $9,995. 1-888-745-3354.
Are you making $1,710 per week?
All cash vending routes with prime
locations available now! Under $9,000
investment required. Call Toll Free
(24–7) 800-963-2654.
EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS
Hiring 2006 Postal Jobs. $17.50$59.00 hour. Full Federal Benefits paid
training/ vacation. No experience necessary. Green Card ok. Fee. 866-9075285 x 776.
FINANCIAL SERVICES/
MONEY TO LEND
ANY CREDIT RATING! 1st & 2nd
Mortgages Fast! Low Rates! Easy
Payment Plans! No Upfront Fees! Apply
Free/Call Charles Toney (804) 364-3666
or toll-free (800) 401-1011. Aggressive
Mortgage.
• • • $5,000–$100,000 • • • FREE CASH
GRANTS—2006!
Personal
bills,
Schools, Business/Housing. Approximately $49 billion unclaimed 2005!
Almost Everyone Qualifies! Live Operators Listings 1-800-274-5086 Ext. 230.
HELP WANTED
GENERAL
Watkins Associates Needed. Flexible
hours. Earn $500–$1,000+/month PartTime. Start while keeping your current
job. No investment required. Free
details. www.K738.com.
A fun job! Now hiring 18-24 sharp guys
& girls free to travel coast to coast representing 150+ leading publications.
Two weeks paid training, transportation
provided. Return trip guaranteed. Call
Tina or Jim (800) 642-6147.
SECRET SHOPPERS NEEDED—Pose
as customers for store evaluations.
Local stores, restaurants & theaters.
Training provided. Flexible hours. Email
Required. Call Now! 1-800-585-9024
ext 6462.
Funeral Director: Tidewater Independent Firm seeking Virginia Funeral
Service Licensee. Immediate opening.
Competitive salary with prosperous
benefit package. Fax resume to Carter
Bell 757-274-1702 or e-mail carterbell
@woodlawngroup.com P.O. Box
12406 Norfolk, Va. 23502.
SALES
National company looking for
licensed Health agents to sell Guaranteed Acceptance Health Benefits.
No underwriting, level commissions, no
travel & no cold calling. Training & online
leads provided. If you’re not making at
least $1,000 per week call Vickie 866224-8450 ext. 1109.
22
DRIVER TRAINING—GET YOUR CDL!
TRAIN FOR CLASS “A” OR CLASS “B”.
Local and O-T-R jobs available for CDS
Grads! CDS Tractor Trailer Training
1-800-646-2374.
DRIVER: YOU WANT IT, WE HAVE IT!
Solo, teams, owner operators, company
drivers, students, recent grads, regional,
dedicated, long haul. Van, flatbed. Must
be 21 CRST Career Center. 800-9402778, www.driveforcrst.com.
Drivers: Did you average $1.88 in your
Tractor or $1.45 in your Straight Truck
last week? Our drivers did! Tri-State
Expedited 888-320-5424.
Driver—HOME WEEKENDS. Flatbed
Drivers can earn $950+/Week at PGT.
Great Benefits & Equipment. Students
with CDL-A welcome. Call 866-8383584.
COMPANY DRIVERS AND OWNER
OPERATORS WITH MINIMUM 1 YEAR
OTR EXPERIENCE, EAST COAST
OPERATION, NEW PAY SCALE,
WILLIAM EDWARDS, INC. 1-800-8763436.
Driver—HIRING QUALIFIED Drivers
for OTR positions. Food grade tanker,
no hazmat, no pumps, great benefits,
competitive pay & new equipment. Need
2 years experience. Call Bynum Transport for your opportunity today. 800-7417950.
DRIVERS—COMPANY DRIVERS—
“We Have It”—9 Paid Holidays-Vacation, Personal & Sick Pay, Health Benefits, 401K, Weekly Home Time. Average
$1250 plus weekly. Excellent Equipment
and More. We Need 3 years Experience, CDL-A, Hazmat, 3 Points or Less
on MVR. Call Bob, P&P Transport 866476-6843.
Been off the road a while? Want to get
back to driving over-the-road again? We
offer a “refresher” program for drivers
like you! For details call 1-800-441-4953
HEARTLAND
EXPRESS
www.
heartlandexpress.com.
WANT HOME MOST WEEKENDS
WITH MORE PAY? Heartland’s GREEN
MILE$ program! $.54/mile company
drivers and $1.26 for operators! 12
months OTR required. HEARTLAND
EXPRESS 1-800-441-4953 www.
heartlandexpress.com.
Driver—COVENANT TRANSPORT
has opportunities for CDL-A drivers in
your area! No matter what your experience level is, we have what you’re looking for. Now hiring Students, Solos,
Teams, Lease Purchase and O/Os. Call
today! 866-684-2519. EOE.
Drivers—$55,000 to start. Short Haul
Premium Pay, Benefits + Increases
every 6 months. CDL-A & T/T experience required. Call Anytime. 800-5460405 or 800-444-1272 x3005.
LAND FOR SALE
5 MINUTES TO LEXINGTON, VA—
2 to 6 acre mountain parcels from
$69,990. Incredible views! All Sites
perked, with underground utilities.
Ready For your second home or retirement Retreat! Owner 866-363-2697.
George Washington National Forest
Access—30+ Acres $87,990/STREAM
Build your cabin on this secluded
acreage close to 1 million acres of the
George Washington National Forest.
Close to Lexington & Clifton Forge.
Perked, utilities. Owner: 866-363-2697.
KING OF MOUNTAIN! 3 STATE
VIEWS! Potomac River Access. This
parcel has it all: top of the world, best of
the best, easy access to level site. Only
15 minutes to Cumberland, MD. Ready
to enjoy 23+ acres only $169,900!
Special Summer financing. CALL
TODAY TO SEE 1-800-888-1262.
MOUNTAIN LAND BARGAIN! PERFECT SUNRISE VIEW. Gated/Private/
Driveway In! SAVE THOUSANDS! 20+
Acres $139,900. Hardwood parcel. Very
easy access to pristine site to build or
camp. Minutes to stock trout lake. New
perc. Close to interstate. EZ financing.
Only one! Call Now! 1-877-777-4837.
PRIVATE 18 ACRE MOUNTAIN PARADISE—Scenic 18 acre parcel with
excellent 25 mile views. Perfect for your
country retreat. 2 minutes to Romney,
WV. Central Water. $84,500. Owner
866-347-1096.
LAND WANTED
LAND WANTED! Cash buyer seeks 50
acres or more w/development potential.
Special interest are property w/lakes,
streams, rivers, mountains, coastal/tidal
frontage. Will consider existing subdivisions, foreclosures, estates & bankruptcies. All inquiries confidential. E-mail to:
dmdrexler@cox.net or call 800-6422256.
MISCELLANEOUS
POOLS $688—New 2006 Factory
Specials! Huge 31’x19’ Pools! Pool
Packages Complete w/Deck, Fence,
Filter, Liner, Ladders! Factory Installation Required! Limited Supply! Call
24HRS. 1-800-447-7207.
Free DIRECTV Satellite, 4 rooms.
FREE TiVo/DVR. Add HDTV. 220 Channels + locals, packages from $29.99
month. Cheaper than cable TV. Switch
Today! 800-360-9901, Promo #14700.
Attend College Online from Home.
• Medical • Business • Paralegal • Computers • Criminal Justice. Job placement
assistance. Computer provided. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 866-858-2121.
www.OnlineTidewaterTech.com.
ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO YOU!!
All Brand New Power Wheelchairs,
Hospital Beds and Scooters. Immediate
Delivery. Call Toll Free 1-888-998-4111
to Qualify.
HOMEOWNERS WANTED! Kayak
Pools looking for Demo homesites to
display new maintenance free Kayak
pools. Save thousands of $$. Unique
opportunity! 100% financing available.
1-877-377-7665.
AIRLINES ARE HIRING—Train for high
paying Aviation Maintenance Career.
FAA approved program. Financial aid if
qualified—Job placement assistance.
CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance
(888) 349-5387.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
Lake Gaston VA/NC 350 miles
shoreline, FREE Lake Map/Buyers
Guide. Tanglewood Realty, Box 116,
Bracey,
Virginia
23219.
www.
TanglewoodRealty.com 1-800-3388816.
STEEL BUILDINGS
Arch Steel Buildings, Hurricane
Rated! FEMA grade. Widths of 25, 30,
40 & 50. Garage/Workshop/Storage.
Genuine SteelMaster® Buildings, factory direct! Call 1-800-341-7007. www.
SteelMasterUSA.com.
ALL STEEL BUILDING SALE! “FINAL
CLEARANCE!” 20x28 Now $4200.
25x32 $5800. 30x42 $9200. 40x62
$14,900. Limited, first come first served.
Front end optional. Pioneer 1-800-6685422. Quick Delivery.
VACATION RENTALS
VOTED BEST CONDO & COTTAGE
RENTAL COMPANY on the Crystal
Coast—Atlantic Beach Realty 800-7867368 or book online at www.
atlanticbeachrealty.com.
THE METRO HERALD
CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS
June 30, 2006
WATERFRONT PROPERTIES
Spectacular Virginia Waterfront—
CORBIN HALL—Gated, private community on Atlantic side of Virginia’s
Eastern Shore. 3+ acre lots available
from $130K to $650K with immediate,
deepwater access to Chincoteague Bay.
Amenities include community pier, boat
launch & beautiful community center
w/guest suites, pool, spa & fitness room.
PORT SCARBURGH—Gated, private
community on Virginia’s Chesapeake
Bay. 1 to 12 acre waterfront lots available with pier access. Priced from
$370K to $599K. Location ideal for boating & fishing. Privacy close to quaint villages, shopping & water activities. Both
properties feature spectacular views,
mild climate, low taxes, abundant
wildlife. 757-709-9525 or visit www.
corbinhall.com.
WORK FROM HOME
WORK FROM ANYWHERE. Looking
for a change? Want to earn what you’re
really worth? Call Kelley 888-421-4838
for info.
REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS
RFP 103-CS
The
Virginia
Department of Transportation
is
seeking
proposals from qualified
firms or individuals to
provide
System
Operations/ITS/Traffic
Engineering
On-Call
Services Consultant for
Operations & Security
Division (OSD), Traffic
Engineering
Division
(TED),
and
VDOT
Northern Virginia District
(NOVA).
This advertisement is
identified as RFP 103-CS.
There will be a mandatory
pre-proposal conference on
Tuesday, July 10, 2006 at
10:00 AM 1st floor
Conference room at 1201
East
Broad
Street,
Richmond,
Virginia
23219. If interested in
receiving a copy of the
Request for Proposals, visit
our Internet web site at
virginiadot.org
under
Business, RFP’s (NonProfessional).
For the
hearing impaired only, TDD
access is available at 804371-8498.
The Department assures
compliance with
Title VI requirements of
non-discrimination
in all activities pursuant to
this advertisement
Archive issues
are available at
www.metroherald.com!
THE METRO HERALD
23
June 30, 2006
24
THE METRO HERALD