‘Love Art’ Remembers–Democrat and Chronicle, 2013
Charlene Riley cradled the baby blue jogging suit bearing the picture of her slain son: “A Mother’s Love Is Forever,” it said.
For Riley and more than 100 other mothers and fathers, families and friends in Rochester, it’s an expression of love. It lets her lost son, Gregory Cooper, “know that he will never be forgotten.”
Cooper, 23, was the first Rochester homicide victim of 2013. His was also the first face Bernita “Bam” Hawkins has helped memorialize this year; in a city where homicide claims the lives of too many, there will be more.
Hawkins creates what she calls “love art,” designing T−shirts and apparel to help honor the deceased. And so her customers come to her to remember.
Hawkins, who owns It’s All About You T−Shirts and Apparel, at 499 Portland Ave., has been creating memorial attire since about 13 years ago. Her customers, primarily African−American and Latino families from the city who have lost loved ones to violence, have come to know her as a friend.
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Fitting in– Democrat and Chronicle, 2013
Shanley Austin has been playing hockey with boys since she laced up her first pair of skates at age 4, so playing on a nearly all boys high school varsity team has not been a difficult adjustment.
“I started off a little nervous because it was a new hockey team,” said Austin, a 15−year−old sophomore at East Irondequoit Eastridge. “But after I started playing and got into it, it was a lot more fun.”
Austin said playing with guys has its challenges, but she quickly adapted to the quicker and rougher style, which she believes made her a much better athlete.
“Guys hit a lot harder than girls and it’s a lot faster than a girls’ game. I’ve had to get used to it,” she said. “Overall though, it’s a lot better, and it’s really helped me a lot.”
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Tale of Redemption, Democrat and Chronicle, 2013
Gang violence, drugs and incarceration are only a few issues many Rochester teens face daily some without much hope of escape.
Author and community activist Yusef Shakur brought encouragement to local teens Thursday night, presenting his biographical documentary, Detroit’s Native Son, at The Center for Teen Empowerment. The film details his journey from the streets and prison to success.
“I ended up getting involved in the streets at an early age. I co−found a gang at the age of 13,” Shakur said. “The whole community was infested. Even when I wasn’t trying to get involved, I was getting shaped.”
Shakur, a former gang member and drug dealer from Detroit, came to a turning point when he was serving a nine−year sentence in a maximum−security prison and met a fellow inmate: his father, who encouraged him to seek a better life.
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A harmony of race and faith, Democrat and Chronicle, 2013
Twenty−five years after shedding racial divisions to become one harmonious congregation, members of the Episcopal Church of St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene held a gala Saturday night to celebrate the milestone.
In 1988, St. Luke’s Church, a historically white Episcopal church founded by Col. Nathaniel Rochester, merged with St. Simon of Cyrene, a historically black Episcopal church, to form the new church.
The church, commonly called Two Saints, is hosting a series of events in January and February to mark the anniversary. The celebration’s theme is “Siyahamba,” which is Zulu for “We are marching.”
Madeline Gamble of Chili was a member of St. Simon of Cyrene before the integration, and said even though there were challenges and opposition in the beginning, the outcome was worth it.
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Geneseo cancels volleyball season, Democrat and Chronicle, 2012
In canceling the 2012 women’s volleyball season, SUNY Geneseo officials sought to send a clear message: Hazing will not be tolerated.
As the fallout from a drunken “initiation” party continued Friday, some wondered whether the consequences were too severe. But others said they feared the ramifications of the incident, in which 11 students were arrested and another was hospitalized, might follow the student−athletes far beyond the volleyball court.
“Some of the things that happen (now) can have far−reaching impact,” said Mike Mooney, athletic director at the State University College at Geneseo. “We’re talking about volleyball, but I’m more concerned with how it impacts their life. If you’re arrested, that could be problematic in terms of when you want to get a job later.”
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Cop delivers baby after pulling over car, Democrat and Chronicle, 2012
Rochester police officer Willo Glynn never expected an early Saturday morning traffic stop to turn into an on−the−spot childbirth delivery.
Glynn was working a DWI stop detail around 1 a.m., near East Main and North Goodman streets, when he saw a car approaching him erratically with blinking lights and honking horn.
“The front passenger poked her head out and yelled ‘the head’s out,”" he said. ” I didn’t even know what that meant.”
The driver told the officer that his wife was in the advanced stages of childbirth. Glynn quickly alerted emergency dipatchers that a woman was giving birth on the scene, but before ambulances could arrive, he jumped into action to help the child’s father deliver the baby, whose head was already crowning.
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Season of giving–Democrat and Chronicle, 2012
Pull down all the lights and decorations from Charlie and Cora Venishel’s Penfield home ? knock down the tree and pull off Santa’s beard and the most important part of their Christmas spirit would remain: generosity.
The Venishels have donned their Claus apparel and converted their home into a Christmas haven for the past eight years to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. The couple has raised more than $10,000 for the charity.
The costumes, the 15,000 lights, Old Man Winter at the door: “It’s our way to do something good,” Cora Venishel said.
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Going natural, Democrat and Chronicle, 2012
The debate over Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas’ hair shouldn’t come as a surprise. The controversy surrounding her ‘do, which some African−Americans thought was poorly−styled, speaks to how passionate the topic and imagery of black hair has historically been within the culture.
The debate over Douglas’ ponytail certainly got more ink because of the Olympics, but at the same time, social media sites were debating Oprah Winfrey’s decision to wear a natural hairstyle on the September cover of her magazine, O.
In Rochester and across the country, more African−American women including powerhouses such as Xerox CEO Ursula Burns have embraced “au naturale” hairstyles, abandoning more popular relaxed styles.
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From the heart– Democrat and Chronicle, 2012
Heart disease is the primary cause of death for American women.
Almost every minute, a woman in the U.S. dies from heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions, according to the American Heart Association.
Wife, mother, artist and heart transplant survivor Ginger Zimmerman knows firsthand how it feels to come so close to being a fatal statistic. Zimmerman was a 32−year−old mother of three when she realized the source of her drained energy and declining health was a failing heart.
“I had been misdiagnosed for almost four years,” says Zimmerman, a Pittsford resident who will be the keynote speaker at Harbor House of Rochester’s “And the BEAT Goes On …” benefit dinner on Saturday. “When I was finally diagnosed, as devastating as it was, it was actually a relief.”
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Crane program helps returning veterans gain new skills, find jobs–Herald-Times, July 24,2011
Anthony Edwards thought he would always be able to rely on his physical capabilities to provide for his family. The bomb changed his perspective.“I told my son to get a skill — it’s something no one could ever take from you,” Edwards said. “It just never hit me that I, physically, would not be able to do that.”
Edwards, who joined the Illinois National Guard in 1983 and found himself serving as a sergeant first class in Iraq in 2004, can still recall every gruesome detail about the night that changed his life forever.During a mission, a roadside bomb exploded and hit the truck Edwards was driving. The blast blew the tires off his truck and rolled it over several times. One soldier was killed and two severely injured.
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Families in crisis rely on housing program–Times-Mail, July 17, 2011
Tyler Babbs vividly remembers the night his family became homeless. A tornado struck the 10-year-old’s home on May 25, scattering his family’s life to the wind.“I always been scared of storms, and that was my biggest fright,” Tyler said, trying to hold back tears. “I was scared, and I could hear my mom and sisters screaming.”
He remembers the chaos and panic that ensued as the tornado lifted the mobile home off the ground. His mother, Marie Carter, said their home was then dropped five feet while her husband, two daughters, youngest son and two family friends were inside.“Our walls were blown in and half of our roof was ripped off,” she said. “It wasn’t livable at that point.”
According to Carter, the family went back to their home on Ind. 45 on May 31 and attempted to salvage anything that remained. They found it hadbeen bulldozed by their landlord without notification.
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Funds to help homeless could be running short– Times-Mail, July 17, 2011
A program aimed at reducing homelessness in Monroe and neighboring counties is in danger of losing funding and being put out of business.Scott Stowers, the man responsible for running the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program in Region 10, said the program has been a great benefit to the local area and has made an impact in reducing and preventing homelessness.
The federally funded program, administered through the state, started as part of the stimulus package with a three-year timeline, scheduled to end in September 2012. Originally, Indiana was awarded between $17 million and $19 million for the program, but due to budget cuts, the allotment now totals $1.2 million for the entire state. Whether any of that money will come to Region 10, which covers Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Greene, Lawrence and Martin counties, is unknown.
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Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity celebrates century of achievement with event at IU– Herald-Times, July 8, 2011
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the first African-American fraternity founded at Indiana University, Mayor Mark Kruzan deemed Thursday Kappa Alpha Psi Day in Bloomington. And during the opening ceremony of the fraternity’s Centennial Pilgrimage at Dunn Meadow, Kruzan presented the organization with a commemorative plaque and commended the fraternity on its dedication to achievement and community service.
Thousands of members of the organization from across the country, along with their families, returned to IU to celebrate the organization’s 80th Grand Chapter conclave and the centennial of the founding. The fraternity, begun Jan. 5, 1911, by 10 African-American college students, now has more than 150,000 members with 721 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the United States, as well as chapters internationally
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Day camp at Crestmont Boys and Girls Club keep young minds active– Herald-Times, June 29, 2011
By the end of fifth grade, children of low-income households on average are nearly three years behind their more affluent peers, primarily due to summer learning loss, according to a 2007 study published by the American Sociological Review.
The Crestmont Boys and Girls Club is attempting to close that achievement gap locally by offering free summer camp to low-income children. This is the first year the club, part of the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, has offered a discounted $5 fee for families receiving assistance from the Bloomington Housing Authority, and free waivers for those who are not able to pay it, Crestmont club unit director Shawna Meyer-Niederman said.
The cost per child for the all-day day camp is on average $560 per session, but through community support and donations, the Crestmont club is able to accommodate dozens of children on a daily basis.
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College for Kids aims to be a launch pad to campus– Herald Times, June 25, 2011
Eleven-year-old Carson Baker waited anxiously for his cue to commence the take-off of his custom-made rocket, which stood perched on the launch pad. His classmates also waited in anticipation for the signal from their instructor, veteran science teacher Jeff Lepore, to attempt to propel the foot-long craft into space. On his cue, the launch button was pressed and the device soared into the clear sky; its built-in parachute deployed and assured the missile’s safe landing.
Thursday was launch day for students enrolled in the Advanced Rocketry class at the College for Kids summer program. Earlier this week, the 10 students, ages 11 to 14, constructed their own rockets, learned how they worked and how to safely launch them. “My favorite part is chasing after (the rockets)!” Baker said.
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Bloomington Fun Frolic brings fun and excitement to kids and adults of all ages– Herald-Times, June 17, 2011
The vibrant lights of the Ferris wheel illuminate the sky as the jovial music from the carousel echoes throughout the park. Vendors beckon spectators to take an adrenaline-rushing ride, or a chance at a prize.
Six-year-old Juan Mindiola is overwhelmed by the lively atmosphere. He waits in anticipation for his dad to hand him a ticket, so he can start his journey through what seems like endless avenues to fun. He does not know if he should take a slide down the Super Slide or try to win a stuffed fish at the Shark Tank, which guarantees a prize every time. But, Juan is sure there is nowhere else in the world he would rather be on this Tuesday evening than with his dad at the Bloomington Fun Frolic.
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Taste of Bloomington to feature more restaurants, music and kids’ events this year– Herald-Times, June 17, 2011
The 29th annual Taste of Bloomington will be from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Bloomington’s Showers Common. This traditional occasion showcases the diversity of the community’s best local restaurants, wineries and breweries. Featured dishes will range from spicy Thai cuisine to Southern barbecue and everything else in between.
The event, presented this year by Old National Bank, also serves as a fundraiser for local charities such as Hoosier Hills Food Bank and the Community Kitchen of Monroe County. Admission is $6 per person, and children younger than 12 get in free.
This year’s Taste is guaranteed to be bigger than ever, with more than 50 local restaurants participating. The expanded children’s area will feature a magician and activities provided by WonderLab Museum of Science and Technology.
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Law enforcement strive for recovery following job-related crises, LSU Crisis Communications Assignment, Spring 2011
Car accidents, house fires and natural disasters are the types of events some people are lucky
enough to experience sparingly in their lives. Police officers, on the other hand, by the very nature of their jobs, are exposed to traumatic events and crisis on an everyday basis. How well they perform during a crisis situation can be the difference between life and death, but another factor that is just as important is what happens to police officers after the crisis is over.
According to Audrey Honig, chief psychologist for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, suicide rates for police are at least 18 per 100,000 officers, which is a higher
rate than the general population. One of the suspected causes for this pattern
among law enforcement is post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. The National Institute for Mental Health defines PTSD as an anxiety disorder that some people develop after seeing or living through a dangerous event. Because of the seriousness of PTSD as a result of job-related trauma, local law enforcement agencies have put practices in place to aid officers in recovery following an incident.
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Vietnam veteran shares post war battles, LSU Crisis Communications Class Assignment, Spring 2011
More than 40 years after serving in military war zones, former Army Sgt. Charles Bovia can still smell the scent of gun powder and hear the deafening explosions of incoming enemy assaults, every time he reminisces on the torturous days and nights spent fighting in the Vietnam War.
“Vietnam never leaves. It stays with you,” he said. “It is always there on my mind, at one time or another.”
Bovia had always wanted to join the military and shorty after finishing high school in the spring of 1965, he joined the United States Army. Less than a year after basic training, at only 19 years old, he found himself stationed as a gunner and cook in the midst of a war.
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