happy father's day 2008 - The Metro Herald
happy father's day 2008 - The Metro Herald
happy father's day 2008 - The Metro Herald
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
VOLUME XVII, NUMBER 24<br />
IN THIS ISSUE . . .<br />
COVER: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY <strong>2008</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 12–14<br />
Africa Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />
Around the Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5<br />
Capital Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6<br />
Around the Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
Health & Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–9<br />
Community News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11<br />
Arts & Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15–18<br />
Business News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 23<br />
Sports & Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20–21<br />
Classified Ads/Bids & Proposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22–23<br />
Imaging the Politics, Culture, and Events of Our Times<br />
Fauquier<br />
County<br />
Carroll County<br />
Howard County<br />
Loudoun<br />
County<br />
Fairfax<br />
County<br />
Prince<br />
William<br />
County<br />
Arlington County<br />
Richmond<br />
Baltimore<br />
Montgomery<br />
County<br />
D.C.<br />
Alexandria<br />
Spotsylvania<br />
County<br />
Stafford<br />
County<br />
Fredericksburg<br />
Annapolis<br />
Anne<br />
Arundel County<br />
Prince George’s<br />
County<br />
Westmoreland<br />
County<br />
Charles<br />
County<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
HAPPY<br />
FATHER’S<br />
DAY<br />
<strong>2008</strong><br />
God took the strength of a mountain,<br />
<strong>The</strong> majesty of a tree,<br />
<strong>The</strong> warmth of a summer sun,<br />
<strong>The</strong> calm of a quiet sea,<br />
<strong>The</strong> generous soul of nature,<br />
<strong>The</strong> comforting arm of night,<br />
<strong>The</strong> wisdom of the ages,<br />
<strong>The</strong> power of the eagle's flight,<br />
<strong>The</strong> joy of a morning in spring,<br />
<strong>The</strong> faith of a mustard seed,<br />
<strong>The</strong> patience of eternity,<br />
<strong>The</strong> depth of a family need,<br />
<strong>The</strong>n God combined these qualities,<br />
And then there was nothing more to add,<br />
He knew His masterpiece was complete,<br />
And so, He called it—Dad.<br />
Author Unknown<br />
Father’s Day is a holi<strong>day</strong> to celebrate fatherhood and parenting by males. Father’s Day exists almost all over<br />
the world to honor and commemorate fathers or forefathers. It is celebrated at differing times through the year,<br />
in different countries. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Father’s Day is celebrated on Saint Joseph’s Day,<br />
March 19, though in most countries Father’s Day is a secular celebration.<br />
Countries that observe Father’s Day on the third Sun<strong>day</strong> of June include Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba,<br />
France, Hong Kong S.A.R., India, Pakistan, Ireland, Japan, Macao S.A.R., Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands,<br />
Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and<br />
Venezuela. Some of the countries with other celebration dates include Austria—second Sun<strong>day</strong> of June; Australia—first<br />
Sun<strong>day</strong> of September; Belgium—St Joseph’s <strong>day</strong> (March 19), and the second Sun<strong>day</strong> of June (Secular); Finland—<br />
second Sun<strong>day</strong> of November; New Zealand—first Sun<strong>day</strong> of September; South Korea: May 8 (Parents’ Day); and<br />
Taiwan—August 8.<br />
In the United States, the driving force behind the establishment of the celebration of Father’s Day was Mrs. Sonora<br />
Smart Dodd, born in Creston, Washington. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, as a single parent<br />
raised his six children in Spokane, Washington. She was inspired by Anna Jarvis’s efforts to establish Mother’s Day.<br />
Although she initially suggested June 5, the anniversary of her father’s death, she did not provide the organizers with<br />
enough time to make arrangements, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sun<strong>day</strong> of June. <strong>The</strong> first Father’s Day<br />
was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane.<br />
Unofficial support from such figures as William Jennings Bryan was immediate and widespread. President Woodrow<br />
Wilson was personally so feted by his family in 1916. President Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a national holi<strong>day</strong><br />
in 1924. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson made Father’s Day a holi<strong>day</strong> to be celebrated on the third Sun<strong>day</strong> of June.<br />
<strong>The</strong> holi<strong>day</strong> was not officially recognized until 1972, during the presidency of Richard Nixon. See page 12–13 for more<br />
area Father’s Day celebration information.<br />
Visit us on the web at www.metroherald.com
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
THE<br />
METRO HERALD<br />
NEWSPAPER<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong>, a resource of Davis<br />
Communications Group, Inc., is published<br />
weekly. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong> is a member of the<br />
National Newspaper Publishers Association, the<br />
Virginia Press Association, and the Newspaper<br />
Association of America.<br />
PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR/<br />
MANAGING EDITOR<br />
Paris D. Davis<br />
ART DIRECTOR/WEBMASTER<br />
Glenda S. King<br />
EXECUTIVE MANAGER<br />
Gregory Roscoe, Jr.<br />
ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR<br />
Daisy E. Cole<br />
SENIOR BUSINESS & SECURITY<br />
CORRESPONDENT<br />
Rodney S. Azama<br />
Regular subscription rate: $75/year for home<br />
delivery. Single issue price: $.75<br />
For advertising information and rates, call (703)<br />
548-8891, or visit www.<strong>Metro</strong><strong>Herald</strong>.com.<br />
Copyright ©<strong>2008</strong> by Davis Communications<br />
Group, Inc. No part of this publication may be<br />
reproduced by any means without prior written<br />
consent from the publisher.<br />
All unsolicited manuscripts should be accompanied<br />
by a self-addressed stamped envelope.<br />
<strong>The</strong> publisher assumes no responsibility for<br />
unsolicited material.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong> is certified by the Maryland<br />
Department of Transportation. Its corporate headquarters<br />
is located at 901 North Washington<br />
Street, Suite 603, Alexandria, VA 22314. Davis<br />
Communications Group, Inc., is certified as a<br />
small and minority business. For additional information,<br />
call (703) 548-8891.<br />
Circulation: 42,000 copies per week<br />
Certified by Dasai Group, CPA<br />
To obtain a one-year subscription, please send a<br />
check or money order for $75 to:<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong><br />
901 North Washington Street, Suite 603<br />
Alexandria, VA 22314<br />
Name: _________________________________<br />
Address: _______________________________<br />
_______________________________________<br />
_______________________________________<br />
Phone (optional): ________________________<br />
Editorial<br />
Iremember as if it were yester<strong>day</strong>:<br />
everything left me—humans, dogs,<br />
and nature; the sun which had been<br />
smiling brightly over my<br />
neighborhood ducked behind a cloud<br />
mass for cover; the skin-cooling<br />
breeze that warm summer night, found a oneway<br />
freeway and jettisoned; my brothers and<br />
sisters protruded the arrogance of a Pontius<br />
Pilate just before washing his hands and<br />
seconds before he asked for a towel . . . even<br />
my dog abandoned me in my crisis.<br />
Sympathy was as rare as rubbing two<br />
rocks together and getting a stereo sound. My<br />
mother—my last court of appeals—dismissed<br />
my religion, my God, and my reminders to her<br />
that I was in her womb for almost nine full<br />
months and that she was the only mother that I<br />
had ever known . . . like the Supreme Court<br />
does without comment in letting a lower court<br />
ruling stand.<br />
As I contemplated my fate, an hour-and-a<br />
half before my dad would get home, I decided to<br />
kill all my brothers and sisters. I could beat<br />
them up and then commit suicide—and my<br />
family would be sorry, my surviving brothers<br />
and sisters and my mom (maybe) and my father,<br />
who now in just a little over an hour would be<br />
offering me a choice of imperceptibles; the belt,<br />
the switch, or his shaving strap . . . although he<br />
once asked me if I would rather have someone<br />
else spank me. My reply was my year-and-ahalf-old<br />
brother, who had problems just<br />
gripping a straw.<br />
With less than a half-hour before my dad<br />
would be home and no personal reply from<br />
God, I was really down on this particular <strong>day</strong>,<br />
bleak by definition.<br />
At about four minutes before my dad<br />
was due home, I thought that if he beat me like<br />
he did the last time, that I would go back into<br />
remission. I don’t think that would have<br />
bothered him since he didn’t know what it<br />
meant . . .<br />
Unconsciously, I was hoping that if not<br />
God, someone else—a lesser, nameless saint<br />
with power remitted on my behalf and possibly<br />
coming out of the pack, if not with a name,<br />
make a name for himself . . . at least a<br />
number—like “23” for Michael Jordan … or<br />
footwear—inscribed “on your side.” Of<br />
course, I had no such luck.<br />
My plan B was to greet my dad in the<br />
driveway and explain to him how I had<br />
accidentally burned my little sister’s hair and<br />
that even though her skin texture was grayishbrown,<br />
that was due entirely to dampness of the<br />
soil I buried her in, and if the weather turned<br />
sunny for the next few <strong>day</strong>s and if we hung her<br />
out to dry on the clothesline, she would be okay.<br />
If not, having a brownish-gray-skin-colored<br />
sister would be cute while she was small and a<br />
jump on her competition for a Fri<strong>day</strong> the<br />
Thirteenth horror movie when she became<br />
unrecognizable by the family as an adult.<br />
As for her hair—which caught fire while<br />
she was watching me trying to light a cigarette<br />
made out of dried corn silk—it would grow<br />
back. As I was striking the match to try and<br />
light that cigarette in the field behind our house<br />
at the exact moment of impact—the match<br />
head to the rock—my brother called my name.<br />
After answering him, I first smelled something<br />
burning like wool, and then I saw a ball of fire:<br />
large at first, then the size of the matchstick I<br />
had just struck. This fireball was shrilling like<br />
a meteorite crossing the galaxies.<br />
It wouldn’t have been that bad had not<br />
my neighbor, who had arthritis in her pitching<br />
elbow, tried to throw water on my sister but had<br />
her elbow to lock in the yaw position and was<br />
frozen in pain in the position of a sailor pitching<br />
water from a bucket; and our other neighbor<br />
was indecisive between calling nine-one-one<br />
and the fire department and finally ended up<br />
calling the Environmental Protection Agency.<br />
Luckily for my sister, she ran out of hair before<br />
breath and started yelling and pointing at me<br />
before my mom could ask her what happened.<br />
When my mom looked up, I had the<br />
lighted cigarette in my hand and immediately<br />
put it in my pocket. Within seconds I had<br />
vapors coming from me like gas fumes from a<br />
car tank on a hot <strong>day</strong>. Because of the humidity,<br />
the vapor hung over my head like a dark cloud.<br />
When I saw my dad, instead of asking<br />
him about his <strong>day</strong>, I blurted out that I was<br />
contemplating running away from home before<br />
he talked to Mom and suicide immediately<br />
afterwards . . . and especially before he could<br />
rationally narrow his options.<br />
As my dad kissed my mom hello, and as<br />
she whispered something in his ear—I noticed<br />
his knuckles were turning white—I felt<br />
betrayed and somewhat in harm’s way. When<br />
he turned and looked at me, I knew: one, my<br />
threats of suicide had not worked, and two, I<br />
needed more time to plan it.<br />
As my dad examined my sister, who had<br />
never stopped pointing when the fire<br />
department hosed her down nor when the<br />
police department asked, “Who could do this<br />
to a cute little girl like you”, to my dad, he<br />
asked: “Where is he”<br />
It never occurred to me until after my<br />
release from the hospital (only kidding) that it<br />
was Sun<strong>day</strong>—Father’s Day—and how blessed<br />
he was to have had me.<br />
PDD<br />
2 THE METRO HERALD
AFRICA UPDATE<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ATTACK ON CAMEROON BORDER REGION<br />
<strong>The</strong> remote Bakassi peninsula has been<br />
the subject of a lengthy international<br />
dispute<br />
ACameroonian government official<br />
has been abducted and<br />
several policemen killed in an<br />
attack on a village in the border region<br />
of Bakassi.<br />
Unidentified gunmen killed at least<br />
three police officials in the attack, security<br />
sources told the BBC.<br />
<strong>The</strong> attack happened in the northern<br />
part of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula,<br />
which Nigeria handed over to<br />
Cameroon in 2006. <strong>The</strong> rest of the area<br />
is due to be handed over in August.<br />
Meanwhile, a challenge to the ICJ<br />
decision brought in the Nigerian courts<br />
by Bakassi residents who wanted to remain<br />
in Nigeria was turned down.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cameroonian deputy-governor<br />
of the region, Felix Morfan, was reportedly<br />
abducted by a group of armed<br />
men on Mon<strong>day</strong> night.<br />
<strong>The</strong> police had earlier arrested a<br />
number of people accused of being<br />
arms dealers, Cameroonian security<br />
sources told the BBC.<br />
Local journalists said the bodies of<br />
three policemen had been recovered.<br />
<strong>The</strong> BBC’s Randy Jo Sa’ah in the<br />
Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, says<br />
the attack has caught people by surprise.<br />
It comes at a time when the government<br />
has been vocal about peace in<br />
the region and development projects<br />
that have been supported by the European<br />
Union, he says.<br />
ANigerian former local government<br />
chairman from Bakassi, Emmanuel<br />
Etene, told the BBC that women and<br />
children were fleeing the area because<br />
they feared reprisal attacks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> northern part of the Bakassi<br />
peninsula was handed over to<br />
Cameroon following a ruling by the International<br />
Court of Justice in the<br />
Hague in 2006. But some residents<br />
have said they do not want to give up<br />
being Nigerian.<br />
PROBE INTO SUDAN’S PLANE INFERNO<br />
Plane on fire at Khartoum airport<br />
<strong>The</strong> authorities in Sudan have<br />
begun an investigation into the<br />
cause of a fire on an Airbus<br />
A310 airliner that killed at least 29<br />
people on Tues<strong>day</strong> night. Most of the<br />
214 on board escaped when the Sudan<br />
Airways plane burst into flames after<br />
landing in bad weather at Khartoum<br />
airport, officials say. Fourteen passengers<br />
are still missing - officials say<br />
they may have left the scene immediately<br />
after the crash. Witnesses say<br />
more bodies were removed from the<br />
charred plane on Wednes<strong>day</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> plane landed in bad weather<br />
and witnesses say an engine then exploded.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fire quickly spread to the<br />
cockpit and forward fuselage as the<br />
passengers and crew made desperate<br />
efforts to escape down emergency<br />
slides.<br />
TV footage showed the wreckage at<br />
Khartoum airport consumed by flames<br />
as emergency crews tried to fight the<br />
fire in the darkness.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sudan Airways flight had<br />
flown from Jordan’s capital, Amman,<br />
via Damascus and most of the passengers<br />
were Sudanese. One of the survivors,<br />
Hassan Jakuma, said his experience<br />
had strengthened his Muslim<br />
faith. “I went [to Amman] for medical<br />
treatment, and then this accident happened.<br />
What does that tell you” he<br />
asked. “It tells you that nothing can<br />
kill you, not illness, not an accident,<br />
not a burning plane, nothing can kill<br />
you until it is your time to go.<br />
Sudanese officials say the plane<br />
had tried to land at Khartoum earlier<br />
on Tues<strong>day</strong>, but was unable to do so<br />
because of a sandstorm and heavy rain,<br />
the BBC’s Amber Henshaw in Khartoum<br />
reports. <strong>The</strong> plane was diverted<br />
to the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. It<br />
later returned to Khartoum, landing at<br />
approximately 2000 (1700 GMT), the<br />
BBC correspondent says.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are then conflicting reports<br />
about what exactly happened.<br />
A spokesman for Sudan Airways<br />
said poor weather had led to the accident.<br />
“We put the cause of the crash<br />
down to the bad weather conditions,<br />
and the plane sliding off the runway,”<br />
Jamal Osman said. “Thankfully, there<br />
was a fast response to the accident and<br />
to removing as many passengers as<br />
possible.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Civil Aviation Authority says<br />
the plane was taxi-ing to its parking<br />
bay when a fire started in one of the engines.<br />
Some eyewitnesses say they<br />
had a bad landing and that the pilots<br />
had to brake hard. Experts believe this<br />
could have caused the cylinders to<br />
blow, sparking an explosion.<br />
<strong>The</strong> director of Khartoum’s airport,<br />
Yusuf Ibrahim, told Sudanese national<br />
television that the plane had landed<br />
“safely” and the pilots were in contact<br />
with the control tower about which<br />
gate to dock at when the fire occurred.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re was an explosion in one of<br />
the engines and the plane caught fire,”<br />
Mr Ibrahim said.<br />
Abbas al-Fadini, a member of<br />
Sudan’s parliament who was on the<br />
plane, told al-Jazeera television that<br />
the fire started in the right engine before<br />
spreading throughout the plane.<br />
He said crew members had guided<br />
people towards the plane’s exits.<br />
Witnesses said they had seen some<br />
passengers escaping via emergency<br />
chutes after they deployed. “<strong>The</strong>re<br />
was this huge explosion,” one eye-witness<br />
told the BBC. “More than half the<br />
plane was engulfed in a ghastly fire. It<br />
was a horrendous sight.” “I saw a big<br />
fireball and then fast flames,” said another.<br />
Sudan Airways operates a fleet of<br />
Airbus A300 and A310 jets.<br />
Subscribe to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong>!<br />
Kipkalya Kones, 56, was planning to<br />
campaign in by-elections<br />
DEATHS OVERSHADOW<br />
KENYA ELECTIONS<br />
Kenya is holding by-elections<br />
in five constituencies, less<br />
than six months after the<br />
country was gripped by violence following<br />
disputed polls.<br />
Two of the seats in question were<br />
held by MPs killed after December’s<br />
polls. But the voting will be overshadowed<br />
by the deaths of two government<br />
ministers in a plane crash on Tues<strong>day</strong>.<br />
Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones<br />
and Assistant Home Affairs Minister<br />
Lorna Laboso were on their way to assist<br />
with the by-elections.<br />
A pilot and a security guard were<br />
also killed when the Cessna plane the<br />
ministers were flying in crashed near<br />
the western town of Narok, Kenyan<br />
police told the BBC.<br />
<strong>The</strong> BBC’s Kevin Mwachiro in Embakasi<br />
says there was a low turn-out in<br />
the morning, although by-elections typically<br />
do not attract high numbers of<br />
voters. He says Electoral Commission<br />
of Kenya officials were hopeful that<br />
turn-out would improve later.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are fears that the underlying<br />
tensions that sparked clashes after the<br />
polls have still not been resolved and<br />
Opposition leader Morgan<br />
Tsvangirai says Zimbabwe “is<br />
effectively being run by a military<br />
junta”. He said 66 opposition<br />
supporters had been killed in political<br />
violence since March’s disputed presidential<br />
elections and 200 more were<br />
unaccounted for.<br />
Mr. Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic<br />
Change says he beat President<br />
Robert Mugabe outright. Officials<br />
say there must be a run-off on 27 June.<br />
Mr. Tsvangirai said he would not<br />
<strong>The</strong> president of Uganda says he<br />
is “very <strong>happy</strong>” about the food<br />
crisis. “Why Because we produce<br />
a lot of food . . . We are stuck with<br />
food,” President Yoweri Museveni told<br />
Commonwealth heads of government.<br />
<strong>The</strong> president hopes the food crisis<br />
will prompt the removal of trade barriers,<br />
allowing countries like Uganda to<br />
profit from food surpluses. A BBC correspondent<br />
says most benefits are<br />
going to large, commercial farms,<br />
while poor Ugandans are suffering.<br />
could resurface, the BBC’s Karen<br />
Allen in Nairobi says.<br />
Kenya’s grand coalition government—which<br />
has set up a number of<br />
commissions to investigate the violence—has<br />
been looking decidedly<br />
fragile, the BBC correspondent says.<br />
<strong>The</strong> results could also upset the delicate<br />
balance of power in parliament.<br />
Should the Orange Democratic Movement<br />
lose its majority in parliament,<br />
party leader Raila Odinga’s position as<br />
prime minister in the coalition government<br />
could be uncertain.<br />
<strong>The</strong> ODM will hope to retain the<br />
seats of Embakasi in Nairobi, as well<br />
as Ainamoi and Emuhaya in the Rift<br />
Valley, scene of the worst violence earlier<br />
this year. But President Mwai<br />
Kibaki’s Party of National Unity is<br />
putting up a spirited fight.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> numbers are very tight in terms<br />
of who controls parliament. With the<br />
death of the minister and the assistant<br />
minister now the ODM has 100 MPs<br />
and the PNU coalition has 102 MPs,”<br />
says analyst Kwamchetsi Makokha.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re have also been reports of hate<br />
leaflets being circulated in the Kilgoris<br />
constituency, raising the specter of ethnic<br />
violence, which was blamed for<br />
some of the post-poll violence.<br />
Supporters of President Kibaki and<br />
Mr. Odinga have locked horns over<br />
several key areas, including whether<br />
those held after the elections should be<br />
given amnesty or be subject to the full<br />
force of the law.<br />
More than 1,000 people were killed<br />
and some 300,000 displaced after the<br />
polls.<br />
ZIMBABWE RUN BY MILITARY JUNTA<br />
accept a victory for Mr. Mugabe in the<br />
run-off.<br />
BBC Southern Africa correspondent<br />
Peter Biles says this is not the first<br />
time Mr. Tsvangirai has claimed that<br />
Mr. Mugabe’s security officials are in<br />
charge. Mr. Tsvangirai has alleged that<br />
Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri<br />
is responsible for favoring the ruling<br />
Zanu-PF party in creating a partisan<br />
culture of policing.<br />
Mr. Tsvangirai said the MDC was<br />
sure to win the run-off vote and dispelled<br />
UGANDA “HAPPY” ABOUT FOOD CRISIS<br />
I think out of all these hiccups we may get<br />
a more rationalized interaction . . . by<br />
removing trade barriers, by removing<br />
subsidies—President Museveni<br />
<strong>The</strong> BBC’s Sarah Grainger in<br />
Uganda says most of the population are<br />
subsistence farmers, who do not export<br />
their crops but are affected by the rising<br />
cost of fuel and other inputs. But overall<br />
food production has risen in recent<br />
years. Uganda’s growth rate is expected<br />
to reach 8.9% later on this year, up from<br />
6.5% last year, partly due to debt relief.<br />
“Our problem has been marketing...<br />
We produce 10 million metric tones of<br />
bananas and 40% of it rots because we<br />
have nowhere to sell it,” President Museveni<br />
told delegates.<br />
President Museveni said milk production<br />
had risen so rapidly, it had<br />
been poured away.<br />
That was until Uganda set up a recent<br />
agreement with an Indian processor<br />
plant: excess milk is now being<br />
shipped to India. And he thinks<br />
Uganda can continue turning the food<br />
crisis to its advantage:<br />
“I think out of all these hiccups we<br />
may get a more rationalized interaction<br />
in terms of the use of our resources,<br />
through trade, by removing trade barriers,<br />
by removing subsidies,” he said.<br />
TOP SOMALI AID<br />
WORKER KILLED<br />
Aprominent Somali aid worker<br />
has been shot dead in the capital,<br />
Mogadishu just <strong>day</strong>s after<br />
a ceasefire agreement was signed. <strong>The</strong><br />
head of the local Woman and Child<br />
Care aid agency, Mohamed Mahdi,<br />
was killed by unidentified gunmen.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y opened fire on his car, as he was<br />
traveling through Mogadishu.<br />
In a separate incident, five people<br />
were shot dead when gunmen carried<br />
out a hit-and-run attack on a police station<br />
in the city. On Tues<strong>day</strong>, Somali Islamist<br />
leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir<br />
Aweys rejected the UN-brokered,<br />
three-month ceasefire deal signed by<br />
Somalia’s government and an opposition<br />
bloc in neighboring Djibouti. He<br />
promised to continue fighting until all<br />
foreign troops had left the country.<br />
<strong>The</strong> peace deal was signed by another<br />
top Islamist leader, Sheikh Sharif<br />
Sheikh Ahmed, and Prime Minister Nur<br />
Adde. Aimed at ending years of conflict,<br />
the deal provides for Ethiopian troops to<br />
leave Somalia within 120 <strong>day</strong>s. But the<br />
deal did not include many of the armed<br />
Somali groups fighting the transitional<br />
government and its Ethiopian backers.<br />
Correspondents say they were not<br />
surprised by these latest killings. At<br />
least 28 people died in clashes between<br />
Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian<br />
troops backing the Somali government<br />
over the weekend.<br />
On Satur<strong>day</strong>, BBC Somali service<br />
reporter Nasteh Dahir was killed by<br />
suspected Islamist militants in the<br />
southern port of Kismayo. Somalia has<br />
experienced almost constant civil conflict<br />
since the collapse of Mohamed<br />
Siad Barre’s regime in January 1991.<br />
Morgan Tsvangirai<br />
rumors of discussions about a possible<br />
unity government with Zanu-PF.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> MDC is focused on the runoff,<br />
our victory is certain,” the party<br />
leader told a news conference in the<br />
capital Harare. Mugabe will lose. It’s<br />
just a formality to go and campaign,<br />
the people have already decided.”<br />
He added that “the issue of a government<br />
of national unity before the<br />
run-off does not arise”. He was referring<br />
to comments made earlier by the<br />
defeated third presidential candidate,<br />
Simba Makoni, who said supporters of<br />
Mr. Tsvangirai and Mr. Mugabe were<br />
in contact to try to resolve the crisis.<br />
Mr. Tsvangirai said a total of 3,000<br />
MDC supporters had required hospital<br />
treatment through state-sponsored violence,<br />
with 25,000 displaced.<br />
<strong>The</strong> New York-based Human<br />
Rights Watch organization said on<br />
Mon<strong>day</strong> that free elections were not<br />
possible because of the Zanu-PF-organized<br />
violence.<br />
Mr. Mugabe blames his rivals for<br />
the bloodshed. <strong>The</strong> government has<br />
said those suspected of violence will<br />
now be refused bail.<br />
Visit us on the web at<br />
www.metroherald.com<br />
THE METRO HERALD 3
AROUND THE REGION<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FAIRFAX COUNTY<br />
PUBLIC LIBRARY<br />
RECEIVES GRANT<br />
Chantilly Regional Library,<br />
a branch of the Fairfax<br />
County Public Library, is<br />
one of 34 libraries nationwide that<br />
has received “<strong>The</strong> American<br />
Dream Starts @ your library” grant<br />
to help increase literacy services to<br />
adult English language learners.<br />
Each of the winning libraries receive<br />
a one-time award of $5,000.<br />
<strong>The</strong> grants are funded by the Dollar<br />
General Literacy Foundation<br />
and implemented by the American<br />
Library Association (ALA).<br />
Chantilly Regional Library will<br />
use the grant to provide books,<br />
workbooks and materials for students<br />
in its Tues<strong>day</strong> morning conversations<br />
for recent immigrants to<br />
the U.S. <strong>The</strong> Tues<strong>day</strong> morning<br />
program is designed to ease their<br />
transition to the U.S. and help them<br />
develop their language skills and<br />
understanding of American culture.<br />
Currently 15-18 adults participate.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>se non-traditional students<br />
are so eager to learn and are extremely<br />
appreciative of the opportunity<br />
this class affords them,” says<br />
Jaye Lahlou, Adult Services Librarian<br />
for Chantilly Library. “<strong>The</strong> library<br />
is now a place where they meet<br />
to learn, share and feel respected in<br />
their community. It has been a privilege<br />
to be a part of this process.”<br />
Public libraries have long been<br />
a cornerstone of the American<br />
dream, providing equal access to<br />
information. It is one of the first<br />
places to which many immigrants<br />
turn for help in learning to read,<br />
write and speak English.<br />
“As a longtime supporter of literacy<br />
and education, the Dollar<br />
General Literacy Foundation is<br />
proud to fund the ‘American<br />
Dream’ grant initiative,” said Rick<br />
Dreiling, Dollar General’s CEO.<br />
“Public libraries are in a unique position<br />
to directly reach immigrants<br />
and help them assimilate into a new<br />
community. <strong>The</strong>se grants will enable<br />
local libraries to provide the<br />
English language literacy services<br />
most needed in their area.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> National Assessment of<br />
Adult Literacy (NAAL) recently<br />
found that 11 million U.S. adults or<br />
approximately one in 20, many of<br />
whom are immigrants, have such<br />
limited English skills that they<br />
can’t read a newspaper, understand<br />
the directions for medication or<br />
help their children with schoolwork.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> American Dream<br />
Starts @ your library” grant was<br />
founded by the Dollar General Literacy<br />
Foundation and ALA to meet<br />
the growing demand for English<br />
language literacy services.<br />
A complete list of the winning<br />
libraries is available at www.<br />
ala.org.<br />
Archive issues<br />
are available at<br />
www.metroherald.com!<br />
LEGGETT HIGHLIGHTS<br />
DISABILITY HIRING PROGRAM<br />
Montgomery County Executive<br />
Isiah Leggett has praised the<br />
County’s Office of Legislative<br />
Oversight (OLO) report on County<br />
Government Hiring of Persons with Disabilities,<br />
and highlighted a unique public<br />
internship program designed to create<br />
flexible work opportunities in County<br />
government for individuals with significant<br />
disabilities. Challenged to help alleviate<br />
the high unemployment rate of<br />
people with disabilities, this program is<br />
at the leading edge of what other County<br />
and State agencies are doing to provide<br />
work opportunities for people with disabilities.<br />
Since October 2007, the program<br />
has created nearly two dozen parttime<br />
jobs in County departments.<br />
“We commend OLO for their thorough<br />
review of the County government’s<br />
practices regarding the hiring of<br />
persons with disabilities,” Leggett<br />
said. “<strong>The</strong> recommendations are useful<br />
and we look forward to more discussion<br />
of the findings and recommendations<br />
at an upcoming Council session.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> County Customized Employment<br />
Program is administered through<br />
the Montgomery Works One Stop<br />
Workforce Center. An employment<br />
specialist meets with County department<br />
managers to prepare a list of tasks to be<br />
created for a specific job. <strong>The</strong> job tasks<br />
are advertised via emails to community<br />
support organizations and a variety of<br />
interview methods, including work trials,<br />
are used to find the best candidate<br />
for the position. <strong>The</strong> career specialist<br />
works in coordination with the Department<br />
and the County’s Office of Human<br />
Many battles have been fought<br />
over the centuries, but none<br />
more delicious than the one<br />
now simmering just below Capital Hill<br />
in Washington. <strong>The</strong> BBQ sauce will be at<br />
full boil the first weekend of summer,<br />
June 21st and 22nd, <strong>2008</strong>, when the<br />
Safeway Barbecue Battle transforms historic<br />
Pennsylvania Avenue into a colossal<br />
arena of food, music, interactive exhibits,<br />
cooking demonstrations, and<br />
sensory pleasures fit for an Emperor!<br />
<strong>The</strong> Barbecue Battle is not only a<br />
Washington tradition, but one of the<br />
world’s largest contests of its kind, challenging<br />
local, regional, national and international<br />
barbecue enthusiasts to battle<br />
or behold the National Barbecue<br />
Championship contest. Both locals<br />
and visitors can follow the savory smell<br />
of barbecue downtown to enjoy a weekend<br />
of free food samples in the Safeway<br />
Sampling Pavilion, celebrity chefs, and<br />
on-going cooking demonstrations on<br />
multiple stages. Top barbecue restaurants<br />
and caterers from across the country<br />
will offer every type of lip-smacking,<br />
multi-napkin barbecue, while 30<br />
Ike Leggitt<br />
Resources to complete the hiring<br />
process. <strong>The</strong> career specialist coordinates<br />
initial on-the-job training, as well<br />
as any necessary accommodations and<br />
job coaching. Ongoing job coaching<br />
and support, when needed, is provided<br />
by community support organizations.<br />
Follow up is provided throughout the internship<br />
to ensure success.<br />
Total fiscal year <strong>2008</strong> funding for<br />
the project is $150,000, of which<br />
$50,000 is used for job identification,<br />
matching tasks to individual interns<br />
and coordinating the overall effort<br />
through a contract with TransCen, Inc.<br />
Interns work between one and 18 hours<br />
per week, with the number of hours determined<br />
by the needs of the department<br />
and the abilities and interests of<br />
each applicant. Interns are paid $7.20<br />
per hour and do not accrue leave or receive<br />
health benefits. <strong>The</strong> project is<br />
overseen by the County’s Department<br />
of Health and Human Services. <strong>The</strong><br />
goal is to provide interns with an opportunity<br />
to learn and refine skills so<br />
that they can compete for merit positions<br />
within the County and elsewhere.<br />
Subscribe to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong>!<br />
RIDE ON TO CELEBRATE<br />
NATIONAL “DUMP THE PUMP” DAY<br />
To promote awareness of the<br />
role public transportation plays<br />
in improving the environment<br />
and conserving fuel, Ride On will observe<br />
National “Dump the Pump” Day<br />
on Thurs<strong>day</strong>, June 19 by promoting<br />
Ride On and transit use.<br />
“More than 28 million Ride On bus<br />
passengers last year got the message<br />
that Ride On is a great way to save gas<br />
and reduce the stress of commuting,”<br />
said Montgomery County Executive<br />
Isiah Leggett. “And, with Ride On’s<br />
SAFEWAY’S 16TH ANNUAL NATIONAL<br />
CAPITAL BARBECUE BATTLE<br />
VIRGINIA LAUNCHES<br />
CLICK IT OR TICKET<br />
In an effort to save more lives on Virginia’s roadways, the Department<br />
of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Virginia Highway Safety Office is partnering<br />
with law enforcement across Virginia and the nation to increase seat<br />
belt and child safety seat use with the Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization.<br />
According to preliminary numbers from the Highway Safety Office,<br />
1,026 people died on Virginia roads in 2007, and 749 of those deaths occurred<br />
in vehicles equipped with safety restraints. Sixty percent (452) of the<br />
749 people who died were not wearing restraints.<br />
“Virginia experienced the highest number of roadway fatalities in a<br />
decade in 2007, and far too many of these tragedies were due to someone<br />
not buckling up,” said D. B. Smit, Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner,<br />
the Governor’s highway safety representative. “Clearly, this needs to<br />
change, and that is why we are joining with law enforcement to enforce all<br />
traffic laws so that needless deaths will be prevented.”<br />
“<strong>The</strong> goal for seat belt use in Virginia for <strong>2008</strong> is 82 percent, which will<br />
require all of us to remember to buckle up. If you don’t, our law enforcement<br />
community will be out in force to remind you,” Smit said. “Virginians<br />
are known for taking a challenge and exceeding expectations. I challenge<br />
everyone in Virginia to make the commitment to this goal that will reduce<br />
the number of fatalities on our roads.”<br />
In Virginia, law enforcement can cite drivers of vehicles where occupants<br />
under age 16 are not wearing seat belts or are not properly restrained in a child<br />
safety seat. Drivers stopped for other violations can be cited if they are not<br />
buckled up. This law also applies to all front seat passengers 16 years and older.<br />
fantastic rock, R&B, jazz, and blues<br />
bands perform on three state-of-the-art<br />
stages. This year’s musical entertainment<br />
includes rock icon Leon Russell,<br />
popular jazz star Roy Ayers, Washington’s<br />
own “Godfather of Go-Go” Chuck<br />
Brown, boogie-woogie master Deanna<br />
Bogart, and young rockers Fools &<br />
Horses and Jimmies Chicken Shack.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Battle also hosts scores of thrilling<br />
interactive exhibits like the NBA Nation<br />
Basketball Tour and Disney premiere<br />
movie tours, along with magicians,<br />
games and surprises to round out the<br />
family fun. <strong>The</strong>re’s so much to eat, see<br />
and do at the Battle you’ll need two<br />
<strong>day</strong>s to experience it all!<br />
For the first time ever this year, the<br />
nation’s two largest competition barbecue<br />
organizations-<strong>The</strong> Kansas City<br />
Barbecue Society (KCBS) and the<br />
Memphis in May world barbecue contest<br />
(MIM)—will pit teams against<br />
each other to vie for the title of National<br />
Barbecue Champion. Tens of<br />
thousands of cheering spectators will<br />
watch the Nation’s bravest and best<br />
barbecue battalions battle for over<br />
$40,000 in cash and prizes. Safeway’s<br />
“duel” sanctioned clash of the smokers<br />
will pit northern and southern camps<br />
against each other right on our country’s<br />
historic Mason-Dixon Line.<br />
On Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21, teams will<br />
cook in the KCBS Barbecue Challenge<br />
Contest. Categories include beef<br />
brisket, chicken, and pork, with a special<br />
prize going to the “Rancher’s Reserve<br />
Beef Champion.” Satur<strong>day</strong>’s<br />
winner will also receive guaranteed<br />
entry into the prestigious American<br />
Royal BBQ Contest in Kansas City,<br />
Missouri. On Sun<strong>day</strong>, June 22, contestants<br />
in the pork-centric Memphis in<br />
May world barbecue contest will be<br />
chomping at the smoker to compete in<br />
pork shoulder, rib, and whole hog categories<br />
for the enviable title of “National<br />
Pork Champion.” <strong>The</strong> winner<br />
of this contest will be awarded entry<br />
into the 2009 Memphis in May World<br />
Barbecue Championship, the pinnacle<br />
of the competition pork-cooking<br />
world. Past Safeway Barbecue Battle<br />
teams have traveled from as many as<br />
twenty-nine states to compete for the<br />
National Pork Champion title.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Safeway Barbecue Battle has<br />
been voted a “Top 10 BBQ Event” by<br />
<strong>The</strong> Travel Channel and Discovery.<br />
com and has been featured on broadcasts<br />
all over the world. <strong>The</strong> Battle is<br />
the largest annual fundraiser for the<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>politan Police Clubhouses,<br />
and has raised almost a million<br />
dollars for this vital organization.<br />
Event tickets are only $10/adults,<br />
$5/kids 6-12, and free for children under<br />
6. Admission includes a donation to the<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs, lots of free food<br />
samples, all the great live music, six<br />
cooking stages, celebrity chefs and other<br />
fun family entertainment. Visit www.<br />
bbqdc.com for more details or call the<br />
event info line at (202)828-3099.<br />
commitment to environmentally<br />
friendly buses, passengers are thinking<br />
globally and acting locally by helping<br />
reduce greenhouse gas emissions that<br />
contribute to global warming.”<br />
Nearly one-third of Ride On’s fleet<br />
of buses is environmentally-friendly,<br />
running on compressed natural gas or<br />
using hybrid diesel-electric technology.<br />
<strong>The</strong> County has been aggressively acquiring<br />
a multi-technology fleet of alternative-fueled<br />
vehicles so it can benefit<br />
from expected improvements in operations,<br />
costs, and environmental impacts<br />
as different technologies evolve.<br />
<strong>The</strong> celebration is sponsored by the<br />
American Public Transportation Association<br />
(APTA). According to APTA,<br />
American public transportation systems<br />
help to create a healthier environment<br />
by reducing smog-producing pollutants<br />
and greenhouse gases. Public transportation<br />
produces nearly 50 percent<br />
less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide<br />
per passenger mile, compared to private<br />
vehicles, and saves 1.4 billion gallons<br />
of gasoline every year—the equivalent<br />
of 108 million cars filling up in a year.<br />
So far this summer, the Washington<br />
D.C. region has had two Code Orange<br />
and two Code Red Air Quality Action<br />
Day alerts when regional ozone levels<br />
were expected to exceed Federal air<br />
quality standards. Cars account for 30 to<br />
40 percent of the pollutants that cause<br />
ozone in the Baltimore/Washington<br />
area. Residents can reduce this impact<br />
on air quality by carpooling, telecommuting,<br />
or taking mass transit to work.<br />
Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant<br />
that damages human health, vegetation,<br />
and many common materials<br />
and is the key ingredient of urban<br />
smog. Repeated exposure to groundlevel<br />
ozone may cause permanent<br />
damage to the lungs. Inhaling ozone<br />
may trigger a variety of health problems<br />
including chest pains, coughing,<br />
nausea, throat irritation, and congestion.<br />
It can also aggravate bronchitis,<br />
heart disease, emphysema, and asthma,<br />
and reduce lung capacity.<br />
For more information about<br />
Ride On bus routes, visit www.<br />
montgomerycountymd.gov/RideOn,<br />
or call 240-777-RIDE (7433).<br />
4 THE METRO HERALD
AROUND THE REGION<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
METRO URGES BUS RIDERS TO SWITCH<br />
FROM CASH TO SMARTRIP®<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> wants more people to<br />
pay for their bus trips with<br />
SmarTrip® and has<br />
launched an advertising campaign<br />
that reminds passengers that paying<br />
their <strong>Metro</strong>bus fares with SmarTrip®<br />
saves 10¢ a ride, eliminates the search<br />
through purses and pockets for exact<br />
change and cuts boarding times on<br />
buses.<br />
“Join the Revolution,” one ad says.<br />
“Get to your seats faster. Be on your<br />
way sooner. Save 10¢ every time you<br />
ride <strong>Metro</strong>bus.” <strong>The</strong> advertisements<br />
aim to heighten bus riders’ awareness<br />
about SmarTrip®, tout the benefits of<br />
SmarTrip® and increase usage of the<br />
plastic, rechargeable farecard on<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>buses to speed the boarding<br />
process.<br />
<strong>The</strong> ad campaign includes three<br />
creative executions in both English<br />
and Spanish. <strong>The</strong>y are appearing on<br />
the exteriors and interiors of buses,<br />
bus stop information cases and<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>rail stations. In addition, radio<br />
ads in English and Spanish will run<br />
through the end of the month.<br />
To get information to passengers<br />
as they wait for buses, “SmarTrip®<br />
Street Teams” are targeting busy bus<br />
stops in Maryland, Virginia and the<br />
District of Columbia through June<br />
12, and handing out SmarTrip®<br />
brochures and a limited quantity of<br />
mints in a SmarTrip® tin.<br />
When <strong>Metro</strong> raised fares in January,<br />
the cost of bus fares paid by cash<br />
increased 10¢ to $1.35, but riders<br />
using SmarTrip® paid the same<br />
$1.25 fare. In addition, as part of the<br />
fare increase package approved by<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>’s Board of Directors last year,<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>bus plans to eliminate paper<br />
transfers in January 2009. Only riders<br />
who pay with SmarTrip® will be<br />
able to transfer from one <strong>Metro</strong>bus to<br />
another for free beginning next year.<br />
Currently, about 25 percent of<br />
trips on <strong>Metro</strong>bus and 65 percent of<br />
trips on <strong>Metro</strong>rail are made by customers<br />
using SmarTrip® cards.<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> first introduced the SmarTrip®<br />
card in 1999 as a fast and convenient<br />
way to pay for <strong>Metro</strong>rail fares. In<br />
2004, all <strong>Metro</strong>buses accepted Smar-<br />
Trip® as a form of payment.<br />
In addition to <strong>Metro</strong>rail and<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>bus, passengers can use Smar-<br />
Trip® to pay for travel on regional<br />
bus systems including ART, CUE,<br />
DASH, Ride On, Fairfax Connector,<br />
Loudoun County Transit, PRTC and<br />
the DC-Circulator, and for parking at<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> parking facilities. SmarTrip®<br />
can be purchased on <strong>Metro</strong>’s Web<br />
site, at <strong>Metro</strong> sales offices at <strong>Metro</strong><br />
Center, the Pentagon and <strong>Metro</strong><br />
headquarters, at the<br />
Northern, Western, Landover,<br />
Royal Street and Four Mile Run<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>bus divisions, from vending<br />
machines at <strong>Metro</strong>rail stations that<br />
have parking facilities, at regional<br />
transit stores and at select Giant<br />
stores.<br />
VIRGINIA AUTHOR RELEASES LATEST IN<br />
“POSSUM” CHILDREN SERIES<br />
Virginia author Jamey M. Long<br />
returns to the literary scene<br />
after previously releasing several<br />
books in the “Possum” series.<br />
Three new children’s books, all published<br />
by Tate Publishing & Enterprises,<br />
release nationwide this week.<br />
“A Possum’s Night on the Titanic”<br />
was written to help children discover<br />
the history and importance of the Titanic’s<br />
maiden voyage to New York<br />
during the night of April 14, 1912. A curious<br />
possum named Opie learns all<br />
about the “ship of dreams” as he explores<br />
the Titanic and meets some of the<br />
most famous people on board the ship.<br />
In “A Possum’s Pot of Gold,” Opie<br />
the possum chases a rainbow in search<br />
of the pot of gold and meets a mischievous<br />
leprechaun who teaches him<br />
truths that are much more valuable<br />
than any monetary gain. Opie learns<br />
the love, fun and trickery that the annual<br />
celebration can bring.<br />
“A Possum’s Happy Halloween”<br />
follows Opie as he bobs for apples<br />
with the boy and his friends, goes<br />
Trick-Or-Treating through the neighborhood<br />
and eats lots of candy on Halloween<br />
night.<br />
Long says his passion is to help<br />
children learn so their dreams can be<br />
made possible.<br />
<strong>The</strong> books are available at any<br />
bookstore nationwide or can be ordered<br />
through the publisher at orders@<br />
tatepublishing.com, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com,<br />
amazon.com or target.com.<br />
Tate Publishing also offers<br />
the eLIVE feature for these titles,<br />
meaning each printed copy contains a<br />
code to redeem a free audio download<br />
from their website, TatePublishing.<br />
com. eLIVE—Listen, Imagine, View,<br />
Entertain.<br />
Long is the author of A Possum’s<br />
Christmas Tale, A Possum’s Happy<br />
Easter, A Possum’s Happy Thanksgiving,<br />
A Possum’s Pot of Gold, A Possum’s<br />
Happy Halloween, and A Possum’s<br />
Happy Valentine’s Day. He<br />
earned a bachelor’s degree from George<br />
Mason University, an MBA from the<br />
University of Mary Washington and is<br />
currently employed at the University of<br />
Mary Washington, George Mason University<br />
and Northern Virginia Community<br />
College as an operations manager<br />
and adjunct instructor.<br />
DRIVER’S LICENSES ISSUED BEGINNING JULY 1 VALID FOR<br />
EIGHT YEARS COST REMAINS SAME, $4 PER YEAR<br />
Starting July 1, <strong>2008</strong>, driver’s licenses<br />
issued by the Virginia<br />
Department of Motor Vehicles<br />
(DMV) will be valid for eight years<br />
instead of five. However, the validity<br />
period for identification cards will remain<br />
the same, five years. <strong>The</strong> cost of<br />
a driver’s license, $4 per year, will<br />
not change. An eight-year driver’s license<br />
renewal will cost $32.<br />
“Reducing the frequency of customer<br />
visits to DMV is the goal of<br />
this new law that is cost-effective for<br />
both customers and Virginia,” said<br />
DMV Commissioner D.B. Smit. “<strong>The</strong><br />
legislation will lower DMV’s operational<br />
costs and produce a future savings<br />
for taxpayers.”<br />
Instead of visiting a DMV customer<br />
service center (CSC), eligible<br />
customers may renew driver’s licenses<br />
through the Internet (www.<br />
dmvNOW. com), telephone (1-888-<br />
Just as the official start of hurricane<br />
season began on Sun<strong>day</strong> the<br />
Montgomery County Department<br />
of Parks announced the completion of<br />
construction on the Lake Needwood<br />
Dam in Rock Creek Regional Park.<br />
“We are <strong>happy</strong> to welcome trail users<br />
back to the park this summer now that<br />
construction on the dam is complete,”<br />
said Department of Parks Rock Creek<br />
Regional Park Manager Jim Humerick.<br />
A portion of the park’s Westside<br />
Trail has been closed since last March<br />
as the Department of Parks began the<br />
first phase of the remedial measures<br />
program initiated for the dam following<br />
the significant storms of June 2006,<br />
which included having a specialty contractor<br />
install a grout curtain below the<br />
Fairfax County officials announced<br />
that the Burke VRE<br />
parking garage opened recently,<br />
offering 1,292 spaces for commuters.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se are helpful hints for using the<br />
new garage:<br />
• <strong>The</strong> entrance is at the east end of<br />
the building, with the exit at the<br />
west end.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> station platform can be accessed<br />
through the garage’s second<br />
level.<br />
• Spaces for people with disabilities<br />
are on the first and second levels.<br />
Although the garage is now open,<br />
construction will continue on the two<br />
parking lots outside that will offer an<br />
additional 300 spaces. New sidewalks<br />
are still being installed, and the “kiss<br />
and ride” drop-off area is also under<br />
construction.<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, June 13, will be the last<br />
<strong>day</strong> of service for Fairfax County’s<br />
free shuttle bus service between the<br />
VRE station and the Burke Centre<br />
Library and Saint Mary’s Church.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se two sites provided commuters<br />
with additional parking while the<br />
garage was under construction.<br />
However, EZ Bus will continue to<br />
operate its north and south routes to the<br />
Burke Centre station. <strong>The</strong>se buses are<br />
337-4782) or mail. Customers must<br />
visit a DMV CSC every other renewal<br />
for a vision screening and new<br />
photograph. Other important changes<br />
regarding driver’s licenses and ID<br />
cards include:<br />
TEENS<br />
Driver’s licenses issued to 16- and<br />
17-year-olds will expire at age 20. State<br />
law says that anyone under 21, who is<br />
convicted of a moving violation, must<br />
take the written knowledge exam again<br />
when renewing their driver’s license.<br />
SEX OFFENDERS<br />
Convicted sex offenders are an exception<br />
to the new eight-year driver’s<br />
license validity period. <strong>The</strong>se customers<br />
must visit a CSC to renew their<br />
driver’s license at least every five years.<br />
PARKS DEPARTMENT COMPLETES<br />
NEEDWOOD DAM CONSTRUCTION<br />
Needwood Dam to reduce seepage<br />
through the dam’s rock foundation. Additional<br />
repairs included upgrades to<br />
the outlet control tower and the dam<br />
monitoring system. <strong>The</strong> last major<br />
phase of the project involved installation<br />
of a sand and gravel blanket drain<br />
on the downstream face of the dam to<br />
collect and control any residual seepage<br />
through the bedrock foundation.<br />
Now all phases are complete and as<br />
a result public access to Rock Creek<br />
Regional Park and its popular Lake<br />
Needwood is no longer restricted.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re will be some minor clean-up<br />
work and parking lot repairs in the<br />
coming weeks, but that work will be<br />
scheduled to minimize any disruptions<br />
for park users.<br />
FAIRFAX COUNTY OPENS<br />
BURKE VRE GARAGE<br />
free and subscriptions are no longer<br />
necessary. In the mornings, EZ Buses<br />
arrive at the station five to 10 minutes<br />
before VRE trains 324, 326, 328, 330<br />
and 332 depart. In the afternoon, EZ<br />
Buses leave the station five minutes<br />
after VRE trains 325, 327, 329, 331,<br />
333, 335 and 337 arrive.<br />
<strong>The</strong> county also recently completed<br />
two trails to allow pedestrian access to<br />
the garage. Residents from the adjacent<br />
Burke Shire Commons and Walnut<br />
Woods neighborhoods can now<br />
walk or bicycle to the garage.<br />
Fairfax County officials worked<br />
closely with the surrounding neighborhoods<br />
to develop a design consistent<br />
with the area. For example, the garage<br />
incorporates inlays of red brick, a common<br />
building material used throughout<br />
Burke. Two clocks were built into the<br />
main elevator tower to make the<br />
garage reflect Burke’s rural character.<br />
<strong>The</strong> stair and clock towers were designed<br />
to complement the Victorian architecture<br />
of the VRE station.<br />
Fairfax County’s Department of<br />
Public Works and Environmental Services<br />
was responsible for the overall<br />
project management and construction<br />
administration for the garage. <strong>The</strong> total<br />
cost of the project is approximately<br />
$28 million.<br />
COMMERCIAL DRIVERS<br />
Commercial driver’s licenses<br />
(CDL) will be valid for eight years<br />
beginning July 1. However, CDL<br />
holders with a HAZMAT endorsement<br />
must continue to follow federal<br />
guidelines and renew their HAZMAT<br />
endorsement every five years.<br />
LIMITED DURATION<br />
For customers with limited duration<br />
identification, their driver’s license<br />
or ID card will continue to be<br />
valid only for the amount of time they<br />
are legally authorized to be in the U.S.<br />
This new law also encourages customers<br />
to renew vehicle registrations<br />
(decals) online, over the phone or<br />
through the mail. Customers are urged<br />
to avoid renewing vehicle registrations<br />
at DMV customer service centers<br />
where a $5 fee will be added. Internet<br />
renewals are discounted by $1.<br />
“During recent rain events the dam<br />
has responded well,” added Humerick.<br />
“We routinely monitor levels at both<br />
lakes Needwood and Frank using a<br />
newly installed remote monitoring<br />
system.”<br />
In coming years, park visitors can<br />
expect expanded boating and fishing<br />
areas within Lake Needwood as the<br />
County Council recently approved<br />
$3.8 million for a much-needed project<br />
to dredge the lake. In December, the<br />
Montgomery County Planning Board<br />
approved preliminary engineering designs<br />
for the dredging project, which<br />
includes structural improvements to<br />
the lake’s existing forebay and upper<br />
portion of the main lake. Lake Needwood<br />
was regularly dredged until<br />
about 1990 when funding constraints<br />
discontinued regular dredging. Since<br />
that time, continued siltation has impacted<br />
the function of the forebay and<br />
limited boating and fishing within the<br />
main body of the lake. <strong>The</strong> timing of<br />
the dredging project will be coordinated<br />
with the completion of ICC construction<br />
in the area and is expected to<br />
occur over the winter of 2010, 2011.<br />
For more on recreational opportunities<br />
at Rock Creek Regional Park including<br />
boat rentals at Lake Needwood,<br />
visit www.MontgomeryParks.<br />
org.<br />
BLACK FACT<br />
On June 13, 1967,<br />
Thurgood Marshall,<br />
U.S. solicitor<br />
general, was<br />
named to the<br />
Supreme Court by<br />
President Johnson.<br />
He was confirmed<br />
by the Senate on<br />
August 30 and<br />
became the first<br />
black Supreme<br />
Court justice.<br />
THE METRO HERALD 5
CAPITAL COMMENTS<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
MCCAIN SAYS GAS PRICES<br />
WON’T DROP<br />
AND COULD RISE<br />
Record high prices for gasoline<br />
probably won’t drop before<br />
the November election, Republican<br />
John McCain said.<br />
“I don’t think it’s going much<br />
lower, and it could go higher,” McCain<br />
said on NBC’s “To<strong>day</strong> Show.” “I don’t<br />
think so, not when you’ve got a finite<br />
supply, basically, and a cartel controlling<br />
it.”<br />
Although the GOP presidential candidate<br />
didn’t address the question of<br />
raising taxes on oil companies, he said<br />
the companies “absolutely” should return<br />
some profits to consumers. “And<br />
they should be embarking on research<br />
and development that will pay off in<br />
reducing our dependence on foreign<br />
oil,” he said.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> point is, oil companies have<br />
got to be more participatory in alternate<br />
energy, in sharing their profits in a<br />
variety of ways, and there is very<br />
strong and justifiable emotion about<br />
their profits,” McCain said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> issue of oil company profits<br />
came up this week in the Senate, where<br />
Republicans stopped the Democrats<br />
from imposing a tax on windfall profits<br />
and taking away billions of dollars<br />
in tax breaks in response to the $4-agallon<br />
price of gas.<br />
In the past McCain has indicated he<br />
would consider such a tax proposal,<br />
saying he didn’t want to see companies<br />
making “obscene profits” that distort<br />
the market.<br />
McCain used the opportunity to<br />
bring up his proposal for a gas tax holi<strong>day</strong><br />
that would suspend the federal tax<br />
of 18.4 cents per gallon, a proposal that<br />
Democratic rival Barack Obama dismisses<br />
as a gimmick. Critics say that<br />
cutting the price<br />
would only increase<br />
demand,<br />
which would<br />
lead to higher<br />
prices again.<br />
“Look what’s<br />
happened to<br />
Americans who<br />
are on a fixed in-<br />
Senator<br />
John McCain<br />
come, particularly<br />
low-income<br />
Americans—that’s why I wanted to<br />
give them a little break,” McCain said.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y drive the furthest. <strong>The</strong>y drive<br />
the automobiles that use the most gasoline.<br />
I wanted to give them a little<br />
break for the summer.”<br />
In the interview, McCain said President<br />
Bush’s strategy to increase the<br />
number of troops in Iraq last year is<br />
working. McCain has been an ardent<br />
supporter of the Iraq war, but he criticized<br />
the early handling of the war, saying<br />
Bush did not send enough troops<br />
initially. In fact, he challenged the characterization<br />
that the strategy of increasing<br />
troop levels was Bush’s: “May I<br />
correct that statement I advocated the<br />
surge policy before President Bush.”<br />
McCain was asked if, since he argues<br />
the strategy is working, he has a<br />
better estimate for when U.S. troops<br />
could leave Iraq.<br />
“No, but that’s not too important,”<br />
McCain said. “What’s important is casualties<br />
in Iraq.<br />
“Americans are in South Korea.<br />
Americans are in Japan. American troops<br />
are in Germany. That’s all fine. American<br />
casualties, and the ability to withdraw.<br />
We will be able to withdraw.... But the<br />
key to it is we don’t want any more<br />
Americans in harm’s way.”<br />
Obama wants to begin withdrawing<br />
troops from Iraq, which McCain<br />
opposes.<br />
JOHNSON RESIGNS FROM TEAM<br />
VETTING OBAMA VEEP<br />
Jim Johnson, a manager of Democrat<br />
Barack Obama’s vice presidential<br />
search team, resigned amid<br />
criticism over his personal loan deals.<br />
“Jim did not want to distract in any<br />
way from the very important task of<br />
gathering information about my vice<br />
presidential nominee, so he has made a<br />
decision to step aside that I accept,”<br />
Obama said in a statement. “We have a<br />
very good selection process under way,<br />
and I am confident that it will produce<br />
a number of highly qualified candidates<br />
for me to choose from in the weeks<br />
ahead. I remain grateful to Jim for his<br />
service and his efforts in this process.”<br />
Johnson, the former chairman of<br />
mortgage lender Fannie Mae, received<br />
loans with the help of the CEO of<br />
Countrywide Financial Corp., which is<br />
part of a federal investigation in the<br />
midst of the subprime mortgage crisis.<br />
<strong>The</strong> story was first reported by the<br />
Wall Street Journal.<br />
Republican presidential candidate<br />
John McCain had accused Obama of<br />
hypocrisy for speaking out against<br />
Countrywide’s tactics while his vetter<br />
got favorable rates on three home<br />
mortgages totaling $1.7 million.<br />
Johnson served on Obama’s vetting<br />
team with two prominent Democratic<br />
attorneys—former Deputy Attorney<br />
General Eric Holder and Caroline<br />
Kennedy, the daughter of the late President<br />
John F. Kennedy.<br />
Johnson brought the most experience<br />
to the vetting team, having filled<br />
the same role for Democratic nominees<br />
John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale<br />
in 1984. He and Holder had been holding<br />
meetings this week with lawmakers<br />
on Capitol Hill to seek their input on<br />
possible running mate candidates.<br />
<strong>The</strong> campaign declined to answer<br />
questions about whether Johnson<br />
would be replaced or the vetting<br />
process will be left to Holder and<br />
Kennedy, who have not been involved<br />
in a vice presidential search before.<br />
On Tues<strong>day</strong>, Obama said Johnson<br />
had a “discrete task” and was performing<br />
it well. He suggested the Countrywide<br />
connection was not a problem<br />
since Johnson was an unpaid volunteer<br />
and hadn’t been assigned to work in a<br />
future administration.<br />
“I am not vetting my V.P. search<br />
committee for their mortgages,”<br />
Obama said at the time.<br />
Democrats say the nation should<br />
be ashamed of its ban on gays<br />
serving openly in the military.<br />
It discourages qualified people from<br />
joining the ranks at a time when the<br />
armed forces are stretched by two<br />
wars, they say, and is degrading to<br />
those willing to serve their country.<br />
So what have the Democrats done<br />
about it Nothing, really.<br />
Since taking control of Congress in<br />
January 2007, Democrats have not<br />
convened hearings on the matter or<br />
taken up legislation that would let gays<br />
serve openly, although most party<br />
members favor repealing the prohibition.<br />
Instead, Democrats have focused<br />
their efforts on bringing troops home<br />
from Iraq and other issues that have<br />
broad appeal among voters, such as<br />
lowering gas prices.<br />
In a recent interview with <strong>The</strong> Advocate,<br />
a gay newsmagazine, Democrat<br />
Barack Obama stopped short of<br />
promising to lead the way for change,<br />
saying only that he can “reasonably<br />
see” a repeal of the current ban if<br />
elected president.<br />
Indeed, the gays-in-the-military<br />
issue has slid from being a top campaign<br />
pledge of President Clinton’s to<br />
a footnote on the Democratic agenda<br />
even as some of its staunchest opponents<br />
soften their rhetoric and acknowledge<br />
that the nation’s attitudes<br />
are changing.<br />
“Politics is often driven by risk<br />
aversion and fear and that’s big,” said<br />
Nathaniel Frank, a senior research fellow<br />
at <strong>The</strong> Michael D. Palm Center in<br />
Santa Barbara, Calif., who supports<br />
eliminating the ban. “<strong>The</strong>re are people<br />
FEDERAL METRO FUNDING<br />
MEASURE PASSES HOUSE<br />
Under the leadership of Congressman<br />
Steny H. Hoyer (D-<br />
MD), Congressman Tom Davis<br />
(R-VA) and members of the Washington<br />
regional delegation, the U.S.<br />
House of Representatives to<strong>day</strong> approved<br />
a key regional and national<br />
transportation priority to provide $1.5<br />
billion in matching dedicated funding<br />
for the Washington <strong>Metro</strong>politan Area<br />
Transit Authority (WMATA). <strong>The</strong><br />
funding is deemed as essential to maintaining<br />
and improving WMATA infrastructure<br />
and services for area residents,<br />
federal workers and visitors to<br />
the Nation’s Capital.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Washington Area <strong>Metro</strong> system<br />
is a critical national and regional<br />
asset that serves area residents, employees<br />
of the federal government and<br />
millions of annual visitors to the Nation’s<br />
Capital,” stated Congressman<br />
Hoyer. “<strong>The</strong>re is a clear federal interest<br />
in ensuring that ‘America’s Subway,’<br />
which was created by Congress, is able<br />
to operate safely and efficiently for<br />
years to come.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> funding measure was<br />
approved as an amendment offered by<br />
Rep. Hoyer along with Reps. Tom<br />
Davis and Chris Van Hollen to the Amtrak<br />
reauthorization bill. <strong>The</strong> amendment<br />
is very similar to legislation introduced<br />
by Rep. Davis to authorize<br />
$1.5 billion over ten years to help finance<br />
capital and preventive maintenance<br />
projects and require matching<br />
dedicated funds from Maryland, Virginia<br />
and the District of Columbia.<br />
“A world capital deserves a worldclass<br />
transit system, and this will ensure<br />
we have one,” said Congressman<br />
Davis. “It will ensure the federal government<br />
can continue to function in<br />
case of natural or man-made disaster,<br />
and it will ensure the system can meet<br />
increased demands placed on it by the<br />
high cost of energy.”<br />
Securing a joint federal-state commitment<br />
to WMATA has long been<br />
seen as essential to providing overdue<br />
capital improvements and maintenance<br />
for the system’s aging infrastructure.<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> officials recently estimated that<br />
the system needs approximately $489<br />
million in urgent and outstanding infrastructure<br />
repair work. <strong>The</strong> system<br />
has been stressed every further with a<br />
rapidly growing ridership, in part due<br />
to rising energy costs in the region.<br />
According to a recent Washington Post<br />
story, “In April, <strong>Metro</strong>’s ridership increased<br />
4.3 percent over the same period<br />
the year before.”<br />
“<strong>Metro</strong>’s value to the region and the<br />
DEMOCRATS RELUCTANT TO TAKE ON<br />
“DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL”<br />
who don’t want to be out front on this.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> reluctance is in large part a result<br />
of Clinton’s painful experience. As<br />
one of his first acts as president, Clinton<br />
sought to make good on his 1992<br />
campaign pledge to open the military<br />
to gays. His effort to change the law<br />
eventually gave way to the current<br />
“don’t ask, don’t tell” policy—but not<br />
before debate on the issue divided his<br />
party, awakened a fierce social conservative<br />
movement and helped GOP critics<br />
cast Clinton as a social liberal who<br />
was woefully out of touch with the<br />
military.<br />
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is intended<br />
to keep the military from asking recruits<br />
their sexual orientation. In turn,<br />
service members can’t say they are gay<br />
or bisexual, engage in homosexual activity<br />
or marry a member of the same<br />
sex.<br />
No doubt Obama and congressional<br />
Democrats want to avoid Clinton’s<br />
fate. If elected, Obama’s primary task<br />
would be trying to end the Iraq war<br />
without severing his ties to the military<br />
or appearing to the American public as<br />
weak on national security issues.<br />
“Many (party) members underestimate<br />
where Americans are on this,”<br />
said Marty Meehan, the former Massachusetts<br />
Democratic congressman who<br />
last year introduced a House bill to repeal<br />
the current policy. His attempts to<br />
advance the legislation met quiet resistance<br />
among the more conservative<br />
Democrats on the House Armed Services<br />
Committee who feared the issue<br />
would prove too divisive among their<br />
constituents, particularly those on military<br />
bases.<br />
Rep. Steny Hoyer<br />
(D-MD)<br />
nation is immeasurable,”<br />
stated Rep.<br />
Hoyer. “Not<br />
only is it indispensible<br />
as a<br />
transit system<br />
for residents of<br />
and visitors to<br />
the Nation’s<br />
Capital, it is an<br />
essential component<br />
of the region’s emergency<br />
evacuation plans. Now that this measure<br />
has passed the House, we will work<br />
with our colleagues in the Senate to<br />
overcome the hurdles in that body.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> federal commitment to the<br />
Washington <strong>Metro</strong> system dates back<br />
to 1960, when Congress passed and<br />
President Eisenhower signed into law<br />
legislation to provide for the development<br />
of a regional rail system serving<br />
the Nation’s Capital, funding $6.2 billion<br />
of the approximately $10 billion<br />
needed to construct the original 103-<br />
mile system. Congress has since<br />
passed <strong>Metro</strong> authorization bills in<br />
1965, 1969, 1979, and 1990.<br />
Senate action on the measure is<br />
pending due to the objections of Senator<br />
Tom Coburn (R-OK) who has<br />
blocked consideration.<br />
DC BLACK<br />
REPUBLICAN<br />
COUNCIL<br />
FORUM<br />
MEETING<br />
<strong>The</strong> DCBRC Monthly Informational<br />
Discussion<br />
Forum on Tues<strong>day</strong>,<br />
June 17th will be an interesting<br />
and informational event that you<br />
should mark on your calendar.<br />
<strong>The</strong> guest speaker will be<br />
Shannon Reeves who is the<br />
Republican National Committee’s<br />
head of African American<br />
Outreach. <strong>The</strong> event is an excellent<br />
opportunity to determine<br />
what the RNC is doing<br />
toward African Americans in<br />
the <strong>2008</strong> General Elections and<br />
to provide input on what<br />
African American want in this<br />
campaign season and in the<br />
winning candidate’s White<br />
House Administration.<br />
Make plans to join the<br />
DCBRC at Duke’s City Restaurant<br />
(1208 U Street, NW) on the<br />
17th and to bring: announcements<br />
and inside information to<br />
share with other active Black<br />
Republicans. And, bring a list<br />
of suggestions for Mr. Reeves<br />
and the RNC to take notice of in<br />
regards to impacting and influencing<br />
the Black Vote.<br />
Please RSVP to 202-547-<br />
4125 (Bill Reed) Busxchng<br />
@his.com, 202-583-3524<br />
(Bob Richards) RbRchrds@<br />
cs.com by 06/13/08.<br />
UNITED WE STAND<br />
6 THE METRO HERALD
AROUND THE NATION<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL<br />
PUBLIC POLICY ANNOUNCES<br />
FELLOWSHIP CLASS FOR <strong>2008</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> Institute for International<br />
Public Policy (IIPP), a program<br />
of the UNCF Special Programs<br />
Corporation (UNCFSP) announced<br />
that 32 outstanding young men and<br />
women from across the country have<br />
been selected for the 14th Cohort of<br />
the IIPP Fellowship—one of the nation’s<br />
most prestigious programs for<br />
minority students interested in pursuing<br />
careers in international affairs.<br />
Each of the 32 IIPP Fellows will receive<br />
scholarships and services totaling<br />
nearly $100,000 over a five-year<br />
period, a commitment of $3.2 million.<br />
<strong>The</strong> IIPP <strong>2008</strong> class represents 26<br />
different colleges and universities, including<br />
seven Historically Black Colleges<br />
and Universities: Dillard University,<br />
Johnson D. Smith University,<br />
Spelman College, Wilberforce University,<br />
Howard University and Jackson<br />
State University. Selection as an IIPP<br />
Fellow is highly competitive and based<br />
on a record of remarkable academic<br />
achievement, evidence of leadership<br />
potential and commitment to a career<br />
in global affairs. A complete list of the<br />
Fellows, their educational institutions<br />
and hometowns is below.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> incoming Fellows are one of<br />
the most diverse groups the IIPP has<br />
ever had,” said Darryl Crompton, Director<br />
of the IIPP. “Our students are<br />
from almost every region of the country<br />
and come from small liberal arts<br />
colleges, Ivy League universities, Hispanic-Serving<br />
Institutions and Historically<br />
Black Colleges and Universities.<br />
What brings them together is their interest<br />
and commitment to a career in<br />
international affairs.”<br />
Over the next seven weeks, the students<br />
will participate in the rigorous<br />
seven-week Sophomore Summer Policy<br />
Institute (SSPI) hosted at Spelman<br />
College in Atlanta, Georgia. <strong>The</strong> SSPI<br />
introduces Fellows to the basics of international<br />
policy development, foreign<br />
affairs, cultural competence, careers<br />
in these fields, and options for<br />
graduate study. Over the next five<br />
years the Fellowship will include study<br />
abroad during their junior year, intensive<br />
foreign language training, internships<br />
tied to their areas of interest and<br />
graduate study<br />
US LIFE EXPECTANCY TOPS 78<br />
AS TOP DISEASES DECLINE<br />
For the first time, U.S. life expectancy<br />
has surpassed 78<br />
years, the government reported,<br />
although the United States continues to<br />
lag behind about 30 other countries in<br />
estimated life span.<br />
<strong>The</strong> increase is due mainly to<br />
falling mortality rates in almost all the<br />
leading causes of death, federal health<br />
officials said. <strong>The</strong> average life expectancy<br />
for babies born in 2006 was<br />
about four months greater than for<br />
children born in 2005.<br />
Japan has the longest life expectancy—83<br />
years for children born<br />
in 2006, according to World Health Organization<br />
data. Switzerland and Australia<br />
were also near the top of the list.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> international comparisons are<br />
not that appealing, but we may be in the<br />
process of catching up,” said Samuel<br />
Preston, a University of Pennsylvania<br />
demographer. He is co-chairman of a<br />
National Research Council panel looking<br />
at why America’s life expectancy is<br />
lower than other nations’.<br />
<strong>The</strong> new U.S. data, released<br />
Wednes<strong>day</strong>, come from the National<br />
Center for Health Statistics. It’s a preliminary<br />
report of 2006 numbers, based<br />
on data from more than 95 percent of<br />
the death certificates collected that year.<br />
Life expectancy is the period a child<br />
born in 2006 is expected to live, assuming<br />
mortality trends stay constant.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2006 increase is due mainly to<br />
falling mortality rates for nine of the 15<br />
leading causes of death, including heart<br />
disease, cancer, accidents and diabetes.<br />
“I think the most surprising thing is<br />
that we had declines in just about every<br />
major cause of death,” said Robert Anderson,<br />
who oversaw work on the report<br />
for the health statistics center.<br />
<strong>The</strong> overall death rate fell from 799<br />
per 100,000 in 2005 to about 776 the<br />
following year.<br />
Health statisticians noted declines<br />
Visit us on the web at<br />
www.metroherald.com<br />
of more than 6 percent in stroke and<br />
chronic lower respiratory disease (including<br />
bronchitis and emphysema),<br />
and a drop of more than 5 percent in<br />
heart disease and diabetes deaths. Indeed,<br />
the drop in diabetes deaths was<br />
steep enough to allow Alzheimer’s disease—which<br />
held about steady—to<br />
pass diabetes to become the nation’s<br />
sixth leading cause of death.<br />
<strong>The</strong> U.S. infant mortality rate<br />
dropped more than 2 percent, to 6.7 infant<br />
deaths per 1,000 births, from 6.9.<br />
Perhaps the most influential factor<br />
in the 2006 success story, however,<br />
was the flu. Flu and pneumonia deaths<br />
dropped by 13 percent from 2005, reflecting<br />
a mild flu season in 2006, Anderson<br />
said. That also meant a diminished<br />
threat to people with heart<br />
disease and other conditions. Taken together,<br />
it’s a primary explanation for<br />
the 22,000 fewer deaths in 2006 from<br />
2005, experts said.<br />
U.S. life expectancy has been<br />
steadily rising, usually by about two to<br />
three months from year to year. This<br />
year’s jump of fourth months is “an<br />
unusually rapid improvement,” Preston<br />
said.<br />
Life expectancy was up for both<br />
men and women, and whites and<br />
blacks. Although the gaps are closing,<br />
women continue to live longer, almost<br />
to 81, compared to about 75 for men.<br />
Among racial categories, white women<br />
have the highest life expectancy (81<br />
years), followed by black women<br />
(about 77 years), white men (76) and<br />
black men (70). Health statisticians<br />
said they don’t have reliable data to<br />
calculate Hispanic life expectancy, but<br />
they hope to by next year.<br />
Increases in female smoking are a<br />
major reason that men’s life expectancy<br />
is catching up with the women’s, Preston<br />
said. Improvements in the care of<br />
heart disease—a major health problem<br />
for black Americans—helps explain an<br />
improving racial gap, he said.<br />
About 2.4 million Americans died<br />
in 2006, according to the report.<br />
PRISONWORLD MAGAZINE OPENS ITS DOORS TO ADVERTISERS<br />
Dawah International, LLC has<br />
introduced and released its one<br />
of a kind magazine for prisoners.<br />
Prisonworld Magazine is published<br />
on a seven-issue basis in order<br />
to communicate with those behind the<br />
wall. It is very unique in conception<br />
and the only magazine especially for<br />
the prison system that showcases poetry,<br />
letters of inspiration, thoughts,<br />
comments, and opinions, individually<br />
and collectively, of inmates.<br />
<strong>The</strong> magazine is tailored for the incarcerated,<br />
but is available to the general<br />
public for purchase and participation.<br />
Dawah has formulated a pen pal<br />
service where men and women across<br />
the United States who have a desire to<br />
communicate with someone in prison<br />
can do so in anonymity. As well, inmates<br />
can communicate with one another<br />
through free pen pal ads. Inmates<br />
can become VIP members with special<br />
privileges. <strong>The</strong> magazine also offers<br />
trivia and scrabble contests, surveys,<br />
religious content, and much more.<br />
Prisonworld Magazine now ships<br />
to over 400 institutions, state and federal,<br />
in 32 states. “Since it is free to the<br />
institution’s libraries, we can estimate<br />
our readership at approximately<br />
350,000 per month,” says Rufus<br />
Triplett Jr., Editor. <strong>The</strong> magazine also<br />
has a large “free world” subscriber<br />
SAFEWAY’S EASTERN DIVISION OFFERS<br />
$4 GENERIC DRUGS FOR THE MOST<br />
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS<br />
Safeway to<strong>day</strong> announced a discount prescription program that will price<br />
more than 300 of the most commonly prescribed generic medications at<br />
$4 for a 30-<strong>day</strong> supply. <strong>The</strong> $4 Generic Drug Program—effective at all<br />
Safeway in-store pharmacies in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and<br />
Delaware—offers a savings to customers purchasing medications that treat<br />
the most common conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, chronic pain, thyroid<br />
and heart health issues.<br />
<strong>The</strong> program began recently at 115 in-store Safeway pharmacies throughout<br />
the region.<br />
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their name-brand<br />
counterpart, but cost less. A complete list of prescriptions available under the<br />
$4 Generic Drug Program can be obtained at Safeway pharmacies or by calling<br />
the Safeway Customer Service Center at 1-800-723-3929.<br />
Current Safeway pharmacy customers will realize the new pricing with<br />
their next refill. New customers can bring a written prescription or transfer a<br />
prescription by simply calling their local Safeway pharmacy. Customers can<br />
also transfer a prescription online at Safeway.com in the “Wellness Center”<br />
section under “Pharmacy.”<br />
For more information, visit www.safeway.com.<br />
base. Many people find the magazine<br />
interesting because of its positive messages,<br />
humor, resources and trivia. <strong>The</strong><br />
magazine is highly demanded and anticipated<br />
in all of the institutions.<br />
<strong>The</strong> magazine has recently opened<br />
its publication to advertisers. In keeping<br />
with the attitude of giving its readers<br />
what they want, the magazine is<br />
seeking typing services, gift stores,<br />
greeting card wholesalers, pen pal/<br />
MYSPACE services, lawyers/paralegals,<br />
jewelry stores, audio books/bookstores,<br />
authors (self-published, African-<br />
American, self-help, etc) and entrepreneurial<br />
services as advertisers.<br />
Jenny Triplett, Editor-in-Chief, says,<br />
“We receive several letters every week<br />
requesting all kinds of services. Even<br />
though we would like to, we cannot<br />
handle all of the prisoners needs. We<br />
know there are people out there who<br />
are willing to think outside the box.”<br />
Prisonworld Magazine offers better<br />
than competitive rates and an extremely<br />
unique target market. With over 2.2 million<br />
incarcerated, anyone who advertises<br />
in the magazine has a direct link to<br />
a community with its own market share.<br />
Dawah is a family owned and operated<br />
company established to bring a<br />
positive vibe to the prison community.<br />
<strong>The</strong> owners are originally from Michigan,<br />
with ties in Toledo, Ohio and<br />
Florida, and have been based in the Atlanta<br />
area for over 15 years. When<br />
asked the question what would make<br />
you start a magazine like this, the owners<br />
respond intelligently “We hope to<br />
bring new and different ideas to the<br />
multimedia game as well as enlighten<br />
views and perceptions of an uninformed<br />
and forgotten society.”<br />
THE METRO HERALD 7
HEALTH & WELLNESS<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Weiman Products, makers of<br />
leading home care products,<br />
will support the National<br />
Ovarian Cancer Coalition<br />
(NOCC) and its efforts to educate and<br />
inform women about ovarian cancer<br />
risk factors and symptoms starting<br />
June 2, <strong>2008</strong>. Weiman will make a<br />
generous corporate donation to the<br />
NOCC and implement a multi-channel<br />
campaign that supports NOCC’s mission—to<br />
raise awareness and promote<br />
education about ovarian cancer—and<br />
its commitment to improving the survival<br />
rate and quality of life for women<br />
with ovarian cancer.<br />
“We are honored to contribute substantial<br />
funding to NOCC—an organization<br />
that is fully committed to<br />
spreading awareness and conducting<br />
education about ovarian cancer,” said<br />
Carl DeMasi, Weiman Products president<br />
and CEO. “To solidify Weiman’s<br />
dedication to the cause, we will use our<br />
WEIMAN PRODUCTS TO AID FIGHT AGAINST OVARIAN CANCER<br />
product packaging, Web site, e-<br />
newsletter and additional marketing<br />
tools to increase awareness about ovarian<br />
cancer among Weiman’s national<br />
consumer and retail base.”<br />
Weiman’s awareness and education<br />
campaign will include the following<br />
elements:<br />
• Weiman will introduce teal-colored<br />
product caps on six of its top-selling<br />
products (Cook Top Wipes,<br />
Leather Wipes, Granite Wipes, E-<br />
tronic Wipes, Stainless Steel Wipes,<br />
Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish)<br />
during September <strong>2008</strong> to honor<br />
and increase awareness for Ovarian<br />
Cancer Awareness month. <strong>The</strong> teal<br />
caps will appear in retailers nationwide,<br />
including Wal-Mart, Target,<br />
True Value, Kroger, Safeway, Publix<br />
and Kmart.<br />
• Product packaging for all of<br />
Weiman’s products will be updated<br />
to include an ovarian cancer awareness<br />
ribbon and NOCC Web site<br />
address to help consumers access<br />
information and facts about ovarian<br />
cancer online.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Weiman Web site will feature<br />
an enhanced, dedicated web page<br />
with information about ovarian<br />
cancer and details about Weiman’s<br />
partnership with NOCC.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> September <strong>2008</strong> edition of<br />
Weiman’s e-newsletter, Weiman<br />
News, will include educational information<br />
that supports NOCC’s<br />
mission.<br />
• Weiman Products will provide opportunities<br />
and encourage employee<br />
investment and involvement<br />
in supporting the NOCC mission.<br />
<strong>The</strong> National Ovarian Cancer Coalition<br />
is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization<br />
that provides help and hope about<br />
ovarian cancer with public education<br />
and awareness, state divisions, a tollfree<br />
Help Line, comprehensive web<br />
site, peer support, publications and special<br />
projects. <strong>The</strong> National Ovarian<br />
Cancer Coalition’s mission is to raise<br />
awareness and promote education<br />
about ovarian cancer. <strong>The</strong> Coalition is<br />
committed to improving the survival<br />
rate and quality of life for women with<br />
ovarian cancer. For more information<br />
on the “Break the Silence” campaign<br />
and to contact one of the local NOCC<br />
local divisions, visit www.ovarian.org<br />
or call 1-888-OVARIAN.<br />
Weiman Products, LLC manufactures<br />
specialty home care products that<br />
Montgomery County Executive<br />
Isiah Leggett recently joined<br />
the Latino Health Steering<br />
Committee of Montgomery County for<br />
the release of the “Blueprint for Latino<br />
Health in Montgomery County, Maryland<br />
<strong>2008</strong>-2012”. <strong>The</strong> health status report<br />
outlines the most pressing issues<br />
facing the more than 120,000 Latinos<br />
living in Montgomery County and recommends<br />
strategies for improving the<br />
health of Latinos in the community.<br />
“We are concerned about the health<br />
status of all of our county residents and<br />
the Blueprint will be invaluable in providing<br />
guidance and direction in developing<br />
programs that will improve the<br />
health and human service outcomes for<br />
Latinos in our community,” said Leggett.<br />
<strong>The</strong> report found that 50 to 60 percent<br />
of Latinos in the community lack<br />
access to health care services. In a<br />
clean, protect and prolong the life of<br />
appliances and surfaces throughout the<br />
home. Weiman’s product lines include:<br />
Weiman products, Wright’s® Metal<br />
Care products and its newest product<br />
line of environmentally-friendly cleaners,<br />
Perfect Planet. Headquartered in<br />
Gurnee, Il, Weiman products are available<br />
nationwide through mass merchandisers,<br />
grocery stores, hardware<br />
stores and other retail outlets including<br />
Wal-Mart, Target, Publix, Kroger, True<br />
Value, Kmart, Ace Hardware, <strong>The</strong><br />
Home Depot, Expo Design Center and<br />
Costco. Products are also available<br />
through Weiman’s website www.<br />
weiman.com or by phone 888-281-<br />
6400.<br />
LEGGETT JOINS LATINO HEALTH<br />
STEERING COMMITTEE TO RELEASE<br />
BLUEPRINT FOR LATINO HEALTH REPORT<br />
2005 Montgomery County Latino Cancer<br />
Survey, only 50 percent of the respondents<br />
indicated that they have a<br />
primary health care provider. Results<br />
from focus groups conducted among<br />
low-income Latinos reveal that the top<br />
health issues include the lack of health<br />
insurance and the cost of heath services,<br />
the limited number of bilingual<br />
and bicultural health care services staff,<br />
the limited number of early detection<br />
and prevention services, the need for a<br />
continuum of care and better coordination<br />
between services, the unavailability<br />
of adequate transportation and the<br />
limited hours of operation. Other top<br />
concerns included the lack of dental<br />
services and culturally and linguistically<br />
competent mental health services.<br />
<strong>The</strong> influx of Latinos into the county<br />
over the last two decades has trans-<br />
Continued on page 9<br />
8 THE METRO HERALD
HEALTH & WELLNESS<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PHYSICIAN GAINSHARING PROGRAMS REDUCE HOSPITAL SPENDING<br />
Giving physicians cash payments<br />
for reduced hospital<br />
spending can help control costs<br />
without sacrificing quality or access to<br />
care, researchers report in a study released<br />
recently in the May/June <strong>2008</strong><br />
issue of the journal Health Affairs. <strong>The</strong><br />
issue is a thematic volume on health reform<br />
supported by a grant from the<br />
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.<br />
In a five-year study of more than<br />
220,000 patients, Arizona State University<br />
researchers showed that “gainsharing”<br />
programs, in which physicians are<br />
paid for reducing hospital spending, cut<br />
costs by 7.4 percent or $315 per patient.<br />
If these experiences are representative,<br />
nationwide use of gainsharing would<br />
cut hospital costs for coronary stent patients<br />
by about $195 million a year, the<br />
researchers say.<br />
Jonathan Ketcham and Michael Furukawa,<br />
assistant professors at the Arizona<br />
State University School of Health<br />
Management and Policy, looked at six<br />
cardiac catheterization labs that implemented<br />
gainsharing programs and<br />
compared them to 123 non-gainsharing<br />
labs in 31 states. <strong>The</strong>y examined the<br />
effect that financial incentives had on<br />
the cost of devices and drugs, as well<br />
as the volume of patients per physician<br />
in each hospital. <strong>The</strong>y also measured<br />
whether gainsharing programs led doctors<br />
to select healthier patients.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y found that the majority of<br />
savings from gainsharing programs<br />
could be attributed to lower prices for<br />
coronary stents. <strong>The</strong> researchers found<br />
that these savings came without altering<br />
referral patterns via cherry picking,<br />
steering, or increased caseloads. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
also found that the gainsharing programs<br />
did not increase the risk of inlab<br />
complications and were associated<br />
with significant decreases in three specific<br />
types of complications.<br />
“We found no evidence that gainsharing<br />
prompted physicians to avoid<br />
patients with existing health problems<br />
or pick the healthiest patients,” said<br />
Ketcham. “Gainsharing reduces costs<br />
for coronary stent patients while apparently<br />
leaving quality and access unharmed,”<br />
the authors write. Ketcham<br />
adds that analyzing gainsharing’s effects<br />
on additional quality measures<br />
and understanding how gainsharing influences<br />
physicians’ decisions would<br />
be valuable. <strong>The</strong> authors also note that<br />
widespread adoption of gainsharing<br />
could alter how device makers decide<br />
which types of products to develop and<br />
market.<br />
Other issue highlights:<br />
Study Shows No Malpractice Premium<br />
Crisis For Massachusetts Physicians.<br />
Although Massachusetts has the<br />
fourth-highest median malpractice settlement<br />
payments in the nation, and<br />
therefore should have the fourth-highest<br />
premiums, nearly all Bay State<br />
physicians paid lower inflation-adjusted<br />
malpractice premiums in 2005<br />
than in 1990. <strong>The</strong> study—which provides<br />
the most comprehensive analysis<br />
of premiums to date—clashes with<br />
popular perceptions and assumptions<br />
underlying legislative proposals to cap<br />
damages awards.<br />
Suffolk University Law School researchers<br />
Marc Rodwin and colleagues<br />
analyzed malpractice premiums from<br />
1975 to 2005 using data from the stateregulated<br />
mutual insurer, known as<br />
Pro-Mutual. In 2005, malpractice premiums<br />
were $17,810 for the coverage<br />
level and policy type that physicians<br />
most frequently purchased, compared<br />
with $17,907 in 1990. Despite premium<br />
increases since 1995 or 2000 for<br />
all physicians, premiums were still<br />
lower in 2005 than in 1990, when they<br />
reached a 30-year peak. Mean premiums<br />
increased only in three specialties<br />
comprising 4 percent of physicians:<br />
obstetrics, neurology, and orthopedists<br />
performing spinal surgery.<br />
<strong>The</strong> study furthermore documents<br />
increased variation among premiums<br />
paid within each practice specialty<br />
since 1990, when insurers began to adjust<br />
rates for each practice specialty by<br />
discounting low-risk physicians and<br />
surcharging those with high risks. By<br />
2005, there was a threefold difference<br />
in premiums for physicians within OB-<br />
GYN, the highest-risk specialty, as a<br />
result of rate discounts and surcharges<br />
based on an individual physician’s risk<br />
factors. As a result, although mean<br />
OB-GYN premiums increased significantly<br />
since 1990, nearly one-third of<br />
physicians in OB-GYN paid lower premiums<br />
in 2005 than in 1990.<br />
<strong>The</strong> authors note that OB-GYN premiums<br />
are higher than for most other<br />
physicians because infants injured during<br />
birth sometimes require lifelong<br />
custodial care. <strong>The</strong>y therefore recommend<br />
that patient safety and quality efforts<br />
should focus on OB-GYNs and<br />
the two other high-risk specialties to reduce<br />
injuries. When similar efforts<br />
were undertaken in anesthesiology in<br />
the 1990s, injuries fell dramatically,<br />
and premiums did as well.<br />
<strong>The</strong> authors also propose alternative<br />
means to compensate injuries.<br />
For infants injured during birth, they<br />
recommend no-fault compensation<br />
systems such as those used in Virginia<br />
and Florida. Alternatively, they suggest<br />
shifting liability from physicians<br />
to hospitals for all injuries that occur in<br />
hospitals. Both proposals would reduce<br />
the malpractice premiums for<br />
high-risk physicians while still compensating<br />
patients.<br />
Study Examines Relationship Between<br />
Health Care Spending And<br />
Physician Practice Patterns. Primary<br />
care physicians in high-spending health<br />
care regions see patients back more frequently<br />
for return visits, are more likely<br />
to recommend screening tests of uncertain<br />
benefit, and opt for more resourceintensive<br />
management strategies than<br />
physicians who practice in low-spending<br />
health care regions, a survey of<br />
more than 800 physicians found.<br />
Researcher Brenda Sirovich of the<br />
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in<br />
White River Junction, Vermont, and<br />
colleagues measured local health care<br />
spending using Medicare data. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
then compared the spending figures<br />
with the physicians’ survey responses<br />
about how often they typically see patients<br />
back with well-controlled hypertension;<br />
whether they routinely screen<br />
patients for three types of cancer; and<br />
how likely they are to recommend<br />
tests, referrals, or hospitalization for<br />
patients with three common clinical<br />
conditions.<br />
Primary care physicians in highspending<br />
regions were more likely to<br />
recommend discretionary treatments<br />
than were physicians in lower-spending<br />
areas, the researchers found. Compared<br />
with physicians practicing in<br />
low-spending regions, those in the<br />
highest-spending regions would recommend<br />
an additional 80 hypertension<br />
follow-up visits per year, 14 screening<br />
spiral computed tomography (CT)<br />
scans (for smokers), 25 echocardiograms<br />
(for exertional chest pain), 24<br />
cardiac care unit admissions (for endstage<br />
congestive heart failure) and 29<br />
gastroenterology referrals (for heartburn)<br />
per 100 patients seen. Physicians<br />
in high- and low-spending regions<br />
were equally likely to recommend<br />
guideline-supported interventions.<br />
“Current policy efforts to improve<br />
the quality of care and address disparities<br />
in spending have focused largely<br />
on fostering adherence to clinical<br />
guidelines,” the researchers write.<br />
“This study suggests that greater attention<br />
to clinical judgment—and to the<br />
local factors that are likely to influence<br />
physician practice—will be required,”<br />
they conclude.<br />
BLACK FACT<br />
On June 13, 1910,<br />
William D. Crum<br />
(1859–1912),<br />
a South Carolina<br />
physician, was<br />
appointed<br />
minister<br />
to Liberia.<br />
LEGGETT JOINS LATINO HEALTH STEERING COMMITTEE TO<br />
RELEASE BLUEPRINT FOR LATINO HEALTH REPORT<br />
Continued from page 8<br />
formed Montgomery County into the<br />
most diverse community in Maryland.<br />
Latinos represent nearly 14 percent of<br />
the county’s population. More than 65<br />
percent of Latinos in Montgomery<br />
County are recently arrived immigrants<br />
of Central and South American origin.<br />
According to the Community Foundation<br />
for the National Capital Area, nationally,<br />
immigrants are a net fiscal benefit<br />
to the country’s economy, pay more<br />
in taxes than they consume, contribute<br />
to the social security system and create<br />
jobs. As the Latino population continues<br />
to grow, its contributions to the<br />
county’s economic, political, social and<br />
cultural landscape will continue to increase<br />
and accordingly, County services<br />
must reflect evolving demographics and<br />
related health trends.<br />
In 2002, the Latino Health Initiative,<br />
a program of the County’s Department<br />
of Health and Human Services,<br />
released the “Blueprint for<br />
Latino Health in Montgomery County,<br />
Maryland, 2002-2006.” <strong>The</strong> report<br />
formed the basis for the development<br />
of medical care and public health systems<br />
to address basic health needs of<br />
the Latino community. <strong>The</strong> <strong>2008</strong><br />
Blueprint updates the original report<br />
and reflects current concerns and needs<br />
of multiple Latino populations.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Latino community is vibrant,<br />
young and fast growing with an enormous<br />
capacity to enrich the county and<br />
strengthen basic institutions,” said<br />
Steering Committee Member Olivia<br />
Carter-Pokras, associate professor at the<br />
University of Maryland School of Public<br />
Health, Department of Epidemiology<br />
and Biostatistics. “<strong>The</strong> limited data<br />
available on the incidence and prevalence<br />
of disease among Latinos suggest<br />
that Latinos have higher rates of diseases<br />
that compromise health and quality<br />
of life, such as asthma, chronic obstructive<br />
pulmonary disease, HIV/<br />
AIDS, obesity, suicide and liver disease.<br />
Higher morbidity rates among Latinos<br />
point to the need for improved chronic<br />
disease prevention, treatment and management,<br />
particularly because Latinos<br />
are disproportionately uninsured and<br />
have limited access to linguistically and<br />
culturally competent care.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>2008</strong>-2012 Blueprint marks the<br />
culmination of an eighteen-month<br />
process that engaged more than100<br />
members of the community, stakeholders<br />
from public and private health entities,<br />
and community-based organizations.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>2008</strong>-2012 Blueprint offers<br />
data on Latinos, identifies ongoing<br />
challenges, proposes solutions and is<br />
designed to be used as a tool to get involved<br />
and act to improve individual<br />
and community health in Montgomery<br />
County. <strong>The</strong> report outlines seven action-oriented<br />
priority areas, such as ensuring<br />
access to and quality of health<br />
care and enhancing community participation<br />
in decisions that affect the<br />
health of Latinos.<br />
For more information, contact<br />
Sonia Mora, Latino Health Initiative<br />
manager at 240-777-3221. <strong>The</strong> report<br />
is found online at http://lhiinfo.org/<br />
english/docs/LHI_blueprint<strong>2008</strong>_<br />
2012.pdf.<br />
THE METRO HERALD 9
COMMUNITY NEWS<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ALEXANDRIA<br />
JUNE GENEALOGY<br />
PROGRAM<br />
On Tues<strong>day</strong>, June 17, <strong>2008</strong>, the<br />
Mount Vernon Genealogical<br />
Society (MVGS) will meet in<br />
room 112 of the Hollin Hall Senior<br />
Center in Alexandria, Virginia. <strong>The</strong><br />
meeting will start at 1:00p.m. and is<br />
free and open to the public. <strong>The</strong> meeting<br />
will feature a presentation entitled<br />
“Digital Reference, Digital Resources<br />
and Digital Maps at the Library of<br />
Congress.” <strong>The</strong> program will be presented<br />
by Ed Redmond.<br />
As Geography and Map Reference<br />
Specialist, Ed Redmond provides library<br />
members, Congressional staff,<br />
national and international scholars,<br />
other federal agencies, and the general<br />
public with access to the Library of<br />
Congress’ cartographic collections. He<br />
has held this position for 19 years. Previously,<br />
Ed has served as a map librarian<br />
and a social studies and history<br />
teacher at the primary, secondary and<br />
university levels. He has served as<br />
President of the Washington Map Society<br />
and is a member of the Association<br />
of American Geographers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> discussion will focus on family<br />
history resources available on various<br />
Library of Congress web sites with<br />
specific focus on the Library’s cartographic<br />
collections www.loc.gov/rr/<br />
geogmap.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Hollin Hall Senior Center is located<br />
4 miles south of Alexandria just<br />
off Fort Hunt Road at 1500 Shenandoah<br />
Road in Alexandria, Virginia.<br />
MVGS is a nonprofit organization<br />
and has over 260 members residing in<br />
Alexandria, Fort Belvoir, the counties<br />
of Fairfax, Prince William, Montgomery,<br />
and Prince Georges, as well as<br />
several states.<br />
Additional information about the<br />
meeting and MVGS can be found at<br />
www.MVGenealogy.org/. Any questions<br />
about the program should be directed<br />
to Harold McClendon at 703-<br />
360-0920 or haroldm@erols.com.<br />
ALEXANDRIA’S FIRST HALF<br />
OF <strong>2008</strong> REAL ESTATE TAX<br />
DUE MONDAY, JUNE 16<br />
<strong>The</strong> City of Alexandria reminds<br />
property owners that payment<br />
of the first half of their <strong>2008</strong><br />
Real Estate Tax and Refuse Fee is due<br />
BLACK FACT<br />
On June 13, 1937,<br />
Eleanor Holmes (later<br />
Eleanor Norton) is<br />
born in Washington,<br />
DC. A graduate of the<br />
Yale University School<br />
of Law, Norton will<br />
become chairperson of<br />
the New York City<br />
Commission on<br />
Human Rights, and a<br />
Georgetown University<br />
law professor before<br />
being elected a<br />
non-voting delegate<br />
to Congress<br />
representing the<br />
District of Columia.<br />
Mon<strong>day</strong>, June 16. To avoid late payment<br />
penalty and interest charges, payment<br />
must be received by the City or<br />
postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service<br />
no later than June 16.<br />
Real estate tax bills were mailed on<br />
Tues<strong>day</strong>, May 13. Property owners<br />
who have not received a tax bill in the<br />
mail and do not have their real estate<br />
tax paid by a mortgage company<br />
should call the City’s Treasury<br />
Division at 703-838-4777 or e-mail<br />
payments@alexandriava.gov to request<br />
a duplicate bill. Failure to receive<br />
a tax bill in the mail is not<br />
grounds for waiving the late payment<br />
penalty and interest or extending the<br />
June 16 due date.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Finance Department urges<br />
Alexandria property owners to avoid<br />
waiting in line at City Hall by using<br />
one of the following convenient payment<br />
options:<br />
Pay by eCheck online at<br />
alexandriava.gov/payments to have<br />
the payment deducted from a specified<br />
checking or savings account. <strong>The</strong>re is<br />
no additional fee for using this service,<br />
which is available 24 hours a <strong>day</strong>, 7<br />
<strong>day</strong>s a week.<br />
Pay by automatic bank debit. Real<br />
estate tax payments can be automatically<br />
deducted from a specified checking<br />
or savings account in monthly installments,<br />
or in two equal installments<br />
on each of the semi-annual tax due<br />
dates. <strong>The</strong>re is no fee for using this<br />
service. However, registration is required<br />
at least 14 <strong>day</strong>s before the desired<br />
debits are to take effect. Failure<br />
to enroll for the lump sum payment option<br />
by June 1 may result in a late payment<br />
if the tax is not paid by Mon<strong>day</strong>,<br />
June 16. For more information, call<br />
703-838-4777 or visit alexandriava.<br />
gov/payments .<br />
Pay by credit card (Visa, Master-<br />
Card, American Express, or Discover)<br />
24 hours a <strong>day</strong>, 7 <strong>day</strong>s a week, online<br />
at alexandriava.gov/payments or by<br />
calling 1-800-272-9829. Official Payments<br />
Corporation will assess a convenience<br />
fee for using this service. You<br />
will need to reference the City’s jurisdiction<br />
code 1007.<br />
Pay by mail using the envelope enclosed<br />
with the bill or mail the payment<br />
to Treasurer’s Office, P.O. Box<br />
34750, Alexandria, VA 22334-0750.<br />
Checks should be made payable to<br />
“City of Alexandria.” A drop box located<br />
on the Royal Street side of City<br />
Hall is also available 24 hours a <strong>day</strong>.<br />
Pay at any SunTrust Bank branch<br />
located in the City of Alexandria by<br />
5p.m. on Mon<strong>day</strong>, June 16. SunTrust<br />
Bank will only accept payment of the<br />
total amount printed on the real estate<br />
tax bill. <strong>The</strong>re is no fee for this service.<br />
Tax bills can still be paid in person<br />
at the Treasury Division, City Hall,<br />
301 King Street, Room 1510. Office<br />
hours are 8a.m. to 5p.m., Mon<strong>day</strong><br />
through Fri<strong>day</strong>, and 9a.m. to noon<br />
on Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 14. Tax bills may<br />
be paid in person by cash, check, or<br />
Discover Card. Discover will assess a<br />
fee for using this service. You may also<br />
pay by Visa, MasterCard, American<br />
Express, or Discover online at City<br />
Hall, Room 1700, during normal office<br />
hours. Official Payments Corporation<br />
will assess a fee for using this service.<br />
You may utilize the City’s real estate<br />
tax history search and pay at<br />
alexandriava.gov/finance. This program<br />
allows you to verify current and<br />
prior year real estate taxes, 24 hours a<br />
<strong>day</strong>, 7 <strong>day</strong>s a week. In addition, the<br />
program provides property owners<br />
with the option to pay their real estate<br />
taxes online by eCheck or credit card.<br />
For information on real estate assessments,<br />
appeals or to update a mailing<br />
address, please call Real Estate Assessments<br />
at 703-838-4646 or email<br />
realestate@alexandriava.gov. For information<br />
on real estate tax and refuse<br />
fee payments, late payment penalty<br />
and interest, or to request a tax bill,<br />
please call the Treasury Division at<br />
703-838-4777 or email payments@<br />
alexandriava.gov.<br />
Si usted requiere asistencia en<br />
Español, por favor llamar al 703-519-<br />
6506, extension 583.<br />
FAIRFAX COUNTY<br />
FAIRFAX COUNTY SOLID<br />
WASTE DISPOSAL FEES<br />
TO INCREASE<br />
On July 1, the disposal fee most<br />
private trash collection companies<br />
pay to dispose of trash<br />
at one of the Fairfax County disposal<br />
facilities will increase $5.05 per ton.<br />
This increase will offset operational<br />
cost increases and the elimination of<br />
General Fund support for some elements<br />
of the county’s Solid Waste<br />
Management Program.<br />
<strong>The</strong> average household in Fairfax<br />
County generates approximately 2 tons<br />
of trash each year. As a result of the increased<br />
charges at disposal facilities,<br />
the average household can expect its<br />
solid waste collection fees to increase<br />
by about $1 a month.<br />
Most households will see this increase<br />
passed on to them either by their<br />
trash collection service or through their<br />
homeowners associations. <strong>The</strong> Fairfax<br />
County Solid Waste Management Program<br />
does not regulate solid waste collection<br />
fees charged to residents or<br />
businesses. While trash collection<br />
companies may have other legitimate<br />
reasons for increasing their disposal<br />
fees, only about $1 a month is attributable<br />
to the change in the county’s disposal<br />
fees.<br />
Residents who contract with private<br />
solid waste collection companies<br />
should contact their collection service<br />
to discuss any concerns over disposal<br />
fee increases.<br />
For more information about Fairfax<br />
County’s Solid Waste Management<br />
Program, contact Pamela Gratton at<br />
703-324-5498, TTY 711, or visit<br />
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/recycling.<br />
RENTERS FACING<br />
FORECLOSURE SHOULD<br />
KNOW THEIR RIGHTS<br />
Fairfax County officials want<br />
renters to know their rights if<br />
the property where they are living<br />
is being foreclosed.<br />
To learn more, renters should contact<br />
Fairfax County’s Consumer Affairs<br />
Branch to find out their options or<br />
get help negotiating with landlords.<br />
Call 703-222-8435, TTY 711, or get<br />
help in person at 12000 Government<br />
Parkway, Suite 433, Fairfax, between<br />
8a.m. and 4:30p.m.<br />
While a property is going through<br />
foreclosure, landlords and tenants must<br />
follow the terms set forth in the lease.<br />
Once a foreclosure is final, the lease is<br />
terminated. Lenders or new property<br />
owners are not bound by the lease with<br />
the original landlord.<br />
If they must move out before the<br />
end of their lease, renters may be able<br />
to sue their landlords for breach of<br />
contract. However, the best advice for<br />
renters is to take action as soon as they<br />
learn their landlord is facing foreclosure.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y may ask to end their lease<br />
early without penalty, as well as work<br />
out an agreeable date to move out.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are other important facts for<br />
renters to know:<br />
• Tenants should continue to pay rent<br />
until a foreclosure is final. Otherwise,<br />
a landlord can go to court to<br />
evict a tenant for failure to pay rent.<br />
Any court action, even if not carried<br />
out, can make it difficult to rent<br />
another property.<br />
• Tenants might learn for the first<br />
time that property has been foreclosed<br />
after being contacted by a<br />
lender or new owner. In this case,<br />
tenants should talk directly to the<br />
lender or new owner about an<br />
agreeable date to move out.<br />
• Lenders or new property owners<br />
can’t remove tenants or their belongings<br />
without a court order.<br />
• Tenants do not have a legal right to<br />
continue living in a property that<br />
has been foreclosed.<br />
• Tenants are entitled to the return of<br />
their security deposit based on the<br />
terms of the lease after a foreclosure<br />
is final.<br />
For more information, contact the<br />
Fairfax County Consumer Affairs<br />
Branch at 703-222-8435, TTY 711.<br />
MONTGOMERY COUNTY<br />
UPCOUNTY REGIONAL<br />
SERVICES CENTER<br />
TO HOST FORECLOSURE<br />
SOLUTIONS WORKSHOP<br />
Montgomery County’s Upcounty<br />
Regional Services<br />
Center and the County’s Department<br />
of Housing and Community<br />
Affairs are hosting a Home ownership<br />
and Foreclosure Solutions Workshop<br />
on Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21 from 10a.m. to<br />
3p.m., at the Upcounty Regional Services<br />
Center located at 12900 Middlebrook<br />
Rd., Germantown.<br />
<strong>The</strong> free workshop is open to the<br />
public and will include a panel discussion<br />
with federal, State and local experts<br />
and housing leaders; a presentation<br />
on what to do when faced with a<br />
home foreclosure; housing resources/<br />
information booths; one-on-one housing<br />
counseling and legal consultations;<br />
and networking opportunities with<br />
housing professionals and service<br />
providers. Individuals interested in the<br />
free legal and housing counseling must<br />
pre-register by calling 240-777-8045.<br />
<strong>The</strong> workshop will provide valuable<br />
information to anyone facing foreclosure<br />
or anyone interested in learning<br />
about buying their first home.<br />
For more information, call the Upcounty<br />
Regional Services Center at<br />
240-777-8000.<br />
ALS MEETING<br />
On Satur<strong>day</strong> June 7 the ALS<br />
Caregiver Resource Support<br />
Group will meet from 1 to<br />
3pm at <strong>The</strong> ALS Association, Administrative<br />
office, 7507 Standish Place,<br />
Rockville. This support group for all<br />
caregivers of ALS patients and interested<br />
friends is sponsored by the ALS<br />
Association. For more information on<br />
this free event, call 301-978-9855 or<br />
visit www.ALSinfo.org. (ALS is also<br />
referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.)<br />
<strong>2008</strong> MONTGOMERY<br />
COUNTY FARMERS<br />
MARKETS READY<br />
FOR BUSINESS<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Montgomery County<br />
Farmers Markets season officially<br />
runs from June through<br />
October, but several of the county’s 13<br />
markets are already open, and will stay<br />
open later through the fall. Each market<br />
offers a wide range of farm fresh<br />
fruits, vegetables, bedding plants,<br />
baked goods, herbs and more.<br />
Farmers markets are located<br />
throughout the county in Bethesda, Potomac,<br />
Gaithersburg, Silver Spring,<br />
Rockville, Wheaton, Kensington and<br />
Takoma Park. Two new markets include<br />
the Olney Farmers Market,<br />
which celebrates its first full-season<br />
this year and the Clarksburg Farmers<br />
Market, in the heart of the Clarksburg<br />
Town Center.<br />
“Farmers markets provide a very<br />
important source of income for local<br />
farmers, while at the same time providing<br />
a relaxed community gathering<br />
place where residents can catch up<br />
with each other as they purchase farm<br />
fresh local products,” said Jeremy<br />
Criss, manager, Agricultural Services<br />
Division, Department of Economic<br />
Development. “Customers really enjoy<br />
having the opportunity to ask farmers<br />
how their products are grown and get<br />
first-hand advice on the best ways to<br />
prepare them.”<br />
For a complete listing of market<br />
locations, <strong>day</strong>s and hours of operation,<br />
and variety of produce and other<br />
goods available, go to www.<br />
montgomerycountymd.gov/<br />
farmersmarkets.<br />
SPRINGFIELD, VA<br />
GREATER SPRINGFIELD<br />
CHAMBER UNVEILS<br />
COMMUNITY FLAG<br />
<strong>The</strong> newly designed Greater<br />
Springfield community flag<br />
will be raised for the first time<br />
on Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 14, <strong>2008</strong> at<br />
10:00AM at the Springfield American<br />
Legion. <strong>The</strong> flag raising ceremony<br />
will be performed by members of Boy<br />
Scout Troop #881 under the direction<br />
of Mr. Bill Swarm. <strong>The</strong> American Legion<br />
is located at 6520 Amherst Avenue.<br />
<strong>The</strong> public is invited to attend.<br />
<strong>The</strong> flag was designed by Matthew<br />
Tiemann in conjunction with <strong>The</strong><br />
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s<br />
50th anniversary celebration<br />
as the Chamber moves into its second<br />
half century of community service.<br />
Matthew, son of Michael and Cindy<br />
Tiemann, of Burke, Va., attended Braddock<br />
Secondary School and received a<br />
$1,000 scholarship for his winning design.<br />
<strong>The</strong> design contest was open to<br />
all school students, elementary through<br />
high school, residing or attending<br />
school in the Greater<br />
Springfield area. Over eighty (80)<br />
students submitted entries in the flag<br />
initiative competition.<br />
Elements of the flag include the<br />
white graphic encircling a blue field<br />
framed in green. <strong>The</strong> center white outline<br />
reflects the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly,<br />
the official Virginia Commonwealth<br />
symbol, as well as reflecting<br />
the Springfield crossroads and interchange<br />
of 3 major highways. <strong>The</strong> blue<br />
field represents Greater Springfield’s<br />
80 square mile sphere of influence.<br />
Flag colors are blue for fidelity, green<br />
for suburban landscape and white for<br />
purity.<br />
Flags are available at the Greater<br />
Springfield Chamber of Commerce,<br />
6434 Brandon Avenue, Suite 3-A. For<br />
more information call 703-866-3500.<br />
10 THE METRO HERALD
EDUCATION<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PITNEY BOWES AND WNBA TEAM UP ON<br />
NATIONAL LITERACY PROGRAM<br />
Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI),<br />
the world’s leading mailstream<br />
technology company, and the<br />
Women’s National Basketball Association<br />
(WNBA) are coming together to<br />
raise awareness and funding for literacy<br />
across the United States. Six<br />
WNBA teams will participate in the<br />
season-long initiative to engage fans<br />
while raising funds for local, community-based<br />
literacy programs. Pitney<br />
Bowes’s participation with the WNBA<br />
will help build or renovate a Reading<br />
and Learning Center at the end of the<br />
season in the community of the team<br />
that raises the most funds for literacy.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun,<br />
Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty,<br />
Seattle Storm and Washington Mystics<br />
are the six participating WNBA teams in<br />
the national literacy program. Each<br />
team will kick-off a local literacy program<br />
when the WNBA season starts in<br />
May. Fundraising efforts will include a<br />
donation supporting literacy when fans<br />
purchase special tickets, as well as additional<br />
activities. Fans who participate in<br />
the program will be seated in a special<br />
section at designated homegames and<br />
kids will also have opportunities to participate<br />
in reading sessions with WNBA<br />
players at “Reading Time Out” events.<br />
Pitney Bowes will also support the<br />
WNBA’s Read to Achieve events<br />
throughout the season with the six participating<br />
teams. Read to Achieve is a<br />
year-round, league-wide initiative that<br />
promotes the value of reading and online<br />
literacy and encourages families<br />
and adults to read regularly with young<br />
children.<br />
To introduce the national literacy<br />
program, Pitney Bowes and the<br />
WNBA are holding a Youth Reading<br />
Rally in Tampa, Florida to<strong>day</strong> with<br />
young students from Boys & Girls<br />
Clubs of Greater Tampa. Participants<br />
will include a WNBA legend and current<br />
players, local dignitaries, and<br />
WNBA and Pitney Bowes executives.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event will be held at a local Reading<br />
Is Fundamental (RIF) location.<br />
“Reading is the foundation upon<br />
which all other learning is based and<br />
having this foundation can help prepare<br />
children with the skills necessary to succeed<br />
in school and outside of school,”<br />
said Juanita James, Chief Communications<br />
Officer, Pitney Bowes. “We are delighted<br />
to work with the WNBA, its<br />
local teams and RIF to help educate<br />
youth around the country on the importance<br />
of reading and literacy.”<br />
“<strong>The</strong> WNBA is pleased to work<br />
with Pitney Bowes as we align our<br />
commitment to improving the lives of<br />
our youth,” said WNBA President<br />
Donna Orender. “Through this new<br />
literacy program, our young fans will<br />
have a great opportunity to interact<br />
with their favorite WNBA stars and at<br />
the same time, learn about the importance<br />
of education and reading.”<br />
For additional information on the<br />
Pitney Bowes and WNBA literacy program,<br />
visit: www.readingisyourticket.<br />
com. For more information on the<br />
WNBA visit www.wnba.com.<br />
GAR-FIELD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT<br />
SELECTED TO ATTEND CONGRESSIONAL<br />
STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE<br />
Eduardo Vazquez, a sophomore<br />
at Gar-Field High School, has<br />
been selected to attend the<br />
<strong>2008</strong> Congressional Student Leadership<br />
Conference (CSLC) on Defense &<br />
Military Strategy, sponsored by<br />
LeadAmerica. <strong>The</strong> CSLC is a collegeaccredited<br />
invitational leadership program<br />
for academically talented and<br />
promising young leaders from across<br />
the United States and internationally.<br />
Eduardo will join other high school<br />
students with exceptional records of<br />
academic achievement and extracurricular<br />
or community involvement who<br />
are invited to participate.<br />
<strong>The</strong> CSLC on Defense & Military<br />
Strategy is a 10-<strong>day</strong> leadership program<br />
in which students learn to plan<br />
and execute strategic military operations.<br />
In a hands-on learning environment,<br />
Eduardo and fellow students will<br />
put their tactical skills into action in a<br />
paintball simulation in which they will<br />
hone their teamwork and personal<br />
leadership skills.<br />
<strong>The</strong> CSLC on Defense & Military<br />
Strategy is held at the Military College<br />
of Georgia at North Georgia College<br />
and State University in Dahlonega,<br />
GA. <strong>The</strong> conference includes military<br />
and confidence-building exercises and<br />
briefings and discussions with military<br />
leaders, strategists and veterans.<br />
“Leadership can make important<br />
differences in the lives of teenagers - in<br />
their academic and personal performance,<br />
in their acceptance to the college<br />
of their choice, and in their level of<br />
focus, passion and purpose,” says<br />
Chris M. Salamone, Esq., Founder and<br />
Executive Director of LeadAmerica.<br />
“It is the key to what they do with their<br />
lives and how well they do it. In<br />
to<strong>day</strong>’s world, it is imperative that we<br />
nurture leadership potential from a<br />
very young age.”<br />
“Since 1989 I have had the privilege<br />
of seeing more than 60,000 exceptional<br />
students from over 51 countries learn<br />
first-hand about leadership and explore<br />
its role in a variety of educational disciplines.<br />
It’s my sincere hope that<br />
LeadAmerica will give young leaders<br />
the skills to help them along the road<br />
toward a successful and rewarding life<br />
of leadership,” says Salamone.<br />
LeadAmerica is the nation’s premier<br />
youth leadership organization.<br />
With a commitment to providing quality<br />
leadership education, LeadAmerica<br />
empowers teenage leaders and instills<br />
in them ethical and principled leadership<br />
values, attitudes and skills. Each<br />
of its high school conferences is college-accredited<br />
and its programs are<br />
approved activities of the National Association<br />
of Secondary School Principals.<br />
LeadAmerica sponsors the Congressional<br />
Student Leadership<br />
Conference for high school students,<br />
the National Junior Leaders Conference<br />
for middle and junior high school<br />
students, Ambassadors Abroad international<br />
study programs in China, Australia<br />
and Europe, and Washington<br />
Summer Scholars, a college-level academic<br />
program held in partnership<br />
with American University.<br />
Further information on LeadAmerica<br />
and the CSLC can be found at<br />
www.lead-america.org or by calling<br />
866-FYI.LEAD (394-5323).<br />
DDOT SCHOOL TRANSIT SUBSIDY<br />
PROGRAM INFORMATION<br />
<strong>The</strong> District Department of Transportation (DDOT) would like to remind<br />
DC residents of the following with regard to the School Transit<br />
Subsidy Program.<br />
District law mandates that in order for students to receive discounted<br />
travel on <strong>Metro</strong>bus and <strong>Metro</strong>rail they must meet all of the following three<br />
qualifications:<br />
• Be under 19 years of age with the exception of student with disabilities<br />
who are eligible until 22 years of age.<br />
• Be a resident of the District of Columbia.<br />
• Be enrolled in an elementary or secondary public, charter, private or<br />
parochial school that is located in the District of Columbia.<br />
All students and/or parents must obtain a Student Travel Application from<br />
their school before coming to DDOT. (Travel Card Applications are no longer<br />
given at DDOT’s School Transit Subsidy Office.)<br />
Have your Student Travel Application signed, dated and stamped by your<br />
school principal before you arrive at DDOT, Mass Transit Administration.<br />
Bring all completed applications to the following address for processing:<br />
DDOT, Mass Transit Administration; 2217 14th Street NW; 2nd Floor (Near the<br />
intersection of U Street and Florida Avenue NW); 202-673-1740;<br />
Mon<strong>day</strong>–Fri<strong>day</strong> 8:15am–4:45pm; Wednes<strong>day</strong>s 8:15am–7:00pm (June-July)<br />
Students who are working Summer Jobs are not qualified to use the<br />
School Transit Subsidy Program during the summer months.<br />
If you meet the above criteria, follow the steps above and bring your<br />
signed, dated and stamped application to DDOT’s School Transit Subsidy<br />
Office. If you have questions or concerns please contact Ms. Nancy Green-<br />
Johnson at 202-673-1742.<br />
JOIN THE<br />
ADVENTURE AND<br />
EXPERIENCE THE<br />
WORLD WITHOUT<br />
LEAVING<br />
YOUR HOME<br />
Hosting a high school exchange<br />
student is like<br />
bringing the world to your<br />
doorstep. Foundation for Intercultural<br />
Travel (FIT), a State Department<br />
designated exchange visitor<br />
program is currently matching international<br />
students, ages 15 to 18<br />
with host families in this area.<br />
Families of all “types” are eligible<br />
to host, retired couples to single<br />
parent families. Not only two parent<br />
families have enjoyed hosting<br />
an international son or daughter.<br />
Students arrive approximately<br />
one week before your school’s start<br />
date, and bring their own spending<br />
money for clothes, entertainment<br />
and other expenses. <strong>The</strong>y have their<br />
own medical insurance. Most importantly,<br />
they bring a sincere desire<br />
to become part of your family.<br />
Host families agree to include<br />
their student as a family member.<br />
We have one semester, as well as full<br />
academic year students. All students<br />
speak English and will be arriving<br />
from Germany, Brazil, Denmark,<br />
Spain and various other countries!<br />
For more information about<br />
hosting a student, or joining our<br />
team of local area representatives,<br />
without any obligation, please call<br />
Foundation for Intercultural travel-<br />
Maryann at 1-877-439-7862.<br />
THE METRO HERALD 11
FATHER’S DAY <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
13-YEAR-OLD ALONG WITH SIX SIBLINGS<br />
DEVELOP A WEBSITE<br />
IN HONOR OF THEIR FATHER<br />
“Children’s children are the crown of<br />
old men; and the glory of children are<br />
their fathers”—Proverbs 17:6<br />
Seven children, ranging in age<br />
from 4-17, with one of the middle<br />
children, Danita Whyte, age<br />
13, leading the pack and actually designing<br />
the beautiful website, as a tribute<br />
to their father, national bestselling<br />
author, Daniel Whyte III, are pleased to<br />
announce, just in time for Father’s Day,<br />
the launching of their new website,<br />
www.DearPapa.org. DearPapa. org is<br />
dedicated, not only to their father, but to<br />
the thousands of fathers around the<br />
world who love and sacrifice for their<br />
children and who know the value of<br />
spending quantity and quality time with<br />
their children.<br />
It is their hope and prayer that this<br />
website will help be a voice for the<br />
thousands of other children who love<br />
and honor their fathers as well. <strong>The</strong><br />
seven Whyte children: Daniella, Daniel<br />
IV, Danita, Danae`, Daniqua, Danyel,<br />
and Danyelle believe that the best gift<br />
that you can give your father is a personal<br />
note or letter from your heart.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y believe and their father believes<br />
that those written words mean more to a<br />
father than anything that you can give<br />
him or do for him. Mrs. Meriqua<br />
Whyte, the wife of Daniel Whyte and<br />
the mother of all seven children, states:<br />
“This is truly a labor of love and outpouring<br />
of affection from the hearts of<br />
these children for their father, and he is<br />
very much deserving of their love,<br />
honor, and respect because he is the<br />
most loving, caring, and attentive father<br />
that I have ever seen in my life.<br />
And his love is not always shown by<br />
praising them and giving them what<br />
they want, but admonishing them and<br />
chastising them when they are wrong.”<br />
DearPapa.org is a Christian-based<br />
site that rests upon the scriptures found<br />
in the Old and New Testament of the<br />
Holy Bible: “Honor thy father and thy<br />
mother: that thy <strong>day</strong>s may be long upon<br />
the land which the Lord thy God giveth<br />
thee”—Exodus 20:12. “Honour thy father<br />
and mother; which is the first commandment<br />
with promise; That it may be<br />
well with thee, and thou mayest live<br />
long on the earth”—Ephesians 6:2-3.<br />
With beautifully designed pages and<br />
captivating artwork, the website also includes<br />
several letters and poems that the<br />
children have written to their father<br />
since they have been able to write, tips<br />
on celebrating Father’s Day, quotes, and<br />
gift ideas for Father’s Day other than<br />
the greatest gift of all which is a personal<br />
heartfelt letter to him on Father’s<br />
Day. Other children are also invited to<br />
write a special note to their Father via<br />
the DearPapa.org message board for<br />
their father to read on Father’s Day as<br />
well.<br />
Visit www.DearPapa.org to find out<br />
ways your child can contribute to this<br />
special website in honor of his or her father.<br />
Or visit www.DearPapa. org with<br />
your father or someone else’s father just<br />
to be an encouragement to him.<br />
<strong>The</strong> creators of this website are authors<br />
themselves: Danita (13),<br />
Danae`(11), Daniqua (9) and Danyelle<br />
(4) are the authors of the Amazon.com<br />
bestselling book (in the Girls Nonfiction<br />
category) <strong>The</strong> Virtuous Girl.<br />
Daniella (17) is the author of the new<br />
book <strong>The</strong> Girl God Wants. Daniel IV<br />
(15) and Danyel (6) are the authors of<br />
Letters to Young Boys. All their books<br />
can be bought from Amazon.com or<br />
wherever fine books are sold.<br />
FATHER’S DAY OPEN HOUSE AT<br />
FRIENDSHIP FIREHOUSE<br />
<strong>The</strong> Friendship Firehouse is offering special tours for fathers on<br />
Father’s Day. On Sun<strong>day</strong>, June 15, from 1p.m. to 4p.m.,<br />
Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association, one of America’s<br />
oldest fire service organizations, will make every visiting father an honorary<br />
Chief of the Friendship Fire Company Bucket Brigade. Every dad,<br />
with his children, will receive a certificate, get to ring the fire bell, and<br />
have his picture taken with the Friendship fire engine.<br />
Friendship Firehouse Museum is located at 107 South Alfred Street<br />
in Old Town Alexandria. Friendship Firehouse is open Fri<strong>day</strong>s and<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong>s from 10a.m. to 4p.m. and Sun<strong>day</strong>s from 1p.m. to 4p.m.<br />
For more information, call 703-838-3891 or visit www.<br />
friendshipfirehouse.org.<br />
FIRST ANNUAL MALE EXHALE HITS NATION’S CAPITAL<br />
AND BALTIMORE ON FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND<br />
Urban Film Series announced recently<br />
that the nation’s First<br />
Annual Father’s Day Weekend<br />
Male Exhale will be held on June 13th,<br />
at Baltimore’s Lyric Opera House and<br />
on June 15th at D.C.’s historic Lincoln<br />
<strong>The</strong>atre. <strong>The</strong> event includes a panel discussion,<br />
the African-American Film<br />
Critics Association’s Top Two Independent<br />
Films, Tim Alexander’s Diary of A<br />
Tired Black Man (top independent) and<br />
Janks Morton’s What Black Men Think<br />
(top documentary), and a special guest<br />
appearance by Celebrity author Jewel<br />
Woods (Don’t Blame It On Rio: <strong>The</strong><br />
Real Deal Why Men Go To Brazil for S-<br />
e-x) which was recently featured in<br />
Essence and Ebony magazines. Ticket<br />
range from $18.50 to $27.50, and are<br />
available at theatre box offices,<br />
TicketMaster.com, and all local TicketMaster<br />
locations. Proceeds of the<br />
event will be used to fund Next Generation<br />
Awareness Foundation’s<br />
(“NGAF”) “Generation Next” children’s<br />
film and education festival and<br />
NGAF’s Health and Wellness Film<br />
Festival.<br />
Filmmakers Tim Alexander and<br />
Janks Morton and author Jewel Woods<br />
are available for interviews and will be<br />
on-hand at the event to sign copies of<br />
their works.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Urban Film Series is a programmatic<br />
arm of NGAF, a 501c3 non-profit<br />
organization whose mission is connect<br />
urban communities with history and<br />
progressive cinema, and provide exposure<br />
of the arts and the motion picture<br />
industry to many communities across<br />
the United States. <strong>The</strong> Urban Film Series<br />
also produces the annual Black<br />
Docs Film Series, Urban Film Series<br />
Tour, and Black History Month Film &<br />
Discussion Series, and has received well<br />
over 700 films from across the world for<br />
its various film-related programs.<br />
Events take place on June 13th at<br />
7pm in Baltimore at the Lyric Opera<br />
House, 140 West Mount Royal Avenue,<br />
Baltimore, Maryland; and on<br />
June 15th at 5pm in Washington, DC<br />
at the Lincoln <strong>The</strong>atre, 1215 U Street,<br />
NW, Washington, DC.<br />
Tickets: MUST purchase in advance<br />
at UrbanFilmSeries.com, for<br />
General ($12), VIP ($16). General admission<br />
tickets will also be made<br />
available at Landmark <strong>The</strong>atre, as<br />
available. Featuring Q&A with the<br />
filmmaker Tim Alexander team and<br />
members of the cast.<br />
REAL MEN COOK® KICKS OFF 19TH ANNUAL<br />
FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATION IN ELEVEN CITIES<br />
Senator Barack Obama serves up a dish<br />
during a recent Real Men Cook celebration.<br />
Real Men Cook, America’s premiere<br />
urban Father’s Day family<br />
tradition that pays tribute to the<br />
family, will be held in 11 cities on Father<br />
Day, June 15, <strong>2008</strong>. Over 30,000 people<br />
are expected to attend the celebrations,<br />
which will be held simultaneously in Atlanta,<br />
Chicago, Benton Harbor (MI),<br />
Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles,<br />
New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and<br />
Washington, DC. Presented by Real Men<br />
Charities, the celebrations provide a platform<br />
where “real men” from all walks of<br />
life are honored for demonstrating extraordinary<br />
commitment to their families<br />
and communities. Since its inception, the<br />
event has raised over $1 million for participating<br />
charities whose missions reflect<br />
Real Men Cook’s resolve to uplift<br />
the community.<br />
Hailed as the “largest, longestrunning<br />
and most anticipated Father’s<br />
Day celebration of its kind,” this muchanticipated<br />
annual food-tasting celebration<br />
features approximately 1,000 volunteer<br />
chefs preparing their favorite dishes<br />
for the more than 30,000 people expected<br />
to attend. <strong>The</strong> cooks are committed<br />
dads and men from all walks of life<br />
and include entertainers, athletes, ministers,<br />
media personalities, politicians and<br />
other hard-working men who are bound<br />
by their resolve to uplift the family.<br />
Senator Barack Obama, National<br />
Urban League President Marc Morial,<br />
the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Eddie and Gerald<br />
Levert, Tom Joyner, J. Anthony<br />
Brown, Congressman John Conyers,<br />
boxing champion Lenox Lewis, TV host<br />
John Salley, music industry icons Isaac<br />
Hayes, and Damon Dash are among the<br />
men who have donned a Real Men Cook<br />
bandana and apron and served at this annual<br />
family celebration and food tasting<br />
fest, which is now in its 19th year.<br />
Real Men Cook is presented by Real<br />
Men Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization<br />
based in Chicago, which is on a national<br />
crusade to positively change the way the<br />
world views men in relationship to their<br />
families and the community and to transform<br />
how Father’s Day is celebrated.<br />
Another highlight of Real Men Cook<br />
events is informational pavilions, including<br />
the highly successful Real Men<br />
Charities Health & Wellness Pavilions<br />
featuring screenings, healthy foods, nutritional<br />
and fitness workshops. <strong>The</strong><br />
events also feature Kids Pavilions and<br />
the Real Men Read Pavilion, promoting<br />
literacy product demonstrations, raffles<br />
and other assorted fun activities for the<br />
entire family.<br />
Conceived and launched in Chicago<br />
in 1989 by entrepreneurs Yvette Moyo<br />
and Kofi Moyo, and produced by the<br />
marketing firm they founded, Resource<br />
Associates International, Ltd., the<br />
growth of Real Men Cook into a national<br />
celebration has also spawned success<br />
of branded products including Real<br />
Men Cook Sweet Potato Pound Cake®,<br />
a boxed gourmet cake mix and Real<br />
Men Cook Coffee, introduced in 2007,<br />
which is available on line at www.<br />
realmencook.com. <strong>The</strong> book, REAL<br />
MEN COOK, published by Simon &<br />
Schuster, is now in paperback, by popular<br />
demand. It features a foreword, including<br />
U.S. Senator Barack Obama’s<br />
memories of attending the events with<br />
his family, and highlights family celebration<br />
memories from participants in<br />
Real Men Cook and a compilation of<br />
100 favorite event recipes.<br />
Among the beneficiary charities of<br />
the <strong>2008</strong> celebration are Community<br />
Mental Health Council, South Side<br />
YMCA, Community in Schools,<br />
FACES Cancer, New York City Mission<br />
Society, Challenger’s Boys & Girls<br />
Club and Real Men Charities, Inc. Past<br />
beneficiary organizations include the<br />
Tom Joyner Foundation, Boys & Girls<br />
Clubs, YMCAs, Museums, Blood<br />
Banks and food shelters.<br />
Tickets are available nationwide<br />
through www.TicketAnnex.com<br />
For more information, contact Real<br />
Men Cook at 773-651-8008 ext 5 or<br />
visit www.realmencook.com<br />
<strong>The</strong> Washington, DC celebration<br />
takes place at the Historical Society of<br />
Washington DC located at <strong>The</strong> Old<br />
Carnegie Library Building on K Street,<br />
NW between 7th and 9th Streets, NW,<br />
Washington, DC. <strong>The</strong> event runs from<br />
3:00-6:00PM on Father’s Day, June<br />
15, <strong>2008</strong>. Tickets are available nationwide<br />
through www.TicketAnnex.com.<br />
Advance ticket prices in all cities are<br />
$20 Adult/$10 child.<br />
BOOKS AVAILABLE AT<br />
WWW.REALMENCOOK.COM<br />
Real Men Cook: 100 Recipes for<br />
Family Celebrations (soft copy)<br />
(shipping and handling included)—<br />
$23.00<br />
Real Men Cook: 100 Recipes for<br />
Family Celebrations with Foreword by<br />
US Senator Barack Obama who has<br />
participated in the event with his family<br />
for years. Some of the remarkable annual<br />
Real Men Cook volunteers have<br />
come forward to express their love of<br />
cooking, family, and community by<br />
sharing more than one hundred delectable<br />
recipes (some handed down over<br />
the generations) and the memories that<br />
inspire them to live as Real Men.<br />
Real Men Cook: Rites, Rituals, and<br />
Recipes for Living (hard copy) (shipping<br />
and handling included)—$29.00<br />
In Real Men Cook, the men share<br />
more than one hundred mouthwatering,<br />
finger-lickin'-good recipes—the kind of<br />
recipes that make the Father's Day event<br />
a must-attend for all who appreciate a<br />
good plate of food. Equally important,<br />
they open their hearts, offering memories<br />
of growing up, tales of Real Men<br />
Cook events, and wisdom for the next<br />
generation. A delicious, heartwarming<br />
collection of soul-stirring stories and<br />
more than one hundred soul-satisfying<br />
recipes from real men who do it in the<br />
kitchen.<br />
PEPSI CELEBRATES AFRICAN AMERICAN<br />
FATHERS IN JUNE<br />
Pepsi is celebrating Father’s Day and the essential role of fathers and father<br />
figures in the African-American community with “Four Weeks For<br />
Father!,” a free booklet available at www.pepsigreatfathers.com. <strong>The</strong><br />
booklet features words of wisdom from notable African-American dads, including<br />
Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker, Grammy Award-winning<br />
musical artist Common, former professional football player Jerry Rice, acclaimed<br />
actor Mekhi Phifer and Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL),<br />
among others.<br />
Pepsi partnered with the Howard University Division of Fine Arts to gather<br />
the four contemporary and engaging images featured in the “Four Weeks For<br />
Father!” booklet. Student artists at the university submitted drawings for the<br />
project and graduating senior, Nia Lindsey, 22, was chosen as the winner. Nia<br />
was awarded the $5,000 grand prize and her designs are featured on the Web<br />
site as well as throughout the booklet. Three first prize winners received a $500<br />
gift certificate and are also highlighted in “Four Weeks For Father!”<br />
“We’re proud to honor the important role of fathers in the community this<br />
month,” said Marcus Minifee, senior manager of multicultural marketing,<br />
Pepsi-Cola North America. “A number of outstanding men contributed to ‘Four<br />
Weeks For Father!’ and we thank them for sharing their thoughts and experiences.”<br />
In recognition of Father’s Day, Pepsi is making a donation to the United<br />
Negro College Fund to help support the dreams of young men and women.<br />
Consumers may also go to www.pepsigreatfathers.com to submit essays<br />
about their own fathers with the chance to win $500, as well as create a unique<br />
Father’s Day e-card.<br />
Pepsi is also partnering with the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI), an organization<br />
dedicated to ensuring that all children have involved, responsible<br />
and committed fathers in their lives. NFI will help drive awareness of the<br />
“Four Weeks For Father!” booklet through its Web site, fatherhood. org, and<br />
its weekly Dad E-mail.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Pepsi “Four Weeks For Father!” free booklet will also be available at a<br />
number of retail locations where Pepsi products are sold.<br />
For more information, go to www.pepsigreatfathers.com.<br />
12 THE METRO HERALD<br />
THE METRO HERALD 13
FATHER’S DAY <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
AUTHOR AND POLICE OFFICER PENS HEARTFELT BOOK<br />
FOR HIS DAUGHTER<br />
Demitri Kornegay<br />
Demitri Kornegay, police officer<br />
in the Montgomery County,<br />
Maryland Police Department,<br />
realized that his life was in danger<br />
every <strong>day</strong> and he feared that he would<br />
not be able to share all of the knowledge<br />
that he had accumulated throughout<br />
his life with his daughter, and only<br />
child, Rhonda. Because of that, he<br />
began to write letters to his daughter on<br />
the important subjects of life including:<br />
God, Relationships, Love & Marriage,<br />
Decision Making, Dating, Dealing with<br />
Death, Handling Depression, etc.<br />
By Jane Hampton Cook<br />
As we celebrate Father’s Day,<br />
we can learn a lot about fatherhood<br />
from a man who was<br />
never a biological father yet was a father<br />
to untold millions. When our first<br />
U.S. president married the widow<br />
Martha Custis, he became a father to<br />
her children. However, he never sired<br />
a child, the likely result of small pox<br />
sterility. During the Revolutionary<br />
War, he took on a fatherly role, especially<br />
with three of his generals.<br />
Whether it’s 1778 or <strong>2008</strong>, George<br />
Washington’s relationships with his<br />
“sons” reveal some of fatherhood’s<br />
best qualities.<br />
Fathers know when to turn their<br />
children’s knack into know-how.<br />
Boston was in lock-down in 1775.<br />
Washington’s army surrounded the<br />
British-occupied town by land, but not<br />
by sea. Boston bookstore owner<br />
Henry Knox had read volumes on warfare.<br />
He offered to travel 200 miles in<br />
winter to New York’s Fort Ticonderoga<br />
to acquire weapons. Washington did<br />
what father’s do. He gave Knox a<br />
He compiled these letters into a<br />
book entitled Dear Rhonda: Life<br />
Lessons From a Father to His Daughter.<br />
What is so unique about this book<br />
is that the “chapters” remain in their<br />
letter format, thus keeping its original<br />
personal touch. This book targets<br />
young women ages 12–30. This book<br />
also encourages conversations between<br />
children and parents on the various<br />
topics addressed.<br />
Mr. Demitri C. Kornegay, is currently<br />
a lieutenant and a 25 year veteran<br />
with the Montgomery County Police<br />
Department in Montgomery<br />
County, Maryland. He is an ordained<br />
Baptist Deacon and has been mentoring<br />
young men for 30 years. This author<br />
of three books: <strong>The</strong> Kornegay<br />
Chronicles: From Servitude to Self-Reliance,<br />
Dear Rhonda: Life Lessons<br />
From a Father to His Daughter and<br />
Man Up! No Excuses—Do the Work!<br />
has appeared on such television and<br />
radio broadcasts as: “Good Morning<br />
America”, “<strong>The</strong> View”, “Fox Morning<br />
News”, “<strong>The</strong> Bernie McCain Show”,<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Donnie Simpson Show”, “<strong>The</strong><br />
Tavis Smiley Show”, and TV One’s<br />
“Black Men Revealed”. Mr. Kornegay<br />
is the 2007 recipient of the Gamma Pi<br />
(graduate) Chapter of Omega Psi Phi<br />
chance.<br />
Knox’s knack for inventory proved<br />
an asset. He transported sixty tons of<br />
artillery onto “forty-two exceedingly<br />
strong sleds” and “acquired eighty<br />
yoke of oxen to drag them.” Knox<br />
sent the inventory list ahead to Washington.<br />
<strong>The</strong> plan worked. Washington<br />
mounted the cannons on the highest<br />
point overlooking Boston’s harbor<br />
to control the sea. <strong>The</strong> redcoats retreated.<br />
Washington won.<br />
Fathers care about their children’s<br />
character. Of all his “boys,” Washington<br />
saw more of himself in the biological<br />
son of a Rhode Island iron foundry<br />
owner. Nathanael Greene may have<br />
been a mold-maker by trade, but he<br />
proved to be a mold-breaker in spirit.<br />
He rejected his father’s disdain for formal<br />
schooling and sought out a tutor.<br />
Although he came from a pacifist<br />
Quaker family, Greene readily embraced<br />
a musket. Perhaps because of<br />
his differences with his own dad,<br />
Greene reached out to Washington<br />
with son-like yearning for respect. He<br />
asked Washington for a promotion<br />
after the success in Boston.<br />
“I have ever found myself exceeding<br />
<strong>happy</strong> under your Excellency’s<br />
command. I wish my ability to deserve<br />
[a promotion] was equal to my<br />
inclination to merit. How far I have<br />
succeeded in my endeavors, I submit<br />
to your Excellency’s better judgment,”<br />
Greene humbly wrote.<br />
Washington gave him the promotion,<br />
along with opportunities to prove<br />
his moral fiber. He shared Greene’s<br />
grief over thousands who died or were<br />
captured at Fort Washington, a place<br />
Greene was convinced they could hold.<br />
As the war progressed, Washington realized<br />
Greene’s character was much<br />
like his own, a practical boldness<br />
molded by modesty and good manners.<br />
He finally convinced the Continental<br />
Congress to promote Greene to commander<br />
of the southern forces in 1780.<br />
Washington trusted Greene so much<br />
Fraternity, Inc.’s “Religious Leader of<br />
the Year” award. He resides in Maryland<br />
with his wife and daughter.<br />
For more information visit www.<br />
NeroKorn.com. Dear Rhonda is<br />
available wherever book are sold and<br />
at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.<br />
com, and BlackCBD.com.<br />
SALUTING FATHERHOOD FROM A FOUNDING FATHER<br />
BLACK FACT<br />
On June 13, 1990<br />
Bernadette Locke<br />
becomes the first<br />
female on-court<br />
coach when she is<br />
named assistant<br />
coach of the<br />
University of<br />
Kentucky men’s<br />
basketball team.<br />
that he “willed” Greene as the one to<br />
take over as commander-in-chief if<br />
Washington died. Had Greene not<br />
died of heatstroke a few years after the<br />
revolution, President Washington<br />
might have named Greene as Secretary<br />
of War. <strong>The</strong> nod went to Knox instead.<br />
Fathers are tender protectors.<br />
Washington was no exception. <strong>The</strong> unabashed<br />
zeal of the Marquis de<br />
Lafayette caught Washington’s eye the<br />
moment he saw the nineteen-year-old<br />
at a dinner party in July 1777. This<br />
French musketeer had joined the Continental<br />
Army as an honorary general,<br />
a volunteer who had come to “learn,<br />
not teach.” When Washington heard<br />
that Lafayette snuck out of France<br />
against the king’s personal orders and<br />
paid his own way to join America’s<br />
fight, his protective instincts kicked in.<br />
He immediately invited the lad to stay<br />
in his family’s quarters.<br />
On September 11, 1777, Lafayette<br />
was wounded in battle. Washington<br />
told the doctors to take good care of him<br />
because he “loved him like a son.” <strong>The</strong><br />
son later protected the father. Lafayette<br />
warned Washington of another general’s<br />
plan to take over as commanderin-chief.<br />
Washington put the kibosh on<br />
the cabal.<br />
At war’s end, Lafayette gave Washington<br />
his honest opinion. He knew<br />
“Dad” longed to settle the score with the<br />
British in New York, the place were<br />
Washington had suffered a horrific defeat.<br />
Lafayette and others advised Washington<br />
to try sealing the deal at a different<br />
York—Virginia’s Yorktown. <strong>The</strong><br />
father listened. <strong>The</strong> resulting victory<br />
was the revolution’s last major battle.<br />
Washington may not have been a biological<br />
father, but his ability to listen<br />
and develop his sons’ know-how and<br />
character while keeping a protective<br />
eye on them is the mark of true fatherhood,<br />
a salute to fathers everywhere<br />
from the father of our nation. Happy<br />
Father’s Day.<br />
TWO MARYLAND MEN INCREASE<br />
FATHERS’ INVOLVEMENT<br />
IN CHILDRENS’ EDUCATION<br />
Patrick Gerdes and Morgan<br />
Thomas, co-presidents of the<br />
Fathers’ Circle at Kingsview<br />
Middle School (KMS) in Germantown,<br />
Maryland, are the focus of a<br />
month-long WETA Hometown Heroes<br />
profile airing in June on WETA TV 26.<br />
WETA selected Gerdes and Thomas<br />
for their instrumental work in increasing<br />
the participation of fathers in their<br />
students’ education and demonstrably<br />
improving the academic environment<br />
at KMS.<br />
<strong>The</strong> KMS Fathers’ Circle was born<br />
in January 2006, when school administers<br />
sought to address the situation of<br />
an increasingly high number of black<br />
male students being suspended, becoming<br />
academically ineligible to<br />
graduate, and lagging in scores on the<br />
Maryland State Assessment tests.<br />
Principal Dennis Queen and Assistant<br />
Principal Deborah R. Higdon invited<br />
the fathers of black males to a meeting<br />
to ask for their help; Gerdes and<br />
Thomas attended, and this meeting and<br />
their work led to the formation of the<br />
KMS Fathers’ Circle. This group of<br />
KMS fathers and others are committed<br />
to working with the administration and<br />
staff to improve the performance and<br />
experience of KMS students.<br />
Gerdes and Thomas, through their<br />
work with the Fathers’ Circle, have<br />
raised the academic success of students<br />
at KMS. Since its inception, there has<br />
been an increase in homework completion,<br />
class participation and the number<br />
of black males on the honor roll, and a<br />
decrease in discipline referrals and suspensions<br />
at the schools. <strong>The</strong> Fathers’<br />
Circle encourages a proactive—as opposed<br />
to reactive—philosophy, organizing<br />
monthly meetings for the group to<br />
discuss concerns and planning regular<br />
activities that promote positive paternal<br />
and general familial involvement in education.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se events include Family<br />
Math/Literacy Nights with more than<br />
300 attendees, college visits for the entire<br />
eighth grade class, an 8th Grade<br />
Career Day, tours and field trips, and<br />
the annual Students vs. Parents Basketball<br />
Game/Literacy Event.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> increased presence and involvement<br />
of fathers at Kingsview has<br />
been a key element in reducing conflicts<br />
and the suspension rates of boys,<br />
and most importantly it has reinforced<br />
the positive messages to our kids that<br />
their dads—as well as their moms—are<br />
committed to work with school staff to<br />
give them the best learning opportunities,”<br />
said Gerdes. “<strong>The</strong> Fathers’ Circle<br />
sought to live by the wise saying that ‘it<br />
takes a village to raise a child’ by bringing<br />
some male role models to the<br />
school to impact the environment for<br />
all kids, not just our own.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Fathers’ Circle has also motivated<br />
attendance at PTSA meetings,<br />
with an 80 to 100% participation increase<br />
this year. Individually, both<br />
Gerdes and Thomas have inspired<br />
other local fathers to join the Fathers’<br />
Circle, and they were both instrumental<br />
in KMS receiving a $10,000 grant<br />
from America Online (AOL) to help<br />
fund Fathers’ Circle, which was one of<br />
the goals first established by the group.<br />
For more information visit<br />
montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/<br />
kingsviewms or weta.org/community.<br />
FREE FATHER’S DAY TOURS<br />
AT GADSBY’S TAVERN<br />
& APOTHECARY MUSEUMS<br />
Two Alexandria museums, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and the Stabler-<br />
Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, are pleased to offer free tours on<br />
Father’s Day for all visiting fathers! Treat Dad to a tour of these Old<br />
Town historic sites on Sun<strong>day</strong>, June 15, from noon to 5:00PM.<br />
At Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Dad can tour the historic tavern and City<br />
Hotel made famous by John Gadsby. Notable visitors include the “Father of<br />
our Country” George Washington, as well as Thomas Jefferson and John<br />
Adams. At the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, Dad will enjoy the<br />
outstanding collection of medicinal herbs, shop furnishings, apothecary bottles<br />
and equipment, many still in their original location. Fathers can tour both<br />
museums for free! Admission is $4 for all other adults and $2 for children<br />
(ages 11-17).<br />
And while in Old Town, venture to the Waterfront and experience<br />
HistoricAlexandriALIVE, where history comes to life on the City’s streets.<br />
Visit www.historicalexandria.org for the schedule of the <strong>day</strong>.<br />
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is located at 134 North Royal Street and the<br />
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is at located 105-107 South Fairfax<br />
Street. For more information, please call 703-838-4242 or visit www.<br />
gadsbystavern.org.<br />
2ND ANNUAL<br />
FATHER & DAUGHTER DANCE<br />
<strong>The</strong> City’ Parks and Recreation Department will help you celebrate<br />
Father’s <strong>day</strong> this year in a very special way! 6:00–9:00 pm June<br />
14, Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax will hold its<br />
2nd Annual Father & Daughter dance with games, prizes and good food,<br />
a great evening out—suitable for girls age 4yrs and up—what a special<br />
treat for them to bring their special Dad, Grandad, brother or special fellow<br />
Dress to impress<br />
$20 per couple in advance or $30 at the door. Check www.fairfaxva.gov<br />
or call 703-385-7858 for more information.<br />
14 THE METRO HERALD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SOURCE FESTIVAL’S 10-MINUTE PLAYS<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cultural Development Corporation<br />
(CuDC) is pleased to<br />
announce the 10-Minute Plays<br />
selected for production during the first<br />
week of the Source Festival. <strong>The</strong> festival<br />
runs from June 21 until July 13,<br />
<strong>2008</strong> and the 10-Minute Plays will run<br />
from June 23 through June 29. All<br />
plays will be world premieres directed<br />
by Washington area artistic directors.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Source Festival seeks to unite<br />
DC artists by providing opportunities<br />
for new artistic challenges and collaborations<br />
while presenting timely, cutting-edge<br />
performances for greater DC<br />
audiences. <strong>The</strong> Source Festival offers<br />
audiences the unique opportunity to<br />
experience the synergy between established<br />
and emerging artists of the DC<br />
performing arts community. In addition<br />
to the 10-Minute Plays, the festival<br />
features one-act plays, a 24-hour<br />
performance-building experience and a<br />
range of interdisciplinary work.<br />
Group A Performs June 23rd, 26th<br />
and 28th at 8pm; 29th at 2pm:<br />
Hosted by Master of Ceremonies<br />
Matthew Holtzclaw (Magician)<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Great White Undulating Orb in<br />
the Bed Between Us by Ari Roth<br />
and Directed by Deborah Kirby<br />
• Maintenance by Nathan Mcgaughey<br />
and Directed by Blake Robison<br />
• NOLA by Rick Parker and Directed<br />
by Michael Bobbitt<br />
• Painting a Room by Dano Madden<br />
and Directed by Jenny McConnell<br />
Fredrick<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Two Marys by Heather McDonald<br />
and Directed by Joy Zinoman<br />
• Urashima Taro by Francesca Sanders<br />
and Directed by Chrisopher Gallu<br />
• Urban Legend by Mike Batistick<br />
and Directed by Gregg Henry<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Wild Life by Thomas Higgins<br />
and Directed by Mark Rhea<br />
Group B Performs June 24th at<br />
8pm; 26th at 11pm; 27th at 8pm;<br />
28th at 5pm: Hosted by Master of<br />
Ceremonies Regie Cabico (Slam Poet/<br />
Spoken Word Artist)<br />
• Empties by Matt Mayerchak and<br />
Directed by Howard Shalwitz<br />
• How Much for This by Keith Bridges<br />
and Directed by Karen Berman<br />
• Magnolia Day by Sheri Graubert<br />
and Directed by Jeffery Johnson<br />
• Pentimento by Jon Haller and Directed<br />
by Michael Baron<br />
• Running in Circles Screaming by<br />
Jeni Mahoney and Directed by Paul<br />
Douglas Michnewicz<br />
• What Remains by Libby Leonard<br />
and Directed by John MacDonald<br />
• Warriors by Renee Calarco and Directed<br />
by Christopher Henley<br />
• Writer’s Block by John-Paul Nickel<br />
and Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili<br />
• Yes to Everything by Phillip Dawkins<br />
and Directed by Linda Murray<br />
Group C Performs June 25th at<br />
8pm; 27th at 11pm; 28th at 2pm;<br />
29th at 8pm: Hosted by Master of Ceremonies<br />
Nick the 1 Da (Hip Hop DJ)<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Bed by Allyson Currin and Directed<br />
by Scott Fortier<br />
• First/Last by Aaron Levy and Directed<br />
by Robert McNamara<br />
• Dated: A Cautionary Tale by Ira<br />
Gamerman and Directed by<br />
Michael Dove<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Downtown Daylight Project by<br />
Daniel McCoy and Directed by<br />
Michael Kahn<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Rabbit and the Snake by Randy<br />
Baker and Directed by Mark Ramont<br />
• Tamed by Foster Solomon and Directed<br />
by Eric Schaeffer<br />
• ATaste of Heaven by Estep Nagy<br />
and Directed by Kathleen Akerley<br />
• Without Parachutes by Eric Levitz<br />
and Directed by Jack Marshall<br />
<strong>The</strong> Source <strong>The</strong>atre is located at<br />
1835 14th Street, NW, Washington,<br />
DC<br />
EVENTS AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY<br />
OF WASHINGTON, D.C.<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21—1–3:30p.m. Family series—Quilting Circle; Historical<br />
Society of Washington, D.C.; 801 K St. NW<br />
Bring the entire family and learn to quilt. Beginners and returning quilters<br />
welcome. Washington’s Daughters of Dorcas (quilting guild) will<br />
teach participants the history and art of quilting. Each participant will<br />
learn basic quilting techniques and receive a start-up quilting kit to take home.<br />
Participants will also learn how to start a quilting circle. (Ages 8 to adults)<br />
Limit 30. RSVP@historydc.org or 202-383-1828. Registration is required:<br />
202-383-1828.<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21—2p.m. Film Series—<strong>The</strong>re Was Always Sun Shinning<br />
Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball League; 57 minutes. Black &<br />
White,1984; Admission free; Historical Society of Washington, DC; 801 K<br />
St. NW<br />
Narrated by James Earl Jones, this documentary features interviews with<br />
baseball Hall of Fame stars—Satchel Paige, James ‘Cool Papa’ Bell,<br />
Buck Leonard, Judy Johnson, Monte Irvin and Ray Dandridge. Praised<br />
by the national press, this compelling film chronicles the rich history of the<br />
Negro Baseball Leagues that flourished before Jackie Robinson integrated the<br />
major leagues in 1947. <strong>The</strong> exploits of these talented athletes during a time<br />
when baseball was a segregated sport are vividly brought to life.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re Was Always Sun Shining Someplace contains rare historical footage<br />
showing the ballplayers as they traveled the back roads of America, the<br />
Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America. It is an unforgettable journey. (A<br />
program collaboration of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum<br />
and <strong>The</strong> Historical Society of Washington, D.C.) RSVP@historydc.org or<br />
202-383-1828.<br />
For the latest news in<br />
“ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT,”<br />
read <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong>!<br />
<strong>The</strong> City of Fairfax Band, under<br />
the direction of Robert Pouliot,<br />
opened its <strong>2008</strong> Summer Concert<br />
Series on Sun<strong>day</strong>, June 1, at the<br />
Mason District Park in Annandale at<br />
7:30p.m. to an enthusiastic crowd of<br />
concert-goers. This nationally recognized<br />
symphonic band presented a<br />
mixed program of classical pieces,<br />
marches and Broadway tunes. A stirring<br />
rendition of America, the Beautiful,<br />
by Samuel Augustus Ward closed<br />
out the program. All Summer Concerts<br />
are FREE; bring a blanket or chair and<br />
a picnic basket. <strong>The</strong> concerts on this<br />
“Series at Sunset” weather permitting<br />
are as follows:<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, June 19—City of Fairfax<br />
Band’s Alte Kameraden, German<br />
Band; 8:00p.m.; Veterans Amphitheater,<br />
City Hall Lawn; 10455 Armstrong<br />
Street, Fairfax, VA<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, June 26—City of Fairfax<br />
Concert Band; 8:00p.m.; Veterans<br />
Amphitheater, City Hall Lawn; 10455<br />
Armstrong Street, Fairfax, VA<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, July 3—City of Fairfax<br />
Band’s Saxophone Quartet; 8:00p.m.;<br />
Veterans Amphitheater, City Hall<br />
Lawn; 10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax,<br />
VA<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, July 4—City of Fairfax<br />
Concert Band; 7:00p.m.; Independence<br />
Day Celebration; Fairfax High<br />
School Stadium, Fairfax, VA<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, July 10—City of Fairfax<br />
Band’s Rebel Run Dixieland;<br />
8:00p.m.; Veterans Amphitheater, City<br />
Hall Lawn; 10455 Armstrong Street,<br />
Fairfax, VA<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, July 17—City of Fairfax<br />
Concert Band Children’s Concert;<br />
VERIZON CENTER<br />
BRINGS THE<br />
EAGLES INDOORS<br />
Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe<br />
Walsh and Timothy B.<br />
Schmit are playing indoors<br />
this summer at Verizon Center located<br />
at 601 F Street, NW, on Satur<strong>day</strong>,<br />
July 26 at 8:00p.m; 202-661-<br />
5000; www.verizoncenter.com.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Eagles are touring in support of<br />
their double-disc album, Long Road<br />
Out of Eden, released last year. <strong>The</strong><br />
band is expected to feature some of<br />
their new hits on stage along with<br />
some classics, including “Witchy<br />
Woman”, “Take It Easy”, “Desperado”<br />
and “Hotel California”.<br />
Tickets for the Eagles are<br />
$188.00, $88.00 and $53.00 (plus<br />
applicable service charges) and go<br />
on sale Mon<strong>day</strong>, June 9 at<br />
10:00a.m. <strong>The</strong>re will be an eight<br />
ticket limit. A ticket lottery will be<br />
taking place at 8:00a.m. at the Verizon<br />
Center box office only, which<br />
allows each patron an equal opportunity<br />
at buying the best seats<br />
available during the on sale. No<br />
cameras or video taping will be allowed.<br />
Tickets will be available<br />
through all Ticketmaster outlets including<br />
the Verizon Center box office,<br />
online at www.ticketmaster.com<br />
and via Phonecharge at<br />
703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT<br />
and 410-547-SEAT. Accessible<br />
seating is available for patrons<br />
with disabilities by calling 202-<br />
661-5065. For more information<br />
visit www.eaglesband.com or<br />
www.verizoncenter.com.<br />
CITY OF FAIRFAX BAND ANNOUNCES<br />
ITS <strong>2008</strong> SUMMER CONCERT SERIES<br />
8:00p.m.; Veterans Amphitheater, City<br />
Hall Lawn; 10455 Armstrong Street,<br />
Fairfax, VA—Free Ice Cream/Balloons—Guest<br />
Artist, John Lyon<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, July 24—City of Fairfax<br />
Swing Band; 8:00p.m.; Veterans Amphitheater,<br />
City Hall Lawn; 10455<br />
Armstrong Street, Fairfax, VA<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, July 31—City of Fairfax<br />
Concert Band; 8:00p.m.; Veterans<br />
Amphitheater, City Hall Lawn; 10455<br />
Armstrong Street, Fairfax, VA<br />
Coming to<br />
STRATHMORE®<br />
EARL KLUGH, GUITAR<br />
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 8PM<br />
<strong>The</strong> perfect Fri<strong>day</strong> evening<br />
out: a mellow evening of<br />
fingerstyle jazz guitar with<br />
“one of the most highly<br />
esteemed jazz guitarists in<br />
the world” (Boston Globe)<br />
makes the stresses of the<br />
workweek disappear. Plus,<br />
the “Party on the Patio”<br />
begins at 6pm—beverages<br />
and light fare in the balmy<br />
summer air.<br />
TICKETS $45<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, Aug. 22—City of Fairfax<br />
Band’s Alte Kameraden, German<br />
Band; 7:30p.m.; Mason District Park<br />
Amphitheater; 6621 Columbia Pike,<br />
Annandale, VA<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, Aug. 29—City of Fairfax<br />
Band’s Alte Kameraden, German<br />
Band; 7:30p.m.; Lake Accotink Park,<br />
Springfield, VA<br />
For more information, visit www.<br />
fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/accotink<br />
SOUTH AFRICAN COMING OF AGE FILM<br />
WINS BEST DOCUMENTARY AT<br />
4TH ANNUAL AFRICAN ACADEMY<br />
AWARDS IN NIGERIA<br />
<strong>The</strong> South African documentary “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC”,<br />
which tells the poignant coming of age story of two young men from<br />
Cape Town in pursuit of their dreams of becoming stage magicians,<br />
has been awarded Best Documentary at the Fourth Annual African Academy<br />
Awards in Nigeria. “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC”, which had its North<br />
America premiere at the Pan African Film and Arts Festival in Los Angeles in<br />
February, was directed by Daniel Roth and was filmed in Cape Town, South<br />
Africa as a joint production with Movie Makers International and Jon<br />
Seidman.<br />
“I read an article in the paper about the students, and the College of Magic,<br />
and I just fell in love with the story,” commented the film’s director Daniel<br />
Roth. “I set out to make a hopeful, joyful movie about Africa and am truly<br />
thrilled that the Academy recognized the film.”<br />
Among the judges at this year’s African Academy Awards were African<br />
cinema experts Ayuko Babu, founder of the Pan African Film and Arts Festival,<br />
and Asantewe Olatunji, the festival’s general manager, who accepted the<br />
award on behalf of the Los Angeles based filmmakers.<br />
“We have known Daniel for several years now,” remarked Ayuko Babu.<br />
“In fact, this is his third film that we have had the pleasure of showing at our<br />
festival, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival. He is a committed filmmaker<br />
with a true passion for storytelling.<br />
For more information on the film, visit www.doyoubelieveinmagic.net.<br />
For distribution opportunities, contact Zac Reeder, Circus Road Films:<br />
zreeder@circusroadfilms.com. For more information on the Pan African<br />
Film and Arts Festival, visit: www.PAFF.org.<br />
COMPLIMENTARY<br />
PARKING!<br />
NO FEES FOR<br />
TICKET PURCHASES!<br />
PLUS DOZENS MORE<br />
PERFORMANCES<br />
ON SALE NOW!<br />
www.strathmore.org (301) 581-5100<br />
Ticket Office 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD<br />
M/T/Th/F 10AM–5PM, W 10AM–9PM, SA 10AM–2PM<br />
GROUP TICKETS (301) 581-5199<br />
THE METRO HERALD 15
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
THE BMA CELEBRATES<br />
20 YEARS OF JAZZ SERIES<br />
Concerts in the BMA Sculpture Garden<br />
Join the Baltimore Museum of Art<br />
in celebrating the 20th anniversary<br />
of its popular Jazz in the Sculpture<br />
Garden concert series. Sit back and listen<br />
to cool jazzy sounds on a warm<br />
summer evening in the BMA’s scenic<br />
sculpture gardens. This one-of-a-kind<br />
summer experience features critically<br />
acclaimed national and regional jazz<br />
talent against a scenic backdrop of modern<br />
art. <strong>The</strong>se casual concerts take place<br />
on select Satur<strong>day</strong>s in July and August<br />
at 7p.m. Tickets are $25.<br />
As part of the festivities this year,<br />
the BMA is offering pre-concert twilight<br />
tours at 5 p.m., exploring aspects<br />
of jazz appearing in works of art such<br />
as rhythm, pattern, and harmony. After<br />
the tour, gain early access to the sculpture<br />
gardens to reserve your seating,<br />
and enjoy a glass of wine. Pre-concert<br />
tour tickets are $10; a concert ticket is<br />
required in order to purchase pre-concert<br />
tickets. Space is limited!<br />
Enjoy the show from intimate concert<br />
seating, picnic with sandwiches<br />
and snacks purchased from the outdoor<br />
bar, or bring your own. For an extraspecial<br />
evening, make reservations at<br />
Gertrude’s for Jazz+Dinner, an elegant<br />
three-course meal served on the terrace<br />
overlooking the sculpture garden.<br />
Jazz+Dinner tickets are $70.<br />
Tickets go on sale Sun<strong>day</strong>, June<br />
15, and are available at the BMA Box<br />
Office in person or by phone at 443-<br />
573-1701, or at artbma.org. Concerts<br />
usually sell out; advance ticket purchase<br />
is recommended.<br />
SPECIAL OFFER! Purchase the<br />
five-concert series by July 3 and save<br />
$10! Tickets for the series are $115 per<br />
person. This summer’s line-up includes:<br />
July 5: T. K. Blue—This dynamic<br />
alto saxophonist is a local favorite.<br />
Billboard Magazine describes him<br />
best: “His saxophone talks in warm<br />
tones that speak of an intense love . . .<br />
with subtle tenderness.”<br />
July 19: Jackie Ryan—Spun like<br />
silk, Jackie Ryan’s sultry voice is absolutely<br />
mesmerizing. This chart-topping<br />
vocalist is sure to delight in the<br />
majestic setting of the BMA’s<br />
renowned sculpture garden.<br />
July 26: Warren Wolf—Baltimore’s<br />
own prodigious vibraphonist returns to<br />
the BMA for another explosive performance!<br />
This artist and his ensemble<br />
are known for mind-blowing performances<br />
that reach unmatched heights.<br />
August 9: Vanessa Rubin featuring<br />
Don Braden—A perfect pairing of<br />
artists perform under the stars on a<br />
warm summer evening. Experience the<br />
soulful vocals of Vanessa Rubin,<br />
paired with the smooth notes of jazz<br />
saxophonist Don Braden.<br />
August 16: Rolando Matias & <strong>The</strong><br />
Afro-Rican Ensemble—A spontaneous<br />
fusion of Afro-Caribbean-Bebop<br />
led by multi-talented percussionist<br />
Rolando Matias. This accomplished<br />
group of musicians will deliver an explosion<br />
of funk, sure to have you up<br />
and out of your seats!<br />
In the event of rain, concerts are<br />
held in the BMA Meyerhoff Auditorium.<br />
Call the BMA Box Office at<br />
443-573-1701 after 3p.m. for an update.<br />
If the concert is held indoors,<br />
Jazz+Dinner ticket holders must call<br />
Gertrude’s at 410-889-3399 to make<br />
reservations for indoor seating or to obtain<br />
a rain check. Please note: children<br />
do not receive Jazz+Dinner discounts.<br />
ABOUT THE BALTIMORE<br />
MUSEUM OF ART<br />
<strong>The</strong> Baltimore Museum of Art is<br />
home to an internationally renowned<br />
collection of 19th-century, modern, and<br />
contemporary art. Founded in 1914<br />
with a single painting, the BMA to<strong>day</strong><br />
has 90,000 works of art—including the<br />
largest holding of works by Henri Matisse<br />
in the world. Throughout the Museum,<br />
visitors will find an outstanding<br />
selection of European and American<br />
fine and decorative arts, 15th- through<br />
19th-century prints and drawings,<br />
works by established and emerging<br />
contemporary artists, and objects from<br />
Africa, Asia, the Ancient Americas, and<br />
Pacific Islands. Two beautifully landscaped<br />
gardens display an array of<br />
20th-century sculpture that is an oasis<br />
in the city. As a major cultural destination<br />
for the greater Baltimore region,<br />
the BMA organizes and presents a variety<br />
of dynamic exhibitions and innovative<br />
programs throughout the year, and<br />
frequently hosts special events with<br />
cultural and educational partners. <strong>The</strong><br />
Museum is located in a park-like setting<br />
in the heart of Charles Village and<br />
adjacent to the main campus of <strong>The</strong><br />
Johns Hopkins University. It is distinguished<br />
by a grand historic building designed<br />
in the 1920s by renowned<br />
American architect John Russell Pope<br />
with an impressive wing for contemporary<br />
art added in 1994.<br />
General admission to the BMA is<br />
free. Special events and exhibitions<br />
may be ticketed. <strong>The</strong> BMA is open<br />
Wednes<strong>day</strong> through Fri<strong>day</strong>, 11a.m.–<br />
5p.m.; Satur<strong>day</strong> and Sun<strong>day</strong>, 11a.m.–<br />
6p.m. <strong>The</strong> Museum is closed Mon<strong>day</strong>,<br />
Tues<strong>day</strong>, New Year’s Day, July 4,<br />
Thanksgiving, and Christmas. <strong>The</strong><br />
BMA is located on Art Museum Drive<br />
at North Charles and 31st Streets, three<br />
miles north of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.<br />
For general Museum information,<br />
call 443-573-1700 or visit artbma.org.<br />
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATER<br />
HOSTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM<br />
<strong>The</strong> Contemporary American<br />
<strong>The</strong>ater Festival (CATF) has<br />
been awarded a grant from the<br />
West Virginia Humanities Council to<br />
host Act I, the Young Playwrighting<br />
Workshop. Through this program, 10<br />
students ages 16 to 21 will study with<br />
theater professionals from the CATF<br />
staff. “We have wanted to provide an<br />
educational experience for younger<br />
students ever since CATF began,”<br />
stated Ed Herendeen, CATF Founder<br />
and Producing Director. “With our<br />
<strong>2008</strong> season expanding to five plays,<br />
this is the perfect year to introduce the<br />
Young Playwrights experience and expose<br />
younger audiences to the beauty<br />
of creative writing for the theater.”<br />
Act I will be held July 16 to July<br />
30 at Shepherd University, in tandem<br />
with the CATF <strong>2008</strong> season. <strong>The</strong><br />
workshop will be held daily from<br />
9:00am to 5:00pm, with laptops and<br />
lunch provided to the students. <strong>The</strong><br />
Director of Act I will be <strong>The</strong>resa M.<br />
Davis, Associate Professor in the Department<br />
of Drama at the University of<br />
Virginia. She most recently directed<br />
<strong>The</strong> African Company Presents<br />
Richard III and worked closely with<br />
playwright Carlyle Brown to develop<br />
the production. Master Teacher for the<br />
workshop will be David Andrew Snyder,<br />
producing artistic director and<br />
CEO of <strong>The</strong> Young Playwrights <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
in Washington, D.C. He has been<br />
an actor, director, educator, producer<br />
and administrator for over 15 years.<br />
Shepherd University instructors Dr.<br />
Sylvia Shurbutt and Dr. Betty Ellzey<br />
will be guest instructors, and CATF favorite,<br />
playwright Richard Dresser will<br />
participate in the workshop. Dresser’s<br />
play, A View of the Harbor, will complete<br />
his happiness trilogy, with all<br />
three plays premiering at CATF.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> goal of Act I is to help students<br />
become better listeners and communicators,<br />
to improve their writing<br />
skills, and to gain an appreciation for<br />
the arts,” stated Peggy McKowen, Associate<br />
Producing Director of CATF.<br />
At the conclusion of the program, three<br />
public readings of their work will be<br />
held at the Apollo Civic <strong>The</strong>atre in<br />
Martinsburg, the Ice House in Berkeley<br />
Springs, and the Old Opera House<br />
in Charles Town. <strong>The</strong> cost to participate<br />
is $200, with scholarships available<br />
to two students, based on financial<br />
need. Contact Peggy McKowen at<br />
pmckowen@shepherd.edu or 304-<br />
876-5151 for more information about<br />
the Act I program.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>2008</strong> CATF season runs from<br />
July 9 through August 3 with five adventurous<br />
plays in rotating repertory:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Overwhelming by JT Rogers, Pig<br />
Farm by Tony Award-winner Greg<br />
Kotis, Stick-Fly by Lydia Diamond, A<br />
View of the Harbor, a world premiere<br />
by Richard Dresser, and Wrecks by<br />
Neil LaBute. <strong>The</strong> Contemporary<br />
American <strong>The</strong>ater Festival prides itself<br />
on producing and developing new<br />
American theater. Since 1991, CATF<br />
has produced 63 new plays, including<br />
23 world premieres. This year,<br />
“thinktheater” and “thinkfive” with the<br />
Contemporary American <strong>The</strong>ater Festival<br />
. . . five plays, five playwrights,<br />
five unique theatrical experiences.<br />
For more information, visit www.catf.<br />
org or call 304-876-3473 or 800-999-<br />
CATF (2283).<br />
AOL’S BLACK VOICES CELEBRATES<br />
BLACK MUSIC MONTH; ANNOUNCES<br />
NEW VIDEO EXPERIENCE<br />
Black Voices, www.BlackVoices. com, the No. 1 online destination for<br />
African-American news, culture and community, recently debuted its<br />
celebration of Black Music Month, www.BlackVoices.com/blackmusic-month.<br />
<strong>The</strong> special section will run throughout June, highlighting black<br />
music and the incredible range of influence African-American artists have had<br />
on all music genres. In addition, AOL also announced it will be launching a new<br />
video site on Black Voices, www.BlackVoices.com/videos, offering searchable<br />
videos appealing to the interests of the African-American community.<br />
Highlights of the Black Music Month site include:<br />
• Aspecial essay for Black Voices from 18-times GRAMMY® Award-winner,<br />
GRAMMY Legend Award-winner and GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement<br />
Award-winner Aretha Franklin on the importance of Black Music Month.<br />
• R&B band Mint Condition pays tribute to the iconic group Earth, Wind<br />
and Fire in an exclusive online “Jam Session.”<br />
• YoYo, the legendary rap diva and current host of VH-1’s reality TV show<br />
“Miss Rap Supreme,” will be the featured celebrity blogger on the<br />
“Supreme Journey” blog.<br />
• Black Voices users will have the opportunity to vote for the best albums of<br />
all time.<br />
• Online quizzes will test users’ knowledge of Black Music from one hit<br />
wonders to legendary artists to blue-eyed soul phenoms.<br />
• Interactive profiles of hip hop hit-makers, jazz luminaries and icons in the<br />
business of Black Music.<br />
“Black Voices realizes the huge part that music plays in our consumers’<br />
lives, so we’re excited to celebrate Black Music Month by highlighting legendary<br />
artists as well as new artists,” said Tariq Muhammad, Director, Black<br />
Voices. “Through our celebration of Black Music Month, Black Voices will<br />
increase our consumers’ awareness of this genre of music and provide an engaging<br />
experience that not only tests but expands their knowledge of this important<br />
and extremely powerful medium. Our new video site adds more interactivity<br />
and engagement to the overall news and information provided on<br />
the Black Voices site throughout the year.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Black Voices video site is a uniquely comprehensive aggregated video<br />
experience, powered by Truveo’s video search, http://truveo.com.<br />
Users have the opportunity to search videos in a wide range of categories<br />
of interest focusing on African-American news and issues.<br />
GREAT AMERICAN<br />
SCRAPBOOK<br />
CONVENTIONS<br />
RETURNING TO<br />
CHANTILLY<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, June 20 marks the<br />
opening of the 7th Annual<br />
Great American Scrapbook<br />
Convention at the Dulles Expo<br />
Convention Center. Show runs<br />
through Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21. <strong>The</strong><br />
Convention Center is located at<br />
4368 Chantilly Shopping Center,<br />
Chantilly, VA. Expected to attract<br />
6,000 scrapbookers from Chantilly<br />
and across the country, the show<br />
celebrates one of the fastest-growing<br />
hobbies in the U.S.<br />
Workshops taught by scrapbooking<br />
pros will introduce both<br />
novice and experienced scrapbookers<br />
to new techniques, ranging<br />
from the ever-popular traditional<br />
photo album, to innovative<br />
cardmaking, to the newest trends<br />
in digital scrapbooking.<br />
175 exhibitor booths will provide<br />
ample opportunity for shopping;<br />
vendors will be offering their<br />
newest and most popular scrapbooking<br />
tools and products.<br />
Cropping parties end each <strong>day</strong><br />
with a celebration. Attendees are<br />
invited to gather with their supplies<br />
and any new techniques they’d like<br />
to practice and take some muchneeded<br />
time to work on their scrapbooks<br />
together with friends. Door<br />
prizes add to the festive atmosphere.<br />
Plus, there’s a special all<strong>day</strong><br />
pre-show cropping party on<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>, June 19.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2007 show experienced<br />
sell-out crowds at the cropping<br />
parties and many of the workshops.<br />
As a result, Great American<br />
Scrapbook Convention encourages<br />
attendees to reserve spots early by<br />
registering online. Workshop descriptions,<br />
online registration and<br />
more are available at www.<br />
GreatAmericanScrapbook.com.<br />
MONTGOMERY<br />
COUNTY HOSTS<br />
JUNETEENTH<br />
CELEBRATION<br />
Montgomery County Executive<br />
Isiah Leggett invites<br />
the public to the<br />
County’s 12th Annual Juneteenth<br />
Celebration on Thurs<strong>day</strong>, June<br />
19, at 7p.m., at the BlackRock<br />
Center for the Arts, 12901 Town<br />
Commons Drive, Germantown.<br />
This year’s celebration will include<br />
a musical performance by<br />
Joshua Sommerville, a youth performance<br />
troupe from the City of<br />
Rockville, and performers from the<br />
Sharp Street United Methodist<br />
Church and Mount Calvary Baptist<br />
Church.<br />
Juneteenth was first celebrated<br />
on June 19, 1865, to mark the liberation<br />
of African American slaves<br />
in the United States by President<br />
Abraham Lincoln in 1863.<br />
<strong>The</strong> program is sponsored by<br />
the County Executive’s Office of<br />
Community Partnerships. Admission<br />
is free and light refreshments<br />
will be served. For more information,<br />
call 240-777-2500.<br />
16 THE METRO HERALD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY<br />
ANNOUNCES ROMAN REPERTORY<br />
<strong>The</strong> Shakespeare <strong>The</strong>atre Company<br />
season continues with<br />
Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”<br />
and “Antony and Cleopatra” in revolving<br />
repertory at Sidney Harman Hall, a<br />
part of the Harman Center for the Arts.<br />
As swift and enthralling as a political<br />
thriller, “Julius Caesar” portrays the<br />
life-and-death struggle for power in<br />
Rome. Alive with stunning rhetoric,<br />
“Julius Caesar” investigates the intoxicating<br />
effects of power and the dangers<br />
of idealism. Shakespeare <strong>The</strong>atre Company<br />
Associate Artistic Director David<br />
Muse makes his mainstage STC debut<br />
directing Dan Kremer in the title role.<br />
“Julius Caesar” runs through July 6,<br />
<strong>2008</strong>. Company member Andrew Long<br />
will play Mark Antony in both “Julius<br />
Caesar” and “Antony and Cleopatra.”<br />
Artistic Director Michael Kahn directs<br />
“Antony and Cleopatra,” one of Shakespeare’s<br />
last great tragedies, also running<br />
through July 6, <strong>2008</strong>. Featuring<br />
some of the most sublime poetry of love<br />
and loss ever written, “Antony and<br />
Cleopatra” is a dark, intimate portrait of<br />
an ill fated love affair. With civil unrest<br />
roiling Rome, the aging Mark Antony<br />
struggles between his sense of duty and<br />
his consuming love for Cleopatra.<br />
“Antony and Cleopatra” features Royal<br />
Shakespeare Company veteran Suzanne<br />
Bertish as Cleopatra.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Roman Repertory is supported<br />
by an Artistic Excellence Grant from<br />
the National Endowment for the Arts.<br />
“Julius Caesar” is sponsored in memory<br />
of Eric Weinmann. “Antony and<br />
Cleopatra” is sponsored in celebration<br />
of Jackie Feldman’s love of Shakespeare<br />
and her dedication to the Shakespeare<br />
<strong>The</strong>atre Company. Media partner<br />
WAMU provides promotional<br />
support throughout the run.<br />
Venue: Sidney Harman Hall is located<br />
at 610 F Street NW, at the corner<br />
of Sixth and F Streets NW.<br />
Performances for “Julius Caesar”:<br />
Wednes<strong>day</strong>, June 25 at 7:30p.m.;<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>s, June 19 at 8p.m.; Fri<strong>day</strong>s,<br />
June 20 at 8p.m.; Satur<strong>day</strong>s,<br />
June 14 and 28 at 8p.m.; Sun<strong>day</strong>s,<br />
June 22 and July 6 at 7:30p.m.; special<br />
noon matinee on June 25; Satur<strong>day</strong><br />
2p.m. matinees on June 21 and<br />
July 5; Sun<strong>day</strong> 2p.m. matinees on<br />
June 15 and 29. Tickets: $23.50-<br />
$79.75 with discounts available for senior<br />
citizens and students. Accessibility:<br />
Sidney Harman Hall is accessible to<br />
persons with disabilities, offering<br />
wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms,<br />
audio enhancement, and Braille<br />
and large print programs.<br />
On Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21, following<br />
the 2p.m. matinee, STC sponsors a<br />
Classics in Context discussion titled<br />
“A Roman’s Part.” This lively discussion<br />
features scholars and artists discussing<br />
their connection to both of the<br />
repertory productions. Call 202-547-<br />
1122 and press 4 or visit Shakespeare<strong>The</strong>atre.org<br />
to reserve a space.<br />
All are welcome to the Forum at<br />
Sidney Harman Hall on Tues<strong>day</strong>, July<br />
GADSBY’S TAVERN MUSEUM SOCIETY<br />
HOSTS FIFTH ANNUAL<br />
CARIBBEAN NIGHT<br />
<strong>The</strong> Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society (GTMS) will host its fifth annual<br />
Caribbean Night on Satur<strong>day</strong>, July 19 at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum<br />
from 6:00pm–8:30pm. Enjoy a fun summer night at this<br />
unique historic site with food, margaritas, and a great silent auction.<br />
Proceeds from the event will go toward the renovation of the City Tavern<br />
Ice Well, located at the corner of North Royal and Cameron streets. Tickets<br />
are $30 for GTMS members, $40 for non-members, $75 for event sponsors,<br />
and $50 at the door, if available. To purchase tickets, visit the online shop at<br />
www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703-838-4242.<br />
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Gadsby’s Tavern was the center<br />
of social and political life in Alexandria and the new Federal City of Washington.<br />
<strong>The</strong> tavern served as the premier gathering place for residents—including<br />
George Washington—and visitors to eat, drink, learn, and influence<br />
history. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is located at 134 North Royal Street in the<br />
heart of Old Town Alexandria.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society is a non-profit organization dedicated<br />
to the support and preservation of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. Additional<br />
information is available at gadsbystavernmuseum.us.<br />
1, at 5p.m. as STC continues its <strong>The</strong>ological<br />
Discussion series with “Julius<br />
Caesar: Mastering Fate.” <strong>The</strong> discussion<br />
will be led by Reverend Roger A.<br />
Ferlo, Ph.D., Director of the Center for<br />
Lifetime <strong>The</strong>ological Education at Virginia<br />
<strong>The</strong>ological Seminary. Call 202-<br />
547-1122 and press 4 or visit<br />
Shakespeare<strong>The</strong>atre.org for additional<br />
details.<br />
Audio-described performances of<br />
“Julius Caesar” will be Thurs<strong>day</strong>, June<br />
19 at 8p.m. and Tues<strong>day</strong>, June 21, at<br />
2p.m. Sign-interpreted performances<br />
are Tues<strong>day</strong>, June 24, at 7:30p.m. and<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong>, July 5, at 2p.m.<br />
Parking: Paid parking is available<br />
at the Interpark garage located directly<br />
beneath the Sidney Harman Hall and<br />
AARP Headquarters block; enter from<br />
E or F streets between Sixth and Seventh<br />
streets. <strong>Metro</strong>: Gallery Pl-Chinatown<br />
station (Red, Yellow and Green<br />
Lines): Patrons attending performances<br />
at Sidney Harman Hall should<br />
exit using the Arena/7th Street exit.<br />
Harman Hall is visible one block to<br />
your left. Judiciary Square station (Red<br />
Line): Take the F Street Exit toward<br />
the National Building Museum, turn<br />
left and walk one and one-half blocks<br />
along F Street to Sixth Street.<br />
Performances for “Anthony and<br />
Cleopatra”: Tues<strong>day</strong>s, June 17 and<br />
July 1; Wednes<strong>day</strong>s, June 18 and<br />
July 2; Thurs<strong>day</strong>, June 26 at 8p.m.;<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, June 27 at 8p.m.; Satur<strong>day</strong>s,<br />
June 21 and July 5 at 8p.m.; Sun<strong>day</strong>,<br />
June 15 at 7:30p.m.; Satur<strong>day</strong> 2p.m.<br />
matinee on June 14 and 28; Sun<strong>day</strong><br />
2p.m. matinee on June 22 and July 6;<br />
noon matinee on July 2. Tickets:<br />
$23.50-$79.75 with discounts available<br />
for senior citizens and students.<br />
Accessibility: Sidney Harman Hall is<br />
accessible to persons with disabilities,<br />
offering wheelchair-accessible seating<br />
and restrooms, audio enhancement,<br />
and Braille and large print programs.<br />
On Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21, following the<br />
2p.m. matinee, STC sponsors a Classics<br />
in Context discussion titled “A Roman’s<br />
Part.” This lively discussion features<br />
scholars and artists discussing their connection<br />
to both of the repertory productions.<br />
Call 202-547-1122 and press 4 or<br />
visit Shakespeare<strong>The</strong>atre.org to reserve<br />
a space.<br />
Audio-described performances of<br />
“Antony and Cleopatra” are Satur<strong>day</strong>,<br />
June 14, at 2p.m. and Thurs<strong>day</strong>,<br />
June 26, at 8p.m. Sign-interpreted<br />
performances are Tues<strong>day</strong>, June 17,<br />
at 7:30p.m. and Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 28,<br />
at 2p.m.<br />
NO WORRIES MON . . . HUDSON<br />
PRESENTS ISLAND PATIO HAPPY HOUR<br />
With airplane prices hitting top dollar and the cost of gas over a<br />
whopping $4 a gallon, chances are thirsty citizens may not be hitting<br />
the roads or not-so friendly skies for a weekend jaunt this<br />
year. Not to worry. Stay in town. Use the <strong>Metro</strong>, hoof it or take a short walk<br />
to Hudson every Fri<strong>day</strong> for a hint of the Islands.<br />
Beginning June 27th, and continuing every Fri<strong>day</strong> throughout the summer,<br />
Hudson Restaurant & Lounge brings a hint of the Caribbean to DC’s<br />
West End. Take a seat beneath the oversized beach umbrellas on Hudson’s<br />
patio, and enjoy not only the warmth of the great outdoors, but also island inspired<br />
cocktails such as Jamaica’s own Red Stripe Beer ($5), ‘Dark & Stormy<br />
(Gosling’s Rum and Extra Ginger Beer) at $9 and new island classic Cruzan<br />
Rum 1944 Mai Tais ($9).<br />
Adding to the ambiance will be live steel drum music for the complete island<br />
experience. Sure, there may not be an over abundance of palm trees or<br />
sand on M Street, but the spirit of the Caribbean is alive and well. Complimentary<br />
jerk chicken wings will be served from 6:00–7:00PM—it may be the<br />
next best thing to being there.<br />
Hudson is located at 2030 M Street NW and is open for lunch, dinner, late<br />
night dining and Sun<strong>day</strong> brunch—inside or al fresco, with hours on Mon<strong>day</strong>-<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong> from 11:00AM to midnight; Fri<strong>day</strong> and Satur<strong>day</strong> from<br />
11:00AM–1:00AM and Sun<strong>day</strong> 10:00 to midnight. For reservations or further<br />
information call 202-872-8700 or visit www.hudson-dc.com or<br />
www.opentable.com.<br />
TICKETS ON<br />
PUBLIC SALE<br />
JUNE 12<br />
Part of Prelude <strong>2008</strong>:<br />
Arts Across America<br />
Produced by Jill Newman Productions<br />
He’s the consummate artist: musician, emcee, vocalist, producer,<br />
and actor of stage and screen. Always bending genres to create<br />
his own sound, Mos Def lithely flows among hip hop, jazz, and soul,<br />
while fronting his orchestra of savvy musicians.<br />
Sun<strong>day</strong>, September 21, <strong>2008</strong> at 7 p.m.<br />
Concert Hall<br />
Tickets $20-$50 at the Box Office or charge by phone (202) 467-4600<br />
Order online at kennedy-center.org<br />
Groups (202) 416-8400 | TTY (202) 416-8524<br />
Prelude <strong>2008</strong>: Arts Across America is sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation,<br />
Chevy Chase Bank, and the Kennedy Center Washington Committee on the Arts.<br />
Arts Across America is made possible through the generosity of the Charles E. Smith Family Foundation.<br />
THE METRO HERALD 17
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SERRATED EDGE OF MORALS: KANDER & EBB PROVOKE WITH “THE VISIT” AT SIGNATURE<br />
George Hearn and Chita Rivera in <strong>The</strong> Visit (photo by Scott Suchman)<br />
By Rick Sincere<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong> Entertainment Editor<br />
Arlington’s Signature <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
has midwifed a major new<br />
musical play. Based on the<br />
mid-20th century work by Friedrich<br />
Dürrenmatt, <strong>The</strong> Visit has a book by<br />
Terrence McNally, lyrics by the late<br />
Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander.<br />
Directed by Frank Galati, this production<br />
of <strong>The</strong> Visit follows Galati’s 2001<br />
Goodman <strong>The</strong>atre premiere in<br />
Chicago. Signature now gives us only<br />
the second—and apparently improved—mounting<br />
of this musical, but<br />
it surely will not be the last.<br />
Dürrenmatt conceived his play as a<br />
“tragicomedy” in the Greek theatrical<br />
tradition. (It even had a Greek chorus<br />
to comment on the action.) McNally,<br />
Kander, and Ebb have softened the<br />
edges of Dürrenmatt’s highly cynical<br />
and moralistic work, but even through<br />
the gauze this musical remains sharply<br />
thought-provoking. In plot and theme<br />
it balances on the serrated edge of<br />
morals, showing how society can fall<br />
this way or that when it loses site of its<br />
own ethical center.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Visit is a multi-layered allegory<br />
about the corruption of person<br />
and society, with reference to the general<br />
events of the last century. Individual<br />
events might be inferred, but<br />
nothing specific can be identified. Is<br />
it about Swiss businesses that collaborated<br />
with the Nazis during World War<br />
II Perhaps; but it could also be about<br />
the rise of Nazism itself. Or it could<br />
be an indictment of capitalism; or not.<br />
With thematic parallels to Shirley<br />
Jackson’s short story, “<strong>The</strong> Lottery,”<br />
the arc of <strong>The</strong> Visit is very much like<br />
the Greek tragedy that Dürrenmatt had<br />
in mind. Once the basic exposition is<br />
completed about halfway through Act I<br />
and the central conflict is revealed, the<br />
action hurtles toward an inevitable,<br />
predictable, and unstoppable climax.<br />
(<strong>The</strong> first-act song, “A Happy Ending,”<br />
however, prepares us not at all for the<br />
actual ending.)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Visit is the kind of musical in<br />
which a <strong>happy</strong>-go-lucky song about<br />
“Yellow Shoes” turns menacing. It’s<br />
that sort of darkness.<br />
Not since Alfred Lunt and Lynn<br />
Fontanne debuted <strong>The</strong> Visit on Broadway<br />
has a major production had such a<br />
distinguished pair of leads: septuagenarians<br />
Chita Rivera as Claire<br />
Zachanassian and George Hearn as<br />
Anton Schell. (Rivera made her own<br />
Broadway debut in 1953; Hearn, in<br />
1966.) Rivera and Hearn dominate the<br />
action in Kander & Ebb’s <strong>The</strong> Visit,<br />
even though it is an integrated book<br />
musical in which the members of the<br />
ensemble each play distinguishable<br />
roles—this is emphatically not a theatre<br />
piece that depends on an undisaggregated<br />
mass of “<strong>happy</strong> villagers.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> relationship of Claire and Anton is<br />
at the core of <strong>The</strong> Visit, and it is that relationship<br />
(which appears, on first<br />
glance, to be the basis of a long-delayed<br />
and joyful reunion) that sets the<br />
tragedy in motion.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Visit is unusual among Signature<br />
<strong>The</strong>atre productions in that none<br />
of the regular repertory players from<br />
the theatre’s roster appear on stage. In<br />
fact, the only actor with a previous (but<br />
weak) connection is Hearn, who appeared<br />
in Putting It Together on Broadway<br />
under the direction of Eric Schaeffer,<br />
Signature’s founder and artistic<br />
director.<br />
This is the biggest production in<br />
Signature’s history, with 23 performers,<br />
yet Schaeffer seems to have given<br />
Galati carte blanche in terms of casting<br />
and design. Galati has assembled a<br />
company composed almost entirely of<br />
New York-based actors, and there is<br />
little doubt that a transfer to Broadway<br />
is intended – and deserved. He has<br />
even brought three of the original<br />
(Goodman) cast of <strong>The</strong> Visit with him:<br />
Rivera, James Harms as Rudi, and<br />
Cristen Paige as Ottilie Schell, as well<br />
as choreographer Ann Reinking.<br />
If <strong>The</strong> Visit is Broadway bound, it<br />
may meet some resistance from audiences<br />
of tourists and the legendary<br />
“tired businessmen” who are looking<br />
for light entertainment. <strong>The</strong> Visit is<br />
not <strong>The</strong> Little Mermaid. It is meant for<br />
thoughtful playgoers, who will have<br />
plenty of material to ruminate when<br />
the final chord sounds and the spotlight<br />
irises on the Mayor’s (Mark Jacoby)<br />
troubled visage.<br />
Kander & Ebb and their collaborators<br />
have faced this before. Nobody,<br />
they were told, will sit through a musical<br />
about violent anti-Semitism, sexual<br />
promiscuity, and the rise of fascism in<br />
Germany—yet Cabaret played 1,165<br />
performances in its first Broadway run,<br />
and 2,377 performances in its 1998<br />
New York revival. Chicago was a<br />
“vaudeville” meditation on the link between<br />
celebrity and murder. Kiss of<br />
the Spider Woman (also part of Signature’s<br />
Kander & Ebb Celebration) is<br />
about the brutality of prison life in an<br />
authoritarian state.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Visit is set in Brachen (“broke”<br />
in English), a Swiss town that is down<br />
on its luck in the early post-war era.<br />
(In Dürrenmatt’s play, the town was<br />
called Güllen, which means “liquid<br />
manures” in English—you get the picture.)<br />
As the lights come up on the<br />
stage—not literally, for <strong>The</strong> Visit is<br />
presented in a three-quarter round<br />
thrust stage in the MAX, Signature’s<br />
larger space—we see a platform littered<br />
with refuse. (This reminded me<br />
of the props that populated the set of<br />
King of Hearts, one of those Broadway<br />
flops that Ken Mandelbaum delights in<br />
describing in Not Since Carrie.)<br />
Starting with Anton, however, the<br />
townspeople clear the stage, which remains<br />
essentially empty for the remainder<br />
of the performance. <strong>The</strong> junk<br />
is cleared for the arrival, by train, of<br />
Claire Zachanassian, the world’s richest<br />
woman and a native of Brachen.<br />
(Zachanassian explains that she “married<br />
often and widowed well.”)<br />
Sharp-tongued, regal, attended by<br />
servants, Claire is an elegant stranger<br />
among the impoverished citizens of<br />
Brachen. <strong>The</strong>y all hope, however, that<br />
she has come home after an absence of<br />
50 years to bestow some of her riches<br />
on the town. (What they do not know,<br />
but learn later, is that Claire is, in large<br />
part, the cause of the town’s misery.)<br />
Claire’s reunion with Anton sets the<br />
stage for some of <strong>The</strong> Visit’s finest<br />
songs: “I Know Claire,” “You, You,<br />
You,” and “I Must Have Been Something.”<br />
To single these out, however,<br />
is not to suggest the others are unworthy.<br />
This is one of the strongest scores<br />
for—let’s say it—a Broadway musical<br />
in years. Not one number is out of<br />
place, superfluous, or short of excellent.<br />
It all comes together as an integrated<br />
whole—even when, during intermission,<br />
the audience leaves<br />
humming or whistling the mean-spirited<br />
but infectiously melodious “Yellow<br />
Shoes.” If this is meant as a sly<br />
joke on the part of the composer, it succeeds.<br />
Kander & Ebb’s <strong>The</strong> Visit provides<br />
one of those rare moments in the theatre<br />
for a playgoer to be able to say,<br />
years later, “I was there when . . .” If<br />
<strong>The</strong> Visit finds no home on Broadway,<br />
it will be a shame. Even so, London’s<br />
West End is available—and it, too,<br />
beckons.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Visit continues through June<br />
22 at Signature <strong>The</strong>atre, 4200 Campbell<br />
Avenue,in Arlington, Virginia.<br />
<strong>The</strong> performance schedule is: Tues<strong>day</strong>s<br />
and Wednes<strong>day</strong>s at 7:30p.m.,<br />
Thurs<strong>day</strong>s and Fri<strong>day</strong>s at 8:00p.m.,<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong>s at 2:00p.m. and 8:00p.m.,<br />
and Sun<strong>day</strong>s at 2:00p.m. and<br />
7:00p.m. Tickets to <strong>The</strong> Visit are<br />
$40–$69 and are now on sale at Ticketmaster<br />
by calling (703) 573-SEAT<br />
(7328), or by visiting www.signaturetheatre.org.<br />
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PARKS OFFERS TOP 10 LIST<br />
OF AFFORDABLE SUMMER SOLUTIONS TO YOUR VACATION NEEDS<br />
With gas and food prices<br />
soaring, families might<br />
consider spending this<br />
summer a little closer to home. <strong>The</strong><br />
Montgomery County Department of<br />
Parks offers its top 10 list of affordable<br />
summer solutions in the county’s parks<br />
system for families making summer<br />
vacation plans this year on a budget.<br />
“Families can still ‘get away from it<br />
all’ this summer right here in Montgomery<br />
Parks,” said Director of Parks<br />
Mary Bradford. “And it doesn’t have<br />
to cost an arm and a leg!”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Department of Parks top 10 list<br />
of affordable summer getaways:<br />
Camp at Little Bennett Campground:<br />
<strong>The</strong> campground at Little<br />
Bennett Regional Park offers 91 private,<br />
wooded campsites. Tent sites are<br />
only $21 per night and electric sites are<br />
$29 per night. Activities for all registered<br />
campers include FREE family<br />
film nights, hayrides, ice cream socials<br />
and more. “Camper-ready” camping<br />
for first time or novice campers is also<br />
available-for just $25 per night (twonight<br />
minimum) plus the site fee,<br />
campground staff will set up your<br />
campsite with a four-person tent, two<br />
camp chairs, propane stove and<br />
lantern. See www.LittleBennettCampground.com.<br />
Spend Summer on the Lakes: At<br />
Lake Needwood at Rock Creek Regional<br />
Park and Little Seneca Lake at<br />
Black Hill Regional Park, rent canoes,<br />
kayaks, rowboats and pedal boats; take<br />
guided nature tours on pontoon boats;<br />
and fish for bass, catfish, bluegill,<br />
crappie or trout. Most boat rentals are<br />
$7 per hour or $24 for the <strong>day</strong>, plus tax.<br />
See www.BlackHillBoats.com and<br />
www.LakeNeedwoodBoats.com.<br />
Swing and Splash at South Germantown<br />
Recreational Park: <strong>The</strong><br />
South Germantown Splash Playground<br />
is the place or kids of all ages all summer<br />
long with a 36-foot, computerchoreographed<br />
water maze, massive<br />
waterfall, splashing animals and more.<br />
Admission is just $4.50 for the <strong>day</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are also two championship 18-<br />
hole miniature golf courses, with putting<br />
greens, challenging sand traps,<br />
rough turf and natural obstacles. Minigolf<br />
is $4.50 per round per person.<br />
Group rates and birth<strong>day</strong> party rentals<br />
are also available. For more, check out<br />
www.SplashandGolf.com.<br />
Send the Kids to Camp: <strong>The</strong> Department<br />
of Parks offers dozens of<br />
summer camps at its nature facilities,<br />
ice skating rinks, tennis facilities and<br />
public gardens, including the signature<br />
Week in the Park summer <strong>day</strong> camp at<br />
Wheaton Regional Park. New camps<br />
this summer include Camping Camp<br />
and Outdoor Adventure Camp at Little<br />
Bennett Regional Park, Tennis and Ice<br />
Skating Camp at Cabin John Regional<br />
Park and Yester<strong>day</strong> and To<strong>day</strong> on the<br />
Farm camp at the Agricultural History<br />
Farm Park. Quantity discounts, for<br />
multiple children or multiple weeks are<br />
available for all these new parks summer<br />
camps and Week in the Park. Visit<br />
www.ParkPASS.org for more and to<br />
register.<br />
Go Wild in Montgomery: A countywide<br />
program, Wild Montgomery,<br />
identifies 14 of the county’s great<br />
green getaways, including Black Hill<br />
Regional Park (great butterfly watching);<br />
McKee Beshers Wildlife Area<br />
(the place to go see wildlife); and<br />
Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park<br />
(a great urban surprise with its network<br />
of trails). FREE Wild Montgomerythemed<br />
classes and programs are also<br />
being offered this summer through the<br />
department’s four nature centers. Visit<br />
www.WildMontgomery.org for a<br />
map of the county’s great green getaways<br />
and for more on the summer nature<br />
center programs.<br />
Summer Concerts in the Gardens:<br />
Brookside Gardens offers FREE summer<br />
twilight concerts in its beautiful<br />
Gude Garden, Tues<strong>day</strong> evenings in<br />
June from 6:30 pm– 8:00pm. Visitors<br />
can bring chairs or blankets to enjoy<br />
this summer’s artists: the Maryland<br />
Community Band, Ruthie & the Wranglers,<br />
LEA and Incendio. Visit www.<br />
BrooksideGardens.org for more.<br />
Hit the Trail! Hikers, bikers and<br />
equestrians will enjoy more than 200<br />
miles of paved and natural surface<br />
trails in the county’s parks this summer.<br />
Hikers and history buffs alike can<br />
take the FREE 2-mile natural surface<br />
guided Underground Railroad Experience<br />
Trail hike every Satur<strong>day</strong> at<br />
10:00am now and through November<br />
3. <strong>The</strong> Satur<strong>day</strong> hikes begin at the<br />
stone barn at Woodlawn Manor Park.<br />
Discover all the trails this summer,<br />
visit www.MontgomeryTrails.org.<br />
Explore the Past: Several of the<br />
department’s historic sites, including<br />
the Bussard Farm at the Agricultural<br />
History Farm Park, Woodlawn Manor<br />
House and Oakley Cabin will be open<br />
FREE of charge during the county’s<br />
Heritage Days weekend this summer,<br />
June 28 and 29 from 12:00<br />
noon–4:00 pm. Visit www.<br />
ParksCulturalResources.org for a<br />
complete listing of all the historic sites<br />
in the county’s parks and more.<br />
All Aboard! <strong>The</strong> Cabin John Miniature<br />
Train and the Wheaton Miniature<br />
Train and Carousel are open daily now.<br />
Hop aboard for a ride through either<br />
park for only $1.50. Both parks feature<br />
plenty of other amenities to make<br />
a <strong>day</strong> of it. Visit www.<br />
CabinJohnTrain.com and www.<br />
WheatonTrainandCarousel.com.<br />
Give a Helping Hand: <strong>The</strong> department’s<br />
Volunteer Services Office just<br />
launched a new interactive userfriendly<br />
website for current and potential<br />
parks volunteers to learn how to<br />
start volunteering in the parks, check<br />
for openings, apply online and track<br />
volunteer activity. <strong>The</strong>re are dozens of<br />
summer volunteer opportunities in<br />
parks to earn Student Service Learning<br />
hours, develop new skills, network and<br />
make new friends. Check out www.<br />
ParksVolunteers.org to get involved.<br />
“For additional cost savings, we<br />
offer qualifying county residents a 50<br />
percent fee reduction for several of our<br />
facilities and programs,” added Bradford.<br />
“Just call our ParkPASS Help<br />
Desk at 301-495-2580 or visit us online<br />
at www.ParkPASS.org to find out<br />
if you’re eligible.”<br />
18 THE METRO HERALD
BUSINESS NEWS<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
NANDO’S PERI-PERI<br />
SPREADS ITS WINGS TO USA—<br />
OPENING IN PENN QUARTER IN JULY<br />
Having thrilled taste buds across<br />
the globe for more than 20<br />
years, the distinctive taste of<br />
Nando’s Peri-Peri flame-grilled chicken<br />
is now coming to the United States.<br />
Already serving its legendary Afro-<br />
Portuguese flame-grilled chicken at<br />
hundreds of restaurants in Africa, England,<br />
Ireland, Australia, Malaysia,<br />
Canada and the Middle East, Nando’s<br />
Peri-Peri Team knew the time was<br />
right to introduce their exquisite fare to<br />
the U.S. market. “For years, Americans<br />
who’ve visited Nando’s Peri-Peri<br />
in other parts of the world have asked<br />
us to open a U.S. restaurant,” says<br />
Nando’s Peri-Peri Operations Director<br />
Alan Wollenschlaeger. “Now is the<br />
perfect time to do just that, and we<br />
chose downtown Washington because<br />
it’s a city known for its appreciation of<br />
new and exciting dining experiences.<br />
Our customers will feel the same<br />
warmth and hospitality that they would<br />
feel in any Nando’s Restaurant in the<br />
world and we plan to bring that same<br />
passion and unique service style to<br />
Washington, D.C. At Nando’s Peri-Peri<br />
you will be touched by the magic that<br />
is the Nando’s Peri-Peri Way”<br />
Located at 819 7th Street NW, just<br />
one block north of the Verizon Center<br />
in the heart of the District’s Penn Quarter,<br />
the restaurant will create 30 new<br />
jobs and offer seating for 96 guests in<br />
3100 square feet. <strong>The</strong> inviting interior<br />
will feature a contemporary style with<br />
leather upholstered booths and banquettes,<br />
as well as an original brick<br />
wall uncovered in the renovation<br />
process. Impressive design features<br />
include stunning custom-made lighting<br />
and original African artwork.<br />
Deloitte, for the third consecutive<br />
year, has been named one<br />
of the best companies in the<br />
U.S. for multicultural women by Working<br />
Mother magazine. In the June<br />
issue, the publication presents its sixth<br />
annual diversity study, an in-depth<br />
look at the 20 companies that are leading<br />
the way toward gender and race<br />
equality in the workplace.<br />
“We live in one of the most culturally<br />
rich countries in the world, and<br />
Deloitte recognizes that this richness is<br />
a workplace asset,” said Cathy Benko,<br />
chief talent officer, Deloitte LLP. “Utilizing<br />
the wealth of talents and viewpoints<br />
that people of varied backgrounds<br />
bring to the table enables us to<br />
sustain continued growth in an increasingly<br />
competitive and global marketplace.”<br />
Phebe Neely, senior manager, Deloitte<br />
Financial Advisory Services<br />
LLP, is featured on the cover of Working<br />
Mother’s June issue, which profiles<br />
companies that are leading the pack in<br />
supporting the advancement of multicultural<br />
women. Neely joined Deloitte<br />
in 1999. She lives in New Jersey with<br />
her daughter.<br />
“We salute the <strong>2008</strong> Best Companies<br />
for Multicultural Women for leading<br />
by example and providing corpo-<br />
What makes Nando’s Peri-Peri<br />
flame-grilled chicken so unique is its<br />
use of Peri-Peri, a spice passed down<br />
through generations in both Portugal<br />
and Africa. <strong>The</strong> Peri-Peri chili pepper<br />
was discovered by Portuguese explorers—who<br />
loved its dynamic and powerful<br />
flavor—in Mozambique hundreds<br />
of years ago. To<strong>day</strong> millions of<br />
satisfied guests have had the Nando’s<br />
Peri-Peri experience. At Nando’s Peri-<br />
Peri the chickens (always fresh, never<br />
frozen) are marinated for 24 hours, but<br />
diners get to select their own degree of<br />
heat from a range of bastes that are<br />
brushed on at just the right moment<br />
over an open-flame grill. <strong>The</strong>re’s<br />
Lemon & Herb, Medium and Hot<br />
bastes as well as Extra Hot for hardcore<br />
chili enthusiasts.<br />
Grilling the chicken over open<br />
flames radically reduces its fat content—good<br />
news for anyone watching<br />
what they eat. What’s more, Nando’s<br />
Peri-Peri baste has no artificial additives<br />
or preservatives and is loaded in<br />
vitamins A and C.<br />
Tasty Alternatives to the Flame<br />
Grilled Peri–Peri Chicken include<br />
sandwiches, wraps and pitas, vegetarian<br />
options and fresh salads along with<br />
appetizers and side dishes, including<br />
corn on the cob, fries, spicy rice, Peri-<br />
Peri nuts and marinated olives. Menu<br />
choices include individual meals and a<br />
number of platters designed for sharing.<br />
In addition to the fantastic food,<br />
the menu also features an extensive list<br />
of award winning Portuguese wine, as<br />
well as Portuguese beer. At Nando’s<br />
Peri-Peri you’ll find Spice with Life!<br />
For more information about<br />
Nando’s Peri-Peri visit www.<br />
nandosperiperi.com<br />
DELOITTE NAMED A <strong>2008</strong> BEST COMPANY<br />
FOR MULTICULTURAL WOMEN BY<br />
WORKING MOTHER FOR THIRD<br />
CONSECUTIVE YEAR<br />
rate America with a new benchmark<br />
for diversity and inclusion,” said Carol<br />
Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media.<br />
“Just as our nation has made history<br />
with this year’s presidential primaries,<br />
we challenge corporate America to pay<br />
attention to issues of race and gender,<br />
and to benchmark their own work<br />
against our winners.”<br />
Among the initiatives Working<br />
Mother cites is Deloitte’s Breakthrough<br />
Leadership Program, a minority<br />
development program for high-potential<br />
managers and senior managers<br />
that provides participants with coaching,<br />
360-feedback and interaction with<br />
senior leadership. Another example is<br />
the Ellen Gabriel Fellows program,<br />
which develops senior managers who<br />
are on the track for partnership.<br />
Although the <strong>2008</strong> Best Companies<br />
are making great strides, hurdles remain,<br />
as 68 percent of multicultural<br />
women believe that gender and racial<br />
pay-equity issues exist at work, according<br />
to the study. <strong>The</strong> 50-page<br />
study includes interviews and profiles<br />
of this year’s winning companies and<br />
can be accessed at www.workingmother.com.<br />
For more information about deloitte,<br />
visit www.deloitte.com.<br />
OP-ED<br />
“<br />
To be equal in opportunity,<br />
recognition and respect” is<br />
the goal of CITE executive<br />
Jan Richardson. Amid celebrations of<br />
the 25th anniversary of the Consortium<br />
of Information and Telecommunications<br />
Executives (CITE) in Washington,<br />
D.C. Richardson exhibited high<br />
confidence that the African-American<br />
employee resource group (ERG) has<br />
created such an environment at Verizon<br />
Communications Inc.<br />
Verizon Communications Inc. is an<br />
American broadband and telecommunications<br />
company. Just 8 years old,<br />
Verizon was formed in 2000 when Bell<br />
Atlantic’s Regional Bell Operating<br />
Company merged with GTE. Listed<br />
number 17 on the Fortune 100 List,<br />
Verizon is a $100 billion a year company<br />
that operates coast-to-coast,<br />
serves 70 million customers and has almost<br />
a quarter million employees.<br />
Verizon and CITE are real success<br />
stories. CITE represents the interest of<br />
Verizon’s 35,000 African-American<br />
employees. An employee resource<br />
group, CITE has aided and monitored<br />
Verizon’s commitment to excellence in<br />
community service, and personal and<br />
professional development for over 25<br />
years. Black Enterprise magazine says<br />
Verizon “has set the bar in terms of<br />
workforce diversity”. Long-time<br />
members of the company’s senior leadership<br />
CITE activists have had a seat at<br />
the table making company policy and<br />
IT’S OK TO BE<br />
SHELLFISH AT<br />
ASIA NINE<br />
<strong>The</strong>re’s nothing like a plate<br />
full of pristine oysters,<br />
shucked just right, served on<br />
a bed of salt with all the fitting accompaniments.<br />
Asia Nine raises the<br />
(sushi) bar by adding a variety of<br />
fresh-from-the-sea favorites. <strong>The</strong><br />
restaurant’s new oyster bar includes<br />
not only a daily changing choice of<br />
three kinds of oysters ($12 for a half<br />
dozen), but serves them with a<br />
choice of a distinctive Asian seafood<br />
sauce or a zesty Wasabi cocktail<br />
sauce. For true seafood aficionados,<br />
a seafood tower is available featuring<br />
hoards of shrimp, mounds of<br />
King Crab and oodles of oysters<br />
($39.99 for one; $75 for two).<br />
During <strong>happy</strong> hour, 4:30-7 p.m.<br />
week<strong>day</strong>s, Oysters are half price at<br />
the bar; and for late diners, oysters<br />
are half price after 9p.m. daily.<br />
At the bar, the restaurant offers<br />
a wide variety of Asian beers,<br />
sakes, wines and cocktails.<br />
Located in Washington, DC’s<br />
Penn Quarter at 915 E Street, NW,<br />
Asia Nine serves lunch Mon<strong>day</strong>-<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong> from 11a.m. to 3p.m.;<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong> and Sun<strong>day</strong> from<br />
11:30a.m. to 3p.m.; Sun<strong>day</strong><br />
Brunch from noon to 3p.m.; dinner<br />
Sun<strong>day</strong>-Wednes<strong>day</strong> from<br />
3p.m. to midnight; Thurs<strong>day</strong>–<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong> 3p.m.-1a.m., and provides<br />
take out, delivery and valet<br />
parking. For reservations, call<br />
(202) 629-4355 or go to www.<br />
asianine.com.<br />
BLACK TELECOM PROFESSIONALS<br />
CITED FOR VERIZON’S SUCCESSES<br />
William Reed<br />
Special to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong><br />
Tisa W. Jackson named vice<br />
president of diversity and inclusion<br />
Union Bank of California, N.A.<br />
has announced that Tisa W.<br />
Jackson has joined the bank as<br />
vice president of diversity and inclusion.<br />
Jackson is responsible for developing<br />
and executing diversity and inclusion<br />
strategies, initiatives, and<br />
programs for the bank.<br />
Prior to joining Union Bank, Jackson<br />
was the vice president of the diversity<br />
and inclusion strategies group at<br />
Countrywide Financial. She also<br />
served as the human resources administrator<br />
for Deloitte & Touche Tax<br />
Technologies and human resources<br />
manager for InfoNXX. Jackson began<br />
kept diversity issues at the forefront of<br />
practices. <strong>The</strong> annual DiversityInc Top<br />
50 Companies for Diversity currently<br />
rates Verizon Number 2 for “recruitment<br />
and retention” and says the company<br />
demonstrates “consistent<br />
strength” in CEO commitment, human<br />
capital, corporate and organizational<br />
communications, and supplier diversity.<br />
<strong>The</strong> CITE model is timely and ongoing.<br />
CITE members arguer for African<br />
American interests inside and out the<br />
company. Prior to its transformation<br />
into Verizon, Bell Atlantic had merged<br />
with another Bell Operating Company,<br />
NYNEX, in 1997 and the CITE concept<br />
evolved with the telecommunications<br />
giant. CITE & Company provides<br />
voice, video and data services to residential<br />
and small business customers in<br />
28 states and Washington, D.C. It is in a<br />
competitive market and operates a<br />
Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network<br />
under the FiOS service mark. FTTP network<br />
offers bandwidth for voice, data,<br />
and video services, and FiOS provides<br />
broadband access speeds and digital<br />
voice services. <strong>The</strong> Verizon network operates<br />
41 million wireline access lines,<br />
8.2 million broadband connections, and<br />
had 943,000 FiOS television customers.<br />
Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon Chairman/CEO,<br />
supports CITE and says,<br />
“Diversity isn’t just a concept at Verizon.<br />
It’s an integral part of our business.<br />
Diversity drives everything<br />
from the best people with the leadership<br />
skills we need, the best products<br />
and services built through our innovation<br />
and customer focus, and the best<br />
network maintained by our ability to<br />
drive results. <strong>The</strong> diverse minds, experiences,<br />
culture and unique perspectives<br />
of our employees are what give<br />
us our competitive advantage. Diversity<br />
and inclusion are a critical link to<br />
our customers, communities and shareholders.<br />
Verizon firmly believes that<br />
developing the right skills and providing<br />
the resources for our employees is<br />
essential to create our winning culture.<br />
Our employees have access and are encouraged<br />
to utilize our training opportunities,<br />
including our diversity leadership<br />
workshops and extensive online<br />
library, connect with a mentor, join one<br />
of our many support networks, and utilize<br />
our work/life tools”.<br />
CITE is a model for all American<br />
enterprises. At its “25 Years of Excellence—Continuing<br />
the Legacy” Conference,<br />
Verizon’s Regional President<br />
Bill Roberts was the host; and as a<br />
CITE member illustrated the employee<br />
resource group’s longevity and legacy.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se types of networks of employees<br />
with common interests increasingly<br />
are being used to strategically advance<br />
businesses by involving and using<br />
members’ ideas for marketing campaigns<br />
targeting fast-growing markets<br />
and as a means of increasing recruitment,<br />
retention and promotion of top<br />
talent. Like many African Americans,<br />
not all black Verizon employees buy<br />
into “that race stuff”. Of Verizon’s<br />
34,000 African American employees,<br />
just 12,000 are active in CITE.<br />
Despite the established recognition<br />
of diversity as a business imperative,<br />
discussions around diversity remain<br />
sensitive, and implementation of such<br />
practices is often met with ambivalence.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fact that most companies<br />
remain largely indifferent to changing<br />
corporate America’s predominately<br />
white status quo makes it all the more<br />
important to laud those who are aggressively<br />
pursuing initiatives for<br />
African Americans’ “opportunities,<br />
recognition and respect”.<br />
• • •<br />
William Reed<br />
www.BlackPressInternational.com<br />
TISA W. JACKSON NAMED VICE PRESIDENT<br />
OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FOR<br />
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA<br />
her career with Advanced Micro Devices,<br />
where she served as the human<br />
resources program manager for the<br />
workforce planning and development<br />
division, and was responsible for creating<br />
and implementing the diversity<br />
work-life balance programs and initiatives.<br />
Jackson is the founder of the Professional<br />
& Technical Diversity Network<br />
and is the program chair of the<br />
Young African American Women’s<br />
Conference. She also is a leadership<br />
council member of the Global Organization<br />
for Leadership and Diversity<br />
and is a member of the Asian Pacific<br />
American Dispute Resolution Center<br />
Dinner Committee. Jackson is a past<br />
recipient of the Urban Financial Services<br />
Coalition’s Philanthropist Award.<br />
She holds a bachelor’s degree from<br />
Emerson College,<br />
Based in San Francisco, UnionBan-<br />
Cal Corporation (NYSE: UB) is a bank<br />
holding company with assets of $57.9<br />
billion at March 31, <strong>2008</strong>. Its primary<br />
subsidiary, Union Bank of California,<br />
N.A., had 334 banking offices in<br />
California, Oregon and Washington,<br />
and 2 international offices at March<br />
31, <strong>2008</strong>. <strong>The</strong> company’s website is<br />
located at www.unionbank.com.<br />
THE METRO HERALD 19
SPORTS & RECREATION<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
OP-ED<br />
SIU-<br />
EDWARDSVILLE<br />
TO JOIN<br />
OHIO VALLEY<br />
CONFERENCE<br />
Southern Illinois University-<br />
Edwardsville is joining the<br />
Ohio Valley Conference, becoming<br />
the 11th school in that<br />
league. <strong>The</strong> conference and the<br />
school announced the move Tues<strong>day</strong>,<br />
as the Cougars transition from<br />
NCAA Division II to Division I.<br />
SIU-Edwardsville will officially<br />
become part of the conference on<br />
July 1.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cougars will begin regularseason<br />
competition in the OVC<br />
during the 2011-2012 academic<br />
year, and in most cases will be eligible<br />
for postseason play the next<br />
year.<br />
SIU will replace Samford, an<br />
Alabama school that is defecting to<br />
the Southern Conference.<br />
CHINA’S OLYMPIC TRIUMPH: COMING OF AGE IN BEIJING<br />
Carlos Cardozo Campbell<br />
Special to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong><br />
Months before the opening<br />
ceremonies for the 29th<br />
Olympic Games, the stage<br />
has been set for what may be the greatest<br />
celebration of the modern Olympic<br />
Games in history. It will also mark the<br />
40th anniversary of world wide satellite<br />
based television broadcasting. As<br />
Bill Toomey, the 1968 Olympic Decathlon<br />
Champion said about the 1968<br />
satellite broadcast: “Television and the<br />
Olympics combined to bring the world<br />
together like never before.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> opening ceremonies will take<br />
place on the 8th <strong>day</strong> of the 8th month<br />
of <strong>2008</strong>. <strong>The</strong> number eight is considered<br />
to be the luckiest number of all in<br />
Chinese culture.<br />
Beijing, the centerpiece of the 29th<br />
Olympiad, is the focal point for an urban<br />
development boom with buildings covering<br />
over 10,000 sites representing 1.7<br />
billion square feet of floor space at a cost<br />
in excess of 40 billion dollars.<br />
<strong>The</strong> architectural crown jewels of<br />
the Olympic venues are <strong>The</strong> National<br />
Stadium, referred to as the “Cage” and<br />
the National Aquatic Center referred to<br />
as the “Water Cube.”<br />
In addition there is the National<br />
Center for the Performing Arts,<br />
shaped like an “egg,” and the China<br />
Central Television Headquarters, a 6.5<br />
million square foot, 788 foot structure<br />
which dominates the Beijing skyline.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se buildings, monuments to the<br />
majesty of the Olympic movement,<br />
were designed to inspire and symbolize<br />
China’s new genesis and Beijing’s<br />
debut as a global city.<br />
In addition to the monuments the<br />
Beijing Olympic Games will provide<br />
majestic moments, miracles, and memories.<br />
I was privileged to attend the Montreal<br />
Olympic Games in 1976 when I<br />
was the Deputy Assistant Administrator<br />
of the American Revolution Bicentennial<br />
Administration and the Director of<br />
the Bicentennial Sports Alliance. <strong>The</strong><br />
assemblage of great athletes from all<br />
over the world and the resulting competition<br />
was a powerful experience.<br />
Majestic moments during the<br />
Olympic experience elevate the human<br />
spirit and generate harmony, respect<br />
and dignity for participants as well as<br />
the nations that they represent.<br />
Three words encapsulate the<br />
essence of the Olympic creed: “Citius,<br />
Altius, and Fortius,” which mean:<br />
“Swifter, Higher, and Stronger.”<br />
For the citizens of the People’s Republic<br />
of China, a majestic moment<br />
occurred during the summer of 1992,<br />
at the 25th Olympics held in<br />
Barcelona, Spain. Tens of thousands of<br />
spectators watched a quick striding<br />
diminutive twenty-four year old cross<br />
the finish line in the ten kilometer walk<br />
in forty four minutes and thirty two<br />
seconds. <strong>The</strong> victory was historic.<br />
Chen Yue Ling became the first<br />
woman from China to win an Olympic<br />
Gold medal in track and field as well<br />
as the first Asian woman to accomplish<br />
such a historic feat. She became a national<br />
hero and the subject of a documentary<br />
film. Years later a bronze<br />
statue was erected and displayed in her<br />
hometown of Tieling in the province of<br />
Lianoning, China. With Chen Yue<br />
Ling’s victory, the Chinese women<br />
captured three of the first five places in<br />
the ten kilometer walk.<br />
Four years later, under the sweltering<br />
summer heat of Atlanta, Georgia,<br />
on July 19th 1996, it was well into the<br />
night when the lights were turned off<br />
throughout Centennial Stadium. Earlier<br />
during the <strong>day</strong>, I had celebrated my<br />
birth<strong>day</strong> with some of the greatest<br />
Olympic champions in history. What I<br />
was about to experience would virtually<br />
erode the earlier celebration from<br />
my mind. A capacity crowd of thousands,<br />
watched as a runner with torch<br />
in hand, ascended the last steps to pass<br />
the Olympic flame. <strong>The</strong> identity of the<br />
final recipient was kept secret. This<br />
added to the suspense of the event.<br />
From behind a screen a familiar champion<br />
walked slowly forward and accepted<br />
the torch. I had met the Champion<br />
a quarter of a century earlier and<br />
subsequently at various events including<br />
the Montreal Olympics. Like most<br />
of his admirers I had watched his<br />
health deteriorate from Parkinson’s<br />
disease. Mohammad Ali, with his hand<br />
and arm trembling lit the Olympic<br />
Flame. My face was so awash with<br />
tears that I was embarrassed. When I<br />
turned to my right and then to my left,<br />
I noticed that everyone in sight was<br />
also in tears. For the spectators who<br />
watched in Centennial Stadium and on<br />
television worldwide, this was indeed<br />
a majestic moment.<br />
In the Winter Olympics held at<br />
Lake Placid, New York, an underdog<br />
U.S. Hockey team was defeated by a<br />
professional level Soviet team in an<br />
exhibition match. When the U.S. Ice<br />
Hockey team, which consisted of college<br />
level players, defeated the Soviet<br />
during the semi-finals it was dubbed<br />
the miracle on ice because they overcame<br />
seemingly insurmountable odds<br />
in their triumph. This victory was heralded<br />
as the greatest upset in the history<br />
of sports. <strong>The</strong> U.S. Hockey team<br />
went on to defeat the team from Finland<br />
and capture the Olympic Gold<br />
medal.<br />
In architecture, design is the imperative<br />
for the millennium. China, as the<br />
host nation for the twenty-ninth<br />
Olympics, has set the standard in the<br />
design of venues for various sports.<br />
China is a nation on the rise and is<br />
in the midst of rapid change. During<br />
the last twenty years China has moved<br />
over 250 million people from rural<br />
areas into the cities and is expected to<br />
move a like amount to cities during the<br />
next twenty years.<br />
An Editorial in the May 11, <strong>2008</strong> of<br />
<strong>The</strong> Washington Post “Olympic Gag<br />
Order; Why should China’s repression<br />
of free speech be imposed on athletes<br />
from the rest of the world” is critical<br />
of the International Olympic Committee<br />
for sticking to it’s Charter which<br />
states: “No kind of demonstration or<br />
political, religious or racial propaganda<br />
is permitted in any Olympic<br />
sites, venues or other areas.”<br />
$2M JEWEL HEIST IN MASSACHUSETTS<br />
INCLUDES SUPER BOWL RINGS<br />
Thieves broke into a jewelry company over the weekend and stole up<br />
to $2 million in gold, gems and other valuables, including Super Bowl<br />
rings made for New York Giants staff members, authorities said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> thieves disabled the alarm system at E.A. Dion Inc., cut a hole in the<br />
roof and made off with a safe that weighed at least 1,000 pounds.<br />
<strong>The</strong> loss was discovered Sun<strong>day</strong> by a Dion employee, who went to the<br />
business when she was unable to access her work e-mail from home, apparently<br />
because phone lines had been cut. <strong>The</strong> heist could have taken place at<br />
any time over the weekend, Sgt. Jim Keane said Wednes<strong>day</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Super Bowl rings made by the company were to be given to the Giants<br />
staff members to commemorate the team’s win over the New England<br />
Patriots, team spokesman Pat Hanlon said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> players and coaches had already received their rings last month. <strong>The</strong><br />
staffers were to receive identical ones—white gold rings with the “NY” logo<br />
is set in diamonds and “World Champions” emblazoned in raised letters. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
were designed by Tiffany and Co. and have a retail value at $25,000 each, the<br />
team said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> company does not discuss specific customer’s orders, President Edward<br />
Dion Jr. said.<br />
“We’ve talked to our major customers and let them know what happened,<br />
and I am confident we’ll be able to fulfill our orders,” he said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> family-owned company, which has been in business for 40 years, was<br />
back up running at full speed and re-evaluating security, Dion said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> case remains under investigation by Attleboro police with assistance<br />
from the FBI.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Post Editorial states, in part,<br />
“No worthy public goal can be pursued<br />
without a measure of controversy, debate<br />
and yes, conflict. Let the struggles<br />
among and within nations be peaceful.<br />
But don’t pretend they don’t existmuch<br />
less try to stamp them out for the<br />
sake of a commercialized extravaganza.<br />
In helping China do just that,<br />
the Olympic “Movement” risks sacrificing<br />
values far more important than<br />
athletic competition.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Washington Post diminishes<br />
it’s stature by publishing such a self<br />
righteous and sanctimonious editorial.<br />
As much as I love and cherish America,<br />
I find that our system of justice<br />
which incarcerates more than any nation<br />
in the entire world, (approximately<br />
2.3 million which is 800,000<br />
more than China) with an estimated ten<br />
percent or more who are innocent and<br />
whereby hundreds have been exonerated<br />
from death row, has a house in serious<br />
disorder. Moreover the incarceration<br />
of suspected terrorist without<br />
charges and the abuse of “detainees,”<br />
not to mention the conduct of war<br />
based on erroneous intelligence do not<br />
put the United States high on the scale<br />
of credible human rights practices.<br />
Referring to the Olympics as: “A<br />
commercialized extravaganza,” is condescending,<br />
disingenuous and inappropriate<br />
on the part of <strong>The</strong> Washington<br />
Post.<br />
<strong>The</strong> goal of the Olympic Games,<br />
stated in the IOC Charter “Is to place<br />
sport at the service of the harmonious<br />
development of man, with a view to promoting<br />
a peaceful society concerned<br />
with the preservation of human dignity.”<br />
Two times Olympic 800 meters<br />
Gold Medalist (1948 and 1952) and<br />
holder of five Olympic medals, Mal<br />
Whitfied asserts: “<strong>The</strong> Beijing Olympic<br />
will be the most spectacular games ever.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Chinese are great people and they<br />
are going to set the standards to the delight<br />
of the entire world.”<br />
In addition, China appears to be the<br />
most progressive, resourceful and determined<br />
nation in the world in addressing<br />
the challenge of growth management.<br />
China’s GDP of about 10 percent<br />
annually for the past decade is the<br />
longest sustained economic expansion<br />
in history. <strong>The</strong> Chinese government,<br />
like the British after World War Two,<br />
has adopted a policy of building new<br />
or Satellite towns around the periphery<br />
of Beijing and Shanghai. <strong>The</strong>se new<br />
towns are planned to accommodate a<br />
population between 500, 000 and one<br />
million people. <strong>The</strong> new town of Milton<br />
Keynes, about 40 miles northwest<br />
of London, England was originally<br />
planned for 250,000 people when it<br />
was initiated in 1969. When I visited<br />
Milton Keynes in 2005, I found out the<br />
the new town had met it planned population<br />
goal and is slated to add another<br />
250,000 people.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reported modal split for trips to<br />
work in China is approximately as follows:<br />
Walking 29%; cycling 25%; public<br />
transit 24%; electric mobile 6%; motorcycle<br />
5% and private automobile 9%.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Chinese government is implementing<br />
policy initiatives to establish<br />
land use planning and sustainable development<br />
standards to manage urban<br />
growth. <strong>The</strong> Chinese are working with<br />
urban development professionals in the<br />
United States and clearly taking advantage<br />
of lessons learned by this nation<br />
as well as the Europeans.<br />
In recent years I have had the opportunity<br />
to meet with several elected<br />
officials and development executives<br />
from Dalian, China. Through this interaction<br />
I have gained great respect<br />
for their professional standards, dedication<br />
and commitment.<br />
While <strong>2008</strong> will focus largely on<br />
the Olympic Games in Beijing, visitors<br />
would do well to inquire about the<br />
building of six satellite towns, an airport<br />
town and subway that, upon completion,<br />
will be the largest in the world.<br />
In contrast to the construction in<br />
support of the Olympic Games, China<br />
in the province of Sichuan, experienced<br />
a 7.9 magnitude earthquake which left<br />
millions homeless and over 69,000<br />
people dead. While the Foreign Ministry<br />
initially declined the assistance of<br />
rescue personnel , they reversed their<br />
policy and let in specialist from Japan,<br />
South Korea, Taiwan and Russia. President<br />
Hu Jintao expressed thanks and<br />
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao participated<br />
in a photo opportunity with Ban Kimoon,<br />
Secretary General of the United<br />
Nations. International financial contributions<br />
from over 80 nations are in the<br />
tens of millions of dollars.<br />
Fred Kemp, reported on Bloomberg<br />
June 1, <strong>2008</strong> that the Chinese Central<br />
Government has been responsive in<br />
dealing with the Sichuan earthquake<br />
which caused an estimated 20 billion<br />
dollars in damage.<br />
<strong>The</strong> strength of character of the<br />
Chinese has been born out a culture<br />
which is thousands of years old, and<br />
traditions of discipline and unity. Anthropologist<br />
Margaret Mead said:<br />
“When you study others you can learn<br />
about yourself.” We can learn a great<br />
deal from the Chinese. <strong>The</strong> tragedy of<br />
Sichuan has changed the calculus of<br />
diplomacy with an international response<br />
that bridges and strengthens the<br />
bonds of our humanity.<br />
This is the Chinese Century. Come<br />
August 8, <strong>2008</strong>, let the games begin.<br />
• • •<br />
Carlos Cardozo Campbell is a former<br />
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for<br />
Economic Development with the U.S.<br />
Department of Commerce from 1981<br />
through 1984.<br />
When responding to an ad,<br />
tell them you saw it in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong><br />
20 THE METRO HERALD
SPORTS & RECREATION<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
US WILL ANNOUNCE OLYMPIC HOOPS TEAM BEFORE CAMP<br />
So much for the training camp<br />
competition for the final spots<br />
on the Olympic team. <strong>The</strong><br />
United States will pick its squad without<br />
a tryout.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Americans have changed<br />
their plans and will select the 12 players<br />
headed to Beijing before they report<br />
to Las Vegas later this month.<br />
Originally, the team was to have potentially<br />
16 players in camp and cut<br />
down to 12 on June 30.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> staff really is more interested<br />
in getting down so that they can get to<br />
work in terms of preparation. We<br />
have switched our thinking,” USA<br />
Basketball managing director Jerry<br />
Colangelo told <strong>The</strong> Associated Press<br />
on Tues<strong>day</strong>.<br />
“Our plan is to go ahead and announce<br />
our team sometime before we<br />
get to Las Vegas.” Colangelo said the<br />
announcement likely would come<br />
after the NBA finals end. <strong>The</strong> Americans<br />
are to begin workouts on the<br />
UNLV campus June 28.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are more than 30 players in<br />
the national team program, but Colangelo<br />
and coach Mike Krzyzewski are<br />
down to about their top 14. <strong>The</strong>y will<br />
decide on the final two spots, probably<br />
at point guard and power forward,<br />
in the coming <strong>day</strong>s.<br />
With the team’s minicamp expected<br />
to last only two <strong>day</strong>s,<br />
Krzyzewski told Colangelo there<br />
wasn’t enough time to make cuts, and<br />
asked to bring in just the Beijingbound<br />
players so they could focus on<br />
the summer ahead.<br />
“That’s basically a plan rather<br />
than a tryout of 16 or 15 or whatever<br />
the number might have been. We’ve<br />
got a pretty good handle on the 13, 14<br />
names, and it’s more about preparation,”<br />
Colangelo said. “<strong>The</strong>y want to<br />
get on with it.”<br />
Colangelo will get to work on one<br />
decision shortly, flying to Chicago to<br />
check on Dwyane Wade, who has<br />
been working out after missing the<br />
final 21 games this season because of<br />
chronic soreness in his surgically repaired<br />
left knee. Wade likely will get<br />
a spot if he’s healthy, but Colangelo<br />
wants to get a “real read” on the Heat<br />
guard’s rehab.<br />
While there, Colangelo also will<br />
get a look at Chris Paul, one of the<br />
players on the bubble, whom Wade<br />
has invited to work out with him. <strong>The</strong><br />
New Orleans point guard, runner-up<br />
to Kobe Bryant in the MVP voting,<br />
might have to beat out Chauncey<br />
Billups, Deron Williams, and perhaps<br />
Wade for a spot.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re could be an opening in the<br />
frontcourt, where Amare Stoudemire<br />
might have talked himself off the<br />
team. <strong>The</strong> Phoenix Suns star said<br />
after his season ended that he needed<br />
to see how his body felt before deciding<br />
to play, and his indecision seems<br />
to have created some doubt in Colangelo’s<br />
mind.<br />
“Amare still may or may not be<br />
under consideration,” Colangelo said.<br />
“We have decisions to make relative<br />
to Amare, and that works both ways.”<br />
Toronto’s Chris Bosh, who played<br />
in the 2006 world championships but<br />
was injured last summer, and Utah’s<br />
Carlos Boozer are the leading candidates<br />
to claim a forward spot.<br />
Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo<br />
Anthony, Jason Kidd and Dwight<br />
Howard were the starters last year<br />
when the Americans went undefeated<br />
in the Olympic qualifying tournament.<br />
Stoudemire, Billups, Williams,<br />
Michael Redd, Tayshaun Prince,<br />
Tyson Chandler and Mike Miller also<br />
were on the team.<br />
<strong>The</strong> deadline to submit the<br />
Olympic roster is July 1. <strong>The</strong> Americans<br />
will return to Las Vegas in mid-<br />
July to train and play an exhibition<br />
game against Canada before departing<br />
for China. <strong>The</strong>y face the host Chinese<br />
in their Beijing opener on Aug. 10.<br />
Show her why<br />
you’re the world’s<br />
greatest dad.<br />
Join the Washington Mystics for their<br />
Annual Dads and Daughters night,<br />
Presented by<br />
Mystics Picture Frames<br />
to first 5,000 fans<br />
Washington Mystics vs Atlanta Dream<br />
Monique<br />
Currie<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, June 20 @ 7:00pm<br />
Lower level tickets<br />
start at just $<br />
14 .00<br />
believe<br />
call<br />
1.877.DC.HOOP1<br />
WashingtonMystics.com<br />
THE METRO HERALD 21
CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Only $250 buys a<br />
25-word classified ad in<br />
98 newspapers across Virginia.<br />
Call: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong> at<br />
703-548-8891<br />
OR<br />
Virginia Press Services at<br />
804-521-7571<br />
to place your ad in the<br />
AD NETWORK CLASSIFIEDS<br />
ANNOUNCEMENTS<br />
THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF<br />
RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTA-<br />
TION has established an overall goal of<br />
3% for participation of Disadvantaged<br />
Business Enterprise (DBE) organizations<br />
in Federal Transit Administration<br />
Section 5311 fund contracting opportunities<br />
during the federal fiscal year beginning<br />
October 1, <strong>2008</strong> pursuant to the<br />
requirements of 49 CFR, Part 26. Documentation<br />
on development of this goal is<br />
available for inspection Mon<strong>day</strong>-Fri<strong>day</strong><br />
from 8:30a.m.-4:00p.m. until July 25,<br />
<strong>2008</strong> at this address: Virginia Department<br />
of Rail and Public Transportation,<br />
1313 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond,<br />
VA 23219. E-mail: drptpr@drpt.<br />
virginia.gov. Phone: 804-786-4440.<br />
Comments on the goal will be received<br />
until July 25, <strong>2008</strong> at the above<br />
address.<br />
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATON FUNDING<br />
NOW AVAILABLE—THE VIRGINIA<br />
DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC<br />
TRANSPORTATON is accepting applications<br />
for federal and state funding for<br />
eligible projects designed to improve<br />
mobility for the elderly and individuals<br />
with disabilities. Funds are available<br />
through the federal New Freedom Program<br />
and a companion state program,<br />
the Senior Transportation Program. <strong>The</strong><br />
New Freedom Program provides funding<br />
for new transportation programs that<br />
go beyond the Americans with Disabilities<br />
Act. <strong>The</strong> Senior Transportation Program<br />
provides funding to improve or expand<br />
transportation services for the<br />
elderly who are unable to operate a<br />
motor vehicle and do not have alternative<br />
transportation available. Applications<br />
will be accepted from June 16,<br />
<strong>2008</strong> to August 15, <strong>2008</strong>. Forms and<br />
instructions for completing the applications<br />
for federal and state funding can<br />
be found on the DRPT Web site at www.<br />
drpt.virginia.gov. For information regarding<br />
the New Freedom Program or<br />
the Senior Transportation Program,<br />
contact Neil Sherman, Specialized<br />
Transportation Program Manager, at<br />
804-786-1154 or Neil.Sherman@drpt.<br />
virginia.gov. For the hearing impaired<br />
only, access is available at 1-800-828-<br />
1120.<br />
AUCTIONS<br />
AUCTION—Construction Equipment &<br />
Trucks, June 13th, Richmond, VA.<br />
Huge, 800+ Lots, Featuring 100+ Piece<br />
Site Contractor Liquidation of Late<br />
Model Equipment & Trucks. Plus:<br />
Virginia Department of Transportation,<br />
Dominion Virginia Power, Sunbelt<br />
Rentals & Others! Motley’s Auction &<br />
Realty Group, 804-232-3300, VAAL<br />
#16, www.Motleys.com.<br />
PUBLIC AUCTION • COMMON-<br />
WEALTH OF VIRGINIA • SATURDAY<br />
6/14/08 • 9:00AM • VIRGINIA TECH,<br />
1411 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BLACKS-<br />
BURG, VA 24061-0310 • VEHICLES •<br />
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT * VARIOUS<br />
OFFICE & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS &<br />
MUCH MORE. http://vbo.dgs.virginia.<br />
gov/VBO/Docs/Auction_Bid_<br />
Schedule.asp.<br />
APARTMENTS FOR RENT<br />
4 bd. 2 ba. Home only $270/mo! More<br />
1-4 bd. HUD Homes from $199/mo!<br />
Financing Referrals Available! For<br />
Listings 800-628-5983 ext. T295.<br />
4 bd. 2.5 ba. HUD Home only $425/<br />
mo! Great Location! More 1-4 bd.<br />
Homes available from $199/mo! 5% dn,<br />
20 yrs @ 8% apr! For info & listings 800-<br />
508-8176.<br />
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES<br />
ALL CASH CANDY ROUTE. Do you<br />
earn $800 in a <strong>day</strong> Your own local<br />
candy route. Includes 30 Machines and<br />
Candy. All for $9,995. 1-888-745-3354.<br />
EDUCATION/HELP WANTED<br />
Southwest Virginia Community College<br />
has the following openings: VP<br />
Administration & Finance—12 month;<br />
History Instructor—9 month. See www.<br />
sw.edu/community/hr/employment.<br />
htm.<br />
GENERAL<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
SECRET SHOPPERS NEEDED—For<br />
Store Evaluations. Get Paid to Shop and<br />
Rate Local Stores, Restaurants &<br />
<strong>The</strong>aters. Flexible Hours, Training<br />
Provided 1-800-585-9024 ext 6976.<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR needed for<br />
non-profit Virginia Coalition for Open<br />
Government. Successful candidate will<br />
work to increase awareness of public<br />
access to government business. Complete<br />
job description: www.vpa.net/<br />
index.php/association/article/vcog_<br />
job_posting/.<br />
Watkins Associates Needed. Flexible<br />
hours. Earn $500-$1000+/month Part-<br />
Time. Start while keeping your current<br />
job. No selling required. Free details.<br />
www.348.com.<br />
TRUCK DRIVERS<br />
DRIVER CDL TRAINING—CLASS “A”<br />
or CLASS “B.” Local or O-T-R Job Placement<br />
Assistance. Guaranteed Financing<br />
Available. $38-45K 1st Year. CDS Tractor<br />
Trailer Training 1-800-646-2374.<br />
C&C Trucking Earn More—Be Home<br />
More. Great Pay, Medical, Dental,<br />
Home Weekends, New Equipment,<br />
Family Atmosphere. Class A Drivers Call<br />
To<strong>day</strong> Toll Free 800-476-8269.<br />
Flatbed Drivers—2007 Model Freightliners<br />
are Here! Per Diem, Excellent<br />
Benefits. Class A-CDL, 22 Years Old,<br />
Good Record. Call Western Express<br />
To<strong>day</strong>!! 866-863-4116.<br />
65 DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED! NO<br />
CDL NO PROBLEM! LEARN TO<br />
DRIVE A TRUCK WITH US. FT/PT<br />
CLASSES. GREAT PAY. BENEFITS!<br />
CALL NOW 1-800-874-7131.<br />
Our top regional driver made $79,097<br />
in 2007! How much did YOU earn<br />
$.50/mile Make more in <strong>2008</strong>!<br />
Home most weekends! HEARTLAND<br />
EXPRESS 1-800-441-4953. www.<br />
heartlandexpress.com.<br />
DRIVERS: FRESH START. Sign-On<br />
Bonus. 35-42cpm. Earn over $1000<br />
weekly. Excellent Benefits. Need CDL-A<br />
& 3 months recent OTR. 800-635-8669.<br />
Drivers: Martini is Hiring Co. Drivers &<br />
O/Os who want: Weekend Home Time &<br />
a Consistent Customer Base. CDL-A<br />
&1 yr. OTR Exp. Req. 866-460-8464<br />
www.gomartini.com.<br />
HOMES FOR RENT<br />
Affordable HUD Homes! 4 bd. 2 ba.<br />
Home buy for only $650/mo! 3 bd. 1 ba.<br />
Home only $230/mo! For Listings 800-<br />
628-5983 ext. T294.<br />
HOMES FOR SALE<br />
FULKS RUN: near Harrisonburg, VA,<br />
4 bedroom, bath in Country. 3.5 acres,<br />
2 septic systems, carport, 3 outbuildings<br />
& barn. Serious inquires only. 540-867-<br />
5902; 540-867-9497.<br />
Estate Home, 5 Bedroom, Large Family<br />
Room w/Fireplace, Formal Dining<br />
Room, Formal Sitting Room,<br />
Great Trout Stream Visit: www.<br />
TroutStreamEstates.com.<br />
Bank Repo Homes from $199/mo!<br />
3 bd. 1 ba. Home only $300/mo! 4 bd.<br />
2 ba. Only $597/mo! 5% dn, 20 yrs @<br />
8% apr! For Listings 800-628-5983 ext.<br />
T391.<br />
4 bd. 2 ba. Home only $270/mo! More<br />
1-4 bd. HUD Homes from $199/mo!<br />
Financing Referrals Available! For<br />
Listings 800-628-5983 ext. T295.<br />
5 bd. 2 ba. Bank Foreclosure only<br />
$35k! More 1-4 bd. Foreclosure available<br />
from $199/mo! 5% dn, 20 yrs @ 8%<br />
apr! For info & listings 800-508-8176.<br />
LAND FOR SALE<br />
LAND ANNA, VA—Steal My Lakefront<br />
Land! Owner must sell! Reduced 30%!<br />
Large water access $49,900. Direct<br />
Waterfront $199,900. We will match up<br />
to 10% of your down payment, NO<br />
gimmicks! Call 888-838-9019.<br />
VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS—2 acres on<br />
mountaintop near New River State Park,<br />
great fishing, view, private, $29,500<br />
must sell, call owner 866-789-8535.<br />
Pre-Construction Grand Opening<br />
Land Sale on Virginia’s Northern Neck.<br />
Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 21st. Three acre lake<br />
lot from $49,900. Limited availability.<br />
Call 888-743-9502 to<strong>day</strong>.<br />
LOTS AND ACREAGE<br />
Land Bargains—Mountain & Country<br />
Properties with 50 Mile Views, Streams,<br />
Ponds, etc. Visit: www.LandNearDC.<br />
com.<br />
66 Acres, Numerous barns, outbuildings,<br />
office on state road, Special<br />
Financing www.NationalForestLand.<br />
com.<br />
ONLY ONE. $124,900 • Direct Access to<br />
National Forest • Trout Stream • Hear<br />
the babbling stream • Great Views Call<br />
Now 1-877-777-4837.<br />
HANDY MAN SPECIAL—1500 FT.<br />
MOUNTAIN STREAM—1000 FT. ON<br />
NATIONAL FOREST—15+ ACRES<br />
STATE ROAD FRONTAGE—Getaway<br />
needs TLC, with perfect combination of<br />
open pasture, & park- like Hardwoods,<br />
together with unspoiled Valley & Mountain<br />
Views for only $249,900. Special<br />
One Time Financing! ONLY ONE Call<br />
1-877-777-4837.<br />
PUBLIC NOTICE COUNTRY ESTATE<br />
SALE—Rare 20+ Acre property, minutes<br />
to interstate & Potomac River, perc<br />
tested & general warranty deed included.<br />
Absolute steal at $99,900. Call<br />
Now for Special Sale Date! 1-800-888-<br />
1262.<br />
ACREAGE—$79,900—2.4 Acres, Water<br />
access to the James, cul de sac, ready<br />
to build. FREE $100 GAS CARD WITH<br />
TOUR. FREE CANOE OR KAYAK WITH<br />
PURCHASE. Call 866-765-5238, x1919.<br />
LOG CABIN ON 10 ACRES—Only<br />
$149,900. Satur<strong>day</strong>, June 28th.<br />
Gorgeous new 1700 square foot log<br />
cabin kit & 10 acres with private trout<br />
stream access—surrounded by national<br />
forest land. SAVE $10,000 Guaranteed!<br />
Ask how to pay NO closing costs.<br />
Lowest financing in 25+ years! Call<br />
1-877-777-4837.<br />
FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE—2.4<br />
Acres, Navigable to James River.<br />
Ready to Build, Fully Approved. All<br />
utilities. Only $99,900. Also 5 acres<br />
water access, $99,900. GET A FREE<br />
CANOE OR KAYAK WITH PURCHASE.<br />
Call 866-764-5238 x1919.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from<br />
Home. • Medical • Business • Paralegal<br />
• Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance.<br />
Computer available. Financial Aid<br />
if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 866-<br />
858-2121. www.CenturaOnline.com.<br />
AIRLINES ARE HIRING—Train for high<br />
paying Aviation Maintenance Career.<br />
FAA approved program. Financial aid if<br />
qualified—Job placement assistance.<br />
SCHEV Certified. Call Aviation Institute<br />
of Maintenance (888) 349-5387.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE<br />
HOMEOWNERS WANTED! Kayak<br />
Pools looking for Demo homesites to<br />
display new maintenance free Kayak<br />
pools. Save thousands of $$. Unique<br />
opportunity! 100% financing available.<br />
1-877-377-7665.<br />
MOUNTAIN LAND FOR SALE<br />
NC WATERFRONT—1 to 5.6 Acre Lots.<br />
Riverfront from $99,900. River Access<br />
from $49,900. Log Cabin Shells from<br />
$149,900. Paved Roads, Underground<br />
Utilities, Public Water. 704-434-5770.<br />
www.broadriverhighlands.com.<br />
1ST OFFERED MOUNTAIN CHALET<br />
$157,777—20.23 ACRE POND—<br />
Ready to finish Retreat on Mountain Top<br />
parcel, w/state road frontage, Hardwoods<br />
& Seasonal Streams. Perfect<br />
Getaway. Call Now 1-800-888-1262.<br />
HANDYMAN SPECIAL — CEDAR<br />
CHALET—20+ ACRES—MOUNTAIN<br />
TOP VIEWS—Ready to finish, NEW<br />
Chalet on level mountain top parcel.<br />
Park-like setting. Close to historical<br />
town. Loaded w/amenities! ONLY ONE<br />
at $167,900 Call for details Now! 1-800-<br />
888-1262.<br />
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES<br />
DIVORCE without Children $95.00,<br />
DIVORCE with Children $95.00. With<br />
FREE name change documents (wife<br />
only) and marital settlement agreement.<br />
Fast, easy and professional. Call 1-888-<br />
789-0198.<br />
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE<br />
Lake Gaston VA/NC—350 miles<br />
shoreline, FREE Lake Map/Buyers<br />
Guide. Tanglewood Realty, Box 116,<br />
Bracey, Virginia 23919. www.<br />
TanglewoodRealty.com 1-800-338-<br />
8816.<br />
Bank Repo Homes from $199/mo!<br />
3 bd. 1 ba. Home only $300/mo! 4 bd.<br />
2 ba. Only $597/mo! 5% dn, 20 yrs @<br />
8% apr! For Listings 800-628-5983 ext.<br />
T391.<br />
SKILLED TRADES/CRAFTS<br />
JOB CRAFTERS, INC. NOW HIR-<br />
ING!!!!! First Class Shipyard Crafts.<br />
Long-Term Work FL & AL. Overtime &<br />
per diem up to $24.00+ per hour. Phone:<br />
1-800-371-7504 or 251-433-1270. Fax:<br />
251-433-0018. EOE.<br />
WATERFRONT PROPERTIES<br />
Coastal Cottage & 1+ acre—$149,900.<br />
Spectacular dockable deep waterfront<br />
setting on NC’s famed Inner Banks!<br />
Boat, fish, ski!!! Lowest financing ever!<br />
Call now 1-800-732-6601, x2170.<br />
RIVERFRONT ON THE JAMES—200’<br />
frontage, secluded building site. Ready<br />
to build, includes all utilities and<br />
approvals. $189,900. Also 5 acres water<br />
access, $99,900. FREE CANOE OR<br />
KAYAK WITH PURCHASE. 866-764-<br />
5238 x1919.<br />
WORK FROM HOME<br />
OPPORTUNITIES<br />
WORK FROM HOME—RECEIVE $5<br />
FOR EVERY LEAD STUFFED WITH<br />
OUR SALES MATERIAL. GUARAN-<br />
TEED! FREE INFORMATION. CALL<br />
TOLL-FREE 1-800-514-5182.<br />
BLACK FACT<br />
On June 13, 1868,<br />
an ex-slave, Oscar J.<br />
Dunn, becomes<br />
lieutenant governor of<br />
Louisiana. It is the<br />
highest executive<br />
office held by<br />
an African American<br />
to date<br />
22 THE METRO HERALD
CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS/BUSINESS NEWS<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
“AMERICAN<br />
AIRLINES LIVING<br />
YOUR DREAM”<br />
DEBUTS<br />
American Airlines recently<br />
begins a new series of<br />
radio profiles of successful<br />
African-American business people.<br />
Called, “American Airlines<br />
Living Your Dream,” the series is a<br />
collaboration with <strong>The</strong> Michael<br />
Baisden Show, which airs week<strong>day</strong>s<br />
from 3p.m. to 7p.m. EDT on<br />
the ABC Radio Network.<br />
Each month, host Michael<br />
Baisden will interview guests selected<br />
by American Airlines for<br />
their outstanding achievements,<br />
often despite overwhelming challenges.<br />
Many of the people who<br />
are highlighted will be chosen<br />
from among the airlines’ many<br />
African-American customers and<br />
suppliers.<br />
This month, “American Airlines<br />
Living Your Dream” will profile<br />
Gail Warrior Lawrence, the<br />
president and CEO of the Warrior<br />
Group, Inc. Founded in 1997, the<br />
Warrior Group is a multi-million<br />
dollar provider of premiere modular<br />
construction services. Headquartered<br />
in DeSoto, Texas, the<br />
company has 38 employees and is<br />
the largest woman-owned provider<br />
of modular buildings in the United<br />
States.<br />
“In our business, we meet a lot<br />
of people,” said Roger Frizzell,<br />
American Airlines Vice President<br />
of Advertising and Corporate<br />
Communications. “Over the<br />
years, we have found that many of<br />
them have overcome seemingly insurmountable<br />
obstacles to achieve<br />
success. <strong>The</strong>y have remarkable<br />
stories to tell and I know the public<br />
will be inspired by hearing them.”<br />
“Our show is all about promoting<br />
positive, active change by discussing<br />
real topics that resonate<br />
with our listeners and their communities,”<br />
said Baisden. “This new<br />
feature with American Airlines allows<br />
us to build on our message of<br />
hope and inspiration by telling the<br />
stories of individuals who have<br />
achieved personal success and who<br />
motivate others to conquer their<br />
own challenges.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Michael Baisden Show<br />
was launched in national syndication<br />
by ABC Radio Networks in<br />
January 2005 and is hosted by author,<br />
TV talk show personality and<br />
emerging community leader<br />
Michael Baisden. <strong>The</strong> entertaining<br />
four-hour afternoon radio program<br />
airs Mon<strong>day</strong>–Fri<strong>day</strong> and combines<br />
the best in music, comedy and social<br />
outreach to inspire real change<br />
in local communities across the<br />
country. Heard in 22 of the top 25<br />
urbanUrban radio markets, <strong>The</strong><br />
Michael Baisden Show reaches<br />
more than 4.6 million listeners<br />
each week.<br />
Archive issues<br />
are available at<br />
www.metroherald.com!<br />
YORKSHIRE TERRIER PUPPIES<br />
FOR SALE<br />
Yorkshire Terrier male and female puppies for sale—10 weeks<br />
old—pictures are also available. <strong>The</strong>y are full-breed, AKC Reg.<br />
Price: $500 (shipping Included). Note: they are ready to go with<br />
all the papers. For more details, contact me at: mathew.cross20<br />
@gmail.com<br />
EXTRA INCOME WITH PART-TIME JOB<br />
Earn extra income working a legitmate part-time job while<br />
maintaining your current job. Rapid Parts Store offers you the<br />
opportunity to work as sole a Representative/Cashier, Sales Rep<br />
and Bookkeeper. No educational qualifications are required except<br />
the zeal to work toward the expansion and growth of Rapid Parts<br />
Store. Must be computer literate and should be able to put 2-3<br />
hours in daily. It’s an absolute amazing opportunity to earn<br />
excellent extra income while you keep your current position. For<br />
more details email: Rapidparts@yahoo.com<br />
PART TIME WORKERS<br />
As part of our expansion program, Yash Clothing And Textile<br />
Company is seeking part-time, work-from-home Sales/Account<br />
Representatives. It pays more than $3,000 a month plus benefits.<br />
Depends on your devotion on the job and takes only little of your<br />
time. Please contact us for more details.<br />
Requirements—Should be computer literate<br />
Have 2–3 hours’ access to the internet weekly<br />
Must be over 20 years of age<br />
Must be efficient and dedicated.<br />
If you are interested and need more information, please send e-<br />
mail to annahabhim_0@graffiti.net.<br />
BOOKKEEPING/PAYROLL SERVICES<br />
Arnold Howard Greenhouses Inc. is a wholesale and<br />
distributor of fiber. We are currently seeking individuals to work<br />
on a full time basis (3–4 hours per week) as an “BOOKKEEPING/<br />
PAYROLL SERVICES” Representatives in local chain store<br />
garden.<br />
BOOKKEEPING/PAYROLL SERVICES<br />
On-site/off-site bookkeeping and payroll service for your small<br />
business. Reasonable rates.<br />
BOOKKEEPING<br />
Accounting & record keeping<br />
• Accounts Receivable<br />
• Accounts Payable<br />
• Bank Reconciliation<br />
• Journal Entries<br />
• Government tax calculations and remittances<br />
• Statements<br />
PAYROLL<br />
• Payroll calculations and record keeping<br />
• Payroll remittances<br />
• Government forms (ROE, WSIB, EHT etc)<br />
• T4s and Government Summary<br />
Good communication skills and personal vehicle is required.<br />
General horticultural knowledge is an asset. Compensation: $700-<br />
$3,000 USD per-week plus mileage allowance.<br />
FAX RESUME TO (206) 350-2724 OR RESPOND VIA<br />
EMAIL FOR INTERVIEW at a.howard96@yahoo.com<br />
When responding to an ad,<br />
tell them you saw it in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong><br />
PART TIME EMPLOYMENT OFFER<br />
M H Consulting Firm needs mystery shoppers from anywhere in<br />
USA. All the needed explanations would be done and all<br />
applicants would be given guides. No application fee.<br />
Requirements—Must be 18 years or above<br />
Must check email 2–3 time a <strong>day</strong><br />
Must be honest<br />
For more details: m.harrison00@hotmail.com<br />
ACCOUNT MANAGERS WANTED<br />
As part of our expansion program, a small company is looking for<br />
part-time, work-from-home account managers and sales<br />
representatives. Job pays 4,000 dollars a month plus benefits and<br />
takes only a little of your time. Please contact us for more details.<br />
Requirements—Should be computer literate<br />
Have 2-3 hours’ access to the internet weekly<br />
Must be over 19 years of age<br />
If you are interested and need more information, please send<br />
e-mail to starpoint_artgallery01@yahoo.com. Contact name:<br />
Mr Stiga Steward.<br />
PART TIME WORK!!!<br />
As part of our expansion program, our company is looking for<br />
part-time, work-from-home account managers and sales<br />
representatives. It pays $2500 a month plus benefits and takes only<br />
a little of your time. Please contact us for more details.<br />
Requirements—Should be computer literate<br />
Have 2-3 hours’ access to the internet weekly<br />
Must be over 19 years of age<br />
Must be efficient and dedicated.<br />
If you are interested and need more information, contact Ralph<br />
Cony at ralph.cony@yahoo.com.<br />
GREAT OPPORTUNITY !!!<br />
As part of my expansion program, COPPACOBANAArt Galleries<br />
and Textures Company is seeking part-time/full-time, work-fromhome<br />
Account Managers, Lady Clerk, Bookkeepers, Computer<br />
Specialists and Sales Representatives. Jobs pay $2500 a month<br />
minus benefits and weekly bonus.<br />
Requirements—Should be computer literate and<br />
dedicated with skills<br />
Have 4 or more hours’ access to the<br />
internet weekly<br />
Kindly send your resume to this email address if you have interest<br />
in this opportunity: ineedmyjobnow@live.com.<br />
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/<br />
LAYOUT ARTIST NEEDED<br />
Immediate opening for experienced graphic designer/layout<br />
artist proficient in QuarkXPress, PageMaker and Photoshop.<br />
Qualified candidate would be responsible for the layout and design<br />
of the newspaper, arranging text, enhancing photos, etc.<br />
Office is located in Alexandria, five blocks from Braddock<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> Station. Salary is negotiable based on experience.<br />
Please send resume with computer and publications experience<br />
via fax to 703-739-1542, or e-mail to greg@metroherald.com, or<br />
mail to: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Metro</strong> <strong>Herald</strong>, Graphic Designer position, 901 N.<br />
Washington St., Suite 603, Alexandria, VA 22314.<br />
THE METRO HERALD 23
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
24 THE METRO HERALD